Welcome

Welcome, I'm glad you’re here. Go ahead, pour yourself a cup of something warm, take a deep breath and settle in. Now, a long easy exhale. You belong here. Why? Because life is a lot of things, but easy isn’t one of them. We’re better together, strengthening each other’s faith and following Jesus side by side.

Welcome

Welcome, I'm glad you’re here. Go ahead, pour yourself a cup of something warm, take a deep breath and settle in. Now, a long easy exhale. You belong here. Why? Because life is a lot of things, but easy isn’t one of them. We’re better together, strengthening each other’s faith and following Jesus side by side.

Hi, I’m Ann Cramer...

Welcome.

Breathe.

Stretch.

This is your little pause. A space to rest, to make room for your soul and to remember what matters most. No pressure. No perfection. Just us, settling in together. Better yet, go ahead and pour yourself a cup of something warm and breathe for a moment. Around here, we talk about making space for our souls to flourish and not be diminished by the noise constantly around us. Sometimes slowing down is possible, but oftentimes it’s not. That’s why this space exists, to help us find peace, joy, and rest even when life doesn’t leave much room for it. We’re talking about Soul Care. Look around here and get to know a little about me. Then come join us on Facebook and Instagram so I can get to know you.

Hi, I’m Ann Cramer...

Welcome | Breathe | Stretch

This is your little pause. A space to rest, to make room for your soul, and to remember what matters most. No pressure. No perfection. Just us, settling in together. Better yet, go ahead and pour yourself a cup of something warm and breathe for a moment. Around here, we talk about making space for our souls to flourish and not be diminished by the noise constantly around us. Sometimes slowing down is possible, but oftentimes it’s not. That’s why this space exists, to help us find peace, joy, and rest even when life doesn’t leave much room for it. We’re talking about Soul Care. Look around here and get to know a little about me. Then come join us on Facebook and Instagram so I can get to know you.

It’s the most wonderful time of the year… or is it?

I’ve always loved Christmas, the lights, the music, the traditions. But somewhere along the way, I noticed something. The season that’s supposed to bring joy was often leaving me physically exhausted, emotionally overwhelmed, and spiritually empty.

Between the shopping, the schedules, the expectations, and the pressure to make it all “magical,” my heart was chasing perfection instead of peace. And because of all these distractions, I never experienced the Christmas experience my soul truly desired. Over the last few years, God’s been teaching me a different way. One where we trade frantic for full, busy for present, stress for soul deep joy. That’s what I write about, and it’s why this space exists. Friend, we don’t have to orchestrate the perfect Christmas. Instead, we get to receive it. To do this, To do this, though, I’m learning that it is me that needs to change. You too?

“May your “yes” be wise, your pace be gentle, and your focus steady on the Savior.” from Wishing Martha a Mary Christmas

It’s the most wonderful time of the year… or is it?

Between the shopping, the schedules, the expectations, and the pressure to make it all “magical,” my heart was chasing perfection instead of peace. And because of all these distractions, I rarely experienced the truly joyful Christmas that my soul desired. Over the past few years, God’s been teaching me a different way. One where I trade frantic for full, busy for present, stress for soul deep joy. That’s the struggle I write about, and it’s why this space exists. Friend, we don’t have to orchestrate the perfect Christmas. Instead, we can receive it. To do this though, I’m learning that it is me, not the distractions, that needs to change. Maybe you too?

“May your “yes” be wise, your pace be gentle, and your focus steady on the Savior.”

... Wishing Martha a Mary Christmas

Soul Space

Creating space for true joy in the midst of the busyness of life is a choice. Let’s start with the basics of how soul care and joy are related.

Soul

Our soul represents our totality as a human being, including emotions, desires, and self-awareness. Jesus stresses that our soul is far more precious than any earthly possession or physical benefit. Mark 8:36-37.

Care

Another word here could be maintenance. To care about our soul we must first be mindful of its needs and be concerned for its well-being. It means nurturing and preserving our inner selves. We do this through prayer, bible study and being with other believers. Care must be ongoing to keep our souls healthy.

Joy

The result of caring for our soul is an inner joy that surpasses understanding. Unlike happiness it is not based on our circumstances, but on our connection with the Lord.

So right now, it’s all about Christmas and preparing ourselves to care for our souls during the busy season ahead. You know, the "joyful" season that often robs every bit of personal joy your soul possesses. The truth is, all the decorating, shopping, and planning can fill a calendar but still leave the heart feeling empty. We chase the magic, but it rarely lasts. And friends, that's why we must prepare and guard our souls, for it’s there that true joy percolates, rising up quietly until it overflows.

Have you ever felt spiritually empty or joyless in the season when we celebrate the greatest news the world has ever received? I sure have. Here are a few thoughts from my book to reflect on personally as we begin to care for our souls this Christmas.

Do you feel you have started to serve the season and not the Savior?

When you “start earlier” to be finished earlier, what do you do with that extra time? Add more? Do more? Spend time with the Lord?

Somehow, our culture has convinced us that Christmas gives us permission to overindulge in any way we choose. But, what our culture doesn’t tell us is what constant striving, emptiness, and stress this can all lead to. What distractions or activities do you get overly caught up in at Christmas? Remember, our God is not a God of chaos. If we let Him, He’ll bring order to our mess. He’ll bring peace to our panic. He’ll bring focus to our frantic. He’ll bring order to our overwhelm. Do you know how to let Him?