Who's read it?

Ok, who's read Crazy Love?  My friend Heather recommended it and I've seen it around, so I picked it up today at Lifeway. 

Wow.  I'm only on p.42 and I've got to share this passage. 

Worry implies that we don't quite trust that God is big enough, powerful enough, or loving enough to take care of what's happening in our lives.

Stress says that the things we are involved in are important enough to merit our impatience, our lack of grace toward others, or our tight grip of control.

Basically, these two behaviors communicate that it's okay to sin and not trust God because the stuff in my life is somehow exceptional.  Both worry and stress reek of arrogance.  They declare our tendency to forget that we've been forgiven, that our lives here are brief, that we are headed to a place where we won't be lonely, afraid, or hurt ever again, and that in the context of God's strength, our problems are small, indeed.

Why are we so quick to forget God?  Who do we think we are?

I find myself relearning this lesson often.  Even though I glimpse God's holiness, I am still dumb enough to forget that life is all about God and not about me at all. ------Francis Chan, Crazy Love

How good is that?  I mean I know that worry is wrong.  The Bible specifically says "Do not worry."  But I've never thought of stress in that way. 

Really, how often do we use stress as an excuse for our behavior?  "I know I yelled at the kids, but I'm just so stressed!"  We wear our stress almost as a badge that reads, "Hey, look at me!  I'm stressed out!"  Like it's a competition to see who can be the most stressed.  Like it makes us seem so busy and so important and like we have so many things going on. 

But doesn't stress, along with worry, do just what Francis Chan says?  Don't they just say that we don't trust God with our stuff?  That our stuff is too big for God?  That because we have so much to deal with (usually alone, right?) it's okay that we act ugly toward our spouse.  Or snap impatiently at the kids.  Or retreat into ourselves and not reach out to others who may need our encouragement because we've just got too much on our plates. 

Oh that we could and would surrender it all, palms up, to the only One who IS big enough to handle all our stuff.  All our mess.  Oh that we would keep in mind that this is not our home and that we're not SUPPOSED to feel comfortable here. 

It's all about Him.  And stress and worry makes it all about me. 

I'll let you know how the rest of the book turns out.....

A summer in pictures. And a video.

Oh the fun that we've had this summer. We had a family trip to Hilton Head, a family trip to Myrtle Beach, Carowinds, pool, cook-outs with friends, fireworks, and lots and lots of playing. Nothing overly exciting and I forgot my camera on more than one occasion. Nice. But here are a few highlights.

Our first beach trip over Mother's Day weekend.

(Nice present, no?)

My cute little beach bum

Ok, first, I was excited to turn around in my chair and see this going on behind me. Second, how old are these people? Don't they look like they should be going to prom??

And yes, the groom totally has on sneakers and the bride and all her attendants have on white flip flops.

A little family photo shoot at Harbor Town

Taken by Becca

Imagine my joy when I saw these chairs set up on the 18th green, across the marina.

Apparently we had just missed our second wedding of the day!

Well, I think this speaks for itself.

End of the year party for softball for our little athlete

Second beach trip to my parents' beach house. When we weren't on the beach or at the pool, this is what we were doing. My kids call it the Bob and Larry game. Not sure it's real name. Also there was way too much Uno.

On the other hand, there could NEVER be too much of this little guy, 6 month old cousin Ty.

It's a bird, it's a plane....

I could never get them to look at the same time.

4th of July festivities (photo courtesy of my friend Melissa since I didn't take my camera. Thanks!)

My husband spent 10 days in the Amazon area of Brazil. This is a baptism service that they attended.

Sunset on the river (forgive me, I forget the name but I know it's not the Amazon.)

Dad's fan club at the airport (And yes I do own more than just this green dress, ha!)

We went to Carowinds last week when the kids were at the grandparents. Daniel took this with his phone so it's hard to tell, but we are actually lying down! The whole roller coaster ride you are lying down! I totally freaked out the first time I rode. This is just after the second ride.

It's been a great summer so far. We are gearing up for another mission trip to Brazil in September. Daniel is leading this trip to the same area we have been to 3 times previously. You can read about those trips HERE. Fundraising is in full swing. Click on the links if you're interested in a soccer tournament or some good old barbeque.

Oh! I almost forgot I said something about a video!

Lately

So I've had a love/hate relationship lately with the ole blog.  Well maybe not so much love/hate.  Maybe more like love/indifference.  Add to that the fact that I just wrote a post only to have my computer start doing crazy things and Live Writer closed down before I saved it and you've got me wanting to throw my computer across the room. 

Ok, maybe it is love/hate with the computer.

I really wanted to pass along a link I found yesterday on JMom's blog.  I took the time to watch the video and I'm telling you, TAKE THE TIME.  It's the site of a wife and mom who recently passed away from cancer.  The video is her talking to a group at her church a few months ago.  It is inspiring and encouraging and just amazing.  I can't even tell you how blessed I was to watch it.  Just go.

"Cancer does not define me. Neither does being a wife or a mother. All these things are part of who I am but they do not define me. What defines me is my relationship with Jesus."---Rachel Barkey