Spotlight on Exemplify Online...

It's been a little while since my last Spotlight On post (how remiss of me!). Today I am spotlighting the Exemplify Online & Magazine web site channels. Not only do the channels cover a myriad of topics, but I am also going to start writing for the singles channel next month. Yay! Excited much!

Not only does the site have the Devotional, Family, Ministry and Singles channels, there is also the Marriage channel. And lets not forget the wonderful Editor's Blog where we can keep up with what the amazing cupcake Kristen is doing!

I had the privilege of writing a feature article for the Magazine last year. It was the most humbling experience I think I've ever had! Just to think that my words, glorifying God, were being read by women around the globe. I never would have thought that less than 12 months later I would be a blog writer for them! So...thank you Kristen for the opportunity!

I hope you all get the chance to check out these blog channels and subscribe to the magazine. Kristen's vision for the magazine and web-site is amazing and she has a wonderful team supporting her!

Time for a Cup of God's Goodness...

It's month number two for The Kettle Club and time again for our catch up and discussion. Please pop over to Exemply Online's blog for more posts. March has come and gone in a blur and I'm thankful to say that Jasmine has finally settled into her school routine and has gone for over a week now with no crying when I drop her off at school, and also no crying when she goes to after school care. I continue to pray for God's goodness and strength over her as she embraces her new life as a school student. Another breakthrough from the last month is that, although I still find it hard to have my quiet time with God (see below), I am becoming more focused in what I'm doing on a minute by minute basis. Focus, I've found, alleviates some of the day to day stresses that tear me away from being all that I can be for God.

What are some practical ways you maintain a consistent “in the Word” time?

I actually struggle to maintain a consistent “in the Word” time due to being the solo mum of a nearly 5 year old. I do, however, have devotionals and books scattered around the house so I can pick up something and at least read a little bit of inspiration when I can. I do find, however, that I get more “in the Word” time at work on my breaks, and of an evening when Jasmine has gone to bed. It’s not always consistent, but I'm in it, so that is better than not at all!

Do you have a certain morning system that accompanies your quiet time? If so, share it with us! A special place in your home you go to read? A special devotional or Bible you use? Do you journal, drink tea, pray out loud or have a picture board of those you are praying for?

When I do get to have some quiet time in the mornings, it’s usually when I first wake up. I share my bed with my Bibles and books on the empty side, so I turn my light on, prop myself up in bed, pray and then read. If that doesn’t happen, it’s usually either when I’m blow-drying my hair (don’t ask, but it works and that’s the main thing!) or over my morning coffee when my girlie is set up at the dining table eating her breakfast. I am still reading “Every Day With Jesus” and the current devotional is on being Jesus’ apprentice. Very fruitful lessons are being learnt there! I do like the idea of a picture board where I can pray for people, as I don’t pray enough for others, or myself for that matter!

In what ways have you been applying what you are learning in your devotional time into your day?

The main thing that I’ve been applying into my day is to be like Jesus. By that I mean referring back to what I’ve learnt about His character and how He would react in the same situation. With the Yes to God Tuesdays studies that I’ve done I have been applying what I’ve learnt from there into my days. The last study on Self Talk, Soul Talk by Jennifer Rothschild, was about profitable thoughts and what I speak to my self and my soul. So from that I’ve been vetting what I allow myself to think about. Basically it must be profitable, even if it was a painful memory, etc. The current study on An Untroubled Heart by Micca Campbell, which I’m only 2 weeks into, is about “finding a faith that is stronger than all my fears”. A powerful book already, but one where I’m already applying Micca’s, and God’s, nuggets of wisdom into my life.

If you are working on memorizing Scripture, can you offer a few tips that help you for our other Kettle Members?

I am doing the Siesta Scripture Memory Team challenge still, but am not learning my verses verbatim as I would like to, but am keeping snippets etched in my mind. I find that if I memorise just a few key words in each verse, then the other words flow easier.

Share a standout lesson you’ve learned this month and why it has made such an impact on you.

My standout lesson for the last month came to me over the weekend. I have a broken spirit and need to be healed. I’d never been able to “name” this feeling of inadequacy that has plagued me over the last few years, but now I do. I am praying for God to heal me, hence my post of the Kari Jobe song on the weekend, as it fits how I feel exactly.

The Kettle Has Whistled...

Welcome to my contribution to the first Kettle Club discussion at Exemplify Online's Blog. February was a fairly tough month for me in terms of dealing with Jasmine's new found separation anxiety when going to school and after school care. It's an up and down saga, and aside from seeking advice from teachers, other parents and professionals, I must seek guidance from God more on how to deal with this situation. Be that as it may, here is what I have been doing in February as far as seeking God before my blog page, and the internet and any other distraction that comes my way.

Did you focus on a specific portion of Scripture this month (for example, the Psalms)? If so, share why you chose to focus on that specific portion.

No specific portion of the Scriptures were read over the last month.

If not, share a few key verses or areas you felt lead to read this month.

The first two verses came to me mid February after another heartbreaking school drop off.

"My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him." – Psalm 62:1

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon me and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." Matthew 11:28-30

The next two verses are my Siesta Scripture Memory Team verses and a reminder that I must not be too concerned with the world and be troubled, and also to remember Jesus and what He endured for me.

"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the word gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." - John 14:27

“Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” – Hebrews 12:3

Are you following along with a specific devotional? If so, tell us a little about the devotional. Do you recommend it for your fellow Kettle Club ladies?

I am currently reading Every Day With Jesus by Selwyn Hughes (produced by CWR) and it is about being Jesus’ apprentice. I’m only a few days into it, but am learning that He is my only leader. While it is important to listen to my pastors, my manager at work and leaders in government and so on, ultimately it is only Jesus who is my leader and whom I should follow.

Last month’s devotional book was titled “Purpose for Living” and one week was spent discussing caring for ourselves as Christians. Loving myself as my neighbour, building a proper self-image or self-concept, paying careful attention to my physical functioning, building into my daily schedule time when I can be alone, recognising my limitations, and not going beyond them, being gentle with myself whenever I fail or make a mistake and learning to receive love whenever it is offered to me. I desperately need to revisit these studies as the last couple of weeks with dealing with Jasmine and not being well have pushed me to limits I should not have gone to.

I do recommend this devotional, as Selwyn Hughes, the founder of CWR, is very thorough in his study of the Scriptures, and provides simple yet worthwhile lessons.

What is a stand out lesson you learned this month? What has the Lord been steadily teaching you?

To give all my worries to Him, to not try and solve everything at once, and to only concern myself with what is important (Yes to God Tuesday study post coming soon on this!). I have also learnt that I need to CALM DOWN and not get so stressed about things that are out of my control.

Did you find certain distractions kept popping up as you would sit down to meditate on God’s Word? How did you overcome them?

The laptop sitting on my bed with me, or next to my bed, is one such distraction, so I’ve moved it over to the other side of the room, closed the lid and muted the sound so when I am reading the Word or doing my daily devotional or study I can’t see or hear what is happening on it. It also means that my Bible is the closest thing, and thus first thing, I reach for when I wake in the morning. Another distraction is Jasmine, so I only ever read when she is occupied with something else or in bed. I also do study in my breaks at work, and do a lot of extended study on the weekends when she is staying with her father.

Do you find that when you place your time spent with the Lord before blogging life somehow seems…simpler? Or feels more balanced?

Yes, because I’ve been fed with His Word that give me direction and a feeling of peaceful satisfaction. His Word is a reminder that I am not to do life without Him.

What are some prayer time/Word focused goals you had for the month of February? What are your goals for the month of March? (For example, are you memorizing Scripture or committing to pray about a specific thing?)

Memorising Scripture through The Living Proof Ministry Blog. I’m also praying for a quiet and more loving nature when dealing with Jasmine.

How can you fellow Kettle Club members pray for you this month?

Wisdom and discernment when dealing with Jasmine’s reluctance to go to school and school aged care. Also pray for patience to better deal with her “change in attitude”. Pray for Jasmine that she can be a “brave bee” at school, and after school care, and not miss her mummy too much. And that she can feel relaxed around the other kids and adults.

Please pop over to the Kettle Club post and see what the other members have been up to also.

Remembering to Shine the Light...

It's time for verse number 2 at The LMP Blog and I'm happy to share that I succeeded in memorising my first verse and now the challenge starts! Not only will I be learning a new verse, but I will also be re-visiting the first, and so on throughout the challenge, until I have memorised 24 for the year! What better way to hold God's Word close to my heart than filling my mind with it and having it pass from my lips. So, verse number 2 is...

"In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in Heaven." - Matthew 5:16 (NIV)

May my light shine - the light that He has given me - before everyone who I meet, so I can share openly and honestly - so I can exemplify - what He means in my life.