Tag Archives: transformation

I am my Beloved and My Beloved is Mine

23 May

12 years ago on a beautiful Colorado day I married my very best friend and the love of my life! I thought I couldn’t be any happier than I was at that moment but each year proves to be better than the last. We have been on such an adventure from births, deaths, illnesses, college, graduations, teenagers, moves, job changes, aging parents, and everything in between. With the constant changes of life, the one thing that has remained, is that we have clung to each other through all of it.  We have grown from a couple of crazy love-struck kids to a couple who are weathering the storms and enjoying every rainbow together. We have learned to appreciate that each day together is a gift.

There is no one I would rather spend time with or journey this life with. I am so blessed to married to a man of honor and integrity! A man who puts his family first and works hard to give us a good life. He is a man that I adore, respect and love! Without the grace of God none of this would of been possible!  I thank God for sustaining us and for constantly working on my heart as a wife. Happy Anniversary, Sunshine! Thank you for choosing me!

I would love to connect on Pinterest!

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Seed Planters

30 Dec

It is incredible how one person planting just one of these seeds can snowball into something so profound that we will never know the true impact this side of heaven.  Lets’ be seed planters in 2015!

~Be Blessed and Be a Blessing~

Rebecca

You can find me on Pinterest

Image courtesy of http://www.stormieomartian.com/

Feature Image “Image courtesy of[ samarttiw] / FreeDigitalPhotos.net”.

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O Holy Night

24 Dec

~ O Holy Night~
“A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices for yonder breaks a new and glorious morn”. Hope, our great hope in Jesus Christ who came to the world in the most humble and lowly ways to be our sin bearer and to give us hope (Google Jesus and hope). When there seems to be nothing left to give, feel, or even take-we still have our hope in Christ and Christ alone. His mercies are new every single day! Amen!
“Chains shall He break,for the slave is our brother. And in His name all oppression shall cease”. He came to break the bondage of sin and Satan’s hold on us. There is a constant struggle of things that can hold us in bondage-grief, food, drugs, alcohol, p*rn, and just about anything else you can think of of this world. “For the slave is my brother” With Christ, you see a brother or sister in place where you might of just seen a prostitute, a drug addict, a beggar, a Muslim or Jew, or any other undesirable or different beliefed person we live among. To love them, so that even if they don’t seek or know Him, they will recognize Him in us.. Oppression of worldliness will no longer weigh me down in spirit and will cease to have any hold on my life.
Our Savior came to be the light of the world (John 8:12) and to save us from sin (Matthew 1:21). Rejoice with greatness and gladness that our Savior lives and our Savior brings with Him hope and life.

Merry Christmas. May you be filled with renewed wonder about the babe in the manger who came to live among us and die for us.
I leave you with a few versions of my favorite song-take a minute to really hear the lyrics and see how it resonates in your soul.
http://youtu.be/4Zh-yR0pbmU
http://youtu.be/lKSknasrE3k

~Be Blessed and be a Blessing~
Rebecca

   Image courtesy of [dan ] at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Copyright © 2014 · All Rights Reserved · www.andasprinkleoflove.com

Continuing to Love Every Age

14 Nov

As many of you know, I LOVE my birthday!  It is a great time to reflect on the year past, to see where I was, where I am, and where I am going.  Our culture reveres youth and anything over 30 as a has been.  I disagree!  I think we need to celebrate every year and thank God for the privilege of age and wisdom!  Aging is inevitable.  No matter how much you dwell on it, wish it away, or daydream of your younger years, they are not coming back.  So celebrate!  Be proud of your age and wear it to the glory of God!  You never know when it will be your last, so make it memorable not only for you but for those who love you!

I am so grateful that 37 years ago today I was born! I am grateful for all the experiences, all the tears, all the laughter, for all the things that built endurance and character, and mostly for God’s faithfulness through it all!  Today I celebrate and wear my age with pride.

~Be Blessed and be a Blessing~
Rebecca

Age 37

 

You can find me on Pinterest

 Image courtesy of [ tiverylucky] at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

 

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Trick or Treat Bars

24 Oct Trick or Treat Bars

Delicious, melt in your mouth dessert bars guaranteed to be your new favorite! Fool proof recipe that takes just minutes to put together.  A great way to bring new life to all that Halloween candy.  The possibilities are endless with this scrumptious dessert! These last about 14 seconds in our house!  I double dog dare you to try them.  Scroll down for the full recipe.

 

Trick or Treat Bars

by Rebecca Vahdat

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 25-30 minutes

Keywords: bake Dessert

Ingredients

  • Ingredients:
  • 1/2 Cup butter (1 stick) melted
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 Cup brown sugar backed
  • 1 Tbsp vanilla
  • 1/2 Cup peanut butter (make it a generous 1/2 Cup)
  • 1 C flour
  • 1 1/2 Cups of candy (candy bars should be chopped into bite sized pieces)
  • 1 Cup chocolate chips (butterscotch, peanut butter, or your favorite chip)

Instructions

•Directions:

•Preheat oven to 350F. Line an 8X8 inch baking pan with aluminum foil and spray with nonstick baking spray.

•In a large microwave safe bowl melt the butter.

•Let the butter cool for one minute. Add the egg, brown sugar, and vanilla and whisk until smooth.

•Add the peanut butter and whisk until completely incorporated.

•Add the flour and mix until just combined.

•Add the candy and baking chips and fold to combine.-

•Add the batter to your baking pan and smooth the top.

•Bake 25- 30 minutes or until a tooth pick inserted in the center comes out clean ( a few crumbs on the toothpick is also OK). Cool in the pan for at least 30 minutes to give the bars a chance to set.

*I like to reserve some of the candy and place it on top of the batter before baking. Gives it a nice look and it allows people to see what deliciousness awaits them.

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~Be Blessed and be a Blessing~

Rebecca

Come see what I am pinning!

 

Copyright © 2014 · All Rights Reserved · www.andasprinkleoflove.com

A Letter to my Daughter…

13 Oct

The world will tell you that beauty can be found in a certain bra size or certain jean size but the truth is is that beauty is found in your heart size.  Let me be honest, you will be judged on these and so much more and it will sting.  The enemy uses those weak spots, those areas we are most conscious about to wiggle his way in and whisper destruction to your soul. Don’t be fooled or transformed by the vainness of the world but rather inspire true beauty even when it is hard or ignored or mocked.

Women, in particular, are digging themselves into pits so vast that they can’t find their way out. Their struggle to conform is killing them.  Maybe not always physically but emotionally. Searching for that one magic thing that will all of a sudden transform their lives from mediocre to magnificent.

It’s amazing the depths we will go for vanity or pleasure and how shallow our efforts are toward the Lord.  Proverbs 31:30 reminds women that our physical beauty will fail us all eventually.

We are so busy chasing someone else’s best 10 seconds that we lose sight on how terrific our life can be. Until we center our focus on the Creator and let Him lead us through the beautiful mess of life we will never find the magnificent we are looking for-it doesn’t exist apart from the Lord!

When you start to see yourself and your life through the eyes of our Creator you will be transformed by the marvelous creation you are.  It is then that you will truly see and understand your gifts, talents, and the greater purpose of your life.  Matthew 10:39  reminds us that if we are only concerned about finding ourselves first you will never will but if you pursue the Lord first you will find both Him and you.  So pursue the Lord with eagerness and expectation!

Fill those cracks and gaps in your armor with the life giving words of God and focus your efforts on becoming who He says you are!  Surround yourself with people who will encourage you and hold you accountable.  God never intended us to make this journey alone.  Female friendships in the media are always portrayed as conniving, selfish and, jealous.  Women using and abusing each other in hopes of gaining power and popularity.  Don’t buy into the lie.  Sisterhood, when Christ centered, can be one of the biggest blessings of life.

It’s not always easy but with that foundation of Christ in place whatever the stumble, you have that compass always pointing you back to the arms of the one who makes everything beautiful….even the broken and messy.

 

~Be Blessed and be a Blessing~

Rebecca

 

You can find me on Pinterest

 

“Image courtesy of [Stuart Miles] / FreeDigitalPhotos.net”.

Copyright © 2014 · All Rights Reserved · www.andasprinkleoflove.com

It Also Looks Like This

30 Aug

I would like to introduce you to Thomas. He is the 8 year old best friend of my son Jacob and the son of my dear friend, Joelle.  These precious boys have been friends since diapers and are definitely two peas in a pod.  They love to be together doing all those neat things little boys like to do. They run, climb, and jump and when they have done all of that, they fall into a heap laughing like only innocence allows. No matter how much fun they have the same conflict always arises.  There is a constant disagreement with Thomas’s mind and his legs.  After a short time of boy play Thomas starts to get an all too familiar ache and stiffness in his legs.  He wants to keep going but his little body says no.  You see, Thomas was born with Muscular Dystrophy, Becker Muscular Dystrophy to be exact.

When we think Muscular Dystrophy we automatically think of young, wheel chair bound, gravely ill, children or more recently, ALS, thanks to the recent awareness from the ice bucket challenge.  Becker Muscular Dystrophy usually presents itself slow and steady.  Thomas has experienced gradual changes in mobility throughout the years but the changes are definitely a challenge not only to Thomas but to his family.  Without a cure, his days of depending on his arms and legs are numbered.

Thanks to MDA (Muscular Dystrophy Association), they have been able to access state of the art services, help, and support they need to help Thomas strive. Great breakthroughs have happened thanks to the research grants and clinical trials and studies they have been able to fund.  The MDA association has given hope to families when all seemed hopeless.

This weekend, when you flip through your TV channels and see the MDA telethon, would you please take a moment and make a donation.  Even a small donation helps in giving hope to families like Thomas’s.

Our greatest prayer is that Jacob and Thomas can experience being old men together and that their laughter will continue to fill our lives for all of our days.

Jacob and Thomas doing what they do best!

Jacob and Thomas doing what they do best

I am inspired by this family’s courage, their joy, and mostly their faith. If you would like to learn more about MDA or would like information on how you can help just click on the link.  http://mda.org/  Have a safe and wonderful holiday weekend!

If you make a donation we would love to thank you! Please use #mdaforthomas on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

#mdaforthomas Becker MD awareness

Jacob wants a lab coat for Christmas so he can be the Doctor who cures Thomas.

~Be Blessed and be a Blessing~

Rebecca

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Copyright © 2014 · All Rights Reserved · www.andasprinkleoflove.com

Sweet and Sour Chicken

11 Jul

I love when my sweet girls want to prepare dinner. I love not just the practical skills they are learning in the kitchen but also that they are building a sweet friendship. If you are looking for a yummy and easy dish…keep on reading for the printable recipe.

Get a baggie and add the corn starch and chicken.

Get your ‘shakin’ face on! Imperative for the best results.

Whisk up a couple of eggs.

Add your chicken to the egg mixture.

                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                     

Brown the chicken

 

I might be mixing up some extra sauce to pour over my rice 🙂

                                                                                                                               

My lovely assistant pouring the sauce over the chicken.

                                                                                                                                      

Throw some bell pepper in there…it’s the right thing to do!

                                                                                                                               

Voila! The sauce cooked onto the chicken beautifully. Here is my plate-steamed white rice (with a little extra sauce) topped with the glorious sticky chicken. Happiness on a plate!

                                                                                                                                 

Thumbs way up from my lovely assistants!

                                                                                                                                       

My sweet boys happily went back for seconds.

 
Delicious and simple!  We love it over hot steamed white rice.  We made extra sauce for the saucy lovers (ahem…mama).  Give it a try…I triple dog dare ya’…..and let me know what you think!  Thanks for visiting.
~Be Blessed and be a Blessing~
Rebecca
Come see what I am Pinning!

Copyright © 2014 · All Rights Reserved · www.andasprinkleoflove.com

For the Kingdom of Heaven Belongs to Such as These

22 Jun

Tomorrow will mark my third year as a teacher for first and second graders at my church’s vacation Bible school.  We see many faces walking through our doors, many familiar , and because we offer a free program, many new faces. For some, this will mark their first time in a church and others will learn that Jesus is more than just a derogatory expression.  What an awesome responsibility this is. This week, 15 hours to be precise, to plant these precious life giving seeds in these precious little ones.

What I really love about this week is that while we are planting seeds in these little ones, the children are going home and sharing the stories, singing the songs, and sharing and practicing their memory verses.  They are planting seeds in their own family, even if they don’t know it.

This marks the biggest and most important outreach event in our church every year.  According to the current Barna study (2004) ” indicates that nearly half of all Americans who accept Jesus Christ as their savior do so before reaching the age of 13 (43%), and that two out of three born again Christians (64%) made that commitment to Christ before their 18th birthday.”  In order to pull off such a big feat we need the whole village to participate.

Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these (Matthew 19:14).”  Evangelizing to these little ones is imperative, not just for the children but for generations to come.

Would you please lift our churches up in prayer during the busy Vacation Bible School season?!  Pray for leaders to have pure hearts and intentions as we disciple and lead little hearts to Jesus and pray for families to have tender receptive hearts as their children share with them scriptures and stories, and pray that many lives will be led to Christ.

 

~Be Blessed and be a Blessing~

Rebecca

Come see what I am Pinning!

 

 

 

 

 

Image courtesy of [ digitalart] / FreeDigitalPhotos.net”.

 

 

 

 

 

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Not a Cherished Daddy

15 Jun

I love reading all the beautiful tributes to all the wonderful father’s today. It really shows how important a “Daddy” is to his children. Let me speak from my heart for a minute.

I want to talk to the men who might not be among the most cherished men today. You might have become a dad when you didn’t want to be one, maybe you were young, or it was just the heat of the moment, maybe you were dealing with addictions, and maybe just don’t want to have to deal with your child’s mom. Let me tell you how crucial your presence or lack thereof is to your children.  A man can never truly be a man until he takes all the steps necessary to be a pivotal positive role model to his children.  Yes, it is messy, expensive, hard work, and requires sacrifice but I promise you will never regret being that parent but you will always regret being the latter.  It is never too late to take that first step toward reconciliation.  The first steps are scary, uncertain, and sometimes filled with deep hurts but it shows great courage to be the man that can put his pride aside to pursue your children.  It will take time but I promise with consistency and love healing can and will happen.  Our children our suffering with the lack of positive father figures.  Kids without dads are more likely to become addicts, teen parents, suffer from mental illness, and have higher rates of suicidal tendencies.  We seem to make light of the importance of men in our culture and tend to portray you as incompetent, idiotic, sperm donors……you have an important, God given role in our society and it is up to you to live up to it and prove the naysayers wrong!  Men, we need you to step up and become the strong, moral, respectful leaders and ladies we need to build up our boys and men to help them be all that God calls them to be. Ladies, if we spew negativity and bitterness toward men all the time our sons and husbands suffer leading to the further breakdown and disappearance of respectful men.

If this is you, please let me encourage you how important you are in the lives of your children and maybe it isn’t ideal but sometimes the most beautiful rainbows happen after the biggest storms.  To all the ladies (I have been there), God sees all you have sacrificed, seen all the hard work, and has collected every silent tear that has fallen into your pillow (Psalm 56:8). Let me encourage you too, to keep an open receptive heart to your child’s father (without sacrificing safety, of course) and never speak poorly of the other parent in front of them. Good, bad, or otherwise your children will form their own opinion and will respect you even more for it……I promise! If you want to make the first step but need some guidance please message me and I will connect you to someone who can help.  God bless all the daddies and all those mama’s who are pulling double duty!

~Be Blessed and be a Blessing~

Rebecca

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