Playing Sublimely

Swell

June 14, 2013

We place borders around our faith and have the audacity to still call it faith. Faith with borders protests more of fear than it will ever speak of faith; and time and time again the source of our transgression proves to be pride. We assume pride always looks haughty and arrogant, chest proud and head held high. But the pride that may be even more destructive is the one more discreet, the one that says, “I could never do that.” Those words are full of more murderous poison than the boast “I can do anything” will ever be able to destroy. Reverse pride is still pride, it’s just been twisted inside out, leaving us more vulnerable than we ever thought possible.

Eventually we have a choice. The call to purpose will swell in our soul like a tsunami. We can’t fight it anymore then we can choose its path and direction. Our choice is to float face up trusting the One who can do all things, or we can stubbornly sink in what we call a faith with borders. Pridefully offering up our conditions, excuses, and fears; allowing the current to take us under.

I know many brave women that choose faith over fear, women that choose to believe they were created for great things soley due to the greatness of their God. He doesn’t breath mediocrity into the lungs of women, it’s impossible. It would be against His character. He takes our conditions, our weaknesses, and our excuses and He trumps them with Himself, for those who will believe Him for it. He knits together a story of abounding grace and beauty, and says “Choose my story and purpose.”

But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him.It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.”

Allow the swell to rise up in your heart. Be brave. Be free. Step one toe in the water of purpose and watch Him do great things.

Just for fun on this Friday, I’m leaving you with an artistic visual of what free-falling into purpose can look like. Michelle Jader left her successful and secure Fortune 500 career to pursue art. I like her already…

<a href="http://www.vimeo.com/66350927">http://www.vimeo.com/66350927</a>

{There is a video attached to the post. You may need to click over to Playing Sublimely if you are viewing in a reader}

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Galley Kitchens: Embracing Cottage

June 12, 2013

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My Pinterest page is exploding with images of small kitchens. My parents just purchased a small home in Va. Beach where I grew up. It’s a classic brick ranch home, as original as the day it was built. No updates have been made, enter in my husband who is not afraid to take out a wall, me who is not afraid to paint anything, my step-dad who is a contractor, and my mother who is walking around with a migraine.

With the exception of the kitchen, the rest of the home has hardwoods and needs minimal work. The cabinets are in good condition and we intend to keep them; however they are all getting shuffled around, and of course painted. The current layout is an L-shape, but it’s about to become a galley kitchen.

The minute we wrapped up Beautiful Life, I threw my little people in the car and we headed north to assess the kitchen and come up with a game plan. Here is the existing space:

Never doubt what can be accomplished with no fear and a little bit of paint. Actually, that’s a great motto for life in general, not just when concerning remodeling. Here are a few inspiration pictures, each one incorporate a few of the elements I hope we use in Mom’s new space.

Image via

Image via

I will for sure post the finished result. Happy midweek to you all!

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Finding Words

June 7, 2013

My Ella read Pride and Prejudice, an abridged version of course. Now we are watching the movie and we are all smitten, and I think they finally understand why I wanted to name the dog Mr. Darcy. It occurred to me this morning that my Ella is very much like Ms. Elizabeth, and that made me smile. Her unapologetic wit, oh the wit. This characteristic is both an asset and a problem, depending on the circumstance. But truth be told, either way I find it admirable, considering her mother is never able to say what she wants to say when she wants to say it. Like last weekend on the soccer field when a parent from the other team yelled at me and forced me to tears. I thought of at least 20 responses after I left the field, all of which would certainly have silenced him; but in the midst of the moment all I could muster up were tears. It both affirmed my hatred of competitive sports, and then simultaneously made me proud of my daughter for working so hard to compete in something so difficult to be a part of.

In other news, this month has been one of my favorites of the year so far; full to brim, as I know it has been for you also. It’s true what they say about May, May is the new December for mothers with school age children. I traveled to New Orleans with my friend Angela. She was speaking at an event, and I went along so we could finally have a moment to catch up on life. We talked nonstop the entire flight, and then I was also allowed the privilege of running her merch table, which satisfies my childhood dream of playing store. It’s a win-win for everybody. And then there were beignets at Cafe du Monde, which I think is a fancy, New Orleans way of saying funnel cake. In the part of the world where I grew up, we call them funnel cakes, and we eat them along side of a corn dog and a stick of fried butter….not coffee. Whatever they’re called, I like them, and we ate them….

There was a hidden blessing in it though. I saw what it’s like to get off a plane and look for the person smiling and waving, and then get in their car and trust them not to murder you. I was speaking the following weekend to a mother’s group in Ohio. I didn’t know them, they just asked me to come and I said yes. I had to put aside all fear that it was an elaborate plot to kidnap me and hide me in a basement. It turns out I’m not that important, and they really did just want me to come and be real right along side of them. That weekend I taught about calling, purpose, and Moses; and how all we really need is a grain-sized amount of faith and a touch of obedience, and then God will do the rest. That was quite ironic, as I sat in my hotel room personally struggling through that very truth. It is proof that we teach best what we have lived (or are living), and that God has a sense of humor and doesn’t miss one tiny detail.

Then we moved straight into Beautiful Life with my girl Angela, who brought a message on light that I am still in awe of. This year I wanted to represent “the bride of Christ”. I think we all need to remember that God really does see us as His bride in white. Most days I forget, but when I remember and receive it, it will stop me in my tracks. And because my church is awesome, and because my friend Jeff is a rock star, and because I have really great friends, we all made her come to life.

And that brings me to June, my month of slow, that is but a prep month for July. Oh July. In one month I will be looking at this:

One unexpected truth I have learned about going on a mission trip to Africa, is that controversary rises up when you tell people you are going on a mission trip to Africa. I have been amazed at the opinions that quickly surface, sometimes in boldness that I have no words for. Which brings me full circle to where we began. I can never find the right words to say, when I want to say them. Where is my Ella when I need her!?!?

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The Birthplace of Calling and Purpose

May 30, 2013

Moses fled from his failure. Of course he did. He was human, the son of Adam, born a sinner like the rest of us. His pride and flesh made it’s best effort at what he knew he was called to, but it wasn’t enough. Stephen affirms for us in the New Testament, what the Old Testament had years before implied; that Moses knew God was using him to rescue His people. He knew his life held a divine purpose. Long before we hear the wise Mordecai challenge Esther with the words “for such a time as this”; Josephs’ promise to his brothers hovered in the distant, dry desert of Egypt. Pharoah thought it was a mirage, but Moses knew the time was coming. The fourth generation was upon them, and God was about to set his captives free. It’s what He does best.

And though Moses had a purpose, and his life a calling, he blew it. His best efforts fell short, and now he was living the worst case scenario that we all fear will become reality. Moses was a fugitive, he was ashamed, he was hiding, he was broken. Moses had failed. If only he knew then, that God seeks out his children in the desert! He finds them in their barren and howling wasteland, and He shields them. He guards them as the apple of His eye. Moses hadn’t written that song yet, because he had to live it first. He himself had to be called out of the desert, before he could speak that truth over God’s children.

God grows authenticity in the dry sand of our souls.

The beautiful place where our weakness collides with His strength, is the birthplace of purpose and calling. The barren brokenness that happens in the desert, is the very place we hear God speak our name and say, “It’s time.” When we come to the end of ourselves, His fullness steps in and fills the gap. When we finally reach the broken, humble posture of, “I can’t do this thing that You have called me to do!” He answers, “Exactly. But I can.”

We are not called to something that we can do in our own strength. This purpose thing that you and I are wrestling out, has nothing to do with us. If it was about us, then there would be glory for us to receive. But all glory will be His, because all power and strength is His. He will be the One to accomplish in you, what He started to begin with.

Your God knows how difficult desert life can be, so take heart today my friend. Know for certain that if you are living in a dry place, He is cultivating a greater harvest in you. God does great things in the desert, but sometimes we don’t realize it until we have been called out of it. So if you are living in defeat and worn out by what you know you are called to accomplish; then you are staged beautifully for a great deliverance. Humble yourself sister, and watch Him do great things.

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