It's Been Fun...

It's really hard to believe that its been almost six years since I started this blog. A lot that has happened in the last six years! And although its been fun, but its time for the next level.

I've learned that there is a time for everything and a season for every activity under heaven and my blogger season is ending. If you'd like to keep up, see what's on my mind you can find me here.

May the God of peace guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus...

Oh, the Irony

I'm out this morning trying complete day 2 of week 4 in my Couch to 10K training program. This morning it was kicking my butt. I'm a sweaty, hot mess running in public. Loverly, really.

So, I'm running listening to my headphones, contemplating the teaching I'll be giving next week which is about how our significance is found in Jesus Christ, when a skinny-mini runs by all happy, looking cute in her running clothes (that actually match) and I feel myself slipping into the "If I looked like that then _________" thought pattern.

As I look down to see how much longer I actually have to be running I hear the words and music that are playing in my ears. It's Mandsia's "True Beauty"...and its not about Sex in the City, its about purity and true beauty.

It was in that moment I recognized how Satan had come to steal the true thoughts of my worth in Christ via a skinny-mini in matching running clothes. Well, this hot mess isn't going to let him. "It is in Christ I find out who I am and what I am living for." Eph 1:11 (Msg)

Season's

Has anyone else noticed the butterflies? They are everywhere! They've changed from caterpillar's to butterflies. They've become what they were created to be and now they are flying.

Today I also noticed a lot of elderly people wherever I went. Whether it was at the chiropractor, Wal-Mart or the gym they were there, seasoned with life that has been lived. I got to thinking about how much they have seen in their lifetime. Did their mind ever conceive of the idea that photos would be digital? Did they ever think that their Gen-Y grandchildren would have trouble communicating in over 140 characters? Did they think we'd have come "this" far?

Yesterday the pastor of Strong Tower Bible Church made a statement about how he did not know all that God had planned for him when he said "yes" to God. He did not know he'd be speaking across the country, pastoring a church, teaching NFL players. He just said Yes.

Catterpillar's may not know what being a butterfly is like when they are a caterpillar. The elderly may not have imagined all of the technology we have now. And we will never know how far God will bring us when we say yes to Him.

A Confession of Sorts

*The information you are about to read is very blunt and typed without a filter**

I'll admit it. I'm a headline reader. I visit AOL, Yahoo, MSN and read headlines. If they interest me, I'll keep reading. Sometimes I just think they are dumb headlines. I could write them, as could most of the population. However, one did catch my attention today. Its on AOL it says "Stephen Hawking Makes Bold Declaration."

"He recently said 'God did not create the universe"

Ok, I readily admit that I probably should know more about Stephen Hawking. I know he's a physicist, lectures and has a high IQ. Oh, and he thinks God did not create the universe. However, it leads me to this question

Who has given Stephen Hawking the authority to declare whether or not God did or did not create the universe?

Because he is intelligent? That gives him authority?

I'm intelligent and I say that God did create the universe.

That being said, I expect AOL to be writing a story about me and my thoughts. Stay tuned.

Its SO Comfy!

I find myself very comfortable with life these days. It's somewhat disconcerting.

I mean, really--how often do you find every area of your life comfortable? Isn't there typically one area where you are struggling?

Of course, from the outside looking in, my life may not seem too comfy. I am in the middle of a career change, have many "wants/desires" that have yet to be met, have vague ideas about how my bills will be paid let alone save for retirement. You know, because I am getting to the age where "they" say I should be saving for such things--and "they" also would probably tell me I am behind already.

But, I'm comfy. Even better than that I love my life right now. I love the quiet mornings and the time spent in Scripture. I love meeting new people, hearing what God is doing in their lives and trying to write it down for other people to read. I enjoy brainstorming about new career opportunities, finishing books, visiting new coffee shops. I'm enjoying just being.

I'm excited for the new teaching opportunities that are headed my way. I'm excited about my new blog and the fact it'll be more focused than this one has been. (stay tuned for more details)

I'm excited that I have no idea what each day will bring and the opportunities each day presents in being radically different from the yesterday and ultimately dream how they can be Kingdom altering.

I say its comfy--but really its peaceful. There are many questions but none of them matter because the peace that passes my understanding is guarding my heart and my mind.

Maybe I should say "Peace is Comfy"

Yeah, I think that's it.

It's Raining

The dark sky has opened and is unleashing an enormous amount of liquid onto the unsuspecting people sitting outside at this coffeehouse.

Traffic now slows and horns are honking, umbrellas are out and people are scurrying. We are an impatient people, are we not?

Every time I see it rain, the song lyric "Let it rain, Lord we're waiting for Your rain to fall" pops into my head. It's an early 90's Newsboys song which just goes to show that music is powerful.

Anyway, I digress--back to the rain.

On my good days--there is nothing I want more than for the Lord to rain down all that He has for me. Good or "bad', difficult or easy...I just want what He wants for me.

On my good days--I am able to know that He is moving and I take the appropriate steps to become drenched in the rain.

On my bad days--I honk my car horn, I run to get out of the rain, I complain about my circumstances.

Here's to more good days, than bad.

Even so--Come Lord Jesus. Come.

It's Not Such a Little Thing*

Don't you love those moments?!?

You know the moments I'm talking about, right? You are thinking of one right now. Yeah, it's one of those moments.

It isn't embarrassing or silly. It's definitely not insignificant. But it is brief, fleeting.

It's definitely not small though.

It's the moment when all-is-right-with-the-world. It's the moment when you realize the mundane has been infused with a little of the extraordinary.

I just had one of those moments. I was driving home with the windows down and the hot night air was whipping my hair around and making my skin sticky, whilst a very familiar song played on the radio.

I had one of those moments two days ago when I was making pizza with four lovely young women, whom I've had the privilege of watching grow up. They aren't the same women I met seven years ago. They each remind me of me in their own little way.

I have these moments when I sit on the beach at sunset. Or when I laugh at an inside joke with a friend. Or when I hear my family laugh and out-talk each other.

These are brief and fleeting moments, but they are definitely not small.