Dear you

It may look like it comes easy, but it doesn't.  Some days, knowing what to share with you and what to keep inside, reveal some uncertain areas for me.  I have a tendency to just spill my spiritual guts but also selfishly I don't want to open up to you.

Until that one person says...."I love what you are doing on your blog."  That was so kind of you to say...random lady on the street corner.

Honestly, it's not what I am doing with this blog.  It's more importantly what God is doing with this.    I am just one who sits and lets the words flow through her heart.

It seems I am always writing something uncomfortable or incomplete.  Not good enough.  I understand now this is continuing story.  God's continuing story in me to you.

Dear you...

So why am I writing this today?  I just wanted to say thanks for being faithful to show up here to read my heart today.  Here's a big 'ole heart hug for you.  Guys, you only get one of those side hugs, awkward...I know.

You have been so supportive to read, comment and share.  Well, some of you have.   I remember when I first started this thing.  It was really for no reason than to be heard.  My first post was about my favorite subject...shoes.  But what God has done in the process of this practice is to let His heart be heard.

He has helped my find my writing voice.  It's different.  I just hope it connects with you.

One thing you need to remember today, if nothing else hits you with this, is that you matter to God.  I can remember when I wrote a post about mascara.  It was one of the most impacting posts and life-changing for one reader.  I didn't realize it at the time but when I got a life update from her the other day, wow...has God done a wonder in her life.  That's what happens when you allow God to wander through your heart.  I come away changed every time, and it's what I pray, that His heart that is reflected here.

Will I make some grammar errors?  yes.

Will I make some crazy life analogies?  yes.

Will I reinforce life truths with His Truth?  yes.

That's what I promise to you.  If nothing else I will keep writing because this is my spiritual act of worshiping God with the written word.  I hope you are okay with that reason.  If you believe it's worth it to stick around to see what this is all about then please do so.  We can wander through God's heart together.  But I have to tell you....I am such a slow student it make take a while. And may I be gut level honest with you?  I like lingering around Him....

My heart here is to shine the Light of God's heart.  You're so invited along for the ride.  It's going to be fierce and wild, but hopefully inspiring and warm around those brittle corners.    

Many other bloggers can't say they have a purpose.  Pretty sure I will fail sometimes at purpose too, but you don't want to read perfect, you want to read real.  And if it's authenticity you want then I can promise you that.  

I write about the Real Deal.  I can write about God's real truth dealings with me.  I'll just be over here in the corner, maybe in a nice little purple and daisy-dotted room with a corner view will be just about the right place for me, crunching the keys as I pour my heart out post after post.

Can you please just offer me a little grace for my incompleteness?  

Would I do this if no one read it?  yes.

Can I count you to be here?  If so, please leave a comment letting me know.  I want to get to know you too.

It's from this little heart lens that I see God.  It's from the large lens of truth that I want to share God's heart with you.  It's worth the cost, worth it all.  At least to me, I hope it is to you too.  Thank you for investing your time, I pray my time was spent encouraging you today.

Now....go do something awesomely dreamy-like today.    

"You are imperfect and you are wired for struggle, but you are worthy of love and belonging."
-Brene Brown

All my love,

Janelle, I am a writer.  (There, I said it out loud)

Someone Has a Case of the Mondays

Ever felt like you went through a Monday twice?  Not sure what Monday did to rear it's ugly head, but that day sure gets a bad rap for being the worst day of the week.  Truth is usually Mondays are full of trouble and distress, mostly as a result of the weekend activities that have left us tired, drained, spent.

Trouble and distress are woven into the very fabric of our lives on Mondays and other days too.  The Bible tells me have joy in those Mondays.  I know I should but there are circumstances that block my view of the promised attainable joy.  I like to blame it on Mondays.

Someone once said that God won't give you more than you can handle on a Monday or any other day.  I don't swallow that lie.  I believe He does.  I believe that God allows it on Mondays. God gives us more than we can handle on a Monday or any other day because He wants us to need Him and turn to Him for everything.  If we could handle our problem-filled Mondays then why would we need a Savior?  He also loves to surround us with His presence to fill our trouble-filled days.  

The secret to joy-filled Mondays and more is to live above our circumstances.  That doesn't have to happen just one day a week.  Don't we need that everyday?  The Holy Spirit empowers us to live above the trouble and distress that Mondays bring so that we can experience God's peace in the middle of our Mondays.  Now this secret doesn't remove Monday's complex conundrums, but it sure helps.  And it will help your problem filled Tuesdays too.  

Our world is chocked Monday full of un-awesome days.  That's because we live in a world full sin.  We make mistakes, I know....I make plenty of them.  And when we concentrate on our lack of awesome filled Monday's we fail to see God tapping us on the shoulder asking..."Do you need Me yet?"  But His hands gently move from our shoulders to our chin.  He gracefully lifts our face to  lock eyes with His...and once you get that view....those trouble filled Mondays don't matter.  The troubles still for a moment and help us refocus on what truly does matter.  

It's not what you have lost.

It's not what you have gained.

It's not your loaded up email, twitter and facebook accounts.

It's not your friends.

It's your Savior.

It's his Spirit.  It's Him.

Yes, God I need you on this trouble-filled Wednesday, Friday, Sunday and certainly on Mondays and all days.  Hold on to me.  You know that I have trouble.  Trouble that I can't handle.  Give me Your good cheer, give me your joy as we face this trouble-filled day together.  

John 16:33  These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace.  In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.

Choose Your Own Adventure

I have been doing somethings for the first time...and it seems that I have crammed a lot into this year so far.

As the clock tick tocks...I still have a few things on my "firsts" list BUT I have scratched these off...I have seen at least 5 different waterfalls as I have visited different states.  I love waterfalls.  

Traveling to South Dakota with friends to attend LifeLight.  An awesome experience in the middle of a 200-acre cornfield with a bajillion bands...for free.  I saw my all-time favorite artist in concert...Leeland.  They can sing about garbage and it would be lovely.  I saw some new bands like One Sonic Society and Kari Jobe.  But have seen some others bring their awesomeness to the stage like Skillet, Leeland, and Remedy Drive.  David of Remedy Drive got a haircut and I almost didn't recognize him.  Watch out!

I have danced on stage with Mandisa and I never thought that would actually happen.  I always  imagined myself flat on my face.  That would have been embarrassing for sure.  And I am here to tell you that I survived.  Honestly, I am about as coordinated as a two-legged cow.

I have spent some time perfecting my mini-golf craft and kept a golf journal for each game.  It was a special time with girlfriends.  So is riding 10 hours in a borrowed van.  That time was spent either strengthening friendships or breaking them.  Riding an emu will do the same thing.  I'll let you guess what happened.

I have eaten some different foods like asparagus, gyros, plantains, funnel cakes, fried pies, Palisade peaches, and dark chocolate M & M's.  And there lies the beginnings of a new season of posts coming here...

With reckless abandon I have made more time with God, and have learned so much that when I think of it..it sends both chills up my spine and tears down my cheeks.  Each day I find His mercy.  Each day His grace is made perfect in my weakness.

The most adventurous season of my life is the one where my faith is growing.  it's an adventure of my choosing, one that requires me to guard my heart.  One that I have buckled myself in for the long-haul.  There is no "tuck-and-roll" plan when I get to Nebraska.  I am clinging to Jesus with my whole heart.

I am trying to make the most of every moment, not saving the best for later.

Choosing life in so many ways!  What has been your favorite adventure so far this year?