well done

we had a funeral to attend this morning.  he was a kind man who always took time, had a story to tell, and you left with a smile on your face.  his wife was a mentor to me as we served in ministry together.  their family models investing in others' lives every day.  

to see the room filled with family and friends, people who were impacted by his life...it was a good feeling.  it was a reminder that the most important things in life are the relationships we have--with God, with others...  their family has modeled trust and dependence on God...in all circumstances.  i am grateful for their example.

he lived life well and will be missed.

looking

looking.

i have been looking for something, but am not exactly sure what IT is.

there is something deep within that is calling me.

i am looking for the next piece...the next step...

i am learning that i need to be quiet and listen very carefully.

i need to be careful that i don't get in the way.

i know that this isn't really about me.

i know that there is something much bigger.

this is a risk, an adventure, a process, a journey.

i'm looking and listening and learning and growing.

i have to admit that i'm a little scared (and a little excited).

but i find great solace knowing that there is One

that has incredible plans

and i rest with Him.

partly cloudy

feeling a bit like the weather today...little cloudy, little dark with moments of glorious sunshine peaking out here and there.  i am hoping that all-day sunshine is in the forecast for tomorrow.

rainy tuesday

it is tuesday.  it is a rainy tuesday.  it is a rainy tuesday that is just beckoning for time on the couch, curled up under a blanket, reading a good book.  think that is what we are going to do now.

nice.

where do you go?

my journey with Jesus began by reading in the psalms.

it is where i always turn to first when i need to reground and regroup.

it is my reminder to worship in all things.

it is my reminder of how emotionally beautiful our relationship is with God.

it is my reminder of how God wants us to cry out to Him in all things.

when i am feeling stupid or don't know what to do,

i read in proverbs.

being a woman, proverbs thirty one is an incredible reminder.

it reminds me of the possibility of what i can become

when i let God do His work in me.

when i want to know about who wins at the end of the day,

i go to revelation and daniel and isaiah.

there is mystery i do not understand,

but i know what the final outcome will be.

when i need a role model and a hero,

i turn to the story of joseph

and admire his character and perseverance,

his trust and faith in a God that did not answer him in the way he expected.

when i need something radical,

something profound, yet simple.

when i want to see love and forgiveness,

just anger and action.

when i need to hear a master teacher

and someone who steps outside of the lines every time,

i flip to matthew, mark, luke and john

and find every word in red.

Jesus' profound, life- and world-changing teachings

that stir up emotions and actions.

life cannot be the same after you spend some time with Him.

there are many places to go when life is coming at you.

where do you go?

mustard

a condiment.  typically goes with hot dogs or hamburgers, maybe a sandwich.

tonight, it reminded me of God's variety, of His design in making things with great variety.

we grilled hot dogs for supper tonight.  went to grab all the condiments to put on the table.

typical yellow table mustard.

chipotle mustard.

smoky onion mustard.  (mmm...tasty)

how does this relate to God?  variety.  God made variety.  God loves variety.

He could have made us all the same.

He could have made the things around us identical.

He could have made our perspectives exactly the same.

He could have made the landscape of the world entirely predictable.

but He didn't.

we come in different colors with all kinds of variables.

eye color, hair type and color, height, width.

talents, interests, abilities, likes and dislikes.

we have different passions and fears.

some of us love to be in the middle of it all.

some of us love to find a secluded place.

some of us love both.

we are surrounded by cities or wide-open spaces.

there are animals and plants of incredible variety around us.

the weather changes constantly.

the seasons show us variety.

some are incredibly sensitive and some do not notice the emotions of others.

some of us are thinkers and some thrive on action.

some go on impulse and some are reserved, wanting to wait before acting.

loud, soft, artistic, athletic.

mountains, plains, ocean, desert.

arid, humid, rainy, snowy.

peaks, valleys.

i am so grateful that He gave great attention to detail.

an infinite variety of detail.

we get to enjoy the infinite variety of His creation.

tonight at our house, it was mustard.

tomorrow, it is an infinite amount of possibilities.

what someone can do with cardboard and a video camera

blank

my mind is just blank today.  it kind of was yesterday too.

caught in a routine and it causes me to check out a bit.

have not been in a creative mood, an adventurous mood, a learning mood.

i am bummed about that.

i am reading a book that is getting me a little excited.

'the organic god'

liking it.  it makes you look at the little things with new eyes.

makes you look at who God made you to be.

makes you think at how you want God to be at work in your life.

hoping the blank goes away soon

and the creative and adventurous and learning come in great abundance.

i do not like being blank.

puppy love

i am watching my dog look out the window, watching the world go by.

would love to know what goes through his brain--he gets all excited as some cars go by and others simply do not captivate his attention.  squirrels used to cause him to run and slide into the window in the hopes that one of these times, he would make it out and get to chase and now he knows that he is not to chase them everywhere, so he doesn't even blink as one skitters across the yard.

he looks happy.  he knows he's home and he's spoiled.  

(two minutes later...)

i am now very frustrated with my dear, sweet, happy puppy.

during the typing of the first paragraph of this entry, he decided to tip over my glass of water on the coffee table--soaking the papers and pictures i had there.

then, i had to pry one of colin's favorite hot wheels from his mouth.

next, i had the joy of reminding him that floor rugs are not chew toys and neither are my feet.

thinking it's time for that dear, sweet, happy puppy to spend some time in the backyard. :)