Amelia McNeilly

Pink Patriot - My desire is to share with you the journey God has me on. Whether in joy hardship, I hope that my blog offers a place of respite, and bring joy to your heart!

Advent, Articles, Devotionals, Holidays

Let Every Heart Ptepare Him Room – Joy

Below is an article that I wrote a long time ago but I thought it would be applicable to share today as well. Wheeever you are or whatever circumstances you find yourself in during this Christmas season, take some time to make room for Christ and reflect on His holiness and the life He gives each of us. Christmas is eight days away but Jesus should be worshipped an adored every day of the year and not just on December 25. True joy can only come from Jesus and that joy helps us get through every season whether good or bad. I hope you enjoy today’s post and that you are encouraged.

And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” ~Luke 2:10-11

Joy. The Bible calls us to have joy every single day. Philippians 4:4 says to rejoice always. Even when we do not feel like it we are supposed to rejoice. That sounds good until you are going through a really hard season and then it just plain rough.

I have found myself during many sleepless nights saying “But God my health is terrible can’t you have a little sympathy? I don’t feel like rejoicing right now. What is joyful in this?” Some others may be saying, “but God my job is so hard and this is not at all where I thought I would be right now in my life. I am miserable and don’t know what my purpose is. When will one of my dreams finally come true?” Or “but God married life is not what I thought it would be. What happened to living happily ever after? I just don’t love him anymore or feel loved. And lastly, “but God I am in my 30s and STILL single. I have dreamed of being married for years and being a helpmate to someone. When will it be my turn already? ”

All of these scenarios many have experienced, and none of these make it easy to have joy, and are even worse during the holidays. How can we rejoice at Christmas when life is in shambles? This past week I was diagnosed with hand, foot, and mouth virus, a bladder infection, and a bacterial infection. This is not at all how I wanted to spend my days leading up to Christmas. After the year I have had I wanted a bit of a break.

However, that is when God so gently reminded me yet again that —

Joy is not defined by the circumstances of life. Joy is simply Jesus. Joy is found in the tiny baby who was born in a manger. Joy is found in the one who lowered himself to be a servant and washed the disciples feet. Joy is found in Him who performed many miracles. Joy is found in the man who died on the cross and in the Savior who rose again. Joy is found in Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus!

When I take the focus off myself and put it on the Lord my circumstances suddenly feel lighter. As we focus on the greatness of Jesus and what He has done for us — our circumstances will not always change, but our perspective towards them will. Then, a great joy that we didn’t think was possible will fill our hearts and minds. Also, along with that joy the Lord will give His strength to help us walk the hard roads in a way that is honoring to Him.

As Christmas week is approaching take time to dwell on the only one who can make your joy complete.

Advent, Articles, Holidays, Let it Be Christmas

Let Every Heart Prepare Him Room – Hope

Hi friends! I’ve had every intention to write a new advent post each week that should have started last Sunday. I’ve posted on Advent the past two years and I was hoping to write new posts for the series this year. However, due to health problems and a chronic bladder infection that has caused me severe pain over the past few weeks, I have not had the energy to write anything new. The first week of advent is all about hope and I need to be reminded of the hope of Christ now more than ever.

The one truth that can be depended on no matter how hard circumstances may be is the hope of Christ never fails. No situation is too dark to keep the hope of Christ from shining through.

[clickToTweet tweet=”No situation is too dark to keep the hope of Christ from shining through.” quote=”No situation is too dark to keep the hope of Christ from shining through.”]Allow is light to shine through and let every heart prepare Hin room.

Hope a Little More!

Below is my post. Be encouraged today friends and check back tomorrow for the next post in the series.

I think of Christ, I automatically think of the word hope, and His hope could not be any more evident than at Christmas time. Merriam Webster’s Dictonary defines hope as: “to cherish a desire with anticipation, or to “expect with confidence.” Advent is a perfect example of this type of hope, and the ultimate hope that we have in life that comes from Christ.

Advent means “coming,” as in “Christ is coming.” It represents the expectation, anticipation, and preparation of the birth of Jesus. Jesus was born as fully God and fully man, and as the King of Kings was born in a lowly manger to identify with us. He came for us so that we may have the hope of Eternal life, and to live and reign in our hearts. His coming fulfills the Old Testament prophecies such as Jeremiah 33:14-16 which states, “The days are coming, ’declares the LORD, ‘when I will fulfill the good promise I made to the people of Israel and Judah. In those days and at that time I will make a righteous Branch sprout from David’s line; he will do what is just and right in the land. In those days Judah will be saved and Jerusalem will live in safety. This is the name by which it will be called: The LORD Our Righteous Savior.’”

This hope is also mentioned in Romans 15:12-13 — “And again, Isaiah says, The Root of Jesse will spring up, one who will arise to rule over the nations; the Gentiles will hope in him. May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

This year more than ever in my life, I am thankful for the hope that comes from the Lord. 2015 would have been filled with many hopeless days had it not been for the hope that I have found in Jesus. I have dealt with a lot of health problems, and there have been many days this year where to the world all hope would have seemed lost, but no matter what circumstances I face in this life, I will ALWAYS have hope because of the Savior. That truth has got me through many hard days, and I pray if you are facing an overwhelming situation or if life seems too much to bear that you dwell on the hope that Jesus gives.

The holidays can be a busy time filled with lots of fun and celebrations, or for some a time that is overwhelming or a sad reminder of what they do not have. However, it is so easy to lose focus of who should receive our utmost attention during the season. My prayer for this Christmas is that we would make room for the Savior in our lives and give Him the honor that He deserves

 

Articles, Christian Living, Devotionals, Holidays, Hope a Little More Series

Hope a Little More Series – Thanksgiving Everyday

Happy Tuesday! Below is a post that I wrote one year ago but I thought it would be good to share again today as we close out the month of November. Even though Thanksgiving was on Thursday we do not need to lose the gratitude. Try not to let the hustle and bustle of the month of December make you lose focus.

Keep your eyes  on Jesus and praise Him for who He is and what He has done.

Thankgiving Evetyday

Thanksgiving week is one of my favorite times of the year. I love the family time, food, and the fellowship. It is such a joyful time for me, and this year I am more thankful for the life God has given me than ever before. Leading up to Thanksgiving, I have been reading and journaling about the goodness, power, and majesty of God. I have been reminded during my time with Him that He alone is worthy to be praised, and if I had no other reason to be thankful — He is ALWAYS enough! He is worthy of all my praise and thankfulness each and every day of the year.

During my time in the word over the last week I have settled on Psalm 104 over and over again. The first couple verses of this passage always draw me in:

Psalm 104: 1-2, 5:

Bless the Lord, O my soul!

O Lord my God, You are very great:
You are clothed with honor and majesty,

Who cover Yourself with light as with a garment,
Who stretch out the heavens like a curtain.

You who laid the foundations of the earth,
So that it should not be moved forever.

And then verses 31-34 :

May the glory of the Lord endure forever;
May the Lord rejoice in His works.

He looks on the earth, and it trembles;
He touches the hills, and they smoke.

I will sing to the Lord as long as I live;
I will sing praise to my God while I have my being.
May my meditation be sweet to Him;
I will be glad in the Lord.

The entire passage displays the great power of God in creation, and gives a glimpse of His glory and majesty. When I read verses such as these I am humbled because it shows me how great my God is and how small I am. It is easy to get consumed with current circumstances and forget to praise the One who gives us the strength we need to press on. We may pray, but at times, I think we have all been guilty of pouring out our needs to Jesus but not actually praising Him. I have noticed that the more I read about who God is and spend time in His presence giving Him praise — my worries and circumstances no longer seem as overwhelming.

Because of who Jesus is and what He did for us on the cross, He deserves to be thanked and praised every day and not just on Thanksgiving.

LcjNo matter what may be going on in our lives, the Gospel alone is enough for me to give Him praise for because that is the best gift I will ever receive. Spend some time today in the word reading Psalm 104, and praise Jesus for who He is and for His great power. Make it a habit to start thanking Him daily. I can assure you that the simple act of praising Jesus will always give peace to your overwhelmed heart.

Articles, Holidays, Hope a Little More Series

Hope a Little More Series – Thanksgiving Eve – Recipes to be Thankful For

Happy Thanksgiving Eve. Tomorrow is my most favorite holiday of the year. I have always enjoyed it. Spending the day with my family and eating my mom’s Thanksgiving meal leaves me with a full and happy heart. I am biased but my mom is the best cook ever. I will never measure up to her culinary skills. We would be in trouble if the meal was left up to me to cook. I would probably have it catered…ha!

This past year has been the hardest of my life and it has included many ups,  downs,  and ugly cry moments. However, the Lord keeps reminding me that I still have so much to be thankful for — now more than ever.  My suffering over the last year has given me reason to take more pleasure in the little things and to never take a moment for granted. That being said, I am looking forward to this Thanksgiving more than all the others as there have been moments where I wondered if I would make it to this day, but praise be to God that He never lets me down and gives me the strength to press on.

Life is short and none of us know what the future holds so it is important to be intentional and grateful for every second the Lord gives us.  No matter our circumstances, Thanksgiving gives us reasons to hope, rejoice, and allows us to spend time with our loved ones.

On a lighter note, besides spending quality time with family, there is always food to enjoy. One of my favorite Thanksgiving desserts is my mom’s pumpkin cake. It is probably my favorite cake ever. Everyone in the family loves it. I faced timed with my sweet Lexi girl earlier this week and she is only 5 but the thing she is looking forward to the most is the pumpkin cake. My mom’s dressing and the cake are my two favorites. Oh  and another one of my favorites  that I eat year round is chocolate peanut butter oatmeal no bake cookies. Thanks to my aunt Ellen who is bringing those. They are so simple yet delicious. What are some of your favorites in the Thanksgiving meal?  Comment below and share them with us.

Below is the recipe for the famous pumpkin cake.

Ingredients:

2 cups white sugar

1 1/4 cups vegetable oil

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 cups canned pumpkin

4 eggs

2 cups all-purpose flour

3 teaspoons baking powder

2 teaspoons baking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt

2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

1 cup chopped walnuts (Optional)

 Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour a 12×18 inch pan. Sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and cinnamon. Set aside.

In a large bowl combine sugar and oil. Blend in vanilla and pumpkin, then beat in eggs one at a time. Gradually beat in flour mixture. Stir in nuts. Spread batter into prepared 12×18 inch pan.

Bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Allow to cool.

For icing the recipe recommended a cream cheese icing but we just used a confectioners sugar glaze

Articles, Holidays, Hope a Little More Series

Hope a Little More Series – Thankfulness – An Act of Worship

I am so thankful to have one of my dearest friends Sarah,  guest posting for me today. This post is the perfect reminder as this is the week of Thanksgiving. I know these words will encourage your heart like they have mine. 

If your life is anything like mine, then you might be riddled with busyness, chaos, and distractions. As a mother to 4 boys (aged 6-2), every day that goes by feels FULL. My to-do list never ends, there is always someone who needs me, and stillness seems to elude me. In these seasons of life, a prayer of thankfulness is often distant from my lips. As a good Father, the Lord graciously hears my pleas for my needs. Yet, how much more should He also receive my songs of thanksgiving? After all, life itself, the good and the bad, is a gift. Despite the constant full throttle speed of life or even in the monotonous mundane, the worshipful act of giving thanks should always be present. 

Taking Life For Granted Or With Gratitude

G. K. Chesterton said, “When it comes to life the critical thing is whether you take things for granted or take them with gratitude.”  I must confess that my heart sometimes does take many aspects of life for granted. The constant busyness can often cause me to get lost in the moments and take for granted how God has blessed me. Rather than see every moment- joyful or difficult – as a gift of God’s grace, I can circumvent my own desires or expectations and completely miss an opportunity to give God a thankful heart. Instead of being thankful for God’s provision in being able to pack lunches for my sons, I take for granted the gift of caring for their hungry bodies. Or being distracted by the myriad of to-dos become times where I “me focused” and forget about the God who has blessed me with ways to serve others. My heart should radiate thankfulness because in all things He is faithful to provide and offer His help. And if I take things for granted, the I ultimately fail to worship the giver of all of life’s moments.

Thankfulness In Struggle

Taking the simple things of life for granted is easily done. But what about the bigger moments of difficulty or suffering? In God’s sovereignty and goodness, He has determined what He will allow to come to our lives. And one thing that all humanity has in common is our shared grief of suffering. Our levels of pain may vary, and only God’s divine wisdom knows why, yet we have an opportunity in those times of difficulty to offer our thanks. We can remember that it is His peace that calms our weary hearts (Philippians 4:7). We recall His faithfulness to never forsake us (Matthew 28:20). We rejoice that He promises that our present sufferings are but a shadow compared to the eternal glory we will inherit (Romans 8:18). But most importantly, we can give thanks for trials because though we may suffer incredible loss, through them we gain Christ. 

Philippians 3:8 reads, “Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ.” When we suffer loss, and for each individual this will look differently, we have an opportunity to redirect our hearts from this cursed world and its terrible consequences to the eternal truth of Jesus’ love for us. The heartache we endure is a reminder that this world has nothing for us, but in Christ we gain everything. And in that we can be most thankful. 

A Thankful Heart Is A Worshipful Heart

When we are tempted to take life for granted or concentrate so much so on our circumstances that we neglect to give thanks to Jesus, we are essentially failing to worship our Lord. The Bible is very clear to command us to “give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (1 Thessalonians 5:18). Whether we are living with chaotic distractions, mundane monotony, or heartbreaking struggles we can always offer hearts of gratitude to Jesus. It was He who purchased our hearts and offers us a glorious joy

About Sarah: 

To learn more about Sarah and her family visit her blogs here –

https://themcleans.wordpress.com/

https://thefigtreeandthevine.wordpress.com/

 

Articles, Books, Devotionals, Holidays, Let it Be Christmas

Christmas Makeover Book Review

About the book –

Give your Christmas a makeover with this practical approach to help your family learn what it means to truly celebrate their Savior.
In the bustle of the Christmas season, it can be easy to get swept up in all of the things to do. But it’s important to pause and remember that our priority should be to spend time celebrating Christ’s birth and not forget to invite Jesus to his own party.
Christmas is far more than a celebration of an event from long ago or a modern holiday centered around shopping. Mindfully take time to listen to how God continues to speak through the Christmas story as the Gospel narratives centered around the birth of Jesus provide encouragement and revelation concerning the love of God and his wisdom for us today.
In Total Christmas Makeover, author and Bible teacher Melissa Spoelstra provides a practical approach for you and your family to turn your attention toward God’s grace day-by-day as you prepare for Christmas. This 31-day devotional presents key scriptures, ideas to implement with each reading, and questions for reflection to guide you in rediscovering rituals, relationship, and rest to connect you more deeply with Christ this holiday season.
Learn more and purchase a copy.

My Thoughts – 

This book is an explanation and a perfect example of what the Christmas season should be about which is Christ. It is a wonderful book that shares how the family can draw closer to the Savior and how to fix your mind and traditions around Christ. This is perfect for a family wanting to read something encouraging during the Christmas season.

I was given this book from Litfuse.

About the Author –

Melissa Spoelstra is a popular women’s conference speaker, Bible teacher, and writer who is madly in love with Jesus and passionate about helping women of all ages to seek Christ and know Him more intimately through serious Bible study. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Bible Theology and enjoys teaching God’s Word to diverse groups and churches within the body of Christ. She is the author of the “First Corinthians: Living Love When We Disagree,” “Joseph: The Journey to Forgiveness,” and “Jeremiah: Daring to Hope in an Unstable World Bible” studies and “Total Family Makeover: 8 Steps to Making Disciples at Home” book. She lives in Dublin, Ohio, with her pastor husband and four kids.
Find out more about Melissa at https://melissaspoelstra.com.

 

Articles, Holidays, Hope a Little More Series

Hope a Little More Series – Recipes to be Thankful For

A Favorite Christmas Recipe – Gluten-Free Spritz – From Heather Cofer

For as long as I can remember, one of my favorite holiday activities has been baking Christmas cookies. Even when I had to stop eating gluten almost 10 years ago, I delighted in the experience of crafting beautiful, delicious treats (even if just to watch others enjoy them). But I was so thrilled when I started being successful with some Christmas cookie favorites that I could also enjoy!
So, all that being said, here is one of my favorite Christmas cookie recipes adapted to be gluten- free friendly! Enjoy!
Gluten-Free Classic Spritz Cookies (Adapted from the Pampered Chef Classic Spritz Cookies recipe)
You will need a cookie press
1 cup sugar
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla extract
3 1/2 cups Pamela’s all purpose gluten-free flour mix (this is my favorite flour, because it can be used in the same ratio as regular flour, and you don’t need to add xanthan gum)
Colored sugar or sprinkles (optional)
1. Preheat oven to 375F. In a large mixing bowl, beat the butter and sugar on medium speed of the electric mixer about 3 minutes or until creamy, scraping down sides as necessary. Add the egg and vanilla; beat well. Add the flour, mix on low speed just until blended (the dough will be soft, do not refrigerate).
2. Fit the cookie press with the desired disk and fill it with the dough. Press the dough onto a cookie sheet about 1inch apart. Decorate the cookies with sprinkles or colored sugar if desired. Bake 10-12 minutes, then remove from cookie sheet and place on a cooling rack.
Makes app. 6-7 dozen

About Heather:

Heather Cofer is a wife and mother with a passion for encouraging others to love Jesus with all their hearts. This comes through writing, leading worship, and being actively involved in life-on-life discipleship alongside her husband, Judah, who is one of the pastors at their church. She is also a regular contributor for the ministry of Set Apart Girl, and is in the process of starting up her own blog in the near future (visit her landing page here)

Heather loves spending her days with their three young children, enjoying quality time with Judah, and having sweet conversations over cups coffee with friends.

Heather is a Colorado native, but spent most of her childhood in the country of Mongolia, which is where she and Judah met after his family also moved there several years later. After getting married in 2011, they moved to Windsor, Colorado, and have been there ever since.

Articles, Holidays, Hope a Little More Series

Hope a Little More Series – Thankful For the Veterans

“I thank God every time I remember you.” ~Philippians 1:3

Happy Veterans Day! I am so thankful for all of the veterans who have served in the armed forces over the years. The freedoms we experience and enjoy today are thanks to all those who have fought in years past, and also the ones who are currently fighting.

America is a different place now than when this holiday was first declared. We have progressed in so many positive ways in our politics and military service. Unfortunately though, we as a country and world are  also facing more struggles now than ever before in my lifetime. As I’m writing this my mind goes to September 11 to present day, and the division we face in the United States and world. All one needs to do is turn on the television for evidence of violence, terrorism, and divisions in race and religion.  Most recently, the attack in NYC last week, the shooting in Las Vegas, the church shooting in Texas, and various other tragedies are evidence of these issues. Even though some of these incidents may not all be war and terrorism related, it is still very heartbreaking for our country, and proves all the more why we need the assistance of our armed forces. The day to day struggles that we face in our lives pales in comparison to the suffering occurring in our country and around the world.

Even though it is hard for families to send off their loved ones into the military, we need their efforts to do what needs to be done, and we need to give them more encouragement and support than ever before. The military today continues the good fight that so many other veterans began in the past. It is so easy to only focus our attention on ourselves, and the circumstances we face personally— that we forget the liberties that make our lives easier are not free. Sadly, many folks use that freedom to impact and disrespect the flag and country in negative ways, which is why we  need to give praise to our country and veterans every chance we get.

The month of November not only celebrates Veterans Day but also Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving reminds us to have gratitude for all that we have been blessed with.  That being said, we need to be thankful not just on certain holidays, but every day for those brave men and women whose jobs have protected our rights. So today on this holiday that honors the veterans who have fought for us — take time to tell them thank you for their service and give them the respect and praise that they have earned. I’m sure each of us are friends with some veterans or have some in our family, so whether it’s a meal, phone call, or note, let them know how thankful you are for their service. Regardless of political views we as Americans need to give  Veterans 100% of our support.

While there has been much tragedy in our country lately, I am thankful to be an American and live in this country. Lately, it seems that all the good in America has been overshadowed by the bad. However, in all of the National disasters from Houston, Florida, California, etc., it has been neat to see Americans from all walks of life lend their support and be united in serving and helping others. My prayer is for those types of actions to continue and that all of the Veterans who are alive to celebrate today, that they receive the same love and support. Each day we need to pray for our country, it’s leaders, and our military, and ask God to give them wisdom in decision making and the strength to press on.

My grandfather Sgt Robert Lee Dayberry US Arny 1952 & 53 Korea

 

 

Articles, Holidays, Hope a Little More Series

Hope a Little More Series – Recipes to be Thankful For

Y’all, one of my favorite desserts ever is Pumpkin Pie. I love this time of year where we have fresh pumpkin and it seems like my mom makes a pumpkin pie (at my request, of course), each weekend. Being as sick as I am, I am so thankful to be able to still enjoy some desserts especially pumpkin pie. Below is a wonderful recipe for it. Happy Baking!

Ingredients:

15 ounce) can pumpkin
1 (14 ounce) can Sweetened Condensed Milk
2 large eggs, 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger, 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg, 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 (9 inch), and unbaked pie crust

Directions: 

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Whisk pumpkin, sweetened condensed milk, eggs, spices and salt in medium bowl until smooth. Pour into crust. Bake 15 minutes.
Reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees F and continue baking 35 to 40 minutes or until knife inserted 1 inch from crust comes out clean. Cool. Garnish as desired. Store leftovers covered in refrigerator.

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