The Quiet Place

Founders Note: Today on the blog we have a guest post from Kristy. Kristy is new to the blogging world so be sure to check out her blog  here ! Image via unsplash.com I went through a rough patch recently where I failed to feel connected to God. When I went to Him in prayer I found myself tongue-tied and would lose motivation to continue the conversation. Add on the fact that I tend to get embarrassed or ashamed when I don’t succeed at something right away and there it was: the perfect recipe for a lacking prayer life.  I knew that I was supposed to be praying, but I just couldn’t motivate myself to endure another round of silent stuttering. Instead I mumbled my way through quick prayers at dinner and before tucking myself into bed. It was incredibly frustrating. I remember scrolling through the internet trying to find answers but not finding articles that really touched on my problem. It wasn’t that I didn’t want to share with God- it’s just that I felt like...

Founders Note: Today on the blog we have a guest post from Dee. Dee is sharing her heart on this month's theme Pride. You can learn more about Dee in her Bio at the end of the post.  Pride is a spirit and like every other spirit it has an agenda to hinder our walk and relationship with our Heavenly Father. One of the first well noted instances of pride in the bible is the fall of Lucifer due to his desire to be like the Most High. How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!  For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven , I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:   I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit. (Isaiah 14:13-15)

Founders Note: Today on the blog we have a guest post from Sandra Gilmore. Sandra is sharing her heart on this month's theme pride. You can learn more about Sandra in her bio at the end of the post.  Have you ever been disappointed with God? Ever left God out of your day, not by deception from our enemy but on purpose? Ever wondered what fueled this journey in the wrong direction? It might be summed up this way: hide with pride. Remember the story of Jonah and the whale? In quick review, Jonah was given an assignment by God to share His Good News to the folks in a town called Nineveh. God had a tender heart toward these folks even though they did not regard or reverence Him. He wanted Jonah to go preach to them. Jonah didn’t want any part of that. He ran away from the assignment instead of toward it and ended up in the belly of a great fish. He stayed there three days and three nights before he was released on the beach near Nineveh. After such an ordeal...

Founders Note: Today on the blog we have a guest post from Kristin. You can learn more about Kristin in her bio at the end of the post.  Image via unsplash Observe and consider the ravens; for they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn; and [yet] God feeds them. Of how much more   worth   are you than the birds! --Luke 12:24 (AMP) In my mind's eye, I can still see her. Scrawny and late-blooming. Fair-skinned with a dark "beauty mark" beside her nose. They point and stare and laugh. She feels like crawling into herself. As a newlywed and graduate student, she   tries to feel   comfortable in her own skin. They intimidate and observe and critique. She's old enough to know something, but not old enough to know much. Once a mother, she feels out of her league and once she's no longer "professional," friendship seems hard to come by. Finding her footing in a new role proves challenging and a little painful. Wher...

Founders Note: Today on the blog we have guest post from Samantha on this month's theme Gratitude. You can learn more about Samantha and her blog in the bio at the end of the post.  It’s true what they say, “the grass is always greener on the other side.” I’ve found myself countless times, wishing and hoping for things I don’t have. Some days, it’s so much easier to be unappreciative or ungrateful of my life. Some days, I wish for a more expensive home, a supermodel body, and a generous paycheck. I make a fuss about the little things, like where the toothpaste should go (I say cabinet, my husband says counter). I can get swept up in my own emotions, my wants and desires, so I start acting greedy and selfish. “Be joyful always, pray continually. Give thanks in all circumstances for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” -1 Thessalonians 16:18 It isn’t often, but when I have these moments, I feel completely disconnected with God. For a while, I questio...

Founders Note: Today on the blog we have a guest post from Katelyn. She is sharing her heart on this month's theme faithfulness. You can learn more about Katelyn and her blog in her bio at the end of the post.  Recently I was asked, “How can you be so faithful to a book written so long ago? How can you have faith in a world full of hurt?” Well for once I had the perfect answer: It’s not about facts really, it is something that you realize through prayer. You don’t have faith first and then start praying. Just start praying and God will show you how to be faithful. My own faith journey is one I feel is worth sharing. Just like all the stories we read in the bible, Jesus found me in my darkest hour and showed me grace. Right before I got married to my wonderful husband I was in a very dark place personally. I had a god-shaped hole in my heart and I used every earthly indulgence to fill it. The way I was living was incredibly selfish and irresponsible. When I thi...

Founders Note: Today on the blog we have a guest post from Malinda, she is sharing her heart on this month's theme Seeking God. You can learn more about Malinda in her bio at the end of the post.  A long time ago I heard the phrase "time equals relationship." At the time it was in reference to building a relationship with the opposite gender. But the same truth applies to any relationship: with children, co-workers, friends, even "online relationships." And I believe there are two components to investing time: quantity and quality. The apostle Paul writes to the believers encouraging them to pray all the time. 1Thessalonians 5:17 says, “Never stop praying.” Paul was not referring to a 24/7 prayer meeting. He didn’t intend for them to neglect their responsibilities or other relationships in order to “get on their knees in prayer.” What he encouraged is meant to be an ongoing conversation that happens throughout the day. ...

As I sit here considering the life of Ruth, I feel a strong desire to have the heart of Ruth. One that is loyal, fearless, and careful to heed the advice of Naomi. One thing Ruth didn’t do was leave Naomi despite Naomi’s arguments. Ruth’s answer was to remain loyal to Naomi. She looks sweetly at her grieving mom-in-law and whispers, “ Your people will be my people and your God will be my God .” I n the face of her own great loss, she had every excuse to abandon Naomi, and no one would have faulted her. Yet, she laid down her pride, wants, and desires to ensure Naomi was taken care of and she chose to follow our amazing God. Naomi said to Ruth her daughter-in-law, “ It will be good for you, my daughter, to go with the women who work for him, because in someone else’s field you might be harmed .” Ruth, knowing that she was dependent on the kindness of Naomi’s distant relative Boaz, Ruth’s desire to work in his fields is confirmed by Naomi. Ruth knew enough to know she didn’t kno...

Founders Note: Today on the blog we have a guest post from Tabitha. She is sharing her heart on this month's theme Ruth. You can learn more about Tabitha and her blog in her bio at the end of the post.  Naomi had to have been in a bad place – spiritually and emotionally. She had nothing left to give. In her mind, there was no hope for her or her daughter-in-laws. To think that the journey you must travel has to be done alone- it was a bitter pill to swallow indeed. And yet, Ruth demands a place by Naomi’s side with no expectation of anything in return.   “When Naomi saw that Ruth had her heart set on going with her, she gave in.” Ruth 1:18 Ruth is the picture of Christ and of how the church is called to be – how we, as sisters in Christ, ought to demonstrate our love towards one another. Even as Ruth lovingly chose to remain with Naomi, Naomi struggled with the reality of her hardships. As the pair entered in to town, she remained despondent and hope...

Founders Note: Today on the blog we have a guest post from Victoria, she is sharing her heart on this month's theme Beauty in the Brokenness. You can learn more about Victoria in her bio at the end of the post.  When I first saw this month’s theme here at The Quiet Place, my mind immediately started thinking about phrases like “beauty from ashes” and the songs that Superchick and Gungor made so popular.  Then last week happened. To put a long story short, I ended up having three very unexpected days with one of my friends. We took her daughter to the doctor together on one day and then a few days later that same friend came down to spend some time with us while she sorted things  out.  One evening, we sat in my backyard while her kids played. With tears in her eyes, my friend who I’ve never seen cry, told me about several stories she had heard from missionaries about the miracles that they have seen God work. I knew those tears came as a result o...