New Year's coming! Grasping hold with authority.

     So, today I've spent some time in the Word, not just with it, as it so often happens. I've just been thinking over the past year and finding holes, missed opportunities and the like, and I've been asking God about what's to be needed of me, of us believers, in 2012. I asked for a word and God kept me circling around authority. Authority is a scary word to most people, and to me in particular, because true authority comes with such a responsibility, a weightiness; It is a service to others and unless we're both properly and fully prepared for it it can be a stumbling block. Prepared means that we are prepared to act in the authority He has given to us and, in that way, to act under the covering of His authority. We can have none of our own - none of ourselves and none of the world's. It is only when we work in tandem with God and have daily dealings and growings in Him that we can walk in it all.

     As previously mentioned, the idea of operating under authority, and more recently His authority, has often overwhelmed me. I've so often tried to live an undercover life. The value and strength found in words has been starkly apparent in my life, and since becoming a Christian that has been reinforced in a desire to speak life and not death into people and situations, knowing and being responsible to the truth found in:

Proverbs 18:21
"Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit."

     The responsibility we're going to be feeling in this coming year revolves around the desire for truth. I don't want to operate in a false authority, I want to ensure I'm walking in His giftings. The whys of the importance of authority over the next year elude me, as I can't see His plans but for some fractal imprints, so I've been praying instead for the hows; For the words and patterns and strengths that I'll need to walk it out.  For the verses to carry. I keep landing on the whole of Hebrews 2. At this very moment, I'm stuck like glue to the first verse:

Hebrews 2:1
"For this reason we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away from it."

     It's a simple verse. A beginning. A start. I know that growing in God is not a horizontal growth. He continually builds upon what He has already placed in us. His lessons are foundational. They are reinforced every day simply because they are so obviously true. They are steady because He is our Rock. Our truth. Our love. We become steady in Him, in His Word and in living that Word out. The idea of having to pay 'much closer attention' is wonderous and frightening and monumental to me. We can always learn more about Him, but more so in Him. We can always change, grow, and give more of ourselves away to be filled by Him. Every word finds meaning in Him, every action too. Every verse strengthens our understanding and prepares us for more. Recognizing His work in our lives only makes us yearn for Him more. So, with this verse, with bringing His Words and Works to the surface, to the forefront of our entire beings, we bring Him glory. We hold onto Him alone. We share Him freely. We exhibit the gift of authority He has given to us by salvation - and has opened in us through the maturation of faith - and become more in Him.

     Authority is by no means an easy task, but if this is the word He has for life next year (and beyond - a 'Buzz Lightyear' reminder that everything is foundational), then I'll walk it out. In truth, it's already begun, and though it hurts to stretch in a new way (and that won't stop), I'd rather grow in God than get stuck in a standstill, because standstills always happen over quicksand, and I'll not put myself in a position where I'd grow distant from the Lord. That's why my encouragement is found in holding Him tight by: paying 'much closer attention', praying, reading His Word, putting on His armour, and just by simply (and complexly and fully) loving like He does. I think that the biggest change to be brought in 2012 is that I'll be more open about living that out - in living Him out.

     More on the fullness of Hebrews 2 later... because I'm stuck on it all. Until then, I'll be writing next in the New Year. 2012: bring it.

Picture Cruising

I was looking through some of the blogs I follow and found this picture:

From http://designismine.blogspot.com from someone else.

     I really like it. I like that it says semblance. I like that the whole reason for this blog is to not live that. To not be broken up and patched together, but instead to be mended and made whole in God. Guess I liked the reminder of what this really little internet space means to me - just what I'm working in and through and towards. 

     The world has broken people in it - so many people - and it likes it - in so many ways it makes it easier to attack and 'understand' and ignore them - us  - it's complex, but we call it simple - so that we don't have to deal. It's much harder to attack and 'understand' and ignore those who are saved and healed and mended and whole - people try - but it's so not of this world. I guess that's the point, or rather, it's how we become the arrows that point towards the God who saves. It's impossible to do that alone, or by our strength, instead it has to be His...

1 Peter 5:10-11

"After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you. To Him be dominion forever and ever. Amen."

     Wow - Amen it is. This verse is what it means to be whole to me. To struggle, most assuredly, but to be set apart and to be changed in God. To follow clear directions - because God's voice is always clear and firm and unshakable when we are willing to listen - and then to be like an arrow for others just because we know that all that love, well, it's for all and also all for Him.

Surely... not a "don't call me Shirley" airplane reference (that movie's not cool enough to make it further than right here)... longest title of one of my posts EVER... I could go on... it's longer than what I had to say... I added this later... because mobile Blogger tried to kill my ""'s... EPIC fail... I showed them...

Blessed. By God. Surely. His first words to us, in Genesis 1: 28, as well as in so many other places in the Bible, such as this:

His forever promise. His words stay the same. He is steady. He is our Rock. Forever promises are the very best - especially because God is outside of time and in this promise he swears it to us by Himself - He actually backs this promise - doubly ours! Wow. The service tonight: The Fullness of His Blessing

Pressed in to Pressing on. Out of the box and on with the walk.

     Sunday's service was about healing. Basically about living the full life that God has given to us. It's been awhile since I've been fully in service. See, as I've mentioned before I've been taking the membership course at Third Day on Wednesdays. This coming Wednesday is the last class. It's been great, but this next step, as with all steps closer to living fully for God, has brought up different attacks from the enemy. I've just been pressed in. That's what I pulled out of the services. Pastor was talking about being oppressed and even depressed. It made me think on the picture I had of that box in August.

     I started sketching out the different pressures that keep us, or at least me, in that box. Mostly it was me and the enemy attacking my many weaknesses - through doubts, fears, pains, expectations others have for me, my own expectations, and my own plans. How quickly I forget to put on the full armour of God and see the world fractally through Him. I'll be really honest with you - I don't often struggle in situations - my life works, and I haven't suffered through different problems - it's just been surfacely good. That's guilt inducing, because when I do struggle, it's internally and I always feel horrible about struggling against nothing, even though it is much to me. Growing in God is painful and I'll never say that the Christian walk is easy, but it's always worth it. It's painful in the moment - there's no denying that, but always we can look back and see the growth in our walks. I look back at my life before God and am astounded. Every time. I don't know how I survived, but for His hand in my life and in the moments I grasped for Him without even knowing Him. But again, since I've been saved not much has changed surfacely. I have changed - can't even tell you or express how much, but still, I want to be more in Him. Isn't that what living for God is all about? In all times and all seasons I will live for God. By putting on the armour daily we protect that choice. I need to pray all the time - all through my day, so that it's His instead. I don't want to forget these things, so as this year comes to a close, I'm going to press onward - out of the box - and put an increased effort into putting on God's armour. I'm going to declare it daily, because He heals all of us fully - and I need to remind myself to let Him and to protect the works He has done, is doing, and will do in me. I am His.

Ephesians 6:10-18
"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints"

--> Such encompassing verses. To live like this is to move forward, such as the verse of this year. Taking it up more determinedly:

Philippians 3:13-14
"Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."

--> That's the only kind of pressing I want to do.

Position.

     It's been awhile. Quite awhile... well... quite awhile for a writer to not write. I've always thought of myself as a writer, a reader, a word person, a storyteller. I've always been protective of those titles though. Never wanted to say them out loud. Never have. I always deemed it as 'too risky' to share... too close to the vest... always needed to protect my identity... who I am inside the bubble of what I appear to be. I do that with pretty much everything... it's one of the things that makes living for Christ so difficult. See, He loves the real me... He made the real me... then I stepped in. I protected, changed, and lost. He whittles us down though - He's not really a fan of fluff and stuff. He gets us down to a child of His - that's when we can really live and love like Jesus. I never really connected that with the whole hopes and dreams bandwagon, but it's a total God tandem...  as with everything in this fractal world. There are things that have been put aside, others that have been put down, and still more that have been railroaded for my protection. I'm getting ahead of myself... too far.

     Tonight I wanted to write something small, but something big too. See, I've been struggling with some stuff lately - stuff that is small that I've let get big. It's important, but actually not. This has all been my preface (sorry about that). Lately I think I've just let them hit hard - and refused to deal. Tonight though, I had too. In the membership course at the Church. Not that I had too, don't get the wrong idea about that (:0), but that it was time I started to deal. I did. I still am. It'll take some time. Anyways, in confronting some things, God gave me a picture in my head, actually it was a reel. It was me in a house, lying on the ground, looking up through this telescopic window (?). I was looking at the stars, or at least I was trying too, but the light pollution was too bad. The lens just kept zooming closer, until I finally (like after a reaaaaallllllly long time) got a clear picture of those stars. At first I tried to analyze the scene... I failed... I always do that way, because there's no way I could know. Then, God just told me. I was where I put myself and the zoomed close-up version... that was where He wanted me. He's working on that... mostly because I'm finally letting Him. One step at a time.

     I really didn't want to write this. I really didn't want to think. I really distracted myself from Church until now so that I wouldn't have to write this... so that I could pull a 'I have to sleep' excuse out. He really wouldn't let me. So, all I can tell you is that God's working and all I can really share are the three verses that hit me hardest today:

2 Corinthians 11:14
"And it is no wonder, for satan himself masquerades as an angel of the light"

--> I've been praying about this - about the light pollution that I saw. See, light pollution is man-made, and it only masks. It reminded me of the follies of the world - of the things we attempt to do without Him and of the things we try to let take God's place... none of which will produce anything capable of even withstanding His presence, or any fruit of any kind. This I know - satan cannot create, at most, he can deceive, but getting close to God, means shedding those lies, because:

John 1:4-5

"In Him was Life, and the Life was the Light of men. And the Light shines on in the darkness, for darkness has never overpowered it [put it out or absorbed it or appropriated it, and is unreceptive to it]."

--> Just wow.

As for the last one - Pastor Edith gave us these sheets with verses about God's Glory Light, and this was the first on the list:

Genesis 1:16

"And God made the two great lights- the greater light (the sun) to rule the day and the lesser light (the moon) to rule the night. He also made the stars. 

--> I didn't read that verse until after. Stars have always been important to me. I always thought of God when I looked at them. As early as I can remember, I remember that. I love them. They've been promises to me. This verse reminded me of that. I can see the sun and the moon so clearly, whenever I wish, but not so with the stars... there's a timing about them... a lining up... a fractalness.  To me, this verse holds the wonders of what He'll show us... if we let Him. 

Words out. I am getting some shut eye this early early morning.

Oh... and here's that 'God and light and warmth' triumph video I love... just because... I'll post this again and again...

More Versedness.

I want this as a mural on a wall one day...

Colossians 2:6-7
"And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow Him. Let your roots grow down into Him, and let your lives be built on Him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness."

--> Love this, yet another set of letters from the Word. Amazing how much they mean. All.

Reminder

Colossians 1:23
"But you must continue to believe this truth and stand firmly in it. Don't drift away from the assurance you received when you heard the Good News. The Good News has been preached all over the world, and I, Paul have been appointed as God's servant to proclaim it."

--> To grab the Good News is a daily grab. With it, we remember who we are in Christ. Firmly. Take the truth and cement it. I love this. It's been windy outside these past few autumn days - it has reminded me how important it is to be grounded. In Him and nothing else, because everything of worth is found in the steps we take in Him.

Church time. Got to go!

70...

... DAYS UNTIL CHRISTMAS! I've been called a 'Cindy Lou Who' at work... but I'm still determined to keep counting! My fellow Christmas countdowner left the store - and ever since then, one of the singing supes has been asking me for the the count each time I work - I didn't put it together for awhile (slowness of noticing things), then one day she asked if she was asking enough. So sweet - she's not Christmas excited yet, but still determined to share the joy with me. Thoughtful and awesome. People are cool.

So... sometimes commercials make me cry...

This one is crazy... and I love it. Being the type of person who at 16 didn't turn the car on until my buds buckled in - I love it. It's definitely a thought thing - about the people in your life - about your responsibility. Effective.

Okay... serious commercial transitioning into hilarious story... NOW. 

My Dad's car is hilarious. For seriously. 

First of all... my parents can't say its name - bhahaha. Well... they can say it... they just pronounce it in a funny manner.

Secondly, the logo looks like the 'Star Trek' symbol - I've been told not to tell them... for the sake of their pride and their dignity. 

Thirdly, I hate the rear window... you can hardly see out of the stupid thing - it's because they have one of those reversing camera things... but I still like to have a secure back-up (Dwight questioned about why he keeps a diary - 'to keep secrets from my computer'). 

Fourthly, and most awesomely, instead of beeping when you don't have your seatbelt on it talks... it talks scary loud in a creepy computer/lady voice. I told Nieceamine about it about a year ago. We were in a parking lot in Ottawa. She took off her seatbelt while we were driving. The voice came on. She startled and jumped and hit her head on the roof of the car... something that wouldn't have been able to happen if her seatbelt was securely fastened - lol. 

Where I've been at.

     Now there's only 82 days until Christmas is here! I've been a stranger lately - just been a little off. Wasn't really doing the things I was supposed to be doing. Anyways, I've been reading Isaiah lately and have just been using it to push against some lies. They're the same ones as always, but it was still a difficult thing to go through. I kept getting stuck on Isaiah 50:4 and on the fact that God wakens us every morning. I just never thought of it like that. I know that God is the why and the how and the everything behind our lives, but I didn't ever make that 'day to day' connection. I should have, but it was just so outside of my thought patterns. I am alive everyday because of Him. I can't tell you the amount of pressure that verse put on me. I grabbed it emotionally, not spiritually. That's so wrong. It really highlighted the way I read the Bible... and more importantly the way I need to read the Bible. It's so important to know His Word and to not tie our worldly understandings to it. The world has nothing on the truth and light of that book. You invest in it, you tie yourself to it through the Holy Spirit, you follow Jesus. I really needed to change some things. I really needed my approach to be different. I really needed to spend some good quality time in prayer and in praise meeting Him before I could get close to His Words.

     This post is my example to and of myself - I picked up that verse that God wakens me daily and I absolutely freaked out - I felt completely worthless - kept asking myself 'what do I do that qualifies me to live a day for Him?' I have so many days I classify as wasted and often feel incapable of making a difference. I started asking myself whys - the whys of everything in my life and of every choice I've made. I started laying on the blame. I started feeling stuck in the mud. It's so funny the cycles we go through - I've talked about this in 'Mud sticker. Bicycling in faith mishaps.' - and that was something I struggled with in May! Different lies to deal with, but the same reaction: all of a sudden I wasn't able to move - I couldn't get out of the life that I was stuck in. I couldn't see any order, let alone God's. I dropped my fractal viewpoint and that was stupid; Seeing the world in that way changes everything for me - it's the way I keep God close - the way I let Him in. I live for God and then say that I'm stuck - how does that line up? It doesn't - it's the world in me vs God. It took some time for stubborn me to surrender. I love that He lets us surrender though - every time it fills me with the awe of choosing Him. I also love that my surrenders happen sooner than they used to - that I'm less resistant to Him.

     So there it is - my admittance of an only emotional God grab - one that couldn't possibly work. I'm glad I dealt with what I've been dealing with now though. I'm thankful that this will strengthen the way I enter into God's Word. Here's why:

Isaiah 50:4

"The Sovereign Lord has given me His words of wisdom, so that I know how to comfort the weary. Morning by morning He wakens me and opens my understanding to His will."

--> Look at how much I missed. I missed the scope of His words. He wakens me, not because of worth, but to deposit His will into me. To open my understanding of Him. That means morning by morning He wakens and helps me change and grow in Him. That's not a lost day, its a gift He gives us all!!! I grow in Him daily... there is nothing that I want more than that. I can hold onto that, onto Him. My future will line up and my current worries will dissipate; I'm sure I'll grab some more - but I'll put them back down in Him. When I get close to Him, they get burned up by necessity. Wow - quite a change in perspective isn't it?

Isaiah 43:13

"From eternity to eternity I am God. No one can snatch anyone out of my hand. No one can undo what I have done."

--> I am His. I will always be His.

Ephesians 3:17

"Then Christ will make His home in your hearts as you trust in Him. Your roots will grow down into God's love and keep you strong."

--> His roots. His Holy Spirit. His Words. He has many ways to reach us. We have one to reach back - we follow Jesus - the way to Him. Then, God's love overtakes all and its as this verse describes - we're rooted and strengthened by it. Such love. He is. That's all I can say - He is.

99!

We're down to double digits until Christmas! Yep yep!!! Don't steal it... take joy in it... and in the Him that its about ;D

Falling into God

Psalm 59:11
"Don't kill them, for my people soon forget such lessons; stagger them with your power, and bring them to their knees, O Lord our shield."

--> I feel like this is how I came to God. That this is how I still come to God. I forget lessons sometimes. I try to move without Him. I screw up. I fail. I fall. I repent. Then, He absolutely overwhelms me. Simply. Complexly. Completely. Every time I think, pray, read the Word, or even take a moment just to be with Him, He's there. He builds me up - pulls on me. He's perfectly ordered. He's perfectly true. He's perfectly good. He's perfectly love. And He's ours. That drops me quicker than anything else. That we could know Him and live for Him. When we're on our knees, like in this verse, He is our everything... He is our shield...He is our answer. What a time to have in Him... with Him... such that we can carry our belief and our prayers into the rest of our days. Every moment... what a life to give to Him.

I love that this verse is David's wish for his enemies... that they would fall captive to God. What a thing to wish upon our troubles - whether in terms of people or situations. He rules... literally. What problem is so ours that He can't handle it? Chaos becomes order in Him. Paths straighten. Darkness gives way to His Light. People are saved. Miracles happen. Isn't seeing His works awe-inspiring? See them today (well... see 'em tomorrow) in everyone around you. We are all His works. Everyone is given the opportunity to know that, and everyone who refuses will still bow down to Jesus on the last days; but we've been given today... live it out!

Just this one thing...

I often ask God to take care of something that I feel I can't, but that's doing exactly what this verse (that's been pounding on me) warns against:

Isaiah 7:9
"... Unless your faith is firm, I cannot make you stand firm."

By myself I will fail. Every single time I will fail. I ask Him to step in so that I don't have to step up. That's not a faith that will stand, or a faith that will grow, it's simply a faith that will fail. We all need to continually grow in Him... I'll position myself for change in Him, not against Him. Today and everyday. How quickly I let myself forget what I'm to remember, that to be for Him is to love, live, dwell, and work in Him. All for Him. Break over... groceries incoming...

Super Schoolies!

First day of school for almost all of my nieces and nephews (I'm glad Frannie's still a little one!). Here are 4 of the 6 pics - I've got to get the other 2 from Tate:

The pain and growth found in wise words.

     I've always loved words and now I find even more meaning in them through reading The Bible. I've often spoke about how God sometimes nudges me and how sometimes my listening skills force Him to employ the 'whack-a-lisa' method. There are so many different ways that God tries to get our attention, you can even find His voice when you notice a cloud that is a work of His - we just need to pay attention.

     Many times a person carries a word for us, as we carry some for others. Many times we recognize God in the actions of those around us - and in recognizing that we're also given opportunities to share His love with others. It may seem like a leap, and really it is, but God is there, He is with us. I was reading Luke 5 today and thinking about the different messages I've heard, about how the net that Jesus had the first disciples lower into the waters caught many; How much more would it have been so if they had listened to Him without question. They learned so much that day from their mistakes, they repented, they matured, and though they were afraid, they decided to follow Jesus when He called them to become fishers of men. There are so many nets available to us - we just have to actively choose Him and recognize what's available to us. You know that saying 'they're not playing with a full deck' - you know how it implies that the person is crazy? How much more so are we for not equipping ourselves fully in the things of God?

     I've been getting lots of words lately, ones that I needed to hear. Ones from every which way... ones that unite only under Him... ones that stand. I'm so thankful for them, and for the people He trusts with them. For the opportunity to take those words and grow in them. It's such a sweet pain to grow in Christ - to strengthen. Growing up is never easy, just ask a kid, but knowing what you are working towards is so helpful - so hopeful really - and walking in God provides all. The verse I picked out of my dailies is about those wise words:

Ecclesiastes 12:11
"The words of the wise are like cattle prods - painful but helpful. Their collected sayings are like a nail-studded stick with which a Shepherd drives the sheep."

--> It sounds so harsh at first, but there is such a joy in changing. I'm thankful to be led by God, to be changed and shaped. To be loved enough to have Him desire change in us - it's not for His sake that we are challenged - it's not for His sake that we are saved - it's for His love - His love of us all. All. Know Him.

     Fall's coming and I'm impatient, as you've probably already noticed, but the reason I love it so much is because it's a growth season for me; I know, I know, it's about dead leaves falling to the ground - but I see such life in it! It's just time for a faster pace and a more inclined ear... it's easy to notice everything when the frenzy of Summer passes. Plus, the Jewish New Year starts September 28th and goes until the 30th! New season is coming!

Umm...

Fall weather... where have you been - I'm waiting on you! I saw a glimpse in Quebec - why not here? It's been humid! I was spoiled by the lake while cottaging - it kept me nice and cool all day long. Tomorrow's the first day of school - shouldn't there be an accompanying breeze! I know it's not official until later, but come on - sometimes unofficial is cool too. My sister always used to brag on Kingston for it's early fall - then I move here and twice nothing! Next year it's happening! In the meantime... bring on the fall - I have many sweaters awaiting your perfect temperaturedness... you like it!

111 days until Christmas... I had to...

What you say? (random... the title is random... move on...)

So today was my first day back at Church from being away cottaging. I always struggle coming back into anything - it's why I'm a routine person. If I'm away from a place, or even from people, for too long I just get all uncomfortable again. I have to restart everything. I hate that about myself. Seriously, it sucks. I wanted to go back, but then I'd just feel sick about it. The worst part is that that starts right away - it started even before I'd left. It was a definite need to go back thing though, and through my worries I knew that - knew that I'd go - but still the struggle. It was cool though, it took me awhile, but then I was actually glad about it (though apparently that didn't show on my face... invisible/shadow person struggles, I guess). I didn't watch any of the services while I was gone, so I got that 'I'm a little worried I'll be out of sync' feeling. But for God. The message today was what I'd been struggling with in my 'Stars in a Box & Action Words' post from a few days ago. I like that. I like that God was preparing me for these words we received today. I like that His lessons are never finished, that they are always furthered by our understanding in them, by our willingness to live them out. I like that they are drummed into me from all sides. I like that no matter where I am, or what I do, they're in a corner of my head, waiting to be heeded to. There's such a safety in that, in knowing that the Holy Spirit is an active participant in my walk. That I am not alone. Anyways, the service was great - it was such a leap from where I was to where I'm going. It was about the enemy defining your boundaries. It was about being restricted, when we're called to live in freedom. I really like the verses that were tied to this understanding.

Acts 17:26-28
"and He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation that they would seek God, if perhaps they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us; for in Him we live and move and exist, as even some of your own poets have said, 'For we also are His children'"

--> I LOVE THIS! We are forced to grope around because we put ourselves, or let ourselves be put, in the boxes and restrictions and darkness of the enemy! God is light!!! We rip off the boundaries not of Him and then we live in Him Himself! If I put Him in control of my boundaries, my time, my life - then what will He do? All. I want that. I can't live on my own, haven't been able to since that first day I was saved; I went through seasons of trying, but they were in reality just seasons of foolishness. Walking towards Him is the only decision of worth and value that we can make. Everything else falls in line - into His epic order. Everything rests on the daily decision to live for such a God.

Pastor spoke of how God wants us to grow. He does. It's everywhere in the Bible. We're called to mature in our faith. We're called to press in, to understand, to push, and to build. We're supposed to be in the action of moving forward in God - furthering the case of Christ - not just staying in the planning stages of a strategy that is so obviously already in play:

Isaiah 54:2-3
"Enlarge the place of your tent; Stretch out the curtains of your dwellings, spare not; Lengthen your cords And strengthen your pegs. For you will spread abroad to the right and to the left. And your descendants will possess nations And will resettle the desolate cities."

--> 'Spare not' were the words Pastors really stayed on - our responsibility in living in God is to actually live in Him - to both move and be still in obedience (His timing); To do that, we always have to put everything else down - like in the verses of this 'Year of Transition': Philippians 3:12-16 - and then be all for God!

Okay - I've got to go! Watch the morning service (night one too ;P) because this is a piece of the whole - of what I needed to pull on - but there is a lot a lot more: Third Day Worship Centre - Livestream

YAY! 'Courageous' Trailer! SEPTEMBER 30th!!!

'Courageous': The Backstory

Because I'm so excited to see this movie... there will be two posts on it... mostly because I like loving the backstory and I want that posted.

Okay, I'll admit that I'm a media addict. I love movies, so much, but I'm careful with them too. I wasn't before I was saved. As my family could tell you, from infanthood on, I was a terror with the clicker and with the movies I saw. I watched every single thing that anyone of them told me not to. Funny how much Christ gets in you though. Now, the people in my life rate flicks for me. I was in Rogers (okay, Kingston is crazy for not having and sometimes not even knowing that its a Video store, not just a cable/phone company) with my cousin last week. We were looking through the movies and she was telling me about one she liked, but then she said it wasn't a 'Lisa flick'. I liked that. Even my Mom does that - looks out. The funny thing is no one did before. I grew up watching whatever I wanted without anyone really paying attention, and when someone did, I just got mad (sorry, my sisters). The thing is, the past 6 saved years, I've been trying to live by His standards, not mine. Mine didn't really stand out, but His stand in a light of their own. A few years ago, my Mom, really for the first time in my life, noticed what I watched, and she compared it to what the world had to offer; Her noticing the choice made a big difference to me, because she got a piece of who I was in Christ. There's joy in that.

Always with the tangents... anyways, usually I try to remove myself from the components of a movie in an effort to not get sucked into this entertainment news / tabloid society; It's so amazing to be behind every part of a movie. A movie with purpose. This one is about the men of God - it's about getting them ready - about them stepping up. I like that and I'm excited to see it take root in the next generations. Awesome!

Stars in a Box & Action Words

(Note to you my readers: I've back-dated this post a day, because my phone was having publishing problems near yesterday's midnight)

Random I am sometimes. Was exhausted tonight so I went to bed early... Yes yes... Why am I up? Valid question. Answer: I looked outside my windows and saw real stars. Immediately I yesssed... night swimming possibilities. How though? I'm 24, but my parents would kill me. Mr. Si would be devastated (not much to envy though, bud). I was cut off from my swim gear so I donned a full set of clothes (I did just watch the Phineas and Ferb pool rules), and went down the ladder quietly into the lake. I lasted about 5 minutes. It freaked me out being alone in the water. It sucked. Even the stars disappointed me - they used to be right overhead, with a bit of light pollution on 1 side. This time, half the sky was light. It took me the past 10 minutes to face the truth of the situation though. I failed my night swim. I've felt trapped for so long. Stranded in the life I call my own. Sometimes it's an urge to leave, followed by the 'lack of car' realization, then followed once more by a 'lack of further options', sometimes it's the no-future job that anyone could do, sometimes it's the social awkward box I put myself in constantly, and sometimes it's something entirely different. In every situation, but for God, I've let myself be trapped. Not the way to live in Him. I faced that tonight in the realization that I restricted myself even in freedom. I couldn't even swim without expectations. I've been reading Job in my dailies... I've read about him calling for a mediator between him and God. I've been reading about him crying out for an advocate, calling on Jesus. So often I fall back into the world by choosing the mess that is living without being worth His sacrifice. I'm not, but by living a life that doesn't recognize it, I'm essentially disowning it... disowning Christ's role in my life. Though it's done unintentionally... it's done - and now I know it... there's no ignorance to fall back on with that one... it would be childish and just plain stupid. Moving forward. How I don't know yet. I have been thinking about bridges a lot lately. I always thought of the path to God as being a path, narrower of course, but looking like the other paths we could choose from. Now I keep seeing it as a bridge, recognizing Jesus's role as mediator between us and God. A bridge - my only option in this life - my only want - the safety point in our tumultuous surroundings. This huge, complex, and stunningly beautiful bridge. Everytime I think about it there are more signs pointing the way. Like NEON flashing lights! Everytime I read the Word another one's built. They're all about directions... EVEN being as directionally challenged as I am, I know the way I want to go. I've read this the past couple of days:

Job 9:33
"Nor is there any mediator between us, Who may lay his hand on us both"

--> We've got Jesus now!

I like this one too:

Job 34:3
"Does not the ear tests words, As the palate tastes its food?"

I like it. It reminds me of how we're called to dwell in and understand God's Word, and how we're to write it on our hearts.

Deuteronomy 11:18
"You shall therefore impress these words of mine on your heart and on your soul; and you shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontals on your forehead."

--> My heart and my soul! I want that sign. I want that seal.

Proverbs 3:3
"Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart."

--> Heart heart heart. I want things to be steady in me. I want His Word not only in my heart, but on it; I want those words, the Word, to be protecting what goes in and pulling out what needs to be cleared from me.

Jeremiah 32:39
"I will give them singleness of heart and action, so that they will always fear me for their own good and for the good of their children after them"

--> My action words. Our call. This is how to move forward. This is my plan, but not my plan at all. This is His plan in me. That I can put my trust in. That I can have freedom in - freedom in Him and in all that is good... freedom to cut off darkness... freedom to keep myself out of a box.

Night!

P.S. - From Pinterest

A Walk in a Creek.

Okay... so it wasn't a running creek... but still... it was fun. The creek by my cottage window is my favourite in the world. It has provided me what feels like billions of moments of entertainment. I came up to the cottage pretty much every weekend growing up, sometimes going freely, sometimes not so much. Either way, Spring and Fall weren't necessarily the best cottaging times for a kid, or a teenager. Winter was sometimes long in coming for tobogganing, and in the same way Summer and it's swimming fun took its sweet time. The creek was my go to entertainment. It was close to the house, so I had free reign. I put on my rainboots and waded right in. I always ended up in the water partially, sometimes even fully, but it was worth it. I was always on the search for the shiniest rocks - I always wanted them to be lost jewels with stories attached to them. I hoped... then I'd walk out of that section of the forest and those rocks would dry off and they'd lose their sparkle. Back to the creek they'd go. This was my view. This was a big chunk of my cottage time, of my childhood. There's a boulder near the bottom of the creek... near where it leads into the lake; I loved it... I thought it was giAHnormous... I thought it would always be that big. Today it was small, but still just as delightful.

Another Cottage Day.

Woke up late and fall-like cold. Snuggled back into my blankets and finished watching 'Walk, Don't Run' - fell asleep before I got far into it last night. Went downstairs and finished watching an 'Adventures of Lois & Clark' episode with the crew. Spent time with Tate, Nougat, Lee Jr., and Frannie as they rolled in. Had a relaxing morning, made lunch slowly (sometimes I'm a turtle), then hit the dock. Swam. Let myself get pushed into the lake by the littles. Started a ridiculously emotionally difficult novel - oh, Karen Kingsbury, why do I let you back into my life... I cry every time. Don't worry though... I watched a good flick tonight... one I didn't pick... yay! Guess? Yeppers!!! The classically awesome one:

My pics from the day:

Always moving...

Yep: bonding over an iPad... it can happen.

Cutie pie... one of the only unblurry ones I could grab!

Frannie comes non-stop moving honestly - here's her big sis at work! Go Lee Jr.! 

Partials of almost all of 'em! I believe Nougat's on the other side of Mr. Si. 

Baby blurs.

Nenners, Tate, and Frannie sharing an afternoon!

My Yesterday.

Yesterday was an interesting day. It was freezing, like freezing cold up here! Mr. Si and I decided to brave the cold day and swim. It was crazy... we must have been insane!!! I beat him in and came out screaming! So cold. Washed my hair and tried to stay in for as long as I could. It wasn't that long. Mr. Si just kept saying he was warm... I'm pretty sure he went so numb that he was in shock... scary things. Ditched the lake to warm up a bit. Later on, Sunshine and I decided to book it out of the cottage! Road trip (mini) to the grocery store! We braved the brisk day and threatening rain and full-out construction zones to track down a brownie mix! Success. We baked 'em up delicious. Fun times with my niece!

I love Pixar!!!

Just watched 'Toy Story 3' with Sunshine, Mr. Si, Mister Giggles, and Nenners! I love and hate that movie so much. Totally cried once again - though not as much as I did in the theatre - I couldn't not cry! It's so emotionally riveting! Nenners cried too. I think I now realize why I'm a toy hound - Toy Story has been one of my favorites since I was 10! And before that it was the ORIGINAL (they re-did it with the same voices, but way less awesomeness - why? WHY?) 'Teddy Bear's Christmas' and 'Teddy Bear's Picnic'! And before that (and even still now) one of my favourite books is 'The Velveteen Rabbit' (love the Michael Landon Jr movie too - so well done). All that to say - toys were always important to me. I love to write and they definitely play a huge part in the growth of imagination and creativity. I always put mine away for a season, but then they trickle back in. 'Toy Story 3' always brings that back - that love of playing and the child heart that always accompanies it. I love Pixar - I love that they've translated their creativity into movies that span generations. I love that they can tell simple stories and just make them crazy good ! Who knew that a story with few words could be brought to life in Wall-E, that we could be introduced to the ocean in 'Finding Nemo', that I could love a movie called 'Cars', that 'Up' would show generations uniting and depict such a sweet courtship and marriage, that you could learn to care and share both responsibility and laughter in 'Monsters, Inc.'! I love it! Seeing the actual house from 'Up' just made part of the Pixar stories real! Whoa, rant over. Night!

House from 'Up'!!! Love!!!

OKAY! First found about about this here (this happened so long ago, but I've not a news junky so I had no clue):

http://design-fetish.blogspot.com/2011/07/pixars-up-house-for-sale.html?m=1

I want that house! I want a house that's awesomely coloured and unique and cute!!! The mailbox with their handprints... so ridiculously sweet!

Then... it got even cooler!!! Look at it here:

And!!! The National Geographic show even tested flying a light-weight house with balloons! Crazy! Hope they checked the porch before the test flight ;P

Nougat's Birthday Party!

Well, we hit this 6 year old's party today! Ray's Reptiles in the house!!! So crazy! He absolutely loved it! As you can see from the pics, not everyone wanted to run at those reptiles, in fact, some ran from those small and big (too big) creatures. I sat sat far back in a chair - seemed like a good plan! I love the one of the snake wrapped around him - well, actually I hate it, but I love how happy he is! Even Tate faced her fear of snakes once again - all for Nougat! He had a great birthday!

Here are some pics:
note to you - one of them was taken by Lee Jr. - cutie pie!

Lake Thunderstorms & Upsidedown Sleeping... it makes sense... sometimes...

Well, the cottage is usually my most restful place, but it most be time to get in a routine of some kind - actually I think it's time to get back to my good old star covered room. Sunshine and I ditched it the last 2 nights on account of excessively (but understandably) loud 15+ers. Last night was still cool though, Sunshine and I slept upside down, with our heads and feet in the wrong places. Not as crazy as it first sounds - we had the perfect view of a beautiful Thunderstorm over the lake that way! I just love this crazy cottage! Off to Nougat's reptile filled Birthday party - ewwww, but he's worth it - enjoy this rainy day!

Hehehe... movie victory!

... we're watching 'Walk, don't Run' again. I love my favourite movies... shocking, eh? Super excited to share that love though - and watch 'em again through a new set of eyes. Have an amazing Summer evening! As for us, we will. Hopefully one day soon the stars will be out enough to enjoy night swimming!!!

Mr. Si

Cutest little frog, but scary - look at how old Mr. Si is getting!

See - adorable. I love my Hipstamatic.

     Well, today was a great day. Thought I'd write about Mr. Si. since I spent some quality time with him during the past couple of days. Got lost going to a grocery store - well, not really - we just almost turned back because it was so far away - worth it though :P Today was awesome too - I finally swam all the way to the island, touched it (Mr. Si insisted - so that it could count fully) - and made it back to the dock! It's not that far away or anything, but I'd never done it so I'm still excited. Mr. Si kayaked along for safety's sake. He's a good kid. Then, I floated about the lake for a crazy amount of time. Thought about the soaking teaching and my Bible dailies. Then, spent some time trying to teach Mr. Si how to float... he hilariously can only vertical float (no horizontal), so it's not in any way relaxing to him... sad... I could totally fall asleep my way.

A Birthday for Nougat!

My little, but always getting bigger nephew, shares a birthday with Nieceamine! I was just talking to him the other day and he was telling me how cool that was. How they would have to call each other to wish the other 'Happy Birthday' - like a phone war said I... he liked that... he may try that today. Nougat is hilarious. I call him Nougat because he's a little warrior - we were name calling one day and he called me a cupboard... hilarious, I know... and a puddle and all of these other random things... but he called me them in a serious voice - not wanting to call him such things (at least not in seriousness), I pulled out a funny voice and started called him sweet things, but I got stuck on Nougat... mostly because he didn't know what it was and the look on his face made me keep at it. I won that battle, and have been calling him it ever since. I love this kid. He's so funny. Here are some pictures of him. The one of him on the ground is him showing me how he loves to 'walk' on the floor... how it's the new thing... told you he was funny...