Spending Time in the Word

 A friend emailed a few weeks ago and shared that she was writing in hopes that one or some of the women she emailed could offer practical wisdom about spending time in the Word and having a "quiet time."

As much as I wanted to have a great nugget of wisdom or practical thoughts of how to have a quiet time, I really wasn't sure what to say. I know it's important to spend time in the Word. In fact, I want to. But so often, when my schedule starts to get crazy or my life gets a little more overwhelming, the things that are the most important tend to get pushed to the back burner so I can take care of the things that are the most urgent. But, really, what's more urgent than my need for my Savior? That day in particular, I was struggling too and didn't really know what advice to offer.

Thankfully, many of the other women in the email list had some wonderful suggestions. And as the emails flew back and forth, I was thankful for community. And grateful to barge in on my friend's community because they encouraged me too! [Grin!]

As I read the responses, I felt the Lord's nudging to share my struggle with several in my own circle, which has been encouraging in and of itself, and to share with others what I'm doing now. Hopefully, this can be an encouragement to you.

Start with the Bible. 
Seems simple, right? It was a great reminder to me when someone emailed my friend the same advice. God has already given us everything we need with these 66 books. Personally, I like the New International Version (1984) and the English Standard Version.

Ask a few simple questions.
A pastor at our church shared this with me when I served on our church staff a few years ago. This is one of the easiest, simplest ways I've been taught to read, evaluate, and apply a passage.

- What does this passage say about God?
- What does this passage say about man / the world?
- What does this passage say I need to avoid or stop doing?
- What does this passage say I need to continue or start doing?

Ask a few more questions (if you want to).
Sometimes, I like to look for the answer to a certain question or questions as I'm reading the Bible over several weeks. During a recent staff devotion, a co-worker commented on some of the verses that talk about things Paul prayed for and how different Paul's prayer list looks from ours (oftentimes). As I've been reading through some of Paul's letters recently, I'm noting how Paul prayed for others and for himself and trying to pray in similar ways.

Pray.
Before I start, I always ask the Lord to help me understand the passage that I'm reading and to help me remember truths from His Word throughout the day/week. Often my prayer time can be a running thread of conversation through the day—while getting ready, driving, at lunch, in bed at night, etc. Sometimes, it's more formal than others.

Use other resources.
There are tons of great resources out there for one-on-one devotions or group Bible studies, and I use them from time to time depending on the situation. But I'm really trying to go back to the basics and depend on the Word and use other resources to supplement, rather than the other way around (which can be the easy tendency!).

I'd love to know how you structure your time with the Lord each day. What are you reading? What other resources have you found helpful? Any encouragement for me or others who struggle from time to time?

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I'm probably one of the last people in the Christian world to "discover" Ann Voskamp. This month (in)courage sent me the One Thousand Gifts photo gift book and day brightener, and I am absolutely loving them! I've been challenged to develop a habit of thankfulness and just this week committed to stop at the end of each day and give thanks for the moments that I can see God's grace and mercy in my life. I am confident that the Lord is going to teach me quite a bit through this process!

And here's the good news for you: Dayspring is allowing me to give away a set for one of you!

This giveaway is open to US residents only and will end on October 31. All entrants must be 18 years old or older. Enter through the Rafflecopter below. Incomplete entries will be deleted. Once a winner is selected, I will contact them via email. If the winner does not respond within 72 hours, I will select another winner.







a Rafflecopter giveaway

Dayspring sent me the products mentioned in this post in exchange for sharing my thoughts. All thoughts and opinions are my own. 

On Being Content

Over the past few weeks, I've been making it a point to meet up with friends for lunch. I tend to get so stuck in my day-to-day routine that I simply grab a quick bite in the office or on the run from one errand to another or eat at my desk and work straight through lunch. But, I've been missing out on that wonderful feeling of community that only takes place when you get to "visit" with friends and talk about whatever's on your heart.

So in the past few weeks, I've been making an effort to call or email friends who work nearby and meet me out or swing by my office for a picnic lunch on the patio. And it's been so good.

Refreshing, even.

I realized that in conversations with three different friends, we had all expressed a deep need for contentment. We're all different ages with different struggles and a little bit different life stages—single, married, married with kids on the way. But a lot of our struggles simply boiled down to a lack of contentment.

My single friends want to be married. My married friends want to have babies. My mommy friends wish for more free time like they had when they were single or before they had kids. As various other struggles come up, we wonder what God's doing, if He's listening, if He knows how much we hurt.

And before we know it, we've settled into a place of discontentment. We're not miserable, mind you. We just want something else, something more, something different. Our life hasn't played out like we thought it would. Our expectations haven't been met. And we're convinced that the grass is truly greener on the other side—even though we've been told a thousand times that it's not.

So what do we do? How do we get out of this yucky, stuck place we find ourselves in?

I don't have it all figured out. But I do know that when the same conversation keeps coming up, God's probably trying to teach me something! This is what I'm learning ...

We need to be content.

We need to remember that God truly knows what's best for us.

We need to know and believe and live like God has a plan for our lives and has ultimate control over everything.

One of the best ways I've found to move toward contentment is to practice being thankful. Sometimes it's a daily thing. Sometimes it's a minute-by-minute thing.

"Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; 

for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." 

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, ESV

And as believers, we have so very much to be thankful for ... so much to hope in!

"And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins." 

Colossians 1:9-14, ESV

 Imagine my surprise when I received this month's (in)courage deal in the mail—an adorable tote that says, "Hope for the best. God's in the habit of giving it." Yes, yes He is. And I'm grateful for the reminder!

"Remember, your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask Him!"
Matthew 6:8 TLB

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DaySpring is having a Buy 2, Get 1 Free sale on all totes this month! This is good for sale and clearance items, so take advantage of this awesome deal! PLUS, (in)courage is allowing me to give away a "Hope for the Best Oil Cloth Tote" this month. I love mine and hope that one of you will enjoy it as much as I am! Enter through the Rafflecopter below. Giveaway ends June 30.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Confession: I'm a Saver

I’m a saver. I suppose if things got out of control, you might call me a hoarder. But for the most part, my “stuff” is under control. Give me another 50 years and we’ll see if that’s still true!

I save things that have special meaning behind them. Things that remind me of a friend, a season in my life, a lesson that I learned (the hard or the easy way!).

In middle school and high school, I saved notes. Shoe boxes full of them. Notes exchanged in the halls, passed during class, or slipped into lockers. They all got saved. When my parents moved several years ago, I read through them and laughed at how silly we were, how dramatic we were, and how creative we were in the folding of those notes. But, alas, I couldn’t keep all those shoe boxes (where would I put them?!), so I—gasp!—tossed them. Yes, all of them.

Through the years, I’ve tried to find ways to save some of those special mementos so that I can continue to enjoy them. What’s the use of knowing that I have boxes full of ticket stubs, pictures, programs, etc., if they’re just shoved under the bed, in the back of a closet, at my parents’ house, or in the attic?

The best—and hardest—idea I came up with was a t-shirt quilt. My sweet grandmother agreed to tackle this project for me. (And once it was done swore she would never do another one!) Let me just say, I had quite a t-shirt collection by the time high school graduation rolled around. We took all of my old, worn out, not-really-cool-anymore t-shirts and made an incredibly beautiful and time-consuming quilt from them. (The finished product is the perfect size for my queen-sized bed!)

Besides the fact that my grandmother made it for me, the best thing about this quilt is that each "square" evokes wonderful memories when I look at it! Poor Hubs has to hear about that awesome Wayne Watson concert I went to in middle school or the time I went to overnight camp in third grade and nearly drowned in the swimming pool or the mission trip to Colorado in ninth grade when our bus broke down on the side of the road in Texas for five hours just about every night when we go to bed. I took something old (can anyone still wear a t-shirt from the 3rd grade?) and make something that I can use every day.

And really, isn't that how it is with each of us? Tired, worn out, unworthy. But redeemed by God's grace into daughters (or sons) of the King of kings. Daughters and sons who He will use every day for His glory—if only we will let Him.

But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers loved by the Lord, because from the beginning God chose you to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth.

2 Thessalonians 2:13, NIV

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You’ve heard me mention (in)courage at least half a dozen times—or more! They’ve just released a brand new Redeemed collection of beautiful jewelry, home décor, stationery, and hand bags.

Life is a patchwork of the meaningful things we keep with us—memories, moments, and connections—that serve as daily reminders of where we’ve come from and who our loving Heavenly Father says we are in Jesus. The Redeemed collection celebrates the way God, in His generous grace, sews together every beautiful bit of our lives to form one masterpiece creation after another.

I had the privilege of receiving two of these amazing products for review and loved them both!

The Redeemed Necklace combines a detailed round charm with a dainty bird charm on a chunky antiqued gold chain and adds a special touch to any outfit. The verse referenced on the back of the charm (2 Thessalonians 2:13) will serve as a constant reminder of how the Lord is working in your life.

If possible, I love the Jewelry Tabletop Mirror even more. The simple design of the mirror serves as the perfect addition to any room. It sits on my dresser and is where I put the finishing touches of my makeup on jewelry on each morning. The inscription from Ecclesiastes on the mirror—“He has made everything beautiful in its time”—is a beautiful verse to meditate on each morning and remind me of God’s redemption in my life and in whatever comes across my path that day.

There are a ton of other great products in the Redeemed collection and through the end of the month, ten of them are on sale!

Plus, one of YOU will win the Redeemed Jewelry Tabletop Mirror. OR, it would make a wonderful gift . . . Mother’s Day is coming up, plus this is the season for tons of weddings and graduations! I absolutely love it and hope you will too.

Enter via the Rafflecopter below. (Note: The winner will be responsible for the shipping costs—around $8. Open to US residents only.)

Getting Rid of My Stash [And a GIVEAWAY]

Getting the mail is one of my favorite things to do. Seriously.

And most days (unless Hubs beats me to it) I come home from work and dash out the front door to the mailbox. Some days in my PJs / sweats (what a sight for my neighbors!), in the rain, in the freezing cold, in the sweltering heat. I love getting the mail.

But it’s not really the ACT of getting the mail that gets me so excited.

It’s the promise of what MIGHT be in the mail.

Sure, most days it’s just bills and junk mail. But on the days when it’s not . . . what a treat!

Maybe it’s another book to review. Or a postcard from my parents’ vacation. Maybe it’s money. Or my latest order from Amazon. Maybe it’s a baby announcement. Or an invitation to a wedding or a shower. Maybe it’s a card from my grandmother. Or a note from an old friend.

Whatever you pull out of the mailbox, though, has the ability to connect you to friends and family in a way that little else can.

I mean, as great as all the Facebooking, Tweeting, texting, blogging, Pinning, and whatever social media craze will pop up next are . . . There’s just SOMETHING about those treasures that show up in the mail.

As much as I love getting mail, though, I’m not very good at sending it. I have quite the stash of awesome cards and stationary just waiting to make someone’s day a little brighter. And there it sits.

So this year, I’m committing to get some of that stash into the mail.

Okay. So I’ve already missed three birthdays this year. Oops! Not a problem. I’ll just start today.

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Dayspring has some of the most beautiful cards! I received a pack of So True cards just last week and I’m so excited to send them out! The cards are layered together with pretty paper, sweet sentiments, and just a touch of sparkle. I can’t wait to get these in the mail! (And to be totally honest, at least one of these is going in a frame!)

This month, these beautiful cards (and others) are on sale. So take advantage. Plus, when you spend $25 or more and use coupon code ship25, you get free shipping!

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As a bonus, (in)courage is allowing me to host another great giveaway.

The prize? A $20 credit in the Dayspring store.

Here are the details:
- Leave a comment to enter. Make sure to leave your email address. No email, no entry.
- Giveaway is open through January 24.

Extra entries will be given for the following. Be sure to leave comments/links to let me know what you did!
- Being or becoming a follower (+2)
- Tweeting about the giveaway (+1 per tweet, max of 1 tweet per day)
- Posting about this giveaway on your blog or Facebook (+1)


I received a free product for review in exchange for posting and linking up with (in)courage deals review. All opinions expressed are my own.

We've Got a Winner!

Congratulations to Michelle!

[samc3dp@ ...]

You are the winner of this month's (in)courage giveaway!

(I've emailed the coupon code to you, so let me know if you didn't get the email.)

Have a great time shopping in the Dayspring store!

Thanks to everyone else who stopped by and to those who entered. I'm hosting another fun giveaway that starts tomorrow (Friday), so be sure to stop back by and check it out.

Let's Give Thanksgiving a Chance

A popular saying around our house is “Let’s give Thanksgiving a chance!” My husband hates the fact that Christmas decorations take over stores mid-October, so throughout November you can often hear him asking people to give Thanksgiving a chance.

I’ve been thinking about this lately. While it started out as a rant against Christmas decorations in early fall, it’s really much more than that.

We have much to be thankful for. We live in one of the wealthiest nations in the world. While 1 billion people live on less than $1 a day and another 1 billion people live on less than $2 a day, even the poorest people in our country are still quite wealthy in comparison to the rest of the world.

But not just the generic “we.”

A personal “we.” Us. My husband and me.

We are so blessed.

And not just financially.

We have wonderful families . . . parents, siblings, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins. Friends who do life with us. A tremendous faith family. A pastor who is anointed by God and teaches us so much. Jobs that allow us to feel like we make meaningful contributions to the world.

And a God who chose us. Redeemed us. Saved us.

In the weeks leading up to Thanksgiving, we have so much to be thankful for.

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Dayspring has a wonderful line of products designed to help us remember our blessings throughout this season of giving thanks . . . and the rest of the year. I especially love this reversible table runner that will grace our table throughout the fall. The words embroidered on the end [Let there be thankfulness to God.] will serve as a reminder to us to be grateful.

A number of these products are on sale [50% off!] throughout the month of November, so don’t miss out on your chance to find some great new God-centered items for your home at a discounted price! Don't miss out on the matching placemats, apron, and tea towels!

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Dayspring is also generously giving me the opportunity to host a giveaway for a $20 coupon to use on their website. Just post a comment on this post and tell me one thing that you’re thankful for this week. Make sure I have a way to contact you in case you win. The giveaway ends at 11:59 pm on Wednesday, November 16. I will choose a random winner from all commenters.

I received a free product from (in)courage and Dayspring in exchange for my fair and honest review.

Back to School

It's that time of year. The summer is coming to an end, school supplies are in abundance in the stores, and kids (and parents!) are gearing up for the first day of school.

We received these great little armbands at church last week to remind us to pray for a specific student in our church who will be starting back to school in the next week or so. I've been praying for Ryan all week.

As I've prayed for Ryan, I've been reminded of how tough school was at times. Whether you go to public school, homeschool, private school, Christian school, whatever, it's not easy to live a Christ-honoring life day-in and day-out. I'm praying for Ryan and all the other students in our church to represent Christ well and to grow in their relationships with the Lord this year.

DaySpring has a great collection of back to school items that will keep Christian principles at the forefront of their minds when in class or studying. The products are high quality and super stylish, so bless the students in your life with these fun items! Four designs are available and can be purchased online at DaySpring. I also saw them at my local Wal-Mart, which delighted me to no end!

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

Philippians 4:8, ESV

DaySpring is allowing me to give away a coupon code worth $20 (!!!) in the DaySpring store. What's better than that, right?!

Giveaway details ...

- Entries will be accepted through Friday, August 19 at 11:59 pm CST.
- The winner will be chosen at random.
- Once chosen, I will email the winner. The winner has 48 hours to respond. If I don't hear from you, I will choose a new winner.
- The prize is a coupon worth $20 off a $20 purchase. Shipping not included. Coupon expires September 30, 2011.

Mandatory entry ...
- Leave a comment on this post telling me what verse you will be praying for the students in your life this school year.
- Follow this blog. If you're already a follower, thanks!
- Make sure to leave your email address (disguised) so I know how to contact you.

Additional entries ...
- Like "i blog 4 books" on Facebook (1 entry).
- Promote this giveaway on your blog, Twitter, or Facebook. Leave a comment below so I'll know that you did it (1 entry).

I received a free product to review from (in)courage and DaySpring in exchange for my review. I was not required to write a positive review.