Advent is here. Honestly, it feels like the preparation for Advent has been long over here. We were, for the first time, ahead of the game in writing and designing this year's journal. We have so many women praying together this Advent. As the world swirls by, frantic to prepare for Christmas, all of us, together, sit by the manger in the morning. We wanted to give you something for your tech devices - whether it's your mother in law calling for the fifth time, your phone calendar dinging that you have another final in 2 hours, your late night scrolls on Amazon getting your loved ones gifts - that you would pause and see this wallpaper and remember Who we are preparing for. That it might remind you to take a breather. When the idea of flowers overflowing the manger came into my head - I was thinking about how it is really from this Baby that my life blossoms. In the dead of winter, my soul rejoices and blooms because of that Babe born in the manger. So to be reminded of this daily - grab this free download below with the words of Elizabeth Foss: "Be overwhelmed by a huge God who loves you intimately." And if you didn't get a change to buy the journal, you can still download a digital version and join us! - Erica Phone wallpaper Desktop wallpaper

Who doesn't love a fresh wallpaper on a Wednesday. It sure feels like the weekend as we all quickly prepare for Thanksgiving tomorrow. I for one, am trying to get all my work done before I'm supposed to be in the car for a road trip to my parents' house in... five minutes. (LOL) This wallpaper by Katrina of Hatch Prints comes from the readings of Sunday's Mass - and luckily is very relevant for our whole week - especially as we step into gratefulness tomorrow. (Have you seen any of our videos on our FB page about what we are all grateful for? I made one yesterday!) You can also tag #BISgrateful on social media to connect with others cultivating gratitude in their lives. One thing we are SUPER grateful for is that we SOLD OUT of our entire inventory for our Advent journals, prints and Jesse Tree cards. The good news is that I just uploaded digital versions of the print and journal so if you *forgot* to order before we sold out, you can now still participate in this time of prayer and preparation of Advent season. You can find them here. And below you can download this wallpaper for your devices for free! We are so grateful for you. Phone wallpaper Desktop wallpaper

This is the second post in our Grateful Heart challenge. After reading this post from Megan Hjelmstad, feel free to share your own post at the bottom, or share your thoughts and gratitude on Instagram. I’d never spoken to her in person, but whenever I got dressed in the morning she was there in my mind’s eye: that effortlessly chic, trend-setting gal from school who always seemed to have it together. I rifled through my closet and made list after mental list of the things I needed to make me feel as good as she looked. But invariably when I passed her, my outfits seemed less refined, my hair and makeup unsophisticated, my entire being inadequate. Nothing I owned, nothing I was seemed good enough; I was diving headlong into the compare and despair game and coming up so terribly, horribly empty. It’s always something, isn’t it? A nicer house, a newer car, the latest trend, a more enviable brand—a beautiful, status-elevating something or other. We "need" it to be respected. Accepted. Successful. Worthy. We tell ourselves that if we just had [insert object], we’d be happy. Life would be good. And even if we manage to fight those obvious lies, almost all of us still fall into the trap of “if only I had x amount of money, I could breathe easier. Things would be a little better.” Certainly, it’s never a bad thing to be able to cover expenses, and material things themselves aren’t bad—in fact, God can [and does] use our appreciation of the material, our attraction the beauty of created things, to inspire us and draw us closer to Himself. But it depends on the state of our heart. So often we hang our hats on material comfort as the solution to our worrying or stress without truly allowing God into our need. Yet deep in our souls, the whisper of truth is ever-present: more stuff and money isn’t gonna make every little thing alright. We know very well that’s not the end game of our soul. We can’t take it with us. We can do well to take a step back and look at our attitude toward stuff; how deliberately we dispose our hearts to the material elements of our lives. Do we condition ourselves to view everything we have, everything we buy, as a pure gift from God? Or do we thoughtlessly chase after them in a direction opposite of God’s love, believing that we’ve earned it by our own merit or that we deserve it more than others? Or—most tragically—do we chase after the material because we’ve allowed the world to convince us that it could somehow “improve” our God-given worth and fill the hole of love and acceptance we crave? This week, join in the Blessed is She Gratitude movement by focusing as a community on being thankful for the things we already have. Let’s also prayerfully consider how our soul’s needs contrast or align with our material wants, and reflect on how we can help with the true material needs so present in our global Body of Christ! Join the linkup below and use the hashtag #BISgrateful on social media to share. Week 2 of #BISgrateful: Cultivate gratitude for the material blessings in your life in any of the following ways: Make a list, say a prayer of thanks for the material things you use or buy throughout the day, or maybe even fast from spending on those superfluous “extras” this week, and ask God to enter that space in your heart and fill that desire instead. Donate at least one box of material goods, preferably in good shape. Check locals stores (some even offer store credit) like those mentioned in this article [http://www.today.com/kindness/h-m-madewell-other-retailers-invite-you-unload-old-clothes-t55301] to recycle items too old or stained to donate. An InLinkz Link-up

I love that two weeks in a row we are reminded of joy. This week's wallpaper is made by Lauren of When Beauty Met Truth. As we inch closer to the holidays, the mad rush of Thanksgiving and Advent and Christmas, let us remember that we must remain in joy. If you haven't purchased your Advent journal yet, make sure to head to the shop so that you make sure to receive it in time! But before you go, download the wallpaper for free below! Phone wallpaper Desktop wallpaper

This weekly wallpaper is from Kristin Foss reminding us of true joy found in God's glory. Where will you find joy this week? You can download this free wallpaper below for your computer and phone! Phone wallpaper Desktop wallpaper

"Oh Lord, you are the lover of my soul and I am yours!" Gorgeous wallpaper by Tara of Frameworthy Designs. You can download it for your phone and desktop below for free! Phone wallpaper Desktop wallpaper

Last week our designer, Erica of Be a Heart, visited Mexico City for inspiration. Not only did she create for us a weekly wallpaper, but she also prayed for our community at the Basilica of the Virgin of Guadalupe and specifically for all the women who join us in our Advent study this year. We think it's going to be all of our best Advents ever because the content is SO good, written by Elizabeth Foss. You can download the free wallpapers below with today's Psalm, "The LORD is close to the brokenhearted; and those who are crushed in spirit he saves" Psalm 34:19 This is His promise to us and we believe that one way for Him to work in our lives is to join in this Advent journey together. Elizabeth's words will make you think, reflect and prepare for the Babe in the manger. We promise it's good. You can get it here. Phone wallpaper Desktop wallpaper

Katrina of Hatch Prints reminds us to proclaim the word with our free downloadable wallpaper this week! "Proclaim the word; be persistent whether it is convenient or inconvenient; convince, reprimand, encourage through all patience and teaching." 2 Timothy 4:2 as from the second reading. You can get them for your phone and desktop below! Phone wallpaper Desktop wallpaper

The readings today remind us to grateful. To look at all the parts of our lives that God has blessed us, that God has done work in us, that God has cured us and turn to Him in gratitude. Lauren of When Beauty Met Truth made us a beautiful wallpaper to remind us of this all week long. You can download it for free for your phone and desktop below!   Phone wallpaper Desktop wallpaper

I was so struck by the readings this week with the message of hope. "If it delays, wait for it, it will surely come, it will not be late." Habakkuk 2:3 How many times do I want to give up praying because I don't see any answers. But wait for it! It will surely come! It will not be late! It is God's timing, not my own. If you find yourself losing hope, wishing for answers, download this free wallpaper below for our phone and desktop. Made by Erica of Be A Heart. Phone wallpaper Desktop wallpaper

You are the chosen child of God, precious in His eyes, called the Beloved from all eternity. And we want to celebrate Y O U and this beautiful truth. Join us in October in California and/or March in Arizona to dive in to Life of the Beloved by Henri Nouwen. Pray with us, worship with us. I want to come to the Beloved Retreat! We can't wait to see you. Grab your special Beloved desktop and phone wallpaper for free from the lovely Erica of Be a Heart, right here --->>> Phone wallpaper Desktop wallpaper

We love what Katrina of Hatch Prints did with the verse from today's readings. Saint Teresa of Calcutta did just this with her life, "Praise the Lord who lifts up the poor." You can download it for your phone and desktop below for free! Phone wallpaper Desktop wallpaper

So absolutely in love with this week's wallpaper by Lauren of When Beauty Met Truth! From today's psalms: "I will rise and go to my father." You can download it for your phone and desktop below! Phone wallpaper Desktop wallpaper

Today's psalms give us such a beautiful message and Tara of Frame Worthy Designs made it even more beautiful for us. "Fill us at daybreak with your kindness, that we may shout for joy and gladness all our days." You can download it below for your phone or desktop for free! Phone wallpaper Desktop wallpaper

I love this week's readings because it reminds us that life is indeed difficult, but it is all for our greater good! The things that are hard now are preparing us for something in the future and all leading us on the path to God. Don't lose heart! Strengthen your drooping knees and weak hands! What hope! You can download this free wallpaper for your phone and desktop designed by Erica of Be A Heart. Phone wallpaper Desktop wallpaper

SO, it's the middle of the week and this wallpaper is just getting up - it's been that kind of week! BUT what a beautiful reminder as we finish out the week. Katrina of Hatch Prints painted this free wallpaper for us from last weekend's readings. You can download it below for your phone and desktop! Phone wallpaper Desktop wallpaper

Today we are challenged to look at our most treasured parts of our life. You can download this wallpaper by the amazing Lauren of When Beauty Met Truth for free below! Phone wallpaper Desktop wallpaper