falling for it..

it's coming.. there are hints everywhere:

*a slight breeze in the air

*pumpkin spice lattes making their return to Starbuck's

*college football is here

*routines springing up everywhere

*thoughts of wearing scarves

*leaves attempting to change their current hue

*days that only feel right with a fleece on cuddled up reading a good book

*the state fair and all of the fried delicacies are right around the corner... mmm i can smell my fletcher's corn dog right now

*the dallas campus of the village is finally up and open, with the greeting and cheerful huggers, and the excitement of what the Lord is going to do in the streets of Dallas

fall or what i affectionately call autumn has arrived. she's been flirting a little bit with us, but i have a feeling she might be here to stay. with all of the summer craziness behind us, we look forward to the cooler months, and for the first time in my life, i am hoping for some consistency in the fall. 

after a very convicting sermon this weekend at church and thinking over a lot of things that go through this brain of mine, i have concluded that we try to fill our life with so much "stuff" outside of work sometimes... and it's not always beneficial.  i've been evaluating what the things are that are life-giving that i fill my life with and how can i continue to fill my time with these types of things. on the flip side, knowing when to say "NO". i hate saying no. i do. for some reason in my vocabulary, no just doesn't flow out of my mouth very easy.

so what gives life? just to name a few on my list: inviting friends over to cook a meal together and talk about life with no distractions. meeting for coffee after work and digging a little deeper into the root of our struggles and pointing one another to scripture. being out with friends and having conversation that ignites deep belly, uncontrollable laughter. getting together with a good friend and hearing about how the Lord used his trip to sudan and being reminded about all the Lord is doing outside the united states. interacting with people who are authentic and bring a different perspective to life than i do. serving others in a "behind-the-scenes" way that no one will ever know you did it. 

those are just to name a few. anyways, i tend to err on the side of over-thinking things a little too much, so in spite of this list, i pray that the Lord remind you of the sweetness of His Gospel. may we not lose the simplicity of His Grace for us and live lives marked by the joy that comes when we finally realize this precious gift we have been given and accept it.