far better things.

There are far better things ahead than any we have left behind- CS Lewis

I had breakfast the other morning with a friend at one of my favorite spots in West Side Provisions. We sat down over coffee, oatmeal, and tofu scramble chatting about our shared industry and Savior.

We discussed the ups and downs of living off on our own, the love of city life, and the challenges of bringing light into the workplace. I left with a full tummy and a full heart.

Before our breakfast, I had been struggling with a pressure unknown to my own heart. I didn’t know until she pointed it out. She wasn’t even talking about me, but I knew Papa God was. And suddenly, in a couple sentences, the Lord revealed truth through another person. And it freed me.

“It’s okay my daughter. 

It is wonderful that you are different.

 I created you this way.”

There are dreams, certain desires, and goals that are mine. No one can steal your dreams, but they can certainly crush them. So many times we find ourselves searching for some way to accomplish our dreams in a fashion that other people will find acceptable. Talk about tiresome.

Sometimes the things we leave behind (like old friends, home towns, etc.) are still trying to hold us in the past. In the “behind.” But I want to press forward…

The alternative is that our savior created a way for us to accomplish our dreams and goals without remodeling them to fit inside everyone else’s parameters. Thankfully, if we consecrate our will to His will our desires become what He desires and our heart is His heart. {Isaiah 6:8}

The Lord knows the desires of my heart. They are unconventional because my Jesus was the most “unconventional.”

Those words were exactly what I needed to hear. The Holy Spirit whispers it to me every day. And it is where I find my confidence. {I am wonderfully made… proverbs 139:14}

i am glad i left a certain mindset and certain desires behind. committing my will to His is allowing His work to become complete in me. i cant wait for whats ahead. for the things the Lord will do through my life, the people i am going to touch in His name, the children i will raise in a supernatural way, the marriage God planned in advance for me. i am excited for the better. truly i am blessed beyond measure.

There are far, far better things ahead of us.

creative spark.

My uncle david is a true source of musical inspiration. Not that my parents are not; they have encouraged me through all my musical endeavors. But my uncle has a true taste for music. It has passed through his children and over to me. One day, when my mandolin skills surpass novice, the family will all play together. His bangitar is really cool.

He sent a text the other day with a new band – The RendCollective. Well, new to me.

While I work- I listen to their albums over and over. They are so anointed and powerfully brought together.

Yesterday one line from the song Desert Soul just struck me.

“holy spirit, I am lost without your creative spark in me”

When I think of all the things I’ve done in the past out of my own strength, it’s no wonder how I’ve failed.

Then i saw this tweet saying: success always takes help. Failure is done alone.

And those two things lines up in my mind and I had to stop and just thank God. I am so thankful for the great helper we have in the Holy Spirit. And that he wants to help with the smallest thing (in our mind) and also in the greatest things we will ever do. How many times have I relied on my flesh to get me through; or attempted something on my own strength- then failing – asked why?

The Lord sent us the ultimate helper and nurturer, he is available for us. I am overwhelmed by this goodness.

But you shall receive power (ability, efficiency, and might) when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you shall be my witnesses. Acts 1:8

In o t h e r news:

I met Lisa Bevere. A life goal which was birthed over the summer came to fruition at the end of January in Nashville. My friend Karri got to pray and speak with her for some time. I was more blessed by listening to their conversation then I could even think about getting face time with Lisa. But the next morning I made an effort and spoke with her at the merch table. That lady is so full of wisdom and anointing – I would have sat with her for hours just soaking up her knowledge. Thank the Lord she writes! My valentine gave me her newest – Girls with Swords- and I cannot wait to read it!

Also, I read two books in January: Undaunted by Christine Cain and The Circle Maker by Mark Batterson. I would recommend reading both, specifically the Circle Maker and I would tell you to read it right now. If you want to revolutionize your prayer life and understand what constant, dependent, strong prayer looks like- this is the tool.

A few things I cant get enough of right now-

1.Gel nails (I started and now I don’t want to stop)

2. Waking up at 6 am

3. Breakfast food dates

4. Kari Jobe

5.Antico

6. My new glasses

mb.

committments//2013

Today, I don’t know where to begin. I’ve never gone this long without actually writing. So much to say and seemingly catch you up on, but let’s just live in the present.

New year means new commitments. Resolutions are easily broken after a couple weeks, the gym begins to thin out, people start eating out again. To start, new vocabulary. No more resolutions, just commitments. Vulnerability and caring less about what other people think are close to the top- so I may as well just let you in on my little commitments for 2013.

1.       Invest.  I am not going to use the word “spend” any more. I don’t want to spend time, spend money, spend energy. I am going to invest. Invest in loved ones, invest in my ministry, invest my time in work, invest my heart in my passion, invest energy in taking care of myself. Everything you invest, you have a return. What you sow, that will you also reap. [Gal 6:7]

2.       Strengthen. I will strengthen relationships. I will strengthen my body. I will strengthen my mind and my soul.

3.       Rest. I will rest in the security I have been given through my Savior. Rest in the Sabbath. Rest in love.

4.       Love. I want to be known by my love and passion for others. This has been a banner of mine for many years, because this is what the Lord is calling me to do in my life.

5.       Wake. I know this seems counteractive to #3, but it’s not. I want to wake up earlier to invest, strengthen, and rest later. See what I did there?

I have little commitments within those that can be used for later little stories as a journey through this year.

That’s enough for today. Stay tuned 

good morning fall.

yesterday was a perfect first day of fall. nice little breeze, there were actually crunchy leaves, and last night i had to wear a sweater to dinner.

these are all things that make this girl a happy camper.

i know it is a little early, but i got up to prepare my heart, soul, mind and body for a nice little 19-mile run with william. and as i was sipping on a small cup of coffee, i decided to pick up my good ole friend Oswald Chambers.

Mr. Chambers and i have a lovely relationship. he is deep enough to give me something to chew on, but his daily entries for Utmost are not too long that i have to reread them 8 times to fully catch every morsel of insight.

after i read today's reading, i had to share. i was going to just tweet a blurb, but you can only say so much in 160 characters.

it's called The Missionary's Goal. and the verse is Luke 18:31. here is what the reading said that struck me...

in our natural life our ambitions change as we grow, 

but in the Christian life the goal is given at the very beginning,

and the beginning and the end are exactly the same,

namely,

our Lord Himself.

We start with Christ and we end with Him.

The goal of a missionary is to do God's will,

not to be useful or to win the lost.

A missionary is useful and he does win the lost.

HIS GOAL IS TO DO THE WILL OF GOD.

Nothing EVER diverted our Lord on His way to Jerusalem. 

Neither gratitude or ingratitude turned our Lord even the slightest degree away from His purpose.

The SAME things that happened to our Lord will happen to us on our way to "jerusalem." 

There will be works of God exhibited through us, 

people will get blessed, 

and one or two people will show gratitude 

while the rest will show total ingratitude. 

but

NOTHING must divert us from going up to our jerusalem.

there are so many times i hear christians across the globe get discouraged because "people are not receptive" or people "aren't hearing them." that is when i think about Jesus and how he was rejected, tortured, and slain by the very ones He came to save. the students will never surpass the master (matt 10), so why would we think we would be accepted with open arms?

this was so encouraging for me. especially with the work we do here in Atlanta. 

this should be encouraging to you, through whatever you are doing in your life. 

let nothing divert you from your goal; from doing the Lord's will. 

surround yourself with people that will build you up to reach your goal. 

or who will serve under the same mission. 

what is diverting you away from the goal as Christians and missionaries? 

family?

            friends?

                        your job?

                                        your relationship?

                                                                    yourself?

remember who we are as Christians. we are imitators of Jesus. so in our lives, let us demonstrate this. 

let nothing divert you. 

i am a missionary. my goal is to do the will of God. 

i hope this gives you something to chew on this wonderful fall morning. 

peace and blessings. 

mb.

the prep.

hola blog world. it's been a minute.

the remainder of august and september thus far have been a complete whirlwind. all together exciting and memorable.

after my last little post, i got a job. at Brave Public Relations here in atlanta. it was an obvious, clear, direct sign from Jesus that I take the opportunity. it is temporary, but it is a JOB and i am learning a lot about my field and how to take my skills and apply them to my job.

that being said, i work full time. which i haven't done in a while.

and i love having a routine again, and this i am sure you are keenly aware of is good for my admin/marge self.

i feel like this pre-fall season is what i am calling the prep and method phase. preparation is kinda the most important part to anything you do. think about cooking/baking. you cannot just throw everything you think you need into a bowl and then have cookies... you gotta measure and separate and beat things together. sometimes you have to have a little separation to make the recipe turn out perfectly.

and i feel that is where i'm at.

i am being prepared quickly for what is to come. and i am ready to embrace everything the Lord has prepared ahead for me! i love the way he has been stretching me emotionally and physically [with working and training for the marathon and with family/friends/new people/old people/ etc etc] He is mixing in new things into my life while sustaining lasting things, teaching me to balance my life on His tables.

the prep and the method are crucial in making this recipe splendid. and i'm in the middle of that marvelous "phase".

so to catch everyone up... here is an overview of august and september!

august 22- interviewed with Brave and got the job. started working the 27. Will and i have been little travel bunnies. we went to the visit family in NC and favorites in bham, and then back to charlotte for the Hillsong concert. i went back to montgomery to take kelsey and chad's engagement photos...

can you say beautiful? i loved doing this!

also, one of my bestest bestest friends got engaged in august, another one of my bestests moved to atlanta AND i got to eat lunch with one of my FAVORITE texans in the world... miss myra. i have had a seriously blessed couple months.

marathon training- still going on if you were questioning it. we will be running our second to longest run in the training phase- a big 19 miler. and we are a little over 6 weeks out from the big day. so prayers are appreciated! no injuries!

mostly- i am excited because this morning when i was walking to my car and to work at 7:45, it was chilly! is it fall yet??? it will officially be on Sept. 22! and october, which is the best month in the year, i think, is coming up soon. 

well blessings to you all. 

xoxo

mb

water and cake.

a few weeks back when we were riding to kids club, we started a conversation about favorite drinks.

mine was simply
   good ole H2O baby.

i am a stickler about getting enough water every day {i try to drink at least 2 liters} and adamant about non drinking sodas. {sorry to all those pop/coke/soda lovers and drinkers... read the labels}. my parents get annoyed with my constant reminding them of how diet coke is bad for you and how they should be drinking more water.

i actually crave water all the time and my body has become an excellent detector of dehydration and such. it refuels your body and helps with concentration, mobility, skin health, and overall well being. and it tastes great.

but that's not all water does.

have you ever seen a wave knock down a tree or a house? what about a flood carry away a car? i've seen people walk across iced ponds and lakes. or swim in a pool on a summer day. and at the same time, they can drink some with ice inside their glass.

i've seen water make it through the tiniest cracks and clean out crevices with force. there are many things water can do. it can be three things, at once.

there is something about water that is so powerful and fascinating to me. and it's a characteristic i want to have in my everyday walk-

f l u i d i t y.

people are always telling us to be "flexible". 

and as things happen, you need to bend to fit the situation. 

flexible, makes me think of when i was a gymnast and  a human pretzel. 

but flexible also has a breaking point. 

a point where the object cannot move anymore,

or it will break. 

but fluidity is like water. water doesn't break. 

it moves to fit it's surroundings with ease and beauty. 

it can be as calming as a shore line or fierce as a monsoon.

if it comes to a point where it is cut off, it runs around the edges to make it's move. 

water moves. 

fluid in motion. 

i was reading in philipians 4 the other when paul discusses how we can do everything through Christ. and the author says in verse 13 {AMP version}

I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me [I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him who infuses inner strength into me; i am self-sufficient in Christ's sufficiency.]

and as i read this, a picture of water come to mind.

the world throws at us all these problems and issues and situations that we have the choice to encounter with fear or with welcome. a lot of time people get so scared of something happening, they lose sight of the promise of the Father.

He says we can do all things. not just big important things, but little things too. and that when these things come our way, don't be afraid! but fluid in His movement.

when we welcome these boulders in the way of our fluid movement, we have the strength to overcome. 

to persevere. 

and to conquer.

if we are flexible, we fail. 

         eventually we will break.

if we are fluid, we flourish.

         because we have Christ's strength.

_______________

celebrating birthdays is very important to me. i believe that each person only gets one real day to celebrate their life.

the most wonderful part about birthdays is that God chooses the day.

doctors always try to pin point when the baby is going to show up, but God has it already planned out. which i think is really fun. God picks your birthday.

and i think God likes to throw parties too. think about when spring comes around. creation throws a party in thanks to the creator. same thing with the first snow {... that we don't see in the South...}. it's all a celebration. and a reminder of our marvelous creator. i think birthday parties should be "thankfulness parties" because we should be thanking God for the gift of another year.

and by golly we should celebrate.


august 15 was my thankfulness day. including time with two precious auburn friends, my grandparents, yummy food, and sweet surprises by my family and Will.

there was a lot of joy inside me during this day. so many sweet emails, phone calls, and cards- i felt like my little heart was going to just burst with happiness.

but i didn't eat birthday cake, which, is one of my favorite things... so i may need to have a one-week celebration of my 22nd birthday just to have some ;)

 ____________

speaking of birthdays, my baby brother turned 18 on Friday. i am very proud of my bro, he is growing up to be a very strong man of God. the other week our pastor called him out from behind the pulpit for being a leader.

talk about accountability.

this is his last year of football at TPS, so i will attempt to make it to as many games as i can. he is precious to me. so blessed to call him my brother.

_____________

things to look forward to:

1. beach with Will's familia. 
2. STEPH IS MOVING TO ATLATA!!!!!!!!
3. my birthday present from William and the adventure that include
4. FALL is coming (in a couple months)

well, that's about all folks. happy wednesday
peace and blessings.
mb. 

four eyes.

the year was circa 1999 and we still drove a mini van. a dodge caravan; candy apple red, to be exact.

mom was in the driver's seat and the three babes were in the back seat, probably drinking a juice box or listening to MIX103 or something like that. 

it had be a wonderful day. we had gone to school, mom had taught her little hooligan kindergartners, and by this time in the afternoon, we had been killed with turkey sandwiches and goldfish crackers. 

i remember it was spring. 

i also remember having to sit about three feet from the board at school. i remember having headaches from squinting. and i remember my teacher "suggesting" to my mother that we visit the eye doctor. 

that day, in the dodge caravan, as we drove home from the eye-doctor, i was sporting new glasses. simple little silver frames with a nice 4th grade haircut {which included bangs and hung right over the shoulders}. throw in a plaid skirt and Oxford and you got your self a baby nerd. 

but i was ecstatic. 

i remember it was spring because of the trees. as we passed a pecan grove near my home i shouted out, "MOM LOOK! the trees have LEAVES!"

my mom cried in the caravan that day.

who knew how long i had not been able to see the individual leaves on the trees. all mom knew was that it broke her heart that i couldn't see. she wanted so bad for me to be able to see what she saw. but i didn't know any better. 

now i am four eyes. but i am ever thankful for those glasses and contacts i have. i can see.

everyday i put on my contacts or glasses. and i can see. 

everyday i put on by other glasses too.

i ask Jesus, every single day, to give me His eyes. i want to see people the way He sees people. full of love, compassion, mercy. the Lord sees people and says "i want to pour my love out on them through you."

your relationships with people depend on your perception of them. how can we see others the right way? we must see them through the eyes of Jesus. 

in every encounter, i have to ask the Lord, "how do you see them Jesus?" 

God loves to share His feelings for people when we ask. and when we treat them the way God sees them, we bless them and obey our great Father. 

i believe the way we look at people, without judgement {if you didn't know, that is NOT our job} but with love and respect, can change lives. i have seen it happen. 

__________________

in other news, my William has started a new journey with his career. if you think about it, say a little prayer for him as his is making this transition. i am so proud of him. 

annnnd i am writing from my NEW COMPUTER! it's my graduation present from the grands. the burned beauty is now being used as backup. 

and this is a new baby we are so excited about! his name is josiah and he is one of the most precious babies i have ever seen. william did a great job with him. 

____________

well tomorrow is the big day.

i actually feel older this year. not old like elderly old, but older.

this blog is really helpful with looking back and seeing how much growth i have experienced, how much learning i've been through. some really good things have happened this year. some marvelous things have happened this year. i have been tried and tested, i have seen fruit and blessings. i can sit here and write this and feel so much further than where i was last year. the Lord has blessed me beyond my imagination and my own understanding.

however, i am so excited about the new things this year will bring. the Lord has so many promises for me and i cannot wait to share them.

"therefore, as your received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving." Colossians 2:6-7