On Being Still

This year has been a crazy ride. I declared at the beginning of this year that this year we would coast. No big changes. Just being still, resting, enjoying our family. 

And God had other plans. (Which is typically what happens when I make plans!)

But the beautiful thing about this is I've learned that being still doesn't mean lack of chaos in our lives. Being still is a heart place. Being still is a choice. Being still is communing with Christ through it all. 

As parts of my family traveled the world to journey home, as we moved back into our little home, as we made decisions to take on new business adventures, as I released my first book and continue just doing life as a new family of six, we are in a place of rest. As the world spins around us in chaos, our refuge is not our house or our work or even our family, although those are places of rest and peace for us. No, our refuge is in Christ alone. His wings spread over us. He holds us in his hands. He, our steadfast King of Kings, Lord of Lords, gently leads us back to a place of being at His feet. So throughout the chaos of Christmas and life in general, we choose to glorify God with our one life. 

So this book thing, it's never been about the money. And I have struggled to present myself in a way that both gets it out there and represents our family in a humble way. I am continually checking myself. I want this to be about our God, who is so good through all the times of life. It is my ministry, what I know God wants of me right now. He wants my words, my skills, my abilities, my talents. He wants my story. And this Christmas, I want as many people as possible to know the hope of Jesus. I pray God uses this book or blog or my story to draw people to Himself. I believe He will. I believe He uses what we offer to Him to glorify Himself. How beautiful. How humbling. It fills my heart with joy. And hope, because He can and will use me. He will use you, too. Oh, how I hope you can see that! I pray you can believe that. I pray that you embrace this truth with me. 

Friends, I want you to know truth. You can offer yourselves, your everything to Him and He will use it for His glory. If we humbly present ourselves to our Almighty God, He lifts us up and turns our meager offerings into beautiful things beyond our comprehension. 

I love what we were challenged with at church yesterday. Because this has been on my heart and is finally pouring out into words as I reflect upon our year. 

"Put it all on the table." 

Live with open hands. Let Him turn our offerings into beautiful things.