Old Pictures

While in Kansas, Mom Flack gave me a box of old pictures and asked me to sort through them. I learned so much about Nathan and his family in the process! Here are a few favorites of my sweet husband. We'll see if you think he's as cute as I do!

My absolute favorite!

Blessing of Family

If you'd been looking for me within the past week or so you would have found me in no other place than the beautiful Manhattan, Kansas visiting my in-laws. Nathan had to stay here in Biloxi, so I ventured out by myself and traveled the 900+ miles to spend a week with his parents and siblings. If you don't know my in-laws, you may be thinking I'm brave or crazy or simply a naïve newlywed. Spending a week alone with your in-laws sounds just shy of torture to some of you.

But...for those of you who do know my in-laws, you know I am so richly blessed.

Mom & Dad Flack are going through a life transition right now, so I spent the week helping them prepare to move from their home in Kansas. There were many quality hours of sorting, purging, organizing and cleaning interrupted by sweet times of conversation, laughter, and loving on my precious nephew, Colin. I returned home last night exhausted from the very busy week, but Nathan will tell you that I couldn't stop talking about how much fun we had and how much I love his family.

Growing up in an incredible family with two loving parents, two great brothers, and three fantastic sisters, I'm still so overwhelmed that God saw fit to give me two more wonderful parents, another superb brother, and three more lovely sisters on the day I married Nathan. I love them all even more now than I did a week ago, and my heart is thanking God today for His ever sweet blessing of family.

"For this reason, I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory, he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith..."

Ephesians 3:14-17

Kayaking in the Bay

Over the weekend, Nathan and I along with our friends Matt and Devon went Kayaking in the Back Bay of Biloxi! It was a beautiful day and we so enjoyed being on the water, spotting dolphins, and our front row seat to C-130 landing practice. Enjoy the pictures!

Pleased to Sanctify

It is an often somber thought for me to reflect upon my sinfulness in comparison with God's holiness. As a sinner saved before the foundation of the world, though not believing until much more recent history, I continually struggle to place one foot in front of the other on this seemingly never ending path to holiness. Will I ever overcome this sin in me? Will my sanctification ever be complete?

I mentioned in a previous post that I was listening to the book Stepping Heavenward by Elizabeth Prentiss. In this sweet and enlightening work, Prentiss emphasizes her struggle with sanctification. She states multiple times that God is just as willing and able to sanctify a sinner as He is to redeem her. I found freedom in that thought. God, who was pleased to save me before time in His infinite grace, is just as pleased to sanctify me now.

Yesterday, as our pastor, Joe Tolin, preached from Ephesians 1:3-6, he stated simply that, "Our sanctification is just as certain as our salvation." Just as salvation was nothing of our doing, but God's, Pastor Joe went on to say that, "sanctification is not based on our ability; it is rooted in God's promise." He described sanctification as two-fold. First, there was a declaration of sanctification where God declared me sanctified, holy, blameless before Him covered by the blood of the Lamb. Second, there is now a process of sanctification where the Spirit of God daily works in me, turning me from sin, stirring me to good works, calling me to holiness.

So just as I rest in the certainty of God's sovereignty and grace in my salvation, I now also rest in the certainty of His faithfulness and love in my sanctification. The blood of Jesus covers me, and I am presented sanctified before the almighty, holy God. This unfathomable truth makes me desire nothing more than to savor Christ and walk in holiness.

"For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified."

Hebrews 10:14