Never A Dull Moment

Somehow, time has flown in such a way that one-fourth of the year 2014 is almost over. . . let that sink in for a minute. So, here's what has happened so far this year (or at least since I last blogged): - Christmas came and went. It was glorious! Great gifts, baking bonanza, time off with the family. Could not have asked for more. - New Year's Eve - fellowship and games, and prayed in the New Year with some of my favorite people. All prepped for a great year of promise! - January included some work travel. Who goes to Calgary in January? This girl. Nothing like standing at the window in your hotel room on the 23rd floor of a strange city, looking out and seeing life happen - to remind you how small we really are! So thankful for grace and home and snow boots. - February - the month of LOVE. Took a 7 day cruise with The Hubs. Can you say 'Fabulous?' It was! Especially since about 75% of the crowd was over 60 - I felt young and like I looked very good in my swimsuit!...

Found this list of names of Jesus and who He is for us, and had to share. Let Him be these things to you! He is. . . Alpha and Omega – Revelation 1:8 Blessed Hope – Titus 2:13 Bright and Morning Star – Revelation 22:16 Captain – Hebrews 2:10 Comforter – John 14:16-18 Christ – Matthew 1:16 Counselor – Isaiah 9:6 Creator – Romans 1:25 Crown of Glory – Isaiah 28:5 Deliverer – Psalms 40:17 Dwelling Place – Psalms 90:1 Everlasting Father – Isaiah 9:6 Faithful and True – Revelation 19:11 Fountain of Living Waters – Jeremiah 17:13 Gift of God – John 4:10 Good Shepherd – John 10:11 God With Us – Matthew 1:23 Gracious – Romans 16:24 High Tower – Psalms 18:2 Holy One of Israel – Psalms 89:18 I Am – John 18:6 Immanuel – Isaiah 7:14 Jehovah Jireh – Provider – 1 John 4:9 Jehovah Nissi – Banner – 1 Chronicles 29:11-13 Jehovah Shalom – Peace – Isaiah 9:6 Jehovah Tsidkenu – Righteousness – 1 Cor 1:30 Jehovah Shammah – Present – Hebrew 13:5 Jehovah M’Ka...

I did it. It was my turn. Everybody else gets to. So, I did it too. I went and had a great big emotional breakdown. Boo-hoo! It doesn't happen very often, but it probably should happen more. Why do I think I have to be the one holding it all together?! I don't expect other people to. Anyway, now that I have shared that and released all the pent up frustration (from unmet expectations, mostly self-imposed). . . I can provide a healthly list of things to do to keep this from happening again anytime soon. Recline on the couch in pjs and stare at the fire in the fireplace, no tv and preferrably no children present (husband optional) Drink coffee from a china teacup (tried this at our last women's fellowship and enjoyed it immensely) Read a book - any book Watch a girly movie - the tear jerkier the better Sleep - more than 5 hours Smile more (smiling's my favorite) Yell less Forgive more, then try it again, then do it again Screw up, take a bow and the...

The Hubs and I were talking yesterday over dinner about how our "small" church has become just what we have hoped. . . a community. See, I take someone's son to school every morning when I take my own. His mom adopted someone else's dog that didn't fit into their home schedule anymore. One lady waits with her son and someone else's two children as they get on the bus so that the other mom can get to work early. One family picks up a young man to bring to church with them every service, while others help those with car situations get rides to places. Dinners are prepared and delivered to families in need. Prayer requests are texted and testimonies are shared the same way. People need people. We need a hand, a shoulder, a hug, an encouraging word. I read this post today and loved the idea of how just having someone present in your life can make such a difference! http://lotsofscotts.blogspot.com/2013/08/when-youve-forgotten-words.html Lord, help me to be your h...

Ever have an itch you can't scratch? That feeling that there's something missing? I'm feeling that way today. I think it's partly because I'm on the edge of one thing and about to move into something else. School is about to start, so we're getting things ready for that. School supplies, school clothes, schedule changes. And I'm in transition for my job - leaving one position and moving into another. I've got that itchy feeling of standing on the edge, being ready to jump into the new, but not quite sure if it's time, or if I'm ready, or if it's safe. I want to jump. I think I'm ready, but maybe not yet. Not fully satisfied with where I'm at either. What do you do with those days? I read about having a "restless soul" today on the Proverbs 31 devotion (good one to read!) http://proverbs31.org/devotions/devo/quiet-my-soul/ And I never really thought about how restless I am. I know my nature is to stay busy, but my soul has th...

I've had a little heaviness lately - not a bad heaviness, just a contemplative one.  Been reading some great blogs that have commented on things that make me go "hmm" - so I thought I'd share some of them. . . -  I am a mess.  Not like I have a quirky personality or am someone who gets into things, but just a mess. Not everything in my world is tied up neatly with a bow. I don't have it all together in most areas of my life. I've tried to ignore this, but it is what it is. I am a mess. And I have a feeling that you are too. -  I am so glad that we have been given permission to fail.  Did you know that? We don't HAVE to have it all together. We don't have to be the example of the perfect mom, the perfect wife, the perfect Christian. Not that I want to fail - I want to be the best of all of those things.  But I can't (see the first point). And that's ok.  -  Jesus is my redeemer. In all of those areas where I blow it, He redee...

I read this post today and thought "Yes!  That's exactly how life is. . ." http://lotsofscotts.blogspot.com/2013/03/from-distance.html I know we are all prone to comparing and looking longingly at things, people, positions and thinking "Man, I want that!" But what we don't see is all the stuff going on behind the scenes.  In ministry, we often get to venture into the behind the scenes moments in other people's lives.  And most of the time, it isn't pretty.  This example of the ship can illuminate several layers of life and expectations.  It reminds us to keep in mind the details and the small things that make up the whole - I feel like I kind of live in the details of keeping our ship running, whether it be church, home, kids, whatever.  So, maybe I need to pick my head up and enjoy the view a little more.  It also serves to keep us grounded when we put others on a pedestal.  Either way, what a powerful image to stir some thoughts.  Where ...