Less than a week left until [RE]volution YOU is released as an e-book! I’m so excited to share this with you all so soon!
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Passion Without Action Is Dead.
Hello Friends! How is your week going so far? So far, so good over here. It finally cooled down over the weekend [Saturday was actually in the 50’s!!] so the Michigander inside of me was rejoicing just a little bit. This week hasn’t been too hot either, which has been so nice – I really do miss Michigan fall quite a lot. Can’t wait for leaves to [finally] start changing colors around here!
Michigan Fall Is The Best!
In other news, I got my computer back last Friday! Yay! It was so strange not having it, but it looks even better now than it did before the LCD went out, so the repair shop did a mighty fine job. Very happy to have it back though so I can start writing more regularly again.
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Choose to find a Way–Not an Excuse.
Good Morning! Hope you all are having a great Saturday so far! James and I are going to go check out Main Street Days in Grapevine, TX today, which I have heard is pretty neat. I guess its kind of like a big festival…I’m not really sure. I’ll definitely take lots of pictures and let you know how it goes! Hopefully I survive the 90+ degree temperatures:)
Today I wanted to talk a little about self-discipline. It used to be something I was really good at, but lately I’ve been struggling with it. It’s like—I should have enough time in the day to do everything I need to do, but for some reason I just can never get it all done. Why? Because I waste so much time doing things I don’t really need to do. Know what I mean? It is frustrating. And I feel like if I don’t hunker down and focus on being self-disciplined in the way I manage my time, I will never be able to accomplish the things I know I’m supposed to do. It’s like that quote: “If it’s important enough to you, then you’ll find a way, if not, you’ll find an excuse.” Something like that. But seriously, that’s what it’s coming down to. I need to choose to find a way instead of an excuse.
What about you? Is there something in your life that needs to be given a way instead of an excuse? If so, you’re not alone. The only way to change your situation is to want to. You have to choose it—no one can do that for you, and no one can do that for me. We are the only ones who can decide if something is important enough to find a way to accomplish it instead of an excuse.
Today, I’m choosing to find a way. No more excuses.
With that, I’m off to be productive. Hope you all have a great weekend, and God Bless:)
Being Like Jonah.
So…my apologies for being MIA for the past couple weeks. I would tell you it’s been a crazy time with trying to figure out my new work schedule, along with a trip back to Michigan for a dear friends wedding, but those would just be excuses. And I’m really trying to adapt a new “no excuses” mindset, so I will just simply say sorry.
Anyways, the new job is going well, and the Michigan trip was AWESOME [can you tell I miss home, jut a little bit]. Even though I wasn’t in Grand Rapids [my homeland] for very long, it was still great to see family. I got to spend all of Wednesday last week with my mom going to our favorite places—Marie Catrib’s, downtown Holland, Hope College, Lemonjello’s, Lake Michigan, the cottage—needless to say, it was total awesomeness. And we even got a decent beach walk in despite the freezing, gale-force winds.
Trials and Temptations.
Good Morning! Hope you all are having a great Thursday so far. How do you like the new blog layout? I’ve been working on it the past few days, and have been learning a lot as I go. I know it is definitely not perfect, but it’s getting there! Thanks so much for hanging in there while I make these changes. I’m hoping to start adding in some new categories and angles to the blog, so stayed tuned for that!
This morning I was reading in 1 Corinthians, and came across one of my favorites passages of scripture…
“And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way for you to stand up under it.” 1 Corinthians 10:13b
God doesn’t promise us an easy, perfect, temptation-free life. We live in a broken, fallen world, and there is nothing we can do about that fact—we are always going to have trials and temptations of some kind. But, he does promise that we will not be tempted beyond what we can bear. And when we are tempted, he will always provide a way for us to overcome that temptation. Just because we are tempted, doesn’t mean we have to give into said temptation. We may think that there is no other way out, but God promises us that he will provide a way for us to overcome what ever trial or temptation we may be facing.
Don’t give up. Even when life seems so hard, and you don’t think it is possible for you to go on, remember God’s promises to you. He won’t let you be tempted or tested more than you can bear, and he will always provide a way for you to overcome. Be encouraged!
Well, I hope you all have a great rest of your day. I’m off to check some things off my to-do list before the weekend rolls around…yay! God Bless:)
Mustard Seed Faith.
Good morning and happy Wednesday! Hope you all are having a great day so far. I have the day off today, which is always a good thing:) Although I’m getting to the point where I can’t really sleep in much past 7:30 or 8:00 anymore…I must be getting old. Ha. Anyways, I wanted to share a verse I read from Matthew this morning. It’s an oldie, but definitely a goodie…
“I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘move from here to there’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”
Matthew 17:20
This is pretty amazing…and even more amazing when you think about how small a mustard seed really is—especially in comparison to a mountain. Those seeds are really tiny! It really goes to show just how powerful our faith can be. If we have even a tiny amount of faith, we are able to move mountain-sized things in our lives. What once seemed completely impossible is made entirely possible through faith.
If there is something going on in your life that seems impossible, or maybe a situation that seems rather hopeless, don’t give up. Have faith. Nothing will be impossible for you when you choose to put your faith in Christ. Don’t be afraid to step out and take that next step—you never know what you will be able to accomplish through faith and the power of Christ.
Well, I’m off to get a few things done around the house—hope you all have a great rest of your day! God Bless:)
The Weight of our Words.
Hello! How’s your Wednesday going so far? Mines been a little crazy with work, but overall pretty good! It was an early morning, but now I have the rest of the afternoon to get some stuff done around the house [and hang out with Samson] which is always a good thing:)
I wanted to share something I read from Psalms the other day. I’m sure you’ve probably heard it before, but sometimes you can gain new insight from rereading scriptures you’ve read countless times—it happens to me all the time!
“May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.”
Psalms 19:14
If you’re anything like me, sometimes you forget to think before you speak. Or maybe think something about a certain person or situation—maybe you don’t voice your opinion, but those thoughts are still there inside your head. It’s not like I do this constantly, but, you know, sometimes you just have a moment of frustration. Know what I mean?
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Discerning the Will of God.
Hello! Hope you all are having a great Monday so far! Mines been kinda hectic, but overall not too shabby. James and I both had most of the weekend off, which was super nice and very relaxing. We had a chance to walk by Grapevine Lake near one of the marinas—something we’ve wanted to do for a while, and even made a trip to Trader Joes [the best store…ever]. Overall it was a great weekend, and I’ll try and post some pictures later in the week from our adventures:)
Anyways. This morning I was reading in Romans, and I came across a familiar verse from Romans 12…
“Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”
Romans 12:2
I’ve read this verse many times—even memorized it back in the day. But, for some reason it really stuck out to me this morning. As I was asking God what he wanted to speak to me about concerning this verse, I began to see the words in a new light—different from the past times I have read them.
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Hold on to His Promises.
Good Morning and Happy Tuesday! Hope you all are having a great day so far. Woke up to a text from my mom this morning saying that it’s snowing in Grand Rapids (MI)…needless to say I was a little jealous. Although it is sunny here and going to be in the sixties, I still miss my cold snowy winters. I heart snow. Oh well, I guess I’ll just have to make do with the sun for awhile:)
This morning I was reading again in Genesis, and came across a well-known story that really spoke volumes to me today. The past couple of weeks have been a bit rocky for me. It was great having my family here, yet it was so sad to see them leave. I feel kind of stuck where I’m at in life, and it has caused me to be discouraged. I feel as though God has promised me so many things, yet nothing really seems to be happening. Sad, discouraged, frustrated. Ever felt that way before?
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Stuck in the Past.
Hello and Happy Friday! Hope you all are having a great day so far. It’s kinda gloomy here—definitely a good day to cuddle up with a good book and a warm kitty:) This week has been crazy busy for some reason, so I am definitely looking forward to the weekend. Although I wish my family was coming to visit again, like they did last weekend. Ah well, I’m sure we will all see each other again soon. How about you? Any fun plans for the weekend?
Thought I would share something I read from Genesis yesterday about Lot and his family, and the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. When Sodom was being destroyed, God rescued Lot’s family. As they were hastily leaving the city, God’s messengers told Lot’s family not to look back on the city or they would surely die. Seems like a simple command, but unfortunately, Lot’s wife decided to look back…
“But Lot’s wife looked back, and she became a pillar of salt.”
Genesis 19:26
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