The Wide Shot

This is from where I sit at the kitchen table. Hard to tell in the picture but the counters have a fancy little swirl in them. When we do redo the kitchen we plan on keeping the cupboards here, but not so much the counters. They serve more as a built in and I am head over heels for the vintage glass. Before we bought the house I had a chance to talk to the owners who lived here for over 20 years. They were sweet as can be. I assured them I didn't want to change the house completely. I wanted to honor the years they spent loving this home just give it a boost to fit our family. This is one of those places where I saw sippy cups from their grandbabies and years of collected dishes. I feel like it's now my turn to fill them will treasured pieces.

Of course after a much needed paint job. I find in every instagram pic and blog post it's so easy to crop out the ugly. As a blogger it can be hard to find the balance. I know so called "pretty" pictures are more popular, but is that cropping out reality and giving a false sense of perfection? This girl, at this computer, writing these words, is in no way perfect. I have really bad days and really good ones. I have pretty house corners and widen that lens and it can become quite a mess. I am sure this applies to many of us. On the outside or in that tight shot all seems well, but once we look a little closer there can be hurt, pain, worry, uncertainty etc. These are the moments where I am so grateful for a Risen King. One who can look past all our mess and straight into who He called us to be. He can give us hope when all feels lost. Will one prayer fix that mess in a second? Maybe and maybe not, but that prayer lays it at His feet so it ino longer is our weight to carry alone but one to be shared with the one who knows all. That day He laid His life down for every one of us. To give us hope in a world that can sometimes be hard to part of. To be that hope amongst all the hate, all the pain, and amongst the joy. He died that day to share our lives, the pretty and not so pretty. He is mine and I am His. I am forever grateful.

If you happen to live in the Birmingham, Huntsville, Gadsden, Tuscaloosa , Montgomery, Auburn, etc area then we would love to have you at one of our services if you don't have a church home already. Let me know if you live in the Birmingham area and would like a friend to go with. I am always available!

If you don't happen to live in any of these areas we have online services during Sunday services. It's a live feed so you really can take part.

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. - John 3:16

Living Amongst the Clouds

Everyday I try to read the one year bible as soon as I wake up. Later I may delve in more, but on an average day the one year bible gets my mind moved from my to-do list of the day to time focused on Him. There are times when I read passages and move on, but then there are days that make me pause and read then re-read a certain passage. Today was one of those days. Numbers 9: 15-23 speaks on the cloud above the tabernacle. "17 - Whenever the cloud lifted from above the tent, the Israelites set out; wherever the cloud settled, the Israelites encamped." In short they only moved when the cloud the Lord set out for them lifted whether it be a day, a month, or a year. I then started to think of my own life. Recently I started reading Make it Happen by Lara Casey once again. Within the book it has space to write thoughts and reflect on areas of struggle. The first time I read it I was immensely sick. Was mostly found in bed for two plus months straight. Reading this book today I was in awe at how far God has brought me over the course of one year. I was being swallowed by fear of not being enough in any area of life, but today I stand knowing the Lord has greater plans and the fear is gone and a confidence has taken it's place. I'm still not well, but I have peace. This is where the cloud in the Old Testament came to life for me. I could see how the cloud could represent a time where God desires us to stop and listen to Him. To slow down and focus on His purpose for us. To become disentangled in any thoughts which put us in a state of comparison and align our thoughts once again with knowing we all are part of His purpose in our own ways. As I read and re-read the passage I realized the cloud is a symbol of protection. His protection. At first I read the cloud as being a hard time in ones life, but then the cloud became more to me. I came to realize it could also represent a time where life is going oh so well.  It's where the covering of the Lord is and as time passes this is where I should remain whether it be in a hard season or a so called good one. Within this cloud is where the Lord is able to mold us, teach us, and expand us. This cloud that I once read as being heavy, dreary, and a place to hide now reads as beautiful. I am grateful that Jesus came and we no longer have to walk under a literal cloud, but today I choose to be guided by that cloud of years past. For my greatest desire is to fulfill His purpose that He laid out for me and I know the only way to do it well is to be in-line with His word and have Him guide my way. I will dwell within the cloud that envelopes me in His ways. This is where purpose can be found.

MARK

I was soaking in the words written about Jesus and His death and resurrection in the book of Mark in the bible this morning. I envisioned Him being sentenced, mocked, beaten, Simon a passerby being forced to carry the cross that was not only extremely heavy in weight but also so extremely heavy in significance. I could envision Jesus hanging on that very cross, being ridiculed, being taunted to have His father save him, Jesus himself calling out to God, Jesus taking his last breath. Joseph wrapping Jesus body and placing him in the tomb of a cut out rock, then finally rolling a rock in front of the entrance. I then came to the resurrection, Mark 16: 1-7, to the moment where the women in Jesus life where bringing spices to anoint Jesus body per ritual of that time. In Mark 16:3 it shows the women on their way to the tomb contemplating who will roll away this rock to the entrance. Mark 16:4 - But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away.

That very sentence brought me to my own life. I can picture the many times I come to a moment in life where it seems so heavy, the burden too great, or my anxiety shoots up when life feels a little hectic. During those times I tend to reach for my phone to call a good friend to hear her wise words, to ease that anxiety that hearing a friendly voice can bring. But I felt in that moment as I was reading this passage after an anxiety induced night that sometimes I can get blinded by trying to make that feeling stop. That sometimes all that I need to do is look up and I will find that heavy stone rolled away and I just need to walk through into His risen arms. I realized I'm not so different from the women walking to Jesus that morning. That I too question how can -insert the impasse of the day, week, year- this be done. I too must keep on walking, look up and I will see that stone rolled away from whatever pain, anxiety, fear I hold onto. After years of living a faith filled life I realize that moment may not come in an instant, but it can. The walk may be far or short. Either way this walk must be in the direction of coming to that rolled away stone where I know Jesus has risen and has already set us all free. Sometimes I find their can be great beauty within the walk even amongst all the hurt. It makes coming to that already rolled away rock all the sweeter.

{Mark 15-16 for reference}

*By the way can I tell you how hard it is for me to hit publish on a none regular blog day especially at a weird hour. Ha.