The Quiet Place

Founders Note: Today on the blog we have our monthly contributor Meg, she is sharing her heart on this month's theme Joy. You can find out more about Meg on are About page.  (photo credit  @rendcollective-Twitter) Have you guys heard the song “Joy” by Rend Collective? It’s one of those songs that you can’t help but fall into worship, full of complete happiness and praise, feeling your whole self dancing with joy. Take a minute and have a listen: Did   you feel yourself dancing a little?   Don’t lie. For real though. Those lyrics! They’re amazing right? “We’re choosing celebration, we’re choosing freedom.” Because sometimes, in the depths of despair and hard times, all we CAN do is CHOOSE to remember that there will eventually be joy again and that God is there to comfort us. In THAT we can rejoice. How about “we’re dancing to the rhythm of your heart.” Have you ever thought abo...

Isaiah 26:2-4 Open the gates that the righteous nation may enter, the nation that keeps faith. You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord himself, is the rock eternal.  The other night I had a really good conversation with a new friend of mine. We were discussing how God is beginning to do big things in our lives. As we were talking, I couldn't help but think that these big things sounded a bit scary. That's when my friend reminded me that even though life can get pretty scary, God's not going to leave us on our own to handle it. For we have a great God, full of mercy and compassion, steadfast love, and understanding. We have a God who knows our inmost being, who knit us together in our mother's womb. We have a God who knows our fears and our hearts desires. We have a God who is faithful. Our God IS trustworthy. It's just up to us if we are going to decide to step ou...

In the Bible Jesus tells us that he is coming back soon.  He also warns us to be prepared for his coming. " “Look, I come like a thief!  Blessed is the one who stays awake  and remains clothed, so as not to go naked and be shamefully exposed.” " - Revelation 16:15  In these times, it can be a great challenge to stay awake and to hold on. But it is not impossible, because God has not left us empty handed. On the contrary, God has provided us with everything we need to be prepared for his coming. The Armor of God "Finally, be strong in the Lord  and in his mighty power.   Put on the full armor of God,  so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.   For our struggle is not against flesh and blood,  but against the rulers, against the authorities,  against the powers  of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.   Therefore put on the full armor of God,  so...

Merry Christmas!!! Today we watched a fascinating movie on the Star of Bethlehem. So in honor of Christmas, let's reflect on the visit of the Magi. Also, be sure to check out the website about the star of bethlehem. It is SO amazing! You will be glad that you did. The Magi Visit the Messiah After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea,  during the time of King Herod,  Magi [ a ]  from the east came to Jerusalem   and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews?  We saw his star  when it rose and have come to worship him.” When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him.   When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born.   “In Bethlehem  in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written: “‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,      are by no means least among the rulers o...

The Wise and Foolish Builders “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice  is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.   The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.   But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand.   The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.” When Jesus had finished saying these things,  the crowds were amazed at his teaching,   because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law. Matthew 7:24-29 Tonight the Lord is teaching me to increase my faith in Him so that when the storms come I can bear the weight of them with Christ as my foundation. Sisters, tonight I hope you heed these words with me an...

Psalm 23 A psalm of David. The  Lord  is my shepherd,  I lack nothing.  He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters,  he refreshes my soul.  He guides me  along the right paths  for his name’s sake.  Even though I walk  through the darkest valley,  I will fear no evil,  for you are with me;  your rod and your staff,  they comfort me.  You prepare a table  before me  in the presence of my enemies.  You anoint my head with oil;  my cup  overflows.  Surely your goodness and love  will follow me  all the days of my life,  and I will dwell in the house of the  Lord  forever.

Forgiveness is an amazing thing, but honestly it is the toughest thing I have ever had to work on. This year God revealed to me unforgiveness in my hear that I had buried, that I didn't even know was there. I'm glad that he showed it to me because it's something I need to deal with, but honestly it has been really hard. It isn't easy for me to let go of the hurt in my past and to let go of the people who inflicted the hurt. Yet I know it is what God is calling me to do. In fact, it is what he calls all of his sons and daughters to do. We must forgive. After all Christ forgave us, how can we not bestow that gift on the other people in our lives. I am reminded of the passage where Peter asks Jesus how many times he is to forgive his brother? 7 times? he asks. Jesus responds to Peter by saying, not 7 times, but 77 times. In other words, we are always to forgive everything. NO MATTER WHAT. No if, ands, or buts about it, no exceptions. Matthew 18:21-35 tells us about what ...

God does some pretty awesome things. One of them - me reading this post after I read Kiki's monthly post. It was SO good you should to read it too!  Click HERE!

When everything is gone, what is left? That was the question of today's sermon. Job suffered through more things than imaginable in his lifetime. He lost his home, his children, his wife, and his health. Yet, in the midst of all his suffering he still spoke with God. Job cried out to the Lord in his anguish, and God answered him. 2 Corinthians 1:4-6 who comforts us  in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.   For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ,  so also our comfort abounds through Christ.   If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation;  if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer. Romans 8:16-18 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit  that we are God’s children.   Now if we are children, then we are heirs —heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if in...

Today the Lord spoke to me through this blog  post  titled " Come to Me all Who are Weary " written by Vanessa.  For me, reading Vanessa's words were like hearing Jesus speak right to my heart. He's telling me to forgive myself because he forgives me, because he loves me with an everlasting love. Even now I can feel those words pierce love into my heart that I can't shut out, nor do I wish to. It's that love of Jesus that I have been missing lately. Yet, here in the midst of My Wilderness, Jesus meets me and leads me by the hand back onto the path. Even when I am unaware that I've wandered off, he has found me and brought me home.  The part of Vanessa's post that hit me the most was this... " But once she has nothing, I’ll be able to get through to her.    “I’ll entice her and lead her out into the wilderness where we can be alone, and I’ll speak right to her heart and try to win her back.” (Hosea 2:14) What will it take for you, dear ...

Do you have someone in your life who just lights everything up? Who is always full of God's Joy and aware of his amazing grace? I am so thankful that I do. Today I would like to give a shout out to my good friend Katy. She has a heart full of Jesus and a joy that fills the world. Recently she has followed God to Ireland to fulfill his plan for her there. Her life brings hope to me as I watch her passionately follow after the heart God has given her. I know that her life brings hope and joy to everyone around her and I hope that you will read along with me about her adventures in Ireland & Beyond at  http://katyleota.tumblr.com/ . Her words are sure to change you. An Original Painting by Katy Please Don't Copy

I certainly can't let the month of August pass without mentioning this passage for our self worth theme. So read on my friend... Luke 12:1-12 (VOICE) The crowds at this time were packed in so tightly that thousands of people were stepping on each other. Jesus spoke to His disciples,  knowing that the crowds could overhear . Jesus:  Guard yourselves from the yeast that puffs up the Pharisees—hypocrisy,  false appearance, trying to look better than you really are. Nothing is covered up that won’t be discovered; nothing is hidden that won’t be exposed.  Whatever a person says in the dark will be published in the light of day, and whatever a person whispers in private rooms will be broadcast from the housetops. Listen, My friends, if people are trying to kill you, why be afraid? After you’re dead, what more can they do?  Here’s whose opinion you should be concerned about: the One who can take your life and then throw you into hell! He’s the only One y...

I once heard it said that beauty is God's special gift to humans. Unlike animals who rely on instincts to go about the day, humans are able to appreciate the depth of God's creation. We are able to see things for more than just their function. We can see beauty. I see beauty as a gift from God. A little add-on to life, that may have been unnecessary, yet God choose to share it with us anyways. How amazing is that? I don't even think I could imagine a world without beauty in it. Even my wildest imagination is limited to seeing the beauty in things. Sometimes people disagree about what is beautiful. It seems funny to me really. I guess it's because even when things aren't pleasing to the eye, I appreciate what that thing is. For its simplicity or complexity, depth or shallowness, rough or smoothness... Who's to say that any of these elements in our  perception are not beautiful for simply what they are? Is a rock ugly because it's rough? or a flower hideou...

Have you ever felt discouraged? I certainly have. Sometimes it is because an obstacle or a challenge has parked itself dead center in the road. You thought you were almost there but then BAM! You have to slam on the breaks and figure out how to get through. All of the sudden you have to reassess the entire journey, just to see if you can get past this one section. Other times its because you don't know if you have what it takes to go on. You lack confidence in your ability to push through the difficult parts and wonder if you'll ever reach the destination. When I feel discouraged, the best thing to bring me back is always scripture.  These are some of my favorite passages that help me to remember that though I am weak, God is strong enough to help me through the obstacles and challenges I face. Psalm 23:3-5 He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of th...

Israel’s Only Savior But now, this is what the  Lord  says—      he who created  you, Jacob,      he who formed  you, Israel: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed  you;      I have summoned you by name;  you are mine. When you pass through the waters,      I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers,      they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire,      you will not be burned;      the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the  Lord  your God,      the Holy One  of Israel, your Savior; I give Egypt  for your ransom,      Cush  and Seba  in your stead. Isaiah 43:1-3 is one of my favorite passages in the Bible. Not only because of it's literary beauty, but because of it's meaning. When things get tough this passage reminds m...