Persevere

(definition) to continue steadfastly; to maintain a purpose in spite of difficulty, obstacles, or discouragement

Perseverance is hard. If you are feeling tired, discouraged, or discontent, I understand and am in the process of learning how to persevere in faith.

I want to share some thoughts about what God has been teaching me about perseverance.

When you feel like giving up, remember why you started.
How quickly I forget the faithfulness of God that has brought me to where I am. When I reflect upon those moments of affirmation, I am reminded of His guidance and attention to details in my life. I have faith that God will fulfill His promises when the time comes, and that His ways are higher than my ways. I can trust the God who has never failed me, no matter how many times I wander and disobey.

James 1:12

"Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love Him."

If you are tired, find rest in God's presence and not in things of this world. 
Instead of wasting energy focusing on the negative, quiet your heart in His presence. Praise Him for all that He has done, year after year and day by day. Pray for the strength to carry on even when you feel weak.

Psalm 62:1-2

"Truly my soul finds rest in God;

my salvation comes from Him.

Truly He is my rock and my salvation;

He is my fortress, I will never be shaken."

Pray for an increased awareness of His Will in everyday life.
If we are more attune to what God is doing in our contexts and communities, we can find motivation and strength in the purposes of God. Sometimes, we just need reasons to persevere, and that wisdom comes from intentional relationship with God and time spent in His Word.

Psalm 143:10

"Teach me to do Your Will, for You are my God; 

may Your good Spirit lead me on level ground."

Surround yourself with people who remind you of God's faithfulness and our role in His Kingdom.
I am have personally experienced the incredible power of accountability, community, and relationships. We were never meant to strive after God's Will alone. He has gifted us with people through whom we can experience love, support, encouragement, and joy. Spend time with your tribe. Love them deeply and unconditionally.

Hebrews 10:23-25

"Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another - and all the more as you see the Day approaching."

I pray that you seek God through the trials and that He gives you the strength to persevere, no matter what you are going through right now. You are not alone.

In His Name,

Grace + Salt Instagram Auction Round 2

So due to some difficulties with Instagram, the first auction did not encompass all the available items, so my sign along with hundreds of amazing products are now up for bid from now until tomorrow (Tuesday 2/23/16) at 7 pm at @bringgraceandsalthomeforealz. I am loving the handmade jewelry, prints, and Ugandan items.

All you have to do is comment on the photo with your bid amount (whole $ amounts only), your PayPal email address, and tag the person you are outbidding. Click on the instruction posts and read all the directions to make sure your bids count!

Here is a small glimpse of my favorites in the auction:

I hope you will consider joining the auction to donate to this wonderful family!

Blessings,

A Few Favorite Faith-Related Books + Audio

Hi friends!

If you've read some of my blog posts or know me personally, you are probably aware of how integral my relationship with God is in my daily life and relationships. I wholeheartedly believe that I cannot do anything apart from Him, and I don't want to. Life in His Spirit and presence is sweeter than anything this world could ever offer. I am constantly trying to immerse myself more deeply in His Word through various mediums to draw my wandering heart back to Jesus. I want to share a few things I have been reading or listening to lately so that you can perhaps be inspired too.

R E A D:

The Practice of the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence


I am currently reading this book for the second time. The first time I picked it up, God was int eh process of teaching me what it means to abide and be in His presence constantly. In my present stage of life, I know the Scriptures that remind us to abide in God, but I am still continually training my heart and mind to abide and depend fully on God. I highly recommend this book for anyone seeking more of God's presence in the ordinary moments of life.


Things I Wish I'd Known Before We Got Married by Gary Chapman


Nobody freak out - I just wanted to read this book to prepare for the future, which is still a little while ahead. It was a great read. Chapman raises solid questions that should be addressed in a serious, Christ-centered relationship that is heading towards marriage. I want to faithfully pray and prepare myself to be a Godly wife for the future, and that can and should start now. I would imagine that any good seriously dating or engaged class, or premarital counseling, would involve the content of this book, from family issues, personality differences, and personal goals. It has given me many thought-provoking questions to consider and talk through, and I hope it will be helpful for others too!


L I S T E N:

Will Reagan + United Pursuit // Live at the Banks House


You just have to listen to this album to fully understand my words. It is incredible, anointed, and powerful. Six years since its release and years later since I discovered these tracks, I still come back to it and immerse myself in raw acoustic worship because it is SO good. I love closing my eyes, turning up the volume, and feeling like I am in a room full of believers that is saturated with the Holy Spirit. It is deeply moving. I have wept to these songs, cried out in desperation, and smiled uncontrollably as the words left my lips. Just...listen to it. Please.


Lauren Daigle // How Can It Be


We recently began singing this at my church, and I have grown to love this song. Honestly, I wasn't blown away the first time, but then when I led worship, the weight of these words reached my heart. Have you ever felt completely in awe of God's love and amazed that He could love someone as broken as you? I have. And these words capture that, but turn it into wonder and praise.


Christine Caine Sermons


If you enjoy listening to sermon podcasts, and perhaps if you enjoy Christian female empowerment, look up Christine Caine's teaching. She is a Bible teacher from Hillsong Australia (cue the sweet Australian accent) who is deeply passionate about Jesus and the Bible. She was a guest teacher at Bethel, so I listened to several of her sermons there, but I really enjoy her words. Chris and her husband are also known for founding The A21 Campaign, which is a non-profit that fights human trafficking. Talk about a power couple.

Let me know if you have any recommendations or if you would like to see more favorites posts. I am always open to suggestions!

Blessings,

Instagram Auction for Grace + Salt

Hello lovely people,

I am excited to share about this Instagram auction with you. This is the Cheney family, and their two beautiful kids are adopted from Uganda. June and Ollie are the precious kids you see in this photo. I have never met them, but their story is a testament to God's redemptive love and grace. 

As you can imagine, adopting children from another country is expensive, complex, and sometimes overwhelming. A wonderful community of artists and creatives are gathering together to help the Cheney family raise money to cover adoption and travel fees, medical bills for two Type I diabetes diagnoses, and other expenses. 

I have the privilege of donating a hand-lettered piece to the auction, and want to invite you to follow @bringgraceandsalthome in order to participate. The auction will feature lots of gorgeous handmade items, and will open on February 16th at 5 pm (PST) to February 17th at 7 pm (PST).  

Want to enter a giveaway to win a prize pack valued at over $100? 

Repost this photo on Instagram, including the auction details in the caption and #bringgraceandsalthome, and follow @bringgraceandsalthome. 

You can also check out the Grace + Salt Etsy shop. 

I purchased one of their handmade Ugandan necklaces in the photo above and love it. 

And lastly, will you join me in praying for God's provision over their needs? 

There is so much power in prayer because we serve a mighty God and together we are His family. 

Let's bring this sweet family home together!

In the name of Jesus,

Monday Favorites

I'm really grateful for a morning off with extra rest, due to a cancelled class. So here I am, blogging in my pajamas, and enjoying the slow pace of today. I wanted to share a few random favorite things that have been inspiring me lately:

Paper Flowers by The Lovely Avenue
(Photo by Alice Shoots People, Table Design by Leslie Dawn Events)

How gorgeous is this centerpiece + table styling?!

Wooden signs draped with fresh garlands + flowers

I hope to see this kind of natural beauty on one of my signs in the future!

Yellow dresses

Also this engagement photo is just insanely gorgeous and sweet

Healthy Bowls by Design Love Fest

I love all the colors in this nutritious, fresh bowl!

 Alba Good & Healthy Skincare

These natural skincare products have been so good for my skin. I love the Acne-dote scrub too!

I hope that you have a day saturated with the Holy Spirit and beautiful things that fill your soul. Let's abide in Him today and appreciate all the simple, everyday things that make life worth living.

With love,

Pursuit of Joy

Recently, I've been learning what it means to genuinely rejoice in trials. I know that I live a blessed life and am so fortunate to be surrounded by loving people, but we all suffer because of the brokenness of our world and souls. I know you can relate: the dreaded diagnosis, loss of a loved one, end of a relationship, the stress of finances. And yet James 1:2-3 says, "Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance."

But in moments of darkness, sadness, and tragedy, I wondered how that could really be true. I know that God honors honesty, and I wasn't sure how to be truly joyful in the midst of terrible things. But then, in difficult times, I found myself increasingly desperate for Jesus. The greater the need, the deeper the faith. As we realize our the depth of our depravity and desperation for His saving grace, God is returned to His rightful place in our hearts and at the center of our lives. And therein lies the key to fulfilling, life-giving, indescribable joy. It always has been and always will be Jesus.

And so, no matter what suffering awaits us in this life, we have the hope and joy of Jesus Christ. An authentic, intimate relationship with Him is the channel through which life and joy flow through. Anything that draws me closer to Jesus will bring me joy, because He has redeemed and restored me from death to life.

It has taken me years to grasp this verse. I pray that God will reveal profound truths to you as you pursue Him through intentional time in prayer and hunger for His Word. May we experience deepened relationships with God as we learn to abide daily, entrust Him with decisions big and small, and depend on Him every moment of every day. May we truly rejoice in suffering, because Christ fills us with immeasurable joy.

If you would like one of these small wooden signs to remind you of the joy we have in Christ, visit my shop to order. My hope is that every hand-lettered piece that leaves my hands will point back to our Creator & Savior, and give Him glory.

With a full heart,

Photos by Darcie Moningka Photography

Calligraphy Research Study

My classmates and I have been working to create a research study for our Master's of Occupational Therapy program, and now registration is open to participate! 

Are you interested in learning calligraphy for free? Are you available Friday afternoons? 

Join us in Loma Linda on February 26, March 4, and March 11 from 2-4 pm. 

All supplies are included and you will be compensated with a gift card for your time.

Call or email crnegrete@llu.edu to register! Space is limited, so sign up today!

I'll be teaching one of the workshops and running the study as a student researcher. 

Let me know if you have any questions! I hope you are able to join us.

Your future OT,

Flyer Design by Darcie Moningka

Calling All Coffee + Donuts Lovers

Half of our stock of these cards has already been sold! Thank you so much to those who have already ordered cards. On behalf of my MOT class, we appreciate you!

Now that it's officially February, be sure to snag one of these before Valentine's Day. Shop the cards online here, and order by this week to guarantee your customized calligraphy before February 14.

Made with love,

Photo by Darcie Moningka