Confident of This...

{2012: restore}

2012-02-08T22:42:00.001-05:00

My word for 2012 is RESTORE. I am not even totally sure why or how, but I believe God specifically spoke it to my heart. {I wrote about it here.}

Tonight, I need a reminder. This heart is praying for re-focus and refreshing, and for some restoration.

Have mercy on me, O God,
   according to your unfailing love;
according to your great compassion
   blot out my transgressions.
Wash away all my iniquity
   and cleanse me from my sin...
...Surely you desire truth in the inner parts^[a];
   you teach^[b] me wisdom in the inmost place.
Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean;
   wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
Let me hear joy and gladness;
   let the bones you have crushed rejoice.
Hide your face from my sins
   and blot out all my iniquity.
Create in me a pure heart, O God,
   and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Do not cast me from your presence
   or take your Holy Spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of your salvation
   and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me...
...O Lord, open my lips,
   and my mouth will declare your praise.
You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it;
   you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings.
The sacrifices of God are^[c] a broken spirit;
   a broken and contrite heart,
   O God, you will not despise...

Psalm 51
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How are you doing with your 2012 word these days? How has it been at work in you already?

{sixty feet & it's good to be crazy}

2012-01-10T17:42:00.001-05:00

If you read this blog much over the past few years, you know adoption is near to my heart, because I believe it is the very heart of God.

I originally saw this post over at The Lettered Cottage. You can follow the Owens family remarkable story on their blog, Good To Be Crazy.

You must read this family's story; God's story.
Of hope.
Of restoration.
Of goodness and mercy and love.

This video is the most incredible homecoming video I've seen. I wept like a baby. Sharing with you today--- I pray it changes you and moves you:

Home At Last from dan owens on Vimeo.

Oh, and you must, must, must visit SixtyFeet, the family's organization seeking to raise awareness and funds for children imprisoned in Northern Uganda. I pray you might consider how you can help.

{one little word for 2012?}

2012-01-06T13:06:00.000-05:00

Have you heard about One Little Word?

The idea of choosing one word to define your year?

I love this so much more than making a resolution. It's just One. Word. So simple, so focused.

Last year, my word was "Choice" or "Choose". I had felt over and over again God speaking to me that my JOY is a choice. Being grateful is a choice. My hearts' fullness or emptiness, in many ways, is a choice. As Ann Voskamp wrote in a recent post, I could probably use a do-over on my 2011 word. In the whole big year of focusing on one simple word, have I got it yet? No, I am, after all, a work in progress.

I am praying about my word for 2012. I have quite a list going, but really want it to be the one God wants me to focus on.

Have you chosen a word for 2012?

I would love for you to share. Post a comment and share with us how you hope to focus & grow in 2012.

Be blessed in 2012, friends!

-Lauren-

the water jar

2012-01-04T14:32:00.002-05:00

For those who have followed along, you may have read about my son's third birthday and how his little heart was broken for people who don't have clean water to drink.

Today, I wanted to share a simple idea with you that was born out of my boy's tender heart.

We started a water jar back in November. Coins and bills were added each day, and the kids could give up juice in the morning to give money towards clean water.

I used a simple applesauce jar, and put in a picture from Compassion's Water of Life program.

In December, our church's youth group hosted their annual Advent Conspiracy event. The proceeds went to Living Water International - so it was the perfect time to bring what we'd collected from our little applesauce jar.

The little guy carried it in to church himself, and when a friend saw, she came over to me and told me how much it just melted her heart to see him carrying his change in to donate.

Kids can be so very tender and receptive to needs, if they're just told about them. I encourage you to use this idea with your kids--- for a cause that's meaningful to you and your family. Oh, and if you do, please be sure to leave me a comment and let me know how it went!

***

"Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’" (Matthew 25:34-40)

{multitudes in 2012}

2012-01-02T21:29:00.000-05:00

I asked my son this evening, "What are you thankful for?"
My heart needs some inspiration many days.

"My cat. And horses. And cows." I find this funny, since we don't have cows or horses. But nevertheless, he is thankful. I continue to count on in 2012:

#48 - restful weekend with family
#49 - New Year's Eve games & laughter & fun with friends
#50 - a few quiet moments this morning when big kids went with daddy & baby slept
#51 - Christmas decorations packed up & tree out {this is an accomplishment!}
#52 - a brisk walk on a cold morning
#53 - our neighborhood, quiet, peaceful, surrounded by mountains
#54 - a new year, the fresh start and fresh vision that comes
#55 - a very full, blessed, hard, sweet 2011
#56 - for what God will accomplish in 2012 --- in this house, in these lives, in this place --- declaring His goodness in advance!
-----
As I think ahead to a fresh year before us, I wonder, what will it take for me to live out of love and gratitude, rather than fear? I want it to be different this year. I want to experience victory in areas I have struggled with so long. I want to walk in total confidence in God, and my freedom in Christ.

I read Ann's words today, "There’s only one address anyone lives at and it’s always a duplex: Joy and pain always co-habit every season of life. Accept them both and keep company with the joy while the pain does it’s necessary renovations."

Maybe that's what I need to learn this year. That the moments of struggle, the painful moments and seasons, those come with the joy. It's about embracing them together, not being fearful of those hard moments and days. Acceptance. And it is Christ that grounds me in the midst of all circumstances:
"for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength." (Philippians 4:11-13)

What ways do you hope to grow in the year ahead? Where do you long to see God work? Have you prayed about an area of focus for the coming 365 days? About your goals? I am joining you in seeking direction and wisdom for 2012. For fresh vision for our families and our homes and or work.

Let us seek first His kingdom and His righteousness (Matthew 6:33).

Let us start our 2012 on the right foot, on the Solid Rock:

Sign up for a newsletter to guide you through reading the Bible in 365 days.

Online Daily Audio Bible

You may also want to hop over to Summit Street Joy for my free goal planning printable.

Blessings to You in 2012!

linking up here

{2011: Year In Review from Our Family}

2011-12-31T10:29:00.000-05:00

On this eve of a new year, I'm finding myself reflective of God's goodness over the past 12 months.

Early in the year we welcomed Baby J - a surprise in our journey, whose little life has already been used in BIG ways, ways beyond anything I could have ever dreamed. What we once felt discouraged about has become one of the richest blessings of my life. I am so grateful for all of the family members who came to visit after J's birth, especially my Gram, who stayed with us for four precious weeks.

There is so much more to say about those sweet, precious moments early in his life, & the way God worked in & through these two lives, but I will share that whole story for another day {not ready for the tears that will pour out when I write that post!}.

The Spring of 2011 brought another unexpected turn in our journey; with our lease coming to an end in March at the small house we rented, we looked at about every house within 20 minutes of the church for another place to rent, but didn't feel like any of them were a good fit, for one reason or the next. Then, in the whirlwind week of our lives, we unexpectedly learned we were eligible to buy, looked at three homes, put a contract on our little Summit St house, and wham.... were buying a house! I am SO glad my mom was in town during that nutty week, as we zipped around looking at the homes and putting the contract down, she was a God-send! The weeks that followed were even crazier, though, full of lots of financial hoopla that had our heads spinning.... we thought we lost the house, then not, then yes... it was a time of total dependence on the Lord. Part of that total dependence lay in the fact that we had to move out of our rental --- and our {not so} little family of five was left with no where to go.

But God's blessings were abundant still. With the psalmists we say over and over again:

"Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good. His love endures forever!"

He provided shelter for us over those six weeks, through incredible people at our church. And through that experience, I met the "big sister" I never knew I had, Tami, or TT as the kids call her, who opened her home {with her hubbys permission!} to our family for five of those weeks. God was all over it. I am still SOOO grateful for those days, and I still miss having my morning coffee with TT! She has become a treasured friend--- God is GOOD!

It was during our stay with Derek and Tami, in May of 2011, that I learned my precious Gram was diagnosed with Stage 4 lung cancer. Again, this is all part of that big, beautiful story that I will write about fully in the days to come. In early June, we closed on our house and I flew North to visit Gram for a short weekend with Baby J. That would be my last time with Gram, as she passed on August 22, 2011. I have so much to say about her - how she impacted my entire life - how she shaped who I was and who I am. My sister had texted me during those months Gram was sick and said, "You and I will have to cry a lot together, because no one in the world had a better grandma than we did." And that sums it up for me--- I mean no disrespect to your grandmother ;) --- but mine, oh, she was an INCREDIBLE, hilarious, full-of-life, life-of-the-party lady who loved me like I was her most favorite person on earth. Now, of course, I realize that Gram made everyone feel special and loved, but I always felt like I was treasured by her. And I adored her right back. So, losing Gram was a big part of 2011, indeed, a big part of my life & story, and I have thousands more words to write about it. More soon. Soon.

Fall 2011 came and went in a flash, but not without some good ol' pumpkin patch fun:

We also hosted Thanksgiving, and loved having Adrian's family come and stay, as well as the company of our sweet next-door neighbors.

Ministry has been good and busy for Adrian, with our church making some big transitions this Fall towards a greater focus on doing life together in small groups. This has meant change for the church as a whole, including students, so lots going on for A. Again, God's faithfulness in the midst of the transition has been sure, & we have been blessed to walk alongside precious new friends in our life group.

Our Big Guy celebrated his 3rd birthday in November, and we had a house full of kids {and parents!} for a Diego Brunch. C is still the ham of our family. He is LOUD and hilarious and we love him to pieces. He turns anything and everything into a drum, so it was only fitting that he got his first "real" {pint size} drum set for Christmas. The boy's in love :)

Miss Thing celebrated 5 years in December, and as you may have read here, her mama was a little emotional about this big milestone of a birthday! Her day was celebrated with another houseful of friends for a Strawberry Shortcake tea party. R continues to keep us on our toes! She loves to read and color, and most of all sing!

Baby J continues to grow and do new things everyday. He's now standing on his own and taking a few steps. The boy has the sweetest little smile- in all circumstances! And he adores his big brother and sissy!

Lastly, as you may have read, J. was not our only new member this year: Allie Airplane {can you guess who picked which name?!} the cat joined us last month, & she is the lap cat Adrian always dreamed of :) We're enjoying our sweet pet {oh, except when she climbs the curtains--- ugh!}.

There is so much more, but I think that's a good summary for you!

Life has been rich with God's goodness in 2011. In all circumstances, even the most trying, He has been nothing but faithful. Our anthem these past few months comes from 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

"Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus."

The Mills family is excited to follow the Lord into 2012!

To each family member and friend in our lives, we love you so very much and thank God for you!

Happy New Year from the Mills Gang!

Light has come!

2011-12-21T09:22:00.000-05:00

Good Morning, friends.

Just a few more days until Christmas. Are you preparing your heart for the coming Christ? My heart is full this morning.

¹ In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. ² (This was the first census that took place while^[a] Quirinius was governor of Syria.) ³ And everyone went to their own town to register.

⁴ So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. ⁵He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. ⁶ While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, ⁷and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.

⁸ And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. ⁹ An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. ¹⁰ But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. ¹¹ Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. ¹²This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”¹³ Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, ¹⁴ “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” ¹⁵ When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” ¹⁶ So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. ¹⁷ When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, ¹⁸ and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. ¹⁹ But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. ²⁰ The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told. ²¹ On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise the child, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he was conceived. (luke 2)

This song is unbelievable. It gives me chills and makes me well up with tears. I heard it last week on the radio and then two sweet sisters {Stef & Alyssa} sang it on Sunday--- beautiful!!! {My favorite moment of the song is at 3 minutes and 20 seconds... AHHHmazing!}

Be blessed this morning:

sharing with the community:

{ on 5 years }

2011-12-18T23:22:00.000-05:00

Today is a big day in our little home.

Today my first baby, my little girl, is 5 years old. FIVE.

Five whole big years.

1,825 days.

For some reason, this birthday comes with much reflection for her mama.

How have I spent those nearly 2,000 days? How have I guided her and shaped her? How has she grown in five years of life on this earth, with me as her mommy? How have I grown?

I think back to my second post ever, "On Being Mommy."

The fulfillment I experienced in caring for her while she had a fever, as I wrote in that early post, is still one of the bitter sweet realities of motherhood for me.

It's hard to think that in these 5 years, maybe I've not grown very much.

Maybe I'm still struggling with many of the same things I struggled with early in motherhood. I wish I could say today that in 5 years I've learned so much and grown tremendously, but I'm not sure that's true. I don't think I could say that with a clear conscious.

All can say is that as I reflect, I want to make this day count. I want to choose my words carefully and speak gently over her; to raise her up to be a godly woman after kingdom things. I want to yell less and listen more. Today. For my sweet daughter. And for my sons. Lord, you are my only hope... I can only be the mother I long to be in Your strength.

I don't know if I'll have five more years with them, but if I do, I pray I will let each day count. That in 5 years I will reflect and say that God has been so faithful: look at how much I have grown as a mommy, look at how much she has grown as a daughter--- as my daughter, and as a daughter of the King.

And so I wish her a happy birthday by honoring who God has created her to be, and by praising the One who knit her together inside of me (psalm 139:13) more than five years ago, the One who made her, fearfully & wonderfully (psalm 139:14):

sharing 1000 gifts with Ann's MultitudesOnMondays

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Counting on towards 1000 gifts, thanking God for:
#40 a girl full emotions and full of life
#41 a silly girl who loves dress up, high heels, tiaras, and lipstick {& dragging her little brothers into the fun ;)}

#42 her ridiculous, contagious belly laugh and giggle
#43 the songs she makes up, singing praises {I think!}
#44 a sweet, sensitive spirit when someone is hurting or sick or lonely
#45 her motherly, nurturing instincts
#46 that she cleaned the whole playroom yesterday all by herself
#47 and for the Creator who made her, beautifully, fearfully, wonderfully - in His image

Happy Birthday, Sis! We Love You Sweet Girl! :)

Daddy Files (3) - slow down & wait -

2011-12-17T22:33:00.001-05:00

So I can't believe a week's gone by with no post... 'tis the season, right? We are busy wrapping and making gifts, and we made a (very) last minute decision to stay home this week instead of traveling north to be with family. It was such a hard decision, but the hustle and bustle just felt too overwhelming this year.

How is it that Christmas has turned into something so not refreshing?

While I have had some sad moments already thinking about my family gathered together for a week of Christmas festivities, I really believe this is an important time for our little family. We have been enjoying each day as we celebrate the season together, doing less busy things and more family things. I am praying for a refreshing week for Adrian and I, and for our kids. I pray you will make time to slow down and enjoy this advent season as well.

Speaking of slowing down, Adrian's third guest post is in, and he says a few things about it.

enjoy :)
-Lauren-

******

"For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."
-Isaiah 9:6

Most of us who are familiar at all with the story know that these words, from the prophet Isaiah, were spoken hundreds of years before Christmas ever happened. The generations of people who heard these words did so believing, hoping, and waiting for what was to come.

If you read Lauren's post from earlier this month, you know that we have been spending a lot of time trying to understand the idea of waiting. Here's a shocking revelation: I'm terrible at it.

There are two types of people in the world, those who need a plan and those who can make it up as they go. I am much more like the first group than the second. I need a plan, want a plan, love following a schedule, an order, a structure. I am lost without it.

And so when we get to the story of Christmas, it is this aspect of waiting that I find the most challenging, yet fascinating. How is it that people waited all of those years for God's promise? Many people spent their entire lives without truly seeing anything. Many must have wondered if it would really happen.

"But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.” Luke 1:30-33

Christmas is about a lot of things to a lot of people, but to me, at least this year, it's about waiting. Jesus was (and is) the fulfillment of everything God came to show us. He truly was Immanuel, "God with us". God came, not just to love us, or show us compassion, but to literally put skin on and enter our suffering and brokenness.

Jesus came…but not as we would have thought. Not when we thought, not how we thought…really none of it was how we would have written the story. And yet, God did exactly what He had promised.

This gives us great hope. Today, in this moment, we need an intimate, relational God like never before. A God who is not distant from us, but enters into our suffering and brokenness. Many of us feel like we are waiting…but nothing is happening. We read God's promises and even believe them, yet we are left waiting. We are tempted to give up on God. At times we feel like He's given up on us.

This year let the story of Christmas remind you that God truly is with us. In our frantic and scheduled lives, we need everything now. Waiting makes us uneasy, anxious, and even angry. Perhaps we miss what it is that God is doing within us as we wait. Jesus came in a way no one would have expected, and today, He desires to enter into our world in much of the same way.

I invite you to join me during this season when life gets busier to stop: Wait! Remember God is with us, even when his plan and timing don't seem to match up with your plans and your timing. And as you wait, may you worship like never before.

"Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him" (Psalm 37:7)

-Adrian-

Notes from the Daddy File - Guest Post #2

2011-12-10T06:20:00.001-05:00

From the few friends I spoke to over the week about last week's awesome guest post {from the handsome guy with whom I share life ;)}, ya'll liked him as much as I knew you would :) I love his post this week, so we'll get right to it... I hope you'll laugh & be blessed! :) -lauren-

It's been one of those days it seems, or at least as I'm sitting here on the couch attempting to assess the damage, it feels like one. I'm looking back on a day that was filled with a lot of good things, and a lot of craziness. In doing so, I have come to one very important conclusion: my kids can fight about anything.

I know, this isn't news to anyone else, and I'm not even sure it's news to me. I guess it's just therapeutic to say it out loud. Seriously, this morning started with a fight about a torn up piece of notebook paper. I'm still really not sure what happened, but we were somehow able to smooth things over. Lauren and I joke that we would make excellent hostage negotiators, because parenting three kids under the age of 5 can often seem a lot like that: "back away from the paper" or "if you give that paper to her, you can have this".

So, in an effort to keep my sanity and in an effort to learn not to take life so seriously, I made a short list of some of the real things my kids have been known to fight about recently:

-Whether the gum they are chewing is "spicy" or not
-If it is dark outside
-The words to a song
-Who sits in which car seat
-Whether a boy named Aiden was actually a real person
-The way a two year old pronounces words
-What day of the week it is
-Whether the building is called school or church (mind you, for us, the preschool and the church are in the same building)
-If a song is a "boy song" or a "girl song"
-If what they see in the sky is the moon or the sun

We have very few dull moments around here. My kids are a lot of things: fun, energetic, passionate, opinionated…

...but more often than the petty arguments over such trivial things I'm determined to learn the discipline of laughing. Laughing at myself, at my kids, at life. Laughing when I want to be angry, frustrated, or overwhelmed. Laughing because, ultimately, my life is really funny.

-A

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sharing at Ann's Multitudes

------

...waiting...

2011-12-06T23:32:00.001-05:00

Isaiah 40 is perhaps my favorite chapter in the whole Bible. The last few verses of the chapter are the first I ever memorized, as a new Christian in my teen years:

Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
The LORD is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
and his understanding no one can fathom.
He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.
Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;
but those who hope in the LORD
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.

This is the version I memorized those years ago, and I've always read from the New International Version (NIV). But I love the New King James (NKJV) translation of those last few words, and as I've pondered over this post, they kept coming to me:

But those who wait on the LORD
Shall renew their strength;
They shall mount up with wings like eagles,
They shall run and not be weary,
They shall walk and not faint.

Last evening I read this article by Paul Tripp, which was posted on AmericaWorld's blog {they are the international adoption agency through which my best friend adopted her Ethiopian sons}. While AWAA posted the article in reference to the long adoption wait, I know it applies to YOU today. And it applies to me. God is ever asking us to wait, but how often we fail to be present in the wait; to see the wait for what it is, as having a distinct and glorious purpose.

As you wait, tell yourself again and again that you have not been singled out. Remind yourself that you are part of a vast company of people who are being called to wait. Reflect on the biblical story. Abraham waited many years for his promised son. Israel waited 420 years for deliverance from Egypt, then another 40 years before they could enter the land God had promised them. God's people waited generation after generation for the Messiah, and the church now waits for his return. The whole world groans as it waits for the final renewal of all things that God has promised. In ministry, it is vital to understand that waiting is not an interruption of God's plan. It is his plan. And you can know this as well: the Lord who has called you to wait is with you in your wait. He hasn't gone off to do something else, like the doctor you're waiting to see. No, God is near, and he provides for you all that you need to be able to wait.

I don't know about you, but those words, "that waiting is not an interruption of God's plan. It is his plan." hit my heart deeply. Do we hurry off towards the next thing and miss the very goodness of God in the midst of this time? This moment? This season of waiting?

Let me close with a song that has been playing over and over again in my head and heart since reading the original article. Thank you to my dear, precious friend Kristine who shared it with me {a few years back now!}.

Blessings today, to you, right now, in the very middle of whatever it is you're waiting for, my dear sister. It's not about the next thing; it's about the now thing. It's about the process, and His work in the midst of the wait.

----blessings, lauren----

sharing at Ann's Walk With Me Wednesdays

{ His presence | Advent | & multitudes on mondays }

2011-12-05T08:23:00.001-05:00

Good morning, friends. Do you ever start your Monday totally run down & overwhelmed by the week ahead? I'm feeling that today. I recently read these words from the Experiencing God Day-by-Day journal:

If you find that Christianity exhausts you, draining your energy, then you are practicing religion rather than enjoying a relationship. Jesus said that relationship with Him would bring rest to your soul. Your walk with the Lord will not make you weary; it will invigorate you, restore your strength, and energize your life.

I know this to be true. When the weariness sets in, have I spent the time to go to the Lord, to be refreshed by the Living Water?

In light of Advent, there is {or perhaps, should be} even more awareness of God's grace and goodness, of His presence among us. Emmanuel - God with us. How could the God of Heaven dwelling among us, desiring relationship, lead to weariness? It does not, but instead His presence leads to life and fullness and peace. So when the weariness sets in, I have not gone to be with the Source of strength, the One who dwells with His people to bring salvation, healing, hope, and new life.

And speaking of Advent, for those who have children in their life, have you heard about
Truth in the Tinsel: An Advent Experience for Little Hands?

It is SO well done!!! It's an ebook you can purchase for just $4.99 - and it really lays out the lessons so nicely for the kids. I will be honest that we have not done every day in our house, and have way modified and simplified because my kids are so little, but they have enjoyed the lessons we've done. A wonderful way to make space for His presence in their little lives this Christmas season.

May you experience the Presence of our Savior today!
----

and counting on, towards 1000 gifts:
#33 - crisp air on a December morning
#34 - our new little Tom girl kitty

#35 - new mercies each day; a new day today
#36 - for employment and work, income for food and shelter
#37 - 3 precious children being silly this morning --- the giggles!
#38 - and the daddy that loves them so well
#39 - and that he guest posted for me!!! sweet :)

http://www.aholyexperience.com/

Guest Post from Dad #1

2011-12-03T22:51:00.001-05:00

Hello friends. I hope you are all enjoying your weekend! We've had a busy one, with a Christmas parade, a birthday party,

a church musical, & two more Christmas musical performances {featuring none other than Mr. Mills himself ;)} tomorrow. Oh, and we totally adopted a kitty, because that's just what we needed ;)

Totally not a planned addition to our family {hmm, yes, this is a theme in our house ;)}. I'll fill you in on the whole kitty-rescue-adoption story another day, but for today, as promised, the hubs has submitted his very first post for CofT!

Oh, and before you read, if you want to get my thoughts on this handsome writer, you can check out the this girl tab in the menu above. Ok, enough from me, here's post numero uno from the hubby:
----

So my wife has asked me to write on her blog somewhat regularly. She says I'm witty and should have a lot to say, but I'm pretty sure I'm just finding humor in my every day life, which is perhaps the only way to survive as the father of three busy kids. More than just surviving, I strive to really live- to laugh, to learn, to continue on this journey with my ears and eyes wide open. A husband and dad first, I also spend my time as a youth pastor, a journey that stretches me daily, and helps me laugh just as often.

The other day we were sitting at the dinner table discussing what our family’s verse for the week was going to be. As Lauren began to thumb through the Bible, our oldest offered her version of a memory verse:

“We sing for Him,
sing for Him in the love
the people are singing
my oh my”

Once we suggested we were looking for a Thanksgiving verse she added:

“God’s love can never change because the turkey runs away”

There are some interesting translations and paraphrases of the Bible available, but none that quite match this unique style. This also got me thinking about the other ways that my kids have the ability to speak truth in very unique ways:

Sick kids at school:
“They are sick because they don't wipe their bums or wash their hands”

The help button in the elevator:
"That button is for when someone is hitting and not being nice to you”

Sitting the wrong way on the couch:
“You can fall off the couch and die”

The heavy-set gentlemen in the store
“His belly is really big”

Dad’s nose
“Dad, your nose is long”

Taking yucky medicine:
“You need to take your medicine, or they will take you to the hospital and you can’t see your mommy and daddy”

Getting older
“I am getting so big I will get married soon”

Just a few of the funny words spoken daily in our home. If you have kids, I know they say funny things all the time, too. We'd love to hear them, so definitely post a comment below.

Thanks for reading. And until next time, remember to keep laughing!

- - Adrian - -

multitudes on mondays | gifts, not grudges

2011-11-28T21:21:00.001-05:00

Well hello there. Is it Monday already? Yes, it certainly is, & the holiday came and went much too quickly if I don't say so! ---sigh---

Yes, it is indeed the Monday after Thanksgiving, too, and after a week of sickness & holiday crazies, I have to admit today it was extra hard to get up and go to work this morning. Really... do I have to? :( When I wasn't running a fever, I really cherished the time spent with my little helpers these past few days.

Let me tell you, though, a little bit of quiet time went a long way in preparing my heart for the day ahead, & I felt His strength as I started out the day.

The key phrase there is STARTED. By the end of the day {which was full of several annoying/frustrating/difficult circumstances} I was dragging again, and I have to say, I did not feel like saying thankful words of gratitude and praise for today's multitudes on mondays post {you can catch up on earlier posts in the series here and here.}

via etsy seller Lorene

Isn't it so much easier to stay grouchy? To be short? To stay angry? Why is that?!

I am MAD.... just because! Am I alone here on this one? Maybe it's just me?
Can I get an amen? A witness? Somebody? Anybody?!!!!

Oh, right, back to gratitude. I'm writing about gratitude. And my multitudes of blessings on this Monday. So, in spite of myself, I press on. As Ann Voskamp quotes:

"An occasional burst of praise, in the midst of years of complaining, is not what is required. Songs on rare, sunshiny days; and no songs when skies are cloudy-will not make a life of gratitude. The heart must learn to sing always." -JR Miller (1912).

And even more precious {and wise?} is the sweet song that my son sings, reminding me of what it's all about:
Because a thankful heart is a happy heart! I'm glad for what I have, That's an easy way to start!
For the love that He shares, 'Cause He listens to my prayers, That's why I say thanks every day!
Right you are, sweet boy! You sure do teach your mama a thing or two :)
And so, I count on, counting a life full of blessings, a day full of a million gifts:

#22 - His mercies are new every morning

#23 - Christmas decorations up {with the tree to come!} and

#24 - free, fun Christmas crafts & decor

#25 - I was really just sort of testing the waters, but I had my first etsy sale... I can't tell you how happy this made me... it's not about the $2 {less the $.20 listing fee & 3.5% sales fee -- you do the math :)}, but it's joyful to create and craft and sell and share (how proverbs 31 of me, no?!) .... woot!

at The Summit St. Shop

#26 - the most expressive, silly, goofy 3 year old blondie boy that lives in my house. He is hilarious!

#27 - {even though she tests every shred of my patience}, thank you Jesus for my little girl; thank you for the sacred, precious, holy gift of a daughter; thank you that she loves girly things and wants to have tea parties and dress up and paint her nails and hug her mommy

#28 - the warm(ish) weather- I WILL take it, yes, in November or December or anytime at all. Bring it.

#29 - a conversation with my mommy over the weekend; she is lovely, & so loved, & I am grateful for our talks across the miles

Lovely mom {with my almost 5 y/o as a wee little one!}

#30 - a washing machine, dryer, dishwasher, & microwave--- yes, siree, I am grateful for my appliances
#31 - he is so easy to be thankful for, but thank you Lord, for the happiest baby on the block, my J. How special is he?
#32 - Finally, for today, did you know that I have been ~~begging~~ asking my hubby {so very nicely} to blog forever?

He is a great writer, he's full of wit, and I, for one, think he's funny. Well, folks, Mr.Mills has finally ~~resigned~~ agreed to start blogging a little bit here on CofT!

So I AM THANKFUL for that today PTL!

You will NOT want to miss his very first post... coming later this week. YES! I'll be reading it :)

****
What about you, my friend? What are you thankful for today?
I love your comments... do share :)

{post-thanksgiving thanks & pre-Christmas prep}

2011-11-26T23:39:00.001-05:00

Did you all have a happy Thanksgiving? I so enjoyed the holiday this year. What a special time of quieting our hearts and reflecting on God's goodness.

thanksgiving day mess...

And look at all the men in the kitchen! This was AWESOME :)

I know, this one looks like Christmas morning! But Mema brought the kids their birthday gift- a McDonald's drive through, which I find hilarious, considering many years of my own childhood were spent playing drive-through!

It was a wonderful day for us, and I am so grateful that A's fam was able to spend some time with us. And I could not have ever hosted without Mema, Sue, & Auntie L, who did SO much! Thanks everyone!!! :)

Since Thursday it's been quite a crazy few days here in our home, but what's new?! We ended up in the ER on Thanksgiving night {actually 1:00 am the next day, technically} with a screaming three-year-old {turned out to be strep- I am thankful it was not something worse!}, followed by my own diagnosis of strep yesterday. I slept nearly all day yesterday!

But this morning the antibiotics started kicking in, & I woke up excited to decorate for Christmas {despite the 60+degree weather outside!}. And decorate we did! With all the sickness we've been through in the house, I consider this a tremendous accomplishment - and by God's grace!

I have the BEST helpers :)

I even completed this handmade wreath {made from an old sweater! and available for purchase- if you're interested ;) - here}

But speaking of my amazing helpers, what really blessed me was a special time of reading the Christmas story before we broke out the decorations. They were so excited to hear the story, & it started our morning off with the right perspective. A wasn't home at the time, so the big kids & I read the story & prayed together before we started decorating. I loved it!

The timing seems just perfect, after our special morning Christmas devo today, that Amanda over at Impress Your Kids has just released a wonderful new ebook, Truth In the Tinsel - An Advent Experience for Little Hands. {It's only $4.99, by the way!!!}

I am SO excited about this little ebook. I love love love what Amanda writes regarding her challenge to parents this December:

Will you join me? Will you take the first 24 days of December to impress your kids? Will you give your kids 30 minutes a day for 24 days? Will you turn down the attention and energy put into the elf on the shelf, the presents and bows, the Santa and his reindeer and pump up the focus and excitement on Jesus? Will you be flamboyant in teaching them about the greatest gift of all this year? I’m challenging you this December to help your kids find the truth in the tinsel, to experience Christmas and to get to know Jesus.

I got a little sneak peak at one of the days in the ebook today, and it is such a precious little lesson, Bible centered with a very applicable craft for the kiddies. Totally do-able, too! Ok, I'm buying the e-book and going to join in the challenge, what about YOU? Will you join me, friend?

If you're in, let me know by leaving a comment right here, & we can post ideas & share together! Love that!
Buy TRUTH IN THE TINSEL today & get started!

Blessings to you today as you begin the Christmas season.... a matter of the heart!

hugs,

Lauren

multitudes on mondays - counting 1000 gifts

2011-11-21T23:43:00.001-05:00

Hello dear friends. Thank you for stopping in for my Multitudes on Mondays post, posted on Tuesday ;)

I wish I could tell you I was completely recovered from feeling yucky when I posted last time. But I'm still struggling to get well and woke up this morning with a 102 temp. Ugh. I think I overdid it yesterday- it's hard to sit still and rest!

But He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”

And today, I am grateful still. I choose gratitude. I was SO thankful to have happened upon Momma Mindy. Our family verse this week is, "Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks IN all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." (1 Thes.5:16-18) So it was awesome to find Mindy's Give Thanks In... post, where she writes about this very verse:

"It means being thankful right
in
the
middlebefore you know the outcome, the purpose, or the fruit.
Right
in
that
timewhen the flames are the hottest,
the loneliness is the deepest,
the pain is the greatest,
the tears are the saltiest."

Good stuff. With 1thes5:16-18 in mind, here are my Multitudes on Monday as I count up to a thousand gifts:
#9 - bloggers like Mindy who bring perspective, wisdom, & the Word of God to my day
#10 - like last week, I am still grateful for a warm house, warm soup, cold/clean water while I'm sick (feeling sad for all those who are sick and don't have a home to recover in or food to nourish them)
#11 - encouraging texts to and from sweet friends
#12 - a perfect time of prayer with the hubs last night, for united hearts & vision - I am blessed
#13 - His insight, wisdom, perspective, and patience on and with my life and my journey
#14 - the talented, sacrificial, loving, Godly teachers that are caring for my children
#15 - that the Heavenly Father has adopted me as His own, that I have not been left abandoned and alone
#16 - This beautiful worship song, & for modern, soul(ful), truth(filled), lift-your-eyes-to-heaven music unto Jesus {and, seriously, would I know any new music without my man? :) }

YOUR LOVE NEVER FAILS!!!and Your Love NEVER changes
#17 - and this one too:

#18 - the little princess and prince playing sweetly this morning, their little conversations, their helping each other, and their baby brother trying so very hard to play with them
#19 - for this woman's obedience to sharing her life, wisdom and story - it has changed mine
#20 - a new-to-us camera that our pastor helped us find, & for all the stories it will tell
#21 - Baby J's "dada dada dada" - I could listen to him all day

--I love your comments - please share, what are you thankful for today?--

{1000 gifts}

2011-11-18T09:02:00.001-05:00

I have long known that gratitude is the secret. It is the key that unlocks the blessings. A while back I posted about ingratitude- and how being ungrateful kept the Israelites in the dessert for 40 YEARS. I know this, but to live it daily, well, that's a different story, right?!

All the Israelites grumbled against Moses and Aaron, and the whole assembly said to them, “If only we had died in Egypt! Or in this wilderness! ³ Why is the LORD bringing us to this land only to let us fall by the sword? Our wives and children will be taken as plunder. Wouldn’t it be better for us to go back to Egypt?” ⁴ And they said to each other, “We should choose a leader and go back to Egypt.” (Numbers 14:2-4)

Have you ever said that to God? Have you ever told Him {essentially}, Lord, I'd be better off dead than living this life? God has a wonderful, beautiful, good land for His people, but they {as we} fall into fear and say they would have been better off dead then enter where God is taking them! But Moses and Aaron, they trust. They weep and try desperately to convince the people, No really, it is an "exceedingly good" land and the Lord is with us, so don't be afraid! (Num.14:7-9).

What blessing, what good land, what promises do I, do we, miss out on because of our grumbling and complaining? Because of our fear? It's a daily struggle to choose gratitude, but it's worth it. It is what brings the peace in our hearts, the blessing on our lives.

In this vein, I am so excited about the new book from Ann Voskamp, A Thousand Gifts.

Just read a few entries on her blog and you'll see that she is a brilliant, thoughtful, poetic writer and Godly woman.

I've ordered the book and can't wait to curl up with it. {You can order here: One Thousand Gifts: A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are} In the meantime, I'm ready to start my own list of One Thousand Gifts. Today, I am grateful for these beautiful gifts:

- Peace and quiet time for a few moments this morning
- Even though I am sick with a yucky flu bug, I'm so grateful for a warm blanket, Gatorade, chicken noodle soup, a cozy home, for the comfort of these things while I don't feel good {so many don't have these when they are ill}
- For my hubby, who is grocery shopping at this moment
- My sweet friend Tami, that checks in on me & our family often, sending texts to say hello, joining me in prayer, drinking coffee with me, hearing my heart, sharing her Christmas decorations :)
- For my daughter's nurturing touch, checking my temperature and feeling my forehead when I'm sick
- My 3 year old's confidence this morning as he went pee pee on the potty "like a big guy" and then strutted around in his big guy undies
- The sweetest, easiest baby ever, Baby J., with his fluffy hair, sweet smile, and little wave

Thank you, Lord, for these precious gifts. I am grateful.

Ann has a lovely 7 Gifts of Gratitude Free Printable booklet on her site.
Click here to get it: http://www.aholyexperience.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/7Gifts.pdf

You can also download my free printable Give Thanks subway art and Give Thanks table setting cards over at Summit Street Joy {perfect for Thanksgiving, no?}

I LOVE COMMENTS! Please share, what are your gifts today?

gifts of compassion - gifts of hope - gifts of life

2011-11-15T15:13:00.000-05:00

I really am in total denial that next week is Thanksgiving. Where on earth has the time gone?!

The really scary part is what comes after next week, and we all know what that is!

Before you rush out to the mall to start your shopping....

would you take a moment to pause with me?

You may remember my post last year on giving unique gifts of meaning for Christmas, and being part of the Advent Conspiracy:

[AC] Promo 2011 from Advent Conspiracy on Vimeo.

Well, the 2011 Gifts of Compassion cataglog is now available, and I urge you to take a look and consider giving life sustaining gifts this holiday.

Compassion offers a wide range of gift-giving options at different price points, like

garden seeds to help a family start a small kitchen garden:

photo via compassion international

or a goat to provide a family with milk and help generate income:

photo via Compassion International

or a $100 towards a small business launch for a mother in need:

photo via Compassion International

When you purchase one of these gifts in someone's honor, you can then choose to receive a card in the mail to provide to the giftee, send an ecard to them, or print one from your home. I can say from experience that I remember the times others have given me special, meaningful gifts like these so much more than most physical, material gifts that were purchased for me at a department store.

Like the Advent Conspiracy video says, does dad really need another tie? Does mom really need a new pair of slippers?

Yesterday I opened up a new letter from Nyakio, our Compassion sponsor child since 2005. I can't believe she was only 3 when we started sponsoring her and she is now 10 years old! The letter mostly said that she is doing well in school and with friends, that her family is healthy, that she is well. In closing, she wrote,

"I ask that you please read Hebrews 13:5. May God bless you."

I sat down at the kitchen table and opened the pages of my Bible to the verse:

Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”

From a little girl in Africa.
Rich in joy, and urging me, her "rich" American sponsor to be content.
Her words and the reference to this verse from this sweet child took my breath away a bit.

I think back to last week when I read this precious story of a sweet Ecuadorian child being desperate for hope, waiting THREE YEARS to be chosen by a sponsor, and in reading the verse and the letter from my own sweet Nyakio, I am reminded of that writer's words:

The poor are called to claim their identity as children of God and the non-poor are called to cast off their identities as gods.
The poor are beckoned to apply the gifts they’ve been given — because they have worth.
And the non-poor are beckoned to appropriate the gifts they’ve been given — because everyone has worth.
God is calling, beckoning the rich and poor alike – and He’s calling us all into right relationship

And Jesus' said:
“Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.” (Lk.12:15)

Will you "appropriate your gifts" and give out of your abundance today?

Obeying Jesus brings such rich blessing!

***

a writer's words & why i blog...

2011-11-10T22:38:00.001-05:00

I've tumbled across quite a flurry of conversation about {relevant 2011}, a recent conference for christian women bloggers {who knew, right?}. Well, lots of ladies did know, it turns out... but I had not heard about it until after this year's event passed at the end of October.

In all the twittery conversation about the relevant conference, I can tell it is something special. The mission of the conference is to "offer a gathering place for kindred spirits to connect, learn, grow, and be refreshed so they can persevere in being a people who bring hope to the world through the social media medium. Our goal is to go beyond the surface into intentional blogging and real life living, all to the glory of God."

Through my digging around to learn more about what all this relevant buzz was about, I came across this blog, rich with beautifully written posts by writer Ann Voskamp, and specifically this post {shared by Ann at relevant conference 2010}, about being an upside down blogger. {and as an aside, she as an avid advocate for Compassion International, so of course I like her :)}

Though my blogging has been rather casual over the last few years, I have long sensed purpose in it, but couldn't quite put my finger on it. I don't know that I could ever quite articulate why writing brings me clarity and vision and focus and peace and understanding, but I've known that it does do those things.

The post masterfully articulates the answer the Why Blog? question for me; it resonates in my own heart in a deep way, and I am grateful for this woman who I don't know, but who has helped me understand. She begins the keynote with prayer & then shares the words from a post:

What to Do When You Want to Give Up and Stay in Bed

Shadows of depression can ride up like a highway man in the night and and steal away all the silver linings.

I wake on a Sunday to his cantering away.

I lay in the bed a long time.

The legs, the spirit, too heavy to move. The sun’s high already, the sheets warm. I make a point of not looking at my watch or the bedside clock’s hands ticking, vainly trying to nudge me out.

Maybe I can bury myself deep under covers, a bunker, escape today and no one will notice?

I don’t bother moving today because I already know I’ll lose.

I know I can’t get the laundry caught up this week and I know I can’t make deadlines. I know the bedrooms I tidied through last night will be dumped out by nightfall, the sink I left empty last night will be piled high by noon, the floors I washed yesterday will be tracked dirty by supper. I will definitely lose today, tomorrow, all week. I roll over, smother my face in the pillow.

Man, I identify with that. With her. With wanting to stay in the bed and not face the day and wanting to pretend that all these children are not really my responsibility.

The story goes on, detailing how she makes the choice to get up, and how she gets through, in praising God for the little things. Then she says:

This is what I blog. Because this is who I am. I am a mess – who often doesn’t want to get out of bed. Who struggles and preaches ugly self-sermons to herself and some days just really doesn’t know how to go on. I don’t have it all together. I blog about not having it all together. And you know what? I’m almost willing to hazard a guess that there are a whole lot of other women out there like me who are a bit of a mess and who don’t know how to get out of bed some mornings and who have to fight. Hard. For. Joy.

And she concludes with the words that turn on the light bulbs for me, and so I pass them along to you, that you might know and understand just a little more clearly why I even bother to stay up past my bed time and write these silly posts:

And when you sit down to your keyboard, and you write a blogpost — you are writing for me. You are writing for messed up me, and the messed up woman next door, and the messed up woman sitting beside you in church and messed up You. We need your messy stories. And you need your messy stories.

Why do I need your story and why do you need your story?

Because story is a way that the Spirit of God can bind our wounds.

It is in story, we meet the Spirit of God. The reader meets the Spirit of God in the reading of story — the word made flesh in your life. The writer, you, meets the Spirit of God in the writing your story – the word made flesh in your own life.

The Word God wastes nothing and He heals two broken hearts with one story – the reader and the writer.

Us who are fighting for joy from behind the laundry heap and in the trenches with the crying kids and with the bruised marriages and the crushing debts and the battered , frayed dreams, and we. Don’t. want. To. Get. Out. Of. Bed — we need your messy, real, authentic, unmasked stories. And you who are fallen and broken and scraped– you need your messy, real, ugly stories. Because in the hands of the Spirit, story becomes a salve to the skinned souls.

The first person that any words ever heal — is the writer of those words.

Because our words aren’t wholly our words.

They are from the Word God Himself.

birthday & water

2011-11-09T15:56:00.002-05:00

Today is my little man's THIRD birthday. Seems like I just was writing about his second birthday not so long ago.

sarah wineland photography. august 2011.

I was reflecting this morning on what I was doing three years ago today, on a very tired Sunday morning, after 48 HOURS of labor {for real}; I can't help but think how very ironic it is that Cam was the quietest of my three kids at birth. He was so quiet when he was born that I actually thought something was wrong with him, but he really was fully alert, completely healthy, and just extra peaceful.

The irony is in the fact that Cam is, hands down, the loudest member of our household {& if you know my husband, you know that's really saying something. ;) }

sarah wineland photography. August 2011

We are forever telling him to use his inside voice, to no avail. He is just full of life, and has to let it out! I can't tell you what a blessing this child is to me, with his giggly self, his snuggles, his dino-raurs, his tender heart, & his squeeze-your-guts-out neck hugs.

The other night as I was tucking him in to bed, he said {with no prompting whatsoever from me, I swear!}, "Mommy, you're the cutest girl in the whole world." HAHA!!! I laughed so hard. And I could have cried! He got such a howl out of me that he has said it several times since, also in the form of, "Mommy, you're so cute." and "Mommy, you're the cutest girl ever." Seriously, can you get any cuter?

One of the things I really love about my little man is his very tender heart. Over the past few weeks, we've been talking a lot in our house about clean water. I can't remember exactly how it first came up, but I think it was about one of the kids mentioning that everyone has water to drink; and we took the opportunity to explain the reality that, in fact, one BILLION people in our world do not have access to clean drinking water.

Let's Do Something 15 Second Spot from Living Water International on Vimeo.

Apparently last week at school, in response some kind of not-nice comment from another child, Cam said, "Yeah, well some kids don't have clean water to drink."

And he has continued to bring this up on a number of occasions.

SO, in honor of my little man's THIRD birthday, would you take a moment to read more about the clean water crisis in our world today?

via LivingWaterInternational

Would you also consider giving a little gift towards clean water, in honor of my little guy's big day?

image via CauseLife.org

There are several amazing organizations out there, dedicated to making sure that no child, no person is without access to clean water. The crisis is far from over, but YOU can make a difference. I recommend Living Water International, which states their goal as to"substantially ease the global water crisis while addressing root causes such as injustice, oppression, and abject poverty".

Click this link to make a donation towards clean water well projects through LWI.

I know it would bring a big smile to Cam's face, & true joy to the lives of many!

Happy Birthday big guy!!! xo Mommy

p.s.
Speaking of gifts, if you're one of those folks who is already thinking about Christmas, then I'd also encourage you to take a look at this video

[AC] Promo 2011 from Advent Conspiracy on Vimeo.
{more on this soon}

favorite

2011-11-02T23:19:00.000-04:00

The past few days my heart has felt quite reflective on my life as mommy to three kids under age 5 (for a few more weeks, at least!).

You see, I am really, really good at being impatient ;)

At getting annoyed. At losing my temper. At venting some big, grown up thoughts on little tiny innocent minds.

At wanting a break from my little angels. At wanting more time for me.

This past Sunday our pastor returned from a trip to the Holy Land. I could sense a renewed passion and focused vision as he preached a powerful message on The Greatest Question (click the link for October 30, 2011 to listen).

In Matthew 16:13, Jesus comes to Caesarea Philippi and asks his disciples “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”

And the disciples reply, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” (v.14)

Pastor Kerry goes on to say that who the people thought Jesus was indicated what kind of man He was:
1.) John the Baptist - a preacher - a man of truth
2.) Elijah - a prayer - a man of travail
3.) Jeremiah - the weeping prophet - a man of tears

But Jesus says “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”

Peter's reply that Jesus is the Messiah is joy to Jesus' heart. Peter is saying that Jesus is the King, the Redeemer, the promised Christ. Yet just moments after Peter declares Jesus to be the Christ, and Jesus in turn declares Peter blessed and the rock upon which Jesus will build his church (Mt.16:17-20), Peter makes what Pastor Kerry deemed the greatest mistake:

"From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life. Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. “Never, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to you!” (Mt.16:21-22)

The mistake is that we tell Jesus WHAT kind of King He will be;
We may think we understand who Jesus is and that He is our King, but if we think of Him as an earthly King, we've missed the mark.

When Peter told Jesus he would not, could not possibly be killed, he told Jesus what kind of king he believed him to be. After all, what kind of glorious King would come to die? Peter rebuked Jesus because He did not fully understand the question. He did not fully understand the great depths of Jesus' love for us, not to simply reign as a natural, earthly king, but as the sovereign, eternal King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Sent to die for each of us. For my life. For yours.

Yesterday I read this post on Katie's blog. She writes about being one of God's "favorites":

"One of His favorites. That is what I have felt like these last two weeks. Lavished with love. But isn’t that what He wants every one of His children to feel, all the time? Each and every one of us created perfectly in His image. Each one cherished. Each one “one of His favorites”. How would life change if we thought of each other as such? If each person that approached us we treated as beloved of God, cherished by God, one of God’s favorite people."

You see, when we understand the true answer to the Greatest Question, we understand that we are indeed, each one, God's favorites. Because who He is is love. It is death on an old cross for our sin, paid with His very life.

But the story does not end there.

He rose. And we too are risen to new life in Him.

"I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." (Gal.2:20)

Last night, I spent some one-on-one time with my daughter, my oldest. When I'm busy in the day to day with three little ones, the oldest one often gets the least attention. I think I expect more of her than I should, because she's the big girl in the house, but she is still just 4 {very nearly 5} years old.

It struck me as the boys had gone to sleep and I sat at the kitchen table for a late night {at 8:00 pm} snack with her: if I love as Christ loves, should not each of my own children feel that they are my favorite? That they are treasured in a special, lavish way by their mommy?

I have so much to learn from my children. And so much to learn from my Jesus, the One and Only King of Kings, who gave His all for my life. He is gentle, loving, and just.

He is not impatient with me. He does not get annoyed at me.

He doesn't lose His temper with me or vent to me in language I can't understand. He talks to me on my level. He doesn't want a break from me or tell me that He can't spend time with me right now because He needs a little time to himself. Jesus, let me learn from You!

Jesus, may my life be a response to your great question; a true reflection of the who You really are. In being mommy, sometimes my kids are the hardest people around me to love. But they are each your very favorites. May I love them in such a way. Not barking out orders, or raising my voice, or impatiently rushing them on to the next thing/place/activity. But loving them in a way that says to them, "You are the love of my life! I'm listening to every word. I hear your hurts and your heart. I see your mistakes but I forgive them; we'll work at this stuff together. As long as it takes. As many times as you falter. Because you are so worth it. You are incredible and special and made in His image. You are treasured. And more than anything, you are loved, my sweet child. You are my very favorite."

happy fall ya'all!

2011-10-29T21:56:00.000-04:00

As we close out the fall season, I thought I'd share some of our family's recent fall fun.

These photos were all taken at this great pumpkin patch in our area, where we went on a hay ride, played in a corn maze, and had all sorts of fun with other outdoor play stuff. {Ironically, we never even got to the pumpkin patch part, we had so much fun on the other toys & then it closed!}

Oh, and just to clarify, these photos were all taken last weekend, not this weekend.

If I were to show you pictures of the fall fun we had this weekend, well, you just might not believe me.

Here's what the big kids were doing at 10 o'clock this morning on Halloween weekend:

Seriously, they are building a snow man.

Crazy, ha?!

Well, I hope you enjoyed your last October weekend too.

Oh, and if you have a taste for something yummy and fall(ish) to eat, be sure to check out the very best chocolate chip pumpkin bread recipe ever :)

Happy Fall Ya'all!

secrets {part 2}

2011-10-26T00:36:00.002-04:00

As I mentioned last week, our fellow life group member, Brian, has been preaching at our church the past two weeks in PK's absence. He is by far one of my favorite speakers, so you should listen to him ;)

You can listen to both in the series via this link (click the link for October 23, 2011, Secrets Part 2):
http://abeaconofhope.org/FirstChurch/DesktopDefault.aspx?tabid=188

As a social worker, I cannot help but think of the thousands of children who come into foster care weighed down with the shame of their pasts and the secrets they hold.

My heart can hardly conceive of girls like the writer over at 9to20, who lived their lives in shrouds of secrecy and deception as victims of sex trafficking.

Certainly, children in foster care, or those orphaned by HIV/AIDs, or those who've known the life of human trafficking, know a pain in their little hearts that is heavier than I can fathom and beyond what I've experienced in my lifetime.

But these are not the only ones who carry secrets.

We all carry them, and it really breaks my heart to think that so many believers, in particular, are walking around every day, carrying the heavy burden of their secrets... alone.

Are we not made to walk this journey together?

The Bible does not merely suggest this as a good practice, but says, "Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ." (Gal.6:2).

Bearing each other's burdens is considered the FULFILLMENT of Christ's law!

Today, what can I do, what can you do, to make sure the door is open for someone to share their secret?

If you are carrying a secret, would you speak it today? Tell someone. Speak it out. Speak truth.

As Brian reminded us in the message, there is POWER in our spoken words, for "the tongue has the power of life and death."

I'm sure I've posted this song in the past, but it fits so well now (& we sang it Sunday before the message), so here it is again:

"You broke my shame and sinfulness"

"It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery." -gal. 5:1

Today, may you know the POWER of Christ's freedom, freedom that sets you free from all your shame and every secret. HE IS STRONGER!

100

2011-10-25T16:20:00.000-04:00

My apologies to anyone who tried to access the cha cha slide video I posted yesterday; apparently the video was set to private so folks couldn't view it on the blog. It's working now... hope it brings you a smile today!

In other news, this is the 100th post here at Confident of This! Nice, ha? It only took me nearly four years to get there!

our monday

2011-10-24T23:03:00.000-04:00

Everyone can use a little cha cha for their Monday: