Thank you for joining me in my series 31 Days of Finding God. Each day I am going to use a prompt from Kate and incorporate that into how I am finding God in my everyday!

Today’s prompt is Rest! 

Resting is not something that comes easily to me. I know that probably sounds crazy, but I rarely take time to sit down and just relax.

Take today for instance, we got home from church and had lunch and then Dominic asked me what I wanted to do today.

The truth was I just wanted to lay on the couch and watch reruns of “Say Yes to the Dress”, but instead I started thinking about the list of things that I probably should do instead….

Laundry, can salsa, make the dessert for small group, vacuum, deal with the quickly aging nectarines in the fridge, build shelves in the garage and basement…the list goes on and on.

And so instead of finding time for rest we go, and go, and go.

It can make us so weary can’t it?

If I take an afternoon and just do mindless sitting I feel guilty. Do you find yourself feeling that way too?

But even God rested. After creating the planet and everything in it, God rested on the 7th day.

So why is it so hard for us to do the same?

I think that as a society we have come to find our worth in all that we do. If we are busy we must be doing something right.

But one can only run at that pace for so long before it takes a toll on the body, mind and spirit.

Today I am challenging myself to finding rest. It may not be every day, but I think it is important to slow down at times and just be still.

It will be a fight for me because it doesn’t come naturally, but I think that if I can embrace rest more I will find that it will refresh my heart and soul. And quite frankly I need that. Don’t we all?!

Do you find it easy to make time for rest? What is your favorite thing to do – I’d love to hear and then maybe just maybe I will try some of your tips for myself!! 🙂

In Him, Kristin

Photo Credit: Oliver Kendal

Thank you for joining me in my series 31 Days of Finding God. Each day I am going to use a prompt from Kate and incorporate that into how I am finding God in my everyday!

Todays prompt is Teach!

I had a different post in mind for today, but God taught me a lesson in the moments of today that I decided to share that instead.

Today I woke up with a massive headache. Like the type that started while I was sleeping. I was dreaming that I had a terrible headache and then I woke up and realized that it wasn’t a dream. 🙁 A couple of Excedrine and some time with ice packs on my head and neck and I started feeling a little better.

The boys had haircuts this morning and we made very last minute plans to meet my friend Heather to get our family pictures taken. Our schedules are pretty full the next few weeks and I was worried that we wouldn’t have another time to get them done before it got super cold here.

So we set out to meet her early this afternoon. The kids did ok. They always say they are going to behave and smile but the reality is they only mean that for maybe 3 pictures and then they are done. I think Heather was able to get a few shots where we were all looking and hopefully didn’t appear stressed! 🙂

After the pictures we followed Heather to her home. We maybe, sorta bribed Karlena a little with seeing the horses Heather has. Behave and smile…get to see horses. You understand right?!

The minute we pulled in Karlena spotted the horses and RAN towards them. Never mind the electric fence, she wouldn’t care she just wanted to ride.

Now let me remind you that Karlena is 3 1/2. She has been on a horse one other time. That’s it, but you wouldn’t know it.

She waited as patiently as she was able for Heather and Ashton to get the horse ready to ride.

She is a natural. She has no fear sitting on top of that massive animal. She just trusts that it will take her in the right direction.

She liked riding with Ashton, but what she really wanted was to ride on her own. She didn’t want to follow, she wanted to lead. She wanted to be in the driver’s seat.

Because Heather had taught her own daughter to ride she knew that Karlena couldn’t be trusted to go on her own. So she took the reins and helped to lead Karlena around the yard.

Karlena kept asking why she couldn’t just hold the reins?! And we would reminder her that she hadn’t learned yet how to ride, she needed more training…she needed someone to teach her the way to go.

Karlena wasn’t a fan of this. She thought she knew best even when she didn’t.

Aren’t I just the same in my relationship with God?

I feel comfortable with something, think that I have it all under control, and then try and take the reins of my life back.

But the reality is that God is teaching me all the time. I believe that until He calls me home, I will be learning lessons. The question really is, am I willing to let Him lead me?

Will I trust that He knows best? Believe that God has more to teach me each new day? Or will I be over confident and insist that “I can do it!!”

Yes there are times that “freedom” to run might feel like the best option, but if I stay safe in my Father’s care, listening and being open to His teachings, I can let my hair fall back, close my eyes, and trust that He will lead me. There is freedom in that reality too friends, I have seen it in my daughter.

Thank you Lord for the lessons you teach me when I least expect it!!

May the ride be beautiful for you today! 

In Him, Kristin

Photo Credit: Denise Carbonell

Thank you for joining me in my series 31 Days of Finding God. Each day I am going to use a prompt from Kate and incorporate that into how I am finding God in my everyday!

Sometimes I forget how much the little things can make a difference, until I experience it for myself.

Last Wednesday I had shared a prayer request with some friends at church. That evening that we were together the group prayed for me and my family. I am so blessed to be surrounded by a community of people that pray with and for me.

On Sunday one of the women in the group approached me and she asked how things were going. It was an open door to be able to share a little of my heart.

Taking those leaps of faith can be hard can’t they?

I would much rather not share any of the “bad” with you, save my pride and reputation and just look all put together.

But the reality is that I am not all put together most of the time. 

Being able to share the difficult and find acceptance is so important. I hope that I will always be a safe place like that for others.

Both of those things really showed me that I was cared for. But then this friend took it another step further and emailed me yesterday…just asking once again how things were and ending the email with “we have all been there at one time or another…”

We can show how much we care for others by just taking the time to make a call, send an email, be that safe place for another to share a struggle.

It makes a difference.

We might not always get that feedback, we might not always find someone who is willing to share the hard things. But if we don’t put ourselves out there as that safe place,  we may miss an opportunity to show someone how much we care.

This experience reminded me that I need to be willing to ask how others are doing, follow up with a call or an email, lift them up in prayer and be that person willing to show how much they care.

Can you think of a time when you were cared for in a wonderful way? Please share in the comments!

In Him, Kristin

Photo Credit: Barbro Andersen

Thank you for joining me in my series 31 Days of Finding God. Each day I am going to use a prompt from Kate and incorporate that into how I am finding God in my everyday!

Today’s prompt is Know!

I started a new Hello Mornings study today and we are looking at the book of Matthew. Today we were asked to read Matthew 1: 1-25 and consider the character of Joseph.

As I read I was immediately struck at the fact that Joseph had a dream where an angel told him to make Mary his wife and when he woke from his sleep he did what the angel of the Lord commanded him.

He didn’t question if it was real or not (at least the scripture doesn’t tell us that)…he just woke and did as he was commanded.

Now I haven’t yet had a dream where an angel told me to do something that God was commanding…but if I did would I wake and do it? Why did Joseph?

I believe that it is because Joseph KNEW God. He knew his character, knew what was true about God and the prophecies about His Son.

He didn’t question what he was being asked to do because His Father was doing the asking.

If we want to hear God’s voice, we need to spend time getting to know Him. (<====Click to Tweet)

I am honestly not great at this. I am getting better, but I know I could do so much more.

Find something that works for you, whether it is a bible study, time in prayer, worship music…spend time getting to know God.

When we know Him, and we do hear His voice, we won’t question what we are being asked.

I remember a situation when I was getting ready one morning and had been praying and a thought came to mind that I needed to do something very specific for someone. It seemed like a crazy idea…but I acted on it. I reached out and learned that morning a prayer request was being made for the exact thing I thought of….

It was a total God moment and I was blessed to be a part of it.

God works through us. But we have to have willing hearts to hear His message. I don’t think I would have heard that message if I hadn’t been spending time in prayer with God each morning.

Spend time getting to know God, and in doing so it opens up so many opportunities to be His hands and feet.

In Him, Kristin

Thank you for joining me in my series 31 Days of Finding God. Each day I am going to use a prompt from Kate and incorporate that into how I am finding God in my everyday!

Today’s prompt is New!

Last weekend my husband helped me with a fun project. I had these large letters from Dayspring but I wasn’t sure how or where to hang them. My duct tape idea failed and proved that duct tape isn’t always the best solution! Who knew?! 🙂

So Dominic suggested building a frame for the letters to sit in and on Saturday he set to work. He built it and I painted it. I love how it fills our room. It is a daily reminder that because of Christ ALL things can be redeemed.

But sometimes even though I know that fact, I still wonder if the promise can be true for someone like me?

Because the reality is, I mess up all the time.

I say things that hurt feelings, act impulsively, hold grudges and snap at my kids. And that was just in the last 24 hours! :/

Sigh.

But this afternoon I was reminded that even when we don’t deserve grace, it is offered to us. I was extended grace and a chance to start over new.

I have to tell you that I hate that I have so many examples of how badly I mess up. I never wanted God to get me so much “material” this way! 🙂 But if the mistakes and subsequent redemption from them can ultimately lead to seeing God’s glory…well it is worth it.

Each day, each moment, we are given the opportunity to start over again. These new beginnings need to start with repentance, and a willing heart for God to make us a new creation in Him.

So that is my prayer for myself today. That I would be seeking God, with an open and willing heart to do the hard work. Work that will honor the One who made this all possible.

In Him, Kristin