Coffee & Conversation l Meaning behind the blog title

Today, I am joining in and linking up with my two Alabama blogger friends Kayln and Lauren  for their Coffee & Conversation series. I loved the question they posed last week and I definitely wanted to answer it. 

What's the meaning behind your blog title and why? Do you believe you've upheld the meaning's purpose?

I chose the name Walking in the Light in 2009 when I first started blogging. I remember thinking it over for a long time, reading tons of scripture and came upon 1 John 1:5 "This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all."

My blog is to be a reflection of a person walking in Christ's love and mercy. As a follower of Christ, I wanted all of my actions and thoughts to reflect being a child of God. 

First, to "walk" is to live life. Its symbolizes progress and growing in maturity. 

"Light" in the bible can be a metaphor for a life of joy, righteousness and understanding  In James 1:17, it is clear that the light comes from the Lord. "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change."

I desire this blog to be a glimpse of a child of God who is growing in God's holiness and maturing in my faith as I follow Christ. Walking in the light is relinquishing sin by following Christ. 

I want to be like Christ in all that I do , whether I talk about going on  vacation, being a Godly wife, sharing my weekend adventures or cooking meals with you. I am a sinner and fail everyday. I often get sidetracked, but my title reminds me that I was created for one purpose - to give my life for Christ and make disciples of all nations. 

I want my very nature to be like Christ. I know that Jesus is the light in this world and I walk in that light by following His commandment's, living in His will and growing everyday in His grace. 

Returning to life

Returning to normal life since Maui has been a bit tough. It's always hard to come back after a relaxing vacation. Although my normal job is babysitting, so playing outside all day isn't too tough.

With all the stuff going on with my grandfather, I haven't been sleeping too well and staying up late every night is now the norm.

I am in a constant state of prayer and my mind never seems to shut off.

Ever have that? When you are so desperate for piece or moment of absolute silence/peace. I worry about Poppy, I worry for my parents and the stress and sadness they are enduring.

I woke up Sunday morning with a terrible sore throat, high fever, chills, aches and exhaustion. I went to the doctor, got both arms poked and drawn blood (my worst nightmare ever) had a shot and received 2 prescriptions. Lets just say these last two days have been a basket of roses.

Then, something horrible happens yesterday. Two Bombs explode during the Boston Marathon, injuring and killing. What horror and sadness. There are no words that can describe my thoughts on this terrible matter. 

Then, when I think I can't handle it all, The Lord so sweetly reminds me of himself. He does so in the loving embrace from my husband, in the laughter of my nephews playing, in His precious Word, and in the remembrance of His sons death on the cross. He gives my parents a break even if just during a lunch together or weeding on the farm.

I wish everything was perfect all the time but then life would be heaven and we are so clearly not there in this world. We are in a season of pain and sorrow, but joy will come. He hasn't abandoned us. He is clearly with us always.  The Lord is always teaching me something and I give praise in the midst of it.

Short break

Hi all my dear blog friends. Over the past couple of months, my grandfathers health has been declining. Last week, he suffered a Stroke that caused him to be unresponsive for a couple of days. At that time, hospice was called and he was given hours or days to live.

I took a quick trip down to my parents to see him. His mind is there, but the rest of him isn't functioning. He was able to crack a smile when I told him it was me, he squeezed my hand tight and smiled some when I told him stories of when I was little and remembering times at his and my grandmothers house. Seeing him meant the world to me and I am thankful for those minutes I got to be with him. Each day with him is a miracle and I will always cherish my time with him.

My grandfather is my only living grandparent left and I am blessed to say that I knew 3 of my grandparents. I was blessed 19 years with my MawMaw, 20 years with my Oma, and am currently at 26 years with my Poppy. My moms dad died of cancer when she was 7 years old.

I feel extremely lucky to have had these ladies and man in my life.

This week, I honor my grandfather and thank The Lord everyday for him. I pray his suffering is short, and that when it is time for him to depart this world, The Lord will call him to himself.

I am going to take the next couple of days off from blogging to spend the time I normally devote to it in prayer.

I pray that his life's testimony will bless others and that he exuded Christ's love.

I love you all and am praying for you as we'll.

Guest Post from Heather at From Here to There

Hey y'all, I'm Heather and I spend most of my blogging time over at From Here to There.  There's really no point in telling you what I blog about because it's kind of super random and totally just whatever I feel like, but I can tell you what I don't blog about because that's easy: Babies, I don't have any.  Marriage, I'm not in one. So yeah, you'll probably find everything else.

I was super stoked when Clara asked me to guest post for a few reasons:

1. She's practically one of the sweetest people I've been honored to know

2. Flattery, who doesn't love some of that? I was flattered that she thought of me to guest post for her!

3. I love meeting new people and I'm assuming that since Clara likes me and I like Clara and y'all obviously like Clara too, then you'll probably like me and I'll probably like you, so hello new BFFs!

I know Clara is very open about her religion and Christianity on her blog, so I thought I would share something along those lines!

I've recently gotten in a really fabulous routine with my daily quiet times and the amount that God has been showing and revealing to me is unbelievable!  I know that I have been down the path countless times where I feel lost and feel like there is just NO way I could get back into a daily quiet time with God, but all that's a lie that Satan was telling me.  A few years back, I was having a really rough time spiritually, I had a beautiful friend give me a small book with daily devotionals that were about a minute long.  That book has been a life saver for me recently.  At the time, I don't think I took it to heart as much as I should have, but recently it's one of those things in the morning that I just must read!  It gives me inner-peace and helps me get through my days even when I don't have a large amount of time to spend with God.

Here is what my daily quiet time looks like:

1. I read that days Breaking Free devotional.

2. I use the L3 journal to read passages of scripture (which will get me through the bible in 1 year)

*The L3 journal is designed by my home church and it lists passages of scripture to read each day.  If you're interested in getting an L3 journal to help you in your walk with Christ or to have a guide for reading the bible in a year, feel free to e-mail me at heatherblack79@gmail.com*

3. I write out prayers in a prayer journal and spend time praying over prayer requests.

I strongly suggest having a prayer journal, it has already begun to transform my relationship with God and my prayer life!  Get something cute that you'll enjoy writing in.  Dedicate it solely to prayers and begin asking people what you can pray for.  As I read through blogs and stumble over a "tough" post from someone or remember that someone struggled with something before and it's possible they may struggle with it again, I'll add that person in my prayer journal. (For example: If I knew a woman had lost a baby at some point and then later she's pregnant and announces it on the blog, I'll add her to my prayer journal for a safe and healthy pregnancy and peace and comfort through that time because I'm sure it's going to be difficult to go through)

It's been my experience that as you begin to pray more often, God begins to reveal so many things to you.  I have had sins revealed that I never noticed before through prayer and when I realize them, I write them in my prayer journal for myself.

We are all at different stages of our Christianity or walk with God, but if I was going to give one piece of advice, it would be to start off with a solid communication of prayer with God.  He will transform your life through that.  Spend quality time with him and you'll be greatly rewarded, even when times are tough!

I have really enjoyed spending time with you lovely people and I hope that each of you were able to take something away from my post today.  Also, if you have a prayer request, feel free to e-mail me and I'd be happy to add you in!

Clara, thanks for having me girl!!  It was a pleasure as always! 

Faithful Friday # 3 / Praying with your spouse

Last week, I wrote on the importance of patience in prayer. Praying is an intimate act between you and our heavenly Father. It's vitally important for your relationship to deepen and grow with the Father. So naturally, praying alongside your spouse is important for growing your unity, intimacy, and God glorifying relationship.
 

When I got married, I became one flesh with my husband (Genesis 2:24, Mark 10:8) . However, I certainly wasn't used to being one flesh with anyone else but myself for 25 years. I quickly realized there was a learning curve and to be one with another would take time.
 

A lot of the time, I find I am trying to work through everyday life by myself - and this isn't healthy for our relationship. In our marriage, I have to share everything - my mess, my frustrations, assumptions, needs, etc. with my husband. When Stephen and I pray together, it draws us in as one unit with God and one another.

 

 

And just like our physical relationship draws us together emotionally, so does out prayer life. We aren't just communicating with God but with each other. When I hear him pray about struggles, I get to pray for him as well. I have learned so much about my husband through our prayers together that I might not hear in normal everyday conversation. Praying for my husband is a great privilege and joy - there is nothing like calling out to our father for someone else.
 

Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another,that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. (James 5:14-16)
 

To have a thriving, healthy and happy relationship, I wholeheartedly believe my marriage has three parties - my husband, me, and God. Think about it - two sinners coming into a marriage broken. But God, who ordained marriage as good, comes in the middle and draws us closer to Him. I firmly believe the more Stephen and I pray together, the closer we will draw near to each other and to God.
 

Is it easy to pray together? Not always. We both have trouble at times feeling embarrassed or uncomfortable praying aloud. I lose or fumble over myself and have trouble starting again. It's something I pray for daily for us to overcome. Regardless, if you pray well aloud or not, I encourage you to pray together. What an intimate worship between you and your spouse to the almighty God. I have seen the wonderful effects it has taken in my marriage and pray for those in yours.