I remember him sitting next to me in the chairs banks always have with minimal padding to make them seem like they are less uncomfortable than they really are. Handsome with his close cropped hair, red polo shirt, muscular and tan. At the time he was my boyfriend, now he is my husband. He had offered to do something for me that made me uncomfortable but I was boxed into a corner. My dad had co-signed for me when I bought my little SUV and he didn't want to be on the loan anymore. I had my job just a few months, was barely making any money and no bank would loan me the money. More than that my credit was crap. I had a crazy phone bill I was paying on from the past. I am pretty sure I was eating back then mostly because the boy bought the food and I cooked it. So there he was offering to co-sign my car with me. Practically perfect credit, practically perfect boy. Still they didn't want to. My car wasn't really worth anything. He ended up paying the whole thing off. He started sacrificing and taking care of me long before I was his bride. There are some hinky parts to our story. Places we went wrong. God showed up in them. Thats another story for another day.
The reason I share this story to start is to show that love require something from us. Sacrifice. Sitting in uncomfortable chairs, giving up our time, our resources.
I was in the car yesterday listening to a song on the radio that I currently can't find even though I remember song lyrics like gang busters. (bless)
It talked about being a bride of Christ.
I thought of a bride, someone loved, beautiful to her beloved, loved, adored.
Realizing how far from that I felt, I knew I need to do a word study on bride in the Bible.( I am really into word studies lately.) It led me down a little rabbit hole I decided to share.
The first time that bride is used in the Bible is in relation to the story of Dinah.
Genesis 34:12
Ask for me as a great as a bride price and gift as you will, and I will give you whatever you say of me. Only give me this young woman as my wife.
Sounds good right? Let's see.
Maybe you know this story, maybe you don't. Spoiler alert; Doesn't turn out so great for the prince who didn't hold his peace and took what he wanted and then backtracked. I will try to give you a little synopsis and take you on the journey I went on. You can read about it in Genesis 34.
Dinah was longed after by a prince named Shechem. He took her and made her his.
Genesis 34:5 Now Jacob heard that he had defiled his daughter Dinah. But his sons were with his livestock in the field, so Jacob held his peace until they came.
Immediately that stood out to me, that Jacob held his peace. Even though I was already familiar with the story of Dinah and the words bride-price wasn't mentioned until verse 12, I always want to know the context in which its being used. Because context matters.
Jacob held his peace. He has got some righteous anger here, but he is wise enough to wait. To hold his peace until the right time. I started looking up peace as well. Specifically I looked up where the verse is that calls Jesus the Prince of Peace is.
Isaiah 9:6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
This is the only time in the Bible Jesus is called the Prince of Peace.
Peace always interests me. As someone who does a lot of battling of the mind, and lives with the chaos of two little boys. I am always seeking peace. Not a superficial peace, but a true peace that only comes from above. And I think on how my prince is very different than the prince in this story. One pursued lust, and pays a heavy bride price. One he was willing to pay and one he was not. Shechem was willing to get circumcised to keep Dinah as his bride. Once he did that, when he was weak her brothers came and killed him. The prince in my story, the Prince of Peace does so much more. He pursues everlasting life for the bride he loves and paid the heaviest price willingly. In the margins of my bible next to bride price I wrote "my bride price was death."
Born to die, he payed the ultimate bride price for my peace.
Peace is never free it requires sacrifice.
All relationships do. In fact sometimes to achieve peace we have to sacrifice a relationship, or our pride, being right, being apologized to.
I did read some more about the word bride being mentioned in the Bible, stuff I won't share here, gushy stuff about adoration and love. But the bride price of the Prince of Peace was my biggest take away. That he would pay that price for me. It did make me feel loved, adored, and important. Hopefully it sparks something in you today. Teaches you about the sacrificial love of the Lord. The sacrificial love we are called to model day in and out.
Go in peace.
chasing truth always,
Ven
Wednesday, 6 February 2019
Sunday, 28 October 2018
Letting go
Earlier this year I wrote what seems now to be a ridiculous little IG caption of being full to the brim with goodness and adding in one ounce of hard and exploding. About failing to lay either at His feet in price or sacrifice.
Within two months I was full to the brim with worry, with ugly, and I thought if one more thing came I would collapse. Instead of laying down I added those things to what I can now call my backpack of burdens .
Surely I thought what God was teaching was that it was my job to carry this. This sad day. This broken relationship. That broken promise. This hurt person. Another thing I can't fix but can carry. Toss it in the backpack of burdens. Talk to God about, but not lay it down. Just stuff it back in there to reflect on and pray about at leisure.
Hold on so tightly that my joints ache/ached with tension.
Your burden is light Lord?
I believe every word in your book is truth and think those words are ludicrous.
Apart of the bigger picture I'm not supposed to understand this side of heaven.
But something I grapple with often in this year of heavy backpacks, and tear hidden phone calls.
My littlest is currently obsessed with My Lighthouse by Rend Collective and he sings the words "my lighthouse, my lighthouse' and then makes banjo noises no less than 8000 times per day. This exaggeration is only slight.
Anyway, we listen to the song ALOT and so now Youtube thinks I need to hear all kinds of Rend Collective songs. For our purposes; Counting Every Blessing.
I have also been slowing inching my way through One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp.
If you aren't familiar with Ann (Ann like we are besties, gosh) she is one of the great emotive wordsmiths of our time. In this book she counts 1,000 things she is grateful for. Life changed.
A life full of seeing in color for sure.
So I am desperately trying turn my back of burden into my backpack of blessings.
"Counting every blessing, counting every blessings, LETTING GO, and trusting when I cannot see, sure in every season you are good to me. "
Knowing that blessings that I praise for are lighter than the burdens I feel I must slave for. My God came to sets the captives free, why then must I return to a yoke of slavery, a backpack of burdens?
I've spent so much of this year singing worship songs and crying, and desperately reading Psalms and Proverbs. Trying to hold on to the words. Notice I have a problem with holding on?
Instead of holding on to who the words are about:
The blessing-Giver.
The backpack of burdens-taker.
The Great I am.
A big one for me this year; El Roi, the One Who Sees.
He sees my broken parts. In the depths of my despair, He sees. Loves me all the same.
He will redeem this broken year of tear laden phone calls, and bulging backpacks.
His altar is ready for my to lay it down.
To hold on no more.
My husband is alllllways telling me let something or other go. Praise Jesus for a good man whose faith is strong.
Letting it go has never been my strong suit, but the more I see that He sees. It is easier.
The more I see, I start to understand His ludicrous statement of His burden being light.
It has been a good year reminder that the First commandment is the love the Lord your God with all your hear, soul, and strength.
The second commandment is to love your neighbor as yourself.
I am ok at the second and fail often at the second. God has charted this year out in such a way that two is hard and one feels essential (as it always is) and that too friends is a blessing. It's going on the list.
Letting go,
Ven
Matthew 11:30
My yoke is easy, my burden is light.
Follow you by Ben Rector
Within two months I was full to the brim with worry, with ugly, and I thought if one more thing came I would collapse. Instead of laying down I added those things to what I can now call my backpack of burdens .
Surely I thought what God was teaching was that it was my job to carry this. This sad day. This broken relationship. That broken promise. This hurt person. Another thing I can't fix but can carry. Toss it in the backpack of burdens. Talk to God about, but not lay it down. Just stuff it back in there to reflect on and pray about at leisure.
Hold on so tightly that my joints ache/ached with tension.
Your burden is light Lord?
I believe every word in your book is truth and think those words are ludicrous.
Apart of the bigger picture I'm not supposed to understand this side of heaven.
But something I grapple with often in this year of heavy backpacks, and tear hidden phone calls.
My littlest is currently obsessed with My Lighthouse by Rend Collective and he sings the words "my lighthouse, my lighthouse' and then makes banjo noises no less than 8000 times per day. This exaggeration is only slight.
Anyway, we listen to the song ALOT and so now Youtube thinks I need to hear all kinds of Rend Collective songs. For our purposes; Counting Every Blessing.
I have also been slowing inching my way through One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp.
If you aren't familiar with Ann (Ann like we are besties, gosh) she is one of the great emotive wordsmiths of our time. In this book she counts 1,000 things she is grateful for. Life changed.
A life full of seeing in color for sure.
So I am desperately trying turn my back of burden into my backpack of blessings.
"Counting every blessing, counting every blessings, LETTING GO, and trusting when I cannot see, sure in every season you are good to me. "
Knowing that blessings that I praise for are lighter than the burdens I feel I must slave for. My God came to sets the captives free, why then must I return to a yoke of slavery, a backpack of burdens?
I've spent so much of this year singing worship songs and crying, and desperately reading Psalms and Proverbs. Trying to hold on to the words. Notice I have a problem with holding on?
Instead of holding on to who the words are about:
The blessing-Giver.
The backpack of burdens-taker.
The Great I am.
A big one for me this year; El Roi, the One Who Sees.
He sees my broken parts. In the depths of my despair, He sees. Loves me all the same.
He will redeem this broken year of tear laden phone calls, and bulging backpacks.
His altar is ready for my to lay it down.
To hold on no more.
My husband is alllllways telling me let something or other go. Praise Jesus for a good man whose faith is strong.
Letting it go has never been my strong suit, but the more I see that He sees. It is easier.
The more I see, I start to understand His ludicrous statement of His burden being light.
It has been a good year reminder that the First commandment is the love the Lord your God with all your hear, soul, and strength.
The second commandment is to love your neighbor as yourself.
I am ok at the second and fail often at the second. God has charted this year out in such a way that two is hard and one feels essential (as it always is) and that too friends is a blessing. It's going on the list.
Letting go,
Ven
Matthew 11:30
My yoke is easy, my burden is light.
Follow you by Ben Rector
Tuesday, 4 September 2018
Morning is coming.
Lamentations 3:22-23
The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;
His mercies never come to an end;
They are new every morning;
Great is your faithfulness.
Morning is coming.
It's something I tout the day before Easter.
A cliche I've used to show my anticipation for the risen King. After I've failed to live like morning is coming all. Dang. Year.
“Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour. And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, "Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?" that is, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" And some of the bystanders, hearing it, said, "This man is calling Elijah." And one of them at once ran and took a sponge, filled it with sour wine, and put it on a reed and gave it to him to drink. But the others said, "Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to save him." And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up his spirit. And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And the earth shook, and the rocks were split. The tombs also were opened. And many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised, and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many.”
Matthew 27:4-5
How many times have we cried to the Lord why has He forsaken us? Same as our King.
Darkness in our hearts.
Lips puckered.
Longing for a drink.
Darkness in our hearts.
Lips puckered.
Longing for a drink.
Sour wine.
We feel swallowed.
We feel torn in two.
Our world shakes.
“Now after the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men.”
Matthew 28:1-4 ESV
Guys, that morning it was like lightning.
not every morning is lightning.
I think we feel let down in that we expect lightning every time there is darkness.
not every morning is lightning.
I think we feel let down in that we expect lightning every time there is darkness.
y'all first of all the lightning, the earthquake, earth changing thing has already come.
That great morning so long ago.
That great morning so long ago.
So now we are experiencing small mornings.
Small breaks in the clouds.
Small masterpieces.
A wise friend recently said to me, " it is my experience that our lives are made up of lots of little things"
Small mornings y'all;
A text from a sweet friend.
A break in the clouds. ☁️
The right song on the radio. 📻
A peeking sun. 🌤
A day full of rest and remembrance.
A belly laugh.
A rainbow. 🌈
A rainbow. 🌈
A light breeze on a hot day.
John 1:5 the light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it.
Guys, let's not miss the small mornings.
Let's live like Morning is coming.
My word from the Lord this year is HOPE.
Morning has come and that is HOPE.
Morning is coming. That is HOPE. Mercy.
Great is His faithfulness.
To bring us small mornings.
Keep fighting friend.
To bring us small mornings.
Keep fighting friend.
Morning is coming.
Ven
Wednesday, 29 August 2018
Adventure Dayssss
When my first son was younger my husband had days off during the middle of the week. We would go adventure to the park in the summer and to the magic house or coffee houses in the winter.
Now my husband is off on Saturday and Sunday. While I am so thankful to not have to brave every single one of our childrens' friends birthday parties solo, (except a lot of those suckers still fall on a Friday) we miss the opportunity to go out and adventure without the weekend crowds as a family.
So Friday my hubby took off work because he had a live fantasy football draft.
This is how I feel alotttt this time of year^^^^^ I am also thankful he gets to do something he loves. Anyway....so we got to take an adventure day with our little guy while our bigger guy was at school. Notice I didn't say big guy because they are still little, ok? To me they will always be little. No Growing Up! Sorry, not sorry. I have mom problems.
Anyway last Friday was rainy, and we love to adventure into the city and explore. So my hubby looked up kid friendly coffee shops, and we rolled out.
Another of my many goals this year was to hit a bunch of places on the coffee passport with my honey. I got it for him for Christmas this year. I will link it, but it is currently out of stock.
This place we hit was not on the passport, and now I know why.
It was totally cozy, and had lots of fun kiddo stuff, but the coffee was not my jam.
I don't really do milk except in coffee and I prefer an alternative milk.
Which I know most coffee snobs like it black. I can do black, but the coffee has to be exceptional. I had black coffee at Sump Coffee for my birthday last year and it was super good. Because Sump Coffee. Sump Now? (bad mom joke)
Anyway I got an almond milk latte and it tasted sort of like cardboard. Which almond milk lattes tend to do except if you go somewhere awesome. Anyway my jam right now is oat milk lattes which you can find at a couple of exceptional places, one which is really close to me, and on the coffee passport:
I've had it iced and hot. Both ways are delish. In any case here is a photo of my littlest homie there not that long ago.
Then we went to Ikea with this cutie because my husband is obsessed, and we got a 3$ milk frother for our coffee. It's boss. The kid in this pic is boss. My husband is boss. 
We try to adventure with our kids if we can and explore the cool places around where we live. And if we are in the city you can bet that my husband is going to talk me into an IKEA trip.
Stay on the lookout for more tips on places to hang with your kids in STL, drink good coffee, and go on a rainy day.
The Adventurin' Momma,
Ven
Wednesday, 22 August 2018
Swing Life Away...
It has always been this way for me. That when life is hard, when I need some solace, I swing. The world around me moves and my thoughts come into focus. I work through things in my head. Sort out the truth and the lies. Yell at people for pretend so I don't yell at them in real life. Have a hard phone conversation on the swing.
I am a 30 year old woman and the place I sort out my thoughts is the swing on the playset built by my husband, family and friends for my sons in the backyard.
I remember being a teenager in the dead of winter. Snow flurries falling around me kissing the landscape like a mother kisses a sleeping babe. I bundled myself up and went to the place where everything in the world made sense. I went swinging at the park down the street from my house. I walked there to hide away from the world. To figure it out.
I felt cocooned in the symphony of snow.
There was no ground under my feet to hold me to the earth. The air around me whooshing past as I dreamed and planned my future. The cold and my mind as crisp as a sweet golden delicious straight off the tree.
When the world is overwhelming for me, and it often is, I swing.
I mentioned this to some friends in the medical field and neither seem surprised. What have they diagnosed me with, without telling me?
ADD?
I have no idea... but I do know that often the world seems too much for me. So I swing, I pray.
Earlier this week rain was softly making pitter-patter on our skylights right after dusk, and my thoughts wouldn't stop. I went outside. I swung.
I let the drizzle hit my face, and cool my fears while the back and forth motion lulled me into my comfort zone. I talked to my creator.
Back before medication and diagnosis were handed out like candy at a parade, people like me figured out coping mechanisms for when this world was too much. To be clear, I think that medicine and science are a gift from God. I tried some anxiety medication this year, and it reeked havoc on my stomach and it was not right for me. Try different things to see what works for you and your body. In this post I talk about swinging, praying, and mention oils, and music.
Swinging has always been one of my coping mechanisms. I wasn't always aware of it.
What I always have been aware of was this: Most people find me overwhelming.
What people don't know is this; I too find most people overwhelming.
I have always thought I was too much. How how I repeat myself, or am very loud, or try so hard is too much. How when I am comfortable around you I am basically a broadway musical with all the singing and dancing is too much. How large crowds make it hard for me to make eye contact is wrong.
It is not true that I am too much.
The truth is I was not made for this world.
This world is what is too much.
The Lord has shown me that.
That He created me just right.
That He didn't create me for this world.
That just because every day living my life in this world is hard no matter how numerous my blessings (and they are many) was because of me, is a lie.
It is hard because of sin and brokenness.
Sometimes it is hard because of lies from the devil and me overthinking.
Mostly though it is just a reminder that I need the Lord for every breath in this world. We all do.
Sometimes it is just more apparent than other times.
A word He gave me last night was " that I will always be broken in this world, and He will always be what holds me together."
Some days and moments I feel that brokenness more than others.
Always being broken might sound hopeless but always having a Father to hold me together is hopeful. He is hope itself.
Whether I am in swinging in the backyard, the park, in the rain or snow. He is listening. As the weight of the world flies off my shoulders into His arms.
I fight the world by praying. I cope with the world by swinging.
Where do you go for a healthy escape when the world is overwhelming? Who do you go to?
Soundtrack to this blog post is an oldie:
Swing Life Away by Rise Against
Essential oil accompaniment:
Release by Young Living
https://www.youngliving.com/en_US/products/release-essential-oil
Backyard Swingin',
Ven
Stay woke as I share my other coping mechanisms in upcoming days/weeks on the blog.
Swinging is used as therapy for different reasons. Maybe it is right for you.
I am a 30 year old woman and the place I sort out my thoughts is the swing on the playset built by my husband, family and friends for my sons in the backyard.
I remember being a teenager in the dead of winter. Snow flurries falling around me kissing the landscape like a mother kisses a sleeping babe. I bundled myself up and went to the place where everything in the world made sense. I went swinging at the park down the street from my house. I walked there to hide away from the world. To figure it out.
I felt cocooned in the symphony of snow.
There was no ground under my feet to hold me to the earth. The air around me whooshing past as I dreamed and planned my future. The cold and my mind as crisp as a sweet golden delicious straight off the tree.
When the world is overwhelming for me, and it often is, I swing.
I mentioned this to some friends in the medical field and neither seem surprised. What have they diagnosed me with, without telling me?
ADD?
I have no idea... but I do know that often the world seems too much for me. So I swing, I pray.
Earlier this week rain was softly making pitter-patter on our skylights right after dusk, and my thoughts wouldn't stop. I went outside. I swung.
I let the drizzle hit my face, and cool my fears while the back and forth motion lulled me into my comfort zone. I talked to my creator.
Back before medication and diagnosis were handed out like candy at a parade, people like me figured out coping mechanisms for when this world was too much. To be clear, I think that medicine and science are a gift from God. I tried some anxiety medication this year, and it reeked havoc on my stomach and it was not right for me. Try different things to see what works for you and your body. In this post I talk about swinging, praying, and mention oils, and music.
Swinging has always been one of my coping mechanisms. I wasn't always aware of it.
What I always have been aware of was this: Most people find me overwhelming.
What people don't know is this; I too find most people overwhelming.
I have always thought I was too much. How how I repeat myself, or am very loud, or try so hard is too much. How when I am comfortable around you I am basically a broadway musical with all the singing and dancing is too much. How large crowds make it hard for me to make eye contact is wrong.
It is not true that I am too much.
The truth is I was not made for this world.
This world is what is too much.
The Lord has shown me that.
That He created me just right.
That He didn't create me for this world.
That just because every day living my life in this world is hard no matter how numerous my blessings (and they are many) was because of me, is a lie.
It is hard because of sin and brokenness.
Sometimes it is hard because of lies from the devil and me overthinking.
Mostly though it is just a reminder that I need the Lord for every breath in this world. We all do.
Sometimes it is just more apparent than other times.
A word He gave me last night was " that I will always be broken in this world, and He will always be what holds me together."
Some days and moments I feel that brokenness more than others.
Always being broken might sound hopeless but always having a Father to hold me together is hopeful. He is hope itself.
Whether I am in swinging in the backyard, the park, in the rain or snow. He is listening. As the weight of the world flies off my shoulders into His arms.
I fight the world by praying. I cope with the world by swinging.
Where do you go for a healthy escape when the world is overwhelming? Who do you go to?
Soundtrack to this blog post is an oldie:
Swing Life Away by Rise Against
Essential oil accompaniment:
Release by Young Living
https://www.youngliving.com/en_US/products/release-essential-oil
Backyard Swingin',
Ven
Stay woke as I share my other coping mechanisms in upcoming days/weeks on the blog.
Swinging is used as therapy for different reasons. Maybe it is right for you.
Monday, 20 August 2018
FREEDOM IN KNOWING
I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me. John 10:14
"Because He redeems and keeps us, there is no need to fear. This is a covenant relationship we may no fully understand in its mystery, but we can cling to it gratefully as recipients of grace this day."
- Ruth Chou Simons
Galatians 5:1
For freedom Christ has set us free, stand firm and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.
Freedom is the siren's song,
that doesn't dare to say,
it beckons,
waits for me to grasp
it's silent in its' way
for freedom Christ has set us free-
But I have yet to say
that I will answer faithfully
when within the siren's reach
I often whistle Freedom's tune
I often dance with her
but then I put her down again
like a holiday gone too soon
Why do I reach for slavery's yoke?
when Freedom's round the bend
Why do I toil, and bear, and hide
Why do I slave the day
like Freedom's just a holiday?
I think it gives freedom to share the most broken parts of ourselves.
Because He already knows. It is freedom to know His love. To give love out of the outpouring He gives.
If we are treating the love and freedom of the Lord as a sometimes light drizzle on a cloudy day that comes in and out of our life our outpouring will dwindle. If we treat it as the bountiful never ending spring it is, that we are always diving into, we will have plenty to share with others.
Do you know Him and the freedom He brings?
Diving In,
Ven
"Because He redeems and keeps us, there is no need to fear. This is a covenant relationship we may no fully understand in its mystery, but we can cling to it gratefully as recipients of grace this day."
- Ruth Chou Simons
Galatians 5:1
For freedom Christ has set us free, stand firm and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.
Freedom is the siren's song,
that doesn't dare to say,
it beckons,
waits for me to grasp
it's silent in its' way
for freedom Christ has set us free-
But I have yet to say
that I will answer faithfully
when within the siren's reach
I often whistle Freedom's tune
I often dance with her
but then I put her down again
like a holiday gone too soon
Why do I reach for slavery's yoke?
when Freedom's round the bend
Why do I toil, and bear, and hide
Why do I slave the day
like Freedom's just a holiday?
I think it gives freedom to share the most broken parts of ourselves.
Because He already knows. It is freedom to know His love. To give love out of the outpouring He gives.
If we are treating the love and freedom of the Lord as a sometimes light drizzle on a cloudy day that comes in and out of our life our outpouring will dwindle. If we treat it as the bountiful never ending spring it is, that we are always diving into, we will have plenty to share with others.
Do you know Him and the freedom He brings?
Diving In,
Ven
Sunday, 12 August 2018
Taking Back Slow Sundays
I am on a mission to take back Sundays for me and my family.
To remember the Sabbath and keep it holy. To re-orient my heart to the one who made me. To remember the world keeps turning even if I do nothing. That He is the one who turns hearts and the world around me.
Maybe you think me writing on Sunday is a violation of the Sabbath day.
Truly though for me writing is an extension of me. It is me taking back. It is sharing the truth and love that flows through my very veins into the deepest darkest crevices in my heart.
Isaiah 45:3
I will give you the treasures of darkness and the hoards in secret places, that you make that it is I, the Lord, the God of Israel, who call you by your name.
How often do you feel treasured? How often are you reminded and remembering that is the Lord, the God of Israel, who calls you by your name?
So on Sundays we aim to do less, and remember more.
A Sunday tradition for my family and I if we don't have small group is to go treasure hunting at the flea market.
The truth is that one man's trash is another man's treasure is right in your face there.
The truth of that is we seek treasure there instead of the only place where treasure can be found. Colossians 2:3
In the person and words of the Lord, the God of Israel who calls us by our name.
Even when you feel like trash you are treasure to the Lord.
He will leave the 99 to find the one and only you friend.
When I went to TGC Kristie Anyabwile said something that has been ringing in my ears for about two months now. "We'll do comparatively little to spend more time with God."
This is why in Proverbs 2:4-5 That, "If you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God.
Are you seeking him friend?
Is He your treasure?
Is how you spend your time not only on Sundays but every day a reflection of that?
Sunday's is an opportunity to spend time with him, to rest and remember.
That He treasures you.
That He died for you.
So we should treasure Him.
He did not rest on Sunday because He had to. He rested on Sunday to set an example for you and I.
The treasures my family and I found today at the flea market are just jars of clay. They will crumble. They will pass away. Even if we do think they are pretty cool.
They are also a good reflection of our aim on Sundays to read, play games, and just be together. One of my mannnnny goals this year was to introduce the boys to good literature. So two of these were pretty awesome scores for that goal.
The word and the love and the sacrifice of the Lord will endure forever.
The rest of Sunday will sustain you through your week.
So what can you cut out today to make it more restful?
We don't watch TV on Sundays (except for Sunday morning on PBS for my sweet old man tv loving husband)
Deuteronomy 14:2
For you are a people holy to the Lord your God, and the Lord has chosen you to be a people for his treasured possession, out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth.
You are a treasured possession of the Lord friend. He went searching for treasure and chose you.
I hope you remember always.
I hope today this is a reminder.
Treasured and chosen,
Ven
Here is my "slow Sunday style'
Isaiah 45:3
I will give you the treasures of darkness and the hoards in secret places, that you make that it is I, the Lord, the God of Israel, who call you by your name.
How often do you feel treasured? How often are you reminded and remembering that is the Lord, the God of Israel, who calls you by your name?
So on Sundays we aim to do less, and remember more.
A Sunday tradition for my family and I if we don't have small group is to go treasure hunting at the flea market.
The truth is that one man's trash is another man's treasure is right in your face there.
The truth of that is we seek treasure there instead of the only place where treasure can be found. Colossians 2:3
In the person and words of the Lord, the God of Israel who calls us by our name.
Even when you feel like trash you are treasure to the Lord.
He will leave the 99 to find the one and only you friend.
When I went to TGC Kristie Anyabwile said something that has been ringing in my ears for about two months now. "We'll do comparatively little to spend more time with God."
This is why in Proverbs 2:4-5 That, "If you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God.
Are you seeking him friend?
Is He your treasure?
Is how you spend your time not only on Sundays but every day a reflection of that?
Sunday's is an opportunity to spend time with him, to rest and remember.
That He treasures you.
That He died for you.
So we should treasure Him.
He did not rest on Sunday because He had to. He rested on Sunday to set an example for you and I.
The treasures my family and I found today at the flea market are just jars of clay. They will crumble. They will pass away. Even if we do think they are pretty cool.
They are also a good reflection of our aim on Sundays to read, play games, and just be together. One of my mannnnny goals this year was to introduce the boys to good literature. So two of these were pretty awesome scores for that goal.
The word and the love and the sacrifice of the Lord will endure forever.
The rest of Sunday will sustain you through your week.
So what can you cut out today to make it more restful?
We don't watch TV on Sundays (except for Sunday morning on PBS for my sweet old man tv loving husband)
Deuteronomy 14:2
For you are a people holy to the Lord your God, and the Lord has chosen you to be a people for his treasured possession, out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth.
You are a treasured possession of the Lord friend. He went searching for treasure and chose you.
I hope you remember always.
I hope today this is a reminder.
Treasured and chosen,
Ven
Here is my "slow Sunday style'
Yes my earrings, and water, and (my unpictured shoes match) Judge me if you want. I tried to do lots of instagram worthy shots where I wasn't looking and I failed. So you get this.
Tuesday, 7 August 2018
SLAY IN YO' LANE LIKE A MOTHER
SLAY IN YOUR LANE
Saw that on a letter board a while back and I haven't been able to kick it out of my mind.
Take on the things God has gifted you in those areas and slay.
Take on the areas God placed you in and slay.
Take on the people God has placed in your life and invest.
What about the areas that you know you aren't going to slay, but still need to do?
Like for me housekeeping is high on that list, of gotta do but ain't slaying.
Also clearly I have a letter board problem. Especially because my kid threw away all the letters to mine. O MY!
As a homemaker I have to continue owning that space. This doesn't mean my husband and kiddos can't help. A good scripture for this is Colossians 3:23 Whatever you do, work at it with your whole being, for the Lord and not for man.
Ephesian 6:7 Serve with good will, as to the Lord and not to men.
More than that slay in your lane reminds me that I am not going to slay motherhood like the gal next to me. I am going to slay motherhood like the person God created me to be.
I'm going to slay getting outside with my kids.
I am going to slay reading with my kids.
I am going to slay scripture memorization with my kids.
I am going to slay playing games with them.
I am going to slay dance parties.
I am going to slay doing ministry with them running around./community building.
I am going to slay feeding them healthy homemade meals.
How do you slay?
SLAY IN YOUR LANE Momma, you are doing a great job!
Saw that on a letter board a while back and I haven't been able to kick it out of my mind.
Take on the things God has gifted you in those areas and slay.
Take on the areas God placed you in and slay.
Take on the people God has placed in your life and invest.
What about the areas that you know you aren't going to slay, but still need to do?
Like for me housekeeping is high on that list, of gotta do but ain't slaying.
As a homemaker I have to continue owning that space. This doesn't mean my husband and kiddos can't help. A good scripture for this is Colossians 3:23 Whatever you do, work at it with your whole being, for the Lord and not for man.
Ephesian 6:7 Serve with good will, as to the Lord and not to men.
More than that slay in your lane reminds me that I am not going to slay motherhood like the gal next to me. I am going to slay motherhood like the person God created me to be.
I'm going to slay getting outside with my kids.
I am going to slay scripture memorization with my kids.
I am going to slay playing games with them.
I am going to slay dance parties.
I am going to slay doing ministry with them running around./community building.
I am going to slay feeding them healthy homemade meals.
How do you slay?
SLAY IN YOUR LANE Momma, you are doing a great job!
Monday, 23 July 2018
Wait
The Bible says I am a new creation.
That His love and goodness is a many splendored thing
That I was created to display His splendor.
But I feel used and ugly. I feel old and tired.
And God says wait.
I yearn to go, to break free, to run until something changes.
He says, "Wait."
"Wait child, I will meet you there."
I want to prove to the world that I am new and full of life.
I want to run fast and proclaim his glory.
He says if you don't wait for me you, run alone.
You will feel used and broken all over again
when you fail at anything.
But if i run with you, if you wait and we run together.
They will see I am full of you.
They will see that we run together.
They will see that my love is a many splendored thing.
You are so interested in running, you end up running alone.
You are so interested in going, you won't hear me when I say stay.
When they ask who you are going with will you stop, and wait, and listen.
Will you be sure we go together?
Or would you rather go alone and fast and be running?
When I say wait on me.
I mean it.
I am the Lord, your God.
I am your great hiding place.
I am your strength.
That His love and goodness is a many splendored thing
That I was created to display His splendor.
But I feel used and ugly. I feel old and tired.
And God says wait.
I yearn to go, to break free, to run until something changes.
He says, "Wait."
"Wait child, I will meet you there."
I want to prove to the world that I am new and full of life.
I want to run fast and proclaim his glory.
He says if you don't wait for me you, run alone.
You will feel used and broken all over again
when you fail at anything.
But if i run with you, if you wait and we run together.
They will see I am full of you.
They will see that we run together.
They will see that my love is a many splendored thing.
You are so interested in running, you end up running alone.
You are so interested in going, you won't hear me when I say stay.
When they ask who you are going with will you stop, and wait, and listen.
Will you be sure we go together?
Or would you rather go alone and fast and be running?
When I say wait on me.
I mean it.
I am the Lord, your God.
I am your great hiding place.
I am your strength.
Friday, 6 July 2018
Remixing our Marriage
So a while back I posted my remix to motherhood heyyyy-o.
Now I am posting my remix to marriage.
I posted about how sometimes we can allow our spouse to be apart of the greater family unit. Full disclaimer:
When we went to our marriage retreat this year and talked about the idea of prioritizing our spouse,my husband admitted sometimes he lumps me and the boys together on his priority list.
It was a bit of a downer to hear, but also I think a wake up call.
I think it's something many marriages experience and especially when having young children.
Add in one income and little local familial support and we haven't dated as much as we could or should even.
We allowed ourselves to "hold out" on one on one date nights until some family showed up in town, and then we ran hard to the nearest restaurant.
Dates get expensive y'alllll.
That being said; marriage is so worth it.
My husband is so worth it.
My time with him alone is so refreshing.
Like the cool drink of water he is. Or a warm drink of coffee as the case may be.
I mean check it:
This year we talked about how we missed going on 'fun dates.' We used to take trips and adventures, and this year we are working to make it happen again
While dinner talking is the best for sure and I am always my husband's number one choice to take to the movies, I love it when we mix it up.
LOVE IT!
This year we went to the pool just the two of us. We used our pool passes to talk in line and go on the adult slides as many times as we wanted together. No tagging each other in and out of the pool while the other wrangles floaties and children.
Then we grabbed a beer at cool local beer bar. Never been to a beer bar? They have a crazy amount of beer on tap and in bottles. They often brew a few of their own. To keep costs low, they allow you to bring in take out or have pizza delivered. So because we already had pool passes and we date night swapped with friends I think we had like a $12 date.
We even had time to go home after the pool and change before going to get a quick drink and talk.
I got wear a dress and heels, and he got have a funky beer like the craft beer aficionado he is.
Getting fancy is my favorite and getting fancy for my favorite is even better.
Now I am posting my remix to marriage.
I posted about how sometimes we can allow our spouse to be apart of the greater family unit. Full disclaimer:
When we went to our marriage retreat this year and talked about the idea of prioritizing our spouse,my husband admitted sometimes he lumps me and the boys together on his priority list.
It was a bit of a downer to hear, but also I think a wake up call.
I think it's something many marriages experience and especially when having young children.
Add in one income and little local familial support and we haven't dated as much as we could or should even.
We allowed ourselves to "hold out" on one on one date nights until some family showed up in town, and then we ran hard to the nearest restaurant.
Dates get expensive y'alllll.
That being said; marriage is so worth it.
My husband is so worth it.
My time with him alone is so refreshing.
Like the cool drink of water he is. Or a warm drink of coffee as the case may be.
I mean check it:
This year we talked about how we missed going on 'fun dates.' We used to take trips and adventures, and this year we are working to make it happen again
While dinner talking is the best for sure and I am always my husband's number one choice to take to the movies, I love it when we mix it up.
LOVE IT!
This year we went to the pool just the two of us. We used our pool passes to talk in line and go on the adult slides as many times as we wanted together. No tagging each other in and out of the pool while the other wrangles floaties and children.
Then we grabbed a beer at cool local beer bar. Never been to a beer bar? They have a crazy amount of beer on tap and in bottles. They often brew a few of their own. To keep costs low, they allow you to bring in take out or have pizza delivered. So because we already had pool passes and we date night swapped with friends I think we had like a $12 date.
We even had time to go home after the pool and change before going to get a quick drink and talk.
I got wear a dress and heels, and he got have a funky beer like the craft beer aficionado he is.
Getting fancy is my favorite and getting fancy for my favorite is even better.
We tried to get pictures when we got our friends house and they are maybe the most real parenting pictures ever because our kid had just started crying when we walked up.
Unfortunate.
Other dates we have done in the past or are planning to do this year:
We went to Pieces a board game bar in Soulard. We are board game aficionados as well, and it was just the fun kind of date we love. Games. drinks. Fun.
Clearly,we do also enjoy an adult beverage or two when we go out.
Tonight we are going to a concert at Fair Saint Louis just the two of us. This morning after watching Great Day Saint Louis, (old man alert) my husband tried to tell me it would be great for us to go with the boys. I reminded him of our fun date night plan and we continued forward in our resolve.
This year we have attended a trivia night together which something we have not done in a very long time. My husband is a trivia master. Handsome + intelligent. I am one lucky lady.
We also did go to karaoke with some friends, but I will be real. That was not my husband's top date night. You should if you live in the Lou, check out Living Social in Maryland Heights, there are lots of other fun things there to do. Great night out!
We have plans to go to Meet Me in St Louis at the Muny. We love musicals and I'm hopeful we will have a little pre-picnic under the trees with a sweet looking charcuterie. Recently we went on the trolley in down town Saint Charles. I showed my boys the Trolley song from Meet Me in Saint Louis, and I am getting amped.
We also have Six Flags passes. When my family is in town we are planning to drop the kids off with my family and go ride every ride we want to. As many times as we want. I am so excited!
We are also planning what one of my mentors call a tree day. We meet under the trees and cast vision for what's next, get on the same page in parenting and enjoy God's creation.
As we continue to dream up date nights for the two of us, I will keep you updated. We are also list makers and we rank our top date of the year. Every year. So I will let you know which ones ends up in the running.
How are you taking steps to remix your marriage this year?
Ven & Alex
THE ROMERO REMIX
Tuesday, 26 June 2018
Chasing away rain days
I made a list of 30 things I love at 30.
On the list was coffee shops, good coffee, bakeries, and pain au chocolat. (chocolate croissants) This bakery serves good coffee, has kids toys, exposed brick walls, and on Saturdays only they do killer croissant. {Please read the last word in a french accent}
Today was rainy and dreary. I packed my crew in the car and grabbed coffee with almond milk out. Amazing. Enjoying one of my favorite things is always a pick me up. If you haven't named your favorite things, DO IT! I thoroughly believe in naming the things.
-Ven
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