10 Faith-Full Habits that Changed my Life (Part 2)

October 19, 2015 by

Last week, I shared the first of five faith-full habits that the Lord has used in the last few years to transform my heart. (Did you miss it? Catch up and read all about it here.)

Today, I am continuing this conversation with the second five habits. All of the habits shared in this mini series have impacted me in great and powerful ways in various seasons of my life. So let get back to it, shall we?

6. I intentionally memorize Scripture. Over the years, I have dabbled in this a bit, like ones in a moment/season that I desperately needed for a crisis. (Philippians 4:6 anyone?) And I sort of attempted to start memorizing the book of 1 John. But it wasn’t with passion or intention. I was doing it for pride, not to become closer to and more equipped in the Lord. Now,  a fresh fire has been lit. I am memorizing scripture to KNOW what God’s word says how to live. I can see how it is gradually making me face my own sin (yuck) and teaching me how to live, react and respond in more of Christ-like manner. (YAY!) I am a learner, so this feeds into my passion. (I just wonder why it took me so long to realize this!) [Read more…]

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One Thousand Gifts Update #EverydayJesus

October 15, 2015 by

Welcome to another week of our Everyday Jesus link-up. Be sure to link-up below this post, comment on your neighbor’s blog and share with your friends… Because Jesus is everywhere, every day! 

***

Four years ago on my birthday, my good friend and mentor Kelli gave me a book.

Based on the title of this post, you probably guessed which book it was: One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp.

I have ALWAYS been a list maker, and at my lowest of low point in life a couple of years before receiving this book, I had started a “Things that make me happy list.”

It had a few dozen items on it, but that was that.

Then I met Jesus. And got my mitts on this book.

And my “Official” One Thousand Gift list was born. [Read more…]

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Discernment: Let’s Learn It #WilcoWednesday

October 14, 2015 by

Welcome to Wilco Wednesday! If you are a new around these parts, “Wilco” is Army-speak for “Will Comply.” Think of it as saying “Roger, God. Got it. Will do.”  So that is what Wednesday here at 7 Days Time is all about– exploring his decrees and seeking guidance for what complying with Him looks like in everyday life. The best part? He loves us for who we are, not what we do.  Remember: He doesn’t want perfection, just obedience. Share. Enjoy. Interact. And let’s respond to God’s call with  a hearty “Wilco, Lord!”  Welcome today my hilarious and super smart friend Lindsey as she shares some great real-life faith tips. 

***

I used to teach middle school language arts and social studies. One of the main goals I had for my students was that they become critical thinkers. Because our educational system is severely messed up, critical thinking has been shoved to the side in place of tests and academic scores. But, I digress. I waded backwards through the typical teaching structure because I believe that critical thinking is important to life.

I taught my students to understand logical fallacies. We would dissect news articles, ads, and blog posts. I made them ask me why, and in turn, I would ask them why as well. Even though it sounds like I was trying to teach my students to be obstinate, authority rebelling stinkers, I was not (plus, I knew that they would learn to do that on their own—with or without my lessons). I was attempting to teach my students the value of logical reasoning, something that would pack a more useful life punch than comparing the book and movie versions of Lord of the Flies. [Read more…]

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10 Faith-Full Habits that Changed my Life (Part 1)

October 12, 2015 by

God blows my mind on a daily basis.

Some days He shows up in the most unexpected places. Other times, He straight up blesses my face off. On some occasions, I powerfully feel him as He bestows peace that passes understanding in the realm of future junk I have zero control others.

And some times, He rocks my world by reminding me of where my heart used to be and how He has transformed it today. [Read more…]

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Giveaway: Girl Meets Change #EverydayJesus

October 8, 2015 by

Welcome to another week of our Everyday Jesus link-up. Be sure to link-up below this post, comment on your neighbor’s blog and share with your friends… Because Jesus is everywhere, every day!  And today– we are doing a giveaway! Keep reading… 

***

Sometimes, I see it coming. I am on my guard, ready. I can smell it in the air and I am face it with open arms.

Other times, it scares the ever-living everything out of me, like when my two-year-old wakes up at 0554, gets right up in my face and instructs me to “WAKE UP!”

It’s change. Something that all of us face at some point in our lives.

And Kristen Strong knows it. So she wrote a book to help us through it.  [Read more…]

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I Press On #WilcoWednesday

October 7, 2015 by

Welcome to Wilco Wednesday! If you are a new around these parts, “Wilco” is Army-speak for “Will Comply.” Think of it as saying “Roger, God. Got it. Will do.”  So that is what Wednesday here at 7 Days Time is all about– exploring his decrees and seeking guidance for what complying with Him looks like in everyday life. The best part? He loves us for who we are, not what we do.  Remember: He doesn’t want perfection, just obedience. Share. Enjoy. Interact. And let’s respond to God’s call with  a hearty “Wilco, Lord!”  Welcome today my wise and loving friend, Katharina as she shares her heart with us. 

***

Couple months ago, in my spinning class, my instructor had a gym bag with the monogram “I press on” written on it. I noticed the bag during a hard incline workout in which I was almost inclined to give up. When I saw these three words, “I Press On”, they motivated me to give my best in this moment.

In Philippians 3:14, the Apostle Paul encourages us: [Read more…]

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A Kaleidoscope Perspective (Wives of Faith)

October 5, 2015 by

I don’t know what it is about the my current life season, but I feel like it is one big ol’ glob of nostalgia.

Maybe it is the peace of the changing seasons. Or how my toddler grows and changes (and challenges!) me more every day. Or perhaps because I am getting ready to bid my 20’s farewell.

I don’t know what it is, but honestly, I kind of enjoy it.

Any time I have a spare brain moment, God is pulling my mind back to some former seasons of my life. I don’t think of them with loss or regret, but rather recall with fondness.

Just the other day, as I was praying about this post, I remembered one of my favorite childhood pastimes: Peering through the kaleidoscope.  [Read more…]

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When God Tells you to Jump in a Lake #EverydayJesus

October 1, 2015 by

Welcome to another week of our Everyday Jesus link-up. Be sure to link-up below this post, comment on your neighbor’s blog and share with your friends… Because Jesus is everywhere, every day! 

***

I knew when I started out, this wasn’t going to end the way I expected.

A few weeks ago, I went for a run. It was the perfect temperature– 52 degrees, 9am in the morning at the tail of our lovely Pacific Northwest summer.  It was SUPPOSED to be a long run, one of my longest to date.

However, about ten days prior I caught a cold. Which, as a former asthmatic, has a tendency to make a pit stop in my lungs.

My “normal” life taskings were doing ok and I was feeling mostly fine, but something about my need to use my lungs to run any distance at all, let along long distance, was going to pose an issue.

I was about one mile in when I knew for sure that my run was just not going to happen the way I planned. [Read more…]

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Where do you go for help? #WilcoWednesday

September 30, 2015 by

Welcome to Wilco Wednesday! If you are a new around these parts, “Wilco” is Army-speak for “Will Comply.” Think of it as saying “Roger, God. Got it. Will do.”  So that is what Wednesday here at 7 Days Time is all about– exploring his decrees and seeking guidance for what complying with Him looks like in everyday life. The best part? He loves us for who we are, not what we do.  Remember: He doesn’t want perfection, just obedience. Share. Enjoy. Interact. And let’s respond to God’s call with  a hearty “Wilco, Lord!”  Help me welcome a very wise and loving, prayerful friend of ours, Cheryl as she shares a message you don’t want to miss. 

***

“I lift up my eyes to the hills-where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let our foot slip” – Psalm 121:1-3

She had a look of terror in her eyes. She struggled to keep her head above water. Her arms frantically worked to lift her head above the water, yet she still went under. I yelled at my husband, “Ray, grab her!”

My six year old daughter had just come down the water slide. Her daddy was in the water to watch her and join in the water fun with her. But did he not see our daughter? Why didn’t he catch her as she came down the slide or as she struggled? What my daughter, Alexandra, didn’t know was that she could touch the bottom of the pool. It was only a few feet deep. My husband knew that she could touch the bottom, she just didn’t try. So I yelled to Ray, “She doesn’t GET IT!” [Read more…]

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Suck it Up, Buttercup… Or not

September 28, 2015 by

My husband is, well, a man.

And stereotypically speaking, he is a man with minimal amount of emotions.

Especially when it comes to the deep heart stuff.

Honestly, there are a few very good reasons for this:

  1. He is in the infantry—so really, low-scale emotions and level-headedness are hugely helpful in high-pressure situations.
  2. He has the spiritual gift of faith. Which means he doesn’t really struggle with anxiety or worry or fretting over things he can’t control (unlike his darling wife…)
  3. Testosterone. And lots of it.

[Read more…]

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