Tuesday, December 4, 2012

Give This Christmas Away

Thursday, September 13, 2012

An Epiphany

e·piph·a·ny - a sudden, intuitive perception of or insight into the reality or essential meaning of something, usually initiated by some simple, homely, or commonplace occurrence or experience.
This evening I was out with Stitch for our walk/hike. This usually occurs on the nights that I don't have another activity after work. Since it's usually late in the evening when we leave the house, I try to keep a quick enough pace to get us back home before dark, dinner, a favorite TV show, bedtime, etc. Tonight we were going across one of the grassy fields near the driving range, which is about a mile from my house. Stitch was running along chasing butterflies and panting (aka puppy smiling) as she always does, just thrilled to be on a walk with me. I was, as I always do, charging along watching the ground for...well...crap. (It happens.) I also have to make sure that we stay on the path, don't get lost, watch for other people (Stranger Danger, right kids?!), loose dogs that could attack Stitch, rocks, holes in the ground, or anything else that might trip me up. Let's just say I get preoccupied.

I suddenly I realized that I hadn't looked up in a long time. Of course I look up enough to make sure Stitch is safe and not getting too tired, but I hadn't looked up - way up. I stopped walking and looked up to see the most beautiful sunset in a sky full of white fluffy clouds. (I love sunsets. Always have.) The weather was perfect as I stood in awe of God's magnificent creation. Just like that - epiphany! I laughed to myself realizing how like life. I'm always so busy...physically and mentally! I'm hurrying through life trying to dodge all the crap and stumbling blocks in my path without getting lost. It is so easy to forget to stop and look up!

The sky was such a beautiful reminder that He is always with me...guiding me home. It reminded me of one of my favorite running songs - "Light Up the Sky" by The Afters.
When I'm feeling all alone
With so far to go
The signs are no where on this road
Guiding me home
When the night is closing in
Is falling on my skin
Oh God will You come close?

Light light light up the sky

You light up the sky to show me You are with me
I can't deny
No I can't deny that You are right here with me
You've opened my eyes
So I can see You all around me
Light light light up the sky
You light up the sky to show me
That You are with me

 When stars are hiding in the clouds
I don't feel them shining
When I can't see You beyond my doubt
The silver lining
When I've almost reached the end
Like a flood You're rushing in
Your love is rushing in

Once Stitch and I got back into our neighborhood, I could see a silver lining shining just over the hill as the sun finally set. Amazing. Yeah, you still have to watch where you are going, but don't forget to take the time to look up. You won't regret it.
 "...The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands."   - Psalm 19:1

Wednesday, August 1, 2012

One Thing Remains

A comforting reminder......

One Thing Remains

Higher than the mountains that I face
Stronger than the power of the grave
Constant through the trial and the change
One thing remains

Your love never fails, never gives up
Never runs out on me


On and on and on and on it goes
It overwhelms and satisfies my soul
And I never, ever, have to be afraid
One thing remains

In death, In life, I’m confident and
covered by the power of Your great love
My debt is paid, there’s nothing that can
separate my heart from Your great love

Your love never fails, never gives up
Never runs out on me

Wednesday, May 30, 2012

The Everyday Activist: Masks

I could not have said this better myself. Wonderful blog. You must check it out!

The Everyday Activist: Masks: "For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a ...

Saturday, April 7, 2012

On Risks In Life


To laugh is to risk appearing the fool.
To weep is to risk appearing sentimental.
To reach out for another is to risk involvement.
To expose feelings is to risk exposing your true self.
To place your ideas, your dreams before the crowd is to risk loss.
To love is to risk being loved in return.
To live is to risk dying.
To hope is to risk despair.
To try at all is to risk failure.
But to risk we must because the greatest hazard in life is to risk nothing.

Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Sustain

It has been said that after silence, that which comes nearest to expressing the inexpressible is music.
- Aldous Huxley

Seth Condrey

Situations get me down,
But your hand sustains my heart again.
The patterns seem to be so strong,
so break this mold and free me to live.

But there's questions and I ask "Why?"
I need you when my soul is dry.
You sustain me when I'm falling down.
You embrace me when no one's around.
And I close my eyes, I'm satisfied.
Like a child by your side,

I lift my arms.
Hold me now,
Hold me now.

A passion's burning in my soul,
and there a beauty that will light the way.
But still your streams of mercy flow,
and I can feel the hand of love today.

But there's questions and i ask "Why?"
I need you when my soul's dry.
You sustain me when I'm falling down.
You embrace me when no one's around.
And I close my eyes, I'm satisfied.
Like a child by your side,

I lift my arms.
Hold me now,
Hold me now.

Saturday, March 10, 2012

The Waiting Game

Thoughts from my heart today...

Wait for:
the one who will be your best friend.
the one who will drop everything to be with you.
the one who makes you smile like no other, and when they smile, you know they need you.
the one who wants to show you off when you are in sweats and have no makeup on, but appreciates it when you get all dolled up for him.
the one who will put you at the center of his universe, because obviously, he's at the center of yours.

It's hard to wait around for something you know may never happen, but it's even harder when you know it's everything you ever wanted.
- Unknown

"Hold My Heart"
Tenth Avenue North
How long must I pray, must I pray to You?
How long must I wait, must I wait for You? 


Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, and faithful in prayer. 
Romans 12:12 

But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently
Roman 8:25


Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart.
Psalm 37:4

Friday, February 17, 2012

Quoteworthy Reading

Ran across this when reading My Fair Lazy by Jen Lancaster...
I'd never date anyone who my pets didn't like; I mean, they're instinctive like that. My rationale was if someone wasn't nice to my pets, eventually, they wouldn't be nice to me, either.
Yup. Thought back to ex-boyfriends. Totally true. 

Also, I could quote most of Jen Lancaster's other books too. Her books are the kind that that I read by the pool and burst out laughing all by myself. That'll get ya some strange looks, fyi.

Wednesday, February 8, 2012

I'm still a dreamer and a believer

The Redeemer
Sanctus Real

Sometimes I just want to start over, 'cause everything looks like a wreck
And I need the courage to carry on, 'cause I can't see what's ahead
And there are places I've wished I could be, battles I've wanted to win
Dreams that have slipped through my hands
I may never get back again

But I'm still a dreamer, a believer
Oh, I've lost my faith in so many things, but I still believe in You
'Cause You can make anything new

Sometimes I just wish we could say all the things that are easy to hear
Ignore the injustice we see and explain every unanswered prayer
But I'd rather speak honestly and wear a tattered heart on my sleeve
'Cause in the middle of my broken dreams, redemption is here

And I'm still a dreamer, a believer
Oh, I've lost my faith in so many things, but I still believe in You
'Cause You are the answer, the redeemer
Oh, I've given up on too many things, but I'm not giving up on You
'Cause You can make anything new

I don't have every answer in life
But I'm trusting You one day at a time
'Cause You can make a weak heart stay alive forever
this is where Heaven and Earth collide
I lift my hands and give my life
This is how my weary heart stays alive

Oh, I'm still a dreamer
Still a believer
Oh, You are the answer
The redeemer

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Life Makes Music

But if life stayed the way it was
And lovers never fell out of love
If memories didn't last so long
If nobody did nobody wrong
If we knew what we had before it was gone
If every road led back home
This would be the very last country song

- Sugarland