My Quiet Time Routine

(My KJV Journaling bible with my
personalized Bible Tabs & handmade
Book Ribbon) 

"How do you read your Bible?" 

"What do you do in your personal time with the Lord?"

"When do you have quiet time?" 

"How do you know where to start?"

These are ALL great questions!

Since a lot of people have asked me about my quiet time routine, I decided to dedicate this blog post to answering questions in that area.

First and foremost, I'd like to remind you of a few things:   Everyone is different. What works for one person may not work for another.  So feel free to develop your own routine and do what is comfortable for you!  My 'routine' changes when my life changes (Gasp!).  That's right.  When I was in college, my routine may have included quiet time at different times of the day depending on the amount of free time I had.  When I changed jobs, when my hours at work were cut, when I am babysitting, all of these things are taken into consideration.  Keeping your spirit in shape requires consistency just like with your physical body.

Here are the Details:

1. TIMING IS EVERYTHING! I PREFER having quiet time in the morning.  Not as soon as I wake up (when I'm still groggy & delirious).  But, once I've freshened up and fixed a cup of coffee.  In a perfect world, I'd wake up two hours before I need to leave the house every morning.  One hour to be spent on getting dressed, fixing my hair/make-up. The other hour spent on Jesus... in a perfect world!    Pick a time that works for you.  If I can't have my quiet time in the morning, I'll have it on my lunch break (my least favorite option) or late at night once the world has gone to sleep.
   
   In the early morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up,
   left the house, and went away to a secluded place,
   and was praying there. - Mark 1:35
2. LOCATION IS KEY!  I love having my quiet time at home in my bedroom in this orange antique chair I got from my grandmother when I moved into my first apartment a few years ago.  Before then, I'd have quiet time on the couch in my dorm room.  If I was at my mom's house, I'd have quiet time in the living room on the couch.  I usually don't have quiet time on my bed... my mind is conditioned to use the bed for sleeping, so if I'm on my bed, I'll get sleepy and fall asleep on Jesus and we can't have that!  However, if I'm breaking my routine for whatever reason, anywhere quiet and scenic is good for me.  If I'm at work, I'll go in an empty work room.  If I'm on a trip, I'll go to where I can get a quiet view of a beautiful lobby or courtyard.
   
   But you, when you pray, go into your inner room,
   close your door and pray to your Father who is in secret,
   and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you. - Matt. 6:6
3. WHAT DO YOU HEAR?  I love to play worship music in my quiet time.  It helps me to drown out everything on my mind and everything around me.  I usually play it in my headphones so that I'm not distracted by any sounds around me (phone ringing, people coming in and out, etc).  I have to listen to music to tune my ear and my heart to God's mouth.  After all, quiet time isn't about what I say, it's about what God has to say to me.
   
   David and all Israel were celebrating before
    God with all their might, even with songs and
   with lyres, harps, tambourines, cymbals
   and with trumpets. -1 Chronicles 13:8
4. READ! READ! READ!  Now, I absolutely love my Bible.  My Boyfriend recently bought me the Bible I've always wanted.  It is a KJV Journaling Bible that I spent hours trying to choose in LifeWay.  Where do you start?  It doesn't matter where you start.  It matters more that you start. Sometimes I'll just ask the Lord where to go & open my Bible.  Other times, I read more on a passage that was preached or taught recently at my church.  If there's a scripture or sermon that's in my spirit, I'll start there.  You can always start on a reading plan or just start from the beginning.  
   And ye shall seek me, and find me, 

   when ye shall search for me with all your heart. - Jeremiah 29:13
5. PRAYER!  Who do you know that will spend time with you without talk to you?  Praise the Lord.  Get into His presence.  I use the ACTS method:  Adoration.  Confession. Thanksgiving. Supplication.  That's typically how a normal conversation goes, right?  You don't ever ask for something without first greeting a person, getting personal with them, thanking them.  Why would you do anything other than that for God.  Sometimes I pray out loud.  Sometimes I write in my prayer journal.  Sometimes I just pray in my heavenly language.
   

   If my people, which are called by my name,
    shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face,
   and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven,
   and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. - 2 Chron. 7:10
6. LISTEN!  Don't make your quiet time all about talking to God.  Be still before the Lord and listen to Him.  He desires to speak to you, give you guidance and instruction, and share His heart with you.    

Be still, and know that I am God:

 I will be exalted among the heathen,

 I will be exalted in the earth. - Ps. 46:10

I pray that you enjoyed reading about my quiet time.  But, more importantly, I hope you feel led to start a routine.  Evaluate your schedule, figure out what does and doesn't work for you and move accordingly.  As you draw night unto God, He will definitely draw nigh unto you!  Have fun!  Happy Studying!!!

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Obedience is Better: #nofear

Life is full of choices that we must make and opportunities that we will be offered.  For some that sounds exciting and for others, stressful.  Maybe you have always made the right choices and never had second thoughts. OR maybe you and I are alike in that sometimes having too many options feels overwhelming and can bring on a fear of making the wrong decisions and fear of the unknown.  

I believe that very thing (fear) is what often keeps us from being obedient to what God has instructed us to do.  Of course fear isn't the only thing...  But, that's what I'm going to focus on today. :-p

There's greatness on the other side of your fear.  Every person who was ever great had to first face their fears...

Oprah had to face her fear of rejection before auditioning for a movie role.  Michael Jordan had to face his fear of failure before become a basketball star.  Soldiers must face their fear of dying before committing to serve on the battle field.  DO NOT LET FEAR STOP YOU OR SLOW YOU DOWN!

There are three types of fear:  (1) protecting,  (2) paralyzing, and, (3) reverencing.  

This first kind of fear can protect you from doing things that you feel could be dangerous or harmful.  This feeling may keep someone from getting on roller coasters because they don't want to fall.  This feeling may keep parents from allowing their child to go a certain place.  Or it may keep a single woman on the defense against anyone who tries to change her routine.  This feeling may keep a man from opening up to the woman who wants to know him in a deeper way. This feeling may keep a toddler from walking for fear of falling.  

But, that fear can easily become paralyzing if unmanaged or unreasonable.  If you never allow your children out of your sight, you may stunt their growth.  If you as a single woman never open your mind or heart, who will be able to capture it?  Sir, if you never open up to that woman how can you ever become her knight in shining armor?  If a toddler remains afraid of falling, then he'll be crawling into adulthood.   Imagine a world full of adults that never learned how to walk, crawling everywhere, asking others to pick them up when they're tired of crawling.  Nonsense.

A reverential fear, though, is what we should all have.  I love and respect my spiritual father.  He's been like a dad to me since I started high school in 2007.  I want to make him proud in every aspect of my life.  I take his advice, no matter how harsh, to heart.  Growing up, I avoided a lot of situations (not all) because I knew my daddy would not approve.  That's the type of fear we should have with our Heavenly Father.  A reverential fear of God moves you to listen when He speaks.  It causes you to seek His face and seek His counsel and advice.  It makes you consider His opinion before decision making.  Lastly, it leads you to seek His validation.  And if you have that, there's nothing more you need to move forward in your life. 

Delayed obedience--for whatever reason--is still disobedience.  

Scripture says quite a few things about fear:  

"For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind."   -2 Timothy 1:7 

"For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father."   -Romans 8:15

Obedience to God is better than bondage to fear.  Imagine all that God has in store for you if you would just move when He says move.  You'll never get to Step B without completing Step A.  If you are afraid, please know that God hasn't given you that fear.  So let's cast it back to the pits of hell!  Write that book.  Start that business.  Go on that trip.  Start that ministry.  Do what God has given instructions for you to do!  The enemy wants you to stay where you are.  The devil is constantly trying to destroy you, your future, and your destiny... Don't let him!  Everything you want is on the other side of your fear. But, more importantly, everything God wants for you is on the other side of that fear!  

I overcame my fear of failure and rejection by stepping out on faith... Over the past week, I've done a couple cool things:     (1) I have continued writing my first book which I haven't worked on in a couple months.  That book is entitled "The Consignment Christian" which is specifically geared to encourage the heart of young women everywhere who struggle in the areas of faith and identity. And (2) I started my YouTube Channel!  So check it out!    If I can overcome MY fears, you can overcome yours!  Keep me in your prayers.

Lord, help us today to not be controlled by fear when it is time to do what you've called us to do.  Let us be fully convinced that the time is now to do that thing.  Thank you for power, love, and a sound mind.  Thank you for making us your own.  Because we have your approval and validation we can run full speed into all you've called us to.  In Jesus name, Amen.

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Testing in Progress...

Greetings Friends!  Welcome back to my blog... This is my second post this week.  I told you that Part two was coming behind Class is in Session.  If you read that blog, you've read some tools of how to survive life class.  

Not only does God teach us throughout life, but, He also tests us on what we have learned.  Quiz.  Pop Quiz.  Unit Exam.  Final Test.... Do those words sound appealing to you?  Maybe.  Maybe NOT!!!  Tests aren't the most fun things, but they're always purposeful.  No matter what season of life you're in, no matter what test you may be facing, keep a few things in mind before you get discouraged:

1)  The TEACHER is never surprised by a pop quiz.  I’m not going to panic if God’s not panicking.  This may be a surprise to me, but never to Him.  God knew before this test was coming.  I can have peace and trust that He loves me enough to get me through this!

**Hebrews 4:12 tells us that “there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.”

2)  The TEACHER has specifically customized your test to assess what's in you.  How sweet is it to know that God has predestined according to His purpose to work things after His will for our lives.  There’s always continuity in what God does even if we don’t see or understand it.

**Ephesians 1:11 says, “also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will.”

3)  The TEACHER never gives a test that He hasn't previously prepared you for.  The Lord gave the Israelites a series of test after test after test after test.  But, it was all intentionally for His glory.  Each test was preparing them for the next and the next and the next.  Don’t be like the Israelites, though, who had to keep learning some of the same lessons over and over.

**Deuteronomy 8:2, “and you shall remember that the Lord your God led you all the way these forty years in the wilderness, to humble you and test you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not.”

4)  The TEACHER made the test, so He has the answer key.  You can rest assured that God has all the answers and He loves us so much so that He will give us what we need and He’ll give good gifts to those who ask Him.  No, that doesn’t mean we get everything we want, but we can be sure that it means when we need our Heavenly Father, He is there‼

**Mathew 7:11 says, “if you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him.”

5)  Use your memory bank.  So often we forget the things that God has done for us in the past.  We get caught up in our present storm that we forget the storms that God has brought us through.  Don’t fall so deep in the pit of this situation that you can no longer look around and see what God has done for you and for others.

**Hebrews 10:32 & 35 say, "But remember the former days, when, after being enlightened, you endured a great conflict of sufferings, ... do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward."

6)  If you fail the test, the TEACHER will make you retake it.  There’s nothing like going through absolute hell and then having to go back through the same hell you just went through all because you didn’t learn your lesson the first time.  The Israelite people didn’t trust God to get them out of Egypt.  Then when they got out of Egypt, they didn’t trust God to provide food when they were hungry.  Once they were fed, they didn’t trust God to get them into the Promised Land… God kept testing them.  Don’t be like them‼!

7)  The test is open Book.  :-)  Psalm 119:105, “Your word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.”

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Class is in Session...

Whether you're aware of it or not, there just may be a test coming your way.  Unfortunately, we don't get to choose when or how tests come!  However, I believe there are some important things we can do to be prepared at all times.

1)  Pay attention in class... Nothing happens for no reason!  Everything God does is strategic.  If you pay attention now, you will be equipped with all you need for the test.  Don’t be caught off guard or distracted, as you learn along the way, keep in mind that it is for you to be tested.

**1 Peter 4:12, Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you;

2)  Get to know the Teacher Before you Need the Teacher…  God loves you and wants to know you.  Get to know Him.  Ask Him for help if you need it.  But, don't just wait until the struggles come to seek God... build a relationship with Him even before you're in a tough spot.  No one likes to be used.  So don’t use God as your ‘get out of jail free card.’

**1 Chronicles 16:11 tells us, "Seek the LORD and His strength; Seek His face continually."

3) Study. Study. Study…  Daily. Consistently.  Don't wait until the night before a test to cram all the information in because you need your sleep.  Or worse, don't get thrown off by a pop quiz.  Studying consistently will ensure that you are ready at all times for whatever may come your way.  Study the Word of God.  It’s the ammunition you need to fight off the enemy.

**Psalm 119:11 says, " Your word I have treasured in my heart, That I may not sin against You.."

4)  Memorize those main ideas.   As God is teaching you, know that it’s not in vain.  So, when you’re going through things you don’t understand, instead of whining and complaining, make sure you remember what God is trying to teach you.

**Romans 8:28 tells us, "And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose." 

5)  Eat well.  Even Jesus knew how important it was to eat well… Not just naturally, but spiritually.  What you put in is what comes out.  So feed your spirit with things of the spirit.  Feed your spirit with the Word, testimonies of the saints, inspiration books and television. 

**In Matthew 4:4, Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'”

6)  Get plenty of rest... Rest in God, that is.  Honor the Sabbath.  Dedicate your Saturdays to the Lord if you can.  Get your work done in the week so that you can rest on that day if at all possible.  If God can build the world in 6 days and rest on the 7^th, we can follow his pattern.  But, even outside of that, practice resting in God.  Don’t rest in your finances, friends or family, but rest in God.  He’s a sure foundation. 

**Ps. 62:5 says, "Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from him."

7)  Get rid of the waste... Naturally, it's helpful to go to the restroom before you enter an exam room.  The most annoying thing is to get in the groove of test taking just to have to stop what you’re doing to release what has built up in you.  Spiritually, we get weighed down with things we should have gotten rid of a long time ago.  Get rid of waste on a consistent basis, don't let it build up inside of you. 

**Psalm 51:2 says, "Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity And cleanse me from my sin."


STAY TUNED FOR PART 2... "Testing in Progress"

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Sometimes God Says, "No."

There is a little lady that I call my God-daughter.  Her mother was my best friend for about 3 years before she died on February 5, 2015.  I've been blessed with a close relationship with her family and still get to spend a lot of time with them.  Anyway, baby girl is like me.  She hates, and I mean despises, being told no.

Can I have candy? No.

Can I watch television a little longer? No.

Can I have this or that toy? No.

Each no is typically followed by a little bit of pouting.  She is 4 going on 40 and hates being told no.

But, there's a reason why we answered no to these questions. She wanted candy because she didn't know that her favorite meal had already been prepared for dinner.  She wanted to watch television after bedtime but we knew that she'd never get enough sleep to get up on time for school.  She wanted a new barbie, but she didn't know that her grand-mother had already ordered 12 barbies for her for Christmas.

If God always said yes when we pray, we would get whatever we want.  That may be okay with some people.    It may even be okay with us temporarily.  But we must remember that what we want has nothing on what God wants for us.   Ephesians 3:20 tells us that "God is able to do exceedingly and abundantly above all we could ask or even think."  Even the very best thing that you could ask of God has no comparison to His limitless possibilities in our lives.

That helps us to better understand when God says no!

God wants to bless us and keep us, prosper us and call us to higher.  He wants us to have good things... But, even good things at a bad time can become a burden or weight. A baby is a beautiful thing, a gift from God, but we don't usually want to see the baby until after he or she has spent 9 months in the womb.  Even the most anxious expecting mothers understand that that time is crucial. Time is crucial.  

When you pray, pray with understanding and submission.  Pray with an open mind and heart.  Don't pray to change God's mind or God's heart, but pray for God to change your mind and your heart. Pray because God will only tell you know when it's not time or when He just has something better.

God is trustworthy.  God is faithful.  His love for us is sure.

Matthew 7:9-11 says this, “What man is there among you who, when his son asks for a loaf, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, he will not give him a snake, will he? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him!”

God, help us today to trust your timing.  Help us not to seek only for you to say yes.  Help us to ask for your guidance and direction, submitting to your perfect timing and perfect will.   Thank you for being a God who doesn't always say yes.  Thank you for being a God who is not controlled, but in control.  Thank you for your DIVINE no.  Thank you for your DIVINE timing.  We trust you now, God.  In Jesus' name, AMEN.

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Problem of the Century...

Problem of the century... Most of us cannot seem to stay focused!!!

I suggest that this is because of our fear of ISOLATION & ABANDONMENT and some of us even have very valid reasons what these are fears. This fear causes us to fight solitude, become co-dependent, and sometimes very needy of PEOPLE! In 2013, it's easy to have access to people: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Path, Vine... the list goes on and on! This easy access puts us in a position where we don't HAVE to be alone if we don't want to be... these social networking sites have extreme potential to go from being good for NETWORKING to being badly DISTRACTING!!! 

It seems to me that the less clothes we have on, the sexier we look, the more illegal behavior we expose, the more popular we become and the more 'likes' & 'friends' we have. So then we become people that we never were just so that we can impress the people that we never could!!! When we become different people we run the risk of forgetting our calling, forgetting our purpose and leaving our destiny when we leave our identity!!!

We can get so focused on making sure that we don't miss what's going on with our 'friends' that we miss what's going on with our Father!!!

Mark 1:35 says, "Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed."  Perhaps we should follow His example more often.  Jesus knew how to do things right!!!

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I am a Christian by Maya Angelou

Maya says it best...  

When I say... "I am a Christian"

I'm not shouting "I'm clean livin."

I'm whispering "I was lost,"

Now I'm found and forgiven.

When I say..."I am a Christian"

I don't speak of this with pride.

I'm confessing that I stumble

and need CHRIST to be my guide.

When I say... "I am a Christian"

I'm not trying to be strong.

I'm professing that I'm weak

and need HIS strength to carry on.

When I say... "I am a Christian"

I'm not bragging of success.

I'm admitting I have failed

and need God to clean my mess.

When I say... "I am a Christian"

I'm not claiming to be perfect,

My flaws are far too visible

but, God believes I am worth it.

When I say... "I am a Christian"

I still feel the sting of pain,

I have my share of heartaches

So I call upon His name.

When I say... "I am a Christian"

I'm not holier than thou,

I'm just a simple sinner

who received God's good grace, somehow.

-Maya Angelou

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Check out my FLOTUS MO...

"One of the lessons that I grew up with was to always stay true to yourself and never let what somebody else says distract you from your goals. And so when I hear about negative and false attacks, I really don't invest any energy in them, because I know who I am."  -MO

Haters?  You're talking about haters?  People that don't like you?  People that talk trash about you?  I'm sure the Obamas can tell us all a thing or two (or three or four) about what it's like to have haters...  However, I'm sure they don't sit around and wallow in the negative things that are said about them.

Neither do they sit on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram talking about the people that are talking about them.  Do they look for statuses and subtweets about them...?  NO, AIN'T NOBODY GOT TIME FOR THAT!  Why?  I believe there are two important convictions that the First Lady of the United States, Michelle Obama, [aka FLOTUS MO] holds to that we can all take note of:

1.  FLOTUS MO knows who she is, &

2.  FLOTUS MO has a strong sense of success.

In 1 Corinthians 15:10 the Apostle Paul tells us that it's only by the grace of God that he is what he is.  That, being my life verse, is one of my favorite scriptures in the Bible.  Not because it is more important than any other, but because it exemplifies a principle that I have had to and continue to work very hard on.  We have to understand that we are who we are.  

PLEASE NOTE:  This is not an excuse to be used to continue in sin, but it is an opportunity to embrace that we are uniquely made by a Creator that has graced us to be who we are.  No matter who you are, no matter how you look, no matter how you dress, what you love, or what you hate... it's only by the grace of God that you are who you are!  And until you know who you are and whose you are, you will be distracted from your goals and you will invest energy in the negative and false attacks that people make against you!

In John 13:35, Jesus tells His disciples that the way that they love one other will be what shows others that they are His disciples.  It's not how much we earn, not how much you know, not how you look, not how you feel... but how you love!  The FLOTUS knows that success is not about making money for herself, but it's about making changes for others.  It's important that as believers, we understand that discipleship is similar in this regard... discipleship is not about earning brownie points with God, but it's about loving one another.

It is our love for God and our Christian love for our brothers and sisters that should govern our actions, our words, our deeds and our thoughts.  Success isn't about you... Discipleship isn't about you... but it's about the people who's lives you change... it's about how you love the people you love!

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Pondering a few Proverbs...

"The heart of man plans his way... but the Lord establishes his steps."  -Proverbs 16:9

Even so with women... I'm not sure about you, but I am constantly trying to make plans for my life, then I face frustration when my plans don't work out exactly how I wanted them to.  However, we have to constantly keep in mind that although we make plans, God holds the itinerary.  Even though we have dreams, God is the dream-maker, dream-catcher and dream-keeper.  Although we have many great ideas about what we want our lives to look like, God has the master copy of life's blueprint and He already knows.

Because God already knows the only thing left for us to do is walk in His guidance, praying that our heart's desires and plans look like the steps that have already been established by the Lord.

...why? Well because all things work together for the good of them that love God and are called according to His purpose (Rom 8:28).  And since all things work together, you do not have to fear the terror of night or the dangers of the day (Psalm 91:5). And even when you find yourself afraid, you can face your fears head on because God has not given you a spirit of fear; but a spirit of power, and of love and of a strong mind (2 Tim. 1:7).

More than anything, let's try to walk in God's established plans for us because you should trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean on His understanding.  You should acknowledge Him in all your ways so that He can direct your paths.  Don't be wise in your own eyes.  Fear the Lord and turn from evil.  This will be strength to your body and nourishment to your bones (Pro. 3:5-7).

I'm not sure about you, but I definitely want to walk with the One who knows all, sees all, and can do all things.  Just a thought.

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