Lifestyle - Monica Ritchie

Cut Back

May 3, 2020 by Monica Ritchie

It’s spring here in Minnesota, which means that we’re all gardening! Part of preparing our landscaping is to cut back the previous years growth. We do this so that the plant can thrive in the new season. We cut the plant back to just the essentials. Recently, there has been an excessive amount of cut back in our own lives. The economy, jobs, our health and our social lives. It has been cut back, down to the essentials. Now, there is talk of things opening back up and pressing restart on it all has God’s word’s ringing in my ears. …

How to read the Bible with your kids

May 3, 2020 by Monica Ritchie

Have you ever wondered how to read the bible with your kids? You want to do it, but just aren’t sure how or where to start? Here a few simple tips on how to read the Bible with your kids! First, know this; you don’t have to be perfect! You don’t have to know all the answers to do this! My motto is this “do the best you can, when you can!” and that applies here too! Also, if you feel like your kiddo isn’t paying attention or is playing with a toy or is distracted during this, don’t worry! …

Do You Trust Me?

April 3, 2020 by Monica Ritchie

The other week we had one of our first thunderstorms of the spring. I know so many people love the thunder and rain. The soothing sounds of rain beating outside your window typically helps people to fall asleep and then sleep soundly. Not for my girl, no. My youngest is terrified of thunderstorms. She hears the rain; she sees the flashes of lightning outside the window and her shoulders tense and her eyebrows furrow as she braces herself for the shudder of thunder that’s sure to follow each flash. I was doing my best to soothe and calm her, which …

Cultivate

March 2, 2020 by Monica Ritchie

Every year I choose a word to focus on, you can read about the process of how I go about this HERE. However, for 2020 I felt God place not just a word, but two scripture verses and one spiritual practice on my heart. The word I felt God land on my heart was the word cultivate. Typically, I would do a word study, but the Bible doesn’t use the word “cultivate” like we would. Instead, I took the opportunity to look at what God may be asking me to cultivate around, as well as within myself. Scripture Verses + Spiritual …

In a world that increasingly values numbers; know that never determines your worth.

February 27, 2020 by Monica Ritchie

It’s not a matter of IF you’ll be tempted, it’s more a matter of WHEN. When that happens, how will you respond? In Matthew 4 before Jesus begins his earthly ministry, we see Jesus going out into the desert. It is here that he has fasted for 40 days and 40 nights. He is hungry. The tempter (ie Satan, the devil, the evil one) comes to him and tempts him. He says “turn these stones into bread” to that Jesus answers “It is written: Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from God.” Jesus, …

Blooming in God’s Timing

February 7, 2020 by Monica Ritchie

I’ve been saying “no” to a lot of opportunities lately. A lot of really great opportunities. I have also been hearing “no” or “not yet” on a lot as well. That feels hard, it feels like rejection. It feels stagnant in an ever evolving space. But God is reminding me, much like I cannot force open the petals of my peonies to bloom, I cannot force open His plans or His timing for me. ‘Bloom where you’re planted’ is a popular mantra and typically, I’m not one to gravitate towards such things, however, this one, I’m digging into. I’m called …

Rest

January 23, 2020 by Monica Ritchie

Do you trust God enough to rest? I’m not just talking about in this “busy season” either. But, even outside of your busy season – do you trust God enough to rest? God has been showing me these past few months just how important rest is, and really, it’s an act of worship to rest. To press the pause button on “the hustle” and “grind” and trust God enough to take what you can do by your own human efforts and multiply it by His hands. So truly, be honest, what’s your rest life like? Mine hasn’t been the greatest …

Start Before You’re Ready

January 19, 2020 by Monica Ritchie

“Start before you’re ready” that’s what I had written on a post it note and stuck on my desk before I started blogging. Because if I had waiting until I was ready, I’d never do it. I have heard so much about how people want to do this or that, follow their dreams and do “the thing” but they’re just too afraid, they’re just not sure. I get it, I’ve been there too, but the only way to know, the only way to do it, is to start! Even before you’re ready! The reality is, is that you’re going to …

7 Days of praying for your Child

June 25, 2019 by Monica Ritchie

While there are so many areas of our children’s life we could and should be praying for and over, here is a list to get you started. One prayer for each day of the week and over time you can begin to shift and add more specific prayers to the needs of your child. 1.Seek First the Kingdom of God : The first Commandment God gives to His people is to place no other God’s before Him. God asks the same of us today. That we keep Him first in our hearts. I pray these scriptures over my child in hopes …