~My Husband Rocks!~ prayer

My husband rocks because he prays for me, he prays for our marriage, he prays for our ministry, and he prays with me! It doesn't get much better than that!

Acts Chapter 1

I have been studying the book of Acts for the last few weeks, and I was reviewing my notes from chapter 1 this morning. These are just my thoughts. I don't claim to be a great scholar or teacher, so please take this for what it's worth :)

Acts 1:12-24

v. 14 - "They all joined together constantly in prayer..."

This had to be such an incredible, but confusing time...in the past month and a half, the disciples have had the most extreme highs and lows. They went from Jesus's triumphal entry (probably thinking that NOW was the time for their Messiah to take His rightful place as King), to the last supper - intense teaching and relational time with Jesus - to having one of their own, the most-trusted treasurer no less, utterly betray their Rabbi. Christ's trial, Peter's denial, the agony of the crucifixion, three days of the most crushing despair and confusion (how could this man, their Messiah, have come to his end so violently and abruptly?) and fear (if this is how the leaders of the day had dealt with their leader, what was planned for the rest of them?) Then, miracle of miracles - literally - He's ALIVE!!!!!

Now they're more convinced than ever that the time has come for the Kingdom! They go through 40 INTENSE days of teaching and simply being with their Lord. In verse six they come right out and ask, "Is it time? Will you now restore the kingdom?" Christ informs them of the massive task they have in front of the (v. 7 "...to the ends of the earth.") No sooner has He said this than He's gone. Again. Except this time His departure is spectacular and mind-boggling. So stupefying that they're all standing around staring up at the sky until two angels literally have to stand "beside them" (v. 10) and say, "Why are you still looking up? Don't you remember? There's still so much to do down here! But don't worry, Jesus will come back just the same way you saw Him go!" paraphrase ( I don't know about you, but at that point I'd be pretty tempted to set up shop right there on the top of that mountain and keep an eye on the sky for the rest of my days!) They obediently go back to Jerusalem and "join together constantly in prayer."

I'm consistently amazed and encouraged by the incredible catalytic power the commonality of Christ provides for building relationships between believers all over the world, and what a blessing that has been for me and Austin throughout our travels. But this had to be so cosmically intense! After everything that had transpired over the previous three years, and especially the last 40 days - WOW!

God is good! Have a great Wednesday!

Motivate Me Monday ~ Speech

Watch the way you talk. Let nothing foul or dirty come out of your mouth. Say only what helps, each word a gift.

Don't grieve God. Don't break his heart. His Holy Spirit, moving and breathing in you, is the most intimate part of your life, making you fit for himself. Don't take such a gift for granted.

Make a clean break with all cutting, backbiting, profane talk. Be gentle with one another, sensitive. Forgive one another as quickly and thoroughly as God in Christ forgave you.
Ephesians 4: 29-32 (Msg.)

This is such a big one for me! Sometimes I feel like the filter I'm supposed to have between my brains and my mouth is defective, and I say the most cutting, unkind things. This week I have especially noticed that in relation to my poor hubby. It is so easy for me to snap back at him with the slightest (and sometimes no) provocation. Why is it that the people who we're supposed to love more than any other human in the entire world often end up taking the brunt of our ugly side while strangers and acquaintances only get to see our pretty side?

That's where I'm at this morning.

And I hate to brag, but as I write this post, I'm sitting in Aviano, Italy, looking out the kitchen window at a killer view of the Dolomites as the church bells ring throughout the city :) God loves me :)

Be the kind of person that when your feet hit the floor each morning, the devil looks up and says, "Oh, my, they're up!"

Worship and Praise Sunday - The Wonderful Cross

Good morning! Today is Sunday, and I am so excited because we are attending an Italian church today! The entire service will be in Italian (so we will not understand everything), but it is going to be so amazing to fellowship with believers halfway around the world! The commonality of Christ is the most incredible bond, and it has been so wonderful to build friendships and relationships with brothers and sisters of all different languages and nationalities and colors and shapes and sizes!

Today I'm participating in Worship and Praise Sunday, hosted by Jen at Following the Footsteps!

I chose The Wonderful Cross. The lyrics to the original hymn are by Katherine Scott, and I'm not sure whether Michael W. Smith or Matt Redman added the contemporary chorus, but I know both have performed it. The video is Matt Redman's version.

Before we left Colorado, my Aunt Geri encouraged us to "bask in God's love for us," so when I heard the verse that I emphasized below I was totally blown away! God's love for us is so extravagant and inconceivable and outrageous - how could I do anything but give him "my heart, my life, my all!"



When I survey the wondrous cross
On which the Prince of Glory died
My Richest gain I count but loss
And pour contempt on all my pride

See from His head His hands His feet
Sorrow and love flow mingled down
Did e'er such love and sorrow meet
Or thorns compose so rich a crown

Oh the wonderful cross (2x)
Bids me come and die and find
that I may truly live

Oh the wonderful cross (2x)
All who gather here by grace
draw near and bless your name

Were the whole realm of nature mine
That were an off'ring far too small
Love so amazing so divine
Demands my soul, my life, my all

Oh the wonderful cross (2x)
Bids me come and die and find
that I may truly live

Oh the wonderful cross (2x)
All who gather here by grace
draw near and bless your name

Love so amazing, so divine
Demands my soul, my life, my all

and the beauty and the shame
in the glory of His name
Oh the wonderful cross

Oh the wonderful cross (2x)
Bids me come and die and find
that I may truly live

Oh the wonderful cross (2x)
All who gather here by grace
draw near and bless your name

My prayer for you all today is that you would just rest in God's love for you!

~ My Husband Rocks! ~ Friday - Adventurous

Click here to read about why I started MHR Fridays!

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One of the things I love the most about Austin is how adventurous he is, and how willing he is to try new things! In our new life, that's something that has, and will continue to, serve him very well!


Here's a couple of examples from the past couple of weeks. Last weekend, on our way between Pisa and Aviano, we stopped overnight in the Cinque Terre (which is absolutely incredible, btw). We got dinner at this adorable little restaurant, and Austin ordered the pesto lasagna, because we had been told that we had to try the pesto in Vernazza, and he had been dying to have lasagna in Italy. He thought that what he ordered was a piece of meaty, red-sauced lasagna with a side of pasta au pesto. Much to his surprise, the waiter brought him green lasagna.


He kind of laughed at the situation, then dug right in. As we were leaving the restaurant, I asked him if he enjoyed his Italian eating experience and he said, "It was pretty good, but I think I prefer the penne with the pesto." We both looked at each other and then burst out laughing because that was a sentence I never thought I'd hear my husband say, lol!

The other instance occurred earlier this week. Working with military contractors on bases definitely has its perks. One of which is the use of the on base gym and fitness center. Monday after work we joined one of the MCYM staff members at the gym for a "Turn & Burn" class. Forty five minutes of spinning followed by 45 minutes of power yoga. It's quite the workout, and the trainer was really fun, but I was most impressed with my adorable hubby who participated in both spinning and yoga and gave every position a try! He even did his breathing right!!! :) There was another spinning class on Wednesday evening, so we took our gym clothes with us to work that day. As we were leaving the house, Austin said, "I'm glad it's just spinning tonight, not spinning followed by yoga." Another one of those sentences I never expected to come out of his mouth!

He would tell you that he's not a very adventurous eater and that he's pretty picky, but as you can tell, he'll try just about anything once! I LOVE that about him! My husband so totally rocks! :)

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As always, on Fridays Union 28 will refund your shipping on any order of two or more items if you mention the great adventure and ~my husband rocks! Fridays~ in the "how did you hear about us?" section of your order form, so run on over there and check them out, too! Thank you Union 28!

Hope you have a fantastic Friday, and a wonderful week!

Awesome Message from Beth Moore

I just love this video from Beth Moore's blog :) I just love Beth Moore's blog in general, heck I just love Beth Moore! If you have never done one of her Bible studies, or visited her blog, you are truly missing out. She is definitely one of my heroes in the faith and one of the people that I cannot wait to meet (here, there, or in the air as Austin likes to say, lol)!

This video has been such an encouragement to me, I watch it over and over again because I think it is just such a great reminder, so I thought I'd share it with you all :) She actually posted it on her blog in November, and I've been meaning to repost since then, but this got lost in my "Drafts" folder! Hope you enjoy it!

Siesta Video Message from LPV on Vimeo.

To see the original post on her blog, click here!

Love y'all! Have a great Tuesday!