Living as a Victorious Christian Woman

You want to eat healthy. You want something that tastes wonderful. You want something that's simple. You want something that's filling. If this is literally you, you'll want to try this Korean BBQ steak bowl. Immediately. This bowl has five parts: rice, broccoli, cucumber salad, shredded carrots, and the steak. They make a killer combination of flavors, textures, and temperature. No shortcuts on this one - you want to include every single component. Using a flat iron steak was the key - our Butcher Box steaks are grass-fed, pasture-raised, and antibiotic-free, so they were incredibly flavorful and tender. Choose your favorite steaks and get started on this bowl now. Ingredients:  4 6-oz flat iron steaks ¼ cup soy sauce 1 tablespoon sesame oil 2 cloves garlic, minced 1 tablespoon ground ginger 1 tablespoon honey 1 large cucumber 1 tablespoon rice vinegar 1 teaspoon sesame oil Pinch of sugar (or monk fruit sweetener) Pinch of salt Green onion, sliced Rice Frozen broccoli Shre...

While I was out on the property this weekend, I couldn't help but think of Jesus' words quoted in Matthew and Luke:  Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father.  But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.  Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows. Matthew 10:29-31 This is a picture of a normal, everyday birdhouse. But the birds have packed it so full of nesting material that they can't even get inside. I'm not sure when, if ever, I've seen birds lay eggs inside. It's definitely time to clean it out so it can be used for its intended purpose. On the other hand, there's a crack in the garage door that the birds can get through, and we discovered a nest on one of the shelves. They brought in all kinds of leaves and twigs and grass, and they made themselves right at home. Literally. The babies inside were big and healthy, and it was just a day or two after this picture ...

It's my first week in my new planner! If you didn't see my recent post on finding the perfect planner for your new year, check it out here . It feels like a fresh, new beginning, and I can't wait to show you how that beginning is going so far. I'm loving it! To make my first monthly spread one for the books (get it?), I pulled out everything I could find that was red, white, blue, had flags, or had stars. You never know exactly what you've got until you empty your drawers and bags and pile it all up on the table. Yep, that's exactly what I did. And boy, did I find some cool stuff! I laid it out in a random stamp/thrown around like confetti style, which I adore. The large Lady Liberty sticker in the bottom is one I found at the Veteran's Home gift shop in Marshalltown, and I love it right there in that bottom open space. I use these monthly spreads to keep track of my blog posts, so there's plenty of room for that on each day. The weekly pages in my new p...

One of the easiest hosting ideas ever, especially for events like 4th of July gatherings, is to have a themed grazing table and everyone gets to participate. Think old-fashioned potluck, but all the guests are on the same mission. A patriotic smorgasbord is perfect for a large group and so much fun to put together. I got creative and put together a little one for us this week. Please note ... yes, there are more sweets than actual meal, but we didn't eat all that in one sitting. I promise! Right now there are many companies making red, white, and blue versions of their products, and others are doing fun shapes and sizes. I used my own serving plate and a large cast iron pan to hold everything, and I couldn't resist picking up the iced tea glass with two dachshunds in patriotic top hats. Who could? Between now and the 4th of July weekend, put on your thinking cap and look around the next time you're at the store. See what limited edition foods they have in patriotic themes, ...

Have you ever wondered what's in the back of your freezer or at the bottom of your deep freeze? A cold-weather expedition may be in order! I went looking in ours and found 3 pounds of chicken tenders that I forgot existed.  The ensuing recipe hunt brought me to something I love to eat but usually don't love to do: hand-breaded chicken. I don't know why I don't enjoy setting up and using a breading station, but this one wasn't bad at all. I think the smell of the Panko (which I love in sushi!) may have made the difference. I also like making my own sauces, and this is a good one. Danny loves to try all the hot honeys out there on the market, so we had a couple of really good ones to choose from. If you don't have any in your own pantry, you can always use a few teaspoons of honey and a teaspoon or two of sriracha.  Ingredients:  3 lbs chicken tenders 1 cup buttermilk 1 box Panko breadcrumbs 1 cup all-purpose flour 2 Tbsp garlic powder 2 Tbsp smoked paprika salt...

Imagine me only talking to Danny on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings from 7-7:15 a.m. And maybe for an hour a couple of times a week. It's on the calendar, that's the time we'll hang out and talk about as much as we possibly can before we get back to whatever we were doing. We'll vent quick and keep moving. Ridiculous, right?  But that's often how we treat our relationship with God. We have a morning Bible study and prayer time, and we're at church on Sunday mornings, Sunday nights, and Wednesday nights. We read some books and listen to some podcasts. We check the boxes and do all the things. Beyond that, it's a little different. When I'm at work, that's work time. It gets its own little silo. When I'm at home, that's home time. Another silo. When I'm at church, that's church time. A very special silo, but still a silo. This way of thinking is exhausting. I know ... because I'm exhausted! This isn't how God has called us...

Sometimes you just want to wrap yourself up in something beautiful and let the day play out. That's how I feel about my planner pages for this week - they're my favorite color, they're so elegant, and each day is like hugging myself with a bouquet of flowers. Plus ... they shine and shimmer! For each day's block, I combined a phrase sticker and two small clusters of images. Those were as simple as flower and a heart or butterfly, one on each side of the block for balance. I love the encouraging words, something new every day, because, honestly, isn't that what we all need right now? My prayer for this week is that God will use you and me in some great and powerful ways. I don't want to just warm a seat wherever I am - I want to make a difference in someone's life for the glory of God! There are some exciting things happening in my little corner of the world, and I can't wait to see what He's going to do through me. I pray you're going to see Him ...

Our dogs like nothing better than being let off leash to run as fast and as far as we'll let them. Cooper is still a baby and doesn't have great recall yet, so it's a very special occasion when the harness comes off and he can work those tiny little legs. Look at those happy faces! This is how the situation usually works: 13-month-old dachshund puppy and 10-year-old black lab enjoy the outdoors completely on their own, barely noticing the other one exists. Tiny dog notices the big dog is doing something that absolutely does not require a puppy. He must go investigate. It might be cooler than what he's doing... More than 33 acres of land to roam through and explore, and they feel the need to be within 2-square-feet of each other. Or inches. God forbid they're more than a few inches apart at any given moment. One of them might miss out on that one special smell, and that would be terrible. Diesel moves a bit, and his dachshund-shaped shadow goes right along with him. ...

On our first cross-country flight last weekend, I was blown away by the way roads and the fields make beautiful patterns on the ground.  I dare you to look at Iowa from the sky and tell me God isn't a God of order. The earth is too perfect for it to have been boomed into existence. Order out of chaos. In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.  And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness  was  upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.  And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.  Genesis 1:1-3 You can't see it from the road. You're too low and can't see far enough to get the best perspective. I remember my grandpa telling me that the best way to find all the farmhouses is to look for the trees. They're tucked in there away from the wind and the traffic and so all the rest of the land around it can be tilled and used for farming. From the air, you can definitely see the truth to that...

I'm so excited to be starting my new planner as we start the new fiscal year at work! It took me for.ever. to find one that I absolutely love, but this one was worth the wait. It's completely different from my last planner, so it's been a recharge for my creative juices to start decorating it.  Some people buy a planner based entirely on how it looks, but I encourage you to pick one that is both attractive and functional with the way you'll use it. A planner is a tool, and if that tool isn't practical and applicable, it's just a paperweight made of paper. Here are some things I'd like you to think about as you're transitioning to a new planner, whether it's here in July or at the end of December. Academic year or calendar year? My fiscal year starts July 1, others want a planner to start September 1 with the school year, or January 1 for the New Year. Do what makes sense for you. Daily, weekly, or monthly layouts - or all three? Smaller calendars may...

What an amazing, special Independence Day we have this year! America's 250 is such a monumental reason for celebration, and it's going to be a joy to gather with friends and family. Looking through the Living as a Victorious Christian Woman archives, we've put together a lot of patriotic projects over the years, haven't we? Over the past 15 years of blogging, we've shared many recipes, crafts, and home decor ideas that are just as lovely today as they were then. Here are a few of my favorites to get your creative juices flowing. See what sparks your imagination, and I'll share some new ones between now and the first weekend of July. Scriptures About Freedom A DIY Patriotic 4th of July Wreath Patriotic Tag Books from Scraps and Die Cuts 4th of July Red, White, and Blue Cheese Ball Firecracker Brownies for the 4th of July Sewing Fireworks On Your Paper Crafts What Liberty Means to a Christian Woman Patriotic Chocolate-Dipped Oreos A 4th of July Centerpiece for Les...

Our church, Calvary Baptist Church in Ottumwa, just spent the entire weekend celebrating our 80th anniversary. Having only been here for 15 years, it was absolutely priceless to hear the stories of its beginnings from some of the people who were here when it began.  It was incredibly convicting to think about those who came before us, the more than 40 people who loved the Lord  so much that they bought a building and met together multiples times a week to worship Him and study His word. This is the legacy that continues today. They bought land, built a brand-new church building, and created a faith family that still believes that Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life, and that He sacrificed Himself so we can spend eternity with God.  As I looked at the display table full of original photos, newspaper clippings and programs from events held over the past 80 years, I really began to think about the people who sat in those pews all those decades ago. They thought about t...

Summer doesn't start until next weekend? Then what have we been experiencing for the past month??? Seriously, it's been hot and stormy and very much June in Iowa. But now we'll get to celebrate the official start to the amazing summer season, and I can't wait. Coffee and a book on the deck before it gets too hot, opening the sun roof, and playing some classic summer music on the radio. It's time! I'm so excited about this week's planner layout. It's completely outside my comfort zone, centered around summer washi tapes and large stickers for lists and journaling. The alternating washi tapes are absolutely lovely - palm leaves and beach waves - and the tiny images coordinate perfectly. As of right this minute, there is nothing on my work calendar. No meetings, no calls, no planned anything. That means I'll be open to the possibilities, the opportunities God has already arranged for those five days. Talk about potential in a work day! What's your p...

Blessed  be  God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;  Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 We honestly have no idea what other people are going through. We see the outside, while only God can see the inside. A put-together exterior can convince us that there's no messy backside or backstory that's currently causing heartache and pain. The woman who's smiling in all the pictures may be the same one who's waiting for a phone call about a loved one's health. She needs comfort whether we know the situation or not. The woman who's running a company may be crumbling under the pressure of the seriousness of holding everyone's future in her hands. She needs comfort that she's making wise choices. The woman who's bustling around the sanctuary greeting everyo...

For some reason we love being surprised. Sort of.  Blind boxes and mystery grab bags are nothing new, but they've definitely made an impact recently. Think opening a pack of baseball cards, not knowing what players you'll find inside. That's the anticipation of bags and boxes filled with every conceivable goodie, just waiting to be opened with surprise. I was riveted to a video series of a woman who was determined to find every single object on her list of tiny food items that comes in a blind ball and are arranged inside a tiny refrigerator. She was down to the eggs and must have opened more than 100 balls in an attempt to find that one item while racking up multiples of everything else. People finally started sending her their extra little egg cartons just so she could move on with her life... When I went on a downtown tour last week, two of the three stores I stopped in had a row of mystery jars. The third may have had them, too, but I wasn't specifically looking for...