life(style)--a bit of goodness

breakfast in bed with my mister

homemade pop-tarts are delightful 

you can find the recipe at the Culinary Couture blog

hafa adai and g'morning from guam

Liberation of the Soul

Today is the 71st Liberation Day on Guam. We celebrate the freedom of our island and honor the sacrifices made. Copious amounts of red rice, ribs, and finadene will be consumed. Fireworks will blast all night, and my dogs will go crazy. It will be a loud and lovely day as we remember.  Liberation is beautiful, because captivity is ugly.

"He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins" 

(Colossians 1:13-14)

And I think about my soul and every soul, bound, captive before Jesus Christ. The liberation He offers is perfect and beautiful, because our captivity to sin is horrific. But sometimes I forget that He is our only hope. Sometimes I think that people earn their favor with God by being nice and obeying all the rules.

The lie about soul liberation is that we can earn it.

We churched ones can grow up wearing the idea, wearing it like clothing against our chests, that people can attain perfection in and of themselves. Every day we have donned these rags. Others earn our respect based on how well they obey all the rules--or how much it looks like they are, and we earn theirs the same way.

This garment is tight and restricting; we are suffocated, our breath of joy restrained. Too distracted by these binding clothes to understand true love, we are robbed of knowing who Jesus is.

Legalism can be accidental, but it is still deadly.

We believe there is a formula, a checklist, that if followed, will constitute success, respect, forgiveness. The formula becomes our god, the checklist our security blanket.

Bowing to the religion of us, we forget.

“For it is by grace...” Grace, this warrior word that defies our human prejudices and presuppositions. Grace that crashes us to our knees in relief. On our knees has always been our strongest place, because it is the place where His hand extends.

But sometimes I avoid it, because I prefer to make it about me. Grace is always about Jesus.

The joy of Jesus’ death and resurrection is that we needed it. If we could earn our way there, what does the rest even mean?

Does His grace demand our love and, in turn, obedience? Of course. But the fight for the liberation of our souls has already been fought on the cross (Romans 10:9-10, Philippians 3:4-11). And that is a reason to surrender and celebrate!

Keep the Faith,
Audrey Ann

Photo credit: www.nps.gov

The Night I Saw the Thief Run: Reflections on "Silent Night"

The radio doesn't work in my truck. On most days I find it good discipline to drive in silence--think, or pray. But one evening I really wanted to listen to Christmas music, so I brought along our i-pad and turned on my (overly used) Christmas playlist. This year I have discovered the Christmas album by Pentatonix, and it is phenomenal.

During my drive home, I was listening to their version of "Silent Night," and I passed a roadside restaurant known for its fabulous chicken-on-a-stick (it's also known for MSG, so I have to limit my visits). It was one of those slow motion moments: a teenage boy darted down the road, pumping his arms and holding a huge bag of food, while another teenage boy chased him. An old woman yelled. The first boy dropped the bag of food. And my heart dropped a little.

Silent Night. Humph, seems like a bunch of chaos all around. Who needs the news to tell us this world is crazy? We know. 

Silent night, holy night

All is calm, all is bright

Was Bethlehem really quiet that night Jesus was born? I doubt it. There was a census taking place and Roman/Jewish conflict. Oh, how the conflicts have continued--down the street and across the globe. But this we also know: even though this world is clamoring all around us, HE IS the calm, and HE IS bright. He calmed the storm for the disciples and He calms the storms in our souls. And He is the Light of the World who brightens all things, and helps us to understand what is going on around us. 

We grope for answers, when we forget to grope for Him.

Maybe your house is noisy. Maybe your heart is noisy. Maybe the idea of a silent night seems impossible. But it's not about volume, or pitch, or frequency. It's about peace. And HE IS the Prince of Peace. 

Surrender your heart to Him, and while the world around you will continue to make quite a racket, you will experience His holiness, and you will experience a silent night in the truest form: a night where your worries rest in Him.

Keep the Faith,

Audrey Ann

"For He Himself is our peace…" Ephesians 2:14a

Credit: "Silent Night" by Joseph Mohr
Image: Google images/Free clip art/clipartpanda.com

The Wonder and Antics of Advent

It is that beautiful waiting--that stomach-fluttering sensation with eyes wide open in bed. Christmas is coming. The house feels stuck in time with a soft glow as Mama and Dad shuffle around downstairs. I can hear Mama say, "Jon, where's that other roll of tape?" Christmas is tomorrow. Breathing deeply I can still smell the candle-blown-out smell from my Christmas Eve candle I got to carry to bed all by myself.  

About once a week leading up to Christmas, our family would do Advent devotionals. Sometimes we missed a week, and sometimes we forgot and only did it Christmas Eve, but it was always so special and so important. There was the gold wreath, holding four candles and one in the middle-- one for each of us to light. Dad would read scripture verses about Jesus in Isaiah and Luke, and one of my brothers would attempt to blow out the candles with puffs of breath, pretending to hide his antics from Dad. We snickered and shifted, trying to find a comfy position on the floor.  There was a warmth and anticipation that enveloped us in our flannel pajamas and slippers we had outgrown years ago. My family has this thing with traditions.

Those advent devotionals taught me about living in remembrance of the Gospel and never forgetting the holiness and specialness of our Lord, our continual inadequacy, and His continual love. Now I realize that those nights were a picture of our lives.  Even though we can sit still better than when we were young, we never truly grow out of our antics. We recognize the glory of God, but still seem to fidget with the cares of this world, both the things we love and the things we fear. 

In Christ's holiness and in the expectancy of His second coming, we are less than we should be. We wiggle and squirm, our mannerisms often irreverent. But He came all the same. He came to glorify the Father and save us. So recognize the beauty of this moment and take a few to remember and wait, remember how He came and wait with joy for His return. Maybe you're worried that you did not get so-and-so a good present, or maybe you can't find the other roll of tape. It's okay. Light a few candles for Advent, read some scriptures, and let the flame remind you of the Light of the World who came to rescue you and will descend again. Christmas is coming.

Keep the Faith,

Audrey Ann

P.S. Interested in trying an Advent devotional (in addition to scripture reading)? It's not too late! Here are a few ideas:

The Greatest Gift by Ann Voskamp

The Dawning of Indestructible Joy by John Piper

God Is in the Manger by Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Image Credit: Google Images/mattressessale.eu

Planning on Porn and Planning to Die: Lies We Believe

"Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? 

You are not your own..."

1 Corinthians 6:19

Besides the horrors of ISIS, Ebola, and the constant turmoil that is Washington D.C., two other stories have shoved to the front of the line. The first is about a young woman, Brittany Maynard, who is planning to legally take her life in a few weeks, and the other is about Jennifer Lawrence and how she addressed the nude pictures of herself that were shared against her will, saying that in a long distance relationship, either your boyfriend will view you or pornography.

First of all, let me be clear that I have NO IDEA what it must feel like to have terminal brain cancer, facing fears for your family and loved ones, and living with a body that is very much not under your control. And I am very sorry for Laurence and the embarrassment and pain this crime against her has caused. Both of these women seem to be seeking dignity with their lives, and seeking to help others who are having similar struggles. I commend them for that.

In certain articles, both of the stories included the word "Beautiful" in the titles. However, there is an underlying, sad kind of ugliness to them that cannot be masked with the false veil of heroism. The wrapping may be pretty, but the gift is a nightmare. 

These stories have a common denominator: they both attempt to answer the question, "What does it mean to be human?" This is one of the BIG questions of life, a catch phrase in my Worldview class, and generally something I tend to throw into conversations only to hear a very loud lull. 

But what does it mean to be human? If human life is all about what we want and how we choose to make ourselves happy, then why not end your life early, and why not send nude pictures across your phone or even share those photos with others? And as in the case of Maynard, you might financially help out your family. This could appear like a good choice, the right choice. 

We as Americans are people of choice. Don't you dare take away my choices, fool! This is 'MURICA. I deserve my "me" time, my Starbucks, and my organic-super-expensive skincare. This is my body, and I can do what I want with it AND with any other life inside of it. So there. 

But it doesn't work that way. It just doesn't. The truth is that our bodies are not our own. And this makes them infinitely more special than if they were just ours, mere accidents having evolved from oozing muck. Instead, we were purposely formed from the mire, each one of us known by the Creator. Our days are numbered by Him, and our bodies are supposed to be for His glory, not meat for men. God gave us a purpose and a role as unique, choice-making beings. This is what it means to be human.

"Planned dying" could lead the way for other horrors to be legalized or even mandated. These kind of stories tend to have a ripple effect. And you don't have to show your boyfriend pornography of yourself to keep him. In fact, if he asks, you should certainly lose him...and fast.

Again, my heart goes out to both women. I wish I could tell them that Jesus Christ loves them, and and that there is another way, a better way. His always is.

Keep the Faith,
Audrey Ann

Photo Credit: Marvelous Things Photography by Tori Watson

A Year of Christmas: Whoops, I Broke the Rule

As we approach the fall season, which is followed by the holidays, I feel that I must share a dark secret, a very dark secret, indeed. I have broken a cardinal rule. This entire year I have been listening to Christmas music. Bless my husband's heart, it has not even been a wide, Pandora Station variety. Nope, just the fairly small playlist on our iPad. Over and over again, folks. 

As a little girl, my favorite day of the year was the day after Thanksgiving. Waking early, I would run to the living room and turn on our giant, this-is-so-the-nineties stereo and play Christmas music from our favorite CDs and cassette tapes. It was a most glorious moment. Waiting made it special. Waiting makes a lot of things special.

Yet, during this year of transition and missing my family, listening to comforting music about the triumph of Jesus and reminders of "the most wonderful time of the year" was just what I needed. It especially has been my companion for waking and baking.

Although I have tried to play it mostly when Eric is gone, sometimes he has turned it on for me--even the ancient Amy Grant album. Now, that is love. *Insert swoon here*

(It's legendary, I promise.)

There are moments I wonder if I will regret playing the music with such frequency--will I treasure it less this coming holiday season? And I may or may not have watched White Christmas several times. After my mother reads this, there is a good chance I will be disowned. Your condolences are appreciated.

Not only have I broken the family rule, but I have also broken my own rule. When stores play Christmas music the first of November, it screams of commercialism: "Let's play Christmas music as early as possible to sucker them all into buying more!" Cue the steam coming out of my ears. And yet, that's not what Christmas music means to me.

Every day is for celebrating the birth of Jesus, and the rebirth He has given us. I come from charismatic roots, and those roots involved much joyful singing (and loud singing).Why don't we sing "O Holy Night" or "Joy to the World" throughout the year? Well, perhaps it is because we are creatures of habit, or perhaps it is because throughout the millenniums, God's people have celebrated certain acts of God at certain times. He is a God of order. The ebb and flow create a rhythm of our culture as people who love Him. And I like that. 

But this year, Christmas music served as a daily reminder: a reminder of His faithfulness, His hope, and His JOY. 

Merry Not-Yet-Christmas, everyone!

Keep the Faith,

Audrey Ann

Photo 1: Google (free) Images/www.cafeselavy.com

Photo 2: Google (free) Images/ex.wikipedia.org

The Unadventure: Everyday Tasks with Eternal Perspective

"Teach me the happy art of attending to things 

temporal with mind intent on things eternal."

The Valley of Vision

There are many wonders about island life. There are also many lies. There's this one about how I lie on the beach all day sipping smoothies to a live reggae band, breeze in my hair and enticing novel in my hand. But I don't. 

Perhaps once a month there will be a magical day like that, but most days are ordinary days, days much like anywhere else. I stand in grocery store lines and swerve to avoid hitting people in traffic. I feel too far from certain people I love.

I do laundry, make dinner for my husband, and sweep the floor. I yell at Sue (the dog) to stop barking at the poor cat who broke her leg and subsequently took Sue's favorite shaded spot. And I open my arms wide, hoping to get some breeze. It can be so very hot. Shirts do not last me very long here. Just sayin'.

The island is great for adventure, from hiking, to snorkeling, to interacting with so many diverse cultures. I love it. However, it is not those activities that define my time here. It's playing with my dog. It's kissing my husband goodnight at the fire station and driving home alone. It's laughing at the hilarious toddlers we teach in Sunday school who always think Eric is my dad.

There are days I have looked down into the sink and thought, what am I doing with my life?! And then God reminds me that living for Him involves the everyday things, the mundane things, the boring things.Sometimes those are the greatest mountains we can know.  

All these "little tasks" are ways to take care of my family and can be ways of showing Christ's love and commitment.

Am I doing these things with joy, with love for Him and trust in Him? Sure, wild adventures are great, but it seems to me that what defines a person's character is not what they do when the epic music is playing in the background, but what they do when it's not. 

Those dishes matter. That laundry matters. They matter because the people using them matter. And while Jesus performed miracles for a few years, it seems that He spent most of His time on earth in His dad's shop. Just remember that. 

Keep the Faith,

Audrey Ann

Photo Credit: Google (free) Images/allkyhoops.com

DON'T Let It Go: Pull Yourself Together, Sweetheart

One of last year's favorite songs was "Let It Go" from Disney's princess movie, Frozen. Dragging my kind husband to the theatre, I watched with bated breath, and enjoyed the cute film about two young princesses looking for love and the freedom to be themselves. It was both sweet and surprising, had lovely graphics, and overall I enjoyed it very much. The music was powerful and reminiscent of the Beauty and the Beast era of animated fairytales. 

"Let It Go" was heard everywhere, from the little girl in Sunday School, to television, to moms making renditions on youtube. I even heard it during my trip to Cambodia! The song is ridiculously catchy, and it was heralded as a beautiful song for young girls and all female-kind. I read a blog post of a father telling how the song was a great leap for all women, as there are many false expectations that are felt due to the culture. 

And I understand. There are few things more invigorating than "letting your hair down" and "dancing like no one's watching." I love being authentic. Life is so flat and false, otherwise. But while I agreed in part (I am a woman and know society's pressures), something else gnawed at me: we seem to be "letting go" of everything, and there will be a price to pay. 

                                                                                                                                                        

It's time to see what I can do

To test the limits and break through

No right, no wrong, no rules for me I'm free!

Let it go, let it go

This is the current mantra: "No right, no wrong, no rules for me I'm free!" Inhibitions equal limitations, and absolute beliefs equal chains. "Don't tell ME what to do! I decide!" From our bodies, to our language, to the way we treat others, we are just letting it all go. How long will it be until we have nothing left? Perhaps we should keep some of it together. 

Contrary to popular opinion, there IS right and wrong and having an overt absence of rules never leads to freedom, but rather folly. This kind of ideology leads to such a silly and selfish view of the world, let alone completely opposite of God's loving order and authority He put in place.

Rules are like fences. They are meant to keep us safe, not bound. When we place ourselves under God, we are both bound to Him and free in Him. But there is never true freedom unless there is surrender. Imagine if our country had no rules. Well…maybe we shouldn't imagine that. 

I realize that some religious and political groups have severely overstepped their boundaries and left many with such a disdain for authority and rules. This is legitimate, but may we not allow the hurts and abuses of the past to grant us a false entitlement to make chaos of our lives.

So go ahead and let it go a bit. Do a crazy dance, wear a crazy outfit. But pull some of it together. We need you too much.

"You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love.  The entire law is summed up in a single command: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'" 

Galations 5:13-14

Keep the Faith,

Audrey Ann

Photo Credits: 

Photo 1: Disney/Google Images/starburstmagazine.com

Photo 2: Disney/ Google Images/chicagonow.com

"Let It Go"-written by Robert Lopez and Kristen Anderson-Lopez

performed by Idina Menzel

This Genocide

 children who fled the violence in Mosul

There is so much noise, so much clamor. I open up cnn.com with one hand over my eyes. I don't really want to know; I want to pretend it has all died down. It's just another "run-of-the-mill," Middle Eastern conflict, right? And then I hear of children beheaded…systematically, the man said. It is chaos, this world. The persecution of Christians has been going on since Christ's return to heaven, and it's been rapidly rising in the last century, but now it makes the news...even the liberal news. My people, God's people, are hurting, being forced from their homes with only the clothes on their backs. It is that or death. It shakes me, jars me, and reminds me of the reason for living: Jesus, and that this war (not merely of flesh and blood) is real.

I go to Pinterest to get my mind off of it. "Paleo dinners," "fall styles," and "small home decor" are my search titles. But I am really searching for escape, for peace, for forgetfulness. I skip over to Facebook and find my friend, Carrie (missionary to Cambodia) facing things head-on and offering ways to get involved and help the situation. She's one of those who faces things. I want to be one of those, too.

children from Mosul carrying water to refugee camp

Opening my Bible, I read these beautiful verses of response when David was dealing with those who would cause harm to God's people: 

"But let all those rejoice who put their trust in You; let them ever shout for joy, because You defend them…for You, O Lord, will bless the righteous; with favor You will surround him as with a shield." Psalm 5:11a, 12

"Be angry and do not sin. Meditate within your heart on your bed, and be still. Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and put your trust in the Lord." Psalm 4:4-5

Sometimes when atrocities occur (such as the beheading of children), we are tempted to question how God can truly be there with them and allow it to happen...at least I do. But He is there, and He WILL be there with them and meet them on the other side. This conflict began with Ishmael and Isaac (the account starts in Genesis 15) and it will only end with Jesus. 

Watch the video:

And here are some ideas of how to be involved:

5 THINGS YOU CAN ACTUALLY DO TO HELP

Keep the Faith,

Audrey Ann

Photo 1 credit: REUTERS/Ahmed Jadallah

Photo 2 credit: pinned by Kurdo K on Pinterest

Waiting Is an Action Verb

"Annnnd...ACTION!" You don't have to look very hard to realize that as a culture, we are addicted to action, to adventure, and to thrills. From movies to Go-Pro cameras, we are always looking for the next adrenaline fix. We connect such escapades with the value of a life. "He went skydiving! He is so lame," said no one ever. We feel that a quiet life is a waste, right? So, punch your fist in the air and shoot off into the galaxy, just like Superman. Oh, wait. That's pretend.

My husband is a firefighter. And while there is much to be done in other areas of his job (medicals, flight line emergencies, etc), there just aren't that many fires around here. Due to frequent storms and the mold caused by humidity, island homes are principally made from concrete, rather than wood. Therefore, they are quite resistant to flames.

But his job is not merely to fight fires, it is to be ready to fight fires. He has spent thousands of hours training (both himself and others), pouring over literature, practicing with the trucks, and organizing materials. I am so proud of him.

Isn't he darling?

                                                    

We say we want the battlefield of life: the front lines, the excitement. However, are we willing to train in the quiet moments? Are we willing to sweat and study when the pressure is off? Are we willing to wait?

Waiting is an action verb. It requires discipline, resolve, and choosing to make the most of the moment, even when that moment does not offer what you want. 

I remember when I was praying and hoping for my future husband, I learned that waiting was one of the greatest challenges. And the waiting continues for our entire lives. We are always waiting, waiting for that next thing we desire in life. Perhaps it's a spouse, perhaps a child, a job, a house, a severed relationship we want mended, or maybe it's just a well-deserved nap.

But true waiting is not sitting idle. Waiting involves trusting in God and doing what is necessary to prepare. It requires faith and steadfast courage on the days when hope seems futile and our dreams like fairytales in another tongue. 

There are days I feel like certain dreams may never be fulfilled, but as I lay them before my Savior, I realize that He does not require me to have the answers of tomorrow. He simply wants me to do my best with today, to prepare, to work, to train for that next thing. Even if I never see that dream come to fruition, I know that I will see my Lord one day. In the end, all we are really waiting on is Him. And as we wait, He is there. 

Keep the Faith,
Audrey Ann

"Lead me in your truth and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation; for You I wait all the day long."

Psalm 25:5

Of Water and Sacrifice

Growing up, one of the morning rituals for my mom was to go outside and water her flowers. She had some amazing flower beds and taught me that every home needs some flowers growing around it, even if it is just a few.

Now that I have my own place, I have planted a few flowers (nothing like my mama's) and enjoy the pop of color and life they bring. We have a large, green watering pot, but many times I simply use an empty Folger's coffee container to water the flowers. The container sits in the same spot, under the spout for Sue, our remaining dog, and I water the flowers and fill it up again for her.

It is an old, ordinary, plastic container, and it is certainly nothing at which to look. On its own, it is worth diddly-squat. But that does not matter, because it holds the elixir of life: water. What matters is not the carrier, but what is carried. What matters is not the vessel, but what is brought. And so it is with us: it is what's poured out that matters.

Ugo Bassi, a preacher and writer of the 1800s penned these words:

          Measure thy life by loss instead of gain;

          Not by the wine drunk but by the wine poured forth;

          For love's strength standeth in love's sacrifice

And what is this water of life to be poured forth? It is the love of Christ, love that we cannot earn or buy, only freely accept and offer to others by sacrificing our lives. We don't have to thirst, and we don't have to be empty (even if there are days we feel we are). The Water of Life comes from a well that will never run dry. He promised. 

"But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life." John 4:14 (NLT)

Keep the Faith,
Audrey Ann


Photo Credits: Google Images/www.freephotosandart.com

Weekend Wonders: Photos of Serendipities: Palm Trees and A Path Less Taken

A few days ago my husband and I, along with some new friends, went for a hike to San Carlos Falls. We had all been there before, but we were excited to see it again, due to the recent rain. Hoping it would be a great, rushing sight to behold, we were not disappointed (except for the onslaught of fat mosquitoes).

However, it was not the falls that spoke to me this time--it was a palm tree. No, I am not the Disney Pocahontas who sings to the foliage while leaves whirl around my head, but I am sure God teaches us through the beauty and wonder of nature.

While hundreds of other palms trees, surrounding the flowing stream, shot straight towards the sky, there was one that did not. It, too, needed the water and sunlight. But it chose a different path, a path less taken. This beautiful palm tree found a new way to live and even though it looks bizarre, it is also striking and lovely. 

Sometimes I have felt like this palm tree: a little weird, a little strange. Haven't we all? There is a line from "What a Girl Wants" with Amanda Bynes that has a grip on me (despite its cheesiness). Daphne, Bynes' character, has a cute male counterpart who asks her, "Why are you trying to fit in, when you were born to stand out?" 

There is nothing inherently wrong with conventionality, and being odd just for cheap attention and notoriety is completely useless and can even be harmful. But merely "going with the flow" to be accepted or avoid all conflicts can hold us back, especially if there is something more beautiful beckoning us to go a different way.

And if you love Jesus, He made it pretty clear that the way to follow Him would be narrow and far less popular. If there are days you become discouraged with your life, or you are afraid to take that first step down the different path, the different way, just remember the palm tree on the way to San Carlos Falls. It went a different way and ended up being rather remarkable.

Keep the Faith, 

Audrey Ann

Hosting Is Scary

"Nobody cares!" I told her. "The house looks fine."  I huffed and puffed, while my mom continually cleaned the house before guests would arrive. Back then I prided myself on my "chill" attitude about people coming to visit. And then I got married and had my own place. 

I have been married just over a year, and due to our home being a studio apartment, there was a time I felt we could not truly host like I wanted. Instead of seeing the potential, I saw the inadequacies. I saw the tiny indoors, instead of the plentiful yard. But once I was able to see the potential, my husband and I dubbed ourselves the "Bonfire People." He dug a fire pit, we bought a few chairs, a fold-up table, and some pretty, twinkly lights. And before long, we had a cute little outdoor setting.

Besides, we all know that true hospitality has little to do with the house, and more to do with the heart of the home--what you feel as you walk in, the way you are greeted, and invited to relax. The most beautiful thing about your home cannot be purchased. 

I have been able to experience true hospitality from several families. They had very different houses, but they all made me feel like I was both a special visitor and that I was one of the family. 

In particular, I had just flown from Guam to Texas for my friend's wedding. We all stayed at her future in-laws. The large, country home was bursting at the seams with wedding paraphernalia and people. And even in the clamor, their home was so very welcoming, and I felt so very comfortable.

About the second day, I was delirious from the 13 hour time difference, and stayed back one afternoon to nap, while everyone else ran around finishing wedding details. Shuffling downstairs to the kitchen, I found myself opening the pantry door to rummage around for a snack. I thought to myself, "Audrey Ann! What are you doing? You don't even know these people! Your mother would be ashamed!"

But the beauty of their home was the way I felt free to find a snack in their pantry, and they way they invited me for morning coffee on their porch, the day before their son's wedding. In essence, the beauty of their home was that they cared; they cared about me.

If the goal of hosting is to show off your home or your cooking skills or even (in our case) your bonfire-making skills, you have missed the point. It is always about showing people the love and care of Jesus. As my pastor said, "Make your home an embassy for Christ." I would also add, make it a haven. There is so much craziness in this world, and so many people need a place where they are safe, cared for, and can even rummage through your pantry (on rare occasions like jet lag).

Keep the Faith,

Audrey Ann

Photo 1: Google Images/dwnloadwallpapers.com

Photo 2: Norman Rockwell/Google Images/mosbybuildingarts.com

What My Puppy's Death Taught Me

Remember my first installment of "Weekend Wonders" where I talked about the puppies? Since then I have come to recognize, even more, the importance of always thanking God in the moment and loving those around us, taking no gift for granted.

Within a period of four days, my husband and I lost two of "our" puppies to Parvo (it seems). The dogs technically belonged to a neighbor, but we trained them, loved on them, and helped take care of them. They shared our front porch and greeted us at the gate. But they were not ours, and so we did not decide whether or not they went to the vet for their shots. And perhaps they would have become sick, regardless.

Staying up late into the night with the little puppy as she suffered, wheezed, and bled, I realized that my precious little Beanie was a picture of this world. She was a picture of our lives. An adorable, sweet, baby puppy was dying a painful death. In our world there is fleeting beauty and innocence, but it is vulnerable to sickness and will never survive on this side of heaven. 

In Keep a Quiet Heart, Elisabeth Elliot said, "…God has allowed in the lives of each of us some sort of loss, the withdrawal of something we valued, in order that we may learn to offer ourselves a little more willingly, to allow the touch of death on one more thing we clutched so tightly, and to know fullness and freedom and joy that much sooner. We're not naturally inclined to love God and seek His Kingdom. Trouble may help to incline us--that is, it may tip us over, put some pressure on us, lean us in the right direction."

On Sunday we said goodbye to some dear friends who are leaving the island--their kids are bundles of joy, and the husband and wife are good friends and examples to us. We really love them. 

Today I broke one of my favorite tea cups. It shattered all over the floor with the sharpest crash.

These are small losses. Believe me, I know. I have watched people bury their little children. I have watched people die of cancer. I have watched mothers become widows. 

But I have also watched God give new life and love to those who knew such grief.

There are bleak days and there are sunny days, but certain losses will always, in our hearts, penetrate both. Just remember that Jesus is with His children. And He is coming back. Let that hope and this world's pain lean you closer to Him. Of all the beauties in this life, He is the most beautiful.

Keep the Faith, 

Audrey Ann

Moderation: Confessions of a Secret Foodie

Do you know what makes me flap-my-flippers-like-a-seal in excitement? Donuts--the plain, glazed kind. Add a fresh cup of coffee, and I am in wonderland. 

There are so many tasty treats and so many types of delightful cuisine. I try to be healthy, and sometimes even get teased about "eating like a bird" or "dieting", but the truth is…I love food. 

A few of my best friends are the types of people who forget to eat. This baffles me. Forgetting to eat has never happened to me. I do not forget. But with my short frame, a few pounds here and there seem to add up quickly, so I try to keep it under control. It has been the struggle of my life. 

Around the time of college it was at its worst. Although I was never emaciated and actually looked really good and healthy on the outside, I was not healthy on the inside. My mind was obsessed with being thin.

Thankfully I moved on from that, but then due to a particular stress in my life after college, I began to binge eat, cereal being my food of choice. And I would tell myself I would start a super intense diet…the next day. I was trying to fill the deep hole of sadness and loneliness, but overeating only made me feel more insecure and full of guilt. 

The problem? I was looking to food for comfort--just like others might look to drugs, alcohol, or sex. Sure, I was never obese, but I was miserable, and my heart was so very, very heavy. I avoided going out places, and I was jealous of my friends who were thinner than me.

Food makes a horrible god. And after having struggled for a little over a year with on-and-off binge eating, I just got tired. I fasted, prayed, and decided to be at peace with who I was at that moment, not looking to fad diets that promised quick results. 

Shortly after this calm resolution, I met my (future) husband, and we eventually talked about food, dieting, and moderation. The Lord used him to steady my heart and remind me that eating healthily is a day-by-day process, treats are okay, and beating myself up over a few pounds is just plain stupid.

Good food is a gift from God, but when we turn it into an idol, it will (like all idols) become a devastation. Do I still struggle with this? Yes. And my guess is that I will continue to struggle at various times throughout my life. But I know that there is victory in my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. HE is my Bread of Life. And whether I am thin, overweight, or somewhere in between, the point is that live for HIM, not for my waistline.

Keep the Faith,

Audrey Ann

"So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God." 

1 Corinthians 10:31

battle cries...

David Platt: Why "Accepting Jesus Into Your Heart" Is Superstitious and Unbiblical

Matt Chandler: Jesus Wants the Rose

Both of these clips encouraged my heart, as I've been overwhelmed 

with the truth about the gospel of Jesus Christ. Remember, JESUS WANTS THE ROSE!

Keep the Faith,

Audrey Ann

To eat "chikin" or not to eat "chikin," that is today's question

If you've logged into facebook even once or twice this past week, you've been barraged with adds about Chick-Fil-A Day, standing up for biblical marriage, and eating more "chikin." And today (THE day)...it seems that everyone has some sort of opinion to share.

Honestly, it's awesome that everyone is all "roweled" up. In the end, that is truly what this controversy is about. Sure, the owner of the restaurant was asked his beliefs on marriage, and he gave his answer. But this controversy is not really about "anti homosexuals"...or "hate"...it's about freedom...freedom to believe what you want, build a business based on those beliefs, and SAY, RANT, or SHOUT what you believe, and not fear bullying from the powers that be. This is about the first amendment. This is about freedom of speech. This is about capitalism. And there are so many who have given their very lives for those ideals, so I will not be afraid to eat a chicken sandwich (or salad in my case) supporting them in some small way.

But what really bothers me are statements from (well-meaning, I'm sure) friends who make statements about supporters of Chick-Fil-A being "insensitive" or lacking "love."

At first I wondered if they were right. Maybe this is whole campaign is stupid. I mean, it is correct that truth should still be presented in the right way.

However, it is never "insensitive" to state the truth. And it is never "sensitive" or somehow spiritually more elite to hush those who do have something to say about the truth. "Well, buying that chicken sandwich isn't helping any homosexuals come to know Jesus!" they might argue. Perhaps it is not, but neither is quieting someone declaring the truth. Chick-Fil-A never said they hated those who practice homosexuality.

Except for Jesus Christ in my life, I am EVERY BIT as dirty. EVERY BIT as desperate before the throne of grace. EVERY BIT as needy. And I am capable of any sin. any. But in light of His glorious grace, oh, can't we see that if we have the truth, we must not stay silent! Yes, speak the truth in love, but don't let "sensitivity" silence you, because it's not "sensitive" to quietly watch as people walk to hell. Don't mask passivity with alleged kindness. It's not a favor.

Keep the faith,
Audrey Ann