Good evening everyone- tonights post as you can see is going to be about courage and being courageous and after yesterday’s and today’s reading I think I have settled on a series title. (Let’s be honest it can’t be Hello Fears forever, because that is already taken ;). ). Today’s reading check-in is based on pages 26-56. It finishes chapter 1 and chapter 2 in it’s entirety.
Let’s Jump in
So one of the neatest things I learned this chapter was the difference between being fearless and being brave or having courage,
FEARLESS- lacking fear
Brave- showing courage
Michelle talks about how it is important for us not to be fearless but to face our fears with courage. Our hearts may race, our palms may sweat but we can still choose courage and face our fears head on!
“Being brave is when, despite the fear, we have the courage to take action, and that is way more powerful and inspiring than being fearless.
Wow- JUST WOW!
Assignment #1
After those insights Michelle challenges us to list out our areas of fear, fearlessness and bravery.
So here’s mine:
FEAR-
what people think
writing truth and offending people
being transparent and authentic
being criticized
losing friends over my writing
FEARLESS. The truth of the matter is I don’t feel like I am fearless in anything..
BRAVE-
raising kids ( This sone of the biggest fear inducing experiences of my life time)
At 19 I boarded my first plane and flew half way around the world and had some of the greatest adventures I have ever experienced. Outside of raising our kids. I ate things that I never thought I could. Made friends with people I never thought I could. and just the act of getting on the airplane was one of the scariest things I have ever done.. I was told many times during that time that I was very brave
Serving God- I have found myself in some pretty scary moments. Inner city kids ministry on the worst street in the city. , street witnessing in NYC. Being shown a gun while doing so. Talking with a mentally ill man on the streets. Loving kids who other people run away from. every time I directed a Christmas play. Riding in a parade. Writing here on my blog.
Taking next steps in life- I wish I could explain more of this right now but I can’t. but stay tuned it will be coming. (No this isn’t about our next church).
The bravery part was really hard mostly because I don’t feel brave. and then I remembered a favorite verse
Joshua 1:9 – Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.
God doesn’t want us to have a spirit of fear but to be strong and courageous and trust him.
Be an Influencer
The section on being an influencer struck a chord with me because I have only been teaching it both here and in our church for how long? I vary slightly on the idea f influence than Michelle. We (EVERY SINGLE ONE OF US) is an influencer Whether we like it or not. the things we say or do influence those around us, whether it is a good influence or a bad influence. AND as believers we are called (each and everyone offs) is called tube godly influence to those around us- both believers nd unbelievers.
Leadership
Michelle talks about how we tend to elevate “fearless leaders”. but they have a tendency to be reckless. Brave leadership on the other hand counts the risks and steps out bravely . I know I would much rather be and have a brave leader over a fearless one.
Assignment #2
This isn’t an ongoing assignment. We are to keep track of all of our small and not so small acts of courage We are to keep track while reading to the book.
So as of today I have five “posted” blog posts. Five shares on Facebook and Five shares on Instagram. I won’t be posting all of my little acts of courage over the next 95 days.
So how about you? What are some of your fears? And what are you moments of bravery?
For more Choosing Courageous posts and Hello Fear Posts click here
And Check out Michelle Poler’s book Hello Fears click here
Hey All so this is a fun little blog post! As I was looking back at a few blog posts I need for upcoming blog post I was noticing had some pretty cool blog posts that I totally I forgot I wrote in 2020. (Ha, yes it was that kinda year) So I thought it might be fun to do a year in review but I am only going to do the top 5 blog posts that I enjoyed writing!
Post #5 Let’s Talk : Anger
Anger: it’s something that we ALL struggle with and this was my processing the emotion of Anger. Hubby and I spent weeks hashing out verses and this was the outpouring of our discussions.
Post #4 Duck Your Attitude is Showing
This post was fun to write as I was reading a book about attitudes and all that kept to coming to mind was a fun little prank from Middle School.
Post #3 – 1,000th Blog Post
This was a very exciting blog post for me to write. It’s been a long time coming.
Post #2 Teachable Spirit 101
Having a teachable spirit is something I super passionate about. It is my deepest goal and desire to always be a learner no matter my age or position in life. I also desire to raise life long learners as well!
Post #1- Intentionally Social
This was my very first INTENTIONAl themed post and really kicked off my journey with the word intention and this blog post was me working through why I still wanted to keep social media.
Each Year I choose a word (intentionally). 2019 I choose JOY, and when 2020 rolled around around I felt the innate sense that JOY needed to stay my word for 2020 AFAIN…..hmmmmm….I wonder why. But then December of 2020 rolled around. I try to be intentional with my word each year. Now I am not one to label events to a year and I am not about to do that with this circumstance either. First let’s go back to November, the beginning of November that is.
That’s when I decided what 2021’s Oe word would be……
Low and behold I had no idea what in the world was about to happen. We had a great Thanksgiving and first week of December. I was in full swing of planning for 2021. And the very first Bible Study of 2021 was scheduled to be Intentional Gratitude.
And then I woke up the second Wednesday of December and life swirled out of control….(I’m gonna spare you all the extremely gory details) but it involved the first of 3 emergency room visits and life came to a screeching halt.Since that day I have had 3 emergency room visits, 5 Doctor’s visits, 2 emergency procedures, 1 MRI, 1 CAT scan, 2 Ultrasounds, 2 overnight stays in the hospital (that’s 4 total hospital visits total…..and warning TMI moment 11 attempts at…NEVERMIND…..its 11 attempts at something that was excruciatingly painful for me and that is all ya really need to know.
……and I found myself smack in the middle of needing to be intentionally joyful and intentionally grateful because life had me in so much pain that I required Narcotics and Jesus. Yes you read that correctly.
Originally I had areas I “planned” on being intentional in. But I have become ever more aware of how God’s plans are not my plans and His ways are not my ways.
My plan was intentional…
gratitude
service
family time
blog
home
relationship with Jesus
hubby
relationships with others in general
If you know me some of those things come naturally. Like service- it’s one of my spiritual gifts .
But since all of this has Happened I have had to reconsider some and add others.
service for me is an “active” thing- and right now action is not something I can do very much of. So service has taken on a different look- right now it is heavily rooted in prayer and texting and phone calls ( oh wait that’s been a lot of 2020!!!)
Taking care of our home has not been something I can do right now. It took all of my strength and energy tp write out our weekly menu and grocery list.
My relationship with Jesus has jumped to a whole new level….more on that in a later post.
I’ve added intentional “REST”. Sometimes that requires sleep and other times it means stepping away because my body is so exhausted. Exhausted currently holds a whole new meaning for me and I cannot yet put it into words.
intentional emotions. Emotions in these situations can spin out of control, especially when extreme pain is wrecking your whole body.
Intentional breathing- NO JOKE. when you are in extreme pain you forget to take deep breaths and I am so grateful for a friend who would remind me over the phone to control my breathing and take deep breaths. It’s these practical reminders that can calm a very serious situations.
Intentional honesty- admitting where I am at. It’s easy for me to ask people and care for others in their situations but it’s another for me to say here’s where I am at and I’m really struggling with. I have a great group of friends I can do this with. No judgement because they REALLY know me. (They don’t just think they know me or my intentions) and in those moments they are so gracious and willing to share truth not just pat answers. One of them shared a devotional that really reminded me to really think on what I know NOT on what I am feeling. (More on that later too)
In closing
I want to leave you with my verses for the year
I fully believe that I am in full swing on really learning what these verses mean. It’s one thing to know “what “they mean. I know WHAT they mean but it’s another story to take these verses and fully apply them to our lives- that the difference between knowing and living God’s word (aka is the Bible a textbook to you?) HA another post!! coming your way….I think all of these count as intention blog posts!.
Well Let me know what your word and verses are for the year in the comments below!
Milestones…..I remember waiting for each kid in our house to meet certain milestones. first it’s to smile, then sleep through the night , then there are first teeth, rolling, sitting, crawling, standing walking, then there is riding a bike, first day of school, driving (GULP- a milestone not too far off for our oldest). The point is that life is FULL of milestones and for the most part milestone are fun and this milestone is no different.
Things happen and sometimes milestones are delayed. Delayed milestone when we are talking about small children aren’t good at all and we have had a fair share of those as well but in the growth and maturity of this blog I have had a few seasons of waiting. BUT THIS IS IT BABY!!!
I had two kids ages 1.5 and 5 months old YEAH I KNOW! and I was just a few months shy of getting pregnant with number 3 (he was born in November of that year). Hubby was working full time, going to school full time and was associate pastor with his dad full time. I was about to turn 27 years old and I needed to do something to get the words out that wouldn’t be understood by my you g cohorts.
I don’t even remember what I called my first blog (hosted by blogger) but I remember that my first user name was Frog Princess!!! (yes I love frogs and I am God’s princess so there ya have it). then came Happy Mama and that was my next blog….a BIG GIRL real for real HOSTED blog . There was about a years time when the blogosphere (is that even a word anymore) didn’t hear from little old me and THAT’s ok. That Blog was called Walking the Walk- and I was off again.
Fast forward just a few short years and we faced something difficult. and because of that I struggled with some major fear in my life and took a major long healing process. and with that healing process came a new blog and a different person. I wish I could tell you that fear didn’t affect my blogging anymore but RGAR WOULD BE A BOLD FACED LIE! It is a struggle to write about hard things and in the coming months and years it’s not going to get easier. See the point of this blog is all about a journey, and this journey is NOT an easy one. This journey has seen my fait waiver and I have lost hope once or twice. But t I am thankful for a GOD who chases me down and doesn’t let me go!!!!!!
SO Let’s have a pasr-tay!!! Let me introduce you to AJ.
Arabah Joy
I was introduced to AJ back a few years ago when I purchased one of the first Ultimate Homeaking Bundles. I think t was a set of cards Called WORSHIP: Celebrating the names and Attributes of God. I LOVED this resource and I used it often and over the years I have bought more bundles Like a Bible study bundle and more homemaking bundles. . And it’s kinda funny when I started preparing for this post I began to realize just how many of AJ’s resources I have collected over the years. I also enjoy her Bible study Methods PDF as well.
You can purchase this PDF Here (Note I do not own the entire PDF file just the ebook and links for videos)
I have used quite a few of these and enjoy them.
Another Of AJ’s PDF’s that I have used on and off over the last few years came in another homemaking Bundle and we are currently using them in our “morning basket” (even though there is no BASKET to speak of)
Over the last few years I have collected and used many of her scripture writing sheets as well. So as I prepared to make this blog post 3 1/2 months ago I was also compiling my PDF books and was reminded of just how many of AJ’s re sources I have used and enjoyed AND THEN I saw an ad on facebook. It was for AJ’s newest resource and I had an idea. AND I had to muster some courage.
I needed to take a step of faith and get some boldness. wrote to AJ. I had shared me milestone and she was so encouraging And she kindly granted me TWO copies one for me to review and one FOR ME TO GIVE AWAY! in honor of my 1,000 blog post so a huge shout out and thank you to ARABAH JOY.
So let’s get into this awesome new resource! It’s called “LOVE THE WORD BIBLE STUDY BINDER” and it comes with 66 printable pages and it’s got a bunch of AJ’s resources in it!
Here’s what you get!
4 different covers to choose from
Spines in each of the cover patterns for 1, 1 ½, 2, and 3 inch binders
Tabs (both customized and blank)
Monthly divider sheets (January – December)
The Alone with God Quiet Time Journal
Bible Color Coding System with instructions and Bookmark
PROSPER Bible Study Method (workbook, templates, + 5 video tutorials)
Sermon Notes sheets
Prayer and Praise sheets
Gratitude sheets
Journaling Pages
12 Monthly Write the Word Challenges (topics include Spiritual Friendship, Money Matters, Cultivating Joy, The Power of Prayer, and more)
These printable are amazing for a number of reasons……
first the are GORGEOUS!!! Love the style and the colors AND it comes with 4 different covers and end pieces for the binder. So since I put mine together during cCOVID Quarantine My resources were limited so I ended up using a binger and clear sleeves I already had
I choose the fun Plaid cover.
The there REALLY great thing about this binder is YU can make it fit YOU!!! Since I received my files I have changed and rearranged my binder to make it fit my needs. And sometimes my needs need to fit seasonally.
Here are some of my other images from my binder….
As you can see in some of these images I laminated the monthly tabs and I made the dividers for some sections and I added some tabs in the back to hold the extra printables I am currently not using. You can purchase this Binder printable pack for $27.00 HERE
THEN LIFE HAPPENED
No joke! At the beginning of quarantine 3 1/2 months ago here in NY I had 3 or 4 blog posts to write and at the rate I was going it would have been posted the next week. I literally wrote to AJ the weekend before life hot the fan. On Friday the NY governor said he wasn’t going to close schools BUT by Tuesday all NYS schools were closed indefinitely. first one month, then two months then til the end of the school year and we lost our spring break. . And even though just a week or two prior to the new normal we all found ourselves in Hubby and I had decided to homeschool 3 out of the 4 kiddos next school year we joked that “apparently we were going to get to test run the idea”. HA. 4 kids 3 schools all handling school differently. NOT A BLESSED thing like homeschooling and before long I realized that my goal of 1,000 blog posts was going to have to wait!
So here we are…..
3 /12 months later. we are currently in stage four of re-opening here is New York State. We had our first in person church service in 3 1/2 months. People are wearing masks and elbow bumping each other. I wish I could tell you that our family had walked away unscathed from this virus but we have friends who have lost loved ones and we waited and prayed for good news. and were saddened by the loss of their loved ones. And then for me specifically it weighed so heavily on my heart that so many of our friends who were losing friends and family all while watching people call the illness a hoax and whatever. They had zero regard for those who were going through so much. It broke me. I had no words. And I disappeared and threw myself headlong into my family
My review
At this point I have had ampersand’s time to use a good majority of my binder and It is extremely helpful to me. I am currently working through the PROSPER Study Method while I work thru the book of Philippians. Each time I use a new study method I am stretched and this is no different. I love it that you spend so much time in the same passage and that you examine it through many different angles. I printed off all the pages I needed to go though the book of Philippians and bound it along with a printed off copy of Philippians so I could make my notes and highlights all in one place and at the end of each section I take the color coding bookmark and mark up the printed off copy of Philippians as well.
I have also used the sermon notes pages…those of you who know me know I had to go back to a regular notebook just because of the amount of notes I take.
I have also used the gratitude journal pages and the scripture writing pages.
As you can see I love the binder and I will put it to good use for a very long time. I just want to make something clear though. JUST because You get this tool, doesn’t’t mean that you will automatically start growing You have to actually use it. You have to WANT to grow. So many times we put stock in people or tools to help us grow but then aren’t willing to put the work in and make the commitment to the one who saved our souls
This is a great way to organize your prayer life which as a pastors wife can m=be down right daunting and overwhelming sometime times (ok all the time). BUT THIS HELPS A LOT! Especially in the overwhelm.
Just one more Note about AJ and her website.
I have included a bunch of links in this blog post but NONE of them are affiliate links. I want to share these resources with you. They have helped me and they have encouraged my heart. And I want that for you as well. Another thing I NEVER EVER do is encourage you to sign up for an email subscription list. BUT if ever there was one that you should AJ’s is it.
It seems like when I am in the middle of something hard an email will come through and either she will have words of encouragement of a free tool that meets me RIGHT where I am at…..
So What’s Next?\
The long and the short of it is I don’t know I have a laundry list of blog posts to be written. I hope to have a design update and some tweaks that need to be done so stay on the lookout but also hope to start adding in more art and reviewing some products of the art nature and I also would love to bring back book reviews but so much has changed with the closing of BookLook Bloggers.
So here’s the deal (I mean giveaway)
I have one set of printables to give away. I will pick the winner on July 13th and all you need to do is leave a comment on this post telling me two things
What is one way God changed you through quarantine or showed you about yourself?
What is an area you struggle with in spending time withGod?
AND THANK YOU……
I couldn’t have done this without you my readers!!! It’s been a journey of growth and excitement.I can’t believe I have hot this milestone WITH YOU!!! Thanks so much for sticking with me! I can’t WAIT for the NEXT 1,000 posts (and hopefully it won’t take almost 13 years LOL)
a Month…a whole month? REALLY? Tomorrow marks a month since I last posted , and it’s not because of a lack of want. it’s been a very crazy month and i wish I could say it was going to get better. Actually it will…..once we leave on vacations, but until then the month coming will hold some fun!
It had been a pretty focused month …and then it happened last week….I got sick. I have not been sick all winter…I would start down the cold road and then I would take extra vitamins and then Id be fine.My seeds That needed to be are all started…They aren’t really doing much BUT they are started at least!I had my laptop sitting next to last week, open all ready to write but my arms ached so BAD! I just rolled over and went to sleep.
So here are some of th things we have accomplished over the last month
Little Bean turned 6
Picnics
Weasels’s 3rd quarterly report was written and sent in.
Homeschool curriculum for grade 3 has been purchased and recieveed
Letter of Intent to homeschool has been sent in
Away has been completed
we acquired a second set of college stdents (related to a class that they take in the special education degree) they spend 25 hours with a family over the course of a semester. For whatever reason the second set couldn’t finish out their hours with their assigned family so we were asked if we could fit in another set. this was a fourth semester participating in this program…a lot of this college kids don’t…or can’t connect but the group we had this semester really connected wonderfully with weasel…..they were simply amazing!
My stack of reading is GOING NO WHERE FAST! I just had too many things going on at once, but soon I will have more time once homeschooling is done for the year.
we (my Women’s Bible study group that I leadI) put on this AMZING Ladies Brunch….. And we are beginning to form the foundation of a a thriving women Ministry in our church. this was really time consuming, BUT it’s what I am called to do and I love it!
we are getting ready to kick off our next ladies Bible study using Rest Assured By Vicki Courtney which I reviewed here a couple of months ago. I have fallen in Love with the book and it is beginning a 4 level Bible study series spanning 4 books
Rest Assured
The Best Yes
Thrive
Fervent
and even though I have been silent on the blog, I have been writing. There is a blog series pending the release of Stacey Thacker’s book Fresh Out of Amazing. This series of blog posts has been shall we say….HARD! that seems like such an understatement.
There have been people in my life who need me…not just my hubby and kids. I have some friends who are really going through some really hard things…unthinkable things. sad things. and I will be there for them. I made a determination a year ago that I would be that friend that God uses to be a light….(I write this as Michael W. Smith’s song I will be Here for You come on)
We also have another Bible study meeting here in our home.
and there are somethings I just can’t share. tThey quite possibly could require “new Normal’s” But we are willing. That’s really what God asks of us, is willingness. Usually based around our “i’ll never…” statements..
Little Bean accepted christ as his Savior, then later that week, 3 young girls from our church followed suit! what an amazing blessing…Did I mention Little Bean accepted Christ on MOTHER”S DAY 🙂
Hubby and I celebrated 13 years of marriage..while I was sick 🙁
Tomorrow is Hubby’s Birthday!
Well there is a look inside our last month. You will be hearing more from me more often I have some really neat thing coming down the line including a weekly project Post, sharing my latest creations and a snapshot into my planner….I have been using The Happy Planner for the last 7 months and boy am I loving it. There will also be some Why I do what I do posts, inspired by Rest Assured and The Best yes, So won’t you Stay tuned in the coming days weeks and months as we jump into writing again! I promise It won’t be a month till you hear from me again !
a Month…a whole month? REALLY? Tomorrow marks a month since I last posted , and it’s not because of a lack of want. it’s been a very crazy month and i wish I could say it was going to get better. Actually it will…..once we leave on vacations, but until then the month coming will hold some fun!
