God is His Own Interpreter

1. 
   "God moves in a mysterious way,

   His wonders to perform;

   He plants His footsteps in the sea,

   And rides upon the storm.

   
   

   Deep in unfathomable mines

   Of never-failing skill,

   He treasures up His bright designs,

   And works His sovereign will.

   
   

   You fearful saints, fresh courage take.

   The clouds you so much dread

   Are big with mercy, and shall break

   In blessings on your head.

   
   

   Judge not the Lord by feeble sense

   But trust Him for His grace;

   Behind a frowning providence,

   He hides a smiling face.

   
   

   His purposes will ripen fast,

   Unfolding every hour;

   The bud may have a bitter taste,

   But sweet will be the flower.

   
   

   Blind unbelief is sure to err

   And scan His work in vain;

   God is His own interpreter,

   And He will make it plain."

   
   

   ~William Cowper

Photo Friday

Mom completed the album for the first year of Miss Kyndal Faith today... It. Is. Adorable!
(Click on her name to preview the full scrapbook).

This page is my favorite! :)

Happy Friday!!

The Marble Jar

Brene Brown uses a marble jar metaphor for trust, saying that as relationships develop over time, we add marbles to the jar as people prove themselves trustworthy and we subtract them when people hurt or betray our trust...

"When we think about betrayal in terms of the marble jar metaphor, most of us think of someone we trust doing something so terrible that it forces us to grab the jar and dump out every single marble. What’s the worst betrayal of trust? He sleeps with my best friend. She lies about where the money went. He/she chooses someone over me. Someone uses my vulnerability against me (an act of emotional treason that causes most of us to slam the entire jar to the ground rather than just dumping out the marbles). All terrible betrayals, definitely, but there is a particular sort of betrayal that is more insidious and equally corrosive to trust.

In fact, this betrayal usually happens long before the other ones. I’m talking about the betrayal of disengagement. Of not caring. Of letting the connection go. Of not being willing to devote time and effort to the relationship. The word betrayal evokes experiences of cheating, lying, breaking a confidence, failing to defend us to someone else who’s gossiping about us, and not choosing us over other people. These behaviors are certainly betrayals, but they’re not the only form of betrayal. If I had to choose the form of betrayal that emerged most frequently from my research and that was the most dangerous in terms of corroding the trust connection, I would say disengagement.

When the people we love or with whom we have a deep connection stop caring, stop paying attention, stop investing and fighting for the relationship, trust begins to slip away and hurt starts seeping in. Disengagement triggers shame and our greatest fears - the fears of being abandoned, unworthy, and unlovable. What can make this covert betrayal so much more dangerous than something like a lie or an affair is that we can’t point to the source of our pain - there’s no event, no obvious evidence of brokenness. It can feel crazy-making."

~Brene Brown, Daring Greatly

This helped me, and for those who have experienced this form of betrayal, I hope this quote helps you feel less alone or irrational in the middle of your pain.  It HURTS when someone you love disengages and gradually pulls away, and you typically know it long before anyone outside the relationship notices anything is wrong.  I have been guilty of this myself at times as well as being on the receiving end of it.  It's the passive-aggressive and cowardly choice, and I hope to choose courage from today forward.  Don't play games or just hope someone gets the hint, but be honest with people if you're upset with them or you want to redefine the relationship.  Be hot or be cold, but don't be lukewarm.  That's my free advice for the day. :)

To weep with those who weep...

"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full."  ~John 10:10

Part of me wishes that I knew exactly how it would play out, but I do know that I want my life to reflect and radiate God’s love for those who are hurting.  I want to bring the light of God’s Kingdom against the kingdom of darkness that is reeking so much havoc and destruction in this world.

Robin Williams’ recent death by suicide has sparked numerous articles, blog posts, and comments from multiple angles regarding mental health, depression, and suicide.  Emotions are understandably high on both sides of these issues, and the main cry of my heart is for more sensitivity, grace, and compassion all around, particularly among Christians.

I have personally faced major depression to the point of desiring death; it is a dark and confusing place to be - God delivered me from it and I pray that I will never return there, but I understand the feeling and my heart breaks for those currently facing that.

I would love to say more, but I don’t feel the freedom or peace to go into great detail about my own story right now.  I will simply say that we rarely know the full extent of what other people are going through and how it is affecting them.  I pray that God will give me "eyes to see" when people are hurting, and the wisdom and discretion to love and encourage them... or perhaps just to weep with them and be there to listen, without peppy clichés or placing any pressure on them... to be sensitive to what they need and to respond in love.  It may require a great deal of patience and selflessness to stay in relationship with people who are struggling with depression or feeling trapped in despair, but please, please do not write them off or give up on them.

Lord, let us never belittle or dismiss the pain of others simply because we do not understand it.  Let us NEVER give anyone the indirect message that they are a burden and the world would be better off without them.  Help us to stay engaged and to care for others even when it is difficult, to pray and fight for the hearts that are under enemy attack.  Let our presence be a source of light and life and comfort to those dealing with heaviness, darkness, depression, and/or grief.

"To care about someone is to feel bad for them when tragedy strikes.  To care for someone is to show up when tragedy strikes, preferably with food in hand, and sit with them in silence and grief.  Caring for people, rather than just about them, makes all the difference.  Love, as it turns out, is more than a feeling.  Great stories - and great relationships - are defined by actions, not sympathies.  As such, we should all pay more attention to the people in our various circles who treat us and others this way, and guard those connections fiercely."  ~Scott McClellan

On that note, I am so grateful that God is close to the brokenhearted.  And I am grateful for the friends and family who stepped in and cared for me around this time last year.  Every ounce of kindness and compassion and loyal friendship was desperately needed and deeply appreciated.  From the bottom of my heart, thank you for pointing me to the light of Christ in the midst of a very dark season.

{The one-year anniversary of the ending of my best friendship is nearly here.  Her disengagement and my depression went in an unhealthy circular pattern that eventually led to her rejecting me, repeatedly and completely.  I’m really fighting my flesh not to write something entirely different here, but in the long run, I’ll be thankful that God is not letting me go there.  I've come such a long way over the past year, but right now, my heart feels freshly raw as I remember how it ended, so please pray for God to strengthen and sustain me through the week ahead.  Thank you!}

Memory Monday ~ Kyndal's 1st Bday

How precious is she!?

Sorry for all the slideshows, but this is absolutely the fastest, easiest, and most fun way to share several pictures. =)  Here are some pics from Missy's adorable 1st Birthday Party this weekend!!

Happy Birthday, Kyndal Faith!!

There are some heavy subjects I've been thinking and praying about, wanting to write about soon... but I'm saving all that for another day...

Because today is the 1st Birthday of my one and only niece, Kyndal Faith, also known as Missy K or Mini-Miss or Presh-Face (by me, at least)!! lol   I absolutely ADORE her.  She has big, beautiful blue eyes and wispy blond hair and a precious smile and several tiny teeth coming in (that are making her look way too grown up).  She is soft and cuddly and sweet and just endearingly happy.  Her little soul is so full of joy and laughter and delight in the life surrounding her, and she's beginning to develop a sassy, playful personality that we all love!  It's amazing how much she can communicate through just her eyes and facial expressions. :)

...They're stopping at four, so Missy K is officially the baby of the Parrish fam.  I love how every new thing with babies is exciting and cause for great celebration!  She's recently learned to clap when we say "yaaaay" and to wave and say "hi," and it's about the cutest thing I've ever seen (video below)!  She's been pulling up on the furniture lately, but hasn't mastered walking yet... there are so many great milestones and memories to be made ahead!  I so look forward to watching her grow up, but I'm really loving this age right here.  I know she will be well-loved and protected by her daddy and three big brothers (and possibly a bit spoiled by her mom, Aunt Lindsey, and Mamaw)!!  ;-)  She doesn't know it yet, but she and her brothers are a huge part of what helped get me through some really tough days over the last year.  And today, we get to celebrate the awesome milestone of her very 1st birthday, the one-year anniversary of the day the world became a little brighter and more precious! =)

So Happy Birthday, baby Kyndal Faith!  I can't wait for your party this weekend! :)   I pray that your life will continue to be surrounded by love and filled with grace, that you will be truly confident in your God-given worth and value, and that you will grow to know and love Jesus with all your heart!  We love you, Missy!! :)

Now here are a couple cute Mini-Miss videos and another Flipagram slideshow... because I just couldn't resist!! =)

Flipagram!

Always fun to discover new things... this is an app called "Flipagram" where you can choose any pics from your FB albums and/or phone and collage them together, then add any song you have in iTunes!  It's super fast and the music just makes it 1,000 times better for people like me.  LOVE IT!!  (I haven't had time to write a tribute post today, and I don't want to do those halfheartedly, so I'll get back to that next week.)

For now, here are some of my favorite summer memories:


This next one is of my three silly nephews and precious Missy K!  =)  Triston and Carter love to see (and "show Rachael") their pictures when they make silly faces, so we did that for quite a while at Cheddar's the other day. lol
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=813Ggv7kWpQ#action=share

"I just try to live every day as if I've deliberately come back to this one day to enjoy it, as if it was the full, final day of my extraordinary, ordinary life." ~Tim, About Time

Jenni

Jenni's funeral service today was sacred.  It was holy.  Powerful.
I'm so thankful I was able to drive down and attend.

The church was crowded - so full of people who Jenni impacted, especially through this final season of her life.  The family sang "Jesus, Name Above All Names" as they entered the auditorium (so I was crying even before the speeches began).  Her father spoke, then her brother, then her best friend, and then her husband.  (My former teacher, classmate, Pastor's daughter, and CHA's most beloved coach.)  Each of them shared personal memories and talked about how Jenni's life pointed them and those around her to Christ, particularly in her suffering.  Then they played a clip from Jenni's testimony (video below, 43:28-44:38), followed by a worship song and picture slideshow.  

I sat with my dad and Rachael, and all I could think was how I want my life to make an eternal difference.  I want my heart to reflect the heart of Christ; I want to be bold enough to share my testimony with those around me who need Him.  I want to show compassion for others and have faith that every trial and difficult season in my life has a purpose.  In short, I want to know and love God more.  And I don't leave many funerals feeling that mix of hope and inspiration and desire.  So I'm thankful for Jenni's example and for hearing her family praise her character and seeing the huge crowd of people who admired her faithfulness.  There are a million things that can distract us from it, but in the end, Jesus is all that matters...  Loving Him and loving others in a way that draws them to Him.  Jenni did that well!

"Let us rest in what we DO KNOW rather than wrestling with what we don't know."
~Pastor Melton

"But what seemed failure from man's standpoint was a tremendous triumph from God's, because God's purpose is never man's purpose... As we go on in the Christian life it gets simpler, because we are less inclined to say, 'Now why did God allow this and that?' A [mature] Christian is one who trusts the knowledge and wisdom of God, and not his own knowledge." 
~My Utmost for His Highest

"Fellowshipping with Christ in our suffering guards it from purposelessness."
~Beth Moore

"Your reactions determine your reach.  People will know you by how you face hardship!" ~Lysa Terkeurst

This is a video of Jenni sharing her testimony at a CHA chapel service a few months back.  It's about 45 minutes, but it's worth it and I would encourage you to watch it all.


"Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his faithful servants."
~Psalm 116:15

"I will never forget this awful time as I grieve over my loss. Yet I still dare to hope when I remember this: The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is His faithfulness; His mercies begin afresh each morning. I say to myself, “The Lord is my inheritance; therefore, I will hope in Him!”
~Lamentations 3:19-24

*Please keep her husband, Heath, and their seven children (Maddie, Connor, Kelton, Macy, Brody, Reese, and Cruz) in your prayers!!

EDIT:  Here is the full video of Jenni's service for anyone interested...

Words of Wisdom...

“To be loved but not known is comforting but superficial. To be known and not loved is our greatest fear. But to be fully known and truly loved is, well, a lot like being loved by God. It is what we need more than anything. It liberates us from pretense, humbles us out of our self-righteousness, and fortifies us for any difficulty life can throw at us.” ~Timothy Keller

Now here's T-Swift being awesome.  And again I say, no wonder I love her! :)

Tribute Tuesday ~ Tall Kyle!!

Today's Tribute goes to Kyle Brandon, 

also known as Tall Kyle or TK! =)

(This pic = him helping clean up after JEM's bday party, but I just love how festive he looks!) lol

 1. "Tall Kyle" is set apart, a rare man of God that I highly respect and admire!  He walks with God faithfully in day to day life, and his heart is humble and yielded to Him.  I'm truly thankful to count him among my close circle of friends (the "A Team" as Chet put it!). =)

My closest three guy friends:  Kyle, Chet, and Jeff! :)  #horsebrosinvegas

 2.  TK has a strong foundation and a lot of Biblical wisdom (one of many reasons I miss the days of DDLG South!).  He is well respected and very trustworthy, and friends tend to seek out his counsel when they need Godly insight or advice!

 3.  He puts others ahead of himself without the need for praise, flattery, or recognition.  He is kind, very chivalrous, generous, and protective, particularly toward the women in his life, and it has not gone unnoticed.  Little things like walking behind the girls when we're in a group or staying back with me when I'm pushing through the sandy hike or helping Laura climb the rocks or helping Sarah hobble to the car (lol)... they matter, and they are deeply appreciated!!

 4.  He's consistent and committed in serving, a natural leader who inspires integrity in others.  He knows who he is in Christ, which produces a combination of humility, service, strength, and security!  He maintains a grateful attitude... and has encouraged me to do the same (reminding me of the Charles Swindoll quote). lol

 5.  He's one of the four horsemen, (or #horsebros as they're better known) -- he has been a good influence and friend to Michael; and Jeff and Chet refer to him as "the model citizen." lol  He is peaceful, laid-back, and even-keel emotionally.  I feel like his goodness is sometimes under-appreciated, but he really does not crave people's attention or approval (or Tribute posts). lol

 6.  He was the only guy in the "singles group" in Vegas, which meant he had the honor of escorting me and Laura to dinner and the play! lol  (He also quietly paid for several of our meals, which was thoughtful and generous and much appreciated!!)

 7.  One of the most humble people I know. (The irony there makes it easy for me to remember that he works for a company called Pride!)

 8.  One of the "Europe guys" (the three of them went to Europe in 2012, and he and JEM are going to Switzerland again this month!!)  He's always there to celebrate with his friends on big occasions in their lives.  He's also there to help paint, move, build furniture, etc. whenever it's needed!!  (*I love this about all three of these guys!)

 9.  He's funny!  His facial expressions will crack you right up sometimes when he's listening to something that surprises him. :) He has a dry sense of humor and chimes in when you least expect it with quiet-but-hilarious comments like "I really don't think you'd wanna go with the tramp stamp in prison!"  (...answering one of JEM's now infamous random questions. lol)

10.  I'm really thankful for his friendship and influence in our circle of friends.  And finally, I'm glad he doesn't mind posing for my cheesy pictures... over and over and over again! lol  #m&mworldcuteness  #worthit ;-)

So in conclusion, yay for Tall Kyle! =)
I can't say enough good things; the world needs more men like him!!

Even if He doesn't...

"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. And now the prize awaits me -- the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on the day of His return. And the prize is not just for me but for all who eagerly look forward to His appearing."  
~2 Timothy 4:7-8

"I love that your life continues to point over and over again to the Lord of your Heart, the Creator and Redeemer of all things. When you were my sister's childhood friend, I did not realize that one day I would pray that I could reflect Christ as much as you. Dearest Jenni, I hate what life in this world has put you through. But I love what you have done to the world. You are a light that points is straight to Him. Thank you."  ~Beth Cox

"Nevertheless, I am continually with You; You have taken hold of my right hand. With Your counsel, You will guide me,and afterward receive me to glory. Whom have I in heaven but You? And besides You, I desire nothing on earth."  ~Psalm 73:23-25

After a two-year battle (not giving up or giving in even when doctors gave up) with aggressive appendiceal cancer, Jenni Kufahl died this afternoon and is finally healed and free from the unbearable pain she continually experienced here, her life and health and beauty fully restored in heaven, seeing Jesus face to face.  Please pray for her husband, Heath, and their seven children right now!!  This is such a difficult and tragic loss, but I know that God loves each of them and that He Himself will watch over and comfort and take care of them.

My friend, Tiffany, posted this verse as her status just a few minutes before I got the email about Jenni's time on earth coming to an end last night.  I'm thankful that God used that to prepare my heart for this and remind me that He is sovereign and loving and worthy of all worship and praise!!

"The God whom we serve is able to save us... but even if He doesn’t, we want to make it clear to you that we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up.” Daniel 3:17-18