Okay, so I'm still alive...just busy. It has taken 2 years now, but I've finally developed things to do, people to hang out with and activities to keep me busy. Mike is doing the summer camp thing, so I've packed my days full of planting, cleaning, golfing, sleeping and reading. I have lots of things to catch up on, but I'm so exhausted tonight so I'm planning on wrapping up with a blanket and a nice glass of Reisling and blogging on Saturday. I bet the suspense is killing you! It is me, because I honestly don't know how I'm going to fit it all in one post!
Until Saturday, adios! LC
Thursday, June 9, 2011
Sunday, May 15, 2011
A post without mention of dogs.
So, let's begin with this - a video of a song that I sing often in my heart. As you watch it, may you think about a time when you didn't want to open the blinds covering the darkness in your own heart. Maybe there were ideas, thoughts, bitterness, or anger that you felt like the continued festering in your heart would make troubles disappear. It is so much easier to hang on to anger as opposed to forgiveness. Bitterness rather than acceptance. But, Lord, I am not afraid to let Your light shine - bearing all of my weakness knowing I have a kingdom to gain.
Jennifer Knapp - Martyrs & Thieves
"Well I've never been much for the bearing of soul
In the presence of any man
I'd rather keep to myself all safe and secure
In the arms of a sinner I am
Could it be that my worth should depend
By the crimson stained grace on a hand
And like a lamp on a hill Lord I pray in Your will
To reveal all of You that I can
So turn on the light and reveal all the glory
I am not afraid
To bare all my weakness knowing in meekness
I have a kingdom to gain
Where there is peace and love in the light, in the light
Oh I am not afraid
To let Your light shine bright in my life, in my life"
Chew on this thought for a while, it'll keep you extremely humble and your heart prepared for change. Wait, you're saying in your soul, ch-ch-ch-change? Yes, change. May the Lord reveal things in your heart that need to be changed - in a good way! Prune away all those dead branches so the new leaves can grow! You'll be surprised.
Mike and I were in My Old Kentucky Home last weekend for a wedding and Mother's day! Here is my first cousin Patrick and his bride Jess. I remember at our wedding, my cousins and I were discussing which of the remaining bachelors would be next. And I do distinctly remember all of us (Adam and Jake and myself) pointing to Pat. Well, 3 years later and after obtaining a Law degree, they tied the knot! It was a mini family reunion with all my Aunts and Uncles - complete with a grooms cake that looked like clay pigeon. Classic Eastern Kentucky wedding - I'd do it again in a heartbeat!
It was serendipitous that it happened to be Mother's Day weekend as well. After church we went to the country club then had some photos taken to solidify the moment. It was beautiful in KY - green, lush, and boy did my allergies act up! I was sneezing and blowing my nose the entire trip. Literally, as soon as I got off the plane the pollutants attacked my body! Anyway, a shout out here to my cute mom and my sister, Nancy.
I love our family. It truly made me miss "home". You know, being close enough for birthday parties, weekend get togethers and just the comfort of "home" if needed. But, for once, I feel extremely comfortable with my job, this area, our church and the life we have created here in Colorado. Our prayer has been "may we stay here until something tells us otherwise." So, we're in the process of looking for a house and settling down. I've haven't lived in one place longer than 2 years since I graduated high school in 2002. It's time.
How can you leave a face like that??? I mean, come on people! This is not an easy decision for us! I made a list in my head of the amount of friends and family that we saw over the weekend and it was extensive. I mean, my immediate family, extended family, friends, in-laws, grandparents, etc. Not quite a vacation weekend, but worth every moment of it. We have a Skaggs Family Vacation planned for the 4th of July week that I just booked a flight for. Then we'll be home hopefully in Oct, Nov & Dec. It would be nice for our parents to come and visit us, hint hint!!!
Mike and I made our calendar for the rest of the summer and it's absolutely INSANE! He's gone for parts of the summer up at camp and I'm holding the fort down as usual with the dogs. I get to see Mike's camp for the first time next weekend as we do a clean up day. I have a surprise trip planned - then a friend is coming in town for a show at Red Rocks (those are always fun). Then a trip to Telluride Bluegrass Festival with David and Amanda. Family vaca to VA. Then 4 other guys in town for the baseball trip....and another show at Red Rocks. This doesn't include the golf ladies league I'm signing up for that's every other Saturday (thanks Suzi). But I love my summers like this...just hurry up and be sunny here! We need the rain, but this overcast business is driving me crazy!
Well, I think that gets everyone (myself included) caught up on the most recent happenings in the Curry household. I've heard from several people that I need to blog more - it's going to happen. It's on my list of things to do. Along with buy a house, train for the BolderBoulder, keep the dogs happy, and try to make grass grow in the backyard. Wish me luck.
Love Wins!
Jennifer Knapp - Martyrs & Thieves
"Well I've never been much for the bearing of soul
In the presence of any man
I'd rather keep to myself all safe and secure
In the arms of a sinner I am
Could it be that my worth should depend
By the crimson stained grace on a hand
And like a lamp on a hill Lord I pray in Your will
To reveal all of You that I can
So turn on the light and reveal all the glory
I am not afraid
To bare all my weakness knowing in meekness
I have a kingdom to gain
Where there is peace and love in the light, in the light
Oh I am not afraid
To let Your light shine bright in my life, in my life"
Chew on this thought for a while, it'll keep you extremely humble and your heart prepared for change. Wait, you're saying in your soul, ch-ch-ch-change? Yes, change. May the Lord reveal things in your heart that need to be changed - in a good way! Prune away all those dead branches so the new leaves can grow! You'll be surprised.
How can you leave a face like that??? I mean, come on people! This is not an easy decision for us! I made a list in my head of the amount of friends and family that we saw over the weekend and it was extensive. I mean, my immediate family, extended family, friends, in-laws, grandparents, etc. Not quite a vacation weekend, but worth every moment of it. We have a Skaggs Family Vacation planned for the 4th of July week that I just booked a flight for. Then we'll be home hopefully in Oct, Nov & Dec. It would be nice for our parents to come and visit us, hint hint!!!
Well, I think that gets everyone (myself included) caught up on the most recent happenings in the Curry household. I've heard from several people that I need to blog more - it's going to happen. It's on my list of things to do. Along with buy a house, train for the BolderBoulder, keep the dogs happy, and try to make grass grow in the backyard. Wish me luck.
Love Wins!
Friday, April 29, 2011
Christ has risen indeed!
My house is a wreck, my husband is gone, and the dogs are quiet. My TV is playing a Rockies vs. Pirates game and I've spent the past couple days reflecting on this Easter season. It's hard to believe that last year at this time Mike and I went to the Easter Sunrise service at Red Rocks. It was a little too cold and I had the flu this year so we skipped out, but the evening service was plenty uplifting. There was a great crowd for the baptisms (including Kevin Durant - NBA player for the OKC Thunder) and the evening service! Lots of new faces and a very joyful atmosphere. Pastor Brian chose scripture which hit so close to my heart that I had to share. I suppose you're used to reading about my rambling thoughts related to Christianity, so just chalk this one up in that category.
Let's start here:
"2Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. 14And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. 15We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified about God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised. 16For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. 17And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. 18Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. 19If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied."
2 Corinthians 15: 12-19
As you fumble your way through the first part of this passage, it may seem a little wordy - But, don't you think Paul is trying to prove a point? I mean, if Christ has not raised from the dead, then YOU/I are dead. We are still living in our sins. We are misrepresenting God. Those are huge implications! Paul is addressing those of us like "Doubting Thomas", extinguishing any idea that God's movement in our earthly lives is nonexistent. But, Christ WAS raised from the dead (yay!)....read here:
20But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. 22For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. 23But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ. 24Then comes the end, when he delivers(AG) the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. 25For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. 26The last enemy to be destroyed is death.
1 Corinthias 15: 20-26
Christ HAS risen and he WILL destroy death, the ultimate enemy! And if He has not been raised from the dead, then Christianity itself is a bust. A dud. NOTHING. I often think about how as a child I believed in Christ because it was something everyone else was doing. I never faltered in my faith and almost, eek, assumed everyone else felt the same way. I mean, why would you not believe in Jesus? At that time, there was nothing that would cause me to doubt. However, as life moves along and trials come along, I understand how Satan can take hold in your heart and cause a person to truly doubt if this whole Jesus thing is true. And more importantly, how and why does it affect me?
So, thank heavens for Easter. A time when we are reminded that without this resurrection there would be no Christianity - life itself would be meaningless. Vain.
C.S. Lewis puts it so clear in his book Mere Christianity:
Our God is Lord. And may you fall at His feet. And may you take the time to search your heart and try to understand what the implications of the resurrection means to YOU. And may you know that everyone is different - open your heart and allow Christ to change your mind, soul, and emotions.
I had an incredible experience today at work. There are two women in a room. They both have Aphasia. They both love the Lord. And they both have a spirit from God that seeps through every pore of their being. Even though their language center prevents them from truly saying what they mean (Apraxic, too), the hymns are still there. Christ still lives in their heart and the 23rd Psalm is still memorized. The families were so thankful to have a believer working with their loved ones and I was equally happy to encourage the families that there is life beyond a stroke. May the Lord work through you in your workplace, you never know who needs a little encouraging!
Love Wins!
Let's start here:
"2Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. 14And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. 15We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified about God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised. 16For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. 17And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. 18Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. 19If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied."
2 Corinthians 15: 12-19
As you fumble your way through the first part of this passage, it may seem a little wordy - But, don't you think Paul is trying to prove a point? I mean, if Christ has not raised from the dead, then YOU/I are dead. We are still living in our sins. We are misrepresenting God. Those are huge implications! Paul is addressing those of us like "Doubting Thomas", extinguishing any idea that God's movement in our earthly lives is nonexistent. But, Christ WAS raised from the dead (yay!)....read here:
20But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. 22For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. 23But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ. 24Then comes the end, when he delivers(AG) the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. 25For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. 26The last enemy to be destroyed is death.
1 Corinthias 15: 20-26
Christ HAS risen and he WILL destroy death, the ultimate enemy! And if He has not been raised from the dead, then Christianity itself is a bust. A dud. NOTHING. I often think about how as a child I believed in Christ because it was something everyone else was doing. I never faltered in my faith and almost, eek, assumed everyone else felt the same way. I mean, why would you not believe in Jesus? At that time, there was nothing that would cause me to doubt. However, as life moves along and trials come along, I understand how Satan can take hold in your heart and cause a person to truly doubt if this whole Jesus thing is true. And more importantly, how and why does it affect me?
So, thank heavens for Easter. A time when we are reminded that without this resurrection there would be no Christianity - life itself would be meaningless. Vain.
C.S. Lewis puts it so clear in his book Mere Christianity:
“I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him: ‘I’m ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don’t accept His claim to be God.’ That is the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said, would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic – on a level with the man who says he is a poached egg – or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God: or else a madman or something worse. You can shut Him up for a fool, you can spit at Him and kill Him as a demon; or you can fall at His feet and call Him Lord and God. But let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about His being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to.” (p. 52)
Our God is Lord. And may you fall at His feet. And may you take the time to search your heart and try to understand what the implications of the resurrection means to YOU. And may you know that everyone is different - open your heart and allow Christ to change your mind, soul, and emotions.
I had an incredible experience today at work. There are two women in a room. They both have Aphasia. They both love the Lord. And they both have a spirit from God that seeps through every pore of their being. Even though their language center prevents them from truly saying what they mean (Apraxic, too), the hymns are still there. Christ still lives in their heart and the 23rd Psalm is still memorized. The families were so thankful to have a believer working with their loved ones and I was equally happy to encourage the families that there is life beyond a stroke. May the Lord work through you in your workplace, you never know who needs a little encouraging!
Love Wins!
Sunday, April 17, 2011
Windows are rolled down.
It's fun, you know, to look at your past and say, "Now I know why that happened! " It's not so fun, though, when you're in the middle of not knowing, wandering aimlessly for what feels like forever, trying to figure out what's next. I was on the brink of quitting my job in Aurora with SunHealthcare Group all together because between the drive and the population I was serving there was miserable. I felt like I was wandering aimlessly just trying to make it through another week, wondering what was next (there HAD to be something better). Then, another speech therapist at Bear Creek put in her 2 weeks, and viola! An opportunity to move back to where I first began my life as an SLP, almost a year and a half later - and I jumped on that chance. So, as the plan stands right now, I'm back at Bear Creek (about a 9 min drive from my front door) until something better comes along. I don't quite know what purpose I served driving to Aurora everyday, but I do hope that I can discover an "ah ha!" moment in the near future so that my time there doesn't seem in vain (which I feel like right now).
So, the title of this post is a song that I posted a few weeks (months, maybe?) back and it has gathered some meaning in my life right at this moment. I do feel like the proverbial windows are rolled down in my life, and for the first time in a while I feel fresh air. A new chance, a new chapter in our lives here in Denver. Or maybe Golden....? Mike is driving to Golden everyday and then taking the bus up to Boulder. It's free. It's easy, but it is time consuming. Yes, the Golden, CO that the massive Coors Brewery resides. But beyond that, Golden is quite charming, has a great downtown, is in a good location for our jobs, and has some affordable housing. We are having quite the marital debate of rent/buy but the area we both agree on, SCORE one for meeting in the middle. We thought we'd be moved out of our house by summer camp, but that may not happen, which is fine. We are certainly not going to move for the sake of moving......we'd be crazy.
So, as for now I am awaiting my dream job - a hospital position (inpt or outpt, at this point I'd do either). There are certainly plenty of hospitals in Denver metro, but finding one on the west side of town that will hire a fairly new SLP is different. I've discovered here that SLPs in the hospitals are pretty experienced and FAITHFUL. They don't leave, therefore those jobs don't open up, and when they do the competition is pretty fierce. My gameplan is to work for Bear and try to get a PRN weekend position in a hospital close and then work my way in the system with that hospital. I've had several contacts with hospitals and filled out a couple applications, but nothing has worked out. I'm waiting to hear back from a potential PRN next week. My point is, I'm content where I am now and even if I have to work there through the summer.....I'm not spending 1 1/2 hrs on the road commuting. YAY! You don't realize what a burden driving is until you don't have to do it much. Plus, I'm considering really buying a bike this time because there is a path that goes to downtown Morrison without getting on a major highway. Mike needs a bike, too. We do live in Colorado, I'm pretty sure everyone has a bike but us.
I will conclude with a pretty funny video of Josh and Beth Graham's dog named Monty. We love them and were happy they came to visit. Next up on our list? A trip HOME! We are going home for a wedding Derby Weekend and a quick visit with the family. Then Mike gets sucked into summer camp and we'll see ya in August. His schedule is actually not that bad this year 10 days on and 5 days off..... I'll take it!
I love you, Love Wins!
So, the title of this post is a song that I posted a few weeks (months, maybe?) back and it has gathered some meaning in my life right at this moment. I do feel like the proverbial windows are rolled down in my life, and for the first time in a while I feel fresh air. A new chance, a new chapter in our lives here in Denver. Or maybe Golden....? Mike is driving to Golden everyday and then taking the bus up to Boulder. It's free. It's easy, but it is time consuming. Yes, the Golden, CO that the massive Coors Brewery resides. But beyond that, Golden is quite charming, has a great downtown, is in a good location for our jobs, and has some affordable housing. We are having quite the marital debate of rent/buy but the area we both agree on, SCORE one for meeting in the middle. We thought we'd be moved out of our house by summer camp, but that may not happen, which is fine. We are certainly not going to move for the sake of moving......we'd be crazy.
So, as for now I am awaiting my dream job - a hospital position (inpt or outpt, at this point I'd do either). There are certainly plenty of hospitals in Denver metro, but finding one on the west side of town that will hire a fairly new SLP is different. I've discovered here that SLPs in the hospitals are pretty experienced and FAITHFUL. They don't leave, therefore those jobs don't open up, and when they do the competition is pretty fierce. My gameplan is to work for Bear and try to get a PRN weekend position in a hospital close and then work my way in the system with that hospital. I've had several contacts with hospitals and filled out a couple applications, but nothing has worked out. I'm waiting to hear back from a potential PRN next week. My point is, I'm content where I am now and even if I have to work there through the summer.....I'm not spending 1 1/2 hrs on the road commuting. YAY! You don't realize what a burden driving is until you don't have to do it much. Plus, I'm considering really buying a bike this time because there is a path that goes to downtown Morrison without getting on a major highway. Mike needs a bike, too. We do live in Colorado, I'm pretty sure everyone has a bike but us.
I will conclude with a pretty funny video of Josh and Beth Graham's dog named Monty. We love them and were happy they came to visit. Next up on our list? A trip HOME! We are going home for a wedding Derby Weekend and a quick visit with the family. Then Mike gets sucked into summer camp and we'll see ya in August. His schedule is actually not that bad this year 10 days on and 5 days off..... I'll take it!
I love you, Love Wins!
Sunday, April 10, 2011
Picture Post Sunday
It's picture post time! I haven't posted in a while and don't have much time tonight, but I really wanted to catch up on life so far this early spring. Plus, I want to have at least 4 blogs this month, so I better start early.
Mike and I spent 3 days in Avon and skied Vail/Beaver Creek. It was beautiful, one day was sunny and we forgot the sunscreen (bet you can guess what happened to our faces, and imagine that awesome ski goggle line), and the other 2 days consisted of snowy bliss. Awesome.
Robert Randolph and the Family Band just happened to be playing at this stage in Vail that was ON the ski slope. We love this band - and it was free!
These pictures are of our friends Rick and Suzi at the UK Basketball game. This bar in Denver was the UK Alumni Association of Colorado, and it was aahhh-mazing. We're holding up a Fayette Co license plate, thankful UK made it to the Final 4.
Mike and I went to opening day and bought a ticket off a lady who just wanted to "party". It worked out well for us, and another suntan happened.
Our friends from Louisville, Josh and Beth Graham, came to visit us for a week! We are so blessed to have such amazing friends......it is nice being in a place where people want to visit. We went to the dog park, got snowed out of a Rockies game, went to church, ate ice cream, and visited several breweries. It has been a great several weeks with lots of fun things to come in the future. We're visiting My Old Kentucky Home in 4 weeks and have started planning our summer concert schedule. More to come, soon! Love you!
Robert Randolph and the Family Band just happened to be playing at this stage in Vail that was ON the ski slope. We love this band - and it was free!
These pictures are of our friends Rick and Suzi at the UK Basketball game. This bar in Denver was the UK Alumni Association of Colorado, and it was aahhh-mazing. We're holding up a Fayette Co license plate, thankful UK made it to the Final 4.
Our friends from Louisville, Josh and Beth Graham, came to visit us for a week! We are so blessed to have such amazing friends......it is nice being in a place where people want to visit. We went to the dog park, got snowed out of a Rockies game, went to church, ate ice cream, and visited several breweries. It has been a great several weeks with lots of fun things to come in the future. We're visiting My Old Kentucky Home in 4 weeks and have started planning our summer concert schedule. More to come, soon! Love you!
Saturday, March 12, 2011
Holy, Manna!
Today, I have:
1. Studied the anatomical and physiological workings of your swallow mechanism in order to succeed at a continuing education class I'm taking this coming weekend called: Vital Stim. Placing electrodes on your throat and turning that baby on. Sounds lovely, right? I'm sure I'll find out.
2. Watched UK beat the dog doo doo out of Alabama.
3. Ran 5 miles in 45 minutes.
4. Enjoyed an Ale-8 and caught up on blogs that I normally read on a regular basis.
I consider it pretty successful. Last night we met with our friends Rick and Suzi and the night before experienced a Brazilian steakhouse (I have never felt so gluttonous). It's been a good week.
I've had several interviews for jobs, but nothing has worked out thus far. I've been looking for almost 2 months now and truly thought that I would be in a new place of work by now. There has been a lot of discussion in our church/community groups about what "satisfies" you. Is it money? Respect in your career (I'm in this group, partially)? But for me, I struggle with the "grass is greener on the other side" syndrome. This has been discussed and analyzed probably way to much, but it's such a pressing issue that I can't let it go. But the Lord has a way of speaking to us, and this time His Word was clear.
As a new years resolution I wanted to read through the Bible. I have done this once before, but I'm in a completely different place now than I was when I read through it the first time (as I will next year). And as I'm struggling my way through Leviticus and Numbers, so were the Israelites. Moses has lead them out of Egypt, through the Red Sea and into the desert. From slavery to freedom. From real meat and wine to - you guessed it - MANNA. After a while, the Israelites start to, complain....which made me feel quite human. The Israelites, who have had the supernatural free them, been provided food, protection, and a purpose are, complaining? Hum. So this idea of never being satisfied is not a new idea. Great.
It's clear that God wants to protect them. He sends manna down that lands on the grass like dew. It is new every morning - but don't gather more than you need. Of course, the greedy and worried Israelites found that out the hard way when they tried to hoard manna and it turned into maggots. Gross. As if providing daily bread and water wasn't enough, God also did this:
"On the day the tabernacle, the Tent of the Testimony, was set up the cloud covered it. From evening till morning the cloud above the tabernacle looked like fire. That is how it continued to be; the cloud covered it and at night it looked like fire. Whenever the cloud lifted from above the Tent, the Israelites set out; wherever the cloud settled the Israelites encamped...........They obeyed the Lord's order, in accordance with his command through Moses." Numbers 9:15-18
Can't make it any more clear than that, right? I mean, when the cloud stays, you stay; when it moves, you move. God, can I have a cloud above my house? One that allows my heart to truly be content with where I am until you ask our family to move. However, would something so concrete be....almost easy? It wouldn't require faith, trust, mercy, and forgiveness. It would almost leave out the multi-dimensional and multi-faceted characteristics of our God. For pity's sake, the Israelites had this concrete nature of the Lord in their hands, and they STILL weren't satisfied. Oh boy, I'm doomed. Here's what they said:
"The rabble with them began to crave other food, and again, the Israelites started wailing and said, ' If only we had meat to eat! We remember the fish we ate in Egypt at no cost - also the cucumber, melons, leeks, onions and garlic. But now we have lost our appetite; we never see anything but this manna!" Numbers 11:4-5
HOLY, MANNA! We're tired of eating this crap - give us MEAT! God, if only I had a job that was satisfying, challenging, flexible, close to my house. And speaking of houses, could you finds us a good one that had a pretty good backyard, but close enough to a bus stop where Mike could ride up to Boulder. And I need more friends, my family closer, and to be about 10 lbs lighter. THEN, I'll be satisfied. Right. And by then, the manna will have turned into maggots.
Do you get where I'm going????? So, what's your I'll be satisfied when ____________ ? Ultimately, the joy that comes from our God is the ONLY thing that can satisfy. So, may God reveal those things in your life that you are idolizing and using to make you "happy". And then, may He transform your mind and body to only desire Him. To find true satisfaction and joy in His presence. I'm trying, but I'm also encouraged through this text.
Be encouraged. Chris Tomlin has a song that fits this idea, and I love it.
love wins. love you.
1. Studied the anatomical and physiological workings of your swallow mechanism in order to succeed at a continuing education class I'm taking this coming weekend called: Vital Stim. Placing electrodes on your throat and turning that baby on. Sounds lovely, right? I'm sure I'll find out.
2. Watched UK beat the dog doo doo out of Alabama.
3. Ran 5 miles in 45 minutes.
4. Enjoyed an Ale-8 and caught up on blogs that I normally read on a regular basis.
I consider it pretty successful. Last night we met with our friends Rick and Suzi and the night before experienced a Brazilian steakhouse (I have never felt so gluttonous). It's been a good week.
I've had several interviews for jobs, but nothing has worked out thus far. I've been looking for almost 2 months now and truly thought that I would be in a new place of work by now. There has been a lot of discussion in our church/community groups about what "satisfies" you. Is it money? Respect in your career (I'm in this group, partially)? But for me, I struggle with the "grass is greener on the other side" syndrome. This has been discussed and analyzed probably way to much, but it's such a pressing issue that I can't let it go. But the Lord has a way of speaking to us, and this time His Word was clear.
As a new years resolution I wanted to read through the Bible. I have done this once before, but I'm in a completely different place now than I was when I read through it the first time (as I will next year). And as I'm struggling my way through Leviticus and Numbers, so were the Israelites. Moses has lead them out of Egypt, through the Red Sea and into the desert. From slavery to freedom. From real meat and wine to - you guessed it - MANNA. After a while, the Israelites start to, complain....which made me feel quite human. The Israelites, who have had the supernatural free them, been provided food, protection, and a purpose are, complaining? Hum. So this idea of never being satisfied is not a new idea. Great.
It's clear that God wants to protect them. He sends manna down that lands on the grass like dew. It is new every morning - but don't gather more than you need. Of course, the greedy and worried Israelites found that out the hard way when they tried to hoard manna and it turned into maggots. Gross. As if providing daily bread and water wasn't enough, God also did this:
"On the day the tabernacle, the Tent of the Testimony, was set up the cloud covered it. From evening till morning the cloud above the tabernacle looked like fire. That is how it continued to be; the cloud covered it and at night it looked like fire. Whenever the cloud lifted from above the Tent, the Israelites set out; wherever the cloud settled the Israelites encamped...........They obeyed the Lord's order, in accordance with his command through Moses." Numbers 9:15-18
Can't make it any more clear than that, right? I mean, when the cloud stays, you stay; when it moves, you move. God, can I have a cloud above my house? One that allows my heart to truly be content with where I am until you ask our family to move. However, would something so concrete be....almost easy? It wouldn't require faith, trust, mercy, and forgiveness. It would almost leave out the multi-dimensional and multi-faceted characteristics of our God. For pity's sake, the Israelites had this concrete nature of the Lord in their hands, and they STILL weren't satisfied. Oh boy, I'm doomed. Here's what they said:
"The rabble with them began to crave other food, and again, the Israelites started wailing and said, ' If only we had meat to eat! We remember the fish we ate in Egypt at no cost - also the cucumber, melons, leeks, onions and garlic. But now we have lost our appetite; we never see anything but this manna!" Numbers 11:4-5
HOLY, MANNA! We're tired of eating this crap - give us MEAT! God, if only I had a job that was satisfying, challenging, flexible, close to my house. And speaking of houses, could you finds us a good one that had a pretty good backyard, but close enough to a bus stop where Mike could ride up to Boulder. And I need more friends, my family closer, and to be about 10 lbs lighter. THEN, I'll be satisfied. Right. And by then, the manna will have turned into maggots.
Do you get where I'm going????? So, what's your I'll be satisfied when ____________ ? Ultimately, the joy that comes from our God is the ONLY thing that can satisfy. So, may God reveal those things in your life that you are idolizing and using to make you "happy". And then, may He transform your mind and body to only desire Him. To find true satisfaction and joy in His presence. I'm trying, but I'm also encouraged through this text.
Be encouraged. Chris Tomlin has a song that fits this idea, and I love it.
love wins. love you.
Saturday, February 5, 2011
The Byrds, the bees, and me?
A warning before reading this blog
1. I do not deem myself as one whose ministry is preaching.
2. My life has been transformed by what I'm about to share.
3. I want to share it with you, but it may be long and I might sound, ack! preachy!
4. Hang in there, it'll be worth it. Thanks to Pastor Brian for sharing it with me in a time when I desperately needed it.
For the past 3 weeks, the pastor at my church has brought us through the first few chapters of Ecclesiastes. If you're like me, the only thing you knew about the book of Ecclesiastes was....well.... nothing. Oh, yes - wait! I do remember something slightly about, "to every thing, turn, turn, turn.. there is a season turn, turn, turn....and a time to every purpose - under heaven". Are you singing yet? The only thing I remember about a book in the Bible is - ta da - a song written in the '60s? I'm sure the Lord LOVES that. I am quite the hippie, now. Don't count me out of much.
We have been using the sermon on Sundays as a guideline to discuss more in-depth questions on Wednesday nights in our community groups. Here are the verses we read on Sunday:
Ecclesiastes 3: 1-15
I challenge you to not skim over these next paragraphs. Take the time to read, chew, and process the seriousness of what God is trying to tell us. This idea has changed my way of thinking recently, for the good.
The Byrds almost ruined this text. They turned a driving & difficult text into a little ditty associated with Forest Gump and the sweeping pluralism of the 1960s. The times Solomon reminds us of in this text are not about simple seasons in our lives, rather Solomon's point is to follow on from his conclusions in Chapter 2, to describe the providence of God in all the events in our lives. He lists 14 pairs of situation and attributes them to the sovereign purposes of God. He has ordained their times, starting with the time we were and the time we die. This is devastating to our sense of autonomy and it builds on Solomon's confession in Chapter 2, that the enjoyment of our toil as well as our eating and drinking is a gift from God.
We shouldn't think for a minute that Solomon envisions a capricious or arbitrary God. He tells us that God's ways are inscrutable, but they are purposeful ("He makes all things beautiful in its time"). He sovereignty is total, and it guided by a good purpose. His purpose is to be known, obeyed, trusted and loved. This is the great beauty God intends of us. Solomon ends by commending to us that this sovereignty serves as the basis for Christan contentment. Because he is sovereign, because our circumstances are guided by a purposeful good God, joy is made possible. This may seem surprising after 2 chapters of vapor. But this is Solomon's preliminary conclusion. God reign, so enjoy your short and vaporous life.
Okay, there is bad news and good news here. Which do you want to hear first? I'd always go for the bad news (And believe me, the good news is REALLY good. I've got you in suspense, don't I?), so here it is:
Your life is vain. Plain and simple. Society tells us that everything under the sun matters, right? I mean, if you just get that right promotion, marry the right person, buy perfect house, have the perfect child - everything will be okay. If we just drink the right wine (ha! that makes us seem smarter, doesn't it), fill our lives with the pleasures of the world, consider ourselves wise - then surely this will make life seem satisfactory. Surely! We search for things that we think are going to make a name for us in this world. Something that will set us apart from one another. But, the truth is that we live in a cycle. We live, we die. The same things re-occur over, and over, and over again. Nothing is new. And we will die. Every part of our lives that we lived for, gone. Depressing, right?
I had to stop and ask myself this question, " What are you looking at to provide lasting happiness??"
At this point, you should be asking yourself, "Get to the point. I want the good news". That was totally me. I longed for that life application where I could dig myself out of such a self-serving hole I had dug and was absolutely stuck in. *See previous blog where I talked about my funk*
The good news - JOY! What gain does a worker have for his toil? Solomon tells us to find JOY in our toil (AKA those things that we deal with on a daily basis). Eat, Drink, and take JOY in your toil. Celebrate your daily life because in the end it doesn't matter. All that matters is holding onto that rock that you can feel, but can't see because of the vapor in your life. Solomon wants us to see 3 things:
1. Your life has a purpose.
2. Your life cannot be seen from beginning to end. God has put eternity in man's heart that makes us groan for something solid.
3. Nothing can be taken or added from what He wants to do. God's purposes are beautiful and you can't see how the dots connect for a reason...however, know that his purposes are unstoppable and beautiful.
So, whatever vapor you may find yourself in (anxiety, fear, depression, etc.), God is chasing you. It is only in this realization that you can say there is nothing better than to be joyful - to see life through your toil. To look back on it and, laugh, maybe? To be JOYFUL and surpass that circumstantial happiness, understanding to the fullest degree that life is a mere vapor in the wind.
I pray that this message will take ahold of you and change your life. I have been so worried about what is next in our life. If I'm preaching, I'm totally preaching to myself. So, there you have it.
And here are some pictures of what my vaporous life has been like today:
This was the view outside our door for the majority of the day today - what is a woman to do?
Wrigley knew what to do, play outside in the snow!
These pots were filled with orchids that needed to be re potted and replanted. The pots had no holes in them and the plants were in plastic pots that were not at all the right environment. I went to home depot and bought supplies.....
And voila! After cutting the rotted roots and giving the orchid new soil and a new pot with air holes on the sides - hopefully my orchids will send up a new shoot pretty soon so that I can enjoy beautiful bloom this spring! This is the most healthy of the 2.....my other one was pretty sick looking.
Here is the 2nd orchid that was much more sickly. It's growing a new leaf and hopefully it will be happier in this new pot.
So then, my Nook and I spent about 100 pages together reading about a girl with a dragon tattoo, which was quite entertaining!
All in all, my Saturday was quite vaporous and beautiful. I'm no long searching for the next best thing (at least, I'm trying not to), and focusing on my daily life, not focusing on the future in which I'm trying to force that would "make my life better."
I love you, love wins!
1. I do not deem myself as one whose ministry is preaching.
2. My life has been transformed by what I'm about to share.
3. I want to share it with you, but it may be long and I might sound, ack! preachy!
4. Hang in there, it'll be worth it. Thanks to Pastor Brian for sharing it with me in a time when I desperately needed it.
For the past 3 weeks, the pastor at my church has brought us through the first few chapters of Ecclesiastes. If you're like me, the only thing you knew about the book of Ecclesiastes was....well.... nothing. Oh, yes - wait! I do remember something slightly about, "to every thing, turn, turn, turn.. there is a season turn, turn, turn....and a time to every purpose - under heaven". Are you singing yet? The only thing I remember about a book in the Bible is - ta da - a song written in the '60s? I'm sure the Lord LOVES that. I am quite the hippie, now. Don't count me out of much.
We have been using the sermon on Sundays as a guideline to discuss more in-depth questions on Wednesday nights in our community groups. Here are the verses we read on Sunday:
Ecclesiastes 3: 1-15
A Time for Everything
3:1 For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:
2 a time to be born, and a time to die;
a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;
3 a time to kill, and a time to heal;
a time to break down, and a time to build up;
4 a time to weep, and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
5 a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together;
a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
6 a time to seek, and a time to lose;
a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
7 a time to tear, and a time to sew;
a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
8 a time to love, and a time to hate;
a time for war, and a time for peace.
a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;
3 a time to kill, and a time to heal;
a time to break down, and a time to build up;
4 a time to weep, and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
5 a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together;
a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
6 a time to seek, and a time to lose;
a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
7 a time to tear, and a time to sew;
a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
8 a time to love, and a time to hate;
a time for war, and a time for peace.
The God-Given Task
9 What gain has the worker from his toil? 10 I have seen the business that God has given to the children of man to be busy with. 11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man's heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end. 12 I perceived that there is nothing better for them than to be joyful and to do good as long as they live; 13 also that everyone should eat and drink and take pleasure in all his toil—this is God's gift to man.
14 I perceived that whatever God does endures forever; nothing can be added to it, nor anything taken from it. God has done it, so that people fear before him. 15 That which is, already has been; that which is to be, already has been; and God seeks what has been driven away. I challenge you to not skim over these next paragraphs. Take the time to read, chew, and process the seriousness of what God is trying to tell us. This idea has changed my way of thinking recently, for the good.
The Byrds almost ruined this text. They turned a driving & difficult text into a little ditty associated with Forest Gump and the sweeping pluralism of the 1960s. The times Solomon reminds us of in this text are not about simple seasons in our lives, rather Solomon's point is to follow on from his conclusions in Chapter 2, to describe the providence of God in all the events in our lives. He lists 14 pairs of situation and attributes them to the sovereign purposes of God. He has ordained their times, starting with the time we were and the time we die. This is devastating to our sense of autonomy and it builds on Solomon's confession in Chapter 2, that the enjoyment of our toil as well as our eating and drinking is a gift from God.
We shouldn't think for a minute that Solomon envisions a capricious or arbitrary God. He tells us that God's ways are inscrutable, but they are purposeful ("He makes all things beautiful in its time"). He sovereignty is total, and it guided by a good purpose. His purpose is to be known, obeyed, trusted and loved. This is the great beauty God intends of us. Solomon ends by commending to us that this sovereignty serves as the basis for Christan contentment. Because he is sovereign, because our circumstances are guided by a purposeful good God, joy is made possible. This may seem surprising after 2 chapters of vapor. But this is Solomon's preliminary conclusion. God reign, so enjoy your short and vaporous life.
Okay, there is bad news and good news here. Which do you want to hear first? I'd always go for the bad news (And believe me, the good news is REALLY good. I've got you in suspense, don't I?), so here it is:
Your life is vain. Plain and simple. Society tells us that everything under the sun matters, right? I mean, if you just get that right promotion, marry the right person, buy perfect house, have the perfect child - everything will be okay. If we just drink the right wine (ha! that makes us seem smarter, doesn't it), fill our lives with the pleasures of the world, consider ourselves wise - then surely this will make life seem satisfactory. Surely! We search for things that we think are going to make a name for us in this world. Something that will set us apart from one another. But, the truth is that we live in a cycle. We live, we die. The same things re-occur over, and over, and over again. Nothing is new. And we will die. Every part of our lives that we lived for, gone. Depressing, right?
I had to stop and ask myself this question, " What are you looking at to provide lasting happiness??"
At this point, you should be asking yourself, "Get to the point. I want the good news". That was totally me. I longed for that life application where I could dig myself out of such a self-serving hole I had dug and was absolutely stuck in. *See previous blog where I talked about my funk*
The good news - JOY! What gain does a worker have for his toil? Solomon tells us to find JOY in our toil (AKA those things that we deal with on a daily basis). Eat, Drink, and take JOY in your toil. Celebrate your daily life because in the end it doesn't matter. All that matters is holding onto that rock that you can feel, but can't see because of the vapor in your life. Solomon wants us to see 3 things:
1. Your life has a purpose.
2. Your life cannot be seen from beginning to end. God has put eternity in man's heart that makes us groan for something solid.
3. Nothing can be taken or added from what He wants to do. God's purposes are beautiful and you can't see how the dots connect for a reason...however, know that his purposes are unstoppable and beautiful.
So, whatever vapor you may find yourself in (anxiety, fear, depression, etc.), God is chasing you. It is only in this realization that you can say there is nothing better than to be joyful - to see life through your toil. To look back on it and, laugh, maybe? To be JOYFUL and surpass that circumstantial happiness, understanding to the fullest degree that life is a mere vapor in the wind.
I pray that this message will take ahold of you and change your life. I have been so worried about what is next in our life. If I'm preaching, I'm totally preaching to myself. So, there you have it.
And here are some pictures of what my vaporous life has been like today:
This was the view outside our door for the majority of the day today - what is a woman to do?
Wrigley knew what to do, play outside in the snow!
These pots were filled with orchids that needed to be re potted and replanted. The pots had no holes in them and the plants were in plastic pots that were not at all the right environment. I went to home depot and bought supplies.....
And voila! After cutting the rotted roots and giving the orchid new soil and a new pot with air holes on the sides - hopefully my orchids will send up a new shoot pretty soon so that I can enjoy beautiful bloom this spring! This is the most healthy of the 2.....my other one was pretty sick looking.
So then, my Nook and I spent about 100 pages together reading about a girl with a dragon tattoo, which was quite entertaining!
All in all, my Saturday was quite vaporous and beautiful. I'm no long searching for the next best thing (at least, I'm trying not to), and focusing on my daily life, not focusing on the future in which I'm trying to force that would "make my life better."
I love you, love wins!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)