Endurance

It is great when there are days that are filled with laughter and joy. However, we all have those days that are not, that we really have to push to get through them. When faced with those days, I have been encouraged by the words in James.

1: 2-4 “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. 4And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing”. NAS

It is amazing to think that our trials can be used by the Lord to draw us close to HIM, and to produce in us this kind of endurance making us complete. I have been reflecting on the endurance Jesus had to face-- the cross-- a trial I will never have to face because he did it for me. Yet, these trials I face produce that same endurance Jesus had. WOW.

“1Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. 2Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart”. Hebrew 12:1-3 NIV

I pray today that at whatever crossroads you find yourself, you will have the strength to consider it JOY and know it is producing endurance in you.
(from my devotion at work I am writing)

Nate

Today I am writing about Nate. Here he is in the moment of teaching at youth. He is such a great leader and friend to us all. He loves sharing what he is learning and what God is showing him. He truly takes the servant leader approach in his lifestyle. He always wants to put others first and as he would say "Get in the ditch with them". One thing is for sure, if he knows you and loves you, he will fight for you with whatever obstacle is in the way.

Nate is also a fun loving crazy guy who loves to make people laugh... he will do some little crazy dance in the middle of a restaurant, or sing at the top of his lungs to get you going. Recently, we went to see my cousins, Adam and Paul, at a Gardner Webb football game. At the game Nate shouted loud enough he got picked to play deal or no deal. It was even more exciting when he got the entire stadium involved in yelling and helping him choose what chic-fila prize he wanted. It was so funny that I had friends I hadn't seen in years on the opposing team say they heard it and thought... that must be Joni's husband... and they had never met him before either. All this to say Nate is such a wonderful guy and today the whole world will know why :)

Don't waste your life

A few weekends ago, we went to see LeCrae, our favorite christian rapper, in Charlotte. It was awesome! He has a song "Don't waste your life", and it is definitely my favorite song. It was inspired by one of John Piper's books "Don't waste your life". I have been thinking about that alot lately. My focus, my priorities, my time. It's all about HIM and all for HIM. I don't wanna waste my life!
Go check out the song here: http://www.myspace.com/lecrae

Today is our 4 year anniversary. Lots has happened in the last 4 years. Not even a photobook or journal could tell all the stories. It is amazing to see how we have changed over the years and have grown more in our relationship with Jesus and each other. Everyday we learn something new about one another and our hopes and dreams. Our favorite memory so far from this year is our trip we just took to Roan Mountain, TN. It was a great time of reflection on our life in this small town and peaceful cabin. Our days were filled sitting on the deck while it rained and just laughing.

We started writing little devotionals at work and this is the one I shared.

“One thing I ask of the LORD, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple” Psalm 27:4

Often, the Lord will invite me to stop and slow down in my day. (For me that is hard to do).
It is when I stop, I hear him say GAZE, and linger here in my beauty, in my presence. It is amazing how all my stress, all my disappointments, all my sin is changed, is gone when I dwell in HIS house, and HE is all that matters to me. Not the world or anything of it, just HIM.

I pray we have time to stop and gaze upon the beauty of the Lord today, and are changed by HIS presence.

Nate and I had a great Christmas break. First, we had a much needed vacation to Gatlinburg, TN. We made great memories and lots of laughs, and listened to some life changing sermons. Then we headed to Hickory to see my family and Chapel Hill to see Nate's family. Most importantly we celebrated the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ.