He won't grow weary

By dinnertime Monday evening, I was fried. It had been that kind of Monday for our family. The kind when we all tried quite unsuccessfully to recover from a busy and long weekend while getting a good jump on the week. I was snippy, I was losing my patience, I was annoyed.

"Jesus, I'm sorry for today. Help me enjoy the process," I prayed that night after I wearily tucked my children into bed, repenting to each one individually for my harshness, short-temper, and general irritation.

I get tired of hearing myself pray that. So, so, so tired. And sometimes-- a lot of times-- I am arrogant enough to superimpose my weariness with myself on Christ.

The truth of the matter is that He doesn't grow weary with me. 7x70 times, He forgives me. A broken and contrite spirit He will not deny.

Yesterday in the later afternoon, as I sat in the sunshine, enjoying the brilliant colors of this spectacular autumn, listening to my children play, nursing my baby, relishing the fact that even though the prior few days had been far from perfect, they had been joy-filled days, I realized that He had-- once again-- come to my rescue. In the midst of my exhaustion and defeat, He heard my repentance (repentance uttered in much doubt, if I'm honest) and He was again meeting me in my place of need.

No filter, guys. Just beautiful sunlight and a smooshy baby to kiss.

a Whole 30 breakfast

Since our month of eating Whole 30, Daniel and I have been much more aware of the negative effects of many foods that we used to regularly eat. The truth is that each person is going to "feel" foods differently, and it's super helpful to "learn" your body.

It seems silly to say because, well, didn't I know this (at least a little?!), but I've realized that sugar really bothers me. Way more than it bothers a lot of people. Like, my body is hyper-sensitive to it.

Not that it makes me hyper. (I kind of wish it did, since there are days I could use some hyper in my energy levels, actually!)

On the contrary, it makes me sluggish. It makes my stomach ache. It makes my eyes tired! It throws my pH balance way off. It makes me irritable.

And I can so easily become addicted to it.

This doesn't just apply to sugar, but all foods that the body quickly turns to glucose. Bread, pasta, rice, white potatoes, and basically all the goodness that I love and think of when I think of "special". (Scones, muffins, cinnamon buns, cookies, anyone???) I still eat that stuff, but I'm trying to keep it to what it needs to be for me: special.

To help balance the stuff that is bothersome and to combat hunger that leads to choices that wouldn't be very good for me, for the past month we've continued to do our best to eat Whole 30 for at least two meals a day. If I eat a breakfast that is Whole 30, I find that I'm full enough to make it through the morning without reaching for something quick and handy, which, let's be honest, is almost always something that's not Whole 30. That then leads to a better, more planned lunch rather than eating whatever will get in my belly the fastest.

One of our favorite and almost daily Go-To breakfasts is roasted veggies with fried or poached eggs for us and scrambled eggs for the kids. The veggies can be chopped the day before or first thing in the morning and then they get popped in the oven to roast while we busy ourselves with running, showering, having quiet times, etc. The eggs get cooked at the last minute. Easy-peasy and so, so, so yummy.

I'm telling you: if you don't like the sounds of this breakfast, it's because you've never had roasted veggies!

Pictured below is the tray just before I mixed it all with some olive oil, freshly ground black pepper, and kosher salt. There's nothing tricky about this. All I did was light a candle, turn on some Joni Mitchell, and chop for a blissfully quiet and still-dark 15 minutes before kids were all awake and I was catapulted into another busy day.

From top to bottom: mushrooms, parsnips, sweet potatoes, eggplant, red onion, and fresh thyme & rosemary. Roast in the oven at 400- or 425-degrees (depending on your oven) for 45-60 minutes. I like mine pretty caramelized (ie done)! Topped with a poached egg, which I devoured before I thought to take a picture, it was UH-MAZE-ING.

Romans

We are beginning a series on the book of Romans at church.

I always love when we do a series on a passage/book of the Bible, but I am especially eager for this one. Do you ever have seasons when you just need the Gospel all over again? Because I do-- often-- and right now I am hungrier than ever for it.

The Word of God is living and active. I know this to be true. And yet I am daily amazed by this reality; by its strength, comfort, power, renewing, truth, and awakening.

This soul of mine, so easily overcome by its own inadequacy and brokenness and filth, soars each and every time I learn again that He loves me, He has saved me, He is for me, He will come again for me!

"The just shall live by faith."

Not by works. Not by knowledge. Not by circumstances.

By faith.

It is finished

He has done it.

I need this every day.
Every. Single. Day.

If you can't join us as we work through this study together on Sunday mornings, listen online!