Quiet Time Workshop - Raleigh

May 22, 2018 Laura Holowecki

you can't run on an empty cup

And the world will tell you to fill it up with ALL. THE. THINGS. But here's the catch - they're all temporary and fleeting if your daily cup isn't filled with what matters most, God's Word. It's the only thing that is constant yesterday, today and tomorrow and the foundation from where we want to live. We had fifteen ladies join us at our first ever quiet time workshop. We gathered, let down walls, talked everyday hurdles and exhausting to do list's to make spending time with God a priority. We have an open table and would love for you to join us at our next one!

Our hope is to host a workshop each month, where ladies from all over can gather and go deeper! Our Summer 2018 series will be in Raleigh area shops. If you are local to us here, we so hope you will join us!

June 21 - The Flourish Market, Raleigh
July 19 - Thanks A Latte, Holly Springs

We couldn't help but give all the praise hands to the ladies who helped make the night happen:

PHOTOGRAPHY - Sara Coffin
LOCATION - Designed for Joy
FOOD - Carroll's Kitchen
CALLIGRAPHY - All She Wrote Notes
PRETTY PIECES - Greenhouse Picker Sisters
COOKIES - Southern Sugar Bakery
CUPCAKES - Dollys Cake Pops

HOLY WEEK

March 23, 2018 Laura Holowecki

Let's walk through Holy week together! Starting on Palm Sunday and ending with Easter - follow Jesus’ journey through scripture and pictures from my (Mary) 2015 Israel trip! I hope this helps prepare your heart for the Easter week and scripture turns from black & white to color.

March 25 - Palm Sunday

Jesus rode from Bethany on a donkey into the city of Jerusalem while the crowds yelled Hosanna, meaning SAVE and laid out palm branches in his path.

Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!
-Mark 11:9

*View from Bethany of Jerusalem where Jesus began his journey into the holy city.*

March 26 - Holy Monday

Jesus cleared the temple upon His arrival into Jerusalem. He was upset because the merchants were taking advantage of the poor.

And as he taught them, he said, Is it not written: My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations? But you have made it a den of robbers.
-Mark 11:17

March 27 - Holy Tuesday

On this day, the temple leaders challenged Jesus. Questioning him - what commandment was the most important of all?!

Jesus answered "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these."
-Mark 12:29-31

March 28 - Silent Wednesday

Though the Bible doesn't speak of what the Lord did on this day, many speculate that after two tiring days in Jerusalem, Jesus spent the day resting with his disciples in Bethany.

Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away
-Mark 13:31

March 29 - Maundy Thursday

Upper Room - The Last Supper

This is the night before Jesus' death, the night of the Last Supper - a Passover meal Jesus shared with His disciples. Jesus broke bread and offered wine - He used these objects to represent His body and blood on the cross. Jesus death on the cross was the final sacrifice for our sins, and His blood sealed the new agreement between God and us. Now all of us can come to God through Jesus, in full confidence that God will hear us and save us from our sins.

While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take it; this is my body.” Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, and they all drank from it. “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many,” he said to them.
-Mark 14:22-24

The Upper Room where the Last Supper was held.

Garden of Gethsemane after dinner

Jesus and His disciples walked to the Garden of Gethsemane after dinner. Jesus become very troubled about what was to come - He went off and prayed if it was possible for this hour to pass Him by.

Abba, Father,” he said, “everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.
-Mark 14:36

Watching on as Lysa Terkeurst teaches in the Garden of Gethsemane - a garden full of beautiful olive trees.

March 30 - Good Friday

Via Dolorosa

On Good Friday, Pilate led a mock trial which resulted in Jesus death sentence: Crucifixion on a cross.

Crucifixion

The greatest love story ever written - the death of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, for US!

With a loud cry, Jesus breathed his last.
-Mark 15:37

It is Finished
-John 19:30

Burial

Jesus was taken down from the cross and laid on a stone before his body was prepared for burial. He was then placed in a tomb sealed with a stone since it was the Sabbath.

So Joseph bought some linen cloth, took down the body, wrapped it in the linen, and placed it in a tomb cut out of rock. Then he rolled a stone against the entrance of the tomb.
-Mark 15:46

The Stone of Atonement - where Jesus body was laid after being removed from the cross.

March 31 - Holy Saturday

It is the Jewish Sabbath and we wait for Sunday.

April 1 - Resurrection Sunday

Early Sunday morning they went to the tomb and discovered the large stone which was covering the tomb rolled away. When an angel appeared announcing that Jesus had risen from the dead - just as He said He would! The resurrection of Jesus means God has accepted the Savior’s sacrifice and we are now forgiven of all sins. If Jesus is still in the grave, we are still in our sins and separated from a relationship with God. But because He rose - we can live forgiven and free!

Standing at the entrance of the empty tomb.

He has risen! He is not here.
-Mark 16:6

HAPPY EASTER FRIENDS!

Prayer

February 28, 2018 Laura Holowecki

We believe in the power of prayer.
we serve a BIG God WHO hears BIG prayers!

Looking at the month ahead, we are focusing our hearts on prayer. Prayer is a conversation between you and God. Nothing buttoned up, no mask on, no perfect words – a come as you are intimate chat. I often vision myself in my coziest pajamas sitting at the feet of God. Fully loved and fully known. I vision my prayer time as an unpacking party for me and a packing party for God. I unpack my heart to Him - then He packs up all the scattered pieces, so delicately, and takes them with Him. All of them. The big and small. He cares and wants to be in every detail of our life. From our getting up to our going to bed. From the outfit we pick out to the dinner we make. He deeply desires to walk through life with us, hand in hand, and that begins with conversation through prayer.

I begin my unpacking - maybe I’ve woken up with a horrible attitude or a funk that I cannot shake. Or an ungrateful, selfish heart. Maybe a heart that doesn’t even think or want to get through the day. There are also unpacking days that include my dad having cancer, divorce, my grandmother’s death, bills I cannot pay, unimaginable betrayal, broken relationships, family struggles, heartbreaking hurts that I’ve caused, child struggling with thoughts of suicide, alcohol or pills I didn’t say no to again, an identity that is so wrapped up in what other people think - I’m left prisoner in my own skin. Nothing is too small, too big, too silly, too shameful for the reach of God’s loving arms. And if we think it is – we are minimizing who God is.

My unpacking party never looks the same, but the packing party is always the same. God – constant and never changing. Always there. Deeply faithful. I imagine Him as I unpack my heart, picking up the fragile pieces and carefully placing them in His suitcase one by one. My safe place. Always with love, always with arms wide open, always with the most tender of care. And the best thing. He zips up the suitcase and carries it with Him. Never wanting me to pick it up again.

God delights in answering our prayers. He may be silent at times and He might not answer in the way we want it to be answered, but know one thing - He always answers them in the best way. Now that we’ve unpacked, we can go through our days much lighter. We don’t have to carry the burdens of our heart, our personal suitcase, because He does.

Now let’s start your unpacking! We’ve created a circles method to help guide your daily prayer life. Imagine a target – the inner most circle are the people you hold closest, your hardest struggles, the most intimate layer of your heart. Pray through and unpack these with God on Monday. Now go outwards on the target to the next circle. This circle might include extended family, private worries, you name it. No one’s suitcase is the same. Pray and unpack this with God on Tuesday. Continue outward on the target and use each circle and corresponding day to pray through your heart. Enjoy your unpacking party with God! He is ready and waiting for you sweet friend!

Call to me and I will answer you.
Jeremiah 33:3

The Journal of Intentional Living prayer section is designed using our prayer circles method. Take a peek in the journal and watch an explanation via the link below.

Prayer

Be Mine, Valentine!

February 13, 2018 Laura Holowecki

What a sweet day filled with LOVE

Happy Valentines day sweet friends! You are so loved by a God so much bigger than anyone or anything. I hope, you know that more then ever.

Enjoy these Valentines with all the ones you love!
Download or Screenshot these sweet cards to share with your gals & guy!

See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!
1 John 3:1

you can't run on an empty cup