Snail Mail

I love snail mail. There is nothing better - ok, maybe there are a few things better, but that's not the point - than receiving an envelope with your name and address in the middle. Whenever I see the mail sprawled across our hardwood floors (we have a mail slot in our door, so mail time is never very tidy) my heart beats in anticipation that perhaps sometime last week or a few days ago, someone took the time to carve each letter of my name, spend 44 cents on a stamp, and slide it into a mail bin just for me! It feels like Christmas opening that envelope and the grin on my face probably does match that of a 4 year old. Then comes the excitement of the card itself - florals, stripes, a silly picture, hand made, black and white, ribbon, the possibilities are endless, you never know what you are getting. (p.s. this one cracks me up!)

(Thank you TJ for sharing)

And then the sweetest moment of all - curling up and reading. I find it mandatory to sit, preferably legs tucked underneath, no distractions when reading these words. Writing takes longer than typing, so someone put time and thought into crafting and formulating diction meant for me. I just soak it in. Sure, E-mail is great, it's efficient, easy, to the point. But snail mail is special. It's intentional, thoughtful, slow, meaningful, personal. The experience of snail mail makes me smile.

And in case you need a Father's Day snail mail card idea, check this guy out - easier than it looks, I promise.

(Instructions: http://www.marthastewart.com/265595/folded-shirt-card)

Time is a Funny Funny Thing

As with all CCEF materials, Tim Lane and Paul Tripp's workbook "Change and Your Relationships: A Mess Worth Making" has a cheesy title but a powerful message. Lesson 10 is on Time and Money (I spend neither of these extremely well). A helpful summary of the chapter: "one way to evaluate and discover what we treasure is to look at our schedules and checkbooks." (ouch)

I was particularly struck by the section on time, which comes out of Ephesians 5:15-21. Vs 15-16 state "Be very careful, then, how you live - not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil." (NIV 1984). In the King James, "making the most of every opportunity" is translated as "redeeming the time." The original Greek language uses time in two main ways throughout Scripture:

Chronos = time in general, hours/weeks/years/etc
Kairos = the specific time between Jesus' first and second comings

In vs 16, the original is the word "kairos." The distinction helps us to understand what the time is for. Rather than referring to time in general, giving the sense that it is eternal, Paul speaks to the Ephesians that they are to use time for a purpose. They are to redeem the time exactly because this time is not forever. We live in a certain time, the time waiting for Jesus to return. Lane and Tripp write "This is a time of unique opportunity for us to display the grace of Christ to others. One day this season will come to an end when Christ returns in power and glory. Thus a more awkward bu appropriate rendering of this verse would be, "As you go about your life in this in-between time use it to its fullest to display the grace of Christ to others." (pg 108). Chronos means that this time will end and that it is for a particular purpose. "Make the most of every area in which God has placed you ... daily struggles [are] critical moments of redemptive opportunity rather than hindrances or distractions." God commands us to redeem this time, but also equips us with the grace to be able to do this, and gives us the motivation - Jesus is coming back!

[There is no quick fix when it comes to our hearts, and the way we use our time is a heart issue, but sometimes practical help enables us both to see and to guard our hearts better. Check out this tool, especially if like me the internet is your biggest temptation to waste time: https://www.rescuetime.com/]

Birthday Fundraiser

My birthday is on 4/20 - as is Hitler's birthday, as is the anniversary of the Columbine shooting, and as is an infamous day of Bob Marley-esque behavior.

This year, I'm using the day for good. In the words of Razoo's amazing graphic designer I am going to "donate the birthday, keep the party."

Join me in supporting the work of Bethany House of Northern Virginia. They are a small nonprofit making a huge difference in the lives of victims of domestic violence. They run an emergency hot-line, provide safe shelter, and help women and their children escape domestic abuse. Once safe, Bethany House provides them with counseling, job training, material support of food and clothing, and help these women start over new and independent lives. Statistically, those who have been abused are the most likely to become the abusers. Bethany House is working to stop the cycle of violence by offering support, empowerment, and a way out.

You can donate to my fundraiser by clicking the button below. (If you do donate, make sure to watch the thank you video on the right hand side of the screen right after you give). Thank you for considering! Your generosity truly does make a difference.

Do Not Be Anxious

Find more here: http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/justintaylor/2011/04/12/scripture-memory-songs/

Life Lately in Links

Random life update with fun links, enjoy. 

Thanks to a beautifully awesome sister who lives in amazing vacation spots, I visited California for the first time, ever. We walked on cliffs, waded in the Pacific, tie-dyed shirts, hiked in a desert, hunted big-horned sheep, saw a dinosaur, ate apple pie, carne asado, cowgirl cookies (I could go on, let’s just say we ate a lot), saw seals, had a bonfire on the beach and roasted marshmallows, and dashed with warriors. I also experienced by first in-and-out burger and chocolate milkshake. Apparently there are a bajillion “secret” things I could have ordered.

A favorite, and perhaps most missed, Jersey tradition is pancakes with sweet sisters from Grace Tab. They gather edify one another by bashing each other’s taste in pancake stuffing or topping. Oh, and sometimes pray and say encouraging things to each other too. My heart is full of gratitude for these ladies – their kindness to me, their love for Jesus, and their service to build up the Church. (Even though Carrie likes her pancakes naked and can’t flip them). One day, we will be as cool as this guy:  (on page two there’s a toilet one… hehehe)

Baseball season has started. Someone please explain to me why it is necessary for one team to play another team five thousand times in a row. In what other sport do you play the same team over and over and over again?? I mean, if you didn’t win the first 15 games, I think you should just stop. But I enjoyed watching this.

I have a lot of pride in the fact that I have a dumb phone. It makes phone calls, like a phone should. And that is it. It also texts on occasion. But seriously, that is all. I have no idea what this phone does, but because of this commercial I very much want one: 

Bought tickets to Mumford and Sons in June with some lovely y'allternative ladies! 

Pretty Please

I would very much like this cake for my birthday

(http://www.loveandoliveoil.com/2010/11/rainbow-cake.html)

If you made it for me, I would share a slice with you.. perhaps even two.

(http://www.loveandoliveoil.com/2010/11/rainbow-cake.html)

Thank you

Tears Make Good Fertilizer

We sang a sweet hymn at the end of evening service last night. The third verse reads:

"Morning and evening sow the seed, God's grace the effort shall succeed.

Seed-times of tears have oft been found with sheaves of joy and plenty crowned."
Words: Basil Manly, Jr. (1825-1892)

Recently I have been surrounded by some dear friends whom the Lord, in His good and strange providence, has called to sow seeds this season with their tears. In the midst of their loss and heartbreak, God consistently shows Himself to be sufficient for their every need and proves Himself worthy of their hope and trust.

Unlike my tendency to be harsh and tough, God has not called them to "suck it up" and get over it. He sweetly sympathizes with them in their weakness, equips them for what He has called them to, and endures all things with them.

The faithfulness of these friends in the midst of their sorrow convicts me of how conditional my obedience to and trust in the Lord is. When I am sad or even just cranky, I excuse myself from having to be faithful. But God ordains storm clouds and tears for our good - Not that we would stop being faithful, but that we would persevere and trust in Him.

May those who sow in tears

reap with shouts of joy!

He that goes forth weeping,

bearing the seed for sowing,

shall come home with shouts of joy,

bringing his sheaves with him.
- Psalm 126:5-6

What a sweet promise that when tears fall onto the seeds we sow, the harvest will be ripe with blessing.

John Piper says: "This psalm teaches the tough truth that there is work to be done whether I am emotionally up for it or not; and it is good for me to do it. Suppose you are in a blue funk and it is time to sow seed. Do you say, “I can’t sow the field this spring, because I am in a blue funk.” If you do that you will not eat in the winter.

But suppose you say, “I am in a blue funk. I cry if the milk runs out at breakfast. I cry if the phone and doorbell ring at the same time. I cry for no reason at all. But the field needs to be sowed. That is the way life is. I do not feel like it, but I will take my bag of seeds and go out in the fields and do my crying while I do my duty. I will sow in tears.”

Read the whole article here, it is worth the next 5 minutes of your life to consider this truth: http://www.desiringgod.org/resource-library/taste-see-articles/talking-to-your-tears