Monday, October 24, 2011
Thursday, October 20, 2011
Great Oaks
The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is upon me,
for the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor.
He has sent me to comfort the brokenhearted
and to proclaim that captives will be released and prisoners will be freed.
He has sent me to tell those who mourn that the time of the Lord’s favor has come,
and with it, the day of God’s anger against their enemies.
To all who mourn in Israel, He will give a crown of beauty for ashes,
a joyous blessing instead of mourning, festive praise instead of despair.
In their righteousness, they will be like great oaks that the Lord has planted for his own glory.
Isaiah 61:1-3
This is my life verse. It gives me great comfort every time I read it. For His glory, my past has been redeemed and transformed; everlasting joy is mine. Amen!
Monday, October 17, 2011
Calling
God does not call the equipped. He equips the called. Go ahead, be bold in the Lord. He'll meet you right where you are.
Friday, October 14, 2011
Guest Post: What Heaven Looks Like...
It's said that a picture is worth a thousand words. I couldn't agree more. Elizabeth Ann of Elizabeth Ann's Recipe Box shares a peek into one family's adoption of their son in today's guest post. In an effort to keep the focus on the images, I'll keep this one brief. Be blessed.
WHAT HEAVEN LOOKS LIKE . . .
This is picture is the closest thing to heaven that I can imagine as a human here on earth. . .
I introduced you to Lisa, Joey, Audrey, and Archie a couple of months ago. . . and this past week has been one that their family will never forget!
God's hand has been over their entire adoption process but He showed himself faithful yet again when the amazingly, talented Whitney Runyon and her husband, Nick, were able to go with Joey to Bulgaria to document him picking up Archie and bringing him home! Everyone has different spiritual gifts and Whitney's is definitely photography!
Lisa and Audrey telling Joey goodbye at the airport.
Archie greeting his daddy at the orphanage. . .
Archie immediately pretended to call mommy!
Archie's going away cake that Lisa and Joey gave to the orphanage. The top right hand corner says "Joey, Lisa, Ace". And at the bottom it says "with thankfulness to all of you and your care for our son".
Archie excited about the sparklers
One of my favorite pictures. . . precious. . .
The orphanage's send off ritual. . . the child drinks from a bowl of water. . .
Then the water is thrown on the steps and the child and their new family walk over the water. .
The people who worked at the orphanage telling Archie goodbye!
Loves his daddy
I wonder if this is what Heaven is like. . . I imagine God on his knees with his arms open wide waiting for us to run to him. We have earthly parents just as Archie had incredible caretakers, but finally, finally we will come to our "forever home" and I wonder if it will be like the homecoming Archie received. . . with angels lining the streets and God waiting to envelop us in his arms. . .because we are home . . . finally home . . . with Him!
- Elizabeth Ann
What an amazingly powerful set of images. Romans 8:15 & 23 says that we have been adopted by God as His own children. I can't even begin to fathom what it will be like in the presence of our heavenly Father, our Abba. Thank you Elizabeth Ann for this priceless reminder. For more images and background on this sweet family, check out Elizabeth Ann's sweet blog. xo
all images by Whitney Runyon & Chris Hsieh.
WHAT HEAVEN LOOKS LIKE . . .
This is picture is the closest thing to heaven that I can imagine as a human here on earth. . .
God's hand has been over their entire adoption process but He showed himself faithful yet again when the amazingly, talented Whitney Runyon and her husband, Nick, were able to go with Joey to Bulgaria to document him picking up Archie and bringing him home! Everyone has different spiritual gifts and Whitney's is definitely photography!
Lisa and Audrey telling Joey goodbye at the airport.
Archie greeting his daddy at the orphanage. . .
Archie immediately pretended to call mommy!
The people who worked at the orphanage telling Archie goodbye!
I wonder if this is what Heaven is like. . . I imagine God on his knees with his arms open wide waiting for us to run to him. We have earthly parents just as Archie had incredible caretakers, but finally, finally we will come to our "forever home" and I wonder if it will be like the homecoming Archie received. . . with angels lining the streets and God waiting to envelop us in his arms. . .because we are home . . . finally home . . . with Him!
- Elizabeth Ann
What an amazingly powerful set of images. Romans 8:15 & 23 says that we have been adopted by God as His own children. I can't even begin to fathom what it will be like in the presence of our heavenly Father, our Abba. Thank you Elizabeth Ann for this priceless reminder. For more images and background on this sweet family, check out Elizabeth Ann's sweet blog. xo
all images by Whitney Runyon & Chris Hsieh.
Sunday, October 9, 2011
Rules
One of the things I love about Pinterest...you find all sorts of things you never knew you needed. The above sign can be purchased in a ton of different finishes. Or, make your own if you'd like. I want my family and everyone that enters my home to follow these rules and memorize the verses. Love it.
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Guest Post: Mercy Me
Oh how I love me a teachable moment. Honestly, I don't know who learns more from them, my children or me. A few weeks ago I asked our lovely readers to contact me if they had a post that they would like to share here on Faith Blogs. Lucky for me, Morgan of Snapshots was one of the gracious women who stepped up to share. Her blog is honest and real - two of my favorite things. Here's a look at one of her teachable moments.
Mercy Me
Apparently on one particular day last week, my big girls were malfunctioning.
Shorting out. Over-heating. Needing to be re-booted.
Normally Norah and Ashley get along rather well. With each other and with me. On this day, however, we were experiencing all sorts of issues. Whining, wimpering, warring and weirdness. It wasn't pretty.
I put up with it for a bit, attributing their wonkiness to a lack of sleep, a need for a snack, too much time together or maybe needing some Mommy-time. But then they each crossed that final line between "Maybe you're just tired" and "What's your deal?!"
As they barged into the kitchen, shoulder to shoulder, each trying to yell out their complaint louder and more plaintively, my patience wore out.
"That's enough! Both of you need to pick out a job from the Great Learning Box. Now. Quietly. If I hear one more squeak out of either of you, you will have another job. Got it?"
Sniffle, sniffle, sniffle ... from them.
Grumble, grumble, grumble ... from me.
I turned back to the sink full of dishes and practiced my deep breathing, rolling my head from side to side like Rocky Balboa coming out of the boxing ring.
They sheepishly retrieved the striped box from the counter and reached in. Norah pulled out, "Straighten the laundry room" and headed off to tidy up shoes and re-hang sweatshirts. Ashley carried her folded piece of paper to me, lower lip pouting and eyes downcast with little tears still hanging on her eyelashes.
"Can you read mine, Mommy?"
I slipped my hands out of my yellow rubber gloves and unfolded her little scrap.
"Mercy."
...sigh...
More than anything in the world, I wanted to tell my little missy to reach back in there and pull out a good one! I wanted her to have to pay a little for her complaining. I wanted her to experience a bit of a sting for her whining. I want her to have a consequence that would cause her to think twice before she tattled again. I wanted punishment, retribution and justice. All because of a little five-year old's skirmish with her sissy.
But that little piece of paper has a big job. It's there to remind me that God doesn't require punishment, retribution or justice of me when I make a mistake. When I whine, complain or grumble, God is rich in His mercy towards me and in the same way He calls me to extend that same mercy to those around me. Especially my brawling babies.
There is a specific verse from the Old Testament book of Micah that addresses this. In chapter three, God instructed His prophet to write this:
He has shown you, O [Mommy], what is good.
And what does the LORD require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
and to walk humbly with your God.
Micah 3:8
(That "Mommy" reference is my addition, just FYI.)
Even though my little LeLe had broken a house rule (or two, or three, or four, or five ...), this was a teachable moment for me to extend to her mercy and show her a first-hand example of what God's mercy looks like when we come to Him seeking forgiveness.
God does not hang my mistakes over my head, punishing me every time I miss the mark. If I come to Him in confession, He has a beautiful promise for me nestled in Psalm 103:11-13
For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
so great is His love for those who fear Him;
as far as the east is from the west,
so far has He removed our transgressions from us.
As a father has compassion on his children,
so the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him;
Psalm 103:11-13
Because of Jesus' willingness to die for my sins, I am extended mercy in place of punishment when I do the wrong thing. And He has compassion on me because I am one of His children who honors Him. This is wonderful for me to receive ... but not so easy sometimes for me to extend.
I endured a fierce two-second struggle standing at the sink staring at that word: "Mercy." Punishment or grace? Judgement or forgiveness? Consequence or mercy?
... sigh ... again ...
"Okay, Honey ... please go upstairs and play quietly. And please try to be good to your sister when she's done with her job. Thank you."
That was a tough one. It would have felt more satisfying, perhaps, to see her spot cleaning the floor as her consequence, but it was a bit more godly to give her mercy instead. And her teary smile and hug was a lot more fulfilling than a clean floor.
Of course, being a five-year old meant that before the end of the day she was back at the Great Learning Box and I still got my kitchen floor scrubbed, but not before she saw a little bit of God's goodness and mercy from her Mommy first.
- Morgan
What an awesome little piece of paper with an insanely powerful word. Who knew that something so small could by used by God to be so big - to Mommy and daughter? Love it. These are the powerful moments that make my heart soar. Thank you so much for sharing with us Morgan. What a beautiful picture of His mercy and grace.
Apparently on one particular day last week, my big girls were malfunctioning.
Shorting out. Over-heating. Needing to be re-booted.
Normally Norah and Ashley get along rather well. With each other and with me. On this day, however, we were experiencing all sorts of issues. Whining, wimpering, warring and weirdness. It wasn't pretty.
I put up with it for a bit, attributing their wonkiness to a lack of sleep, a need for a snack, too much time together or maybe needing some Mommy-time. But then they each crossed that final line between "Maybe you're just tired" and "What's your deal?!"
As they barged into the kitchen, shoulder to shoulder, each trying to yell out their complaint louder and more plaintively, my patience wore out.
"That's enough! Both of you need to pick out a job from the Great Learning Box. Now. Quietly. If I hear one more squeak out of either of you, you will have another job. Got it?"
Sniffle, sniffle, sniffle ... from them.
Grumble, grumble, grumble ... from me.
I turned back to the sink full of dishes and practiced my deep breathing, rolling my head from side to side like Rocky Balboa coming out of the boxing ring.
They sheepishly retrieved the striped box from the counter and reached in. Norah pulled out, "Straighten the laundry room" and headed off to tidy up shoes and re-hang sweatshirts. Ashley carried her folded piece of paper to me, lower lip pouting and eyes downcast with little tears still hanging on her eyelashes.
"Can you read mine, Mommy?"
I slipped my hands out of my yellow rubber gloves and unfolded her little scrap.
"Mercy."
...sigh...
More than anything in the world, I wanted to tell my little missy to reach back in there and pull out a good one! I wanted her to have to pay a little for her complaining. I wanted her to experience a bit of a sting for her whining. I want her to have a consequence that would cause her to think twice before she tattled again. I wanted punishment, retribution and justice. All because of a little five-year old's skirmish with her sissy.
But that little piece of paper has a big job. It's there to remind me that God doesn't require punishment, retribution or justice of me when I make a mistake. When I whine, complain or grumble, God is rich in His mercy towards me and in the same way He calls me to extend that same mercy to those around me. Especially my brawling babies.
There is a specific verse from the Old Testament book of Micah that addresses this. In chapter three, God instructed His prophet to write this:
He has shown you, O [Mommy], what is good.
And what does the LORD require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
and to walk humbly with your God.
Micah 3:8
(That "Mommy" reference is my addition, just FYI.)
Even though my little LeLe had broken a house rule (or two, or three, or four, or five ...), this was a teachable moment for me to extend to her mercy and show her a first-hand example of what God's mercy looks like when we come to Him seeking forgiveness.
God does not hang my mistakes over my head, punishing me every time I miss the mark. If I come to Him in confession, He has a beautiful promise for me nestled in Psalm 103:11-13
For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
so great is His love for those who fear Him;
as far as the east is from the west,
so far has He removed our transgressions from us.
As a father has compassion on his children,
so the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him;
Psalm 103:11-13
Because of Jesus' willingness to die for my sins, I am extended mercy in place of punishment when I do the wrong thing. And He has compassion on me because I am one of His children who honors Him. This is wonderful for me to receive ... but not so easy sometimes for me to extend.
I endured a fierce two-second struggle standing at the sink staring at that word: "Mercy." Punishment or grace? Judgement or forgiveness? Consequence or mercy?
... sigh ... again ...
"Okay, Honey ... please go upstairs and play quietly. And please try to be good to your sister when she's done with her job. Thank you."
That was a tough one. It would have felt more satisfying, perhaps, to see her spot cleaning the floor as her consequence, but it was a bit more godly to give her mercy instead. And her teary smile and hug was a lot more fulfilling than a clean floor.
Of course, being a five-year old meant that before the end of the day she was back at the Great Learning Box and I still got my kitchen floor scrubbed, but not before she saw a little bit of God's goodness and mercy from her Mommy first.
- Morgan
What an awesome little piece of paper with an insanely powerful word. Who knew that something so small could by used by God to be so big - to Mommy and daughter? Love it. These are the powerful moments that make my heart soar. Thank you so much for sharing with us Morgan. What a beautiful picture of His mercy and grace.
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