Friday Favorites

When I am loving something- I want to shout it from the rooftops and share with everyone! I obsessively talk about these things to anyone I come in contact with. Just ask my poor husband.

Example: When I bought my new phone I immediately called my sister and convinced her it was such a good deal she needed to get one. I told my sister in law too. Multiple times. True story.

Which is why I have decided to go ahead and try share what I am currently loving from time to time so you can love them too! And I can spare my family's sanity. Haha.

You are welcome.

1. Downton Abbey is back!!!

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Oh.my.word. I cannot express my love for this show in words. I love the costumes, the setting, the cast, and Dame Maggie Smith is the best! I watched Season 3 again last week just to have it fresh in my memory.

The season premiere was soooo good! I won't post any spoilers here yet.... but it was so good I even think I might get over the fact that they killed Matthew Crawley off the show. I may or may not have already watched the premiere three times. #superfan

2. Old Navy Active Wear

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I am sure I have mentioned here my love for all things fitness and working out. As much as I love working out- I do not love spending lots of $$ for workout wear.

I received a pair of the compression fit capri's for Christmas and I absolutely loved them! So much that I went and purchased another pair and the compression fit tank pictured above. The best part is they were having a flash sale so I got each piece for $10!!! Unbelievable.

All three items are super comfy and wash really well. I highly recommend them if you are looking for affordable workout wear!

3. This article titled "Raising World Changers" by Jen Hatmaker.
Here is an excerpt from the article:

"Hypersheltering creates two things: judgment and fear. Neither are helpful lenses for the next generation to view their mission field. They cannot be too prideful to connect with diverse people nor too terrified to venture out to the margins. Rather, our goal is to send them out informed and ready, brave and merciful, taking Jesus to the dark corners and the sad places, hope-bearers moving the kingdom forward and changing the world the same way it has always been transformed: one person at a time."

So good. I love this perspective. It is something I often find myself wondering what this will look like in our family once my child(ren) are school age.

4. IPhone 5C

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Over the Christmas Holiday there were some seriously good deals on IPhones, and since I was eligible for an upgrade I went ahead and took advantage. I ended up getting this phone for free from Target! (I chose the white one)

It was on sale for $30 and they gave me a $30 Target gift card. I had a $10 gift card so I came out on top by $10! Awesome. #ilovetarget

I love the 4G service and how much faster it works than my IPhone 4! Plus I can FaceTime without having to be connected to wifi. Total win.

5. Barre Workouts

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You may or may not be familiar with the latest workout trend that is Barre. Different barre studios are popping up everywhere and I have been dying to try it, but hesitant to fork out the $22 per class when I already have a gym membership.

Lucky for me my gym is introducing barre classes into the group fitness schedule. I went to the intro class last week and man my biscuits were burning! It was a fun class and while I would probably not take it in place of my beloved spin or HIIT and strength classes, its a great class to add in to the mix and works muscles I never knew I had!

I would definitely recommend trying this format if you have the opportunity. But beware- your buns, quads, and calves will be begging for mercy by the end! #hurtssogood

So there it is folks!

Tell me- what are you loving right now? I would love to know!

New Year

My dear blogging friend Christa recently wrote about the Art of Saying "tot ziens", which is dutch for "see you later".

Her post resonated with me and has caused me to evaluate the state of things in my life as I begin this new year. Certainly there are habits/attitudes/practices/thoughts I need to say "tot ziens" to in order to begin 2014 with a fresh perspective and outlook.

Well the first "see you later" was my old blog design, as you may have noticed. I am still tweaking it just a bit, so bear with me through it! I am praying 2014 will bring some fun new changes to the look of this blog- so stay tuned!

Secondly, I want to say "see you later"to my pitiful blogging habits of the last few months. I am still developing a rhythm of blogging and finding my voice and deciding all I want to share in this space.

I hope this year to continue to share what God has laid on my heart, but I would like to add some posts to the blog in order to share with you some things I really love, such as DIY projects, recipes, and book reviews.

I have a really great project to share with you later this week already- I built a farmhouse table over the Christmas break!

Finally, I want to say "see you later" to self-doubt and fear. This is what has kept me from being a better blogger/wife/mother/friend in the past. As a woman, its a hard thing to overcome- but I am determined to say "see you later" to those insecurities and walk into what God has for me in 2014.

I have been loving this verse from Isaiah recently:

Isaiah 43:19-19 (AMP)

Do not [earnestly] remember the former things; neither consider the things of old.

Behold, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs forth; do you not perceive and know it andwill you not give heed to it? I will even make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.

I am excited for this fresh start of a new year and the new thing God is doing!

Thank you for joining me in the journey!

On Being Content

“How do you calm down your mind and heart of all the mundane daily things that somehow sap the energy and time when there is all this world to save, all this difference to make, all this stuff to do and become? How do you have the joy in all of this? It always feels like I’m not enough. I’m not doing enough or being enough for the tinies, for my husband, for my home, for my community, for my world, let alone for myself. I just never feel like I’m enough.”    
-Sarah Bessey

This article by Sarah Bessey in SheLoves Magazine struck a chord with me today. It described almost exactly how I am feeling in my current season of life.

I often feel like I am not doing enough. Or like what I am doing isn't making a difference. 
There aren't enough hours in the day to get everything accomplished. To find joy in the ordinary, mundane, messy, dirty, tedious everyday tasks I find before me proves to be a challenging feat most days.

At various points in my life I can remember thinking: "Oh I will feel better when..." or "If we could just get to his point then we can breathe and relax..". Do you ever feel that way?

Do you find yourself saying/thinking things like this:

I can be joyful/content when...

I find a spouse
I make more money
My husband gets a promotion
My kids are out of diapers
When my kids are out of the house
All my house projects are finished

It can go on and on right?

I struggle with being content right where I am. 

I find that I am always desiring something more than what I have and comparing myself to others all too often.

I love that this article reminded me to take a step back and BE STILL. God has me right here and now for a purpose. My identity is in him and that makes me enough. And it is in Him that I find my joy and it is made complete (John 15:11)- NOT in my circumstances.

Serving my family is hard work but it is what I am called to do right now and I want to do it with joy.

My hearts desire is to be content no matter what my circumstances look like (Philippians 4:11-13). To desire things that really matter. To serve my husband and child with an unselfish heart.

Friends, the world out there would have us believe we are always needing something more, to be in a different place than we find ourselves currently in. Let's challenge ourselves to be thankful for where we are and to be content with where God has placed us. To live with joy that is not dependent on circumstances. To remember that God has fully equipped us to do these good works we are doing right now (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

If you find yourself in current circumstances that are challenging, in any sort of way, my challenge to you (and myself!) is to look for what God is doing in your life right now. How you can be used in your current situation to be used for His glory. I am certain that he is speaking to us in ways we don't even realize if we can just relax, turn our eyes toward Him and listen.

For when, we press into him we come to knowledge of the truth. We are enough. His joy is our strength.

Nehemiah 8:10b (AMP)
 And be not grieved and depressed, for the joy of the Lord is your strength and stronghold.

Question for readers:
What kinds of things do you do to keep a joyful attitude in your everyday life?

Advent Meditation

Its the most wonderful time of the year friends!

I pray that you are having a wonderful start to your week.

This is my favorite time of the year. The holiday season brings with it so many fond memories of family traditions, merriment, and holiday festivities. I just love the spirit in the air!

This year, since my little one is beginning to be old enough to kind of know what is going on, I am trying to come up with some new traditions for our sweet family of three to also make this a season of worship and reflection, instead of just one about the gifts and Santa (which are great too!).

Growing up, we celebrated the Advent season at church with the lighting of the candles on the wreath. I wanted to bring some of that tradition to our house, so we decided to do an advent calendar and scripture reading each day from December 1-25.

If you are interested- here is the advent scripture list we are using.

I decided to use this as a guide for some advent meditations here on the blog as well. I hope you enjoy following along with us!

Isaiah 2:6-7 (MSG)
For a child has been born—for us!
    the gift of a son—for us!
He’ll take over
    the running of the world.
His names will be: Amazing Counselor,
    Strong God,
Eternal Father,
    Prince of Wholeness.
His ruling authority will grow,
    and there’ll be no limits to the wholeness he brings.

I am in awe when I sit down and think about what the birth of Christ means for us. 

Jesus was a GIFT for us.  

A gift given out of love. God's desire is for us to live a life of wholeness, grace, peace, and love through relationship with Jesus. 

As we begin this busy Christmas season, lets remember the greatest gift ever given. 

I pray that during the advent the busyness of the season wouldn't take center stage in our lives. That stress, hurry, and gift giving will take a backseat to worship and reflection. 

I pray that we would love people well, as Christmas time can be painful and lonely for many. I pray that we are able to give grace to each other and to ourselves. That strained relationships would be restored and faults forgiven. I pray many people will come to know who Jesus is because we are able to love each other as he loves us.

I also pray that as we celebrate Jesus' birth we come to a new knowledge of God's love for us, because when we do we are forever changed for the better.

Amen and Merry Christmas!

Tuesday Meditation

How is your week going so far friends?

Its been fabulous over here so far! I set up our Christmas tree last night and have had the Christmas tunes on blast all week. I am determined to draw out this most wonderful time of year as long as possible! I also have a super fun weekend ahead with some of my favorite people that has put an extra pep in my step as well.

My meditation this week is another of my favorites and I was reminded of it in church this week so I thought I would go ahead and share it with you.

Matthew 6:33 (AMP)
³³ But seek (^[a]aim at and strive after) first of all His kingdom and His righteousness (^[b]His way of doing and being right), and then all these things ^[c]taken together will be given you besides.


In my own life, throughout each different season there are things (material things, jobs, finances, relationships, etc) that I am praying and believing for. Sometimes to the extent that I make that particular want or need my focus.

I worry and stress.
Try to control the situation to make it go the way I want.
Lose sleep trying to determine what the eventual outcome will be.

Many times these prayers have to do with material things or finances. Especially since I am now a stay at home mom and we have a more limited budget than we once did.

Through this verse and others God has taught me to seek him for who he is instead of what he can do for me.

Learning more about who God is and what it means to really trust him has changed my heart and attitude towards all of these things that I pray for. It also has helped me to realize that my worry just implies that I don't think God is big or mighty enough to take care of my needs.

I love the way The Message translates this verse:

Matthew 6:30-33 (MSG)
“If God gives such attention to the appearance of wildflowers—most of which are never even seen—don’t you think he’ll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you? What I’m trying to do here is to get you to relax, to not be so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to God’s giving. People who don’t know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works. Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don’t worry about missing out. You’ll find all your everyday human concerns will be met."

I encourage you to relax and seek him first friends. Get into the word and start pressing into the Lord and his promises for your life. Stop worrying about these things you are praying for and believe that the God who promises to provide for all our needs will take care of yours as well.

Trust that when we seek him and his righteousness you will have all you need and more.

Amen!

Thursday Jam

Just one more sleep until the weekend friends!

I don't know about you but I am looking forward to it.

I had a hard time deciding which worship song to share with you this week. Simply because there are so many that I absolutely love!

In the end, I am going with a song that has been out for a while but it is one of my all time favorites.

Also because its been pretty gloomy around these parts this week and that sometimes puts me in a funk. But this song is great because it lifts that cloud over my head and replaces it with a new song in my heart. It reminds me what I need to do to come alive and be filled with the joy of the Lord.

The song is "Freedom is Here" by Hillsong United.

The most amazing thing about having a relationship with Jesus is the freedom that he desires for us to experience. Many people mistakenly think that this relationship is a set of rules and a bunch of do's and don'ts.

While there are some black and white commands that God asks us to be obedient to in the Bible, the truth is that God's desire is for us to live in FREEDOM. He gives us the freedom to choose to follow and be obedient to him (giving us the Holy Spirit to help us) and then experience his freedom from bondage/sin as a result.

He intends for us to use this freedom to serve each other.

Galations 5:13 (NLT)
For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love.

The lyrics of this song talk about how things come alive and we experience freedom as we lift Jesus higher. 

I just love that.

Because its such a simple answer to all the things in life we tend to complicate.

We worry and stress and try to control circumstances and let them steal our peace and cause us to live in bondage.

The answer to be set free and stop this cycle is always Jesus. Simple right?

Pressing into him and lifting his name higher is what allows us to receive his freedom.

Everything comes alive when we lift Him higher.
Then beloved, your freedom is here.

Tuesday Meditation

I'm a day late (again) this week. Better late then never!

My scripture meditation this week is inspired by a new sermon series that was started at our church on money. Its always a tough subject for me because each time I hear a message about money, I am reminded how I often let my bank account determine my identity and happiness.

I first had a huge awakening regarding this matter when I quit my job and decided to stay home full time. Suddenly our budget was quite a bit tighter and I had to give up some of my former spending habits.

I was quite grumpy about it for a little while. I definitely let it steal my peace and joy.

I didn't realize how attached I had become to a paycheck. How much of my happiness, identity, and security was in that money I received twice per month.

Can anyone relate here?

After much prayer and repentance, God really did change my heart (and continues to do so) about money, and also about how I was spending my time and using my gifts.

This verse is a great reminder to me and a motivation to continually evaluate how I spend my time, talents, and money.

Matthew 6:21 (AMP)
²¹ For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.


The places/people/things that we invest our time and money into tell us a lot about where our heart is and what is most important to us. 

I believe God gives us these three things (time, talent, finances) as tools for us to use to accomplish his plan and purposes for our lives. It is our responsibility to live in obedience and to steward these blessings to bring people closer to Jesus. That is what we are here for!

I pray that today this verse would be an encouragement to you to take a look at where you are investing yourself. 

Be blessed today friends!