Short Circuited, Soft Reboot and Holy Lake Time!

I had been working diligently through my “to-do list” on a Monday afternoon at 3:15 when I was hit with the realization it was long past time for lunch, and my body was screaming for nourishment. The circuits in my brain were sputtering and steaming. It found it increasingly more difficult for me as I was adding two or three more items to my list each time I checked one off. That’s no fun. Part of me felt like I was accomplishing much, yet the other part saw my list multiplying which was daunting.

So, I stopped and fixed my sandwich, sat down in “my chair”, turned on the audio reading of the Bible Recap, grabbed the video game controller and started conquering Rayman’s Legend game. It was then that I heard a verse I wanted to highlight in my Bible while simultaneously looking at my sandwich willing and wishing it to my mouth (unsuccessfully) AS I accidentally fell off the cliff on the video game AS I realized that I hadn’t picked up the pen to make note of the verse in my Bible. Because… how could I possibly do all these things at once!? I was trying to cram in relaxing while video gaming, being in God’s Word and eating lunch, but I literally didn’t have enough hands much less capacity in my brain! It was around 3:30 that I realized I had blown a fuse!

It was then that sweet conviction flowed effortlessly out my eyes and leaked down my cheeks AS I found only one option: surrender. I had short circuited. I tripped the switch. It was likely a slow fade, but I knew something needed to be reset. 

In His sweetness and Sovereignty we experienced the beautiful collision of a week off from LIFT, a text from a friend asking when we could come visit their lake house, the one year anniversary of the death of Chris’ dad that we wanted to honor, and following a couple weeks of heavy ministry load. When I replied to the text I simply said - “would NEXT week be at all possible for y’all?” And they said, YES! They used their points to get us flights and picked us up from the airport weary and worn. They spoiled us by cooking all our favorite foods, playing games till midnight, letting us sleep in, riding for hours together either in silence on the water admiring the 500 shades of greens and blues as Lauren Daigle blared or in the car en route recalling all the Lord had been teaching us. They moved away 5 years ago, but we just picked right back up where we left off. 

“The thing about healing is that it’s less like flipping a switch and more like untangling a knot. Let it take the time that it takes. You are Beloved the whole way through.” Aundi Kobler

So, as we soaked up every single moment near Augusta resting in him we found our “soft reset” button. We were able to read, commune, relax, unplug, fish, walk, dream and begin to thrive again. It’s Holy Week. Resurrection Sunday is coming! 

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Selah

There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy habitation of the Most High.

God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved; God will help her when morning dawns.

The nations rage, the kingdoms totter; he utters his voice, the earth melts. The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah

Come, behold the works of the Lord, how he has brought desolations on the earth. He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; he breaks the bow and shatters the spear; he burns the chariots with fire. “Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.” Psalm 46 

*Above Taken from the LIFT weekly email.

P.S. Our friend, Carrie, called three days before we were to fly to ATL and said their college kid couldn't come home for the weekend, but if we were up for another few hours drive - we could go to her. Yes we replied ecstatically! We can't imagine visiting without seeing her. She attends Samford in Birmingham...Alabama! 

So, then my other friend, Lisa who I Marco Polo with was planning to go visit our mutual good friend, Linda in... Alabama the same weekend!! So, I called Lisa and asked her as I was driving to Sugar Land to look up & see how far Linda's home and Birmingham were apart and if she had any plans on Saturday for lunch. Could we meet? So, we did!! Lisa drove 45 minutes and we drove 45 minutes and we pulled off a big surprise! We surprised Linda & Bethany at a sweet little Urban Cookhouse in Cullman (where years ago we had done a tornado relief mission trip). The lady in charge at the restaurant came out and asked if we needed anything else and welcomed us to stay as long as we wanted. She came out later and offered coffee and cookies. So hospitable! So sweet to have a space to catchup and share laughter and tears. We sat outside for awhile and then came inside. So thankful we took pictures to mark our time together. 

Me & Linda and Lisa

Me and Linda - close friends since 1997!

Mexican with Jeff & Carrie & Julia before we left her on Saturday!

GF Chicken & Waffles @YoMommas for bkfast w/Julia!