Photobucket

February 22, 2012

Posts Comments

Joy of Cooking in Sicily!

November 8, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Print this entry

Hey everybody – hope you are doing well. I am still studying in the book of Revelation and am learning so much I am finding it hard to relay to you all. Anyway – more of that will come on Thursday, possibly. I want to take a few minutes to introduce the next guest blogger. This is my friend Joy. As you will read below she is from Sicily – or at least that is where I met her. I lead a women’s retreat for the military wives on base that she attended. It was unbelievable!!! I soooooo want to go back! Anyway, Joy and her sweet family took me and my friend Abbie to The Carnivale’ festival where we got to know them a little better. It was crazy awesome. Food, food, food! Below you will find an introduction to Joy’s blog and all the ways you can catch up with her. Yall please go visit and say hello. Tell her I sent you and enjoy your time in another part of the world! Have a beautiful day! Much love, Leigh

 

Hi ya’ll! My name is Joy Hardin. I currently live in Italy with my husband and two boys. I am having a blast living overseas and getting to enjoy the Italian food culture! I adore food! I love cooking uncomplicated dishes, but occasionally enjoy trying more difficult recipes just for the challenge. Sometimes I succeed and sometimes I fail miserably, but it is fun trying and even more fun eating!!
People often tell me I am a good cook, but I truly don’t think I fall into the category of “good cook”. I am just a “good recipe finder”. I cannot throw ingredients together and create a fabulous original dish. To me, that is the definition of a good cook.

My food blog was created in order to share my love of everyday cooking with you. I am no Martha Stewart; she is too complicated for my lifestyle. Although I am from the south, I am no Paula Deen; she uses too much butter. I am definitely no Rachel Ray; she is way too perky! I am just an ordinary girl that likes to try new foods and recipes and would like to share some of my favorites with you.
As a follower of Christ, I occasionally weave my faith walk into my blog posts. After all, He is the Bread of Life and the only “food” that can eternally sustain us. I hope you will come along with me on this journey so you too can discover the joy of everyday cooking.
You can find me at:

http://www.thejoyofeverydaycooking.blogspot.com

facebook Joy Vinzetta Hardin     http://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?id=713452620

Twitter    http://twitter.com/#!/JoyfulatHome      I am new to twitter

Pinterest http://pinterest.com/everydayjoy/

StumbleUponTumblrLinkedInFacebookDiggTwitterShare
Filed Under: blogging, Culture, eating, food, new blog Tagged With: , ,
Photobucket

It’s Not Just the Bad that is Wrong

August 31, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Print this entry

Dear Lord, So often I am just a half a day to giving up all social media because of different stuff I see.  I don’t know how to explain it, but so much of it is all about ourselves.  I’m including myself in this observation.  But then you bring something to me and help me to know my time is not done there yet and to keep on.  In fact, I felt Your conviction so as to discern that not taking place, not participating in this avenue of ministry, not even using this for Your good and Glory……….. it would be sin!

Lord, as these thoughts come to me it almost causes me to go to my knees because I don’t understand it at all.  I have even thought I have to be making this up in my mind.  But after much prayer, conviction, and confirmation – I will obey and in that obedience there will be action………again!


“ If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them.”  James 4:17


I really appreciate this verse so much!  I appreciate the specificity of it!  It doesn’t just say that anyone that knows good and doesn’t do it randomly is sinning, but it is specific to me!  When I know something He has called me to do no matter what it is – no matter how silly it may seem – no matter how many other times I have done it – no matter if it has never worked before – no matter what – IF i don’t or chose not to follow through on this “good” – that is not just general sin, but this is sin for me!!!!  


What is it in your life?  What is it that you keep passing by for some reason?  What is it that you hear Him saying – I need you to do this “goodness” and you don’t make time, you done feel like it will be effective, you don’t want to get involved, you think it is stupid, you are embarrassed, you are don’t see any good that could come from that………………..


It is not just the obvious bad that is sin in our lives, it is not doing the obvious good that is sin as well.  Oh Lord, may we hear you!  Oh Lord, may we respond to you.  Oh Lord, may we have joy in our hearts.  And Oh Lord, may You be pleased!!  I love you Savior!!  

StumbleUponTumblrLinkedInFacebookDiggTwitterShare
Filed Under: doing good, facebook, James, media, twitter
Photobucket

953 – Self-control. I confess, I struggle…big time!

May 26, 2011 By 2 Comments

Print this entry

 Good Morning Lord – We, my family and all those hunkered down last night in our basement, made it through the terrible storms.  It actually was not near as bad as the one on April 19 – at least here in Carmi.  I know it was a totally different story for those in Joplin, Mo. just a few days ago.  Oh Lord, continue to help them find their loved ones…alive!!  God, show them where to go and the perfect time to get there!!  Oh Jesus, have mercy on them and restore that place like only You can!

This morning I found myself in Titus 2:4-5  “4 Then they can urge the younger women to love their husbands and children, 5 to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God.”  This is the passage that is talking to the women of the church and pleading with the older women to train the younger and some specific things the younger women should aim to do and be.

5 to be self-controlled and pure – This part of the verse really pierced my heart as i read it – that is the working of the Holy Spirit within me.  My commentary said that this word for self-controlled is ‘sophron’ which means “to voluntarily place limitations on one’s own freedom”.  It reminds me of the other scripture that says, “everything is permissible, but not everything is beneficial.”  


To subject myself to certain limitations within my own freedom is difficult!  Not an easy task for someone that many times lacks self-control.  I struggle with when enough is enough.  I find it hard to say no to anyone.  I find it hard to stop when the food is so good.  I find it hard to put down Facebook.  I find it hard to demand my body to exercise because it hurts.  Hello, my name is Angela Leigh Hargis Gray and I struggle with self-control. PERIOD!  


So while I may want to dismiss this verse and keep pressing on in a comfortable life, the Lord today is reminding me of my responsibility if not to anyone else – to myself and to the little girlies He has placed under my roof.  


We said a long time ago, well really is was me, that we were going to have a media free summer.  That means a whole lot of different things for us.  Not a total good-bye, but if it is pretty weather the TV will not turn on until after dark.  There will be no computer gaming or PS2 or stuff like that.  Continued absence of Facebook – except I can not figure out why my pictures still get on there when I take one with my phone!!  grrrr.  oh well.  


Self-control, a voluntary placement of limitations on my freedom and the household, will begin today.  Oh Lord Jesus – help us!!  Help me!!!  I love you!   

StumbleUponTumblrLinkedInFacebookDiggTwitterShare
Filed Under: freedom, media, summer, titus
Photobucket

642 – In his Sight!!

October 27, 2008 By 7 Comments

Print this entry

Monday Mommy Moment!  2 Sam. 13!!

OK – I just want to say one more thing!!  When someone comes to my house for the first time I try to have it clean and picked up, etc.  But after that initial time I don’t worry about my house being all perfect for them any longer.  I feel like they know the potential I have in having a clean house and that I will clean it for whomever comes for the first time.  The same is true of my video blogging.  This one and the last one I had hair fixed, make-up on, etc.  You know I have potential to get all dolled up, but please don’t expect it each time.  Since most of my blogging is early morning I suspect there will be many days of hats and NOOOOOO make-up.  K? K!  Please still love me – ha ha!  
Have a wonderful day!!  
StumbleUponTumblrLinkedInFacebookDiggTwitterShare
Filed Under: 2 Sam. David, modesty, purity
Photobucket

262 – Brittany Spears

March 2, 2007 By Leave a Comment

Print this entry

Dear Jesus – I know this may sound so crazy, but over the past few weeks I have been so burdened for Brittany Spears. Maybe because she is a momma and a southern girl. That would be my only connection with her. But as the world is pointing fingers and calling her crazy – she has done some questionable things – I can’t help but hurt for her and feel great sympathy. Growing up in the church and singing first as a gospel singer – so i have been told – I know she has at least been exposed to the Truth whether she listened to it at all. So assuming that she has actually heard the Truth, there is hope for this young momma screaming out (as Marybeth put it in her blog) in this unusual way in complete and utter desperation. Before I get on the road for my event in Nashville, I want to pray for Brittany. Lord Jesus, I pray this is never one of my little girls in this kind of mess, but none of us are immune.

Lord, creator of all little girls and boys, I lift up this precious one of Yours and ask for protection. Protect her body from whatever addictions are consuming her at this time. Protect her children that have been toss here and there hoping for a stable environment. Protect her momma and daddy from disappointment and only encourage healing and wholeness. Lord, i know you have a special plan for this lady. From the beginning of time you may have planned to use her voice for good and for glorification of You, but somewhere it got off track. I do not stand to judge, but lift up and ask that you draw her in. If she has ever known you in a personal way, Lord, I pray she will feel your holy hugs and nudges to come back. I pray Lord that you will give her the courage to begin to say no to the old ways and abandon that lifestyle. Lord, i can only imagine if someone like Brittany were to change her life and truly live for you what kind of impact that would have across the world. Oh Jesus, for your name’s sake do that. Bring someone to her, in rehab, in the grocery, in the studio, wherever that can speak truth and honesty and LOVE. Lord I am so thankful that at she has not chosen to abort those precious boys. Lord, she chose life and that is such a positive and honorable thing. The people that she is around i am sure encourage, to say the least, for her to abort and just get rid of another hassle as they might see it. But Jesus, you have plan for those boys as well. Oh Lord, allow her to reach out for You and seek your love, redemption, and forgiveness. Jesus, if Brittany does come back around, will my church – the whole body – accept her? Will we love on her and rejoice with her? Will we forget and not judge? Oh Jesus – I sure hope so. Thank you for the blessings that you have placed in her life that i have no idea about. Lord, thank you for her gifts and talents and from what i hear her huge heart. Lord, change this lady. Do your holy work!! Thank you, Lord!!!

Brittany – I know the possibilities of you ever reading this are less than slim to none. But my God is possible and awesome. He can put something right into your face that should have never gotten there. My God, Holy Father, Jesus Christ, Lord, Almighty, the One!!!! He is like none other. He will take you in and love on you and hold you tightly. He will never take advantage of you. He will make all you wrongs right and redeem your soul from the pit. He is unconditional about His love and mercy and grace. We have such different lives, but there have been pits have I have been in as well. I want you to know that at least one person and i know there are many others, want to see you whole and healthy. We want to see you used for the Truth and the Gospel. Brittany, you have not done anything He can’t forgive. You could never do too much that He can’t wipe clean. He loves you, He died for you, and He now lives for you. Trust in Him!!! He is more than worth it all, even all the fame and money and riches. I would trade those things for Him any day. Grab on tightly and He will never let you go!!! I love Him and He loves you more than you will ever know.

StumbleUponTumblrLinkedInFacebookDiggTwitterShare
Filed Under: brittany spears, fame, love, salvation
Photobucket