Faith, Prayers & Bible Study

~IT'S A GOOD DAY TO HAVE A GOOD DAY~

 

It's my morning quiet time and trust me, I know the importance of starting my day this way and being properly caffeinated! {You're welcome}
 

 Nothing in your daily life is so insignificant and so inconsequential that God will not help by answering your prayer. - Ole Hallesby

 

I personally have been thankful for answered prayers!  This month, almost daily, I've watched events unfold as the positive begins to set in motion.  It's in His timing and His grand master plans!  This past week has been FULL of just that!  Our close friends know what  test our family is currently going through.  I know with every ounce of my heart that our faith in God will guide my family through.  I don't dwell on the negative.  I choose joy when I see the smallest of triumphs.  Even through the setbacks, through hardship, through the tears, through the unknown there are continued new found strengths given to us as a family.  It's all in how you choose to see them and accept them. 

{{WE WILL RISE ABOVE THIS}}

Matthew 17:20 says “With faith the size of a mustard seed you can move mountains.”  This is what keeps me going. I will never doubt the power of prayer or the measures of faith!  I am thankful we have other family and good friends that continually keep encouraging and sending prayers up for us.  It's working and this Momma is grateful!  That brings a HUGE smile to my face :) :)

Have you ever heard of Good Morning Girls?  If not, you should certainly take time out and go see what they are about.  They are a group of Christian women who blog, e-mail, facebook, twitter and text to keep each other accountable for their quiet times.  They share so much uplifting, fulfilling and meaningful scripture and information.  They are even about to start a new bible study.  I signed up for daily emails and I LOVE IT!  Click HERE to be directed to their website.  I read today that starting Jan. 14th they will begin a new bible study.  Everything you need is free if you are a subscriber to their blog.  It has a down loadable ebook, reading plans and videos will be posted throughout the study.

 

Living Like Jesus ~ Luke 1-8.  {Leaving our comforts and walking in faith}  Go check it out.  Tell me your thoughts.  I want to participate.  Who is joining me???

I honestly hope today finds each of you doing well.  I pray that the weekend brings happiness, joy and GRACE!  Surround yourself with those who matter most!  Looking forward to my Coffee & Jesus Gals tomorrow.  If you want to join us, please do!  We'd LOVE to have you!  Bring a friend too.  All are welcome!

 

Year In A Jar

YEAR IN A JAR

 

I can't take credit for this idea but I will follow through with it!!  Thank you Pinterest!

It's simple.  Take a mason jar or any jar with a lid will work.  Decorate it as you wish.

Then add slips of paper with a specific memory/moment/good thing that happened for your family and add it to the jar.  Do this the entire year.  Hopefully your jar will be over flowing.  On New Year's Eve share those pieces of paper with your family.  Think about how much you will forget over time and how easily you can be brought back to those very moments that brought you joy! 

~ ~ COUNT ME IN ~ ~

 

 

I will happily write down everything positive that takes place for The Ash's in 2013. 

Where I will be different is the moment it is written it will be prayed about.  I will keep a thankful heart and give credit where credit is due.  Looking forward to emptying our jar of answered prayers, blessings, lessons, accomplishments and impacting moments to be documented. 

You know it's a good thing if the husband is on board too. 

Starting a new tradition will be fun for us.

 

 

 

1 Chronicles 16:34

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.

My One Little Word 2013

This is the 4th year I have participated in One Little Word.  I first heard about it on the Ali Edwards blog.  I loved the idea. It's a better way for me to work towards changes I want to see in my life.  For me, it's better than setting TONS of resolutions that can seem overwhelming or difficult to accomplish. 

Here is an example of words I have used in the past:
2010 ~ FORGIVENESS
2011 ~ BLESSED
2012 ~ STRENGTH

{{ drum roll please....}} and my One Little Word for 2013 is

Why GRACE?  I choose to swap my standard of perfection to a standard of GRACE!  Let's face it folks, I am not perfect.  I fail~ almost daily.  I am human.  I refuse to let the past continue on repeat in my head.  I am NOT my past faults!  I am NOT my past wrongs!  I am NOT my past pains!  I am NOT past let downs!  I am NOT the judgement passed from others!  No need to carry those burdens around yet another year. 

I AM SAVED BY GRACE!  YOU HEARD ME ~ I AM SAVED BY GRACE!!

 

I have been so drawn to this word.  Mid December when I first started thinking about what my word was going to be, I was led a million times to this word.  It was heavy on my heart for weeks.  It was at church in the message, all around me from forms of kindness, forgiveness and friendships, in my personal bible study, in my thoughts and surprisingly in a Christmas gift given to me from a good friend.  She had no idea about my word yet this was her gift to me. 

 

She ordered this hoodie from JCLU FOREVER

 

Are you kidding, seriously? It HAD to be my one little word for 2013. I didn't find it, IT FOUND ME!

 

Confused?  Try thinking about it like this...

 

When we invite Jesus into every aspect of our lives, he can exchange ALL our past pain for present comfort and turn our deep sorrow into divine delight.  He can take old wounds and turn them into fresh wisdom.  He can turn stale thoughts into new ideas or creative ways to solve our problems.  If we are just willing to ask, he can take ALL of these things we are ashamed of and cast them away, allowing us to experience true and deep joy.  He does not save the best for last, he saves the best for now through His GRACE. 

 

Richard Foster writes, "The less we are manipulated by the expectations of others, the more we are open to the expectations of God."

 

Yes, we are weak.  Yes, we often fail to meet our own expectations.  But what does God expect of us?  He expects us to believe in his Son who set us free from sin.  To believe that He is stronger than our doubts, pasts, fears, pride and ambition.  To believe that He does not condemn us for who we were before we met his Son.  To discover who we are in the light of his love, freedom & GRACE.  We need help from the throne of GRACE, {read about the Throne of Grace, Hebrews 4:1-16} the source of all comfort. 

Folks, Jesus knows!  He feels what you feel.  He sees deep into your soul.  You can approach the throne with confidence, sit at his feet and weep with him.  I do this often.  Sometimes no words even come out of my mouth when I pray.  I simply kneel and cry.  He's waiting for you.  What are you waiting for?  Find that GRACE to help you in your time of need!  He sees you in that hiding place, trust me!

 

I saw this simple prayer in my Women's Devotional Bible {{use this}}:

Gracious God, Thank You for the wisdom and GRACE to make tough decisions in your name.
 

 

 

Ephesians 2:8 (NIV)

⁸ For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—

 

2 Peter 3:18 (NIV)

¹⁸ But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.

 

 

I very much look forward to hearing what YOUR one little word will be.  Please feel free to share here.  I think it's neat to see what others come up with and why.  Feel stuck?  I am sure if you google "one little word" you will find several variations of the same concept.  All of them are useful.  To my Coffee & Jesus Gals~ this is what our topic will be at the next gathering, Jan 12th.  If you are not plugged in or want information about joining us please do not hesitate to contact me. 

crown_jewels@sbcglobal.net or find me on facebook.

Each year I have a piece of jewelry made to display my one little word.  It's nice to have as a constant reminder.  This year I am having this ring handmade but, with my one little word GRACE!  Can't wait until it arrives!  I am ordering it from The Vintage Pearl ~ maybe you can have your word set in jewelry too.  Go check out their site.  ENJOY :)