For whatever reason, I decided to identify the items on my wish list. I'm very happy with my current possessions, but figured it's ok to acknowledge what I wish for.
- homemade ice cream maker (the kind with a crank that you turn to work up and sweat...then you really appreciate the ice cream when it's ready!)
- 2 new pairs of running shoes
- a watch that also tracks distance for my runs
- a closet organizing system with drawers to replace my dresser.
Here are some things that were on my wish list that I am so thankful for now!
- a GPS: it has saved me soooooooooo much gas and time! was a great Christmas gift!
- a cell phone: I was a late bloomer in this dept. but it's hard to remember life w/o one.
- down comforter!!! pure warmth every night whether in the summer or winter. this gift keeps on giving.
- a comfy chair & ottoman with reading lamp in my room: good for starting the day & winding down (total price for ikea comfy chair $25 on craigslist - it was new! ottoman was a gift from grandma :).
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Sunday, April 11, 2010
middle of the night prayer
Acts 20:24
"However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace."
I feel so far from this at times!
Oh, Lord, please make this verse true of me too.
"However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace."
I feel so far from this at times!
Oh, Lord, please make this verse true of me too.
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Thursday, March 11, 2010
today's bouquet of thankfulness
before i jump in bed, i like to savor the good moments of the day and thank God for them.
here are a few from today:
-my co-worker Ann. when i dove into today's tasks at work i needed some training from Ann. for about 6 weeks now, she's exemplified gentleness, patience, encouragement, and overall warmth & welcome. how many people get to work with coworkers like her (and Laura too - more on how great Laura is later!)
-i ate the yummiest peanut butter and jelly sandwich for lunch. it's the simple pleasures.
-i finished two projects i had been working on for some time at both my jobs and it felt great to check off those items... finally!
-more donations came in for the weekend garage sale! praise God for putting generosity in people's hearts. and 3 more people decided to help out on the day of the event too. yay!
- my family had a good-bye dinner for my second-cousin who's returning to Colombia after visiting for a few weeks. i'm thankful for her visit and hoping it was good (on various levels) for her too.
- at dinner another relative from Colombia called. it had been 20 years since we saw each other and we had such a lovely phone conversation. as children we had such a blast together! we've reconnected and it looks like i have a new friend.
- from dinner i headed over to the last half of life group. it's wonderful how letting your guard down and praying with women who genuinely care can be so refreshing - both on the giving and receiving ends. it was really good tonight.
- when i got home, i had a delightful little card from a dear friend on my desk waiting for me with a verse that has been reoccuring over the past few weeks. (from psalm 27)
So, there's the bouquet you gave me to enjoy throughout the day, Lord, and now I offer it back up to you with a grateful heart.
goodnight.
here are a few from today:
-my co-worker Ann. when i dove into today's tasks at work i needed some training from Ann. for about 6 weeks now, she's exemplified gentleness, patience, encouragement, and overall warmth & welcome. how many people get to work with coworkers like her (and Laura too - more on how great Laura is later!)
-i ate the yummiest peanut butter and jelly sandwich for lunch. it's the simple pleasures.
-i finished two projects i had been working on for some time at both my jobs and it felt great to check off those items... finally!
-more donations came in for the weekend garage sale! praise God for putting generosity in people's hearts. and 3 more people decided to help out on the day of the event too. yay!
- my family had a good-bye dinner for my second-cousin who's returning to Colombia after visiting for a few weeks. i'm thankful for her visit and hoping it was good (on various levels) for her too.
- at dinner another relative from Colombia called. it had been 20 years since we saw each other and we had such a lovely phone conversation. as children we had such a blast together! we've reconnected and it looks like i have a new friend.
- from dinner i headed over to the last half of life group. it's wonderful how letting your guard down and praying with women who genuinely care can be so refreshing - both on the giving and receiving ends. it was really good tonight.
- when i got home, i had a delightful little card from a dear friend on my desk waiting for me with a verse that has been reoccuring over the past few weeks. (from psalm 27)
So, there's the bouquet you gave me to enjoy throughout the day, Lord, and now I offer it back up to you with a grateful heart.
goodnight.
Gozo
Joy is a weapon.
Am I using that weapon?
"the joy of the Lord is your strength"
Nehemiah 8:10b
This hit home this morning.
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
no blurry vision
I'm reading Elisabeth Elliot's book, A Chance to Die: The Life and Legacy of Amy Carmichael, (it's EXCELLENT!) and wanted to share a little quote with you:
"Her great longing was to have a 'single eye' for the glory of God. Whatever might blur the vision God had given her of His work, whatever could distract or deceive or tempt others to seek anything but the Lord Jesus Christ Himself she tried to eliminate. Why waste precious time, painful effort, on lesser things?" (pg. 84).
Father, thank you for truly holding the world in your hands. Please lift us on your shoulders to get your perspective. Stamp eternity on our eyes, please Lord!
"Her great longing was to have a 'single eye' for the glory of God. Whatever might blur the vision God had given her of His work, whatever could distract or deceive or tempt others to seek anything but the Lord Jesus Christ Himself she tried to eliminate. Why waste precious time, painful effort, on lesser things?" (pg. 84).
Father, thank you for truly holding the world in your hands. Please lift us on your shoulders to get your perspective. Stamp eternity on our eyes, please Lord!
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
what matters most
"Each of you has put to flight a thousand of the enemy for the Lord your God fights for you, just as he has promised. So be careful to keep on loving him" (Joshua 23:10-11, The Living Bible).
Joshua is addressing the Israelites near the end of his life. He recounts to them where God has taken them and their forefathers and instructs them about what matters most: "keep on loving him".
My devotional this morning encouraged me to communicate what I would say in a "farewell address" to the world. It would come straight from Matthew 22:37-40:
-Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.
-Love your neighbor as yourself.
-All the Law and the Prophets hand on these two commands.
Oy! I have to leave for work, but there's a bit of a summary :).
Father, please help us to love you and others in the way that you intend us to.
"Oh, how sweet to trust in Jesus... Just from Jesus simply taking life and joy and peace...Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus, oh, for grace to trust Him more!"
Joshua is addressing the Israelites near the end of his life. He recounts to them where God has taken them and their forefathers and instructs them about what matters most: "keep on loving him".
My devotional this morning encouraged me to communicate what I would say in a "farewell address" to the world. It would come straight from Matthew 22:37-40:
-Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.
-Love your neighbor as yourself.
-All the Law and the Prophets hand on these two commands.
Oy! I have to leave for work, but there's a bit of a summary :).
Father, please help us to love you and others in the way that you intend us to.
"Oh, how sweet to trust in Jesus... Just from Jesus simply taking life and joy and peace...Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus, oh, for grace to trust Him more!"
Monday, March 8, 2010
He keeps His promises
"So in this way the Lord gave to Israel all the land he had promised to their ancestors, and they went in and conquered it and lived there. And the Lord gave them peace, just as he had promised, and no one could stand against them; the Lord helped them destroy all their enemies. Every good thing the Lord had promised them came true" (Joshua 21:43-45, The Living Bible).
At any given point in our lives we are standing on one side or the other of God's promises and provision. I look at some of the answered prayers that have very specifically come to pass and those instances remind me that God is faithful and does not disappoint. This gives me hope for the unanswered prayers that still linger in my heart. I believe they are actually already answered, but since we operate in a linear timeline, they are simply not revealed yet. I'm thankful, though, because I know I couldn't handle all the joy, grief, and every other emotion in between all at once.
All in all, I'm hanging on to the truth that God's will is "good, pleasing, and perfect" (Romans 12:2).
So, Lord, please continue to take us to the "land" you've given each of us to possess in all respects: spiritual, emotional, physical, social, and mental. We want to dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture as we trust in you and do good (Psalm 37:3). Please help us to move forward with courage, boldness, and confidence in You as we face the opposition of the enemy and our own flesh. Please help us to endure with you as our focus and your glory as our goal. I love you, Father. Amen.
At any given point in our lives we are standing on one side or the other of God's promises and provision. I look at some of the answered prayers that have very specifically come to pass and those instances remind me that God is faithful and does not disappoint. This gives me hope for the unanswered prayers that still linger in my heart. I believe they are actually already answered, but since we operate in a linear timeline, they are simply not revealed yet. I'm thankful, though, because I know I couldn't handle all the joy, grief, and every other emotion in between all at once.
All in all, I'm hanging on to the truth that God's will is "good, pleasing, and perfect" (Romans 12:2).
So, Lord, please continue to take us to the "land" you've given each of us to possess in all respects: spiritual, emotional, physical, social, and mental. We want to dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture as we trust in you and do good (Psalm 37:3). Please help us to move forward with courage, boldness, and confidence in You as we face the opposition of the enemy and our own flesh. Please help us to endure with you as our focus and your glory as our goal. I love you, Father. Amen.
Saturday, February 20, 2010
recently
Whoa, it feels like it's been so long since I've updated here. I'll do my best to bring this blog up to speed on my life lately.
Bella. Well, sadly, she went in for her abortion that day. Sadness came over me and I initially began to feel as though my prayers didn't matter and as I went about my day and grieved for her and her baby, God graciously broke in with reminders of hope that He's not done pursuing this young woman. This isn't the end of the story. I don't understand it, but it's not up to me to understand it all. Later on, God seemed to answer that unverbalized ache in my heart with The Parable of the Growing Seed in Mark 4:26-29, "He also said, 'This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seen on the ground. Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. All by itself the soil produces grain... As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come." The part that really struck me was that all the man needed to do was go out every day and spread the seed and when it was time, put the sickle to the harvest. He WASN'T responsible to get down on hand and knee yelling at the seed to sprout or rush the harvest time. This was a very freeing realization.
New Job! Early in December I had shared a bit of a prayer request with my Life Group about looking for another part-time job. Later on that night, my friend mentioned to me that she actually knew of an opening that might be a really good fit. Throughout the whole process of applying, interviewing, and praying about it, I felt tremendous peace. It's been 3 whole weeks now since I started as the Operations Coordinator at International Princess Project (www.intlprincess.org) and I'm amazed at how specific of a fit this is for me (in part because the role allows for structured spontaneity) and for the organization. Really, it's such a life-giving and energizing role (especially because of the FABULOUS people I get to work alongside!). There's much to learn, of course, but I'm super thankful and delighted :).
On that note, there seems to be so much newness in my life. Really, the last year and a half was a bit of a wilderness - with miracles, temptations, provision, rest, testing, pruning, and refining. Hopefully, I will recount some specific happenings later on when I'm not falling asleep (I'm shocked it's so late)!
So, for now, sleep tight & sweeeeeeeeeeeeet dreams.
Bella. Well, sadly, she went in for her abortion that day. Sadness came over me and I initially began to feel as though my prayers didn't matter and as I went about my day and grieved for her and her baby, God graciously broke in with reminders of hope that He's not done pursuing this young woman. This isn't the end of the story. I don't understand it, but it's not up to me to understand it all. Later on, God seemed to answer that unverbalized ache in my heart with The Parable of the Growing Seed in Mark 4:26-29, "He also said, 'This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seen on the ground. Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. All by itself the soil produces grain... As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come." The part that really struck me was that all the man needed to do was go out every day and spread the seed and when it was time, put the sickle to the harvest. He WASN'T responsible to get down on hand and knee yelling at the seed to sprout or rush the harvest time. This was a very freeing realization.
New Job! Early in December I had shared a bit of a prayer request with my Life Group about looking for another part-time job. Later on that night, my friend mentioned to me that she actually knew of an opening that might be a really good fit. Throughout the whole process of applying, interviewing, and praying about it, I felt tremendous peace. It's been 3 whole weeks now since I started as the Operations Coordinator at International Princess Project (www.intlprincess.org) and I'm amazed at how specific of a fit this is for me (in part because the role allows for structured spontaneity) and for the organization. Really, it's such a life-giving and energizing role (especially because of the FABULOUS people I get to work alongside!). There's much to learn, of course, but I'm super thankful and delighted :).
On that note, there seems to be so much newness in my life. Really, the last year and a half was a bit of a wilderness - with miracles, temptations, provision, rest, testing, pruning, and refining. Hopefully, I will recount some specific happenings later on when I'm not falling asleep (I'm shocked it's so late)!
So, for now, sleep tight & sweeeeeeeeeeeeet dreams.
Monday, January 4, 2010
PLEASE PRAY
Please pray for a family friend, Bella*, an 18 year old pregnant young woman who is scheduled to have an abortion today at around 11:30AM Pacific Time. She went into Planned Parenthood a few weeks ago and walked out and got an ultrasound, but is determined to end this pregnancy. There are many people lifting up this young mother and her baby - mostly that she would turn to the Lord Jesus Christ, but also that she would choose life for herself and her baby
(Deut. 30:19-20).
Would you please join me in praying for her? There is hope and we are expecting a miracle.
*name changed here for her privacy.
(Deut. 30:19-20).
Would you please join me in praying for her? There is hope and we are expecting a miracle.
*name changed here for her privacy.
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