She Shares Truth - A Thank You Letter

*I've been participating in a bible study through the online community She Reads Truth and we've just completed the book of Titus. Our last "assignment" was to reflect on the growth of the gospel, in our lives, through spiritual mothering.*

Lord
The blessing is not lost on me, that I don't have to look far to see the woman you've ordained to be my spiritual mother. What a gracious God.....that you would create her, write her life's plan, and weave me into her story.

Growing up she felt far less a spiritual mother, definitely not a friend, and more a consistent wall I ran my head into. In my eyes she seemed rather impossible, very black & white, predictable & {worst of all} she loved a god that, I was convinced, I would never be good enough for. All of this was only made worse by the fact that we spent copious amounts of time at church......a place where my ears only heard "follow the rules" and my eyes read words my heart didn't understand.

Through all my rebellion you still pursued and, in September of 2004, began, ever so slightly, changing my path. That was the month my father passed away - her high school sweetheart and best friend, my sounding board and daddy.....our mediator. She grieved so well. I expected her faith to waver, would have understood, but she leaned hard into you Lord and suffered, knowing, you were in control. My pain drew me close to her and even closer to you.

I regret our full reconciliation didn't happen the day he passed away. Unfortunately, I still struggled my way through a few more years of blatant disobedience, but those years weren't in vain. Through your grace, my heart began to soften and You released me from the bondage of sin. You rescued me and, one day, I found myself walking the same path as her.....seeing life through her eyes....because you've given us both the same set of glasses. You see, I finally realized that her black & white, set ways, were called obedience and all that time she spent tucked away with her bible was called intimacy. We ebb & flow to the same beautiful music now because we both serve you, Jesus, and you humbly pour out your grace & mercy on our lives.  You alone saved me and in the process allowed me to finally value one of your greatest gifts in my life......my mom. Her comfort, love and godly wisdom is invaluable! Thank you for allowing her to leave a godly legacy.....for allowing her to be such a lovely part of my own story.

Happy Tuesday!

But the experience of having your heart soar in admiration to God depends on whether you have ears to hear and eyes to see that above and behind every admirable thing on earth stands the magnificence and beauty of God.

- John Piper

Finding Our Identity

Our church is currently in the middle of a study, on the book of Ephesians, called Who do you think you are? Finding your identity in Christ. Jody & I have found it so encouraging and convicting, as we dig deep and really work through our own identity issues. Today's sermon focused on what we are saved from, how we are saved and why we are saved. A younger gentleman, who plays in one of our church bands, gave his testimony afterwards and he so simply nailed what it's like to have a relationship with the Lord. He said.....
The more I strive to be like Jesus, the more I feel like myself.
So simple yet exactly how I feel.
Do ya'll have those moments at church when you feel like God is talking directly to you?

My prayer is that everyone who peeks in on my blog, or randomly stumbles upon it, will know that God has given us the greatest gift of all.......and it's free! Our pastor used this example, it's like a person you don't know walking up to you on the street and telling you that they are going to pay all your debts {school loans, mortgage, credit cards, etc.} and, on top of that, any debt you rack up in the future. That's what Jesus did and does for us. We don't deserve it, but because of His grace he gives it to us with no strings attached. His mercy saves us from death, the trespasses of sin, the entrapment of this world, demonic influence, our old sin nature and our own selfish desires. When God saves us, our deepest desires line up with those of the Lord and we......feel like ourselves.

If anyone is interested in any of the sermons in this series they can be found HERE
If you want to read for yourself, check out the first 2 books of Ephesians HERE

For it is by grace you have been saved through faith - and this is not from yourselves , it is the gift of God - not by works so that no one can boast. For we are God's handiwork created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.   Ephesians 2:8-10

No one like Him

Christianity is not a religion. 
Religion is about what you do for God. 
Christianity is about Jesus and what he does for us. 
It’s totally different, and it’s better because religion always leads to pride or despair. 
You try hard. 
And if you do good, you’re arrogant; you’re not humble like Jesus. 
And if you fail to live up to the expectations, you’re grieved and sad because you’re not good enough for God. 
Jesus alone gives us joy and humility, humility knowing that we cannot save ourselves, joy knowing that when he said, “It is finished,” it was. 
That’s why we love Jesus so much. 
There’s no one like Jesus.


Doctrine
Incarnation: God Comes 

Being a mama.....

I've been thinking a lot lately about this whole SAHM gig I've got going on.
I wrote and deleted several lines trying to express what's going on in my head, and heart, but just couldn't seem to do it justice.
Luckily, I woke up this morning and one of my favorite bloggers figured out just what I wanted to say......

On Being the Queen

I prayed, hard, yesterday that God would show me why he brought us to Seattle and how he would use me here.
He was apparently just waiting for me to ask.
My bible study this morning was on 1. When you're looking for direction & 2. Abram moves to a strange land.....coincidence?.....doubtful.
So maybe some of you are asking these same questions.
Here's what I know.
God promises to instruct us and guide us in the way we should go {Psalm 32:8} and sometimes he calls us away from familiar & comfortable so he can give us his best.

and maybe.....
this SAHM thing is as much for my relationship with my maker as it is for my relationship with my little man.

Bible Study

God used simple people to proclaim his simple message: Jesus Christ is our miraculous tunnel of escape from the curse of death issued when Adam & Eve fell. Any other route will leave us empty & forlorn. This may seem foolishly simpleminded to some, but it is the simple truth of the gospel; easy enough for a child to understand, yet profound enough for an intellectual to dwell on for eternity.

Following the Father's Example

More than a solid education or material possessions, your child's greatest need is a role model of devotion to God through prayer, bible reading, and holy living.  If you make knowing and following the heavenly Father your first priority, you won't have to worry about what kind of parent you will be.

In touch daily devotion

Video Wisdom

Over the past week I have been thinking a lot about the future......it's hard not to when you have a baby and a move dangling in the distance. I've been praying lately for wisdom, especially when it comes to parenting and our future finances. Fast forward to last night........I was checking in on sermons from one of my favorite pastors {Mark Driscoll @ Mars Hills....in Seattle!!!} and last weeks message was on being a wise steward of money. I encourage you to check out the video below.......

In this difficult parable, Jesus teaches about money from the negative example of a dishonest manager. Everything belongs to God, and we are to wisely steward it. Jesus gives us a kingly, priestly, and prophetic view of money: Christians—rich and poor—need to be shrewd stewards who use their money to love people because wealth will fail (if not in this life, then at the end of this life). Money is a wonderful tool and a horrible god. Your money reveals your heart. Are you a shrewd steward who is able to love others financially? Do you understand that, in time, invariably, your wealth will fail you?

Measureless Love - Part 2

Last week we focused on the excess in our lives and its root in emptiness. God created us body, soul and spirit and our "spirit man" is wired to clammer for God. Unfortunately we try and fill our "spirit man" with imitation gods and wonder why we don't feel content. Many christians (including myself) have questioned this emptiness because we have been "saved." What I've learned is that God not only wants to save us but he also wants to fill us with his love.

How HIGH is the love of God?

^{Psalm 103:11}

¹¹ For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him

How WIDE is the love of God?

^{Psalm 103:12}

¹² as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us

How DEEP is the love of God?

^{Psalm 18:16}

¹⁶ He reached down from on high and took hold of me; he drew me out of deep waters

How LONG is the love of God?

Psalm 103:17

¹⁷ But from everlasting to everlasting the LORD's love is with those who fear him

So why do we continue to live like we are unloved?

Measureless Love - Part 1

¹⁶I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, ¹⁷so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, ¹⁸may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, ¹⁹and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Ephesians 3:16-19 (NIV)

Last Wednesday I started a 4 week Beth Moore bible study entitled Measureless Love.

Here's why I love Beth Moore

1. She has a little of that Texas poof to her hair and a sweet twang to her voice

2. She says "girlfriends" when she addresses a crowd of women

3. She has a true calling for women's ministry and LOVES the Lord......it's infectious!

With Love,