The Real Value of Old-Fashioned FaceTime... aka Being Present.

***

Over the last few years, I have learned to love Mondays!  


Now I must be intentional about doing that earlier before the rest of my day unfolds. Mondays now start off with quiet time, but have expanded to include snuggles and stories and diapers and nap time with lots of pouring out love, too!


This simply meant that looking back made me tired, and looking ahead made me wish the days away sooner so the week would fly by.  


However, I know the value and necessity of staying present in the present! 

How I spend my Mondays now has changed with the arrival of Lil Miss, but for a season, Mondays were spent gloriously alone, just me and the Lord! 

One particular Monday not too long ago found me even more exhausted and depleted than normal. That was because the weekend was filled to the brim with good extroverty things and my week ahead was also filled with good somewhat extroverty/family things (which should read introverts gathering to introvert together!) 

Sometimes it is work to remain, yes?

Release the Secret Weapon - A Five Minute Friday post.

***

I woke up the other day hearing the Lord mid-sentence. We'll talk about what He shared with me next week, but the point is this: 

He is speaking... 
  and I am hearing!
           #JazzPraiseHands and #HallelujahAmen

But for now... this is Five Minute Friday... and our One Word Prompt is: RELEASE! 

{GO}

I'm not one to believe in coincidence. I know it is sometimes easier to reason things away but it seems with every weekly prompt as of late God has already been speaking to me all around the one word.

And with Release... well, it seems we are in a season of releasing things and the Lord is merciful and kind.  Even when it doesn't feel like it... even when He may need to pry my fingers open in order for me to let go!  

There are seasons that He calls us to step up and pick up some things, and oh boy - there are seasons when He calls us to step down and lay down some things, too!

But as soon as I saw the prompt I knew we would not really dig in to all of that quite yet! Maybe one day we'll talk about the laying down and letting go in order to make room for the unknown-whatever-is-next... but not today. Oh no... 

Today I want to talk about a secret weapon that should be anything but secret... and how He released it long ago and it is a GIFT for us to unwrap and put on... put to use... and how using it makes all the difference!

How Jesus Settled the Score... - A Five Minute Friday post.

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I have been pacing myself back into a normal routine... resting my eyes a bit each day still. That resting time just so happens to be right around my normal writing time. So it has been quiet around here as of late. But that is not the only reason. The other reason is that we have had some changes in our little world... and since I write from my heart, I wanted to be sure my heart was good before I let any words spill out! 
#wisdom #yourewelcome #noteverythingismeantfortheinternets 

The Five Minute Friday community is the best gathering of Flashmob writers around!  We wait for the one word prompt and we throw caution and hesitation and editing to the wind, and we let our fingers fly and our feelings feel and we just wait and see what flows out in five minutes (or so! Because, grace!) and we hit Publish without second guessing or backspacing! 

Our one word prompt is: SETTLE! 

{GO}

I see this word and think, yet again, 
about how I am like a broken record and this word?
Yeah... it's not in my vocabulary.  

I've had to fight my way through
the temptation of it time after time,
and I've had to stand on ground that felt shaky and unsteady, 
but I know down deep in my bones that
God will never ask us to settle.

I say it all the time...
I preach it to family and friends... 
and to my own self when needed.

Settle, I believe, is not really in
God's vocabulary either!  

Well... at least not in some ways! 
Some definitions of Settle
are completely like Jesus... 
But others? --Not so much!

On this weekend, especially,
we know that our God
--He knows how to
Settle the Score, right?

Privilege... A Five Minute Friday post.

I couldn't not show up at ALL last night over on the Twitter, but I had been battling a migraine all day long. My day was full of good things - but oh so bossy, and so by the time I sat myself down in this chair, in front of this screen --well, my body was ready to just shut. it. down. man! So I said a quick hello, and went to a darker room and (mostly) closed my eyes for the evening! I woke up feeling MUCH better, praise God!

The Five Minute Friday community is the best gathering of Flashmob writers around!  We wait for the one word prompt and we throw caution and hesitation and editing to the wind, and we let our fingers fly and our feelings feel and we just wait and see what flows out in five minutes (or so! Because, grace!) and we hit Publish without second guessing or backspacing! Our one word prompt is: PRIVILEGE! 

{GO}

I see the word and catch my breath... because, of course!

This is a current buzzword that can stir up passion and debate and even if as it is uncomfortable, it is so important!

Sadly, it was only a few years ago that my eyes began to truly open.

I honestly didn't know... I very likely could have sided with many who continue now to say that White Privilege is not even a thing --at least not for them. 

As I wrote about in 2014 in a post titled #GoingThere (thanks to posts and in real life conversations with my friend Deidra Riggs), "Ignorance is Bliss only for the Ignorant!" and I went on to acknowledge that was me... I was ignorant...

I Surrender Some... A Five Minute Friday post.

What is this? 2013? Tonight makes FOUR weeks... in a row, people!!! 

The Tribe that gathers online on Twitter on Thursday nights that make up the Five Minute Friday community is the best gathering of Flashmob writers around!  We wait for the one word prompt and we throw caution and hesitation and editing to the wind, and we let our fingers fly and our feelings feel and we just wait and see what flows out in five minutes (or so! Because, grace!) and we hit Publish without second guessing or backspacing!

Tonight one of our own seems to be nearing the end of life on this side of Heaven... and so in Andrews' honor, as we pray for God's Presence to be thick around him, our one word prompt is: SURRENDER! 

{GO}

Surrender.

I see the word and I think, yeah. That.
And a heavy sigh quickly follows.

Why is it that when we think of Surrender, it's all shadowy and defeated? Immediately we feel the loss --of something, even if we don't know what!

We see the giving up or giving in parts, but we don't often rush to fully embrace the ceasing and yielding parts. 

There can be such Peace in those parts! 
Why do we kick against actually doing the Surrendering
when it can so often lead to relief and rest?

I think of the modified hymn, I Surrender Some...

You Are Never Alone... A Five Minute Friday post.

Three weeks in a row... and sadly that is some sort of record lately! My goal in January was to get back to writing twice a week... but this week was stealing all my words --at least the ones I would want to bleed out and hit publish for public consumption! Praise God we know not EVERYTHING is meant for the Internet, right?

Still - it felt great to be back in this chair, with this Tribe, ready to let our fingers fly as we follow His lead with the One Word prompt! Tonight, that word for Five Minute Friday is: INTENTIONAL! 

Let's do this!

{GO}

Intentional...
  Oh yes... let's be that! 

Let's be intentional
in how we spend our
hours... days... lives. 
Let's be present and invest
in those around us.
Let's keep our eyes
and heart open... 

I think Intentional 
is such a great goal...
I mean to be it... to do it...
but sometimes I forget!

Sometimes it feels like there's
not enough time, right? 

Say you feel it, too.

When Excuses Fade Away and Truth Takes Over... a Five Minute Friday post.

Just a few more weeks before I can officially rejoin the Five Minute Friday Community of Flash Mob Writers who love to party it up over on the Twitter on Thursday nights! Until then, I'll just play along here and over at the Link Up!  Let's go: This is a Five Minute Friday post, which simply means I set a timer and free write for five minutes flat on the one word prompt of: EXCUSE

{GO}

I see the word, and I know what it means...
but I hope I can uncover something different
because, ...you know, ...excuses!

Gah! My mind goes immediately to exactly where I do not want it to go.

Avoidance and excuses are not Kingdom ways... 
And I want my life to reveal Kingdom in every area. 

Conflict is not my favorite and as I wrote last week,
we are a people of Peace.  

However,
Peace will not reside in the midst
of denial and excuses.  

...Oh but the enemy will.  

The enemy will reside right in the midst of those things
and make himself super cozy and at home there.

31 Days of Going From Mama to Mimi - DAY SIXTEEN

This is Day Sixteen in our 31 Days series: Going from Mama to Mimi - Stories of Hope, Joy, & Transition...

Growing a Baby AND a Mom!

How many of you remember that nine months can seem to take FOREVER? (Especially that last month or two, right?)

It takes a long time to grow a baby... 
    and just as long to grow a Mama, too!

There is so much going on in the process and passing of nine months... so many changes and shifts and adjustments made --both physically, and emotionally!

No matter how the nine months began --a long awaited for announcement or a surprised shock of new news... no matter how ready or not ready we may think we are-- it takes every moment of growing Baby in the womb, to begin to grow Mama in the wonder.

Whether you are Type A and have color-coded plans, or you are more of a laid back, fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants type... the time it takes for God to form and fashion this new baby is also used to form and fashion the new Mama you are growing into!

When All You Can Do is Accept... A Five Minute Friday post.

aka Just Let Him Love You!

Guess who we FINALLY got to meet this week? Yep... Lil' Miss! 
She was OH SO WORTH THE WAIT, y'all!

But I digress. Here we go: This is a Five Minute Friday post, which simply means I set a timer and free write for five minutes flat on the one word prompt of: ACCEPT

{GO}

I know... I promise you I will try to pace myself with all things Baby but you've got to know that she is at the forefront of --well, everything, right now!

When I saw the prompt this week, my instant flashback was of course of this precious newbie, snuggled safely in arms... softly kissed as she is drawn near, simply accepting the warmth and security and love being poured out and prayed in to her --all while she was blissfully at rest!

My next thought was of this phrase that I can't seem to let go of! I pray it on Sunday mornings over our congregation, and I say it in texts and emails as I encourage friends and family who are going through all kinds of hard... it is this:

Just Let Him Love You!

(As if you could stop Him!)

If They're Gonna Know Us By Our Love... We Have Work To Do - A Five Minute Friday post.

I finally made it to the party for a bit last night and it felt good, and right, and a little like home! (If you are a writer and are looking for Community, check out #fmfparty on Twitter on Thursday nights!)

Here we go: This is a Five Minute Friday post, which simply means I set a timer and free write for five minutes flat on the one word prompt of: WORK

{GO}

I see the word prompt and my first thought is, "Well - we have a lot of that to do!"

I think of this world and how broken and divided it can be... how broken and divided it is.  I think of the words of Jesus in the Gospel of John:

"This is how everyone will recognize that you are my disciples—when they see the love you have for each other.” John 13:35 The Message

I think of how I wish this was true... of how I wish that 'they' could look at the Church at large and see by the way we love each other and Him that we are, in fact, His! 

That we are representing Him well in the earth!

What We Learned This Summer...

It is time yet again for Emily Freeman's quarterly link-up on What We Learned, and it's still my favorite! It gives me opportunity to reflect back over a few months at a time and process more fully what God is teaching me! (I'd love for you to join in, too!) The last few months held a lot of Hard and Heavy --but aren't those the seasons that teach us the most? We'll mix in some Light and Lovely, too! 

Here we go:

***
12 Random Things I Have Learned this summer... 

This is the 2017 Summer (June - August) edition

Are You My Neighbor? A Five Minute Friday post.

I keep saying it - because it is true... I miss y'all and I miss the tribe over at Five Minute Friday! I have hopes that with the arrival of Fall and routine, I will find myself back in this chair, consistently writing. But let's be honest... the arrival of Lil' Miss can be any day now -- so let's keep it real! I love you and miss you, sweet readers! I miss the processing for myself that tends to happen as I tap out words here... but Life is full and changing (Hello, granddaughter!) so I won't make promises I can't keep. But I will tell you this: I THINK of sitting here and I PRAY for you way more often that it may appear in this season. but Imma try to shrink the gap and meet you here on a regular basis again, starting today with this one word prompt.

Here we go: This is a Five Minute Friday post, which simply means I set a timer and free write for five minutes flat on the one word prompt of: NEIGHBOR

{GO}
My first thoughts go to two different states in our Union... and then to the Word of God.  

I think of Charlottesville and I think of Houston... and then I think of how the Bible tells us again and again that we are called to LOVE!  To Love our neighbors as well as we love ourselves and for some, that is a high call and for others --well, sometimes we don't really love ourselves the way we are called to either, right?

My next thought flashes to the Dr. Seuss book "Are You My Mother?" but I see it written out as "Are You My Neighbor?" because - really, in this call to love - we are called to recognize and remember that we are FAMILY... 

All of us - Family! - created in His image, bearing His name, and oh how we are supposed to be following His lead...

Oh, How There is a Place For You: An Ode to Evelyn Rose - A Five Minute Friday post.

I know... it's once again been forever. Life, man. You know?  But I can spare five minutes and I need to find a rhythm that puts me back in this chair and while this One Word Prompt could go heavy and deal with the hard, Imma keep it Light and Happy, y'all!

Here we go:

This is a Five Minute Friday post, which simply means I set a timer and free write for five minutes flat on the one word prompt of: PLACE

{GO}

 Oh babies!!!

No matter what is going on in the world at large, or even in our world right here at home... there is something about babies that stirs up Hope and Life and Joy and oh - how we need that!

Right?  All of us, I think, are in need of a little bundle of Hope and Life and Joy right about now!

And while we didn't plan for you, Lil Miss... while you are somewhat of a surprise to us all --God knew exactly what He was doing when He breathed life into you and began to fashion and form you in your Mama's womb!

And don't think for one hot second that you were ever not wanted... You are a gift and oh how we are making room for you - in our hearts and in our homes and yes... in our hopes and lives and joy, too.

We have yet to look you full on in the eyes (soon, baby... soon!) but you have already captured our hearts and you are oh so very loved, dear one!

You Inspire A Sacrifice of Praise - a Five Minute Friday post.

I am finally sitting in the chair (again)... so let's do this.

This is a Five Minute Friday post, which simply means I set a timer and free write for five minutes flat on the one word prompt of: INSPIRE

{GO}

I'm still feeling a little unsteady on my feet, but the ground is where it is supposed to be once again and oh my, how I have been avoiding this chair. 

Sitting here... tapping out words that spill from my heart, unedited and unrefrained...

But I'm here. Sitting in the chair. Breathless at how Inspiration is all around us --if we will but focus our eyes and open our hearts.  (#preachingtomyownselfhere!)

My first thought at seeing our Word Prompt is from an older worship song... and the line that now undoes me is about how He inspires songs of praise. 

As morning dawns and evenings fades You inspire songs of praise That rise from earth to touch Your heart and glorify Your Name

And oh, how He does! He DOES inspire songs of praise... He always has, ever since I came to know Him. I love to worship and while I am 'normal' and have gone through hard times in the past, I have never had the mere thought of singing praises cause me to want to just sit it out and be silent quite so strongly.

Enter: The Sacrifice of Praise.

Expect Pockets of Peace and Respites of Rest - a Five Minute Friday post.

I am still leaning in to this season of dwelling... of resting... of simply being with Him and being still... of less 'swinging' and more 'hammocking'! 

So I was a little surprised when I felt Him beckon me to this chair, in front of this screen! But since I am here, let's play!

This is a Five Minute Friday post, which simply means I set a timer and free write for five minutes flat on the one word prompt of: EXPECT.

{GO}

I see the word prompt, and I smile.  
   Actually laugh a little under my breath. 

I could go a thousand different directions with "Expect" (or the variations of Expecting, Expectations, etc.) but even with all this resting, I am tired y'all! 

And so I slow... I close my eyes and breathe in deep.

I focus in on what He wants (which I suppose is really fruit of this 'unproductive' waiting season) and I exhale fully... ready to write...

Expect.
  It's such a weighty word, isn't it?  

More on Rest... aka The Difference Between a Swing and a Hammock

I hope y'all still remember me! I feel like a stranger in my own little corner here.  

I have missed you and have thought of writing all kinds of things, but every time I wander over to sit in this chair the Holy Spirit beckons me back to just sitting... just soaking... just being with Him.

So, you know... as much as I love you... I love Him more and He - more than anyone else (--ask anyone!) gets to be the Boss of me!

I have felt like the lessons He keeps sowing into me are things I have been learning and living and writing about for AWHILE now... and yet, He won't let me move along already. 

He keeps asking me to sit and to be... 
to not produce anything...

I don't want to sell anything, buy anything, or process anything as a career. I don't want to sell anything bought or processed, or buy anything sold or processed, or process anything sold, bought, or processed, or repair anything sold, bought, or processed." ~Lloyd Dobler, Say Anything

So, "What have I been doing?" you ask.

Well... not exactly much --and yet, He assures me that there is much being accomplished!

The Truth of Knowing and of Being Known... a Five Minute Friday post.

Last week, you guys!  Oh man. 

I was laid out sick... 

I'm feeling so much better, even though my voice is still not very convincing of that fact.

But what I really want to talk about today is Unveiled - the women's conference I attended over the weekend.  

No sickness or lack of voice could keep me away from worshiping live with Rita Springer, y'all! Seriously - what little voice I started out with in each session was long gone by the time the last song was sung!

* The theme of the conference was all based around knowing your identity in Christ.

If you're not new here, then you know that this is my jam.

(I know... I need to quit saying this... and yet: I. can. not.) 

She Is Priceless - A Global Giving Day post.

Today is the 2nd Annual Global Giving Day to support women around the world and I am honored to be among many who are linking arms and blogs and hearts (and wallets!) and raising awareness for nine amazing organizations who are making a real difference in the lives of women and children around the world!

This is the one post a year where I encourage you to give...

Listen... here's the deal:

I don't like to ask for money.  

I don't like to make you feel guilty or ever want you to think that I am unaware of the serious restraints of budget and income.

Y'all!?

  I get it.  

I mean - things are tight, but I am blessed. I know many, not just around the world but just around the corner, are strapped and can't give --even if they wanted to. That's fine. 

If this is you, please keep reading! There is still something(s) you can do if you are unable to give monetarily!

But many can give and maybe just don't know the need or have no idea where to give.

Lastly, many fall for the same lie that I fell for for years: that often times we think if we can't Go (give) Big we should just Go Home... we look at these international issues of poverty, human trafficking, slavery, and violence and hopelessness and we think, well --we think there is no hope.  

BUT GOD, right?  

If We Were On a Coffee Date...

You guys!!!?  My friend Erin Salmon has a link-up called Coffee Date!  How am I just now knowing this? Well - you KNOW I had to play along, because of COURSE, right?  
So here we go:

If We Were On a Coffee Date...

If we were on a coffee date... Well, first off...
Oh how I wish we were! 

How I wish we were sitting across from each other in real life, sipping on something yummy and talking about all the things!

If we were on a coffee date, it would be beautiful... as in, for real... 

I love it when Coffee and Art collide!