markmanry

[bl]I[/bl]n our Lenten silence, I sit among my young and can’t help but know that my sin is so much uglier than theirs. The fear. The selfishness. The wastefulness. The pride. The unavailability. The practical over faithful. The discontentment. My long list of sin hinders me. Keeps me from understanding. Prevents me from living faithfully… …but then there’s the cross. This rugged piece of wood that holds a man and my sin. And all things become possible. In my brokenness, the life giving death of Jesus makes it possible for me to be whole. To live whole. We say that […]

[bl]O[/bl]h, I want so badly to share a different list today.  You know, the one that’s easier to make. The one whose shameful tally far exceeds 1,000.  The one that propels me toward fear and resentment, rather than faith and gratitude. The gifts were not counted and the grace was not noticed. By me. And so I’m humbled that at the very end of the week, he gives me a moment. One moment of grace. But in this single moment there is much to be thankful. #101 Sitting alone, #102 though with Christ I am never #103 The strong breeze […]

[bl]I[/bl]n the quiet, our eyes are on the cross. And I can’t help but think of my sin. Our sin. The reason for the cross. And I find myself once again in the story of Israel. Like Israel, we are a people who live in bondage. To media, food, sexual desires, power, work, money. We are held captive by the things that feed the flesh. It was their stomachs – a genuine need for food – that led the Israelites to Egypt. What if Jacob’s family had trusted in the Lord to provide for them during the drought in Canaan? […]

[bl]I[/bl]n the quiet, I’ve been remembering the Jesus I witnessed in Africa. The God that suddenly got bigger. I’m recalling images that were new to me, that reflected a more truthful God. See with me as I share these vibrant, living, truthful images that forever changed my understanding of the God I serve. A God who embraces and empowers women. [lightbox href=”http://environmentsofgrace.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/Embraces-e1302030428137.jpg”][/lightbox] A God that doesn’t contain his creation. [lightbox href=”http://environmentsofgrace.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/Leopard-e1302030534721.jpg”][/lightbox] A God who births new life in a family seeking to serve Him. [lightbox href=”http://environmentsofgrace.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/Birth-e1302030284113.jpg”][/lightbox] A God faithful to his promises, especially on unknown roads. [lightbox href=”http://environmentsofgrace.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/IMG_3273-e1302064607990.jpg”][/lightbox] A God […]

[bl]L[/bl]uke shuffles into our room, unable to sleep. I half sigh, half smile. When I take my mother apron off at the end of the day, I look forward to my treasured time with Mark. We cling to those late night moments of togetherness. So, it can be frustrating when all the children are restless and unable to find sleep. But, when it’s a single child who is held awake by thoughts or dreams or fears, Mark and I enjoy the rare opportunity to focus our love on just one. Luke crawls between us in our bed and we begin […]

[bl]W[/bl]ant to know what I’m most excited about for Spring? To see these. [lightbox href=”http://environmentsofgrace.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/Toes1-1049-e1301775050491.jpg”][/lightbox] And these. [lightbox href=”http://environmentsofgrace.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/Toes2-1043-e1301775112923.jpg”][/lightbox] I miss their toes, cute little legs and arms. All the skin hidden by keeping warm. But we’re about to unveil. To remove socks and expose elbows — I can feel it in the air. The last of Winter. The arrival of Spring. We’re ready! Blessings on this weekend as you continue to anticipate the cross of Easter. As you rest. Play! As you welcome a new baby (Yay Brazles!). As you welcome guests for dinner or enter the homes of […]

[bl]A[/bl]t a particular time, in a particular place, God chooses a particular people in which to tell his story. This story of a faithful Holy God in a convent relationship with an adulterous people is the living account of Israel. And it’s a story that gives us hope — because it’s our story too. In anticipation of the Passover holiday in April – the remembering of when God passed over the homes of his people and spared their firstborn – I will be recalling the faith story of Israel through a series of posts, encouraging us to find ourselves in […]

[bl]W[/bl]e entered into the quiet yesterday after a long  weekend of noise. I’m sure my children weren’t any noisier than normal, but Mark was out of town and somehow everything is magnified when he’s away. The days are longer, the screams seem louder, and the arguing is more often. And I’m pretty sure my ability to tolerate is reduced. I was louder too. So at the end of the weekend, stepping into the quiet together is something we all longed for. We chose to sit on one bed today. Quite risky at 10pm. Sleep was bound to be victorious in […]

[bl]E[/bl]ating primarily raw foods is surprisingly satisfying. I’ve been blending fruits and vegetables to make smoothies, snacking on nuts, seeds and dried fruit, and drinking carrot juice. If it sounds freakishly healthy, that’s because it is! This living food is sustaining me through these days of Lent, as I consider Jesus – his life giving, life receiving, life producing death and resurrection. Yesterday I sent a text to my dear friend. She also is keeping it raw – seeking Jesus as she envisions new ways of living and relating as a family. I’m so thankful for the way we are […]

[bl]O[/bl]n Sundays, our family is gathering together and considering ways we can become better stewards. We live in abundance. Some is the fruit of our labor; much more has simply been given to us. And we consider it all a gift from God. These conversations were inspired by the lack of gratefulness in our children. They are slow to help, slow to share, and slow to appreciate. These selfish instincts are expected in the young, but Mark and I desperately want to shape in our children grateful hearts that lead them into generous and fruitful living. Africa revealed that our […]