Here's my heart, Lord, take and seal it

Tucker Jason Rhys was born on October 30th, 2023 at 3:18pm in the afternoon though I say his birth story started four months earlier in June.  In June we were packing up our family and lives in Africa to come back to America for a year. With two small kids and me being six month pregnant, Steven and I still thought it would be worth the effort to stop in Paris for a layover and do a couple Frenchy things like eat a croissant and see the Eiffel Tower.  It’s a “perk” of the job I tell myself—every flight path inevitably goes through Europe. We booked tickets that took us through Paris and then onto America. After booking everything we hit a snag—Farrah’s passport was set to expire in September and apparently France requires three months of validity left on a US passport before giving a visa to visit their country. She only had two months left before she needed to renew hers. (I'm getting to the birth, I promise…) Up until that last week on our island as we were packing our bags ...

  • Phineas Steven Justus Lund • Born yesterday at 1:03PM in Nairobi, Kenya • 8lbs 2oz (3.7 kilos) and nearly 21” long (53cm) • For over ten years I have dreamed of naming my first boy Phineas after the Israelite who had the zeal of the Lord in Numbers chapter twenty five. 'Then Phinehas stood up and intervened, and the plague was stayed. And that was counted to him as righteousness from generation to generation forever.'--Psalm‬ ‭106:30-31‬ ‭ESV‬‬ When we found out Farrah was a girl, I was surprised because I had always thought I’d have a boy first. But God’s timing is perfect because, in fact, 2020 is the year of a plague. I feel his birth signifies the end of the the virus and a confirmation of God’s call on his life. Phineas, may you have the zeal for the Lord that proclaims His salvation by Christ’s blood which stays God’s wrath on mankind. Thank you Lord for this Hope we have now in Jesus in 2020 and forever and ever. Welcome, little one! #PhineasStevenJustus #inlundswith...

My spiritual life has been so dry for so long. It's a bit confusing because I realized it's not for lack of hearing God's voice, or feeling His presence, but it's just felt like “business as usual.” I compare it to when you do life next to your spouse for a while—dishes, budget, put the kids to bed—and in that week-in, week-out mix, you forget that they aren't just your roommate or business associate.  Recently though, I've entered a trial of faith and I never thought I could be so thankful for one in all my life while still in the midst of it.  Sure, I'm rather thankful afterwards for many of the things God's taken me through, but I've never been smack-dab in the time of waiting or pain and said, "At last! A trial of various kinds!" I can't tell if this trial is just smaller in comparison to a few I've been through before, or if with this one I'm experiencing the fruit of having fervently walked with Jesus for ...

My labor with our first daughter, Farrah, was not how I had pictured it.  Most of it went well but some of it was unpredictably difficult.  I did a lot of things right.  I refused to be afraid.  I also knew that I wanted God to walk with me through the process.  I call it a supernatural labor, not because it was a pain free process but because the Father was there through it all walking with me. I know the title of this blog comes from the debated scripture of 1 Timothy 2:15, and I'm really not here to address that, but I can't help but think of it when I look back on Farrah's birth story. “Yet she will be saved through childbearing — if they continue in faith and love and holiness, with self-control.”  I was saved through this experience.  I was saved in so many ways.  I was delivered from fear and pride and this process taught me about endurance in the faith. I'll save you some boring details but lets just say about 3PM on Septemb...

Years ago there were days when I had more fun with the Holy Spirit.  I asked things of God.  I received answers from God.  I went to coffee with Jesus sitting across the table from me.  I watched movies as the Holy Spirit spoke things into my heart.  This is you...  My love is like this...  My justice is like that...   Then this one time, I felt the need to ask about Disney Princesses.  "Which princess am I?" I definitely knew it was true when He told me I was Belle.  I was a brunette Frenchie (at heart) and I longed for the life beyond the seemingly normal world I saw.  "There must be more to this provincial life!" was my theme song.  I also liked the idea of finding a brooding, bearded man in my adventures. Now, the talks with God have grown quiet.  It feels like I'm growing up...but not...because we will always remain children in the Kingdom if we have received it (Luke 18:16).  However, there is a very real...

It's not a waste if it's wasted on Jesus.  I have been learning things from the Spirit that spin me into fiery speeches.  They are ones with great stories that I wish to share with other women. One speech, ironically, is that we don't always need platforms like blogs with a million followers or #1 TV shows to give God glory. (Ironic, right?)  Much of life is in the simple quiet parts that only He sees. That much is for God, and God alone .  We know the age-old question, "If a tree falls in a forest, and no one is there to hear it..." But...what if God is the only one that hears the tree or sees your spiritual life? What if God is the only one that sees your sacrifice? What if you lay your desire to be married, or for children, or a career, at His feet and no one sees or acknowledges that sur render but Him?  What if you don't become the author or popular small group leader?  "Would it be enough for me?" I ask.  Are we...