God continues to remind me of how important stories are in the life of believers. We were privileged to have our local news reporter tell our “God story.” I thought you might like to see it.
“I Get You” February 17, 2012
I was at a party tonight and most of the girls sat around sharing stories. Stories about things our kids had or had not done. We shared accounts of crazy things our husbands have said in response to said children. We got to know each other better by sharing pieces of our days with each other. We instantly became closer by revealing the narratives of our everyday lives.
Since I have written my book, I often have friends walk up to me and say, “I get you now. I totally get you.” I didn’t realize I was hard to figure out, so I have been pondering this for a few days.
What has changed? They know my story.
Stories have power.
Stories change the way people view one another.
Stories reveal the evidence of the conflicts in each others lives.
Stories open up our understanding of each other.
Stories create compassion by allowing others a glimpse into the innermost parts of our being.
Stories illustrate to those around us that we are fallen and in need of a Saviour just like everyone else.
Stories make room for grace.
We could all use more grace. Grace given and recieved.
Maybe, before we get frustrated at the single mom with her unruly kids or the teenager with no parental support, we took the time to learn their story. I am pretty sure our views of them would change? Maybe, before we rail on our kids as they walk in the door, we took an extra moment to find out how their day was. Maybe, before we jump to the conclusion that an acquaintance ignored us at the store, we considered what is going on in their lives. Maybe, if we thought about how life is hurting others before we made rash judgements, we could show love to the unloving.
Jesus, in Matthew 9:12 said, “But when he heard it, he said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.”
Maybe, if we remembered we are called to share Jesus with the spiritually sick, our view of others would be radically different.
Then maybe just maybe, we sit down with that person and share our story . . . our story just might help their story.
What’s Love? February 14, 2012
I was silently disgusted on Super Bowl Sunday at one particular ad. This certain ad was a floral company cunningly implying that if the men of the world would send their woman flowers, they would get “lucky.” It was repulsive. It sort of made my skin crawl as I was sitting next to my fifteen year old son and wondering what impression that was making on him.
Send flowers = get lucky.
Seriously?
I have been contemplating love all day. It is Valentines Day in here in the good ole’ US of A.
1 Corinthians defines love so differently. Love is patient, kind, it doesn’t envy, boast, dishonour, or is proud. Love isn’t self-seeking, isn’t easily angered, and it keeps no record of wrongs. Love delights in truth; it always protects, always trusts, always hopes, and always perseveres.
Wow, love doesn’t really have much to do with flowers. Don’t get me wrong, I am not against flowers but they don’t define if you are loved or not.
Tonight, while sitting in a semi-crowded mall eating Chick-fil-a with my favorite men (Brad, Drew and Jackson) I realized that love was staring me in the face.
Love is sitting around a table talking, laughing, and reminiscing about our day.
Love is more than getting lucky . . .
Love is taking turns getting up at the crack of dawn to drive your son across town for football practice.
Love is holding your tongue when you are frustrated.
Love is spilling out words of encouragement.
Love is the reassuring glance from across a room that you are the only one.
Love is a quick text during the day showing you are thinking of each other.
Love, in marriage, is getting lucky. Sorry, Mom 
Love is picking up the clothes next to the hamper, silently.
Love is doing the dishes without a dishwasher.
Love tucks your kiddos in at night.
Love holds you close in the darkest of nights.
Love gives. And it gives some more.
And then gives some more.
How?
“We love because He first loved us”
When we realize how lavishly we have been loved, we can liberally love those around us.
Testing
This is Brad. Working on a new site for Kasey and I have to test this blog. This is only a test.
Thank you. 
Get Up and Go! February 12, 2012
God calls Abram in Genesis 12 to “ “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”
Gorgeous Week 3
What is your “go” from God?
“I Will Do This” February 6, 2012
I wrote down a bunch of ideas for blogs on a random piece of paper and stuck it in my Bible. I can’t find it. That is the story of my life right now – good intentions but no follow through. I think throughout the day of things that happen that would make a great post but by the time I get home and open up the computer, FOR THE LIFE OF ME, I can’t remember what idea I had. Oh, the cruelty. Or maybe it is God saving you from another rambling post from me.
Who knows where I am going with this post. I am up to my ears teaching and studying through Genesis for our Gorgeous Study. I have learned so much and so excited to pour out (spew) all that I am studying. Sometimes I get so excited that I have to tell what I discovered right that moment. I almost feel sorry for the ladies in our study – by the time I get up there I am about to explode and don’t stop talking for an hour. Kind of like me on my blogs only longer – once I start talking about what I am learning in the Bible I can’t stop.
Like right now I am so pumped that in Genesis 12:1-3 God says five times that, “I will do this. I will do this. I will do this.” What a relief. I don’t have to do this life alone. He is going to do it. In these verses there is no emphasis on what Abraham has to do but on what God is going to do. Take a deep breath now because it isn’t up to you but Him. Abraham’s responsiblity and ours is to believe God is going to do what He has promised. The end. God will do the rest.
However, I must warn you. When you believe God and follow Him. It will take you to places you never knew you would go and experience things that you never would have imagined. “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has convinced what God has prepared for those who love him.” 2 Cor. 2:9
