Continuing On

“She was unstoppable. Not because she did not have failures or doubts, but because she continued on despite them.” Beau Taplin

Today is a day when I just have to tell tiredness, too bad. Too bad tiredness, today I'm being productive and awesome. For some reason today I'm fighting.

Fighting apathy. Fighting laziness. Fighting for motivation. Fighting for perseverance. Fighting the desire to indulge in self.

Tired adds 5 extra pounds to any feeling, and it's easy to let it weigh us down.

But alas, the winds of change and determination. Today I choose to make up my own mind and push through the tiredness. So, I laugh. I ask questions. I set goals.

How often do I underestimate the power of my own will? Of making up my own mind to choose something different, something better? I underestimate myself in that regard, thinking I have to accept whatever comes to me, that whatever I'm feeling is all there is. So false!

The value of continuing on despite mistakes, doubts, tiredness....

I even believe that oftentimes, God simply desires that from us, our moving. Pulsing, fighting, not stagnant. He knows we are like dust, humans with sin natures. He knows we can't, by ourselves, be anything but that.

But we can continue on! We can remain turned in the direction of God, whether we take leaps, go two steps forward and one step back (which, by the way, is still a step forward!)

It's not that I won't doubt, or fail, or make a mistake, or be exhausted.... but real change hinges on whether I stop in the midst of those things, or keep moving. I won't get it right every time, sometimes I'll even wallow in my tiredness, but... Grace catches us when we inevitably don't do things perfectly. But the marvelous reality is that grace lets us TRY.

What do you think?

And we desire each one of you to show the same earnestness to have the full assurance of hope until the end, so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises. Hebrews 6:11

photo via

What I've Learned: From Having A Best Friend

That friend that you can actually say back their home phone number and the names of their parents, a rarity in a world where everyone is so connected on the surface. It’s that friend who brings about the best and most meaningful of conversations, about life and love. Sometimes those conversations don’t even involve words. Just sitting. And looking forward. And acknowledging the silence or the pain, the joy or the confusion.

It’s that friend that pushes us and challenges us. They tell us that yes, we did good, but they definitely know we can do better. It’s that friend that we will never have to question if one day we will be without them or if a fight will cause our friendship to rip. We know in 10, 20, 50 years, they will still be the best listeners to the stories we tell.

It’s that friend whom you grow up with, believing you can give them the world. It’s that friend that holds you when you find out for the first time that the world doesn’t always have to be kind to you. It’s that friend that you can tell with conviction, “the world is going to love you.” And then you think in your head, the world would be crazy not to. via

One of the greatest things about having a best friend is that I'm not afraid of showing my heart of hearts. I know she'll love me through it.

One of the greatest things about being a best friend is the joy of loving someone -- & being present -- through the thickest and the thinnest.

We've been together since we made up our secret handshake in 2nd grade. We've been through valleys and mountaintops together, seasons of distance -- sometimes geographically, sometimes emotionally.

I've learned a lot from her -- she's strong, beautiful, determined, outgoing.

I've learned how to be brave and take chances.

I've learned to step out of my comfort zone.

I've learned to not get stuck inside my head, bogged down by my anxieties. (She's pretty great at lovingly calling me out on that.)

I've learned to believe the best in people.

I've learned what it means to love continually.

She rocks -- thankful & happy she's my best friend.

Coffee in a Tin

If I enjoying drinking coffee I would want it packaged like this. Halfway lovely and minimal, half adventurous and multifunctional.

From the designer themselves, Also Known As, "An attractive shape, an airtight seal, something unexpected."

Thoughts?

A Prayer For 2015

Spinning off She Reads Truth for this post.

May we use the coming days, this new year, as an opportunity not to (only) clean out closets and lose that stubborn 10 pounds, but to reorient our hearts and our gaze to the One in whom our only hope rests, Jesus Christ our Lord.  

O Lord,
Length of days does not profit me
except the days are passed in Thy presence,
in Thy service, to Thy glory.
Give me a grace that precedes, follows, guides,
sustains, sanctifies, aids every hour,
that I may not be one moment apart from Thee,
but may rely on Thy Spirit
to supply every thought,
speak in every word,
direct every step,
prosper every work,
build up every mote of faith,
and give me a desire
to show forth Thy praise,
testify Thy love,
advance Thy kingdom.

I launch my bark on the unknown waters of this year,
with Thee, O Father as my harbor,
Thee, O Son, at my helm,
Thee O Holy Spirit, filling my sails.
Guide me to heaven with my loins girt,
my lamp burning,
my ear open to Thy calls,
my heart full of love,
my soul free.

Give me Thy grace to sanctify me,
Thy comforts to cheer,
Thy wisdom to teach,
Thy right hand to guide,
Thy counsel to instruct,
Thy law to judge,
Thy presence to stabilize.
May Thy fear by my awe,
Thy triumphs my joy

(Valley of Vision)

An attitude over a resolution.

I don't know what 2015 has in store for me, my loved ones, or the world. I know I'd like to commit more Scripture to memory. I know I'd like to develop a lifestyle of activity to keep my body feeling good. I know I'd like to talk more than I text.

I think these are nice and noble resolutions, but I wonder if (for me) a resolve to encounter God, might be more of what my 2015 needs. Remembering that He doesn't keep a record my failures, and that He doesn't want to count my accomplishments. My eternity, my fate, my purpose, my life in Christ, is sealed. With that truth in stone, with that written across my heart... what's next? Celebrating, admiring, resting in, confiding in Him -- relationship with Him. My life, one unflinching gaze upon the glory of Christ.

One day we will all awaken from this dream called the universe, this dream called life, to the sheer reality of God's I AM-ness. And when we do--when you do--will your life have been built on the shadow or the substance? Will you have lived your life for "it was" or for "I AM"? (Look and Live)

God, a believer's true Home. The real Glory. The Infinitely Interesting.

"God commands us to love Him more than anything else because He knows that anything we love more than Him is going to betray us." Matt Papa

"Our whole business in this life is to restore to health the eye of the heart whereby God may be seen." Augustine

"Our eyes will not go upward to the Lord of themselves, but they incline to look downward, or inward, or anywhere but the Lord." Spurgeon

Fix my eyes.

That's my resolution for 2015.

Excited about this new year! A full year as a wife, a full year working a full-time job I really enjoy, a full year of being back in my hometown as a married college graduate.

The Fullest Year To Date

I graduated from college.. one of the coolest days of my life.

Participated in my senior Graphic Design Program exit show. Months of late nights and stressful moments to finally be completed for a great night.

Celebrated my 22nd birthday with some of the sweetest people in my life to date. The most fun surprise!

Left a church family of almost four years. Being apart of these people helped shape who I am today. Happy our roots are tangled.

Got engaged! Another sweet day of my life's story. A surreal moment.

Spent the summer catching up with my sister and family, memory-making with the best.

Married! Incredible day. Too many special moments to count. Thankful to the Lord for such a day.

Spent a great week in Asheville, North Carolina for our honeymoon. Hiking, eating, relaxing, quality time together.

Our first home together. Learning our lives together. Enjoying each other.

By the grace of God, and the presence of the Holy Spirit, and the love of my man, I have been growing, and learning, and loving. The year was full, beautiful, bittersweet, emotional, joyful, sweet, peaceful. I will always look back on this year, 2014, and smile.

Some Advent Thoughts

A call to simplicity. A prompt to be in the present moment, not hurrying, not manipulating.

“Every moment I live, I live bowed to something. And if I don't see God, I'll bow down before something else.” Ann Voskamp

My man and I were talking about what we want for this week -- a focus, a goal, a meditation. It's our first married Christmas. We've got two families to spend time with -- lots of conversations to have, food to eat, gifts to give, memories to make. J said, "I don't want to rush moments." I jumped off that thought in realizing that sometimes the best days are ones that aren't manipulated or rushed. For me to be as present as possible in helping my mom in the kitchen, or in a conversation with a brother-in-law, not worrying what time we have to be where, or what else the day holds. Presence.

I also can't help but relate this to my relationship with God.

“God gives God. That is the gift God always ultimately gives. Because nothing is greater and we have no greater need, God gives God. God gives God, and we only need to slow long enough to unwrap the greatest Gift with our time: time in His Word, time in His presence, time at His feet.”

Time with.

Time with God. With my husband. With both my families.

Moments and encounters. Attention and conversation.

“Joy is a function of gratitude, and gratitude is a function of perspective. You only begin to change your life when you begin to change the way you see.”

Here's to seeing in a new way.

crushing on: Christmas version

Apple cinnamon bread

Christmas Crunch

Frozen Yogurt Bark

A Christmas tree for the creative

Give your napkins some Christmas charm

Twinkle lights in the hallway, anyone?

A great use for small sticks at Christmas time

Merry Christmas Eve, friends!

Maybe It's Not So Complicated

"A simple, childlike faith in a Divine Friend solves all the problems that come to us by land or sea."

I don't know about you, but I have a tendency to make spiritual things complicated. If I'm honest, it stems from a lack of love of myself, a lack of real belief of God, and a mindset that salvation and Love come by earning (which is opposite from truth).

In and out of seasons of life, I find a call to childlike faith beckoning me. Convicting, directing, challenging me.

This call makes sense, because of these words...

“Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.” And he took them in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands on them. Mark 10

As a mature adult from a worldly perspective, I am pretty self sufficient. I am blessed with a job so that I have money to buy what I need. I have my health. I have a wonderful husband who I love and adore. But the key word there is "worldly."

The truest of realities of life is that God is my provider, and Jesus is the reason I am acceptable to God (Colossians 1:22) Jesus is the Way to God, my connection to God. I'm dependent on the Lord -- He cares for me, pays attention to me, loves and protects me, challenges me, continually washes me clean, makes me whole, etc. Salvation has nothing to do with my achievements or failures, and everything to do with God Himself -- His mercy -- and the sacrifice of His Son so that I might be saved. Eternally saved, loved, and free.

It's simple. Yet I let the world, and my flesh, snowball the simple into complex.

I don't want my faith, my personal and intimate relationship with God, to be affected and infected by letting it get complicated. I want to cling to and stand rooted in the simple truths of God. I want to stop putting so much pressure on myself, letting Christ's work on the cross, and God's good and holy nature be enough... because it is. Like Jesus said, It is finished.

"The response of the natural to the spiritual should be continuous conversion, but this is where we so often refuse to be obedient. No matter what our situation is, the Spirit of God remains unchanged and His salvation unaltered." O. Chambers

Thankfully, my Heavenly Father has reminded me once again what faith looks like. It's not in myself, it's in Him. Him and all He is.

Simple, like a child.

Let all of life spring from the well.

Creamy Chicken Quinoa and Broccoli Casserole

It's wintry outside... hello, casserole and soup season.

I happen-stanced upon this recipe over the weekend, and thought it perfect to make this week because my man is out of town for work and I wanted leftovers for lunch.



 

Quinoa. One of those ingredients most people will make a funny face at. I'll be honest and say in some dishes I'm not really a fan of quinoa. Texture thing. But in this dish? It was great.

If you’re looking for canned cream of something soup, look no further than a casserole. That is the nature of a casserole and I never question it.

Nothing from a can. Everyone = happy.

Ingredients

• 2 cups reduced sodium chicken broth


• 1 cup milk (I used 2%)


• 1 teaspoon poultry seasoning


• ½ cup flour


• 2 cups water, divided


• 1 cup uncooked quinoa, rinsed


• ¼ cup cooked, crumbled bacon (optional... sort of)


• 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts


• 2 teaspoons seasoning (we often use something like Nature Seasoning, but it can be whatever you like)


• ¼ cup shredded cheese (any kind will work)


• 3 cups fresh broccoli florets

Instructions

1. Sauce: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees and generously grease a 9x13 baking dish (seriously, be generous because it really really sticks to the sides). Bring the chicken broth and ½ cup milk to a low boil in a saucepan. Whisk the other ½ cup milk with the poultry seasoning and flour; add the mixture to the boiling liquid and whisk until a smooth creamy sauce forms.


2. Assembly: In a large bowl, mix the sauce from step one, one cup water, quinoa, and bacon and stir to combine. Pour the mixture into the prepared baking dish. Slice the chicken breasts into thin strips and lay the chicken breasts strips over the top of the quinoa mixture. Sprinkle with the seasoning. Bake uncovered for 30 minutes.


3. Broccoli: While the casserole is in the oven, place the broccoli in boiling water for 1 minute until it turns bright green and then run under cold water. Set aside.


4. Bake: Remove the casserole from the oven, check the mixture by stirring it around in the pan, and if needed, bake for an additional 10-15 minutes to get the right consistency. When the quinoa and chicken are cooked and the sauce is thickened, add the broccoli and a little bit of water (up to one cup) until the consistency is creamy and smooth and you can stir it up easily in the pan. Top with the cheese and bake for 5 minutes, or just long enough to melt the cheese.

Other thoughts

You will know the quinoa is done when it is soft and looks as if it has popped open. Also, if it's watery, don't worry -- with enough time, it should get that moisture soaked right up into a creamy sauce. PS - it serves about 6. As you can see I may or may not have added an absurd amount of cheese... doesn't necessarily need that much. Unless you just really dig cheese. Enjoy :)

recipe

A 'Vegas Neon' Verse For Me

"Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. Do everything in love." 1 Corinthians 16:13-14

This verse I relate to my marriage. It's one I have started preaching to myself often, to remind myself. Because honestly, I need this verse, along with Colossians 3:13 - "Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you." -- in Vegas neon in front of my eyes.

This is what I do, I meditate on a verse and then I take it apart to see what gold it has for me. It helps give the verse (and truth) roots.

Be on your guard.

We have to be vigilant: over our hearts, which can be led astray; over our thinking, which can become negative or defeated; and over the enemy, who seeks to divide and destroy us. Be on guard against all kinds of doubt: self-doubt, doubting my husband's character, doubting God's goodness and faithfulness to be present with us always. This is what I challenge myself with: stay on guard against selfishness when it rears its rather larger head. For me? Be on guard for the moments when I become easily offended over something small because of my own pride or insecurity.

Stand firm in the faith.

Our faith is what sustains our love. It’s the reason for our love. It’s the source and strength and purpose of our love. The best way to love my husband is to love God first, in all scenarios. For me, it's a step of faith to always believe the best about my husband, to choose compassion and kindness when my flesh wants to get frustrated. It's a way of trusting the Holy Spirit to work in and through me.

Be people of courage.

It takes courage to live in a covenant marriage: the courage to lovingly confront, when appropriate, but also the courage to receive a confrontation. It takes courage for me to be an active help-mate for my husband. It takes my own studying of the Word -- my own ongoing conversation with His Spirit -- so that I draw from His Truth to be bold. It takes courage to say 'Yes' to Jesus.

Be strong.

I need strength to forgive, strength to pursue intimacy, strength to persevere if we are carrying our marriage seemingly by ourselves (but always with God within us, of course). It takes strength to push through apathy, to fight back physical weariness and spiritual temptations to become one as a couple. For me, it takes strength to be honest, to lovingly confront sin or struggle, to confess fault.

Do everything in love.

This sums it up, doesn’t it? Living a life motivated by love. A sacred marriage calls me to be someone who knows I am deeply loved by God, someone who opens my heart, daily, to receive his love, who lives empowered by his love, and who is passionate about spreading that love. Being continually made into the likeness of Christ, we become a people carried by love. We become givers of it, expressers of it. I think it's a special, exciting, rich purpose given to us by our Father.

So I pray these words over myself, my man, and over all those who love Jesus and embark in the adventure of loving others.

And I ask God for the help to walk it out... and He goes. Because He's good.

Current Read: Look and Live

"The call is this: Make your life one unflinching gaze upon the glory of Christ."

Matt Papa and I go way back. Not sure he would agree with that statement, but here's a glimpse of back story. When Matt and his band really started traveling to play, the church I grew up in hosted them a good bit. In high school I met his girlfriend (now wife) when she came to visit with him. She and I have remained friends, and I'm thankful for her presence in my life.

Matt then committed to, wrote, and published his first book, Look and Live. I figured it would be a great read, I just didn't know how great. I've always known his heart to be genuine, to be real, to be honest. And all of those, and more, are evident in his writing.

"We cannot not worship."

"Everybody worships. The only choice we get is what to worship."

This idea is striking to me. The idea that as humans we are always worshipping something; that it's my choice what my target is. Causes me to look inward for a self-check.

I'll confess there have been things that have come and gone, some who still rear their heads,that I worship that are not among the genetic makeup of God.

But, Matt makes a challenging statement: "Everything crumbles under the weight of worship except God... Whenever we place "glory" on any created thing, the thing is devoured and the soul is disappointed. The insatiable must have the Inexhaustable. We were made for only one glory." 

One Glory. Anything else will break my heart.

I desire my life to be built on THAT substance. The 'I AM.'

The One whose greatest glory is that He is good. Always good. 

He references idols in a way that has stuck with me: the throne of my heart. Something will always be sitting on it.

"We worship our way into sin, so again, we must worship our way out."

That idol moving occasionally from the throne of my heart is not what will grace me with abundant life at the feast of God's table. Putting something (Someone) else there -- putting God there -- will.

Seeing the glory of God in the face of Jesus. Beholding Him. Giving glory where it is only due. Experiencing Him.

I'm only halfway through the book, but the Holy Spirit is already rewiring my thinking, my believing, my choosing. And I'm so thankful for that Mercy.

A Season of Lingering

"Is there a greater Gift you could want or need or have?

Christ comes right to your Christmas tree and looks at your family tree and says, “I am your God, and I am one of you, and I’ll be the Gift, and I’ll take you. Take Me?”

This, this, is the love story that’s been coming for you since the beginning.

You don’t want to miss it — miss Him." Ann Voskamp

December is a sweet month. A mixture of busyness and stillness. Colder weather, Christmas decorations everywhere, holiday music to jam to all day long, the fun of seeking the perfect gift for a loved one -- all those things make me buzz with excitement. Yet.. I find my soul in a contemplative state. An unhurried state. A place of wanting to linger in a moment, to look around, to behold my Lord. Where I want to remain small, and walk filled with all of Him I can get.

Last year I caught Ann Voskamp's book The Greatest Gift at the tail end of the Advent season, enough to excite my bones to read it all the way through. I'm thankful for a husband who does not want to bypass these days and the purpose they can hold. So daily we'll read, we'll pray, we'll linger, we'll behold.

"Advent, it is made of the moments —

all this slow unfurling of grace."

First Thanksgiving Day Married

It was a great first Thanksgiving as a married couple.

Time with both families. Crashing his family tradition of spending the night around a campfire. Meeting 'new' aunts and uncles and cousins who hugged like they already loved me. J is undoubtedly what I'm most thankful for this year, and I'm honored to live life next to him.

Taco Soup

First time for every thing -- including taco soup. And it was goooooood. Throw in some of my man's homemade guacamole and some good chips... delicious.

Ingredients

• 1 lb hamburger or turkey burger


• 1-2 TB McCormick taco seasoning (more or less to taste)


• 1 medium sweet onion, chopped finely


• 1 green bell pepper, chopped


• 1 red bell pepper, chopped


• 1 15 oz can black beans, drained


• 1 15 oz can kindey beans, drained


• 1 15 oz can pinto or white beans, drained and rinsed (optional)


• 1 15 oz can corn


• 1 can Rotel tomato's


• 1 15 oz can diced tomato's


• 1/4 cup salsa (fresh is best)


• 1 15oz can tomato sauce

Instructions

1. Brown hamburger in a large pan over medium heat. Add in the onions, bell peppers and saute for a few minutes.


2. Add in the remaining ingredients and stir until combined. Let simmer for about 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. You can add a little water if it starts getting too thick.


3. Top with sour cream and cheese, extra guacamole or salsa. Serve with tortilla chips. Enjoy!

"The Fabulous Five"

Allow me to introduce everyone (from left to right)...

Hannah, the sensitive, sweet, determined one.

Me, the ... (I should ask them what they'd say... maybe after they read this).

Ashton, the organized, helpful leader.

Sarah, the independent, rebel comedian.

Mary Beth, the sassy, out-going, risk-taker.

We've been friends since our early high school days and for any and everything it was always us five. This five-some withstood guys that came and went, guys that stayed, classes that were difficult, college applications + acceptances + rejections. It withstood family drama, school events, all that was stressful and all that was wonderful.

All of my high school memories had either one or all of these women in it. And I would never trade that, because I think it's a rare thing.

As we went to separate colleges we stayed in touch, always getting together for a Cracker Barrel breakfast or tacky sweater Christmas party.

Today we're adventurers into all sorts of life -- similar and different -- but there is still a thread between us all. This beautiful, steady thread of trust, love, listening, and presence.

We may not all talk to each other super frequently, because we're all different and want different things. Each of us desire different things for our particular lives, and it's great. So rich.

But I bet you 500 cookies that if we all knew we'd be in the same town on the same weekend, we'd plan a way to get together.

This makes me thankful to the Lord for such a gift of relationship. And I appreciate these four women for how they've lived life with me -- whether we were sitting next to each other in class, or chatting every other week on the phone.

No matter where each of our lives lead us, we'll always be the "fabulous five" in my heart. And I encourage anyone who reads this to never underestimate the value of investing in friends who are near you.

Cookie In A Pan

Chocolate chip cookies -- thick, crumbly, home baked -- are my favorite dessert. And I have a great friend whose dad used to make the best cookie bar I'd ever had (he even made some especially for me to munch on as I got ready for my wedding!). I've been wanting to make my own and figured an office Thanksgiving lunch was a great opportunity to try it.

It was an eventful night.

Used the wrong flour (unknowingly, in my defense) and my fantastic, loving, sweet, gracious husband went out and got more butter so we could make another batch. 

There were tears. There was laughter. There was a good bit of hugging it out.

All of that to say:

1. My husband rocks.

2. Cookie bars, when made with the right ingredients, are delicious.

Ingredients

• 1 cup butter or margarine


• 1 cup brown sugar


• 3/4 cup white sugar


• 2 tsp. vanilla


• 2 eggs


• 3 cups flour


• 3/4 tsp. salt


• 3/4 tsp. baking soda


• 1 cup chocolate chips (or more if desired)

Instructions

1. Cream butter, sugars, and vanilla together. Add in eggs.


2. Stir in flour, salt and baking soda until combined.


3. Gently fold in chocolate chips and nuts if desired.


4. Spread on greased 9x13 pan. Bake at 350 for 20 minutes, or until lightly golden brown on top.

Enjoy, and remember sometimes all it takes in the face of a bummed out situation is a hug and some laughter.

Bearing With & Forgiving

"The grace of God is patient and works both instantaneously and over time. A mistake we sometimes make is thinking too idealistically, as though if we blow our first apology, there is no chance for a second." John Piper

Something I'm learning about marriage is that it is key to keep the proper perspective -- the bigger picture. It is an effort to see Colossians 3:13 fleshed out in real life: "Bear with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgive each other." Bearing with and forgiving are both present.

Real life example (cheat sheet, simplified version):

Man is on the phone during dinner and an hour afterwards. Woman is disappointed, feelings a little hurt, bummed that there wasn't any of the normal "highs and lows of the day" talk during dinner. 

Woman doesn't ice over, but isn't super perky either.

Man apologizes, asks forgiveness. Woman forgives. 

They sit in an awkward middle ground of small talk. In mercy, called out by Grace, Woman erases previous moments and finds fun, flirty, loving normalcy. They have a great rest of the night. 

Woman later confesses to acting out of that disappointment, apologizes. Man forgives, and reminds that it is okay to show when she's hurt or disappointed, but thankful she doesn't want to sit in it. 

I've only been married about three months, in relationship with this guy for two years -- it's a slow learning process. But it's movement, always movement. Growing, learning. Small steps. And the Holy Spirit, ever patient, thankfully doesn't let us sit in selfish places, places of pride or offense. He works against pride and anger, stirring up Gospel truths (Ephesians 4:32), softening the heart.

There is a kind of tenderness in apology, in forgiving, AND in being vulnerable to your spouse when something does hurt.

As these interactions keep happening, because they will -- we're marvelously human -- these habits of bearing with and forgiving will become more quickly acted on, thanks to God's gracious refining.

Hallelujah! Right? I love my man so much. Life is better with him in it.

crushing on.

Lately... So many inspiring and lovely and cool things out there. 

This cookie recipe.

Apple Fritter Waffles, be still my hungry stomach.

If I could decorate my walls with this, I would.

The King of grilled cheese sandwiches.

An inspiring reminder to embrace the art of going on a walk.

Trying to wait until December to make these but it's tough.

Reese's Krispies popcorn. Enough said.

An impactful word we probably all need to hear.

Trying Softer

As general rule, the harder you work to control things, the more you usually lose control. The harder you try to impress someone, the more you force the conversation and come across pushy or awkward. The harder you cling to a person, the more likely they are to pull away.

Sometimes trying harder helps. But what about:

Try harder to relax. Try harder to fall asleep. Try harder to not worry. Try harder to choose joy.

There are limits to trying harder. JOHN ORTBERG writes that

“often the people in the Gospels who got in the most trouble with Jesus were the ones who thought they were working hardest on their spiritual life. They were trying so hard to be good that they could not stop thinking about how hard they were trying. It got in the way of them loving people.”

The problem with always trying harder is that I get fixated on my own efforts. Often I grow judgmental. I capitalize on perfectionism, and find myself spending too many moments in comparison.

Maybe instead of making grand gestures to God, I should surrender my will to the Spirit for just today. Softer.

Trying softer means focusing more on God’s goodness than our efforts.  It means being more relaxed and less self-concious. Less pressured. When I try softer, it leaves more room for humility and grace. It means asking God for help.

If trying harder is producing growth in your spiritual life, keep it up, friend. But if it isn't, meditate with me on this.

A little softer.

List of Ten #2

"But it seemed to me that this was the way we all lived: full to the brim with gratitude and joy one day, wrecked on the rocks the next. Finding the balance between the two was the art and the salvation.” -- Elizabeth Berg

Life is unpredictable. It can be fickle, it can seem empty, it can feel full. No two days are the same. This life is temporal, and we're passing through. I like the above quote, touching on both joy and trial. Because in this world are both, and we can't live believing otherwise.

Enter the hope of Christ. In the gratitude and in the rocks, whether we feel it or not, there is hope to be had. And we can have it TODAY.

10 things that help me hope today:

1. The special love of my husband, when I'm perky or when I'm down.

2. Stomach hurting laughter at silly things

3. Driving into the sunrise to get to work

4. A boss who genuinely wishes you better when you feel sick

5. Being asked to draw for a project at work

6. A touching handwritten response from a wise elderly mentor

7. New, lovely friendships blooming

8. Brainstorming gifts to give family for birthdays

9. Sprinkling extra cinnamon on already apple cinnamon-y muffins

10. Throwback tunes via Pandora to perk up any mood

{see List of Ten #1 here}