Masterpiece Encouragement

For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. (Ephesians 2:10 NLT)

The creation of your life was carefully planned by God. Embrace the gifts and talents you have and use them to glorify God everyday

Discipline Encouragement

To learn, you must love discipline;
it is stupid to hate correction. Wise words bring many benefits,
and hard work brings rewards. (Proverbs 12:1, 14 NLT)

Learn to trust your gut, but be slow to respond; while you wait in the stillness, make an effort to Listen to God's voice who gives direction

Word Encouragement

The words of the godly are a life-giving fountain; the words of the wicked conceal violent intentions. Hatred stirs up quarrels, but love makes up for all offenses. (Proverbs 10:11, 12 NLT)

Our words are life impacting... It's important to choose our words wisely because they can build up love or tear down the Spirit

Temper Control Encouragement

Sensible people control their temper;
they earn respect by overlooking wrongs. (Proverbs 19:11 NLT)

Before you point out mistakes of others; remember that you are not perfect. Grace will move you forward faster than anger; and just maybe you'll be given grace when you least deserve it.

Strong Encouragement

A lazy person is as bad as
someone who destroys things. The name of the LORD is a strong fortress;
the godly run to him and are safe. (Proverbs 18:9, 10 NLT)

Twinkies stay strong during your new school year!!! Lean on God and know that he will carry you through the times you are feeling lazy

Knowledge Encouragement

The wise are mightier than the strong,
and those with knowledge grow stronger and stronger. (Proverbs 24:5 NLT)

As many of us watch our kiddos go off to school for the 1st time or for the 5th time; remember that the knowledge they learn at home will only be enhanced by the book knowledge from school. TEACH your children something new each and everyday! Many blessings for a safe and fulfilled 1st day of school-my Gorgeous Twinkies!!!!

Endurance Encouragement

We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. (Romans 5:3, 4 NLT)

Endurance will carry you forward to become closer to God! Trust that your faith will endure you through all your trials

Fearless Encouragement

Don’t be afraid, for I am with you.
Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand. (Isaiah 41:10 NLT)

We all get scared at times for all different things: meeting new people, starting a new school year, growing up, not succeeding, failing at your goals, etc.. But our best life possible is still ahead..God will continue to strengthen and help you through your struggles and worries....DON'T BE AFRAID!!

Guiding Encouragement

When people do not accept divine guidance, they run wild.
But whoever obeys the law is joyful. (Proverbs 29:18 NLT)

Trust God, Trust his plans, Trust his love, Trust his grace, Trust his heart, and choose to obey his promises, so you can experience GREAT joy!!

Caring Encouragement

Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. (Philippians 2:3, 4 NLT)

To know the day the Twinkies came into my life, God thought of me strong enough to care for two of his greatest creations... He trusted me enough to help guide them through this life. What an awesome feeling to be a part of something beyond myself! Twinkies remember to have a heart of God and look after others!

Wisdom Encouragement

"But the wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and good deeds. It shows no favoritism and is always sincere!" James 3:17

Imagine wisdom at this level being demonstrated through your actions; people around you would be able to see God's image through your life!

Seeking Encouragement

All night long I search for you;
in the morning I earnestly seek for God. For only when you come to judge the earth will people learn what is right. (Isaiah 26:9 NLT)

We often forget to seek God first, but even when we don't seek his face, he still remains steadfast throughout our search, which always leads back to him!

God's got your back Encouragement

What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us? (Romans 8:31 NLT)

How can you ever fail, if you have the CREATOR of all creation backing you up!???? Just try to imagine the enormity of that thought!!! All of CREATION being there, against all odds, to always be there....nothing can get in God's way...just wait to see what he can do with your lives! Love you my Twinkies!

Bible Encouragement

Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do. (Joshua 1:8 NLT)

God left a handbook inspired by his Spirit to use as a guide when we are not sure how to navigate through life's many turns, but if we truly follow his teachings, God always brings you back on the right path

Pleasing others Encouragement

I’m not trying to win the approval of people, but of God. If pleasing people were my goal, I would not be Christ’s servant. (Galatians 1:10 NLT)

I have learned over time, that trying to please others always leaves the other something or someone not pleased. So don't focus on who might I offend today by my choices, but rather have a mindset that I will please God each and everyday; and everything/everyone else will see your grace and love in those choices you have made.

God Leading Encouragement

The LORD your God is going ahead of you. He will fight for you, just as you saw him do in Egypt. (Deuteronomy 1:30 NLT)

Be thankful that God knows your steps beforehand and our advantage is knowing that he is our warrior who fights our big battles throughout life

Integrity Encouragement

And you yourself must be an example to them by doing good works of every kind. Let everything you do reflect the integrity and seriousness of your teaching. (Titus 2:7 NLT)

I want to be able to lead my Twinkies on a path that demonstrates love, grace, and forgiveness each and every day. Although I think I might always be right or that everything around me should be perfect, the best example to do good works is to show my family and friends that perfection does not come with controlling my circumstances but letting God control the impossible

Steadfast Encouragement

Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness. (Colossians 2:7 NLT)

Stand your ground; rely on truth, even when everything you feel would tell you to do the opposite. Let the foundation of your life be rooted in Christ and you will not be uprooted; although times you might feel chopped to pieces...you'll always have an opportunity to grow, since the roots are still in its place and the chopping never got to the roots of steadfast truth!

Prayer Encouragement

Nevertheless, listen to my prayer and my plea, O LORD my God. Hear the cry and the prayer that your servant is making to you. (2 Chronicles 6:19 NLT)

There are times I have felt worn down, tired, and unable to give anymore...yet when I cry out in prayer...God hears and listens. When we pray, we hear God's spirit speak a language of comfort and guidance. We learn our relationship grows stronger each and every time we speak to God!

Rock Encouragement

I love you, LORD;you are my strength. The LORD is my rock, my fortress, and my savior; my God is my rock, in whom I find protection.He is my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety. (Psalm 18:1, 2 NLT)

What a great feeling to know that you have someone to rely on for strength instead of thinking you have to do it alone- Lean on God

Marriage Encouragement

In the same way, you husbands must give honor to your wives. Treat your wife with understanding as you live together. She may be weaker than you are, but she is your equal partner in God’s gift of new life. Treat her as you should so your prayers will not be hindered. (1 Peter 3:7 NLT)

My prayer is that my daughters will find God's perfect partner for their lives and remind all married couples that marriage only works when God is the center! Congrats to my In laws for 40 years of marriage and for my cousin Amanda who is just beginning her marriage journey!

Love Encouragement

Love does no wrong to others, so love fulfills the requirements of God’s law. (Romans 13:10 NLT)

Hold on to love each and every day. As I love beyond myself, I am able to see the inner workings of God's spirit. God is love and he wanted us to experience just a glimpse of how he feels about us when we were created. As much as I love my family and my Twinkies beyond description....it's amazing to me that my demonstration of love to my husband and Twinkies is not even a measurable amount of God's infinite love!!! Pretty amazing when you try to think about the vastness of how much love God has!!!

Pure thought Encouragement

And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. (Philippians 4:8 NLT)

Think and have a positive attitude, focus on God and let your reactions demonstrate pure and admirable thoughts inspired by God

Beauty Encouragement

And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. (Romans 12:1 NLT)

Amazing when God reminds me of a truth when I need it most. I've struggled with maintaining the perfect weight... But what is truly perfect on the outside. We allow society so many times to dictate outer beauty that we forget that our whole body should be a living sacrifice to God

Peace Encouragement

Work at living in peace with everyone, and work at living a holy life, for those who are not holy will not see the Lord. (Hebrews 12:14 NLT)

Peace and holiness, how do we implement these values in everyday life? I think having peace that only God can provide, leads to a holy life because when I truly think about how my circumstances teach me how to learn to be peaceful, then in the process I become a better person

Guiding Encouragement

The LORD says, “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life.
I will advise you and watch over you. (Psalm 32:8 NLT)

This morning as I was speeding to work and Now have the speeding ticket to prove it....where was God?, why wasn't I spared from getting a ticket? Aren't I a good person? Shouldn't have someone else got the ticket? These questions seem so silly to ask for a behavior that I demonstrated and how presumptuous to think my behaviors don't have consequences, even though I have good reasons/excuses for behaving the way that I do. It's laughable...not for breaking the law and speeding, but because sometimes we think we are invincible.

If we truly believe that God will lead us to our best pathway to life, then we have to accept the fact that our life will not be perfect because God never promised that life will be perfect but that ONLY his son Jesus, who is perfect, can lead us and watch over us in this life.

Christ Center Encouragement

For in Christ lives all the fullness of God in a human body. So you also are complete through your union with Christ, who is the head over every ruler and authority. (Colossians 2:9, 10 NLT)

Reminded today that Christ should always remain the center of your life and everything else will surround the center; therefore all other aspects of life can't workout unless Christ remains in the center

Trust Encouragement

Trust in the LORD with all your heart;
do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take. (Proverbs 3:5, 6 NLT)

For some people it's hard to trust beyond ourselves because we think this will prevent us from getting hurt, but the reality about trust is that we actually learn what trust feels like after being hurt. Trusting God during a time when everything around you seems to fall apart is what God wants, because then he knows that we finally got the idea that we can't do it alone

Teamwork Encouragement

He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love. (Ephesians 4:16 NLT)

Reflecting on this past week and seeing how many times teams of people have succeeded....from teams at the Olympic 2012 Summer Games in London to the teams of families that you are a part of as a wife, friend, mother, sister, or son/daughter....I see God use his power by demonstrating to us that we cannot live life alone and show love for others without being part of a team

Frustration Encouragement

The LORD is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed. (Psalm 34:18 NLT)

How many times in your life time do you feel frustrated or crushed by the weight of your circumstances? How many times have you question where am I going and why haven't I gotten there yet? Sometimes you feel everything is so routine and there is no spark to urge you forward. I have to think that God will restore my Spirit with newness that gives me a better perspective on my current circumstances.