Recently in church our pastor was talking about how God makes us all different. Look around you. Who looks like you? Who acts like you? Nearly no one. We all have different body shapes, hair colors {and styles!}, we certainly dress differently... We talk differently, some of us have accents... We ALL have quirky mannerisms.... His point at one moment was to talk about how some people on Sunday morning, in worship, "feel the Spirit" and their hands go up. Some others may look around like those people are crazy...and clinch their fists or fold their arms so that they are not tempted.... See, different. I bet at some point at a concert or really great worship service, your hands have gone up - you cannot deny it. And it feels really great to let go and be in that moment. Here's a song I've heard recently that I LOVE. LOVE. LOVE. And I wanted to share with it you: →Love & The Outcome →The God I know {get ready to RAISE.YOUR.HANDS!}← "I can throw my hands up, worries down! I remember when he showed me how to break up with my doubt...Once I was lost but now I'm found." Who can relate to THAT. Every day, people. EVERY.DAY. So I heard this song for the first time a few weeks ago, while driving {alone}, and my hands may have gone up... This is one of those songs, for me, to which I can totally relate and in the moment, I throw my hands up! What's the song for you that totally puts you in that moment of either total praise or abandon? … [Read more...]
As May Comes To An End
I am just amazed at how fast this month went by! But thankful for all the memories we made this month! Here are a few of the things I/we did. Reading - I read through most the SRT study on Proverbs: The way of Wisdom, which was really fantastic. This study was more of some brief readings, focused on one topic {anger, humility, pride, etc.}, with questions to follow. That was some deep thinking for me at 5 a.m. while on the treadmill... I also got to read several of my magazines on our trip to Disney {7 hrs in the car!}, which was a blessing to me because they were really starting to pile up again... Playing - Same as April, we've played a lot outside this past month. From the backyard to the playground, to the upstairs before bedtime, there are lots of laughs that make my heart rejoice! Watching - We haven't watched much of anything of late. Sunday evening I was thrilled to have been able to sit on the couch after 9 p.m. to watch Caribbean Life. That's just a glimpse of my very interesting life... Showing -This is a fun one....my baby bump is starting to show ;) Cooking - I haven't cooked a whole lot lately...but I just tore out some recipes from the May issue of Real Simple that I'm super pumped about...like this Perfect Chicken Salad {I ♥ chicken salad...a lot} Eating - I am really trying to eat healthy so I don't have another baby the size of Reynolds {9.5 lbs at birth}; Eliza Jane was only 6.5 lbs because I watched much more closely what I ate with her...so here's to small portions of carbs :) Drinking - Water...gone are the days of mimosas... Calling - I haven't called anybody in a while...honestly, the last couple of weeks have been super busy with getting ready for our trip and then being at Disney - it was wild. I did call my mom on Sunday to let her know that no, we were not stuck in the flood on I-95, but that we were in fact home. Texting - Andrew asked me if I wanted a milkshake from Chick-Fil-A, and while I answered … [Read more...]
Tuesday Encouragement From A Working Mom
This week has been way overwhelming for me. Like, WAY. Like, over the top kind of WAY. I legitimately left work yesterday with my heart racing and had to say some major prayers in the two minute ride from my office to daycare to get the kiddos. Thankfully the Lord heard my prayer and did some major work in all of us so that we could have a calm night last night. As I got in the bed, before 9 p.m., mind you, I pulled out my Bible. Where do I turn when the world is just too much? When the weight of "all that I have to do" is enough to make my heart race? When the days are hard and the work is overwhelming. When the kids are screaming banshees on the 15 minute ride home. I read God's word. Matthew 11:29-30: "Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." My burdens at times seem incredibly heavy. And the yoke around my neck, insanely tight. He calls me to loosen my yoke and to lay down my burdens...surrendering all to Him. So as I crawled into the bed, totally exhausted, I pulled out my Bible and opened to Proverbs. I just needed to be in His word after the incredibly hectic day I had...but I recognized that I also need some help with parenting. A few weeks ago our Pastor talked about the difficulty of parenting. And yes, we've had some really difficult nights over the last few months {I think R is over the whole nap-taking thing...}, which has kept us on our knees, and almost brought me to tears a few times. But when our Pastor talked about parenting...he referenced the Proverbs as a great tool for parents. Side-bar: Last night R was actually very good for me. I think partly because his daddy {who was working late} called and told him he needed to be "a good gentleman for momma". So that was his mission. So last night I actually had 2 Bibles...maybe my brain would absorb it … [Read more...]
The Garden, The Curtain & The Cross : An Easter Book
The other night I shared with y'all the treats I picked up for the kids' Easter baskets this year. At the end of the post I mentioned that there was one more book that I had purchased for R & EJ, and was going to share with y'all tonight. This is it: I love the caption at the bottom: The true story of why Jesus died and rose again. Like any good book, you must start at the beginning... In the garden, with Adam and Eve. You know that part...they had everything that was perfection. Then, the snake came on the scene and temptation was not squashed. There was the great "fall". Now sin abounds and there was no remedy. Fast forward a little, to when Jesus was born....he lived a perfect life for us. Then, as Reynolds would say, the "bad guys" got him and put those nails in his hands and that crown of thorns on his head. And hung him on a cross, between two thieves, to die. It's such a great little book, reminding us of the curtain in the temple...and how on that fateful day, it tore! HE gives us access to the Father. "I am the way, and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." - 1 John 14:6 And again, like any great book, there's a perfect ending...the invitation to be with Jesus & God forever...all because of what Jesus did for us. How fitting that I didn't get to post this last night as originally planned, but rather, tonight on Good Friday. He is the Savior of the world. The perfect lamb of sacrifice. He is our Intercessor and greatest of friends. He is the one who makes all things new. Who washes me white as snow, taking away all of my sin. Happy Good Friday friends. I pray your Easter is full of joy and exultations for the One who gave it all. … [Read more...]
This Week : Holy Week
Happy Monday, dear friends! Today when I picked up the kids from daycare, the board in Reynolds' room noted that they started talking about Easter today. As we sat down for supper tonight Andrew and I asked him some questions. He knew the answers. He knew that there were nails driven into Jesus' palms. He knew that there were "bad guys". He knew that Easter is about Jesus {sorry Easter bunny...}. Andrew made a point to tell R that Jesus dying on the cross was for him, for you, for me. He did that for us. This is the start of Holy Week...well, technically it started yesterday with Palm Sunday. This is one of the most important times for those of us who call ourselves "Christian". It's the week we remember all that Jesus went through, including the last supper, Judas' betrayal, Peter's denial, the unjust accusation, and His death on the cross. If you're still not reading She Reads Truth, I entreat you to participate in this somber, yet glorious week. Pastor Russ Ramsey is providing a real-time summary of the weeks' events. As believers in Christ, this is a week to be fully immersed in what He did for us. The sin of the world and all its weight was upon Him as he hung on the cross. Will you join me in walking through Jerusalem, into the Garden of Gethsemane and up to Calvary? … [Read more...]
A Blog About Socks
I love sharing with y'all the real life conversations that are had in the Lucas home. For example...I was running thru this entire blog post in my head tonight as I folded the massive mound of clothes that covered our bed. And as I was coming up with what I thought was a great idea, and grabbed the camera, the peanut gallery walked in. The peanut gallery in this example is none other than the hubs, Andrew. He says to me "Um. Are you writing a blog about....socks?....because that's weird." .................................................. I am even more determined to write a blog about SOCKS now, Burn. :) He has spurred me on toward good things. So here's where I was with all of that before the peanut gallery chimed in and made me think twice about my post. First thing this morning I was reading my devotional from SheReadsTruth - the Lent study. And I was reminded about the Israelites and their grumblings against God. And yet, He provided for them....their every need. And I've thought on that all day. How I grumble about stupid stuff...all day long. And yet, He provides for my every need. Last night at the end of my short post, I encouraged you all to encourage someone today. I had the honor of enjoying coffee with a friend this morning and happy hour with another this evening {that never happens, like ever, y'all.} and I thought about how incredibly blessed I am to have been encouraged by these sweet friends. How, though my friendship tank has been close to the empty line, today's events took me to overflowing. He provided for that need. And then tonight, as I walked into our bedroom and saw that massive mound of clothes that needed to be folded, I thought about that first post I wrote about finding joy in the laundry, not grumbling about it, but rather, finding joy in it. And as I sorted things out, this one pile of socks just kept growing and growing and growing. And while socks can seem like the thorn in my flesh → why are … [Read more...]
Sharing
As a blogger who shares about my faith, I know that there are times when you just feel the Spirit's leading, you sit down and before you know it, you've written a post that is far beyond yourself. My sweet friend Whitney over at Southern Hope contacted me earlier this week, with something heavy on her heart. And a leading from the Lord that she couldn't contain. She's written an incredible heart- and soul-felt post that will tug at your heart. She and her husband left the Mormon church last year. And she's sharing all of what she's discovered in her post this morning. If you know the Savior of the World, you will fall more in love with Him. If you don't know Him....in entreat you to introduce yourself... Whitney's overwhelming joy and love will show you how easy it is to know Him. Here's her post: A Belief in the Savior of the World... Please take a moment to read it and offer her your love and support. … [Read more...]