God's Telling You to Be Brave

This is probably one of my favorite posts, because it reminds me of a time of courage. We did crazy things haha and it's fun to remember where God's been faithful. 

Bravery isn't knowing all the answers. It's standing on the promises we have from God, knowing HE has all the answers and He loves us very much. (Tweet that!)

A retreat was what I needed to clear my head and start fresh. Six weeks away from a conference many had poured blood, sweat and tears into and I was still wracking my brain and Bible for a specific and timely word from God.

We trekked upstate and a little to the east, arriving at the beautiful Lake Tahoe. The next day we drove around the lake, wide and vast and still. "What do you want me to tell them," I asked of God. "There are 400 girls coming to the conference hear from you and I don't know what to tell them." 

At that moment and for the next 2 hours, my mind flooded with memories and stories, verses and quotes that my life was being built upon. Middle school, high school, college and a tiny bit of marriage was the only life experience I possessed, but somehow I knew it was enough. 

I couldn't grab my iPhone quick enough. Typing on those little buttons like a mad woman, I knew the Holy Spirit was reminding me of things that would connect with the hearts and experiences of those girls. 

I cried with awe. Oh how He loves us.

I wept with overwhelm. Oh how He's shaping us. 

By the time we'd wrapped around the bend, I had something to say. It wasn't my message, but I was living it. It wasn't my design but I was wearing it. It wasn't my idea, but it was my hope to give. 

This is what He said:

Tell them I love them.

Tell them to love me with everything in them.

Tell them My love does not depend on theirs.

Tell them to not be afraid.

Tell them the world needs to hear their story. 

Tell them they are precious to me.

Tell them I see them where they are.

Tell them I will meet them there. 

Tell them My grace is deep enough to cover their hidden regrets and it is wide enough to cover their future mistakes. 

Tell them it is time to awake. To be fully awake.

Tell them to be courageous.

Tell them, to be brave. 

Today I pass on this message to you. Whoever you need to be today, whatever you need to do, be awake, be courageous, be brave.  (Click to tweet that!)

Our Love is a Choice

Sometimes love is sweeping the hair from her face.
Sometimes love is picking up his favorite coffee on the way home.

Sometimes love is romp session sexy.
Sometimes love is chicken noodle soup sweet.

Sometimes love is watching her favorite show for hours on end.
Sometimes love is letting him catch you check him out.

Sometimes love is getting up with the babe so she can sleep.
Sometimes love is doing laundry so he has clean underwear.

Sometimes love is a sweet kiss as you go about your day.
Sometimes love is taking the evening to focus on each other's needs. (And have fun doing it.)

Sometimes love is buying him a new toothbrush on a religious schedule.
Sometimes love is buying her the dress she posted on Pinterest last night.

Sometimes love is hashing out the same argument year after year.
Sometimes love is letting it go.

Sometimes love is kindly advising.
Sometimes love is quietly praying.

Sometimes love is laughing uncontrollably for hours on end.
Sometimes love is ugly crying over brokenness and loss.

But always, always, always, love is a choice.

The acts of love may shift over time, but the source of love must remain the same. We feel, we hurt, we kiss, we makeup, but in the end, my love is a choice, and I choose you.

Year after year, I will choose you Tyson Morlet. Even in eternity.

Happy Valentine's Day.

What Tells You It's the Weekend? #donutsandcoffee

Happy Weekend ya'll --- #iheardit

If you're not getting Morning Pep Talks in your inbox, well, today's one of those days you're probably gonna regret that. #starbucks

Don't miss the surprises guys! I'm on maternity leave and bored out of my mind. Also folding baby clothes. And sorting pacifiers. And hanging pictures. And watching Netflix. Seeee?

Love ya. Hope your weekend is amazing. And let's do coffee soon eh?

Morning Pep Talks | Better than coffee... #justkidding

What My Two Year Old Taught Me This Year About Decision Making

January 2015, I decided this year would be my year for "Decisions." 

I wanted to make wise, thought through, calculated and healthy decisions about my life, dreams, family and marriage.

I thought that by deciding to make my decisions this way, I could control the pace at which the situations that called for some decision making came. Did I lose you yet? 

I wanted to be in charge of my life again. I wanted to dictate how fast or slow it would go, depending on the speed of the day or week or month and how my family and I were grooving.

I wanted to, in my mind, finally be an adult about the mature decisions I made.

But after 357 days of toiling to form a routine, a process, a grown up adult plan for my life, I've discovered yet another one of life's dirty little secrets:

The adult decision process is exactly the same as a child's. The only thing that changes is the scenario, setting, weight and complexity surrounding the decision. 

My two year old and I make decisions the exact same way! 

She wants something.
She fights for it.
Someone or something warns her it's not good for her.
She then gets to decide if she will disregard warning for the sake of momentary satisfaction.
Or she gets to decide if she will heed warning and avoid certain heartache.

I want something.
I fights for it.
I then get to decide if I will disregard warning for the sake of momentary satisfaction.
Or I get to decide if I will heed warning and avoid certain heartache.

The only difference is that her decision involves things like a box of cookies or jumping on and off the couch and mine involves situations like whether I'm going to work or stay home after Baby Mo 2 is born. (Ok, sometimes mine involves cookies too.)

Decisions. Deciding. 

Most of us don't blatantly choose the wrong thing. Sometimes we do, but most of the time we want to do what's right, we just don't know what exactly that is. Thus, my lesson for the year:

“All the ways of a man are clean in his own sight, but the Lord weighs the motives.” | Proverbs 16:2

Only God can set my feet on the road to wisdom. He sees my heart, He knows my kryptonite and my strengths. He knows what He's fashioning me for and what I need to let go of.

He knows. And I've found myself laughing because of how little I included Him in my decision making process!

It would KILL ME, if I knew Symphony was up against a big decision, like whether she should poop in her pants or in the toilet, and she felt she didn't have permission to ask before making the wrong decision.

I want her to know she can come to me with any question and I will help her see what she should do.

And I'm not even God! Just a mama that loves her more than anything. Just think of how silly it is that God views us in that same vein, times 1,000,000 and yet going to Him first isn't yet in our routine.

I would make decisions and then ask Him,"Did I do that right?" Instead of inquiring before hand and allowing Him to lead me from the beginning.

And it's not this super spiritual "Jesus please send me a note or an angel to tell me what to do."

It's more like, "Hey, I am seeking You. I need help. I don't know what to do and I need you to give me a peace or discomfort if I'm making the right or wrong decision." 

"But God is my helper. The Lord keeps me alive!" | Psalm 54:4

So 2016, come what may. The crazy, the hustle, the sacrifice, the hidden and the boxes of diapers.

I am not afraid because, yes it took me 300+ days to figure this thing out, but from this point on, most of my decisions won't be made in vain or strife or confusion.

I am seeking God first, on everything.

Ciao --


End of the Year Reading in case you're bored

• Why You Need to Finish Strong This Year
• The Ground is Breaking
• A Letter to My Brother 4 Years Later
• 20 Things to Remember If You Love a Highly Creative Person

My God Will Supply All Your Needs (Even the emotional ones)

I've been feeling a little off balance lately. 

It could be the fluctuating pregnancy hormones. It could be work responsibilities and struggles. It could be I feel like I haven't had time for my marriage. It could be that I haven't sat and read a book to my kid in who knows how long. It could be that everywhere I look there's more sickness and death and mourning and struggle and loss. 

It could be fear. I'm not entirely sure yet. 

So this morning, I walked into the office, lit some candles, put on my new favorite chill playlist and started reading. 

My only agenda was to be refreshed. 

Whenever I'm doing a no agenda Bible read, I usually start with a passage I know will refocus me and then read the chapter before or the chapter after. Or both.

Today, I read before. The passage I started with was a verse I memorized as a child:

"Fear not for I am with you, do not be dismayed for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." Isaiah 41:10

As a child, this verse brought me comfort in both dire and silly situations. It is my life line. 

So I started there and then read one chapter back. Isaiah 40; a chapter that goes in deep about God's comfort for His people, His promises and how they'll never waiver, and then into His greatness.

It's as if He knows our human minds and tendencies toward doubt and therefore validates Himself, probably unnecessarily, to remind us, again, who He is. 

I read verse one. Verse two. Verse three, four, five, six. Verse seven and eight. Nine and ten. 

I didn't know what I was looking for. All I asked for was a word. A word that would comfort whatever felt off balance. A word that would remind me of what mattered. 

And then verse eleven. 

"God will tend His flock like a shepherd, He will gather the lambs in His arms; He will carry them in his bosom and gently lead those that are with young." Isaiah 40:11

Like jumping into a crisp lake on a blazing, humid, hot Summer day, I got my word (words, really) and my soul was refreshed. 

Why? I found myself asking. Why do you just show up like that when we ask? 

It's simple really, He replied. Because I love you. 

He loves us. All of us. He wants us to ask Him and He will give. He wants us to seek Him and He will be found, pouring out love, security, peace and joy in our hearts, minds, and souls.  

So Jules, and any other girl, wife, mama, student, woman who needs them, here are your words: 

• God is a God of action. He tends, carries, gathers, leads. 
• The actions begin with Him. Alone. He initiates movement.
• His people are His responsibility. Not yours. You show up, but He moves them. 
• The burden is His. He carries. You support. 
• He sees you, young mom of toddlers. He sees your babies and He sees that you have no idea what you're doing. He will teach you. Trust Him again today.
• His mode of operation with His children is gentleness. Always. 

My family is taken care of. My work situations are taken care of. My home is taken care of. My friends and family struggling with life and health and love are taken care of.  There's no need to fear as long as my eyes and ears are open to how He's asking me to step in.

Anybody else need that today? Just me? Ok :)

"And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:19

Shine Women's Conference | Austin TX

"Movements are made of normal people moving."

History, legacy, movements. These are all words we associate with world changers and politicians, pastors or world leaders. Rarely do we name them of ourselves.

But let me tell you. In these photos, are men and women who embody every one of those words.

There is a seasoned generation that have gone before, built up the walls and vehicles by which we move today. And then there are the babies. The newbies, if you will, who are jumping in, head first, to a whirlpool of inspiration, aspiration, ambition and mission.

One generation looking back, reaching out and lifting up the other. That's the Church. That's community. That's legacy.

It's crazy to think that one season could have prepared me for this one. Oh geez, that's a whole other post.

I am so honored to be a small part of what happens once a year (and all the Wednesdays in between) in Austin, Texas. Shine conference has been a catalyst for so many women in this city. I can't wait to see what next year holds.

Jesus give us fresh vision, a fresh wind of ideas and creativity. Give us Your words and Your message, once again. 

I Am Barabbas

If you have not seen this video, it was slay you. I watched it, not knowing what it was, and I ended up in tears and thanking Jesus all over again. #imsorry #yourewelcome