Month: January 2012

Flickering

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It’s Saturday evening. This means I probably should be writing a long entry, or at least something more substantial than my last few updates! But alas, my mind feels dim and my fingers feeble. I do not think I can write much tonight. I’ve been pretty sick(well, mostly just coughing alarmingly every other minute or so) this past week and work has been as hectic as usual…so today has been oh so sweet! This morning I woke up at the late hour of 9:30(four hours later than usual? Bliss) and made my way to Starbucks, where I dedicated the first few hours to working. Because yes, it had to be done. Finally, was able to relax for a few hours and read and rest with my chocolate doughnut and my musings.

Now, relaxing on the comfy brown couch here in the flat and I feel sleepy. My body is probably trying to recover, but I shall not go to bed this early on a Saturday night!! Enjoying listening to the new(ish) NeedtoBreathe album, but wonder if I should turn the music off and just read for a bit…I think it’s been too long since I’ve had a nice long reading night. Would be oh so lovely.

So now, despite this stretching beyond what I planned…I will write no further. ’tis reading time.

Love you all.

Hallelujah

James HoganLeave a comment

How blessed is everyone who
fears the LORD,
Who walks in His ways.
When you shall eat of the fruit
of your hands,
You will be happy and it will be
well with you.
Your wife shall be like a fruitful
vine within your house,
Your children like olive plants
Around your table.
Behold, for thus shall the man
be blessed
Who fears the LORD.

The LORD bless you from Zion,
And may you see the prosperity
of Jerusalem all the days
of your life.
Indeed, may you see
your children’s children.
Peace be upon Israel!

Psalm 128

Men of Valor

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From the Gadites there came over to David in the wilderness, mighty men of valor, men trained for war, who could handle shield and spear, and whose faces were like the faces of lions, and they were as swift as the gazelles on the mountains…

Seriously epic verse, no? I’m not actually sure why I posted that, but I just love finding random awesome verses like that. (1 Chronicles 12:8, if anyone’s wondering) And while there’s nothing particularly “spiritual” in that verse…well, my heart can’t help but be lifted up and inspired to be such a man of valor as they. Maybe I’m not equipped with shield and spear or I’m not actually as fast as a gazelle(seriously – those guys were beasts!!)…but may I serve my God with such a dedication as they. Sometimes we are too lax in our service to our God…comfortable in our nice warm homes in our luxurious cities. Not too many of us willfully choose to make ourselves uncomfortable by charging into the wilderness. Not often do we give up all that we have to serve our Savior. I just pray that as blessed as we are to live such comfortable lives, we give thanks to our God continually! And that we never seek our own pleasure or glory before that of our most awesome Father. Amen? Amen.

Also, may we constantly seek after our Lord’s face and delight in His Word to us! Let’s stop continually indulging in the things of this world…and instead rest in the quiet peace of knowing Jesus Christ. Take a moment away from thinking on the whirlwind that is this world and think upon the things of God. Rest in his glory. Rest in his love.

And now, as always, I leave you with mine.

Peace and love.

A study in cerulean

James HoganLeave a comment

G’morning! I really don’t have time for a long update today(actually, I *do* have time, but I figure I’ve been at Starbucks quite long enough today, so don’t want to linger too much longer!), but I just noticed I haven’t written in here since December 17th – shocking! I didn’t even get my traditional Christmas update up. Oops. That’s probably partly because my Christmas routine was dramatically thrown off this year, mainly because of the fact that I was here in Scotland instead of home in Florida. A bit different from the norm. Slightly. Anyways, although I could detail my awesome Christmas and New Year’s events here with friends(replete with many games, far too much good traditional Scottish Christmas fare, relaxing to the utmost, reading more than I’ve read in months, and more than just a little coffee…), I will spare you this once. And just say that though I was(and am) saddened not to be home with the fam for Christmas, God my Father has given me so much here to be grateful for. And by not dwelling on the sadness, I can rejoice and be thankful for what I do have here in Scotland!! I’m thinking I probably won’t make it home to Florida until at the earliest May, but I’ll keep you all informed.

And once again, my fingers are out-pacing the best of my intentions to keep this short. And I’ve not really said anything! But maybe that’s alright. Maybe I can just write and let the words pour out of my fingers in a waterfall of muses and songs. Or not. But nonetheless, I’m not going to do a 2011-year-end survey, but know that I was exceedingly blessed. As always!! And for 2012, it’s going to be an amazing year, that I know! While the details are clouded in the mists of the furiously raging river of the future, there is little doubt that this year will be a year to remember. Just saying.

Also, though once my heart was lost in the wars of this age and I was trampled upon like the dust of this earth, and though at times I still feel this is so, I cannot help but marvel at the ever more abundant harvests of love that have been granted to me, a lost one. A sinner. In the past, yea. But even in these current days, I fail and I fall and I weep and I call and yet I rest on the banks of the river of my salvation. A river so full of life, ne’er was anything so beautiful beheld. But from Christ alone, does this river spring. And so do I lift my voice and lift my song and lift my life, always. Always.

Pardon my somewhat emotional musings…at least I will refrain from writing more!

And to you all, peace and love.