Revving Up for Summer!

Summer is here!  I can't wait to get ready for two new studies that my Small Group & I are embarking on together.  We start June 1st, and I'll be trying to keep this blog current throughout the projects.  Please join us!
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1. Soul-Detox (5-weeks)
This plan has wrecked all my friends who have gone through it (in the best way).  Here is an excerpt about it:

"We are not a body with a soul.  We are a soul with a body.  While the world rightly teaches us to detox our bodies, sometimes we need to detox our soul.  This 35-day plan will help you identify what's chipping away at your soul, & what's getting in the way of you becoming the person who God created you to be.  You will learn from God's Word how you can neutralize these damaging influences & embrace clean living for your soul."

You can find this plan on youversion.com, provided by LifeChurch.tv.
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2. 30-Day Challenge:
This Challenge is owned by one of my awesome High School gals, Rach!  It embodies several components:

1. Physical
-Either Hike or a Brisk Block Walk, Jog, Swim, Cycle, or Trampolining!
-Avoid all caffeinated drinks for 5 days out of every week for 30 days
-Drink 6-8-oz cups of water every day
-Eat 1 veggie & 1 fruit a day

2. Emotional
-Blog 2+ times a week about the experience!
-Do an extra chore 3x a week
-Call someone you haven't talked to in a while in the next 30 days
-Get up at sunrise, pray & do devos 2x in the next 30 days
-Send a friend or family member a letter via snail mail
-Treat yourself to something you love to do but rarely have time for
-Prepare a meal for your housemates 4x in the next 30 days
-Write 4 letters to a pastor or missionary

3. Mental
-Choose 3 to read or listen to:
Case for Christ by Lee Strobel, Crazy Love by Francis Chan, Spiritual Leadership by Oswald Sanders, This Present Darkness by Frank Peretti, Ishban Conspiracy by Randy Alcorn, Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan, Transforming Grace by Jerry Bridges, Ragamuffin Gospel, Knowing God by J.I Packer, Guys are Waffles Girls are Spaghetti, Uncompromising: A Heart Claimed by a Radical Love.
-Choose two of the following: Go a week without TV, Go a week without computer, Listen to only Christian music for a week, Go a week without social media, Have a family/housemates-game night old fashioned style (Board Games galore!)

4. Spiritual
Memorize the following:
-Isaiah 26:4, Deut. 6:5, Micah 6:8, Psalm 46:1-3, Galatians 6:14, James 1:19-20, 1John 5:14, & 1Corinthians 13:4-7
-Read a Proverb a day & 2 on Day 30
-Prayer journal every day
-Start 30 Ways in 30 Days Bible reading on youversion
-Live out your faith by volunteering to help someone in need
-Share your faith

5. Financial
-Treat someone to icecream or another treat
-Tithe 10% talent or income
-Give something away that is in good shape but you no longer have need for
-Memorize Matthew 6:19-21
-Tithe your talents 3x in the next 30 days
-Host a car wash to raise money for a desired cause
-Join an event already available to raise money for a cause.

Disclaimers (:
-Reciting Scripture can be to others or aloud by yourself
-Must be done in 30 Consecutive Days
-Chocolate does not count as caffeine!

Indelible Grace

Indelible (in-del-i-ble) adj:

• making marks that cannot be erased, removed, or the like;
• that cannot be eliminated, forgotten, changed, or the like.

Grace (grace) n:

• a gift freely given; undeserved.

Indelible Grace (in-del-i-ble//grace) adj & n:

• Grace that be neither erased nor removed, not eliminated, forgotten, nor changed.

Gracious Uncertainty: Graduation!

I read this passage from Oz's Utmost for His Highest on the morning of April 29th, the day of Graduation from Pitt!  It is wildly relevant!

Pictured above is myself, Samantha, & Meg on the Union Lawn in front of the Cathedral of Learning--couldn't have asked for a more beautiful day!

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The Graciousness of Uncertainty
 "It doth not yet appear what we shall be." -1John 3:2

Naturally, we are inclined to be so mathematical and calculating that we look upon uncertainty as a bad thing. We imagine that we have to reach some end, but that is not the nature of spiritual life. The nature of spiritual life is that we are certain in our uncertainty, consequently we do not make our nests anywhere. Common sense says--"Well, supposing I were in that condition..." We cannot suppose ourselves in any condition we have never been in.

Certainty is the mark of the common-sense life: gracious uncertainty is the mark of the spiritual life. To be certain of God means that we are uncertain in all our ways, we do not know what a day may bring forth. This is generally said with a sigh of sadness; it should rather be an expression of breathless expectation. We are uncertain of the next step, but we are certain of God. Immediately, we abandon to God, and do the dute that lies nearest, He packs our life with surprises all the time. When we become advocates of a creed, something dies; we do not believe God, we only believe our belief about Him. Jesus said, "Except ye...become as little children." Spiritual life is the life of a child. We are not uncertain of God, but uncertain of what He is going to do next. If we are only certain in our beliefs, we get dignified and severe and have the ban of finality about our views; but when we are rightly related to God, life is full of spontaneous, joyful uncertainty and expectancy.

"Believe also in Me," said Jesus, not--"Believe certain things about Me." Leave the whole thing to Him, it is gloriously uncertain how He will come in, but He will come. Remain loyal to Him.
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PTL!