Monday, July 25, 2011

To have "courage"...


"Courage is not simply ONE of the virtues, but the form of every virtue at the testing point..." -C. S. Lewis

C.S. Lewis is kind of amazing. In the best times, it doesn't take any effort at all to get up, go to work, love your family, give and serve and laugh. In the worst of times- all our best qualities seem so much harder to show, and it truly takes COURAGE just to get out of bed and face the world. It takes courage to love those who won't love us back. It takes courage to want to make a difference in a world that doesn't seem to care. It takes courage to be patient in anxiety, loving in anger, faithful in despair..the list goes on doesn't it?

I had a wonderful talk with my son thanks to John Mayer of all people. We both love his song "Waiting on the World to Change", hate his ridiculous political agenda and laugh every time we see his picture- his voice should belong to a beautiful, old black man but instead we get JOHN.

Anyways, the way Mr. Mayer hooked us up was with the topic of "changing the world". To have the opportunity to hear a little of my Man Child's heart, and to realize I need to PRAY for him to truly- have the courage to change his world. To have the COURAGE to not be complacent, live bigger and make a difference, even if no one is watching. We heard a wonderful sermon on Sunday about courage as well, and it reminded me of this quote from Abraham Lincoln:
"You cannot build character and courage by taking away a man's initiative and independence."

If I want my Jordan to live courageously- am I giving him opportunities to develop "initiative and independence"? As a total "helicopter mom" who hovers and controls EVERYTHING, I don't know that I have. :( But I want to change that. My son is absolutely amazing, and instead of praying that he just doesn't screw up his life- I want to actively be praying that he grows in his passion and love of Christ. That he would stand COURAGEOUSLY for something he believes in, and oh- may he believe BEST in You, Lord!!

So thank you, John Mayer, in spite of the fact that I can't stand you. Thanks for bringing an opportunity to talk with my son about things that matter not just for this world, but for eternity.

"Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. Do everything in love." 1 Corinthians 16:13-14

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Patience- A virtue? I think not.

The quote that keeps coming back to me as PURE TRUTH:
Definition of:
"Patience, noun. -- A minor form of despair, disguised as a virtue." Ambrose Bierce

Just Sayin...



Summer is here...in spite of the weather. Really.

So I will stop reading Bitter Ol' Bierce's "A Vision of Doom: Poems by Ambrose Bierce" and start looking for the moments that take my breath away. My son provided me with an AMAZING God Stop this morning, I adore that kid. I hope you saw God today too, friend.

Monday, July 18, 2011

Owl City rocks my socks off...

"Oh telescope, keep an eye on my only hope,
Lest I blink and get swept off the narrow road
Hercules, you've got nothing to say to me,
'Cause you're not the blinding light that I need
For He is the saving grace of the galaxies!"
Adam Young- Owl City "Galaxies"



So much to say and so few words to say them. Instead of processing a bunch of emotional rubbish- I thought you should have the chance to just ENJOY what I saw last night too. Of course you won't be able to feel the energy in the air or the ground actually SHAKING from the music and dancing- but Owl City is just too amazing NOT to share. I have just been indulging in all that is awesome about this musician, and thanking God for flip cams- re-watching the videos is just a reminder of an amazing time. I LOVED this show, and more than anything- I loved the quiet message that God is speaking to me. If this truly was my last moment on earth, what would I say to you, my King?

“The LORD is my strength and my defense;
he has become my salvation.
He is my God, and I will praise him,
...I will exalt him.
The LORD is a warrior;
YAHWEH is his name." Exodus 15:2-3

(Here's the artist speaking about what the song meant to him and why he does what he does.)

Thursday, July 14, 2011

A time to hope...


Is it possible to be completely at peace in the midst of a struggle? I keep going back to that passage that says "that we might lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way." (1 Timothy 2:2) and realize there is very little "peaceful" or "quiet" about my life. And absolutely nothing "dignified". This last 2 weeks the rare moments of quiet I have been able to find, early in the morning with my Jesus, laying in the backyard with my flowers- all those moments have been riddled with tears and pleading prayers. Nothing really quiet about that.

I suppose it always falls back on the choice. The choice to believe God. To CHOOSE to hope in Him, trust in Him, love Him, and know that He is good and faithful and kind. It amazes me how God uses the strangest moments to teach our hearts. One of our teens reminded me so gently this week that "we are just waiting for the rapture", and that is where my eyes should be. And another of our college girls posted a passage from Hebrews that I have just been going back to again and again- and it brings me joy every time I read it:

"You have not come to a physical mountain, to a place of flaming fire, darkness, gloom, and whirlwind, as the Israelites did at Mount Sinai. For they heard an awesome trumpet blast and a voice so terrible that they begged God to stop speaking...
No, you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to countless thousands of angels in a joyful gathering...You have come to God himself, who is the judge over all things...You have come to Jesus, the one who mediates the new covenant between God and people..."” Hebrews 12:18-24

How cool is that? That we have not been called to a "Mountain of Doom" as in the past- rules and legalistic religion. But we have been called to a "Mountain of JOY", a relationship with the living God who comforts us and loves us and stands in the gap between our sin and God's righteousness. That we might be saved and live fully. Soooo good.

Thank you, Father, for using the most unexpected people to draw my eyes to Your truth. Thank you that while our hearts are breaking over hurt and the destruction of families we love, You are not surprised or unaware. You are with us and have promised to never leave or forsake us. You are a God of forgiveness and redemption. Oh, how we praise you for that, my King!

Pictures were just to give you a smile- we had a wonderful 4th of July in spite of all the junk, and it was filled with fun, laughter, good food and of course fireworks!

And thank you for laughter, these smiles always make me think:
As for me, I will always have hope; I will praise you more and more. My mouth will tell of your righteous deeds, of your saving acts all day long— though I know not how to relate them all. " Psalm 71:14-15

Wednesday, July 13, 2011

"Que Paso" is pretty cool...

Wow. God so blessed my heart tonight. After a week of such heartache, to have the chance to pray with my sistas and then come home to this dear girl's post- God, you are far too good.

Follow Que Paso?!, well worth your time! I have followed her for awhile and although she posts infrequently- when she does, her wisdom is beyond her years in regards to relationships and seeing God in the tough stuff. She is and always will be near and dear to my heart, and I know God is going to grow her into a Proverbs 31 woman.

Sunday, July 3, 2011

Vancouver Rodeo hit the spot!




Two much needed days of gardening and horse flesh. What a weirdo I know, but oh- how thankful I am to have had the break! Some of our friends work their tails off each year to get the 4th of July Rodeo together at the Clark County Saddle Club, and we get to reap the benefits with free tickets!

Friday night was a Girls' Night for a dear friend of mine and our daughters, and Saturday Steve came and got to watch tons of bull riding which is his favorite. I of course hardly notice anything besides the horses, and I was particularly smitten with the buckskin horse of one of the pickup cowboys. Man, that horse could move and was SOOOO responsive. Yeah, I am still drooling.

Lots of horses, bulls, steer and leather- just what the doctor ordered for this little heart. As I sat in the stands surrounded by thousands, it felt so good to realize that each person had their story that night and God was completely aware and in control of it all. None of our junk shocks Him or overwhelms Him, and He absolutely loves us...in spite of us. It was refreshing to feel His pat on my shoulder, and to know that tomorrow is a new day. And God will always give me reasons to praise Him through it.

We were reading Galatians 6 the other day, and it has one of those passages that you love to hate. I love it, because it is so true- and truth is what I need to make the choices that will count for eternity. But hard because it also makes it clear- I "made my own bed- now you gotta lie in it", and grumbling about the consequences does absolutely no good. It is so hard for me to see families fall apart, marriages be filled with ugly...and not be able to "pray" the people I love out of it. But ultimately, we all have the choice in how we respond. And that is so freeing. I know that God is going to do His thing and in the end "work all things for the good of those who love Him". Here's to praying that He does it sooner than later!!

God bless you and keep you. May His love feel real to you today, even in the littlest things. For me- it's rodeos and horses and pretty flowers that remind me how much my Savior loves me. Whatever it is for you, embrace it for the moment you have it and thank your Papa for knowing and loving you best.

"Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people..." Galatians 6:7-10

We will make you a cool video for a recap, but had to add one for now of the Pickup Cowboy's other amazing horse- a big black that you could ride with no reins I bet. He has done a great job with his cow horses. The things those horses can handle!!!

Sweet Al's is some YUMMY stuff!

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