Supper Club

It all started last year when I invited a group of women into my home and 

participate in the study of Ann Voskamp's book,

"1000 Gifts."

It was wonderful and the group of women God brought together far exceeded my expectations.

When the study was over, we just couldn't part ways and decided to start a Supper Club and meet once a month to cook, eat and laugh together, centering around Shauna Niequist's book

"Bread And Wine."

Let me just say that the monthly dinners with the Supper Club have nourished me 

in more ways than just one!

This Godly group of women have challenged me, loved me, affirmed me, fed me, prayed for me, 

and given me many reasons to laugh!!

I have to admit, when I first though of asking some women to join me in my home to go through "1000 Gifts," I had a very specific group in mind.  

But one by one, the women I thought would benefit from reading that book, were unable to attend.

And one by one, God spoke a name to me of another group of women who weren't even on my radar!

I wanted to minister to some women around me, 

but God wanted me to be ministered to by some very special women!

We've shared over a dozen meals together and 

I'm so blessed to be part of such a special group of ladies.

I love being surprised by God - when I think I have a good idea, He has a great one!!

100% Redeemed

I cried a lot today.... over a crashed hard drive.  My back up system apparently didn't work and it seems that 10 years of photos and documents are gone, just like that.

As I got in the car to take my crashed hard drive back to the computer technicians, I cried, just like I had through pieces of the morning.

"Do you see a lot of people cry?" I asked the tech.

"Yea, about one a day," he said.

"Well, I cried in the car, so I won't make your quota today!"

"I can usually recover about 10-70% of what was lost. 

It's a big range, I know, but we can't make any promises."
"Well, I believe in a big God and I'm praying for a miracle! 

Are you ready to recover 100% for the first time in your career?"  I joked with some hope of truth.

"I have a lot of people praying," I told him.

I left and wrestled with the feeling of such a great loss.  10 years of photos of my babies and countless sermons and talks I've written and probably much more that I haven't yet remembered was on my computer.  I've wrestled with losing these things, and knowing that what matters most is still with me.  My kids were all with me at the computer store and I kept looking at them thinking, "I still have them, the real them, not just the photographs."

Then this evening, while the techs still try to recover data off my hard drive, I read a post from Ann VosKamp.  A post that made me too cry like much of my day.  A post that talked of great loss, far greater than photographs or documents.  A post that talked of a loss where there are no technicians to recover 10-70% of what is now gone.  A post that made me more upset than a crashed hard drive.

A post that I hope you'll read too and plead with me to a BIG GOD who can recover and restore all that is lost.  There is no 10-70% with God.

He's 100% Redeemer.

Please read this post from Ann:

http://www.aholyexperience.com/2015/05/into-iraq-2-what-the-news-isnt-telling-you-why-we-cant-afford-to-pretend-its-not-happening-sozans-impossible-choice-and-our-very-possible-one/



Healing Powers of the Ocean

There are 2 things I swear by when anyone in my family gets sick - sick soup and the ocean!

I have always firmly believed in the healing powers of the ocean.

Let's be honest, a few hours at the beach cures all!

I recently was hit with a cold and had to miss a family camping trip to stay in bed and get well.

On day 2 of being home alone, I realized that I needed to go to the beach and experience some healing powers of the sea! 

 Off I went.

As I walked on the sand I breathed deeply.

The soothing sound of the waves, the forgiving sand beneath my feet, the briny air that filled my lungs, together I could feel them melting away my cold!

I smiled as I thought back on all the times I've taken a child to the beach on day 2 of their cold. 

Just sitting and looking out at the vastness before us,

unable to wrap our heads around the beginning and end.

I recently read that the percentage of salt in the sea is the same as the percentage of salt in the human body!  Some say that proves we evolved from the sea.  I say it proves that our God has woven a common thread throughout all of His creation and He is constantly surprising us with His creativity and purposes. ( I also think it proves my theory that the ocean has healing powers!)

After my walk I sat down and began to read my Lenten devotional from Ann Voskamp. 

The passage was from Matthew 6:5-13

In this devotional, you slowly read the passage 3 times,

allowing specific phrases to rise off the page and penetrate your heart.

In this passage about how to pray, one phrase jumped up and struck me -

"your Father knows what you need before you ask Him."

With the sea air filling my lungs and blowing my hair, I smiled.

He knew.

I didn't have to ask.

He knew.

As a homeschooling Moma, I rarely get a few hours alone.

I don't remember the last time I was sick in bed, literally!  My children cried as they left to go camping without me, "will you ever get better Mommy?" 

 I laughed because I just don't think they've ever seen me in bed with a cold!

But God knew what I needed before I even asked.

I got to spend 3 days home alone.

God's healing powers of the ocean not only soothed my cold, but they soothed my soul.

He knows what I need before I even ask!

Do you know that God is for you?

Do you know that He sees your need and longs to provide?

Surrender today.

Stop going about your business (busy-ness) and open your hands to receive.

 

 

It's Hard to Slow Down When It's Always Sunny

Looking back, I remember often having the guilty feeling that I should be outside. 

On a sunny day, I might want to lay in bed and read or play with my dolls, but I'd think,

"It's too nice of a day to stay indoors," and with a guilty pressure, I'd head outside.

I would almost anxiously wait for it to get dark because then I'd have permission to come back inside!  Maybe that's why I've always loved the rain.  It gives me freedom to be inside without guilt!

But when you live in the Golden State, where it is sunny about 360 days a year, there isn't much freedom to remain inside, still, quiet, under a blanket for those such as me.

 

 

A few years back when I read Ann Voskamp's "One Thousand Gifts," something profound struck me.

She encourages all to slow down, stop rushing through life as if it were an emergency.  Slow down and live fully in the moment.  Slow down and notice the details in a spider's web, the reflection in a drop of water, slow down and receive the gifts of God that are all around us in the details we often overlook because we are spinning too wildly with busy and haste.

With a group of women, we discussed Ann's question about the dangers of a hurried life, "Describe a time or season of your life when you were moving so rapidly that you skimmed over many of the good gifts God has given you.  As you look back, what did you miss because of the sheer speed you were moving?"

 

Something hit me about this struggle to slow down and the dangers of a hurried life -

It's hard to slow down when it's always sunny.

 

And that's it! 

I've grown up where it is always sunny and there are little to no "seasons."  With a guilt that started somehow as a child, I've constantly forced myself to be out and productive when the sun was shining, which is 90% of my days!  How can I possibly slow down when I live in a place that demands a "go go go" pace sheerly because of the weather?!

If you live where there are true seasons, you are forced to slow down, whether you want to or not!

A true winter causes you to drive slower in the snow and sleet.

You hunker down inside because the elements outside are too harsh to face.

You cozy up by a fire because you are chilled to the bone.

You slow down and are still because you have no other choice.

Don't get me wrong, I know many are buried in snow right now and not exactly seeing it as a gift to slow down!  My cousin is home from school in Pennsylvania because of freezing weather and snow and my Uncle in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan is telling of 21 degrees below zero temps (is that even legal??)  And our dear friends in Tennessee are home from school because of the harsh cold, and they are not telling these tales in a joyous tone!  They are lamenting in a way!

 

But it is a gift to be forced to stay home and slow down. 
We live in a world of super sonic jets, but we were created for camel travel!

Cancel the life plans that demand being on time, prepared and ready.

Just sit at home and be still.

 

It rained here last weekend.

All day Saturday!

It was glorious.

For the most part I sat on the couch and did nothing.

We had a birthday party scheduled to celebrate my son turning 6, but we canceled it.

Mostly because he caught a little cold, but also because of the rain that wouldn't allow the party to be outside.  I honestly spent most of the day disappointed that I could be more productive and throw the party!  But after several hours of shifting my "go go go" thinking, I sunk into the rhythm of the rain and just relaxed.

It's raining, so it's time to slow down and just enjoy the gift that is now.

 

It wasn't long before the sun came out again and the struggle began again.

How can we slow down and enjoy this one beautiful life we've been given?

If you're at home today because of the weather - school is canceled, roads are closed, work is shut down - be grateful and enjoy the slowing you were meant to live in.

Give Thanks = Content

Our pastor has being doing a wonderful series called Change of Heart, examining the conditions of the heart - the hungry heart, lonely heart, prideful heart...

Yesterday he talked about the suffering heart.

There was something about the morning that was different.

There was a thick presence in the air.

Perhaps it was my new fun haircut!  Or perhaps it was the Holy Spirit.

As the music played I found myself fighting back tears - not totally uncommon for me! 

 But this felt different, like a wave was about to crash over me and no matter how fast I tried to turn and run, I would not escape the enveloping water.

"Blessed be your name,

in the land that is plentiful,

where streams of abundance flow,

Blessed be your name."

 

We began to sing what has already become an "oldie but a goodie,"

and I could hear the roar of that wave getting closer to me.

 

"Blessed be your name,

when I'm found in the desert place,

though I walk through the wilderness,

Blessed be your name."

"Every blessing you pour out I'll turn back to praise.

When the darkness closes in Lord, still I will say,

Blessed be the name of the Lord.

Blessed be your name."

 

After reading Ann Voskamp's 1000 Gifts, I've learned to apply this truth in my own life,

whether blessing or darkness, give thanks and bless the Lord.  It truly is one of the great keys to being content (my word for 2015).  Cultivating a grateful heart also grows a content heart.

And as the refrain approached, so did that tidal wave.

 

"You give and take away

You give and take away

My heart will choose to say

Lord, blessed be your name."

 

Not just teary eyes, but the "oh my word, I'm about to shake and perhaps snort with weeping," realization hit me as fast and hard as a crashing wave and there I was, cute new haircut and all, using every dry finger to wipe my eyes as tears fell more quickly than I could catch.  I knew my running mascara had now radically transformed my look!

 

And in a moment I was right back in that car in front of my doctor's office, almost 4 years and a month ago to the day, tears falling like rain with the realization that the hopes of our 4th baby were gone.  Where there once was a heart beat, there now was none.

As I wept in my car with the news, I racked my brain, trying to find answers and questioning what I had done to make this happen.

I heard God speak the words of this song, truly the words of His own in scripture,

 "I am the giver of life and I give and take away, blessed be My name."

I found great comfort in those words.

I also found a great challenge in them.

Can I bless God when He takes away?

Will my heart choose to give thanks and bless the Lord in my loss?

 

I was caught totally off-guard at church yesterday as I sobbed.

Just when you think you've moved past a loss, the grief hits you at very

unexpected times, even 4 years later.

But as I cried and sang those words, I found a strength rising up within me as I declared,

"My heart will choose to say, blessed be the name of the Lord."

 

Yes, I will be content in all things because I am choosing to give thanks and bless the Lord in the good and in the bad.

 

God's love crashed over me yesterday and I'm so grateful that I could not out-run that wave.

Messy cry and all.

He reminded me that true contentment comes when I choose to have a heart of gratitude

and bless Him at all times.

His praise shall continually be in my mouth.

 



Grateful Heart Friday

A few years back I did a little something on my blog called "Grateful Heart Friday."

I still hold to the truth that we're not born with grateful hearts, we need to cultivate them!

Which means we need to practice gratitude everyday until it becomes like breathing - it just happens naturally on it's own without trying!

 

Last year I did an amazing study with some friends on the beloved book

 "1000 Gifts" by Ann Voskamp. 

It was incredible to say the least. 

Haven't read it?  Do it!

 

A huge part of being content (*my word for 2015),

 is to recognize and receive the gifts that are all around us, everyday. 

If we are always looking for something other than what we've been give,

we miss out on the gift that is right now.

 

When I say, "thank you," I am receiving what is being offered in the moment and I am filled.

I am content.

 

With that, let's stop and say thanks for all the gifts we received this week as

 Grateful Heart Friday commences!

 

I'm grateful for a dear friend who took my 3 children for the evening so that I could bless another friend with a ride to the airport.  I'm grateful for a soft-start to our homeschool week.  I'm grateful that my children love to learn and are eager to work! (at least this week they were!!)  I'm grateful for Downton Abby starting!!!  I'm also super grateful for American Idol starting!!  It's those simple pleasures!!  I'm grateful for a new lamp.  I'm grateful for an awesome hike in our town with beautiful views and mountains.  I'm grateful for fabulous friends that live across the street.  I'm grateful for a husband that took off work to get our plumbing issues fixed so I didn't have to.  I'm grateful for the Cooking Club.  I'm grateful for fun kiddo activities starting up.  I'm grateful for the start of award season!  I'm grateful for cloudy days and sunny days at the beach.

I'm grateful for hot cocoa with my hubby and his willingness to step out.

I'm grateful for a God who never ceases to extend great gifts to His kids!

 

What are you grateful for?

Make it known!

 

"Give thanks to the Lord, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done."

Psalm 105:1

Yummy Summer - Hide It In Your Heart

Last week my children were in Vacation Bible School at our church and it was the first year in a long time that I didn't volunteer!  Praise Jesus!
So I took the week off blogging and enjoyed mornings without children.
It was glorious!
So today I'm making up for it with 2 Yummy Summer treats!
A few years back I chose a few verses to concentrate on for the Summer and have the children memorize.

I wanted to do the same this Summer and as I've been reading Ann Voskamp's blog, I saw that she has a scripture memory plan for the year!  Rather than reinvent the wheel, I'm using a selection of her verses to memorize this Summer.  She has adorable printables (I mean totally cute people!) so I printed them, cut them out, bought precious, tiny, wood clothespins and hung them up!

They are a lovely Summer decoration, and our tool to memorizing scripture this Summer.
You can check out the printable verses and bookmark that outlines the memorization plan here on Ann's blog, or simply click the photo above.
AND...
Another Yummy Summer treat - Ann is the famous author of 1000 Gifts (if you haven't read it, do!) where she stresses the importance of living a life of gratitude.  She talks about counting all the gifts that God gives and challenges us all to keep a gratitude journal and list at least 1000 gifts throughout the year.
Well, she has another adorable printable to help you start counting your blessings and I've been doing it on my own for sometime now, but for the summer, we're doing it as a family.
Each day, Ann suggests 3 different gifts to look for.  Kind of like a scavenger hunt of sorts.
For example, for June 30 it says, "3 gifts you gave today."
We read it in the morning and then at dinner, with my journal, I ask everyone to share a gift that they gave today and what it meant to them.  I write their answers in my gratitude journal.
Here is her printable guide of the 3 different gifts to look for each day. (Of course you can list any gift you received that day that you are thankful for, but her promptings are a fun way to get the children searching throughout the day for specific ways God shows His love for them and the gifts that He gives.

How are you hiding God's Word in your heart this Summer?