Nothing Else Matters
The only thing that counts is having confidence in what we hope for and being sure that it will happen!
And until it happens we are to be patient and kind. We are to be polite and truthful. We are to protect it and never give up on it! We are to be trusting.
We are not to be rude, selfish, envious, angry and we are not supposed to bring up the past.
Keep hoping.
Keep praying.
Keep up the faith!
Nothing else matters!
“For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.” Galatians 5:6
“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.”
1 Corinthians 13:4-7
The Good News: HE LIVES!!!
Posted on April 9, 2023 Leave a Comment
Now after the Sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to look at the tomb. And behold, a severe earthquake had occurred, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled away the stone, and sat upon it. And his appearance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow. The guards shook from fear of him and became like dead men. And the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid; for I know that you are looking for Jesus who has been crucified. He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said. Come, see the place where He was lying. And go quickly and tell His disciples that He has risen from the dead; and behold, He is going ahead of you to Galilee. There you will see Him; behold, I have told you.” Matthew 28:1-7
Jesus is ALIVE! He is ALIVE in today, tomorrow and what was yesterday! Do what the angel said, go quickly and tell all your friends, Behold, the King of heaven LIVES!
What more can I say that’s not already been said
What more can I read that’s not already been read
What more can I give that’s not already been given
Hallelujah! Praise the Lord! HE IS RISEN!!!
Happy Resurrection Day Jesus! Thank you! We love you, Amen!
Reflections: On My Yes
Posted on March 22, 2023 Leave a Comment
In the heat of the moment I said yes. I said yes to Him. I said yes to what His heart desired. I was so excited and looking forward to all the good things to come. And I believed I was ready, however, I was not and He knew it. When I ran, He pursued. When I hid, He found me. When I said no, He waited. He never left my side. He loved me through hell and back when others turned their back. He never gave up on me and that is why I stay, seek and believe in Him above all else. The way He has loved me back to life has proven to me that His care for my heart is greater than anything I could ever accomplish on this earth. God really loves my being. He loves who I am despite anything I could ever do for Him so I will trust Him with my life. I will trust Him with His plans and His timing. I will listen, obey and follow wherever He leads despite who is with me and who is not. Jesus is life and my best life is found in Him and in Him alone.
So I share all this with you to say that when Jesus calls you with a proposal and you excitedly say yes, be prepared for the flood of emotions to follow. Be prepared for the unexpected. Be prepared to encounter evil. Be prepared for many stops along the way. Be prepared for roadblocks and barriers. Be prepared for redirection. Be prepared to lose the map. Be prepared for haters and naysayers. Be prepared for division. Just be prepared because it will not go the way you have planned. In fact, it will go every way except the way you hoped or planned it would go because His way is higher and better than anything you could ever imagine. He won’t give you everything you want or desire because He has something greater in mind. And there will be times when you want to give up, quit, throw in the towel and walk away but He won’t let you because He will remind you of the vision and the dream He spoke into your heart that led to your yes.
So after you say yes to Jesus, this is what you do. First, you thank Him for the opportunity then immediately put on your armor and safety devices. Start planning your journey but remain open and flexible with your plans to allow Him room to move you wherever He desires to accomplish His will. Always keep your eyes on Him no matter where He leads and always keep the vision and dream in mind because when it gets hard you’re going to need them both. And when you get to the other side of it all, praise Him over and over again as you prepare to get back on the road to greater things! Never give up. Keep moving forward. But most importantly, always believe!
Am I happy I said yes? Absolutely! Was it a tough road? Yes. Am I ready now? I sure hope so and I hope He agrees this time lol.
Lovingly,
Wynter
Love, Give, Create, Live
Posted on March 3, 2023 Leave a Comment
But the greatest of these is love. 1 Corinthians 13:13
Eggcellent News!!!
Posted on March 2, 2023 Leave a Comment
Everything in life can teach valuable lessons even eggs! Here are the top 3 lessons I learned from these beauties.
- Beauty comes in many different shapes, colors and sizes.
- Despite the differences seen on the outside, we are the same on the inside.
- What makes us valuable is what is found on the inside not the outside.
So be encouraged today, that like an egg, you are beautiful and your real value is held on the inside and not the outside. And do remember that this is true for all people so please treat others kindly and value them more for what’s on the inside rather than what’s on the outside. The truth is we are all awesomely and wonderfully made! Praise the Lord.
May God bless you today and may you feel His presence all around!
I will give thanks to You, because I am awesomely and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Your works, And my soul knows it very well. Psalm 139:14
In Love, Wynter
Goodbye Sadness ~ Hello Sunshine!
Posted on December 14, 2022 Leave a Comment
Hi friends!
With the holidays in full swing and the winter season settling in, feelings of anxiety and loneliness can be as high as your expenses and a time that should feel merry and bright can feel sad and depressing. The colder temperatures and fewer hours of sunshine coupled with the holicraze madness can make for some very unhappy and unhealthy people. Throw in a virus or two and some bad weather and you have a recipe for disaster. People experiencing overwhelm and emotional lows in the winter months is real but there are things you can do to help yourself and your loved ones stay happy and healthy.
Regardless of your disposition for winter blues, anyone is susceptible to it if they don’t have healthy habits in place. Believe it or not, there are habits you can develop now to cure or prevent unhappy and unhealthy feelings. These things you can start doing today without any cost to you except your time. Be encouraged that you can live free from winter sadness in the months to come!
Here are some very simple and effective ways to help keep you happy and healthy this winter!
- Daily Son exposure. Spending time daily in the presence of Jesus Christ is an essential way to increase joy and peace in your life as well as renew your mind and guide your way of thinking. If anyone can turn a frown upside and cheer up a heavy heart, it’s Jesus!
Great joy is found in Him alone. Time with Jesus can turn your sadness and depression into happiness and dancing!
“Looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:2
“But now I am coming to You; and these things I speak in the world so that they may have My joy made full in themselves.” John 17:13
“And so the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” Luke 2:10
Perfect peace is found in Him alone. Time with Jesus can turn your anxiety into peace.
“These things I have spoken to you so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.” John 16:33
“Peace I leave you, My peace I give you; not as the world gives, do I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled, nor fearful.” John 14:27
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and pleading with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7
Anxious thoughts and worries flee in His presence. Time with Jesus can renew and quiet your mind.
“Therefore I urge you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.” Romans 12:1-2
“The steadfast of mind You will keep in perfect peace, Because he trusts in You.” Isaiah 26:3
“They reeled and staggered like a drunken person, And were at their wits’ end. Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, And He brought them out of their distresses. He caused the storm to be still, So that the waves of the sea were hushed. Then they were glad because they were quiet, So He guided them to their desired harbor.” Psalms 107:27-30
Jesus is our living hope. Time with Jesus can assure and remind you of His faithfulness to fulfill His promises to you.
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.” 1 Peter 1:3
Jesus again spoke to them, saying, “I am the Light of the world; the one who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life (John 8:12).”
“AND IN HIS NAME THE GENTILES WILL HOPE.” Matthew 12:21
As you can clearly read, there are many benefits to making time for Jesus every day. The promises of joy, peace, renewal and hope are for you daily for all eternity. There is no limit to the amount of time you can spend with Jesus, however, if you do set a limit, aim for at least 15 minutes at the start of each day. And whatever you do during your time with Him, be sure to do it with all your heart, soul and mind because this is what He loves. Spending time with Jesus daily and loving Him is truly the best way to love and take care of yourself and is a surefire way of protecting you from winter sadness, loneliness, anxiety, and depression!
“Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” And He said to him, “ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ Matthew 22:36-37
So take great care for yourselves that you love the Lord your God. Joshua 23:11
Five For Fifteen
- Be intentional. Devote at least the first 15 minutes of every day to Him.
- Pray. Talk to Him as you would a friend.
- Read the Word of God aloud to increase your faith.
- Be still and listen.
- Rest and repeat daily or as often as you need or like.
2. Daily sun exposure. With your soul covered in the grace of Jesus you can step into the light of day and enjoy the energizing and rejuvenating benefits of the natural sunlight. In as few as fifteen minutes, you can reap the benefits of the sun’s natural healing rays. The warmest time of day during the winter months is between 3-5pm so bundle up and take that walk or rest quietly on a sunny bench!
Natural sunlight helps boost serotonin.
Serotonin is a key chemical messenger that impacts many areas of your brain. Increased levels of serotonin can help stabilize and balance mood, digestion and sleep as well as improve focus and alertness! Skip afternoon coffee and go outside instead!
Natural sunlight helps increase melatonin.
Melatonin is a key hormone that helps regulate your sleep-wake cycles. Exposure to natural sunlight during waking hours helps increase melatonin production at night that will help you sleep. On the flip side, being exposed to light at night can block melatonin production keeping you awake so turn off your electronics and Hallmark Christmas movies and let your body do what it’s designed to do. Getting adequate sleep at night will improve your mood and overall health in the day to follow! Don’t skip your Z’s!
3. Daily exercise. Regular exercise is linked to fewer symptoms of anxiety and depression, better quality of life, better sleep, improved cognition as well as less weight gain, lowered risk of chronic disabling diseases, cancers and complications of pregnancy. The American Heart Association recommends for adults 150 minutes per week of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise with at least two days of muscle strengthening. If you are a regular exerciser, keep it up and if you are not, start! Any activity will be better for you than none at all! Walking outside counts as exercise and time in the sun! Whoop whoop!
4. Eat good food. Food is medicine! What you eat matters and can positively or negatively impact your health. This winter, focus on feeding your body good food. Plan your meals in advance and shop wisely. Increase lean proteins, fruits and vegetables in your diet and reduce or avoid high calorie fatty fast foods, caffeine and sugar. Pack snacks if you plan to be away from your home for several hours to avoid drive throughs and impulse snacking. Being busy is not a good excuse for poor eating!
5. Drink water. Your body needs water to function properly. Drinking adequate amounts of water can prevent many health problems as well as reduce fatigue and help with weight loss. Drinking water is essential to overall good health so drink up buttercup!
So there you are, five simple tried and true habits to keep you happy and well this winter! And if you do it consistently and persist, these habits will not only help you through the winter season but in all seasons of life! You will never regret making time for Jesus or taking good care of yourself and your family!
Stay well friends and happy holidays!
With love,
Wynter ❤️
Ask Believe Receive
Posted on December 14, 2022 Leave a Comment
Truly I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and cast into the sea,’ it will happen. And whatever you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive it all.” Matthew 21:21-22
As a child, you may have written Santa a long list of everything you hoped to receive on Christmas morning. And when you were making your list, you held nothing back. You did not consider the cost or impossibility of what you wanted, you simply asked for it and believed you were going to receive it. You had great hope and expectation on Christmas morning because you believed you were going to receive everything you asked for.
Like a child who boldly and confidently makes their Christmas list, Jesus wants you to ask Him in prayer for everything your heart desires no matter the cost and no matter how impossible it may seem. And like a child expecting to receive everything on their Christmas list, Jesus wants you to live with great hope and expectation that you will receive everything you have asked Him for without a doubt. This Christmas, have faith like a child and believe that what you have asked for will happen.
Matthew 7:7, Hebrews 4:16
God With Us
Posted on December 13, 2022 Leave a Comment
All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us). Matthew 1:22-23
Let us consider everything God did in order to fulfill the promise of the virgin birth of His Son Jesus Christ, Immanuel. First, God revealed His plans to some of His trusted children who would share it with others hundreds of years before it would happen. Next, He chose a faithful family and sent angels to prepare them with His plans. And last but not least, Jesus Christ is born in a manger and God is with us.
God took great care to deliver Jesus to us and He is not afraid to go to great lengths or do the impossible to prove His faithfulness or love to you. The Christmas story is not just about a baby in a manger laying down His sweet head. The Christmas story is about God’s sincere devotion of fulfilling every promise of loving you forever. God is love and the virgin birth of Jesus Christ is only the beginning of the greatest love story of all time.
Matthew 1:18-25, Luke 2: 1-20
The Best Gift
Posted on December 12, 2022 Leave a Comment
Shout and rejoice, O beautiful Jerusalem, for I am coming to live among you. Many nations will join themselves to the Lord on that day and they, too, will be my people. I will live among you, and you will know that the Lord of Heaven’s Armies sent me to you. Zechariah 2: 10-11
God is faithful to fulfill His promises. He demonstrated His faithfulness when He sent His One and only Son Jesus Christ into the world. Jesus, not conceived by human will, was fully God and fully man. He lived among us and gave the best example of how to live life in relationship with God and people. Since then, God has promised Jesus will return and make all things new. God will fulfill this promise and He wants nothing more than for all people to join Him in the new heaven and the new earth.
This Christmas turn your heart to God and receive His free gift of eternal life through His Son Jesus Christ. Begin a new life with Jesus full and overflowing with love, joy and peace. This is the only gift you can receive that is guaranteed to last beyond a lifetime. And in addition to the free gift of salvation, you will be welcomed into the family of God and a joyous celebration in heaven will break out just for you!
John 1: 10-14, Revelation 21: 1-5
Chicken Stock In Da House
Posted on October 30, 2022 Leave a Comment
From time to time I’ll buy a rotisserie chicken from the store because one they’re delicious, two I need a quick meal or three I don’t want to cook. The best thing is we can eat several meals off one bird! Thank you Jesus! Even as much as I enjoy cooking sometimes it’s hard to beat a rotisserie chicken! I also love that I can use the carcass to make a yummy chicken stock for soups or dishes. It’s so simple, easy and again delicious!
To make the stock all you need is the picked chicken carcass, vegetables, spices, water and of course heat and time. First, place the carcass into a pot then add the chopped celery, carrots and onions. Fill the pot with water to cover the carcass and veggies. Next, add common household spices like onion powder, garlic powder (you could also use fresh garlic), basil, oregano, thyme and pepper. I usually don’t add salt because the rotisserie chicken seasoning is salty but you can add salt if you choose. Finally, place on the stove at med-high heat and bring to boil. Reduce the temperature and let simmer for 6-8 hours. This is great to make on the weekends when you have more time at home. The liquid will reduce by 1/2 to 1/3. When it’s done, strain the bones and veggies and add broth to a storage container. If you are going to use the broth within 3-5 days, it can be stored safely in the refrigerator. Any longer than that, storing in the freezer would be best. Most things can be stored in the freezer safely for 4-6 months.
This batch of chicken stock was added to make a yummy chicken casserole we enjoyed for a Sunday dinner! I suppose it’s time to buy another chicken! Whoop whoop! Side note: I have made stock from whole chickens I have roasted in the oven or cooked in the Instapot and they are just as good! Homemade broth is too good not to try.
Wynter Kettlewell 