February 25, 2014

Finding Truth

February 25, 2014/ Sara Janssen @ Nesting Gypsy

In the morning hours, I love to sit and soak up scripture...and I will often share photos on Instagram of my morning table. Recently, I have had several requests for more details on exactly HOW I go about this. Here are a few thoughts on how you can incorporate more spirit & truth into your daily life:

READ SCRIPTURE

Read one Psalm a day. These gems are so full of encouragement. My favorites are 18, 63, 71, and 103, and 119.
Read the Proverb that corresponds with the day of the month (there are 31 Proverbs)
Use the One Year Bible (one Old Testament passage, one New Testament passage, Psalms and Proverbs). This is a great option if you really like a structured reading schedule (later edited to add: I now use The Bible Recap)!
Pick a smaller book (I recommend James, John, or Philippians) and read it every day for a month.
Pick one scripture a week to memorize. Meditate on it often.
I also look to devotionals for inspiration and use them as a spring board in my reading. I love New Morning Mercies by Paul David Tripp.

For the past 14 years, I have used the Life Application Study Bible. I love the commentary and the biographies. I've made it a practice to write dates and events in the margins of my Bible...to remind me of His faithfulness. It's so encouraging to go back through and see evidence of His presence in my life over and over. I look back and say...

"Whoa. I did not think I would survive that. But I did. He has never failed me."

JOURNAL AND LISTEN

Now that you know WHAT to read...JOURNAL it! This looks different for everyone and my prayer journals have changed a lot over the years. I currently write out any scripture that "pops" for me in my reading. There isn't a rigid structure to it. Some days I discover many things...other days, not so many. I do know that the more I dive into God's word DAILY, the more I "HEAR" Him speak to my heart.

It's just like spending time with a dear friend. If you and I meet for coffee every single morning...I would start to know your mannerisms, your personality....your VOICE. I would recognize you easily. And so it is with God. So many times, I will be reading and I will KNOW that a certain scripture was meant for me on that day.

TURN UP THE MUSIC

There is so much inspiration to be found in music. Like little sonnets of truth, music AWAKENS ME to possibility, makes me happy, and releases stress. I'm somewhat obsessed with Josh Garrels. He's my fave. But my musical tastes span a wide range.

FIND COMMUNITY

Find a community of like-minded lovelies who will encourage you along the way. This might be church for you. Or a house church. It might be a small group of people gathering to talk and eat together. Or maybe it's an online community like She Reads Truth. There is no one perfect way...although lots of people would have you believe that. I do believe that we are MADE to interact with others on a spiritual level. Finding truth is way more fun when you're surrounded by people you love!

OPEN YOUR EYES

And lastly...seek for truth in all things. I don't restrict myself only to traditional "christian" readings and music. I find truth in graffiti words on a passing train. In a bathroom stall. In a book by Mary Oliver.

I have many friends who follow the path of Jesus. And I have an equal number of friends who are on other paths. And that’s ok. Having friends with different spiritual stories pushes me to refine my own truth with Jesus and understand their truth more fully.

With that said, I'd love to hear from everyone...not just my Jesus-loving friends. Let's have a conversation about growing spiritually. Have you found a quote, song, book, or practice that is affecting you deeply?

Where are YOU finding truth today?

February 24, 2014

Commence Janssification!

February 24, 2014/ Sara Janssen @ Nesting Gypsy

What a weekend! We left the farm on Saturday and took down the flags that have flown over so many memories there...and placed them in the trees at our new home. The trees that will shelter us for years to come. Like a new mother with her baby, I'm a bit infatuated with our property right now. I want to know the shape of every rock. The bend of every branch. The texture of each piece of moss. Each moment feels sacred.

These three munchkins are taking it all in as well...in their own way. Bella has been an amazing help in the demolition process. Lucy and Emma spend their time playing hide-and-seek in empty closets and chasing the dogs.

And lots of time is spent exploring the rock outcropping that takes up about 1/2 an acre. There are caves and little sneak-thru passages, and when we crawl to the top of it all, we can see Denver! Yesterday, as we were sitting there...a herd of 12 deer came and ate near us. Truly breathtaking. I never want to take it for granted!

The biggest change has been tearing down the big wall in the kitchen/living room. It wasn't an easy feat...but Matt took care of it! I've been dreaming of creating an open concept space there since the first time I laid eyes on it!

I'm so amazed at the difference it makes! Today he tore out the sink and remaining cabinets...and started putting up new dry wall. Tomorrow, we will paint the basement and start taping off the rest of the house to spray it all white. It's coming along fast and so far, we haven't run into any surprises. Just a few rotten boards and dead mice. Nothing out of the ordinary.

This coming week is looking to be pretty intense, as we are finishing up at the farm and moving our beds/clothes into the basement of the house. The kitchen probably won't be done for a week or two, so we're at that awkward in between stage of not really having a settled place to nourish and nest. Trying hard to keep my eyes on the goal...this mama is starting to get weary already!

I created a channel on Vimeo called "Nesting Gypsy Home". I will put videos up there, but probably won't post every video here. I just added another one of Matt working on the wall. I will also create a photo gallery on my blog here, and will post that link when it's up.

Thanks for following along in our adventures!

February 22, 2014

Packed Up + Moving In

February 22, 2014/ Sara Janssen @ Nesting Gypsy

It's official! We signed on the dotted line and slipped new keys on our keychain. The house closing went perfectly...and it was extra special because my brother, Scotty, was our agent. What a relief to have that part of it ALL DONE!

...and now we're packing up and jumping head first into our house remodel. OUR house remodel. I like the way that sounds! Yay! Instead of renting one big truck, which would be hard to maneuver up the mountain and in the driveway, we took 3 trips up today with smaller trailers. Masterfully packed by my amazing birthday boy.

We unpacked it all into our studio until the remodel is done. And when I say WE, I mean Matt ;-) He is so incredible when it comes to logistics and moving. I entertained the girls with hooping and spring rolls and rock climbing while tiny flakes of snow floated down like glitter around us.

Maggie and Maia explored every single inch of the house...sniffing out every animal that has lived there in the past 48 years. Tomorrow, Matt will install fencing in the back so that they can be a little more free to roam.

We did a lot of measurements and planning. The girls were SO EXCITED to start demolition. So we ripped off a few of the shaker shingles. And then a few more. And then we couldn't stop!