The lies I believe

I am thankful for blogs. Not only because they give me great ideas about how to decorate a one day home and throw a great party but because somehow through words on a page, and nothing else, I feel like I have friendships with these women who share their stories over their blogs. I realize some of that statement sounds a bit sad, my friends are people I have never met, but it is a reality in this season of my life.

I am especially thankful this week for the blogs that I follow because I have seen a common thought being addressed in their pages, a thought that has been prevalent in my life for some time now. That’s the beauty of women I guess, good or bad, we all in some way struggle through the same seasons at some point in life. For me this season recently has been plagued with lies of the enemy and the demon of perfection knocking on my thoughts and heart.

Emily, over at Chatting at the Sky said it perfectly yesterday, check out her post here http://www.chattingatthesky.com/2011/11/07/good-girls-come-full-circle-2/

The lie is that perfection is necessary and that every small or large misstep in life is failure. If I don’t clear all the papers off my desk before 5:00, I have failed at my job. If I don’t cook a full, hot and healthy meal for my husband each night I have failed as a wife. If my laundry isn’t perfectly folded and put away with no traces of dishes in my kitchen (except for the perfectly displayed ones that are part of my décor) then I have failed as a homemaker.

The weight of perfection is stifling. But where the Spirit of the Lord is there is liberty. Freedom is fresh and open to those who will embrace it.

It is hard to embrace freedom when your hands are full of expectations.

Praying freedom in my heart, mind, hands and feet will come soon. Only through Christ is this possible.

What lies are you believing today?

side note: i strongly recommend Emily Freeman's new book :Grace for the Good Girl
side note 2: i am a failure at blogging because i never include pictures :) sorry I am a word girl

Just a glimpse

Today I am thankful for perspective. I find that I get wrapped up in my own life so easily. The day to day and the task to task can become overwhelming. So much so that I find myself feeling as if I am the only one facing the challenges of life, love, and ministry.

Today I am thankful for a friend who shared life and shared perspective. Although her challenges are hers and mine are mine there is linkage there that makes the bearing of a load not so heavy. Never would I wish hardship on another but when another can relate to your hardship and you can relate to theirs we bear that burden together and the impossible becomes possible…you gain strength for one more day.

Life is lonely sometimes but I am finding the Lord provides glimpses of community at just the right moment.

The memories we make

I have the privilege of hosting 8 women in my home on a weekly basis. We gather, eat, study God’s word, and share our lives with each other.  It is community and it is refreshing. Last night was an especially good night.

It was my night to make dessert. I don’t do desserts. I can cook most anything but baking and I are not always on the best of terms. However I had a plan (a recipe) and I had the determination to see it through. That was until my canned pumpkin was expired.

The show must go on. No use crying over expired pumpkin.

Side note: what does it say about me that I have expired canned goods in my pantry? Doesn’t that stuff last for like years? I’m going with: we have a small apartment thus a small kitchen thus a small pantry and because I am such a good house keeper (wink wink)  I keep our pantry fully stocked and it was a simple oversight that something would expire. But that is another post.

I regress. So here I am, facing the fear of dessert, 8 friends coming over hungry and expired ingredients.  What is a girl to do? What do we always do? Make it work! It was a Tim Gunn moment yall. I decided I would do what I do when I cook, improvise and use what I have. I baked some very interesting cupcakes with some very interesting icing. My sweet friends (and husband) indulged themselves in what I named “Harvest Spice Cupcakes” like something out of a William Sonoma Catalogue.

The cupcake itself…simply boxed cake mix, but the icing was a creation of innovation. Who knew cream cheese, nutella, pumpkin coffee creamer, pumpkin pie spice, and brown sugar whipped up a mighty good frosting (be it a ridiculously fattening icing).

In the frantic of making this cupcake creation like a contestant on Cupcake Wars (you know you watch that show) I ran out of time to do the dishes and have the kitchen clean and ready for my guest. A task I hold in high importance each week as the girls gather. I try so hard to make my home a sanctuary for our time. A sink full of dishes does not a sanctuary make, at least not for this girl. However as the night went on and each dear one shared the truth of what they were learning, the exciting announcement of new seasons of life approaching, the tears of heavy burdens and stressful weeks the sanctuary was being built despite the dirty remnants of a busy day.  Our hearts were linking together in celebration and joy.

Today I am thankful for friends who share times with me that make memories. Even when there are dishes in the sink.