Go Boldly Ministries

Here we are Thanksgiving week, wow!?!  Hasn't time flown by this year?  It sure has for me.  I feel like we were just in the hospital in January with my sweetheart (the LORD is good, he is fine now), and next week we are into December for goodness sake. We were blessed this last week to have a surprise visit from some old friends. I love when you can get together with friends that you have not seen for years and conversations pick up as if it were yesterday. They are dear to us, and we are so glad they stopped by. For Thanksgiving, we are going to go to be with a friend's family. How lovely and kind is that for friends to open their home to us on a day meant for family. True grace and kindness. But let's be real Thanksgiving is about families getting together, eating meals together and having conversations with people that perhaps you don't always talk to....but it is not always full of grace and kindness. So I wanted to take a look how scripture can support during ...

Have you tried mesh laundry bags?  They fold up and tuck away when you don't need them. They are light so they are easy to carry and because they are moveable, not hard, the handles come together for ease in carrying up and down stairs.  You can buy them at Walmart and find them on the walls hanging near the mesh sweater bags.  Here are a few pics in case you are not familiar wit them.  

It has been quite a week. :)  Let me correct that, it has been quite a month.  I was in a situation where I knew that I had to change my outlook on things or I my heart would not be able to withstand the frustration.  Let me just tell you the story. A friend of mine posted a video online of a vendor making a flower out of cotton candy.  You see, my husband is a glass blower, a lover of children and all things that make children happy.  And cotton candy definitely fits that bill.  Look at it.  Isn't it yummy?! So my husband does what he does best, researched out the best cotton candy machine made and bought one just to make cotton candy for the local kids this Halloween.  He is such a kind man and believed that this may be the only opportunity some of the local kids may ever get cotton candy, and well every kid deserves to have cotton candy and so, we were going to fill the bill. Here he is handing out cotton candy: pink (vanilla), blue (bl...

I want to thank our Lord for seafood buffets.  Have you ever been to one?  My goodness.  The scripture in Philippians that God will meet all our needs is an understatement.  Well I know it does not "specifically" apply to seafood buffets :), but the one I went to this weekend was seafood 'never ending.' Just when you thought they had pulled all of the crab available in the ocean, they refilled the buffet with more!  Where do they get all that crab?! We were having a wonderful time on this special occasion; we were celebrating, laughing, taking pictures, our hearts (and bellies) were full. While sitting there, I began to ponder how I had found out about that particular restaurant. I realized that a dear friend recommended it. Here I am sitting in the abundance of food that the Lord provided, grateful for the financial ability to go to this restaurant and I am humbled by one more blessing that our LORD provides for my family.......friendships. This i...

I am not a buffet eater.  I just don't eat enough to get my monies worth.  But crab, that is my weakness, and you can bet I am going to get my monies worth.  Twice I have been to a seafood buffet. The first time I ate all I could eat and I left no room to take advantage of the dessert bar! This time I changed my strategy and it worked so well I thought I would share it with you.  My first visit, I followed suit and piled my plate high with crab and headed to my table to eat my haul.  But I realized that if I only took one crab at a time, it was hot when I ate it.  It wasn't like there would not be more crab when I was ready to eat more. No need to pile it up and let it get cold. Secondly, since I did not get dessert last time I decided to remedy that and have dessert starting at the beginning.  Like a side salad with my crab, except it was a "side dessert."  I just picked up one dessert as i returned to my table with my crab. This ensured...

So my study group has been studying  Gideon , by Priscilla Shirer.  I was not quite sure what to expect, as she said, he (Gideon) takes up only 3 chapters of one book in 66 books. :)  This story, although I had not studied much before, has been chalked full of learning opportunities. Take for instance, that when we meet Gideon in Judges Ch 6, the angel of the LORD has found Gideon, hiding from the Midianites. Now first, it is widely accepted that when the term, "angel of the LORD" is used, that this is referring to the theophany of the LORD, a preincarnate manifestation of Christ. So Gideon is in a winepress, thrashing wheat, doing his chores for his clan and along comes the preincarnate of Christ, God himself to talk to him.  That would be quite something, don't ya think? :) Even more interesting is that Gideon was not just in the winepress, he was hiding out.  You see, the Midianites, a near by tribe had taken dominion over Mannasseh, the tribe that Gideon w...

Do you have a frozen pound of hamburger and you need to thaw it in less than an hour?  You don't want to use the microwave because you don't like the way it half cooks the meat?   I have a tip for you! Teflon Coated Aluminum!!  Yes, a common ordinary teflon coated aluminum pan.  Use a thick pan, not thin. The aluminum is a conductor of heat. So here is what you do.  Heat up tap water.  Rinse the pan with hot water. Place your hamburger onto the teflon pan.  Wait 10-15 minutes and repeat, flipping the hamburger to thaw the second side. Repeat the process until thawing is complete.  To speed up the process, remove meat as it thaws.   However; if you have 30 minutes to an hour, let it sit and flip it once, no need to monitor. When the hamburger thaws, it is as fresh as if you bought it that day. No cooked bits, no wasted parts. This idea comes from the Miracle Thaw, which was sold in the 70's.  I still have my mom's and I use it ...

I don't typically watch Rachel Ray, but I learned a great tip from her when I did one day a few years ago.  To preserve your lettuce longer, wet and wring out a paper towel.  Wrap the paper towel around the lettuce and place the wrapped lettuce into a ziploc bag with the air squeezed out.  That's it! :)  Let me know if it helps or if you have a helpful lettuce preserving tip.

Haha, what a title!  Beth Moore said WHAT?!?!  Sounds so controversial, doesn't it? Last Saturday, I attended the Beth Moore Simulcast with several ladies. There is just something about the impact of worshiping with a small group. I would like to thank each of the ladies I went with.  I did not know them; yet, they made me feel right at home. I have studied with Beth Moore for several years.  I love her passion for the Lord and her zeal for life, and we can't forget that hair!  If you have followed her, you know that her studies have over the years, grown in depth and shall we say volume?!  I love diving into my bible and researching with both feet, but there was a simplicity about this particular simulcast that Beth did last Saturday that was wonderful.   The theme, "Being Female Well."  The goal was to equip us for the way we do womanhood for the rest of our lives.  She shared 7 key points: One gathering of many women yearning fo...

A friend of mine introduced me to "vinyl disposable gloves." I bought mine under her direction at the dollar store, 1 box, quantity 50.  They are disposable gloves that she was using to clean her bathroom with, to prevent cleaner from getting on her hands. Excellent idea!  So I bought some which I use for cleaning, but I also use them in the kitchen to handle chicken.  In addition, I use them to cut up hot peppers so I don't get the pepper juice in my eye when I am trying to take out my contacts!  I love them! Cheap, easy to use and multiple applications.  Isn't great when we share ideas to make life easier?  Do you use these?  Do you have another idea that can make our lives easier? Share! :)

I was just talking with a dear friend recently who has gone through so much as of late.  She is physically, emotionally and spiritually drained.  I can relate because my health has been tugging at me and causing me to struggle a bit and when that happens, I just don't see things clearly.  I have a saying, "When we do not see things clearly we are seeing through, 'pop bottled' glasses," which distort our vision.  Renee Swope in   A Confident Heart  ( page 217), discusses how we intake memories either through God's promises or through our insecurities.  I connect to this because I believe that is exactly what we do when we look through our "pop bottled" glasses. We see life through our insecurities, not through God's promises. One of my insecurities is opening up and sharing with others. I love to listen and help others, but I am not big on sharing. :) God has done wonders in my life, and those near and dear to me only know the very tip of the...

As you know, our bible study is currently studying "A Confident Heart," by Renee Swope. I love this book. Renee shares her personal stories and has a great way to connect with her audience. This book has had a big impact on me, and I recommend it for anyone who struggles with having a confident heart in God's promises. Today I wanted to share my learning about 3 familiar scriptures discussed in Chapter 9. I can't tell you the number of times I have read these scriptures, but today, I saw something different. We all know that happens, it is the beauty of God's Word; if you ask him to share who he is and to speak to you, he will. That was no exception today. Thank you Lord. So I thought I would share my learning, I pray it opens up new meaning for you as well. Luke 10:38-42 Mary and Martha The first scripture is probably very familiar to all, especially to us ladies. Martha and Mary are throwing a dinner party for Jesus Christ himself. And while Martha...

I was so encouraged recently when a God fearing woman who I respect very much sent me such an encouraging email at just the right time. Thank you Ann! I was feeling down, discouraged, and looking around it seemed like everyone else had it all together, but me, you know the feeling, right?  And I know why I was feeling this way. I had not been feeling well physically and I started watching tv, which for me is a huge sucking mechanism, one that pulls me in and allows the evil one to prey on all of my insecurities. I was feeling blue, and once again questioning, "Who am I to think that I can write a blog, especially a Christian blog?"  This is an ongoing struggle for me, but I keep trying because I feel that is what God wants me to do.  So, I chose to stop this madness!  I did an about face, turned off the tv and dove into my current bible study, "A Confident Heart," by Renee Swope. And the Lord blessed me so!  I read this message that I have to share with yo...

My bible study group is currently studying the book,   A Confident Heart , by Renee Swope. We are all enjoying her candid look at our constant struggle of feeling that we don't, won't, will never......measure up . This is a lie that the accuser tells us over and over hoping that we will believe it. Well, stand tall !  We have a Savior that proves that feeling is a lie , and that is what Renee Swope is teaching us in   A Confident Heart .  In chapter 6, "When Doubt Whispers, 'I'm Not Good Enough,'" she has given us some wonderful scriptures to lean on and some emboldening statements for us to use when we are feeling attacked.   The following are excerpts from pgs 107-108, 113-114. Remember, our Savior used scripture to fight Satan; scripture is what we too shall use!!  I pray these excerpts encourage you as much as they did our group.  Have a blessed week.  :) WHO I AM IN CHRIST I am accepted ...... John 1:12      ...

Summertime means WATERMELON!!! Yes!! My favorite time of year, watermelon time.  :) I buy one about every other day.  :D Here are my thoughts on how to pick one.  1) Be sure its has a uniform shape and is free of defects.  2) Look at his belly . His belly, where he has been lying on the ground should be yellow, not white or green. If his belly is not creamy yellow , put him back! And 3) the sound test .  Now I know this is subjective. But an old farmer taught me this some time ago. Take a tennis shoe.  Not flip flops, but a tennis shoe and thump on the heal : the small side section between the top canvas and the sole of the shoe. That is the sound!  It is a dense, full sound with some push back.  Try several shoes and you will hear what I am talking about.  Just thump your melons until you hear it.  Try and if at first you don't succeed, adjust the sound you are testing for and try again.  You'll get it. Happy Watermelon hunting...

Hello!   It has been a while since I have written. I was preparing to celebrate a birthday. A milestone actually of my beloved sweetheart.  We celebrated with a bang , let's say that (he got to shoot his Revolutionary War Cannon).  :D  But in preparing for this celebration I began to reflect about birthdays.  People celebrate birthdays differently, some with a big bang and some with a quiet whisper.  To each his own I suppose.  I have always treasured birthdays.  You see, I was a very small baby and almost didn't make it, so I am glad I am here.  But during this season, God laid it on my heart to consider that it is not just a birthday.  It is a celebration of life . A celebration of CREATION .   He knit you together in your mother's womb .  Think about that. You are not here randomly.  Not now, not with this family, not celebrating this birthday at this timing.  It's a celebration of God's creation .  Wow. Th...

If you are person on the go (who isn't these days) and need a quick meal, I love Bertolli Classics, Meal for 2 .  You can find them in the frozen food section.  My favorite so far is Chicken Margherita and Penne.  Now, listen, I am a fresh food kinda gal, but sometimes you just need a quick, "go to" meal. And these dishes, which are ready in 12 minute s , are surprisingly good.  Bertolli did something interesting.  They already made the pasta and the sauces , so they froze the sauce into what looks like ice cube trays, and added meat and cheese.  They are just over $3.00 per person , and a quick meal on a busy day.   What a great find!  :)

Why is it, that when we are down, hurting, and needing love and nurturing, we run from Christ?  This question plagues me.  I ponder it often. Just recently, I was struggling with an emotional situation, hurting inside, feeling unworthy, yet I did not stop, get on my knees and go before the one who forgives, loves, and can heal me.  Instead, I tried to wrestle with it myself, hurting all the while.  I know I am not the only one.  This is a frequent topic of conversation in our bible study group. Hurting...run from Christ. Make a misstep...run from Christ. Take a giant leap right into the pit...run from Christ.  We do it every day. We must STOP!  I don't know why we do it, I do it too, but we must STOP!  Jesus Christ, our Savior, came here for one reason.  To save us!  Without our hurting, missteps and flat out leaping into the pit, there would have been no need for him to have come.  He knows it all and he loves us anyway. We are ...

Happy Resurrection Day!!!!!  What a wonderful day to be alive! Truly alive! Our Lord, Jesus Christ died, that we may live! May we live each and every day with that knowledge in our hearts. Today is Easter, and I could write to you about the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, but I don't want to.  Each of the gospels share his story in the following chapters: Mt 27, Mk 15, Lk 23, Jn 19. What I want to share with you is who my Savior is to me and what he has done for me, for I am so grateful for my Lord.  He is my King of Kings, my Lord of Lords, my Prince of Peace, my All in All.  I truly do not know what I would do, where I would be without Jesus Christ. When I am in the pit, he draws me out. When I am hurting, he puts salve on my wounds. When I see the world and myself negatively....he corrects my vision. When I feel down, and I don't love myself, he loves me for me....and then I love me again. When joy and laughter escapes me, he fills me up like a ...

God is amazing!!  Spring has sprung and everywhere you look, new life is abundant. Isn't it wonderful?! But I must say, you must look closely for if you don't you can miss some of God's most precious gifts. Right now, you may not have even noticed, but many yards/grasses are filled with little purple, or purple/white flowers.  They are mowed with the grass and frankly, I never gave a second thought about the weed until my husband called my attention to it.  What do they say, "One man's weed is another man's bouquet of roses."  Actually, I am pretty sure I just made that up, but in this case, I think I am right.  :) Now I really hope that ya'll don't already know what I am about to show you, because that would ruin my big reveal.....which I thought was pretty spectacular.  But regardless, our Lord sure aims to please. Let me give you a better view of the little flower that we walk on and mow...... Where you surprised?  I was!  I was walking...

So many times, we are just exhausted.  Overwhelmed.  We just feel like we can't get our head above water. And we look around and everyone else is smiling, laughing, life is good for them...why not me? We know that is not really the truth.  That others are struggling as well.  That if we were to sit down with them and ask them.....they would say, if they were honest, that they feel the same way. So here we are, on Palm Sunday.  In recognition of a God who came to earth for us.  A King who rode to his ultimate death on a donkey.  He came to serve in order to give us life. He has gone through it all. And he knows all that we go through.  He has counted every hair on our head.  So when you are down and out.  Please recognize, that you are human.  You are not the only one struggling.  You cannot get out of your pit by yourself. Don't try.  If you are a Christian, look to Jesus and hold on tight.  He is able...let Him pu...

Hey guys, have you ever just felt compelled to do something. Well, that is what is happening here.  I feel compelled to talk about and list scripture based on a various topics.  I guess we will see how many topics and which, as we go along.  :) Scripture is so important in the battle of our faith.  I use Christ as my example.  A story often told is when Jesus is on the mountaintop and Satan in temping him.  You can find this story and read it on your own in Matthew 4:1-11.  There are many things you can learn and apply to your daily life from this scripture but the one that applies to our discussion today is that Satan tempts Christ three times. And three times, Christ cites scripture to counteract Satan.   Scripture. .....  Something we have at our fingertips. We, yes I am definitely including myself, try so hard to "will" difficulty away, to believe that we are "strong enough" to make it through, just "keep fighting."  But Christ, ...

Friendships are a true treasure, and I could not see that more clearly than I could this weekend. I went to the Extraordinary Women's Conference with several women. Some were dear friends that I have had for several years, some are recent finds that I cannot wait to forge ahead and get to know better and some I had only just met. Conferences are a wonderful way to bring together women who are new to each other, having only in common a sincere love and passion for Christ.  Scripture has so much to say about friendship, but today I chose a verse out of Proverbs.  Verse 17:17 says, "A friend is loyal, and a brother is born to help in time of need." NLT Perhaps you are more familiar with the more common NIV version, a "friend loves at all times." But this weekend the second half of this scripture especially the NLT really came into play.   You see, I have some health issues, and often struggle.  This weekend, my Lord, surrounded me with friends, old and new who...

This was my first time experiencing an Extraordinary Women's conference. But if my experience this weekend is what this program is all about; I laughed, I cried, I worshiped, and I searched my heart in new ways, learning from many different speakers. James says we cannot know what the new year will bring, but Lord willing, I will be there next year. It was well worth the money.

Today's tip...they always say to "Be Prepared." Well that is awfully vague. But after this week I am going to be more specific, Be prepared to assess and address a burn BEFORE you get one. I grabbed the handle of a pan that was just pulled out of a 350 degree oven. Not smart, I know. But I know I am not the only one who has done this. I was blessed with a great prayer team (thank you ladies), the one and only Healer, Jesus Christ, and the prior knowledge of how to handle a burn. So I would like to pass that knowledge onto you so that you too can be prepared before you get burned. You might be surprised with the protocol. Since I am not an expert, I am sending you to Mayo Clinic. http://www.mayoclinic.org/first-aid/first-aid-burns/basics/ART-20056649

Hey guys, it's winter and my hands are a mess: dry, cracking, even my nails are splitting. I have tried a ton of solutions, none have worked until now. I found a wonderful product called WORKING HANDS. It not only helped my hands, is healing my splitting nails, but also has smoothed out the heals of my feet! Plus, I just learned that they have a second product, HEALTHY FEET - don't you know that I bought it! :) If you are having troubles with your hands this winter, I recommend that you try WORKING HANDS. I pray it works as well for you as it has for me. It has been a life saver!!!!

Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.  No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.  1 John 4:11-12 Do you reach out/call your loved ones, or do you wait for them to contact you?  Do you plan/set aside time for personal one on one discussion, or are you just happy when it happens?  Are you the one who writes to your loved ones “just because,” or perhaps writing just isn’t your thing?  Do you reach out when you are hurting, or do you keep it inside and hope that no one notices? Self-Assessment Let’s do an honest self-assessment.  As you read the questions above, where did you fall?  Are you more the person that takes the action, the opposite, or perhaps some of both?  Well read the questions again, thinking specifically of a good friend .  Did that change your responses?  Next, try reading them thinking about your spouse .  Any ...