Sometimes Visuals are Better...

Mom and Dad are leaving for San Diego this weekend to speak to one of our sending Churches. Mom has this "display" all set up representing the number of unreached people groups in the world. It's a pretty neat visual. It targets the kids but it's sobering for everyone.

Wisdom from a guy named Andrew...

"...what I believe is not what I say I believe; what I believe is what I do."

"...dying for something is easy because it is associated with glory. Living for something...is the hardest thing. Living for something extends beyond fashion, glory, or recognition. We live for what we believe."

Sigh

I am very tempted right now...tempted to buy Caedmon's Call, Long Line of Leavers. Ugh. I really, really want it...but I just can't justify spending the money right now. I hate that. Bleh. But I think I will put it on my birthday list :)

I'm reading Blue Like Jazz right now...finally. I thought it was about time I form an opinion about that book....

The Grand Canyon....AGAIN!

I am SOOOO excited!! I am going to the Grand Canyon not this week but next with two friends from work (Jordan and Ann Marie). I am looking forward to it SO much. I am so happy to be making friends at work. There are some really neat people there. It's just so neat to be around so many people from so many different walks of life...and here we are, spending these months together. Crazy. God is so good. I thank Him for these opportunities and pray He moves in the lives of those around me. I would appreciate your prayer too!
I'll post pictures ;) (as usual)

Check them out!

These two new blogs...on the bottom of my "links" list right there to your left are two knew blog links. Check them out. Interesting.

That's all.

Drive. Keep Driving.

500 miles, I stop to write a postcard
it’s a long way back
words on a card, are less than consolation
for the things you lack

past the deadline, call from a landline
but you can’t make somebody understand
all you can handle, blow out the candle
and it goes round and it goes round again

500 miles, with love like medication
and my hands are tied
weeds to the door, so much deliberation
you could lose your mind

past the deadline, wait for the green light
but you can’t see the end before you start
fade like a fashion, the moment is passing
and I can’t stay much longer in the dark

500 miles, through the open window
as the train goes by
500 miles, is maybe all I needed just to get it right
all I need, all that goes…comes around …all I need…to get it right

past the deadline, riding a thin line
the turns of poetry and circumstance
all you can handle, I’m at a standstill,
and it goes round and it goes round again…

500 miles, somewhere over Kansas,
where the storm goes by
500 miles, is maybe all I needed
just to get it right…all I need…to get it right
500 miles-Sandra McCracken

I Couldn't Have Said it Better

My friend Leslie posted recently about Love...its steadfastness and its foundation in the hope of Christ's love. This is something I have been learning (struggling with) so much right now. She's very good with words so I'm just going to quote her post :)

"one of the hardest lesson about love is its selflessness. many times love is bright because our input births favorable output; there is a sense of satisfaction when we know our love is cherished by another person.

then there is steadfast love. a love worth giving even if it may never be received or acknowledged by the ones we lavish it upon. a love poured out even if we may never gain.

why should we have steadfast love?

because the Lord is faithful.

therefore we have hope in Him.

i stand IN that hope."

Sometimes its REALLY hard to love people. Sometimes it hurts...a lot. I stand in the hope that the Lord IS faithful and He IS love...Thank you, Jesus.

Brothers, I Love You!

I thank my God in all remembrance of you... Phil. 1:3

For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same functions, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Romans 12:4

Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. James 5:16

And have mercy on those who doubt; save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh. Jude vs. 22, 23 (Strong language).

For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of POWER and LOVE and SELF-CONTROL. 2 Timothy 1:7

Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. James 1:16

BE QUICK TO HEAR, SLOW TO SPEAK, SLOW TO ANGER... James 1:19

What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? James 2:14

Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Ephesians 5:15, 16

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Keep hold of instruction; do not let go; guard her, for she is your life. Proverbs 4:13

Keep your heart with all vigilance (guard it), for from it flow the springs of life. Proverbs 4:23

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As the body of Christ, what is our responsibility to one another? What is our duty in loving one another? In giving?...AND in receiving?

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Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts...let the WORD of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing ONE ANOTHER in all wisdom... Colossians 3:15, 16

"Get Naked"

Naked Juice=My new love. "A pound of fruit in every bottle!" Working at a grocery store allows me the privilege of knowing when the stuff is on sale. Aaaah, what joy :) Since i've been sick, I've been drinking it a whole lot. Every time I bring home a bottle, Luke says "Get naked!" and laughs. The simple things amuse him...crazy kid. I recommend the Pomegranate and Orange juices, the Kiwi/Strawberry smoothie, and the Red Machine smoothie.

Today is my day off. I ran errands (picked up my parents anniversary gift!) and am now back at home. Mom and I have spent a lazy afternoon together chatting. The weather is absolutely BEAUTIFUL. Tucson gets beautiful in the fall and winter. It is finally starting to cool off...sigh. I think I might read on the back patio.

Tonight I am going to Navs. He is speaking on 2 Timothy--how to avoid becoming a spiritual casualty. I am looking forward to it.

I'm covering a shift for someone tomorrow--working my first morning shift. I start at 7:30am!! But I get off at 1:15 so that'll be nice. It leaves me time to plan something fun tomorrow afternoon/evening.

Alright. I think that's all. Oh. Before I leave...I want to share this verse that I read this morning and found much power in.
Psalm 29:9 "The voice of the Lord makes the deer give birth and strips the forests bare, and in his temple all cry 'Glory!'"

I Will Sing

I will sing for the meek
For those who pray with their very lives for peace
Though they're in chains for a higher call
Their mourning will change into laughter when the nations fall

In spirit poor
In mercy rich
They hunger for Your righteousness
Their hearts refined in the purity
Lord let me shine for them
Lord let me sing
Lord let me shine for them
Lord let me sing

(Rich Mullins)

Sick

I have gotten 22 hours of sleep the last two nights combined...shouldn't I feel rested? I just woke up from a 2 hr. NAP! What's going on??? I suppose it has something to do with the fact that one minute I'm REALLY hot and the next I'm cold...I can't breathe out of my right nostril...and my throat is so swollen I can barely swallow. My arms ache...so sleep is fitful. That's probably why I'm still tired. Ugh this is awful. I'm drugged up--zinc, echinachea, vitamin C, dayquill (and niquill!). I have to go to work in 3 hrs. bleh. I work tomorrow also but it's a SHORT short shift, that's exciting. Alright, I'm going to go make tea and take a shower. Talk to you later...if i live. haha. jk. its really not that bad. I could be throwing up...gross. I hate throwing up.

I Bought My Ticket

...This makes two things very much final...

I AM GOING TO LIVE WITH JAY AND KRISTEN FOR OVER TWO WEEKS IN PHILLY!!!

I AM GOING TO VISIT HILLSDALE AND SEE MANY FRIENDS I MISS A WHOLE LOT!!!

yay for road trips with fun people and yay for reunions!!...and while I'm at it, yay for the midwest in the wintertime...yay for no more working as a cashier starting Nov. 18th!!!

My ticket is for Nov. 18-Dec. 10. Part of that time we'll be in Michigan spending time with our family, Jay's family (which is now part of our family too :)) and with Hillsdale people. Sigh. I am so excited about this. Kristen and I are going to go to many Farmer's Markets to get fresh produce and flowers...and other cool things. And I'll get to experience Philly. Woo!

I love waking up to the sound of rain on the roof...

It's a drizzly day in Arizona! What a blessing :) I love it SO MUCH. Plus, it will put more water in the rivers=more water in the canyon=better swimming. Yay!

Do You Ever Just Need to Cry?

...REALLY cry?...but you keep it all inside until you just can't anymore....and so finally you cry and you cry and you cry. If my heart didn't hurt so much it would be fine. I like to have a good cry. I like the way i sleep after I cry--deeply. But it hurts. A lot...

And now I'm sitting on the floor drinking my tea...in my pj's...and thinking about eating those oreos on the counter with some milk.

Words from Bob Dylan...

Oh my name it is nothin'
My age it means less
The country I come from
Is called the Midwest
I's taught and brought up there
The laws to abide
And that land that I live in
Has God on its side.

Oh the history books tell it
They tell it so well
The cavalries charged
The Indians fell
The cavalries charged
The Indians died
Oh the country was young
With God on its side.

Oh the Spanish-American
War had its day
And the Civil War too
Was soon laid away
And the names of the heroes
I's made to memorize
With guns in their hands
And God on their side.

Oh the First World War, boys
It closed out its fate
The reason for fighting
I never got straight
But I learned to accept it
Accept it with pride
For you don't count the dead
When God's on your side.

When the Second World War
Came to an end
We forgave the Germans
And we were friends
Though they murdered six million
In the ovens they fried
The Germans now too
Have God on their side.

I've learned to hate Russians
All through my whole life
If another war starts
It's them we must fight
To hate them and fear them
To run and to hide
And accept it all bravely
With God on my side.

But now we got weapons
Of the chemical dust
If fire them we're forced to
Then fire them we must
One push of the button
And a shot the world wide
And you never ask questions
When God's on your side.

In a many dark hour
I've been thinkin' about this
That Jesus Christ
Was betrayed by a kiss
But I can't think for you
You'll have to decide
Whether Judas Iscariot
Had God on his side.

So now as I'm leavin'
I'm weary as Hell
The confusion I'm feelin'
Ain't no tongue can tell
The words fill my head
And fall to the floor
If God's on our side
He'll stop the next war.
(With God on Our Side)