I Had Come Undone, but He Had Only Just Begun....

I was sitting in bed recently, spending time with our gracious God, spreading my arms open wide in worship...when I had a very sweet memory...

I was sitting in the same spot, on the same bed, that I was seven years ago, only eight months after my overdose...raising my arms in the exact same way...praising a God who was allowing an absolute undoing. It was a crisis on all levels...I was still very overweight, physically, emotionally, and spiritually unhealthy. My children wanted nothing to do with me; my husband and I were living worlds apart...headed towards divorce. My Mama had been diagnosed with terminal cancer, we had no money, and I had just found out that we were losing our house...

Fast forward to today...this morning...this minute...I do not live a perfect life. Many things are very hard, but I carry the knowledge and faith of a gracious God who was with me that day. The God of all creation who took time to stop and instruct the Spirit of His son Jesus to sing into me the truth that He was doing something beautiful with what satan had tried to use to kill me and my home. Today...this morning...this minute...I STAND IN THE FINISHED WORK OF JESUS CHRIST, knowing that He has only just begun!!!!!

Precious sisters, I don't know what God is doing in you, through you, and for you this morning, but I encourage you to set aside every other thing that is of this earth and climb up in the middle of your bed or sit in your car in the parking lot of work...or heck...stop in the middle of the grocery store with kids running all around you, and raise your hands to THE ONLY ONE THAT CAN SET YOU FREE AND SEND YOU OUT FOR HIS PURPOSE, knowing that He has only just begun!!!

Then, please take it to the next level. Set out to know who you are in the story of God!!! Read the story of Moses leading the Israelites across the Red Sea (Exodus 14-15). Read Psalm 107. Read Proverbs 3. Read Habakkuk. Read Haggai. Read 2 Peter 1. Read the book of James. Read Ephesians. Read John 1. Read Revelation...READ JESUS!!!

Learn of His glory and beauty; from there, you will know yours!

"Thomas said to [Jesus], “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.” John 14:5-7

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Ps. If you want to start getting your pantry ready for soup weather, this WILD RICE SOUP is a must-try!! We love it with double the mushrooms!!

Vegan Wild Rice Soup

INGREDIENTS

* 6 cups vegetable stock (or chicken stock)

* 1 cup uncooked wild rice

* 8 ounces baby bella mushrooms, sliced

* 4 cloves garlic, minced

* 2 medium carrots, diced

* 2 ribs celery, diced

* 1 large (about 1 pound) sweet potato, peeled and diced

* 1 small white onion, peeled and diced

* 1 bay leaf

* 1 1/2 tablespoon Old Bay seasoning

* One can full fat coconut milk

INSTRUCTIONS

INSTANT POT (PRESSURE COOKER) METHOD:

* Combine vegetable stock, wild rice, mushrooms, garlic, carrots, celery, sweet potato, onion, bay leaf and Old Bay seasoning in the bowl of an Instant Pot pressure cooker. Stir briefly to combine.

* Cover and set vent to “sealing”. Cook on manual (high pressure) for 25 minutes. Let the Instant Pot rest there for an extra 10 minutes (natural release). Then carefully turn the vent to “venting” and release the remaining pressure (quick release). Remove lid and discard the bay leaf.

* Add the coconut milk and kale to the soup, and stir gently until combined. Taste and season with salt and pepper (plus any extra Old Bay seasoning, if you would like) as needed.

* Serve warm. Or transfer to sealed container(s) and refrigerate for up to 4 days.

CROCK-POT (SLOW COOKER) METHOD:

* Combine vegetable stock, wild rice, mushrooms, garlic, carrots, celery, sweet potato, onion, bay leaf and Old Bay seasoning in the bowl of a large slow cooker. Stir briefly to combine, then place the lid on the slow cooker.

* Cook on high for 2-3 hours*, until the rice is cooked and tender.

* Add Whole Fat Coconut Milk

* Serve warm. Or transfer to sealed container(s) and refrigerate for up to 4 days.