Feed on
Posts
Comments

Welcome to my world…lives have changed & so has the living room

Jul 8th, 2011 by Amy

K7A18D4E161CEE_1000002

We’ve lived in our charming little townhome for six years now.  When we moved in, Sydney was barely two years old, and I was still wearing Brooklyn in a baby sling.  The “plan” was to buy something small and affordable, sell in 2-3 years, buy something bigger with a yard and extra bedroom, add baby #3 and live happily ever after.  Then the housing market fell apart, and baby #3 decided to join our family two years earlier than expected.  Six years later we find ourselves “stuck” in our starter home.

K7A18D4E161CEE_1000018

C’est la vie.

K7A18D4E161CEE_1000008

As I mentioned last week, I had to accept the way things are.  Joel and I had to let go of our “plan”.  We had to, or else we would be miserable right now.  And really, there are worse things than being stuck in a small home.  For instance: losing a home, losing a loved one, or losing a job.  I count my blessings that all we lost was our plan.  Sometimes I feel like I just might be losing my mind, but then reality gives me a good smack on the head when my kids say how thankful they are…for our home.

K7A18D4E161CEE_1000016

The downstairs “great room” – consisting of the living room, dining room, and kitchen – is where we do most of our living.  It has evolved quite a bit over the past six years, going from Kiwi Green walls to an updated Gray Morning along with one or two new throw pillows.  We recently transitioned from our kiddie table to bar stools which was a big moment for me.  I’m still a huge fan of my kids’ artwork plastered all over my fridge, and I’m not willing to let that one go just yet.

K7A18D4E161CEE_1000020

A few things that have helped maximize our living space are:

  • Quickly discard anything outgrown or no longer useful (Goodwill practically knows me by name).  For a briefry=400-6 season our house was stuffed with baby items (they take up such a huge amount of space).  If you are in that boat, trust me when I say, this season will pass more quickly than you can bat an eye. Embrace it.  Cherish it.  Enjoy it.  When it’s gone you may have more space, but you won’t have this time again.
  • No coffee table.  I make the most out of our end tables.  Removing the coffee table gives us more floor space and creates an illusion that the room is bigger than it actually is.
  • De-clutter on a regular basis.  Clutter happens.  It’s a fact of life, but it doesn’t have to take over your house.  If you can stay on top of the clutter you’ll feel less and less like the walls are closing in on you.K7A18D4E161CEE_1000003
  • Fill drab spaces with things you love.  I’m very sentimental, and I have dozens of family heirlooms and keepsakes from various travels that I use to decorate.  It doesn’t necessarily create more space, but it will make you feel good.
  • Make it all about you.  I don’t mean this in an egotistical, self-centered type way.  What I mean is, don’t worry about what other people think.  Make your home look and feel the way you want it to.  This may take time.  That’s okay.  Tweaking is one of my favorite hobbies, and the longer I live here, the more this house looks like me.

Thanks for coming over.  I hope you’ve enjoyed.  Next week, we’ll take a look upstairs and talk sleeping arrangements.

K7A18D4E161CEE_1000037

If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!

Posted in Life, Small Space Living | 5 Comments »

Welcome to my world…

Jul 1st, 2011 by Amy

frontwide

I’ve decided to take a brief break from some of my “deeper” posts to share with you a glimpse into my little world.  Julia, over at Hooked on Houses, posted a story about a family that downsized from their 2500 square foot home to a 320 square foot home.  It was intriguing, to say the least.  And it certainly put some of my “little house” issues into perspective which in turn inspired me to give others a peek into my own small space living.  No.  We don’t live in 320 square feet, nor do we plan to scale down from where we are.  (Heavens, no!)  Compared to this family our house looks like a mansion.  But squeeze a growing, busy family of five into a two-bedroom townhome, and things get interesting.

fullfront

I used to say all kinds of evil things about the economy and the downturn of the housing market.  But I discovered, after much wailing and gnashing of teeth, that sometimes my plans, my wants, have to adjust.  No good comes from whining, and growth can’t always be measured by the amount of wealth we gain, but by how well we manage what God has given us right now.  Instead of cursing the economy I have found a reason to say thank you.  I’ve learned a great deal about myself and my family by living in a small house.  I have learned how to be creative – turning every square inch into usable living space.  I have learned that extra stuff is just stuff, and I don’t need it.  I have learned how to use color to bring a room alive, and how to comfortably fit three kiddos into one bedroom.  I’ve learned the art of making the most of family dinner time, and how to make sure everyone has a “special” space of their own.  It’s been a challenge, but one I’ve grown to enjoy.

ry=400

And so, I want to welcome you to my world.  I want to open up my home and share with you, over the next few weeks, the real stuff that my life is made of.  I hope you’ll enjoy.

Posted in Life, Small Space Living | 6 Comments »

Jesus Said A Prayer For Us

Jun 29th, 2011 by Amy

In John 17 Jesus prayed a prayer for his disciples.  And while he was praying he was thinking about me and you.  Some 2000 years ago my face flashed through the mind of my Savior moments before he was arrested and sentenced to death.

“My prayer is not for them alone.  I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message…” (vs 20).  Jesus reached through time and space and said a prayer for me…for us.  As he prayed he visualized the face of every believer living, and those of us to come.  We were on his mind before he died for us.

And you know what he was thinking?  He was thinking what every parent thinks about during the long weeks of summer vacation when school is out and the kids are home and restless.  Please…get along.  Stop fighting.  Work it out.  Be one.

The one prayer that Jesus prayed for us was a call to be unified.

“That all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you.  May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.” (vs. 21).  The way the world will know Jesus is by the example of oneness of his followers.  And this kind of unity can only come from a sincere love for one another; a love that Jesus commanded:

“One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating.  Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, ‘Of all the commandments, which is the most important?’  ’The most important one,’ answered Jesus, ‘is this: Love the Lord your God with all your heart and will all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.  The second is this: Love your neighbor as yourself.  There is no commandment greater than these.’” Mark 12:28-31.

“A new command I give to you: Love one another.  As I have loved you, so you must love one another.  By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:34-35.

Jesus wasn’t making a friendly suggestion.  He was lovingly commanding us to live in peace with one another.  To walk in unity, from then until now.  And by this the world would know Jesus.  In that very moment, when Jesus was preparing to die, he paused and prayed for us.  He must have known how hard this command would be for us to follow.  He must have realized that I would need the extra prayer support for those days when I just want to blast another believer because they “got on my nerves” or “didn’t treat me very well”.  Whatever the justification for our irritation, Jesus commanded us to love.  To love as Christ loved us.  To be one as Christ is one with the Father.

So, how are we doing on this?  I know I have a lot of room for improvement.  Which makes me both humbled and grateful that Jesus said a prayer for me.  That Jesus was thinking of me all those years ago.  It reminds me of how much he loves me…and how much he loves this crazy, messed up world.

ry=480

Posted in Faith, Ministry | No Comments »

Either Jesus Was In A Bad Mood Or He Had A Serious Fig Craving

Jun 27th, 2011 by Amy

(Once upon a time…)

“Early in the morning, as he (Jesus) was on his way back to the city, he was hungry.  Seeing a fig tree by the road, he went up to it but found nothing on it except leaves.  Then he said to it, ‘May you never bear fruit again!’  Immediately the tree withered.” (Matthew 21:18 & 19)

This same story is relayed in Mark 11:12-14:

“The next day as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry.  Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to find out if it had any fruit.  When he reached it, he found nothing but leaves, because it was not the season for figs.  Then he said to the tree, ‘May no one ever eat fruit from you again.’”

My initial thought is, “Wow.  Was Jesus in a bad mood, or what?”  Cursing fig trees.  That’s kind of how I get when I haven’t had enough sleep.  I just want to curse my fridge for not having anything edible in it, and I want to throw every toy in my path into the garbage.  However, Jesus’ words and actions are always intentional.  The Jewish New Testament Commentary calls this “making a point by means of a prophetic drama, an acted-out parable.”  Look at the story in Mark again.  It was not the season for figs.  Surely Jesus already knew that.  This is the same Jesus who saw Nathaniel, in John 1:43-51, sitting under a fig tree before they even met.  And it’s not like hunger was something that could undo Jesus either.  Remember when he was tempted by the devil after fasting for 40 days and 40 nights (Matthew 4:1-4)?  This was no fig craving Jesus was having.

So why was he cursing a poor, defenseless plant?  Jesus was acting out a parable in front of his disciples to make a very serious point:  bear fruit.  A fig tree in leaf holds the promise that fruit is coming.  ”We know that Yeshua expects God’s people to put forth the fruit of righteousness, and that unproductive branches will be thrown in the fire.  Thus the drying-up of the fig tree is an acted-out warning.”  Living fruitful lives is that important to Jesus.  He wasn’t in a bad mood.  He didn’t have a craving for figs.  Jesus took an ordinary fig tree and lovingly turned it into a teachable moment for his disciples, and us who follow him.

“Yeshua here is teaching his followers what it means to serve their master, God: it means simply to have the kind of trust that comes from God (vs. 22), and that they will wither away if they don’t.  Yeshua neither acts from pique nor performs arbitrary miracles like a magician; every one of his supernatural acts has spiritual significance.” – David H. Stern

The warning: bear fruit or wither away.  Jesus has some pretty high expectations of us.  It’s not enough to have pretty leaves hanging from our branches.  We must produce fruit; otherwise, we are useless.  And the type of fruit we are called to produce can only come from trusting in God and walking with him every day.  We can’t force the fruit to grow, just as a fig tree can’t produce figs on demand.  It takes watering from the Word, and constant contact with our Lord.  And all things are possible for those who believe.  ”If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer (vs.22).”  To live this kind of  life all we have to do is ask God and believe, and he will work the soil, plant the seeds, and water to a fruitful harvest.  That’s a promise.

Maybe Jesus really did have a fig craving, but not the physical kind.  Maybe he has a craving to see more fruit in our lives.  And this he takes very seriously.

Posted in Faith, Life, Ministry | No Comments »

I Never Promised You A Rose Garden

Jun 23rd, 2011 by Amy

John 16:33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace.  In this world you will have trouble.  But take heart!  I have overcome the world.”

I like happy stories.  My favorite part of a movie is usually the opening scene showing a happy family going about their business, innocent and peaceful.  Stress builds in the pit of my stomach when the plot begins to unfold and the happy family is suddenly shaken by monsters or tidal waves or earthquakes and the like.  I want to go back to the beginning where everyone is happy.  I just don’t like trouble.

And Jesus’ last words to his disciples in John 16 is a guarantee that trouble is brewing.  Trouble is a promise.  Life isn’t going to be easy and smooth.  It is going to be hard, especially for those who believe in Jesus.  The happy picture isn’t going to be the whole story.  There will be monsters and tidal waves and earthquakes.  There will be broken relationships, hurt feelings, financial difficulties, and challenges raising children.  The minute we say “yes” to Jesus doesn’t suddenly make us immune to the pain of this world.  It’s like Jesus is trying to tell us here, “I beg your pardon.  I never promised you a rose garden.”

The Jewish New Testament Commentary says this: “The life of a believer in the Messiah is not the proverbial rose garden, except, perhaps, for the thorns.  Nevertheless, Yeshua encourages us: Be brave!  I have conquered the world!”

So, life is hard.  And a life devoted to Jesus is even harder.  That’s not very happy news.  However, while Jesus doesn’t promise us a rose garden life, he does promise us that, while there will be thorns that prick us and cause deep pain, we can take heart.  Jesus has already conquered the thorns.  He has already won the victory over the monsters and the tidal waves and the earthquakes and the like.  We can be brave.

Jesus holds the salve for every thorn that pricks our skin.  And while we may not see the happy ending just yet, it is coming.  The same God that has overcome the world has overcome our problems.  He gives us peace and assurance of his faithfulness.  And that is the promise we can hold on to…till the very end.

DSC04842

Posted in Faith, Life, Ministry | 2 Comments »

The Things We Hold On To

Jun 21st, 2011 by Amy

I successfully delivered three truck loads of old baby clothes, furniture, books, toys and various kinds of paraphernalia to Goodwill today.  With the help of my parents, I confidently tackled the most ominous space in our house: the garage.  For six years it has taunted me, and I’ve been too wimpy to face the junk.  Today I conquered my fears and took my overstuffed garage by the horns.  It’s been a long day, and as we sit in the living room, nursing sore muscles and still sneezing from the dust, dirt and cobwebs, I keep thinking about all the meaningless, weighty stuff that we held on to for so many years, and wondering why it took me this long to lighten the load.

Going through boxes, plastic tubs and footlockers – that I’m sure were purchased way back in the 80’s – I was struck by the wide variety of things we have held on to: papers, old coats that went out of style 15 years ago, toys our children have outgrown.  There was even one unidentifiable object that has seen us through three different moves.  What a crazy thing to hold on to!  It was time to let it go (whatever it was).

Just as I have a tendency to hold on to material junk – you could call me a tidy hoarder – I know I am capable of holding on to other kinds of junk too: anger, hurt from the past, resentment, a grudge.  Eventually someone wise speaks into my life and says, “Isn’t it time to clean out your garage?”  And as painful and overwhelming as it seems in the moment, once I get started the better I feel.  The weight of the burden, the unidentifiable objects I’ve been carrying around for years, begin to lift, and life looks good again.

It is surprising to me the things we hold on to.  And most of those things we don’t need.  What about you?  Is it time to clean out your garage too?

Posted in Faith, Life, Ministry | 2 Comments »

Trust In Real Life

Jun 17th, 2011 by Amy

Problems.  They either get your heart pumping with adrenaline or bring weighty worry.

One thing that I am slow in learning, but growing in just the same, is trusting in the Lord no matter what my outside circumstances – or pending deadlines – look like.  God is always in control, and He has never let me down.  When real life happens, and it does quite frequently at my house, my go-to reaction oftentimes is fear and worry.  Immediately I wonder how we will pay for this, or how this interpersonal relationship will be restored, or how I’m going to break it to my kids that we are having Tortilla Casserole for dinner (their moans can be heard all over Portland).  I confess, I don’t always run to Jesus and His promises.  This is real life, and this is where rubber meets the road and we either act on what we say we believe or we let worry and fear monopolize our lives and drive us to despair.

We get to choose.  Trust in the Lord or freak out.

More and more I’m choosing trust.  Because there is no return for worry.  But there’s always a great blessing in trust.  God takes care of the real life stuff.  He provides.  He heals and restores.  And he gives grace to moms who have run out of creative dinner choices.  Trust brings hope and peace.  Worry brings fine lines and wrinkles.  I can’t afford Botox, so I think trust is a better way for me to go.

And here’s what Jesus says, His promise to us:

Matthew 6:25-34

“Therefore, I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear.  Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes?  Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.  Are you not much more valuable than they?  Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?  And why do you worry about clothes?  See how the lilies of the field grow.  They do not labor or spin.  Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.  If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?  So do not worry saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’  For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.  But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.  Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.  Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

DSC04798

Trust in real life means God is in control of the practical things too, and freaking out is a waste of time and energy.  And Lord knows, I need all the energy I can get.

Posted in Faith, Grace, Life, Ministry, Motherhood | No Comments »

Remove Your Veil

Jun 2nd, 2011 by Amy

“We all, with unveiled faces, are reflecting the glory of the Lord and are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory; this is from the Lord who is the Spirit.” 2 Corinthians 3:18

Recently my friends and I were discussing this scripture.  Each one of us expressing its impact on our lives and our varying perspectives on it.  Our conversation inspired and challenged me to dig a little deeper.

The veil in this scripture is not an actual veil – Paul is speaking figuratively.  What he is referring to is the mind of the unbelieving Jew who lives with impaired vision and understanding.  They are hard, unreceptive, stonelike.  There is a resistance to the truth of Yeshua.  In the time of Moses the presence of God was hidden behind a veil.  And the unbelieving Jew still lives behind that veil.

The writer of the Jewish New Testament Commentary cites the use of “Adonai” in this text – which is not in this text, but what he believes to be Paul’s sense – means “Spirit”.  He goes on to write:

Where the Spirit of Adonai is, there is freedom to function within the framework of Torah without being enslaved by it.  And thus all of us, not just Paul and his co-workers, but all believers, with faces unveiled, with open hearts, not stonelike but sincere and unclouded, see as in a mirror the glory of Adonai, and we are being changed into his very image, from one degree of glory to the next, by Adonai the Spirit.  This is how the Spirit “gives life”.

This excites me.  When Jesus Christ came, so did the fulfillment of the law.  Where once we had to enter into the presence of God hidden behind a veil, we can now enter his presence with unveiled faces.  When Christ died the veil in the Temple was torn in two.  The significance of that amazes me.  There are no barriers to entering the presence of God.  And it is the Holy Spirit that brings this revelation.  It is the Spirit that removes the veil from our faces and brings clarity and understanding.

I was driving to meet some friends for dinner this past week and happened to look over at the car next to me as we stood still at a red light.  The woman driving the car was a Muslim.  Her face was almost completely hidden behind her head covering.  In fact, her veil was so prominent that I couldn’t even make out the shape of her profile.  Every part of her face, except for the eyes, was covered.  I thought of this scripture.  I thought of how many of us walk around blind and covered up to the truth of Jesus Christ.  We are driving through life, believing in the restrictions and distortions of false hope and religion, our hearts hardened to the truth.  We have yet to see clearly.

“Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face.  Now in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.” 1 Corinthians 13:12

Even as the veil drops, we have yet to see fully the magnificence of God.  On earth we can only comprehend so much…we can only see in part, but one day we will see everything.  “But when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears.” (vs. 10) What we have now is an imperfect awareness of God’s glory, but when Christ returns the imperfection will disappear, and perfection will be fully known.

I wish I could have encouraged the woman in the car next to me that she doesn’t need a veil to enter into God’s presence.  The veil was removed when Christ died for her sins.  But I didn’t get the opportunity to share this with her.  The light eventually turned green, and we drove our separate ways.

I hope and pray that you will see clearly, that if you have been wearing a veil out of fear or stubborn rebellion you would allow the Holy Spirit to soften your heart to the truth.  You don’t have to live bound up behind a veil.  You can have freedom.  You can have life.  You can know Jesus.  You can remove your veil.

Posted in Faith, Ministry | No Comments »

Royalty

Apr 29th, 2011 by Amy

The feeling of anticipation was palpable.  Prince Charles was coming to Kenya.  I was barely a teenager then, but I remember it well: the buzz, the excitement, the “I wonder if I’ll catch a brief glimpse of royalty?” type feelings.  So it was not surprising when my dad came home for dinner with a royal story that still brings a smile to my face.

Errands needed to be run.  On a day when the long-awaited Prince Charles was scheduled to arrive, running errands in Nairobi – which in and of itself is a daunting task – proved to be torturous.  As my dad, and fellow missionary, made their way to the final stretch home, crowds of students, mothers, fathers, business men and curious bystanders began to fill the small marketplace and spill into the street.  There was no penetrating this human wall waiting for the Prince.  And then my dad had a brilliant idea.  He told his friend to crawl into the back seat of his Peugeot, crack the window and start waving when when he began to toot his horn.  With darkened windows, and a freshly washed car, they hoped to convince the crowd that somebody special was driving through.  As my dad turned the corner and began blasting his horn, the missionary in the back seat started waving in very royal-like fashion.  The crowd parted like the Red Sea.  An eruption of praise and excitement rippled through the street – people jumping, singing and rejoicing – as two missionaries drove down Mumias Road.

I have been sitting in my living room watching the footage of the royal nuptials of Prince William and Kate Middleton this morning.  I have gasped with awe, smiled in romantic approval and shed a slight tear at the regality of it all.  What an incredible moment as a young woman – a simple commoner – becomes a Princess – becomes royalty.

When I was a very young girl I sat on my mom’s lap and asked Jesus to come into my life and be my Savior.  In that moment, years ago, I went from being a simple commoner to significant royalty.

In my ugly blue robe and mess of bed-head, I am a princess.  My title is not an earthly one, but an eternal one.

I am royalty.  And so are you!  Smile like you know it, walk like you mean it.  Toot your horn and wave like crazy.  You are no longer a commoner.  You belong to the King!

Posted in Africa, Faith | 1 Comment »

In The Beginning

Mar 24th, 2011 by Amy

Adam and Eve.  Theirs was truly a life to be envied.  Can you imagine walking and talking with God in the cool of the day?  Can you imagine the lushness and beauty of the Garden of Eden?  What must it have been like to be fully exposed, naked, and unashamed?  Their relationship with God and each other was one of perfection.  Can you imagine?  It was a perfect world.

And then sin entered the picture.  Truth was distorted.  Deceit and empty promises enticed.  Eve chose first and Adam followed.  And what was pure and perfect, lovely and whole, became shrouded in shame and disgrace.

The first thing they noticed once their eyes were opened was their nakedness.  They scrambled to cover themselves up – to cover up their shame, to hide and withdraw.  Sad.  This wasn’t what God intended, but in his love he gave them the freedom to choose.  And they chose.

When God found them – he is a God who pursues – he noticed their efforts to clothe themselves.  He was disappointed and, dare I say, heartbroken.  The freedom to be bare and completely known was gone.  There were severe consequences for these actions, and we are still dealing with them today.  And yet, even as God brought firm discipline to Adam and Eve for their disobedience, he extended grace.  God made garments for them, out of skin, and clothed them.  He knew the curse of sin that now entered the world, and he knew the shame that they would carry as a result of their sin, and so out of love he graciously clothed them and covered up their shame.

We have stuff.  We have pain.  We carry around our ugliness, our insecurities and our pasts – each one of us.  But most of us are pretty good and hiding behind our fig leaves.  We cover up our shame through good deeds, nice clothes, success, and lots of Bible knowledge.  We are terrified to let anyone see our nakedness.  But God sees.  He knows.  He longs, not to hide our sin, but to cover our sin with his grace.  While he isn’t in the business of making animal print pencil skirts and blouses, he is in the business of restoring and covering our sin with his perfect love and undeserved grace.  When Christ died on the cross he did so in order to bring this story of redemption full circle.  He covered Adam and Eve’s physical nakedness in the Garden, but now we are covered completely in his blood.

This is good.  Shame and confusion, hiding and fear, are the things that initially drove Adam and Eve away from God.  God pursued and exposed, and then he clothed them.  He is doing the same thing today.  He gives us freedom to choose.  He gives us room to make the unwise choice, but he also guarantees that his love is big enough, strong enough, and complete enough to gently expose our shame, and then cover us with His grace.

Posted in Faith, Grace, Ministry | No Comments »

« Newer Posts - Older Posts »