Terribly Interesting

I Never Thought You'd Ask.

2012-01-26T00:00:00.000-06:00

Perhaps you will recall a post I did a few weeks back about the most horrible kitchen around. This kitchen is also known as my kitchen. Remember when I made enough money from painting to get the copper dream sink? I made a little funny on my blog that day. I asked if anyone wanted to come build custom cabinets around it for me. Are you ready for what happened next? Someone contacted me. No

Begin Family Worship

2012-01-25T00:00:00.000-06:00

January 29th is Family Worship Sunday. I thought I would throw a little encouragement at you. It is very rewarding to utter real prayers (not just thanks for the food) with your family, read scripture, and sing praises. It can be very daunting if you look at the people who hang out and read the Bible and worship together for hours every day. My thought for you is to just start small. Ask God

Talk to me, Abba.

2012-01-24T00:00:00.000-06:00

All of the valleys and hardships are supposed to produce something in you. Your struggle is opening the way for you to become who you need to be. People of depth, character, and compassion are never born out of easy circumstance. They are whittled slowly. They are sharpened with great force and tribulation. Why do you beg to be free of pain and beg to be full of the character that pain will

All Is Grace by Brennan Manning

2012-01-23T00:00:00.000-06:00

Sometimes you read a book that makes you feel like you have pulled your heart of your body and sat it in your lap. I felt this way reading Brennan's memoir. It was gut wrenching, encouraging, and hit really close to home. I knew some of his life before, but truly I had not idea to the depth of the pain n his journey. I see now how God used the ravaging effects of an empty childhood to explain

As White As Snow.

2012-01-19T00:00:00.000-06:00

Denbigh and I spent a few days this week on a spiritual retreat in Copper Mountain, Colorado. Our mentors in hospitality have been flying them up there for six years. The feed us, take us on snowy adventures, and spend hours in prayer with us. It is a gift. Doris, our hostess, asked a question of us. What was our primary message. Hers is forgiveness. Another person's was obedience. Mine is

Why I Love Truth.

2012-01-18T00:00:00.000-06:00

Theology, as stated by Merriam-Webster, is the study of religious faith, practice, and experience; especially :the study of God and God's relation to the world. I don't know about you, but I desperately want to know truth. I want to see how God is relating to the world and I want to jump in. I have formed many things in my life according to the theology God presents to us in the Bible. He says

Talk to me, Abba.

2012-01-17T00:00:00.000-06:00

Crave My truth. I want to reveal Myself to you for your benefit and My glory. I am faithful to give you the knowledge that leads to life. Lose yourself in My word and cling to what I teach you there. Use it to draw close to Me. Find the beauty that leads to the life I long to give you. Refuse to be distracted by feelings or ideas. Cling to who I truly am. The rest there is abundant. "Jesus

The Giving Tree

2012-01-16T00:00:00.000-06:00

The Giving Tree is a timeless tale of the love between a tree and a boy. Created by Shel Silverstein, this simple story is heartfelt and makes for a warm parable about the endless capacity of love and how giving is an act of love that does not need anything in return. A beautiful book for parents to read to their children, The Giving Tree has been around for over twenty years and won’t soon

Talk to me, Abba.

2012-01-10T01:20:00.003-06:00

What is keeping you from trusting My design for your life? What are the things that you place your hope and trust in? Today, lay everything down here with Me. I will tell you what you can pick up to bring Me the most glory. I'll show you how to lead people into the arms of Christ. Nothing else you desire is as important. Will you trust Me with this? There is only Christ. He is everything.

The Daniel Fast by Susan Gregory

2012-01-09T00:00:00.000-06:00

What if you could grow closer to God and improve your health in just 21 days? Susan Gregory, “The Daniel Fast Blogger,” has a plan to help you do just that. Widely recognized as the expert on this 21-day fast inspired by the book of Daniel, Susan has helped thousands of people discover a safe and healthy way to fast. The principles you learn from The Daniel Fast will change the way you view

Bordeaux's in Kyle, Texas

2012-01-06T00:00:00.000-06:00

Bordeaux's is one of my absolutely favorite places to eat and i just realized that I have yet to blog about it. Perhaps, I thought that I couldn't capture the essence for you. I shall however try. The romantic atmosphere is divine for a date night or soiree with your girlfriends. I love everything about it. You walk in to black leather covered chairs and elegant booths that make you feel

Gomer's Cooking With Gas

2012-01-05T00:00:00.000-06:00

Perhaps you think it's glamorous to live in a mansion. Sure, if you go by the tax assessors records, it might seem so. The reality is that this is hard work. Some days we cry. Some days we are really excited. Some days we are so broken under the weight of God's grace that we can hardly speak. There are moments that seem truly lucid and some that are incomprehensible. As I stare at this I

Marriage & Substitutionary Atonement

2012-01-04T00:00:00.000-06:00

Our goal in covenant marriage is to lay down our life so that our spouse can become more like Christ. Give them the grace to mature. Keep your eyes on the cross. I recently read this passage in a book entitled Well-Driven Nails by Byron Yawn: The Problem with Christian Marriage Seminars It is assumed by most evangelicals that doctrine plays little if any role in life's more

Talk to me, Abba.

2012-01-03T00:00:00.000-06:00

Empty your life of everything and make space for Me. Slowly add back in the things that bring Me glory. Don't worry yourself about petty things. Don't try to keep up with your neighbors who must be doing or have this or that. I Am all that you need. If you would lay aside worthless distractions, you would find peace. You would find the very thing your heart desires. Your worth is from Christ

In a Pit With A Lion on a Snowy Day

2012-01-02T00:00:00.000-06:00

This book was highly recommended to me by a friend who is not a reader. When people who don't love to read are excited about a book, I take notice. Recently it came across the queue for review and I snatched it up. You must be wondering what the book is about with such a conspicuous title. Mark Batterson, pastor of National Community Church in Washington DC, breaks down and examines a

Second Annual Caroling Event

2011-12-22T00:00:00.000-06:00

So, my one year old attempted to eat my power cord, so I shall write with brevity. We thoroughly enjoyed caroling. S'mores, hot cocoa, candy canes, a bon fire, homemade cookies, and a snowball fight (with marshmallows. We had around 60 people attend this 2nd annual event. It's great to bring life to a community that has long been asleep. See you next December!

Talk to me, Abba.

2011-12-20T00:00:00.000-06:00

Everything you have I gave to you. Have no part in the pride of the flesh. The moments you are kind, creative, brilliant, generous, beautiful are from Me. I have ushered foresight into your mind. I have wrought a generous spirit deep in your character. Remember, even what you give to Me came from My own hand. “But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously

Well-Driven Nails by Byron Yawn

2011-12-19T00:00:00.000-06:00

I have had this book on my wish list for a while and the other day, I just up and bought it. I am so glad that I did. This man expounds on Christ so simply and with great clarity and passion. I mean, we have all read enough books about how to help God along. This is simply about simple exposition of the beautiful word of God and the reformative power of the cross of Christ. There were

Gomer's Washing Up

2011-12-15T00:00:00.000-06:00

You're thinking to yourself that things couldn't get any more exciting around here. You're wrong, friends. We've just kicked it up a notch. That's right. Now we are cooking with gas. Figuratively speaking, of course, because I currently have an electric stove. We have had an exciting week of cleaning out our utility room and outfitting our carriage house to use as a workroom. I bought foam

A Reading by Laomai

2011-12-14T00:00:00.000-06:00

When you walk into my house, the first thing my four-year-old will ask you is if she can read you a book. I made the cutest video of her reading the first chapter of Mr. Popper's Penguins to me. It's somewhat bittersweet because she wants to read to me more than she wants me to read to her. I just thought I would share. If you are thinking of homeschooling and think it is daunting, be encouraged

Talk to me, Abba.

2011-12-13T00:00:00.000-06:00

I have set before you blessings and curses, life and death. Choose life. There is life and death in the power of the tongue, your tongue. Choose to speak life. When you are at your darkest and most discouraged, believe truth and reject lies. You are called and gifted to do very specific things in this life. The greatest desire of our enemy is to discourage or distract you from those pursuits.

Have a New Kid by Friday

2011-12-12T00:00:00.000-06:00

My husband and I read together a bit each day and we recently grabbed a copy of Kevin Leman's famous book. Of course we weren't necesarily looking to have a new kid. We were looking at being better parents. We try really hard to help our children become more like Christ and are always looking for resources to help us in that area. We unfortunately didn't have much in the way of role models

South Congress Cafe

2011-12-09T00:07:00.001-06:00

An installment of Two Blondes on Congress. Suzi and I hit the South Congress Cafe in Austin, Texas. We marveled at the lovely food. Dear Suzi swore up and down that they put some sort of drug into the Butternut Squash Soup. I love the version at Bordeaux's and was skeptical that they could improve upon it. Surprise. Surprise. They laced it with something heavenly. My oh my. My gal pal

Romance Is Afoot

2011-12-08T00:00:00.000-06:00

Here is our makeshift heater in the carriage house. We hosted a community dinner this past Tuesday evening and about 40 people showed up that don't attend our church. I didn't get pictures of everyone because I was holding a baby. There were fabulous people in the kitchen and children in the playroom. In the playroom, my daughter was playing with a group of girls from the

A Simple Christmas

2011-12-07T00:00:00.000-06:00

Today, instead of running amok like a crazy banshee in search of the year's hottest toy, I suggest you take a break and color. Here is a simple reminder that you do not have to keep up with the Jones family this year. Bake them some bread and pray you celebrate with them in heaven someday. Refuse to take on more than you can enjoy. Do not be brought to tears by your Christmas to do list. Don't