Faith as Small as a Mustard Seed

Mustard Seed
Mustard SeedMatthew 17:20 (NIV) – He replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”

The parable of the mustard seed is a biblical truth that was quite literally planted into my heart at a very young age. As a kid, I didn’t think much of it besides the fact that a small amount of faith could go a long way! But the older I have gotten, the deeper the roots of this parable have grown into my heart. I realized it’s not about how much faith I have; it’s about what I put my faith in.

A small amount of faith can accomplish great things. But only if that small amount of faith is placed in Him – a reliable soil. Just like mustard seeds need to be planted, our faith needs to be planted, as well. Lucky for us, Jesus is the most nurturing and life-giving soil there is.

I believe Jesus chose to use a mustard seed within this parable for many reasons. The first being that mustard seeds only need a little consistent water and sunlight each day to grow. When you think about it, Jesus refers to himself in scripture as our living water (John 7:38) and the light of the world (John 8:12). Coincidence? I think not!

The second being that a mustard seed is the smallest of seeds, yet the largest of garden plants. It shows us that even a small amount of faith can grow into something bigger than ourselves. It shows us what happens when we plant our faith in life-giving soil; we bloom.

So, I challenge you to plant your faith. Put your hope in the name of Jesus, because just like a mustard seed, you are allowed to start small and let God be big.

Mindset Through a Breakup

Breakup

Breakup

Breakups, what a fun thing to go through? I can confidently say some are easier than others. But, what I have learned is that having a healthy and holy mindset through a breakup is an essential part of healing and moving on!

I once had a dear friend say to me, “healing is not linear,” and it has stuck with me ever since. I love this quote for so many reasons, but the main reason being that I believe it speaks so much truth. Throughout a breakup process, there are highs and lows, peaks and valleys. Some days are easier than others, and that is a simple truth.

I didn’t realize my mindset played a huge role in how I viewed each peak and valley. I didn’t recognize my mindset was a choice. Each morning, I had the opportunity of waking up and choosing to be angry and disappointed or at peace and grateful. It was up to me to choose a healthy and holy mindset.

Six Things to Keep in Mind During a Breakup

Here are my six pieces of advice I wish I would have heard throughout my breakup process.

  1. Give Yourself Time: I used to get upset when people would say, ‘just give it time.’ Looking back, I can confidently say that time has been my biggest blessing.
  2. Surround yourself with good people: I am so thankful I was in college throughout my breakup because I had so many friends that I could lean on. God placed some pretty amazing and supportive people within my life when I needed them most.
  3. Focus on the good: Even though there will be hard days, try to find the good in each day. I went through my breakup during Lent. My Lenten promise was to write down five things I was thankful for every single day.
  4. Lean on God: God is the only person that knows me in the past, present, and future. Why would I not lean on him? Trust me, I know it can be difficult, but God has a plan that is so much bigger and better! So, let go and let God; trust his process.
  5. Journal: Almost every day since my breakup, I have created time within my schedule to journal. I look at this time as a “prayer.” I write down all of my triumphs, worries, and everything in between. Go ahead, give it a try!
  6. Feel your emotions: There is a difference between feeling your emotions and holding onto them. It’s okay to be upset and angry. Feeling that way is part of the healing process. But, to truly move you, you cannot hold on to that anger. Let your emotions come in, feel them, and let them go.

I may not have all the answers, but I hope my outlook and past experiences can help someone walking through a difficult season. I would encourage you to look at this time as a gift from God to focus on your relationship with Him. These are the six things I wish would have popped up on my Pinterest when I searched “how to get over a relationship.’

Remember, healing is not linear, and God always has a plan, even if you may not see it.

How This Works

How this works

So, you signed up for the online community or bought the journal. Now you might be wondering how this works. Lucky for you, I am here to give you the inside scoop on how to get the most out of your journal and your exclusive access to the Foundation course.

Just the Journal

First off, thank you for purchasing the journal. You’re going to love it! Foundation is a four-week devotional style journal, purposely written to start on a Sunday. Within each week, there is a day of preparation, five daily workshops, and a day of reflection. Every page is labeled with the day of the week it is meant to be completed. Don’t worry, there are further and more detailed instructions in the front of the journal! The great thing about the journal is that it can be completed on your own time and at your own pace, but it works best when it is used as instructed.

The Course

If you purchased the online Foundation course, you will start on May 2nd with the rest of the participants. You have the option of receiving your online foundation course through a private Facebook group or an account at www.ignitebethelight.com. Don’t worry, the same content will be displayed in each place so you can use either! If you would like to receive the online course through the Facebook group, we will personally invite you to join! If you would like to receive the exclusive content through our Ignite website, log in to your account on our website and hover over “Courses” at the top of the page, select “Foundation” and choose “Foundation: Week One”.

As a participant of the private online course, you will receive daily content that follows the schedule of the journal every morning at 12:00 AM. Check it out whenever it works for you! There will be blogs, podcasts, daily Bible verses, quotes, discussion videos from the gals at Ignite and so much more! These perks will allow you to dig deeper into the topic of the day and complete the journal with a loving and encouraging community. Plus, you have the gals at Ignite leading you along the way.

Don’t forget, your course starts MAY 2, 2021. We are so excited that you are joining us on this beautiful opportunity to grow in faith, passion, and purpose.

If you have any questions about the journal or how the course works, feel free to send us a message and we will get back to you as soon as possible!

How the Weeks Connect

Weeks Connect

Over the last few blog posts, we identified why faith, mindset, intention, and purpose were important. But, we never singled out what their connection is and why these topics relate to you.

Faith

Week one of the Foundation course is all about building a strong foundation in your life that is rooted in faith. Once you have a strong foundation in faith, everything you do will then be done in faith. That leads us to week two.

Mindset

A foundation of faith within your life allows you to develop a healthy and holy mindset. It allows you to remove the doubt and fear that roams in your head and allows you to become confident in who God created you to be. When your mindset changes, your actions and habits begin to change as well. Which brings us to week three.

Intention

A healthy and holy mindset will guide you in establishing an intentional lifestyle. It will allow you to be mindful of your daily habits and what you consume. This kind of mindset empowers you to be present in the moment and create genuine friendships that do nothing but encourage you to walk in faith. Which takes us to the fourth and final week.

Purpose

An intentional lifestyle will allow you to identify your God-given talents, walk humbly, redefine purpose and pinpoint the legacy you wish to leave. To put it simply these four topics need to have a strong connection. A foundation in faith develops a healthy mindset, which then helps you to create an intentional lifestyle that allows you to live a life of purpose.

Here at Ignite, we believe God has created you on purpose, with a purpose. He has given each of you a unique set of gifts and has placed passions in your heart. We believe you have something to offer to this world and that is why we invite you to join us as we take on our BRAND-NEW Foundation Course together.

Why Purpose?

Purpose

What exactly is purpose? Is it my career? My calling? My success? How and where do I find it?

A lot of us also ask ourselves the question, ‘What is my purpose?’ I will admit, I have asked myself this question more times than I can count as I’m sure many of us have. I don’t think there is anything wrong with asking this question, but it becomes a problem when the question of ‘What is my purpose’ turns into ‘I don’t have a purpose.’

It is Not All About Success

We live in a world that loves to share success stories. Which makes it hard not to compare ourselves! This girl is getting her master’s, that gal launched a business, this lady went to Aruba and so on. We get so caught up in this comparison battle that it can consume us.

We are constantly being fed society’s definition of purpose. And as a result, it makes us feel as if we don’t have one. I want people to know that purpose is so much more than money or accolades. It is so much more than being successful or fitting in. Here at Ignite, we believe that God has given everyone a unique purpose, on purpose.

Redefining Your Purpose

So, I invite you to join the gals at Ignite as we take on the BRAND-NEW Foundation Course together. A four-week journey focused on building a faith-based foundation, developing a healthy and holy mindset, establishing an intentional lifestyle, and redefining your purpose as a child of God.

Week Four of Foundation will help you discover what is holding you back from walking in your purpose. This is your invitation to identify your passions and God-given talents and pinpoint the legacy you desire to leave. Join us as we take on this new course together, in community.

Why Intention?

Inention

IntentionHave you ever taken a moment to stop and think about intentionality? Further yet, what an intentional lifestyle looks like?

An intentional lifestyle means living according to your values and beliefs. Many of us have strong values but what we struggle with is creating a lifestyle that truly encompasses them.

Many of us are so caught up in our daily routines. We wake up, check our phones, go about life, talk a little drama, come home, scroll some more, go to bed, and repeat it all the next morning. We struggle to be present and live in the moment. And we feel the need to look perfect on social media and share every ounce of our lives with strangers. I hate to say it, but this is not an intentional lifestyle.

An intentional lifestyle has become the farthest thing from the social norm, which is a shame! Not only does an intentional lifestyle encourage you, it allows you to be mindful of your daily habits, what you consume, and your motives.

So, I invite you to join the gals at Ignite as we take on the BRAND-NEW Foundation Course together. A four-week journey focused on building a faith-based foundation, developing a healthy and holy mindset, establishing an intentional lifestyle, and redefining your purpose as a child of God. Week three of Foundation will make you really think about your habits. And it will help you identify changes that need to be made and inspire you to truly live by your values and beliefs.

This is your invitation to kick bad habits to the curb, be present in your day-to-day, and create a community of encouraging relationships around you. Join us as we take on this new course together, in community.

Why Mindset?

Mindset

The word mindset is dMindsetefined as a mental attitude or inclination. As humans, we have a large variety of different mindsets. Some days we have a greedy mindset, other days we have a giving mindset. Sometimes we are negative, other times we are positive. The list goes on and on because mindsets are never-ending and ever-changing.

But the thing we often forget is that our mindset is a choice. Every morning, we have the opportunity to decide if we want to wake up happy or wake up grumpy. We have the opportunity to decide if we want to be grateful or jealous.

Why Does our Mindset Matter?

The mindsets we choose daily will determine what roads we go down. Certain mindsets will lead us down paths of doubt and fear. And they will leave us feeling unloved and unworthy of our purpose. Other mindsets will lead us down roads of hope and encouragement. And those will leave us feeling loved, worthy, and known.

This is why taking the time to develop and chose healthy mindsets rooted in faith is so important.

Here at Ignite, we believe God has given everyone a unique set of gifts and a purpose in life. Developing a healthy and holy mindset will allow you to be one step closer to walking in that purpose. So, I invite you to join the gals at Ignite as we take on the BRAND-NEW Foundation course together. This four-week journey focuses on building a faith-based foundation, developing a healthy and holy mindset, establishing an intentional lifestyle, and redefining your purpose as a child of God.

So, this is your invitation to develop a fearless, confident, and worthy mindset in who God created you to be. Join us as we take on this new course together, in community.

ICYMI: Learn more about how our Foundation journal and course are structured and how they are sure to impact your life in a way you never imagined.

Why Faith?

why faith - reading

When you think about it, faith is required for more things than just God. Right? You need it before you get on a plane or even leave the house each morning. It is required in your relationships with other people, as well. To put it simply, without faith, you would never be able to believe that things will turn out for you.

And it is just as important as the air you breathe. While the oxygen in the air nourishes your body, faith nourishes your heart and soul. It is the fundamental foundation of our existence (Wanderlust Worker).

Why is it an Essential Part of Your Foundation?

Week one of the Foundation Course is centered around faith for so many reasons, but the primary reason being that it moves and allows you to discover your mission in life. It is the guiding light that pushes you towards your purpose!

Life is difficult and lonely at times. We all face trials, setbacks, challenges, and hardships. But the answer to those things is faith. The answer is Jesus. With faith, you can get through any situation because you trust in Him and his desire for you. You are filled with glorious joy and receive salvation for your soul (1 Peter 1: 8-9).

Creating a foundation in your life that is rooted in faith allows everything you do to be done through faith. It is amazing what faith can do within your life if you let it. So, I invite you to join the gals at Ignite as we take on the BRAND-NEW Foundation Course together. A four-week journey focused on building a faith-based foundation, developing a healthy and holy mindset, establishing an intentional lifestyle, and redefining your purpose as a child of God.

This is your invitation to allow faith to transform your life. Join us as we take on this new course together, in community. Pre-order your journal now and sign up for our Foundation course to receive $5 off until March 29!

We Can Relate!

we can relate

we can relateDo you ever feel as though you are the only one who struggles with comparison? Like you’re the only one who doesn’t have life figured out? Do you feel pressure to not only have the best but to be the best? If so, trust me, we can all relate!

Yup, I am right there with you.

We live in a world that loves to show off. We post photos of our home, kids, vacations, dinners, cars, family outings, and friendly gatherings. To be honest, it is exhausting! I cannot tell you how many times I have felt as if I need to do more or be more. One minute I will see a girl crushing that “entrepreneurship” lifestyle, and the next minute I will see a gal being a rockstar mom and immediately begin to question my purpose in life. So the more I scroll and compare, the more I begin to doubt and question myself.

Am I supposed to go down this path of life or that one? Do I need to do what she is doing? I cannot do that! Why is she so much better than me? Wait, how is everyone so put together? No, seriously, how does she look like that? What the heck am I doing?

I think it is safe to say WE CAN ALL RELATE. We have all doubted, compared, and talked down to ourselves. We have all felt pressure to keep with society or fit into its mold. Women constantly feel the pressure to be the best friend, gal, wife, mom, or grandma. We have all felt unworthy, unloved, and alone. Comparison can be ugly.

So How Does Ignite Play Into This?
Ignite: Be the Light is a community that focuses on faith-based personal development.

Why? You may ask. Because we believe that God has given each and every one of you a unique set of gifts and a calling that He wants you to ignite.

Through Ignite, we will not only help you overcome the comparison mind games, we will inspire you to walk boldly and confidently in who God created you to be. We will encourage you to run the race that He has set before you at your own speed, with your own gifts.

Ignite is not “just” a brand. It is a community filled with people who will lead, motivate, and challenge you to be the best, wholesome, and genuine version of yourself.

Here at Ignite, we can relate because none of us are perfect, and none of us have life completely figured out. But we believe you do not have to have life figured out in order to share joy, truth, and light in this world (1 Timothy 4:12). You have to have faith.

Our brand-new Foundation course is a four-week journey that allows you to build a faith-based foundation, develop a healthy and holy mindset, establish an intentional lifestyle, and redefine your purpose as a child of God.

Join us as we take on this new course together, in community. Pre-order your journal now and sign up for our Foundation course to receive $5 off until March 29!

 

What is the Foundation Course?

what is foundation

what is foundationWhen I was a kid, I sang a song in Sunday school about a wise man who built his house on a rock and a foolish man who built his house on the sand. The song explains that when the rain came, the house on the rock stood firm and the house on the sand washed away. So as a five-year-old, the only thing I liked about this song was the fact there were hand motions that went along with the words. Now, as an adult, I can appreciate the message of this song and realize how important a foundation truly is!

The word foundation is defined in the dictionary as the lowest load-bearing part of a building, typically below ground level. So, a foundation is essentially responsible for holding up and holding together the structure above it. And too often, we assume homes and buildings are the only things that need a strong foundation. In reality, we too need a strong foundation within our lives. We need something to hold us up and hold us together through our storms.

So for that very reason, we created the Foundation course to kick off Ignite: Be the Light program series.

What Does the Foundation Course Look Like?

Foundation is part one of a three program series. It is a four-week course that allows you to build a faith-based foundation, develop a healthy and holy mindset, establish an intentional lifestyle, and redefine your purpose as a child of God. In this course, you will be guided in Scripture, bible study, real and relatable stories, question prompts, and challenges that are sure to leave you eager to ignite a life in purpose.

Ignite: Be the Light is a community that focuses on igniting a flame of faith from within and being a light where God calls you to shine. Here at Ignite, we encourage you to walk in faith, purpose, and passion to live the life that He has called you to live.

Now we invite you to join us on this journey. To walk humbly and boldly in spirit and truth. This is your opportunity to embark on a purposeful life of love that God has created for you. Join us as we dive into this four-week course together, in community.

How can I join?

There are two ways to participate in our Foundation course.

Option #1: BECOME AN IGNITE MEMBER

If you thrive in community and want accountability, Ignite’s Members-only access to the Foundation Course is just for you. Member’s only access includes:

Hard-Bound Foundation Journal
Private Facebook Community
Private Access to the Ignite website
Members-Only Blogs to Dig-Deeper
“Let’s Talk” Videos with the gals at Ignite, exclusive to members
Members-Only Weekly Podcasts
Daily Inspiration

Option #2: SELF-MOTIVATOR

If you’re a self-motivator and prefer to navigate this journey on your own, we encourage you to grab a journal here and get started. This journal costs $19.95 and is a powerful tool that will ignite your life!

The journals will be shipped directly to your home, just in time for the course launch day, May 2, 2021. If you preorder NOW, member-only access will be $39.95. This discount is only available until March 29, 2021. You don’t want to miss it!

ICYMI: Check out our blog to read about our inspiration for Ignite and how the Foundation journal and course came about!