taste & see [day 28-29]

I thought for yesterday’s post and today I could share some quotes and a verse that I have been meditating on recently. The quotes that I have shared have been the echo of my heart.

“Mary’s ‘yes’ set off a catalytic reaction down through the ages that impacts us directly today. What will God do with OUR yes.” – Fr. James Mallon

“Of one thing I am perfectly sure: God’s story never ends with ‘ashes.’” – Elizabeth Elliot

“But you, ‘a chosen generation,’ weak things of the world, who have forsaken all things, so that you may follow the Lord, go after him, and confound the strong; go after him, you beautiful feet, and shine in the firmament so that the heavens may declare his glory… Run into every place, O you holy fires, you beautiful fires! You are the light of the world, and you are not put under a measure. He to whom you have held fast has been exalted, and he has exalted you. Run forth, and make it known to all nations.” – Saint Augustine

“The terrible thing, the almost impossible thing, is to hand over your whole self—all your wishes and precautions—to Christ. But it is far easier than what we are all trying to do instead.” – C.S. Lewis

“The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him.” – Lamentations 3:25

taste & see [day 26-27]

“Please hear me girl: The world has enough women who know how to do their own hair. It needs women who know how to do hard and holy things.” – Ann Voskamp

Oh how I want to be that kind of woman. Not only do I want to do hard and holy things, I want to be an alluring woman – but not in a seductive way (only for my future husband). I want there to be a glow – a God glow – that shines in every pore of my body. I want my heart to draw people in. I want to serve people and serve them well.

I have a handful of older women in my life that I respect and adore. They are strong, loyal, funny, passionate women who have raised incredible young men and women. Their husbands have said, “If I didn’t have my wife, I wouldn’t know how our family could run.” They are glue that holds their families together. They support their husbands while keeping a backbone. The way they interact with others draws me in – it’s their questions and body language that I love.

I want to be like them. I want to raise strong child with compassionate hearts. I want to raise children who love Jesus. I want to love my husband fiercely and love others like Jesus loves us. I want to be a woman of grace, enthusiasm, and joy.

I’m thankful for my mom who has spoke words of truth into my life. I’m thankful for her humor – which has been passed onto me. Her laughter brings me laughter. I’m thankful for how she treats my dad and supports him by waking up at 4:45 in the morning to get him ready for work. She does hard things. She does holy things.

Lord, help me to do hard and holy things. Help me to be a godly woman – a woman who laughs, who leads others to Your cross, who surrenders dreams to You, and seeks You wholly.

“Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last; but a woman who fears the Lord will be greatly praised. Reward her for all she has done. Let her deeds publicly declare her praise.” – Proverbs 31:30-31

taste & see [day 25]

“When feelings of inadequacy come creeping in, let’s park our minds in God’s Truth.” – Lysa TerKeurst

I feel inadequate in MANY things. My job, my dating life, and even my writing. I could go on and on about other areas where I feel inadequate, but I’m not going to make that kind of list.

Some days I feel like I’m just not made out to be a substitute teacher. I struggle getting kids to sit down and listen. I struggle to explain basic math. My other friends excel in this, but I feel mediocre. & honestly, it stinks feeling mediocre.

I feel inadequate being a mentor. I’ve been blessed to get paid to be a mentor through a college scholarship program. I get to mentor two awesome college girls as they finish junior college and transition into a University. Some days there is excellent conversation and other days, I feel like I’m just not asking the right questions. I’ll think to myself, “Was I designed to mentor someone? Do I know have my life together to help these young women?”

I even feel inadequate in relationships. It sounds so silly, but as many men and women struggle with this, I question if someone would even like me. Sometimes I feel like I’m not opening up or asking enough questions to get to know them. There are days when I’ve felt not pretty enough or smart enough to be dating them. Those are just lies I’ve been telling myself. (Over the years there has been dramatic change in this category – I am much more confident then I used to be)

I’m not the best writer. I try to read articles from other people to improve mine because I feel so terrible – like I’m pulling teeth trying to put a sentence together. I’ve questioned continuing my blog but God always says, “No, keep going.” Alright Lord, I’ll write more fragment sentences.

But like what Lysa TerKeurst said, we need to be parked in God’s truth. There we find our adequacy in life. There we find God, who fills up all the imperfections, the mess ups, the struggles, and we see how we are made whole in Him.

I will never be the best substitute teacher. I will never be the best mentor. I will struggle in my dating relationships. I’ll struggle writing. But what I do know is that God will give me all the power I need to accomplish what I need to do.

Just thinking about that again gives me so much encouragement. God will give YOU all the power YOU need to accomplish His work in YOUR life. You won’t find the power in a cup of coffee. You won’t find the power after getting 8 glorious hours of sleep. You won’t find the power after reading book after book about being the best ___________ [fill in the blank]. Yes, those things are resources, basic needs, and things that help (thank you Lord for coffee). But those things don’t give us the power because it’s only God who does.

“[Not in your own strength] for it is God Who is all the while effectually at work in you [energizing and creating in you the power and desire], both to will and to work for His good pleasure and satisfaction and delight.” – Philippians 2:13 AMP

taste & see [day 24]

Hi friends!

Thought I would share another prayer from Saint Augustine. I really love this one!

“You never go away from us, yet we have difficulty in returning to You. Come, Lord, stir us up and call us back. Kindle and seize us. Be our fire and our sweetness. Let us love. Let us run.”

Blessings to you!