Last Friday, the whole family took the dogs on a walk and suddenly it became a blog brainstorming session and somehow I ended up thinking about writing a blog about POP. Not soda pop but rather things that POP. And believe it or not I have five favorites. How this can be I don't know, but be prepared to be surprised.
1. Bubbles... I love blowing bubbles and I love watching my kids blow bubbles, the enchantment never ends. When they were little they were just in awe over this soapy substance that could become a sphere full of air floating away. And then the joy expands when they want you to blow them so that they can chase them. Now I hear my boys yelling, "look how big my bubble is." And of course it is always a competition. Yep, bubbles are pretty cool but...
2. Bubble gum is cooler... the pink sticky mess stuck to your face after a really huge bubble. Yes, I'm in my mid-thirties, and yes I think smacking bubble gum is a gross habit but sometimes..... I love to blow a big bubble and my kids LOVE to pop it!
3. Misconceptions... I secretly love it when misconceptions POP. I love it when I learn new information that changes what I think on a subject. I really like to eavesdrop on a good political debate. I love to read on all sides of the subject so I don't want my Republican friends ex-communicating me for reading Bill Clinton's new book and I don't want my good Democrat- friends to ex-communicate me for reading something conservative. It's especially fun to move new places and hear the misconceptions people have of where I came from or the misconceptions people have of where I have moved. We are a crazy bunch with so many opinions about things we know nothing about and when those POP, watch out, we are moving towards humility and growing into intelligent thinking beings. SWEET!
4. Identity... Have you ever noticed that we each have an identity and at certain times that POPS? At the time it is actually really painful. But I love it because without the popping we are stuck.... you've seen the people that are 50 and dressing like they are still in high school. Why... because they have never shed their identity. I have been going through this popping again. It seems to be a somewhat continual process, but it is this process that is moving me towards Christ.
5. Corn...POPcorn... this could not be left out. Actually, I'm getting ready to make some for my Friday night movie watching kids. I love popcorn, its crunchy and salty and cheap and the perfect accompaniment to a great documentary or tonight, The Muppet movie. So, here I go... time to POP!
Friday, April 27, 2012
Thursday, April 19, 2012
Am I Ready For This
About a month ago I was reading through 1 Samuel... a book full of drama. Here's a little bit of what is going on....Saul is the first king of the Israelites. Sounds prestigious, but really its Plan B. God was supposed to be his people's king, but like most of us they wanted to be like everyone else. They looked around at the other nations who had kings and they wanted to be just like them. Saul looks like a good leader on the outside but over time his heart became hardened towards his own sin. He didn't respond with humility when he was presented with his sin. He was the master of justifying his actions. And then the nail in the coffin... he liked to take shortcuts. God had given the Israelites rules about worship and sacrifice, but Saul grows impatient and disregards God's rules. Once again he makes an excuse and God has to remind him that his obedience is more important than his sacrifice. (FYI...don't mess with God!) God's response to Saul is to take away his power and support. Saul becomes a tyrannical king that is haunted by bouts of anxiety and depression. When the anxiety hits and he is unable to sleep, he is lulled to sleep by a shepherd boy, named David, who happens to play a mean harp. On a side note... I love what God does here, he introduces David into the story and places him in the service of Saul. Its just one of those parts of God's story that makes me smile with amazement.
Initially, David is trusted by Saul, but when it becomes clear that David is who God has chosen to lead his people Saul turns on David. Saul starts to hunt David, getting rid of David becomes his obsession. But David has become best friends with Jonathan, Saul's son, and has married Michal, Saul's daughter. Their lives are intertwined, Saul can't get away from David and David can't get away from Saul. For part of the book, David hides from Saul in a cave, acts like a crazy man, and has the opportunity to kill Saul and chooses not to. In the final chapter, Saul and Jonathan are killed in a battle with the Philistines. The End.
I laid down my Bible and thought about the end of the book. Honestly, I was saddened that Jonathan had died with his father. Jonathan seemed so noble, and his father so wicked. Then I start on 2 Samuel and I'm amazed... David mourns for both Saul and Jonathan. Right in chapter one it starts with him honoring BOTH men and writing them a song. He honors his enemy and his best friend. He could have mourned for Jonathan and had a party to celebrate the end of Saul. But he doesn't, he gives him honor and respect. He humbly speaks of the good things about Saul and doesn't even mention the bad things. I'm not sure I have that kind of character. I'm not sure that deep down I would be grieved and willing to honor an enemy such as Saul.
I keep asking myself, Am I ready for this.... for God to change my heart, to become a woman that responds with humility and grace. I have to be willing to see my own sin and respond with grace. Pretending it didn't happen, justifying it with all kinds of mumbo-jumbo creates a big mess... David knew this, he waited it out in a cave. I have had times where I felt like I was waiting it out in a cave, the darkness creeping in all around me. The sin of others can do a number on us, on our hearts and on our emotions, but this passage beckons me to think about how my sin has influenced others. Have they felt like they were waiting out my tirade?
Am I ready... I don't know but I'm laying the hurt aside, confessing my own sin and ultimately trusting God. I'm jumping into the deep waters of His grace, letting it surround me and move me into His presence.
Initially, David is trusted by Saul, but when it becomes clear that David is who God has chosen to lead his people Saul turns on David. Saul starts to hunt David, getting rid of David becomes his obsession. But David has become best friends with Jonathan, Saul's son, and has married Michal, Saul's daughter. Their lives are intertwined, Saul can't get away from David and David can't get away from Saul. For part of the book, David hides from Saul in a cave, acts like a crazy man, and has the opportunity to kill Saul and chooses not to. In the final chapter, Saul and Jonathan are killed in a battle with the Philistines. The End.
I laid down my Bible and thought about the end of the book. Honestly, I was saddened that Jonathan had died with his father. Jonathan seemed so noble, and his father so wicked. Then I start on 2 Samuel and I'm amazed... David mourns for both Saul and Jonathan. Right in chapter one it starts with him honoring BOTH men and writing them a song. He honors his enemy and his best friend. He could have mourned for Jonathan and had a party to celebrate the end of Saul. But he doesn't, he gives him honor and respect. He humbly speaks of the good things about Saul and doesn't even mention the bad things. I'm not sure I have that kind of character. I'm not sure that deep down I would be grieved and willing to honor an enemy such as Saul.
I keep asking myself, Am I ready for this.... for God to change my heart, to become a woman that responds with humility and grace. I have to be willing to see my own sin and respond with grace. Pretending it didn't happen, justifying it with all kinds of mumbo-jumbo creates a big mess... David knew this, he waited it out in a cave. I have had times where I felt like I was waiting it out in a cave, the darkness creeping in all around me. The sin of others can do a number on us, on our hearts and on our emotions, but this passage beckons me to think about how my sin has influenced others. Have they felt like they were waiting out my tirade?
Am I ready... I don't know but I'm laying the hurt aside, confessing my own sin and ultimately trusting God. I'm jumping into the deep waters of His grace, letting it surround me and move me into His presence.
Friday, April 13, 2012
Fabulous Five Friday.... Torrington
Its been such a long time since I've written anything... I kinda lost my groove, but for a very good reason. In February, we bought a house in Torrington, WY. Its been a busy time around here, 4 days out of the week we live and minister in Torrington and 3 days out of the week we head back to Cheyenne, run errands, do school, take kids to choir and Paul teaches guitar. Somewhere in all this craziness I lost the time to do anything extra. Initially I missed writing and then as the days went on I totally forgot how much I love to write. Here I am returning to what I love and sharing our newest adventure with you all.
This week I am sharing some of my favorite things about our house. I have to admit that when we bought the house I wasn't sure if I could totally love it, it doesn't have hardwood floors, its a ranch style, it was built in the 70s and just didn't have that old 1920s character I love so much. But it quickly became home and we have fallen in love with it, wood paneling and all.
1. Kitchen...okay so initially all I could say about the kitchen was, "its small," but after a few days of redoing the cabinets, I really LOVE my kitchen. It has been a great place to love and serve people.
This week I am sharing some of my favorite things about our house. I have to admit that when we bought the house I wasn't sure if I could totally love it, it doesn't have hardwood floors, its a ranch style, it was built in the 70s and just didn't have that old 1920s character I love so much. But it quickly became home and we have fallen in love with it, wood paneling and all.
1. Kitchen...okay so initially all I could say about the kitchen was, "its small," but after a few days of redoing the cabinets, I really LOVE my kitchen. It has been a great place to love and serve people.
before
after
2. Wood Paneling.. okay I don't really like the wood paneling but I love how this turned out and it has turned into a great fun wall. The wicker love seat and window treatments were pretty cool too.
before
after
3. Playroom and Library Room.... I love having a big room for the kids to play in AND it had room for all of my books.
before
Step 1
Remove the styrofoam wall, super fun demo for the boys
Mika gets in on the action
Step 2
Remove random board
Step 3
Rearrange randomness, so that we can get to the walls
Step 4
Finally we paint...
and paint....
and paint...
rearrange again, so that we can paint the other wall....
more painting....
after
4. Downstairs Bathroom... so cool I'm not sure I should even share, it might cause a bit of envy. But here it is. Pretend you are walking down the stairs, you get to the landing and then you look to your left and here is what you will see...
isn't it awesome... someday there will be an awesome "after" picture to go here
5. PEOPLE... I can't even begin to express how grateful we were to our church family and the way they helped us. They painted, took down cupboards, put cupboards back up, cleaned carpets, unloaded the truck, built a fence, helped unpack the kitchen, put up beds, cleaned bathrooms, cleaned the fridge, made lots and lots of food, provided lots of laughs and great conversations and how could I forget... impromptu moments of worship... SONrise, we love you!
There is always time for music
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