Author: nataliebone

I can feel it in my chest again, this feeling of upcoming separation. It causes my mind to not fully engage because I am occupied. It has been wonderful having our oldest a short drive away, but that will soon end. A year long adventure awaits and we are thrilled, but a conflict remains. Is this one prepared? Absolutely! This child lives loved, not perfectly mind you. None of us do, but for that there is grace. And this same giver of grace will meet each of us too. He offers comfort, joy, strength and peace too. I have a feeling this mama is going to need all He wants to give in abundance. Already feeling more excited now than when I started writing. Sometimes just telling the truth does wonders.

Today we are celebrating my husband turning another year older. Aging is an unstoppable fact, but the way we grow older is up to us. It is what we do with the time we are given everyday that adds up to a life well lived. Will another year be spent on others or self? Because I get a front row seat, I can say with all honesty, this man lives for others. His kindness, wisdom, grace, patience and love come from above. The One he relies on has not failed him yet, even when I have my doubts. Faith is not always our natural response, but he helps direct our family in looking to our Creator in all things. The gift he is giving to our children, giving them a trustworthy example, will be rewarded. He is stewarding well what he has been given. How do you just celebrate this kind of man for just one day?

Happy Birthday, Damon! I love you.

One of our kids is hiking today and sent an incredible picture. I asked if she would take a picture of a valley too, perhaps because not all of life is spent on the mountain top. The longer we live, the more time it seems we spend walking through the valley. Since scripture says that multitudes are in the valley of decision (Joel 3:14), not yet receiving Jesus as King, then why would we be so quick to leave? What makes the valley exciting is having gotten here with the awareness of His presence, within the shadow of death (Psalm 23:4). Many deaths actually, but we learn the deep truth that He is God and we are not. There is nothing like death and loss to aid in the process of our “king of the mountain” syndrome is there? While death does cast a shadow indefinitely, He offers gifts in the valley that are incredibly strengthening, joyful even. And having known the valley, it can make the mountain top experiences that much more precious. Let’s keep walking friends.

The other night I was invited to join some sweet ladies for an incredible concert! A mix of colors filled the arena and we worshiped the One true God. We were united by the One we sang too and perhaps glimpsed an idea of heaven. It was beautiful and made me want more times like these, not the division we get so accustomed. I wish you would have been with us. Maybe you would have gotten a lump in your throat too at the sight.

One of the songs we sang really encouraged me. See if it does you as you read the words. “I’ll never be more loved than I am right now. Wasn’t holding you up, so there’s nothing I can do to let you down. It doesn’t take a trophy to make you proud, I’ll never be more loved than I am right now.” All the pressure off to try and earn His love. All the striving to be good enough, gone. Simply believe and receive. Only our God could take a mix of cultures and blend us into a family that He dearly loves. And maybe when we put aside our differences and worship, we make Him smile and look more like the kids He designed us to be.

Not too long ago a door was opened and I walked through it. For a few hours a week, you can find me at my favorite clothing store as a sales associate. Meeting new people and listening to their stories, as we put together outfits or finding a great fitting pair of jeans, is a dream. If they leave better off than they arrived, I have done a good job, whether they buy something or not. Everyone I work with is younger than me and I absolutely love it! The generations behind us could really use encouragement, I am finding out, and they genuinely receive all you can give. Actually, everyone can use a kind word these days. When I get to go to work, I am thankful for this fun opportunity to encounter many people that normally would not have crossed my path. And you never know how God might use us in the new places He leads us, but I am excited to see!

Twenty four years ago, on this particular Sunday in the Young Life camping world, my husband and I met for the very first time. Today we visited our oldest daughter, who is working at this camp, not even realizing it was the same day until we got there. During our visit I was continually reminded of the Lord’s timing and faithfulness. And as we sat in the worship service with our daughter, thankfulness filled my heart. On that same stage all those years ago, the boy I had met minutes before, played his guitar and sang, leading us all in worship. This unsuspecting guy had no idea that on my list of things I wanted in a husband was a bonus box that read, “sings and plays the guitar”. You cannot tell me that God is not about the details. Because it had to be Him that placed that sweet desire in my heart and knew it would be met. And returning with a van full of kids, seeing our daughter thriving and reconnecting with friends on this day gives evidence. I just can’t get over it….

A phrase in a verse stuck out to me this morning. The verse says, “Wait for the LORD, be strong, and let your heart take courage, wait for the LORD.” Psalm 27:14. It was the “let your heart take courage” part that caused me to stop and consider these words that imply permission. Sometimes circumstances, false beliefs and fear discourage us so badly. Waiting, strength and courage feel so foreign, even impossible. However, it seems the key is found in whom or what we are waiting. If we wait and place our hope in the economy, health, relationships, you name it, we hand our hearts over to them and our strength and courage too. If our heart is filled by love Himself, kept by Him, then strength and courage do come as we wait. And we know that sometimes it can take close to fifty years for life giving permission to be given again. This greatly encouraged me to continually trust the One to whom my heart belongs, as my source of strength and courage, waiting on Him to move.

If there were some magic formula taught in a class before becoming a parent, many of us would have gladly signed up. If each child came with special instructions, that would guarantee that they would live out of their true identity, we as parents would diligently follow them. While we have been given plenty of scriptures regarding raising children, I think there is even more we are being offered as parents. Maybe raising children is one of the biggest opportunities to bind ourselves wholeheartedly to our Heavenly Father. This independent stuff does not work, but being completely dependent on Him is a rare, but courageous way to live. And since we recently celebrated dads, I can tell you from a front row seat perspective, that dependence is what makes an incredible father.

Going through the homework for the summer Bible study, a statement the author made stands out. ”Self-importance is always an enemy to your true self-identity.” This idea of elevating ourselves is the opposite of humility. So who we truly are, the person God created us to be, is found when we are brought low. While the process may sound like being thrown into a fiery furnace, it is actually the place we become unbound to our self-importance and the real us emerges. Now if the real you and me were of no value, the enemy would leave us alone. However, this true self is an enemy to his dark plans and the fire we now carry illuminates the darkness. Light has a way of drawing the enemies attention it seems. So the fight continues over the flame that shines, this Christ in us shines with humility, casting a welcoming glow to others. Self-importance would only bring a dark shadow. And so the decision to fight against this darkness continues and by the power of the igniting flame of the Holy Spirit, we shine.

There is a woman named Ruth in the Bible that is fascinating to me. She is a widow and a foreigner that ends up collecting grain, intentionally left for people who found themselves in her vulnerable state. The field she gathers from happens to belong to an honorable man, who takes notice of her. They end up marrying, by yet another plan of provision. Because Ruth knows what it is like to be one gathering grain and in a state of need, I have to think this gave her eyes to see people differently. How do you think she treated gatherers when she becomes the field owners wife? Maybe part of the good that comes out of whatever life experiences the Lord allows to put us in need, whether it is relational, physical, financial and the list could go on, we come to the other side noticing others. When we have eyes that are trained to see hearts in need, we remember the hope others gave to us and do likewise. Not to give them only our story, but to provide hope for them to gather. We encourage them to keep going and do not allow them to go home empty. The harvest is ripe with opportunities these days, friends.