pray through it.

I love this man. I love this journey that we are on. It is definitely one that needs faith in Jesus to get through each day. But that's the fun part of giving up every little detail to the Lord. Thats the fun part of giving up every BIG detail too.

I truly believe that nothing I do is more profitable than praying scripture over my husband. Guess what. Today, is the first time I have really sat here and spent time doing it. The Lord led me to 1Timothy 3:1-7. I sat here and prayed over each attribute and prayed that it would penetrate my husbands convictions, character, and competencies.

We know that God's Word (the Bible) is Truth. Praying that our lives reflect the Truth is a way that we can be involved in our sanctification (becoming more like Jesus) process.

Thank you Jesus for allowing us to come before you, to ask for specific things, and to allow you to work and answer me with a yes, no, or later.

Leap.

Happy Beautiful WEATHER!

Sun and 65 degrees today, I think YES.

I don't think I've mentioned here yet how different my husband and I are. If you know us, you know this is true. He is extremely outgoing, loud, energetic, tall, happy-go-lucky optimistic, and adventurous. I am more on the I-like-to-be-alone, quiet, tired, realistic, and homebody type. The Lord definitely had a plan when he put us together. My husband also plays the guitar (I know I've mentioned that) and shockingly enough, I used to sing in my junior high and high school's choir. I loved it. But I never tried out for a solo. Singing in the choir was enough. And that's where it stopped.

Last week though, my handsome man, challenged me to sing with him at our Community Group. I said yes. Without thinking. I usually sit next to him anyway (he tells me that it helps him stay on tune when we sing together) but this is different! It was a definite leap in my faith. It turned out well and people jokingly are saying we need a name for our "band". We did it again last night and I really enjoy it. Just one tiny glimpse about why all those characteristics that he embodies might be a tad bit worth striving after.

Another recent news item, our friend Jon is heading over to the Middle East on a summer project with Campus Crusade for Christ. If you know anything about the Knights, you probably know that Crusade holds a very special place in our hearts.

-Chris and I were both discipled by AMAZING Crusade staffers

-Chris and I both went on summer projects (totaling 4 together!)

-Chris and I met through Crusade

-Chris and I's best friends were made through Crusade

on.and on. this could go.

Anyway, the point is not us. Jon is having extreme faith and has heard the call from the Lord and is obeying. Thank you Jesus that Jon is taking a huge leap and listening to you.

When you go on a summer project (short term mission trip), you raise your funds, similar to when the disciples would be backed and funded by the local church to go spread the gospel in other regions. It is amazing and the Lord uses it for his glory. How can you help you ask? Why yes, I would be ecstatic to answer that little question!

Go here. & help send Jon to the Middle East to share the gospel (literally - $5,$10,$20 seem small, but if that is what you have available then use it! Of course you could also do larger sums like $50,$75,$100)

This reminded me of him this morning as I was reading the Word.

1Thes 1:2-5
We give thanks to God always for all of you, constantly mentioning you in our prayers, remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you, because our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction.

Discipleship

For further training on discipleship, a group of women that I am a part of, read The Trellis and the Vine over the last month. We are continuing to read, digest, and think about what it all means and how to apply it specifically to our own lives.

The book is phenomenal. It is all about the great commission when Jesus says,

"Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey all that I have commanded you to."

He has commanded us to make disciples, so in essence, we are disciples making disciples who go and make disciples. It is an ongoing process.

Thankfully, we are never done growing toward Jesus until we are with him. We all have so much to learn, understand, and be sanctified in. Discipleship can look like many things.

-Getting coffee with a girlfriend, laughing, and digging deep into each others lives

-Have a conversation with a stranger in a coffee shop about who Jesus is

-Truth being spoken by a mentor about sin that she sees in your life

-Playing with your kids & helping them see that the Lord has blessed you with the toys that they have

-Praying with your husband before bed

-Listening to a training about reading your bible and then using what you learned in your quiet time

-Having an accountability person in your life to talk through hard sin and issues

It is SO freeing to think about discipleship this way. Especially for those of us who had an amazing experience with one on one weekly discipleship for so long. I was so blessed in college with this that by the time I was out on my own, I was unsure of what this looked like.

Once again, I am thankful for his grace. Grace that pours out over our expectations. Grace that enables us to serve, love, and be a witness to his gospel. Grace that gives us freedom in doing things differently.

Pray,

-Where do you need to establish discipleship in your life?

-Where am I already experiencing discipleship?

-How can I make disciples who then in turn are making disciples of Christ?

Because of him,

On another note, you really should check out this giveaway!

http://blog.beautiful-journey.com/2011/04/anthropologie-giveaway/

We are.

-safely home (THANK YOU for your prayers!)
-ready for a good nights rest
-eating mac and cheese for dinner because our ricotta & spinach pasta had mold on it (that's what you get for leaving for a week!)
-listening to our heater chuggin along who's airplane-esque noise used to bother me and now the sound is quite familiar & homey after three flights today
-excited for our Disneyland trip after seeing so many families coming home from the Happiest Place on Earth dressed in head to toe Mickey garb
-already missing the familiar sounds of Selah Gracie saying, "Oh MY goodness," and laughter during the fun time after the kids were in bed
-loving the fresh smell of good 'ol rainy Seattle
-happy that we got to fly over Yosemite & the Space Needle all in one day
-looking forward to snuggling in our bed tonight - yes we sleep in a full so this really was a vacation with the large queen size bed.

& with that, CK will be home soon from the store with a few groceries. We are going to snuggle up, eat mac and cheese, and go to bed by 9:15. Can't wait to fill you in on our wonderful vacation!

Good Knight!

Say a little prayer

FOR ME!

We are jetting off in about 8 hours to the sunny state of California.

I covet your prayers for -
~a safe flight
~peace & no anxiety
~a sleeeepy baby
~a calm baby
~reliance on the LORD.

I am beyond excited to get away. It will be SUCH a nice break from the normalcy of life. But I do get a little too wrapped up in the travel & I would rather not focus on that. Thank you in advance for your prayers.

Aaaand... hopefully I will be updating this while I am away!

The Joy that You Bring

Honestly, this morning I am torn. Torn between collapsing under the weight of weeks of sickness and exhaustion and turning from that and rejoicing in the Lord and the things he has done. I know what I need to do. But it's not that simple. I have a list of wants in my head that I can't stop thinking about.
-My husband back to normal/cooking us breakfast on days off/helping with chores/kissing me when he walks in the door
-My baby to give me back the 8hours of sleep that I was getting/not being sick
-Energy & the desire to go out and run
I prayed a short prayer this morning after having been up with Siena two times in the night and with Chris for about an hour. Lord, please help me yield to your Spirit. I do not want to have ugliness, pride, selfishness, and greed flow from my heart. I want patience, love, joy, and peace to flow from you into my life. I got out of bed shortly after that to get a shower in - which is a luxury that isn't happening as much when I am taking care of other people constantly. I know. Gross. But other things have been going ahead of my personal hygiene. What I realized was the Lord ordains everything. Even the fact that I am reading this book. When my mom gave it to me - it was not intended for me. Everything was going right & everything had been easy for a few weeks. Everyone was healthy. Siena was sleeping through the night. I had a schedule. I could make Chris breakfast again, make his coffee, and send him out the door with a lunch in his bag. All after having a quiet time & spending time on my blog. Wow. Those were some happy go lucky weeks. What I realize now, is that the Lord knew that those weren't going to last forever. He knew that a time of testing of faith and trial was about to begin. So he gave me this book for a specific reason - that turned out to be completely different than what I had intended. What a sweet sweet Savior we have. Lately I have been a part of a few conversations where we talk about trials and hardship. We have all agreed that those times and seasons in our lives are the ones that the Lord brings greater growth and sanctification. They are not fun. They are not easy. But the have a greater purpose. Now I just need to remind myself of that daily. Day 5 was about God's creation. I'll be honest. While reading this... I was not in the mindset of seeing beauty in God's creation. I was in the mindset of hurry and get your quiet time done before you need to get Siena up and fed. But what she said is so true. Look around. Look at the leaves on the tree, the rain coming down out of the clouds, the high mountain capped with snow. They are so beautiful and they show God's presence. Romans 1 says that everyone is without excuse when it comes to seeing and understanding him. He reveals himself through his creation. I love times of getting out of the city and into the country, hills, and mountains. It brings you back to simplicity and the sweetness of the outdoors, his presence is everywhere. But, this doesn't happen easily for everyone. Where have you neglected seeing God in his creation?

JOB Day 5- Consider the gift in creation that you most notice God and write down your gratitude for that gift


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**If you desire to cultivate a heart of thankfulness & are willing to try it for 31 days (give or take - there is always grace here) - post a comment during any of my blogs that relate to thankfulness.
I will send you a gift at the end to show my thankfulness for you. If you are curious what the JOB is read my post here.

prayer&thankfulness

The truth is... I have had some frustrating thoughts today. I know what some of you will say if you read this, duh megan you're a new mom, i feel the same way, get a clue megan that's how life is now that you have a baby. But hear me out. I'm going through this for the first time & I am learning from the Lord and being sanctified by the Holy Spirit. Yesterday, my truly amazing husband had the day off. Hallelujah! He had the job of putting our sweet little one to bed as I had a meeting at our house. He shushed her and bounced her and she slept for three hours. He banged dishes, vacuumed, and put away clothes in our room. She then slept again after we went out to lunch for another THREE hours. It was so amazing. Today, with my sweet husband gone, I attempt to put her to sleep as he had. I love gleaning from him and his sweet daddy nature. I pray to be humble as I learn from him how to put her down. That my half hour of rocking that results in baby waking up three minutes later, might not be the best approach.

But, she doesn't cooperate. As of right now 12:11pm on this lovely New Years Eve day, she is asleep. But, for how long? I shushed her and bounced her and layed her down over an hour ago. But she has already woken up three times. So I shushed and bounced three more times...

I came out to my living room to read my bible on the third try. That was about 15 mins ago, and I prayed for 20. So.. Haha, Lord you have a humorous side. She just squealed in her bedroom. Hmm... is the little one awake?

If I could only get to the point. I came out here and knew exactly where to read in the Word. Galatians 5. Walk by the Spirit. Hm... As I read that familiar passage, I realized that I hadn't been. I need to. If I am going to survive these days of constant toil of putting precious baby back in and out of her crib, I need to walk by the Holy Spirit.

I realized, I need to be thankful. I'll finish the thankfulness part later, as my sweet baby just woke up :)

Prayer

Jesus, you call us to complete honesty with you. When I know something like that about you it is impossible to do anything else. I am tired and overwhelmed. I feel so incredibly blessed with everything you have given me. You are such an amazing and generous God. Every good and perfect gift comes from above. You have given me a wonderful husband that is striving to be more like you and lead our family well. I have an amazing piece of your church, these amazing friends who refuse to let us settle with our fleshy life. We are called out in an amazing graceful way to become more like you all the time. We have family and friends who support us and love is well. You have blessed us with this pregnancy. Wow. I feel like if anything else it is making me trust you more and more. I am not in charge of this tiny life inside of me. You are and you are THE sovereign God of the universe. I don't need to worry about every tiny little detail or about what mistake I could potentially make. I love that I can rest in that and I pray that I can through all of this no matter what happens. You also provide for all of our physical needs. You provide a place to live, food to eat, and you have provided a car for me that is safe and reliable. The thing about all of that is that I've seen you provide good gifts. You keep me safe with all of those things. You love me so much more than I understand and I pray that I get a deeper understanding as each day passes. Even through all of these life altering amazing blessings- I still am having a hard time being joyful. Knowing you have my life planned above what I could even imagine. These days of pregnancy make me so exhausted that praying and reading my bible is really hard. Lord give me strength to spend time with you. Not because I'm being religious but because I know that that is how our relationship is being strengthened. Lord help me in this time. Sustain me. Amen