Every Precious Name

"I imagine Jesus gathering me in His arms and lifting me up onto His lap, and holding me there like a child cradled against a mother's heart. His words are full of comfort. He strengthens me in my weakness." -Her Mother's Hope, Francine Rivers 

At fourteen years old, I wrote in my journal that all I wanted was someone who completely understood me.

I am a people person, without a doubt. I am very interested in people and I care greatly about others. I not only desperately need people, I also want people- I deeply desire closeness, sharing, acceptance, support, and attention. I am a relationships person.

There are so many ways our need for relationship can go wrong in this world. Because I crave relationships so deeply, while growing up I pursued some unhealthy ways of making them work: mostly people pleasing, fixing, and finding my identity in others. Though I had wonderful friends and family who were loving me the best they could, I was never satisfied.

It wasn't until I came to Christ that I realized that He was the one who completely understood me. As my walk has grown, I have realized that the Lord is so much more than just someone who gets me; He is my hope and my source of life. Relationship with Him is completely fulfilling.

Something I have recently found especially beautiful about the character of our triune God is that He fulfills many roles. For those of us craving relationship, He calls himself so many names that fill those holes. Whatever type of connection we are longing for, He can fill.

He is our Father.

"I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty". 

-2 Corinthians 6:18

He is our Lover.

"You are altogether beautiful, my love; there is no flaw in you." -Song of Solomon 4:7

He is our Sibling.

"Here are my mother and my brothers! For whoever does the will of God, he is my brother and sister and mother". -Mark 3:35

He is our Friend.

"No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you." -John 15:15

He is our Teacher.

"I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you." -Psalm 32: 8

He loves us with a Mother's Heart.

"Can a woman forget her nursing child, that she should have no compassion on the son of her womb? Even these may forget, yet I will not forget you." -Isaiah 49:15

That person that we long to be understood by, comforted by, encouraged by- it is Him. 

That perfect, all-encompassing love we long for- it is in Him.

He tells you directly: 

You are precious in my eyes

and Honored 

and I love you

Isaiah 43:4 

It means so much to me that God speaks to us through scripture exactly those words so many of us long to hear-- "I love you". And He does. 

Linking with:
Titus 2sday
Cornerstone Confessions
Teaching What is Good

Sweet to the Soul
Wise Woman Link Up
Women with Intention Wednesdays
I Choose Joy
Coffee For Your Heart
Tell His Story
Blessing Counter
Fellowship Fridays
What Joy is Mine

Spring Favorite Things: Style

I just love Spring. Even though it usually means an allergy explosion for me, it more importantly means longer and warmer days, lots of fun gatherings, and a fresh start.

 To share my love for all things Spring, I am doing a series called Spring Favorite Things. This is the first one, and it's all about style.

I would describe my style as happy colors, floral patterns, and girly yet casual.

Luckily, those styles work wonderfully with Spring!

I wanted to share with you three of my favorite spring styles.

1. Bold Patterns

I found this pencil skirt at an AWESOME second hand store here in Hermiston. It's Alfani and I got it for $20! I'm excited to play around with different looks with it. For spring it pairs great with a crisp white blouse and a bright pink cardigan.
Skirt- Alfani
Blouse- Worthington
Sweater- H & M

Polka dots are so happy and cheerful! This scarf actually has secret mickey mouse heads on it, it's very subtle so it still goes with anything.
Scarf- Disneyland
T-shirt: Kohl's
Sweater: Forever 21
Pants: Old Navy

I love the colors and swing of this skirt. It makes a big statement on it's own so it pairs great with neutrals.

skirt: Romy

shoes: Jellypop

T-shirt: Wet Seal

2. Floral Details



Let's be real I wear floral year round, but I especially like wearing little flower details in Spring. There are so many cute floral jewelry designs that can really be found anywhere, especially Target or Forever 21.

Sweet floral embellishments on a top just say Spring!
Tank Top: Old Navy
Necklace: Forever 21
Skirt: American Eagle
Bag: Ross



Jamberry Nail Wraps has a ton of amazing floral patterns. If you've never tried Jamberry, they have awesome nail wraps you apply using heat and last for about 10 days. I needed to watch some tutorials to get it exactly right, but they're pretty easy to apply. Using just one floral wrap as an accent adds that pop of Spring. I got to do two polish manicures with my wraps since they last ten days- yellow, and pink French tips. I do French tips the cheap and easy way by putting tape over my nails :)

3. Peachy Pink Makeup Hues

My skin tone was made for this color palette, but it doesn't always work in winter when I am deathly pale .I love it in Spring! It's fresh, pretty, and natural.

My favorite product for this color palette is Bare Minerals eye shadow compact, The Happy Place. It's a bit of a splurge, but I received it as a gift and have been enjoying it for 3 years!

Thanks for stopping by and celebrating Spring with me! What are your favorite styles for this season? 

This week I'm linking up with:
Style Elixir
 Lizzie in Lace
Get Your Pretty On
For the Love of Leopard
Shopping My Closet
Pastries, Pumps, and Pi
Pumps and Push Ups
Classy Yet Trendy 
Jo-Lynne Shayne
Danielle 
Mahogany Closet
Titus 2sday
Walking in Memphis in High Heels
Confident Tuesdays

Menu Plan Monday: Flavorful and Fun

Wow it has been a beautiful, sunny week! I made a really fun menu for it, too. 

I kept saying to Daniel, "Aren't we eating such fun dinners this week?!" and he would say "yeah..." (he appreciates my cooking, but he's kind of a 'food is food' guy). My husband might not have quite gotten my vibe of why this week's food was so fun, but I loved the mix of flavors and food we don't eat very often like pizza and hot dogs.

These recipes are all seriously delicious and flavorful, and make great leftovers. 

• Monday: Double Crunch Honey Garlic Crunch Chicken from rockrecipes.com, served with quinoa and broccoli
• Tuesday: Creamy Skillet-baked Penne Pasta from Recipe Girl, served with roasted broccoli. I can't find the recipe online, but here is a similar one!
• Wednesday: Chinese Chicken Salad from shrinkingkitchen.com, served with jasmine rice
• Thursday: Hot dogs and  roasted asparagus
• Friday: Out!
• Saturday: Pizza Casserole and spinach salad
• Sunday: Creamy Crockpot White Chicken Chili from lovelylittlekitchen.com

We got a little creative on Saturday's meal. I had originally planned on a cooking a fun recipe I found for pepperoni pizza soup, but it turned out to be 80 degrees, so we weren't exactly in the soup mood. I had baked rolls ahead of time to go with the soup, so we tore them apart to make two layers, spread them out in a 9 x 13 pan, and put cheese, pepperoni, ground beef, and tomato sauce in between. It was actually really good! The rolls got really doughy and gooey, which we liked but if you're not into that I suggest using rolls on the firm side. This was all from the innovative mind of my husband, it turned out pretty good!

Do you know what I mean by fun food? What kind of food is fun to you?

Have a lovely week!

The Country Cook

The Creative Exchange 

Four Simple Stir Fry Recipes

I absolutely LOVE stir fry. One, it's healthy- packed with protein, veggies, and usually low in fat. Two, it's easy! Cooking your meat, veggies, and making your sauce all in one pan is quick and an easy clean up. Three, it's so versatile. Whatever veggies you have on hand will do, and you can make a sauce from pretty much anything. You can vary the sauce really easily- make it spicier or sweeter depending on your mood, AND, you can serve it over quinoa, rice, noodles, rice noodles (ha!), or just by itself. Fourth, it makes excellent leftovers for lunch the next day. What's not to love?

When I stir fry I don't follow a recipe most of the time, I just throw ingredients together and sample the sauce to reach the desired taste.

Here's some stir fry ideas that we love!

clockwise from top left: Spicy Beef Stir Fry, Asian Broccoli Salad with Peanut Sauce and Baked Chicken, Orange Chicken, Sweet and Sour Chicken. 

Orange Chicken:

Cut uncooked chicken into bite sized pieces, cook in frying pan with oil over medium-high heat. When chicken is just under fully cooked, add sauce ingredients: soy sauce, sweet chili sauce, a little honey, orange juice, ginger, roasted red pepper flakes, garlic, and orange zest. Push chicken to outside of pan, bring sauce to a simmer. It should thicken slightly, if not, add a bit of flour or corn starch. When sauce has thickened, add chopped veggies. Veggies that go great with this flavor are red and orange bell peppers, green beans, snap peas, onions, and broccoli. Stir fry veggies for about 5 minutes or until they reach desired crispness.

Sweet and Sour Chicken:

I followed a recipe from skinnymom.com for this sweet and sour chicken. Breading can be intimidating, but it's super easy when you throw your chicken and all the breading ingredients in a ziploc bag and shake it! Also, easy clean up- you just throw away the bag. I didn't use pineapple in my batch because I didn't have any at the time, but I'm sure that would make this dish even yummier.


Spicy Beef:

Cut uncooked beef into small strips, cook in frying pan with oil over medium-high heat. When beef is about half cooked, add sauce ingredients: soy sauce, sriracha, a little wine or rice vinegar, ginger, garlic salt, red pepper flakes, and pepper. Bring to a simmer, add a bit of corn starch to thicken sauce, stir. Add chopped vegetables and stir fry until vegetables are just tender. Really any veggies are excellent with this sauce.

Asian Broccoli Salad with Peanut Sauce and Baked Chicken:

Okay so this one isn't exactly stir fry but it fits in with what I love about stir fry!

Marinade chicken in garlic, balsamic vinegar, and ginger for at least 30 minutes in the fridge. Place in baking dish, pouring all remaining marinade into the dish. Cook chicken for 15-20 minutes in oven set at 425 degrees, or until no longer pink.

I followed a recipe from gimmesomeoven.com for the Broccoli salad. Oh my goodness it is yummy. It's the kind of thing you want to just keep eating, and you totally can because it's oh so healthy. Broccoli, edamame, peanuts, green onions, and some sauce ingredients unite for a crunchy, full flavor. You've gotta try it!

Stir fry is my quick dinner go-to. What do you make when you're in a hurry but want a healthy and flavorful meal?

Have a lovely week!

www.thecountrycook.net

Motivation Monday

A Season of Rest

Isaiah 30:15

Sometimes God gives us seasons of challenge, or adventure, or uncertainty... and sometimes, he gives us seasons of rest.

I have found myself in a season of rest.

And it has been a long time since I have rested.

I kept myself extremely busy in college with a full load of classes, writing a thesis, teaching fitness classes, ministry, work, and social life. After I graduated, I spent the first half of 2014 working full time as a social work administrative assistant with a hour commute a day, still teaching fitness, and planning a wedding. During this time I was also majorly stressed about where my fiance and I would live once we were married, as he was still on the job hunt. My busy and stressful 2014 reached a peak in June, when the only thing I was certain about was that everything was uncertain.

Twelve days before our wedding my fiance was offered a job in Hermiston. This meant we would be moving to an area completely new to us, at least 3 hours from our friends and family. It also meant that I would need to quit my job and we would need to move right after our honeymoon. We went on the wait list for an apartment in Hermiston and in the in between were able to live with some very generous family of a friend.

After  over 4 years of go-go-go and 6 months of working full time and wedding planning, I found myself newly married living in the guest room of a couple I had just met, in a town I didn't know, by myself all day, with nothing to do.

I certainly did not take to this well at first. My poor husband probably wondered who he married. It took a while for me to recognize and accept that God had given me a season of rest. It continued longer than I thought it would, too.  But by the grace of God (seriously), over time, I learned how to do something I never should have forgotten how to do: rest.

Here's some things I've learned throughout my season of rest.

• Rest is Individualized. Rest is not the same for everyone. When I was struggling to relax when first given this season, friends suggested Netflix binging and getting really good at MarioKart. While I like to do a bit of this, I feel more rested when I have time to get in touch with my creative side. When I am able to engage my imagination and express myself, I feel truly at peace and rejuvenated. What is truly restful is different for everyone and sometimes we need to do some exploring to find it.

• Rest has to be practiced. Especially for those of us who have gotten out of the habit, rest is not easy. When we're addicted to being busy, we turn quiet moments into busy ones. Sometimes I might go on a walk to enjoy nature, and I find that in my mind I've focused more on making it a workout than an enjoyable walk. I then practice rest by sitting down on a bench to close my eyes, listen to the sounds of the birds and the wind blowing, and feel the sunshine. Sometimes when I'm waiting in the car, I resist the urge to pull out my phone to pass the time, so I can rest instead. It's almost as if I have to practice to keep "in shape" for resting. 

• Lies we Believe about Rest. Our culture values a packed schedule. We ask "what do you do?" Our world teaches us that if you are busy, you are important. During my season of rest I've had all sorts of voices bounce around in my head telling me I'm wasting my time, that I'm not contributing anything, that my life has no purpose. These statements are false, these are lies. My purpose and my identity are not defined by what I do or how I spend my time. I am a beloved child of God and He gives me purpose and importance. If he has given me a season of rest, I believe there is meaning to it. 

• To Rest is to Trust. To be able to rest, I have to trust that I am enough. That in Christ, I do not have to work my way to being good enough. I have to trust that in being His child alone, I am important and my life is full and useful. Also, I have to trust that He is doing the work. Even when I am not directly furthering my career or checking off my to-do list, I can sit back and relax knowing my Savior reigns.

 Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. -Matthew 11:28-30 

God gives us not only permission to rest, but invitation to rest. Let us give ourselves permission and feel his quiet invitation; to know that we are enough, because He is enough.

      

Summer Friends

Aaah, summer- that long anticipated stretch of lazy, lingering days, free of responsibility and rife with possibility. It's a time to hunt for insects, master handstands, practice swimming strokes, conquer trees, explore nooks and carannies, and make new friends. -Darell Hammond

I have always loved summer, and I still love summer. I think there's a reason so many of the best books and movies take place during the warm months. There is a glowing feeling in the air that radiates both rest, and adventure. I can't get enough of it.

There is something particular about friendships that grow during those three months. The long days and nights  whisper invitations to explore, to wander, to adventure. Silliness and authenticity intersect and create a beautiful, rich kinship.

A lot of relationships are built around a common activity, something you both enjoy that keeps you busy, saving you from empty silence. it's a landmark when you reach a point in a friendship where you can sit in comfortable quietness. In the summertime, however, relationships are built on doing nothing together. On enjoying freedom together. On waking up on a sunny day having no idea what you are going to do, but certain of who you will do it with.

Summer friends are a special kind of friend.

When I think of summer friends, many treasured memories come to mind. But one summer, and one friendship, stands out to me as one that truly captured the essence of summer friends.

It was between my freshman and sophomore year of high school. Things at home were changing as my sister got ready to head to college, I had my first boyfriend, and I was still figuring out who I wanted to be in high school.  It was a time of transition that could get a little overwhelming if I thought about it too much. But I didn't spend June, July, and August worrying about it- I spent it with my summer friends.

We were an unlikely trio, really. All different ages, two different schools, two guys and one girl, not a ton of mutual friends. But the summer put us together, and it was one I'll never forget.

We got together most days after lunch. I'd get a text that would say "pool party?' or "wanna jam?" and then walk the half mile from my house. One of the guys had an above ground pool at his house, and we'd usually go there to hang out.

 Sometimes it wasn't warm enough to swim yet, and we'd play music. Our friend had all sorts of instruments. We would collaborate on songs we had written and put my poems to music. Sometimes we played thoughtful folk songs, sometimes we put a beat on the keyboard and made up bizarre raps about potatoes.

When we got in the pool, we played a ridiculous game where one person closed their eyes and reached out, trying to find two people hidden by floaties. We'd splash the seeker and cheat by hopping out of the pool. we'd try to climb and balance on mats at the same time, we'd make whirlpools.

We'd usually go back to our respective homes for dinner, then we'd reunite later on. More jamming would commence, maybe we'd walk to the park, sometimes there was a late night Taco Bell run. The other guy's family had a hot tub, where we would spend the evening. In our small town neighborhood, we could look up and see the stars. when we got too hot we would walk back over to the yard with the pool and dare each other to jump in. Shivering, we'd run back to the hot tub, laughing at our squeaking shoes.

But whatever we were doing, we would eventually fall into a place where we would put down the instruments, the games would come to a lull, and we would just enjoy the nothingness together. There was a remarkable permission between us: permission to be completely ourselves, to be creative, to express what was within us.

A picture taken by my friend of me at the pool that summer

We remained close while we all lived in the same town, but of course, just like Summer drifts to Fall, things changed as we became close to different friends, pursued different interests, and moved to different places.

I have a hard time understanding and accepting that friendships change. If someone was my dearest friend for a given time, why shouldn't we be close forever? How can we go from talking everyday to talking once a year? I'm learning that even if we don't keep in touch, that doesn't make the friendship any less. It was beautiful because of the time we had together, and that beauty lives on.

 Although we haven't kept in touch real well, these friends will always represent to me what that summer did. They came to my wedding, and sharing hugs with them that day was so meaningful. When I think about best friends, what comes to mind first is girls I shared clothes, sleepovers and secrets with. But when I really think about it, I think that my summer friends, too, were some of the best friends I've ever had.

 I think that every summer teaches us something about ourselves. Maybe summer friends are special because they have a unique opportunity to be part of that learning.

My two summer friends taught me that being creative and expressive was cool. That it was okay and good to be silly. They challenged me with good questions. They made me laugh. They taught me that the best people to be friends with aren't necessarily those who are similar to you, but those who are kind and let you be yourself.

Here's to memories and stories of summer friends: past, present, and future.

http://letmetelluastory.blogspot.com/

Thursday Favorite Things

Menu Planning: Yummy, Balanced Dinners

Happy Spring, my friends!

I don't know about you, but when Spring comes I start to feel refreshed in the kitchen. A whole bunch of new veggies are in season and grilling becomes a possibility. I generally feel energized when the sun starts coming out, so I'm excited and motivated to be cooking and creating.

A lot of times, this new energy is accompanied with a health kick. This time, I'm taking this kick in a simple direction- balance. 

I find that healthy eating for my husband and I lasts longer when we focus on balance. Cutting things out or making specific diet plans doesn't work for us (we love dessert and cheese too much- but who doesn't? Yum). Balance seems to help us avoid burn out.

I find that balancing each plate, each day, and each week helps us stay healthy while not feeling restricted. 

Here's an April menu for a yummy, balanced week. I'm excited to be sharing this menu on Menu Plan Monday at orgjunkie.com,  What's For Dinner Menu Planning at jillconyers.com and Monday's Musing at whatjoyismine.net !

Monday: Kale,Chicken & Bacon Pizza

We bought Boboli crusts for pizza and anticipated we'd just do pepperoni for both crusts, but my husband took charge and got creative on this one! He made a garlic olive oil sauce and topped it with kale, bacon, chicken, and of course mozzarella cheese. This was VERY tasty, and the Boboli crust made it pretty easy and quick.


Tuesday: Sticky Honey Lemon Ginger Chicken with Jasmine Rice and Broccoli

This recipe from Carlsbad Cravings is one of my favorite Pinterest recipes I've ever tried. Daniel always requests it when I ask for menu suggestions. I cook a lot of Asian foods because they're usually pretty quick, yummy, and easy to include veggies. I also like that it tastes just as good (if not better!) than takeout, but doesn't leave you with that way too full and way too salty feeling. This recipe takes a few more steps to get that perfect crispiness, but it's well worth it.

Wednesday: Crispy Oven-Fried Fish, Rolls, and Kale Chips

For the fish I followed a recipe from Better Homes & Gardens (love my big pink recipe book- anyone else who can't live without this book?). Kale chips are so easy- spray em with oil, add a dash of salt and pepper, and pop them in the oven at 450 degrees for about 10 minutes.

Tuesday: Stuffed Bell Peppers

These stuffed peppers from It's A Flavorful Life are packed with yummy and good for you stuff. Black beans, kale, cheese, onions and ground turkey come together in a yummy enchilada sauce. They also made great leftovers for lunch.. I wished I doubled the recipe, they were so good.

Friday: Chicken Taquitos

Another great alternative to take out, these baked chicken taquitos from Recipe Girl are great to make when you are craving Mexican food. We topped them with fresh guacamole, salsa, and plain Greek yogurt (my choice for sour cream). 

Saturday: Barbecue Beef Sandwiches, Garlic Potatoes, and Grilled Asparagus

Daniel marinated thin beef cuts in garlic, soy sauce, red wine vinegar and spices, then threw them on the grill. We chopped the beef into small pieces and then coated it in barbecue sauce and put it on toasted hamburger buns. We paired it with roasted garlic potatoes and some grilled asparagus.

I know I definitely can always work on balance in my life, and not just with what I eat. This Spring I hope to find balance in how I spend my time between being productive and being restful. I also hope to find balance in my mindset and self care. Just like I balance a doughy dinner roll with kale chips and oven baked fish, I hope I can balance gentleness and patience with a desire for growth. 

Thanks for stopping by! What are you eating this Spring?

Conquering Mountains, or Mountains of Laundry: Finding Life in Everyday Life (Part 2)

About a month ago, I wrote a post about a big question I’ve been pondering. The question essentially is this: When inspiration strikes, how do we apply it to our everyday life? For more explanation of this question, read the original post here.

This question can surely be answered and discussed an infinite amount of ways. I want to share with you where I draw inspiration from and it's effect on my life.

Inspiration for me comes from nature, from conversations, and from the adventures and break-throughs compassionate characters experience in books and movies. Personally, music is my most frequent source of inspiration. Here's an example of a song that really makes me think of the kind of life I want to live:

Was I love

When no one else would show up

Was I Jesus to the least of us

Was my worship more than just a song

I want to live like that

And give it all I have

So that everything I say and do

Points to You

 Am I proof

That You are who you say You are

That grace can really change our heart

Do I live like Your love is true

People pass

And even if they don't know my name

Is there evidence that I've been changed

When they see me, do they see You

'Live Like That' by Sidewalk Prophets

Inspiration for me calls me to: 

Be an adventurer. Dive in. Take every opportunity to love those around me. Take risks and live selflessly. Pursue my Savior more and more. 

Inspiration calls for my life to be changed in a way that makes it clear that Jesus lives, and to realize that I have a short time to make an impact on this world, and that impact lasts for eternity. To focus on what really matters and what is lasting and true to the heart of God. To live the fullest life I possibly can. 

My ideas of a full life have changed over the last few years. I used to be somewhat against convention. I didn't want to settle down or spend weekends at home. Honestly, I was really afraid of that. I was afraid of not having an exciting life.

My current life does include exploring trails, mountains, and rivers, it does include exploring new cities and trying new things, it does include exciting encounters where I show someone care who has not received it elsewhere.

But this is a small portion of my time. Though I treasure these moments, most of my time is spent in much more regular ways. I go to work, I do chores. I spend most of my time at home with my husband. I catch up with family and friends. I read, I watch movies and shows, I play guitar, exercise, blog and cook.

And I enjoy these things so much more than I thought I ever would. I enjoy how simple my life is.

I look for opportunities and perspectives that make the little things big things.

I have found that when I truly focus my eyes on the Lord I am able to see how the things I do, whether they appear to me life giving or mundane, reflect Him. He shows me that even the simple things can draw his children closer to Him.

A few examples of seeing his purposes in the little things:

 God made me for rest. I need to rest. Times spent recovering from the craziness of life are necessary. They are times of trusting him.

I think the reason I Netflix binge on silly dramatic shows is because God made me relational and the relationships on those shows fascinate me.  

 When I do laundry and clean, I can focus on how I'm taking care of the things God has given me, and loving those I share responsibilities with.

There is no shame in a simple life. There is also nothing wrong with an adventurous, heroic, feature-film worthy life. I think that maybe the key is finding life, wherever your life takes you.

What God has shown me is that there can be excitement in the little things. There is contentment in knowing that the way he has called me to live fully today is to rest or get things done around the house. There is great joy in pursuing fulfilling relationships with just a few, even though I've hoped of impacting many. Even though my current line of work does not allow me to build lasting relationships like I would want, maybe God's using my small interactions with kids to show them love. There is challenge and excitement in the new things he puts before me, even if they're more domestic than I once dreamed of. I care so much more for family than I ever thought I would, and this is a huge adventure. 

There's also the beauty of the fact that God knows I'm human. He fills me with inspiration and his spirit and renews me with his Son, but he knows that I fall short. Sometimes I get inspired and then get distracted with silly things. Sometimes I get frustrated and quit,  forgetting why I was inspired in the first place. That's where grace comes in. The even more beautiful part though, is that he never falls short. Though I am not on fire for him 100% of the time, he is on fire for me 100% of the time. And he will always give me another chance. He will fill my heart with inspiration once again. 

God cares for my soul and he knows my soul. He purposefully instills me with inspiration. Even when I think I can't live it out now in the way that I imagine it, he has a different place he wants to use it. Even though my life is mellow now, maybe he is preparing me for a coming season where I'll be challenged everyday. I find that with God everyday is an adventure, and every moment is full.

So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. -1 Corinthians 10:31

And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. -Colossians 3:17

I would love to hear what this process is like for you, and how you answer this question. Are you familiar with this tension of living the life you dream of, and living the life you have? What does inspiration feel like for you? What puts purpose in the little things? 

With a Heart of Thankfulness

I've heard it said that the good times are the easiest times to lose focus on God.

We often find ourselves turning to him for guidance, help, peace, strength, and wisdom, but the need for these things seems less immediate when everything is going well. When life is great, we can fall into "forgetting" about God because we might not feel like we need him as much as we do in more difficult times.

At church this morning between the first couple of songs, the pastor talked about how sometimes we get busy and kind of "forget" about God during the week. We show up on Sunday and remember our need for him. As he said this, I was searching my heart on this issue. I have not been "forgetting" about God during the week, I've been spending time with him and reading the word, but something has been different lately. I don't seem to have as much to talk to him about. Why? It could be because life has been great recently.

Something I've realized though, is that even when I don't need to talk to God to ask for strength, or to surrender something, or seek guidance on a decision, I can still come to him. Even if I don't have anything big to talk to him about right now, there's one thing I can always come to him with: Thankfulness. 

I can seek God just to praise him for who he is, just to thank him for the life I have. Just to pour out my heart before him and tell him how grateful I am for his love. This is the place I am in right now. I am just so blessed by his presence in my life and I want to tell him so.

When I'm in these sunny times of happiness and thankfulness, there is something different about my relationship with God- he goes beyond someone I seek for help, and beyond a place I search my heart and grow and change. God becomes someone I seek to enjoy.

God wants us to enjoy him. And he wants to enjoy us. I think we forget that that is a big part of who he is and his plan for us. To delight in his love. To bask in the sunshine of his providence. To praise him for creating us and redeeming us.

I wrote the following lyrics with a heart of thankfulness last year.

I am blessed beyond measure,

not just in my circumstances

but by the purpose and joy 

that is in my life because of you Jesus

He who is mighty has done great things

and holy is his name

your grace is written all over my life

You have touched my life 

with your love and mercy

and I am forever changed

One of the main landmarks in Hermiston is the Butte. It's a big tall land mass that you can climb up and get a nice view of the town. It's under a mile from our apartment. On one of the peaks there is a big white cross.  It has quickly become one of my favorite places to meet with God.

On an uncharacteristically warm February day a few weeks ago I made a last minute decision to catch the sunset from the Butte. I walked over quickly and was running out of time, so I skipped the switch backs and headed straight up the incline. As I climbed, my breathing heavy, the last bit of the warmth of the sun blending with the crisp of the evening, I could feel the anticipation of meeting with the Lord at the cross. He would be there waiting for me, just to enjoy me as I enjoy him.