Faith is so personal that I hesitate to recommend the tools that help me connect with the Lord. There are different methods, but whatever we choose we MUST NOT neglect immersing ourselves in the Word of God. My pastor recently spoke on hearing the voice of God and how the voice of God sounds just like the Bible. If you want to grow in hearing God’s voice, then be in His Word. May we be a generation that seeks Him first. That said, here are a few key things in my life that have helped me in my faith walk over the years:

• Bible – NIV Key Word Study Bible (Bible and amazing study tools all in one).
• Journal – any cute, small, divided spiral notebook from Walmart that I use to take notes at church and in personal study time.
• Pens – fine point Sharpie in assorted colors (they don’t bleed through!) I underline and jot down notes in my Bible.  My husband cherishes his father’s Bible that is full of handwritten notes.
• Bible Reading Plan – I pick a reading plan that takes me through the Bible in a year.  The YouVersion Bible app has many to choose from.  I have grown to love the Old Testament just as much as the New Testament.  The gospel message of love and redemption is clear from Genesis through Revelation!
• Music – it is amazing how worship music can shift the atmosphere.  Take it from me – try it out when you need an attitude adjustment!
• Committed and plugged into a local church that teaches from the full counsel of the Word of God.  We must not give up meeting together (Hebrews 10:24-25). Relationship and accountability are key to growth.
• Bible study within community.  Remaining active in Bible study over the years has helped me grow in my love for God’s Word and in my love for others.  Getting together in a small group with the Bible open is life-changing.
• Personal prayer, prayer groups, and prayer walks with my dog Kit. Prayer is powerful and effective (James 5:16)! I have wrestled through days when my prayers seem like a broken record, but I have also witnessed the Lord move in mighty ways through prayer. What an absolute joy and honor it is to know the Lord hears us when we call out to Him. We can trust He is at work and answering prayer even when it looks different than we imagined. He alone knows ALL.

Growing up in an Air Force family, we moved every couple of years. Home was wherever my family and our household goods were at the time. Family always felt secure to me even though our home base changed often. For the last 38 years, I’ve stayed in the same town but still feel the same – home is wherever my family is! Now that my husband and I are “empty-nesters”, anytime we are all under the same roof is a joy for me.

These are a few favorite things I like to do with my family:

My Husband: spending ordinary time together, discussing our faith, evening walks, checking in throughout the day, ministering together the love of Jesus, teasing each other, watching Netflix (currently watching Lincoln Lawyer). My hubby is amazingly organized and I’m the clean freak – we make a good pair. He’d rather watch sports and I’m a sucker for a good romantic comedy – we make it work!  He is still my favorite person in the whole world. Yes, sparks fly at times (hello, we are human) but we continue to prefer and honor one another. He is a man after God’s heart and I am so proud to be his wife! (http://www.dannykittinger.com)

My Son:  traveling to visit with him and his wife whom I adore, hearing of his adventures, eating the produce from his garden. Luke practices law and harvests heritage seeds in his spare time.  I am so proud of the man he is becoming! He puts up with my words of counsel and amazes me with his depth of wisdom. I can’t wait to see all the Lord will do in him and through him! He’s had my heart since day one.

My Daughter: traveling to visit her, taking long walks together, window shopping, and pictures sent back and forth. She is one of my best friends, which proves the Lord has been at work in both of us! What a joy it is to see her operating in her strengths and loving people well. Watch out world – she has places to go and people to meet. Oh, how I love having a daughter!

Please realize no family is perfect. Love the family the Lord has blessed you with. One of my prayers over the years has been, “Lord, please give me your eyes for each of my family members and put a guard over my mouth!” As a wife for over 33 years and a mom for 30 years, I have been far from perfect. My family gets to practice often the gift of repentance and forgiveness, which keeps us all humble!

I don’t know a lot about pop culture and celebrities, so I’m terrible at any game that requires such knowledge. I’d rather tuck in with family and friends and learn more about them.  I love meeting new people and never forget a face, but sometimes forget a name.  I’ve learned a lot about friendship over the years and have been blessed with some of the BEST. I hesitate to call any one friend my best friend – not only is that a lot of pressure, but it is limiting!

A few words of advice that come to mind:

• Don’t give up when things get tough.
• Believe the best in each other.
• Give others the grace you want to receive.
• Learn to give but also to receive.
• Cheer each other’s kids on.
• Build each other up.
• Help your married friends to honor marriage.
• Help your single friends to live fully wherever the Lord currently has them.
• Open your heart to a friend’s godly counsel and correction as well.
• Spur one another on to maturity in the Lord.
• Cry with each other.
• Celebrate with each other.
• Pray for each other.
• Make new friends but cherish the old.

“A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.”

Proverbs 18:24

The Hebrew phrase, “many companions”, could also be translated, “superficial friends”.  This is a warning to us in friendship.  Quality rather than quantity is the goal. In this social media crazed world, we must guard against superficial friendship. Nothing takes the place of a friend face to face – one who is willing to get in the trenches with you and you with them.