Be all there

Not many things aside from outfits and home decor tend to inspire me as I flip through my Pinterest page...until the other day...when my "life" flashed before my eyes, in Pinterest-form.

This happens to be something that I s.t.r.u.g.g.l.e. with on the daily. Because, we think that whatever's next will always be "better". The grass is always greener...right? As I type this, I've been trying to get Brooklynn to go to sleep for an hour and a half. As this has become a regular routine around here, I often let satan into my thoughts as I think, "thankful...for this?" With Thanksgiving approaching tomorrow, I find it hard, when it should be really easy, to be thankful. To be honest, this has probably been the most daunting year that I've ever had...in 27 years. It's been the most taxing on myself and the most trying on our marriage. Having Brooklynn really did rock our world. I'd be lying if I said Brooklynn was an easy baby. There is nothing easy about her sweet self. She's not the type to just sit and play by herself or enjoy a ride in the car. She's busy, hyper, energetic, not-a-napper, and outgoing...actually she's everything that I am not. Haha. To be honest, I prayed for this. I prayed that she would have her daddy's personality and her daddy's energy...maybe I should have prayed for that for her around age 11 or so. :-) As hard of a baby as she is...and as on most days consider her being the only child...I do have to wake up, smell (and drink lots of) the coffee and realize that she wasn't supposed to be here. At least not now. So, yes, in the dirty times, I'm thankful. I'd rather sit and listen to her cry for two hours than to have been proved by doctors that we couldn't have her. "Wherever you are"...this is where we are right now. We are trudging through the hyper-active stage of an almost 10 month old BUT...this is also where we are...

• A ministry and ministry team that is more than we could have asked or imagined with exciting new things coming very soon!!
• Living in a city and working alongside family...more than we could have asked or imagined.
• A new house that we have worked really hard over the last 4 1/2 years to be able to buy.
• A healthy baby that loves people.
• And if we had nothing but our salvation, that would (and should be) enough to be thankful for!

So, where are you this Thanksgiving? a high school student yearning for college? Working full time wanting to be doing something else? Single & needing a guy? Dating yet just wanting that ring? Living here wishing you were living there? I've been in all those places yet if I had to hit rewind and go back pre-kid, pre-husband, pre-boyfriend, pre-college then I would do it again just to be able to BE ALL THERE! So, if you are in one of these places, be all there. The Lord has us in the season that he wants us in.  Be thankful, as I try to be daily, for wherever you are. One day, you'll want to do it all over again! 

"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving." Colossians 3:23-24

Happy Thanksgiving!

Good Father

Last week we wrapped up Good Father and put a big bow on it...can you tell I'm ready for Christmas? In my own unbiased opinion, it was the best message of the whole series. Hope you didn't miss it...but if you did, I can catch you up!

When we get away from God's house, our relationship with Him suffers and too often when we have our own struggles in life, instead of running to God's house or God's people, we run from Him.

The first step towards ruin is deciding to run our lives independent of God. Yet, despite what you've done, God doesn't shun you. We learned from Luke 15 that the father in this story is a great parallel to our heavenly Father. If you know the story, you know that the younger son squandered all of his inheritance in wild living. When he came to his senses and headed home, the bible says

“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.21 “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate.24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.......32 But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’

This younger son went to his father and said, "give me..." The Lord won't always give us what we want but sometimes He will in order to teach us.

Thankful people realize what we've been given. What are you doing with the life God's given you? If you try and live your life without Jesus, you'll find yourself in need just like the younger brother.

Sin never looks good on anyone. Sin will make you look foolish and take you somewhere you don't want to be.

We do a great job at hiding our mess from people. Jesus embraces your mess.

Only Jesus can fill you. Everything else leaves you empty.

Repentance isn't just being sorry but then turning back and coming home.

The younger brother went from "give me..."(my inheritance) to "make me..." (your servant)

God gave us His best when we were at our worst...that's the GOSPEL!

Christians should CELEBRATE when people COME HOME!

Good Father

I know. I've already slapped myself on the wrist for not posting the past two weeks of Good Father...but that's not because it wasn't good ;) So, I'll be posting the past two weeks right....now.


God is always present when others are absent! "Never will I leave you, Never will I forsake you." (Hebrews 13:5) We may leave God every once in awhile...but He won't ever go anywhere! When you feel as though He isn't there...know He hasn't gone anywhere! Jesus doesn't walk out on us, like so many people do, but He walks with us.

We tend to attach ourselves to things instead of to Him! ... Guilty!

Psalm 27:10 Though my father and mother forsake me, the Lord will receive me.

John 1:12 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God. 

Matthew 27:46 About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”).

Some of us, at one point or another, may have felt abandoned by our earthly father. Maybe they've turned their backs on us or maybe they just don't give you the time of day. Scripture is clear that our heavenly Father feels our burdens because He, himself, has experienced it. (Heb. 4:14-16)

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Our Father is a Good Father because He disciplines those He calls His children. God isn't mad at you, He's madly in love with you...and for that reason, we receive His discipline. If God was out to get you, He would have already gotten you. What He is after is your heart.

God doesn't punish you for your sins, your own sins bring about their own punishment.

God's word is the biggest paddle of correction in our lives.

"And have you completely forgotten this word of encouragement that addresses you as a father addresses his SON? It says, “My SON, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you.because the Lord disciplines the one he loves and he chastens everyone he accepts as his SON.” Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline—then you are not legitimate, not true SONS and daughters at all. Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live! They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it." Hebrews 12:5-11

Whoever spares the rod hates their children, but the one who loves their children is careful to discipline them. Proverbs 13:24

God disciplines those He considers His children. His discipline proves our sonship!!

The Lord disciples us so that we can live! When you go astray, God allows hardships to happen as a part of discipline so that you return to Him. His discipline proves His love.

"Folly (sin) is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline will drive it far away." Proverbs 22:15

God's "no" doesn't mean His rejection but His redirection!

God's more interested in your holiness than your comfort.

9 Months

Diaper size: Still trying to use up our 2's and she's busting out of them. Still 3's at night.

Clothing size: 6-9M, 9M

Eye Color: Blue

Favorite Toy: She loves her little blocks and balls...and they keys!

Sleeping Habits: She takes two naps a day. Now, the times always change but she gets them in. She still sleeps from about 8PM (if we are home) until about 8:30AM. 

Words: Mamama

Best Moments: She waves to anyone and everyone and makes the craziest facial expressions!

Hard Moments: Separation anxiety and ensued! 

Fun info: Brooklynn is starting to figure out things that are going on! She will wave, know when we are getting ready to leave, and has started HATING the car seat! She still loves people and the more people around, the happier she is! She eats ANYTHING and can finally feed herself!!! (finger foods that is) She can't walk yet but LOVES to be on her feet or crawling all over you. And yes, we started crawling this month. Don't make her mad or she will give you her newfound stank face...which is hilarious!