2015: 365- Week 4

Day 22/365: 

A steaming cup of flavored coffee on a chilly winter day makes me so thankful for God’s wonderful blessings in my life.

 

 

Day 23/365:

  I found you reading an art book on my bed.  It’s a book you have look at so many times and yet you still get enjoyment from it. I couldn’t help but, grab my camera and snap this moment in time. The lighting and you were absolutely heart stealing.

 

 

Day 24/365:

You turned sixteen today and I love you to the moon and back! Each year has been so wonderful and precious!  (Photo taken by Lauren, my budding photography pal.)

 

 

Day 25/365:

  You are eighteen and heading off to college in the fall.  I have to, have to, have to remember these curls.

 

 

Day 26/365:

Tea parties aren’t just for the humans around here.  Whenever Lauren sets us up a tea party she must make sure to adds a cup for Lily and Sneakers.

 

 

Day 27/365:

  Leftover oranges from lunch sat on the table today.  As I walked past I noticed how beautiful they looked in the sunshine.  Sparkly oranges caught my eye and stopped my whirling mind, so that I could give thanks to our Creator!

 

Day 28/365:

  Lauren reminds me so much of myself at that age.  She is a sweet little momma already.  She rocks the baby with one hand and snuggles the cat with the other.

 

 

 

Contagious

 

Contagious, it’s a word that has been rolling around my brain for weeks.  My normal reaction to that word is to highly consider breaking out the bleach and putting into quarantine any poor soul who is infected.  “Are you contagious?”  is a common question asked this time of year and I often find myself giving those who are ill a wide berth, because seriously…. I don’t want to catch what they have.

Contagious: able to be passed from one person to another by touching; capable of being easily spread to others;  causing people to feel or act a similar way.

But God has totally different thoughts on this word- CONTAGIOUS.  He’s taking the icky and making it spectacular.

“You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don’t think I’m going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I’m putting you on a light stand. Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven,” Matthew 5:14-16 (The Message).

Are you spilling God’s colors by bringing His light into each and every moment of each and every day?  Are you chasing away the darkness— bringing His glory to rest on every situation?  Are you causing others to catch what you have?  When people see you, talk to you, stand next to you, spend time with you— are they infected with Jesus? 

And so I ask myself and I ask you: Are you contagious?

If not, are you willing to be around those who are spilling forth Jesus and become contaminated?

Project 365/ Week 3

 

day 15/365

It isn’t very often that I get in front of the camera, but the thought stuck me the other day that I needed to capture some moments of Lauren and I snuggling. I don’t want to forget how much we adore wrapping our arms around each other.

 

 

day 16/375

I love the colors in this photo, but even more I love that it reminds me of the running commentary you have while you play with your dolls.  I love hearing your little voice as you imagine various scenarios for your dolls.

 

 

day 17/365

There are things about this photo that aren’t technically perfect…. BUT  I love it.  I love this look because it is SO you!

 

 

day 18/365

JOY!  That’s what you bring me and a whole bunch of laughter!

 

 

day 19/365

Snow sparkles!

 

 

day 20/365

Free Lensing and capturing just a little slice of all the reading that takes place in our home.

 

 

day 21/365

Because every kitten should have a plastic shoebox for a bed…. right?

Rhythms of Grace

 

 

“Jesus resumed talking to the people, but now tenderly. “The Father has given me all these things to do and say. This is a unique Father-Son operation, coming out of Father and Son intimacies and knowledge. No one knows the Son the way the Father does, nor the Father the way the Son does. But I’m not keeping it to myself; I’m ready to go over it line by line with anyone willing to listen. ^28-30 Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” Matthew 11:27-30 (The Message)

I love this!  Did you catch all the goodness?

Jesus wants to share Himself with us.  He wants to tell us all the greatness, goodness, power, peace, mercy, grace, and plans the Father has for us.  He will go over them with us, line by line, step by step, if we are willing! 

And what does it take to be willing?  It takes lining up with Jesus.  We must turn away from unbelief and dead religion. 

Jesus has His hand stretched out to us, “Come to me,” He says.  Can’t you just picture His compassion, the deepness of His eyes?  He wants you. He wants me.

Other Bible versions of these verses speak of us taking on the yoke of Jesus which is easy and light.  Often when we think of a yoke we think of something heavy and uncomfortable, but Jesus used this word picture for a very specific reason. Whenever a yoke is used it requires those yoked to move as one.  Horses yoked together go nowhere if they don’t move together.

If we are to slip on the yoke of Jesus  we are saying to Him, “Yes, Lord, I want to be in step with you.  I want to walk with You learning Your unforced rhythms of grace.  I want to be in step with You Jesus!  Together with you side by side, in sync, not at different tempos or opposite directions, but together!”

It is time to stop going your separate way on your own power.  It’s time to stop yanking on the yoke. When we come to Jesus and line up with Him, He gives us the spiritual rest and peace we so desperately need.

Your Savior has a message for you, “I want you!  Come, get away with me! Let me show you the steps to this dance, this dance that requires Me and you.  Step here and twirl there.  Bend now and dip on My count.  Rest your head on My shoulder and feel My arms enfold you. I love you… Follow My lead, learn My rhythms of grace!”

2015: 365- Week Two

My week in photos…

 

8 | 365

This boy grabs my heart with his eyes.  Such beauty!

 

9 | 365

Nail painting is a weekly activity… sometimes even bi-weekly!

 

10 | 365

Morning snuggles from Bob.

 

11 | 365

Lord of the Rings LIVES!  Battles take place on a regular basis, where good always wins!

 

12 | 365

A new technique that I’m trying called free lensing.

 

13 | 365

No words…. just sighs as my heart gets stolen a whole bunch more.

 

 

14 | 365

Bird watching!

The Cry of Your Heart

 

 

The Lord your God is with you, He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.  Zephaniah 3:17

 

“What is the cry of your heart?” I was asked. “What are your dreams?” Two seemingly rather innocent questions, but they broke me. I couldn’t stop the tears from streaming down my face no matter how hard I bit my inner cheek or scrubbed at my eyes.

As the ministry team I serve with (EPIC LIFE MINISTRIES) meets more people, we are finding that these questions can be difficult for many people to answer. They have stuffed their dreams. And if they have dreams they would never be presumptuous enough to tell God that they have them, because that would be like saying they were in control, orchestrating their own lives, playing god. Such false thinking is damaging, but here is the truth.

Staci Eldridge writes in Captivating, “[God’s] romancing [of our hearts] is immensely personal. It will be as if it has been scripted for your own heart. He knows what takes your breath away, knows what makes your heart beat faster. We have missed many of his notes [to us] because we shut our hearts down in order to endure the pain of life.”

God is calling to your heart. He has placed dreams there. Dreams that make you smile. Dreams that make you tremble. Dreams that make you exhilarated. Dreams that make you giggle.

This isn’t about getting stuff from God, but becoming what God’s dreams for us are; to experience Him in every aspect of our lives from the mundane to the amazing. He has dreams for us. If we dig deep if we listen to the cries of our hearts we will find they are our dreams, too.

Your heart is crying, shouting out God’s dreams. It’s time to listen, accept, and step out with God into a grand adventure!

Curtain Twirling~ 11/365

 

 

 

 

I sat watching you play Polly Pockets as the northern light softly illuminated the spot where you were sitting.  I couldn’t resist.  I had to ask you to make my vision come alive.  “Lauren, will you twirl up in the curtains?”  

You were a bit reluctant to indulge me, but you are so sweet when it comes to helping me out.   I’m sure it’s the artsy side of you that can’t resist making something beautiful and heart rendering.  I took several shots, that just didn’t work you twirled so much that you where enveloped in a cocoon of lace.  I unwound you and had you peak out at me. 

You tired of my game pretty quickly (even if it did involve twirling in the curtains which you are usually discouraged from doing).

But, I got this!

And it makes my heart leap.

You, make my heart leap!

Eighteen

 

It’s happened.  In a whirlwind and a lifetime. It’s happened.

Eighteen has come.

It is sane and unreasonable, my heart. Ready for you to fly, but wanting to hold you close.

 

You entangled my heart with your deep brown eyes and unruly curls right from the very beginning.  I go back, deep and I can feel your chubby arms around my neck and remember how it felt to have you snuggle with me.  Those days are gone and I can’t get them back, but I still have my boy who finds me in the middle of the day and gives me a hug or grabs my hand just because.

 

 

You aren’t a man of many words, but those small actions speak volumes.  They show me a heart that has compassion and is tender.  It speaks loudly of a young man who will go far if he remembers to always step out in love. 

 

 

Daily I pray for you, that God will overwhelm you.  That our Holy Spirit will consume you, so that your heart and passion will be for our amazing God and Him alone.  God has amazing plans for you.  He has called You a mighty man of God who will go into this world and share God’s love to the many. You are called to be a beacon, a lighted fire that attracts those in need.  In the days to come, God will use you to speak of His peace, His glory, His majesty, and His amazing all encompassing love.  Be ready for amazing change as you walk out with Him.

 

 

As you step into the newness of eighteen, step with God, always.  Keep your eyes upon Him and you will never wander off the path He has laid before you. These days to come will be grand and glorious, eye opening and heart altering, remember with God all things are possible.

 

 

My gorgeous, beautiful son.  I love you with a never ending love.  I am so proud of the man you have become.  Happy Birthday!

 

A Week in Photos~ Week 1

 

It’s time to get honest with myself… this blog is not really a productive blog, not sure it ever was, though, so that’s okay!  Over the past couple of years my writing has been hit or miss.  Life has had it’s changes, I’m now working at three part time jobs: tutoring students in my home, writing for Union Gospel Press, and my little bitty photography business.  With our homeschooling and life in general added to those three things, as much as I would like to, I just can’t write on most days. 

The words are still floating in my head and lodged in my heart, but they rarely make it past my soul and onto the page.  What I have found with my photography is that I capture so much of my heart with the click of the lens. So, my goal is to put a glimpse of my days upon my blog as a remembrance of this year with an eighteen, sixteen, thirteen, and eight year old.

I’ve been looking for light these past few days.  It’s been bleak and overcast, freezing cold to be exact.  Often in the single digits with below zero wind chills, but inside the light is opening my eyes to beautiful moments.

 

1/365- While I was cooking dinner you came to read to me.  I love how the light from the window lit up your beautiful hair and the light reflecting off the book lit up your face.  Never mind that your hair was dangling into the soapy dish water behind you…. to me its perfect!

 

2/365- Polly Pockets…. nuf said.

 

3/365- Your eyes have stolen my heart.

 

4/365- Love the little Tufted Titmice that come to our feeders.

 

5/365- Morning snuggles with Bob are a must…. at least for Bob.  They rest of us tend to hide our heads to avoid the inevitable head butts.

 

6/365- Sunshine streaming through the sliding glass doors is an invite to just lay down and soak it in.

 

7/365- A pop of color on a wintry day.