Counting His Gifts During the Ice Storm

The ice arrived Thursday evening, and I've been home bound (quite happily I might add) ever since. Thankfully, we had notice of the storm's approach days' in advance, and I was able to stock up on food and prepare for time at home. But being home in the midst of such harsh weather has opened my eyes to gifts that often go unnoticed. Never have I been more thankful for sustained electricity and a salaried job that does not require me to get out in this weather, and never have I been more prayerful for those without power and those whose jobs require that they show up in spite of the ice. I know that many people, both businesses and individuals, will suffer financially as a result of multiple days when businesses were closed or when no one got out to support them while they were open; may the Lord provide for them financially in spite of this time of inclement weather. Here's what else made my gift list during the past few days:

--getting to watch the live telecast of The Sound of Music and for its strong Christian message
--being able to enjoy this view

--first Jesse Tree with devotionals from The Greatest Gift by Ann Voskamp

--finding out Thursday night that work would be closed on Friday so I could sleep in and not have to worry about navigating icy roads
--a phone chat in the middle of the day with my friend who lives in London and had seen that I would be home due to the ice
--thick socks, blankets, layers, and a hat
--getting to start and finish two books
--provision: shelter, electricity, food, clothes
--not having to drive anywhere or run any errands
--Christmas music
--strength and safety as I shoveled the driveway (a first)

--finding out last night that work would be closed today, so I didn't have to figure out the situation with the roads
--quietness of the neighborhood with no traffic
--sound of icicles dripping
--a time to be still and focus

If you endured the ice storm, what were your favorite moments?

His Grace in the Details

I woke up on Wednesday morning to an email on my phone from my favorite transportation carrier, Amtrak.  Without providing details, it stated that my train would be delayed and that I should call Amtrak to find out more.  The first representative I spoke with informed me that the train would be on time.  When I questioned her about whether the train was in Texarkana, she replied that it was outside Little Rock.  I remarked that I didn't think that the train could get to Cowtown by 2 p.m. if it was that far away, expecting her to give Amtrak's standard reply, "Trains can make up time," though I haven't seen that play out very often.  She then looked closer and discovered that Amtrak was trying to secure buses but had not been successful and asked me to call back in an hour.

On the drive to work, I contemplated whether riding a bus from Amtrak, which would be leaving at 2:10 p.m. and would be making numerous stops, would be a smart idea because of the inevitable bumper-to-bumper traffic that would be accumulating on I-35.  I also wondered where Amtrak might get buses on such short notice and was concerned about whether such buses and bus drivers would be up to par.

After arriving at work, I started looking into other travel options.  I was hoping that I might get a ride from a friend traveling to Austin, but he was planning to fly down to Austin on Thanksgiving Day.  I looked into Megabus, which I had recently heard of, and saw that they had several buses leaving on Wednesday.  I knew that I would need to take one sooner rather than later because it would be traveling on I-35 and would inevitably succumb to major traffic delays, and I needed to meet my sister and brother-in-law at the airport in Austin at 8 p.m.

I called Amtrak back and learned that they had still not yet secured buses.  When I asked if I could get a refund, Amtrak asked no questions and gave me a full refund.  I then purchased a ticket on Megabus, though I was not able to get their famous $1-each-way special because of the last-minute purchase. 

With a ticket in hand, I had to figure out how to get to the bus station in Grand Prairie.  I initially thought I would take a cab so that I could leave my car at work, but then a co-worker suggested that I drive to Grand Prairie and leave my car there.  That made more sense because I would be coming back to Grand Prairie on Saturday via Megabus instead of to Fort Worth on the train.

Instead of leaving work at 1:00, I immediately packed up my things and left work at 10:30.  On the way to the parking garage, I noticed a helicopter circling overhead.  I thought it was odd that it would be circling over downtown, rather than giving aerial updates on the holiday traffic.  But I couldn't think about that for too long because I was in a hurry to make it to the bus.

When I started my car, I noticed that the low tire pressure gauge was illuminated.  It had not been on during my drive to work in the 31-degree temperatures but now was on even though it was above freezing.  The only other time that the light was on, I had a nail in my tire.  I prayed that I wasn't being obstinate in trying to drive to Grand Prairie, but it was too late to walk to find a cab.  I asked the Lord for safety and to air up the tire.  After driving almost twenty miles, about eight miles from the station, the tire pressure light turned off. 

When I pulled up to the bus station, the entire lot was coned off and signs were posted that it was "drop-off only."  I circled around trying to figure out where I could park, knowing that the bank across the street would likely tow my car, and finally rolled down my window to ask one of the attendants.  He asked where I was going and then motioned for me to pull forward.  He wrote out some information on a sheet of paper, placed it on my dashboard, and then entered a code into a security gate, which opened and allowed me to park in a gated lot behind the station.

There was only one other gal in line for the bus to Austin/San Antonio and thankfully she had ridden Megabus numerous times and was in the know.  She answered my questions about whether they would take my luggage (thankfully, yes) and then the attendant, who was part cheerleader by the way he exuberantly greeted us, got us on the bus in no time.

Once on the bus (which, for those unfamiliar with Megabus, is a two-story sightseeing bus equipped with Wi-Fi and a porta-potty type bathroom), I checked my email and learned that the helicopter that had been circling downtown was looking for a murder suspect who had cut off his ankle monitor and was on the run.  On the way to the parking garage, I had walked right past where he had escaped. 

The ride to Austin was slow going with periods of smooth sailing that came to an abrupt stop and were followed by much tapping of the brakes, resulting in the worst car sickness I've ever experienced.  Had it been warmer (it was freezing; even with gloves and a coat, it was tough to stay warm), I likely would have needed one of those bags that the airlines provide.  But during the ride, I knew I had made the right decision because I received a text from Amtrak around 1 p.m. stating that it was delayed until 7 p.m. Even with the heavy traffic on I-35, Megabus arrived in Austin at 4 p.m., which was an hour late but that meant I had only four hours to kill instead of five.

Although the Megabus stop in Austin is merely a parking lot between two buildings, it is located next to the AT&T Conference Center, and so I managed to find a cab quickly.  The cab driver even had Christian music playing as he drove me to the Four Seasons Hotel.  During the bus ride, I had tried to think of a place where I could eat (something I couldn't do at the airport because I didn't have a ticket) and where I wouldn't look out of place with luggage.  I settled on the Four Seasons because they have an excellent restaurant and because I knew from attending conferences there that they would stow my luggage while I ate.

After I checked my luggage in with the concierge, I proceeded to their restaurant Trio and asked for a table for one.  The hostess kindly asked if I'd like some reading material, and then she opened a closet with every newspaper in Texas, or so it seemed.  I wanted to read what the sportswriters had to say about the Longhorns, so I settled on the local paper and was seated near the window.  It was at that point that I realized that I might actually get to see the team because they stay at the Four Seasons the night before each home game. 

The waiters were kind and left me to read and managed to pace my dinner and dessert over the span of two hours.  At the end of that time, I made my way to a bench outside the conference rooms, hoping that the Longhorns would be having their team dinner.  I didn't see them, but I saw on Facebook that a friend was having dinner at Trudy's in Austin and sent him a message to see if he would be able to take me to the airport instead of having to get a cab.  He was just wrapping up his dinner when I texted him and graciously agreed to come be my personal taxi driver.

During the drive, I was able to catch up with this young man that I babysat so many years ago.  And he got to visit with Erin and her husband when they arrived before we got our rental car.

Never in my wildest dreams would I have been able to plan out all the details of this day--from getting a last-minute ticket on Megabus for the exact amount of my train ticket, to protection on the walk to the parking garage while a murder suspect was on the lam, to safety driving on low tires, to sustaining me during car sickness, to getting a cab so quickly and one that played Christian music, to having dinner at a nice restaurant, to providing a friend to drive me to the airport.  In a twelve-hour span, the Lord really showed Himself and showed that He is in the details.

And but for all His grace, it would not have been possible to be together for Thanksgiving.

His Grace in the Sameness

I've been trying to pull my thoughts together over the past few weeks to see if there is enough material for a post because right now, it's fall outside and in my life.  Activities that I used to participate in have dried up and fallen away for various reasons, which is why the November 7 devotional in Jesus Calling spoke to me:

. . . My main work is to clear out debris and clutter, making room for My Spirit to take full possession.  Collaborate with Me in this effort by being willing to let go of anything I choose to take away.  I know what you need, and I have promised to provide all of that--abundantly!

Your sense of security must not rest in your possessions or in things going your way.  I am training you to depend on Me alone, finding fulfillment in My Presence.  This entails being satisfied with much or with little, accepting either as My will for the moment.  Instead of grasping and controlling, you are learning to release and receive.  . . .

Last week, the Lord gave me a visual for what I've been feeling.  I have a plant outside my front door that had blooms on it when I bought it in June, but then they all fell off a few weeks later.  It didn't have flowers on it for the rest of the summer.  This is about par for my ability to keep plants alive for long during the summer months.  But because there were portions of the plant that were still green, though there were no buds, I kept watering it weekly.  And last week, I went outside and saw this:

  

It encouraged me that God is still at work even when things don't look fruitful on the outside for months at a time.  This is a lesson that His creation reflects each spring, but the plant outside my front door was a pleasant reminder - that some things bloom in the fall when everything else is going dormant for the winter. 

Whatever season you are in, may the Lord encourage you that He is still at work and that He hasn't forgotten about you.

His Grace in Making Memories

Before the college football season started, I purchased tickets to two games:  the Ole Miss game at UT and the game to be held at TCU.  For a variety of reasons, I decided not to attend the Ole Miss game after spending most of the week in Austin for a conference.  So my one and only chance to see my team play in person came down to this weekend's game.  The only problem:  the forecast. 

All week, the weather forecasters predicted rain would move in during the game.  And on the shuttle to the game, I thought the skies would explode at any minute.  But about thirty minutes after arriving, the sun came up and made it look like we were in the clear.

(Rob, whom I used to babysit, and I taking in the view from the endzone before making our way up to our seats.  At this point, I thought my rain boots were not going to be needed and probably looked out of place.)

(My friend Nick, who now works at Passion in Atlanta, came in for the game.  Our seats were eight rows from Heaven.)

With our lofty seats, we were in the perfect position to see the lightning move in shortly after it got dark.  And with a ton of time still left in the second quarter, we had to take cover as the deluge moved in.  The rain came down in sheets so thick that the other side of the stadium could not be seen.

Our "seats" for the next two hours ended up being standing-room only near the concession stand in one of the lower breezeways.  We passed the time by talking and watching portions of the World Series on the televisions mounted near the concession stand.  But we finally threw in the towel at the two-hour mark because Rob had friends with parking next to the stadium who offered to give us a ride to our vehicles, which saved me from having to walk to the shuttle stop in the downpour and the never-ending lighting. 

The rain delay ended up lasting three hours and six minutes, and the game finished around 12:30 this morning with a big W for the Longhorns.  Part of me wishes that I had stayed because it was open seating after the rain delay.  But the practical side of me was grateful to be dry and in my bed listening to the game as it wrapped up.

I can't say I've ever seen any game like this before, but now I've made new memories with my Longhorn buddies that will last a lifetime.

His Grace in Carrying Me Through the Big 3-9

(Birthday fruit tart from Little Red Wasp was amazing!)

I'm not sure that I completely grasped that I was turning thirty-nine this year.  Age has always mystified me as I have no idea what any certain age should look like or feel like for me or anyone else.  I think the fact that I didn't spend much time thinking about this big birthday is God's grace because had I thought about it for very long, I'm quite sure that dread and disappointment would have set in. 

But this birthday was much like others.  I am blessed with loving family and friends who took time out of their busy schedules to call, text, email, or send messages via Facebook and snail mail to remind me that I am loved by them and by God.  And throughout the month, I've been treated to delightful lunches and dinners and have been showered with gifts that are practical, thoughtful, and meaningful.

I'm so very grateful for how the Lord carried me through this birthday and for how He appointed so many people to surround me and uplift me.

Fall Update

Author Emily Freeman at Chatting at the Sky has a monthly segment about what she has learned the previous month.  Here are a few things I've learned (or re-learned) over the past month.

1.  Cursive is a dying art.  Our intern told me that he hasn't written anything in cursive since the fifth grade.  WHAT??  He then said that while I was taking handwriting in school, he was probably learning computers.  (For that response, yes, I did remind him to respect his elders.)  I wondered how he signs checks, and then I realized that he probably pays all of his bills online.  I wish I could articulate a reason why cursive is needed other than the fact that I like it.

2.  "Whatever money can't buy, death can't take away."  This nugget of wisdom was in a darling video of Ms. Betty Cox that my friend Krista shared on her blog. The short video is worth the watch here.

3.  I'm normally not a fan of how short the evenings feel now that we are inching closer to the time change.  But I'm reminded that God does much of His work in the dark, or at least where we can't see it, and so I'm dealing better with the shorter evenings.

4.  A text that I hastily type can compel a 400-word apology via email.  The mode of communication is important, and I need to choose the one that allows for the clearest possible communication of the message.  Lesson learned.

5.  A reminder from a friend that man looks at the outside while God looks at the heart.  Pointed me back to Truth.  (1 Sam. 16:7)

And here are a few of my favorite things right now:

Matt Redman's new cd

Three books I'm reading

The cure for leg dandruff 

An improbable win

Rushing home to beat a storm and finding a rainbow over my house

What are you learning or loving this fall?

His Grace As Continually Revealed by the Gift List

The last two posts have been somewhat heavy, so I thought it might be time to switch gears and revisit my gift list.  For those who aren't familiar with my gift list, this isn't a list of gifts I want to request when the next birthday or holiday rolls around but rather a list of gifts the Lord has given me. 

I started my gift list at Christmas in 2010 after reading Ann Voskamp's blog and later her book One Thousand Gifts:  A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are, and I've continued to list the gifts daily ever since then.  It's a discipline that I don't ever want to stop practicing because it daily reminds me that the Lord hasn't forgotten about me and that He continues to pour out His grace on an undeserving sinner.

#3398.  Not having any duties at home: the gift of singleness
#3405.  A friend's example of selflessness
#3450.  Being able to return unnecessary purchases
#3460.  Long phone chat with my sister
#3467.  Getting to sleep in
#3478.  A day with no plans
#3481.  Friends to sit with at church
#3485.  Blackberry aqua fresca
#3491.  Being able to confess sin immediately
#3497.  Body of Christ coming together to raise funds for a family
#3498.  Giving me words for a letter to a friend
#3507.  Hearing a powerful testimony at the dry cleaners
#3514.  Laughter during a book
#3525.  That You can handle outbursts and frustrations
#3538.  Hard eucharisteo:  water leak in garage
#3553.  Running water restored
#3604.  How You are showing up big to some people who need to see You right now
#3645.  That You are not a God of confusion
#3652.  Hard eucharisteo:  thwarting my plans
#3676.  Getting upgraded to reserved seats
#3680.  Butternut squash soup in the summer
#3701.  Hearing a friend's testimony over lunch
#3722.  Songs on the radio that speak to my heart
#3743.  Coming home to two cards
#3758.  Unplanned slumber party
#3765.  Saving me from spending money
#3789.  An army of prayer warriors
#3819.  FaceTime with family
#3843.  Being able to help a friend
#3854.  Wisdom from a friend
#3861.  Getting a reply to my tweet from Ann V
#3910.  Recognizing my wrong assumptions
#3921.  Fall weather

How is the Lord blessing you right now, even today?

His Grace in Removing Idols

The first Bible study I ever did was Breaking Free by Beth Moore, and I'm pretty sure that's the first time that I learned that the term "idol" meant way more than just a carved wooden statue.  When Beth defined the term to include anything that takes the place of God in our lives, my eyes were opened to see how many things in this day and age could qualify under that definition.

During Priscilla Shirer's Gideon study that I went through this summer with a friend, she showed how the Israelites initially worshiped Baal, how Gideon removed the Baal idols, and how the Israelites ultimately returned to their old ways and wanted Gideon to rule over them as king after he (with God's help) defeated the Midianites.  On p. 150 of the study guide, Priscilla asked that we list any habit, desire, person, or activity that fits the following questions:

• Do you have to compromise your convictions to indulge any person or action?
• Does anything weigh more heavily in your decision-making process than the voice of the Holy Spirit?
• Do you have difficulty being content, joyful, or grateful without something?
• Is there anything you cannot say no to, even when God is asking it of you for a season?
• Do you automatically turn to something for comfort or relief when you're unhappy?
• Does your mind immediately center on something as a solution when problems arise?

I don't know about you, but those questions are tough.  And the truth that they reveal is tough to swallow.  But my prayer at the end of that day's study was for God to help me attack and remove the idols in my life that are taking His place and His benefits.  And the Lord has been faithful to assist with this process.

The easiest victory to discuss in a public forum is my love for college football, particularly a team with burnt orange as their signature color.  After I realized how much my fall schedule revolves around their games, I tried to make some changes.  And let's just say that maybe their losing two of the first three games is God's grace in removing this idol from my life (and maybe some of the other fans' lives).

Substituting a visible alternative for the invisible but faithful One-and-Only God will always leave me empty.   The things of this world cannot compare to the benefits that our all-knowing, omnipresent, almighty God can provide.  May that give me the strength and perseverance that I need to remove anything else that I attempt to put on His throne.

My Role

[Disclaimer:  If you've ever wondered what introverts do, the following is a typical example.  We think lots.  We sometimes write down what we think.  And what we write doesn't always tie up in a neat bow because we continue to think.  So beware what you tell an introvert because he or she may think long and hard about it!]

Over lunch this weekend, a friend mentioned that she was seeking God about what her role is in a particular activity in her life.  At the time, I didn't recognize the significance of her comment.  But since then, I've been thinking about my role in life, and I've realized that I don't really know what it is.

I am not a wife or a mother.  Both of those roles have important tasks that are fairly defined that go along with them.  Namely, those roles have a particular person or persons to serve.

But because I am neither of those roles, I've felt more like a wanderer without a guide.  While I'm grateful to know some gals who are on a path similar to mine, they aren't enough years ahead of me to show me the direction for the path ahead.  So, I've kind of made up my way as I go along.  I try to listen for God's leading, but I honestly don't know if I've heard Him correctly because right now looks a whole lot like the past ten to fifteen years.  I realize this is the blink of an eye on God's clock, but it feels like an eternity according to my watch.

In my current role, I don't know who I am supposed to serve on this earth.  I know that we are called to serve "the least of these," and I attempt to do that with my finances, but is that enough?  Are there particular people that I should be using my time to reach out to?

I continue to be pointed to Matthew 6:33 to "seek first His kingdom and His righteousness," but I don't know what that is supposed to look like in my life.  Seeking means to constantly pursue, but in the context here, that doesn't mean pursuing accomplishments or the things of this world.  It's more about relationship than performance.

So right now, I find myself sitting in God's school room trying not to overcomplicate this but also trying to hear what He has to say about this particular subject because I don't want to waste my life on a made-up role.  I want to play the role He made me for. 

August Recap

As I sit down to recap August, it's already Labor Day, and a full weekend of college football is already in the books.  My thoughts are still a bit confused about the first 28 minutes of the UT game during which I texted a friend, "I did not wait 8 mos for this!"  Thankfully, the ship righted itself, as did my attitude and priorities.

One of the highlights of this month was taking the train home for my mom's birthday last weekend.  It is always good to be home, and we had fun eating out (dinner in a refurbished dining car in one town and pie in another town) and becoming new converts to Duck Dynasty.

I regret that my summer reading plan stalled out, and so I have quite a few books still in my stack.  They will likely have to wait a while longer now that college football has kicked off. 

Last week, a friend and I just wrapped up Priscilla Shirer's study on Gideon, and the study could not have been timed more perfectly.  During each of the six weeks, it felt like she had written the lessons just for me.  One of the lessons from Gideon that has stuck with me is that I don't want to fail to give God the glory; I want that to be my default in every situation.

In the midst of dealing with the not-so-fun aspects of this summer--like a $3,500 broken pipe repair, headaches caused by the storms, and unexplained low-pulse issues--the Lord has blessed me with over 400 gifts that I've recorded and many more that I'm sure I failed to notice.  Looking back at His faithfulness daily has served as a wonderful reminder that even when things feel mundane and ordinary, He is a God who makes the ordinary extraordinary if I'll just take time to stop and notice.

What was your favorite thing about August?

His Grace in Expanding Time

Several years ago during a gathering of my small group, my friend Melissa prayed that God would expand the time of one particular member, who had a lot going on, in order to enable her to get everything done that she needed to get done.  That prayer has always stuck with me, and I've often prayed it for others.  And a couple of weekends ago, I saw how the Lord answered that unspoken prayer in my own life.

That particular weekend, I had big plans to start in on my to-do list on Friday as soon as I got off work.  But after I put in a load of laundry and ate dinner, my stomach didn't feel well.  I ended up in bed before 7 p.m.  Not the start that I was planning on.

But Saturday morning, I woke up feeling great.  I did a load of laundry and watered plants before I met a friend to go for a walk.  After our walk, we went to two farmers' markets, dropped off some books for a friend, and drove the car through a car wash.  When I got home, I vacuumed the car and the house, drafted a budget, paid bills, cleaned out some files in the file cabinet, cleaned the bathroom, hand-washed the pile of "hand wash only" clothing items, mopped the floors, did all the ironing, put away dishes from the dishwasher, took a load of donations to Goodwill, completed some computer work, wrote some cards, and started on my Bible study homework.

Maybe all of the above is a normal day's work for you; if so, my hat is off to you.  I'm seldom that productive in one day.  I decided to nickname this my "Responsible Saturday."  It was one of those rare days when time seemed to stand still; at different points during the day, I couldn't believe how much was already done and that there was still lots of time left in the day. 

It was obvious to me that God's fingerprints were all over this particular day--from giving me the health and energy to complete tasks (some of which had been on my list for quite a while) to orchestrating events to fit together in a timely manner to expanding the time to not make the day feel rushed or hurried.  Responsible Saturday was truly a gift.

Have you experienced God's grace in His expanding your time?

Belated July Update

What I've Learned 

Even after all these years, my mind and body are still on a school calendar, and they miss old-fashioned summers at my grandparents' house.  Before I was old enough to stay home alone during the summer, my mom would drop me off at Granny and Pa-Pa's house on her way to work, and I would spend carefree days there with nothing planned other than having lunch at the Senior Citizens' Center and watching General Hospital at 2 p.m. (The latter was a habit that Granny remained faithful to until her nineties, but which I gave up when I went to college.)  The rest of each day was spent reading, doing needlepoint or counted cross-stitch, napping, shelling peas, playing dominoes, or eating watermelon and whatever baked goodies Granny had on hand.  Those were some relaxing days with no responsibilities, and I miss that. 

Another thing I've learned over the past month is that I don't like blogging on Sundays.  I originally thought it would be a great opportunity to use my Sabbath time of rest to reflect on God's work in my life and connect with Him.  But it hasn't felt like that; it's felt like an obligation or a task to do on Sundays when I want to rest.  So, I'm going to try to figure out a better blogging day.

What I've Been Up To

My friend Ashley and I toured the George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum and ate lunch at Café 43.  This is a must-see visitors' stop if you are in the DFW area.  

 

 

In mid-July, James and Betty Robison celebrated their 50 years in ministry by hosting the Awaken Now conference.  This was such a steal; for $10, we were treated to incredible teaching by Dr. Mark Rutland, Dr. Tony Evans, Peter Pretorius, Christine Caine, Dr. Ben Carson, Andy Andrews, Robert Morris, Samuel Rodriguez, and many others.  (I missed Beth Moore and Mike Huckabee due to a sinus migraine.)  Such a powerful three days, which I'm still thinking through.  Mom came up for this conference, and it was such a treat to enjoy this conference with her.






(Couldn't get a good shot of Dr. Ben Carson)

Last Sunday, I attended the Longhorn Foundation Dinner and took advantage of the open seating by grabbing seats at the head table.  It's always a bit hard to attend these dinners because Mack Brown gets us all excited about the season, but it's still almost a month away.  Counting the days!



What I've Read

My avid summer reading program slowed down after I finished The Kitchen Counter Cooking School, which I loved.  I then started reading A Prayer for Owen Meany, but it's over 600 pages and is very slow going.  It has received rave reviews, but I'm still on the fence about slugging it out to finish it.

After getting stuck in that big book, I started The Memoir Project, and it has been great.  No writing exercise, just practical advice for writing memoir.  I hope to put her advice to practice one day.

Four months ago, I started reading a Psalm each night, and so I'm about 25 days away from finishing.  I've really enjoyed reading them as a group. 

This past month, a couple of friends and I started Priscilla Shirer's study on Gideon.  It has only seven video sessions, so it's perfect for finishing out the summer in the Word.

Wrap-up

So that's my July in a nutshell.  And now that I find myself four days into August, I'm taking inventory of the list I set out to accomplish at the beginning of the summer and plotting how to work in some more fun before the summer is over.  Anything I need to include before the days get shorter and my weekends fill up with college football?

His Grace in Giving To Us So We Can Give To Others

One of my favorite things to do is get rid of things.  It's a weird hobby/obsession, I know, but it fits with my minimalist tendencies and my penchant for numbers.  I utilize the former to whittle down what's in my closet, and I use the latter to throw out food and medicine that have extended their stays on my shelves beyond their expiration dates.  It's actually quite cathartic for me.

In sorting through the garage, my closet, and the pantry the past few weeks and making piles to throw away and piles to donate, I recognized that it's a blessing to have enough to give to others.  To be able to tangibly meet someone's needs for food and clothing out of my overflow is humbling. 

I usually think of giving only in terms of tithing.  But that's a little harder to visualize because I don't see where my money goes or how it is used.

Yet the Lord is so generous that He gives more than we need in so many areas of our lives.  I can give tangible goods, like those I came across in my organizing, but I can also share joy, love, encouragement, the Gospel, empathy, and an endless list of intangible gifts that the Lord has also given me.  Most importantly, pointing people back to Him and not taking the credit.  After all, He owns the cattle on a thousand hills (Psalm 50:10) and gives everyone life and breath and everything else. (Acts 17:25)

As Ann Voskamp says, "Blessed to be a blessing."  And it is so very true.  It's just a matter of living it out in every area of my life and not just my finances.

June Update

How is it already the end of June?  I can't make that compute, but apparently, I've read a lot since the last update.  More on that below.

What Made Me Smile

Pistachio White Chocolate Bread Pudding with Salted Caramel Sauce and Bing Cherries at Magnolia Cheese Company.  Wish I could say I shared this with someone, but alas there was not even a bite left because it was THAT good.

Seeing the Body of Christ come together in a trailer food park to support a family who lost their home in the Granbury tornados.

Dinner with Ally and her fifteen-month-old cutie Jude, who sat right beside her even without a booster seat.

Arranging garden roses.

Dinner with a friend before she moved to Virginia.

Brunch with one of my young friends and hearing all that God is doing in her life.

Lunches and dinners to celebrate friends' birthdays.

Dinner with my friend who was in town from England.

A Pancake Breakfast for Melissa.  It was a joint celebration of her birthday and a time of covering her in prayer as she and her family are moving to Thailand for a year.  In December 2007, we took this picture at her wedding shower.




And recreating the moment almost seven years later. 

Coffee with a friend and talking so long that we closed down Barnes and Noble on a weeknight.

What I've Learned

In addition to my post from earlier this month, I've learned that essential oils have some great healing properties.  Peppermint oil has been helpful in staving off headaches.

I've learned that waiting until the weekend after Memorial Day to plant vinca is a recipe for disaster.  Out of 18, I have 2.5 that are still alive.  There might have also been a lack of watering.

I learned from Emily Freeman's blog that the volume button on the side of the iphone can be used to take a picture, which comes in handy when you are trying to take a selfie and can't see the button on the back of the bottom of the phone's screen.

I learned that only plastic frames should be put on your head because metal frames tend to get stuck in hair, which explains why my prescription sunglasses don't rip my hair out and why my nonprescription Ray Bans do.

I learned that I'd rather have to skip vacation due to a pipe bursting before I was scheduled to leave than to have had it happen while I was away.  These were my lifesavers.

Even though my bathroom now looks like this and will have to undergo some major work in the coming weeks.

What I've Read

Gift from the Sea  by Anne Morrow Lindbergh.  I've already loaned this book to my mom; it was that good.  It's a quick read that was written in the 1950s and contains nuggets of wisdom that are still applicable today.

The Real Win by Colt McCoy and Matt Carter.  It was a given that I was going to read this book because I'm a big Colt fan and I enjoy listening to sermons from his pastor Matt Carter of The Austin Stone.  This is a great book for men and women, defining biblical manhood and what that should look like in our culture, and it contains entertaining stories from both men's lives. 

The Autobiography of George Muller.  If your prayer life needs a boost, this is a great book as it contains journal entries from a man who counted on God to provide his daily bread and every pound that came into his wallet.

A Little Salty to Cut the Sweet by Sophie Hudson.  I dedicated a whole post to this book.  Lots of funny here.

A Homemade Life by Molly Wizenberg.  I've already loaned this book to a friend.  Shauna Niequist references this book in Bread and Wine, and it is similar in many ways.  It contains great stories and recipes, but God is completely absent from this book.

Your Beautiful Purpose by Susie Larson.  This author spoke at a women's retreat that I attended earlier this year, but I didn't pick up the book until Ann Voskamp recommended it on her blog.  I loved Larson's openness and her writing style.  Lots underlined in this book.

Quitter by Jon Acuff.  I've followed Acuff on Twitter for quite a while.  He's hilarious.  In this book, he talks about how to develop a dream while you work 40 hours a week.  Lots of food for thought here.

Anything by Jennie Allen.  Jennie and her husband Zac prayed, "God, we will do anything."  This book is a small part of following what God showed them after they prayed that prayer.  She puts into words what I've felt on numerous occasions but have been too afraid to say.  This is one courageous book, but it's also one that we're all called to live out.  Lots to process after reading this book.



Whew!  What a fast and furious month!  And with the holiday ahead, I'm hoping to process some of what I've recently read.  What books are you enjoying?

His Grace in Wasting Nothing

I know sometimes it's scary to think that you might do the wrong thing.  It's terrifying to imagine wasting your "one shot."  But let me assure you, nothing you do will be wasted.  Every decision you make, every path you take, has the ability to contribute something you need to succeed at your dream. (From p.81 of Quitter by Jon Acuff)

During my last year in grad school, I took a paid internship to learn how to put into practice what I had been studying in the classroom for the previous two years.  I did a few projects, but mostly, I got paid to sit and do homework because they didn't have that much work for an intern to do.  And while I was grateful for the money, I concluded that it had been a waste of a year of my time.

Three years later, I quit the job that I had gone to grad school for and began looking for a contract position.  I applied with several temp companies and was offered contract work with a firm in Dallas.  After a few weeks on the job, I was talking with my supervisor about grad school because we had attended the same one.  During that conversation, he shared that he had hired me because of the internship that I had done in grad school; he said that he had completed an internship there and knew that I must be "okay" if they had hired me.

I often think that I am not using my time wisely - that maybe there's something else that the Lord wants me to do or that maybe I'm not making the best use of the gifts and talents that He has given me.  And yet, I go back to the above scenario and see how God can (and does) use the most unlikely experiences in the past to equip us for the future. 

I have to remind myself that when I gave my life to Him, I gave Him the use of all of my time - that same time that He holds from beginning to end as the Alpha and the Omega - and sometimes He ordains that time to be used in what appears to be a mundane way.  But just because it feels mundane doesn't mean that it can't be used.

As I think about that, it compels me to pray that I wouldn't miss what He has for me right now.  That He would enable me to grasp the lessons that I need to learn from today in order to thrive in the future.  And that He would redeem the time that it feels like the locusts have eaten.  (Joel 2:25)

May the Lord remind each of us that not one experience is wasted or cannot be redeemed.
 

Public Service Announcement

If you use Google Reader, you've received the alerts that it will no longer be operating after July 1.  I added an email button to the blog awhile back because I thought it might come in handy during this time.  So, if you'd prefer the ease of having blog updates sent directly to your email, please feel free to sign up.

Thank you to all who take the time to read, and thank you for extending grace last Sunday as I was battling a sinus migraine and could not post.

His Grace in Giving Laughter

I don't recall laughing much when I was growing up.  My dad got sick when I was six, and so I spent quite a bit of time at my Granny and Pa-Pa's house.  And though they were very loving, they didn't laugh very much, if at all.  The most that my mother and I can recall is that Granny may have said, "That's cute," but there was no such thing as a fit of giggles or an all-out belly laugh from either Granny or Pa-Pa.  I think their limited schooling, around first grade for Pa-Pa and third grade or maybe fifth for Granny, prevented them from understanding that some things in life are funny.  At any rate, my early childhood contains a lot of sweet memories but not a lot of laughter-filled memories.

Around junior high or high school, I must have developed a sense of humor.  Or at least a late-night sense of humor.  It was during that time that if I was awake past a certain time of night (though the time often fluctuated), anything that was said became hysterically funny to me.  Sometimes my outbursts were amusing to my mother and sister, while other times they would merely say, "There she goes."  Possibly indicating that my sanity had stepped out.

Nowadays when we get together as a family, laughter seems to be a focal point.  Because we have so many shared memories, it's easy to play off of them and insert humor.  It is such a gift to laugh with family, and I'm so grateful we have that now.

I also enjoy books that make me laugh.  Seven by Jen Hatmaker was the first book that I can recall reading that produced multiple side-splitting outbursts of laughter, which was quickly followed by my reading aloud the portions that I found hysterical.

Melanie Shankle's memoir Sparkly Green Earrings, which I read earlier this summer, had a similar effect.

And then this weekend, I read A Little Salty to Cut the Sweet by Sophie Hudson.  I called my mom and read the bulk of chapter 4 to her.  I got so tickled reading it that I could barely get the words out, which caused Mom to laugh even more.  And there's no way I could read chapter 7 out loud and have anyone understand me because it's that funny.



So as I wrap up this weekend with some soreness in my abs, I'm grateful for the gift of laughter.  What has made you laugh lately?  I'd love to hear.

"A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones." - Proverbs 17:22

20 Things I've Learned

Sometimes it feels like I learn the same things over and over again.  I'm not sure if it's because I didn't fully process the lessons the first time, because God is driving home a point, or both.  So I thought it might be time to put some down in writing.   I'm hoping that by writing out the lessons I've learned, I'll take them to heart.

1.  It's not about you.

Rick Warren's book The Purpose Driven Life opens with the above statement, and it's one of the most profound four-word sentences ("Jesus Christ is Lord" is of course the best four-word sentence).  This lesson could stand alone, but I've found a couple of corollaries.

2.  Not everyone who is mad is mad at you. 

See Lesson #1.

3.  People don't spend time obsessing over you, so stop obsessing over yourself.  This lesson could  also read:  The impurities that you focus on when you are a half inch from the mirror cannot be seen my most people.

See Lesson #1, again.

4.  Worry accomplishes nothing.

As a follow-up to lesson 3, I thought this was worth mentioning because I've struggled with worry.  It constantly makes a come-back.  But I'm trying to leave it off my mind's to-do list.

5.  Back away from the lists occasionally to see if what is on them REALLY matters. 

I've learned that if I leave things on my to-do list for long enough, some of the items become moot.  Chances are some of the things I put on my lists weren't important to begin with, which is probably why I never found time to do them.

6.  Focus on people more than things and tasks.

I'm embarrassed to admit how much I struggle with this.  I have a strong affinity for completed tasks, and sometimes my single-minded focus on a task causes me to ignore the people God has put in my life.

7.  Take down the to-do list from its pedestal as an idol. 

This will make Lesson #7 easier.  There are no rewards on earth or in Heaven for the number of completed to-do lists.  I need to let that sink in.

8.  Keep the Sabbath.

I've written about the benefits of Sabbath rest multiple times on here.  I can't say enough about how observing this spiritual discipline has changed me for the better.

9.  Fight for other white space on your calendar in addition to the Sabbath.

A Saturday, or even an evening, with nothing on the agenda can be as healing as a vacation and avoids the hassle of packing and traveling; plus, it's cheaper.

10.  Count your blessings using a pen and paper. 

For me, this is my one thousand (or now almost 3,500) gifts list.  Write them down so that you can go back and see God's faithfulness.  Fears are conquered when thankfulness abounds.

11.  Most people are more approachable than we think; dare to speak.




I approached the Head Coach of the University of Texas baseball team after a loss, even after being warned that he might not sign the ball because he takes losses hard.  I didn't get a word out of him, but I did get an autograph.

12.  People never tire of encouragement.

I haven't yet experienced a time when someone rejected this.

13.  People never tire of genuine praise.

Same as with Lesson 12.

14.  Knowing when to speak and when to be silent is hard.

I'm not sure if I'll ever grasp this lesson on this side of eternity.  It's one area I constantly need to pray for wisdom about.

15.  Don't assume you know how people feel; ask them. 

I tend to say things like, "I bet you had a great vacation."  But maybe it was the vacation that everyone got sick on or that didn't go as planned.  Open-ended questions are better for finding out how people really feel.

16.  There is a ministry of presence.

Simply showing up and being present with people means you gave the gift of time.  I experienced this when a friend made the three-hour drive in from Houston for my dad's funeral and then turned around and made the three-hour drive back.  It ministered to me deeply.

17.  You do not have to finish every book you start.

It took a long time for the "finish-what-you start" part of me to be okay with this.  But when I realized that you don't get back the time that you spend on bad books, I took this to heart.  Give yourself the grace to put down a bad book.

18.  It's okay to give away things that you were given but that you don't use and don't see yourself ever using. 

Clutter takes up physical and emotional space and can be a drain.  Let someone else love your stuff, and let them get the "joy" of taking care of it.

19. Comparison is the thief of joy. - Theodore Roosevelt

Roosevelt hit this right on the mark.  When I feel this setting in, it's time to get the gifts book out and start recording what I'm thankful for.

20.  You can change your story.

Shauna Niequist just wrote an excellent blog post on this topic.  It's also fresh on my mind because there are thirteen weeks of summer ahead.  Unfortunately, I still have to work.  But the days feel longer with sunlight lasting until almost 9 p.m., and I want to make the most of them. I feel like thirteen weeks is a good chunk of time to try new things and develop new habits.  So, we'll see how it goes.

This is just a start, but I know there are many other life lessons to learn.  What lessons have you learned?

His Grace in Providing Peace and Gifts in the Storms

During springtime, I keep one eye on the radar at all times when I know a storm is headed our way. I take storm warnings very seriously.  I am ready at a moment's notice to head to the half bath and hunker down with my Bible, my cell phone set on the weather app, a flashlight, food, water, and whatever other earthly provisions I think might be helpful to have on hand.

This spring, the weather tended toward the cool side, and the radar stayed calm during March and April.  I assumed that we had made it through the spring unscathed. 

Then last weekend, the weather forecasters started warning that Monday had the potential for severe weather, including tornados and hail.  This was all set to occur on Monday afternoon and evening, which was the very same time that my friend Nick had gotten me a ticket to a taping.  And this was not just any taping, but a taping with my favorite author and blogger, Ann Voskamp, and an opportunity to meet with her after the taping.  And so the wrestling with the fear of the storm versus this wonderful opportunity began.

On the way to pick up a friend at the airport on Sunday evening, my route took me by the building where the taping would occur.  A quick glance revealed that the building was a tank; it looked like it could weather just about anything.  So I took comfort in thinking that if I could get to the building, I would be fine.

As Monday afternoon rolled around, and the radar lit up with green, yellow, red, and even purple, I decided it might not be a good idea to drive my newish car to the taping and found a coworker whose route home takes her right by where I needed to be.  My car could stay in covered parking at work. 

With those details nailed down, and in spite of reports of the tornado damage that had occurred in Moore, Oklahoma, I decided that I would take the plunge and head to the taping.  Yet, I kept asking my coworker who was driving me to the taping whether this was crazy (after all, she had survived a tragic tornado in Wichita Falls), but she assured me that she would keep me posted of any weather developments and was willing to come and pick me up afterwards if the weather was bad.  I'm so grateful for her encouragement and her help because the Lord had great things in store.

As I sat in the audience and waited for my friend Nick to arrive, I felt the covering of being under the Lord's wing--that same covering described in Psalm 91.  The weather was the furthest thing from my mind as James and Betty Robison interviewed their guests, including Ann.  As Ann shared from her book One Thousand Gifts A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are, I was reminded of why I have continue to record the gifts the Lord has given me--because it helps conquer fear as you see His faithfulness daily.

After the taping, they announced that Ann would stay for twenty minutes to visit with members of the audience.  At the twenty-minute mark, she had only signed autographs and taken pictures with a handful of the fifty or so people who were in line; when the staff asked whether she wanted to leave, she replied that she would stay until she had gotten to every single person.  Her generosity with her time was beautiful. 

We were the last in line because she had wanted to speak to my friend Nick.  I was blessed to hear how her blog touched his life in such a profound way that he left a successful career in the corporate world and responded to the Lord's leading to attend seminary.  He then blessed Ann with a special gift for her son who is headed to college. 



As the evening came to a close and more stories poured in about the devastation that had occurred from the storms that had swept through Oklahoma, the enemy tried to inflict guilt:  How could I have gone to such an incredible event when others were hurting?  But the triumph is that I went to the taping IN SPITE of fear and was blessed to experience the Lord's covering.  That was what the Lord had for me on Monday evening, and I would have missed out had I given in to the fear.



As Ann's inscription so beautifully reminded me: "Alyssa, your testimony means so much to Jesus! You are so loved by Him. All is grace. Eucharisteo!"

Yes, all is grace.  And His gifts continue:
#3391:  Getting to meet Ann Voskamp
#3392:  Hearing Nick's testimony of how Ann's blog impacted his life

His Grace in Giving Wisdom

I entered eighth grade with much trepidation about pre-algebra.  Rumors abounded about how hard the class would be; after all, it involved math with letters. What in the world?  I had always loved math, but I thought that this class might just change my feelings about the subject.

Almost intuitively, I started praying each night that the Lord would open my mind to understand the next day's lesson.  I prayed this every night throughout the year, and the Lord faithfully provided the wisdom and understanding that I needed for each new lesson.  I finished the year with my love for math still intact.

Yet, when I got to trigonometry as a junior in high school, I didn't receive the warnings.  And it didn't occur to me to pray when day after day my brain couldn't grasp how to do computations with sine, cosine, and tangent.  Thankfully, that class didn't count towards my GPA because trig and I remain enemies to this day.

The other day, as I was telling a friend about my pre-algebra prayers, she remarked, "That was wise beyond your years." 

I hadn't thought about those prayers until that conversation.  And I began to think about all the things I've gone through since my math days when it would have been helpful to pray in advance for wisdom.  I often prayed that the Lord would help me to do well, but I seemed to lack the insight (or wisdom) to pray for wisdom.  On many occasions, I was guilty of thinking that I had what it took mentally to get the task done; I just thought I just needed the Lord's help to help me regurgitate what I had studied.  Oh how prideful those thoughts and actions were!

My challenge now is to get back into that eighth-grade pre-algebra prayer mode.  I want to be intentional about seeking wisdom from the Lord for every aspect of my life.  And the good thing is that His Word promises that if we ask for wisdom and believe He will give it, He will.  I have nothing to lose, except my pride, and I'm ready to let that go. 

"If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.  But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts I like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind." James 1:5-6

April/May Update

It's been more than a month of Sundays since I last posted, so an update is way overdue.  Some of the posting absence was planned, but the latter part was due to the blue screen of death that appeared on my computer, which required purchasing a replacement.  Navigating Windows 8 has proven that you can teach an old dog new tricks; it just takes about three times longer.  I felt such a sense of accomplishment when I finally figured out today how to install the printer driver.  I still don't know how to use all the functions on here, but the big E button to the internet is working, and so there's no reason to delay blogging any longer.

What I've Been Enjoying

During my time away from the blog, I enjoyed four days with family at a beautiful house on the Guadalupe River.




(View from the dining room looking onto the pool and the river)

I had fun catching up last weekend with my Sunday Supper Club from grad school.  We toured the Chagall exhibit at the Dallas Museum of Art and told stories over lunch at Oddfellows in the Bishop Arts District.  Catching up over good food reminded me of all the meals we shared together and how many recipes they taught me to cook.  I wish we lived closer and could gather every week.



With the expanded extra daylight hours, the opportunity to engage in fun activities after work has also expanded.  I've loved going to a smoothie party, a baseball game, and a ballet and spending time with friends.

I've also enjoyed learning from my friends as they demonstrate intentionality in leading the lost to Christ, in pursuing their callings, in discipling others, and in giving up the things of this world in order to find sufficiency in Christ alone.  I never doubt that our lives can preach because I see such incredible examples daily.

What I've Been Pondering

Over the past month or so, I've heard several Scriptures mentioned numerous times.  I never think that's a coincidence.  The Lord obviously has something for me in these verses, and so I don't want to forget them.

Matthew 6:33
"But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."

Psalm 139:23-24
"Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.  See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting."

Joel 2:25 (NKJV)
"So I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten, the crawling locus, the consuming locust, and the chewing locust."

Luke 18:1-8 (the parable of the persistent widow)
"And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, 'Grant me justice against my adversary.'  For some time he (the judge) refused.  But finally he said to himself,' . . . [B]ecause this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice . . . .'  And the Lord said, "Listen to what the unjust judge says.  And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night?  Will he keep putting them off?  I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly."

What I've Been Reading

Daring Greatly by Brene Brown.  


I underlined a ton in this book.  Her research on shame is eye-opening and has drawn international attention since the talk she gave at TedxHouston a couple of years ago.  This book focuses on how vulnerability is not a weakness but rather a major strength.  She covers how this is needed in the corporate world, education, and in parenting.  Here are a few excerpts:

"If we want to reignite innovation and passion, we have to rehumanize work.  When shame becomes a management style, engagement dies.  When failure is not an option we can forget about learning, creativity, and innovation." (p. 15)

"When it comes to parenting, the practice of framing mothers and fathers as good or bad is both rampant and corrosive--it turns parenting into a shame minefield.  The real questions for parents should be:  "Are you engaged? Are you paying attention?" If so, plan to make lots of mistakes and bad decisions.  Imperfect parenting moments turn into gifts as our children watch us try to figure out what went wrong and how we can do better next time.  The mandate is not to be perfect and raise happy children.  Perfection doesn't exist, and I've found that what makes children happy doesn't always prepare them to be courageous, engaged adults." (p. 15)

Towards the end of the book, Brown shares "The Daring Greatly Leadership Manifesto" (p. 212) and "The Wholehearted Parenting Manifesto" (p. 244), both of which are fantastic.

Our Southern Breeze by Daphene Jones.



I loved reading Same Kind of Different As Me, the story of Deborah Hall's befriending a homeless man (Denver Moore).  Her acts of courage are even more astounding in light of this book, which was authored by her twin sister and tells the story of her upbringing.  It's a beautiful story of how grace wins out over darkness and how suffering and can change hearts.

Bread and Wine by Shauna Niequist.



I loved Shauna's previous books, Cold Tangerines and Bittersweet, and so it was like catching up with an old friend as I read through her latest essays in Bread and Wine.  She has a way with words and can eloquently, and often hilariously, draft situations that I've experienced or emotions that I've felt.  This book is one that you won't want to end as she shares stories from her supper club and how important it is to gather people around your table for a meal.  This book made me miss my old Sunday Supper Club, so I was glad I was able to see them last week.  I have already sent copies of this book to my mom and my aunt, and they've already made several of the recipes that are included in the book; it's one of those books you can't help but share.

If you've read this far, thanks for hanging in there for the long update.  I'd love to hear what you are enjoying these days.

His Grace As Shown Through the Body of Christ

I'm not one who likes to feel helpless.  I've got my to-do lists and plans and prefer to muddle through them on my own rather than asking for help. 

But after a difficult March, which found me awakening most nights struggling to breathe because my nasal passages had swollen shut, I made the decision to undergo septoplasty to correct my double-deviated septum.  It wasn't easy to wave the white flag, knowing that I would be dependent on others for several days.

And yet, it was during this time of dependence that I was able to see even more clearly the Lord's provision.  This time through the Body of Christ that He has surrounded me with:

--A sweet friend got up at dark-thirty and drove me and my mother to the hospital.

--Another sweet friend picked us up from the hospital and brought us dinner.

--Friends and family prayed me through.

--Friends and family texted and called to check on me.

--A cookie bouquet arrived from a friend.

--A friend loaned me Downton Abbey to occupy my mind and to help pass the time.

--Another friend brought dinner.

--Co-workers covered for me at work.

--And my mother went above and beyond, taking care of all the heavy lifting, making ice packs, changing bandages, heating up food, sleeping on a blow-up mattress in my bedroom, talking me through the awkward side effects, and being my watching partner for 12 episodes of Downton Abbey.

It's a beautiful thing to see the Body of Christ use their gifts to so selflessly serve someone in need.  And yet, all too often, my pride makes me not want to be the one who is in need; I try to take over and not allow the Body to do what it was intended to do. 

But today, I am so very grateful for the way that our Heavenly Father has gifted each person to serve and for the way that the Body of Christ has blessed me.

His Extravagant Grace

Just a short post today. . .

As today is Easter, I'm taking some time to just soak up the unfathomable Truth of the Gospel--that Christ came to earth and lived without sin; that He took on my sin (past, present, and future) and died the death that I should have died; and that through His death on the cross, He became my sin substitute so that the curtain was torn, and I am no longer separated from God by my sin. 

May this Truth, and the fact that I am daily in need of His extravagant grace, fall afresh on me each and every day, not just at Easter.

His Grace in Reminding Me Who I am

A few weeks ago, I engaged in pure vanity:  I asked a friend to take a headshot of me for a professional directory because the picture taken by the professional organization did not meet my expectations.  It didn't even fit all my hair in the frame.  For a gal with big Texas hair, that's not acceptable.

As I posed for different shots, a process that makes me uneasy and feels completely unnatural and awkward, I realized that there was/is such a heart struggle in this process.  The struggle in my heart is one of trying to believe what God's Word says--that He calls me His Beloved--versus the screams and shouts of today's culture that beauty is such a high and unachievable "standard" that I will never measure up to. 

One of the speakers at a retreat that I attended this past weekend shared other good reminders about true beauty:

**We are God's masterpiece, created in His image.

**Our value in Him never changes.

**Refuse to define yourself by others' views.

**Refuse to believe personal labels you've attached to your soul, as well as any designer labels that you think will bring you value when you wear them.

**Lasso your rogue cravings. {The mental picture of this makes me smile.}

**Real beauty comes from understanding God's love.

**Humility is the beginning of beauty.

All of these thoughts stem from the Truth of His Word:

"Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight." 1 Peter 3:3-4

"But the Lord said to Samuel, 'Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.'" 1 Samuel 16:7

"Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out." Romans 12:2 (MSG)

"How precious are your thoughts about me, O God. They cannot be numbered!  I can’t even count them; they outnumber the grains of sand! And when I wake up, you are still with me!" Psalm 139:17-18 (NLT)

I'm grateful that the Lord has provided a definition of "beauty" that is not centered on how much we can buy to make our outer selves prettier but on how He changes our heart the more and more we spend time with Him.  The kind of beauty we are given by Him does not fade and cannot be taken away.

I pray that I would rest in that definition and reject anything contrary that the world imposes.