Monthly Archives: December 2015

A Year of Brave

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Here I sit…the last day of December and the last day of this year 2015. And the last day of living out my One Word 365 “brave” for the year. As I look back over the year, I am reminded of how God showed me this word and shaped me in it. In fact, I can say that like the cowardly lion in the Wizard of Oz, I am braver than I think I am!

To refresh our memories, the word “brave” is defined, according to Mirriam Webster’s dictionary, as “having or showing courage,” or “making a fine show” (Adjective) And then as a verb, it means “to face or endure with courage” or “obsolete; to make showy.” The word brave also is a noun “one who is brave.”

So what does it mean to show courage? As I look back, I see courage and being brave in continuing to share our story of mental illness. I haven’t always seen it as being brave. But my friend Mary commented one day, “Your brave is in telling your story.” Her words caused me to stop and reflect on Brene Brown’s words “The bravest thing you’ll ever do is share your story.” That is so true. The bravest thing any of us will ever do is share our stories.

BRAVE!!

Brave sometimes looks like caring for an aging parent. My sister and I care for our mom as her legal guardians. We entrust her care to the nursing home she lives at but we are responsible for the big decisions. This summer we made some tough decisions yet again. We never imagined that at such young ages we would be the caregiver for a parent. But we are!

BRAVE!!

Still yearning deeply for God to answer the desires of my heart, I often…(read almost always)…don’t feel so courageous or brave. Yet what I’ve come to realize especially this year is that it is brave. As Miss Mandy Hales writes, “It’s about the beautiful uncertainty of it all!” Yes, it is brave to trust in God and the beautiful uncertainty of my life. And in that beautiful uncertainty, I realize that it is brave to hear Gods’s voice calling me to unchartered waters for myself. Yet being able to hear that call is brave and causes me to write down brave words like this Post. Is my brave being called to “foster and/or adoption?”

BRAVE!!

In my one word post last year, I wrote about the cowardly lion. You know a year of living brave has shown me that perhaps we aren’t so different after all. A year of living brave looks different for each and every one of us. Yet God gives us the courage and shows each one of us to be brave.

I’m reminded of these very words I wrote last January “I don’t need a medal. However I’ll admit that it would be pretty cool to own my very own medal! I need to show courage. I am not sure what that might look like. But I do hope that I am able to parade with courage; with bravery. As a single 36 year old female, I am tired of waiting for my Mr. Right. I am weary. I yearn so deeply to be a momma. Perhaps being brave for me will mean looking at other options; adoption, etc. I have no idea where this word will lead me in 2015 but I do know that it will shape me and who I am. And I will continue to pray for the ways that God might shape me as I live into this word this year.”

God did that very thing. God showed me my brave and continues to show it to me earn and every day. Brave is doing things even when we are afraid to do them. Brave is being able to see the fate within each and every one of us. Brave is surrendering fully and 100% trusting in the beautiful uncertainty of life!

“Haven’t I commanded you? Strength! Courage! Don’t be timid; don’t get discouraged. God, your God, is with you every step you take.”–Joshua 1:9 (The Message)

“And that though I am flawed, God is loving me and refining me and reminding me that God in me is where I can place my trust. And that is the place where I find my courage.” (Learning to Be Brave; Annie F. Downs; P.37)

(As my year of brave comes to an end, let’s jam out to this years theme song one last time!)

Linking up with Emily P. Freeman

Books, Books and More Books 2015

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I’ve always been a big reader! And this year was no exception. It was full of so much goodness. I started the year reading one of my absolute fave books ever; Let’s All Be Brave” by Annie F. Downs (I cannot wait until her new book comes out.) This book fit so well with my word for the year “brave!” This book is so dog eared and underlined and highlighted. Check out my post here: The Book That Is Wrecking my Soul



Bread and Wine–Shauna Niequest
Oh how I loved this book. The recipes weren’t necessary but they are an added bonus. Love that this book reminds us how to break bread at the table and be hospitable. I’ve gifted so many copies of this book.

The Greatest Gift and One Thousand Gifts–Ann Voskamp
This was my second read through of the book The Greatest Gift. Such a great Advent book. One Thousand Gifts was wonderful. I downloaded the app and have been keeping track of my own gifts. It helps us keep stock of our blessings.

Searching for Sunday–Rachel Held Evans
Working at a church, this book spoke to me in so many ways. Reading what individuals are searching for etc. Too many have been hurt by the church and I truly think this is a book that might help individuals heal.

Orphan Train–Christina Baker Kline
Sadly I didn’t read many fiction books this year. But this was such a good read.

On Being A Writer–Charity Singleton Craig and Ann Kroeker
This is the book that truly made me realize I’m a writer. I participated in a six week course on this book. So so good! I love that the authors interacted and commented on our blog posts. They also have some great podcasts.

It’s Simply Tuesday–Emily P. Freeman
Another book that I loved. Emily helps us all take time to breath and bask in our simply Tuesday’s. After reading this book, I don’t dread Tuesdays like perhaps I did before.

For the Love–Jen Hatmaker
This book is so fun…it made me laugh in so many places. But in other places, as a single woman, I couldn’t always identify with Jens stories. But overall, I truly enjoyed this book.



Wild in the Hollow–Amber Haines
Another fantastic read! Loved this book!

Oh so much goodness! In 2016, I need to finish Writing Down the Bones by Natalie Goldberg, Accidental Saints by Nadia Bolz-Weber, The Bridge by Karen Kingsbury (Thanks Katie M. Reid) and Beautiful Uncertainty by Mandy Hales (Thanks Susan Shipe) Beautiful Uncertainty doesn’t come out until 2016 but I was gifted a prerelease copy. As a single woman myself, this book is PURE GOLD!

Last but certainly not least, I’m currently reading “Notes on the Journey: Living with Sarcoma and Hope” by Laura A. Koppenhoefer. The book is a compilation of Laura’s CarePages from approx Sept 2011-Spring 2014. Laura lost her cancer battle on Nov 30th of this year. I’m thankful for a friend who is loaning me her copy of Laura’s book. I’m reading through slowly and savoring my dear friend’s words!

A Few of My Fave Posts 2015

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Reading blogs is one of my fave things to do. My routine is to open up BlogLovin and read in the morning, after work, etc. I always read so many great blogs and today I’m sharing some of my faves. I wish I could include everyone, but that would make this one long post! So here are some of my faves:

Wendy Speake–Holiday Haiku Challenge  So many great haikus as we journeyed through Advent. Thanks for the opportunity to guest post Wendy!

Andrew–Alone in the Fight Andrew has become a dear part of the FMF party and has a terminal illness. Andrew’s words are so honest and remind me of what courage and strength look like. Praying for him and his wife Barbara!

Mundane Faithfulness  This is dear Kara Tippett’s blog. Sadly Kara lost her battle with cancer. But her words still live on here in this space. Its almost impossible to pick just one post. Even after her death, her family and friends have continued to bless us in this space.

Hope–Tales from a Southern Catholic Momma–One of my fave posts from my dear friend Val. Blessed to have met in real life this summer. She daily struggles with depression, but I love that she never glosses it over. This is a FMF post that continually has stuck with me. Love you friend!

Go Ahead and Tell Your Whole Story–Colleen Mitchell Colleen is another one of my dear friends. Her words always speak to my heart. This post is such a gift for all of us as we learn how to tell our stories.

The Wisdom of Self-Care–Karrillee Aggett This woman has blessed me beyond words this year. This post on self care is so vital to all of us. One of the biggest lessons I learned at seminary was all care. Important for us all to remember these words!

No More Sleepwalking Through Life–Jennifer Dukes Lee PURE GOLD!!! Jens words always speak straight to my heart.

That’s just the tip of the iceberg…so many great posts! See you all later!

Sunday Blessings 107

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(1) Staff lunch at Primo

(2) Finishing some Christmas shopping.

(3) Dad and Ann coming to rescue me when my car died 30 mins from home.

(4) A kind stranger helping tow my car into town so I could at least wait at the cafe.

(5) Good Samaritans who stopped and checked to see if help was on the way and if I was ok.

(6) Dad, Ann and I towing my car to town.

(7) Christmas Candlelight Service at church.

(8) Uncle T singing one of my fave songs at that service as special music “Mary Did You Know?”

(9) Opening presents; so many blessings. Love them all. Two of my faves; a sister necklace/bracelet from my sis and a keyboard for my iPad.

(10) Christmas Dinner

(11) Meeting Baby Jaren and playing with him.

(12) Seeing Leslye and crew and visiting with them.

(13) The longest craziest Rook game of the century! So fun!!

(14) Watermelon candy cane

(15) Watching Erin Brokovich and Blind Side with my sissy.

(16) It’s cold but the sun finally came out. So good to see a blue sky.

(17) Huskers win the Foster Farms Bowl!!!!! Go Big Red!!!!

(18) Voxing with my faves.

(19) Watching FB with my dad and sissy.

(20) A treat of getting to sleep in.

(21) Texting with my faves

(22) And in 2015, YOU!!! You all have been blessings in my life.

On That Silent Night

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“In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. All went to their own towns to be registered. Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.”–Luke 2:1-7

On a very silent night, over 2000 years ago, Christ was born into the world as the promised Messiah: the promised Messiah who comes as the light in the midst of the darkness to bring hope, peace, and love to all the world. This promised Messiah comes as the light of the world who was born to the most unlikely woman: Mary in the most unlikeliest of places–in a dirty cattle stall; a manger in Bethlehem.

The only cries heard that silent night where the cries of this infant; our King as he entered into the world. Those cries proclaimed the promise of this holy child who promises to never leave us or forsake us…even and most especially in our sorrows and our doubts. This King comes to bring hope and peace to a world in need of that very hope and peace. It is an extraordinary gift…a King born to bring God’s love to all the world.

That silent night, the shepherds stood on a hill watching over their flocks by night. They were simply doing their job and minding their own business when the angel appeared to them. The angel proclaimed, “Do not be afraid…for I bring you good news of great joy for all the people. For today is born in the city of David Christ the Lord.” The shepherds immediately ran to see this thing the angel told them about. When they arrived, they found Mary, Joseph, and baby Jesus lying in the manger. They were overjoyed and left proclaiming and telling the news of this newborn king.

Now on our own silent nights, may we too listen and hear the cries of this infant born for each and every one of us. May we too be filled with comfort, peace, and hope shared together. May we know the promise of this one who always walks with us even in our darkest moments.

I am reminded of these words from the prophet Isaiah ” But now, this is what the Lord says—-he who created you, Jacob, he who formed you, Israel: ‘Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.”

Like God called Mary to give birth to the promised Messiah and like God called so many in the world, God calls each and every one of us by name too just like God called Jesus; Emmanuel “God with us!”

Merry Christmas my dear friends and readers! I am so thankful for each and every one of you who have joined me here in this space over this past year. May you have a blessed Advent, a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

I am linking up with my very fave women today: Holly and Testimony Tuesday, Angela and the RaRa linkup, Jennifer and Tell His Story and Holley and Coffee for your Heart!


 
 

Sunday Blessings 106

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(1) A great gathering about the Metigoshe Ministries building campaign; good fellowship and goodies!

(2) Grandma Alvina’s cheeseball

(3) Friends who are into Essential Oils and will borrow them to me. Hoping these Essential Oils will heal my cold sore much faster!

(4) Grace

(5) Great text study

(6) A shorter church council meeting

(7) Making it home in time to catch the end of the #chsocm Twitter party!

(8) Confirmation small groups

(9) Awesome FLY Christmas party

(10) Delivering Giving Tree gifts to two local elementary schools.

(11) TS treating me to a Berry White Chocolate from Caribou!! Dessert in a cup!!!

(12) FMF Twitter Party

(13) Running into colleagues at Target.

(14) An email from a fellow blogger wanting to send me a gift for being her comment queen!

(15) Mom’s Christmas party

(16) Texting with EG

(17) Texting with CT and getting a phone call from her too!

(18) Watching a Home for the Holidays.

(19) Someone’s Christmas gift making it to my house before Christmas!!

(20) Sharing about nativities and showing them pics of my collection at the WELCA Christmas gathering.

(21) Baptisms

(22) An invitation to join one of the baptismal families for supper and enjoying supper with them.

(23) Two sweet hugs from members of FLC.

(24) Listening to KL share about her “Peace not Walls” trip to Israel/Palestine/Jerusalem.

(25) Feeding baby E his bottle during fellowship time this morning.

(26) Winter Solstice concert

#Fuzzy

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I am linking up for the Five Minute Friday. The FMF is hosted by Kate Motaung on her blog Heading Home. Today’s prompt is “CHOOSE YOUR OWN PROMPT” What?!?! I decided to ask my friends for help. One suggested “gift” which was already a prompt. Another suggested “rebirth” which I liked but felt was hard to write on. I looked at my bookcase and the first word that jumped out at me was “peace” which I wrote about already this week. Then another friend tweeted #fuzzy and I told her to try again but in a turn of events, I decided “fuzzy” was the word.  Write for five minutes; unedited.


I am wrapped up in my favorite fuzzy blanket listening to Jimmy Fallon on television. Earlier I followed and tweeted along with the FMF Twitter party while working on my Christmas cards and wrapping a few presents for Moms’s Christmas party at the nursing home tomorrow. I sipped a yummy McDs Eggnog shake while doing all of this multitasking.

Then waiting patiently for the word prompt to be announced, I quickly changed into my pjs and fuzzy black and white slippers. Kate announced the prompt and we were all a little shocked. Pick your own word prompt…kind of like one of those “Choose Your Own Adventure” books. Like waiting for our word prompt or just simply waiting in life, we are reminded that waiting is never easy. And during the season of Advent, we patiently or maybe not so patiently wait for the birth of this promised Messiah.

During this season, I love to lay on my couch wrapped in my fave fuzzy blanket with my Christmas tree lights glowing and looking at all of my beloved Nativities. Did you know St. Francis of Assissi created the first Nativity/crèche because he felt like the reason for the season was being lost? Nativities for me remind again and again of the true reason for the season; celebrating Jesus who comes as the light of the world.

These nativities help us tell and retell this sacred story that is so much more than a story. Was baby Jesus wrapped in a warm fuzzy blanket or did Mary put him in a fuzzy sleeper days and/or weeks after his birth? The truth is Jesus was no ordinary infant; he was an extraordinary baby who came to bring grace and peace to a world especially in need of that grace.

                  
 My fave Christmas song (I shared it a 
few weeks ago, but I love it so much and
 wants to share again)

Guiding Our Feet Into The Way of Peace

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“By the tender mercy of our God, the dawn from on high will break upon us to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.”–Luke 1:78-79

These words have been replaying in my head and my heart today. They are in the text I will be preaching on Sunday. In this text, Zechariah and Elizabeth are told that Elizabeth will give birth to a son and they will name him John which means “God is gracious and/or merciful.” Yet even in the midst of this annunciation to Elizabeth, that is not where I’m finding myself focusing instead I’m pulled to the above words from Luke 1.

Have you ever noticed that when your electricity goes out, you don’t need much…one candle can give off just enough light? That light takes away the shadows of the darkness. That light reminds us of this precious holy child who comes as the light in the darkness. In contrast, John comes to give us knowledge of this promised Messiah while Jesus comes to fulfill that promise; the light of the world.

During this season of Advent, not everyone experiences joy. There are many who are in the depths of death and are sitting in those shadows of darkness. I think of my friend who recently lost his father; also a beloved grandfather, spouse, father-in-law.  I also am reminded of dear Laura’s daughters. For them, that empty chair at the table or around the Christmas tree is evidence of this one they loved and lost. They are literally sitting in the shadows of death. Yet God reminds us that God will guide our feet into the way of peace. Both these dear souls are no longer in pain, but rather have been guided into the way of peace.

In addition, in our world that so often feels so full of hatred and war and ugliness, it is also hard to hear these words. In an unpeaceful world, how can we be guided into the way of peace? Yet that’s the beauty. God sent Gods one and only son into world as this gift who promises to guide our feet into the way of peace. “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring Good News!”

And those feet that bring Good News and guide them into peace, they came first as infant feet; born in an stable in Bethlehem; a Son born for our sins; a Son born to guide us all into the way of peace. This peace is a peace that only this infant son can bring in the midst of our sorrows and joys and showers upon us through God’s love for God’s people.

This love is a love that reminds us always of the power and gift of love and relationships in our own lives. As my friend Laura was laying in her hospice bed, she asked us her friends, family and mat carriers to send her pictures etc to decorate her room. Only a week there, her room was filled with so much love. There was no white space left on those walls; a concrete example of the power of love; Gods love that guides us all into the way of peace; a peace that passes all human understanding.

Our gracious merciful God sends this infant child as an embodiment of God’s love for all God’s people. This unlikely King born to this unlikely woman triumphantly breaks the dawn from on high especially to all of us who sit in darkness and/or in the shadows of death and guides our feet into the way of peace!

Let’s walk forward trusting in this promised Messiah who always promises to take our hands and guide our feet into the everlasting way of peace that only God can provide!

Linking up with Jennifer Dukes Lee and Tell His Story and Holley Gerth and Coffee for your Heart: 


 

Advent and Our Own Inconveniences

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It is a beautiful December day here in North Dakota. Fresh snow from this weekend layers the ground while frost covers the trees. It is a picture straight out of a North Dakota winter calendar. I love the peacefulness this time of the year brings upon the land. But then something happens and I am shaken back into my reality. This morning, I woke up to a cold sore. Now don’t get me wrong, there are worse things than cold sores, but I always seem to get one this time of the year which just annoys me and makes me extremely self conscious.

I want to hide away from the world and not show my face until that ugly cold sore has disappeared. And, of course, this week I am helping with the women’s Christmas party on Thursday and preaching this weekend. So this morning, I quickly texted my friend Chris who loves her essential oils and asked her if she would recommend an essential oil to help my cold sore disappear more quickly. She had some recommendations and borrowed them to me. So at lunch time, I ran over and grabbed them from her office. Time will tell if they will do the trick! 🙂

I don’t know about you, but I can so easily let these little inconveniences get in the way of who God has called me to be. God has created each and everyone of us as “fearfully and wonderfully made.” God loved us so much that God sent God’s one and only son into the world for each and every one of us.

I can so easily get sidetracked by how I look, but it’s really about what is on the inside, isn’t it? I think of the movie The Grinch Who Stole Christmas where we hear “It came without ribbons. It came without tags. It came without packages, boxes, and bows.” Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn’t before…”Maybe Christmas doesn’t come from a store. Maybe Christmas…he thought…means a little bit more.” And yes, my friends, that is the true…Christmas isn’t bought in a store. Christmas is so much more!

Christmas is about spreading Christmas cheer to those who cannot afford their own packages. Christmas is about spending time with those that we love….or perhaps spending this Christmas without that special someone and yet knowing we are not alone. Christmas is about trusting in our God who sends God’s son; the promise Messiah as this precious infant boy born in a stable in Bethlehem. Have you ever thought about that? The stable wasn’t the cleanest place in the world. In fact, it was probably pretty dirty and didn’t emit the nicest odor. And perhaps it wasn’t such a silent night after all?

My prayer is that we can remember what this season is truly about…not to get hung up on our own inconveniences which in the grand scheme of things are actually pretty petty…but rather to listen for the cry of this babe born in the stable in Bethlehem and hear the words as the angels and so many proclaim “Glory to God in the highest and peace to those whom he favors” Amen!

I am linking up with Holly at Testimony Tuesday and Kelly at the RaRa Linkup:


 

Sunday Blessings 105

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(1) Awesome YouthWorkers Christmas Gathering

(2) Receiving a sweet piece of snail mail from my friend EG.

(3) Christmas cards in my mailbox! I love getting real mail!!

(4) Lavendar bath salts

(5) Snow!!!

(6) A stranger shoveling my walkway.

(7) Reba marathon. Love that show!!

(8) Meeting a new eight week old baby.

(9) Great Christmas program and family service.

(10) My new LuluRoe leggings

(11) The movie “Elf”

(12) A post liturgical nap!!!