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  • Follow the Leader; How To Be a Passionate and Real Leader

    Follow the Leader; How To Be a Passionate and Real Leader

    With this blog, I want to talk about what leads people to follow you as a leader. 

    I want to focus on three focal points, and briefly introduce those three things that can help you lead passionately while still remaining true to who you are.

    As leaders, there are things we want to accomplish and things we want to do. However, we can’t accomplish these things if we don’t know the following: who we are, what we have to offer, and our vision.

    Who You Are

    As leaders, we must be comfortable with who we are. Without this step, it is hard to have that foundation of boldness that we need to lead people. We need to know our weaknesses, what we are good at, and what we have to offer.

    What You Have to Offer

    What are some things that you can offer to your leadership? What do you have to bring to the table that can benefit your team? Knowing your gifts and talents can be beneficial for others because if you know something someone else doesn’t, why keep it to yourself? 

    It is our role as leaders to train people to be able to take up a role after us. We are not going to be the same thing forever or at the same place all the time. We must do our part in helping to raise the new generation and teach from our mistakes.

    Your Vision

    This is probably the most important one here. This is what drives you. This is what drives the people that follow you, and that is your vision. Vision is very valuable to the mission, the one that you have always wanted to accomplish.

    When people see a passionate leader, who is challenging themselves every day, people notice that. In a few of Craig Groeschel’s podcast, he says one thing at the end that I like, and it goes like this:

    1 “People would rather follow a leader who is always real, rather than always right.”

    People would rather follow a leader who is always real, rather than always right.”

    Craig Groeschel

    Just be who you are, admit when you are wrong, and accept humbling times. It may be difficult at times, but don’t sell yourself short of how strong and capable you really are. You just need to know when to be transparent to the people that are following you; there is a time and place for everything.

    1. Craig Groeschel: How to Become a Leader People Want to Follow. https://churchleaders.com/news/330559-craig-groeschel-gls18-become-a-leader-people-want-to-follow.html

     

    Joshua Sauls — author of The Red Barn blog — is passionate about serving God and reaching out to the lost and the broken. Through his blog, Josh shares wisdom he’s gleaned during his lifetime and hopes to help people on their journey through life and their walk with Christ. 

    Joshua also serves in the U.S. Air Force, and is working towards becoming a minister

    You can find Josh on instagram @joshua.sauls 

  • Feed Others By Telling Them About God

    Feed Others By Telling Them About God

    Hi readers!

    It’s Tina Rucker, Food Blogger.

    Today as I was cleaning out my fridge, I found so many items that I hate to waste. So I told myself, instead of wasting all these things, you could make a salad with those items that could feed others. 

    So as I’m making the salad, God said, “Go feed the people.”

    I called two of my friends and told them I was stopping by to bring them something good. As I stopped by their homes to drop off the food, we had a conversation about God. 

    While I was leaving, I heard God say, “This is why you made the salad. It was to bring My word to others.” 

    “I thought you meant food,” I replied to God. 

    And He said, “No, you bringing your words of Me to others is feeding My people.”

    God spoke to me as I was about to finish and said, “You must help others.”

    My prayer today: Timothy 2:1-5

    “First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,”

    God I pray for others to receive you in their life.

    My recipe this week is Leftover Broccoli Salad. Simply follow the steps below:

    In a bowl, mix

    2 stalks of broccoli (cut into bite size)

    2 stalks of celery (diced)

    ½ onion (sweet) (diced)

    10 black olives

    ½ cup shaved almonds

    ½ cup shredded cheese

    Dressing

    ½ cup mayonnaise 

    ½ cup sour cream

    ½ cup ranch

    Mix together well. Add to salad mix. Refrigerate. 

    So from my blog to your kitchen, God Bless and happy dishes.

    Stay tuned for more homemade recipes and blessings from my table to yours.

    In addition to providing delicious recipes on her Faith and Food blog, Tina Rucker is a proud mom to her 18 year old son, happy wife to her husband Joel of six years, and the spearhead of the Five Loaves Food Pantry ministry in her local church, open twice a month. 

    Tina has worked in the food industry for over 25 years, and has a heart and a passion to serve, feed, and provide for those in need.

  • Blessings Amongst the Hardships

    Blessings Amongst the Hardships

    Hey guys! 

    I know throughout this blog I’m going to be talking a lot about the curses of Autism, but what if I told you that there were blessings that are a part of it too?

    Yeah, that’s right! There are blessings that Autism comes with too! 

    After all, God uses what the enemy meant for evil and turns it around for our good. And in Romans 8:28 the Bible says that ALL things work together for those who love God and are called according to His purpose. 

    I know, I know, this whole blog is about overcoming Autism, but I am one of those people that have to look to the positive. I had to learn this in my journey.

    Let me explain.

    The first blessing that my family and I noticed was my ability to memorize… A LOT! I have done theatre my whole life and from the very beginning I was able to memorize everyone’s lines. My theatre teacher in high school always knew she could count on me. Like this one time, someone quit the show one week before a competition and she put me in a lead role. I ended up nailing it! 

    The next blessing is honesty. I’m serious! I have no filter… I will tell you how it is. I am painfully honest even when you don’t want to hear it. You never have to wonder what I am feeling. It drives others up the wall, but I’m thankful. 

    The last blessing is passion. When I feel strongly about something, I go all in! I am persistent and bullheaded. There was once a time that I wanted to be an EMT, I told everyone that I was going to be an EMT. People doubted me because of my Autism, but in 2014, I did it!! 

    I love to prove people wrong! 

    While there are a lot of things about Autism that are really hard to deal with… there are also blessings that I am so thankful for!

    Remember, God loves you and so do I!!

    Hannah Benson — known for her big heart, her kindness, and her eagerness to serve — is the author of the Overcoming Autism blog.

    Hannah was diagnosed with Autism at the age of 14, and now uses this media platform as a way to reach out to those living with Autism and other handicaps. Hannah shares tips and coping skills for those with Autism and for family and friends of those who have been diagnosed; she also relates her life to stories in the Bible and chronicles the lessons she’s learned along her journey.

    Hannah Benson can be found on Instagram @hannah_benson94 or on Facebook on the Overcoming Autism Hannah’s Story.

  • Practical, Day-to-Day Tips To Keep Living In Joy

    Practical, Day-to-Day Tips To Keep Living In Joy

    In my previous blog post, I talked about what joy is and where it comes from. If you haven’t read it yet, go check it out! It’s full of scriptures and information about the true meaning of joy, and almost like part one to this blog post.

    “What Even Is Joy?” is great if you’re not sure what God intended for joy to be or how to get it. However, if you feel like you’ve got a pretty good grasp on this whole joy thing and want to get on to the practical steps, read on!

    For those who did read the last post, I pray that it blessed you and helped you to find a better grasp on what true joy is.

    Alright, let’s get to it!

    As we covered in “What Even Is Joy?”, joy is not derived and determined based on the circumstances in our lives; joy comes from the Lord. 

    Romans 15:13 says, “ May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

    Also, Psalm 16:11 says, “…you will fill me with joy in your presence,”

    The Bible is pretty clear here. Joy is a gift from God that we can receive in His presence and by simply trusting in Him. As it says in the verse from Romans listed above, peace comes “as you trust in him.”

    Before we truly get started, I’d like to point out that you don’t have to work for or strive for joy. You do not have to earn it. God will not withhold joy from you in this life as a punishment. 

    God desires each of us to live in and walk in joy daily. Just how do we do that? is the big question.

    Unfortunately, I can’t give you a quick and easy three step process and guarantee you’ll get joy. It just doesn’t work that way. We’re all different —  our struggles are different, our experiences are different, and our situations are different. So I can’t give simple steps for everyone to follow. However, I can provide guidance on your journey towards living in true joy.

    The following advice I will share was not derived from a self-help book. Rather, this is what I have learned from experience.

    For most of my life, I’ve dealt with depression of some form. Sometimes it was a minor issue in the background, but other times it was a heavy weight upon my shoulders that caused me to think about dying as a relief. 

    Depression, for me, was a weight I carried around for years. I learned to shoulder the burden fairly well, but sometimes it became too heavy and I collapsed under it. 

    I was always tired. I never felt social or had a desire to interact with people. I was okay to be alone for hours at a time. I never felt truly happy. I had moments of happiness and energy, but mostly I just walked around in a haze.

    I felt like I was trapped in life and like I was walking in quicksand: I was constantly moving forward and straining and trying, but really I was just sinking lower and lower.

    I kept praying for joy, and asking for joy, and wishing I could shake the feelings. But I could never really free myself from it.

    However, I had an experience with God one Sunday at church that I’ve never had before. Nobody laid hands on me, no one spoke over me or prayed for me, there was no big spiritual moment. I was just at the altar praying with people and worshiping God. 

    But when I walked out of that sanctuary, I was filled with joy. The next day, I was still joyful. And the day after that, and the day after that, and for the whole week, I was joyful.

    Now, I know that Sunday was a supernatural, spiritual outpouring of a gift of joy. And I do believe God can do that for anyone. But I think God wants US to seek out joy and learn for ourselves how to use it. 

    You see, God used that Sunday service as the building grounds for joy in my life; He used it as a catalyst to enact a change in my outlook on joy. And that week, God began to teach me how to receive joy daily and walk in it at all times. And I’d love to share it with you! Because hard times will come. We’ll find ourselves in scary situations. But if we know how to find joy in these seasons, we’ll make it through. For the joy of the Lord is our strength (Nehemiah 8:10).

    Lesson One: We receive joy by being in His presence 

    This step is absolutely vital to the existence of joy in our lives. As stated above, Psalm 16:11 says, “…you will fill me with joy in your presence,” My conclusion is that we can’t be filled with true joy if we don’t first spend time with our Holy Father.

    If you’re not sure how to do that, what that means, or if you’ve fallen short in that area, I’ll give you a few examples that should help. 

    Spend time in His Word. Read your Bible. Learn what God says about you and to you. Learn about His promises to us. Read about what God says about hard situations.

    Meditate on His Word. Don’t just read scripture and move on in life, but really take it to heart. Think about it throughout the day. Think about what it means and how it applies to your life. 

    Journal. Write down your feelings and revelations and things you’ve learned from God. Write down your prayer requests. 

    Pray. The Bible tells us to pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17). When we talk with and to God; when we tell Him how we feel, what’s going on in our life; when we invite Him into our day, it makes all the difference. Praying invites the presence of God into our lives.

    Make Him first priority each day. When we start our day off reading the Word, praying, listening to worship music or an encouraging Christian podcast, or whatever it is we choose to do, it helps prepare us for the day ahead. If we can immerse ourselves in His presence before the day truly begins, we can handle anything that comes our way.

    Include Him in your day. Oftentimes, we get so busy with work, school, or other daily obligations that we neglect our relationship with our Father. If we ignore our friends or significant other for the majority of the day and only briefly spend time with them, our relationship with them won’t be very strong. The same is true with God. We must include Him in our day. We can do this in many ways such as offering a little prayer under our breath throughout the day. Whatever you can do to invite His presence, and therefore His joy in, will have a major impact on your day. 

    Lesson Two: Stop feeding the negativity 

    So maybe this one is just me, I don’t know, but when I get upset about one thing, I begin to think about everything that has ever been negative in my life. 

    Like for instance, let’s say my car breaks down. I’m obviously upset and stressed about that. But then my brain begins to make things worse because I start listing everything that has ever gone wrong in my life. I’ll start thinking things like my life sucks so much right now. My car is broke down, my room’s a mess, I spilled my coffee this morning, that girl was super rude to me three weeks ago, I said something so stupid the other day and completely embarresed myself and on and on and on. These things just race around in my mind, further upsetting and discouraging me, and make me more and more depressed. 

    But guys, if there’s anyone out there who thinks the same way as me, this is your wakeup call. We can NOT do this! It’s so important.

    The week following my filling of joy, I found myself in a few negative situations where I would typically get annoyed or angry, but God showed me something.

    When we’re going through a problem and we focus on the negative like I was doing, it’s like looking through a glass bottle. When we do this, everything becomes distorted. 

    The same is true in negative situations. If we feed the negativity by listing all the reasons we should be upset, we’re looking at the world through a glass bottle —  everything will be distorted. We will begin to see everything as bad or negative.

    If you’re not sure how to stop this negative spiral, lesson three will be super helpful. 

    Lesson Three: Live with an attitude of gratitude

    Sometimes life is hard. When we look around us it’s all pain and heartache and hard times. But we can’t roll over and let these feelings consume us. We have to choose to find something positive in the midst of the situation.

    Author and speaker Annie F. Downs spoke on this and jokingly said that even if the fries you ate are extra good, you have to focus on that. Find that one good thing and focus all your attention on that thing. 

    We also can do this by living in a constant state of thanks. For example, I once had to drive an hour out of my way to bring my sister her purse. I could have been annoyed or irritated with her. Instead, I thanked God that I had the opportunity to help my sister out. Another time I had a super packed schedule. I worked from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., then went to a family member’s birthday party, before going to a two and a half hour meeting on how to help people struggling with addiction, which ended after 9 p.m. And, this was all an hour away from my house.

    Normally, I would’ve been run down, stressed at the full schedule, annoyed someone else couldn’t cover the meeting, and depressed that I wouldn’t get anything done that day. But, instead, I thanked God that I got to learn more about addiction and how to help people, and that I got extra hours at work. 

    Living with an attitude of gratitude also means to be thankful for all that you have, even when it’s not all you want. You might not have the best home, but you have a roof over your head. You might not drive the nicest car, but it gets you from Point A to Point B. You might not have the best job, but you’re blessed to have one. 

    If you can practice this when bad things come your way, you’ll find yourself feeling more joy than ever before. 

    Lesson Four: Celebrate the small victories

    I think a lot of times we can beat ourselves up for the things we mess up on or fail at, and that’s only detrimental to us.

    For example, say your goal this week is to wake up early and read your Bible each day of the week. And let’s say that you only did it twice this week. I think for many of us, our natural reaction is to beat ourselves up for failing to meet our goal.

    What if, instead, we congratulate ourselves for doing it those two days? If we can learn to celebrate at ALL times and stop criticizing ourselves, we’ll be able to shake off the negativity we place on ourselves. 

    When we “fail” at our goals or objectives or whatever it is we’re going through, instead of chewing ourselves out, we have to learn to say, “You know what? I’ve improved. I did better than before. God, please help me to continue to improve.”

    These things have been such GAME CHANGERS in my life when I regularly apply them, and they have helped to produce and properly steward joy in my life. 

    Does that mean that I haven’t felt depressed or upset or anxious? Of course not; I have definitely experienced these emotions since that Sunday. But, the difference is, now I know how to pull myself out of it.

    Before, I would become overwhelmed by feelings of fear and depression, and it would affect me in every single way possible. But now, by using the lessons God taught me, I am able to work through the stress, the pressure, the weight, and the heaviness and burst out into joy.

    Is it easy? No, not always. Sometimes it’s a lot of work. (If this scares you and you aren’t sure how to work for it, keep an eye out for a future blog where I’ll talk about that very topic.) 

    But the point of all of this is that it is possible to break out of and away from cycles of negativity. It’s possible to live in joy.

    Some of you may be reading this and think that the lessons I laid out aren’t enough. And maybe it’s not. I’m on this journey of learning to live in everyday joy just like you are. There’s still so much to learn.

    However, I do want to stress that it is one hundred percent okay to seek counsel. It’s okay to talk with your pastor about these subjects. It’s okay to see a therapist or a counselor. In fact, I encourage you to confide in someone about your struggles. Seek help and look for someone to support you on your journey and remind you of these things when you begin to spiral into negativity. These lessons can be used in conjunction with additional counsel and whatever they recommend.

    Never be ashamed for seeking help. Asking for help is, in my opinion, one of the strongest things anyone can do. 

    Yes, this struggle is real; but so is our God. Our God is alive and real and He’s here for us. So cast all your worries on Him because He cares for you (1 Peter 5:7). 

    Start applying these lessons to your life now. Seek help now. Don’t wait! You’ve got this!

    Maddisen Sauls is the smile and voice behind the Everyday Joy blog as well as the author of the Word of the Week posts and the editor of by leaps and bounds. Throughout her life, Maddisen has worked as a reporter for small town newspapers, a School Age and Preschool teacher, and has acquired her ministerial license. 

    An avid book reader and lover of the written word, Maddisen is passionate about using her favorite medium to reach the lost and the hurting, and to offer encouragement and hope to those struggling through life. 

    Following her battle with depression, Maddisen has made it her mission to help other people through this journey and to bring joy to the lives of the people around her. 

    You can find Maddisen on Instagram @maddisen.paige

  • Peace

    Peace

    Peace: freedom from disturbance, tranquility (the quality or state of being calm); knowing that the Lord of the universe is by your side and resting in that.

    I used to love Black Friday. I thought the chaos of people running for gifts, arguing over items, and crowding stores was funny. But I wouldn’t want to shop like that everyday. 

    Can you imagine the utter confusion that would be? Imagine having to fight over a loaf of bread or your favorite breakfast or snack item. How crazy would that be!

    No one wants to live like that. We want to be able to walk into a store, calmly get what we need, and calmly walk out.

    And that’s an apt description of what we want in life. We can handle a moment of chaos, but what we all truly desire is peace.

    The first description of peace initially seemed somewhat lacking to me. How can we be completely free of disturbance? But then I found a definition of freedom that put everything into perspective. 

    Freedom was described as this: “The power of self-determination attributed to the will.” Self-determination is the process by which a person controls their own life. 

    So, peace is not the absence of disturbance, but instead us determining not to let disturbances affect us. 

    Peace is also defined as knowing that the Lord of the universe is by your side and resting in that. And that truly is the most comforting thought we could ever have. 

    Determine not to let disturbance affect you this week, and instead rest in peace.

    Maddisen Sauls is the smile and voice behind the Everyday Joy blog as well as the author of the Word of the Week posts and the editor of by leaps and bounds. Throughout her life, Maddisen has worked as a reporter for small town newspapers, a School Age and Preschool teacher, and has acquired her ministerial license. 

    An avid book reader and lover of the written word, Maddisen is passionate about using her favorite medium to reach the lost and the hurting, and to offer encouragement and hope to those struggling through life. 

    Following her battle with depression, Maddisen has made it her mission to help other people through this journey and to bring joy to the lives of the people around her. 

    You can find Maddisen on Instagram @maddisen.paige

  • Going, Going, Gone

    Going, Going, Gone

    Hey friends!

    Let me ask you a question. Have you ever felt caught up in the rat race of life? As if your life is always on the go, moving at top speed, and never feeling like you have time to stop and take a breather?

    Me too, friend.

    In our society today, that’s a big thing and it’s kind of become a mindset of our culture.

    I won’t say all, but a lot of people get caught up in this rat race, myself included. We fill up our schedules to the max with commitments and obligations, sometimes without realizing how much we’ve taken on, and the next thing we know we have no time to stop and take a breath let alone enjoy life.

    For me, that started four years ago. 

    My days usually consisted of me going to work, then after work rushing to the next place I had to be. By the time that was finished it was time to go home and go to bed. Oh, and the weekends were hardly a thing too as more times than not I would have a prior commitment or had to work on something for the next week. So there was honestly little time for me to enjoy life, hobbies, or friends. It was just me and my overbooked schedule.

    After a few years of this continual cycle I began to feel burn out coming on, to the point where I was ready to quit everything, move to a secluded place, and forget about everything and everyone. However, because of how my momma raised me, I stuck with it and didn’t do anything rash based on those emotions. 

    And it’s not to say that I didn’t like what I was involved in because I did for the most part. (The other part was because I had a hard time saying “no” and disappointing people. That, however, is a post for another day). No, my overwhelming schedule was more self-inflicted in nature.

    About six months ago, however, I realized something had to change. After praying about it, God pointed out to me what that something was: my perspective and conduct of life had to change.

    I realized that if I didn’t change this, life was just going to pass me by as I exhausted myself with my seemingly endless schedule. That if I didn’t change anything, time would just zoom past without me.

    Going.

    Going.

    Gone.

    Realizing the need for a change, I had made it my goal for that particular month to be present and intentional.

    I couldn’t just let my schedule control my life anymore. Yes, have a schedule and a to-do list, but not let it control me. God wanted me to take hold of my busy life and let Him guide me, not the ever busy schedule.

    If I truly wanted change for the good, to be able to enjoy life again and the good things God had given me, I had to be intentional and protective about my time. I couldn’t just wait or hope for it to happen, but I had to intentionally set time aside for God, family, friends, hobbies, dreams, myself. I had to be present in every moment.

    Well, I can tell you with certainty that being intentional has gone with me from that month forward. I even made it my word for this year, 2020, because I have come to realize the importance of living intentionally.

    I’ve made it a point to be intentional in every area of my life — to stop running in the rat race and instead taking time to slow down, even in the midst of my busy schedule. I’m deliberately choosing to enjoy the things that God has blessed me with in my life. After all, what’s the use of having the blessing if I’m too busy to slow down and enjoy it?

    So if your answer to my question in the beginning was “yes,” I want to encourage you to stop letting your schedule control you, but instead to take your schedule by the reins. Be intentional with what is truly important in your life, and don’t let the ever present to-do list get in the way.

    After all, it will still be there tomorrow 😉

    Now, Intentional Living has become more than a goal for a particular month. It’s become my life motto.

    Until next time my friends.

    Caleigh

    An adventurer and coffee enthusiast at heart, Caleigh Ball has a passion for reaching out to others to inspire them to live with intention and purpose. As an ordained minister, she spends her time ministering as a youth pastor and is actively involved in Arise Ministries as the vice president and bookkeeper as well as one of the ministers. She enjoys life with her husband, Emmanuel, and their cat, Alaska, in their home state, Almost Heaven West Virginia.

    Find Caleigh on Instagram at @caleigh.ball 

  • Anticipation

    Anticipation

    Don’t grow weary in the waiting. Instead, wait with anticipation!

    Anticipation: waiting eagerly for something; excitement; to look ahead and prepare for; an expectation; anticipating with confidence of fulfillment.

    Waiting is often seen as such a terrible word. 

    We groan when we have to wait in line in the drive-thru. We despair at the thought of waiting at the DMV. Children can never wait patiently and, instead, ask us a million times, “Are we there yet?”

    And as Christians, “wait” takes on a whole other type of pain. We don’t want to wait on His presence. We don’t want to wait for His answer. We don’t want to wait for His direction. We don’t want to go through another waiting season. We’re tired of waiting!

    But what would you think if I told you that there is purpose in the waiting?

    I’m sure you’ve heard that line before, and perhaps it even causes your eyes to roll in utter annoyance. 

    But hard truth: that statement is true.

    When we really rest on this statement, we can begin to see it as truth. And instead of trying to rush the waiting, and hating the waiting, we can find peace in it. 

    Let me give you a fresh perspective. 

    Instead of dragging yourself through the waiting, begin to have anticipation for the next step. 

    A lot of times when we think of anticipation, we think of being excited for something. We think of knowing something is coming and being excited for it, but having to suffer through the waiting. 

    But anticipation is so much more.

    Yes, anticipation is eagerly waiting for something. Anticipation is excitement. Yes, anticipation is expectation of something.

    But anticipation is the act of looking forward and preparing for something. Anticipation is expecting something with the confidence of fulfillment. 

    I read that and thought, “Wow. That was good.”

    Because a lot of times, something is spoken over us, we receive a word from the Lord, and we’re so excited for it. But nothing happens. 

    We want a move of God, we want His promises fulfilled, we want to see the word spoken over us come to pass, and we want it now. But we grow weary in the waiting. 

    One definition of the word “wait” is to “wait in readiness for some purpose.”

    I don’t know about y’all, but this definition makes waiting sound beautiful. 

    Waiting isn’t just delay. Waiting is a time for us to get ready for our purpose.

    So if you’re in the waiting, I encourage you to begin anticipating your future. Wait eagerly. Wait with excitement for what’s to come instead of mourning about the delay.

    Take time to look ahead and prepare for the future. And most important of all, expect with confidence that God will fulfill the promise. It will come to pass.

    Stop dreading the wait, and instead, anticipate today.

    Maddisen Sauls is the smile and voice behind the Everyday Joy blog as well as the author of the Word of the Week posts and the editor of by leaps and bounds. Throughout her life, Maddisen has worked as a reporter for small town newspapers, a School Age and Preschool teacher, and has acquired her ministerial license. 

    An avid book reader and lover of the written word, Maddisen is passionate about using her favorite medium to reach the lost and the hurting, and to offer encouragement and hope to those struggling through life. 

    Following her battle with depression, Maddisen has made it her mission to help other people through this journey and to bring joy to the lives of the people around her. 

    You can find Maddisen on Instagram @maddisen.paige

  • Word of the Week Introduction

    Word of the Week Introduction

    Ever notice how powerful our words are?

    If someone compliments you about your work or your appearance, it makes you feel really good right? It might give your confidence a needed boost or make you feel happy or content.

    However, on the flip side, when someone criticizes us or makes a negative or hurtful comment about us, it has the power to tear us down. It makes our hearts ache, causes tears to spring to our eyes; it could make us upset, depressed, anxious, worried, and so much more.

    The power behind our words is a gift that, unfortunately, so many misuse. 

    In Genesis, God spoke and things came to be. He said, “Let there be light.” And there was. God didn’t create light in a lab, or put animals together using ingredients. He spoke and things came to be. Throughout the Bible we see that when God speaks things happen. And because we were made in His image, we also have power in our words.

    Now, we’re not going to make sunlight or create a new breed of animals from our words, but we have the ability to build someone up in encouragement, or tear them down in discouragement. We have the ability to speak life and love over someone, or speak death and negativity to them.

    Similarly, we have the same power over ourselves. We can speak life overselves, encourage ourselves, and remind ourselves of the truth; or we can beat ourselves up, discourage ourselves, and throw ourselves into a bottomless pit of despair.

    Proverbs 18:21 says, “The tongue can bring death or life; those who love to talk will reap the consequences.”

    When you speak to yourself or another individual, ask yourself if you’re speaking life. Ask yourself if what you’re saying is helpful. Ask yourself if you’re speaking in love and out of concern. Examine the way you speak.

    One way we here at by leaps and bounds have learned to speak life over ourselves is to have a word to help encourage us throughout the week. Something that will encourage us, remind us of God and our dedication to continuous growth, and to help us improve daily. And we want to share this method with you!

    At the start of each week, we will post a Word of the Week and the encouragement you can glean from it. We pray that this will encourage you and help you grow in positivity and life more and more each day!

    Maddisen Sauls is the smile and voice behind the Everyday Joy blog as well as the author of the Word of the Week posts and the editor of by leaps and bounds. Throughout her life, Maddisen has worked as a reporter for small town newspapers, a School Age and Preschool teacher, and has acquired her ministerial license. 

    An avid book reader and lover of the written word, Maddisen is passionate about using her favorite medium to reach the lost and the hurting, and to offer encouragement and hope to those struggling through life. 

    Following her battle with depression, Maddisen has made it her mission to help other people through this journey and to bring joy to the lives of the people around her. 

    You can find Maddisen on Instagram @maddisen.paige

  • Better Late Than Never

    Better Late Than Never

    Hey guys! So I’m going to tell you a story…There was a guy named Lazarus. He had two sisters, Mary and Martha. One day Lazarus got really sick and Mary and Martha sent word to Jesus to come QUICK! Jesus waited in Bethabara for two days before heading to Bethany where Lazarus was already dead. When Jesus got there, Lazarus had been dead for four days!

    In Jewish tradition the spirit left the body and the body decayed after three days. When Jesus got there, the Bible said he was so upset that he cried!

    Mary and Martha asked him why he was so late. Jesus then went to the tomb and called for Lazarus to come out. Lazarus walked out to meet Jesus! 

    In fact Jesus wasn’t late. God is always on time!

    I learned this when I was diagnosed…I wasn’t diagnosed until I was 14 years old! There were signs, and we saw them, but we just couldn’t put two and two together. 

    One year at the beach we were at our favorite restaurant and I started to get really scared. I started having bad thoughts of putting my hand on the hibachi griddle. I went into my first full blown panic attack! The only thing that would calm me down is my dad praying with me.

    Later when we got home, my big brother was building a HUGE fire and I love fires, but the enemy kept telling me to jump over the fire! I knew I couldn’t make the jump, prompting another panic attack! 

    At that point my mom made an appointment with my doctor and she sent us to a psychiatrist. After some testing we found out that I had Asperger’s syndrome, a type of Autism!

    We thought God was late, but through everybody we have met… God has richly blessed me and my parents. So remember: It’s not on our timeline, but on God’s! 

    Remember guys, God loves you and so do I!

    Hannah Benson — known for her big heart, her kindness, and her eagerness to serve — is the author of the Overcoming Autism blog.

    Hannah was diagnosed with Autism at the age of 14, and now uses this media platform as a way to reach out to those living with Autism and other handicaps. Hannah shares tips and coping skills for those with Autism and for family and friends of those who have been diagnosed; she also relates her life to stories in the Bible and chronicles the lessons she’s learned along her journey.

    Hannah Benson can be found on Instagram @hannah_benson94 or on Facebook on the Overcoming Autism Hannah’s Story.

  • The Quick and Simple Guide To Making Pepperoni Rolls

    The Quick and Simple Guide To Making Pepperoni Rolls

    I was told all my life that I would never have kids. Then, at the age of 37, I found myself pregnant. What a miracle! And that was before I was saved.

    I started cooking in a small hometown restaurant and that started my love of feeding people.

    I’ve cooked in hundreds of places and met thousands of people who have had an impact on my life. 

    Through these experiences, I’ve found that food is the most comforting way to show someone you love them.

    John 6:1-15 is a great example of this.

    Also, in John 6:51 Jesus says, “I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats this bread will live forever.”

    And speaking of bread, who doesn’t love bread stuffed with hot melted cheese and pepperoni?

    In this blog post, I’m going to share my recipe for Pepperoni rolls.

    To make these delicious lunch/dinner items, you’ll need these ingredients: large pack pepperoni, large pack mozzarella cheese, and frozen bread dough balls.

    Pretty simple, right?

    To make Pepperoni Rolls, follow these simple steps:

    Let dough rise until soft. Then roll out and stuff with pepperoni and cheese. (You can leave cheese out.) Bake at 350 until golden brown.

    I personally like this recipe because it’s fast and easy.

    I am glad to share a small part of my gift of cooking, in hopes that someone will read my blog and be inspired. God has blessed me with so many blessings in my life, and this is a small way to say “thank you.”

    So from my blog to your kitchen, God Bless, and happy dishes!

    Stay tuned for more homemade recipes and blessings, from my table to yours.

    In addition to providing delicious recipes on her Faith and Food blog, Tina Rucker is a proud mom to her 18 year old son, happy wife to her husband Joel of six years, and the spearhead of the Five Loaves Food Pantry ministry in her local church, open twice a month. 

    Tina has worked in the food industry for over 25 years, and has a heart and a passion to serve, feed, and provide for those in need.