Dear Friday

Dear Friday,

You are welcome in this place; you with your unique offering of finish lines;
neatly wrapping up the days of fast-paced rhythm,
projects completed, lessons studied, people welcomed in,
mouths, and tummies, and hearts and minds fed,
the stages of home, work, school stewarded by Abba's grace.

And then He brings us you, Friday.... you with your tantalizing aromas of the weekend ahead reaching out to our senses.
It is not for lack of joy and worship in our tighter rhythms that makes us look eager to the slow and easy, 
but rather it is the lingering that you bring us;
 in beds and reading chairs as the sun rises, around our life-scratched table top, over cups{and second cups} of steaming coffee, in worship with church family, in walks and wanderings;
the seeking out of that which brings soul joy through all of the spontaneous that you will afford.

This slow and easy works a productivity vital in it's spiritual white space afresh to our hearts and souls.  When stewarded, this union between end and start of week, floods our souls with Sabbath joy overflowing and washes us freely into the resume of Monday's waking. 

And so, Friday, I meet you with heart reflective on all that you bring finish to; 
all the big grace and love wrapping up here and pushing forward in giving of thanks!

Remembering:

~ Leaving them; releasing them.
Never so conscious of bone and muscle moving in response to firing brain cells as when my body moves away from my children;
these delightful creations that bear my DNA;
their beginnings tucked into the secret love that only Steven and I know, their first growings unfoldeding right below my rib cage, their first breathes cried into my skin.

The movement of life that from that moment on has been growing them away and up and into these moments when my hands release, my arms squeeze tight and then send them out into Abba's deep and good purposes.
This sweet amazing freeing peace to release....
To physically walk in what has always been true even from those first secret love moments that gave them life.
Gifts, treasures, heart-crushing loves of my life; they belong to Abba and Abba alone,
and how could I desire anything other than a stewarding care.
I will not pretend that I have any other role or power.
 To be a servant for their good, for their knowing Christ, for their awe in the evidence of Him all around them, and as He would chose, for their equipping to move on mission in His kingdom!

~ A lazy-river of peacefulness carrying Mr Favorite and I through another week of long obedience in the direction of intentional waiting.
Day following day of continued watchful prayer has brought true joy and smiles to my heart.
{A quiet but still open horizon};
He sees us and remembers us.  He delights to remind us of His working good purposes in perfectly timed emails, the unfolding of next obedient actions to put effort towards as we wait.
"Let me hear what God the Lord will speak, for He will speak peace to his people...
Faithfulness springs up from the ground, and righteousness looks down from the sky.
 Yes, the LORD will give what is good, and our land will yield it's increase,
righteousness will go before us and make our footsteps a way." Psalm85

~ Last Night.  Yes! I sift through great sweet joy in recalling hours not yet a full day removed.
Women of all ages gathered; bearing beautiful desserts and tissue filled gift bags.
They met to shower one of their number with soft beauty as she anticipates an entering into covenant love with her earthly bridegroom tomorrow. 
The ceremony, celebrations, and then just man and wife alone in this big grace of marriage provided us ample rejoicing together with her.
This bride has been first wooed by Christ and now this man;
this man who tenderly serves her in a leadership that washes and feeds her.
She listened as three Grace Sisters who have been married {one for two months, the others 12 and 23 years} , spoke to her words of encouragement, hope and Biblical instruction.
 Her eyes welled with tears, her head nodding; evidence of her soft and praise-filled heart.
Truly beautiful from soul through flesh, responsive to the big love which has won her heart,
tomorrow holds big joy!

~ The sweet older woman with her white curls under a page-boy cap, white keds, and long stories of travels around the world.
"Enjoy life while you can because you only go around once", she said to me.
 I grabbed onto the truth in her words.  She heard joy, and peace, and grace, and Jesus from me.  Her heart's eyes seemed closed, but for those 10 minutes in the hair salon's waiting room, she was handed invitation for life and travels that would far surpass all this world offers; limitless adventure and glory!
May her heart one day respond!

Reading:

Zephaniah.
The last seven verses over and over; inviting their penetration of my heart deeper and deeper.
One head-turning question inducting application and worship; how His restoration rejoices me!
Journal pages filling and turning with responsive worship to His scandalous grace which delights in, quiets, sings over me. To be so perfectly and tenderly met reaches beyond the words that I can manage here.

Often this week, when a kind person has inquired around my life and asked to know my stuff,
I have been at a loss to give voice to the deep and transforming happenings of the Spirit in my heart of late.
I like it this way. It fills my mind and soul, fits tenderly between my soul and Abba alone, and I taste love.
For how do you give voice to soul glory?
To tell of the entrapped part of my soul; bound in the vestiges of untreated wounds and the residual shame that inflicted legalism will leave.
His seeing me there; knowing my soul's need; waiting and ordaining perfect wooing and breaking.
Intellectually assented truths bound in austerity; now being  released by His rescue like booming fireworks of diamond glory confetti all over my soul.
"The LORD God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness; He will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing." Zephaniah3

"Recovering Redemption" by Matt Chandler and Michael Snetzer


"Recovering Redemption, written with a pastor's bold intensity and a counselor's discerning insight, takes you deeply into Scripture to take you deeply inside yourself, discovering that the heart of all our problems is truly the problem of our hearts. But because of what God has done, and because of what God can do, the most confident, contented person you know could actually be you - redeemed through Jesus Christ."
{quoted from back cover}
This book lives up to this description... Chapter 7 burst into my understanding with the most profound teaching on guilt and shame, often misconstrued as the same thing though vastly different in source and need, that I have ever received. Chandler and Snetzer both write with personal transparency and an evident deeply studied application of scripture. We call ourselves redeemed, but do we know what that means?
Get this book. Be built up!

Still reading, "A Long Obedience in the Same Direction" by Eugene Peterson, author of "The Message" {One of our favorite paraphrase resources.}
His detailed commentary here on the Psalms of Ascent proves abundantly useful in understanding these pilgrimage songs and in applying them to one's current life. A really great book to hold alongside one's personal devotions, taking one short chapter at a time.

Just cracked the cover on "Finding God at the Kitchen Sink; search for glory in the everyday grime"   by Maggie Paulus last night. {what a perfect title for one in my "profession"}!
I'll update upon completion, but this title gives feel of delightful end-of-day encouragement; a night-stand or coffee-table book. Possibly a sweet gift for new brides or new moms?


Savoring: 

~Homework time! We motor into the garage, carry the day's bundles inside, and enjoy a brain-food snack before I settle in at the big life-scratched table top to meet with one at a time.
 Folders are moved through, teacher notes read and responded to, worksheets completed, reading together.
{O, the sweet joy of a budding reader. I love the fresh accomplishment each book provides my 2nd grader!}
The uniquely built-in one on one with each student; meeting their varying needs with high fives, back rubs, help, correction, cheering - always the cheering. 
Our K4 student explained her eagerness for homework time,
 "and then you will root for me now too, mommy"

~Thunder storms. Waking us hours before the alarm was set to ring for stifled giggles as we raced around hurriedly closing windows; but not so fast that the house did not fill with that delicious rain aroma.
God's heavy showers of wet falling, watering, giving life to this orb of life. 

~ Green.  There is still so much green with only the faintest golden yellow tinges hinting of the slow and colorful death to come.
Driving fast along county highways, cresting hills to lay eyes on ridges of heavy green tree lines bearing up under a delicious Summer's fruitfulness.
His beauty as far as the eye can see in all of creation!

~A daughter's joy. There hangs a tiny glittery tulle dress near our door. She has packed her little bag with "beauty supplies" and purple sparkle shoes. Her conversation is only filled with talk of painted nails and arriving to the church early for her hair do.
Her joy as she relishes the privilege to cast petals before a bride walks the isle tomorrow speaks to God's sweet common graces. 

~ A new journal.  Silly perhaps, but for this words-loving girl,  the fresh blank pages anticipating my pen's scribble always fills me with delight. I recently chose to purchase a pack of very thin journals just so that I could relish that feeling more often.
Yes, I did say, silly......but only perhaps.

Listening: 

"Run to You" by Kari Jobe. Love these lyrics!
"Here in This Moment" by Beckah Shae - Can't listen to this one without dancing.
"This Love Doesn't Run" by Kerrie Roberts - In a total KR holding pattern these days. Love her every song.


Thinking:

On this,

And this.

And preaching this to myself.

Farewell Grace Friends....kind readers of my scribble in this place.
May you feed deeply on His soul-satisfying love this weekend.
May you know the beauty of intentional slow and spiritual white space.
May you soak yourself in corporate worship with your church people.
May you know an overflowing heart-refreshing that washes you freely into the Monday ahead! 

#soulwords

For when the path is hard, 

and people ask for more, 

and your more is not enough.

For when your fallibility feels so ugly.

and your feelings lie, 

and the colors of praise dim. 

For when old voices re-sound.

and old wounds ache bare

and your soul calls for rest...

Know this, dear Heart... 

Grace Tidbit; Stewarded

Do you enjoy gathering the gifts Abba has placed at your fingertips,
arranging, and rearranging; creating, and beautifying spaces and places, sights and tastes?

Are your passions fabric and thread, mixing and seasoning,
organizing the hidden, clicking your shutter at beauty, or maybe pen on paper?
Do you find ways to gather what is already there; bringing the outside in to arrange a new look,
and new warm, and new message of welcome. 

How can you dwell your thoughts on your Abba, the people He's given you,
and then move your creative giftings to bless, warm, and love with a big love?
How can you find soul-rest a midst the busyness by creating?

The critics may site selfishness. Let them.

Abba calls it worship; this aligning with His design for us; this image-bearing in joyful stewarding. 

{A simple mantle made fresh in beckoning love with the simple of a new combination; some of the pretty display of our outdoors brought in. I like the way it communicates the heavy fullness of late Summer; the relaxed wanderings of a ride through the country while faint whispers of harvest begin to fall all around.}

What about you? What is your tidbit of grace to steward? Your gathering from your fingertips and arranging in fresh love; imaging your Abba's creative power?
I welcome you to share in this place...

Sunday Link-Up {9-7-14}

Dear Reader in this place, 

With thought and hope for your encouragement, I have had so much joy in setting aside these treasures; messages of truth for your soul-refreshing. 

Links strung out in a bunting of beauty and grace for you!
May you be gathered by His steadfast love and faithfulness displayed here! 

Maybe it's that I can so clearly relate to Genna's view of God,

 {with my 11 yr old self, and my 17 yr old self, and my 25 yr old self... though happily not with my 32 yr old self.} 

Maybe it's having my own 9 and 7 and 4yr olds, and the similar conversations we've shared, but this analogy was creative and has stuck with me all week. 

I am with His Son. 

There was this faith-sister who found huge grace in a pot roast "incident",

and putting pen to paper, strung that grace out into words for us. 

This Kindred, with all of her pouring-out wisdom and comfort inviting souls to cultivate spiritual white space;

a memoir-based work of word and wisdom art, which was used by Abba to draw me free in new ways.
{find your copy here}

She teaches our souls to sparkle again when the stars fall down! 

{Make sure you click over to (in)courage where Bonnie completes her post beautifully!}

What happens when this dear faith-sister moves through her suffering by boldly bypassing false gospels, self-pity, and "the glad game" straight to the heart of Eden's garden and it's freeing truth. Empty arms or an overflowing heart? 

What if we all did this?

"So, next time you walk outside and the sun is shining, let the warmth of the sun’s rays startle you into gratitude, and then praise the God who drenches His world in grace."

Was this the first week of school for your family like it was for our's? 

Another piece of truth-art by Bonnie Gray of faith barista about nurturing and guarding the health of your family's soul!

What about you, reading friends in this place?
Do you have a treasure~link to share? Something that God used for your blessing, another's gifting displayed through photos or words that spoke into your soul for good?
I would so welcome your comment and shared encouragement with us all in this place!

Dear Son of Mine:{On a Day of First}

Dear Son, 

I see you.
I see you there alone in a new desk amidst a row of girl classmates.
The room, the teacher, even the folder sitting on the desk before you all scream of uncertainty and new requirements.
I see how you are unsure that you will be able.
I see your fear of failure.
I see your gathered bravery which forbids emotion, keeps your eyes low, and your fingers fidgeting.

Son, I see you!

 I  also see Another; the One who is with you; 
loving, certain, constant, able, powerful, caring, 
leading, providing, comforting, enabling,
 receiving and never turning away your need. 

Son, I saw you last night when you crept out of your dark room;
the room where you brother slept quickly and with an ease that was alluding you.
You shared your heart and your tears with Daddy and I.

We saw you. We heard you. 

You let us rub your back and tell you that we understood.  We both remember.
Your spirit calmed as we told you about a young man just like you....
One who watched the horizon with vigilance.  
The first one to pinpoint trouble and know a need for help.
The one whose resolve and deep-rooted call to protect matched your's.
He measured the trouble and knew with certainty that the trouble was too much, too big, too powerful.
Like you, he ran for help. 
Ran to one with a big faith and told of the horizon's approaching danger. 

That one prayed for him like Daddy and I pray for you.
"Open his eyes, LORD, that he may see. Show him, make him aware. Lift his eyes to his true reality." 
that he might see....
that he may know.... 
that he might rest; in the deepest part of his soul; rest."

Because Son, this is what is truer than the new teacher; more real than the demands you face in 4th grade.
This is what that other young man saw, and in a flash, was changed by forever.

We are surrounded; completely encompassed behind, before, and above. 
To the farthest North, South, East and West.
Deeper than the greatest depth, higher than the mind can reach and beyond...
We are covered. 
His Presence in fiery wings; chariots of gold behind steeds of His majesty circling, pacing and pawing the ground; impenetrable. 

You listened as we painted this picture for you with words.
His Holy Spirit within you moved and helped your unbelief.
You returned to your pillow.
You woke early asking me for direction through the pages of your Bible,
so that you might lay eyes on this story again for yourself.
You read, you wrote. I saw your head bowed over our life-scratched slab of table top.
I saw that you were asking to have you eyes open; to see. 

I know that as we headed off and entered that yellow brick building together,
the horizon was still very real;
taking on specific tangibility as you hung your backpack and slid into that new seat.

I saw you....and then I did the hardest thing I ever do.

I left.

Physically moving my legs in the wonderful truth that you belong to HIM, not to me.

I did not leave you alone. I left you surrounded. 
His guard over you is more than I could ever provide, 
His love steadfast, where mine is tinged with sin, 
His purposes perfect and powerful unlike anything I can even think up. 

In a few short hours, I will circle the minivan around to the spot where you will climb in.
I will be so happy to see you and eager to ask how you saw today; how you saw HIM.

Together, we will harness our imaginations in faith and race towards God's promises.
Together, we will lift our eyes to see His wall of fire all around us, and His glory in our midst. 

Bring on 4th grade! 

Grace and Beauty Bits All Strung Together

Dear Ones...

Come and take a Sunday stroll with me. There is a rustic wooden bench across the road and around the pond's curve from here. We would find it nestled in tall prairie grasses but sitting along a mown pathway perfect for slipping off our sandals and relaxing bare toes in the soft green. 

The butterflies and grasshoppers of late August would join us. 

There is already the water-whooshing sounds of geese landing nearbye. Somehow they know these muggy 80s will not last. 

Autumn hinges on the horizon. 

I want you to drink with me in the beauty of this day, this season right in front of us; 

Engaging the worship muscles of our souls and feeding on the LORD's goodness surrounding us!

We will both meet with Monday's newly-birthed motion and demand in the morning, but join me in face-forward entering of the rigorous with our identity in Christ first. 

Let us enter filled, alive, soul-fed, enabled, chosen, surrounded and overflowing! 

His word all around us, His Spirit within us, covering these days ahead; covering all of their aching, rushing, not-enough, waiting, needing, flat out failing with the capstone of grace. 

"Grace, Grace. Too much grace." 

We will shout it loud at the end!

Just look all around us. Grace and beauty bits are gathered in bundles at our feet; floating in from this past week.

{ I will string some of mine together in a bunting of links for you. }

Scraps of His truth and steadfast love whispered in the words and photos captured and put down by others. 

Feast your soul and rest your heart!

Welcome Monday with huge faith and worship!

This wise perspective timely in seasons of reorienting home-life rhythms. 

http://www.incourage.me/2014/08/let-the-rhythm-move-you.html

Is your communion with Abba this way?

So that they believe in their Creator not through catechized brains alone, but from souls enlarged with wonder at the signs of Him all around. 

http://gcdiscipleship.com/cultivating-wonder-children/

Heard of this one yet? 

Seriously the MOST FUN challenge you and your spouse will ever take. 

If 15 seconds is already a norm for you, take and add the 15 sec to your "norm" like Mr Favorite and I did... 

{We guarantee you won't regret this experiment...}

Single? Tuck this away for the future, then forward it to a married couple that you love.

http://fiercemarriage.com/15-second-kiss-experiment

Do you know Kara? I wish we could all be her besties as her amazing journey and platform of faith unfold. Grab some fresh coffee and do a little back reading of her blog. Catch her story and her heart. Watch for and order her book.  Pray for her strength and for her people. We will see this woman in glory all wrapped in His embrace, and we will be different here for knowing her story. 

http://mundanefaithfulness.com/2014/08/29/5-thoughts-on-dying-well/

I will leave you with this image. I do not recall where I stumbled across it, but I saved and have returned to it several times.

At first glance it stirred something in my soul; like a pixelated reflection of Abba's beckoning welcome over me. 

His rescue and choosing grace beautifying my heart and drawing my approach through courts of absolute beauty. 

{Zephaniah 3}

Sing aloud, O daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel! Rejoice and exult with all your heart, O daughter of Jerusalem!

The LORD has taken away the judgments against you; he has cleared away your enemies. The King of Israel, the LORD, is in your midst; you shall never again fear evil.

On that day it shall be said to Jerusalem: "Fear not, O Zion; let not your hands grow weak.

The LORD your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing." What are some of your grace and beauty bits from the past week? I would love to hear you share in this place.

Dear Friday; a day for counting...

Dear Friday, 

Oh how I welcome all that your offer me both in the view over my shoulder, the pathway ahead, and in looking right smack dab down at ya!

You beckon for final pushes in effort as the rhythms of this home produce finished projects, school mornings practiced, fellowship embraced, some cleaner closets, appointments kept (with the exception of that one poor dentist, whom this addled memory, immune to all alarms and reminders in the world, stood up- 

flat stood up). 

You, Friday, also offer a place of pause before transition in which my soul finds openness to gather together the nuggets of huge grace which have been gifted into my life since you and I last met. 

Remembering:

~The sweetness of resuming our early morning rhythm in preparation for school's start next week. 

The barely dawning skies as My Favorite and I knit hands and hearts to pray the day in, tousled hair on my littles, and the way a hearty breakfast wakes their eyes to bright-smile slowly.

~K's exuberant passion to see every single animal our city's small but sweet zoo boasts. The way she is still contemplating the map days later and mourning those elusive kangaroos.

~Navigating congested hallways in a freshly renovated school to meet this year's new teachers and deliver supplies. Desks were located, classmates greeted, and anticipation built. 

To release our small people into the hands of teachers each year is fresh reminder that they do not belong to us, but have a Creator who unfolds in perfect ways His purposes for them. 

We are anchored and thankful!

~ Slow lingering walks around the pond with my hand in his and hearts sharing around the day we both have passed through. 

A purposeful enjoying with winsome freedom the sweetness of safeguarding and deepening our relationship.

~ The many times this week that I have chosen spiritual white space to slow, lean into, and savor hearing of His love for me through His word. Freedom anew to put down the list, turn off my phone and just be in His presence has fed and refreshed my heart beyond degree. 

Like the green hedge lining our back deck; heavy and a bit untethered under the growth of recent rain showers, my soul bulges out of the lines with new growth, a freedom, healing, and clarity freshly born.

Reading:
Zechariah {this minor prophet is playing a major role in my culminating soul renovations}
~lit. "The Lord Remembers".... God's nature and initiation of comfort post-exile.  He plucks from the fire, chooses, takes up residence in, and promises restoration multiplied.
He measures, knows, understands, surrounds, beautifies, overflows, centers, redefines, repurposes, prizes, protects, builds up, gives share in His glory!
The "finish line" of this book came and went earlier this week. I am still swallowed up whole in it's chapters; turning and returning to the LORD's unveiled nature, promise, and purpose for this soul; 

His chosen and prized possession.

"The Best Yes" by Lysa Terkeurst.  

I slurped this title down with intensity; a thick fudge-slathered milk shake with lots of protein for the mind and soul.  It followed beautifully on the heels of how God has been teaching me to cultivate spiritual white space 

{what that means and how to use it etc}. 

My heart's eyes sprung open wide with clarity and fresh understanding as I received Lysa's teaching on; 

{God's Word, Ways and Wonder}, {Chasing Down That Decision}, {Managing Demands by Understanding Expectations}, 

{The Power of a Small No}, 

{The Awkward Disappointment of a No}, and {The Thrill of an Unrushed Yes}.....

If any of that sounds intriguing, get a copy of this book and benefit as I have! You will!


"Lament For A Son" 

Nicholas Wolterstorff's reflective memoior in the grief of his son's death.  I am finding these transparently raw words, strung together by the strings of an aching heart, to be captivating as they illumine my understanding of loss and grief; to move through my own, and comfort others.

"Stripped - When God's call turns from "Yes!" to "Why me?" by Lina Abujamra.  Half way through and deeply challenged. This author has been gifted with a humility which causes her words to ring forth in power and truth; laying the Biblical foundation of the gospel in a revisited fashion for the way we think about and pursue our callings and dreams.

Savoring:
~Fresh raspberries, plump and sweet.
~These last unhurried days of Summer with all three littles at home with me.
~Beautiful sunsets on a horizon I will not always have before me.
~A newfound favorite coffee brew! 

{Folks it's the best steamy hot black to ever fill my mug.}
~A grace-glimpse into our G's heart as he recognizes, grapples with and clings to the gospel in new ways.
~Waiting. Yes, we are savoring the quiet peace of a long wait in new directions.
~Anticipation: of an extended weekend, of Autumn, of grace upon grace - always that!

Listening:
 {on replay}
 "The Middle of it All" by Kerri Roberts.
and pretty much anything else from her album, "Time for the Show"

"Who is Like You" by Meredith Andrews
"Into the West" and "Fields of Gold"  by Peter Hollens

This sermon: 

http://www.castleview.org/sermons/grave-grace-story-lazarus-resurrection/

{We like to "stalk" this pastor's preaching.} 

Planning:
~Spontaneous unhindered weekend family time; listening, asking, laughing, discipling together. The weather will dictate activity, and the Spirit will ordain direction, but my heart already leans into these hours of Schulz5 joy. 

I am awash with ideas for making my people know their identity as treasured graces. 

May I serve up, wash over, comfort through, cuddle in, and wrap up with joy every aspect of these set aside days.

~A short collection of new items has made it's way onto my weekly gorcery list. 

Researching, planning and prepping new dishes is a sweet joy to my specific creativity gifting. 

Where I'm completely lost with fabric and thread, or with scaps and booking, I can get really excited over the saute pan, sweet basil, and chop, chop, chopping. 

Recent soul renovations have brought conviction that this pursuit is part of God's specific instruction for me; to be rejuvenated and guarded! 

I'm eager to rediscover the sweet joys in hearing collective "yums" when new flavour combinations hit tastebuds around our life-scratched square of wooden table top.- So two new-to-us dishes rest in instruction form ready for release into menu reality this coming week.

~Tech-free Saturday.  One of my new boundaries to give test and practice to. The phone and laptop will be set aside for this day each week, not so much because they burden or encumber me, but in obedient pursuit of that delicious spiritual and emotional white space I am finding to be such a relish. As time, attention, and mental energies are made free from these useful devices and the connection they bring, I will be pursuing uninterrupted face time with my people, solitude, off-the-grid reading and writing.

~A New Look. This mom-pony-tail needs to go! My first day without any littles 

{in 9+ years} will find me passing time at a favorite salon for some fun experimentation. 

~Steven.  In my plans every moment of every day, I will relish, receive, flirt with, and serve this man.  I will listen to his admonitions {their needed and gentle} and move alongside him in the mission God gives him.

Thinking:

~Churning, meditation, my white-noise for soul rest right here:

and this:

and this: 

and asking my soul this:

You are welcome here with joy, dear Friday! 

May each of you who read in this place chase down the counting up and stewarding of His grace this weekend!