Lately I have been reading a lot of other blogs. I search for encouragement and recipes, Christmas ideas and inspiration. I sit there wishing that some day my blog could look like that. A place where women come for all the reasons I listed and more. I find myself doubting. Doubting that I would ever have anything people would want to read. Doubting that my ideas are good or that I could inspire anyone. I sit there and I compare myself to these women who sound so eloquent or hilarious. I dream of the day my book would be open on the kitchen table to encourage the woman reading it. I pray for when it's my turn.
But that's it. That's where it ends. I search, I wish, I doubt, I compare, I dream. I'm too scared to do. There is no action. You see, I don't have to put myself out there to read. I do have to put myself out there to write. In the midst of comparing myself to these other women, I lost sight of the things that God wants to do through me. I forget to be present where I'm at. I forget that I have my own things to offer. I have my heart to offer and no one else can do that the way that I can. I desire to live in the purpose that God has for me. Even if most days I may not know what that looks like. I just know that it is obeying Him in every activity that I do. It is inviting Him into my moments. It is listening to His voice instead of the lies of the enemy. It doesn't matter if I inspire one person or one hundred. What matters is that I am living in purpose. I trust God to use me wherever He desires. I trust God to do whatever He has planned with this blog, but mostly with my life. It's time for me to start doing.
"The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me; your love, O Lord, endures forever - do not abandon the works of your hands." Psalm 138:8
May you live in the promise He has a purpose to fulfill in your life and that he will never abandon His work.
Tuesday, November 6, 2012
Sunday, May 27, 2012
A New Adventure!
In my last post I shared with you the story of a possible move to California. Through that whole experience we learned so much and I believe we were tested in our obedience to God. Were we really willing to go anywhere the Lord was asking us? Even if it meant taking us out of our comfort zones and away from our family, would we go if God called? We really got a chance to ask ourselves that and put into practice our faith in God's plan. In the end, God made it our choice whether we would stay or go and we know now He was only preparing us to obey Him to a call I believe He planned long ago.
And so a new adventure begins! My husband is now the Youth Director at Corvallis Evangelical and we could not be more excited! I have known, before Jared and I even started dating, that he has a huge heart for students. He is so passionate about teaching and sharing about the Lord and so when the opportunity came open, I knew it was something we would have to pursue. After praying about it and going through the hiring process with the church, we are so excited to begin this next chapter. There is a great group of students and we are so excited to get to know them more.
I truly believe that the Lord has a perfect plan and promise for every one of His children. He has been faithful to us beyond anything we could ever ask or imagine. We ask for your prayer as we start this adventure and we know that with the support we have already been shown, God is going to do some amazing things! We are blessed to be along for the ride!
I wanted to share this song because it is our response to God asking us to obey Him. We want to do what the Lord calls us to do, wherever that may take us. When you ask God to work in your life, He will. When you ask Him to be in control, He will. As scary as it may be when you choose to step out of the boat, God never abandons us. I pray that you may be encouraged.
And so a new adventure begins! My husband is now the Youth Director at Corvallis Evangelical and we could not be more excited! I have known, before Jared and I even started dating, that he has a huge heart for students. He is so passionate about teaching and sharing about the Lord and so when the opportunity came open, I knew it was something we would have to pursue. After praying about it and going through the hiring process with the church, we are so excited to begin this next chapter. There is a great group of students and we are so excited to get to know them more.
I truly believe that the Lord has a perfect plan and promise for every one of His children. He has been faithful to us beyond anything we could ever ask or imagine. We ask for your prayer as we start this adventure and we know that with the support we have already been shown, God is going to do some amazing things! We are blessed to be along for the ride!
I wanted to share this song because it is our response to God asking us to obey Him. We want to do what the Lord calls us to do, wherever that may take us. When you ask God to work in your life, He will. When you ask Him to be in control, He will. As scary as it may be when you choose to step out of the boat, God never abandons us. I pray that you may be encouraged.
Monday, May 14, 2012
A crazy month of growing faith
I know that it has been awhile since my last blog but it really feels like there has been a lot going on. God has been doing so much in my life and Jared's and honestly, I'm just trying to keep up with processing it all, that I haven't even been able to think of how to coherently capture everything to share with you. We serve such a faithful God! I am amazed, more every day, about how deep His love goes and the beautiful life He has created. He has really been changing and transforming my heart lately. It has been beautiful but at times paralyzing. There will be another blog to come talking about how painful change can be but for this one I want to share something that God has been doing in our lives and our marriage.
I can't go into all of the details because this blog would probably turn into a novel. In the beginning of March, Jared received an offer to consider a teaching position in California. We had no idea the crazy few weeks we were embarking on. This had been brought up to him before and we had both declined it, not thinking it was for us. We love where we are. Well, this time was different. After initially saying no, after not even discussing it what-so-ever, we shared over coffee the next day how neither one of us could stop thinking about this possible adventure. After a lot of prayer, Jared submitted his application. We were then offered the opportunity to go down for an interview. We were headed down to Disneyland with his family for spring break so the two of us ended up leaving a few days early to stop and visit the school. Jared and I were excited and scared. We spent so much time in the those few short weeks talking and talking and talking about what God was doing in our lives, where He was calling us, what we wanted our marriage to look like and stand for. It really was one of the greatest months of our marriage thus far because God was so evident in our lives. We were being changed and molded, our faith and trust kept growing, and we were falling even more in love with each other. Our trip down to Monterey was truly an adventure - car troubles and all. I'm trying to keep this short, I promise.
It's hard to really sum up an incredible month but ultimately we decided we would not accept the position. Both of us lost that excitement about the move and with lots of prayer, decided it wasn't the right place for us. We want to put roots down and know that God has us in Corvallis for a reason. This is where we want to invest ourselves and where God is laying His foundation for us. I am thankful that since we made the decision, neither one of us have had any doubts or second guessed ourselves what-so-ever.
Jared and I are learning what it means to trust God even when we don't see His plans. The worry-wort in me would like things to be a little bit more stable and with a lot less uncertainty. But God has always been faithful and has always provided for us. I am so thankful for that. I am challenging myself to write a lot more frequently now and hopefully I can continue to share some of the incredible things the Lord is doing.
I pray that you may see the faithfulness of God in a new way today. Whether it is in the sunrise, in the face of your child, in the extra money He gave you to make it the rest of the month, or in the quiet promise that He has every tear you cry in the palm of His hands.
"The Lord is faithful to all his promises and loving toward all he has made." Psalm 145:13
I can't go into all of the details because this blog would probably turn into a novel. In the beginning of March, Jared received an offer to consider a teaching position in California. We had no idea the crazy few weeks we were embarking on. This had been brought up to him before and we had both declined it, not thinking it was for us. We love where we are. Well, this time was different. After initially saying no, after not even discussing it what-so-ever, we shared over coffee the next day how neither one of us could stop thinking about this possible adventure. After a lot of prayer, Jared submitted his application. We were then offered the opportunity to go down for an interview. We were headed down to Disneyland with his family for spring break so the two of us ended up leaving a few days early to stop and visit the school. Jared and I were excited and scared. We spent so much time in the those few short weeks talking and talking and talking about what God was doing in our lives, where He was calling us, what we wanted our marriage to look like and stand for. It really was one of the greatest months of our marriage thus far because God was so evident in our lives. We were being changed and molded, our faith and trust kept growing, and we were falling even more in love with each other. Our trip down to Monterey was truly an adventure - car troubles and all. I'm trying to keep this short, I promise.
It's hard to really sum up an incredible month but ultimately we decided we would not accept the position. Both of us lost that excitement about the move and with lots of prayer, decided it wasn't the right place for us. We want to put roots down and know that God has us in Corvallis for a reason. This is where we want to invest ourselves and where God is laying His foundation for us. I am thankful that since we made the decision, neither one of us have had any doubts or second guessed ourselves what-so-ever.
Jared and I are learning what it means to trust God even when we don't see His plans. The worry-wort in me would like things to be a little bit more stable and with a lot less uncertainty. But God has always been faithful and has always provided for us. I am so thankful for that. I am challenging myself to write a lot more frequently now and hopefully I can continue to share some of the incredible things the Lord is doing.
I pray that you may see the faithfulness of God in a new way today. Whether it is in the sunrise, in the face of your child, in the extra money He gave you to make it the rest of the month, or in the quiet promise that He has every tear you cry in the palm of His hands.
"The Lord is faithful to all his promises and loving toward all he has made." Psalm 145:13
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Miss Avery Anne
My newest niece, Avery is one month old today! She is such a precious joy in our lives! And she takes after my own heart and is right on time! She was actually born on her due date! :) It was a Sunday, so Jared and I were blessed to be in Sandy when she came. I would not have missed it for the world. I am so proud of Kealy. She is one of the strongest women that I know and to see her grow her family is such a beautiful thing. She is a wonderful mother and I could not be more proud of her! And it is a joy to watch my older brother Ryan in one of the greatest roles of his life. He is a fantastic father and husband!
Annabelle and Levi are the cutest big siblings in the world! They love Avery and desire to help mommy and daddy however they can. Yes, it is a little bit of a transition but they are doing great! I had the blessing of getting to spend a few days in Sandy a few weeks ago, helping out Ryan and Kealy as Ryan went back to work. I was in awe of life at it's fullest! I melted every time Avery would fall asleep in my arms and I was filled with joy every time I heard the laughter of Levi and Annabelle. I got to spend some quality time with my sister in law, my best friend. My husband was wonderful in letting me go away for the week because he knew how much it meant to me to be able to help out in this special time.
Avery, you are such a blessing. We have been praying for you for so long. You are a complete joy in our lives. God has created you so beautifully and intricately. We love you so much, my precious niece :)
Life is beautiful. There is nothing like holding a sleeping newborn to be reminded of how precious life is and how much God loves us. He is so good and so faithful. I love being an aunt because I get to be reminded of the sweet innocence of children. It is in those moments that I am reminded of what an abundant life looks like.
Here is beautiful miss Avery :)
Such a cute, happy family of five!
One of my favorite pictures, daddy and his precious little girls.
I just love her :)
He loves being an uncle too :)
Happy one month Avery! We love you! ~Uncle Jared and Aunt Michelle
Annabelle and Levi are the cutest big siblings in the world! They love Avery and desire to help mommy and daddy however they can. Yes, it is a little bit of a transition but they are doing great! I had the blessing of getting to spend a few days in Sandy a few weeks ago, helping out Ryan and Kealy as Ryan went back to work. I was in awe of life at it's fullest! I melted every time Avery would fall asleep in my arms and I was filled with joy every time I heard the laughter of Levi and Annabelle. I got to spend some quality time with my sister in law, my best friend. My husband was wonderful in letting me go away for the week because he knew how much it meant to me to be able to help out in this special time.
Avery, you are such a blessing. We have been praying for you for so long. You are a complete joy in our lives. God has created you so beautifully and intricately. We love you so much, my precious niece :)
Life is beautiful. There is nothing like holding a sleeping newborn to be reminded of how precious life is and how much God loves us. He is so good and so faithful. I love being an aunt because I get to be reminded of the sweet innocence of children. It is in those moments that I am reminded of what an abundant life looks like.
Here is beautiful miss Avery :)
Such a cute, happy family of five!
One of my favorite pictures, daddy and his precious little girls.
I just love her :)
He loves being an uncle too :)
Happy one month Avery! We love you! ~Uncle Jared and Aunt Michelle
Sunday, January 8, 2012
Fresh Start
Well, 2011 sure was a wonderful, crazy year! I got to marry my best friend and begin our lives together! It was a year of endings, beginnings, mountain peaks and valleys low. The Lord has been so good to me. He has remained faithful, even when I have not. He has provided for Jared and I in ways that have strengthened, and continue to strengthen, my faith. I have learned that He likes surprises, and yet, nothing is a surprise because everything is possible with Him. He has assured me of His plans and reminded me of His goodness. I have seen Him work in the lives of my family in powerful ways. He has shown me that trials are there to develop perseverance and to deepen my trust and reliance upon Him. Although that isn't the easiest thing to learn. It will continue to take work in considering it joy when there are tough things happening. Yes, the Lord has been good to me indeed.
I'm not sure why, but this year, more than any other year, the new year has refreshed me. It really does feel like a fresh start. Not that I needed one, considering last year was definitely one of the bests. But I have spent more time considering what I want to focus on this year, changes I want to make, new adventures, and discovering more and more where the Lord wants to use me. I'll be honest, things are quite uncertain for me about this coming year. It surprises me that I am excited about what's to come because I have no idea what exactly that is. But God has given me a sense of peace. I know that He is in control and is faithful and it is because of this that I can live an abundant life, even when things are not so clear.
So here's to a fresh start. I'm learning to live this life how God intended. I'm excited for a year of new adventures with my Husband! I'm excited to meet my niece, who will grace us with her presence in a few weeks! I'm excited to start some new projects (more on that to follow later this week). I'm excited to grow closer to God as He challenges me more every day. And I am humbled, that He makes everything new in His time. I am blessed beyond words can explain.
I'm not sure why, but this year, more than any other year, the new year has refreshed me. It really does feel like a fresh start. Not that I needed one, considering last year was definitely one of the bests. But I have spent more time considering what I want to focus on this year, changes I want to make, new adventures, and discovering more and more where the Lord wants to use me. I'll be honest, things are quite uncertain for me about this coming year. It surprises me that I am excited about what's to come because I have no idea what exactly that is. But God has given me a sense of peace. I know that He is in control and is faithful and it is because of this that I can live an abundant life, even when things are not so clear.
So here's to a fresh start. I'm learning to live this life how God intended. I'm excited for a year of new adventures with my Husband! I'm excited to meet my niece, who will grace us with her presence in a few weeks! I'm excited to start some new projects (more on that to follow later this week). I'm excited to grow closer to God as He challenges me more every day. And I am humbled, that He makes everything new in His time. I am blessed beyond words can explain.
Thursday, October 20, 2011
Authentic Relationships
God created us to be in constant relationship. First, relationship with Him, and then relationship with one another. We are not meant to live this life alone. Yet so many of us walk around with a mask on, rarely revealing who we really are. We only want people to see the 'good' stuff in our lives. In the mean time, we create walls around our hearts and our lives. We become so isolated from connecting with people that eventually we stop connecting with God. I know, I've been there. I have been so lost inside my own pain and my own fears. I have believed the lie that we need to have it all together before we can let people truly see who we are. I spent too much of life living like this to know that this is not living. This is far from the abundant life that God desires for His children. We were created for relationship; true, genuine, authentic, healthy, beautiful relationship.
I believe this is the biggest thing missing in our churches and the world today. Because from authentic relationships and genuine people flows God's love, forgiveness, grace, peace, and everything else we are missing. The church, and I'm talking about the Body of Christ, not just the building, is supposed to be a place where someone can come who has messed up, who is broken, who is battling addiction, who is lonely. It is supposed to be for those who have the ability to admit they don't have it together. The Body of Christ is a place where people can walk through life together. We were created to need the love and support of others.
So if this is how we were created to live, why is it so hard to find? I think there are two reasons: the excuse of being busy and fear. I will be the first to admit, life is busy. A lot of times a person has multiple responsibilities and it is easy to just start going through the motions just to get done with everything. This happens. But at what cost do we spend our time focusing on our own busy lives? We let our relationships fall by the wayside and miss out on amazing opportunities to be the Body of Christ. People need you. Chances are someone is struggling today, just waiting for encouragement from a friend, from you. Life may be busy. I know what busy looks like. Yet I have seen how much it means to someone when you show up in their darkest hour. I have known what it feels like to be hurt and alone, and have everyone tell you they are too busy to be there for you. I am not asking people to break commitments. I am not saying what you do with your time is a bad thing. I am simply asking you to consider the relationships in your life. We are created to live our lives together. We need genuine, authentic relationships, no matter how busy we are. I pray our hearts would be opened to living life together.
This next reason is fear. And it's a big one that stands in the way of being authentic. Therefore, we are going to hold off on looking at fear until tomorrow. I will also share a little bit about my journey and the fear in my life. My prayer is that we would begin to recognize the need for authenticity in our lives. I believe this is a concept that with the power of God, can move mountains. I believe it can change lives.
I believe this is the biggest thing missing in our churches and the world today. Because from authentic relationships and genuine people flows God's love, forgiveness, grace, peace, and everything else we are missing. The church, and I'm talking about the Body of Christ, not just the building, is supposed to be a place where someone can come who has messed up, who is broken, who is battling addiction, who is lonely. It is supposed to be for those who have the ability to admit they don't have it together. The Body of Christ is a place where people can walk through life together. We were created to need the love and support of others.
So if this is how we were created to live, why is it so hard to find? I think there are two reasons: the excuse of being busy and fear. I will be the first to admit, life is busy. A lot of times a person has multiple responsibilities and it is easy to just start going through the motions just to get done with everything. This happens. But at what cost do we spend our time focusing on our own busy lives? We let our relationships fall by the wayside and miss out on amazing opportunities to be the Body of Christ. People need you. Chances are someone is struggling today, just waiting for encouragement from a friend, from you. Life may be busy. I know what busy looks like. Yet I have seen how much it means to someone when you show up in their darkest hour. I have known what it feels like to be hurt and alone, and have everyone tell you they are too busy to be there for you. I am not asking people to break commitments. I am not saying what you do with your time is a bad thing. I am simply asking you to consider the relationships in your life. We are created to live our lives together. We need genuine, authentic relationships, no matter how busy we are. I pray our hearts would be opened to living life together.
This next reason is fear. And it's a big one that stands in the way of being authentic. Therefore, we are going to hold off on looking at fear until tomorrow. I will also share a little bit about my journey and the fear in my life. My prayer is that we would begin to recognize the need for authenticity in our lives. I believe this is a concept that with the power of God, can move mountains. I believe it can change lives.
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Trusting in the plan and the promise of God
God has given me the gift of time right now. As hard as it is that I am struggling to find a job and am no longer going to school, I am learning to be thankful for this time. I am able to slowly adjust to being a wife and taking care of a home. I am getting to unpack the never ending boxes and decorate my house I now get to share with my husband! :) I am not used to having this much time. And as much as I am ready to start the job that God wants me to have, He has also showed me that right now He wants me to wait before Him. God is doing some radical things in my heart and I am so thankful for the time that I have to process it all. He is revealing so much to me and a lot of it has to do with trust.
The biggest thing I have a hard time trusting is God's plan. Let's face it, some things happen that I just don't understand. And I have been going through a season of my life that is filled with these events and things that I honestly may never understand. I have found myself on my knees crying for discernment and trying to be okay. At times I have found myself angry at God for the things that were happening around me. Many times, Jared gently reminds me that in everything God has a plan. Sometimes this encourages me and other times it just seems to upset me more. I know God has a plan, but my feelings don't understand. How could any of this fit into His plan? I often find myself asking God why. I just want answers. If I can get answers, then everything will be okay, right? If I know why things are happening, then they will be easier to go through, right? Far from the truth...
I think sometimes, that if we knew the answers, if we knew what was going to happen, there are some things we would run from. We also would have no reason to trust God. We would have no need to understand that His plan is far greater then the one we can come up with on our own. I am learning that I need refining. In 1 Peter 1:6-7 it says : "In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith - of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire - may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed." I am being refined of the need to understand. God is chipping away at my need to be in control. He is showing me how much I need to trust, how much I need to cling to his promises.
Because you see, there aren't answers. There are things in this world that I will never understand. There are trials and pain that I will never comprehend or know why they needed to happen. I can't find answers for myself and I can't find answers to give to anyone else. The only thing I know is that our God is faithful. Our God is trustworthy. Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Our God has plans, good plans, for my life and yours. Sometimes He has to sift through our hearts, a process that often times hurts, to get us to understand that we don't have to understand. We just have to obey. We just have to open our hearts to the One who is greater than this world and everything in it.
There are still many times that I find myself back on my knees asking why. Asking for Him to help me understand. And God just holds me and He tells me that He is in control. I don't need the answers. I just need the promise. I need the promise that our God has already overcome evil. The promise that He holds us in His hands and He sees every tear that we cry. He can take us being angry with Him, as long as we learn to let go of it. I just need the promise that His plan is good.
When there are those things in your life that you just do not understand, I pray that God would capture your heart and give you the peace that His promise holds.
The biggest thing I have a hard time trusting is God's plan. Let's face it, some things happen that I just don't understand. And I have been going through a season of my life that is filled with these events and things that I honestly may never understand. I have found myself on my knees crying for discernment and trying to be okay. At times I have found myself angry at God for the things that were happening around me. Many times, Jared gently reminds me that in everything God has a plan. Sometimes this encourages me and other times it just seems to upset me more. I know God has a plan, but my feelings don't understand. How could any of this fit into His plan? I often find myself asking God why. I just want answers. If I can get answers, then everything will be okay, right? If I know why things are happening, then they will be easier to go through, right? Far from the truth...
I think sometimes, that if we knew the answers, if we knew what was going to happen, there are some things we would run from. We also would have no reason to trust God. We would have no need to understand that His plan is far greater then the one we can come up with on our own. I am learning that I need refining. In 1 Peter 1:6-7 it says : "In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith - of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire - may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed." I am being refined of the need to understand. God is chipping away at my need to be in control. He is showing me how much I need to trust, how much I need to cling to his promises.
Because you see, there aren't answers. There are things in this world that I will never understand. There are trials and pain that I will never comprehend or know why they needed to happen. I can't find answers for myself and I can't find answers to give to anyone else. The only thing I know is that our God is faithful. Our God is trustworthy. Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Our God has plans, good plans, for my life and yours. Sometimes He has to sift through our hearts, a process that often times hurts, to get us to understand that we don't have to understand. We just have to obey. We just have to open our hearts to the One who is greater than this world and everything in it.
There are still many times that I find myself back on my knees asking why. Asking for Him to help me understand. And God just holds me and He tells me that He is in control. I don't need the answers. I just need the promise. I need the promise that our God has already overcome evil. The promise that He holds us in His hands and He sees every tear that we cry. He can take us being angry with Him, as long as we learn to let go of it. I just need the promise that His plan is good.
When there are those things in your life that you just do not understand, I pray that God would capture your heart and give you the peace that His promise holds.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)