The Quiet Place

This months theme here on the Quiet Place is repentance. When I thought about this months theme I found the verse above and was reminded that our sins are continually swept clean each and every day.  In this I find comfort, in the days where I feel like don't get enough done, or I am just worn out I am reminded of his grace in my life. When I think of repentance in my life I am reminded of all of the times that I have said "why" to God in whatever season I am in. Weather it be a season of waiting, or a season of struggle. It's always a reminder to see beauty in the struggle and the fact that no matter what God always gives me a clean slate.  Especially in those times when I wonder why I am still in this season of singleness, I stop and remember that there is beauty and purpose in this season that I'm in. There's also repentance,  and I am reminded that His mercies are new each morning, despite what I may be feeling. So sisters, every time we run fro...

Rest is the theme this month and i am so excited to dig in and soak up all that God has for us. So with that being said, today I want to talk more about rest. As you know our mission statement is "encouraging women to find rest in God." To me that's what it's all about, finding rest in him and his word.  When Hillary and I decided to do this blog a year ago, we knew that we wanted it to place where women could come to find rest in God and his word. When I think of rest i think of sitting in my favorite spot and opening up my bible and soaking up his word. I also think of the words of our foundation verse Matthew 11:28-30, where God tells us to rest our weary souls in him. He is the place that we should go to when the world get's to be too much, or were so stressed out that were going to explode. He is our resting spot, our place to lay our head down. John 15:4 says- " Remain in me, as I also remain in you.  No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must...

When i was thinking about Aprils theme of Purity, i thought of a hymn that they sing at my parents church. It's called "a pure heart".  The words: "A pure heart that's what I long for, a heart that follows hard after thee", are etched on my heart as I think about what it means to be pure, especially in the not so pure world that we live in. Webster dictionary defines pure as:  free from what vitiates, weakens, or pollutes,  containing nothing that does not properly belong.  This definition leaves me thinking about what God says about being pure in Philippians 2:15--   so  that you may become blameless  and pure, “children of God  without fault in a warped and crooked generation.”   Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky." This verse reminds us that as children of God we are to be pure and blameless. But in this world that we live in it's sometimes easier said than done. There are so many things trying to take ho...

Photo from here . Isaiah 58:11 And the Lord will guide you continually and satisfy your desire in scorched places and make your bones strong;and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water,whose waters do not fail. As we continue to focus on Grace this month I am continually reminded of God's love mixed in with the grace that he so freely gives us each and every day. Isaiah 58:11 is an amazing reminder of both his grace and love. "And the Lord will guide you continually and satisfy your desire in scorched places"--I love this part because it goes back to what I always remind myself of on a daily basis, that God always meets us right where we are at. He meet us in those scorched places of brokenness, pain, and even joy. He is right there guiding us down the path that he has planned out for us.  He is right there with us, despite our circumstances and in that I take comfort. As I listened to the story behind this song, I was reminded that even whe...

Psalm 130 "Out of the depths I cry to you, Lord; Lord, hear my voice. Let your ears be attentive to my cry for mercy.  If you, Lord, kept a record of sins, Lord, who could stand? But with you there is forgiveness, so that we can, with reverence, serve you. I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits, and in his word I put my hope. I wait for the Lord, more than watchmen wait for the morning, more than watchmen wait for the morning. Israel, put your hope in the Lord, for with the Lord is unfailing love and with him is full redemption. He himself will redeem Israel from all their sins." As i read Psalm 130 I was reminded of God's grace, which just happens to be our theme for this month.  "Out of the depths I cry to you, Lord; Lord, hear my voice. Let your ears be attentive to my cry for mercy. If you, Lord, kept a record of sins, Lord, who could stand? But with you there is forgiveness, so that we can, with reverence, serve you." The part that really tugg...

"I have loved you with an everlasting love"-- Jeremiah 31:3 The verse above tugged at my heart strings last week when I got it in my email. I was reminded of just much God loves each every one of us, which goes perfectly along with this months theme: God's Love.  Once i read Jeremiah 31:3 i couldn't get it out of my head the rest of the day and then into this past week in those hot mess singleness moments, I was reminded that God loves me more than I can even imagine. His love is unchanging, it's not conditional or dependent on something or someone. He gives us his love weather we take it or not, he still loves us despite what we do. The world says that love is found in a person or "Mr. Right". But Ladies, that's just a small part of love. There is greater love found in God. By seeking him and pursing him, that is where we find his love. Daily he is pursuing us, waiting for us to sit down with him and soak up the love that is found in his wor...

Jeremiah 17:7-8 says, “But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord , whose confidence is in him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.” When I read the verse above I was immediately reminded of what God has been teaching me lately, to trust in him even when I'm not sure where to go next. The first part of the verse really resonated with me: "But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him" These past few weeks in my first semester of Grad school these words have been true in my life as I  trust in his plan, and trust that he has me here for a reason. Having confidence in him.  But sometimes this trust is hard, it's hard to trust in his time and his plan. Especially when were in a season of waiting, or suffering, or we just feel lost all together, it ca...

above is a photo from a previous Devotional Monday. It's been a year since we've started the Quiet Place, and God has seriously taken this blog places we never thought it would go. There's truth in saying: his plans are always better than our own. Cause sisters they always are, this blog is proof of that. Also its been a year since I started Devotional Monday, when i first started this little devo, I hoped it would be a place where you get a little encouragement at the beginning of your week. Turns out, it's also encouraged me, i've shared my heart, my struggles, and everything else. It's been good. I started out in January talking about Grace . How grace comes at a cost and we don't always like it. And then i moved on to: Seek the Things Above, February: God's Love , Freedom in Christ , Faithfulness , Heart March: Abide in Him , Never Forsake You , Sacrifice , Words Have Power April: First(and only one) Devo monday blog on Prayer , S...

As i think about this months theme: trusting in God, I am reminded that his plans are way better than my own. He knows what I need, even when I'm sure that my "plan" is better. I am also reminded of the grace that he so freely gives to me, especially in those times when I don't always trust his good and perfect plan.  I am learning to be thankful for where I'm at instead of where I'm not, yes it's hard sometimes, i would be lying  to you if I said it was easy, cause it's not. But in the midst of the hard yet impatient seasons of my life, I am thankful for the grace that he so freely gives me each and every day. I was reading a devotional on grace a while ago, and what it said resonated with me so much, i am going to share it with you now: when we give someone grace it feels like were losing. It's like where telling them it's okay that you hurt me, when in our minds it's so not. When i think about this concept, i am reminded of God...

Currently I am reading the book: One thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp ,  It has truly made me see what is to be thankful, even for the most mundane or ordinary things. Ann says it best with this quote from the book: "Something always comes to fill the empty places. And when I give thanks for the seemingly microscopic, I make a place for God to grow within me" Sometimes life seems like we are on a constant roller coaster of pain, hard ache, and even joy. The roller coaster just keeps going and we don't know if we can keep up, but we must remember that in the midst of these circumstances, giving thanks to him is what he calls us do, even if it's just for the socks on our feet.  The verse from 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 has really resonated with me, it says, "Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus." Think about that for second, Give thanks in all circumstances not just the ...

 Proverbs 3:5-6 says, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;   in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight." When I read this verse I am once again reminded of the importance of trusting in God, even when it's hard.  We all have this idea of how we think things in our life should go, where we are supposed to go next..etc. Sometimes we get so wrapped up in the "plan" that we forget that God's got it all figured out and we don't have to worry so much. In these times in my life, I always go back to Proverbs 3:5-6, especially where it says, "trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your understanding," How true is this?  Sisters, his plans are always better than our own, no matter what. He always knows what's best and what's next for us in our lives. When we put our trust in him it is then that we find that everything works out in his time and in his way...

Isn't it hard when we just want to get to the next step? or we just feel stuck in the season of waiting or singleness, whatever it may be. For me lately, I've been struggling with the singleness, thinking when's my turn, why everyone else (younger than me even) and not me.  Even though I do not feel this way all time, most of the time I am content. Knowing that in my singleness God is doing good things, and i am truly grateful for this time in my life. But sometimes it is hard, and then I read this post by of one our awesome monthly contributors, and I am brought back to what this season of life is all about: trusting in his plans, and putting him first, even when we are in that season of waiting. waiting for this season of singleness to end, even though this time in our lives is truly a gift, and we should be soaking up every minute of it. It's still hard, it's hard not knowing what's next and yet wanting to know. If you know me, i am not a patient p...

This is a time of year where we are thankful for our family, friends, relationships, etc. It is a time where we think about those little things that we may take for granted, and thank God for the many blessings that he puts in our lives. As i think about being thankful I am reminded of a hymn that we sing that church called, " Give Thanks ". "Give thanks with a grateful heart. Give thanks to the Holy One. Give thanks because He's given Jesus Christ, His Son.." To me this song, is a great reminder of what it means to really give thanks. Sometimes it's so easy to take those little things for granted, so sisters this week I encourage to give thanks for those people and the things that we so easily forget, "Give thanks with a grateful heart" That's what it's all about, rest in the truth of the words of this song this week. "Give Thanks" Give thanks with a grateful heart Give thanks to the Holy One Give thanks becaus...

One of the greatest friendships in the bible is Johnathan and David. This month as we talk about relationships, I am reminded of this great story of two friends who lived out what God had called them to do. Even though they knew the risk, they never their love for one another. Isn't that what we all want in a relationship? Someone that we know loves us no matter what. Yes people aren't perfect, but with God we have that. His love in unconditional, unchanging, he loves us no matter what, no matter how broken we are he still loves us. We are his, and he never let's us forget that. Every single day he is reminding us of his love. As i think of God's pure love for us and the relationship between Johnathan and David I am reminded of a  song that we sing at church sometimes: "A pure heart, that's what I long for, a heart that follows hard after thee."  sisters let us strive to be that kind of friend to others, no matter what. Let us strive to be the women Go...

The verse above so beautifully captures our theme for this month: Identity in Christ. And it also captures the mission of this blog,  "encouraging young women to find rest in God". When I saw this verse the other day, i was reminded of the importance of finding rest in God each and every day.  The world tells us that that we should find our identity in things and the people around us. It tells that we should strive to find our worth in peoples opinions. But sisters, those are all lies.  As we as christian women strive to find that rest in God it is important that we remember that when we rest in the shelter of his arms it a "safe place" and that is where we find our identity in him. The song, "Oceans" by Hillsong united has resonated in my heart this week, The words--" Take me deeper than my feet could ever wander  And my faith will be made stronger.  In the presence of my Savior"  These words encouraged me to take my faith deeper ...

Psalm 102:25 As I read this verse earlier this weekend, i was encouraged that we are all the work of his hands. In Genesis it says that we were formed from dust. Think about that for a minute, God made you and I out of dust. As it says in Isaiah 64:8, "Yet you, Lord, are our Father.We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand." The world tells us that constantly that we aren't good enough, or we don't measure up. But those are all lies. Because God tells us we are the work of his hands. We are the work of his hand. think about that for a minute. God formed us just like a potter forms clay, he formed us into something beautiful, despite our brokenness or our sin, he calls us his, he says-"you are mine" As I was thinking about that verse this weekend, I was reminded just how precious we are in his sight. We are worth it to him, and nothing we say or do can change that. God continually shapes us into the women that he call...

Merriam Webster dictionary defines identity as: the qualities, beliefs, etc., that make a particular person or group different from others. We are all in seasons of life, and while we are in those seasons we often define ourselves by them. Especially those of us who are in a season of singleness, the world says that we should not be ashamed of our singleness, but, we should see this time in our lives as a gift. As a time to grow in our relationship with God, and to keep on putting him first. Psalm 139:14 is a great reminder that we are fearfully and wonderfully made in him and that our identity should be found in him and not the world. But the truth is sisters, that no matter what season of life God has us in, we are still fearfully and wonderfully made in him. No matter the season we are in, we are there for a purpose. And while we are in that season, we should find joy in it even if it's hard. For me, my current season of singleness has been hard at times, and yes, som...

So as we begin this next month of focusing on our Identity in Christ, sisters I hope you are all reminded that your identity is found in him and not the world. As i was thinking of this topic, a song by Tenth Avenue North played in my head, called You are More , it says: "You are more than the choices that you've made, you are more than the sum of your past mistakes. You are more than problems that you create. You've been remade" This is a great reminder that we are more than the lies that the  world feeds us, We are made new in him. Lamentations 3:22-23 says, "Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassion's never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness." Sisters let this verse be a reminder that your mercies are made new each day, and that no matter what we are going through, God is right there guiding us in his love. Multiple times throughout scripture  we are reminded that we are hidden in Christ. W...

I know we all think of prayer as a conversation with God and it is. We are also changed by prayer, through prayer God shapes our hearts into something beautiful.  Watch this  video on prayer, and be encouraged that God changes your hearts through prayer my dear sisters!

Do you ever feel like you don't pray enough or don't know what to say when you are praying? Sometimes it's hard to get the words out, or sometimes we simply don't know what to say. In those times when we can't get the words out, God is right there listening to the words that have resonated in our heart and using them to shape us into the women he calls us to be. I was watching a video  the other day when I was at a retreat for a discipleship class I am taking at my church, the first words out of the guys mouth on the video were, "I wish I could be the kind of person who does the right thing, not just the big things, but the small things, the unnoticed things. What I do when no-one is watching" When I heard that, it reminded me of prayer. Throughout scripture when Jesus is talking about prayer he is tells us to go into a room and close the door, pray and mediate on his word. Prayer is all about being faithful as we have that one on one conversation...