Lost in Beauty

Do you ever get lost in the beauty of something?

 I looked up from my computer a few minutes ago and just saw Jesus screaming love to my heart in the form of these lovely flowers, which is what led me to write this lil post.

    Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds! And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? If then you are not able to do as small a thing as that, why are you anxious about the rest? Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass, which is alive in the field today, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith! And do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, nor be worried. For all the nations of the world seek after these things, and your Father knows that you need them. Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you.   
(Luke 12:24-31 ESV)

Does the words of another every catch your breathe because you're so encouraged?

 Last night my sweet mentor came over and listened to me list all the reasons why I'm struggling with trusting God. I spent a lot of time just sharing my heart. She patiently listened and offered sweet wisdom. When she left I felt encouraged rather than the opposite which tells me she was speaking real truth.

    Send out your light and your truth;
        let them lead me;
    let them bring me to your holy hill
        and to your dwelling!
    Then I will go to the altar of God,
        to God my exceeding joy,
    and I will praise you with the lyre,
        O God, my God.
(Psalm 43:3-4 ESV)

Do you look outside and see Jesus in the sky?

(in Ontario in the spring) I spent much of my time with my sister sitting on the bed in the guest room looking outside and trying to hear from Jesus about what the next steps in life were going to be.

I constantly find myself looking at the sky because it's when I look up (away from the world around me) that I tend to see and hear Jesus speaking.

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.
(John 14:27 ESV)

Do you read a text a friend sent randomly and find yourself thanking God for them?

 (received this week) You are a lover of life. And you are so faithful Nadine, even when you don't think so. There is so much fire inside you, don't let the world get you down. You were made to shine. (I was, and remain incredibly blessed and encouraged by friends who care)

Do you ever look around at the life you have and whisper deep prayers of thanks because you never did anything to deserve such grace?

A few weeks ago I hosted a "welcome to September" party with the theme Spots and Stripes. It was so much fun to dress up with friends and laugh loudly. I'm mighty thankful for my silly friends.

Do you ever open mail from a friend who was once a stranger and see Christ in their actions and words?

 I am ever so thankful for Margaret. She has a heart that is truly seeking Jesus and it shows in what she does with her days.

Do you ever taste perfection and take courage because of it?

I'm not kidding when I say that Coffee leads me to Jesus.

Do you ever experience a dry season in your faith, finally open up about it, and suddenly have floodgates of encouragement by friends and strangers alike? So much so that you begin to re-realize the goodness that is Christ?

    Why are you cast down, O my soul,
        and why are you in turmoil within me?
    Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,
        my salvation and my God.
(Psalm 43:5 ESV)

I wanna get lost in the beauty that is in everything. That beauty is Christ.

Have you ever?
Me as well.

Thursday - Thanks!

Does everybody have someone in their life who has an ability to smack them in the face with truth and reality and perspective and more?

I hope so.

It's like smack talk except that it's super important and life giving and changing.

I enjoyed time with friends last night over sweet sangria and good conversation.

As I drove a sweet friend home, I was venting about something and she just - in the world's kindest way - told me that I was wrong.

She complimented my character and whispered truth.

Nadine, that happens because everyone thinks highly of you in that way because of how your character always exemplifies that and so of course that happens.

Oh. So I shouldn't complain about that burden?

Nope.

Oh.  

(Okay, it didn't sound like that at all, but it was really really kind and I felt both encouraged and compelled to change my attitude all in one moment. I promise it wasn't nearly as nauseating as the way I wrote it.)

I'm so thankful for her. That's her up there. That was during an adventure day to Seattle. The border crossing guard asked us if her car was going to make us there. I can always count on Christy for adventure, deep conversation, and general goodness.

This song is the one I was able to sing at her wedding.

Then she and her hubby moved to Figi for a season. And now they're back! YAY! Praise Jesus.

It's a good thing when sweet friends come home from adventures.

She has an incredible ability to speak truth in the most gentlest of ways.

She falls in a category called favourite for too many reasons to write.

For this Thursday-Thanks, I'm thankful for her.

I'm also thankful for video chats. I enjoyed a sweet chat last night with three "strangers". Tiffany, Virginia, and Jac. It was lovely. I highly recommend being bold in asking bloggers to video chat. Ask me!

One other thing I'm thankful for is my Mom. She really is my favourite human ever. This photo is from a trip we took last summer to San Diego after I won the trip from a radio station. I had to write a letter about why my Mom is the best, and because she is the best - we won! It was pretty cool.

I love her a lot.

I'm thankful for much in my life. Too much to write about. God's faithfulness tops every list. I'm more thankful for my salvation in Christ than anything else.

Thursday - Thanks

This past weekend I was part of a wedding. I got to help with setting some stuff up, hanging out with the bridal party for the day, and then MC'ing the reception. 

For part of the morning, I ran a couple of errands with the bride and groom. It just so happened that we basically got every single red light possible.

I mentioned as I noticed red light after red light after red light something along the lines of, 

"Sometimes when I'm driving and get a lot of reds, I like to think that maybe God's protecting me from something".

Like - if we had gotten all the green lights that we wanted maybe we would have gotten in an accident, or caused one.

The same goes for slow cars, or things that come up as I drive that hinder me from getting where I'm going at the speed I'd prefer.

Really, it's true for all of my life. There's so much that goes on completely unseen.

I so often look towards the big things in my life where my plans failed and then I'll see God's hand in it.

So . . . why do I only take time to thank Him for the big things? 

I'll see, sometimes days, weeks, months, or years later that God was setting me on a different path. His protection is so grand. I'll suddenly figure out that God was working me in a path that gave Him more glory than the path I was heading in.

This is the same for everyday life.

For this Thursday - Thanks!, I'm aiming my heart in gratitude towards a God who is so big and powerful that He's working in ways that I'll never know.

I'll never know how many car accidents, severe illnesses, heartbreaks, etc., that I should have gotten in or how many other ways in my day that God provided safety even amidst my complete lack of awareness.

I've written about the season where I walked away from God. In that season, I made a lot of sinful errors. God still has to bring so much peace to my soul on almost a weekly basis for the shame I tend to gravitate towards. 

He graciously whispers grace upon grace upon grace upon grace married with mercy after mercy after mercy after mercy. 

He's a good God.

I was selfish and lived to satisfy myself. There was one big decision that I wrestled with for a while in that season which truly would have changed my life and I honestly think, looking back now, that it might have ruined me. 

Even though I was far far far off from God and living in no way for Him, He provided a way out. He made it so that there was no way that I could make the decision and satisfy myself. On the week when I would have gone forward with the decision (and yes I know I'm being vague about this decision - if you wanna know more about it, take me out for a coffee - I'll share it in person), I got really sick. So sick that I had to stay home and couldn't go out and do what I wanted to do.

God is so good. It's almost overwhelming to type this because I can't even imagine where my life would be if He hadn't welcomed me back into His fold of grace.

So this Thursday, I'm thankful for a God that does so much more for my well being than I will probably ever know.

From red lights to sicknesses, to whatever else I'm unaware of in the moment - I'm oh so grateful. I sure do love Jesus. His grace is incredible.

I'm thankful for the grace of Jesus that comes in a thousand forms on a daily basis.

What about you? What are you thankful for today?

Thursday - Thanks!

Today I'm thankful for a day filled with much laughter, smiles, successes, songs and salvation!

I'm thankful for sunshine.

I'm thankful for a sing-along with one of my youth. It was good practice for me on the guitar and a great time in general.

I'm thankful for two of my youth accomplishing goals today. I'm thankful I got to play a very small role in the process.

I'm thankful for a sister who is in the last week of her masters, pregnant, tired, and overwhelmed but still willing to write encouraging texts to me on the days when I'm overwhelmed as well.

I'm thankful for the fact that tonight I have worship practice.

I'm thankful for the fact that one of my sweet girls at work listened to me play guitar and sing pop songs. I'm extra thankful that she was singing along. I'm mostly just thankful for her. She's a bright light in my life.

I'm thankful for a co-worker who planned to have a quiet night in but instead decided to go for sushi with me after work. She's another bright light in my life.

Its a good day. I'm thankful for it.

I'm thankful for Jesus. He died and rose so that anyone who calls upon His name can be saved.

It's the Gospel I'm truly thankful for. 

I spent last night on a long drive kind of mourning the issues where I've been falling short. Jesus was quick to remind me that his grace is sufficient and that His grace is not a DIY project. It's a HE-DOES-IT-ALL project!

The other things are just fun things though. Things that point me to Jesus, remind me of His grace, and keep me going.

    Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise.
(James 5:13 ESV)

Thursday - Thanks!

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

(1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 ESV)

This week I'm thankful for much!

I'm sitting in an emotionally rough place simply due to the nature of working with the youth that I do. They are beautiful people and just like me, they're broken. This has been a week filled with tears and many many many shouts to Jesus in desperation. He has been faithful. These are the ways He's brought comfort this week.

• Hugs. There was a moment this week where I knew a breakdown as going to happen and the timing couldn't have been worse. I managed to grab another leader (who I had met just days before). He saw me and just gave me a huge hug and let me sob as he prayed. In that moment, Jesus came in the form of a hug.
  I'm thankful. Oh so thankful.
   
• Refreshing friends. Each day this week before my shift I've managed to hang out with great people. They refresh me. They each encourage and motivate, speak truth and love. They each allow me to do the same to them. These conversations in the morning before long afternoons and evenings have pulled me through the day. In each conversation, Jesus has been like a cool wind on a hot day.
  I'm thankful.
   
• Beaches. Vancouver weather has brightened up this week. Before work yesterday I managed to fit in a beach hour and a half with a friend. Her four boys played as we chatted. She just listened as I talked about stuff going on, none of which had to do with the work week going on. I always find it best to talk about my heart issues with married friends. These women have beautiful wisdom. The sunshine refreshed my skin and her words refreshed my soul. Jesus was sunshine and conversation.
  I'm thankful.
   
• Cookies. On Tuesday, when I arrived home after a shift that went over an hour longer than I had thought it would - which was fine because I had volunteered to stay late - I was exhausted. The day had weakened me. I walked into my home and found a note from my roommate that said "eat me" beside cookies. Jesus showed up in the form of chocolate chips.
  I'm thankful.
   
• Prayer via texts. This week has led me to send numerous texts of desperation to friends seeking prayer in moments when I don't think I can go on. Jesus has shown up in answered prayers, in comfort filled texts, and so much more. Oh man, my God is good.
  I'm thankful.

Margaret at Floral and Frayed is also filled with gratitude this week. Check out her blog and let her and I know what you're thankful for!

Moving Forward

I'm taking a bit of a break from "Thursday - Thanks!" today.

Part of me thinks that I should just scribble down a list of things I'm thankful for - for the sake of blogging consistency.

But a bigger part of me thinks that is crap. For the sake of blogging authenticity, I'm just going to share some words I wrote weeks ago but never hit publish here on the blog.

. . . 

Sometimes I look back on situation that in the moment felt as though God was taking away something that I wanted. Or other times when I desired to do one thing and it felt as though God wouldn't let me do what I desired. Almost without fail I look back and see that God took me out of something and placed me in something which gave (and gives) Him more glory, or that He forced me to move out of one thing into something new so that I would know Him more. It makes moving forward a lot easier.

. . . 

That's all.

There's so much to come that I'm so unsure of and yet so confident in because Christ is with me.

I really am thankful for much. I'm grateful and blessed, overwhelmed by grace and so many things that are good and from God. I just don't need to make a list today. 


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Thursday - Thanks!

As I explore the Bible I see so many calls to be thankful. Even in our prayers we're called to thankful (Philippians 4).

This week I'm thankful for:

• Rest. I've spent much time this week just sitting with Jesus and letting Him fill up my soul. After a rough week last week, I needed Him to take over everything. I knew I needed rest when I was out with a dear childhood friend for dinner on Tuesday and was practically mixing up my words. Nadine, go sleep. So I did. I went to bed at like 8, and I asked Jesus to sleep with me and provide a long sleep. I woke up around midnight which was fine because there was a text I needed to read but then slept again until morning. I woke up feeling so very refreshed and restored.
  I'm thankful.
   
• My friend Michelle. Michelle is lovely. We work together at one of my jobs and she is someone who just gets my heart so very well. She knows how to speak truth to me, speak discipline to me, speak love to me, and ultimately, she leads me to Jesus all the time. After my refreshing rest, I picked her up and we went for early morning coffee. Good conversation occurred.
  I'm thankful.
  
• Le Marche St. George coffee shop! This coffee shop is just a block away from one of my jobs and it is lovely. The staff are so friendly, the food is tasty, and the coffee is incredible. They don't even offer any drip coffee - it's a good day! I typically run in on my way to work but I look forward to spending some time there some day. It's so cute and cozy.
  I'm thankful.
  

• Strawberries! I spent a good portion of my shift this morning/afternoon picking strawberries! It was so fun. Fruit is so tasty, and strawberries don't get any better than when they're literally just picked! So yummy.
  I'm thankful. 

• Sunshine! Today is so beautiful. I love it! I make adequate attempts each day to be joyful, but I've got to say - it's a LOT easier on a sunny day!
  I'm thankful.
  

• People who let me join their families. Though my own family is wonderful, sometimes as a single, it can get lonely just hanging out with other singles all the time (though I do LOVE my friends - I'm thankful for them). There are several families who have let me join in on their lives here in Vancouver. I get to babysit their kids, enjoy meals with them, eat late night Mcflurries with them, and mostly get to loved on by them. It's the perfect combination of things. (Especially when they don't get mad at me when I make epic forts with every blanket and set of sheets in their entire home for their kids)
  I'm thankful.
• Internet. Today as I picked berries and took pictures of berries and posted them online (because that's cool right?) I marveled at the fact that I could do all of that. Technology is incredible. It has its downfalls for sure, but it is also incredible. I'm so grateful to be able to connect via internet with my siblings across the country, my friends worldwide, and this interesting blogging community everywhere. Love it.
  I'm thankful.

That's my list today. There's so much more. These seem like such surface things, but they are the things that have made my days this past week or so.

What about you? What are you thankful for this Thursday?

Thursday - Thanks!

Next up for changes on the blog:

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

(1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 ESV)

Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise.

(James 5:13 ESV)

    If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

(Galatians 5:25-26 ESV)

As I explore the Bible I see so many calls to be thankful. Even in our prayers we're called to thankful (Philippians 4).

Thanksgiving is more than just a holiday. It's a habit that as Christians we're called to participate in.

Thus begins Thursday - Thanks!

I'm sure you'll catch on soon. 

• Jesus.
  I can't say it enough. I love my Saviour and need Him much. He's guiding everything. As I was driving home from my morning shift today I was thinking about how often I'm drawn to sin. The temptation to fall into certain things is there but Jesus pulls me to Him. He never gives me more than I can bear (wow) and He always provides a way out. (If you need a direct example - check out this post from months back) Jesus is my God. I am eternally grateful for Him.
  I'm thankful.
• Women of faith who know my heart.
  There are lots of things going on in my heart. I feel like the godly women in my life have been working overtime the past two weeks. Speaking wisdom into areas where I thought were fine. God's calling me to move in an area where I would have really liked to stay still. The faithfulness of these mentors and friends who are sending me texts, calling me, or in the case of my roommate - staying up until the wee hours of the night - is amazing.
  I'm thankful.
• A job.
  This week has not been the most fun in my life in terms of working. There have been excellent moments and rough moments. I've had to work extra hours, do things I don't find joy in and have spent a couple hours minutes crying to Jesus about it. Jesus has been understanding and pointed me to Himself to find comfort - if He can endure the cross, I can endure a bad couple work days. I'm thankful for this job. I'm learning much, being stretched much and daily having to choose joy over grumbling. It's excellent for my soul. There are also a trillion incredible moments in my work day, like yesterday when I got to build a fort of blankets and play with a 3 year old. I'm so aware that there are many many many people who would love a job so I am thankful for mine - for the easy, hard, and in-between days.
  I'm thankful.
• Home.
  Through my new job I'm realizing that having a home is a privilege. While all my friends typically share this privilege, many of the youth I work with aren't in the same state. They might have a house to stay the night, but a home is a bit harder to come by. I'm thankful for my apartment. While I don't think I've ever not been thankful for it (come on, it's beautiful) I'm becoming more and more thankful. I just ordered some verses from naptime diaries and I'm so excited to find frames and put up the scripture everywhere so I can be reminded of truth in each room!
  I'm thankful.
• An intervening Holy Spirit.
      “And I tell you, everyone who acknowledges me before men, the Son of Man also will acknowledge before the angels of God, but the one who denies me before men will be denied before the angels of God. And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but the one who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven. And when they bring you before the synagogues and the rulers and the authorities, do not be anxious about how you should defend yourself or what you should say, for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.” (Luke 12:8-12 ESV)
  I'm thankful.

Those are five things I'm thankful for today.

What about you? What are you thankful for?