Raising Inspiration | Tag Archive

Blessed Each Morning

July 24, 2012 — Leave a comment

“Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.” Psalm 119:105 (NIV)

Lately I have changed my routine from reading my Bible before bed to now waking up early and reading it after I work out. It was a challenge making myself actually do this because I do not like getting up earlier than I have to, but I am glad that I finally did. That first week was rough. I was tired from not being used to getting up early and satan was attacking me every which way. It felt like that week I just couldn’t seem to catch a break at all. I was continually reminding myself that he was attacking me because I was doing something right, I was starting my day off with God and satan was going to do everything he could to make me stop. Wonderfully, God has also given me some good friends at work that I was able to share this with and get encouragement. He alwasy knows just what we need and who we need in our paths, it’s just amazing how He does that!

Now that I have adjusted to my new routine I find my days better, my moods better and just feel closer with God through out my day. Morning Bible studies have always been a challenge for me but something that I have felt that I should do for a while now and I am so glad that I made that change! It never fails that when we are doing something right satan will attack. Don’t let that defeat you, don’t give in! God will bless you for diligently seeking Him!

Photo Credit: Brett Jordan

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Prayer: Listening for God’s Voice

March 29, 2012 — 3 Comments

“My sheep recognize my voice. I know them, and they follow me.” John 10:27 (MSG)

Don’t you just love when you are sitting in church listening to the preacher and then suddenly you feel like God says ”hey, this point is for you.” Every time that happens it always comes in loud and clear and that is exactly how last Sunday was within the first five minutes! Have you ever been praying for something and your waiting for some big gesture to happen to confirm that its God speaking to you? Well Sunday this particular point was brought to my attention… over sensationalizing God’s presence. While God can do big gestures to speak to us He doesn’t only work this way, sometimes it is something so simple yet just as real and meaningful but speaking to us just the same.

Since this has been brought to my attention I have tried very hard to be intentional about being aware of those smaller moments where God is speaking to me. He is with me everyday, I can feel His presence in my life and I just have to take a moment to see all the little things He says/does throughout the day and those moments are just as important and significant as the times when He does something “big!”

Photo Credit: Travis Isaac

In Faith, Patience, Prayer, Spiritual Coffee about, believe, bible, big, child, children, church, faith, for, gesture, god, God's, grand, guidance, hear, heard, impatient, inspiration, inspire, jesus, John 10:27. Christian, listen, listening, me, miracle, mom, moment, mother, patience, pray, prayer, raise, raising, seeking, small, speak, speaking, Sunday, to, travis isaac, verses, voice

Worship: Sing A Song

March 23, 2012 — Leave a comment

I am not much of a singer, I love to sing… especially when it’s only me around and I can sing as loud as I want with no shame in the notes I attempt but fail reaching. I joke around with my husband saying that there are only three people in the world who like to hear me sing: God, my son and my husband. Growing up I was one of those kids that thought they could sing. I was always in choir, I would sing in front of the church and I never once doubted my abilities, I was completely confident, until I got a little older and realized my issues with staying on key, especially singing by myself. I have been told that I have a “choir voice” because I can match my key to the voice next to me, but on my own it’s really just a lost cause. When I first realized this about myself I was a little bummed because I wanted to be able to sing beautifully, now I don’t care. If my notes aren’t perfect sorry, that’s just what you get sometimes from me. God made me this way and the awesome thing is He loves to hear me sing, pitchy and all! AND He isn’t the only one… my son lights up when I start to sing his favorite songs. I may not have the best voice but the love is there and that is what matters! So today for Worship Song Friday I am singing my heart out and not going to care if I am off tune, today I am taking inspiration from these verses that encourage our singing.

“Sing to God, sing in praise of his name, extol him who rides on the clouds; rejoice before him—his name is the Lord.” Psalm 68:4 (NIV)

“Sing to him, sing praise to him; tell of all his wonderful acts.” 1 Chronicles 16:9 (NIV)

“I will sing to the Lord all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.” Psalm 104:33 (NIV)

Photo Credit: Lauri Rantala

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Raising Children: Being Intentional

March 13, 2012 — Leave a comment

“Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it.” Proverbs 22:6 (NIV)

Last week a few of my friends and I went to a ladies night at church. It was such a great evening! One of the points that I loved and has stuck with me was intentional parenting. My husband and I have said many times that we want to raise strong Christian children and that’s what we try to do daily with our son. The thing about intentional parenting that really stood out to me was the daily aspect, the speaker talked about finding Jesus in the everyday moments and taking those opportunities to teach our children. We don’t have to wait until Sunday morning during their Bible lessons for our children to be taught about God’s word. No child is to young or to old to start. All it takes is a simple moment where we pray, read the Bible together or talk about the beautiful day God created to start the curiosity in our child to continue asking more questions about God. If we find a way to daily teach our children about God then it won’t be by chance that we raise a strong Christian child, it will be because we were intentional!

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“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28 (NIV)

Yesterday at church God really spoke to me. It’s amazing how there might be several different points in a sermon but God makes sure that the one you need to hear is clear to you. I wrote last week about being still, letting God work and for me to stop giving him my suggestions. Well that was more than made clear yesterday at church. Our pastor was talking about as Christians we have access to God’s power all we need to do is ask Him, believe and to stop saying/feeling like things are impossible. Wow did that feel like I was being talked directly to! We are trying so hard to get out of debt, get our finances exactly where we believe God wants them and every time something starts to unfold that we think is what we need to have this happen it all falls a part. I have actually found myself praying saying to God how I feel like it is impossible (and of course I give my suggestions that He doesn’t need).

Last night my husband Chase and I had such a great talk. I shared my heart with him and he did the same and we had both found ourselves struggling with the same feelings. I honestly don’t know why we allow ourselves to feel this way because as God’s children we know that our lives are in His hands and He sees what we can not. This morning my friend sent me a text with a passage she had read that made her think of me and it was exactly what I needed to hear. It talked about how the circumstances you are in are for a reason, we are on His chosen path and that we can’t give up, we just have to remain faithful and attentive to Him and listen for His direction. It was another wow moment all over again. I love those moments when God lies on a friend’s heart a message for you that you really need to hear! It is always at the perfect time.

So today I am making a point to believe, trust and know that the circumstances of today are a part of God’s path for me and that they will come together for a better reason than I could imagine because as long as I stay faithful He will guide my every step!

Photo Credit: Michael Mulvey

Archives For bible

Blessed Each Morning

Prayer: Listening for God’s Voice

Worship: Sing A Song

Raising Children: Being Intentional

Debt, Stress and Being Faithful

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