Archives for October 2017

The Truth According To Instagram (Instatruth)

10.11.2017 by Nicole Kristin Twedt //

Every so often on the blog, I post something I shared with my MOPS group. MOPS is a group that gathers to encourage mamas of children ranging from birth to age five, including mamas-to-be. To find out more about MOPS or to find a local MOPS group, head on over to the MOPS website.

Imagine it’s nap time and you’re scrolling through your Instagram feed. An image of orange leaves catches your eye. The leaves, practically tangerine in color, are falling from a branch from the top left of the photo set against a background of pale blue. Though vibrant in color, the leaves are a bit blurry. In the foreground, front and center, in crisp white lettering, you see the words of Isaiah 43:2: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. “

This is what Rachel Wojo,* had to say about her image on Instagram: “There is an enemy who longs to strangle you with fear, to squelch your flame of faith, to keep you from all God has for you. You’ve met him and know him. But this enemy? He flees at the name of Jesus. The One who calls you by name is only a call away. Fear has no dominion over you because HIS perfect love is more powerful than any anxiety, worry or fear you may encounter. The One who redeemed you didn’t shed his precious blood for you, only to lose you. Oh no. Jesus conquered death itself with his perfect love; even your worst fear is no match for his love!”

God is speaking everywhere, even on social media. Did you catch that? You are his! You don’t have to be anxious! He will help you be brave when life is hard, one step at a time. You might not feel brave. But each time you acknowledge his presence, when you call on him and believe what he says about you is true, you are being brave.

Another thing: God tells us throughout the Bible that his perfect plan is for us to love him with our whole heart, follow him and not live in fear because he has amazing things planned for us, all because he loves us so, which basically makes me want to get on Instagram and create my own fall image with Ephesians 2:10 in fancy-pants lettering. “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.”

Pray with me, please…God we thank you for the freedom from fear that you offer. We thank you for MOPS, this safe place where we can let our guard down and be filled with your life-giving presence. I love that we can call on your name wherever we go. Thank you for the hot breakfast this morning, and for the Mamas who frantically prepared it. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

*Since I’m a rule follower, I first asked author Rachel Wojo if I could share her post to open our MOPS meeting. Her exact words, “Absolutely Girl. Thanks for asking; it’s all His.” Also, I’m not the one who stumbled upon Rachel’s Instagram post. My friend Kathy, who happens to be one of our amazing MOPS kids coordinators, found the post and shared it at our planning meeting.

Weekend Roundup, October 6, 2017: Book Launch Edition

10.06.2017 by Nicole Kristin Twedt //

Howdy Folks!

It’s been a busy week on the blog. I actually posted something (actually two somethings) other than a Weekend Roundup. Crazy. Something else that’s crazy: cray-cray. Apparently it’s a word now. It means crazy. Did you know this? I heard cray-cray used for the first time last weekend at my mom’s sixty-fifth birthday bash. Don’t even ask. By the way, when I say “birthday bash” I’m referring to a quiet dinner with just the five of us and Mom and Dave. And when I say quiet, I mean not quiet at all for three reasons: Emily, Steven and Lauren. Back to cray-cray. I don’t even know how to properly spell it. Then again, “properly”could never apply to such a word, at least not in my book. But what do I know?

Anyway, I’ve had the joy and privilege of being part of several book launch teams this summer and into fall. In fact, two of my book reviews went live earlier this week. I’m working on completing the third of four. (Jody’s book–so exciting!) I want to spend some more time with Jody’s review because it’s especially dear to me, though the short and sweet version can be found on Amazon under the pen name NKT because I’m clever that way. But I’m afraid “I liked it” and “You should buy it” isn’t going to cut it around here. I’m too long-winded for that. I’ll get my act together, hopefully sooner than later, and hit publish in a few days (or more). Hint: Jody’s book is a refreshing little nugget of truth about a certain holiday that formerly threw me into panic mode faster than you could say Ho Ho Ho.

If I haven’t bored you to death with all this book talk, you can read my review of Shalom Sistas: Living Wholeheartedly in a Brokenhearted World by Osheta Moore here. I feel like an idiot when I say sistas instead of sisters, but I’m a Shalom Sista through and through. You may recognize Osheta from her blog Shalom in the City or her podcast, also called Shalom Sistas. Gals (and guys?) this one totally changed me. And let’s not forget Melanie Shankle’s Church of the Small Things: A Million Little Pieces That Make Up a Life, which is the other book I talked about. Here it is. Melanie’s book is positively hilarious, and tender to boot. You may have heard about Melanie from, I don’t know, say one of her three previous New York Times Bestsellers. She also writes at The Big Mama Blog and has a podcast with the charming Sophie Hudson called The Big Boo Cast, which is about absolutely nothing but I cannot stop listening to it. How else would I know about the wonders of Organic Rose Hip Oil as a moisturizer, booties, the next must-see show on Netflix and college football? Yes, you heard me right: college football. Seriously, I hate football but I want to listen to Sophie and Melanie talk about it. I’ve even found myself thinking about cheering for the Huskies this fall. But not really, because this is me we’re talking about. Anyway, you could find both books on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Christianbook.com. Oh, and Melanie’s book can also be found at Target. I’m not going to bother with all the linky-links. After all, that’s what our dear friend Google is for.

OK, enough about books. Here’s this week’s roundup. If you’re new around here, the Weekend Roundup is what happens when I pull from the work of fellow Hope*Writers and showcase them on this little writing spot on the web, which sounds lovelier than saying that I feature them on my blog. Also, Weekend Roundups don’t always happen on the weekend. Because, you know, life happens.

First off, here’s the lovely Caroline Saunders. I hate to say it because it’s such a cliché and all, but this one made me LOL. You may remember Caroline, because you got to meet her for the first time in last week’s Weekend Roundup. This is the first of a new series from Caroline about her pastor husband, who happens to be a sort of Brad Pitt-Aaron Rodgers lookalike. It’s also about the f-bomb and ice cream. I don’t know about you, but after the news of Sunday night’s massacre in Las Vegas, I needed a good laugh. You can read Caroline’s piece here. Have fun with it.

Speaking of the horrors that happened over the weekend, please read this one by Leigh Sain. I didn’t want to read it at first since it’s called Why We Have to Talk to Our Kids About Las Vegas, but I’m so glad I did. This world is a dark place, but to God be the glory. That is all.

I don’t remember where I was or what I was doing, (though I’m pretty sure I was listening to a podcast), when the conversation shifted and the question was asked: “What does it really sound like when women and men of faith say things like, “I’m praying for you,” or “I’ll pray about that.” Pie in the sky, I’ll tell you, that’s what it sounds like. That’s why I loved Shauna Lettellier’s reflection about prayer the time she spent with her grandparents before freshman year. Excellent storytelling, Shauna, excellent. Here ya go. I’ve linked to Shauna’s work before, a few weeks back I believe. I’m too tired to find it now.

What would a Weekend Roundup be without me talking about anxiety or sharing something by Elli Johnson of The Hippo Chronicles? I linked to something similar last week, but this is a quick, yet thoroughly helpful, read. Whether it was the Holy Spirit’s prompting, or my own dumb luck, I’ve discovered that many of the same things help me through a funk or when I’m feeling particularly overwhelmed, along with writing and playing the piano. I just didn’t put two-and-two together until I read Elli’s list. If nothing else, this summer I learned that walking Chloe (while taking deep breaths) is not only good for my body, but also good for my soul. By the way, I’ve been able to leave Chloe’s bags of carrots behind twice in a row! If you have no idea what I’m talking about, check out this old post from July.

I originally concluded this Weekend Roundup with a prayer from me to you. However, my clumsy fingers bumped the mouse or something, because now it’s gone baby, gone. It went something like this: May God bless you and keep you this weekend and always. May he surprise you with something new about himself. May you see him in unexpected places. May he blow you away, time and again, with his wild love for you. He’s crazy about you, I hope you know it. Amen and Amen.

Book Review: Church of the Small Things

10.03.2017 by Nicole Kristin Twedt //

Just about every Saturday morning last fall, I’d grab one of those double-insulated coffee mugs filled to the brim with Tony’s French Royale dark roast and Organic Valley dairy-free creamer (don’t forget the creamer). Next, I’d slip my cold feet into a pair of black floral-print rain boots. (I’ve heard them described on the Sorta Awesome Podcast as moody floral.) My five-year-old daughter, Lauren, and I would then dash off to ballet class, which was held, of course, at the exact same time as big brother’s soccer game. As soon as ballet was over, we’d race to the small bathroom between the dance studio and a dential office, where I’d attempt to get Lauren out of her pink leotard and tights in a timely manner. If we were lucky, the handicapped stall would be available for us to privately trade pink dance slippers for Hello Kitty rubber boots. When we were through changing, I’d grab Lauren’s hand and, together, we’d bolt down the narrow staircase to the parking lot where our Honda Odyssey was waiting to whisk us off to the soccer field at the community church on the other side of town.

I’m exhausted just writing about it.

Let’s face it: Life is busy, really really busy. And time isn’t slowing down. That’s why I fully appreciate the book Church of the Small Things: The Million Little Pieces That Make Up a Life by Melanie Shankle, which releases today.

I received an advance copy of Church of the Small Things as part of Melanie’s launch team in exchange for an honest review. The bright pink book was left on my front porch by the UPS guy during Lauren’s family birthday party, back in July. I’ve looked forward to talking about it with you ever since.

Melanie Shankle is a modern day Erma Bombeck with a little bit of sarcasm and a better sense of style.

Really, she is. Chapters such as Forty Is Not the New Thirty, How Walmart and a Frito Pie Made all the Difference, and Autocorrect Is the Devil left me howling with laughter and tender with nostalgia.

What I appreciate most about Church of the Small Things, however, is it helped me see the bigger picture. Melanie reminds me that the little things in life are actually the big things. She reminds me to see life as a series of stories worth sharing, worth savoring. All because there’s goodness, so much goodness, to be found along the way.

According to Church of the Small Things, it’s not about having the latest and greatest. Oh no, Melanie reminds me that a good life is made up of a thousand trips to Costco and the grocery store. It’s about movie nights and the little dog who searches in vain to find the perfect lap among the five of us. It’s about attending Back to School Nights and Girl Scout ceremonies. It’s about cheering for Steven in the pouring rain and helping our little girl change out of her pink leotard in a bathroom stall next to the dental office. It’s about clapping for my big girl when she plays the second verse of a song on her recorder that I kinda-sorta recognize. (Yankee Doodle?) And it’s about laughter, lots and lots of laughter.

Consider ordering yourself a copy of Church of the Small Things by Melanie Shankle. Who doesn’t, after all, need a gentle reminder to thank God for the little pieces that make up a life? You know, the tender moments, the church of the small things.