Tag Archives: devotionals

What’s Currently in My Morning Basket?

I try to do this post once or twice a year simply because my basket is always changing. I like to keep it fresh and new and something I look forward to. Then I like sharing what’s in my basket to hopefully give you some ideas for great new books, resources, pens, etc. And because it’s January…we all need the extra inspiration. So here are the items currently in my morning time basket.

Pens

I have a few different pens I love. I love colorful pens that write well, and those are increasingly hard to find. But these Pilot G-2 pens–the purple pack and the pink pack–are really good. I also still love these paper mate pens and these other paper mate pens.

My Bible

I currently use the inCourge devotional Bible. The women from inCourage put this out, and I really love it. There are lots of devotional readings interspersed. I don’t always read them, but when I do, they are great. They also do small breakouts of different characters in the Bible, and I love those. I started this Bible at the beginning of the last school year, so I haven’t gotten all the way through it yet, but I really am enjoying it. It’s not my most favorite translation, as it’s CSB, but I’m enjoying reading the same verses put a little differently.

Devotionals

I’m currently still working my way through the Jesus is Better (Hebrews) study from Daily Grace Co. These are my favorite devotionals. I received a few more for Christmas that I can’t wait to work through. This Hebrews one is a lot longer, and I usually only get to it on my day off when I have more time to sit at the table and do a longer morning time routine. But any of the Daily Grace Co devotionals are great. I received Waiting for Hope (Malachi) for Christmas and can’t wait to work through that one.

Thank You Cards

I always keep thank-you cards in my basket. During my morning time routine is usually when God brings to mind somebody I need to write a thank you too. Hobby Lobby has the best assortment of thank you cards that are super inexpensive. I currently have these thank you cards in my basket. There are fifteen notecards, and they were only $1.99.

Gratitude Journal

Check out my post on making gratitude journals. We make these as a family each year, and everybody writes in theirs all year long.

Bookmarks

I always keep bookmarks in my basket for underlining in my Bible or whatever book I’m currently reading. I order my bookmarks from SJ Wonderlandz.

Books

I like to incorporate a book into my morning time routine. Right now, I’m alternating between With: Reimagining the Way You Relate to God by Sky Jethani and Leap Over a Wall by Eugene Peterson.

Journal

I use my Faithfully Stepping Journals every day. I’m currently using the Morning by Morning journal.

To-Do Notebook

I also keep my daily to-do notebook in my basket where I write down everything I need to accomplish for the day. I use a simple spiral bound notebook for this. You can read about how I use notebooks here.

Coffee and Candles

Not in my basket but included in my morning time routine are candles and coffee. I love Bath and Body Candles, particularly when they’re on sale and I pair it with a coupon. Coffee changes for me. Currently, I love any kind of Dunkin’ Donuts flavored ground coffee for hot coffee, and I just started using Nescafe Gold Espresso for iced coffee and am loving that as well.

I hope that gives you some ideas and new products to add to your own basket! What’s currently in your morning time basket that you’re loving?

My Favorite Bible Studies to Do This Summer

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Summer is coming!! With that comes a break from school, maybe a loosening of schedules, and hopefully extra down time. It’s a great time to spend extra time in your morning time routine. During the school year, it’s hard to find extra time. But during the summer, it’s a great time to grab an iced coffee and spend a few extra minutes studying God’s Word. With that in mind, I wanted to share some recommendations for Bible studies to do this summer. There are so many good ones out there, but these are some of my favorites.

Devotionals from Manney Resources

Of course, you can check out any of our devotionals. There are so many to choose from, but You Are Not Alone and God is for You are two of my favs.

If you want to do your own Bible study, be sure to check out our Faithfully Stepping Journals. They are blank and can be used with any Bible study or your own personal study. This one is the journal I’m currently using and loving.

Immerse Bible

We are in our second year of using the Immerse Bible during the summer at our church. Immerse takes books of the Bible and removes the chapter headings, verses, and other additives and leaves you with a read-through of those books of the Bible that’s clean and has tons of room to write on the sides. It really opens your eyes when you read books of the Bible as a whole without verses and chapters; it makes the whole picture come together. I really enjoy doing the Immerse Bibles.

Last year, we did Messiah, which is the entire New Testament. This year, we are doing Poets, which is Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon, and Lamentations.

Bible Studies from Daily Grace Co

I absolutely love the Bible studies from Daily Grace Co. These studies are full color and are absolutely beautiful and really well-written. They have tons of great ones. I have personally done Habakkuk, Psalm 23, Ecclesiastes, and Colossians. I received two more for Mother’s Day that I’ve been waiting for summer to do.

Extras

Don’t forget the coffee, a great candle, and good pens. They help make morning time so much better!

I hope these suggestions help you find a great Bible study for the summer! Let me know if you try and of them!!

Jumpstart Your Morning Time Routine

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Morning Time Routine Reboot

We are full-on into this new year. This is a great time to start or re-boot your morning time routine. A morning time routine is simply the words I use to describe the time you set aside every morning to spend with God. For me, this time includes my Bible reading, prayer time, and a few other things.

One of the things I hear over and over again from women is that they know they need to spend time with God each day, and they want to, but they just don’t. It can be hard to get started, but it’s like anything else. Once you commit to it, and develop the habit of it, it gets a whole lot easier. I want to share with you the routine I use every single morning. Use it to give you some ideas; then go out and create your own morning time routine that works for you.

My Morning Time Routine

1.Light a candle

The first thing I do every morning when I come downstairs is to light a candle. It sets the mood for the morning and creates the ambiance I’m looking for—that special feeling/knowing that this is going to be a relaxing, calming time. Some of the best places to get candles for a good price are T.J. Max, Kirkland’s, and Bath and Body Works.

2. Make coffee

The next thing I do is head to the kitchen to make myself an iced coffee with lots of whipped cream. This helps me to wake up fully, and it gives me something to look forward to before I come downstairs. Some of my favorite coffees (k-cups) are Cinnabon, peanut butter, and blueberry.

3. Pick a colored pen

For me, it’s the small things that add up that make my morning time something I look forward to. I have a cup of colored gel pens that sits on my table that I pull from each morning. I also love paper mate colored pens for journaling.

4. Journal

I open my journal and work through the prayer section of my journal. The Faithfully Stepping Journal that I’ve created has a section for gratitude, confession, and requests. I work through each of those. You can do the same thing in a regular notebook or journal. Then I’m ready to go on to the next part of my morning time.

5. Read my Bible or a Devotional

I read my Bible next; you can also read a devotional. We have several 30-Day Devotionals if you need a good devotional. If you don’t know where to start, I usually recomend starting in the book of John or the book of Psalms; or choose a devotional. Some people get tied up on this step. Keep it simple. If you read a devotional, just do the application questions at the end of the devotional for the day. If you are reading the Bible, simply write in your journal what stood out to you or what encouraged you. When you write it down, it will stay with you much longer throughout the day.

6. Read a book

Once I’m done with my Bible reading and prayer time and journaling, I spend at least ten minutes reading a good book. This can be inspirational, Christian, entrepreneurial, etc. Just read something that is going to enhance your life. Matt and I are avid readers and believe reading can help us grow in so many areas of life!

7. To-Do List

Lastly, I spend just a few minute writing down my to do list for the day. This is a simple thing I started doing several years ago that increases my productivity throughout the day so much! I use the spiral notebook system. It’s fast, easy, simple, and cheap. But use whatever works for you!

That’s what I do. Now, take those ideas and create a morning time routine that works for you that you love! Let me know how it goes for you!

More Encouragement

For more on this topic, check out my morning time routine course or read Hal Elrod’s The Miracle Morning.

Change Your Morning, Change Your Life

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My Morning Time Routine

If there was one thing that has been my anchor over the years, it would be morning time routine. Through all the ups and downs of life, it has been my relationship with God that has helped me to weather the storms. The best way I have found to grow my relationship with God is through my morning time routine.

I really believe that if you learn to change your morning and create a morning time routine of praying, reading your Bible, and journaling, you can change your life. Matt and I are so passionate about it, we write books, journals, and devotionals for Manney Resources. We want to help others find the same hope and encouragement we get from spending time with God each day.

Getting Up Ahead of the Chaos

Mornings are hard. Complicated. Frustrating, Rushed. Frantic. I get it. That’s how our mornings used to be to, until we discovered that if we got up early enough to beat the chaos and spent some quiet time with God ahead of the craziness, it could and has changed our lives.

So every morning, long before the sun begins to rise for the day, you will find Matt and I at our dining room table with a candle lit, a cup of coffee (hot for him, iced for me), and our morning time baskets. Even on the darkest mornings, when I’m tired or discouraged, or feel like giving up, I know that if I can just get to the table and do my morning time routine, my spirit will change and so will my attitude.

30-to-THRIVE

Our morning time routine is so simple, yet it works every single day. Here’s what we do and now what we teach—we call it 30-to-THRIVE.

Spend ten minutes reading your Bible or a devotional.
Write in your journal for ten minutes. This includes writing down your prayer requests and anything you learned from your Bible reading or devotional for the day.
Read a book for ten minutes. I like to choose a Christian inspirational book that will further enhance my morning time experience.

That’s it. In just thirty minutes, you can find the hope and comfort you need and the strength to face your day. Will every day be something amazing, something that inspires you and lifts you up? Probably not. It’s like eating. Every meal you eat won’t be this amazing life-changing experience. In fact, you probably don’t remember what you had for dinner a week ago on Monday night. But that meal got you from where you were then until the next day and made it possible for you to get to today.

Start Today

That’s how your morning time routine is. It will help you to get through to the next day, and that’s what this blog is all about. Faithfully stepping one day at a time. I believe the best way you can do that is through a a morning time routine.

If you don’t have one, start one today. Start small. I have an easy course you can take for free with more details to help you get started, if you’re interested. Click the image below if you’re interested in that course.

Choose to just begin and meet with God every morning and watch how that changes the course of your day.

More Encouragement

If you’d like a free morning time guide, check out Manney Resources where you can get one for free to help you get started today.