Life in Abundance: A Call to Die. A Call to Live.

There is a verse that keeps popping up lately. In my Bible Study. In the sermons at church. In my life, my friends lives, my parents lives. And, in the most recent book my husband and I started reading together. 

"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. 

I came that they might have life and have it abundantly." 

- John 10:10

Andrew and I began reading David Platt's most recent book called "Follow Me". I have only read the introduction which is written by Francis Chan, but I have already learned so much. There is a small excerpt that grabbed me. I would like to share it:

"Probably the most memorable task Jesus gave was in Matthew 28. It stands out because of the dramatic fashion in which he gave it. He rose from the grave, and then prefaced his command with the words "all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me." No one in his right mind would ignore the next words out of Jesus' mouth: "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you." 

Jesus wanted followers from every nation on earth, so he commanded his disciples to reach them and train them. And that is exactly what they did - but this work is still not finished. He expects us to follow in their footsteps and structure our lives that our actions revolve around completing this mission. "

Life in abundance. What does this really mean? I think for some, we can get trapped into believing that its the things we own. Our house. Our car. Our travel plans. Our appearance. Our STUFF. We think that our life will be "happy" when we are comfortable and we have everything we need here on this earth. But the Bible says in Matthew 6:19-21, "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in and steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

Theres a Men's Ministry called Man In The Mirror. Their Vision is "To reach men with a credible offer of Jesus Christ, to help them grow in knowledge and love for Christ, and to equip them to serve God in the home, church, workplace, community, and world. We help men change their lives by connecting the dots between the Bible and their daily lives. We measure our profits in changed lives."

Its been a little under a year since my Father accepted a position to represent and serve as an Area Director in Central Massachusetts for Man in the Mirror. It has been an honor to watch my parents as they seek God's direction, find investors and donors to support this ministry they have been called to, and start to make changes in their lives to do this full time. 

As my parents oldest child, born just a few years after they got married, I have watched as my Father has gone from job to job, position to position, working his way up from the bottom to the top, reaching a career that provided above and beyond for our family. Then, within the past year, committed to letting all of that go, humbling himself by letting others faithfully provide for my families needs, so they can serve their God-given area. 

It brings me to tears. 

The "sacrifice" of decades of hard work, building up a life and all their possessions, to then be called to ministry... and to give that all up. In other words... "A call to die. A call to live."

I've been calling my Mother every few days to check in on the progress. Thus far, they have sold their house, put in a few offers... only for them to fall through. And now? Well, they have 24 days to find a new home to move into. Kinda crazy... 24 days. 

In a recent conversation with my Mom we exchanged encouragement, tears, honesty and love. As we both confessed that the "call to die" isn't always the easiest. That sometimes the thief who comes to destroy is so good at trying to destroy. Living a life for God doesn't mean being comfortable. My Mom said to me, "you'd never think that one of the hardest things could be the thought that the kitchen table we have been sitting around eating dinners at for years could be so hard to have to give up... because it simply won't fit in the kitchen of the new house we will be purchasing."

Isn't it so true though. We become so attached to our possessions. I don't believe its wrong to have items that mean something to us because of the beautiful memories that they bring. But, when we are called to give those things up... how will we respond? 

To the house with the memories. The car with the sun roof. The kitchen table. 

I am so thankful that God has given me the opportunity to watch as my parents go through this. All the tests and confusion, the letting go, the eye-opening and life altering experiences, and all the lessons they will learn... it's a testimony to how big, how great, how loving, how trustworthy, and how beautiful and abundant a life lived with God as the center of our lives can truly be. 


Man in the Mirror Links:

Website
Central Mass Facebook Page
Support/Donation Page

My Parents Home in West Boylston, MA that is currently SOLD.

My Refuge

" May the LORD repay you for what you have done. May you be richly rewarded by the LORD, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge. " 

- Ruth 2:12

Refuge. 

In definition, this means, "a condition of being safe or sheltered from pursuit, danger, or trouble." This verse in Ruth, specifically the ending, has had such meaning for me this past year. To be honest, I have struggled with it. I have struggled to fully believe and trust that God is truly...truly, my refuge. And, as we are coming up on what marks ONE YEAR of living in Texas... I am reflective. 

This move has caused me to grow on so many different levels. Some small and some so deep that they require more than a blog post to explain and express. I have been in awe of God's fingerprints on my life and how He has used each and every situation to mold, sculpt, teach, grow and direct me. Through big mistakes, through loneliness, through new friends, new living situations, new experiences and strangers...

I have seen how MIGHTY my God truly is. 

In a few short months, Andrew will be leaving his full time job and going full time with his pursuit of his masters degree. This means that I will be the main source of income for us...

Yes, thats what I said. Me, Aly, owner of a business of which I stamp spoons and forks and personalize them to make every day life a little more intriguing .. this business of mine will carry us through these next few years. 

This concept...astounds me. 

I am beyond grateful. I am insanely scared. I am excited. I am honored. 

I am amazed that God has decided to give me this fun business For Such A Time Designs, "for such a time as this" to allow it to provide for us while my husband is in school. It puts even that much more worth into each and every person I serve and each and every piece I create. 

This past year has had so many exciting moments of growth and increase for my business. And though as a business owner, it is so important to see increase in sales, ultimately, my main goal has never been for myself...but for the people I come into contact with. My goal, has always been to show each and every person love and to show them that I care about the details of their life. My desire is that when I receive an email from a customer about personalizing a spoon or fork for an event or time in their life, that they would feel that I gave them the time and energy that they deserve. 

That I cared for them. 

That I loved them.

That their life has meaning and is important to me. 

This is what drives me everyday. 

This is what I am after. 

My greatest hope has always been that no matter how successful or big my business becomes, that I would never forget the process, the people, the relationships that I have formed along the way and that what comes first is always the individual PEOPLE I serve and my success comes second to that. 

Along with serving people in my business. Another opportunity has come about for us that I am beyond excited about in relation to our living situation and social life.

Andrew and I, along with him pursuing school have taken on a big commitment as a married couple. We are in the last stages of being placed in a specific & chosen apartment community (yes, we will be moving AGAIN) for us to serve in. 

Basically, we will be the "face" of the community there.... Pouring ourselves into the residents that live there and caring for them. We will plan events and basically love on each and every person that lives and/or works in the apartment community. My prayer is that God will bless our time devoting ourselves to this ministry and the people we will serve here as well. 

As I move forward into these two big roles of owning a business that is our main source of income and serving with my husband in an apartment community, I want to always remember of the blessings that got me here and the road that God put us on that led me here. I feel I have come to find refuge in my Savior and trust Him with the next steps moving forward, better than I have before(though still learning every day).

 Ruth 2:12 has become a theme verse for me. I know that the road will not be easy moving forward and that there will be challenges.... but I will trust in my God, that He will be my refuge and will be faithful, just as He always has been. 

. . .

I created the necklace in the beginning photos as a reminder to myself that God is my faithful refuge...and when you see me wearing it you will now know the depth of its meaning to me. I hope it will encourage you as well. 

A Painful Burn is a Painful Lesson

On Monday evening, Andrew and I were sitting together on the outside swing. We were talking about many things, but I for one, was having a very bad attitude.

That morning, we found out that an apartment we wanted fell through and was given to someone else. It was a tough thing, but soon that saddness was replaced by finding out that some of my customized spoons for Sweet Lucie's were set up on the landscape for their feature with one of the hottest LA Morning News Stations!! It was an honor and a privilege and I was on a cloud for most of the day.

Yet, somehow, I still managed to have a bad attitude by the end of the day. I was complaining about...well, everything. Worrying about our future and many other things!! Lets just say, I was acting completely childish and really had no grounds to be complain about anything. We are so blessed and have been given so much...Andrew tried to coax me into stopping, but I was on a roll. Complaints kept pouring from my mouth.

Shortly after this complaining session, Andrew asked if I would make sweet tea for him. We went inside and I started to make it. I put the water on and got out a glass pitcher to pour the water into so that the tea bags could steep. After a few minutes, the water had boiled and the tea kettle was screaming to be picked up! I poured some sugar in the pitcher and then all the boiling water... Right as I poured the last few drops, I had a quick image in my head of the pitcher shattering. I quickly removed the image from my head as...That wouldn't have been good!!! Right?!?

Not even 10 seconds later... it came true!!! The pitcher shattered before me and the water poured over the counter onto my pants! Thankfully I was wearing basketball shorts and could remove them quickly and I ran out of the room pulling at them to get them off. To my dismay, I looked down and I was burned on both legs...badly. I heard Andrew yelling if I was okay from inside the kitchen, as he was stranded in a pile of water and glass slivers! He somehow managed to quickly escape and came to my rescue. He quickly helped me into the back yard and told me to jump in the pool, giving me the water hose to hold cold water on it... He ran inside to look online for what we should do.

I stood in the pool, helpless, crying, as the pain was more breathtaking than anything I had felt before. I instantly realized... it was a lesson. I started to pray and cried out, " Okay, God! I get it... I learned my lesson... my life could be worse! Things could be worse!! I shouldn't have been complaining and I am sorry! Just take the pain away and I will never complain again!" Funny how we think that we can just TELL God we get it and the pain will go away... but no, lessons are often learned the hard way.

It was a long painful night, however, I was able to sleep and was happy for that. My leg is still blistered (the picture above is from today!). I am keeping it covered with gauze and putting neosporin on it.

The following day, I hobbled down the stairs to go into my basement studio to work on as many orders as I could, as its been very busy in the shop!! I went over to my work station and saw a puddle of dried, sticky, sugar water in the EXACT place where I work on orders. Somehow, it had seeped through the floor... RIGHT WHERE I WORK!!! Another reminder.... All I heard was, " I have blessed you more than you know and all you can do is complain about things...Be thankful, I am taking care of you." I cleaned up the mess in the basement and got to work, realizing that I truly am blessed.

Now, do I wish I could have learned this lesson WITHOUT the awful burn on my leg.... UHHHH YES!!! But, did I learn my lesson in a way more powerful way with this burn on me leg... Ummm.. YES!!!

Everyone who has seen it has said that it will probably scar and Andrew asked me yesterday if I was going to be sad if it does. I looked at him smiling and said, " NOPE!! It will serve me as a reminder everyday to not complain!... If there is one thing I know about my relationship with God, its that HE KNOWS that I need a good kick in the pants or a visual reminder of His commitment to growing me more and more into the likeness of Him."

Sooo... I am now taking guesses of what my little scar might end up looking like! I pretty much will have a free tattoo with an image that I have [not chosen] but will remind me of my childishness way and to flee from them!!

As for the shop, this little incident has put me back a few days, but I am still working hard to get orders out and create new things!! Here are a few new ones from today:

I hope that my painful lesson can serve as encouragement for you today... You are blessed, no matter what your situation. Sometimes you have to look at things a little differently to see the lessons that you can pull out. If you have anything that you realized through this post or have learned the hard way recently... feel free to share it with me in the comments!! I love hearing about what others learn as I believe that it can open our eyes to what we cant see on our own.

C.S. Lewis once surmised "that each person is created to see a different facet of God's beauty. Something that no one else can see in quite the same way and to bless all worshipers with an aspect of God that they could not otherwise see."

Until next time... <3