ten things

Well, I think it's a sign that it's been too long since I blogged when it takes me a full 15 minutes just to figure out how to log in and create a post. But, I stuck to it because I have been tagged by Manning to fill out a survey-type thing and I must follow through. So, here goes...

1. I am fairly well addicted to watching The Office with B. I don't know what we will do when we finish the season...

2. I really, really wish there weren't little hairs all over the inside of my shirt right now poking me. I love my haircut, but I do not love the leftovers.

3. I love coffee! I'm on my second Caribou drink of the day and it's only noon...uh-oh.

4. I'm in love with my Savior, who keeps on blessing me and blessing me more than I ever imagined.

5. I feel really victorious when my home is clean.

6. I would lay on the beach in Trunk Bay 24 hours a day if I could.

7. I check Facebook way too many times a day.

8. I've been trying to work up the motivation to start going to the gym regularly again.

9. Aside from the goals I've already reached in my life, I want to have a marriage glorifies God and a life that points to His faithfulness.

10. I really love sunshine! :)

I realize that I am supposed to tag others to fill out this little list now, but I literally do not know anyone else who has a blog that has not already filled this out so...that's that!

Happy New Year!

12:00 am: ring in the new year with friends by watching the ball drop.

12:50 am: finally find myself in bed and drifting off to sleep, dreading my alarm going off at 4am for my early early Perkins shift.

3:50 am: awake to the sound of the alarm...but my alarm is set for 4! nope, it's the fire alarm. put on coat, sweatpants and shoes, go stand outside in the FREEZING cold for 15 minutes waiting for the fire truck to arrive with obnoxious smoking/swearing neighbors who are trying to decide if there really is smoke rising above the other wing of the building or not.

4:09 am: watch the fire truck arrive and NO ONE GET OUT OF IT FOR A COUPLE OF MINUTES. decide that clearly the fire situation is bogus, go back upstairs (shivering violently) in spite of the still-screaming fire alarm to throw some stuff in a bag and leave to go shower at mom's before work.

4:20 am: awaken extremely confused mother and attempt to explain the situation.

4:25 am: realize that there is probably not time for a shower. opt to change into uniform and get to work a little early to become caffeinated before beginning shift.

4:50 am: get to work and find out that one of the day time servers has called in "sick" (hmm yes, mysteriously sick on new years...) and we are very short staffed on a busy day. drink many cups of coffee.

5:00 am: start shift. not too busy so far.

7:00 am: still not too busy...

8:00 am: wonder if it will ever get busy...

9:30 am- 1:30 pm: run around like crazy to serve many, many hungry customers who take pity and tip very well.

1:30 pm: finally go to the bathroom.

3:00 pm: manager says that I will be cut as soon as I serve a party of 22 that just came in, which turns into the party that opens Christmas presents while taking up half the dining room at Perkins and WILL NOT LEAVE (but who are actually, very pleasant people. very pleasant people who tipped me $60...)

4:30 pm: realize that the sun is setting, and I saw absolutely no daylight on the first day of the new year except through Perkins windows.

4:45 pm: finally finish clean up work. count money, realize that maybe it was just worth it to work for four times as long as I actually got to sleep the previous night.

5:00 pm: arrive home. take the long-awaited shower and wash the 14 layers of Perkins grease off my face. put on pajamas. plant myself on couch.

5:16 pm: while watching the news, hear that "this broadcast is sponsored by Perkins". turn the channel to Hannah Montana.

5:30 pm: blog.

5:50 pm: suddenly overcome by extreme hunger, realize I should probably eat something before I go to bed...

7:oo pm: go to bed. (I hope!)

her righteousness shines out like the dawn

watch this. then watch it again.
especially if you are a woman. or if you know one.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cyheJ480LYA

"Most especially, Satan hates Eve, because she is captivating, uniquely glorious, and he cannot be. She is the incarnation of the Beauty of God... The Evil One also hates Eve because she gives life. Women give birth, not men. And they also bring life into the world soulfully, relationally, spiritually... Eve incarnates the Beauty of God and she gives life to the world. Satan's bitter heart cannot bear it."
-Captivating

For Zion's sake I will not keep silent,
for Jerusalem's sake I will not remain quiet,
till her righteousness shines out like the dawn,
her salvation like a blazing torch.
The nations will see your righteousness,
and all kings your glory;
you will be called by a new name
that the mouth of the LORD will bestow.
You will be a crown of splendor in the LORD's hand,
a royal diadem in the hand of your God.
No longer will they call you Deserted,
or name your land Desolate.
But you will be called Hephzibah, [my delight is in her]...
for the LORD will take delight in you...
as a bridegroom rejoices over his bride,
so will your God rejoice over you.
-Isaiah 62:1-5

"Every song you love, every memory you cherish, every moment that has moved you to holy tears has been give to you from the One who has been pursuing you from your first breath in order to win your heart...He wants to be known as only lovers know each other. He wants intimacy with you. He longs for you... He wants your deep heart, that center place within that is the truest you. He is not interested in intimacy with the woman you think you are supposed to be. He wants intimacy with the real you."
-Captivating

Conversation with God...

Sometimes God speaks through his Word, sometimes through others, sometimes through a song or a book, sometimes in nature, sometimes in a still, small voice. This conversation is a combination of a few of those things, and has been about a week in the making. When I started writing this I couldn't figure out why it wasn't exactly coming together, and now I understand why. Because God's timing is always perfect.

Well I thought I knew what You were doing, but now I'm totally confused...
Will I not create, and will I not have it in my power to destroy? Is it not written that the potter breaks one vessel that he may shape a new one? (1) I am in control, and I know best. The pot I was shaping from the clay was marred in my hands, so I formed it into another pot, shaping it as seemed best to me. (2) I started this work in you, and I will not abandon you in the mess. You can trust that I am faithful to finish what I began, to my glory. (3)

I know that my confusion comes from failing to totally trust you, and my tendency to take things into my own hands. I feel like I will never learn...like I'm not getting anywhere, and nothing has changed.
If anyone is in me, she is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! (4)

But this doesn't make sense to me right now...where are you going with this? Can't you just give me some small idea of what is to come?
Be humble and patient. I am nearer than you think, and I will do more than you expect. I will accomplish my purpose, though my purpose may be entirely hidden from you. (5)

But why can't it just happen now? Wouldn't that be easier??
If I removed you from the scene, you would have no testimony of my miraculous delivering power. Stay beneath my wings, and I will make you a tower of strength to which the fearful may run and find safety. (6) And don't even think about wasting your time thinking about what might be, you will only miss out on all I have for you right now. It will all come to be in my perfect timing. Cast your bread upon the waters, for after many days you will find it again...whoever watches the wind will not plant, whoever looks at the clouds will not reap. As you do not know the path of the wind, or how the body is formed in the mother's womb, so you cannot understand the work of God, the maker of all things...for you do not know which will succeed, whether this or that, or whether both will do equally well. (7) Trust me. Rest in me. Wait on me. In these things I will bless and multiply your efforts.

(1, 5, 6) Come Away, My Beloved
(2) Isaiah 43:2
(3) Philippians 1:6
(4) 2 Corinthians 5:17
(7) Eccelesiastes 11:1, 4-5, 6b

onething

pretty excited about this going down sept 27-29.

and, a couple emilies and a megan might be making an appearance here...

LOVE one another

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
- John 13:34-35

“Love keeps no record of wrongs…it always hopes, and always perseveres.”
- I Cor. 13:5, 7

I discovered two things after returning from a mission trip to Toronto this summer. First, when you tell someone you just traveled to Toronto, they will inevitably respond with, “Canada, eh?”, thinking they have just uttered an exceptionally clever response. More importantly, I began to realize that I have much, much more to learn about what it means to truly love others.

It started for me one evening while we were on what was called a “sandwich run,” essentially handing out bag lunches on the streets. Early on, a man from the organization we were working with greeted someone he recognized by saying, “How are you, brother?” After talking for a minute, the man asked for a cigarette, and I was I bit surprised to see our leader readily provide him with one. Was it really a good idea to feed such an unhealthy addiction in a man who was clearly already under the influence of other things? Food was one thing—but a cigarette? I almost missed the grateful expression on the man’s face, and the fact that the relationship between these two men was being strengthened through this simple act of love. Later on, I realized our leader did not attempt to judge what this man did or did not need—he simply heard the request, realized his ability to grant it, and did so out of care for another.

Later on in the trip, a local pastor shared with us a story about a homeless friend—a word he used with unexpected and refreshing regularity—who survived by stealing. He knew about this friend’s actions and had even witnessed him scamming others, yet he did nothing to stop it. I was shocked. How could a pastor know about this and not do anything? Come on, it’s even one of the Ten Commandments! How could he hang out with this guy? (Guess I forgot about that new command that Jesus gave. Love one another. Three times in two verses—I think He means it, folks.) The pastor went on to say he knew the best way, or only way, to truly love his friend is to love him just as he is, and to see him through until he figured out a better way to get by. He didn't just give up on this guy as a thief and a lost cause, he kept the relationship alive and the door open, regularly spent time with him. He called this man his friend. Whoa.

Jesus didn’t just call us to love people if we agree with them, or when their actions make sense to us. We are not called to serve others based on our own ideas of what they need or expectations of who they should be. Others will truly see love, and feel love, when we give it without condition or expectation—just as Christ did. Jesus didn’t say, “You’re a tax collector? Ok, well just stop cheating people and we’ll have dinner sometime,” or, “A prostitute? Well, that’s pretty messed up. Get yourself together and then we’ll talk.” He called them “brother” and “friend” (check out Matt. 26:50 for another “whoa” moment), and invited them into relationship just as they were. And, amazingly, he does the same for a sinner like me, even when I have taken it upon myself to judge others when I have been called only to love them.

***

note: I actually wrote this for next month's church newsletter, but wanted to open it up to a broader audience as well. comments welcome...