A Quick Way to Blend Creativity Into Your Walk With GOD

Two things that I have struggled with doing since becoming a mom is regular devotions and being creative.

 

I keep making excuse after excuse for not doing devotions. Mainly how I do not have an overabundance of mental energy with a new baby.

 

And as for not doing anything very creative, it can be pretty hard to find time for anything past keeping me, my husband, and the tiny human alive. ;)

 

Which is not a good thing. I NEED my time in the Word to stay focused on my LORD. And I NEED time to do something creative to keep my sanity in check.

 

Or at least somewhat in check... :D

 

I recently came up with a quick idea to help with both needs. Journaling one verse a day.

 

 

I am making it my goal to try and write down one verse of scripture in a journal daily. Or as often as my terrible mom brain allows me to remember...

 

Following my morning workout, I lay Flynn down for his morning nap, wait until he is actually asleep and done protesting very loudly,and grab my journal, pens, phone, and Bible. I then find a comfy corner, usually the couch or on the floor by the front door, and settle in for a wee bit.

 

 

I have the "Bible by Tecarta" app on my phone. And everyday it has a new verse to read. I open the app on my phone, get the verse reference and then find it in my paper Bible.

 



 

I read the verse, and often times the entire chapter of that passage. Then I choose what color pens I want to use that day, and write down the featured verse, and doodle a little bit on the page.

 

And then I am done. Simple, easy peasy way to get in a wee bit of creativity, and much needed time with my LORD. :)

 

What are some simple quick ways you find to spend with the LORD? How about a creative outlet? Do you a favorite go to for that?

 

Have a wonderfully blessed day everyone! Thanks for stopping by!

Angel



Read HIS Word Through...

How has your daily Bible reading been going? Mine, well let's just say it has been an up and down process. And I am going to be open and honest here on how it has been.

I go three days reading twice a day, then two reading maybe a verse. I have been completely inconsistent, and for that I'm ashamed...

I am still using the schedule I started out with at the beginning of the year. It's been a pretty intense schedule of changing book themes every day. This past week I decided to alter it and go through a book at a time. I just felt that schedule was not allowing me to really focus on what was being said for a long enough period of time.

So, here is where I am at currently...

I hope to finish up 2 Samuel today, by reading chapters 20-24. Tomorrow I would like to work on finishing Exodus by starting with chapter 25. After Exodus I will be going through Luke, then Galatians.

I have also made another decision concerning my Bible reading. I'm not going to push to finish in a year. Although that would be pretty awesome, I would rather take my time (not too much though), and focus on what the LORD is speaking through scriptures, and not be in a rush to get done reading it. We'll see though... :)

Have a wonderfully blessed day everyone! Thanks for stopping by!
Angel

Why Complain?

In my "Read HIS Word Through in 2012" schedule, I read through Exodus 13-16 yesterday. The last of the 10 plagues had befallen Egypt, and Pharaoh had finally let the Israelites go. They had come to the Red Sea, only to look behind and see Pharaoh had changed his mind. GOD told Moses to stretch his hands over the waters, and the sea will be parted. And just as Moses obeyed, the seas parted, and the Israelites crossed the sea in complete and total safety.

Rightly so, they beagn to sing songs of praises to GOD for HIS mercy in allowing them to cross the Red Sea...

1 Then sang Moses and the children of Israel this song unto the Lord, and spake, saying, I will sing unto the Lord, for he hath triumphed gloriously: the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea.

2 The Lord is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation: he is my God, and I will prepare him an habitation; my father's God, and I will exalt him. Exodus 15:1-2

Then not more than 3 verses later, when the children of Israel came to Marah, and found bitter water, well look here what they did...

21 And Miriam answered them, Sing ye to the Lord, for he hath triumphed gloriously; the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea.

22 So Moses brought Israel from the Red sea, and they went out into the wilderness of Shur; and they went three days in the wilderness, and found no water.

23 And when they came to Marah, they could not drink of the waters of Marah, for they were bitter: therefore the name of it was called Marah.

24 And the people murmured against Moses, saying, What shall we drink? Exodus 15:21-24

Hadn't these people just witnessed GOD's awesome power? They had seen the plagues befall Egypt, and GOD's protection during them. They just saw the entire Red Sea, part and make a path large enough for them all to cross in safety, and then watch it fall upon the Egyptians that were pursuing after them! And here they were complaining about some bitter water, not trusting in the LORD to bring them exactly what they needed.

You can look at this, and say "shame on them for not trusting in the LORD". But you know what, just about every single one of us have done the same exact thing, at least one time in our lives...

I was convicted of it yesterday. I was feeling sorry for myself about something. You know, the whole poor me, I am not going to be thankful attitude. Yes, the whole nine yards. But after reading that passage, I instantly became convicted about my attitude.

I was so very wrong in my thoughts. GOD has done so much for me! HE died on the cross for my sins, and saved me from the awful punishment of death and hell. HE has given me a family, friends, food, shelter, HE's met all my needs! Why should I have been complaining? There really wasn't a reason.

But it is human nature to complain when things aren't going just the way we want them to. But it's a nature we have to change.

22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;

23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;

24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. Ephesians 4:22-24

Slowly but surely, HE is working on us. Helping us to become the person HE would have us be. I truly don't know why HE puts up with me most days, but I am so thankful HE does. :D

Have a wonderfully blessed day everyone! Thanks for stopping by!
Angel

Reading A Book or Two, or Three...

Source: 2.bp.blogspot.com via Kirsty on Pinterest

Good day friends and family I pray that you are all having a wonderfully blessed day in your neck of the woods. It's cooled off here in my part of the world. It's been mostly overcast today, with temps in the low 80's. Not exactly as warm as I would love it to be. But still quite pleasant.

Well, this week looks to be a bit on the slow side as far as working off my parents homestead. I will be teaching my K-3 class Tuesday and Thursday morning. On Wednesday morning I will wash eggs on my neighbor's farm, and Friday morning I will help gather the last of the spring crop. So yes, I will be hanging out around my parents farm quite a bit.

I don't mind too much though. As long as I don't have to spend alot of time not working.... Hopefully I can help mama out a bit more with usual household chores. It will also give me a bit more time to do some reading.

Here is where I am at in that realm...



For my "Read HIS Word Through in 2012", I am behind two weeks. Here is what I hope to read through this week.

Exodus 9-12
1 Samuel 26-31
Psalm 48-50
Job 33-34
Mark 15-16
2 Corinthians 1-3

For my sort of encouraging, doctrinal reading, I am going through "Let Me Be A Woman" by Elisabeth Eliot. I highly recommend it to single, engaged, married, and any other young women around my age. Elisabeth Eliot is such a wonderful author, and strong example of a Christian woman. This book just shows that even more.



For educational reading, I am thoroughly enjoyed "Ina May's Guide to Childbirth" by the nations leading midwife, Ina May Gaskin. I am currently on the birth stories, and it is so amazing reading how each woman coped with the pain in a natural, drug free way. Check it out if your like me and want to learn some of the most natural methods of childbirth.



Hopefully tonight I can add some historical reading in the form of Tom Brokaw's "From the Greatest Generation".



So what are you reading right now?

Have a wonderfully blessed day my friends! Thanks for stopping by!
Angel

Read HIS Word Through, Week 10

Well, I may be a bit of a failure in one of my New Year's resolutions. I have not posted my Bible Reading schedule in two weeks. That's partly due to laziness, and I have fallen behind on three days and am having the hardest time catching up (admiting that to ya'll is pretty hard).

But, here is this week's schedule...

Sunday- Genesis 36-39
Monday- Ruth
Tuesday- Psalm 26-29
Wednesday- Job 19-20
Thursday Isaiah 51-55
Friday- Matthew- 26-28
Saturday- 1 Corinthians 3-4
Sunday- Genesis 40-43

I am still skipping over Thursday's reading of the prophecies, so as to give myself a day to catch up when needed.

Currently, I am behind on 2 readings of Judges. Prayerfully I can get through those soon. Elsewhere, I am caught up. :)

Thanks to ALL of you that are keeping me accountable! :D

Have a wonderfully blessed day! Thanks for stopping by!
Angel

Week 7 of "Read HIS Word Through Through"

Here is this week's Bible Reading schedule!

Tuesday-Psalm 18
Wednesday-Job 13-14
Thursday-Isaiah 34-39
Friday- Matthew 17-19
Saturday- Romans 13-14
Sunday- Genesis 28-31
Monday- Judges 11-16

Have a wonderfully blessed day everyone! Thanks for stopping by!
Angel

Week Six of Bible Reading

Wow! Is time flying by or what? It's already February and week six of "Read HIS Word Through". It's truly amazing.

Here is this week's schedule!


Tuesday- Psalm 15-17
Wednesday- Job 11-12
Thursday- Isaiah 29-33
Friday- Matthew 14-16
Saturday- Romans 11-12
Sunday- Genesis 24-27
Monday- Judges 6-10

I am currently behind on Saturday's reading. Hopefully I can catch up on that this evening.

Have a wonderfully blessed day! Thanks for stopping by!
Angel

Week Five of Read HIS Word Through

Here is this weeks Bible reading schedule!

Tuesday-Psalm 11-14
Wednesday- Job 9-10
Thursday- Isaiah 23-28
Friday- Matthew 11-13
Saturday- Romans 9-10
Sunday- Genesis 20-23
Monday- Judges 1-5

As I said last week, I have cut the prophecy section out of my schedule. I have switched Sundays reading to then, so I can have a day to catch up if needed. As well as time to reflect on what I have read through the week.

And guess what? I am all caught up. :D

Have a wonderfully blessed day everyone! Thanks for stopping by!
Angel

Weekly Bible Reading Schedule, Week 3

Okay. So last week I kind of failed a bit in keeping up with my Bible reading schedule. Not too bad. I'm just behind two days. But I have some extra time this evening, and I am planning on catching up then :D

Here is this weeks schedule...


Tuesday- Psalm 7-8
Wednesday- Job 5-6
Thursday- Isaiah 12-17
Friday- Matthew 5-7
Saturday- Romans 5-6
Sunday- Genesis 12-15
Monday- Joshua 15-19

I'm still looking for an accountability partner. :D Just someone to randomly ask how I'm doing with the schedule. Such as where I'm at, what's sticks out the most, what the LORD is showing through the week, making sure I'm actually reading it through, anything of that nature. Comments, e-mails, or asking me in person would be a fantastic encouragement for me to be sure I'm keeping this up.

The same goes for you as well. If you need an accountability partner for Bible reading, let me know! I'd be glad to be of help. :)

Have a wonderfully blessed day everyone! Thanks for stopping by!
Angel

Read HIS Word Through in 2012

Here's this week's schedule for reading the Bible through in 2012!

Monday-Joshua 5-9
Tuesday- Psalms 4-6
Wednesday- Job 3-4
Thursday Isaiah 7-11
Friday- Matthew 3-4
Saturday- Romans 3-4
Sunday- Genesis 8-11
Monday-Joshua 10-14

So far so good with this schedule. I've set up a certain time of day to read through the section. And each day with HIM has been wonderful! :D

Have a wonderfully blessed day! Thanks for stopping by!
Angel

Bible Reading Schedule

It's the beginning of 2012, and it's time to make some goals for the New Year. A few things I would like to accomplish are getting more organized, read more, expand on my sewing skills, the list goes on.

One goal I have set, to me the most important, is reading the Bible all the way through. I've never set that goal, and I think now is the best time to do so.

Our Pastor set out two different schedules to follow yesterday. One is your typical way of doing so, by going through each book, one at a time. The other, which I have chosen to do, is a bit on the different side. It is set up to where you read through a themed book each day. Let me share how it is set up...

Sunday you read through "The Law"
Monday "History"
Tuesday "Psalms"
Wednesday "Poetry"
Thursday "Prophecy"
Friday "Gospels"
Saturday "Epistles"

It looks to be a strenuous schedule, but one to add variety to my week. One way I would like to keep track of this is to post the schedule up on Monday. It will help me to keep track of what I am doing, and hey, you may want to follow along with me. :D

Here is this week's schedule:
Sunday- Genesis 1-3
Monday- Joshua 1-4
Tuesday- Psalm 1-3
Wednesday- Job 1-2
Thursday- Isaiah 1-6
Friday- Matthew 1-2
Saturday- Romans 1-2
Sunday- Genesis 4-7

If you decide to do this, let me know! I would love to be able to team up with someone, and have a sort of accountabiblity partner.:D

Have a wonderfully blessed day everyone! Thanks for stopping by! Happy New Year!
Angel