The Hello Mornings Blog

This post is by Kristee Ravan. 

Be kind. Ephesians 4:32

God loves a cheerful giver. 2 Corinthians 9:7

God is love. 1 John 4:8

My mother taught preschool Sunday School for much of my childhood and for much of that time, my sister and I helped her cut out Bible verse posters or bookmarks, or take-home shapes (a star or a leaf or a lightbulb) The verse would be written in her left-handed handwriting, so the kids could study the verse at home.

Our home was filled with verses written on 3 by ...

This post is by Tami Rodriguez.

Habits are supposed to make life easier, but establishing and keeping habits can be really hard sometimes.  I often “surf” the internet (do people still say that?) for motivation or some secret key to making life easier. I’ve yet to find the magic. If you have please let me know! I have however found a few things to consider when I feel like my habits are failing me. They help me be logical, purposeful, but also to have some grace for myself.

We’ll start with th...

This post is by Patty Lewis.

Songs, books and poems have been written echoing the sentiment of how hard habits are to break.  Habits are also hard to make. 

As I’m writing this, I’m considering some content our family has been consuming for quite some time and how it may not be healthy in the amounts we are taking it in.  I’ve been wondering about it for a while.  This week, being the week before Easter, I’m considering significantly lessening how much of it I voluntarily choose to turn on for...

This post is by Sarah Johnson.

I really didn’t want one more person telling me my life would be so much better if I rose an hour and a half or more before my kids to fit in prayer, Bible study, other reading, exercise, a shower, et cetera, et cetera. 

Would it be glorious to get all that done first thing and with no children calling my name every five minutes? Yes! But if I wanted to get up an hour and a half before my kids, I would have to wake up somewhere between 3:30 and 4:30.

A.M.

No, t...

This post is by Deb Alexander.

I love a routine.  I’m a planner by nature, and years ago I created a morning routine that works well for me.  The specifics have changed a bit over the years, of course, but overall the rhythm has remained the same.  So imagine my surprise, friend, when this routine-loving girl felt a nudge from the Holy Spirit to shake up her morning routine.

Let me back up.

Every morning, for the past 20 or so years, my husband and I sit across from each other at our breakfas...

This post is by Jennifer Dixon.

What if you never felt thirsty again? Did you know that "feeling thirsty" is the first sign of dehydration?  One of my favorite stories in the Bible is about being thirsty and having that thirst quenched.

In John 4, Jesus stopped at a well and had an interesting conversation with a Samaritan woman. He asked her for a drink of water and she began making excuses. Then He told her that He could give her living water. And with this water, she would never thirst agai...

This post is by Shaina Weisgerber.

If you hear the words nutrition and hydration and wince, you are not alone. It is not easy to address these parts of our health journey at times. I want to tell you now that you are not alone and I am here to help assure you that there are things you can do today to help you make better choices! 

Nutrition was something that did not come naturally to my household growing up. Money was tight and so the grocery cart consisted of foods that were shelf stable, ea...

This post is by Jen Shultz.

It is the time of year where so many of us are emerging from our winter hiding and hibernations. I do not know about you, friend, but I find such hope as we move toward days where the flowers reach for the sun and birds become our background melody. I also find that as the weather warms, so does my attitude and the way I find myself caring for me. As we look for those later sunsets and busier days, I am reminded that like everything around us, we need fuel to bloom a...

As I stepped carefully out of the car in front of the church, I noticed it was beginning to rain. I remember thinking it was a good thing I wasn’t superstitious—because today was our wedding day.

     “Love is patient, love is kind.”

Father Mike smiled as he began his homily with these words from 1 Corinthians 13. He was my childhood pastor and a dear family friend, and he graciously agreed to travel to upstate New York to officiate our wedding. Even though I had only attended the small New En...

This post is by Patty Lewis.

Since our theme is Bible study this month, I’ve pondered how to write on the topic. I decided to ask  women who are special and close to me—that I have actually studied God’s Word with—some specific questions about studying the Bible. 

Some pointers from my heart:

Be flexible with yourself and the tools you use to study God’s Word. Be willing to allow yourself to modify the study tools you are using in order to work with what you enjoy and your schedule. 

Be grac...

This post is by Tami Rodriguez.

This winter I have started a new morning routine I’m loving. I am getting into the Word much earlier than usual and have found two things I want to share that have really helped me be consistent and enjoy my Bible Time more.  

The first step of my new morning routine will seem completely…WRONG! I check my phone- Gasp!! I’ve carried a great deal of guilt for checking my phone right away because, well, everyone says that’s the worst thing you can do when you wa...

This post is by Lindsey Bell.

“I want to study the Bible, but I just don’t have time.” Have you ever said this (or thought it quietly to yourself)? 

Listen, I get it.

Between work, kids, errands, and everything else demanding our attention, finding a quiet moment to sit down with an open Bible can feel…impossible.

But what if we’ve overcomplicated it?

What if Bible study doesn’t have to mean sitting for an hour with a commentary and a journal full of deep theological insights? (not that ...