Getting Serious With God & Dayspring Good Things Teacup & Tote Review

Have you been slacking in your time with God?  I {honestly} totally HAVE!! My excuse: homemaking responsibilities, homeschooling, the boys, a business to help run, a ministry I serve in, the list can keep going! On and off I would have time with the Lord, without interruption, but again I wouldn't get up! Back in February, during a homeschooling conference, one of the speakers talked about her time with the Lord.  Something she had to do intentionally, due to the business of life, she spoke about a special box she had that helped her.

I have had this picture of a special box in the back of my head since then and kept telling myself that I have to go out and get a box.  So obviously that did not happen!  But what did happen was a box came to my door with this! Dayspring Good Things Collection Tote and Teacup!

As soon as I opened it, I knew this was my "box"!  I know it's not a box but I know exactly what I was going to use it for.  I am getting SERIOUS with my Lord.

Here is how I am getting serious with God:

1. I am intentionally waking up early, before everyone in my home.  I have found and seen the difference it makes to go before the Lord and have some time to get in the Word, pray and be encouraged by Him.  If you struggle getting up early, but want to, my secret is, I pray to God the night before (actually beg Him) to wake me up early because I want to spend time with Him ... and He wakes me up (YES! I do believe He wakes me up!) - the time: 5:00am ( I know early! but I have one hour for prayer and time in the Word, reading my books, and then laundry starting my day) - 8:00am
2. With getting up early - I now am going to bed early!  NO MORE COMPUTER in the wee hours of the morning... this is a good thing... time with my husband, a good nights rest and time with the Lord bright and early and a JOY filled day!

The benefits:

1. Draw closer to Him
2. Knowledge in His Word
3. Getting serious with God will also benefit in my marriage.  My husband said to me the other morning,  I love to see you before I leave the house.  It is nice to share the early morning with him with no distractions, even if it is for 10 minutes. And when he comes home, I can greet him with love!
4. Take away my frustrations!
5. I will be so encouraged by the Lord that I know my children will see a difference in my attitude!
6. I will be spiritually, emotionally and mentally filled with the Word and God's presence that it will  over flow in my home, marriage, children, our school, our business, our ministry... even my blog!
7. I will have JOY filled DAYS!!

The Plan:
I am taking the same idea for the speaker and making it suitable for me.  My tote will contain everything that I need to help me to draw closer to God.  Every morning I will grab my tote and my cup of ? and to my special meeting place with the Lord.

Here is what is going in the tote:

1. My Bible
2. A small binder with sections
1. Notes from sermons that I have listened to
2. Letters to God/ Journal 
3. Scripture that I want to reflect more on in areas that I feel I am struggling - Scripture memorization
3. Pen, marker, pencil, pencil crayons
4. MOM books I recently purchased/ given to me
1. Seasons of a Mother's Heart by Sally Clarkson
2. The Mission of Motherhood by Sally Clarkson
3. The Ministry of Motherhood by Sally Clarkson
4. Education the Wholehearted Child by Clay and Sally Clarkson
5. Chasing after God and the Kids too by Cheryl R. Carter
5. I will also have my Dayspring encouragement cards that I get monthly.  I want to be able to send a card to whomever God lays on my heart
6. My address book, that way I don't need to get up and go into my office area - IN THE BASEMENT!

If my husband were writing, he would tell you that I am a "bag lady"!  He would tell you that I have a bag for everything in my life!  IT'S TRUE!  So, to no surprise to him, I would have a "bag"/ tote to carry all my "utensils" to draw closer to God! The tote says, "I will bless the Lord." Psalm 103:2 and that is exactly what I am and want to do.  I want to bless Him with my time ~ I know I will be extremely blessed! If you are wondering if it can hold all of these items - YES! it does! It is great!

Oh and the teacup, I love!  I don't drink coffee, well really I have never tasted it, so I have never had my own cup for anything!  NOW I do, I can sip in my cup of tea or hot cocoa every morning!  It says "He will fill my life with good things!" ~ AMEN!

I hope this encourages you and if you find your self in my shoes and want to get serious, find yourself a beautiful tote and put everything you need in it to draw closer to Him!  I will give you updates on how it's going for me!

For His Glory and By His Grace,
Monica

I was given this tote and teacup from the Dayspring (in)spired line of products in exchange for a review. Although I was given a free product, all opinions are all my own. This disclosure is in accordance to the FTC guidelines. 
I am a Dayspring Affiliate. Links are Affiliate Links.