Salutations & Saying Thanks

Good Morning ~ It's a good morning: Saturday's are amazing gifts... I don't have to wake up to an alarm :-)

It's time for a "Golden List"

1.  Spring in South Carolina --- there could be a hundred subtitles to this first point....

2. A great roommate and friend

She will hate me for posting this.... 

3.  Amazing cheese --- our Whole Foods were sharing samples of this cheddar cheese variety with sea salt in it... I may or may not have had a few more than my fair share.




4.  Bare Essentials Make up.... a new thing in my make up bag.  :-)





5.  Friends passing through town & a free meal to boot!



6.  Sasha: funny how a relationship grows with a person or group or animal in this case... :-) She brings me much joy.

A recent road trip: Sasha always enjoys getting fries for a treat! :-)

7.  Communication: texts, emails, snail mail, facebook comments, blog comments... phone calls... yes.  More please.

8.  My Community group family

9. Quiet evenings alone or with friends

Such a good girl :-)

10.  Live Theatre... especially when it is FREE! Tonight... "A Servant of Two Masters" and next week... "Les Miserables!"Come Join us!

Over all... these I give thanks... May I give the LORD Glory and Praise for His Power and Strength;  I am so thankful He is BIG, Strong and Loving.

Lonely Birds

Recently I have been reading in the Book of Luke, and just the other day I was in chapter 23: Jesus' trial, the walk to "the place of the skull" and the crucifixion.  It's interesting what Luke includes in his gospel.  One of the few who includes the part that a man named Simon carried the cross for Jesus.  In this moment, women who loved Jesus were weeping for him as he followed the path.  What Jesus did and said caught my eye as I read through the account:

Jesus turning to them said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, stop weeping for Me, but weep for yourselves and for your children."

"Weep for yourselves...?"  Jesus knew the time of judgement was coming.  Jesus knew the time was short.  Jesus knew what His destiny was... and "for the joy set before Him, He endured the cross..."  His trial, his pain, and his death was only temporary!

This past weekend I listened to some messages by Francis Chan; he shared the perspective God had burned on his heart, that the time here on earth is short.  He and his wife pointed to Colossians 3:1-4

Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.

"When Christ, who is our life..."  He is our life!  These trials may cause us great sorrow, pain, and grief, yet what are these temporary things compared to the "things above!"  

I am still mulling over Jesus' words about weeping for yourselves.... Maybe it's okay to weep over the pain, in fact, it's probably healthy.  Pain isn't sin, it's just your heart talking.  Its good to listen and give it voice.  Its even better to invite God to speak to the heart in the pain.  Somehow, pain enhances my hearing!  You see... God whispers. 

One of my places of personal pain (and I am sure it is the same for all of us) is loneliness.  In recent years it's not been as intense, but lonely birds do come, and begin to swirl over head. I hate the lonely birds.  Stupid varmints, they poop all over the place when they circle above your head.  They make me cry sometimes.  They are painfully ugly and annoying.

Jesus knows what it is like to be alone.  This is profoundly portrayed in Mel Gibson's The Passion of the Christ.  I had seen it years ago, but recently viewed it again for my Good Friday evening.   That day seems perfectly appropriate.

The opening scene Jesus is in the garden, weeping, agonizing, and sweating drops of blood.  His obvious humanness displayed as he asks the Father to take the cup from him,... "not my will, but Yours be done."  I thought it very interesting that Gibson put Satan in the garden, in a visible form, taunting Jesus.

He was taunting Jesus!  He was questioning Jesus' identity! Jesus, the Son of God, God the Son!

Gibson may not be a Believer but I think he got that right in the film because it's the same thing the enemy does with us: he wants us to doubt our True Identity as Children of the King of Kings.  He slyly uses every tactic he can, especially our own human hungers and weakness.  Pain and loneliness are vulnerable entry points for his crafty lies.

Viewing that part of the film, though the film is very brutal and hard to watch, was actually sweetly comforting.  I realized in a new way what Jesus did for me... yes, he went to the Cross, but He also went to the Garden, for me.  He knows what it is like to wrestle in the dark, alone.  He faced the tempter, the accuser, the father of lies, and defeated him there!

How amazing is that!

So, lonely birds, fly away.  You may not poop on me any longer today!

Exactly All

The Lord has really encouraged me this week.  It's been a week in which offensive moves were being made, moving forward without much assurance that this is what I am suppose to do yet believing moving forward is the right move, as opposed to freezing in my steps.   A few darts came flying in my direction to cause me some unnecessary fear; that is where God strengthened me to hold up truth, stand as His Girl, and keep stepping.

This came home today, even more so, in my "Time With Abba."  Tucked away in Judges, chapter 7 to be precise.  The story of Gideon; it's worth a look if you want to go re-read it for yourself.

The part that particularly grabbed me is squeezed between God slimming down his army to 300, and the ludicrous trampling of the Midianites with horns, broken pots and shouting in the middle of the night.  Here see for yourself in verses 9-15:

"Now the same night it came about that the Lord said to him, “Arise, go down against the camp, for I have given it into your hands. But if you are afraid to go down, go with Purah your servant down to the camp, and you will hear what they say; and afterward your hands will be strengthened that you may go down against the camp.” 

So he went with Purah his servant down to the outposts of the army that was in the camp.  Now the Midianites and the Amalekites and all the sons of the east were lying in the valley as numerous as locusts; and their camels were without number, as numerous as the sand on the seashore. When Gideon came, behold, a man was relating a dream to his friend. And he said, “Behold, I had a dream; a loaf of barley bread was tumbling into the camp of Midian, and it came to the tent and struck it so that it fell, and turned it upside down so that the tent lay flat.”  His friend replied, “This is nothing less than the sword of Gideon the son of Joash, a man of Israel; God has given Midian and all the camp into his hand.”

When Gideon heard the account of the dream and its interpretation, he bowed in worship. He returned to the camp of Israel and said, “Arise, for the Lord has given the camp of Midian into your hands.”

Crazy story, Awesome God:  interesting, encouraging, and worthy of taking note... GOD gave Gideon exactly what he needed to get the job done including strengthening his heart!

I am thankful for little pieces of encouragement He gave me throughout this past week.  These came in varying forms: - the topic of discussion in my small group - a verse about a woman walking in wisdom - helpful insight for an interview - a new assignment that carries on through the end of the school year that will be a huge financial help - a wonderful hug and good honest talk with a dear friend - even a dream!

He Is faithful; He provides All we need.

Thank You Jesus

Traces of God

I have just begun reading a book called Searching For Home by M. Craig Barnes.  The first chapter has brought me to tears as he describes the common human plight and deep desire for home, that wells "up from the soul."

The first chapter ends with these words about hope:

"The entire biblical story depicts men and women roaming from one disconnected experience to the next, unable to be at home where they are, uncertain that they will ever find where they ought to be.  Eventually, we just built a tabernacle or a temple and occasionally worshiped a God who seemed far away.

But just as God was never one to settle or remain in exile, neither can he resist entering the dark wood to find us and join us on our nomadic, meandering journey. We thought we were stuck in just another day through the purgatory or hell from which there is no escape.  But from the perspective of heaven, there is purpose and even direction to our days.  If may be hard, after all these years, to still believe that we are going to find any approximation of paradise on earth.  But that is only because we have not trained our eyes to see the Sojourner God.

When we awaken to the identity of this one who is with us, we discover that paradise has found us, along the way.  And in that rests all of our hope."

How much we need hope.  Hope that good will come, that He makes ALL things work together for good.  That He Is Good.

That is the bedrock of our Hope:  God is Good, He is powerful, and He is with us, Emmanuel.

I am in the middle of a season of unknowns.  My security is threatened, I am forced to reach deep, and high to the Rock that is higher and steadier than any earthly security.  I am pressed to grip, until my knuckles are white and burning, to hold on to the Truth of my identity, the significance of my existence: resting in the fact that it is not defined or weighted by what the world says, what I percieve others to say or not say, my place, position or performance. 

I readily admit I have been a wanderer; I know that deep longing for that mysterious place called home.  I know I love where I am right now, and desire to stay, grow my roots deeper and establish my life here; yet sometimes something calls me to the utopia over the horizon....

Remembering that God is my Home, my place of rest, my Sojourner, and Security is soothing balm to my restless, hungry soul.  He is able to meet my deepest desires, quiet my darkest fears.  He satisfies, abates my fears and yet allows a hungering to remain for more because He wants my daily dependence. 

This keeps me moving forward.  Holding His hand, looking up and beyond this world, where He daily restores my soul, He daily strengthens my heart as I walk, wait and work for His Glory.

Now on the Chapter two... this is a good book!

 

A Raisin by any other name...

I have made a new discovery.

I like raisins.

Raisins and I have not always had an amiable relationship.  I enjoyed them in breads, homemade GORP, or in cookies, but standing alone, we tended to keep our distance.  Though, I would try to befriend them, as they are full of iron and said to be good choice snack, yet we never really hit it off.  I thought I stumbled on one kind that I did enjoy, golden raisins, but not enough to remember them at random.

Anyhow, a several weeks ago I was shopping at Earth Fare; now you must know, a trip to Earth Fare is not just any grocery shopping experience.  I enjoy it with every sense of my being, it is medicine and joy to my soul to just think about going to Earth Fare.  Indeed, I love it!  But, the fare's at Earth Fare, make these trips infrequent and sporadic.  Still, it makes my heart smile simply to walk through the wonderful place.

So, my last visit to Earth Fare, I happened upon some raisins at a good price.  They didn't have any exciting packaging or tantalizing allurement, but still they were organic (everything at Earth Fare is organic, more or less) and at a price that made my pocket book happy.  I bought them.  If only to insure I had raisin's on hand for the once-in-a-blue-moon favorite oatmeal-raisin cookies or cinnamon rolls or bread with a handful of raisins thrown in.  A box of raisins has been known to sit in my pantry for a good long time.

Fast forward to a morning not long after my happy Earth Fare purchase, whipping up a bowl of oatmeal, I decided to add piz-zazz with some raisins.  I pulled back the seal of my freshly purchased Earth Fare organic raisins and noticed something I had never noticed before: they were SOFT and plump!!  So much so I had to taste one on its own.

Oh. My. Goodness!

So this is what raisins are suppose to taste like!!?? You mean I have been deprived of such succulent divinities all my life??  I felt I had been cheated, robbed, lied to!

Raisins are delicious!!

Fast forward to this week.  I proclaimed a few days ago that I was almost out of my delicious raisins; I had to go back to Earth Fare and obtain a new box.  I could not go without these delicacies in my oatmeal ONE SINGLE MORNING.

So... I had hoped to go to Earth Fare today.  But, time, limitations, silly things like that made me head to old faithful Publix.  I informed my house mate I was going to study each box and brand of raisins and see if they had anything like I had found at Earth Fare.  I would purchase NOTHING LESS.

Well, I have a confession: I am a tight wad.

An hour later as I stood in front of the four varieties of raisins offered at Publix, I had a dilemma on my hands.  The $4.59 organic choice or the $2 box.

So, I took a deep breath and decided I would test my new found knowledge and see if a NEW box of a cheaper brand would satisfy.

There is NO COMPARISON.

I will not admit that I focused on my favorite kind...

Do they look different?

The one on the right is a bit lighter, all the raisins are about the same size as well.  The other side they vary in size and are a little darker.

Earth Fare Won.

Now... I have to use 20oz. of not-so-much favorite raisins... it may be a year or so before I buy another box of raisins.

Anyone want some cookies??

Ha.... ha... nothing like posting a post and realizing the MAIN WORD, repeated over and again.. is spelled incorrectly.

I is a graduate student too.

:-P

Sabbath Saturations

I hope you are enjoying a Sabbath's rest today, every day.  

He is our Rest.  

I can't help but share what God gives me, when He rocks my world, or touches me to tears.  This happened this morning.  I was driving to church, accompanied by my new roommate, Megan.  We were noticing the beautiful fresh baby green leaves filling what only a week ago was barren and naked limbs.  How quickly it seems these little leaves fill the trees, filtering the early morning sunlight;  it was radiantly beautiful.   

It triggered a memory of something God impressed upon my heart a few years ago.  Growing up in Florida, I lived very close to a pretty large fresh water lake.  Several years ago, we experienced a drought and a huge explosion of land development in my area.  Both of these factors affected the level of the lake to sink significantly.  The waterline was a good 50 to 100 feet beyond the closest dock, which in normal rainfall years, nearly kissed the bottom sides of those docks.  

I would regularly walk the perimeter of this body of water, it was a sad, depressing sight to see the water so low.  The ordinarily water covered edge was exposed lake bottom: an ugly dirty white naked area, covered with scary sprigs of sprouting lake weeds.   It was an eye sore! 

Finally a healthy rainy season came around, and within a few short weeks (whereas the drought season had been a few years) the lake was happily lapping the original waters edge and kissing the dock bottoms.  It was amazing really, how quickly the water rose!

How wonderful a picture of our spiritual life journey's:  we face dry, hard seasons, sometimes very long seasons.  Areas of our heart and souls are exposed that aren't so lovely.  But then, God in His tender grace, begins to rain down His mercy, and fill those caverns and heal and restore!  The dark night is over, and we almost forget the tears and depths of desperation we knew.  

This is both beautiful, and sobering.  Those times of testing, refining, are invaluable to our faith.  They are very normal, Jesus told us we would face trials, so we should not be surprised.  Plus, we live in an world ruled by the enemy of the King of Kings... and yes, He has an agenda.  (John 10:10 - God has an agenda too, and His is already wrapped up at the Cross - Super message about this... The one on Genesis 39) These trials can show us Him and ourselves so clearly; they can do more to the growth of our Soul, the maturing of our hearts than a thousand sermons.  Our need for a Savior and the radical Gospel is magnified!

As I shared this insight I had experienced, an unexpected tenderness was exposed in me.  Tears welled up in my eyes, and my voice became unsteady as I realized God was saying this to me again.  Reminding me, that in a moment, He refreshes, restores, refills, redeems.  

He's into the "Re-" business.... 

I was so thankful for the splash of the Spirit; I have been battling through some doubts and fears, raising up my Shield of faith and holding fast and firm to His character for myself, and for some dear friends that are close to my heart.  I see the battle (thankfully!), and know it is a battle.  

His love flooded my soul in that moment, over His Love & concern, 

His desire to bring Victory and Glory in the places darkness is looming, threatening, drowning.  

His Light will overcome.

One Touch, One Word, One Moment...

 The battle is Won.  

The Empty places filled. 

 The dry places washed clean and refreshed.  

The Wounded healed.  

The darkness Disappears.

Do It Lord Jesus!

Amen

What I am Up to This week

It's Spring Break in the district I work in.  I am thoroughly enjoying time at home, sleeping in past 6:30AM, sitting in my ugly orange chair sipping coffee and reading the Word, listening for Him.  The last few weeks have been laden with heavy worry which I posted about; it's such a gift to have time to rest, reflect, breathe, do my laundry, and roll my worries into His hands.  Slowing down helps me do that... naps do too.  

So here are a few things I have done this week in my free time, besides three loads of laundry, pulling weeds and raking my yard, washing my car inside and out, organizing my kitchen (my new house mate helped, what a gift!), and going shopping at Trader Joes!

I practiced a little photography!

I just like this picture. :-)

These looked like they were having fun in the sun on the Congaree River.  What do you think turtles say to each other?  Notice the turtle head sticking out of the water at the end?  Almost as if he is saying, "Come on you guys,... you've got to move it, move it!" (Name that movie!)

Ever since I got Sasha, I wanted to take a picture like this, because we have walked a LOT of miles together.  My new house mate took this for me a few days ago. I thought this turned out pretty cool!  That would be ME, and Sasha on the West Columbia Waterfront trail.  

This is a silhouette of Megan, my new house mate.  She is such a gift from the Lord.  :-) She enjoyed the West Columbia Waterfront trail too.

He Is Risen! He is Risen Indeed!  These are some flowers Megan brought home a few days before Easter, and these two flowers were tightly wrapped up in their petals.  Over the last five days, each "bloomed" for our delightful enjoyment.  

Like a good neighbor... :-) Well, THIS is not my porch, but this belongs to my friend Luke, who graciously helped install a new hot water heater in my house.  So, I noticed his porch was a little, shall we say, neglected, yet it had so much potential.  So we borrowed a pressure washer and went to town.  Notice how clean and clear of clutter it is (notice I forgot to take a "before" shot)! Lovely, simply lovely...  It was a fun afternoon project Megan and I tackled together!

Tomorrow I head to Charleston for another year to do the Cooper Bridge Run... guess who is NOT running... well, maybe a little bit.  Walking will be my mode of operation this year... reason being... a little too busy to train well to run a 10K.  Oh, well... I am so excited anyways.  Pictures and posts will follow!

TTFN!!