Category: faith

faith, Gathered thoughts

Gathered Thoughts

redeemingbeautyfamilyadventures

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. 

.

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 . 

.

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 ?

.

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. 

.

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
redeemingbeautyfamilyadventures


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. 

.

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. 

.

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

redeemingbeautyfamilyadventures


Hello October 🍁

.

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.

.

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. 

.

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. 

.

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 . 

.

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

redeemingbeautyfamilyadventures

One of the truths that keep popping up in the Bible as I read through it , is how powerful prayer is.
.
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
.
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
.
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
.
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.
.
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

redeemingbeautyfamilyadventures

Happy Friday⭐️
.
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.
.
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.
.
Then the grooming. They cut her hair, washed her , brushed her teeth and cut her nails. Oh so good!
.
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.
.
Thank you God for these sweet glimpses in everyday moments of your amazing love for me.
.
“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

faith, Gathered thoughts

You are Loved ♥️

redeemingbeautyfamilyadventures

In case you need a reminder today …You are so very loved❤️
.
““What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off? And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off. In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should perish.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭18:12-14‬ ‭NIV‬‬