Spiritual Journey 2012

This year I took on many challenges that helped me grow closer to God and to others.  Here are a few Bible studies and other spiritual growth opportunities that I took part in this year.

*Good Morning Girls-
Ephesians
Proverbs 31 Woman
Colossians
Advent


*Memorizing Scripture with Do Not Depart
Romans 8
John 1:1-14
Proverbs 31: 10-31 (with my GMG Bible study)


*Read the Bible
I read the Bible in 90 Days with Mom's Toolbox.


*Hello Mornings
Accountability group for mornings- God, Move, Plan
Register for the Winter Challenge on January 16th.  The challenge is from Jan 28- Apr 26.
If you are someone who wants to better plan your mornings, have quiet time with God, exercise and make a good plan for the day, this is for you!


What I plan to do for 2013:

This year I will continue to do Bible study with Good Morning Girls.  This winter we are studying Luke 1-8.  I am excited to memorize more Scripture with Do Not Depart starting this January: Psalm 71.  I will continue to connect with  my Hello Mornings group and I am going to read through the New Testament from the calendar on my Weekly Household Planner.

I also participate in Warrior Prayers and 31 Days of Prayers for Girls.  I honestly want to spend more time with God in prayer and I will earnestly seek God during my SOAP studies as I want to follow God with my whole heart!

What Bible studies and Spiritual growth opportunities do you participate in?

Happy New Year 2013

God's Nuggets: Parenting

So, lately I've been thinking a lot about my parenting.  Everyone says I'm a good mom, but am I?  I feel pretty selfish most of the time.  I try to do things first for myself, but make it look like I'm doing it for the kids.  For instance, I like schedules and routines.  So both of my children sleep through the night and my 2 year old still stays in his room even if he's awake in the morning.  Sometimes I don't get him out of bed on time because I'm too busy dinking around on the computer.  I purposely get up 2 hours before the kids so I can get "my" time in.  I like to exercise, do my Bible study and catch up on the computer.  Is there anything wrong with that?  No, but sometimes I waste my time and those things get pushed farther into the day which is time I need to be spending with my son (especially).  Also, both of my children are not cuddly.  Yep, even the baby.  Is it because I'm so wrapped up on my schedule that I don't take time to just sit with them?  No, I do sit with them, but they just want to move all the time.  I know that with having one I spent a whole lot more time cuddling and reading and laying on the floor.  But with 2 kids and one of them a talker and a mover, it's hard to just relax.  I always feel like I'm on the go and I'm forever behind in housework and meal preps.  I'm working on streamlining those projects so I can take the time to relax and play with my kids.  But I must admit I'm a workaholic.  I had to force myself last week not to do ANY work on my birthday.  How bizarre is that?  Work makes me feel good and accomplished.  But this last week, actually on my birthday, our pastor's sermon was about what healthy families do.  I listened, took notes and I want to apply these things to my life right now!  I don't want to let the days pass with me meeting my needs.  I need to think about my family.

Here is a snippet of what stood out to me:
There are 4 verbs- Love, Limit, Enjoy and Pray.

One area that I need to work on is how I limit (set boundaries).  I have quick emotions that rise and my son is the same way.  I get angry very quickly and my response are very reactive rather than proactive.  I am working on remaining calm and quietly setting those boundaries.  This is hard, but I know it will pay off in the end.  I want to teach my son how to respond and right now I don't feel that I'm a very good example.

I also want to enjoy more.  I grew up with a sister and so some of the ways my son likes to play is totally foreign to me.  But I'm learning and it's so much fun to hear him laugh.  The other day I had both kids on my knees and did some bouncing rhymes.  I'm trying to hug and kiss them as often as I can.  This is not hard, but sometimes I'm so busy I don't take the time to really hold them!  They are growing up so fast and I don't want to regret anything.

This week I've been praying for my son with the 21 Days of Prayers for Sons Warrior Prayer Challenge and my heart is changing.  I want to raise up my son to be a godly man and I can do that right now by praying for him.

God's Nuggets: David...Seeking a Heart Like His Week #10

This was my last week to attend the lecture on David and alas, my kids kept me up all night and I just couldn't get it together to go.  Thankfully I can listen to the audio version online at my leisure.  Well, here are my last thoughts:

*God wants to be with me in every high and low.
*I am God's choice!
*Give me an undivided heart.
*Examine my heart daily so I may be whole heartedly devoted to God.
*I want my heart to be like His just as David's was.

I highly recommend this Bible study.  If it's not going on in your area, you can order the book and also listen or watch the lectures online at LifeWay Christian.

God's Nuggets: David...Seeking a Heart Like His Week #9

Whew! This was quite a week. There was a lot of reading, but 2 Samuel 22 was my favorite so I will go back and meditate on it!

Here's what I learned:
*Restore relationships so there will not be loss and regret.
*God wants me to recommit to vows I have made.
*"God will always lead us to victory, but He will lead His way."
*The Lord in my shield, my deliverer and my refuge.
*I may not know why God does what he does, but I know who God is!

Only one more week!

God's Nuggets: David...Seeking a Heart Like His Week #8

I can't believe I am almost finished with this study, just a few more weeks.  There are many parts of David's life that I have never studied and it's been great to delve into this man's life and learn so many important lessons.

Here's my thoughts for this week:
*God wants me to live as a forgiven person.
*I need to take action and reconcile with anyone so I can have a right relationship with God and that person.
*I need to be a forgiver.
*Beware of Satan's attacks especially in times of discouragement and cry out to God.
*How I respond to hardship is more important than the hardship itself.

God's Nuggets: David...Seeking a Heart Like His Week #7

Yay!  I was able to make to Bible study this week and Jessna slept the whole time so I could enjoy myself.  I did get there a little late, but I think it was worth it since I fed her right before we left. 

This lesson was about David's sin concerning Bathsheba.

Here's what I learned this week:
*I need to safeguard myself from isolation which can possibly lead to sin.
*When I am tempted, I pray for the Holy Spirit to convict me and that I would confess and repent.
*I cannot live my life with God with an unrepentant heart.
*Sometimes the lowest points in my relationship with God can bring me close to him.
*God wants me to confess my sin so I can have restored fellowship.

God's Nuggets: David...Seeking a Heart Like His Week #6

Hopefully I can go back to Bible study this week.  I've missed meeting with other women.  I'm glad I can keep up with the lessons at home between juggling baby, toddler and little sleep!

Here's my thoughts for this week:
*"When we wait on God, He gives supernatural strength and accomplishes the inconceivable."
*I need to spend time in praise and worship to God during my quiet time.
*The virtues of humility, accountability, worship, cooperation and administration are all ways David was a man after God's own heart.
*I can be like David and find someone who needs God's loving kindness.
*The characteristic most outstanding to me is accepting because that is where I am weakest.  I want to be a person who looks beyond and accepts just like David did.

God's Nuggets: David...Seeking A Heart Like His Week #5

Well, since I had my baby, I've had to give up going anywhere for a few weeks.  But I'm keeping up with my David Bible study somewhat by doing my homework and listening to the audios I missed so when I go back in a few weeks I will be caught up!

Here is what I learned this week:
*Whenever I feel unsettled, I need to know that God is my source of peace.
*I learned that "we can't always choose our battles, but we can make choices to affect our outcome."
*I learned that I need to use God's word wisely when I speak to my friends in Christ.
*Just as David was called to be a shepherd-king, I am called to serve as a leader (my children, women at MOPS)
*I can come to God in sadness, I can come to God in celebration.

God's Nuggets: David...Seeking a Heart Like His- Week #4

This study is one I would really recommend as it goes through the life of David step by step.  David was anointed king long before he ever became one.  It's been fascinating to see how God was shaping his heart and mine too!!

Here are my nuggets for this week:
*God wants me to come to him in my troubles.
*I learned that I need to stay true to God and obey him all my life so God will listen to me and I to him.
*God will take me through many difficulties, He will always have victory.
*God wants me to remember what He has done for me.  He also wants me to remember what others have done for me and return the blessing.
*God wants me to be free from sinful ways and be his servant.

God's Nuggets: David...Seeking a Heart Like His Week #3

I love what God is teaching me through this Bible study.  Here are my thoughts from this week:

*God wants me to pour out my heart to him with specific prayers.
*I need to believe that God is God in the midst of evil.
*Especially in the midst of difficulties, I need to count my blessings.
*When I am convicted by the Holy Spirit, I need to respond with a change in behavior.
*God wants me to use wisdom in talking to my husband- timing and speaking the right words.

God's Nuggets: David...Seeking a Heart Like His Week #2

So week 2 was about Jonathan's friendship with David and King Saul's mounting jealousy against David.  Here is what I learned:

*God has made a covenant with me that lasts forever.
*I learned that jealousy OF someone is evil and jealousy FOR someone is godly.
*God is more powerful than the wickedness in this world.
*Keep God at the center of my friendships.
*God is my sustainer and provider.  No obstacle is greater than my God!

Happy Easter!

God's Nuggets: David...Seeking a Heart Like His Week #1

I am starting this absolutely fabulous Bible study by Beth Moore called David...Seeking a Heart Like His. I just really want to share with you what I'm learning here on my God's Nuggets post in the next few months.

So every week we have 5 days of homework.  At the end of each day I'm writing what God is teaching in that lesson.

*God wants me to know him- Heart and Soul!
*God wants my full and humble obedience.
*Because God looks on the inside, may I also do the same with others and work on my inside as well.
*God wants me to use both tenderness and strength with the power of the Holy Spirit inside me.
*God wants me to have faith in him because he is living and active and the only one to give victory.

Let me tell you, there is SO much more in these lessons, but you'll have to find out for yourself!  In the meantime, I'll keep sharing what God is teaching me.  ;)

God's Nuggets: God's Treasures to Me in 2010 #2

A few weeks ago I told you about this little reminder list that I received in the mail from Dr. Charles Stanley.  I decided to answer some questions that would help me reflect back on what God has been doing for me in 2010.

*Special times I learned about God's loving character or the way He works in my life.
He works in my life by having me go through periods when I am far away from Him and I see my need ONLY for Him.

*Scripture verses the Lord used this year in a powerful way to encourage and teach me.
I want to make this my theme for 2011: Proverbs 14:1 "A wise woman builds her house..."  This verse teaches me to daily give my life to God and do what is important.

*Ways the Father worked through trials I experienced to teach me to follow Him more closely.
We really wanted a second child, but were not sure because of a health issue I was going through.  It turned out that I was pregnant, but God had brought us to a place of peace and contentment if the result had not been that I was pregnant.  What a time of testing and trust in God!

*Other treasures the Lord revealed to me in 2010.
-Make Room  Isaiah 43:19
-I can't do anything on my own strength.  2 Cor. 12:10


Do you have any treasures to share?  Please make a comment or link up your blog!

God's Nuggets: Connecting with God and others in the New Year

Every year I evaluate how I can grow closer to God.  I always like to be in a Bible study at church or with others.  I need accountability and I am learning to open up and expose those "sinful" parts of me that are hard to share.  A really good way for me to stay connected to God is to memorize His word.  So here are a few of things I will be doing starting in January, but even right now I get up early and have my daily time with God so that will never change.  My goals this year are to memorize at least 24 verses, consistently pray for my family using Scripture and find areas in my life that need challenging and growing.  One thing that I have been called to do by God is give my testimony at MOPS in February.  I'm really nervous about it, but please pray for my preparation so I can glorify God with my life.

So here is what I have chosen to do to connect with God and others in the New Year:
*Bible study at church- Beth Moore's Revelation study "Here and Now...There and Then"
*Siesta Scripture Memory Team with Beth Moore's Living Proof Blog (24 verses for the year)
*Good Morning Girls accountability group studying the book of James (brand new group to me!) from Jan 15-April 15.
*I continue to get Scripture encouragement and great memory verses from Transformed Moms.

I can't tell you how excited I am to dig into God's word and have Him transform my life!

My soul desire is to become the woman of God that He has called me to be.  So what about you?  What are you going to do to connect with God and others in the New Year?  I want to hear from you so please share!  Thanks, Shonda

God's Nuggets: God's Treasures to me in 2010 #1

Hi Friends,
Every month I receive a devotional from Dr. Charles Stanley called In Touch.  It's free and I love it.  It keeps me in God's word and challenges me to be a godly wife and mother.  I also receive letters in the mail and this week I got one that really caught my eye.  Dr. Stanley included a little sheet of paper to fill out called God's Treasures to me in 2010.  I want to share these statements with you that I will fill out and do a second post with  my answers.  If you wish to do a post too, then we'll make the date Dec 30 and then you can link it up to mine.  Sound good?!  These statements really make me think about my year and what God has done in my life.

*Special times I learned about God's loving character or the way He works in my life.

*Scripture verses the Lord used this year in a powerful way to encourage and teach me.

*Ways the Father worked through trials I experienced to teach me to follow Him more closely.

*Other treasures the Lord revealed to me in 2010.

Don't think you have to answer them all.  Just write what is on your heart.  I can't wait to share my answers and read yours.  So mark Dec 30 on your blog calendar to share what God has been doing for you in 2010!

God's Nuggets: I want to be a simple mom!

Over the past few weeks, I have really been thinking about my time and priorities.  I just finished a study called No Other Gods by Kelly Minter.  One statement that really stood out to me was to "Make Room."  What does that mean?  To me, it means that I need to remove a lot of things that are cluttering my life to make room for what is most important.  What is most important?  To me, it's my relationships with God, my family and friends.  I feel like I have been neglecting what is most important to me.  Now that I am expecting in May, I have a strong sense of purpose to get my life in a better balance.  I have so much on my to-do list and I don't think that I can keep up the way I have been going.  Over the next few months I will be blogging less, but it's not because I don't want to blog but it's because I need to focus more on what is important to me.  I have a lot to accomplish before Baby Surprise gets here so I will be concentrating on making room!  I will be sharing with you this journey and what I am learning along the way.  That is how I will strive to become a simple mom!

God's Nuggets: Become a Transformed Mom

Last Christmas I discovered this powerful blog (Transformed Moms) written by Patti who focuses on teaching women about becoming transformed in Jesus.  I was so excited for the lessons she wrote EVERY day to keep my eyes on Jesus.  I have to say I haven't been as faithful as I want to be to be taught all that Patti has to offer.  But now that the "school" season has started, I'm ready to get back to renew my relationship with Jesus and draw on his power to transform my life to be the wife and mom He has called me to be.

This month our Bible memory verses are Ephesians 6:13-18:

13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then,
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...with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.
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16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
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18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.


Join me and Patti this month to see how God can transform your life!!  Blessings, Shonda

God's Nuggets: Pray for your Children

This last month I've been posting a daily character quality for you to pray for your children over on my Milk N' Honey blog.  It's also a great time for self-evaluation too.  So skip on over and even if you don't have children, these would be great to pray for yourself.

Next month, I'm going to post a daily prayer that you can pray for your husband right here on Knowlton Nest.

Blessings, Shonda

God's Nuggets: Ruth (Loss, Love and Legacy) by Kelly Minter

I just finished the FABULOUS Bible study by Kelly Minter called Ruth: Loss, Love and Legacy.  It was sponsored through Beth Moore's Living Proof Ministries blog and even though I did not have a group of women to go through it with me, I was blessed.  I was thinking I might do this Bible study sometime on Facebook through a private group.  If you are interested, please let me know.  It's a study I want to work through again and have fun "discussing" questions with fellow bloggers.

So Kelly is a very forthright and frank writer and she asks some tough questions that get you thinking.  I really like how she took little sections of verses and really walked me through as I would usually just read this book in a flash.  I saw so many new historical facts and also discovered some new insights that pertain to my spiritual walk.  Included in the study are words to songs recorded by Kelly which you can listen to on her website: Living Room Series.  There are also some delicious recipes.

One thought that really struck me was in response to God's wonderful redemption of my sins, I can certainly have a change of heart for anything he has called me to do.  The catch is, I have to be willing to be made willing.  That' huge for me as I struggle with giving up my control.  Do you relate?

I think one of the most important connections this study makes is how God divinely orchestrated each circumstance to his ultimate purpose in bringing Jesus into the world.  You'll just have to do this study to find out!!

Anyway, check it out and also let me know if you would consider doing this Bible study with me.

You can get the book through Lifeway stores.