more than a thankful list this week - sharing a sermon

This is one of the most impactful sermons I have listened to lately.  I listened to it once...and then went back and listened again and took some notes....and then, as I was putting this blogpost together, I listened to it again...

Church of the City New York, Jon Tyson, Formed: Sanctification

A few of my favorite quotes:

The foundation of sanctification is Christ's work, not our performance.

There is no formation without repetition.

Your faith is not based on how good you are at your gifts but in the places of brokenness that need to be transformed and healed. 

The school of life is the school of formation...how can this moment make me more like Jesus?

Titus 3:4-7

But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.

And my most favorite part (the one that has really made me think and pray)

Do not settle in the sanctification process. Let Jesus go after the motivational structure of your heart.

Bonus: i got a little distracted by the "fame and deeds" banner on the pulpit while he was preaching (honestly, I've never watched a Church of the City sermon - I usually just listen to them)...so I googled it and found that "fame and deeds" is from Habakkuk 3:2 and is a part of their church's vision  "To see the fame and deeds of God renewed and known in our time."

Life Without Lack - quotes

At last, quotes  (a lot of quotes!!) from a book I finished a few months ago (it's been a while, so by way of a reminder: when I read books that I know God is using to shape the core of who I am, I like to compile all of the parts that I underlined while I was reading.  It's nice to have an archive of the words and lines and quotes and phrases that impacted me most.)

If something doesn't make sense I very well could have typed it wrong...or it may be better understood if read in its full context...I would highly recommend that you read the whole book if you're interested.  

All quotes, unless otherwise stated, are from Dallas Willard. 

Introduction

I'm glad you're reading this book.  Read it as if we are having a personal conversation - just you and me talking together, with the Lord between us.

memorization enables us to keep God and His truth constantly before our minds, allowing His Word and wisdom to help us.

unlimited in resources, just as He is unlimited in love, He is the Good Shepherd who generously provides for our every need.

Our confidence in God soars far above wants and fears.

you can live without fear even in the midst of a world dominated by fear.

the complete sufficiency of the life without lack is based upon the presence of God.

I would not feast upon a delicious meal in their ("my enemies") presence and let them stand there hungry. The abundance of God's provision and safety in my life is so great, I would invite them to enjoy what God has prepared for me.  

I can be as generous as my Shepherd without fear of ever running out.  

A life without lack is a life in which one is completely satisfied and sustained, no matter what happens. 

Chapter 1 

the most important thing about your mind is what it is fixed upon.

The ultimate freedom we have as individuals is the power to select what we will allow or require our minds to dwell upon and think about. 

Yet there is every reason to hope if they would just stop looking at themselves and look at God instead.

The preaching of the Gospel will bring the mind to dwell intelligently upon God as He is presented in His Word, which will have the effect of causing us to love God passionately - in a way that brings us to think of God steadily.  Thus He will always be before our minds. 

fasting is feasting upon God.

Once you begin to have an impression of who God truly is, everything else fades into insignificance.

God is not stingy.  He dwells in magnificent abundance, and lovingly provides for our needs out of that abundance. 

God loves to gush forth with His goodness.

Chapter 2

your primary contact with God is through your mind, and what you do with your mind is the most important choice you have.

if we place our minds on God, the reality of God comes into our lives.

God is a being who is perfectly glorious and perfectly safe.

Even when you give God your highest praise, he will always be deserving of more.

we, too, require a long, steady education in this direction....increasingly come to know and trust God as He truly is.

fear and worry are worthless.

fix your mind upon God and ask him to fill your mind with himself.

even severe fears can be faced when we are confident in the strength and generosity of God - and in the fact that his kingdom isn't shaken, and he is not undone by these things. 

let the worst happen! let the worst happen and God and I will go on together in the abundance of his being.

...have the magnificence and grandeur and glorious reality of God's being brought to our attention.

Chapter 3 

it is hard for people to believe they are spirit-infused beings with such power, privilege and responsibility.

people are valuable even if they're doing nothing; we do not have to earn our value. 

the obviously well kept secret of the "ordinary" is that it is make to be a receptacle of the divine, a place where the life of God flows. 

the highest potential of God's love and power is available to us in the trivial things of everyday life. 

work to produce more of the good he has put in this world.

work is the expending of energy to produce good in various forms and ways.

the real challenge to every person's faith is that we do everything to the glory of God, even in the smallest actions of our days. 

He's more interested in the person you are becoming than in your work, or your ministry, or your job.  the surest way to realize the full potential of your God-designed self is to live in eternity while you are in time, conscious of the loving gaze of your all-sufficient Shepherd, in who care nothing of the good you do is lost. 

submission is setting aside our own ideas as supreme and our own will as ultimate, freeing us from the burden of having our own way and of being all-wise in our own eyes.

people exist to love as Jesus loved.

Chapter 4

...the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil (1 John 3:8)

his (the enemy) intent is to thwart God's purposes by manipulating the minds of human beings.

when we seek to understand and destroy evil in the world, we must realize that we are dealing with something far beyond our natural capabilities, and we need to address evil with that realization. 

satan uses not only our desires to deceive us but also our fears.

the only thing that can keep us straight is being full of God and full of His word. 

this world is a perfectly good and safe place for anyone to be, no matter the circumstances, if they have placed their lives in the hands of Jesus and his Father. In such a world we never have to do what we know to be wrong, and we never need be afraid.  

a society can lose the truth it once possessed simply by no longer desiring truth above reputation, pleasure and power

when looking good takes precedence over knowing the good, satan wins the battle...

when our minds are on God, and our thoughts are formed by our knowledge of God, such sufficiency will flow to us.  

...think about God as Jesus thought about him, and to trust God as Jesus trusted Him - moving from having faith in Jesus to having the faith of Jesus.  

Chapter 5

only faith would lead you to seek God with all your heart

if you have enough faith to speak it, then you may have enough faith to do it. 

God is more concerned with who you are becoming than in what you can accomplish with your faith.  he desires that you become the kind of person who can joyfully and easily receive an abundance of faith and power - the gift of great faith from God, who knows when, what kind, and how much to give us.  

...they went through a painful process and came to understand how the blessing of God goes well beyond failure, disappointment and tragedy.  

I don't care what's going to happen, I am holding on to God!

the life without lack is known by those who have learned how to trust God in the moment of their need....it is in that moment, when everything else is gone, that you know the reality of God. 

in trusting you will know God.  

He stopped trying to get God to make everything right. 

Seek the Lord.  Ask him to reveal himself to you and give you the faith of sufficiency that knowns no bounds.

the truth of God's grace is that we never merit the good that is done to us.  Grace is opposed to earning, but it is not opposed to effort, because effort is action and earning is attitude.  

we are not trying to impress anyone, most of all not ourselves. 

Chapter 6

you were not put here on earth to get rid of yourself.  you were put here to be a self, and to live fully as a self. 

...to live with uncrucified affections and desires, is simply a matter of putting them in the ultimate position in our lives.  whatever we want becomes the most important thing.  

God prompts us to have an interest in what is better and best. 

as long as people are hung up on honor from other people - reputation, appearing well - they cannot truly believe and trust God. 

these beautiful qualities (from James 3:17-18) are marks of persons who have learned in their heart of hearts the great freedom of death to self, and out of their peaceful lives comes everything that is right and good. 

Purity shocks people 

God can make the condition of our own hearts known to us and he can give us new hearts marked by the wisdom from above. The requirement on our part is to die to self

 the right thing would be simply releasing it all and saying “all right. God knows. I’m living in his world. He can give me what he wants. I will not put these things in the place of God.

The crucifixion of the self is a cooperative affair between us and the Lord. We cannot die to self without the help of God‘s grace.

We can receive the things we do not want – or give up the things we do want – if we have decided, by the grace of God, that we can trust God to take care of us.

Engage an honest and thoughtful prayer, letting God know what we are going through, listening for his calming assurance that all will be well, then acting interest against the lack or threat while praising God as we move forward with our lives.

If we get ourselves out of the way, and focus our attention upon the God of our sufficiency, then we, too, can be singing songs of victory.

Disengaging from the expectations of others.

Set aside days to spend alone with God to seek his face and to imagine that they shining with joy as it looks at you.

It is the experience of having God look you right in the eye and saying “I love you! I approve of you!” that is the unshakable ground of our self-worth. Our ultimate approval is from God, Not from other human beings.

Chapter 7

The faith God wants to give us is not for that thing, but for trusting him

Death to self is submitting all your desires to God… In God’s hands, we are content for him to take charge of outcomes.

Lord, you are quite sufficient for me. If you want to take it away forever, that would be fine.

God is love – and that is not an explanation of who God is; that’s an explanation of what love is.

Be a person possessed by love as an overall character of life

… Poised to promote the well-being of others…

We are called and enable to love as God loves becoming like God as loving persons

The goal is not to be people who do loving things but become the kind of people who naturally, joyfully, and easily love.

Having been served, he is free to serve.

Only Jesus enables his followers to live a life of selfless, joyful, anxiety free, loving service on behalf of others

He is the spirit of love who desires to reside within us and empower us to love as he loves

If we do not choose to become as loving as Jesus, we will never know a life without lack. For such a life is realized through love filling our lives. Faith is only completed in love, because our faith is in a God of love – no other.

God desires to heal our souls, and then we are better able to love the people he brings into our lives.

Let the Lord show you a good thing about them, and then love them by being thankful for them

In all this we must be careful not to get our egos involved

We begin by asking God to help us delight in them, focus on what is good for them, and celebrate what is valuable within them.

Seek to see them, to relate to them, to be with them as it is appropriate and good. Set your mind to be with them, and pay attention to them. Do what is good for them. Look into their eyes, and talk to them and listen to them; serve them, help them, give to them. Enjoy them. Praise God for them

You will never understand the heart of God unless you see that Mercy should govern all our relationships to one another.

Forgiveness can come long before the healing is complete.

your life is so full of good that you are prepared to take the absence of something from your life as sufficient proof that you do not need it

The ultimate freedom that comes to the one whose life is characterized by faith, death to self, and love is the assurance that you have everything you need in God.

Chapter 8

What is our part in dwelling with the Lord and living our days in such a way that goodness and mercy follow us in our week?

Our challenge is to stay with him in the increasing belief that God truly desires to be with us

The freedom from the frantic desire to have is grounded in God‘s promise to never leave us. Whatever we have or do not have makes no difference because we are with the one who will provide everything we need, and this allows us to be content.

If we are with him, everything is taken care of.

Our ordinary lives, our day-to-day at home at work at play maybe even at church lives will be extra ordinary.

The level of your desire for Jesus to be with you has no bearing on how much he loves you. 

It is good that you are alive: your life is good, it is good that you are who you are, and it is good that you do the work you do.

Joy is a pervasive sense of well-being that claims your entire body and soul, both the physical and non-physical side of the human self

Being with Jesus will bring a new quality to your awareness of yourself and others; you’ll begin to see people with new eyes, with new appreciation and love

Yoked to Jesus, allow him to carry most of the load as you go about your day in his uplifting presence. 

We are called to make intentional decisions and taking steps that will move us into a place of greater interaction with God.

Spiritual practices such as Sabbath, rest, solitude, and silence are essentially casting all your cares upon him. When you’ve done this enough to convince yourself that the world will be able to function without you, you will find true rest

Be with me, Lord, I have joy, I have joy.

Ask in particular for the faith, death to self, and love that make the shepherds efficiency your own… To be with him is to become like him.

Transform your normal activities into opportunities for communion with the Lord

Imagine what it would be like if you met with Jesus seven times throughout the day, and seven days throughout the week; he would likely grew quite a custom to his company. And his sufficiency!

Emergencies are opportunities to bring God into the realities of your life.

Everything that comes in to your day – every person, every activity, and even (or especially!) every interruption – is an opportunity for you and Jesus to bless

Train yourself to use each change of person or event to remind you to pray into bliss

It is essential that you are well grounded in the grace drenched message of God‘s acceptance of us. There is no room for – because there’s no possibility of – self righteousness here. God in love accepts us as we are, because he cannot accept us the way we aren’t. The only way you and I can come to God is, as the old hymn puts it, “just as I am.“ There is great freedom in this – the freedom to become God’s vision of you

When I enter into God, all life has a meaning. Without asking, I know; my desires are even now fulfilled…

May you know increasingly, by joyful experience, life abundant in rest, provision, and blessing – a life without lack.

From the Closing Prayer

Let your spirit move in our minds and hearts so we believe evermore fully that because you are are all sufficient shepherd, we shall never want.

it only took me about a year and a half to get through this book (and about 3+ months to get the quotes into a blog post!)...now I'm moving on to Willard's "The Divine Conspiracy"...be on the lookout for quotes from it in 2024.  :) (and feel free to join me in reading it if you'd like!)

an infusion of joy

It all started on Wednesday night with thinking that I didn't want to wake up early Thursday morning.

Well, it actually started with the fact that Christ Community has been having daily prayer Zoom meetings at 7am (and another one at 5:30pm)(if you have any interest in joining in, you are MORE THAN WELCOME - let me know, I can send you a link).

The prayer meeting part has been going on for a while (though I think they were meeting at 5:30am?!)  - it's the Zoom part that's new in this COVID-19 season.  And while I think most people would agree that in person is better than Zoom, there's something significant about these Zoom meetings and calls and connections. And, in this case, meeting over Zoom has made it possible for me to join in with the prayer time.  AND, I've really enjoyed them (there could be a whole post about that...)

I've already said so much without saying much of anything that I started out to say!  

More backstory.  I was feeling the invitation from God to join in on the prayer times....but waking up earlier than necessary is not my favorite thing.  So, I basically told God (in a very respectful way :)) that He was welcome to wake me up if He wanted me to participate....

He's been using a sweet little girl named Zoe to do just that.  Lately, she's been waking up around 6:30 but if I go to her and give her lamby and paci, she'll settle back in for another hour, give or take a bit.  In this season, I've sensed the Lord saying "just stay up, join in the prayer calls."   

Back to Wednesday night, we had stayed up pretty late (we've been playing games and watching movies as a family....which is GREAT...but it's made for some late nights) and I was thinking that it would be nice to sleep a bit longer - so my flesh was hoping that 1)Zoe would sleep until 8am! or 2)God would give me permission to go back to sleep even if she woke up.

Thursday morning, she woke up around 6:30...I settled her back down...and knew in my heart that God was inviting me to stay up.  So I did.  And I'm so glad I did.  

I joined in the prayer call and Beau was leading (I love and appreciate how different people have been leading the calls).  He started by sharing this quote about JOY  From the Become Good Soil Blog: Tumbleweeds and Joy Bombs

Jesus, I want joy.  If joy flows from intimacy and intimacy from union and union can be restored through our intimate and personal love language, I want more.  Would you open the eyes of my heart to see what joy bomb you are bringing for my heart this day?  I need it.  I choose the greatest defiance of the Kingdom of God over darkness. I choose you.  I choose to believe that you choose me. That I’m worth it to you. That you are just around the corner. I’m looking. You have my yes. 

And then he invited us to share where we have been experiencing joy - what joy bombs has God been sending our way?

It was such a beautiful time of worship as person after person shared how God has been giving them joy.  From beautiful things in nature to certain songs to getting pegged with a ball by a child in a family game (and the belly laughing that ensued!) to experiencing kindness from God and others....there was testimony after testimony of God's goodness and kindness and the JOY given by Him.  It was SO soul strengthening and heart lifting.  

An infusion of joy. 

Good questions to think on (and good questions to share with others!): 

• Where have you been experiencing joy? 
• Are you noticing the "joy bombs" God is throwing into your life?  
• How are you expressing your thanks for the "joy bombs"? 
• What do you think brings joy to the Lord?

A little inside scoop on life in the Cash Casa: most days, once the other Cash Kids get up and get going for the day, we do our homeschool "stuff together" (yes, that's the very official title of it).  We use the family devotion guide (click on the words "family devotion guide" to get a free digital copy if you want one)...we read from a book (currently we're reading quite possibly my all-time favorite book: Max Lucado's Just Like Jesus) and we read history together.  

On Thursday morning during our time together,  I shared with them about the prayer call - and we talked about ways we're finding joy these days...and then I started singing "I've got the joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart"...with lots of subsequent verses.  Which then brought to mind a few other fabulous joy songs that I didn't realize my kids didn't know (J-O-Y down in my heart, deep, deep down in my heart....)...and the "Joy to you and me, Jeremiah was a bullfong" song...and even a rowdy version of "Joy to the World" was sung.  (they joined in with varying degrees of willingness and enthusiasm).  Our singing was followed by a few (2ish)  of us doing some enthusiastic "Joy Jacks" (very normal jumping jacks...but shouting "joy" with every jump).

An infusion of joy. 

And if that wasn't enough (sometimes it seems like with God when it rains, it pours!  He's so generous!) - this fun activity came across my instagram feed sometime last week: 

I shared it with Emma (because gratitude is always a good idea!)  - but wasn't really sure if she would embrace it/enjoy it...or just disregard it.  

After a little while, she came and showed me this:

She had not only done the scavenger hunt, she had also made a pic-collage of her findings.  I was surprised and amazed (and thankful that she even wanted to do it!!).  She also shared it with some friends via Marco Polo and invited them to do it, too.  I loved hearing her answers.  

An infusion of joy. 

I feel like our home is generally a place marked by peace and love....but I don't know that I would say that JOY is constantly evident (though sometimes I confuse joy with happiness and excitement).  I know joy is present....but it was EVIDENT Thursday morning. And I wanted to share...cause somehow sharing multiples the joy!  

I needed the fresh infusion of joy.  I needed the laughter of singing silly songs.  I needed the Lord to remind me of His presence (I wish I never needed reminding...but I do).   

And it all started with me thinking that I just wanted to sleep...and God knowing that He's got gifts that are so much better than sleep.  

Surely there will be more to come.  

One last little piece of inside information:  Zoe has been joining in the prayer calls most mornings around 7:30 (thank you, God, for the ability to mute! :)) and then after the call, we go and sit on the couch in the sunroom and watch Boz - well, she watches, I doze.  My 8am naps have been sweet gifts from God these past few weeks.  

I Declare War - quotes

I read a good book a while back...and I typed up my favorite quotes like I do...and then I forgot about the post and it's been tucked away as a draft ever since.  Seems fitting that God would bring it back to mind as we are in this "identity" series at CCC.

The book is called "I Declare War: 4 Keys To Winning The Battle With Yourself" and was written by a guy named Levi Lusko and it looks like this:

AND it's got all kinds of good stuff in it.

Here are my favorite quotes...my MOST FAVORITE QUOTES are bigger and/or bolder than all the rest (and a very few of my thoughts are in italics).  Consider this a sampling...and if you like the samples, check out the book!  I'm happy to lend out my copy.  All quotes are from Levi Lusko unless otherwise noted (except the images - I don't know who should get credit for some of those!).

Chapter 1 The Wolf You Never Knew You Wanted to Be
I want to be alone and I want people to notice me - both at the same time.  -Thom Yorke of Radiohead

Some people call it a bad mood, I call it being held hostage by the version of me I don't want to be.

There are brand new mercies waiting for you - you don't have to wait for the start of the day; you can seek the grace when you need it.  Only pride and silliness allow a bad decision to turn into a bad day and make you defer until tomorrow what you need to do right now.

The truth is, you don't have to stay in a bad mood any more than you have to stay in the wrong Uber.  If you got in, you can get out.

Proverbs 25:28 "whoever has no rule over his own spirit is like a city broken down, without walls."

Chapter 2 (+) or (-)
Bad things happen when you put a negative where there is supposed to be a positive.

I don't believe in positive thinking as a replacement for God but as a response to God.

What is faith if not a filter that allows you to process your experiences through the goodness of God, choosing to reject what you see and clinging to what you trust He is doing? Faith allows you to believe your beliefs and doubt your doubts.

Ever present joy is part of God's plan for our lives.

When you feel like complaining, see yourself acting selfishly, or find yourself slipping into a bad mood, shoot a prayer to God that is full of joy and gratitude instead.  Setting your mind on things above you is declaring war on low-level thinking.

...the way to use the word good....isn't to say that the bad thing is good - but to believe that goodness will be the end result.

You can be thankful IN the hard things...or in any thing hell can throw at you - because God has a plan to produce good from what you are facing.

Chapter 3 TSA on the Brain
In battle, the advantage always goes to the side in control of elevated positions.  Your mind is the high ground of your life.

"thoughts are like trains - they take you somewhere." - Kevin Gerald

When a train of thought shows up, don't just get on!  Slow down before you board...where are you taking me? are we headed to Lovelyville, Virtuetown or Good Report Station? Is this train going to Jealousy, USA? Rage City? Gossip Central?

You can't stop thinking about something by trying to stop thinking about it.  The only way not to think about pink elephants is to instead think about something else....Feed the positive and replace the negative.

Chapter 4 The Secret to a Miserable Life
"How much larger your life would be if your self could become smaller in it."  G.K. Chesterton

I'm not angry at the kids who picked on me.  I'm mostly sad at myself for wanting them to like me and for not respecting myself to the point that I put myself in harm's way.

...longing to be liked, celebrated, approved...I look for lesser versions of things that are already mine

Insecurity is a lack of confidence.  It comes from uncertainty about your worth, value, or place in the world.

It's ironic that we put on masks in hopes of finding love and acceptance, but people can't love someone they don't know.  (an excellent description of a variety of masks we wear can be found on pages 55-58)

It's so much less work to just be yourself.

You are what He thinks, not what you think.

When you know who are you, it doesn't matter what you are not.

...instead of showing up empty and looking to receive affirmation from kids at school, by looking to Jesus his tank would be constantly full.

Chapter 5 Mind Your Words
Be mindful of the things you say...the words you speak to others, the words you speak to yourself, the words you speak about your life, and the words you speak when you are afraid.

If you flip over any virtue, you'll find vice on the bottom.

Bricks can be used to build hospitals or be thrown through windows.  Water can quench a thirst or flood a city.  Words are neutral in and of themselves; it's how you use them that determines whether they are good or bad.

When the tongue is working properly, it is both a spring that refreshes and a fruit tree that nourishes.

If Jesus is the Lord of your life, He must be the Lord of your lips too.

Chapter 6 If You Say So
Use your words to surround yourself with belief and strength

You will feel how you speak and find what you seek.

Your words can unlock a life you love or one you loathe.

In an atmosphere of expectancy, the poorest effort can catch fire.  In an atmosphere of critical coldness or bland indifference, the most spirit-packed utterance can fall lifeless to the earth. - William Barclay

Chapter 7 Being Rude Is Not Cheap
Your intentions don't matter; your behavior does.  No one can hear what you wanted to say; we hear only what you said.  The impact you have on the world is what you're accountable for.

Being nice is one thousand times more effective than being a jerk.

Start taking note of the situations that blindside you and incite you to respond in a way you don't like.

How would the person I want to be handle this?

Ask God for strength and close the gap between who you are and you were born to be by making the right choice, regardless of how it feels in the moment.

...know that your perspective is not the only one.  How you see the situation may not be entirely accurate.

THIS NEXT QUOTE (exercise) IS REALLY GOOD for communicating with others.  really good:

The story I'm writing in my head is that you did ______ because you ______.  If that is incorrect can you help clear it up for me?  That lets the other person know how you see things and what your brain is trying to make of it, but it sets a soft tone because you haven't yet committed your findings to granite.  It gives both of you the chance to see things through each other's eyes.

The language gives room for the possibility that what you are bringing to their attention might not be the whole truth, and you are humbly asking them to shed light on how you see their actions.

Chapter 9 Start Before You Are Ready
It's a gift to be unsettled and unsatisfied, because it is in those moments we can potentially find what we truly need from Him.

A note to younger readers:  what you are doing now matters.  You are putting habits into motion while you are in high school and college that are going to hurt or help you down the road...

Chapter 10 The Game Before the Game
No matter what God does for any of us, the real bulk of our lives is made of unglamorous, unsexy, unspectacular opportunities to keep our eyes on Jesus (or not), press through anxious thoughts and worries (or not), and demonstrate perseverance and passion (or not) in the trenches of daily life.

Worship is not a feeling expressed through actions; it's an act of obedience that, once expressed, often leads to feelings. Simply put, you do it because it is right.  And in God's grace, many times the emotions follow suit.

I am not trying to impress people but am sent by God to bless people, a mind-set in which I am seeking to give a gift, not to receive one.  This stops me from looking for validation by reminding me I am already valued.  You don't need to earn what you already have.

Chapter 11 Never Bring a Horse to a Tank Fight
One of the biggest mistakes you can make is to try to do God's work without God's power.

Chapter 12 Butterflies and Eagles
And neglecting the Holy Spirit is like declining the offer of a friend with a truck to help you move, and instead opting to drag your furniture by yourself down the road.

Conclusion
When you are authentically yourself and walk humbly as a follower of Jesus, you can live in confidence without fear, distraction, depression, anxiety, worry, regret, quarrels, addictions, darkness, selfishness, self-sabotage, narcissism, the held-hostage version of yourself you don't want to be, or anything else that gets in your way or stunts your growth.

THIS.  THIS.  This next quote may have been my favorite part of the whole book - it's certainly the quote I've shared most since reading the book...so many of you are battling and I truly think this is why: 

When the devil messes with you, it's a mistake on his part.  Because every time he fights against something, he's tipping his hand so you can see what matters to him.  The only reason the enemy would come against you is because he sees value in you.  he wants you to throw you off the trail of your God-given greatness.  It's because you're precious that he tries to make you feel worthless.  the devil opposes what he is afraid of.

There are people in your peripheral vision who need to be noticed, and if you pay attention to them instead of wanting the world to pay attention to you, you'll tap into things God put inside you that are being neglected.

--------
God, will you help us to be who you say we are - who we TRULY ARE.  

Surely there will be more to come.

Costa Rica Here She Comes (alternate title: Make a Mistake, Have a Party!)

I feel like every story has lots of back stories (and there are quite  a few long stories coming soon to a blog near you)...the short version of this particular story with a long back story is that Emma is going on a mission trip to Costa Rica this summer!  Nick is leading a team from Christ Community July 21-28 and, after talking and praying about it, Emma decided that she'd like to go.

The team will be partnering with The Faircloth Family (who just happens to be one of our favorite families on the planet.  Seriously, if you don't know Will and Ella, you're missing out!!)  The trip will consist of:

• ministry to children in local neighborhoods and churches
• light-duty construction work at the Methodist Children's Home
• encouraging the Faircloth family and supporting their ongoing work in Costa Rica
• possibly the delivery of a few jars of pickled okra to the lovely and amazing Ella :) 

Emma has diligently been working on fundraising letters to send to people to let them know that she's going on this trip and to ask for their financial and prayer support.  So far she has raised a little over half of what she needs for the trip through selling brownies and loom band bracelets (and there have been some generous donations scattered in with the brownie sales!)

If you'd like to support Emma as she finishes raising the funds for the trip, here's how:

• Send a check to Christ Community Church 4078 Milgen Road Columbus, GA 31907, write CR-Emma Cash in the memo space.  
• Give online -- ccc giving page -- in "select a fund" choose "missions designated" and in "memo" put "CR-Emma Cash"  

Now that the housekeeping bits are out of the way, I can share the story that I really wanted to share in this blog post. 

In the midst of the envelope addressing, I came upon this scene (picture below)...the conversation went something like this:

Me:  "Emma, what are doing? Why are there ripped up envelopes on the floor?"
Emma:  "Well....I've messed up on a few of the addresses...and when I mess up I decided that I would just have a little party and rip it up and throw the envelope around."

I want to do that.  When I make a mistake, just make it into a party (if possible!).  No need to get all upset and frustrated.  No need to beat myself up.  No need to take it out on anyone else.  Just have a party.  Laugh. Give myself grace.

I hope this slow motion video works...it's fun to hear the sound of the paper ripping!

She took the party a step further and decorated her hair.  I love this girl.

Around the Cash Family we've often said "make a mistake, make it great" - look for ways to turn the mistake into something beautiful.  Now maybe the quote will be "make a mistake, have a party."

Please join us in praying for Emma, Nick and the rest of the team  - God's really put together an incredible team!  I can't wait to hear what The One Who Loves the World does in them, through them and around them as the team seeks to love and serve in Costa Rica!!!

Also please pray that Emma will indeed be able to raise all the funds that are needed for this trip.   It's been such a joy to get to walk with her as she experiences the faithfulness and provision of God.  At the start of this journey she would often get discouraged and say "There's no way I can raise that much money."  Everytime a gift comes in, we talk about God's provision and goodness...what a wonderful Truth for this precious girl to have planted deeply in her heart.

Surely there will be more to come!

Daring To Hope - Quotes

Daring to Hope by Katie Davis Majors - It's another one of those "the right book at the right time."

From the forward, written by Ann Voskamp, to the last page this book was a treasure.  God used it to encourage me, challenge me, strengthen me and remind me.  I think I enjoyed this book an extra special amount because it helped me be connected to the continent of Africa and it helped me sort through some of the disappointment and heartache of leaving the Africa Mercy and it helped me (is helping me) find joy right where I am.

Here are my favorite quotes (so that I have them all in one place and can find them easily in the future...). Maybe one or two or a few of them will strike a chord in your heart or mind.  All quotes are from Katie Davis Majors unless otherwise noted.

From the Forward:

We could write it on a million kitchen chalkboards:  you are doing something great with your life - when you are doing all the small things with His great love.  You are changing the world - when you are changing one person's world.  You aren't missing your best life - when you aren't missing opportunities to love like Christ. - Ann Voskamp

Living radical isn't about where you live; it's about how you love. - Ann Voskamp

Chapter 1
This kitchen, this is where I serve.

We have a God who makes up for all we lack, a God who promises beauty for ashes and streams in the desert and grace for today.

These days are sacred.  God is good to use here and now.

You might see Jesus here, in our kitchen, here in our lives.  And maybe you would see Jesus in our mess and in our brokenness and you would be encouraged that there is grace and purpose in your mess and brokenness as well.

Chapter 2
...relearn how to know Him even in hardship.

...learning a complete and utter dependence on God...learn the beautifully tender side of Him that would love me, in spite of me, relentlessly.

Gratitude was healing me.  Giving thanks to the One who both gives and takes away, and remains my Savior in either circumstance, refocused my heart and made me strong.

I wish I could pick up some joy here in the market with my onions.

Chapter 3
His deep desire is for us - that we would know HIs love in these unexpected broken places.

I learned to look past my own pain and dive into the pain of others.

Chapter 4
"It's too much, Lord."  Child I am so much, more more.

you do not have enough.  I will be enough.

My knowledge is limited.  God's is not.

He makes us who we are meant to be in Him. ...we get to be right up next to our strong Father and tangibly known the truth that He does not let go.  He will not let go....

...showed us the scars on His hands and whispered that it was ok if we had our scars too, because the scars were always meant to draw us into His glory.

Chapter 5
When we are looking for Him, we will always see Him.

...my inadequacy exposed...

I was never meant to meet all their needs...I cannot be what they need Him to be: Savior.

"prisoners of hope."

...to be a prisoner of hope is to be the freest of all because we look at our circumstances and expect Jesus to enter in and redeem, renew, restore.

True freedom is found only in being completely captivated by a coming King.

We beg to live captured by His promises.

My inability to fill my children's heart holes puts me in a place of need.  And my need for Jesus is beautiful to Him; it is what He wants.  This lack that the world would call "bitter" is sweet to my Savior as it draws me into dependence on and relationship with Him.

My weakness is so evident...thank God for how He is working in us all.

The end of ourselves is such a sweet place to be...I am not sufficient.  My parenting cannot be sufficient.  Only He is sufficient and only He can fill up these holes, for all of us.

It was only when I acknowledged my weakness and called out in my deep need for Him that I really had any answers.

Chapter 6
...because he is concerned for my grief, he stays near (katie was speaking of a friend...but i think of God).

Compassion means going directly to those people and places where suffering is most acute and building a home there. - henri nouwen

Maybe we aren't called to alleviate suffering as much as we are called to entire into the suffering of others and walk with them through it.

Life was certainly intended to be lived as ongoing ministry, not separate from ministry.

...practice the art of being interrupted.

Something about shouldering the burdens of another brings a lightness to our own affliction.

He teaches me to view pain as a holy invitation to know Him more so that I can share Him more.

These things let others know that we are with them and for them and that God is with them and for them too.

Chapter 7
Even when the temptation to despair was overwhelming, i would choose hope.

Maybe the greatest joy isn't just in beholding the flowers but in the process.

Chapter 8

When we look around and what we see does not match up with what we understand to be God's desire for full and joyous lives for His people...

Slowly He began to show me that He gave me the grace to believe she would live so that in her final days she would feel hope and high spirits all around her, so that she would feel that she was fought for and that she was worth the fight.

In response to my questions, God continued to assure me in the dark, quiet evenings that my hope was not in vain and that my watching and waiting was growing my capacity for Him.

When we cannot find joy in our circumstances, we can find joy in God, who is unchanged and unchanging.

Chapter 9
...this was his best for them right now.

I didn't change My mind in My love for them, He spoke.  I didn't change My mind in My love for them or for you.  I love you, I go before you, and I never fail. I never fail. 

He loves you so much that He wants to give you something new, but it doesn't mean you have to forget the old.  He wants to grow something beautiful out of your pain.

And my strong Father holds me while I flail.  He sees my mess of joy and pain and peace and doubt and sadness all jumbled together and cradles it all in His strong Father arms.

I had begged God to open my eyes to the beauty all around me.

...nodding with a deep understanding of God, who is so good in our pain.

Chapter 10
Some days this felt so right; other days it felt unproductive.

...to dwell knowledgeably and hospitably in and toward the place God gives you is to glorify Him. ...to do what God gives you to do is to strengthen the common good and to glorify Him. - Zack Eswine

Slowly I was beginning to understand that it wasn't my productivity that God desired; it was my heart.  It wasn't my ministry God loved; it was me.  God was glorified, is glorified, when we give Him our hearts, give Him ourselves, and faithfully do the thing right in front of us, no matter how small or trivial.

God had been teaching me the extraordinary strength it takes to just be ordinary.  To dwell knowledgeably and hospitably in and toward this place He has given me with my people is, in fact, an extraordinary call.

He is glorified in the small too.

Our God is not too big for the small and is glorified in our ordinary moments as we invite Him in.  When I invite Him into my tiny and ordinary, even mundane moments become extraordinary.  Small acts of love become whispers of His glory in the midst of our everydayness.

...when all those things pass away, He will remain.

...our hidden reach for God counts so much more than our public one.

What really counts will be the quiet devotion practiced in our own homes.

Chapter 11
This is the sin of the israelites, of all humankind really, this slowness to remember all that He has done as we stare intently at what He hasn't done yet, what He might not do.

Hope is our great expectancy that we will know Him in all our circumstances, even the seemingly hopeless ones.

Your reaching for Him is not in vain.

Chapter 12
God had allowed a holy loneliness that compelled me to run to Him and confide in Him more than ever before.

I learned anew that He loved me truly not because of who I was or what I did but because of Christ and who He was.

...revel in the gifts God continued to give...

...they were simply compassionate.  They knew how to love and knew that love was right.

Chapter 13
We didn't have to love; we got to love...

He weeps with me for a world that is not as He intended, for sorrow that He did not design...

...faithfulness was in the ordinary, in the everyday things that do not feel glorious but, in fact, lead us to His feet.

Chapters 14 - 19
I was so much more than okay, so in awe of God's provision...

Our God is good, and He gives good and perfect gifts and good and perfect words to us.  His delight is in me, in us.  May our delight be evermore in Him.

Can you picture it?  You, banged up and bruised, nothing to offer, and Jesus, smiling at the objet of His magnificent love - receiving you, welcoming you home.

I too know victory only in Jesus and desperately need His grace to pull me out of my patterns of sin.

This isn't how I would write it.  But I have known and seen again and again that God writes the better story.

But when I push aside those lies, I can say with full confidence to you and to anyone who cares to listen, "I did not walk alone."  We do not walk alone.  God, in His unimaginable grace, walks beside us, whether or not we choose to recognize Him, teaching for us, offering us bread that sustains - His very body, broken for us.

I have known His goodness to be true even when I can't see it yet, even if i never see it on this side of eternity.  I have known HIs goodness as the Lord who provides Himself.

today.

it was too good of a day not to share.

started with some good time with jesus...continued with some rounds of the 7 minute workout as i listened to and laughed with the relevant podcast cast.  that podcast is a source of happiness for me (as well as information and randomness).  relevant has lots of good podcasts, check them out if you have a chance: relevant podcast network

then i got to hear about a dear, dear friend's fabulous day long date as i walked up and down our driveway...feels like long time hope deferred is being fulfilled.  my phone ran out of charge...but that's ok...the conversation continued a little while later.  it was worth the delay - what a joy to be able to share my heart and thoughts with such a trustworthy, jesus-loving lady.

came in and had a shower - never do i ever want to take for granted that i turn a knob and clean water comes out.  and it was warm.  oh that everyone had that luxury.

then i was privileged to have a really tough conversation with one of our children about the importance of honesty and how very important telling the truth is (of course, that came about as a lie was uncovered which wasn't fun...but the conversation felt holy).

the morning continued with a DELIGHTFUL time of homeschooling. OH that it was always like this!!  meaningful conversation. laughter.  connecting dots.  applying what we're reading/talking about to their lives.  (including a graphic conversation about eunuchs...and the significance of Acts 8) i love that our school included an Allen Levi song (stand like Stephen) and writing letters to friends on the ship.

i've recently been reminded of Seeds Family Worship...so that was playing in our home most of the day.  scripture set to music - really good music.  nothing better to fill the atmosphere.  (and it was fun to hear kids singing along - to realize that songs they haven't really heard in years are still stuck in their hearts and minds!)

the day continued with kids fixing their own lunches....doing kind things for one another (especially the one boy!)....lots of joke telling...

we ended up with a whole stack of outgoing mail for ms. connie to pick up (though i may have accidentally sent an empty envelope to friends in birmingham.  i have the note but can't find the envelope that i know i addressed and stamped....).

and today is the first day our friends in texas have been at home with their newly adopted son.  talk about long time hope being realized!!  "another pair of shoes" has finally been added. hallelujah.

there were some bumps in the road early in the afternoon...tears and an overwhelmed child....but it was handled with kindness and grace (wish it always was).

then we took eli and eli (cash and white) to classroom session training (have i mentioned that i love velocity and i love that eli is a part of it!?!)...dropped emma off at the whites....had some sweet time with my caroline.  i'm not typically a "splurge kind of girl"....but we splurged on some delicious smelling soaps and coffee and cake pops - and what a joy to remind her that she is worth a splurge! (the last of my christmas money well spent!!) had some fun conversation with her.  thankful for the chance to spend time with her in a way that we both enjoyed.

came back to the whites.  i love time with molly. love it.  kids had fun.  eli and eli (and alex!) made it back to the house (we allowed them to walk the short 1/4 of a mile or so from the school where they had classroom session training....thankful for the chance to allow them to be independent and build our confidence - and their's!!)

traveled the 3 tiny miles back home and worked on a little project while kids (cash, white and one hofer) played and shared community.  the project turned out even better than i was hoping - i daresay it would've been a great pinterest post (except i don't really post on pinterest....definitely didn't take any before/after pictures....)(and i do need to remember that glass can cut).  it's fun to see a wall coming alive...

enjoyed some minutes with the price ladies - including letting the kids play in the rain.  i love it when kids get to be kids and enjoy life.  sometimes i wonder if kids get to enjoy life as much as they should.  so many rules.  so many obstacles.  so many stupid people who do horrible things to children.  i love it when they can just play and laugh and BE CHILDREN.

all the non-cash folks headed to their respective homes (molly brought me a lindor chocolate bar when she came to pick up the boys....speaking of splurge....so excited to enjoy that!!!)....the cash man came home...we went for a run.  i love time with him.  i enjoy exercising...and i enjoy him...combining the 2 and i start singing "all i do is win win win."

dinner was cooked at some point...a meal was shared at the table....conversation was real and rich and meaningful.

now nick is reading to the kids....the kitchen is nearly cleaned up....a "best of" worship list is playing - and it includes some fresh to me hip-hop.  goodness.  my heart feels full.  i couldn't help but share.

and i kind of think i left out some things.  and i didn't even check the mailbox for mail -which is usually one of the main highlights of my day!

in the words of Chris Rice, "why can't everyday be like today? " (though part of that song is talking about tough days, too)

it wasn't a perfect day.  but it was beautiful.  and i felt more like me than i have in a long time. and i didn't want to wait until thursday to share my thankfulness.

can we please have another day like this tomorrow?

Abba's Child - quotes from chapters 4-6

Second installment of quotes from "Abba's Child" - all quotes from Brennan Manning unless otherwise noted!  

Chapter 4

It is important to recognize these self-commentaries for the mind tricks they are.  They have nothing to do with our real dignity.  How we view ourselves at any given moment may have very little to do with who we really are. - Gerald May

Only reckless confidence in a Source greater than ourselves can empower us to forgive the wounds inflicted by others.

I am reluctant to push God off His judgement seat and take my place there to pronounce on others when I have neither the knowledge nor the authority to judge anyone.  No one at this table has ever seen a motive.  Therefore, we cannot suspect what inspired the action of another.

We are sons and daughters of the Most High and maturing in tenderness to the extent that we are for others - all others - to the extent that no human flesh is strange to us, to the extent that we can touch the hand of another in love, to the extent that for us there are no "others."

The compassion of God in our hearts opens our eyes to the unique worth of each person.

I felt that to acknowledge their [prejudices] existence would give them power.  Ironically, denial and repression are in fact what gives them power.

What makes the Kingdom come is heartfelt compassion:  a way of tenderness that knows no frontiers, no labels, no compartmentalizing, and no sectarian divisions.  Jesus, the human Face of God, invites us to deep reflection on the nature of true discipleship and the radical lifestyle of Abba's child.

Chapter 5

As systematic theology advances, the sense of wonder declines.

Jesus did not die at the hands of muggers, rapists or thugs.  He fell into the well-scrubbed hands of deeply religious people...

Obedience was the expression of the love of God and neighbor, and therefore any form of piety that stood in the way of love stood in the way of God Himself.

...safe in the shadow of God's love.

Being accepted, enamored, and loved by God comes first, motivating the disciple to live the law of love.

Chapter 6

Without deliberate awareness of the present risenness of Jesus, life is nonsense, all activity useless, all relationships in vain.  - Don Watkins

All day and every day we are being reshaped into the image of Christ...nothing is irrelevant to it, nothing is without significance in it.

Jesus...the incarnation of all the Father's feelings and attitudes toward human kind.

The miracle of the gospel is Christ, risen and glorified, who this very moment tracks us, pursues us, abides in us, and offers HImself to us as companion for the journey!

Contemplative awareness of the risen Jesus shapes our resemblance to Him and turns us into the person God intended us to be.

Jesus, rather than self, is always the indispensable core of ministry...the moment we acknowledge that we are powerless, we enter into the liberating sphere of the risen One and we are freed from anxiety over the outcome.

This book is significant for me. I feel like I'm on the edge of something beautiful...like I've been circling around it and tasting of the goodness...and now He's inviting me to jump - free falling in His perfect love.  (which sounds pretty but is really a scary, scary picture...but that's just where I want to be - entirely surrounded, controlled, lost in His Love...want to jump with me?)