Snapshots

They say "no news, is good news" ... Maybe they're right.We're kind of hibernating right now from the daily freezing temps and sporadic snow falls. Life is just moving idly along, and I feel like almost every night since getting home for Christmas I've gone to bed thinking "today was a good day."

I feel content. At peace. Just happy. It's a very nice feeling.

With nothing really to report, here are some snapshots of our days ... not very exciting ... but memories nonetheless.

Lots of play dates, dinners and outings with the sweet Wanck fam ...

Plenty of lazy PJ days ...

I celebrated completing a great bible study on the book of James with these ladies!

(And a few who weren't able to make our dinner.)

Fun out on the town ...

And inside the house ...

And plenty of time in the snow.

I think that about sums it up ... dreaming of warm weather ... I might just settle for above freezing.

Book Worm

Lately I’ve been on a book binge.

I seriously have been inhaling books like those guys in the hot dog eating contests on Coney Island on the Fourth of July.

I’ve always been a reader. Since early grade school I’ve read all the series of my time … The Great Illustrated Classics, Boxcar Kids, Babysitter’s Club, The Twilight Series, Hunger Games and all the ones in between (except those freaky deaky Goosebumps books. Hated those.).

This binge has been full of non-fiction, christian literature for the most part (Not to be confused with self-help). I feel as though they have helped me out of what I’m sure could have been a Debbie-Downer season of life. I will NOT let myself think this season as a “trial.” But, at the same time, uprooting and moving more than 1200 miles from home is an … adjustment. My new BFF’s (my books) have made me look at the BIG picture. They have made me fall head over heels in love with Jesus in a way I didn’t know was possible. They caught me at a time where I was hungry, needed a major distraction and pushed me toward Jesus, which is the ONLY thing that could have satisfied me. Almost all of these books have encouraged me to dive deeper into my Bible and I’ve been eating it up. Every Holy word.

I mean, here I am in nowhere, Pennsylvania with more time on my hands than I know what to do with. And a girl can only clean her baseboards so many times a day. I’m pretty sure this is my healthiest outlet. And spending so many hours a day with my head in a book means I have pretty much zero interest in TV. I haven’t watched Idol this season AND I have no interest in The Bachelorette … WITH Emily Maynard?!?! What? Who am I?!?! Where is the reality tv guru I knew and loved.

She’s gone. She ran off with her e-reader.

In case you’re curious … here’s the low-down on my book habit.

I know, I know. I have WAY too much time on my hands. But truthfully, some of them are running together, so it’s good for me to further process.

It started with a book on tape that is the base to a powerful study that practically every woman in my family has done. You can download the lessons to your phone/ipod and listen to them while you’re cleaning the house, commuting, etc. I wrote about them in an earlier blog, but the name of the book is The Five Aspects of Woman by Barbara Mouser. She defines womanhood in five aspects: Helper Completer; Mistress of the Domain; Lady Wisdom; Lifegiver; and Glory of Man. She shows us how the God truly designed us to be, what the fall meant for us, and how Christ redeemed us on the cross. I feel like I learned sooooo much about myself, women in general, and what God’s best is for women. It even made me gain more insight on men. I can. not. wait. to do the study eventually with a small group. Ahhh … so good.

MmmKay, next I went a little rogue. For me. I read Dave Ramsey’s Total Money Makeover. Quit laughing. It was seriously a page turner (I told you, I was hungry)! I’m kind of laughing at myself, now. However, it was REALLY good. It was so wise and so practical and so easy to understand, even for beginners like us. I loved it and am SO glad I read it and we have gotten started on the baby steps. Five stars, Dave. Five stars.

Then, I got into the big stuff. This is where God started literally turning my heart inside out. I found the first suggestion randomly on my Facebook newsfeed- 7: An Experimental Mutiny Against Excess, by Jen Hatmaker. Seriously … No, really, SERIOUSLY. The most life-changing book I’ve ever read. I couldn’t put it down. I still haven’t stopped talking about it. I’m constantly day dreaming about the all the takeaways. I think I’m probably just going to have to read it again so I can pick up more details. It was about a normal chica (My peeps and I would call her a PLU, meaning “People Like Us”) who realized all the crazy excess we live in in the ole US of A. I’m copying this summary from her website, because I want to rewrite the book for you in trying to persuade you to read it:

7 is the true story of how Jen (along with her husband and her children to varying degrees) took seven months, identified seven areas of excess, and made seven simple choices to fight back against the modern-day diseases of greed, materialism, and overindulgence. In the spirit of a fast, they pursued a deeply reduced life in order to find a greatly increased God.

People, it’s so stinking good. It just magnifies all the areas of our life where we’re living in extravagance. When you look at all these individual things they’re so normal you can’t think of life without the excess, but when you start realizing how just cutting back on just some of it leaves more room for God to show up, it makes you crave simplicity. So, I’ll give Pennsylvania that- it’s definitely making a “simple” lifestyle much easier to come by. Life at home in the normal realm of my Arkansas bliss was distracting … because like I said before- I like the distractions. However,  after reading 7, I’m seriously trying to cut out on the extra. I want God to have plenty of room to be God without all my … stuff.

This threw me into a Jen Hatmaker kick so I followed that with her books, Interrupted and A Modern Girl’s Guide to Bible Study. I even read her husband, Brandon Hatmaker’s book, The Barefoot Church. I would recommend all of those, too. Great reads. The guide to Bible study was especially helpful. I LOVE doing small group Bible studies with fun fill in the blanks that make me process and memorize Scripture, but sometimes can have trouble just opening up God’s word and being able to really understand. She seriously opened my eyes to being able to dive in head’s first and really get something out of it without having my hand held in a structured study … forever indebted.

I also read Jennie Allen’s book Anything which was challenging and an awesome book. Way to go Jennie! I’ve loved everything I’ve done by Jennie, especially her study Chase. She’s super fun and real and just encouraging. Loved it.

Jennie talks a lot about a girl named Katie Davis who is a girl in her young twenties from Nashville, TN. Katie went to Uganda for a year after high-school to intern at a small school. However, while there she fell in love with the people and has now adopted 14 girls that she lives with and has started a ministy called Amazima which is AMAZING and I am all over. Between Katie, Jen, and Jennie I'm just filled with love for adoption and am PRAYING God uses that in our lives. Katie's book Kisses from Katie is just inspiring. Seriously. I cried and cried and cried. I feel like it literally broke my heart in a million pieces, but has gotten me really excited about doing something for God's Kingdom that I never really thought about before. Her Amazima ministry is exciting and just ... amazing. There are so many ways the average person can help! Do it! Today!

David Platt's Radical was pretty interesting. I've heard lots of mixed reviews on it, but I actually loved it and thought he was spot on. I was kinda ready to pack up and join Katie Davis in Uganda after I read it. Too bad, Aaron hasn't been on my book binge. I'm pretty sure he thinks I've gone off the deep end. Which is fine. I'm sure it's not the first time he thought that. Aaron is a huge Francis Chan fan, he loves his sermons and we watch them frequently. I think he's amazing too, the way he can get up there and share his heart so honestly is just awesome, so I downloaded his book Crazy Love which I'm actually only half way through. I've been trying to slow down and actually take it in so I could process better. But, it's really good.

Lastly, I am almost through Kelle Hampton's memoir, Bloom. I saw it on the Mother's Day shelf at Barnes and Noble and when I saw the Pioneer Woman, Ree Drummond, had raved on it I went home to download it. It's Kelle's story about delivering her second baby girl and she was born with Down Syndrome. She had no idea until she delivered her. It is a PRECIOUS book and Kelle is hilarious. She's actually a blogger (like Jen, Jenne, and Katie). The book was just released. Nella, her daughter with DS, is just a few months older than Sawyer. I love that I can follow all these super cool peeps in the blog world and hear more as their stories further unfold. Kelle is pretty off-the-cuff, and we definitely have some different theology ideas. But she's real and she's witty and I just like her. It's a really good book. And it has lots of pictures ... bonus.

To feed my addictive habit, Aaron bought me a Nook Tablet for Mother's Day which is my new baby. Loving it. I'm finishing up Bloom  and Crazy Love and then moving on down my ever-growing "to read" list. The "free sample" thing on e-readers in my fav thing ever. Anytime I head about a book I want to read, I just download the sample to remind me about it later. Genius!!

Happy Reading!!



Caution: Crazy Roads Ahead

Have you ever had one of those days where you just KNOW God is trying to teach you something? I'm having one of those. Or maybe a week. Or maybe a well, nevermind.
Anyway, I feel like since we got to Pennsylvania I've been praying over what the lesson is that God wants me to learn up here. I've written in my journal countless times that I want to learn it quickly so I can go about my merry way and head on back to Arkansas. But over the last week I've been faced with some somewhat annoying revelations...
Uno. God has to put me in timeout sometimes.
It's true. I feel like sometimes he almost quarantines me from others so that I finally get to a corner and sheepishly say, "Oh, are You trying to tell me something? Did you want to put some input up in here?" He's done this at least two other times in my life ... He keeps knocking and knocking on my door and finally gives me an attention getter that I can't ignore. I don't want to be like that. But fast forward and here I am in Sayre, Pennsylvania (practically distraction free). So clearly, I wasn't listening ... or at least responding. What's amazing is how when I finally get in that quiet spot ... He starts showing me things. One of my favorite lines from Addison Road's song "What Do I Know of Holy" talks about trying to hear from heaven, but then talking the whole time. Oops.
Call to Me and I will answer you and tell you great and incomprehensible things you do not know.
-Jeremiah 33:3 (HCSB)
Is that all we have to do? Call to Him and He'll start speaking His will over our life? He promises us that He has a purpose and a Plan for us (Jer. 29:11) But if we don't know the plan, how do we know if we're on track?
Recently I was journaling and I told Him that I feel like He's trying to put some blinders on me but that I keep telling Him they don't match my outfit. Because I kinda like the distractions, they're fun and they make me happy. I think. Anybody ... anybody??
Dos. Being kind of cast out of my every day life, and having my somewhat big world turned into an itty bitty one has made me realize how actually small my world was before. That perhaps some of the things that were/are important to me are a little bit narcissistic. It really doesn't matter what my kids have on. Or what I have on. Or if I wore it to bible study last week. What I want to matter is eternal purpose. What I want to hear is "Well done, good and faithful servant." I want to have fought the good fight WELL. Which if I'm searching for matching smocked outfits for Thanksgiving in April is probably not holding eternal value. Just a thought. (disclosure: this is totally me, and I'm totally working through this as I'm going through it, so no judgement for those cute mamas (aka BFFs) that love some cute kid clothes. I'm so with you. Duh)
I've started filling my day with purpose and it's changing me. I've been studying God's word in the morning and pouring out all the good, bad and ugly to Him. During my Arbonne days I remember people having breakouts sometimes when they first got on the skincare. I tried to encourage them to press forward because it was a detox and it was going to bring all the impurities to the surface before it could start cell turnover and renewal, etc. That's kind of where I am. God's bringing some yucky stuff to the surface. Some of the me, me, me stuff. And it's not pretty.
I've also spent my days listening to the audio mp3s for the Five Aspects of Womanhood study by Barbara Mouser. I put it on my headphones and listen to it while I'm cleaning the house or hiding from my kids. She is reading a textbook and it's kind of monotone, but if you get through that there is some major meat in those lessons. I listened to the last one yesterday and I'm going to restart them Monday. I could listen to one a day forever and always learn something new.
Lastly, I've been immersing myself in Christian literature. If I'm not cooking or cleaning, I'm reading one of four books that are so stinkin' profound I spend half the time crying over where my life is heading.
Tres. I could just plan my life away. Right now I could literally map out for the fam a grand life of suburban delight in which everything is just dandy. Perfect golf course house on a tree lined street with three well-dressed, bible-reciting kiddos and, and, and... And, honestly, that sounds dreamy.
But, maybe there's more.
Take delight in the Lord, and He will give you your heart’s desires.
-Psalms 37:4 (NLT)
When I was younger I thought this meant that as long as I was doing all the christiany things I was supposed to then God would give me most of the stuff I wanted. Isn't God the best?
Then I realized that's not really what He's saying (Darn!). I think he means that as we pursue Him, as we call out to Him, He'll change the desires of His heart to things in His plan... Kinda feels like He's pulling a fast one. But I'm thinking that maybe if I put on those outdated blinders and look with fresh eyes I'll see things more clearly. That maybe His plans could be better than My plans. What a novel thought.
This living away thing is hard. It's totally stretching me in crazy, crazy ways. I don't think I realized how much I relied on the human strength of those around me until they were gone. Thank goodness for Facetime, Facebook, e-mail, text and cell phones with unlimited mobile-to-mobile. But, thank GOD for His precious word that is truly alive and active, and totally changing my views and desires ...
I feel a crazy ride ahead ... and I'm pumped.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

What an Awesome God We Serve

Right now I am doing a bible study called "Discerning the Voice of God," by Priscilla Shirer. It is absolutely fantastic and I really feel like I am learning so much about God and how He speaks to us. Last night we were watching the video and she was speaking on how we are all looking for different things and she started talking about God and how throughout the Bible He reveals more and more about Himself and how He truly is EVERYTHING we need. As she started going through how every Book of the Bible revealed different amazing qualities of the Lord tears filled the eyes of all of us because it was so amazing to hear!! We all were in AWE of the power of God. My mom told me it was a song and so I searched it out on-line and found it. I sent it out to all my e-mail contacts, but loved it so much I thought I'd post it on here too... SO ENJOY!! It was so much better to actually HEAR the passion and strength that she recited this with... but reading it is pretty powerful too. I just thought it was AMAZING

In Genesis, He is the Breath of life.
In Exodus, our Passover Lamb.
In Leviticus, our Great High Priest.In Numbers, Fire by night.
In Deuteronomy He is Moses' voice.
In Joshua, Salvation's choice.
In Judges, He is the Law Giver.
In Ruth, our Kinsman Redeemer.
In 1 and 2 Samuel, He is the Trusted Prophet.
In 1 and 2 Kings and
1 and 2 Chronicles, the Sovereign One.
In Ezra, He is the True and Faithful Scribe.
In Nehemiah, the Rebuilder of broken walls and lives.
In Esther, He is our courage.
In Job, the Timeless Redeemer.
In Psalms, He is our Morning Song.
In Proverbs, Wisdom's Cry.
In Ecclesiastes, He is the Times and Seasons.
In Song of Solomon, the Lover's Dream.
In Isaiah, He is the Prince of Peace.
In Jeremiah, the Weeping Prophet.
In Lamentations, He is the Cry for Israel.
In Ezekiel, the Call from sin.
In Daniel, He is the Stranger in the Fire.
In Hosea, He is Forever Faithful.
In Joel, He is the Spirit's Power.
In Amos, He is the Arms that carry us.
In Obadiah, our Lord and Saviour.
In Jonah, He is the Great Missionary.
In Micah, the Promise of peace.
In Nahum, He is our Strength and Shield.
In Habbakuk and Zephaniah, He is pleading for revival.
In Haggai, He restores our lost heritage.
In Zechariah, He is the Fountain.
In Malachi, the Sun of Righteousness arising with healing in His wings.
And that's just the OLD TESTAMENT!!!!

In Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, He is God, Man and Messiah.
In Acts, He is the Fire from heaven.
In Romans, He is the Grace of God.
In Corinthians, the Power of Love.
In Galatians, He is Freedom from the curse of sin.
In Ephesians, He is our Glorious Treasure.
In Philippians, the Servant's Heart.
In Colossians, He is the Godhead Trinity.
In 1 and 2 Thessalonians, He is the Coming King.
In Timothy, Titus and Philemon, He is our Mediator and Faithful Pastor.
In Hebrews, the Everlasting Covenant.
In James, He is the One who heals the sick.
In Peter, He is the Shepherd.
In John and Jude, He is the Lover coming for His Bride.
In Revelation, He is King of Kings and Lord of lords.

He is the Prince of Peace, the Son of Man.The Lamb of God, the Great I Am.The Alpha and Omega, our God and Saviour.Jesus Christ the Lord.And when time is no more. . .He still is!

DID YOU KNOW?
There are 66 books in the Bible;There are 1,189 chapters;There are 31,373 verses;There are 773,692 words;There are 3,580,483 letters?
AND THAT YOU. . .
Can read the Bible in one year by reading three chapters on weekdays and five chapters on Sundays?
In the stillness of the morning,Before a busy day of care how sweet to be alone with God,Through His Holy Word and prayer.
God speaks to those who take the time to listen.

I hope this gave you even a little bit of the encouragement it gave me- How exciting it is to know what an AWESOME GOD we serve!!! Someone told me this is a song as well ... check it out!