Love Does

I bought a new CD the other day and immediately listened to the whole thing...who wouldn't? But there was one song that stuck in my mind and made me think of one of my best friends.

Many of my blog readers know my friend Holly. Holly and I met one summer evening when we TP'd a mutual friend's car while home from college. :) Ah, college...

Anyway...Holly has been living overseas for two years. She is on the front lines in fulfilling Our Father's commission in southeast Asia. I was super-blessed that she came back to be my maid of honor at our wedding and also that I've been able to Skype with her a few times (timing, third-world internet, and Lord willing).

I know how much I love this girl. I know how much she is in my heart, thoughts, and prayers. I know how excited I am for her to return to the field this June after her hiatus and I know that she will do some amazing things for the Kingdom. But I also know there is a lot I don't know.

Because of where she is located and for security reasons, I don't know all the places she has traveled. There are stories I will never hear. I don't always know when I'll get to talk to her again. I'm not even sure I'll ever get to see her in person again this side of heaven.

I don't know all the souls that now know our Father because of her efforts. But I know the One who does know all these things.

So this song is for my friend, Holly, and those around the world just like her, those I know and those I don't. When it feels like no one knows or hears, Love does. This one goes out to the world changers...

This one goes out to the world changer
Shining your light in the face of danger
Oh, tell us what you know
You’re a saint, you’re a son, you’re a promise keeper
Bottom of the well, still digging down deeper
Oh, how far you gonna go

Chasing down hope
Moving on dreams
Taking that path
Maybe it’ll lead you home
Maybe it won’t

(Chorus)
Nobody knows why your heart is broken
Nobody cries while your prayers are going up
But Love does
Nobody walks on the road you’re paving
Nobody sees all the souls you’re saving
Oh, but Love does
Love does
Love does

This is for the one on the front line fighting
Ringing that bell over everybody
Oh, tell us what you know
Knocking down doors in the midnight alley
Looking for a life in a desert valley
Oh, how far you gonna go

Chasing down hope
Moving on dreams
Taking that path
Maybe it’ll lead you home
Maybe it don’t

You are a renegade
You’re an outlaw of Love’s crusade
And they don’t know who you are
They don’t know
They don’t know
But Love does
I’m telling you, Love does

Somebody knows
Somebody cries
Somebody feels
Love does
Somebody walks
Somebody sees
Somebody knows
Love does

Soli Deo Gloria,
Meghan

Nothing Like Girlfriends!

After my stint as a film star for TrueU, I got the chance to see some friends in Colorado before heading off to a girls' weekend with some of my best girlfriends. :)

I made the drive down to Colorado Springs to visit the staff at the Focus Leadership Institute. It was a great time of catching up with friends and getting to sit in on one of the new classes they've added since I attended.

Man, I love this view! :)

Then, a short flight to Dallas later, it was reunion time with my roommates from FLI! :D

We were excited to celebrate our friend, Alisha, surviving the Texas Bar Exam but it was also a good excuse to see each other all together for the first time in 1.5 years. The last time we'd been in the same place was for Danielle's wedding in California in July 2011.

One of the best things about having these ladies as such good friends is that we pick up pretty much where we left off last time. We stayed up until 2:30 in the morning our first night together chatting and catching up. It felt good to pick up right where we had left off. From fields of daffodils and homemade Texas brisket to fire alarms and late night "interruptions" it was an unforgettable time.

The weekend was refreshing for me on so many levels. It is always nice to have a weekend away and especially to reconnect with old friends. However, with the move, I've felt slightly burned out with making new friends. I know it's part of moving to a totally new location but it takes a lot of energy, especially for an introvert, and sometimes you just want to go "where everybody knows your name" (to borrow from Cheers).

And these girls?

Yep, they totally know my name...and my hangups...and my dreams. We've been through a lot together in the 5 years since we met. I'm so glad I get to call them friends and I can't wait until our next awesome-ness filled reunion! :) Love you, ladies!

Soli Deo Gloria,
Meghan

Book Review: Christian Mama's Guide

Disclaimer #1: I am not pregnant.

Disclaimer #2: I am NOT pregnant.

Okay, now that we've gotten that out of the way, let the review commence. :)

"The Christian Mama's Guide to Having a Baby" is the first in Erin MacPherson's series of "Christian Mama's Guide" books. And since my husband and I are trying to get pregnant, I figured it might be a good idea to get a jump start on my reading. :)

Erin's book is a pleasant combination of humor and information. It was like sitting with a good girlfriend who will give it to you straight but make you laugh at the same time. Now granted, I have not and am not pregnant but this was definitely the kind of book I would want to read. I enjoyed the tone very much and it was full of useful information in my opinion. Granted, she is not a medical professional so don't go looking for detailed information in that respect, but she also consults several other people and doesn't pretend to know everything.

I also liked that she covered topics tangential to the actual pregnancy but baby-related, such as baby gear, discussing names, and having a support system. The mini devotionals also help to refocus the reader's attention from obsessing over all things pregnancy and baby to centering on God and his blessings and strength.

To summarize, this is a great general pregnancy book with a Christian flair and a good sense of humor, probably best for first time mamas (though my mom and husband got a kick out of parts of it as well).

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Soli Deo Gloria,
Meghan

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com <http://BookSneeze®.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Movie Star

At the end of February, I had the amazing opportunity to be part of a video taping through Focus on the Family.

In our Focus Leadership Institute Alumni newsletter last December, we received an invitation to participate as students while Dr. Del Tackett taught the third set of lessons for TrueU.

For those who are familiar with the Truth Project, Dr. Tackett's name will be familiar. He taught that study of Christian worldview and society in a 12 lessons DVD-based curriculum intended for small group adult Bible studies. Now, a similar series has been developed for students in late high school and early college that centers on equipping students to embrace and defend their faith in college.

So far, two sets of lessons have been filmed and distributed. The first set addressed the question "Does God Exist?" and the second was "Is the Bible Reliable?" Now the third set will ask "Who is Jesus?" and will be available in October of this year. If interested, you can pre-order it here. (Though if you plan on using it for a Bible study, I would recommend doing Sets 1 and 2 first since they all build on each other.)

It was an absolutely amazing experience that left me feeling immensely blessed to have had the opportunity to participate. We had been previously told to bring around six different outfits for taping and I'm glad that some of mine were interchangeable and could be added to since we ended up doing about nine outfit changes, even if some were only minor (add accessories, change hairstyle, etc.).

It was refreshing and stimulating to sit as a student again under Dr. Tackett's teaching. I scribbled notes as quickly as I could while still keeping in mind all the instructions and cues we'd been given by the film crew. "Look Alive!" "Don't look at the cameras!" "Don't slouch or cross your arms!" Only half my brain could pay attention to the lesson since the other half was focused on not hitting my microphone (lapel mics that plugged into a wire on our chairs), staying alert, and not shivering too much (the room was cold!). The whole crew was great and the makeup/wardrobe ladies kept us looking good. I felt a little like a movie star! :)

I don't want to spoil too much of what the lessons are about but I will share two statements I highlighted in my notes that made an impression:

"We are offended by Jesus when he doesn't fit our image of what he should be." <<< We referred to this image as our "Jesus doll" throughout the study.

"We struggle with exclusivity [that Jesus is the Only Way] because we think too little of Jesus and too little of what he did." <<<Explaining why we tend to think we have to defend Jesus or give into a doctrine of "tolerance" which in fact demeans what he did and elevates ourselves in our own minds.

If you want more you'll have to watch the series when it comes out in October! :)

Believe it or not, this was only the first half of my trip that started in Colorado! :) Second half was a girls' weekend with my roommates from the Focus Leadership Institute in Dallas, TX...that deserves a post all to itself! :)

Soli Deo Gloria,
Meghan

P.S. This photo was taken and posted on the FLI Facebook page :) I'm in the front row in the bright pink shirt (also visible in the camera screen in the foreground). How cool is that!

Book Review: Sudden Glory

Have you ever longed for something more in your relationships with God? Maybe if you just did one more Bible study, volunteered in one more ministry, or baked just one more meal for a family in need you might feel you had attained something more? I know I have at times which is probably why Sharon Jaynes' book "A Sudden Glory" appealed to me. I was curious to hear what she had to say about what she called the "glory ache" and how to alleviate it.

This book really drew me into its message of living, moving, and having our being in Christ (see Acts 17:28) at all times, eradicating the supposed barrier between the sacred and everyday life. As I continued reading and delving into the various aspects of this idea, I found my eyes opening and seeing more of the glory moments around me. Not only that, but it's reinforced my desire to have boundaries when it comes to getting involved in activities and ministries. I don't want to give in to the tyranny of the "busy" and miss out on what God would say to me when I heed to call to "be still". Sometimes it's just realizing that the real question is not what does God want from me but what does He want for me and the difference that small distinction can make.

The book also includes a study guide with a section for each chapter that can be used individually or with a group. In addition, on her website, Sharon offers additional resources and a place to read and share glory moments that you have experienced. There's even an online Bible study centered on the book. Everything available enhances the experience started in "A Sudden Glory". 

You can read Chapter One of "A Sudden Glory" HERE and see for yourself.

Overall rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Soli Deo Gloria,
Meghan

I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.