Give and Take

One of my most favorite worship songs is Blessed Be Your Name.

I fell in love with this song the very first time I heard it. I love that it declares that, in spite of what's going on in our lives, we are to bless the name of our God. I love the line, You give and take away. Time and time again, that line rings true in my life.

We are attending a funeral tomorrow for my brother-in-law's grandma. Her death came very suddenly...yet it was a blessing that she didn't have to suffer.

But, then there's the flip side of that...

I am going to be an auntie twice this year! Two of my sisters-in-law are pregnant...and both of them are having girls! I am SO excited for all of this girly goodness coming into our family...especially because my husband only has brothers...so more girls are needed for sure!

In the midst of all this, I've been reflecting on this powerful truth all week. It's made me feel the need to share my feelings immediately with people...instead of waiting for the "perfect" moment. It's made me want to seize the opportunities I have in front of me...instead of waiting to see if I change my mind on them. It's made me long for more opportunities to share my heart with others...instead of hiding from the chance to do so.


You give and take away
You give and take away
My heart will choose to say
Lord, blessed be Your name


My heart is choosing to bless His name today. And, it's a wonderful way to spend a day.

(I'm linking up with Casey)

Inspiration Workshop - Bathrooms!

I'm linking up with Gussy and her Inspiration Workshop.

This week's prompt was Bathrooms.

There are things I love about my current bathroom...but things I hate about it, too. So, instead of showing you my bathroom, I thought I'd go to good ol' Pinterest and see what I could find there.


I like this first bathroom because of the storage space. Our current bathroom has virtually no storage space...whereas the bathroom in our old apartment had a TON of storage space. So, needless to say, I love the storage in this bathroom...as well as the simplicity.

(found via pinterest by Melissa Edgy from Inspiration for Decoration)

This would be my bathroom if I lived in a mansion...at least, that's how I see it. I think it's gorgeous...

(found via Pinterest by Kristen from Apartment Therapy)

This last bathroom is what I'd call Shabby Chic. I absolutely love it. The black and white with the splashes of pink? Yes please!

(found via Pinterest by Keely Gault)

What do you love about your bathroom...or other bathrooms?

Seasons

That may seem like a funny title to most of you...with all the crazy, abnormal weather we've been having...

And yet, I find myself in the midst of a season I didn't even realize I was in.

I have a beautiful friend who has beautiful babies...and who sometimes feels like God has other things for her to be doing...but she can't do them with her babies. Whenever she brings this up, other mommies remind her that this is just a season...that it will pass and she will miss these days with her babies when they're older and more independent.

Most of the time, I nod in agreement, knowing how true that statement is...for my friend. And yet, I've been realizing this last week that there is truth in that statement for me as well.

Sometimes I don't like to admit it...but I feel very alone a lot of the time...even in the midst of a crowd. Even when I am surrounded by wonderful friends and having a good time. Even when I'm sitting at home with my husband on the couch. It has nothing to do with the people around me...and everything to do with me.

I hadn't been able to put my finger on it until I had an email conversation with a sweet friend this week. She brought up some amazing points that I hadn't even thought of.


We, as women ('cuz I can't speak for you men out there), tend to gravitate towards women that are like us. Women that either share our same passions in life, or have similar stories to our own, or that are in the same place in life we're at. And, there's nothing wrong with that. It's natural to be drawn towards others like ourselves.

And yet, it can be very hard at the same time. Someone who might have been your best friend at one point could now be only an acquaintance...because you've gravitated towards different passions in life. Someone you might have never talked to before could be your new best friend...because you both just recently got married and have similar experiences to talk about. Or, someone you just met in a young mom's group may be the only one who understands how down you're feeling after having the baby.

While it's natural to drift towards people in our same situations, it's hard to deal with the reality that some of the ones we used to call all the time now have new friends to call in their new situations. It's not a bad thing...it's a part of life. And, that doesn't mean it will always be that way...but it is in this season.

So, as I've been accepting this season I'm in, I'm realizing I don't have many women around me that are in my same situation. I love the women in my life and I'm so grateful for them...but oftentimes I still feel alone...because they aren't where I'm at. And, while I know that this is just a season...I also know this is where God has me...and I need to make the most of it.

So, I'm praying about something that could potentially be a wonderful thing. I'm not ready to reveal the details until I'm certain this is where God is leading me...but I must say I am really excited about it. That same sweet friend brought up something that got me thinking about it...and I haven't been able to stop thinking about it since. I really long to be used by God in a more powerful way in my life...and this just may be the solution to my longing.

I'd like to encourage all of you reading this...no matter what season you find yourself in...to embrace it. Yes, it will be hard at times...yes, it may mean you don't have the same good friends anymore...but this is where God has you...and He has amazing things to teach you in the midst of this season.

Show me your ways, O Lord, teach me your paths;
guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior,
and my hope is in you all day long.
(Psalm 25:4-5, NIV)

Rest in that, my friends.

Love

I have something heavy on my heart today.

I have written this post twice already and deleted it twice...I just don't know how to put it in a way that doesn't come across offensive or judgmental. But, here is the shortened version (and I'm sorry if you are offended or feel I'm being judgmental. That is definitely not where I am trying to come from):

How do you show God's love to someone that is just not interested in it?

I was never around a lot of non-believers growing up...besides family members. I was definitely not ignorant, and I definitely was not raised in a bubble. My parents taught us to love God and to love other people...and that is how we lived our lives. It was not culture shock for this homeschooled girl to attend jr. college. I'd heard cussing before, I'd been around people that smoked, and I knew not everyone was just like me. Yet, the one thing I definitely was not exposed to was the opportunity to really share my faith with someone else. Another believer? Absolutely. But, not someone who didn't believe.

Maybe that is why it is hard for me to love someone who hears the truth, makes fun of it, and makes fun of me for believing the things I do.

Maybe that's why I feel like I'm being persecuted in a place that is supposed to be "safe".

Maybe that's why I'm having a hard time understanding why someone would be like this.

The only answer I keep coming back to is that I have to keep loving people like this. I have to keep sharing the truth with them...in the hopes that maybe it will plant a seed that will grow much later. I have to keep strong in my faith...and continue to study the Word, so I have the right words to speak when someone comes at me with something that attacks what I believe in.



On a lighter note, I'm looking for some new books to read. Any suggestions?

Have a wonderful weekend!

(I'm linking up with Casey)

Where I Want to Be

So, it's time for Gussy's Inspiration Workshop again...and I'm so excited for this week's prompt:

Spend a day playing.

Since we don't have any kiddos yet, it's always just me and the hubs. And, one of our favorite places to spend the day playing is....

Drum roll, please...



Oh heck, you should know anyway...



DISNEYLAND!


Here are some pics from our anniversary trip earlier this year.



Looking at these pictures makes me wish we were going there in the near future again. I love that place!

How do you spend a day playing?