Guest Post Archives - Seeking God with Jaime Wiebel

It’s Time to Shine: Make Moments Matter

Jaime Wiebel — Wed, 26 Sep 2018 16:11:52 +0000

It’s Time to Shine

This post contains affiliates links. That means that I make a small profit when you click on the links in this post. Running a blog is no small task and that is why I apprecaite your support of my site and would only recommend to you products from people and places that I truly trust. That is why I am so glad to share this post with you today!

I don’t know about you but I feel like there are times I am riding a roller coaster. I know what I want to do with my time but then I am hitting the curves or thrown for a loop and my time begins to vanish. Ever feel like that? I know you do and if you’re anything like me, you want off that ride. Let’s go because it’s our time to shine!

What I do with my time is important. What I do with the time that God gives me is more important. I don’t want to feel the weight of being unproductive or that time is just passing me at warp speed as my to-do list gets longer.

That is why I am so excited to bring you today’s guest post. Marva Smith from Sun Sparkle Shine has created a new course and if anything I have said feels like you right now, you’ll want to check this out.

Before you get moving and think, I don’t have time for anything more in my life. You may be right. Then you don’t want to miss this course. It was created for you!

While we're being honest, let's talk to-do lists. I have them, by the stakes in front of my keyboard. I am happy to be checking things off that list during the day. But there is one thing that my to-do list often pushes out...
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That is my time with God.

My time with God gives me clarity and purpose

Yet far too often I push it aside to get done the “things that need to get done” and to happily check those things off that list.

I don’t know if Marva saw my very long to-do list but when she sent me this guest post, I saw she was talking to me. When she asked me to team with her on sharing this product, I didn’t even hesitate.

Maybe she wasn’t talking to me. Maybe she was talking to all of us. I know she has experienced this herself and has managed to come up with this fantastic course to help us all give our precious moments a little bit more shine.

It’s time to shine friends!

Guest Post By Marva Smith

When You’re Too Busy for Face Time with God

You know you’re too busy for God when…

When I first became a Christian, one of my friends used to say to me, “if you’re too busy for God, you’re just too busy”.

I have to admit, I know she meant well but there were times those words did not sit well with me. But now, more than 20 years later, I’ve learned how true her words are. When I find life spinning out of control, I look at where my time is going. Am I too busy for face time with God?

How about you, friend?

Do you find yourself longing to spend time with God but watching the time fly by? Maybe you’ve been missing your morning devotions and hoping to make it up at night, but it just doesn’t happen. I know what it’s like because I’ve been there.

Most times it’s my loved ones who can tell when I’ve been missing out on time with God because it starts to show.

I know I’m too busy for God when…

Everything and everyone gets under my skin – and pretty soon everyone’s tiptoeing around me.
Life feels unfair – when I’m missing out on time with God I get this false sense that everything should go my way.
Social media makes me cranky – instead of feeling sociable, the comparison makes me spiral into discouragement
I forget to smile – I lose sight of my blessings when I take my eyes off Jesus
Life is too hard – when I feel like I’m facing obstacle after obstacle, it’s a good time to check in on where my heart is at.

What are the signs that you’ve been too busy for God?

Perhaps more importantly, rather than beating ourselves up, what if we found creative ways to carve out time to spend with the Master?

And by the way, if you’re struggling to find ways to spend time with God or for the things He’s put on your heart, I have a special invitation for you at the end.

But first, a few tips to help you carve out one on one time with God.

3 Tips to Take Time to Talk to God

Do a time swap

With all the things you have to do you probably feel like there’s never enough hours in the day. You’re not alone and I bet many of your friends feel the same way. What better way to help each other out than to swap time so you can each get some personal time. Even if it’s an hour, you can use this as a special time to get away with God, which is probably the reset you need.

Do a prayer walk

Getting out in nature is always a good way to reconnect with God. While the weather is still nice it’s the perfect time to go for a prayer walk and pour out your soul to God. Fitting it in during your lunch hour or break doesn’t feel too burdensome and as a bonus, you get some exercise in as well.

“As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?” – Psalm 42:1-2

Do worship differently

Sometimes what we need to reignite our time with God is to get away from our normal routine. Instead of just praying and reading your Bible, mix things up a bit. Spend some time listening to worship music, do some Bible journaling (a creative process in itself) or another fun activity to engage with God. This will light a spark and keep you looking forward to your times with the Master.

How about you? When you feel like you’re too busy for God which one of the tips will you try? Do you have others that have worked for you? Please share them in the comments so we can encourage one another.

Before I go, I’d love to invite you to join me for Time to Shine. It’s a time management course that will help you mind your minutes so the moments matter. I created it especially for women like you who want to fill up on the most important things (like time with God), without running on empty. I’ve been there, friend and I know there’s a better way. Join me here.

Marva Smith | SunSparkleShine.com

About Marva:

Marva Smith is an island-living, sun-loving, Christian wife and mom. She has successfully transitioned careers, welcomed reinvention and is always on the lookout for what God is doing next. She enjoys showing women how to sparkle and shine for God by living fully and abundantly right where they are (John 10:10). You can find her writing about her life and faith on her website SunSparkleShine.com as well as Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, and Instagram. Get a free copy of her e-book You Were Made to Sparkle here.

Before you go, friends, I just want you to know I have totally missed you at Sitting Among Friends Linkup party so before you go check out Marva’s New Course, join us and linkup!

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Blog Parties are such a great place to meet people and build connections around the web. This is one reason, I love this party. It would be a blessing to visit another friend in the linkup and enjoy their posts.

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The post It’s Time to Shine: Make Moments Matter appeared first on Seeking God with Jaime Wiebel.

Just a Closer Walk with Thee

Jaime Wiebel — Mon, 30 Apr 2018 14:27:14 +0000

Falling Away

The one relationship I failed to foster for so long was my relationship with Jesus. In fact, for much of my life, I spent my time running from Him. I had asked Him to be my personal Savior but I was falling away from Him.

Knowing He was within arms reach, I kept my arms stretched to keep Him at a distance.

I knew if He got too close my life would be revealed for what it was and I would have to deal with the perpetual sin in my life. So, I kept an arms distance and my eye over my shoulder so He couldn’t get too close.

I continued to run on that path until I could run no further, literally. I wanted to find a way back and thought about it many times, but didn’t know where to begin.

My thoughts quickly went to finding a church hoping that would be the answer. It may have been the place where I was physically confronted with God’s truth but my heart and my mind were far from home.

The reality was I needed to repent and turn back. My sin, however, had become my comfort and what I thought to be my identity.

To Read the rest of this post, please stop over at my friend’s beautiful and uplifting site. You can find Lori Schumaker at Searching for Moments. Lori has an amazing heart for God and writes about one of my greatest passions, which is finding our identity in the heart of God.

Need more encouragement? Skip over and read some of Seeking God’s favorite posts here.

The Cherished Moments: Face to Face with Jesus

The Cherished Moments that we have with Jesus are world changing. Join us as we journey to meet Him face to face through His Holy Word. There we will grow in our intimate relationship with Him.

The Cherished Moments: Face to Face with My Freedom

My freedom was not free. It was paid for by the precious blood of Jesus Christ. It meant my Savior was placed on the cross and shamed for all the wretched things I had done, while His Father turned His face from Him.

The Most Remarkable Journey

There is one journey that tops the charts. It is the most remarkable journey of all time. This is the journey of Jesus – 6 week Study on the Life of Jesus – This week we’ll journey as Jesus meets the woman at the well while we learn Who Jesus Is!

The post Just a Closer Walk with Thee appeared first on Seeking God with Jaime Wiebel.

Guest Post – Susan Shipe – 52 Commands of Jesus for Children & Sitting Among Friends #85

Jaime Wiebel — Wed, 26 Jul 2017 05:00:00 +0000

Welcome this week’s Guest Post from Author Susan Shipe and stick around for this week’s Sitting Among Friends Linkup.

“So, why a book for children?”

I was asked that question in 2013 when I began 52 Commands of Jesus for Children. I don’t remember my answer then but now that the book is finished and on the great big bookshelf at Amazon I can clearly look back and see the “back story” of 52 Commands!

For years our pastor taught the 49 commands of Christ and the teachings impacted me with the truth and relevancy of Jesus’ words spoken two thousand years ago. And, as God does, He whispered a suggestion that the teachings in the Gospels needed to be created into a book for parents to use with their children.

Yes, Lord.

I began writing with great excitement and eagerness. I was seven commands “in” and suddenly I went dry. In all honesty, I found myself intimidated writing for children. THIS IS IMPORTANT, LIFE-CHANGING material and I felt inadequate. I have written for children before – short stories based on Biblical truth and focusing on the stories ‘between the lines.” I’ve written a story on the birth of Jesus and a story about Malchus, the man who had his ear cut off! Yet the commands of Jesus, red words from the Gospels, needed to be spot on with no room for error.

I did not want to insert my own deep doctrinal beliefs, I wanted each parent or facilitator to use her or his passion to teach the command and the character quality that coincides with it. 52 Commands of Jesus for Children is a jumping off place for parents and teachers to take the children as far as they can based on the ages and maturity of the child/children being taught.

Feeling intimidated and inadequate the material was filed and shelved. Fast forward to March 2017. I had just completed 40 Days of Lent and was enjoying a few days rest from writing. I asked the Lord to show me what was next! Because He is God and always finishes what He begins He clearly told me there would be no more books until 52 Commands was completed. I rolled up my sleeves, dusted off the file folder, and opened the Word document! With much prayer, I dug in. I am so glad I did.

The words of Jesus are powerful!

For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires. Hebrews 4.12 (NLT)

Week 45 teaches the 45th command, “Watch and Pray,” with the character quality endurance. About ten years ago the Holy Spirit planted this endurance word deep within my spirit – it hasn’t left yet so He must have seriously meant it. What does endurance look like in 2017? Two thousand years ago in a garden of great angst, Jesus, the Son of God asked a couple of men to watch and pray with and for Him. They fell asleep. Their temptation? They were tired. O! God May I not fall asleep when the Spirit of the living God speaks deep things to me or, simply tells me to get out of bed and pray on my knees. I want to endure.

Parents and teachers will be challenged by the questions and suggestions in the book – are they living and breathing examples of the character qualities? Our children reflect us, whether good or bad, they do as we do not necessarily what we say!

Each lesson includes a coloring page. Additional coloring pages can be downloaded from my blog site for those who wish to keep their book unmarked and for those with more than one child.

The images will help paint that important picture of the character quality being taught.

I know how hard it is for families to create and sustain a quiet time with young children. I suggest beginning each devotion on a Sunday afternoon or evening. The lesson and exercises can be incorporated for one full week – think of the opportunities! Each lesson has three to five simple sections for teaching and sharing. Wouldn’t it be wonderful for families to sit at the dinner table three times a week with this devotional book in the hands of the parent, each child with a box of coloring pencils and a color page, and after dinner they linger five to ten minutes with The Word and each other.

O! How pleased our heavenly Father would be!

Bio for Susan Shipe | Creston NC

I am an encourager with a heart for women. My devotion-journal, A Pruned Branch, was self-published in 2004 and is a compilation of 365 devotions for women in all walks of life. APB is full of practical principles for all, from the baby Christian to the mature believer.

The Lord delivered a message of Hope deep within my soul in 2002. Jesus, the Hope-giver met me in my hour of need and my heart overflowed with hope – the theme of my life since that time has been HOPE!

I am the mother of three adult children, grandmother (a/k/a Mimzy) to 20-year old Hannah and 14-year old Simon, and I am the wife of one man and together we share our love with one awesome dog, Sam! My husband, Lowell, and I attend Community Church in Mountain City, Tennessee. I enjoy writing, reading, organic gardening, traveling, and spending time with our family.

I love the Lord with every fiber of my being and my life’s purpose is: That I may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. Colossians 1:10 (NKJV) My life vision is: I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in Truth. 3 John 4

My heart overflows with a good theme…my tongue is the pen of a ready writer. Psalms

45:1 (NASB)

Thank you for joining me today. You can find more of Susan‘s work at her blog page. Hope Heart Home.

I am glad you are here. I would love for you to join us at Seeking God Daily. Because a couple friends and I are passionate about sharing God’s Word we have joined forces to bring together a Facebook Group called Seeking God Daily.

Seeking God Daily is a group that offers hope, encouragement, and support in learning God’s Word and applying the truths to our walk with Christ.

We want to encourage one another through authentic, honest and respectful conversation as we earnestly seek God daily.

Hebrews 11:6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

We’re doing life together so come and join in the conversations. You can join this group by clicking HERE ! While you are there feel free to invite some friends along for the journey. We would love to have them!

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Let’s Connect!

WOW! Thank you all for coming and for the 69 Amazing posts from last week. This party has been wonderful thanks to you, friends, who link-up with us and those who stop by and read posts. Thank you!

You all are amazing writers who share Family and Faith, DIY’s, Recipes, Photos, Giveaways, Homeschooling and more. Many of you have amazing journeys of faith and I praise the Lord we are able to connect here!

There are easy share buttons to your left or at the bottom of each post (mobile) and after you link-up. Thanks for sharing!

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The post Guest Post – Susan Shipe – 52 Commands of Jesus for Children & Sitting Among Friends #85 appeared first on Seeking God with Jaime Wiebel.

Prayer for the Discouraged Heart

Jaime Wiebel — Wed, 10 Aug 2016 13:52:00 +0000

Prayer for the Discouraged Heart

One of the many defining moments in life are those filled with exciting glide into the next page of our season.

We step in with so much grace and expectations.

At this times we have the vivid picture of what we want for this next season. We hang the picture frame on the wall of our heart.

Well… hopeful everything would flow seamlessly, only to hit a little snag called disappointment. Maybe another and yet another and you are discouraged!

Usually, we plunge right into this next phase of life hoping to ride the waves like we have always done but we fail to realize ‘these waves’ may not be familiar.

Trying to replicate our past ride with them becomes unsuccessful because it’s not the same.

No two phases in life are the same.

Not even for familiar circumstances!

It is a safe bet to say discouragement comes in all forms at any stage of life.

Maybe you have come to that crossroad to choose whether or not to move forward.

Maybe things aren’t going as your heart had longed for.

Are you discouraged at the recent turn of events?

I know how hard it can be to pray when you reach this crossroad.

Whether we are surrounded by a dozen of life snaps,

Or past wounds that don’t want to go away,

Or a pain that reminds us of our fragility,

Or you sit in the waiting room of life

Or you have imprints from scars that can’t be hidden,

There is hope even in that discouragement you are faced with.

We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.

2 Corinthians 4:8-10

There is hope in Christ Jesus. Every part of the gospel reminds us of the Hope we have in Him no matter what phase of life we find ourselves.

Hope that can’t be shaken by what the world throws at us.

The ultimate hope that is in Christ which we receive by His Grace and set free by the Power that resides in the Name of Jesus.

Everything we are faced with drives us to His perfect plan for us.

When I reach that desperate crossroads, I want to hide away from all of it Then I remember that… my safe haven is in the Name of the Lord.

The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it and is safe.

Proverbs 18:10

Sometimes these disappointments make you feel like you have failed. In my New Book “Overcome Failure; Get Back On Your Feet“, I share more about how to overcome these lies and build trust in God.

Silently as you sit or lie on your couch, perhaps sip coffee alongside, take a deep breath and pray with all your heart.

Dear Lord, I am thankful for the power in the name of Jesus. I am grateful that you are my safety at this time. You are my help, my shield, and my hope. Nothing will ever take me away from your secret place nor sweep me from your loving arms in Jesus Name. Refresh my heart dear Lord with your peace and restore, revive and replenish my confidence in you through your Word in Jesus Name. I overcome every discouragement I face in Jesus name. Amen

Author Bio

Ifeoma Samuel, happily married to her sweetheart Obiora Samuel, is an author, a blogger and an occasional Speaker. She enjoys using her writings to share everyday life stories about God’s immense love. Her book “My 30 Days Journey To a Fulf illed Life” and her latest book “Overcome Failure; Get Back on Your Feet” both available on Amazon. You can find her writing regularly over at her blog Purposeful and Meaningful or visit on Facebook, Pinterest or Youtube.

Dr. Ifeoma Samuel
Author and Blogger, Purposeful and Meaningful

feyen2000@gmail.com || http://purposefulandmeaningful.blogspot.com.ng/ || Florida Hills, JHB, South Africa

To win an ebook copy (I have two to give away) of Ifeoma’s Book Overcome Failure: Get Back on Your Feet, comment below and share with us a failure you have overcome or are working on overcoming or a favorite verse you have held onto to help you be victorious in Christ.

The post Prayer for the Discouraged Heart appeared first on Seeking God with Jaime Wiebel.

Hold You Head Up High

Jaime Wiebel — Tue, 03 May 2016 12:11:00 +0000

There are many days where boldness slips my grip. I wake up ready to conquer the world, be all that God has asked of me, but quickly begin to feel less than worthy.

Standing in the greatness of an awesome God, those feelings are nothing new. We see Moses fall to his face when he realizes whose presence he is in. In the sight of Jesus, John the Baptist realizes he is not even worthy to untie Jesus’s sandals.

In one of my favorite passages from Isaiah, we read about Isaiah’s vision of the Lord in all His Glory. Isaiah’s response in Chapter 6 Verse 5 is,

“Woe is me, for I am ruined! Because I am a man of unclean lips, And I live among a people of unclean lips; For my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.”

As believers, it seems common to feel undone, ruined and unworthy to serve or to be in the presence of the Lord. I think this is an appropriate response. One that is normal and one that we should not feel shame for. But often times, we feel guilty for feeling less than great and mighty.

I have had the amazing opportunity to guest post at RachelBritton.com where you can finish reading the rest of this post. I don’t want you to miss it. I believe it will encourage your heart today. So just … Hold Your Head Up High Friends!

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