Spring sprang here in the Southeast quite some time ago. In fact, Sunday it was in the mid-eighties. I know some of you are jealous, but I have to admit, it only makes me think of the hot & humid weather yet to come...
ANYway, since spring is here, I decided that it was time to change up my template. Not that I did anything other than click a button or two, thanks to the web gurus who create these things for us lowly humans! So that's what's up with the colors and switcheroos.
Maybe it will freshen things up around here. I doubt it will make me want to do spring cleaning...but that's a topic for another day.
Appreciating renewal,
-J
(c) 2008
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Ten Things For Tuesday: 10 Reasons I Can't Blog Today
I cannot possibly blog today. Not one word. Why, you ask? Well, here are ten reasons why I can't blog today:
1. I'm still off caffeinated coffee, so I can't think yet.
2. I ate too much at dinner last night and got home too late to exercise, so I must spend my free time taking a walk.
3. Inspiration hasn't bonked me in the head yet.
4. I'm not sure, but I think that the humidity level is too high (or maybe too low) for composing. You know, conditions have to be just right for such concoctions...
5. All of my blog friends have already stolen all the good material.
6. When I think hard enough to blog, a funny, burning smell fills my office. Hmmm...
7. I think I hear lunch, snack, and dinner calling to me. (This could be an all day affair!)
8. I'm trying to save my kinetic energy. (I'm reaching back to 8th grade science here, so correct me gently if need be...)
9. I have to save the good topics for non-list days!
And finally...
10. I'm still in mourning for my missing caffeine addiction.
Well, there you have it...The definitive list as to why I can't blog today. But check back tomorrow. Maybe by then I'll be awake.
Chuckles,
-J
(c) 2008
1. I'm still off caffeinated coffee, so I can't think yet.
2. I ate too much at dinner last night and got home too late to exercise, so I must spend my free time taking a walk.
3. Inspiration hasn't bonked me in the head yet.
4. I'm not sure, but I think that the humidity level is too high (or maybe too low) for composing. You know, conditions have to be just right for such concoctions...
5. All of my blog friends have already stolen all the good material.
6. When I think hard enough to blog, a funny, burning smell fills my office. Hmmm...
7. I think I hear lunch, snack, and dinner calling to me. (This could be an all day affair!)
8. I'm trying to save my kinetic energy. (I'm reaching back to 8th grade science here, so correct me gently if need be...)
9. I have to save the good topics for non-list days!
And finally...
10. I'm still in mourning for my missing caffeine addiction.
Well, there you have it...The definitive list as to why I can't blog today. But check back tomorrow. Maybe by then I'll be awake.
Chuckles,
-J
(c) 2008
Monday, April 28, 2008
A Creme Brulee Heart
My favorite dessert in the world has to be creme brulee. The crusty shell of pure SUGAR protecting the soft custard underneath... mmmmmmmmMMMMMMMM!!! I can still recall the first time I had it, after one of my very first Broadway shows in my hometown... And Friday night, I realized that creme brulee was probably a good analogy for my heart.
Sometimes, for no particular (or at least identifiable) reason, I find myself pushing back against God and His truths. My heart becomes covered with a hard shell, not wanting to let in the words God is speaking to me. Rich Mullins reference this idea in one of his songs, when he said, "I'd rather fight you for what I don't really want than take what you give that I need." It is a bizarre phenomenon, as I know that He is what I really want and need...and yet, as if out of my mind, I fight...
And yet beneath that crusty shell, my true heart is soft and sweetly fragranced by the presence of the Holy Spirit. And what breaks through that shell, bringing me back into alignment with His Truth and His Spirit? Corporate worship. Especially corporate worship in song.
Friday night, I had the privilege of participating in a worship service. In the middle of the music, I found myself once again with a cracking shell, humbling myself before the Father as I remembered the great sacrifice of the Son. And I realized that, though worship should happen privately too and should never cease, I need those times when the body gathers and sings and reflects... It is when this creme brulee heart is best restored.
Anyone else hungry?
She-of-the-cracked-shell,
-J
(c) 2008
Sometimes, for no particular (or at least identifiable) reason, I find myself pushing back against God and His truths. My heart becomes covered with a hard shell, not wanting to let in the words God is speaking to me. Rich Mullins reference this idea in one of his songs, when he said, "I'd rather fight you for what I don't really want than take what you give that I need." It is a bizarre phenomenon, as I know that He is what I really want and need...and yet, as if out of my mind, I fight...
And yet beneath that crusty shell, my true heart is soft and sweetly fragranced by the presence of the Holy Spirit. And what breaks through that shell, bringing me back into alignment with His Truth and His Spirit? Corporate worship. Especially corporate worship in song.
Friday night, I had the privilege of participating in a worship service. In the middle of the music, I found myself once again with a cracking shell, humbling myself before the Father as I remembered the great sacrifice of the Son. And I realized that, though worship should happen privately too and should never cease, I need those times when the body gathers and sings and reflects... It is when this creme brulee heart is best restored.
Anyone else hungry?
She-of-the-cracked-shell,
-J
(c) 2008
Thursday, April 24, 2008
It's Morning...Again
It's morning again, and it's been a tough one again. Not in the same way as last week, but still, tough. And I'd like to add that--despite an excellent night's sleep--the decaf coffee isn't cutting it. :-)
But more than that, my heart is just burdened due to the interactions I've had already today, some my responsibility, some I just bear the brunt of.
I keep thinking that God's mercies are new every morning...and I am grateful, for without this, we would be 'consumed.' But today...so far...I just want to go back to bed and wake up to a new morning and ever new mercies. :-} Or maybe eat a ton of chocolate. Don't worry, I'm not going to...but it is very tempting. (And thus I've revealed my great coping skills... (-: )
No great revelations here. Just real life. But real life in Jesus, and that's do-able...
Just one moment at a time,
-J
(c) 2008
But more than that, my heart is just burdened due to the interactions I've had already today, some my responsibility, some I just bear the brunt of.
I keep thinking that God's mercies are new every morning...and I am grateful, for without this, we would be 'consumed.' But today...so far...I just want to go back to bed and wake up to a new morning and ever new mercies. :-} Or maybe eat a ton of chocolate. Don't worry, I'm not going to...but it is very tempting. (And thus I've revealed my great coping skills... (-: )
No great revelations here. Just real life. But real life in Jesus, and that's do-able...
Just one moment at a time,
-J
(c) 2008
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
I'm Gonna Need A Support Group
Yesterday, my doctor told me I had to give up all caffeine... No COFFEE!! No DIET DR. PEPPER!! I can't bring myself to believe that he meant chocolate, so I'm excluding that one.
I know, I know, they make decaf of these things now, but you and I both know it's not the same... How will I ever wake up in the morning?! What was he thinking?!
Okay, okay, I'm calming down now... I just wanted to ask you to pray for my roommate...And my co-workers...And anyone who has to have contact with me over the next week or two as I detox. There may be some concern for their physical safety...
And if anyone has survival stories out there, feel free to share them. It would be good to believe that one can survive without caffeine. I'm sure your stories are fairy tales, but nonetheless...
Caffeine-less, but with many other things for which to praise God (I just won't be able to think of them until 3:00 PM...),
-J
(c) 2008
I know, I know, they make decaf of these things now, but you and I both know it's not the same... How will I ever wake up in the morning?! What was he thinking?!
Okay, okay, I'm calming down now... I just wanted to ask you to pray for my roommate...And my co-workers...And anyone who has to have contact with me over the next week or two as I detox. There may be some concern for their physical safety...
And if anyone has survival stories out there, feel free to share them. It would be good to believe that one can survive without caffeine. I'm sure your stories are fairy tales, but nonetheless...
Caffeine-less, but with many other things for which to praise God (I just won't be able to think of them until 3:00 PM...),
-J
(c) 2008
Ten Things for Tuesday - Psalm 103
Well, it's that time again, boys and girls! Can you say, "Ten Things for Tuesdays"? Great, now go put on your slippers and sweaters and we'll all join together for a sing-along...
Whoa! Childhood flashback! Sorry about that! :-) Now, on to "Ten Lessons From Psalm 103." I have a ton of things rolling through my head and heart right now, and I hope to capture some of them here soon. But for some reason, my brain was focused on Psalm 103 when I awoke this morning, so that's what you're a-gittin'!
1. Praise! This is a command, not a feeling or a song. Recount the great things He has done. That's all it takes.
2. ...O my soul; all my inmost being... Dig deep. Praise should not come from your lips, but from your heart.
3. ...and forget not all His benefits... Wish your or your spouse's workplace provided more 'benefits'? Well, when making your list, be sure to include God's 'extras'. You know, that's really what they are: He met our greatest need in the death and resurrection of Christ. But look at all the extras He gives!
- He forgives all my sins
- He heals all my diseases
- He redeems my life from the pit
- He crowns me with love and compassion
- He satisfies my desires with good things (not just any old thing!)
- He renews my youth like the eagle's (Isaiah hasn't yet written his tome; David gives us the original 'eagle' reference--and this is waaaayy better than any youth serum you've got at home!)
4. He made known His ways to Moses... God could have remained hidden for all of eternity. He could have simply chosen to let things take their natural course: Hell for all sinners; not one of us in heaven. But He didn't! He revealed Himself to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses...He gave the law, that we might learn how very desperate we were for Him. And then, He spoke to us in person, and--for the vast majority of my readers, at least--He grafted us into the vine, that we too might be partakers of His salvation. A revealed, hidden, invisible, flesh-clad God. Who is like our God?!
5. ...He does not treat us as our sins deserve...[but] as far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us. I still don't understand this kind of behavior, this kind of love. But He didn't give us what we earned; He offered us what we could never have acquired. Such mercy...
6. ...He remembers that we are dust. What if God held us to the standards of the heavenlies? Perfection? One chance? But he remembers--despite our protests to the contrary--that we are merely dust in which He breathed. He knows how very frail we are. And so, ...the Lord has compassion on those who fear Him...
7. But from everlasting to everlasting the LORD's* love is with those who fear Him... How we respond to God matters. His promises and blessings here are for those who view and treat Him with the reverence He deserves.
8. The LORD has established His throne in heaven, and His kingdom rules over all. Keep perspective. God is HUGE and POWERFUL and ATTENTIVE. He is still on His throne. The chaos you & I see and feel around us is not truly out of control.
9. Praise the LORD, you His angels... Ever ponder how your status in Christ puts you in a position to exhort others--even angels--to praise Him!? Wild stuff, this journey of ours!
10. Praise the LORD, O my soul. And one last thing: Don't forget to praise Him!
I love this Psalm, these reminders. Hope you are blessed today remembering them too! :-)
Praise-fully,
-J
* LORD is different from Lord. These are two different names for God, and the translators have clued you in on it through the use of all caps/cap-lower case. I love LORD, as it is the name God uses for Himself to indicate His covenant-keeping-ness!
(c) 2008
Whoa! Childhood flashback! Sorry about that! :-) Now, on to "Ten Lessons From Psalm 103." I have a ton of things rolling through my head and heart right now, and I hope to capture some of them here soon. But for some reason, my brain was focused on Psalm 103 when I awoke this morning, so that's what you're a-gittin'!
1. Praise! This is a command, not a feeling or a song. Recount the great things He has done. That's all it takes.
2. ...O my soul; all my inmost being... Dig deep. Praise should not come from your lips, but from your heart.
3. ...and forget not all His benefits... Wish your or your spouse's workplace provided more 'benefits'? Well, when making your list, be sure to include God's 'extras'. You know, that's really what they are: He met our greatest need in the death and resurrection of Christ. But look at all the extras He gives!
- He forgives all my sins
- He heals all my diseases
- He redeems my life from the pit
- He crowns me with love and compassion
- He satisfies my desires with good things (not just any old thing!)
- He renews my youth like the eagle's (Isaiah hasn't yet written his tome; David gives us the original 'eagle' reference--and this is waaaayy better than any youth serum you've got at home!)
4. He made known His ways to Moses... God could have remained hidden for all of eternity. He could have simply chosen to let things take their natural course: Hell for all sinners; not one of us in heaven. But He didn't! He revealed Himself to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses...He gave the law, that we might learn how very desperate we were for Him. And then, He spoke to us in person, and--for the vast majority of my readers, at least--He grafted us into the vine, that we too might be partakers of His salvation. A revealed, hidden, invisible, flesh-clad God. Who is like our God?!
5. ...He does not treat us as our sins deserve...[but] as far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us. I still don't understand this kind of behavior, this kind of love. But He didn't give us what we earned; He offered us what we could never have acquired. Such mercy...
6. ...He remembers that we are dust. What if God held us to the standards of the heavenlies? Perfection? One chance? But he remembers--despite our protests to the contrary--that we are merely dust in which He breathed. He knows how very frail we are. And so, ...the Lord has compassion on those who fear Him...
7. But from everlasting to everlasting the LORD's* love is with those who fear Him... How we respond to God matters. His promises and blessings here are for those who view and treat Him with the reverence He deserves.
8. The LORD has established His throne in heaven, and His kingdom rules over all. Keep perspective. God is HUGE and POWERFUL and ATTENTIVE. He is still on His throne. The chaos you & I see and feel around us is not truly out of control.
9. Praise the LORD, you His angels... Ever ponder how your status in Christ puts you in a position to exhort others--even angels--to praise Him!? Wild stuff, this journey of ours!
10. Praise the LORD, O my soul. And one last thing: Don't forget to praise Him!
I love this Psalm, these reminders. Hope you are blessed today remembering them too! :-)
Praise-fully,
-J
* LORD is different from Lord. These are two different names for God, and the translators have clued you in on it through the use of all caps/cap-lower case. I love LORD, as it is the name God uses for Himself to indicate His covenant-keeping-ness!
(c) 2008
Friday, April 18, 2008
Laughing Out Loud
Okay, in light of my last post, published but moments ago, I found this quote on my friend Beth's blog hysterically appropriate:
Build yourself a bridge and get over it.
Bwahahaha!! Did I ever need that this morning! Maybe I'll just quote that to myself next time I get irritated pre-coffee! (And maybe solving this irritation is simpler than it felt!)
Smiling again,
-J
(c) 2008
Build yourself a bridge and get over it.
Bwahahaha!! Did I ever need that this morning! Maybe I'll just quote that to myself next time I get irritated pre-coffee! (And maybe solving this irritation is simpler than it felt!)
Smiling again,
-J
(c) 2008
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