Brownie In a Mug Recipe

Check out this brownie in a mug recipe: http://recipes.sparkpeople.com/recipe-detail.asp?recipe=581518

Easy dessert or quick gift!

My Journey to 13.1 Miles

Excited for my first Half Marathon ... gotta love the free stuff!

I've been giddy and excited about my first Half Marathon since I registered back in September. I slowly started training, but seriously started training back in November/December. Disney's Princess Half Marathon was about so much more than running 13.1 miles just to say I've done it. First, I ran for Abolition International and we, Team Freedom, raised over $50,000 to help this phenomenal organization in their efforts to end human trafficking around the globe. This cause has been very close to my heart ever since my first trip to Thailand several years back, where the Lord really softened my heart and opened up my eyes to all the helpless women and children who have been sold into this industry. It's heart-breaking. Please read this post from January's Human Trafficking Awareness Day: http://www.lizzychristian.com/2/post/2012/01/christ-broke-our-chains-lets-help-break-theirs-human-trafficking-awareness-day.html. Please consider giving a voice to the voiceless and hope for the hopeless. You, too, can step up and be apart of fighting for this cause. Pray .. Give ... Act ... there's something for everyone to do! I'd like to especially thank those who sent in donations for Team Freedom. Thank you for your donations ... as I was running, I thought about all of the helpless women who would love to follow their dreams ... and YOU helped financially so lives could be  saved in Jesus' name. Thank you, thank you, thank you. 

Second, throughout my training experience, the enemy did not want me to conquer this goal - it was mentally and physically exhausting and there were days that brought large amounts of tears, sweat and uncertainty. This was also a spiritual battle ... even when my body didn't want to cooperate, the Lord intervened and gave me the strength that was needed to meet the next goal (Phil 3:14). There was a God-moment during the race ... my verse throughout the training experience was Phil. 4:13, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Every time I felt my body wanting to give up during the race, the Lord brought encouragement right before my very eyes ... I saw at least 3-4 (different) tshirts that quoted Phil. 4:13 at each point I needed it most. I love God-moments - He never ceases to amaze me. He's always with us, always holding us, never giving up on His children. We just have to open up our eyes so we don't miss the "God-moments."



My Race Day Picture Diary

In anticipation of the big day, I layed everything out the night before ... 1:30 a.m. would come way too soon!

The alarm sounded at 1:30 a.m. - even though I could never fall asleep, the Lord carried me through. The nerves were there, but dissapeared once we crossed that START line.

Upon arriving at the race site, I've never seen so many port-a-pots ... they were in groups of 30-40 around every corner! This was my "God-smile" very early in the morning... not sure why it amazed me so much, but it made me laugh. 

Excited! The Disney Princess Half Marathon started at Epcot, and we ran through  Magic Kingdom, Disney, and back through Epcot.

I'm not much of a tutu or crown kinda-girl, but I've never seen so many in my entire life! Go girls!

After 13.1 miles - I crossed the finished line with a smile on my face (and of course, it helped when I spotted my sweet husband cheering me on)

For all you princesses out there ... you can achieve your dreams - trust in Him and never give up!

19,000 women (and some very brave men) gathered to run the Disney Princess Half Marathon. A breath-taking day.

Thank you for your love, financial support, prayers - I'm now officially in love with the sport of running and it has been a great outlet me for. I'm so thankful for the support of family and of my husband, who is always cheering me on. I look forward to cheering him on in his upcoming Half Marathon.

My advice from this experience? 
#1 - Trust God and stop giving into the mental games we play. Satan always attacks when we are the weakest. When I was most insecure, he tried to throw rocks at me. God was always there - cheering me on, giving me strength.

#2: Look for God-moments. Look for those "Phil 4:13" tshirts in your own life ... He always puts encouragement in our paths ... stop closing your eyes and looking to another path - Look to Christ!

#3: Stop Saying "I'll Never Do It." I've always been my own worst enemy. I tend to give up before even taking on a challenge because I fear failure and letting people down. STOP. Stop giving up and start following your dreams. If I can run 13.1 miles... you can do anything!

#4: Look for an outlet. We all need something that excites us, keeps us active, and gives us an outlet to do something we love. Running is that for me now. What yours? Find it. Do it. Enjoy it. Don't give up! Achieve it. When I crossed the finish line, I was already thinking of things to do differently in the anticipation and excitement for the next Half Marathon --- God gives us these little things to keep us going!

Freebie for Female Runners/Athletes

We will be doing a drawing on March 10 for our "I Run Like a Girl ... So Keep up" bumper sticker! Register NOW by replying with your email or filling out the contact form on our website: www.lizzychristian.com.

To stay tuned for other freebies and resources, follow Lizzy on twitter @lizzychristian.

Pinesol=Love + God=??

Did you know there are 6 amazing scents of pine sol? Original pine sol, lemon fresh, lavender clean, sparkling wave, outdoor fresh, and garden fresh. Eekkk! Seriously! If you don't believe me, check it out: http://m.pinesol.com/see-products.

I know it's sad, but I got as giddy as a schoolgirl when I received a box of 3 gallon size pinesols for Christmas! Perhaps, the sight of the pinesol or cleaning supplies aisle doesn't make your palms sweat and your heart race as it does for me, but, what does? What makes your heart soar and your eyes light up at a mere glance? Ponder that thought. As I thought about my overwhelming and perhaps unhealthy love for pinesol, I began to ponder the thought of getting excited and passionate for Jesus. I want to jump up and down, be giddy and have my heart skip a beat when I talk about my Jesus! I want to be passionate when I think about Him, talk about Him and even sing praises to Him! What an awesome God we serve ... And yes, even more amazing than a freshly pinesoled kitchen floor, toilet or the mere smell of a clean house! I know, I know, it's hard to imagine something that can be so much better!

Today, I challenge all of us with these verses as we revamp our passion for sharing the good news ...

Mark 13:10, "And the good news must first be proclaimed to all nations."

Proverbs 15:30, "Bright eyes cheer the heart; good news strengthens the bones."

John 3:17, "For God did not send His Son into the world that He might condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through Him."

Recipe Zone: Delicious & Easy Honey Mustard Chicken

Honey Mustard Chicken & Steamed Veggies

Last night I decided to experiment with honey mustard chicken. It's simple, quick and delicious.

First, you need to either cut chicken breasts into strips or use the chicken tenderloin strips (I used the frozen ones). I only made it for 2 people, so you decide how much chicken you need based on how many people you're feeding.

Then, you will need:
-Uncooked chicken strips
-1 onion, sliced/chopped
-Hint of garlic powder
-Hint of seasoned pepper
-Honey mustard dressing/sauce (will probably need close to 1/2 the bottle .... so get the low fat kind:)

Combine all ingredients, sprinkle honey mustard sauce over the chicken then add garlic powder/pepper on top, tightly cover with saran wrap and let marinate in fridge for 2-3 hours (makes it better this way, you can cook right away, if needed).

Preheat oven to 350 and cook all ingredients for 1 hour. Check the center of the chicken to confirm it's completely cooked.

Serve with steamed veggies!

I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream!

Go back a few years and try to recall the anticipation and explosion of pure excitement as you anxiously awaited the ice cream truck. I remember watching all of the neighborhood kids peek out the windows every summer afternoon looking for the white truck that played hokey, loud music, always seeming to hook children as soon as they heard the first note. I was never one to chase the ice cream truck and scream "I want ice cream" in a loud voice, making it seem like the world was at end if I didn't get any. But it got me thinking. Imagine if we set an example for the children of our homes, church, community, and schools to get anxious and overwhelmingly excited about serving a mighty God. What IF we taught them to put their sheer joy and desire to trust, love, and serve God like they desire ice cream? Imagine how different our world would be!? Let's put that desire, passion and endless longing into our own love for our Savior. Man, how our lives would and CAN change. Never miss an opportunity to share His love, aka- chase after the truck screaming, "I want ice cream!"

Praise Him for His powerful acts; praise Him for His abundant greatness. (Psalm 150:2 HCSB)

Sing praise to God, sing praise; sing praise to our King, sing praise! (Psalm 47:6 HCSB)

fulfill my joy by thinking the same way, having the same love, sharing the same feelings, focusing on one goal. (Philippians 2:2 HCSB)

Grace be with all who have undying love for our Lord Jesus Christ. (Ephesians 6:24 HCSB)

Fabulous Friday Deals!

Are you busy gearing up for an exciting weekend? We have a few new goodies just for you!

Check out a few products that have been added to our "Valentine's Day Storefront"
http://www.lizzychristian.com/store.html

You can sign up to receive our weekly "True Beauty" devo for Middle/High School girls by filling out the "contact" form on our website. Simply put "join mailing list" in the message!
http://www.lizzychristian.com/contact.html

Here was yesterday's True Beauty mailout:
http://myemail.constantcontact.com/Second--True-Beauty--Lesson-Now-Available----Mirror--Mirror-on-the-wall-.html?soid=1106634227953&aid=QGN97hEfIW0