Practice Makes Permanent

Everyone says practice makes perfect! But a wise friend once said, "Actually, it only makes perfect if you practice the right thing. You can practice the wrong thing...therefore, practice makes permanent." 


True that.


But the act of practicing is an action word, therefore does that mean that it's intentional? Like you intentionally wanna do well in a certain area or skill. Can practicing be unintentional? Or is that just a bad habit? 


I feel like I'm learning a whole new world of practicing. You grow up thinking practicing is limited to intentional actions and new ventures or hobbies: music, schooling, sports, etc. But I realized tonight that you pretty much have to practice life. And sometimes you practice the wrong thing and have to RE-practice it right. 


So I figured I'd document the 2 big things I am currently practicing wrong [and working on practicing right] and 2 big things I'm practicing right. 


Practicing Wrong
-Housekeeping. I've tried and tried to get a routine down, but I've been practicing it flippantly and sporadically. Therefore, 2 years later, I'm still cleaning flippantly and sporadically. 
-Reading. I wish I read more but I'm not a super good reader. And I am not a good reader because I get bored easily. And I get bored because I read slow. And I read slow because I don't read a lot. And the cycle comes full circle. That's a tough one for me to admit. I use to LOVE reading. Like, a lot. But practiced not for so long that I lost it. 


Practicing Right
-Writing. I write pretty much everyday, a couple times a day. I have never written this much in my life, but what they say is true, the more you right, the more naturally it comes to you on the big stuff. My 4 different daily writings have helped out a ton with this. 
-Singing. You can never be too good to practice the things that come naturally. I sing everyday and really workout my voice once or twice a week. 


I wanna be good at life. I wanna took look back and be able to say I did the best with what I had and gave it my all. I don't feel that way entirely yet, but I hope to get there. Practice right? ;)


What's your take on this practicing perspective? 


Love,
-JM

How Do We Break Free? // She Seeks Follow Up

Today I wrote over at She Seeks on the topic of Breaking Free. As a follow up, I wanted to give some practical things we can do to begin to break free, writing prompts on the topic, and other resources you might enjoy. 

What does breaking free look like?
Breaking free can be one of those things that takes your entire life. For most of us, it will. But the key is to remember that there are little victories we have, as children of God, that begin and further that process. 


For example, for the girl who is stuck in an eating disorder, her real prison is insecurity, not the disorder. The disorder is just a failed attempt to break free. But she can begin to break free from the insecurity, but gaining victory over the disorder. She will still have moments where she feels inadequate or not good enough, but she is no longer a slave to her body. 


Another example would be the girl who is blinded by fear. She doesn't accomplish anything, or go anywhere, or dream big, or even vocalize her dreams and passions because she is afraid of failure. But she can begin to break free from that fear by, talking. Talking about her dreams and passions and desires for life. Her goals and callings she feels God has placed on her heart. She will still have moments of paralyzing fear, but she now has truth to spring her forward. 


I am both of those girls. And I know there are many more of us out there. So don't be silent. Let's  talk and help each other break free. 


Journal/Blog Prompts
-What is it that you are a slave to?
-What is it that is keeping you from exposing your bondage to someone [that you trust]?
-What would you do with your life if you felt utterly and completely free? No holds, no guilt, no shame, just pure freedom. 


Posts to go a little further:
We're Free...Now What? Part 2
Dear Fear.
Retreat Session Pt. 1: Broken People
RePost: It's Crafted for You
What I Feel vs. What I Know.
Inexplicably Incomprehensible
When the Saints


Love,
JM

#Friday #Follow // Music Edition

1. Christina Perri [Acoustic album]
I have never really been a huge fan of this girl, but when I heard her acoustic album, I was amazed. Her voice sounds so much more emotional and raw in these tracks. 
2. Taylor Swift
If you don't know already, I am on Taylor Swift's side. Though she gets a lot of flack for not being the best of singers, this girl knows how to entertain and captivate her audience. More on that here.  
3. Jon McLaughlin
Thanks to my friend, I now know about Jon McLaughlin. I had no idea who he was until she got to sing a duet on his album. [Get her song on iTunes! "Maybe It's Over"] His voice is smooth and his song variation is will have you dancing and crying in one hour. 
4. The Civil Wars
So good. So very good. Some of you might remember Joy Williams from back in her Christian Pop days, but this girl has pulled a completely different feel in her music and vocal style. If you like folk/country/Alison Kraussy, you'll like this duo. 


Happy Listening! What are you doing this weekend?


Love,
JM

Bottoms Up @ She Seeks

"To drink or not to drink?" As Christians, is there a black and white answer? What does Scripture have to say? My friend and co-author at She Seeks, addressed this issue on Monday with a very real and conversational entry. Here, I follow up with a video on my thoughts. 

Video @ She Seeks: Bottoms Up? [Go Here] 

What do you think about Christians and alcohol?


*Please keep all comments respectful as opinions will definitely vary on this subject.


Happy Thursday friends! 


Love,


JM

The Legend of a Visionary

 

I cried last night when I read this. Not because I knew Mr. Jobs or that I even felt super connected to him, but because this somewhere there is a family, mourning the loss of their father, husband, grandfather who left this life way too early.

This man changed the course of history, and we got to watch. Many people are saying he was the Thomas Edison of our time. It's totally true. He completely revolutionized the way we work, play, and communicate. My communication with the world all happens on Mac products. 

But the craziest thing about Mr. Jobs, is not how he changed the world, but that he changed the world. 

He saw years ahead of his time. He had vision. He had drive. He dreamed of a world where people would communicate with style and ease and productivity. 

But it started in a garage. With a buddy and an old computer. 

So, today I'll be mostly inside my own head, thinking what dreams do I have that I am  deeming as impossible or too crazy? What visions am I seeing that I hesitate to share or put on paper? 

I want to be known as a visionary and leaving a mark on this world. But as Mr. Jobs demonstrated, I can only do that by looking forward. Always thinking how I can make the world better to the best of my ability. 

Today, I am both sad and inspired. Probably like the rest of the world.

Love,

{Photos from apple.com]

Writing Prompt // What's TMI in the Blog World?

I have a brainstorm book that I write any and all ideas in. Crazy, scary, mushy gushy, political, familial, marriage related, writing related, you name it, I write it. However, I don't always complete those thoughts.  Remember how in elementary school, the teacher use to tell you, "Sweetie, there are no wrong ideas." [Or was that questions?? Both!] Well, there are. There are some very, very bad ideas. 


We all have them in our lifetime. Some a little more permanent than others. But where was the breakdown, I wonder, from the initial thought, to the execution of it, to the realization of just how bad it was. 


All this is leading up to today's morning pages prompt: 


How much is too much in the world of blogging?


I ask this because I have read hundreds of blogs in the last year and have found a sea of variety in writers, styles, and focuses of blogs. 


-Some people are very private with their private life [family, friends, loves, etc] and others just lay it all out there [exactly what it means]. 
-Some readers are offended or bored by the inner-circle stories and others feel more normal, connected, and encouraged.


There is a balance, but where is it? 
Can you be too personal? 
Too open? 
Too gross?
Too explicit?
Too conservative?
Too narrow?
Too _____________________?


Your thoughts. 


Love,

Photo credits: left + right

The Morning After // Marriage

Last night Andrew taught on Marriage Myths. Things we hear about marriage that just are not true. His wife did a blog series for me a couple months ago on these myths. Read them here if you're interested. {Marriage Myths Series} 





Quotes from the night:
"Marriage is meant to be a mirror of Gods love For His people."


"Marriage is not the solution to our discontentment. It will not fulfill you the way you think it will." [Reference Phil 4]

"The most powerful marriage is when two independently powerful [powerful in the sense of God-seeking] people get married. Together they more powerful in God's kingdom than they are apart from one another."

"We can show people a tangible version of Gods love IN our marriages. But you can also do that in other relationships too!" 

4 Marriage myths:
1. For if for your happiness.
No, it's not. Rather it's for our holiness. Revival & restoration rests on humility both in marriage and in the Church. If you wanna be free to serve Jesus: stay single . If you wanna become more like Jesus: get married.
James 4:6- But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: "God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.
1 Peter 5:5- In the same way, you who are younger, submit yourselves to your elders. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, "God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.
John 4:24- Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. 

2. We need to keep our spouses humble.   
We are not called to humble anyone. Our job is to encourage + bless other people. We think by withholding encouragement, because of someone's pride, we are helping them. But more times than not, they r bragging because they lack encouragement. 
Eph 4:29- Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.
Hebrews 3:13- But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called "Today," so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness.

3. You will always be in love.
As love matures, mystery lessens. And that's ok. Dating is based on a love that is teased by mystery. As ur love grows, it's tempered by time. Christ looks at us, knowing full well the deepest darkness of our hearts, and commits to love us thru. Marriage should mirror that.
Ephesians 5:21-33- Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord. Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her...This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church.However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.
1 John 4:19- We love because he first loved us.

4. People don't change.
The danger of this myth is that people do change. They change as time and life seasons. Loving ur spouse thru their change (for better or worse) will look differently but is imperative to ur marriage.
Colossians 3:12-14- Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

Have questions? Get answered on our Facebook page! 
See you at next week's Forum: Live Q & A about all things Single, Dating, and Marriage related. 


Happy Monday! Smile @ someone today. 


Love,

Christmas Music Starts Today // It's a Tradition

Christmas is here! Christmas is here! Or at least it is for this girl! 


Since my freshman year in college I've had this tradition of starting to listen to my Christmas music on October 1st every year. Why on earth?? You ask...Well, here is my explanation [and I say this every year]:

There is too much good Christmas music to listen to for only one month out of the year.

Now with everyone and their mother and brother and uncles re-recording the oldies, I'm thinking October might not even be early enough...[haha just kidding babe.] In college I would wake up all my dorm mates to Martina McBrides Holiday Album blasting through the hallway. They may have hated me then, but now it brings back all those fond memories ;) Right girls?? 

This year I'm gonna start with Amy Grant, Tennessee Christmas Album. I wore out this tape cassette when I was in Middle School. [Remember tape cassettes??] I listened to it nearly everyday and have every single song memorized. I wonder if that was Amy's goal when she recorded it. To create a vehicle by which people remember. 

I love that Christmas has become a symbol for memories. At Christmas time people remember things. Stories. Songs. Friendships. Family. Jesus. 

So, the For-Sures on the Music menu this year are:

-A Christmas Album [Amy Grant]
-A Very She & Him Christmas [She & Him]
-The Christmas Album [The Glee Cast]
-Songs for Christmas [Sufjan Stevens]
-Brand New Year [SHEDaisy]
-The Ultimate White Christmas [Bing Crosby, Rosemary Clooney, Danny Kaye]


Happy listening and Merry Christmas season! 


Love,

*This post is a half re-post from last year's content because it's everything, literally, I would have said anyways. Here's previous Christmas Music Tradition posts for your reading and listening pleasure: My Christmas Tradition [October 2008] & It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year [October 2010]