Thankfulness

 “Thankfulness to God is a recognition that God in His goodness and faithfulness has provided for us and cared for us, both physically and spiritually.  It is a recognition that we are totally dependent upon Him; that all that we are and have comes from God.” — Jerry Bridges 

For the past month, every Sunday, I share on FB what I’m thankful for the previous week in pictures. Gratitude starts with me and my heart’s posture towards God. As Christians, we have so much to be thankful for. May we remember it all year long. 

1 Thessalonians 5:18 

Marriage Rocks

 I lost my wedding band the other day. I must confess it was weird not proclaiming the truth of my marriage by this symbol. As this ring is a complete circle...it reminds me my marriage takes no breaks, it is to last, and I should strive for purity. 

Marriage rocks.

-Joe

Dehydration

If a person is on the journey of faith for any period of time, you will know that there are ups and downs. One of the things to notice is that when you feel thirsty on a hike, you need to drink water, when your thirsty you are headed to the point of dehydration and maybe even exhaustion.

So when you only pray when you feel desperate, you are most likely suffering from some sort of spiritual dehydration or even exhaustion.

Why is this possible? Because the necessary means of abiding or remaining in Christ are not present in your life or your motives are impure. You see if we look at as spiritual boxes to check, that’s all it is, a sense of duty but that’s not enjoyable. It becomes another addition to the never-ending list that you already have.

May we drink from the fountain and eat from the source so that we will always be satisfied with what truly keeps us satisfied.

-Joe

October Book Stack 📚

 New book stack! 

1️⃣ Transformed by Truth by Katherine Forster

2️⃣ Sacred Privilege by Kay Warren 

3️⃣ Emptied by Wynter and Jonathan Pitts

4️⃣ Letters to Pastors’ Wives exited by Catherine J. Stewart

5️⃣ Becoming Elisabeth Elliot by Ellen Vaughn 

What are you reading right now?

He is faithful

 πιστός

faith·ful

/ˈfāTHfəl/

loyal, constant, and steadfast

God is faithful. 

He’s faithful in your affliction. 

He’s faithful in your weariness. 

He’s faithful in your mundane. 

He’s faithful in your joy. 

He’s faithful in your loneliness. 

He’s faithful in your confusion. 

He’s faithful in your waiting. 

He’s faithful in your anxiety. 

He’s faithful in the ordinary. 

Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. 

-Hebrews 10:23

God is faithful. He never fails. #preachingtomyself

Decorating

 “A man who has a layover at an airport does not go into the bathroom, frown at its decor, and start redecorating! Why? Because he doesn’t live there. He has a home in another place. While he is away he will get by with only what he absolutely needs, to have more money with which to furnish his permanent home.”

—Michael P. Green

I don’t know about you, but my soul longs for Heaven. Where there won’t be anymore pain or suffering. To combat this sometimes I try to make this side of Heaven more comfortable. I’m decorating airport bathrooms. 🥴 This world is not my home. One day I will receive my inheritance. “...An inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.” - 1 Peter 1:4-5

Fair Trade Friday September Box

 This month’s Fair Trade Friday box was un-🐝-lievable! The theme for September’s box was Bee Kind. It included:

1️⃣ Honeycomb Soap Bar made refugees resettled in Houston, Texas. I love the honeycomb design on the top of the soap! K says it smells like an oatmeal cookie! 

2️⃣ Ceramic Beehive Soap Dish made by Prodigal Pottery in Birmingham, Alabama. They offer employment to wen who are fleeing homelessness, domestic abuse, and sex-trafficking. The soap dish has a honeycomb design complete with little bee 🐝 imprints! 

3️⃣ Raw Honey Sampler made by Hon’s Honey in Baltimore, Maryland. They offer dignified work to women at risk of addiction, abuse, poverty, sex-trafficking, and prostitution. 🍯 

4️⃣ Wooden Honey Dipper made by Ethikos Home in Thailand. Artisans rely on orders like this one to earn enough to sustain their families. Creating these honey dippers provided 33 people with 937 hours of dignified work.

5️⃣ Gold Hexagon Earrings made by Starfish Project in Eastern Asia. They help provide exploited women in Eastern Asia with the opportunity to experience freedom, establish independence, and develop careers. Purchases of Starfish Project help provide employment, safe housing, counseling, vocational training, and educational opportunities. This order of earrings created 311 hours of work for 18 employees. 

6️⃣Gratitude Bracelet made by Mercy House Global in Kenya. Started in 2010, Mercy House started with a dream to help pregnant teen moms in Nairobi, Kenya. Now, Mercy House fully funds 3 maternity homes in Kenya funded by generous families who believe in their mission. 

What’s your favorite item?

September Book Stack 📚

 New book stack! 

1️⃣ Gentle and Lowly by Dane Ortlund

2️⃣ Anxious for Nothing by John MacArthur 

3️⃣ Across the Street and Around the World by Jeannie Marie

4️⃣ Wherever You Go, I want You to Know by Melissa Kruger This book is so cute! You’ll want this for any kids in your life! ❤️

What are you reading right now?

Jesus is Better

Jesus is better.

He’s better than being rich.

He’s better than your relationships. 

He’s better than your stuff. 

He’s better than living in comfort. 

He’s better than your political affiliation. 

He’s better than food. 

He’s better than your job.

There’s nothing in all of creation that’s better than Him. Chasing after worldly things that could be gone at any moment only leaves us thirsty for more. Only Jesus satisfies the hole in our soul. #preachingtomyself

Rejoice Always

 In 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 it says, “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” 

In my selfishness I’d like to think that God can’t possibly mean ALL circumstances, right? Surely, whatever I’m struggling with is not something to rejoice over! 

It’s not that we should be grateful for evil, but that we KNOW God is going to bring some kind of good through every circumstance. God wastes nothing. 

Instead of focusing on the circumstance we’re struggling with, we should ask ourselves, “How can I glorify God through this situation?”

August Book Stack 📚

 New book stack! 

1️⃣ Before You Open Your Bible by Matt Smethurst

2️⃣ You’re Not Enough (and that’s okay) by Allie Beth Stuckey 

3️⃣ Praying Together by Megan Evans Hill 

4️⃣ Beautifully Distinct edited by Trillia Newbell 

5️⃣ 12 Faithful Women: Portraits of Steadfast Endurance edited by Melissa Kruger & Kristen Wetherell

What are you reading right now?

June Fair Trade Friday Box

 🌮Let’s Taco ‘bout this Fair Trade Friday box this month! 🌮 

It’s so fun! Did I mention it includes a tortilla recipe? 😋 

1️⃣ The first item is a fabric tortilla warmer made by Ziyada in India. This order of tortilla Warner helped them to keep running during this hard economic time. 

2️⃣ The second items is the metal taco holder made by Noah’s Ark in India. 

3️⃣ The third item is a medium salsa spice blend by Women’s Bean Project in the USA. 

4️⃣ The fourth item is Let’s Taco ’Bout It Conversation Cards! They’re fun questions to spice up family conversations. These cards also feature artwork from the girls Mercy House Global. “Rehema Rescue Center, the flagship ministry of Mercy House Global, operates three maternity homes in Kenya where more than 50 teen mothers have been offered a second chance and empowered through hope and dignity. One of the most cherished activities at Rehema House is the annual art camp, where the girls learn new creative skills and gain self-esteem. Sana’a, which means “work of art “in Swahili, celebrates the therapeutic process by turning the girls’ unique creations into beautiful works of art.

What item is your favorite?

June Book Stack 📚

 New book stack...

1️⃣ Everyday Faithfulness by Glenna Marshall 

2️⃣ This Changes Everything by Jaquelle Crowe

3️⃣ A Place to Belong by Megan Evans Hill 

4️⃣ Growing Together by Melissa Kruger 

5️⃣ Show Her the Way by Mary Margaret West 

What are you reading right now?

April Book Stack 📚

 New Book stack and quarantine reads...

1️⃣ The Little Woman by Gladys Aylward and Christine Hunter

2️⃣ The Pastor’s Wife by Gloria Furman  

3️⃣ Nothing to Envy by Barbara Demick 

4️⃣ Stop Calling Me Beautiful by Phylicia Masonheimer  

5️⃣ Word-Filled Women’s Ministry by Gloria Furman & Kathleen B. Nielson 

6️⃣ Saints & Scoundrels by Nancy Guthrie

7️⃣ Suffering is Never for Nothing by Elisabeth Elliot

8️⃣ Identity Theft by Melissa Kruger 

What are you reading right now? 

March Book Stack 📚

New book stack... 

1️⃣ The Freedom of Self-Forgetfulness by Tim Keller 

2️⃣ Jesus, Keep Me Near the Cross by Nancy Guthrie

3️⃣ Enough About Me by Jen Oshman

4️⃣ Foundations by Troy and Ruth Chou Simons

5️⃣ Made to Move Mountains by Kristen Welch  

6️⃣ Worthy by Elyse Fitzpatrick and Eric Schumacher

7️⃣ Teach Me to Feel by Courtney Reissig

What are you reading right now?