Faith is the substance of things hoped for...
...the evidence of things not yet seen.
And so we keep moving forward.
Small Is The New Big
(I took this via Instagram, about a month ago...a sweet church out in the country, here in East TN)
I love small church buildings, when they hint of history and good, simple, sturdy architecture. So much more beautiful than these huge monoliths I call "airport churches"...you know...when signs hang from the ceilings directing you down which wing is what terminal...I mean destination...I mean classroom or bathroom you need. As though you should never absolutely have to ask a person.
I got such great news this week! In fact, the news is so good, I dare not share it until all details are properly tended. But can I just hint?
Over. The. Dang. Top.
I hope to be able to share soon!
Kairos Time, When It's Difficult
I've heard many definitions for "Kairos" time...that Greek word for the sort of time that is held suspended as a "time between times"...moments when the veil between earth and heaven is very, very thin. Some actually call these moments "portals" in time. Some experience Kairos as the ability to be completely absorbed in the creative...absorbed, and time doesn't feel like ordinary Chronos "tick tock of the clock" time, but is transcended into something otherworldly.
I've experienced breathlessly beautiful Kairos moments...and God-kissed days...stunning in their loveliness, and brevity.
And I have had a huge, whole day of Kairos time, today. It has been a Kairos day, and it felt stressful and painful and peaceful and prayerful.
Painful and stressful, but the heavens were opened in a special way...I could feel myself praying into the future. Leaning into the pain of today, transforming it into prophetic prayer. I take a huge risk with a very small liberty, but I tell you this, for sure: There are those times - those Kairos times, when access to heaven is instant and effective. Sometimes they are achingly beautiful, sometimes they come at a price.
My definition of Kairos is exactly this: a moment or day when past, present, and future collide. A moment or day that has all the elements of past, present, and even prophetic whispers of the future, all wrapped up and colliding into one moment, one event, or the sequence of events in a day. My daughters' weddings were very Kairos. Time seemed to suspend itself, and my heart heard their giggle as small girls, beheld the beauty of them as brides, and saw the faintest hints of the smiles of grandchildren not even conceived yet. All of it beautifully collided. Kairos.
But sometimes Kairos feels like spiritual warfare.
That was today.
As I was in the spirit today...gratefully, completely submerged in bathwater and Holy Spirit, I was praying over our situation, praying into the future - which is what you do in a kairos moment, when past, present, and future collide and the veil between them all is so thin. The Lord very clearly whispered to me:
"I make beautiful things. It's all I know. It's what I do. All this? All the pain? Look at it this way, Beautiful One" (...yes, He called me that...) "Close one eye, and let the other see through the lens of faith...."
"There's your life. There's your son's life. ...it's there in my Collide-oscope. When it all crashes together, the pieces seem to fall apart, past, present and future churning in full view, know this: I'm at work in the collision, making art of your life. Turn your perspective around and around, and breathe into the future all the hope and grace and glory you've come to know. Lean into the pain, and pray into the pain. The picture will keep changing,as you turn and turn and turn your perspective - adjusting it to look like grace. The eye of faith - my Collide-oscope - will rearrange it all until it is as beautiful as anything you've ever seen or could have created all by yourself. I'm here. I am with you. I am very near."
He knows what He is making, here in my home. He makes beautiful things out of the darnedest things.
Life, here at The Cottage? My family? We are the darnedest. We really are.
I've experienced breathlessly beautiful Kairos moments...and God-kissed days...stunning in their loveliness, and brevity.
And I have had a huge, whole day of Kairos time, today. It has been a Kairos day, and it felt stressful and painful and peaceful and prayerful.
Painful and stressful, but the heavens were opened in a special way...I could feel myself praying into the future. Leaning into the pain of today, transforming it into prophetic prayer. I take a huge risk with a very small liberty, but I tell you this, for sure: There are those times - those Kairos times, when access to heaven is instant and effective. Sometimes they are achingly beautiful, sometimes they come at a price.
My definition of Kairos is exactly this: a moment or day when past, present, and future collide. A moment or day that has all the elements of past, present, and even prophetic whispers of the future, all wrapped up and colliding into one moment, one event, or the sequence of events in a day. My daughters' weddings were very Kairos. Time seemed to suspend itself, and my heart heard their giggle as small girls, beheld the beauty of them as brides, and saw the faintest hints of the smiles of grandchildren not even conceived yet. All of it beautifully collided. Kairos.
But sometimes Kairos feels like spiritual warfare.
That was today.
As I was in the spirit today...gratefully, completely submerged in bathwater and Holy Spirit, I was praying over our situation, praying into the future - which is what you do in a kairos moment, when past, present, and future collide and the veil between them all is so thin. The Lord very clearly whispered to me:
"I make beautiful things. It's all I know. It's what I do. All this? All the pain? Look at it this way, Beautiful One" (...yes, He called me that...) "Close one eye, and let the other see through the lens of faith...."
He knows what He is making, here in my home. He makes beautiful things out of the darnedest things.
Life, here at The Cottage? My family? We are the darnedest. We really are.
Grandmothering...
Me and Little Britches (last winter)
Have I ever told you that being a grandmother is just about life's greatest pleasure? Especially when you get to be the "Mimi" who belongs to "Poppy", and share the great joy and responsibility of grand-parenting together. Tim and I are totally diggin' the role of grandparents.
We are nearing the official countdown...our granddaughter will make her appearance towards the end of July, and you know I will assault bless you with many pictures!
Can't wait!
Can't wait!
When Children Are Grown...
That's my Preacher, up there, on the right. That's me on the left. We're fixin' to fly...together...
I realize this is "The Boomerang Generation" - the generation of grown children who, usually through no fault of their own, end up leaving home only to return. The Preacher and I are living that story ourselves right now. So are several other families in our church, and people I know all over this country - they, too, have grown children who have returned home for a season.
This is happening in our generation, right now, in numbers that rival The Great Depression. And my son-in-law has a Master's degree...and works two jobs...no slackers here! (Well, the nineteen year old is sometimes another story...)
I say make the most of it. The grown children living with us are a delight. I say if your grown children are anything but a delight, politely ask them to live elsewhere. Assist them in finding a rental with another couple in their same situation (if they are married) or with a young friend.
Point is...when children are grown...it is your time now. Reconvene. Reconnect. Recharge. Make the very most of it, whether your nest is full of boomerang children, or as empty as can be. After all, both scenarios come with their pros and cons. It will be your perspective and your focus and your choices that make it "your time now".
So go on, love-butterflies. Fly. It's a beautiful day to be together!
(Psssst...this print will be available in the shop!)
Inspiration
I slipped the surly bonds of house and chores today. I escaped. I went on a hunt for beauty and inspiration, and this is what I captured for us ~
I might could have shot this in my own back yard...but hunting and shooting on Rich Mountain road in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park was way funner.
I'm pretty sure this will become a 12x12 print, and go up in the shop.
I might could have shot this in my own back yard...but hunting and shooting on Rich Mountain road in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park was way funner.
I'm pretty sure this will become a 12x12 print, and go up in the shop.
My Tribe of Creative Women
I belong to a powerful tribe of creative women. Some are outside my church, most are in my church. But we try to make time to be creative together, to learn from each other, and support one another in any and all creative endeavors.
Some are creative in Children's Ministry, others in Worship Ministry, some are singers, some songwriters, musicians of all stripes...I have young women friends who are gifted dancers, budding professional photographers, and others who are so geared towards the scientific that they dissect mice on their kitchen table...for relaxation and fun. (Yes, a young friend of mine is majoring in forensic pathology at MTSU, and she dissects things when she is feeling inspired. Do not picture an awkward, geekish girl. This girl is stunningly, model-beautiful, with a great personality! And I have found the perfect gift for her, though I won't say what that is, here...)
....other of my women friends are gifted in gardening and sewing and frying chicken (my ambition is to be a "Miss Mary" someday), some wield a mean crochet needle, others can knit you a car cozy in an afternoon....some are budding entrepreneurs (if you would like to start your own business, email my good friend Maria Kear, and she can help you get started doing what she does), some create through cooking and baking, others turn out beautiful blogs (I have to admit, I have encouraged several to begin their own blog - and they've done it!) some of my women friends simply create tranquil, happy grace-filled home atmospheres that draw their children, husband, and friends happily back to their home over and over and over again.
Creativity is vital to our emotional well being.
I belong to a powerful tribe of passionately creative women.
This is part of a small gift that one of my Creative Women Friends gave me yesterday..a tiled canvas, with my business logo on it, propped on an easel, and a beautifully fragranced body scrub (left of the tiny easel). There was also a painter's apron with my logo beautifully placed on the front. She hand made each gift. It was the most welcome and pleasant surprise. I took it as a word from the Lord, that I should keep pressing onward and upward with my own creative endeavors.
Some are creative in Children's Ministry, others in Worship Ministry, some are singers, some songwriters, musicians of all stripes...I have young women friends who are gifted dancers, budding professional photographers, and others who are so geared towards the scientific that they dissect mice on their kitchen table...for relaxation and fun. (Yes, a young friend of mine is majoring in forensic pathology at MTSU, and she dissects things when she is feeling inspired. Do not picture an awkward, geekish girl. This girl is stunningly, model-beautiful, with a great personality! And I have found the perfect gift for her, though I won't say what that is, here...)
....other of my women friends are gifted in gardening and sewing and frying chicken (my ambition is to be a "Miss Mary" someday), some wield a mean crochet needle, others can knit you a car cozy in an afternoon....some are budding entrepreneurs (if you would like to start your own business, email my good friend Maria Kear, and she can help you get started doing what she does), some create through cooking and baking, others turn out beautiful blogs (I have to admit, I have encouraged several to begin their own blog - and they've done it!) some of my women friends simply create tranquil, happy grace-filled home atmospheres that draw their children, husband, and friends happily back to their home over and over and over again.
Creativity is vital to our emotional well being.
I belong to a powerful tribe of passionately creative women.
This is part of a small gift that one of my Creative Women Friends gave me yesterday..a tiled canvas, with my business logo on it, propped on an easel, and a beautifully fragranced body scrub (left of the tiny easel). There was also a painter's apron with my logo beautifully placed on the front. She hand made each gift. It was the most welcome and pleasant surprise. I took it as a word from the Lord, that I should keep pressing onward and upward with my own creative endeavors.
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