I've been doing some writing and reflecting on hope. More so reflecting with wishful thinking to write it out. So here I am, sharing some of my thoughts.
Hope really springs up.
I shared part of this on instagram on Thursday.
Some days it's easy to remember truth. And then other days it's harder. Today has been a harder day. So I'm looking at this image, one I'll use in an already written piece for next week. For weeks I've seen little pieces of life on the oddest and ugliest places. My favourite thing about hope is that one day I won't have to hope anymore. Heaven is the fulfillment of all hope. On the long and dreary days, even when my faith seems small, I'll place whatever hope I can find in the truth that one day hope won't be necessary. Jesus is the fulfillment of hope. Amen and thank goodness.
Spring itself is a sweet demonstration of our hope. I believe that we need all of the seasons to fully experience hope. If we didn't walk through the dismal winter, would we care for the sunshiny summer days? Spring comes before summer. It isn't just winter and then summer. There are these other seasons, these transitional seasons. Spring. Autumn. Such pictures, to me. Of grace and hope and mercy and goodness.
Talking with a friend recently about transitions. We always want to be out of transition. We want the calm and non-crazy. We want the consistent. But truly, when is that going to happen? And even more so, are we promised it? We’re promised eternal life without pain and sorrow, but not here on earth. Here we still live in the mess and muck of a sin filled world.
Which is why we need that beautiful hope of ours.
That beautiful hope that finds its fulfillment in Christ, and that will not even be needed in heaven! Need I say it again? Amen and thank goodness.
The one reason I keep thinking about how hope springs up is because I keep seeing flowers in odd places. In rocks. On the sidewalk. On a wall.
And then that odd planter eek thing in the photo. On an ugly wall in a random alley - hope springs up.
Amen. And thank goodness.
Last night I did something absolutely marvelous. It was a bit off character for me but nonetheless felt quite lovely.
I didn’t do anything.
Or more specifically, I rested. I decided to simply grab a book.
After getting home from work, I made a quick decision to grab a book and read. I sat at the edge of my bed, staring at the many books I’d like to dig into. I considered each, but felt my gaze lower to the bottom shelf. The bottom shelf holds my non theological books I simply read for fun, aka the books I never read.
My eyes scanned through until I saw one in particular. The Princess.
I grabbed it, walked to the living room, opened my front door, sat on the couch, opened a coca-cola, bundled myself in a blanket and started to read.
I read for the next hour and a half until I had to chat with a friend. I chatted, but once we were done, I wandered back to the couch for more. As I sat and grabbed the book again, now enjoying wine instead of the long-finished coca-cola, the idea of a bath occurred.
Hm. That sure sounded delightful.
So I walked around to find Epsom salts, my pi’s, a freshly poured drink and grabbed the same book I was now a hundred pages into.
For the next two hours or so I sat and I read, literally soaking in the rest.
I was ready to be done the bath and few minutes before finishing the book. Yep, almost 300 pages in just a couple hours.
I’d written on instagram earlier:
Sometimes I think it's important to grab a book you've read at least ten times, one that won't teach you anything, and that isn't on your goals list. Too settle under your favourite blanket, drink coca-cola, and let your heart rest for awhile. Anybody agree?
I think everybody agreed. Or at least the comments and double tapped hearts made me think so.
Self-care is such a buzz word. I always always always hate buzz words. Especially when I feel like a buzz word is for a particular group, self-care being for moms.
Yet as a single girl, with a fully schedule, who loves people and community, serving and all things gospel, rest matters. Self-care matters.
I meant what I said when I said: read a book that won’t teach you anything and that isn’t on your goals list.
I’m always working to make things count, to make them matter.
When I go for a walk with the baby, I walk really fast so I can count it as exercise.
When the baby is in the bath, I’m lying on the floor beside her doing sit-ups and push ups and squats.
I fill up every minutes of everyday with purpose. I read books and blogs and I think the things I do are good. I think they’re from a pure heart that is seeking righteousness.
But Jesus rested. He really and truly did. Jesus rested amidst storms and sought solitude from a world that desperately needed Him to offer them Himself.
And then, at the proper time, He did offer Himself. Fully and completely, in the biggest act of grace and compassion the world had ever seen.
I can’t claim to do the things He did, and I hope never to have to bear a cross. But I do want to seek first His Kingdom.
And I think, well, I’d be willing to say know instead of think, that I’ll find His kingdom when I seek His presence for my rest.
Which is exactly what I did as I read The Princess last night. A book I’d read maybe even a dozen times, that surprised me with its sweet teachings of the rest and grace we find in Christ.
Self-care. What do you think? Valuable? Buzz word? Am I off in my perspective? I hope not. But let me know your thoughts on self-care.
There are a few areas of the internet
that I am constantly in cheering mode for. Aka, ministries and things
going on that are awesome and that I love!
One such ministry is #SheReadsTruth, an
incredible daily devotional. I had a chance to meet the writers at the
Influence Conference back in the fall, and was truly honoured to write
during the women of the Bible series for Rachel, Dorcas, and the Woman with the disabling spirit.
During the current lent plan (a plan that is really good. Like, dang, it’s good and beautiful and convicting and comforting and IS the Gospel), there is a weekly link-up on Friday where we, the reader, get to pop in and share what we learned.
This week, the focus is on Psalm 38. Since I’m in a (forever and a year)
long series walking through each Psalm, I looked back at what I had
written for Psalm 38 last year and decided to share an edited version of
that post. Aight, preface done.
There are two best parts of the Gospel, in my opinion.
The first best part is that all have fallen short of the glory of God. I kind of sigh a big relief sigh when I remember that, because there is almost a sense of community.
I'm not the only one who sins.
I'm not the only one who falls short.
I'm not the only one in absolutely desperate need of help.
The second and really very best part of the Gospel is this:
Christ died a sinner's death so that those who call upon His name never have to die that death.
He was forsaken by God so that those who call upon the name of Jesus will never be forsaken by God.
Christ experienced the fullest and most awful death possible so that followers of Him will experience the fullest and most amazing life possible.
Our death, because of Christ if our faith is in Him, leads to eternity spent with Him.
He took our death.
And that, that is good news.
Are you linking up as well? Do! There’s little reason not to.
P.S. Those cool SRT friends of mine are creating an app. And pretty soon they're going to have a kickstarter campaign to make it happen. If you've got a heart for Gospel centered ministries, this is one to support. I'll be sure to share about the campaign (probably only on twitter though) when it happens.
