it isn't what. it is why.

it’s going to be the best 30 days!  The countdown to May 14 is almost upon us and I’m so excited!

1.       Eat an ice cream cone.

2.       Get a pedicure.

3.       Get a massage.

4.       Spend the afternoon in a city w/i the metro you rarely visit. 

5.       Buy a new song on iTunes.

6.       Watch your favorite movie. Again.

7.       Go for a walk with a friend.

8.       Go to a race and cheer on the contestants.

9.       Rearrange a space in your home.

10.   Start a new hobby.

11.   Pick yourself some flowers.

12.   Frame one of your favorite pictures.

13.   Buy yourself some new nail polish.

14.   Sit in the sun and do nothing.

15.   List 30 blessings in your life.

16.   Do a random act of kindness.

17.   Take a picture of something beautiful.

18.   Send a note to someone you appreciate.

19.   Bake your favorite desert and share with friends.

20.   Ask a few friends to share their favorite memory of you.

21.   Get a facial.

22.   Try sushi. Again.

23.   List top 30 things you love about your husband.

24.   Go to a movie by yourself.

25.   Look at old pictures.

26.   Find a body of water. Relax and enjoy it.

27.   Buy yourself a new accessory.

28.   No technology for an entire day.

29.   Visit a new museum.

30.   Write your parents a thank you.

If you’ve been reading along with the Bible reading plan, it’s possible you’ve made your way into the book of Hosea.  If you’re unfamiliar with the book – it’s a marvelous story of redemption, love, and God’s faithfulness.  The book of Hosea parallels the story of a woman’s unfaithfulness to her husband and the people of Israel’s lack of faithfulness to God.  The book is a must read. 

As I was reading Hosea 1 this morning, I came across verse 11.  It says, “In that day you will call your brothers Ammi – ‘My people.’  And you will call your sisters Ruhamah – ‘The ones I love.’”

Students like to make nick names for everything; including their cars, their teachers, or their friends.  In high school, my group of girl friends called ourselves, “Ruhamah.”  Which meant, “The ones I love” from the book of Hosea.  We considered ourselves to be a small group.  We met regularly to hang out, talk about God’s word, and enjoy life together.  These girls were among some of my closest friends and some of the most influential people in my growing faith.  I remember one of my friends telling me years later that it was in that group where she got comfortable with praying out loud.  There is no doubt in my mind that it was in God’s plan for these friends to be in my life during my teenage years to help me make the right decisions, to learn more about God, and to live a life full of love to those around me.  These friends helped make all the hard days of high school seem so much easier.

Last week, Bob spoke about “God, You Want Me to Do What?! – Be in Relationships.”  I cannot imagine my life without having a group of “heart and soul” people around me – helping me navigate through life, especially when a rogue wave hits.  Who are those people in your life and in what ways do they encourage you to grow in your faith?  Are you in a small group?

In January, we’re launching small groups at our Woodbury Campus.  Honestly, I wish we launched them last week.  But here is my challenge to you – if you’re not in a small group, check out our online group finder tool: https://ebc.infellowship.com/GroupSearch.  (We’re still updating our database to reflect Woodbury groups – so if you don’t find anything under our campus, look at other campuses.  While it may say WBL, they could very well be meeting in or around Woodbury and haven’t updated their location yet.)  Here, you can find groups that are full of Married’s, Singles, or our newest groups – Financial Peace University.  There is something available for everyone.

If you’re in a small group, or you didn’t find one interesting to you, I’d encourage you to think about facilitating or leading a new group.  It isn’t as scary as it sounds. Trust me.  We’re here to walk with you every step of the way.  Interested?  Shoot me an email or pick up the phone.  I’d love to talk with you more about the opportunity.

How is God leading you to “Be in Relationships” this week?

I love the changing of seasons.  Lucky for us in Minnesota, we get to experience all four of them.  Some seasons are definitely longer than others, but when you’ve lived in a climate that has summer year round, you begin to miss the simple things like the changing of leaves, the cooler temperatures, and trips to the apple orchard. 

Like the start of a new year, a new season invites us to welcome change into our own lives.  It could mean cleaning and organizing spaces in your home, a new exercise plan, or spending more time with family and friends.  If you’re like me, it’s easy to get caught up in all the things you’d like to change that sometimes God has fallen from spot #1 or even #2 – to place 3, 4, or 10.

We’re promised in Isaiah 40:31, “Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.  They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”

It’s a new season.  Fall is here and the Woodbury Campus is opening in a few short days.  While we’re busy getting back into the swing of a new school year, what if we integrated a change that would put God in the #1, #2, #3 spot in our lives?  Knowing that God will give us the strength to soar as the momentum of the season increases, if we give Him the proper places in our lives. 

As you’re getting your calendar in sync with the events of this fall, consider the priority your assigning.  I’d love for my life to look something like this someday:  God, God, God, Family, Friends, Work, and Everything else.

What do you think? Are you up for changing some disciplines in your life with me?

I absolutely love this:

Come say “Hi.”
I’d love to meet you.

I had been anticipating this conference for months.  I thought and I prayed and I hoped it would be the fresh air I’d been craving.  After a few years of hanging out in the Land Between, I was ready for some fresh life to fill my weary body.  Storyline promised to tell us how we can write a better story for our lives, but what Storyline didn’t let on initially, was that I would realize I was already telling a better story.

The most significant exercise I completed in the brief few days was to chart significant moments in my life.  At my age, they said I’d probably have about 15 defining turns, either positive or negative.  We were instructed to chart it out like a timeline and each length of line should determine the level of significance in our lives.  For instance, when my Uncle Doug died last January, his death was more significant to me than having a horrible college semester as a transfer student.  Therefore, that line was longer.  I still cannot believe how listing a series of events on paper could lead me to discover some themes about my life.  I was speechless with what  it revealed.

Ultimately, I realized I rarely view my life as a big picture.  I break the big picture down into tiny pixels and let circumstances have more weight than what they’re qualified to carry.  I’ve failed to see the incredibly perfect weaving of God’s hand among the positive and negative turns I’ve experienced.  Suddenly, what seemed like a difficult moment in my storyline, resulted in some incredibly positive outcomes shortly thereafter.  It was as if the difficult turns were preparing me for something that was heading in my direction.  

I also realized that a good story is always about love, always about a great risk, and most often involves a great deal of conflict.  Like a good movie, conflict is what makes a good story.  Why would that be any different with the story I’m telling with my life?  Conflict is more like adventure; don’t be surprised by it.  Expect it.  That’s what makes a good story.

This conference, Storyline, made me “realize the amazing story I’ve already lived and it has allowed me to gain perspective that will make the story I’m living even better moving forward.”

Here is a sneak peak of some notes from the conference.

Lastly, Ian Cron, author of the new book,  Jesus, My Father, the CIA, and Me: A Memoir…Of Sorts (I couldn’t put the book down), reminded us this truth:  “Above all, trust in the slow work of God.”  I hope you’ll be inspired to write a better storyline for your own life too.