Ca-Nada

I had an amazing time in the Great White North. My number of Canadian friends continues to grow and grow, so I figured I'd make my way up to visit. Honestly, I was really just getting tired of hearing them tell me how much better Canada is than the US. I will admit it is quite gorgeous up there. Now, I only saw the western coast, but it was amazing.

I have two good, good friends, Michael and Jacqueline, I met overseas in Prague that are from Vancouver Island. For the last two years they have been a great source of encouragement, support, and tons of fun and laughter. No matter distance or time, they have remained close and a great blessing. I am incredibly blessed to have them in my life, and was just waiting for the opportunity to go up and see where they are from and meet their friends and family.

It was fun-filled days of seeing the beautiful sites, playing endless games of dominoes, listening to tons of great music, and lots and lots of laughs and memories. Here are some pictures from the trip.

Michael and Jacqueline- THANK YOU so much for opening up your home (and stepping out on a limb) and introducing me to your families and friends. I had SOOOO much fun, and look forward to having y'all in the great(big) state of Texas!! Really, you both were more than generous! Love y'all tons!!

A Carrot and A Horse

Here's a short excerpt from The Prodigal God. DEFINITELY recommend it. Tim Keller does a really great job of bringing you back to the simplicity of the Gospel. The parable known as the prodigal son is one most of us are familiar with, but in this last year God has been using it to challenge and open my eyes in such big ways. I never realized how much I missed from this one parable. There's just so much more to it than a story of one lost younger brother searching and squandering away all he owns.

I'll stop there. Again, definitely recommend The Prodigal God by Tim Keller. Good stuff.


"Once upon a time there was a gardener who grew an enormous carrot. So he took it to his king and said, "My Lord, this is the greatest carrot I've ever grown or ever will grow. Therefore I want to present it to you as a token of my love and respect for you." The king was touched and discerned the man's heart, so as he turned to go the king said, "Wait! You are clearly a good steward of the earth. I own a plot of land right next to yours. I want to give it to you freely as a gift so you can garden it all."...But there was a nobleman at the king's court who overheard all this. And he said, "My! If that is what you get for a carrot what if you gave the king something better?" So the next day the nobleman came before the king and he was leading a handsome black stallion. He bowed low and said, "My lord, I breed horses and this is the greatest horse I've ever bread or ever will. Therefore I want to present it to you as a token of my love and respect for you." But the king discerned his heart and said thank you, and took the horse and merely dismissed him. The nobleman was perplexed. So the king said, "Let me explain. The gardener was giving me the carrot, but you were giving yourself the horse."

Inspirations and Robbers

So, I got this post idea from a friend's blog, who got it from Matt Chandler's blog. (Just wanted to make sure and give credit where credit is due.) This particular topic hit me pretty hard because I have been convicted like crazy for the amount of time I put towards meaningless things. I have been less than dazzled by things in life as of late, mainly because I'm not putting forth the energy to be apart of anything that SHOULD truly inspire.

So, I have decided to jump on the bandwagon and make two lists. One listing the top 5 things that rob me of my zest and joy in Christ, and the other listing those things that inspire and drive my affections for Him.

Robbers:

1. Too much time online; facebook, blogs, etc.
2. T.V.
3. My need for "downtime" (this is an easy one to hide behind)
4. Staying up late for no reason
5. Shopping

Inspirations:

1. Reading/Journaling
2. Growing deep in relationships
3. Music: Good, simple,(especially) acoustic sounds with meaningful words
4. Being outdoors
5. Traveling
6. Podcasts (especially Driscoll and Piper)
(I know I said 5, but couldn't cut one out!)

Not sure what this does for you, but either way I hope you take a few minutes to think about what fills your life right now. Are they things that inspire and fill you with a joy for Him? Or do you find life lacking quite a bit at the moment, and wonder why life seems so black and white and without color?

Finally!!

Sorry guys! For those two or three that might actually still stop by, I have finally updated my blog! Getting the motivation to actually put anything up has been ridiculous. You know when it just seems like a "have to" instead of a "want to?" Well, either way, here's some posts that have been waiting to be finished for quite a while. Hope you're doing well!!

Krochet Kids

Below is a link to a super cool organization. It was started by young, fresh guys who love Jesus. I worked with one of the founders brothers in Colorado, and was able to hear and see a bit of what they do. There are many ways to partner with Krochet Kids. You can simply pray, share, donate financially, or even purchase one of their sweet hats. Here's a brief description of what they do...

"The program is focused on skills training for reliable income, empowering education, and personal care. Those chosen for the program are trained in the skill of crochet and then provided with materials to make quality crocheted products for a good salary.

The program is designed to provide a reliable salary and to empower the participants toward future independent entrepreneurship. In order to do this, there are financial education programs in place that teach skills in personal budgeting, financial saving, and small business management. Through this, each beneficiary will learn how to manage their income effectively both now and in the future. They will learn how they can invest to make a livelihood and provide for their families on their own."
www.krochetkids.org

I know there are TONS of organizations out there to be apart of. You can get a bit overwhelmed, and forget to actually be apart. But please be apart of what God is doing all over the world. You will not regret doing it. You don't have to choose this particular organization, but please be apart of something, helping someone. I just wanted to share a way you can impact lives.

www.krochetkids.org

The election

I have (mostly) stayed away from talking politics. I'm just not one who really gets caught up in political things that much. Now, I know some of you have strong opinions about our need to be incredibly active in government, and I respect that. On the other hand, I know there are some of you out there who are right with me, or even farther down the line in caring about politics. Whatever your stance, I thought I would share the following link to a blog from Piper on voting. Here's a little excerpt from the blog:

"Voting is like marrying and crying and laughing and buying. We should do it, but only as if we were not doing it. That’s because “the present form of this world is passing away” and, in God’s eyes, “the time has grown very short.” Here’s the way Paul puts it:

"The appointed time has grown very short. From now on, let those who have wives live as though they had none, and those who mourn as though they were not mourning, and those who rejoice as though they were not rejoicing, and those who buy as though they had no goods, and those who deal with the world as though they had no dealings with it. For the present form of this world is passing away. (1 Corinthians 7:29-31)

Let’s take these one at a time and compare them to voting..."

"So it is with voting. We deal with the system. We deal with the news. We deal with the candidates. We deal with the issues. But we deal with it all as if not dealing with it. It does not have our fullest attention. It is not the great thing in our lives. Christ is. And Christ will be ruling over his people with perfect supremacy no matter who is elected and no matter what government stands or falls. So we vote as though not voting."

http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/TasteAndSee/ByDate/2008/3347/

Big bruiser

No need for words...

Still

I have a dear friend whose family is currently facing a hard, painful situation. I have had the honor of knowing her for the past few years. She has been nothing but an enormous blessing to not only me, but many around her. Since I've been back from Prague, she has been even more of an inspiration to me. The way her and her husband have been walking through this challenging time has been nothing short of amazing. They have clung to God tighter than I've ever witnessed, and have seen God move in ways that words could never do justice.

I was listening to the song "Still" months ago on one of my runs, and literally stopped and cried for my friend. They were the exact words I prayed for them then, and have continued to pray for them since. I see them constantly returning to His quietness and power. I see it in their faces, read in their emails, and hear it in their voices. Their souls truly do find rest in Christ alone.

God, thank you for providing people like Susan and Sila in my life. Lord, that they will continue to find rest in You alone. Remind them daily, hourly of your boundless love and care for them.


Still
"Hide me now
Under your wings
Cover me
within your mighty hand

When the oceans rise and thunders roar
I will soar with you above the storm
Father you are king over the flood
I will be still and know you are God

Find rest my soul
In Christ alone
Know his power
In quietness and trust"

Inspiring

"One of the Pharisees asked him to eat with him, and he went into the Pharisee’s house and took his place at the table. And behold, a woman of the city, who was a sinner, when she learned that he was reclining at table in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster flask of ointment, and standing behind him at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head and kissed his feet and anointed them with the ointment. Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, "If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, for she is a sinner." And Jesus answering said to him, "Simon, I have something to say to you." And he answered, "Say it, Teacher."

I was recently incredibly moved by this familiar passage out of Luke. The redemptive story of someone who was broken, condemned, battered down, criticized, and lonely. I admire her courage and ability to rise above those who judged and looked down upon her. She came to the end of herself, and found Jesus. She didn't care about the mountains of whispers, looks, and judgements that would await her when she walked through those doors. Her need for healing, love, and grace were so powerful, NOTHING could keep her away.

Outwardly it was easy to see this women needed Jesus. It was Simon and the Pharisees that found it impossible to realize the fact that they needed Jesus just as badly as this precious woman did. I pray I would realize more and more how desperate I need the same healing, love, and grace this prostitute did.

"Then turning toward the woman he said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not ceased to kiss my feet. You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little." And he said to her, 'Your sins are forgiven.'"

Lest I Forget

As of late, I've been reminded, in good and hard ways, that timing is, indeed, everything. I'm also reminded of the power of our words. Words can be like honey, soothing the hardest of days. They can also wound like the sharpest of knives. How easily we can forget...the power of words.

Throughout the last 20 something years in life, I've come to realize there really aren't coincidences. God in His oh so perfect way uses our day-to-day interactions and events to "gently" (or not so gently) prod us along the straight and narrow. It's up to me (and you) to allow these moments to sink in and refine. Will I let this hard, hurtful circumstance bring division and an air of self-righteousness? Or will I allow this to bring growth and humility, and choose to honor God? This is the choice we face day to day. I pray I will go with the ladder of the two, and be an agent of change and healing rather than a fragrance of self-righteousness and discord.