Crazy Love

My friend Emily and I are reading this book called CRAZY LOVE by Francis Chan. Anyone ever read it before? I am not a huge reader. Unlike my husband who reads at least a book a week, I about a book or two a year. I'm just being honest...

But this book is kicking my butt. Emily had heard a lot about it and so we thought we'd give it a shot. 

Here are a few quotes from the latest chapter that have been speaking volumes to my life. I highly recommend the book.  Also, I Finally changed the song on the seeqpod over to the right---check it out. Awesome song.

Robert Murray M'Cheyne, Scottish pastor who died at the age of 29 (that's my age!)

"I am concerned for the poor, but more for you. I know not what Christ will say to you in the great day...I fear there are many hearing me who may know well that they are not Christians because they do not love to give. To give, largely and liberally, not grudgingly at all, requires a new heart; an old heart would rather part with its life-blood than its money. Oh my friends! Enjoy your money; make the most of it; give none away; enjoy it quickly for I can tell you, you will be beggars throughout eternity."  

I am not rich in the world's eyes. That's for sure. But I am rich. I have all I need and I certainly find myself wanting more, wishing for different and better things. That quote convicted me greatly.

Here's another good one.

Tim Kizziar:

"Our greatest fear as individuals and as a church should not be of failure but of succeeding at the things in life that don't really matter."

That one made me think because I can imagine what my relationship with Jesus would like if it was more frequently that I went to bed at night and actually thought to myself, wow--today I really succeeded at giving up what I think matters!! And, instead, today I focused on fixin up some of my soul-sickness, or my material lusts...or TODAY I actually loved people like Jesus wants me to. And the scary thing is that I come up with excuse after excuse after excuse about how busy I am or how stressed I am or how "important" I am or even just how tired and angry I am.  But God wants my best and He flat out deserves my best.

"It struck me that many Christians flash around their "no trans fat" labels, trying to convince everyone they are healthy and good. Yet they have no substantive or healthful elements to their faith.....God's definition of what matters is pretty straightforward. He measures our lives by how we love."  Paul says...even if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing." 

Honestly, I could keep going. But I have to go get my baby who just woke up. She doesn't like sleeping at nana and papa's house. We are here for a few nights cause we're doing some work at the house and needed to get outa there. :)

almost a month!

It has been so long since I've written on this blog. Here's what's been goin on this past month...

*Lots of ear infections and antibiotics (the first time we've ever experienced them in the Snow household). Both El and Ems got hit hard.

*Enjoying the good-weather-days that have been sprinkled in here and there and looking forward to more of those SOON!

*Had a great visit from Mimi (RD's mom) for a few days and experienced some of her yummy chocolate, some great talk time, and were blessed to see her persevering health and continuous strength

*P90X---that takes up an hour or more of my day 6 days a week. I just completed the first month of the 90 day extreme exercise program...and I played around with it for about a month before I officially dove into the program. It's been GREAT. A hard workout and it takes creativity in the planning of my week to fit it into my schedule, but I LOVE it!!

*Started planning and packing for our trip to Hilton Head next Friday, the 3rd. It's insane how much goes into a family vacation! My entire family is going with us to HH for that week, we are very excited. :)

*Trying to be diligent about only going to the grocery store once a week. I've been working on planning all of my meals a week in advance, making a master grocery list, and then getting it all done in one trip. It's been great for my sanity because I always know what's for dinner!!

*Working hard at school---lots of change happening there. Our language arts dept. is experiencing a face lift and it will indefinitely affect my job. I don't think in a hugely negative way (I still HAVE my part time job next year) but it will require a lot of work as my focus area will change

*A trip to the doctor for El in which I was convinced she had chicken pox...or at least a reaction to her vaccine a month ago. I don't know whether this is good or bad, but it WASN'T chicken pox. But rather....ladybug bites! Yeah, those dumb orange ones, the Asian bugs, that smell when you smoosh 'em. El's room gets quite a bit of these annoying visitors and we have been killing them left and right, ESPECIALLY since we've realized they are the culprits of her red bumps on her neck and face. My gosh how crazy!

*Incredibly proud of my husband who prepares amazing messages week after week and preaches them on Sunday mornings at our church. He is amazingly gifted and God has absolutely empowered him, and continues to empower him, to bring conviction, encouragement, and blessing to the people in our church. Our church family is growing and today in particular was a day I was reminded again that this whole shindig God called us to is NOT about us in anyway. God is driving this boat. And thank you Father God that that is the truth.
There are many days that we are beyond tired and need encouragement more than we could explain. But God always provides it. Always always always.

In fact just this week on Wednesday I prayed that God would literally interrupt RD's day and just bless him tremendously with some form of encouragement. I knew he needed it this week. Not even 30 min. after I prayed this, RD called me and said "I have great news!" He proceeded to tell me a great story about how his boss literally wedged his way into some major car trouble we had that day and needless to say, helped us take care of the issue. We were shocked---and yes, beyond blessed. God heard my prayer for my husband that day. He did indeed. He knew EXACTLY what RD needed and He made it happen.

Ok that's enough for tonight. More to come soon.