One Quiet Life

Aimee's review of Michael Horton's  Ordinary: Sustainable Faith in a Radical, Restless World piqued my interest. I knew this was a book I needed to read, particularly since thoughts of the ordinary life had been swirling around in my brain for quite some time. I knew I needed to step off the merry-go-round of my own self-importance, to give in to the lure of a quiet and ordinary life. I reached out to a couple of friends and asked them to join me. Together, the three of us have begun reading and contemplating Horton's book and exhorting each other to run the race of the ordinary Christian life. We will spend all of 2015 doing so. I'm still considering if I will blog through the book. At first, I thought I'd only be sharing quotes; however, I've quickly realized that even if I only posted the quotes I've found most significant, you wouldn't need to purchase the book! I've thought that once a week I'll share something I'm learning from the...

After a longer-than-intended blogging break, I'm back today at Out of the Ordinary to discuss aging gracefully. You can read the article here .

I'm taking a social media break this month, to focus my heart on the Incarnation. I don't want to miss the wonder of God become man. I'll be back in 2015. In the meantime, I'm at Out of the Ordinary today . Merry Christmas, friends!

I had no idea it has been so long since I've written a Thankful Thursday post. I could say I don't know why I haven't, but I've realized my heart isn't filled with gratitude proportionate to the blessings I've been given. Taking this time to be intentional reminds me of the Lord's kindnesses, both great and small.  Such as: ~friends who readily open their home to us ~a special roadtrip with my girl ~conversations full of the Lord's grace ~lunch at a favorite spot ~a walk on a path strewn with fallen leaves and memories ~an opportunity to help my girl work to realize her dream ~laughter ~having my dad over for a simple dinner ~a husband who loves me lavishly ~health ~the Lord's amazing provision ~the pleasure of curling up with a good book ~a warm home ~much needed rest ~another year of life with a dear friend Blessings all mine, with 10,000 beside!

I've been reading Housewife Theologian all year, carefully pondering each chapter and how it applies to life. Despite the amount of time I've given to this project, I never saw the overarching theme and importance of the book until last week when I read a devotion based on 1 Timothy 4. This short chapter of Scripture packs a powerful punch. Paul's words give me much to mull over. He is exhorting Timothy to godliness, to live as he has been "trained in the words of the faith and of the good doctrine that you have followed" (v. 6). He encourages the young pastor to "set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity" (v. 12), to "[p]ractice these things, immerse yourself in them" (v. 15). These words have become especially clear to me as I've been reading The Hiding Place while studying the Housewife Theologian chapter on hospitality. Corrie ten Boom's family opened their homes and lives to the very le...

Today I'm kicking off our month of thankfulness at Out of the Ordinary . While it may not be the most upbeat way to begin the month, I think it's important for us to understand that thankfulness doesn't always come easy, especially when we're hurting. You can read the post here .

...that is the question. And, silly as it may sound, it's one that has occupied much of my recent thoughts. Truth be told, I can think of many reasons I shouldn't blog - or at least what I shouldn't blog about: Homemaking. My house is usually clean, but not immaculate. None of my rooms are magazine or Pinterest worthy. I enjoy making our home a sanctuary, but I don't have any original tips or tricks to offer. Cooking. I like to cook, but most of our weeknight meals are a joint effort so we can put the food on the table faster. We don't follow any special sort of diet, and I'm not creative enough to make up my own recipies. Organization. I'm a firm believer that everyone has to find their own system. Honestly, some areas of my home have no system at all - and it shows! Family Events/Accomplishments. My own personal convictions prevent me from sharing much about my husband and our daughter. I respect their privacy. My "Wonderful" Life...