She Reads Truth: 1 Year Anniversary

I stumbled upon this last summer in July. She Reads Truth is an online community of women that share their thoughts and encourage one another in their faith.

YouVersion is an app that has all the She Reads Truth plans, but you can also use the You Version website, the She Reads Truth website, or sign up for their newsletter.

I've really treasured this study. 

I think my favorite has been Proverbs but its so hard to tell. 

They have all be faith changing. 

Prior to finding SRT, my bible really just collected dust.  

I wanted to be in a study, I wanted to be challenged. 

But with every goal, you need accountability to get there. 

And that was something missing. 

I have fallen more in love with Christ this past year. 

I've become more patient and wise. 

And I know I'm still a work in progress. 

There has definitely been a change in how I approach situations in my life. 

I have been reminded constantly how great God's love is for me and humanity. 

Despite all the tragedy our country has seen this year, God is so faithful and his grace has been revealed time and time again. 

I am so grateful for these women who participate in this community and those who have listened to the calling to pursue writing and investing in She Reads Truth!!

You've just gotta check them out!!  

Happy First birthday She Reads Truth!!

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She Shares

This week in my little quiet time, I've really been looking at my motives.
What is the purpose of my reading, my doing, and my speaking?

In Mark, it says
"Nothing outside a man can make him 'unclean' by going into him. Rather, it is what comes out of a man that makes him 'unclean.'

So I asked myself: What 'evils' are coming out of me?


Jealousy, Spite, Control.

Its so hard to put those words out there.


My desire for perfection is a disease.

It is constantly affecting all parts of my life.

Which leads to jealousy when I'm not doing it right and someone else is.

Then I try to control my surroundings to create an environment where I will be perfect.

And by whose standards?

Mine of course.

Its a real, nasty cycle that I create.

A place where I cannot be content with my flaws and imperfections.

Where I believe that I am failing those around me.

Where I know that its only a matter of time before those around me see how messy I am.

And then I am alone.


Loneliness.

That is what I fear.

Sitting alone
with nothing more than myself
the person who has pushed everyone away.

So what does that have to do with what Jesus said in Mark...
I believe that like the Pharisees, I am so concerned with rules and not looking within to solve the problem.
Jesus was speaking to the Pharisees and telling them that it is in faith and love for GOd and others that we are glorifying God. Not through following a bunch of rules.
so .....
Where in my life am I not glorifying God?
There is no formula for perfection because I was bought at a price and accepted for my flaws.

SO STOP TRYING TO BE SOMETHING YOU AREN'T HANNAH!!

Confidence.


In those moments of loneliness, I must look in the mirror and face my ugliness.
Not try and cover it up, but accept it.

In that I will find my confidence.

A confidence on my faith in Christ can provide.

I need to stop looking at this 'ideal' I have created.


thank you for letting me share :)

She Shares: On my heart

Last week I finished the Soul Detox by She Reads Truth.

I really love the devotionals on The YouVersion app.

I was never a devotional kind of gal, but I just can't get enough.

This week I've really be learning about how much I complain to God about not getting enough or comparing myself to others.

I've joined A Royal Daughter and doing the #prayerdare

I wanted to share today's prayer because I feel it sums up how I feel.

day two
Jesus, You said that out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks (Matthew 12:34). Please work within my heart so that my mouth speaks only pleasant words that are honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones (Proverbs 16:24). When I am tempted to gossip, remind me that my words might pierce another like a sword because of their recklessness (Proverbs 12:18). Give me a wise tongue for healing instead. #PrayerDare.


Proverbs 16:24 has been everywhere.

It's like a little birdie that keeps whispering these words to me.

I know I need to work on not comparing myself to others and know that no one is expecting perfection out of me.

I need to give this over to God because I hate holding on to things and I feel like I've written these words before.


How do you deal with having sweet words in moments of difficulty?

She Shares: The End of Proverbs.

Since coming to the end of Proverbs I have been thinking...'What have I learned.'

Isn't it always true that God's word always has perfect timing.

When we first started I thought. 'well this will be great. Easy reading, a good reminder.' But I didn't think that I would gain so much knowledge from it.

When some sort of issue arises, it is so easy to get angry and upset.

And throw myself a little pity party. Boo hoo Hannah

But realistically, I don't need to get upset and frustrated and feel like someone has created a big unjustice against me. Pleading my case to anyone who will listen.

GET OVER IT! 

I tell myself over. and over. and over.

And I do.

Quicker each time than the last.

I hope that from this study I will just get over it.

Let it pass 

Realize that I can't change people, just my actions.

On the other hand I really should GET OVER IT because others are watching.

My mother in law recently told me a quote she heard that has stuck in my mind.

"You may be the only Bible people have a chance to read."

YIKES!

Is my bible filled with hypocrises and lies. Is it filled with contradictions and anger?

 I feel like everytime I meet someone and mention I am a Christian, someone's put a bad taste in their mouth already.

Great- I think. 

I get frustrated and angry because some 'Christian' put their foot in their mouth or shoved some self-righteous bull honkey down their throat.

But what if I've done that? What if I misrepresented Christ? Left someone thinking Christians are horrible people.

I guess what I want to say is...

SORRY

I'm sorry if that was me.

I'm sorry for hurtful words you've heard.

I'm sorry for being a friend full of anger.

I'm sorry for being the Christian that shoved a jesus at you.

I'm sorry for thinking I was better than you.

I'm sorry for bashing your character.

I'm sorry for spreading lies.

I know this doesn't mean much when reading from a blog, but I hope that one day you will encounter grace and love from a Christian.

Whether you believe or not, I hope that kindness finds you this week and makes you wonder why we deserve it at all.

Blessings to all!

She Shares

Since beginning the She Reads Truth, I have been happy to have found something that keeps me motivated and accountable to read my Bible.

I think that accountability is missing so much from my experiences with bible studies. No one wants to offend another individual. The saying that "Christ is love," is used so often in a way to escape holding someone accountable. I do think that it is a fine line. My experiences with other believers is that there are so many walls up that it is hard to truly get to know someone. So in that case, I probably did offend many because I didn't understand HOW to hold them accountable.

Not everyone likes to hear the cold, hard truth like I do.

Not everyone has the ability to self reflect and WANT to change.

This makes me sad!

I think that growing is such a positive experience. Everyone desires to be a 'better' person. However it is Christ who defines what that is.

It is so easy to say that we as Christians are 'good.'

But what defines that 'goodness'.

Is it our own values?

Is it our own experiences?

If so then isn't everyone's perspective of 'good' good relevant?

That is just one thing that I have been trying to get a grasp upon throughout my reading of Proverbs. The whole book is dedicated to practical wisdom.

Great truths like:

"Above all else, guard your heart for it is the wellspring of life. Put away perversity from your mouth keep corrupt talk far from your lips" (4:23-24)

"the tongue that brings healing is a tree of life, but a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit (15:4)

"A mocker resents correction he will not consult the wise." (15:12)

"A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones." (17:22)

"Wealth brings many good friends, but a poor man's friend deserts him." (19:4)

"Without wood a fire goes out, without gossip a quarrel dies down." (26:20)

There are plenty of other gems in there, which leads me to think that if Proverbs was published as a book alone with the title, Wisdom for the Wise or something like that, would non-Christians find it helpful? *Random thought:)

Anyway, I learned a lot from this reading and it has helped that my husband and I have a little Bible time on Sundays. I'm a auditory processor (I like to hear myself talk things out...I guest that makes me a narcissistic processor :)

Throughout this reading I have relearned to not be a gossip, but am mostly reminded to follow God's definition of goodness and follow his standard and not others.

It is so easy to compare myself to others, but I have to remind myself that everyone wants to be portrayed as 'good' and I need not compare.

So many thoughts. Its really a challenge to write them in a way that doesn't seem rude.

Enjoy this gorgeous weekend!!

Thanks for reading :)