{Five Minute Friday | First}

It's Five Minute Friday. That means unplanned, unedited, straight-from-the-heart-to-the-paper writing. Yep, you just write whatever comes out based on a word you're given. If you have five minutes, you should give it a try!  Find out how here.

This week the prompt is {FIRST}. 

Ready? 

GO. 

“I have this complaint against you, you don’t love me or each other as you did at first.” That’s the sentence I hear ringing loud and clear in my mind when I think of first. There’s something about what a first represents. There’s significance. Anticipation. Appreciation. Gratitude. Excitement. Those things are built in most of the time. But time ticks on and we forget. We forget those feelings that swell up deep in our gut and make us nearly explode with gratitude.

What if we get back there? What if turn the mundane and routine on it’s head by reconnecting with what makes our firsts special and significant? You know, what if we approached our tired, boring routines with the same amount of anticipation and gratitude as we do those first time moments in our lives.

Yeah. What if we do that.

Especially in our relationships with each other and with the Lord. I heard Dr. John Piper say something last weekend as he spoke at Passion 2016 that landed right smack-dab square in my heart. I’m paraphrasing here, but it went something like this: Our job is not to keep ourselves alive but to keep ourselves in love with Jesus. And, isn’t that the key to everything else we do? Yes. Love Him like we did at first. Then, we can love each other the way we are supposed to love each other. Let Him be first. And then we can approach our tired, boring routines with a fresh eyes and ears and soft hearts. It reframes everything else. And it's what we need. It's where we find strength and joy and hope. It's where we land - His unfailing love - when we think we can't handle another boring, mundane minute. 

Yeah. What if we do that. 

Stop. 

{God Take Me Back in 2016}

The Lord has been reminding me of something this week, and I am so thankful. I appreciate that He graciously and lovingly corrects us when necessary. I am especially grateful for those times He drops something right in front of me and whispers, "Beloved, this is for you." See, there has been ALOT going on. The last half of 2015 was challenging. I sat across from a sweet friend this weekend and she said, "You must feel like you've been through the ringer." And, I do. Mostly because there has been too much noise, too many voices, too many things competing for my attention. That's when He does it. That's when He drops that just for me something right in my lap. I can't ignore it. I can't explain it away. I can't deny it's exactly what I need in that particular moment. This time He used a song. 

I heard the song the Sunday after Thanksgiving at Passion City Church. They were leading it for the first time ever in a worship service. In a moment, one song said everything that needed to be said by me to the Lord. So I sang it prayerfully during that sweet time of worship and tears rolled down my face. He heard and saw. 

Somewhere between the Thanksgiving turkey and the Christmas tree, I forgot about the song.

On New Year's Day I saw something on social media about the release of the new Passion album. It was available! That's new. The album is normally recorded live at Passion Conference and released in March or April. I was so excited! Please Lord, let this album be available on Apple Music so I can download it with my monthly subscription. And, it was. YAY! I immediately added it to my music and started scrolling through the track list. You know where I'm going with this, right? 

Song number five. The title caught my attention. It was weird, ambiguous. Now, it makes perfect sense of course! I tapped the title, and as soon as I heard the first note, the Lord reminded me of that moment in a room of a thousand people where He saw me. And there were tears. Then He reminded me again a few days later when I was chatting with a friend. 

So, it's my prayer focus as I head into the new year. Here it is. Simple Pursuit. One that changes everything. What are you pursuing into 2016? 

Simple Pursuit | Ben Catelon, Matt Redman, Nick Herbert, Sam Bailey | Passion: Salvation's Tide is Rising

© 2016 Ben Cantelon Designee (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing), Bespoke Records (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing), Said And Done Music (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing), sixsteps Music (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing), Thankyou Music (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing), worshiptogether.com songs (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing)

{#RealLife | No. 3}

Happy Monday, sweet friends. Did anyone else have a long week? I did. Sometimes that happens. And I'm here to tell you it's ok. I used to think that it was the opposite of ok. I used to believe that it somehow meant I was bad at doing all the things I have to do, bad at being a wife and mom. Now, I know that's a lie. So go ahead and take five. Go ahead and call your friend for a coffee date. Go ahead and find a quiet place to sit alone. It really is ok to enjoy a little time to yourself. I think it's more than ok. I think it's necessary. That's what I did this weekend in the midst of a long list of things to do and places to go. I sat alone for 45 minutes. Then, I enjoyed a cup of coffee with a special friend. And I was all the better for it. 

You don't always have to be "on." Let that bring some immediate relief and rest. Be encouraged.  

{Favorite Fifteen from 2015}

It has been quite a year. Time passed without worrying whether or not I'd catch my breath as the days raced by. I had moments where life knocked the breath right out of me. Yeah, that happens. I also had moments that made my heart swell to the point of bursting. Lots of times those moments get buried in the busyness of the daily grind. So, when I'm scrolling through my camera roll and I find them, my heart smiles a grateful smile. It just so happens, I was scrolling through my 1000+ snapshots and figured I might share some of those buried gems with you. It's a recap of sorts. Fifteen of my favorite moments from 2015 in pictures. Ready? 

No. 1 - February Snow Days | We had such fun in the snow this year. Julia had her first ride on a sled and made her first snow angel. She loved being in the snow. Every time the garage opened she would head straight outside and fall flat on her back giggling as she wriggled around in the snow. More than once we had a whole family of snow angels in our front yard. The Jones family gained a new appreciation for snow days. 

No. 2 - Worship Leading Weekend | Planning and leading worship for this weekend with these girls put me over the moon. God did special things during this particular ladies retreat. I was in awe, yet again, of Him. 

No. 3 - Wrecked | It was raining when I left for worship band rehearsal that morning. But, it was just rain. Oh, and a little black ice. I hit a patch as I turned off the expressway and promptly bounced into a big truck. My car bounced off the truck and slid up over the median (which was a solid sheet of ice) and into the two lanes of oncoming traffic. The car slid across both lanes into the emergency lane before finally stopping.  And I walked away with only a mild concussion. 

No. 4 - LIFT at Passion City | B. and I really, really appreciate Passion City Church.  We say that Louie and Shelley Giglio are our podcast pastors. When we're in Atlanta, we make it a point to be a part of the gatherings at Passion City. I was ecstatic when the info about LIFT popped up on my Instagram feed. The first snapshot shows the JESUS IS LIFE wall where each light bulb represents a person who has found new life in Christ through Passion City. It was truly a stunning visual of hope! The second snapshot captured the moment David Crowder led "I Saw The Light" during a blackout (which happened during the gathering). I walked away with two basic reminders from these photos. The truth of the Gospel changes lives STILL and worship can happen apart from bright lights and fancy production. Yes, I already knew these things. But, I needed the reminder. True to form, He knows exactly what we need when we need it. 

No. 5 - Growing Up & Moving On | The passing of time means that the kiddos are getting older. Nothing like the end of the school year to remind me of that! William's last year of elementary school was marked with the fifth grade end-of-year music program. His last one. Thankfully, he's taken up cello so there are plenty of orchestra concerts to be seen. Maddie ended the year with eighth grade crossover. She's a freshman. So far, the year has been full of firsts. Finals. Homecomings. Football games. Varsity sports. It's good. 

No. 6 - Jones Family Magic | Disney World. There is something magical about experiencing something with fresh eyes. Julia brings that to our family. She's three and there are eleven years between her and her biggest sister. Watching her see and experience things for the first time stirs something in each of us. It helps us recall things that we otherwise might have forgotten. Our day at Disney World was pure magic. Wide eyes. Big smiles. Belly laughs. I do not, however, under any circumstance recommend sitting through a time share preview to get discount tickets. Just. Don't. 

No. 7 - My Best Yes | I quit cleaning toilets and said goodbye to my clients in July 2015 so that I could say my "best yes" to my family. My clients were wonderful and the money was decent, but the tradeoff was too high. I was exhausted. Spent. Here's the thing: When something takes so much that it leaves little for the people who matter most, an adjustment is in order. For me, that was walking away. So, here's to leisurely walks in the park, counting (and catching) grasshoppers and butterflies. Dirty laundry. Dirty dishes. My own dirty toilets to clean. Cooking dinner. Carpool. Finger painting. And, play dough. 

No. 8 - My Story, His Story | I used to be very protective of & private about my story. A certain amount of vulnerability is inevitable when standing in front of a group and talking about yourself. Vulnerability is uncomfortable. And, then there’s this need for control. I tell the story; but, I can’t determine how it lands with people. But this time was different. This story is His because my life is His. My story is meant to paint a picture of God’s relentless love,  unfathomable grace, and the enduring hope that comes from surrendering my life to Him.

No. 9 - 30 Pounds Down | It was hard. I cried. I complained. I ached. But, I did it. And, I'm not finished yet. 

No. 10 - Pumpkin Pickin' | The pumpkin patch is all kinds of fun and a sweet, easy family tradition. We missed a couple of  years at the pumpkin patch when we moved to our new house and celebrated Julia's arrival just a few weeks later. This year we made it! The bigger the kiddos, the bigger the pumpkins picked! 

No. 11 - Brian shares his story | I love B. to the moon. And back. A million times. I was overwhelmed as I listened to him describe his journey to knowing Jesus. He spoke with ease and conviction and wisdom. It was a beautiful thing. 

No. 12 - Rest in the Georgia Mountains | I haven't said much about my November trip to the Georgia mountains. Let me just say that when I left I had no doubt that God knew exactly where I was and exactly what I needed. Of course, He does. He graciously and sweetly reminded me. I think He loves to do that for us. 

No. 13 - Worship Leading Siblings | This was one of my most favorite moments leading worship. My little brother has shown courage and tenacity in pursuing the things God has called him to. He's taught me God can do things beyond your expectations when you obey Him. I'm proud of my brother and love him so. I can't put it into words really. This was a top five moment for me. I am so grateful we got to do this. I look forward to the next time.  

No. 14 - Just Beachy | We went to the beach. In November. Oh, the perks of having a brother and sister-in-love who live in coastal Georgia! This was not a big deal, just a walk on the beach, collecting shells and fistfuls of sand. Even though the kiddos promised to stay dry, they were all wet by the time we made it back to the car. 

No. 15 - Bringin' Back Family Game Night | Just last week Jules and I played a little Go Fish. That was big fun! I hardly expected her to hang with me, but she did. You know what that means? It means we can bring back family game night without worrying that she'll sit on the game board or run off with all the pieces. She can participate! For real! We've already had big fun playing Zingo, Busytown, Chutes & Ladders, Candyland, and even LIFE. It's big fun!

Happy New Year, sweet friends! I hope as you celebrate the new year and reflect on 2015 there are plenty of moments that rise to the top and make your heart smile a grateful smile. 

{Favorite Books in 2015}

Ah, the smell of a new book. For me, there's a great appreciation for a real-life, hard-copy, hold-in-your-hand book. Confession: I ALWAYS flip the book open, hold it right under my nose, and fan through the pages while taking the deepest breath possible! I like the smell of new books (and sharpies, but that's another matter)!  I also appreciate all the eTools that mean I can easily take my books with me. Thank you iBooks, Kindle App, and Audible. Another confession: Sometimes I have an eCopy and a real-life copy. 

Reading is so good for our brains. It makes us smarter, stimulates our imaginations, helps aide memory function, and even eases tension. It's exercise for the brain and food for the soul. Good stuff. 

Here are a few of my favorites from 2015. *I earn a small commission from these links.

1. The Comeback: It's Not Too Late and You're Never Too Far by Louie Giglio | This book is special. I'm staring at the blinking cursor trying to form the right words. Let's just do it this way. The book is . . . real, raw, inspiring, encouraging, and challenging. I laughed. I cried. I read and re-read. Louie Giglio has to be one of the most gifted communicators on the planet. Even more than that, each time I hear him give a talk, his love for Jesus is evident. It's no different when he puts pen to paper and writes one of the most important books I've read in a long while. It's a message of hope, for sure. But it's not a message that encourages a shallow hope based on circumstances. Sometimes, life comes at you with gut-punch and it's easy to lose your footing. This book reminds us of the hope and grace that is found in the truth of The Gospel, in Jesus. That hope is never out of reach.  It's a game changer. For real. 

2. The Carpenter: A Story about the Greatest Success Strategies of All  by Jon Gordon | My husband gave me this book. And, I loved it. The characters are relatable and the story teaches simple yet powerful truths. This one is about building things the right way. All of your endeavors and all your relationships are sure to benefit from the takeaways in this book. This one reminds us that perspective shapes outcome and we have the power to choose our perspective. Short. Simple. Impactful. Read it.

3. Jesus Is ____________ : Find a New Way to be Human by Judah Smith | The way you fill in the blank matters. This book gets to the heart of the matter. "Jesus is the sum and substance of the Gospel." It's funny, to the point, and engaging. Judah Smith has a brilliant way with words and his storytelling is magic! This book speaks to the fundamental, foundational truth that there's nothing I can do to earn salvation or to earn God's love. Nothing. That takes the pressure off, doesn't? If you need the reminder, pick this book up. 

4. The Devil in Pew Number Seven by Rebecca Nichols Alonzo, Bob DeMoss | I could not put this book down.  The story of this minister and his family and the terror they walked through cuts straight to the heart. It's a real-life, true story of pain and persecution at the hands of cold-hearted, broken people.  But the book offers so much more than just a riveting true story. Alonzo bravely gives us a peek into her heart as she walks us through the process of healing and forgiveness. It paints the beautiful picture of the sustaining love of God, of which we could all use the reminder. 

5. The Best Yes: Making Wise Decisions in the Midst of Endless Demands by Lysa TerKeurst | This book came at a crucial time for me. The title really says all that needs to be said; but, TerKeurst masterfully walks us through the process of learning how to say no and when to say yes. Every people pleaser needs this book. This book was part of the process of my learning that not everything or everyone is allowed to claim space in my heart and mind. The book is engaging, insightful, and funny.  It will be well worth the time spent reading it. 

There you have it. My top five books from 2015. These books left a deep impression. Something changed in me because I read them. How about you? Do any of these jump off the page begging you to read them? What books did you read in 2015 that proved to be important for you?