This post may include affiliate links. Visit our Disclosure Policy & Disclaimer page for full disclosure. The purpose of this post is to pay tribute to and celebrate my alcohol free journey and to provide encouragement and resources for anyone who would like to explore their relationship with alcohol. The goal is not to get people to feel bad about their drinking habits or to pressure people to stop drinking. It’s not telling you what to think, but inviting you into a process that can create different thinking regarding alcohol. It’s so much more than just counting down the days not drinking or being fixated on the calendar. Instead, it’s gaining knowledge and insight and evaluating our emotions, thoughts, and actions that ties into alcohol. A big thing in store is the opportunity to not just examine our relationship with alcohol, but our relationship with ourself and how it’s tied to alcohol. My journey sheds light on critically examining alcohol, its role in my life, and my experiences taking a break from it. Much of this is coming straight from my journal. I’ll be sharing why I pursued this journey…
I’ve owned Bibles. I’ve referenced them when a pastor had us turn to a particular passage. They’ve been a resource for Bible studies and academia. They’ve been read to me. I’ve read various passages and have studied individual books. But truth be told, despite this familiarity and these still purposeful interactions and exposures, I’ve never read through the whole Bible for myself. Can you relate? Maybe, similarly to me, you feel the nudge to read through the Bible. You sense there is something to be gained and that your life needs this regular connection. You’re curious, skeptical, nervous, and eager all at the same time. Perhaps you don’t know how or where to begin. Or don’t think you have time. Maybe you started this once before, but need to pick it up again. You long for a deeper and closer connection with God and have prayers and hopes to take your faith and relationship with Him to a new level. You desire to get back to a simple faith, having been bombarded with life’s challenges and demands. You know your…
The privilege of being uncomfortable: The opportunity to not regress, but progress to new levels of growth and faith, gaining now and for the future…
The process of prayer for me has taken a turn. Similarly to going through what I shared about song and worship, equal humbling and development is being unlocked through the process of prayer, shifting from being solely fixated on the prayer item, goal, or destination itself to also valuing the process. I’m thankful for the contrast of experiences that can lead to newfound need, understanding, trust, and appreciation. Meaning, on one side of things, in terms of prayer, I’ve experienced going through the motions. Not praying at all. Doubted it was even doing anything. Struggled with the effort while not always seeing anything change. Left it to last resort or just during tough times. Walked away from it. Prioritized self. Expected only what I could make sense of or made time for it and believe in what could be accomplished as long as everything was agreeable to me. On the other side, I’ve received tons of fresh revelations and rewiring over time showing purpose and beauty to live anew that I will be sharing in this post. By no means is this a one-and-done arrived state; rather, it’s continuing to…
"What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?" -Mark 8:36- What good is it to gain all things adulting, yet neglect the most important decision and gift of all? Our adulting needs continued spiritual growth. The quest shifts beyond just meeting life goals and navigating life chapters, pointing to and living for ourselves, to living as a light with purpose through life goals and chapters, growing closer and pointing others to the answer for hope and life. All the details of our precious life need a woven in Jesus.
Wouldn’t you rather have a homemade deodorizer spray on hand that not only smells amazing, but also delivers protective properties within the air of your home? One that doesn’t just mask odors, but actually neutralizes them? One that doesn’t leave you at the mercy of an over-magnified scent, but a personally-controlled one instead? One that isn’t accompanied by a slew of other added chemical-ridden ingredients, but 3 simple natural ones that gets the job done and gives you peace of mind? Similar to my homemade laundry soap and homemade hand soap, cultivating my creative and DIY layer is fun and rewarding. Making simple, easy, and cost-effective modifications to what I use within my home, contributing to a cleaner environment, is empowering. The payoff of my effort puts a smile on my face. Certain store deodorizer sprays can be expensive, not to mention giving you a lot of toxin for your buck. This versatile spray can be used anywhere in your home. Blending your own natural creation is savvy. Being able to reuse the same spray bottle is both environmental and essentialist friendly. Using a staple already on standby…
What would happen in our life if we not only experienced the words of song, but the activation of song? The following lessons come from a place of struggle and being humbled taking my understanding and approach to worship, in terms of song and music, to a deeper level and unlocking the 4 Ps: Pathway, Position, Posture, and Power. I’ve gone through the motions. Did the good deed. Enjoyed and participated as long as I was happy. Left it to last resort. Acknowledged words while fighting change. Connected and expressed yet prioritized self. When I discovered I struggled with anxiety, accompanied by offshoots of control, worry, and fear, it humbled me. I couldn’t help but acknowledge what was working and not working. It exposed the many areas of life where it can show up. It opened me to the offer and gift that was on the table. Being in such a sensitive spot, I knew I needed to eliminate things that were not helping my heart, mind, and ultimately my faith and instead flood it even more with things that would. Little did I know that would serve as one critical link for processing the anxiety…
Thanks, 2017, 2018 needed you! This serves as a gratitude post for my beginnings; for my readers, followers, and supporters, both online and offline; for fellow bloggers and writers; and for some lessons experienced as God walks me through this journey. My hope is you pull a takeaway for your life and your endeavors. Thank you, support system. Your various messages, feedback, and encouragement fuels my tank. Thank you for reading along and supporting me. Thank you for passing along content that could help someone else. Thank you for being an active participant on the blog by commenting and sharing your own thoughts. I value the interaction and desire a personal connection with my readers. Thank you, fellow bloggers and writers. I appreciate our networking. I’m better for it. Running along side one another, sharing more light into this world, is rewarding as we give ground to a greater legacy and calling in life. Knowing you’re showing up and giving back in and through your craft challenges me. Your content strengthens and helps carry me along. It’s better to band together verses travel alone. Regardless our stage or experience level, we can take and…
Our layers are as good and nourished as the various things pouring into them. Encouragement from a dear friend is just that: Remember YOU and your happiness. Sometimes we get so caught up in worrying about what everyone else thinks or is doing and forget or neglect our own desires, needs, and goals. Very true. There’s freedom in the journey. We only get one shot at this life – in work, in play, in love, in faith, in dreams, and in health. Our personal choices matter. Make them count. Everyone gets this opportunity to live these things out, but no one can live or choose what we must live and choose for ourselves. There’s no perfect timeline, solution, or playbook for many things. We may nod our heads knowing this to be true, but it often gets lived out differently. There’s guiding principles; a God who loves us, wants our burdens, and intercedes on our behalf; struggle and challenge; support systems and avenues; stumbling; incremental learning; discovery; adventure; risk-taking; vulnerability; and growth. May we remember and apply these concepts with how we are with ourselves and with others. And see the beauty in…
You don’t have to complete a journey or season to have a testimony. You can have one while walking the journey and living out the season. There’s value and opportunity in the stage you’re in, not just when it’s over…