Life

The Warrior Within

/ Tracy / Leave a comment

Have you ever struggled to fit in? I’m sure if we’re honest, we’d all admit to having that struggle, at least occasionally. But what is it to fit in? And really, why would we want to?

If You Don't Fit In

What Is Normal?

For most of my life, I didn’t feel like I was a normal girl. I realize “normal” is subjective, but there are general girly qualities that are fairly standard. For instance, dressing up, being feminine, and looking pretty, polished and put together, are all typical for normal girls. And yes, I will do that. But only sometimes. I rarely accessorize and only change out my purse when it’s worn out. I can easily go out without worrying about makeup. Overall, I’m pretty low maintenance. And two of my least favorite things (also considered standard for women) are talking on the phone and <gasp> shopping!

The things I do enjoy are not typically considered “girly.” I like war movies more than romance. And boxing more than crafting. For our 10-year anniversary, I was thrilled to receive the gift of my dreams! No, it wasn’t bling, it was steel ~ my very first handgun! I get excited about knives (of the non-kitchen variety). As soon as I get a backboard and proper target, I will be throwing knives as a hobby. And I would love to get a black belt in martial arts (but have bad knees). See, I’m not a “normal” girl.

Being a Warrior

Previously, those things that make me “me,” made me feel like I didn’t measure up. Like I wasn’t the type of girl society said I should be, so there was something wrong with me. Now, however, when I look at the list above, I see a common thread. All of these things that I enjoy so much are not masculine v. feminine. They are merely activities that represent strength, discipline, determination, focus, tenacity, protectiveness and an unwillingness to give up. These are the characteristics of being a warrior. And that is who God created me to be ~ a warrior, a champion for Him and His Kingdom. Discovering this has been life changing for me.

Be Strong n Corageous

My time in this world is not just for me. It’s been said, this life is not about this life.  I can skate through life as a Christian, being saved and just manage to get through, not shaking thing up and not rocking the boat. Or, I can stand up, walk in my purpose, and use the tools (gifts and talents) God has given me to make a difference.

Anytime we work toward the advancement of God’s Kingdom, we encounter resistance and darkness. We encounter the enemy. We have a very real adversary who is against us. He is evil, he is deceitful, and he doesn’t fight fair. Satan doesn’t just want to pick on us a little because he is a bully. Rather he is a liar and a thief, and his purpose is to kill, steal and destroy (John 10:10). He wants to destroy us, not because he thinks he can win, but because he knows he’s already lost, and he wants to take as many of God’s people, of God’s chosen ones, with him.

God knows we’re in a battle. And He has given us all the tools we need to win, for He has already won. What tools do we have at our disposal? We have prayer, which is communication ~ no battle can be won without it. We have God’s Word, a sword, a weapon for offense. We have our faith, a shield, a weapon for defense. We have truth, righteousness, peace, and salvation, all tools which allow us to stand strong in the fight, and advance in our purpose, taking ground from the enemy.

The Battle Is Real

So we must fight. All of us. We may grow weary, we may get bloodied, we may even lose some of the battles, but we must never give up. We must always rise up, in Christ, and the strength He has given us, and fight. There may come a time to rest, to refresh, to heal, but we always have to return to the fight. Because the only way Satan can truly win in our lives is if we give up if we allow him to win.

 

And then there is this:

A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.

 Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle, you will still be standing firm. Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

  Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere. ~ Ephesians 6:10-18

Battleground

Crock Pot Ranch Chicken

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Okay, so I made this new dish yesterday. And it was AMAZING! It’s a recipe that’s been making the rounds on the internet and has even achieved the coveted “viral” status. It’s Mississippi Chicken ~ have you heard of it? This is that recipe ~ only I changed the name.

See, I have an uber picky eater, and anything with “Ranch” in it, is far more palatable than anything with “Mississippi” in it. So this is my “soon to be famous,” child-approved Crock Pot Ranch Chicken. And yes, she LOVED it! Win-win for Ranch Chicken!

Doing my deep and arduous research for this recipe, I discovered there are two ways to make it and two ways to serve it. Some recipes called for boneless, skinless chicken breasts, while others opted for boneless, skinless chicken thighs. Since I’m a rebel, I used both!

As for serving, some recipes kept the chicken whole, plating it with fantastic sides. It works really well this way, as the chicken is both juicy and flavorful.

Ranch Chicken 1

Others went the extra mile and shredded it. When shredded, it is excellent over rice or mashed potatoes, on top of a salad, or wrapped in a tortilla. I decided to shred it and served it over rice, with steamed veggies.  I’m of the opinion that you should do whatever works for you!

Ranch Chicken 2

This recipe was easy-peasy and totally delish!

Ingredients:

  • 3 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs (or any combination of the two)
  • 1 stick butter (I didn’t say it was healthy!)
  • 1 packet dry ranch dressing mix (thus the new name)
  • 1 packet gravy mix (I used au jus)
  • 10 pepperoncinis (and just because I like to live on the wild side, I added 1 Tbsp of the pepperoncini juice from the jar)

Instructions:

  1. Place chicken in Crock Pot, and sprinkle dry ranch mix and gravy packet over the top.
  2. Slice butter into even-ish slices, and place on top of chicken.
  3. Toss pepperoncinis on top (and add a little juice if you like).
  4. Cover and cook on low 6-7 hours.
  5. If desired, shred chicken in the juices. Otherwise, serve the chicken with a little of the sauce drizzled on top.

As I said, it was well-liked and will be added to the preferred meals lineup! A word of caution ~ do not, I repeat… DO NOT withhold the pepperoncinis, it would completely change the flavor (if you don’t like them, just pull ’em out after it’s done cooking)!

The Sacredness of the Pinky Promise

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Mother n Daughter Swing

I blinked. I must have. I didn’t mean to, but surely that’s what happened. Just yesterday my darling daughter was a baby… it was yesterday, right? And now she’s eight (and a half, she would tell me), which may not seem too drastic, but it is to this Mama’s heart. I know she’s growing up. I know she needs to grow up, that it is all part of God’s plan, but does it have to be so soon?

It seems like every day, she needs me a little less. And while I’m happy that she is growing into a smart, independent, capable, young lady, I am also saddened because I know that each step toward independence takes her a step further from me. I look at this beautiful, sweet girl of mine, and I see the child less and less. It’s as if I’m looking at an image that is dancing in shimmering transformation, there, yet not there; the child fading into the future young lady, who elusively, isn’t quite there yet.

She knows I’m a wreck over this experiencing challenges with this, so she tries to help me. She reassures me that her growing up, and learning to do more on her own is all part of God’s plan. She tells me that she still needs me, that she’ll always need me, just in different ways. And then there’s this:

Pinky Promise

The pinky promise comes straight from the heart and is the most sacred, serious, vow anyone can ever swear to. If broken, the consequences are serious, devastating… life-changing, even. They are not meant to be entered into lightly. THIS is the promise my daughter has made to me… She has made this solemn oath to never leave me, to never move out, and to always need me. She has sworn upon the sanctity of the pinky promise, that when she gets married, her husband and children also have to love, need, obey, and want to live with me.

I must admit, this makes me happy! Perhaps a little too happy. But it gives me comfort when I see yet again, where she doesn’t need me to take care of her. The pinky promise is true, it’s binding. And I choose to trust in it.

So if that doesn’t work out, if she tries to leave me if anything changes, all is not lost. I still have another choice. If the pinky promise doesn’t hold true, I always have the option of… The Tower. The Rapunzel-style tower, that will keep her with me for forever and always. That works too, right?

Rapunzel's Tower

Yes, I joke.. but I know she is growing, and I believe she will make a great life for herself. And yes, I’ll be proud of her, no matter what. Actually, I already am!

Life is Messy

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Life is Messy 2

Life is… messy. It’s complicated. It’s beautiful and ugly, inspiring and crushing, hopeful and hopeless, all at once. And relationships? Well, they can be complicated too ~ we love, but then in our love, we hurt those we love or are hurt by them. Still, we love. Sometimes the assault is from an external source, and sometimes it comes from within (don’t even get me started on how we tend to be our own worst enemy, rather than our own best friend). The fact is bad things really do happen to good people, just as good things happen to bad people. In fact, the Bible even tells us this:

~ His sun shines on bad people and on good people. He sends rain on those who are right with God and on those who are not right with God. (Matt. 5:45)

We know these things happen. We know that there will be times in our lives that are filled with laughter, light, love, and great success and joy. And there will also be times of sorrow, loneliness, anger, frustration, and darkness. Most likely, we can’t control anything that happens to us (how can we possibly control the storm?), but we can control how we react to them. We can control how we let them affect us. We can choose to focus on the good, cling to the knowledge that nothing lasts forever and that even in the midst of the storm, He is with us.

Focus on the Good

When we change our focus, we change our life.

When we focus on the good, we aren’t living in denial of the bad, we’re just choosing to see the light in the darkness, to behold the beauty in the storm, to feel refreshment in the rain, and to understand there’s a purpose in the pain.

When we understand that this too shall pass, we can move forward, knowing that we will get through whatever is trying to take us out. Sometimes we’re able to do this on our own, but most of the time, we need help. We need God on our side (knowing and trusting that He will never leave us or forsake us), and we need people on our side too. Our friends and/or families are powerful resources for getting through the tough times. They encourage us, strengthen us, and give us a safe place to rest when we’re weary.

Yes, life can be messy, but if it weren’t, it wouldn’t be colorful, and it wouldn’t be such an exhilarating ride!