how the light gets in

Tag: Annie F Downs

• Orange Batons

  Posted at 7:53 am by How the Light Gets In, on June 12, 2020

  I wish I had two of those huge orange batons the airplane-directing people use on the tarmac waving out directions for planes.

  If I had those batons (and maybe even the neon vest), I would wave my arms to get your attention to point you to the hope I’m finding.

  God.

  Remember Him? I seem to have forgotten God and Hope are one and the same. I untangled them and tangled myself in a mess of emotions and images instead. 

  To have hope I need to remember God.

  Lucky for me, one of the books in my “to read” pile is coincidentally, perfectly named “Remember God.” 

  

  Those pages are orange batons, one after another, pointing to God.

  The author, Annie Downs, cited a section of Paul’s letter to the Romans talking about the kind of hope I need. Maybe you do too.

  “...believed, hoping against hope…He did not weaken in faith…He did not waver in unbelief at God’s promise but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God.

  Romans 4:18-20

  This description of Abraham’s hope feels like the hope I need right now for so many things- hoping against hope. It feels desperate and appropriate. 

  I needed the not so subtle reminder to remember. I love that God gets me. I don’t like reading into things. I am better with direct truth. He knows that. 

  Let me be direct with you.

  God is very much alive and real and close. 

  With the dream of hope in my heart, the word hope underlined in my copy of “Remember God” and in my bible; I met with some friends.  After catching up, the verse Jenna shared with us was

  “As for me, I will always have hope; I will praise you more and more.”

  Psalm 71:14

  Beyond coincidence; this is God.

  And God goes beyond me praying for hope, then picking up a book and reading on hope and then listening to my friend share a word on hope. I had forgotten something else about God. 

  God is a creative stinker.

  

  I know I need to remember God. Right now, I’m stuck on following Hope.

  There’s hard, necessary work to be done in this country. There are cures to be found. There are wounds to address and heal. I don’t have a magic wand. 

  I do have God.

  I don’t have orange batons but I do have words.

  Remember Him. Look for Him. God and Hope ARE beautifully intertwined, written throughout scripture, living deep inside you and me, and also painted on the back of little cars.

  Posted in JUNE 2020, Uncategorized | 2 Comments | Tagged Annie F Downs, HOPE, How the Light Gets In, Psalm 71:14, Remember God, Romans 4:18-20

• CHRISTMAS – Day 25

  Posted at 2:09 pm by How the Light Gets In, on December 25, 2019

  Merry Christmas

  You did it. WE did it! Hooray for us! 24 days of reading God’s word. 24 days of devoting a little time to learning God’s voice. I’m so proud of you and me!

  Take a moment to scroll all the way back to Day One. Grab a piece of paper and a pencil and jot down the websites, books, Instagram accounts, Music, Photography, Email subscriptions, Apps, Artists, Podcasts, Places, People, Recipes.

  Then, take note of what struck you most – was it the beauty, the pain, the encouragement, the community?

  Finally, we should list all the scripture from the posts. The Bible still blows my mind with all those words written so long ago and somehow still very alive and so powerful.

  You know what ALLLLL this tells me?

  GOD

  WILL

  STOP

  AT

  NOTHING.

  God will stop at nothing to get YOUR attention.

  These 24 days have just been a glimpse of how relentless God is trying to grab your attention.

  Christmas gives us the sweetest example of this. Immanuel is God with us.

  Jesus IS God with us.

  But wait, the story doesn’t end here. There’s Good News! Jesus wasn’t just born, end of story. Jesus lived a life full of friendship and story telling and healing and teaching and loving. There’s more to learn. Jesus didn’t just live for you and me. He also died for you and me.

  Today we celebrate His birth but there’s so much more.

  And hey, if you’re reading this you’re alive too which means God’s not done with you. Your story with Him might just be beginning. Or maybe you go way back. Either way, keep walking with Jesus. Read His Word. Learn His voice. Look for Him.

  Remember how we started this journey with Gods word as a “lamp for our feet”? Today let’s celebrate because the light is here. Jesus – God with us – is here “to guide our feet into the path of peace.” (Luke 1:79)

  Thank you for being with me this Advent. You have made it so special for me.

  One last song Reckless Love

  Posted in DECEMBER 2019 | 0 Comments | Tagged 1 John 1:5, 1 John 1:5-7, 1 John 5:14, 1 Peter 2:9, 1 Peter 5:6, 100 Days to Brave, 2 Corinthians 1:6-7, 2 Kings 20, Acts 2:28, Advent, Ann Voskamp, Annie F Downs, Christmas, Church of the Nativity, Colossians 1:9-10, Cory Asbury, Elevation Worship, Ephesians 5:13, Exodus 33:14, Genesis 28:15, Hooray, How the Light Gets In, Isaiah 40:3-5, Isaiah 43:18-19, Jenna Mace Photography, Jesus, Jesus Calling, Job 42:5, John 11:38, Joshua 1:9, Journal, Luke 1:3-4, Luke 1:79, Matthew 14:13-21, Matthew 28:66, Psalm 119:105, Psalm 16:11, Psalm 27:14, Romans 15:13, Romans 15:4-5, Wonder, Zephaniah 3:17

• Day 18

  Posted at 2:14 pm by How the Light Gets In, on December 18, 2019

  Change is a funny thing. Some people love it, thrive on it even.

  Others resent it, needing the stability in same-ness. Where do you stand?

  Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

  Hebrews 13:8

  I fall in the “can we stay here a little longer??” category. So, this particular verse anchors me.

  In a house with 7 humans and a dog; change is happening moment by moment. Still, I can be brave for the next change because Jesus is ALWAYS with me. This particular devotional (“100 days to Brave” by Annie F. Downs) is a great reminder. Here’s Day 52…

  

  

  You have HOMEWORK (Brave homework): Write a prayer to God, thanking Him that He does not change.

  Christmas is in one week. Will something be different for you in 7 days? Yes. I pray it will be. You are brave and you are not alone.

  “Let the seasons change, and let your heart change with them.”

  There’s still time to buy “100 Days to Brave” for Christmas. I’ve done this devotional on my own, gifted it to friends and read through all 100 days with a group of some pretty fantastic middle schoolers! Here’s the link 100 Days to Brave

  Posted in DECEMBER 2019 | 0 Comments | Tagged 100 Days to Brave, Annie F Downs, Brave, Change, Hebrews 13:8, How the Light Gets In

• Day 14

  Posted at 6:46 pm by How the Light Gets In, on December 14, 2019

  There are 11 days to Christmas. And, I don’t know about you but I can feel a buzz in the air. Every day, I’m dodging head-on collisions on the road and in the grocery store. Everyone is rushing to check off the list.

  Earlier this week, I listened to an interview with Liz Bohannon on the “That Sounds Fun” podcast with Annie Downs. About 7 minutes into the conversation, I hit pause and typed the words into my Notes to share with you now. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/that-sounds-fun-with-annie-f-downs/id944925529?i=1000459064672

  I’m not what I have, what I do or what people say.

  I’m a child of God and no one can take that away.

  There’s nothing I can do to make God love me less or more. 

  I don’t have to hurry or worry Jesus settled the score.

  I can rest in the love of my Heavenly Father and let my courage and kindness be a gift to others.
  

  A Benediction

  Liz Bohannon borrowed it from Jefferson Bethke and I borrowed it from them. That’s ok, right?

  Call it a motto, a benediction, a prayer – just say it.

  The words are rooted in love, established in grace and rich in identity and purpose.

  Look up Jeremiah 1:5, Galatians 3:28, Romans 8:37-39 and you’ll see.

  Tonight, let’s rest. Amen.

  Posted in DECEMBER 2019 | 0 Comments | Tagged Advent, Annie F Downs, Benediction, Galatians 3:28, How the Light Gets In, Jefferson Bethke, Jeremiah 1:5, Liz Bohannon, Romans 8:37-39

• Trees

  Posted at 3:22 pm by How the Light Gets In, on October 23, 2019

  I know I just posted BUT BUT BUT I listened to a podcast on trees and

  1. It’s too good not to share and

  2. It jogged my heart memory to when I wrote a little blurb on trees a couple of years ago.

  So, let me first share the podcast interview with Dr. Matthew Sleeth here: http://www.anniefdowns.com/2019/10/22/episode-179-dr-matthew-sleeth/

  And here’s what I wrote back in April 2017 -when we were still praying for a diagnosis and the right treatment for Joseph who was 8 years old, with crossed eyes, a swollen brain, and no clear path…

  I ran across something on Pinterest about the story of Zacchaeus.  

  I have always loved this story.  But the perspective the “pin” offers is just awesome.

  Zacchaeus was a tax collector who took his collecting to a personal level – not cool.  Taking money from people made him the town villain. And the story points out he was very short.  So, Jesus was coming to town and Zacchaeus had to see for himself.  

  So he ran towards the crowd of haters.  Then he climbed up a tree.  And Jesus walked right to that sycamore and called him by name.  Makes me smile.  Every time.

  So, here is the pin:

  LONG BEFORE ZACCHAEUS COULDN’T SEE JESUS, THE TREE WAS ALREADY PLANTED TO MEET HIS NEED.

  Already planted… No coincidences.  Just God. 

  God doesn’t force himself on you but He really just wants to meet you, all day every day, wherever you are.  He wanted to meet Zacchaeus. And God thought “this guy’s gonna need a tree to see Jesus” so He planted a sycamore.  Zacchaeus saw the tree, climbed it and the son of God walked up to him.  I don’t know about you, but my smile just got bigger.  

  I feel like I can run towards a lot of things; as a wife, mom, daughter, sister, friend, human being.  As I have been in full sprint, I’ve seen the sycamore.  Sometimes I pass it. But ANY TIME I CLIMB, God is there.  

  We all need those trees.  We all need a little help to climb sometimes.  

  So let me tell you this story…

  A guy named Johnny Kelly wrote Joseph an email.  Johnny is a student at Ohio State University & on the OSU lacrosse team.  Johnny had an eye injury and suffered through Lymes.  As a result, he wasn’t able to play lacrosse.  The parallels of pain are striking and beautiful.  

  He wrote Joseph to share his story and some encouragement “it’s easy to feel angry or sad… but just know the Big Man upstairs has a plan for your life and trust that he will use it to make you a better, more caring person.”  Johnny is playing again.  In fact, OSU beat Maryland in overtime this weekend.

  God is real.  God is so good.  Through that email, Johnny put Joseph on his shoulders to see Jesus, feel hope.

  It is just ONE beautiful example of how intricately and intimately God sees us & loves us.

  Be hope-filled. 

  Climb your trees. 

  Jesus is waiting to meet you.

  Posted in OCTOBER 2019 | 0 Comments | Tagged #thatsoundsfunpodcast, Annie F Downs, Buckeyes, Dr Matthew Sleeth, Reforesting Faith, Sycamore, Trees, Zacchaeus

• Bread + Therapy

  Posted at 1:36 pm by How the Light Gets In, on February 17, 2018

  Fun fact about me.  I’m a quitter.  I’ll start an embroidery project or drinking water; and before too long, it’s just meh.  So, a few months back, a circle of special girls decided we would tackle “100 Days to Brave” together.  It’s a devotional written to inspire, educate and love you to courage rooted in truth.  And it was 100 days.  Like, consecutively.  Not my M.O.  However, we did it!  I did it!  100 days of scripture to push me to a Brave life.  HOORAY!

  So, what would Brave look like for you?  After 100 days of hearing, YOU GOT THIS! What would you do?

  I baked bread.

  Those little yellow packet of “active yeast” have always intimidated the heck outta me.  Homemade pizza crusts, pie doughs, breads wigged me out because of the yeast part.  Why?  Please.  There is no logic here.  However, let me say it again; I baked bread.  And it was alright.  And I faced the dreaded yeast step again and again.  Now, I make a lovely Honey Oatmeal bread.

  

  How is this brave?  Yeast aside, the process is slow.  Slow is not my speed.  The Honey Oatmeal Bread process requires time.  Carefully, I measure out the flour. Heating butter in a saucepan until it just melts and mixing in the honey and oats smells amazing and gives off the most wonderful smell.  Then after a few more steps, I get to put this mound of dough on the counter and knead it with my hands.  My speed, slow and deliberate, is intentional now.  Deep breaths in.  Long exhales.  There’s something magical about letting the dough rise, seeing it double in size.  And then, poof I deflate it and fold it into buttered pans to rise again.  And the SMELL that fills the house is a prize alone.

  It’s not a big deal but it’s a step.  It might sound dumb but it made me proud and feel pretty good about myself.

  That was the baby step. There always needs to be a first step, right?  Even if it is a loaf of bread.  My next brave move was:  I started therapy.  I stepped into an office with a professional and walked out alive.  The days after have left me feeling raw and kind of yucky feeling.  This therapy is shedding light on old wounds.  Wounds I’ve kept to myself.  Over time, those wounds have wrapped themselves in sticky lies and shame.

  This is what happens when the light gets in.  Those hard things I’ve kept to myself get the light of truth and love all over them.  I deserve this though.  Right?  I mean, yes, right.

  “You can’t have true courage unless you open yourself up to vulnerability.”  Thank you Brene Brown.  I am holding onto that.  I am brave because I am letting it go.

  Paul wrote in his letter to the Ephesians,

  “Everything exposed by the light becomes visible – and everything that is illuminated becomes light.”  – Ephesians 5:13

  God has been with me through my whole journey.  I believe He has waited patiently and lovingly for this moment and He is cheering me on.  “Be strong and courageous.  Don’t be afraid; don’t be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” – Joshua 1:9. That’s good stuff.

  Bread + Therapy, this is how the light gets in for me these days.  Pray for me to not give up, on the bread or me.

  Posted in FEBRUARY 2018 | 1 Comment | Tagged 100 Days to Brave, Annie F Downs, Baking Bread, Brene Brown, Ephesians 5:13, How the Light Gets In, Joshua 1:9, Therapy, Vulnerability

• Waiting Rooms

  Posted at 12:51 pm by How the Light Gets In, on December 24, 2017

  If there was a vote for worst room in a hospital, every time I say it’s the “Waiting Room.”  Waiting is the worst. This time last year, ugh.  This time last year, we had finally gotten into Hopkins, visited with several specialists, had several tests done; all to wait and wait and WAIT.  This December is different.

  I don’t know how I got to be so lucky… to be able to look back while my completely healthy boy sits at my side; but here we are.  I still pinch myself. And Joseph.  With such a miraculous gift of healing I love looking back to see how to keep moving forward.

  A devotional I’ve been reading, launched my perspective for this post.  I’m on Day 55 of “100 Days to Brave.”  {sidetone: if you don’t know Annie F Downs or her writing, do yourself a favor a pick up one of her books or the devotional!} The title for today is “in the waiting season.”  Again, the wait.  The scripture at the top of the reading says,

  “Wait for the Lord; be strong and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!”  

  Psalm 27:14

  David used his writing to encourage you in the wait.  I like that the Bible acknowledges that life is not easy, that waiting is hard.  It makes me feel better that the stars of the Bible had it rough too.  Is that selfish?  Anyways, David’s words are everything; especially if you are waiting.  Be strong, he says.  Let your heart take courage.  Don’t fill your thoughts with deadlines and timelines.  Don’t set your hopes or next move on the “perfect moment” or the right doctor or next month.  Let your heart take courage.  Let it be brave.

  Jesus.  Reading my journal from last year, I see how hard the wait was but how Jesus kept showing up in the wait in so many beautiful and knowing ways.  There is so much comfort in handing over the pain of the unknown, the wait to Jesus.  It might sound weird, but what else have you got while you wait?  Really.  What do you have that’s better; working off the anxiety at the gym, drinking away your worry, hiding from friends, drowning in social events?  I see you.  I am you.  We are all human.  The wait is hard for us all.  And I am telling you, holding your hand and telling you; God has you.  Whatever it is your waiting for; can you invite Jesus into the wait with you?

  The season of Advent is all about the wait. Let your heart take courage. Breathe in deep peace.  Waiting is hard.

  Lucky for you, for me, for all of us; the wait is over.  Jesus is born this night.  Invite him in.

  Merry Christmas.

  Posted in DECEMBER 2017 | 2 Comments | Tagged 100 Days to Brave, Advent, Annie F Downs, Courage, How the Light Gets In, Journal, Psalm 27:14, waiting room