Repent and Believe in the Gospel

This past Wednesday we were told:  Repent and believe in the gospel. We see this word again, and again in the scriptures…REPENT.

I think in most seasons of Lent I focus on the first part: In my humanity I am sinful, I am broken, I am not what I need to be. 

I do this so much:

This past Wednesday, I had the awesome opportunity to preach, and it was a good message…..yet by the time I got home I only focused on what I did not say, what I did not do, what I could have done……so when Dan asked me how it went, I was like….it was ok.

When I did not pass DCOM this year.  I thought this is not what I need to be doing, I tried to imagine myself doing other things….so that I did not have to face them again.

When I work out now, I only think of the things that I used to be able to do that I can no longer do.

I don’t need to be reminded by the ashes on my forehead that I am human, that I am broken, that I can be so much more. I do that to myself so easily.  It is my nature.

Then Wednesday night I got an email.  It was a kind message from a church member saying that God used me to speak straight to her.  She was not planning on attending Ash Wednesday but found herself in the pew.    The words that she said were kind and uplifting, but more importantly, it reminded me that God uses broken people to heal the world, to bring light where there is darkness. I did not say everything I wanted to say,  in being open to the Holy Spirit, I was able to speak to her heart.

My DCOM meeting this past year has only given me the total assurance and conviction that I am called to this work.  

I can't run a 5K anymore, but I can move.  So, I need to start moving.

Repent, and believe in the gospel…To believe in the gospel to me means to fully 100% believe that God does love me, all of me- the good and the bad.

Today I wanted to tell you:

you are broken, AND you are loved.

You are sinful, AND you are loved.

You might have been told NO, but you ARE loved.

You might not be doing all you want to do today AND you are loved.

Yes, let the ashes lead you this lent, but don’t get lost in them.  Remember that you are created from the dust from the image of God.  I can only image how intense the love it that God has for us.  I hope to live into THAT this lent…..let the ashes lead you toward the light.

14 years!!!!

Marriage is the greatest thing that I have ever embarked on.  We have had many wonderful times over the years.   

We have moved to our first home (and soon our 2nd), we have had two wonderful healthy boys, we have witnessed many friends getting married and having kids, developed relationships that are priceless. 

 We have also had our lows: 3 miscarriages, Dan in ICU and recovery from bacterial meningitis, and many more...............

But it all started at a little party in Nacogdoches, TX.  (Ax Em')

I meet this cute boy June 3,1997. 

He was playing volleyball (in green guess shorts). We then started small talk, had a few dates. It was not long before I knew this boy was something special. 


I will be the first to say that he is not the guy that I had in my head that I would fall in love with. 
In High School:
I liked: band, theater, church camps, church choir, mission trips, loved 'alternative music ,' and hung out at Deep Ellem on the weekends....He liked: soccer, sports, hunting, fishing, soccer, sports, hunting and fishing...Yet, when we met as 'almost adults' we clicked. We have always had a natural chemistry.  If fact after our first date I wrote in my journal, "I found the man I want to marry....not sure I am ready for this...." (6/03/1997)

like the acid washed jeans?

1990's selfie....

We still click. BUT----Now 14 years of marriage and 17 years together we have to work harder at clicking. I am not saying that I don't like him as much as I did when we first started dating, in fact, I love him more. 

But, I can easily not pay as much attention to him. I find myself focusing on our kids, my friends, the TV, school, work, my phone....and less time gazing in his eyes. This is the man that can calm me down faster than any other person. He can also drive me crazy faster than another person in the world. 

Why? Because he is my husband. He is always with me. He always has his feet firmly planted on the ground, when my head is typical up in the clouds. This works. It keeps us thinking of the future and dreaming, while reality is still a  part of the vision.
I am so grateful that we keep working to click. 

Mr. I love you so! Happy 14th anniversary!!

P.S. Despite the pictures below...we were not 12 years old when we said YES!