Category: faith

faith, family adventures, Gathered thoughts, Goals

Coffee Break & Update

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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 yo 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

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“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

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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 🍁

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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

faith, Gathered thoughts

Gathered Thoughts

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Recently,I have been doing a study on Habakkuk from the #thedailygraceco Let me start by saying that even though I have read through the Bible several times and knew it was a book of the Bible , I really had no idea what it was about. 

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It’s a super short book but there is so much in there. Habakkuk is living in a time between kingdoms . The Babylonians are ruling the roost and Habakkuk is overwhelmed at what he sees and doesn’t understand why God is allowing all of these things. He starts with telling God all of this and asking why haven’t you done anything and where are you in this. And guess what? Does God stay silent? No.  He answers him .And in his response , you see no condemnation .. you see love and gentleness. Again Habakkuk responds with more complaints   His heart and soul are so overwhelmed and he is grieving not really knowing how to continue and to keep going. Guess what? God responds again, not in a fussy way of oh come on get it together attitude, but in a loving gentle way . The book ends with Habakkuk praising God . 

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There are seasons where the mud we are treading turns to concrete and you feel so stuck that you can’t move. Trust me, I have been there. In those moments,It’s so easy to complain, want to give up and lose hope. What if we looked at that concrete filtered through what God says and what his word says? Maybe the mud turned to concrete to keep us still ? To hold us in place as God works? To keep us from running ahead to fix it in our timing ?

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This verse is one I have claimed being ground in by the concrete around my feet . I will chose to take joy in the God of my Salvation even when I can not see any fruit of what he may be doing. I will trust. 

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I pray that if you are reading this and treading mud or being held still by concrete, that you will keep your eyes on God. He is working even when we cannot see or when we don’t understand. I am praying for you today ❤️

faith, Gathered thoughts, Goals
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One of my favorite things this fall season 🍂 

This beautiful journal. It’s been a great addition to my quiet time . It invites me to write scripture, share my thoughts and write out a prayer each time I open it up. 

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Journaling has always been a struggle to me , but there is something freeing when I do. It almost feels as though it empties all my thoughts and allows me to refresh. 

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Ofcourse, the best part is being able to go back and read how God was working and moving in that season . 

faith, Gathered thoughts

Welcome October

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Hello October 🍁

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It’s been a bit since I have posted . Life and everything inbetween has happened the last few months and I needed to  just focus on God and my Family.

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One of the things I have learned over the last few months, is it’s ok to not be ok. It’s ok to show I don’t have it together . There were moments of meeting with a friend , that my heart was so heavy I couldn’t help but have tears in my eyes. I’m thankful,so thankful, for those friends who stopped to pray and didn’t push for answers . Sometimes,just sitting with a friend in their mess is exactly what they need. 

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Another thing I learned was that I can only do so much. As much as I would love to be Wonder Woman and have eight arms to do everything ,I am not. Ofcourse , trying to reconcile that with my type A attitude was the hardest.To do what I can do to the fullest each day and let everything else fall away meant there where times the list didn’t get done. The dishes were left in the sink , we had cereal for dinner or the project got put on hold. It was uncomfortable but guess what it was OK. 

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It did help me appreciate each new morning . New day , new opportunities. Appreciate the power of prayer and friends that have walked with my family . 

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No matter where you find yourself on this October day .. I pray that you will be able to live today to the fullest, let go of what needs to be let go of and  connect with a friend. Life is so much better when we share it with others 🍁

faith, Gathered thoughts

National Day of Prayer

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One of the truths that keep popping up in the Bible as I read through it , is how powerful prayer is.
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I have recently been reading through David’s life and came across this example of prayer ⬇️

When David was running from his son Absolom and one of his top advisors had deflected to his sons side. He prayed for that the advice of that advisor would be foolish
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And it was told David, “Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom.” And David said, “O LORD, please turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness.”
2samuel 15:31
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And then God answers that prayer ..

And Absalom and all the men of Israel said, “The counsel of Hushai the Archite is better than the counsel of Ahithophel.” For the LORD had ordainedfn to defeat the good counsel of Ahithophel, so that the LORD might bring harm upon Absalom.
2 Samuel 17:14
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This is just scratching the surface of this story and I encourage you to go through it and read the text commentaries @blueletterbible .. there are so many “nuggets “ like that advisor being Bathsheba’s grandfather.. and so much more.
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I think prayer is the most important tool we as Christian’s have. We get to intercede on others behalf to our Heavenly Father , we get to invite God into our daily lives , and we can raise mountains just by kneeling and inviting our Heavenly King into our daily life.

faith, Gathered thoughts

Gathered Thoughts

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Happy Friday⭐️
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A few weekends ago , we took our puppy for her first grooming appointment . We had no idea how she would do since it would be several hours she would be there . Just for reference >The only time she had been in kennels with other animals was after her surgery as she waited for us to pick her up when we officially adopted her.
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I suddenly had one of those moments that don’t happen very often but where God allows me a glimpse of his amazing love for us . Wait what??? You see our puppy had no idea what to expect. She was already happy and content with her hair being longer , teeth not clean and nails long. What she did probably experience in some way was anxiety and maybe fear when she was dropped off . Are my owners coming back? I’m afraid.
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Then the grooming. They cut her hair, washed her , brushed her teeth and cut her nails. Oh so good!
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Ok so how does that reflect and show Gods amazing love for us? How often are we comfortable just staying where we are because it’s comfortable. Just like our puppy.
Then God opens a door to do something different and we often allow fear and anxiety to creep in instead of trusting that our Heavenly Father has a plan. Then as we walk in it and stretch in different ways it’s often so good and so much better for us . Oh how I want to be more willing to see the challenges or new opportunities that God is allowing in my life as opportunities to become better then I am.
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Thank you God for these sweet glimpses in everyday moments of your amazing love for me.
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“Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.”
‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭43:19‬ ‭ESV‬‬