A Lesson in Laughter

"To laugh at yourself is maturity."

- William Arthur Ward

Last weekend Nate and I threw towels, linens, Bibles and thrift store gems into one medium-size suitcase and boarded buses headed to the middle of nowhere. We spent three days in cabins with these rockstars:

Let me tell you a little about these kids. Our church is split into three campuses, of which the Clear Lake campus is the newest, smallest and least-known...kind of like an overlooked stepchild. Surrounded by hordes of shouting teenagers from the other campuses, we felt minuscule and a bit like a proverbial David facing Goliath. Except, in real life David defeated Goliath. Enter Recreation Time. Our motley crew found ourselves face to face with a dozen fully grown boy-men, full of muscle and zest to win. We played them in every. single. game. We were defeated terribly, insultingly. At one point in dodgeball they gave us every ball, and we still got creamed. I, ever a champion of justice, fumed at the outrage of it all. 

And here's where the Clear Lake kids taught me a bit about maturity. They never once complained. They never stopped having fun. When we were trounced and destroyed at every turn, for every single competition all weekend, they somehow found it funny. And they laughed and joked and made memories without a second thought about actually "winning." Clearly, in my book they're all winners - at a game much more important than sports. They lost with grace and good humor, focusing on building relationships rather than being the best. I realized just how competitive I really am, and learned to take things down a notch. After all, who cares about eating a can of Vienna sausages faster than anyone else, or winning the moonwalk competition or human Foosball, when we can look stupid and laugh about it and pray together and have amazing conversations about stuff that really matters?

I love y'all. You taught me a lot last weekend. Thanks for not being afraid to laugh at yourselves, and having a blast even though we were in last place. And Nate, thanks for being the best youth leader on the planet. You modeled a good attitude to these kids even when I couldn't. You inspire me (and you're a ridiculously good-looking 80's throwback).

Giving Thanks

The unthankful heart discovers no mercies; but let the thankful heart sweep through the day and, as the magnet finds the iron, so it will find, in every hour, some heavenly blessings!

- Henry Beecher Ward

It's sad to me that the one day set aside specifically for giving thanks often means a drastic shift in perspective. I so easily drift into complaining and discouragement the other 364 days of the year, focusing on what I don't have and what circumstances I wish were different. The truth is, there are countless blessings in my life that I simply take for granted: from the very air I breathe to being married to an astounding man sovereignly hand-picked for me. This season, instead of feverishly chasing Black Friday deals and making lists of the things I want, my goal is to step back and ponder with deep gratefulness all that God has done for me. Here are 30 reasons that I am giving thanks this holiday:

1. I am thankful for a job that makes my dreams come true every day; for the chance to interact and share the love of Jesus with hurting people who otherwise might never have a chance to meet Him.

2. I am thankful for godly coworkers who believe in the power of prayer and set a true example of love and compassion.

3. I am thankful for a beautiful car that makes my daily commute so enjoyable.

4. I am thankful for a lovely apartment that is filled with laughter, games and deep conversation several times a week.

5. I am thankful for food, new recipes, a big kitchen to cook in and a long-suffering husband who eats everything I put in front of him. Most of the time.

6. I am thankful for good health, exercise and energy.

7. I am thankful for my wonderful, cuddly kitty who's loved me unconditionally for 11 years.

8. I am thankful that my husband has put up with said kitty and even makes occasional efforts to befriend her.

9. I am thankful for books and words, and the unlimited opportunity to learn from the greatest minds in history.

10. I am thankful for friendships that continue to grow regardless of time and distance; for the dear ones at home who intentionally involve me in their lives.

11. I am thankful for a vibrant, growing youth group full of kids who open their hearts and lives to us, and for all the memories we've made over this past year.

12. I am thankful for our small group, the way we spur each other on in godliness, the deep friendships that are forming and that we can spend Thanksgiving together.

13. I am thankful for a church that preaches the gospel unashamedly and that has welcomed us with such open arms.

14. I am thankful for my dear Texas friends who make this home-away-from-home business so much easier; for the long talks, movie nights, sleepovers, baking escapades, travel and countless memories.

15. I am thankful for the most loving parents-in-law on earth and for their faithful prayers and support.

16. I am thankful for three incredible siblings-in-law. They are such a joy and some of my dearest friends.

17. I am thankful for my littlest sister, Sue, and that we got to spend a whole week together in September. I am thankful for her humor, creativity, passion for God and the highly entertaining letters she sends.

18. I am thankful for my mini-me, MaryLynn. I am so inspired by her maturity, intellect, faith and prayer life.

19. I am thankful for my brother Sam, and for what a fighter he is. He has remained steadfast and faithful in the midst of many trials, and embodies the truth that God is good, all the time.

20. I am thankful for Jared, my prayer-warrior brother. He has a real anointing on his life and I am so refreshed and filled with faith every time we talk and pray together.

21. I am thankful for Christene, my hero and best friend. She is one of the most Christlike people I know, and makes me love Him more. She embodies Psalm 37, and over the years I have watched her delight fully and completely in the Lord. I am thankful that God gave her the desire of her heart this week!

22. I am thankful for the perfect parents for me: a strong, hardworking and committed dad, and a mom who gives everything she has to care for and encourage her kids, and follow her husband. I am beyond-blessed by them.

23. I am thankful for the heritage of faith passed down from my grandparents, and how their continual prayers work powerful change in my life.

24. I am thankful that Jesus is King, and that nothing happens outside of His reign.

25. I am thankful for a country where we are free to worship, believe and preach the truth of the gospel.

26. I am thankful for Jhaneth and Fernando, our Compassion children, and for how they daily teach me gratefulness.

27. I am thankful for the time and the means to travel; for the myriad of photos and priceless experiences collected with my better half.

28. I am thankful for every single hardship and heartbreak that God has brought me through. I am thankful that He has been with me all the time; that He sustains me and without fail gives me the opportunity to use what I've learned to help someone else in similar circumstances.

29. I am thankful that almost 7 years ago a country boy wearing plaid and blue jeans walked in my front door and changed my life forever. Our selves are so intertwined that I honestly cannot imagine myself without him. These 2+ years of marriage to Nathan have truly been a taste of heaven, and I love and respect him more every day.

30. I am thankful that I have everything I need in Christ. When all else is stripped away, He is always there, and He is enough. The spiritual blessings I have been given in Him far outweigh the temporal things on this list. I am filled to overflowing with His goodness to me. May I never stop giving thanks!

I will bless the Lord at all times;

his praise shall continually be in my mouth.

My soul makes its boast in the Lord;

let the humble hear and be glad.

Oh, magnify the Lord with me,

and let us exalt his name together!

I sought the Lord, and he answered me

and delivered me from all my fears.

Those who look to him are radiant,

and their faces shall never be ashamed.

This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him

and saved him out of all his troubles.

The angel of the Lord encamps

around those who fear him, and delivers them.

Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good!

Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!

Oh, fear the Lord, you his saints,

for those who fear him have no lack!

The young lions suffer want and hunger;

but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.

~ Psalm 34:1-10

Obsessed with My God

Last weekend Nate and I had the privilege of co-leading a discussion on prayer with a good friend of ours. We honestly didn't contribute much, but at one point a middle-aged woman in the audience commented with tears in her eyes that she had never seen young people so wholly devoted to Christ - that it was "kind of crazy, really." The irony of her statement made me want to laugh out loud - I'm in the middle of reading Francis Chan's Crazy Love and I have honestly never felt more deeply, recklessly in love with Jesus! And the fact that it shines through to a perfect stranger makes me deliriously grateful for God's mercy on and presence in me.

Lately I've struggled with discouragement. I ask big things of God, and when an immediate answer isn't apparent I so easily drift into comparison: "Why is this prayer being answered for that person, and these people encountering God in that way, and it isn't happening right here, right now, for me?" And yet God is so, so kind. No matter where I am or what I'm doing, He is so tangibly there. I am constantly encountering, seeing, and experiencing Him anew.

He has called me to minister to the most wonderful teenage girls on this earth. When we sit in a circle and talk about Jesus, heaven, creation and the Holy Spirit; when their eyes light up with the excitement of one day seeing Jesus face to face, my love for and joy in the Savior grows so exponentially that I want to cry.

He has called me to live the rest of my life married to the kindest, most gifted man I know. When Nate putters around the house singing worship songs, stops me in the middle of whatever I'm doing for an impromptu prayer sesh, asks my forgiveness out of the blue for some seemingly insignificant offense, unconditionally forgives my multitude of offenses, leads small group discussions with grace and wisdom, and gives godly counsel to his friends, my heart cannot contain my thanksgiving at God's lavish blessings on me.

God always answers my prayers; even if it isn't in the timing or way that I imagined. He has been teaching me that I can never assume to know His will about anything. Desires that seem good and biblical must often be sacrificed in light of an even bigger thing that God is doing. Romans 8:26-27 never ceases to astound me with the truth that even my most heartfelt prayers are encompassed by the prayers of Someone infinitely greater who, unlike me, knows and prays in perfect accordance with God's will: "The Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words...according to the will of God."

What an overwhelming truth! In the moment of my deepest doubt and confusion, when words won't even formulate, prayers that perfectly coincide with my desires and God's perfect will are constantly being lifted up for me. How can I not walk through life in free and joyful confidence that I am being led down God's intricately designed, flawlessly formed path for me? Like Francis Chan talks about, I want my life to be so filled with God that the world has no choice but to see Him in me. When life is good, may I model the person "who enjoys blessing, but who is still totally obsessed with God." When life is hard, may I magnify the One who brings both joys and sorrows to increase my growth and trust in Him. "The point of my life is to point to Him."