At Cheaha

Now that I know how to upload a slideshow (finally) to my blog, I want to show these wonderful pictures of the fun we had at Cheaha earlier this year.



FYI You can click on slideshows and view an enlarged version online.

How Small a Whisper

Job 26:14 (English Standard Version)
"Behold, these are but the outskirts of his ways, and how small a whisper do we hear of him! But the thunder of his power who can understand?"

I have been studying The Attributes of God by Arthur W. Pink and my impatient mind tries me sometimes. As much as I want to know God, I am constantly rushing to the next phrase or sentence before I have captured the essence of what is being said in the one I just read. Laura Morgan is always decrying the fact that her ability to read through a book quickly while I long for the depth that she acquires in her reading. I have been making a conscious effort to slow down and study, especially this topic. I believe I have traveled to far from the focus of knowing God in my studies.

In light of this, I am re-reading and really studying and making notes on the first chapter entitled The Solitariness of God. The entire study is awesome in the strictest sense of the word, but the verse I quoted above is written in such a way as to make me want more. Think about it! It is so visual . . .

glitter-graphics.com

"these are but the outskirts of his ways"
I am traveling to a destination that I have planned to visit and I become excited even upon reaching the outskirts of the city. The view of the skyline is breathtaking, but I still have little idea what the city is like.

"how small a whisper do we hear of him!"
When you hear a whisper don't you just ache to know more?

"But the thunder of his power who can understand?"
But - what a excluding word! We are not like God. We cannot understand all of his ways. His ways are far above our own. This knowledge is like thunder compared to the whisper we hear. No wonder Moses' hair went white. Last night as I simply contemplated how God knows all things and has planned all things, my mind was frazzled. Then I tried to ponder how God could possibly put all his plans together at once . . . I was filled with awe, but totally clueless as to how this could possibly be.

In spite of this dumbstruck state, I am anxious to know more . . . And Laura, I hope I will have enough discipline to start a copybook (like my boys, I hate the physical process of writing).

God saved the Grinch in my Soul

Today I was listening to Anne Marie's blog and as I heard the following words from the Grinch Song I recognized myself:
"Your soul is an appalling dump heap overflowing with the most disgraceful assortment of rubbish imaginable mangled up in tangled up knots!"
Thank you, God, that you have saved this Grinch soul! Disgraceful me is saved by the amazing grace of God.
I never realized how the Grinch story was somewhat like the story of redemption.

New York City

What a great time we had!

The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade was an experience I'll never forget. Some people crowd up front just hoping to get on television. They were crazy costumes (we saw a couple of turkeys) and bring special friends with them ( a guy of 50+ was carrying his old teddy bear). The envied few have a unique opportunity to see the parade inside of buildings lining the street. They write signs back and forth to people in the buildings across the street.

I am probably just as strange as everyone else. We arrived less than five minutes late for our train from New Jersey to Penn Station. You have to understand that we arrived in New Jersey about 1 am and woke up he and his brother at 4:30 am. Matthew (as tall as he is) could not see the parade. What strange thing did I do? I put him on my back for most of the time so that he could see.

We got turned around afterward and instead of heading for Central Park, we ended up at the Empire State Building. It was fantastic! Since we were only in New York for two days, we could say we saw it all, because we did - atop the Empire State Building.

On Friday we went to see the Statue of Liberty. Everyone should take that trip if they can. What that statue has come to mean to so many people is great. I am impressed by the opportunities for freedom from oppression, religious persecution and even starvation that Lady Liberty represents.

Liberty made me think of our liberty in Christ. One of the quotes, "Liberty is not the right to do what one wants, but the right to do what one must." -- Patrick Henry, made me think of Romans 7. Without Christ we have no hope of this type of liberty, because we are enslaved to sin and even when we try to do what is right we sin.

On Saturday we had such a special treat. Dave and I often ate a breakfast/brunch restaurant called Le Peep when we were dating. The location in Atlanta closed, but we got the opportunity to go to one in New Jersey. They have such special breakfast foods and such a unique atmosphere that we have always enjoyed it.

Then we stopped at . . .

H E R S H E Y

Sorry. It was wonderful.

Dave really surprised us with this trip. What a treat!

Pictures to come later.

Faithful

I want so much to be faithful.
Faithful to God.
Faithful to my husband (the kind of faithfulness that means more than loving him best).
Faithful to my children.
Faithful in my relationships.

The gotcha is ... I am too darn selfish and lazy.

I love the time I spend with others. The relationships I have are with people who are talented and interesting, and each person's thoughts give me great insight. So I'm kicking myself and saying, just take a little time out of your day to call, to look at a blog, or even to visit someone.

Now, God. Why is it so hard to find time for you? Of all the relationships your's is the best. In all of this life I must ask you to give me faithfulness and help me discard this selfishness and laziness.

Listen ... I hear 1 Corinthians 13 speaking to me. Love is what I need to be faithful to God and to others. I really need to learn to love and remember the love that God had for me.