Preach It!

"Yet when I preach the Gospel, I cannot boast; 

for I am compelled to preach. 

Woe to me if I do not preach the Gospel!" 

1 Corinthians 9:16

As believers, we have NO choice. When we come to accept the fact that we are sinners and cannot save ourselves...when we discover God's great love for us, that while we were still sinners, He sent His Son Jesus Christ to die for us...when our hearts have been changed by this Truth, we have NO choice. We MUST preach the Gospel. With our whole lives, with our every word, with our every breath. It's the least we can do to bring Glory to His Name.

There are many "gospels" out there in the world. The only way to test and see if its true is to see what they say about Jesus. Because if they're preaching a different Jesus, then they're preaching a different gospel, and a different gospel does not save. Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and He and God and the Holy Spirit are one. He was sent to earth to live a perfect life and teach us. He was nailed to a cross where He received beatings to the point where He was unrecognizable, where He died and was buried in a tomb. Then, three days later He rose again! The ONLY way to God the Father is through Jesus Christ.

Most of the world is preaching the message that we can save ourselves. They preach that there is a power within, and if we can unlock it, we are capable of great things. Some of them even tie in the name of God into this twisted message. My friends, do not be fooled. Do not be mislead! We constantly hear that we deserve greatness, that God wants us to be successful, or that we have the power to create life and death with our words. Friends, the only One capable of creating life with His Words is God. WE ARE NOT GOD! We are dust, we are dirty, we are sinners who deserve nothing less than death! But our God, who is mighty and compassionate and who is LOVE, He loved us enough to give us the opportunity to be saved! Apart from Him, we can do nothing!

We must be bold. We must speak the truth in love. We must pray for those who hearts are hardened. And we must warn those who are being mislead to come back to the Truth. There are many popular "teachers" out there that are leading even Christians astray. Joyce Meyer, Benny Hinn, Joel Osteen, Oprah, Kenneth and Gloria Copeland, and Creflo Dollar are just a few of the first that come to mind.  They use Truth, mix in a little bit of blasphemy, and sell it on national television.  To quote Justin Peters, "If you take a perfectly good glass of water, and mix in just a drop of poison, it is no longer good to drink." Please join me in praying for those who have been fooled by their teachings, as well as for them, that their hearts may be softened to the Truth, and that they would turn from their ways and run to Jesus.

"But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who brought them-bringing swift destruction on themselves. Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. In their greed these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping...." 2 Peter 2:1-3

"I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel-which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned! As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what is accepted, let him be eternally condemned!" Galatians 1:6-10

H to the IzAir

(that's "Hair" for those of you who lack ghetto vocabulary)

With Spring beginning way sooner than we expected it to (not a complaint, btw), so many of us are rushing in to get our hair highlighted and cut. As a cosmetologist, I thank you :) Your boredom with your hair or desire for something new keeps food on our table. Your split ends keep our lights on.

I'm not a saleswoman. I'm frugal and hate spending money when I don't have to. Stretching the truth to put a few extra bucks in my pocket is not something I'm a fan of. But here's the truth: good hair products really do make all the difference. You can't bring me a picture of Jennifer Aniston's hair, have me color it like hers, then expect it to look like hers in the weeks to come when you don't treat it like she does hers. It's like looking at a painting on a canvas, and LOVING the painting! So you come to me and I give you the perfect canvas, but no paint. It's a great starting point, but it's nothing like the original you fell in love with to begin with. 

Again, I'm not a saleswoman. So today, I'm not selling you anything. Today is simply a day for me to tell you some of the best of the best products out there that won't make you break bank. They truly make a difference. If you try them and use them correctly, you will not be disappointed. So, in no particular order, here we go!

#1 It's a 10! Miracle Leave-In

 This stuff is worth every penny. It's a leave-in conditioner that doesn't weigh 

your hair down. Trust me, my hair is super thin, and every conditioner makes 

my hair look oily and keeps me from styling the way I want to. This is so different. 

You see, your hair is made up of keratin. This bottle is loaded with that protein

 and coats your hair with it, detangling it and strengthening every strand. I've 

seen dead hair come back to life with this stuff. W O R T H it.

#2 Redken Guts

If you want volume, Guts will be your new best friend. It looks like mousse,
but you spray it like silly string. What's not to love? Great volume
without that gunky, sticky feeling at your roots. Must have.
 

#3 Joico Violet Shampoo and Conditioner

 

For all my blonde sisters out there. Tired of the brassy tones your blonde 

locks get over time? Whether it's from the lack of sunshine or poor water at 

home, this shampoo is crazy awesome. It's super dark violet, so if you're familiar 

\with the color wheel, you'll know that this will kill the brassy, yellowish tones and polish your blonde after just a few uses. Can't go a summer without this.

#4 Paul Mitchell Thicken Up

Confession: I have crazy thin hair. People will tell me they wish they had thick hair like
me, and I laugh because they have no idea. I owe it all to Thicken Up. It's pretty self 
explanatory, so I won't go into much detail. I'll just say it's lighter than a mousse
and less greasy than most hair oils. It's the perfect serum that will leave you oh so satisfied.

#5 Big Sexy Hair Dry Shampoo

For the mornings you wake up with perfectly cute second day hair, except for 
those oily bangs. Or frankly, all the hair next to my face just feels greasy. You 
simply spray the product, and comb out after two minutes, and Voila! You 
saved yourself a good 20 minutes...the perfect amount of time to poke around on Pinterest before work! Coincidence? I think not.

#6 Redken Dandruff Control Shampoo

With all these crazy weather changes we in the midwest experience, our scalp tends to pay the highest price. And it didn't do anything wrong. Treat it well by using this Dandruff Control Shampoo! Using every other time you shampoo your hair will make a difference. It heals and repairs your scalp, but still allows your hair to be easy to style and maintain afterwards.

These six favorite products are just scratching the surface of all my favorite products. However, when it comes to the good, professional hair products, a little bit goes a long way. Find the two or three that work best for you. There's no need for your bathroom to look like the backbar of a salon. Disclaimer: my bathroom looks worse than my salon. I'm a product junkie and am not even a little bit ashamed. Thank you for not judging me.

Chronicles of Sophie

A few years ago, I was just a simple 22 year old taking on the world. I had started my own business when I was just 19, and bought my first home three years later. Scary? Yes. You wouldn't think I was that nervous, considering the fact that I had only looked at one house, and placed an offer that night. If the shoe fits, right?

Living on my own was so fun, but I needed something to go home to. My thumbs aren't green, and there was no relationship in my life at the time going down the road to marriage, so plants and a husband were out of the question. The only logical solution of course was a dog. I looked online at shelter puppies for two days until I finally saw this face (right). I had to have her.

Sophie had been in a kill-shelter for some time. She could only stay there for so long before they'd put her down. Her time was coming soon, so another organization that fosters puppies like Sophie took her in. Just a week later, she was mine.

Incredibly timid at 10 months old, we took her home. She had unlikely behavior, like hiding behind me on walks when she heard a noise, or running behind the couch or under the bed when I'd do laundry. (She no longer hides, but she'll sit behind me with her head down like she's ducking from getting hit.) Slowly Sophie began to feel safe. I was thrilled that she no longer feared everything in the world, and it was fun to watch the puppy in her come out. (Click here to see a video of that sweet puppy)

The girl was cute, but she was a monster. Evidence:

All things considered, I have one sweet puppy. She's my ragamuffin, and our house is more like a home because of her. Her adjusting to Brett living here took some time, and the two still have a love/hate relationship. (Can you believe I married someone who didn't like dogs? What was I thinking?) Anyway, the three of us really do love each other and every day is a little more adventurous because of that sweet, hairy face. (Sophie's, not Brett's)

Leap Day!

I'm usually a natural with words, but there are no words to describe how happy my heart is that it is February 29, 2012 and it's over 60 degrees outside! I have no way to adequately explain what an open sunroof this afternoon has done for my soul. They say a picture is worth 1,000 words, so I took a few pictures of my favorite summertime lunch I made this afternoon...it won't do the day justice, but it's as close as I can get!

 Fresh Spinach leaves, Mandarin Oranges, Strawberries, Blueberries, 

Raspberries, and Raspberry Cabernet Vinaigrette

First, cut strawberries, then clean them, along with the blueberries

and raspberries.

Add a few mandarin oranges to the mix; do not rinse.

Place spinach on plate, then top with fruit.

I dropped a blueberry. Sophie loved it.

Next, a heaping teaspoon of the dressing. A little bit goes a long way.

In the words of Joey Tribbiani, this looks, "like summer in a bowl!"

If you really want to go nuts, add chopped pecans (get it?) I may move this to the back patio...such a pretty day. Enjoy it!!

Sick and Tired of being Sick and Tired

Friday night after work, I hurried home because I knew Brett wanted to hurry out to a basketball game. I called him to tell him I was on my way. No answer. Sometimes he just doesn't hear it. A few minutes later, I called again. Notta. I finally pulled in to our home and saw him sound asleep in bed. Within hours, his voice became more and more raspy and he would get really hot then really cold...


I turned to him and said, "I'm sorry you're sick." Being a man, he sharply responds, "Oh I'm not sick." Right. What is it with men and denying they're sick? Does it really make them feel vulnerable? I, on the other hand, always view it as a time to finally rest. And I won't lie, I milk it.


Brett fell back asleep for a few hours, so I spent my evening on Pinterest (an evening well spent, might I add.) When he woke up, he turned to me and said, "Baby, this is what I'm thinking for my funeral..." The boy went from extreme denial to extreme drama in no time. I love living with this guy...never a dull moment.


Needless to say, the rest of the weekend was spent getting him meds and water and watching him wither away due to his lack of appetite. It's sad and a little lonely when your other half is down for the count. I just wanted to talk to him and watch movies but his head hurt so bad, he wasn't up for anything.


This is the first time I've been around him when he's sick. Weird, considering that we're a married couple, but it's true. He's seen me sick soooo many times, and he has always taken such great care of me. Last summer, he hooked his arms under my armpits and used his hands to hold my head up so I could throw up for 24 hours. He deserves a medal, really.


Anyway, he is finally better and back to work, so this nurse can finally kick her feet up (now that she's done disinfecting every square inch of the house). Ahhh...

Prosperity Gospel: No Gospel at All!

I can't beg you enough to watch this video by John Piper. This is a portion of his sermon talking about the Prosperity gospel...a "gospel" I cannot hate enough. I am working on a blog post right now about this and what the Bible says about it, but for now, here's a preview.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PTc_FoELt8s&feature=related

Mama Drama

I'm a mom at heart. I've been practicing the art of motherhood since I was a little girl. Whether it was caring for my dolls, comforting my siblings when they fell off their bikes, or asking my mom if I could go with her and Dad when they'd leave us with the babysitter because I wasn't, "a kid like the other two." As I got older, I started mothering silly things like my clothes. Yes, you heard me right. I have this thing where, when I hang my shirts up, I want them to face each other, so that none of them "feel left out." When I buy new clothes, I feel bad leaving them in the shopping bag. I try to put them in my closet right away so that they can begin to "get acquainted with the others." You can't make this stuff up.

I've mothered my pets, as well. Yes, first it was our pug, Kandace. She was sick a lot, so I liked to rock her and rub her head. Then it was our miniature schnauzer, Kalvin. He was my first boy dog, so we played and went on little adventures. Now it's my Sophie. She's really just a girl after my own heart. Whether it's brushing her hair, going on walks, or rocking her to sleep, I can't help myself. I know she'd call me Mama if she could speak, but until that magical day, I'll settle for her standing on her hind legs wanting to be held. So between her and my friend's kiddos, my Mama cup overflows.

Is it just me, or has anyone else discovered that after you're married, the moment you sniff or cough, everyone assumes you *must* be pregnant. I wasn't home from our honeymoon two weeks when I complained of a stomach ache. Forget the fact that I have Celiacs disease or that I just ate expired meatloaf: I said "I do" and went on a honeymoon and did the things people do when they go on honeymoons, so let's go pick out nursery colors because the only reasonable explanation is I'm having a baby! One time, I refused a beer, and everyone looked at me like I had an announcement to make. They forget that I've never drank a beer, because it contains barley and that's a BIG no-no for those with a gluten intolerance. It made me laugh at first, but after a while, it was like, "Good grief, people!"

Let me make this clear: I cannot wait to be a mom! I WILL wait, but I can't wait! The day my favorite man in the world and I discover there's a teeny person living inside me will be the epitome of all perfect days. Hearing the heart beat and feeling him move and finally delivering our kids will be remarkable. And as much as I can't wait to be a mom, I'm even more excited to watch Brett be a dad! Ah, that's awfully grown up of us! It will be such a wonderful time in life.

Until then, I'm going to enjoy the little things. When I have a headache, I'm gonna take Advil. Shoot, I may even take three! I'm going to sit in our hot tub longer than I should, and drink a grown up beverage when I'm with my friends. I'm going to take long showers and enjoy peeing alone. I'm going to experience the rush of leaving for Target 20 minutes before it closes, knowing I have plenty of time to get there and don't need to pack a baby in the car seat. While I'm there, I'm going to buy clothes in my size, knowing they will still fit me in a year. I will clean my whole house in 15 minutes, and rest assured by the time I'm done, I won't need to start over. I'm going to watch Ellen and the History channel, because there will be plenty of time for Toy Story and Monsters Inc. We are going to go to sleep early and wake up late, with the only interruption being Sophie growling at squirrels. My car will be Cheerio and Sippy-cup free, and I'm going to jump in it at 11:00pm just to run to the Marathon to pick up Swedish Fish and a fountain pop.

Life will be wonderful when my house is array with toys and paci's. But until that blessed day, I'm going to "live it up" by doing all those awesome things that will be scarce the day the doctor lays our baby on my chest and says, "It's a boy!" (Yes, a boy, because, according to Brett, 'Foxes produce football players.') Be it sleeping in, going on road trips, or simply doing nothing, you will find us soaking the freedom and all it's glory in full fledged!