Thinking on goodbyes

I have been thinking a lot about goodbyes lately.  As humans, we say goodbye to people all the time.  Last week I told my kindergartners goodbye without much chance of seeing them again.  On Monday I said goodbye to a college friend with plans to see her again in a few weeks.  I said goodbye to my sister Shelby who is in London, we probably won't get the chance to skype again until she is back home.  I said goodbye to Michael yesterday before coming down to Iowa for the rest of the week.  Goodbyes are interesting...some are before long times apart, some for short, and some are for forever.  Sometimes you don't think about your goodbyes at all, while other times you spend a lot of time preparing for it.  Goodbyes can be forgetful or memorable.  Usually the memorable ones are the ones that are more emotional...two of my most memorable goodbyes were with people I loved.

The first was with Michael during the summer of 2011.  We were engaged, but were not spending our summer together.  He had come to visit me and camp and when he was leaving I was so sad to see him go.  I knew I was going to miss him a lot in the next few weeks and it brought a lot of tears.  That was a goodbye where I was planning to see him again in 2 or 3 weeks.

The other really memorable goodbye that is on my mind right now was my last goodbye to Grandpa Butch.  It was one we had been preparing for, but I hadn't planned out what I wanted to say.  In truth I don't remember much about what I said, but I remember him and what I felt and how hard it was to walk away.

Goodbyes can be painless or painful.  Often when we are in pain we turn to God and ask why it has to be this way.  We can get bitter or hardhearted, but that really isn't looking at Christ in the right light.  When we feel we are suffering and turn to Jesus, we should remember the pain he suffered for us so that we never have to say goodbye to him.  What love...to suffer so much in order to conquer death and safe sinners for himself.  Easter was over a week ago, but the truth remains that we have nothing if we don't have Jesus.  He didn't simply save sinners for life in Heaven, but for real life now.  My heart swells with love and thankfulness when I consider the grace and love He has shown to me.  Life can be hard with goodbyes and loneliness, but as a saint saved by God's sweet grace I never have to be alone.

Jesus, what a Friend for sinners!

Jesus, Lover of my soul;

Friends may fail me, foes assail me,

He, my Savior, makes me whole.

Refrain:

Hallelujah! what a Savior!

Hallelujah! what a Friend!

Saving, helping, keeping, loving,

He is with me to the end.

Jesus, what a Strength in weakness!

Let me hide myself in Him.

Tempted, tried, and sometimes failing,

He, my Strength, my victory wins.

Jesus, what a Help in sorrow!

While the billows over me roll,

Even when my heart is breaking,

He, my Comfort, helps my soul.

Life Lately

I can hardly believe we are halfway through February!  I also find it hard to believe that Michael and I have been married for 8 months now...crazy :)  We have really been enjoying 2013 so far...here is some of what we have been up to:

• We have started exercising and changing our eating habits which we both love and hate at the same time.  It is such a blessing to be able to do this together though and not alone!

• We became members at our church (Bethlehem Baptist) in January.  We love our church a lot and our so very excited about officially becoming members.  

• We enjoyed a weekend with Michael's friend Nathan and his wife Danielle.  They were up here the weekend of the Superbowl and we loved getting to hangout with another couple.  We played games, went out to eat, watched the game, etc.  We are very thankful for these two and always have fun when we get to see them. :)  

• The weekend after that Michael's parents were up here for a visit.  We hadn't seen them since Christmas so it was nice to get to spend time with them again.  Our nephew also turned one that Sunday so we had a little birthday party for him.  We love getting to spend time with either of our families and it was a well blessed weekend.  

• Unfortunately that weekend was followed by this last week of being sick and feeling gross.  I hardly ever get sick...or at least that used to be the case...but have now had the flu twice in our marriage.  That was followed by having icky head colds and just feeling lousy so we spent this last week resting and trying to feel better.  A week off of exercise was really nice, but it is not going to feel so nice when we start back up again after Michael gets home from work today :(  

• I have had the blessing of having a long term substitute position in a kindergarten room.  I work Tuesdays, Thursdays, and every other Friday.  This has been a really good experience and I have learned a lot.  I will have this job until the beginning of April and it's going to be sad to leave those kiddos when the time comes.  Seeking to do my best every day between now and then and praying for grace to show them grace and love each day.  

• I have been loving these two songs lately.  "The Power of the Cross" and "Speak Oh Lord" . The first is the Gospel.  I love when artists use their gifts to share the beauty of truth in a song.  Listen and be encouraged!  The second song is my prayer for my life right now.  I desire for God to speak to me and through me.  Pastor Jason talked yesterday at church about how we are stewards of grace.  He challenged us to consider if grace was staying stagnate like a lake in our own lives or if we are allowing it to flow like a river into the lives of others through using our gifts to serve them.  I want my life to be a river of grace flowing to others, blessing them, and always pointing to Christ.    

• Similar to the previous bullet, I have been overwhelmed lately by the love of my God and the countless ways he has blessed me through other people.  The ways he has used other people to shape me into the person I am today.  I am so thankful for so many people...people I know well and people I hardly know but interacted with for a time.  I am thankful for family and friends, old classmates and people I grew up with, people I went to college with, family friends, teachers, pastors and others who poured into my life, people I worked with at camp, etc.  So if you are reading this, you should know that I am thankful for you.  Whether you have had a big or small interaction with me and my life, you really have blessed me and played a role in teaching me something so thank you.  

In closing, here are two pictures from our Valentine's Day last week...love this man and so thankful to have him to walk through life with!  

Goals for 2013

It's hard to believe that it's already January 21, but it is still a new year and with a new year comes a new time to set goals.  I like to post my goals on here because then at the end of the year I know where to look for them.  I have decided to set 5 goals this year and wanted to make sure I had a purpose in setting them.  

1. Read through the Bible in a year again.

    Means: I will be using the Discipleship Journal reading plan

    Purpose: As a believer this is an important part of my relationship with God.  I want to become more like him every day and treasure him more every day.  

2. Memorize scripture.

    Means: I will begin by memorizing James and then will begin memorizing the fighter verses with our church. 

    Purpose: Same as the above, but along with this I want to be meditating on God's word throughout the day, not just reading it.  

3. Pursue a healthier lifestyle.

    Means: Exercising with Michael doing Insantiy MWF and Saturday and doing Jillian yoga on T and Th.  We are working on switching our eating habits as well to more consistently have healthier meals.  

    Purpose: We both put on some weight as we got lazy after the wedding and we want to take care of and honor God with our bodies.  

4. Learn to crochet. 

    Means: Practice using online tutorials.  First project goal: a scarf. 

    Purpose: Both of my grandmothers are good with skills like sewing, knitting, quilting, and crocheting.  I have always admired their skills and wanted to be able to follow them in this area.  So you could say one reason I am doing this is to honor my grandmas.  Another reason I want to do this is because once I have the skills down I want to be able to bless others through it.  

5. Continue reading quality books...shoot for 12 this year.  

    Means: I am starting by working through Les Miserables.  It is a big one and I want to finish it before I watch the movie.  

    Purpose: I want to stretch my mind and I missed reading for pleasure when I was in college.

So there you have it...my goals for 2013 :)    

Jesus, the baby in the manger

I have been meaning to blog for several weeks now, but have been putting it off because I didn't want to botch my words...truth is that I would still be putting it off, but as we are leaving tonight for our Christmas travels and I wanted this done before Christmas it seems as though now is the best time.  So here we go :)

Thoughts leading up to Christmas this year...

I am so exceedingly thankful for the church that Michael and I have been attending.  We are undergoing a change in our lead pastor and it has been amazing to see the transition taking place.  We have been so blessed to be under the teaching of truth that both of these men share.  The sermons from the last three weeks (which I HIGHLY recommend and can be found here! ) are primarily where my thoughts have been stemming from.

First, as we approach Christmas time and all of its festivities, let us not have a lowly view of this baby Jesus in the manger.  This baby Jesus is the living God.  He is the perfect intersection of every excellency.  He is perfect love, perfect justice, perfect joy, perfect peace, perfect patience, perfect kindness, perfect goodness, etc...all together in perfect unity!  His perfect love does not negate perfect justice.  He is the King of kings and the Lord of lords!  He was God before He came and He came with incredible purpose.  He came to save his enemies, all the sinners of the world.  He came to save them by being crushed by them.  The cross was his purpose.  The cross, where love and justice come together perfectly.  Perfect judgment for sin and perfect grace in saving sinners through Jesus.  Consider that for a moment...as unsaved sinners we are under God's wrath, destined to be crushed by him; but through Jesus taking our place and being crushed for us we are reconciled to God!  We no longer need to be crushed because He has taken our sin upon himself and been crushed for us!  But it didn't end with the crushing!  No, he overcame and conquered death!  He lives!  Consider this baby Jesus in relation to the lyrics of one of my favorite songs, "The First Place"...(Listen here!)

Jesus, the perfect picture of the unseen God

Maker of things we cannot comprehend

Wisdom, the earth displays your strength and beauty

Sovereign, yes every throne knows you are God

Every inch of this universe belongs to you, O Christ

For through you and for you it was made

Your creation endures by the order of your hand

So you must have in all things the first place

Victor, over sin and death you triumphed

Firstborn, you've shown us life beyond the grave

Bridge groom, we long for you in expectation

Jesus, your church rejoices to proclaim! 

Incredible.  Awesome.  Amazing.  Ah, how I love truth!  Next thing on my mind: Grace.  So much grace!  Grace is the only reason I can see truth, the only reason I feel conviction for sin and the desire to be more like my Jesus.  Grace is the reason any of us (sinners or redeemed) are living and breathing right now, let alone all the other blessings we are given.  Hallelujah!  

Finally, I wanted to share with you my favorite Christmas song, "Joy has Dawned" ( Listen here :) ).  I was a freshman in college when I first heard this song and its truth touches my heart and excites me every time I consider its lyrics. 

Joy has dawned upon the world

Promised from creation

God's salvation now unfurled

Hope for every nation!

Not with fanfares from above

Not with scenes of glory

But a humble gift of love

Jesus born on Mary!

Sounds of wonder fill the sky

With the songs of angels

 As the mighty Prince of life

Shelters in a stable!

Hands that set each star in place

Shaped the earth in darkness

Cling now to a mother's breast

Vulnerable and helpless!

Shepherds bow before the lamb

Gazing at the glory

Gifts of men from distant lands

Prophesy the story!

Gold, a King in born today

Incense, God is with us

Myrrh, His death will make a way

And by His blood He'll win us!

Son of Adam, Son of heaven

  Given as a ransom

Reconciling God and man

Christ the mighty champion!

What a Savior, what a Friend

What a glorious mystery

Once a babe in Bethlehem

Now the Lord of history!

Ah, and there I am again, absolutely in awe of my savior.  I beg you not to have a lowly view of this baby in the manger.  The world did not end yesterday, but it will end someday and we will come face to face with a holy God who hates sin.  Jesus the lamb was crushed for our sin, but the lion king is coming to crush those who have not chosen to repent and follow Jesus.  I pray that God's grace would allow you to see truth this Christmas and that you would treasure this Jesus. 

Finally...I know I have shared two songs already, but I want to share my favorite song of celebration for God's conquering death with you.  "Christ is Risen" by Matt Maher...Hallelujah!  Celebration in song here!

Let no one caught in sin remain

Inside the lie of inward shame

We fix our eyes upon the cross

And run to him who showed great love 

And bled for us

Freely you bled, for us.

Christ is risen from the dead

Trampling over death by death

Come awake, come awake!

Come and rise up from the grave

Christ is risen from the dead

We are one with him again

Come awake come awake! 

Come and rise up from the grave

Beneath the weight of all our sin

You bow to none but heaven's will

No scheme of Hell, no scoffer's crown

No burden great can hold you down

In grace you came

Forever let your church proclaim

Oh death!  Where is your sting? 

Oh hell!  Where is your victory? 

Oh Church!  Come stand in the light!

The glory of God has defeated the night!

Oh death!  Where is your sting? 

Oh hell!  Where is your victory? 

Oh Church!  Come stand in the light!  

Our God is not dead, he's alive!  He's alive!

Blessings on your Christmas!

Charlsea Lynn :)

18 years ago I became a big sister for the third time!  I am so thankful to have a sister like Charley--she is truly a delight.  Here are some of the things I love about her:

• I love her love for Jesus and her desire to glorify him with her life
• I love her sense of humor
• I love how she cares for others and how selfless she is
• I appreciate her confidence in who she is in Jesus
• She is so fun to spend time with
• She is a great friend
• She is humble
• I can be myself around her
• I love talking with her
• She is absolutely beautiful

I could go on and on, but bottom line: I love her and am so thankful to have her in my life not only as a sister, but also as a friend.  I am so excited to see her later today and spend the long weekend with her :)

Blessed with the Best

Today is the birthday of both my mom and my dad!  What a wonderful day to celebrate the wonderful parents God has blessed me and my siblings with.  Here are some of my favorite things about my parents:

Dad
-I love his love for Jesus and his dedication to the gospel. 
-I love his laugh and sense of humor.
-I love the ways he has invested in my life and my siblings lives.
-I love his genuine heart.
-I love how he loves my mom. 
-I love the positive example he provides of manhood and I so appreciate seeing some of these same characteristics in my own husband. 
-I love how he provides for our family and how willing he is to help me when I need it. 
-I love that if I am confused by anything or have a question about anything I can always approach him and know he will do his best to help me out. 
-I love talking with my dad and I love getting to hear him preach.  
-I love seeing the love he has for others.

Mom
-I love her love for Jesus and her dedication to the gospel. 
-I love talking with her and having her input on what's going on in my life. 
-I love her positive (Pollyanna) attitude.
-I love seeing her with the people she loves most.
-I love how she loves my dad.  
-I love how nurturing she is with my and my siblings as well as the other people she comes into contact with.  -I love the positive example she provides of what a godly woman should look like.  I am so thankful to have this example to follow now as a wife and someday hopefully as a mother.  
-I love our shared interests--certain movies, certain foods, going on walks, etc.
-I love her humility.
-I love the key phrases/pieces of wisdom she has shared with my and my siblings over and over again in our growing up.

Ah, there are so many more things I could share...but 10 is a good number :)  I am so very thankful for both of them and the blessing of having them as parents.  I always miss them when we are apart and am always excited to be reunited with them again.  Blessings on your birthday, Mom and Dad!  I love you both so much!

 

The Servant Song

Before I begin, please excuse me if the phrasing doesn't make complete sense.  

This morning at church I had a song shoot straight to my heart.  It struck me in such a way that for several of the verses I could do nothing but read the words and worship in my heart because allowing them to leave my lips would cause a fountain of tears to rush from my eyes.  I had never heard the song before.  I was struck with the importance of Christian community and relationship.  Human relationship alone is important.  I have been reading Jane Eyre and have been so sad by how lonely she is through different parts of the book.  Life is hard.  It is filled with joys, but also sorrows and having to walk through it alone is a sad, sad thing.

As believers in Jesus, we know that God is always present and that He loves us deeply.  Our life, however, was not meant to be only us and God interacting.  This is seen throughout scripture.  Relationships are important to God.  Jesus himself had his group of 12 who he spent his time with, not to mention Peter, James, and John who he interacted with more closely.  There is a distinct difference in spending time with those you share a common faith with and those you do not.  At least in my experience there is a difference in the way you relate to each, the things you share with each, and even the emotions you feel afterwards.  As believers it is important to reach out to unbelievers, but it is also important to share life with others who love Jesus.  We must encourage and serve one another, continually pointing one another to Christ.

Allow me to share the lyrics to this song with you:

Brother, let me be your servant. 
Let me be as Christ to you.  
Pray that I might have the grace 
To let you be my servant, too. 

We are pilgrims on a journey. 
We are brothers on the road. 
We are here to help each other
Walk the mile and bear the load. 

I will hold the Christ-light for you
In the night time of your fear. 
I will hold my hand out to you; 
Speak the peace you long to hear. 

I will weep when you are weeping. 
When you laugh, I'll laugh with you. 
I will share your joy and sorrow
Till we've seen this journey through. 

When we sing to God in heaven, 
We shall find such harmony
Born of all we've known together
Of Christ's love and agony.  

As I read the lyrics again to "The Servant Song" I continue to be filled with emotions.  I think of those who have walked alongside me in my faith journey thus far and am thankful.  I think of those who have challenged me spiritually and have helped me to see truth and feel loved.  I think of those I know who are struggling and those who have sorrow and my heart aches for them.  Similarly, I think of those who are going through joyful times and I smile and celebrate with them.  How good of God to give us hearts that relate relationally to others.  Oh the picture of the body of Christ, the church.  May we be servants to one another, walking together on this journey and pointing one another to Christ.

If you would like to listen to the song, here is a link to it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kdmgpMfnjdU&feature=fvwrel