Sunday, March 22, 2015

An Epic Weekend | Shoreline Church

 

A man can no more diminish God's glory by refusing to worship Him than a lunatic can put out the sun by scribbling the word, 'darkness' on the walls of his cell.
- C.S. Lewis

I saw this shirt at Target and didn't even look at the price tag. I knew I had to have it because my weekends are mostly epic. I get to spend most the day with my favorite community of people, who've all gathered, excitedly and expectantly, for the one sole purpose of seeing God and knowing Him more. 

But that's not the epic part. 

The epic part is, week after week, He shows up

He hears and pours out, again and again, His love, grace and providence on our little community. 

That, my friends, is epic. 

- - - - - - - - - -
How was your weekend? was it your version of epic?! 

- - - - - - - - - - 
Shoreline Music has a new album coming out EASTER weekend and for all my worship leader friends, we have chord charts and tracks to accompany! More info here.

Wednesday, March 18, 2015

Words that Bring Life or Death | Free Downloads

DESKTOP BACKGROUND (right click and save) 


IPHONE BACKGROUND (Hold finger and save to camera roll) 

This morning our pastor's message was on the power of words and how we can either speak life into our circumstances or death. Either way it will change the atmosphere. I want to remember that. I want to bend my atmosphere, no matter what happens in my day, towards Jesus, His life, His love. 

- - - - - - - - - -

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. 
ROMANS 12:2

Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.
EPHESIANS 4:29

But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart.
MATTHEW 15:18

A gentle tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it breaks the spirit.
PROVERBS 15:4

The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.
LUKE 6:45

Monday, March 16, 2015

This is What Love Does



We all have a gripping desire to feel loved, valued, seen. The journey may get rocky, vision may get blurry and a refocus may be in order. But at the end of the day, when love leads the way, the world shifts.

Love is patient and love is kind. It doesn’t envy or boast. It is not arrogant or rude. It doesn’t insist on its own way. It is not irritable or resentful; it doesn’t rejoice when things go wrong, but rather rejoices with the truth.

It is the very key that unlocks the door of unity.

Why?

Because love bears all things, believes all things, hopes and endures all things.

Love joins generations. It compels the younger women to reach up for the hand of her older generation. It activates the older women to lift her up in the lessons of faith and bravery.

Love covers multitudes of sin.

Love unifies diversity.

What do we need most to change our corner of the world?

Love.

And by our love, we will shine.

Friday, March 6, 2015

If We Were on a Coffee Date | No. 15


If we were on coffee date, I'd tell you I'm fighting the urge to become a coffee snob. Like really fighting it. I see how people get there. The beans. The water process. The temperature and tamp. But I refuse to be a Starbucks hater. Although I won't even buy their beans again. #truestory



If we were on coffee date, I'd be wearing a long dress with a crop top and proud of it because my pre-mom tummy is starting to come home. She'll never be the same, and that's okay, but little glimpses here and there are nice.



If we were on coffee date, and you're in pre-mom stage of life, I'd tell you to wear your bikinis and crop tops everywhere. Not really. But really. Just kidding. Kinda.



If we were on coffee date, you'd probably be confused. And laughing.



If we were on a coffee date, I'd text you this article I read in Darling Magazine on seeing and giving credit to the tiny triumphs in our life. Spending the emotions on the small stuff and not waiting for the big stuff.



If we were on coffee date, I'd ask how life is going and what tiny triumphs you need to celebrate.


If we were on coffee date, you might say something like "Good, fun, busy..." and I'd be like, "No, I mean like really." Nitty gritty stuff. You know.

So tell me. How's life going? I do email, twitter, facebook and I love chatting in the comments here too :)


Original image via

Tuesday, March 3, 2015

Never Let Us Go | Shoreline Music



Never Let Us Go, was written by Ty, Jake, and Marquita of Shoreline Music. The feel is similar to Job Song, some of you will remember from a while back. What I love most about this song is the accessibility it has almost instantly with a congregation.

Simple melodies lend themselves to the depth of the lyrics.

The message is simple: Brokenness is not a disadvantage for the children of God. It's an advantage. 

This project was one of the funnest in my worship / music experiences. The team and staff that put their hearts, time, sweat and tears into making this tool a reality is incredible. I know because I work with them. Most everyday.

Over the next couple of weeks I'll introduce them to you. One by one, profile highlight of my friends and co-workers.

"Why?" you might ask. Why do you need to know these people?

Good question.  You're just gonna have to trust me.

These people are rich in love and talent and passion for God, His people and His house.

I love our team. So so much.

- - - - - - - - - - -
Watch the other videos here:

POWER AND GLORY
WANNA KNOW
more to come. 

Sunday, March 1, 2015

The Boy I Met at Starbucks


It was Tuesday morning and I did the same thing I always do on Tuesday's. 

I woke up at 5am, slammed my snooze button, dragged myself out of my warm sheets and got started with my normal-every-Tuesday-morning-routine. I drove to Starbucks, swapped the typical weather jokes with my favorite barista, ordered my grande coffee and bagel, and walked out the freshly decorated glass door.

What wasn't routine was the scraggly teenage boy I ran into on my way to the truck. He was asking for something and though I didn't clearly hear him, I assumed it was money. I said sorry, I didn't have any, and continued on toward the truck. 

He didn't ask again and he didn't pester. But something in my head did. Did he ask for money or food? I quickly spun around and asked, do u need food? His reply was so innocent and affirmative so I held out my goodie bag and said, here ya go, a toasted bagel with cream cheese made just for you. He smiled so big, I thought his lip ring was gonna pop out. 

I didn't think anything of it until I got in the truck and started pulling away. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw the boy peeling open the cream cheese, so carefully and joyfully, like it was freaking Christmas morning. I drove to the office, weeping like a broken hearted mother. 

I didn't know this boy. I had no idea what kind of trouble or circumstances got him to the streets, but I do know that he is someone's son. And if my son were out on the streets, asking for food at 6:30 in the morning, I know I'd want that busy looking girl to stop and give him her bagel. ~


^^^Opinions, two-cents, questions and ramblings are welcome. And go above. Go ahead. Try it.

Reader Faves.