Love Truth

A Snarky Blonde

2011-08-10T09:40:00.000-07:00

You know you want to read a snarky blonde's opinions on...

Life
Love
Literature
and

London Riots

Go visit my blog -

AnnieMaeBlog

BLOG BLOG BLOG

2011-05-31T15:52:00.000-07:00

This is how I blog...

Enjoy!

Seattle Pacific University's Prospective Student Magazine Blog --> etc magazine

Associate Student's of Seattle Pacific Blog --> ASSP  

Off Campus & Commuter Student Ministry Blog --> SHARPEN 

And finally my personal blog - AnnieMaeBlog

Come visit my new blog!

2011-04-28T11:38:00.000-07:00

I think you'll enjoy it :)

anniemaeblog

I've Crossed Over...

2011-03-31T13:04:00.000-07:00

Goodbye Blogger...

Hello Wordpress!!!

anniemaeblog

Come and check it out!!!

Stormy & Unpredictable

2011-03-14T13:08:00.000-07:00

My heart is here today. Restless.

Hale'iwa, HI - Oahu's Northshore

Stormy

and
Unpredictable
yet
Reassuring

Thankfully, I know.
God is in control of the storms of life.

Matthew 8:26 "He rose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm."

Morning Magpie

2011-03-04T11:30:00.000-08:00

This picture reminds me of this one day...

One day when I was living in the magical city of Oxford, England, I awoke to find a magpie sitting on my windowsill. The room in which I lived was very small office room in #4 Banbury Road. Literally, they converted an office into a bedroom for me. It had just enough room for a bed, a desk, and a small nightstand. However, it had floor to ceiling shelves all along one side so there was plenty of room for my stuff and books. It had delightfully high ceilings and a wonderfully large window overlooking the back gardens behind Wycliffe Hall. We had been having cool evenings and warm Spring days so I had left my window open about 6 inches or so, to let in the fresh air.
Well, that morning I hear a loud 'squak' from the INSIDE windowsill. All I could think about was how frightening and icky it would be to have a very large magpie fly about my room. (It reminded me of George MacDonald's 'Lilith.') So I sat up very slowly and said in a rather pathetic morning voice, "Oh, please fly away." Well, he cocked his head to one side as if to say that I was being very rude for asking him to leave so abruptly... without tea or anything. One more 'squak' and out he went.

That was only a moment in a million on moments worth sharing from my adventures in Oxford. I'll see if I can't share more of them.

Valentine Surprise

2011-02-16T11:33:00.000-08:00

Wishful thinking... Unrecognized expectation...
Near disappointment...
- A surprise outing,
a coffee,
and an apology (from me) -

Reality strikes...
Much of the stress in my life is my own fault! (Only 'much' because my pride
won't let me admit that its
very nearly ALL my own doing.)

Joy realized...
Today is good. Now if I can just let go of how I think things should be and Trust in God's plans - which are always better.

Today's pursuit...
Actually try to live out Paul's admonition to

"Be ANXIOUS for NOTHING,
but in EVERYTHING
by prayer and supplication
with thanksgiving
Let your requests
be made known to God." Phil 4:6

Imagine the possibilities

Midterms...

2011-02-09T12:45:00.000-08:00

Really need I say more?

Why believe a ground hog?!?!

2011-02-02T10:00:00.000-08:00

So... why do we do it?

Why would we treat February 2nd like a holiday and claim that a smallish rodent can predict the next six weeks of weather?

My opinion - Its simply to break up the montany that threatens to invade and conquer the day.
But we mustn't let it! Today is an adventure if you're willing to take it.

I'm reading George MacDonald's "Phantastes" for a class (which will receive a blog post entirely for itself) and a great line in it from the main character,

"I sat a long time unwilling to go;

but my unfinished story urged me on.

I must act and wander."

To celebrate this odd and unusual holiday - I host an annual pancake feed (since I am in college this will be held at 8:30pm).

Take that demon of monotany!

Click for more Ground Hog News

Time Flies

2011-01-24T13:16:00.000-08:00

My roommate recently commented on how quickly time goes by, I'd have to agree with her. When you hit your 20's life seems to speed up (I happen to be 27).

I describe life
right now
as
'Long days and Fast weeks'
The only way to deal is with Psalm 90:12
"So teach us
to number our days
that we may get
a heart of wisdom"
English Standard Version

The New American Standard reads
"...That we may
present to You
A heart of wisdom."

Today is all I have for certain,
So I say...
If time flies, strap on your hat and aviators
Because today is going to be quite a ride.

1-11-11 @ 11:11 Ordinary & Extraordinary

2011-01-12T11:06:00.000-08:00

I celebrated a 1 minute party last night at 11:11pm

Why?!?! you may ask... 11:11 happens 2x a day, every day, without fail.
Time is, in fact, one of the consistent elements in life that God has given to us.

I celebrated the ORDINARY... when was the last time you took a minute to thank God simply for being consistent... for making the sun rise? For letting it rain? For giving you another heart beat... and another and another and another.

I too often take for granted the ordinary. I have come to expect the wonderful gifts of breathing and simply waking up and falling asleep.

Yesterday was 1-11-11 so at 11:11 pm I celebrated 1 minute of joy and delight in what God has given me that I don't usually think about - let alone bother thanking Him for.
So at 11:11 pm I sent a few people a text telling them I was celebrating - I was thanking God for them! Sometimes I take you for granted... so today I want you to know that you are always on my VIP list to all of my parties - the ordinary and the extraodinary!

Joyous Epiphany of the Ridiculous

2011-01-06T15:42:00.000-08:00

Joyous Epiphany to each and everyone who reads this (even though it was yesterday but since most people don't even know what it is let alone when, I figure I'll be forgiven). I challenge you to take a moment today and ponder the lives of the wise men. In faith they stepped out on a journey that seemed to outsiders
- RIDICULOUS -

When was the last time you...
stepped up, stood up, spoke up

for what was right... but is often seen as ridiculous?

Sometimes following God leads you down 'ridiculous' paths... but seeing Jesus is ALWAYS worth it... besides maybe they'll be presents at journeys end.

- ridiculous; causing or worthy of ridicule or derision; absurd; preposterous; laughable -

January 2011

2011-01-05T12:47:00.000-08:00

A new year
A new song on my heart
A new necklace

Old friends
Old dreams - revived
Old words speak new

2011 has already made itself known to me by challenging my heart.
I'm half Norwegian and the rest of me is Russian & German, so sharing my heart is not always my first inclination. However, as my heart has already been overflowing with emotions of all kinds - Joy, Sadness, Love, Disappointment, Peace, Passion - I think you get the idea.

My brother challenged me to start this blog 3 Christmases ago and I feel like I'm just starting to understand what I want it to be and what I need it to be.

Old friends, New friends - Today I welcome you to my blog - A blog proclaiming the Truth of Life and Love (mostly how Jesus is just that and how He shows me more of Himself everyday) and the highs and lows, curiosities and intrigues of the heart along the way.

"Speak 'Friend' and Enter"

Holiday Reading

2010-12-28T14:36:00.000-08:00

Who knew that reading for school could be good for the soul!

Is there such a thing...

2010-12-27T14:33:00.001-08:00

...as too many books?

Boxing Day?!?

2010-12-26T00:29:00.001-08:00

How
are
you
going
to
celebrate???

Love in Techni-color

2010-12-14T17:10:00.000-08:00

Lately the Lord has been teaching me
-
People bring color to my life.

Each person has their own shade to add to the spectrum of colors on the palette of my life.

Love
Joy
Peace
Patience
Kindness
Goodness
Gentleness
Faithfulness
Self-control

What color am I giving to you today?

Friday After Finals Blog

2010-12-10T14:28:00.000-08:00

Now that Finals are over and I've finally caught up on my sleep all I want to do is run off to Sainsbury's to get some coffee (because naturally I would be out) and chocolate digestives.

I would walk right by here...

and I would stop and ponder life.

Coffee and life pondering will still happen... and I will dream of Oxford for another day.

Finals Blog #3

2010-12-07T16:24:00.000-08:00

How else would I have survived finals!!!

After 3 & 1/5 hrs of sleep last night, I can't wait for my date with my bed.

Finals Weekend #2

2010-12-04T19:22:00.000-08:00

Pre-Finals Weekend feels
kind of like
being a cardboard robot in the rain...

But "the sun'll come out... to-morrow"

Yes, I just quoted my namesake.

You're jealous.

Finals Weekend #1

2010-12-03T16:49:00.001-08:00

All I want to do is...

But first I have to overcome
5 days - 3 Tests - 1 paper - 1 set of papers to grade - 2 study groups to attend -
3 Movies to watch...
2 Christmas Parties to go to...
12 Pots of tea to drink and 3x as many cups of coffee...

Then I get to Sleep :)

Do you know Charlie?

2010-11-20T13:34:00.000-08:00

Charlie Harper's art is BrilliantThis is one of my favorites.

Puddle Jumping

2010-11-12T14:32:00.000-08:00

My brain is full.
My heart is full.
Life is full.

I'm hungry.

I second the motion...

2010-10-13T11:53:00.000-07:00

Puzzling over Life... Part II

2010-10-05T15:25:00.000-07:00

To go back to my puzzle analogy for a moment...

It's those pieces

that don't seem to fit

that turn out to be

my favorite.

Life is...

2010-09-21T11:15:00.000-07:00

un·ex·pect·ed (nk-spktd)

adj. Coming without warning; unforeseen.

unex·pected·ly adv.

unex·pected·ness n.

Love... even more so.

Puzzling Over Life

2010-09-13T12:44:00.000-07:00

Have you ever dumped an entire 1000+ piece puzzle out in a pile - initially you think you'll never find any matches. Life is like this.
Life is unexpected.
Things don't go together the way you think they should - even when they look like they do...

But as you s.l..o...w....l.....y go through the days and events,
full of people and places of all shapes, colors, and sizes - pictures start to emerge....

You look back and can see what was going on, how that situation taught you this, and even how those times made you laugh and cry...

Then there is that one piece that seems like it must've gotten mixed in from a different puzzle, because it just doesn't match up...

And you worry because you are afraid you will miss pieces or lose them...

There is no way that I can imagine how all of the edges amazingly fit together...

The reason - because I am not the Map Maker, but I know Who is.
He is the only one who can see the picture that is my life.

My paraphrase of Psalm 32:8,
"Watch, learn, I'm strategically piecing your life together the way I see it. Trust me."

Deferred Hope = God at work

2010-09-02T16:47:00.000-07:00

"Hope deferred makes the heart sick,
But desire fulfilled is a tree of life." ~ Proverbs 13:12Hope... seeing change in my life
- in, around, through -
knowing God is at work.

Monday Fog...

2010-08-23T13:12:00.001-07:00

Monday morning often comes in like watching the sunrise through the fog
Light...
Unknown...
Possibilities...

Uncertainty and mystery combined with HOPE for the coming day can be a beautiful thing.
Shadows of the unknown can definitely cause worries and fears.

The only way I can move forward is because I know the Keeper of the Light

and He is greater than any shadow.

"I am at Work"

2010-08-19T10:30:00.001-07:00

I love getting paid to blog - Check out what I've been working on.

> etc Blog

Stumbled Upon a Curse

2010-08-09T13:28:00.000-07:00

Its a good thing our Libraries don't take such a serious stance about thievery... or maybe they should???

For Him That Stealeth A Book from this Library, let it change into a serpent in his hand and rend him. Let him be struck with Palsy, and all his members blasted. Let him languish in Pain crying aloud for Mercy and let there be no surcease to his Agony

till he sink in Dissolution.

Let Bookworms gnaw his Entrails in token of the Worm that dieth not,

and when at last he goeth to his final Punishment,

let the flames of Hell consume him forever and aye.

16th Century Spanish Curse

Summer Studies...

2010-07-13T21:19:00.000-07:00

Just of the few of the terms that have emerged over the past three days...

Intelligent Design, Neo-Darwinism, Science Day (said with surprising delight, from someone else), Irreducible Complexity, Old & Young Earth, Creationism, Micro & Macro, Common Descent, Natural Selection, Fundamentalist, The Cambrian Explosion, From Genes to Proteins is their Dogmatic, Centrasome's & 2 headed Tadpoles, Jurassic Park Model, and the Borg...

The Real People with Power

2010-07-07T13:49:00.001-07:00

Secretaries - they Actually know whats going on!

3 years ago...

2010-07-02T12:15:00.000-07:00

...Today, I left my sweet Oxford.

Amazing the adventures a day can bring. I never could've imagined all the Lord would have me do or where I would go. Now to continue to seek His adventures for today... wherever they may lead.

"And this is how I feel..."

2010-06-29T09:19:00.001-07:00

Young & Old

2010-06-18T10:25:00.000-07:00

Reflection on the young and old...

Yesterday...

I dressed a 2 year old and an 82 year old.
I helped a 2 year old find her chair.
I helped an 82 year old find her chair.
I made a 2 year old lunch.
I made an 82 year old dinner.

Objectively speaking there is little difference in the externalities of what I was doing.

The two year old is taking hold of independence and self sufficiency while the 82 year old is slowly relinquishing hers out of necessity.

For the 2 year old, this is all she knows, all she needs to know, for now.
For my Grandmother, she need to know someone else is handling her needs.

The 2 things I need - love and patience.

Whale Mail

2010-05-19T08:52:00.000-07:00

Interpret however you like.
It makes me smile.

Favorite Film Blog

2010-05-13T08:57:00.000-07:00

---> Check it <---

Good writing,
interesting opinions,
and
thought provoking humor with a dash of bias.

Love it!

Contrast the Sky

2010-04-28T08:32:00.000-07:00

Outside my window at work
is a big beautiful
pink dogwood tree
Today the sun is streaming on it
While behind it the menacing sky is gray
and tumultuous.

This is how I feel today.

Finding Inspiration

2010-04-14T14:22:00.000-07:00

Need to be Inspired???

Insatiably Curious

2010-04-06T23:00:00.000-07:00

Three people I am curious about
Alexander Hamilton,
T.S. Eliot,
and
The First Emperor of China.

Would you go to such extremes??

2010-03-17T12:27:00.000-07:00

I have 6 Bibles of various sizes, colors, and versions sitting in my room... not to mention the immediate availability at my finger tips through my itouch and my mac.

I wonder if the ease with which we have access to God's Word is the excuse we use to treat our Bibles with less care and attention than we often give our shoes?!?

Fayad's lives in a country where Christianity is punishable by death. He said he had little privacy and there was no way for him to read God’s Word. Some Christian friends decided to purchase small memory cards for Fayad’s cell phone and fill them with Christian music and the Bible. Fayad proclaimed, “I can use the memory card and headphones, and if ever I get in a dangerous situation I can just swallow the memory card.”

This puts my 5 minutes before work or before bed to shame.

Would I risk death to read my Bible? Would you? How far are you willing to go to read God's Word?

I face no risks, today, to read God's Word. So, encouraged by the people like Fayad, I will joyfully adore the Word God has given to me, TODAY!

Paper Romance

2010-03-03T11:06:00.000-08:00

This

is what my

Happy

made of.

What's your's?

Seek Truth

2010-02-03T08:27:00.000-08:00

Do we really?

So often in out post-modern relativistic thinking we throw the word truth around like potato chips - everyone can choose their own flavor. That isn't Truth - Webster agrees with me.

Just the other day,

a little old lady told me how we should

take a little bit of what eveyone believes

and then we'll be in the best state of mind and heart.

Honestly that sounds lazy and confusing.

What do you think a judge and jury would have to say to that???

"Well, your Honor, I'm just telling you a little bit of everyone's story,

and that will be my truth."

Don't settle for uncertainty and unfounded assumptions.
Today... seek Truth!

Rain

2010-01-24T22:51:00.000-08:00

This is how I feel today...

...it needs no further explanation.

Simple Pontification

2010-01-13T09:38:00.000-08:00

Sometimes... infact, I think most of the time... too many words are used to say too litte, and the most encouraging and thought provoking things are said in too few.

Interesting
how
those
are
the
ones
we
wish
would
last
longer.

Christmas Morning

2009-12-25T00:26:00.000-08:00

"The Adoration of the Wise Men"

Cecil F. Alexander

"Know ye not that lowly baby

Was the bright and morning star,

He who came to light the Gentiles,

And the darken'd Isles afar?

And we too may seek His cradle,

There our hearts' best treasures bring,

Love, and Faith, and true devotion,

For our Savior, God, and King."

Rearranging Books

2009-12-17T08:19:00.000-08:00

Someone recently told me that rearranging books is very therapeutic. I wonder at this logic, since it seems to take me forever to move my books. Once I have them a certain way, I leave them like that... for years! The more I know about the authors, the more fun I have puting them on the shelf. Dickens goes next to Hawthorne - But I think that they would fight so I might let alphebatizing slide and let Hemingway mediate. Can you imaging a fight between Dickens and Hawthorne being refereed by Hemingway? Ridiculous. Hemingway would have them wrestling before a bell could toll. Whitman would probably have to come in and calm everyone down by talking about leaves and grass. Or I could just let Louisa May Alcott distract everyone with her tales of long, fatal love chases. (Thats why I keep the female authors on a seperate shelf - Too racey and distracting for the likes of the Old Man at sea and too improprietous at the House of Seven Gables.) However, I keep Grace Livingston Hill with the ladies, because the men would make fun of her for writing the same book with different settings 32 times. They all agree upon my 'special' collection having a shelf of their own; Lewis, MacDonald, Chesterton, and Sheldon - to name a few.

I'm not quite sure how therapeutic this type of arranging is, all I know is that my books need dusting!

December Ramblings

2009-12-01T17:35:00.000-08:00

DECEMBER 1st

A new month... a new day...

So much potential

So much to do...

Why is it that I always want to read what I don't have to?

Have to read - "Macroeconomics"

Want to read - "The Art of War" &" Phantastes."

Today, I am thankful for the decent distractions college life presents and the beautiful Seattle city lights.

Coffee and Seattle are synonyms.

The Wind in His Fists

2009-11-18T17:48:00.000-08:00

... LET GO ...

... LET THE WIND BLOW ...

... WHO KNOWS WHERE YOU WILL FIND YOURSELF...

Remember...

You're definitely not alone.

He controls the wind.

Daunting Monday

2009-11-09T12:39:00.000-08:00

This picture is so ridiculously thought provoking, I had to share it!
I am challenged by it...
It reminds me of life and adventure,
of sadness and hope,
of God and His awesomeness... Daunting, isn't it?
I encourage you to take a minute and just be with God today.
As I was reminded this weekend... we are 'BEings' not 'DOings'

Midnight Carpenter = Renaissance Vandal

2009-10-28T15:24:00.001-07:00

I love my job...

And yes... this one is mine :)

Renaissance Vandalism

Time Worth Taking

2009-10-19T11:10:00.000-07:00

Time...

We're always asking for
More... Slower... Faster... Longer... Stop...
.
..
...

Breathe. Feel your heart beat.

You can't change the passing of time any more than you can give back the last breathe you just took.

So embrace the time you have. Ask yourself if getting so stressed out ~ over the littlest things ~ is really worth. Have another cup of tea.

"So teach us to number our days, That we may present to You a heart of wisdom." ~ Psalm 90:12

The Joy of Being Alone

2009-09-16T10:00:00.000-07:00

Today
I miss Hawaii.
It probably doesn’t help that it has been very warm today and I was just listening to Jack Johnson.

If I’d have been there any longer I would have either started going stir crazy or I would’ve begun to adjust to the island lifestyle.
(It is hard to imagine as anyone who knows me will understand that I have a hard time sitting still... ever!)

I miss the Hawaiian culture.
I love the importance they have on children and family.
I love the colors of Oahu - People – Clothes – Flowers – The Sea! Amazing
I love that even with all the tourists there are always secluded places where one can feel completely alone.

The good kind of alone... Just me and God.
This kind of alone is joy.
Joy like...
...warm sand between your toes
...fragrant plumeria on the breeze
...sun kisses

(See why I miss Hawaii?)

In my crazy busy life, its easy to push God into the corners of the day instead of remembering that He belongs in the center.

Since I'm not running off to a secluded Island anytime soon,
I shall endeavor to find secluded places in the crowds.
Places where I can just BE...
Alone...
Just me and God.

Wisdom

2009-09-08T16:05:00.000-07:00

It is September 8th!

This morning I drank my cup of coffee, ate my oatmeal, and read Proverbs 8.

This stood out to me from the Message...

"My mouth
chews
and savors
and relishes
TRUTH -
I can't stand the taste of evil!
You'll only hear TRUE and right words
from my mouth;
not one syllable will be twisted or skewed.
You'll recognize this as TRUE-
You with open minds;
TRUTH-ready minds will see it at once."

What does it mean to have a "truth-ready mind"? How can I have one?

According to Proverbs 8, Wisdom holds the key. In our relativistic, truth bending, over tolerant society, we need to chew, savor, and relish His Word. That is where we must begin to walk in Wisdom's Way and understand how to delight in His Truth.

I was a Neighborhood Party Crasher

2009-08-29T22:59:00.000-07:00

A couple of weeks ago I was walking around Wallingford (Just a hop and skip over the Fremont bridge from SPU), when I happened upon people having a bar-b-que in the middle of the street. I had stumbled upon one of the hundreds of "National Night Out" block parties!!! As the neighborhood children ran around climbing trees, peopled talked, and got to meet their neighbors. Food was shared amongst strangers and anyone happening to pass (including myself). Between the bagpipe band and accordion player, the fire department sent a truck over and gave kids a tour. These people know how to encourage neighborhood safety.

This national party happens annually, all because one man had the idea that throwing a block party would help people get to know their neighbors - creating safer neighborhoods!

After all, isn't being a good neighbor what following Jesus is all about? National awareness has created the perfect opportunity to be just that. So don't miss out - mark your calendar for next year's night out and spend a pleasant evening getting to know your neighbors.

Questions...

2009-08-07T23:12:00.000-07:00

I never run out of questions. Big ones, small ones, the essentials to down right dumb.

Do you ever stop to question yourself?
I think we all do, but when was the last time you did it on purpose?

Do you ever take the time to question God?
It may be surprising how often we pose questions to God, without even realizing it.
When was the last time you asked God a question and trusted Him with the answer?

I love that God is big enough to handle all of our questions.
Don't be shy. Take a deep breath and ask Him!
And when you're ready to be adventurous expect Him to answer... in the most surprising ways. Your neighbor, your kids, your boss, and then, of course, His Word, the Bible, and who knows where else. He likes to keep us on our toes.

~ Psalm 19:1 ~

Sweet Laughter

2009-08-03T22:43:00.000-07:00

I think I'm starting to figure out what makes things worth while...

Of course in following Jesus we seek to enjoy to the fullest the life that He has for us. But how do we do that? How do we know what's worth pursuing and what isn't? These are persistent questions worth asking yourself on a regular basis.

For me, today I did some random things and the monotonous was made worth while because of the laughter and joy surrounding it. Getting up early to walk with my Mom was worth the flow of endless conversation like a stream that bubbles and has moments of depth and good shallow parts that are easy to get across. Even laundry and cooking brought forth reasons for joy.

So why do I do the things I do? I go through the tough times working towards those moments, those moments which remind me that this life God has blessed me with is a joy.

Seemingly Serengeti Sun

2009-08-02T23:19:00.000-07:00

As dusk fell over the Pacific Northwest, the sun burst forth with a vivacious fluorescent reddish-pink. Not the sky around it but the sun itself. It was beautiful and alluring, and certainly wasn't something we see around here everyday. I wanted to know why the sun was that color... so I googled it :) There is a really amazing scientific definition which I highly recommend reading. I however prefer wikiAnswers response to that questions...
...Because God made it that way.

The Ship of Friends

2009-08-01T22:54:00.000-07:00

Today was one of those wonderful days where I ignored the list of things to do and did what I really wanted...

I sat in the afternoon sunshine under the apple tree reading
I let my hair dry in the sunshine
I played on my computer - email, facebook, blogging, skype, etc
I took a nap
I cooked for fun
I watched a tv show

The joy of summer... I am truly blessed!

Faith like Rain

2009-07-13T23:09:00.001-07:00

As rain falls down from heaven to earth
So my souls pours out to You, Oh Lord.

In Seattle, rain is a constant. I'm not saying that it rains all the time, because it actually doesn't. I'm saying that even if there is a drought, it is short lived. For me, there has always been the assurance that the rain will come again. This gift from God is a reminder of His faithfulness
God's gifts of love, grace, peace and so on, are like the rain in that ~
~ We have no control over them
~ Sometimes there is a down pour that is impossible to ignore
~ More often, there is a light rain that we can far to easily take for granted
~ There is the assurance that when it isn't here, it hasn't gone very far.
~ We need it to keep going.

Faith like Rain

As rain falls down from heaven to earth
So my souls pours out to You, Oh Lord.

"Crazy Love"

2009-06-30T11:30:00.000-07:00

Sometime life is hard. We all know this.

The other day, I was fighting this shoulder sagging, heavy sigh producing reality.

God sent some encouragement my way -> Francis Chan's book "Crazy Love" Read it!

Sacred Softball...

2009-06-11T09:33:00.000-07:00

So...
this may kind of seem like cheating
to post a link to another blog,
but I wrote this article for the ETC blog, here at SPU...
...and I had alot of fun doing it. Enjoy!

http://etcmagazinespu.blogspot.com/2009/06/sacred-softball-who-says-theology-and.html

"The Hound of Heaven"

2009-05-19T18:12:00.000-07:00

"I fled Him, down the nights and down the days, I fled Him...
For, Though I knew His love Who followed, yet was I sore adread...
Fear wist not to evade, as Love wist to pursue...
'Ah, fondest, blindest, weakest,
I am He Whom thou seekest!'"

Amazing!!!

This poem has inspired countless people since it was written in the early 1900's by Francis Thompson. He was able to strike the emotions, with a beautifully graphic words that draw a picture of God's persistent love for us. Among those inspired; "Lord of the Rings" author, J.R.R. Tolkien, as well as, journalist and catholic social activist, Dorothy Day.

These old verses present a fresh reminder that life is full of joy and sadness, but over all of life the Love of our Jesus Christ is a persistent hound following us until we recognize He is what we have been running from and searching for all at once.

Follow the link if you'd like to read it yourself.

http://www.cs.drexel.edu/~gbrandal/Illum_html/hound.html

The Forest Wild

2009-03-12T11:03:00.000-07:00

Children's author, Mercer Meyer, wrote a story about Herbert the timid dragon who wanted to be a brave Knight. Herbert the Dragon lives "in the forest wild." Although I'm hardly timid, I do associate with his desire for adventure. I also feel as if I've grown up on the edge of "the forest wild." This isn't a scary thing at, but rather a comfort. Now I live in the city wild and I miss the comfort of the forest.

Trees help me think clearer...
Ok, so the trees don't actually help me think,
but the way that God made them is worth stopping to reflect on.

Generally speaking
Trees -
- stand strong
- point to the heavens
- dig deep to have strong roots which gives them a strong foundation
- the seasons of change are very important to its growth...
And the list goes on for quite some time.

If I am like a tree and Jesus is the gardener... much to ponder. I'm going to leave this for you to ponder (exposition would defeat the purpose of a short blog entry.)

When was the last time you took time out to just look at the world around you?

Perhaps you could use a fresh perspective...

even if it comes from the edge of the forest wild.

Seeking Inspiration?

2009-01-31T09:26:00.000-08:00

I was once catching up with an old friend who had become an artist. He was in the middle of a big project and had fallen in a rut, that had lasted for several months. When I asked him what was wrong, he told me that what basically had happened was that he had lost his muse and he was trying to find it again.

Lost his muse... What is a muse? And how does one lose it? More importantly how does one find it again?

According to Webster, "Muse"
verb; to be lost in thought
noun; (Rooted in Greek and Roman Mythology) a woman, or a force personified as a woman, who is the source of inspiration for a creative artist.

Each person is an artist of sorts, regardless of how creative one happens to be. Some are just more obvious about it, or I should say more artistically creative than the rest of us. Accountants could be said to be artists with numbers, just as a roofer could be considered an artist with a hammer. So don't sell yourself short. Whether we're artists or not, we all need and seek inspiration.

We all have days where we 'lose our muse' or as I'm seeing it, need to find something that preoccupies our mind in a good way. We are looking for that something or someone that will inspire us to do even better. No one can find for you. You have to find for yourself.

Recently, I've been wonderfully surprised by interesting conduits for inspirations. Why does it take us so long to open our eyes and see all that God has put around us? If this day finds you lacking in 'muse', here are few things that I have found to inspire me.

People who are starting over - no matter how big or small
The sun glistening on the morning dew
Chimney smoke
The 19 yr old, who is majoring in music with her upright bass
The stillness in a fog
The Japanese girl who is seeing God for the first time and told me, "God is beautiful."
The uninhibited laughter and play of children
When random strangers break through social barriers to give another stranger a compliment
Answered prayer

Open your eyes and see...

~

Psalm 51:6
"Behold, Thou desirest truth in the inward being;
therefore teach me wisdom in my secret heart."

Treasure in a Stream of Light

2009-01-19T23:51:00.000-08:00

Today is an adventure. God has given us the map. Jesus leads the way. With the Holy Spirit as our faithful companion, it is up to us to find the treasure that today may hold.

I was walking through the woods the other day. It was a cold crisp morning and there was a beautiful and haunting fog. The kind of day that makes one forget what time it is and makes one want to quietly wonder about all sorts of things in life. As I walked along, the fog cleared just enough and the sun came bursting through the trees. In that beautiful moment, I wanted time to stop. Just long enough, so that I could play in God's light. I ran over to a sun stream and jumped in it, feeling the warmth through the winter's air. For a moment, I was a little girl just playing outside enjoying God's creation.

I think we need more moments like that, where we take time to enjoy the Light of Christ through the fog of our busy lives and to delight in the simple things the Lord has blessed us with. I pray that in the business of life, I can catch those treasures to pause and watch a bird, stand long enough in one place to feel the warmth of the winter sun, or quiet my busy mind to listen to the rain.

"The heavens are telling of the glory of the Lord, the expanse is declaring the work of His hands." Psalm 19:1&2

New Year, Same Heart

2009-01-01T23:10:00.000-08:00

Step out into the freshness of the New Year! It lets us walk away from all that has happened last year and look ahead to all that is yet to come, not in forgetting but learning and moving on. I've heard over and over how resolutions are ridiculous, or not taken seriously, or made to be broken. January 1st is merely the gift of starting fresh that we need to move forward. Be they resolutions, goals, or determined deeds (whatever you wish to call them), I think they are good for us. Here are a few things that I would like to better myself in...

Enjoy each moment ~ Breathe Love ~ Listen Harder ~ Speak Slower ~ Take Time Out ~ Pray Purposefully ~ Talk to God as soon as I wake up everyday ~ Read my Bible, not just to read it but to love it ~ Walk Slower, so that I can really see what is around me ~ Drink more water ~ Encourage people around me ~ Thank the bagger/checker every time I go through the grocery line ~ Focus on one thing at a time ~ Continue to Dream Big!

Happy New Year

A Christmas to Remember

2008-12-27T23:12:00.000-08:00

Twas the week of Christmas and all through house, There was hustling and bustling, and moving about, For days the snow had been falling from heaven, more that I'd seen since 1987! The stockings were hung by the chimney with care
Then moved for the wet boots and snow pants to dry there. By the fire, we sat and drank coffee and tea, cooking and baking and chatting with glee...

I could keep going with the week of Christmas rhyming scheme, but story telling in rhyme tends to get silly.

I truly have had an extraordinary week. It was like going back in time. I've grown up hearing stories of what Christmas was like for my Mother growing up on a farm in Minnesota. She tells these stories in such a way that I can feel the anticipation of her little girl self waiting for the pond to freeze over so that she can go ice skating. I can smell the hay and animals as she talks of the hours spent playing in the barn. And I can almost taste the sweet Norwegian dishes of krumkake, kringle, and Minnesota harvest bars that her mother would make. This Christmas gave my Mother a taste of her childhood and I got share it with her.

For the first time in years my family got to truly enjoy the holiday and take as much time as we liked. My younger sister and I spent hours outside everyday, snowboarding down our driveway! With a little sledding and snowman building thrown in. Our house was filled the fragrant aroma of a Norwegian woman who has the time to cook. Our days were spent by reading and writing, listening to our radio speakers (Stuart & Jill Briscoe, Ravi Zacharias, Dr. David Jeremiah, and Erwin McManus just to name a few) with music and laughter, watching Lord of the Rings and cheezy Christmas movies, and most of all enjoying the day.

Society promotes busy-ness. We as indivivuals are expected to keep up with the world. I have been challenged as my life was slowed down beyond my control. God knew what He was doing - God knows what He is doing. Why is it so hard to trust Him? King Solomon Wrote, "In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps." (Proverbs 16:9) We must make plans and then we need to trust that the Lord will guide our steps.

So the next time your plans are changed beyond your control: you're snowed in, you're stuck in traffic, or your flight is delayed, trust that God knows what He is doing. I encourage you to enjoy the change of pace that it offers. You may even find out it is precisely what you need in order to do what needs doing the rest of the time.

Christmas Eve Eve

2008-12-22T23:57:00.000-08:00

The children's author, Kay Thompson, wrote a beautiful story about a little girl named Eloise. (You'll have to read it, or at least watch the movie.) One thing about Eloise that becomes 'rather' obvious is how much she loves Christmas. She loves Christmas so much that she even celebrates Christmas-Eve-Eve!

Why do people with that kind of enthusiasm seem so hard to find? I think we all take turns blaming commercialism, family, work, etc. (Definition: Enthusiasm; intense and eager enjoyment, interest, or approval.) Last time I checked, enthusiasm is a personal choice.

Today is Christmas-Eve-Eve, and I have so much to be thankful for, and so much to celebrate in anticipation of the joyous day where we remember our Lord Jesus' birth. The unusual snow in Seattle has given us a unique opportunity to slow down. I am challenged to take the opportunity to enjoy and to anticipate. I want to have that contagious child-like faith with the enthusiasm of Eloise. What would you do if you had a moment to slow down and actually enjoy what was going on around you? I'm going to enjoy what God has given me - today!