When Gratitude Overcomes You...

When Gratitude Overcomes You

As I sit here on this beautiful spring day, I can't help but to be overcome with gratitude for my life. In this very moment I am sitting toward the window, a slight breeze blowing in as the sun is kissing my face. In the background my two dogs are lounging in the patch of light on the carpet, soaking up the warmth from the beautiful day outside. Modern day worship music is playing softly from a bluetooth speaker to the right of my desk. Now I'm not listening to "modern" worship because I'm cool. In fact, it's quite the opposite. With a nine year old boy who has expressed an interest in music my motherly insinct "discernment" is simply guiding me to become familiar with today's worship. For my son. To help steward him in ways that is relevant to him. But this is a topic for another time. Circle Back Moment ~

Where was I?

Back to this warm, bright, beautiful and peaceful day in my creative studio. I'd call it an office but honestly with my love of photography, art and all things media it really is set up like a studio. Arranged in a way where I can shift hats when the inspiration hits me. It's a creative safe haven where I just so happen to build my business in. I am not lost on how beautiful of a blessing this is.

Eight years ago I couldn't imagine what this level of safety felt like. This is how safe my world is at the moment...

I have a wonderful Godly Partner & Husband. He's hardworking, patient, responsible and grounded in his faith. His career has allowed me to contiue my journey as an entrepreneur and creator, and it has removed the financial burden of single motherhood while providing me time and resources for my healing. Too much to unpack here.

His partnership is a total gift from the Lord. I do not say this lightly. Only the Lord knows the battle we've overcome-together. He has truly heald me, provided for me, delivered me and redeemed my family from the grip of death. I am so grateful for my seasons in spiritual warfare, because these are the experiences where the Lord has truly shaped and refined me. My partnership with Steve is true testimate to the goodness of God.

I have a beautiful Home. A grown up home. A home with everything our family needs to be comfortable together while also each of us having our own space to escape, create or just relax. As someone who's brain never stops - I mean never - I cherish the ability to have alone time. This is something both my husband and I need as introverts. We live in a suburb of Boise, Idaho where we enjoy the seasons and adventorous terrain surrounding us. Idaho is a wonderful place to call home.

I have slow mornings.

I have slow mornings!!! This is truly where my overwhelming gratitude for my life hit me this morning.

In this season of life I am simply abiding. My whole world has become extremly intentional about spending time in the Lords presence and appreciating the gift of life around me. This intentionality was only made possible by surrendering the things that were keeping me from pursuing all that He has for me. For me this has meant removing myself from social media, surrendering my influence, my personal brand, my online social selling business, my vanity in an effort to pursue stillness.

My mornings look like getting out of bed at 730am. My son is old enough and responsible enough to get himself up and ready for school in the mornings, and my husband has taken over the morning transport to school. When I rise the house is quite and slow. The coffee pot is on and fresh coffee has been brewed - a gift my husband gives me every day! Someone pinch me I can't believe this kind of love exists! The dogs greet me with their morning wiggles and together we enjoy two cups of coffee together as we dive into God's Word.

Last year the Holy Spirit convicted me about how much time I was spending on social media "building" my personal platform, too distracted to build out the foundation for the annointing on my life. Too distracted and complacent to spend daily time, intentional daily time in worship and biblical growth with my Savior. Gut Punch. I don't know about you but I don't want to go down like that. God deserves more from me than I am giving to the world through selfish ambition. So in the morning we read. Some days we spending an hour in the Bible and some days we spending closer to two hours in the written word, followed by prayer. Every single day. 365 Days A Year. A spiritual challenge for myself as I retrain my brain.

If you can relate to this wrestle with social media and distraction then I highly recommend reading the book 'The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry' by John Mark Comer. He has a way of putting words to my exact thoughts as if he was writing that book specifically for me. And you know what... He did. God used John Mark Comers obediance to reach me with a message only he could deliver. That is the beauty of living under the covering of God.

But back to my morning...

It's now 12pm and I'm about to break to meet my husband downstairs for lunch. Most days before I sit down to my computer, or check in with world politics or scroll for anything other than ChatGpt (because it's a super useful bible study tool!), I choose to spend my time with God, practice a little selfcare, get ready, style my hair, stretch my body and release stored tension on my yoga mat without posting or tweeting about it!

Wow I feel so mature and grownup. What a revelation I've had. Today I am free from the addiction of Social Media and I am trusting the process of building God's way - free from hustle and free from the noise of the world.

So yeah, Thank You Jesus!

I pray women everywhere find the courage to free themselves from the worlds distractions, tune into the loving kindness of our Savior and trust in His provision while they too - build God's Way.