I promise I'll be back next week with an awesome new guest post! Sometimes life is just plain nuts.
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Monday, September 26, 2011
INtroductions!
We've made some lovely little additions to our Faith Blogs blogger list. Hop on over to these ladies' blogs and give 'em a read...they are oh so inspiring with their uniquely diverse gifts from the Lord.
Simply Me
Over at Simply Me, sweet Anna talks about her life adventures with littles (skittles up noses and the like), recipes, joy in the Lord and embracing life's ups and downs. Good stuff here - for realz.
lowercase letters
A blog full of the "in-betweens" is how Carissa explains her blog, lowercase letters. There's so much packed into her in-betweens - it's full of light, family, home and love. But don't listen to me... go see what you think. I promise, you'll be glad you did.
a bit of sunshine
From Make something Mondays to Ten on Ten and Dinner at Eight, Rebekah fills a bit of sunshine with loads of inspiring tutorials and decor as well as snippets of her life with littles. Skies don't stay grey for long around these parts. Go soak up some rays!
If you'd like to recommend a blog to be added to our ever growing list of amazing Christ following bloggers, please contact us! Thanks so much for your support of all things Faith Blogs.
Simply Me
lowercase letters
a bit of sunshine
If you'd like to recommend a blog to be added to our ever growing list of amazing Christ following bloggers, please contact us! Thanks so much for your support of all things Faith Blogs.
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Working for the Lord
I love this verse. I try hard to live this verse. While loading dish after dish. Folding shirt after shirt. Cleaning table after table. It may go unnoticed to many, even those in my home, but He sees.
Many times I fail to live this verse and then I cling to the truth that His promises are new everyday and He showers me with grace. We are blessed and He alone is good.
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Friday, September 9, 2011
Guest Post: Who's It Really For?
I can not begin to tell you how encouraged I was when I first read today's guest post from Rachel of No. 17. Sometimes a post just hits ya. You know? Like, smack dab between the eyes! The more I read from Rachel, the more I heard myself saying, "Uh-huh." "Amen!" I love the way she writes. It's so honest and real that I truly feel like Rachel is now a friend. Silly I know, especially since I've never even met her via email much less in person. But go read her blog and you'll see what I mean. Before you go, read this post for a little sample and lots of encouragement.
who's it really for?
A girlfriend came over this morning and after all the fun, fluffy conversation was taken care of, we got down to the nitty gritty. Not that it went crazy intense, or that we planned to get "intentional", but we started talking about life, motherhood and real "stuff".
{actually the conversation started by talking about a financial book we both are reading}
The conversation moved from topic to topic, but the underlying theme stuck with me and now that she is gone, there is one statement she made that has remained in my head.
"Who is it all for, really?"
Backstory:
During our conversation, we got on the topic of how we "live". You know...
The cars we drive, the houses we buy, what we wear, where our kids go to school, what we surround ourselves with and so on.
We both shared that, at times, we felt we didn't "measure up". Whether it be in a certain social circle, group setting or life stage. We just couldn't keep up with the "Joneses" {has anyone met them, by the way?}. Try as we might, we lived more modestly than someone else.
On the flip side, we discussed how there is an endless pursuit to do, be and buy. It seemed, to both of us, that we really need to be asking ourself WHY we do what we do. WHO are we doing it for?
That question seems so simple but it involves every aspect of our life-big and small.
At one point, when she made the statement, "we just need to ask ourselves WHO are we doing "it" for?", it really hit me.
I need to be asking myself that ALL THE TIME.
Who am I staying home for?
Who am I getting dressed for?
Who am I trying to impress with my "stuff"?
Who am I writing for?
Who am I considering when choosing my kids school?
Who am I thinking of when pursuing a new group of friends?
Who am I thinking of when getting excited about a new "business venture"?
Who am I giving the glory to when someone is complimenting something I did?
Who am I trying to please?
All these questions AND WAY MORE need just one answer:
God.
Always Jesus Christ.
An audience of ONE.
Honestly, I can say that there are days when that is the last thing I think of.
I:
stay at home because I think it is best for my child.
get dressed so I look good.
clean my house so that I look like I have it all together
blog so that I meet a quota
accomplish DIY projects so that I am satisfied
attend functions so people won't get irritated in my absence
cherry-pick what emotions I share with others so I don't seem vulnerable
contemplate choices for the future based on others opinions
and
return emails so people won't complain that I'm not in contact with them at every waking moment.
Doing these things isn't bad-it's the simple fact that I have done them for the wrong reasons.
The worst part is that we get caught in a cycle of not understanding why we do things and we totally lose focus. I want so badly to live for the Lord, but when you have done things so long for others, it's hard to see yourself anymore. It's difficult to define who YOU are and not who you wish others would see you as.
It's exhausting and while I feel I am coming out the other end {after living a life primarily for other people for a long time}....
I still get trapped now and again.
And I'm reminded.
Nothing matters apart from the Lord.
Not my children.
Not my marriage.
Not my home, car, clothes or hair.
Not my image, status or popularity.
Not my talents.
Not my achievements or "blessings".
Nothing.
And If I'm choosing to live a life without the Lord entered into EVERY part of it....it's destined to fail.
I want it to be said that I always infused the Lord into my choices. Even the small ones.
It's the way it needs to be.
At least, it's the way I know it SHOULD be, down deep in my heart.
"Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel, and not frightened in anything by your opponents. This is a clear sign to them of their destruction, but of your salvation, and that from God."
Philippians 1:27
-Rachel
Bam! Right there. Kind of stings doesn't it? But I must confess, that sting is just what I needed - today and throughout the weekend. Thank you Lord for using Rachel to drive me back to ONE thing...You! Happy weekend faithful followers of One!
who's it really for?
A girlfriend came over this morning and after all the fun, fluffy conversation was taken care of, we got down to the nitty gritty. Not that it went crazy intense, or that we planned to get "intentional", but we started talking about life, motherhood and real "stuff".
{actually the conversation started by talking about a financial book we both are reading}
The conversation moved from topic to topic, but the underlying theme stuck with me and now that she is gone, there is one statement she made that has remained in my head.
"Who is it all for, really?"
Backstory:
During our conversation, we got on the topic of how we "live". You know...
The cars we drive, the houses we buy, what we wear, where our kids go to school, what we surround ourselves with and so on.
We both shared that, at times, we felt we didn't "measure up". Whether it be in a certain social circle, group setting or life stage. We just couldn't keep up with the "Joneses" {has anyone met them, by the way?}. Try as we might, we lived more modestly than someone else.
On the flip side, we discussed how there is an endless pursuit to do, be and buy. It seemed, to both of us, that we really need to be asking ourself WHY we do what we do. WHO are we doing it for?
That question seems so simple but it involves every aspect of our life-big and small.
At one point, when she made the statement, "we just need to ask ourselves WHO are we doing "it" for?", it really hit me.
I need to be asking myself that ALL THE TIME.
Who am I staying home for?
Who am I getting dressed for?
Who am I trying to impress with my "stuff"?
Who am I writing for?
Who am I considering when choosing my kids school?
Who am I thinking of when pursuing a new group of friends?
Who am I thinking of when getting excited about a new "business venture"?
Who am I giving the glory to when someone is complimenting something I did?
Who am I trying to please?
All these questions AND WAY MORE need just one answer:
God.
Always Jesus Christ.
An audience of ONE.
Honestly, I can say that there are days when that is the last thing I think of.
I:
stay at home because I think it is best for my child.
get dressed so I look good.
clean my house so that I look like I have it all together
blog so that I meet a quota
accomplish DIY projects so that I am satisfied
attend functions so people won't get irritated in my absence
cherry-pick what emotions I share with others so I don't seem vulnerable
contemplate choices for the future based on others opinions
and
return emails so people won't complain that I'm not in contact with them at every waking moment.
Doing these things isn't bad-it's the simple fact that I have done them for the wrong reasons.
The worst part is that we get caught in a cycle of not understanding why we do things and we totally lose focus. I want so badly to live for the Lord, but when you have done things so long for others, it's hard to see yourself anymore. It's difficult to define who YOU are and not who you wish others would see you as.
It's exhausting and while I feel I am coming out the other end {after living a life primarily for other people for a long time}....
I still get trapped now and again.
And I'm reminded.
Nothing matters apart from the Lord.
Not my children.
Not my marriage.
Not my home, car, clothes or hair.
Not my image, status or popularity.
Not my talents.
Not my achievements or "blessings".
Nothing.
And If I'm choosing to live a life without the Lord entered into EVERY part of it....it's destined to fail.
I want it to be said that I always infused the Lord into my choices. Even the small ones.
It's the way it needs to be.
At least, it's the way I know it SHOULD be, down deep in my heart.
"Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel, and not frightened in anything by your opponents. This is a clear sign to them of their destruction, but of your salvation, and that from God."
Philippians 1:27
-Rachel
Bam! Right there. Kind of stings doesn't it? But I must confess, that sting is just what I needed - today and throughout the weekend. Thank you Lord for using Rachel to drive me back to ONE thing...You! Happy weekend faithful followers of One!
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
This Moment
In the midst of the hard moments, do you try to press into God and what He's teaching your or how He's growing you? Or, do you simply pray to get through it... for it to be over? God doesn't grow us in the midst of happy times. Think about it. When you're at your happiest are you at your most desperate for Him? Are you clinging to Him at every possible moment?
When iron sharpens iron, there are sparks.
When gold and silver are purified, there is intense heat.
Press in, dig deep and hold on. For He will never leave you nor forsake you.
Friday, September 2, 2011
Inside My Head...
Comments - I LOVE them. I think they can help readers connect and create a sense of community (sometimes) and they give me/us a sense of the types of things you glean wisdom from or simply enjoy reading. And you must also know, it's an area of struggle for me. On my own blog I turned comments off because I was putting them in the place of the Lord. (Bad.) Having said that, you all should know that I don't comment on or reply to comments. It's not that I don't value you or what you have to say, I just have to keep it in check between me and the Lord and that is how He has currently called me to respond.
Content - If there is something you would love to read about here on Faith Blogs, send us an email. We'd love to hear from you. This blog is for you guys!
Guest Posts - If you have read a post recently or written one that you think would encourage or inspire others, drop us a line! (Just put "guest post" in the subject line and include a link to the post.) Hopefully we can all grow from what God is sharing through His disciples. I am never short of astonished at the way He moves. Truly.
Well, that's all for now. Just wanted to give you some insight into why or how things happen on this little bloggy here. Also, you should know...all of us at Faith Blogs are extremely grateful for each and every one of you. And I am beyond blessed to have the privilege of "writing" for and encouraging you guys. It is no mistake that Katie chose me for this role - Christ is using it to draw me closer and closer to Him.
Happy Weekend. Go and have a great weekend of worship!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)