Telling Yourself the Truth

April 24, 2017 by Elizabeth Stice

The Lie.

This past week, I’ve been thinking a lot about telling myself the truth.

This can be harder than it sounds.

Blake and I had a situation arise that was slightly challenging, and in the moment I was in a bit of distress and had lots of feels and frustration.

Blake knows me really well. Sometimes better than I know myself.

So he asks me, “Are you frustrated with me?”

Along with all of these feels and frustrations, I am also very logical, and know that I SHOULDN’T feel frustrated with Blake. Blake = Amazing.

So I tell him, “No, I'm not frustrated with you... I’m frustrated with the situation.”

(Situations are perfect scapegoats)

The problem is, I really was frustrated with Blake. And He knew it. But I wasn’t willing to own it, or figure out why.

Until half an hour or so later when I got quiet and the Holy Spirit started digging.

Being honest is risky sometimes.

It takes vulnerability.

Which I’m slowly getting better at.

So I owned my feelings and apologized and got to some root issues of how I respond. I never would have figured any of that out if I had just blamed the situation because it was easier.

Telling the truth is more crucial than we can imagine.

Lost and Found

April 06, 2017 by Elizabeth Stice

Murphy’s Law.

Ever heard of it? Experienced it?

Welcome to my weekend.

I must have forgotten a few things in my meal planning last week, because by the time Friday rolled around, we were out of eggs, milk, and bananas.

Anyone with a toddler knows that This. Is. Unacceptable.

And Blake was out of town for the weekend.

So Friday afternoon, I head to the grocery story with our 1 year old. As I’m gathering my stuff to head in from the car, I cannot find my wallet.

Guest Post: Blasting Fear and Really Living

March 22, 2017 by Elizabeth Stice

Let me introduce you to my friend and fellow blogger Robert Macy Thompson, who wrote the following post to challenge and encourage you to move beyond your fears. You can connect with him on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or through his website: www.robertmacy.me. Also, be sure to check out his newly released book From Fatherless to Fulfilled (I already ordered mine!).

Few things in life feel worse than a missed opportunity. Oftentimes the sting of what could have been haunts us more than failure itself.

I can remember having a crush on a girl in college, but being terrified to even talk to her. I shared my fear with one of my buddies and he told me something that his dad shared with him. To this day, I still remember what he said.

"I've never known a scared man to get anything."

Those words woke me up like a cold shower in the dead of winter. If I waited until I wasn't afraid to do anything, then I would never accomplish anything significant.

Following the Leader...

March 09, 2017 by Elizabeth Stice

The Call.

Long ago, in a lifetime far, far away, I had a very close friend make some unfortunate choices. This friend was like inner circle close. We shared most everything with each other and went to each other for help and advice.

She had called and told me - nervously - about her choices. And that she was going to continue to pursue this direction. I was very calm on the phone, but felt so deeply sad and disappointed. So betrayed. How could this happen? My friend wasn’t who I thought she was. She wasn’t walking out the beliefs that I had assumed we both valued.

After our phone call, I started to have all of these feels. Like:

She should know how I REALLY feel about this!

She must think that I agree with her decisions!

How could she do this to our friendship?

And so I decided to follow these feels, and call her back to give her a piece of my mind.

I may or may not have used some colorful language during this phone call.

And for a moment I felt strong, and in control, and powerful.

Until I hung up, and the Holy Spirit chimed in.

Have any of you ever messed up really bad and your parents didn’t freak out or scream or yell, they just got really quiet and that’s worse than anything else in the world?

That’s what the Holy Spirit did with me.

Then He urged me to read Galatians 6:1:

“Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted.”

*crickets chirping*

Immediate conviction.

I had missed it. There was nothing gentle about my response to her. I was waving Truth all the way - only it needed to be wrapped in Love.

So I called her back, and begged forgiveness, and she was gracious to me.

How to Know and Own Your Current Season.

February 23, 2017 by Elizabeth Stice

The Change.

The weather here in Tulsa has been ridiculous lately. 80*s in February is like Christmas for me, while others are shaking their fists at the skies, yelling, "Where are you, winter?!"

I was in shorts and a tank top for this wonderful weather. However, any normal person could have assumed that it was February in Tulsa and a coat, hat, and gloves would be the proper attire.

I recently had a season change, and realized that metaphorically, I've been wearing a coat in 80* weather. Let's just say it's been a little sweaty and uncomfortable. Often these are the signals that it's time to change.

Coyotes and Comfort

February 09, 2017 by Elizabeth Stice

The Call.

A few nights ago, as Blake and I were closing up the house to go to bed, Blake peeked out the front door into the darkness and said, "Hey! Check this out!"

As I walked over, he opened the door and started a yipping call into the cold air. I could barely make out a small, dark figure 100 yards away near our gate, slinking into the night. It was a coyote.

We've heard them hunting most nights on our property since we've moved here a few months ago. They've had free reign for a couple years, and the back pasture has been overgrown and untended for far too long.

Resource Roundup January

January 27, 2017 by Elizabeth Stice

Check out some fresh reads, sermons, and musics....

Busy? Yeah, me too...

January 12, 2017 by Elizabeth Stice

The Busy.

Lately, I’ve caught myself responding to the question, “How are you?” with the lame answer: “Busy.”

I actually despise that answer, so I’ve sworn it off.

Is it accurate? Sure.

But I’ve also found that a lot of people equate importance with how busy they seem.

And busy doesn’t actually share any real life that people are interested in when they ask about how I’m doing. In fact, it probably just makes them feel bad for taking up more of my time.

The Cancelled Debt...

December 29, 2016 by Elizabeth Stice

The Fault.

Two years ago, Blake and I had Christmas with his family down in Orange County, California. I had just found out I was pregnant, and Blake’s grandfather had just passed away that August.

It was a big year all around, but a special seed was planted that Christmas that took root and began to grow.

Christmas morning, as we all sat outside around a table, my mother-in-law began to read the Word of God. She then shared some thoughts on forgiveness and keeping our hearts from offense.

During this time together, she paused and looked each of us in the eye, called us by name, and said these powerful words:

“Elizabeth, I find no fault in you.”

Something about that statement shook me to the core, and my eyes couldn’t help but well with tears. It is the root of Love. Love does not find fault. It keeps no record of wrongs.

...To Whom Honor is Due

December 15, 2016 by Elizabeth Stice

The Wait.

Almost three years ago to the day, a very special event happened.

My husband, Blake, had been deployed in a combat zone in Afghanistan for most of 2013. All of us families stateside got news that our soldiers were coming home in time for Christmas! It was a Christmas miracle!

The day arrived for the big Welcome Home Ceremony, and we all gathered in the Armory Auditorium in Broken Arrow, OK. The anticipation was like nothing I’ve ever experienced.

Yet, as the time for the start of the ceremony approached and passed, we were still waiting! Things had to be just right before they could begin.

Finally, the soldiers filed in and stood at attention. Speakers addressed them and honored their service and sacrifices.

As hard as it was to see my husband just feet away and have to wait 15-20 minutes to look into his eyes and give him a bear hug, honoring these men and women was important. That pause, that remembering, that thanking them for their service was good and right and necessary.

The military is a culture of honor, and we would do well to learn how to honor those in our lives.

The Dead Cell Phone

December 01, 2016 by Elizabeth Stice

The Dead.

Our culture’s dependency on technology can be frustrating. Cell phone’s in particular are wonderful and awful all at the same time.

This past week, one evening after dinner, I said farewell to the fam and took off to meet a friend. My phone had 20% battery (or so it SAID), and as I have only been to her home maybe 3 times in the last 5 years, I GPS’d her address.

Let’s be honest. I GPS everything.

Less than 5 minutes into my 17 minute drive, my screen goes black. Prognosis: dead battery.

I quickly consider running back home to grab my car charger, but as a chronic procrastinator, I have left zero wiggle room in my timeline and would be late. The problem: I’m not sure I remember where her house is!

I weigh the options and decide that adventure is the choice for me. I can find her house, right? I’m going to go for it blind. In the dark. And maybe a little directionally challenged.

Let’s do this.

A Season to Enter In...

November 17, 2016 by Elizabeth Stice

The Party.

Luke 13:29 (NIV)

29 People will come from east and west and north and south, and will take their places at the feast in the kingdom of God.

Feast:

(n.) a rich or abundant meal; a periodical celebration or time of celebration;

(v.) eat sumptuously; to dwell with gratification or delight, as on a picture or view.

Y’all. We about to eat us some Thanksgiving meals this upcoming week. Feasting will happen. However, in our current day and culture, feasting has lost most of it’s meaning. It has been reduced to a large amount of food (which I’m not complaining about).

The more I learn about God, the more I like Him. He is ALL ABOUT FEASTING. God mentions it over and over and over in the Bible. He even commands the children of Israel to hold seven feasts a year, every year as part of their service to Him. Some of them lasted an entire week. A FULL WEEK OF FEASTING. (!) (I can almost picture Jesus and the Holy Spirit saying, "Father - should we slow our roll here? This is a lot of partying! I'm not sure they can handle it.")

I think God knew that we would create obstacles to feasting. For some reason, we humans resist it. And yet feasting fixes so much. It has the power to mark us, to heal, to restore, to refresh… if we enter the feast fully.

Jubilee is Here

November 03, 2016 by Elizabeth Stice

The mess.

2016 has been special. And when I say special, I’m thinking messy. Especially messy.

I’ve heard this same thing from multiple friends and family members. Many are ready for 2016 and it’s bag of challenges to be over and for something new to begin!

My messy involved a lot of coming to the end of myself. Not being able to hold it all together. Losing control. Seeing my inner motives for the awful truth that they are. Messy.

You know what’s wonderful about all of that? Jesus shows up in messes.

They are His specialty.

Resource Roundup

October 20, 2016 by Elizabeth Stice

Check out some fresh reads, sermons, and musics...

Pausing to Enjoy...

October 07, 2016 by Elizabeth Stice

The Yum.

Any food lovers out there?

I deeply enjoy food. Deeply.

And all of it - the entire process. From meal planning, to grocery shopping, to preparing, to cooking and baking, to presentation, to eating the food and sharing it with friends and family around a table, and even remembering a good meal... all of this is incredibly enjoyable to me.

Most of my vivid childhood memories involve eating food around a table with family, telling stories and laughing for hours, celebrating life through food and community. Sharing food is powerful and wonderful.

I realize that not everyone feels that way about food.

Guest Post - Never Give Up

September 22, 2016 by Elizabeth Stice

This is a guest post by Nicole Dahlke. Nicole is a firm believer that life is better when you're laughing. When not teaching, Nicole can be found sharing her story, relaxing with a good book, and playing with her many nieces and nephews. Find Nicole on Facebook.

The Hunt for Big Foot

September 08, 2016 by Elizabeth Stice

The Mystery.

Big Foot is a big deal here in the South. There’s a whole following - a very serious following - attempting to hunt this guy (animal?) down.

Since moving to Oklahoma 15 years ago, I’ve noticed a very common bumper sticker on many of the cars out here:

Now, I realize that some people enjoy the fun of Big Foot more than the reality, but others have completely bought into the hype.

There are documentaries on people who have sold everything in order to hunt Big Foot with the hopes of finally catching him.

That’s a lot of faith and desire and effort for something that may or may not exist.

I think part of it is the excitement of the hunt.

It’s the POTENTIAL of the reality that is enticing.

Humble Pie? Don't Mind if I Do...

August 25, 2016 by Elizabeth Stice

The Fake.

My last blog post tackled the issue of pride - how to identify it and surrender it to the Lord. As I’ve been meditating more on this topic, I’m realizing just how crucial dealing with pride is.

See, I have a problem though. Humility is a tricky thing. It’s often misunderstood.

I think the enemy realizes how powerful true humility is, and tries to twist it into something it's not.

My personality tends toward more of the passive, chill, prefer others way of life, with a sprinkle of some people-pleasing tendencies here and there.

My problem is that my personality can occasionally LOOK like humility. I began to wonder if maybe I’m just naturally humble. (Maybe she’s born with it? Not hardly.)

This natural tendency tells my brain that I’ve got this area covered, I'm winning (with humility of course), and I can move along. No need to inspect further.

Except that this is a lie.

Pride Problem? Here's How to Deal...

August 10, 2016 by Elizabeth Stice

That Guy.

Years ago, I had a casual acquaintance - who will remain nameless - that I would run into occasionally. She was one of those people who knew everything and would insist on telling you about it.

Then, she would proceed to tell me exactly how I should do things (her way) and why it was a good idea.

To be honest, I got pretty good at the nod and smile (a great option for awkward situations!), and then went about my business, disregarding her unsolicited advice.

When I think of “pride,” or someone who has a pride issue, I usually think of just such a person, or a “me monster” (see below) - someone who can’t stop talking about themselves and their own accomplishments.

The problem is, I rarely categorized myself as someone who deals with pride.

Until this year.

Photo by Dan Carlson

Resource Roundup

July 28, 2016 by Elizabeth Stice

Some Reads.

This blog post on what God looks like.

Need more discipline in your life? The se strategies could help.

These thoughts on holding on to joy in the midst of craziness.

Some Sermons.

This short, 3 minute video by Steven Furtick hits on Christian Confidence.

This teaching on becoming a rooted person by Jayde Duncan. Fantastic!

Have some big life decisions to make? Willie George shares how to tell if it's God or not.

Some Musics.

This song has been on repeat for me lately:

Also cannot get enough of this one: