…And a WHOLE lot of JESUS!

Seriously.  I received this cup from Consumer Associates to review and it could not have come at a better time.  I’ll tell you a little bit more about the cup later on in this post– First things first– UPDATES!!!!

A Few Updates

I’ve been missing you all.  I had every intention of blogging more during October and November, but “Life Happened” and as my social-worker-self often says, I had to “live life on life’s terms.” 🙂

That meant dealing with a lot of hiccups that came my way over the past couple of weeks.

Nothing too horrible or detrimental really, challenging yes, but more often than not, it simply meant that I needed to complete a work project, attend a meeting, or focus on my family and self care time more than I needed to sit down and write another blog post.

I also realized that I developed the less than great habit of writing posts via my phone. That’s not a major issue, but, for the past few weeks, I’ve been very deliberate about minimizing my phone use– less reading, no checking Facebook, less checking email, less talking and texting.  Just less in general.  I take calls during the day and then I place my phone in “do not disturb” mode.

It has been good for my soul.

I’ve used that time to take care of things around my home (I had several projects that were going unattended), spend time reading and planning for 2017 (vision board/journaling in full swing), setting some new fitness goals, working on product reviews (that really has turned into a part time job, but I still enjoy it!) and most of all listening to some things that have been stirring in my spirit.

It’s been a blessing and I really do feel so grateful for this time.  I was never much of a coffee drinker in college, but now I look forward to making my morning cup of coffee and having my quiet devotional time.  As I am now talking on the phone less often, I also set aside afternoon time and try to steal away some time in the evening as well.  It’s allowed me to really examine myself and the things that I want to work on in 2017.  I really just need one cup of coffee a day (a little bit) but I understand that I need a WHOLE lot of Jesus! I can get by with just one cup of coffee a day, but I need as much time with Jesus as I can get!

Looking Forward to 2017…

As I was preparing for the week ahead, I also realized that 2017 is going to be VERY busy.  I have a trip coming up next week and I will, LITERALLY, be traveling at least once a month for the next 6 months.  That may not be major to some, but since I stopped doing full-time consulting work in 2015, I’d become accustomed to working from home and BEING AT HOME, so it made me pause for a moment.

At the same time, I’m grateful for the opportunities that I’ve been invited to participate in and I’m trusting God for nothing less than His best.

And in His usual fashion– the Lord continues to provide tools for the journey.
This cup from Consumer Associates has a built in, pour-over Stainless Steel dripper filter that saves you the hassle of using paper filters and is environmentally friendly.

It can brew coffee or tea (or be used for cold drinks) and is perfect for travel, office, work, at home or even camping!

I’m excited to use this and its larger companion model on my upcoming trips in place of those, in-room coffee makers (I never really trust the sanitation of those things!).  I’m going to be attending several conferences and they always have hot water on the buffet bar.  Having this cup will allow me to freshly brew my Godiva truffle coffee (another AMAZING clearance find) or my loose leaf ginger tea to my heart’s content!

I ALWAYS travel with a tumbler/reusable cup.  It’s one of those creature comforts that just makes life so much easier!  I may have to be away a bit more than I would like, but the Lord certainly did send me something to make the journey just a bit sweeter.  That’s because God cares, cares right down to the last detail (James 5:11).

Despite being on the go, I still plan on doing the November, “Jesus Always” Giveaway. I’ll post a link to the Facebook Live Video as soon as I record it.  I want to share the items with you, so you have an idea of what you can enter for a chance to win and the ways you can enter the giveaway drawing.

A Word of Encouragement

I’d like to close with something I said in one of my recent podcast recordings that I also want to share here to encourage you all.  I know we are about to go into 2017, but don’t ignore this last month of the year.  Yes, it’s almost December, and there may be dreams and prayers you have that have yet gone unanswered, but don’t forget that God still operates in miracles.

Christmas is really a special time of year for me.  Beyond the time with family and friends, there’s the celebration of the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  And while we may not know the exact day of His birth, if you are a born again believer, you have to understand that there’s something so powerful about the month that we are about to go into– that ONE single miracle changed the fate of THE WHOLE WORLD.

And it happened SUDDENLY and SWIFTLY.  The child who would be King of Kings was born in a lowly manger.  Even if you feel as if you are at the LOWEST POINT in your life, GOD CAN and WILL birth something MIRACULOUS if you can stretch your faith to believe Him.

I remember one year (maybe last year) I was talking to my mom about a revelation I received while listening to this rendition of “Mary Did You Know?”  I’ve always loved the song, but when I listened to it that particular day I was so struck by the series of questions.  I was even in tears as I shared it with my mom…

“She didn’t know!  Joseph didn’t know.  They were two young people that were afraid, but they were bold enough to believe God and their FAITH changed the fate of the whole world!”

Maybe you’re still waiting on your 2016 to become “sweet.” It might feel as if nothing can change the course that your year has been on, but I’m praying that you’ll trust God for something major in the last few days of this year.  Stretch your faith. Talk to Jesus about those things more than you talk to ANYONE ELSE and watch what God will do!  I’m praying for you.

Good things are in store for us in 2017, but 2016 isn’t over yet.

Scriptures to Meditate On:

Isaiah 40:28-31

Have you never heard? Have you never understood? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of all the earth. He never grows weak or weary. No one can measure the depths of his understanding.  He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless.  Even youths will become weak and tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion. But those who trust in the LORD will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.

Isaiah 41:10

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Psalm 33:4-6

For the word of the LORD is right and true; he is faithful in all he does.  The LORD loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of his unfailing love. By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, their starry host by the breath of his mouth

1 Peter 2:1-6

Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.

As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him— you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.  As the Scriptures say,

“I am placing a cornerstone in Jerusalem,
chosen for great honor,
and anyone who trusts in him
will never be disgraced.”