28 February 2013

{a walk through} psalm 18


Starting January 2013, I decided to take a little step into a semi big blog commitment. I'm going to walk through the Psalms on my blog. Until the book is done, I'll post a verse or two in a photo every single Tuesday and Thursday. The heart of this series is for me to be looking into the word and being intentional to post HIS words here. Sometimes it'll just be the one photo as a blog post, sometimes I'll share what the words in the verse meant to me as I read it, and sometimes I'll have a post going on that day that speaks of other things. Thanks for joining me in this Psalm walk through.

Can I just say oh my goodness!!!!!!!!!!!  This Psalm is absolutely incredible. As I read it, and in the times I've read it before, I can find some many things to study in it. I can find some many words worth highlighting. I want to share it in its entirety and then I want to highlight one thing that I've been reflecting on a lot.

I know it's long. But seriously, it's going to bless your socks off!
    I love you, O LORD, my strength.
    The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer,
        my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge,
        my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
    I call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised,
        and I am saved from my enemies.
    The cords of death encompassed me;
        the torrents of destruction assailed me;
    the cords of Sheol entangled me;
        the snares of death confronted me.
    In my distress I called upon the LORD;
        to my God I cried for help.
    From his temple he heard my voice,
        and my cry to him reached his ears.

    Then the earth reeled and rocked;
        the foundations also of the mountains trembled
        and quaked, because he was angry.
    Smoke went up from his nostrils,
        and devouring fire from his mouth;
        glowing coals flamed forth from him.
    He bowed the heavens and came down;
        thick darkness was under his feet.
    He rode on a cherub and flew;
        he came swiftly on the wings of the wind.
    He made darkness his covering, his canopy around him,
        thick clouds dark with water.
    Out of the brightness before him
        hailstones and coals of fire broke through his clouds.
    The LORD also thundered in the heavens,
        and the Most High uttered his voice,
        hailstones and coals of fire.

    And he sent out his arrows and scattered them;
        he flashed forth lightnings and routed them.
    Then the channels of the sea were seen,
        and the foundations of the world were laid bare
    at your rebuke, O LORD,
        at the blast of the breath of your nostrils.
    He sent from on high, he took me;
        he drew me out of many waters.
    He rescued me from my strong enemy
        and from those who hated me,
        for they were too mighty for me.
    They confronted me in the day of my calamity,
        but the LORD was my support.
    He brought me out into a broad place;
        he rescued me, because he delighted in me.

    The LORD dealt with me according to my righteousness;
        according to the cleanness of my hands he rewarded me.
    For I have kept the ways of the LORD,
        and have not wickedly departed from my God.
    For all his rules were before me,
        and his statutes I did not put away from me.
    I was blameless before him,
        and I kept myself from my guilt.
    So the LORD has rewarded me according to my righteousness,
        according to the cleanness of my hands in his sight.
    With the merciful you show yourself merciful;
        with the blameless man you show yourself blameless;
    with the purified you show yourself pure;
        and with the crooked you make yourself seem tortuous.
    For you save a humble people,
        but the haughty eyes you bring down.
    For it is you who light my lamp;
        the LORD my God lightens my darkness.
    For by you I can run against a troop,
        and by my God I can leap over a wall.

    This God—his way is perfect;
        the word of the LORD proves true;
        he is a shield for all those who take refuge in him.

    For who is God, but the LORD?
        And who is a rock, except our God?—
    the God who equipped me with strength
        and made my way blameless.
    He made my feet like the feet of a deer
        and set me secure on the heights.
    He trains my hands for war,
        so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze.
    You have given me the shield of your salvation,
        and your right hand supported me,
        and your gentleness made me great.
    You gave a wide place for my steps under me,
        and my feet did not slip.

    I pursued my enemies and overtook them,
        and did not turn back till they were consumed.
    I thrust them through, so that they were not able to rise;
        they fell under my feet.
    For you equipped me with strength for the battle;
        you made those who rise against me sink under me.
    You made my enemies turn their backs to me,
        and those who hated me I destroyed.
    They cried for help, but there was none to save;
        they cried to the LORD, but he did not answer them.
    I beat them fine as dust before the wind;
        I cast them out like the mire of the streets.
    You delivered me from strife with the people;
        you made me the head of the nations;
        people whom I had not known served me.
    As soon as they heard of me they obeyed me;
        foreigners came cringing to me.
    Foreigners lost heart
        and came trembling out of their fortresses.
    The LORD lives, and blessed be my rock,
        and exalted be the God of my salvation—

    the God who gave me vengeance
        and subdued peoples under me,
    who delivered me from my enemies;
        yes, you exalted me above those who rose against me;
        you rescued me from the man of violence.
    For this I will praise you, O LORD, among the nations,
        and sing to your name.

    Great salvation he brings to his king,
        and shows steadfast love to his anointed,
        to David and his offspring forever.
Psalm 18

The words that stuck out to me, and the words that have already been resonating in my heart lately is the truth that God is our rock.

He is our strength. We can confidently call upon the Lord because HE IS ABLE.

I've got lots of words on this and plan on sharing them soon.

Where are you seeing God as able? I'm seeing Him work in conversations that are hard for me, boldness that isn't natural for me, and joyful moments in a season of tired. He is able.

27 February 2013

Finding peace on my living room floor

Just before I was about to turn off my computer late Sunday night and head to bed, I read something online that just broke me. I'm not going to link to it, but it broke me. So I went to the place I go when I am broken.

I crumpled from my space on the couch to the floor of my living room.

This floor knows me well.

It has heard the deepest of my heart cries.
It has listened to me cry.
It has listened to me yell. 
It has listened to me VLOG.
It has comforted me when the things of this world weren't offering me what I wanted them to.

This floor is the place I go to when I need Jesus in a way deeper than I usually need Him.



I always need Jesus.

But sometimes I just have to get on my knees, or on my face, or like I did Sunday, on my back on the floor in order to meet Him.

I wept for the sick.
I wept for the needy.
I wept for the lost.

And I told Jesus I have to trust You.

And then I wept for the lost again, because they don't get to have that.
They don't get the peace that I find on my living room floor.

Where do you physically go when you need peace? I find that peace in Jesus but I tend to go to my floor. You?

26 February 2013

{a walk through} psalm 17


   

Starting January 2013, I decided to take a little step into a semi big blog commitment. I'm going to walk through the Psalms on my blog. Until the book is done, I'll post a verse or two in a photo every single Tuesday and Thursday. The heart of this series is for me to be looking into the word and being intentional to post HIS words here. Sometimes it'll just be the one photo as a blog post, sometimes I'll share what the words in the verse meant to me as I read it, and sometimes I'll have a post going on that day that speaks of other things. Thanks for joining me in this Psalm walk through.

This is one of those days where I don't add a lot of words. Not because I don't want to, but simply because it's almost this current day as I write this, and normally I write my Psalm posts on the weekend and I am so very tired but I just want to say.

I want to purpose my mouth.

I want my mouth to know that it belongs to God and that it speaks only what Jesus has said to speak.

and you know what Jesus called my mouth to speak

Love.

25 February 2013

written down and spoken aloud, this is my heart

I've got two fun things happening here today! I hope you'll stick around for both. It's a two for one day! A VLOG and some words on honouring my future husband!

First things first!

Ashley (aka one of my favourite bloggers and people around) hosts a monthly link-up called The Girl Behind the Blog and offers a space for bloggers to share by video a little bit about themselves. Here's my video! Watch it, and go to her blog to meet her and go watch a bunch of videos. YAY! HERE WE GO! The prompt this month is to share what is on your heart. That is a good thing for this girl who absolutely loves talking.





I'm super funny! Right??!?! Ha. Well, I think I am, which probably is a bad gauge of funniness!
P.S. I mentioned loving out. I wrote about that here! That piece on loving out remains a favourite for my heart.

5ohwifey

AND NOW let's talk about honouring out husbands! Stick around okay.

I'm the single girl sharing words about husbands, yep I am.

Lovely Jac of Babe Blessings (aka another lovely blogger whom I love a whole lot) is hosting a series over 2013 called the Godly Wife Series. She was kind enough to let me be a part even though I don't even have a husband! This month is on honouring your husband. I wrote a piece at the beginning of the month which received a lot of attention (just statistically speaking) and which I actually touched on what God truly kept pushing onto my heart this month as I thought about it.

But in all honesty, I had expectations for what honour would look like for me. I really did. I thought God would reveal a lot of things to my soul this month about honouring my husband.

But I heard only one thing.

Stop thinking about him.

So I am. I didn't expect this. I didn't even want this. But I'm starting to listen.

And you know what, I think I'm honouring this potential future husband more than ever because I've noticed some subtle shifts in my heart.

I've caught myself not being as jealous of those around me.
I've caught myself genuinally excited when engagements have been announced.
I've noticed a lack of grumpiness around being single.

I've also had some moments where, like every month, like every single time I dwell on singleness, I've gotten sad.

Shifting my thoughts hasn't changed the fact that I am still as single as ever and still desire being married as much as ever, but not dwelling on my future husband has caused my heart to choose to rest in my identity in Christ instead of my identity as a single.



I've also noticed that the things I have on my life list of things to do once I'm married can probably happen now. I read a great article this week about singles and while I liked the whole thing, and the words about doing things now instead of when life starts (even tying that, it seems absolutely ridiculous to live as if now isn't really living. As if the life God has given me isn't enough. That's rude to my Saviour) really struck me. I also read another one that was great. It was apparently the week of good article on singleness for me!

If I get to be married, maybe it'll be this year. Maybe it'll be next. Maybe it'll be when I'm 40.

I really don't know when and if that day will come, but I do know that God wants me to honour HIM before I honour anything else.

So am I working to honour my future husband? Yep. Completely!

And right now, the best way I can honour him is not letting myself think about him each day.

See, it's not very profound. I really had HUGE expectations for this month and I truly feel a bit let down. But let down in a way that is great because it means that God has in a sense, let me off the hook.

I don't have to think about my future husband every single day. I get to think about my current love - the love that will remain throughout all things - the love of Jesus.

I don't have to constantly wonder if each person I meet is my future husband because I serve the author of time, and HE has got this. He's got it. Why would I think that I need to stress about it?

I get to rest in the truth that God's plan is perfect, and that means today is good.

Honouring my potential husband starts with honouring the will of my God.

There is a great link-up with Jac that I'd love to invite you in on. Take the time to add either something you've written today about honouring your husband, or about honouring your future husband, or share something that has to do with honour. We've love to read your words. Be sure to pop on over to her blog to link-up or do it below (if it works!)





Regardless of your status, how are you? How's it going to trust God's plan, to honour God before man, and to love God before you love anything else? I'm not very good at it but I'm excited to get better.

AND, what's the link to your VLOG? I'd love to watch it. Last month I watched almost every single one!

22 February 2013

and the fruit of the Spirit is NOT: worry

I'm over at Oh Sweet Joy sharing some practical ways to encourage others. Check it out k? Yay! If you're here after reading my words there, welcome. I'm glad you are here and I hope you'll stick around. I love this space, loving sharing my heart with the ones who hang out here, and truly love the community of readers who so sweetly and faithfully visit.

Now let's move on to new words for today. I'm really excited to share about what God revealed to my heart around worry.

In a nice evening conversation with a sweet friend recently, she mentioned a specific moment in her life when a certain worry had begun. It's no longer an issue in her life but it put an thought in my head, and now defines how I consider worry.
Worry is planted.

But it doesn't have to grow.


Similar to the farmer sowing the seeds, shared in the Gospel and speaking of how everyone reacts differently to hearing the Truth of the Gospel, I now see worry as that.

The difference being, I never want to let it grow. I want the seed of worry, when it pops into my mind and thoughts, words and actions, to immediately die and not even touch the dirt of the ground.

Scripture speaks of the fruit of the Spirit. This past summer, God clarified some things to me. I was being asked to fulfill things I couldn't and He comforted me with the truth that there are specific fruits we are meant to see in ministry.  

love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control

Those are them. It's not a short list but is also only that many. Those are what we're meant to see in our ministry. Worry is not a fruit of the Spirit, which means it's not something we're meant to seek to have. We need to destroy it when it comes up and drop those worries at the feet of Jesus.

I think as a female, and I can only speak from this perspective of female as it is the only one I know, I tend to worry and have anxiety over various things quite often. I see it also in my friends (both in real life and bloggers) so I'll use "we" language.

We worry, us women.

We like to over analyze and fret, to think things through, and I really truly believe that is not our call. It's okay to think about things, and to analyze things, to work hard, and to plan well, but there is a reason God told Martha to stop working and praised Mary for seeking truth.

Martha said "what does Jesus need? ME."
Mary said "what do I need? JESUS."

We need Jesus, not more things to do.



God doesn't even make us hoist up our worries to the hands of Jesus. We get to drop them at His feet, at the bottom of the cross. Wow. That is amazing to me.

We're called to many things as followers of Jesus, but worrying is not a call on our lives.

So what is the call on your life? What calls have you added that need to be taken away? Are you letting worry grow instead of watching for it and not even letting it hit the ground? Is it time to take some worries to Jesus and recognize that worry is not a fruit of the Spirit? I get that these are tough questions and I'm not really expecting comments on them but maybe your heart needs to think about them.

21 February 2013

{a walk through} psalm 16


Starting January 2013, I decided to take a little step into a semi big blog commitment. I'm going to walk through the Psalms on my blog. Until the book is done, I'll post a verse or two in a photo every single Tuesday and Thursday. The heart of this series is for me to be looking into the word and being intentional to post HIS words here. Sometimes it'll just be the one photo as a blog post, sometimes I'll share what the words in the verse meant to me as I read it, and sometimes I'll have a post going on that day that speaks of other things. Thanks for joining me in this Psalm walk through.

I'm cheating a bit today on this Psalm. I actually wrote about this Psalm last year and wanted to point back to that day. So click HERE for the link and read on for a new post today that has nothing to do with the Psalm. no seriously, go read that post. Whatcha waiting for?


Yesterday I posted a post that got such a sweet reaction. You don't have to leave to read it (but you can if you'd like HERE), (did you go read it? cooooool).

I had so many sweet friends send me little notes of encouragement and I felt like I was really heard. I wrote in on Tuesday night (or realllllllly early Wednesday morning because I think it was past midnight) and I almost took it down in the morning because I was unsure about having laid myself out when I was still really reeling from some stuff. Yet I felt heard.

And then I had just a beautiful day. Work went really well and I felt like I was catching on to this job in a way I hadn't quite felt yet until yesterday, and then I had a sweet chat with Chelsea which was great (seriously, I really love her, and that was the first time we had ever talked), and sat back to reread the comments and was so encouraged (by all of them and especially) by this one from Moriah.
It's okay to admit that you aren't okay. Most of us aren't okay. And if we are okay, we know what it feels like to not be. God's love is the promise we have to hold onto during these times. When you're at your lowest, sit with Him and let it out. He'll speak to you. And that's the only way to keep pushing through until His promises are made known. I'm praying for you, Dear.
On a similar vein, I opened up iTunes for my weekly music listen (I always check out the new releases) and heard a song by Francesca Battistelli called Strangely Dim and I wanted to share it here. It was just what my soul needed to be reminded of. Will you listen with me? I know I needed it, and based simply on the comments and tweets and notes from others, maybe it's what you might need to.

 























Can I share my favourite lines? Cool. (and yes, I know this post is too long. I've got rules on how long my posts are and this post is breaking my rules! We're just going to have to deal with it okay? K cool)

I've had all these plans piled up sky high, a thousand dreams on hold and I don't know why.
I got a front row seat to the longest wait and I just can't see past the things I pray, today.
When I seek Your face and don't look around, any place I'm in grows strangely dim.
I'm gonna fix my eyes on all that You are, 'Til every doubt I feel, deep in my heart, grows strangely dim
I'm gonna seek Your face and not look around.

What's going on for you? Like I said yesterday, I'm okay if you're not okay.

I want to be careful not to offer more than I can give, because my life is full right now. I'm trying to be wise in what I agree to, but I do want to tell you, (yep you), that I'm praying for you. And if you need a friend, I'll be that. I can't promise to be your best friend or the one that keeps up with you all the time, but I will respond if you reach out.

unless your email goes to my spam mail. that happened to two emails in november that I found just recently. sometimes spam folders suck. whooooops.

I pray for each person who visits this space that you will find truth, meet Jesus, and love Him with your whole heart. I pray that you'll receive all wisdom and all peace, and that your life will give glory to Him.

And today I'm praying that all the things going on will grow strangly dim.

20 February 2013

because I'm not okay

I'm having one of those weeks (and if I'm honest, one of those months) when life is hard. I've been confronted with some sin issues in my life and I don't like them.

I don't like them so much that I'm not writing about them yet. I'm not ready.

You know that old adage, are you sorry because of what you did or because you got caught? Yeah, I'm sitting on the side of because I got caught and because of that, my words are a bit different today.

I've been working to maintain 5 posts per week, and to share my heart, and to share what God is doing. I've been adding fun little features and been trying to share what life looks like. I've been a faith blogger for ages, but I'm learning how to be a life blogger. (not lifestyle, that ain't me, just life).

But some days I don't have strength to share or good pictures or a fun thing that happened, so I want to share what's on my heart right now:

 it's okay with me if you're not okay

And I'm not even going to clarify what that means, because I mean it as however you're reading it.

Because I'm not okay.

I sometimes hate writing from a place of brokenness, even though that is pretty much always where I write from, because I get nervous that people will think that I'm depressed or not living with joy. Neither are true.

I'm alright but not okay, if that makes any sense. I'm filled to the brim with the joy of the Lord yet constantly aware of the life I'm walking in.

I'm still adjusting to the fact that I dropped out of college last semester and that it took over 3 months to find work.

I'm still adjusting to the fact that I'm still single. I feel like this is my eternal issue.

I'm working through things and I'm looking to Jesus constantly and trying to figure out how He is calling me to respond, but through it all, I'm okay and not okay, all at once.

My words are jumbled. I'm not quite eloquent right now.

But seriously. Hear me on this.

Jesus is good.
He is my strength right now (and always!).


19 February 2013

{a walk through} psalm 15


Starting January 2013, I decided to take a little step into a semi big blog commitment. I'm going to walk through the Psalms on my blog. Until the book is done, I'll post a verse or two in a photo every single Tuesday and Thursday. The heart of this series is for me to be looking into the word and being intentional to post HIS words here. Sometimes it'll just be the one photo as a blog post, sometimes I'll share what the words in the verse meant to me as I read it, and sometimes I'll have a post going on that day that speaks of other things. Thanks for joining me in this Psalm walk through.

The call is high in this Psalm. It isn't for the person simply looking for a god who lets you live however you'd like and turn to that god when you need something. This is a call to the one looking to live for God and serve Him well.

I'm taking a course through my church, and we talked a bit a couple weeks ago about learning the balance between call and comfort. We are comforted by the fact that we are saved and we are called to live for Christ in each moment. It's far more compliated than that, but that's what I'm remembering today.

To live for Christ and to let Christ live for me.

I like that.

Honestly, I found this Psalm sweetly convicting. Convicting to love better, forgive better, speak truth louder, to quiet myself more often, and a few other things too.

Conviction is sweet for me. I want to live more and more for Christ. I'm excited when He sees me fit to be stretched yet again and again and again and again.

I never want to be still.
Ever.

18 February 2013

Playing the Tourist: Granville Island

I don't want to call this a series because adding another series to my life would be vastly unwise, but I want to be intentional to love my city, to live it up, and maybe even share more of this city life here on the blog! There are so many great spaces to visit!

Recently I popped over to Granville Island and took some pictures. I'm not a good photographer so about 80% (read 99%) of my photos were blurry. Part way through I realized that I kept moving as soon as I hit the button. apparently that is wrong. (whoops) P.S. Any good links to basic photography tips? My sisters and I have chatted about taking a class but I'm trying my best to live on the cheap so I'm looking for free things.

I'm there every week because my church meets on island but it's rare I just go for fun. Here are some of my photos. I promise I'm not an excellent photographer but I do love this little island.



This next building houses my church. It's home for me.






I love this next one. I can't wait to come across a Psalm in the walk through series that talks about light! You'd better believe I'll be pulling out this photo!


When I uploaded these to my computer, I was immediately drawn to this next one. It's my definite favourite. I liked it so much that I immediately started looking ahead in the Psalms to find a great Psalm that would work for this one. aka you'll see this again soon!


What about you? Do you ever just play the tourist? What's the best thing about where you live? I'd love to hear!

15 February 2013

Tips to remain in God's will

A friend and I were chatting a few weeks ago about our lives and where we want to see them go. Our dreams and hopes, and even the now. Where was God moving in our lives?

At some point in the conversation, I casually and confidently spoke of how I am walking in God's will.

It led to some good dialogue about how we know that we are walking in God's will.

And I wanted to take a moment to share how I know that I'm walking in God's will, with the honest preface that I'm very much a sinner who often chooses sin over God's will, and I often choose my satisfaction over His glory.

These are how I know I'm in His will, because they're the things that require spiritual discipline. Living within God's will requires discipline. There is no way around it. I wish there was. But there isn't. There is a reason it's called the narrow path, because not everybody is willing to tough it out.





1. Remember that God never contradicts Himself. So the things that God calls you to will not contradict with the words of scripture.

2. Read the Bible. Every single day we need to be filling ourselves up with truth. We live in a world where we have an enemy, and I promise you that Satan knows scripture far better than you or me. That shouldn't cause us to give up, but should prompt us to constantly be looking to scripture, because that is the only place we have the written word of God. You'll only know if what God is calling you is true to His words if you know His words.

3. Pray. Pray. Pray. Pray. Sometimes I wish I could just write blog posts about prayer, and in them I would just write go pray because it's always the right time to pray. We have got to be in constant conversation with Jesus, utilizing the Holy Spirit to lead us wherever we go. If we don't talk to God, we won't hear from Him very much. Similar to any relationship, the ones we pour into are the ones that we typically see fruit from. Spend all of your time living the way God has called you to.

4. This goes along with the reading the Bible tip, but honestly, read through the Gospels. Often. We are called to live like Jesus. While all of scripture points to Him, only in the Gospels do we see how He lived out each day. We learn what we're meant to do when we look at what He did. I've got some words in my head and heart for a few posts on practical theology because much of what Jesus shared and did is actually incredibly practical. I'm excited to share them at some point.

5. If you want to remain within God's will, remain within community. A first act of ministry for Jesus was to surround Himself with a group of people. While He had the specific twelve disciples, He also had many others who lived life with Him. We are not called to solitude. Yes, He spent time away, and we are definitely supposed to spend time alone and in solitude (with Jesus) but I truly don't believe that God calls us to a life of solitude.

6. When I shared this list with a friend, she added that we constantly need to check our motivation. Why do I want to do this? Because if our motivation isn't to give God glory or to know God more, we probably need to reconsider.

7. In the Bible, we're given a list that shares the fruit of the Spirit (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control) and I truly believe that they are very good gages of whether we are walking in God's will. God will never call us to stop bearing those fruits, so if our endeavours produce those spiritual fruit, we can walk in confidence.

Like I said at the get-to, this list isn't exhaustive. It also isn't set in stone. But I do think it's a good place to start when we're wondering what God wants us to do.

“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.” Matthew 7:24-27

I don't know about you, but I want to live in a house built on a rock - the rock - the Lord.

And don't you be leaving without sharing how you walk in God's will. Or share the opposite, how do you know when you've walked out of it? I'd love to hear.

14 February 2013

{a walk through} psalm 14




Starting January 2013, I decided to take a little step into a semi big blog commitment. I'm going to walk through the Psalms on my blog. Until the book is done, I'll post a verse or two in a photo every single Tuesday and Thursday. The heart of this series is for me to be looking into the word and being intentional to post HIS words here. Sometimes it'll just be the one photo as a blog post, sometimes I'll share what the words in the verse meant to me as I read it, and sometimes I'll have a post going on that day that speaks of other things. Thanks for joining me in this Psalm walk through.

You would think that on the day of love that my Psalm would somehow magically be all about love. But alas, it's not.

a little note before you continue: this post is all over the place. You're welcome. This is me. I'm usually thinking a trillion thoughts at once, so today, instead of having a focuses post, I'm just spilling out different words.

Anyway. Happy Valentine's/Valentines (depending on how you like to spell it) Day! I hope it's a lovely day for you. Don't buy into the hype if you don't want to, but if you like this kinda stuff, have a blast!

My relationship advice for the day is to communicate with your loved ones what you want and need. I know that's basic, and I'm no relationship expert, but from my single girl perspective, if you want roses but don't tell your dude, he won't know, and that doesn't make him a bad person.

Seriously eeeerybody (as I'm writing this, I might just be listening to this ((it's a clean version but it still might be a bit explicit for some, sorry)) song on repeat, which means I'm saying words like uuuuurybody and bizniss).

My plan is working from 9-5:45 and then driving to worship practice, so basically it's going to be super romantic! Or not . . .

I've got things to blog about but haven't the time this week to get them up here! But know that I participated in a couple Valentine gift exchanges and I've received one (and am so thankful for it) and am still hoping to receive the other. I want to take pictures of the gifts in good lights, which means my time is limited due to the winter weather and my work schedule, so who knows when that will happen.

Regardless, I've just been feeling really blessed by the blogging community. My post over on Jessi's blog seemed to really be what some people needed to hear, myself totally included. It always amazes me how the words I share so often are the words I need. I've got a couple other guest posts coming up this month and I'm really excited to share the words on my heart.

All of this to say, mushy words included, y'all are awesome.

xoxoxoxoxxo

How's your day? Any fun hyped up moments? Any single people ready to go on strike from the world today? I hear ya!

13 February 2013

A quick glimpse into life

We interrupt nothing to share some photos.

So maybe just maybe just maybe (totally completely) I love that blogging has given me so many new friends! All these photos were taken on SUNDAY! It was a video filled day and I loved it!



And oh you know, some more cuddles with the princess.


Oh you know, just making decaf lattes at night. No big deal.



AND THE WINNER OF putting three images that don't go together and don't have nice matching colour schemes and such GOES TO me.

What's life look like for you? I wanna know!

12 February 2013

{a walk through} psalm 13



Starting January 2013, I decided to take a little step into a semi big blog commitment. I'm going to walk through the Psalms on my blog. Until the book is done, I'll post a verse or two in a photo every single Tuesday and Thursday. The heart of this series is for me to be looking into the word and being intentional to post HIS words here. Sometimes it'll just be the one photo as a blog post, sometimes I'll share what the words in the verse meant to me as I read it, and sometimes I'll have a post going on that day that speaks of other things. Thanks for joining me in this Psalm walk through.

Today enters one of my most favourite Psalms.


Off the top of my head, my favourite Psalms are Psalm 25, 34, 46, and this one, Psalm 13.

This Psalm, if you were to look in an older Bible of mine (I can't quite remember if I've written it in my new Bible), has a name written beside it. I won't share the name here, but it is someone who I have committed to pray for through all things, and I often need to turn to the Lord and ask for His help in my prayers.

I also head here when I am at my most broken (well, or here). God welcomes our prayers of lamentation. He wouldn't have allowed a book filled with Lamentations or this books of Psalms that display such an array of emotion if He did not expect to hear the same from us.

I love it, not only because it is filled with sorrow, but also because it ends so beautifully. Verses 5 and 6 ring out as truth that I have to make sure my prayers end with. God can hear all sorrow and pain, and because of that, I want to end prayers confidently praising the Lord that He is.

    But I have trusted in your steadfast love;
        my heart shall rejoice in your salvation.
    I will sing to the LORD,
        because he has dealt bountifully with me.
Psalm 13:5-6

Where do you go in scripture when you need to cry out to God? In those moments of lament, and in those seasons of suffering?

P.S. I'm sharing some words over on Naptime Diaries today. Check my words out okay? K. Cool.

11 February 2013

Thoughts on the Rend Collective Experiment





This movement is powerful and beautiful. As I listened through the first time, I tweeted:

When I listen to worship like this, my heart yearns for Heaven, and it cries for the many who don't know freedom.

Because I do. I know freedom in Christ, and I want everybody to know that freedom.

I listen to this worship and I envision the church perfected. And I sorrow that as a corporate church, and even on an individual basis, we're still not there yet.

When will we lay down our swords against one another and simply use the sword of the Spirit?

When will we fit out feet with the Gospel and with peace, instead of walking away when life gets hard?

I'm speaking to myself here. But I'm saying we because I know I'm not the only one.

In church on Sunday the topic was death. I'd been warned going in by a friend that it was going to be depressing, but depressed is the last emotion that I felt. I felt filled with joy because death is not dying for those in Christ.

For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.
1 Corinthians 13:12
I am so excited to see fully.

What makes you excited? What fills your heart with joy?

P.S. These two songs are my current favourites from the campfire album.



08 February 2013

See, Love, Praise, Pray




I'm learning a lot right now.

Which might sound conceited, but I kinda assume that everybody is too. Just different things.

I'm learning to react with joy instead of jealousy.

I'm sitting in a coffee shop as I write this, and a beautiful little toddler just walked by.

Toddlers (amongst many other things such as words of affirmation, cards, carbs, and wine) are my love language. Well, toddlers, and children between the age of 2-7. The young ones. I love them (P.S. I also love the older ones and pretty much everyone. I'm not picky about whom I love). I love them toddlers because they're beautiful and so fun, they're exploring everything and they love with such abundance.

Often my tendancy is often to see a child, love them, be excited to see them, and then become jealous that I'm still not a mom. That jealousy might not spur up until later that night, or even days after, but it far too often comes.

But that isn't what I want my response to be.

I want to love them, be excited, and remain joyous that they are who they are, and that their mom gets to be who they are, and continually look to Jesus, one who never fathered on earth, who IS the ultimate Father, and say "Holy are You Oh Lord".

So I make it a habit to pray for these friends and their babies constantly. When I catch myself in a sinful reaction, thought I admit that this is not always my first thought or reaction to sin as I often just like to sit in my sin, I hand the entire thing to Jesus. I figure if He's got the whole world in His hands, He'll be able to hold me and these sweet little friends as well.

See. Love. Praise. Pray.

This little one, she's my niece. I've got 8 nieces and nephews (well, 3 nephews and 5 nieces) and this gem is the first local baby. I'm so excited to get to watch her grow up live instead of just by video. That being said, I'm grateful to live in a time period where skype and phone calls are easy peasy!


Oh. Why yes, I do own two pairs of hipster glasses. Just in case you noticed. Did you see my vlog (my least favourite blogging word) back in December? Check it out here.

What are you learning?

07 February 2013

{a walk through} psalm 12



Starting January 2013, I decided to take a little step into a semi big blog commitment. I'm going to walk through the Psalms on my blog. Until the book is done, I'll post a verse or two in a photo every single Tuesday and Thursday. The heart of this series is for me to be looking into the word and being intentional to post HIS words here. Sometimes it'll just be the one photo as a blog post, sometimes I'll share what the words in the verse meant to me as I read it, and sometimes I'll have a post going on that day that speaks of other things. Thanks for joining me in this Psalm walk through.

I've mentioned this before, how the Gospel constantly moves me, and how I love the Scriptures because they are filled with all that I need to know, but it bears constant repeating.


When I read through the Gospels, I always feel God exposing parts of me that I wasn't aware of. He teaches me how to live for Him, how to be obedient, how to serve well, how to love more, and so much more.

I can't speak for you, but I've probably never owned anything that was purified seven times.

And yet I do own something that pure.
I have God's HOLY words.

They are the purest words I have ever heard.

What have you read in Scripture lately that reminded you that the words of God are pure and true? If you haven't thought about that lately, or struggle with the idea, what causes you to question the validity of His words?

06 February 2013

Pizza is better






Guaranteed, any day of my life, if you ask me what I want to eat, my most honest (though probably not always what I'll say) answer is pizza (or Kraft Dinner).

What's yours?

05 February 2013

{a walk through} psalm 11


Starting January 2013, I decided to take a little step into a semi big blog commitment. I'm going to walk through the Psalms on my blog. Until the book is done, I'll post a verse or two in a photo every single Tuesday and Thursday. The heart of this series is for me to be looking into the word and being intentional to post HIS words here. Sometimes it'll just be the one photo as a blog post, sometimes I'll share what the words in the verse meant to me as I read it, and sometimes I'll have a post going on that day that speaks of other things. Thanks for joining me in this Psalm walk through.

This has probably been the hardest Psalm in the series for me to take a verse from and focus on. I'm all for boldness but not really one for controversy. Yet I look through scripture and see a God who hates wickedness and loves righteousness. I can't just go through this series and pick the kindest verse and reflect on it. I have been doing that, but I can't continue. If the point (and this is the point of the series) is to be intentional to post truth here, well, I've got to post truth here. I can't avoid verses.

One of the reasons I respect the church that I attend, is that we go through entire books of the Bible. When you read through Romans (as we are now), you can't avoid the fact that God is hard on sin. It's unavoidable. I never want to paint God as different than He is.

What do you think? How do YOU reconcile the love and wrath of God? I wouldn't necessarily say I struggle with this in my own personal life, but I tend to struggle with articulating it in a way that gives good Glory to God. Thoughts?

04 February 2013

From the Perspective of a Single Girl: How to Honour your (future) Husband



SO! I am so very excited and honoured (little note about all these "u"'s that I use in my writing. I'm Canadian so I write like a Canadian - okay? cooooool. I write things like colour, honour, favourite, and the like. Some of my sweet twitter friends have mocked me for it, but I stand firm in my "u"sage. hahaha, I'm so funny right? Also, this little note is getting long . . . whoa) to be a part of a beautiful thing happening this month, and truly, this year! Jac of babEblessings heard a call from the Lord to host a series over 2013 called Godly Wife, and I get to be a writer this month. I'm so excited. Over the past few weeks as I've prayed and tried to discern what to share, I've already learned much. I love how God is always ready to teach me more.

So for this month, the word is Honour.

Now, hold up, wait a minute (put a little . . .), why oh why am I being featured in a Godly Wife series? I'm single!

Yes.

And so I have decided to call all of my sweet readers to fast and pray until I get a husband.

Just kidding. (but if you feel called to do so, I won't stop you)

Jac asked me to share on how I am working to honour my future husband. What am I doing now for then, if then arrives?

So. Honouring my future husband.

If you've been around here for a while, you've probably caught on to this fact that I'm a sinner. At least I hope so. If I'm not pointing out my total depravity of salvation, I'll never rightly point to Jesus.

I sin today, and everyday, and my past is littered with sin. I can truly, only look forward, because like I shared recently, I was in a situation a bit ago when I was rejected because of my past sins.

I can't honour my future husband with my past, other than to walk in freedom from the chains that once held me.

Honour means a lot. I see honour as respect, love, and as one definition I saw read, allegiance. I want to be an ally with my future spouse. In order to be their ally in the future, I need to ready my heart for that.

Part of that comes in praying for him now. I pray for him often; for his purity, for his safety, for his faith, for opportunity for him to speak much of Jesus. I pray that if he does not yet know Jesus, that he will soon. I pray for his work; that he works hard and finds joy in what he does. I pray for his love; that he will love much and that he will be ready to love me. I know that my personality requires a husband who loves my words, because I love to talk, so I pray that he is patient, a good listener, and that he is ready to challenge me to love Jesus more each day.

I also pray for the marriages around me. I don't know the challenges they face, but I pray often. I figure that way, if someday I do get to face those challenges, I'll be able to ask them for wisdom. And God will have aided them to confidently walk me through the things they faced.

I make my best attempt to live with modesty. I know this looks different for everyone, but I try to cover my body more than I want to. Mostly because  I want to save all of myself for him. My past sins took away a lot of my purity, but I have opportunity to walk forward in purity. I dated a guy who said something that has always stayed with me: "I don't want to take anything from you that is your husbands". He didn't know if he would be my husband, and when our relationship ended, we both were able to walk away with pure hands. We were honouring our future spouses by honouring each other.

I wasn't go to add this, but then I read this article and just felt like I really needed to. I don't pray for this potential dude every single (pun intended) day. Sometimes I go weeks (and probably even months) without even thinking about him. And that is a very good thing. I don't know if God has a future husband for me. And even if God does, I want to live in the now. I heard a very convicting sermon when I was in grade 12 with one very strong phrase that has stuck with me throughout all seasons. BE PRESENT. The future is fun to consider, but TODAY is where God has me. That doesn't mean that I get to stop honouring my future husband or God for that matter. That means that I'm faithful in whatever God has for me.

I truly think that the best way I can honour my potential future husband is to faithfully live in the now, not constantly dwelling on the maybe of tomorrow.



Maybe you're thinking, because as I added this portion I had to ask myself if this was true: This seems to be in opposition with what the initial idea of this post seems to be.

But they don't contradict each other. They compliment.

Faithfulness for forever paired with faithfulness for the now.

This is truly just a start. There is much more I could do and probably should do. I'm excited to pray much this month and listen faithfully to what I hear from God.


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How do you honour your husband, your future husband, or simply the people who are in your life? If you're single, what are you doing to prepare for the future and to be present in the now? If you're married, what did you do prepare your heart for the future and how do you look forward (to children, new jobs, moving somewhere with your husband, planting a church, whatever it is) and yet remain present in what God has you in now? Share your hearts. I'm truly looking forward to hearing varied perspectives.

01 February 2013

I can't sit still




I was reading recently in Philippians and was so encouraged and excited, spurred on, challenged, and so many things as I read these verses.

    So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
     Philippians 2:1-11

I don't have to wonder if God is okay with me comparing and me wanting to be first.

He isn't okay with it and He doesn't want me to seek firstness.

I love the Gospel so much that I want to be changed. I want to be stretched. I never ever simply want to sit back and let things happen.

What is the Gospel pushing you forward into, or pulling you out of? I can't be the only one feeling these things. Share your story with me below or put a link in the comments to something you've written about being changed by the Gospel.