Here's to days...

Here's to days of...

1. Failing and requiring lots of grace
2. Days when I get up late and the rest is lost
3. Intentional lies that need forgiveness
4.  And glory in the small victories

Thankful: Lizards, clothes and the Gospel

Funny things happen growing up as an American.  For example, I have to fight the culture and the lies that daily bombard me.  I have to learn to be thankful the lizard  I found in my house is not a snake.  I have to learn to be thankful for the 30+ outfits I have in my closet instead of the 20 million cute ones I don't currently own but am obsessing over on Pinterest. (Don't get me wrong, I do LOVE Pinterest, I just need to use it as a tool for my creative juices.)  I have to learn to be thankful for running water and toilets instead of complaining about how the shower sounds when I don't have the water combination.  I have to learn to be thankful for the time spent with my parents instead of wishing we had taken a grander vacation this year.  I have to preach to myself daily of all I can be grateful for. I have been given many earthly things yet I take them for granted daily. 

Not only I have been given many earthly blessing, I have been given heavenly blessings.  Least I never forget the Gospel and the Ultimate blessing that comes through Jesus Christ death, burial and resurrection.  The Ultimate gift I could ever receive the free gifts of mercy and grace that flow abundantly and lavishly from the Cross.

Colossians 3:15-17 reminds me to "let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." 

Now that the Word would richly dwell in me in order that I may overflow with thankfulness.

Here are a few blogs that also remind me to be thankful. 

1. Bekah's blog post on the Peruvian dump
2. http://gracefullmama.com/mama-never-said-thered-be-days-like-this/
3. http://gobolivia2013.blogspot.com/

The 5:30 am club

Well, the 5:30 am club met for the first time today and I can safely say both members are alive and awake. (Ask me at 9 pm tonight and you might get another answer....)

In an effort to get the most out of their days, Carolyn Mahoney writes in Shopping for Time about waking up at 5:30 am to start her day with the Lord and phone call to her daughters, the other members of her 5:30 am club.  Her days are fuller and the best use is made out of them because she has gotten up early and started her day before most people are awake. 

A friend and I have begun to embark on this 5:30 am journey as well... Want to join us??? Definitely feel free to text or call us at 5:30 am to see if we are awake.  (I promise I won't hate at you for it.)

This is what it took to get me downstairs this morning :D

Thankful: my daddy

If the chubby cheeks don’t automatically give it away, spend an hour with my dad and I and you will quickly realize we are very similar (in more ways than even we would like to acknowledge). We like the same things.  Dad runs. I run. We run.  Dad reads. I read. We start lots of books and never finish them.  Dad loves backpacking & the outdoors.  I love backpacking & the outdoors.  We go backpacking adventures in the outdoors.  He does triathlons. I would love to have time to do them. He has 7 letters in his 1^st name. I have 7 letters in my 1^st name.

We do the same things: if there is a new diet or a new way of eating dad wants to try and you can bet your bottom dollar I will be the 1^st to join him. We both like quite.  We both retreat from chaos and enjoy solitude.  He listens.  I listen.  He listens to me a whole lot more than I listen to him though…. but I do listen. ;)

We are different: he is an electrical engineer with a shop full of tools and nails.  I know how to spell the words like substation, transmission lines and bucket truck with a closet full of toys and games.   Going further though, Dad is the giver of sound biblical advice.  He is the family theologian.  He speaks.  We listen.  He leads.  We follow. 

I have been blessed by the Father for the protection, strength and security this man offers.  I can honestly say my earthly father is a gift from the heavenly Father.  I the past I haven’t always wanted his advice or wisdom yet when I have obeyed it (not always very compliantly or passively) I was rewarded for my obedience.  The rewards weren’t always immediate or physical or monetary but rewards and blessings happened in return for my obedience.  

No, it’s not Father’s Day but my daddy has blessed my life more than a short blog post can express.  And yes, my dad is still the MAN of the House, the only man in the house with 2 girls and a lovely wife ;) but THE MAN, nonetheless, and the head of our household.  

Daddy, I love you :D

Thankful: Caleb Ministries

I am thankful for Craig and Sandy Day and Caleb Ministries.   Mrs. Day has been instrumental in encouraging my walk with the Lord.  I am so thankful for the way she speaks Truth, blown away by God's faithfulness in her life and humbled to call her friend.  She is truly a woman after the Lord's heart serving His Kingdom.

I am thankful for my mentor/counselor/discipler/friend.

Thankful: More Than You'll Ever Know

The lyrics More Than You'll Ever Know by Watermark describe my summer and the friends I am blessed to walk through life with. So grateful....

Watermark: More Than You'll Ever Know from the album All Things New   

                                   

Something brought you to my mind today
I thought about the funny ways you make me laugh
And yet I feel like it's okay to cry with you
Something about just being with you
When I leave I feel like I've been near God
And that's the way it ought to be...

Chorus:
'Cause you've been more than a friend to me
You fight off my enemies
'Cause you've spoken the Truth over my life
And you'll never know what it means to me
Just to know you've been on your knees for me
Oh, you have blessed my life
More than you'll ever know, yeah, yeah, yeah
More than you'll ever know, yeah, yeah, yeah

You had faith, when I had none
You prayed God would bring me a brand new song
When I didn't think I could find the strength to sing
And all the while I'm hoping that I'll
Do the kind of praying for you that you've done for me
And that's the way it ought to be...

You have carried me
You have taken upon a burden that wasn't your own
And may the blessing return to you
A hundredfold, oh yeah...
A hundredfold, oh yeah...

Thankful: Daisies

Thankful for the prayer warrior these Daisies represent. Thankful for the way she loves the Lord and my family. We are blessed to know her!