The Tough Love of Rise Up and Walk - A Five Minute Friday post...

I missed y'all last night over on Twitter! We had our first official Board Meeting last night, which gloriously included dinner al fresca at our favorite Greek Restaurant, getting caught in a literal Flash Flood Warning rain storm (featuring serious Thunder and Lightning!), and a great time of worship... because, you guys, we are the boss of us (--only not really! Really, HE is the boss of us... but still - we run these meetings however we want to!) Still - I missed the #fmfparty!

{I can't say it enough, really - I love my tribe! The Gathering that happens on Twitter on Thursday nights and then  we write out our hearts and hits publish all over the interwebs on Thursday and Friday (and sometimes on Tuesdays!) We encourage and uplift... where we share prayer requests and praise reports... where we talk food and friends and we find support and kindred hearts and we are reminded that life is good and God is good and we are not alone... and then we all write for five minutes flat, a flash mob of wordsmiths letting our hearts and our fingers do the talking tapping and we hit publish before we can second guess... we just let Him flow!}

* - This indicates my Five Minute Mark... but I had to finish my thought! ALSO - please know that I am NOT talking about actual physical healing, as much as I am talking about how we get stuck with ideas or issues or excuses that hold us back emotionally or spiritually when we have been given the tools from God and from others and now it is simply up to us!  #GiveMeGrace  

This is Five Minute Friday and our Word Prompt for the day is: RISE

{GO}

It's not a surprise that with all the thinking about and talking of and living out Identity lately, that God has also been speaking about how to best Love and Speak Life into those around us. As we are building a foundation in this new Thing that we are doing - our desire is to, for real, Speak Life, Be Love, and Shine On.

I read a great post earlier this week by Donald Miller and it made me really stop to ponder how many of us are stuck, wanting someone else to fix us, to come and do the hard work of raising us up, when really - what we need most, is a little tough love, and a reminder to just get up and walk?

On Friendships... How They Hold Us and How They Can Heal...

I woke up this morning praying for y'all! 

Not that this is an unusual thing, but if you are reading this right now, you can rest assured that you were prayed for this morning!

I asked God what He wanted me to write about today and He answered softly, but quickly.

Friendship.

I want you to write about Friendship... how it holds and how it can heal... 

And so clearly, I did the dishes and started a load of laundry and took some Buzzfeed quizzes and a personality test* or two and did all kinds of things instead of writing because, of course. *I'm an ISFJ, for the record!

Here's the deal: I am blessed.

My 'normal' is not everyones' 'normal'...
I get that. Honestly, I do.

I am hard-wired for friendship. (I suspect that we are all, really!) And yet... 

Counting Gifts, Talking Worship and Identity, and Reflecting on How He is a Good, Good Father...

This Counting #1000Gifts (and beyond) has been happening around here for quite some time now.  

I admit to going hot and cold in the actual writing of them down, but I encourage you to count - to take note of the small wonders and the ways that God is active in your every day life.  

Once you train your ears and your eyes and your heart to seek them out... well, you know how He is! 

He promises that if we seek,

we will find.

I downloaded the 1000 Gifts app for my phone and I use my camera to capture the ways I see Him... I also go old school from time to time because there is something tangible in the putting pen to paper and counting them off, one by one.

There is a gift that He keeps on giving and it's one that we are to turn right around and give back... it's the gift of Worship. He gives us so many reasons to worship... and in turn, we pour out our worship to Him because of all of those reasons, sure, but also simply because of Who He is.

That Thing I Do Now - Vol 96

Happy Weekend, sweet friends!

How are you all doing? Do you have any fun weekend plans? Anything out of the ordinary or exciting? I'd love to hear what you are doing in your little corner of the world!

Featured today are posts by Shelly Miller, Deidra Riggs, Lori Harris, Emily Freeman, Allison Vesterfelt, Amber Cadenas, Scott Sauls, Tonya Salomon, Colleen Mitchell, a post from right here... and - of course - a video to wrap it all up! 

Happy Reading! (Ya'll know to click on the authors' names below to read the entire post, yes?)

How God is Improving My Follow-Through - A Five Minute Friday post

I showed up early to the party tonight... I just couldn't wait! I love this Community oh so much and honestly - some of my best friends have been gathered from Five Minute Friday! I wasn't so sure I was going to write, but I can't help myself!

{I can't say it enough, really - I love my tribe! The Gathering that happens on Twitter on Thursday nights and then flashmob writes out their hearts and hits publish all over the interwebs on Thursday and Friday (and sometimes on Tuesdays!) But, I know... I'm like a broken record here, stuck on repeat!}

This is Five Minute Friday and our Word Prompt for the day is: FOLLOW

{GO}

For years, I fell behind... I got lost... I gave up. 

That was my mountain... I would circle and circle and never figure out how to get over it... how to get beyond it.

So I would camp out... Settle in... I'd settle period.

I Often Wonder...

I often wonder why I'd fallen for lies,
for half-truths, for easy-ways-out,
instead of just simply believing You.

I often wonder why it took so long
to pay little attention to what others think,
and instead see me from Your point of view.

...why I put so much value
on words that cut deep, tear down and wound,
while ignoring the ones
that reach up, give life and bloom.

#SmallWonders... How They Add Up Fast! (A Mini Recap of How We Got Here!)

Here we are... the day after. 

{And honestly - after all the excitement and hype of our first Sunday, we crawled into bed last night happy but exhausted and were all, "Wait? We have to do this all again next week... like, for the 2nd Sunday... and so on...? ...AND SO ON!!!?  This is like a JOB?"  LOL! Yeah... seriously... we're slow like that sometimes!}

I know, I know.  I said this would not turn into the Church Plant Blog... and it won't, I promise. But this has all happened so quickly and our heads are still spinning a bit and there have just been all sorts of big and small wonders unfolding all around us and many of them were all leading up to yesterday.

That Thing I Do Now - Vol 95

Happy Weekend, y'all!

I am praying for each of you this weekend... because, well - divine distractions are the way I cope sometimes! We are doing the whole Starting a Church on Sunday and so, of course, my thoughts are on all sorts of other things... like how thankful I am for each of you! 

It's Mother's Day weekend and I know for some --well, for some this not their favorite 'holiday'! Whether it be because of loss or hurts or unmet/too high expectations... whatever the reason - for many - this day is empty of celebration and I want you to know that if that is you, or if you are more of a Hallmarky, feel the love kind of gal, either way - I am praying for you to know that you are loved and that you are held and that you are celebrated, my friends! Oh how He celebrates you!

On a side note... (only not... this is sort of the main note for this post) our pc sort of just stopped working this week.  Because of course, right?  One comes home from a writer's conference, doesn't write, and then when she is ready - her computer dies.  Still... I managed to find some GREAT posts before all of that happened, so here you go!

Featured today are posts by Emily Freeman, Colleen Mitchell, Michelle DeRusha, Amber Haines, Jennifer Dukes Lee, Sarah Bessey, Dean Nelson, a post from right here... and - of course - a video to wrap it all up! 

Happy Reading! (Ya'll know to click on the authors' names below to read the entire post, yes?)

When You Meet Under Nebraskan Skies... A Five Minute Friday Post

I said it a few weeks ago - how I almost never miss Five Minute Friday... and then I turned the calendar and saw that I would miss at least a couple in the coming weeks and I almost missed tonight as well! But I remembered... and I stopped in ever so late to the Twitter party to chat a bit and I will tap this thing out limited to my laptop because - you know, computer woes... but still - I am home, and I can not stay away!

{I can't say it enough, really - I love my tribe! The Gathering that happens on Twitter on Thursday nights and then flashmob writes out their hearts and hits publish all over the interwebs on Thursday and Friday (and sometimes on Tuesdays!) But, I know... I'm like a broken record here, stuck on repeat! However today I am thinking of a different community. Let's just get started.}

This is Five Minute Friday and our Word Prompt for the day is: MEET

{GO}

I already spilled out words about Jumping Tandem... a somewhat full recap of the amazing weekend that was, and you can read about that HERE...

But this is not that...

Sure, I met up with friends at Jumping Tandem. For some, it was a glorious reunion... (You know who you are!) and for some, it was the first time getting to hug and laugh and hear, not just read, their voice!

Again... this is not that.

A Few of My Take Aways from Free Falling into Jumping Tandem 2015

You Guys... 

I have avoided sitting down and even attempting to put into words what a gift Jumping Tandem was because here's the thing:

I can't even know yet.

It just keeps unfolding and expanding and is that not just how things work in the Kingdom? 

As Chris Caine says, it just keeps getting Betterer and Betterer!

I feel like I can't comprehend All the Feels yet and I could simply just copy and paste the hashtag that I normally reserve for Alia Joy and just say:

#InsertGushingCommentHere

and you would maybe get me.

If you follow me on Instagram (or Facebook or Twitter) then well, you probably already know. 

But here is maybe something you couldn't really tell from just following the feed:

This was a Retreat in the truest sense of the word.  

While we are in this modern age and obviously - selfies were happening, y'all! - I can't explain to you how many whites of eyes I was able to gaze into this weekend, for extended periods of time! 

That's no small miracle, people.

That Thing I Do Now - Vol 94

Hey my friends!

I am, as you read this, at Jumping Tandem spending time with some (off the charts) amazing people... and God, too! I am pretty sure He is there as well!  So this post may be shorter than usual because when you live way out West getting almost anywhere is a full day of travel, which cut in to my web-searching, post-devouring ways! 

Still... I found some gems...

Featured today are posts by Tonya Salomons, John Blase, Donald Miller, Crystal Stine, Deidra Riggs, a post from right here... and - of course - a video to wrap it all up! 

Happy Reading! (Ya'll know to click on the authors' names below to read the entire post, yes?)

When God Removes Your Comfort Zones...

Honestly... I. Just. Can't.

I thought, "I know today is a writing day, Lord. But I just can't. I can't find words for all of my feelings and my emotions are not allowed to boss me around when there is so much frantic noise and so I just am not feelin' it today. I'm sure You understand, right? Surely - You had a day or two when You were here in the flesh, putting up with all this mess..." (fades off, ducking head.)

Yeah.  Some days it is hard. 

Life comes at us and can seem unfair (It is.) 
And unjust (Again, it is.) 
And brutal (...)  

It can feel like it would just be easier to escape with Netflix... to turn your back... (to turn off the t.v. --which is really not bad advice, btw!) 

It can feel like we miss the days when we were sleeping in ignorant bliss...

When You Seek, You Will Find... (A Small Wonders Post)

Here we are... Monday is unfolding once again and I don't know about you, but this week is FULL, y'all!

Full of great things and somewhat bossy lists and all kinds of errands and deadlines and pushing me out (yet again) of my comfort zone - and into new time zones, actually... and yet I have made it a priority this year to search my heart, to look for (signs and) Wonders... to purpose to seek and find, and oh my goodness - there are just so many signs and wonders, and so much Goodness to be found!

Like this:

I wrote a poem last Monday here... because more concrete, complete words were not coming to me. I had forgotten how powerful true words can flow when they are not pressed into form. Aaah... rediscovering the love of poetry! #SmallWonders for sure!

And this:

As we venture into starting a new church, this is the cry of our hearts... this is what we desire: to let this statement by Tony Kriz be true of us as well! 

That Thing I Do Now - Vol 93

Hey y'all! Happy Weekend!

I pray that Springtime is unfolding in all kinds of Glory for you, and is being a bit flirty... as is his way!  Even "Wish Flowers" as my girlie used to call them, beckon us to dream a bit in the Spring!

Here we are again, gathered together so I can share some of my favorite finds from around the interwebs!  Featured today are posts by Donald Miller, Lisa-Jo Baker, Emily Wierenka, Tresta Paynes, Shauna Niequist, Christine Duncan, Lisha Epperson,  Glennon Doyle, a post from right here... and - of course - a video to wrap it all up! 

Happy Reading! (Ya'll know to click on the authors' names below to read the entire post, yes?)

Where Can I Go, Lord? AKA - You Cannot Hide... a Five Minute Friday post

I can't stop saying it - but it's so true! This Five Minute Friday Community is simply the best! We gather and uplift and encourage, we laugh and we cry together, we pray and we tease, we talk about food, and family, (& chocolate - which everyone knows is in its' own category!)... It doesn't matter what our week has been like up until now, but on Thursday nights - it always gets better! (We'd love to have you join us!)

{I can't say it enough, really - I love my tribe! The Gathering that happens on Twitter on Thursday nights and then flashmob writes out their hearts and hits publish all over the interwebs on Thursday and Friday (and sometimes on Tuesdays!) But, I know... I'm like a broken record here, stuck on repeat! However today I am thinking of a different community. Let's just get started.}

This is Five Minute Friday and our Word Prompt for the day is: HIDE

{GO}

"Where can I go, that You won't find me?"

So here's the deal with me: you know I just tell it like it is. 
I'm nothing if I'm not keepin' it real, y'all! 

Maybe you have asked this question, too.  Maybe it was a way to reassure your soul that truly He was there all along. He was...He is! Don't worry. This isn't going to turn on you and get weird.

But I have to be honest... lately, because -you know, pressure! - when I've asked that question, it hasn't always been seeking comfort in knowing He is here, as much as it has been seeking a little breaky from all of His pushing.

How Small Wonders Add Up to Something Big...

Remember how my #OneWord365 is Wonder, and how my Honey's word is Change? 

...how he wanted to be less predictable and more spontaneous?

Yeah. That.

Well then, we are on the right path!

I wrote about it on Friday and I'm pretty sure this will not become the church plant blog, but you guys... we are gloriously in over our heads! For real.  But we also know that our team is His team and He is leading us.

Here's the deal though:

He, who is never in a hurry, is moving FAST, y'all! 

It feels rushed and too quick and maybe even a little reckless. 

...Or maybe it just feels like there is no comfort zone.

Yes. Maybe that's it.

That Thing I Do Now - Vol 92

Here we are again already!
Happy Weekend!

I have a gloriously FULL house this weekend... both of my sisters and their spouses are in town and with my parents living right next door (I know, right?), we will gather and hang out and all talk over each other and reminisce and rat each other out and laugh at days gone by... and then, I am pretty sure, by midday we will all be together, introverting in separate corners for a few... but loving being together just the same!  And each, in our own ways --we will be drinking in wonder!

Featured today are posts by Jennifer Dukes Lee, Tonia Peckover, MercyHouse, Kara Chupp, Liz Von Ehrenkrook, Shelly Miller, Colleen Mitchell, a post from right here... and - of course - a video to wrap it all up! 

Happy Reading! (Ya'll know to click on the authors' names below to read the entire post, yes?)

Who Can Know What Tomorrow Holds... A Five Minute Friday post

I managed to pop in to the Twitter party for a little bit last night and oh my goodness, how I missed y'all last week!  I had a house full of company so I didn't get to visit much, and I am just now sitting down to write on Friday afternoon... but there is a reason for that! More than company, it was waiting on His timing because today - MUCH sooner than I had planned, --today, I will tell you about our Tomorrow!

{I can't say it enough, really - I love my tribe! The Gathering that happens on Twitter on Thursday nights and then flashmob writes out their hearts and hits publish all over the interwebs on Thursday and Friday (and sometimes on Tuesdays!) But, I know... I'm like a broken record here, stuck on repeat! However today I am thinking of a different community. Let's just get started.}

This is Five Minute Friday and our Word Prompt for the day is: TOMORROW

{GO}

Who can know what tomorrow holds?  Oh but we want too, right?  We want to know all of the details and plans before we fully give in. Or maybe that is just me?

So, you guys know how God is bossy with me sometimes and how usually I know that that is for the best, but every so often I forget and I try to argue with Him?

Yeah. That.

That. BIG TIME!

And you know how He has been asking me to take more risks, to give up self doubt and hesitation, and to get rid of my cushy over sized comfort zone?

Yeah.  That, too!

For years, we have been searching for a home.  We are a Kingdom people, sojourners more than wanderers... forerunners maybe more than settlers.

When a Writer's Conference Connects More Than Writers and Opens More Than Doors... (Part Two)

* This is Part TWO regarding the Faith and Culture Writer's Conference. Please read Part ONE here!

It's Wednesday afternoon as I am writing this and I should be doing a number of other things, like preparing for our small group, restocking our empty cupboards... probably a ton of other errands or tasks that I normally scratch off my bossy list on Wednesdays. 

But not today. 

Not yet.

Today I am giving myself grace and a bit of space... I am letting go of all the Should-Do's and Must-Get-To's and instead, I am sitting quietly, praying intently, and waiting for God to continue to bring form and focus to a blurry vision.

When a Writer's Conference Connects More Than Writers and Opens More Than Doors... (Part One)

I got home on Sunday. It's Tuesday night now.

I'm not sure how all of my feelings are feeling which may mean that I shouldn't be writing yet, but here I sit in front of a mocking blank screen.

No words.

Filled up but not overflowing after attending the Faith and Culture Writers Conference in Portland, OR again this year.  Eventually, I know I will have to exhale... to breathe on my own again and to 'feel all of my feelings and see how we're doing' as Jen Hatmaker would say. But I'm not letting my bossy schedule rush the process.

So I sit... staring down this blinking cursor, wondering "What. is. the. deal y'all?"

Honestly, I'm still not sure. Something.
The deal is something.  

It's part confirmation and part challenge.

It's part Hallelujah and part Holy Crap. 

It's part what I expected, and part I had no idea. 

That Thing I Do Now - Vol 91

Happy Weekend, dear readers!  I pray Spring is finding his way to you and flirting with you in all the best ways! This is how romantic he has been with me this week:

I know, right? It's like: 

Calm yourself down, Spring! I barely know you yet!

Anyway, featured today are posts by Chris Willard, Shawn Smucker, Lisa-Jo Baker, Shannan Martin, Deidra Riggs, Mary DeMuth, John Sowers, a post from right here... and - of course - a video to wrap it all up! 

Happy Reading! (Ya'll know to click on the authors' names below to read the entire post, yes?)

Throwback Thursday...A Total Cheater Post

So - I know... I know this is maybe a little lame, and I know this is a no-no with Google, but because we are off to Portlandia and I have only written ONCE this week... (What? This Blog really ISN'T the boss of me!) I wanted to just post a little something and what is more fitting than a Throwback Thursday post from last year, recapping the wonders of the Faith and Culture Writers Conference in Portland?

Oh man... I can not wait! I am praying that this year - I will not give in to self-doubt or hesitation either because, well - it worked so well last year!

To read my cheater post about the conference last year and all the counting... click HERE! 

I will miss the Five Minute Friday crowd tonight and I know I just said that I never miss, but I will be gloriously unplugged - at least from the blog - while I am gone!

Small Wonders... Post-Easter Thoughts of "What Now?"

Here we are... the day after Easter and the baskets are all strewn about, the eggs are found/deviled/consumed, the candy is gone and the Tomb is still empty.

After all the build-up and anticipation, it's easy to feel the Monday blah's mixed with a holiday hangover and sit in the midst of returning to regular life and think,

"But now what?"

Even in that, we know we are not alone!

Surely the disciples and followers way back in the day wondered the same thing: "So, praise God and Hallelujah, He is Risen! But now what?

That Thing I Do Now - Vol 90

Happy Easter Weekend, sweet friends!

Life is busy - especially on a holiday weekend, so I will keep this short (ish... because you know how I am!)  

More than anything else, I just want you to know how I appreciate you and am praying for you! May this Easter open your eyes and pull your heart even closer to our God... may His love - His ridiculous, radical, passionate love for you - overwhelm you in all the best ways!

Featured today are posts by Michelle DeRusha, Susan Shipe, Glennon Melton, Emily Freeman, Jen Schmidt, a post from right here... and - of course - a video to wrap it all up! 

Happy Reading! 
(Ya'll know to click on the authors' names below to read the entire post, yes?)

Because, of course... "Good" - A Five Minute Friday Post

I got to go play with one of my favorite girlies and her Honey for a Maternity Session this afternoon in the park and oh my goodness, I can hardly handle the cuteness! It was all I could do to pull myself away from playing with the portraits but you know how I hate to miss a (fmf) party!

{I can't say it enough, really - I love my tribe! The Gathering that happens on Twitter on Thursday nights and then flashmob writes out their hearts and hits publish all over the interwebs on Thursday and Friday (and sometimes on Tuesdays!) But, I know... I'm like a broken record here, stuck on repeat! However today I am thinking of a different community. Let's just get started.}

This is Five Minute Friday and our Word Prompt for the day is: GOOD

{GO}

Good... The word prompt this week is "Good" and doesn't it just figure!  

As this Holy Week is unfolding and life around us feels chaotic and out of control... as pain and agony and desperate prayers rise up, this week - this year --this life... it can feel anything but Good!

Darkness can trick you into thinking that Light doesn't shine there... but oh, the Light - it shifts and bleeds, and filters down everywhere!

What We Learned... the March Edition

We are back with the beloved quirkiness of the What We Learned link up over at Chatting at the Sky.  Emily Freeman gets us started and then we all reflect back on random things that we have learned over the past month!  We'd love to have you join in on the fun!

What We Learned in March...

12 Random Things That I Have Learned.