July 2024
Hello friends,
I wanted to thank you for being faithful readers, it truly spurs me on in this calling to write. The truth is that every writer longs to encourage, using words to highlight the deepest longings of the heart and awaken the soul. Writers hope to inspire through the creativity of storytelling. My joy is to cheer you on closer to Jesus, by sharing the stories of my life that magnify Gods presence in the everyday.
If you are encouraged, please feel free to share the God Shaped blog and Flourishing Note with your friends! You can subscribe at Godshape.blog below.
My Verse:
“But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.” (Jeremiah 17:7-8)
This is a verse that keeps popping up for me. Our faith walk is not always easy, and I wrestle. This is a verse that helps me to take a moment, evaluating life, and seeing things with new eyes so I can flourish again.
Flourish:
Three questions to ask yourself and reflect on as we say goodbye to June and hello to July. Write these questions down and make a commitment to them.
1. What was one thing you started doing in June that refreshed your life and will continue doing in July?
This is simple, but because I am the kind of person that keeps going and going this is hard. My husband recently purchased a porch swing for me, and I have been taking naps on it. I learned that naps are wonderful and can contribute to making the Sabbath Day extra restful!
2. What have you discovered in the past month that has not been given the attention it needs and deserves?
There are a few things but the most obvious is my plants and new herb garden. I keep forgetting to water those beauties. The herbs looked wilted until I gave them water. This was a good spiritual reminder of how important my time with Jesus is indeed!
3. What does living intentionally and on purpose mean to you?
When I wake up, I pray, and I want to do this with more intention and purpose. I want to take hold of my thoughts before the day breaks away. I want to say yes to the things that nourish me and my family. I want to maintain a grateful posture by leaning in on Jesus!!!
My favorite song right now:
Find Your People- Drew Holcomb and The Neighbors
My dear friend sent me this song. I just loved it, as it spoke to the longings of my heart in this precious season of my life where I am determined to be purposeful! It has a nice beat and rhythm to it too. Listen to it here…
My new favorite word:
Curmudgeon. It’s a fun word to say. The other day a pastor at my church brought up the word and told a cute story about how it’s important to not be a curmudgeon type of person. I just loved it and its definition. It means: A bad-tempered, difficult, cantankerous person.
The last couple years, my children and I like to pick a word for a while that we don’t hear or use very often and play around with it. Our favorite thing to say now is, “you seem like you are about to go curmudgeon over this.” I think these little moments are what makes us just US!
Books I am reading:
The Garden Within by Anita Phillips
It is taking me forever to read this book because it is so rich. Talk about spiritual insight that keeps you digging deeper. If you are looking to grow and be stretched, then this book is for you. So many spiritual gems waiting to awaken your soul.
The Power of A Positive Mom by Karol Ladd
Being a mom is my absolute favorite part of my life, but we all fall short and lose our footing trying to raise healthy, strong, and confident children. Karol has a way of relating to the desires of your momma heart, pointing you back to Jesus, and making you feel like any mistakes you may have made become teaching moments not only for, you but your children as well.
Conscious Discipline by Dr. Becky A. Baily
I read this book for a college course I took a couple years ago. I really admired so many principles I learned that I decided to read it again for fun. Having children and working with children, I find it helpful to branch out. It is important to me to fill my toolbox with new ideas that help positively shape the children in my life. This book opens your eye to see that every necessary ingredient in healthy relationships is taking time. Time to communicate, time to understand, and time to create a caring environment in which one will thrive.
These books are truly edifying, and they keep me wanting to go back. Re-read, highlight, and grow from all that I am learning from them. I hope they inspire you as well!
New exercise challenge I am doing:
50 countertop pushups. Go for it, friends, you got this, so make it all count!
New Recipe for the month:
Meet my sister Amy. Amy is a child of God, wife, mother of three, grandmother of three, and she can whip up just about anything in the kitchen at any time. God gave her the gift of hospitality and the ability to make any yummy food out of practically nothing. Amy has many talents and beautiful attributes to bless her family with, but in the kitchen this is a girl we can learn from.
Gouda-Stuffed Wagyu-Mushroom Burger Ingredients:
- 32 oz ground wagyu beef
- 16 oz mushrooms (8 oz of white and baby bella sliced)
- 2 Tbsp unsweetened butter
- 1 Tbsp minced garlic
- 1 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 2 Tbsp adobo seasoning
- 2 Tsp Montreal steak seasoning
- 1 Tsp truffle oil (for cooking)
Gouda chunk stuffed into each patty Muenster cheese slice to top each burger Pretzel Buns, baby arugula, sliced tomato, avocado slices, mayo and BBQ sauce
Directions:
Finely chop mushrooms, add minced garlic, Worcestershire sauce, adobo seasoning, Montreal steak seasoning and unsweetened butter to beef and mushroom mixture. Form the patty into a ball, place the gouda into the center and flatten the patty around the cheese. Heat the truffle oil in a frying pan, cook on medium heat for 5 to 7 minutes on each side or until your doneness preference. Top with muenster cheese and add bacon strawberry jalapeno jam.
Bacon Strawberry Jalapeno Jam:
In a small pot, combine, bring to a boil and simmer for 30 minutes to reduce:
- ½ Lrg red onion
- 1 Tbsp minced garlic
- 1 Tbsp balsamic vinegar
- 1 Tbsp sherry vinegar
- 3 Tbsp strawberry preserves
- 2 Tbsp apricot preserves
- 1 Tbsp hoisin
- ½ cup of molasses
- 3 Tbsp low sodium soy sauce
- 1 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 2 cups bacon crumbles
- 2 large jalapenos sliced
- 1 cup whole strawberries
2 Tbsp sugar: 1 white, 1 brown
On that note, don’t forget that you are loved and invited to flourish!
In Him,
Billie
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Beautifully written. Love it.
Wonderful words of encouragement Billie ❤️