It’s the last Sunday of the month, and today the preciousness of life is on my heart.
Recently, just two doors down, a neighbor feel into cardiac arrest and died on his front stoop. Rescuers worked for almost an hour to resuscitate him to no avail.
THE PRECIOUSNESS OF LIFE
It made me realize just how precious life is, how quickly it can be taken away, and how much you need to love your loved ones because you never know when it will be your turn to return home.
We all know there is a better place, but it’s so hard for us since all we know is this side of heaven on Earth. Furthermore, none of us want to leave our loved ones behind.
Life is so precious; we need to hold it tight.
All of my animals are aging. My Dane had to go to the vet a couple of weeks back (luckily, it wasn’t cancer).
We know death is inevitable, but that doesn’t make it any easier to handle.
So today, love on your loved ones. Tell them you love them. Give them hugs and kisses. Appreciate life while it’s here.
The summer is full of fun adventures, time outdoors, and a relaxed routine. However, it is just because of this change in routine that keeping up with your Bible study can be a challenge during the summer months. After all, you’re tempted away by so many fun and varied outdoor activities. In this blog post, I’ll examine ways to stay in the Word during the summer months away from a structured Bible study. Contact me today!
HOW TO STUDY THE BIBLE DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS
Set aside time first thing in the morning. When God is first in your life, you should put His Word first as well. In the morning, set aside time to study God’s word, and make it part of your routine. For example, wake up, make coffee, pray, and then open the Word and see what God has to say to you.
Don’t make Bible study in-depth. Sure, God wants us to study His Word closely so we can apply it to our life. However, that doesn’t mean we should wait until we have a three hour block free to do so because, for most of us, that will never happen. Hence, set aside just 5 or 10 minutes a day to be in the Word.
Make Bible study a play date. Invite your friends over and their kids and while the kids are running around with their heads cut off, you can study the bible with your friends.
Do a lunch Bible study at work. Gather some friends at work to eat lunch and read the Bible together or do a small group Bible study.
Coffee and God. Coffee shops are great places to hold summer Bible studies. You can enjoy coffee (my favorite drink) with the company of friends while you discuss God’s Word. It might not get any more perfect!
Picnic and God. With the call of nature beckoning, you can study God’s word either alone or with friends by having a picnic in God’s creation. There’s something about nature that connects us to our Creator. Quite possibly you’ll hear from Him like you haven’t ever before.
These are some of my favorite ways to stay in the Word during the summer. Feel free to comment below with your favorite ways to stay close to God during the summer months, or share this with your friends on social media with the share buttons below. Contact me for more information!
I hope you all are having a fun, restful Memorial Day weekend!
In today’s coffee talk, solitude is on my heart.
I’ve been spending a lot of time alone lately, working out alone and in the house alone, since my kids are now older and spending more time with their friends. I’ve truly enjoyed these days (today is one of those days) where the house is silent, and it’s just me, the dogs, and the cats. And God. He’s always here.
SELF REFLECTION
I’ve found these days are great days to reflect on where you’re at in your life, where you want to go, what your goals and aspirations are, are you heading in the right direction, do you need to pivot, and what do you need to do in order to create where you want to be. Self-reflection is something we all need to do regularly in order to check in with ourselves and our goals.
For me, I’ve been thinking about leaving my job and putting my whole efforts into this blog, my other blogs, and a blogging business. I like my job; it’s good. But I am still tied down to a chair for 8 hours a day, and it’s starting to get to me. I like to be able to go on hikes with the kids when I want to, go to the gym when I want to, go to doctor’s appointments during the day, and go to the grocery store when it’s empty.
Furthermore, I work hard at my job, but I’m building someone else’s business. I want to build my business for the next 20 years; I want to do God’s work for me, not for someone else.
That’s been what I’ve been reflecting on lately.
What about you? Where are you at with life, with God, with your family, and with your purpose?
It’s the last Sunday of the month, and today rest is on my heart. I don’t sleep very much. I don’t have a hard time falling asleep, but I do have a hard time staying asleep. However, rest is crucial to so many bodily processes, such as healing and giving your brain the time it needs to process the day.
God showed us how to rest by resting on the seventh day, or Sunday for us now. Thus, it’s crucial for us to rest as well. It may not be on Sunday, especially if you work on weekends. But we all need to rest.
THE IMPORTANCE OF REST FOR YOUR HEALTH
For me, I grab the small moments of rest where I can — whether it’s sitting in the car, waiting for my kids to get out of school, at my son’s flag football game, or petting my dog or cat. Moments of reflection you could say. We need all kinds of rest — physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual — in order to function.
Rest is important. In today’s society, rest is often labeled as laziness. But days of “laziness” where you just recuperate at home are needed for your overall health and well being. So, take a moment today, and rest from activity. Read a book, the Bible, or have coffee with a friend and relax.
And if you have any good tips to share on how you squeeze in rest, leave a comment below. Happy Sunday!
It’s the last Sunday of the month, and today patience is on my heart.
I’m notoriously impatient. For example, my oldest daughter is learning to drive, and when she’s driving, I’ll tell her to speed up if I think she’s going too slow. Part of my impatience is that there’s just too much to do in my world and not enough time. Furthermore, I hate wasting time. As I age, I’m extremely cognizant of the fact that my time is limited here on the earth, so I have to make the most of it and not waste it. Look at what Jesus accomplished — all by the age of 33!
I sometimes feel the pressure of accomplishing things in my life. However, most of this is from myself. I have a lot of goals in my life and achieving them is top priority.
However, looking back on my life this past year, I’ve realized I’m achieved a lot — all because God was patient with me. I have a job that I like. I am physically where I need to be (although my weight is not where I want it). I am spiritually calm and growing. Mentally and emotionally, I’m in a good place. I can’t complain financially. My kids are growing rapidly, so I’m full-blow into the teenage years and all that that brings. My extended family is doing well — no major illnesses. Life is just truckin’ along — all in God’s patient plan.
So where are you seeing God’s patience in your life and where do you need God’s patience?
It’s the last Sunday of the month, and today perfection is on my heart.
The reason for this is two-fold:
I am struggling with my weight. I’ve gained 10 pounds, and I don’t like the way I look. I eat right. I’m exceedingly healthy. I have no health problems. I still look good, but not in my own eyes. I’m working with a nutritionist, and I still am not happy. I see no change, and I’m getting very frustrated with it all.
Proverbs 31. I just finished reading Proverbs 31 (which is Lesson 25, Day 5 for those of you wondering). This is the passage of The Wife of Noble Character in the Bible. I feel like I am most of those things, but I definitely fall short on some of them most days. I could definitely fear the Lord more, be more generous, and be more instructive with my tongue.
The definition of perfect is without defect. However, when I Googled, this is what I got: “having all the required or desirable elements, qualities, or characteristics; as good as it is possible to be.”
“As good as it is possible to be.” I think this is what we need to keep in mind when we strive for perfection.
Is it wrong to strive for perfection? Let’s put this another way: Is it wrong to strive to be like Jesus?
In our hearts, we all want to be perfect. Why? Why is this human desire there? Because Jesus was perfect and in the hearts of all people (whether they are a believer or not) is this desire to be perfect, to be like Jesus.
Should you strive to be perfect? Should you strive to be like Jesus? Duh, of course you should strive to be like Jesus. And Jesus was perfect.
Hence, I will keep up the battle. Because I don’t like to fail. And I don’t like to be defeated.
Food for me is a daily battle, and there are days when I feel like giving up. Let’s be honest: every day I feel like giving up.
Being like Jesus is a daily battle. Because most of the time I’m selfish and dislike doing things for other people, especially people I don’t know. It’s a daily battle to see with the eyes of God and give with the hands of Jesus.
Will I ever look perfect? No.
Will I ever be perfect like Jesus? No.
But I can be as good as it is possible to be. And that’s my new goal. What about you?
It’s the last Sunday of the month, and today complaining is on my heart.
I know we all complain. It’s human nature. However, the things we complain about the most shouldn’t really be complaints. For example, the schools our kids go to (at least they get to go to school), co-workers whom you feel aren’t doing their jobs (at least you have a job), driving in the snow (at least there is moisture to water our world), flying (at least airplanes exist), the toilet that isn’t working (thank God for indoor plumbing), or traffic that made you a few minutes late to work (at least we have cars).
My prayer today is for all of us to see the positives in this world instead of the negatives and to be grateful for the little things we “complain” about when in truth we have nothing at all to complain about in the 21st century.
We have God, and we have the Bible. Everything else is inconsequential.
One of my favorite gifts from God is coffee. Another one of my favorite gifts from God is you!
Coffee and God: Last Sunday of the Month Coffee Chat
Last month, I began a series for the last Sunday of the month where we can just bear whatever is on our hearts. You can post today about anything. It doesn’t have to be about God. You can vent, tell stories, and take a coffee break. Say what you would if you were having coffee with your best friend (or me!). This is your place to just be.
My Coffee and God Thoughts of the Month
The last few months I’ve been struggling with my weight and hormones. I just want to be healthy and feel good.
I’m praying for my kids as they all go back to school. That they settle back in and do well in their studies.
I’m praying my body holds up to what I put it through every day.
I’m praying for more sleep. I currently average only 5-6 hours, and I need more.
I’m praying I can maintain all the demands on me: my jobs, my kids, my spouse, and all the other roles I fulfill. I’m praying for strength and energy mostly.
I’m praying I can figure out my diet as I age and as my hormones do whatever they feel like doing each month.
I pray for all of my animals (one of my kitties is in kidney failure and is dying), so hoping her last days with us are full of love, happiness, and are pain-free.
Finally, the world is on my mind. I pray in general for people everywhere, other nations, etc.
I hope you enjoyed my thoughts. I’d love to hear yours so share away! Follow me on Pinterest if you’re so inclined.
One final thought: remember your blessings and be grateful for what you have. Remember you don’t deserve any of it. Remember what you do deserve, and your day will be brighter!
As I’m sitting here brainstorming ideas for this blog, my coffee is steaming. Its delectable aroma and satisfying smoothness soothe me like little else in this world.
Like everything in this world, coffee is a gift from God. He wants us to be happy and what else gives us such daily pleasure as coffee?
Coffee and God: Last Sunday of the Month Coffee Chat
Most of this blog is all business: God’s business. We chat about Bible Study Fellowship’s studies and questions. We pray for one another here. We come here for help with our BSF questions as we seek God’s answers. We may even come here for poetry and inspirational quotes and the occasional book recommendation.
Starting today, I want to “lessen our load” a bit by providing a forum for idle chit-chat. The last Sunday of the month I’ll post what’s happening in my mind and you can post what’s happening in yours. About anything. It doesn’t have to be about God or spiritual attributes. This can be where you vent or share an inspirational story from the month or just take a “coffee break” and relax and read what others are thinking. This is your place to just be.
My Coffee and God Thoughts of the Month
Today has been dominated with thoughts of this blog as I am anxiously awaiting the start of BSF’s study of the People of the Promised Land Part 1. I created a Pinterest account and a page specifically for Bible Study Fellowship’s People of the Promised Land Part 1 study. I am brainstorming lots of ideas to make this site easier to navigate.
I want to add more links in the sidebar to helpful resources for you during the upcoming study by BSF.
I’m brainstorming post ideas before the study so we can all jump in running when Bible Study Fellowship finally begins again in the Fall.
Other Random Thoughts Running Through my Brain…
I’m enjoying the lessening of the sunlight and the darker mornings.
I’m looking forward to the massage I have scheduled later today.
I’m petting one of my kitties!
I’m praying this week is God’s.
I hope you enjoy this inaugural edition of Coffee and God and add your thoughts as you’re sitting with God over coffee on this amazing Sunday morning, enjoying his blessings and gifts in our lives that we so very often overlook.
