Move!

7 10 2009

Three different people have asked me this week how long I plan on working at my job. It’s been 3 months. Ouch? I guess that’s definitely a green light to move on! Here are some others…

1) Your main job is a skill you lack (remembering minute details and listening closely).

2) You learn more by reading a book than on-the-job experience.

3) There are bets on how long you’ll stay.

4) No one speaks of your predecessor.

Ah yes. After prayer, serious thought, patience, and parental opinions, I have the go-ahead. I’ve stayed long enough. It’s ok to move forward without the fear of seeming like a freebird (or whatever you’d call someone who goes where they feel the wind leads them.) Thank you, Lord.





Project 36?

7 09 2009

Taking a photo every day is tough! Seriously? You have to take at least 3 to get a good one, and you have to vary it up so you’re always looking around you for an opportunity, which leads to interesting conversations, but can at times get to be a pain. All that to say, my Project 365 is slow-going. I tend to leave my camera out at the best moments! It takes a lot of cultivating to remember to stop and capture those good memories that you’re having.





Day 14

25 08 2009
14/365
14/365

This morning when I got into work there was a bug that looked like it was on its’ last leg. It was struggling to turn itself over after it had ended up on its back somehow. You could tell it wasn’t giving up. I walked over to the door and watched it. A few minutes later I looked over and the bug was still struggling. This went on for a good 3 hours! From 8 until its final demise around 11:45, this little bug was kicking to stay alive.

It was the strangest thing. What compels such a small animal to struggle to stay alive? Why would such a little, insignificant thing find it worthwhile to hold on???

But doesn’t God care for even “the least of these”? If he knows the number of strands on my head, and the sparrow that falls to the ground, then the tiniest of insects does not go unnoticed. It must be that even the smallest ounce of life is aware of a divine spark inside of it that makes it desire to live. Its life is a testimony to its Creator. Why should it just keel over hopelessly because life threw it on its back? It wasn’t made that way!

In no small way, I’m also no small being. I’ve been created with the breath of God. My life has been called for a purpose, and I have Christ in me through the Holy Spirit. Why should I live like I’m defeated? I have hope in Jesus and that gives me life that goes beyond this mortal body. And I’m called to be unashamed of that.

So I took a picture. Just when a couple guys walked by. And the fire chief called me out on it the next day. Now my office knows…I’m not ashamed of many things. =0)





Kickball

22 08 2009

This doesn’t do it justice, but last night was great! Good music, good message, good fellowship, pizza, and…kickball =)

Day 11
Day 11

I’ll be feeling it all weekend.





Day 7!

18 08 2009
Black car, white paint

Black car, white paint

 This is the picture that’s taken at night

because of the day, that started at 5, and later at 6,

when part of a Bible study was missed

to leave for work

to beat the drive

that Michelle passed through this Monday morning.

And that is the paint

that’s stuck on the tires

because of the crash

that dropped the supplies

in front of the van

that stalled the bus

the brought the cop

that stared me down

and made me drive

all over the paint

that’s stained my car and tires!

Those are the tires

that are leaking slow

from a premature hole

on a car that’s NOT pre-owned

but now turned upside-down

just like the frown

Michelle got this morning.





Breathing Life

19 11 2008

There’s this beautiful song by the Christian band, Salvador called “Breathing Life.” You should definitely Google it. The gist is that God breathes new life into our veins and it’s so true. 

This morning my devotional was so on target that I think God was just breathing new life into me even though I’m still the same old person, same problems, same situation. 

We go through a lot during a day and lately I’ve been trying to go through less and less. Less preparation for class, less preparation for myself, more sleep. I’ve been letting myself become less involved with my work and actually being downright annoyed. What’s worse, I’m learning that I’m a pretty good complainer. That’s horrible! What a trait to have so young. It’s like I’m going through high school all over again. That wasn’t the most uplifting time for me and so it was convicting to read 2 Peter 1:3-4.

“His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.”

I have this phrase in my mind a lot because Christ has conquered the world: “God has already defeated this.” Whatever I let drag me down (and I’m realizing that ‘down’ really has no depth, it can just get lower and lower, as low as you want to go), God has already defeated it. I have to live as a conqueror if I have faith in the Lord because He has conquered my sins and He has conquered my life. Amen!

So I’ve basically got to wake up. Just get out there and not act so defeated. And God shows me in little ways that He’s right.

Example 1: I got to go to the Ladies Retreat and on the way there (I was actually pretty excited about it) I saw eagles flying overhead. Eagles! They were BEAUTIFUL! And I recalled how God allows us to soar on His wings in those times when we need someone to carry us. Thank you God.

Example 2: I was running around on Sunday, trying to get myself to be friendly, catching up with friends at church, saying goodbye to a really sweet family that’ll be leaving because of a great job the Lord has given them, and I got caught up in the happiness of what was going on around me. I was doing my thing and never knew an old friend/boyfriend was at the same church the whole day. Crazy (b/c he lives in another country). Imagine me running into him without being prepared…I really have no idea how I’d react. God has a way of keeping us in the shade of His hand when we aren’t ready for the sunlight. Amen.

So I read on. “If we were to take each phrase of these verses to heart, our lives would have absolutely no room for worrying or fretting, no room for complaining or for feeling inadequate in our Christian life, no room for laziness or depression. God’s provisions are perfect and always on time for His children.” Hm…He’s always on time. That was good stuff.

The Lord knows His child and I can’t testify enough of how much He still cares for His child. Our God is SO loving! He knows my desires and what I cry to Him. He cares daily. But He doesn’t stop there. He will meet our needs. I don’t have room for worrying or feeling inadequate or…ok I’ll say it…being lazy. He has already met my need. There is no one and nothing else so above and beyond what we seek in life. He is the breath itself.

Excerpts from Henry & Norman Blackaby “52 Week Devotional: Called & Accountable, Discovering Your Place in God’s Eternal Purpos





Holding out for perfection

3 07 2008

People didn’t used to expect the perfect job,

the perfect partner, the perfect life.

People were hoping for a good-enough life.”

- Psychology professor Barry Schwartz, commenting on young adults’ inability to make major life decisions because they think a better option might present itself, www.usatoday.com, March 24, 2008.

From Discipleship Journal, issue 166





Info-Techno Sabbath

29 04 2008

In an article published in September 2007, Joe Carter writes about taking rest away from the information technology that we let control most of our day. He suggests taking a Sabbath day of rest to mentally disengage from electronic dependency: ”Ask yourself when the last time was that you went an entire day without the tools of information technology.” It’s great insight, and a nice read I’d encourage anyone to check out. But of course, take time to step away and let your computer know it’s really nothing personal.

http://www.boundless.org/2005/articles/a0001584.cfm





Solitary Confinement

21 04 2008

So I’ve been sick for an entire week, and unless your bedroom overlooks the beach, things can get pretty downcast while you’re stuck there. Thankfully, I’ve been able to get a lot of rest. It’s speeding up my recovery. On another note, staying in bed is just a reminder of how easy it is to let all that bad energy seep into my thinking. I’m sick, I’m not working, and suddenly my life is going nowhere and nobody likes me. Get out of bed!

Thankfully, God’s been very good and I was able to spend some sweet time going over scripture and devotionals. I highly recommend a little book called “Joy Breaks” by Johnson & Swindoll. In times when we get off-balance, I think it’s important to remember who we are. When we’re by ourselves for a little too long, or in a different group of people, we always have to come back. There’s a reason I listen to relaxing music, and hanging out with people who make me laugh. It’s who I am. I like fellowship, making peace, sharing the love of God. It’s not enough to dwell on the idea. We have to do it – for all those moments when we’re caught off guard or stuck by ourselves. We have to be doers of the word and not hearers only to help us in those hard times when we forget how good life is and forget “what manner of man we are” (James 1:24).

Recommended chill out music: Da Lata - Songs from the Tin (Brazilian)