Hope Filled Living

Choosing Hope and Cultivating an Inspired Life with Author, Mary Clewley

Proverbs 16:3/Day 3

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Day 3 of our Online Book Study of my workbook,
101 Prayers and Affirmations for Spiritual Wellness

Scripture Memorization/ Day 3:

Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.

Proverbs 16:3

Our study for day three begins with, “Commitment leads to action“…as we ask God to help us remain committed to goals that add significance to our lives. Kingdom goals, goals worthy of our striving. Our affirmation for today is to stay committed to our goals, looking at what lies before us, rather than behind…each step bringing us closer toward fulfilling our dreams. God gives each of us a dream, a passion and a purpose. 
Let us be careful to commit to the Lord…whatever we do. We can have what we deem to be the loftiest goals but only His plan for our lives is perfect. Let us focus today on the goals that add true significance and meaning to our daily living–goals ordained by God, our Creator. 
Our worksheet asks us to write three significant goals today. Goals can be spiritual, emotional, social, physical, intellectual or financial. Perhaps you would benefit by identifying one goal in each area.
My Spiritual Goal:
My Emotional Goal:
My Social Goal:
My Intellectual Goal:
My Physical Goal:
My Financial Goal:
 
Once you have written some goals for 2014…ask God to show you how to achieve them. In your prayer and reflection today, think about all of these areas of discussion. Where do you need God’s healing touch?
When we commit whatever we do unto Him we find great peace and joy. 
It is only when our hearts are attuned to God that our prayers are true. He delights in the prayers of His children. Commit to the Lord…whatever you do.

Thrive in 2014/Day 1

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Happy New Year!
I am praying that 2014 is a year of peace and
plenty for you and yours.
Have you chosen a word for 2014?
my word is…
THRIVE…
in my health
in my relationships
with God
my finances
 my writing
 my giving
 listening
 my being.

 

I purchase a new planner each year. I found a beautiful desk diary at Barnes and Noble (half off) that has plenty of space for scheduling and taking notes. Here are some of the things I have highlighted in the front of my journal (planner) for 2014:First of all, I have listed all of my doctors names and telephone numbers so I can find them at a glance.

These are some additional items I am working on…and perhaps you should too!

  1. Schedule yearly mammogram.
  2. Schedule yearly eye exam.
  3. Schedule yearly gyno check-up.
  4. Schedule 2 teeth cleanings.
  5. Schedule 1 dermatology appointment (skin check-up).
  6. Schedule 4 pedicures for 2014. (Self-Care/Stress Reduction)
  7. Pencil in time for 30 minutes/day of exercise.

Here is a link to a great way to start your year off right with
Shape Magazine:

Wishing you all the best in 2014!
Health and Happiness.
xoxo.

101 Prayers and Affirmations Book Study

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The countdown to the online book study of my new workbook,
101 Prayers and Affirmations for Spiritual Wellness is on…..

January 1st—tune into our Facebook community page: 101 Prayers and Affirmations Online Book Study to get updates and encouragement from others who are embarking on the journey.

You still have time to order a copy and receive it for the start of the New Year! I am shipping out my copies from the publisher with FREE shipping! $14.95

If you would like a copy, just message me or comment below and I will get back to you for your mailing address! Within a matter of a week, we have had over 1000 people join our community page. Prayer requests are coming into my message box each day. I could sure use a few encouragers to stop by…and I know that bloggers are very good at that!

The workbook is available on Amazon and will also be available in February at Barnes and Noble.

I will post a story about how God works on our hearts–in a day or so…but to make a long story short–I was feeling very overwhelmed by the response I have received with over 1000 likes and messages pouring in for prayer requests, etc. and I sat over breakfast this morning and told my husband that I was thinking of disconnecting from social networking completely in 2014…and I came home and a message came in from overseas from a man in the military who had found my book and online community and it was really significant to him. I sat there and cried. God always does that, doesn’t He??? (pierces our hearts)…We cannot ignore the cries of His people…no matter where we are when we hear them or how those cries may leave us feeling overwhelmed. There is great need around us, everywhere.

The Great I Am

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It was a silent night. Snowflakes whizzing, floating, drifting slowly through the air. Falling, falling, falling—gently covering the earth with a white blanket. The messed up world made white as snow.
Knees bent in front of the old wooden cross, I see through the stained glass- a scene like I’m praying on the inside of a snowglobe. Twinkling lights make the cross glow and I look up in wonder. My safe place. Alone. Just God and me. Whatever craziness is happening outside, I am safe here. This sanctuary knows many secrets, many hurts, many tears and many joys. Births, deaths and baptisms, new beginnings and endings, joy and heartache.
A tear hits bended knee, making a splash, awakening me to my own longing, sadness, glory, healing, confession…all those things that come to an open and repentant heart… a worshipping heart. I am small. God is big. He is the light of the world.
What would I do if He manifested himself in physical form, right here, right now? I am already on my knees. Outstretched arms like that of a child, I would probably cry out Abba, Father. Perhaps I would bow my head in shame..shame that I am nothing and he is the Great I Am. As evening grows dark and stillness falls around me, I make the sign of the cross-touching forehead to belly, side to side—covering myself with the body of Christ, it carving itself into my wanton soul.
Our King of Kings prostrated himself on the cross as an act of worship. As an act of sacrifice so he could bear our hurts, tears, joys, births, deaths, baptisms, beginnings and endings–this little Child, born in a manger. There was a man one Sunday while the preacher was preaching. In drunken worship he wandered to the cross and laid himself prostrate, belly down, arms stretched wide for all to see. Preacher kept preaching while the congregation looked at one another in silent and humble wonder. A messed up world became holy for a moment, white as snow in the sanctuary of a country church. Hearts softened as onlookers watched this man worshipping –his actions boldly warning, “this is why we are here…not to focus on the preacher…but to worship the King of Kings, The Great I Am”…If our hearts were free from judgement and insecurity–how many of us would have joined him?
It is Christmas Eve and I must make my way home to my family. I open the back door of the church and a beautiful blanket of snow covers me, falling, falling, falling gently. I too, am made white as snow. Tears of joy run down my face. Thank you, Abba, Father. The light of the world, the God who sacrificed himself so people like us could lay prostrate freely on a Sunday morning. We were made for worship.
You are the Great I Am. The answer to wanton souls.  The star in the night sky that glimmers from a distance…always there, always lighting our way in the darkness. The beginning and the end. The Christ child, born in a manger.

Prayer and Affirmations Book Study!

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Hope-Filled Living can contain it no longer…we are excited to officially announce our first EVER book study!

After the busy holiday season winds down and you begin to think about the coming year, make a plan to join us…RIGHT HERE,
starting Wednesday, January 1, 2014 for our weekly book study
based on the book,   
101 Prayers and Affirmations for Spiritual Wellness…
Available on Amazon.com
(wait until Monday, December 16th to order)
The start of a new year is the perfect time to get our spiritual houses in order! We can’t think of a better time to put God first and make living in His Word a priority. 
This study will guide you through the workbook.
Simply join us every Wednesday on our Facebook page for weekly updates, prompts, prayers and challenges…
and perhaps a video or two.

We hope to see you there each Wednesday as we work through the prompts and lessons in this workbook!

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