faith, Goals, Review

Prayer Journal

One of my favorite gifts this year ❤️
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It has several things that I love . Prayer prompts for every day of each month, list of those I’m praying for , things I’ve learned this month , a place to record favorite passages, spiritual and personal goals ,answered prayers and what I’ve learned this month. It’s a great way to document my prayer life and see how God is moving over the year .
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One of my favorite things to do is to look back and see how God has answered prayer request that sometimes are months or years in the making.
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Do you use a prayer journal? I would love to hear what you use .. and If so, what’s your favorite thing about it?Drop a comment below ⬇️

faith, Gathered thoughts

Prayer

What amazing wisdom in these words spoken so many years ago. I am continually learning the power in prayer . So many things in our daily life that we have no control over like schedule changes, extra work handed to us, last minute school projects,attitudes of others,and the list goes on .
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What we can control is our reaction to those things.Prayer has been a comfort to me . Knowing that I am praying over how things will go , inviting God to go before me in situations,asking God to be with a loved one or friend who has not been kind, asking God to shut doors that are not His best and so many more .
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Praying has giving me a perspective to see the situation from different angles and to put on humility, compassion and empathy when I otherwise want to fix it or make it better in my own way and trust me that never seems to work out.. anyone else?
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When I pray I’m able to take what ever is coming or causing stress and lay it at the feet of God . That doesn’t mean it goes away but it does mean I lay it down and I don’t pick it back up. I trust God with whatever is next knowing I have given it to him and I am fully submitting to his will in the next steps.
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What are your thoughts on prayer? Share in comments below. I would love to hear!

Affiliate, faith, Gathered thoughts, Review

Adjust your Crown

Anyone else have those days where you need to be reminded that you are a daughter of the King?

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We are in the home stretch of the school year coming to a close, but there is still so much to do. This year a little harder then most with our oldest graduating. So much good and yet my heart aches to slow down the time and rewind to when he was younger and enjoy those moments more.

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Life is moving so fast and these moments with our littles are fleeting. Enjoy. Every. Moment . And in the tough moments, remember you get to do this .. school, sports , momlife .. whatever it may be .. and adjust your attitude and straighten your crown . You are a daughter of the most high King ! ❤️

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#ad I love this tumbler by @dwell.apparel . Not only is it beautifully made but throughout the day it draws me back to who I am ❤️ To order your own and save 15% off ..click the link below ⬇️

faith, Gathered thoughts

Good Friday

Thankful for the sacrifice made for me today . I am known as redeemed, forgiven and a new person all because my king choose to die for me and all humanity ❤️
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easter #goodfriday #jesus #faith #holyweek #redeemingbeautyfamilyadventures #faithblogger #faithjourney #faithinspired #redeemed #forgiven #resurectionsunday

faith, Gathered thoughts, history

Holy Wednesday

Holy Week Wednesday .. did you know it’s also known as Spy Wednesday? It is a solemn day in the Christian liturgical calendar, as it marks the beginning of the events leading to the crucifixion of Jesus, which is commemorated on Good Friday.

As I read the scriptures this am,I couldn’t help but think of the relationship between Jesus and Judas. Judas saw the miracles and had an encounter with Jesus like no other. We see the whole story as it played out in scripture but in those moments and the moments leading up what was Judas thinking? Was he wrestling within, did he almost run and confess it all to Jesus or was he always plotting ? And the while time Jesus knew.. he knew it all .. how it was going to happen,who would be the one to betray him and yet he still loved him❤️I can only imagine the heartbreak in knowing this and how Jesus felt as he washed Judas’ feet .

And Judas went to the chief priests and the officers of the temple guard and discussed with them how he might betray Jesus. They were delighted and agreed to give him money. He consented, and watched for an opportunity to hand Jesus over to them when no crowd was present” (Luke 22:2-6).

“He answered, “He who has dipped his hand in the dish with me will betray me. The Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that man if he had not been born.” Judas, who would betray him, answered, “Is it I, Rabbi?” He said to him, “You have said so.””

Matthew 26:23-25 ESV

Holy Wednesday is often marked with a service of Tenebrae (Latin for ‘darkness’ or ‘shadows’).With the reading of psalms while candles on a candelabrum are gradually extinguished, creating the sense of growing darkness.This symbolizes the abandonment of Jesus by his disciples.

faith, family adventures, Gathered thoughts, Goals

Coffee Break & Update

Coffee break! It has been a season of adventure for me personally as well as my family which means my social media had to take a back seat .. and honestly I’m ok with that! I want to live life full of adventure and experiences to live them and share them but not to do it for the sharing.

Ok so for some updates on what’s happening in our lives and what content you can expect to see.

First of all, we still love traveling and have several trips to still be posted once I get them fully edited with cost breakdowns. I love to see the actual cost of family trips and the value of what you get so that’s important to us to share. In our years of traveling we have not seen enough of those!

We still love Disney .. but God has shown us there are so many beautiful places to see and learn about so we have started broadening our itineraries 🌎

We are still homeschooling and I am teaching at a Coop so lots of content of what I have done or will be doing is in the drafts . Just to note, as we head into this new school year we will have a Senior.. be still my heart!

A new adventure brewing.. this last year I was inspired to climb a mountain.. not just any mountain .. Mt. Everest . Let me just say that this is an adventure in Gods hands that I am learning to trust and show up for. I am completely ok if God only takes me to the base camp or if he takes this from me but for now I am feeling lead to train for it and trust him. Side note, I am not a mountaineer and or have never had any training .. I grew up in Texas so enough said😜oh and this is a 10 year plan 🏔️

In January, a dear friend , accepted my request to train and work toward learning how to climb elevation. She has the skill and knowledge to hike any mountain 🏔️ and I’m so thankful for her knowledge and skill and that God blessed me with her. She encourages and challenges me.

In January , we made a plan and have been going strong ! Guess what! Other ladies have joined us ❤️So you can expect to start to see these adventures soon.

I’m excited to get back to sharing our adventures with you all ❤️

faith

Good Friday & Easter ~ Why Both Are Important

“Unless there is Good Friday in your life , there can be no Easter Sunday ” -Fulton J.Sheen

Yesterday was Good Friday . It’s a somber day remembering the sacrifice that was made for all of us. I often want to fast forward and focus on the celebration part of Jesus’ Resurrection instead of sitting in the uncomfortable space of what took him to the cross and what he endured for my sake and yours.

We decided to watch the Passion of Christ as a family last night and oh my was it hard to watch. The movie starts with Jesus and his disciples in the Garden of Gethsemane praying to God intensely asking him to take this cup from him but if not then his will be done. These moments of prayer are gut intrenched and brings you to your knees. These were the moments I would think any human part of Jesus knowing the sacrifice he would make asked for it to not be that way but still willing to do it if it was the Fathers will.

A few moments later , Jesus is betrayed and then arrested . As the disciples start to fight back , one of them cut off a guards ear . You see the guard in such agony and Jesus gently touches his ear and heals him in that moment. The other guards called to have him help them but all he could do was sit there in awe. I couldn’t help but to think about that scene . What was the guard feeling coming into the scene to arrest Jesus?How did he feel when his ear was cut off? What did he think when this man he came to arrest touched him and healed his ear? I wonder how that changed the guards life after that moment?

The progression to the cross begins and you see our Savior beat and spit on by his own people . We witnessed the scene where one of his disciples that walked with him ,denied him three times in a short time . We saw the dilemma of Pontius Pilot and the struggle he had with pleasing others and maintaining his position while also having the sound wisdom of his wife play against those.

Pilot commissions for Jesus to be disciplined to please the people but tells his guard to not bring death. The beating that came from the Roman Soldiers was difficult to watch .Those persecuting him wanting him to die and be crucified watched as the skin was tore from his back . We couldn’t help but turn away and stopped the movie at this point. It was so hard to watch .

One moment that really struck me through the movie was the way Jesus responded. He didn’t fight back,he didn’t ask his followers to fight ,he instead told them to put their weapons away, he didn’t curse or put them down and he didn’t try to run away or talk his way out of it . He willingly took it all.

I often think if I was living during that time , how would I have responded? Would I have been so caught up in the crowd cheering for his death? Would I have been a follower that loved him but when this time came deny him in front of others in fear of what they may do to me? Or would I have fought, trying to take on the whole world even though this was foretold ?

This weekend is way more then just celebrating .. it’s also about remembering all that his sacrifice was .

faith

Holy Week

What is Holy Week? Growing up , I never really heard the term Holy Week. We celebrated Easter and talked about the sacrifice that was made but that’s where it stopped . As I’ve gotten older , I have wanted to learn more about Holy Week ,lent and fasting. Some of these special moments and observations around my faith.I am still learning and by no means an expert but it’s been so good to actually learn what they are .

Holy Week is the week between Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday. It is a week to reflect on the great sacrifice that Jesus took for each of us on the cross.

One of my favorite verses in the Bible is ⬇️ …

“And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross.”
‭‭Colossians‬ ‭2‬:‭13‬-‭14‬ ‭ESV‬‬

…. notice that it says All of our trespasses and that He forgave us and canceled our record of debt!!! Praise God!

I pray this week as you remember the greatest gift that God gave us through His son Jesus that you will remember that all that he did, He did for you and for each of us. He willingly went to the cross . He did that so that we would be able to one day be with him in heaven.

This week ,I encourage you to spend time in prayer thanking God for this tremendous gift. If you don’t know God , this is a great time to talk to him and tell him hey I don’t know you and I don’t know if you are real I hear what others say but it’s hard to understand or to believe. If you are there can you make yourself known to me? Show me and help my unbelief . Then watch how He answers .He will❤️

And for those who feel like you could never be forgiven or your too far gone .. if God can redeem my life, and he did in a mighty way, then he can do the same for you! What better week to accept that forgiveness and walk in freedom.

faith, Gathered thoughts, homemaking

Gather 🍁

Having an inviting table doesn’t have to be super fancy . You can take a few things to make a beautiful setting that is practical and inviting.
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The memories , conversations , plans, school work and sharing of life that happens around a table is immeasurable. It is essentially the hub of a home. A place to gather , cry , work out life and laugh ❤️
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I do wonder if every grain in the wood of this table could contain all of it. Would the grain lines of the wood be darker when there were years scorched by fire or hardships ,would the grain have lines wider in years being well watered and flourishing in love or have thinner lines in years of drought ? Interesting to think about what it would hold.
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What ever season you are in , remember it’s just that a season. Take time to enjoy your family or a friend around your table. Invite them to linger and stay a little bit longer. Savor the grain lines that are forming 🍁

“she prepares her bread in summer and gathers her food in harvest.”
‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭6:8‬ ‭ESV‬‬