IN YOUR FACEbook

I love Facebook.

I love viewing baby pictures and honor roll awards and wedding reception photos.  I love seeing job promotions, praises about God's provision in the life of another, and updates about people for whom I care.

I hate, however, how I feel sometimes after a stint on Facebook.  Not just because some of my more politically charged friends can offend others faster than a speeding bullet (although that is disheartening).  It is because I am envious.

I envy the perfect life of those on Facebook.

I am thrilled your kids has gotten straight A's since conception.  Mine haven't.

I am pleased that you have lost a million pounds and don't struggle to eat bread every day.  I can't say that.

I am excited that you have a great church home with no drama and a thriving ministry.  I don't.

I am glad that you LOVE cleaning house.  Not me.

I am glad that you can see friends from high school without shuttering at the poor choices you made back then.  I can't.

I am glad you get invited to tons of soirees with friends in exotic locations.  We don't.

I am glad your spouse makes bazillions of dollars working part-time and still has time to coach all the Little League teams for all 12 of your offspring.  Mine doesn't.

We are normal.  We are broken.  We are imperfect.  We make mistakes all the time.  We need Jesus.  In a BIG way.

I once heard someone use these films terms to drive home a point, "Never compare your 'dailies' to the 'highlight reels' of others".

I need to remember that.  Maybe you do, too...

Amberly

Help Wanted

My husband is actively looking for a job.

Since moving to Prescott, he has been busy building beds for our new house, unloading boxes, registering the kids for school, holding down the fort while I work more hours in a week than I thought possible, made meals, provided tons of support through my job change (and missing my friends, and gaining weight, and...), served as the carpool master, and pretty much been a rock star.

He has applied for many jobs, but to date, none have recognized what an incredible guy he is.

We have always moved to a new place because of a call on his life, but this is the first time MY ministry has lead to a move.  (Please hear me, I know ministry involves both parties, but you know what I mean.)

We have spent a lot of time praying for God to provide a job.

We have spent more time worrying about it, though.  At least I have.

It has been hard for me not to micromanage the situation.  It has been a good exercise for me to trust God's timing and my husband's abilities long enough to stop fretting.

My fretting is blocking my ability to lean on Him alone.  Somehow, I think worrying about it is my contribution to the situation.  I can laugh about it as I type this, but I am just being honest.

I. WANT. MY. HUSBAND. TO. FIND. A. JOB.

A job that feeds his soul.  A job that helps with the bills.  A job that employs his gifts.  A job that reminds him of his purpose.  A job that provides a great community (like I have at work).

Psalm 62:1 reminds me that the Psalmist needed to trust in God despite his circumstances. "My soul is at rest in God alone.  My salvation comes from Him."

God has got this.  My back.  My husband's back.  Our salvation (both literally and figuratively) comes from Him.

I needed to write this post.  I needed the reminder.  Maybe you did, too.

Blessings!

Amberly


 

The Road Less Traveled

Don't let the title fool you - I am not ABOUT to wax poetic.

Due to training for a triathlon, I have been riding a bike.  Not the Huffy 10-speed that I rode as an early teen, but a serious (what was I THINKING) road bike.  The kind that you shift.  The kind that you need to wear shoes that clip into the pedals.  The kind that you need the most unflattering yet expensive shorts you have ever purchased.  The kind that increases your prayer life because you are CERTAIN a crash is in your future.

I have learned a lot about the roads in my neighborhood.

The same roads that I drive everyday with no thought of an incline have proven to be MUCH more difficult on the bike.

In a car, one cannot possibly understand the gravity of poor paving, small shoulders of the road, and hills like one can as a bike rider.  Or a walker for that matter.  Sometimes, when jogging, I am shocked at how different the same road is when I am on my bike.

One cannot truly judge a road from the car.

One can also not judge another's life from a "drive-by" glance of their Facebook post, a quick "ride" through their past, or even a "trip" through the behavior of their children.

I am so thankful for the people in my life who have loved me enough to get out of their cars and off of their bikes long enough to walk alongside me and make my journey more joyful.

I am a better traveler because of them.

I hope I am a blessing in their journeys as well.

Journey on!

Amberly

It has been a year.  A YEAR since my last post.  Ridiculous!  Outrageous!  

The last year has been a whirlwind; like everyone else's life, the last twelve months have been filled with elation, frustration, disappointment, excitement, joy, tears, change, and stagnation.

The last year has brought about a job change, a move to a new state, saying goodbye to old friends, saying hello to new ones, painting two houses, selling one of them, new schools for the kids, unemployment for my husband, a graduation, weight loss and gain, and a whole lot of God's faithfulness.

He is the only true constant.  God is the only component of my life that stays the same, loves me through my changes, and does not add stress.  He is the only one that gives more than He asks.  I KNOW these things to be true, but I do not always LIVE them...

Why is He the last place I go to for comfort sometimes?
Why do I trust in the arms of my husband or a plate of food more than Him sometimes? 
Why do I look for my value in the performance of my kids or the number on the scale rather than His perception of me?

I don't know.  But what I DO know is that He loves me anyway and wants me to grow.

Psalm 16:5  "Lord, you alone are my portion and my cup; you make my lot secure."
Let me unpack that for a moment:

Lord - who He is
You alone - that which sets Him apart from all other things in my life
are - whether I am practicing it, He is
my portion - all that I need right now
and - wait, there's more!
my cup - all I will ever need
You make - He is capable of everything
my lot - my future hope
secure - safe and protected


Isn't that an awesome promise?

God never skips a year or month or week or day or hour or minute or second or millisecond to be faithful.

As far as I have come, I still have a lot to learn...about God and about being a blogger.

Want to join me in my journey?

Amberly 

ARBORing Bitterness

At camp, I met a gentleman who, when not spending time with 10-year-old campers, is a professional arborist, a tree specialist.


I asked for some advice on planting trees in our front yard.  He discouraged me from one I had originally planned, saying that such foliage is prone to "boring."  Stupidly, I thought to myself, "they are beautiful; there is nothing boring about them.  Sensing my confusion, he explained that boring is when beetles dig into a tree and cause damage, often when a tree is under stress.


I asked how one might alleviate the chances of a beetle attack.  He said to keep the tree healthy - provide plenty of water, avoid physical damage including freezing, and discourage transplanting.  Also, owners should inspect the tree often for sawdust remnants and green frass (excrement) which are signs that beetles have made their way into the tree.


Such beetles can be undetected for a long time due to the fact that they are most active in the internal wood of a tree.


I could not help but see the parallel.  When are we most likely to sin?  When under stress, we leave ourselves "open" for Satan to attack our hearts and integrity.  Such unhealthy choices can go undetected by others, but it does not mean we are healthy.  There are signs of damage, but only God can do a restorative work in us.


When trees suffer from "boring", if the damage is too great, the three must be cut down in order to protect the other trees in a yard.  Fortunately for us, God's healing does not include a hatchet!


Are you hungry?  Angry? Lonely? Tired?  Are you under stress?  Are you giving Satan the opportunity to get the upper hand in your attitude?  Your circumstances?  Your life?


Don't be bored.  Literally. 


Grow in His grace and sink your roots deep in His love,


Amberly

Crown Molding

My family has been watching a television series on Netflix.  The series, albeit wrought with cheesy lines, computer-generated characters, and silliness, delights everyone in our house.  It is called "Merlin" and is loosely based on the characters of Camelot.


At this point in our viewing, Morgana, the ward of King Uther Pendragon, has plans to destroy Camelot.  The king is completely oblivious to this fact and we have had to endure her bad acting and TONS of episodes that pointed to her guilt, but the king seems not to notice.


It has been driving me crazy.  The king turns a blind eye to her evil, probably because she is his daughter (a plot twist we discover in season three).  He is inactive and weak because of his love for this woman and her charm.  It is not fair and frankly, painful.  DOES HE NOT SEE?


I feel this way sometimes in the world.  Political and church leaders who are lazy, corrupt, and deceiving others make me crazy.  Why?  Because they are permitted to continue to keep their position.  In some cases, they are promoted to higher positions despite their blatant disregard for integrity because they are charming.


The fact is, sometimes I question God.  Why?  Do You not see?   I mean, of course, I know You see.  But why are You so inactive?  Where are the lightening bolts reserved for such rotten people?


Unlike the bumbling king in our series, God is the Almighty King and He DOES see.  And He is NEVER inactive.  His heart does not blind Him, it allows Him to see things perfectly.

Psalm 33:11 "But the plans of the Lord stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations."

The problem is me.  My lack of trust.  My lack of faith in His timing, His justice.


I need to remind myself every day that His grace abounds for me as well... I need to remain His humble servant or I am no better than any other.


Amberly

SURPRISE!

When my dad wanted to surprise us with something big, he would often have us close our eyes, take his hand, and follow him to the gift.  We blindly followed his voice and tug of his hand.


Once we reached the destination, he would ask us to open our eyes.  My dad was a great fan of giving gifts and he relished each response and squeal of delight.


In our house, we have had a rough couple of months.


We lost Scott's mom over the summer.  It was a great shock and blow and frankly, I am still in a bit of denial over how that vibrant, healthy, life-filled woman could be gone.


Then we received word that due to a drop in enrollment at my husband's school, his schedule has been reduced to part-time.  No benefits, no tuition breaks, no nothing.  He is crushed and I am actually hacked off.  I am trying to be the dutiful employee's wife, but I am disappointed BIG TIME.  Not in my husband, but in the situation.


And then it hit me.  God promises: "I know the plans I have for you - plans to give you a hope and a future, plans to prosper you and not to harm you...".  Notice He does not promise that WE will know the plans He has for us; it sounds like  to a giant surprise from Heaven to me. :)


Right now, I feel like we are in the dark a bit regarding our future, but this much I know: if we hold tightly to the hand of our Father, He will lead us where we need to go.


After all, my Heavenly Father is also a great fan of giving gifts....


Amberly