Tag: Faith

Look for the Father

"Don't be alarmed," he said. "You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him." 
(Mark 16:6 NIV)

“Where’s Daddy?” Every morning, when my daughter wakes up, she asks for her Daddy. I watch her walk from room to room searching for him. As her sleepy eyes fully wake up and she sees her Daddy, she becomes more settled. In her three year old mind, all is right in her world and she can start her day. I love the relationship she has with her Dad, and that she is determined to connect with him.

Just like my daughter searches for her earthly Father, God desires for us to look for Him, our Heavenly Father. After Jesus’ death, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome were looking for Jesus’ body and they were disappointed when he wasn’t there. But praise God that Christ rose for you and I!

As we celebrate Resurrection Sunday this weekend, I invite you to look for the Father with a fresh set of eyes and renewed focus.

Photo Credit: Canva
  • Look for the Father in both quiet time and the busyness of life.
  • Look for the Father in a still small voice and a loud one.
  • Look for the Father in the beauty of nature and through the questions of a child.
  • Look for the Father in the church pew and the grocery store.

When we look for God, our Heavenly Father, He openly welcomes us to come to Him with a childlike trust and grow in relationship with Him.

Happy Resurrection Sunday to you!

Blessings,

Kirstyn

Action Question: How will you look for the Father in new and refreshing ways in your life? Let me know in the comments.

Woman of Hope: Tiffany Phillips

During the next couple of weeks, I will be sharing stories of hope from dynamic women who have deepened their faith and trust in God.  Despite life’s challenges and unexpected turns, each woman has chosen to maintain her hope in God for strength, courage, and wisdom.  Each story has inspired me and I hope that their stories of hope will encourage you as well!

  Meet Tiffany Phillips and read her story, in her own words:

Tiffany Phillips
Photo Credit: Tiffany Phillips

“My daughter was born two months early, at 29 weeks and 3 days, weighing 2 pounds and 2 ounces. She spent 44 long days in the NICU. It was one of the most challenging seasons of my life; however, the Lord was my hope. I put my trust in Him, and not in what I could see. What I saw everyday was contrary to what I knew to be true based on my faith. It’s my desire to share my story with as many women as possible. Giving all glory and honor to God!”

Tiffany A. Phillips is wife, mom, professional bodybuilder (it’s true), lifestyle blogger, and lover of Jesus. She enjoys working out, spending quality time with family and friends, traveling, cooking, and eating good food. Connect with Tiffany at www.teawithtiffanyp.com where she spills the tea on relational, spiritual, and physical fitness. 

5 Self-Care Suggestions for Free

“Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.”~ I Corinthians 6:19-20 (NIV)

 

I realize that if I don’t take care of myself, no one else will. Practicing ongoing self-care is a daily decision that is necessary to prevent burnt out, and for me to have a stronger physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being. When I feel better and serve from a full cup, I am able to give to others with gladness and accomplish my God-given purpose with vigor.  God calls us to take care of our bodies and minds as an act of worship, but why do we continually place our personal well being as last priority?  I get it.  Life happens.  Our days are filled with commitments, activities, and responsibilities. However, God will equip us with the energy, time, and tools needed to take care of ourselves, but we must first pause, breathe, and surrender. 

I invite you to invest in at least 20 minutes of daily self-care. Do something that edifies and enriches your body and spirit.  Make a list of a few things that you enjoy doing that will fill you up. You matter! 

Below are 5 self-care suggestions that you can do that are completely free:

  1. Drink water
  2. Take a walk
  3. Listen to your favorite song
  4. Read your favorite scripture or book
  5. Journal

This list are a few suggestions that you can try, or come up with your own!  Invest in you!  God has called you to do great things, but don’t neglect your self-care any longer!  Make you a priority!

Prayer: Dear God, thank you for providing me with all I need to make self-care a priority.  Please forgive me for times when I have neglected self-care, and thank you for a fresh start.  Thank you for filling me up and re-energizing me in your presence. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Reflection Question:   What is one thing that you will commit to doing for self-care?

Leave a Lasting Legacy

Earlier this week, my husband, daughter and I traveled to Ohio to visit my grandmother for her 92nd birthday!  It was an awesome celebration and time for my 6 month old daughter, Naomi to meet her great-grandmother.  As I observed their sweet interactions, I began to reflect on the legacy of faith, love, and compassion that my grandmother embodies and that her legacy will live on in the family and friends that she has impacted.  I asked myself, what will my legacy be?  God has given us all a specific purpose and gifts to use to advance God’s kingdom.  I would hope that my legacy would be one of kindness, love, compassion, service, and faith.

As you serve each day in the area that God has called you to, I invite you to think about what lasting legacy you want to leave.  Is it one of love, humility, kindness, compassion or service to others?  Is what you do more important than who you are?  Ultimately, God is more concerned with our character than our career.  Be encouraged and reminded that God wants you to live out your calling for today and for future generations.  Live for a lasting legacy today!

Prayer for Today

Dear God,

Thank you for allowing me to have a lasting legacy for future generations.  Please give me guidance and wisdom on what is most important to focus on when creating a legacy.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Question for Today:

What character trait do you have that you want to be apart of your legacy?  Celebrate!

Roll Call: Be Present Today

“Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”~ Matthew 6:34 (NIV)

In elementary school, I remember when my teacher would call each name on the roster for morning attendance.  When I heard my name called, I would proudly say, “present or here!”  When the teacher called a student who was absent, there was a deafening silence and everyone knew who didn’t make it to school that day.  For the student who was absent who returned the next day, he or she was forced to play catch up with missing concepts or assignments.  Similarly to an absent student, we too can be absent from enjoying the beautiful experiences of the present moment.  Too often, we allow our worries about the future diminish our ability to be fully present each day.  We may be physically present, but our minds are distracted and attention divided.  If you are struggling in this area, I encourage you to pause and pray to God for guidance on how you can be more present and enjoy each day.  God desires for us to live full, abundant lives, but we must first surrender our worries completely.

Matthew 6:34 reminds us to not worry about tomorrow, because each day has its own challenges to focus on. I recognize that to stop worrying is a process and takes time, but the good news is that God willingly will guide us.  I invite you to exchange your worry for enjoyment.  

I invite you to be present today. Be present to feel the warmth of the sun or listen to your heartbeat breathing.  Enjoy the laughter and curiosity of your children or take a walk to enjoy God’s nature. Sit down and eat a meal with family or close friends, instead of mealtime being a rushed ritual. Take five or ten minutes to call or text a friend to let them know that you are thinking of him or her.  Let God lead and direct your future so that it frees you up to not be absent from today. Tomorrow is not promised. Be present for the moments that matter!

Prayer for Today: Dear God, thank you for always wanting the very best for me including me to be fully present each day.  Forgive me for times when I have worried so much about the future that I have been absent from the present.  Continue to place in me a spirit of gratitude for the blessings that you continually give.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Reflection for Today:    Name one specific way that you can be more present today in your life?  What practical step can you take?

Lead Me to the Cross

“But he was pierced for our transgressions,he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.”~Isaiah 53:5 (NIV)

Life is messy at times with unexpected twists, turns, hurt, pain, and betrayals.  When you are going through uncomfortable and painful seasons of life, it doesn’t feel good.  Jesus’ journey to the cross was messy, painful, and full of betrayal.  Yet, Jesus went anyway. As we grow closer in our relationship with Christ, we can’t gloss over the messy parts of life.  Jesus’ journey to the cross was messy, uncomfortable, and extremely painful.  In the midst of our pain, God is still leading us to the cross. Despite the ultimate death that Jesus knew he would face, he pressed forward surrendering to God’s will. We must be willing to confront and grow through the uncomfortable seasons.  It is natural and easy to want to quit, become cynical or remain frustrated.  However, God didn’t send Jesus to die on the cross for us to throw in the towel.

Jesus endured an agonizing road to death that was painful and messy.  Jesus’ guiding motivation for death was his great love for us! He did it so that you and I can live in freedom and overcome sin and the challenges of this world.  You may be in an extremely painful season of disappointment, loss, uncertainty, or resentment.  I invite you to keep moving toward the cross.  Your road may be hard and unrelenting.  God is present with you in your pain.  Draw close to God through prayer, worship, and communion.  It is in the messy parts of our lives that we are reminded of God’s ultimate sovereignty.

During this Lenten season, embrace and sit with the messy parts of your life that God wants to uproot and restore.  At the cross of Jesus, there is burden, beauty, pain and promise.

Invitation to Prayer:

Dear God,

Thank you for your continued presence in my life including the messy and uncomfortable parts.  Thank you that you endured a painful road and death on the cross so that I may have life.  Help me to not shy away from the tough parts of life but run to you.  Thank you for guiding and directing me during each season.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Question for Application:

What is one uncomfortable or messy part of your life that you can ask God for guidance in surrendering?

Have a great week!

Kirstyn

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