The Novel of Us // T.B. LaBerge

Christmas was Her favorite holiday, She always fell in love during this time. She adored the lights that clothed the trees creating a glimpse of heaven and the snow covering the world in what seemed like billions of crystals. She loved the way He seemed to stand just a little bit closer to Her during this time. She sang all the carols until Her voice would go and when that happened, She would brew Herself a cup of tea and sit by the window and gaze out it, in those moments Her heart was at peace.

He had always wanted to be in love at Christmas, to be able to live what all those Christmas songs always sang about. To share in the gift of giving with another, especially one that He could spend all His days with. As He saw Her sitting by the window, the light of the Christmas tree glowing softly off Her beautiful face and the soft tunes of Nate King Cole gently making their way across the room and resting in the ears of those who were around, He realized what a gift She was; He was at peace.

—	T.B. LaBerge // The Novel of Us (via blissfulbeardsdoitbest)

She Reads Truth // Daniel 3:1-23

Daniel may be one of my favorite books in the bible. And so, when I found out the She Reads Truth was doing a study on it, I didn’t care that it’d be my fifth time reading it through from start to finish. I got excited. And today, I was reminded again of how great our God is {even though we stopped just before God shows His power and faithfulness}. Specifically the verses.

If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will never serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up. {3: 17-18 || ESV}

"but if not, …"

To have a faith like those men {Meshach, Adegnego, and Shadrach} who declared that God will deliver them from the fiery furnace. Who were also confident enough to say, “but if not…” they would never serve their gods or worship their images. I long to have a faith like that — I aim, daily, to be reminded of this kind of faith in God.  

The commentary from todays quiet time is something I would like to share — She Reads Truth says,

“And if not…”

I feel like that’s the rally cry of my faith. I hold on to the idea that Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego had. I believe that God will show up, that He will show up here on Earth and move in His people and move mountains.

“And, if not…”

And if not, He is still good. He is still the King Most High. He alone is still worthy of our worship. It is still worth it. It would be far better for me to perish than to live a life of bowing down to a lesser god.

We may not live under a government that dictates who or what we can worship, but how often do we voluntarily allow idols to take residence in our life? Comfort, safety, health, wealth. How often do we bow down and sacrifice for those things?

I have hopes. I have desires. If I’m honest, sometimes I hope God’s desires line up with my desires for my life, not the other way around.

But, I believe I’d give up comfort, safety, health and wealth to more fully know God. I believe that giving up those things would benefit me here on Earth. And, if not, I have the comfort of knowing there is glory in Eternity.

Do you have something you are hoping God will show up and do? Do you trust that He is good to grant that desire? Do you trust that He is also good in the “And, if not…”?

Sundays

Thankful for Sundays /// days where you wake up extra early to make sticky buns — just because — days where you worship our beautiful Creator and get your heart softened all over again, where you enjoy the laughter of friends over lunch. Days where you sit at the kitchen island, soaking in the plans for the week ahead, Eric Church filling your ears, and doing odds and ends around the house — cleaning dishes, sweeping up the floor, and laundry going in cycles.

My heart is weary, yet filled. I sense a season of change coming and I’m trying to prepare my heart for the openness it deserves.

Thankful for love and family — and Sundays.

Update!

The 20's Project 

1. Read the entire bible.

2. Ride a motorcycle 

3. Skydive

4. Get a full-body message 

5. Memorize an entire chapter of the Bible

6. Backpack part of Appalachian Trail

7. Order breakfast in bed room service, at a fancy hotel. 

8. Run a half marathon

9. Glacier Park

10. Visit 5 National Parks

11. Visit New York City

12. Travel to Europe 

13. Try a cigar

14. Go to a Sara Bareilles concert

15. Visit California

16. Go to a vineyard & wine taste

17. Start my teaching career

18. Attend a NFL Football game

19. Take a cooking class

20. Serve on a missions Trip

Recent things crossed off - #4, #16! 

I Stand in Awe //

Sweet and merciful Father, 

I stood in awe, tonight, with my arms high and heart abandoned.

After hearing Your words spoken out to us tonight. After hearing the gospel poured into my ears and heart.

That’s the beauty of You — that you can hear, you can read, you can soak in the gospel so many times, but it still has that affect on you. I am still amazed by You. I am speechless at Your willing Sacrifice of Your son — I should have been the one paying for my countless sins, and yet you sent Him, perfect in power and wholly worthy to be praised. 

Father, not only am I touched to hear your gospel this week and be reminded of your unfailing love, but Lord — you have eight new children who have submitted themselves to you, who have chosen to call You Father for the first time today, and who will see Your face one day — who now have eternal life! 

I am sitting here with tear-filled eyes, with an overwhelmed, joyful, happy, heart. Eight children have chosen to follow the Lord of all.

All I can say is that God is at work, here, in the city of Philadelphia — He is the God of this city and I truly believe that even greater things are yet to come. 

“

I kick and I scream and I thrash hard against the Father’s love. I shift my focus and become a prisoner to the panic instead of the promise, and still He says, “mine.” He looks at me, broken, and calls me daughter and ever so lovingly pulls me right back in.

I want to live as a prisoner to the “Yes.” Remembering all we have seen, we set our hope fully on what we have not yet seen. We place all of our hope and all of our trust and all of our focus on the grace given us through Christ, and we beg to live captured by His promises.

”

—	Katie Davis

Before You Wed // Darling Magazine

Most of us girls have a dream growing up that we will someday find our Mr. Forever. In young adulthood, there is a tendency to be particularly focused on this objective. Whether you are single, ready to mingle, or in a serious relationship, the choices we make now sets the stage for our future marriage. Here’s what we can do to put ourselves in a healthy position in our relationships now and in the future.

Keep Growing
When we are looking for Mr. Right, there is a tendency for this longing to create “tunnel vision,” where all of our problems will be solved if we could just find Mr. Right. While this illusion is certainly convincing, another person will never be capable of being “our everything” or solving all of our insecurities and fears. Whether you are in a serious relationship or not, it is important to continue toward personal growth as our external circumstances are only a fleeting salve for our wounds.

Be Intentional
Inside or outside of a committed relationship, we are wise to treat all of our relationships like the latter. A common myth adopted by many during young adulthood is that we can get serious about what matters later and everything will fall into place. Sometimes this happens. Most of the time it doesn’t. We perform how we practice. While this doesn’t mean that we give too much of ourselves too quickly, being intentional about getting to really know someone and continue to grow in our relationships with ourselves and others will only serve our relationship with future Mr. Right down the road.

Observe
Take a look around. Who in your life has the kind of relationship you would want to have? If it is difficult to think of a relationship you might like to emulate, it is important to reach out to people that demonstrate relationships you hope to have yourself. Having several mentors create vision and help us understand what we are looking for and prevents us from settling for less.

Be Patient
The right one is worth waiting for and comparing yourself to other people’s storylines will only breed dissatisfaction with the beauty of your own story. Waiting for your own story to unfold with anticipation will help you to be thankful for your own unique story and will help you to love the life you have rather than constantly wishing you were somewhere else.

Be Thankful
Each season brings different gifts. Rather than ignoring the gifts of this season and focusing on what your hopes might be for the future, enjoy unwrapping the gifts that this season provides. If we constantly look forward, we miss the presents of the present. An attitude of gratitude leads us toward joy in each season of life.

So no matter what stage of life you are in, know that what you do now counts. It counts now and it counts in the future. Living this truth will only reward you down the road.

Photo by Heidi Ryder, via Style Me Pretty

(article via Darling Magazine)

David Platt // Singleness and the Next Generation

Spare the next 55 minutes of your time: singles, married, widowed, whomever. Friends, it is 100% worth your time. It is more encouraging than any other sermon on singleness than I have ever listened to. He reflects what the Word says about singleness and marriage, rather than what the World says about singleness and marriage. 

“Use His good gift, for His great glory.”

Reflection // SRT

How fickle my heart and how fickle my mind…where you invest your love, you invest your life.

– Mumford & Sons, “Awake My Soul”

I wonder what God thinks about where I spend my time.

I wonder what He thinks about all the crafts, clothes and recipes I pin on Pinterest.  The minutes I burn on the elliptical.

The celebrity magazines I flip through at the grocery store.

The times I check my Facebook feed, my Twitter and my email to see who “likes” me today.

I know I’m not alone in this cycle.  We wear ourselves out.  We wear Him out.

We can read it in His word, what He thinks about these things we make kings.

“They set up kings without my consent, they choose princes without my approval.  With their silver and gold, they make idols for themselves to their own destruction.” (Hosea 8:4, NIV, emphasis added)

Like a parent who has been disobeyed time and time again, His anger burns (Hosea 8:5, NIV).  I picture God watching us toiling away at all the things that don’t matter, wasting our time, wasting our efforts on building our own kingdoms instead of His.  And He is both angry and sorrowful, asking, “When will they ever learn?”

Let’s pray for the return of our Savior, who came not to call the righteous, but to call the sinners. (Mark 2:17, NIV)

He’s willing to take a seat at the table with us, we need only set His place, invest our love, and invest our lives.

Readings: Hosea 8 + Mark 2:13-17

(excerpts from SRT.com)

Urgency

Ladies & Gents!

As I type away to you, I have an urgency that might not completely make sense in words — but it’s on my heart.

I have read, listened to, soaked in, tried to make sense of, and thought about many peoples’ stories. It is so interesting to hear how God has been working in many lives, and will continue to.

It’s also alarming to read how many view God and the gospel, how some take away the parts of the Bible that they want to follow, and leave the other parts sitting aside. There is no word or truth of greater importance than the gospel of Jesus Christ — But it’s also alarming to know that so many aren’t openly sharing the Gospel with others. We are missing a key part of being a child of God. 

We live in a world where half the population is living on less than two dollars a day, and over a billion people dwell in desperate poverty. Billions of people are engrossed in the worship of false gods, and approximately two billion of those people are still unreached with the gospel, meaning they have little chance of even hearing about the sacrifice of Christ for their sins before they die.*

Like WHAT?! Does this concern you? Is the urgency now placed in your heart? I pray it has some weight to it, for you. 

My question(s) and concern is why don’t we have this joy, this love, this urgency in us? Why are so many of us silent about the Gospel? Why is there a lack of passion for it? 

Are you worried about the response of sharing? Are you scared of being ridiculed (because you will be — probably more than what you may/may not see on this blog). You will be challenged in ways unimaginable. You will be asked questions that you won’t know the answers to (go & learn from them and be honest that you don’t know the answer). And don’t be afraid of asking the questions, too! 

But most of all, don’t be selfish! By keeping this Truth from those you love, you are keeping them from eternal life and that is about as selfish as you can get.

We are called to be a disciple and to spread the Word (like a wild fire). The commission Christ has given is clear: make disciples of all the nations. Spend your lives spreading the gospel for the glory of God to the ends of the earth.*

I want you to grasp something: Jesus is worth it. 

We can assent to the spirit of this age and choose to spend our lives seeking world pleasures, acquiring worldly possessions, and pursuing worldly ambitions — all under the banner of cultural Christianity.

Or we can decide that Jesus is worth more than this. We can recognize that he has created us, saved us, and called us for a much greater purpose than anything this world could ever offer us. We can die to ourselves, our hopes, our dreams, our ambitions, our priorities, and our plans. We can do all of this because we believe that the person and the plan of Christ bring reward that makes any risk more than worth it.*

Friends, this is my challenge: share the gospel. Start small, maybe with a friend have that deep and terrifying conversation. I wouldn’t sugar-coat it, rather share the raw truth. Be graceful, be honest, and show your joy about your salvation! You should be jumping for joy, per say, about your salvation. Don’t keep it hidden — that’s dangerous. 

I long for the day where the Kingdom of God is growing so rapidly because of the obedient children of God. I long for when His people are so on fire for Him that they cannot keep quiet about His goodness. Why hold back this beautiful story of redemption from others?

I challenge you to take that risk —

*David Platt (from the forward in “Risk is Right” by John Piper)

This Girl.

Reflection || SheReadsTruth

Some touching words and reminders, today, from SheReadsTruth:

“I will make you my wife forever, showing you righteousness and justice, unfailing love and compassion. I will be faithful to you and make you mine and you will finally know me as the LORD.” – Hosea 2:19-20 (NLT)

But Lord, I said, I am weak and I am unfaithful to you.

My faith is weak.
The temptations are strong.
My knees are shaky.
My heart has no sentries around it so I’m falling for everything.
I am a mess.
I’m falling back on counting the gifts you have given me.
I’m falling back on scripture memory
I’m falling back

“And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as Lord, you must continue to follow Him. Let your roots grow down into Him. Let your lives be built on Him then your faith will grow strong in the truth you have been taught and you will overflow with thankfulness” - Colossians 2:6-8 (NLT)

And now, just as I have accepted Christ Jesus as Lord, I must continue to fall in love with Him…to follow Him.
To let my roots grow down into Him
To let my life be built on Him

Only then will my faith grow strong and only then will counting gifts become a joy and not a chore.

So as a new day begins and my faith feels so small in my heart, like a woman longing for water in the wilderness, I will hang on to the right hand of my God for dear life. If I can’t testify about anything else, I can testify that my King loves me that He strengthens my heart and that He holds me securely in my moments of weakness. It is when I am weak that He shines through me.

“My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart, he is mine forever” – Psalm 73:26 (NLT)

Not Just End Results

“Did you know that God is not just about end results?  I’m still learning that one!  We discovered through our loss that God is very much interested in our process- not just end results. When things don’t end the way we think they should, will we trust Him? Will we still say yes? Will we continue on His path, trusting that He knows best?  Oh boy, I am not saying I have this down, because I totally don’t, but I am slowly learning to just keep saying yes.  His ways truly are higher than ours (Isaiah 55:9).”

And I will lead the blind in a way that they do not know, in paths that they have not known I will guide them. I will turn the darkness before them into light, the rough places into level ground. These are the things I do, and I do not forsake them. 

— Isaiah 42:16 [ESV]

We don’t know the end result for any situation in our lives: education, love, relationships, family — our future. 

Father, I pray you keep our hearts and eyes awake for what You are doing, and that when you ask us, that we will joyfully reply - “yes!”

I want to live on the edge of my seat for Him. How can I answer “yes” if my spirit is asleep? How can I walk forward with my eyes closed to the needs all around me?

I want to be like the servant in Luke 12:35 who is wide awake, waiting for the Master to return.

Just keep walking — one foot in front of the other, He will take us by the hand and lead us —

[a reflection from SheReadsTruth || February 26, 2013]

You Single?

Treat yourself tomorrow to…. well, something.

Don’t have the extra cash? Go to a free museum, walk around in the displays you want to, don’t split it with someone else. Go to a movie, sit were ever you want to, and chuckle as loud as you want, or cry hard and loud.

Get a haircut. Go to the barber and get your face shaved. Buy something small. A tie clip. A brooch. Buy something big, like a leather weekend bag, or those shoes you have been dying to wear with that dress you got a couple months ago. Go to a bookstore, find a chair or corner and read a book you normally wouldn’t.

Buy yourself a plant. You could get flowers, and as I do dry them upside down on the pipes. Buy, go get a plant. Go to the closest place, hell even the grocery store. Go get yourself the first plant that says something to you. It may be the only plant that isn’t the gaudy roses, or typical flowering cuteness. Get the saddest one. Give it a little place in your heart and home.

Wear a really great outfit. Maybe it’s one you wore a couple days ago and people complimented you on, maybe it’s new. Maybe it’s just and outfit you threw together last minute. Wear it. To walk the dog. To buy yourself a bottle of your favorite champagne, or to buy a bottle of sparkling juice. Pour it into the fanciest cup you have, put on an old dance mix you found in your car. Invite your single friends over at the end of the day and be glad you had an amazing day. 

Have a day to yourself. You deserve it. 

(via)

Every Minute of It

Sweet friends, what a simple and yet very heavy phrase to try and tell yourself daily. Sure, you say it and try to make yourself feel it, but do you truly love every minute of this God-given, precious life? 

I sure as heck don't -- that's my honest-to-God-truth! 

I struggle daily with the ways of the world, I struggle to love my friends as I should, I struggle with keeping an open mind and so much more. I found as this new year has gone on its way, already a month and a half in, that I am consciously trying to make an effort to not let this year go by without meaningful decisions, friendships, and trying to enjoy these minutes of my life. 

January was found to be a growing month -- filled without Facebook, a successful Winter Session (A in the course), better paychecks, and most importantly a fire inside of me to read the Word. 

With the guiding help of #SheReadsTruth and their daily readings, I have been able to grow in my faith and have been able to explore books of the Bible that I would not have gone before. I've been filled with grace, daily, and it's a transforming experience. If you have yet to go and check these ladies out, please do so! 

Upon stumbling on this beautiful, scripted quote, it made me think: I may not be in love with every minute of my life, but I am thankful for every minute of it. 

I have learned to be thankful through the trials of this beautiful life, through the glorious moments, and the messy moments. Life sure teaches you lessons, it makes you struggle, but you manage, by His mercy and grace -- and how can you not be thankful for that?