Hot Pursuit

So the Egyptians pursued them, all the horses and chariots of Pharaoh, his horsemen and his army, and overtook them camping by the sea beside Pi Hahiroth, before Baal Zephon.

Exodus 14:9

This is how I've been feeling... Like the delivered soul who left oppression behind only to find himself trapped between an impassible sea and the raging enemies thought left behind forever.




This morning, God said, "Of course you feel like all of hell has come out against you and you've got nowhere to go - I'm about to cut a road in the waters and bury your enemies at the bottom of the sea."

Here comes my adventure! I'm excited to watch it unfold.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Right place, wrong time.

Ever leave early... Think you were early, only to find out that you're late? Here you are thinking you'll have this peaceful relaxed start to the day and WHAM! Suddenly you feel like the white rabbit.




It's particularly discouraging. I'm typically struggling to be sure I'm on time, and I'm getting pretty good at it, so to have a major success turn into a total failure is really, well, crappy.

What I really want to do is crawl back into bed and start over.

I showed up this morning to a crowd at the door, and thought, "uh oh". There were 9 or 10, but it felt like 100. I was barked at by the janitor, and could only say lamely, "I thought I was early."



"BARK! BARK!" And the door slams behind him.

Anybody have their finger to the rewind button? I sure could use a do-over.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

The Encourager

En: put into or on; bring into the condition of; intensification

Courage: mental or moral strength to venture, persevere, and withstand danger, fear, or difficulty

So to encourage is to give the strength to withstand difficulties or to intensify that strength where it already exists.

I have a friend who often enters a conversation by responding with the words, "Let me encourage you..." When I hear those words, I know I'm in for some correction, but I am also aware that if I'm to withstand some particular danger or overcome a difficulty or fear, that I need to have my mind focused in an attitude of courage. They are the words I find I most love to hear.

As the song goes, Sometimes, you have to encourage yourself. Because I have been so blessed as to be surrounded with encouragers, I am growing in the ability to encourage myself as well.

It's always been a simple thing to tell you the greatness I see in you. It's a miracle that I'm able to call out that same greatness in myself when those encouragers cannot be found.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Tonight at Orchards Fred Meyer a friend & I received excellent service.

Completely confused by the selection of apples, I said the smartest thing I've said in months: "Let's ask him" as Martin walked by.

Not only was he able to suggest the perfect apple, he proved it & gave us both a slice.
We both bought a bag, and I'm the girl who never liked apples.

I do now.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Duct Tape & A Stun Gun

Not every day goes they way it did yesterday - yesterday's darlings became today's terrorists in the reading group straight from hell and all I could think was, "When you sign on to be a staff assistant, the position should really come with duct tape and a stun gun - standard issue."

It was just that kind of day.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

What you're missing

Today was a beautiful day to be a staff assistant. I got to spend my day in the lunchroom with your kids, and better yet, on the playground.

Do you know what you're missing?

Two little girls had their first run-in with gossip. Another was surprised by the revelation that we all have to continue making new friends throughout life. Best of all, a second grader asked me if I knew that Jesus was real.

Your kids are such a joy. I hope you get to experience them as I do.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Hope

Function: noun
Date: before 12th century
1 archaic : trust, reliance
2 a : desire accompanied by expectation of or belief in fulfillment ; also : expectation of fulfillment or success b : someone or something on which hopes are centered c : something hoped for

Hope.
I hope so.
Hopefully.

It's such an easy thing to say. To say I'm hopeful of this or that sounds so much more confident - more stable than to say I'm wishing for it, but if I'm honest, isn't that really the case? How often can I say that I look forward with the expectation of success?

Do I really trust and rely on God? Do I hope in Him? How often do I ask, but not expect to receive the thing I requested? How often do I fail to ask for the very same reason? Could it be that I'm only wandering around wishing without the faith to change wishing into hoping?

Do I trust and rely on Jesus? I can say I'm learning to... He's been faithful to fulfill every promise. He's never left me, and let me tell you, there have been a lot of times when I would have left me, if I could have only figured out how. I'm starting to look ahead and see possible taking the place of unlikely. I'm beginning to see the things that aren't as if they are, and I can honestly say that I look forward to tomorrow with hope - fully expecting that the Jesus I have gone all in for will be there when no one else can.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Wonderful Counsellor

Here's something about me: I'm a listener. Everywhere I go, people I have hardly met will spill their secrets.

It's as if empathy has advertised itself on my forehead like a flickering neon sign on the side of a bricked-in city at midnight.

The thing is, I have a myriad of opinions and preferences - but this much I do know: nobody wants to hear it. Unsolicited advice is meddling, and frankly, when advice is requested, tread carefully.

So, come to me - my ear is here for you. I'll understand how you feel. I'll share my experience if it helps you to know you're not alone.

The thing I will not do is advise you.

I'll point you to a principle... Direct you to the wisdom of One who was here long before me. I'll pick you up and drop you off at the door of the one they call Wonderful Counsellor. His name is Jesus, and He's got the answer you need.

The counsel of the Lord stands forever,
The plans of His heart to all generations.
Psalm 33:12

Nevertheless I am continually with You;
You hold me by my right hand.
You will guide me with Your counsel,
And afterward receive me to glory.
Whom have I in heaven but You?
And there is none upon earth that I desire besides You.
Psalm 73:23-25

Looking Back

God has been reminding me where I've come from. Where He's brought me from. It's only been a few short years, but it feels like a lifetime ago... Almost as if I'm remembering a novel I once read.

I remember standing on a bridge, at the edge of the unknown, wondering - what if I didn't turn around? Could I just keep walking forever? Could I just walk right out of my painful life? Would anyone notice, or, more to the point, would they care? I must have stood there 30 minutes, trying to imagine what might happen if I could muster the courage to just walk away.

In time, I turned back and with a shattered heart, returned, broken, to the familiar. What I couldn't see that day was that it wouldn't be long before the day came when God would reach down and change my life.

I imagined walking away to live homeless and alone on the streets of Arlington. God sent me a plane ticket to Hawaii. I'm amazed when I think of how much better His plans are than mine - how generous His love is.

I love Him back with everything I am, and hope that I never forget that day I stood looking over the bridge, wondering if God cared.

Looking back at myself from the other side, I can promise you this: He cares more than you can dream of.

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.
Jeremiah 29:11

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone