Amy's Journey

Letting Go of Offenses...Let It Go!

noreply@blogger.com (Amy's Journey) — Tue, 14 Jul 2015 22:03:00 +0000

Isn't it funny how you "preach" things only to be slapped with what you preached about shortly after? I had posted my blog post about being humble and, surely, the next day I exploded. Talk about humbling....

It happens to all of us. We try to help others and we end up feeling like we got the short end of the stick. Or, we sacrifice something in some way and we feel as if it was clearly not appreciated. We all have had these scenarios happen to us but, when they do, how do we stop from harboring bitterness? Because we all know how UGLY bitterness really is.

In Joyce Meyer's Beauty for Ashes series she says:

“First, let me say that it is not possible to have good emotional health while harboring bitterness, resentment, and unforgiveness. Harboring unforgiveness is like drinking poison and hoping your enemy will die! Unforgiveness poisons anyone who holds it, causing him to become bitter. And it is impossible to be bitter and get better at the same time!”

Let me tell you firsthand, those words are SO VERY TRUE!

When you become bitter, everything changes you....the way you feel about all circumstances, the way you feel about others and, more damagingly, the way that you feel about yourself. It is a downhill spiral and you HAVE to find a way to let it go and let it go quickly!

We have to understand that FORGIVING does not mean that you are condoning what has happened. It just means that you are letting go of the strain that is slowly killing your heart and soul. You have to forgive the action. I mean, you REALLY have to forgive! Forgiving does not mean that you are a doormat now that you have forgiven. It just means that you are giving others the grace that God gives us on a daily basis. Think about this Bible scripture:

Mark 11:25-26: “And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins. But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father who is in heaven forgive your sins.”

And, don't forget about the verse that states:

Matthew 18:20-21: "21Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? 22Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven."

That's forgiving someone 7 x 70 times, which means keep forgiving until you have found true forgiveness!

We have to keep in mind that the enemy (Satan) is after our happiness, after our hearts. He wants us to be broken. He wants our lives to be lived in chaos and distress. He wants us to not enjoy one single minute of this glorious life that God has given us all. He is out to kill, steal, and destroy. When he is able to do this, this will put a huge wedge between ourselves and God and we surely do not want that!

Take a long look in the mirror. Sincerely look at yourself and see if your heart has hardened, check to see if you have been living under an enormous amount of unneeded stress, see if you feel bitterness towards others. If so, it's time to lay it all down at the altar, lay it down at the feet of Jesus. He wants to forgive you but you need to forgive others. We all do.

Love always wins!

~ Amy

The Acts of Being Humble

noreply@blogger.com (Amy's Journey) — Sat, 11 Jul 2015 16:47:00 +0000

Humble:

1. not proud or arrogant; modest: to be humble although successful.

2. having a feeling of insignificance, inferiority, subservience, etc.

3. low in rank, importance, status, quality, etc.; lowly

4. courteously respectful

5. low in height, level, etc.; small in size

In today's society, if you are humble, people view you as being weak. Today's world you are supposed to have a tough exterior and interior, you are supposed to venture around like you are the most important person on this earth, and you are supposed to act like that you just do not care....about anyone or anything besides yourself, right? So. Totally. Wrong.

In my opinion, that is the problem in today's cultures. It is a me/me world. What can you do for me? How will this help me? You get the picture? I am sure certain people have already popped up in your mind haven't they?

The truth is we all need to humble ourselves and look beyond the reflection in the mirror. There is so much more that can be gained if we look beyond ourselves and look towards others.

Husband/Wife:

If we could humble ourselves to our spouse, just think of doors of love and respect that would open! How can I be humble to my spouse? Here are a few ways:

Put your spouse FIRST! Besides God, your spouse should come before ANYONE else and they need to know, without question, that they are always first. This gives a huge sense of security to the relationship.
Admit when you are wrong and ask for forgiveness. We all have battles in our marriages, and that will always be a part of any marriage or relationship, but we have to learn to humble ourselves and sincerely apologize when we are in the wrong. Apologize, ask for forgiveness so you can move on.
Asking and accepting forgiveness. This goes in hand with the above statement. When you truly ask for forgiveness, learn to accept it!
Don't be prideful! Pride is one of the seven deadly sins and it can be a major destroyer in anything! You two are a team - no one should portray to be better than the other one....at all. Accept each others weaknesses and lean on each other's strengths but do not make your spouse feel like they are not good enough. Ever.

Children:

Do not ever put your children down; instead, build them up and encourage them. If they do wrong, handle it in the right way. Show them where they are wrong and how they can change it.
Be a true role model for your children. They will hear what you tell them but they will see what you do. Actions are much stronger than words! Remember - they are always watching!
Teach them to serve others and take the focus of themselves.
Get them in a good church, make them aware of prayer and sacrifice.

Humble Yourself Before the Lord:

Jesus is the perfect example of humility - look at humbleness He portrayed out of obedience to His father to the point of death on the cross! Now that is a true example of humbleness and humility!

“And being found in human form, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted Him and bestowed on Him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” –Philippians 2:8-11

Remember - we couldn't even have a relationship with God if it wasn't for what Jesus did for all us.
Pray a lot.
Follow God's instructions instead of depending on your own thoughts.
Be willing to make sacrifices for others that will be pleasing in the Lord's sight.

What are ways that you can be humble?

~Amy

Lifelong Love Affair by Jimmy Evans book *GIVEAWAY

noreply@blogger.com (Amy's Journey) — Thu, 09 Jul 2015 21:25:00 +0000

***FACEBOOK ONLY GIVEAWAY!***

I have a copy of Lifelong Love Affair by Jimmy Evans (who is absolutely wonderful and gives GREAT Christian advice to marriages and spouses...if you have never listened to him, YouTube him or find him on your local Christian network). I am going to be running a Facebook giveaway for this wonderful book.

RULES:...

You have to "like" Amy's Journey on Facebook and share the contest post anytime from now until the end of the contest date, which is Saturday, July 17th at midnight.
You can share this as many times as you want to throughout that time period.
For each new "like" on my page, have your friend tag you in a comment on that post to tell me that they sent you.
The person with the most friend referrals will win this awesome book.

Are you in?

~Amy

Candy Bar Brownies......Anyone?!?!?!

noreply@blogger.com (Amy's Journey) — Thu, 09 Jul 2015 21:01:00 +0000

It's that time of year again....picnics, church gatherings, weddings, family reunions. So that means it is time for.......dessert! YUM! I am not too big on sweets (I know, that is crazy), but I do enjoy these "candy bar brownies" and they are always a HUGE hit wherever I take them!

My family and I were sitting in church the other night and our Vacation Bible School is coming up next week and they had mentioned that they would be needing everyone to make brownies to give out on the last night of VBS. My husband was on my right side elbowing me and then my oldest son was on my left side elbowing me.....to make sure I heard that so I could make these delicious brownies! Okay guys, I got the picture. I will make the brownies!

This is a very simple recipe. And, let me just say, you should wait a bit so they will set right and firm up in the middle, but they are oh so very good when they are just out of the oven, hot with a huge scoop of ice cream on top! Okay, I am making myself hungry and I am thinking I need to go to the store and buy some Hershey bars!

RECIPE:

Hershey Bar Brownies

INGREDIENTS:

2 Family Size boxes of brownie mix
3 Large-Sized Hershey Bars (the big, big ones that they sell separately)
Eggs, oil, etc. all of the ingredients that you use to make the brownies

DIRECTIONS:

Spray a 9x13 pan with cooking spray. Spray generously.
Mix each box of brownie mix in a separate bowl.
Pour one whole brownie batch in the 9x13 pan.
Place the 3 Hershey Bars side by side on top of the brownie mix.
Take remaining box of brownie mix and pour on top of the brownies.
Bake at 350 degrees for about 20 to 25 minutes.

**Now all ovens are different so just start checking your brownies after about 15 or 20 minutes. Try to find a spot in the brownies where there isn't a lot of chocolate...that will be hard to do but you will be able to know when they are done.

Take them out of the oven and TRY to resist digging in. Give them time to set up and firm up. And then enjoy a piece of chocolate Heaven!

~Amy

Bible Journaling - A Fun Way For Deep Devotion!

noreply@blogger.com (Amy's Journey) — Tue, 07 Jul 2015 22:06:00 +0000

Is this not stunning?

I recently found a group on Facebook about Bible Journaling and let me just say that I am so intrigued! Once I stumbled upon it, I just kept Googling even more information and pictures. To me, it is amazing and, also, I wonder WHY have I not heard of this until now?!?!?!?!

What is Bible Journaling? Well it appears that you can buy journaling Bibles (if you can find them - it seems like they are hard to find) and these Bibles have large margins on the side of each page to "journal" your thoughts but, as an example from the picture above, people are picking their favorite scripture verse on that page and making art with it...inside of their Bible. Now I know some of you will think that a Bible should not be used for this purpose and that is okay. We are all adults here and we are entitled to our own opinions but I think Bible journaling would be an EXCELLENT way to spend time in devotion because you would be meditating on that particular scripture and you are allowing to be creative with how it is laid upon your heart. So, to me, it is a win/win situation! I think this would be an excellent way to get your children involved too with buying their own journaling Bible.

I am going to go to my local Christian bookstore and see if they offer any journaling Bibles. I am so excited to start doing this!

But what if you don't have a journaling Bible? Well, I have researched that as well and I have seen some people draw their scripture on a piece of paper and place it in their Bibles in the area of the scripture. And some try to incorporate the journaling part on any found blank space in their Bible. It really depends on what you want to do and your preference but I thought this was such an awesome, awesome way to spend reflecting on favorite verses, and also wouldn't something like this be so heartfelt to leave to one of your children when they become grown? So many possibilities!

What are your thoughts?

~ Amy

***The above picture was from a member of a Bible Journaling Facebook group. Her name is Meredith Jordan. I think she did a FANTASTIC job! Such an inspiration! ***

I Am Officially Back...By Multiple Requests!

noreply@blogger.com (Amy's Journey) — Sat, 27 Jun 2015 20:16:00 +0000

I have had multiple, and I mean MULTIPLE, requests for reviews to perform and even people sending me emails telling me that they really enjoyed my marriage posts and hoped that I would start again. A lot has happened since I last blogged, a lot of life-changing things, but I am still standing and I have learned a lot of things.

So, after some thought, I realized how much I missed blogging and the opportunities that were out there. I am ALL IN and I am excited! You need to be excited too because there are going to be LOTS of fun things, lots of great giveaways, and several surprises that are coming VERY SOON!

Thanks for sticking around and be on the lookout for just plain awesomeness!

~Amy

FREE TODAY - Amish Proverbs: Words of Wisdom From the Simple Life

noreply@blogger.com (Amy's Journey) — Fri, 11 Jul 2014 00:55:00 +0000

Well done is better than well said.

The only people with whom you should try to get even are those who have been kind to you.

Some folks don't exaggerate, they just remember big.Chances are good that during your life you've run across some good advice. And it's very likely that much of it originated with an Amish proverb. Through firsthand research and personal relationships, Suzanne Woods Fisher has collected more than 400 proverbs that uncover the rich heritage, folklore, faith, values, history, and essence of the Plain People. These proverbs serve as teaching tools and maxims for practical living--but they're not just for the Amish. They're for anyone who seeks God's wisdom and truth for everyday circumstances.

Through firsthand research and personal relationships, Suzanne Woods Fisher has collected more than 400 proverbs that uncover the rich heritage, folklore, faith, values, history, and essence of the Plain People. These proverbs serve as teaching tools and maxims for practical living--but they're not just for the Amish. They're for anyone who seeks God's wisdom and truth for everyday circumstances.

Ranging from the simple to the profound, from the serious to the humorous, these sayings will stick with you through life's joys and sorrows. This expanded edition of Amish Proverbs includes more than 200 additional proverbs, giving readers more of the wit and wisdom they crave.

You can get this TODAY by clicking HERE.

~Amy

Today's Freebies Around the Web

noreply@blogger.com (Amy's Journey) — Mon, 30 Jun 2014 20:30:00 +0000

Who likes FREE things? I know I sure do. With this horrible economy, FREE is always very good for me! lol

Here are some freebies that I have found around the web today. Be sure to "like" my Facebook page so you can get these updates often! Share with your friends! We all love FREE!

FREE APP from Amazon

Get Disney's Frozen Free Fall by clicking HERE today. This is game like Bejeweled but it has the characters of Frozen! We all love Frozen!

MORE icy levels! Now play through 270 levels with two NEW game modes:

"That's no blizzard that's my SISTER!" - Elsa has unleashed her powers in the game! Slide and match to fend off the blizzard!

• Release the Frosts! - Help Anna & Olaf escape from the castle and break out from the windows!

Eights! is a little puzzler based on numbers.
Easy to learn, Hours of fun!.

The game starts by showing you a random set
of numbered tiles spread across its 4×4 board.

Your task is to merge/join the numbers.

5 can only match with a 3 to create an 8.

5 + 3 = 8

any number higher than 5 can match with itself

8 + 8 = 16
16 + 16 = 32

...
Match higher numbers to get your high score.
Click HERE to get the this FREE app today.

Here is a FREE book for the kids today!

The Wheels on the Bus by Baby Genius. Click HERE to get it today!

Again, like my Facebook page by clicking HERE to stay up-to-date with regular FREEBIES!

~Amy

Marriage Monday - Respect: Your Husband Needs It!

noreply@blogger.com (Amy's Journey) — Mon, 30 Jun 2014 14:04:00 +0000

Respect is a powerful thing! And it is probably viewed differently by many. One thing is for certain though....MEN NEED TO FEEL RESPECTED!

What is the official definition for respect? According to the dictionary: a feeling of deep admiration for someone or something elicited by their abilities, qualities, or achievements.

What does this mean? It means that if you are a wife and you are still reading, then you have what it takes to have a happy marriage because you are concerned about what your husband needs.

Through the years of my marriage, I have learned that men need to feel appreciated even when they have made mistakes. Men need their wives to believe in them even when the odds are stacked against them - with a supporting wife by their side, they can conquer anything! And, most men probably feel like they should be respected without having to earn it....in the way of, they need to be respected for who they are and not what they do. Husbands NEED respect in order for the marriage to thrive.

Now as a wife, I am very willing to show respect BUT the part I have struggled with for many years (until recently) is I have always felt that respect should be earned and this kind of thinking has created many arguments and disagreements that could have been avoided. I have read many, many books, listened to various programs, etc. because I honestly felt that in order for me to give respect to my husband, he had to be respectable (makes sense, right?)...this is the complete opposite of what a man needs. I have found if a wife can show respect to her husband, even when he doesn't deserve to be respected, he will feel safe and secure with the relationship and this will allow him to open up in a way that he never has before. A man will never open up to you if you just keep tearing him down over and over again. There will be no trust there. There will be no safety. And, eventually, the love will die.

The book of Proverbs says, “The wise woman builds her house,” but “a disgraceful wife is like decay in his bones”. A wife is either building up or tearing down her husband.

A man's home should be a place of peace, a place of rest, and a place where he feels like he is wonderful. It should not be a place of criticism, a place of chaos (even though there will be random days of chaos), or a place of rejection. Insulting a man will end up robbing you of his heart.

It may be hard at times (because every single one of us fail on a daily basis on being the "perfect" spouse) but if we learn to shower our men/husbands with unconditional respect, even long before they deserve it, they will gain a new respect for us and their hearts will truly begin to open and expand for us. Not only that, but this will teach us about grace. We, as wives, sure need grace every single day. The goal is to work together, to look for the best in one another, and to help improve ourselves in order to improve our family.

What can you do to start showing your husband respect?

~Amy

Trials and Tribulations - Now is the Time for FAITH to Conquer All

noreply@blogger.com (Amy's Journey) — Sun, 29 Jun 2014 23:34:00 +0000

A lot of trials seem to appear in many of our lives and sometimes it seems like they last forever. I know mine has had it's fair share over the past year or so, most recently with major health issues. But what do we know about trials and tribulations?

1 Peter 1:7 - That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ.

Sometimes when we are in the midst of trials we start to wonder — Lord, will it ever end? In case you haven't noticed, it doesn't. But the good news is that with each faith-testing experience, our ability to deal with these trials and tribulations becomes better and our faith grows stronger!

In this scripture, God compares our faith to a most precious and beautiful metal — gold. But when mined, this precious metal doesn't look very precious! It's dirty looking and black. How does gold become beautiful? A refiner takes the gold and carefully melts it in a melting pot — slowly raising the temperature — but never to the point where it boils. As it melts, slowly the impurities rise to the surface and he will scoop away the dross leaving a beautiful pot of gold, ready to become your next ring or bracelet. Here's the amazing part. The refiner knows his job is done when he can look into the melting pot and see a reflection of himself.

The only way gold will become more precious is when it's placed on the fire! In the same way, the impurities of our lives must be exposed to the fire so that the Lord can scoop up the filth that shows itself when we get hot!! Notice, though, that He'll never allow us to boil! And then, when it's all said and done, He can look upon us and see the beauty of His reflection!

Let's not despise the trials we're facing today — on the contrary, let's embrace them! The Lord is using these things to prepare us to do great things for Him! Respond to the Lord today by saying what do you want me to learn from this today, Lord? And watch how the Lord blesses you through the fire!

In case this isn't enough, study on this:

James 1:2-4 (KJV)

²My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;
³Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
⁴But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

So it is apparent that we are going to face many storms and trials of this life. We must find ways to ENDURE those times. I know for my own sake, my faith has pushed me through every single time. Yes, I sometimes get weary and angry but then I just get myself together and know that better days are ahead and I just have to put my faith in God. Don't get discouraged if you are going through something. Build your faith and follow God's way and you will never be steered wrong.

~Amy

14-Day Spring Cleaning Challenge - Are You In?

noreply@blogger.com (Amy's Journey) — Wed, 26 Mar 2014 16:23:00 +0000

Beginning this Friday, I am starting a 14-day Spring Cleaning Challenge. I will be giving tips, tricks and step-by-step guides daily to get our homes in order. I have been thinking on this and I know that I need to declutter and I will give you daily ideas of how, in just 14-days, you will be able to remove at least 70 items from your home, but I am sure most will be able to do much more, in as little as 10 minutes a day. Now that is just items and that does not consist of papers, etc. There will be much purging, sorting, cleaning, and organizing going on!

I will also be giving "recipes" for homemade cleaners and maybe even through in a few recipes as well.

So, who is up for this 14-Day Spring Cleaning Challenge? Chime in daily on the blog and/or my Facebook page and let me know your progress.

**Disclosure - Even though I am looking outside my window right now and see a snow-covered ground, it IS officially Spring and I am excited for this challenge!**

~Amy

Lots Going On......

noreply@blogger.com (Amy's Journey) — Thu, 27 Feb 2014 03:41:00 +0000

I haven't posted for a few weeks. A lot of things have came up. Tomorrow is going to be a day of medical tests all day long it appears - cardiac stress tests, cardiac ultrasounds, etc.

I have put off going to the doctor because I appear to be my own physician (yeah, that never works out well). I attributed everything to STRESS, which I am sure stress does not help the situation - AT ALL.

My husband finally convinced me to go to the ER last night and we were there - all. night. long. and all morning as well. So frustrating.

I went today to pick up my lab work to take to the specialist tomorrow and when the ER doctor told me that my labs "were a little off the charts" he was making an understatement! I was shocked at my blood work results. Totally shocked. Which put me into major stress mode again. This is a vicious cycle!

Anyway, a few points. IF you are having any kind of health problems, do not wait around until something major happens - GO GET CHECKED OUT! Google knows a lot but Google honestly cannot diagnose you with the truth! I am a certified Google addict. I even learned how to fix my bathroom drain by Google. =)

My other point is hopefully after tomorrow's run through the mill of the tests, I will be back to posting normal on a regular basis. I have two DVD giveaways lined up (I am running behind on those) so make sure you follow me on Facebook and share this post with your friends so they will have a chance to win as well.)

I need followers on my actual blog page. You can get there by clicking on this post. Go to the right side of my page and click on FOLLOWERS. It takes about 10 seconds. I need this to be built up again so I can offer more reviews in the future. Thank goodness I still have my Twitter page that kept all of my followers but I REALLY need to boost up my actual blog page followers - this is a lengthy process to gain followers that way for me...but it will get there like it was before I lost my old blog.

Anyway, to wrap up things, don't put your health off - go get checked out by a physician if you are having any problems. This is one time that I am so thankful that we have our insurance. No one can predict when medical problems will arise but being covered is sooo worth it. I have to remember this the next time I get ready to complain that we pay close to $600 a month for medical insurance - yikes. I guess I struggle with this because it used to be totally FREE from my husband's company. But, nonetheless, I am so thankful to have it - especially during times like these.

Be well everyone and go and follow me! =)

Also, if you have a moment, say a little prayer for me.

~ Amy

FREEBIES...We All Love Them!

noreply@blogger.com (Amy's Journey) — Thu, 13 Feb 2014 18:26:00 +0000

I know I have missed a few posts last week so I am adding several FREE links today. These are 100% FREE as of today.

Make sure you LIKE my Facebook page so you don't miss out on these. My email subscribers do not get these posts until the day after - that is why I try to post things very late at night or very early morning so, when they do receive my email, it will be on the same day - sometimes it doesn't work out like that though.

Okay....onto the FREEBIES!

When God Whispers Loudly: This is a short book - only about 14 pages. I downloaded it last August and I didn't realize it was so short. Let me just say - THIS BOOK IS AMAZING! Here is a little bit about the book:

How does a promotion compare with this: to see my children grown and successful: committed to God and enjoying the peace only He can bring--to see my wife, cared for and surrounded by them, a loving family knit so close together? If I'd been promoted, it could in no way have added to this great treasure."

"Yes, I will tell them. I will call them, and I will tell them this same message I've been telling you for so long...this message you chose not to hear. Why did you ignore me, dear child? I told you every day, and showed you in a thousand ways, but you were too busy to listen. How loudly must I whisper before you hear Me?"

They're instructions, not memories--God sent me instructions in my dream. "

Above paragraphs are some of the written words by this author in this short enlightening story about listening to your inner conscious, to be still and know I am God. This author wrote a brief story about how a father worrying about his family was engrossed in the earthly realm obsessed with earning the money to pay for shelter, food and clothing for his family. So involved he missed the spiritual messages surrounding him every day, calling out for his attention. Until a promotion is taken away and he is angry at God for his misfortunate and being distracted gets into an accident.

Not to give any spoilers this reader will tell you to read to the conclusion to see the transformation this father and family go through suffering through the darkness to come into the light. This author should develop this narrative into a short story or spiritual messages.

Glimpses of Heaven:

Trudy Harris began her career with Hospice in 1981, eventually becoming the president of the Hospice Foundation for Caring. This collection of more than forty true stories of Harris's patients offers readers an incredible glimpse at what lies beyond and what the living can learn from the dying. Her patients have described to her visions of angels and loved ones who have gone on before, the sounds of ethereal music, colors that did not exist on earth. She has been with hundreds of patients as they took their last breaths and knows the kinds of questions that both the dying and the loved ones they are leaving behind ask.
• What do you say to a loved one who is dying?
• What happens when we die?
• How can you make a dying friend feel safe?
• Does a dying person really see angels, hear music, or see friends and family members who have already died?
Tender, heartbreaking, and eye-opening, Glimpses of Heaven offers a window into the world beyond and life after death.

Bigger Than Impossible: Impossibility is not a period at the end of faith's sentence. Faith, in the life of the believer, is meant to be tested. Without adversities faith will never become strong and overcoming.

God has not planned crises, pain and disaster to enter our lives as a dead-end to faith's venture. Many situations vaunt themselves as "impossible", but when they are stripped from their "I" and "M" and become dependent on God, they become "God-possible".

In this book:
• Live life victoriously as you learn to rely on God.
• Learn how to overcome all life’s obstacles.
• Watch depression and anxiety disappear.
• Understand why God is allowing you to experience mountains.

Each chapter of Bigger Than Impossible highlights a specific area of Lydia Chorpening's difficult past, and contrasts it with Scriptures which make God bigger than the seemingly impossible. By utilizing the complete assurance of these Biblical concepts you will develop your trust in the God who is bigger than impossible.

~Amy

Thankful Thursday - What Does It Take To Truly Be Thankful?

noreply@blogger.com (Amy's Journey) — Thu, 13 Feb 2014 06:06:00 +0000

Sometimes there comes a time in your life when you wished things were going differently. Sometimes there comes a time in your life when you wished that your circumstances were completely different. And, sometimes there comes a time in your life when EVERYTHING changes and it is then, at that very moment, that you realize that you had everything you had hoped for - you were just being ungrateful for it - unthankful.

Now you may have "thought" you were being thankful by "giving thanks" here and there, every so often, but suddenly.....you realized you weren't giving true thanks.

Philippians 4:6 - Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

Ouch - be careful for nothing....don't take things for granted. But in EVERYTHING by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your request be made known to God.

Folks, the times that we are living in are scary. You can see the unfolding of the Bible as we speak. We are ALL fighting a battle against Satan. With this one Bible verse, it can open up the doors to a whole new life. I am working on my own battles and this verse just reached out to me, like it was God taking me into His oh so loving arms, gently wrapping them around me, with Him saying "You have asked what you need to do. Here is the answer: Don't take anything for granted in this life or this world. You may feel that you are at a standstill but sometimes it is okay to be standing still. Pray to me on a constant, consistent basis. I want to hear from you. I want a steady ongoing relationship with you, My daughter. Even though I know what you need, I need to hear it from You. I am always by your side. I will always protect you. But, My child, I need you to come to Me. Be thankful for the love and life that you have. I never promised it would be easy. There are going to be trials that you have to endure but know if you keep believing in Me and keep pushing through with faith, I will take the pain that you suffered through the trial and double it in joy. My child, you are precious in My sight. Keep your faith and communication with Me at all times. Don't worry, My child, you are going to get through this."

God is never surprised about our troubles or the trials that we face. He is an all-knowing God. But we HAVE to invite Him into our circumstances before He can start to work. We have to thank Him for all that He has done and for all that He is. And we have to ask for help with our situation by praying. He is there - always.

So if you are reading this and you feel like you wished things were going different in your life - take a step back because in an instant they can change...and sometimes they do not change for the good - sometimes they have the potential to change for the bad. Be thankful where you are. Give thanks to God for He is so good!

What are you thankful for today?

~ Amy

Marriage Monday - When Problems Arise, How Do You Handle Them?

noreply@blogger.com (Amy's Journey) — Mon, 10 Feb 2014 21:47:00 +0000

We ALL have those days - where you wake up and it seems your whole world has fallen apart. Or, you wake up - and one thing after another goes wrong. PROBLEMS ARISE! It is inevitable that any kind of problem pops up in your day-to-day life. Some are small, some are big, and some are life-changing! I guess the problem isn't "What IF a problem occurs?" More like "When a problem occurs, how am I/we going to handle it?" <--- The answer to that question (and you will have many throughout life) will be one of the most important things that you figure out because ultimately, your reactions and actions will determine the outcome.

I have a friend that is a counselor and he posted one day with the question that was something like "When faced with a problem, how do you handle it? Put these in the order that you deal with problems. a) act, t) think, and f) feel." He had worded differently and my order gave me FAT...lol. My order was bad. My order was wrong. My order was: I feel, act, and then I think. Whoa! We better sit down for a minute. That order is SOOOO wrong that it became clear at that very moment that I needed to change the way that I react to problems.

We should really try to think things through first. Then react. Then feel. Otherwise, you are going to create a world of a mess for you and your family. For example, you and your spouse get into an argument. Your spouse says something that isn't very nice. Of course then we are feeling the hurt and anger so, most of the time, we want to lash out and hurt them back....so we act with something negative and hurtful. Then after it is all said and done, we sit down and think about the horrible things that we said. Yes, I hang my head down in shame because that is the way that I used to do things and, every now and then, I fall in the same trap. I am a work in progress.

Now, let's take a look if we do things differently: You and your spouse get into an argument. Your spouse say something that isn't very nice. You think about the situation and realize that your spouse is angry and is probably just saying hurtful things out of spite. So you thought about the situation briefly and you are not going to hurt your spouse in return. Instead, you are going to act with a calm manner and try to diffuse the situation in finding a reasonable solution without hurting anyone in the process. Then you are going to feel GOOD. Why? Because, more chances than not, your spouse will cool down, you will have acted humbly and NOT prideful, and your spouse will be apologizing to YOU for their actions and most likely, you both will be calm enough to figure out the right solution to your problem.

Don't worry if you mess up. Just keep pushing through and keep trying to think before you do anything else. We all get our buttons pushed from time to time, but just putting forth the effort will make a big difference.

Remember, you and your spouse ARE on the same team. When one of you "wins" the argument, you both really lose!

Now the question is, how do you react when problems arise?

~Amy

Hang on! You ARE Going To Make It!

noreply@blogger.com (Amy's Journey) — Wed, 05 Feb 2014 13:34:00 +0000

Do you ever feel like you are fighting a battle that you just cannot win? Do you ever struggle with something and feel that you have it all under control and just out of the blue you realize you don't have it under control? Those moments are tough, aren't they? I have been there for the past several days and it has been hard but I understand every single one of us is fighting some kind of battle....every single one of us. Our battles may be different but what they bring remains the same - pain, hurt, torture. Sometimes it leads us to anger and sometimes it leads us to depression and sometimes it leads us to just plain self-pity.

Let me encourage you that if you are having a setback know that God has almost led you to your victory. It is always the hardest just before the dawn of the trial. Satan knows that you are so close in winning your battle that he is fighting you the hardest. DO NOT QUIT! DO NOT GIVE UP! And, more importantly, DO NOT GIVE IN to Satan's lies and deceit!

God never promised our lives would be easy. He just promised us that if we followed Him and His ways that it would all be worth it! He knew we would have battles and trials along the way. Here are some verses to prove this:

1 Peter 4:12-13: Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:
¹³But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.

2 Timothy 3:12: Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.

God knows all - the beginning to the end and this trial that you are going through right now is no surprise to Him. What matters is how we handle the trial. When you go through a trial, it is your time to prove your faith in God. He is always there, through every situation that we encounter, but He will not come in to our situation until we invite Him. He is there, by your side at this very moment......waiting for you to invite Him in to your situation so He can come in and make all things new again. But you have to take the first step.

We may not see the purpose of the trial but God is molding our lives into what it should be. When He does the molding it is ALWAYS painful but He promises us joy afterwards. We all need to be molded from time to time and through the fiery trials we must go but always remember - look how coal has to be heated in such a fiery way before it is ever produced into a diamond. If the coal would have cracked during the intense fire it would have just shattered and became nothing, pieces would be lost...but the coal continues to endure the fire and, in the end, it turns out to be a beautiful shining diamond!

So, will today be your day that you say "It's okay. I AM going to make it"?

~ Amy

FREE Today Only - Dave Willis "The 4 Pillars of a Strong Marriage" Video

noreply@blogger.com (Amy's Journey) — Tue, 04 Feb 2014 17:06:00 +0000

If you search the web for anything marriage related, I am sure you have came across something at some point in time by Dave Willis. He has wonderful marriage advice and today, on his site, he is offering a 4-step marriage video on "The 4 Pillars of a Strong Marriage" for FREE - this is usually a $20 value!

In this four-part video teaching program, Dave and Ashley Willis explore the "Four Pillars" that make up a strong and healthy marriage. There is a separate video lesson and discussion questions involving each of the "pillars" which are:

1. Lifelong Love
2. Rock-Solid Trust
3. Effective Communication
4. Passionate Intimacy

As the founders of the facebook Marriage Page (www.StrongerMarriages.org), we have had the privilege of interacting with thousands of couples all over the world. My wife and I have put together this video series as a tool to help couples strengthen their marriages by building (or rebuilding) the “pillars” that hold a marriage together. This conversational-style video format allows us to share personal details from our own life experiences as well as countless marriage-building tips that are guaranteed to strengthen your relationship.

Click HERE to get your FREE download today!

For more marriage-building resources, please visit DaveWillis.org

~Amy

Tasty Tuesday Blog Hop

noreply@blogger.com (Amy's Journey) — Tue, 04 Feb 2014 04:23:00 +0000

Hey guys! I am going to be running a Blog Hop every Tuesday for Tasty Tuesday. I think this will be good for my readers and for fellow bloggers. The readers will have multiple recipes in one place and fellow bloggers will find new blogs to connect with in one place as well.

Also fellow bloggers: I will pick one blogger each week (from my prior weekly Tasty Tuesday Blog Hop) to be featured during the next Blog Hop. I will display information about your blog and you will be No. 2 on the list! So be sure to add your post to be include. Then just copy the link and paste on your blog as well!

Readers: It may take a few weeks to get going (but maybe not) but keep checking to see what new recipes are added from bloggers everywhere!

Now let's get to hopping and cooking!

Here is my recipe for this Tasty Tuesday!

Are you familiar with Gino's Pubwiches? I absolutely LOVE the ham ones! I am a bit on the frugal side at times and I think they are a little pricey so I tried making my own and let me say, this tastes identical to them! But you have to be picky when you are doing the crust! I think that is the key. Take a look at this.....it even looks like the restaurant ones, right?

YUM! Here is the directions on how to make this delicious sandwich:

Ingredients
1 package dry pizza crust mix
3 to 4 slices ham (I used the ham steaks from Farmland)
4 ounces shredded mozzerella cheese
4 tablespoons mayonnaise
1/2 cup diced onion
1 tomato, sliced
lettuce

Directions
Fix pizza crust per instructions. Make sure to roll it in a ball and let sit for 5 minutes. Flatten pizza crust onto sprayed pizza pan. Press ham slices between paper towels to remove excess water. On 1/2 of crust, place ham slices so that they cover that half. On the other half, place onion and cover with cheese. Bake crust according to package directions. (I baked mine for 5 minutes at 475 degrees). Remove from oven and place cooked ham slices on top of cheese half. If there is any excess moisture on the crust that you removed the ham from, press with paper towels. Place back in the oven for 5 minutes until crust is fully baked. (Pay attention to this step so you don't burn it...lol)Remove from oven. Spread mayonnaise on empty half and add tomato slices. Slice crust down the middle and fold over. Cut finished product into four equal pieces. Serve warm or cold.

~Amy

FREE Downloadable Book - February 3, 2014

noreply@blogger.com (Amy's Journey) — Mon, 03 Feb 2014 18:09:00 +0000

Today's FREE downloadable book looks like a great one - especially for our economy.

This has a 4-star rating on Amazon.

This is normally priced at $6.99 but today you can download for FREE!

How To Find A Job: When There Are No Jobs (Book 1) A Necessary Job Search and Career Planning Guide for Today's Job Market (Find A Job Series) <-- click on link

About the Book: Paul Rega is president of a retained executive search firm he founded in 1985. His provocative new book strikes a nerve with millions of displaced workers and goes well beyond the principles of job hunting. He introduces a revolutionary new concept in career management and personal development called Intuitive Personal Assessment (IPA). Paul takes his readers on a powerful journey as he tells a gripping story about his own career and the unique challenges he's faced as an executive recruiter.

The author shares his vast knowledge of career planning and the inner workings of the job search process, citing hundreds of proven and effective job search techniques. He explains how to market your background to a targeted audience, interviewing skills and techniques, network building strategies, how to utilize personal and business contacts, effective use of social media, including LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter, insider tips on working with recruiters, salary and benefits negotiation, how to write a resume, cover and follow-up letters, how to start and succeed in your own business and much more.

Despite the many challenges faced by those suffering as a result of the weak job market, Paul believes that change in one's life can be positive. He explains that, "Change throughout your life is inevitable, and as your life changes so often does your career." His book is an effective guide that will provide you with the necessary tools, skills and inside knowledge from a professional recruiter to help you navigate through difficult economic times and find a new job or change careers.

Let me know if you grabbed this deal!

~Amy

Does Anyone Want To Stay Married Anymore?

noreply@blogger.com (Amy's Journey) — Mon, 03 Feb 2014 05:01:00 +0000

I have been extremely excited to get my first post going on Marriage Monday but when I sat down to write my blog post, I was overwhelmed. Why? Because I have so much to say (HA! That is an understatement!) and I didn't know where to start! Fast forward a few HOURS - yes, HOURS! Now here we go....

You better sit down for these two startling facts:

The divorce rate for the United States for 2013 was that approximately 50% of people that are married would divorce!
In America, there is one divorce every 13 seconds. That's 6,646 divorces per day and 46,523 divorces per week!

These statistics sadden me to no end.

You know what "I" think the problem is? I think that everyone has became too selfish, prideful and arrogant. (OUCH!) And I am including myself in this as well! Pride goeth before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. (Proverb 16:18).

Many people do not want to take the time to try to make someone else happy. Let's be realistic - you got married because you loved your spouse sooooo much that you couldn't live without them but when you got married, you thought that it was okay to stop trying - that they took the bait, now they are YOURS, and nothing will change that! SO. NOT. TRUE! Things can change in an instant; hence, that is why the divorce rate is so alarmingly high!

Let me just say, if everyone spent half as much time on their marriage as they do their regular job, I think there would be a lot more happy people in the world. Marriage IS hard work - most, if not all, of the time. Marriage is like a garden - you have to keep tending to it, nurturing it, watering it, pulling the weeds out of it; otherwise, if you didn't do those things, your garden would not grow - same with your marriage - it has to be tended to on a regular, constant basis. But you say "My spouse does not do this or my spouse does not do that." I say "SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO GIVE WHAT YOU DIDN'T GET IN ORDER TO GET WHAT YOU HAVE ALWAYS WANTED." Yeah, I said that and I have said it to MANY people! =)

Throughout my life I have found that it is optimal for a marriage to have two people trying but, let me tell you, if ONE person is willing to humble themselves and fight for their marriage, the marriage can change in a great direction. BUT there has to be at least ONE person willing to do that. "But I am the one that deserves my spouse to go out of their way for ME." you say...."I do this and I do that for them, what do I get in return? This isn't fair. It should be all about me, me, me." <--- does this sound familiar? I think it does in MANY marriages. Just remember - marriage is not 50/50 - DIVORCE IS 50/50. The next time you have an argument and you are so determined about "winning", remember when one of you wins, you both truly lose. You are both on the same team.

Look at it from this point of view - it doesn't matter how you end up having a happy marriage as long as you get there. Picture you and your spouse in your 80s, happy as ever. I don't think you are going to look over at your spouse and think "Gee, I should have never humbled myself years ago. Even though we are so happy now, I still shouldn't have gave in." No one would EVER say that! Instead, you will be both be sitting in rocking chairs on the front porch of your home that you raised your children in, smiling at each other, holding hands and thinking "Every ounce of energy, ever sacrifice was truly worth it!" It's time for us to learn to respect our spouses and humble ourselves before our spouses and before God!

James 4:6 (KJV) -But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.

What can you do today to let grace flow through in your marriage by being humble?

~Amy

FREE Downloadable Book - February 2, 2014

noreply@blogger.com (Amy's Journey) — Sun, 02 Feb 2014 23:34:00 +0000

I will also be trying to post daily FREE downloadable books! I am a sucker for FREE books (I have found MANY great ones! I am so glad that my Kindle can hold so many!

Of note, if you don't have a Kindle, you can download the Kindle app for FREE. And if you don't have a Kindle or a tablet, you can download the app for FREE for your computer.

Today's FREE downloadable book from Amazon, February 2, 2014:

No Place for a Lady (Heart of the West Book #1): A Novel

This is a 4-star rating on Kindle!

Book Description: Crystal Clark arrives in Colorado's Yampa Valley amid the splendor of a high country June in 1892. After the death of her father, Crystal is relieved to be leaving the troubles of her Georgia life behind to visit her aunt Kate's cattle ranch. Despite being raised as a proper Southern belle, Crystal is determined to hold her own in this wild land--even if a certain handsome foreman doubts her abilities.

Just when she thinks she's getting a handle on the constant male attention from the cowhands and the catty barbs from some of the local young women, tragedy strikes the ranch. Crystal will have to tap all of her resolve to save the ranch from a greedy neighboring landowner. Can she rise to the challenge? Or will she head back to Georgia defeated?

Book one in the Heart of the West series, No Place for a Lady is full of adventure, romance, and the indomitable human spirit. Readers will fall in love with the Colorado setting and the spunky Southern belle who wants to claim it as her own.

On a side note, what kind of books interest you?

~ Amy

FREE App of the Day - February 2, 2014

noreply@blogger.com (Amy's Journey) — Sun, 02 Feb 2014 23:28:00 +0000

Hey guys! I LOVE all things FREE, especially when it comes to my Kindle or the kid's tablets! I will try to post daily the FREE apps that I can find. Now who doesn't like that? =)

FREE APP OF THE DAY - February 2, 2014:

Furiosity <--- click on link to go directly to page in a new window.

Details about Furiosity: Strip away every layer of the game. Every level has its own logic and there are 144 levels. Can you solve them all? 144 levels - each level has it's own logic. This is an android app.

Normal Price: 0.99 per Amazon
Today's Price: FREE

Enjoy!

~ Amy

Detailed Blog Information and Schedule

noreply@blogger.com (Amy's Journey) — Sun, 02 Feb 2014 13:06:00 +0000

Tomorrow will be my kick-off with steady blog posts. Here is a list of what my blog is going to contain on a daily basis:

Monday - Marriage Monday: I will be writing about marriages and, in my opinion, talking about things that make a marriage WORK. Respect, honor, love, sacrifice, forgiveness, etc. Marriage Monday is going to be one of my favorite days! =)

Tuesday - Tasty Tuesday: I will be posting new and old recipes that I have tried and we will be talking all about food! We have to eat, right?

Wednesday - Wednesday will be a "whatever goes" day. It's hard to tell what will be the topic on Wednesday so be on the lookout!

Thursday - Thankful Thursday: I will be focusing on thankfulness. This can touch many aspects.

Friday - Family Friday: I will be focusing on family and all things related, kids, husbands, wives, etc. This should be fun too!
Saturday - Saving Saturday: This will be a mix-up of freebies found, cheap living, coupons and anything related to saving money and cheap living.

Sunday - Soul Sunday: I will be talking about our wonderful Creator and talking about faith!

I am very excited to restart this journey! I will be having various giveaways. I have three lined up already. In order to be eligible to enter my giveaways, you will have to FOLLOW ME on THIS blog. It is very easy - go to the right side of my blog and where you see FOLLOWERS, just click and enter your information. There will be other options to gain more entries for the giveaways as well like following me on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/journeywithamy and on Twitter as well at http://www.twitter.com/journeywithamy. So be sure to follow me on these other sites.

I hope everyone has a blessed day and today, just look around and be thankful for all of your blessings!

~ Amy

Time To Start Blogging.....Again

noreply@blogger.com (Amy's Journey) — Fri, 31 Jan 2014 06:56:00 +0000

Here I am again, contemplating whether to put my efforts in my blog again since I accidentally deleted the whole blog when I was changing my design! I had over 800 followers and lost EVERY. SINGLE. THING. on it!

Even though I lost my blog, I have been getting swamped with giveaway items. So since it has been on my mind lately, I will probably start blogging...again. I used to be so good at it and could whip up a post before you knew it! Now I have to re-familiarize myself with it again. So be on the lookout and hopefully I can gain that many followers again soon!

Again, the content will be on faith, family, food, kids, giveaways, cheap living and just rambling here and there! See you soon!

Until I get my Facebook badge added, you can follow me there at http://www.facebook.com/journeywithamy

Amy's Journey

Letting Go of Offenses...Let It Go!

The Acts of Being Humble

Lifelong Love Affair by Jimmy Evans book ***GIVEAWAY**

Candy Bar Brownies......Anyone?!?!?!

Bible Journaling - A Fun Way For Deep Devotion!

I Am Officially Back...By Multiple Requests!

FREE TODAY - Amish Proverbs: Words of Wisdom From the Simple Life

Today's Freebies Around the Web

Marriage Monday - Respect: Your Husband Needs It!

Trials and Tribulations - Now is the Time for FAITH to Conquer All

James 1:2-4 (KJV)

14-Day Spring Cleaning Challenge - Are You In?

Lots Going On......

FREEBIES...We All Love Them!

Thankful Thursday - What Does It Take To Truly Be Thankful?

Marriage Monday - When Problems Arise, How Do You Handle Them?

Hang on! You ARE Going To Make It!

FREE Today Only - Dave Willis "The 4 Pillars of a Strong Marriage" Video

Tasty Tuesday Blog Hop

FREE Downloadable Book - February 3, 2014

Does Anyone Want To Stay Married Anymore?

FREE Downloadable Book - February 2, 2014

FREE App of the Day - February 2, 2014

Detailed Blog Information and Schedule

Time To Start Blogging.....Again

Lifelong Love Affair by Jimmy Evans book *GIVEAWAY