Tag: journal

Liability

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So about to start this Wednesday(thankfully have a nice hot cup of coffee in front of me to aid and assist in this endeavour!)…just thought I’d share a few brief thoughts.

Firstly, was listening to my newest mix Tears of Nienna – which at some point, yes, I will post tracklist for – and as the CD wound down, I heard Taylor Swift’s “New Year’s Day”…a song laced with gorgeous piano, but apart from that, one line struck me: “Hold onto your memories, they will hold onto you.”  Apart from Taylor’s intended meaning for this, the line struck me because indeed, memories have such a strong hold on us at times.  The Lord knows I can surely fall into the nostalgia trap…I do so love thinking about dear memories and pondering the treasured past at times.  Do I do this too much?  Sometimes, yes.  It’s not a bad thing to think or recall the good things in your past – or indeed – remembering the deeds of the Lord in your life up to this point!  But – of course there was a but coming – we should be striving to live in the moment and press on to the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.  We don’t want our memories to hold onto us.  All things in this life should be held loosely, even our memories of times most sweet.  Only one thing should we cling to – our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

Secondly, this morning I read about Peter coming to preach to Cornelius and his household of heathens(i.e., Gentiles).  What a marvelous, momentous occasion was this.  For so long it was thought that salvation and the grace of God was limited to the Jews…now…God decreed and made manifestly known that the gift of eternal life was for all.  Peter was commanded to preach the gospel to these non-Jews(horror!) and he obeyed.  And God poured out His Holy Spirit upon them even as they heard the gospel of God.  The impact of this event can not be overstated.  Salvation and eternal blessings and ceaseless glory belong to all who believe in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.  There is no barrier based on nation, race or creed.  How amazing is the love of God.  Amen?  Amen.

Super Post

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It is Monday once again!  Funny how that happens…

Just posting a few words here before work starts in earnest – (and before the week starts in earnest!) – thought I could chronicle this past weekend, but don’t really feel like writing that much.  But – I can at least say that yesterday was a lovely day.  Deacon duty at church, which meant I was running around the whole morning and didn’t really truly get to be in the worship service, but church was wonderful nonetheless and it is an honour to serve.  Following church, had some chill time at home…talking with John…reading Spiritual Depression…enjoying a somewhat lazy Sunday afternoon!  But yesterday was also a momentous Sunday(if football events can be counted as momentous!) as it was time for the Super Bowl, fifty-second of its name.  Eagles and Patriots were playing…and honestly, since I don’t care for either of those teams, it was difficult to summon up the will to root for either of them.  I decided I wanted a good game(which I got!) and a last minute Patriots comeback(which I didn’t get), since it’s always fun to watch an epic Patriots comeback(me and John have a running joke that whenever the Patriots are behind in the 4th quarter, they’re happy because “they have them just where they want them”, deepening their opponent’s eventual humiliation when the Patriots come back to win!)  But alas, Tom Brady did not Tom Brady and the Eagles won a great game, 41-33.  Go Eagles?  Ugh, let those words never leave my mouth again.  Anyways!  It was a fun night – I didn’t want to go out anywhere, but Emily and Erica came over for a bit and so it was fun to hang out with them and catch up…and watch some football(and Justin Timberlake in halftime show!) together.

Now, this entry was longer than I anticipated so I must be off.  Going to enjoy sipping on this peppermint mocha and watching the sky slowly lighten…

Chromeria

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So I shan’t write long now – as soon it’s time for my lunch(leftovers – nothing fancy here!).  I hope to write more laters, but for now – just wanted to chronicle my most recent book completion. 

4.  Blood Mirror by Brent Weeks.  This book didn’t take that long to read at all, did it?  Sadness now though – since no more in this series for the forseeable future.  The long wait for Book 5 commences.  This book was a good continuation of the Lightbringer series…lots of good drama and action, while the characters were still such a delight to read about!  Seeing Kip’s maturation into a strong leader was just a delight…and then the way the book ended – the romance between Kip and Tisis – was oh so beautiful.  Haven’t seen such a lovely depiction of romance in quite some time.  So I enjoyed that much.  Solid book – still not top tier –  but satisfactory in its own way.  Next…is?  I don’t know?  Need to figure that out.  Stat.

Wolfpack

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A gorgeous grey, rainy Saturday. And after a lovely walk, a few shots of espresso and good chats with John at home and MJ at Red…I’m now enjoying this Saturday in the best way I know how…grilled cheese, tomato soup and basketball on the tv – NC State vs. UNC. Thanks be to God for this beautiful day which He has made!!

Souvenirs

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It is a peppermint mocha Friday!!  I am oh so happy that Friday is finally here and rest is almost at hand…been a long and busy week(full of fun things and work things, just lots of things all around) and so not much sleep has been had.  I’m very much looking forward to a quiet night tonight!  Planning on making up a big batch of burritos, enjoying that for dinner…and then reading in peace.  It shall be glorious.  I so declare.  As for the main reason I decided to post today, trying to continue to keep records of my reading…latest completion is as follows:

3.  The Broken Eye by Brent Weeks.  This is book 3 in a series known as Lightbringer.  Received book 1 from Maryanne for Christmas and consequently devoured(along with Caisson – as we both got this, so it was fun to read in parallel when we were home for Christmas break!)…bought book 2 at the airport as I went to Calgary for Robbie’s wedding.  Now I have also obtained books 3 & 4 via the Amazon and so now have completed this one and one more to go before the long wait for book 5(tentative 2019 release date?).  Anyways!  This is your typical fantasy novel set in a new world with a very colourful magic system and super rounded, real-feeling characters.  Because of some crudity of language and content here and there, it’s hard to unreservedly recommend these, but I must confess I have much enjoyed reading – the plot and storylines are gripping and keep you reading and again…the characters are such a delight – even the minor ones I’ve fallen in love with!  I also wonder if the author is Jewish and/or Christian…it’s hard not to when his characters have names such as Ben-Hadad and there are evil characters named Abaddon!!  There are numerous quotes that convince me of his at least familiarity with the Bible – “You shall be repaid for the years the locusts have eaten…”  Anyway, finished this last night so on to Book 4.  And again – while I can’t wholeheartedly recommend these, I can say this book was a most enjoyable read, and has me thinking deeper thoughts than with most fantasy I read.  Quality writing, indeed.

Shooting Star

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A sleepy morning. Yet I must confess I had a most enjoyable reading time(with my eggs and coffee)…reading a couple of my favorite chapters – Luke 21 & 22. I don’t have time to fully explicate these chapters and describe my thoughts…but this morning as I read, I was just encouraged by the words and actions of Jesus. From Him telling Peter, “Simon, Simon – Satan has demanded permission to sift you as wheat. Yet I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. When you have returned, strengthen your brothers.” We could spend hours just discussing that alone!! Oh how I love the fact that although Jesus doesn’t deny Satan permission to test Peter….he does say He prayed for Peter – he prayed for his faith. Oh how I long that Jesus would pray thus for me. And later on…as Jesus is fervently praying and tired and emotionally worn out…he is strengthened by an angel from heaven. Then he comes back and sees the disciples and what are they doing? Sleeping of course. He tells them “Pray that you might not fall into temptation.” Oh might I heed these words – what is better, to be self-satisfied and confident in my own abilities, to be awake yet sleeping? Or to desparately pray for that aid which we know we need, that we not stumble and fall. And later on in the chapter of course…Peter denies Christ, as Jesus knew he would. And at that moment of Peter’s third denial, we read that “Jesus turned and looked at Peter”. What was in Jesus’ eyes? What was that look? I imagine it as sorrow and love mingled…yet I cannot say. But Peter responded as is only proper. He fled and wept bitterly. To deny our Lord and Christ – how can we do this? Yet we do it every day. Pray to the Father for relief from temptation. Cry out to the Lord in prayer, day and night. And remember…Jesus is even now(as per Luke 22!) at the right hand of God in glory and He never ceases to plead your case. Forgiven am I. Eternity with my God awaits. Ne’er should I doubt my future when such joy is assured.

reaching yet Falling

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It’s…a Monday.  Horrors!  It’s actually not that bad of a day(yet) although I am very tired nonetheless as my weekend was very busy(with fun social things!) and I am most sure I did not get enough sleep.  Alas.  And even last night..though it was a free night and I should have probably gone to bed early, I was silly and decided to watch one of my recent fav movies(Dan in Real Life, which although silly and somewhat ridiculous for multiple reasons….is much loved by me, so says I).  Now I’ve been wanting to write something for a while, as it’s been too long since I’ve been creatively writing…yet once again my muse fails me and my lack of sleep haunts me and so yet once again there will be nothing pretty written this day.  Someday.  Someday I will yet write of those diaphanous clouds floating through the silken skies, blue so bright the eyes water and head spins and yet the heart sings of bare-branched trees and sunlight brilliant, unwaveringly poured down upon the earth as honey upon the bread and yet – and still – the song is heard through the rustling of the dancing limbs of trees unfettered by grave-countenanced dusky shadows.  Someday beauty comes.

that Danish charm

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So this is a bit of a cruel post…just sitting here on the couch(watching Vikes/Eagles NFC championship game!) as my dinner cooks on the stove. Creamy chicken and vegetables(carrots, onions, parsley and mushrooms!) with mashed potatoes is the plan for this evening. Bit of a new recipe, but I felt in the mood for a nice hearty, warming meal…and I think this will suffice! Mmm, my mouth waters. Alright, I really have nothing more to say. Hope your Sunday has been peaceful and filled with joy. Love you all, dear friends!

Apples and Cinnamon

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So today will be an interesting day.  The weather conditions are advertised as being a “wintry mix”, which when hearing that – sounds delightfully pleasant right?  Wintry mix sounds to me like maybe a peppermint tea or exotic hot cocoa or something delicious that can be sipped while cosy at home during the depths of winter.  But no – this wintry mix is much more annoying – namely, very cold(probably sub-freezing) temperatures and various forms of precipitation.  Yay?  Driving here this morning, all the signs proclaimed: “ICE PREVENTION OPERATIONS AHEAD”.  At least Houston is trying, am I right!?  My one shoutout of the day goes to the woman I saw on her morning run as I drove to work.  5:45AM, 37 degrees and slight rain.  And she still went on her run.  I shake my head in admiration and shame – never am I that dedicated!!

But apart from the weather forecast, right now I’m enjoying my coffee here at work as I continue to wake up.  Thankfully I’m less sleepy than I was yesterday!  Totally slept through my alarm so had no time for breakfast or coffee…and why did I sleep in yesterday?  Well, the night before that was Julian and Kelsey’s wedding – and oh what a gorgeous wedding it was!!  I shan’t describe it all here…but their wedding was God glorifying – a simply beautiful ceremony of them affirming their marriage covenant to one another before God Himself.    And I must briefly mention the beauty of the venue itself – outdoors surrounded by the mid-winter Texas countryside.  As I stood by Julian’s side and gazed out at the setting sun, brisk air enlivening(and slightly shiver-inducing!) and fading light spirit invigorating…I had no thoughts but to thank God for blessing Julian and Kelsey so – for giving each of them to the other as partners in this beautiful, crazy, wonderful life.  All praises to the One from whom all blessings flow.  Amen.

What else can I write before it is work time?  Well I suppose I should start on my pledge for this year.  I typically enjoy reading very much(as you should know, if you know me at all), but I am very poor in recording what I’ve read.  So I’ve decided this year to keep track of each book I read.  Even re-reads(because yes, I do re-read quite a bit – and I don’t want to miss the chance to highlight good books, just because they’re not first reads).  This is a slightly perilous resolution, for several reasons.  Firstly, because I’m typically terrible at keeping on something like this, so I must be diligent at recording these, even if I have no time to write any fancy reviews.  Secondly, because…this means my reading tastes will be exposed for the whole world to see – will be a good impetus to (try to) read quality books!  For now though..here goes.  I will record the books as I finish them, so here’s my first two, which coincidentally or not I completed last night.

1. Authority by D.M. Lloyd-Jones.  This was a remarkably short book, less than 100 pages!  But I much enjoyed this adaptation of several of Lloyd-Jones sermons he gave on the subject of authority, namely – the authority of Christ, the authority of the Scripture and the authority of the Holy Spirit.  I much enjoyed this book(as I enjoy almost all of Lloyd-Jones’ writings!) and it encouraged my soul.  Oh how we should more often remember that our faith does not come from within us and is not founded on the shifting sands of our moods or the ever changing tides of the wisdom of this world…but our faith is in Christ Himself, as revealed through the external witness of the Holy Scriptures and the internal witness of the Holy Spirit.  Oh might we rejoice in this thought and take heart.  Too easily do I get discouraged by my circumstances and by the trials and tribulations I find myself in.  Let me more oft consider the God whose son I am.

2. Oathbringer by Brandon Sanderson.  This is the complete antithesis of the previous book.  Definitely not a short book – I don’t know the exact page count, but easily over 800 pages I would think.  A classic high fantasy novel.  Sanderson is truly one of my favorite authors and I think I own a higher percentage of his books than almost any other author.  I’ve also met him a few times, which adds to my liking for him.  His writing style is definitely not quite as beautiful as a Tolkien or a Rothfuss, but his world-building and action sequences are almost unparalleled.  This book is the third book in his magnum opus Stormlight Archive series and so I shan’t attempt to summarize the plot here, but I much enjoyed this book and will be definitely revisiting it in later re-reads.  I’m just sad I’ll have to wait a couple more years for the next book to come out…alas!

So there you have it – the first two books completed for 2018.  Already begun another one, will record when finished!

Have a most lovely day, dear friends – may it be a day of joy and peace.

A slow Realisation

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Oh what a wonderfully cold morning!!  Now I sit nice and cosy at my desk, but previously walking outside feeling the brisk wind whip around me as I clung to my steaming peppermint mocha, feeding off the warmth therein…lovely.  I certainly am not complaining about this cold – long may it continue!  Also this morning I was listening to music as I drove in…probably my best mix, the tragic fall and most surprising Redemption of anakin skywalker.  I always forget what a beautiful mix of songs of it is…a perfect storm of beauty in music.  It is also almost certainly the best musical representation I’ve yet put together of a man’s(or woman’s!) journey from darkness to light, culminating in the joy that can only be found by knowing Jesus Christ.  It’s been a gorgeous morning and for that I thank my God.  Happy Friday, dear friends.