dwell in hope ...

What a wonderful week for us to be dwelling in HOPE!

It's Holy Week. The Week Christians remember all that Christ endured his last week living as a human being on Earth. From entering into Jerusalem in majesty to being beaten, tortured, & crucified on the cross. What a wonderful sacrifice He made for every single one of us.

If the story ended with the cross, we wouldn't have much hope to dwell in.

Thankfully, the best part of Holy Week happens to be Sunday ... the day of the Resurrection! That's where our hope originates! Jesus waking up in that tomb, the stone rolling away, & the eternal life that is promised to all who believe.

Hebrews 6 tells us to run with all we have to that HOPE & hold onto it with our very lives ... like an anchor for our souls.

So, this week ... dwell in HOPE! The HOPE that anchors our souls ... the HOPE that promises us forgiveness, grace, & abundant life!

instead, pray ...

I keep a special list on my desk.

I have lots of lists ...

my to-do list,

blog ideas,

grocery list,

&, of course, my Target list.

But my special list is always kept right on the bottom of my computer screen ...

where I am sure to see it.

I don't want to forget about this list.

I don't want it to slip my mind what that list reminds me to do.

It's my prayer list.

There are some very special people in my life that

are facing some very difficult circumstances

and their names are listed on that bright little post-it note.

Every time, during the day, when I glance

down at that list, I mention each name in a little prayer.

It's nothing fancy ...

& I think Jesus is OK with that!

I've told people that I will be praying for them.

When I tell someone I'll be praying for them,

I take that promise very seriously.

& my special list helps me to remember.

In James 5 it tells us ...

are you in trouble? pray.

are you sick? pray.

pray for each other.

our prays are powerful & effective.

Philippians 4:6 says ...

don't be anxious about anything ... instead, pray.

Think about the people in your life.

Who do you know that could use your prayers?

Make your own list & put it somewhere you'll be sure to see it.

Whisper a little prayer when you look down at it.

Don't get overwhelmed at all the needs

around you ...

instead, pray.

all things new ...

Happy Spring, y'all!

It's the first day of Spring!

We made it!

I look forward to this day every year ... almost as much as I do Christmas.

I always feel like there is so much promise in Spring ...

the grass turns green, flowers bloom,

the days get warmer.

Everything Winter put to sleep comes alive again.

There is something about the changing of seasons that

reminds me how we all go through changes in our lives &

experience our own seasons.

I've gone through some long, dark Winters that

I thought would last forever ...

I've also seen new life spring up where I

thought for sure it never would again.

There's a lot to be learned during the Winters we experience

& such hope when our Spring finally rolls around

and all things are made new.

If you happen to be going through your own Winter ...

hold onto the hope of Spring!

He promises to make all things new!

March challenge check-in ...

We're half-way through March ... how is that possible?!?!?

I wanted to give you a little March challenge check-in! If you have no idea what challenge I'm talking about, you can READ ABOUT IT HERE! I started March with 2 challenges ... 40 items in 40 days & the Isaiah 58 challenge. I am happy to report I haven't fallen off of the wagon on either.

Here's a little update ...

As a family, we decided to participate in the Salvation Army 40 days - 40 items challenge. So, all 4 of us are choosing 1 item each day to put in a box. At the end of Lent (40 days), we'll deliver all of those items to the Salvation Army for donation. We are killing it with this challenge! Somedays it's just 1 item, other days it might be 20.  We had a major repair that had to be done in our playroom & that really helped us clean out & purge lots of gently used items to donate. We are getting rid of stuff, y'all ... and it feels GOOD! We already have 2 huge boxes of clothing, toys, books, & movies. Excited to drop those things off so someone else can enjoy them!

For the 2nd challenge, I committed to reading Isaiah 58 everyday during the month of March. It is only 14 verses, but those 14 verses are PACKED FULL of good stuff & it is so timely! The chapter talks a lot about not just going through the motions of being "religious" but really living a life that is pleasing to God. It warns us about getting caught up in the ritual of church & worship while we ignore those around us in need.  It's really made me be more aware of my motives & more sympathetic to people around me. If you haven't read it, I encourage you to. If you have read it, read it again!

 

 

 

Any of you participating in either challenge???

Let me know how it's going!

 

 

you have to go through it ...

One of my favorite books to read to my preschoolers is We're Going on a Bear Hunt. A family sets out on an adventure & meets lots of obstacles ... a field of tall grass, a deep river, thick mud, a dark forest, & a horrible snowstorm. Each time they meet a new obstacle they say, "can't go over it, can't go under it, we've got to go through it!"

Have you ever just "had to go through it?!?"

Sometimes wouldn't you just rather go over, around, under a situation ... anything instead of going through it?

I am an avoider by nature. I hate confrontation. I would much rather go over or around things rather than go through them.

I've had to learn (mostly the hard way) that going over & around things never really works out that great. Usually, all it does is put off the inevitable ... the going through it!

You know what I've discovered? After I've gone through a situation I was absolutely dreading, more than not I look back & see it wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be. I had talked myself into how horribly uncomfortable & inconvenient it all would be. I had let myself believe the absolute worst case scenario & played out all of the ways it would all go wrong in my imagination.

So many times I've come out on the other side of a situation & found myself so much better off than I was before. Had I not gone through the obstacle, I would never have known the joy that was waiting for me on the other side!

So the next time you are facing a field of tall grass, a deep river, or thick mud ... or just a situation you are dreading ... don't think of the million different ways you can avoid it. Go ahead & go through it ... the other side is waiting for you!

"Be strong! Be courageous! Do not be afraid!

The Lord will be with you. He will never leave you or forsake you."

Deuteronomy 31:6

the cost of kindness ...

Have you ever considered the cost of kindness?

I know for certain how expensive it is to be unkind ...

that can cost you friendships, your marriage, reputation, & all sorts of things.

But kindness ... it is absolutely free.

FREE!

We should be throwing kindness

around everywhere we go.

The good thing about kindness?

Kindness begets kindness!

Try it ... you'll see.

I had someone show me kindness one day last week.

I was at the post office trying to figure out

how to buy stamps from a machine instead of an

actual person.

I had never used the machine & had no idea what I was doing.

The nicest lady came over & asked if I needed help.

A few days later I was back at that machine behind

an elderly man that had never used it before.

Guess what, I asked him if he needed help.

He thanked me & thanked me.

I told him about the nice lady that had helped me

just a few days earlier.

Because she had shown kindness to me by asking if I needed help,

I was able to offer kindness to him & help him.

It was just a very small gesture.

I didn't cure cancer or save anybody's life,

but I hope I brightened the man's day by

lending him a hand.

It didn't cost me a thing ...

Go find someone to show a little kindness to today.

We never know how much our small gestures can mean

to someone.

"Be kind & compassionate to one another ..."

Ephesians 4:32

when the time is right ...

Y'all ... I am so impatient.

I get so frustrated waiting ...

at traffic lights, in checkout lines, during previews at a movie!

I'm so ridiculous!

I'm not that great at waiting for the little things.

I have had to wait for much bigger & more important things

to happen during my life ...

& I haven't been that great at waiting for those either.

So many of my prayers have contained a deadline ...

"Lord, could you please, if you don't mind, in the next couple of days let such-and-such happen? I'm in a hurry ... I mean, You know I'm in a hurry, of course. So, yea ... could you get on that?!?!?" 

Who in the world do I think I am!?!?

I'm still trying to learn that it's in the waiting that 

God grows us.

He's getting us ready.

He knows exactly what He is doing ...

And I've noticed if He would have

answered those prayers on MY timeline,

I wouldn't have been ready for what I needed.

God has my days all planned out.

He has gone before me in everything I do.

He knows what my future already looks like.

He knows exactly what I need & WHEN I need it!

When the time is right ... He'll make it happen!

clinging to the good ...

Have you ever felt like  you are barely hanging on?

Like you are dangling from the side of a mountain ...

every minute your grip gets looser & looser

& any second you're going to fall?

Life can throw a lot at us.

Sometimes it feels like so much more

than we can handle,

 like there is no way to possibly even put

one foot in front of the other.

 And there we are ... 

overwhelmed & grasping

for anything that we think can help us solve

our mountain of problems.

What in the world are we supposed to do?

Cling to what is good.

Whatever it is that is good in your life,

no matter how small & insignificant it may seem,

CLING TO IT!

Hold onto it for dear life.

Don't let go of it!

No matter what you are facing or

going through today ...

look around you &

find the good that you can cling to.

It's there.

Grab it!

some days you just can't be awesome ...





I came across this the other day ... 

 At first glance, I loved it. Then, I thought .... well,this just seems like a lot of pressure.

Because, guess what ... some days "awesome" is not in my wheel house. Some days "mediocre" or  even "slightly below average" aren't in my wheel house, either.

I have days when "don't forget to get out of bed & brush your teeth" is all I can muster up.

As a matter of fact, for those of us that find the "awesome days" few & far between ... I made us a cute little graphic ...

Feel free to print this out, frame it, & display it proudly in your home for daily inspiration. Or, if you're not feeling quite so awesome ... print it out & scotch tape it to your bathroom mirror. Either way!

The more I thought about it, these words kept going through my mind ... BUT GOD!

He's OK with my lack of awesome.

He gets that not everyday is the day for us to be our awesome-est. If it was, we wouldn't need Him.

He takes up my unbelievable amount of slack.

So, if today is your day to be awesome .... DO IT! DO IT BIG! GO FORTH & BE AWESOME!

However, if today is your day to be "eh" ... then DO THAT, TOO!!! & do it without guilt & blame. Count it a blessing to know we need Him & He is there for us!

answering questions ...

Last Thursday night our family devotion asked all of us 2 questions:  1 ... What is something in your life you want to change?  2 ... How can you use that 1 thing to glorify God?

I woke up Friday morning, which also happened to be my 39th birthday, & found myself in need of an unexpected medical procedure ...surprise & happy birthday to me! And suddenly I had my answer to question #1! This was not how I wanted to spend my birthday ... or any other day, for that matter.

I cried like a child ... by myself, making my doctor's appointment, on the phone with my brother, talking to my friend who has gone through a full hysterectomy & recently a double mastectomy with such grace & dignity.

 I was frustrated, scared, anxious ... In case you haven't caught on my now, handling things in a peaceful & calm manner are not in my skill set.

My sweet friend spoke all sorts of truth & encouragement to me & prayed with me before we got off of the phone ... TOTAL GAME CHANGER, Y'ALL!

Peace & calm came over me ... which is a miracle because, again ... I'm not great with either peacefulness or calmness in stressful situations. So ... I began to see my answer to questions #2!

How was this going to bring God glory? the peace ... the calm ... neither which are qualities I naturally possess. BUT there they were ... God had used my sweet friend to remind me that He is faithful, He is always with us, He has gone before me, He cares about my every need.

Ain't He something, y'all!

favorite things friday: songs, studies, & Spring!

Y'all ... February is all but gone.

March is just hours away ... which means Spring ...

which means warmer weather ...

which means my somewhat

sunny disposition will be returning!

Until then...

here are a few of

my favorites from this week!

* great worship music ...

Last weekend our church had it's annual women's conference ... Jen Hatmaker spoke & Meredith Andrews lead worship. Meredith sang this song & it was one of my favorite moments from the entire conference!

Spirit of the Living God ... Vertical Church

* Illustrated Faith ...

I came across Shanna Noel on my instagram feed this week. Her website, Illustrated Faith, is unbelievable! She has come up with a whole new & interactive way to study the Bible ... through creative journaling. Take a look at some of these ...

 These journaling Bibles are incredible! I love this idea!

You can read more about Illustrated Faith HERE!



* timely reminders ...

{rosehill designs}

 I don't know about y'all, but I've needed this reminder this week! Spring is coming & I am ready for it!

 ... & that's it for this week's favorites!

Hope your weekend is a great one!

As always ..

I'm linking up with Andrea at Momfessionals! 

believe it!

 

 

God has made LOTS of promises to us ...

 

to never leave us,

 

to prosper us,

 

to never harm us,

 

to work things out for our good,

 

to meet our needs,

 

to give us rest,

 

to help us,

 

to give us our heart's desires.

 

God doesn't break His promises.

 

While we may wait & wait (& wait & wait & wait)

and wonder if God has forgotten about us ...

He hasn't!

 

He has our days planned out.

He knows the design He has for our lives.

 

He will fulfill His promises for your life ...

BELIEVE IT!

 

"... in due season He will honor you with every blessing."

Psalms 37:34

God's Great Gift ...

Christmas is tomorrow!!!! I think about all of the anticipation we always have in the days leading up to the big day & I can't help but wonder about how God must have felt in the days leading up to the birth of Jesus!!! I can't imagine the excitement in heaven as the Father & the angels awaited the moment Christ was born ... what a sweet celebration there must have been!

"And there, in the stable, amongst the chickens & the donkeys & the cows, in the quiet of the night, God gave the world his wonderful gift. The baby that would change the world was born. His baby Son.

Mary & Joseph wrapped him up to keep him warm. They made a soft bed of straw & used the animals' feeding trough as his cradle. And they gazed in wonder at God's Great Gift, wrapped in swaddling clothes, & lying in a manger

Mary & Joseph named him Jesus, 'Emmanuel"' - which means 'God has come to live with us.'

Because, of course, He had.

That same night, in amongst the other stars, suddenly a bright new star appeared. Of all the stars in the dark vaulted heavens, this one shone clearer. It blazed in the night & made the other stars look pale beside it.

God put it there when His baby Son was born - to be like a spotlight. Shining on Him. Lighting up the darkness. Showing people the way to Him.

You see, God was like a new daddy - He couldn't keep the good news to himself. He'd been waiting all these long years for the moment, & now He wanted to tell everyone."

{The Jesus Storybook Bible p. 182 & 184}

God as Father ... a proud, new father ... announcing the birth of His Son with a beautifully bright star & a host of singing angels! I love to think of Him that way! How excited He must've been. Know what? I think He feels the same way about each one of us, too! Proud to call us His & so excited when we ask Him into our life.

I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas!

And remember ...

Jesus is the piece that makes all of the

the other pieces fit together.

  

more than her eyes could see ....

From The Jesus Storybook Bible ...

 

 

"There was a young girl who was engaged to a man named Joseph. (Joseph was the great-great-great-great-great grandson of King David).

One morning, this girl was minding her own business when, suddenly, a great warrior of light appeared - right there, in her bedroom. He was Gabriel & he was an angel, a special messenger from heaven.

When she saw the tall shining man standing there, Mary was frightened.

'You don't need to be scared,' Gabriel said. 'God is very happy with you!'

Mary looked around to see if perhaps he was talking to someone else.

'Mary,' Gabriel said, & he laughed with such gladness that Mary's eyes filled with sudden tears.

'Mary, you're going to have a baby. A little boy. You will call him Jesus. He is God's own Son. He's the One! He's the Rescuer!'

The God who flung planets into space & kept them whirling around & around, the God who made the universe with just a word, the one who could do anything at all - was making himself small. And coming down ... as a baby.

Wait. God was sending a baby to rescue the world?

'But it's too wonderful!' Mary said & felt her heart beating hard. 'How can it be true?'

'Is anything too wonderful for God?' Gabriel asked.

So Mary trusted God more than what her eyes could see. And she believed. 'I am God's servant,' she said. 'Whatever God says, I will do.'

{The Jesus Storybook Bible p. 178 & 179} 

 

O, to be like Mary & my trust in God be bigger than what my eyes can see.

 

Those {all too often} moments when I feel doubt creep in & taunt me, I need to remind myself of Gabriel's words ... is anything too wonderful for God!?! NO! It's not! He came to give us life more abundant than we could ever imagine! He supplies all of our needs according to His riches in glory! Trust in Him for all that He can offer you ... it is more wonderful than any of us could ever bear to imagine!

everything was ready ...

I mentioned last week that for the month of December I wanted to share something I absolutely love ... The Jesus Storybook Bible. We love using this book for our advent family devotions ....

"It had taken centuries for God's people to be ready, but now the time had almost come for the best part of God's plan.

God himself was going to come. Not to punish His people - but to rescue them ...

Everything was ready. The moment God had been waiting for was here at last! God was coming to help His people, just as He promised in the beginning.

But how would He come? What would He be like? What would He do?

Mountains would have bowed down. Seas would have roared. Trees would have clapped their hands. But the earth held its breath. As silent as snow falling, He came in. And when no one was looking, in the darkness, He came."

{The Jesus Storybook Bible p.175 - 176}

 

 

When I was 11-years-old, our church did a Christmas play & we sang a song called "Close To Him" ... I still remember most of the lyrics ...

 

He wants to be close to His children, so He'll become a child.

A helpless little baby, a Savior meek & mild.

He'll leave His home in heaven, to prove His love is real.

And be born as a baby, just so man can feel ... close to Him

 

He came into the world as a baby .... just like the rest of us. He would know physical pain, joy, anger, & all that it meant to be human .... just like the rest of us.

 I know we've all heard it a million times, but isn't it something how God could have sent Jesus to save the world any way He wanted to .... & he chose to send Him as a baby ... in a manger! Not as earthly royalty or as some mighty warrior ... just a simple baby ... just like the rest of us. All so He could know us better. How sweet He is to us!





the piece that makes all the others fit ....

Way back when this little blog was just a wee little baby blog, I told you guys that one of my favorite things EVER is The Jesus Storybook Bible. 

The month of December our family uses this advent reading plan for our nightly devotions. This particular plan takes you from Creation to the Birth of Christ.



I usually post a favorite verse on Mondays, but for this month I thought I'd share excerpts from The Jesus Storybook Bible with you all. The writing is so simple, yet absolutely beautiful!!!!



"Now, some people think the Bible is a book of rules, telling you what you should & shouldn't do. The Bible certainly does have some rules in it. They show you how life works best. But the Bible isn't mainly about you & what you should be doing. It's about God & what He has done.



Other people think the Bible is a book of heroes, showing you people you should copy. The Bible does have some heroes in it, but (as you'll soon find out) most of the people in the Bible aren't heroes at all. They make some big mistakes (sometimes on purpose). They get afraid & run away. At times they are downright mean.



No, the Bible isn't a book of rules, or a book of heroes. The Bible is most of all a Story. It's an adventure story about a young Hero who comes from a far country to win back His lost treasure. It's a love story about a brave Prince who leaves His palace, His throne - everything -  to rescue the one He loves. It's like the most wonderful of fairy tales that has come true in real life!



You see, the best thing about this Story is - it's true.



There are lots of stories in the Bible, but all the stories tell one Big Story. The Story of how God loves His children & comes to rescue them.



It takes the whole Bible to tell this Story. And at the center of the Story, there is a baby. Every Story in the Bible whispers His name. He is like the missing piece in a puzzle - the piece that makes all the other pieces fit together, & suddenly you can see a beautiful picture."

{The Jesus Storybook Bible p. 14, 15, 17}

 

 

The piece that makes all the other pieces fit ... what a wonderful way to describe Jesus!

I remember putting puzzles together as a child & trying to cram a piece in where it obviously didn't fit ... boy have I done that in life. Trying to make something fit that wasn't supposed to go there. When all along, He was the piece that would make all of the other pieces fit perfectly together. It is amazing how He makes sense out of everything around us that doesn't seem to make any sense at all!!!





She Reads Truth ... I & II Peter

If you joined me in She Reads Truth's study, Open Your Bible, I hope you loved it as much as I did!!!! I was sad to see it end yesterday, BUT happy to know they are offering a great new study starting TODAY on I & II Peter!!!!

{she reads truth}

 

Just like before ... you can order the entire study pack HERE. It includes ...

 

{she reads truth}



 

8 x10 verse watercolor print

2 wallet sized verse cards

52 page study booklet (with more beautiful artwork)

$24.00

 

She Reads Truth will not be offering the printable version of this study, as they did with Open Your Bible ... {sad face}. Even if you don't order the study packet, you can still follow along with the study each day at She Reads Truth. Every morning they post the day's readings, a great little devotional, & give you lots of thoughtful questions to consider.

 

It has become my afternoon carpool activity & I reeeeaaalllllly look forward to it everyday!

 



Open Your Bible

Sharing something with you guys today that I am really excited about ...

She Reads Truth is a great website that offers incredible Bible studies for women. Along with daily scripture readings, the website also has study packets available that go along the day's study. 

Today they are starting a brand new study entitled Open Your Bible.

You can visit She Reads Truth HERE & download their study companion to go along with each day's readings. The booklet can be downloaded for a "pay what you can" price or absolutely free.

They also have their older Bible studies archived ... included is a study on Hosea (which happens to be one of my favorite love stories EVER)!

Hope you'll join me & Open Your Bible!

wanted ...

 

I came across this last week &

it just about made my

heart burst ...

 

 

We aren't needed by God ... but we sure are wanted!

 

If that doesn't make you smile this Monday ... nothing will!

 

 

fruit ...

{source}

 

when someone hears your name,

they immediately have an image of you

in their mind.

I don't mean an image of your appearance ...

an image of  the way you act,

how you make others feel,

your attitude & outlook.

 

we are known by the "fruit we bear" ...

Galations 5:22 & 23 (one of my favorite verses)

tells us to be...

loving

patient

kind

good

gentle

peaceful

full of joy

faithful

& to have self-control.

 

let these things be

the characteristics others think of

when they hear your name!