Expectations

(An excerpt from my sermon a couple of weeks ago.)

It was a couple of weeks ago... at the tail end of our long, hard summer when the Lord began lovingly questioning me about my expectations and what I had been allowing to build up around them.

He started to talk with me about the difference between expectations based on past experiences versus expectations based on HOPE and TRUST!

Obviously, He prefers one over the other!

Expectation is defined as a strong belief that something will happen or be the case in the future. It can be either good or bad. 

But Hope...
  Hope is always FOR...
    ...always positive!

Eric Reeder defines Hope this way: 

“Hope is the unconditional assurance that Fathers’ goodness prevails and it becomes the force of boldness in life.”

Imagine what could happen if we combined our expectations with Hope?

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.

The Steady Rhythm of His Heart... a Five Minute Friday post

I finally made it (back) to the Twitter party for the Five Minute Friday community! Oh how I have missed hanging out and (re)connecting!

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: STEADY.

{GO}

I can't believe the word prompt.  

I laugh at the first thought that rolls over my heart and I want to dismiss it... to pretend I didn't hear it.  And then I laugh at the realization that lately I am steady in theme if not in much else around here!

The first two sentences my heart hears:

It's the steady rhythm of His heart that we must tune our ears to. Like the rolling in and out of the Tide, His heart pulls at us and offers us Rest.

You see, it's the worlds metronome that is blaring loud and it can drown out the sound of His heart.  It beats too fast... too rushed and chaotic, and our heart tends to try to keep up without even realizing it. But it's the methodical rhythm of rest... of breathing in deep and exhaling slow that our souls long for the most...

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?  

Tapping in to the Maternal Heart of God - A Five Minute Friday post.

I made it to the twitter party for a bit on Thursday and it was so nice to catch up. This weeks' One Word Prompt comes as no real surprise... let's jump right in!

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

{GO}

"Your children don't have to come from you; they just have to come THROUGH you." ~ "Time" in Collateral Beauty 

I know, I know... it's Mother's Day weekend and so we should have seen this prompt coming, right?

I am one of the romantics... I love me a holiday with a theme and to celebrate being a Mom gives me all the feels.  We don't go big in the spending nor do we get caught up in all the commercialism of it all -but give me a day spent with family, with words of affirmation, and maybe a bit of patio sitting in a garden, sipping on something yummy and you are giving me a gift. On any day --but especially on Mother's Day!

This year - well, this year my own Girlie is round with child and while Lil Miss doesn't arrive until September, oh my goodness -what a joy it is to see my Only blossom into a Mama!

But here's the thing:

She has mothered for many years now.

She takes after her Mama and we pour out love and we encourage and believe strongly in the ministry of hugs and cheering you on and of long talks over coffee or tea.

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!

When Should's Overwhelm... a Five Minute Friday Post

I missed out again on Thursday night but it was because it was the National Day of Prayer. Friday --well, I did a bit of soaking up some sun on Friday (and Saturday!) and Sunday... well, you know how it goes! Today is the first time I have been inside and in front of a screen for days... but I must admit, the sun is whispering my name and the patio awaits me and my stack of books... but this only takes five minutes, right?  Let's do this.

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

{GO}

I have a love/hate relationship with this word!

As in, for real.

Y'all know how I love me some bossy lists, and you also probably know by now that I'm not always a fan of having anyone boss me around. (Except Him... sure... mostly.)

I don't know about you, but me? Well, I can 'Should' myself to death --or at least to burn out, right?

Please tell me that I am not alone...

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?