Me & My Quite Contrary Life

NUDGED: "Re-write my prayer targets and pray specifically" BACKSTORY: I started a list of prayer targets after I saw the movie War Room, which encouraged me to pray boldly and specifically for my most important requests. I hung this list on the wall in my prayer closet. The original list was created on 11-15-15. I haven't created a new list since then...until I got nudged this week to do it!  QUOTE: "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." - Philippians 4:6 (NIV) HIGHLIGHTS OF THE WEEK: Maybe it was lingering effects from my last nudge of gratitude, but I started this nudge with gratefulness. I reviewed my prayer list from 2015 of all things that seemed impossible to me at the time, and seven items had been answered decisively. Praise God!  Then I started brainstorming my new prayer list. I made one big, long list that included my new prayer requests and some pr...

NUDGED: "Spend 5 minutes in silent prayer for 5 days" BACKSTORY: I have been feeling convicted that I don't spend enough time in silent prayer with God. I usually spend my entire prayer time talking to God and asking for things, then moving on to something else after I say "Amen." I don't take time to hear from him. This would never work in a relationship - talking non-stop to someone then walking away before they can respond. It doesn't work in my relationship with God either. This week, the challenge is to embrace the silence. To sit still for five minutes. To take a break from my busy, loud days, and to wait to hear the still, small voice of God. QUOTE: "A thriving prayer life is possible when we're quiet enough to hear God speak" - Jazmin N. Frank HIGHLIGHTS OF THE WEEK: I used the timer on my phone, set for 5 minutes, to hold me accountable. Each day, I spent silent time alone with God. The location differed; I sat in silen...

NUDGED: "Pray every day" BACKSTORY: I created a personal prayer closet at our house after being inspired by the movie " War Room ". This is a sacred space for me that has held many prayers over the years, both written in prayer journals (with answers!) and prayers taped to the walls. I got out of the habit of using my prayer closet regularly, so this nudge challenges me to physically go there every day and spend some intentional time with God.  QUOTE: "The Bible never once says 'Figure it out', but over and over it says, 'Trust God.' He's already got it all figured out." - Danny Gokey and HIGHLIGHTS OF THE WEEK: I was able to accomplish many of my prayer goals this week that I wrote down last Sunday.  I made good progress, despite still having more areas I want to work on. This week: I prayed daily in my prayer closet.  I wrote down new prayers in my journal so I can keep track of answers. No answers this week to inc...

Today is two weeks since I started my "connect" journey for 2016. A friend asked me this morning how my word was going. I really appreciate that she genuinely cared, but it was difficult for me to give an update. Most of the work is done internally and is not easily quantifiable with numbers and hard facts. I know I am growing and learning all of the time, had have made positive steps in the right direction. For my benefit, here are a few lessons I have learned these last few weeks about connecting. I discovered there are two sides of me as I have dual roles in life. There is the personal side that involves my hobbies, passions and interests, and the wife side that has duties to the home and to my husband. Both are important, but I found I was spending the majority of my time in the wife role. The personal side of me received little time and it was of poor quality. I have been intentional about spending more time in the personal side then and doing those things that I enjoy...