What Does #nofilter Bible Time Look Like For Me? {Women in God's Word - Day 2}

Today is day 2 in our Women in God's Word series. I am thrilled to introduce you to a dear blogging friend, Melanie. I've been reading Melanie's blog for years and always love her heart. Please help me welcome Melanie!

If we're new friends, please let me introduce myself. I'm Melanie, a full-time work-outside-the-home mom (software developer), laugher, blogger, Christ follower, and modern Southern Belle... thus, the name of my blog "Southern Melle".

Now, we can all be honest, right? Sometimes, images I see online make me feel like I'm the only one who doesn't have my act together. I see perfect skin, beautiful tablescapes, perfectly accessorized outfits, peaceful kids... and I'm all "hot mess" over here.

I'm not an expert blogger, but I hope I'm always a genuine blogger.

So today, I'm removing the filter.

I've been asked how I find time to read the Bible with being a mom and working full-time. I will tell you what I have learned from experience -- I have to make the time, even if it's only a few minutes. However, sometimes that means looking over a messy room because I understand that my messy heart needs more attention than my messy house.

When my kids are happily playing video games or engrossed in a TV show they enjoy, I grab that moment! Even if it's only a few short minutes, I will find a space in my home where I can be alone with God. On Instagram, it may look like this:

 

This is my peaceful place I like to read my Bible. However, if you turn directly around, you will see the #nofilter version looks like this:

(Before anyone panics, it's all clean now! Whew!) Moms, we sometimes have to choose the most important thing with the few quiet moments we have. I can clean the house when my kids are running around being loud, but it's hard for me to focus on Bible time in that situation. When I have a few quiet moments, I let the messy kitchen sit so God can work on my messy heart.

Reading the Bible is much like the treadmill. Sure, it's easier to plop down on the couch and watch TV, but what benefit does that give me? Will I be happy I used my time in that way or will I regret it? I can tell you this: I never regret working out and I NEVER regret reading my Bible.

Here's another example of the "pinterest perfect" version of Bible time at my house: (with my favorite study Bible)

 

But if you were here with me, you would see that my hair is still crazy from the treadmill, my shirt is not fashionable (it's an old T-shirt from my kids' teeball days), and I was hiding in my bedroom during the few quiet moments I could steal that evening:

 

I love beauty! I'm a girlie-girl at heart and love all things pink, sparkly, clean, shiny, and bright! However, sweet friend, sometimes beauty is not what you see online. Sometimes beauty is the work God does way down in our hearts -- underneath sweaty teeball t-shirts, in the middle of messy rooms, around noisy kids. If your life doesn't look "pinterest-perfect" like you see online, welcome to my club. I'm happy to have you here, and I'm cheering all of us along in this messy-beautiful journey of life!

For more encouragement, please drop by and say "howdy" at my blog (SouthernMelle.com) or on Facebook!   This post is part of a series "Women In God's Word" -- to see more encouragement, please check out the series at this link!

Okay friends! It's time for a fun giveaway! Enter to win a $25 Starbucks giftcard. Just complete each task in the rafflecopter below. Come back each day to tweet for more entries and to share your real life Bible time pics on Instagram for even more entries!

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