Life moves fast...

Well, it's no surprise to most anymore that I am completely taken with snowy weather. Be it a slight flurry or an all out blizzard-I'm as happy as a clam when I know snow is expected. Yes, it's cold...but it's SO beautiful! Out here on these hills and covering the evergreens...just gorgeous. Seriously, sometimes when it's dark out and the light hits the snow on the ground, it looks like diamonds all sparkly.  Today, one of my emailed devotionals I received compared encouragement to snow. It said, "Instruction that is wrapped with encouragement really works. No one cares how much you know until they know just how much you care. I have heard it said that advice and instruction are like snow. The softer they fall - the deeper they stick. Sensitive instruction is encouragement." I can imagine if I was the one in a "dark" place, encouragement brought under the "light" of grace would surely be something to behold and stand ...

Oh my Pride how much stronger are you than I? Wrestling my will to get your way. Surely you can't be here to stay. I follow you in defeat of my own inability to eat the savory words God breathed so that I could learn I shouldn't seethe in my self rightousness which justifies that tendency to miss the plank in my own eye. I see what happens, I see how it ends. And then another day begins... Faithful am I  to you my pride and True joy is lost as I admire your cost in this life  I should sacrifice. I see what happens, I see how it ends. And then another day begins...  How small I feel  when you seem so real. Don't you see I scarce can tell when I'm you or when I'm me. Answer me this Can you fight without a list of people to ridicule and risk feeling minuscule? Can you help me find Love and live as one above the vengeance and entitlement  without questioning what God meant?   If the answer is "no" You must go. ____...

Some of you may be wondering about the title here. No, it's not a mistake. Today is, or would have been, my grandmother's 74th birthday if she were with us today. However, I am completely inspired to write about her "1st" birthday. The inspiration comes from a comment a friend posted on my mom's Facebook page in regards to today and all it implies. She said, "Her first birthday with Jesus, how awesome."  It really got me thinking about the magnitude of awesomeness that truth is. I mean, I don't know about you people, but I sincerely can't remember a single thing about my first birthday. But to think in terms of how Grammie is celebrating now forever AND will always recall and be living in a state of celebration is seriously awesome. I'd argue whatever kind of party going on in eternity is far better than any one we could throw on this earth. On this day we remember, we celebrate, we perhaps hold our thoughts a little higher in regard simply...

I'm surrounded by water. Perhaps that may seem to have somewhat of a negative implication to it if maybe ONLY considering my last blog entry and certain things I spoke about specifically. But when I say I'm surrounded by water, I simply mean God's movement in my life and how it very much has increasingly become like water to me. It's need vital. Where it starts? Like water, there's no beginning and no end really. It's like trying to point out a single wave in the ocean from an aerial view and follow it all the way to shore. Basically impossible but certainly a challenge worth while; for what I may see along the way could surprise. Not that I need to explain myself to you people (whoever you are) or my relationship with God. I'm simply ironing out the details for myself "on paper" so to speak, knowing that my family far extends beyond the blood running through my veins. And for that I am thankful to my core because that thought alone brings me joy ...

Hmmm so apparently God is on this movie/music run with me lately. No "run" pun intended-though literally that was the case last time. It's rather surprising considering the movie scenes appearing in my thoughts are from movies I can't even remember when I last viewed them. In my last blog I shared about my walk with God and the fight for my heart as it parallels with a scene in the movie 300. The last couple days....it's Finding Nemo.... Go ahead and chuckle. I do so right now myself. But nothing happening for me as of late is of coincidence. All the intermingled thoughts about what I know to be true are unwinding into a straight  line aimed toward their Source. Incredible - just incredible I tell you. But still MANY moments of the day my forward motion (Thousand Foot Krutch) feels more like treading water. In my heart and in my head I am fully aware that there is no need to fear. But emotion still gets in the way! God doesn't dwell in fear but rather in ...

Alright, now I am REALLY going out on a limb, exposed here. But I simply can't keep it in - this burning passion in my heart. Periodically I'm sure to insert lyrical references so just a heads up in case you want to be listening to those as you read or afterward for increased clarity to my Ultimate inspiration here. Though I don't have anything rehearsed or planned for this entry, I'm just sharing my heart (my treasure) as it's being transformed and refined..."bearing the gift of a new heart", if you will. "Can I tell you a story?" (Flyleaf) Though I can ultimately only speak for myself and can't claim anyone else's life circumstance, I do pray you (whoever you are) can identify with me in one way or another, perhaps on one point or more if not the message as a whole. Any inclusive reference isn't intended to project my heart onto anyone else's - we are all simply His children, so I ask for you to "take heart" with me...

Maybe I'm getting too personal here and in considering my last blog, but I'll just go out on this limb and keep talking regardless. I feel like I need to get it out of me... Sort of going off of where that last entry is rooted, today you find me somewhere between ok and well, something much better anyway. Short of just bearing my soul to the world wide internet, I'll just say standing under stark light before my Creator is nothing short of revealing and humbling. But just to be clear, I must impress it is in no way a condemning or chastising experience. I will admit, however; that I find myself still glancing around for my fig leaf multiple times throughout the day though. (I'm "naked" here, remember?) Anyway, the collective experience of God in my life recently is truly something. Even to the point where any and all "mirrors" I've held before my face are lovingly smashed by the One who is replacing them. I hope where that last sentence stoppe...