One Example

I know there are many examples of how not to waste your life. This is just one that left me speechless.




This is a quote from her book...

"This is what my loving Father taught me every day of the last year, this beauty in the process. That while a healed and whole family is a marvelous thing to behold, the process that got us there is where He was most glorified and where He drew us to Himself. That a wound all healed and covered with smooth new skin is not nearly as wonderful as the relationship that was built while I bandaged that wound everyday for 8 months and cried tears and laughed stories of my Savior. That dreams die and plans change and seasons end, but He is not done yet. He sees the seeds that come with all the endings and He is faithful to turn them into harvest, into beauty."

I think she has wisdom beyond her years.

Be a blessing,
Jen

Inspired by Loss...

Yesterday I lost a friend.


Not to death. Just lost the friendship. Have you ever lost a friend? This has never happened to me before.


I am the peacekeeper.


I don't like strife.


I am the cold water on a hot situation.


The mediator.


Switzerland.


So how does a peacekeeper lose a friend?


It gives me pause to think about what I need in a friend. We all want our friends to be a certain way but what do we need them to be?


Do they have to be a believer? Do they have to be walking and growing in their faith? If they are not either of these, will they draw me away from my faith and prevent my own personal growth and walk with the LORD?


I am forever grateful to one man who inspired me to memorize the whole of Romans 12. I can still recite most of it though not in complete order. But one verse really struck me and still resonates with me today...


Romans 12:18 "If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men."


Paul doesn't leave much wiggle room. He leaves the ball in your court. It's your job (my job in this case) to be at peace with all men.


So how can you be at peace with all men when you have been shut out of all form of communication?


My answer relies on what Paul says..."if possible". There it is. The answer to my struggle.


At this point, I must give it over to God.


Last night I was lying in bed awake knowing I needed to meditate on the word of God before heading off into what could have been a sleepless night.....if I didn't let go.


I landed on James 3:17-18 "But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy. And the seed whose fruit is righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace."


Wow! What a humbling passage to land on because in this situation I really wanted to lash back and say "this is not my fault!" But the word of God says differently. Very differently.


I once did a study entitled Conversation Peace by Mary Kassian. It was phenomenal. It was basically about how to communicate in a loving, Christ-like, God-glorifying manner in order avoid situations such as the loss of a friendship...relationship...marriage.


It was life impacting.


It was convicting.


I highly recommend it!


Have you ever thought that what you don't like in some people tend to be the very things you struggle with?

When I see someone behaving a certain way or speaking a certain way, I often ask myself if I have ever done the exact same thing. And very often the answer is a resounding "YES"! And even more often I am generally a frequent violator of said action.


Whew!


The reality of seeing yourself in the mirror of someone else and not liking what you see can spring yourself to serious action.


On New Year's Day, our Pastor gave an extremely heartfelt sermon. You could see the grief on his face as he was sharing his soul. He wanted us to know the importance of reading the bible daily. It was the perfect sermon to give on the most perfect day of the year. A day when most people either resolve to do something different in the new year or set a goal in order to do something different....something to improve your life in some way. You would be blessed to listen to his sermon.


It was life impacting.


It was convicting.


I highly recommend it!


Have you ever thought through what your real purpose on this earth might be? Is it just to live righteously and therefore prosper? Is it just to pray daily so that you can get what you want in life? Or is it to struggle to live your faith so boldly that the world around you will be impacted?


Our last small group study was on John Piper's book called "Don't Waste Your Life". You can download a copy for free onto your computer, ipad or iphone. If you know me, I am generally skeptical of Christian books other than the bible; especially ones with big words that make me feel not so smart. However, after pushing through the first few chapters of this book, I came upon the greatest journey of learning. What an eye opening book. I have lived the first 37 years of my life by wasting it on so many occasions. This book gets the double wow-factor to inspiring growth.


It was life impacting.


It was convicting.


I highly recommend it!



So back to the original theme of the post.


Losing a friendship.


After such life-impacting material perhaps I have changed? For the better?

Maybe.

I hope so.

But not perfect by any means.


Now to unleash previously mentioned pause of what I need in a friend....If I can determine what I need in a friend perhaps I can open the doors to what kind of friend I need to be.


• I need a friend who is kind. Plain and simple.
• I need a friend who will be honest in a loving way and Matthew 18 me when I walk astray.
• I need a friend who will give me the benefit of the doubt.
• I need a friend who will intentionally pray for me.
• I need a friend who will love me just as I am.
• I need a friend who genuinely cares.
• I need a friend who seeks peace daily.
• I need a friend who can have great Conversation Peace with me.
• I need a friend who will vow with me to not waste our lives.
• I need a friend who loves God first above all else.
• I need a friend who can grant grace when I mess up.


I need to be this kind of friend to everyone. And this is a pretty big list to maintain over the lifetime of a friendship...that's why I have the last one where it is. I will need grace granted to me often. I am a sinner saved by grace. That's who I am.


In closing, this past December my husband and I celebrated our 15th wedding anniversary. He is such a good friend to me. He is exactly the friend that I need. I am so blessed to be married to a man like him.


That's the end of bearing my soul about friendships.


Praying you have a friend in your life like this!


Be a blessing,


Jen

These are a Few of My Favorite Things, Part I

A little shout out to my all time favorite musical..... The Sound of Music .....in case you weren't immediately jolted up right and shouting "when the dog bites, when the bee stings, when I'm feeling sad. I simply remember by favorite things and then I don't feeeeel soooooooo baaaaad!"

Yes, I was singing as I was writing. It's a gift really.

Anyway, I have had this on-going list of "my favorite things" on my desk that I have been meaning to post for several weeks now; Truthfully probably more than a month. But the upside to procrastination is that I have been able to add to the list as more things pop in my head.

I always find that I am way behind on a lot of the coolest and hippest and hottest "things" and always wonder why people don't share their cool finds. I am up for sharing so here it goes....

Well not actually. I should get out in the open that these are a few of my favorite "things" not "people". So I'll go ahead and quickly post some of my favorite "people" and then get on with the "things".

A few of my favorite people....

Now on with the "things". (Sorry for all the quotation marks but they are kind of fun.).....

Life is Art Creations is one of my new favorite finds. The best way to describe them is to show you an example of what they do.

We ordered one for each of our boys with their own special verse as well as a 10th Anniversary Canvas for our company. Some of which are featured on their website. You can read more about their story here. They were wonderful to work with and very affordable. They often run specials which you can know more about my liking them on their Facebook page.


We started using the Jesse Tree Advent Book this past December. It was a great way to keep the focus of Christmas on Jesus and not "things" under a Christmas tree. I believe you have to subscribe to Ann Voskamp's blog in order to gain access to the book but her blog is completely worth it!

The Cradle to the Cross wreath was a center piece on our table this past December and remains their still. It was a constant visual reminder of the coming birth of Jesus and can also be used for the time leading up to His death on the cross as well as His ascension. Ann Voskamp's children make these wreaths and when I purchased mine, 100% of the profits went to Compassion which is another one of my favorite things. I am not sure if this is still the case.

A friend forwarded me her friends blog, Table tops truths, where they make special placemats that are designed to be used as a springboard to biblical knowledge, spiritual growth and great family conversations.

Moment of truth, I have not gotten around to ordering any yet so I cannot attest to their durability but I love the concept and will be ordering some.

One day I ran across Made On Skin Care Products as I was looking for a way to help my #2 son with his eczema that flares up during the winter months. I purchased her ebook and went to work on making my own hard lotion bars. These dry winters are so harsh and these bars are so great. Genius really! It has helped my son so much this winter. We use them for hands and feet as well.

Just three great ingredients; Beeswax, shea butter and coconut oil. There is also a whipped lotion that you can make from her ebook that we also love and is made from shea butter and coconut oil. It is a real blessing that she publishes these ebooks with her recipes so that we can make them at home. Some of you may have been fortunate enough to receive one for Christmas from me....smile!

Although, you can order all of her products directly from her website if you do not have the time or desire to make them. This "find" gets a special award for having the simple factor!! I love being able to read and pronounce all ingredients!


And while this is not the last of "My Favorite Things" (hence the Part I), I will leave you today with a favorite quote from Ann Voskamp from her blog...

Contentment isn’t a state of organization, a weight on the scale, a state of better: better kids, better marriage, better health, better house. Contentment is never a matter of circumstances; contentment is always a state of communion — a daily embracing of God. A thankfulness for all the gifts – and moments and life, just as He gives it. Trying harder may only bring harder trials and contentment, it won’t be be found in the resolutions, but in the revolutions – in the turning round to God.

While I am preparing my Part II (and maybe Part III if I'm being honest), What are some of your favorite things? Please share! Don't hold back!