"You down there..."

I knew I needed to blog today. It's been a while. But I had no strong inspiration. So I found one of those "20 questions about you..." type deals and was planning to post my answers. It wouldn't be a particularly inspiring blog, but hopefully at least a little interesting. Good enough.

But then it happened. God inspired me through a whisper...

Sometimes when Derrick and I are in different rooms...or sitting on different couches...we'll say "I love you in there.", "I love you over there.", "I love you out there.", etc. 

Tonight he was on his computer in his office and, since he likes me just being there with him, I had sprawled out on the floor in the same room to fold towels and do my James devotion. In the middle of my reading, I hear a whisper from above me.

"I love you down there." Derrick smiled down. Making me feel loved. Safe. Sure. 

"I love you up there." I assured him. 

And then - in that same split second - I knew what I should write about. 

Sometimes we're going through life...feeling alone. Frustrated. Confused. We feel like giving up. We feel like no one would notice if we just stopped altogether. And then, like a warm blanket on the coldest night, God softly whispers "I love you down there."

Sometimes we're celebrating our blessings. We're falling in love. Getting married. Having a baby. Landing our dream job. Traveling the world. Listening to our favorite song on the radio. Basking in the warmth of a good book. Laughing with the best of friends. And, if we pause a minute, we can hear God whispering, "I love you down there."

Isn't that the best feeling? To know that we are loved. Safe. Sure. Someone cared enough to send His Son to die for us. Someone cares what you're going through. Someone is going through it with you. And not just someone - but the Creator and King over all. 

Close your eyes and listen. He's whispering to you. Beckoning you. Reassuring you. Caring for you....

"I love you down there."

And take a moment to thank Him. Adore Him. Worship Him. Praise Him. Whisper back. 

"I love You up there."

The King's Best Friend

Once upon a time, as all good stories begin, there was a king. He lived in a far away land and had much power over all of the people. He was a good king with a kind heart, and he loved surprising his people with good things. He hated when he had to punish them, although that was an important part of the job.

Like most of us, this king had a friend. His friend would come visit, and they would talk about life and what was going right and what was going wrong. Sometimes the friend would talk about what he would like to see changed in the kingdom. Sometimes the king would write letters to the friend - and the friend would curl up on his couch and read them, so glad that he had received a letter from his dearest friend. When the friend was sad, he would call the king or go visit the king for comfort. 

But, because the king was wise and powerful and ruled over all of the land, the friend was still supposed to bow to him in public ceremonies. The friend still had to honor the king and respect the king. The friend had to stand in awe of the kingdom and the power and pay his proper respects to the position that the king held. And this was hard for the friend...because he sometimes forgot that the king was king...to him - the king was just his friend.

This king also had a daughter. She enjoyed sitting at her father's feet and hearing stories of his life. She liked asking advice or crawling into his lap when she had been disappointed or heart broken. He was her daddy, the only one she could truly trust, and he would listen to her for hours. She loved him like a hero, and he fiercely loved and protected her. 

But when it was time for the ball, the daughter had to dress in her nicest clothes and bow with the peasants. She stood in awe of the king as he walked through the ballroom and was reminded of who her father was. He was the king. He was powerful. He was wise. He knew what was best not only for her, but for the whole kingdom...and, for a moment, she would be lost in how large he was, how important, how royal, how powerful.

Sometimes I think I forgot that God is King over all. Alpha and Omega. All powerful. Deserving of honor and respect and tremendous awe. Sometimes He's just my Friend and Father. He's the One that writes me letters and gives me hugs. It's easy for me to see God as a Friend Who blesses me with miracles and as a Father Who knows best. But I think that it's hard for me to be overcome with awe of how big He is. How powerful He is. How majestic He is. And I think I need to get back to that place. The place where I don't share the couch with Him or sit on His lap - but where I bow at His feet and worship His Greatness.

It is he who made the earth by his power,
who established the world by his wisdom,
and by his understanding stretched out the heavens.

Jeremiah 10:12

Fear before him, all the earth: the world also shall be stable, that it be not moved. Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice: and let men say among the nations, The LORD reigneth. Let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof: let the fields rejoice, and all that is therein. Then shall the trees of the wood sing out at the presence of the LORD, because he cometh to judge the earth. 

1 Chronicles 16:30-33

 Let all the earth fear the LORD; let all the people of the world revere him.

Psalm 33:8

Of Mice and Men

Our home is surrounded by fields. 

This means mice. In my house. Invading my security.

I hate mice. And I let them have too much control. If I hear one in the kitchen, then I sit paralyzed in the living room. If I'm unsure where they are but I know they're there then I will go outside. Yes, I let mice run me out of my own home. And recently I haven't slept well, because I wake up in the middle of the night and feel like they're in bed with us. It's a real problem.

Logically, I get it. They're little. They're hungry. They're scared of me. But that doesn't stop me from being terrified. And from letting them invade my haven. My safe place. My home.

Now, I am a clean person. I am obsessive about making sure our home is clean. But having mice has made me take it to a whole other level. I have bought plastic containers for all of our pantry-food. And I am so looking forward to completely cleaning out my pantry this weekend. Rubbing it down. Reorganizing. Cleaning any evidence of mice and trying my best to secure that the problem won't happen again...I'm a little too excited about this cleaning and reorganizing. I'm very Monica about it all (Friends). Very Martha about it all (the Bible). 

If the cleaning and organizing and dozen traps set in my kitchen don't get rid of the mice...my husband says we'll call an exterminator. 

As I sat down to write my blog about my fear of mice and my excitement to clean, I was reminded of God and life and sin. 

How many times do we let sin control our lives? Make us feel unsafe in our own home? Dictate our decisions and leave us paralyzed.? Sure. It starts out small. It climbs its way in through a little hole - one we didn't even notice. It stays hidden for a while - and you don't even realize when it begins to disrupt your life. Next thing you know you are in a ball on the couch, wanting it to go away but unsure of how to get rid of it...and unsure of how you got to this point. 

Maybe its time to clean out the pantry of your heart and mind (yes, i know it sounds stupid - but you get my point). Get rid of the sin. The temptation. The things that may cause you to stumble. The bonds that have you paralyzed. The chains that are keeping you from freedom. The addictions, abuses, memories, temptations, scars that are keeping you from feeling secure in your own home.

Getting rid of the filth and temptation and stumbling blocks - and guarding your heart - is important. But  it isn't enough. Sometimes the sins keep finding holes, weakness, crumbs of insecurity. We can try our best to safeguard our hearts and minds, but when it comes down to it - we need to start and end with a really good exterminator. And God is the only One Who is up for the job.

 When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” 

For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone;  

but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by 

their own evil desire and enticed.  Then, after desire has conceived, 

it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.

 James 1:13-15

 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, 

whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—

if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 

Philippians 4:8

Love Deeply.

I was really struggling yesterday with a few key questions: What am I doing to make a difference in the lives of others? How am I making an impact for Christ? Am I just wasting my time, my opportunities, my talents? What more can I do today, right now?

...and so I decided to share a passage of scripture with you that God shared with me. Hopefully it will inspire you. Don't you love when you look at a verse or passage that you've probably seen at least a dozen times before but this time it means more?

 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.  Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.  Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen. 1 Peter 4:7-11

There are so many great morsels of truth tucked away in this passage, but I will focus on those words and principles that touched me today, in hopes that they may touch you too.

"Above all, love each other deeply."  Love deeply. Love passionately. Love completely. Do love. Feel love. Act in love. Show love. How often do we - do I - forget to show love to others in everything that I do. And to love those around me deeply and completely. 

"Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling."  The first part of this command is great...but the second part is humbling, and I think it probably speaks to many of us. How often do I volunteer for something or to help someone and yet complain and grumble and have a negative spirit while anticipating actually "offering hospitality". Even though my spiritual gift is exhortation, I am selfish. I like using my time for me when I get the chance...and too often find myself - if only in my mind - having a poor spirit about being kind, welcoming, and helpful to others. 

"Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others..." This is something I try to do everyday but never do enough. We each have different gifts, talents, skills that God has given us. Everyone is different - and its awesome how He made us all unique. And we each have gifts that we've been given that we can use every day to touch others, serve others, encourage others. Never focus on what you're not good at, but take a good look at what you are good at, what you enjoy doing, the talents you have - and then use those traits to serve others and to worship God.

"If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ."  I think this one builds on everything above. If I'm serving with God's strength and to His glory then I shouldn't have a negative spirit, but a spirit of love. If I'm looking for ways daily to use my gifts for God's glory then I can have faith that He will give me strength so that His will and His praise will be accomplished. 

I hope this has encouraged you today. 

To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever.

My Blog - a Book!

For two years I've been writing my next book, and I didn't even know it. I've been sharing my heart, sharing my stories, and trying to use my gifts and God's words to encourage others.

It didn't even occur to me until my mother-in-law suggested it. "Why don't you print your blogs?" At first it seemed like an only-okay idea. I mean, why would you want a book of my blogs when you can read them online? 

But it evolved into an amazing project. Something I'm proud of. Something I'm passionate about. Something that shows how God has used me and created me with certain skills for a purpose...no matter how small it may seem.

As I sit here with the book in hand and read the words, I am in awe that God used me to write these things. I am in awe that God has blessed me with experiencing these things. This mixture of advice column, devotion book, and love story. It has already made me cry and laugh this morning - and I'm excited to share it with you! There's something about holding a book in your hands, smelling it, highlighting it, being able to search it and know it that trumps looking at a computer screen.

 

If you're interested in having your own copy or buying one for a friend, mom, grandma, daughter, aunt, cousin, coworker, teacher...please let me know! I'll be selling them for $10 a book. I can order any time. 

Here are the different sections offered in the book (Or the different "Pieces of my Heart"): 

I.                   About Me

Learn my heart, my quirks, my insecurities, and my passions.

II.                Life

My random musings on life: advice, stories, observations, and encouragement.

III.             God

Meet my God and learn about His redemption, His heart, His purpose, and His hope for each of us.

IV.             Women of the Bible

There are some pretty amazing women who set examples for us long ago – hear just a few of their stories and be encouraged by their heart.

V.                Friendships

I’ve been blessed with some beautiful, amazing, godly friends. Get to know them and take time to appreciate your friends and the special people in your life.

VI.             Our Story

This is my own love story written by an awesome God and starring my partner, best friend, and forever love

VII.          Relationships

Dating relationships – relationships in general – can be tough sometimes. I share my thoughts and experiences with romantic relationships and life before and in preparation of marriage.

VIII.       Marriage

The topic I am most passionate about is marriage. How it works, what God intended, and my own personal experiences as a newlywed. 

Amendment One - Not the only issue

I try to keep my opinions of politics and the state of the United States off of my blog. If I started blogging about those things, then I would probably want to share my opinions too much.  This one will be far more controversial than most things that I write about. This is not directly about Amendment One. And I don't want to debate politics, but I do want to explore some serious issues.

 With the issue of Amendment One taking over my facebook newsfeed and on the forefront of the minds of North Carolinians everywhere, it has made me think hard about many issues.

First of all, I am proud of Christians who take a stand for what they believe in without bullying others. Christians who vocalize their beliefs and stick to them without abusing others. I believe a lot of things are a sin - but I still hope that I can show love and hope and God's redemption to the sinner. 

I do believe homosexuality is a sin. Homosexual relationships, partnerships, marriage...I believe it is a sin. God created male and female for a reason - and I love the way that the characteristics and personality traits of men and women normally fit so well together. We are partners. We complement each other. We were made to. I think, even if you are not a Christian, it is obvious just by the way we are all made that men and women are meant to be together. The world wouldn't continue unless men and women were together. So I will never vote in favor of something that I don't believe in. 

Honestly? I don't think the issue of homosexual relationships has singlehandedly ruined the sanctity of marriage. I think that the sanctity of marriage was in trouble far before Ellen DeGeneres became so popular. I think the beauty and strength and purpose of marriage became watered down when Britney Spears got an annulment after only 55 hours of marriage. I think the fact that I'm more surprised when a Hollywood couple stays married longer than a handful of years than when they don't has done much to ruin the beauty of marriage. I think that the number of children who never knew their father, who experienced abandonment by their mother, the people all around us who have been married time and time again, the couples going in to marriage with no idea of what it even means, the couples living together before getting married, the wives that tear down their husbands and husbands that would rather stay at work than go home.... I think all of that did just as much - if not more - to destroy the sanctity of marriage. God's plan was in the beauty of one woman and one man being partners and best friends and lovers for life.

I will repeat that I think homosexuality is a sexual sin. Period. But I think there are other sexual sins that need to garner just as much attention and passion from us. There are twelve year old girls being pressured to do things that I didn't even know existed until I was in college (some things I probably still don't know about). There are fifteen year old boys making checklists of the girls they've been with and things they've done. There are young women on the streets selling themselves because they don't know any other way. There are men who find refuge from their families at strip clubs. And the threat of sexual predators on the internet is hard to miss - whether it's a 30-year-old man winning over a 16-year-old girl or the half naked women that pop up on the side of every webpage beckoning guys to click on them. Innocence is being stolen away rapidly on every corner in every classroom and office and bedroom...and it's scary. 

Other than voting for or against an amendment - what are we doing about it?

I think we need to start being passionate about people. We need to start showing love to people. Sharing Jesus with people. Praying for people. Caring for people. Showing them that there is a Savior who has overcome sin!

I'm not suggesting that Amendment One is not an issue. I'm just suggesting that it's not the only one. 

Life's Pause Button

 Sometimes - for only a moment - I like to pause life. Look around. Hear it. Smell it. See it. And realize how many God-things and answered prayers and dreams-come-true got me to this point. Realize how blessed I am. Enjoy the moment. Really find bliss in the blessings.

It doesn't seem like that long ago that I was a 13-year-old girl praying for and dreaming about her future husband - having no idea who he was or how I would meet him or what our story would hold. 

It seems like only a little while ago that I was a senior in high school, listening to "My Wish" by Rascal Flatts, driving home, tears falling down my cheeks because I was terrified of the unknown that lay ahead at college.

And has it really been over two years since I graduated from college unsure of what my career goals were and crying because I didn't want to leave my friends, my professors, my school-home behind? 

Then there were all those days that I would stare at my left hand - wishing for one...really two...rings. Wondering if and when Derrick Green would ask me to be his wife. 

A year ago I was planning a wedding (or frustrating my mom by not wanting to plan a wedding). Stressed about trying to find a home. Researching honeymoon locations and cupcake flavors. Planning a 125th ball at work. Counting down the days. 

And now here we are. Married. Settled. Blessed. He makes me laugh and works in his office and plays with my hair and holds me close. I make our lunches and do the laundry and scratch his back and write him random love notes all the time. We are crazy together and cuddly together and boring together and busy together. We're best friends. 

And it's not just being blessed in marriage - there's so much more than that. There's the comfort of home. The blessing of getting to experience traditions and laugh and make new memories with our families. Getting to eat and fellowship and watch movies and go on adventures with friends . Worshiping our amazing Savior with our great church family. Having a job - more than that a job that we enjoy, where we're challenged to grow.

I realize that God has been beyond good to me. I have been given much, and I hope that I never quit trying to use my blessings to bless and encourage others. 

No matter what your story is or what you're going through - everyone has their own blessings to be thankful for and to find contentment in. There's a reason God has you where you are. For such a time as this (Esther 4:14).

I guess I just never want to forget - in the chaos and in the calm - to appreciate where I am, where I've come from, and where I'm going. To see God's amazing hand in it all. And to really enjoy each moment.

Sometimes you've got to hit life's pause button to find bliss in the blessings.  To be that 13-year-old dreamer again. To see order in the chaos. To remember the good in the God-things. To see your purpose for such a time as this.

Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. 

Ephesians 3:20,12