Give Thanks In All Circumstances

School is out for the summer and although I miss my second graders, I am thankful for this chance to sleep a little longer, read, shop, relax, and reflect.

Mom with her granddaughter

The first book I began to read this summer is titled Once Upon A Wish: True Inspirational Stories of Make-A-Wish Children by Rachelle Sparks. This is a precious book; a book that leads your heart to ponder what is truly important in life.

However, my heart has struggled greatly. Tears have been shed and unanswered questions lifted up to my Heavenly Father, who I trust, yet do not understand. I know I am not meant to understand His ways, but this small heart of faith asks him questions daily. I am so sorry for the way I know I break His heart. 

While the illnesses in the book vary, the vast majority of the stories in this book are cancer stories. As a daughter of a mother who has and is still facing cancer, I can relate to the hurt of these families as they watch someone they love face a relentless battle they wish never had to been fought in the first place. I know the many times they turn to God asking WHY? I know how the peace of God's presence becomes a lifeline, because without it, you feel as if you are sinking. I know the hope found when good news is shared and the sorrow when questions remained unanswered. I know the freedom of heart found when you finally surrender your trust and fears to the Lord, trusting He knows what is best for your loved one.

Book Reflection: Priceless by Tom Davis

After reading this book, my heart feels heavy for many reasons. This book is about the evil of human trafficking  following the life of one beautiful, innocent girl named Marina. The setting is the unique country of Russia.

Oh What We Do To Feel Beautiful

To be a woman in this culture is more difficult than it should be. Our culture places so much emphasis on beauty, sometimes we can't help but be swept in the waterfall and taken in the stream of our culture's expectations. 

Over this past month, I have been swimming in this stream. Buying a couple new pairs of pants at Rue 21, a couple shirts from Old Navy, and a new pair of polka-dotted flat shoes made me feel a little better. Next came a new haircut, getting it layered shorter than I ever have. This was not quite enough so I decided to change the color of my hair. I bought a $4.00 box of do-it-yourself hair color  at Walgreens and am so thankful my hair did not turn green! Now I am a shade blonder, have more layers in my hair, and have a few new outfits to wear. Yet I was still unsatisfied-I still did not feel beautiful even though my husband tells me this each day-he is so sweet!

During my quiet time before school while eating strawberry oatmeal, God led me to 1 Peter 3:3-4, which I clung to during my middle and high school years yet somehow it must have gotten buried deep in my heart. I am thankful God spoke these words to me through Peter:

Do not let your adornment be merely outward-arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel, rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in God's eyes.

Speech Seasoned with Salt

I don't know about you, but my husband and I use Lawry's Seasoned Salt on almost everything: from chicken to stir fry to french fries. This seasoning has become a staple in our home.

I have been challenged this week with Colossians 4: 5-6, which talks about our speech being seasoned with salt. We will dig more into this verse later on, but let me first give you the background.

My 2nd graders and I have had to have a few "class meetings" this week. My students know when I call I class meeting, something very important or exciting is about to be shared. They are very quiet as they anticipate what will be said. Our class meetings this week have needed to be about how we talk to each other. 

What God Taught Me Through A Brownie Batter Filled Donut

This past Friday Justin met his family at Dunkin Donuts to share dessert for his Mom's birthday. I was SO excited to taste the new brownie-batter filled donut: I mean doesn't it look delicious?

Yes, it was delicious. However, the next morning I allowed the devil to have a "foothold" in my thoughts and allowed him to almost ruin my day.

Snow Owls

When you face heartbreaking circumstances in life, how does your heart react? 

My first reaction is anger. I admit, I put up a wall in my heart, refusing to even turn my thoughts to God or think of his unfailing love and soverign purposes because frankly, I just want to be stubborn and try to figure it out on my own.

When this passes, the tears flow and my heart realizes I have absolutely no hope, joy, peace, or purpose unless I cry out to God at that very moment, turning my heart back to Him.

The amazing thing is he accepts this wayward heart back each time, this heart of little faith, this heart of broken vows.

How do people face this life on Earth without the hope of Jesus? Without feeling His presence, knowing his faithfulness?

I do not know what will happen in the next moment, yet God knows every detail of life, and these plans are for good, not to harm, to bring a hope and a future. (Jeremiah 29:11)

We, as fragile humans, just will never understand the ways of God. This God who created every twinkling star, every colorful bird, every grain of sand, every dazzling sunset also made us. He knows how many hairs are on our head (Luke 12) and every thought before you think it. (Psalm 139). How amazing to know He loves us with unfailing love, enough to offer us His gift of grace, which we are so unworthy. (Romans 8:38, Ephesians 2:8, 4:7)

Who am I to question God? 

Yesterday, when I was going through the anger phase of reacting to heartbreaking news, I was outside at recess with my 2nd graders. 

My 25th Birthday Weekend: Running a 5K, Flooding the House, and Eating Pizza

This weekend has been one I will always remember. Not only have I turned 25, I have won my first 5K (the women's division anyway) and almost, almost flooded our house. Let's start from the beginning.