2011 May :: Putting God First Place

May Featured Partners

By Ashley Wells, on May 31st, 2011

Each month, I like to take the time and introduce you to that month’s “Featured Partners.”

My Featured Partners are people or companies who partnered with me to provide prizes for Give! Win! Send!, or other blogs and ministries that I support.

So, without further delay, here are my Featured Partners for this month:

iBloom

iBloom is the go-to place for Christian life coaching for women. iBloom exists to inspire and empower every woman on the planet to live a life of passion, balance, purpose and fulfillment. iBloom is dedicated to helping women live intentionally and ultimately have a significant impact with their lives.

Connect with iBloom on twitter or facebook!

Crossway Books

What to find a publisher you can count on? One that consistently publishes gospel-centered books for adults and children? Crossway Books is that publisher! From The Church History ABCs, to The Big Picture Story Bible, to Feminine Appeal, to the ESV Bible, you are sure to find something for you and your family!

You can connect with Crossway on their blog, on facebook, and on twitter!

Blessings Unlimited Consultant Cherie Froelich

Blessings Unlimited offers a unique blend of business and ministry with exclusive home decor items and gifts created to encourage hearts, build relationships, and bring beauty to the place where you live.

I personally love their new Enjoy life Collection. The new summer catalog is online now, find what you like!

Make sure to take some time and meet this month’s featured partners!!!

Practice Contentment

By Ashley Wells, on May 30th, 2011

This week’s Fixing Your Heart on Titus 2 challenge is to practice contentment. God has been working in my life, MAJORLY, in this area the past few months. I am so happy for that. I was such a grumbler and living doubting His goodness.

Read my post At the Well and link up to practice contentment with us this week!

Pursuing Life {Book Progress}

By Ashley Wells, on May 27th, 2011

I love this monthly feature Jessica has to talk about how are we pursuing life.

Last month, I shared about why I write. The fact that I feel like God is calling me to step out of my comfort zone and take my writing more seriously, more specifically finish a book I started over a year ago.

Well guess what? I have continued! What’s even more awesome? I only have one more chapter to go of writing, then I’m heading into the editing stage.

I am going to release my book (on Amazon kindle) on June 30, 2011. It’s on facebook. I’ve got a webpage set up. I redesigned the cover {see it? like it?}.

Last month I said, “Well, there is no better time than the present to finish it!” I feel very good about the progress I have had on this goal the past month.

I think I am moving in the direction of pursuing life. I am shoving aside fear {I’ve got a lot} and trusting God with His story of my life and my journey.

How are you pursuing life lately?

Rejoice?

By Ashley Wells, on May 26th, 2011

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. -Philippians 4:4

Days when the sun is shining bright and the birds are chirping a new song and you have a little bounce in your step…on those kind of days, it’s easy to rejoice.

Days when you are struggling to get out of bed…

Days when you are on the verge of tears at the drop of a hat…

Days when you don’t know how you are going to pay the bills…

Days when you are losing patience with your young child…

Days when you and your husband just feel off beat…

on those kind of days, it’s harder to rejoice.

But yet, we read in the verse above that we are called to rejoice always. Again, rejoice.

What does this mean for those kind of days???

As I’ve been going through this difficult season, I’ve been wondering this question. What does God want from me, here in the hard times? To rejoice?

I think I’ve come up with an answer. It’s not about rejoicing because of the circumstance. It’s not about rejoicing just because we are supposed to.

It’s about rejoicing in the hope that this season, this day, this feeling, will not last forever. It’s about rejoicing in the fact that we have a Lord and Savior who cares for us in the midst of hard times.

It’s about rejoicing in the fact that we have Jesus.

We have Jesus. We have reason to hope.

It’s so hard to remember these truths when we are in the midst of difficulty. Satan would want nothing more than for you to forget about Jesus and all that He has done for you.

But, I challenge you {and me} to look outside of our situation and see that Jesus is still with you {and me}. He will never leave us. He may give us difficult times, but during those times we need to trust him. We need to remember that He is faithful. That He has plans for our life.

It’s not easy, but it is possible! You can rejoice, even now.

Do our husbands get our sloppy seconds?

By Ashley Wells, on May 25th, 2011

So, last weekend Michael and I are going about our day, we had just gotten back from the gym when I got in the mood to bake. I had eaten a delicious strawberry earlier that day and couldn’t get it off my brain!

I mention a strawberry cake that Michael and I have been wanting to try and asked Michael if he would like it.

Then, before he could even answer, I said, “Oh wait…we’ll just wait until tomorrow when so and so comes over and I’ll make it for them.”

Then, Michael, feeling defeated replies, “Why do I have to wait for company to come over to get extra stuff?”

Wow…I immediately felt convicted. In my desire to show love to a guest, I complete forgot about my own husband, who wanted the cake that night and felt like he was getting sloppy seconds.

With an apolegetic heart, I sought forgiveness and made the cake that night, for my husband and I.

In a simple way, I was able to show my husband that HE was more important and deserved all the extra good stuff too!

Have you had any recent moments in your marriage where you learned something like this? Share in the comments!