Hope Farm Housewife

An old but familiar song lyric by John Mark McMillan raced through my mind as I examined this scene through my lens. The cracks in the asphalt were strangely intriguing and beautiful to me. I crept down to try to get the right angle all the while I was nearly lying on the sidewalk, then again I heard the lyric…

Hope grows between the cracks in the Asphalt…

I wondered how long before green life would poke through these cracks and I simultaneously wondered how quickly a gardener would come and snip the weed away.

I wondered if Glynn County had plans to replace the bubbling and cracking asphalt.

The thought evoked sadness as I thought the naturally occurring splits to be lovely.

I have been noticing that when I get inspired and have a creative idea I am quickly apt to push it aside- common idea killers such as “ I don’t have the time”, “I don’t have the resources”, are often blockades that prevent me from developing ideas.

Usually my best ideas come at the most inopportune times. In the car, while making dinner, and so on. Just like the green stuff that pokes through the cracks in the sidewalk. That green life is poking through at the most inopportune place, but still they grow, they push through and rear their heads to grow until the weedeater comes around- and then they come again.

Since my time is limited these days I have come up with a few practical solutions.

1: I keep a small sketch pad nearby so I can quickly draw what I am imagining then I quickly jot down what it is. I do this because if I am too vague I can’t remember what I was thinking.

2. If I am in the car/ in the pick-up line at school, at the store etc. I send a text message to my hubby. He also does this with me- we know that these are simply ideas to keep somewhere. We always save them!

3. When ideas are flooding my mind, I also keep a journal on my computer and beside my bed to jot down and clear my mind… then I refer to when need be.

4. I also look for accountability. Currently I attend a songwriting circle with several girls. We keep each other on track with goals while collaborating.

Jesus has been quietly whispering to my soul to be a good steward of the ideas he has given me. To act on them and to take initiative.

So just like the hope growing between the cracks we are creative beings and our ideas and expressions while infused with the Holy Spirit are what bring his kingdom to earth. I pray that I will have the ability to create and write without fear and do so in the midst of obstacles!

As a follower of Christ, I pray that I exhibit freshness and divine inpsiration in all that I do!

As I examined the picture, I realized that hope truly grows where you least expect it to…

So in the midst of your crazy life where do you see hope? Think about it.

Happy Monday {Love-CyleAugusta}

Our road trip found us passing right through Chattanooga which only means one thing to us!

Chattanooga Choo- Choo!

We took advantage of this benefit and made an afternoon out of it. My boys were blown away by the huge train that looked like all the model trains we have at home!

It makes me a little sad that we don’t primarily use trains as a means of transportation anymore. The whole train depot idea seemed really exciting. Chattanooga Choo Choo train depot has done a great job of emulating what an old train depot used to look like!

It was so bright outside as you can see by the overexposure!

They were pretending to drive a train!

They had a model train floor upstairs, you paid a few dollars and you were admitted to the neatest model train display I have ever seen! The boys were mesmerized!

Their first experience with rock candy!

Summer is sweet……and the close of it?

That, my friend is often bittersweet.

There are a few weeks left before we jump into a regular schedule and I am soaking up all the last days of morning beach trips and afternoon pool dips.

With the recent return of a 12 day road trip in which we covered Atlanta, Chattanooga, Nashville, Ohio back to Nashville, a night in Atlanta and finally Brunswick- I am a bit behind. I’ve been unplugged for two weeks. Not a single bit of social networking fit in the schedule for me! The good news is I am back! Stay tuned.

Here are some of my favorite beach photos from our summer days…

Summer Waves closed on weekdays so it forced us to set up shop in the backyard!

The saga continues…

Reading books…

completing book…

reviewing books…

This book was completed almost three months ago.

I think it has successfully made the procrastination list. You know, the list you check things off of, and carry over two to three items over to the next day’s list – continuing this episode for, oh say, three months? Ring a bell, anybody? Well, that’s the case here.

So, without further ado-let me introduce you to a book I completed three months ago.

The book: Chasing the Dragon by Jackie Pullinger. The subtitle reads

“The true story of how one woman’s faith resulted in the conversion of hundreds of drug addicts, prostitutes, and hardened criminals in Hong Kong’s infamous Walled City”.

Why did I read this book?

One might wonder how a busy mother of two would come to read such a book.

Here’s the scoop: I was introduced to the writing of James Goll, due in part to my brother marrying his daughter (in 10 days!) When Michel Ann Goll graduated to be with Jesus almost two years ago her husband combined parts of two of her books (A Call to the Secret Place and Women on the Frontlines) to create a 40 day devotional titled Empowered Woman. Each devotional summarizes the life of a famous Godly woman. These overviews of Great Women have been so fascinating to me that I can’t seem to complete this devotional! I find myself continually distracted by getting interested in books she references.

Such was the situation with Chasing the Dragon. Michel Ann’s thoughtful summary of Jackie’s impact on China was enthralling. I discovered that my husband owned this tattered yellow paperback – in fact, he claims that he’s suggested that I read it numerous times since we’ve been married, but NOW my interest was peaked! I promptly found it on the shelf and dove in. This book was not on the 2010 reading list, nonetheless I am convinced that God led me to read this treasure.

An honest review has to reveal my frustration with the overall delivery – it sometimes lacked a sense of sequence: the account seemed to jump around a bit. Even so, I have never been so stirred and challenged by the account of a missionary.

I cried.

I got mad at times.

I was shocked at the dangerous situations Jackie walked into daily.

I wondered how she had not been raped and/or battered by the dangerous men she was in constant contact with.

What did I receive from reading this book?

I was challenged to pray at all times in order to not miss the voice of the Lord. Every page records accounts of Jackie walking down the street and hearing the Lord say “Go here, turn down that road – you will meet a boy at such and such place.” – “You must go and witness to a prostitute on such and such street with the name_______.” The Lord seemed to speak to her in such detail. She also prayed continually and talks at length about her prayer life. I was encouraged to pray for daily wisdom and direction in all my daily doings.

I began to ask the Lord why I didn’t hear His voice as clearly and as often as she did.

It was as if God said, “Few spend their lives listening….when you listen and seek with all that you have, you’ll find that I am speaking.“

Spellbound, I am unable to articulate the full depth of this book. I was in awe of the goodness of God and reminded that we are vessels and the more availability we give Him the more useful we become. Jackie is a remarkable women who is credited with helping many opium and heroine addicts get clean, and turn their lives over to Jesus. She truly made a difference with gangs and prostitutes and addicts. I would call this book a thriller…. Really. The thrilling life of following the voice of the Lord in every situation… and trusting that every day would be filled with divine appointments to further advance the kingdom of God.

We have met and connected with some marvelous people this year.

Some such folks would be Aaron Keyes and his family.

Aaron wrote a song called “Not Guilty Anymore.” This tune truly resounds with my soul, echoing the heart of God our Father to us, his children.

I could describe it.

I could write the lyrics.

I could tell you the story behind the song.

I could further describe how the song has impacted me.

However, I think I will stop and persuade you to watch this.

Shannon recently completed this interview with Aaron regarding his song, “Not Guilty Anymore”. The story that inspired the song is dialogued.

It’s quite powerful.

Its short.

When your done, click over to his site and listen to ” Not Guilty Anymore” when your finished there hop on over to itunes and buy it……. it will be good for the IPOD this weekend!

Give it a view and/or stop on over at TheWorshipCommunity.com for more details.

Aaron Keyes Interview part 1 from Shannon Lewis on Vimeo.