Intentional Living

If there is a way to do life at its fullest measure, I would want us to know how. We don’t default on peace, or joy. We don’t casually claim adventure or love really really well without some intentionality. Unlike a reed that blows around when the wind tosses, we would want firmly planted, storm-enduring, lives lived on purpose. How do we keep first things first? How do we feed vision and nourish what’s beautiful so that our lives line up with our hearts? Let’s get strategic. Let’s identify the better way, and collectively agree to intentionally claim it.
Tetelestai

Tetelestai

With one word, he declared the gospel, comforted our restless hearts, and silenced the threat of death. With one word he defeated our fears of inadequacy, of never being enough, of hopelessness and of eternal separation. He ushered in life and offered freedom. As he was dying, he knew exactly what he was doing and exactly what he was saying.

Here I Am

Here I Am

Sometimes I wonder if in our deep desire to live a life of purpose and depth and meaning, we complicate obedience. What if we sat quietly before the Lord and whispered, “Here I am.” Willing availability. Unwavering trust in a God who prepares us and positions us to step into assignment with feet fitted with the readiness of the gospel of peace.

Loved and Lovely

Loved and Lovely

It’s a truth I hope to cultivate in my daughter as she grows into a woman who will eventually be prompted to evaluate what she sees. She will eventually order her loves in such a way that what she believes is lovely will be the backdrop to the way she evaluates beauty.

A Little Closer…

A Little Closer…

As children of the King, we were made for what is coming. We sure don’t have to celebrate when our hip starts hurting after a run, or our smile lines get deeper… but we can reframe it. We can shape our response with the truth that we are a little closer to the forevers we are promised with the One who loves us deepest.

Sharpeners

Sharpeners

Sharpeners are to be treasured, because not everyone will linger long enough to see your life, observe the beauty and recognize the vulnerabilities and gaps, and ALSO be willing to show them to you.

My Thoughts On IF:Gathering 2022

My Thoughts On IF:Gathering 2022

I just got back from Dallas about a week ago. I had planned to attend the IF conference, and my 7 husband decided it was a perfect opportunity to escape the grind of our normal routines, and take winter break in the middle of nowhere — also known as Point, TX. It was gloriously still. Beautifully quiet. Except for the coyotes… they were loud. But the point is that going into this conference my heart was rested, stilled, and ready to listen.

Transmission Troubles and Remembering

Transmission Troubles and Remembering

It’s Ash Wednesday, and there’s a whole lot of formal “remembering” happening right now. Takes me back to a moment last summer when God, in his good timing, prompted me to remember. We joke a lot about my husband’s “seven-ness” that seeps out of him on vacation. It...

Multum Non Multa and Moms

Multum Non Multa and Moms

Before I took a break from blogging a few years ago, I announced that I would be taking the summer off of public writing to embrace “Festina Lente,” (Latin for “make haste slowly”).  My plan was to strategize the next season of writing, because I love it here. And...

Little Stacks of Hope

Little Stacks of Hope

When you build little stacks of hope for yourself, or as reminders of God’s grace to be lent hope, lent strength to those around you; we are stirred toward love and good deeds. Let’s whisper reminders of God’s faithfulness. Evidence of his grace. And carry on towards a summit.

Testify

Testify

What story is your life telling? When people get around you, what message are they leaving with? This summer we wrapped up a trip to Utah. Hiking (along with the rest of the world during a pandemic) has become one of our favorite things to do. And while there is some...

This Changes Everything

This Changes Everything

“When you forget eternity, you tend to lose sight of what’s important.  When you lose sight of what’s truly important, you live for what is temporary, and your heart seeks for satisfaction where it cannot be found.” — Paul Tripp If you could fill in the blank:...

Purpose over Petty

Purpose over Petty

One of the bazillion reasons I am falling in love with the practice of fixing my eyes on the eternal is because it is full of purpose.  FULL of purpose.  And aren’t our hearts burning for purpose?  Rich and satisfying purpose.  Purpose that can be found in pain, in...

The Eternal

The Eternal

I’m enamored with the idea of appreciating eternal things.  Eternal.  It’s attractive because the word itself is just radiating purpose and depth.   It’s powerful because it matters -- and ultimately impacts our incentives.  It’s a breath of life to the most mundane...

So That…

So That…

If you really want to keep your finger on the pulse of your incentives to pray, simply answer the question: “so that…”  what?  If you receive what you ask for, what happens?  What is the “root motivator” behind the words you utter before the God you acknowledge in the...

People Change

People Change

People change.  Whenever I hear someone utter the phrase “people don’t change, not really,” I can’t help but cringe a little.  Because you guys, we do.  It just seems to hopeless, so cynical to think we can’t evolve.  Doesn’t it?  Let’s have some reverence for free...

Leaving a Legacy

Leaving a Legacy

The story you are a part of does not start and end with your birth and death; rather, you are part of a series of life impacts.  Your decisions, priorities, values; your efforts — they go way beyond your own life.  Your value as an individual is tremendous, but your...

Do vs. Done

Do vs. Done

One of the most significant distinctions in the Christian faith is the “do versus done,” concept.  To me, it’s also one of the most love-saturated truths. Yesterday, the boys and I came home to find our carbon monoxide alarms going off in the house.   Awesome.  The...

Two Whispers, Two Results

Two Whispers, Two Results

How many times do you laugh about a season of life that you are SO glad is over?!  Like dating, your first job, junior high, the years you spent finding yourself.  Usually you can spend hours with old friends laughing and reminiscing until the tears are freely falling...

2 Kinds of Treasure

2 Kinds of Treasure

I posted recently about how alas, the coveted asset of control belongs to basically no one.  But… yes, thank God there is a “but;” there are a handful of precious things we DO control.  There are some obvious controllables related to our intentionality in life; but...

Quotes

Quotes

This post is very different from my others.  Mostly because it has the opportunity to develop with time.  You already know how I feel about words.  They are powerful.  And in our lives we get a slew of them (some by choice, some a natural byproduct of life) which...

Forte Transition – Melissa’s Story

Forte Transition – Melissa’s Story

We are deeply mistaken if we believe living in our “forte,” never evolves or transitions.  As my insightful friend, Melissa (who’s story we are about to unwrap) pointed out to me, even Jesus faced a life with sharp transition.  It’s interesting to me that the One who...

Forte Development: The Crescendo

Forte Development: The Crescendo

I believe that living in your forte is one of the most satisfying places you can be.  Never is hard work more personally satisfying and generally it’s the place where you would willingly pull from your reserve energy tank.  But we don’t typically wake up one day...

Living in Your Forte

Living in Your Forte

We were made for big stuff.  Eternal stuff.  Each of us were built with a place in our hearts where there is a quiet stirring wrestling within; something that twists and turns and squirms inside the chambers of our hearts that groans to be acknowledged and let loose. ...

Discontent

Discontent

Discontent is a push that drives us into our forte.  It begs that we act.  It is a violent stirring in your soul that speaks as a megaphone to alert you of a deep need to pay attention - you were created to do something about this.  When I really need my boys to...

Living Intentionally and Choreographed Chaos

Living Intentionally and Choreographed Chaos

If you want to see what choreographed chaos looks like, walk into the back room of a Bath and Body Works on Black Friday.  It’s terrifying and beautiful at the same time.  Black Friday to a consumer is like a full moon to a werewolf.  The people you normally regard as...

Pool of Truth

Pool of Truth

What is your heart bathing in? From what source are you immersing your mind? We all soak something up to restore ourselves amidst the pollutants of the heart we are assaulted by, and we are wise to consider the source. What is breathing life (or something else) into...

Life at Its Fullest Measure

Life at Its Fullest Measure

I think the most devastating reality we could face would be that we missed out on the great mission and purpose and full life that God has in mind for us; that we would sacrifice the eternal for the moment, and that we would be content with the substitution over the real thing.

Unseen and Eternal

Unseen and Eternal

I believe an eternal perspective changes everything.  We all have to make a decision about what we believe about eternity.  And about what we believe is eternal.  It impacts the way we work, the way we play, the way we parent, protect, apply boundaries, engage with people, the way we love.  It alters the way we experience relationships, consider poverty, and perceive wealth. It dictates our goals, our mission in life, our visions for the future and our hopes.  It changes our priorities.  It guides our way of thinking in EVERYTHING we do. 

Join the Email List

When there’s something new, you’ll be first to know