choosing fantabulous.

You all know I have a long way to go.  You can amen here if you'd like :)

But there have been a few universal truths hitting home lately, and when I was in the shower this morning the Lord was talking to me about what life must continually look like in order to be in pursuit of the FREE life in Christ that He is offering.

Yes, God often speaks to me in the shower.  This is because I am a mother of small children, and this is where He meets mothers of small children.  Can I get another amen?

This is what hit me.

Thanksgiving yesterday was fantabulous.  But it wasn't on accident.

Eight weeks ago, the turkey and ham were ordered.  Five weeks ago, I ordered matching placemats and disposable matching napkins and plates.  Three weeks ago I started planning for our day and thinking about ways we could make it extra special for our family here and brainstorming with Matt.  A week ago I started searching His Word for the heart of Thanksgiving, praying for our family/community day together, and gathering and making decorations.  All weekend we cleaned, collected, moped, cooked and prepared.  All morning we moved tables and chairs across campus, ironed (thanks Haylie!) decorated, built a volleyball net (thanks Phil and Eric!) and finalized.

And then yesterday was great.  The atmosphere was meaningful, peaceful and full of love.  All the little touches meant a lot more to people than I had even expected.  The food was terrific, the coffee was piping, there was a chair for everyone, the kids were thrilled, the activities were fun.

It didn't happen because yesterday was November 18th, fake Thanksgiving in 90 degree weather a thousand miles from family and fall and football.

It all happened because we deliberately, intentionally, tediously and painstakingly filled it with His presence and His great love for others....which was in turn felt and reciprocated.

He wasn't here yesterday and alive in each member because He likes to crash parties and people.  He was in those who have asked Him to be, He was here because we invited and begged His presence.

Back to the shower.  

As I praised the Lord for this this morning, He dawned on me that there are a LOT of things we need to be CONTINUALLY doing to be living lives free and full of Christ as He desires.  As I desire.

Five weeks before today, three weeks, this weekend, this morning, to make TODAY be full of His presence, His fruit, His face, His love for others.

I get to thinking that it's just going to happen.  That He will slap me with His freedom.  Dump me with the fruits of the Spirit.  Force me with His forgiveness on others.  Break chains while we sleep, bless us while we busy.

But it's just not so, just like the Thanksgiving fairy didn't show up yesterday morning and BAM us a great day.

Could yesterday have been good without all the decorations...with mediocre food...with less prayer and inviting and thought and planning?

Yeah, probably.  And I would imagine that we can be in Christ without breaking a sweat, without straying far from our comfort zone.

But there is FANTABULOUS to be had.  the More.  the abundant life.  complete freedom.  BETTER.

And all of the exhaustion of last night was more than worth all of the beautiful and meaningful reflections we heard from family yesterday, worth His beautiful presence in the day, with even brand new missionaries to the field saying it was one of the best Thanksgivings they had ever had.

And I'm choosing that.

So, for the next few days...here are a few of the things He's showing me I must ALWAYS be doing...