12/23…of the day

Verse of the Day:
“For a child has been born—for us!
    the gift of a son—for us!
He’ll take over
    the running of the world.
His names will be: Amazing Counselor,
    Strong God,
Eternal Father,
    Prince of Wholeness.”
~Is 9:6 (msg)

Video & Lyrics of the Day:

“Truly He taught us to love one another
His law is love and His gospel is peace
Chains shall He break for the slave is our brother
And in His name all oppression shall cease
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,
Let all within us praise His holy name”
~ “O Holy Night”

This song has long been my favorite Christmas carol.  Usually it’s other lines that get me, but this verse struck me this year more than they have in the past.  Maybe it’s because of the state of our world right now (Aleppo) or how I’ve dealt with the state of our country.

Maybe it because, as those close to me know, I’ve had a brutiful (brutal and beautiful) year in my faith walk.  There is so much that has stayed the same (the love of the star-breathing God of the Universe, love of my friends and family) and there is so much that is different.  I have felt like my faith & life has been a snow-globe that got shaken up.  Everything that was there before is still there, it just looks different, and it’s been fascinating watching how some of the snow flakes have landed in  different places then where they started out.

What ever the reason, with this verse rolling over and over through my brain, I’ve been thinking on how I make my law love, on how I help oppression cease, on how I find hymns of joy to sing even in tension, discomfort, or uncertainty, and on how still after where this year has brought me, amazingly & thankfully, all within me still praises his holy name.

Poem of the Day:
“There it stood
A flower on a rock
Where nothing else lived
For a hundred miles
This flower was life
Bold and true standing proud up into the sky
Lapping up sunlight
Digging her roots into the ground
She was living
No matter what the world told her
She shouldn’t do
She just when on chin up into the sun
And realized then that Life
By it’s very nature is brave.”
~Atticus

Currently listening to “Behold: A Christmas Collection” by Lauren Daigle

02/25…of the day

Verse of the Day:
“I have made you.
I will carry you.
I will sustain you and
I will rescue you”
~Isaiah 46:4

Poem of the Day:
“Life is short, break the rules,
Forgive quickly, kiss slowly,
Love truly, laugh uncontrollably
And never regret anything that makes you smile”
~Mark Twain

Video of the Day:

Currently Listening to “Traveller” by Chris Stapleton – “Tennessee Whiskey” “Sometimes I Cry” “Fire Away”

01/05…of the day

Verse of the Day:
“But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary; they will walk and not be faint”
~Is 40:31

Quote of the Day:
“She has fire in her soul & grace in her heart”
~Unknown – My quote for the year.

Excerpt of the Day:
“The sad thing is, these are all moms that I’d love to be friends with in real life. I wish that rude, nosy folks hadn’t ruined the art of conversation for everyone, because there are people like me who genuinely seek connection with parents of all stripes. I’ve never been one for wasting time on small talk—I want to get to know the real person I’m speaking with—but I feel like chit chat is all that’s available anymore. Living in a culture where people are quick to get offended, I worry that being on the defensive all the time is preventing us from initiating true friendships and sharing our unique stories.”
~ 10 Moms I can No Longer Speak To on ScaryMommy

 ~A friend of a friend on facebook added this:
“I’m not even a mom yet and I can relate. Not being a mom makes it even worse bc ‘I just don’t understand’ or ‘I cant relate to them so they don’t turn to me.’ When I asked a friend awhile back via text “hey what are you doing tonight?” ..and their response a was, “Raising a child.. What are you doing?” …I realized at that moment that I was going to lose those types of mommy friends and that broke my heart. I’m SO appreciate my friends who allow us to still be around them and their kids and allow us to play and help take care of their kids and ask these types of questions with a willing heart to share. I love when our hangout nights consist of Murder Mystery with the adults followed by a pillow fight and Xbox games with the kids. Please know that just bc we don’t have kids, doesn’t mean we don’t want to be around you or think your kids are nuisance. I ADORE children (and sometimes might prefer hanging out with them over adults in all honesty.) haha.  And know that we ask bc we care or we want to LEARN from you. But I feel the same as her, I just don’t ask.”

My 2 Cents:
I’m pretty dang lucky that the majority of my friends (moms & dads) that have kids are amazing, and are the exception to this article.  Thanks so much for being who you are.  I hope you know that I love you and and your kiddos with all my heart.

The thing is that this article is incredibly accurate for quite a number of people.  I crave deep connected relationships (I think we all do, we’re just all pretty afraid) and when you can’t ask the real questions and speak to the places that are deep in our hearts, then how can we really have community/belonging/connection.  This goes to more than just being a parent, it reaches to the other parts of life (marriage, career, passions, relationships, beliefs).

And though I fully acknowledge that being a parent is a huge part of your identity, it doesn’t solely define you, my friend, in my eyes. Sure it’s a part of you, and one I love watching thrive, and bloom.  But I hope it doesn’t define you in your eyes either.  You are all the wonderful things you were before you brought that awesome tiny human into this world, only you are better, wiser.  And I haven’t forgotten that.  I still see you.  I still want to know you.  So I will ask those questions.  Because I love you.

Currently Listening to “Songs to Make Up To” by Ta-ku – Especially “Love Again” “Down for You” & “Sunrise/Beautiful”

06/13…of the day

Verse of the Day:
“So don’t be afraid.  I am here, with you; don’t be dismayed, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you, help you.  I am here with My right hand to make right and to hold you up.”
~Is. 41:10

Quote of the Day:
“When you live a life of love you are not bound to who you are, but who you will become.  Love Transforms.”
~Erwin McManus (Wide Awake pg. 87)

Lyrics of the Day:
“Because nothing lasts forever
Some things aren’t meant to be
But you’ll never find the answers
Until you set your old heart free”
~“Hello My Old Heart” by The Oh Hellos

Currently reading (audiobook) to “The Beautiful and the Damned” by F. Scott Fitzgerald

12/25…of the day

Verse of the Day:
“For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”
~Isaiah 9:6

Verse of the Day:

Memories of seeing Handel’s Messiah performed lived by the MSU music department still gives me chills.  This moment was stunning.

Lyrics of the Day:
“Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing;
O come, let us adore Him,”
~“O Come All Ye Faithful” by Adeste Fideles

Currently listening to “The Sinatra Christmas Album” by Frank Sinatra

11/16…of the day

Verse of the Day:
“Oh Lord, be gracious to us; we long for you. Be our strength every morning, our salvation in time of distress.”
~Isaiah 33:2

Quote of the Day:
“Courage doesn’t always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, “I will try again tomorrow.”
~Mary Anne Radmacher

Excerpt of the Day:
“The essence of calling is “Where my greatest strengths and deepest passions intersect.”
– Talent and passion, that is the core.
– Calling today is more seasonal, projects instead of a career.”
~“7 Keys I’ve Learned About Calling” by Brad Lomenick

Currently listening to “Self-Titled” by Birdy

10/17…of the day

Verse of the Day:
“So do not fear, for I am with you;
do not be dismayed, for I am your God”
~Is 41:10

Quote of the Day:
“Few delights can equal the mere presence of one whom we trust utterly.”
~George Macdonald

Excerpt of the Day:
“Owen suggests if we consider the Spirit’s working in our hearts by prayer, we may understand much of his working upon our hearts by grace. He is saying that prayerful communion with the Spirit can lead to grace-based transformation of our hearts.”
~“How to Cultivate Fresh Faith in the Gospel” by Jonathan Dodson

Currently listening to “CoeXist” by The XX

02/29…of the day

Verse of the Day:
“Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you.
…
because you are precious to me. .”
~Is 43:1,4

Quote of the Day:
“Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another: ‘What! You too? I thought I was the only one.’”
~C.S. Lewis

Lyrics of the Day:
“I’ll wait for you to fall in love
I’ll hold myself for you
I tried to settle down before
But there’s no other love that will do”
~“I’ll Wait  to Fall in Love” by Anthony Hamilton

Currently reading to “Forward” by Cris Cab

02/01…of the day

Verse of the Day:
“But those who trust in the LORD will find new strength.
They will soar high on wings like eagles.
They will run and not grow weary.
They will walk and not faint. ”
~Is 40:31

Quote of the Day:
“First I will be great – then I will get my chance.”
~Abraham Lincoln

Lyrics of the Day:
“You say the same things over and over
There’s that look in your eye
And I hear that crashing sound
As it all falls down

It’s never too late to turn it back around”
~Up by James Morrison ft. Jessi J (CLICK TO LISTEN – Trust Me)
Current Obssession

Currently listening to “Back to Love” by Anthony Hamilton

01/23…of the day

Verse of the Day:
“Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it.”
~Isaiah 30:21

Quote of the Day:
“To live is like to love–all reason is against it, and all healthy instinct for it.”
~Samuel Butler

Lyrics of the Day:
“Live right now, just be yourself.
It doesn’t matter if it’s good
enough for someone else.”
~“The Middle” by Jimmy Eat World

Currently listening to “Own the Night” by Lady Antebellum