A Key Ingredient

Have you ever screwed up a baking recipe and either missed an ingredient or totally measured incorrectly? I recall attempting to make brownies one night when I was younger and accidentally measured an ingredient wrong. They were so gross that I ended up throwing them away.

 Key Ingredient: Love

One of the key components to baking a delicious treat is balance...and that doesn't necessarily mean equal! Betty Crocker knows just what balance of ingredients that call for a delicious double-fudge brownie treat...typically the recipe is the box of brownie mix, 1/4 cup of water, 1/4 cup vegetable oil and one egg.

I find that when it comes to life, we could all use a lesson from Betty Crocker. We need to learn how to effectively measure out the right ingredients that will help create a fulfilling, edifying life. We need to measure out love, kindness, grace, discipline, correction and so many other ingredients.

Key Ingredient: Laughter

My hearts desire is to be a key ingredient in the life of someone else. I want to help add flavor the life of another individual, whatever that may look like for them in a given moment. It's important that we all take some time to reflect on how we have been a key ingredient to someone or how we can begin to implement that in our daily lives.

A smile to a mother in the grocery store who is embarrassed by her little toddler ripping things off of the shelf. Helping out a friend who may be in need. Praying for those who are in need. Sharing a word of encouragement with the person who feels like they just can't measure up. Paying for the persons coffee in the drive through behind you. Letting someone know that maybe they could use some help in a specific area. Telling the girl you pass by at the gym who obsessively works out that she is beautiful. All key ingredients.

Key Ingredient: Family

Now, if you're reading this and consider yourself to be a Believer, I encourage you to pray and ask the Lord to show you how to be a key ingredient in someone else's life. 

Let your light shine!

"In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in Heaven" (Matthew 5:16)

Xoxo,

Beth

  

Key Ingredient: Friends

Fixer Upper

One of my favorite HGTV shows to watch is Fixer Upper. I love watching the process of the original house being gutted from the inside out and eventually being renovated into a beautiful, brand new home. It is a long and tiring process, but one that is so worth it in the end. 

Before: Getting Gutted

Last weekend, I was watching an unusual episode. Most times, the house the couple is renovating is already completely cleared out by whoever was living there before. However, this time, there were old things everywhere...clothes, furniture, cobwebs, etc. I felt like I could relate to that house...there are some OLD things in me that have to be gutted....there are some things in me that simply have to go...

My old ways of thinking about myself...

have to go.

My old ways of thinking about others...

have to go.

 My old ways of popping an attitude...

have to go.

 My old ways of talking...

have to go.

They all HAVE to go. 

They all have to go so that they can be replaced with something new. Right now, I am in the process of cleaning out my closet. I have clothes that I don't wear, simply taking up space, and I probably would not be able to fit anything new in there. We need to create space within ourselves to welcome change...to welcome new ways of thinking and new ways of living...whatever that may look like for you.

After: completely renovated

Please take some time to reflect on who you are as a person. No one is perfect, and we all have areas we could use some change in. What in your heart and mind needs to be gutted? What needs to go so something better can replace it?

For transparency sake, I am currently working on some old, bad habits that formed in my 8 year battle with an eating disorder. It's part of my story, part of my testimony and is still a test I'm working through. Although I have an overall healthy, balanced diet, there are some residual effects that have to be dealt with....one being obsessive body checking in the mirror because one of my fears is gaining weight.

Through this process of change, it's also so important to get friends in your corner who can encourage change. As I'm sitting here writing, I can remember one of my closest friends, Keri, telling me to stop looking in the mirror. One day at work she caught me in the bathroom looking in the mirror and said, "what are you doing?" She knows me. She knows my past and basically all of my business, and in this way has helped encourage change in my life. At that point, this was probably a year or so ago, I didn't see a need for change, but now I am in a place where I am actually seeking change and professional help. So go find yourself some good friends who can help you in your process! Others see things in us that we may not see in ourselves, both the good and the bad. Iron sharpens iron.

Celebrating Keri's 30th!

Cheers to renovation,

Beth