I can't be free from this storm inside of me... #perspective

If you have seen the movie Frozen, which I know many of you probably have.... You will know the story of Elsa. And for those that don't know, Elsa has powers to bring snow/winter. But she fears her powers because she knows the can bring destruction and she doesn't know how to control her powers.  She continues to live in fear. Trying to 'control' her life, her situation.  Hiding and living in fear. Believing no matter what she can't be free!

(This photo does not belong to me)

"I can't be free! Never escape from this storm inside of me." ~ Elsa

Above is a line from one of the songs in the movie that explains how she feels. Feelings of being trapped, lost and believes she will never be able to escape or control the curse.

We can look at our struggles in life, or problems, our battle and even our sin. We can see it as bondage of never being set free. But Jesus came so that you may be set free! John 8:34-36 says:

Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave of sin. A slave is not a permanent member of the family, but a son is part of the family forever. So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free..." 

So why do we look at our life and think we will never be set free?

I've even looked at my battles in my life and seen it as something as this constant battle in which I would never be set free. It was as if this feeling of being trapped and worn out was because I was trying to fight this battle on my own. I became tired of thinking that this was only a season which would eventually past. So I started seeing this problem as something that was never going to leave!

I was looking at the problem, like Elsa did, instead of believe and seeing my situation in the eyes of God. Letting Him take over! It's all about perspective! Are you going to look through the eyes of the world or look through the eyes of The Creator. The Almighty One, The Beginning and The End! He knows the plans he has for you life (Jeremiah 29:11) and he holds the whole world together!! Don't you know if he can do all that, he can help you get through your struggles also!!! Believing and knowing you have been set free, you have all authority and you are healed!

But He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed.

Isaiah 53:5

No matter what your going through. No matter what your struggles are and the battle you may be facing. Know you are healed! Change your perspective and pray! Prayer is so powerful! I believe things start to shift when you pray and step out in faith.


God bless,
Sara-Jayne

Blueberry, Coconut Buckwheat Pancakes

For Mothers Day we decided to do things a little different... You see Sunday mornings are as busy as anything. Getting ready for church and all having responsibilities we have to be there early. But that doesn't stop us from blessing Mum and making her breakfast. Only this time we didn't have pancakes for breakfast. Yep! Instead we became rebellious for the day and had them for lunch.


I had some leftover buckwheat flour that I wanted to use up so I decided to come up with a pancake recipe. And knowing me, my two favourite things are blueberries and coconut... So putting them together in a pancake sounded like a perfect match... haha...  But seriously!! If you love buckwheat and coconut... You going to love these.

Blueberry, Coconut, Buckwheat Pancakes 

(Makes 6)

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup buckwheat flour
• 1 Tablespoon coconut flour
• 1 teaspoon GF baking powder
• 1 egg
• 3/4 cup organic coconut milk
• 3 teaspoon stevia
• 2 tablespoon desiccated coconut
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• Handful of blueberries 

Method:
Place the flours and baking powder/soda into a bowl and lightly stir. Add in the rest of the ingredients, except for the blueberries. Mixing as you go. Put the mixture to one side and let it sit. Doing this will help the ingredients soak in.

Heat up your pan with coconut oil. Scoop some mixture into the pan then grab your blueberries and evenly sprinkle over the mixture. Flip over when you start to see bubbles form and cook on the other side until it looks golden.

Serve with blueberries, banana and coconut cream or greek yogurt.

Pin and share!!!

I don't want to waste my life!!!

This morning I opened up to the book of Luke. It's amazing what you find in there! I read chapter 16 and verses 19-31 really got my attention! Read it for yourself!?! The whole book of Luke in fact.... :) haha... It made me think for the rest of the day!

It's Jesus telling a Parable about a rich man and Lazarus. About how this rich man lived his life for money, for worldly possessions and lived for himself and not for God. I read it thinking about the times I've put other things before God. And what a waste of time that was!!  I don't want to waste my life focusing or obsessing over things that are not going to get me into the kingdom of God. I want to be doing what God want's me to do, not what my worldly desires want.

I'm not here for earthly things but here to follow the call God has put on my life on this earth! I'm living to follow him, to be His disciple and go out and make disciples (Matthew 28:19).

In other words I don't want to find out one day that I 'thought' I was going to heaven and I 'thought' I was a so called 'christian'. Where I was just living my life for my selfish desires... I want Jesus to look at me and say "Well done good and faithful servant'.

I don't want to be a fan of Jesus but a follower!! Someone who commits their life and surrenders it all to Jesus! Listening and walking out the calling He has placed over my life! I choose to keep God as my number one over every part of my life!

“In fact, it's true throughout all of Scripture....Following Jesus isn't something you can do at night where no one notices. It's a twenty-four-hour-a-day commitment that will interfere with your life....”

― Kyle Idleman, Not a Fan

God bless!
Sara-Jayne

Healthy Goodness: Super Easy Oat Bars

Today I thought I'd post one of my favourite healthy oat muesli bar recipes. I love cooking and whats the point of having a great recipe and never sharing?! haha...

I baked these today for my Dad so he has something to take to work. These bars are simple, really quick to cook and great for an on-the-go snack. I'm thinking about posting more of my healthy recipes over the next few weeks.  I love cooking and have a passion for healthy eating and living a healthy lifestyle. If you do end up trying this recipe let me know so I can also see your marvelous creations!!

 

Super Easy Oat Bars 

• 3 ripe large bananas (really ripe bananas are the best ones to use. The larger the bananas, the more moist it will be)
• 1 tsp of vanilla extract
• 2 cups of organic rolled oats (gf)
• 1/2 cup of chopped dates or any dried fruit you would prefer
• 1/4 cup of chopped nuts (I used peanuts) 
• 1/4 cup of cacao chips or 80% dark chocolate chips (optional) 
• 1-2 tsp of cinnamon
• 1 tsp of vanilla extract
• Dash of nutmeg
• pinch of salt (optional)

Mash the banana really well until all the lumps are gone. Add the rest of the ingredient's into the bowl, mixing as you go. Pour the mixture into a 9x9 inch baking dish, pressing the mixture down evenly as you go. Sprinkle with cinnamon and place into a heated 180 degrees oven for 30 minutes.

Optional: drizzle with dark chocolate! Anything with chocolate gets any kid excited!

 

Your Words are Powerful!

God has really been speaking to me about listening to Him on what he says about me. I came to a place where I felt lost, confused, tired, ugly, fat and so on.... I felt like the enemy was attacking my identity.  

You see it just started with me waking up one morning and feeling so flat, tired and for some reason heavy, like there was a weight on my shoulder. I felt so tired even though I wasn't.

I went to my mum and said “Oh... I don’t feel really pretty today”. Because I just didn't! I didn't know why or what was wrong with me. And it was as if those words that I spoke out had all of a sudden let my door open just a little to allow the enemy’s thoughts in and settle.

 'The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.'

Proverbs 18:21

Our words are powerful! They can create our atmosphere! And you have the choice on what to say, either speaking words of positivity or negativity; life or death. 

By me speaking out "I'm not 'feeling' pretty" was really me saying "I'm listening to my feelings and I'm not pretty at all". No matter what I'm feeling, feelings aren't always what we should listen too. Because if we read our bible or prayed every time we 'felt' like it. We probably wouldn't!

Really in that time I should have said "Sure I don't feel pretty, but I know I am because God made me and I am fearfully and wonderfully made". 

'Those who guard their mouths and their tongues keep themselves from calamity.'

Proverbs 21:23

So guard your mouth and be careful what you speak out! For the tongue is powerful! Read the bible and see what God wants to say to you!

I've taught myself that whenever I feel down in the dumps, to speak out words of life. Looking in the mirror, telling myself that I am beautiful, funny, smart, loved and perfect the way I am. It's my choice to either listen to what God says about me or what the enemy is trying to tell me.

You are beautiful! You are funny! You are smart! You are clever! You are loved! You have worth and absolutely drop dead gorgeous! Choose to speak that out!!

Your desire, your purpose!

"For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases Him."

Philippians 2:13 (NIV)

 

Have you ever thought to yourself "what's my purpose?" "What does God have planned for me?" "I have this hunger in my heart, this dream, but I dint know why"

I'm sure everyone has thought at least one of those thoughts in their life. As humans we can ask what is our purpose, what's God's plan, am I where He want's me.

God's got a perfect plan for you and I believe he has placed the desires of your heart. In Psalm 37:4 it says "Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your heart’s desires.". In other words, if your living a life that's pleasing to the Lord and you've made that decision to live your life for Jesus Christ. Then I know he will "give you your heart’s desires" and reveal His plan for your life. 

When I was thirteen I started to have this desire, this real hunger to want to help young girls. I asked God why do I have this desire? How was God going to use me? I was willing and wanting to help girls my age by encouraging them and telling them that they are beautiful, loved and treasured. 

With this desire and prayer, I asked God what was his purpose for that year. God told me when I was 15 that I was to mentor young girls. To encourage and help them! To make the long story short, seven months later I started my first girls bible study group. Almost two years later and the group is still going. I know it's what God wants me to do because he placed that desire in my heart.       

When you ask and you have a willing heart to be used by God. I know He will answer! Because often we can look around us and see so much hurt, poverty and loneliness.  turn to God saying "God why won't you do something?" I know he'll reply "I already have, I created you!".

We are His masterpiece, a child and we are loved by the Almighty One! You have one life, one God, one choice and one chance to make a difference. So will you take it? You've been created with a purpose (Jeremiah 29:11) and God's placed the desires on your heart to work in His marvelous plan!

Gob bless!!
Sara-Jayne

 

 

*All Images used are my own

And these are a few of my Favourite Things.... For April 2014

I'm bring it back!! Another month is over so I'm listing a few of my favourites for this month!! This month has seriously gone so so fast!! Easter went so quickly and so did the school holidays! Even though they don't effect me as school is not apart of my life... Yay for living a non-schooled life!! But that does mean I still have to work which is keeping me out of mischief!

Moving on... Here are my favourite things for April!!!  

Wearing... 

Okay! So for those that don't know... I love fashion and always have been a girly girl! Ok - that's a lie!! I was a bit of a tomboy growing up and played with bugs... Something I don't do know!! Anyway...
It's been getting colder here down under and I'm loving my new blue jacket which I got from K-mart on sale for only $12. A bargain if I must say!! I'm all about fashion without flashing (I live by that saying) and there are many ways that I've learnt on how to still stay fashionable while still staying modest. Which I might go into more detail later on!!

Playing...

Let's bring out the old school games!! UNO has been the most played game within my family! Especially over this month! We brought the game out again when we had a few friends over for Easter and ever since that, we've been playing it nonstop! Morning, lunch and tea!! Seriously!! My sister keeps wanting to play the game.. And then decides to end it after I've won most of the games!! Haha.. Oh I love that game!! It's the only one I can beat my sister with!

Eating...

Cinnamon Roll anyone!? I love eating healthy and I try to eat as healthy as I can... Looking for new delicious foods to try which will satisfy my sweet tooth. And who knew you could find some yummy recipes that are absolutely DELICIOUS!!! 

One of my favourite sites for some simple healthy food creations would have to be Chocolate Covered Katie. And the photo on the right is a photo of my Cinnamon Roll that I made from her site! Click here for the recipe!! It's simple, easy and absolutely to die for!! In a matter of speaking!! 

Listening...

My absolute favourite song for this month would have to be My Lighthouse (Video linked bellow) by Rend Collective. First heard it on Vision Radio Network and have been obsessed with it ever since. It's such a catchy song and the music video is, well... Hippie!! haha... I love it!!
Trust me! When you first listen to it you'll be singing it for the rest of the day. It's that catchy!

Watching...

The Image above does not belong to me!!

I am a big Big BIG fan of Disney and I always get so excited when a new Disney movie comes out... And I'm loving their new movie Frozen!! It's an absolutely cute movie with a great meaning behind a story that's a little different than your typical 'cartoon' movie... The humor behind the movie is adorable and so is the characters, including the snowman. This movie has to be my new favourite movie!!! I'm planning to watch it again this weekend!!!

"So.. Let it go! Let it Go!"

Enjoy the rest of your week!!

Sara-Jayne xx

Life in the Fast Lane?!....

It's funny how sometimes you just need to take a step back and just breath! Just stop, and smell the roses! Because life can often get so busy and full on it's hard to keep life balanced. Especially if that thing that is meant to be in the centre of it all has been pushed out of sight. Everything else has become your focus and what you need the most only gets a few minutes, maybe even not a few minutes, just a few seconds of your life. Everything else becomes a waste of time and you start to learn that you can't handle everything on your own. You find you're struggling and unable to see who you were made to be. You're left feeling confused, unsure about what went wrong and trying to fix your life.... Because... Other things in your life have clogged up God and pushed Him to the side of your life... Correction... My life!!

I was focused on things that I thought mattered and lost my total focus on God. I wasted so much time trying to fix my life and not stopping to allow Gd to just take over my life. For him to take my steering wheel. Because no matter how hard I tried! I can not do life on my own! As I fixed my eyes on God, I could, for the first time see healing and breakthrough. Life didn't become 'easier' over night! 3 weeks have gone and I'm just seeing the light.  I'm seeing breakthrough and seeing God work in my situation. I love how he turns all bad and hard situations into good!

But how can you balance it all and still staying focused on God?? Well I believe that If you keep your eyes focused on God and do all your everyday chores and hobbies by doing it all unto God, then He will help you and show you how to live your life. If you can't, then really maybe you shouldn't be doing that?! If you can't put God as the focus in everything that you do then maybe it's something you need to pray about!! Asking God what do I need to change and finding out what part of my life have I not allowed God in??!!

And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. 

~ Colossians 3:17 ~

(This image does not belong to me)

We can give, give and give, but if we also aren't receiving from God, then we will eventually run out on things to give. As children of God we need to spend as much time with daddy God, learning, talking, listening and growing in Him! Mum is always telling me to think of life with a Learners plate. You're never going to stop learning! No matter what your doing or how high up you are in the church... You are still a learner! You are Growing in God's Image!

The Best Carrot Cake EVER... And it's healthy!

Morning Beautiful people!!

For those that Don't know... I'm sugar free. In other words, I stay away from sugar and will only eat natural sugar such as honey. 

Recently I've been feeling like carrot cake (haha.. Funny how that happens), so I decided to try and come up with a recipe using on of my old recipes and replacing it with healthy natural ingredients.

I've been a little hesitant when it comes to cooking something 'healthy' as I've tried many recipes with all natural ingredients and many have failed. But that hasn't stopped me from trying! Instead I've been able to learn more about coconut oil, honey in baking etc.

So since my family can be a fussy audience (sometimes), I've been trying to find recipes that they like.... And this one has become a family approved!

So enjoy this recipe and sorry I don't have many photos. I didn't get the opportunity to take many as the cake went quickly.... Proves it was good!! :)

Carrot Cake (refined sugar free)

Ingredients

• 2 cups whole wheat flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp salt
• 2 tsp cinnamon (a bit more if you wish)
• 1/2 tsp nutmeg
• 3/4 cup no added sugar apple sauce
• ½ - 3/4 cups honey
• 4 eggs
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• 3 cups finely grated carrots
• 1/2 cup chopped walnuts

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 180 degrees (Australian).
2. Combine the dry ingredients in a mixing bowl.
3. Add the melted apple sauce, honey, and eggs in to the bowl and mix well.
4. Fold in the carrots and walnuts.
5. Bake in 2 greased 9-in round cake pans for 30-40 minutes or until is cooked through.
6. Remove from the oven and allow the cakes to cool  before removing from the pans. When cooled ice with cream cheese frosting.

Hope you all enjoy and If you make it let me know!!!

God bless!!

Sara-Jayne xx

Where have I been?!

Hey guys!!
So I'm a little embarrassed about how I haven't been on here since August!! Say what?! So don't worry, I haven't fallen off the face of the earth or been adapted by aliens.. haha... After August things just went crazy...With life, school, Everything! I was struggling a lot in different areas and I knew I had to step away a bit from the blogging world, and start focusing more on me. I know that can sound selfish but so much of my life and I have continued to give out... Which is great! I love blessing people! But there comes a point where you need to just stop and refresh. So through the last five months I've been working on me, my heart and getting closer to God.. While trying to finish year 12 successfully! Also running a girls bible study group, working 15 hrs a week and being a youth leader... I just knew I had to take a step back!
I can now say that I have officially finished year 12!! YAY!! Now that I've finished, all dusted and all done... A new chapter is starting in my life. I have a few things planned this year (which I'll hopefully share next month). But I'm glad to say I'm back and I'm staying here in the blog world (at least for now! Unless God has other plans)!! It's been too long, but I feel refreshed and ready to tackle what comes my way! I going to start blogging again!! Just about life and well... Everything!! :)

Life is Beautiful! So enjoy it!!

So you're welcomed to tag along and join my journey! My journey in life as I still continue to grow in God's image!
Lot's of love and blessings!
Sara-Jayne xx