A little while ago, I was introduced to a new group called The Blythe Daniel Agency. Among other things, The Blythe Daniel Agency launched The Blog Spot Network in January of 2015. It was through them, that I was offered a copy of the Journal the Word Bible for review!

Being both a writer and a Christian, I decided to take them up on the offer! I've had the same Bible since middle school, so I figured I could use a new one! Plus, I was thinking a new copy might be just the kind of motivation that I needed to jump back into the Word.

The Journal the Word Bible, published through Thomas Nelson, comes in a variety of styles and print options. The description that I received is below.

"NKJV Journal the Word Bible and KJV Journal the Word Bible is a new, sturdy hardcover Bible. Each page has lined spaces on the left or right margins of the text and leaves ample room to journal or draw outside the text as you read. It's a great way to practice the concept of creative note taking. By taking notes as you read the Bible it can help you to center your mind on certain words or verses to better remember them.

Complete with an elastic band around the Bible for holding down pages as well as a ribbon marker, it allows you to creatively express yourself everyday with plenty of room for notes or verse art journaling next to your treasured verses. This single-column edition features thick cream-colored paper with lightly ruled lines in the extra-wide margins, perfect to reflect on God's Word and enhance your study.

Journal the Word Bible is excellent for personal use or for someone else. It can also be a cherished heirloom to pass on to future generations with your personal writings inside!

It's perfect for Bible art, studying, or reflecting on your thoughts while reading the Bible. Plus it will lay flat when you hold it in your hands or set it down on the table."

"She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future"

"For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind."

It's November! Which to me means colder weather and a new verse of encouragement! And I'm glad, because I could surely use one!

Last month, I told you guys about some of the stuff that I was struggling with and unfortunately, not much has changed. I've gotten a teeny tiny bit better about my posting schedule, but my health is still all over the place.

As some of you guys already know, I had a follow up appointment scheduled with my optometrist and my rheumatologist back in October. Well, they didn't go so well. It appears that I have the beginning signs of eye toxicity due to one of my medications, so I had to stop taking it immediately! Then, my rheumatologist sent me to a cardiologist who is now requesting that I get a title table test, a stress test, and a 30 day EKG test done, which I do not look forward to. So this month, I will be clutching to this verse like there's no tomorrow!

I've really been putting my faith on the back burner for a while now and I really think I need to dive back into it. And I think God agrees, because I was just sent a free bible journal for review and they even sent one for a lucky winner too! And since the giveaway hasn't started yet, I've made you a little freebie to hold you over! I hope you enjoy it!

"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

I can't believe it's October already! I know I say that every month, but I really mean it! I started blogging in January and it's crazy to think that almost an entire year has passed!

I'm gonna be honest with you guys, this month has started off pretty rough. As I'm sure you guys have noticed, I've been a little behind on my blog post schedule. Normally, I post 5 days a week, but I've barely managed 5 posts in the last few weeks.

Per usual, the reasoning behind my absence is solely due to my health. I've been struggling with side effects of my Lupus medication, an IBS flare, a bout of depression, all four wisdom teeth pushing through, and a Fibromyalgia flare. I haven't told anyone this yet, but it's gotten pretty bad. The other night I fell, and I didn't get back up. I tried, but there was just no way that I could do it. It was so bad that I actually ended up asking my husband for a pillow and a blanket, then proceeded to sleep on the floor. And might I add, that did not help with the pain.

Overall, God's been testing me and I haven't exactly been passing with flying colors, but he says that's ok. Even when I forget it sometimes, God still has a plan for me. He still continues to love and support me through everything that I'm struggling with and he continues to push along right beside me. And for that, I am forever grateful.

It's hard to think about sometimes, that even when we aren't thinking about taking care of ourselves, there's still someone else out there caring for us anyways. Even when we don't see it, God really is working on us and creating a life for us. He not only gave up his one and only son to take away our sins, but he loves us unconditionally, he provides for us, he gives us strength, and he has a plan for us; and I'm so glad that he does.

For those of you that need this reminder, or are simply looking for new art to hang on your walls, I have created a beautiful printout of this verse that I'd love to share with you! I hope that this verse brings comfort to you and really resonates in your heart!

"Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall."

It's so crazy to think that it's already September! Even though, each day feels as if it passes way too slowly, the months have just flown by!

Honestly, I'm excited for this month. I have a couple secret projects that I've been working on and I can't wait to share them with you! In addition to that, I'm hoping to make some real progress on my novel.

The only things I'm really worried about this month are my appointments with my dentist and my ophthalmologist. I've had pretty bad experiences with dentists in the past and I just hope that this appointment goes well. As for my eye appointment, we'll be checking to see if my Lupus medication has caused any toxicity in my eyes and I'll probably be getting a new prescription. So hopefully everything goes the best that it can.

For those of you that need this reminder, or are simply looking for new art to hang on your walls, I have created a beautiful printout of this verse that I'd love to share with you! I hope that this verse brings comfort to you and really resonates in your heart!

"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight."

"The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged."

"The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles."

As I mentioned in one of last month's blog posts, I have written a verse of encouragement in my planner for each month this year. If you missed last month's verse, you can check it out here!

This month's verse is 1 Peter 5:6-7.

"Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you."

When I wrote this verse in my planner in January, I had no idea just how much I would need it in April. This month has been full of anxiety. I was supposed to have a heart procedure, we planned on closing on a house, we have to move, and I'm writing my first novel! These are all good things, but that doesn't stop the anxiety from coming.

I've been a worrier for as long as I can remember and I honestly don't think that will ever change. Through all of these processes I try my best to turn to God. I know that I can cast all of my anxieties on him, but that's easier said then done. I'm sure that we all wish we could just rid them away with a thought or a prayer.

My Lord and Savior never ceases to amaze me. He tests me, as he does everyone, but he always follows through. I was worried about getting up to my second floor apartment after the right heart catheterization procedure and after making the appointment, and a lot of prayers, it got denied by my insurance company. I didn't pray for it to happen the way that it did, but now I can get the procedure done and go straight to our one story home afterwards.

That's another thing that I prayed a lot about. My health issues are gradually getting worse and I have been struggling tremendously with our apartment complex's stairs. We knew our lease would be up at the end of April, but we had no where else to go. All the other locations were above the first floor or ridiculously above our budget. We made the decision to buy a house but we needed to have 60 day's notice in order to move out of our apartment. We needed to find a house on or before February 18th, but we didn't. Then God provided a house for us on the morning of the 19th. One day after we needed it. I was being tested and looking back, I wish I hadn't been so worried.

I'm not sure if my worries will ever ease up, but it gives me hope knowing that God is there for me. He will always provide, love, and forgive. For that, I am eternally grateful.

For those of you that need this reminder, or are simply looking for new art to hang on your walls, I have created a beautiful printout of this verse that I'd love to share with you! I even used spring colors :) I hope that this verse brings comfort to you and really resonates in your heart!

As I mentioned last month in my blog post, I have written a verse of encouragement in my planner for each month of the year. If you missed last month’s verse, you can check it out here.
This month’s verse is John 16:33.

When I was younger, I used to say the same prayer every night before bed. I don't remember learning it, but I do remember how fast I had learned to say it. This is the prayer that I used to say every night, well every night until life took over.

"Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the lord my soul to keep. If I should die before I wake, I pray the lord my soul to take. God bless everybody, Amen."

I'm sure you've heard or seen a prayer similar to this. There are so many variations of it, but my prayer never changed. I remember I added that last line when my grandfather passed away. I wanted to make a point, even at a young age, that I wanted to make sure everyone in heaven and on Earth was taken care of.

It wasn't until I was older, and began going to church that I realized prayers should mean something. It shouldn't just be the words repeated at the end of the night. And it definitely shouldn't have been a race to see who could say the prayer fastest. I now realize that taking the time to speak to God openly and honestly, is very important. Although I may not do it as often as I should, I believe that He knows what is in my heart.

This is how I pray:

I Give God My Undivided Attention
Each time I do this in a different way. When I'm able to, I like to close my eyes, and close my hands together. Of course, that's not always possible. If I'm driving, I'll turn the radio off. If I'm in the shower, I'll just close my eyes. I just try to do whatever I can at that moment to relax, connect, and pray.

I Request Guidance
Life is full of difficult decisions, so I pray to God to give me guidance. I pray that he guides me to making the right decisions and I pray that the decisions I do make, line up with his plan for me. I also pray that God closes the doors on the things that do not fit into his plan. I pray that he guides me into the open doors. Someone once told me not to pray for one specific outcome, but to pray that God will guide me in making the decisions that will lead to the best outcome for me. I am a child of God, and I know that he knows what's best for me, even when I really want something that might not be.

I Ask for Strength
Strength is something that I lack, both physically and emotionally. I pray that He gives me the strength to get through each day and each hardship. I pray that he gives me the strength to continue on, even when my body tells me no. As someone that deals with both depression and anxiety, I know how easy it can be to give up. So each day I ask for the strength to continue, because I was put on this Earth for a reason; and I know for a fact that reason isn't to quit.

I Surrender
I have a hard time doing this, which is exactly why I started a monthly verse of encouragement. You can check out February's here. I cast all of my anxieties onto Him. I almost always say something along the lines of, "Dear God I know that you have a plan for me, and I know that I need not worry, and that I am supposed to trust you, but I really hope that ________ is in that plan. I know that if this is your will, then it will happen; and if it doesn't, then I will accept that." I know that He ultimately knows what is in my heart, but I still say something like that each time. I don't necessarily say it to remind him of what I'd like to happen. I instead do it to verbally cast away my anxieties, and to remind myself that he has a plan for me, and that everything is going to work out.

I Pray for Others
Every time I pray, I make sure to pray for others. If I'm praying in the morning, I might ask that everyone smiles at least once today. I pray that something good happens in each and everybody's life, no matter how small or insignificant. I make sure to pray for those around me, and those that I know are hurting. I always make sure to pray for my brother and my cousins. I especially pray for my husband. I pray that God gives him strength and takes away his worries, because I know how hard it must be for him to watch me deal with my chronic illnesses.

I Praise Him
I end each prayer with my praises. I thank God for everything he has given me, he will give me, and what he is currently giving me. It can be so easy to only go to God when you need Him for something. But we need to remember to praise him as well. Like anyone of us, he does not need nor ask for recognition for the things that he does, but he deserves it.

There is no right or wrong way to pray, I just wanted to share with you how I choose to pray.

As I mentioned last month in my blog post, I have written a verse of encouragement in my planner for each month of the year. If you missed last month’s verse, you can check it out here.
This month’s verse is Isaiah 41:10.

Some of you may know this, but not many of you will. I am a Christ follower. I believe that he has a plan for me and although I do not always give him all of my anxieties, I am going to try much harder this year!