Words From Thomas. Words From Jesus.

"If we did the things we were capable of doing, we would literally astound ourselves" 
 Thomas Edison

These were the words that were above my desk in Mrs. Berry's Advanced American Studies class that I took in my Junior year of high school. I read this phrase every single day. It repeated in my head as I wrote my first college-level paper, decided to take that extra math course, gave my first speech, performed my first monologue, and preached my first sermon. Sometimes, it was mortifying. But other times, it was astounding. 

Thomas Edison is the one that we can thank for our light bulbs, phonographs, motion picture cameras and many more twenty-first century necessities.  He's one of America's greatest inventors. But what most people do not know about Thomas was that he was the seventh boy born into a poverty stricken family - opportunity did not hold reality. He was a poor student and was looked down upon by even his school teachers. And when Thomas was just twelve years old, he became almost completely deaf. What could he be truly capable of now without the advantage of modern-day hearing aids? However, Thomas wasn't stopped by his low-income family background, physical ailments, and lack of opportunity. He believed that he was capable. You know the ending to his story. His inventions are pretty astonishing when we truly stop and think about them. 

Now I know some women, and I know myself, we doubt ourselves. We doubt because we are unsure of what we do not see. We are lacking in faith (Hebrews 11:1). We confuse our voice with God's voice, foolishness with boldness, and insecurities with God-given gifts. When my thoughts linger in my incapability, I have to choose to remember not the wise words of a famous inventor, but the true words of the hope of the world.

"My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in your weakness"

 It amazes me that our hope IS the hope for the world. The one that was,  is, and is to come {Revelation 1:8}. This means that this same hope that we trust in, is the same hope that helped Peter walk on water and Paul praise in prison. The good news is that the miracle maker is ours, and we are His. When we are not capable, Jesus is.

What have you been incapable of doing this week?
1. Is God trying to speak to you, but you are thinking it is merely your own wild thoughts?
2. Does God want you to do something out of boldness that you may think is foolish?
3. Has God's gift to you turned into your biggest insecurity?

Yep. Me too, I agree with all of the above. But guess what? His grace is sufficient for me. I desperately want to rely on His assurance, strength, and power so that I can walk in boldness and move in my gifting unashamedly. With the help of the Holy Spirit, I want to do all that I am capable of doing. I am waiting for astonishment, amazement, and astounding things to happen here.

 Take a few minutes and read 2 Corinthians 11:16-12:10 so that you, too, can taste His sufficient grace.

"Today I Lived And You Did Too"

Soooo... I didn't write this poem, but I really love it. I think it's perfect for this season of thankfulness and choosing to live in each day, not just breathe, walk, and talk in it. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did! 

Today I was awakened by the sound of shuffling feet.
It was my early-bird riser in her big sister’s pajamas that drug across the floor.
I wanted to pull the covers over my head and feign sleep.
But instead I got up and made toaster waffles that she said tasted “divine.”
She kissed me with syrupy sweet lips.
Getting up wasn’t my first response. But I did it.
Today I lived.

Today she lost her shoes for the 37th time in two weeks.
It was right before we needed to head out the door.
I wanted to scream, to scold, to throw my hands in the air.
But instead I held her. I held her. My shoeless girl.
Together we found them wet with dew in the backyard and she whispered, “Sorry, I am forgetful, Mama.”
Being calm wasn’t my first response. But I did it.
Today I lived.

Today the birds chirped noisily through the open back door.
Their cheerful chatter seemed to accentuate the deadlines, the laundry, the mess piled up around me.
I wanted to slam the door and silence the temptation; there was so much to do.
But instead I put on my running shoes and my favorite hat.
With each step, I got closer to what mattered and farther from what didn’t.
Letting go wasn’t my first response. But I did it.
Today I lived.

Today I stood in front of the mirror sizing myself up.
It was apparent that stress and lack of sleep had left their mark.
I wanted to dissect each wrinkle, pinch each layer of soft skin
But instead I looked away and said, “Not today. Only love today.”
Loving myself wasn’t my first response. But I did it.
Today I lived.

Today I threw together a simple dinner and scooped it onto the plate.
It looked pathetic and unappealing.
I wanted to question my worthiness based on my cooking skills.
But instead I hollered, “Let’s eat outside on the porch! Everything tastes better outside.”
Offering myself grace wasn’t my first response. But I did it.
Today I lived.

Today I was on a mission to tuck my child into bed as quickly as possible.
It had been a tiring day, and I just wanted to be alone.
She asked if she could listen to my heartbeat.
Reluctantly, I lay down beside her and she drew her head to my chest.
“We have the same heartbeat,” she announced.
“How do you know?” I asked expecting some child-like reasoning, but instead her poignant response brought me to my knees.

“Because you are my mom.”

And there it was. My confirmation.

To choose to stay when I want to retreat.
To choose to forgive when I want to condemn.
To choose to love when I want to attack.
To choose to hope when I want to doubt.
To choose to stand when I want to fall.

Today I lived.
It wasn’t my first response.
But I share the same heartbeat with two precious souls.
And that’s enough to get me through the day.

I will choose to live again tomorrow.

-Rachel Macy Stafford

Saying Yes.

Sometimes, you just gotta say yes, even when everything in you wants to say no... not now. Another day. I'm too busy. Ask someone else...

Yesterday, I had a lot to do. Beginning to feel overwhelmed and exhausted of the indoors, I sat on my back deck to drink in the autumn air and enjoy the colors of fall while keeping busy with my to-do list. I sat there with one agenda - getting tasks done... lots of them. But my afternoon did not go as planned. My {sometimes} sweet little brother came out and asked, "Whitney, will you have a date with me? We can drink apple cider!" Though it absolutely warmed my heart, I could have said "sorry, Anderson, that sounds really fun but I'm busy now. Maybe later?" But instead, I said a simple "yes." My afternoon did not go as I had planned. Instead of making calls, I made memories. 

Today, I had full intentions on going on a long run in the neighborhood. I was looking forward to it, actually. I had been waiting for the weather to be prime and for myself to finally have the time. Again, my ideas weren't Anderson's. "Whitney, can you play spies with me outside?".... here we go again. Hmmmm. I thought a moment and responded, "yes, Anderson, let me go find some gadgets!" I wish I could have captured the look of excitement that spread across his freckled face. He then exclaimed, "YES! That's a check off my to-do list!" Side note: this boy is more like me than I thought! I spent yet another portion of my afternoon playing. We hid from cars passing by and Anderson showed me his fort. It's been a long time since I played. It's been a long time since I haven't had one care in the world.

Though I had other, some would consider "better" things to do, choosing to say yes was worth it. When I look back on today, I will never remember that run... but I will remember playing spies. I will remember Anderson asking to hold my hand. I will remember the sound of his laughter and the happiness we felt.

I encourage you to say yes today. Say it to a child, a parent, or even to yourself. Say it because sometimes, saying yes turn moments into memories. And in everything, remember that these are the times that will one day be told.

Happy Saturday! 

Love,
Whit 

Throwing them out.

Do you ever have those conversations that give you a new outlook on your week? Or even a new outlook on your future? I recently had one of these. (My next post won't be quite so thought provoking, promise!) I talked to a friend who was struggling with meeting the expectations that our culture pushes on us. She faced unhappiness in her relationship, dissatisfaction with her hair, and discontentment with life because she felt she couldn't live up to the "standards" that were incessantly staring her in the face. I think all of us can relate because we've all been there. It's sometimes so difficult live in world of constant comparison. Why don't I have a boyfriend like that? Why doesn't my husband do that for me? Why didn't God give me that ability?  Why does my hair not curl? Why isn't it straight and silky? Or my favorite, she just seems like she has so much favor! One of the reasons why I believe that we struggle with these thoughts is because our society promotes perfection. A prime example of this is America’s new fascination with Pinterest. This online board is life framed as picture-perfect. It makes love look effortless, recipes look simple, kids seem flawless, and beauty seem unattainable. Our culture is continuously sending messages of unachievable goals and unrealistic circumstances. Disclaimer: I have a Pinterest and I use it. But I just wonder, what if I used my own creativity to create?

So, back to my friend. What do we do with these false realities? Where did they come from? When did they begin to form in our heads? I once read a quote by a famous female who influences the direction our fascinations and it held such truth...

  

“When I was a little girl I used to read fairy tales. In fairy tales you meet Prince Charming and he’s everything you’ve ever wanted. In fairy tales the bad guy is very easy to spot. The bad guy is always wearing a black cape so you always know who he is. Than you grow up and you realize that prince charming is not as easy to find as you thought. You realize the bad guy is not wearing a black cape and he’s not easy to spot; he’s really funny, and he makes you laugh, and he has the best hair.” – Taylor Swift

Our chase for perfection begins as young girls, before we even know who we are in Christ. We begin to place these false expectations in our minds only to discover that they don't actually exist. My friend and I are slowly discovering that life is so much more than what is inside of our imaginations. And to be honest, sometimes life is so much less. And that’s okay – it’s healthy. If only we could recognize that God has far better things for us than the world’s version of “happily ever after," “prince charming,” and definition of perfection.  In fact, we are promised that if we truly believe, He is able to do immeasurably more than we ask or imagine through His power working in us {Ephesians 3:20}. So, friends, don’t fret. It may not be in the way that you expect, but God will astonish you.  

Throw out the expectations of this world. You can take small steps in doing this by:

1. Baking one of your  favorite grandmother’s recipes and enjoying its aroma and memory.

2. Loving others in the way that He first loved us. 

3. Choose today get creative and create something from your own imaginations.

Love, 

Whit

At this moment.

At this moment I am thinking of the kindred spirits in this world – you know, the people truly get you through and through. These are those people that share your passions, collaborate with your heart, and energize your soul.

Tonight I am thanking God for a particular kindred spirit, although I am fortunate enough to have many. This lady truly embodies eucharisteo grace and has been a constant encouragement and inspiration in my life. She gracefully carries herself among strangers, she keeps a grace-filled home, and she can even handle the most trying of persons with gracefulness and gentle care.  In just a few months, she has taught me more about womanhood, motherhood, sisterhood, hospitality, relating to people no matter what the barrier might be, and Christ likeness than I have learned in years. I am so thankful for this extraordinary woman, with an extraordinary purpose, that has chosen to invest in me.

At this moment, I challenge you to thank God for a gift. Perhaps it’s a best friend, a kindred spirit. Or, perhaps it’s something of an entirely different nature. But take a moment, just one, and say a prayer of thanksgiving.

“Give thanks to the Lord for He is good; His love endures forever!”

Psalm 107:1

Choosing to Dive.

When I was younger, I couldn’t dive. Ok, I still can’t dive. I am scared, y’all! I know, I know, it’s just water… but going in headfirst? I don’t think so. I also could never do a cartwheel or a front flip on the trampoline.  I used to think it was because I was scared of getting hurt, but looking back, it was actually fear of failing.

I find myself in the same place now as then. I’m not talking about actually trying to do a cartwheel, I gave up on that a long time ago. I am talking about diving into the sea of the unknown – the sea of trust, faith, and bravery. It’s not like I yield from trusting God because I think it will cause hurt or pain, but because I fear failure, let down, and disappointment. Maybe I fear because the water seems too deep? Maybe it’s because when everyone else does it, they make it seem easy and effortless and what if it’s not? What if it takes strategy, determination, and willingness to fail just so that you can have that second chance and succeed?

At 20 years old, I’m learning how to dive. If you haven’t been tracking with me, I don’t mean this literally. Although, I sorta kinda wish I did. I’m learning to dive because if am brave enough to dive head first into the water, then just maybe I’ll be brave enough to walk on the water. And if I am brave enough to walk on water, then just maybe I’ll have enough courage to trust entirely, completely, and undoubtedly in Him.

I’m choosing to dive.

What will you choose? 

I met someone.

Yesterday I had an unforgettable encounter. It wasn't unforgettable because it was amazing... no, I did not meet "the one" or anything like that (#thingschristiangirlssay). Actually, it wasn't amazing at all, just unforgettable. A simple conversation while getting my Chrysler's oil changed at a local body shop.

The lady at the check-out seemed noticeably interested in my life... where I went to school... where I worked... yada yada. We'll just call her Sue.

Sue: "So, you work at a church, huh? Would you say it's your vocation or calling?"
Me: Is this a trick question? "Uhhh. Vocation. No, calling. I'm sorry, can you repeat the question?"
Sue: "I mean, do you do it because you like it, it's your job, and you get paid for it? Or do you think it's what you are created for?"
Me: "I definitely feel that I am called to do it, born to do it, but I also really like it. So, both I guess?

Sue just looked at me with a blank stare. Then gave me my keys back.

Me: "So, do you go to a church in the area?" breaking the silence with small talk is always a good idea. 
Sue: "I used to go to *a local church* but not anymore. I got divorced.
Me: "Oh I'm so sorry, so now your ex goes and you don't want to be at the same church, right?"
Sue: "Oh honey, it's much uglier than that... It was my fortieth birthday and we had just moved to Williamsburg. It was that day that my husband decided to tell me that he was having an affair with another woman and was leaving me. Then he did. It came out of no where and I was devastated. The next Sunday, I sat in church and all I could do was cry.  Not one person came up to me that day.  Not one person reached out. They didn't even look at me. It's as though they didn't want to face the ugliness. That was the last time that I went to church.
Me: "I am so sorry that happened to you-"
Sue: "Do people fall through the cracks at your church too?"

Do people fall through the cracks at your church too? 

That would be the question that would leave me speechless. How could I respond to the depth of hurt in her heart? I couldn't. All I could do was express my sincere apology and tell her that I wish the church was perfect, but it's broken because it is filled with broken people. 

Do people fall through the cracks at your church too? 
Do people fall through the cracks at your church too? 
Do people fall through the cracks at your church too? 

This question has occupied my brain for the last 24 hours. The sad thing is, I know that they do. Sue caused me to think inwardly and outwardly. Inwardly because I evaluated myself and how I respond to others in the church. And outwardly because it reminded me to reach out when it comes to people in my own congregation. Because, you just never know when that person might be having a Sunday like Sue's. You never know when that person is inwardly miserable, devastated, broken-hearted, bitter, angry, or feeling desolate.  Sometimes, that person simply needs you to reach outward and help them reach upward. And because if you don't, who knows, they just may not be back next week.

Now, I didn't have all the answers yesterday and I still don't have all the answers. But I want to tell Sue that  even though she may have fallen through the cracks of that congregation, she never fell through the cracks of His hands. As I have been listening to this song today, Sue has been on my heart and in my prayers. 

There's a light in the dark that's shining, there's a song for the broken-hearted

Jesus, Jesus

There's a peace for the restless soul, there's a love that will not let go

Jesus, Jesus 

There's a cross that invites the broken, there's a King with His arms wide open

Jesus, Jesus

Just maybe I'll go see Sue again. And just maybe if I reach out, she'll reach up.