Saturday, The Art of Celebration

lyrics from "Boldly I Approach" by Rend Collective

Boldly I Approach Your Throne

Blameless now I'm running home

By your blood I come

Welcomed as your own

Into the arms of Majesty

This is the ART of CELEBRATION

Knowing we're free from condemnation

Oh praise the One, praise the One

who made an end to all my sin

This is the ART of CELEBRATION

knowing we're free from condemnation

Oh praise the one, praise the one

Who made an end to all my sin

This song has been the soundtrack to my day.  A reminder of what we are celebrating this weekend.  A reminder that there is an art to celebration.  It's not just a party, it's bright orange yolks and clean laundry.  It's clean dishes and colorful eggs.  It's the smell of lemon and the laughter of kids.  This right here is my YOLO,  It's my living life intentionally and giving it everything I've got.  It's knowing that this all means something because "the goodness and kindness of God appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to His own mercy." (Titus 3:4-5).  I can now boldly approach the throne. 

This is the art of celebration

knowing we're free from condemnation

Oh praise the One, praise the One

Who made an end to all my sin

GOOD Friday!

GOOD Friday, you always sneak up on me.  We talk, we plan, we pray but when it comes, I'm surprised.  I'm surprised by the GOOD friends.  Friends coming over to hang out.  Friends coming over to create.  Friends coming over to work.

I'm surprised by a GOOD service and a GOOD church family!  Coming together to remember what Jesus did for us.  Coming together to enjoy a meal.  Coming together to serve each other and our community.

See Ya Thursday

See Ya Thursday!

See Ya Gas, hello Cheyenne!  

You didn't let me down. You got me to Cheyenne with plenty left. 

I could have at least made it to the state-line.

See Ya Braces, hello Beautiful Smile!  

It was fun while it lasted, but off you go.  

We are thankful for the job you did, but not the pain you caused.

See ya Daylight, hello music! My lullabies are now played by my daughter.  

It's her music that fills the house.  Her creativity, her artistry, and her passion that flow freely in this space.

Hello, Wednesday

Hello, Wednesday!  

Sunny, Beautiful Wednesday!

Hello Family Focus!  Love our time together.  Reading the Bible.  Eating Donuts.  

And maybe an activity or two.

Some eagerly put their feet in the water and others say, "You won't wash my feet." 

Just like Peter to Jesus.  

This is His body broken for you.  This is His blood poured out for you

"Jesus Messiah, Name Above All Names, Blessed Redeemer"

Hello Mr. Funny Man! 

You brighten my life and make me laugh!

 Hello Whiteboard!  

I'm distracted by your blank space and colorful markers.  

You make spelling tests just a little bit more fun! 

What up Tuesday?

What up Tuesday? I heard you wanted a blog about you.  Heard you were getting a little jealous of Monday, so What up Tuesday?!?

What up Laundry?  Boys pants and shorts hanging in the sun, soaking up the vitamin D for us.  I wonder often why you can't do yourself and then something crazy happens while I'm hanging you on the line.  I get time to think and time to soak up the sun and time to pray for the wearers of all those clothes.  

What up Green Thing?  You've returned my long lost friend.  I was beginning to think you might stay away forever and then there you are peaking out.  Welcome back Green Thing, we've missed you!

What up Algebra?  Oh, simultaneous equations, how you have baffled brains everywhere, but not in this house. We will toil and work until we have mastered your nuance and harnessed your power.  X and Y have nothing on us.

What up Iced Coffee? Nope I'm not addicted to you, I could leave you behind anytime, just not this week.  How about we break up at the end of school, but then there will be camps and trips and late summer nights and then fall and school starts again.  Yep, we won't be breaking up anytime soon

What up Time?  You keep moving on, I beg you to stop or slow down and let me cherish this moment a  little longer, but Time you keep on.  Time you remind me to pray, to be intentional, to seize the moment.  You, Time, who were established by our Creator and obey only Him.  You who are governed by the sun.  The same sun that worships the Creator. Time, do you also whisper Jesus name?  Maybe your ticking is not so daunting if instead I hear, Jesus, Jesus, Jesus.

What up Pens?  You make me happy, pink, teal, burgundy just begging to color my life.  Planning just gets a little bit more fun with you in my hand.  What color will I feel like today?  I"m thinking its an orange kinda day.

What up Blue Chair?  You beg me to come sit and rest awhile.  Read and recharge.  Think and ponder. Here I am ready to hear, ready to listen, ready for perspective.  Thank you for greeting me with joy and letting me rest the weight of my soul.

What up Tuesday?  You are a miracle.  Another 24 hours to live and breathe and learn.  Thank you for your many gifts, the laughter of friends, the warmth of the sun, the prayers of team mates, the hugs of kids and the beauty of creation.  See ya next week!  Can't wait to see what other surprises you have for me.

What's Going on Here?

Guess you'll have to come to SONrise on Easter to find out!

Hey There!

Hey there Monday!  I secretly love you. Greeting me with a new beginning, wiping away the exhaustion, the fatigue, the weariness of last week.  Moving forward.  A new week to guard my heart and set my course.

Hey there Cupcake!  Chocolate yummyness,  explosion survivor, peanut butter magnificence.  You make Monday afternoon a secret get away.

Hey there Spelling Test!  You make me smarter.  It's a second chance for me to be the spelling ace rather than the spelling dunce.  You are the excuse for the coffee, dark and rich. I love the rhythm of spelling the words.... h-i-n-g-e.

Speaking of coffee... Hey there French Press!  You who secretly call out my name, quiet at first but by 2pm screaming my name...Cristine (with the hint of a French accent).  You who make the coffee taste so rich.  I love your ease and simplicity and long for it in my own life.

Hey there Writing Machine!  You call my name and beg me to put my words on paper.  I decline.  I procrastinate.  Deadlines approach.  And you quietly call my name.  New week, new Monday, let's hang out and write.

Hey there New Lens!  Everything looks different through you.  I can focus on what I need to and while the rest fades into the background.  I am choosing to focus on the most important things and people and leave behind all that distracts.  

Hey there Fresh Perspective!  Thanks for knocking on my door this morning.  :)