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What is Cadence Keeping?

Cadence Keeping | staying in step with the Spirit in the rhythms and happenings of life

“If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.” Galatians 5:25 

When I think about cadence, I think about how in different times of life I tried to be a runner. I say tried because I was not good at it at all. I struggled to be disciplined and consistent. I was also very slow. Runners try to manage their pace or cadence. For awhile, it was thought that there was a universal cadence that was best for all runners. However, that has been disproved.

I think this is true in our spiritual cadence keeping too. We can fall into the belief that we all should be keeping in step with the Spirit in the same ways. I think we also struggle with getting caught up in comparison. We feel inadequate with what we are doing in this season compared to a friend. We become distracted with the picture perfect quiet time on social media. We may even struggle with comparing what we are doing now to what we have done in other seasons.

I don’t believe we can follow Jesus however we want. We all should be using the Bible and the values it shares as our guideposts for daily living.

Life is difficult. It’s not a simple 5k that we are running. It’s not even a marathon. It’s more like some wild Mud Run and Iron Man smashup. It can be grueling and exhausting. There are seasons filled with immense grief. Seasons of life with great stress and worry as you navigate impossible decisions. In the midst of these difficult times, there are still beautiful moments and even seasons of great joy. Moments of laughter and memories with dear friends. Sweet times of sharing life with family. Adventuring and exploring the world God has created. Learning new skills and using the gift of creativity God has given us.

The idea of cadence keeping is recognizing that in all of the different seasons that make up life, we still keep in step with the Spirit. We keep the pillars–Bible reading, prayer, worship, and fellowship. We adjust our cadences in the specifics of how we incorporate these into our lives.

My hope with this blog is that it brings encouragement and new ideas as you cadence keep with the Spirit. May we all keep cadence with the Spirit in whatever season we are running in right now.

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Miss Beth

Meet my dear friend and mentor, Miss Beth! I am grateful to Miss Beth for sharing with us what cadence keeping looks like for her in this season of still finding her footing after transitioning from serving in Haiti for more than a decade.

Daily and many times hourly, I have to give my frustrations and emotions to Him to help me navigate where I am and who I am. 

Give us a brief introduction to who you are and what daily life looks like for you right now?

A Kingdom Woman who loves Jesus! A work in progress! A diamond in the rough! Almost a year has passed since I was wearing bandanas, sporting a sandal tan, discipling small groups, sharing devotions, teaching school, reaching community, building relationships, all while loving and coming alongside those the Lord sent me to in Haiti. And now, after a year of transitioning, grieving, waiting, seeking, wrestling and questioning, I’m experiencing a shift in gears in opportunities, relationships, mission field, and heart. My days have been filled with meeting new people at the recreation center where I workout (my mom calls it my new mission), coming alongside of mom to help her where I can, and enjoying the moments we have together. You can also find me reading, studying or taking part in a seminar, conference or podcast and let’s throw a nap in there too👍

What does studying and reading God’s Word look like for you right now?

During this season, I’ve felt a little “lost in the woods.” However, because I’ve been here before I know He will lead me out.  It took me a couple months of wandering a bit, but He reminded me to go back to my roots to study and dig deeper into His Word–through observation, interpretation, and application. Back in January, I began a Bible plan to listen and read that is broken down into genre–the letters, the law, history, Psalms, poetry, prophecy, and Gospels. This has been very different for me as I’ve just listened and read without note taking…to take in and marinate on the passages. Even in those days of wandering, He was nudging me to go back to journaling, the Hymn ” I Love To Tell The Story,” and Mark 5:19.

Also back in January, I dropped off of social media for what was going to be 2 months…I’ve popped on and off, but I have found my mind and heart needed the rest.

What does Christian community look like?

Not being a social butterfly it’s been a bit of a challenge for me, but I’ve taken a few steps in finding my people here. I know that I need to iniate more and I’ve had a few opportunities that have been an encouragement. I also joined the worship team (the Lord was nudging me🙏) to engage in community here which has been a joy to my heart. I know community is important for we were made for community. With the Father and with others, I’m slowly learning to “step out of the boat” to engage and build deeper relationships. Jennie Allen’s new book, “Find Your People…building deep community in a lonely world,” was perfect timing for me and her podcast was an encouragement to be courageous and engage more with tools I have now.

Where are you finding encouragement and hope?

His Word is where I find both encouragement and hope. Hebrews 6:19 “We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure” This verse is not only written on my heart, but tattooed on me as a visible reminder that Jesus is my Anchor. The Lord has also blessed me with spiritual daughters that pop in at just the right time with a text or video chat and I can’t forget my mom and sister!! I also have 2 brothers in the Lord that are always checking in on me to see how I am and how they can pray. 

Where are you struggling when it comes to following God?

My struggle….my health can be a pain figuratively, emotionally and literally! Because it plays into other areas…the snowball affect😳 which leads me to realize I’m not trusting. I have to look back and see how faithful He has been to me in the past and ask for forgiveness for my doubt, unbelief. I’ve been more anxious over fear of what others think of me or how they see me. Another struggle has been anxiety over finances and not being mentally, physically able to work a normal job. Yet He has been faithful and has provided odd jobs to do, as He promises in Psalm 73:26. Daily and many times hourly, I have to give my frustrations and emotions to Him to help me navigate where I am and who I am. 

                                          A WOMAN WHO LOVES JESUS AND

                                           WANTS HIS LIGHT TO SHINE IN ME 

                                           FOR HIS PURPOSE AND GLORY 🙏⚓

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Amy

My friend Amy and I have done a lot of life together. We have been through some incredible highs and some devastating lows. I am so thankful for her in my life. I hope that you also will be encouraged as she shares some of what God has been doing in her life and what following Him looks like in this season.

It's actually pretty easy to stay on the right path when you're taking big steps. But it's actually hardest for me to stay on the right path when I'm taking the small, everyday steps. I have to be so much more intentional to stay on track with the adjustments God wants to make in me daily. 

Give us a brief introduction to who you are and what daily life looks like for you right now?

My name is Amy, and I live in Kansas, where I live with my husband and three boys, ages 12, 14, and 17. I currently work part-time doing medical billing for a friend who is an eye doctor, and part-time managing my home and kids. In the past, I’ve held roles as a family minister and a youth minister. Daily life over the past several years or so has been beautifully rough. I went through a really difficult season of depression, one of our kids developed some hard-to-figure-out health issues after he had COVID, and another dealt with a myriad of issues ranging from PTSD to major depression to school refusal. I still hold that it’s been beautiful though,  because we’ve seen so much healing and God has held us together in the midst of it all. 

What does studying and reading God’s Word look like for you right now?

The biggest thing that helps me to process God’s Word is consistency and time to reflect. Many days I actually only spend five to ten minutes reading a passage or two. If I read too much I have a hard time processing it and applying it to my life. But once I’ve read a passage, I try take time to reflect and pray throughout the day, allowing God to write His Word on my heart. Sometimes I re-read and reflect on the same passage for several days. 

I should also admit that I don’t actually do my “Jesus Time” in the morning. I am NOT a morning person, and anytime I’ve tried to do a morning quiet time my brain is not awake enough to process. So I’ve listened to the way God made me, and I do my quiet time before bed. I find it to be a comforting and encouraging way to fall asleep, and in the morning I often remember it better.

What does Christian community look like?

Prayer Moms! Several years ago a dear friend suggested that a group of us who all had boys around the same age get together to pray for 30 minutes once a week. I now see that she totally roped me in by promising it would just be 30 minutes a week. Now these women are called “The Prayer Moms,” and they are intricately wrapped into my life, and our (mostly) weekly prayer/fellowship times last a lot more than 30 minutes! We find strength and encouragement in sharing our stories and our lives, even though we go to different churches and have children at different ages and stages. In January we actually lost one of our dear friends to cancer, and walking that road with her and her family was incredibly painful but holy. 

Where are you finding encouragement and hope?

I find hope in the way God sustains me each day. Truly, it’s been a rough season. But God has provided the resources we need in unexpected ways, and He has shaped us and healed us as He stretches us. I’ve certainly developed a much closer walk and intimacy with Him than I never would have experienced without the obstacles we’ve faced. 

Where are you struggling when it comes to following God?

Oh this is a good question. Following God and obeying Him seems easier sometimes in the big stuff, partially because the big stuff is more exciting. 😂 But obeying Him in the little things, like honoring people I just don’t really want to honor, or keeping my mouth shut as I try to learn to be less critical…these are the daily battles that I have the hardest time overcoming. It’s actually pretty easy to stay on the right path when you’re taking big steps. But it’s actually hardest for me to stay on the right path when I’m taking the small, everyday steps. I have to be so much more intentional to stay on track with the adjustments God wants to make in me daily. 

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Alexis

Meet my friend, Alexis! She was kind enough to share with us some of the cadences and rhythms that she is keeping in this season of being an expectant mother, military wife, and an online student.

Give us a brief introduction to who you are and what daily life looks like for you right now?

My name is Alexis. I have been married to my husband, Keagan, for 10 months. Keagan is currently active duty in the Marine Corps. We are currently living in Japan at our first duty station. I am 8 months pregnant. We are due to welcome our sweet baby in mid August, about a week before our 1 year wedding anniversary.

I currently am enrolled in online courses to get an Associates Degree in Biblical Studies. I have finished one year of the degree and have one left. My daily life right now looks like doing coursework for my degree, preparing our home to welcome a new baby, soaking up a bunch of quality time with my husband, home making, investing in new friendships here in Japan and being involved in a couple different ministries here on base. 

What does studying and reading God’s Word look like for you right now?

Studying and reading God’s Word looks different for me than it ever has before. I have come to be so grateful for the opportunity to not have to work. I have really delighted in staying home, taking care of the house, expanding my knowledge of the Word, and preparing for a new baby physically, mentally and emotionally all while relying on the Lord’s strength to carry me through all of it. I have come to love digging deep into the Word with my husband. We are learning more and more each time we open the Word together as the Holy Spirit is convicting us and changing us. I feel so strongly convicted in my role as a wife and soon-to-be stay at home mom that this is what the Lord has created me for and called me to do. I find such joy in cleaning my home, preparing meals and caring for my husband. I often times find myself thanking the Lord for simple things such as dishes to do, laundry to do and other things like that. I find myself in prayer and meditating on scriptures from the Word as I do my daily tasks. It’s been so sweet to see the Lord reveal Himself to me and His heart for me in my day to day obedience to Him and what He has called me to.

What does Christian community look like?

Christian community in this season looks quite different for me than it ever has before. Military life is one that holds many transitions for all involved. That being said, transitioning to Japan and finding Christian community has been difficult and still is to this day. I have become a part of a Women’s Study that has brought me such sweet ladies that love Jesus and have been so good to me. My husband and I attend a couples Bible Study together during the week and that has brought us some great Christian friends that we spend a lot of time with having deep conversations about the Word and worshipping together. 

Where are you finding encouragement and hope?

I find such great encouragement and hope in seeing the ways that the Lord has brought my husband and I to where we are today. Although the path to where we are has been full of hardships and difficulties, as I look back, I see God orchestrating our every step. Even when plans fell through or we thought that our way was better, the Lord always had something greater in store for us. Looking back and seeing the way that the Lord has always provided and made a way brings me such great hope and encouragement when it comes to facing what may lie ahead of us. We can rest fully and confidently in knowing that we are His.

Where are you struggling when it comes to following God?

I often see myself, when it comes to following God, struggling with being diligent in prayer always seeking His will before my own. Pride is something I struggle with and I face everyday. So often, I think that I am able and capable on my own and I don’t always need Him. But just when I begin to think those things, I am led to a place of deep surrender where I realize that I am not everything I thought I was. I begin to see that He is capable and He is able. He is enough. He is sovereign over all things and I can trust Him. I have had to learn to surrender a lot of things that weren’t in my control within the last year. But it was in those moments of me loosening my grip of control, that He could do His work and He could move and show up. In those moments of seeing Him move in situations I just couldn’t handle, I was so very grateful that I loosened my grip and surrendered control to Him

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Perspectives on Cadence Keeping

Perspectives on Cadence Keeping

Cadence keeping is not going to look the same for each of us. Some of us will love waking up at 6AM to spend an hour in the Word. However, some of us are at our worst at 6AM. Some of us are going through a season of great struggle and our cadence keeping of meditating is recalling verses we’ve tucked away in our heart as we go from appointment to appointment. There will be seasons where our cadence of connecting will consist of keeping two little ones alive and cared for with little to no time or energy to connect with others. Whereas, some may be in a season of connecting with large groups of people consistently. I’ve invited some friends to share with us a little about what cadence keeping is looking like for them in their current seasons. I hope you will be encouraged. 

ALEXIS
Meet my friend, Alexis! She was kind enough to share with us some of the cadences and rhythms that she is keeping in this season of being an expectant mother, military wife, and an online student.

AMY
My friend Amy and I have done a lot of life together. We have been through some incredible highs and some devastating lows. I am so thankful for her in my life. I hope that you also will be encouraged as she shares some of what God has been doing in her life and what following Him looks like in this season of coming out of a difficult time, working part-time, and being a wife and a mom.

MISS BETH
Meet my dear friend and mentor, Miss Beth! I am grateful to Miss Beth for sharing with us what cadence keeping looks like for her in this season of still finding her footing after transitioning from serving in Haiti for more than a decade.

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Cadence Keeping Disrupted

Cadence Keeping Disrupted It has been a season filled with change and challenges

In March of 2020, I made my first post on this blog.

I was excited to start blogging again. Jesus was teaching me some new things and I was ready to share them. Ten days later, I was evacuating my Caribbean home. COVID-19 was spreading throughout the world and there was little knowledge of what the next few months would hold.

Remember, back at the beginning of COVID when it seemed like it would just be a few weeks or maybe months before things would get back to “normal”?

Disrupted is a very good description of these last few years–from COVID to many other disruptions around the world. It has been a season filled with change and challenges. These changes and challenges left this blog with its one post and many of the cadences I was trying to keep disrupted.

More than two years later, here I am ready to pick this blog back up. Will you join me? Will you join me in getting back up and trying again?

There are some things I need to let go of. There are some places where I need courage. There are some people I’m inviting to share how they are cadence keeping with the Spirit in this season of constant change. There are some feelings of fear, hope, and excitement.

I hope you will join me in this space and find some encouragement in your own cadence keeping and walk with God.

Morgan

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Cadence Keeping

Cadence Keeping If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. Galatians 5:25

“If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.” Galatians 5:25 


Following Paul’s list on the fruit of the Spirit, we find verse 25 with a significant message to followers of Jesus. The fruit of the Spirit includes love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control. These attributes are admired and sought after by most. Verse 25 shares that these are not only to be characteristics of followers of Jesus but that the Spirit is to be leading the rhythm of our lives.  Oh, how I want my life cadence to be kept to the rhythm of the Spirit’s steps—to be right where He is and to be a part of His work. I want to live a life of cadence keeping. 


Cadence Keeping | staying in step with the Spirit in the rhythms and happenings of life


Looking back on my life, there have been seasons of little growth and lack of keeping in step with the Spirit. These season have been filled with apathetic worship and a drifting away from God. Common denominators in these seasons have been neglecting spiritual disciplines, giving into lazy habits, lack of learning, ceasing creative outlets and isolation from others. Very quickly, you can become lazy or begin pursuing your own desires. 

Being mindful of the cadences you include in your life allows you to exchange apathy for engagement in the work of the Holy Spirit. What a gift! This blog was created to share and encourage others to live a life of cadence keeping. It’s something I am still figuring out. Join me in figuring it out together!

Morgan