New Perspective…Part Two.

(See part one here…)

Yesterday, as I was talking with a dear friend about her potential job opportunities (very prestigious and impressive jobs for which she is perfectly suited), all of the above-mentioned things started to run through my head. As I listened to her speak, I realized that I, too, long to be admired for what I can do–for my God-given gifts and abilities, for what I worked so hard to accomplish in college/post-college. I long to be known as someone who “did something” with her life, whatever that even means. I, too, tend to put my value and self-worth in my career, in how people view me, and what I’ve done, which explains so much about why I have felt so miserable in recent jobs. That hasn’t changed since 2001.

But you know what has changed? In the past year, my desire to be a mother (a stay-at-home one, at that) has increased exponentially (considering that I never saw myself doing that, it wasn’t hard for it to increase drastically). I have come to realize that raising children to love Jesus and to be productive members of society is the greatest possible career that I could ever have. What a stark contrast to how I felt even one year ago.

And last night, it became very clear that God has used the circumstances of the past few years to prepare me for being a mom (No, this is not a pregnancy announcement ). From what I hear, being a mother is often a “thankless” job as you continuously and often sacrificially serve your children. Someday, they might recognize the amazing job you did to prepare them for life and to take care of them, but humans are naturally born selfish. They aren’t going to say “thanks, mom, for changing my diaper so that I don’t get diaper rash” or “thanks, mom, for staying up all night with me when I was sick”…that’s just how it goes. They don’t care how accomplished you are and they certainly aren’t going to marvel over your talents. Being a mother is going to require humility, sacrifice, unconditional love, and lots of grace…and I know now that I am much better equipped for motherhood because of the circumstances of the past few years.

Much of the past twelve years makes so much sense now. I was in desperate need of humility, and God brought circumstances into my life to teach me how to be humble. I wish I had been a faster learner! Haha. Not that I’m completely humble–definitely not. But, given where I was in 2001, I have come a long way and my perspective has completely changed. I was so unaware of the grip that pride was holding on my life!

I now view the word “rewarding” completely differently. It no longer means being recognized and praised–it means offering recognition and praise expecting nothing in return, all for the benefit of others.

So, now I have something new to embrace, and something hard with which to grapple. God doesn’t want me to be “famous”–He wants me to make disciples, including my own future children.

I need to remind myself constantly that it doesn’t matter what the world thinks of me, and it doesn’t matter if they notice how “awesome” I might happen to be…

What matters is that I live my life according to the Gospel, and that I share it with others at every opportunity.

What matters is that I find ways to use my God-given gifts and talents to further the Kingdom of God, especially within my own household, without doing it selfishly or for recognition.

What matters are the eternal things, not the temporal.

What matters is that my value and self-worth come from God alone and not from anything that I have done or will do.

Book Review: “Everything” by Mary DeMuth

I’ve been trying to figure out how to put my reaction to this book into words. This is not a book that you rush through, and it’s not one to take lightly. And it’s taking me awhile to fully process and absorb it because the author is SO right.

“Everything” is a very honest look at what it really requires to become like Jesus. Mary DeMuth speaks from her own experiences and the hard lessons that she learned along the way, and I felt like her words were written just for me. She deals with so many issues that I myself struggle with (i.e. the chapter on wanting to be in complete control of everything. Yep–that’s me) and she writes with such genuine care and grace while also offering real solutions/guidance for prayer. I truly learned something from this book–many somethings, actually. And I need to re-read this over and over again.

If you feel like you’re not where you want to be in your walk with Jesus, pick up this book. If you think you’re exactly where you need to be, pick up this book. There is something for every Christian in here. We are called to live our lives in complete abandon for Jesus, and this book will serve as a great guide along the way.

I received a copy of this book from booksneeze.com in exchange for my honest review.

Book Review: “The Girl’s Still Got It”

Engaging. Relevant. Thought-provoking. Entertaining. All of these words (and many more) describe this book so well! Liz Curtis Higgs has written yet another insightful and well-researched Bible study that is bound to become well-loved.

“The Girl’s Still Got It” is a verse-by-verse study on the book of Ruth, and it is definitely one-of-a-kind. The author’s style and tone make it such an enjoyable read while still challenging you with the truth the book contains. By tacking each verse and discussing context (historical and cultural), the book of Ruth comes alive as well as the characters within the book! I was challenged in many ways as I read this book, and I am still thinking about many of the lessons that can be learned by watching the life of Ruth and her amazing character.

The author also includes a study guide and discussion questions both for personal and group use.

I have read Ruth many times in my life, and yet this book showed me things I had never even thought of before. Liz Curtis Higgs has such an amazing way of making these ancient stories incredibly relevant to my life in the 21st century. I definitely recommend this book!

I received a free copy of this book from Waterbrook Multnomah in exchange for my honest review.

Book Review: “Beyond Ordinary” by Justin & Trisha Davis

Would you consider your marriage to be ordinary or extraordinary? More importantly, which of those options would you desire for your marriage? I think without a doubt that every married person would say “extraordinary”, and I think that we all start out with those dreams and intentions. Yet, as the years go by, we don’t realize how easy it is to slip into “ordinary” — and that’s where most marriage problems begin.

Justin and Trisha Davis have been there, done that, and they’ve decided to NEVER allow their marriage to be ordinary again. In fact, they’ve dedicated their lives to helping couples move from ordinary to extraordinary. Their new book, “Beyond Ordinary” is an amazingly honest look at what it takes to have an extraordinary marriage. It takes hard work, but that work is well worth the investment.

I love that they wrote it in a unique “he said, she said” style so that you hear both sides of the story clearly. What I loved even more was their brutal honesty and their willingness to talk about the tough issues so candidly.

This is a book from which all Christian married couples can benefit greatly. Though I’m only two years into this journey called marriage, I benefited so much from their stories and examples of how easy it is to slip into ordinary, which can lead to the destruction of a marriage. Take the time to invest in the most important relationship of your life!

To read more about their ministry, click here.

To see a great video about this book, click here.

I received a copy of this book from Tyndale House in exchange for my honest review.

 

 

 

 

House Projects…

Here are the two biggest transformations thus far:

 

Master bedroom:

Basement:

We’re enjoying every step of the way and we’re learning SO much as we tackle these projects ourselves (with tons of help)!

We Bought A House!

As many of you know, Brennan and I are now homeowners. After renting small apartments (less than 600 sq. ft) for the first two years of our marriage (in an effort to live frugally and eliminate our debt), we are now the owners of an 1,800 sq. ft house! It isn’t a perfect house — it does need some “love” in a few areas–but it is perfect for us and for our future family.

During our home inspection, the inspector continually smiled at us as we expressed our gratitude for the things the house offers that we have missed and appreciate so much…things like:

• a dishwasher
• a laundry room (no more laundromats!)
• central air conditioning/heat with a thermostat
• the ability to buy a refrigerator with an ice maker
• our own backyard and deck
• ceiling fans in every room!
• bigger closets than we’ve had thus far in our marriage

It’s truly the little things in life that are worth celebrating.

It doesn’t take much to make us happy because our contentment isn’t found in “stuff”–it is found in immaterial things. We don’t need a brand new house that is perfect from the beginning–all we need is a place to call our own and to make our own. God has blessed us with a house that was a tremendous deal (worth far more than what we paid for it), and it’s one that we can easily afford (only slightly more than our rent now) on just Brennan’s income. We are so blessed and so excited to transform this house into our home!

Thirty…

It doesn’t feel possible that I’ve already lived for thirty years on this earth…but at 1:36pm PST today that will be true.

Thirty sounds “old” (and IS old to our MHS boys, haha), but I know that it really isn’t. For some reason, this feels like more of a milestone than 20 was, though…

Of course, there are advantages to turning thirty: I can now be a U.S. Senator.

It just doesn’t seem possible that it’s been 11.5 years since high school graduation, 7.5 years since college graduation, and 4.5 years since I moved to Pennsylvania.

Life truly is an adventure! I feel like I have experienced so much during these first thirty years, and I really don’t have any regrets. To name a few of my favorite parts…

• I have a relationship with Jesus!
• I have the world’s best family, I’m convinced I love them dearly and am so blessed.
• I am married to the most wonderful, loving, generous man.
• We now own a home together where we will raise our family in the future.
• Our only remaining debts are student loans and a mortgage. MAJOR accomplishment.
• I have been blessed with rich, vibrant, authentic friendships.
• I have had the privilege of traveling to six countries, three continents, and thirty-four states.
• I am continually growing in my music and photography skills, and I LOVE to use both talents.
• I have a bachelor’s degree in Political Science and History. I may not use the degree, but I am thankful for it.

The only goals that I really have thus far for this decade are to see the remaining 16 states, be healthier than ever before, and to continue to grow in my marriage and in my relationship with Jesus.

I truly cannot wait to see what the next thirty years hold as I continue living the life with which God has blessed me.

Book Review: “Unstoppable” by Nick Vujicic

 

Nick Vujicic was born with no arms and no legs. Talk about an obstacle, and an excuse for pity! Yet, Nick has lived a full, exciting and adventurous life because of (not despite of) the way that he was created. “Unstoppable” is about the lessons that Nick has learned throughout his life about actively living out our faith in Jesus Christ. He writes with transparency, allowing the reader to see the true Nick as he describes his thoughts and emotions during specific experiences in his life.

I really loved reading about how God brought him and his wife together. I loved hearing about how God has used him in the lives of so many people with physical disabilities, all because Nick is willing to go wherever God leads him to go. Each story is filled with such love and grace.

My reaction as I read this book can be summed up in one word: Wow. Nick Vujicic is an incredible, inspiring man. The obstacles he has faced throughout his life are astounding and humbling at the same time, because I complain about far lesser obstacles than he faces on a daily basis. I really want to read his first book now so that I can learn even more about his life story! This is well worth the read.

I received a copy of this book from Waterbrook Multnomah in exchange for my honest review.

Book Review: “Grace” by Max Lucado

I never cease to be amazed at God’s perfect timing. In the past couple of weeks, I have realized (with God’s gentle nudging) that I have not been generous in offering grace to others in a few specific situations in my life. I have been quick to be critical, I have been self-righteous at times, and I have been slow to forgive. And then this book arrives in my mailbox…coincidence? 

“Grace” helps us explore the deeper meaning of the word as well as its application in so many areas of life: forgiveness (which is what I needed to read the most), humility, love, and many others. 

This is yet another book in which I have underlined quote after quote.

Grace is not blind. It sees the hurt full well. But grace chooses to see God’s forgiveness even more…Where grace is lacking, bitterness abounds. Where grace abounds, forgiveness grows (pg. 61).

 

There is something in you that God loves. Not just appreciates or approves, but loves. You cause His eyes to widen, his heart to beat faster. He loves you. And He accepts you (pg. 118).

 

Rather than conjure up reasons to feel good about yourself, trust God’s verdict. If God loves you, you must be worth loving (pg. 121).

Max uses Scripture and personal testimonies from people (including himself) to provide a compelling and powerful book on an incredible gift. It is so easy to believe the enemy’s lies that we are worthless, unloved, failures, and incapable of offering grace. But God’s Word says otherwise and Max Lucado leads the reader through Scripture to show exactly how God sees us.

Max Lucado has yet again written a masterpiece…he is able to take difficult topics and break them down into tangible, meaningful explanations. Grace is something that people can wrestle with for years before fully grasping its power; this book can help. With his honesty, wisdom, and wit he is able to assist the reader with fully embracing the grace that God so freely and abundantly offers to us. 

God definitely used this book to soften my heart, and I know that it is one I will refer to over and over again. I can’t wait to do the Bible study at the end (12 weeks) to help me dig even deeper into the knowledge of God’s amazing grace. 

 

I received a free copy of this book from Booksneeze.com and the opinions expressed are my own.

Book Review: Bold as Love

“Bold as Love” is a refreshing antidote to our society’s ”political correctness” and the constant worrying about offending people–which causes us to never talk to people who are “different” from us in any way lest we say the wrong thing. It is also right in line with missional living and with the example Jesus gave us for how to do missions. Pastor Bob Roberts teaches his readers how to reach out and form genuine friendships with Jews, Muslims, or any other people group, and gives encouraging stories about how his own church started doing this. 

Living in the United States we truly have the world at our fingertips. Migration has brought people from nearly every country on earth to the U.S. and they are our neighbors, co-workers, friends. But, this migration often creates fear because of misconceptions of those who are different from us. We are taken out of our comfort zone and we all too often opt to return to “safety” rather than engage someone from another culture.  

While there are so many quotes that I want to share, I will use just one:

We want security; God wants exposure so that he’s glorified. We want ready-made plans for every challenge; God requires faith and trust to follow him. We want faith without risk and ministry without pain. But what we’ll find is that the most difficult times of life are often the most fruitful times (page 52).

We are here to glorify God and to make Him known…so what are we afraid of?

I have had the privilege of being on the “launch team” for this book, which enabled me to participate in a live chat with the author and the other team members…and I am so thankful for this opportunity! It was so amazing to see that there are so many like-minded Christians out there who are ready to change the status quo. This book is one that I am SO excited about because it falls in line with the passions God has given me and with the Great Commission that He has given to each of us as believers!

Truly, this is a MUST-READ especially for pastors, missionaries, church planters…but this book truly can benefit anyone of any culture/religion as the principles apply cross-culturally. If you are ready to be used by God in a new, fresh, and exciting way, then pick up this book. Being uncomfortable is an exciting way to live

This book is available starting 12.04.2012 but you can pre-order it on Amazon.

(You can read more from Pastor Roberts on his blog)

I received a free copy of this book from Thomas Nelson/Handlebar Marketing in exchange for my honest review.