Grace Blanket

Reading bits of Timothy Keller & Charles Spurgeon has been good for me. Some things have come into focus that I've needed to see. 

In "The King's Cross", Keller contrasts religion and the gospel. Religion is do's and don'ts, the lists if what is required so I am acceptable, and it puts the focus on me. Me working out my salvation, trying to earn it. Tiring stuff, but even so, my tendency is toward religion and collecting accomplishments that make me a model Christian girl. A gospel mindset is different because gospel means "good news", and knowing the good news of "though our sins are scarlet, He washed them white as snow," asks for a different response. It promotes worshiping the real God and not my accomplished self. It's grace, a free, costly gift. 

This morning in the "Evening and Morning" app (it's free in iTunes!), Spurgeon talked about the Lord's Prayer and how the first phrase, "Our Father" indicates the importance of our grasping the spirit of adoption. That blew me away. He's my Father through adoption, not because I was so awesome that I deserved to be picked. 

The theme I see is Jesus in His grace saved me; I strive so hard to do things to merit that salvation, but I miss out when I do. I want to live under the blanket of grace, so, so aware if the good news that saves.

Gratitude: siblings

(He's reading to her.)

My sisters are a tremendous blessing in my life; they get my corny humor (ad inwardly think I'm hilarious, but are too cool to admit it), they relate to my overly-romantic sensibilities, they share faith in Jesus with me. I am spoiled to have the gorgeous, talented, interesting, deep wells of wisdom and character in the sisters I have. 

It gives me joy to see Ransom and Hosanna interact. Sure, I have to monitor to make sure he doesn't drop/throw something on her and I know she'll become savvy to the trick of shifting blame/getting sympathy by crying, but these kids are still blessings.  Oh, how Hosanna zeroes in on Ransom when he's around and how she smiles when he comes close to her. She looks up to him already. I feel so grateful every time Ransom asks to hold her or wants her near to him, or when he includes her in conversation. Or the time he was sitting in the cart in the store and reached back to hold her hand for several minutes to comfort her when she was crying. I am so looking forward to their future interactions and am praying for them to be best friends. Praying that he'll protect her and look after her. Praying that she'll encourage him and cheer him on. 

It goes without saying, but I am so thankful for these kids.

Gratitude: Lots of Things

Lots to be grateful for today, but high on the list is the knowledge that God is working a bigger plan than I can understand, and He's faithful to leave evidence. 

The church my in-laws pastor (also the church I attended through college) had it's 15 year anniversary today and I was able to go to the service. It was soul-enriching to see people again, and to see AJ's parents leading in their new position, and it made me feel still a part of things going on there, still a part of the church family.

The rest of the day was spent as family together. Coffee & conversation, grandma & grandpa time for Ransom & Hosanna, window shopping, finding a pretty dress for $5.99, and more coffee and conversation. Good memories were made today. 

Take Him at His word

Yesterday Ephesians 3:12 stood out to me. It talks about how in Jesus we can approach God with confidence and freedom. That caught my attention because I think when I approach God, I do so with hesitation or with a "if you have time for me" or "if it's not too mug trouble..." sort of tone. Even after years of being a Christian, I struggle with this. 

So this morning I decided to experiment. My friend's car was broken into last night, nothing stolen, but she'll have to pay to get the window repaired and te whole thing is a bummer. So after dropping her off at work, in lieu of listening to music or a podcast, I asked God to bless her and that she'd get lots of tips today. The most tips she's ever had at work so far. 

Talked to her this afternoon and she did.

What!!!!! God totally answered my experimental prayer! He CARES about the details! He is so good at loving us. :)

Connecting the dots makes me worship.

My spiritual gift of overspiritualization is making a comeback in this post. Fair warning. :)

While we were on our pilgrimage this weekend (we went on a quick road trip to Bethel), someone was admiring Hosanna's polka-dot jacket. This lady said polka dots always remind her of how God is connectin the dots to make a beautiful picture. She was referring to mine own gorgeous baby girl, so I was happy to agree with her! (She's wearing the jacket in the above picture.)

Tonight Andrew and I started reading a book together. It's called King's Cross by Timothy. Only one chapter and a "Before" into it, dots are connecting for us. Keller (I feel so literature-y calling him that!) talks about the baptism of Jesus in the Gospel of Mark, and how it connects to the creation. In Mark 1, God speaks of how he's pleased with his Son, and the Spirit of God hovers over Jesus like a dove. This moment in history is an echo of creation, but this moment heralds the creation of redemption. In Genesis 1, creation begins with the voice of God (Father), his Word (the Son, Jesus, who is called the Word in John 1), and the Spirt of God. Two beginnings with each member of the trinity playing a role.

Keller further opened our eyes to parallel temptations in Genesis and Mark. Adam and Eve, in the garden of Eden were tempted with fruit from a forbidden tree and chose to disobey, resulting in them knowing death. Jesus was tempted too, and later in the garden of Gethsemane, before his arrest, Jesus chose obedience which resulted in his death on a tree (a cross). But his story doesn't end with death; his obedience opened the door for life, a juxtaposition to the Fall in Eden. 

Dots connect. So great when that happens! May you get polka-dotted Jesus connections in your life, too.

I am a Bible nerd. Praise the Lord! 

Accepting Advice from Spurgeoun

Recently I came upon a free app that is based on the devotional Morning and Evening by Charles Spurgeon. There's two readings each day, one for morning & one for evening. Clever, no?

I rarely have a chance to read both, but I always get something good out of the devotional when I do. 

Recently God's been showing me that I need to rely more on him in my exchanges with strangers and people I come across regularly. I tend toward being an introvert and sometimes use that personality trait of mine to justify my timidity. I've felt uneasy about this trait of mine, like I'm robbing myself of an experience to brighten up someone's day. It could be simple effort on my part that opens the door for Jesus to use me to reflect his love. 

Here's an excerpt from the devotions on October 20 that stood out to me: 

"You may be of a timid disposition, but you must strive against it, lest it lead you into disobedience. There is a sweet promise made to those who confess Christ—by no means miss it, lest you come under the condemnation of those who deny him. If you have talents keep not back from using them. Hoard not your wealth, waste not your time; let not your abilities rust or your influence be unused. Jesus kept not back; imitate him by being foremost in self-denials and self-sacrifices. Keep not back from close communion with God, from boldly appropriating covenant blessings, from advancing in the divine life, from prying into the precious mysteries of the love of Christ. Neither, beloved friend, be guilty of keeping others back by your coldness, harshness, or suspicions. For Jesus' sake go forward yourself, and encourage others to do the like."

Dedicated

Today we had Hosanna dedicated to Jesus. Instead of baptizing babies, our church's denomination dedicates babies by praying a blessing over them and having the church participate. I love baby dedications!

AJ's parents were there; our friend/more like a sister, Tia; honorary grandparents (when we were without family in our part of the country) the Poets; and Donna, nursery pastor/like an aunt to the kids, all stood up with us during the dedication. 

Andrew was dedicated as a baby in our church when his dad was a worship pastor there, and it is awesome to add Ransom & Hosanna's names to the spiritual legacy that has some good roots in this church. 

Feasting

This has been one of the best weekends I can remember in a long time. Jesus has changed things in Andrew and I and we've been healed from cynicism we've given harbor to. This cynicism has been a bummer because it's held us back from experiencing unity with other believers and from fully embracing God's grace for us and others. 

This weekend has felt like a progressive feast in our pilgrimage, God ushering us into situations that confirm He's actively at work in our lives, to the little details that others would brush aside as coincidence. 

Uh uh. Nope. It's not coincidence.  The Holy Spirit strikes again!

We are thankful for our home church and the amazing people who sent us on this little road trip and the ones who prayed for us while we were away. We are immensely thankful for Andrew's parents, who stayed with our son, and showed him a good time. We are so thankful for friends along the way who encouraged us. We're thankful for friends at the end of the road who blessed us and have us a place to sleep, amidst a chaotic time for them. 

But most of all, we're so thankful for this God we serve, who has so kindly turned the tables to serve us this feast.

Taking a step of faith

Today we're stepping into unknown territory, taking a pilgrimage because it was an opportunity given to us. Lately faith has seemed so small, but we're stepping out & being obedient.

If there's something you're hesitating about that you know God's led you to do, just obey. Don't suffer through wondering what could have happened, know instead. 

Jesus is good.

Watch this!

In middle school & high school I remember getting so absorbed in a movie or a book or a story that I would daydream about the characters and try write up my own story that reflected the particular book/movie I was into at the time. Jane Austen, Lord of the Rings, and Shakespeare (the Franco Zefferelli movies, especially) were big influencers! My imagination would be captivated by story and those stories fed my imagination and longing to know greater adventure in my life. 

Tonight, I saw the last disc of the History Channel's mini series on The Bible covering the very last parts of the Gospels after Jesus rises from the dead to the acts of the apostles, before John writes Revelation. I'd seen The Bible earlier this year and loved it then. 

(This picture is from Amazon's website.)

If you haven't seen it yet, do yourself a favor and look it up. It's a great overview, although it doesn't stay completely accurate, and so much has to be left out. This is the kind of depiction that leaves me wanting more. It ignites my imagination and whets my appetite for reading the Bible and being better versed with the timeline of history's events and how they match up with biblical accounts. I am a Bible nerd. :) I believe in high school, the term was "Bible thumper." Silly.  

So, what are you waiting for? Look this up, watch it, be inspired, and worship Jesus, because, hokey Pete, He's brilliant. 

Little worship leader

LToday, when I felt rushed and like I had too many plates spinning (like those performers who spin plates on their fingers and on these talk rods, those are a thing, right?) Ransom surprised me.

He was just there, hanging out by the fridge, singing,

"The steadfast love of The Lord never ceases. His mercies they never come to an end. They are new every morning..."

And then he would say, "Everybody sing together!" 

So I sang with him. What a gift that was.

A pep talk to myself

It's an hour after the kids should both be sleeping & I had grand ideas of sitting for a straight 45 minutes with hit cider, reading a book I've been eager to read (the husband had a band practice). Things don't go according to my plans, as I'm sure you saw coming, for, as soon as I put my asleep baby in her bed, her eyes came open and her expression said to me, "That was a great power nap. What shall we do next, darling mama? Hold me?"

Oh, no. Oh, no no no no no. 

So the last hour's been spent sleep training her, which is loud and no fun, but enables me to get some evening chores done between checking in on her. Focusing on reading a book won't work till she's sleeping.

So I finished the dishes and took the dumpsters to the curb and put some nuts in water to soak (because I like to pretend to be Paleo sometimes), longing for that spot on the couch. 

But, it's okay. No, doing all those chores don't make me feel like I'm coming alive the way reading a good book or creating something artistic might, but there's still opportunity as I do these things to bless and worship and delight, even to the sound of a restless baby. 

There is grace sufficient for me right now, this minute. Off I go to check on and kiss the baby girl. Soon enough she'll sleep on her own and I'll miss these cuddly days. 

Hosanna

This afternoon AJ pulled out the guitar and started to play the song he wrote for Hosanna, our daughter. She was sitting on my lap and as soon as she heard the music, she was enthralled. 

I wonder, is she old enough to recognize the song he wrote for her? She's heard it before. Or is she simply, happily so interested in this different noise, & the eye contact her daddy's giving her as he sings her song?

Oh boy, was she into it! She was kicking her legs and grinning, sputtering, making her own music in response. 

If there's one thing I can teach you,

It's that there's truth in your name.

One day we'll all sing out "Hosanna"

The coming of our Savior King.

And we will sing, we will sing,

Hosanna, Hosanna, Hosanna, 

to our Savior King

Who will reign eternally.

It sort of wrecked me. Here, on my couch, a loving daddy singing his love over his little baby girl, and she was fully absorbed by it. She couldn't contain her joy. 

Beautiful.

Making space

Often when I glance around our home I get frustrated by all there is to do around the house. There's always something besides my family that's crying for attention and my mental to do list never gets completed. I know that it's a part of life and not abnormal.

BUT...

What a cute boy, right? What? You didn't notice him right away? Yes, that's a desk in the background. Maybe I should clean that mess up a bit...

Perhaps, I think, the disorganization and some of the excess stuff around here is taking up mental space and causing guilt and sneakily is taking up valuable time which I could think of spending in hundreds of different, fun, God-honoring ways. Grrr... Stuff maintenance shall not be my god.

Practically, we are a family with kids and someday we hope to have more, so I have a feeling there will be no shortage of stuff in our home, but it doesn't have to consume our lives!

So, today I'm thinking of decluttering as an act of worship. I am not going to make organization and perfection and materialism my god, but do my best to clear space for the things that matter more.

These links really inspired me. Enjoy!

http://smallnotebook.org/2011/02/21/loosen-the-grip-of-more-stuff/

http://www.thenester.com/2013/10/living-with-less.html

http://www.thenester.com/2012/10/31-days-nobodys-dream-job.html

Worship links

It's been a sick day for me today and so I instead of confusing you with my feverish writing, here are a couple of links to articles I've enjoyed pertaining to worship/art/bringing what you have to Jesus:

http://www.chattingatthesky.com/2013/10/10/one-word-that-is-sabotaging-the-art-you-live/

http://timandbrookecollier.wordpress.com/2013/10/01/do-not-despise-the-day-of-small-things/

Some favorite worship albums

Here's the first of two posts where I spill my favorite worship albums so you might be able to find some new music and say, "Yay, Jesus!" and offer your "Amen" to some of the Jesus worship that's going on. The point is not to worship the worship leaders or the art, but the Artist with a capital A. (Stole that "Artist with a capital A" from Emily P Freeman. She's a writer; look her up!)

In no particular order:

Happy worshipping! ;)

Married to a worship leader

My husband is a worship leader, my favorite one, which is a blessing and a curse. It means I am spoiled at our home church because I sort of know what to expect from the music. There will be songs with words I agree with, focused on Jesus. There will be smooth transitions between songs. It will be thoughtful and not rushed, but not too draggy-on-y. People will sing along. (Our church is a singing church, and I LOVE that!) And, AND there's an incredibly handsome and manly man on that stage singing and playing his guitar for Jesus! 

This is all great, but when I'm in a worship service that isn't what I'm used to, it can be easy to let the differences distract me from the One the worship is for.

Know what I mean? 

Awkward transitions. A harmony that doesn't work. Songs I've never heard before. A guitar solo during every song? Agh! I'm so distracted!

I am learning that I have to get over it. If I'm only having a good "worship experience" at my home church, I'm worshiping the wrong god. 

Jesus is worthy of heart-felt worship wherever I am, and it's immature of me to check out because the worship somewhere else is not my style. 

Cover your walls with worship

Continuing October's 31 Days of Worship in Real Life series, today I want to talk about displaying truth. 

Above is a picture of Ransom's room. There are some paintings on the wall, some decorated plastic frames filled with meaningful or cute illustrations, and this print of Psalm 23:1. 

Ransom has Psalm 23 mostly memorized, so when I happened upon this print, I knew I wanted to hang it in his room. He asked me what it said, so I told him. The next day I was putting clothes away in his room and he was climbing up on the crib, looking at the print as he quoted almost all of Psalm 23. That blessed me so much! It makes me want to find more scripture prints or to make my own scripture collages for our home so God's truth is decorating our walls and is seen by our eyes and becomes written on our hearts. 

AJ and I have an idea to have a prayer wall in our house, something we can cover with paper (or chalkboard paint, maybe, when we're not renters) and write our prayers on. We need to get on that project! 

How can you cover your walls with worship that honors Jesus?

Gratitude: order

Sometimes I call myself "the queen of over spiritualizing". I can take a circumstance, a picture, a dream, or something ordinary and connect the spiritual dots till you have a deeper meaning. Maybe it's just my imagination. But maybe sometimes it's discernment that the Holy Spirit gave me. He did it with Daniel, right? I know I'm not as awesome as Daniel, but I can dream, right? (See what I did there...? Ha!) Yes I can.

Let's get to the overspiritualizing, and to what I hope will be a weekly occurance here, gratitude. It's a way to worship!

Here it is, symbolized in the picture:

I'm thankful for order. I'm talking about the kind that God controls, not me. When I feel like life's getting out of control like dirty dishes piling up in a dirty sink, there's still signs of order in the midst of it, hints that God uses to remind me He's in control. A cranky, sick toddler and a baby who lives to be cuddled don't mix well. But God gives us wisdom when we ask for it; quarantining a toddler means he gets to have toys and books in his room, and his workbench and tools to play with in the hallway. A clever and fun solution is reached, order received. Thank you, Jesus!

So that's how you overspiritualize a stack of dishes in your sink. Bam!

Psalm 46:5

God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved; God shall help her, just at the break of dawn.

Sing

(Since there ain't no one who does it like Julie Andrews...)

Singing. It seems so obvious, but outside the Sunday morning church building atmosphere, maybe singing doesn't come to mind much. 

In the last month or so, singing has been a game changer for me. It started when I came upon these verses: 

"But I will sing of your strength;

I will sing aloud of your steadfast love in the morning.

For you have been to me a fortress

and a refuge in the day of my distress.

 O my Strength, I will sing praises to you,

for you, O God, are my fortress,

 the God who shows me steadfast love."

Psalm 59:16-17

Putting on worship music (I'll share some of my favorites soon) and singing along helps the atmosphere of our home feel more pleasant, and it helps me keep my attitude in check. Singing silly songs to get smiles out of Hosanna or to make Ransom laugh feeds the delight I have in my children. Singing worship songs to them conveys truth, truth that may stick better than if just spoken without a catchy melody.

At the ladies retreat this weekend, there was a woman who told the story about how her 38 year old husband unexpectedly died, leaving her in a new-to-them town, with a new house, alone to raise their two kids when previously he had been the only one working. There was a day when she was curled up on the floor in her closet, feeling the pain of loss, and she sang. She worshiped Jesus even in that lowest point if grief. To the women at the retreat she said satan doesn't know what to do with a Chistian who has has suffered deep loss and pain and still praises God. She brought up Paul and Silas in Acts 16, men who'd been flogged and thrown in prison and still sang, worshiping their Savior. Then, to quote Sara Groves's lyrics about the story, "The dungeon shook and the chains fell off," and the prison guard put his faith in Jesus and he and his family were saved. 

All of this is to say, good things come of worshiping Jesus through singing. So go & sing a catchy song to Jesus and let it get stuck in your head. Sing it in the car, to your kids, at the grocery store, while you're doing the mundane tasks of life, and especially when you don't feel like it. 

Back to worship in real, real life.

While I was away with the baby at a ladies retreat, my husband was home with our little boy who was sick and had a fever. 

(AJ sent me this picture while I was away. I love how Ransom's still smiling even though he feels miserable!)

Coming home, after marinating in the sweet truths that it felt like God was dropping as gifts into my lap, it could be easy to slump into discouragement with a sick little boy to take care of, while trying to protect the baby girl from his bug. (Is it even possible to do that?! Perhaps quarantining him?) 

Glamorous worshiping is done for now. The new reality of worshiping Jesus looks like honoring my tired husband by sending him to bed early. Right now my worship offering is going to involve a lot of praying for health and cuddles and wiping noses and washing hands and reminding Ransom to cough into his elbow and giving him lots of fluids to drink.

This is okay with me. I recall my Jesus washing feet. 

"If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you."

--John 13:14-17

Here we go!

Eyes fixed upon

Hosanna and I are at a ladies retreat this weekend.

Aunt Kris (who is the national director of Open Bible Churches women's network) shared something during the session tonight that I love. She said her favorite moment at a wedding is after the bride starts walking down the aisle with her dad, everyone standing and looking at her as she smiles and takes it in. At about the halfway point to the altar, though, her eyes lock onto her groom, and that's it. Nothing else can distract her; her eyes are fixed on him. Aunt Kris said there was a moment during worship last night that felt like a similar scenario, that as we sang & worshiped Jesus corporately, distractions faded and we were fixated on him. 

I love that analogy of worshiping Jesus. Trying to keep that focus and to tuck it away for later.

"Looking to him, the author and perfectly of our faith..." (Hebrews 12:2a)

Spontaneous worship

A perk of being married to a worship leader is that spontaneous worship just sort if happens occasionally. I was sitting on the couch, nursing baby girl after having just returned from breakfast out with AJ's aunt Kris (although I claim her too, she's lovey!) and his dad, Jon. Ransom brings a Bible storybook to Aunt Kris to have her read to him. The guitar is pulled out. Soon father and son are playing the worship songs that are on their minds. Hosanna finished nursing and watched and listened, bouncing to the music.

Three generations worshiping right there in the living room. This moves my heart to gratitude.

It's simple. It's informal. Didn't last long. It's how worship happens sometimes, and I love it. 

Gratitude: a harvest I didn't sow.

We rent a house and there's a walnut tree in the back yard. There are walnuts in our pesto from this gigantic tree planted by some unknown person years ago. We get to enjoy the benefits of a harvest we didn't plant. The work of harvesting is a blessing. Today I'm practicing worshiping Jesus by saying thank you for the walnuts! 

Mama's a worship leader, too.

Yesterday I wrote about how my dad has led me in worship by his example. For the second day of Worship in Real Life, I want to share about the treasure that is my mom.

This picture was taken from my mom's week long visit after Hosanna was born. She came from South Dakota after Ransom's birth, too. On her visits she sends Andrew and me on dates. She does the dishes. She holds babies so I can take showers. She keeps me company and we have talks and lots of tea. On her last visit she took scraps of fabric and fashioned a bag to hold our birthday banner because I'd been using a ziplock gallon bag. She picks flowers and puts them in the window. She'll play the piano. My mom is a celebrator of life. When a grandchild is born, she'll be there with her suitcase, a handmade blanket (or two), finding petty solutions, ready to minister, ready to hold, watch, serve.

To this daughter whose love language is acts of service, I witness such love from my mom's example, and I see it as her love for Jesus being poured out, perfume for his feet. 

Like with my dad, I have memories of worshiping with my mom in church, but it is the everyday intentional acts of service and senseless acts of beauty she presents that show me a different side of giving glory to Jesus in real life.

A letter to 5 month old Hosanna

Hosanna, you're 5 months old now! The sleepy newborn girl is gone. You're so animated and you love to try out your voice (and it's distinctly girly sounding)! You light up when we make eye contact and talk or sing to you. You are a daddy's girl, always have been. You also love your brother and like to touch his hair and coo at him! We love how cuddly you are and how you like to hold hands. You smile and sputter when we tickle you.

Your one-dimpled smile is so sweet; we're enjoying your toothless grin while we can because the way you put everything in your mouth lets us know you're teething. We just started putting you in a chair at the table with us and we love it. Soon you'll start eating solid food. 

Your hair is lighter, except for a dark patch at the nape of your neck. There's a blonde streak on top of your head, so Daddy's taken to calling you "Goldilock".

Rolling over is so easy to you but you're not a pro yet at getting where you want to go; you end up by the legos a lot. I suspect you already like Anne of Green Gables because you wouldn't sleep both times it was on, even though you couldn't see it. We'll watch it together soon enough, my kindred spirit!!!

Sometimes we call you Zanna. We are delighted with you. You are our little beauty. 

My dad is a worship leader.

Growing up, my family was that one that was into classic musicals, sang the Doxology in harmony at the dinner table, and my dad would play his guitar and sing to my sisters and me before bed. I have memories of being at church as a little girl, standing next to my dad, worshipping Jesus. He has no trouble clapping, raising his hands, moving to the music, singing with his whole heart, with his whole heart. 

What I love about my dad and his worship leading is that my memories of him worshiping Jesus is not just in the four walls of the church building, but he has a deep love and reverence, an awareness for God wherever he is. 

Memories come to mind of when we've been camping, and my dad will be so giddy and funny and burst out into song, joy spilling out of him. Or in my adult years how during every phone conversation, every family vacation, he reiterates and verbalizes how thankful he is, how blessed we are. 

Jesus, pass this generational blessing onto me and my children, and their children's children, this love for You, this devotion, this gratitude. Joy overflowing because of who You are.

Glory to Jesus

Recently AJ's parents were over at our house and AJ was playing guitar and we were singing a song ("House of God Forever" by Jon Foreman, if you're curious). It's one of Ransom's favorites. There's a part in the song that is sung by a girl, and AJ always has me sing that part. After the song was over, AJ's dad complimented me and said I should sing more often. I responded, jokingly/seriously that I do. I sing every day for the kids. (Although I think his meaning was in the area of being on a worship team in church.)

That got me thinking. I haven't sang on a worship team much if at all since becoming a mom. It's not because of lack of interest, but practically, it doesn't work right now with the needs our young children have. Also, when you're married to the worship pastor, who's going to watch the kids during early morning worship practice?

But I am a worship leader. To our kids. They are watching me, observing how I respond to situations, what my attitudes are, how I handle frustrations and joys. 

This blogging on the topic of Worship in Real Life hasn't gone where I thought it would and I don't have a grandiose conclusion. It didn't turn out to be 31 days long; I missed some days. But I see that in my real life I am a worship leader and I know I want to be one who directs the focus to where it should be. I want to feel so contentedly tucked under the grace blanket of Jesus that I can rest in security knowing his grace is sufficient, he is my God, and when I worship him, he gets the glory.

31 Days of Worship in Real Life

I've been wanting to be a more intentional blogger in order to have a record of cool/sweet/funny/memorable doings in our family but haven't been sure how to jump in. Then I heard about this blogger challenge the Nester blog does every October. The idea is to blog every day for the month of October on one topic.

The topic I've chosen to write about is "Worship in Real Life." I'll use my 31 days to talk about how worshiping Jesus can look in the life of an ordinary ministry wife/stay at home mom. Thrilling, eh? Blockbuster fodder, I assure you! :)

It is my hope to learn as I share, to draw from sources other than my experience, and to invite Jesus to use this process to change me. You can invite Him to do the same for you, too, if you like.

Following will be the links for each of October's 31 posts, which I'll update every day. Thanks for reading. It'll be fun! 

Day 1: 

http://bravingthebeauty.blogspot.com/2013/09/my-dad-is-worship-leader.html?m=1

Day 2:

http://bravingthebeauty.blogspot.com/2013/10/mama-worship-leader-too.html?m=1

Day 3: http://bravingthebeauty.blogspot.com/2013/10/gratitude-harvest-i-didn-sow.html?m=1

Day 4: http://bravingthebeauty.blogspot.com/2013/10/spontaneous-worship.html?m=1

Day 5: http://bravingthebeauty.blogspot.com/2013/10/eyes-fixed-upon.html?m=1

Day 6: http://bravingthebeauty.blogspot.com/2013/10/back-to-worship-in-real-real-life.html?m=1

Day 7: http://bravingthebeauty.blogspot.com/2013/10/sing.html?m=1

Day 8: http://bravingthebeauty.blogspot.com/2013/10/gratitude-order.html?m=1

Day 9: http://bravingthebeauty.blogspot.com/2013/10/cover-your-walls-with-worship.html?m=1

Day 10: http://bravingthebeauty.blogspot.com/2013/10/some-favorite-worship-albums.html?m=1

Day 11: http://bravingthebeauty.blogspot.com/2013/10/married-to-worship-leader.html?m=1

Day 12: http://bravingthebeauty.blogspot.com/2013/10/worship-links.html?m=1

Day 13: http://bravingthebeauty.blogspot.com/2013/10/making-space.html?m=1

Day 14: http://bravingthebeauty.blogspot.com/2013/10/hosanna.html?m=1

Day 15: http://bravingthebeauty.blogspot.com/2013/10/a-pep-talk-to-myself.html?m=1

Day 16: 

http://bravingthebeauty.blogspot.com/2013/10/little-worship-leader.html?m=1

Day 17: http://bravingthebeauty.blogspot.com/2013/10/watch-this.html?m=1

Day 18: http://bravingthebeauty.blogspot.com/2013/10/taking-step-of-faith.html?m=1

Day 19: http://bravingthebeauty.blogspot.com/2013/10/feasting.html?m=1

Day 20: http://bravingthebeauty.blogspot.com/2013/10/dedicated.html

Day 21: http://bravingthebeauty.blogspot.com/2013/10/accepting-advice-from-spurgeoun.html?m=1

Day 22: http://bravingthebeauty.blogspot.com/2013/10/connecting-dots-makes-me-worship.html?m=1

Day 23: http://bravingthebeauty.blogspot.com/2013/10/take-him-at-his-word.html?m=1

Day 24: http://bravingthebeauty.blogspot.com/2013/10/gratitude-lots-of-things.html?m=1

Day 25: http://bravingthebeauty.blogspot.com/2013/10/gratitude-siblings.html

Day 26: http://bravingthebeauty.blogspot.com/2013/10/grace-blanket.html?m=1

Day 27: http://bravingthebeauty.blogspot.com/2013/09/glory-to-jesus.html?m=1

A bit of Beauty: baby silhouette

This is not a photo of a couch! :) 

The photo's blurry, but her silhouette is so sweet. It had to be shared. 

It's been awhile since I've posted "a bit of Beauty" picture, even though there's been lots of it. Here's to easing back into sharing some of the things that awaken my awareness of the Beauty around here. 

these moccasins were made for mothering

Do you have a favorite pair of shoes? Mine are here immortalized:

I rescued them from a free bin. The fact that they were moccasins and made me feel a little like Tiger Lily won me over. Since then they've molded to fit my feet; once too tight, now they fit perfectly. 

They were worn on long walks with my son in the umbrella stroller as I walked the neighborhood around our apartment, walked to the post office, walked to the grocery store, walked to just kill time till AJ came home. 

I wore them to the coast this summer and brought my weeks old daughter with me for a high school girls beach day. Newborns and beaches don't necessarily go together and sometimes you need to apply sunscreen twice, yes, even though you don't think to because you're holding a baby. 

If you look closely at the left moccasin, there's a little smudge of Blue Zircon paint from this week when we painted Ransom's new/used/big boy/toddler bed.

I sense our family is in a season in which one day we'll say "Those were some golden years." We're in the happily chaotic time of parenting a toddler and a baby. A close friend lives with us, providing important community and an occasional babysitter for scoffed quick coffee dates when AJ and I need to hear only the other's voice. We're renting a house now and working on paying off debt. On account of that I'm becoming resourceful to a fault or maybe a hippie.

Looking at the wear on these moccasins makes me remember these times. When I see them I recall the story of how God provides, how surely His goodness and unfailing love is pursuing our family. We aren't fabulously wealthy, but we are. They are my thankful shoes. 

I had a baby girl

Lately I've been asking myself, "Is this really happening?" The reason is I feel so blessed, so rich, when I see my handsome husband and know I'm his and he's mine, when I observe Ransom playing King David or Mowgli or Joseph in Egypt, when I say "Hi Hosanna" and get a toothless grin in return. Oh the toothless grin, how it slays me! (In the best way.) 

Baby girl Hosanna is almost 4 months, she's a delight, loves & lives to cuddle, is enthralled with her big brother, and she lights up when you lock eyes with her and sing or talk to her. Ransom is a great big brother, always wanting to know where Hosanna is when she's not in the room, giving her a role like Baloo (Jungle Book) or Pooh/Roo (Hundred Acre Wood)*, even trying to comfort her when she's crying. I'm teaching him to pray for her too.

Time's going so fast and I needed to record a few of these things. They are important, and I don't want to forget what now feels like.

*In Jungle book play I'm usually Bagheera and AJ's Shere Khan; in the Hundred Acre Wood, AJ's Tigger & I'm Kanga. 

A bit of Beauty: family

My in-laws live in town now! Also, Christopher, my bro-in-law came to help them move & to visit us. I snapped this picture last night, wanting to remember how Ransom has quickly taken to having family around. It is so sweet to my spirit to be living moments like this.

A bit of Beauty: a favorite

My mama introduced me to this book years ago. I think it was one she read in classrooms when she was a substitute teacher. It is funny, it rhymes, the illustrations are soooo good, and right now Ransom likes it read on repeat!

A bit of Beauty: budding percussionist

Lately Ransom is trying out his drumsticks on new surfaces and enjoying the sounds he's getting. But when the opportunity presents itself and drumsticks aren't handy, he does't squander his chance to make some noise. I love AJ's face in this picture. :)

A bit of Beauty: dreamcake

Tried a new recipe yesterday via one of my favorite food blogs: mynewroots.blogspot.com. It's called cashew dreamcake, it's vegan, raw, husband approved, and everything in it is healthy for you! I had no qualms giving the little boy a second (small) helping!

A bit of Beauty: teepee

This teepee was my girlhood setting for playing Tiger Lily. I used leaves from my mama's irises to use as feathers and let my imagination go to Neverland, or the New World because Pocahontas was a favorite of mine, too. And now Ransom gets to play with it!

A bit of Beauty: lingering Christmas

We're still under the weather here so I haven't been as quick to take the Christmas decorations down. Soon, they'll make their departure, but in the meantime here's a picture to remember this spot that i enjoyed putting together. The nutcrackers are name Eduardo and Zamir! (Their given names on the box, not my invention.)

A bit of Beauty: under the weather

Ransom and I have been feeling sick this weekend and it's lingering into this week. There's been a lot of liquid drinking and Dick Van Dyke Show watching. This morning after AJ went to work Ransom and I were sitting on the couch, me reading, he playing with his alphabet tablet. Then, he reached over and took my hand and I melted.

A bit of Beauty: musical men o' mine

Captured this moment this morning. How sweet! Most times when we play the piano, the little boy usually joins us on the bench. There was a time when he'd sit next to me on the bench, climb into my lap, crawl off the bench on the other side onto the floor, come back to his original position, and do it all again. Now he's more interested in playing on the piano, adding his own flair to my music. He's my little Gershwin!

A bit of Beauty: snowflake

I made a bunch of snowflakes for the windows yesterday to make our house January festive (and to lessen the blow of taking away Christmas decorations...when we get around to it). Also, it snowed this morning, and it even stuck around for a little while. Isn't that fun?

A bit of Beauty: seeing the Story begin to sink in

As Ransom was busy playing in the living room today, I looked over at the coffee table and saw these toys placed as you see them. He had been playing in this spot earlier and had put this little family together. It's so COOL as a parent to watch our son make connections like this.

A bit of Beauty: silly

Today was hard. Third trimester beginning had me tired, teary and sniffly today. The little boy who lives here is getting molars, which added difficulties. A bright spot in the day, though, was this little guy being so excited about this booster chair his great grandma and grandpa made him. It was cute to watch him playing in it. :)

A bit of Beauty: Husband bakes lava cake

Bragging, that's what this one's about. In 2012 my husband started to watch Master Chef with me and then he converted into a foodie. He now makes hollandaise from scratch, he introduced me to risotto, makes his own pasta from scratch, and now, for the second night in a row, he's busted out chocolate lava cake. Ah, I am a blessed lady.

A bit of Beauty: story time

I'm reading a book called "Loving the Little Years: Motherhood in the Trenches" by Rachel Jankovic and last night this part from chapter two stuck out to me:

"...the state of your heart is the state of your home. You cannot harbor resentment secretly toward your children and expect their hearts to be submissive and tender. You cannot be greedy with your time and expect them to share their toys. And perhaps more importantly, you cannot resist your opportunities to be corrected by God and expect them to receive correction from you.
"God has given us the job of teaching His law and demonstrating His grace. We are to be guides to our children as they learn to walk with God."

After reading those words I am challenged to let go some of the selfish little ways I want to spend my time and to savor Ransom more. Only a few months remain of our time with him being the only little one in our home, and I want to work on being present with him, not always preoccupied with a list of other things.

Today there was a lot of reading stories. We have "Caps for Sale" memorized and Ransom is intrigued by Adam in his beginner's Bible. "Mama, Adam naked!"

A bit of Beauty: an anticipated package

It was a happy mail day today (rather, yesterday...I am blogging this in the early hours) when this package was opened. This is a cookbook I've been eager to look through by a blogger whose writing has impressed me in the past, and I'm excited to have her recipes at my fingertips. Cooking is one creative outlet I get to plug into everyday, so I hope this will help refine and encourage growth for me so I can be a blessing to my family and to others. :)

A bit of Beauty: a little creator

Caught this picture of the little boy before he noticed, and I'm so glad. The ones I take trying to convince him to smile aren't as true to life and I'm a fan of candids! I want to remember how weeks ago he would eat crayons, draw on the table, and drop them on the floor, not really getting the concept of coloring. Now he likes to line the crayons up and sometimes coloring actually happens! Still I have to watch to make sure he doesn't sneak crayons in his mouth...

A bit of Beauty: eating it!

Day two of the bit of beauty photo challenge. Today it was dinner! :)

A bit of Beauty

It feels like it's time to do another photo challenge! This time I'm going to try to incorporate the name of this blog into it by capturing something I find beautiful in each photo. I may post a picture every day for awhile and see how it goes. Here's to being brave enough to find the Beauty in everyday life. :)