Bold

I sketched his smile into the sky.
Whenever I looked into the
early evening atmosphere,
I saw him dancing with
the lullaby of dusk,
and I would sway along.


Great is my boldness of speech toward You, great is my glorifying of You; I am exceedingly joyful in all our tribulation.
-2 Corinthians 7:4

This couples everything I have been reading and hearing about these past 2 days. It fits perfectly and might as well be my verse for the year. And then my verse today is Hebrews 4:16, which tells us to boldly step to the throne of grace.

Bold. This is something I am not. But scripture clearly tells me to be. I may be bold because of Christ. I don't know much, but I know that God is God. He is faithful. He is strong. He will make good on His promises. I know He's got it all figured out. But I still must go confidently before Him to find out what He has in store for me.

Lord God, grant me strength.

Sea of White

We woke up early in the morning
that December 18th,
drove out to Hatter's Field to
welcome in the sun's arrival.
The ice was thick over our windshield,
bunching branches and our hope.
Against the atmosphere our lips blew
shapes onto transparent canvas;
we couldn't form a word.
Seven weeks we danced around
the cloud that took our breath.
Your whiskers snared in sunlight
as we watched colors crescendo,
my eyes lay swimming in the
sea of white beneath our feet.
Frigid highs met frigid lies;
we searched for signs in
sliding predawn to keep our
promises warm.




Because I needed to post something.


I saw this on a neon flashing sign of a church I drive by every day:

Epiphany: have you had your awakening?


New year. New opportunities.

BookSneeze

Bless you!

This might be what you think you’d say to the title of my post, after I’ve spent hours and hours reading and collecting dust. But no, this is the name of my next endeavor!

Through the website www.booksneeze.com I am able to read new Christian books from amazing authors, and then distribute my thoughts on the story through the web. I am super excited about this opportunity! It combines my love of reading and writing, and will allow wonderful books speaking of God and His mighty love and works to others. I’m so anxious to get my first book. I ordered one by Beth Moore- my favorite!

This is just a great Thank You God moment, for allowing myself to grow in Him through these books, and to provide insight to people like you who are looking for a fun and fascinating book to read. It might be a little bit before I get through the book and review it, but watch for my words of recommendation!

Have I mentioned I’m really, really excited for this??!!!

Tree Stand Tirade

My roommate and I, to celebrate the last day of November and welcome in the Christmas month, decided to put up our artificial tree tonight. I had gotten it from home and didn't realize how monstrous it was until I hauled three bulky bags up the stairs. The whole thing wouldn't have been as much of a pain if we had a tree stand that worked, but the old, rusted one I brought back with me wasn't much help and the screws only tightened to so much. So I ran out to Target for a cheap, plastic stand and proceeded to get wrapping paper, ornaments, craft supplies and a gift card, but no tree stand. They were all sold out! I was happy with my other purchases, though :)

I ran over to Home Depot and walked into the store. "Where are your tree stands?" I asked the girl by the lumber. She pointed down to the entire end of the store, out the sliding doors and into the outdoor garden. After taking a few breaks to catch my breath, I made it, only to find the smallest they had was a bowl the size of a St. Bernard's water dish. But I was desperate, it was cold, and it was 8 PM so I bought it and went back home. We struggled connecting the three pieces of the tree, and about 2 of the 5 screws to hold the tree in place actually worked. At this point, I'm lying on the ground under the tree trying to steady it while my roommate held the branches to keep them from smacking into her face. Both of us are sweating, Christmas music floats through the background and through all the struggle we kept saying, "Yay, Christmas!"

In a fit of frustration, I climb out from under the tree and move to clear away the bags. One of them feels heavy, so I reach inside and pull out this metal hinged thing that looks like a high tech arrow. When I unhook the clasps and it unfolds, my roommate and I both cry out in disbelief. It's a tree stand- the perfect shape and size and easy accessibility. "Are you serious??!!" I cry. We look at each other and dissolve into laughter. It's so fitting. We struggle for two hours, screwing and unscrewing stands, stopping a crooked tree from falling over, running out to multiple stores for a giagantic stand and a fake tree attacking us both, only to find out in one swift moment what we needed for a swift, easy set-up was right under our noses.

So the tree is up, though still a tiny bit crooked. But that's how it's going to be for the night. We'll work on lights and ornaments at a date to be announched. But we have it in our corner and our apartment is starting to look like someone actually lives there. And at least we have one fun story to tell of the beginning of our first Christmas together :)

Yay, Christmas!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Just a quick Happy Thanksgiving to you all! I packed my things at lunch and made a beeline home after I got out of work early, and immediately I wrapped my arms around my sister who had just arrived home from college. She and my brother drove down this morning, and we've been counting down the days when our long weekend would arrive! Now my other brother just got home from work, so we are finally all together as a family. So wonderful. I was just musing at all the love and comfort that surrounds this home, surrounds my family. I am so eternally grateful to God for blessing me with such a supportive, loving family. We've already had much laughter, and I know this is a sign of the weekend to come. I pray you all remember the graciousness of God, all He has given us here in America and specifically in our lives, and most importantly, for His son, Jesus.

Enjoy your holiday!!!

Ask Me

This week has been trying. Ever since Sunday night, really, when I was up until midnight editing cookie pictures for Ms. Connelly's multimedia class for their project on Mom's cookies, then trying to figure out how to work one of the kid's jump drives, which would not for the life of me show up once the software was installed on my computer. Then I had to take my car in Monday morning because my heater wasn't working, but they called me and it wasn't blaring crazy sounds and was working when they tried it. I am not insane- it happens to me every time I get in my car. I told them to keep trying. It still didn't happen, so they ended up keeping it overnight to try again the next morning. Work was a pain, an absolute pain, and after I finally got home after working out and dropping off my checkbook with my dad, I realized I left both my garage door opener and my key at the car shop. Thank God Lemke had just gotten back from Nebraska and was there to let me in.

I was up late again, but for better reasons. I received some amazing gifts from my friend Debbie in Florida- beautiful photographs with calligraphy scriptures, greeting cards and uplifting verses. And I got a letter from my pen pal Lynn, which I was so excited to read. After I finished reading the letter, I just had some wonderful God time. That gave me peace to the end of the vengeance filled Monday.

But Tuesday was no better- almost worse at work, if that is possible. Crazy running around, getting home, staying up late again. But that's when God spoke to me. Again. Since Monday, I've been reading verses in Jeremiah, Zachariah and Matthew that pertain to how God wants me to ask Him for help, ask Him for dreams. I've always had trouble doing this; why should I, a lowly, sinful human, stand before the Creator Almighty and ask Him for anything? Isn't my ransom enough?

But for some reason He longs to be gracious to me. Wants to present me with presents to see my joy and heartfelt appreciation. So I asked Him on Monday night for what was in my heart. And I knew He heard me. Whether or not they are the answers I'm expecting, I do know that He will answer. I focused on His heart, answering mine.

All day yesterday I had this thought on my mind, and then the verse that says "Ask and it shall be given to you; seek and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you" resounded over and over. So last night I was doing my quiet time and was thinking about that verse in Matthew. I pulled out my journal and began to write, explaining how God was teaching me about asking this week. In the middle of my sentence, I glanced over at the next page and gasped, sucking in my breath so sharply I filled my lungs to capacity. There, at the bottom of the page, was Matthew 7:7-8. Exactly what had been flowing through my mind. Wow. I just love when He does that! I shouldn't be surprised with God calling to me anymore, yet each time it happens I have a trembling in my body and fill with awe struck wonder.

He is so good. So loving and personal. After seeing how He continually pursues me, how He yearns for me to know Him, how can I not take my requests to my Father, who craves no greater joy than to see His daughter rejoice?

My Wednesday is average, by human standards. Work still hounds me, I can't think past this present moment in time and I took my bitter pills this morning. But I don't have to let the day dictate my attitude. God has filled me with wonders anew; great is His faithfulness. When I discover this perspective, the day ahead looks pretty bright and bold.

Perspective

Today's a bit of a frustrating day. It started out ok- had a nice quiet time in my rental car (long story, but my car ended up staying in the shop overnight) where I listened to Andrew Peterson's Counting Stars and finished with Hillsong's Hosanna. I was in His perspective, and after I had wonderful conversation with God during a peaceful, relaxing evening to end a crazy Monday, I was ready for a new day.

Then I got to work. It's amazing how within one short hour my attitude did a complete 360. I had so many emails flooding my inbox that I KNEW I didn't want to open, so many things being passed off to me because I wouldn't say no. There's just so much going on at the office, and it is really difficult for me to keep up a cheerful attitude.

I need to keep perspective. That I'm here for a reason. Or maybe God's nudging me a bit, telling me to get ready for another chapter. I don't know. Whatever it is, I cannot keep looking at the glass half empty. It's a waste of God's gift of life; He has given me so much, and I'm focusing on the details of my job? It seems so silly. Focus. I need focus. And prayer. Lots of it.

That's really all, for now. I just had to de-clutter my thoughts and at least make another post because I'm not doing that great of a job of keeping this updated. Maybe I should just keep writing all day; it's certainly making me feel better :)