The Quiet Place

Tonight as I sat in the light of my freshly decorated "halls", I couldn't help but think of all of the things that 2020 has brought (and has yet to bring!). This year has been quite the challenge to say the least. For me, 2020 has been year of great streching. God has pulled this clay of mine and folded it over and over again. This year God also brought me to my knees in humility, literally. Everyhting He did in me was SO needed! And I'm extreamly grateful for all of it. God's word says, " No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace  for those who have been trained by it. " (Hebrews 12:11). I'm grateful to now have a measure of experience in God's discipline. His discipline though painful at the time, has brought me SO MUCH JOY, PEACE, and fruit from His throneroom. I am a much better person today than I was before 2020, and I know that as I continue to yeild to God...

God has blessed me so much lately. I have an amazing church family and an awesome church who is able to provide us with great learning opportunities. The past three weeks I have been attending School of Prayer at my church. It has been such a blessing to sit with my brothers and sisters and learn how to pray. Last night to finish the end of the three weeks of School of Prayer our Pastor shared with us what he knows about prayer and how he prays. It was so VERY valuable to me that I want to share that information here with you.  This is the Pattern of Prayer my pastor shared with us...  Start with Thankfulness: First list reasons you are thankful for the Father, then the Son, then the Holy Spirit, then Angels then your church, then your pastor, then the local churches, then the Word of God, then your family. Next is a prayer of submission (Think Living Sacrifice) After that pray over your mind and thoughts, for protection, removal of distractions, that our minds would...

Founders Note: This post is apart of a month long series on singleness that we are doing here on the blog. If you would like to be apart it email britney.thequietplace@gmail.com for more information. This first post is by Kara of Joy because Grace  and she is sharing her heart on  being single and seeking God.  Confession: I've been single my whole life. Yup, you read that right. All of it. 20 years. No first date. No first time holding a guy's hand. Nada. And it's been really hard. I've wondered if maybe something's wrong with me or if I'm not pretty enough or if maybe God just wants me to be single forever. Feelings of unworthiness would flood my heart and my mind, taunting me, causing me to doubt God's love. Most of my single life I've been okay with my lack of relationship. When I was in high school, I didn't really want to date; I was too busy. However, when I graduated and went to my university, I expected that I would start dating ...

This is a good time of year to re-evaluate, to step back for a moment and look at how our relationship with God is and what we can do to grow closer to him. Though the blog has been quite, I have been learning and growing a lot these past few months. So today I would like to share with you some of the most important things I have taken away from church sermons, bible studies, and Holy Spirit reminders.  Recently my pastor spoke on Intimacy with God. He described Intimacy with God to be like a newly married couple driving in an old car. The Husband driving and the wife sitting as close to him as she can. Then one day when they are old, the wife asks her Husband why he is sitting so far away from her. Looking over from the Driver's seat he responds, what do you mean? I never moved. The lesson being that if we are from from God it is because we have moved away from him, not him from us.   We can draw near to God by maintaining Keystone habits. Keyston...

Founders Note: Today on the blog we have our Monthly Contributor Buife.  Today's post was previously written and meant for an earlier month this year but somehow I missed it. But no worries because I definitely am making sure you ladies get to read these wonderful words from your sister today. Enjoy! - Hillary Psalm 14:1 says: The [empty-headed] fool has said in his heart, there is no God. (Amp.) When Jesus was born, some astrologers from the east of Judea, having seen the rising of His star, came to Jerusalem to seek Him. Some translations refer to these astrologers as wise men . The bible calls the man who says there is no God a fool; and we're told these 'wise men' journeyed to Jerusalem of Judea to seek Jesus because they believed that somewhere in that town, the King of the Jews was. Ladies, this is wisdom. We cannot claim to be really seeking for Someone if we have doubts concerning His existence. God's standard principle remain...

Honestly seeking Christ is something that I feel I haven't been doing very well with lately. Yet Christ hasn't stopped seeking me, he hasn't ceased to work in my heart, and he certainly hasn't halted challenging me.  Tonight I read over a she reads truth devotional for the second time. I'm so glad that I did because I want to share with you what stuck out to me.  This devotional on John chapter 5 talks about seeking Christ. What stood out to me specifically was this quote... "Obedience is not just about obeying a command. It's about drawing close to the Father." I think this quote is SO true! Obeying God is more than just following His rules. It's about having a  close relationship with Him and doing what he asks of us because we love Him and we know that He loves us and has are very best interest at heart. Romans 8:28 If we truly love God, we will hang on His every word, like a lover hangs on the words of her beloved. We will seek after Ch...

Founders Note: Today on the blog we have are monthly contributor Meg sharing her heart on this month's theme Seeking God. You can learn more about Meg and her blog on the about page.  Do you ever feel stuck, searching for God’s will on something? Maybe it’s a job situation, to take a promotion, or not to take a promotion. Or a move to a new place. What courses to study at school? I think a lot of times we allow ourselves to maybe hide behind the idea that we’re “seeking God’s will” on something… but when really, God can move in whatever we do. Yes, God can be and many times is involved in very seemingly minute details of our lives, but sometimes, God seems to sit back and let us have more free will and do what we think is best. The key to those times, when it feels like God is being more silent, is to remember the truth that He speaks through scripture. We know from verses like  2 Thessalonians 3:5 that  the Lord directs o...

Today on the blog we have are monthly contributor Kiki, she is sharing her heart on this month's theme Seeking God. You can learn more about Kiki and her blog on the about page.  I'm obsessed with capturing the little moments and details in life and I will also proudly admit that. I love snapping photos of raindrops falling off leaves, steam rising from hot coffee, and my dog snoozing in the sun that streams through the windows in the morning. I like searching for the little things in life that make life that much fuller. But do you know what I have a hard time truly seeking out? Jesus. I forget that Jesus is in the details in life, or really, every single moment in life. That He's there, waiting to be found. But what do I do instead? I try and push Him away and think that I can do life all on my own. But truth is, I can't. I can't do it on my own and I need Him in my life. And part of my need for Him includes my need (even if I don't k...

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. ...

Peace amongst the mess. That is exactly what I need right now, peace. The past week or so has been crazy busy at work and at times I have been overwhelmed with the responsibilities of being a case worker. There is always so much to do in this type of job and it can be hard to figure out what is most important to start with when every person your helping is living in a crisis situation.  Peace Intentionally seeking Christ is a necessity for all of us, though I think we often forget that. Sometimes it isn't until I am desperate for help, that I realize I need Christ greatly.  Peace ...that I find most fulfilling in my savior. Peace ...that I desperately need, comes when I seek out Christ fully, and intentionally. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all of your heart. Jeremiah 29:13 Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be op...

Founders Note: Today on the blog we have are monthly contributor Melanie. Melanie is sharing her heart on this month's theme Seeking God. You can learn more about Melanie and her blog on the about page.  For your steadfast love is great above the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the clouds.  Psalm 108:4 When my mind is still, the children in bed, the house quiet, dishes done and I fall onto the couch into His embrace. When I’m driving alone, no voices interrupting, sunbeams gleaming warm on my face. Those times I’m not moving and thinking at a frantic, hurried pace like a wind-up tin trinket toy. Moments sitting by the seashore, salty wind grasping and spiraling strands of my hair, seagulls soaring, white foam kissing my toes. Times silently observing mountains drizzled in orange sunrise, evergreens dipped in ribbons of white. When I’m not looking for oversimplified answers, a quick Sunday School verse. For all those times and a million more, I we...

Happy New Year Friends! This month I am excited to announce that we will be focusing on "Seeking God". I'm looking forward to the posts and discussions to come this month and I hope that you will join us!