When We Fall for the Lies of More... A Five Minute Friday post.

Apparently I need to reset an alarm to remind me of #fmfparty on Thursday nights!  I got a new phone and realized last night around 8:45pm how much I relied on those little reminders! (I wonder what else I missed out on this week?!)

So no party last night for me, but here we are on a gorgeous Friday morning...
You know the drill:

This is Five Minute Friday (- a five minute timed free write) and our One Word Prompt for the day is: MORE

{GO}

"There is no striving..."

I am in love with Rita Springer, and her newest CD Battles is amazing.  I first heard this song when she was singing with the worship team at Bethel a few years ago.  To find it on the album was a gift... a much needed gift in this season of declaring over and over things like, "It's not what you DO, it's who you are!"

So, this song is what is on repeat as of late around here.

Apparently, I need the reminder! 
I think we all do, really!

Because we DO strive... 

We fall for the lie that whisper-yells that
what we really need is MORE... 
What is really missing is (fill in the blank)...

And yet... we know the Truth.
(It's just that sometimes we forget!)

A Week Late... but Worth the Wait (aka: a Dad's House Update!)

I know...
  I'm a week late with this post.

Maybe it is because I needed a little rest after Easter weekend... or maybe it's because I had to let it all settle in and get a bit of distance and perspective that a few days offers, if given the time! (Hint: I took the time!)

Mostly I think it's because I feel a bit like the girl who went to the door to answer Peters' knocking... a little embarrassed that I'm surprised at how our prayers were answered while we were still praying!

Yeah. Mostly it's that!

When Heaven & Nature Sing... An ode to Springtime (and a Five Minute Friday post.)

I missed out on the party this week and I've been meaning to write for days about the awesomeness that was our Easter Service, but I think I will write that post on Monday! I will just say --it was a pretty big deal, and it was pretty amazing!

But for today... well... you know the drill:

This is Five Minute Friday (- a five minute timed free write) and our One Word Prompt for the day is: SING

{GO}

Oh Springtime... how we have been WAITING for your glorious arrival!

I have not been quiet about how I tried to break up with Winter for months and he just wouldn't go away!

But finally... finally... there is this:

I am so ready for Spring... and warmth... and new growth... for walks in the park and patio time and drinks that are COLD and refreshing... I'm ready for bare feet and tan lines and --well, there I go again --jumping ahead to the next season before it is time!

And that's that thing...

The Power of a Life Made New... A Spoken Word

It is Holy Week... 

As Aliza Latta wrote a few days ago,  Jesus is going to die on Friday.

Like Aliza, I can't get over it.  

The thought that He did it for me... He did it for you.  

Sure - it was over two thousand years ago now and I have walked with Him for some time, so Easter is not new to me... but the gift that Holy Week delivers every year is this astonishment at the price He paid to make us His... to call us His Beloved... to buy us back!

You just can't get over that kind of Love.  

There is no getting used to it! --or at least I pray that there isn't.  

I pray that we never tire of singing a love song back Him and we never grow 'used to' the idea that He took our place... stretched out and bridged the gap and died on the Cross to pay our debts... He did it all --2000 years ago-- so that we would live for eternity... so that we would have New Life... and have a new covenant and be grafted in to the Family... in to the Kingdom that is both here and not yet!

Jesus will die on Friday... 

Last Sunday, I was honored to give a Spoken Word...  

Consider this my offering on Wednesday...  lest we forget or become accustomed to this Story... His Story... the greatest story ever told that we have the honor of retelling every single day in how we live and tap into the Power of a Life Made New.

May He give you opportunities this week to let His heart be given through you... 

May you know and remember and lean in to the Power of a Life Made New!

Enough with the Silence Already... a Five Minute Friday post.

I made it to the party Thursday night and for the first time (at least to that extent) we had some unwelcomed visitors! Normally - all are welcome, but --well, let's just say we're not sure WHY they were using our hashtag! Still - even in the midst of reporting and blocking --we managed to connect with the tribe and encourage each other!

This is Five Minute Friday (- a five minute timed free write) and our One Word Prompt for the day is: ENOUGH (and I'll go ahead and warn you right here that Imma go over my Five Minute Time limit! I've been saving up these words for awhile now!)

{GO}

Alright, already... here's the Deal:

We have been keeping a little secret. 
But finally, enough with the silence already...
We're ready to spill!

Never Unfriended - a Book Review post.

OK, so Here's the Deal: 

I wanted to be on Lisa-Jo Bakers Book Launch Team for Never Unfriended because I adore Lisa-Jo Baker! (I mean... Of course, right?) 

So I wanted to support her and help spread the word and who couldn't use a book about friendship and a little encouragement to risk and to grow and to be and to find true, authentic friendships, right? 

You guys... When I was only on Chapter Two I realized that nearly every page so far was underlined and marked by pen and tears... But we should have known this, right? 
Because, Lisa-Jo! 

This book holds within its pages the tools and hope that can heal you from broken relationships and that can stir up joy and grace to reach out and to hold on and to truly learn how to have and how to be a friend!!!

And who doesn't want that?