Here We Go

2014 was a big year for this little space. I put more time into it than I ever have before. I worked with several brands, joined a few blogging networks, hosted and co-hosted new projects, took a class, and found the topics that seem to be "mine".

After years of mostly keeping to myself, I made some really great friends! You know who you are, but you can't know how much you encourage me as a Christian and inspire me as a woman and as a blogger. If we could all live in one city I'd love that...but, I'm grateful for the community we have built together!

We're all making plans for 2015. There are a few things you should know:

* The goal that I'm most excited about is that my side bar is going to look different. I'll be contacting people asking if they'd like to advertise their blog or Etsy shop on my side bar - for FREE. This is a way for me to give back to all of you. Consider this an invitation to contact me if you're interested!

* Earlier this month, Ask & Answer began because I just couldn't wait any longer. I thought round one was a lot of fun.  We'll keep this up as long as you all continue to enjoy it!

* I'm working on ways to make navigating OLD material on my blog a little easier. There are so many new faces around here, I'd love to make looking around fun for you!
  
* Kiki and I are already talking about hosting another letter exchange. I hope you'll help spread the word! What time of year works best for you?

* I'm toying with the idea of switching up the design. Does my purple font drive you nuts?

I have a few other things up my sleeve too. For now, I'm enjoying some special time with my family and hoping that in 2014 Through * For * By has brightened your day, encouraged your soul, and given you many reasons to praise God!

Happy New Year!

Purpose of God

Every now and then Jay will stop by for a visit just because. It's usually in the afternoon and it almost always turns into a theology chat session. Earlier this month, I came home to find his Jeep parked in the driveway...I hoped he hadn't been here long because I didn't want to miss out on his visit! 

I wasn't disappointed. I joined the conversation happening around our table and talk quickly turned to a time years ago when Jay worked his way through parts of Chambers' book in a new way. He looked up a topic in the index and read and re-read every entry that was listed until he had his questions answered. This came up because we were talking about the purpose of God.

Jay left me with the challenge of looking up "purpose of God" in the index of "My Upmost For His Highest". I began working my way through the entries reading and re-reading them one by one. The entry from May 22 is the perfect reflection on this last Monday of 2014. The Scripture for that day comes from John 17:21. It says, "...that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us..."

If you are one of God's people, whatever is happening in your life, or has happened in your life, is working together for a purpose. John 17 tells you why and verses like Romans 8:28-29 leave you with full assurance. Chambers puts it this way, "...Jesus has prayed that you 'may be one' with the Father as He is."

As we finish up the last few days of this year and prepare our hearts for the one ahead, it is the perfect time to take stock of where we are as children of God. May we find great comfort in this great will of God! May even our troubles be viewed as blessings.

I want to leave you to consider this question from Chambers, "Are you helping God to answer that prayer, or do you have some other goal for your life?"

Join me in answering it honestly and reflecting on it often.

Friends

July 22, 2014

Last month I picked up "Cold Tangerines" by Shauna Niequist and I couldn't put it down. (You can read about that HERE.) The essay about friendship titled "Swimming" really grabbed my attention.

On p. 49 Shauna said these words:


  "Friendship is acting out God's love for people in tangible ways. We were made to represent the love of God in each other's lives so that each person we walk through life with has a more profound sense of God's love for them. Friendship is an opportunity to act on God's behalf in the lives of the people that we're close to, reminding each other who God is...We get to remind each other about the bigger, more beautiful picture that we can't always see from where we are."


It's true.

I have been blessed with so many friends. When I look back, I realize that facing the hardest times together have been some of the sweetest. Staying close and connected takes work and every now and then we need reminders that the work of friendship is worth it. (I wrote one HERE back in January.)

Today I'm writing to remind all of us of the treasure that we have in being able to be friends to one another. May we think about our relationships with people as a means to show them a little more of the God that created everything and holds it all together.

Whether it's a phone call, a card, a coffee date, or a cleaning party - God gives us so very many opportunities to reach out to one another. May our reaching out not be for worthless things, but for more of Him. May we love one another and be friends with one another in a way that points all of us right back to the very source of friendship, namely God Himself.

Every single one of our friends was once a stranger to us in the same way that God and His grace went completely unnoticed. May we be the type of friends who help our friends to be glad that they know us. More importantly, I hope that we can all be the type of friends that make ignoring God and His grace impossible!

Be a friend today, take time to be with God and then share Him with those around you.

Take time to thank the friends who stand beside you doing the same thing.

It's friendship and it's beautiful.

Faith & Fellowship Blog Hop

Happy Friday, everyone!!! I'm super excited to join Susannah  as her co-host for this week's Faith & Fellowship  Blog Hop! As you know, I'm all about meeting new people and taking the time to encourage and be encouraged by one another. This link up is all about ALL of that! 

If you've never taken part before, this week is the perfect week to do so! I'm linking up with THIS post from earlier this week and I'd love to be able to click over to one of yours too. 

I hope you all have a great weekend!

Faith and Fellowship Guidelines

1.  Link up a post (not just the link to your blog) from the week that shares what the Lord's been doing in your life or speaking to you.
2.  Put the button on your blog post or blog so that others can hear about this wonderful group of Godly women.
3.  Visit as many blogs as you're able and get to know your sisters in Christ!
4.  Share this blog hop on social media using #faithandfellowship or pin the button on pinterest.

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<a href="http://www.simplemomentsstick.com/search/label/Faith%20and%20Fellowship" title="Faith and Fellowship Blog Hop"><img src="http://i1355.photobucket.com/albums/q706/zanah_banana/FaithandFellowship_zpse4979909.jpg" alt="Faith and Fellowship Blog Hop" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

Your Host:

Susannah from Simple Moments Stick

Meet This Week's Cohost

Victoria from Through * For * By

A Bit About Through * For * By: Through blogging, Victoria hopes that you will find something to brighten your day, encourage your soul, and give you a reason to praise God! She is inspired by the Bible, life, books, music, and movies. Usually in that order. Be sure to stop by and say hello!

If you'd like to cohost in the future, please email Susannah at susannah.kellogg (at) gmail.com

An InLinkz Link-up

The Thing About Friends

Friends are great! Over the last five years or so I've made a lot of new friends. The thing is, only a few of them live within visiting distance from me. The rest of them are sprinkled all over the map.

This long distance stuff means that I go through spurts....Spurts where I'm driving a lot trying to see everyone, or keeping the guest blankets cycling through the machines trying to host them at my house. Spurts where I'm texting, talking on the phone, or skyping WHENEVER there is a time that is convenient for both of us. 

The spurts kill me. I can't say enough how much I love people and what a role these friends play in my life. I just long for a day when the connecting happens more easily so I don't feel like I'm always playing "catch up". 

Over the last week I've skyped for HOURS with my friends Shauna and Hannah and Glenn and Carol. I've talked with Heidi on the phone and over text. I've visited Alice. I still owe my Dad a call and I'm about to board a plane to get some time with my brother (joking on that one, but I keep trying to get in touch with him at the wrong time and it's kind of driving me crazy). 

I don't exactly know how to balance it.

The fact is, most of my friends live in different time zones. We all have lives and unfortunately, we're not really an actual part of each other's lives these days. Maybe you've got a similar situation?

How do you stay in touch with the people in your life? Is it just me, or are spurts just the way it is? 

 I think about connecting with people who are lonely in my community...There's a need for it. 

But then, I think about all of the people I'm already neglecting. 

Friendships take work and time and I'm so grateful for all of the people I have gotten to know in this life. 

I guess what I'm trying to say is, I know I'm not alone here. I'm writing to remind myself and all of you that our friends are worth every ounce of work that keeping them in our lives requires.

May we use our friendships as a means to build each other up, to inspire one another to take knowing and walking with God seriously, and may the distance not be such a burden. 

The thing about friends is they're great. I enjoy mine so much! May our relationships help our friends know just how much they mean to us! 

Declare and Demonstrate

A few weeks ago, on a Monday morning I was listening to a sermon given at The Village Church called "Church Planters".

Matt Chandler spoke and then passed the mic on to two church planters who were sharing about why they were planters and what was happening in each of their "projects". 

I've never been a part of a church plant, but it is my prayer that SOMEDAY that is exactly what I'll be doing.

 

One of the men who spoke was Blake Chilton and he said something that I haven't been able to shake.

It went something like this, "We have been called to declare the Gospel with our mouth and demonstrate it with our life."

There is that CALL again. 

 

Every time I come across God's delight in helping me to see and hear the good news of His holiness and saving grace, it is quickly followed up with His delight in the overflow that is declaring and demonstrating that Gospel.

Planters or everyday Christians...Male or female...Young or old...

God has a PLAN for us. Whatever work we find ourselves occupied with we are here for ONE reason. 

We are here to HEAR and to SEE God and to help those around us by DECLARING to them the truth and DEMONSTRATING for them what it looks like lived out in our everyday lives. 

Are you excited? 

Click ^^^ to see a list of all the posts in this series.

Real Life

Whenever something strange happens or I see something that is ridiculous I have a few things that I tend to blurt out. My friends and family find it hilarious to imitate these sayings of mine because they KNOW what's coming. 

One thing I tend to think and say in those situations is "this is real life". When I say this, it is part question and part conclusion.

The world is a CRAZY place to live...And yet, however strange, ridiculous, and crazy things are, every one of them is REAL.

This is real life...

We deal with other people. They hurt us, we hurt them. They take advantage of us, we take advantage of them. They love us, we love them. 

 

You get the picture...The point is, we need other people and other people need us. 

 

There are people in our life that come and go. Some we get to know and care about, others are just part of the crowd that surrounds us. 

 

All of these people have their own STORIES. The struggles, the hopes, the dreams, the disappointment, and the passions that make them who they are. 

 

In my real life - I have two dads [clarification: one bio and one step married to my mom], one mom, two brothers, and a sister. I've had seven grandparents and three great grandparents. I have over 20 cousins and nearly just as many aunts and uncles. I have friends who I care so much about, they might as well be family. And I've had friends that I thought would be around FOREVER who are completely out of my life now. 

Each of these people have their own "entourage". That's A LOT of people....And it's people that make this world a crazy place to live. I contribute. People look at me and think, "Woah! This is real life?!?!"

How about if we cut down on the crazy?

 

 Be who you are, but THINK about the people around you. 

 

Did you commit to do something? Do it. Is someone you know having a hard time? Listen. Have you been using someone? Apologize and stop that. Do you know someone who is excited about something? Celebrate that with them! 

Slow down and step back. The fact is, this life is real and crazy - but it's also SHORT. What really matters is what's coming NEXT and THAT will be here before we know it. 

I'm so ready! God has us here, so while we're waiting let's work together to be people that MAKE LIFE REAL by sharing the truth and joy of what is coming.

 

 

 

God is Right There

What a morning it has been! I woke up to the sun coming in through the window and decided that I would get out of bed and head out to the patio. I love beginning my day outside in the fresh, cool air while it is still completely peaceful. 
This morning I brought out a glass of water, my Bible, and my journal. I decided to read the five Psalms of the day (take the day and keep adding thirty to it until you run out of Psalms). As I read Psalm 5, 35, 65, 95, and 125 I saw one theme:
The cause of the Lord stands. 
I was also reminded that my soul needs to KNOW that God is at work. He is my salvation. He surrounds me and keeps me walking in that salvation that He has given to me. 
Everything He made is in His hand. I can be sure of that. In Him, we have our cause. Oh that I would be led by that cause daily! 
Since then, I came inside and had breakfast and visited with my Mom. Then I settled back down to read "Knowing God" by JI Packer. I'm not one to re-read books, but there are a few books I do re-read. This book is one of them. 
If there is one book you should read this year (I hope I haven't already said this...), you should read "Knowing God"! It has been a few years since my last trip through it....I forgot how RICH it truly is! 
In the first chapter, Packer quotes Charles Spurgeon in a call to the journey through coming to truly know God, 
"Nothing will so enlarge the intellect, nothing so magnify the whole soul of man, as a devout, earnest, continued investigation of the great subject of the Deity...Go, plunge yourself in the Godhead's deepest sea; be lost in the immensity; and you shall come forth as from a couch of rest, refreshed and invigorated. I know nothing which can so comfort the soul; so calm the swelling billows of sorrow and grief; so speak peace to the winds of trial, as a devout musing upon the subject of the Godhead..."
Any of you who have spent time with God in an attempt to KNOW Him, know this to be true. Whatever questions are raised, whatever convictions are had, there is NOTHING like sitting with God. 
However strange it sounds, there you find plain truth that leads to the clearest thinking you can have about life. And what PEACE and JOY and SECURITY truth brings. 
Packer describes Psalm 119 as communicating the fact that,
"His supreme desire was to know and enjoy God himself, and he valued knowledge about God simply as a means to this end. He wanted to understand God's truth in order that his heart might respond to it and his life be conformed to it."
I promise...If you take the time to read this book you will be on your way to knowing and enjoying God and having a heart that responds to His truth and a life that is conformed to it....And there you will most certainly find REST. 
The last few weeks have been full of spending time with people who love God and to be able to know them and the God that they love is absolutely refreshing. 
I hope this spring has been this for you too! If not...It's not too late! Today, dig in. Seek Him! 

The Great Aim

Hey, ladies! 
I have a few words for you today....No pictures, just words. 
During Holy Week (the week leading up to Easter), I was reading John Piper's "Love to the Uttermost". Check it out HERE
I think it was Friday's reading that inspired my thoughts today. 
Piper said this, "The great aim of this writer [of Hebrews] is that we get near God, that we have fellowship with Him, that we not settle for a Christian life at a distance from God, that God not be a distant thought, but a near and present reality, that we experience what the old Puritans called communion with God." 
Let's dig a little...The writer of Hebrews had a message from God. His desire for His readers is the same desire that God has for His people. That desire is simply this: DRAW NEAR TO GOD - ALWAYS. 
Whether you are a total loner or a people person, there is one presence that will satisfy, namely, the presence of God. 
The presence of God is a place Jesus couldn't get enough of. He wants His people to be enjoy that same closeness that He knew. 
Hebrews 7:25 says, "Consequently, He [Jesus] is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through Him since He always lives to make intercession for them." 
He's saving to the uttermost those who draw near to God through Him. Having been saved to the uttermost, don't you think we'd be RUNNING to God continually? He's there, making intercession for His people, even now. 
On this Friday, I want you to do one thing - on good days, on bad days, and everyday- draw near to God. 
Be encouraged to know that Jesus saves His people to the uttermost and lives to make intercession for them. There are so many connections here...Being saved, drawing near, and being interceded for...
The life of the Christian is a beautiful thing! Happy weekend to you all. 

OPEN

A few nights ago I was sitting on the couch and just had the urge to get up to do some clutter busting. After things were put away, I ended up vacuuming, getting rid of the dust, and cleaning the glass table. 
That burst of energy and motivation came out of absolutely nowhere. 
Yesterday, I got a call from my friend Amber. She and her husband were planning on taking a trip this weekend and were hoping to stop by to see me. She was calling to ask if they could stay the night. 
Of course, I said they could. This meant I had some serious work to do. Thankfully, the "worst" of it was behind me since I had just cleaned the area they would be staying in the night before.
Yesterday I pulled out my recipe book and set out to make chicken burritos for dinner (repurposing the left over "chicken tortilla soup" I had made the night before) along with blueberry muffins and a sausage egg casserole for breakfast today. 
It turns out, they got on the road way later than they had hoped and they didn't get here until nearly 11 last night. 
None of that really matters....What matters is, I love it when spontaneous things happen and WORK OUT in spite of the total lack of planning. 
Even though I had no idea they would be coming, I got a head start on preparing for their visit. Then, because of their delays, I was given LOTS of extra time to get everything ready.
They are gone now...The house is quiet, I'm sitting down to read and eat a leftover chicken burrito. 
One word is on my mind, THANKFUL.
Today I am thankful for friends, being able to sit and visit in person, roads that make traveling possible, a place to offer to people who "need" it, and the bond that we have in Christ. 
If we weren't Christians, I don't know how I would have met Amber. If we weren't Christians, I don't know what we would have in common. Because of Christ, Amber and I met and became fast friends. Because of Christ, Amber and I have maintained that friendship even though we rarely get to see each other and sometimes go MONTHS without even being able to catch up on the phone. 
Maybe you have a friend you need to visit...Maybe you have a room to pick up just because...Maybe you have a book to read and left overs to eat. 
Amber won't read this, but I'm thankful for the opportunity she gave me to SEE her and host GUESTS all at the same time. 
Saturday mornings spent quietly visiting with my Mom and waiting for the house to wake up while I putter around getting a buffet ready are some of my favorite days. 
You may or may not have much to offer, but open up and let people in. You'll be glad you did! 

A Man Named Eddie and An Unexpected Christmas Party

Last Friday I wrote about whatever was on my mind. It was kind of a downer....It included the statement about getting old being good and stinky. (I only use that line because it was in a favorite movie of mine...."High Society".) 
I find old people very cute. Yes, I know life at their age is full of sooo  much pain and difficulty, but so many of them are just so cute. 
I am sure they appreciate that. Right? Every man dreams of growing old and being considered cute. Okay, so maybe not...But still, I like old people better than babies. 
Anyway....There was one particular man at the party. His name is Eddie. He is old and tall and skinny as a rail and smiley and crookedy and going deaf and loud and cute and hilarious. 
He still drives even though he's seriously OLD. I have "known" him for years. And he really hasn't changed much. He loves people, his old cars, playing the accordion, and apparently, food. 

Eddie in a parade...

I wasn't sitting with Eddie, but I couldn't help over hearing just about every word he said at the party. 
Here are some of my favorite conversations. I hope they aren't all "had to be there" stories....
****** Eddie to the three others at his table, "Well, I think I'm going to see about DESSERT!" 
Nobody moves or even acknowledges that he said that....He jumps up and looks around. No dessert has been placed out yet so he sits down. 
One of the ladies who just figured out what he was doing and saying, "Are you going to eat more????" 
Eddie, "Hmmm...Guess I'm done. That ham sure was good! I could eat another piece, but I'm not going to! Those deviled eggs sure were good! I could eat some more, but I'm not going to!"
***** Finally, dessert was served. There's Eddie eating his pie and talking to the one lady at his table who is now acknowledging that he's talking and attempting to visit.
Eddie, "Raspberry!"
Eddie, "Good!"
Lady, something I couldn't quite make out.
Eddie, "You know, I better eat the crust too! I guess I have to! If I don't, she'll think the crust wasn't any good. I'm eating it all! It's good." 
Lady, "Oh?"
Eddie, "I want her to know the crust is good! I don't want her to think it's bad! It's not."
******
The pastor brought along a guitar and sang some Christmas songs. 
Some people sang. Some people left. Some people just sat there. And others....Yep, they just kept talking! 
Eddie, "Oooh, I like this song!" 
Lady, "What?!?!?"
Eddie, "This song, I like it, I like playing it. I once played it on....." 
******* It's like none of them can hear or understand what the others are saying. So they say whatever is on their minds. Or just whatever they think they should say in return to what they think the others have said. 
The table of four:
There's Eddie, shuffling around. Living and talking and eating like one giant exclamation point. 
There's the lady who can't seem to hear him but is attempting to enjoy conversation.
There's the other old man (Curtis) who cracks himself up and is always talking. I couldn't understand him from where I was sitting but I kept laughing because he was just one big cut up.  Folding napkins, belting out "Blue Christmas" even though the pastor never played or sang a single note of it.
And then the other man who seemed oblivious to it all. 

Community

Growing up in a small town, I didn't really think much about community. Everyone has some form of community. In my little town, we all know each other but very few people truly KNOW each other. Very few people actually share life together. When people gather, they do not seek counsel from one another. They do not share their own hardships and struggles. They do not offer words of encouragement.

This is part of being a sinner...We always want to get our fingers pointed at someone else and their problems.

Perhaps that's what's really wrong with gossip. Sure, it's wrong to talk about others, especially when you are speaking things that you do not know to be true. But, more importantly, why waste the opportunity to build one another up in Christ?

If you meet with a believer, share with him the riches of the Gospel! Encourage him with God's Word, truth, and love. Ask him specifically what God has been teaching him or what he has been struggling with. Pray with him and for him.

If you meet with an unbeliever, share with him the riches of the Gospel! Encourage him to know God, explain to him God's Word, truth, and love. Listen to his questions. Pray with him if he will. Pray for him if he won't.

No matter who you meet, he will either be walking with God or not walking with God. Either way, he needs more Gospel!

Take the time to build community, gospel community. Building one another up in Christ is the foundation. Gospel community begins with the daily interactions we have with people.

Proverbs 10:11&13a "The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence. On the lips of him who has understanding, wisdom is found..."