Breathing Room For The Soul

Have you ever felt like your fighting a losing game? Like you just can’t learn all the tips & tricks and remain completely sane? Today is my “learning day”, my coffee shop quite time to scour the web for helpful ideas to better my life. I take some courses on design, sip some coffee, get social media content prepared, sip some coffee, brainstorm ideas, and sip some more coffee.;) I love these days, friends meet up, older gentlemen read in a corner and some (like me) enjoy the solace of a good atmosphere & light jazz. But as I connect to the internet & start my learning a feeling of discontentment hits me. I can’t learn it all in a day and more often than not that frustrates me. Yet as I type these words I ask God to come & sit with me at this wobbly table. To draw near and fill the void that is in this fickle soul. Truth is, only He can take my discontent & exchange it for a content spirit. I set aside my ideas and accept the plans He has for my life and I hear my self exhaling. I think learning to be content comes when we choose not to focus on the content we want to create. Ok God...how do you want my day to go? What do you want to teach me? The definition of content is: to be in a state of peaceful happiness and a state of satisfaction. Well there isn’t anything or anyone that can bring me the peace that Jesus can. There’s no spa day good enough, beach trip long enough or essential oil strong enough to take the place of the peace of God. … [Read more...]

“Let us be silent that we may hear the whisper of God.” Anon. I Kings 19: 4-12 But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness and came and sat down under a broom tree. And he prayed that he might die, and said, “It is enough! Now, Lord, take my life, for I am no better than my fathers!” Then as he lay and slept under a broom tree, suddenly anangel touched him, and said to him, “Arise and eat.” Then he looked, and there by his head was a cake baked on [c]coals, and a jar of water. So, he ate and drank, and lay down again. And the angel of the Lord came back the second time, and touched him, and said, “Arise and eat, because the journey is too great for you.” So, he arose, and ate and drank; and he went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights as far as Horeb, the mountain of God. And there he went into a cave, and spent the night in that place; and behold, the word of the Lord came to him, and He said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” So, he said, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God of hosts; for the children of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. I alone am left; and they seek to take my life.” Then He said, “Go out, and stand on the mountain before the Lord.” And behold, … [Read more...]

Every time... Every-time I go to help my sweet padré order something or login to an account, we can't remember his password or the right username. Let me just pause right here before I get emails explaining that we should keep every password the same thing, we tried that  & we still have to call the government every time.  Well this morning I found myself hoping & praying that my computer remembered my passcode for me, haha. I guess its all in the family. When my eyes saw the profile dashboard I was relieved and it resonated with what God has been helping me with.  If I had forgotten the passcode & had to spend an hour trying to get into the site God would not love me any less. It seems that when I fail God or I fail my own expectations for God I approach Him like His love is running through an hourglass- with only enough sand for one more mistake. I come to Him head hung, wondering if He even wants to talk to me or hear my apology.  Processed with VSCO with ke1 preset Lets start there...thats a ridiculous thought. The one who moved Heaven & Earth just to spend time with us, WANTS to spend time with us, even when we disappoint Him. He wants to walk with us, share our hurts and burdens and talk with us. This is the whole reason for His coming!  I love how The Message translation puts Isaiah 26:1-4! It's talking of how God is letting His children into the City of God, 3-4 stating:People with their minds set on you, you … [Read more...]

  We have some exciting news! Even more exciting than the fact that there is more Christmas decor than fall decor already in the stores!. I secretly can't believe that we are almost to November! 2018 has flown by and we are thankful for all the Lord has done as we move into cooler days and longer nights. Oh yes, exciting news! This is news that we have wanted to release for a long time, even before we had anything "in the works." You see, when we began this blog, we wanted to create an environment where ladies came from all different stages and walks of life for one purpose: to learn more about the incredible beautiful grace of God. All while encouraging one another and encouraging a healthy, beautiful relationship between a mother and a daughter. This past weekend we did our first conference together in Cedar Falls, Iowa! My mom shared her story and how God's grace wanted her when it seemed no one else did. I, Elena, led the ladies into worship reminding all of us that there is none as powerful and none so true as our Savior and friend. Have you ever felt like you were "too far gone?" Or, maybe you've thought, "God has had enough of my repeated prayers". The accuser has used your past to try & define your future making you believe that you could never be accepted again by anyone lest alone the Creator of ALL. I have news for you...nothing can separate you from the love of  God-N O T H I N G! GOD'S GRACE WANTS YOU! This grace is not made of flesh. It cannot be … [Read more...]

How can I do less than give my best? When Jesus gave His all! May this prayer encourage and strengthen you to go and share the Gospel in His name however He wants YOU to share Him . . . we go, because He came!   Because You Came –   Hope rises out of hopelessness      Fallen humanity can know restoration         We can bring our needs to the One True       Holy God and call Him Father.     Our unworthiness is swallowed up in the worthiness of You. You make us Holy. Because You Came –    Life results after death        Joy within all earthly sorrow          Peace within our pain        In the middle of our “lostness” You find us    You take our shame, our guilt Forgive our sin. Because You Came –    And gave Your all for me       My heart bursts with love         And gratefulness flows from my heart     Expressed in worship, awe, love, & praise!   No longer am I worthless – You have bought me I am Yours! Because You Came –    With brokenness, I humbly give myself,       My life, my all to You         “Live through me” becomes the passion of       My heart cry, my soul    Because You came I gladly Go! By: Janene A. Dubbeld/FGG   … [Read more...]

  A couple Thursday evenings ago our family was gifted 4 Green Bay packer tickets. Growing up in a family of die hard colts fans, you can imagine the mixed emotions! My youngest brother though, has parted over into the dark side & has been a packer fan for a few years now. Every time we visit WI, he is one blessed boy! We decided to put our differences aside for one evening & make it an enjoyable time for B! Into the Uber we go, off to Lambeau Field. We got there & in our seats an hour before the game would begin even after I had delayed us. So we watched as green & mustard yellow people filled the stadium. Big & small ones, short & tall ones-all there to scream & cheer for their favorite team (most of them wearing cheese hats, my brother included) The game began, I tried to figure out what was going on while acting like I knew. Finally I just figured if they had the ball, it was good! Lol Because they were not really my team & because I was the only girl in the group I became the refill runner & nacho nagger. Lol The 2nd quarter was winding down & I headed down to get some snacks for everyone before the halftime crowd emerged. In search for cheese-curds I looked up to see a big black sign with a girl jumping over a poll on it. It read “we write the comeback stories” & all of the sudden refills, cheese curds & nachos didn’t matter. It hit me as hard as one of those big guys on the field was … [Read more...]

Wisconsin is a lovely state! Rolling grassy hills dotted with red barns and milk cows. Homemade cheese and “squeaky” cheese curds. Lakes, rivers, forests.... it is quite lovely! The people are lovely too! Their kind smiles exude a steady warmth and a strength lies within them that seems born from making it harsh winter winds until the sun shines bright again. Process. Wisconsin folk understand good things often take necessary process. Cheese.... must process. Milk... you feed the cow, milk the cow...and there is a process from the barn to the table! This year I heard of something else “good “ that takes process! A certain plant grows up here and has a large, purple cluster like blossom. I saw some blooming along a sidewalk but had no idea what they were. After ministering in a concert, I was sitting around the table with a new found friend. As we talked together, my friend told me about lemonade being made from this blossom. But the thing that struck me was she said, “After you pick it you have to bruise the head “... and then it can be made into great tasting lemonade. The sweet taste only came from the bruising. Trials kind of feel at times like we are being bruised and battered. But, our kindhearted Heavenly Father would never allow anything into our lives without a greater purpose. Sweeter, more understanding, a depth in our kindness, and love are all brought about through the trials He allows to work in our lives. It’s all a part of the process. … [Read more...]