Back to Captivating!!
-A Special Hatred-
We hear almost daily of a gruesome assault on women around the world. Every woman's story has a theme, which is the assault on her heart. And most women believe to their cores that somehow they deserve the assault. Our thoughts take us to the place that "Something is wrong with me. I deserve this."
But we cannot fully understand our story or any other woman's story until we can fully see the forces working against women.
"Satan fell because of his beauty. Now his heart for revenge is to assault beauty."
Many people think Satan went after Eve, in the garden, because she was the weaker of the two. Eve is the incarnation of the Beauty of God, she is captivating, she allures the world to God, she gives life, nourishes life and brings life. All of these things Satan is no longer capable of. Though he hates Adam as well, his jealousy of Eve drives his motive to assault her heart!
I believe this point in the book is so important. Most of the things that happen to us, as women we believe are our fault or that we deserve it. I can even recall a specific time when Coleman and I were traveling and we both forget to grab my overnight bag. I was left without everything; contact solution, contact cast, shampoo, conditioner, deodorant, make up, brush, etc. When we got to Snowmass, Co. and I realized we left the bag at home, I was so frustrated. The events leading up to this moment had left me in a very wounded and weary state. The overnight bag was the straw that broke the camel's back. Coleman tried to reassure me we could just run to the store and grab whatever we needed so it wasn't a big deal. But something inside of me continued to tell me that I was foolish for forgetting the bag. I deserved dry eyes and greasy hair all weekend for being so foolish. It took Coleman more than a day to get me to the place where I would actually go to the store and get a contact set.
As I recall this story my heart is broken. I can see how wounded and broken I am. Yet, I am so grateful for the work he is doing now. My heart is humbly grateful.
Can you see it?? Can you see that you are hated because of your beauty and power?? Can you see that it is not your fault or that you DON'T deserve it?
I pray these words hit you as hard as they did me!!
Much love!
-his,
Abby
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Sunday, June 6, 2010
William's Canyon
Have you ever had one of those days when your own selfishness slaps you in the face??
Yep, today was one of those days.
Since about Wednesday afternoon I have not been feeling well, but it seemed to really hit me Thursday night. I spent most of the night nauseous, with body aches and a headache. When we woke up Friday, Coleman thought I had a fever and I was extremely fatigue. I spent most of Friday on my back or stomach. I couldn't help myself, if I was going to lay down it was going to be in the sun by the pool. Did it really help me rest and get better? Probably not. But at least I enjoyed it. I did have a couple pleasant conversations with my mother-in-law and my best friend. Oh, how lovely it was to catch up. And how I miss them so! Anyway, back to the story. Coleman got off of work Friday at 3, and was by my side taking care of me, in every way possible, until I felt better last night. He was so precious. I could not be more thankful for a husband who has such a caring heart.
I woke up this morning about 8:30 feeling great and almost 100%. Because I really had not done anything the past couple of days I was pretty stir crazy. So I got up, had some tea and read my Bible while I waited for Coleman to awake to the beautiful day. He came to about 10:40. By this point I was ready to conquer the world and back! *if you can't tell I love to get out and be active, maybe too much sometimes* While I was waiting for Coleman, I figured we would have breakfast together then find a hiking trail. I was so excited about the day and excited to be feeling well.
When Coleman woke up he found a text on his phone from a great gentlemen Coleman is trying to develop a relationship with. The man was inviting him to go fly fishing and he was headed out at 12. I knew he needed to and desperately wanted to go. And to my core I really wanted him to go as well so I was quick to encourage him. As he was rounding up his stuff and I was making breakfast the selfish thoughts crept in: "there he goes again, leaving you by yourself all day" "look who gets to clean" "alone. again."... by the time Coleman walked out the door I was pretty irritated, mostly at myself. Why? Even when I am in support of what he is doing, do I allow the enemy to take hold of my thoughts. Poor Coleman spent all of his Saturday inside to take care of me and here I am being completely selfish.
I took a moment, asked the father to forgive me, and asked him what he wanted me to do with my afternoon.
He took me for a hike in William's Canyon. I had never done this hike before so I was in for a complete surprise.
The entire afternoon was filled with gifts from the Father.
He was romancing my heart with each step of the way.
It was a fairly easy hike which was very good for my recovering body. The hike was breathtaking. The walls of the canyon were beautiful, the trees were green and lush. There was a small waterfall, and just past that the beauty of Pikes Peak stood high above the valley. The trail runs along a creek most of the time, and to top it off a short rain storm on the way home. It was a warm summer rain. The smell was invigorating.
As I walked back to my car 3.5 hours later, my heart was refreshed by his gift to me, a selfish sinner.
Oh how he loves us just as we are.
Know that you have never stepped out of his ability to restore you and that all he wants to do is romance your heart.
Yep, today was one of those days.
Since about Wednesday afternoon I have not been feeling well, but it seemed to really hit me Thursday night. I spent most of the night nauseous, with body aches and a headache. When we woke up Friday, Coleman thought I had a fever and I was extremely fatigue. I spent most of Friday on my back or stomach. I couldn't help myself, if I was going to lay down it was going to be in the sun by the pool. Did it really help me rest and get better? Probably not. But at least I enjoyed it. I did have a couple pleasant conversations with my mother-in-law and my best friend. Oh, how lovely it was to catch up. And how I miss them so! Anyway, back to the story. Coleman got off of work Friday at 3, and was by my side taking care of me, in every way possible, until I felt better last night. He was so precious. I could not be more thankful for a husband who has such a caring heart.
I woke up this morning about 8:30 feeling great and almost 100%. Because I really had not done anything the past couple of days I was pretty stir crazy. So I got up, had some tea and read my Bible while I waited for Coleman to awake to the beautiful day. He came to about 10:40. By this point I was ready to conquer the world and back! *if you can't tell I love to get out and be active, maybe too much sometimes* While I was waiting for Coleman, I figured we would have breakfast together then find a hiking trail. I was so excited about the day and excited to be feeling well.
When Coleman woke up he found a text on his phone from a great gentlemen Coleman is trying to develop a relationship with. The man was inviting him to go fly fishing and he was headed out at 12. I knew he needed to and desperately wanted to go. And to my core I really wanted him to go as well so I was quick to encourage him. As he was rounding up his stuff and I was making breakfast the selfish thoughts crept in: "there he goes again, leaving you by yourself all day" "look who gets to clean" "alone. again."... by the time Coleman walked out the door I was pretty irritated, mostly at myself. Why? Even when I am in support of what he is doing, do I allow the enemy to take hold of my thoughts. Poor Coleman spent all of his Saturday inside to take care of me and here I am being completely selfish.
I took a moment, asked the father to forgive me, and asked him what he wanted me to do with my afternoon.
He took me for a hike in William's Canyon. I had never done this hike before so I was in for a complete surprise.
The entire afternoon was filled with gifts from the Father.
He was romancing my heart with each step of the way.
It was a fairly easy hike which was very good for my recovering body. The hike was breathtaking. The walls of the canyon were beautiful, the trees were green and lush. There was a small waterfall, and just past that the beauty of Pikes Peak stood high above the valley. The trail runs along a creek most of the time, and to top it off a short rain storm on the way home. It was a warm summer rain. The smell was invigorating.
As I walked back to my car 3.5 hours later, my heart was refreshed by his gift to me, a selfish sinner.
Oh how he loves us just as we are.
Know that you have never stepped out of his ability to restore you and that all he wants to do is romance your heart.
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
One Year Anniversary!!
Happy anniversary to US! Coleman and I celebrated our one year anniversary this past weekend (May 31)! It is hard to believe it has already been a year! Yet at the same time, it almost feels like we have always been married and done life together!
We had a lovely weekend together. We stayed in Dillon, Colorado, in a nice little condo. We have really found that we prefer condos or cabins because they usually have a small kitchen; which allows us to at least have breakfast at the place. Friday night before we headed to Dillon, we bought Coleman a canoe, off Craig's List, for his birthday. (If you are married, don't you just love how it seems like you get two birthday's a year? Usually, at least part of the gifts are for both of you?) The man Coleman purchased the canoe from lived across town from us. So, after a little jimmy rigging of some old rope Coleman headed home so we could take off. Needless to say, what usually is a simple drive across town, became quite the adventure for my husband. 5 stops, 40mph on I-25 and nearly taking out the car windshield next to him a couple of times, Coleman and the canoe made it home safely!
We threw our stuff in the jeep, re-strapped the canoe safely, and hit the road. The drive was beautiful. Highway 24 to 9, back through Woodland park, Fair Play, and those small mountain towns is always stunning. By the time we got on the road it was nearly sunset so it was even more beautiful!! 
Saturday morning we got up excited to try our new toy! We drove around Dillon Reservoir for a while looking for a good spot to drop in. Finally, we found exactly what we needed. We jumped out and unloaded the Canoe, NOT the easiest thing I have ever done. Between the breeze and the weight of the 70 or 80 lbs canoe above my head I really struggle to get that thing of the Jeep without throwing my shoulders out. But, I did it! And off the the water we headed. As soon as we put the first end in the water I notice water in the bottom of the canoe. OH BOY. The guy said their were no leaks and we trusted him. It is so hard to continue believing the good in people when things like this happen, yet we are reminded that our Father finds the good in our hearts every day no matter what we do! We decided that the leak was slow and we could at least take it out for an hour or two. So that is what we did! It was a ball, but by the time we came back to shore 3 or more hours later poor Coleman had water up to his ankles! Mind you, we are in Colorado so that water is snow melt. We later found out it was a pipping 38 degrees! Yikes, that explains why Coleman couldn't feel his feet!!
Saturday night we enjoyed dinner, a glass of Relax and watched It's Complicated. Which we both enjoyed and laughed quite a bit! Sunday morning we were up again excited to hit the water. To solve our leaking problem, Coleman filled the hole with Gorilla Glue! And it worked! Sunday and Monday we were pretty much water free!! We ended exploring all but one finger of Dillon Reservoir, because it was too windy.
When we went out Monday we were both feeling pretty good and confident. So we decided to take our book with us. The leak was fix so we should have no problem at all! Confidence can be a good thing and it can be a bad thing! We stopped at a little island in the middle because I was feeling nature calling. And when I came to hop back in the canoe I committed, just like Coleman told me to, but the canoe rocked so I tried to adjust. The problem was Coleman did to! AND over the canoe went, with Coleman, his cell, his keys, and our book. I was still standing so I was dry. Talk about COLD water!!
We were able to salvage everything and get Coleman dry and warm, but it was quite the adventure and memory!!
We are going on a Balloon Ride Next Sunday!
This was a tea we enjoyed!
Coleman got a little sun on his newly saved head!!I must run, I am playing Ultimate Frisbee today with Coleman's office crew! But I hope you enjoy our story and adventure!!
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Wounded
I love summer.
End of Story.
I just love it. The warmth, the sun, the activities, the friendliness of people. (People really are friendlier until they get too hot...then grumpiness comes back.) It is all beautiful to me!
My mom is on her way over to my apartment so that we can go for a hike this afternoon. The wind has picked up a bit, but once you get into the mountains you are usually protected to some extent. I look forward to the time with her; it has been a little while since the two of us have connected.
I always have so much to share, but I really want to stay focused on captivating right now. Once I have walked through the book I will begin posting other thoughts and ideas!
Chapter 4: Wounded
This is a bit of a heavy chapter. We are all wounded and most of our responses come from our wounds. Our wounds, oddly enough, have become our safe places. Our safety blankets. Our controllable lives. There are many stories in Chapter 4 about wounded hearts, and my heart resonated with some of those stores. No, the stories were not identical, but I can begin to see how the enemy was at work in my own story. On top of the wounds we receive from the people around us, the things we tell ourselves and believe about ourselves only makes the wounds worse. The power that our mind has is remarkable. We really do have a choice to allow thoughts to support and feed our wounds until they contaminate our bodies and our lives. Or we have the option of slowing down and taking the time to recognize our wounds. Once we have recognized the wound we need to put a name to it, and invite the father in for healing. Ask him to speak truth over your heart and your wounds. We ask, seek and knock, and he has promised to answer us.
Allow me to be vulnerable for a moment. A wound or agreement that has recently risen to the surface in my heart is that something is wrong with me. I don't know what is wrong specifically, just something. Or maybe everything for that matter (depends on the day and how far I allow my thoughts to go). Somehow I am simply not enough.
"we can't put it into words, but deep down we fear there is something terribly wrong with us."
As women a message we hear often is; "to be a woman is to be powerless; there is nothing good about vulnerability; it is just weakness."
OH, how this breaks my heart. I think of how hard it has been for me to develop and maintain relationships with girls, but "life" gets in the way. The less time we get together, the more distant the relationship feels and the harder it is to be vulnerable. It is like we have this fear that the person is going to start judging us because we have not spent much time with them. Yet a quote from John Eldridge that is helping me be okay with just being me and not worry about being judge by others is; "let people feel the weight of who you are." Wow, there is something very hard about that for me. All the thoughts flood my mind; what if they don't like me? What if they think I am foolish, weak, lazy, young, etc. And shortly on the heels of these thoughts comes shame. Shame of not measuring up to the worlds standards, to the church standards, or to my own standards. (Are you seeing how the enemy is easily encouraging my thoughts to spiral down.)
"Shame says we are unworthy, broken and beyond repair."
"Shames causes us to hide. We are afraid of being truly seen , and so we hid our truest selves and offer only what we believe is wanted..dominating women offer expertise...desolate women offer service."
"Shame makes us feel very uncomfortable with our beauty...few of us believe we are beautiful and fewer still are comfortable with it. ...So we hide our beauty behind extra weight, layers of makeup, or we neutralize our beauty by putting up protective, defensive walls that warn others to keep their distance."
We may hide behind something, or put up walls yet under all these wounds and layers of control, there is a deep longing. A longing for something more. It must be there... our heart aches for love, intimacy and life. FULL Life.
Psalm 25:3 No one whose hope is in you will ever be put to shame...
The chapter ends with this: " there is, in fact, a theme to them (wounds), a pattern. The wounds you have received have come to you for a purpose from one who knows all you are meant to be and fears you."
What are those wounds in your heart? Have you identified them? Are they abandonment, worthlessness, not being enough? I would challenge you to ask the the Father to name those, because you can't heal something that you don't know is broken!
I pray the Fathers does a might work! May your heart begin to believe in his heart from you!!
Be Blessed!
End of Story.
I just love it. The warmth, the sun, the activities, the friendliness of people. (People really are friendlier until they get too hot...then grumpiness comes back.) It is all beautiful to me!
My mom is on her way over to my apartment so that we can go for a hike this afternoon. The wind has picked up a bit, but once you get into the mountains you are usually protected to some extent. I look forward to the time with her; it has been a little while since the two of us have connected.
I always have so much to share, but I really want to stay focused on captivating right now. Once I have walked through the book I will begin posting other thoughts and ideas!
Chapter 4: Wounded
This is a bit of a heavy chapter. We are all wounded and most of our responses come from our wounds. Our wounds, oddly enough, have become our safe places. Our safety blankets. Our controllable lives. There are many stories in Chapter 4 about wounded hearts, and my heart resonated with some of those stores. No, the stories were not identical, but I can begin to see how the enemy was at work in my own story. On top of the wounds we receive from the people around us, the things we tell ourselves and believe about ourselves only makes the wounds worse. The power that our mind has is remarkable. We really do have a choice to allow thoughts to support and feed our wounds until they contaminate our bodies and our lives. Or we have the option of slowing down and taking the time to recognize our wounds. Once we have recognized the wound we need to put a name to it, and invite the father in for healing. Ask him to speak truth over your heart and your wounds. We ask, seek and knock, and he has promised to answer us.
Allow me to be vulnerable for a moment. A wound or agreement that has recently risen to the surface in my heart is that something is wrong with me. I don't know what is wrong specifically, just something. Or maybe everything for that matter (depends on the day and how far I allow my thoughts to go). Somehow I am simply not enough.
"we can't put it into words, but deep down we fear there is something terribly wrong with us."
As women a message we hear often is; "to be a woman is to be powerless; there is nothing good about vulnerability; it is just weakness."
OH, how this breaks my heart. I think of how hard it has been for me to develop and maintain relationships with girls, but "life" gets in the way. The less time we get together, the more distant the relationship feels and the harder it is to be vulnerable. It is like we have this fear that the person is going to start judging us because we have not spent much time with them. Yet a quote from John Eldridge that is helping me be okay with just being me and not worry about being judge by others is; "let people feel the weight of who you are." Wow, there is something very hard about that for me. All the thoughts flood my mind; what if they don't like me? What if they think I am foolish, weak, lazy, young, etc. And shortly on the heels of these thoughts comes shame. Shame of not measuring up to the worlds standards, to the church standards, or to my own standards. (Are you seeing how the enemy is easily encouraging my thoughts to spiral down.)
"Shame says we are unworthy, broken and beyond repair."
"Shames causes us to hide. We are afraid of being truly seen , and so we hid our truest selves and offer only what we believe is wanted..dominating women offer expertise...desolate women offer service."
"Shame makes us feel very uncomfortable with our beauty...few of us believe we are beautiful and fewer still are comfortable with it. ...So we hide our beauty behind extra weight, layers of makeup, or we neutralize our beauty by putting up protective, defensive walls that warn others to keep their distance."
We may hide behind something, or put up walls yet under all these wounds and layers of control, there is a deep longing. A longing for something more. It must be there... our heart aches for love, intimacy and life. FULL Life.
Psalm 25:3 No one whose hope is in you will ever be put to shame...
The chapter ends with this: " there is, in fact, a theme to them (wounds), a pattern. The wounds you have received have come to you for a purpose from one who knows all you are meant to be and fears you."
What are those wounds in your heart? Have you identified them? Are they abandonment, worthlessness, not being enough? I would challenge you to ask the the Father to name those, because you can't heal something that you don't know is broken!
I pray the Fathers does a might work! May your heart begin to believe in his heart from you!!
Be Blessed!
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
What Was That About?
HI! I hope you have had a wonderful day thus far. Oh, it is warm and sunny in Colorado...Almost a guaranteed wonderful day for me. Unless of course you lock me inside. I simply love the warmth of the sun! Yes, my legs are hanging out the door of our apartment right now soaking up the rays :).
I have a couple of questions and thoughts for you from the next section of Captivating.
First, have you ever had one of those moments when you walk away from a situation and you can't figure out what just came out of you? Maybe you were in a wonderful mood and then out of nowhere you completely snapped at someone. Or, you had ever right to snap at the person because they were cruel to you; yet, you know that is not really how we are supposed to love people (giving them a piece of their own medicine). What was that about? How about a moment when you watch another woman manipulate or be nasty to her child or husband. Where do these moments come from? As women aren't we supposed to be inviting, alluring and captivating? Not striving and a sharp-edged, cold strength. The thought that Stasi followed with this first question was; How do people experience me?
Hmmm, humbling. I believe, for me personally, that in twentyFOURseven, (a leadership academy I attended for 2 years) I was experienced as hard, tough, striving, and cold (probably literally and figuratively). But now, coming up on 4 years out of the program and 1 year married...I am not so sure any more how people experience me. My prayer for my own heart is that the Father will begin to show me. I would encourage you to ask him as well. Are we striving to be something we are not? Are we trying so hard that it is stealing from the true beauty he wants us to offer? Wrestle with this...what is he telling you?
This final idea really brought to my attention something that I never could put into words or fully understand. Why do we hear and see so few women friendship, when it seems like the men always have a band of brothers?? Well, it is because we are relational to our core! Both the enemy and God know this. So the enemy can use it to his advantage by getting us (women) to fill those relationship holes with other things, food, exercise, reading, busyness, work, etc. And God hopes that in our search for relationships we will finally give up all the counterfeits and come to him; the only one that can fill those holes. WOW...it makes so much sense to me. Since men aren't necessarily relational to their core this is not a way that the enemy tries to attack very often with men. I am not saying male relationships don't ever get attacked, because I know they do. But I am saying that this is one of the main targets for women.
I would challenge you to explore this thought. I don't feel like I communicated this well, but I hope the Father is still able to use it!
"Fallen Eve controls her relationships. She refuses to be vulnerable. And if she cannot secure her relationships, then she kills her heart's longing for intimacy so that she will be safe and in control. ... when we do this we are really refusing to trust our God."
"When we live like this something precious in us is lost. Something the world needs very much from us."
Enjoy his beauty...Explore your heart...Listen to Him
-Abby
I have a couple of questions and thoughts for you from the next section of Captivating.
First, have you ever had one of those moments when you walk away from a situation and you can't figure out what just came out of you? Maybe you were in a wonderful mood and then out of nowhere you completely snapped at someone. Or, you had ever right to snap at the person because they were cruel to you; yet, you know that is not really how we are supposed to love people (giving them a piece of their own medicine). What was that about? How about a moment when you watch another woman manipulate or be nasty to her child or husband. Where do these moments come from? As women aren't we supposed to be inviting, alluring and captivating? Not striving and a sharp-edged, cold strength. The thought that Stasi followed with this first question was; How do people experience me?
Hmmm, humbling. I believe, for me personally, that in twentyFOURseven, (a leadership academy I attended for 2 years) I was experienced as hard, tough, striving, and cold (probably literally and figuratively). But now, coming up on 4 years out of the program and 1 year married...I am not so sure any more how people experience me. My prayer for my own heart is that the Father will begin to show me. I would encourage you to ask him as well. Are we striving to be something we are not? Are we trying so hard that it is stealing from the true beauty he wants us to offer? Wrestle with this...what is he telling you?
This final idea really brought to my attention something that I never could put into words or fully understand. Why do we hear and see so few women friendship, when it seems like the men always have a band of brothers?? Well, it is because we are relational to our core! Both the enemy and God know this. So the enemy can use it to his advantage by getting us (women) to fill those relationship holes with other things, food, exercise, reading, busyness, work, etc. And God hopes that in our search for relationships we will finally give up all the counterfeits and come to him; the only one that can fill those holes. WOW...it makes so much sense to me. Since men aren't necessarily relational to their core this is not a way that the enemy tries to attack very often with men. I am not saying male relationships don't ever get attacked, because I know they do. But I am saying that this is one of the main targets for women.
I would challenge you to explore this thought. I don't feel like I communicated this well, but I hope the Father is still able to use it!
"Fallen Eve controls her relationships. She refuses to be vulnerable. And if she cannot secure her relationships, then she kills her heart's longing for intimacy so that she will be safe and in control. ... when we do this we are really refusing to trust our God."
"When we live like this something precious in us is lost. Something the world needs very much from us."
Enjoy his beauty...Explore your heart...Listen to Him
-Abby
Thursday, May 20, 2010
The Essence Of God
I usually attend a Yoga class once a week, and today was the day. I am really beginning to enjoy the class! After Yoga I head over to Garden of the Gods for a run. OH! What stunning beauty. I am taken back by the landscape of Colorado! I am so thankful to get to live in such a beautiful place. It was cloudy during my entire run, but the sun has come out now and I am soaking it up!! My vanity has a tendency to take over when the sun comes out! :)
As I read this morning I found myself today moving back to my mentality of just reading and not stopping to process the words that resonated in my heart. I did plan on coming back to the thoughts and processing them like I am doing now. But I must be careful. It is so easy for me to just want to finish something to finish it.
Life is a process and I must remember that. It gives me freedom. It allows me to slow down my pace of life.
Thoughts from chapter two in captivating:
Beauty is the essence of God
I continue to struggle with relating who God is to beauty, and not just what he creates. Yesterday's post challenged you to create your own list of what beauty means to you. Here is a short list of words that I think of, when I think of beauty:
Rest
Peace
Light
Life
Simplicity
Enchanting
Joy
Laughter
These words describe the essence of GOD, our father…he is rest, peace, light…he is life, simplicity, enchanting and joy… he is at the heart of laughter and smiles.
“ It (beauty) draws you in, holds your attention. You can’t wait to get back to it, spend time with it. All of the responses that God wants of us. All of the responses a woman wants too. Beauty invites.”
And finally, I conclude my thoughts today with the experiences of yesterday. Again, I challenged you to ask yourself "what is each person I cross paths with today showing me about God?" When I did this, I found myself looking at each woman that came into the store and seeing beauty in her eyes. I saw these women so differently…so whole….so pure… so beautiful. It was quite a shift in my perspective.
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Captivating
It has been a beautiful morning. My run this morning was a beautiful, warm, sunny run and shortly after I got back it started to cloud up. I am thankful for the sun. It has been so cloudy this spring!
I have started to reread Captivating by John and Stasi Eldridge and I would like to share some thoughts with you. I read the book either in my senior year of high school or my freshmen year of college and it really transformed my life at the time. I decided to read it again, now that I am married, and I have found that God is showing me so much more. I believe this is a book I should go through every couple of years. Life changes so much and in each season I believe he has something new to show us! I hope these highlights speak to your heart as much as mine, but I would encourage you to take the time to read it or reread it yourself and see what he is speaking to you!
A question asked in the book was what is a woman telling me about God? What characteristics does she hold that are his, since we are made in his image. I loved this question and found myself looking at women differently. When a woman would walk into work I would look for the ways she might show me a picture of God's character. John and Stasi suggested that a woman shows us God is relational to his core, he has a heart for romance. God longs to share adventures with us--adventures we could not do alone. And God has a beauty to unveil, a beauty that is captivating and powerfully redemptive.
This does something to my heart. I feel like it helps me develop a truer view of God. Our perspective of God shapes our faith and I am always look to hold a more compete view of God. Relational to his core: I long for conversational intimacy with Coleman, God longs for conversational intimacy with me. God longs to go on adventures with me that I can't do with out him. This thought stirs inside of me a hope and an excitement to release the control I have over my world and allow him to take me on a ride! And finally, a beauty to unveil. I never have thought of God as beauty himself. His creation is beauty. But Him? What does that mean. As I began to process through this I found myself defining beauty, and what beauty meant to me: peace, rest, joy, light, life, simplicity... These things are the core of God's character. Again, my view of God is shifting.
I would like to encourage you to take a minute and define beauty in your heart. When you think of beauty what do you think of? Once you do that, apply those words to God. Does it change or shape your view of God?
Also, something I loved was the idea that when I come in contact with someone asking myself, what are they showing me about God? See if this question changes your heart towards people, because they were made in his image and they are his child!
I hope these thoughts have touched your heart like they have mine!
May you see his work in your life today!
--Abby
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Too much to share
Good Morning! The air is cold today in Colorado. The wind is biting. I am not sure where our spring is, but it has yet to really show itself!
Well, it is Wednesday, I have gotten my work out done, my breakfast eaten and I am postponing my studying with this blog. I have one final left, tomorrow afternoon in Nutrition Assessment. I think it is going to be a tough one, but with this being the only thing I have left I am really struggling to press in. I have a feeling I am going to look at a number of the questions tomorrow and think "why did I not study more?!" Oh well, there really is only so much a person can handle when it comes to school and I think I have hit my limit for the semester.
So I feel like I have a lot of thoughts cooped up inside of me that I would like to share. Unfortunately, I believe they are going to have to wait until next week. On top of the last final I need to study for today, after work this evening, Coleman and I are headed to Denver to pick up his parents. Coleman and his dad are excited to get a day in the woods together hunting those wretched gobblers (Turkeys...and if you have ever seen them in the wild they are not the most attractive creatures). While the boys are out and about, Darlene, Coleman's mom, and I will get sometime together. Which is always a blessed and beautiful time. Coleman's parents live in Florida so we don't get to see them often. It is always fun to have them here. I am lucky I have such wonderful in-laws. I have heard a number of married women refer to their mother-in-laws as monster-in-laws. This always grieves my heart, but it is the work of the enemy to turn family against each other.
Well, I suppose I should get on with the studying. I have posted a recipe for making Yogurt. I have fruit, nuts, and homemade yogurt just about about every morning for breakfast. I have found it is much cheaper and healthier to make my own yogurt. Check out my recipe page. May you have a blessed day and stay tuned because I have many thoughts coming!!
Well, it is Wednesday, I have gotten my work out done, my breakfast eaten and I am postponing my studying with this blog. I have one final left, tomorrow afternoon in Nutrition Assessment. I think it is going to be a tough one, but with this being the only thing I have left I am really struggling to press in. I have a feeling I am going to look at a number of the questions tomorrow and think "why did I not study more?!" Oh well, there really is only so much a person can handle when it comes to school and I think I have hit my limit for the semester.
So I feel like I have a lot of thoughts cooped up inside of me that I would like to share. Unfortunately, I believe they are going to have to wait until next week. On top of the last final I need to study for today, after work this evening, Coleman and I are headed to Denver to pick up his parents. Coleman and his dad are excited to get a day in the woods together hunting those wretched gobblers (Turkeys...and if you have ever seen them in the wild they are not the most attractive creatures). While the boys are out and about, Darlene, Coleman's mom, and I will get sometime together. Which is always a blessed and beautiful time. Coleman's parents live in Florida so we don't get to see them often. It is always fun to have them here. I am lucky I have such wonderful in-laws. I have heard a number of married women refer to their mother-in-laws as monster-in-laws. This always grieves my heart, but it is the work of the enemy to turn family against each other.
Well, I suppose I should get on with the studying. I have posted a recipe for making Yogurt. I have fruit, nuts, and homemade yogurt just about about every morning for breakfast. I have found it is much cheaper and healthier to make my own yogurt. Check out my recipe page. May you have a blessed day and stay tuned because I have many thoughts coming!!
Monday, May 10, 2010
The First...
Welcome,
I am not quite sure where to begin. I must admit I love to view other blogs, yet I have waited to start my own for fear of it not being good. I guess today I decided to take the risk. I was married last May (2009) to a wonderful man, Coleman Housefield. As we have walked through this past year together God has used our marriage to begin to stir something inside of me. As I explore the unrest in my heart I am beginning to see God expose the essence of the beauty I hold. God is showing me how resting in him and doing things that bring me back to his heart are just what I need and crucial to a full life. I have spent the last ten years pushing hard, being busy, successful and driven. I continue to be driven by performance and success, but slowly he is moving me away and showing me truth. I am SO thankful for a husband who has been my strength through this. My goal for this blog is to share this adventure, returning to the core of my heart, the heart of a woman, with you. As I take time to do things I love like cook, read, explore, and adventure in the midst of finishing school and life. I hope you find this blog an encouragement and that the Father will use it to stir your heart. What is it that you love? What makes your heart come alive? What can you create?
Thanks for reading and taking part in my story!
-his,
Abby
I am not quite sure where to begin. I must admit I love to view other blogs, yet I have waited to start my own for fear of it not being good. I guess today I decided to take the risk. I was married last May (2009) to a wonderful man, Coleman Housefield. As we have walked through this past year together God has used our marriage to begin to stir something inside of me. As I explore the unrest in my heart I am beginning to see God expose the essence of the beauty I hold. God is showing me how resting in him and doing things that bring me back to his heart are just what I need and crucial to a full life. I have spent the last ten years pushing hard, being busy, successful and driven. I continue to be driven by performance and success, but slowly he is moving me away and showing me truth. I am SO thankful for a husband who has been my strength through this. My goal for this blog is to share this adventure, returning to the core of my heart, the heart of a woman, with you. As I take time to do things I love like cook, read, explore, and adventure in the midst of finishing school and life. I hope you find this blog an encouragement and that the Father will use it to stir your heart. What is it that you love? What makes your heart come alive? What can you create?
Thanks for reading and taking part in my story!
-his,
Abby
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)