 This is a continuation of "My Spiritual Practices," a blog series highlighting a variety of people through interviews about their spiritual life and practices. I love learning from other people, and in particular, learning how they live out their faith in daily life. Each person being interviewed is sharing an intimate look at their lives. For that, I am grateful. My hope is that these interviews will offer us a snapshot of how different people experience God in their lives, and that they might inspire and guide us in our own unique spiritual journeys. Jen SnyderJen Snyder is a wife to a great guy and mom to three crazy kids! When she is not taking care of her family, she is blogging over at Women Winning Online and helping women figure out what to do AFTER they start their blogs. Specifically how to get blog traffic and monetize their blogs. You can also find Jen hanging out with the ladies in her Facebook group, Women Winning Online.  How do you connect with God? What spiritual practices and rhythms do you have? I connect with God in the early mornings during my devotional time. I also am working on praying often throughout the day thanking God for things or asking for help on something. We also connect with God as a family at mealtimes and in prayer with our kids before bedtime. What daily or weekly spiritual practices are most important to you? My devotional every morning and going to church every week. The sermon and the worship music lifts me up every week! Describe the environment that helps you best connect with God. Quiet time where I have space for it to be just me and God. What tools or resources help you connect with God? My daily devotional Jesus Calling, and the Bible of course. Sometimes there are blog posts about people’s walks with Jesus or their stories that help me too. How have your spiritual practices changed over recent years? I have become much more aware of God and seeing Him truly as my Father that loves me and is on my side. I talk to Him more now. Before I was more going through the motions of praying before I went to bed. When I came to know Jesus more, I realized that I was giving Him my leftovers and I didn’t want to do that. So I have become more intentional about my relationship with God. On days when your schedule changes, are you able to adapt your spiritual practices to fit in with a different environment? Not as much as I would like to! My husband is really good at this and I am trying to learn from him. What people or relationships contribute most to your spiritual growth? My husband is by far and away the biggest contributor to my spiritual growth. From an educational standpoint he knows so much and is able to answer a lot of my questions. We also talk our relationship with God and pray together. Aside from my husband, I am also in a small group of women that meets twice a month. We discuss Jesus and the role He plays in our lives as women, mothers, and wives. What gets in the way of your spiritual growth? Not having the time to devote to learning like I want to. What do you do when you get spiritually stuck? I pray and I pray and I pray. I keep going through the motions and I pray. How do you connect with God through life transitions? I pray a lot. I ask Him for His wisdom and guidance on what to do and how He wants me to follow His will. Whenever I am not sure what to do I always start with prayer. What is one particular way you’ve experienced God recently? The other night I was praying before bed and feeling anxious and worried about our life in general. I simply heard “Have faith. It will all work out.” It brought me so much peace and continues to. When I worry I can think back to that moment. What bit of wisdom from your own spiritual journey do you want others to know? God is not a thing you have to do on your daily to-do list. God is a living entity and He loves you. It is never too late to get to know Him. He wants to be your Father and to take care of you. Let Him. If you enjoyed this post, check out these related posts: My Spiritual Practices: An Interview With Alan Fadling My Spiritual Practices: An Interview With Eddy Ekmekji My Spiritual Practices: An Interview With Cat Moore Want guidance and inspiration for your spiritual journey delivered to your inbox?
Sign up for my email newsletter Notes From Larissa.  Can I tell you a secret? I think we have that sort of rapport, don't we? Here's my secret: sometimes I feel lost and scared. In the last few weeks I have felt those things acutely. And yet I hear the whispers of Jesus saying to me, "Do not be afraid, for I am with you." I want so much to trust in Jesus' promise that he is with me, and that fear does not have a hold on me. So I am trying to hold onto Jesus. I am trying to receive his presence with me in my lostness. And I am trying to let him guide me. Here are the three things I am doing to hold to Jesus: 1. Love God and love people These are the anchors of the faith life with Jesus. Love God and love people. When I am exhausted or confused, the simplicity of these commands help me to stay the course with Jesus. In loving God and loving people, we can be sure that we are staying yoked to him. 2. Ask God for help I find it necessary to be asking for God's help on a daily basis these days. So I ask him questions, like, "How do you want me to spend my day today?" and "What do you want me to know right now?" The questions are simple and immediate. When I am lost, I am more desperate for a live, real-time conversation with God. Creating Listening Space is so important as we lean into God. 3. Self-care When we get caught up in stress, good antidotes are slowing down and paying attention to the basic needs of our body, soul, and mind. Without the practice of good self-care, we may find ourselves on the verge of burnout. So I am practicing self-care. Here's a simple list of 20 Self-Care Activities For Your Health and Well-Being. Jesus is with us. He is mighty. He calms the storms and will not forsake us. Let us hold to those truths today. What do you do when you feel a little lost? Please share in the comments. If you enjoyed this post, check out these related posts: 10 Practical Ideas For Your Spiritual Growth How to Create Space to Listen to the Voice of God 6 Simple Questions For Self-Reflection Want guidance and inspiration for your spiritual journey delivered to your inbox?
Sign up for my email newsletter Notes From Larissa.  Hey there, 2017! I welcome this new year with a lot of joy and anticipation. Have you spent time dreaming and planning for your year? I took a few weeks off from my regular work schedule, and enjoyed space to reflect on this past and coming year. As I think about this year, here are some of my goals and dreams:
In my reflections, I used a few questions to help me process and explore my goals and dreams. My guess is that those questions might be helpful to you. Feel free to use them as you reflect, journal, and pray. 1. What is your big goal or dream for this year? What big thing do you want to accomplish or achieve this year? What dream fuels passion and hope in you? Is there a project or transformation you want to bring to fruition this year? 2. If you had no limits or fears, what do you want to give yourself permission to do, explore, or make space for this year? There may be things you deeply want, but haven't yet given yourself permission to do. Honor yourself by giving yourself permission to live the life you want to live! Imagine a life without limits. What do you most deeply want to do this year? 3. What is God's invitation to you this year? Make space to listen to God as you think about this year. What are his hopes and intentions for you? Is there an invitation or promise he is giving you? Allow yourself the space to pay attention to the Spirit's voice and guidance. 4. How do you want to show up this year? What attitude and heart-qualities do you want as you enter into this year? Do you want to be compassionate, loving, brave, peace-filled, intentional, focused? You alone get to choose how you will enter today, this week, and this year. Decide how you want to show up. 5. What do you want more of this year? What do you want less of this year? What is life-giving to you? What activities, people, and things fuel your joy? What is life-draining? What things do you want to let go of and say goodbye to? 6. How do you want to live out your God-given purpose this year? You have a unique, God-given purpose. How do you want to live that out this year? What daily, weekly, and monthly habits will make the space you need to live out your purpose? I hope this exercise helps you pursue and live out your dreams and purpose for the new year. Let's focus on the most essential things, intentionally show up, and give make space for whatever God has for you this year. I pray that you would receive all that God has for you, and that you would live out your God-given calling in 2017. If you enjoyed this post, check out these related posts: 10 Spiritual Growth Resources to Launch Into the New Year 10 Practical Ideas For Your Spiritual Growth How to Create Space to Listen to the Voice of God Want guidance and inspiration for your spiritual journey delivered to your inbox?
Sign up for my email newsletter Notes From Larissa. |
WELCOMEHi, I'm Larissa. I am an artist and spiritual director on the island of O'ahu in Hawai'i.
SEARCH THE BLOGSUBSCRIBESign up for my email newsletter Notes From Larissa.
TOP POSTSCATEGORIES
All
ARCHIVES
March 2024
|