Thursday the first of August is Cup of Faith’s sixth birthday!

It’s been a beautiful, grace-filled challenge to pick up the website from Megan. I have loved getting to know our writers and our community over the past year. When we open our hearts and hands to the Holy Spirit, and take a bold step to share, our impact is immeasurable. He so longs to speak to us. He so longs to speak to us through each other, too! I’d like to share a throwback quote from Megan’s post on Cup of Faith’s first birthday:

Truthfully, God doesn’t call us to be anything more than ourselves, He puts us exactly where we’re meant to be and it’s up to us to be obedient and trust. Online ministry still seems too large of a label but I will say that God continues to reveal an exciting path for Cup of Faith and as long as this platform is serving Him and our community, I’ll continue to be obedient and trust Him to guide me.

I echo her sentiments and would like to say a big thank you to everyone who has been along for this journey.

To celebrate this day, I’ve put together a giveaway hamper! The hamper includes the following products from our store:

• 1 x Walk by Faith T-shirt
• Purpose & Proverbs Bible Tabs
• ‘The Blessing’ wall hanging by Purpose & Proverbs 
• 1 x 250g bag Coffee Beans
• Made to Create Bible Study

To enter, all you have to do is:

1. Follow us on Instagram
2. Like our giveaway post
3. Comment by tag a friend on Instagram
4. Share to Instagram stories (don’t forget to tag us!)

Terms and Conditions: Competition closes on the 16th of August. The winner will be announced across all social media platforms on the 17th of August and has 48-hours to claim the prize before a new winner is selected. Prize cannot be transferred or exchanged for cash. No purchase is necessary to enter. This giveaway is only open to South African residents. Giveaway is not affiliated with Instagram or product providers.

Kate Walsh

Kate is the current owner and editor of Cup of Faith. She is a blogger who loves Jesus, loves to read, and currently lives in Johannesburg with her husband.

The post Giveaway: It’s our 6th birthday! appeared first on Cup of Faith.

Mother’s Day is a special time to celebrate our mothers and the mother figures in our lives, and what better way than to treat them (and maybe ourselves) to a special gift from CUM Books. CUM Books has the nation’s largest selection of Christian books, gifts and bibles, leaving you spoilt for choice on gifting options. Feeling overwhelmed? Don’t worry, I have included some of my favourite options and if that’s not enough, check out their Mother’s Day gifting options.

If you have not heard, we have partnered CUM Books to offer our readers an exclusive discount code to celebrate Mother’s Day. That’s right, shop before the 9th of May and get an additional 10% discount (on top of their 20% sitewide sale) when you use the promo code FAITH10 at checkout. Pssst, we have a giveaway over on our Facebook and Instagram pages too – so go check it out!

Mother’s Day Gift Ideas

1. I Love You, Mom (Ceramic Tea For One Set) (shop here)
2. NLT Inspire Prayer Bible Giant Print (Faux Leather) (shop here)
3. His Grace Is Enough (Boxed Set Pen) (shop here)
4. Those Who Trust (Faux Leather Journal With Zipped Closure) (shop here)
5. Sy Genade Is Genoeg (Cotton Apron) (shop here)
6. It Is Well With My Soul (Double-Wall Glass Water Bottle With Infuser) (shop here)
7. When Women Pray: 10 Women Of The Bible Who Changed The World Through Prayer (Paperback) (shop here)
8. Quiet Times With God Devotional: 365 Daily Inspirations (Hardcover) (shop here)
9. Do It Afraid: Embracing Courage In The Face Of Fear (Paperback) (shop here)
10. Strength & Dignity (Double-Wall Glass Mug) (shop here)
11. Be Still And Know (Coloring Post Cards) (shop here)

Seen something else you love? Comment below with what you’re hoping to receive for Mother’s Day on Sunday, and don’t forget to share this post with someone special so they can also get 10% off their next order when they use the promo code FAITH10.

Megan Kelly Botha

I’m a coffee-wielding mood reader and romance book collector who may or may not have a slight addiction to buying books. I read a variety of sub-genres within romance, including rom-coms, dark romance, and fantasy. I love sharing my thoughts on books, whether it’s through book reviews, quotes, or recommendations inspired by my current reads. Through my romance book blog, Literary Inspired, I aim to provide in-depth book reviews, curated reading recommendations, and exclusive author promotions. I’m passionate about supporting indie authors and sharing my latest book discoveries with others. When I’m not reading, you can find me cheering on my favorite football team and F1 drivers, crafting, baking with my kids or playing with my pets.

literaryinspired.com/

The post Mother’s Day Gift Ideas appeared first on Cup of Faith.

December is ALMOST here, and if you’re anything like me, you’re probably giddy with excitement to kick up your feet and take some time off from what has been a crazy year. I will be honest, my ‘to read’ pile is twice my height, and I am looking forward to spending all my free time around the pool, lazying in the sun and catching up on all the books that I haven’t gotten around to yet. Struik Christian Media has had some amazing new books hit the shelves of your favourite book stores, so I thought I would reach out and find out which books they recommend you add to your Holiday Reading List, this year.

How Happiness Happens by Max Lucado

How long has it been since you felt a level of contagious, infectious, unflappable, unstoppable happiness? Maybe your answer is, “All the time.” If so, God bless you! (And consider suggesting this book to someone who needs it.) For many of us the answer is, “Well, it’s been a while. I used to be happy, but then life took its toll.”

Worldwide, people profess that happiness is their most cherished goal. Marketers get this. “Want to be happy?” they ask. Eat at this restaurant, drive this car, wear this dress. Happiness happens when you lose the weight, get the date, find the mate, or discover your fate. It’s wide, this way to happiness. Yet, for all its promise, it delivers a fragile joy; here one day, tomorrow scattered by the winds of comparison, disappointment, or unmet expectations.

Max writes, “There is another option. It requires no credit card, monthly mortgage, or stroke of fortune. Age and ethnicity aren’t factors…an unexpected door to joy.”

In this book, Max shares the unexpected path to lasting happiness, one that produces reliable joy in any season of life. Based on the teachings of Jesus and backed by modern research, How Happiness Happens presents a surprising but practical way of living that will change you from the inside out.

Dream Big by Bob Goff

In his revelatory yet utterly practical new book, Bob takes you on a life-proven journey to rediscover your dreams and turn them into reality. Based on his enormously popular Dream Big workshop, Bob draws on a lifetime of living and dreaming large to help you reach your larger-than-life dreams. In Dream Big he shows how to learn to define your dreams for yourself, identify the obstacles holding you back from pursuing those dreams, how to come up with a specific plan for reaching goals and develop the tools that will help you act on the plan.

Dream Big is the only book you need to uncover the wild and exciting dream for your life you’ve hidden from yourself-and help you take the steps necessary to achieve it.

When Women Pray by TD Jakes

I am so excited about this one!

In a time when women carry more influence than any other generation, the power of prayer has never been more important to remind us that we do not have to bear our crosses alone. We need prayer to stand guard over our hearts and minds and over the hearts and minds of our families.

Women today are shattering glass ceilings and forging new paths in the world. What Happens When a Woman Prays is a clarion call for women to continue their progressive march of empowerment by dreaming like their daughters and praying like their grandmothers.

Through exploring the lives of 10 prayer-filled women of the Bible, Bishop Jakes emphasizes the life-changing power that women have when they find their identity, their strength, their healing, and their voices in Christ.

Take Back Your Life by Levi Lusko

I ordered this as soon as it was launched!

Every person has a mission and a God-given potential to impact the world, whether they recognize it or not. But life presents challenges and traps us in a helpless, hopeless loop of anxiety and fear. In Take Back Your Life, a blend of bestselling books Through the Eyes of a Lion and I Declare War, join Levi Lusko on an interactive journey to take back your life. With biblical truth and perspective, this step-by-step journaling process will help you get out of your own way by learning to think right so you can live right, while also finding purpose by discovering that God will do great things with your imperfect progress. It also aims to teach that you that your pain is not an obstacle to being used by God, but an opportunity to be used like never before.

This is more than a book; it’s an intimate self-analysis tool that will help you recognize what’s weighing you down or holding you back, and equip you to embrace it head-on as you become the best version of yourself. Start thinking right, so you can live right.

Do It Afraid by Joyce Meyer

SO excited about this one too! I have been following the podcast episodes leading up to the launch and as you know, Joyce is one of my favourite ministers.

Fear is the devil’s favourite tool in the toolbox of schemes he uses to destroy God’s good plan for you. He uses it to hold you back and prevent progress in your relationships, career, and more.

In Do It Afraid, Joyce Meyer explains that fear is everywhere and affects everyone. It rules many people, but it doesn’t have to rule you any longer. She will teach you how to understand fear and recognize how it works in your life, confront those fears that are holding you back and change your mindset for lasting freedom from some of the most common fears people face.

Remember, courage isn’t the absence of fear; it is learning how to move forward in the presence of fear. Courageous people do what they believe in their hearts they should do, no matter how they feel or what doubts fill their minds. When you take ownership of your problems and open your heart to God, He will help bring light into darkness so that you can be free.

Let Go of Guilt by Valorie Burton

In Let Go of the Guilt, life coach and bestselling author Valorie Burton teaches you a simple, but profound method that will free you from what she calls the “false guilt” that is so common today. As you peel back the layers, you’ll feel the burden lift. And that’s when you make room for your authentic self and the joyful life that is possible for you. Through her signature self-coaching process, powerful questions, and practical research, she shows you how to recognize and overcome the five thought patterns of guilt, break the surprising habits that tempts you to subconsciously choose guilt over joy, and stop guilt from sneaking its way into your everyday decisions and interactions. In addition, she goes on to show you how to flip those guilt trips so you can keep others from manipulating you, and stop setting yourself up for stress, anxiety and obligation, and instead set yourself for a life of joy and freedom

Valorie’s journaling questions and research-based process will shift your perspective, give you clarity and courage, and equip you with a plan of action to let go of the guilt for good.

Success is a Choice by John Maxwell

Are you tired of not reaching your full potential? Do you feel you have the talent to succeed but are unappreciated and trapped? Based on his New York Times best-selling book Beyond Talent, John Maxwell asks if you are tired of not reaching your full potential and feel you have the talent to succeed but are unappreciated and trapped. If this describes you, in Success Is a Choice, you can learn the right choices that lead to success from John Maxwell, the go-to guru for business professionals across the globe.

The choices you make in addition to your talent make the greatest difference. With authentic examples and time-tested wisdom, Maxwell shares 14 choices you need to make to live the life of your dreams. It’s time to go beyond talent by making the right choices that will help you really stand out.

You are Never Alone by Max Lucado

When life feels depleted, does God care? I’m facing an onslaught of challenges, will God help? When life grows dark and stormy, does God notice? I’m facing the fear of death, will God help me? The answer in the life-giving miracles in the Gospel of John is a resounding yes.

In You Are Never Alone, Max will help you realize that Jesus is walking with you and lifting you out of your storms, dwell in the grace of the cross, the miracle of the empty tomb, and the assurance of restoration power. He also goes on to remind and teach you that God is your ever-present source of help and that you are never without hope or strength because you are never, ever, alone.

Today, take courage that you are stronger than you think because God is nearer than you know.

With so many exciting new books to pick from, I am sure you can tell why I am having trouble picking which one to start with. I have 2 more weeks before holidays officially kick in, so will be ogling these new launches until then. Which are you keen to read first?

To celebrate the end of the year and being given the incredible opportunity of sharing the latest launches from Struik Christian Media, I thought I would put together a little hamper of some of my favourite reads including a new 2021 Planner from Joyce Meyer. All you have to do is:

1. Like and follow our Facebook and Instagram pages
2. Find the competition posts on Instagram (here) and Facebook (here) to comment with which of these books you are keen to read
3. Tag a friend or share the competition
4. For a bonus entry, head over to Struik Christian Media’s Facebook and Instagram pages and give them a like and follow.

Competition closes on December 31st 2020. The winner will be announced and contacted in the first week of January 2021 and has 48-hours to claim the prize before a new winner is selected. Prize cannot be transferred or exchanged for cash. No purchase is necessary to enter. This giveaway is only open to South African residents. Giveaway is not affiliated with Instagram or Facebook. 

Megan Kelly Botha

I’m a coffee-wielding mood reader and romance book collector who may or may not have a slight addiction to buying books. I read a variety of sub-genres within romance, including rom-coms, dark romance, and fantasy. I love sharing my thoughts on books, whether it’s through book reviews, quotes, or recommendations inspired by my current reads. Through my romance book blog, Literary Inspired, I aim to provide in-depth book reviews, curated reading recommendations, and exclusive author promotions. I’m passionate about supporting indie authors and sharing my latest book discoveries with others. When I’m not reading, you can find me cheering on my favorite football team and F1 drivers, crafting, baking with my kids or playing with my pets.

literaryinspired.com/

The post Giveaway: Your Holiday Reading List appeared first on Cup of Faith.

On Saturday, we celebrated our 1st birthday. In such a short time, we’ve achieved amazing things through God! When I first launched this platform I had NO idea how I was going to do what I had so long hoped and dreamed of. I didn’t know enough women who wanted to contribute to my new space, I didn’t know how to record a podcast nevermind publish it, and the thought of speaking about my faith journey seemed daunting if I am being honest. But God called, so I answered and trusted Him.

In this last year, we’ve won the Best South African Religious Blog, we’ve grown to a thriving community of more than 6,000 members across all platforms, have launched a Facebook group to get to know our community more intimately and continue to push and develop this platform to be everything that I had hoped. Most recently, we’ve launched an online store which has a few basic products available to purchase, with more in development and waiting to be launched. In addition, we’ve gained the attention of several local and international authors, publishers and artists who have been in touch to work together on upcoming projects. But at the core of it all, is our contributors who help keep this space alive with beautiful, often vulnerable, and inspiring content. They help fulfil my hope that any woman is able to go to our blog and find at least one other woman they can relate to.

To say I’m proud is a massive understatement. The phrase, ‘online ministry’ often makes me feel uncomfortable because I don’t feel equipped to lead a ministry especially having grown up in my family’s ministry and seeing what it takes to be a minister, but I think that’s what stops so many of us from spreading God’s word. Truthfully, God doesn’t call us to be anything more than ourselves, He puts us exactly where we’re meant to be and it’s up to us to be obedient and trust. Online ministry still seems too large of a label but I will say that God continues to reveal an exciting path for Cup of Faith and as long as this platform is serving Him and our community, I’ll continue to be obedient and trust Him to guide me.

To celebrate this momentous occasion, I have handpicked and purchased a handful of some of my favourite products that I think you’ll love too. The hamper includes the following:

• 1 x Planner Printable Promo Code
• 44 Psalms in Colour Affirmation Cards
• 365 Promises to Live By Devotional
• Set of 3 Notebooks
• First Love Interactive Bible Study by Cailin Leacock
• Brain Snacks by Mary Eakin
• 6 Stabilo Pastel Highlighters

To enter, all you have to do is:

1. Like our Facebook page
2. Follow us on Instagram 
3. Comment on our competition posts with which of our blog posts has been your favourite this year and what you would like to see more of.
4. Tag a friend and share on your social media pages (each tag counts as an entry – don’t tag celebs or people you’d don’t know)
   BONUS ENTRIES:
5. Join our Facebook group
6. Signup to our newsletter

Terms and Conditions: Competition closes on the 16th of August. The winner will be announced across all social media platforms on the 20th of August and has 48-hours to claim the prize before a new winner is selected. Prize cannot be transferred or exchanged for cash. No purchase is necessary to enter. This giveaway is only open to South African residents. Giveaway is not affiliated with Instagram or Facebook.

Megan Kelly Botha

I’m a coffee-wielding mood reader and romance book collector who may or may not have a slight addiction to buying books. I read a variety of sub-genres within romance, including rom-coms, dark romance, and fantasy. I love sharing my thoughts on books, whether it’s through book reviews, quotes, or recommendations inspired by my current reads. Through my romance book blog, Literary Inspired, I aim to provide in-depth book reviews, curated reading recommendations, and exclusive author promotions. I’m passionate about supporting indie authors and sharing my latest book discoveries with others. When I’m not reading, you can find me cheering on my favorite football team and F1 drivers, crafting, baking with my kids or playing with my pets.

literaryinspired.com/

The post Giveaway: Celebrating our first birthday! appeared first on Cup of Faith.

I realized earlier today that I haven’t really had the chance to tell you about me because I have been so busy trying to get Cup of Faith launched that I almost forgot about sharing MY story. A lot of you already know that I tend to do a lot of juggling in my life; I am a mom to two gorgeous boys who are 5 years old and 2 years old, I work a full-time job from home as a Client Relationship Manager and Head of Digital Strategy at a local Digital Marketing agency, managing the accounts and strategy of more than 60 brands and in my spare time, I like to bake, garden, watch soccer and focus on this little passion project where I edit, blog, market and grow Cup of Faith.

My days are full and start bright and early before the boys wake up and end far after they’ve gone to sleep. In between the hustle and bustle of juggling a full-time career and my children’s schedules, I need to make time for life; time for errands, time with my husband, time for me, time with God… time, time, time – I don’t have enough of it!

Sometimes – and this is hard to admit – I feel that we put off our quiet time with God because He isn’t whining and doesn’t come with a deadline. He is calm, non-intrusive, non-demanding and always there. I am sure, like me, you have found yourself putting off spending time with God because you’re tired, you don’t have enough time, you need to make a deadline or you have to make the kids breakfast – the excuses are many! So, with all my balls in the air, HOW do I make time for God?

1.      Where are you spending your time?

Before you start saying you don’t have any time, you should evaluate where your time is currently being spent. Start tracking your day-to-day schedule and look for gaps in the day where you could better utilize your time which will help free up some time you wouldn’t usually have, for God. I learnt by using an app, that I was spending far too much time scrolling through my social media feeds and by limiting my app usage, I was able to be more productive during my work hours, giving me more time in the mornings to read my bible. Once you have started tracking your time, you can quickly see how a 3-hour Netflix session is taking away time that could be spent with God.

2.      Make God a Priority

This is sometimes harder than it seems, but I promise practice makes perfect and in time, it won’t even take any effort to make the time you spend with God a priority. When I first started actively working on my relationship with God, I made the mistake of thinking my daily devotional was an optional practice – just something I would do to aid my spiritual growth, but overtime, I realized that the more time I spent nurturing my relationship with God, the more I was growing and that devotional time was essential for building a relationship with Our Father. I started (rightfully) seeing my time with God more important than anything else I’d do in a day because it set a tone for the entire day and without it, I felt lost and sort of like wearing mismatched shoes where something just doesn’t quite feel right.

3.      Be Creative

I am the first to admit that sometimes my mind is just too busy to process and fully appreciate what I am reading from my bible or that maybe work has been a little hectic lately, so I have been getting to bed extra late and rising very early and not always making the time for devotionals, but that doesn’t mean I can’t soak in His word. I love listening to podcasts, praise and worship music, participating in online discussions and reading plans that challenge me to grow in my faith while also making time to connect with new people. God is everywhere and we don’t have to be limited to JUST reading the Bible, there are so many ways we can nurture our relationship with God and whether that’s taking a moment to write down your prayers and count your blessings, listening to the Bible on your commute to work, completing a full Bible study, or listening to a podcast, well… that’s up to you!

Giveaway: WIN A MOM’S PLANNER

As a busy mom who thrives in organized chaos, I know just how helpful a good planner is to ensure I make time each day to spend with God. That’s why I am so proud to be partnering with CUM Books to giveaway one of their Mom’s Planner. I was sent one for myself which I recently showed on my InstaStories and received an overwhelming response from so many moms who wanted their own.

The Mom’s Planner and Be Inspired Planners are 18-month planners that start from September 2019 and are packed with a variety of features to help moms stay organized. They’re beautifully designed, feature colourful spreads, lots of space for keeping notes and tracking extra-murals, appointments and to-do lists, they also have inspiring quotes to brighten every day and so much more.

Features Include:

• 18-month planner (September 2019 – February 2021)
• Year planner 2020 & 2021
• View each month at a glance
• Weekly calendar pages
• Inspirational quotes
• Public holidays
• Full-colour interior
• Lay-flat design
• Monthly divider pages with tabs
• Pocket folder
• Elastic closure.

You can get your Be Inspired or Mom’s Planner from CUM Books for R350.00 in-store and online.

Enter to Win:

In partnership with CUM Books, you can enter to win your own Mom’s Planner by following the steps below:
Mom’s Planner Giveaway

Megan Kelly Botha

I’m a coffee-wielding mood reader and romance book collector who may or may not have a slight addiction to buying books. I read a variety of sub-genres within romance, including rom-coms, dark romance, and fantasy. I love sharing my thoughts on books, whether it’s through book reviews, quotes, or recommendations inspired by my current reads. Through my romance book blog, Literary Inspired, I aim to provide in-depth book reviews, curated reading recommendations, and exclusive author promotions. I’m passionate about supporting indie authors and sharing my latest book discoveries with others. When I’m not reading, you can find me cheering on my favorite football team and F1 drivers, crafting, baking with my kids or playing with my pets.

literaryinspired.com/

The post How to Make Time for God appeared first on Cup of Faith.