Dear Bree,
The doctors have decided it's best for you to come out now. I know things are really great in there, but I promise things will be fun out here too. Your dad and I are very excited to see you, and we'd like it to be soon. We would appreciate your cooperation in this matter.
Also, there may be a lot of yelling and screaming while you are making your appearance, but don't be scared. I'll explain that later when you get a little bigger. It's got to do with a woman named Eve ... but that story is for another time.
See you soon!
Love,
Mom
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Monday, April 11, 2011
April Favorite Things
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
A Date with Me
Sometimes I find that I need a girl's day out, but there might not be girls available. It used to bum me out, but one time I decided to embrace what Rachel Green strives to do in an episode of Friends.
I called it "A Date with Me."
I went to the store and bought a treat (I chose chocolate) and magazine (Better Homes and Gardens), and I headed to the nail salon to get a pedicure. Pedicures are rare, but this was a special date with me, and I treat me well.
Then I got lunch from my favorite place (nothing expensive), headed home, and I popped my favorite movie in to watch while I did some crafting.
It was a marvelous day, and I felt refreshed afterwards.
I realized sometimes it's nice to enjoy your own company.
I called it "A Date with Me."
I went to the store and bought a treat (I chose chocolate) and magazine (Better Homes and Gardens), and I headed to the nail salon to get a pedicure. Pedicures are rare, but this was a special date with me, and I treat me well.
Then I got lunch from my favorite place (nothing expensive), headed home, and I popped my favorite movie in to watch while I did some crafting.
It was a marvelous day, and I felt refreshed afterwards.
I realized sometimes it's nice to enjoy your own company.
Monday, April 4, 2011
The Simple Life
I have a friend (at this awesome blog) who has recently expressed a desire to live more simply. I think it's something we can all do better, and I'm encouraged by her to seek new ways to do that. I was reading through Matthew 6:19-34, and it offers some great wisdom on things we look to for happiness and about the temptation to worry.
So, I have three tips on how to simplify life (including our thought life):
Clear your space.
Clutter, stuff everywhere, projects all around. Clear it out! Do you really need four of that thing or that pile of old stuff? Donate! Sell! When you start clearing out your surroundings, you’ll notice immediately a simpler feeling. A place for everything and everything in its place.
Clear your mind.
Worry, negativity, stress. We are constantly bombarded by things that would cause us to do these things, but we have a hope in Christ that allows us to take time each day to "cast our cares upon the Lord" (1 Peter 5:7). Begin a daily practice of giving your mind to the Lord. Set aside 5-10 minutes to pray and let the Spirit take the controls. Doing this on a regular basis will help you feel more in tune with the Holy Spirit.
Clear your schedule.
It's totally okay to have a weekend where you have no plans. It opens up opportunities for God to work. He might have plans for you that you would otherwise miss if you try to fill your whole week and weekend. One thing Brent and I love is having friends that we can call on a given night and say, "let's have dinner!" In general, most people are too busy to do such things on a whim ... but those who live simply seem to have the time!
Repeat as needed.
There will be busy seasons in life. It happens! We get caught up in things, events, stuff. It's fine. Just try to keep simplicity in the back of your mind. Just like Spring cleaning, learn to Spring Simplify.
So, I have three tips on how to simplify life (including our thought life):
Clear your space.
Clutter, stuff everywhere, projects all around. Clear it out! Do you really need four of that thing or that pile of old stuff? Donate! Sell! When you start clearing out your surroundings, you’ll notice immediately a simpler feeling. A place for everything and everything in its place.
Clear your mind.
Worry, negativity, stress. We are constantly bombarded by things that would cause us to do these things, but we have a hope in Christ that allows us to take time each day to "cast our cares upon the Lord" (1 Peter 5:7). Begin a daily practice of giving your mind to the Lord. Set aside 5-10 minutes to pray and let the Spirit take the controls. Doing this on a regular basis will help you feel more in tune with the Holy Spirit.
Clear your schedule.
It's totally okay to have a weekend where you have no plans. It opens up opportunities for God to work. He might have plans for you that you would otherwise miss if you try to fill your whole week and weekend. One thing Brent and I love is having friends that we can call on a given night and say, "let's have dinner!" In general, most people are too busy to do such things on a whim ... but those who live simply seem to have the time!
Repeat as needed.
There will be busy seasons in life. It happens! We get caught up in things, events, stuff. It's fine. Just try to keep simplicity in the back of your mind. Just like Spring cleaning, learn to Spring Simplify.
Sunday, April 3, 2011
God's Wrath
In our sermon today, there was something that struck me. The pastor was talking about our response to the message of Jesus. We can ignore it, avoid it, embrace it, fight against it, rebel, etc. We all know the responses.
But a revealing idea was shared.
If we choose to continually fight against, oppose, and reject the message of Christ, it is referred to as slowly filling up the cup of wrath: "In this way they always heap up their sins to the limit. The wrath of God has come upon them at last." (1 Thessalonians 2:16).
I never thought of this, but the pastor said sometimes God's judgement/wrath is expressed now. He doesn't always wait for Judgement Day. Sometimes, he gives us over to what we have chosen.
The example we see in the Bible is Pharaoh in Exodus. Throughout the whole book, God reveals miraculous things through Moses, but over and over again it says Pharaoh hardened his heart. He continually rejected God. And eventually, it changed to "God hardened Pharaoh's heart."
Pharaoh had filled up his cup of wrath to the brim so God went ahead and gave him over to it. Whereas usually God takes our cup of wrath when we ask Him to, God make Pharaoh take his own.
I guess it makes sense. Sometimes we get exactly what we ask for. If we keep rejecting and opposing God - we may just see His wrath now.
But a revealing idea was shared.
If we choose to continually fight against, oppose, and reject the message of Christ, it is referred to as slowly filling up the cup of wrath: "In this way they always heap up their sins to the limit. The wrath of God has come upon them at last." (1 Thessalonians 2:16).
I never thought of this, but the pastor said sometimes God's judgement/wrath is expressed now. He doesn't always wait for Judgement Day. Sometimes, he gives us over to what we have chosen.
The example we see in the Bible is Pharaoh in Exodus. Throughout the whole book, God reveals miraculous things through Moses, but over and over again it says Pharaoh hardened his heart. He continually rejected God. And eventually, it changed to "God hardened Pharaoh's heart."
Pharaoh had filled up his cup of wrath to the brim so God went ahead and gave him over to it. Whereas usually God takes our cup of wrath when we ask Him to, God make Pharaoh take his own.
I guess it makes sense. Sometimes we get exactly what we ask for. If we keep rejecting and opposing God - we may just see His wrath now.
Friday, April 1, 2011
April Verses
Romans 12 is a passage on love in action, and our Bible study is finishing this year off with lessons focused on growth in two specific areas: prayer and vulnerability. As I've been preparing for both these areas, I thought of the following verses:
Romans 12:10 "Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves."
This is essential to vulnerability, for me. Sometimes you have to think of other people. It's never easy to open up about something, but others need to know you trust them enough to share. It also could open up dialog for someone going through the same thing -- or could encourage someone going through the same thing.
Romans 12:15 "Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn."
Vulnerability requires empathy. You have to put yourself into someone's joy, someone's pain, someone's trial. You have to focus on trying to feel what they are feeling so that you can be there for them. Some of the deepest relationships I have include times when you can cry together and - more easily - laugh together. I am looking for that in my relationships.
So - throughout April and May - look for growth in vulnerability from me! Hold me accountable to that. Laugh with me, and cry with me.
APRIL FOOL'S!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
No, I'm kidding. I actually want to grow in these areas.
Romans 12:10 "Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves."
This is essential to vulnerability, for me. Sometimes you have to think of other people. It's never easy to open up about something, but others need to know you trust them enough to share. It also could open up dialog for someone going through the same thing -- or could encourage someone going through the same thing.
Romans 12:15 "Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn."
Vulnerability requires empathy. You have to put yourself into someone's joy, someone's pain, someone's trial. You have to focus on trying to feel what they are feeling so that you can be there for them. Some of the deepest relationships I have include times when you can cry together and - more easily - laugh together. I am looking for that in my relationships.
So - throughout April and May - look for growth in vulnerability from me! Hold me accountable to that. Laugh with me, and cry with me.
APRIL FOOL'S!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
No, I'm kidding. I actually want to grow in these areas.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
