Valentine’s Treat
Nick came home to my attempt at making his favorite (rice crispy treats) into a heart shape. I came home to a bouquet of roses. It was a date night in. We watched a movie, and I fell asleep. Even though Valentine’s Day is one of those either-you-love-or-you-hate holidays and can often make love seem like something you can package and purchase, I have to admit, its a fun reason to exchange the mundane routine for some quality time with my sweet husband. This blog is totally pointless, except to show off my hearty Rice Crispy creations.
Love of My Life
Today, I stalked my husband on facebook.
This is the first day I met my husband. This memory stands out like lighting in my memory. His inward character was radiant.
Here we were, our “regular” meeting place. Thursdays @ Hurambe Club on Lake Street.
Two years later, we were seniors in college. I remember Nick picked me up from class and drove me to Hurambee Club. I wasn’t so sure about his driving.
Did you know Nick played a Sax solo his senior year in the U of M Jazz band?
The most attractive thing about Nick was the community in his life. He loved Jesus above everything, and it showed in his lifestyle. This is his discipleship group from college. These men made an eternal investment in my husband, and I am reaping the benefits as his wife. Older men nourished him with the word of God and the love of Jesus from his freshman year of college until now. Their time and commitment to Nick has been invaluable!
Here’s some of Nick’s Best friends. Andrew came into Nick’s dorm when he was a freshman and gave up his time to play ultimate frisbee with Nick. He also spent late nights at the dorms watching Nick’s favorite show, 24… the things he did to share Jesus with Nick in a relational way. Ben was Nick’s college roommate and remains one of Nick’s best friends.
Here’s Nick serving on a team helping clean up from Hurricane Katrina. He loves to help people.
My husband is not a self-conscious person. I love it.
Waking up to this sweet face every day… I feel l like the most blessed girl in the world. He was worth every year of waiting and singleness. He could never replace the spot that Jesus has in my heart. He could never be worthy of worship, as Jesus is. He could never fulfill all my longings. But his soul has deep roots, watered by the word of God. Because he knows the forgiveness of God in his own life and leads our marriage with humility and in the context of community, I trust him with all my heart. I delight to submit to his servant-hearted leadership. His love is healing.
Last night, we had some conflict and I was in a low mood. After we’d been sleeping for about 20 min, I was startled by a hilarious rendition of “sleep talking/singing.” Then, he threw off the covers and was like, “I wanted you to go to sleep happy.” I sincerely thought he was just talking in his sleep! I could not stop laughing. He was consumed with thoughts of how he could cheer me up, even at midnight. I sent him this pic today as a tiny shadow of how grateful I am for his daily friendship and walking with me in the gospel. Our life has been an adventure of sweet days, hard days, surprising days, anxious days, emotional days… lately it seems that we are sailing through a series of thankful days. Through every trial, we’ve been met with God’s faithfulness and grace and the love of the body of Christ. I never could have imagined the daily sufficient grace and inexpressible joy God provides.
Coffee With Laura Story
Laura Story and me in Minneapolis, MN
This weekend, a dear friend of mine set up a coffee date with one of my favorite song-writers, Laura Story. What a sweet friend to do that, huh? It was a surprise to me! She was in Minneapolis visiting some friends and to play at a Christmas party. I picked her up and we found a cozy corner at Dunn Brothers Coffee. The day before, I had no idea that Laura would be sitting across from me over coffee, genuinely encouraging me to keep stepping out in faith as a song-writer. What a blessing to get to know her!
If there’s a song-writer that I could look up to, whose music helps me gaze longer at Jesus… Laura is a real inspiration and example to me. She is a woman who has wrestled hard to believe that God is good and sovereign through all of the suffering He’s brought her through. Her lyrics in her recent album “Great God Who Saves” have been ringing in my ears for the past few days, helping me see my savior in a captivating way. You can check out her website to learn more about her music and life: http://www.myspace.com/laurastory
I am thankful for Laura and how God is using her life to bless people!
Thankful For…
On the way to my parent’s cabin, I was talking with my husband about what we were thankful for. As cheesy as that sounds… it wasn’t long before my face was a puddle. It was a rare, undistracted, vocalized list of God’s specific, tangible grace. Maybe all that I was truly grateful for will make it to the blog someday, but I’m not sure that it should… where would I even begin? That moment with the Lord and my husband was some of the deepest felt gratitude for Jesus’ life that I’ve had. All of these things below are pleasure and joy from His hands…
Traditional Thanksgiving food… 
Having our friends from Malaysia and China over for a thanksgiving feast… ending in a huge snowball fight in our parking lot!
Spending 3 days at my parent’s cabin with my sweet family…
The cozy fire and… more family 
Going ice skating at the Depot in Minneapolis after Thanksgiving
Laughter
I am so thankful to God for the gift of these people who bring such a deep joy to my life. I soaked in their company sitting around the fire, painting my nails with my mom, snuggling close to my husband, hearing my brothers play guitar, worked on a new song with my dad… laughed and enjoyed the company of aunts and uncles, cousins, and my sweet grandparents. I love them so much it hurts.
My Daily Protection
My husband emailed me this early this morning while I was still sleeping. Even before I was awake, God was fighting for my attention and full dependence on Him.
Thoughts from Nick:
“This was really helpful to think of last night as I looked through Eph 6 and 1 thes 5:8 — I often forget I dont automatically get the gospel without first putting on the gospel. I’m praying for you today that your day would be marked by the fruits of the spirit, and that the whole armor of God would be protecting you today.”
Nick asked himself “Am I trusting this today?”
My Daily Protection (Excerpt from Milton Vincent’s Gospel Primer book)
“As long as I am inside the gospel, I experience all the protection I need from the powers of evil that rage against me. It is for this reason that the Bible tells me to “take up” and “put on” continually the whole armor of God; and the pieces of armor it tells me to put on are all merely synonyms for the gospel. Translated literally from the Greek, they are:
“. . . the salvation . . . the justification . . . truth . . . the gospel of peace . . . the faith . . . [and the] . . . word of God.”
What are all these expressions but various ways of describing the gospel? Therefore, if I wish to stand victorious in Jesus, I must do as the songwriter suggests and “put on the gospel armor, each piece put on with prayer.”
That God would tell me to “take up” and “put on” this gospel alerts me to the fact that I am not automatically protected by the gospel. In fact, these commands imply that I am vulnerable to defeat and injury unless I seize upon the gospel and arm myself with it from head to toe. And what better way is there to do this than to preach the gospel to myself and to make it the obsession of my heart throughout each day?”
Thankful first for the good news of Jesus and how he is ABLE to protect me today in my weakness and vulnerability to sin. He’s able to hear me cry out to him and faithful to deliver me- even more faithful to forgive me when I stumble and fall. Secondly, I’m grateful for all of the people in my life who remind me of this daily- including my sweet, dear husband.
Limits
Its tough to fail at anything… isn’t it? I find myself often creating standards and expectations that I realistically can’t live up to. I was talking to the Lord recently about a sharp pain I felt over a situation… confessing my strength had run out, I was weary and tired. In short, I told him… “sometimes I feel so UNable to love.” I dove into His well of comfort, for He loves to comfort the broken hearted. In spite of my weary heart, hope abounded.
The older I get, the more I and more I can identify with the Apostle Paul’s confession in Romans Chapter 7, verses 15-18. “For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with the law, that it is good. So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out.”
Paul admits he cannot succeed at delivering himself from his own flesh. He desires to do what is right, but says “I have not the ability to carry it out.” Can you relate? I confess… I can, hourly some days. In that statement, Paul is staring at his powerlessness. Imagine the humility it took for him to admit such a gaping incapacity. Yet, despite his own limited righteousness, He radiates with thankfulness. He says, “Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!”
I’m slowly unfolding and seeing that anything good… cannot come from within me. Any ability to do what is right must come from my enabler, Jesus. I long to pursue His humility more deeply… to search for it with all my strength… to joyfully boast in Jesus as my own failures and deficiencies become exposed. As I grow in His grace, I am more aware that what God requires of me is utterly impossible to live up to. I freely admit His holiness is far beyond my own power. How sweet it is to know that Jesus fulfilled what God requires of me because of the very difficult truth: I HAVE NOT THE ABILITY TO CARRY IT OUT. So He loved me and gave himself for me (Galatians 2:20).
My pride gets crushed by His love, and my spirit is liberated. Remember my last post about victory? Perhaps this could be considered a follow up to that… Though it seems strange, as a believer in Jesus, confessing how UNable I am to love, live, do, think, say or act how I desire a lot of the time… leaves me incredibly victorious. I glory in HIS victory. I am left staring up at His towering cross that rises from the ashes of all my shame until I forget my weaknesses. They are forgiven and remembered no more, God says. I am righteous, through Christ. Jesus said right before He died, “It is accomplished.” My salvation was accomplished that very moment, even while I was still a sinner, Christ died for me. My name was graven on his hands, written on his heart.
“Why should I gain from his reward, I cannot give an answer. But this I know with all my heart, his wounds have paid my ransom.”
(How Deep the Father’s Love for Us lyrics)
Racquetball Champ
Meet my husband, Nick. He is such a servant behind the scenes most of the time… that it may come as a surprise that He is actually a racquetball champion. Last year he won first place in the MN State Racquetball Tourney and this year, He played in a doubles tournament at Lifetime with his partner, Tim, and they took second place in the B bracket!
Ladies, I never foresaw myself being a racquetball fan. BUT… A few weeks ago, I really enjoyed going to my husband’s tournament. I brought a good book to read between games and for his last round of games, I worked my magic and brought a personal fan club (a.k.a. my parents, our neighbors in our apartment and a student Nick is discipling). Two things brought my heart joy: 1. Watching my husband in his ‘element’ (really, he is so good!) 2. ENCOURAGING Him by being there and surprising him with food and pre-game energy drinks ( the way to a man’s heart, right?). I am learning so much about the call to encourage in this season. The call to encourage my husband.
See those M & M’s He got to take home? Not sure that they made it all the way home… That pic of us is from his tourney one year ago, which also won him a very shiny medal.
I think I need to start buying Him Wheaties for breakfast, what do you think?
Today at Home
One of the things I appreciate about my husband is that He helps me prioritize everything in my life. His strengths have been an unbelievable gift of grace to me. Since my job really takes place in my apartment or on the campus,its been really helpful to create a weekly plan or schedule. Its easy to commit your life to so many people and events at the expense of forsaking your own livable space. SO. Let me introduce mynew favorite day of the week: Tuesday. Tuesdays have been one of my most helpful days of my week because its my day to plan, manage our household, clean and do laundry. I’ve found that taking a day out of life to plan and manage the things that are necessary to make a household run smoothly REALLY serves Nick and actually creates a pretty stress-free week for me too!
I’m sure that many of you probably use your Saturday or weekend for cleaning, laundry, etc… but because of the nature of my job in college ministry, Tuesday is my day to manage my household. Now, it may look like I do all the laundry, cooking, cleaning, etc. BUT. I don’t. Nick is really helpful too. Marriage is a partnership, and what I’ve loved about my marriage with Nick is the level of communication and the willingness Nick shows me to help with anything. We check in regularly with each other to ask what types of things help us live more effectively and make us feel loved and cared for. Truth be told, we both love to be cared for emotionally and practically in life… so it takes communication, God’s grace and the willingness to have realistic expectations. He occasionally does all the laundry when he runs out of clothes (rumor has it we women have more clothes than men).
I’m learning that if I take care of these things around our home, Nick is able to come home and rest and… we are both more freed up to have a relaxing conversation, show affection and emotionally engage each other. There are plenty of things Nick does to free me up as well. He always fills up the car with gas, takes care of paying our bills and is really handy when it comes to hanging up shelves or curtains, etc. He almost always helps me with the dishes OR demands that I sit on the couch and relax while he does them all himself. He also serves me by teaching me about technology and helping me use my computor to record music. He encourages my gifts and creativity and draws them out. I am so grateful for Nick!
Now, maybe you and your roommates or spouse differ in your strengths. Perhaps you are more handy when it comes to the bills or remembering to put gas in the car and your husband or roommate is a phenomenal cook. Whatever the case may be… embrace it! Who said you have to be great at everything? Though Nick and I are often hindered by selfishness… the grace of God through Christ in our marriage has helped us create a partnership that both of our desires and areas of strengths are able to help love and serve the other person. Today, I am grateful for how Nick’s strength of “Life Management” has helped me embrace the freedom to take a day for myself and care for our home and in turn, eliminate loads of stress (and laundry!). So what’s that meal cooking in the slow cooker, you might wonder?? Its called “Dad’s Turkey Stew” which I found from Simply Recipes food blog. Its making my apartment smell amazing! The funny thing is that Nick is actually out of town this week, so this meal will most likely be devoured by college students instead!
So… Do Nick and I serve each other perfectly? No. Love each other perfectly? No. Do we fail at it? Yes. Do I always stick the plan on Tuesdays? No. Does our selfishness get in the way of thinking for the other person? You bet. Is the grace of God sufficient in our weaknesses? A VERY BIG YES. We are so grateful that Jesus died on the cross for all of the ways we fall short of loving and serving each other and that our love for each other is not dependent on what we accomplish for the other person. Its a relationship filled with immeasurable grace.
Turkey Stew Recipe… Enjoy!
Ingredients
2 Tbsp olive oil
3 lbs turkey thighs (preferred) or legs (skin on, bone in)
1 medium-large yellow onion, peeled and roughly chopped
2 stalks celery, roughly chopped
1 quart vegetable stock
2 medium carrots, peeled, 1/4 inch slices
2-3 medium turnips, peeled, 1/2 inch cubes
1 medium rutabaga, peeled, 1/4 inch slices
3 medium Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled and quartered
2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon herbes de provence*
Pepper
One Dutch oven with cover.
Method (This is the directions from the website, however, I just made everything in a slow cooker)
1 Preheat oven to 300°F. Heat olive oil on medium high heat in a Dutch oven on the stove top. Wash and pat dry turkey pieces. Brown turkey pieces, skin side down, 2-3 minutes on each side. You may need to brown in batches if necessary. In the last 3 minutes of browning of the last batch, add the onions and celery.
2 Add salt and 1/2 of the stock. Bring to a simmer, remove from the stove top and put in the oven, covered, for one hour.
3 After an hour, remove from oven and add the rest of the vegetables – carrots, turnips, rutabaga, and potatoes, the herbs, and the rest of the stock. Return to the oven, covered, and cook until tender, another hour or more.
4 Remove bones and skin, discard. Season to taste.
Serves 6 to 8.
*Herbes de Provence is a delightful French blend of herbs – Winter savory, thyme, basil, tarragon, and lavender flowers.
Celebrating My Mom’s 50th
Meet my mom. She is a wife, mother, career woman, service dog trainer… not to mention she is a fabulous chef, and wakes up at 4:40am… A.M. PEOPLE… EVERY week day to work out at Lifetime (which I was happy to hear she skipped on her birthday). Guess what? On October 1st, she turned 50! (I know that’s hard to believe) To celebrate, there were a few events. First, we collaboratively made a list of 50 things we love/funny memories about my mom. We cut them up and hid them around the house while she was at work, so she found the notes for a few days after. She loved it! Then, my dad collected pictures from when she was a baby until now, and we made a fabulous collage! It was really fun to see old pictures of my mom… we don’t look anything alike until she was in her 20′s… I’m in my 20′s now and I found some fun pics that we look alike in! Her co-workers decorated her office with all tinfoil… how creative- and a bit on the prank side, no?! After her long week of work, we went out for dinner at Cafe Maude in Minneapolis. There was live jazz music and we ate amazing food and celebrated 50 years of my sweet mom’s life! Her girlfriends also planned a girl’s weekend at our family cabin… needless to say- friends and family considered this KIND of a big deal and went all out.
Doesn’t every family have a “culture” when it comes to birthdays? I think in my immediate family, the culture of birthdays seems to include a small/intimate group celebration combined with specifically tailored thoughtfulness towards the bday person. I think it is an understatement to say that creativity could be considered a family forte of ours… if there can be such a thing. The way we’re wired seems to explode when it comes to creative planning. Something both of my brothers wrote as one of their favorite memories with my mom was “school shopping at the Mall of America.” So for her gift, they planned a day trip to the mall of America to go “school shopping,” mini-golfing and out to eat. I was proud of the bro’s on that one… a thoughtful idea all their own! Actually, I wasn’t surprised, my brothers are actually really really thoughtful and sweet! One of the things I enjoy most is conversation with my mom over coffee and painting our nails together… so I treated her to Caribou and a pedicure! It was a blast. My dad somehow figured out one of my mom’s favorite catalog’s called “Sundance” and ordered my mom a beautiful necklace and earrings… a very elegant 50th birthday gift- she loved it! I think that she was a very happy birthday girl. She is such an encouraging and sweet woman- we love her so much.
Happy 50th Mom!
Forecasting Victory
Have you ever worried endlessly about something and looked back and thought: How silly! What a waste of energy spent worrying when it all worked out. I, for one, can recount a lot of those moments. As a single woman, I worried if I would ever get married. I worried anxiously who “the one” would be. When I graduated college, I feared if I would get a job. Would I perform well enough at it? As a new wife, new fears entered my heart that I hadn’t experienced before. When I think about the potential of becoming a mother someday- a mother to children with eternal souls- the loads of fear, inadequacy and insecurity are already creeping their way into my mind and heart. So here I am with this daily temptation to fear.
God’s intention was never that we fear. He doesn’t want his children to live in fear. That’s why His voice in the bible is so incredibly full of personal friendship, assurance, comfort, affection, and love. I am exhorted in 1 Peter 3:6: “do not fear anything that is frightening.” Scripture admits that there are things that are frightening; there are things in life that cause us to be afraid. So why would God call me not to fear? It has nothing to do with following a command and everything to do with believing that God is a caring father, a provider, and oddly enough- a huge planner- and that I, one small life, am included in His plans. The part that seems to continuously be difficult for me is that I’m not in control. And yet at the same time, all of the things I’ve tried to control on my own have only broken my heart and turned into a big mess.
I’m noticing a pattern in my thought life. What do your thoughts default to when you’re not doing anything? Most often every thought of mine revolves around what people think of me in one form or another… Am I thin enough? Do I have a good personality? Do people like me? What did so & so think when I said/did that? Do I sound obsessed with myself? Well… I confess… I am. Inside of me is this desperate search for acceptance, validation, and sense of worth. These thoughts reveal that I have an incredible obsession with myself and a lack of fixation on the person of Jesus Christ and what he did for me. What he has done for me should deliver me from such a self-consumed thought life. But how often am I reminding myself of what Christ has done for me? How easy it is to read the bible and pursue knowledge, yet forget the LOVE of Christ that SURPASSES knowledge. Its his LOVE that transforms us. My thoughts would reveal that I’m very good at going through actions and daily life, but hugely insufficient in reminding myself of the beauty of the gospel. This may sound counter-productive…but… I do have control over my thought life. There ARE things I can do to help what I’m thinking about.
In my self obsessive thoughts, worries and fears, I am offending God because: I don’t trust Him. I’m not trusting that the life of Jesus was sufficient for my life full of sin. That His death on the cross justified me, so I am freed from looking to my own performance to give me a sense of self-worth. In not trusting Him, I say to God that I don’t really believe He is ‘merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness’ (Psalm 86:15). I call Him a liar. But the very thing about God is that- He is not a liar, not even an bit. Everything he’s promised has come true, everything He says is real and He is not deceitful. Here are countless scriptures that promise God’s fatherly care and wise, sovereign planning in my life:
Jeremiah 29:11
“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.”
Ephesians 2:10
“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”
Psalm 33:11
“The counsel of the Lord stands forever, the plans of his heart to all generations.”
Proverbs 16:3
“Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established.”
Isaiah 25:1
“O Lord, you are my God; I will exalt you; I will praise your name, for you have done wonderful things, plans formed of old, faithful and sure.”
The question is: Will I believe Him? Will I trust Him no matter my age, my marital status, even if I can’t see the things to come? I am thankful that He has revealed to me over and over His plans for my life, giving me absolutely no reason not to believe. I have cried out to Him, and He has answered me. I have asked Him for things, and He has given. There’s just no excuse for having fear or anxiety about anything that is to come. His faithfulness is not just written in scripture, it has been proven throughout history- and it has been proven personally to me. I’m not just reading about it in the books; His presence is real and active in my daily life and in the life of believers in Jesus around the world. He gets glory through our trust.
God spoke to me tenderly and comforted me in my fears over this past week when I read how pastor Charles Spurgeon approached his job: ‘forecasting victory, not foreboding defeat.” What a short, simple, yet radical encouragement!
When I am tempted to fear, I have been invited by grace to stop mid-fear and forecast victory! How reassuring! I am asking for the grace to believe Romans 6:8 that “He is working all things out for the good of those who love Him.” The very nature of God through Jesus Christ is victory. The ultimate defeat in this life is death. We all will die. But when Jesus died, He was risen! Death could not bind Him. God defeated death by raising Jesus and making Him alive in heaven with Him. He has promised those who believe in Him that He will also give us the victory over death. 1 Corinthians 15:56-57 says “The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
I’m realizing I am a heavily self-reliant person. And it is exhausting! It stems from pride and wishing that I were God rather than trusting in the God that is. But how comforted I am by the promise that God wants so deeply for me to know that he cares, that he has purposeful plans for my life, and that nothing can separate me from His love! For the believer in Jesus, it is the sweetest liberation to fall in his lap like a child would collapse into His own father’s, and say in a sense, “You know what’s best. You said you’ve got a plan, and I believe you. And I believe its good. A plan to prosper me, not to harm me. You care for me and you love me.”
This child-like surrender only leads the soul to rest. And instead of anxious people who fear losing control or the unknowns, our life can look much more like peacefully sleeping in the arms of a merciful, slow to anger, father in heaven… who longs to put our souls at rest. Sigh. Already, my soul feels lighter, and that’s because through Jesus Christ we have hope. Weather you read the bible a lot or you’ve never read it before, I encourage you to read the book of Romans chapter 8 or ask someone to help you find it and read it with you. The apostle Paul writes to Christians about the security that we have in Jesus… that there is no more condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, that nothing in all creation could separate us from the love of Christ. What could be better news? Reading this chapter has brought my heart the assurance and comfort that I have needed! I hope and pray for the same to be given to you, too!
Everywhere I Went, There were Mums!
Nick planned an outing to Stillwater yesterday, which of course I thought was fabulous. Who doesn’t love a quaint riverside town? Everywhere I looked, a vibrant mum was staring back at me. So glad I brought my camera!
Don’t they just speak for themselves?
A Shadow
Autumn is one of my favorite shadows of God’s glory. When the leaves begin to change, I get a bit distracted by the beauty. Don’t you? About 2 weeks ago, Nick and I took our day off and used a Caribou coupon to buy a large campfire mocha to share. We walked around Lake Harriet in Minneapolis and… enjoyed. We were actually both pretty sick, so we didn’t last long. After the walk, we loaded up with NyQuil, watched movies and fell into a deep sleep. How about you? Have you been able to unplug, slow down, go for a walk and get lost in a beauty outside of yourself?
Secure
Jesus
The mediator of our love
Only covered in His blood, can you love me
And I dare love you
Though my flesh fail,
My heart grow weak
And death be near
The bond of our love can never be broken
We’re anchored by the life and death of Him
Your son
Though your enemies wage a war
No, I am more than a conqueror through Him who loved me
And though my crimes were committed in your presence, God
You forgave me
Now, not even for a moment
Would you let me go unloved
This you have promised
You love me
And
Nothing can separate us
I am secure
Inspired by: Romans 8:38-39
“For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Jen’s New Blog: Cultivating Collections
Jen's Blog: http://cultivatingcollections.blogspot.com/
Hey Friends! I don’t have any special updates today, but I DO want to share with you a very special blog that my friend Jen has just begun! We brainstormed and dreamed many ideas for her blog this summer, and she landed on calling it “Cultivating Collections.” She includes everything from beautifully written poetry throughout her life, things she’s learning about life and the goodness of God, and tutorials on taking old things like curtains, thrift-store buys, old shoes, pillow cases, etc. and sewing/transforming them into cute things! You’ll be blessed by slowing down to check it out, no doubt.
http://cultivatingcollections.blogspot.com/
Growing and Changing
http://www.hopefeathersphotoblog.com/
John 15:2 says “Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit.” We just celebrated our 2 year anniversary… can you believe it? It has been two of the sweetest, refining and sharpening years the Lord has given me. So much in me has come to the surface… so much in me has been reevaluated, pondered, repented of and… changed. I have such a tender-hearted and sweet husband! He has spoken such encouraging and wise words to me over the years.
I know that might sound funny, but the definition of ‘prune’ is so comparable to being a believer. Prune 2: trim (a tree, shrub, or bush) by cutting away dead or overgrown branches or stems, esp. to increase fruitfulness and growth. Its exactly what God’s been doing in me. At first glance… that’s not a pretty picture. But that’s not where God has stopped. His pruning is freedom-causing. Love- causing.
He gently cuts away dead or overgrown branches or stems, all for what? To increase fruitfulness and growth. It would be painful without the life, death and resurrection of Jesus given on our behalf or the promise that “we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.” (2 Corinthians 3:18 )
I have just been massively hit with the realness of God’s faithfulness to me in this season. After these years of wrestling with the Lord through loads of insecurity, fear, and doubt… Something in me has…changed. Something that is so tangibly not of me.
There’s something about David’s songs in the Psalms that displays that God has proved something to Him. David is so stinkin’ expectant of grace. “As for you, O Lord, you will not restrain your mercy from me; your steadfast love and your faithfulness will ever preserve me!” (Psalm 40:11 ) After the past few years, my heart has grown so expectant of this grace because its been proved over and over.
I wanted to share a few verses full of truths that I have prayed would transform me throughout the past 2 years, often through tears, knowing God was faithful, but not yet seeing him bear these fruits in my life. Anyone know what I mean in that?
Col 4:6
“Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.”
Ps. 62:1-2
“For God ALONE my soul waits in silence; from him comes my salvation. 2 He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be greatly shaken.”
Gal 5: 22
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.”
Psalm 119:133
“Keep steady my steps according to your promise, and let no iniquity get dominion over me.”
Psalm 120:2
“Deliver me, O Lord, from lying lips, from a deceitful tongue.”
James 1:19
“Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; 20 for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness that God requires. 21 Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.”
Psalm 63: 8
“My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me.”
In my first year of marriage, I asked Nick to pray these verses for me. and I’ve been fervently asking the Lord to transform me by the reneal of my mind with these specific truths because, in all honesty my mind was a product of believing lies. It was a diseased place that needed healing, restoration, and years of meditating on things that are TRUE.
God wasn’t lying about his faithfulness. The Word I have prayed has returned to me with fruit of His spirit. I’m finally experiencing true freedom from places of bondage. He’s proven so much to me of his character. “What I could not earn, Jesus earned, what I could not defeat, Jesus defeated, what I could not bear, Jesus bore. He is my solitary hope.” (-Paul Tripp- I echo him deeply!)” I am not greatly shaken. I am at peace more often. I am slower to anger. I rest more. When I fear, I am reminded that nothing can separate me from the love of Christ. And I’m alright.
I’m convinced that we are called into seasons for very specific purposes that God has planned to use in the advancement of His kingdom. I could tell sweet stories of how he’s used the past years for His glory. After these past few years, I feel like I am…a newly blooming flower. I feel the breeze blow against new skin… with a new mind, a new freedom, a lighter heart, a greater awareness of sin and what an incredible savior and father I have, a deeper freedom to fail, a deeper trust that I am secure in Him. Everything in my life is different. I’m so caught up in Christ’s love for me and his work he has set out for me to do, I’m not dwelling in my past or failures…instead He’s causing me to “forget what lies behind, and strain forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” (Phil 3:13-14) And, just like all flowers, I will continue to die and re-bloom. I only know Him a little bit, but I am intimately acquainted with His faithfulness and steadfast love to a weak woman- its changing everything.
So… for the big 2 year celebration, of course Nick went all out. He surprised me and took me to a B&B on Lake Peppin! We stood in awe of God’s steady work in transforming us. We sat by the lake in silence. We stared into creation… and not only proclaimed, but believed and evidenced that His faithfulness is real. “…The old has passed away; Behold, the new has come!” (2. cor 5:17). I am overcome by what God promised: “you shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free.”
I’m expecting so many more seasons of pruning, but its fruit-bearing and growth-causing. Its worth every season marked by suffering.
Praying for strength for those of you walking through really hard seasons right now… there is a deep joy in not knowing its purpose… but years later seeing His steadfast love and how He never left you in it. How He’s advancing His kingdom through it.
Healed.
Can you relate to me in this? Sometimes I’m having a sweet season with the Lord, I see the value of coming and depending on him even when I’m not tangibly in need… I’m given the blessing of consitency… but then I have a morning like this: I will reach for my bible, journal and pen, go to my little haven (a.k.a. my big white chair) and sit there looking out my window. Then, I’ll remember I need to start the laundry so it gets finished in time for… then I get a text which reminds me I need to send that email… then I remember I need to take out chicken from the freezer so it will be ready in time for dinner… don’t judge if this is not your struggle
I think it is a common theme for the believer to come to the Lord as a last resort. Its so common to arrange our lives around things that seem important, around needs that seem most tangible. Even in desperate circumstances, it’s easy to exert every amount of human effort to change a circumstance before it dawns on us to pray… at least I see this pattern in my own life.
I read this story of the woman in the crowd in Mark chapter 5 through new eyes today and felt pressed to post about it. Its worth a read, if you have a quick moment!
“And there was a woman who had had a discharge of blood for twelve years, and who had suffered much under many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was no better but rather grew worse. She had heard the reports about Jesus and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his garment. For she said, “If I touch even his garments, I will be made well.” And immediately the flow of blood dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease. And Jesus, perceiving in himself that power had gone out from him, immediately turned about in the crowd and said, “Who touched my garments?” And his disciples said to him, “You see the crowd pressing around you, and yet you say, ‘Who touched me?’” And he looked around to see who had done it. But the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came in fear and trembling and fell down before him and told him the whole truth. And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.” (Mark 5:25-34 ESV)
Can you see yourself in this woman? For years, she has gone to different physicians to cure her disease. When they all seemed to make her well, they actually made her worse. It says “She spent all that she had.”
Something really sweet is happening in a dear friend of mine’s life from high school, whom I haven’t talked to all through college, Sara! We met up at Starbucks and caught up on our lives and our college experiences. To see her courage to be so raw and honest about her life was a huge refreshment. In her own words she said, “I just feel like I’ve tried everything, but nothing is satisfying anymore. I’m 26, and I just can’t keep living my life this way.” It wasn’t long before my eyes welled up with tears after we talked about Jesus for a while, which I’m sure always looks weird to people on the first coffee date But to see someone reaching out in the chaos of their life, someone reaching out for the garment of Jesus, to be healed by him… As I listened to Sara, I knew exactly how she felt. And I know that there is something about that feeling that is TRUE. Her hunger reminds me of my hunger when I felt the same way my junior year of college. She’s already come to church and is joining a small group to have other women in her life!
It makes sense that we run and literally hunt down every other form of refuge because we’ve never known Jesus as a refuge. When we live in a world that promises us lies, that deceives us by making things look true that aren’t… we don’t believe that he could truly be an escape, a green pasture to come and rest in until we cast ourselves upon him. Even as a last resort, he proves faithful!
Anyone else drawn by the way the woman with the disease believes finally after 12 years of trying everything else? Her made up mind that he could heal… “If I just touch his garments, I will be made well.” What gets me about this story is that in her sickly condition (she was constantly bleeding) she runs out into the crowd where people are trampling and swarming Jesus just to see if she might be able to touch even just a sliver of his clothing. I love how her desperation moves her directly past all of the failed physicians, past all of the crowd and directly to the true healer.
And she touched his clothing, and she was immediately healed. But notice he doesn’t just say she is physically healed… its her faith that makes her well. In all of the accounts of Jesus healing people, he seems to have such compassion on their physical state of suffering, yet its not ultimately their suffering that causes him to heal them. Its because they trusted him, they believed in him and acted on that belief by calling out to him… and we read Jesus commend their faith, that their faith healed them… ultimately their souls.
I am learning a lot in this season about a similar pattern in my own heart and life. I am coming out of a lot of years of running to everything else to heal me, but by the grace of God learning to be like this woman! Learning to go directly to the only true healer. Learning to run past everything to go directly to Jesus. I find myself wondering… how long had that woman heard of Jesus before she believed he could really heal? When Jesus says, “Who touched me?” wouldn’t it have been so easy for Jesus to tell her all about the times she ignored him, for him to remind her of her sickness and all of the money she had spent thinking that people or other things could heal her. Wouldn’t it be just like the heart of man to make that woman feel guilty and ashamed?” That’s why I love Jesus. He does not have the heart of man. He has the heart of God. Forgiving, taking pleasure in her as she “fell down before him and told him the whole truth.”… waiting to be her father.
(Huge sigh). This gets me. This messes me up. Instead, he calls her “Daughter!” He says, “Your faith has made you well, go in peace and be healed of your disease.”
There is so much evidence for us to believe that “…God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.” (John 3:17)
Because God speaks for himself, I will leave this post at that.
Hydrangeas & Fabric!
One of the reasons I love summer is that my dear friend Jen, who is a teacher, has the summer off! Which means we get to hang out, which of course, makes me very… happy
We cut down hydrangeas from her garden, talked heart to heart, and took a trip to Crafty Planet, where I made my first fabric purchase! She taught me to make a cute little bag to use in my bathroom to help me get organized. I completed my first bag! Two more to go… then I will be revamping my entire bathroom closet, which… is… a distaster, friends. I’m convinced having really cute bags to organize some of my bathroom stuff in will motivate me to stay more organized in there. My brother, Ben, made fun of us and called us “Grannies” for spending a day sewing together. But he’s right. We become Grandma’s together when we hang out. But in my book, Grandma’s are the sweetest thing ever… and I admire people as crafty as Jen. Her crafts and sewing blow me away! And my Bro doesn’t realize he wouldn’t still be sleeping with his “football blankie” if it weren’t for our Grandma Jane and her long hours of crafty love.
I’m also stopping by Passionate Homemaking blog to find out items I don’t need to have in my bathroom. I think I really need some help adopting the truth that “less is more…” Seems like the bathroom closet is full of stuff I never use. It just… collects. stuff.
Jen preparing to cut the very cute fabric
Check out the polka-dot interior! Cute, huh?
I was so refreshed by Jen and was able to get her counsel and advice regarding some decisions I am walking through. I am so blessed to have so many friends like Jen, who care and love me and offer me truth. Jen and I also dreamed about her new blog she is feeling led to begin! She has an incredible collection of poetry and collection of cute things she sews- everything from little bags, purses, kitchen aprons, and fun hair accessories. Very soon, you will be able to stop by and read her beautiful poems and even get some tutorials on how to sew very cute things. I am convinced you’ll be blessed by her sharing her gifts and talents through it. I’ll let you know when its up and running! And when my closet gets organized! Hope you have a happy 4th of July!
Free To Admire
Right now I am studying through Philippians along with our church community for the third time, and it’s been so different this time around. It can be easy to read something and think I’ve read this before, and then fear it doesn’t have anything new to offer… don’t we get to that place a lot in life? I am by far, no expert, yet with the few months that I have read Philippians, it could feel like an old CD that I’ve already listened to all its sounds, rewinded the good parts, I know all of the words, etc… but its been a lot more piercing to me personally in this season. Its been much more like listening to and old song and hearing it much louder than before… which means I may be hearing things that I don’t always want to hear…
One bit of evidence that this is falling on fresh ears is that my quiet times seem to be followed with a lot more repentance… with a lot more pensive days and reflective thinking about patterns in my life. It seems to be ‘calling me out’ and bringing to light things within me that have seemed so subtle, almost unnoticable and yet so in need of correction. Do you see where this is going? I’ll let you ponder chapter 1, verses 15-18 if you would be so willing…
“Some indeed preach Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from good will. The latter do it out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. The former proclaim Christ out of rivalry, not sincerely but thinking to afflict me in my imprisonment. What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice.”
… I confess I’ve always read this part and frowned upon ‘whoever was preaching Christ from envy and rivalry.’ Of course, not throwing myself in that category… I would fit the group that shares the gospel of Christ out of LOVE… right? This may be getting complicated, but stay with me. I’m learning that the Webster dictionary can unexpectedly make me feel like I’ve been hit with a 2 by 4. I have spent about 50% of my quiet times this summer reading the dictionary! And actually, I’ve been looking up words that I’ve heard a zillion times… but when I see the multifaceted definitions of just one word… a lot more begins to unfold in its meaning.
After chewing on this verse for a while, I began to ask myself… why were people preaching Christ out of envy or rivalry? From perusing through “Opening Up Philippians,” I began to feel a bit startled at what I learned. Allow me to paraphrase.
There was already a church in Rome before Paul arrived there and certain believers there probably held a high degree of prominence (fame, importance, etc.) Paul was growing in fame for his suffering for Christ’s sake and his spreading of the church, so the prominent leaders of the church may not have been mentioned as much, or were recognized less frequently. Thus, they became envious of Paul, so their motives for sharing the gospel of Jesus were not pure or unmixed.
In fact, it mentioned that some believers- ah-em… BELIEVERS… (gulp) were actually happy that Paul was imprisoned because now they could have a chance to come to the forefront again. Upon reading all of this, my heart grew really sad and a new fear was wakened within me. I pondered “Why does rivalry exist between believers?” Check out these words defined:
Envy: Feeling of discontented or resentful longing aroused by someone else’s possessions, qualities, or circumstances
Rivalry: Competition for the same objective or for superiority in the same field.
My ears really are new, friends. These definitions were like an injury for me. Meaning, it HURT to read them.
Apostle Paul truly stands alone. He was actually WILLing for others to speak slander of him if they would also speak well of Christ. He was so far from envying those who were able to preach the gospel while he was locked behind bars that he rejoiced in the preaching of it even by those who do it in pretense (pretending with intention to deceive) and not in truth.
Here’s where it gets convicting. Believers have fear that other believers will become known as a better preachers, speakers, administrators, teachers, encouragers, servants, song-writers, (any other spiritual giftings would fit here)… SO… stay with me… they force out of their minds the cursedness of pride and their need for humility.
Anyone else’s stomach hurt a bit? I felt myself taking gulps… because I knew it was coming… by ‘it’ I mean… conviction of sin… a right feeling of guilt. More simply, I felt exposed in the presence of God. It was slow… but… it came. And my heart followed by asking myself this really hard question:
*Where do I feel good/get joy out of seeing others suffer?
*Do I feel better when others are kept out of the spotlight? Why?
Then, came… slowly- my confession:
I have had seasons where the grace of God and his giving of gifts was not tangible to me or to people around me. I have had long seasons of suffering and waiting, seasons of not being in the spotlight, seasons of being recognized for ‘really struggling’ and seasons of not being noticed for my means of serving… and sadly, I have not be truly content much of those times. Oh, how HELPFUL those seasons have been! How deeply they can cultivate a deeper sense of humility and meekness, and maybe just slightly open me up to admire someone or something other than myself… how rich those seasons actually are! But when the Lord gives me seasons where he’s called me more into the spotlight, weather it be through ministry, through a song, through anything… I face an extreme temptation to love the GIFTS and not the GIVER. I often want to use the gifts God’s given me as fuel for greater qualities, possessions, circumstances, etc. But if I don’t have anything noticeable in any of these areas, I’m filled with…(ok Holy spirit, I hear you)… envious longing of someone else’s ministry, giftings, circumstances, qualities, lifestyle, etc.
After a deep breath, I am asking myself: who and what do I envy? I am trusting the Holy Spirit to keep speaking tenderly, to bring to light anything that’s in the dark. Thankful he’s shown me that yes- EVEN I- can preach the gospel and share Christ with a motive of rivalry or envy… because I believe the lie that there is some value in being recognized… that it is somehow better… that it will somehow give me an ounce of my own righteousness. But oh, how I am learning through this. One of the things that I am praying for my heart this summer is that, by the power of the holy spirit, I would become freer to admire others. I would love your prayers in this! That, I would repent of pride whole-heartedly in seasons where I am called serve the body of Christ in front of people and that I would experience sweet contentedness in seasons where the Lord takes me out of the spotlight and more like under the shadow of his wings. That if I should be crippled and mute, I would delight to see someone strong and articulate sharing the gospel when I can’t. Thinking of what this means in specifics for me…
I will leave you with a quote from Matthew Henry:
“We should say, ‘Let him shine though I be obscured, and his glory be exulted, though upon my ruins.’”
Yummy Hummus!
You. must. try. this. I make it about once a week… it is a great summer comfort snack, chock full of healthy nutrients and SUPER easy to make (gotta love that). We eat it with fresh veggies or any type of good cracker. If you try it, I’m sure you’ll be addicted like we are. I got this recipe from SAMM POTEAT, and it is so tasty!
Ingredients:
2 cups canned garbanzo beans, drained
3 ½ Tablespoons tahini (I don’t have this, so I skip it!)
½ lemon
1 ¼ teaspoon salt
2-3 cloves garlic, halved
2 tablespoon olive oil
⅓ or less cup bean juice
2 dashes crushed red pepper (I use 1/2 of a red pepper instead)
1 teaspoon cumin
Directions:
1. Blend ingredients
2. Drizzle olive oil over the garbanzo bean mixture. Sprinkle with paprika and parsley.
Enjoy, friends!
Asking…
Whew. Laundry put away. Best feeling ever. Sitting here with a glass of water, taking advantage of this hour on Huron Blvd. before the traffic will start to get nuts. Nick and I just got home from everywhere… if that makes sense. On May 23rd, we left at 5am to caravan with about 50 college students to Myrtle Beach, SC. We were there for two weeks, then headed up the east coast to visit some friends and family along our way home in DC and NYC. After our mini-road trip, we are home in Minneapolis!
Throughout the past month, I have felt the Lord prodding me to ask him for very specific things, to trust him to give very specific things. Being at the Summer Training Project with students was in two words: Refreshing & Awakening. I went to a project as a student four years ago, and it was really sweet to be back there over the past few weeks and reflect on the Lord’s incredible faithfulness to me in that time. There were situations and sin in my life four years ago that I thought would always hold me captive… and four years later seeing God redeem what I thought I was enslaved to forever…seeing him flood his healing love all over me… such a sweet reminder that I am cleansed pure by his blood. It was awakening to the reality of the gospel and the reality of my need for it.
The whole two weeks prodded my heart to pray. Seeing God’s tangible faithfulness encouraged me to consider that this summer is not just a season to rest, but it’s a season to ask God to do very specific things in my heart. As I’ve been pondering… (I may be the president of that)… I have decided to claim this verse for my summer and pray that the Lord would bear these fruits within me. Psalm 62:1-2 “For God alone my soul waits in silence, from him only comes my salvation. He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be greatly shaken.” Knowing that circumstances in my life will always be changing, my feelings will always be changing, relationships will always be changing… it bids me to pray for the grace to fix my eyes upon the unchangeable God that I have. The ‘I shall not be greatly shaken’ part pierces me. I am shaken so often, but have already seen the Lord be faithful to me over the past month to bring a constant reminder that he is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow… and even though that sounds so simple- its transformed the way I think about my life. We listened to a Tim Keller sermon on Hope from Eph. 1:15-23 and he said something that gripped me, “The way you live your life now is entirely based upon what you believe your future will be.” It made me think, the way I REACT to my life now reveals that I often live without a fixation on eternity. I live like the best things are now… when the truth is that death for the believer means entering into the fullness of all pleasures forevermore! If I believed that, I think that my reactions to all of the ch..ch..changing going on around me would be characterized by something more like…contentment, joy, assurance of the greatest pleasures yet to come… Like I said, the past few weeks have been so awakening to reality!
Nick and I (along with our students and staff team) are studying through Philippians this summer. I don’t know how God has done this considering my struggle with consistency, but he’s woken me up each morning in the past month to go through about 2 verses a day… and its been so small but so rich! I’ve really enjoyed God speaking so directly to my heart in it (which I often don’t believe he can do). Philippians 1:27- 28 says “Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that weather I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel.” After browsing through my Matthew Henry commentary (which I highly recommend!)… I was wondering… what is a manner of life worthy of the gospel? Henry’s observations included that a Christian life should include: 1.conversations about the gospel 2. Belief in gospel truths 3. Submission to gospel laws 4. Dependency upon gospel promises 5. Faith, holiness, and comfort.
After reading on, I felt pressed by the phrase ‘striving side by side.’ Not even the call to strive, but the greater reality that the faith of the gospel is WORTH striving for. I observed that Paul exhorted the believers to strive SIDE BY SIDE… there is a closeness of life that is to be shared among believers…
So it prompted me to pray with joy and expectancy that God would transform me into a woman who:
Believes gospel truths. Submits to gospel laws. Depends upon gospel promises. Strives side by side with others for the sake of the gospel.
I know I’m standing in square one as I pray…but that’s ok I’m learning. Its ok to come back to square one over and over again as a believer… in fact, I think that’s a part of learning my dependency upon the sufficiency of Christ.
David sings in Psalm 63:5 “My soul will be satisfied as with fat and rich food, and my mouth will praise you with joyful lips.” Interesting that he sings ‘my soul WILL be satisfied…’ I am learning so much from his expectant heart.
I could not be more eager for this summer. I already feel a deeper awareness of so many areas in me that need refining… but there is already a deep feeling of the sweetness of Jesus in it all. His compassion, merciful heart and encouragement to me have been…just… so stinkin’ sweet.
Resting in his love,
Katie
Studio Day 2
Hard work- The kind that makes you sweat, your mind hurts, you feel pressed, stretched, challenged, inspired, full of decision and indecision and… imaginative is somehow always satisfying, no? You get my drift? It is currently 2am on Tuesday night, and I’m vegging on this orange couch At Zach Foty’s Home recording studio. Key word: home. That’s how it feels here. His mom and dad have given their entire basement over to the life of this studio- what a blessing! So far, they’ve been popping in and out with the dogs, and Zach’s dear wife Ali has already spoiled us by making a mid-day run to starbucks. Nick, Zach, Ali and I also sneaked over to Panera for dinner and good conversation. They got married the same time Nick and I did, and they’ve been really encouraging and refreshing new friends. Gotta love when God gives you those in life, right?? Last night when we left…I actually heard… crickets chirping! Coming from downtown livin’, I had almost forgotten that sound. Outside the studio trees hang high over a hidden little pond… this place feels like a haven. Its RESTful. While the dudes set up the drums (which apparently takes like a year…who knew?) I just hung out in the kitchen with Wendy (Mom), Tom (Dad) and Sunny (Little sister). What sweet people! Sunny, adopted from India, just showed me some really cool (and rather stuntish) tricks on her wheel chair. My toes also got licked by their puppy… oh I forgot to mention I got a tour of Mr. Foty’s painting studio- so cool!
What I love about recording here is that I feel like a part of the family and really free to be myself. It also reminds me of my own home I grew up in. I miss that from time to time… the days when I would sit in the basement for hours in the ‘jam room’ listening to my brother’s band while family and friends rolled in and out or sneaking in to play and write all alone. I guess being married without kiddos yet (but someday!!) in a lot of ways is this inbetween stage of life. Its just the two of us (minus our occasional crowds of college students), so I do have my fair share of quiet- which for the introspective writer type like me is a wonderful blessing. But I’ve always love being in homes where there are lots of people coming and going too.. I love the life if breathes.
The guys: Zach (the producer), Nick (My hub a.k.a. the engineer of my life) and Collin(Zach’s cool friend)- just sipped down some energy drinks and Nick just turned to me and went like this: WOOOHHHOOW! IT JUST KICKED IN! Humorous.
So far, I feel really… humbled is an understatement. Coming into this I was feeling tired and coming off of one of the more hectic weeks I can remember. I felt so in need for God to provide grace for this song, so in need to call to mind this verse: 2 Cor 9:8 “And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.” I feel surrounded by people who are serving me with their time, their raw talent, their patience… and the sufficiency of Jesus in the places I am deficient. Truth be told, I’m a little dazed that so many people would come together to help produce this song “Recreated.” Its left me learning what it means to let people serve…me, which sounds strange but its a little like the gospel, which does take a stretch of humility to receive- to let the Lord GIVE you himself and all his love… that’s what its been like, to a certain degree. To watch people rack their brains, give energy, to see the depth of care and ear for precision… the willingness to lose sleep… I think its safe to say… there is a pulse to this recording that is full of HIS presence and HIS purpose… all flowing from the well of HIS mercy. I’m so convinced this song is HIS song… pierced by the promises in the resurrection of Jesus Christ and what that means for the believer. So filled with deep hope and belief in the righteousness of Christ on my behalf… and out came this song… which I’ll explain more fully another time… but to be clear: HIS song.
We finished the guitar, intro, outro, scratch vocals and the drums are being added as I write. Loving this song so far enjoying seeing the creativity of my creator in it.
Not sure what vision will develop as we go, but knowing it will come. As we drove here today, Nick and I read Psalm 57 (we love to peruse the Psalms in the car) Ps. 57:2 “I cry out to God Most High, to God who fulfills his purpose for me.” ..to God, who is Most High… still ringing in my ears… to God who fulfills his purpose for me… anyone else comforted by that small, yet HUGE promise?
So Day 2 of this whole new journey! One day at a time… that’s how I like to roll. That’s all for now…more to come, friends.
love,
Katie
This Week’s Menu
I’m guzzling down some tasty hazelnut coffee at Panera making my meal plan for the week. As in meal plan, I simply mean that I choose a few breakfast meals, all you need to make a good sandwich, and about 3 solid hearty dinner meals. After almost two years of marriage, I’ve figured out that 3 dinner meals usually provides some great left-overs for our family of two as well as 1 or 2 nights of eating out with students or friends. My hubby would be very proud of my diligent planning today- definitely his strong-point and my weak-spot. But we are a team and figuring out life together!
Have I told you about our new friends, Ali Joy and Zach Foty? Well, they are blessing us in a lot of ways… but right now I am LOVING Ali’s blog. After reading through her page Ali Eats, I was inspired to try some new meal ideas! Nick loves smoothies, and She just so happens to have some really great smoothie recipes! Did I also mention she is training for a marathon while finishing school/student teaching and being a wife- ALL at the same time? GO Ali! And thanks for the wonderful meal ideas!
So Here’s My Menu:
Breakfasts:
1) Green Monster Drink Smoothie
2) Spinach, tomato, basil, feta frittata w/whole wheat toast
3) Oatmeal, yogurt, and blackberries
4) Trader Joe’s Mutligrain waffles
Lunches:
1) sandwiches- Turkey, avacado, tomato, lettuce, pepperjack cheese, and olive oil mayo- Yum!
2) w/a side of veggies and homemade hummus
Dinners:
1)Summery Strawberry Salad w/Chicken
2) Slow Cooker Pork, carrots, potatoes, shallots, w/green beans
3) Spicy Black Bean Burgers w/sweet potatoes and grilled zuchinni
Dessert:
Rasberry Sherbet Icecream w/vanilla wafers… i LOVE rasberry anything.
My mom’s Chocolate chip cookies
Oh… can’t forget snacks!
1) mixed bell peppers and homemade hummus
2) chips and salsa… we are ADDICTED.
3) Kashi seven grain crackers with cheese (My hub loves cheese!)
Thank you Ali for the great ideas!
Off to my staff mtg… then to the store to stock up on these tasty meals! I am grateful for stores to go to, for the ability to buy food, for recipes to eat that are healthy, for so much I don’t deserve…
Love,
Katie
Things To Do Today
8:30 run
10:00 clean up apartment
11:00 Plan meals/plan week @ Panera
12:45 Leave for staff mtg
1-4 Staff Mtg.
4:00 Grocery shopping, pick up tux at Rosedale for Nick
5:00 Practice guitar
6:30 Double Date w/the hub and some friends! (No cooking tonight)
I confess Mondays are tough for me… I need a plan or else I will want to sleep all day.. anyone know what I mean?
Hope my list helps me!
Life Lately
Watching the sunrise on Easter morning! Because a sinless Savior died, My sinful soul is counted free; For God, the Just, is satisfied To look on Him and pardon me To look on Him and pardon me…
Eating Free Coldstone Icecream with students at the U!
- This sweet guy…
- Surprised me with these! I LOVE yellow tulips.
- Especially when I find them in my car! Thanks baby!
- Did I mention he plays the saxophone? Its his hidden talent… but not so hidden on Easter morning. I got to listen to my baby play for all the services… brought joy to my heart!
I am happy to report that this massive pile of laundry disappeared by 12:30am Sat. night. WHEW! That was quite the load off our shoulders! No pun intended
So, that is life lately!
Love,
Katie
