This past week has been a crazy one. Monday, June 11, we left our home in Coarsegold, CA, and started our long drive to Wisconsin. Except it didn't exactly happen the way we planned. At all. First, we had planned to leave on Sunday but decided to postpone it a day because we wanted more time to clean. Second, we had planned on stopping in the Grand Canyon briefly on our way to our first stop in Blanding, UT. Catlyn and I were with the cats in one car, while Steve and Hannah were in the other. All ready to go only a little late, we jumped into the cars and...click, click, click. The Santa Fe would not start. An hour and a half later, after a jump start, we were off, deciding the Grand Canyon would have to wait for another time. Praise the Lord for girls who are easygoing. They were fine with not being able to stop there. Then there were the cats. We thought they would be happier with two in one cage and the other skittish one by herself in a smaller carrier. The meowing would not stop, then there were...messier, stinkier issues. After stopping and cleaning everything up, putting all three cats back in one cage with a brilliantly (by Steve) manufactured litter box, we were happily on the road again. Miraculously, the cats calmed down immediately and slept curled up together. An unheard of feat. We arrived very late, very exhausted in Blanding, UT, at nearly 11:30pm. The next morning, we were up early, ready to head to Grand Island, NE. Nope. The Santa Fe again would not start. After having to wait for an auto parts store to open, Steve bought and installed a new battery, and we were off again. After the previous stressful day and little sleep, Catlyn was not feeling well. After an emergency stop on the side of the road and some cleaning up, we realized driving all the way to Nebraska was going to be too difficult. Steve canceled our hotel in Grand Island, found a hotel in Denver, (less than 5 hours away) and arranged for us to stay at Twin Lakes Bible Camp where we had worked for 4 1/2 years and where Catlyn was born. Shortening our days was exactly what we needed. We spent a semi-relaxing evening in our (barely passable) hotel room and washed rugs and blankets soiled by the cats. After breakfast we headed out for a 10-hour drive to Twin Lakes. It was long, but manageable as we looked forward to cheese curds at Twin Lakes Groceries. Despite the thunderstorm, we slept well and awoke refreshed. After spending some quality time with old friends, we were off with just 8 1/2 hours to go. The drive through Iowa, Minnesota, and Wisconsin reminded me how much I love trees. I have missed the warm, green trees of Washington and these were so similar. Catlyn laughed at me as I said it felt like a big, warm hug. Not something most people would attribute to trees. :) Our arrival at our temporary home in Florence, WI, was very welcome, and even more so because of the amazing abundance of groceries, provisions, and comforts waiting for us there.
This trip was nothing like we had planned. We thought we had all the stops and hours planned out, but we forgot God's plans are greater. We forgot to add "God willing" to our plans. We missed the Grand Canyon, there were times of yelling and lost patience, and there was stress. Because we forgot. God has our lives in His hands. He knows what we can handle, and He knows what is best. When we forge ahead with no regard for His leading, we miss out. The hours were beautiful when I chose to focus on the incredible land God created. They were miserable when I focused on being impatient, angry, and stressed. Life is the same way. We did not choose to be torn from our church and school families in California. It was not our plan to move halfway across the country to a relatively unknown land. But it was God's. I can choose to be sad, homesick, and bitter, or I can let that all go and embrace the plan God has for us. I choose God. I am excited to be here though this home is temporary, our stuff is not here, and I know only the people I briefly met on Sunday. I'm following God, though I'm far away from my dad right now when he has just lost his brother. I'm looking forward to whatever God has for us in this new chapter of our lives, even though I have absolutely no idea what that entails. He will provide, as He always has. And He will bless us when we follow Him in every area of our lives.
Monday, June 18, 2018
Friday, August 24, 2012
The Alchemist review
I just finished reading The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho. It is a fairly short novel and an "easy" read, but one that is loaded with quotes to ponder and thoughts to meditate on.
First, I must say I don't believe God is literally in everything nor do I believe everything has a soul. I do believe God's fingerprints are on everything. He created everything in this universe, so just as we can see glimpses of an artist in his work, so we can see glimpses of God in everything He has created. If we immerse ourselves in nature and learn more about what God has created, we will see Him and learn more about Him.
"But if you believe yourself worthy of the thing you fought so hard to get, then you become an instrument of God, you help the Soul of the World, and you understand why you are here." (p. viii)
In that quote Mr. Coelho is referring to not feeling guilty about getting what we want, but to accept what we have been given. Not to "forget about all obstacles we overcame, all the sufferings we endured, all the things we had to give up in order to get this far." (p. viii) We should not refuse the gifts God gives us because we feel we do not deserve them. "...every blessing ignored becomes a curse." (p. 58)
"...for her, every day was the same, and when each day is the same as the next, it's because people fail to recognize the good things that happen in their lives every day that the sun rises." (p. 27)
"The secret of happiness is to see all the marvels of the world, and never to forget the drops of oil on the spoon." (p. 32)
The shepherd learns to listen to everything--to nature, to the animals, and to the people around him. He learns lessons from them all. The "omens" he follows are the whispers of the still, small voice leading him in the direction he needs to go.
"If he pushed forward impulsively, he would fail to see the signs and omens left by God along his path." (p. 89)
"Forget about the future, and live each day according to the teachings, confident that God loves his children." (p. 103)
The basic premise of the book follows a shepherd who has the same dream twice and decides he must follow the path on which it is leading him. His dream must be fulfilled, and he must not give it up. "People are afraid to pursue their most important dreams, because they feel that they don't deserve them, or that they'll be unable to achieve them." (p. 130)
This resonated with me. I paused my reading quite a few times and thought about what my "dream" was. What was it in my life that I have felt called to do since I was young? What was that thing that I started doing when I was younger "because I didn't know better"?
"From then on, the boy understood his heart. He asked it, please, never to stop speaking to him. He asked that, when he wandered far from his dreams, his heart press him and sound the alarm. The boy swore that, every time he heard the alarm, he would heed its message." (p. 132)
"There is only one thing that makes a dream impossible to achieve: the fear of failure." (p. 141)
Am I ignoring my calling, my dream, because I'm afraid to fail? Definitely. Who wants to have people tell you that you're not good at the one thing you think you're supposed to do? Perhaps even worse yet, who wants people to look at the thing you have produced and say, "Meh"?!
The book has wonderful thoughts about continuing on your path even when there are pauses along the way. Even when life gets hard. It has inspired me, along with other "omens" God has brought into my life at this time, to get back to work. I don't need to be afraid.
Then it probably should have ended. Because the ending was a little disappointing. The epilogue was even worse.
Because I like the idea of God taking us up to the "mountaintop" literally or figuratively and then, when we expect an earthbound treasure, an earth-shattering revelation, or something that will show us the secret to the universe, He simply turns to us with a grin and, with a flourish and perhaps a twinkle in His eye, shows us the brilliant view saying, "See? Pretty amazing, huh?"
It's not a wild goose chase. It wasn't a waste of time. It just wasn't what WE were expecting. And surprisingly enough, it is a treasure, it should be an earth-shattering revelation, and it shows us GOD, Who is THE Secret of the universe.
Lord willing, I will always remember the treasure I am seeking is only God. I only need His approval. I only need to follow Him. I only need to glorify Him in everything I do.
First, I must say I don't believe God is literally in everything nor do I believe everything has a soul. I do believe God's fingerprints are on everything. He created everything in this universe, so just as we can see glimpses of an artist in his work, so we can see glimpses of God in everything He has created. If we immerse ourselves in nature and learn more about what God has created, we will see Him and learn more about Him.
"But if you believe yourself worthy of the thing you fought so hard to get, then you become an instrument of God, you help the Soul of the World, and you understand why you are here." (p. viii)
In that quote Mr. Coelho is referring to not feeling guilty about getting what we want, but to accept what we have been given. Not to "forget about all obstacles we overcame, all the sufferings we endured, all the things we had to give up in order to get this far." (p. viii) We should not refuse the gifts God gives us because we feel we do not deserve them. "...every blessing ignored becomes a curse." (p. 58)
"...for her, every day was the same, and when each day is the same as the next, it's because people fail to recognize the good things that happen in their lives every day that the sun rises." (p. 27)
"The secret of happiness is to see all the marvels of the world, and never to forget the drops of oil on the spoon." (p. 32)
The shepherd learns to listen to everything--to nature, to the animals, and to the people around him. He learns lessons from them all. The "omens" he follows are the whispers of the still, small voice leading him in the direction he needs to go.
"If he pushed forward impulsively, he would fail to see the signs and omens left by God along his path." (p. 89)
"Forget about the future, and live each day according to the teachings, confident that God loves his children." (p. 103)
The basic premise of the book follows a shepherd who has the same dream twice and decides he must follow the path on which it is leading him. His dream must be fulfilled, and he must not give it up. "People are afraid to pursue their most important dreams, because they feel that they don't deserve them, or that they'll be unable to achieve them." (p. 130)
This resonated with me. I paused my reading quite a few times and thought about what my "dream" was. What was it in my life that I have felt called to do since I was young? What was that thing that I started doing when I was younger "because I didn't know better"?
"From then on, the boy understood his heart. He asked it, please, never to stop speaking to him. He asked that, when he wandered far from his dreams, his heart press him and sound the alarm. The boy swore that, every time he heard the alarm, he would heed its message." (p. 132)
"There is only one thing that makes a dream impossible to achieve: the fear of failure." (p. 141)
Am I ignoring my calling, my dream, because I'm afraid to fail? Definitely. Who wants to have people tell you that you're not good at the one thing you think you're supposed to do? Perhaps even worse yet, who wants people to look at the thing you have produced and say, "Meh"?!
The book has wonderful thoughts about continuing on your path even when there are pauses along the way. Even when life gets hard. It has inspired me, along with other "omens" God has brought into my life at this time, to get back to work. I don't need to be afraid.
Then it probably should have ended. Because the ending was a little disappointing. The epilogue was even worse.
Because I like the idea of God taking us up to the "mountaintop" literally or figuratively and then, when we expect an earthbound treasure, an earth-shattering revelation, or something that will show us the secret to the universe, He simply turns to us with a grin and, with a flourish and perhaps a twinkle in His eye, shows us the brilliant view saying, "See? Pretty amazing, huh?"
It's not a wild goose chase. It wasn't a waste of time. It just wasn't what WE were expecting. And surprisingly enough, it is a treasure, it should be an earth-shattering revelation, and it shows us GOD, Who is THE Secret of the universe.
Lord willing, I will always remember the treasure I am seeking is only God. I only need His approval. I only need to follow Him. I only need to glorify Him in everything I do.
Friday, August 10, 2012
Gone Girl review
I just finished reading Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn yesterday. I will start off by saying I probably would have stopped a few pages in if I hadn't been reading it for book club. It sounded interesting and the premise was fairly clever, but reading it was a chore. There were times when I was so disgusted, I felt ill. Frankly, I wouldn't care if this book was well-written (which it isn't), the subject matter alone makes it horrid.
[WARNING: Serious spoilers ahead. Do not continue reading if you do not want to know the story.]
It was written in first person, which, I have decided, can be quite a lazy way of writing. You can excuse your poor grammar, lack of imagination, and obsessive use of profanity because "that's how the character would act/think/speak." Lazy.
I won't go on and on about the profanity, but one paragraph... It drives me crazy because it is happening more and more. I understand people swear, and to each his own, but why are we using it so much in print? What happened to creativity and using actual words? Profanity implies lack of self-control and imagination. Your brain is taken up with other functions--pain, frustration, fear--so you resort to cursing. Completely understandable. But if you do it all the time, where are your other more intelligent words going? Obviously, in some ways we seem to be getting less intelligent, at least American society, though I know it is happening in other countries as well. Texting does not happen in complete sentences or even complete words. It doesn't matter if you spell everything incorrectly. We are changing spelling and grammar rules to be "more natural" for everyone to use. I could go on, but I'll stop. Right after I praise author William Joyce for writing children's books that use a larger vocabulary to broaden our children's minds, rather than talking down to them. Bravo.
Profanity aside, this book focused on two utterly dysfunctional people. One an extreme psychopath, the other an extreme co-dependent mess. SPOILER: But, hey, let's keep them married and living "happily" in the end. Sounds like a great idea. No consequences for all! Lovely. And this is what our society has become. If you can get away with murder, especially if "they deserve it," go for it. Definitely if you're not actually hurting anyone, go for it. No consequences for the psychopath keeping her husband terrified of being killed in his sleep so he will stay married to her. No consequences to the absolute evil of bringing a child into this dysfunctional catastrophe.
This book is basically saying it is okay to degrade and abuse someone else, as long as they are "okay" with it. Or as long as you can guilt them into thinking they are okay with it. Or threatening them enough that they have to be okay with it. Allowing violence in some areas, opens the door for it in others. At the very least, it leaves the door open for excuses. Counseling might be helpful. There are quite a few more books that are glorifying masochistic behavior and it needs to stop. There is a reason it is defined as a "sexual perversion." It's not healthy. It makes me angry that society has embraced one trilogy in particular. It makes me even more angry that some women are thinking maybe that's what is missing in their marriages or relationships. It will not "spice up" your sex life. It will slowly but utterly destroy it. Your marriage is NOT missing violence, no matter how "mild" you think it is. I promise. If you think it is, again, counseling might help.
We are sliding quickly into the foul, depraved Roman lifestyle. Well, we were already there, but we're getting worse. We've already covered most of the Colosseum-type behavior with all of the disgusting reality shows on TV right now. Rome FELL, people.
Back to this horrific book. The violence and anger these two people feel toward each other is disturbing. The fact that the woman is SO conniving and messed up that she would plan everything a year in advance is a problem right there. I kept hoping she would "get what was coming to her." Or something. Anything. But no, she gets her doting husband back because he's terrified of her and he can't kill her because somehow he "can't imagine life without her." I don't like reading books unless the killer is brought to justice in the end. I applaud Denzel Washington for only playing the bad guy if he is properly defeated (or thoroughly destroyed) in the end. There is no justice in this book. Nothing but a "happy" ending for a woman who nearly destroyed at least two lives, killed a man in cold blood, and then is having a baby she doesn't even want to keep a man she doesn't even truly care for and who very nearly hates her. Dreadful.
[WARNING: Serious spoilers ahead. Do not continue reading if you do not want to know the story.]
It was written in first person, which, I have decided, can be quite a lazy way of writing. You can excuse your poor grammar, lack of imagination, and obsessive use of profanity because "that's how the character would act/think/speak." Lazy.
I won't go on and on about the profanity, but one paragraph... It drives me crazy because it is happening more and more. I understand people swear, and to each his own, but why are we using it so much in print? What happened to creativity and using actual words? Profanity implies lack of self-control and imagination. Your brain is taken up with other functions--pain, frustration, fear--so you resort to cursing. Completely understandable. But if you do it all the time, where are your other more intelligent words going? Obviously, in some ways we seem to be getting less intelligent, at least American society, though I know it is happening in other countries as well. Texting does not happen in complete sentences or even complete words. It doesn't matter if you spell everything incorrectly. We are changing spelling and grammar rules to be "more natural" for everyone to use. I could go on, but I'll stop. Right after I praise author William Joyce for writing children's books that use a larger vocabulary to broaden our children's minds, rather than talking down to them. Bravo.
Profanity aside, this book focused on two utterly dysfunctional people. One an extreme psychopath, the other an extreme co-dependent mess. SPOILER: But, hey, let's keep them married and living "happily" in the end. Sounds like a great idea. No consequences for all! Lovely. And this is what our society has become. If you can get away with murder, especially if "they deserve it," go for it. Definitely if you're not actually hurting anyone, go for it. No consequences for the psychopath keeping her husband terrified of being killed in his sleep so he will stay married to her. No consequences to the absolute evil of bringing a child into this dysfunctional catastrophe.
This book is basically saying it is okay to degrade and abuse someone else, as long as they are "okay" with it. Or as long as you can guilt them into thinking they are okay with it. Or threatening them enough that they have to be okay with it. Allowing violence in some areas, opens the door for it in others. At the very least, it leaves the door open for excuses. Counseling might be helpful. There are quite a few more books that are glorifying masochistic behavior and it needs to stop. There is a reason it is defined as a "sexual perversion." It's not healthy. It makes me angry that society has embraced one trilogy in particular. It makes me even more angry that some women are thinking maybe that's what is missing in their marriages or relationships. It will not "spice up" your sex life. It will slowly but utterly destroy it. Your marriage is NOT missing violence, no matter how "mild" you think it is. I promise. If you think it is, again, counseling might help.
We are sliding quickly into the foul, depraved Roman lifestyle. Well, we were already there, but we're getting worse. We've already covered most of the Colosseum-type behavior with all of the disgusting reality shows on TV right now. Rome FELL, people.
Back to this horrific book. The violence and anger these two people feel toward each other is disturbing. The fact that the woman is SO conniving and messed up that she would plan everything a year in advance is a problem right there. I kept hoping she would "get what was coming to her." Or something. Anything. But no, she gets her doting husband back because he's terrified of her and he can't kill her because somehow he "can't imagine life without her." I don't like reading books unless the killer is brought to justice in the end. I applaud Denzel Washington for only playing the bad guy if he is properly defeated (or thoroughly destroyed) in the end. There is no justice in this book. Nothing but a "happy" ending for a woman who nearly destroyed at least two lives, killed a man in cold blood, and then is having a baby she doesn't even want to keep a man she doesn't even truly care for and who very nearly hates her. Dreadful.
Monday, June 20, 2011
Movie reviews
I've been asked a few times whether or not I liked a movie. And sometimes, it just depends. There aren't too many movies out there (that I've chosen to see) that I haven't liked. Partly because I'm choosy and partly because I'm fairly easygoing. I chose to see The Last Airbender (against recommendations) because I have liked most of what M. Night Shyamalan has done and because Jackson Rathbone was in it. And because it looked pretty cool. Well, it did look pretty cool. And that was about it. I wouldn't recommend it unless you just want to appreciate some pretty neat special effects.
The most recent movie was Green Lantern. Steve read the Green Lantern comics and liked him, so I read up on the lore and was "prepared." I have really enjoyed watching Ryan Reynolds in a few very different roles and felt he had what it would take to pull off Hal Jordan. I believe I was right. And I have to say Blake Lively was a pleasant surprise. She is very young and 11 years younger than Ryan Reynolds, but she still managed to make it fairly easy to believe they could have grown up together. The seriousness and intensity of her performance was also a nice surprise.
The movie was intense and a little scary in parts, which was the point. It was a lot of backstory and idea to put into one movie. And, I suppose, if you know nothing about Green Lantern or the Green Lantern Corps, it might be a little too much to take in. Unless you're willing to let it be a superhero movie. Unless you're willing to listen and follow the story. Green Lantern has been written and rewritten a few times, as have most comic book superheroes. And I suppose if you like one version, embracing another could be difficult. This is the reason I don't mind "changing" my superheroes up a bit. I will not complain--too much--about backstory being changed. Or about different people being the catalyst to whatever event. Some things work better on screen. X-Men: First Class is an excellent example of this. They changed SO much, but I really enjoyed the new ideas. And the movie would have been a little insane if they had tried to make it like the comics.
That being said, if the movie is based on a book...I tend to have more issues. I have been annoyed--and annoyed my husband by huffing--when things I felt were important were left out or changed. My most recent annoyance was the absence of my favorite line in (The Twilight Saga) Eclipse. And those movies in general have not been my most favorite of book retellings. But I have to look at the movie as a whole. I have to respect the author's opinion. Because if Stephenie Meyer and J.K. Rowling have given their blessings on these movies, then I need to shut up. I believe you can always find something to complain about, if you look hard enough. But is that the point of going to see a movie? So I will be in the theatre watching the last Harry Potter, and I will be at the midnight showing of Breaking Dawn, both parts.
I haven't read any of the reviews for Green Lantern. I tend to ignore most reviews nowadays. I believe most reviewers have a hard time separating their personal opinion about the main actors, the director, or what they think the character--especially comic book characters--should look or act like. And I have heard a few comments like "It was too much like a superhero movie." Really? Why the heck would you go see a movie like that if you didn't want it to be a superhero movie? Not that I would do any better. Give me a Michael Bay movie and I will defend it, for the most part. Mostly because there are times when you just want to see things blow up. And he does that so very well. So, I will go see the next Transformers happily. And I know I won't be disappointed. The story could possibly be ridiculous, or even offensive as they make the space race about Decepticons and change history. But, hey, it's a movie about giant robots...there are times when you just have to suspend your beliefs. And I feel that is the point of most movies.
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Life Unexpected
What an interesting year. The first half was slow and easy and then July hit. While Steve was away at camp with his junior high school kids, we received a phone call from the company that managed our rental house. She just wanted to let us know that the house was being put up for sale and there would be a sign going up. I was a little stunned. Even more stunned when the next day, the sign was up. I was hoping for a little time. We had been looking for a house to buy, but not very seriously. Apparently, it was time to look a little more seriously. So, we did. We looked, found some we might be interested in; but after seeing them in person, we realized they needed a LOT of work before being livable. We kept looking. In August, we finally decided to put an offer on the house we were renting. It was a short-sale, so we prepared to wait for awhile for an answer. "Awhile" was nearly 2 months.
Then in mid-September, we took a little break and spent a truly wonderful week at Disneyland and California Adventure with my parents. The joy of that magical place was made even more joyful seeing it through two little girls' eyes for the first time. Hannah and Catlyn enjoyed every single moment. They were much more patient standing in line than we had dreamed, and the few long lines we encountered (bonus of going in September) were skipped by my dad's wheelchair. Which was the only difficulty on our trip. Dad had just had surgery on his knee, and it was not up to standing in line. But we coped with the wheelchair and it became a blessing rather than an annoyance, for the most part. :) Both girls even ventured onto Space Mountain and survived. :)
Back to the "real world," we kept praying for a positive answer on the house. We had started feeling this was really the place for us and had stopped looking at any other houses. September 27, we received what we felt was terrible news. The house had gotten another, higher offer. I felt everything crash down on me, but that's a previous blog. :) So, we started looking again. We still couldn't imagine a better house for us. I decided to write down what would be in my "dream house." Just in case God needed help finding something good. ;) September 29, I wrote: "I said I wanted a place that had a nice master bath, I'd like 2 sinks, but I don't really need that...I'd really like a walk-in closet. I would love to have a little 1/2 bath for guests. I really like the idea of a little deck for Steve and I to sit evenings...I'd love space for the girls to run about and not have to worry about a busy road...I'd love a place to put a pool or a good pool nearby. I'd like to not feel people are constantly looking into our house...I want room to have kids over." There were other dreams that I didn't even think about asking for. They seemed too much. I'd always loved the idea of having the house wired for speakers, and Steve dreamed of a tankless water heater.
Barely a week later we found THE house. It was bank-owned and they were asking a little more than we could afford, but we decided to offer what we could afford and pray for the best. It was THE house. That's the only way I can describe it. I had been praying we would just walk into a house and KNOW this was the place for us. Sheesh, my heart started pounding the minute I looked at the realtor sheet describing it. I thought it was WAY too good to be true. I refused to get my hopes up, but my heart kept pounding. It was gorgeous. It was our dream house.
All through this process, our incredible pastors preached sermons based on Robert Morgan's book The Red Sea Rules The Same God Who Led You In Will Lead You Out. In my last blog, I talked about how perfect the second sermon was for me. They all came right at the time I needed them. Rule 3--"Acknowledge your enemy, but keep your eyes on the Lord" came when I needed to stop being bitter toward the people who put an offer on our house. Not that they are our enemies, but it felt like it at the time. Rule 4--"Pray." This came right after we had decided to put an offer on THE house. Rule 5--"Stay calm and confident, and give God time to work." Waiting. We were waiting to hear about the house. Would the bank except our offer? Rule 6--"When unsure, just take the next logical step by faith." We were sure stepping out in faith. We had nothing to fall back on as we withdrew our offer on the house we were renting. Rule 7--"Envision God's enveloping presence." We were waiting and waiting and waiting. We just had to trust God, and I could truly feel everything was in God's hands. He knew what was best. I had no clue. :) Rule 8--"Trust God to deliver in His own unique way." Wow. Yes. This house is unique. We had looked at soooo many. We had seen so many houses that we could have "made work." But this one? All the others we had seen were built much earlier. All the others had something that would need work. None of the others had soooo many of the things we were dreaming about. Rule 9--"View your current crisis as a faith builder for the future." "Trials are treadmills and dumbbells for the soul." Pastor Rick said, "God's goal in our lives is not to make us comfortable but to make us more like Christ." AMEN!! My faith has never been tested so much, and it has grown enormous amounts.
The last rule: "Don't forget to PRAISE Him!!" And, if you ask me about this house, I pray you will hear that I AM praising Him. Every time someone gasps when they see it for the first time, every time someone says "Wow" when they see it, I'm giving all the glory to the Lord. We got this house because of GOD. We are blessed because God is gracious, loving, and merciful. We have this house because God wants us to use it for His glory. So, it is HIS house.
By the way, my list of things for my "dream house"? This house...ALL of that, and more. We have an amazing master bath, complete with a whirlpool tub that came in handy after a billion trips up and down our hill as we moved. We have two really cool sinks. The kind I have been wanting for years. We have TWO closets that are sort of walk-in size. We have an adorable 1/2 bath right by the front door. We have a great little deck, just for two, off the room we have made into our office/den. We have 1.6 acres that includes rocks to climb on, a place for a playhouse, and a little seasonal creek. We can hardly see our neighbors. And we are looking forward to the church office party here in January, hosting an awesome Super Bowl party for the youth, and welcoming lots of people over as much as we can.
It was a long and difficult journey, and our 13th move in 15 1/2 years was one of our most difficult, but we are all moved in, and Hannah said, "This Christmas is the best Christmas ever!" To God be the GLORY!!
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
His Glory
"Be more concerned for God's glory than for your relief." This is #2 of God-given strategies for difficult times discussed in Robert Morgan's book The Red Sea Rules The Same God Who Led You In Will Lead You Out. This book. These rules. Whew. The timing the Lord has is impeccable. Our pastors at Sierra Vista Presbyterian are preaching on this book right now. And Paul's sermon on rule #2 sunk in at just the right time. Sunday was a great day, then Monday came crashing down upon us. The house we made an offer on, are living in, and thought we would stay in got another higher, better offer. I cried. Believe me, I cried. I sat on the floor of our closet in the dark, rocked back and forth, and sobbed my heart out. I even had to excuse myself from the dinner table when tears started to fall again. But...God shines through. God whispers His comfort, His perfect words, and I am at peace. How? Because I have realized God's glory is more important than my plan. God's glory is more important than my life. Instead of praying, "God, get me out of this mess" as my sinful nature desperately wanted to, I decided to put Paul's sermon into practice. I decided to pray, "How can I bring glory to God in this situation?" How can my life point others to the Creator of the universe? You know, peace FLOODS. It doesn't seem to seep slowly into my soul, it POURS, saturates, drowns. What a wonderful feeling.
"God never wastes a suffering. He always uses them to help us grow." Lord, help me to grow. Help our girls to see Your awesome power and provision. Help them to see parents who fully trust in You. Help my dear husband to experience this incredible peace and joy. Help us to follow You wherever You lead.
The rest of those strategies?
Rule #1-- Realize that God means for you to be where you are.
Rule #2 -- Be more concerned for God's glory than for your relief.
Rule #3 -- Acknowledge your enemy, but keep your eyes on the Lord.
Rule #4 -- Pray.
Rule #5 -- Stay calm and confident, and give God time to work.
Rule #6 -- When unsure, just take the next logical step by faith.
Rule #7 -- Envision God's enveloping presence.
Rule #8 -- Trust God to deliver in His own unique way.
Rule #9 -- View your current crisis as a faith builder for the future.
Rule #10 -- Don't forget to praise Him.
So, we will wait. We will go look at other houses, just in case. Just in case God doesn't want us to stay in this house because we know He is able to keep us here if that's His will. Just in case God has a better house for us. A better place for us to be. I can't imagine. I thought we could be a light right here. Maybe we still will be. Maybe we already have been and it's time to move on. I don't know. But God does, and I'm perfectly content to let Him work. Steve said he hates being in "crisis mode." And I hate the "not knowing," too. I'd like to be settled and have a house that is our very own. But crisis is where we have a chance to let God work His OWN way. We have no clue what we're doing so we have to let Him lead. It's hard, but it's a GREAT place to be. Let's "stay calm and confident, and give God time to work." :)
"God never wastes a suffering. He always uses them to help us grow." Lord, help me to grow. Help our girls to see Your awesome power and provision. Help them to see parents who fully trust in You. Help my dear husband to experience this incredible peace and joy. Help us to follow You wherever You lead.
The rest of those strategies?
Rule #1-- Realize that God means for you to be where you are.
Rule #2 -- Be more concerned for God's glory than for your relief.
Rule #3 -- Acknowledge your enemy, but keep your eyes on the Lord.
Rule #4 -- Pray.
Rule #5 -- Stay calm and confident, and give God time to work.
Rule #6 -- When unsure, just take the next logical step by faith.
Rule #7 -- Envision God's enveloping presence.
Rule #8 -- Trust God to deliver in His own unique way.
Rule #9 -- View your current crisis as a faith builder for the future.
Rule #10 -- Don't forget to praise Him.
So, we will wait. We will go look at other houses, just in case. Just in case God doesn't want us to stay in this house because we know He is able to keep us here if that's His will. Just in case God has a better house for us. A better place for us to be. I can't imagine. I thought we could be a light right here. Maybe we still will be. Maybe we already have been and it's time to move on. I don't know. But God does, and I'm perfectly content to let Him work. Steve said he hates being in "crisis mode." And I hate the "not knowing," too. I'd like to be settled and have a house that is our very own. But crisis is where we have a chance to let God work His OWN way. We have no clue what we're doing so we have to let Him lead. It's hard, but it's a GREAT place to be. Let's "stay calm and confident, and give God time to work." :)
Friday, July 30, 2010
Movie quotes
Stephen King wrote an article for Entertainment Weekly back in 2004 called "Lines to Live By." And I have to agree. He said, "I have a theory that Americans fall into two groups: those who are passionate about movies and those who aren't. Those who are live in families that develop a whole stock of great lines, a kind of inner slanguage that helps to trace a family's growth just as accurately (and sometimes just as poignantly) as old videotapes or Kodaks in a scrapbook."
As we sat at dinner the other night, just the girls and I, I looked out the window and said, "Squirrel!" Catlyn IMMEDIATELY said, "I hate squirrels." And if you have seen UP, you understand. My precious daughter doesn't really hate squirrels, she was just quoting the movie. And from there, we immediately start with other quotes. My favorite? "It's funny because the squirrel gets dead." :) Then we move on to other movies. If you go up to Catlyn and say, "Gummy bears, gummy bears, gummy bears!" She will, without skipping a beat, say, "Not now, Steve." She will probably even roll her eyes and sound exasperated. :) (That is from Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs) Another favorite from that movie is, "You did it, Chicken Brent!!" :) They will do the "super bark" from Bolt. They will quote Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (the Johnny Depp version, of course). We have been thoroughly enjoying watching movies with them, then repeating our favorite lines over and over...and over and over. :)
Perhaps they get this from their mom and dad who can have whole conversations using Simpsons quotes or Venture Brothers quotes. :) Whatever the case, we have become a family who will quote movies. I can't wait to hear the next round of quotes.
As we sat at dinner the other night, just the girls and I, I looked out the window and said, "Squirrel!" Catlyn IMMEDIATELY said, "I hate squirrels." And if you have seen UP, you understand. My precious daughter doesn't really hate squirrels, she was just quoting the movie. And from there, we immediately start with other quotes. My favorite? "It's funny because the squirrel gets dead." :) Then we move on to other movies. If you go up to Catlyn and say, "Gummy bears, gummy bears, gummy bears!" She will, without skipping a beat, say, "Not now, Steve." She will probably even roll her eyes and sound exasperated. :) (That is from Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs) Another favorite from that movie is, "You did it, Chicken Brent!!" :) They will do the "super bark" from Bolt. They will quote Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (the Johnny Depp version, of course). We have been thoroughly enjoying watching movies with them, then repeating our favorite lines over and over...and over and over. :)
Perhaps they get this from their mom and dad who can have whole conversations using Simpsons quotes or Venture Brothers quotes. :) Whatever the case, we have become a family who will quote movies. I can't wait to hear the next round of quotes.
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