Made New

The new year is finally here, and we all know what that means. Everyone is claiming things, speaking things, promising things, making resolutions and ultimately believing that this year is going to be different. “This will be your year.” I have heard that said to me so many times in the weird week between Christmas and New Years. That is what everyone says, but what is this year really going to be? The real question is what is God going to do this year in and with me?

Change is Beautiful

This time of year in the mountains has slowly become one of my favorites. The fall time is so beautiful, and always seems to bring such peace as the world slows down to appreciate the cooler weather, the changing colors, and the family and friends that the holidays bring together. As I was walking to my car the other day, I noticed the leaves on the trees in the parking lot of my job. They had become such a beautiful bright orange. I sat in my car and just took it in a moment, and I just remember thinking to myself “Change is so beautiful.”

Two Little Angels

I did not plan to come back to this blog after a break with more writing on grief and trust. In fact, I had something rather different in the works, but that will have to wait now.

Trusting, Even When I Don’t Want To, Part 4

Trusting, Even When I Don’t Want To

Part 4: It is Well

“With God all things are possible” (Matt. 19:26). That is something that we all know very well from scripture, from church, from TV, from the cute little mugs at the Christian bookstore, and many other places. Most everyone who has had any contact with Christianity in any form, good or bad, has heard that phrase. This is true. Like I wrote in the last post, we know that God is omnipotent, able to do all things, and unlimited in His power and perfection. Even things that seem far-fetched, illogical, or even go against the rules of nature are possible for God if He wills. When we go through something difficult then, the question becomes “if all things are possible with God, and He can do all things, why did He allow ________ to happen?”

Trusting, Even When I Don’t Want To, Pt. 3

Trusting, Even When I Don’t Want To:

Buried by Grace

 

This has been a hard post for me to get together, so I am sorry for how long it has been. There was simultaneously so many notes to go through to find what I want to say, and too much going on emotionally at the time to want to even say anything. As I looked back, however, the grace of God in my situation is just so evident. The same things I needed to hear then I still needed to here again now. Seeing just how God took care of me in the midst of such a hard time is a reminder of just how good God is. And that is exactly what this post is about.

Trusting, Even When I Don’t Want To, Pt.2

Trusting, Even When I Don’t Want To

I Thought This Was Our Miracle

 

When I found out I was pregnant, it was the most wonderful moment of my life. It was a little unexpected, even though we had been trying, and I will never forget when that nurse walked into the room and said “Merry Christmas, you’re pregnant!”  It was not Christmas of course, it was July, but I have never been more shocked and surprised and happy. This was it. This was our miracle, and all the circumstances pointed to such a perfect timing and a perfect way and a perfect story to tell for years to come. It was a miracle and a great story of God’s goodness, so much so that I could never understand why God would let it all happen so perfectly only to take away our child a couple of months later.

Trusting, Even When I Don’t Want To

Trusting, Even When I Don’t Want To

The Introduction

There is a new series of posts coming, slowly.  I am thankful to finally present an introduction to what I am working on and what I have planned for this series that is coming together. Read the rest to see what’s coming soon!

So, I know it has been a little while since I’ve posted anything. I have been a little overwhelmed by my next writing project since there is just so much to say. I have had this topic on my mind for several months, but not really been sure what to do with it. Should I blog it? (eh, a little too much vulnerability). Should I write a book? (nooo, that is definitely too overwhelming to think of). Should I just keep it to myself and forget it? (Well… no, I guess not… if God does want me to share then that has never worked out for anyone else who has been given a message and not wanted to speak it). So, I have finally decided to do this in a short series on my blog. Still, I have continued to procrastinate just because that is who I am and that is what I do when faced with something overwhelming, I wait until the last minute. But now, it is time and I am going to start this now (and see it through until I finish it).

“Did you Turn it Off and Back On?”

“Did you turn it off and back on again?” Anyone who has had to ask for help with technology has probably heard this phrase more times than they would like, and many whose job it is to help those not so tech-savvy have probably said it so many times they are sick of it. There is a reason for this though, and that’s because it works.  Sometimes there is something else wrong, but many times all our gadgets need is a quick reset and they start to function much better. The funny thing is that we don’t often think to try this on ourselves when we get sluggish or start acting up.

Let it Happen

So, this one song has been playing through me head over and over again the last several days. “Let it Happen” by United Pursuit is a simple song, but it is also one of my favorite worship songs right now. It must just be another part of this desire to learn contentment and stillness this year. It seems like everywhere I look and read the same lessons just jump out at me, so God must really want me to learn those things this year. In keeping with that theme, this song brings me such peace and relief and encouragement, and it has not left my mind for the past several days, so I figured I should share it and my thoughts on it. I encourage you to listen to it and not just take my word for how good it is. Here is the Link to listen to the song: Let It Happen – United Pursuit

Sitting and Letting Go

So, I was reading the story of Martha and Mary the other day, when Martha got upset that Mary was just sitting listening to Jesus while she did all the work and worried over all the hosting responsibilities (Luke 10:38-42). Martha gets angry and asks Jesus why He didn’t care that Mary had left her to do all the work herself and wasn’t helping her. Jesus reminds Martha that she doesn’t need to be worried about all these things, but that Mary has made the better choice. This is always a good reminder to me that the “better choice” is right in front of me, and I can simply sit at Jesus’s feet and in His presence, but how often do I choose that? How many times have I read this passage and heard sermons on these verses, and still I forget and let myself get too distracted?