more

He Giveth More Grace, words by Annie J. Flint (1866-1932)

He giveth more grace when the burdens grow greater,
He sendeth more strength when the labors increase,
To added affliction He addeth His mercy,
To multiplied trials, His multiplied peace.

His love has no limit, His grace has no measure,
His power no boundary known unto men,
For out of His infinite riches in Jesus,
He giveth and giveth and giveth again.

When we have exhausted our store of endurance,
When our strength has failed ere the day is half-done,
When we reach the end of our hoarded resources,
Our Father's full giving is only begun.

El Roi

God's timing and His heart. unwaveringly trustworthy.

orphan

 "The question, you see, is not whether God knows that His children belong to Him but whether His children know they belong to Him. There are people who have spiritually come alive to God through a relationship with Jesus, but still live as orphans because they have not come alive to His fathering love."

[Ben Pasley, Orphan Slave Son, p.4]

clay

katie r asked me today what i'm learning about God.
i didn't get to answer because the time it took me to think created space for more questions
and we changed the subject.
but i kept thinking about it.
i think that i have not learned anything about Him in quite a while now,
but i have lately been confronted with the essence of who He is.
i've been learning His character in such a way that it feels foundational.
i don't read the Bible hoping to "feel" something intense or unique,
i've been reading more and listening to sermons and from these things i am gathering not necessarily quotes and verses and the things i used to look for,
but i'm walking away from these things with a sense for each pastor's, each theologian's, each teacher's understanding of how much greater God is than we.
paul writes in romans 9,

"So then he has mercy on whomever he wills, and he hardens whomever he wills. You will say to me then, "Why does he still find fault? For who can resist his will?" But who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, "Why have you made me like this?" Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for dishonorable use?"

i finally, finally, read these words and understand.
until i understand my lowly place before Him
i cannot feel confident in my knowing Him.

i'm learning a gratitude for the Gospel that i am just beginning to understand. 

thank you Jesus for coming here, for showing us how to know Him, for promising to make everything right. soon.

rest

the gap between blog posts has been a bit longer than i generally prefer, but i have good reasons.

i've been doing more reading than writing lately. when my semester finally wrapped up (so very cleanly) on thursday, i had this sense of rest that i had been waiting for since...well, basically since the semester began in september. this has indeed been an abnormally long semester since i took a 3-week theology class in august, and since i chose to do my internship over the summer as well. i have basically been in learning mode since the summer of 2010, but even then i was living amidst a very active community.

i have failed at sabbath these past 18 months. a professor whom i have come to admire very much spoke a few words about his own story, words that further challenged me to take rest more seriously. i, like most people i'm sure, like to think that i am somehow exempt from such a need. but don't worry...i know that i'm not.

i wonder if part of my problem is that i'm afraid to be left alone with my thoughts for too long. for a little while my bible reading was minimal as was any extrabiblical encouragement. in the last couple of weeks though God has brought about some joy-giving times for which i am so very grateful. some conversations with k&e that get a little fired up at times, those run-ins at the ever-popular starbucks location and the conversations that ensue, and, well, i could go on for quite a while with a smattering of thoughts and joys, but i want this blog to be what i created it to be.

a testimony to Jesus, my everything.

and so, tomorrow i set out on a much-needed adventure down to st. louis. i'm slightly nervous about 8 hours in the car by myself. yet, the joy set before me, a dear friend and a testimony of God's constant grace and presence, is what keeps me wide-eyed and excited.

i expect to rest as well, finally. a little reading, some more writing. new faces and inspiration. stories, smiles, laughs. eyes that sparkle with something that makes people wonder who our Jesus is.

and in chelsea fashion, i want to express my gratitude
for aleece and chels and these four walls
for men that encourage
for books and words and dialogue
for Christmas and the reality of the phrase immanuel
for kristi's little bump and impatiently waiting until june...

genius

"your genius lies in your calling"
jim said this five years ago now
but it shouts to me just as loudly in december of 2011 as it did in december 2006.
it seems like a lifetime ago
in that stone building,
the first season in my life when i committed myself to humility,
when i first decided to trust Him though i had never felt whatever it was that i thought people had to feel in order to know Him.
r, who was there the year before i was, told me to go with a mind that is open, allowing the Holy Spirit to help me to discern what i should and should not hold on to.
and puzzle piece by puzzle piece i have been perceiving the truth behind jim's words.
i discover the small things that give me so much delight, the things that make me wide-eyed and curious, the things that make me laugh, the things that i love.
my small group girls are one piece. listening to them share their stories and their lives is new for me, and so good. those times when i have just a few words to share, and they listen, and God is at work.
aleece and chelsea are another piece. a surprise to me that this tiny community could be such a blessing. we kind of expected it to be a lot harder. still i don't know that i have ever laughed, walked, and opened up this much before.
my family. the tighter and tighter He draws us, the more exciting it is. and our "babies," addi- now 5 1/2, colin- now 3 1/2...malleable, teachable, curious...and the newest little niece or nephew to arrive in june...just praying over these little ones as everything that they see and hear and feel matters.
as for my genius and my calling, i just don't completely know yet.
though the world expects me to know it all, i don't. i can't. and i am content with this.
i do know that i love people- listening, encouraging, laughing with them. this may lead 50 different directions. that's fine too.
His gifts and calling are irrevocable. [rom 10.29]

ruin

this settles it. pinterest is ruining my life.

matthew 6.8

[Jesus, i believe you that You know what i need before i ask. i equally believe that You know what i don't need, even when i ask. my prayer is that you set up walls and open doors according to Your wisdom. mine counts for nothing if it does not agree with Yours. You are my everything.]

tea

best tea ever.

lightbulbs

now that thanksgiving is over, i must conclude that it was wonderful.
more specifically though, thursday was good, thanksgiving day.
but today was the gift that i had been hoping for.
as much of a battle as it was to really rest over this break,
to put all of the stressful obligations aside, to be intentionally aware and thankful,
i see now that i have quite a few joys offered to me out of these past hours.
going for a walk with sara. doesn't happen enough. praying for time and opportunity to see my sisters more.
reading the first chapter of ann voskamp's book, 1000 gifts, a new perspective, pure delight.
light! thank you will and erin for a lamp and lightbulbs. sounds trivial, but live with minimal lighting for a few days and see the effect that it has.
friendship. starbucks with emily after church, as well as seeing a handful of other dear friends.
chels and aleece finally home again. an evening baking, cleaning, with music and stories.
the girls nextdoor. beautiful beautiful and a tree that smells so very amazing.
community of brothers and sisters who share my faith, a pastor who can somehow preach both exegetically and topically, with the richness of truth and power, and humility and the spirit of God so very active.
i am thankful, now, for suffering and healing, for grand measures of such silencing grace,
for tomorrow.

great is Thy faithfulness.

 ²²The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases;
   his mercies never come to an end;
²³they are new every morning;
    great is your faithfulness.
²⁴ "The LORD is my portion," says my soul,
    "therefore I will hope in him."

sight

i just lose sight of Jesus sometimes.
i guess this is why the author of hebrews tells us
"let us fix our eyes on Jesus..."
if this wasn't a problem, it could go unsaid,
but nevertheless, here we are.
here i am.
and i take such delight in holidays
because i give myself permission to compartmentalize any anxieties of life-
school work, bills, laundry-
and i place them aside for a time (not that this is completely possible).
and i think that in days like these i get a small taste of the peace that we have to look forward to,
when life will have no anxieties
and there will be no need to fix our eyes on Him
because we won't be able to look away from Him.
and His grace will be so. much. more. real.
if only we could understand the fullness of it now and love Him accordingly...

encouragement

i covet your prayers.
always.
it has been an exhaustingly long week.
more and more reminders of why i rely on Jesus and not myself.
i am incapable of creating joy
or generating peace and rest.
and it is frustrating in seasons like these
because i have so much to do, but so little motivation.
and ten other things that have captured my attention.
i have a couple more long days ahead of me before i get a break wednesday and thursday.
so, i guess i am asking for a little encouragement.
if you have a verse, a prayer, a song,
a phone call, a text, an email, a letter - always very welcome and very appreciated. 

(oh and i'll be up all night by the way - at work - so really, i welcome your words anytime)

whole

you'll need to use a little discernment when you read through this list,

but here's one perspective on holistic health:

The Ten Tenets of Wellness

and here are a few ideas of what people are beginning to suggest as necessary tenets of overall health:

funny

laying in bed for over a half of an hour, fully expecting to have fallen asleep by now.
but for some reason my mind is racing, but not with worries necessarily,
racing with some of the funniest details of these past few days.
me and katie and jim and dwight and painful laughter.
a bird, in our house, living somewhere behind our pantry. we tried, we really did. still there.
seeing dave today, sober. a breath of fresh air. (not the funny part) i told him he looks like gregory house. good to see him laugh again. seeing him reminded me of the times when he wasn't sober, when he was more than not sober, he was violently angry, high, and yelling all kinds of profanities and curses at us. and daniel (aka danmike) would throw water balloons at him from our balcony. it's funny now.
and so are chelsea's pants.

home

hymn

i am in love with this song.

[i'm sure that i heard it first while my mom sang along to the gaithers]
 

Grace Greater Than All Our Sin

marvelous grace of our loving Lord, 
grace that exceeds our sin and our guilt! 
yonder on Calvary's mount outpoured, 
there where the blood of the Lamb was spilt.  

[chorus] 

grace, grace, God's grace, 
grace that will pardon and cleanse within; 
grace, grace, God's grace, 
grace that is greater than all our sin! 

sin and despair, like the sea waves cold, 
threaten the soul with infinite loss; 
grace that is greater, yes, grace untold, 
points to the refuge, the mighty cross.   

dark is the stain that we cannot hide. 
What can avail to wash it away? 
look! There is flowing a crimson tide, 
whiter than snow you may be today. 
 
marvelous, infinite, matchless grace, 
freely bestowed on all who believe! 
you that are longing to see his face, 
will you this moment his grace receive? 

[i kinda wish we'd sing it (and others like it) at crossroads...
just sayin') 

six

apparently i'm one of these now.

find out for yourself - 9types.com

The Questioner (the Six)

Questioners are responsible, trustworthy, and value loyalty to family, friends, groups, and causes. Their personalities range broadly from reserved and timid to outspoken and confrontative.
How to Get Along with Me

• Be direct and clear.
• Listen to me carefully.
• Don't judge me for my anxiety.
• Work things through with me.
• Reassure me that everything is OK between us.
• Laugh and make jokes with me.
• Gently push me toward new experiences.
• Try not to overreact to my overreacting.

What I Like About Being a Six

• being committed and faithful to family and friends
• being responsible and hardworking
• being compassionate toward others
• having intellect and wit
• being a nonconformist
• confronting danger bravely
• being direct and assertive

What's Hard About Being a Six

• the constant push and pull involved in trying to make up my mind
• procrastinating because of fear of failure; having little confidence in myself
• fearing being abandoned or taken advantage of
• exhausting myself by worrying and scanning for danger
• wishing I had a rule book at work so I could do everything right
• being too critical of myself when I haven't lived up to my expectations

Sixes as Children Often

• are friendly, likable, and dependable, and/or sarcastic, bossy, and stubborn
• are anxious and hypervigilant; anticipate danger
• form a team of "us against them" with a best friend or parent
• look to groups or authorities to protect them and/or question authority and rebel
• are neglected or abused, come from unpredictable or alcoholic families, and/or take on the fearfulness of an overly anxious parent

Sixes as Parents

• are often loving, nurturing, and have a strong sense of duty
• are sometimes reluctant to give their children independence
• worry more than most that their children will get hurt
• sometimes have trouble saying no and setting boundaries

that it may go well with you

praying that things go well for you.
that you might trust Him a little more, then a little more,
opening your hands only a bit further that He might pour into them the blessings that He promises.
that you continue to surround yourself with people who have an extensive root system drawing solely from [the] Living Water.
that you might go to where He walked,
that He might meet you there,
that you might find healing,
that there He might meet you with the greatest depths of His peace.
that you might see Him differently,
understand suffering differently,
and grace,
that you might know grace
and that it might become the very heart that motivates your every step and every word.
that i might rejoice at your testimony
and point to Him as the One who makes all things new.

social gospel

Jesus.
our sin.
our need for His grace.
our joy in this free gift.
our response of worship to Him.
awareness. compassion.
our response of selfless service to others.
this is Gospel.
a capital G.
social gospel is...no Gospel at all. 
He is in all and through all, the Way, the Truth, and the Life.

now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. [ephesians 3.20-21]

voices

when people see something in need of the influence of another voice
and they stand and speak
rather than retreating
i see humility, wisdom, and love embodied.

when people care enough to ask questions
questions that conceive from Truth itself
even though they might be followed by conflict
i see hope, hope amidst the clouds, wind, and rain.

when people hold to two things-
people and the Gospel-
in reverse order, however,
i see compassion and grace.

and i am thankful to be surrounded by these voices,
these lovingly stubborn servants
to cry and laugh with, to learn and worship with,
thank you for action. thank you for your commitment to Him.

green

 

tomorrow. 

12pm. 

;)

unending

I have been loving this song, as have so many of you.
A beautiful modern hymn, and so simple to play on the piano. 

Download the chords here if you'd like.

And/or you can listen on youtube, 10,000 Reasons.

10,000 Reasons (Bless The Lord) by Matt Redman

[Chorus]
Bless the Lord, O my soul
O my soul
Worship His holy name
Sing like never before
O my soul
I'll worship Your holy name

The sun comes up, it's a new day dawning
It's time to sing Your song again
Whatever may pass, and whatever lies before me
Let me be singing when the evening comes

[Chorus]

You're rich in love, and You're slow to anger
Your name is great, and Your heart is kind
For all Your goodness I will keep on singing
Ten thousand reasons for my heart to find

[Chorus]

And on that day when my strength is failing
The end draws near and my time has come
Still my soul will sing Your praise unending
Ten thousand years and then forevermore

health tip #12, a summary

basic advice for those of you who have asked:

my top 6 suggestions. 

1. water. avoid sodas, coffees, even fruit juices. drink a glass or two of water first thing every morning, before eating or drinking anything else. your body is still in detox mode in the mornings. help it along by flushing more of the waste out of our body. and if you can, follow up the water with some sort of melon.

2. fiber. i haven't talked a lot about this but is quite essential. high fiber foods are invaluable. some of the best options include: legumes - lentils, black beans, fruit - raspberries, pears, apples, grains - whole wheat spaghetti, bran, oats, vegetables - artichokes, peas, broccoli. to see a larger list, click here.

3. walk. seriously. you don't have to "work out" seven days a week. but walk for 30 minutes 4-5 days/week, even 15 minutes twice a day 4-5 days/week. be active. be intentional. be consistent.
however, a good workout is highly valuable as well.

4. eat more fruits and vegetables. the more you eat of the good stuff, the less you will eat of the other stuff. i suggest: eat 1 fruit with breakfast, 2 vegetables with lunch, fruit and/or a vegetable for a snack, and eat 2 more vegetables with dinner. (and the starchy vegetables don't count. you can eat them, in fact you should eat them, just don't include them in your fruit/vegetable count.)
and eat them raw whenever possible.

5. vitamins. we overlook these because they are expensive and because we often struggle to see any immediate value, but your vitamin levels affect everything. find a good multi-vitamin.
and take lots of vitamin C, especially over the winter. and if you can, get tested to find which vitamins you are deficient.

6. remember that health is holistic. it is not just food. it is not just exercise. it is not measurable by weight or clothing sizes. it depends on every area of your life. do you know Jesus? do you really know Him? do you have healthy relationships with your family? your friends? do you forgive? have you been forgiven? are you faithful to your job and your responsibilities? are you honest? do you exercise and eat well? are you connected with a healthy community that can encourage you and also hold you accountable? do you make wise decisions? are you responsible with you finances? do you make an effort to learn new things? pursue health in all areas as each one greatly impacts the rest.

rather

I'd rather have Jesus than silver or gold
I'd rather be His than have riches untold
I'd rather have Jesus than houses or lands
I'd rather be led by His nail-pierced hands
 

Than to be the king of a vast domain
Or be held in sin's dread sway
I'd rather have Jesus than anything
This world affords today

I'd rather have Jesus than men's applause
I'd rather be faithful to His dear cause
I'd rather have Jesus than worldwide fame
I'd rather be true to His holy name

be

[inspired by a handful of beautiful couples who have so humbly opened their struggles up that i might see what they see. thank you for such an honor.]

walk with me, [downtown on a warm night, perhaps]
you don't have to say anything.
just be with me.
but if you do feel the need to speak,
speak of Him.
recite to me what you've been meditating on.
and walk confidently,
knowing that i don't need you to be perfect.
be a man of your word,
sure and decisive.
guard your heart and your integrity.
and mine.
seek to honor Him in all things.
know that i am overjoyed to partner with you.
be patient with me
allowing my identity to be distinct from yours.
i do not define you
as you do not define me.
ask me questions,
please don't demand that i believe things exactly as you do.
allow me to learn, aware that you are not half the teacher that He is.
love me like i matter,
like my opinions, desires, and feelings carry as much weight as yours.
love Him more than your reputation.
love knowing Him more than knowing about Him.
apologize if you hurt me.
be gracious when i apologize for hurting you.
read to me.
listen.
don't be afraid if i cry.
take responsibility for your mistakes.
love Him most.

health tip #11

invest in some new running shoes.
this will likely provide more incentive for you to be more active.
[also note that even if you aren't a runner, running shoes provide more of an angle which helps to propel you along on your walk!]

health tip #10

avoid fructose! specifically high fructose corn syrup
and watch this video, if you have the time. it is about an hour and a half.
i will warn you, this man is a bit intense and his teaching gets a bit technical at times, but if you can hang in there it is WELL worth it...

Sugar: The Bitter Truth
Robert H. Lustig, MD,
Professor of Pediatrics - University of California, San Francisco 

Dr. Lustig explores the damage caused by sugary foods. He argues that fructose (too much) and fiber (not enough) appear to be cornerstones of the obesity epidemic through their effects on insulin.

david

my little brother, a comedian -
i'll miss him when i move...
here is the text message he sent to our mom last night:

"in regards to the location i lay my head tonight, it will not be home at the dykstra ranch, but elsewhere. most plausible option being kurt's apartment. i shall reunite with you and the bloodline tomorrow for the feast. i love you. goodnight the woman who birthed my over-sized baby self."

not even kidding.
lol.

reminded

my heart hurts.
for so many reasons.

i'm at work tonight
with a list of things that need to be done
and i only want my bed
where i can cry
and sleep
and learn to trust Him more.
he is right about one thing,
we are so desperately dependent on God
and if we don't see this,
we will in due time.
for me
its the fact that i couldn't sleep before work
so come 7am
i'll be going on 24+ hours wide awake
[and time couldn't be going any slower]
and when i wanted to be upset, very upset, with the one who kept me awake,
he was very sweet so i couldn't be
because sometimes God forces His grace in
and we don't have a choice,
though i wish this were the case more often than not.

i see my pride
in a light like i have never seen before
and this is one of the worst feelings ever.
there are things i wish i could undo,
things i've said that i wish i could take back,
friendships to start over,
ideas to engage,
questions not to leave unasked,
things to study,
but all the while
i have God's sovereignty to learn
because it is so often that i think i know best
and i lose myself in the excitement of
people, places, ideas, classes, dreams, friendships
when the one thing i need is this feeling;
i need to hurt
i need to be reminded
that i don't have it all together.
i don't know best.
i can never be perfect.

and comparing myself to other people doesn't help at all,
in fact, this has probably been the single most debilitating thing that i have done consistently over the past years.
r & k & i had a conversation along these lines just a couple of weeks ago
because i remember saying that the only possible response to this situation
is to look to Jesus, the cross, His grace that i have freely received but will never deserve...
therefore i remember You.

busy rest

forgive me, whoever you are
because i can't remember exactly which face it was that i was talking with,
but what you said resonated with me, very much.
i am blessed beyond measure
running 100 miles and hour
doing great things
learning great things
spending time with the most wonderful of people
and all the while He is rest in busyness
but if i am honest, and i strive to be increasingly so
i do not experience such rest
and i am the only one to blame really
i don't take time to rest;
this may be one reason why i dread sunday nights so much
but this also just may be His way of forcing me to stop,
listen, reflect, read, meditate on His words, cry, laugh, write,
or simple things that i would not otherwise take the time for-
watching football with dad, tearing coupons (anticipating all of the products that i might need to buy in the next days)
and this may also be why He has handed to me a genuine blessing in the form of income
where i have hours upon hours to myself,
to listen to francis chan speak of His grace, grace grace, grace grace grace, and grace grace grace grace (you can listen for yourself if you'd like)
He knows what i need before i ask
or if i never ask
matthew 6.8
isaiah 65.1-2
always in the eye of the storm

truth

we cling to it. and so we can worship.


Oh you bring hope to the hopeless
And light to those in the darkness
And death to life
Now I’m alive
OH YOU GIVE PEACE TO THE RESTLESS
AND JOY TO HOMES THAT ARE BROKEN
I see You now
IN YOU I'M FOUND

And You opened the door for me
And you laid down
Your life to set me free
All that I am will serve You Lord
AND YOU OPENED MY EYES TO SEE
ALL THE WONDER AND AWE OF CHRIST IN ME
JESUS, YOU'RE EVERYTHING I NEED

[VERSE 2]
Oh you fill those who are empty
And rescue those in the valley
And through it all You calm my soul
OH YOU FIND ME IN MY WEAKNESS
And heal the wounds of my heartache
I WORSHIP YOU IN SPIRIT AND TRUTH

thanks again, friend, for a wonderful worship time last night

refines

i listened to a man speak this morning,
he talked about his wife,
the challenges they had seen in their marriage, and when it almost came to an end.
he talked about his sin,
the things that he had allowed to gradually infiltrate his life,
but the most beautiful part of his story
was the pain that it took to draw him to a place where he had left neither the strength
nor the pride
to deny the mess any longer.
and God, in his grace
began to gently peel these things away
to dig the infection out
to burn down the very comfortable facade that he had created for himself.
and then
he learned to love his wife again,
the way he used to.
she learned to respond to him again,
the way she used to.
and they share their story simply as a testimony to Him.

and i wonder what project He might be planning for my heart,
for my pride, my self-sufficiency, my impatience.
and i know He is never dormant
because i feel this yanking on me when i confront myself with His words, His Word.
and honestly, it is a kind of misery because i know there are things in my life that must go.
types of bitterness, areas of frustration, days of worry, moments that lack grace.
i know that His best for me is not to feel this persistent agitation
but i know simultaneously that walking this road of humility has been healthy for me.
because there are things that He desires to strip away.
malachi speaks of Him as One who sits, and refines and purifies
john speaks of Him as a gardener, the One who prunes and cleans and lifts up
jeremiah speaks of Him as a potter who works the clay in His hands and reworks the spoiled clay.
so it is with us. so it is with me. so it is best.

He who began a good work in you will be faithful to complete it. [whether i, and you, like it or not.]

excited

[ten things that i'm most excited about at the moment]

1. these bell peppers growing in our garden, farmers' markets and fresh produce

2. zinnias


3. historic christian theologies, class beginning august 17th

4. my summer internship wrapping up, all of the amazing people i have met, the things i've learned, the understanding i've gained

5. i78

6. the possibility of traveling to the netherlands next summer!



7. 8 1/2 months until graduation

8. an ipod touch, a genuine gift from friends who have been a genuine gift

9. the fair! this week in lowell

10. colorado and wonderful people.

colorado...

i'm going back for a visit!
september 4-7.
yay :)

whole

life
often feels
like something is missing.
i guess this is normal.
nae said once that this is the nature of people-
never satisfied, never really satisfied,
this side of eternity.
sandi told me about it as well, 2 years ago at the drive-in theater
and it’s true for me too-
and quite honestly even on the best day,
something isn’t right,
rather a lot of things are not right.
and this is why I AM SO GRATEFUL that we live with a hope of eternity-
at least some of us do,
because i can’t say His name enough
giving Jesus credit for any joy
that i experience.
and as long as we live here,
it is essential that we keep a proper view
of what we have
and what we can’t yet have...
wholeness
perfection
peace, or shalom as rod so often states.
but the One who promises these things
is knowable
so we have every opportunity to see,
for now,
a reflection,
but soon
we shall see the real thing.
this is joy.
this is wholeness.
this is peace.
this is shalom. some day.
[1 cor. 13.12]

health tip #9

raw foods

What are raw foods? What is the raw foods diet? Will a raw foods diet really lead to better overall health?

Here's what you need to know about raw foods, also called living foods. A raw foods diet consists of unprocessed raw vegan foods that have not been heated above 115 degrees Fahrenheit (46 degrees Celsius). "Raw foodists" believe that foods cooked above this temperature have lost their enzymes and thus a significant amount of their nutritional value and are harmful to the body, whereas uncooked foods provide living enzymes and proper nutrition. Proponents of a raw food diet claim that there are many benefits to eating raw foods, including weight loss, more energy, clear skin, improved digestion and improved overall health. Many people clarify that they eat a "high raw" or a certain percentage of raw foods in their diet, such as "75% raw diet". A few people include raw, unprocessed dairy products in their diet, but most follow a raw vegan diet. The raw diet has seen an increase in popularity in recent years with raw food restaurants opening in several major cities.

What do raw foodists eat?
A raw food diet includes:
•all raw fruits and vegetables
•nuts and seeds
•sprouts
•roots, root vegetables and squashes
•fresh herbs and raw spices
•seaweeds

Food Matters clip about raw foods

and another discussing the healing properties of raw foods

raw foods shopping list: (just a few options)

Produce
* Avocados
* Apples
* Bananas
* Broccoli
* Celery
* Carrots
* Cabbage
* Cucumber
* Green/String Beans
* Grapefruit
* Ginger
* Green Leafy Veggies
* Seasonal fruits
* Fresh Herbs (parsley, basil, etc.)

Nuts & Seeds
* Raw Almonds/Almond Butter
* Raw Hemp Seeds
* Flax Seeds
* Pine Nuts

Grains
* Wild Rice
* Quinoa
* Buckwheat

oh joy

praying with people must be one of the greatest purposes for which God has created us.
in the past 6 months, i haven't prayed with people as much as i have this past week,
and i haven't felt better.
prayer, in its truest sense
draws out honesty, unity, freedom, and joy.

health tip #8

"Walking is man's best medicine."
-Hippocrates


There's a wealth of research to prove that walking is good for you and the results are impressive: major reductions in both diabetes and heart disease, decreases in high blood pressure, increases in bone density, and more, all follow regular walking exercise.

Experts agree that physical activity is one of the cornerstones for good health, and walking is one of the easiest (and cheapest) ways to be physically active. All you need is a good pair of shoes, and you can do it almost anywhere and at any time.

Experts also agree that all you need is 30 minutes of moderate-level physical activity on most days of the week to see health benefits. Brisk walking is considered a type of moderate-level physical activity.

You can even divide the 30 minutes into shorter periods of at least 10 minutes each. For instance, use stairs instead of an elevator, get off a bus one or two stops early, or park your car at the far end of the lot at work.

upward

worship isn't lonely,
i look forward to the day that i can worship with people. 24/7.
as for now, i wish i could play the piano...or sing...or both.
i want to learn to constantly orient my thinking and my attitude around the reality of the cross and the resurrection:
Jesus.

[romans 1.20]

7.5.11

praying for a new season
[good-bye facebook, hello real people]

i like change
i like new
but i've never been good with it all at once
and for some reason summers feel this way.
i wait so impatiently all winter
for warm weather to finally show its face
and when it does
it brings with it so much else.
and all of the extras,
historically and presently for me,
have proven to be splendid
so i'm not complaining
[learning this too]
i'm just thinking out loud-
but that's what a blog is, no?

so in this quest
i know my most basic need.
it's always the same.
this Book that i say is my very life
yet lately it doesn't seem so.
because i choose other things to occupy my time
and at the end of the day,
these other things [though not bad things at all]
make me sick
while the one thing, the one Voice that will make me well
remains closed
or even open, just quiet.
and it is my choice
because i do have a will
though He continues in sovereignty, love, grace.
sure i read some of these words every day
but it is only a discipline
and while disciplines are good
they can't be the ground on which we build
faith.
i've watched this mistake
and clearly i've made the same mistake myself enough times,
but when that same emptiness is still hanging on
i have to be shaken to be reminded that
my life
is not
my own
and i live so often as if it is
as if it is under my control
as if God can be manipulated by our filthy rags.
[isaiah 64.6]

so for the next weeks or months or years
i am praying for a few things
and i would be honored if you wanted to join with me

i'm praying for my family, that each of us might know Christ and/or know Him more
i'm praying for ross and kristi, their marriage that begins 17 days from today
i'm praying for myself to better understand joy through the grace of Jesus
i'm praying for brad and kim and their boys
i'm praying for the southeast side
i'm praying for the Church to trust Him and to be obedient
i'm praying for 105 beautiful people that i hope to know better
i'm praying that His Name is exalted

health tip #7

bob harper, from the biggest loser, suggests this list,
his top five "fat-blasting" foods:

1- oatmeal
2- apples
3- black beans
4- green tea
5- sweet potatoes

health tip #6

good friends

no, you can't eat them.
but they're good for your heart, your mind, your soul,
and they make you laugh.
good friends keep you accountable and ask tough questions.
at times they tell you what you don't want to hear;
they teach you humility.

good friends reflect and point to Jesus,
they're humble, selfless, compassionate, and
they're not perfect either,
but, chosen wisely, they will shape you into the best possible you.
make time for good conversations.

365

another year is passed.
and much has changed.

"26 is a good year," a friend told me.
and i believe her.

and i believe Him
and my foremost prayer is that 26 teaches me to believe Him more
because He has stirred in me this desire to better know His promises

at 26.

addi flopped down next to me as i am typing.
"whatcha doin' tam? can i help?"
"sure babe. i turned 26 on sunday and a new year is always special. how is the next year going to be special?"
"i know! because Jesus died on the cross!"
"absolutely."

and honestly, she couldn't be more accurate.
i hope that this is the one reality that defines 26.

a promise from 1 peter
3b-5
in His great mercy He has GIVEN us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance
that can never perish, spoil or fade--
KEPT in heaven for you, who through faith are SHIELDED by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.

love Him.
trust Him.
believe Him.

::thank you::

it has been a gift for us to have this invitation into your hurt, a very bittersweet gift.

please know what a testimony you and your family have been as you have so honestly shared your pain and this agonizing healing process in front of a watching world and a community of people who are learning to trust Him more because of your humility.

i know that the wonderful friends and amazing family surrounding you will still never be capable of fully empathizing with you.

no one else will ever understand what you are experiencing as no one else knew that man and that boy the way that you did.
and i imagine that this is the hardest part of it all.

you come to church week after week, still broken, tears evidence that this struggle is not one that will not be short-lived
(as much as i wish it could be, for you)

thank you for living your story so openly.
thank you for clinging so tightly to His goodness.
thank you for the constant reminder that we live with hope only because of the promise of His return.
and redemption, reconciliation, restoration.

and the reputation that your husband left
speaks volumes about the woman that you are,
your integrity
your discernment
your grace
your humility
your love.

thank you for continuing to persevere.

may He grant you a greater measure of His grace and peace.

numbers 6.24-26

health tip #5

raw foods

are ideal for good health.

raw foods include plant foods, such as fresh fruit and vegetables, sprouts, seeds and nuts.

use the "crowding out" theory and incorporate more of these foods and less of the processed, preserved, and cooked foods.

Fruits

Staple fruits include:

Apple
Avocado
Banana
Blueberry
Dates
Grapes
Lemon
Lime
Mango
Orange
Raisins
Raspberry
Strawberry
Young coconut

Vegetables

Staple vegetables include:

Bell peppers: red, orange, yellow
Celery
Garlic
Ginger
Jalapeno pepper
Kale
Lettuce
Onion
Spinach
Tomato
Zucchini

Nuts and Seeds

Dried, raw, and preferably organic.

Almonds
Cashews
Macadamia nuts
Pine nuts
Flax seeds
Chia seeds
Hemp seeds
Sunflower seeds
Raw almond butter
Nut "nutter"
Nut "milks"
Seed crackers (e.g. chia, flax)

Grains

Millet
Buckwheat
Quinoa
Oats

Beans and Legumes

Dried, raw, and preferably organic.

Lentils
Chickpeas
Adzuki beans
Mung beans

Oil

Cold-pressed, extra-virgin olive oil
Raw, virgin coconut oil
Raw coconut butter
Chia oil

Beverages

Water
Vegetable or fruit juice – freshly squeezed or frozen, unpasteurized
Young coconut water
Herbal tea (made with water heated to less than 118 F)

Miscellaneous

Young coconut
Carob powder
Raw cacao nibs
Raw protein powder
Raw vegan ice cream
Fermented foods such as miso, kimchi and sauerkraut

Herbs, Spices, and Condiments

Bragg’s raw apple cider
Bragg’s liquid aminos
Cayenne pepper
Celtic sea salt
Chocolate, raw
Cinnamon, ground
Cumin, ground or seeds
Curries
Dill
Nama shoyu (raw soy sauce)
Raw honey
Himalayan salt
Seaweed
Sundried tomato
Vinegars

Sweeteners

Raw honey
Agave nectar
Coconut nectar
Stevia
Date sugar
Yacon

Animal Products

In addition to plant foods, some raw foodists eat raw animal foods such as raw eggs, fish and meat, and non-pasteurized, non-homogenized milk, yogurt and cheese.

Fish
Beef
Gravlax
Proscuitto
Milk
Raw milk cheese
Organic egg

peppermint

peppermint lemonade

lemons
water
fresh stevia leaves or maple syrup or both
fresh peppermint leaves

blend. share.

right

mom was right.
the front porch is amazing on a hot afternoon.

and i was right
that i definitely haven't spent much time online lately.

but you better believe that life hasn't stopped running full speed.

and with quite possibly a quarter of my FLI class filtering back to the springs...
i don't know.
and sarah and missy and jeremiah talking about zambia
and kris and emily taking a little vaca to the beautiful middle east
and only 6 classes left before i am a college graduate
and so many wonderful living and working opportunities
and beautiful people
and encouraging words
and confirmation of God's sovereignty, goodness, and compassion
over and over
and friendships that i would never have thought possible
and people who have struggled, now making good decisions

LIFE and HOPE are abundant
because He offers the greatest measure of grace that i could ever receive
and like rod said
unless i remind myself and accept Him every day of my life
i will not understand
because He is everything.

in Him we live and move and have our being.

and sarah young's daily reminder has helped to set my perspective as well.
in His presence is fullness of joy.

health tip #4

house plants



houseplants can be very beneficial as they purify and renew our stale indoor air by filtering out toxins, pollutants and the carbon dioxide that we exhale - replacing them with oxygen

NASA studied the effects of houseplants on indoor air and found these, among others, to be very beneficial:

chinese evergreens
aloe vera
spider plants
chrysanthemums
gerber daisies
common english ivy

treat

a simple little recipe from a great friend.
mix, ball, and eat. so good!

2c Old fashioned oats
3/4c Peanut butter
1/2c Honey or maple syrup
1/4c Carob chips or chocolate chips
2-3 T Wheat germ
2-3 T Finely shredded coconut (unsweetened)
1 T Sunflower seeds hulled
2 T Flax seeds
1/4c Raisins or craisins (optional)

the kids call them bocce balls,
but you can call them whatever you'd like :)

sunday nights

i don't like them
and i am trying to understand why this is.
sundays generally consist of a group of rowdy kids first thing in the morning
during the 9am service.
then i join in for the 1115am service
worshiping alongside a beautiful community of broken but rooted people.
then i head straight home to a crazy house full of 10 to 13+ people
food and kids and stories and laughing
cleaning and dancing and planning and resting
then everyone disappears and...
i think that i am an extrovert.
[and i am impatient for august 1st]


however, this is the sun that flows through the windows in the afternoon and evening and i don't complain about this.
this little farm is wonderful.
and by the way, to the left, next to the fence, is where the garden will be so soon.
i really am blessed.

health tip #3b

other garden options

if you have limited space, try a raised bed



or you might prefer gardening pots



or even a topsy turvy tomato planter



there are plenty of options so excuses are at a minimum.
keep healthy, fresh foods around as much as possible!

health tip #3a

plant a garden



planting a vegetable and fruit garden will promote good health and exercise.
by planting and tending to your garden you control what you eat as well as how it is grown plus - it just doesn’t getting any fresher than this!