Because It’s All About Choosing to See

Posted on May 18, 2012 by Jacque

I wonder how much I’ve missed because I often fail to see. My eyes are blinded to a perspective beyond myself, and frankly its easier to just wallow in my current view and refuse to consider another one. It is often easier to see the dark clouds over my head and the difficulty of the now, instead of lifting my eyes to see the light straight ahead–the sunshine that is destined to break through.

But God wants so much more for me, and for you. He wants our lives to be filled with joy no matter what. A joy that is beyond our now. And not because He wants us to “buck-up” and fake it. But because He wants us to trust that He is in complete control.

Complete control. 

That He has a master plan that never fails, and that He sees and He knows.

And He wants us to know, to really know, how much He loves us. He wants us to trust that He’s aware of it all and that He’s working and moving no matter how it seems.

In whatever we’re facing, He wants us to be satisfied in Him. Satisfied as He grows our character through whatever it is He chooses to give. Whether extreme goodness or painful adversity He is ultimately working it all for our good, so that He is glorified in us and through us, and others see it and are changed.

But the challenge is in the seeing … in my perspective.

Do I trust Him?

Do I have the faith to really believe He is working it all for good in His time?

Am I willing to remember all He’s done in the past?

Will I choose to lean on the promises in His Word?

Will I choose to have faith … with an assurance of what I hope for and a conviction of things I can’t see?

As life is throwing me lemons, God is busy making lemonade.

 

And in the meantime, I will choose to shift my perspective, lift my eyes, and choose joy … believing with a renewed purpose all He’s accomplishing in me.

Will you join me?

Will you trust Him?

Because really, it’s all about choosing to see.

 

 

What is your biggest challenge in choosing to see?

How has God made lemonade in your life?

 

I’m joining Lisa-Jo, over at her site today, to take five minutes and just write without worrying if it’s just right or not. The challenge is to write for 5 minutes flat with no editing, tweaking or self critiquing, with the prompt she gives. And today, her prompt:

Perspective…

 

*This post was written in 15 minutes, with picture and links added later.

Posted in Cultivating Character, Faith, Five Minute Friday, Inspirational | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

Because You Are Meant to BE the Flavor :: Sermon on the Mount {Week 6}

Posted on May 16, 2012 by Jacque

Matthew 5:13-14 (ESV)
You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet. You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.

 

There’s almost nothing better than food full of flavor … like pizza loaded with savory sauce and chunks of melted cheese, or a full plate of Mexican food, complete with rice, refried beans, guacamole, salsa and chips.

Yet those same foods can be unappealing altogether if the salt is omitted. They remain bland and aren’t very delicious at all. Salt, even in minute amounts, can turn an otherwise unappealing food into one that is irresistible.

But salt actually has many roles besides simply adding seasoning to otherwise tasteless foods…

Salt cuts the bitterness in foods.

It is used as a preservative in the curing of meats and fish.

It acts as an anti-microbial, preventing microbial activity by restricting the free water available to the microorganisms.

It is used to enhance the natural flavors that are already present in food.

It intensifies the underlying sweetness of foods like caramel, taffy, watermelon, or other desserts.

It relaxes the texture of foods, making them more palatable and adding to the ease of swallowing.

It toughens wheat gluten to make dough less sticky and more manageable.

And it decreases the fermentation rate of yeast, preventing sourness and poor texture in bread.

And as followers of Christ, Jesus says WE are the salt of the entire earth.

We take an otherwise bland world and make it full of flavor.

We cut through the bitterness and preserve and protect that which is right.

We fight against the deterioration and decay of our world by being representatives of Him, making the world a more delicious and palatable planet.

We enhance the goodness that is already growing, and we make what is sweet, even sweeter, by the displaying the fruit of the Spirit in our lives.

And we make the world more manageable and the texture of life more smooth, by being a giving and loving people–reflecting Christ to all who are near.

Yet if we lose our tastiness, we are rendered ineffective and useless.

In the days of Jesus, there was unrefined earth-salt that was used for flavoring and preservation. And when the salt portion of the earth-salt was used up, the resulting substance was a limestone powder that was thrown out as waste–thrown out into the streets where people would trample it under their feet. It was a leftover part that was not capable of flavoring or preserving anything, and therefore no longer of any use to anyone.

And if we lose the flavor of Christ, we are not rejected by Him, but become like that useless leftover limestone … ineffective because of our failure to reflect Him to those around us.

What a privilege to be called the salt of the earth. And as salt, what varied influences we have as we follow hard after Jesus–as we desire to become more like Him. And what an honor to impact the world in so many ways by all He empowers us to do.

May we in our everyday interactions bring more flavor and goodness to those around us. And may we all press in close to follow after Him, becoming more like Him each and every day, that He may be glorified in us!

Continuing on in memorizing the Sermon on the Mount, with Ann and this community. Join us?

This week on to Matthew 5:15-16 (ESV)…

{WEEK 7}

Matthew 5:15-16 (ESV)
Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
 

n d p l a l a p i u a b b o a s a i g l t a i t h i t s w l y l s b o s t t m s y g w a g g t y f w i i h

 

Other posts in this series:

~Memorizing the Sermon on the Mount

~For When You Want to Know How to Really Teach {Week 1}

~For When You Need to Quit Performing to Earn God’s Love and Blessing {Week 2}

~When You Long to be Satisfied and Supremely Happy {Week 3}

~For When Memorizing is Intimidating and Change is a Challenge {Week 4}

~For When You Don’t Fit in and You’re Not Feeling Accepted {Week 5}

 

 

Posted in Bible Memorization, Faith, Sermon on the Mount | Tagged , | 4 Comments

Because I Know, This Won’t Always Be

Posted on May 13, 2012 by Jacque

She waited up for me…and I found her asleep on my pillow, still and quiet, sleeping next to daddy. Her, my last one. My baby of 5, and she had been wanting me.

And I know this won’t always be…

I scoop her up and walk to her room, and I pause there at the maroon chair–this chair that held me as I rocked each of my 5 babies in the wee hours … so many hours in that chair. I remember rocking for countless 2am feedings, and how we always melted away in sleep together while rocking in that chair.

I would so often awake with the next feeding almost upon us–waking in frustration that I had wasted precious sleep time by falling asleep upright. Oh how I ached for uninterrupted sleep. And in my desperate sleep-deprived state I hastily blew past the moments, because of all the arduous moments strung together without end.

And I know this won’t always be…

I hold her body close to mine. With her so relaxed and asleep, I sink into that maroon chair once more, and I rock. Such a privilege to rock tonight. Her body presses against mine and I put my cheek against her head, and I rest my head back against the chair and I remember.

I remember falling asleep here with my babies in my arms … so many times wishing for the next stage to come. Anticipating the future freedom: time to myself, uninterrupted sleep, less demands. And I remember how over the years,

I’ve yearned for the future to come and been irritated by its slowness.

I‘ve dismissed enthusiasm, playdoh fun, books presented, and bedtime routines … inconvenienced by them all.

I’ve rushed through homework, and meals, and talks, and hugs.

And I’ve  failed to savor the present …these moments here in the now, faithfully waiting for me over and over again.

And I know this won’t always be…

I feel her breaths, I hear their rhythms, I hold her tight, and this Mother’s day eve, I remember. I remember how this mama job is long, and yet how its moments are so short. I remember my firstborn, now 15, becoming a man, and standing so much taller than me.

Oh how I wish I could do many moments over. How I wish I would have slowed and captured each of them instead of rushing and racing by. And as I rock, and breathe, and hold my littlest, it is ever before me–so very clear this night … Why has it taken me so long to really absorb it?

Now … right now is what matters.

These moments that present themselves to me for the taking, day after day after day.

These moments begging me to take them captive–to gather them and use each one to build intentional connectedness, this connectedness that will be the foundation of our bonds.

I’ve SO failed. I’ve acted a fool … because the moments are so fleeting. And if I’m not careful I WILL run out of time.

I know this now: It requires intentionality to build these foundational bonds. Me bonded tightly to my children who God knit within me, because it is our bond that will endure our journey of this lifetime.

Now is the time, these moments to be captured and seared on my heart and on theirs too … united in life, living every moment to its fullest. No more room for rushing or haste.

Because I know this won’t always be…

 

In the shadow of Mother’s Day, may you slow down and enjoy the hard moments just as much as the ones that make you smile. I’m praying for you!

{I wrote these words last Mother’s Day eve after returning late from the hospital, rocking in the maroon chair and thinking long and hard about my life. And it was these reflective thoughts that began my journey toward homeschooling. This Mother’s Day so much has changed in one year and I’m so thankful for the intentional relationship we are cultivating as a family … step by step, no matter how arduous, one moment at a time.}

 

Continuing on, in the counting of One Thousand Gifts {#1431-1445} with Ann and this community, and the Joy Dare of 2012…with May’s printable.

#1431 Following the Compassion Bloggers in Tanzania

#1432 Sponsors acquired for impoverished children around the world … and prayer for more to be sponsored

#1433 A letter from our Compassion daughter, Juliana, in Ecuador, and our letters mailed to her and to Gabriela in El Salvador

#1434 Pink roses in the sunshine

#1435 The return of Pomegranate yogurt at Pinkberry

#1436 Sunshine shining through the dark clouds  and reminding me there is always light and hope beyond our current darkness

#1437 The ability to exercise, even though I loathe it

#1438 Ann’s Mother’s Day posts…the full week of them

#1439 Whimsical wispy flowers in the Starbucks planter

#1440 A clean car

#1441 Swimming with the kids

#1442 Memorizing Matthew 5 with my two children, the reviewing and the quizzing and the reciting

#1443 Breakfast in bed

#1444 Pink roses in a vase, cards with heartfelt words, lunch and dinner and laughter and fun … a Mother’s day full of joy

#1445 That I don’t have to work to earn my salvation, that it is a gift of God, and that there is nothing I can do that will make God love me any more than He already does

 

**Linking with Playdates at the Wellspring
Posted in Gratitude & Giving Thanks, Inspirational, Motherhood, One Thousand Gifts | Tagged , , , | 12 Comments

In Case You Haven’t Realized the Magnificence of a Mother’s Love {A Mother’s Day Thank You}

Posted on May 11, 2012 by Jacque

Sometimes you don’t realize the magnificence of your mother’s love until you become one. Sometimes you overlook her intentions, minimize her concerns, and disregard her approach because you think you’ve “got this”.

And I am guilty as charged.

As a daughter, I complained about the food she made, neglected her concerns, looked down upon her style, and in general, was a self-centered twenty-something who thought I had all the answers. Maybe you were too?

But everything changed when I delivered that first baby—my identity, my purpose, my plan for it all. It transformed my world in ways I never knew possible. And I suddenly found myself staring square in the face of uncertainty, more unsure than ever before that I “had this”.

And although the 20-week Bradley class made me think I was prepared, what can ever possibly prepare you for motherhood? Only someone who’s never been a mother could actually think you could be prepared.

Not only was I not prepared for the physical tasks of caring for children, I was not AT ALL prepared for the emotional feelings I would have for this new little person—this tiny baby who only a few months ago was a dream in my heart. The sheer idea that I was solely responsible for this little life shocked and overwhelmed me.

And suddenly I realized…I was THIS in her life. I was MY mother’s first baby.

I was the one who broke her in to this whole motherhood deal.

I was the one who caused her heart to be filled up with love.

Because of me, her own identity changed all those years ago when she became a mother.

Everything I was feeling for my baby, she had felt for me. And it’s like someone turned on a light bulb, and I could SEE something I’d never even thought of before. How completely clueless I had been! And maybe this is why they say it’s in your late 20’s your parents suddenly become so smart.

And now, as a mother myself, I know how deep a mother’s love is.

And Mom,

I can only imagine how hard it has been to be my mom over the years…

To have to step back and not control me at times, resisting the urge to micromanage,

To give me freedom to hold my own opinions without shutting me down … even though you could see the immaturity of my thinking along the way,

To watch me think I “had this” when you knew I was nowhere close,

To witness me make poor decisions and endure the painful consequences of my choices,

And to allow me to fail, and learn from my own mistakes—a process you knew would make the lessons stick all the more.

How ripping and tearing this motherhood identity can be. I only hope I can be all this for my children as they grow.

When it’s time to watch them flounder and find their own way,

When it’s time to watch them think they’ve “got this” but I know they SO don’t,

I’m praying for the grace to be able to selflessly stand still and wait. I want to give them the space they need, while staying near for when they’re ready—when they decide I’m suddenly smarter than they’d realized.

And so, this Mother’s Day, I say thank you Mom! I want you to know, at 41, I’m finally beginning to “get it”.

And although there’s an unspoken assurance you already know, I must tell you aloud anyway…

Thank you for your love through the years.

Thank you for inspiring me.

Thank you for your patience and belief in me.

And thank you for your assistance helping me become the mother I am.

Just Thank You. Thank you for being my Mom!

Happy Mother’s Day!

With ALL my love,

And P.S … There’s never really a stage in life where you don’t need your mother. And this Mother’s Day, if you have lost your mother or long to be a mother and your heart is aching, I want you to know I’m mindful of you and I’m praying you would feel God’s comfort, and the deepness of His embrace this Mother’s Day weekend.

Blessings to each of you, my sweet friends!

 

 

How has your mom inspired you to be a more magnificent mother?

 

 

Consider participating in the 1000 Moms Project by publicly thanking your mom on Twitter (hashtags: #1000gifts #moms), Facebook, or your own blog post, and link up with Ann here??

1000 Moms Project
 

**Linking with A Holy Experience and the 1000 Moms Project,
**Linking with The Gypsy Mama even though this post was more than 5 minutes. This week’s prompt: Identity.
Posted in Family, Motherhood | Tagged | 2 Comments

For When You Don’t Fit in and You’re Not Feeling Accepted :: Sermon on the Mount {Week 5}

Posted on May 10, 2012 by Jacque

I was never very popular growing up. I know it’s hard to believe after seeing that fantastic 1989 hair and silver metal belt in the picture above, but I can assure you it was totally “in” back then and not at all responsible for my lack of popularity. Not that I was the total nerd of the class, but let’s just say I wasn’t sought out as the prized friend everyone wanted either.

I can remember 5th grade and wanting so badly to play with “those” girls. You know, the ones who told everyone who could like who—the ones who held the power to decide if you were in or if you were out.

I remember by high school they pretty much all knew I went to church and that I wouldn’t party or drink or be allowed to stay out late. So even though I played 3 different sports, was in honors classes, was active in the music and theatre departments, and acquaintances with most everyone, I wasn’t popular.

I had a reputation, I loved Jesus and they all knew it. I had my two or three close church friends and that was it. I wasn’t popular with girls let alone boys, and looking back I suppose it’s possible that it was not because of my faith. Maybe it was more about my studious-type-A personality? Maybe I was too serious or too driven or just plain not fun enough? I really don’t know. But whichever the case, I didn’t do much socially with my highschool friends.

And I think no matter how much time passes, I still tend to think of myself as that girl who was never really “in” … the one they were friendly to, but who was mostly “out”.

And the crazy thing is, two years ago, as the unpopular, non-ASB, non-homecoming-queen-court, non-most-likely-to-succeed girl, I spearheaded the planning of our 20-year high school reunion. It was such a huge undertaking, and it ended up being a big success.

We had many alumni from our class attend, and it was really great to see everyone again. And even though 20 years had passed … even though we were older and had families and careers, inside my head I found myself remembering those I’m-not-so-popular feelings. And although being unpopular is not persecution, it can be difficult to endure.

Matthew 5:11-12 (ESV)
Blessed are you when others revile you, and persecute you, and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

 

Honestly, my unpopular woes could never be classified by the words revile and persecuted. My lack-of-a-social-life-high-school-years could never compare to what some suffer for the name of Christ around the world. I mean there are places in the world TODAY, where you can be put in prison, raped, tortured, or even killed for being a follower of Christ. Clearly I’ve never experienced risk like that, and probably neither have you.

But while I’ve been free from such extreme persecution, I have had my own I’m-safe-from-persecution-in-America experiences … times when I would have been more accepted or popular had I “gone with the flow” or not singled myself out as the exception because of my faith. And I think there are times where lines must be drawn and we have to decide to hold to our faith and not cave to feel accepted.

And I think it’s so important to teach this to our children…

For them to know that it may be hard,

For them to know ahead of time that we’re all tempted to bend and sacrifice our convictions to be accepted,

And for them to know it’s normal to want to fit in, but learn how Jesus has called us to be set apart.

Jesus says to rejoice and be glad when we feel like we don’t fit in because of Him–when others tell lies about us, say mean things, or leave us out. And the thing is, we shouldn’t be surprised and we shouldn’t feel alone. This rejection is not uncommon to followers of Christ, and our identity, value, and worth is to be found in Him alone, originating from who He says we are.

Even when we don’t seem to fit in, even if we’re mistreated or excluded because of our trust in Him … He says we are blessed even then.

So when you’re in your moments of feeling slighted or excluded, unpopular or rejected, know this truth, and let it soak in deep:

In Him we always have hope, and in Him we are already blessed!

 

 

How have you felt left out because of your faith?

How did you overcome it?

If you’re memorizing with us, how’s it going?

 

Continuing on in memorizing the Sermon on the Mount, with Ann and this community. Join us?

This week on to Matthew 5:13-14 (ESV)…

{WEEK 6}

Matthew 5:13-14 (ESV)

You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet. You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.

y a t s o t e b i s h l i t h s i s b r i i n l g f a e t b t o a t u p f y a t l o t w a c s o a h c b h

 

Other posts in this series:

~Memorizing the Sermon on the Mount

~For When You Want to Know How to Really Teach {Week 1}

~For When You Need to Quit Performing to Earn God’s Love and Blessing {Week 2}

~When You Long to be Satisfied and Supremely Happy {Week 3}

~For When Memorizing is Intimidating and Change is a Challenge {Week 4}

 

**GWHS Class of 1989 photo taken by D.J. Ellis, La Bella Vita photography
Posted in Bible Memorization, Discipleship, Faith, Inspirational, Sermon on the Mount | Tagged , , | 5 Comments

For When We Need to Slow Down Time to See the Beauty

Posted on May 7, 2012 by Jacque

I sleep with the window open because the cool breeze is irresistible. The days have been beautiful here, not too cold or too hot, and it’s been a wonderful spring to enjoy. And I’ve woken up every morning this past week to a symphony of birds singing–chirping and tweeting and talking to each other. And while they’re happy and cheery, I’m still warming up to that idea and to be honest, it makes me wonder if the window open was worth it at all.

It’s hard to leave the comfort of my bed. Everything in me wants to linger here–to roll over and forget the long list of to-do’s for the day … always so much to do. I wriggle on my workout clothes and slip on my running shoes, grabbing my phone and ear buds too. And I don’t think I’ll ever like running. And I’m sort of a runner-walker anyway, because when it’s downhill I run, but when it’s uphill I walk. After all my polar-F-6-heart-rate-monitor-watch-thingy says my heart rate stays the same even though I’m only walking up, and that’s good enough for me.

And something happens as I breathe the freshness of the morning and put my feet one in front of the other. Even though I hadn’t wanted to run, I’m alone to do nothing but run and to see. I notice the beauty around me–the paths and the trees and the roses in full bloom. All this beauty I may have missed had I not gone running–had I not paid attention.

I’m the guiltiest of all when it comes to rushing and multi-tasking. With five kids and multiple plates I spin, what I’m thinking is efficiency in reality is pure futility. I miss so much when my thoughts and efforts are constantly diversified.

It becomes a rush, rush, rush … a hurry, hurry, hurry … and I’m thinking about the next thing while I’m trying to do the now-thing. And I wonder as I’m accomplishing my tasks and checking off my boxes why I’m feeling empty and why my efforts don’t satisfy.

I may be accomplishing tasks, but am I lingering with those I love most?

Am I slowing time to make room to notice the beauty that’s right here and has been here the whole time?

Kid’s playing, flowers blooming, bulbs sprouting, friends texting, books waiting … everything waiting for me to slow down and pay attention. But I keep moving on, on to the next thing, and I’m learning unless I intervene and come to a willful halt, there will always be a next-thing.

Time moves fast and it’s ironic how much I miss when I try to control it all in an attempt to maximize the time I’m given. Life feels chaotic like I’m spinning and there won’t be an end.

I re-read Ann’s words this past week… 

Hurry is the mark of an amateur

…and I’m still there, living that amateur way. Ugh!

How many times do I tell the kids to hurry? So many times. Over and over again.

And what am I teaching them really? That we don’t have time to slow down and notice the beauty of each moment.

No time to slow down and give thanks.

No time for making room for joy.

I’m glad that half the battle is awareness, so that the change can be possible. But being aware is not enough. I have to do something. Like Ann says, I have to open my hands and open my eyes and choose to see.

This week, may you join me in slowing down time by paying attention. By refusing to rush and hurry and multi-task our way through life. Let’s take time to rest, to notice nature, make time for that lunch with a friend, make time to read that book, or try that recipe… time most of all to nurture the relationships we’ve been given.

And let’s give thanks for it all, because it’s in the gratitude we can find joy. And I SO want joy!

 

How have you been rushing lately?

What beauty might you notice if you paused to see?

 

Continuing on, in the counting of One Thousand Gifts {#1401-1415} with Ann and this community, and the Joy Dare of 2012…with May’s printable.

#1416 The smell of my pillow

#1417 Birds chirping before dawn

#1418 Traffic flowing

#1419 Flowers in the hospital parking lot

#1420 Mother-in-law teaching the kids while I’m at work

#1421 Long run in the damp morning air

#1422 Bed with warm covers and a cool breeze

#1423 Snails crawling about

#1424 Talking and sharing my story with a mentor

#1425  Quiet time for writing

#1426  Parents visiting

#1427  Son turning eight

#1428  Delicious mexican food for lunch

#1429  Discipleship meetings and sharing from our hearts

#1430 The chance to abide and bear much fruit that He may be glorified in me

 

**Linking with Playdates at the Wellspring
Posted in Faith, Gratitude & Giving Thanks, Nature, One Thousand Gifts | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

For When You Dare to Risk Enough to Be Real

Posted on May 4, 2012 by Jacque

Are you daring enough to be real?

Are you willing to tell a friend the raw truth because you believe they’ll be better because of it?

Because you can see beyond the conflict of the now?

Are you willing to risk being hurt in order to gain relationship?

Are you willing to open up?

To share your junk?

To put the care of your heart in another’s hands, because maybe, just maybe, it will be worth it?

Are you able to be real with yourself? To stop the facades of your own mind and admit what’s really happening inside?

Are you able to pause and see the truth of what someone says about you?

Are you willing to apologize when you’re wrong?

Are you willing to search out the new person in the room because you wish someone had searched you out when you were the new one?

Are you willing to share your past and where you’ve been, to help someone get through the suffering of their now, no matter the embarrassment it may bring?

Are you willing to genuinely care about another more than your own self? To look for their needs and passionately purpose to meet them?

We live in a world of superficialities and casual acquaintances. A Facebook culture where people stalk your status instead of engage in relationship.

And I just wonder, have we grown so callous to being real that we’ve forgotten how to do it at all?

Are you willing to join me, no matter how hard it is, to make every interaction a real one? To drop the facades and shed the pretenses?

To build relationship one small step at a time—with vulnerability and risk.

Today, right now, are you daring enough to really be real?

 

 

 

 When have you taken the risk to be real?

What did it cost?

How did it change your life?

 

I’m joining Lisa-Jo, over at her site today, to take five minutes and just write without worrying if it’s just right or not. The challenge is to write for 5 minutes flat with no editing, tweaking or self critiquing, with the prompt she gives. And today, her prompt:

Real…

 

*Linking with Thought Provoking Thursday

Posted in Community, Cultivating Character, Faith, Five Minute Friday, Friendship, Inspirational | Tagged , , , , , | 8 Comments

What Community Can Look Like, (in)RL

Posted on May 3, 2012 by Jacque

Every human heart longs for connection…

to be heard and understood,

to feel wanted and valued,

to learn from another and give in return,

And I know it’s true for me.

And while that longing can be met amidst intermittent interactions and online connections, there’s nothing like lingering in real life…

Nothing like taking the time to pause and sit face to face,

Nothing like sharing and laughing and learning together,

Because it gives life to our bones, and refreshment to our spirits.

Community can sometimes be hurtful, but when done in the way God has designed, it can transform our weary hearts.

And thanks to (in)courage and their God-sized dream, we experienced community last weekend, in real life!

I hosted our own in-real-life meetup…a night of fun and connection face to face, potluck-style, with taco salad and iced tea on the patio. With chatting and laughing and lingering at sunset. We slowed down to be present and feel the breeze blow in–the breeze that blew all our candles out! But the most refreshing breeze fell on our souls as we shared in community and authentic friendship.

We ate angel food cake with strawberries and taught each other about Twitter and Instagram and hashtags. We heard the story of how (in)courage was born and we spoke of how a small dream can really become a big reality.

Thank you sweet friends for an amazing evening of friendship…

 …and enormous thanks to Lisa Jo, (in)courage,  and Dayspring, for their dream realized … in real life!

You can check out the photos, Instagram pictures and posts about all the other (in)RL meet-ups all around the world! And if you missed (in)RL, you can order the DVD set or get a t-shirt anytime too!

How have you experienced community lately?

How have you been changed as a result?

 

Posted in Community, Friendship | Tagged , , , , | 10 Comments

For When Memorizing is Intimidating and Change is a Challenge :: Sermon on the Mount {Week 4}

Posted on May 2, 2012 by Jacque

I have always been intimidated by scripture memory. For whatever reason it seemed too difficult to accomplish–too lofty a goal. Don’t get me wrong, I could memorize a verse here or there, and growing up, I did. But as far as large passages, forget it! I had just never really tried.

But there is something to be said for growth in a group–radical change in community.

I joined a 6-week discipleship group two summers ago as part of women’s ministry leadership training, and part of the challenge was to memorize scripture–big passages of scripture. And I won’t lie, I was resistant, mostly because I didn’t think I could do it. But several of my close friends were in the group, and I wanted to stay in leadership, so I didn’t quit. And slowly I did it, I began to memorize.

I carried my prompt cards with me everywhere, had the kids quiz me in the car, and reviewed the verses in my head over and over. In fact I was so preoccupied with learning my verses for the week and establishing the habit of reading my Bible and journaling, I had little time for anything else peripheral, and found myself meditating continuously, and in the process, memorizing.

And ever since, I’ve been passionate about scripture memory. Primarily because it is the tool by which my mind meditates and digests scripture. It’s the way God’s Word can always be with me–hidden deep in my heart. And it is the mode by which the Holy Spirit can encourage me, and use me to encourage others.

And so this is the end of week 4, memorizing the sermon on the mount … as inspired by Ann Voskamp, and supported by a Facebook group full of local friends.

Change is most successful if it is radical, in the context of community.

And I’m loving the transformation the change is providing.

This week, a video from me to you: my recitation of Matthew 5:1-10 (ESV). I’m linking up with Ann, to recite my memory work so far, and to share with you a little bit of my world.


And this week on to Matthew 5:11-12 (ESV)…

{WEEK 5}
Matthew 5:11-12 (ESV)
Blessed are you when others revile you, and persecute you, and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
 
b a y w o r y a p y a u a k o e a y f o m a r a b g f y r i g i h f s t p t p w w b y

 

May your week be blessed as  you spend time letting God’s wonderful love letter soak deep into your heart. We’re in this together!

Have you found scripture memory intimidating?

Is change, in general, a challenge for you too?

How have you overcome?

 

Other posts in this series:

~Memorizing the Sermon on the Mount

~For When You Want to Know How to Really Teach {Week 1}

~For When You Need to Quit Performing to Earn God’s Love and Blessing {Week 2}

~When You Long to be Satisfied and Supremely Happy {Week 3}

 

**For additional help, ideas, and tools for memorizing, visit A Holy Experience to learn more…

Also linking to Women Living Well and Do Not Depart
Posted in Bible Memorization, Faith, Inspirational, Sermon on the Mount | Tagged , | 8 Comments

When You’re in Need of a Book to Change Your Life

Posted on April 30, 2012 by Jacque

I want to write a book someday. And if there’s one thing I know about becoming an author, whatever I write needs to matter—it needs to be capable of changing a life.

And there are many books that have done that for me–books that left me changed. Books that have a message that stays with me long after I have read the last page. I have become better because of them, and that’s why they matter.

And while there are many books that have been helpful to me, I wanted to share with you just 5 of the books that have changed my life in the past few years. And it’s my hope that at least one of them could change yours too!

5 Books that Changed my Life

Found: God’s Will, by John MacArthur, is a short book that packs a punch. He answers the question almost every Christian asks: How can I know God’s will? And while the answer to this question eluded me for the majority of my Christian life, John’s words brought clarity to my mind, and relief to my heart. If you long to know how to find God’s will, this book is a must read, and I think you will find your life practically changed because of it.

One Thousand Gifts, by Ann Voskamp is a book I will read over and over again because the power of its message has transformed me, and I never want to forget. Ann dares me to notice the gifts in my life–to search for what I can be thankful for. She inspires me to write them down, to count them, and to give thanks for them in the midst my daily moments–those moments where the messes of my life challenge my willingness to give thanks. As I have read her poignant and transparent words, my perspective has shifted, and I am endeavoring to live life practicing the discipline of gratitude in every moment, even amidst suffering.

Love and Respect, by Emerson Eggerichs is absolutely the most practical book on marriage I’ve ever read! We use the strategies of this book every day in our marriage to break the crazy cycle of misunderstanding and communication differences. Wow! If you are married, I must say, you HAVE to read this book. It will change your marriage, I promise!

Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child, by Dr. Marc Weissbluth, is the best book on children’s sleep I have ever found, and as a mom of 5, I have lived the moments where I was desperate for my kids to sleep. Unfortunately, I didn’t discover this book until after my 5th child was born, but I have still learned and benefitted so much from it. Dr. Weissbluth, is a pediatrician who conducts sleep research, and this book is a very practical resource for parents: I learned that sleep-wake cycles are separate from hunger cycles, that daytime sleep is different from nighttime sleep, and how essential sleep is for the healthy growth, development, and maintenance of our bodies. If you have children of any age, you will learn so much from this book, and use it as a resource that is just so practical!

Love & Logic, by Cline & Fay presents strategies for training and disciplining children. And after reading numerous books on parenting, these are my absolute favorites! They’ve written a general book, and also one that is specifically for parents of adolescents.  In a very practical, down-to-earth way, they explain how to provide natural consequences so children are motivated to independently choose what is right. They also call us out on our “hovering” parental ways, and instead, empower us to teach children the reality of their own decisions. I use these concepts daily, and wish I would have read these books years ago!

 

What book are you currently reading?

Which book has changed your life? How?

 

 

Continuing on, in the counting of One Thousand Gifts {#1401-1415} with Ann and this community, and the Joy Dare of 2012…with April’s printable.

#1401 Uninterrupted sleep night after night

#1402 Swim lessons and watching them learn

#1403 Oldest and his friends “breaking-in” our pool

#1404 The littlest wanting to wear a dress and her hair in a bun and all the opinions of her 4-year-old personality

#1405 The ‘My Fitness Pal’ app, and how it scans labels too!

#1406 My sincere and much needed apology, and for the grace I received

#1407 A very sweet and very special surrogate delivery…and the privilege to be present to witness it

#1408 Podcasts from Michael Hyatt and The Simple Mom, keeping me company on my drive to work

#1409 (in)RL meetup with the food, flowers, laughter and being present in real community…such a gift

#1410 Twitter and connections it brings

#1411 Amazing worship and prayer service

#1412 Runs in the sunshine with my sweet husband

#1413 Flowers from a friend

#1414 Joining Instagram and learning to take pics

#1415 God’s GREAT love for us, even when we disappoint…and the way He chooses to use us anyway

 

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Posted in Book Recommendations, Faith, Gratitude & Giving Thanks, Marriage, Motherhood, One Thousand Gifts | Tagged , , , , , | 24 Comments