Going Cold Turkey

What is blue and white, sucks hours out of your day, feeds drama into your life, builds convenient relationships, and creates a love-hate relationship with it? That about sums up my feelings on Facebook lately. Facebook is such a powerful tool for connecting people, encouraging others and praying for others, but it's also a powerful tool designed to distract, withdraw, and disguise reality.

When my child wants to write to Santa and tell him that his Christmas wish is that his mama doesn't use Facebook or her iPhone on Christmas and your husband isn't too far behind in sharing those same sentiments, you know there's a problem and it's time to really step back and examine what's going on and why.

*sigh* Yeah, I enjoy my iPhone--it keeps me connected to so many people during the day, but it's also the biggest distraction in my life. It's what I go to when I'm bored, tired, need a break, need a distraction. It's where I vent when I'm frustrated, share when I'm happy, and just talk about whatever whenever not stopping to think if anyone really cares or not. 

But mainly, Facebook is one of those things that numbs your mind. It's where I can go and not think about anything. I can catch up on the latest on everyone's lives and watch kids grow up while keeping my distance. I can paint a vivid picture of my life that is true but it's not the overriding disposition of my life. I can learn a lot from various leadership organizations, ministries, leaders, and news and political groups. They fuel my hunger to learn new things (plus they help me retain the Quote Queen title for my love of quotes since FB is full of them), but then there are times when it all is pure information overload.

But there is a trade off with Facebook. You know as well as I do that it's super hard to go on Facebook for just five minutes. Five turns into ten and ten into 30 and 30 into an hour and before you know it, another evening has gone by and my house still isn't clean and my to-do list is still just as long as it was this afternoon.

And there just comes a point when I have to say enough. Change isn't going to happen while reading another article or quote about it on Facebook. My child is growing up. My husband is wanting more time with me. My brain is fried yet again because I have spent it on many different things throughout the day and then gave the rest of it to others on Facebook...others who are sitting on the other side of the computer screen, others who I will never meet in person, others who would never do more than post a generic "Happy Birthday!" every year. And where do you draw the line? When do you wake up and realize that you are surrounded by so many awesome people? And that maybe the reason why you don't have the time and energy to give to them is because you're too busy giving it away on Facebook?

I can't do this anymore...life is passing me by as I use Facebook to hide, escape, numb, and keep people at a distance. Life happens beyond my screen yet I'm not seeing it while I'm checking Facebook "one more time." Issues keep piling up because I'd rather see what everyone else is up to rather than deal with my own things. Discontent lurks nearby as I see what opportunities others have that I could have, too, but can't because of the season of life I'm in. Comparison makes me feel inadequate as I see others succeed, acquire, or achieve and it further breeds that discontent.

And then I'm tired of telling people on Facebook, "Sure, let's get together soon!" yet two and three years later, we're still saying the same thing. We still haven't gotten together because we don't have time to get together, yet we're always on Facebook at the same times...hmmmmmmmmm.

Maybe it takes a child's wish to Santa to get me to just stop ... stop and see what is going on ... stop and see where the underlying source of breeding discontent ... stop and see that there are people right in front of me--in person--that desperately want me, not a Facebook me. They want to be a part of my life, not read about my life. They want to do all the fun activities with us, not see more pictures about them. They want to just talk, not write everything out in a PM in text language. 

What if I used all the Facebook time (and it's embarrassing to see how much time checking it here and there really adds up to be in one day) to do something that matters in person? What if I used that time to check in with my family? What if I used that time to just pray instead of post everything I'm thinking, feeling, and seeing on Facebook? What if I used that time in some kind of profitable way that served others around me instead of use Facebook to serve me?

Sometimes we just have to stop ... and last night, I didn't know of any other way to create change than to just deactivate my Facebook account (and oh, does FB ever try to lure you back in before you even deactivate). Something has got to give. If I'm serious about wanting more of God and more of family, I have to remove the things that are keeping me from the more. Facebook just happens to be that thing as it is the biggest time and energy drainer in my life. I don't know, I just need to try it and see what happens. It's almost been 24 hours since deactivation and I have to admit that today was amazing with my family. We were very productive, I was attentive, and everyone received what they wanted and needed from me--my undivided attention. Kudos to those who can get on Facebook and not get sucked into the world of Facebook, but I'm not one of those people. I just know I can't keep on this current path of being sucked into a Facebook world without sacrificing those I love the most and missing out on precious moments of my child's fleeting childhood.

And the funny part is that out of all of my Facebook friends and family, only two texted/emailed me today to make sure everything was okay. And those are the ones I'm close to outside of Facebook--our relationship extends beyond Facebook. It was very reaffirming that this is the right choice for now! There is such sweetness in face-to-face relationships over Facebook relationships and that sweetness and richness quickly erases any second thoughts of deactivation.

Happy Thanksgiving!

What a whirlwind of a month!! From homeschool to Disney World to spending Thanksgiving with extended family, November has flown by quickly! I can't let Thanksgiving slip by with out stopping to share the top three things that I am thankful for this year.

1. God's presence, comfort, and strength have been wrapped around me and my family this year as we experienced the loss of precious family and friends--my grandma, Ami, and Shirley. These were women who poured out their lives for God in a variety of ways whether it was through music, writing, or a professional career. They lived their lives to the fullest while having an eternal perspective. Healing finally came as they entered the arms of Jesus! While I miss these ladies dearly (especially my grandma), I know that their lives are complete with Christ. I'm thankful that God has an eternal plan for our lives and that whatever happens here on earth (good and bad) pales in comparison with what lies ahead. I'm thankful for legacies that continue to point me back to God and challenge me to live for what is eternal. As God wrapped me up in His comfort, gave me strength when I felt like crawling in a hole and crying for days, and was there every step of the way, He revealed His fatherly nature to me. He showed me grace in such personal ways as He drew me closer to Him through His care and comfort. How thankful I am for a God that pursues us and who never turns us away even when we delay in coming to Him!

2. I'm ever thankful for my husband and son. They see the best and the worst of me on a daily basis and continue to love me no matter what. We learn together. We explore together. We laugh together and we live together. My husband has been such a constant through all the loss this year. He's given me his shoulder to cry on and says nothing about his tear-stained shirts. He's held me tight in those late nights and early mornings when my heart didn't know whether it was going to break or be okay. And he's patiently put up with household chores that got lost in the shuffle and stepped up to fill in the gap when I was trying to figure out how to just make it to the next day as I walked through the fog of grief. As I told him today, "I'm thankful for you still", we chuckled over the word "still"...twelve years later and through the ups and downs of life and love, he is still my best friend! When marriages are crumbling all around us, I'm thankful that God helps us persevere and fight for the beauty of our marriage.

3.  This year has brought about a lot of questions and changes as I struggled to find my place knowing what God has done with me in the past (ministry-wise) versus what is right in front of me and learning to serve Him in a different way using different talents with patience and contentment. I'm thankful for a church where growth can happen, where we can experiment with different talents and learn to serve God in a variety of ways. I'm thankful for a couple of women who have invested in me through the time they have spent listening, loving, advising, teaching, showing me new things, and praying for me. And I'm thankful for the community of friends that are always there with hugs, texts, and just the pure joy and sweetness of friendship that comes from serving together, singing together, and raising kids together in our church. I'm thankful for the young women that God has placed in my path at church and the joy of watching them wrestle with life's challenges as they enter adulthood and seeing them trust God in their challenges and praising with them as God shows them new things and answers our prayers. It's exciting to see how God is working in the lives around me!

There are so many things to be thankful for if we just stop long enough to see what is all around us! James 1:17 says, "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning." It's amazing to see just how many things God has given us and how much He has opened up His hand to us!  May we always remember where our blessings and gifts really come from, not just on Thanksgiving day, but every day!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Birthday Eve Reflections

It's the night before my birthday--a night where I am reminded of the blessings and challenges of the year and a night where I go to bed in eager anticipation of the surprises that lay ahead, not just for tomorrow but for another year!

In some ways, I barely remember my last birthday because a lot has happened since then. This has been the year of lasts as the reality of my grandma's impending death hung in the air. It is the year that taught me the value of a moment, the importance of saying what needs to be said, and of not being afraid to love, forgive, hug, cry, and creatively survive.

It is the year where I was on a quest to pursue my "Word of the Year" of 'restore' and gained so much in return. I've experienced the hardship of peeling away the thickest and innermost onion layers that rested on the core of who I am. This was years in the making but past time to go there if I wanted to move forward. In the process, I experienced the torturing agony of still carrying things God never intended for me to carry. Yet, I experienced the freedom that comes with releasing a childhood of hurt through choosing to forgive, choosing to love, and choosing to refute all the lies that I've held on to all these years with God's truth.

This has been a year of discovery through seeing the truth as it really is whether it was totally falling flat on my face ("pride cometh before a fall" is embarrassingly true), or having trusted friends bluntly point out blind spots (ouch!), or having verses that I've read many times suddenly jump out as if it were the first time I ever read them!

This has been a year of curiosity and exploration, of answering all the "what if's" that I've had especially regarding music...what if I had grown up pursuing music? What if I had taken flute lessons? What if I had pursued singing? What if I had followed through with music instead of let fear, insecurity, and man's opinion when I was a teen and young adult keep me from being a real musician?

This year, I found myself learning new things, being stretched musically, and actually taking voice lessons. The latter has been a hoot, but it's also where I have seen so much inner restoration take place.

God has used the whole process of making music to unearth what was below the surface so that He could show me just how much He wanted to restore it so that my music comes from a place of redemption and wholeness that points to Him. I'm not totally there with all of that yet, but am getting there!

While my husband thinks I'm having some kind of midlife crisis by taking voice lessons (not flute or piano or something that didn't come out of left field like voice did), God has actually used my voice teacher to show me His heart and who He is through the way she accepts, corrects, instructs, and guides without any intention other than helping me to see how we are naturally created to praise God and sing out to Him. When I walk into voice lessons, it is one of two places in this world where I truly find no shaming, no critiquing, no competition, no comparison, no hesitation, and no perfection, only a simple desire from my teacher to show me what is needed to draw out the best and help me discover what I didn't know about God and myself through the challenge and beauty of music.

I have no clue how or why but music is what God has chosen this year to teach me the most about Him. Along with much prayer and Starbucks, music has been a way to help me cope with the stresses that come from a 24/7 life of constant vigilance over our allergy child, first-time business ownership, homeschooling (where the assignments are no longer 2+2=4 and are requiring me to actually study before presenting lessons), personal disappointments as we are another year without a baby in our arms, and dealing with the loss of two grandparents in a 14-month time span plus a very close friend. Music is something that infuses relaxation and creativity into my day. And music fuels the achiever in me as there is great satisfaction in defeating crazy timing and trouble spots, reaching notes I've never been able to reach before, and experimenting with new techniques that actually produce results (like singing and playing the flute at the exact same time--accidentally discovered it one afternoon I had a sore throat and then later learned it was a real thing). I might not be able to solve life's problems, but I am determined enough to master a challenging piece of music! It's a great way to channel my thoughts and energy into something productive and enjoyable instead of letting life and life's worries and frustrations fester until I break down or explode.

As I see my 40s quickly approaching, it makes me want to savor these last two years in my 30s. I want to be daring enough to keep trying new things (aka those things that others view as a midlife crisis) for everything is still being woven together in the details to help me fulfill the unique purposes that God has for my life (even though it may have nothing to do with the current "new thing").

^"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord,

“plans to prosper you and not to harm you, 

plans to give you hope and a future." 

Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)

The Green-Eyed Monster (#fmfparty)

This is difficult to write because it's easy to think that the green-eyed monster of envy is something for trivial, surface-only people without realizing the full impact of it in our lives.

The moment when we wonder "why her and not me?" or the moment when we express that "it's not fair" or the moment when we find ourselves thinking unkind things about others in their successes that leave us wondering where in the world those thoughts came from are the very moments that open the door for the green-eyed monster to enter.

If left unchecked, questions begin to plague our mind as we see where we didn't get what we felt entitled to. That eventually leads to feelings of disdain for others, verbal or texted grumblings, contrariness, and bitterness. And if we remain there, we've essentially rendered ourselves ineffective for the Kingdom and end up becoming disruptive to the body of Christ (intended or not). 

James 3:16-17 points out, "For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy."

We are daily confronted to choose who we are going to be. Are we going to choose to be our natural selves and react and think how we want, or are we going to choose to submit ourselves to God and live as He desires?

The latter means letting sooooo much go...it means choosing to let go of the trivial stuff, seeing past temporary distortions and feelings of the moment, and sacrificing our judgments and opinions in order to view people and situations through God's eyes. It means trusting in God's timing and in His plan and trusting that He will fulfill His promises and move us or promote us in His time. And it means understanding who we are in Christ and that we are already complete in Him with our own unique set of abilities, talents, and personality. We don't need achievements, accolades, or acceleration through the ranks to prove ourselves to Him, for He has already paved the way for us through His extreme love.

When we make the choice to let the green-eyed monster go, we can redirect that energy to things that truly matter. We won't be distracted by our emotions nor semi-distraught when things seem unfair or when others take what we want. We will be willing to yield ourselves to God which allows us to prefer others over ourselves. And we free ourselves up to wait on God so He can do with us what He wants in His time.

When God is the one that places us and/or advances us to where He wants us to be, it brings Him the glory and has an impact that far surpasses anything that we ever tried to bring about in our own strength and abilities. So farewell, green-eyed monster!

*Five Minute Friday (#FMFparty) gives writers a word prompt. We are encouraged to write whatever comes to mind about that word in just five minutes.  No editing, no perfection, only writing from the heart.  To find out more, visit http://katemotaung.com/five-minute-friday/.  This week's word is "GREEN".

What I'm Into (Aug/Sept/Oct 2015)

Linking up with Leigh Kramer and "What I'm Into" this month. It's a fun way to keep track of things that jumped out at me over the past few months.

Read & Reading

Read:

1.  I Am a Church Member by Thom S. Rainer

This is a power-packed, read-in-one-sitting kind of book that puts church members into their place as it reiterates our role and purpose as church members. It's easy to let preferences and entitlement sneak into our perspective and hinder what all God intends for the church to be for us and others as we both attend and serve the church. I Am a Church Member covers these six areas:

• I Will Be a Unifying Church Member
• I Will Not Let the Church Be About My Preferences and Desires
• I Will Pray for My Church Leaders
• I Will Lead My Family to Be Healthy Church Members
• I Will Be a Functioning Member
• I Will Treasure Church Membership as a Gift

Favorite Quotes:

"I am a church member. I will not let my church be about my preferences and desires. That is self-serving. I am in this church to serve others and to serve Christ. My Savior went to a cross for me. I can deal with any inconveniences and matters that are just not my preference or style."

2.  Spiritual Mothering by Susan Hunt

 This book just got added to my growing list of "must read" books for women's ministry--books I wish I had 15 years ago when I entered ministry that offer specific wisdom from the trenches and from God's Word. What lessons and heart aches would've been spared if I had known some of these things. But at the same time, those lessons were opportunities for learning, pruning, and growth.

Spiritual mothering is a concept that touches me deeply for God has blessed me with many spiritual mothers to stand in the gap throughout my life. It literally has taken a village (or a church) of women to raise me all throughout my life (even still today). God has used older women so powerfully to teach me many things about God, life, marriage, ministry, and myself as I experienced firsthand the tremendous blessings and slicing heartaches of good and bad spiritual mothers. The thing that made the biggest difference with all of my spiritual moms is that they have consistently pointed me back to God through their conduct, example, and prayers. That is priceless!

As I read this book, Susan Hunt captured the essence of a spiritual mothering relationship which is simply "When a woman possessing faith and spiritual maturity enters into a nurturing relationship with a younger woman in order to encourage and equip her to live for God's glory." It's saying, "It's not enough for me to want to live for God's glory and for you to want to live for God's glory. I must want to help you live for God's glory. I must honestly want God's glory for your life."

And the God-factor is what sticks with a woman far beyond a season of investment into another woman's life. My favorite part of the book is how Hunt went beyond the usual illustrations from Ruth and Naomi's relationship and dissected Mary and Elizabeth's relationship as well as other women in the Bible bringing these relationships into a new light. This is, by far, one of the least fluffy books I've ever read on mentoring because it doesn't give the step-by-step "how to" approach as much as it outlines the "why" that is firmly routed in Scripture. Spiritual mothering has to begin with your relationship with God and your heart condition before it extends into a relationship with another woman.

In many ways, this book is a mentoring session in itself as the author shares her mothering heart and instructs and challenges us from the Word in a gentle yet straight forward, encouraging way. She removes the curriculum and program of mentoring and focuses it all back on God as the source and reason for it all in every area of our life (marriage, church, self-discipline, etc.). She concludes the book with this: "Involvement means taking risks, getting tired, and sometimes getting hurt. But I challenge you, my sister, to write your story into the fabric of another woman's life. This is not a call to a life of ease. It is a call to a life of involvement in serving the King by nurturing his daughters."

Favorite Quotes from Spiritual Mothering
(There are waaaay too many to choose from...)

"It's interesting that of all the ways Paul could have told the women to combat the decadence of their culture, he told them to invest their energies in training the younger women to live Christianly in their society. ... Paul was smart enough to know that women need women to train them how to apply God's Word to areas of our lives that are uniquely feminine. ... This is not a ministry of minutia; it is a vital part of church life that must not be pushed to the back-burner." (Titus 2)

"Until a woman has submitted her speech to the Lord, she surely cannot influence a younger women to build right relationships. Critical words destroy relationships. Younger women need to be taught how to affirm and encourage, how to love and accept, how to influence but not demand."

"Older Christian women must communicate a vision of the beauty of a marriage that endures. ... Only a passion for God's glory can overpower our self-interest. ... When a woman realizes the power of her loving acceptance of her husband and makes an all-out commitment to be his completor and not his competitor, he reaches heights he could never obtain without her."

"A woman who struggles with poor self-image is so enslaved that she cannot be a servant/nurturer. The only adequate antidote for the self-image problem is a Biblical knowledge of ourselves. ... Dorcas had experienced the encouragement that comes in knowing she had been accepted by Christ; this motivated her to accept others. Dorcas had a unifying effect in her church; God is glorified when believers are unified. And unity is impossible apart from acceptance."

"Failure to accept another reveals pride in my own heart: "I know what you should be, what you should do, and how you should do it--my way is right and best." It also reveals a lack of trust: "God is not changing you fast enough, so I must help Him."

3. Forward by Ronnie W. Floyd

This is a very simple leadership book reminding us that you need to keep moving forward as you lead others.

Favorite quotes from Forward:

"If Satan cannot get you to do the wrong thing, he will get you to do the right thing in the wrong way."

"Forward leaders are futuristic thinkers. They are not so impressed with their past that they become paralyzed. They are not so intoxicated with their present that they always celebrate and party. They always look ahead, preparing for what could be."

"If we have to tell people we are in charge, we probably are not in charge."

"It is the presence of God that sets each of us apart from other leaders."

"If we do not pray at all, we are depending on ourselves."

4. Move On by Vicki Courtney

It took me awhile to get into this book and to find the meat in it, but it ended up being a solid reminder of God's grace and mercy and the power of the cross.  

Favorite Quotes from Move On:

"Healing comes when we learn to ignore the accuser's shameful reminders of our past sins. In doing so, shame loses the power of control in our lives."

"Far too many women are living in the past, defined by their sin, rather than being defined by God's grace in the present. ... Putting the past behind us is the result of not forgetting our past sins, but rather remembering their place on the cross. We can't move forward until we decide to forget the past. ... Rather, as we move forward, we do so with a vision of our sins nailed to the cross in our rearview mirror."

"Legalists feel safer in a world where progress can be evaluated and measured. A world where there are distinct markers (even if they are self-imposed) to gauge their spirituality."

"We must emphasize grace before we talk about commitment, because once grace becomes a believer's identity, commitment will follow." (in response to the Great Commission)

"Charles Spurgeon once said, "I have found, in my own spiritual life, that the more rules I lay down for myself, the more sins I commit." (See Colossians 2:20-23.)

5.  The Best Yes by Lysa Terkeurst

This book is perfect for the woman who constantly finds herself drained and stuck doing a bunch of good things while continually sacrificing the things that she knows God wants her to do but doesn't have time to do. I've put off reading this book for awhile because I knew it would mean change. That's not a bad thing, but there is an odd sense of security that comes from busyness...it's predictable and safe and there is never a dull moment. Yet God has been making it clear in many ways that my security is coming from the wrong place. He has something for my life but I keep crowding it (and Him) out through busyness.

It was desperation to find a different way that drew me back to this book. It's one of those books that took several weeks to read because there was so much in it for my Type A, overachiever, I-know-I-can-be-Super Woman (but I'm about to collapse from the sheer busyness of everything) personality to digest. It was a tool that God wanted to use to lay out guidelines to help me weed out what is of Him and what's not of Him (even though it's for Him). Some of my yeses can't be undone right now and there are commitments to finish seeing through, but I can at least move forward from here by saying yes and no in the right way--God's way.

There were two things that stuck out above all else that I've been trying to implement as I discern whether to give a yes or no (oh, how I'm tired of giving yeses only to get into it and realize it should've been a no).

The first is, "Do I have the resources to handle this request along with my current responsibilities? Could this fit: physically? financially? spiritually? emotionally?" 

Most of the time, I know when and where I'm overloaded, but this is the first time in my life where I've found my emotional resources all tied up and depleted. It's been a new experience to be in the midst of something and discover that there no emotional capacity left to deal with situations or people and my head literally feels like it's about to explode because of the sheer brain power or emotional investment that's been expended. And that's not healthy at all. It's actually kind of scary to be in that moment when you know if someone says/does the wrong thing, that's it, you're walking away because you have nothing left even though that's not your personality to do so. It's really forced me to evaluate, ask hard questions, and let go of things in order to reclaim capacity.

Second, there's got to be a way to get this list tattooed somewhere so it'll be the first thing I see whenever I consider whether or not to do something. Honestly, if I took the time to answer these questions, I wouldn't be doing half of what I'm doing today (scary thought!). Here are Lysa's suggestions for determining if the expectations that come from agreeing to a yes are realistic or not:

• "It feels thrilling to say yes to this now. But how will this yes feel two weeks, two months, and six months from now?
• Do any of the expectations that come from this yes feel forced or frantic?
• Could any part of this yes be tied to people pleasing and allowing that desire to skew my judgment of what's realistic and unrealistic?  
• Which wise (older, grounded in God's Word, more experienced, and more mature) people in my life think this is a good idea?
• Are there any facts I try to avoid or hide when discussing this with my wise advisors."

6.  Praying in Color--Drawing a New Path to God by Sybil MacBeth

Sometimes we can become too legalistic with our prayers. We forget that God has given us freedom from formulas (aside from the Lord's Prayer) and that that He has given us freedom of expression and designed us in His creativity. When you carry that freedom into your prayer life, prayer comes alive. Praying in color is simply taking your prayers and instead of speaking them or journaling them, you're doodling them in such a way to focus your thoughts and actively engage in prayer. It's taking prayer requests or scripture and artfully meditating on it and praying over it where each line, each color, each design means something as you pray over the request or Scripture. It's great for the person who has a wandering mind when it comes to prayer. It's combining words with pictures and color to make a lasting impression in your mind that may pop up later and remind you to pray. I was introduced to Praying in Color in 2012 and it's something that I'll pull out every now and then to remind me that prayer is an expression of our faith that isn't bound by words. It revitalizes my prayer life and reminds me that prayer can be more than black and white words. God wants our prayer lives to be vibrant and full of life, so it makes sense to pray with crayons, markers, and paper. It took a lot of work for my conservative Baptist mind to wrap around the idea of praying in a visual way, but it's become special over the years to see what God has done with the doodled prayers and how He honors and answers those just as much as He answers the spoken word. This book is great for reminding us that prayer is about relationship and that God has given us all different ways to connect with Him creatively.


Music

 Uncluttered by Gwen Smith

"So I'm cleaning out some closets, tearing down some walls. Things I've never needed that have been there way too long. Give myself completely with nothing in between, like the kind of love He has for me 'cause I want my love for Him to be always be uncluttered."

Grace Wins by Matthew West

There's a war between guilt and grace / And they're fighting for a sacred space / But I'm living proof / Grace wins every time

Links

Why The Church Needs Artists More than Managers Right Now

Mentoring Is More than Teaching

What We Get Wrong about Worship



Other Things I'm Into

Reading Winter Morgan's Minecraft novels to my child. Two chapters each night are never enough (even for this mama). Morgan's has a way of bringing together my child's love for Minecraft and his vivid imagination through her stories. Plus, he keeps learning new game tricks through the characters' adventures.

Celebrating our 12th anniversary!! Twelve years later and I can still say that there is nothing more special than waking up and falling asleep next to your best friend. This year has added some new challenges as we enter into business together and experience life transitions, but these moments of celebration remind us of who we fell in love with and the beauty of our marriage when we are unified and seeking Christ together instead of merely co-existing and surviving the day to day without direction and purpose.

 

Field tripping with my family!  We recently attended the Homeschool Day at Thomas Jefferson's Monticello. We are looking forward to cooler weather so we can get out more and do field trips. Late fall and winter are to us what summer is to everyone else. We take a lot of time off school for hands-on learning, traveling, and vacationing while the environmental allergens aren't as bad and then we buckle down with school during spring and summer. It's a little backward, but it works for us plus vacation and field trip destinations aren't insanely busy in the off-season so we get most of the places to ourselves. 

Celebrating the Gifts (#fmfparty)

There are times in life when one day runs into the next and before you know it, a whole week and then a whole month has passed by with barely a glance (because there isn't time for a glance). Time flies by quickly as we rush from place to place trying to maintain the responsibilities of life and squeezing in as much as we can. It's easy to become so focused on life that that we forget to stop and celebrate the little moments. We forget that, in the midst of the busyness, God is constantly pouring His love out on us. And it's easy to take His blessings and provision for granted and forget that He is the giver of all things to celebrate.

James 1:17 says, "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning."

So for this Five Minute Friday post (on Tuesday), I simply want to pause and celebrate the gifts over the past week and revel in the fact that these gifts (both big and small) are directly from the hand of God, given with care and love in order to add beauty and richness to my life and to draw me back to Him.

Today, I celebrate:

• moments that give glimpses of grace.
• The beauty of music--making it (esp. making it with friends), listening to it, being instructed in it, and praising God with it.
• seeing friends overcome fears and rise to their potential.
• friendships that leave room for invitation and challenge.
• a child that begs to read.
• light bulb moments in homeschool as my child discovers God's design for us in Psalm 139.
• steps toward fulfilling dreams (it's been 20 years since I've talked to a college admissions counselor!).
• opportunities to help out where needed.
• second chances.
• the power of the cross.
• stories of recovery.
• forgiveness.
• tough conversations in hopes of helping someone see God's path.
• texts from friends that touch on nearly every subject of life.
• new clothes (that aren't black and that actually fit).
• God's direction.
• the gift of words to share with others in times of need.
• seeing God's strength in our weakness.
• praying with friends even when we're not sure what to pray for.
• sharing ice cream cake with my husband (hahaha...he learned early on in our marriage that some things just can't be shared).
• wisdom and insight from mentors.
• vulnerability in the right moments.
• good health for all of us.
• cooler weather and the promise of fall.
• possibilities.
• personal achievements.
• victory.
• freedom.
• safe friends you can vent to and know it'll be ok and they won't hold it against you because they vent right back at you, but at the end of the day, there is security in knowing that our hearts are truly in the right places and desire God and His way regardless of how we feel in the moment.
• moments to bless others and to be blessed.
• the by-products of discipline.
• hugs from my friends at church.
• Starbucks peppermint hot chocolate (and friends to share it with).
• God's protection over my little boy and his myriad of allergies.
• affirmation.
• hope.
• laughter.
• playing games with my guys (even though they are board games that are totally designed for males that involve strategy and weird looking characters/superheroes).
• tears of joy and sadness with friends as God works in the tender areas of our lives.
• good books.
• Amish fiction.
• technology that lets us stay close with people across the miles.
• our decision to homeschool another year and seeing our child soar because of it.
• the thrill of the challenge of learning new things.
• little successes that come through hard work.
• the gift of having people believe in me and who take time to draw out the potential that they see.
• the Word of God and the instruction, comfort, and encouragement that it continually brings into my life = priceless.

Oh, there are soooo many more things to celebrate! In all the busyness, let's not forget to pause and celebrate God's gifts to us!

*Five Minute Friday (#FMFparty) gives writers a word prompt. We are encouraged to write whatever comes to mind about that word in just five minutes.  No editing, no perfection, only writing from the heart.  To find out more, visit http://katemotaung.com/five-minute-friday/.  This week's word is "CELEBRATE".

Staying Together Inwardly (#fmfparty)

"You were all called to travel on the same road and in the same direction, so stay together, both outwardly and inwardly. You have one Master, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who rules over all, works through all, and is present in all. Everything you are and think and do is permeated with Oneness. But that doesn't mean you should all look and speak and act the same. Out of the generosity of Christ, each of us is given his own gift." Ephesians 4:4-7 (Message)

In church life, there are times when we need to be reminded that we are all on the same team. We all desire to see Christ glorified. We desire excellence in service. We desire unity within the body. And we desire commitment both to serve within the church and outside of the church.

But somehow, in the busyness of church life, we lose focus of that even though we are still outwardly saying "Yes, this is for God." We lose focus when we encounter opinions or methods different than our own. We lose focus when we compare what we have (or don't have) with others. We lose focus when we give more of ourselves than we have capacity to give. We lose focus when we overthink what was said to us or about us. And we lose focus when we become so busy doing that we find ourselves trusting in the institution of the church rather than in God Himself.

Whenever we lose focus, seeds of disappointment, discouragement, disillusionment, dissension, and/or distance begin to grow that distort our view of our "teammates" (pew mates?). We forget that we are a team as bitterness, distrust, rebellion, or competition weave into our interactions with one another. We unconsciously divide through our attitudes and conversations rather than seek to build up. We isolate and lose sight of the big picture where God has called us to travel on the same road together.

When I read Ephesians 4:4 the other night, "...so stay together, both outwardly and inwardly" jumped out at me. Oh, how we can have the outward part down to a science but be thinking so immature inwardly. This week, may we remember that as the body of Christ, we are all called to travel on the same road and in the same direction and evaluate if our thoughts, attitudes, conversations, and actions (both inwardly and outwardly) are leading us toward the same purpose. It's breathtaking to think of the massive Kingdom impact that our churches could have on our world if we intentionally sought to work together instead of against each other in all that we do.

*Five Minute Friday (#FMFparty) gives writers a word prompt. We are encouraged to write whatever comes to mind about that word in just five minutes.  No editing, no perfection, only writing from the heart.  To find out more, visit http://katemotaung.com/five-minute-friday/.  This week's word is "SAME".

Behind the "Yes" // five minute friday

Yes--it's a word of permission, affirmation, promise and hope. It's a word that unlocks new doors and creates new paths. "Yes" rises above the voice of no because it believes that God has a plan. "Yes" pushes aside uncertainty and ushers in courage. And "yes" sees unlimited possibilities that can go in directions that none of us ever imagined.

When God gives the "yes", it's even sweeter because it affirms the truths in Ephesians 2:10 -- "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them" and Philippians 1:6 -- "Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ." 
 

This week, I am celebrating the gift and blessing of a God-given "yes" after daring to dream and praying in faith that God would bring this dream to fruition in His time. There is something beautiful that happens when we go through the petitioning process outlined in James 1:16 -- "But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed."

When my doubts threaten the "yes", when others feel it should be a "no", when I don't know if I have what it takes to run with this God-given "yes", God reminds me of what His "yes" means and that if He gives the "yes", He will give what is needed to see it through.

*Five Minute Friday (#FMFparty) gives writers a word prompt. We are encouraged to write whatever comes to mind about that word in just five minutes.  No editing, no perfection, only writing from the heart.  To find out more, visit http://katemotaung.com/five-minute-friday/.  This week's word is "YES".

Finding the Wonder (#fmfparty)

Books...I'm a firm believer that one can never have too many books! Books have a way of capturing our imaginations, taking us to new places (both in a figurative and literal sense), and transporting us away from the chaos and noise of our world, at least for a little while. Books delight, inspire, teach, guide, and unite.

While this homeschool year has taken on a life of its own through dealing with behavioral and character issues causing us to stray far away from our lesson plans (where we are a month ahead in two subjects and a week behind in others), reading serves as the glue that binds mother and son/teacher and student back together and reassures us that everything will (eventually) work itself out.

Reading quiets, settles, and brings to life all the ideas, imagination, and creativity that video games and TV steal from my child (oh, that's another topic in itself--using technology as a baby sitter so moms can buy time to get our stuff done--guilty).

Reading brings us back to the pure beauty, simplicity, and delight of books. Books are still one of the cheapest yet timeless forms of entertainment.

And, reading is where we find adventure, suspense, gore (google Phineas Gage), strategy, heroism, chivalry, generosity, character, and so much more.

We find wonder through discovering new (well, old) worlds with historical characters. We find joy when we unearth the treasure that we spent chapters looking for. We find satisfaction when good triumphs over evil. We find hilarity through antics, cleverness, or mishaps of fictional characters. And we find togetherness as we read while rocking away in a rocking chair (although rocking my child who is now about foot shorter than me is almost impossible), while snuggled up under Ninja Turtle blankets by the book lamp just before bed, by the sunlight of a window in the early hours of the morning because we can't wait any longer to see what happens, or while waiting in the van before another appointment/meeting.

Tonight, I simply want to share some of the wonder that we've found over the past two weeks. It is that wonder that keeps us persevering with homeschool and reminds me that this investment and relationship is worth it. It's that wonder that keeps my child begging for "just one more chapter" or who thanks me for grounding him from TV and video games so he can see how fun life is with books. And it's the wonder that prompts those secretive or amused glances between mother and son as we find something while we are out that reminds us of a story we are reading.

This book has been a household favorite since our son's anaphylactic diagnosis at age 3.

Find action and adventure with cowboys and bandits like Wild Bill Hickok, Jesse James, Billy the Kid, Geronimo, & Butch Cassidy. Great for a boy's imagination while sneaking in history and geography!

We just got this book last week and couldn't put it down. We are already reading this book for a second time! It truly captivates a little boy's imagination with everything from robots, pirates, ghosts, and knights! This book has it all!

These two books are my son's contribution when he wants to read aloud! They are easy favorites that build his confidence in reading (plus, he really does like to hop on pop and has been since he was old enough to crawl on top of his pop)!

"The books are more fun than the video game!" They make a great substitute if you're grounded from Minecraft. I have to admit that even I secretly read ahead because I wanted to know how Book 2 was going to end! My guys will not let me live that one down! They also learned tried and true secrets to the game (my son had my husband try them out for him)!

We still aren't done with this book, but it brings science and adventure together through ballooning, an unbelievable diamond mine discovery, crazy household inventions, and a massive volcano!

Tonight, I got suckered into a Little Critter marathon at bedtime! Simple and colorful! Plus these books bring back memories for me since a couple were from my collection that I had when I was a kid!

And, there's nothing like a good Dr. Seuss collection to expand vocabulary and highlight creativity!

These aren't Dr. Seuss, but they are the books I'm working on right now. (There are days when I feel like I have Book ADD...but some days, I'm in a mood for one subject and other days I want something totally different or not as heavy...lol).

Tonight after I finished the last Little Critter book, my son flashed me a secret message that reminds me of the power behind books, of the pure joy of reading together, and of how much these moments mean to him:  

 May you find the wonder of reading a great book this week!

*Five Minute Friday (#FMFparty) gives writers a word prompt. We are encouraged to write whatever comes to mind about that word in just five minutes.  No editing, no perfection, only writing from the heart.  To find out more, visit http://katemotaung.com/five-minute-friday/.  This week's word is "FIND".

Learning to Bow // five minute friday

“Start with God—the first step in learning is bowing down to God.” Proverbs 1:7a (Message)

Last year, God led us to Proverbs 1:7a to define the goal of our homeschool as this verse answers the what and the why of our motivation to homeschool. It's not only our goal, but it is the foundation of our educational philosophy. 

However, we have lost sight of that goal and we’ve only completed our first month of the school year. Somewhere between the battle of the wills, lack of support from friends who used to think homeschooling was great but now think we’re crazy for continuing with it, and dealing with a child who has a great brain but uses it only when he wants to, we have completely lost sight of the bigger picture.

As soon as I saw this week’s word ("learn"*), Proverbs 1:7 came to mind reminding me of what learning is all about. God led us down the path of homeschooling so we could learn together as a family what it means to start with Him and how to bow down to Him in everything. It is a verse both for parent and child, teacher and student.

It sounds simple in theory but it’s in the middle of the battle of the wills when I’m feeling rather ungodly that I need to bow down to God instead of bow down to my way and what I feel in that moment. God's response has a way of diffusing situations and lending much-needed perspective. Bowing down to God when my friends back away means loving them regardless and standing firm in what we believe knowing that following God requires sacrifice and obedience. And bowing down to God when my child refuses to apply himself means seeking Him for direction, patience, love, and guidance as I respond to my child.

Bowing down to God isn’t just something I do but it’s something I have to teach my child to do as well. It’s teaching my child that we all are under God’s authority and showing him what that relationship looks like. It’s taking the time to explain the “why” behind our rules and rather than making Christianity look like a bunch of do’s and don’ts. It’s giving God the respect that He deserves as we live out our lives respecting one another. It’s making God’s Word, His ways, and Him a priority in all that we do. It’s intentionally living out Deuteronomy 11:18-21 (the very passage that I have so resisted using to illustrate why we homeschool because it is so overused and thrown out carelessly in too many circles):

“Therefore you shall lay up these words of mine in your heart and in your soul, and bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall teach them to your children, speaking of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. And you shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates, that your days and the days of your children may be multiplied in the land of which the Lord swore to your fathers to give them, like the days of the heavens above the earth.”

I feel like our school days lately are 80% dealing with heart issues and 20% “education”. And this week has been flat-out discouraging, frustrating, and exhausting! We have moments where my child totally excels, applies himself, and hungers for knowledge. But then we have those moments that threaten to ruin the entire day because everything simply falls apart for him and we choose to end our day early to save the relationship and deal with the behavioral issues at hand. 

How I needed to meditate on Proverbs 1:7 tonight, to remember the why, and to reflect on what is most important for us to learn this year! While homeschooling is exhausting and challenging work at times, it truly is excellent training ground for both the parent and child/the teacher and student to learn what it means to bow down to God in every area of life. 

*Five Minute Friday (#FMFparty) gives writers a word prompt. We are encouraged to write whatever comes to mind about that word in just five minutes.  No editing, no perfection, only writing from the heart.  To find out more, visit http://katemotaung.com/five-minute-friday/.  This week's word is "LEARN".

Here I Am (#fmfparty)

Here.

Here I am walking in the all too familiar place of wanting more of God and less of self, wanting the life He has for me and less of the life I am striving toward, and wanting to be filled with God-like character and depth and less of the trivial pettiness that often comes my way.

Here I am sensing that God desires it all yet holding back because I fear what it is He really wants because I don't know how to live a life in reckless abandon in Him where every step is not measured and calculated.

Here I am tasting remnants of God in my life yet still unsatisfied because it's easier to live out of what is certain that I can create than to live out of His Sovereignty where I willingly hand over all control, holding nothing back.

Here I am seeing God in the details as He keeps working out His good in my life yet I still remain blinded because fear hinders me from seeing all that there is to see.

Here I am hearing God whisper to me through His Word, "There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love." I John 4:18. And then Jeremiah 29:13 "And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart."

Here I am confessing my desperate need for God because I know I can't keep going on in this state. Revelation 3:15-21 says, “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked—I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne."

Here I am trusting without fear because God is here. He enables me to walk, sense, taste, see, and hear that He is God through His loving command in Psalm 46:10-11: "Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth! The Lord of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our refuge." He beckons me to come to Him and to know that He is God. To not just know with my head, but to use my God-given senses to "taste and see that the Lord is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!" Psalm 34:8. "And Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst. But I said to you that you have seen Me and yet do not believe. All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out." John 6:35-37

God, Here I am.


*Five Minute Friday (#FMFparty) gives writers a word prompt. We are encouraged to write whatever comes to mind about that word in just five minutes.  No editing, no perfection, only writing from the heart.  To find out more, visit http://katemotaung.com/five-minute-friday/.  This week's word is "HERE".

Try: The Enemy of Do (#fmfparty)

After everyone went to bed last night, I sat down to write this week's FMF* on the word "try" when I got distracted by an email that my friend sent me which contained a link to a song called Settle Me Now.

As I listened to the song, I couldn't help but draw the connections between different "themes" that God has been weaving lately. The song coincides with the angst that I feel as I ponder the word "try". Am not sure if this will make any sense to anyone else but me, but here's my take on "try" anyway:


Sometimes try is the enemy of do.

When we say that we'll try something, there is hesitancy, unsurety, skepticism, and timid belief.

When we say we'll do something, there is confidence, surety, belief, commitment, and loyalty. It's going a step further than trying. "Doing" assumes that God will equip you to do whatever He puts in your path, that He will give what is needed in that moment to not just try something but to do it.

Try sometimes implies a one-shot, carefree effort. If it works it works. If it doesn't, it doesn't...not a big deal. It means no commitment, no staying-power, and surface relationships only.

Do implies seeing something through to the end. It means wholeheartedly investing yourself (not just a talent or skill) into something to ensure that it is a success. It means intentional commitment, vulnerability, and relationship.

Maybe the difference between try and do is simply a matter of semantics and personal meaning. Either way, I spend a lot of my life "trying" things. And it's great to try things because you learn about what you like and don't like and what you're good at and what you stink at with no strings attached. But there comes a point when trying silently becomes a cover-up for fear and discontent. 

Sometimes, trying can keep us on the run so we never really have to settle down nor do we have to lend time to cultivating things that we are capable of doing and are even called to do. Trying opens the door to the kind of busyness that lets us hide the fact that we are stuck in a endless cycle of striving, proving, or performance. Trying requires less patience and waiting that the commitment of doing requires. And trying breeds a spirit of discontent where we are always waiting for the right thing, the big thing, the best thing, the once-in-a-lifetime thing to come along that we become blinded to all that is sitting right in front of us.

It's time to stop trying and to start doing...to claim the things that I know are true, to step out in surety that God is leading the way, and to settle down long enough (in mind, body, and spirit) to let God work both in me and through me. Can't help but wonder what a difference it would make to my family and friends (and yes, even my church) if I stopped trying and started doing and in doing, give them something that is more substantial, meaningful, and life-giving than a "leaky, rusted-out bucket" (see Haggai 1:5-7 below).

"And then a little later, God-of-the-Angel-Armies spoke out again: “Take a good, hard look at your life. Think it over. You have spent a lot of money, but you haven’t much to show for it. You keep filling your plates, but you never get filled up. You keep drinking and drinking and drinking, but you’re always thirsty. You put on layer after layer of clothes, but you can’t get warm. And the people who work for you, what are they getting out of it? Not much—a leaky, rusted-out bucket, that’s what. That’s why God-of-the-Angel-Armies said: “Take a good, hard look at your life. Think it over.” Haggai 1:5-7

"Be still and know that I am God." Psalm 46:10

*Five Minute Friday (#FMFparty) gives writers a word prompt. We are encouraged to write whatever comes to mind about that word in just five minutes.  No editing, no perfection, only writing from the heart.  To find out more, visit http://katemotaung.com/five-minute-friday/.  This week's word is "TRY".

A Different Form of Worship, but Worship Nonetheless

Music has a way of sticking with us long after a sermon. We are forever surrounded by music on our iPhones, in our cars, in stores, etc. Music is one of the ways wherein God speaks to His people as  it soothes, reassures, convicts, encourages, and gives hope. Aside from God's Word, nothing else speaks to me more than music...that's probably why I've spent 3/4 of my life making music in one form or another. Music also has taught me a lot about teamwork, pride, comparison, unity, purpose, and worship. Have spent more time making music than thinking about what goes on behind the scenes and what all is involved in ensuring that people can hear my music. Seriously, think about it...how hard can it be to turn on a microphone and push play on a CD player, right??

Ummmmm...yeah...take a look:

The first time I saw the sound board, I had no desire to even look at it...it was someone else's department and it was way over-my-head complicated. But the more I started observing and piecing things together during praise team practices (where it was about sound checks and monitors), the more that sound board became like this one giant puzzle that beckoned to be solved. There was this uncanny method to the madness that somehow required doing all you can to take music to the next level.

It's taken awhile to really decide if learning how to do sound for church is something I just want to "master" for the pure challenge of it (like I need something else to add to my schedule right now) or if it's something that God wants me to learn as another form of worshiping Him. The latter is one that I've spent a lot of time praying over because doing the sound is outright work and fast-paced stress (how can that be worship?). It requires attention to detail and a level of focus that means blocking out every single thing in order to hear what is in front of me. As I dabble in it some, God keeps showing me how doing the sound completes the circle of worship.

God further shaped my mind toward it today as He showed me what a pure gift (and responsibility) it is to be able to serve the praise team in this way. Over the past year, it has been such a joy getting to know the different people that sing and/or play instruments in our church because they are way more than musicians. I've enjoyed hearing their stories, watching them making decisions in their lives from school to dating to jobs, praying with a few of them as we go through life's challenges, and seeing how God is working in their lives to grow them whether they see the growth or not. Sunday worship may be the connecting factor, but there is daily worship happening during the week as we try to live for God in a culture that wars against all of that.

Therefore, it's meaningful to have this opportunity to be able to take such talent and hearts for worship and try to blend it in such a way that continues to brings glory to God and to make sure that each song is blended ever perfectly as a testimony of worship in our hearts. No, I'm not about creating a "goosebump worship moment" but it's about the process of worship and being able to see it come together from the very first note of Saturday practice to the last note on Sunday night. It's about taking every voice on the platform and merging it with the others in such a way that beautifully portrays the body of Christ as each voice functions within its own role. And when those voices blend, an underlying depth and richness form which enhance the message that is being sung. 

One of my favorite Psalms is Psalm 150. I have to admit that Psalm 150:4 instantly became my favorite verse when I was in fourth grade when I began playing the flute simply because it had the word "flutes" in it. However, as I've grown up, I began to understand more and more what Psalm 150 worship is about and the delight and beauty of being able to "praise God in His sanctuary" both literally and figuratively.

Praise the Lord!
Praise God in His sanctuary;
Praise Him in His mighty firmament!
Praise Him for His mighty acts;
Praise Him according to His excellent greatness!
Praise Him with the sound of the trumpet;
Praise Him with the lute and harp!
Praise Him with the timbrel and dance;
Praise Him with stringed instruments and flutes!
Praise Him with loud cymbals;
Praise Him with clashing cymbals!
Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.
Praise the Lord!

As I compare Psalm 150 with God's design for creation and Christ's birth, death, and future return, it points to order not chaos, purpose not haphazardness, and something that is life-changing not complacent. How can our worship be anything but that? And why would we waste our time participating in anything less than that? And that fuels my desire even further to give what I have to follow God's design for worship and to give my friends in the praise team and the choir that kind of gift and to help them be able to worship with order and purpose so not only our hearts, but the hearts of those in our church, will seek God, praise Him, and worship Him together as described in Psalm 150. 

No pressure, right, especially with like, a hundred knobs that control something and will either enhance or detract from worship?? But yet at the same time, that is part of the beauty of worshiping God through doing the sound (and even with singing as I still experiment with that)--it pushes me beyond my comfort zone, myself, and my abilities and into a place of utter dependence on God knowing that if it's for Him, it has to be about Him and done through Him and by Him. It's when I am in the midst of Him that worship truly takes place whether it's with my flute, voice, piano, or sound board.

p.s. I had to google whether it's worshipping or worshiping and one p won out...had no clue it was such a debate! ;)

ten // five minute friday

Five Minute Friday (#FMFparty) gives writers a word prompt. We are encouraged to write whatever comes to mind about that word in just five minutes.  No editing, no perfection, only writing from the heart.  To find out more, visit http://katemotaung.com/five-minute-friday/.  This week's word is "TEN".

Thought about this overnight trying to decide where to go with "ten" because a number just begs for some kind of list. I decided to go with ten of my favorite Bible verses (it's hard to pick just 10)!

Life has been so up and down this summer as we go from one high to one low and then back to another high and low! It's so characteristic of my life as I tend to live in black and white and in the extremes. However, it is in the extremes where God teaches me the most about Him. It's where I learn to work out my salvation and learn to see Him no matter what blessings or curve balls come my way. And it's where I learn how much God desires stillness and nearness first instead of last after I've exhausted all of my other man-made options (*sigh* I have a long way to go with that lesson).

So, this list is more for me as I remind myself once again of God's truth, promises, commands, calling, and comforts that He has given me over the years to cling to and live by in the extremes and the not-so-extremes (in the rare event that they do occur).

1. "I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye." Psalm 32:8 (KJV)

2.  "Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert." Isaiah 43:18-19 (KJV)

3. "If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. For 'whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.'" Romans 10:9-12 (NKJV)

4. "He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty." Psalm 91:1 (NKJV)

5.  "Praise the Lord! Praise God in His sanctuary; praise Him in His mighty firmament! Praise Him for His mighty acts; praise Him according to His excellent greatness! Praise Him with the timbrel and dance; praise Him with stringed instruments and flutes!" Psalm 150: 1, 2, 4 (NKJV)

6. "Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying: "Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?" Then said I, "Here am I! Send me." Isaiah 6:8 (NKJV)

7.  "Do not curse the king, even in your thought; do not curse the rich, even in your bedroom; for a bird of the air may carry your voice, and a bird in flight may tell the matter." Ecclesiastes 10:20 (NKJV)

8.  "And that about wraps it up. God is strong, and he wants you strong. So take everything the Master has set out for you, well-made weapons of the best materials. And put them to use so you will be able to stand up to everything the Devil throws your way. This is no afternoon athletic contest that we’ll walk away from and forget about in a couple of hours. This is for keeps, a life-or-death fight to the finish against the Devil and all his angels. Be prepared. You’re up against far more than you can handle on your own. Take all the help you can get, every weapon God has issued, so that when it’s all over but the shouting you’ll still be on your feet." Ephesians 6:10-13 (Message)

9.   “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” Matthew 11:28-30 (Message)

10.  "God setteth the solitary in families: he bringeth out those which are bound with chains..." Psalm 68:6 (KJV)

[Thanks to biblegateway.com who made it possible to accomplish this list within the five minute writing window...lol!]