Be a cheerleader for others

As a parent we want the best for our kids. We want them to succeed, reach for their dreams and be the encouragement they need. I want to root on the side line for them and be the loudest voice. What about you?  

Personally, I can remember my mom driving me to all my childhood events as a teen. She did it after work and on weekends. She would drive me to buy the necessary gear and clothes and I realize now all these years later how tired she must of been some days but she was my cheerleader. Did you have a your cheerleader rooting for you planting hope in you? 

My husband often talks about his football coaches being the voice of encouragement to him in high school. His parents were divorced and not always present for the games or practices growing up. He says there were many times the coaches would be that voice in his life to keep moving forward and to do his best. 

Our stories of growing up whether coming from broken homes, blended families or glass houses in ministry can all shape us toward God’s plan for our lives. He knows the outcome and we must learn to surrender ourselves to trust Him. It’s not easy learning this discipline but oh when we do friend God truly gives us peace in our decisions and our personal stories become the testimonies of God’s goodness in our lives. His story brings hope to others. 

God continues to use voices in our lives even as adults to speak encouragement and wisdom to us. I was blessed by this message my sweet husband wrote and I will tell you that it had me weeping.  

“The story isn’t always what we want it to be. 

It’s usually difficult. 

It’s usually uncomfortable. 

It usually forces you to trust God. 

It always produces Godly character. 

It puts your focus on Him instead of you.”

Lots of biblical stories are your story. God makes great men out of all those stories and used them to change the world.”

What is God doing through you? 

What is your story going to be? 

How do you honor God through this? 

Finding My Purpose

 

Last year I lost my purpose for my business and began feeling driven by time and striving toward things that frankly didn’t even matter in the long term. 

As I have stepped back and took a look at how I got here, I can see that I was striving  so hard in business and God isn’t in the striving.  He is in the stillness with Him and in the slow intentional moments. There is hard work that goes into a handmade business but my intention is always to honor Jesus with it. 

Jesus gave me knitting as a outlet of rest in Him but also a creative way to share the gospel through knit bracelets and writing.  Writing was never on my radar but something that I have come to enjoy as part of this ministry. 

I am still creating and knitting bracelets and it’s been a blessing in this season of slow.  I still have a few designs and am taking custom design orders right now. 

Thank you if you are still here following my journey.

Giving Thanks is Everyday

 

CUSTOM STAMPED KNIT BRACELETS IN MY SHOP!

As I see Jesus’ life, He lead a life for others not for himself. He needed no one but the people needed Him.  He gave in secret and prayed in secret with His Father. 

Yesterday was what the world called “Giving Tuesday” and I thought about this and remembered this Greek word “Eucharisteo”  meaning “I give thanks”. 

I wondered how I could give back to others and meet the needs of my brothers and sisters. 

First I think this what giving is not. 

It’s not about getting the credit or a pat on the back. 

It’s not begrudgingly giving because it wasn’t your idea. 

Giving is closely tied to love and how we love people is how they will see Jesus. 

Jesus meets our needs and as His people we can meet others where they are too. 

Giving is loving people and meeting their needs. We honor God by honoring our family, church, friends and neighbors.  Nurturing a relationship with them, loving them and understanding their needs. 

What is the need? Immediate or just because? 

This may be the worlds day to “give back” but everyday in the Kingdom of God is a day to “give thanks and “give back!”

Bless you friends! 

Am I pursuing God or the world?

         

           Relentless Pursuit Custom Stamped Bracelet

 As I flip my phone screen on this morning all I see is the endless shopping deals shouting at me to look their way. 

I am like most of us scrolling my phone and probably without any plans of buying I have the overwhelming desire for all kinds of things I would love to buy that I had no intention of buying. It’s a problem. I lay my phone aside and reevaluate my thoughts and realize without scrolling my phone I wouldn’t desire those things.  I didn’t need any of those things. 

If this is how I feel after scrolling on my phone then how can I reignite the desire to flip my bible open and look to God more?  

It starts with knowing Jesus. Knowing He is the only one who will satisfy the longing for more. He is the only thing we do need. Our desire to seek anything starts with where we focus our gaze. There is a battle for our mind going on whether we see it or not. Phones only want more and more of our focus but they will never satisfy us. 

Are we looking into a device more than into the Word of God? I have been the shopper of deals and been left with a emptiness afterwards because it still didn’t fill the longing for something more. 

I have checked my phone and then looked up at the clock to see that I sat there scrolling for hours with absolutely nothing accomplished except the feelings of comparison and less than. 

My life changed when my focus was to pursue God more than shopping or the seemingly perfect life to watch on any screen.  I wanted my mind and heart to be filled with Truth instead of the world. His beauty abounds in us and His Truth is the only way the fight the enemy. 

He has relentless love for me and is always pursuing His beloved.  I want more of my desires to be filled with His will not mine.  Through prayer and time spent with God He will reignite our desire for more of Him and fill our hearts with the best of things. We will never have a perfect life or all the materialistic dreams we see on screens but Jesus fulfills all our longings for more if we relentlessly pursue Him! 

Here is what has helped me get into Gods Word more than anything else.  

1. Pray- for Gods help and He will show you what you need to do, stop doing, and then do it. 

2. Prepare- get your Bible and any supplies (pen, scripture plan or study) where you can read it at a set time. Bring it with you to work, in the car or lunch breaks. 

3. Show up- this is where you have to learn a new discipline and show up for God. He is always waiting so let’s honor Him and pursue His goodness. 

Let me know in the comments how you prepare your time with God.