Many times in life, we are faced with forks in the road. Do I go this way or that way? Sometimes you know that both paths in essence lead to the same destination but accomplish the journey in different ways. I have once again found myself at a fork in the road, and I am bringing this big decision to you, my wonderful blog readers.
The Big Decision: Do I go with The Samsung Delve or the LG Rhythm? Yes, it is time I switch to Alltel an say good-bye to Cellular South. Hey, it's not my fault they don't serve the Louisiana area! I must say good-bye to having a Mississippi number and embrace the fact that I am a resident of Louisiana. Despite reviews I read, I am still clueless on which to pick. The idea of having a touch screen phone seems rather rad, and I am a sucker for rad stuff. Yet I see potential long term issues with the touch screen, which makes me consider the Rhythm. My reluctance in making a decision is that I know I will have to live with this phone for a couple of years. Sure, by selecting either phones, I end at the same destination. (That destination being having a new phone that gets the job done) Yet either phone could have different advantages and disadvantages. I have been encouraged to make my decision by days end. Does anyone have any ideas???
The real big decision, however, has to do with a manuscript that some of you have read (Puzzles Pieces.) I'm torn between two options and seeing that I'm proably going to go with neither of the options. (meaning more decisions to make) On a happier note, I am very pleased to say that my mom passed her national boards. She rocks!
Friday, November 21, 2008
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
yawn so more
My alarm and I fought for an hour this morning before it finally won. I am still wrestling with this washed out feeling and waiting for my entire being to be refreshed and refueled. There is little rest for the weary it seems as I am pressing ahead to tomorrow's GroundZero. GroundZero is certainly my favorite time of week, but it is also the most draining event of my normal week.
In a few some odd days, I will head back to Mississippi to embrace an inviting atmosphere and food that just plain out makes you feel good. I hope to do some much needed writing between now and the end of the year. Perhaps during Thanksgiving my brother and I can finally update my very outdated website. (It still has me listed as a Tribble. Maybe that is what they always meant when they said "the trouble with Tribbles...")
In a few some odd days, I will head back to Mississippi to embrace an inviting atmosphere and food that just plain out makes you feel good. I hope to do some much needed writing between now and the end of the year. Perhaps during Thanksgiving my brother and I can finally update my very outdated website. (It still has me listed as a Tribble. Maybe that is what they always meant when they said "the trouble with Tribbles...")
Monday, November 17, 2008
spent
Spent- used up; consumed. exhausted of active or required components are qualities often for a particular purpose. To be drained of energy or effectiveness.
Yes, after the actives of the last couple of weeks, I am definitely spent. I absolutely love the opportunities God has placed before me with my job. Doing what we are passionate about is energizing and life renewing. To do the things I am passionate about, particularly ministry, a good bit of energy (mental, emotional, spiritual, and physical) must be exerted. And while it is an amazing experience, it is certainly draining.
My problem is the refuel process. I'm not patient, and I want this process to happen quickly. I have things to do, and waiting for a form of normalness to reappear in my strength is not something I feel I have time for. Yet God made our bodies to need rest. He formed us to need Him and to need His strength.
In Mark 5:30, Jesus has an experience with a woman who had been ill with a bleeding problem for a long time. The woman knew that if she could just touch Jesus, she would be healed. Reaching out to secretly touch His cloak, the woman found herself the center of attention when Jesus asked who touched Him. Jesus knew this was not just a simple bump of a crowded street. The scripture says that Jesus knew that power had left Him. If Jesus, being both man and God, had the experience of strength and power leaving His body, how much more so is it that we encounter this?
Jesus took time in His ministry to retreat to the Father's presence and distance himself when needed from others. Yet when I find myself drained, I for some reason want to cling to others and neglect alone time. Why are we so backwards?? Why do we insist on doing it our way and forfeiting the reviving that comes from doing it by God's example.
Yes, after the actives of the last couple of weeks, I am definitely spent. I absolutely love the opportunities God has placed before me with my job. Doing what we are passionate about is energizing and life renewing. To do the things I am passionate about, particularly ministry, a good bit of energy (mental, emotional, spiritual, and physical) must be exerted. And while it is an amazing experience, it is certainly draining.
My problem is the refuel process. I'm not patient, and I want this process to happen quickly. I have things to do, and waiting for a form of normalness to reappear in my strength is not something I feel I have time for. Yet God made our bodies to need rest. He formed us to need Him and to need His strength.
In Mark 5:30, Jesus has an experience with a woman who had been ill with a bleeding problem for a long time. The woman knew that if she could just touch Jesus, she would be healed. Reaching out to secretly touch His cloak, the woman found herself the center of attention when Jesus asked who touched Him. Jesus knew this was not just a simple bump of a crowded street. The scripture says that Jesus knew that power had left Him. If Jesus, being both man and God, had the experience of strength and power leaving His body, how much more so is it that we encounter this?
Jesus took time in His ministry to retreat to the Father's presence and distance himself when needed from others. Yet when I find myself drained, I for some reason want to cling to others and neglect alone time. Why are we so backwards?? Why do we insist on doing it our way and forfeiting the reviving that comes from doing it by God's example.
Thursday, November 13, 2008
The A.M. Chronicles part two: Still the Man
Yes, we all passed him off as good as done. I could not even believe it myself when I said a couple of years ago, "He will always be one of if not my favorite QB of all time, but I'm afraid it's time he retires." Now at the age of 37, Kurt Warner is showing us that we counted him out just a little too soon.
Warner was an amazing inspiration back in the late 90s when he became the MVP of the Super Bowl. It was special to many due to his hard yard from grocery store sally sacker and arena football player to the starting QB of the St. Louis Rams. Being that I am also a huge Manning fan, I found myself torn when both he and Eli were competing for the starting role in NY. Now, both he and Eli hold a place on my fantasy football roster.
When the season started, I picked Warner up as a "back up" mainly for sentimental reasons. He did help that he had descent stats for an aging quarterback that had not been consistent in years. Now, ironically, he is my starting QB. (He has brought in 199.7 points for my team with his 2760 yards and 19 touchdowns.) It's an additional bonus to see Warner making a comeback because of his faith in Jesus Christ and the way he lives it out. When Boldin had an awfully scary head collision a few weeks ago, youtube was filled with video clips that including shots of Warner leading both teams in prayer.
I think I will definitely have to look for my old #13 Christmas ornament when I go home for Thanksgiving....
Warner was an amazing inspiration back in the late 90s when he became the MVP of the Super Bowl. It was special to many due to his hard yard from grocery store sally sacker and arena football player to the starting QB of the St. Louis Rams. Being that I am also a huge Manning fan, I found myself torn when both he and Eli were competing for the starting role in NY. Now, both he and Eli hold a place on my fantasy football roster.
When the season started, I picked Warner up as a "back up" mainly for sentimental reasons. He did help that he had descent stats for an aging quarterback that had not been consistent in years. Now, ironically, he is my starting QB. (He has brought in 199.7 points for my team with his 2760 yards and 19 touchdowns.) It's an additional bonus to see Warner making a comeback because of his faith in Jesus Christ and the way he lives it out. When Boldin had an awfully scary head collision a few weeks ago, youtube was filled with video clips that including shots of Warner leading both teams in prayer.
I think I will definitely have to look for my old #13 Christmas ornament when I go home for Thanksgiving....
The A.M Chronicles part one: God's strength
The LORD replied, "My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest." Exodus 33:14
It's been awhile since I felt as spent as I did by Tuesday night of this week. The type of projects that I have found in my lap lately have been stimulating and entertaining. The amount of them and the energy required to completely them, however, has been draining. Monday came this week after a full weekend that demanded not only a significant portion of my time but a significant quantity of mental energy. Not only did Monday come after a full load, but it brought a new load. Transporting Paul to and from work, making two separate trips to the hospital for surgeries, grocery shopping, were just a few things on the list. When Paul's car did not get fixed Monday, I found Tuesday rolling in with more trips to Ruston (which is about 25 minutes away if you are wondering.) With an upcoming student conference, much of Tuesday was taken up with prep task and meetings. By the time the evening arrived, I found my brain's ability to focus non existent.
The challenging in this was that I had yet to devote the time I desired and needed to preparing for my two speaking engagements on Wednesday. I have been good at not committing to additional obligations on Wednesday due to focusing on "GroundZero," our big weekly youth focus event. Since I had previously arranged to have a guest speaker at GroundZero this particular Wednesday, I agreed to speak at the local elementary school when asked. Unfortunately, (or what seemed unfortunate at the time), the guest speaker had to cancel. Now I know what you are thinking. Why not just use the same devotion at both events? This would normally be a great idea, but the age groups and nature of the events were different enough to require two separate lessons.
To cut to the chase (yes... finally!), I knew that God had known all along that both opportunities would be before me on a day when I felt weak and extended. God, in all His power, reached down and gave me the strength needed for both opportunities. His presence truly went with me. The chance to speak at the local elementary school was awesome to say the least, and tonight's GroundZero had an undeniable presence of His Spirit. In fact, I think it had to be one of the best if not the best worship services we have had at GroundZero since I came on board.
God is so awesome, so true to His word, and so amazingly compassionate.
It's been awhile since I felt as spent as I did by Tuesday night of this week. The type of projects that I have found in my lap lately have been stimulating and entertaining. The amount of them and the energy required to completely them, however, has been draining. Monday came this week after a full weekend that demanded not only a significant portion of my time but a significant quantity of mental energy. Not only did Monday come after a full load, but it brought a new load. Transporting Paul to and from work, making two separate trips to the hospital for surgeries, grocery shopping, were just a few things on the list. When Paul's car did not get fixed Monday, I found Tuesday rolling in with more trips to Ruston (which is about 25 minutes away if you are wondering.) With an upcoming student conference, much of Tuesday was taken up with prep task and meetings. By the time the evening arrived, I found my brain's ability to focus non existent.
The challenging in this was that I had yet to devote the time I desired and needed to preparing for my two speaking engagements on Wednesday. I have been good at not committing to additional obligations on Wednesday due to focusing on "GroundZero," our big weekly youth focus event. Since I had previously arranged to have a guest speaker at GroundZero this particular Wednesday, I agreed to speak at the local elementary school when asked. Unfortunately, (or what seemed unfortunate at the time), the guest speaker had to cancel. Now I know what you are thinking. Why not just use the same devotion at both events? This would normally be a great idea, but the age groups and nature of the events were different enough to require two separate lessons.
To cut to the chase (yes... finally!), I knew that God had known all along that both opportunities would be before me on a day when I felt weak and extended. God, in all His power, reached down and gave me the strength needed for both opportunities. His presence truly went with me. The chance to speak at the local elementary school was awesome to say the least, and tonight's GroundZero had an undeniable presence of His Spirit. In fact, I think it had to be one of the best if not the best worship services we have had at GroundZero since I came on board.
God is so awesome, so true to His word, and so amazingly compassionate.
The A.M. Chronicles: the Introduction
It's 2 a.m. in the morning and saying that it has been a long week is an understatement. By all accounts, I should be fast asleep. But alas, the insomnia strikes! I feel it unnecessary to keep Paul awake with my tossing and turning, so I am deciding to retreat to the living room to catch up on some over due blogging. (I'm hoping the light from the computer will be enough to tire my eyes into submission.)
There are several things in which I have wanted to blog about lately but have pushed blogging aside to focus on the infamous to-do list which seems to have the gremlin affect. (I am thoroughly convinced that someone is putting water on my to-do list, causing it to multiply.) In order to break these various subjects in which I desire to write about into smaller, more readable post.... I have decided to create "The A.M. Chronicles." I hope you enjoy...
There are several things in which I have wanted to blog about lately but have pushed blogging aside to focus on the infamous to-do list which seems to have the gremlin affect. (I am thoroughly convinced that someone is putting water on my to-do list, causing it to multiply.) In order to break these various subjects in which I desire to write about into smaller, more readable post.... I have decided to create "The A.M. Chronicles." I hope you enjoy...
Saturday, November 1, 2008
life is good
Life only seems to get busier by the moment, yet I am discovering the joy of relaxing. It seems to come these days in ways I did not expect. Most recently I have learned to appreciate once a week outings onto the apartment balcony to breath in night air and contemplate life with my soul mate. Paul and I have been experiencing the beauty of God weaving two lives together. For Paul, God uses me to soften edges and occasionally make gray areas a matter of black and white. For me, God uses Paul to toughen edges where they need to be stronger and occasionally open my strongly latched mind to new ideas. In doing so, I’m learning to appreciate new things and finding new grooves. Life is busy and hectic and sometimes overwhelming….. but life is good.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
