I've always been drawn to music (even though I can't sing very well!!!) and when it comes to worship, I can't get enough. I've talked a lot about my love of worship and how closely that ties to my faith, so when I started working on my playlist for labor and delivery, I realized that all the songs I wanted to select were songs of praise to the Lord. I think during that time I will need to draw strength from my faith and rely in His goodness for the power to push through. I wanted to start a new study for the month of August since this will be my last month before Solomon joins our family. I wanted to find something that would help me during the task ahead of birthing him, so I decided to start with my favorite, She Reads Truth. I wasn't sure what I would choose but after seeing the Hymns Series I knew that was the right choice.

I'm really enjoying this study, and I'm only on day 3! Digging deeper in the songs that we sing to Him is so refreshing. The layout of the days are great and easy to complete. The normal bible verses to start, then the written study but then the study ends with the hymn that the day is focused around. You can listen to the song, meditate over it and just be one with the Lord. I love it. I listen to the songs several times and soak it all in, writing my prayers and reading the study. It is also wonderful to find some new songs that I wouldn't normally pick for my labor and delivery playlist, now having a strong connection to the song. 

My prayer is to find God in a deeper level in all of these songs & use that when I need it most. To truly search for Him and sing the praises to Him. My head is constantly being pulled in 50 directions right now, so finding the time to sit and worship Him, and put everything else aside has been amazing!

Have any of you completed these studies?? 
I'd love to hear what you have learned!

In The Word // February Plan

Time for a new plan and time for me to admit I'm behind.... again. 
This month has been a crazy one, full of busy days and nights and even busier weekends. 
I will catch up again but I'm not going to stress about it and make this plan a chore. 
I want to enjoy and and savor the words I read!

Any of you still with us on this plan?
How's it going??

In The Word // January Study Plan

This study is getting so good!!! I love how the stories are evolving and becoming more "story like" and all of the Psalms mixed in makes my heart happy. I'm really happy that I didn't give up on this reading plan like I thought I could a few times. It is so exciting to open my bible and see how much I have already read and journaled through. It is such a great feeling!! I'm also every thankful that we took the month of December off so I could catch up. I feel refreshed and renewed with my reading and I can't wait to start the new plan below! 

Anyone still reading along with us?

I know it is hard, trust me, but it is so rewarding!

Join us and start from the beginning, or start where you left off... 

just open up that book and start. He will meet you there!

In The Word // November Study Plan

I honestly feel like I am a broken record.

Broken being the key word. 

Part of me feels like I did my whole, "woe is me, I'm so behind in this study" post too quickly last month because I am even more behind now. And to be even more honest with you, if it weren't for this blog and my sweet friend opposite of me on the calendar above, I would have quit last month. But I am constantly reminded that this isn't about me. This is about Him. If I am behind, then I am behind, and He is still by my side. 

I recently did a women's bible study at my church which taught specifically about being a biblically oriented woman. Which was amazing, all of it was incredible. We talked a lot about the many different ways to study the bible and the chronological study was mentioned. My head instantly dipped down in defeat. I knew it was coming. Then the speaker said something along the lines of "the chronological study is HARD. It is rough and tough and most people get behind. BUT, it only takes picking up the bible again and starting where you left off." 

So that is exactly what I am doing. Picking up my bible and starting again. It isn't easy, it is a lot of work, but it is for His glory. 

In The Word // October Study Plan

That time again.... here's the next month's study plan!

I wanted to share a little bit of my jouney with this bible study today.

Open up and be completely honest with all of you!

So, here we go.....

I'm the type of person that hates to get behind. I don't like to miss things in my schedule, and when I do I instantly want to keep missing them instead of catching up. This is a problem, I know I struggle with this but it only continues to happen. I honestly don't get it, why am I this way??

When I started the #inthewordin1year study, I started well! It was great, I made time and I was on schedule for almost the entire first month. Almost. Then I got behind during a busy weekend. Then that weekend turned into a week. I was dying to catch up but there weren't enough hours in the day. Finally I did and it felt good! Skip ahead to my Mom/Daughter weekend in Savannah and I missed every single day of reading for a full weekend. Then again, a weekend turned into a week and I had a LOT of reading to do before I could catch up again.

My sweet, and honest husband recently told me, "I make time for what I want to do...." Meaning, I make time for this space. I make time for reading other blogs. I make time for TV shows. I wasn't making time for His Word. It burns, right? When you realize that you are putting EVERYTHING ahead of Him. All the little things, (and some big things) coming before the biggest part of my life. The main reason for my life at all.   

Last week I was feeling defeated. I was behind in my reading and I truly cried out to God for time. I asked Him to give me the chance to catch up and present space for Him so that I could not deny Him. Later that night after dinner Peter asked if I would mind if he went to play some basketball with friends. This is not normal... he hasn't played basketball with friends our entire year of marriage. I almost laughed out loud when he mentioned it. I of course said yes, go! Have fun!!! While he was gone I snuggled into the corner of the couch and I opened my bible. I put down the phone. I turned off my random thoughts. I found my way back to Him. Of course it felt great. I felt lighter, more free, more secure.

It is such a wonderful thing to realize that my security is found in Him. Even on the days that I didn't make the time, I always came back to His grace and His love. It is the center of who we are as His followers, right? So it only makes sense to find that perfect security in Him and within our time spent at His feet. That night was exactly what I needed.  I kicked my butt in gear and ran straight for His lap. I found comfort there like I always do and I wanted to kick myself for straying away from it. But in those moments of pitty and looking down on my faithfulness I realized, just like I always do, that He is always faithful. He will always be here and for that I am thankful. He is here, and He will never leave. Amen, for that!

I hope you all are doing well with this study, but if you are not, I hope you find peace that it's okay. No matter how far behind you are, it only takes that one decision to open your bible and start again. Start where you left off and day by day you will find Him there in those pages. The pages are His love story for us, a true fairytale that we can beleive in.

In The Word // September Study Plan

Time for a new month of the Chronological Study!!

& thanks to Cassie for adding the sweet little shout out on the 28th!

{I can't believe it's almost a year!!}

I have loved this study so much. It has been good, hard, but so needed. I'm still behind, but I am still loving it! I love hearing from those who are doing this with us. Receiving emails and texts about today's reading or the next month's schedule, it makes me smile and it makes my heart so happy to know there are others on this journey with us. That is exactly what we prayed for. 

So, link up and join us! 

Share what you have learned during the past month with this study

or anything the Lord has taught you recently. 

We'd love to hear it :) 

 

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day one.

Today is the day!! The first day of our Chronological Study and I am so excited! I took some time last night to prepare for this study and I thought I share a little bit of that preparation with you. The little things I do before I begin a study and what goes through my head while I prepare. 

1// prepare your heart & your schedule - I always try my best to prepare for the study ahead in my heart first. Since I have had a strong grasp on this study and planned it with Cassie I feel like I have been preparing my heart for weeks now. No matter how much you prepare you heart for a bible study, you must prepare your schedule so you don't "squeeze it in" your day. Not every day will be perfect, and there will be days when you miss the study all together - no one is perfect! BUT, when you make a point to schedule your study you can take it in fully and not feel rushed. With that being said, I am not a morning person. I honestly hate mornings, but I know in my heart that my days would be so much better if I start them at His feet. So, I am going to work really hard to create a habit of morning quiet time. My sweet husband brewing fresh coffee every morning will also help. I think I'll keep him! 

2// don't study alone - we have tried really hard to create a community here with this study so we can grow together. Accountability. It is everything! It is so important to DO LIFE together and my hope is for this life to be full of Jesus. I can't wait to sit down at the kitchen table for dinner every night and discuss my reading with Peter. He started a chronological study in January and he made it to mid March so he will pick up the study again once we are at the same point. I can't wait to grow with all of you and with my husband. 

3// use a special pen - because this is a study through the entire bible I thought it would be helpful to use a specific pen for all of my notes in my bible, so I have decided to use the red pen pictured above to underline and make little notes. I love the fact that I will instantly know that my notes are from this Chronological study  anytime I see that bright red ink in my bible. 

4// plan ahead - it will be so much easier to wake up and dive in His word when you are ready for it. I always like to plan my notes ahead of time, listing the days and scripture reading, so when I turn to the next page I am ready to go. I don't have to think about the days date or go look to see what scriptures to read that day because it is already there. I just begin. 

5// prayer - for the next year while I am reading through the bible I am also going to make a point to write my prayers out every day in my notebook. I love that I will be learning from His word and then stop to meditate on it, talk to Him and listen to Him in return. I can't wait to see the prayers that will fill those blank pages. 

Also, please share anything from this study on social media by using the hashtag below! 

I can't wait to create a community of sisters {and brothers, seriously... you should join us!!} that are growing together in this study.

------------

I can't wait for this journey ahead! I can't wait to see the growth in my life and all of those that join us.This is such an exciting time and I feel His love in this space so strongly. I am so thankful for that! 

For all of you that are joining in this study today - I'm praying for you, I'm praying for your heart, and I'm praying for God to speak to you and teach you through His beautiful word. 

May your kingdom come. May your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

Matthew 6:10

In The Word // August Study Plan

Last week I spoke about plans and after a lot more planning, talking, organizing, & praying with Cassie we came up with this exciting study!!!

Design by Cassie...but not me, the other Cassie ;) 

I sent Cassie a text a couple weeks ago that said, "How do you feel about doing a read the bible in a year study together? Just to keep each other accountable???".... her response, "I would love that!!". And that is how this little study was born. 

We are so excited to do this together and share it with all of you! We will post the plan for the month ahead on the last Tuesday of every month. We will also highlight the study from the past month and share what we learned, study notes that helped us and anything else that the Lord has shared with us through this study. Each month will have each day's reading listed and also have a memory verse for the month.

I'm so excited to learn about His word and make it a priority every day. We hope that you will join us and also keep us accountable! We are all in this together, right? So let's learn together and grow closer through Him. Don't have a blog of your own...? That's fine too, still do this study with us and you can always share what you have learned by leaving comments below each month. This is definitely not a "Bloggers Unite" kind of thing, it is a "Sisters (and brothers too, you can join us!) Unite" kind of thing. Our goal is to stay In The Word so that we can have a light for our path ahead. {Psalm 119:105} Grab your bible and open it up, dive in and turn that light on with us. 

Let's do this!! Join us for a Chronological Study and soak in His word with us! 
For those of you who are bloggers, you can link your recap from this study here at the end of every month, or you can link anything that you have learned like all of our previous weeks with the In The Word Link-up. Just link up and share your heart, that's our motto! 

 

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In The Word // Titus 2:3-5

This study through Titus is wrecking my heart in the best way possible. It is pointing out answers to prayers I've been praying for weeks. It is bringing up questions that I have been ignoring. It is touching all areas of my life right now. I know all of these things are from the Lord, and that makes me feel so much happiness in my heart.

One of the goals on my 101 in 1001 project that I have been putting off has been brought to the surface thanks to this study through Titus. Finding a mentor. Just saying that makes me nervous. When I typed out #14 on that list for the first time many months ago, I had a picture of that woman in my head. A woman that is strong, kind, patient, loving, honest and challenging. My heart has been pulling toward one particular woman for a long time now. From the moment I met her I knew she could be a wonderful person to DO LIFE with. I honestly think that is the best part of having a mentor. Doing life together, learning from their past and going to them with your future. Making a bond that is founded on the Lord and wanting to become closer through Him. That is what I’m yearning for.

Now the hard part happens…. Ask her. Taking the effort to make that first step. I’m not going to lie, I’m very nervous about it. I wonder what her response will be. If she feels like she will have the time to do this or even the drive to do it, but I keep going back to that intuition I have in my heart about it. I truly feel that the Lord is pointing her out for a reason and I don’t want to ignore that anymore. No more excuses. It’s time & I pray for His strength to complete the task and take the first step. This step could potentially be one of the best decisions I've ever made and that is so thrilling.

Do you have a mentor? How did you go about asking them??
Or are you a mentor for someone?

Share with us what you have in your heart right now.
Link up today, or tomorrow, or the day after.
Cassie & I will have the link up open for a week so join us!!

 

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In The Word // James 1:17

First of all, James is my favorite book in the Bible. I absolutely love it. I have studied it so many times and it kept me smiling during a really hard time in my life. So, James and I are close. Another thing that I really love is All Sons and Daughters. Their music is so beautiful and listening to it while I get ready in the morning is my favorite way to start my day. 

Recently a friend mentioned that the YouVersion app has a seven day study plan written by All Sons and Daughters. What could be better than reading through the study every day and listening to their music...? Having James 1:17 a part of the study on the first day! 

He Never Changes. That is my favorite part of that verse. 

He is always the same. How reliable is His love? In a world that is always changing it is so comforting to find peace in the One that never changes. The most constant part of this life is the One who created it after all. That is something wonderful. 

As I'm writing this post right now I'm listening to All Sons and Daughters and their song You Will Remain just came on. Of course it matches up perfectly with this study. 

.....

so unchanging
Your promise is sure
never ending
Your love will endure
You were, You will be
You always are the Great I Am

.....

When things like this happen I know it is not by chance. His hand is all in this moment and every other moment during this life. Every day. His love is unchanging and I know that His promise is sure. It is so amazing to have the Great I Am guide my days. Sitting in His safety is the best feeling I've ever known and I'm so thankful that safety is never ending. 

Join us in sharing what God is doing in your heart!

Grab the button and share your link below. There are no rules or guidelines,

we just want to share His love and we welcome you to share it with us. 

The other Cassie & I love to read what you all have on your heart! :)

 

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In The Word // John 20:29

During the past few days of The Risen Christ study with She Reads Truth I have opened my heart a lot. I have been adamant with myself to make a point every day so I can sit down and give my time to Him completely.
There have been many happy moments and I'm very thankful for it. 

Tomorrow will be the last day of this study and it is definitely bittersweet. Spending time in the Word and learning more about Jesus and His days after the empty tomb have been such a sweet time.

On Friday this question was asked: 

Why do we live in the tension of worship and doubt that disables us to share the truth of God’s love? 

You and I are commissioned – authorized by God – to “therefore go and make disciples” who will know Him and live for Him. This is a commandment from Jesus.

After reading this and thinking on it for a little while I was stumped. I don't consider myself a strong voice for His Kingdom. I sin. Every day I make choices that I know are wrong. I am a human in a fallen world. I see opportunities to share His love but I normally pass them by unless I know I am surrounded by fellow believers. I love to talk about The Lord with sisters and brothers in Christ. But it is the lost that scare me.

I worry that I may not know the right answers, or I might not even understand the answer myself. I know in my heart that God is real. He is within me and I feel Him every day. But I struggle to vocalize that to someone who doesn't know that feeling in their own heart. That tension and doubt disables me to the core. 

My prayer now is for God to open those doors for me. Open the opportunities to share His truth with a yearning heart for more. That is His commandment. Just like the verse above says, we are the blessed ones. The ones who have not seen Him but we know with our whole heart that He is alive. He is not in that tomb. He finished the greatest love story ever written, for us. That is something worth sharing.

Please join Cassie and I and link up below!

Grab the button and share what God has placed on your heart recently.

 

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In The Word // Jeremiah 29:13

One of my faith based goals on my 101 in 1001 list is to memorize 10 bible verses. I've never been good with remembering scripture which drives me crazy! I just don't understand how I can remember all of the songs on the radio or an article I read in a magazine, but when it comes to His Word I struggle? 

I've recently started the latest She Reads Truth study, The Risen Christ, and I'm really enjoying it. The first day had a verse that has truly stuck with me. 

So I'm going to work everyday to remember this verse. It is short and sweet, straight to the point. 

I want to seek for Christ in everything I do! I want it to be something I don't even have to put effort toward, like breathing day and night. I want my first breath every morning to be His. Not waking with a heavy head but waking with a passion to do His will. 

We will find Christ when we search for Him with all of our heart. In everything; life, family, marriage, work. All of it. He is here. Keep His word fresh in your mind and in your heart. Remembering the words and where you first read them. Using His Word as a sword for protection against the enemy and light to guide you every day. Use it to bring others closer to Him. His Word is power and when you fill your heart with that kind of power, you change everything. So let's search for Him wholeheartedly & find Him.

All of your heart for His Kingdom. Starting with one verse at a time. 

What is your favorite bible verse you have memorized?

How do you keep His Word fresh in your mind and heart?

Link up with us and share what you are learning in His Word right now.

Use the button below and link up below!!

 

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a gift.

This is most definitely my favorite Christmas gift from Peter! I found this bible HERE and when I saw it I knew I had to have it. I'm a big note taker. My bibles always have so many highlights, marks, dates and certain books look crazy because of all the notes. Yes, that is beautiful and I love that about my old bible but I knew this one would be a lot easier to keep organized and neat. With the new year I wanted to start fresh with a new bible and a clean slate. 

Plus, it's gorgeous and the leather smells so good!! That is nice too. 

Eve

She was made from Adam’s rib (2:21-23) – “not made out of his head to rule over him, nor out of his feet to be trampled on by him, but out of his side to be equal with him, under his arm to be protected, and near his heart to be beloved.” (Matthew Henry Commentary)

When I read that last night in the new She Reads Truth study I felt this wonderful, warm gooey feeling inside. I really think this study is going to be so perfect for my life right now. I recently mentioned in my Summer Bucket List that I wanted to read something just for me and I am making a commitment to finish this study! I usually slack off once I start a #SheReadsTruth study but I am going to try my hardest to finish this one.

 

We women are tricky and if I can learn more about myself and the way God made me then I am all game for that. Join in on the fun and learn with me....... and also keep me accountable, please? ;)

when you ask God for something... you get it

A little over a month ago I was presented with an opportunity and at the time I didn't really think much of it. Almost two months ago I started the Ezer study at my church and I remember praying and asking for God to open doors that will give me a chance to become an Ezer and learn from a new experience. It wasn't until last week that I realized just how He had answered my prayers.

The opportunity that sort of fell in my lap wasn't anything too serious. I didn't even think it was a chance for growth at first but soon after I realized this change could be a good one, so I decided to pursue it. I went full force with my heart and felt positive about this chance and honestly felt very optimistic about it also. Then there was the wait period that was not fun… it seemed to take forever for a decision to be made but I was right at the end of my Ezer study so I tried to focus on that. Putting my energy and my thoughts on Him and not myself but still going out of my way to be a helper to those around me and trying to be patient.

Last week a decision was made and it wasn't the one I was hoping for. It burned. It made me a little bit sad, a little big angry and a little bit relieved. It wasn't until I actually heard the news that I realized this was the door opened for me. This was my chance to grow and to learn how to be an Ezer even when it wasn't expected of me. To step up and help others during a very busy season of my life purely because that is what I am called to do. I was sharing the news with my Ezer Group and I typed this…

 “I do wish it would have worked out but I have a sneaky feeling that the Lord was trying to teach me something instead. The way He shows us love and allows us to grow within His love always amazes me.”

And it’s true. We are safe within His love and we will be taken care of. As long as I’m living my life to glorify Him and not myself I know that the outcome will be okay. I will grow and I will be able to step back and look at the big picture that he arranged before me and honestly, that is the most important part about this journey. Being able to step back and see what the Lord has done.

**I'm also linking up for the first time with The Wiegands blog. 

I thought this was a perfect post to share my heart. If you have never read Casey's blog I would hop on over, it is such a wonderful read and a beautiful family! 

delight.

Last night was the last meeting for my Ezer study group and I'm so happy that we decided to do another bible study together. This group of women is so wonderful and I'm so thankful that I had a chance to be a part of it. It's amazing how we are all so different but still so similar. I've always wished I could find a group of "church girls" to connect with but it hasn't ever happened. When I decided to sign up for this study I was hopeful for a connection and I had a good feeling about it. Normally I am the type of person to quit something half way through but each week I found myself looking forward to our weekly meeting and every week would last a little longer thanks to the talking and laughing after and before our Ezer discussions. 

This is normally where I would add some pictures from our weekly meetings. Sharing all the yummy snacks, the beautiful faces and the little details of our study but the pictures I have can't be used. I prefer to keep these new friendships so I won't share our big smiling faces all covered in a delightful, green face mask from our lovely spa night. That would just be rude.

I will however tell you that I've enjoyed every second with these wonderful women and I am so thankful for them already. I can't wait to see how God will move within our friendships during the next study and hopefully the many after that. I'm looking forward to all the honest and open talks about our struggles and our doubts. I can't wait for many more moments when we are all laughing (and snorting) so hard that we can't help but cry. I'm excited about the growth within our group and the growth within myself because of all the love and knowledge that these ladies will pour into my life. The following quote is from the Ezer study and I absolutely love it.... 

"True beauty, true delight is found in a woman who is fearfully and wonderfully made and who reflects the image of God within her. Being a source of delight to others is not marginalizing, nor is it weakness." 

These women are a source of delight for me and I pray that I can be the same to them. I am praying for the Lord to prepare my heart during the next two weeks off so I will be ready for this next step. I'm so looking forward to it, I know it will be amazing!  

body and soul.

The women’s conference was so wonderful and I absolutely loved every second of it!! It was overwhelming in the most perfect way and I truly learned so much. I was also excited to attend this conference with my cousin, Meghan. We are just now getting to know each other and I’m starting to wonder why it took us so long because we have so much in common and have a ton of fun together. So thankful for this new friendship that we have found.

Most of the conference was spent taking notes and learning from the speakers but we also had some time to worship. Oh my goodenss, let me talk about that for a minute... I have never felt so emotional during a worship service in my entire life. For the first time ever I was in a room full of women that were singing to their Savior and not even once did I hear a man’s voice. It completely shook me. I had tears streaming down my cheeks and I couldn’t stop it. Everywhere I looked I saw women wiping their faces and raising their hands without any second thought. It made me feel strong and important and worthy of this womanhood that God has given me. He made us to be strong, strong enough to carry the feminine parts of His love and share it with the world.

  

We sang this song during our worship time and I couldn't help but feel the true power of His love.

You Are Faithful

the village church

faithful are You

and gracious to us

that You would save us

a guilty race

a name so holy

so sweet yet mighty

how could You place it

on our heads

You are faithful

You are gracious

You alone are God

Your name will always be

the only covering

over all my guilt and shame

Your name

You are faithful

You are gracious

You alone are God

yea... so good right? Imagine almost 900 women in one room singing this to the Lord. It was amazing! I will never forget the way I felt in that room. All the many things I learned about my body AND my soul will always stay with me. I am starting the Ezer Bible Study at my church next week and I pray that I soak everything in so I can help encourage others through my writing on this blog. I want everything I share here to point toward His love and His redemption... that is all I want.

He is everything.

ready to learn about my body image....?

I’m pretty excited about this weekend at home after my long weekend away! It will be filled with a lot of time with Jesus and I am so thrilled. I love my church and the programs that they have for women and men. I truly believe that they have a big part in how my relationship with Peter works so well and I am thankful for that.

via

This weekend I’m going to attend the Ezer Conference above and it has been a long time coming. The last time an Ezer Conference was available Peter and I had been dating {again} for a month and everything I learned rocked me to the core. After almost a year since then so many things have changed. My life is in a COMPLETELY different place now and I can’t wait to learn even more about what being a woman of God is and what my thoughts on body image should be. Can't wait to soak all this knowledge up and share some of it with all of you. {To see what I learned last time click here}

I hope you all have a beautiful weekend full of sunshine. It's supposed to be gorgeous here in Greenville and I am pretty excited about that too!

creating a ready heart.

I am really enjoying the bible study that I mentioned a few days ago so much! #areadyheart is exactly what I needed to get out of my funk. Yes… I said it, a funk. I’m not going to lie to you; I have found myself in a “mehh, I don’t feel like reading my bible today” kind of mood recently. Of course this doesn’t make me feel good. It makes me feel terrible. I’ve prayed about it and tried to find a drive to open that big book by my bed everyday but it always ends up feeling pointless. So I decided to wait. Wait till I feel that need again. Wait for something to come along and wake me up, forcing me to read those very important words. Then I found this study and it struck a chord with me.

On Monday I enjoyed reading Ephesians 5:15-32….

Submissive. That word that makes so many women (and men) uncomfortable. I’ve honestly never had a problem when thinking about becoming a submissive wife. The Lord asks this of us and we are supposed to become a submissive wife to grow closer to our husband and love him, mirroring what Christ does with the church. While reading these verses I started to feel pride within myself and then I realized how hypocritical I was acting.

Submissive can also mean obey. Just as we are called to obey God and what have I been doing for the past several weeks?

Have I been obeying His call to live within His word? Nope.

Have I listened to my head instead of my heart when I climbed in bed at night and turned away from the bible on my night stand? Yup.

I was not obeying at all. I simply decided to wait. Becoming lazy without any drive and then choose to pick up where I left off when I felt ready.

Once I realized the way I treated my quiet time with the Lord and my relationship with Him I was ashamed. I couldn’t help but wonder about my future as a submissive wife. I know there will be times when I won't agree with Peter or I won't understand his reasoning for a decision but instead of becoming lazy in our relationship I will need to stay active. I will have to stay engaged through anything because that is what I’ve been called to do as his wife. I want our marriage to represent the relationship that Christ has with the church and through submission, trust & love I know we will find that. That is my prayer this week, that every single day I spend in this study God will peel back a layer of myself and show me where I can improve as a woman and as a future wife. To do what he has called me to do.

Preparation.

I know that I have shared some love for Instagram and the blogging world a few times now but my heart hit a new limit last night. My sweet friend from IG, Cassie (obviously she is awesome) Marshall, decided to start her own blog. You should check it out! I was so humbled by her kind words and amazed by the way she expressed her heart. We have always liked each others photos and commented back and forth a few times but I didn’t truly know her. Now that has changed.

I think that is one of the most beautiful parts of blogging, expressing your heart for all to see. I have learned so much about myself since I have started and I absolutely love looking back on all the memories I have kept over the years. Another beautiful part of the blog world is the network. Having the chance to “meet” other people that have the same passion. Women that are seeking God’s will and want to glorify him with every word they type. Thanks to Cassie and her new blog I have found another wonderful blog that I couldn’t stop reading last night.

Nicole from Bloom is so inspiring. I feel like I am right behind this woman… she just got married in March and all her posts come from a heart of transition from fiancé to wife and I can’t imagine reading anything more perfect for me right now. I know I still have some time but reading what she has written makes me more hopeful. More excited and more ready to become a wife and a true HELPER to my husband. While reading her blog last night I came across a bible study called A Ready Heart that she put together for the week before she said i do and I couldn’t wait to wake up this morning and start it myself.

I can’t wait to learn more about what the bible says a wife should be. Discovering what God intended a husband and wife to look like and praying for my future marriage to mirror that. I wanted to share this study today because I know there are a lot of engaged and newly married women that might read this. Any woman can do this study…. Single, engaged, married… whatever you are you are still His and we can learn what He intended for us to become.

As I’m going along with this study I will share my thoughts on Instagram and here as well, if you want to join along you can use #areadyheart to tag your pictures also. Nicole created this to prepare herself as a bride and I’m so thankful she did. Preparation is such a big part of my life right now with the wedding plans, finding a house, starting a life with Peter and the key to all this preparing is my heart.

Right now my heart is so full. I feel like I say that so often and I don’t want it to become repetitive and come across weakly but I really can’t explain it in any other way. I feel as if my chest could burst with thankfulness and happiness because of so many things. Because of grace and His love every single day. Because of these ladies that I have never met but have completely touched my life. Because of my future responsibility as a wife. Because I have this chance to share something truly amazing. My heart is full.