New Series Introduction: WWJD

It's April friends, which means fresh new flowers, sunshine, and warmer weather! (*insert praise Jesus hands here*) This also means that I am introducing a new series here on Simply Faithful. I've known for awhile that through my blog I wanted to share so much more. I want to capture the simplicity of Christ and who He is and can be in our lives. We have such an amazing God, and we can learn so much from Him, especially through His word!

So what's the name of the series, you ask... it's What Would Jesus Do. Aka, WWJD.

So here is what I want with this new series, What Would Jesus Do. I want to share what either I or a guest writer (I have some wonderful ladies that will be writing some of their experiences) has been struggling with or had struggled with in the past... and then in return what Jesus taught through that experience/struggle and how they/I grew through it all. I also want to reference what the Bible and how we can and should use Gods word that He has given us to help us through hard times and know/learn how to seek His wisdom that He has given us in His word. Hopefully that was easy to understand, and if it wasn't, well just check back for the WWJD posts that will be coming.

I really pray that the Lord uses me and anyone who may be writing to meet you all wherever you may be at, to show you His grace and love. To show you how He can turn your life around and give you far more than you ever thought possible, or even thought you deserved.

These posts will be coming from our hearts and will most likely be hard for us to share. So I pray that you also give grace and encouraging words to the ladies who will be sharing with you all what the Lord has been teaching/taught them. We all know that life isn't easy and we (as women) definitely need to be more encouraging to each other. I'm sure we are all going through the same thing, or at least have in the past.

So, ladies, I am excited to encourage you all and share all of the things that the Lord has taught me through different experiences I have had so far in my life. I will be praying for each of you, and would love to get to know you all even more throughout these topics that get brought up.

"Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me - watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly."

-Matthew 11:28-30 (MSG)

"Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."

-Matthew 28:19-20 (ESV)

January Goals

I know that we are 9 days into January already, but I have decided to try to use monthly goals as a way to get things done this year. I know we all love making resolutions, goals, and dreaming about what all we can get done and plan in a new year and so I am going to use monthly goals to my advantage to try to accomplish things.

I tend to do a lot better when I don't put too many things on my goal list for each month, so we are going to start out on the shorter side for January and see how much we get done! And some of these may be coming from my 101 in 1001 Challenge. If you haven't seen that post yet, click here. You can also look back a my first 101 in 1001 Challenge here.

January Goals: 

- Read one book

- Memorize one verse of scripture

- Try to prioritize morning quiet time

- Blog at least twice a week

- Figure out a plan for my handlettering 

- Work on updating my blog design

What are your goals for January? How do you work on getting your goals accomplished?

The Blogtember Challenge: Day 2- September Goals

Happy Friday! I'm so glad that Bailey has this post in the Blogtember Challenge cause it was on my list of blog posts. August was such a great month. The Lord truly blessed our little family in so many ways! First we moved into a bigger place that has much more space. Then Reese got a new job, which is a blessing because it is more towards what he wants to do/went to college for. And at the end of the month we got our sweet pup, Tucker! I can't wait to see what September brings, especially since it brings fall with it! #FavoriteSeason

1. Complete The-Blogtember Challenge.

2. Memorize a verse, and really meditate on that verse. All summer I have been doing Life Lived Beautifully bible studies with some dear friends of mine. Currently we are on the Be Still and Know study over Ephesians 4:17-32. It has been great and I've really enjoyed digging deeper into these verses with the girls. 

3. Read 2 books. Currently reading A Woman's Heart for God by Sheila Cragg and then on my list is Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World by Joanna Weaver. 

4. Complete at least 1 photo album. I want to complete one for either our wedding or 

5. Complete a DIY. Not sure what I want this to be yet. Possibly a wreath or something for our front door. I'll keep ya updated!

6. Finish organizing our townhome. We just moved at the beginning of August, so we are finishing up organizing everything and getting decor hung up. We have so much more space - so grateful for that - so it has taken me a bit longer to decide where I want everything! But I know this place will be ready for the house/apartment tour on September 8th for the Blogtember Challenge! 

7. Revamp my blog design. I also really want to learn how to design blogs so that I can change mine up if I ever want to or even work on designing blogs for friends/bloggers! Sounds so fun :)

What are your alls goals for September?

2016 Goals

Happy 2016 friends! I am excited for the new year and what it is going to bring. My attitude has definitely changed since I started subbing (in November) and it has made me excited and have a more positive outlook on life and what I opportunities I have been given. 2015 was a great year and I accomplished quite a bit of important things, but I am excited for 2016 is going to bring me and I have a lot of things that I would like to do. Also in 2016 is the end date of my "101 in 1,001" list (September 28, 2016). I know that I won't accomplish everything on that list, but I would love to accomplish as much as I can! So, here are my goals for 2016. These are just the goals that I have for myself because my husband and I have goals together as a couple for our marriage, but I believe that those are more personal goals.

So here is my list of goals for 2016:

-Run a 5k

-Eat healthier: I want to portion control and make smoothies. Both Reese and I tend to fill up our plates and eat everything, which ends up making us both stuffed and we end up eating too much, which is not healthy for us! And I want to make smoothies because I tend to not like breakfast foods and I think that make smoothies would definitely be a good alternative and be healthier.

-Premake my lunches: I want to make my lunch at night so that I am not rushing the next morning and end up not having a lunch to eat.

-Read 5 books: 

-Read through the entire bible: I plan on reading through it chronologically

-Read "Wife After God" Devotional: Started beginning of January

-Memorize 12 scripture verses {1/12}:

1. Proverbs 3:24

-Finish "30 Days of Understanding": I believe that finishing this prior to reading through the bible will help me to have a better understanding of the context while I am reading through the bible. So my goal is to first read "30 Days" and then begin reading through the bible.

-Get a teaching job: Please pray for me on this one. I know that everything is in Gods hands and will turn out the way that he has planned for it to.

What are your goals for 2016? How to you hold yourself accountable to complete them?

Hope everyone has a wonderful 2016, and know that God has everything already planned for you and your life!

Answered Prayers

You guys, I have never experienced answered prayers as I had last night. For a while now I have been either having nightmares and/or been thinking that someone is breaking into our home. I'm not quite sure why I have these feelings/nightmares, but they sure do not help me to want to go to sleep at night.

Last night I was especially nervous because I had had a rough night the night before. Reese and I read at night together and I had already planned that I would write out a prayer when we were done so that hopefully I would not have anymore dreams. WELL, God knew exactly what I needed and brought it to me while I was reading, before I had even gotten around to writing out my prayer.

Reese and I switch off and on from reading, and last night it was my turn to read the daily Proverbs chapter... which was Proverbs 3 since it was January 3rd. I had already had this chapter all marked up, but it wasn't until I got to verse 24-26 that I realized it was exactly what I needed.

"If you lie down, you will not be afraid;

when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet."

-Proverbs 3:24

You all, I couldn't even read through the rest of this chapter without stopping and just crying because The Lord had already showed me that if I give all my problems to Him, he will take care of them. You guys, I have never truly felt as if the Lord had truly listened to me and my prayers, or that He was going to answer them. Now I know that the Lord answers prayers in His own ways and timings, but this was just perfect timing. I was dreading going to sleep, and I needed to get good rest because it was back to subbing the next morning, and the Lord knew that I needed sleep. He brought me a verse that I now have memorized, and helped me get rest and find peace in Him. 

All I can say is praise Him! Praise Him! Praise Him!

They sang "Great is Thy Faithfulness" at church yesterday, and now I just want you all to take your time, rest in Him and enjoy the fact that Our Lord is so great!