Life in the Spirit – Uniquely Yours Ministries

Welcome back to FUN fact Fridays!! We get to interview lovely Monthly-Writer Rachel Shaw!

How do you like to relax?

Go out for dinner (Sit and eat food that I didn’t have to cook…perfect!!!)

Who inspires you and why?

My dad. He is the hardest working man with incredible integrity.

How did you meet your best-friend?

My two best friends are my cousins.. I was 3 days old when I met them so I don’t remember it well (lol)

Best vacation you’ve ever taken?

Chicago trip with my husband

Favorite color?

Purple! (Means royalty)

What’s your favorite time of the day and why?

9pm… Sun is down, I’m relaxed and it’s almost bedtime!!

Outdoors or Indoors?

Outdoors (Summer & Fall) Indoors (Winter & Spring)

All time favorite Scripture?

Ecclesiastes 3- A time for everything

Biggest Pet-peeve?

When people ‘gulp’ when ‘chugging’ a drink…

Current Favorite phone app?

Facebook, no doubt!!

Join Us on Facebook at our UYM Bible Study Group

Or by Email: uniquelyyoursblog@gmail.com

Bless you, UYM Bible Study Group!

~Kerrington Sweeney

Life in the Spirit, Rachel's Posts

{Life In The Spirit} Friendships.

August 29, 2015August 29, 2015 UYM

Written By: Rachel Shaw

Matthew 18:20 “For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”

I was in total shock when my best friends began telling me their future plans to move to the other side of the world. I thought they were kidding and I wish they were. I love how close we live to each other. I love being able to meet for breakfast on Saturday mornings, or spending a day at the mall. Sometimes I wish we didn’t have to grow up and become adults.

Sometimes I wish we could spend more time together, just like when we were kids. The more I thought about it, I came to realize how much God has blessed me through so many friendships. God designed and specifically placed each of my best friends in my life for many reasons. As I look at all of my friendships, I listed all the ways that God has worked in my life through my friends:

-Encouragement

-Prayer

-Love

-Fun memories

-Words of affirmation

-Sense of belonging

-Empowerment

-Laughter

God had created our human nature for relationship. We were not meant to live this life alone. I have been very blessed to have so many meaningful friendships in my life and blessed with friends that have been there for me in the good times, and also through the bad.

I am so thankful that many of my closest friends are believers and encourage my walk with Christ. I encourage each of you to surround yourselves with other strong Christians, so you can learn and grow together. Help each other in your journey with Christ and be accountable to each other. Love and serve each other, setting an example for those around you.

Enjoy your friendships and take advantage of your opportunities to be together right now because the opportunity may not be there forever. Pray for them and appreciate their commitment to you and to the Lord.

Thank You, Lord, for designing us for friendships. I am so thankful for the wonderful people You have placed in my life to encourage me and to challenge me to bring glory to You. Thank You for them, and I pray that they are empowered to live a life for You.

I pray all things in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Until Next Time,

~Rachel

Life in the Spirit, Rachel's Posts

{Life In The Spirit}

August 15, 2015August 21, 2015 UYM

Written By: Rachel Shaw

Life in the Spirit…

“The word convict is a translation of the Greek word elencho, which means “to convince someone of the truth; to reprove; to accuse, refute, or cross-examine a witness.” The Holy Spirit acts as a prosecuting attorney who exposes evil, reproves evildoers, and convinces people that they need a Saviour.”

Wow. What a task the Holy Spirit has.

The conviction of the Holy Spirit has been overwhelming me lately. There have been several moments this week when I stepped back and thought about the conscious decision I had just made that was totally inexcusable.

I willingly made a wrong choice and oh my… did I ever feel guilty. I did my absolute best to ignore the constant knot in my stomach and hide my sin from God and act like it never happened (although I know better than that).

The guilt-filled knot in my stomach and my mind wasn’t there for no reason. It’s the Holy Spirit reminding me that the sin in my life is not something I should be comfortable with and I have to change!

After you’ve made a mistake (whether it be big or small) do you feel guilty? The Holy Spirit doesn’t intend to make you feel bad about yourself and the wrong choice you just made, but instead wants you to feel uneasy so you can fix it and learn for next time!

“You however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you.” – Romans 8:9

This passage doesn’t mean that we don’t sin anymore.. but that we are not controlled by sin anymore. Our sinful nature does not reign over us have us in shackles but instead, we are able to stand up with the Spirit and change.

What a blessing the Holy Spirit is to our lives. The conviction we feel is to help us… not to hurt us.

Thank you Lord for the gift of the Holy Spirit and his conviction in our hearts. Help us to learn more about being controlled by the Spirit and not of the sinful nature. I ask that you allow us to become sensitive the conviction and guide us to making the right choices. We love you Lord and we devote our lives to you. We ask all things in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Until Next Time,

~Rachel

Joceline's Posts, Kerrington's Posts, Life in the Spirit, Marnie's Posts, Rachel's Posts, Sienna's Posts, Soul-Searching Sundays, UYM, Video Blogs, {Beauty}, {Faith}, {Life}, {Love}

{BIG REVEAL} UYM Promo Video!

August 7, 2015August 8, 2015 UYM

UYM Promo video posting — Click Image to watch video!

God has been doing so much in and through Uniquely Yours Ministries…

It has been incredible to simply step back and see all that God is doing in the lives of our readership! The devoted women of faith committed to encourage on our team are truly amazing! This video project has been a joyful, stressful, yet such a rewarding experience that we have all been SO blessed to be apart of. We so look forward to continue writing and by God’s grace, touching more lives than ever before! We know that this Women’s Ministry is NOT at all about us or our team but, rather that when friends read our posts, they are instantly pointed up to Jesus! Because that, is the true purpose and meaning behind our ministry. To be able to see, women of all ages, backgrounds, and faiths, rise up and be everything God has truly called each of them to be. Blessings to you all!

Until Next Time,

~The UYM Team

Joceline's Posts, Kerrington's Posts, Life in the Spirit, Marnie's Posts, Rachel's Posts, Sienna's Posts, Soul-Searching Sundays

{BIG REVEAL} Friday!!!

August 5, 2015August 21, 2015 UYM

{BIG REVEAL} Coming this Friday at 10am EST! Mark your calendars, because you don’t want to miss this very special tribute! The UYM team, along with our incredibly talented in-house Director of Videography, Joshua Chaulk are very thrilled to share this wonderful project with you!!! #SHINEproject 💛

Until Next Time,

~Kerrington

Guest-Writers, Life in the Spirit, Rachel's Posts

{Sisters Week!} “D’Alimonte Girls.”

August 5, 2015August 4, 2015 UYM

Written by: Rachel Shaw and Bethany D’Alimonte

With a 5 year age gap, it’s safe to say that we had different interests growing up.

-I liked Lizzie McGuire while Bethany liked Dora

-I liked playing with friends while Bethany liked playing with dolls

-I liked Disney Channel while Bethany liked Treehouse

We never really seen eye to eye in our daily activities. We fought over anything and everything.

-The remote

-What to eat for dinner

-What songs to listen to

-Who got the front seat

-Who got the recliner chair

-Who got to lay on daddy’s lap (embarrassing)

-and on and on and on and on…..

Bethany and I spent every waking moment together (not really but it felt like it sometimes). Although we fought so often, we had more good times than bad. Our favourite thing to do together was to have sleepovers. We slept in each others bed every night until I hit grade 10. When she hit grade 10, Rachel began going out more with her friends and her new boyfriend.

Rachel and I spent less and less time together and we both felt as though we were losing our best-friend. The more time we spent apart, the more we appreciated our time together. Since Rachel got married and moved out of the house, we have spent more time with each other because now it is an option and not a must.

Now we choose to see each other several days of the week because we value the time we get to spend together. (We have even added a few sleepovers)!

Our signature quote in our friendship is “Sisters are for sharing laughter and wiping tears” and thats exactly what we do. We have similar humour and enjoy making the same jokes. We both have experienced so much heart break together and comfort each other because we know how the other person feels.

We love one another so much and wouldn’t change one thing about our childhood together. “Sisters; Like branches on a tree we grow in different directions, yet our roots remain as one. Each of our lives will always be a special part of the other.”

Amy's Posts, Angela's Posts, Discovering God, Guest-Writers, Joceline's Posts, Kerrington's Posts, Krystyn's Posts, Let's talk about Dating, Life in the Spirit, Luisa's Posts, Marnie's Posts, Rachel's Posts, Sienna's Posts, Soul-Searching Sundays, Taylor's Posts, UYM, UYM Runway, {Beauty}, {Faith}, {Life}, {Love}

{#SHINEproject}

August 1, 2015August 21, 2015 UYM

Uniquely Yours Ministries, is very thrilled to announce… “Shine Project!”

#SHINEproject is a promotional campaign dedicated to reaching out and encouraging women in communities across the globe. With the help of you, our dear readership…We are in pursuit of reaching new heights of ministry! Here is our ultimate GOAL:

-3,000 Likes on Facebook

-500 Followers on Instagram

-500 followers on Twitter

We have exactly ONE month, 30 days to accomplish this amazing ministry goal! We believe that with God, ALL things are made possible…With many exciting campaign kick-starters, encouraging scriptures, inspirational videos, special tributes from The UYM team and much more coming your way…You will have the pleasure of sharing, with all your friends and family. This month, will be an incredible month for UYM! Join us August 1st-August 31st for #SHINEproject! We would love to see what you are sharing and doing to promote SHINE in your community! You may be wondering…”How can I help?” Well, by simply pressing that share button at the bottom of this post, you may just be changing a life forever 🙂 Shining through social-media! So please use our hashtag, on ALL sources of social media. Thank you in advance for your support! We are so grateful!

Click HERE to watch the exciting Promo Video of #SHINEproject!

Until Next Time,

~The UYM Team

Life in the Spirit, Rachel's Posts

{Life In The Spirit} The Holy Spirit as a Person.

July 25, 2015August 24, 2015 UYM

Written By: Rachel Shaw

The Holy Spirit as a Person…What do we think the Holy Spirit is?

-A ghost?

-A mist?

-A presence?

I think were asking ourselves the wrong question. Instead of asking what is the Spirit.. how about we ask who is the Spirit?
How often do we catch ourselves thinking of the Holy Spirit as an object? Why do we naturally consider the Spirit as a “thing” rather than a personable being? As I read through the scriptures, I came to the realization that the Sprit is never referred to as “it”. The Bible is so clear, and so consistent referring to the Spirit as “He”.
For example: “But I tell you the truth, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counsellor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send HIM to you. When HE comes, HE will convict the world of guilt in regards to sin and righteousness and judgement.” John 16:7-8 (Capitalization added to prove my point).
Scripture also provides many other ways to help us understand the person of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit has a personality: He has life (Romans 8:2), He has a will and makes choices (1 Corinthians 2:11).

The Holy Spirit is active in His many works: He was involved in creation (Genesis 1:2), He gives us power (Acts 1:8), He directs and guides us (Acts 16:6-11), He intercedes (Romans 8:26), He speaks (Acts 10:19, Hebrews 3:7).

We discover through Scripture that the Holy Spirit has attributes and characteristics that show he is a personable being. He is living and active, and has been sent to help us in our journey towards eternity.
Thank you Lord for the amazing gift of the Holy Spirit. I pray that we learn more about Him through our devotions. Thank you for sending Him to us to help us in our walk with you. We ask that you continue to bless us through Him. We ask all things in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Until Next Time,

~Rahcel

Angela's Posts, Kerrington's Posts, Life in the Spirit, Rachel's Posts, UYM Runway

{EVENT} Inspiring Girls Night…

July 16, 2015August 24, 2015 UYM

Written By: Kerrington Sweeney

Our very first Girls Outreach event was such a wonderful success! Thank you to everyone who poured in lots of time (My Family and The UYM Team)

To those who donated such beautiful items to this event, we wouldn’t have been able to bless these girls and women without you! Also a HUGE warm Thank you, to all our guests who came out to show your support!

Thank you Inspired Christian Storehouse for the use of your beautiful facility and for believing so-highly in our Women’s Ministry.

Angela Ridsdale, one of our Monthly-Writers captured this night through the lenses of her camera…and for that we are all so very grateful!

What a memorable night it truly was, for us all.

Our very first “UYM Ministry Table.” Looking forward to using all this cute stuff again at other events. It was the perfect place for the young girls and ladies to sign up for, daily emails of encouragement from our blog and just to read a bit more about our ministry.

I had seen this idea done at a couple women’s conferences over the past few years and just had to have this at our girls event. The Bathroom Mirror of Encouragement!

Weekly Writer, Joceline Sweeney planned a super-fun game to start off the night with some laughs. The girls and ladies just loved it! Great memories.

UYM Worship, Featuring Olivia Wilson & Drew Pouget. Incredible time spent worshipping Our King. Such a deep love for worship was brewing that night.

While we were worshipping together, My Sister Ireland Sweeney was prophetically painting, a beautiful master-piece of artwork, to give to one of the ladies that night. Such a talented young lady.

A quick picture of myself, taking a moment simply soaking it all in… I couldn’t believe it, Our very first event was here! God is so good.

Myself and Weekend-Writer, Rachel Shaw had the opportunity to Guest-Speak that night. We spoke together to the ladies on Love, Relationships, and Season of Waiting.

Everything was beautiful that night! We are so blessed, to be continuing to serve God with our whole hearts. We are made with one true sole purpose, and that is knowing Him, and making His name known.

Looking forward to hosting another Girls Outreach Event soon!

Until Next Time,

~Kerrington

Kerrington's Posts, Life in the Spirit, Rachel's Posts