No Mess, No Strength
There’s this satisfaction I get when I catch all the green lights on my drive to work. It’s like I’m trying to make it in record time! But a few Fridays ago, I was actually relieved when I caught a red light and had a few more moments to myself before the rush of my workday began. I had been feeling the weight of a couple of very heavy situations surrounding me. The red light gave me some time to pause and think…and a moment to hear God speak. Like manna from Heaven, God dropped Proverbs 14:4 into my heart.
Balance
Balance. I don’t know about you but the image that immediately comes to mind is a person standing perfectly still while juggling plates on their hands and feet. In a culture inundated with success being equivalent to doing it all, it’s easy to feel frustrated when we discover that it’s a challenge to do LOTS of things well. I know I certainly struggle in this area, especially since I became a stay-at-home mom. I tell myself that I should be able to take on all the responsibilities of a wife, mom, daughter, sister, teacher, friend, volunteer, and leader and give
VIDEO: The Love Offering – Hannah
“Anything we give to God, He gives back to us.” Listen in on my conversation with Rachael Adams, a writer and host of “The Love Offering” podcast! In this clip, we explore love offerings from my point of view … including who has been one to me, my favorite Biblical example and how we can be a love offering to others. Check out her website - https://rachaelkadams.com/ - and follow her on social media. You will love her sweet encouragement! ~Anu https://youtu.be/lmv1vWDoGkc
Cabbage Thoran
What I love about South Indian cooking is that left overs don’t taste like leftovers. In fact, the flavor of the dish is often better the next day! And if there’s one South Indian dish I can’t get enough of, it’s CABBAGE THORAN ! It literally goes with anything- beef fry, chicken curry, fish curry, or just plain rice and papadam. Girls, I know I sound like a broken record…but if I can do this, you can too. Here’s how… • Step #1 Heat oil in a pan, add 1 Tsp mustard seeds, let pop. • Step #2 Add 1
I can’t
"I can't" is a phrase we discourage our kids from saying. We want them to problem solve as much as possible, then ask for help, if needed. It's funny, but recently I had one of those "I can't" moments myself. I was feeling overwhelmed, discouraged, and like a balloon about to bust. I wish I could say that I handled it perfectly, but that wouldn't be true. It made me realize that I'm only human...and there's only so much pressure a human can take. But while "I can't" take it all on my own shoulders, I know what I "can"
Just Start
Scripture is clear...we live in a cause and effect world. You reap what you sow. What you plant is what you will harvest. If you plant corn, you shouldn't be surprised if you reap corn. I've lived a lot of my life not really taking this concept to heart. I believed that if God put a dream in me, then He would just make it happen. I just had to wait for the right opportunity to take hold of it. But I was wrong. The book of Proverbs constantly talks about the rewards of the diligent. Diligence is the steady
VIDEO:Keep the Faith
It’s frustrating when we deal with the same battles over and over again. It’s comforting to know that God still “values” us! “He is not impressed by the strength of a horse; He does not value the power of a man. The Lord values those who fear Him, those who put their hope in His faithful love.” Psalms 147:10-11 HCSB Hope this video encourages you! ~Anu https://youtu.be/HMkSBNgRwAA
When Your Prayer Turns Into a Task
In 1 Kings chapter 19, we encounter an exhausted Elijah. He prays to die and the Lord provides him with fresh bread and water. He goes into the cave and then experiences the majestic presence of God in the form of a gentle whisper. God asks him twice "What are you doing here?" Elijah responds that he has been zealous for the Lord and done some incredible things for Him. He claims that he is the only one left that serves the Lord. Elijah lodges his complaint- as I have done so many, many times. My complaint is slightly different.
Secure: From the Inside Out
Along with recess and pizza day, ‘Show & Tell’ always made for a fun time at school. One particular morning, I planned to share my recent vacation adventure with my fourth grade class. When my turn FINALLY came, I walked excitedly toward the front, only to hear a little boy groan and complain, “Ugh… she is going to take FOREVER.” I sheepishly smiled, trying not to appear bothered by his comment. Once I started talking, I quickly glanced at him, wondering if my little tale had won him over. It had not. He could not have looked more bored. I
Unlikely Provision
My technician and I still laugh about it today. The timing was crazy! We were short handed and she needed the upcoming Saturday off. All week long, I tried. I reached out to our team, but no one could cover her shift…and we still had no solid leads with the technician job posting that had been up for months. I was disappointed, and that Friday afternoon, I told her the bad news. She was bummed, but she understood. Within minutes (or maybe even seconds), a young man approached the counter needing a flu shot. He and I stepped into our
