The Quiet Place

What does it mean to "take up your cross"? Well, I'm finding that taking up my cross means completely submitting to God. It means letting him cut all the things off of me that need to go. It also means obeying what God has asked of me and letting things go when He says "no, my daughter, this isn't for you". Each of these things are challenging in their own way. That last one though, that has been the hardest for me. Yet, in all of the pruning, the pulling out and cutting off; I am still grateful, and I am still blessed. I'm still grateful because I know that God disciplines those he loves, I know that when he disciplines me it's because I'm HIS daughter. I'm grateful because I know that the pain of the pruning leads to an abundant life. It leads to a better Hillary, a better follower of Christ, and a better kingdom builder. It brings God more Glory, and it fills me overflowing with His spirit of peace and joy.  Taking up my cross...

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...

As I begin to write this post, I am sitting here praying that God will guide me in the way that I should go. In December I will be done with graduate school and I must say, I am scared but excited at the same time. Scared for what may come next and  of the unknown. But also excited for whatever God has for me next and whatever job he leads me towards. In the midst of applying for jobs, looking for jobs, etc. A few weeks ago my roommate who is not only my roommate but my friend, has gotten a job somewhere else and will be moving out in January. I must say that when I found out, I was a little disappointed, sad, and frustrated that my circumstances were not what I wanted them to be, I found myself doubting that God has better plans for me than what I have for myself, and that he will work everything out. As I was in the middle of feeling let down, a friend reminded me that God has something better planned. Even though it may be difficult to see at the moment. I know this is tru...

Photo Source Unknown - Credit Google image search "Proverbs 4:6" I cannot tell you how true this verse has been for my life. As a young girl I asked the Lord for Wisdom and he did not disappoint. Having the gift of Wisdom from God is one of the things I am most grateful for. I am indebted to God for the understanding he has allowed me. It has protected me from many things. God has used Wisdom in my life to bring glory to His name in many ways and I am so grateful that he chose me as a vessel for this.  I remember sitting in my last field seminar class as a senior in college. We were taking a last chance at the end of the two years we had spent together to go around and say to each one, something genuine and good.  Then it happened. My classmate understood me dead on. I was stunned that someone saw me and understood me so well, especially since that someone wasn't even a close friend of mine. The note I have of the words she said to me reads,  "Diamonds ar...

He says, “ Be   still ,  and   know  that I am God; I will  be  exalted among the nations, I will  be  exalted in the earth.” Silence is SO not overrated. As I reflect over my restful morning and think of how good all of this quiet time to myself has been, I remember how much I love the quiet. Taking time to rest in a quiet house is just what I needed and I had no idea. The past two weeks have been really busy and even though they were filled with exciting life moments, I am still in need of replacing the energy they took from me. So today I am soaking in these quiet moments and resting. Allowing my mind to contemplate things I don't usually have time to ponder, and allowing my hands to get everything off my to do list so I can further rest this evening.  Something else that I know that I really need to do today is to take this quiet time and spend it with God. These past few weeks I haven't spent much time in the word and I know t...

Founders Note: Today on the blog we have are monthly contributor Sophia, she is sharing her heart on this month's theme Abiding in Christ. You can learn more about Sophia on the about page.  Whenever we go through some thing that we consider a hardship it can do one of either two things  with our relationship with God.  We could either move closer to Him or farther away.   How many times have we become resentful toward God when we were going though something because we thought that He had the power to fix it but didn’t?  I am not ashamed to admit that I have been in the position in which I have been resentful toward God.  Most of the time this stems from the fact that I have tried to make everything work on my own and things kept getting worse.  As a result I continue to worry and have anxiety about my situation.  The Bible teaches us that  “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has ...

Happy July! While it's a little hard to believe, it is the 1st of July. Our theme for this month of Sunshine and Thunderstorms is... Today I would talk to you about joy, but I haven't been feeling very joyful lately. While I'm thankful for what I have and who I am, joy seems to be lacking. I've found myself these past two months being frustrated more than anything else. Frustrated with my circumstances, yet at the same time I don't seem to be in a big rush to undergo another life change anytime soon. Life change takes a lot out of a person, especially if you are like me and dislike undergoing major life transitions. I realized the other night what may be the root of all my frustration. I realized that I was looking to other people to encourage me and fill my heart up. I may have even expected it of some of them. This is where I fell down. Instead of abiding in Christ and asking him to help me as I deal with my circumstances, seeking HIM to fill my heart...

Founders Note: Today on the blog we have one of are monthly contributors, Vanessa, she is sharing her heart on this month's theme forgiveness.  In an interesting turn of events, my family and I are moving into my childhood home. This little house was a house I moved into when I was in high school.   Over the years that followed, many members of my family have moved in and out of that little house. My mom moved out, then my dad, then my mom and step-dad moved in with my teenage brother and sister, then my brother and sister moved out, then back in and then back out, then my family moved in while in transition, and now my mom and step-dad are moving out while my family moves back in! (breathe…) My family fell apart in the little house, it grew, it changed, I changed, and we are different. As we are moving back to this little house I sit in reflection. I’m reminded of how God dwells richly in our hearts. He looks at the cracks in the ceiling, and the dirt on the floor...

Something today made me realize how terrible our would be without forgiveness. Could you imagine a parent refusing to care for their precious child because they did something wrong, or a daughter not willing to accept the apology of her brokenhearted father. The truth is, this world wouldn't survive without forgiveness. Without forgiveness, families wouldn't stay together and friends wouldn't last long, because humans aren't perfect, we make mistakes. We need forgiveness so that we can have relationships, keep families together, and enjoy life-long friendships. God is well-aware of are need for forgiveness. In fact, forgiveness is SO important to God that he weaved his teachings about it throughout the entire Bible. One of these lessons is found in 2 Corinthians Chapter Two. Read it here...  2 Corinthians 2 This passage is a letter from Paul to the church in Corinth. In this section of the letter, Paul addresses the recent scandal which, concerned a man who had be...

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Romans 12:12 This is my comfort in my affliction, for Your word has given me life. Psalm 119:50 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. Galatians 6:9-10 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? Matthew 16:24-26 I never realized before this time in my life how profound these verses are. I've read them what seems like a million times but until recently, thei...

Blogger's Note: Happy Friday Friends! Today I wanted to take some time and dive into Purity month with you here at The Quiet Place. The topic of purity is something that is close to my heart. I realize that the daily battles fighting to stay pure are difficult ones. It isn't always easy saying no to the things that we know we should, especially when all are friends are participating in the same things. But living pure IS possible, and SO SO Good! Dive into scripture with me this month as we take a journey to discover what purity is and what that means for us as Christian women. Today we'll begin with... Ephesians 4:17-32 Instructions for Christian Living 17  So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer  live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking.   18  They are darkened in their understanding  and separated from the life of God  because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hea...