I Don't Have it All Together

I've been looking at my last few posts--Louie Awards, book signings, devotionals. And I'm afraid you might start believing something that just isn't true. For example, that I have it all together.  

So let's just set the record straight. I don't have it all together. Not now, not ever. I'm a mess, really. I was actually saying those words as I walked into Barnes & Noble for my book signing last night. I was so nervous that I couldn't eat dinner. I felt like I had something in my nose (that always happens when I'm tense). And as I walked across the parking lot I just kept saying to my husband, "I'm a mess. I'm a mess."

Ironically, those words made me feel better. Because there is this temptation to climb up on some sort of pedestal. I think as women we all feel it (or at least I hope I'm not the only one). We want people to think we're cool, smart, beautiful, or whatever it is we value because then we'll be loved. But I've tried it enough times to know that the pedestal is no fun and certainly not where I want to live.

And the truth is, I really am a mess. I struggle with anxiety and depression at times. I have my whole life. I've fussed at my husband twice today about totally stupid things. I'm insecure quite often even though it doesn't show. I forget to eat my fruits and vegetables. I kill plants. I hate to iron. I'm bad at asking for help. I let myself get worn out a lot. I whine. I can't accessorize to save my life. Decorating makes me hyperventilate. I have trouble being content. I drool excessively in my sleep.

The list could be a lot longer, let me assure you. But I think you've got my point. So just in case any of you were getting any sort of idea that I might be someone I'm not...just let that crazy idea go.

I believe we're really all a lot more alike than different. And we're all just trying to be a little more like Jesus. Because that's what it's all about in the end, right?

Barnes & Noble Book Signing

Update: Here are a few fun pics from the book signing! Thanks so much to everyone who stopped by!

 

I got to do the book signing with my fabulous friend and talented writer Gwen Ford Faulkenberry. She was signing her devotional A Beautiful Life and her Christian romance novel Love Finds You in Romeo, Colorado.

 

These are a few of my wonderful girlfriends--Andrea, Tena, and Kathleen.

 

And one of my favorite families, our dear friends Heather and Tony with little ones Micah and Lily.

I wish I had gotten a picture of everyone. When I'm nervous I tend to forget important things like how to spell my name (story below) and that there is a camera sitting right in front of me! I really appreciate all of you who were there and those of you who were thinking of me even if you couldn't make it!

I'm getting ready for a Rain on Me book signing at our local Barnes & Noble tonight. It's a bit of a "pinch me" moment. (Hopefully I won't blow that this time by walking into the men's bathroom and/or spelling my own name wrong.) I keep thinking about how God has brought me through the desert and into this place where I'm finally seeing blessings flow out of my pain. This devotional from Rain on Me describes my heart on that subject so I wanted to share it with you today...

The “Yes” You Never Expected

He stilled the storm to a whisper;

the waves of the sea were hushed.

                                         Psalm 107:29

A few years ago, a coworker came rushing up to my desk with good news to share. She exclaimed, “A greeting card you wrote has been nominated for an award!” I asked her what kind of card it was, and she replied, “Baby congratulations.”

After she walked away from my desk, I sat in stunned silence for a few moments as I considered the irony. An infertile woman might receive an award for a baby congratulations card!

As I looked back over the last few years, several other similar instances came to mind. I unexpectedly got to help develop a line of baby gifts. I published three books for children.

Slowly the Lord began to reveal something to my heart. I sensed Him softly whispering, I’ve said yes to every prayer that has been prayed for new life to come through you. It has just been in a different way than you expected. As I absorbed those words, tears came to my eyes. I knew it was true.

I also knew that I had believed a lie. That lie went something like, “You did something wrong, and so God is saying no to your prayers.” I thought if I could just be better, then somehow I could earn what I wanted.

Now, though, I suddenly realized God had been saying yes all along. In that moment God “stilled the storm to a whisper” in my life. Before then all I could hear was the rain pounding against my heart, and the steady beat sounded like no, no, no, no.

You’ve heard that sound, haven’t you? Late at night, when all is quiet. In the middle of the day, when you’re caught off guard by a painful longing or unwelcome memory. In the morning, when you wake up to another day where things are not as they should be.

Yet if we listen closer, there is another sound. It’s the heartbeat of our Heavenly Father. And it’s always yes, yes, yes, yes. Even when we don’t understand, yes. Even when it’s different than what we expected, yes. Even when it seems as if nothing good is happening at all, yes.

Over the next few months, five people told me on separate occasions that they felt God was going to bring new life through my words. I hadn’t told any of them what God had revealed to my heart, and it was further confirmation of what I’d sensed to be true. Not having a child still hurt, but I also found renewed peace in knowing that God was at work.

Perhaps it’s time for you to ask your Heavenly Father to “still the storm to a whisper” in your life and help you hear His voice in a new way. You just may discover a no in your life is actually a yes you never expected.

Hold Out Hope (Busy Day Giveaway)

 

Update: Congratulations to Jana! She's the winner of this week's giveaway. If you'd still like to get a pack of Colors of Compassion cards, you can find them on DaySpring.com by clicking here. There are 14 different designs to choose from and part of the proceeds benefit Compassion International. If you use coupon code LIFE20 before June 1 you'll get an extra 20% off!

Hope is more than just a word—
it’s a state of being.
It’s a firm belief that
even if you don’t know how,
even if you don’t know when,
God will come through
and better days are ahead.
Life sends rain...
Hope dances in the puddles
until the sun comes out again.
—Holley Gerth

Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. HEBREWS 11:1 NIV

 

I'm still catching up from my trip so I'm just doing a quick giveaway today! To win a pack of six of these cards ($20 value) from DaySpring's Colors of Compassion line leave a comment before midnight on Thursday. Part of the profits from these cards help Compassion International.

This is how you tie the knot in Texas...

Congratulations to my little brother Stephen and my new sister-in-law Amber!

They say a picture is worth a thousand words so here's my little story about their lovely wedding, y'all.

(subscribers click here if you can't see the pictures)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wedding Bells for My Little Brother

First, I really appreciate your kind congratulations on the Louie Awards! I've been smiling often the last couple of days as I thank God for giving me such a sweet group of readers. You truly bless me more than you know and I love hearing from you.

I'm in Houston right now getting ready for my little brother's wedding. Here's a picture of the two of us from way back when...

 

I love his expression--pure joy. I bet I'll see that again as his bride walks down the aisle tomorrow. I, on the other hand, am probably already pondering the meaning of life and making some sort of spiritual analogy about stuffed animals.

I'd appreciate your prayers for my brother and his bride as they start a new life together. If you'd like to leave a comment congratulating Stephen and Amber I'll be sure to pass it along!

A Very Happy Day for DaySpring

Do any of you like the Academy Awards? If so, you might be interested in knowing there's an equivalent for the Greeting Card Industry called The Louie Awards. There's a big fancy-schmancy ceremony in New York City (ooh-la-la).

So, long story short, Dayspring won four Louie Awards this year! The winners were announced on Monday night and we're all quite giddy. I had the honor of writing the cards. I consider all of you part of DaySpring because we couldn't do it without you, so I wanted to share the good news with you!

Here are the winning cards...

The first one was for Friendship/Encouragement and was designed by Leila Burkert. She's fabulous and looks like she belongs in a fashion magazine. I'm grateful she dresses up my words so nicely too.

 

In hard times she had learned three things—

she was stronger than she ever imagined,

Jesus was closer than she ever realized,

and she was loved more than she ever knew.  

Inside:
praying for you

Scripture:
I remember you in my prayers.
PHILEMON 1:4 NIV 

Leila also designed this birthday card...

 

She’s one of those people
with a bright smile on her face,
a light spring in her step,
and a true sweetness in her spirit.

Inside:
You’re one of those people
who makes the world a better place
simply by being in it.

Tag:
Happy Birthday

Scripture:
God saw all that He had made,
and it was very good.
GENESIS 1:31 NIV 

My sweet and talented from Alisa Hipp did the next one. She's expecting a baby and if her little one is half as creative as she is then the world had just better get ready for a big blessing.

  

The last thing you need
is one more person
telling you to
“get well soon.”
Sometimes it’s just
not that easy.

Inside:
So instead I want to tell you
I’m sorry you’re hurting
and I’m praying for you, too,
and asking God to take care of you
every step, every day, every way.

Scripture:
I made you and I will care for you.
ISAIAH 46:4 TLB

My dear friend, Heather Steck, designed the last (but not at all least) one. There's a Heather-shaped spot in my heart that will be there forever. I feel so blessed by her friendship and all the fun work we've gotten to do together. 

The Meaning of the Snowflake

Every new snowflake comes to the earth
as a picture of our Saviour’s birth,
because they are sent from up above
and remind us of God’s care and love.
Each one is so intricate and small
because Christ sees the details of us all,
and just as two are never the same
the Lord knows and calls us each by name.
Snowflakes gently cover the world in white
and hide what’s unlovely from our sight,
showing us how He covers our sin
and gives us His grace when we come to Him.
So may every snowflake bring Christ to mind
and in every bit of white may you find
a reason to celebrate anew
and a reminder of His love for you.

Inside:
Praying your Christmas and new year
are filled with God’s many blessings.

SCRIPTURE:
From the fullness of His grace we have
all received one blessing after another.
JOHN 1:16 NIV 

Thanks for sharing DaySpring's joy today!

Turning Life's "April Showers" into "May Flowers"

Update: Congratulations to Grace for winning a copy of Rain on Me and the Covered/Shine necklace! Her comment was chosen by the random number generator and her prize will be going all the way to her home in Malaysia! 

If you still want the book and necklace you can find them on DaySpring.com: Covered/Shine necklace click here, Rain on Me click here. You can use coupon code LIFE20 until the end of May for an extra 20% off and there's free shipping over $50 (Father's Day is coming soon!).

There’s an old story about two pots. One was perfect in every way. The other had cracks and broken places. Each day a woman filled the pots with rainwater she collected and then carried them down the path to her home. The first pot felt proud that she never spilled a single drop. The other felt ashamed because no matter how hard she tried, she lost a lot along the way. 

One day the two pots overheard the woman talking with someone who lived nearby. The neighbor exclaimed, “The flowers along your path are so beautiful! What’s your secret?” The woman answered, “One of my pots is broken and the water that spills out helps the flowers grow every day.”

That story reminds me of a song called “By His Wounds” that’s a collaboration featuring Mac Powell from Third Day, Mark Hall from Casting Crowns, Steven Curtis Chapman, and Brian Littrell. Each one sings ISAIAH 53:5…

But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our sins; the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, and by His wounds we are healed.

I first heard this song while driving home from work one day. During that time some pain in my life seemed especially pointless. I also felt concern that nothing good would ever come of it. “Lord,” I silently prayed, “How can you even use me when I’m so broken?”

As I paused and considered that question, the song above came onto the radio. When the music ended, a new perspective on my hurt began. I realized that through Christ’s wounds we are healed and because He lives in us…our wounds can bring healing to others too.

We think that we have to take what’s broken and make it perfect in order to be used by God and bless others. But God thinks in a completely different way. He took what was perfect, His Son, and made Him broken in order to bring us healing.

So if you’re sitting there wondering if God can use you because your life is not as it should be, and your heart is aching—know that your greatest hurt will probably be your greatest ministry. Like the disciple Thomas who doubted until he touched the scars of Jesus, some people in your life need to see your broken places more than your victories.

We’re all like the second pot in the story. Our “April showers” can truly lead to “May flowers” because God sees purpose in our brokenness even when we don’t, and He can use it to bring forth beauty that blesses those around us.  

The devotional above was adapted from my book, Rain on Me: Devotions of Hope and Encouragement for Difficult Times.

 

This week's giveaway is a signed copy of Rain on Me (click here to Download Rain on Me Excerpt) AND this fabulous two-sided Covered/Shine necklace designed by my talented friend Heather Steck for DaySpring...

 

The necklace also comes with a mini-card I wrote with this message...

  

I wish I had a big yellow umbrella
that would keep away
all the rain in your life…

I would hold it over your head,
and the drops would splash, splash
and you would never even feel it.

But I don’t have a big yellow umbrella…
so I’ll walk through the rain with you,
and cover you in prayer
until the sun comes out again.

Love one another.
John 13:34 The Message

 

Leave a comment before midnight on Wednesday to enter!

 

 

"Found it!" Friday

As we wrap up another week, I'd like to share a few fabulous blogs with you...

Like a Warm Cup of Coffee - Stop by and say "Happy 1st Birthday" to this delightful and inspiring site. It's a celebration!

Blogworthy Notes from a Mother's Journal... - This sweet blog is from one of my RLFs (Real Life Friends) who is an amazing, godly gal.

My Cancer Butt Kicking Journey - Another RLF who is battling cancer with strength and grace. Pay her a visit and let her know you're praying for her.

Recognize and Remember - Sandra Jo and I got acquainted through my blog and I love her heart for touching the lives of women. I know her words will bless your life like they've blessed mine.  

Pearl Girls - I met Pearl Girls founder Margaret McSweeney at a writers conference a few years ago. Since then I've watched her make a difference in the lives of countless women through her amazing organization.

Enjoy...and leave us a comment if there's another blog you've found that you think we should know about!

SHE: Crazy Thoughts on Being a Christian Woman

Lately I've been pondering and praying about what it really means to be a Christian woman. And what I'm discovering is blasting my little comfort zone to pieces. Warning: you can keep reading but it just may scare your apron off.

 

Let's start at the beginning when Eve was created to be a "helper"...

Subordination is not inherent in the use of the term, ezer [r;z'[], "helper" ( Genesis 2:18 ), as is clear from the fact that it is frequently used of God in relation to humans (e.g. Psalm 33:20 ).

—Baker's Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology

When we think of Eve being created as a “helper” for Adam, we tend to assume that word describes her role. But what if it is much deeper than that? What if it describes her heart?

Think of the women in your life. Encouraging, comforting, cooking, painting, working…it is almost all for someone else. They labor on behalf of love. This “helping” varies in its intensity. Sometimes it is a soft hand brushed across the hot brow of a sick child. But often it is fierce, strong, wild, bold.

The word for “helper” is the same word often used when God helps us. David writes in the Psalms, “We wait in hope for the Lord; he is our help and our shield” (Psalm 33:20). Here the help that comes from God is the kind one needs in war—it sits side-by-side with a shield.

We, as women, often do go to battle. We fight cancer. We fight for our marriages. We fight for our children. And in doing so, we help.

Perhaps we have defined this word too narrowly because a part of us grasps what it truly means. Deep inside we have sensed our full calling…and it is terrifying. So we define, and let it be defined for us, that “helping” is quiet and safe.

And sometimes it is. It has been said that humility is “strength under control.” So at times we do “help” in the ways servants do—not because we must but because our hearts love deeply enough to put the needs of others before our own. This is a beautiful part of being a woman.

But other times, perhaps, we hold back our help because it would mean stepping out of our comfort zones, getting messy, dirty, and involved. We know it would take all of our strength, we might get wounded in the process, and people could misunderstand.

Yet it remains that we are “helpers” created and called by the one who is our Help. So we must look to Him for the complete picture of what that word means. 

God's heart is the place where "woman" began and, though we may look elsewhere, it is still the place where we (as women) find who we are in the end.

God's Heart for You

Update: The random number generator picked comment number 13 which came from Sarah Markley! Congratulations, girl! I hope you'll all take a moment to visit her fabulous blog. If you'd still love to get the necklace go to DaySpring.com. And you can use discount code LIFE20 for an extra 20% off your entire purchase until the end of this month.

As I start a new week, I'm feeling the need to be reminded of how God's feels about me. About a year ago, I put together a list of everything I could find about that in Scripture. I'm sharing a few of those verses here and if you want the whole file, you can click on it below (there are about 60 all together!).

God created you

God saw all that He had made,

and it was very good.

GENESIS 1:31 NIV

 

God accepts you

Accept one another, then,

just as Christ accepted you,

in order to bring praise to God.
ROMANS 15:7 NIV

 

God knows your heart

The Lord looks at the heart.

I SAMUEL 16:7 NIV

 

God’s presence is with you

My Presence will go with you,

and I will give you rest.

EXODUS 33:14 NIV

 

God delights in you

For the Lord takes delight in His people.

PSALM 149:4 NIV

 

God cares about you

The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble.

He cares for those who trust in Him.

NAHUM 1:7 NIV

Download God's Heart for You

 

I really debated about whether or not to do a giveaway because I know I've done a lot lately, but this sterling silver DaySpring necklace is just so perfect that I couldn't resist. It's actually called "God's Heart for You" and has a word on each side--Chosen, Cherished, Created, and Celebrated. It comes with a little card that has a Scripture for each word. So just leave a comment before midnight on Tuesday and you'll be entered to win.

I'm praying for you right now (and for me too) that we'll know and live in the truth of just how much we're loved!