#letsbeprayers

So here's the little prayer journal project I've been working on!

When I first started this little endeavor, I was trying to make a 365-page journal for myself for 2016... Now I'm praying this project helps many of us sustain a habit of processing life's blessings and struggles through the lens of His love, power, and nearness - for God's Glory and our joy!

Once I realized there was a real journal-praying interest, I knew my google-docs creation just wouldn't cut it, so I reached out to my friend Sarah Faucette. Here's what she had to say about it:

I've been working with @joyseeds on a really special project! She's created an amazing guided prayer journal that I am helping design. I "tested" out a few of the pages and it has already done my heart so much good! #letsbeprayers - @Native State Design Co.

Yay, God!

Here are some links if you want to know more:

joyseeds shop • mailing list • tumblr • #letsbeprayers on insta & fb ♥

Legacy Collective

Be doers of the word and not hearers only... (James1:22)

Legacy Collective was started by Brandon & Jen Hatmaker - some serious impact in the neediest of places! ♥

Three Strands

These ladies' hearts are beautiful & inspiring! So thankful I got to meet them at Christy Wright's Business Boutique in Nashville last weekend!!

The founder, Stacy Coleman, (pictured on the left in the Founder image) is a mom by adoption, and after her son's birth-mom put him in her arms & life, she went away empty, while Stacy went away with the baby. 

The birth-mom left the hospital empty-handed via public transportation.. Stacy determined then that it wasn't okay and has founded Three Strands as a way of taking care of birth-moms!!

To top it all off- when I met them last weekend, I was saying hello at their booth & the lady running it (pictured far right in the image on the left) asked if I had any personal connection with adoption - I casually said, "mmm, only through friends who have adopted..." Then my eyes filled completely with tears and I almost choked & said - "Wait - I wasn't thinking! - My sister is adopted from within our family!"

I don't always think of her birth-mom, but I bet she always thinks of Kayla. 

Jesus, do what you alone can do - restore us and let us be restorers with you! 

(Thanks for reading - Especially if adoption is near to you too, check out how this awesome group is committed to serving birth-moms!)

((first posted on FB))

Listening

Sometimes to lean into prayer I write out what I think God might be saying to me in a situation.

No "God said" claim here- just some heart thoughts as I tried to listen & trust Him before Clubs in the City yesterday.

You're here because I want you here, not need you here. The weight is on me. It's always on me. I'm the hero of the story and will remain the hero. I'm not asking you to save the day or carry the whole load. I am asking you to point to me, lean on me, and allow me to be your source- of inspiration, wisdom, and joy. I would love for you be my hands and feet and voice of love to these girls. You are a light in dark places and can help create safe places of nurture and peace, of growth and positive change. I'm glad you're here. Be not afraid. Lean into me and enjoy! <3

busy goodness...

maybe this space has been quiet lately, but I have not been.

honestly, it's been a little too busy in this heart and life, but I'm so thankful for all of it. especially thankful to finally have a quiet sunday to think and reflect and share....

our trip home Memorial Day weekend was LOVELY.
short and sweet and lovely. we got some precious family time as well as some sunny sunny beach time.

sharing meals and evenings with friends has been the absolute sweetest. I adore summer-mode. and I'm so thankful for this community we've found.

recent photog sessions woven into this busy life. some of my faves.

finishing up the semester with Saturday Clubs.  What.A.JOY. An exhausting, glorious joy. In January we prepared and prayed that girls would come. week one we had three girls. lovely and eager they came. by this tenth meeting we had thirteen regularly attending girls. new, lively, precious characters to our story. a tale that would be more bland and lack much purpose without them. they are our children, not that they just became ours, but only that we've just discovered their hearts and lives and have only just begun to let them intertwine with ours. thank you, Jesus, for these dear ones. may we love them well. as your children and our own.

finishing the school year with these gems is a blessing. they're all going places non-PreK, so I cherish this season all the more!

it might be a busy life. I might be exhausted. but I'm thankful beyond measure for all this busy-goodness. 

Clubs in the City

Favorite moments from Saturday at Clubs. ♥

dreaming.out.loud...

so much need all around. so.much.need.

kids without parents, people without homes, beggars at stop-lights, and maybe the one that hits my heart the hardest - kids in bad situations - situations of abuse, neglect, and despair...

I know a little guy who lives in a fog.

And I fear it's for the worst reasons.

I don't know, but I fear there's not a lot of good at home. I fear there's not only an absence of good, but very much a presence of bad. Nearing five years old, survival and protection seem to be his most near-the-surface responses to life.

So, apart from this situation, I've been working on praying aloud. (working on it as of yesterday.) Not writing, not letting thoughts bounce around the walls of my mind, but actually speaking - thanking, asking, pouring out my heart. Writing and 'thinking' prayers are more favorable to me, but maybe only because I forgot there's power in our words -especially spoken words, especially truth+love-filled words to a God who is capable and caring. So today I spoke up. I confessed and thanked and poured out my heart and even asked for a few things. One of the things I asked for was intervention for this little guy. And I'll keep asking for wisdom and discernement and opportunities to impact the situation.

my thoughts have been reeling since...
adoption is a thing.
mentoring is a thing.
what about some kind of family-partnering?

What if we adopted whole families? families that are hurting. families with secrets. families with junk that no one knows how to deal with. What if we partnered with, helped, and supported them? What if we treated them like family, or better. What if we really loved them and helped them get the help they need?

Maybe we could shed light on some terrible situations. Maybe it would be overwhelming and scary, but maybe we would find broken people with the capacity to love and change. Maybe we could save a childhood or two.

((I don't have any idea how or actual capacity to make this happen. I'm dreaming, using my words... asking that God in his goodness would guide and help me help others.))

finished wells.

Remember this- Claire's campaign?

Well, here they are. Finished and serving over 300!

Pretty neat that the funds raised not only covered one well, but part of a second in Malawi!

Also pretty sweet to see the plaque honoring sweet Mary! ♥

Photography that matters...

I recently came across Lisa Kristine photography...

She takes pictures that matter. 

...to illuminate the world of modern-day slavery. incredible.


This talk by her is also incredible. She tells the stories of those she's photographed who are enslaved.

...inspiration that rivals the best of olympic athletes in my book.

adopting Nicky

The Rogersons' adoption story...

Steadily, God has been shaping Carson and Jill’s hearts for this moment. Jill’s parents adopted her baby brother when she was ten. It was an example of our God’s redemptive nature. When she was in college, she worked at an HIV orphanage in Africa for three months. Since marrying five years ago, they have together brewed and groaned over adoption blogs and RR’s site. God warmed Carson’s heart as he began to visualize adopting a special needs orphan. The Holy Spirit ministered to them both through other adoptive families and through learning what the Bible says about God’s heart for orphans. The conversations were intermittently paused while they had three biological girls in 2008, 2009, and 2010! 

And now — a couple of college degrees and relocations later, Carson and Jill are jumping off the cliff to make “Nicky Z” their son. It is finally time. They believe that “Nicky Z” is wonderfully made just the way he is. Carson and Jill imagine their three little girls ages four and under drawing him out of the effects of institutionalization and into robust toddlerhood in due time. They have faith that God will pave the way to bring “Nicky” home. We covet your prayers and support. {source}

Follow & Support Jill & Carson

the haircut

Sister decided to chop it!

She donated 12 inches to Locks of Love!
♥

Character

(summer 2010 with little D)

The best movie I saw this year was The Help.

My favorite character in the movie was the reporter/ writer/ liberator who used her skills and assets for the good of the oppressed.

She was not trying to be a saint. She was not trying to be heard. She was not trying to make a name for herself.

She was a listener, a lover, a friend, and a catalyst for freedom.

She spoke up for those who had no voice.

She spent her time on behalf of the poor and oppressed.

And though it was not without opposition, critiscism, or great sacrifice, she leveraged all she had to do something that mattered.

(source of inspiration:: Along for the Ride: Journaling the Journey
I chose prompt 5. ♥)

Lewis Hine exhibit...

Jeremy and I squeezed in another quick museum visit this week - the NC Museum of History... The whole place was great, but this exhibit got to me...

Photographer Lewis Hine used photography to "spark social change" by documenting the exploitation of child workers.

I find it both admirable and inspiring that he used his camera for such an important purpose.

Hine's notes for this image: 

Boy with coat in hand is 11 years old. Been there 9 months. Started at 50 cents a day. Now gets 60 cents. Loray Mill. "When I sweeps double space I gets 90 cents a day, but it makes you work." (Look at the boy.) Two 'infants' appeared at the door, and vanished back immediately on seeing me.
Location: Gastonia, Gaston County
Date: November 1908

intro text

"His images struck a cord with the American public, building support for stronger child labor laws."

Well done, Sir.
So impressed.
♥

online reading...

There's some good stuff out there...

a few things I've found enjoyable & beneficial recently...

Love146's love story. Do read this if you have a minute.

I can't tell you how many times I've read it and cried.

What to do with this sorrow? How can I respond? 

(I did send in two images for the 146 Poems of Love project... but my heart is not satisfied... I'm still thinking and praying for more ways to take action.)

Danielle's Take Heart blog: Series of guest posts on adoption (Sept.5-10)

& now her one sweet love adoption fundraiser-giveaway.

Jessi's  FREE monthly home goodness. You can download the goods for free: a September calendar printable, week plan page, aaand a 1Peter2:9 print. Soo lovely!

Truly, I recommend Naptime Diaries all together. Shocker. I know. :)

Robin's marriage post: just... breathe... [at incourage.me]

Bob Goff's tweets: I basically love everything this guy writes. It's full of hope & life & truth. 

He has a book in the works I think. Looking forward to that one.

And I've got to thank Kara [at just1step.com] for the inspiration for this post. 

She's my blogland-Raleigh-friend that I'm hoping to get to know in real life. :)

{her link loves}

Happy reading!

Any favorites to share?

Still time to Love 146...

  

I've been wanting to prepare a submission for this project by Amber Morris, and with all the transition, I just haven't done it yet....

BUT, there's still time!!

Poem or Photography submissions are due via email on or before September 30th. 

Wanna submit one with me??

Check out Amber's post about the project:

Once Upon a Time: 146Poems: "I am very excited to invite you to participate in a special book project: 146 Poems of Love. It is a project inspired by the organization ..."  

Claire's Catalyst post...

Remember Claire's Clean Water blog?

Well, she's been asked by Catalyst bloggers to revamp her legacy-leaver post for their blog!

Pretty awesome stuff... Check it out here. ♥

Jewelry for a reason...

Super fun having Steph home for a little while!

And a lot of fun having a party to sell the jewelry that supports the ministry she & Jen do in Thailand.....

A few pics from the party....♥

the hostess with the mostess ;)

Mom's smart idea...

The best part is, they raised $1000 for BTN, just with the two jewelry parties she had during her visit home!!

...dollars for BTN translates to discipled leaders, protected girls, and orphan care (in the works)!

Compassion Doers...

Be doers of the word, and not hearers only... (James 1:22)

This is the real deal...

These laborers are DOing... not just thinking about, or being inspired by someone else's story (although they probably were at some time).

They have gotten off the couch, or out of the office, away from their homes and comforts and have decided to act and work and hug and see and do.

And I am completely awed, inspired, and praying God, keep making me a doer too!

Teach My People, Summer 2007 {{more}}

When you have a few minutes, do read some of these stories...

I kinda hope you have tears as thick as mine while reading their accounts of their trip to the Phillippines with Compassion International...

(Then come back and let me know and maybe we can talk about some things we can do together!) ♥

Emily @ Chatting at the Sky... 
I read Day 3... (I'd say it was as good of a place to start as any!)

Kat @Inspired to Action... 
I started with The Power of Being Known (plus I've read some other excellent posts by her along the way!)

and Keely @ keelymariescott.com... 
She's a photographer, ya'll... oh my. If you only have time for one: Please, go check out those pictures!!

((There are more people blogging with Compassion [on the same trip] but I didn't have alllll day, so you'll have to go check them out if you want to find more Doers from the trip!))

Freedom Readers, June 2010 {{more}}

And if you're so inclined, do go pray for [or SPONSOR] one of these precious ones through Compassion.

**The pics in this post are of times when I felt like I was really DOing, being the gospel, and loving [little ones] like I'm called to do.

Keep me DOing, Lord. Let me not be stagnant or content to stand-by, inspired, but still. Put me to work. Here I am, Send me. (Why does it scare me to say that out loud!? Maybe because I know how hard this work can be.) Little ones are not easy. (neither are big ones) But they're worth it. They're worth every bead of sweat, every tear. So here I am, trusting in His Good plans and purposes (Jer.29:11)! Help my unbelief. Pick me!

I linked this up with Casey for What's on Your Heart Friday link-up... 

{{Link to Comments.}}

What are you doing to protect your marriage?

Somewhere along the way I started email-following Michael Hyatt's blog.

I don't know too much about him, but that he has a healthy marriage and is chairman of Thomas Nelson Publishers.

This post caught my attention last week...

It's short, to the point, and very beneficial...

This is a crazy world, and while we need not live in fear, we must be equipped and on guard from the enemy's schemes!! (Ephesians 6:10-12).

All this is hitting especially close to home as I've just learned about a dear friend with two precious little ones who's losing her husband.

My heart breaks for them.

The devil is cunning. None of us are immune or invincible to his schemes. Lord, build us up in your armor and protection that we might not fall prey. Please bless this family and bring reconciliation, peace, hope, healing. Fight with and for them. Bring them your victory for your glory...

{{The link again for MH's post.}}

You're invited...

Tuesday night we're having a jewelry party to benefit Bridge the Nations...

[This is the ministry Steph has been working with in Thailand for the last two years!]

If you live in this town and you're interested in supporting this ministry, you should definitely let me know so I can tell you when & where to be!!

(And even if you don't live here but want to check out the jewelry, here's a PDF of the catalogue! -minus prices)

<3