Praise Reports

*** Updated with pictures, as promised :) ***

I'm still here, still breathing...things are just super busy and I haven't had much time to even think about blogging. I do have a number of things to be thankful for, so I thought I would share some things for which I am praising the Lord!

SA Weekend
Last weekend, Mike and I headed down to San Antonio to spend some time with my family. He had already met my parents when they had visited Dallas, but this was a fun opportunity to spend some more time with them and for me to show him where I grew up. He also got the pleasure of meeting some extended family, which is always fun and interesting. They were relatively well-behaved, and I am happy to report that Mike survived the weirdness and still seems to want to stick around :)

Saturday we had dinner with my dad's side of the family because my grandparents were celebrating their 60th wedding anniversary. We met at a German restaurant in New Braunfels (don't ask- my family is Polish, but they like German food...it's all kind of the same haha), ate some yummy weiner schnitzel, and got to hear fun stories of how my grandparents met.

60 Years Together!

Me and Mike :)

Mom and Dad

Sunday we went to church with my parents and then headed down to the Riverwalk...because that's what all good San Antonians do when guests visit the Alamo city! We visited the Alamo, took a riverboat ride, and were just able to enjoy the beautiful weather as we walked the river.

At the Alamo

Along the Riverwalk

Me and Mike look cute...my dad, well...he makes me laugh!

It was a great weekend, and I am thankful for the time to spend with Mike and my parents. I promise to post pictures as soon as I have some time to download them :)


Baby Lilley Has Arrived!
Sweet Baby Lilley graced us with her presence Thursday morning!! Miss Evangeline (Evie) Claire is perfect and absolutely beautiful! Both mom and baby are doing well and dad couldn't be more proud. I am so excited for Jon and Sami and am thankful to be celebrating with them. And I ADORE her little mohawk :)

6 Months
Mike and I celebrated 6 months this weekend! I can hardly believe it's been 6 months already, and I am so grateful for the time I have had with him. To celebrate, he took me to White Rock Lake where we enjoyed a picnic he prepared of some of my favorite things- chicken salad, fruit, Dublin Dr Pepper, and dark chocolate peanut M&Ms! We watched the sunset, enjoyed the candlelight of the citronella candle (he was so prepared!), and reminisced our first date. We headed over to Lucky's Diner to enjoy some apple pie a la mode, then topped the evening off with a couple episodes of The Office. It was the perfect evening, and I am so thankful for our time together. I praise God for Mike and the blessing he is in my life- I am so lucky to be with such an amazing guy!

Wait...It's October?!?!

So when did that happen? I can't believe it's already October! I have to say that I am LOVING the beautiful weather. When I walk outside at 5:30 in the morning, the crisp air will really wake you up! But my favorite thing is the beautiful sunshine during the day- with mild temperatures and a slight breeze...it's been difficult to be stuck in my little windowless corner at work. But I am grateful for the nicer running weather (I think Sasha is too!) and the time I do get to spend outside.

Things are really busy at work right now, so I am operating on minimal sleep and additional coffee...ever feel like you are constantly crossing things off your to-do list and yet somehow it keeps growing? How does that happen? I am really having to focus and take things one minute at a time. Even writing this blog post is not technically on the to-do list and is therefore putting me farther behind. But I needed a break for just a minute where I wasn't thinking about conference calls, quarterly reports, claim research, annual meetings, etc.

I am very grateful for my job. Part of the exercise of writing this blog post is to remind myself of this. Don't get me wrong- I would much rather be busy than twiddling my thumbs at work. But in the midst of dealing with difficult clients and running on empty, it's way too easy for me to forget the blessings that the Lord has provided and to lose focus on the eternal plan that God has in all of it. While my job is difficult sometimes and I don't always enjoy the day-to-day tasks it involves, the reality is that God placed me in this job for a reason, and I don't want to waste the time He has me here. I don't want to become so busy with the work tasks that I forget the relationships and kingdom work that are on His heart- both in the office and outside of it. So that has been my prayer the last couple of weeks. Part of that begins with a change in my attitude toward my job. I confess that I have slipped into "discontent" mode (which is too quickly followed by "complaining" mode), and it's not honoring to the Lord. So I would appreciate prayer as I learn to focus on how the Lord can be honored in my role at work and how I can find joy in the midst of all circumstances.

Despite the fact I am constantly before the throne confessing my weakness before the Lord, He still finds ways to encourage and lift me up. Whether it be with the beautiful weather, a fun afternoon with Mike, an encouraging night with my sweet Bible study girls, or yummy pumpkin muffins from a sweet friend...I know I can lean on Him and He is going to carry me through. And in the process He's going to work a little on my heart, restore my spirit, and draw me closer to Him...

Point to Ponder

My mom forwarded me one of those "make you think" emails this morning, and I was struck by a statement at the end of the email:

"Too many Christians are no longer

fishers of men

but keepers of the aquarium."

When I first read it, I thought, "Aww that's cute. What a creative little play on words." But then I really thought about it and realized how much (sad) truth is in that statement. I'm pretty sure Jesus intended His followers to be the former, not the latter.

"And he said to them, 'Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.'"- Matthew 4:19

There is no extra statement that says "but some of you will be keepers of the aquarium instead." I don't mean to make light of the Word; it's just funny how we think sometimes. And it's disheartening how we live, even in light of what the Word says. Talk about convicting! So the point to ponder...am I living as a fisher of men or a keeper of the aquarium?

My Name is Written on His Heart

This morning I am blown away by the fact that the holy God of the universe loves me and wants to know me. Who am I that He is mindful of me, who am I that He cares for me? Tiny, insignificant, completely sinful me...and the Lord Almighty calls me His own and desires to be in relationship with me. My God loved me enough to die for me, and I am made holy because of His sacrifice. Before the foundations of the world, He wanted to call me His own and use me for His purposes. What an incredibly humbling reality to know that my name is written on God's heart...

Before the throne of God above
I have a strong, a perfect plea:
A great High Priest, whose name is Love,
Who ever lives and pleads for me.

My name is graven on his hands,
My name is written on his heart;
I know that while in heaven he stands
No tongue can bid me thence depart
No tongue can bid me thence depart.

When Satan tempts me to despair,
And tells me of the guilt within,
Upward I look, and see him there
Who made an end of all my sin.

Because a sinless Savior died,
My sinful soul is counted free;
For God, the Just, is satisfied
To look on Him and pardon me
To look on Him and pardon me

Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Praise the One, Risen Son of God!

Behold him there, the risen Lamb
My perfect, spotless righteousness,
The great unchangeable I am,
The King of glory and of grace!

One in himself, I cannot die
My soul is purchased by his blood
My life is hid with Christ on high,
With Christ, my Savior and my God
With Christ, my Savior and my God

If you have a relationship with Christ, I pray you live in the reality today that your name is written on His heart...

A (Broken and Contrite) Heart of Worship

This morning at the Gathering, we spent time in song and prayer through one of my favorite models/methods of coming before the Lord: A.C.T.S.

Adoration
Confession
Thanksgiving
Supplication

We read through verses and sang songs that pertained to each section, and it was such a sweet time of intimate worship with my Savior. I am so grateful for the humble leaders who desire for us to have a true heart of worship. So many times we as believers rush into a worship song, say a prayer, and get started with the message, forgetting the state of our hearts and the fact that we are entering into the presence of a HOLY God. Even in my study of Isaiah this week, we are reading about meaningless offerings that the Lord detests. It breaks my heart to think that I too often bring empty words to my Lord...He is worthy of so much more!

We tell ourselves and others that the Lord hears our prayers (which He does), but we must not forget that God desires a broken and contrite heart. And the reality is that God doesn't hear all of our prayers....

"When you spread out your hands in prayer, I will hide my eyes from you; even if you offer many prayers, I will not listen." ~ Isaiah 1:15

Israel had been worshipping with meaningless words and empty hearts, and the Lord refused to listen to their prayers. They had not repented of the sin in their lives and He hid His eyes from them. It really makes me stop and examine my own heart when I approach God in worship/prayer. Is my heart pure enough to approach the God of the universe? Please understand that I realize I am washed in the blood of the Lamb, and am therefore pure before God; it's the only way I have any opportunity to approach the throne of God. But my sin still mars my communication with the Lord. If my heart is not right before the Lord, my songs and prayers are meaningless. I love Psalm 51- we read it this morning and I have been meditating on it today...

"Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love, according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin!

For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment. Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me. Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being, and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart.

Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones that you have broken rejoice.

Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.

Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will return to you. Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, O God of my salvation, and my tongue will sing aloud of your righteousness. O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise.  For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it; you will not be pleased with a burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.

Do good to Zion in your good pleasure; build up the walls of Jersualem; then will you delight in right sacrifices, in burnt offerings and whole burnt offerings; then bulls will be offered on your altar."