two more

These are our new friends. We love them very much! They are both girls and haven't been named yet...any suggestions?

Wonderful life

Looking out my window there is about ten or twelve inches of snow on the ground. I realize that some of you live in parts of the world where that is normal. However for cincinnati, it is rare and I feel so blessed. Winter has always been my favorite time of year. The best memories of growing up were playing in the snow with my dad and brother. The past couple days have been spent playing in the snow and it has been wonderful. This was Hoss and Mitzi's first real snow experience. I was quite unsure about how they would react to the snow, since we have to pull teeth to get them to go to the bathroom outside when its really cold or wet... figures I would have spoiled dogs. However, the cold or the wet did not bother them one bit ... in fact once Austin and I were worn out we had to drag them back into the house. They were soaking wet and their paws were bleeding but they did not want to stop playing in the snow!

Hoss loved the rush of chasing the sled. But every time he crashed it he had to reassure himself that there was no damage done and all cargo was intact. Jesse is becoming quite familier with Hosses ginormous tounge licking his face. 

Mitzi was content as long as she was chasing something... sleds, Hoss, snow balls, air. 

This was the last we saw of that tennis ball. I guess we will find it in the spring. 

This is Tara in fifteen layers and she is still smaller than most hobbits. That sled is really not as big as it looks standing next to her.  :)

This is Jesse. Hanging out with him makes me feel 12 again. He's such a great kid!

All in all it was a great day. God reached down and made his creation just a little more beautiful today and we were all able to take time and enjoy it. It doesn't get much better than that. The dogs have been asleep on the warm couch for hours now. Hot chocolate was readily available and I have the rest of the evening free to spend time with Austin. I'm realizing sometimes you just gotta play. What a wonderful life.  

 

two thoughts

Thought # 1

I would like to say that I have been thouroughly enjoying my husband lately. :)

especially his sense of humor. Below is starbucks warrior. I sincerely wonder what everyone else does without him. 

Our journey together so far has been incredible. I have grown more in six months than I ever thought possible. 

p.s. thanks for the photos jess. <3

Thought #2

I have some pretty incredible friends. God has been so good to me. I couldn't think of anything better he could bless me with right now. I have some incredible relationships. My mind has been wandering a lot to people in general. My desire is to love above everything else. Before a job, before stuff, before MY needs, before anger, before selfishness, before "needing space", Before serving. a love that is NOT conditional on who people are, or what they have done. I want to also love fully, understanding that everything I do effects someone else somehow.  My prayer is that God will teach me how to do this more and more radically everyday. For if I do not have love I am only a resounding gong or clanging cymbal. 

Will the real followers of Jesus please stand up?

(I preface all of this in saying... THERE ARE EXCEPTIONS... I am very much speaking generally and not pointing a finger at any certain organization or person. I am guilty of not acting Christ like as well. I will also say that there are less people that I see as genuine followers of Jesus, and more that I see as Christians.)

In the past few years I have been continually let down by the "church". I can imagine that I am not alone in feeling this way. I have come to know  Christs character, and have come to the realization that His character is very rarely found amidst "Christians". I have seen those who call themselves Christians (followers of Jesus) use, judge, and manipulate people in a way that is selfish and arrogant. This is disgusting. The thought of this makes me sick. How dare we in the name of Jesus Christ knowingly treat other people bad? However on one hand we all make mistakes, we all struggle with a sin nature. That is one thing. What I am talking about is long time "Christians" stepping on other people to get what they want (power, money, control, "successful ministry", the list goes on in on). Looking at "the church" today compared to the character of Christ and the church of acts ... WOW. It is so perverted, what have we done?

 The trinity that I have experienced and fell in love with is faithful, self sacrificing, humble, full of grace and second chances, loving, and honest. No part of the trinity esteems itself amongst the others, and they are constantly pouring themselves fully and freely into each other, out of the understanding that they are nothing with out the other, so they must be all that they can be to each other. This is (for lack of a better term) constructive community. We are made in the image of God. Let US (trinity/God) make man in OUR own image. It is in our very DNA to give freely and fully to one another aka be a fully functioning community of believers. 

The Church has come along way. In the past 50 years we have had discovered a new spiritual freedom. Having a relationship with God, and hearing Gods voice. Has been pushed more than ever. This is wonderful but not enough. I firmly believe that my generation and the generation to come is being asked to love radically. There is a reformation coming to the church, if we will accept it and we must. 

I challenge you as I will myself to look at the "American church". Compare it to Christs character and the first church. Then completely let yourself think outside the box. How can we as a body take on the attributes of our lord and saviour Jesus Christ and not the attributes of "business America"

back to the nati

Well we have been home for almost two weeks now. We are currently on the job hunt. It has been easier to find work than we thought, the more challenging part is making sure we are taking the jobs that God has for us. I have a lot of peace. It has been a nice break being home I have been processing the last year and a half, more so though on the past 6 months. 

Being married has been amazing. I am so in love with my husband. There was a point in my life that i never thought this was possible. Apparently it is and I am loving it. Its been really great just in the past week and a half to be able to spend more quality time together and less "stressful/work" time.

Anyways. Im back in Cincinnati. It cold here... kinda. I love it. skyline chili (praise God) 

God is teaching me tons about my experience in the ATL. My two wonderful puppies are asleep on the bed with me right now. soo peaceful. and i am going to sleep. 

be something real

As followers of Jesus what do we expect of ourselves?

 What do I expect of myself? What should I be pushing myself to be? 

 I've seen a lot lately. I've experienced a lot. 

 The effects of pride, of materialism, individualism, false identity, greed, selfishness, and hate. 

 I've seen the effects that it has on society and in the church. Because of what I have seen and experienced I  have felt raw and overwhelming conviction.

Micah 6:8 says do justice, love kindness, and live humbly. 

Living out this commandment is a a big responsibility and can become quite draining. I mean what is DOING justice? What does this entail on my part and how far do I go? If a family is homeless do I offer them my home? What if they rob me? take advantage of me? What if they've killed people? So...what if?Would Christ?

How about loving kindness... LOVING kindness... wow. 

How about Acts 4 a picture of the first church set up the way God had originally designed. 

Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common.

Am I willing to give everything that I have spiritually, emotionally, and physically to anyone FREELY and FULLY? 

I believe that becoming more like Christ looks different than we have previously imagined. I feel that God has opened my eyes to something new and I have only begun to grasp the fullness of our responsibilities as followers of Jesus. 

He who is in me is greater than he who is in the world. I am nothing aside from Him. I am prideful, selfish, materialistic, hateful, and conceited. But it is He who is in me that is greater... 

I am who I am by the grace of God. 

I believe that pure humility, love, patience, kindness, unity, and the ability to give freely and fully of yourself. Is the way to complete transformation of our society. What darkness can be in light? However these character attributes are NOT POSSIBLE in their purest form if we are not living in the father. This is not something that we can achieve or even "arrive" to. 

We must pursue a love relationship with Abba. We must begin to see in fullness how He sees us. The father sees who we are without sin. He sees us as His perfect child and bride. We must know every second of every day what He thinks of us and be completely satisfied by Him. If we seek Him, crave Him... and only Him. We will be able to love kindness, do justice, and live humbly. We will be able to give freely and fully of ourselves. We MUST build our foundation surrounded, emersed, full of Him. 

I have to get back to this. It is easy to be consumed with all the "kingdom work" that their is to be done. 

But I forget, I AM NOTHING WITHOUT HIM. 

Perfect picture

I found this picture and thought it was a pretty good reflection of my time a as a childrens pastor. Although I'm not always keeping kids from escaping, killing each other, stealing ipods, having sex or playing with guns... I am quite frequently.