Living in the Ordinary

Choosing Joy Betwixt and Between the Fun and Fantastic

[livingintheordinary]

I’m tired today and a bit soul bruised after a hard Monday. I can wallow in yesterday’s defeats or I can choose to take my eyes off myself and open my hands and heart to the hurts and bruises of others.

I can lift myself up in my rightness and positive, yet often destructive, self talk, or I can stoop to conquer this day with love.

If you need prayer today, let me know. I’m on it. If you need an ear or a hug or a glass of wine, I’m on that too. Let’s be love for each other today. Let’s stoop down and pick each other up and make today really good.

[livingintheordinary]

Truth for Tuesday. Thanks Paul Tripp for speaking into our lives today. #paultripp #fear #awe

[livingintheordinary]

That light? Oh its not my own. Opening my life to Jesus allows me to freely be the girl he has created me to be, but I am not the light. Sisters, we are beautiful and unique lamp posts--holders and reflectors of his never ending pure light. We don't have to strive to be shiny and perfect. Nope. We just have to spend time with Jesus, and like Moses, his love and presence will shine out of us brighter than the world could even imagine. #shinejesusshine #camp posts #butjesus # Jesus #jesusisthelight #lighthascomeandthedarknesscannotovertakeit

[livingintheordinary]

Standing on the edge of redirection can be frightening. I fixate on all of my abilties and begin to panic about how inadequate they are. Under scrutiny, they don't hold up at all and I begin to question everything about my calling. The list of "cons" is far longer than the "pro" side. I'm sure you have been here too-- that place where enthusiasm and excitement meet fear and self-talk criticism, and where God callings and practicality seems to be ready to rumble? Obedience, however, moves me to begin to step out, as faith rises up and covers my fears. I remember that it's never about what I can do or how good I am. No, it's always about Jesus. And just as the uneducated and grossly unprepared Peter and John went out and began preaching to the priests and people, I am given, at just the right time, all I need to fulfill the callings God has given me. Peter and John, those misfits of the New Testament that Jesus uses to, quite literally, change the western world, are just like me- unqualified but authorized. And the crowds response to them in Acts 4 is what my heart most deeply desires. The people "marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus." Oh friends, this is really it. To be known as a girl who has been with Jesus, is my goal. I'm not satisfied with a redirected calling that includes being noticed or promoted for anything that I am doing. No! I only want to be seen in light of him- reflecting his truth in my God story and pointing others straight to him. Is God at work in you right now forming a new dream and redirecting you to a calling that scares the pants off you? Take heart, he is so faithful. His love for us covers over all of our brokeness and weaknesses, and turns them into beauty. His plans are perfect and in every way they are good. As we put aside all of our worldly desire to be known and noticed, and center oursleves on our relationship with God, Jesus steps in and changes our self promoted hike of fear into an unexpected rock walk of peace. #butjesus #acts #preachingtomyself #beenwithjesus #redirection #obedience #peace #inadequacy #brokenbutbeautiful

[livingintheordinary]

"The heart regulates the hand." #2corinthians #battlingdoubt #good intentions #clearcalling # vision #sodoit #dowhatyoucan

[livingintheordinary]

Ladybird just delivered lunch desk side. She is so thoughtful! Homeschooling has allowed me to see her in a whole new beautiful light. Traditional school had stolen all her energy and light, and didn't give her much in return. I am grateful to work from home so we can do take on high school together. Thank you Jesus.💜 #homeschooling #autism #gift #wellroundedmeal #sheknows

[livingintheordinary]

I'm tired today and a bit soul bruised after a hard Monday. I can wallow in yesterday's defeats or I can choose to take my eyes off myself and open my hands and heart to the hurts and bruises of others. I can lift myself up in my rightness and positive, yet often destructive, self talk, or I can stoop to conquer this day with love. If you need prayer today, let me know. I'm on it. If you need an ear or a hug or a glass of wine, I'm on that too. Let's be love for each other today. Let's stoop down and pick each other up and make today really good.

[livingintheordinary]

Well, good afternoon Balboa Beach. You're lookin' good. (at Newport Beach, California)

[livingintheordinary]

Found this postcard at our mailboxes yesterday and had to smile. We can all get a little forgetful at times. My mind saw the humor of humanity in this card, but my heart was reminded of the divinity of God. It is so amazing, but God never forgets. He hasn't just said hello and goodbye and left the rest blank. I am so grateful this morning that God knows us and has stepped down into the white space mess of our lives. We are not fogotten. We are deeply loved and cherished. He is here with us, even now, actively creating and writing each and every word of our beautiful lives.💜

[livingintheordinary]

I'm one of those early morning people. After my #headmasterhubby hands me my coffee, I typically think, pray, and then read my Bible. If all goes well, I've spent time investing in a good day where my heart, mind and body will be ready for the things to come. There are mornings however when I fall down a "tidy up" rabbit hole and I'm pretty much a mess by 8am. That rabbit hole leads to irritation, perfectionism, and anxiety in me. Today was a very early morning where after hearing my hubby's alarm go off twice, I was super tempted to just get busy on making things happen. But you know what? I settled back into bed with my Bible and am so glad I did. Jesus had this to say to me. "Summer, dear Summer, you're prone to fussing far too much and getting yourself worked up over nothing. One thing only is essential--it's the main thing, and today you have chosen it." (paraphrased from Luke 10) Thank you Jesus for your encouragement. Thank you for reminding me on a morning when I am "caught being good". Thank you for your word which is so relivent to my life and shapes me and changes me to be the girl you created me to be. Ahhh, your love and kindness to me are amazing. 💜

[livingintheordinary]

I've been listening to Jesus stories since I was a little girl in Sunday School. They have always captivated me. This morning was no different as I read about the death and resurrection of Lazarus in John 11. (If you don't know the story, read it. Its a good one!) Consider the words Jesus spoke to those around him about the situation before Laz actually did die and then was resurrected. Jesus said, "This sickness is not fatal. It will become an occasion to show God's glory by glorifying God's Son." I have a terrible habit of catastrophizing a lot of little things. My mind can take a messy house and interject thoughts that it's close to becoming one of those hoarding houses. I can take a lean month and start to panic that we are never ever going to really have enough to meet our needs. I can even take a hard week of marrige and start to despair that things are fatal and maybe it's all about to fall apart. But what if I really believed these words from Jesus? What if I believed that my life circumstances were an occasion to show God's glory? What if I lived in such a way that I didn't worry that things were going to go terribly wrong because I saw these as opportunities for God to show himself strong? I do whole heartledly believe this for others. As I pray for these people, listed on my prayer board, I do believe in the bigger picture that Jesus is clue-ing us into. I believe that their situations aren't fatal and that he is going to use their lives as occasions to bring glory to himself. Yes! Why then do I typically believe that my situations are different and perhaps beyond Jesus' reach? Today may I see your hand Jesus in my life. I desire for you to bring glory to yourself through me. Help me Jesus to trust that you love me, hear me, and have something much bigger that you are doing. And Jesus would you please heal the hurts of my sweet friends listed here on my board. I know that this is their prayer too. Yes, that in the process of you healing them, and in your perfect timing, that you would bring glory to yourself. Thank you Jesus that you waste nothing in our lives. I love you.

[livingintheordinary]

Community isn't coincidence. It is intentional sacrificial sacred. Today I'm stepping up- stepping in. Asking myself these questions. Pulling away from egocentricity. Leaning into love. Father, give me the courage to truly lean into love.

[livingintheordinary]

2 hour dates really are awesome. We rarely get much more, but it's ok. Old Town Tustin is a hidden gem that's right around the corner. (at Tustin, California)

[livingintheordinary]

Wishing you a coffee and pajamas kind of Saturday. 💜

[livingintheordinary]

I am finally learning that the space that love grows in isn't driven by emotion. Life here is much slower and doesn't contain any big moments like a wedding days or a trips to Disneyland. The lights aren't as bright, nor is the music as loud in the land of Love. It's often filled with the sounds of whining children, the dishwasher, and car engines that won't start coupled by the scent of hospitals, burned toast, urine, and dirty laundry. This ordinary everyday space is where God grows us. This slow place that tempts us to despair is Love waiting. It's the choosing to stay in our God story and the day after dayness of the mundaine where Love takes root, flowers, and walks away from self and into others. Today, I want to embrace the dishes and the carpooling knowing that God himself has written my story and that right here, right now he is growing in me a love for others that will change us all.

[livingintheordinary]

Yesterday's busyness, troubles, and inconviences sat growing in my heart all night. They grew into anxiety and started to sprout hopelessness. I didn't take them to Jesus because it really didn't occur to me that he would want to hear about the same things over and over again. I know I was wrong about that! So, I woke up with a heavy heart and a knot in my stomach and with the compulsion to sigh heavily with every movement. Tears were close to the surface as I layed in bed trying to prune the harsh and hopeless thoughts that were present. Jesus met me there in the dark and whispered love to me and invited me to get up and spend time with him. Reading John 9 today has shifted my persective. This story is about when Jesus sees a blind man and those around him ask who is responsible for the blindness. Jesus answers, "You're asking the wrong question. You're looking for someone to blame. There is no such cause-effect here. Look instead for what God can do." When my perspective in on the black and white harsh outlines of my life, I am looking to cast blame. I spend time allowing past hurts and situations to justify my wrong attitudes and assumptions. However, when I step back with Jesus and look with gratitude at all of the beauty of the life God has given me, my heart is changed. I no longer am sitting in fear and anxiety-- but in hope. It is not a hope that comes from the details of my troubles themselves, but a hope that grows out of the knowledge that God loves me, sees me, and can do great things. Many of you are hurting this morning. I see you. God sees you and loves you tremendously. He wants to hear about your troubles, even if it's for the 100th time. It is my prayer that you and I will shift our perspective off of the harsh blaming game and look instead to what God can do. Together friends, let's wait expectantly for him. #withgodallthingsarepossible #joyinthejourney #ButJesus #ohhowhelovesus

[livingintheordinary]

Oh how lovely is the soft morning rain that taps on my window beckoning me to a fresh day. She is offering me an invitation to follow her and bring life, refreshment, and delight to those around me. Thank you Jesus for showering your life giving water on the land and my soul today. The rain is just a glimpse of the true never ending grace, joy, and mercy you pour out on and in me. May my life be a reflection of your great and compassionate love. #livingwater #rain #butjesus