S is for...

S is for Stepp.

I decided to get a little crafty today. We had a wall downstairs that was just a little too plain. I've gone back and forth over what to do with it. I had landed on adding more picture frames, but we already have several frames downstairs. Instead I decided to put a large "S" on the bare wall. Family friends of ours had an "R" in their kitchen and I always thought it looked so great in their home. I decided to copy the look and I think I'm pretty happy with the results. The good news is that I spent less than $10, so if I decide I don't like it, I won't feel too bad taking it down.

Pottery Barn confirmed my decision too. I was worried this trend was long gone, but it looks like this type of wall accent might stick around for awhile. I found inspiration here (they used numbers instead of letters), here and here.

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Our entryway is still pretty bare (and if you ask me, a little boring), but I'm just not the best at picking out accessories. I'm going to eventually add some large baskets under the console table and some other accents for on the table, but that is a work in progress.


S is for Small Group.

At the beginning of the year Todd and I joined a new small group. We had been talking to another couple at our church about how we felt a lack of community in our church among couples our age. We decided to start a meal group. Every other Wednesday we get together to share a meal and catch up on life. We all just hit it off immediately. I believe God has big plans for our little group. What originally started out as a humble group of three couples, will have nearly doubled by the next time we meet. Yes, twelve people (and all of their little ones) in one house! There was obviously a great need for this type of community in our church and it's so awesome to be right in the middle of it. We're really excited about what God is going to do through this group.

I don't have pictures yet. I've decided I'll ease into snapping photos of everyone!


S is for Seriously Good Book.

Okay, that might be a stretch, but I couldn't think of a good S word.

I am one chapter from finishing Dug Down Deep by Joshua Harris. I never intended to read this book. The only reason I read it was because the day after Todd brought it home, I had a flight to North Carolina and didn't have anything to read. I put it in my bag, but I was planning on just buying a magazine at the airport. Fortunately for me I was running late the morning of my flight and my only option was this book. That was a blessing in disguise. Dug Down Deep is one of the best books I've read in a really long time.

I hate to admit it, but Todd and I were both feeling church burnout. We were constantly talking about looking for another church home, but never looked because we have so many great relationships where we're at. We were both praying for God to give us a clear sign on whether we should stay or go. He gave us that answer: stay. I believe this book and our small group were exactly what we needed to fall in love with our church all over again.

This passage from Harris in response to church burnout was a huge eye-opener:

"No doubt some are burned out or disillusioned by the corruption or poor leadership they've seen. Others feel that the church is cumbersome and that there are more effective ways to get things done.

But my guess is that a vast majority of Christians who have lost their vision for the church are like I was: they've never taken the time to study what the Bible says about God's purpose and plan for the church. Instead, they're living their lives guided by their feelings and experience. They're pragmatic, so they're focused more on what "works" than on what Scripture dictates. They're consumers who approach church asking, 'What's in it for me?'

But what if we saw that the church is more than a human program, more than what we disparagingly refer to as organized religion? What if we saw that it originated in the heart and mind of God himself and that his plan began before the dawn of human history and stretches into eternity? What if we learned that the church was so precious to Jesus that he was willing to shed his own blood to obtain it? What if the church is the means by which God has chosen to accomplish his purpose for us and the world? And what if it is irreplaceable?

If we could see this, then we'd realize that rejecting the church is rejecting God himself."

That last line should make anyone who reads it really think about how they view the church. If you don't think you need the church, you're really saying that you don't need God.

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Whew! This post has been more like a novel. It was a bit all over the place, but I had a lot to catch up on. Thanks for staying with me!

Have a wonderful weekend. It's going to be in the 60's in Nashville. If you're looking for me, I'll be outside!