ALLSTATE
You're in good hands with Him.
yes, I am. i am reading this new book, Made to Crave by Lysa TerKeurst. i have always struggled with my weight which is directly related to my love of food and, more often than not, life circumstances. oh, how i love food. and my life circumstances over the past few years haven't been that great. in fact, right now i would love to dig in to the pan of chocolate chip cookie bars that are sitting on the stove and have a handful of yummy chocolatey trail mix to go with it.
but i refrain. why?
because the above mentioned book is changing the way i think about food and its relationship to the God i love and serve. why don't i crave God like i crave those cookies? and why don't i crave God's comfort [instead of that of food] when circumstances are crappy? well, now i am stopping to think. thinking about God, praying to him and asking him for help because i know i won't be able to do it on my own. food - and our relationship to it - is important to God. in fact, two important stories from the Bible [and very likely more, if i think about it] regard food... do you know which ones?
1/ the fall -- eve ate the forbidden fruit [i often eat forbidden foods all the time]
2/ jacob and esau -- esau gave up his birthright because he was hungry! [what important things am i giving up because i consume recklessly?]
yes, i am in good hands with God because he will [and is!] help me with my cravings and the refocusing of my desires of such things. i am desiring to keep balance in all areas and live with integrity in all areas, too!
if you are reading this blog post and are interested in reading Made to Crave along with me and sharing in discussion and accountability, post a message. i
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Monday, February 14, 2011
So glad...
They who seek the Lord shall not be in want of any good thing.
Psalm 34:10 (nasb)
Psalm 34:10 (nasb)
I needed to hear this today like I needed to be with the people I was with this afternoon.
Saturday, February 12, 2011
Day 1: God is like...
I got an email with a bunch of these ad-like descriptions on God. I thought I'd blog each day about one and relate it to me. So, the first day i am choosing:
...BOUNTY, He is the quicker picker upper! Can handle the tough jobs, and He won't fall apart on you.
Oh, how true! I know that God is the only one I can truly count on. I can tell him ANYTHING and he will not fall apart on me. He can handle it. He created me so He is able to handle any feeling, any thought, my anger, my desires, my frustration, my joy... anything. And yes, sometimes those feelings are TOUGH!
Ephesians 3:20
Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.
...BOUNTY, He is the quicker picker upper! Can handle the tough jobs, and He won't fall apart on you.
Oh, how true! I know that God is the only one I can truly count on. I can tell him ANYTHING and he will not fall apart on me. He can handle it. He created me so He is able to handle any feeling, any thought, my anger, my desires, my frustration, my joy... anything. And yes, sometimes those feelings are TOUGH!
Ephesians 3:20
Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.
Sunday, February 6, 2011
New Year's Eve's Spontaneity
New Year's Eve was one of the most spontaneous days ever. What started out as a lazy day at home turned out to be anything but.
Friends from up north were in town and wanted to hang out. First suggestion was the park. Second suggestion was the beach. We took 'em up on it.
Drove out to Huntington Beach; had Wahoo's for lunch; hung out on the beach til sunset; headed to Starbuck's for some hot cocoa; then Chick-fil-a for dinner; Ian to bed when we got home; the girls stayed up for the bewitching hour and then we all went to bed.
Here are some pictures from that amazing day:
Ian flying a kite!
The kids playing with the gargantuan seaweed they found...
good friends!
love this family!
What a day! And the kids and I agree. What a great way to spend the last day of the year -- with good friends and Daddy.
:)
Friends from up north were in town and wanted to hang out. First suggestion was the park. Second suggestion was the beach. We took 'em up on it.
Drove out to Huntington Beach; had Wahoo's for lunch; hung out on the beach til sunset; headed to Starbuck's for some hot cocoa; then Chick-fil-a for dinner; Ian to bed when we got home; the girls stayed up for the bewitching hour and then we all went to bed.
Here are some pictures from that amazing day:
Ian flying a kite!
The kids playing with the gargantuan seaweed they found...
good friends!
love this family!
What a day! And the kids and I agree. What a great way to spend the last day of the year -- with good friends and Daddy.
:)
Christmas Eve's irony
This Christmas has been so hectic, though I planned it not to be.
To take the pressure off, i suggested an alternative to our traditional Swedish meatball feast [which I was going to make].
Dinner at in-n-out. I was perusing the drive-thru menu and began giving my order to the guy at my window. I look up at him and catch a glance at his nametag. I couldn't believe it. His name was Brian.
Tears started to flow. How embarrassing?! I actually wanted to ask him if he was for real. Maybe it was an angel...
Oh, no. My mistake. She was at the window. Her name was Gabriella.
[truth!]
To take the pressure off, i suggested an alternative to our traditional Swedish meatball feast [which I was going to make].
Dinner at in-n-out. I was perusing the drive-thru menu and began giving my order to the guy at my window. I look up at him and catch a glance at his nametag. I couldn't believe it. His name was Brian.
Tears started to flow. How embarrassing?! I actually wanted to ask him if he was for real. Maybe it was an angel...
Oh, no. My mistake. She was at the window. Her name was Gabriella.
[truth!]
With love
my time of reflection this weekend began with this. my time of active reflection lasted for over an hour. memories, good and bad. tears. one story at a time.
exhausted.
will catch up on other blog posts later. :)
guitar memories
i was with brian when he bought his first guitar 18 years ago. guitar center. he needed a left handed guitar. he found one. i think he paid $400 for it on sale. not very many left handed guitars out there. i still have it now.
had to take av to get her pink guitar tuned so she could practice without being discouraged that it sounded terrible. she's actually getting quite good. she is making her daddy so proud right now i am sure.
we went to a local guitar shop. beauties hanging from the ceiling. i never saw any lefties but lots of beautiful works of art [and really expensive guitar cases].
i asked the guy if left-handed guitars could be restrung for a right handed person.
yeah. why?
it was my husband's guitar.
why doesn't he play anymore?
he's deceased.
ooh.
that was awkward.
walking away from that scenario, i could have said it so differently to make everyone a bit more comfortable with it all.
next time.
i don't have to mention him.
but i want to.
i miss him so much.
he had such talent.
such creativity.
sigh.
had to take av to get her pink guitar tuned so she could practice without being discouraged that it sounded terrible. she's actually getting quite good. she is making her daddy so proud right now i am sure.
we went to a local guitar shop. beauties hanging from the ceiling. i never saw any lefties but lots of beautiful works of art [and really expensive guitar cases].
i asked the guy if left-handed guitars could be restrung for a right handed person.
yeah. why?
it was my husband's guitar.
why doesn't he play anymore?
he's deceased.
ooh.
that was awkward.
walking away from that scenario, i could have said it so differently to make everyone a bit more comfortable with it all.
next time.
i don't have to mention him.
but i want to.
i miss him so much.
he had such talent.
such creativity.
sigh.
Solitude
Do you see the face in this picture? Two wide eyes and a smile... well, i must tell you that right now, i am sitting in my friend's home, completely ALONE, well rested and at peace. It has been a long time since being alone with nothing to do but BE. I cannot even express to you how my heart feels about this. It's good!
Let's put it this way:
I woke up this morning to the singing of a bird. One of God's many alarm clocks to awaken one to every day He has made. Within a half hour or so, I could hear the singing of about 6 different birds and even a cricket. All singing praises to their Creator and letting the world know. I actually joined in to this chorus by singing this famous song:
i love it! This weekend is exactly what I have needed.
Time alone by myself and my Jesus.
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