And If Not...

As I lay in bed tonight I dwell on these words...

Moving through this year as a well-water women - I strive to cling to the truth that God is good. In all circumstances God is good and when I struggle to believe that I dive into His word to set my perspective right.

No matter my plan for life or schedule for the day, God is in control. Jesus is going to do better than my most amazing "dreams come true."

So much in life is unknown to me in this stage of life. So much is moving from true to real for me and even though the times of learning and growing are exciting, that does not make them any easier to grab hold of!

"and if not He is still good!"

 I am going to cling to this as I struggle to let go of my plan and idea for what my life should look like. 

Gospel of Grace

Webster's Dictionary defines Grace as: (Theol.) The divine favor toward man; the mercy of God, as distinguished from His justice; also, any benefits His mercy imparts; divine love or pardon; a state of acceptance with God; enjoyment of the divine favor.

I just completed a study on the book of Ruth called "Gospel of Grace" by Gretchen Saffles. (click the link to check out the author's website and find other goodies by Gretchen)

I happened upon Gretchen's Life Live Beautifully Instagram account about 7 months ago and through that God has really been working in some very radical ways in my life. This study of Ruth was one the first way that I have benefited from Gretchen's outreach.

Through this study I have a whole new outlook on the book of Ruth. I have always read these chapters as a love story between Boaz and Ruth... Gretchen has helped me see them as so much more than that! It is God's love story, with his people... with me! I am so grateful for this season of life and the perspective shifts I am having and the things I am learning about myself and my relationship with God!

Well-water Women

This year I did not make any specific resolutions or goals for 2015... 2015 kind snuck up on me this year. We spent the new year at my grandparents (here you go) and I just got lost in the vacation!

New Years Eve as I am lying in bed I read a Life Lived Beautifully blog post about Isaiah 58:11 - "A call to love God's word more than the world." 

This is exactly want I needed to read that night... as a new year starts and I look towards newness. I realized that I needed it to start in Christ.

In the verses before God lays out for the Israelites the selfless life He wants them to be living that is centered on giving themselves away for His glory (verses 6-10). 

This is what I want to focus on this next year... diving into God's word head first and giving of myself for the glory of God. I am sure what the details of this is going to look like in 2015 but I want to make that my focus!! 

I am excited to more into this new year and see what the Lord brings.

30X30 - Road Trip to Grandparents

Road Trip to Grandparents - CHECK!

The day after Christmas we set off... all six members of the Humphrey family ready to hit the road and travel 19 hours north. We had not been to my grandparents house for Christmas in over 5 years so it was fun to be back in the cold!

Driving 19 hours is a lot different as an adult than it was when we were kids... there is no such thing as a "comfortable position" for sleeping in the car after the age of say ten, so that part was very interesting but we did make it! Thankfully I got a lot of reading done for Antioch while not sleeping... Taylor and I were the designated watchmen while are

I love my family! This trip I had a few goals... Since my grandparents are not getting any younger I wanted to make sure I had heard their story at least one time in my life. So one night after dinner I asked them "How did y'all meet?" and then the stories ensued.

Not only did I learn about my grandparents' history (it was the grace of God that brought my grandpa to my grandma's house while he was in town) but my grandma also told some stories about Dad as well. It was a great time. I really cherish moments like these... when you just get to be together!

I am so grateful for the path that my Grandparents have laid for us. They have faithfully followed the Lord through His training program for them, the ups and downs of life and it is amazing to hear about. They will have a legacy live on through their kids, my siblings and cousins and one day all of our kids. I pray that the Lord allows us to hear more and more stories and to have more time with them.

Now of course, we could not make a trip to Green Bay without going to Lambeau Field. I was so excited because the Packers were actually playing the Lions while we were in town. We were not able to get tickets so Dad and I did the next best thing and went out to the stadium to be apart of the tail gating experience. It was crazy! It was cold! It was amazing! 

My next step is to actually get into the stadium and see what its like as a packed out game! I am determined to do it before I die! 

 

Outside the Pro Shop, they put in a new statue. The Lambeau Leap. Those who wanted to took turns taking out first Lambeau Leap (it is only a couple feet off the ground)! It was funny but very popular.

DOOR COUNTY, WISCONSIN

We took a day trip up to Door County to walk around and do a little shopping. It is very different in the winter. Not a lot of shops were open and the Bay was frozen over. It was still fun time together!

This was a fun treat for my mom. On our way home we were able to stop in Chicago and meet up with Aunt Nancy. It had been so long since we had seen her. I know that it really loved my mom to get that time with her sister. I am grateful that it worked out. I had a good time talking with her and so I know my mom must have too.


A Review

Two thousand and fifteen is upon us! WOW!

 

As I reflect on the last 12 months I realize that they were filled with many transitions and many firsts within those transitions. I am very grateful for where the Lord has taken me. I never would have guessed that 2014 would have held all that it did.

 

*I transitioned from college life to career life, with my first "big-girl" job.

*I transitioned from living on my own to living back with my parents (TWICE).

*My ministry and growth went through a few transitions - college ministry mentality to church life and Antioch.

*I learned to transition my perspective and grew in my understanding on certain topics.

*I have had to transition through how friendships work in a busy, busy life. I had forgotten what it is like to work at them.

 

Two thousand and fourteen was a great year. I set out to do some very specific things last year. There was a lot of good but not without some difficulty. The Lord was faithful and gracious through it all and I believe I have seen growth in areas I never would have seen had I not been where I was and done what the Lord called me to do. I hope to get back into consistently posting this year, not exactly sure why I let it slip in 2014.

 

I am very excited for what God is going to do in 2015!!

My 30 by 30

Around my 25th birthday (less than a month ago) I made a list.

For some that know me that is not a surprising fact. I love to make lists... of the things I have to accomplish, the things I need to purchase, the people I want to spend time with, books I want to read... you name it I have probably made a list for it. This list is a little more in-depth for me because you see, I wont be completing this list for the next five years.

I made a list of 30 things that I want to accomplish before my 30th birthday. The concept is simple but the task most likely will not be.

1. Go to a Green Bay Packers game at Lambeau Field

2. Go Skydiving

3. Own a gun

4. Visit (at least) two of my libraries

5. Learn to drive a motorcycle

6. Visit Las Vegas

7. Live by myself (no roommates)

8. Graduate Antioch

9. Buy groceries for someone in need

10. Road trip to Grandparents

11. Camping in Colorado

12. Memorable concert or festival

13. Learn more Spanish

14. Dress more professional

15. Attend a midnight movie premiere

16. Get a tattoo

17. Pay off ALL my debt

18. Learn to drive a stick shift

19. Help bring someone to the Lord

20. Road trip with Siblings

21. Engineers without Borders (or something similar)

22. Eat an animal that I have killed 

23. Learn guitar

24. Some of time volunteering

25. Donate my hair to Locks of Love

26. Get my E.I.T license 

27. Lasik eye surgery

28. Read 50 new books (including Antioch)

29. Visit Hogwarts 

30. Be a part of a music video or movie

I want to see the world... I want to try new things... I want to experience new places, people, foods... I want to do things for others... I want people to know Jesus more because of how I live my life... I want to live the time that I am given to the fullest.

I know for a fact that I am going to do way more than this in the next five years. I am not confined to these 30 things. I wanted to set some goals and give myself something to look forward to and plan for (I love to make plans), but that does not mean extra adventures won't pop up or other doors won't swing open. I pray that I will be able to grab up every opportunity the Lord throws my way, no matter how "big" or how "small" I think it is. Because really, I am the one who makes different things "big" and "small" to God it is all the same, he cares how I respond to these "big/small" things not how I categorize them. 

I am really excited to complete these, I put quite a bit of time into coming up with them and I am not sure how some of them are going to come to fruition but I am going to get through as many as I can in the next five years. 
My hope is to share the experience with you as they are completed.