YUM!

Pumpkin Gratin


Canned pumpkin speeds things up but you can always try with fresh pumpkin when the season is right J.

4 Servings

· 1 can (15.5 ounces) 100% pure pumpkin puree (I use the Libby’s canned pumpkin)

· 3 large eggs

· 1 cup heavy cream

· 3/4 cup grated Swiss cheese

· 3/4 teaspoon salt

· 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

· 1 teaspoon unsalted butter

· 1 tablespoon grated Parmesan cheese

　Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Spoon the pumpkin puree into a food processor and add the eggs, cream, cheese, salt, and pepper. Process for 10 to 15 seconds to combine.

Coat a 6-cup gratin dish with the butter. Fill the dish with the pumpkin mixture. Sprinkle the Parmesan cheese on top and bake for 35 to 45 minutes, until set and lightly browned on top. Serve.
 
I just had this today at work for our Thanksgiving food day and it was AMAZING!

Places & Things

I decided to have a little fun and let you all know a little more about me and a few desires that I have:


Destinations I would like to go to one day (listed in order of importance):

 Maldives

 Ireland

 NYC

 St. Lucia

Maine

 Bahamas

 Destin FL

 Venice Italy

Top 10 things I love:

1. A nice comfy bed
2. COFFEE
3. Purses
4. Makeup!
5. Laughing
6. Babies
7. Good devotionals
8. Chocolate & Peanut butter!
9. Going to a spa
10. Perfume

What are some of your favorite things?

One of those days....

Please tell me I am not the only one who has these days....the day that anyone and anyone gets under your skin.  Even I myself am getting under my own skin today.  Is it the weather?  Is it my hormones?  Is it just me?  It's one of those days I really need to be encouraged and loved on and yet I can't seem to get a hold of anyone...surprise, surprise.  Pretty sure that is the Lord saying, "Jill, come to me, I will give you rest, I will hold you, I will give you all that you need."

I am such a human of touch that sometimes hearing a voice or a hug or just anything AUDIBLE helps me.  I think that is why I feel so disconnected sometimes.  I can't hear the Lord and I can't physically feel His touch...but I HAVE TO BELIEVE HE is really there and holding me. 

Just breathe.....

Do Not Fear....

I read a great devotional this morning by Joyce Meyer, it the Battlefield of the Mind devotional.  I HIGHLY recommend it.  "Life is a struggle, and teh devil is determined to defeat and destroy us.  We don't ever reach the place where we never have to fight.  But it's not just our fight.  Jesus in not only with us, but He is for us.  He's at our side to strengthen us and to urge us onward."  The verse that popped out to me was Isaiah 43:1b-2  "Fear not, for I have redeemed you...; I have called you by name; you are Mine.  When you pass through the fire, you will not be burned or scorched, nor will the flame kindle upon you."  It blows my mind when I actually stop and think about God calling me by name, I can just hear it in my head now, Jill, you are MINE!  WOW!  It almost brings tears to my eyes. 

One thing I am learning as an adult is there is always some kind of trial burning in our lives.  Whether we are single or married have children or don't, there is always something.  The devil tries his hardest to attack us from all angles.  Praise Jesus that He walks with us in our trials and storms.  I know that I personally feel so defeated by the stupid devil so many times....but it is so great to have such a wonderful reminder that I am truly never alone.

Being single sometimes the feeling of being alone can be so overwhelming.  But, I love that scripture where He reminds me that I am never alone!  There are moments where I feel like I just can't do it any more, but God never lets me go and He has put a few wonderful people in my life that pray for me and uplift me, and for them, I am so grateful!

Learning...

I am in a stage of learning many many new things...about people, about myself and most importantly about our Savior Jesus.  Some of the things I am learning are not always easy to swallow.  I have been being shown that some relationships I have with friends are very toxic to me.  So, learning how to step away from those friends is very difficult for me.  The other day I actually had an ah ha moment!  I was so concerned with what a person was going to say to me or think that I almost had a panic attack...now, that is just stupid!  So, I realized...hey Jill, you have ZERO ZIP NO control over what happens in your life so, why do you keep trying to handle your own problems or issues...then I finally realized, ALL I have to do is ask our precious Jesus to take over the situation and the stresses and fears I have regarding that person or situation and He will take care of it, ALL!  I am telling you, it felt like a huge weight was lifted off my back.  I know this is not something that will just be gone and that it will definitely be a process but, what a glorious day it is to have ah ha moments with our Jesus!

I am also in a new bible study called "The Significant Woman" and I believe it is going to open my eyes big time!  I have only had 1 session but it was amazing!

Thank you, Jesus for your love.grace.mercy.unconditional love.acceptance

Acceptance...

Accepted: generally approved; usually regarded as normal, right, etc.  This is the definition according to http://www.dictionary.com/.  Why do we long to be accepted so badly by the things and people of this world?  I have really been thinking and pondering on this a lot lately, especially since I have had so many people make comments about my body and suggesting different things I can do to lose weight.  I feel like I want to be accepted because if I am not, then there is obviously something wrong with me.  I mean I am 31 and single...these are the kind of thoughts that the enemy puts in to my mind!  I feel so unaccepted by so many "friends" sometimes.  That is why I have to find my true identity and self in Christ Jesus.  No person, not a friend or a man will ever make me or anyone else feel complete and accepted EVER!  The only person who will accept us for who we are is Jesus!  This has also made me more aware of how I look at other people around me too and it is quite the eye opener.

I could go on for a long time trying to explain myself and why it is harder for me to lose weight but, I am not going to do that any more.  I feel like maybe the Lord keeps me in a place of "discontentment" so to speak to make me desire more and more to be with Him in heaven one day.  :)  Brings me back to the wonderful song by Bethany Dillon: 

"Beautiful"

I was so unique

Now I feel skin deep

I count on the make-up to cover it all

Crying myself to sleep cause I cannot keep their attention

I thought I could be strong

But it's killing me



Does someone hear my cry?

I'm dying for new life



[Chorus]

I want to be beautiful

Make you stand in awe

Look inside my heart,

and be amazed

I want to hear you say

Who I am is quite enough

Just want to be worthy of love

And beautiful



Sometimes I wish I was someone other than me

Fighting to make the mirror happy

Trying to find whatever is missing

Won't you help me back to glory



[Chorus]



You make me beautiful

You make me stand in awe

You step inside my heart, and I am amazed

I love to hear You say

Who I am is quite enough

You make me worthy of love and beautiful
 
Lord, I truly want to be beautiful in Your eyes.  Help me to keep my focus steadfast on you! 
 
 
I hope whoever reads this, feels beautiful today!

Register

You are Here and Then You are Not...

It still blows my mind anytime someone passes away suddenly.  I will be honest, it obviously affects me more when it is my own family or someone that I am close to.  I lost my Uncle Jack on Monday, August 2nd, unexpectedly.  Though I am sad that he is gone, I am praising our Holy Father for redeeming my Uncle.  My uncle had a very rough life but, thankfully he found Jesus and His salvation a few years ago!  I have always had a soft spot in my heart for him.  I remember each time I would tell him that I loved him and he would always say, "I love you too kid".  I know I will see him again!  Please pray for his children, they are not believer's and I know that he was in prayer for them to find Jesus.

Today's devotion that was sent to me is so appropriate for all of us but, especially for me.  I always feel like I have to look a certain way or be a certain way for a man to like me.  Well, that is just a lie from satan and I am trying fervently to break that lie.  Here is the verse and the note along with it...I hope it touches you and fills your mind with God's truth.
"The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart." -- 1 Samuel 16:7

THOUGHT:

Have you ever wondered how many potentially good friends you may
have lost simply by judging them on your first impression of them?
I'm amazed at how the first impression very seldom tells us much of
substance about another person. We're not really going to be able
to evaluate people properly until the Lord reveals at judgment what
is really in their hearts. Don't you think that we should give them
time to reveal what is in their hearts before we make a decision
about them?! Let's don't just look on the outward appearance!

I have sadly done this too many times!  Though I know that the world is full of people who only look at the outward appearance (me included sometimes), ultimately we should only care about what the Lord sees.  Don't get me wrong, I know that the Lord wants us to take care of ourselves but, He loves us no matter what!  HOW AMAZING!

Here is another person who loves me unconditionally....

Sunshine

I truly love the sunshine!  It makes my whole attitude better.  I am however not a fan of the hot temperatures if I can't be by a pool or an ocean.  I loathe sweating!  YUCK!  Especially in nice clothing.

I would love to hear some God news from any of my blogging friends.  I could use some pick me ups and to hear how He is blessing you in your lives.

Just Some Fun

I don't have a lot to write today, but here are some fun pictures from my weekend.  My weekend started out with God showing me a beautiful rainbow as I was leaving work and the weekend just went great from there!

"Lead Me"

What a great song by Sanctus Real!  This is what I want in a godly husband:

I look around and see my wonderful life

Almost perfect from the outside

In picture frames I see my beautiful wife

Always smiling

But on the inside, I can hear her saying...

“Lead me with strong hands

Stand up when I can't

Don't leave me hungry for love

Chasing dreams, what about us?

Show me you're willing to fight

That I'm still the love of your life

I know we call this our home

But I still feel alone”

I see their faces, look in their innocent eyes

They're just children from the outside

I'm working hard, I tell myself they'll be fine

They're in independent

But on the inside, I can hear them saying...

“Lead me with strong hands

Stand up when I can't

Don't leave me hungry for love

Chasing dreams, but what about us?

Show me you're willing to fight

That I'm still the love of your life

I know we call this our home

But I still feel alone”

So Father, give me the strength

To be everything I'm called to be

Oh, Father, show me the way

To lead them

Won't You lead me?

To lead them with strong hands

To stand up when they can't

Don't want to leave them hungry for love,

Chasing things that I could give up

I'll show them I'm willing to fight

And give them the best of my life

So we can call this our home

Lead me, 'cause I can't do this alone

Father, lead me, 'cause I can't do this alone

Not just a great song for married people of for a future spouse but, what a great song to try to live up to!

Have a great and blessed week!

Pray with Me

I desperately desire to be a better christian.  I have been doing a very lousy job for several months now.  I am struggling with just picking up the bible and reading it and even worse, I am struggling to pray.  So, I ask my friends to pray with me.  Pray that I will get that fire back.  I have been a very bad example to many friends and people I don't even know.  I get so weary in waiting to see what the Lord has in store for me.  I seem to fall into a pit when something goes wrong in my life.  I DON'T want to do that any more!  I also don't want to be tested and have any more pain.  But, that is not the way life is supposed to be.  God never said the christian life will be easy. 

This verse was sent to me via my daily email and it is so great!  "As you do not know the path of the wind, or how the body is formed in a mother's womb, so you cannot understand the work of God, the Maker of all things."  Ecclesiastes 11:5  I need to moment by moment remember this promise from the Lord.  I WILL NOT understand His ways, but I just have to believe that He will show me in His time.

Thanks for praying with me!  Have a good weekend.

When does life start to make a little bit of sense....

The question I am asking today is one that I am pretty sure a lot of people would like to know the answer too.  Unfortunately, I don't think life will ever make complete sense.

I have been having some thoughts lately about friendships.  I desire a best friend, I have my whole life.  I have been so blessed by some very wonderful friendships, but I still feel like something is missing.  I can get really close with someone and then something happens and the trust is broken or it just feels like that season of the friendship is over.  I have been wondering recently how I can be a better friend and still remain Jill.  What am I doing wrong to prevent that best friendship from happening?  Maybe nothing, or maybe something.  I would like to say I have been praying about it, but honestly I haven't.  Hmmmm....maybe that is my problem.  :)  I think a lot of times I feel mis-understood or I seem to stay in the same stinking place in my life while my friends lives go in many different directions and their seasons change constantly!  I know that the Lord desires me to to be completely fulfilled in Him and I have not done so well with that.  But, I also know that he created us for relationships.  Maybe my standards are too high for people and then I feel let down...So many questions I have and so little answers. :)  I will definitely being praying about this. 

I also desire a relationship with the Lord and I desire to be Christ like, and I find myself failing at this daily, especially at my work place...I definitely need to get plugged in with some christian women and get some accountability.  I do so much better in my life when I have positive christian influence in my life!

Be still, Jill....be still.

8 Dresses...

Do you think I could have a movie based on 8 bridesmaid dresses?  ha ha ha!  I am beginning to think that I could open a resale shop of bridesmaid dresses!  Yes, it is true.  I have been a bridesmaid 8 times.  2 just this year alone.  Though I am so grateful and honored to be in so many weddings, I am ready for a break of them for a while.  I have just recently decided that maybe my childhood dream will change a bit.  I have always wanted a wedding...now after being in 8, I am thinking that eloping and spending the money on a very nice honeymoon sounds A LOT more appealing to me.  The good news is, I don't have to worry about that right now!  :)  All in God's timing, I know!  I would take a picture of all of them...but to be honest I think I finally threw some of the oldies from the 90's in the trash. :)

Life has been interesting the past few months.  Good, but interesting.  I have had some minor drama, but luckily the Lord has opened my eyes to see A LOT!  And I am so grateful for the things that He has opened my eyes to see.  Thank you, Lord for your grace and your wisdom!

Here are a few pictures of my favorite things! 

Whoa, what a ride!

So, the past 4 months have definitely been a challenge.  When your job is not going well, it affects your entire life surrounding you.  I kept trying to remember that Jesus never left me when I was feeling so beat down and defeated.  I prayed many days for endurance and contentment.  After many days of praying and in my moments of not being able to pray my mom fervently prayed for me many times a day as well as many others.  For that, I am so grateful!  Our church is doing a 21 day fast and I started mine on Saturday.  On my list of things to see God change was of course my job.  I prayed for a miracle and that is just what He did.  By Tuesday I quit the job from "the dark place" and was able to have a second chance and a second perspective on how well other jobs I have had really are.  I am also realizing that no job comes without it's rough days.  I am definitely now praying for contentment in my job and to just rely on the Lord even if it turns out to be a second by second situation.  Which in most cases in my life when I am struggling, it seems second by second is too long.  :)  But, all in all, GOD is ALWAYS Faithful!  ALWAYS!

I would love to say I am welcoming 2010 with a new perspective and I am not sad at all to say goodbye to 2009.  With 2009 came many rough spots and the healing of a broken heart.  Though my heart is still a little sad, I am definitely seeing the Lord's hand in His decision.  In November I made a very poor choice that was a rude awakening for me.  I look back just a few months later to see how the Lord was giving me a second chance to turn things around.  I have not desired a relationship with the Lord for the past several months.  I honestly felt abandoned and angry.  Well, November 13th was the day all of that nonsense changed for me.  I have learned that I need accountability.  I need someone to walk along side of me and guide me in a relationship with the Lord and to tell me His truths that I so often don't believe.  Why is it that I will believe the enemies lies over our HOLY and Precious Heavenly Father?  My battle is definitely in my mind.  And it is definitely a spiritual battle that is raging in and around me all the time.  That is why it is so important to stay in direct contact with our Jesus.

I started reading a book called, "I'm Not Good Enough...and Other Lies Women Tell Themselves" by Sharon Jaynes.  Though I am taking my sweet time reading it, it is a FANTASTIC book!  It is filled with such wonderful scriptures and God's truth, just what I need.

I would love to hear of what your 2010 spiritual goals are, please let me know!  Here are mine:

• Find contentment in:
• My career
• My singleness
• Seek the Lord daily even when I don't feel like it
• To meet Jesus in a way I never have before
• To experience a true Spiritual Awakening
• To start living the Fruits of the Spirit

2 Chronicles 7:14

"If my people who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land."

1 John 5:14,15

"This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.  And if we know that he hears us-whatever we ask-we know that we have what we asked of him."

I look forward to seeing more of the positive things the Lord will do in my life in 2010!  I am hopeful to be more faithful at blogging too...we will see.  :)