Feb 15, 2017

LITTLE BY LITTLE / Go Small

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Whether we vocalize it or not, we often crave fast results and overnight success. But, what if we’re missing something? What if overnight and instant aren’t the most fruitful ways to grow things?

I was reading Exodus a couple weeks ago and was blow away by these verses (Exodus 23:29-30):

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If God did it quickly, they wouldn’t be ready. Instead, He does it little by little so they will be prepared and readied over time! What a powerful story for our lives. Little by little progress adds up, and in the wait, we are ripened and readied.

Here are 10 things to help you cultivate what matters, little by little, in the week ahead!

1. Start writing your book. I felt unqualified to write books, and to share about how to write one! But, I wrote this anyway.

2. Shake on it. Grace and I have a secret handshake we do every night before bed. This simple connecting point for us has grown our bond, and it makes us giggle every time! This teacher made up handshakes with every kid in his class (and more!). Check it out.

3. Spend 40 days cultivating your faith. This Lent devotional from Amen Paper Company is beautiful!

4. Clean your kitchen. : ) Some awesome tips from my mom. The tip about clearing out your spices is one I need to do!

IMG_8974Lettering by my friend, Lindsay, from Jennie’s opening session at IF. 

5. Experience fresh faith. IF Gathering 2017 knocked my socks off. I pre-ordered the digital download so I can watch it again. I cheered out loud during almost every session, and couldn’t help the tears listening to Roce, a Bible translator from the Philippines. It was powerful! Pre-order the download here.

6. Explore the new CultivateWhatMatters.com. Finally! The new site has officially launched, and it’s awesome. Read all about the new features, and get your free profile started!

7. Win a farm. Really! Even if you aren’t local to NC, wouldn’t this be amazing for someone to win? If you have farming friends, let them know about this.

8. Refresh your marriage. Valentine’s Day wasn’t always one of my favorite days, namely when my marriage was in turmoil. Read more here, get my free marriage guide here, and check out this marriage conference from Jen at Unveleied Wife!

9. Set goals with your significant other. Need some tips to get your sweetie on board with goal setting, or need a place to start? Here you go! These tips have been tested and approved–Ari doesn’t do goals, but he loved sitting down with me to do the Couple’s Goal Guide!

10. Start over, or start fresh. Cultivate What Matters Week was intended as a week of encouragement for all of you, but I have been double blessed by it myself! I wanted to give up earlier this week, and I learned something in that moment. Read all about it here.

Next up is something many of you have been asking for: Gardening 101! Sign up for my email notes below, if you haven’t already, and you’ll be the first to know when the series goes live next week! Have you thought about starting a garden? I’d love to hear any questions you have below so I can consider incorporating them into the series!

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6 Comments

  1. Diana on February 15, 2017 at 3:21 pm

    I love you Lara! I just felt that I needed to tell you this.

    • Lara on February 15, 2017 at 5:53 pm

      You are so wonderful, Diana! Thank you for these generous words!

  2. Erin on February 16, 2017 at 12:54 pm

    For my sake, I hope the title of your post is “how not to kill every single thing you plant” !!! HA! My grandma was and my mom is an amazing gardner- organic veggies and plants and flowers galore. I can barely keep up with my one houseplant (no lie!) We are moving into a new house this summer and I want to start a small garden that my two girls can help with (age 6 and 9). So I am thrilled for your upcoming post as I need the very basics of what to plant, when, tools, space requirement, etc! I am thinking veggie and plants…small scale! when I say small I mean SMALL!! Thanks as always for your inspiration :-} Erin (thismommywrites)

    • Lara on February 16, 2017 at 5:13 pm

      Haha, Erin! Love it!

  3. Lindsey on February 16, 2017 at 6:34 pm

    What encouragement those verses in Exodus are! I feel God’s love so much more clearly when I rest in the little progress and dunk my heart in His grace.

    I love that you listened to IF! I was a part of a IF Local in Greensboro! Jill Briscoe’s words were so challenging and refreshing!

    I’m starting a small flower garden this year! We have done veggies and fruit for the last two! I am completely new to the floral life! Any advice you have is going to be well received over here but I think my biggest thing is “feeding” bulbs and flowers other than water and sunlight! What kind of food or fertilizer do you use?

    Thankful for you, Lara and how you have encouraged me to live a more intentional and joy filled life.

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