the dark night

I'm so lucky to have a husband who can write! Read about one of his experiences in Africa this past summer.
P.S. - Please excuse these horrible quality photos. iPhoto is not our friend.

______________________________________________________

The foothills of Mt. Meru are breathtaking. The sweeping land is beyond splendid as the trees rise towards the top of the sleeping volcano. Hills of corn fade into the backdrop of Mt. Kilimanjaro, her white fingers reaching towards a pale blue sky. The land here has a way of speaking to the depths of one’s soul, and one can hardly doubt the existence of God.

The sunset on a clear day is beyond compare. The sun slips behind the shoulders of Meru as beams of light cast colors of red against the waning gray sky. Kilimanjaro is but a dream in the pressing darkness, her looming shadow the only reminder of her presence. In the day this place is breathtaking, an oasis of black volcanic soil bringing life to a once desolate valley. At night, the picture changes altogether. The darkness here is heavy. As if it were a weight upon one’s shoulders, the vast darkness has a perplexing presence.

Our headlights pierce through the night as we finish up the second day of our dental clinic in the jungles of Tanzania. The village population here is more effectively counted in terms of crops than people. The land here means life. Everything that is needed is grown or provided by the animals. There is no running water; there is no electricity. The darkness is heavy. The land separates the families here, each with their own shamba to generate livelihood. Despite the rugged terrain and the separation between villages, people walk for hours to take advantage of the free dental services being offered.
We close our practice for the day, not because lack of patients, but because the disappearing light. Along with the many patients that have come, we are accompanied by translators who themselves have walked many miles. On this particular day, two of the translators stay with us longer than normal. It is our last day as a team here in Tanzania, and they have stayed to spend these last moments with us. We laugh and talk about the events of the day, joyous to see what God has done through us being in this place. Alas as the darkness deepens, they begin to say their goodbyes. Getting to know these translators without a doubt was one of the greatest benefits of the trip. The older is a pastor who serves in a neighboring village. He is not on salary nor does he have a benefits package. He serves God because of his love for Him and his passion for showing love towards people. The younger is a young man taken in by the pastor. At a very young age this boy lost his parents, but has been raised by the pastor since childhood. His name in English is literally translated “God Listens.”

The darkness here is heavy, producing many dangers. Just a few weeks prior to our arrival a man down the road was killed by an elephant. Most villagers light fires at night to keep the elephants from coming towards their homes. This man was walking back from tending his night fires when a group of elephants passed through his property. Elephants are perhaps the meanest animal in Africa, and very territorial. These elephants trampled the man and moved on through the darkness. There is little anger towards the elephants; it is more of a sobering respect as one considers the weight of the uncertainties of the night.

As the translators turn to leave I ask God Listens how they will get home in such darkness. I offer them a flashlight, but he declines, saying this is a walk they have made many times. The weight of the darkness becomes even more real to me in the moment, as they prepare to walk several miles through the abysmal jungle. I then ask how they keep from being afraid. With a smile on his face, he replies, “We sing. We sing because when we do, we feel the presence of God with us, and we know that He will keep us safe.”

At that, I watched God Listens and the pastor walk away until they disappeared from the beam of light provided by our headlamps. Later that night, we shared dinner and stories for what seemed like hours. But as I was walking down the trail towards our hut, I turned off my light.

We live in a world of darkness. The weight of sin is heavy. But there is a God who produces light through his servants. The darkness around us can feel heavy. It can produce fear, uncertainties, and regrets. It can cause us to stumble, to fall, to suffer. Often times we are looking for artificial light to guide us through this sea of darkness. We seek out possessions, friends, entertainment, but to what avail? To find rest, we must rest in the presence of God. It his presence that guides us, that transforms us, that inspires us. Simplify your life. Live in, through, and to the One who gave it all, Jesus Christ.

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” 
John 1:1-5

fear of the unknown

When is Crew going to be born?

Will he come early or late?

What will he look like?

Where will I be when I go into labor?

How long will labor last?

Will I get an epidural in time?

Will the epidural wear off before I give birth?

Will it hurt?

Will Crew be healthy?

Is his nursery going to be ready in time?

Will we be ready?

Will I have all my responsibilities taken care of at work?

These are all questions and worries that are floating around in my head at any given time. Being just a few days away from being full term, I feel like questions like these are just multiplying. It's been a rough past few days both physically and emotionally around here. I think one of the hardest things about being pregnant, especially for the first time, is just not knowing. Not knowing what is normal. Not knowing what pains, if any, you should be feeling at any given time. Not knowing if/when you should call the doctor. And just not knowing when your baby's birth day will be.

Of course, you can get opinions from other women (especially by calling/texting your Mom a million questions each day) about what you're feeling or what to expect, but there's still that fear in your mind of what's to come. I can confide in Will to console me when I'm in pain or when I'm upset (which has been a daily thing lately), but my hope and my peace ultimately come from the Lord. The verse that has been on repeat in my mind lately is this:

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
Philippians 4:6-7

I recite that verse to myself and all of those fears are taken away. If I have full faith in Christ, then why should I worry or fear anything? Of course, I'm human so I have to remind myself of this promise from God so often. I pray for Crew every day. I pray for his health, for the delivery, for adjusting to our new lives with him and I pray for that peace from God that I need every single day to ease my fears. I've got an amazing support system, not only in Christ, but in my caring husband and our families. I have nothing to fear. Nothing to be anxious about. What I've been given in Crew is the most miraculous gift from the Lord and I'm going to be thankful for that each and every day.

"Behold, sons are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children[a] of one's youth. Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them!"
Psalm 127:3-5

"It is well, it is well, with my soul"

thankful for suffering?

Will & I got to teach this past Sunday night in small group. We're currently doing a study of Philippians and were focusing on the end of chapter 2 this week. You may already know that we love the book of Philippians if you've read this post. I can say with 99% surety that it's Will's favorite book.

Anyway, even though we led the lesson for the group, I feel like I learned so much...or rather, had an epiphany in the midst of teaching. (Actually, I let Will handle most of the teaching. I chime in every now and then!) If you've never read through Philippians, I encourage you to do so. It's a short book with only 4 chapters and is packed full of encouraging verses. Paul wrote Philippians as a letter to the church of Philippi while he was in prison. Can you imagine? Despite being "locked up," Paul used this time to encourage other believers to live faithfully and humbly and all the while he was sharing his faith with prison guards around him. Paul is filled with such joy because he knows that he's living his life with Christ as the center. And if he's doing that, then nothing can shake him...not even prison! I don't know about you, but if I were in prison as Paul was, I'm pretty sure I wouldn't be joyful and sure wouldn't be writing things as encouraging as Philippians.

14 Do all things without grumbling or disputing, 15 that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, 16 holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain. 17 Even if I am to be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. 18 Likewise you also should be glad and rejoice with me. 

Philippians 2:14-18

One of the topics we discussed Sunday night was suffering and how can suffering be seen as something to be thankful for. At first, I drew a total blank in my mind. I was thinking, "Really? Suffering? Why should we be thankful for that?" And then it hit me. I feel like this is when God spoke to me most about something Will & I had gone through last year. The beginning of 2012 was a tough, tough time for us. No, not in our marriage, but just things that we were going through together made it so difficult to see what good was going to come from it. It was probably the hardest time in my life and a time when I feel like my/our faith was tested the most. I'm getting tears in my eyes just thinking about what we went through and recalling so many memories. I'm not saying this for you to feel pity for us, but I feel like I should portray how we felt before moving on.

3 Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
Romans 5:3-5

That being said, when I look back on that time, I know without a doubt that I grew more in my faith during suffering through that period than I have in my entire life. It's truly amazing to think about everything God taught me through it all.

source

First of all, in verse 14 Paul says, "Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent children of God..." Do you know how hard this was for me to do?! To just keep my mouth shut! I wanted to talk to everyone I came in contact with about what was going on. It's only because of prayer and constant encouragement from Will that I didn't do that. I realized what was and wasn't honoring to God and even though it was hard, I kept our issues to myself.

source

I don't know why we went through the things we went through. And I know that everyone can think of something in their own life that was just as hard. I never thought I would say this, but I am so thankful for that time of suffering in our lives. If God led us through that time just to teach us to have complete faith in His plan, then it was totally worth it. Every single tear and feeling of hurt was worth it. Is there some suffering in your life that you've learned to be thankful for? Whatever it is that you may be going through, God has a purpose in it. Think of suffering as a means of refining that leads to holiness rather than just pain and hurt. I wish I had thought of that last year!

2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
James 1:2-4

it is finished.

He lived an ordinary life unmarked by fame and fortune.

                   

"He had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him.”

Isaiah 53:2

                  

For years he walked the earth healing the sick and comforting the poor.

          

"He was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not.”

Isaiah 53:3

 On Friday he would be broken.

“But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.”

Isaiah 53:5

Our guilt and shame on the cross He bore.

"All we like sheep have gone astray, we have turned-every one- to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all."

Isaiah 53:6 

Listen. Maybe you hear the birds singing or the wind blowing. Maybe you hear the drone of your office as printers and staplers begin the work day. Whatever it is, let the sounds of your day melt away. Block out the noise, hear the silence.

As you close off everything else, imagine the sound of feet marching on stony roads.

 Imagine the crowds shouting, “Crucify him!” Imagine the whips cracking, the flesh ripping. Screams of agony echo across the courtyard walls, pain can literally be heard from the sounds coming from the man awaiting his crucifixion. Imagine the guards yelling as they push the man towards the hill of execution. The people laughing, spitting, calling out for the man to save himself. Imagine the nails ringing out as they are hammered amidst flesh and wood. The screams as the cross is raised, as the crown is set, as the pain increases.

Imagine the sound of the struggling breath. The whisper of words between two men hanging from their crosses. Imagine the tears of a mother, the sounds of her cries as she watches her son die. Imagine the fears of friends as they watch their teacher, their savior and his last breaths fade away. Imagine the horror of the crucifixion. Hear the sounds of pain, of agony, of death.

Listen closely. Hear the savior calling,  

(John 19:30)

 It's Friday. The beginning of the next 3 days that would forever change the world. The beginning of the most agonizing suffering that had ever been witnessed. The beginning of redemption. The day that Jesus by his blood paid the price for my sin, for your sin, for the sins of the world. The day that joy would be brought to the world. The day that forgiveness could be seen, could be felt, could be obtained. The day that Jesus took our guilt, our shame, our disease.

Listen. Hear the sound of joy. Hear the sound of love. Hear the angels singing as the stone was rolled away and the tomb was found empty. Hear the sound of singing, of praise, as the disciples saw their Jesus risen from the dead. Hear the sound of redemption. Hear the Savior whisper in your ear, “It is finished.”

"...but the men said to them, "Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; 

Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee; 'The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.'" Then they remembered his words."

Luke 24:5-8

Special thanks to my sweet husband for writing this post today!

This is probably my favorite song and video depicting Christ's death and the price he paid for us. I cry every time I watch it! Take a few minutes to watch for yourself.

It Is Finished by Matt Papa

If you're in the Memphis area and are looking for somewhere to come worship on this Easter Sunday, I invite you to join us at Island Community Church in Downtown Memphis. We'd love to see you!

When [worldly] Emotions Take Over

From my worldly view, I had such a bad day yesterday. I let the stresses of life consume me and I couldn't seem to shake it for the longest time. I was thinking about finances, the future, expenses we had coming up, Will graduating from seminary in May and our plans after that...and the list goes on. One thought led to the other and I was just getting upset. I texted Will and he did his best to comfort me and give me words of encouragement during my morning of panic, stress and fear of the unknown.

I'll admit, Will's affirmations did help, but not 100%. It was just then that I realized I was asking for comfort and peace in the wrong place. Sure, Will is my husband and does so great at being my husband and comforting me, but I needed to ask for those things from The Ultimate Comforter.

source: Kelly Ginn Photography

So I took a few deep breaths and just started to pray. I prayed for God to help me to relax and to reassure me that He's got it all under control. Our circumstances are no mistake. God has had them planned out and only He knows what's going to happen. I'm totally ok with that! God has our best interests in mind and is going to take care of us. Anytime I feel myself worrying about the future, these verses always come to mind:

25 “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?[a] 28 And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, 29 yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

34 “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

Matthew 6:25-34 ESV

source

God began to bring to my mind all the things that I am blessed with.

- My amazing husband of (almost) 3 years

- My sweet puppies

- Supportive family & friends

- A home

- A job

- A church home

and on and on and on...

I am so thankful for all that God had blessed me and my family with. And I'm thankful for his promise to give us peace and comfort in times of worry. A peace that no one or thing in this world can give.

27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.

John 14:27

The next time your worldly fear and emotions start to take over, I hope that you'll be encouraged by the peace that only God can offer.

Have a great weekend!

Let's Face It

I am so lucky to have a husband who inspires me daily and who pushes me to grow in my relationship with God. I'm also lucky that he agrees to write blog posts for me! Take it away, Will!
--------------------------------------------------------
Lets face it. There are normal days, and there are bad days. Most of my days are normal--school, ping-pong, more ping-pong, and then afternoon activities. Normal days are great, but every now and then one of those bad days creeps into the forecast. Bad days take a pretty wide range, including anything from a rough day at work or losing in chili cook-off contest to Amanda (side note: I’m only just a little bitter about that). 

Last week I had one of those bad days. The majority of the day I felt like I had this huge weight on my shoulders, and there was nothing I could do to make it move. It all started as I was sitting in class (seminary, aka Bible college) surrounded by a room full of guys and a professor who all seemed like they had their life plans pretty well worked out. I could point to most guys in the room and tell you where they worked or their plans for the future, but when I got to myself, the answer became unclear. For about a year I have been doing some serious recalculating in figuring out where God wants me in life. However, it is beyond hard as a married, 25 year old, graduating in May, Masters student to not be able to answer the question, “So, what are you going to do for a career?” Or the next question, “So where do you work,” when your reply is a couple of part time jobs when so many of your peers are full time employees or making headway in pursuit of a lucrative career. The reason unknown, but on this particular bad day, all these thoughts seemed to be rising to a crescendo. I was officially in the dumps. 

source

After class I went to the library to work on some homework, and it was there that I ran into my friend Jim (Jim Jimmy Jim Jim Jim as I call him). We struck up a conversation about the new semester and just life in general. Jim, who works at the seminary, was pushing a big black trashcan. He proceeded to tell me that he just finished cleaning up a monster pile of fresh puke, and that he was pretty much having the worst day ever. It was in that moment that my bad day was totally put into perspective. Compared to my friend Jim, my day really wasn’t bad at all. The entire day I had been praying for peace, for guidance, and assurance. It was in that moment that God gave me a reality check. No, I'm not saying that Jim was worse off than me, but I think God was telling me to stop hanging out in “dump-land.” 

source

It is easy to look at our lives and be unsatisfied or unfulfilled. Maybe your job isn’t as exciting as you hoped, maybe college is turning into a hassle, maybe you are about to graduate and don’t know what to do next. What God spoke to my heart that day was for me to take a step back and get the big picture. All too often we fall into the trap of letting certain circumstances bring us down or to the point of frustration. It might make you feel better just to know that I’ve been there. But even more beneficial is that God doesn’t want us to stay there. Looking at the big picture in my life God has done some incredible things. He showed me last week that He is not done with the work yet. 

source:unknown

I’m convinced that the reason that we have those bad days, those unsatisfied moments with life, the uncertainty of the future, all boils down to a lack of trust, a lack of faith. In a world where so much hinges on the tangible, the real, we find ourselves crippled when the real becomes uncertain. Or on the opposite end of the spectrum, we find ourselves settling for less because it is reachable. 

God did not call us to settle. God did not call us to be empty broken vessels. Jesus lived, died, and was resurrected that we might live in the bountiful grace that He supplies, and the comfort of knowing that He has our best interest in mind. I’ll finish with some verses the apostle Paul writes from 2 Corinthians that give a practical approach to taking off the microscope that we put on our circumstances and moving towards a Godly vision. 

Rejoice in the fact that God comforts. 

2 Corinthians 1:3-4

“Blessed be the God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.” 

source

In trusting God, the baton is passed from us to him. His comfort is much more knowable than anything that we can offer ourselves. What a peace to know that in our affliction God gives us His grace. 

Remember the fact that God changes. 

2 Corinthians 3:4-6:

“Such is the confidence we have through Christ toward God. Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God, who has made us competent to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit.”

Trusting Jesus as your Savior is life changing (2 Corinthians 5:17, “For if anyone is in Christ he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”). In the Christian life it is so important to remember that you have been changed. God gives us what we need to press on, to complete our goals. Our goodness is not an outflow of ourselves; it is an outflow of the grace of God within. Paul mentions the covenant of the letter (the law) because of the inability of all people to uphold it perfectly. It is only through the sufficiency of Jesus that the new covenant (of the Spirit) allows us to live in confidence and joy. Because we have access to this joy through Jesus, live it! Don’t be brought down by life’s negatives when the ultimate peace of Christ rests in your heart. 

Rely on the fact that God challenges. 

2 Corinthians 4:7-12, 16-18

"But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair, persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. 

So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal."

It is through affliction that God often shapes us, molds us, and sanctifies us. Often life’s difficulties are looked at with resentment and remorse. Hold fast to the confidence that we have in faith that God will see us through. Though affliction may seem overbearing, the weight of it will never destroy when faith is rooted in Christ. He will provide. 

 Rest easy, the best is yet to come. We’ve only just begun. 

The Interrupted Life

I actually wrote this back in February as an email to my Mom. I had been struggling with the fact that I had graduated college and hadn't been able to find a full-time job with the career that I wanted. Life wasn't going as I had so perfectly planned and I was frustrated and confused. I didn't understand "WHY" and questioned what I was doing wrong for a long time. I was reading through old emails today and found this one and it was a good reminder for myself of God's faithfulness and his perfect timing.

_________________________________________________________________________

Feb 2012: I started the book "Jonah" by Priscilla Shirer last night and I think it's just what I need. The first segment is talking about "the life interrupted." About how we feel like we get interruptions in OUR plans that we have for ourselves. She asked the question "How has your life been interrupted lately?" Obviously with me it's the fact that I can't find a job to save my life. MY plans were that I would graduate college and immediately find an awesome full time job at a hospital where I had the opportunity to move up within the company and that they would pay for my Master's too. I NEVER expected that 6 months after I graduated I would still be searching for a full time job. NEVER. I never thought it would be this hard. And I've really struggled with understand WHY I am having this much trouble. Why am I not good enough for someone at a hospital to even want to interview me? I know I'm smart enough to do these jobs, why can't employers see that? Is this not what I'm supposed to be doing? Throughout these 6 months I've really learned a lot about patience and being patient in God's perfect timing. I've also learned a lot about remaining faithful that God knows what He's doing! I'm learning to align myself and my plans with only God's plan and His will for my life. In the Bible study, Priscilla Shirer said that THE INTERRUPTED LIFE IS THE PRIVILEGED LIFE. We shouldn't see God's "interruptions" in our life as that, we should see them as divine interventions! It's not a negative interruption, it's a divine intervention. I need to yield to God and His plan...not my own plan. I know that God has a reason for making me wait 6+ months to find a job. And I can't wait to see what that reason is. Maybe it was just the simple reason to teach me patience and faithfulness. WHAT WILL I DO NOW THAT GOD HAS ALLOWED THERE TO BE AN INTERRUPTION IN MY PLAN?? Am I going to go where God leads me? God is giving me the opportunity to participate with Him in His plan for me. What a privilege! 

Priscila Shirer said: "God often sends us into the hopeless place because it's in the hopeless place that we can see the hope of God."

via

Dec 2012: Well, here I am 10 months after writing that. I have a full-time job and, it's true, God's timing was perfect in orchestrating it. Earlier this year,Will had been serving as the youth pastor at a local church for just over a year when we felt God was calling us away. We struggled with the decision and had just decided to pray about it both separately and together until we felt a clear direction. I still wasn't working full-time and then with the additional insecurity of not knowing where or what we were going to do while Will finished up school... needless to say, we were worried. We didn't want to leave those youth we had grown to love so much. We finally decided together that we had committed to follow God's direction no matter where it takes us or what situations we come upon and we felt He was leading us to a growing church in Downtown Memphis who serves the downtown community and also the community of Mud Island. It was hard to say good-bye to the teenagers that we loved and that we saw 3+ a week. They had become our lives. Luckily we are in the same city so we can still see them every now and then! The exact week that we left that church, I got a full-time job. I don't know why I acted surprised at that timing. I know that God is in control and our obedience to him led me to that job. No, it's not my "dream job," but I've got a great boss and I know God has me here for a reason. 

I write all of this to say that even though I still pray for "my" hopes and dreams, I continue to have faith in God's timing and His hopes and dreams for my life. 

I think I've heard this verse so many times that I've forgotten the promise we have been given from God. No, this doesn't mean that we won't have hard times and struggles. But it does mean that all that we have in God is so much better than anything we could ever dream for ourselves. So when "our plans" don't go exactly as we thought they would, we should count it as a blessing that God has something so much better in mind for us.

Holiday Perspective

Another gem from my hubby

_________________________________________________________________________________

There’s no place like home for the holidays. That phrase has been heard and sung countless times, but it always rings true.

For me it has always been a halfway thought, because we have always been home or with family on Christmas. Today I realized how much I take that for granted.

I met J last year, he came to MABTS (Mid America Baptist Theological Seminary) for pastoral training all the way from India. J has had an extremely fruitful ministry in India but felt God calling him to MABTS for further ministry training and preparation for future ministry. He is one of the nicest guys I have ever met, soft spoken, humble, and always greets you with a smile. J left everything behind when he came to Mid America.

Since he has been here it has been clear how much he misses his family. He never hesitates to mention his children for prayer requests and always lights up when he speaks about his family.

About a month ago, J lost his father. Right in the middle of the school semester, J was unable to fly home for the funeral. I had not been able to talk to J about it much until today. I saw J leaving the library and we were taking about the thousands (or what feels like thousands) of pages we still had to write before the end of the semester. J asked me about Christmas shopping, and we talked about presents and what not for a while. Then I asked J if he was going home for Christmas. He looked sad as he answered yes, saying that he was going home. But for J this trip is not about presents and smiles. J looked at me and said he was going to visit his father’s grave, to poor out his grief over his tomb. He went on to say that being here while losing his father was the hardest thing he has ever faced, being alone with no family to cling to, no one to share in grief. As J spoke these words my heart melted. How could someone withstand the agony of such loss and be so far away. I could not imagine facing what J was describing to me. My mind raced with what to say next, searching for some way to even begin to comfort him, but as I looked back at J I saw hope in his eyes. He looked at me and simply said, “but God is good.”

Just a few words but so so profound. I was struck with the hard truth that so many of us live such comfortable lives never even wondering what true suffering is. J has left his home, his family, his friends all for the sake of the Gospel. He has turned his back to the things the so many of us take for granted in following the ministry to which he has been called. What J said to me was such a simple yet profound reminder that Jesus is worth it all. Everything that we have, everything that we think that we need, it all pales in comparison to the home that J is looking towards. I am reminded that Christ called us to suffer, that we never truly follow Him until we stop following ourselves.  I hope J reminds you today that the Christmas message is such a huge part of what we believe, but to take time to remember the cross. Remember that Christ gave up his life so that we might become righteous, that we might know Him.

2 Corinthians 4:16-18

"So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.

Philippians 4:11b-13

“for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength."

Be grateful for what you have, whether it is time with family or just food on the table. But don’t let life’s comforts drive you, be led by where God is calling you. Be encouraged that we know and love and serve a mighty God, who has our best in mind. Remember that we are called to live by faith. There are those that look to the cross as foolishness, as simply a myth. But in what some call foolish, I will boast. Boast in His resurrection, in His life, in His sufferings. The cost of following Christ, is a cost worth paying.

1 Corinthians 1:26-31

"For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”

via

_________________________________________________________________________________

Joy Comes In The Morning

I asked Will to write another devotion again. I just LOVE when he writes. He inspires me daily and the things he write never cease to motivate me, encourage me, & remind me of Christ's love for us. If I haven't mentioned it enough, I am so proud of him.

_________________________________________________________________________________

night shift. |nite shift| noun. 1. the time in which a person works at night. 2. a totally different animal than any other type of daytime job; a beast.

(excerpted from the Will dictionary)

There is something about those midnight hours that seem longer, colder, and uglier than the commonly dreaded nine to five workday. Every second that goes by your body reminds you that you should be dreaming of sunshine and rainbows, not steadily working the night away. I became acquainted with the night shift in the fall of 2009, at the fairgrounds of FedEx. Every night I would ride the bus over to our input, where thousands of containers were waiting to be unloaded. From the ceiling of the input hung old TV monitors which displayed two times: The first time displayed was the current time; the second was known as yellow time. Yellow time is the estimated time in which all of the flights with all of the containers that hold all of the boxes will have landed and been unloaded. Yellow time was subject to change, depending on flight delays and weather, but as real time approached yellow time, the yellow numbers would change to red. Red time meant no more estimations, but at this time all of the flights would be safely landed. Essentially, red time meant done time.  Around this time of year (Christmas) when more and more packages are shipped, yellow time has a bad habit of pushing farther and farther back. In my input, often as red time appeared we would let out a cry of rejoicing, knowing that we would soon be finished. Red time was what we longed for, it was the comfort that pushed us through the final minutes of the night, it was assurance of going home.

I will say that without a doubt the hardest part of the night shift was watching the yellow time change, when you realized that there was much more work to be done. But, no matter how long the delay, we knew that eventually red time would come. We always had those red numbers to keep us going when the going got tough. Red time marked the end of the night-the sunrise.

Psalm 130 describes a similar picture, a man waiting for his night shift to end. Longing to see the sunrise, knowing that rest is soon to follow- a watchman waiting for morning. Here the author is painting a picture of longing, of desperation, of the deepest desire to find rest.

            “I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I hope; my soul waits for the Lord more than a watchman waits for the morning, more than a watchman waits for the morning.”

Psalm 130 powerfully depicts the author’s pure desires to know the Lord. Waiting for His presence, for His grace, for His peace. He is simply, passionately, longing to spend time with God. It is such a beautiful picture of the relationship that we have with God in Christ--knowing that his word is our hope, that we can find rest in His comfort.

There are a lot of things that you can find hope in, or even temporary peace. Maybe you keep yourself extra busy, and the satisfaction of doing keeps you motivated. Perhaps you find peace in buying things, or friends, or relationships, or money. There is so much stuff marketed in our world to make life better, but it is all a false pursuit of happiness. You may think you’re catching a glimpse of the sunrise, but the reality is it’s just a guy holding a flashlight. TRUE joy, true ending of the night comes only from knowing Jesus. Our lives are completely empty without Him. In Psalm 130, the writer gives his reason for such hope and peace.

“Out of the depths I cry out to you, O Lord! O Lord, hear my voice! Let your ears be attentive to the voice of my pleas for mercy! If you O Lord should mark iniquities, O Lord who could stand? But with you there is forgiveness, that you may be feared.”

The reality is we are all living in the night shift. The tragedy is that many of us are not longing for the sunrise. Living for the moment, you press on, hoping to gain what you can by being a good person, or helping others, or obtaining stuff. There is nothing wrong with any of these, but if you miss the point then it is empty.

“If you O Lord should mark iniquities, O Lord who could stand?”

This verse is humbling, eye opening, and life changing. We fall so short of God’s glory, yet almost every day we live to match up to it. We live so that others might think much of us, or be proud of us, or motivated by us. When, the truth is, we are nothing. We are filthy rags in the presence of an Almighty God. The only hope that we have is His forgiveness. Oh that we would recognize how much we need a Savior! We are in such a bad habit of overlooking our own depravity. We hold ourselves in high regard, overlooking the things that we do wrong and accountability for our actions. Without the forgiveness of sins we have nothing. Without Jesus, there is no forgiveness of sins. We are nothing apart from Christ; the question is why do we live like we are?

This is a time of year where focus is put on many things: time with family, presents, traveling, and great food. My encouragement to you is that aside from all those things you simply long for the presence of the Lord, that you would be reminded of the redemption found in Jesus. Philippians 2:5-7 reads,

            “Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death by a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every other name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

I am constantly amazed at the love of God. I am constantly amazed by His forgiveness. I have a wonderful life with so many blessings. Great wife, great family, great dogs, but without Christ as my hope it all amounts to nothing. I am longing to see the sunrise. I am so thankful that Jesus is the red time in my life-I know that rest is coming. If you do anything this Christmas, I hope that you long to know Christ more. That you understand from His sufferings we gain life. This life is only the beginning. Joy comes in the morning. 

via

_________________________________________________________________________________

Isn't he great? Sorry for the 3rd post in a day, but I just couldn't wait to post this! Merry Christmas!

Could We With Ink The Ocean Fill...

We have a Friday treat today! I asked Will to write something short for this post. When he spoke at the Glenmary Retirement Home a few weeks ago (mentioned here), he briefly talked about the old song "The Love of God" and I've had these words on my mind ever since. 

So many emotions come to mind when I read these words. The vastness of creation- the depth of the oceans, the length of the open sky- though breathtaking in their splendor, all pale in comparison to the overwhelming joy that's found in God's love. His love is beyond anything that we know, and yet it is so knowable. His love surrounds us, fills us, transforms us. Breathe in deep the love of God today and know that He is enough. He is the only one that fills our souls to satisfaction. So many people spend their lives searching for more, when all the while it's all around them. The beauty of the heavens is but a shadow of God's goodness. Through Jesus Christ we see with radiance God's love in full. Let Jesus fill your heart, your mind and your soul. And every time you look to creation, remember that the love of Christ is far more breathtaking. It is unmistakably everything we need.

Jesus Calling

By: Sarah Young

Have you read this book?? I just got it last week after hearing so many great things and I am enjoying loving it.

It is amazing how the devotion for each day seems to line up perfectly with what's going on in your life that day...weird even. The book is written as if Jesus Himself were speaking to you. 

It is perfect for someone who is already involved in a devotion because it's such a short (2 paragraph) reading for each days so it's to add on to what you're already involved in. It's also PERFECT for someone trying to start daily devotions/quiet times because it's so easy, short and simple so that makes the transition into spending time with God on a daily basis that much easier and that much BETTER. You'll probably find that after reading each day's entry, you want to read more into God's word and spend more time with Him everyday. I encourage you to order this book here and begin to read this book daily and BE ENCOURAGED by HIM.

Here's the devotion for October 15:

Try to stay conscious of Me as you go step by step through this day. My Presence with you is both a promise and a protection. my final statement just before I ascended into Heaven was: Surely I am with you always. That promise was for all of My followers, without exception.

The promise of My Presence is a powerful protection. As you journey through your life, there are numerous pitfalls along the way. Many voices clamor for your attention, enticing you to go their way. A few steps away from your true path are pits of self-pity and despair, plateaus of pride and self-will. If you take your eyes off Me and follow another's way, you are in grave danger. Even well-meaning friends can lead you astray if you let them usurp My place in your life. The way to stay on the path of Life is to keep your focus on Me. Awareness of My Presence is your best protection.

Matthew 28:20; Hebrews 12:1-2

Should I Stay or Should I Go?

I've been pestering Will for weeks to write a "guest post" on my blog. I was finally successful in bribing him with chicken spaghetti! I don't know if I'll ever want to write a post after his again, because he's such an amazing writer and mine just doesn't compare! I hope you enjoy his post as much as I do!

Direction. Since we left our home it had been the question that carried throughout the camp. We were safe now, but at times it felt as if we are still held captive by circumstances. There had been so much promised, so much seen; but our patience was wearing thin, and it seemed our time was running out. The journey seemed to be that of a lifetime, never knowing what the next day would bring, always hoping for the day of rest to come. 

But in this desert it is hard to find rest. The water is scarce and the food is always the same. The people grow weary, and understandably so. The thirst. The thirst is almost unbearable. A dry mouth and cracked lips have led only to a dry and cracked spirit. Why must we persist this desert? Why must we suffer after suffering for so long? 

So many questions we ask, so many answers we long to find. We cry out , "WHY?," but there is no response. I myself search the sky for a response, an answer of hope in this desolate place. Looking towards the mountain, my eyes are drawn towards something, something I have not noticed in days. The cloud stands in stark contrast to the deep blue sky, a threatening whirlwind encircling the tent. Strange how things so extraordinary become mundane in this painful life. 

I find myself filled with the desire to return to our former home, at least there we were fed, at least there we had strength. 

In the midst of the cloud and my whirlwind of thoughts, doubting the reason for everything I know, a feeling grips my soul. It is a feeling I've felt before, but it has been some time. Closing my eyes I breathe deep the desert air, and a fresh breeze that wasn't there before. I open my eyes to see the cloud, the great whirlwind, moving across the desert sky. Shouts break out around the camp as families and tribes begin to gather their things. 

The cloud. The presence of God. The reason we are here. In this desert hours seem like days, making it easy to lose track of time and thought. But in this moment, as the cloud begins to move, I am taken aback at the fresh reminder. The Lord is moving us towards His promise. He is our guide, He is our shepherd. Were it not for Him our lives would be worthless, but His promise brings us hope. Chills run down my back as the whirlwind flows across the plains. The voice of Moses pulls my attention away saying, "We are setting out for the place of which the Lord said 'I will give it to you.' Come with us..."

Numbers 9-10, though I have taken some liberties with the text, provides an incredible reminder of the importance of following God's leadership. Though the Israelites found themselves in many a tight spots, they never found themselves alone, but were constantly led by the presence of the Lord. Yes the Israelites made a few mistakes. Even after seeing miraculous works of the Almighty God, they did manage to get some things right. They knew that God was leading them to the Promise Land, and they knew that they had to follow his presence. Numbers 9:23, "At the command of the Lord they camped, and at the command of the Lord the set out." The Israelites never knew how long each stage of the journey would be (Num 9:22), but one thing they did know. The only way to get to where God was taking them was to follow Him. 

We have to reach the place in our relationship with Christ where we become totally dependent on His presence. Ironically enough we live in a "self made" society, the notion that greatness and success comes from the individual. In other words, we are who we are because we made ourselves that way. We desperately need to be reminded day after day that we are simply heading towards what God has promised us. This life is not about making ourselves great, but making Him great. How do we do that? Forsaking the preconceived idea to follow our "dreams" and beginning on the journey of following the presence of God. Without His presence we are doing nothing but wandering around in the desert searching for answers. The comfort we find in all of this is that God holds true to His promises. He will lead you in the right direction. He will take you to your destination. 

In my own life I constantly struggle with where to go next. How to take the next step, how to solve the next problem. This usually brings me to Stress City, as I begin to weigh out all the obstacles and questions that I have for the future. Thankfully, God did not call me to be a problem solver, He called me to be obedient. We are simply called to walk in His presence. Don't get caught up in the little issues that drive you crazy or cause you to worry, rest in the presence of the Almighty. Seek His Spirit and His grace. 

Read Numbers 9-10. Be encouraged, be obedient. 

a blissful marriage

Marriage is as marriage does... Is that how the saying goes? Maybe it's just me, but it seems like there's more to it than that. 

Will and I recently had a friend who was about to be married ask us, "If you could give me any piece of advice about being married, what would it be?" To be honest, we had to think on it for a few minutes. I don't remember exactly what came to mind or if it was even helpful, but it sparked the idea to post some things that we've learned over the past 2 1/2 years of our marriage. We definitely don't have it all figured out, but these things have helped us along the way!

Good advice is all about perspective so we thought it would be best to look at this from two different angles. I gave Will the assignment of coming up with 10 tips for the dudes and I'll be posting 10 for the ladies.

1. Get a dog.

Without a doubt dogs are always a great addition to the family. Dogs provide fun, companionship, cuddle partners, and PLENTY of opportunities to work on patience. You may be tempted to get a cat, but I promise that does not have the same effect (no offense to the current cat owners out there). Having a dog may seem like an unnecessary stress, but in the long run they are great to have around and add much adventure to the every day life.

2. Do It.

Now I know what you're thinking, but this isn't that kind of a blog! By "do it" I mean there is something extra special in working on projects as a couple. This can be as simple as painting a room or perhaps what the trendy call "crafting." Simple projects where you work together with your spouse not only give you opportunities to spend time with your spouse, but also to help, flirt, and show interest in each others hobbies. It's a great way to build a relationship (pun intended).

3. Travel

I believe Willie Nelson knew what he was talking about when he sang that old road song. Getting away as a couple is one of the most helpful ways to strengthen a relationship. Traveling carries a connotation of an elusive get-a-way, but sometimes going down the road for a camping trip can be just as romantic as a weekend at the beach. The key to traveling is simply leaving the world behind for a few days and focusing on each other.

4. Listen UP

Every guy knows that there are levels of listening in every conversation, and we have all mastered the art of being in the conversation without really being involved. For those of you who watch Duck Dynasty, you know that Phil is perhaps the most mastered in this area! But really listening can make a huge difference in a healthy relationship. Don't be anticipating the next thought in your mind or what's for supper, take time to listen. It shows you care and goes a long way. 

5. Be a Man

Nothing drives me more crazy than those husbands out there who feel that it is their wife's job to do everything around the house as they are waited on hand and foot. Being a man is about helping out in every way that you can. Don't assign jobs or blame your spouse for not getting something done. If you see something that needs to be done or that you can help with, then help! 

6. Be Content 
One of the most difficult things about being married is getting on your feet financially. Often even more difficult is the ease of looking around at what other people have and wondering why you do not. A good relationship can't be strengthened by hopelessly hoping for things that you don't really need, but by finding thankfulness for the things that you do have. God has given us an enormous blessing in marriage, and it is important to trust Him in providing the things that you need. The old saying "living on love" is cheesy, but there is a lot of of truth to it. Recognize what you have in your spouse, and you will find that it is of more value than anything the world has to offer. 

7. Date Life
Sometimes I reminisce of the days when Courtney and I were dating, and even the days before that when I was trying to convince her to date me! I pursued Courtney like crazy, taking advantage of every opportunity to spend time with her and get to know her. I used to take books to her locker in high school and I thought it was the best thing ever! But, after the wedding bells ring and life together begins, I often have to remind myself that the pursuit is not over. It is so important for couples to live the date life--striving to know each other more and build their relationship with each other (everybody knows that women are super complicated so there are definitely ways to know your wife better). Take time to intentionally date your spouse, show your affection, and enjoy being with each other.  

8. Show Interest
As a dude, it is clear that the way I think and process things is different that the way Courtney does. There are things that I enjoy, and there different things that Courtney enjoys. The difference is there, but it is important to show interest in what your spouse interests and not just your own. For example, I like to duck hunt, so sometimes Courtney comes with me (well she did one time). Courtney likes to watch things like The Bachelor, so sometimes I watch it with her. It is not that big of a deal to give up a little of your time to show interest in what your spouse enjoys. Be sure to do it with the right attitude and willingness or it does not count!

9. Pray Together
Without a doubt prayer is one of the most important aspects of a healthy marriage. Marriage is designed by God and ordained by God, it is his plan and purpose that brought you and your spouse together. Knowing that, we have to realize the importance of talking to the one who brought you together in the first place, the one who created you for each other. Prayer is a powerful tool that not only draws you closer to God but also closer to each other. When you are open before God and pray with an open heart, you become open to your spouse as well. Prayer allows God to work in our lives and answer our requests. There are a lot of things we need to pray for, always remember to pray for each other.

10. Be Romantic
Candlelight, moonlight, music serenading in the air, ocean waves kissing the shore setting rhythm to an endless love song...well that's all well and good, but it can't happen every day. But you don't have to be in paradise to be romantic. I've learned (and am learning) that little things, thoughtful gifts, kind notes, can be just as romantic as a ocean view dinner. You don't have to spend a ton of money or be the next Shakespeare. Be yourself; find your own ways to be romantic in everyday life. Many guys make excuses for their lack of romanticism (myself included!), but most of the time we make it more complicated than it has to be. Find what makes your spouse light up with a smile, and keep it coming! 

1. Laugh Together

With "grown-up" lives now, sometimes you can forget to just have fun together. Be silly. With Will as my husband, laughter comes easily and often. Always try and remember that you're not only husband and wife, you're also best friends. You should be constantly striving to learn more about your BFF!

2. Never Publicly Criticize Your Husband 

Your motto should be to "Praise Publicly." I wish the motto could be to never criticize at all, but let's be honest, every marriage has its issues however big or small they may be. Everyone knows the saying "sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me." Not true. At all. Words hurt probably the worst and this is true when speaking of your spouse in public as well. People don't need to know he didn't put his dirty clothes in the hamper or he leaves dishes out. (Which by the way, Will is amazing at helping out around the house!) All of this is especially helpful in our marriage with Will being a pastor. His leadership and how others view him as a leader is directly affected by our marriage. If I'm always tearing him down and making snide comments at his expense, that will affect his integrity as a leader. On the other hand, if I'm an encourager and constantly give him the affirmation that he needs, then those he leads will also put their trust and confidence in him.

3. You've Got a Friend in Me

We've learned that it's important to spend time with other married couples. Will and I were the first to get married among our group of friends. That was fine and we still spent time with those friends, but there was something that we were missing from not being around other newlyweds. I personally struggled with that frustration for a long time. I can remember having several conversations with Will that contained the words, "Will, I just want friends." Pathetic, I know. For a majority of our marriage, Will has been a Youth Pastor to a great group of teenagers. We love them and we love spending time with them. And as much time as we have invested in them, there is obviously a big age difference and "life experiences" difference between us and the youth group. I prayed and prayed for God to put other married couples in our lives to become close to and spend time with. God answered our prayers and it has been such a blessing to have such close friends. As a married couple, you NEED those relationships in your life. Try to set aside time once a week to go on a double date with those other couples!

4. Don't Try and Change Your Man

I know this has been said many times when referring to dating and the difference in lifestyles between two people, but that's not what I'm talking about here. What I'm talking about are those certain habits or aspects of their personalities that you (I) try and control sometimes. For those of you who know Will, or if you don't you can see his personality come through on this blog post, you know that the guy has a sense of humor. That's what he's known for. He's a jokester and loves to have a good time. At times I've caught myself saying, "Ok, Will, you need to be serious when we get there. It's not the time to be joking about everything." But looking back, Will being the one to make everyone smile and laugh is what I love about him. It's also what everyone else loves about him. I've realized that he's smart enough to know when or when not to joke about something and it's not up to me to tell him otherwise. His sense of humor is such a special gift that I've learned to embrace instead of control!

5. Thank Him Frequently

I often forget to thank Will for the little things. There are so many times that I'll come home and the laundry will be done and folded or the dishes will be put away. It's such a common thing for Will to be so helpful around the house that I'll forget to thank him. But one "thank you" goes a long way. It helps your spouse to know that his or her efforts aren't going unnoticed and you truly are appreciative even for the small things!

6. One Expectation

The one most important expectation you and your husband should have for each other is that God comes first. That you love God more than you love each other. Essentially, as you and your spouse grow closer to God, you grow closer to each other. 

7. Don't Worry, Be Happy!

I believe an important part of being a wife is making your husband happy. Seems simple enough, right? He doesn't want to come home to nagging and whining, but rather a hug around the neck and a kiss on the lips! Make him excited to come home at the end of the day. Chances are he's tired and just wants to come home and rest for a little while...so let him! Trust him enough that he'll be a helper around the house without having to nag him about it.

8. Communicate

Easy peasy...Maybe..Ok, maybe not. Sometimes communication can be so difficult. Usually it's the husbands who need help communicating, but us wives could use some work too. (I know I could!) You know those times when something irritating happens, your husband asks what's wrong, and you say, "Nothing, I'm fine." Well, let's all make a pact and try not to do that anymore. What good does it do to pretend like nothing's wrong? No good at all. Just say what you mean and mean what you say!

9. R-E-S-P-E-C-T

This tip is exactly as it sounds: Respect your husband. He needs to feel respected by you in order to give you the love that you need. In the book, "Love & Respect" by Dr. Emmerson Eggerichs, he writes about the love and respect cycle. "Without love, she reacts without respect, and without respect he reacts without love." So give your man what he deserves and in return you'll get what you want and need! 

10. Date Night

Just as the two of you need time with other married couples, you also need special time with each other. Whether you're going to the movies or just baking together, those special dates will help you "escape" from a busy life and refuel. And it doesn't always have to be up to the man to plan romantic dates...you can surprise him too every now and then. Just have fun with it!

Tips that didn't make the cut:

1. Exercise together (because we'd rather eat chocolate chip cookies together)

2. Talk in a British accent (after a while, that just gets plain annoying!)

3. Eat at Taco Bell twice a week (even though there have been weeks where this has happened, we wouldn't recommend it!)

We hope that these tips will help you in some way. And as we said before, we aren't geniuses on marriage...these are just the things that each of us has learned in the short time we've been married!

Best wishes!

Will & Courtney

linking up with Living for His Glory and Perfectly Imperfect Grace