Jammie Church

Over the last year, I have fallen in love with corporate worship.

For months, we had lazy Sundays of jammie church and coffee.

Honestly, I wasn't sure I wanted to break that trend when our church announced that it would be opening it's doors again.

Sundays had become a routine. 

We would watch the sermon and maybe sing a song.

When I signed up for church the first week that we could attend and I stood with the smaller congregation and listened to the singing of others around me, I sobbed like a baby.

We are meant to worship together. To do church together.

Hearing other sing, even with muffled voices thanks to the masks. 

I knew I needed to be there.

I know I need to be there. With you.

God has been revealing Himself to me this year. I want more and more of Him. I am thankful for those in my life who are seeking Him, pursuing Him with me. I love the church.

Just Felt Like Writing

Today is one of those days when I want to be creative.

My list of things that I need to get done is quite long, but I want to... long to do anything with some creativity. I want to paint. It's a new hobby to my blog as it is something I only started a few years ago and I don't think I have ever written about it. Yet I found myself sitting down to write instead. Toying with topics and things to write about. Deciding that I really do not have much to write about, but starting this blog anyway. 

Since the shelter in place, I have taken on making homemade pizza on Friday nights. Since today is Friday, that has been my top priority for the day. Getting the dough made so that we can have pizza for dinner. I enjoy the process for the most part.

The last two days I have been trying to memorize a verse for my discipleship group. I hate to say this, but I have not tried to memorize Scripture since right after Kaylee was born. I deemed myself terrible at it and stopped trying. Having a little tune to sing while memorizing is a huge help and I am extremely thankful for it. 

The itch to paint is still pulling at me. I think I will try my hand at something small before the dough is done rising. 

Do you have anything new that you started doing thanks to the shelter in place? Or a hobby that you wish you had more time for? Or a trick to memorizing Scripture? 

Happy Friday!

A Lifelong Love

You guys. This book.

I am on my 3rd time of listening to it. Why? Because once wasn't enough. The lessons in this book are overwhelming. Gary Thomas guides you through concepts driven by Scripture. Every time I listen, my heart aches at my own selfishness and forgetfulness. How is it possible that I forget so quickly the things that God has shown me through His word and through this book? 

My marriage is not for my or Adam's glory. Adam is not my husband to please and fill all my needs. We are married to bring glory to God. Adam is God's son and with that the question that rings in my head is "if one of my girls married a man that treated her how I treat Adam (both mentally and out loud), would I be pleased with him? In the same way, is God pleased with how I treat His son?" I am in this marriage to worship and please my Savior by the way I love Adam and meet his needs.

How often do I make our marriage about me? 

I started this particular blog two years ago. This is still a book that I read over and over again two years later. Probably the best marriage book I have ever read. It's not a practical tips book. It is going to give me hints on what to do to make Adam happy. This book gets to the heart of the issue. My personal relationship with my Savior. This relationship effects all other relationships, especially my relationship with Adam. If I am not seeking God and His desires for who I am, then I am seeking to serve myself. It's unfortunately my natural inclination. This book is great at reminding me what is truly important about our marriage and leading me to my Bible to seek God when it comes to this relationship. 

This book recommendation came from my brother. Thanks Michael.

Valuable

Being of value has been on my mind a lot lately.

We try to find our value in so many things. Our looks. Our careers. Our relationships.

It is one of my deepest struggles. 

I know my value is found in the Lord. But knowing and hiding it in my heart to dwell on are two very different things. 

Recently our pastor was preaching on Isaiah 43. My takeaway had nothing to do with what he was preaching about and everything to do with the passage.

He has redeemed me. He has summoned me by name. I am His. He is with me through waters, rivers and fire. He is the Lord my God. My Savior. I am precious and honored in His sight. He loves me. He is with me. I have been called, created, formed and made for His glory. 

This passage applies to me through Jesus and I must dwell on it. 

My value is found in Him and Him alone. 

Everything here is so fleeting. Temporary.

Yet my heart sways and follows the temporary.

May this be an area that I grow in this year. 

That I would see myself as who I am in Christ more and more each day.