I HAVE REACHED THAT…

Point.

You know the point where you feel like if you had to use your brain to figure out one more way out of another problem, it’s either A) going to turn to mush or B) explode.

So, I am here instead… taking a mental getaway… a much needed vacation away from circumstances at work that are out of my control.

This past weekend, a few friends and I went to a cabin out in the country just to get away. Cell phone service was limited (as was the internet). Sometimes, I think that we just need a break from the noise, you know? It was great. We cooked dinner, sat in the hot tub (yes, this was a cabin with the best kind of modern conveniences… aka a hot tub and indoor plumbing), and played card games. It was nice to be away from work… from CNN and Fox and MSNBC and everyone else preaching messages of doom.

A few months ago, Pete challenged us to just listen to God. Just take 5 minutes and be silent and listen to what God is telling you. I did it for awhile… but slowly, I have let all sorts of noise in the form of fear, doubt, worry, lies and negativity creep back in and steal my minutes away from the people I love and my sweet Jesus.

I know that I said I wasn’t going to make a New Year’s Resolution… but I guess I am, actually. Really, I am only calling it a New Year’s Resolution because I am setting a goal for myself in January. Anyway, my goal is to spend 5 minutes a day in silence. If you know me, you know how hard this is going to be.

Here goes.

I’ll let you know what happens!

Losing MY Voice.

So… I have lost my voice. I can’t talk. And since I can’t talk… it forces me to listen.

I keep telling myself that this can’t necessarily be a bad thing. I didn’t realize how much I really do talk. I talk a lot. Clearly.

Anyway… in taking the listening role this week (which I need to more often), I have heard a conversation between us and God. Us being all the people surrounding me and God being, well, being God, of course.

Us…. saying things like:

“I’m not sure… I’m sick… I’m tired… I want change… I don’t know… I’m frustrated… I quit… I know there’s better”

And God telling us things in his scripture like…

“And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19

and

“For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.” 2 Corinthians 4:17

and

“No one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I WILL NEVER LEAVE YOU NOR FORSAKE YOU.” Joshua 1:5

and

“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” Matthew 6:34

and

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.” James 1:2-3 (one of my favorite scriptures).

Hear me out (good thing I have a blog since I can talk, huh?).

I will be the first one to say that the past year has been rough. I know that we are surrounded by messages of doom and impending doom and past doom and all sorts of negativity. It’s emotionally tolling. It’s exhausting. And it makes it hard to hear God’s message of hope and love and grace and mercy. Here’s my prayer for all of us. I want us to be encouraged by the very words that God breathed to us. That he will never leave us. That we will never be by ourselves. That, while we may experience rough patches, he has got a hold of us. That he is bigger than our paycheck. That he is bigger than our economy. That he is bigger than our President, bigger than every war being fought. That he is our God, and that he cannot be put in a box.

I have to sit and wonder how awesome it would be if we, as God’s children, just started to love. I know I sound like a hippie but I mean it. What would happen if instead of wearing gloom and doom, we thanked God for what he is going to do. We believed that through this mess that we’re living in, that God’s glory is going to baffle us all… What if we stopped believing in what our next President or new leader or government or whoever could do, and believed that God was so much more and that his way is greater than any man’s? What if we started to just appreciate the nights we spend with friends and family and laughter and smiles and hugs and fellowship and kindness and we quit worrying about what so-and-so said and drama and work woes and pointless laws and the little picky objections that build these huge walls in our communities?

What if we did what God asked us to do and just loved and enjoyed the fact that he is God and we aren’t?

I am not saying that I am here. I am not saying I am even close to being able to be this person… but I am going to try.

Happy Thursday!

A milestone… and a recipe just for the heck of it.

This weekend, Palmer (my dog) and I hit a milestone head on – being able to go outside without a leash (in our yard only, of course). Palmer will be three this next summer. As bad as I am going to sound for admitting this, it’s the truth… I love him more than I love some people. What can I say? He’s been with me through thick and thin… rarely do we fight (yes, you can fight with a dog). Anyway… Saturday afternoon, I decided that Palmer listens to me well-enough. He should be able to run around the yard, and understand me if I tell him no. Friends… we MADE IT. He listened to me and did what I asked him… ran around the yard and played and came right to the door when I said, “Let’s go inside.” My dog is amazing. (I know that you think that this isn’t a big deal… but this is coming from the girl who’s dog used to pull his small little head out of his collar and run crazy while she chased after him dodging cars and people. No leash = a big accomplishment.)

A recipe for Sweet Potato Fries (one of my favorite foods)

Slice up 4 small-to-medium sized sweet potatoes, no more than 1/2″ thick.

Place them in a large plastic bag.

Pour in to the bag around 1/4 cup of olive oil, 1 tablespoon of Sea Salt, 2 teaspoons of cinnamon, and 1 teaspoon of paprika and shake until all fries are coated.

Place the fries on a cookie sheet (one layer) and stick in the oven at 450 for 30 minutes, turning the fries every 10 minutes or so. (You can bake them longer if you want them to be a little crispy).

Enjoy!

A new year, but nothing’s changed except the date.

Usually, I am not one to make New Year’s Resolutions. I don’t have anything against them, I just don’t make them because I think that I set goals throughout the entire year for myself, so I don’t need the “New Year” as motivation.

Anyway, last night, I was in a meeting with some extremely talented people… so creative and motivated and energizing… and we were discussing the people that we would like to be – calm, peaceful, never stressed, go-with-the-flow (you get the idea) versus the people we were… most of us thrive on stress – it’s what pushes us, motivates us, stirs up our creativity, etc. I know I am that girl. I do better when I feel like I am almost to the point that I can’t handle it. When I am bored, I am worthless. The meeting was three hours long and brings some very exciting news… which I will tell you all about later.

All of this brings me to this (which is going to make me sound slightly depressed… I promise, I am not). Today, I sat writing yet another press release for something at work that I honestly don’t care about and I found myself thinking about our meeting last night – how I would give almost anything to be working with these people on a daily basis, for this cause that actually matters… that is actually trying to be the hands and feet of Jesus. I thought about how, almost everyday, I sit at my desk, wishing away my week so that I can spend time with people I love the most, and so that I don’t feel so dominated by this “work week” that someone else dictates for me… doing something that makes me feel worthless. So, here’s my question. When is enough, enough? When, even in a bad economy, do you ask yourself, or feel God telling you that He has something better?

Does this mean I am not grateful for my job? NO. Quite the opposite – I know I am very fortunate. It’s just part of me that wonders…

An Update.

I posted the other day about Mark and his family needing your prayer.

Mark went home to be with Jesus last night.

I don’t know this family personally, but do know several people that do. I can’t imagine losing my best friend. I can’t imagine what it would be like to lose my dad. I pray that Angie and Nolan find comfort in knowing that their husband/daddy is dancing in heaven right now.

If you haven’t already, please start praying for Angie and Nolan, and for the rest of Mark’s family and friends. Go to prayforthelamberths.wordpress.com to read their story.

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.

Psalm 46:1 NIV

Pray.

I don’t personally know this family, but I know friends that do.

Go to their blog. Read their story. Pray like you have never prayed before.

I believe that God is a God of miracles. His glory will show, no matter what, but how awesome would it be if he miraculously healed Mark?

Praying hard.