Inconsistency.

That's funny. Last post was February 3rd and I promised to post every day {probably shouldn't ever make that promise anyway :)} and then one week later, I had already missed 7 promised posts and found out that I was pregnant. Now I'm 7 months and we're having a baby girl. Maybe one day I'll use this blog to post pics of our little girl? Maybe I'll just use facebook. Who knows... holding out hope... one day, this blog might be big time.

Until then, enjoy the inconsistency. :)

CHAMPAGNE FOR THE SOUL

Well, I have proven to be a terrible blogger. It's true. But I have loved following other people's blogs! Does that count?

So it being a new year and all, I've decided to turn a new leaf, and actually use this space of internet that declares "The Greater Rescue" and share with y'all the 90 day experiment Brett and I and then me and some of the Elon College Life gals have been doing called "Champagne for the Soul."

Basically, the concept is to spend 90 days intentionally pursuing joy and claiming it in your life.

On day ten, Brett casually mentioned to me, "You know, we don't do much with this, but I swear I really am more joyful." It's crazy, y'all, it's changing our lives.

So every day we read 2 pages out of Mike Mason's book "Champagne for the Soul" and then I post a little tid bit about it on a facebook thread between me and the girls. Which is where the blogging is going to come back in.

I'm going to put all 90 days on this blog. And it's going to be awesome. And anyone in the world who wants to can do this experiment along with me and my small little group of people doing it.

That is, if you're willing for your life to really be changed.

The ONLY Thing...

Decided to start the blog again... at least for the summer. :)  

Jimmy Needham has spoken a truth into my heart that is healing me and setting me free in my constant striving: The ONLY THING that pleases the Father is Jesus' sacrifice.  Check it out here.

I tried Lord

I tried Lord

I tried hard to be Your good little boy

Chin up, head high

All zeal and no joy

Thinking all my good deeds could please Jesus

Boy, was I wrong

Though I knew the right songs, all my cymbals and gongs played the melodies wrong

And it wasn’t long ‘til I saw my disease

A life spent wanting to please

On hands and knees

To make right, to appease

God help me please

This can’t be Christianity, it can’t be

The whole thing’s like insanity

Where’s the rest of eternal security?

Where’s the hope of a God big enough to cope with all my hang-ups and insecurities?

Certainly this isn’t breathing

My chest burning and heaving

It’s like my pulse is ceasing

Like my heart quits beating 

Yet this I recall to mind and therefore I have hope:

You died, Lord

You died, Lord

Assuredly, like the coming of the dawn, the Father’s love song goes on

Drowning out my bitter songs

And breaking through walls and barriers

Christ swoops in, removes sin, picks up His bride and carries her 

So I can sing in agreement with the King this thing:

There’s only one thing that pleases the Father

The God-man on the tree in the midst of the scoffers

Now I finally see that Christ is what Christ offers

And I’m finally free in the love of the Father 

So thankful that He asks nothing from me but to RECEIVE. Not only believing this today, but FEELING it in the sunshine and humidity and deep breaths of a slower pace in summer time. :)

Libby.

I got a new dog and I really really love her. I mean, look at that face, how can you NOT love it?

The Ministry of Presence

"More and more, the desire grows in me simply to walk around, greet people, enter their homes, sit on their doorsteps, play ball, throw water, and be known as someone who wants to live with them. It is a privilege to have the time to practice this simple ministry of presence. Still, it is not as simple as it seems. My own desire to be useful, to do something significant, or to be part of some impressive project is so strong that soon my time is taken up by meetings, conferences, study groups, and workshops that prevent me from walking the streets. It is difficult not to have plans, not to organize people around an urgent cause, and not to feel that you are working directly for social progress. But I wonder more and more if the first thing shouldn’t be to know people by name, to eat and drink with them, to listen to their stories and tell your own, and to let them know with words, handshakes, and hugs that you do not simply like them, but truly love them."
- Henri Nouwen

Picture of Ellison and McKenna

Ellison is on the left, McKenna on the right. I love these girls and the way they show me Jesus.

Use Your Words

My friend, Amy, has two BEAUTIFUL little girls. McKenna Grace and Ellison Faith. They are precious. When McKenna was learning to talk, she used sign language to communicate things like "water" and "more"... And Amy would always say, "McKenna, use your words" to encourage her to talk with words, not just sign language.

God talks with sign language and with words. I saw His sign language in a LITERALLY breath-taking sunset when I turned down my street the other night. I hear His words when I'm finally quiet enough to listen...when I read His Word...when my friends tell me about Him.

Whoever is secretly reading my blog, I pray that the words of the Father who loves you beyond imagination will be real in your life. I pray that His words will flood your hearts and your lives. And I pray that my words and all the words of the world would keep quiet so that you can hear His.