If you’ve never attended a Saints game, you should really consider doing so. There’s nothing like a win inside the Superdome after you’ve been biting your nails, hanging on to strangers, and have felt like your heart’s stopped because you’re desperate for a win. When I attended my first college football game to cheer on my husband, I knew nothing about football, but over the years, I’ve learned to love the sport. It’s taught me so much about life.
In football and in life, you win some (Who Dat NATION), and you lose some, but each day and season presents new opportunities to strive, thrive, and grow! In football, losing was an opportunity for those players to learn what skills to develop for the next game. After each game, athletes review the film searching for ways to improve in the areas they made mistakes—while also working to strengthen the areas they succeeded.
This is what separates the winners from the losers.
If you’ve lived long enough, you’ve had some victorious moments and some not so great ones too. As believers, it’s essential that despite what our scoreboard in life looks like, we don’t give up. Even when we are tackled by life, it’s crucial to keep getting back up. Be reminded that even if it appears that we’re losing, we win because God is still on the throne. Jesus has already conquered it all, and we’re always victorious when we’re resting in Him and His promises, even if it appears otherwise.
When I’m winning, sometimes I’m turnt! I feel accomplished! I do give God the glory,
but there have even been many times I’ve questioned, “why me”? On the other hand, as a recovering perfectionist and people pleaser, losses are always difficult for me.
I’m constantly attempting to work out my issues in this area because for one, I’m only perfectly imperfect. When I get out of my own head, I learn that God is pruning me, using me, and preparing me for Himself! Like my husband’s teammates, I study myself (film) and my opponent (the enemy), challenge myself, and ask God to stop me in my tracks when I’m running further away from Him (linebacker moves).
Surrendering to Christ doesn’t mean we get a perfect life in return. It means that we must learn how to pray fervently and press firmly into God in ways we couldn’t before knowing Him. The weapon may form, but it won’t prosper. It’s knowing that “all things work together for the good of those who love the Lord and are called according to His purpose,” (Roman 8:28). This doesn’t mean all things will be good. It may not always look like we’re winning. However, in every situation, good or bad, all things work together for our good. God is always working on our behalf. We may not see that clearly in every situation, but trusting in Him is key! We will always come out triumphant! When we are connected in Christ, this is the true victory.
I love to treat my family and friends to this tasty recipe! The secret is getting the oil hot enough and letting the fish fry until it’s crispy! Growing up, we often had fried fish on Friday nights, and while most people wouldn’t agree with the combo, we always served it with spaghetti and meat sauce, fries, and green salad. Sometimes, I even serve lasagna instead of spaghetti.
Ingredients:
Fresh Catfish fillets (I usually make 2 pieces per person)
Pat dry with a sheet of paper towel then squeeze lemon juice on fish.
Trim catfish of any excess skin.
Lightly sprinkle the garlic powder and onion powder on both sides of the catfish fillets.
Pour Fish Fry batter in a shallow dish and drench fillets, pressing gently to coat well. Shake excess and set aside.
Heat Canola oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until a bit of fish batter sizzles when dropped in. I typically use an electric skillet or deep fryer to get more pieces cooked at once.
Gently add the coated fillets to the hot oil and fry until golden brown, turning once. It may take 7-8 minutes. Make sure it’s crispy and the batter isn’t separating from the fish. It typically floats when ready!
Remove and drain on a paper-towel-lined plate. Serve immediately.
Almost two months ago, we received news that shattered our hearts into the tiniest pieces; “It’s Retinoblastoma.”
I’d never heard of this cancer, and it took me a couple of days to even learn how to pronounce it. Our youngest daughter, Carly-Faith, was recently diagnosed with Retinoblastoma, which affects the retina, usually as a tumor. It’s rare and typically affects young children, but no one can really prepare your heart to hear that your child has cancer.
As I listened to the doctor advise us on our best options and explain where this journey may lead, I felt weakened. This was a situation that could have easily caused us to lose trust in our Father and allow the enemy to fill us with doubt. So many questions flooded my mind. At that moment, God appeared swiftly and granted me the strength and endurance that I would have never seen myself having under these circumstances!
My husband and I immediately went to the Lord in prayer—praying for specific miracles. One of those miracles was for God to salvage her left eye. However, that wasn’t a part of His master plan. We had to rapidly move forward with enucleation, the removal of her left eye. It would’ve been easy to be swept away by our fear or our feelings…but God. Instead, He revealed to us ALL of the other miracles He was unfolding before our very eyes!
Before COVID-19 and statewide mandatory quarantines, we were scheduled to be back in New Orleans. Had we been in NOLA, the closest place for treatment was Houston! Thankfully, we were home in Nashville, where Vanderbilt Hospital is located. This was a huge blessing and meant we could immediately see a specialist. One of the top research doctors and surgeons for this particular cancer was assigned to us at that hospital.
Surgeons were able to do outpatient surgery on my daughter two days after diagnosis. After weeks of awaiting additional test results we received the news that No chemotherapy was needed because the cancer was removed in the nick of time! Also,it hadn’t spread to her brain or right eye, which was a concern when receiving the diagnosis. There were so many moments where God showed up and proved Himself strong. We were able to share God through prayer and encouraging words with every doctor, nurse, and staff member caring for us on the day of surgery.
Our community showed up for us! Usually, I attempted to be a strong friend and decline help on every level. However, during this time I was able to allow my pride to rest, my fear to bow, and embrace the love of God through His people. Clinging to His truths and promises blessed me with boldness, peace, and FAITH!
Carly-Faith has lost vision in one of her eyes, and that may present some life challenges. However, many people have no hindrance to their physical vision, yet they are spiritually blind, which leads to a road of destruction. It is my prayer that God continues to grace us with wisdom and endurance to boldly discipline our little champion of faith to have a clear vision of her creator. Her story is beautiful, displaying God’s faithfulness, and we’re grateful to have experienced it all with her! May she always have a visual acuity of exactly who God is and the calling he has on her life, and may she fully maximize every ounce of her potential and purpose for the Kingdom of God!
I know some of you may be facing some giants and feeling discouraged by your challenges or circumstances…please, stand firmly on God’s promises! I strongly encourage you to go before the Lord in unfiltered prayer. Understand that it’s ok to embrace your emotions and not suppress them. But also, believe that God is greater than it all! If there is any specific way I can faithfully cover you in prayer, my inbox is open!
Growing up, I was always thrilled on the weekends because my aunts and uncles would all come home to visit my grandparents. Their visits usually guaranteed that we would get my grandmother’s famous homemade biscuits and sugar syrup! It was certainly the greatest breakfast of all time. I strongly desired for my little people to enjoy this family style breakfast, which is slowly becoming a three-times a week deal, instead of only Saturdays.
After tweaking the recipe just a little, I am thrilled to share one of my family favorite syrups. It’s smooth, thick, rich, and finger-licking good! It comes together quickly and tastes amazing! With this recipe, you may never buy pancake syrup again. Even better, it stores beautifully in a mason jar!
Homemade Biscuits
Ingredients
2 cups of all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon of sugar
1 tablespoon of baking powder
1 teaspoon of salt
8 tablespoons of butter, cubed
3/4 cup of milk
Instructions
In a large bowl, sift flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt together.
Cut cold butter into the mixture.
Make a well with flour mixture and slowly add milk into the middle.
Knead the dough with your fingers and add milk when necessary. Roll out dough onto a lightly floured surface and roll out to desired thickness. Cut with a small biscuit cutter or use a mason jar.
Butter the bottom of a skillet, (I prefer using a cast iron) and place biscuits in pan
Bake for 15 minutes or until golden brown.
Homemade Sugar Syrup
Ingredients
1 cup of water
1 cup of brown sugar
1 cup of white sugar
½ stick of unsalted butter(optional)
1/4 teaspoon of pure vanilla (optional)
Instructions
Stir together both brown and white sugars in a pan and place the pan over medium-high heat.
Quickly add water to prevent sugar from crystallizing. Stir until the sugar is melted and the mixture comes to a boil.
Lower the heat to medium and allow it to boil for 3 minutes.
If using butter, gently drop the butter into the mixture and stir until the butter is melted completely.
Remove the pan from the heat.
If using the extract, add it, and stir it in now.
Let the syrup stand in the pan for 5 minutes before pouring into a syrup serving dispenser, for immediate use. [For longer storage, pour into a clean mason jar.] Serve warm.
Store leftover syrup in a tightly closed mason jar in the refrigerator for up to a month.
To Reheat Leftover Syrup:
Remove the lid from the jar, and microwave for 20 seconds. Or, place the mason jar, still lidded, in a saucepan with simmering water, and using an oven mitt or canning tongs, lift and swirl the jar from time to time until it flows freely and becomes warmed throughout.
Radical: Taking Back Your Faith From The American Dream by David Platt is not for the faint-hearted. It is not only a riveting and extraordinary read but also far from conventional in terms of his beliefs surrounding his faith. Platt boldly challenges readers to sacrifice and leave behind all of their worldly possessions.
The very first chapter is titled ‘Is Jesus Worth Losing Everything?’ It’s a tough question to answer, but Platt pulls no punches. He encourages us to find the greatest thing to live for—the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Forsaking the American Dream
Platt mentions the Great Commission from Matthew 28, which pushes Christians to go out and make disciples of all nations in the name of the Holy Trinity.
We have all been called to evangelize the world for God. This undertaking is daunting but requires all of our efforts. By accepting the Great Commission, we must forsake the American Dream.
We are taught at an early age to gain as many earthly accolades as possible, and that the goal is to be rich and successful. But there’s a thin line between living for God and living for the world. It can be challenging to actually live how Jesus said we should.
Thankfully, we have excellent examples—the disciples.
The disciples abandoned their careers, family, and convenience to follow Jesus. They left certainty for uncertainty, safety for danger—all selfless actions to make sure the gospel advanced.
Pursuing a Sacrificial Life
David Platt calls us to stop placing our primary focus on living the American Dream, but instead, pursue living a life that is sacrificial by displaying more love and bringing more awareness to God and His kingdom.
The first time I read this book, I honestly didn’t love it — I was convicted. I never really assumed my faith had been rooted in the American Dream until I truly entered a relationship with Christ.
The second time, I loved it and it spoke to my heart.
On my third time reading it, I decided to take a different approach. I’ve been taking my time to get through the entire book, but it is incredibly fulfilling.
Each chapter has me reevaluating my heart, identifying my counterfeit gods, and implementing strategies to hold myself and our family accountable.
Focusing on Eternity
The cost of truly following Jesus is high. It requires being willing to let go of everything else.
Do you know what could be potentially standing in your way? As you read “Radical”, much will be exposed to you.
At the end of this book, David urges us to take the Radical Experiment, which is a one-year commitment that should be pursued seriously.
You’ll have to read the book to better understand, but the purpose is for Christians to spend their lives fulfilling God’s mission of exposing people to His love.
This requires us to come to the end of ourselves, and that can be challenging yet rewarding! Whatever dream you may see for your life pales in comparison to the plans that God has in store for you.
Building up treasures for eternity is far greater than building up temporary treasures here on earth. Make God’s plans your plans. His plans are far more fulfilling and ultimately the best for you.
Enjoy a space to connect, be empowered and educated to seek Jesus wholeheartedly, identify blind spots, seek growth, learn to love, forgive, laugh, cook amazing food, and understand that living the in the spotlight is not always roses & candy.
