the gift of mondays

We've been making variations of protein balls in my house for about 10 years. Some have been complicated and some have been easy. This one is super easy.  It's a variation of my Ultimate Protein Ball Recipe  (be sure to click back if you need to review more specific directions or get additional ideas to make different versions): EASY Crisp Rice Protein Balls 2 cups rolled oats 1 1/2 cups crisp rice cereal 1 cup dark chocolate chips 1 cup dried cranberries  1 cup peanut butter (creamy or chunky) 1/4 cup chia/hemp seeds  1/2 cup honey or maple syrup Mix together all ingredients. I did a quick stir of the dry ingredients first before I added the wet ingredients. Then I used a stand mixer to make the mixing process easier. Once everything is combined, roll them into bite sized balls. Refrigerate until use. Makes approximately 30 bite size balls. Note: I usually bring the mixing bowl, a clean hand towel and the dish I'm going to store them into the living room.

I was tired, but the Lord stood at my side. I had sinned, but the Lord stood at my side.  I was unworthy, but the Lord stood at my side. Broken. Beaten.  Overwhelmed. Overcome. But the Lord stood at my side. There is nothing that can separate us from God. Nothing that is too much for Him to bear.  God wants to take our anxiety, our fears, our distress. But we refuse to give it to Him. We want to fix it. We want to be in charge.  We want to prove we don't need anyone. That we got his. And sometimes we just want to clean ourselves up before we go to Him. Wipe off our faces. Smooth our clothes. Brush our hair. We don't want God to see us like this. Dirty. Disgusting. Disheveled. But we forget that God already sees us. He already knows. And He already willingly paid the price with the Blood of His Son. No matter what we're facing. What enemy is against us. What demon is tormenting us. God is right there.  By our side. Wanting us to trust Him.  Wanting to give us His strength. W

We're surrounded by bad news.  But the Lord is with us. The enemy is near.  But the Lord is with us. We've grown weary in the fight.  But the Lord is with us.   No matter the battle. No matter the news. No matter the circumstance. The Lord is with us. When the night grows dark.  When our faith has diminished. When our tears keep falling.  The Lord is there. Fulfilling His promise. Offering us hope. There will be moments when it seems we should give up.  When everything seems pointless. When all seems lost.  But life is never what it seems.  And the Lord is never more than a breath away.  The news may sound bad.  The enemy may have surrounded.  The darkness may feel like it will never end.  But the Lord will overcome it all. No matter how hard.  No matter how long.  No matter what we face. We can't give up. We can't give in.  We can't lose hope. The world will try to defeat us. That's a guarantee. But our trust should not be in this world.  And so, on our knees,

Remember Moses? God wanted him to go to Pharaoh on His behalf. But Moses didn't want to go. He didn't feel like he was the right person for the job. And so, he questioned God.     But God, who I am that I should go? But God, what if they don't believe me? But God, what if they don't listen to me? But God.  But God.  But God. God was performing miracles right in front of him. He was showing him the impossible was possible. He was reassuring every doubt. He promised to be with him. But despite it all, Moses still doubted.   You would think God appearing in a burning bush would be enough. You would think Him turning a staff into a snake would be enough. You would think His every Word would be enough.  But it wasn't enough for Moses. God was standing right in front of him. Asking him to believe. Asking him to trust Him.  "I will be with you," He promised. And yet Moses still needed more. It's easy to read that account in the Bible and call him

God took my mom.  When I was 6 years old and knew nothing about life.  Before I had a chance to know her. Long before I would have a way to remember her.  He took her.  And I grew up never having a mother. If God can see all, if God knows all, if God is in control...did He not think I would want a mom?  Or deserved a mom?  Or needed a mom?  Did He not care how painful it would be? Did He not care how awful it would feel?  Did He not care about me at all? Because I thought when you loved someone you wanted the best for them. You sacrificed for them. You made sure you did everything in your power to help them. And it didn't feel like God helped me. It felt like He punished me. And I had no idea why.  I just knew I hated it.  And there were moments that I hated Him.  When you're little, no one comes up to you and tells you it's going to be ok.  Most don't come up to you at all.  Because people shrink from talking about death.  They don't know what to say so they don

Father, I pray according to 1 Timothy 2:1-3, for all who are in authority in this nation. I ask for Godly counsel and wisdom for the President and his Cabinet, Chief Justice, Associate Justices of the Supreme Court and all judges across this land.  Thank you for restoring to our nation righteous judges who hear Your voice and adhere to Your Word (Isaiah 1:26). We lift up the Secretary of State, Secretary of the Treasury, Secretary of Defense, members of the Senate and House of Representatives, and all other leaders at every level of our government to receive the wisdom of God, to act in obedience to that wisdom, and for the power of God to flow in their lives.  I declare that they hear and obey Your voice, Lord, and the voice of a stranger they will not follow. Lord, I pray that righteousness be manifest in the hearts of all in authority in our nation, and that they seek after You with all their hearts, souls, minds and strength. In the Name of Jesus.  Amen. (Prayer from Kenneth Copela