Eternity On The Heart

After a short, unplanned leave from blogging this summer, my first post back is actually on someone else's blog! :)

About a month ago my sweet friend Katie Reid asked me to be a guest blogger for her series on Isaiah 40. I have to admit I was very nervous! I got to spend a few weeks studying the chapter, but especially the verse that I got to write about....

A voice says "Cry!" And I said "What shall I cry?"

All flesh is like grass, and all it's beauty is like the flowers of the field.

Isaiah 40:6

Please enjoy my post on "The God Who Is Eternal" as well as the entire Isaiah 40 series!

http://echoesofmyheartcd.blogspot.com/2013/10/isaiah-406-god-who-is-eternal.html

Barefoot Sunday

As most of you know, we attend Riverside Church - the church Luke's grandpa started and that his uncle now pastors. Growing up brethren, this church is sometimes a bit of a stretch for me, but I'm glad that we can honour Luke's family by supporting it. 

This week, Paul challenged The Body to "get your serve on".

Most churches encourage serving. Because most churches have 10% of the people doing 90% of the work. They need more help within the church, so the pastor adds in a message about rewards in heaven in the hopes that the flock will begin to step up. But this Sunday was not about serving in the church. It wasn't about needing more Sunday School teachers or more greeters or more people in the worship band. No - in true Paul Booko fashion it was about outreach. What I appreciate so much about him is that his heart is for evangelism and he has a vision for outreach that continues to grow.

He put a picture on the screen that will forever be etched on my heart. I scoured the internet for something like it, but I couldn't find anything that did this picture justice, so let me just describe it to you.

It was a picture of a child - it could have been any child, because we didn't get to see their face. Maybe a little girl who danced around the kitchen, twirling and jumping over and over as her sweet soft giggle drifted through the house. Or maybe it was a little boy, running through the street chasing a baseball that had been thrown just a little too high for him to reach. Whatever this child had done - in work or in play - to wear out their shoes, it was clear that they certainly had worn out. In fact, not only were they worn through, they were also grown out of. But because money was tight (or maybe even non-existent), new shoes were a luxury this child did not receive. Rather, the toes of their current shoes were cut off so that, even though they may not fit anymore, the little feet could continue to wear them. And that was the picture that spoke volumes to my soul - a close-up of little feet in too-small worn out shoes, with dusty dirty toes hanging over the edge of them. 

We sat. 
We listened. 
We FELT the need. We ACHED for it. 
It crawled right up into my throat and it gripped me. 

And my mind raced to the things that Luke and I currently do to serve the least of these and what more can we do? Please - I want to do more. Intentions are always big. Outcomes are often small.

And then we were presented with an opportunity. When I really think about it now, it seems somewhat radical, and yet in the moment, it did not catch me off guard. 

We were asked to give away our shoes. To clothe the unclothed. To give to those who can't give back. To be the hands and bare feet of Jesus.

I am ashamed to admit - it was hard for me at first. Not the part about being uncomfortable. Not the part about it being inconvenient. But the part about giving away something that was truly valuable to me - even if it was only a pair of sandals. If someone told me they were collecting shoes to be donated, I would run right home and gather up a whole bag of shoes from the back of my closet and happily give them away. But the shoes that I'm wearing right now? The ones that I wear every day? My favourites? That's tough. THAT is what sacrificial giving is about.  

So we walked up and we took off our shoes and we placed them on the alter. On the alter. The same place I brought my ungratefulness, my need for control, and my wrong motivations. A pair of sandals were not the only thing I left on the alter on Sunday.

And we all walked away barefoot. And we all walked away on Holy Ground. I removed my shoes and I removed what was interfering in my relationship with my Maker so that I could come to Him vulnerable and He could heal that which was broken. And I stood for a moment barefoot on the Holy Ground. 

And it was good.

"Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, 
and He will reward them for what they have done."

Proverbs 19:17

Spring Surprises

I am a huge fan of lists! I never used to be, but when you marry someone who makes lists for everything you have to learn to love them.

At the beginning of each week I write out the big things I want to accomplish, then at the beginning of each day I make a list of the specifics. Luke is similar. We write lists for grocery shopping as well as meals for the week. Packing lists, reading lists, you name it - we list it!

This week's list included a lot of "spring" cleaning. I use that word loosely since it's still only 30-something degrees here in the great state of Michigan. But I digress. Spring is almost on its way and we are all in need of some refreshing. 

Enter Luke Kleczynski. Man, I love him!! He knows that I've been dragging for a few weeks now - there's been a restlessness about me that has made my days rather long and difficult. But he's sure that a list will fix that. I came downstairs to find this at my place at the table a few mornings ago....

I thank God for such a logical and practical man to do life with. He truly is perfect for me. And this will be my To Do List for today and for every day. 

So now that I've been spending time cleaning up indoors, our backyard is a whole other issue. I'm positive that the previous owners had "let is go" for a number of years because it looks a little something like this. Except less cool and with more squirrels. Luke spent a number of hours this past weekend pulling up roots, sawing down branches, and doing a general de-clutter of our little jungle. We know it will likely take us all summer to make it presentable, which would be an overwhelming and dizzying task, but for the new life we have found. Take a look....

Yes. Beneath the shade of a giant hardwood maple tree and in a particularly inconvenient spot, Luke found these little lives sprouting up. What a beautiful Resurrection Sunday surprise - Beauty from dust. A reflection of my own life to be sure - for as Jesus rose from the dead, so did I. [And I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.] Thank you Lord for new life and for new experiences and for a renewed spirit. And like this delicate crocus, I promise to bloom where I am planted.

"Bloom where I am planted" - that's secret code for this - I WAS OFFERED A JOB!!! :)

The Story

One of the things I love about being married is getting to tell people "our story". When the two who become one are born far apart, people love to find out what brought them together.

I get so excited when people ask and I never get tired of telling it. I love getting to share with people about my "hopeless romantic" husband and how he worked hard to pursue my heart and win my affection. I love our Love Story and I thank God for it.

However - am I just as eager to share the story of my First Love? The love that came long before Luke's did? The love that is in fact, more important, more vital, more astounding - the very love my life depends upon?

Oh yes, I am surely capable of telling that story. But do I long to tell it? Do I ache for it? Do I never tire of it and am I thrilled and excited when people ask? Do I just about burst with an outpouring of words that become sweeter every time I say them? Because only when the world becomes bitter, does this story become sweet.

With Easter upon us, we look to the story - about the Christ who hung and bled and gave. The little baby who was born to die - to come to a world that He loved in order to be hated, falsely-convicted, and murdered. 

On Tuesday we read of the Passover. And we thank the Lord for the blood of His Lamb that covers us.

And on Thursday we went to a blood drive. To freely give our life-blood to save the life of another. 

And on Friday we attended "The Passion of the Christ". And we cringed as we watched the flesh being ripped off of our Saviour. And we wept as He stumbled under the weight of a cross and the weight of my bitterness, envy, and pride. And we ached to see His suffering eased; to see Him come down off that tree with Shekinah Glory for all the high priests and Roman guards to see. But sometimes Glory is a lamb not a lion. And I knew that He stayed up there for me - "so that the Scripture might be fulfilled". 

And as "Passion Week" comes to an end I pray that a passion would be sparked within all of us. 
To tell the old, old story, of Jesus and His Love. 

"And He died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves, but for Him, who died for them and was raised again."
2 Corinthians 5:15

Home is Where . . . ?

I found this on my desktop. Sometimes past Alyssa really messes with present Alyssa. :)
This was typed up and was meant to be posted a couple weeks ago but was somehow forgotten. So please enjoy this "two week old post"!

Last week I received my employment and travel card!!! It's not my Green Card, but it basically gives me all the benefits of having it a little early. I can start to work in the States and I can now travel back home to Canada. 

My parents went on vacation this week and so I had the privilege of coming to Canada and hanging out with my brother all week. It's been a blast! We've enjoyed snacks from the Bulk Barn and Arrested Development marathons in our sweatpants almost every night. I've also been able to go back to the CH houses I used to work in to visit the individuals and staff in addition to a handful of coffee/lunch dates with friends and family. Did some shopping at my favourite Canadian stores and ate at some of my favourite Windsor restaurants. Sounds like a pretty great week, right? 

It was pretty great. But it was also pretty hard.

It was hard being away from my new husband. We spent our entire relationship doing the long-distance thing, so how hard could it be to spend 5 days apart? 

I felt this odd sense of being out of place all week. Like I didn't belong. Like this wasn't my home anymore. For the last four months I have been thinking of Portage as my "new home" and Windsor as my "real home". The suspense of sitting and waiting for my card was like torture. I ached to go HOME. But now that I was here, it didn't seem like I was at home. I was confused. 

Maybe God needed me to learn this tough reality this week - that Windsor really wasn't my home anymore. Somehow I just couldn't come to terms with this. 

But the real treat was when Luke got there on Friday. It was reminiscent of the three years that we spent apart. Of the anticipation of his arrival and the flood of joy when I heard that doorbell ring. And it happened just the same way that weekend - and we held each other like we had been apart for months. And all of a sudden I felt the peace I had been missing. I felt the quiet comfort I was used to. I felt…. home?

The truth of it is that this whole time it was never the place that made me feel like home. It was him. His warmth, his light, his love - that's what makes me feel "at home". 

I have struggled with the "leave and cleave", but this was a huge step in the right direction. Since the day that we vowed before God and family and friends, HOME has been where my husband is. And that's where I belong.

 Sunday afternoon tennis game

Mom and Luke vs. Dad and Lukie

I know this shot is blurry, but it just warms my heart. 

How can you not smile when you see this??

HOME.

Seed Sowing

My Prince Charming came to me last week and told me he decided that he needed to step up and be a stronger spiritual leader. (What a guy!!!) So Saturday night we laid in bed as he read the ENTIRE book of Ecclesiastes to me. Yes. The entire thing. Again, I have to say - what a guy! :)

There were a couple thoughts that stuck out to me - one of them from chapter 10 verse 18...
     "If a man is lazy, the rafters sag; if his hands are idle, the house leaks."

The other came a chapter later in 11 verse 6...
     "Sow your seed in the morning, and at evening let not your hands be idle,
     for you do not know which will succeed, whether this or that,
     or whether both will do equally well."

These are some thoughts I find myself reflecting on as I prepare for my second month of learning to NOURISH.

Luke and I love to discuss our days over the dinner table. I love getting to tell him about what I accomplished at home while he was at work. I show him the things that I create, clean, and cultivate! :) However, we all know that some days are more productive than others...

So what about those self-proclaimed "lazy days"? What about those days where I sit and watch tv instead of cleaning the bathroom? Or when I waste a couple hours online rather than spending a couple hours organizing our basement?

I have decided to take up these verses as a challenge : 

To start every single day in the Word - the days that I find the least productive are the days I choose to begin with "non-eternal things". If I offer the first fruits of my day to the Lord, I know He will bless the rest! 
I want to NOURISH my soul.

To "sow my seed in the morning, and not allow my hands to be idle in the evening" - even if I have a super productive day, when Luke gets home, I slow right down. I want to continue my work through the evening, because perhaps those seeds will bloom even more than the daytime ones! 
I want to NOURISH the seeds that I sow.

To not just focus on our physical house and rafters, but our emotional ones as well - if we don't maintain our house, it will begin to sag and leak. If we don't maintain our marriage, it will also begin to sag and leak. I pray that my relationship with Luke will never grow lazy or idle. That we would never just "go through the motions", but that we would be purposeful and intentional about everything we do and everything we say. 
I want to NOURISH our love.

In other news, I am getting better at cooking!! aka - I want to NOURISH our bodies with beautiful, healthy foods!

strawberry banana muffins

ham macaroni and cheese (recipe compliments of Auntie!) 

my first attempt at a bolognese sauce - it turned out well! :)

"That's How I Love You . . ."

This past Sunday, Luke and I celebrated three months of "happily ever after"! We went down to Three Rivers for church and then out for a fancy lunch and we came home and, at Luke's suggestion, watched the movie "Sleeping Beauty" (my favourite princess!) What a fun day!

A little bit after dinner, Luke ushered me upstairs because he had a surprise. I love surprises, and I walked up to our room with eyes closed, only to open them to find nothing. He had me "wait here" while he went downstairs for something. I sat and sat and after about 10 minutes I was getting bored enough to start putting away some of the clean clothes in the basket beside the closet! :)

He finally knocked on the door and had me close my eyes as he led me to our living room. I opened them when a familiar song greeted my ears - our first dance song! I turned around to find Luke dressed in the suit and tie he wore to our wedding. The room was dark, with a few candles strategically placed.

We danced.

I cried.

He held me and kissed my cheek.

Isn't this the kind of stuff that only happens in movies??? :)

When people ask me how I am enjoying marriage, how can I possibly describe moments like this? It's all I ever hoped for and more.

It's being called beautiful despite your frizzy morning hair and rather offensive breath.

It's sitting down for a rest after dinner, only to find that he's snuck back into the kitchen and washed all the dishes for me.

It's cheering him on and celebrating as he fights for and wins a better position at work.

It's falling asleep every night knowing that I am right where I belong.

God is so good!

My Word

As my first post of 2013, I wanted to talk about my "word for the year" or "one little word" as some call it. The first time I experienced this was in 2010 when my dear Auntie suggested I try it (inspired by Ali Edwards and Ann Voskamp, you can check out her "one little word" post here!) 

That year was ABOUND, inspired by Paul's words to the Philippians "and this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight." 

Last year I chose the word BELOVED. I chose this because I knew I was getting married in 2012, and so I thought this would be an appropriate word for that year. Little did I know what God would teach my through it. When unexpected trials and tribulations came raging through the first half of my year, God taught me to be HIS beloved before I was Luke's beloved. I was His bride first. He defines me as no one else can and when I felt worthless in the eyes of others, He would call me BELOVED.

Mid-December is the time to start thinking about your word. I missed it this year. In the midst of the busy-ness of the season, I missed it. The morning of the 31st I searched some Scripture, desperately trying to find a word to challenge myself with in 2013. But no word came. 

Luke likes to read through Proverbs every month. We sit together on our couch in the mornings, and he reads me the chapter that coincides with the date. I always like when we get to the 3rd of the month because I had memorized this chapter a few years ago and it's fun to recite it while he reads. He approached and read verses 7 and 8 - "Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil. This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones." And it hit me. After he left for work, I sat down and read it again and again. 

NOURISH. What a beautiful word for our first full year of marriage. I will take this year to build up, to strengthen, and to grow my relationship with God and in turn my relationship with Luke. To learn what it really means to pour everything I have into another human being is what I envision for this year. And I know that God will have some twists and turns for me along the way.

Bring on 2013! :)