Category Archives: Guest Bloggers

The Discipline of Solitude: Practicing Spiritual Disciplines Part Two

“Be still and know that I am God.” Psalms 46:10

By Guest Blogger: Courtney Steed

One of the spiritual disciplines stand out more than the others for me. Of the traditionally accepted “spiritual disciplines” as exercised by Christ himself, solitude is one that I both am the most attracted to and find the hardest time mastering.

First of all, solitude is not something that comes real easy to us nowadays..right?

What comes to mind when you think of solitude? Quiet? Alone? Wonderful?

How often do you experience solitude? …raise your hand if you just snickered. If you are anywhere near the season I am in (kids at home, married, etc) then you know that solitude is pretty much non-existent. People are around us all the time. Little people need us to help manage their every need, and our sweet husbands need us in more ways than they want to admit it. We have homes, jobs, parent meetings, meals to cook and laundry to do. We are busy. And, dare I say we are getting busier by the day. Continue reading →

God in Real Life: Practicing Spiritual Disciplines Part One

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“As a deer pants for streams of water so my soul pants for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?” Psalms 42:2

By Guest Blogger: Courtney Steed

I have grown up with God as part of my world. I have memorized His words and have known His laws by heart. I have heard all the bible stories, and am pretty good at giving you a scripture reference to most of them. When I was 14-16 I read up to 20 chapters a day of God’s word. I went to a Christian college. I married a Christian man, and I am in the process of raising three more of them.

God is a significant part of my life, and always has been.

Even with all that exposure to Him, I have started really realizing that I may not really know Him. Know about Him, yes. Know of His promises, absolutely. But, I wonder if I could adopt David’s words when he says, “As a deer pants for streams of water so my soul pants for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?” Psalms 42:2 Continue reading →

Accepting Help from Others:Roadblocks of the Prideful

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A couple week ago we posted this article about how YOU can be a champion for Grace. Today our post gives a first hand account from a graduate from the Saving Grace program. God is doing amazing things in the hearts of these young women!

“For I know the plans that I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope” Jeremiah 29:11

By: Kimberley A. Lane- Graduate of the Saving Grace program.

Saving Grace is a transitional home in Rogers, Arkansas for women between the ages of eighteen to twenty-four who have phased out of foster care or simply it is a safe place for women who are currently in an unsafe environment. I applied to Saving Grace in September of 2010 because my aunt had just kicked me out of her house and none of my friends or other family members had room for me. A pamphlet at a local church led me to Saving Grace. After I applied and interviewed, I was immediately accepted.

My first year in Saving Grace was a difficult one. Anger was all I felt for everyone around me. The staff, my mentors, and my RA’s were all my enemies. I felt as if no one in this world loved or cared for me because no one was able to take me in. I blamed the staff of Saving Grace for the pain I was feeling. Not only did I maintain a negative attitude, but I led several of the girls I lived with astray with me. We rebelled against the program and spoke openly about how horrible we were being treated. We lied to every person we came in contact with who asked about Saving Grace. Because of this behavior, the staff of Saving Grace wanted to ask me to leave. Several members of the board thought it was in the best interest of everyone if I were to no longer live there. However, Becky Shaffer, the founder of Saving Grace, saw something inside of me and refused to let me leave.

“God is keeping you here,” Becky had said to me, “I don’t know why, but you are still here because he wants you here.”

Soon after that, I decided to let God into my heart and to forgive all of the people who have caused me pain throughout the years. I started attending counseling regularly and participated fully in the program. My leadership skills were then used to help the girls in the house find out their own self-worth and to help them realize the value of Saving Grace. I then found a full time position at a retail store and have since then moved up to management. In February of 2013, I transitioned out of Saving Grace and now live in my own apartment. I still visit Saving Grace once a week to be involved with the girls and show them that I still love and care for them even though I no longer live with them.

Kimberley and two of her mentors

This program introduced me to a side of God I had never seen before. For the first time, I felt I was worthy of love. I lived in Saving Grace for two and a half years and was able to meet some amazing people. I have met women who walk into a room and God’s love radiates out of them. I have met others who have been through horrific events and yet hold their head high because they stopped their past from determining their future. I have met men who would die for their families and are determined every day to study God’s word and lead their families down the right path. No matter where God takes me in life, Saving Grace will always be my home. I know the women there will always be there for me. I have established friendships that will last a lifetime. Saving Grace helped me to trust God and to let him decide my future. Without Saving Grace helping me, I would be lost, hurt, and angry. I will forever be grateful to all those who support Saving Grace. May God bless your lives the way you have all blessed mine.

If you are in Northwest Arkansas and would like to learn more about Saving Grace, you can attend a fund raising event with us. Please contact comment below or Jennifer via our Facebook page for more information. If you simply want to donate to Saving Grace to help more girls like Kimberley, click here.

8 Tips for Creating Picture Perfect Memories!

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. James 1:17 ESV

Guest Post By: Kalyn Cavalier

My love for photography began a long time ago.

It wasn’t until the birth of our son that my dream sprouted wings.

He is my little inspiration…

Over the last year (we only had our first “real” session a year ago!!) we have learned and grown so much. Writing about a profession I have only been in a year seems SO daunting to me.

Nevertheless, I feel like since I have learned so many of these lessons recently, I can share with you some really great tips to help you see an immediate difference in the memories you capture of your family.

My biggest passion with photography is capturing moments. I’m learning to let go of the session, and let a family’s personality peep through. It is the same concept with our kiddos. Capture their personalities and the moments, not just poses and smiles.

I promise, we’ll look back on the photos of our kiddos playing with SO much more joy than a photo of them sitting and putting on a fake “cheese” smile.

You don’t need a big fancy camera though to take perfect photos of your family! Here are a few tips to help you on your way to capturing your moments…

1. Change the perspective.

When I first began shooting my son, I always seemed to end up with “Variations on a Connor” all within the same perspective. Explore the rule of thirds and experiment with different angles, Don’t always place your kiddos directly in the center of your photo. Get down on their level and shoot away!! You’ll have fun rolling around on the ground, and it’s sure to make them laugh.

2. Get a little closer…

Sometimes, just moving towards your subject will increase the intensity and interest of a photo! When you focus too much on the backdrop for your kiddos, (they) the subject gets lost. The best backdrops are sometimes the most unlikely! Clean spaces and lines make for aesthetically pleasing backdrop and they usually don’t distract from your main, and most awesome subject.

3. Be Engaging! (and don’t say cheese!)

Our kids usually don’t want to sit in front of a camera, so joke around with them.. make them laugh! Boys respond really well to obnoxiously obscene statements like “grosssss” or “boooooogers!!” Ask them questions! Have a conversation… you will get unique and genuine smiles if you make a genuine connection with your subject!

4. Live in the moment

I LOVE capturing my son on a daily basis. The most treasured shots in my house are the ones where he didn’t know I was watching, or ones of his cute stubby little feet walking barefoot in the grass, and his dirty fingers from playing in the mud.

5. Turn off the flash.

It may take a Pinterest tutorial, or asking your favorite photog buddy, but leave the flash behind. It may take some practice, but after you figure it out, you’ll never go back! See #6 for natural light tips!!

6. Work with your natural light!

The “Golden Hour”! Typically this time is right after sunrise, or an hour before sunset. The light is the softest during these times and leads to less harsh shadows. Take a walk, or head out for an ice cream date around this time and bring along the camera!
Overcast= awesome! The clouds become a natural light filter!
Look for open shade: under a tree, a porch, a covered gazebo. Keeping the sun out of the eyes reduces squinting.
Backlight. Sometimes bright open light is what you want in your photos. To achieve a backlit effect, place the sun behind your subject. This also helps reduce “squinting a la sun in the eyes.”

7. Don’t forget the details

Let go of the big picture. When baking cookies with your kids, don’t forget to get up close and personal with the little things. Their chubby fingers scraping the side of the bowl, and the flour covered counter top aftermath. Sometimes, the little details will spark the most vivid memories.

8. Most of all, know when to put down the camera and join in on the fun.

The best moments are the ones we are in… so enjoy them. Remember that your photos don’t have to be perfect. Capture them being THEM! Sometimes life is messy, and crazy, and hectic, and generally disheveled. Let your photos reflect that.

Even if a mess stresses you out *ahem*, capture it… because I know that when my kiddos leave the nest someday, I’m going to miss their grubby paw prints all over my stove and glass doors.

*To read more from Kalyn check out her blog at cavaliergirl.com and check out her photography business at cavalier-photography.com.

Be a Champion for Grace: Butterflies and Blooms

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“Give justice to the weak and the fatherless; maintain the right of the afflicted and the destitute. Rescue the weak and the needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked.” Psalm 82:3-4 ESV

In the past we have teamed up with Becky Shaffer, Executive Director of Saving Grace Inc. of NWA. During our Focus on Foster Care Series last May, she contributed two amazing pieces about her experiences growing up in the foster system: For the Love of a Mother; Safe in the Arms of The Father and 10 Things I Forgot About Life with Strangers.

Mosaic of Moms is teaming up again with Becky to find individuals to be champions for Saving Grace. See her request below:

Dear Mosaic of Moms Readers,

Would you be willing to be a champion for Saving Grace?

Each year we hold a luncheon called Butterflies and Blooms to bring awareness to the needs of young women who age out of the foster system and to fund raise for our program, Saving Grace, that supports such women in NWA.

We are looking for individuals who would be willing to be a table hostess…not sponsor (so NO cost to you) at this event. At this time we have our luncheon covered through our generous sponsors…praise God!

As a table hostess we ask that you invite your friends to this luncheon who maybe have not heard of Saving Grace. We want to continue to spread the word about what God is doing through this ministry in the lives of these girls, and we need your help to accomplish that.

The luncheon will be on Tuesday, April 9th at the John Q. Hammons in Rogers from 11:30-1:00 pm. Our guest speaker will be Jenny Broughton.

Below you will find two attachments to better explain your role as a hostess. Let me know your thoughts and if you are interested. Thank you for considering! We appreciate the support you give to Saving Grace!

God’s grateful girl,

Becky Shaffer, Executive Director SGI

Butterflies and Blooms Flyer

Table Hostess Packet (Butterflies Blooms)-2013 SGI

To contact Becky click here.

*If you are interested in attending this fundraiser event but are not up for hosting a table, contact us via FB Mosaic of Moms. We can arrange for you to sit with us. In two weeks we will have a featured post from a young woman who has been through the program and since graduated.