Open Palms

This lenten prayer is my heart's cry, but too often my flesh cries out for something entirely different. 

The dearest idol I have known,
Whatever that idol be,
Help me to tear it from thy throne,
and worship only thee…

- William Cowper, “O For a Closer Walk with God”

It's Coming

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The Village: God of Victory "Teaser" from The Village Church on Vimeo.

Preparing

The Cross did not happen to Jesus: He came on purpose for it. He is “the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.” The whole meaning of the Incarnation is the Cross. Beware of separating God manifest in the flesh from the Son becoming sin. The Incarnation was for the purpose of Redemption. God became incarnate for the purpose of putting away sin; not for the purpose of Self-realization. The Cross is the centre of Time and of Eternity, the answer to the enigmas of both.

Oswald Chambers

On My List

Leaving on a boat for 6 days on Monday and I am drooling just thinking about lounging on the deck under the sun and READING.  Lots of books on my wish list right now. Which one should I pick to read while we are circling the gulf?

Christa Black is a wonderful recording artist and I fell in love with her song titled, God Loves Ugly, several years ago.  Now that she turned her lyrics into a book makes my heart happy!

Ann Voskamp may be one of my favorite authors of all time. She has an unbelievable way with words and most often leavings me yearning for more of Jesus. You can find her blog here.

The Pioneer Woman tells her love story?! Yes, please!

I have dying to read Angie's book since it was available for pre-order. I still have yet to get my hands on it. I blame Amberton University. I can't even believe that Angie is already about to have another book available for pre-order. I want this one too!

Every Season

This week I have been painfully aware of people in my life who are hurting. And yet, many are rejoicing under the same sky.

Tonight there will be:

Tears caught by pillows.
Prayers uttered for mercy.
Depression that wraps round like a blanket.
Anger that swells like the sea.
Sadness that seems to bury the soul.
Selfishness that has the sting of a scorpin.
Darkness that takes away years of smiles.
Loss that shakes the foundation of faith.
Devestation that crushes flat the mountain.
Dignity stripped away in the clap of thunder.
Confusion that steals any glimpse of rational.

And there will be:

Glasses clinking in celebration.
Hearts discovering one another.
Flowers blooming after the long winter.
Cries of new life.
Joy that bubbles like boiling water.
Peace that covers life snow.
Long embraces wrapped in lovers arms.
Rejoicing that comes with the morning.
Healing that has been long awaited.
Glowing that outshines the sun.
Warmth that thaws the hardest of hearts.

Consider what God has done:
Who can straighten what he has made crooked?
When times are good, be happy; but when times are bad, consider this:
God has made the one as well as the other.
Therefore, no one can discover anything about their future.
Ecclesiastes 7:13-14

Mercy & Goodness | Devotion

From Devotional Classics, written by Brother Lawrence from The Practice of the Presence of God.

I imagine myself as the most wretched of all, full of sores and sins, and one who has committed all sorts of crimes against the king. Feeling a deep sorrow, I confess to him all of my sins, I ask forgiveness, and I abandon myself into his hands so that he may do with me what he pleases.

This king, full of mercy and goodness, very far from chastening me, embraces me with love, invites me to feast at his table, serves me with his own hands, and gives me the key to his treasures. He converses with me, and takes delight in me, and treats me as if I were his favorite. This is how I imagine myself from time to time in his holy presence. 

'Round the Bend

Several weeks ago, I arrived to class early just as I always do. I had been fighting off nausea all day and just felt miserable. I went to my professor's office early to let him know that if I left class early, it was due to a weak stomach.  He sent me home and said that several other classmates had reported the same thing and he did not want me spreading the love to anyone else.

I was thankful to go home and rest, but I also knew that I would have to fight rush-hour traffic to make it there. I decided that I would try to take the back roads. I had done it once before, with the help of my GPS. I looked down at my phone - it would die any minute. But I decided to risk it. I tossed my phone into my purse, knowing there was no time to pull up directions.

As I started home, things looked somewhat familiar. I kept looking for landmarks and roads that I had seen on my previous journey. Eventually I ended up in an area that I couldn't say I had seen or hadn't seen before. I kept driving straight. "Surely this will lead me to the tollway", I thought to myself. But it never did. As I headed into the hills of uncharted territory and back country roads that are idyllic for a Sunday afternoon drive, I said a prayer. "Lord, lead me home. Let me be still and quiet enough to hear your voice. Don't let me take one, wrong road.".

I pushed my nausea down, along with the volume to my radio and I paid careful attention to my drive. It was so quiet and peaceful. There was something beautiful about knowing that only the Lord and I knew where I was in that moment. Not a soul out there knew that I was twisting and turning into towns not my own.

I never became completely confident that I was headed in the right direction, let alone was on the right road. But I pushed on, determined not to stop to ask for directions. Not because I didn't want to, but because I wanted to hear from the Lord more. And not some audible voice that guided me to turn left or to turn right, but to just hear something in my heart from Him.

I encountered dozens of streets. Dozens of decisions. And on my final stretch home, I passed a street that had I taken five turns backs, would have put me in my driveway much earlier.

And there it was. So quiet, that I might have missed it as quickly as my car passed by the street sign.

He spoke.

I did not get home the quickest or shortest way available, but I got home just the same. At the end of the night I sat parked in my garage in awe that He had granted my plea,  I had not taken one wrong road.

Every twist and turn along the way led me to the place I so desired, home.

He has watched over your journey through this vast wilderness. These forty years the LORD your God has been with you, and you have not lacked anything. Deuteronomy 2:7

For a deeper look: Hinds Feet on High Places

Exposed

Larry and I spent Sunday reading excerpts from Jeremy Taylor's, The Rules and Exercises of Holy Living (regarding humility). Everything we read was powerful. I would stop reading every few sentences with jaw dropped open. Taylor has much insight into the motives of our hearts, and at times I felt completely stripped down and naked. The quote below is a good example. I strongly encourage you pick up this book for more.

Never say anything, directly or indirectly, that will provoke praise or elicit compliments from others. Do not let your praise be the intended end of what you say. If it so happens that someone speaks well of you in the midst of a conversation, you are not to stop the conversation. Only remember this: do not let praise for yourself be the design of your conversations. (Devotional Classics, page 270)

-Jeremy Taylor

What's In a Name? | Blog post from Superwife Productions

Here is a post that wrote for SWP on how we decided on the name Superwife Productions. :)

Since we launched Superwife, we've received a number of questions related to it's name. We are often asked, "How did you come up with the name Superwife?" As Larry's wife, this can be a difficult question to answer, as I immediately want to make a disclosure statement assuring people that I am by no means "superwife". So, here is a little story of how SWP came to be.

Larry and I were married in May of 2009. About a month after being married, I noticed that Larry still had me programmed in his phone as Courtney Coker and this just did not seem fitting. So, with batting eyelashes I hinted that an adoring nickname was in order since I was after all his new blushing bride. A couple of weeks later I noticed that he had changed my name to Superwife. Ah, much better, I thought to myself.
Fast forward to October. Larry threw me my very own surprise party and premiered our long-awaited wedding video. At the end of the video, Superwife Productions flashed across the screen, along with the sound effect of a big, wet kiss. [Swoon]. I loved it and it meant something really special to me - and he knew that it would.

Okay, fast forward again. Last year Larry was asked to do a wedding video for his friend Dustin Maddux and his bride-to-be, Heather Cunningham. We were thrilled about the opportunity. As we began to prepare for their wedding, it made sense that we could use Superwife Productions for their big day as well. It was during this time that we were beginning to brainstorm about building Larry's freelance business. As time went on and the business began to take shape, we had many, many discussions about potential business names, but we just kept coming back to Superwife.

And that's it, really. It's just a name, born out a husband wanting to encouraging and spur on his wife with a silly nickname.

But to prove I am no superwife, I will first direct you to Proverbs 31. Nothing will humble a woman quicker than this Proverbial woman. Secondly, I will leave you with a quick top-ten list of some of the things that keep me in superwife-in-training status:

1. I leave mounds and mounds of clothes piled up for weeks at a time, rather than hanging them in their rightful place.

2. Larry does way more dishes than I do.

3. I leave the toothpaste cap off - always.

4. A go to bed at 10p. And I have a night owl husband.

5. I can be a very bad listener, particularly when Hoarders is on.

6. I have been known to be much more temperamental than Larry. Who isn't though?

7. I might do leave hair on the shower wall occasionally.

8. I regard macaroni-and-cheese as a complete meal.

9. I leave a trail of my belongings from the bottom of the stairs on up.

10. I spend a lot of our hard-earned money on coca-cola at Sonic.

Superwife Productions | Dallas/Ft. Worth Videographer

Hi friends,

It has been a long time since I have posted, but here I am!  I just wanted to give you all a quick announcement.

In early January we soft launched Larry's new business, Superwife Productions. This is a place where Larry can direct people to his video work and begin to increase his freelance business. When we initially launched, we had included that in addition to helping Larry with business operations, I would also be offering creative design services, such as websites, logos, promotional materials, etc.  In a very short of time, I realized that I am maxed out.  It would be so silly for me to take on any additional work right now. (We only have one night a week to see each other as it is, but I will save that sob story for another time).  I have since removed myself from this role and will only be helping with Larry on SWP's business operations, communications and marketing. I am still interested in doinf creative design when I have time, but I am mainly devoting my energy to my counseling efforts and hope to quickly begin accruing my hours after graduation in May (ahem...a mere 16 weeks away.)

Anyway, back to SWP. If you know of anyone looking for a shooter/editor (videographer), please feel free to pass them on to Larry - we are heavily relying on word-of-mouth referrals at this point. He is currently accepting projects for adventure, documentary, legacy, narratives, weddings, ministry and whatever else you may have in mind. I am dying for him to do a "Day in the Life" family session!

There are a number of places that you can connect with SWP - please help spread the love about SWP.
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