Grief for God's Glory- Sam and Nia's Viral Video

If you're reading this in 2015, you've likely already seen the Youtube video where a husband (Sam) surprises his wife (Nia) with a positive pregnancy test. The internet loved it- everyone loved it- and it was shared and praised all over Facebook, nationwide news channels and anywhere else you looked.

They post daily vlogs online (similar to blogging, but video and in their case, daily). They were doing this recreationally in addition to working, and suddenly, due tho an unorthodox pregnancy announcement, their channel had millions of viewers.

Then the next day she miscarried.

The whole world did at least one of three things.
1. They ignored it (because it is awkward, confusing and/or sad).
2. Said things like 'why do people share everything on the Internet' and shamed them.
3. Accused them of staging the entire thing (saying that they knew it would go viral and boost their viewership).

And, while I can understand reason #1 and the reasons for ignoring the miscarriage (it's awkward. sad, or just confusing to many people)- I can't stand hearing people say reason #2, a day after they themselves likely shared the hot new video on their own Facebook page. Hearing that you weren't allowed to tell others in the off chance that you might make life a little to real or uncomfortable (for them) has always been a big pet peeve of mine.

And #3 is ridiculous. It's impossible to know when anything you do online will be praised, ridiculed or shared over a million times. Try as I might (and did), HuffPost chose not to accept the article I linked just above. The internet is tricky, and there is a lot of competition out there. And (I'm 100% sure) that anyone who has lost a baby can attest, that hearing her description of actually loosing the baby is spot on. That is something you only learn that when you have truly lost a pregnancy.

Listening to Nia weep for her new understanding of all those who've miscarried with her, explaining the (very literal) physical and emotional relief that sweeps over you when you birth a baby and the feeling of gratitude for the beating heart in her eldest- it slaps modern culture in the face.

In a world where a wanted pregnancy is praised and an unwanted one is discarded...
the mourning of a early pregnancy miscarriage where a heartbeat is lost, that is something that is not even acknowledged or shared. To expect it to be acknowledged as a real event that took place, and offered support and respect is not something offered to those who loose a baby*.

*Except in late pregnancy loss, when the baby is more likely to be accepted for the baby it is, versus medical tissue.

These vloggers have encouraged me, and others as you can see throughout the comments.
They later mention that they feel blessed to have so many new viewers offering comforting words, and know that while the Lord has taken their baby to Heaven he has blessed in another unexpected area. And, I assume, that is where #3 happened, and the conspiracy theorists decided to shame their efforts to be transparent and honest.

I do not nearly have the reach these two do, but the comments I receive when I wrote about my miscarriages, aftermath of dealing with them, and now my pregnancy announcements have meant the world to me. To imagine, while half of their comments are attempting to tear them down, the other half needed are offering prayers and support. The same local television and news sources that told the story of Sam and Nia's pregnancy announcement told a followup story sharing the sad news. But- no one is sharing that or making go viral. It's all but been ignored, outside of the Youtube comments beneath their videos.

But then...Two days later...
Sam tells all their new viewers that while he understands that not all that are watching are believers of Christ, he knows that they need Him. It is short, and of course started an uproar in the comments below- but they did something amazing with the platform that they didn't have even a week prior.



To God be the Glory- in all circumstances.


So tell me...
Have you seen the videos above?
Did you (honestly) feel any of the reactions in #1, #2, or #3?
Were you as thrilled to see the call to Christ as I was?
------I've not seen that until today on a flourishing Youtube channel.




                 
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Hope Sustains Us

Today the writing prompt is hope, a word that I think very fondly of. Hope is such a gift, something that comes as a comfort during a time of drought or pain or uncertainty. Hope sustains many in far off lands, those suffering through war and famine and perhaps just waiting for a living situation to improve. Citizenship and a way to escape to a place where they can just be free.

For many though, hope doesn't come because of big issues, the things like war and famine and oppression. It comes for little moments, when you are scared or need reassurance. This is often overlooked, as if hope is only a gift given to those who really need it. But the rest of the world has been given this as well, a way to cope and to wait. To have some comfort until things are better or are easier to believe. When you hear news of a pending layoff or the test results come back and they want you to come in. When you've been hurt in the past and your heart can't trust just yet.

Every evening I take my Lovenox shot and lean back, absorbing the stinging medicine. And while I see that I am growing on schedule and heard the heartbeat a few days ago, I still cling to hope. Hope that I will soon feel some flutters that will turn to kicks, and hope that I will find some reassurance in them. I sit there, quiet and feel my lower belly. I know that during these moments when I'm asking God to look over my baby, I am exercising hope and prayer and faith. Many times we think that life can only surprise us, as if life is what it is and we cannot prepare for anything. But know that God has built in these gradual moments of anticipation and hope to sustain us when we are scared or uncertain.

I'm sure many of the participants in FMF will be quoting Jeremiah 29:11: For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

And again... this was NOT written to tell you that God desires you to have an easy life. You have to take every verse in context. and this verse was written to Israelites in Babylonian captivity. Not you. Life will be hard, unbearable even for so much of the world, and yes, especially Christians. Many will die in pain and suffering and while it's a sweet thought that God doesn't want this to happen, we must remember that all things are given by God. The plenty and the lacking.

If you really want a scripture about hope, how about Romans 5:3-5:

More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us."

What a wonderful reminder. And even when we can't see hope on the horizon or see the silver lining, we have hope in the cross. The ultimate hope, silver lining or best case scenario. We have the hope and knowledge that even though this world is hard, life with the Lord is something to look forward to.

So tell me...
What have you felt uncertain about recently?
Are there certain times during the day when you are reminded of God's grace and provision?
Has a writing prompt surprised you lately, or made your day?


                 
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Our 2nd Anniversary

May 26, 2015

Two years married today, and I find myself thinking that I am still a huge work in progress- we both are. Learning how to be married to another person, someone who is equally in need of grace and forgiveness as I am is more than a difficult endeavor. It feels like we often fail, but when we succeed it's an amazing feeling. Knowing that we can get through tough times while leaning on one another, and then share so much joy together in the easy days. To immediately call the other when we need to 'think something through' or when we have some amazing news! That they are the ones who we want to take care of and spend our lives encouraging.

Ephesians 5 often reminds me of how we are to operate as a married unit. Every well-oiled machine, every working unit has parts, and they have different roles to fulfill so that that they work together correctly.

There are many times when I think of how I do not deserve such a kind man who puts my needs above his own, but then I remember that his purpose as a husband is exactly that. He is told to cherish me and nurture my growth. To help me grow not just in our relationship together but more importantly, in my own relationship with Christ. To lead our family in a profitable direction and to provide for its survival. Ephesians 5 tells him that he will find find refuge in me, and that we will band together as one for each other.

25Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, 26that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 27so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.^a28In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, 30because we are members of his body. 31“Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” 

When I read that, I feel that he does this to great success. I, on the other hand, am told to submit to my husband, as to the Lord. I am not a quiet woman or one without opinions. I don't sit by and nod in agreement at everything my husband says. But (thankfully), I am not told to be a silent member of our marriage. I am told to submit and understand that in any major crossroads, he makes the final decision. To care for our family and the needs of it's members. Not about what to eat for dinner, or choosing what color to paint a room.

I am however, told to honor and submit myself to my husband. As to the Lord. This means that I am am to have a right understanding of how our marriage is to operate and that my husband is the leader of the house. Oftentimes I fail. I am stubborn and like to hold on to what I've already decided in my head. But, thankfully, I'm learning the beauty of following my husband's leadership, especially knowing that he only has our best in mind.

22Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. 23For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. 24Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands.

I love this verse, despite the worldly hatred of it. It reminds me that while I am cherished by my husband as though I was the church, I must also complete this interaction by respecting and honoring him as the church should honor and obey Christ. This of course doesn't mean that he has right to be overbearing and do harm- to assume that would be have a false understanding of the beauty of this interaction between husband and wife, Christ and the church.

And... if you really compare the husband's duty to the wife's duty... it seems as though I got the easy end of the deal. I already trust him and know he's prayerfully leading our family. If I were to be selfish and 'choose' which role I would prefer (and luckily I've no say in the matter)- I would choose the submissive wife every time. His role of leading and protecting the family undoubtedly comes with much heartache and importance.

I don't always remember to welcome him home and be a comfort to him, I'm working on it. And more importantly, I'm trying to remember that our marriage is a unit that requires a leader and a follower. To be his 'helper' in this world and to follow his lead. While we promised to do that 2 years ago, I'm making a point to remember this vow and invest myself in this role of mine. To submit, honor and be a refuge for him.

The header of this blog is our pinkie promise, as seen above. I love the symbolism of the pinkie promise, a gesture to remind me that our marriage is not something to take for granted. It's a vow to be there continually for each other, and to honor each other through our words and our actions. This blog may have morphed from a newlywed-reflection type blog to much more, but the pinkie promise still hold true in every aspect of it.

And this year for our 2nd Anniversary, we continued our tradition of  taking a
picture in a place where we had wedding photos taken. 

Check out our 1st Anniversary post here: 12 Things Learned Our First Year of Marriage

                 
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Opened Doors

Whenever one door closes another one opens.

That's how the saying goes, right? We had been trying to get pregnant for about 4 months when we learned that my husband's job was outsourcing his and several other departments in his company to Oregon.

Despite the troubling news and a somewhat uncertain future, we knew that we would keep trying to have a baby (versus putting it on hold). Knowing that it has taken a few years to get to this point, and knowing it could take a few more years of trying before we are blessed with a child. If strings were going to be tight, let them be tight.

God will provide, and something will turn up. When one door closes after all.

Last night I learned that the rest of the company (those who are staying in New York) are moving to a the new office building tomorrow. And my husband is going with them. A door opened, because my husband hustled and promoted himself to other department heads, because God ordained it. And a position was created for him.

Proof that our time isn't best spent fretting over the how, but believing that all will be provided if you're willing to do some work. I thank God that he has provided me with an industrious husband who understands God's providence in his life but also understand that we must be diligent in the opportunities we're given.

So tell me...
Where have you seen doors open for you?
Have you ever been shocked by a seemingly simple fix?


                 
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The Problem with Tomorrow, Tomorrow

Just thinkin' about tomorrow
Clears away the cobwebs and the sorrow 'til there's none
When I'm stuck with a day that's grey and lonely
I just stick up my chin and grin and say, oh
The sun will come out tomorrow....

I would have to disagree with Annie on this one. It's a popular belief, to look to ourselves for happiness. And, when times are hard and there is pain and suffering in your life, the notion that all the bad will be gone tomorrow is a temporary comfort. One that puts hope in the fact that pure chance dictates where we go and what circumstances come our way (only when things are bad though, when things are going well- we totally did that). 

I'm firmly in the camp of everything working to show the glory of God, and there are many verses to this effect.

-----------

In the good times:
For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, “For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I might show my power in you, and that my name may be proclaimed in all the earth.” (Romans 9:17)

How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and do not seek the glory that comes from the only God? (John 5:44)

And in suffering:
“Now is my soul troubled. And what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour?’ But for this purpose I have come to this hour. Father, glorify your name.’ Then a voice came from heaven, ‘I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again’ (John 12:27-28).

-----------

Tomorrow isn't always just a day away, nor will it clear away the sorrow until there's none. I'm sure many would say that I'm reading too much into this classic tune from Annie, but I know a lot of people who are strong proponents of the 'what if' and 'if only' statements.

Truth be told, we should be thrilled that whatever hand we are dealt. It might not be the easiest, but it's to mold us into the image of Christ. To become more patient, more conscious of our spending for a season or two, or perhaps to bring us on our knees to Him. To experience loss or have us remember that everything on this Earth will end. Whatever the reason, any suffering or sorrow that may be had is because it brings all the glory on God, which is eternally ours if we want it.

It's a nice sentiment, but putting your hope in tomorrow will inevitably leave you disappointed. 

                 
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Things Might Not Go According to (My) Plan

Sometimes I feel behind schedule in life.

My 10 year high school reunion is supposed to be in a few months, which we all know is about seeing where everyone has ended up. Did the jocks make it pro like they aspired? Did the cheerleader end up with the perfect life as we all expected? And..... how will I answer the questions "what have you done in the past 10 years?" I have plenty to say, about going to college and more so about moving to New York, but needless to say, I'm stumped on how to explain our current stage of life.

Considering how New Yorkers are known for fast talking and fast walking pace of life, they tend to put family and relationships after their career, getting that set up and established first. Many of our friends will not likely settle down until their early 30s due to education demands or career advances.

In contrast to now being one of those faster talkers/walkers, the country side of me feels behind schedule. It seems as though my friends in the country are on their 3rd or 4th baby, buying a house, or selling their first. We were the first to get married in our NYC group, but I'm sure many of our Pennsylvania guests have been tapping their watches.

And now, with this delay in a baby. I understand that we look like we're enjoying a comfortable lifestyle on purpose.

We're the perfect DINK (dual income no kids) couple. And, as the Wikipedia page describes (yes, DINK really is established, having it's own wiki page)...

It describes a high-earning couple who do not have children yet and are therefore able to afford a more expensive consumer lifestyle.

"When are you going to settle down and have kids?" we're asked even now, and immediately I feel like replying that we are working on it. Which is creepy, because it's telling people what goes on in the bedroom. I guess a better way to put it would be to say that we go on trips and out to dinner as a way to be a couple while we are childless. Or, we would rather sit at home and watch our child drool instead of going on vacation. Would rather host playdates at our house instead of game night/dinner parties. And, immediately following God and our relationship with each other, children are what we desire most.

But it's a hard thing to understand, not getting what you want when you want it. This is America, in the 21st century. Immediate gratification and if not..... how do we fix it? The belief that we will see our plans come into reality is such a modern day belief, we even try to find some reassurance that things will happen from scripture.

I'm sure everyone will be quoting Jeremiah 29:11:
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

And again... this was written to NOT telling you that God desires you to have an easy life. You have to take every verse in context. and this verse was written to Israelites in Babylonian captivity. Not you.

But there are verses to help me understand that things might NOT go according to my plan.
He tells me they are going to go by His plan, and that if I seek him first, and find shelter in his grace, I will be satisfied in any outcome.

Psalm 18:30
As for God, his way is perfect: The LORD's word is flawless; he shields all who take refuge in him.
Matthew 6:33
But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

This is a hard thing to explain to the "when are you settling down and having children" crowd, but it's enough for me.

So tell me...
Have you ever gone to a reunion and encountered this?
And have you ever dealt with explaining infertility to others?
What did you say/do?

Gathering Together in Church

I mentioned last week that we're gearing up for a busy season of traveling and being visited in our home. One person mentioned that it sounds like we run a tourism business out of our home. And, this is true. We love having people over and showing them places they either haven't seen before or spending time with them in our home. And, because most come on Saturday and leave late on Sunday, we take them to church.

Bet you didn't expect that huh? Neither do they, usually. Despite getting an itinerary with "Church" written on it.
Like we're joking.

Some of our guests don't like this, saying they came to see Manhattan, not a pulpit. A few love it, and then there are the majority who are fine attending as a novelty. A one-time fee they pay us for free room-a-board in a place where a hotel room is expensive. But since most of our visitors say that they are Christians, (they tend to be of the non-practicing, non-fruitbearing variety) it's not surprising they don't attend services, hear the preaching of the Word, or have church family. And they defend this tooth and nail, telling us all about how church membership is not required, and they are happy to be homeless Christians.

You might not believe you are sinning by being a homeless Christian, but you are being unwise and not heeding the Word on this matter.

Ephesians 5:19 
addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart,

Colossians 2:2 
that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God’s mystery, which is Christ

1 Corinthians 12:12 
For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ.

Going to church on Sundays, attending bible studies, meeting with other women for coffee and even having them as Facebook friends has drastically improved my walk with the Lord. Before finding a church family to worship with- I had only a few areas in my life dedicated to God. Bible reading in the morning, prayer before meals and before bed. But when you are enjoying the company of other godly women and listening to biblical preaching- it's a support network, a blessing we are given from God, to help us be comforted in our Christian walk.

For those who attend with us and are not regenerated, we pray that God reaches them that day or in the future. 

And for those who are homeless Christians, we hope to instill a sense of longing. A desire to have a loving family of believers, where at least once a week we can run and seek refuge. This is not a Christian world, and while you can't 'loose your faith' once you truly have it, you will be severely limited in your growth by being a homeless Christian.

So tell me....
Were you ever a homeless (and proud) Christian like I was?
Do you have guests over, and take them to church?
How have you seen personal growth since finding a church family?

G3 Conference 2015

Yesterday I introduced the act of attending the conference, which sorely was lacking in sleep but thankfully plentiful in coffee. Three days later, I left to fly home- having a greater appreciation for God and the preservation of His Word, but also for all the cogs and gears that function within the church. The speakers spoke on all kind of topics, from preaching to Creation to defending the Bible. 

Like I said yesterday, many attendees came for the topics that most interested them. We attended every one and soaked it all in (hence the sleep deprivation). And, in this day of technology, it's incredibly easy to go back and revisit the sessions with the videos (embedded from the G3 website) and some notes below. 

All of the lectures were different from the others (James White is a debator and not a preacher, so he leans toward teaching about defending the Bible, while Richard Owen Roberts is a commanding revivalist, who will move an entire sanctuary to sit on the edge of their seats).

I would really encourage you to watch the sessions, and if you want to look at my notes, they are below each video. See below the videos for an abridged biography on each speaker, taken from the G3 Conference website.

Keep in mind that while I'm normally a happy little note taker, towards the end of the conference (really, after the first day of not sleeping) I was trying to just focus, and give the coffee in my veins a fighting chance.

My First Conference!

On January 22, 23 and 24th, Tom and I traveled to Atlanta Georgia with my in-laws for the 2015 G3 Conference. Being my first ever conference, I didn't know what to expect. I soon realized that it reminded me of a summer camp, orientation at college, and (since this was a Christian conference) church. Since I love heavily structured events (really, I do. No implied sarcasm), I am thoroughly sold on the idea of attending a conference every year.

The G3 Conference is held every year at Prays Mill Baptist Church, 20 minutes outside of Atlanta. Every year they have a different topic, and I loved that this year's topic was The Bible.

Many of the attendees lived in the general area and drove to attend, and have attended every year that it has been held. Many of those people pick and chose the sessions that they felt pertain to them orthat they are most interested in. We soon realized that we were likely the only attendees who came and stayed for every single session. Which meant that we were arriving each day at 7:30am for breakfast and staying thru until the last session ended at 9:30pm. We became the official sponsor of Starbucks and Dunkin' Donuts that week.

Tomorrow I will be posting the conference session videos, along with some notes and information from each session. 

For a quick taste of what was discussed during the conference, I took this blurb from the G3 Conference website:

2015 G3 Conference – “The Bible is the Word of God”

The church of Jesus Christ in every generation is given the weighty charge to proclaim and preserve the Word of Truth.  What we believe about the Bible will shape how we live, how we worship, and how we seek to educate our children and grandchildren.  Have you considered the lack of Bible reading in a typical worship service in our present day?  Have you talked with your friends outside of your church about their family worship patterns?  If you use the word “catechism” outside of a church or conference setting today, you may receive strange looks of complete confusion.  The fact is, we are living in a day where the Bible has become the most popular book of history and yet the most irrelevant book among the culture. God has breathed out His Word.  Preachers have proclaimed God’s Word.  Martyrs have died to preserve God’s Word.  Today, we don’t have an option to relax when it comes to the inerrancy, authority, sufficiency, veracity, infallibility, and holiness of God’s Word.

So tell me...

Have you ever attended a conference?
Would you recommend any, or did you generally not enjoy the format?

         and..

One month after the event, is this post ridiculously late or what?

When it's Not My Turn

When is it my turn?
How selfish of me, to immediately think the above when I saw that today's topic is "when".

As if I am lacking in the important things (food, warmth, family, shelter, employment, and of course my salvation). I have everything I need, and plenty that I do not. But still, I want more. I want to have children. I want to feel healthy and not often have migraines, colds, aches. I want to have a successful blog, with minimal work. I want to to be a great entrepreneur, or even to have any idea where I fit in this category. I want to get a foot into many doors that I haven't even knocked on.

Or, maybe I have knocked. Even so, when the door isn't immediately opened I get upset, frustrated and begin doubting myself. But.. God. He commands us to not worry and be content with our position in life. They say that you are the company you keep, and I'd have to say that since living in New York that I do feel the pressure and the constant 'go' of society pulling me forward. It's almost like a string tied around my waist, pulling me too fast towards the things that the world thinks I should desire. I would love to cut the string.

I would love to be the woman who is content with what she has, and I remember once being that woman, back when I didn't have so much. It's sad how sin-filled we are that the more we have the more we want. God, bring me back to the place of contentment. To enjoy the cup of tea and crisp mornings. To still gather joy from the simple ability to travel, to visit family and to see my mother this weekend. To spend time with her and not have 10 other things in my head threatening to distract me.

I do see the 'peace that passes understanding' when times get hard. I lean on Him, and know that even if this world were pass away, I'm going to a far better place. If I get sick or lose my job, there is a greater good that this is serving, in glorifying God in some way. Yet when times aren't all that hard I lean less on him and more on my own ambitions. I pray that I can leave it all at Jesus' feet and remember the joy in being content with the here and now.

So tell me...
Do you ever feel like you're losing contentment?
Do you live in a large city or in the country, how do you feel it influences you?

Keep On...

Keep On Keeping On
I'm about 80% of the way through the Bible. I decided in 2014 that my resolution would be to follow the "Read the Bible in a Year" plan, and although I'm a past the deadline, I'm plowing through it and hope to finish it by April but I often find myself overwhelmed when I am behind schedule, and have often thought of ditching this plan.

I'm not the best when it comes to completing something once I've begun to fall behind schedule (such as the Rosetta Stone experiment of 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015). But, I'm so close. And being a Christian married to a man who aspires to be in the ministry, it's almost a shame I haven't yet read the entire Bible cover to cover.

But, I can see the light at the end of the tunnel, the finish line is in sight! I'm excited that I continued to work at it even though I missed the year mark. Sometimes it's worth doing something right, and pushing through to get to the results. And, it'll be just one more item knocked off my 30x30 list!

Keep Calm and Carry On
My period should have arrived today, but hasn't. And, unlike months prior (over-analyzing and peeing on a ton of tests), I'm waiting until Sunday (2 more days) to test. For the average woman with the average 28 day cycle, I could test today and get a positive test. But since I am irregular, and my body has played tricks on me before, I'm giving it more time. I still have no clue when I ovulated, since my cycles now run anywhere from 31 days to 37 days.

And to be blatantly honest, we were sharing a hotel in Georgia with Tom's parents every. single. day. that I should've been ovulating. The odds aren't exactly in our favor, and I really don't want to get my hopes up and that starts the minute I remove the first test from it's box.

Keep calm.... don't pee on the test.... and carry on.

Keep On Fighting the Good Fight
Have you ever wondered where the phrase "Keep on Fighting the Good Fight" came from? I'm currently in 2 Timothy, and just recently read these words. So, upon seeing the prompt of "Keep" I knew it would definitely require a mention. I love this phrase, but we oftentimes use it today as "Just keep trying" or "don't give up". But, it was written from Paul to Timothy, instructing him to keep steadfastly teaching the truth and opposing heretical teachers. It's amazing how a Biblical command can be taken, twisted, and said to mean whatever we feel at the time. Of course, this new but it is very sad.

We must fight the good fight, and spread the Word of God in some shape or form. It's not a secret we keep for ourselves, we are told to share it. I write online, and feel that this is where I should tell the truth.

This blog began as a simple place to write, to get words out and I've enjoyed it in that context. But, if you've followed along lately, Christian and Bible-centered topics have made more of a presence, and I'm in the midst of trying to re-brand this space and migrate to WordPress. I have no idea what I'm doing yet, but do know that I want to put a distinct focus on Christ (as well as on marriage and infertility).

So tell me...
Have you ever had to keep on......?
What are you doing now that required dedication or determination?
And.... any tips for the move to WordPress?

Stop Waiting for Life's Handouts

Cue the elevator music, because when you're stuck between floors in life, you might often feel like you have to wait things out. Life isn't like that, and in most circumstances, we have work on ourselves to see the change we want.

Illness, debt, character flaws, our physical shape. 

Where we live, how we live, and who we live with.

Our relationships with others and our relationship with God. 

When has passively waiting for your credit score to rise, waistline to shrink or personal relationships to improve actually worked? Have you ever woken up with a burning desire to deny yourself an extra hour of sleep, just to get your Bible reading in for the day? No, you had to dedicate yourself to these things.They all take immense amounts of discipline, and waiting around for our life to improve without any effort on our part is foolish and neglectful.

Yesterday I found myself in a conversation with a college friend whom I've fallen away from. We rarely talk, but when we do have the yearly check-in, we inevitably make our way over to her desire to improve upon the hard things in life. And I always bring up being responsible for your own life. And then, the gospel.

I am not saying that we have chosen to have a chronic illness or a toxic relationship with someone. Sometimes those things happen. They might be put in place to test our resolve, and in the grand scheme, bring us to God on our knees. Sometimes those things improve our view of the world and make us who we need to be. After all, as Voddie Baucham said last week at the conference "the only way you get your "Best Life Now" is if you go to Hell when you die."

Life is not meant to be easy, (and Osteen is incredibly wrong in suggesting that it should be). You will have to go through hardship, and when you do, don't assume it's because you didn't pray hard enough or give enough money to a certain ministry.

And, since I have you here...  Jeremiah 29:11 is NOT telling you that God desires you to have an easy life. You have to take every verse in context. and this verse was written to Israelites in Babylonian captivity. Not you.

Financial woe often follows irresponsible spending and saving. Relationship problems often follow a stubborn, controlling or (insert any personality flaw) attitude. The fact that you fall away from people might be because you neglected the relationship and some things can't be easily mended. The reason you have diabetes might be because of poor eating habits. And, most importantly (and hard to swallow), if you follow the way of this world, you can easily be led to pain and suffering.

Without God, we are put on Earth to consume what we have and have fun doing so. Irresponsible sex, drugs, self-serving actions easily fit in with that worldview. With our eyes focused on God, we are here to glorify him, which is all we ever want and truly take joy in. Unless your life is centered on God, life will be a series of stressful events that we can only aspire and fail to fix on our own.

The conversation ended fairly quickly once I started being honest. And, while I left upset for my friend, she knows that if she asks for my opinion or is seeking a way to 'fix' everything- I'm sticking to my beliefs. And, right behind my faith in God is my belief that we can't just wait for things to improve. You need to do the work.

So tell me...
How do you tell someone what their life reflects the choices and the intentional care that they've put in it?
How do you tell them to quit waiting for life to turn lemons into lemonade, to be intentional about life?

Sharing is Caring

I'm away at the G3 Conference, and while I almost missed this prompt, I wanted to invite you to follow me on all the pertinent social media places...... 

Where I've been SHARING (see, that's the prompt right there) some of the amazing sermons, photos and quotes that have happened so far.

Twitter.com/farinvazquez

Instagram.com/farinvazquez

So tell me...

What social media outlets do you have that I should check out or subscribe to?

I'll be recapping all the amazing speakers when I get back home, but until then,check out the conference's archives from the past few days at http://new.livestream.com/g3conference.

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Every Friday hundreds join the Five Minute Fridays writing flash mob, 

where bloggers get together to write on a common topic. No extreme editing; 

no worrying about perfect grammar, font, or punctuation. 

Unscripted. Unedited. Real.

American Idol, Alligator Meat, and the G3 Conference

1. American Idol is back for a 14th season. Are you watching? Have you ever watched? If you were to audition for the show (or were made to audition), what song would you sing?
I remember having last followed the show when I was in high school, when it was the 'new thing' and everyone was arguing about backing either Ruben Studdard or Clay Aiken. I remember that the students made signs, along the lines of "You'll be cruisin' for a bruisin' if you don't choose Ruben." And, when Clay won, no "bruisin's" were issued. Can't say I follow it anymore, but does anyone else remember that creepy song Clay Aiken put out afterwards? Every stalker must have nodded their head in agreement. If only they were invisible...

2.  Mark Twain is quoted as saying, "If it's your job to eat a frog, it's best to do it first thing in the morning. And if it's your job to eat two frogs, it's best to eat the biggest one first."
I've never eaten frog, I'm just not adventurous with my protein. I did eat alligator tenders in Florida a few years ago, does that count? Thankfully, I'm pretty sure Mark Twain is talking about tackling your most dreaded task first, to get it over with.

3. If you were going on safari, what is the number one animal you'd want to see?
Giraffe? I've never thought about it, I'd might actually be more interested in the scenery. Weird, I know.

4. January 21st is National Granola Bar Day. I know. Do you like granola bars? Chewy or crunchy? Your favorite flavor? How about regular granola? Let's exhaust this topic in honor of the holiday okay?
I'm not really into granola but I do know I hate the crunchy kinds that crumble everywhere and make a mess. And chewy just seem more satisfying. Who comes up with these "National" Days? How do I submit a day?

5. If only__________________________________________.
"If only" is a phrase I tend to avoid. If you are upset about the past, there's no sense in worrying over it. If you want to change something about yourself, get to it. Or is there another "if only" group that I'm missing?

6. You can add one item to your bedroom. What will it be?
Space! We live in small NYC apartment, and although this is the norm I still feel our bedroom should have more room. In contrast to some of the other city apartments, we're blessed to have a proper bedroom. We can even walk around the bed. Carefully.

7. What is one thing you've enjoyed about winter thus far? If it's not winter in your corner of the globe, what season is it, and what is something you've enjoyed about whatever season it happens to be?
Good question- despite still not loving the cold, I've enjoyed snow tubing the most. We went with the family this weekend on our 2nd Annual Snow Tubing trip (I'm all about creating 'annual trips!) and had a blast.

8.  Insert your own random thought here.
I'm flying to Atlanta tonight! The G3 Conference is Thursday through Saturday and Tom, his parents, sister and I are flying out tomorrow. We're excited to attend our first large-scale conference, all about the Gospel, Grace and Glory. We're excited to see all the speakers, some being Paul Washer, Steven J. Lawson, Voddie Baucham, James White, Tim Challies, and Josh Buice. I know Tom's been gearing up for James White, watching his debates on Youtube.

So tell me...

Have you embraced winter yet?

Have you ever tried alligator meat?
Do you follow any of the speakers mentioned above?

Christmas- The Who, What, Where and Why

This past Saturday I was able to go see our church's annual Christmas Program. The program changes every year, but it always shows our need for Jesus to be born, and die for us. It really got to me, how it explained the entirety of the Who, What, When and Why of Christmas. For those of us who know the story, I'd encourage you to summarize it (as I have below). It makes you realize how big this plan was, and how dramatic these times were for those living them. And, if you know someone who might not be saved or read their Bible, this is a 'easy' and possibly less intimidating summary of Christmas, and why his birth is so celebrated and important.

Who?
     Who was Jesus? Jesus was God, born as the "other Adam", "the Word became flesh". God came to this Earth and he dwelt among us.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  He was in the beginning with God.  All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. John 1:1-3 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:14. And now, Father,  glorify me in your own presence with the glory  that I had with you  before the world existed. John 17:5.

What?
     What happened on Christmas Eve is found mainly in Luke and Matthew. God sends an angel to tell a young girl (Mary) that she will give birth to the Savior. She was (not surprisingly) terrified, until the angel told her that she's been chosen because she has found favor with God. Joseph, her betrothed, was perplexed when she told him she was pregnant, and felt like a town joke. Being engaged to be married was like a new marriage in that culture at the time, and it was as if his new wife cheated, got pregnant and all before he had a chance to even lie with her (since being engaged they still have a time of separation from each other). He considers divorcing her, that is until an angel comes to tell him what Mary said was true. She was carrying the son of God, and that he should still keep the marriage contract.

In the sixth month [of Elizabeth, her cousin's pregnancy- see verses 1-25], the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth,  to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary.  And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!”  But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be.  And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.  And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus.  He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David,  and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”    And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?”    And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God.  And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her. Luke 1:26-35

Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit.  And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly.  But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.  She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”  All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet:     “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us). Matthew 18:23

Where?
     When it came time for Mary to give birth, a census was ordered from Caesar Augustus for all in his lands to visit their place of birth to be registered. Despite living in Nazareth, Joseph had been born in Bethlehem so a long trip was ordered. They eventually reach the city of Bethlehem to find all the rooms and places to give birth were occupied (as all the towns were filled with visitors, coming for the census). One innkeeper offers his stable, which was at least a form of shelter.

In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered.  This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria.  And all went to be registered, each to his own town.  And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David,  to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child.  And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth.  And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. Luke 1:1-7

Shepherds in the fields were visited by an angel, telling them that their Savior had been born, and where to find him.

And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.  And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear.  And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.  For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.  And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” Luke 2: 8-12

They left their fields and traveled to find him as they were told. Leaving, they told everyone what had happened, praising and glorifying God, and people listened to their words.

And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child.  And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them.  And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them. Luke 1:17-18, 20

Why?
     Why is this so important? Jesus was a gift to us, sent to not only teach us about God but to die for our sins. Jesus being born on Christmas essentially pre-paid the fines of everyone in whole. God won't let sinners into Heaven. Being a just judge, he requires payment for our sins. We could never pay this fine so Jesus was a gift given to us, by God, to live among us and die by our hands. Everytime that we take His name in vain or lie or get angry at the driver ahead of us, we condemn ourselves further.

In the Old Testament, we were commanded to shed the blood of a lamb (or other animals). However. that was a tedious, never-ending sacrifice. One minute, you'd be sacrificing a lamb on an alter to God for you sins. Then, walking home, you'd stub your toe, swear, and have to find another lamb to sacrifice.  They only thing we need to do is redeem that payment by asking forgiveness and repenting (turning away from that sinful life). And, because of this gift, you desire nothing more than to live a life that would glorify God.

If you're like us, and are having people over tonight- watch The Nativity Story here. My favorite version since it isn't a hollywood movie that glosses over and changes the facts (but is still captivating).

Interested in reading more?
Holy Week- the chain of events, arriving on a bed of palm branches to walking his cross to Calvary.
The Most Important News- The "Why" in this article, but explained with more detail
Also,
What do you adore, this Christmas season?
Preparing yourself for Christmas


So tell me...
Have you ever wanted Bible 'cliff notes' for yourself or for others?
What are the ways you remember the Christmas story?
Have you seen The Nativity Story?

What do you adore?

Inuit people (aka 'Eskimos') have an extensive vocabulary dedicated to describe snow. English is a bit more rigid. "Love" for example, can mean so many things. And we use it so frequently that it's meaning is now diluted. 

"I love you." (without a glance at your loved one, while texting).
"I love when the bus gets to the bus stop at the same time I do."
"I love that perfume."
"I love snow."
"Love that."
"Lovely." (said sarcastically)

But what do you adore?

a·dore

əˈdô(ə)r/

1. love and respect (someone) deeply.

   synonyms: love dearly, love, be devoted to, dote on, hold dear, cherish, treasure, prize, think the world of
2. worship; venerate.
   synonyms: worship, glorify, praise, revere, reverence, exalt, extol, venerate, pay homage to

"I adore that sweater."
No, you don't! And if you do spend your spare hours thinking about what your sweater is doing at that moment, if it's safe and when you get to see it again- something is wrong with you. We've been designed to adore people. Family, close friend, new loves and spouses. Our children. God.

O Come Let Us Adore Him. Christ the Lord.

Those singing those words, speaking one to another were devoted, praising and en route to pay homage. They couldn't help it, their Lord was born that day. Impossible to stay away, impossible to ignore the truth. Much in the way you can't imagine being away from your new love or your newborn child- you can't stay away from God. If you adore them, you desire to be with them constantly.

So tell me...
Have you found yourself adoring him?
Are you as frustrated as I am, with people 'adoring' inanimate objects?

Roadtrip to Creation Museum

A few weeks ago we drove from New York to Indiana (and back) in 3 days. And normally, I would NEVER consider such a hard trip, since I'm a wuss and hate being in a car for 15 hour stretches. But, we wanted to visit the Creation Museum for a while, and also to see a part of the country we've never seen before.

Remember how I said I wanted to take a roadtrip? Well mission accomplished. New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Kentucky. And a few minutes in West Virginia and Indiana. Driving though still counts in my book :) Looks like I can knock one more item off my 30 by 30 list!

Our hotel was in Kentucky near the museum so we drove straight there. There were about 50 unscheduled bathroom/coffee/snack/leg-stretch breaks. So, despite Google's 10 hour prediction, we tacked on an additional 5 hours. Somehow. I'm still a little fuzzy on how that all happened.

We left NYC at 3 in the morning on July 4th (you know, to beat traffic) with a full car including Tom, Tom's parents, sister, grandmother, aunt and I. So, a 15-hour drive with a car full of my in-laws. Although I might love them, it is draining. It's hard to keep up with them. They talk fast, often in Spanish (because of Grandma), and since everyone has differences and quirks I often found myself stressed out.

If you are local, the Museum was incredibly easy to get to. If Tom and I were more local, we'd be season pass holders since it was that good. So, once you arrive and park you'll be greeted by a massive building and a large dinosaur.

Once inside you see that they really stuck with the general "dinosaur" theme in their lobby and cafe areas. Which could be confusing at first since dinosaurs are thought of when people speak against Creationism.

Friday Five: Five Inspiring Bloggers

Good Morning!

Today I thought I'd share some of my favorite bloggers for those who are looking for some new reads. I know I regularly update my RSS feeds, so here's a list of some bloggers who I've found to be inspiring lately.

Not my Will, But Yours

So often I choose my will. God knows that I spend much of my time planning what should happen in my life- what will happen tomorrow and what will happen in 5, even 20 years. Life never goes according to plan, and when it strays from my course I often get upset. Something I really need to work on. 

But God says to us that we are to rely on him, and him alone. Why then do I sink so much time and energy into planning a life that is not my own? I profess that I would follow him wherever led, and then go back to planning where I will take myself. And, if we did solely rely on ourselves to propel us through this life, we would burn out so quick. What then? Would we then cry out, asking God to get us through? I know I would, so this really drives it home to me that I need to rely on him in all things. 

I think that planning and being the ultimate decider of our lives has been glorified in recent years.