Inspiration/Encouragement

building a quiet time that feeds you

Hi friends! Today, I wanted to touch on creating a quiet time that feeds your soul! Only recently, this past year or so, I started having an intentional, established quiet time. I realized one morning as I was grumpily trudging through my work day and feeling frustrated, that I always felt much better when I spent a little time with God before starting my day. Reading the Word and focusing on Christ before the stresses of the day appear reminds us of our true purpose: To spread the gospel, to love like Jesus, and do all things without grumbling or complaining (phil. 2:14)

My quiet time routine

I typically have my Bible time in the morning while I sip my coffee, and if I can manage I’ll read again in the evening. I just read through the new testament for the second time, and in my old testament reading, I am in the book of 1 Chronicles. I really enjoying reading at least 2 books at a time, so I have also been reafing through the gospels again!

Tips for your quiet time

  • Keep a spiritual diary/prayer journal
    • It has been so beneficial for me to write down my prayers, It gives me a chance to pour my heart out to the Lord, and remember his faithfulness when I look at all the prayers he’s answered.

  • Pick a bible translation that is accurate and accessible for you
    • It is essential to use a translation that stays close to the original Greek and Hebrew word order and meaning. My personal Bible is the NKJV, but I would also recommend the ESV, NASB, LSB, and, of course, the KJV translation.

  • Listen to a favorite hymn or a worship music playlist
    • I have found that listening to worship music before or during my quiet time create a spirit of praise and gratitude before my reading, and puts my heart in a good place to receive his word.
  • Use a physical Bible
    • I know we all love bible apps and podcasts, but there is a seerious benefit to using a physical bible! It is easier to stay focused (you won’t be distracted by phone notifications.) It makes notetaking easier, and You will be able to retain the information better.
  • Talk to God
    • Use this time to talk to the Lord, share what’s on your heart, your worries, and what’s going on in your life. “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:7

“Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” Matthew 11:29

I hope these tips can encourage anyone struggling to establish a quiet time. The important thing is that you spend a little time each day filling your soul with God’s word. ❤

Love

Hope & Moriah

Personal

Wedding plans + DIY bridesmaid proposals

Hi friends! In case you missed it, I got engaged about a month ago, and life has been busy since! A few days after the proposal, my (future) mother-in-law visited, and we got started with looking at venues and writing the guest list! The vision we have in mind for our wedding is something very traditional and timeless– I love wooden sanctuaries with lots of light, flowers, and candles. If you’ve seen “Father of the Bride” that is my wedding aesthetic!!

We looked at two venues and quickly made our decision and set our date for next June!

There is so much to wedding planning, and I already feel behind, but lucky for me, I have Moriah’s help and my mother-in-law! I have hopes to DIY as much as I can to save money, my first DIY was my bridesmaid proposals:

DIY bridesmaid proposals

You do not need anything expensive or over the top to ask your loved ones to be in your bridal party! After some thought, I decided on homemade cards to ask mine. All you need is a printer, ribbon, tiles, pearls, scissors, glue, and envelopes. I used the Canva app for the background and typed it there, then printed it at Staples. I then played with the ribbons and pearls until I liked how it looked, and Voila!

As excited as I am about the wedding, I would get married tomorrow if I could 🙂 Up next is dress shopping!

Until next time,

Love, Moriah & Hope

Inspiration/Encouragement

How to stop comparing

Have you ever found yourself stuck in the comparison trap. Looking at someone else’s like and had the thought “why can’t my life look like that?”

We’ve all been there, thoughts of comparison and insecurity can sneak in so quickly. Especially with social media and societal pressure. The pressure to always look perfect, have the perfect marriage, the perfect home and career. In the weight of that pressure we can forget that we all were made with a unique purpose. 1 Corinthians 12:4 says, “now there are different gifts, but the same Spirit.”We were not all made to be the same, but to use our special gifts and talents for the glory of God.

Instead of letting comparison steal your joy, try this:

• Thank God for what you have. Gratitude helps us see the beauty in our own lives.

• Celebrate others. Her win doesn’t mean you’ve lost. There’s room for all of us in God’s Kingdom.

• Stay close to Jesus. When you keep your eyes on Him, you’ll feel more peace and less pressure.

A Simple Prayer

Dear Lord, please forgive me and help me to stop comparing myself to others and be grateful for the way you made me. Help me use my special gifts and talents that you have given me, to glorify you. Give me wisdom in rejoicing with others and focus on serving you. In Jesus we pray name amen.

Recipes

Sourdough discard granola

Hi Friends! Today I wanted to share my favorite sourdough discard granola recipe! I love finding new ways to use discard in our recipes. This granola is not only delicious but also better for you! You can also customize the granola to your liking by adding more nuts, dried fruits, chocolate chips, etc!

Ingredient:

  • 1 1/4 cup old fashioned oats
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1 cup slivered almonds (or nut of your choice)
  • 3 Tablespoons melted butter or oil
  • 1/4 cup sourdough discard
  • 1/4 cup maple syrup
  • 1/8 cup honey
  • 1/4 cup sunflower kernels

Mix everything together in a medium bowl until a pliable consistency forms, pour mixture onto a parchment lined baking sheet and bake at 275-300°F for 30-40 minutes- stirring every 10 minutes to ensure the granola bakes evenly. Once cooled, break the granola into smaller pieces and store in an air tight container, this yields about 2 cups of granola, enjoy!