PODCASTS FOR CHRISTIAN WOMEN

I have always been one to have music playing at all times. If I am in the car, I want the music loud. If I am at home, I have the Alexa playing. Music was always going. Several years ago I came to a point where I actually began to crave quiet. No music. No TV. No noise. It has become normal for me to go about my day at home or drive in the car with complete silence.

Sometimes I use that silence for prayer and sometimes I use it for just that, silence. I still enjoy music! I love to listen to worship music and I also enjoy some oldies -Elvis, Frank Sanatra, etc. But the old theater saying -Silence Is Golden- has become so true for me!

One time that I need noise but don't want music is when I am at the gym. During this time I love to listen to podcasts! I have a list of podcasts I listen to regularly that have ministered or encouraged me so much.

Here is a list of five podcasts for Christian women that I can't get enough of:

Daily Grace

Daily Grace is from one of my favorite companies, The Daily Grace Co. The Daily Grace Co offers a huge selection of Bible studies as well as other wonderful resources to help you grow in your faith. The Daily Grace podcast is a weekly podcast that will teach you Biblical truths, inspire you, encourage you, and help you to grow in your walk with God. New episodes come out every Tuesday and are approximately 25 minutes.

Cultivate What Matters

Cultivate What Matters is from another of my favorite companies, Cultivate What Matters. Cultivate What Matters offers tools to help you do just what its name says! They have the Powersheets Goal Planner, Write the Word journals, and much more. The Cultivate What Matters Podcast is a weekly podcast that helps you uncover what matters to you and equips you with the tools to grow. New episodes come out every Tuesday and are approximately 25 minutes.

Candace Cameron Bure

Candace Cameron Bure is from the actor, author, speaker, mom, and wife herself. Candace says, "We all have good days and bad days, but I believe we are better when we go through it together." In season 1, which just wrapped up, she had guest co-host Tara-Leigh Cobble from the Bible Recap. They discussed the Trinity, growing in your faith, and more. The Candace Cameron Bure podcast is weekly and new episodes come out every Tuesday and are approximately 30 minutes long.

Whoa That's Good

Whoa That's Good is from author, speaker, mom, and wife Sadie Robertson Huff. Sadie is fun and energetic! She has guests that range from her mom Korie Robertson to Beth Moore to Lysa TerKeurst and so many more. The Whoa That's Good podcasts encourages and inspires you to live boldly and live original. New episodes come out weekly and are approximately one hour long.

Cultivate

Cultivate is from writer, speaker, and Bible teacher Kelly Minter. Kelly shares Biblical truths and teaches you to live a powerful faith journey. New episodes come out monthly and are approximately 30 minutes long.

Those are my top five favorite podcasts that I am sure to catch every week. If I have extra time, I always go back and listen to older episodes I've missed. Listening to these podcasts each day is like getting a sermon and learning more about God as I workout or go about my day.

What are your favorite podcasts? Share in the comments!

BLESSINGS & STUDY BIBLES

Continuing to count God's sweet blessings...

2385. A relaxing weekend with my family.

2386. Faith conversations between my husband and kids.

2387. Rainy nights.

2388. Sunny mornings.

2389. The reminder that after the rain, the sun will shine, and after the rains in life, the Son will shine.

Share something you are praising God. I would love to rejoice with you.

**********

I love God's Word! I love having the Word in my hands. I love reading the Bible. I love studying the Bible. I just love the Bible. So I am thrilled today to tell you all about the brand new CSB Study Bible for Women! This Bible is beautiful!

The CSB Study Bible for Women is not only beautiful to look at, but includes character profiles, word studies, commentary notes, verses for cross referencing, extensive book intros, maps, timelines, a concordance, and more to help you really dig into the Word.

The beginning of the CSB Study Bible for Women offers pages to fill with your family tree, family milestones, your Spiritual mothers, and more, making it a great legacy to leave your children and grandchildren.

I love the CSB Study Bible for Women. It is beautiful to look at and also helps deepen my time in the Word.

To purchase the CSB Study Bible for Women, click HERE.

To enter to win a CSB Study Bible for Women, click HERE.

Let's Do Life Together {Giveaway}

I say it all the time:

We were not meant to do this life alone. We need each other.

Growing up I had a best friend. We were inseparable. We thought we'd be best friends forever. We had plans. You know the kind. Live next door to each other, our husbands would be best friends, our kids would be best friends, we would vacation together and we would grow old together. Yet, towards the end of our teen years, we grew apart.

A few years later I was blessed with a new friend. We emailed several times a day, talked on the phone, saw each other at church and spent time together outside of church. Yet misunderstanding followed by conflict and pain ended the friendship.

Making friends wasn't easy for me. I am a very quiet and shy person. I love to be around people, but struggled to make conversation and get to know anyone. As I stood in the background wishing we were friends, I would size myself up to the women around me and was afraid I would say or do something stupid. If I found we didn't have something in common, I would shy away thinking a friendship was impossible. In my mind, we had to act the same, think the same and live the same. And I always thought I was being judged.

With all of these reasons hoovering over me, I finally decided that I just didn't need friends anymore. I was done. Not in an angry, bitter way. Yet simply I thought it was too hard and unnecessary.

Why should I need friends? After all, I have a large family whom I am extremely close to. I easily consider my mom, grandmother and sisters my best friends. We are all very close. I didn't need anyone else.

Having a close family is so wonderful! I cannot begin to imagine not being so close. I am so grateful that I can talk to my parents, grandparents and siblings anytime about anything. I know they've got my back, I know they are praying for me and I know they'll straighten me out should I need it.

Then seven years ago I was asked to join a Bible study. A women's Bible study. This would be the first time ever I was included in a women's Bible study. I was nervous and excited all at the same time. As these women poured their hearts out while we studied the Word of God, I began to see that the differences were okay, that I wasn't being judged and I began to find my own voice.

Are friendships with women easy now? No. Not always. Women in general are strong. We have our own thoughts and ideas. We have our own ways of doing things and we tend to think our way is best. We think we have to have it all together at all times so we put on a mask and pretend. These things make friendships hard.

Are friendships worth it now? Yes! Yes always! We need each other. We need to lift one another up, mentor each other, be mentored by each other, minister to one another, and minister together to others. We need to encourage one another and pray for one another. We must unite as one for the sake of the Kingdom.

My sweet friend, Angie Tolpin, says in her new online course, The Quiet Fight Among Women: Redeeming the Division Together:

"The enemy is having a heyday among women outside and inside the church."

She goes on to say:

"We are so divided on issues that have no eternal value that we don't act like or live among one another as are supposed to be a team."

It's time for women to put aside differences, take off their masks and do life together. It's time we stop the silent fight and become unified.

I want to share with The Quiet Fight Among Women: Redeeming the Division Together with you. This online Bible study course is amazing. Angie gets to the heart of this quiet fight and shows us how to close the divide. Just listen to this:

Who is this course for? All women! Whether you have previously been in this quiet fight or are currently in it, you need this course. Whether you are shy or outgoing, you need this course. And whether you have many close friends or no close friends, you need this course. I have gotten so much out of doing this study on my own and cannot wait to do it with my sisters at church.

Are you a Bible study leader? Interested in being one? You can also get the Group Leader Kit. The kit will give you everything you need to lead your friends, neighbors or church group to redeem the division together. For the Group Leader Kit, click the image below.

Right now Angie is giving away an Apple iWatch! How awesome is that!? To enter to win, complete each task in the rafflecopter below.

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Final Thoughts {Women In God's Word}

Today is the final day in the Women In God's Word series. We pray that each day you have been blessed and encouraged. Remember, having a quiet time with God is not about location, things or perfection. It's simply about going to the Father and being with Him.

I want to share an opportunity with you from Woman to Woman Ministries:

With our day to day activities as women, wives, mothers, daughters, employees, friends, or whatever hat we are wearing, it can be hard to find time to spend with the Father. The ladies at Woman to Woman Ministries understand and that is how Morning Reflections has helped us!

Woman to Woman Morning Reflections is a private Facebook group where women can come for accountability. Simply go to the link below and fill out the form. We will send you a link to join the group. Then each day come back to the group and post where you read in the Bible that day and what God is speaking to you. Then read through the other reflections and be encouraged. Morning Reflections is an excellent way to have accountability among your sisters in Christ.

We want the Woman to Woman Morning Reflections group to be about accountability, encouragement, prayer partners and building relationships. We want for you ladies to make lasting friendships in these groups as you are encouraged in your walk with God.


To join a Reflections group, please click HERE and fill out the form.

*Woman to Woman Morning Reflections is intended for accountability only. Promoting blogs, websites, giveaways, etc, is strictly prohibited. This group is only for accountability and encouragement.

See what others are saying about Woman to Woman Morning Reflection Groups!

Morning Reflections is a wonderful start to my day. When we started the Morning Reflections Group, I wasn't very excited. All I could think of was one more thing that I had to do...send an email EVERY day! Ugh! Well, it has grown on me. I am excited to get up in the morning and do my devotions with the Lord and then share a sentence or two with my 'group.'  It's exciting to see what God is saying to the others. I love when I share with the group what God speaks to me, it was exactly what someone else needed for the day! ~Debi

Morning Reflections has been such a blessing to me! When you know someone is waiting for you, you tend to be more apt to follow through.  Spending time with God was easy for me Monday through Friday. But the weekend was another story. Having my Morning Reflection group waiting for my reflection encouraged me to continue with my quiet time even on the weekends. ~Jenifer

I love Morning Reflections! I love reading the Bible, but sometimes we get so busy and push His Word aside. Knowing that I have a group of women expecting to hear from me, has helped me keep my priorities straight. ~ Lisa 

Morning Reflections keeps me motivated to stay in the Word even when I don't "feel" like stopping to take a few minutes for myself and for God. I know that my sweet sisters are waiting to hear from me and it holds me accountable to them and to God. Sometimes what God speaks to one sister is something another sister needs to hear. You never know how He will use your Morning Reflection until you let Him. ~Mandy

The Spirit of this group has been very uplifting-informative-refreshing and transparent... Totally GOD-ordained!!!! ~Trish

Its a blessing to share with each other and see how God's word is making a difference and if prayer requests are made its a comfort to know ladies far and wide are storming heavens gates on your behalf. ~Kimberly

I love how this page brings women together to share through God's word their joys, loves, fears, salvation, pains, forgiveness, help, and healing♡ ~Michelle

I have a place to go when I need prayer. And I love reading and seeing how God is working in everyone's daily lives. ~Mary

W2W Ministries continues to bless my life daily, but our interactions in our group have blessed me the most! What better way to start the morning but to read the beautiful reflections of sisters in Christ as they absorb and apply God's Holy Word in their lives! ~Lisa D.

Jenilee, Melanie, Traci and Shari THANK YOU for joining me and sharing your hearts as well as your real life quiet times with us. Love you ladies!


We want to know what your real life messy quiet time looks like. Post your pictures to social media with the hashtag #WomenInGodsWord. Let be real!


Today is the final day to enter this fun giveaway! Enter to win a $25 Starbucks giftcard. Just complete each task in the rafflecopter below. Come back each day to tweet for more entries and to share your real life Bible time pics on Instagram for even more entries!

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Back to Basics {Women in God's Word - Day 5}

Today it's time to share my real life quiet time...

Let me start by saying that mornings and I do not get along. At all. I have come to love and appreciate them for the gift from the Father that they are. Yet, I still struggle to wake up. Even after a full night's sleep, I still find it very hard to wake up in the morning. Most mornings I'd love nothing more than to throw the alarm clock across the room.

When I first began having a regular quiet time about 5 years ago, after many years of not doing it, I tried different times of day. I wanted to see what was best for me. I found that as much as I dislike mornings, I knew that, for me, mornings are the best time to spend with Jesus. With my 4 children, and 3 very rambunctious dogs, my house isn't quiet enough to focus later on in the day. And I learned that if I put it off, well, I probably just won't do it at all. So, with tired eyes, I press on.

In pressing on, I've found that starting my day with Jesus is the best choice I could ever have made. Just as an athlete warms up for a game, starting my day with Jesus is warming up for my day!

Then I had to learn what it meant to have a quiet time. I began with the Our Daily Bread devotionals and Bible reading plan then I would pray and sing praises. Soon I began to journal, something I loved doing as a teenager. My quiet times were passionate and beautiful, a time that was just for Jesus and me.

Then I found social media.

Daily I saw beautiful pictures posted of open Bibles placed lovingly beside vases of flowers, lit candles and journals with perfect handwriting. The pictures were beautiful. I would ooh and aah over them then tap that little red heart.

I know these pictures are posted for the beauty they behold. I know they are posted to encourage and inspire. And I greatly appreciate them.

But that's not me.

I began to wonder if I was doing something wrong. Why didn't my quiet time look like that? My house is rarely spotless. The writing in my prayer journal is barely legible, even to me. I'm too tired to light a candle first thing in morning. I don't often purchase flowers and don't have a flower garden to pick from because, well, I kill everything I touch. I don't have the 'perfect' quiet time spot {Can I just tell you that I long to have a prayer closet? I have seriously considered emptying a closet in our home that will serve this purpose for me. Yet that means someone will be without clothes...}.

I began to feel as though my quiet times just weren't good enough. Not for the world, not for me and not for God.

That's when God gently reminded me that all He wants is me. While the other stuff may be beautiful, He doesn't require it or even ask for it. He just wants to spend that one on One time with us. He wants us to rest in His arms and talk to Him. We don't need flowers and candles or have to have beautiful penmanship.

It was time for me to go back to the basics: me, a Bible, and God.

Some days my quiet time spot is clean, some days it is a disaster. Some days I am fully ready for the day, some days my make up isn't done and my hair is a mess. Some days I am waking from a very short night and can barely keep my eyes open. Some days, like a lazy Saturday, instead of getting out of bed, I reach for my phone or ipad to open my Bible app. Some days I journal for a long time, some days I write only 1 or 2 sentences. All that matters is that I am spending time with the Father.

This is my quiet time spot. I keep a basket -with my Bible, journal, any devotionals I am reading, sticky notes, pens and highlighters- next to my chair at all times. (That candle is not lit I promise you!)

I always grab my water glass and a blanket when I sit down with Jesus. Yes, even a Veggie Tales blanket.

The other side of the room, a little messy, which is very normal and very real.

Remember, it doesn't matter what others post or what you think their quiet time looks like. All that matters is that you spend time with Jesus. If you want to light a candle, go for it! I love candles and light them every single day, just not for my quiet time. If you have the view of the mountains and want your quiet time there, go for it! When we go on vacation to the beach, I love having my quiet time on the deck listening to the waves. Yet, I know that I can feel God and talk to God even in my messy, much in need of a dusting, living room.

We want to know what your real life messy quiet time looks like. Post your pictures to social media with the hashtag #WomenInGodsWord. Let be real!

If you are new to my blog, I want to welcome you and tell you about me!

Woman to Woman Ministries founder and co-leader, Jenifer Metzger, has a passion for ministering to and encouraging women. She is learning to say "yes" to God and loves the journey with Him.

Not considering herself a writer or speaker, Jenifer was unsure how blogging would go. After all, to write, shouldn't you understand predicate nominatives, dangling modifiers and all of that grammar jargon? At the very least, shouldn't you be able to spell correctly? {Praise God for spell check, amen?}

While grammar and spelling may not be her strong suit, Jenifer strives to be authentic and share her heart. She wants others to understand that they are not alone in their struggles and trials. We are all sinners saved by grace.

Jenifer and her husband of 17 years, Jeremy, have 4 children whom she calls her blessings from Heaven. Jeremy and Jenifer are the associate pastors at their church as well as lead the children's ministry, marriage ministry and outreach ministry. Jenifer is a housewife, homeschools her children.

**Be sure to come back tomorrow for one more day of #WomenInGodsWord!

One more day to enter this fun giveaway! Enter to win a $25 Starbucks giftcard. Just complete each task in the rafflecopter below. Come back each day to tweet for more entries and to share your real life Bible time pics on Instagram for even more entries!

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Just Jesus and Me {Women in God's Word - Day 4}

We are at day 4 in our Women in God's Word series. Today I bring you one of my very best friends, Shari, from Shari Miller, Living to Leave a Legacy. One day a little over 4 years ago I received an email from Shari after she stumbled across my blog. We hit it off and have been best friends ever since. I call her my sister friend. {smiles} Please help me welcome Shari!

Relationships take time.

They also takes work, dedication, and commitment.

This is especially true in our relationship with God. To grow and mature in Him, we have to be willing to put in the intentional time with Him worshiping, praying and reading His Word. We have to be willing to lay aside time and self, in order to give Him the adoration that He deserves.

How we approach our time with God is going to be different for each one of us, because of the unique individuals we are. I'm so glad when God created us that He didn't decide to make us carbon copies of each other, how boring would that be! It's because of our uniqueness that we will approach our quiet time with God in different ways.

When we look at the best way to have our quiet time with God, it can be easy to fall into the comparison trap. We can spend our time on Faecebook and Pinterest, looking at how everyone else spends "their" alone time with God and then we think that we need to follow suite. This can create a huge problem of feeling like we have failed, when we don't have these grand and glorious moments all the time. When we do this it can be easy to feel that we don't measure up to others standards, become discouraged, and end up neglecting our quiet time because we are not like everyone else.

Here's the thing to remember...


God wants you to be you! However you decide to have your quiet time is fine, the most important thing is that you are coming to Him with a worshipful heart trying to grow and mature as His child.

"Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is, his good pleasing and perfect will."  Romans 12:2 (NIV)

For me personally, my quiet time can look different every day, depending on how I'm feeling or where I'm at spiritually with my walk with God. On most days you can find me here, in my blue rocker that was my Dad's, covered up, all warm and snug with my favorite quilt. I usually have my window open for the fresh air and so I can hear the birds sing. Sometimes my quiet time is in the morning, sometimes it's in the early afternoon. There are other days you can find me at my kitchen table with a cup of tea, and a candle lit, it just depends on what feels right for me at the moment.

The most important thing for me in my walk with God, is that I am always moving forward. I've been through so much in my life, cancer, the death of my Dad, my Mother being diagnosed with Alzheimer's, family issues, and the list could go on and on. What I've learned through it all is that God has to be at the center of my life if I am going to make it through these trials; if I neglect my time with God, I will be stagnate and the pressures of these situations will intensify. It will seem like I'm all alone in a canoe with a broken paddle, constantly trying to move forward, and end up going in circles instead.

My time alone with just Jesus and me, gives me the courage, hope, and wisdom to move straight ahead with God leading the way.

"But seek first the kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." Matthew 6:33 (NIV)

What my devotions or quiet time looks like varies. It can include things such as studying a specific topic in the Bible, memorizing Scripture, going through a Bible study workbook or reading a devotional like, "Jesus Calling."There are times when I also like to have worship music playing so I get my spirit in the right frame of mind.

One thing that I have recently started doing is keeping a journal. My journal is divided into three sections.

~ The first section is my prayer to God. I talk to Him/write out to Him what I'm feeling, just like He was sitting in the room with me.

~ In the second section, I write out what I'm learning through the section of scriptures that I'm reading. I also write out favorite verses that I would like to memorize. What I'm studying in God's Word, is gong to depend upon what God has lead me to read.

~ The third section is my prayer requests. I write the requests in a different color ink so it's easy to spot later when I come back and record how God has answered my prayers.

Sometimes, I draw too, it just depends on how I'm feeling and how I want to pour my heart out to God.

If you don't already have a quiet time with God, I want to encourage you to start one. I promise you that reading your Bible and praying to God will affect your life more than anything you have every done.

You will find the peace, wisdom, and strength when you take the time to honor Him, by making your relationship with Him the most important thing in your life.

"I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing." John 15:5 (NIV)

Shari and her husband, Bill, have been married for 22 years and have two children who are their precious gifts from God. She is a housewife, mother and writer. Her favorite things to do are study God's Word and be at home taking care of her family. Share is also a stage IV breast cancer survivor who lives each day striving to give God the glory for all that He has done in her life. You can find Shari blogging about leaving a Godly legacy, hope and encouragement in Jesus and her life's journey at Shari A. Miller, Living to Leave A Legacy. 
Connect with Shari: website - Facebook - Twitter - Instagram

Okay friends! It's time for a fun giveaway! Enter to win a $25 Starbucks giftcard. Just complete each task in the rafflecopter below. Come back each day to tweet for more entries and to share your real life Bible time pics on Instagram for even more entries!

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When Quiet Times Are Intimidating - Focus On Quality Over Quantity {Women in God's Word - Day 3}

We are at day 3 in our Women in God's Word series. Today I am excited to bring you my sweet friend Traci from TraciMichele.com. I've known Traci through blogging almost since the beginning of my blog. She has helped me with my blog designs and answered tons of questions when I needed help. Her heart and passion are beautiful. Please help me welcome Traci!

When Jenifer asked me to be a part of this Women In God’s Word series, I was humbled.  I love God, and am passionate about His Word, but I often go through periods of time where I struggle with making time to read His Word and pray.

I remember as a twelve year old girl falling in love with the scriptures.  They came alive as I read them, and the Holy Spirit moved across the pages and into my heart.  I enjoy studying and teaching His Word to others, but almost feel like a hypocrite when I go weeks without even opening up my Bible.

This busy life as a wife and Mama to three young children is more crazy beautiful than I could have ever anticipated.  I’m not a morning person and would stay under my covers and be lazy every day if I could.

I don’t have one special spot that I sit at to have my quiet time with the Lord.   Maybe some day I will, but I don’t in this crazy season I’m currently in.  Most days my quiet time starts with desperate pleas from underneath my comforter.

Heavenly Father, give me strength today.  I’m so weak and so tired.  Fill me and control my with your Spirit that I may be the wife and mother you’ve called me to be.

I often pull out my phone and read His Word on my Bible app.  I find that I enjoy reading the same few chapters over and over to really mediate and process what God may be trying to teach me that particular day.  This past week I spent time in 1 John and it was so encouraging.

As I’m doing the dishes or cleaning up, I often like to use the audio Bible and listen to God’s Word as I’m doing things around the house.

Posting scripture on flashcards to memorize and meditate on has always been very helpful to me.

I think it's also great for our kids to see us with our Bible open right in the middle of the every day chaos.  As the toys are flying, lego creations are being built, and they are screaming and running around, let them see us diving into God's Word, even in the midst of it all.

My quiet time usually looks different for me day to day, or week to week.  I strongly believe that we need to be getting the meat of God’s Word, and not just the milk… but I’m so encouraged that God sees my heart and my busy days, and He loves me just as I am.  If I can connect with the Lord, and abide in Him throughout the day, I find my perspective is right and I’m not as easily distracted by the things of this world.

Quality over quantity is what I’m finding works in this season of life.  I don’t want to ever avoid God’s Word because It doesn’t have the picture perfect atmosphere.  I’d love to be sitting on a wraparound porch, with my  warm cup of coffee in hand, listening to the birds chirp all the while overlooking a picturesque mountainside, but that just isn’t my reality.  It’s raw, it’s real, and it’s righteous, because I’m seeking Him first where I’m at, with all I am.
                                                                        

Pray with me?  May we all desire to be in God’s Word each and every day.  Maybe, like me, you feel like an utter failure most days when you lie your head down on your pillow, and realize you haven’t even opened your Bible.  Don’t let the enemy throw condemnation at you and keep you in that rut.  Get up.  Get up and start fresh today and abide in Him!

Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself,
unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him,
he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.
John 15:4-5

About Traci: I'm a curly-headed dreamer. I love coffee, chocolate and chips but attempt to eat primarily Paleo. I love a good romantic comedy and I cry reading sappy Hallmark cards in Target. I'm part of the proud left hand club. In high school I hid behind science, math and computer classes to avoid any part of reading, writing or speaking. The irony of it? God is weaving it all together for His plan and purpose in my life today. You can run,  but you can't hide from God! Connect on my blog, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram.

Okay friends! It's time for a fun giveaway! Enter to win a $25 Starbucks giftcard. Just complete each task in the rafflecopter below. Come back each day to tweet for more entries and to share your real life Bible time pics on Instagram for even more entries!

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What Does #nofilter Bible Time Look Like For Me? {Women in God's Word - Day 2}

Today is day 2 in our Women in God's Word series. I am thrilled to introduce you to a dear blogging friend, Melanie. I've been reading Melanie's blog for years and always love her heart. Please help me welcome Melanie!

If we're new friends, please let me introduce myself. I'm Melanie, a full-time work-outside-the-home mom (software developer), laugher, blogger, Christ follower, and modern Southern Belle... thus, the name of my blog "Southern Melle".

Now, we can all be honest, right? Sometimes, images I see online make me feel like I'm the only one who doesn't have my act together. I see perfect skin, beautiful tablescapes, perfectly accessorized outfits, peaceful kids... and I'm all "hot mess" over here.

I'm not an expert blogger, but I hope I'm always a genuine blogger.

So today, I'm removing the filter.

I've been asked how I find time to read the Bible with being a mom and working full-time. I will tell you what I have learned from experience -- I have to make the time, even if it's only a few minutes. However, sometimes that means looking over a messy room because I understand that my messy heart needs more attention than my messy house.

When my kids are happily playing video games or engrossed in a TV show they enjoy, I grab that moment! Even if it's only a few short minutes, I will find a space in my home where I can be alone with God. On Instagram, it may look like this:

 

This is my peaceful place I like to read my Bible. However, if you turn directly around, you will see the #nofilter version looks like this:

(Before anyone panics, it's all clean now! Whew!) Moms, we sometimes have to choose the most important thing with the few quiet moments we have. I can clean the house when my kids are running around being loud, but it's hard for me to focus on Bible time in that situation. When I have a few quiet moments, I let the messy kitchen sit so God can work on my messy heart.

Reading the Bible is much like the treadmill. Sure, it's easier to plop down on the couch and watch TV, but what benefit does that give me? Will I be happy I used my time in that way or will I regret it? I can tell you this: I never regret working out and I NEVER regret reading my Bible.

Here's another example of the "pinterest perfect" version of Bible time at my house: (with my favorite study Bible)

 

But if you were here with me, you would see that my hair is still crazy from the treadmill, my shirt is not fashionable (it's an old T-shirt from my kids' teeball days), and I was hiding in my bedroom during the few quiet moments I could steal that evening:

 

I love beauty! I'm a girlie-girl at heart and love all things pink, sparkly, clean, shiny, and bright! However, sweet friend, sometimes beauty is not what you see online. Sometimes beauty is the work God does way down in our hearts -- underneath sweaty teeball t-shirts, in the middle of messy rooms, around noisy kids. If your life doesn't look "pinterest-perfect" like you see online, welcome to my club. I'm happy to have you here, and I'm cheering all of us along in this messy-beautiful journey of life!

For more encouragement, please drop by and say "howdy" at my blog (SouthernMelle.com) or on Facebook!   This post is part of a series "Women In God's Word" -- to see more encouragement, please check out the series at this link!

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When Devotions Are Messy {Women In God's Word - Day 1}

Today is day 1 in our Women in God's Word series. I am so excited to have my friend Jenilee from Our Goodwin Journey with us. I first "met" Jenilee several years ago after stumbling across her blog. I instantly connected with her because we are both Jens, we are both married to Jeremys, our Jeremys are both so much fun, and we are both children's pastors. Please help me welcome Jenilee!

I remember when my girls were little and I felt like my devotions time was haphazard at best. I remember hoping that as my girls got older, I'd be able to have the beautiful devotion time that my heart longed for... or rather, my heart felt like it needed to make devotions "real."

I'd heard about these beautiful devotions... quite time with coffee and a myriad of colorful markers for journaling in a cutesy notebook while music played softly in the background and candles cast a soft flow on the scene. A Bible perfectly opened and the newest women's study book ready for 45 uninterrupted minutes of quiet time. Something so perfectly instagramable and blogable that I'd remember it for days to come.

Well, my girls are not toddlers anymore and devotion time is still messy.

If I try to take an Instagram picture, it has to be of just a verse or just my notebook page with my messy handwriting because literally the whole table before me is a crazy blur of toys, crafts, books, used kleenex and empty gum wrappers.
 

I try to play a worship song over the loud singing of Abby in her room or the obnoxious sound coming from whatever app my girls are playing at the time.

I try to quietly sit in the midst of #goodwingirls chaos... legos falling, crafts spilling, girls yelling, and all around silly noises of children enjoying our home together.

I even try to sneak around early in the morning before they wake up so that I can have some quiet time alone.

Nope. They wake up. By the time I sip my first taste of coffee and hit play on my youtube worship mix, they are up and ready for the day.

And I have to wonder...

Does this kind of beautiful devotion time really exist in the life of a busy, working, living, breathing woman?

Yes. Thankfully, yes. Those times, when they come your way, are sweet and precious and incredibly valuable. Women's retreats, rare afternoons at home when the kids are away, Saturday mornings when the kids are playing outside, a prayer night at church. When the beautiful devotion times happen, hold them close and cherish the moment.

But in the scope of real lives being lived every single day, that expectation is too much. The thought that for devotions to be "real" they must include all those beautiful elements is a weight we were never meant to carry. That if devotion time is sporadic and messy and interrupted and slightly chaotic that it doesn't "count" ...

Well, I'm here to say it does count.

The little moments of time laid at the altar of Jesus' feet are precious in His sight. He loves that in the scope of a busy, messy day, you would take a few minutes to regroup, recharge and refocus your heart.

One verse scribbled on a napkin, one little devotion read on your phone, one song played on the radio... little moments, that when spread throughout the day, create a beauty of its own. A beauty of time spent with Jesus.

Time that is just a valuable, just as fulfilling, just as memorable as the beautiful devotional times we long to have each day.

And, honestly, what is the deeper beauty and value that is found in having your devotional time in the midst of the messiness around you?

Your kids see it.

Your family sees it.

Your husband sees it.

God sees it.

They see the woman you are, the woman you are striving to be and the way you are allowing God into the messiness to mold you, shape you, correct you and love you. Letting God in and seeking Him through a moment spent at the table with your Bible... and spilled coffee next to a sadly unclothed Barbie doll with little tiny annoying lego pieces at your feet.

I remember one time specifically... me. Sitting in the kitchen right after breakfast, the dishes still dirty on the counters next to me. I was trying to do devotions before getting ready to go somewhere. I sat, reading the Word, letting God speak to me and I was crying. Tears rolling down my cheeks as God spoke... and my girls walked in. The inevitable "Mommy, why are you crying?" and the explanation that I was reading God's Word and He was speaking to me... a moment more valuable than if my girls had never interrupted my "beautiful" moment with Jesus. So much more beautiful than if I'd waited to be fully alone when the kitchen was clean and a candle was burning and music was playing.

You see, in devotions, the goal is not perfection... thinking that by perfect beauty, God is more welcome and you are more likely to meet with Him. Really, you are inviting Him to join you in the realness of your home, your life, your work, your space. You are welcoming Him at your table. You are showing your family how to usher in His presence, welcome His Holy Spirit and ask Him to be a part of your day. You are teaching your heart how to quiet itself before Him in the midst of the craziness around you.

You are inviting Him in because HE is what is perfect and beautiful about devotional time not the cute journal or the yummy smelling candle.

The journal and the candle are for us.

The moments set aside for God to talk to Him, read of Him and hear from Him are what is beautiful in God's sight.

Are those wonderfully created, super cherished, very valuable moments with music and candles wrong? Oh... no. They are refreshing and sweet and I love them just as much as you.

But in the everyday busyness of our lives, the realness of our lives... let God meet you right where you are.

Let your family see you worship at His feet with markers and stickers and gooey playdough pieces around your Bible and your pen as you pour your your heart to Him. Spend time with the One who can see through the mess right to your heart. The One who cherishes the moment and accepts your offering as a sweet aroma in the heavens. The One who loves that you set aside your busy schedule to spend time with His Word and in His presence.

Let the beauty of that time soak into your heart and refresh you throughout the day.

And don't be afraid to snap a picture of what God is teaching you to share with a friend even if the moment is messy and coffee is spilling on the counter next to you.

Jenilee Goodwin is a runner, writer, lover of books and a huge coffee fan. She is a mom to three rambunctious, super fun girls and wife to an adventurous, always interesting, outdoorsy guy. Her family works as missionaries in West Africa, although currently residing in France to learn French! She loves all things techy and you can always find her around instagram, her blog or facebook as she shares her faith, family travels, missionary journeys and other life lessons.

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How Not To Encourage a Single Woman

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I am so excited to have Brenda from Triple Braided: life surrendered through every season, with us today!  Please help me welcome Brenda to Sweet Blessings!

How Not To Encourage a Single Woman

For more years than I desired the status box I checked was "single woman". Even though my deepest desire was to check the married one.

One night in my late twenties I found myself at a Bunko party with women from my church. They were all nice women, but they were all married, so immediately I felt like the token outsider with their eyebrows raised and minds asking, "I wonder what's her story", "What could she be doing wrong?", "I'm so glad I'm not her".

As we sat around rolling dice and matching numbers the conversation turned to married things. You know the married things I'm referring to without saying them, don't you?

So I just sat there and listened.

And then it came. From the one who wore her married status proudly and her identity wrapped up with it. "We really shouldn't be talking about these things with Brenda here. She shouldn't be hearing these things."

Suddenly their thoughts were no longer just in their minds. They were there. Out in the open. For all to hear and for all to see - me. I could no longer pretend in secret like I was one of them. And they could no longer pretend either.

My face turned bright red as the secret escaped. The label across my head read, "Yes, I am different from you when really all I want is to be you."

Now, please know that I understand what the married woman was trying to say, and I agree with her. It is not wise to talk about certain married things around single women in order to guard their hearts and help them in their diligence of purity.

However, in that moment I was confident her words were not words out of love. Or if they were, I did not feel them. I felt isolated, alone, and even scorned.

It is so easy in each stage of our life to forget what it's like on the other side of our grassy, green lawns. It's easy to forget what a young woman may feel who wants so badly to be married or an older woman who has watched her dreams of marriage and family fade away in time.

But highlighting these circumstances is not a way to encourage her.

She really just wants to fit in. To be your friend. To know she's at least a little like you.

We all have single women in our lives even if we don't immediately think of them. It might be the woman who comes into the sanctuary every Sunday and sits alone. You see her, but you don't think to sit beside her. Maybe it's your sister or cousin or niece. Maybe it's the woman at the Bunko game.

Reach out to this woman, wherever she is, and encourage her.

Let her know: ~ that you're more similar than different ~ that you, too, have struggles and heartaches and worries ~ that she is worthy just as she is ~ that God, her Creator, has a marvelous plan for her life

Don't remind her that she's different from you. That's not the way to encourage her.

Instead, show her how much you are alike.

Who is the single woman in your life (or maybe not in your life yet) who you could encourage? How could you reach out to her as someone one is different and yet at the same time so much the same? Share with us in the comments!

  For years I believed that God was holding out on me by not giving me the husband and family I so desired. Finally, I surrendered to the truth that God loves me and has a perfect plan for my life. I wrote an eBook out of this experience called Fall for Him: 25 Challenges from a Recovering Single. It is now available at FallforHim.com. The purpose is to help single women see that their life is not waiting out there in the future for them. Their life is now. But it can only be fully revealed by being surrendered to Jesus - allowing Him break the cycle of defeat in their life by believing His truths. If you are single, this book is for you, to help you take a tarnished past and create a clean future based on truth. If you're married, this book is a great gift for that single woman in your life who is struggling with the desperate desire to be married. Maybe your niece, cousin, or sister. Maybe your best friend. Go ahead. Reach out your hand. Bless this special woman with your love. Give her an eBook that will help. You can purchase a copy by visiting www.FallforHim.com.

Brenda considers herself a "recovering single" after years as a single woman chasing her dreams instead of God's dreams for her. Now she lives with her two miracles: her husband who God physically saved from Cardiomyopathy after a dramatic heart transplant and her baby girl who will be born this month from those three hearts. Brenda encourages women to live a life surrendered to Jesus in every season on her blog, Triple Braided, and she recently published her first eBook, Fall for Him: 25 Challenges from a Recovering Single. You can also connect with her on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.


Sweet Blessings~
 

Linking with:
Into The Beautiful 

Titus Tuesday  

On Your Heart Tuesday 

Soli Deo Gloria

Teach Me Tuesday

Hear it on Sunday, Use it On Monday

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