Category: Weekend Prayers and Links

Do you ever feel like the brokenness of the world is barreling down on your shoulders, but there’s nothing you can do about it? And even though the brokenness has nothing to do with you this time, actually from your seat life’s pretty good, you still feel like some of it’s your responsibility – like you should bear some of the weight to take it off of the ones who are breaking?

That’s how I’ve felt this week. First there was more news about Iraq, then Robin William’s suicide, and finally an email I received from a young reader who is struggling with the aftermath of an abortion and broken family. And there’s nothing I can do – except for the one thing I did.

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For thirteen years I was a school teacher, so my year was not marked by January 1st through December 31st. Instead, my year started in August and continued through until the next August. It seemed like when I became a teacher my life started going by faster. I don’t know if continuing to mark my adult years in school years, each with its own chapter, sped it up or just simply that I was getting older, but life certainly hit the accelerator. Before I knew it I was 30. I wasn’t married, and I couldn’t believe it. How could my twenties have gone by so fast? Now I’m 38, and I’m no longer a school teacher. But life isn’t getting any slower. If anything its accelerator pedal is hitting the floor.

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Okay everyone, so August is here and Weekend Prayers and Links is back! I took a small break from this series over the summer, but I will tell you, and I’m so honest and sincere when I say it, YOU have not left my mind! I think about my readers every single day, and I pray for you.

Here’s a glimpse into the past few months with a cool God moment at the beach. I just love when God shows up so boldly. This picture was taken on Fripp Island in South Carolina. We went there in June with our family. Fripp Island is only six miles long and is still well preserved. The deer know whose home it really is, and they will walk right up to you. (more…)

Okay, so we started our Summer Online Bible study this week, and it is so awesome! What’s awesome about it is that God brought 30 women to our group! We are different in so many ways, but our heart for demolishing the lies we believe and replacing them with truth is the same! It’s not too late to join if you’re interesting! Find out more here! 

I thought it would be fun to do a “5 Things I Just Learned about Myself” list. I know these lists are cheesy, but for some reason I love them! One went around last year on Facebook, (Did you jump on that bandwagon? Well, I did!) and I learned more about my Facebook friends from those lists than I ever would have otherwise. So here I go . . .

5 Things I Just Learned about Myself:

I just learned that . . . 

1. I don’t like blackened-seasoned food. I don’t like blackened shrimp or scallops or chicken or pork or any other meat for that matter. I tried to like it, but I just don’t, and I feel liberated, in a sense, for finally  admitting it.

2. Perfectionism is the culprit for my indecisiveness. Okay, so I’m in the store for an hour looking for a gift for someone. I buy a gift. Then I get home and can’t decide if it’s the right gift. So I return the gift and get another one. Throughout this whole fiasco I’m asking myself, “What’s wrong with me?? Just buy a gift! Who cares!” Then it hit me. I’m paralyzed with indecisiveness because I have to get the perfect gift. And . . . others have to know it’s the perfect gift. Ugh! Yes, I’m working on it. Or better yet, God’s working on it through me. #LiesWomenBelieve

3. In theory I want perfectly painted, manicured fingernails, but in reality they drive me crazy. Yeah, my perfectionism problem is weird. It’s not in all things, and it’s not in fingernails. I love the look of nail polish. But without fail, one day later it’s chipped and I’m irritated I spent $20 on a manicure for 24-hour nail polish.

4. I can’t read The Jesus Storybook Bible without crying. So really, whether you have kids or not, get this Bible. If you’ve ever struggled with understanding the Bible or accepting that God loves you, then you need this Bible. Just be sure to have a box of Kleenex nearby.

5. I always thought that all I wanted to be was a wife and mother “when I grew up.” Now that I guess I’m as grown as I’ll ever be, (I still feel like I am a 25-year-old mind in an almost-38-year-old-body) I realize that I love being a wife and mother, but there’s many other things I hope to do, too, in my lifetime. My regret is that I didn’t figure this out when I was single so that I could have spent my time more wisely.

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So I guess it’s Memorial Day weekend – already!! That means the pools open here in the south. Do they open pools on Memorial Day weekend in colder places? I’d love to know. If you live in a cold place, let me know in the comments.

I can’t tell you that I’m ready for pool season. I wish I were, but I’m not. I have much to say about the whole eating, dieting, exercising saga (for me it’s a saga), and I plan to write about it soon. But for now I’ll just leave it with – I’m not ready. But then again what is “ready”? I know that even if I was the perfect height and perfect weight – whatever that means – I still wouldn’t be ready. Again, more of these ongoing battle to come . . .

However, we are planning to go to the beach in a few weeks, and I did find the cutest ever swimsuit at Target. Well, I think it’s the cutest ever, plus it was inexpensive. It’s been years since I’ve been in the market for a one-piece swimsuit. You can read more about that in this post and in this post at MoretoBe.com. Do you remember that YouTube video, The Evolution of the Swimsuit, that went a little viral last year by Jessica Rey? Well, these are the swimsuits she designs. In my opinoin, they are so classic and glamorous, and I absolutely love them! I am not buying one yet mainly because they are more expensive, but a swimsuit from her is on my wish-list.

Join us for a Summer Online Bible Study!

Speaking of “perfect bodies” and swimsuits and the beach . . . what about those lies we tell ourselves? As you can tell, I’m still struggling with believing lies about my body image. But the timing couldn’t be more perfect because this Wednesday we are starting a Summer Online Bible Study right here at Triple Braided! We will be reading Lies Women Believe by Nancy Leigh DeMoss, and we will meet here in this private Facebook group. Will you join us?

Even though the book will help you go deeper, you don’t have to buy a book. Join in the discussion anyway!

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