multitudes on monday ~ march eighteenth

these are my gifts,

not that i want,

those i already have

given by the Giver of all

216.  Mr. Turkey on the side of the road

217.  lunch with a sister to get caught up and hear how God is working in and through us

218.  pastoral visits filled with White Shoulders

219.  first digging of the new Spring

220.  the smell and feel of dirt

221.  da baby at the beach in her chair

222.  celebrations of a godly life

223.  days working in the yard

224.  weeds or a glimpse of spring

225.  sharing a steak sandwhich on the road

226.  trees beginning to bloom

227.  Ephesians 4.25 lived out

228.  words that “shout” to a sister

229.  a boy soaring like an eagle

230.  love in a proud mama’s eyes

231.  knowing Philippians 4.13 is true

232.  dinner fresh from the farm

233.  grieving together as the family of God

234.  a sister checking in because I have been too quiet

235.  the boy spending his day with his three girls

236.  praying for little ones at the altar

237.  exuberant youth in church

238.  realizing as full as this ama’s heart can get, there is still more love to give

239.  sharing the chocolate kind of kisses last thing at night

240.  resurrection breaking into Lent

Multitudes on Mondays

these are my gifts,

not that i want,

those i already have

given by the Giver of all

184.  baby cows playing tag

185.  buffalo along the interstate

186.  funny audio texts

187.  daffodils on the road

188.  horses wearing jackets

189.  people from the past breaking into the present

190.  a safe place to just breathe

191.  gathering with colleagues for worship

192.  my silly puppy’s happy noise when mommy and daddy both come home

193.  making the choice for community rather than isolation

194.  the continual reminder that it is harder to love than to walk away sometimes and knowing that loving is the greater gift in the end

195.  that this broken me is a beloved child of God who is loved even when I am a hot mess

196.  remembering that sometimes being tired is just about being tired

197.  spiritual midwives and words that flowtalking about them

198.  da baby running

199.  cuddling with my puppy on a Sunday afternoon

200.  crawling back into bed after exercising and hearing the rain outside

201.  homework again

202.  Grit & Grace

203.  parables about prodigals

204.  thinking I am getting to go to bed early because of the time change

205.  sharing the joy of da baby’s walking with folks on the journey

206.  teddy bears for those who need them

207.  good news about a loved one’s daddy

208.  a hero commenting on my blog

209.  becoming part of an art tribe

210.  losing time watching birdies play outside

211.  the realization that the gifts are endless

212.  1 Corinthians 10.13

213.  seeing my words as I read the psalms

214.  planning for holy week

215.  spring blooms

multitudes on monday ~ march fourth

These are my gifts,

Not that I want,

Those I already have

Given by the Giver of all

161.  a whole lot of cheese

162.  meeting lots of new people who believe in children

163.  fresh raspberries in the winter

164.  organizing cabinets

165.  help remembering that I am healthy

166.  silly puppies who greet me at the door when I am sad

167.  warrior princess on wheels

168.  (in)spired studios

169.  questions that encourage new priorities

170.  brave words that remind me I am brave too

171.  phone calls from a sister at just the right moment

172.  words pouring out so fast they fly

173.  watching the birds feasting on holly berries and racing the wind

174.  tracks in the snow

175.  kintsugi

176.  birdies checking out new feeders

177.  small snows

178.  tidal waves

179.  manicures

180.  field trips to explore new directions

181.  novels that make my heart smile

182.  balcony people

183.  these words:  “If God seems distant or uncommunicative these days, maybe you’re simply not listening. God doesn’t shout: God’s first language is silence. Maybe in your prayers you are doing too much talking and not enough listening.”  – Br. Geoffrey Tristram

Multitudes on (Monday) Tuesday ~ February twenty sixth

here are my gifts,

not that i want,

those i already have

given by the Giver of all

141.  da baby giggling on the phone when Ama says “funny”

142.  hearing someone say, “love” rather than give up

143.  seeing art find its way home

144.  mending with other women

145.  brave words being heard

146.  soup suppers

147.  finding treasures

148.  opening doors and letting God lead

149.  owies that lead to a dream

150.   almond macaroons

151.  twenty seven minutes and fourteen seconds on skype

152.  doc visits that feel like visiting home

153.  yellow flowers in unexpected places

154.  coffee shop hugs

155.  independent baby girl

156.  birds beginning to nest

157.  making bread

158.  watching twins remember Sunday School with grandma

159.  Psalm 51

160.  being unmasked

multitudes on monday ~ february eighteenth

here are my gifts,

not that i want

but those i already have

given by the Giver of all

121. modern day heroes

122. this outside my window

123. blueberry pancakes

124. my last prayer with a beloved reminding them they are dust

125. imposing ashes with clergy colleagues in a coffee shop 

126. a sister's hands on my shoulders in prayer when i have no words

127. burning palms with one who "gets it"

128. da baby's first day of school

129. transforming a space into a holy place

130. heading into the desert with Jesus

131. connecting those who have gifts with those who need them

132. re-remembering i need not "copy" someone to be an artist

133. learning new tricks

134. Lent Madness

135. my first ever attempt at spreecast

136. blankets fresh out of the dryer

137. remembering it is about true love 

138. unexpected lunch plans

139. words that help me remember why i do what i do

140. reality checks that stretch in the best of ways

joy dare ~ feb 4

81.  more robins than I can count in the yard
82.  visions that become ministry
83.  snow!

84.  packing art supplies for a trip!
85. words that remind me i have gifts
86.  new bracelets
87.  this sky

88.  these words:   "To forgive is to love despite being sinned against...Love is a work of God in the human soul that compels one to give oneself for another, regardless of the cost, so that the other might love God more deeply." Robert Cheong 

89.  prayers answered so far out of left field you know they are from God

90.  da baby going to school!
91.  walking with other brave women
92.  brother bowl
93.  love chapters
94.  red beans and rice
95.  the reminder that all things are new
96.  the Mr.
97.  snow days

98.  Joshua Brayden beast remembering the snow 

99.  God sized dreams

100. retreating!

multitudes on monday

here are my gifts,

not that i want,

those i already have,

given by the giver of all...

61.  this inside...

62. a full day of nothing but art

63. brave words

64. calls to pray

65. sunny drives on a winter day

66. checking in with a sister

67. embellishments

 68. being with the wider church

69.  beds that are a foretaste of heaven

70.  having to many invitations for June

71.  seeing story tellers moving into the next chapter

72.  river views

73.  re-remembering how small the church is

74.  being filled to be sent again

75.  banner processions

76.  hearing Words that are new again

77.  pimento cheese made in love  (thank you KS)

78.  marching during Sunday School sing alongs 

79.  seeing a sister excited about being organized...in a Christmas morning kind of way

80.  citrus vanilla bought to free others

joy dare for january 21st

Here are my gifts...

not those i want,

 those i have,

given by the giver of all.

41. cuddling with Joshua Brayden beast while catching up on Downton Abbey.

42. chicken noodle soup and sprite brought by da bear.

43. women who say yes.

44.  rain on the roof of the church.

45. cleaning Holy space.

46. being back in the studio.

47. waiting for snowmagedon.

48. a great deal on buttons.

49. the explosion of fresh oranges on my tongue.

50. a sister who helps me find silliness in "stuff."

51. security for the boy and his family (so proud of him).

52. encouragement for using my voice.

53. red and gold going to the Big Easy.

54. doors.

55. becoming brave again after making brave girl cards.

56. unexpected packages that contain the reminder of community!

57. blooms two years in a row on a plant i normally kill.

58. holy glances.

59. remembering i can wait until i am ready.

60. Word(s) that feed me...always.

The gift of community....

Today is the DAY!!!!!

Registration for (in)RL 2013 is live!

(in)RL was born out of two years spent listening to women in the comments at (in)courage craving local, real life community. Derived from the social media acronym “IRL” or “in real life,” (in)RL is an invitation to share what we’ve learned about community and encourage women with stories and suggestions for connecting deeper in real life.

   Think of it as a FREE girl’s weekend away that doesn’t require packing or plane tickets, where women can kick off any expectation of perfect, set aside their fears, their shyness, their worry that they’re not good enough, and find some of Jesus’ words of rest woven into every video shared here.

Here are a few reasons you might want to register:

  Everyone who registers on the day registration opens (Monday Jan 14) gets a copy of our (in)courage 365 Daybrightener while supplies last (US residents only).

  Everyone gets a copy of our first eBook: “Best of the Beach House 2012.”

The webcast kicks off on Friday, April 26th and local meetups are on Saturday, April 27th.

The focus this year will be looking closer at what it takes to stay rooted in community when sometimes just walking away would be so much easier and tons more convenient.  

 Women share stories of how they've chosen to stay through hard marriages, challenging parenting, worthwhile friendships. How choosing to stay has freed them more fully and unexpectedly than if they'd cut and run.

Still not sure?

Watch this:

Have questions?  Be in touch with me or go to the (in)courage website.

Watch for details for a meetup right in your own community!

So go here now and register!  

speaking of gifts, here are mine:

those gifts i already have,

given by the giver of all...

21.  baby burros, llamas, and goats on a drive

22.  hearing God in the midst of the prayers of a sister

23.  untying knots

24.  holy meals after long meetings

25.  laughing over lunch

26.  finding one who was lost

27.  hiding under the covers with a cold

28.  seeing "that" movie and agreeing with the hype

29.  Greek food

30.  "a car full of Christian women"

31.  growing deeper with one another

32.  encouraging words in unexpected places

33.  hearing people i love say they are proud of me

34.  baptism practice

35.  the "real" baptism

36.  balcony people

37.  seeing tears as words of truth and hope are spoken

38.  Isaiah 43.1...really...really...knowing it IS true

39.  being together again for Java Jesus after too long of a break

40.  my "tribe" helping carry me through the waters as they rise and the fire when it burns

multitudes on monday ~ november 26th

here is my list of gifts,

not that i want,

those i already have,

given by the giver of all

380 seeing the boy become a husband

381 being told someone wants to know me because she loves my laugh

382 four generations gathered in prayer

383 dancing

384 being imperfect

385  Saturday breakfasts

386 shopping local

387 unexpected church

388 taking a real holiday

389 getting lost in the studio

390 the Psalms on a hard day

391 phone calls just when i need them

392 feeling peace fall down like a blanket

393 knowing others are loving community

394 new leaders

395 anticipating Advent

396 finishing a series and really, really loving it

397 knowing that background i "had" to do was for a specific purpose

398 hot baths on achy nights

399 middle of the night time with Abba when sleep won't come

multitudes on monday ~ november nineteenth

this is my list of gifts

not that i want,

those i already have,

given by the giver of all

400  a daddy's voices as he talks with a boy missed

401 birthday dinners prepared with love

402 long days in the studio to play

403 "aw" pics

404 da baby taking steps

405 seeing da baby take steps and da mama in tears

406 learning two of my fav artists will be an hour away in april

407 a la comita

408 phase four of a school funded

409 clergy shirts that are heavenly

410 connecting over lunch with one who speaks the same language

411 speaking the truth even when my voice shakes

412 driving to the wrong city

413 hearing my sister's voice 

414 birthday blessings

415 kind words affirming a big risk

416 prayer answered in a way that is obvious and immediate

417 talking sharks with a sweet boy

418 the smell of a wood fire

419 knowing God has this