• Home
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact
    • Collaborate
  • Blog
  • Parties
    • Children’s Parties Ideas
    • Holiday Parties
    • Adult Party Ideas
  • Holiday Ideas
    • Christmas
    • Easter
    • Fourth of July
    • Spring
    • Thanksgiving
    • Valentine’s Day
  • Seasons
    • Winter
    • Spring
    • Summer
    • Autumn
  • Recipes
    • Appetizers
    • Beverages
    • Desserts
    • Main Dishes
    • Side Dishes
    • Soups
  • Project Gallery
    • Crafts
    • Decorating
    • DIY
    • Good Ideas
    • Tutorials
  • Shop My Home
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Bloglovin
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter

At The Picket Fence with Vanessa Hunt

Where Ideas for your Home Meet Inspiration for your Heart

  • Book
  • Speaking
  • Meet Vanessa
    • Featured

November 2, 2016

Mind the Gap

Welcome to week three of our ‘Life in Season’ study series!

 

Discussion Questions

1. When we don’t tend to all areas of our faith, we leave ourselves wide open for gaps to develop. It’s in the gaps where we find we are the most vulnerable to sin and temptation. Where in your faith do you think you have gaps that you aren’t ‘minding’?

2. Read through this passage from 2 Peter 1:5-8. “For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

3. Adding to our faith the qualities listed above is an ongoing process and one about which we have to be intentional. Which of those qualities do you find to be the most difficult for you? Take some time this week to pray and humbly ask God to reveal to you the gaps that He sees. Recognize it as an opportunity to strengthen your relationship with Him as you seek His forgiveness and accept the help He longs to give you.

mind the gap quote

 

 

If you feel comfortable, please share your thoughts here so we can talk about this together.

And thank you so much for meeting me here at the fence today,

Vanessa signature

4 Comments Filed Under: Book, Devotionals, Faith Tagged With: book, devotional, Faith, God

Subscribe

Get the latest goodness straight to your inbox!

Previous Post: « Thanksgiving Gratitude Tree
Next Post: New Door Coming Soon »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Gwen says

    November 2, 2016 at 7:40 AM

    I like this illustration for this passage. I truly am in the autumn of life and I’m surprised to be here!! Not quite senior citizen age but I wonder How did I get here so fast? As we age, I’ve become more aware of my need to mind the gaps. Eight years ago I had a brain injury and so I respond to my world so differently. So how do I add goodness? I smile. I’m housebound. I send notes of encouragement. I show interest in others I think. I don’t know. My husband says I do. Add knowledge. I study the Bible and find new things every day. I’ve studied all my life yet so much does God reveal to me, who cannot follow a recipe anymore for I get confused. A lot of my life is spent in confusion. I don’t read social settings correctly. I can’t mingle in a crowd for by the time I clunk over walker in tow and leg dragging, the crowd has dispersed. It’s hard to fit in. So I have to sing hymns, made up songs of praise, and spiritual songs to fill this gap of lack of knowing how to fit in. I don’t feel mutual affection in many groups where I fit in well. But I have God, ice water, a few close friends, but to be brain damaged makes my faith even more important to help me through each day. Prayer, singing and ice water helps me. When I cry for no reason deeply. God is there.

    Reply
    • At The Picket Fence says

      November 2, 2016 at 9:03 AM

      Gwen, first of all let me just tell you how very sorry I am for what you have gone through with your health. But it is so obvious that you have used it to grow closer to your Savior and that He is using you to bless and minister to others. I hope you know that this community here is always a place where you fit in and the best part is that you have it right at your fingertips so you never have to worry about the crowd dispersing. 🙂 We value you and want this to be a place where you know you are always welcome to come just as you are and find encouragement. Thank you for being here and for sharing your heart with us! Love, Vanessa and Heather

      Reply
    • Bonnie says

      November 2, 2016 at 10:46 AM

      Gwen, I read your reply today and it has humbled me so much that I’m not really sure how to respond. It hurts me to think that it’s been hard for you to mingle in a crowd. It’s a good reminder to me to be more sensitive to others. Most of all, I want you to know how precious you are to the Lord.. I know He sees you and is so happy that you continue to study His word and reach out to others to let them know that they are not forgotten.

      Reply
  2. Bonnie says

    November 2, 2016 at 10:43 AM

    Vanessa, thank you for your message today. What a good reminder that I needed to “hear”.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Primary Sidebar

Search This Blog

Get the book!

Invite Vanessa to speak at your event!

Stay updated!

  • A New Look for the Family Room

    A New Look for the Family Room
  • Honey Tea Cake Loaf with Lemon Glaze

    Honey Tea Cake Loaf with Lemon Glaze
  • The Slow Exit

    The Slow Exit
  • Honed Quartzite Kitchen Counters Reveal

    Honed Quartzite Kitchen Counters Reveal

Sign Up and Never Miss A Post!

Must Reads

Latest Recipes

Honey Tea Cake Loaf with Lemon Glaze

Apple Bread Pudding

Grandma’s Banana Bread

view more recent recipes

Recent Posts

  • Laundry Room Makeover February 23, 2023
  • Winter Decorating Ideas January 27, 2023
  • Nostalgic Christmas Home Tour December 10, 2022
  • Vintage Inspired Hot Cocoa Bar November 21, 2022
  • Autumn Home Decor Tour October 7, 2022

Footer

Stay Connected!

Instagram

Happy Friday! I’m oh so thankful for beautiful s Happy Friday! I’m oh so thankful for beautiful sunshine especially when our family has been hit by illness this week. Everyone is on the upside, thankfully, and I’m hoping we’ll fell well enough to get outside and soak up some much needed natural vitamin D. After so many days of wet, gloomy weather this is like balm for my soul! 🍃 What’s the weather like where you are?
Here is a friendly PSA for you...do not, I repeat, Here is a friendly PSA for you...do not, I repeat, DO NOT attempt to apply eyeliner while you have the hiccups. It won't go well. Trust me on this one! 😜

In other news, the hot cocoa station is finally gone and in it's place is a fresh new look that was kicked off by finding a beautiful, rustic vase at @homegoods. It feels like my home is rising up to welcome Spring and I'm so ready for sunshine and longer days. 🍃

Don’t forget to check out my stories tonight for Friday funnies! I love hearing from so many of you who say it’s your favorite way to wrap up your week. ☺️

Happy weekend to you dear friends!
It’s Tip Tuesday time! This week I’m sharing o It’s Tip Tuesday time! This week I’m sharing one of my most favorite ways to simply and inexpensively add seasonal decor to your home. There’s nothing like getting big impact with little effort and without breaking the bank! #tiptuesday #decorforless
What a gift it was to wake up on the first day of What a gift it was to wake up on the first day of March and see glorious sunshine greeting us after a few days of ice and snow. This is the month of hope and expectation and I’m here for it.

Happy March first dear friends! 🍃
Our first ‘laundry room’ wasn’t actually a r Our first ‘laundry room’ wasn’t actually a room at all. The 20+ year old washer and dryer we inherited after we got married was hooked up in the garage of our small townhouse. Our second ‘laundry room’ was an improvement because it was actually INSIDE the house but it was in our family room behind bifold doors.

So when we moved into this home 15 years ago I literally jumped up and down when I saw this real laundry room. Never mind that it had dated counters and an old stained sink. It was an actual room!

We made minor updates to it over the years but other, more visible, spaces took priority so we spent our resources on beautifying those.

But, last summer, we finally had new counters installed and made a few more updates that have completely transformed this room. 

Now, it’s almost a joy to do the laundry…almost! 😉

For more photos and details head on over to my website using the link in my bio.
“In you, LORD my God, I put my trust. I trust in “In you, LORD my God, I put my trust.
I trust in you; do not let me be put to shame, nor let my enemies triumph over me.

No one who hopes in you will ever be put to shame, but shame will come on those who are treacherous without cause.

Show me your ways, LORD, teach me your paths.

Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.

Remember, LORD, your great mercy and love, for they are from of old.”

Psalm 25:1-6
Ronald Reagan famously said that “all great chan Ronald Reagan famously said that “all great change in America begins at the dinner table.” I think this is true for everyone worldwide. You simply can’t put a value on the importance of gathering together for a meal with those you love. But, sometimes, we can struggle with getting the conversations flowing. So for this #tiptuesday, I’m sharing some tools we’ve used in our home. 🍃
There is just something about the combination of l There is just something about the combination of lemon and honey. It’s rustic yet fancy, sweet yet tart, spring-like yet comforting on a cold winters day. 

And that’s why this is hands down one of my favorite recipes! I decided to take a basic tea cake and turn it into a loaf of sweet, tart, simple yet fancy goodness and the only thing bad about it was how quickly it disappeared!

🍋You can find the recipe by following the link in my bio 🍯
“Have regular hours for work and play; make each “Have regular hours for work and play; make each day both useful and pleasant, and prove that you understand the worth of time by employing it well.” (Louisa May Alcott).

The sun is shining and it’s the perfect day to photograph our laundry room which got a bit of a makeover. This space is definitely useful as it bears the brunt of everyone tromping through it all day long but I think I’ve managed to make it pleasant as well. One of my greatest realizations in my homemaking journey was when I recognized that those two things weren’t mutually exclusive. In fact, it’s the pleasant that enhances the useful and vice versa.

I’ll have the rest of the makeover reveal on my website soon but I just couldn’t resist sharing a sneak peek with you today! 🌿
A little bit of snow and ice leading to a two hour A little bit of snow and ice leading to a two hour school delay and then a little bit of sunshine followed by fog. That’s how our Valentines Day began!

I’m so thankful for my cozy home and my loves who live here with me and I can’t wait to spoil them a bit tonight. We don’t go crazy on Valentine’s Day but I try to still make it sweet even if it’s simple. 💕

Do you celebrate at your house? What’s your favorite treat?
Load More... Follow
Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2023 · Divine theme by Restored 316

Copyright © 2023 At The Picket Fence