What do you want?

Shirt: VICI Jeans: TOPSHOP

Last weekend, we hosted our second Sunday in the Shed. I have to say, I think it went better than the first. And, yes, I am aware that I scheduled another Sunday in the Shed at the same time as the ending of a major golf tournament. Luckily, I only got one phone call this time asking if we would be watching the end of the golf match before beginning the service (contrast this with the 20 calls I got the first time around).

I was excited that at this latest Sunday in the Shed, we would be watching the live 6:30 service from Cross Point and that it would be the start of the new series, “Life With.” 

The first question asked in this message was, “What do you want?” A simple yet so incredibly deep question… and one that Jesus asked all the time to his people. What do you want?

What do I want? Well, I want a strong, consistent relationship with God. I want a healthy, happy family. I want a successful, life impacting career. I want a million dollars and a house in Rosemary Beach. Hey, you asked me what I want – just being honest here.  

While I can sit here and give you a list of goals and material items that I want (including a pair of these Steve Madden slip-ons), it is much harder to describe the relationship I want with Jesus. It shouldn’t be, but it is. What I do know is that I want a life where Jesus walks with me every step of the way… and I want to be able to acknowledge him through the journey. 

One of the underrated blessings of Jesus is that he has the ability to speak to each of us in different ways. For some, he may speak to you through music. For others, he may speak to you through relationships or words.  As we grow and transform in our lives, so too can our relationship with Jesus.

So, what do you want? What do you want your life with God to look like?

I want every Sunday in the Shed from here on out to be as awesome as the one we just had. I want to look around at my friends and see the peace in their eyes after hearing how much they are loved. I want to grow with them in our relationships with God, each at our own pace. That’s what I want.  

"Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it." - Proverbs 4:23

Shift

Photography by Madi Flournoy Henderson

Top: Fab'rik - Shorts: Madewell - Shoes: Halogen 

I love a good night out with the girls. It is good for the soul to be surrounded by friends who feel like family. It’s even better when they make you laugh so hard that you basically get your ab workout in for the day. I wore this little number out to celebrate one of my dear friend’s birthdays last week. Super comfortable, yet just saucy enough to work for a night out with friends. 

When I dress for a night out, I have to shift my mindset. For example, I prepare for the fact that my feet will probably hurt by the end of the night. I recognize the need to wear more make-up (or, just make-up in general), and I dress a little differently from the everyday norm. It’s fun to change things up every once in a while!

This time of year, my focus always shifts. I go from spending each day focusing on my students and their growth, to spending more time focusing on my dreams and how I can pursue them. Sometimes a shift in focus is what we need to remember why we do what we do. 

In this season of life, I find myself not only shifting my focus in my personal life, but also in my faith. We all go through periods where our focus is on ourselves and not on God. We try to take control and do things on our own time – it’s totally the normal thing to do. But, isn’t it amazing how much better you feel when you shift your focus back to Him. You let all the worry, negativity, frustration, and drama escape to the point that you are left with just Him. Listening to God as He guides you through the next steps can be such a comforting emotion… And one we often forget until it happens again.

Where is your focus right now? Where do you want to grow? Who is walking with you on this journey?

Putting your faith in God can do wonders for your heart. It’s similar to how a night out with the girls can do so much for your soul. You just have to shift your focus…and maybe the height of your heels. 

"I keep my eyes always on the Lord. With Him at my right hand, I will not be shaken." - Psalm 16:8

Maxed Out

Photography by Madi Flournoy Henderson   Dress from VICI

I love maxi dresses. This summer, I can promise you that you will see a lot more maxi dress looks on this blog. They are so easy to throw on, and they look good for any type of occasion, whether it be going to lunch, shopping, vineyarding, beaching, churching, attending a wedding (except not one in white), etc. This one from VICI caught my attention because it screams versatility. And, of course, it’s so pretty. 

With it being the LAST week of school, not only am I thinking about all the different summer events I can wear this dress to, I am also thinking about how MAXED out I feel energy wise. The month of May has already been chalked full of events, and there doesn’t seem to be any relief in sight!

Do you ever have moments where you just feel maxed out? Like you can’t make it through another task without falling over? Or, you can’t deal with one more negative email? Or, you can’t handle one more thing on the to-do list? You’re simply maxed out – emotionally, physically, mentally.

It happens. And when this happens to me, all I want to do is push the pause button on life… push all the busyness to the side and sit alone with my thoughts… and probably a glass of wine, an episode of the Real Housewives, and a bag of popcorn. But we can’t always do that. Because in life, we have deadlines, responsibilities, kids to feed, clothes to wash… the list goes on and on. We have to get up and keep going even if we are completely worn down. 

The only good thing about feeling maxed out is that it is totally normal. Sometimes life can get overwhelming. It can feel like you are taking one hit after another. But, we don’t always have to be happy or balanced to be okay. I was reminded of this point this past weekend during the first message of the “Life With” series at Cross Point Church. I can’t wait for this series to unfold, so I can share it with you all on the Sunday in the Shed page.

I listened to the message twice yesterday (I know, I know, 10 God points for me… just kidding). The part that stuck out to me the most was that we don’t have to be okay all the time. We can have moments where we feel out of sync – even if we don’t know what is causing it.

So, yes, while it is good for us to know that it’s okay for us to not be okay, we also need to remember that is is okay for the people around us to not be okay. It shouldn’t be a surprise that not everyone you encounter on a daily basis is going to be feeling their best. They may be showing you their A game on the outside, yet feeling like a total loser on the inside. It is so easy to get caught up in our own lives that we lose sight of how the people around us might be feeling – or even hurting.

My challenge to you is this: whether you are feeling invincible or defeated, remember that God is strengthening your heart and carrying you through the journey. Give a little grace to the people around you, and remind them that its okay to not be okay.

“But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me.” – 2 Timothy 4:17