Can hardly wait...

And for Joe...

Back in Prague?

So, I was shopping at one of my favorite stores (Target) yesterday, and thought I was going crazy. I've been pretty sick the last couple days, which means I've been on some serious medication. I thought that may have been the culpret. I was in the sunglass section (since my previous oh-so-cute-$5 glasses broke the day before), trying on some new $5 glasses, when I could have sworn I heard a dog bark. What in the world? Am I having a flashback to being in Prague. The following is the conversation I had with myself:

"Wait, is that a dog I hear?" (Looking over my shoulder at a lady playing with watches)
"Ooooooh, that's cute...a watch that makes sounds like a dog!" (Hearing the "bark" again.)
"Man, that REALLY sounds like a real dog...the watch can't be THAT good...Can it?" (I take a look at the watch lady, then notice the watch lady staring at a suspicious lady in the aisle next to us. Guess it's not the watch lady...)
"I think the barking is coming from the suspicious lady!"

Lo and behold, there was the dog. I was scrambling in my purse for my camera, but couldn't find it. By this time crowds are definitely gathering. I walk over to another section, and see 3 Target employees cowering, almost hiding from the dog lady. They were asking each other if it was ok to have dogs in the store. NO! I wanted to scream. Are you crazy? Are dogs ever allowed in stores? This is America! Maybe these people had just got back from living overseas as well...

Well, I left before I saw the resolution, but I did hear an announcement over an employees walkie talkie that the dog lady had to go because she was disturbing the costumers...thank you Lord for being in America.

WHAT IF...

God says...

"What if I tell them who they are? What if I take away any element of fear in condemnation, judgement, or rejection? What if I tell them I love them, will always love them? That I love them right now , no matter what they've done, as much as I love my only Son? That there's nothing they can do to make my love go away?

What if I tell them there are no lists? What if I tell them I don't keep a log of past offenses, of how little they pray, how often they've let me down, made promises that they don't keep? What if I tell them they are righteous, with my righteousness, right now? What if I tell them they can stop beating themselves up? That they can stop being so formal, stiff, and jumpy around me? What if I tell them I'm crazy about them? What if I tell them, even if they run to the ends of the earth and do the most horrible, unthinkable things, that when they come back, I'd receive them with tears and a party?

What if I tell them that if I am their Savior, they're going to heaven no matter what- it's a done deal? What if I tell them they have a new nature- saints, not saved sinners who should now 'buck-up and be better if they were any kind of Christians, after all he's done for you!' What if I tell them that I actually live in them now? That I've put my love, power, and nature inside of them, at thier disposal? What if I tell them that they don't have to put on a mask? That it is ok to be who they are at the this moment, with all their junk. That they don't need to pretend about how close we are, how much they pray or don't, how much Bible they read or don't. What if they knew they don't have to look over their shoulder for fear if things get too good, the other shoe's gonna drop?

What if they knew I will never, ever use the word punish in relation to them? What if they knew that when they mess up, I will never "get back at them?" What if they were convinced that bad circumstances aren't my way of evening the score for taking advantage of me? What if they knew the basis of our friendship isn't how little they sin, but how much they let me love them? What if I tell them they can hurt my heart, but that I never hurt theirs? What if I tell them I like Eric Clapton music too? What if I tell them I never really liked the Christmas handbell deal with the white gloves? What if I tell them they can open their eyes when they pray and still go to heaven? What if I tell them there is no secret agendas, no trapdoor? What if I tell them it isn't about their self-effort, but about allowing me to live my life through them?"

What if...


(Taken from the book TrueFaced)

Lovin, Livin, and Single

So the age ol tension for myself and most women, and I'll go ahead and throw in a few men, of being "content" in our singleness has orbited around my world heavily for a few years now. If we aren't dating enough, we have the loving help and "encouragement" of those near and dear to get out "there" (wherever "there" is) and date. On the other hand, if we are some of the few that are fortunate enough to have a somewhat healthy dating life we get the ol "You need to just take it easy and be content in your singleness." The minute I'm not dating or interested in someone, I'm being set up by someone else...the same someone else that just gave me the "chill out and be content" talk. It's kind of a lose/lose situation. A frustrating and somewhat obscure line...that patience, contentment, and being "out there."

SO, instead of dwelling on the frustrations of singleness, I thought I'd take a second and be grateful for singleness for the following reasons...

Flexibility. Spontaneity. Freedom. Good gracious, could I be any more free than what I am right now? No schedule but mine to check. I can pack up and take a roadtrip whenever I want. I can be available for others a heck of a lot easier. I don't have to wait to see what the other is doing for dinner. I can eat cereal every night if I wanted to!

Solitude. Down time. Time alone. I never realized how precious my alone time was until I really began committing my life to a more missional life. I realized as much as I love reaching out to others, I definitely need and love my alone time. Being single allows me to have that down time a ton easier than if I were married and had a family. I love quiet mornings, peaceful afternoons, and relaxing evenings.

Investing. Serving. Now, I know this one doesn't just pertain to those that are single. I know more married people than I can list that invest and serve in ways far greater than I am capable of even as a single. BUT, because I don't have a husband and/or children, that just gives me all the more energy and love to pour into others. Fellow singles, I believe this is where we have a tendency to falter. We can get very self centered and "me" focused if we're not careful. Find a homeless shelter, Bible study, help your church's nursery/kids program, do missions. Just get outside yourself...

Things I want to do now!

Grow like crazy! I want to be so incredibly available to God's stretching, transforming, and redeeming. Be proactive in my faith.

Serve. Invest. Serve. Invest. Enough said...

Take advantage of the blessing of freedom singleness provides.

Have married friends! I never ever want to be one of those that draw a line between me and the amazing married people there are.

Have fun!! Plan girl nights, and go on fun trips with the girls!

And finally...Ecclesiastes 3 says there are purposes for certain seasons of life. I want to be before God asking what unique things He wants me to do or learn in this single season.

The last 2 years, my old roommate and I coined a phrase: "Single's lookin really good right about now." And I have to agree. Ahhhh, the single life...

I just saw Mamma Mia, and I just had to put this up...Girls, break it down!

"You are the dancing queen, young and sweet, only seventeen
Dancing queen, feel the beat from the tambourine
You can dance, you can jive, having the time of your life
See that girl, watch that scene, dig in the dancing queen"

A night with Brett, Colbie, and John

Here's a video of where I was lastnight...


John Mayer, Free Fallin' cover from Clare D on Vimeo.


Brett Dennen and Colbie Caillat opened for John Mayer lastnight. It was pretty fantastic. Thanks Clare for posting the video!!