Moving & Learning Along the Way

Learning the Way of St. James

(If you are new to Coffee, Crafts & Conversation, here is the basis of my recent posts: My next great adventure is beginning on July 10th, 2016 when I'll be flying to Spain for the summer. July & August will be spent with a wonderful family serving as their aupair and the last month I'll be hiking El Camino de Santiago [which is a 500 mile pilgrimage] through the country with a friend.)

In order to be honest about this season of excitement, expectation and uncertainty - I want to share what was put on my heart the last couple of days.

In addition to flying over to Spain for the summer, I am moving out of my current apartment and into a new one. I've been preparing my belongings, planning the next steps, donating clothes, moving boxes and this week my brother and boyfriend moved my dressers and bed out.

As I was putting together my last box and packing up my clothes for the summer, there was a lot of huffing & puffing... Not physically but emotionally. My little sister kept asking, "Are you doing okaaaaay?" (She nannies 3 year olds so this is a normal conversation for her...) Oddly, I felt sad and hesitant to leave..

So... In spite of my feelings, I pulled my suitcases up the stairs, loaded my car and drove away.

That night, sitting by the pool at my parents house, I was asking God why I was feeling upset/overwhelmed. In the last 4 months of prepping, this is the first time I've had any type of negative feelings. God poked my spirit and pointed out that leaving my current place makes my life shifts so much more real! With the season of uncertainty beginning.

Uncertainty means no control. It means learning trust.

---

This shift got me thinking about James, the Apostle who we are walking the Camino in honor of.

James' family was in the business of fishing. He was in a boat with his dad & brother, John, when Jesus called James & John into Ministry with Him [Mt 4:21-22]. The bible says that James IMMEDIATELY dropped everything and began following and serving Jesus.

James was eager to be called! Eager to fulfill his purpose. So eager that he left his family's business, left his father and the places he was most comfortable with.

James becomes one of Jesus' closest friends and part of the inner circle along with John & Peter. James, John & Peter witnessed Jesus' transfiguration [Mk 9:2-13], saw Elijah and Moses and heard the voice of God [Mk 9:2-13], had a lot of personal time with Jesus [Mk 9:2-13, Mk 1:29], witnessed MANY miracles including healing, deliverance and raising people from the dead [Mk 5:37-43]. James went with Jesus to the Garden of Gethsemane the night Jesus was arrested [Mt 26:37] and saw Jesus after the resurrection [Jn 20:19-20].

Maybe James had hesitated in the past and missed opportunities but when Jesus invited him on His journey in Mt 4:21-22, James did not hesitate.

Studying James encourages me to go boldly towards where God calls - this is the Way of St. James!! Serve well, ask questions, honor God and He will bring you to places you never could have imagined.

All this to say, I am James. and I hope you are too!

XOXO,

Abby

Training for the Camino (Pt 1)

Preparing for El Camino de Santiago del Norte
(or lack of preparation)

(If you are new to Coffee, Crafts & Conversation, here is the basis of my recent posts: My next great adventure is beginning on July 10th, 2016 when I'll be flying to Spain for the summer. July & August will be spent with a wonderful family serving as their aupair and the last month I'll be hiking El Camino de Santiago [which is a 500 mile pilgrimage] through the country with a friend.)

El Camino de Santiago del Norte is also known as The Way of St. James - northern route.
In preparation for our 500 mile hike across Spain, Debbie and I got in one good practice hike in addition to the training we've been doing separately, as an indicator of where our endurance is.

Debbie and I @ the beginning of the walk

Feeling strong 1/2 way through!

We wore our hiking shoes and backpacks that were purchased for the trip. Debbie bought a 25L REI Daypack and mine is 40L REI Trail Pack - we were professionally fitted at REI and choose the backpack that was most comfortable. They will only weigh 12-15LBS with minimal supplies, clothing and only one "luxury" item. I haven't decided if my luxury item will be mascara or a light scarf. (I'll post our packing list when it gets closer!)

Practice hike on 6/18/16

We made 12 miles in 3.5 hours stopping for a 30 minute break twice. It was a good pace - one I think we'll be able to maintain for the entire 26 day trip. Our best-case-scenario goal will be to walk 20 miles per day.

We made it!

We came out of the woods looking a little delusional but EXCITED for the trip! The journey is not about getting to the end or reaching the daily goal, the journey is about.. the journey. It's about deepening our friendship with each other, seeking the Lord and hearing from Him along The Way.

I've heard it said that on the Camino 3 things, at the very least, will change from within.

1. You'll be reminded on one thing
2. You'll learn one thing
3. You'll let go of one thing

-----

We'll be walking Camino del Norte (806KM)

T

he Northern Way follows the gorgeous Northern coast of Spain starting in Saint-Jean-Peid-de-Port and going through Bilbao, Laredo, Santander, Gijion and then to Santiago de Compostela which is approximately 500 miles.

"The Camino del Norte starts in the Basque Country, in the chic sea-side city of San Sebastián (Donosti in Basque), a real paradise for foodies: it is in fact in the top 10 cities with highest number of Michelin stars in Europe. The Northern Way follows the coast line for most of the way so you can discover charming fishing villages, swim in beautiful sandy beaches and taste delicious seafood. Feel inspired at the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao; stroll by the elegant royal palace in Santander; sample Asturias famous cider; stay in lively seaside towns and admire the natural beauty of the Northern coast of ‘Green Spain’." (http://caminoways.com/ways/northern-way-camino-del-norte)

Pilgrims have been trekking this route or a variation of it for over 1,000 years with anywhere from 100-1,500 starting at different points each day! Some walk it to honor the Apostle James and others in the midst of their own spiritual journey. Along the route are centuries of historic and religious European architecture.

Debbie and I will be starting the day with a devotional based on a book from Tony Stoltzfus called Questions for Jesus. At the end of the daily devotion are 3-4 big questions for Jesus to meditate on during the day.

After all, Matthew & James were disciples of Jesus together and Matthew 7:7 says, 

“Ask, and it will be given to you; 

seek, and you will find; 

knock, and it will be opened to you."

James is talking to early Jewish Christians in James 1:5 when he says,

"If any of you lacks wisdom, 

you should ask God, 

who gives generously to 

all without finding fault, 

and it will be given to you."

Thanks for joining me along The Way!

XOXO,

Abby

Life on Purpose

I'm reading "The Purpose Driven Life" and would HIGHLY recommend it - it's an easy read and so encouraging & applicable.

If you're like me, you may criticize where you are in life compared to expectations set by society, family and yourself.. Whether it is about being in a relationship, your career, having a family, liquid assets.. and so much more.

Rick Warren says, "Being successful and fulfilling your life's purpose are not at all the same issue! You could reach all your personal goals, becoming a raving success by the worlds standards, and still miss the purpose for which God created you."

When I read this, God revealed to me that.. You CAN be in the center of His will/purpose for your life and not feeeeeeeeeel successful!

My dad always says, "Feelings lie & Hallmark isn't realistic." The TRUTH is that God created us on purpose for His glory! Be encouraged and know that as long as you're pursuing God, He will continue to guide you into His perfect, beautiful plan for your life.

Pray with me.

Father, thank you for loving me enough to sacrifice Your Son. Thank you for giving us free-will and allowing us to choose love. We choose to honor you and love You in the season we are in right now. Hold my hand and reveal Your perfect plan, one step at a time. We trust you with our lives. In Your beautiful name we pray, amen. 

The First Act

Good morning friends!

I wanted to share with you what I heard from God this morning.

I'm reading from Acts chapter 1 and it's all about waiting. This book is the basis of a lot of our theology and belief as Spirit-filled Christians. And the first few verses are about waiting. Hmm, interesting. Like, people had to wait on God back in 0AD?

Picture this: The Resurrected Jesus is with the disciples and he tells them to wait on the Helper (Holy Spirit) and then to preach the Good News in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and to the ends of the earth.

That is a pretty BIG task! And I'm sure the disciples were excited & anxious to get started!!

But
They
Had
To
Wait
On
God.

IF the disciples decided to move ahead of the Lord, because they were sick of where they were, they could have started to travel and spread the good Word. I'm sure some people would believe and give their lives to Christ but I think in the end, the disciples would be unhappy, discouraged, mad at God and mad at themselves. They would not have made the same impact. And changed the world. Have you experienced that? Gone ahead with something you knew wasn't Gods idea and ended up upset at yourself and God? I have.

Instead, the disciples met together and prayed until the Holy Spirit fell on them in such a powerful way that tens of thousands of people started to believe in Jesus Christ, through them directly. And now batrillions (I think I made that number up) have been welcomed into the Kingdom of God!

They waited and prayed.

I have to ask myself, am I rushing God? Am I rushing into new opportunities at work, taking on extra responsibility before I'm ready? Am I rushing into a relationship?

OR am I waiting for Gods touch and perfect timing?

JOIN ME in waiting on Gods touch & perfect timing! It helps to have a community so I'd encourage you to join a bible study, start volunteering at church and encourage others to seek and wait on God with you.

Jesus & I love you all ❤️

Needlework

Needlework

"But Jesus said again, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”
Mark 10:24b-25

In 2010, I took a trip with some Business Admin professors and peers to Egypt & Israel, which by the way, was the best trip EVER. We took a tour of Jerusalem and walked past a little door on the outside gate - I thought it was a play house for kids or a special house for little people [like the TV show!] The tour guide pointed it out and quoted this scripture from Mark. 

Ready for a history lesson? They would close the main gates at night as self defense from potential attacks but would have a guard at the smaller door (called, "the eye of the needle") to let people in. Camels are tall and awkward, they are not fluid like a dog. It takes a lot of effort for the camel to bend, squat and maneuver through the tiny door, plus the merchant or traveler would have to remove all the bags from the camel first. That's a lot of effort. Ladies, if we were the traveler.. we would have pulled over, asked for directions and made it in time to get through the main gates before dark! 

Jesus says that it is easier for a camel to get through the eye of a needle then for a rich man to get into Heaven. Why is that? I think it's because we feel to much comfort and security in money. When that happens, we don't rely on God. If we're feeling upset or hurt, we'll go buy new shoes instead of deal with the real issue.

This pours into so many areas beyond finances. If we're consumed in a relationship and not keeping God as our First Love, the same principle applies. We have to take off the baggage, deal with our issues and not be afraid to get on our hands and knees to crawl through a situation or season of life. God wants to trust us with financial blessing and Christ-centered relationships but we have to prove our faithfulness and trustworthiness with what we have now. 

Right before this, God challenged a rich man to give up everything to follow Him but the man did not want to let go of his great fortune so he walked away with his head down. He had forgotten that everything we have is on-loan from God... it's not actually ours to posses! 

My challenge to us is to live with hands wide open! God will give and take away and that is okay! Life has ups and downs. Trust that God will use every situation to draw you closer to Him.

Are you spending your free time watching Netflix and eating ice cream? Yup. Or are you reading books and listening to podcasts? Lets just say that my couch has gotten some quality-Abby-time lately but trust me, I'm trying to find a balance between the two. Discover something new about your self - do something you love! Go on walks or bike rides. Volunteer for a local organization that you believe in! 

As we learn to seek God and trust Him more, He'll know that He can trust us with the next big thing He's got planned. Don't rob God of the opportunity to bless you. Seek Him when finances are tight or you're lacking the companionship you want AND seek Him even more when you see blessings in your life!

The Eye of the Needle becomes a lot bigger when we put all of our trust in God. 

"I Want to Give You Great" [Breakup Part 2]

Thanks for joining me! 

Have you ever been through a breakup? 

Me too. 

It's a pretty terrible experience. 

Let me share some encouragement with you! Because after all, these crazy emotions/experiences can't be for nothing. 

Setting the Scene:
I'd been praying and asking God during the whole relationship whether we were a good fit or not (see previous post for more details). Truly, I feel like we were suppose to be together until the last couple of weeks. Something shifted and through a series of events we started to reanalyze.

The Conversation:
It was any other day.. Sam and I were meeting that night to talk about our future. I remember sitting in front of the mirror doing my usual prayer as I'm applying my makeup. 

In my heart I heard the voice of God.

God said: "This is good"

Abby (really excited): "This IS good!"

God: "I want to give you great"

Without missing a beat, this picture popped into my head. This was the confirmation to end things with Sam.

Add caption

Ladies, God wants us to have GREAT and not settle for 'good enough'. Keep this in mind as you enter a new relationship or are trying to decide if you want to spend the rest of your life with someone. Don't get me wrong, no one is perfect and we do need to expect to work hard for any relationship but I'm challenging you (and myself) to ask and expect God for great!

“I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits, and in his word I put my hope.”
Psalm 130:5

Dear Heavenly Father, Abba, we trust that you have GREAT in our future! I pray that You would fill the hole in our hearts that so longs for a relationship. We want more of you everyday. Thank you for loving us enough to say, "no" and challenging us to wait for "great". 

We love you and honor you! 

Amen.

Just because it fits... [Breakup Part 1]

[[This blog has been stagnate for a while - so I've decided to share a bit of my story instead of another project. I hope you enjoy!!]]

My name is Abby.

I don't often date.

Never introduced a boy to my family.

Never introduced a boy to my church family.

Never introduced a boy to my extended family <-- that would scare anyone!

but I recently got into a relationship.
Sam loves God and loves me.
But just because it fits doesn’t mean it’s right.

Let me explain. I use to carry about 60 extra pounds and I got into the habit of buying any piece of clothing that fit because I rarely found anything I liked (hence, my roommates will attest that I have quite a shoe collection!). I’ve been finding myself in dressing rooms lately thinking, “Abby, you don’t have to buy it just because it fits!” – um, or am I the only one who talks to themselves like this? smile emoticon

I’ve literally had to adjust my mindset from “This is the only opportunity I’ll have to buy a dress that fits” to “Is what I’m going to pay for this dress, that fits nicely, worth it?”

My point is that just because it fits doesn’t mean it’s always right. This week I heard God loud and clear in my heart and mind that Sam and I are a good fit but we’re not right. It’s a heart wrenching lesson, decision and an even worse conversation to have.

God reassured me that this is not the only opportunity I’ll have to find a man who fits into my life!

I tell you this, friends, not to find sympathy but to encourage you to SEEK GOD and LISTEN to His voice. He wants to give us direction, to protect and guide us through the best life that we could have. TRUST in Him! Being in the right relationship at the right time is so much sweeter then just being in any relationship.

I think God gave me the last couple of months with Sam to teach me this lesson. And I am very grateful! ‪#‎lessonlearned‬

God loves us. First. Forever.
(Do you hear God through music? Me too.. check this out:https://youtu.be/RbWQV3OiRqA)

Father, we trust You with our hearts, minds and love lives. Guard our hearts for the right relationship. Open up the floodgates of Heaven and pour down Your perfect love. We want to honor You with everything we say and do! Thank you for caring enough to gently guide us through life. Let us hear from You. You are our first love – our #1! heart emoticon
(Another good one: https://youtu.be/qv-SXz_exKE)