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life{in}grace girls

March 10, 2012 by Edie Wadsworth 11 Comments

I’m am so giddy this morning to introduce you to my new sister site! You’ll have to go over there to find out all about it.

I’m in Nashville at The Pearl Event and work up at 3:30 asking myself why in the world I agreed to do this. I’M A NERVOUS NELLIE! But I thought it would be the perfect time to launch my new site which is all about celebrating beautiful creative women as they (meaning YOU!) share their stories and gifts with us. This site is all about you. I hope you’ll consider becoming a lifeingrace girl!

And now, I must leave you to go meet those Pearl Girls! When I get back, I expect my inbox to be full of all the posts you want to contribute to the new site!

I give you

life{in}grace girls

Love yas,

sweaty palms

Grace Upon Grace::The Mystery of Christ

March 7, 2012 by Edie Wadsworth 11 Comments

Welcome to week 2 of our Lenten devotional book study of John Kleinig’s Grace Upon Grace: Spirituality for Today
Week one is here if you’re just joining us.

Our Hidden Life

Jesus maintains that the true goal of our spirituality is for us to be seen by God, open to His searching and yet gracious scrutiny, known and appreciated by Him. Our spirituality is part of our secret life with the unseen Father, the God who knows our hearts and sees what is done in secret. No progress can be made unless we are honest with ourselves before God the Father…….We are justified by God’s grace and approved by Him. Our justification does not depend on our piety (spirituality) and our performance but on Christ and His performance. We can therefore face up to our recurring failure to live as His holy people and people of prayer. In fact, our failure is meant to teach us to ask for what we lack and receive everything from Christ.

Wow! Dr. Kleinig says that the most common image that the scriptures give for our spiritual life is a journey. Our journey is simply a pilgrimage with Him as He takes on His way, the way of the cross, and delivers us ultimately to the Father’s presence in eternity.

It is a journey in which we live by the grace of God. As we travel with Christ, God the Father reaches out to each of us in the same way through His Word. Through this Word, He generates and maintains our faith; through His word, which is enacted in proclamation, absolution, Baptism, and Holy Communion, He gives us the Holy Spirit and all His gifts. In that journey everything comes to us from Him through His Word; in it we all receive grace upon grace from the fullness of the Father.

Dr. Kleinig then gives such a beautiful poetic description of how we participate in the mystery of Christ’s life in our daily journey with Him toward heaven. I can’t even begin to do it justice. You’ll have to get the book!

A Clear Conscience

One of the things that keeps us from yearning to spend time in God’s word and in prayer is our guilty conscience. And Dr. Kleinig makes such a strong case for how our state of our conscience ‘colors’ our experience with God. We all have this sense that something is not quite right with us. We try to ‘measure up’ to some standard but never seem to do it. This leaves us with a tainted conscience. Kleinig states that nothing is worse than the confusion that a bad conscience brings.

When we have a bad conscience, we see God as a strict lawgiver and a harsh judge, a moral watchdog and a moral detective, someone out to get us. His disapproval of our sin, His anger against injustice, is experienced as His personal disapproval and rejection of us as people. We resent His demands. We fear His condemnation. He seems to act as if He were our enemy. And so we work hard at getting God off our backs. Failing that, we try to avoid Him by minimizing our contact with Him and anything to do with Him.

This bad conscience that comes from failing to measure up to God’s law is only half the story. Through the forgiveness and life of Christ given to us at Baptism, we are granted a clear conscience because we are given the clear conscience of Christ Himself. “The key to life in the presence of God is the good conscience that comes from the Holy Spirit through the conviction of sin and assurance of forgiveness and salvation.”

What beautiful comfort when we let the gospel in all its’ take captive our hearts and minds.

That leaves about the last 1/3 of the chapter for you to talk about in the comments. Or you can talk about the first 2/3’s of the chapter.

What do you think so far? Doesn’t he have such a gentle and encouraging way about him? And his relentless focus on Christ as the giver of all good things is so refreshing.

What’s your favorite section/quote/concept?

At last, a devotional book that doesn’t make me feel more guilty.

Thank you Dr. Kleinig!

{homemade} vinaigrette recipes

March 5, 2012 by Edie Wadsworth 45 Comments

vinaigrette recipes
I haven’t bought store bought dressing in ten years and when I do have occasion to eat it, I’m always disappointed.
Well, that’s a bit of a lie. I do from time to time buy ranch dressing so my girls will make nice will their carrots.
But dressings that we eat on salads? Only homeade, baby.
And it’s so easy that I hope you give these vinaigrette recipes a try.

I make three basic vinaigrettes and almost always have 2 of the 3 on-hand at any given time.

I make them up on Monday and then use them all week on our salads. Like pioneer woman, I store mine in mason jars because they’re so convenient for shaking and storage and well—-who doesn’t love a good mason jar? I’m from the South so we all know that the mason jar is essential to any Southern kitchen. Not only do we get our ‘corn from a jar’ but we get our vinaigrette from a jar as well.

I make an endless variety of vinaigrette recipes depending on what I have on hand but I’ll show you my top 3 most common.

Now the honest truth is: I NEVER measure anything when I’m making a vinaigrette but when you’re first starting out, you should measure until you get a feel for the proportions.

The general rule is a 3:1 ratio of oil to vinegar. (I never use quite that much but just experiment with what you like.)

After that, it’s all up to your imagination.

Balsamic Vinaigrette

1/3 cup balsamic vinegar

1 chopped shallot or small onion

1 T. zesty honey mustard

2 T. honey or brown sugar

1/2 c. extra virgin olive oil

salt and pepper to taste

I usually let the shallots sit in the vinegar for a while (a few minutes to an hour) to develop their flavor but you don’t have to.

Red Wine Vinaigrette

1/3 cup red wine vinegar

1 shallot or small onion

1 T. sugar

1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil

salt and pepper to taste

Berry Vinaigrette

I love berry vinaigrettes and make whichever kind is in season. My favorite is strawberry but I’ve been making blueberry for the past couple months. Substitute whatever berry you have and substitute sugar or honey for preserves.

1/3 cup apple cider vinegar

1 T. homeade strawberry preserves

1/2 cup olive oil

1/3 c. chopped strawberries

salt and pepper to taste

I add all my ingredients to my mason jar and give it a shake and then store it in the fridge until we need it. I also like pretty labels so you can print this pdf (of the vinaigrette labels), print them on plain white computer paper, cut them out and then use clear packing tape to attach them to the jars. The tape covers the entirety of the paper so you can usually get a few washes in before you need to change the label. Truth of the matter is, my vinaigrettes are so similar that I don’t wash them every week, but instead just make the new dressing in the same jar. I’m a granny like that. You do whatcha want.

homeade vinaigrettes recipes

I’d love to know if you make your own dressings—leave you recipes in the comments. If not, would you be willing to try it? You’ll never go back!

You Make Beautiful Things

March 4, 2012 by Edie Wadsworth 19 Comments

I had the privilege of hearing my two oldest sing yesterday at the Ridgecrest Youth Conference.

After living through a horrific tragedy and watching God make beautiful things from dust, this song is my grateful anthem.

You think you’re raising your kids but they’re really raising you. (Thank you to my mother-in-law for that very true statement.)

Blessed Lent.

Alabama Road Trip

March 2, 2012 by Edie Wadsworth 17 Comments

This post has been in my drafts for 2 weeks but I thought you might enjoy my friend Susan’s house pics, late or not.

It was a rough week for our family. One of my very favorite uncles in the whole world passed away and my other favorite uncle is being treated for lung cancer. I don’t believe I’ve ever known two finer men. Both true Southern gentlemen, both smart and successful business men and both committed family men. I am heartbroken for my cousins and my aunt and all we could think to offer was our presence—which as it turns out, is almost always the best gift. Life seems difficult at every turn and there is always a cross to bear.

So my mom, sister, and my brother and my little girls and I hopped in the car and made a quick road trip to Birmingham.

The visit was so therapeutic for us all. Even my poor brother survived two days in the car with all us girls.

The visit with Uncle Troy and Aunt Rosie was so special. I’m so glad we went.

These two uncles have been so influential in my life and my brother wrote this about them as a comfort to my cousin:

“I too am sorry for the passing of a great, great man. he was indeed all those things you said he was and more. On our visit this weekend to Aunt Rosie’s and Uncle Troys, we were reminded once again of the kind of men these guys were and are. Jack and Troy are two of the finest men I have ever known, the epitome of true “southern gentlemen”. I feel the same as you, in that if I can be half the men that they always have been, I will have been a success.”

My dear friends Johnny and Susan live in Birmingham and have a farm house that they so graciously opened to us. We were so blessed by their hospitality and couldn’t have eaten all the food in the fridge if we’d stayed two weeks. Their farm was absolutely beautiful with every touch and convenience of home. And every possible bow/gun/camo jacket known to man.

My favorite of Susan’s tchotchkes was this priceless little number which played ‘Sweet Home Alabama’ when you pressed the button. Which we pressed over and over and over and over. The hunters’ heads bobble to the music too. I know, you’re jealous. You should be.

I loved everything about how she decorated the place but this custom piece of art was so cool. There are meaningful words and names from their lives that are randomly placed on this canvas. “Johnson City” is on there which is where Susan and I raised our oldest children together. She taught me so much about mothering and Jesus and Southern charm. She and Johnny are one of a kind and probably two of my favorite people on earth.

I love the antler lamps and light fixture.

And all the bedrooms were perfectly outfitted with exactly what you need when you’re staying overnight somewhere—-comfortable beds, warm blankets, chargers for all your electronics and beauty everywhere you turn.

Another guest room…..

But the thing that took my breath away was the carolina jasmine. Oh my heavens, I’ve got to plant some this spring. Isn’t it todiefor?

There’s something so beautiful about Susan, that even from a long distance friendship, she can still inspire and nurture the best parts of others. I’ve learned more from her about being a mom, wife, friend, and believer than anyone else I’ve ever met. I’m so thankful for her and Johnny. I’m only sad that I didn’t stay at their house and stay up til 3 in the morning talking and laughing and crying. I miss them everyday.

Then like all road trips, it went downhill on the way home.
We sang old school country music for far too long. My girls may never be the same. There was a lot of eye rolling.
I love my family so much and am thankful that even as adults, they’re the best road-trip buddies ever.
Happy Weekend!

Grace Upon Grace:: Personal Devotions

February 29, 2012 by Edie Wadsworth 20 Comments

This is week one of a six week devotional study of the book Grace upon Grace by Dr. John Kleinig. It’s not too late to join us and this book is such a gem as it relates to the devotional life of the believer. We are reviewing the introduction of the book this week which is called Receptive Spirituality and then we’ll dive into the 5 chapters over the next five Wednesdays in Lent. I will post each Wednesday and then if you’re participating in the study (or even if you aren’t!), I’d love for us to have a discussion in the comments section over what we’ve read. Dr. Kleinig is an Old Testament scholar and retired in 2009 from full time teaching at Luther Seminary in Australia. I first heard him speak when I listened to this unbelievable two hour study on the book of Leviticus on Issues Etc. I think I’ve listened to it 5 or 6 times. You think Leviticus is dry and uninteresting? Not anymore. Give it a try and make sure you have time to really listen and concentrate. It’s chocked full of Christ-centered teaching and will open up the OT law and its’ fulfillment in Christ like nothing you’ve ever heard.

Let’s dive in to Week 1:: Receptive Spirituality

I’m gonna confess right off the bat that I have ALWAYS struggled with personal devotions/personal spirituality. It’s been a constant source of guilt and doubt for me. If I truly love God and am a christian then why do I often despise His Word and neglect to seek Him in prayer? Why do I live so much of my life from my own strength and fail to access the gifts of Christ given freely in His Word? Back in the day of my outright legalism, my failure to live a ‘successful’ private devotional life led me to despair. Then I would try harder and succeed for a while. Until I didn’t and then my friend despair was always so happy to step in On occasion, I’d go for months with a stellar devotional life, or so I thought, and I’d be right proud of myself. Look how ‘spiritual’ I’m becoming, I would whisper quietly as I patted my spiritual self on the back. But those two ditches (self-righteousness and self-pity) are not where true spirituality are found. As Dr. Kleinig so wonderfully points out, they are found in Christ alone.

He, like Luther, likens our posture to God as beggars. We realize that we bring nothing to this process of spiritual growth. We are the receivers of all good things, of grace upon grace.

Kleinig says,

“Spiritual life does not come to us haphazardly. The Holy Spirit—and the life the Holy Spirit brings—is available to us only in Christ. And He gives this life to us through His word and through faith in His Word. This means that our spirituality does not come from having spiritual powers or from our spiritual self-development but depends on our faith in Him. Because we are joined to Christ we continually receive life from Him.”

and

“Jesus does not offer us superhuman life; He does not turn us into supermen and women with extraordinary physical and mental powers. Instead, He swaps places with us. He joins us in our human life on earth so that we can join Him in His life with God the Father. By Jesus’ union with us, we share in His sonship. Jesus’ position with God the Father, His status and all His privilege as God’s only Son, His righteousness and His holiness, His access to the Father, His Father’s love and delight in Him, and the Holy Spirit and the gifts of the Spirit, are all ours through faith in Jesus…… In short, we borrow everything from Him.”

Borrowing from Martin Luther and his study of the Psalms, he says you will find there 3 general rules for receptive spirituality: prayer (oratio), meditation (meditate) and temptation (tentative).

Prayer

We pray for the Holy Spirit to be our teacher and the Holy Spirit enlightens us through the Word. “So we pray for enlightenment, guidance and understanding that the Holy Spirit alone can give through the scriptures…..The Holy Spirit turns us would be spiritual self-promoters into humble, lifelong students of the scriptures. Prayer for God’s ongoing bestowal of the Holy Spirit through Jesus and the ongoing reception of the Holy Spirit is the foundation for Christian spirituality.

That concept seems so simple and yet it is so profound. We approach the scriptures with humility and as beggars and we plead and pray that God’s spirit would enliven us through this powerful, living Word. It will change the way we read the Bible. We don’t come with my superimposed ideas of what I think this passage says. We learn to come asking, seeking and begging for help, answers, strength, and faith. And our Father who loves us receives us graciously and gives us Himself.

Meditation

God gives His spirit with the external Word. “The Word of God is a means of grace by which God the Father grants the Holy Spirit through His dear Son. We receive the Holy Spirit through meditation on His Word. If there is no Word, there is no Spirit.” He describes a very specific meditation where we speak God’s words to ourselves and we listen attentively to them them with our whole heart. “We speak it to ourselves again and again; we read and reread it; we compare what it says one place with what it says elsewhere in the Bible; we chew at it in order to digest it; we rub at it, like an herb that releases its fragrance and healing powers by being crushed; we take it in physically, mentally and emotionally, so that it reaches our hearts, our core, the very center of our being.” Kleinig borrows from Luther who is adamant that meditation is a mostly outward activity and that we ought to beware when we use the scriptures as merely a springboard for our own inward directed ascension into the heavenlies.

Temptation

“Temptation is the touchstone that God uses to access our spirituality…. Temptation reveals what is otherwise hidden from us…..and tests the authenticity of our faith and proves our spiritual health.”

As long as we operate by our own power, with our own intellect and our own human notions, the devil lets us be. But as soon as we meditate on God’s spirit-filled Word and draw on the power of the Holy Spirit by meditating on it, the devil attacks us by stirring up misunderstanding, contradiction, opposition, and persecution. He mounts that attack through enemies of the Gospel in the Church and in the world. The purpose of his attack is to destroy our faith and undo the hidden work of God’s word in us.”

This section on temptation hit me like a ton of bricks. The past few months, I’ve been much more diligent about making time to read and study. Instead of feeling more spiritual and knowledgeable, I’ve felt so inadequate. I’ve wondered if I really even have faith, at times. I don’t see any self-improvement, only a host of new sins and struggles. But that only serves to drive me back to prayer and to the scriptures. Hmmm, prayer, meditation, temptation. I think I finally see that the pattern. It’s not glamorous and it’s not some spiritual ladder to heaven. It’s daily dying and rising. Our lives are hidden in Christ and we shouldn’t look for some sort of measurable ‘growth’ or improvement.

“Christian spirituality is, quite simply, following Jesus.”

***********************

Okay, it’s your turn. What are your thoughts? Don’t you love how he focuses so heavily on Christ and what we receive from Him—and not so much on what we do or don’t do?