Tuesday Twenty

Tuesday twenty 

I missed last week, but seeing how I'm with my dear childhood friend, exploring the city that never sleeps, there is a surplus of things to reflect on and be grateful for. 

1. airplanes. What a phenomenon. 150 strangers packed into a metal tube and catapulted through the air. One minute I was in Fort Lauderdale, two and a half hours later I was in New York. Crazy. 
2. A few days of concentrated time with Andrew. 
3. Change of scenery. Love where I live, but a break from routine does wonders. 
4. Getting lost. (Geographically, speaking) I feel like I've been blindfolded, spun around, picked up and dropped off at a random junction in a concrete corn maze. Leah's at work and I know absolutely no one, yet I'm at complete peace. 
5. Being found. Astounding, isn't it, how the Gospel is simple enough to believe with the faith of a child and yet so multifaceted that every time it is rehearsed it breathes a wave of refreshment over a tired soul. One of the many benefits of sharing the Gospel with those who have never heard and recounting it with those who have. "He has delivered us from the domain of darknessand transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son" Colossians 1:13
6. Village Hymns. What a dream team. These people simultaneously make me feel comfortable in my own skin and push me to be better. Don't know where I'd be without them. 
7. Brick buildings and their simple charm. 
8. Sunday morning, realizing each member of my family was involved in some form of ministry. What grace to be a part of that! 
9. Whoever it was who took a chance, picked some berries, bit into a seed and thought to himself/herself "I wonder what would happen if I roasted this, ground it up, steeped it in boiling water for a few minutes and then drank it." I would like to give him/her a hug. 
10. The many variations of denim. 
11. Power outlets and the probability that when plugging something in, it will turn on and (most likely) function. Privilege. 
12. Free samples. Lots to say about that. 
13. Mama Judy and Papa Pete and how they have given themselves (and their home, time, and food) to the Lord and to their church. 
14. A living Hope. 
15. The tight feeling in my throat and heart from missing so many people--an indication of a soul connection and another reason to long for Heaven. 
16. The yellow-green farmers market that has become a Saturday tradition. So many flavors of cultures and tastes all swirled together. Also, so many free samples. 
17. The Holy Spirit--our downpayment on our inheritance applied toward our redemption as God's own people, resulting in the praise of God's glory. 
18. Endless combinations of 12 tones. 
19. Army green. 
20. Salads. In general. 

Tuesday Ten

1) Free gym trials (even though I think they've sold me on this one).

2) The reminder of times when I couldn't run or workout due to various injuries and how God created both our bodies and our hearts to heal. 

3) A successful surgery for my mom to remove a squamous cell spot on her jaw... and with that, the tremendous faith, patience, and bravery she has shown leading up to it and through recovery.

4) A church family that prays for us. Constantly. 

5) Patti Mackay bringing a well-thought-through dinner (with extra veggies!)

6) Mondays. (my day off) Especially the rainy kind.

7) Staff meetings that are largely spent in times of prayer.

8) FaceTime and the gift of being able to keep up with friends all over the world. 

9) A beautiful, new bed.... mattress, boxspring, headboard, the works. All free.

10) In Christ, I am made whole. Even when I feel so incomplete, "in Christ all the fullness of the Deity dwells in bodily form. And you have been made complete in Christ, who is the head over every ruler and authority." (Colossians 2:9-10) Nothing and no one else can add to or take that away.

Tuesday Ten

1) The life and legacy of Mrs. Rabe who regularly took the time to write down what she was thankful for and inspired others (myself included) to do the same.

2) America, my temporary home here in earth--land of the free because of the brave.

3) "For in Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life has set me free from the law of sin and death."(Romans 6:18)

4) The deacons of our church--serving to help us serve, leading by example, faithfully reaching out with no expectation of recognition.

5) The mocha cortadito I've been sipping on at the new coffee shop just down the street from my house.

6) Working up a sweat working out with Lauren (and Rebekah) this morning.

7) Hass Avocados to make guacamole and the anticipation of slabbing some on a gourmet burger tonight.

8) Cleaning out, making space.

9) My mom's love for gardening.

10) Friends who know me well. And still love me. :)

New Blog....

I have a new blog... http://gracecolemanmusic.com/blog/

I'm not scratching this blog, though. It's staying put. So many memories here. But future posts will be on the above link.

Jsyk.

learning from my crazy dreams

I wrote this two days ago but am just getting around to posting it...

I won't say "God spoke to me in a dream" because it was any typical unpredictable, unrealistic, dream where one second you're one place and another second you're somewhere else. But given the tragic events of today I feel like this is a place where I can share my "illumination" if I may be so bold to call it that, and seeing how it was about Jesus, I'll accept the spiritual application.

I was leaving church on a Wednesday night.  On the way to the car, I heard a trumpet faintly sounding. Then I heard it again. Given it's quiet tone, I thought "Surely this isn't Jesus coming back." But then I looked up in the sky. The clouds were splitting, and smoke and lightening suddenly appeared. Mom saw it, too. This was it. Jesus was coming back. 

I ashamedly thought to myself "I'm not ready for this." 

Maybe it was because there were life events yet to be experienced, but upon waking up I was overcome with conviction a) for selfishly desiring earthly things over being with Christ and b) for not living as if He could come back any minute. I instantly started praying. It was just a dream, but I was shaken to the core. How was I spending my time? How was I living? Why had I not been telling people about Jesus? I realized I had gotten so comfortable with my life, and I was disgusted with myself. 

Fast forward to today. The Connecticut shooting was all over my newsfeed. So many different reactions all at once "Heinous, Lord have mercy, what if that was me, Jesus come quickly..." I wondered how long will He be patient? How long will He be merciful? Merciful? Yes. Merciful. Every day that we live on this earth that reeks of sin and evil and hurt is a day that we are given a chance to turn from our own wicked ways and accept Jesus' forgiveness and ultimately, His eternal security. I felt like, though I desire to be with Jesus, I could not beg Him to come quickly, when people, especially now, need Him so much.  Dad mentioned in a sermon a few weeks ago, "What if Jesus had returned the day before you were saved?" Granted, these are my feelings. God has His timetable, and it will be right on schedule. 

No one knows when, but I was reminded yet again, today, that I need to be sharing the Hope I have, speaking the Truth I believe, and living out what it means to be a true follower of Christ... more and more every day. This isn't a guilt trip. This is recalibration; an incredible opportunity. People are searching for hope, comfort, peace, a reason for living, and we have One that will last for all of eternity. 

"The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance." 2 Peter 3:9

Just a snippit of some things I've been working on...

It's been a while...

Helloooooo.

My thoughts on how long it's been since I've blogged were intensified when I signed in and the dashboard layout had changed so much it took me forever to find the "new post" button. Glad we got that out of the way.

Instead of writing out specific details of what a crazy weekend I had, I will just say it was crazy. Crazy, but filled with priceless nuggets of God's grace.  I got to sing at a women's luncheon at First Baptist Weston, and what I thought was going to be an act of service on my part, well, I was the one who was blessed and benefited from it greatly. Possibly more on that later.  And then Mother's day... I have the best mother on the planet. And after organizing mother's day dinner... well, it made me appreciate her all the more.

Monday was recovery day. I did not feel guilty one bit for sleeping in and just meandering around the house for most of the day. Today, of course, is Tuesday and today has been a day of revelations (also running errands and catching up on work).  I'm just gonna go ahead and say it... staying on track while working on my own projects from home is hard. Some days I wonder if this is the best idea (not that I really have any other options) other days I have no doubt that this is where God wants me (the second one wins).

I went to a new Bible study tonight at a friend's house... we're going through this book: "The Disciplines of a Godly Woman" of all things. Discipline has never been a fun word for me because I lack so much of it, but tonight's chapter "Discipline of the Gospel" cut straight to the heart. It was amazing to me how refreshing it is to just go back to the core of the Gospel... reminded me of the book I started reading (and now need to go back and finish) God is the Gospel. "For Christ died for sins... to bring us to God" I didn't come up with this, but the Gospel is not just for the unbeliever, but for the Christian too. I feel strong enough, by God's grace, to tackle this.

I am very excited about what God has in store through studying this book and of course, His Word. I feel like God has reignited passions that have been dormant over the years.  Former callings that I was so sure about, but seemed to somewhat come to a dead end, now have resurfaced... the end is not necessarily in sight, but the next step is pending.  I was brought back to Jeremiah 1 today. This passage has always captivated me, and I feel like I have had this same conversation with God, so now I'm having it again.  Feel free to own it for yourself.

The word of the Lord came to me, saying,

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations. ”

“Alas, Sovereign Lord,” I said, “I do not know how to speak; I am too young.”

But the Lord said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am too young.’ You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you,” declares the Lord.  

Then the Lord reached out his hand and touched my mouth and said to me, “I have put my words in your mouth.  See, today I appoint you over nations and kingdoms to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and to plant.” 

Jeremiah 1:4-10