Monday, June 11, 2012

{Faith} #SheReadsTruth: Weekly Truth

Weekly Truth: June 11 - 17
2 Timothy 2: 21


Become the kind of container God can use to present any and every kind of gift to his guests for their blessings. 

Why cleanse your soul? Why should you try and find a relationship with God now? What does reading the bible every day have to do with preparing you for your future?

I believe that this online bible study was shown to me for a reason. I am on a journey to find myself. I want to discover what makes me unique and what makes me tick. Having a relationship with God's word and the bible allow me to take a step back and see the meaning behind each day. I have left behind an identity I created in Tallahassee. I was a Phi Mu, a Seminole, a girlfriend, an Ambassador, a sister. I realized when I got home to Texas after Graduation that I didn't really know who I was without my comfortable environment. I wanted more. I wanted to really dig deep and figure out what I want in life, the qualities I wanted in person I want to spend my life with, and how I want to live my life. I knew that this revelation would take more than a night of thinking. So I decided to embark on a life journey that is all about cleansing the soul to allow for new positive energies and experiences to come. 

{Faith} #SheReadsTruth: Day 6 - Filter the Toxins


Hebrews 3: 1-6 

Fix your thoughts on Jesus.
Filter out the toxic things.

What is distracting you from God's word?

New places, new people, change, transition, boys, family, selfishness, laziness, ect. 

Be here because you want to be here. He picked YOU to be here. Be a woman of TRUTH. 

Sunday, June 10, 2012

{Faith} #SheReadsTruth: Day 5 - Focus


Romans 12: 1- 21

In what ways do you renew your mind and focus on your thoughts on God's truth?


This summer is all about improving my mind, body, and soul. Yoga and Pilates have been helping me focus on the positions and breathing associated with the movements. You clear your mind of all the daily stresses and focus on your body doing the moves. It is really cleansing and something that I recommend to everyone!

Saturday, June 9, 2012

{Faith} #SheReadsTruth: Day 4 - Toxic vs Positive Thoughts


Philippians 4: 1-13

"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God."

"Whatever things are true, noble, just, pure, lovely, and of good report - mediate on these things"

What I got from today's reading was to be thankful and appreciate all good in your life. Negativity comes easy. It is harder to be good. Life challenges us to be better people. Enjoy the good in life and focus on the positive.


What are you thankful for?



Friday, June 8, 2012

{Faith} #SheReadsTruth: Day 3 - Reject the Toxins



Jeremiah 12: 1-4

"Why does the way of wicked prosper? Why are those happy who deal so treacherously?" 12:1

"You are near in their mouth, but far from their mind" 12: 2

"Pull them out like sheep for the slaughter" 12: 3

It seems difficult at times to just reject the negative out of your life. Its not an easy thing to shake off something that has been bothering you. If it was easy, everyone in the world would be happy. There would be no war, no hate, no conflict. 

This Soul Detox is really teaching and showing me that positivity is the best medicine. Sometimes you have to just tell yourself over and over again that you can do it, that you are smart, and that you will be okay. 

The question associated with this reading was "What are some of the toxic thoughts you experience most often?" My overall theme was fearful. I would like to say I am a pretty positive and confident person. I know what I want, work hard for it, and try my best to be positive about almost every situation. But, lately with all the change in my life, I find myself questioning and becoming fearful of mistakes I might make, fearful of my ability to succeed, and fearful of my future life. This is when I need to remember that I am not alone. That God is there to help me along this journey. That I will succeed with him by my side. 

I am so thankful and happy that I found this online bible study. It is showing me that no matter what is going on in our lives, how scared, uncertain, or unprepared we may feel - God will never let us stumble. God is always there to ease our pain and give us faith to continue on our difficult journey. 

So reject your negative and toxic thoughts. Remember that you can do anything and you are not alone. 

{Body} Walmart Cake Cookies

These cookies are addicting. You have been warned. They are the perfect balance between cake and sugar cookie. If you haven't had a Walmart (or Publix) cake cookie - you haven't truly lived yet. It is the prepared cookie of choice behind the Oreo. 


These cookies are tender and soft on the inside but have a crunch thanks to the sprinkles. You can really get creative with these cookies. Colors, designs, sprinkles, ect. They are the most versatile cookie out there that doesn't require a rolling pin and cookie cutters.

I decided to go classic with the blue frosting and multicolor sprinkles. I made them for a friend of mine who is going on a road trip this weekend. I have been on a baking kick lately and he has reaped all of the benefits. It is a guilty pleasure of mine to come home from a tough Pilates class, put on my apron, and bake something decadent. The best part - I get all the enjoyment out of baking the cookies, tasting along the way, and then instantly pack them up and give them away. Its called the cookie diet.

I found the recipe for these at one of my favorite blogs Eat, Live, Run and knew they were the perfect thing to make. They are fast, easy, and super delicious.


Big Frosted Cake Cookies (Walmart Crack Cookies)
Recipe Credit: Eat Live Run

Makes 7-8 Large Cookies

Ingredients:
1 1/3 cup all purpose flour
½ cup sugar
½ tsp vanilla
1 egg
5 ½ tablespoons butter, softened
1/3 cup buttermilk (subs. 1 cup milk, 1 tbsp lemon juice – use 1/3 of mixture)
½ tsp baking soda
 ½ tsp salt

Directions
Preheat the oven to 350. In a large bowl, combine together the flour, baking soda and salt. Set aside.
Cream together the soft butter and sugar in a KitchenAid (or by hand!) until light and fluffy. Add the egg and beat for about three more minutes until well combined. Alternate adding the buttermilk and the flour to the butter, starting and ending with the flour. Add the vanilla and beat on medium until everything is combined and the batter is smooth.
Pipe out (or scoop out) the batter onto a lined baking sheet, leaving about two inches of space between each cookie. Bake for about twelve minutes or until the edges start to turn golden. Let cool and frost to your heart’s delight!

Thursday, June 7, 2012

{Faith} #SheReadsTruth: Day 2 - Cause of Toxic Thoughts




2 Corinthians 10:1-6

  • "For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh"


Ephesians 6:10 -20
  • "Put on the whole armor of God."
  • "Take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day."
  • "Shield of Faith"
  • "Helmet of Salvation"
  • "Sword of the Spirit"

What causes your toxic thoughts?

What I took away from the readings today was all about inner war with your feelings, emotions, beliefs, ect. Ask any of my close friends and they will tell you - I act on my feelings. I am an open book. I may not know it at the time but I usually am acting a certain way because of inner conflict. I am the type of person who tries her hardest to hide what I am thinking - but it always usually comes out. 

My toxic thoughts come from a lot of different areas:
Fear
Jealousy
Low Self-Esteem 
Lack of Faith
Broken Heart
Nervousness
Perfectionist

The list can go on forever. I feel like it is very easy to put yourself down, make yourself not feel as good as you are, and just be negative. The readings are encouraging us to stop trying to fight the inner struggles alone. That God and his words are here to help guide us to the shining path. 

This summer I am trying to improve my inner strength. With Pharmacy school approaching, I think it is very important to be mentally stable. I believe that discovering my relationship with God will help me in the tough times when all I want to do is be negative. I have to remember that I am put on this path for a reason and that I will succeed with hard work, faith, and positivity. 

What causes some of your toxic thoughts?

Wednesday, June 6, 2012

{Faith} #SheReadsTruth: Day One - Toxic Thoughts





Proverbs 4: 1-27 

"Wisdom is the principle thing, Therefore get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding." 

"When you walk, your steps will not be hindered. And when you run, you will not stumble."

"But the path of the just is like the shining sun, That shines ever brighter unto the perfect day."

"Give attention to my words. Keep them in the midst of your heart. For they are life to those who find them, and health to all their flesh."

"Put away from you a deceitful mouth, and put perverse lips far from you." 

How have your thoughts negatively affected your life and your relationships?

I try and be positive as much as I can. Before exams I get myself all pumped up and make myself believe that I know the information and that I will pass.
But it is really easy to think negatively. I believe that is easier to be negative than positive.
Today's reading showed me that I need to have more faith in God's words. That when time gets tough, to focus on the positive and trust the path that you are on.

The weekly reading is something that I will keep in my mind forever.

"Whenever I am afraid,
I will trust in you.
In God (I will praise His word)
In God I have put my trust
I will not fear." Psalm 56: 3-4

I have been thinking a lot about the next few years. I have a lot of self doubt, fear of failure, fear of growing up faster than I am ready, and just fear of starting over. This verse helps remind me that I am not alone. That I need to put my trust in God and try my hardest to be positive and succeed. 

{Faith} #SheReadsTruth



SheReadsTruth


I have decided to join an online bible study called She Reads Truth. It is a bunch of people coming together, trying to find themselves through God.

I have been on this spiritual kick for a while lately. I grew up Catholic. I believe in God but I never had a real relationship with him or my faith before. My friend Keely was the one who really got me thinking about my relationship with God. She introduced me to the idea that every person has a different outlook and relationship with their faith and God.

Congregation or no congregation - God is there. I have been searching for relationship for a while now. Going to and from different churches, praying, and reading the bible. It never really clicked with me. This year has been one of the hardest years of my life. My family moved from our family home of 18 years in Florida to Texas, I broke up with my boyfriend of 2.5 years, I applied to Pharmacy school, I was graduating from Florida State, I was leaving my friends, and I was trying to plan my future while living in my present. I was leaving something that I felt like I created. I was leaving an identity that I created all on my own. I felt very scared to leave it all behind. I know people have had harder years than me but this year was all about transition and change. It is very hard to find yourself when you are going through so much change. I want to find the real Amanda. I want to discover what makes me unique. I want to find out what I believe, what I enjoy to do, and who I am as a person, sister, friend, and daughter.

I believe that this online bible study came to me on purpose. Like a sign from God telling me to take time from my day to try and discover myself through his words.

Now, I have never been someone who reads the bible. I didn't grow up reading the bible. My church didn't really focus on reading scripture every day. This is new for me. This is vulnerable territory. But, I am up for the task. This summer is all about working on myself inside and out. I feel like this is the perfect way for me to find myself spiritually and mentally.

If you would like to join, go to this link and download the app with the readings! Go at your own pace and have fun with it.