Paperless Post | RE:View

Who doesn't like getting a card? I know I do! But, the older I get, the harder it is for me to keep up with sending notes in the capacity I'd like. If you've followed my blog for a while you'll know that I've moved around quite a bit. Each of those moves have left me with amazing friends in different locations all over the U.S. and, while I still make it a priority to get out hand written cards here and there, I've now found a lovely alternative in Paperless Post!

What is Paperless Post?

Paperless Post is a company that offers digital invitations (think wedding & party), birthday cards, personal stationary, save the dates, and so much more! They offer a variety of fun designs and customizations helping you create the perfect card or invitation.

Here's one example of a card and envelope set:

My Experience with Paperless Post 

I tried out their service in a couple of different ways. I created an Easter card that I could send to friends and family (since most are scattered all over the U.S.) and scheduled it (yes! you can totally do this) to go out on the Saturday before Easter. How fun is that?

Then, I also sent a "thinking of you" card to a dear friend to let her know that I was thinking of her as well as praying for her. I had fun customizing the background, text, interior, and sending settings. More than that though, I was able to send a meaningful note in a "different way". It wasn't a text (which is still personal, but not nearly as pretty) and it wasn't a passing comment on a social media post or something like that. I really wanted her to know that I'd taken the time to pick out the right card for her and that it held a message that came from the heart.

If I may step of my "community soapbox" for a moment... Letting people know that you are thinking of them and care about them is SO important! It's easy to get wrapped up in the day-to-day actives of life that we forget those who are around us. Whether that be our spouse or significant other or even our friends we may only see once a week or less, we should be actively looking for a way to let them know we care.

Maybe card or letter writing isn't your "thing" but it's so easy to use an already created template (you don't even need to customize if you don't want to) to send a quick note.

What I think about Paperless Post 

I would definitely recommend Paperless Post! They have some really beautiful card designs (even some from designers like Kate Spade New York, Oscar de la Renta, Jonathan Adler, and Rifle Paper Co.). They also cover pretty much any occasion you may have and allow you the freedom and flexibility to customize each card with fun designs and digital papers.

Some things of note:

Cards do cost! They work on a 'coin' system that starts with allowing you to purchase 20 coins for $6 (making the coins $.30 each) with the option of larger quantities of coins which decreases the price per coin. When I looked around it seemed it was standard for a card to cost about 5 coins (or $1.50 a card) with the more intricate or designer cards costing around 8 coins (or $2.40 a card). Considering that most (nice) cards in the store are usually $4 + and then add the $.50 stamp on top of that, you are getting a good deal.

Also, as much as I love the ease of sending a digital card to someone - it's fast, cost effective, and environmentally friendly, it's slightly less personal (totally my own opinion here). Because of this, I would personally recommend and use Paperless Post for things like event invitations and even perhaps Wedding Save the Dates because of the expense of shipping out invitations of that magnitude could become very expensive and time consuming.

Lastly, I didn't do extensive research into other digital card-sending sites, but I did look around a bit. They may be less expensive, but you can tell that in the quality of their cards. I feel like (from an artists standpoint) the cards on Paperless Post are really top quality and the experience is very user friendly. You can send out mass invites or cards with ease and style, which I think makes Paperless Post stand out in it's field.

Use the link below to check out their website:

Visit Paperless Post

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I was asked to experience this product for free but was under no obligation to post a positive review. I do so under my own motivation and the opinions I have expressed in this review are honest and entirely my own.

The Grove | New Novel News

I love talking about the writing community! Actually, I just like talking about community in general (like this post, and this one). But, one thing I've found is that readers and writers share a special bond. And it's not books.

Wait, what? Yes, you read that right. It's not about what writers are writing or readers are reading, it's a bond that goes beyond that...

It's story. 

The Grove is a place for those of us with a story. You have one. I have one. God even has one - and it includes all of our stories.

If you haven't heard about The Grove let me give you the straight up facts:

8 Women: 

Beth K. Vogt
Cara Putman
Courtney Walsh
Katherine Reay
Katie Ganshert
Kristy Cambron
Melissa Tagg
Sarah Ladd

The point: 

Welcome to The Grove, where story finds a home.

This is their tagline and I love it! Don't you?

The Grove is comprised of these eight women (all authors - and yes, you need to check them ALL out) who want to share their lives, not just their writing. Their focus is: Grow, Rest, and Prayer. I don't know about you, but I could use a lot more of each of those things!

I'll leave it to you to check out their awesome website and read through their encouraging posts. I mainly want to point this out as a resource. I've had the blessing of getting to know some of these women personally and--seriously--they are amazing! They have genuine hearts for the Lord and want nothing more than to inspire, encourage, and entertain with their writing.

I hope you get a few minutes to spend at The Grove. Say hi, join the community there, and be blessed by these women.

Go check it out:
The Grove website
The Grove Instagram
The Grove Twitter
The Grove Pinterest
Connect on Facebook:

Post by The GROVE.

Thoughts on Community (part 2) {Thinking Theology}

I felt it was high-time we made it back around to community.  (If you missed part 1 be sure to check it out!).  I'm going to start titling these posts focused on spiritual growth: {Thinking Theology}. 

At church we've been going through a section of our Mission of God series that our pastors are calling "The Gospel in Real Life".  They then attach a focus to the end of that like "eating" or "bless" or "education".  The point they are trying to make is the fact that the gospel affects everything in our lives.

Take a moment to let that sink in.

When was the last time you really thought about how your relationship with Christ affects the way you eat?  I know I've thought about it with regards to being thankful, but what about using the time spent around the table as a focused, gospel-centered time?  Then to have this same thing affect the realm of your finances.  Pastor Luis shared that we are "blessed to be a blessing" and not blessed without an outward focus. Too many times I've found myself blessed with something and haven't thought past my own good fortune to think how my blessing could bless others.

I've really begun to see how viewing this life in light of God's Kingdom changes everything.  I'm no longer content to walk around blind to the fact that all things are to revolve around God.  I feel like Christian society today is too easily divided.  We have the secular realm where we do business, live life, eat food, and spend our free time as we please, and then we have the sacred realm where we are "good Christians" who attend church, talk about spiritual things, and generally live "better" than most.  Is that what true Christianity is about? 

I just don't think so.

Christ is our perfect example and I can't say that He separated his life into two realms.  In fact, He was the embodiment of living fully in all ways of life.  The pharisees were always so quick to watch Him and critique who He ate with, how He spent his time, and what He was saying but they never fully saw that He was modeling life for their sake (for our sake as well).  Christ ate with sinners and tax collectors (Mark 2:13-17).  Do we realize who those people were?  They were the outcast, the maligned - the rejected of society and He was sharing a meal with them (think Luke 7:36-49 /John 8/John 4:1-45).  You could equate a tax collector to a secret service agent (someone known for protecting the nation) selling national secrets and being known as a traitor.  Christ was having dinner with that guy.

Do we even invite our unsaved neighbors in for dinner?

For me, this is where all this talk of community is launched into overdrive with purpose.  The beauty of living our entire lives in light of the gospel is that we get to do this together (and that's not even mentioning the Holy Spirit...)!  Christ saved us as a people for himself [more on this in another post] and because of that we are live as a people - redeemed and always ready to give an answer for the hope that we have (1 Peter 3:15).

How beautiful that Christ not only gave us himself as a sacrifice but as an example too! 

There is so much to say about community but the point I'll leave you with today is this: does the gospel affect every area of your life?  Or have you relegated it to Sunday mornings or a Tuesday night Bible study?  Are you living effectively in your neighborhoods or at your jobs to be an example and a blessing to your neighbors and coworkers?  How are you (or can you) partner with Christians in your area to love those people and show them that you care for them - not to fulfill some heavenly quota of "people saved" but to truly reach out and share the Good News with them? 

I would love to hear creative ways that you have found to reach out to those living near you or those who you work with.  I'll share some ways in my next {Thinking Theology} post!

Thoughts on Community (part 1)

It has been a very long time since I've blogged my thoughts here...not to say that I haven't been thinking, but life has been extremely busy and my thoughts haven't made it past my journal in a long time.  This morning though, as I enjoy my day off after my morning run, I felt compelled to share some of what I've been reading and thinking through regarding community. 

Currently, I am reading (well, among many other books) "Life Together" by Dietrich Bonhoeffer.  I'm in chapter 2 and there are only 5 chapters because it's a pretty small book, but his view points on community have already widened my idea of what that word truly means.  My church is very focused on community with regards to how we live out the mission of God within His story so these thoughts have been simmering for a long time... it'll probably take me several 'parts' to get it all out, but maybe that will entice me to write more :)

This morning I'm going to skip ahead to what Bonhoeffer talks about in the beginning of chapter 2: "The Day's Beginning".  I've heard it said often that the best time to spend with the Lord is in the morning.  This makes sense because you are getting up, refreshed (hopefully) and ready for the day ahead.  What better way to focus on the Lord than to do your devotions as part of your morning routine.  I'll admit to not always getting the chance to do this in a formal setting, but I think that 'spending time' with God can take on various different forms.  For me, some mornings that means turning off the music and just praying while I run or, while I'm making my lunch for the day, listening to scripture or a sermon, or even just blasting worship music and praising God while I go about my morning chores.  There are so many different ways that this fellowship with Him can come out and I love that!  God is such a God of diversity and creativity - just look around at the different cultures and different art forms He's given us!

Anyway, back to community.  Bonhoeffer begins chapter 2 by talking about the morning, "Morning does not belong to the individual, it belongs to the Church of the triune God, to the Christian family, to the brotherhood" (41).  When I first read that I thought, "Wait a second - is he saying we need to be doing this in community?"  It's one thing to hold yourself accountable to 'personal time' with the Lord as we like to call it, but as I read, I wondered if he was suggesting we spend this time communally every morning?  A few paragraphs later he went on to say, "Common life under the Word begins with common worship at the beginning of the day.  The family community gathers for praise and thanks, reading of Scripture, and prayer"(41). 

I'll admit, I was both thrilled and terrified by his conclusion of community worship.  It sounds amazing, I mean who wouldn't want to spend an hour a day with your brothers and sisters in Christ worshiping the Lord through the reading of scripture, singing of hymns & psalms, and prayer.  Sounds like a dream!  But then reality hits and the practical side of me starts to rear its ugly head and I think...how could this ever work?  On initial evaluation, our culture (myself included) is entirely to busy, to self focused, and to separated for something like this. 

Am I wrong?

My initial excitement then gave way to disappointment.  How could something like this work?  As I read on, Bonhoeffer explained how these times would look different depending on the type of community you were in.  If it were a family with children, the time would need to be age appropriate.  The picture in my mind began to take shape.  Yes, this type of community he is suggesting would be very difficult to put into action with our lives as they are currently.  Maybe I see it as a more radical thing because I am single and my community isn't automatically my family (since they don't live close).  For me, it would mean a dedication to experiencing something like this with my roommate or a few close friends possibly once a month or once a week if we were "really dedicated". 

This type of encouragement within community could be such a blessing and cause a huge fire to swell within the church.  Imagine a group of brothers and sisters in Christ spending time in prayer, worship, and scripture reading together once a week in the early morning before going to work.  How invigorating would that be?  It gets me excited just to think about it!  But is thinking all I'll do?

Something like this takes sacrifice and commitment - something I think my generation and those after lack.  It's hard to get up in the morning.  It's hard to commit to something even once a month let alone once a week.  It's hard to put others first when sleep is in the way.  I say these things to myself more than anything else and I ask, "What would You have me do, Lord?" As I continue to delve deeper into "Life Together", I hope to find suggestions and direction on how the Lord would have me enact this within my life.  Let the journey begin ;)

"The deep stillness of morning is broken first by the prayer and song of the fellowship." (42)

strength in numbers

This last weekend I was blessed to take part in the women's conference for my church!  I was able to see it shaped, molded, and formed into a different type of conference for the women this year.  We assessed the conferences from years past and felt the Lord directing us to simplify things.  We used to have 5 speakers, this year we had 3, we used to have maybe 20 minutes for personal time this year we had 30-40.  All of it was geared toward us, as women in the body of Christ, coming together and sharing our struggles and triumphs in  order to become a more cohesive unit in the church. 

I'll admit to being slightly wary of what this weekend was going to look like.  I'm a planner, a HUGE organizer, and a weekend where a lot of aspects were left up to "the Holy Spirits leading" was admittedly a bit frightening.  I say this now with regret because, looking back, I see how there was no way in which I could have planned it better and, because of our flexibility, I was able to spend valuable time discussing what the next session would look like right before we started.  It gave me a fresh perspective, anticipation, and immense peace.  We knew that God would be leading us, which meant undoubtedly it would be to His glory, not ours. 

As the conference came to a close on Sunday, we introduced  a 90 program (for lack of a better word) that is to help instill a habit of discipleship and personal time with the Lord.  The Aletheia (as we are calling it) falls on the heels of the men's version, The Alliance, and we use The City, a web-based communication system similar to Facedbook for our church, to keep in touch as women through these 90 days. 

We're only on day 3 but already I know I have personally been so encouraged.  The other women have also mentioned they feel the same way.  There is a daily scripture passage to read and then we are able to reflect on what the Lord is teaching us through that passage, struggles, triumphs, or just encouragements and prayer requests to each other every day.  It's a lot of posts to read through, but they are the second best thing (to the scripture reading that is). 

As I read through this morning (and again this afternoon to catch posts I hadn't yet seen) it hit me how truly amazing and unique this is.  I'm not saying that we've found something better than any other church, or that we are better at community because we're doing this program, but I have noticed a few things.  First, I've noticed the urge to pray more!  To pray immediately when a sister shares a struggle, or when there is a triumph mentioned, to praise God for it.  Secondly, I have noticed a lot of struggles and trials - persecution if you will.  It is hard and painful, but at the same time encouraging in a way because the devil doesn't attack someone who's not a threat.  I wouldn't wish the hardships we are facing on anyone, but I do choose to be encouraged by it and strengthened by the fact that God is right there with us, facing the hard times and, most importantly, giving us strength to make it through! 

I am so thankful to the women who are vulnerable and open, who struggle yet turn to Christ, who see the blessings and thank God for them.  I know I am not alone in my walk, and God has provided a way for me to tangibly see that!  Praise Him :)

a vineyard, a whiner, and the consequences

1 Kings 21

I was reading through part of the story of Ahab this morning.  The Old Testament is filled with these great, seemingly random, stories that sometimes make sense and sometimes work to confuse you if you're not sure what was going on before (or after, in some cases).  As I read though this section of Kings, I was faced with a pretty heavy realization about sin.

In a short synopsis, Ahab wants this vineyard from a guy named Naboth.  Naboth can't sell it because of a promise he'd made to the Lord regarding the land so Ahab goes home and whines to his wife.  She takes matters into her own hands and works it out so Naboth is stoned (with rocks...).  Then Ahab gets his vineyard and all is good - that  is, until the Lord talks to Elijah (the profit) and has him relay a message to Ahab basically saying he's gonna regret what he did and will end up among the nonliving very soon.  In a twist that I hadn't seen coming, Ahab "humbles himself" before the Lord and the Lord recognizes this and says that He will not "bring evil in his days" though He does explain that He will "bring evil upon his house in his son's days"(v29).

As you read though these sections in scripture most of the time people mess up, aren't repentant, and they 'get what they deserve' in a sense.  In this case though, Ahab was truly sorry.  It says he was "despondent" and the Lord recognized that and forgave him.  I thought that was really amazing and wonderful all at the same time.  But, I also noticed that even though Ahab was forgiven, the consequences of his sin would still be brought about.  It made me think of David and Bathsheba - David was heartbroken about the sin he committed and he repented before the Lord.  God forgave him, but David still had to face the consequences of his sin with the death of his son.  In both cases the men were forgiven, but their sin caused others in their life to be adversely affected.  In Ahab's case it would be his household after he was gone (dead) and with David it was his son's life that was forfeited. 

When we sin, it doesn't just affect us.  The Lord has created us to live in community and with family.  Our individual sin - though personally committed - affects those around us as well, sometimes even more than we'd think.  That shouldn't be a scare tactic for us not to sin, but it should help us to stop and consider our families as well as our brothers and sisters in Christ before we act on a fleshly impulse to sin. 

But, when we do sin, this story also shows us that God desires us to be truly repentant and humble in the face of our sin.  God saw the fact that Ahab humbled himself before Him and was pleased with that.  When sin is committed, the best thing to do is to be honest with the Lord.  To remember Christ's sacrificial death on our behalf and to realize that we can be nothing if not humble before our great and loving Father. There may be consequences, but God promises to be with us through those as well.  Be encouraged and remember that we have a faithful God!

are you yelling? are you seeking? (part 2)

"The gospel view of salvation doesn't just humble you before people who don't believe what you believe....but the gospel version of salvation says serve them...make this a great place for all the people  of the city to live.  Because that's what God is seeking to do - to bring a new heavens and a new earth." - Tim Keller

It's all about the Kingdom.  And I'm not just talking about a Kingdom we'll eventually get to that appears far off and distanced.  It's about the Kingdom of God that's right now - at this moment - existing.  I know I have trouble completely understanding that.  What does it mean when we say the Kingdom is now?? I think some of that is cleared up by a definition of what the Kingdom actually is. 

Jesus uses many parables to describe what the Kingdom of God is, or is like.  He compared it to a man searching for fine pears and, upon finding the finest pearl, he sold all the possessed to obtain that pearl (Mt. 13:45-46).  He compared it to a king who wanted to settle accounts with some of his subjects and one appealed to him asking for time to repay his debts.  The king then forgave him the entire debt and let him go.  But this forgiven man turned around and called in debts that people owed him and showed no compassion.  Jesus then said of this, "My heavenly Father will also do the same to you, if each of you does not forgive his brother from your heart." (Mt. 18:23-35). Jesus also compared the Kingdom of heaven to a man who sowed good seed in his field.  Some of the soil accepted it, some appeared to accept it but the shoots were choked out by weeds, and some flat out rejected the good seed and died on the rocky soil (Mt. 13:24-30).  He also compared the Kingdom to leaven (like yeast).  He said that it was like leaven a woman placed in flour and set aside until all of the flour was leavened (Mt. 13:33). . 

That's a lot of weird descriptions for a place, huh?  Well, it would be strange for a place but I like to think of the Kingdom of heaven as more of an all-encompassing idea.  In these instances, and many, many more that Christ gave of the Kingdom, it represents an acceptance of what it means to be a child of God.  As Keller hinted at in the quote above, living out our faith in Christ requires that we live focused on the Kingdom of God which, in turn, compels us to serve others.  We're not just living for ourselves and what we can (or think we should) get, were living together in order to give an example of what Christ's Kingdom looks like, albeit an imperfect one.  

With that in mind, it's refreshing to realize that we should not be alone in attempting to live out this vision.  In fact, we can't live it out alone!  We must be like the man who sold everything he had in order to purchase the pearl of great price but, instead of getting a pearl, we are giving up our idea of what life should be and receiving eternal life in its place.  Eternal life that, in essence, starts right here on earth.  Our hope would be to affect others like the leaven affected the flour.  Just a little bit was introduced but soon all of the flour was leavened!

At my church we focus on living in community with one another.  That could be a strange thought or phrasing to some, but basically it just means living life with one another.  We are trying to live out the Kingdom here on the earth within our small communities spread throughout the valley we live in.  It doesn't mean we seclude ourselves from everyone, but quite the opposite!  We try and live together in such a way as to show our freedom in Christ, our salvation in Him, our hope that is in Him, and our commitment to Him.  It's living purposefully.  It's making the effort to invite neighbors and coworkers over so they can gain an inside view into what the Kingdom of God actually looks like here on earth. I even know people in our church that have discussed the idea of purchasing homes close to each other just to further their involvement within a community!  

Have you ever thought about your finances that way? Living for the Kingdom means that we live like the church in Acts where it says they were, "Continually devoting themselves to the apostles' teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and prayer...And all those who had believed were together and had all things in common; and they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need" [Acts 2:42, 44-45].  I see that as a radical way to live for the Kingdom.  Seeing all that we have (not just 10%) as the Lord's.   Making decisions based on what He is instructing us to do, not based on what we think will be the best career move for us.  

A questions I would leave you with (and that I'm asking myself too) is this:  Is your life focused around living for the Kingdom or living for yourself?