I Am

I desire to lay My head on your heart...
To see your biggest dreams come to life...
For you to see My face in all its Glory...
I have all the best intentions for your walk, and you can fully trust My ways.
You can search all the earth and what it contains...
But you will never find anyone or anything like Me.
But I will wait for you...
I will never give up on you...
But most of all, I will ALWAYS love you.
There is nothing that you can do...
That I will not forgive you for doing.
Nothing has the power to separate us...
Even before you were formed in your mother's womb...
I created you into this perfect, beautiful, glorifying creation...
That reflects My Son.
When I call on you, may you answer...
As many are called, but few...
Are CHOSEN.
Once you have fully been enlightened by My Presence...
You will never be the same.
May you spend each day praising the goodness I placed inside My Son...
That now dwells inside of your soul through My Spirit.
Remember, He is the doorway to My heart.

(written in the eyes of the Father to His children)

Follow by reading these chapters:  Matthew 8, Jeremiah 29, Revelation 22, Isaiah 40, Psalm 86, 1 Peter 3, Joshua 1, 1 John 4, Matthew 18, Romans 3, Romans 8, Psalm 139, Ephesians 1, Genesis 1, 2 Corinthians 3, Psalm 17, Matthew 22, Hebrews 6, 1 Thessalonians 1, 1 Corinthians 3, John 14.

Coming Up For Air....

Even though sometimes, things happen to us in life and we will never understand why, there is something beautiful that can come out of a place of pain, if we allow so.  It's when we run from pain that we find ourselves down a path of confusion and unhappiness. We stay busy, keep moving, so we don't have to look at the wound bleeding out right in front of us, pouring out from our hearts. We try to block it with a cork, a lousy bandiad, a temporary pain reliever, but this darn tug keeps coming back every time we sit down in a quiet room alone and have nothing left to distract us from our own self.

Then the waves of how one truly feels, reflect steps in. Everything hits you like a crashing wave, because you have been trying to hold all of the water up with this dam only made by human hands.

For such a young age, I have learned many lessons and been shown testimonies of wisdom and understanding.  These moments have changed my life, some hard, some remarkable.

We all say it and hear it said over and over again. "Life is short, follow your dreams." Yet, more than half of our population is sitting at a job that cannot bear to believe they spend over 40 hours a week doing.  That is more time you spend anywhere else.  So you better love that place!  In the reality of it all, that place better feel like home, But the struggle for most, is that it doesn't.

So how come we keep doing it? Why do we keep doing the things we do? I believe there are many insights in this... and I dare to travel down a road that will challenge not only your mind, but your heart's intent.  I am fighting the good fight, with a desire to step away from the expected cultural path of a normal mundane life, and step into a journey of radical joy and experience a life worth living for!

Accountability

I am writing this on here for my own personal accountability. I need to incorporate more exercise in my life. So, upon this statement I am trying for a physical activity every day.

Counting Down

As the countdown continues, every day draws closer and closer to our wedding day. Through this season of 2011, SO much has transformed and gone on both for Ben and myself individually and corporately.

Jobs, ministry, family, health, you name it.  Through all of the change, it is so amazing to truly be able to testify that Jesus has remained the same yesterday, today, and will be tomorrow. The true Rock and Foundation that we stand upon.  Watching Ben and John become business leaders as they transition into ownership roles of American Carpet Care. They have stepped into the light and have been working so hard to both provide to their future families.  I am so proud of them both! As the Scalzo house gets ready for sale, PapaScalz heads south to start a new chapter with his wife Tina, Nicky is close by in Green Brook with Noelle and Alex, it is awesome to see how they stick carry such a strong bond as a family unit. You really just don't see that type of closeness very often anymore. It is truly wonderful to be a part of and I admire them for it as they welcome new people into the family as well.

On another note of changes, Ben faced many fears dealing with doctor appointments, etc. but still to find no answers about this questionable pain on his side.  It has been a huge lesson in vulnerabilty, growth, and trust.

In terms of the wedding coming, Ben continues to blow me away. His hearts continues to grow softer more and more, which is so amazing to see this in Jesus.  He is so supportive, loving, gentle, and kind. Not only to me, but to mostly everyone he comes into contact with.  He has such a genuine passion to get to know other people. It is a blessing to see so much of Jesus in our relationship as we have our ups and downs, but through it all, everything is a lesson, an experience, and an honor to be a part of. Bringing two people together as one, is so powerful and also refining to our flesh. Ben once said, " The closer we grow, the more selfish I realize that I am." Which is so true! As we draw nearer even to Jesus our weaknesses are exposed, and His greatness is truly revealed in that!

Even though there will be a few tears for those we will miss on our wedding day; especially Donna, Beth, and my Daddy Rich, we know that that are celebrating with us is Heaven. Singing over us, as we beging this next step together.  I have been in a strong season of healing and sometimes struggled with my grief because of the void I know I can't help but feel to want my own father to be with me there on my wedding day.  It breaks my heart, but at the same time I trust in God's ways, especially when it comes to my Dad, because only He knows the truth.  And that is where I am filled with peace.  So even though our wedding day may be missing a few things, it is filled with a Love that is only of God. A Love that will with no doubt in my mind, knock the socks off of people. And what a joy to be a part of that!

My family DID NOT expect for me to be the first one down the aisle, but I thought I would give Mel a break from always having to do everything first. Breaking everyone in a little bit! 

As I continue on in this season in this sizzlin summer, I am drawn to His voice and pureness.  I don't think we are ever fully ready for anything that comes our way, and that is why all of the Glory goes to God!!! 

I have to say that I am beyond excited to see what is in store for Ben and I (and Bubba too) in this short time we have here together, to share Jesus!
I asked Ben, "Are you sure there is no other woman in the whole world you are meant to marry?" And He said, "If I married anyone else, than I wouldn't be marrying the one that I was made for."

BBQ Favorites

Because I love food...this is what I claim to be some of the top BBQ foods to bring to a party this summer.

Nana's BBQ Ribs.  If you are a rib fan, you need to talk to me about this recipe. It is so easy, and makes the most flavorful juicy ribs! It's all about the Sweet Baby Ray's sauce!

Buffalo Chicken Dip. Something different to bring to the scene! If you love hot sauce, you will love this dip! Every time it's at a party, it seems to be devoured in minutes! It has dairy ingredients, so if you are lactose intolerant, you will have to pass on this one.

Stuffed Zucchini. A somewhat healthy alternative. But if you are growing zucchini's in your garden, this is the perfect way to spice it up. Sausage, pepper, bread crumbs, cheese, and more! One bite and you will be flying high!

Chicken grilled with Duck Sauce. Not many have heard of this trick. But buy a jar of duck sauce, and as your are grilling smother your chicken on both sides. It has a balance of sweetness yet still hearty and juicy. Tastes great with chicken breasts or on the bone!

Greek Vanilla Yogurt with Fruit and a Dash of Maple Syrup. The perfect cool down healthy snack.  The maple syrup gives it a little kick.

Mango Salad.  A new favorite. You can really make any type of salad you enjoy and just add mango. A personal favorite mixture is lettuce, peppers, cucumbers, cilantro, onions, and mango.  It has so many juices that the only dressing you may need is a squeeze of lemon/lime. Yummy!

Mojitos. They have been an all time favorite of the best family.  My dad has grow pounds and pounds of fresh mint that overflow on the side of our house every year.  You can make it alcoholic or non-alcoholic, whatever you want.  You need simple syrup, crushed mint, club soda, rum/vodka, and some ice.  Some people use sugar as well, but it is all about preference.

Cookie/Brownie Bars. Betty Crocker has this awesome combo box of cookie and brownie mix. Literally just baking both on top of each other in a baking pan and it comes out delicious!!

Sweet Potatoes with Marshmallow, Brown Sugar, and Butter.  Pretty self explanatory!  Trick is to nuke them potatoes for a little while, to loosen them up, and then either bake or grill them.

Bloomin' Onion. Passed on from Amanda, so simple. You cut out the center of the onion, place some butter and a bullion cube in it, and then wrap it in foil. Stick it in the oven or grill for about an hour, and  there you have a yummy tender flavorful onion for a great side or appetizer snack.

Kingdom

Something that what revealed to me today in a different way was the word "invisible." I am guilty of so much of my mind being focused on the visible, what I think that I see and know, when these verses share so beautifully otherwise...


Matthew 6:6 -But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.


Our Father is invisible. We see "in part," but as it says in the book of Corinthians, only God can reveal mysteries to us through His Spirit, who in most cases is invisible. 


Luke 17:21 says, "Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you."   The kingdom! That seems almost impossible, for a kingdom to be inside of us.  Allowing ourselves to truly meditate on that verse, the royalty, the love, the power, the peace, the realm that is inside of us, is beyond what our minds can fathom. All of which make up our Lord Jesus Christ.


Ecclesiastes 3:11 "He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end. "


John 14:23 Jesus replied, "If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.


Romans 8:9 You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ.


Ephesians 2:22 And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.

What beautiful, life giving words to hear. May they speak to you and draw you closer in to our Father. Thank you Lord.

rain drops

falling on high.
we wait for that morning star in the sky.
pouring down, ready for the flowers to grow.
the vibrance on the rainbow that we all want to show.