ian & larissa

no words. just watch.

prayforian.com

the explicit gospel [by matt chandler]

an excellent read. 

you should go get yourself a copy...plus  a few more for friends. 

it's that good.

solid stuff.

grateful for matt chandler.

soon and very soon

this past week i have been weary.

this weary world, all the brokenness, poverty, the aching hearts,

 entire people groups who have never heard the 

sweet name of their Savior,

 the one hundred forty-seven million plus orphans [janes],

my stubborn heart and the sin i cling to

that i "ought to be rid of by now"...
sometimes our hearts can be so very discouraged.

my sweet cousin, ben, texted me this verse last night.

"so also you have sorrow now, but i will see you again and your hearts will rejoice, and 

no one will take your joy from you."

-john 16:22

oh the precious promises of God to His children.

we will see Him.

our hearts will rejoice eternally.

and no one will take our joy from us.

reminds me of this song that we used to sing at my old church when i lived in silver spring.

soon and very soon

 my King is coming

 robed in righteousness 

and crowned with love

when i see him 

i shall be made like Him

 soon and very soon

soon and very soon

i'll be going

to the place He has

 prepared for me. 

there my sin erased

my shame forgotten

soon and very soon

i will be with the One i love

with unveiled face i'll see Him

there my soul will be satisfied

soon and very soon

come quickly, Lord Jesus.

just fyi:)

if you need a gift for the next baby shower or

child's birthday party or any other occasion to show a little

one some love, a cute little bunny is always a good option.

heh heh:)

our green bunnies are 50% off this week only!

jus' sayin'...

bunniesforbuganda.org/greenfloral

little me

last night my mama sent me a text message with this photo.

"look what i just found! that is you! you were just 8 weeks old"

little tiny me. at 8 weeks. woah.

and my heart was overwhelmed. 

overwhelmed with wonder and awe at the immensity and vastness of my God 

and yet how He knit together something so small in His image.

my heart was overwhelmed.

overwhelmed with gratitude for a mother who believed that it was 

God who had intentionally knit me together and even though i was so small,

only alive for 8 weeks, 

i was me.

and she chose life for me.

thank you, mama.
thank you, God.

"take my life and let it be ever only all for Thee"

choosing thankfulness #2

“There is no event so common place but that God is present within it, always hidden, always leaving you room to recognize Him or not to recognize Him.” 
- Fredrick Buechner


#1. over night trips to chattanooga for hang time with my big sister. talking in dumb voices + laughing so hard my stomach is sore = yes please:) grateful for this girl.

#2. the precious faces i get to see each day at work and the [blessed.beautiful.refreshing] diversity that paints a picture of the Kingdom. 

 #3. yummy healthy banana muffins that actually turned out! (this is a big deal for me. baking of any sort is usually a no-go) ya'll, check out this recipe! made a few dozen, froze them and pull one out each night for breakfast in the morning. being strategic about eating a good breakfast means kids at school get a happier ms. chalice:)

#4. photos of children all over the country who have received one of my bunnies:) this here, makes my heart smile! cuteness to the max!

#5. saturday nights with sweet megan. this girl keeps me laughing, that's for sure. take for example this conversation with her and her big brother:

braden (5): hey, what's your name again?
me: remember? it ryhmes with palace...
braden: uuuuh i still can't remember
megan (3): she just tolded you braden, it's rhino palace!

#6. i've been praying over the same couple dozen prayer requests that are near and dear to my heart over the past many months. it was just the other night before i went to bed that i went to lift up these requests again when it struck me how many answered prayers i have seen. not necessarily the thing i have been praying for but the way God is meeting so many of these dear brothers and sisters right where they are and refining them in and through the trial. the way i see their character being strengthened, their love of Scripture deepened, their eyes fixed on Jesus more than ever, their uniting with Christ in His suffering and gleaning the sweet fellowship that is found there. this prayer wall of sorts has officially become my prayer&praise wall. He is faithful.

#7. news of the miracle we've prayed for for this precious baby girl finally coming home to her forever family. crying even as i type this. He is a God. of. the. impossible.

#8. dear ones at Life Community Church and the Brookhills Early Learning Center with gracious hearts who sought me out to spread the word about my bunnies:) generous people, i tell ya!

#9. home-made chocolate chip cookies delivered to my house....from my auto-repair people?! um, hi southern culture, kind of love you. p.s. i'll be bringing in my car for an oil change, like tomorrow:)

#10. taking a few days to step into another world. i really loved the hunger games. i cried a lot and it had my mind spinning for days. so many parallels of the injustices of panem and the world we are in today. it was good for my heart to wade through these things. i am grateful for a Redeemer, Savior and Friend. i wish panem had Him too. i'd launch into my mantra about my thoughts on this book but my sister hits it on the head here.  

for sisters, for sweet little ones, for answered prayers, for yummy food, for good books, for so many blessings big and others you have to open your eyes a little wider for, i am grateful.

thank you, Father.

choosing thankfulness

"There is no event so common place but that God is not present within it, 
always hidden, always leaving you room 

to recognize Him or not to recognize Him."

i have learned that if i am not actively waging war against discontentment and unthankfulness my mind is constantly spinning grumbly (it's a word to me, ok?) grouchy, ugly sentiments of well, discontentment and unthankfulness.

let the war begin. i am so sick of hearing myself complain when i have a heavenly Father who gives and provides and blesses so lavishly. but you have to look. you have to open your eyes. write it down. make a note. call it out. otherwise you'll miss it and your thoughts spin madly on following the natural cycle of your human nature that chooses death over life. grumbling over rejoicing. discontentment over gratitude.

ever since my sister's resolve to be intentional about gratitude and this blog i stumbled upon where this sweet girl does the same i've wanted to jump on the wagon. but for one reason or another i haven't. probably been to busy complaining. ahem.

also, this fancy-pants SLR i got for africa needs to be put to use again. so here goes. ten thank you's a week. starting with...

#1. sweet friends [family] willing and ready to lend a hand to the bunny business:)

#2. notes left from dear sisters kind enough to let you sleep...but not without leaving some love!

#3. music that redeems my work commute & keeps me centered on my Jesus 

#4. seeing this darling girl's face everyday at "work"....for real? i should pay her parents to watch her. 

#5. good reads that help me come like a child and display examples of faith far greater than my own.

#6. best friend reunions. a year was FAR too long. i love annie so so much.

#7. my first ever easter basket from one of the dearest ladies on earth. double bonus? i get to LIVE with her:) i am so grateful for you, wendy.

#8. permission to shamelessly clean sweep target clearance with my official auntie status!! woooooooo! 

(no gener reveal yet, but i've decided she's a girl. yep. i'm having a niece. done deal.)

#9. beautiful new postage to cheer up any envelope and remind me of day trips to DC with my grandipop. also for my own auntie who deserves a million more thank you notes for being wonderful in a million ways.

#10. the unspeakable privilege of sitting under 6+ consecutive hours of Gospel preaching from a man who treasures and reveres the Word. [it would be totally worth it to travel to bham for the next secret church. you can stay at my house! just fyi.]

bonus #11. glimpses into this dear one's life as Jesus draws near to her and fills her to overflowing with joy and love and so many to nurture and take care of her. He is faithful.

thank you, God.