Whatever He Says

By Belinda (Susan's post was missing yesterday because she was up all night nursing a feverish grandson. She'll be back next week!) I love listening to audio books! While doing so I can do hours of cleaning or ironing and never notice. Mostly I listen while driving though. The latest book I picked up from the library is Prophet of Purpose by Jeffrey L. Sheler; the life story of Rick Warren. It was several years ago that I read Rick Warren's book, The Purpose Driven Life , which deeply impacted me, so I was intrigued by a chance to know more about him. The book is inspiring and well written. Although it is 12 hours long, I am almost finished--and my ironing is up to date. On the way home from work on Thursday, I listened to the account in the book, of an incident I remembered: that of Brian Nichols taking Ashley Smith hostage in 2005. During the seven hours she was held captive by Nichols (who had murdered 4 people,) she built a rapport with him and eventually asked if sh...

Just in case anyone is wondering...I thought I would give an update on the status of my "orderly life." :) Our Christmas tree is still up. That about says it all. Last night at the end of cell group I moved three of our Christmas figures to the foot of the stairs. I laughed because they looked like the Three Wise Men--as if they were definitely going somewhere. I can only hope that this weekend they make it to their final destination, a cupboard upstairs, where they will be neatly stowed away for a few months. Usually our Christmas things vanish before we return to work after New Years Day, but this year, with holding on tight to celebrating Sabbath, and getting sufficient sleep and having a daily Sacred Hour, Christmas seems to have come to stay. I have held on tight to my Sacred Hour. It has really helped to build a new morning ritual around it. In spite of my best efforts I have not done so well in the past few days at getting enough sleep though, and on Sunday, because o...

Joshua 1:16 (New International Version) 16 Then they answered Joshua, "Whatever you have commanded us we will do, and wherever you send us we will go. Ruth 1:16 (New International Version) 16 But Ruth replied, "Don't urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. The heart of a bride for her bridegroom is devotion and love. How well I remember as a teenager, falling in love with someone whose heart was inexplicably set towards a land far away. I knew that to love him meant leaving all that was familiar; my beloved mother, friends and country, to follow him. But there was no question then, and there is none now. I love him and would follow him anywhere, no matter the cost. And that is the heart of a bride. Another teenager, two thousand years ago, named Mary, had an unexpected visit from the angel Gabriel that turned her expectations of life upside down. But she had a...

Like the beginning of a soft rain...I feel the gentle wet. God's truth touching my soul. To "be", simply "be"...an instrument of Him...is about understanding His grace...abundant grace lavished upon us, even us. Are we worthy? Am I worthy? Thankfully, it isn't about me or how much I can accomplish for Him. It is about Him...being available...willing...for Him to use me...when... as...He chooses. I have lived a lifetime of striving...wanting to be good enough...sports, academics, writing, marriage, parenting...even striving to be the best friend I can be...fearing rejection...fearing failure...trying to earn acceptance, love, value... Not surprisingly, I never measured up.My standard was illusive....just beyond my grasp...but I'd continue to try...strain...persevere. No one can be the best at everything. What does 'being the best', mean? In sports 'being the best' is clearly defined...medals...trophies...ribbons. I have boxes of those. I h...