{devotion} tugging conviction

I knew I shouldn't have watched it. I ignored the tugging at my soul as I told Sister don't tag me on Facebook at this movie.

That tugging? Conviction.

 
credit

My holy Savior reminding me, gently, that it wasn't pure and holy.

Yet, I listened to the enemies lies. The movie is harmless, right? It's not going to change the way I think or live. I'm still a good girl. Movies don't affect me.

It's not easy. It's not very pretty either, that tug of war.

When I feel it at my soul, I fight it. But I know I must give in. I must confess. I have to speak my feelings, raw and unedited. Yes, it's painful. No one wants to admit wrong.

 But then....

 After conviction and confession comes sweet healing. Peace and closeness fills my soul. I am in harmony with Him again, with the sin guilt out of the way.

 Proverbs 28:13 He that coverth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.

 Don't let tugging conviction and open confession scare you. After comes the blessedness of forgiveness, tearful mercy, wonderful grace, and quiet peace.

 Psalm 32:3-5 When I kept silence my bones grew old through my groaning all day long. For day and night thy hand was heavy upon me: my vitality turned into drought of summer. Selah. I acknowledged my sin unto thee and my iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord; and thou forgavest the inquity of my sin. Selah.

   

{devotion} burden or banner?

Luke 9:23 Then he said to them all: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.

When I see myself taking up my cross, it's heavy. I imagine unbearable weight and stumbling. It's a burden after all, right? Isn't that what Jesus means in this verse?

Studying further into this verse, I was astounded. "Take up" here in Luke actually means "to hold high, like a banner, for all to see."

So the cross I bear to follow Jesus is not a heavy burden, but a brazen banner! I've been going about this all wrong. To follow Him is not a heavy yoke, but a banner to proudly wave so all others can know and see HIM.

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counting...

#75 buttery popcorn, homemade

#77 soft conviction

#78 friend, non-judgemental

#79 mucinex!

#80 19 yr old brother showing maturity

#82 budding friendship



{recipe} What to do when your Aunt gives you peaches...

Make peach sherbert!

Super simple. A mix between ice cream and sorbet, this recipe is perfect for cooling off these summer days.

Peach Sherbert:
6 perfect peaches
1 1/2 cups Sugar in the Raw
1 can evaporated milk
1/2 cup milk
2 tsp vanilla extract
pinch of salt
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1) peel peaches, cut in half and remove pit. Place peaches in a bowl and cover with 3/4 cup of the natural sugar. Mash together and let sit.
2) Bring to a simmer the milk, evap milk, and rest of the sugar. While waiting on it to heat, puree two cups of the peaches until very smooth. Whisk in the hot milk, vanilla, and salt.
3) Chill until very cold (overnight is best). Churn in an icecream maker.
4) If you have mashed peaches left over after removing two cups, cut into small pieces, and mix into ice cream before freezing.

*If you don't have a wonderful aunt, like I do, to give you peaches, I highly recommed using peaches from a farmer's market rather than a regular grocery store. Produce is usually so much better at the local farmer's market.

{workout} 14 Days of Pure Insanity

Please welcome my beautiful friend Katie today as she shares her experience with the INSANITY workout!

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Lying in the floor, breathing and hoping just to stay alive, I finished the workout, amazed that I could still move and wishing I didn’t have to.  This wasn’t your typical “I ran three miles on the treadmill; oh that was nice” workout; this was “I jumped and squatted and planked for 30 minutes and I’m gonna die” workout.

But I’ve never felt so good!

14 days ago, I started the INSANITY workout DVD’s by Beachbody.  This is what their website claims: “Each INSANITY workout keeps you constantly challenged as you alternate between aerobic and anaerobic intervals performed at your MAX. The result: burn up to 1,000 calories in an hour and get the most insane body in 60 days.” 

Whaaaaaat?!?!  1,000 calories?  I’m in!

My hubby started doing these workouts during his lunch hour and came home moaning and groaning about how sore he was and how he couldn’t make it through even the warmup without stopping.  I kept thinking this was most certainly because he wasn’t in shape like I was, and that if I tried one, I would make it through the whole thing with no problems at all.  It was doubtful I would even break a sweat!  After all, I used the treadmill every other day!

Ahem.

I was wrong.

I started with the Fit Test, which is designed to give you a good starting point and allow you to track your progress throughout the program.  I was on the floor, unable to move, after about 10 minutes.  I’m not exaggerating!  I remember my hubby’s face when he saw my weak little self sitting in the floor; the words “I told you so” were plastered all over it.  And I totally deserved it.

When I want something, I find deep determination to achieve it.  That determination (and a little crazy) is what made me come back to the laptop the next day.  And to think I thought the Fit Test was killer…

For the last 14 days, I have screamed and sweated, winced from soreness, and beat the floor because I could not do even one more burpee, but for the last 14 days, I have seen tremendous changes in my body.  Muscle is being built and my strength is blowing my mind.  I've lost 2 inches off my waist!  I’m actually seeing results!  Big ones!

One point that I have to mention- this workout program is not for someone who has no fitness regimen.  If you’re a beginner and you get winded going up the stairs, do not try this until you’re in better shape!  You need to condition your lungs a bit before you start.

So far, I’m extremely happy with the results I’m getting.  And I’m still alive!  (Ask me how I feel after the 2^nd month, which is full of workouts called MAX ______.  I thought this WAS my max!!!!)

See you in 44 days for my final results!

Katie is a southern girl who spends her days loving her hubby and teaching high schoolers about commas and classics. She desires to cultivate relationships and serve her Lord with her whole heart. Oh, and she is slightly addicted to strawberry chapstick. Visit her writing home at Simply[His],  follow her on Facebook, or tweet with her Twitter.

{devotion} Ugly lies or Beautiful truth?

"I just want to work on my abs."

"I just want to lose X inches."

"I really need to work on my thighs."

"I need to get back to how I used to be."

All day long I hear this. All day long I see unhappiness written across faces. All day long I watch women struggle with self-image. It's my job to "fix" them and make them happy again.

These ladies are some of the most beautiful ladies I have known. Yet, Satan plagues them with ugly lies. I get it. I know the battles they face. I took it to the extreme once.

But now I know the truth. and I want to scream at them, "You are beautifully and wonderfully made!"

I love how Paul put it in Romans. He basically says who are we to question HIS work??

Romans 9:20
     But indeed, O man [or woman], who are you to reply against God? Will the thing formed say to him who formed it, "Why have you made me like this?"

When Satan plagues you with lies, whether it's about physical, spiritual, or mental image, exchange those lies for the Lord's healing truth!

Ecclesiastes 3:11a
    He has made everything beautiful in its time.

bouncing in my head

When starting a blog, it's hard to know where to take it. Do I write about this or that? Will people want to read about this? Can I keep someone's interest with that?

For this blog, I want to write what's on my heart. If it was physically possible for someone to see what bounces around my head all day, it would mainly consist of three things. My healing Savior, health, and food.

So, when you visit An Unfading Beauty, you will be able to find three things:

{devotion}-what God is teaching me at the moment.
{workout}-this will range from a quick workout that can be done at home to fitness articles that I find interesting.
{recipe}-delicious recipes that I want to share with you from my kitchen!

I hope you will enjoy this day to day journey with me. Feel free to ask any questions at all. I'd love to talk. =]
meagcochran@gmail.com

{recipe} Summer Berry Cream Cheese Pound Cake

This is the most moist pound cake I have ever had! Definitely a must try. It keeps well even though I doubt it will be around for long. Get to the kitchen!

Summer Berry Cream Cheese Pound Cake:  yields 2 pound cakes

3 cups sugar

6 oz cream cheese

3 oz butter

6 eggs

1/2 tsp salt

2 tsp vanilla

3 cups all purpose flour

1 pt whipping cream

fresh berries

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1) Blend together softened butter, cream cheese and sugar. Add in eggs one at a time. Mix in vanilla and salt. (the batter should be very light and fluffy at this point) Slowly add in flour alternating with the cream.

2) Gently fold in a generous amount of berries. Pour batter into sprayed loaf pans.

3) Place in a cold oven. Set oven to 350 degrees. Bake for 1 hour and 20 minutes.

4) Enjoy!