Talked about this over chipotle lunch…

Quotable

In a recent conversation, I found out that people actually read the info page on facebook! Who knew? I didn’t….hence, I hadn’t really paid attention to mine or updated it in quite a while.  All of that led to a Saturday morning of updating which led to rummaging through old posts and looking at quotes.  I post quite a few quotes!  To keep track of them, I made a handy little “Quotable” page at the top.  Check it out!  In the meantime, here a few that stuck out:

“Don’t say yes just because it’s difficult to say no. If you don’t know who you are and who you’re not, you’ll probably say yes when you should say no. Why? Because you’ll focus on the wrong thing. You’ll focus on the position instead of your calling.”

“But it brought me back to ground zero: I want to be dead-center in the will of God. That is the only position that counts. That is the place of blessing. That is where God can use us most.” -Mark Batterson

“Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful”–William Morris

God-Sized Dreaming

This little journey all started with this post:

“Because with God, dreaming is different. It’s not pie-in-the-sky, pony-for-Christmas, be-a-princess-when-I-grow-up dreaming.

No, dreaming with Him is very much about reality.

All things are possible with God. Mark 10:27″

and then continued with this challenge:

“Because as I consider the story of our lives, here’s what I’ve come to believe…

Jesus is the author (Hebrews 12:2) but He has given each of us a pen.”

So…I’m forging ahead and discovering some of the God-sized dreams God wants me to step out into and to just dream with Him.  Want to join? I’d love to hear your story and what God reveals to you through this!

Scrabble…Faqirs

Humor me…I played scrabble and got to use this word tonight: faqirs.  One of the mythical words suggested in the scramble instructions to be used for a q without a u. And here’s the proof:

Oh…and I lost by 5 points. 🙂

Any other scrabble stories out there? Or are you not a fan of scrabble?

Mindful

“Let the Lord be mindful of me.” Psalm 40:17

Merry Monday

A little glimpse into my joy-filled week:

99. dancing in my car

105. wearing sunglasses on my head

116. mango peach salsa

119. blueberries

123. talking to Carrie who is in Guatemala

126. BIG fluffy white snowflakes

Gratitude Community

People of the Second Chance

These lovely people sent me a free sticker in the mail!  I wanted to put it somewhere I could see it and serve as a reminder of God’s grace…so, I put it right there on my computer!  Why? Because I am a person who has received and wants to extend radical grace.

Here’s a little about them:

“People of the Second Chance gives voice to a scandalous movement of radical grace in life and leadership. We challenge the common misconceptions about failure and success and stand with those who have hit rock bottom in their personal and professional lives. We are a community that is committed to stretch ourselves in the areas of relational forgiveness, personal transparency, and advocate for mercy over judgment.

We are not ashamed of our scars, wounds, or failures and leverage them as a source of strength and character development.

People of the Second Chance have experienced a second chance so we  actively support social justice organizations and advocate for the vulnerable, forgotten, and left behind.

We are People of the Second Chance.”

What do you think? Have you experienced God’s mercy and love through second chances? Have others extended that radical grace? Have you used your second chances to grow?

Proverbs 24:16 “For a righteous man falls seven times, and RISES AGAIN.”

Dug Down Deep

“We’re either building our lives on the reality of what God is truly like and what He’s about, or we’re basing our lives on our imaginations and misconceptions.”

Joshua Harris takes his new book Dug Down Deep to spend time unearthing what he believes and why. The spelunking he does explores theological issues ranging from sanctification to the role of the Holy Spirit.  And, why, you may ask should one take the time to dive into these heady, often intangible, theological matters? Harris suggests, “messed-up theology leads to messed-up living.”  Besides, the Bible calls us to “So, let us know, let us press on to know the Lord” (Hosea 6:3).  If you’re looking for an honest, thought-provoking study into theological matters written in a personal, story-like fashion then from what I’ve read Iso far I would suggest checking out Joshua’s new book.  I’m looking forward to continue reading his thoughts and see what God shows on this theological climb.  And remember…

“You can study Him the way you study a sunset that leaves you speechless.”

*This was book was provided for review by WaterBrook Multnomah. You can purchase it here.

Salty Two Cents of God-Flavors

Mm, I wanna be salty! I started out today reading 3 different posts about salt!  I thought I’d just leave my two cents, but then realized…my two cents really looked a bit too lengthy and sent me on some bunny trails all starting with this verse:

Matthew 5:13 “You are the salt of the earth.  But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor?  Can you make it salty again?  It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless.”

—You are here to be salt seasoning that brings out the GOD-FLAVORS of this earth.

After doing some inquiries into salt here, I found quite a few ponderous nuggets to chew on:

• Salt was required in all the sacrifices (Lev. 2:13)
• If we don’t have salt in ourselves, how can we spread it out to others? (Mark 9:50) We need to be spending time with Him, loving Him, and letting Him fill our cup to overflowing so that everything comes from that and goes back to glorify Him.
• To eat salt with one is to partake of his hospitality, to derive subsistence from him; and hence he who did so was bound to look after his host’s interests (Ezra 4:14).
• The Arabic word for “salt” and for a “compact” or “treaty” is the same.
• Salt is emblematic of loyalty and friendship.
• I wonder also if the salt reference has to do with the gospel we present…are we presenting the gospel in its full “saltiness” or are we only throwing in a pinch because we are fearful or so watered down ourselves?

Lastly, I love the version of the verse in the video…Mmm, I wanna be salty, but even more I want to BRING out the GOD-FLAVORS of this earth. I want to ooze with joy and give the world a taste of this God that loves big…I want to bring out these God-flavors in others. To empower, equip, and enable all those around me to live the ABUNDANT life in Christ.

But, how can we do that if we’re not salty ourselves?

Are you salty? What are you doing to stay salty? Are you spreading your saltiness? What do you think God-flavors are? Thoughts?

Memory Memo

John 3:8 “The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

This is the verse I’m mulling over in my head this week.  I pull it out at the gym while on the bike.  I use it as a book marker for The Poisonwood Bible (I’m finally reading it!).  I ponder it in between car rides when I’m not jamming out to some tunes (“More Like Falling in Love” by Jason Gray).  I’m letting it sink in and settle it’s way down.

But, now I’m asking you, friend, what do you think of the verse? What’s God telling you through it and what insights have you gained from it? Practical, tangible, vague, undeveloped, hearty, any of the above or any other.  Or on the flip side, are you memorizing any verses now? What about those? Let me know, I’d love to hear from you.