Tag: dinner

Wonderful Life

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Evening, friends. And…Merry-almost-Christmas!!!!! It’s 18 minutes away and I really should be asleep by now!! But I can’t help it – must write a few words, especially as I haven’t posted anything this whole holiday thus far!! I could write so much about how delightfully relaxing this past week has been, here with the family…but I shall refrain. Just know it’s been lovely. And tonight – oh what a perfect Christmas Eve night. Begun by a perfect dinner(Mom’s fettucine alfredo, salad, shrimp, and red wine….), after doing dishes, we(Mom, Dad, Maryanne and I – oh how I miss Laura, but she and Caisson are with his family…) continued by opening a few gifts and then reading the story of Christmas – God becoming man.. for us!!! Truly the most wonderful story ever told. We then proceeded on our annual Christmas walk. Went outside, and walked around the block and looked at all the Christmas lights and gazed up at the stars shining bright in the night sky. It was beautiful. Soon enough, we made it back to our house and we got down to watching another episode of Jack(…I mean, 24!! We’re continuing our grand tradition of watching 24 over Christmas break…season 6 currently) along with cherry pie. Once that was done(the episode and the pie!), we watched the end of It’s A Wonderful Life together and I just soaked in the beauty of the moment….

And so – yes, I have described much of the fun things we did tonight(and the food we enjoyed!!!), but the best part was just talking and laughing and discussing life and love and God Himself with my dear, dear family. Oh how deeply am I blessed. All my thanksgiving and praise to God most high. Forever and always.

Merry Christmas Eve, my most loved friends. Tonight, rest in the arms of our Lord Jesus Christ and be full of joy and peace as you think on the mercies of God. Oh! How good it is to be near God.

Arrowhead

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Hey friends!! Thursday night update here…just thought I’d write quickly as my burritos are five minutes away from being done. (And yes, this is my first grand burrito dinner – complete with avocado/tomato/lime salad! – in new flat) Earnie was going to come over tonight to hang out, because it’s been far too long…but sadly, we’re going to have to wait for that long awaited chat time a little longer since he had to take care of some things. But as I told him, it’s all good…since it’s Thursday night football time! Chiefs are playing the Raiders and it should be a pretty fun cold-weather game! So yes, that is my night…as temperatures drop outside, I’m inside nice and cosy in my flannel shirt, eating burritos and watching football. Simple pleasures. Have a wonderful night, my friends!!!

Love Unending

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Afternoon, all!! It’s a gorgeous Saturday here in Houston and thought I’d just write here briefly! And by gorgeous, I mean that it’s a wet, chilly grey day…and I simply love it. This day has so far been one of rest and chats with dear friends and enjoying bountiful blessings from my Father God. I started out the day by…waking up far later than is my norm! Since it was a mostly rainy night, decided I’d skip my run this morning and enjoy a little more sleep instead. Very good decision, I have to say. After finally waking up and having my coffee and chocolate cream-of-wheat for breakfast and reading for a bit…I got to skype with Noemi!! We hadn’t talked properly in simply ages…and oh how wonderful of a chat it was!! She is such a dear friend and encourages me mightily. So thankful am I for the technology that grants me and Noemi the ability to talk even though we are thousands of miles away, me in America and she in Hungary!! I shall not describe our talk in detail. But know how lovely it is to talk about life and love and the things of the Lord with dear friends. And so it was. Following that lovely talk, it was time to go meet Julie for lunch! She wanted to eat at Velvet Taco, and I discovered it was in walking distance. So I made my way there, through the small neighborhoods, splashing through puddles as I went. Oh what a beautiful day! Grey and chill and fresh and wonderful!! So fun to be able to walk somewhere and not have to drive! And so after a much enjoyed walk, met Julie at Velvet Taco and enjoyed some delicious tacos(one of them was like a Cuban sandwich…but in taco form. I have found my ideal Tampa/Houston fusion food. It was sublime)…but more than food, a proper catch-up chat with Julie! We realised we hadn’t had a decent talk in a while, somehow – and it was truly great to talk about…life and love and the things of the Lord! Hmmm…is there a theme here? Possibly. Anyways, once again – I shall not detail our talk. But after our yummy lunch, she dropped me off at my place and we chatted a bit more before she went her way…I’ve been getting other random things done(like going to Trader Joe’s for some necessities and listening to my awesome HymnSing CD as I drove!). Now it is dinner time I think. Yes, an early dinner. Yes, I am hungry again. And wow, this is a messy long paragraph and I probably should tidy it up. I shan’t. Going to make my dinner of mac’n’cheese and chicken and tomato salad. And I shall continue to think of the Lord my God and how much He has blessed me. Oh how I long to know Christ more. My highest desire, my truest song, my greatest love. Peace, my friends. Peace and love.

A Night Most Treasured

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Happy Friday, friends!!! Just a few words as I soon conclude this wonderful Friday evening. Such a peaceful night of rest and joy!! After a long week…oh how wonderful to come home and have a nice dinner and simply enjoy the gifts my God has given me. I am ever so thankful for the mercies of the Lord. Dinner of a nice thick bean soup and a spinach salad(perfect dinner for this cold weather!!)…then finished up watching “State of the Union”, a remarkable and moving movie – Spencer Tracy and Katherine Hepburn starred. Hepburn was a firebrand, paragon of truth and integrity!!! Loved it so much. And now I’m watching the Buffy Thanksgiving episode(“Pangs”) in honour of soon coming holiday. And yes it is unnecessary for me to chronicle this, yet I simply want to offer all thanks to the Lord my God for the simple pleasures He has granted me this night. My love – my heart – is His.

Peace and love, dear friends. Always.

Bread and Wine

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Happy Sunday, dear friends!! As is my Sunday tradition of late, I am enjoying a nice dinner(chicken parm, tomato salad, etc!!) while I watch the Sunday night football game(Texans v Colts. Go Houston!!!). Also, today I was beautifully encouraging by the family of God at church. Singing heartily in worship, hearing a powerful message on the Word of God and being blessed by good words from dear friends. May I bless others and honor God in all I do.

Now, my friends, ’tis dinner time. Peace, always.

Appointed

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Hello friends!!! This fine Thursday evening, just thought I’d write a very few words(truly!). The rice is currently simmering on the stove and once that’s done, I’ll add it to my chicken and pineapple curry and have a fine meal to enjoy!! Besides all that, just wanted to say how wonderful of a day today has been. Did anything special happen? Not particularly, no. I worked all day, went to the store following, came home and did my workout. And now making dinner. A very…normal day, all in all. But I think normal days are to be enjoyed. And we should be thankful to God for them – for carrying me through this day and enlivening my heart as I take each breath. How precious is it to rest in the arms of my Saviour!!! And so does my heart rejoice this day. Be at peace, dear friends. Love, always.

And I See the Sun!

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So I may have just done something rash.

I purchased tickets for a holiday to Aberdeen this September. Should I have?? Maybe not, but well…I really craved a decent holiday in some far off country among dear friends. And I have not seen my friends in Aberdeen in far too long. So. It is time to return. Maybe I shall rue this decision in the next few days, but I don’t think so. I see the friends the Almighty God has blessed me with and I wish to see their faces again. Oh how lovely will it be to talk with all of them face to face!! Chris and Jo, Rose, John, Ruth, Graham and Tineke, Joel…and so so many others I won’t mention here now. I’m really rather excited just now – it has been too long Scotland. And I planned it well enough that I will celebrate my three-year anniversary of leaving Scotland…in Scotland. September 11th, 2013. And it is now 2016. How the years do tick by, methodically and unhindered by any desire on our parts for time to stand still. There’s only one person who’s ever gotten God to stop time, and my name is not Joshua!! But before I start rambling further…maybe I should sign off and walk off into the bright Texas sun. Thinking of a chicken/broccoli/mushroom stir fry dinner for tonight. Yes? Yes.

Also, I lied. I do sort of want to keep rambling. Been thinking about my walk with God lately, and how precious it is to know Him, deeply and intimately. Too often do we talk of the externals in our life, of our living situation, our delicious home cooked meals, our fun adventures around town, our pleasant diversions. And none of these things are bad in and of themselves, I think we can agree. But in the end of all things, are we letting ourselves be too diverted by the things of this world? Possibly. I know I fall into the trap of living in the world without remembering often enough that I am not of this world. And so do we get swept up by the torrents of the Charybdis of this life in the flesh. Let us remember that the pleasant things of this world are just that – of this world. And that our true joy should come from the knowledge that we are known by God and part of His family. Let us utterly delight in the communion we have with God through the indwelling of His Spirit in us. Imagine that – God’s Spirit – in us! What foolishness it sounds. Yet most profoundly and shockingly true!! And so I urge you all, my most dear and gentle readers, to think on the simple wonder and grave truth of God’s hand upon us as we walk through this earthly life. The sirens of earthly delight wail on every side, yet plug your ears to their call and remember the most pure and heavenly music that is God’s covenant with us. Think on that far country where all songs rise to the One who sits on the throne. Meditate on the delightfully sweet fruit of communing with Christ our Saviour. Fall on your knees and pray to the Lord and blissfully think on who God is. Sweetly rest and delight in this God. The God. My Lord and my God.

And let the homeward call of the Spirit ever resound in your hearts.

Peace, my friends. Peace and love. Always.

The District Sleeps

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Hey friends!!  It is Thursday afternoon and I am enjoying my post workout yogurt…as I read a bit of Owen’s Communion With God.  Oh so encouraging.  How wonderful it is to relax and enjoy this spiritual consolation God has given me as I think and ponder on the great love and grace of Christ!!  In a few minutes, I will shower and start dinner up(turkey burgers, green beans and a baked potato – what can be better!?), but for now, going to read…just a few more minutes…

Communion

James HoganLeave a comment

What a lovely lovely day. And shall I waste it adding words to the ever growing clouds of data spinning through this world? May it not be so! So briefly….

A day of rest, a day of joy. Finally home with my Bethel church family, loving each other and loving God, lifting our voices in worship sweet and listening to the Word expounded. And lunch with friends(chicken curry is always a quality meal, more so when eaten over good chat and sweet communion with my dear friends). Back at my flat and poring over the Word for community group(Colossians 3:15-17…)…And then vacuuming and a quick workout and then out into glorious brilliant afternoon sunshine reading The Silver Chair by the side of the pool…And back inside and now potato is in the oven and I will soon enjoy it hot and freshly buttered along with some plump turkey burgers and green beans but now I sit on this couch and read a bit of Owen’s Communion With God and while I could say that there is nothing more to be said, suffice it to be said that my heart is full this day. Afternoon sweetly passing by, eyes brighten, lips part, heart sigh. A touch of honey on the bread, one last morsel achingly read, truly nothing more to be said.