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

Rat-a-too-ee

Bonjour!

Today has been monumentally happy. I got to spend the entire day with the most amazing sister in the universe. And here's how we closed our evening:



The Ratatouille soundtrack has been playing quite a bit around here (enough that I owe the library a pretty penny in late fees). So finally, we broke down and made the "peasant dish" with a fancy twist. Always wanted to try it....

At promptly 7:3opm, Glory and I turned on our imaginations and arrived at Gusteau's (or some equally extravagant French restaurant). Glory had the brilliant idea of speaking in accents, however French has always been difficult for me, so we switched things up and agreed that we were British tourists...


It turned out pretty good, if I do say so, but seeing how every ingredient in Ratatouille is not highly favored by a certain 9-year-old, Glory had mac'n'cheese for her first course. She did say though, after giving the ratatouille a brave try, that it was "interesting."

The finished product:

I was quite proud of how it turned out... but I must say the best moment of the night was when my sister leaned over, turned off her accent and said "This is so fun." That was more rewarding than anything. But of course we had to finish with something sweet:


It may not look like much... but it's red velvet cake with homemade cream cheese icing topped with berries. Delish. And of course, we had to finish our date with the actual movie... Glory made tickets :)

(I'm still a child apparently)

Anyway, hope you enjoyed a snippit from our evening. I have one awesome sister, I tell ya.


http://smittenkitchen.com/2007/07/rat-a-too-ee-for-you-ee/

Justified

Just as if I never stumbled
Never cheated, never lied
Never made myself an idol
Never gave into my pride
Just as if I never failed You
Or in my shame, my faith denied
All the guilt from where I fell,
You took it all upon Yourself
And You declared me: Justified.

Why I Love

Well, a very happy Valentines Day to you. Or Just-Friends Day. Or Single's Awareness Day. Or in my case, Just Another Day. Whichever suits you best. I hope it is indeed happy for you.

Today has been quite happy for me. The weather is perfect. I went around the house taking pictures of things that make me smile. Then I ate a yummy breakfast in the company of my favorite family. And later, I have a date with a film score. Yes, it's a good day.




But of course, thoughts of love are inevitable. I read this today and it filled my heart with more happiness than anything pink. You hear bits and pieces quoted here and there, but reading it straight through, in it's context, I felt so encouraged and inspired to love. So much truth and power packed into these verses...

Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. This is how we know that we live in him and he in us: He has given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God. And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. We love because he first loved us. Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister. 1 John 4:7-21

MY FAMILY COMES HOME TODAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!