Tag: journal

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.

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

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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.

Oh blissful morning!

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And don’t have long to write as it’s about time to go to Gilc to do some Christmas caroling! One note on Christmas music – I do so love that this is the one time of year where you can go to Starbucks and hear songs praising Jesus – such awesomeness!

And I’ll leave you with this…

The LORD reigns, He is clothed with majesty;
The LORD has clothed and girded Himself with strength;
Indeed the world is firmly established, it will
not be moved.
Your throne is established from of old;
You are from everlasting.
The floods have lifted up, O LORD,
The floods have lifted up their voice,
The floods lift up their pounding waves.
More than the sound of many waters,
Than the mighty breakers of the sea,
The LORD on high is mighty.

Your testimonies are fully confirmed;
Holiness befits Your house, O LORD,
forevermore.

Epic glory. Ah, Psalm 93, love it.

Love you all.

Hunger games

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Since I am at Starbucks at the moment, could not pass up the opportunity to briefly update! Got a little work done but now it’s time to make my way home as I have an epic afternoon cooking adventure planned. Pork chops, potatoes, green beans? I say yes. Now I just need to figure out a suitable movie to go along with my cooking..

Have a glorious afternoon in the love of our God, you all! Oh the wonders of His love!

Summons of sunlight

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And since I’m sitting here in Starbucks this gloriously cold afternoon in Aberdeen, I feel almost compelled to write at least a few lines! Although I must confess my writing muse is cold and I don’t think I’m up to my usual standards of wordiness today. We shall see. I just knew I couldn’t let this opportunity to write a brief entry pass! I currently don’t have internet in the flat, so my online time is quite limited as of late…so this morning I trudged down George Street(making my customary doughnut stop) to Starbucks where I’ve been catching up on correspondence ever since! Oh and before I came here, stopped by the music store and picked up Imaginaerum, latest Nightwish album!! I’m sorely tempted to listen to it now, but will wait until I can listen to it properly at home. One amazing advantage to living in Europe…I was able to get this album now. You know when it’s released in the US? January 10th. Yep, there are certainly advantages! Anyways, I’m expecting this album to be epic, even more so than Dark Passion Play. (Other random note, now that I’m talking about Nightwish…Laura got me their “End of an Era” live DVD – watching that at home together with her was simply awesomeness)

And while my writing will hasn’t deserted me yet, I’ll continue, just touching on the highlights of the last few weeks! Last weekend, where was I, you may ask? Well, not in Aberdeen. I was in Glasgow, seeing Coldplay in concert! They kicked off their Mylo Xyloto tour in Glasgow and I WAS THERE. Sort of odd thinking that back in 2009, I snobbishly thought that Coldplay couldn’t possibly appeal to me since they were too mainstream. Ah how foolish was I. Anyways, Rosemary, Beth, Bree and I all rocked out and had a most amazing time. I’m not a big concert person in general…but I wanted to see them at least once! And they played all my favorite songs, so I was most satisfied. Yellow, Scientist, Fix You, Violet Hill…mmm, aural loveliness.

And seriously – enough about music now! I do enjoy good music so, but never may I let it subvert my worship to the King. Never.

On to my other highs for the month(year!) – home in Florida!! Of course it was awesome. Of course it was amazing. And of course I wasn’t quite ready to leave. And of course I am far too blessed. Besides watching far too much 24 and eating food far too delectable and buying far too many books to bring home(seriously, I had to bring an extra bag just for my books!! Hunger Games trilogy plus Lord of the Rings plus Towers of Midnight paperback plus a couple Joel Rosenberg books…YES), I simply loved relaxing with Dad and Mom and Katharyn and Maryanne and Laura…love you all, always.

And no, I did not limit myself to Tampa! Spent a day in Gainesville early on in my trip to catch up with RobG(yeah, we may or may not have spent over five hours together talking and playing frisbee and praying and…yeah) and awesomely got to see Deanna too! And after Thanksgiving and Christmas(yes, we celebrated Christmas on November 25th, since I won’t be home for real Christmas…), Maryanne and Laura and I drove up to Gainesville for the UF/FSU game! (Which I will not comment further on for the duration of this entry) But the most lovely part of the weekend(by far) was simply being with my sisters and the whole Lebo family, where I stayed a couple nights. What was included in this weekend adventure? Of course, classic awesomeness. Disc golf, epic board games(MUST get a copy of Shogun!!), delicious food, ping-pong and fun times talking and talking…yeah just amazing times. And I hadn’t seen Becca in nearly *two* years. So being able to talk to her again(in person!) was just glorious. Of course, my Gainesville trip had to come to an end eventually, so I bid farewell to Maryanne and Laura and the Lebo fam…I shall return, someday!

But all I can say about my Florida trip was that God has blessed me exceedingly…knowing I needed a time like that with the people he’s blessed me with so. And now, I worship him in humble adoration. Why do I deserve such extreme and everlasting love? I know not. I simply exalt my God and lift up His name – Him do I worship. Always.

A swiftly tilting planet

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And about dinner time here in Tampa! Only have a minute to write, but wanted to dash off a quick entry before dinner! Hopefully a longer, more in-depth one will follow later tonight, but I make no promises…

Just wanted to state how awesome our God is, truly. And how blessed I am, always. Tonight I spend my last night here at home for a while, before flying back to Scotland tomorrow, but oh have these last few weeks been amazingly awesome. From being blessed with such a loving family to being encouraged by the best friends a man can have…like I have said many times before, I am overwhelmed by the goodness of the Lord.

And now, time to help Mom and pour water glasses for dinner as Dad and Katharyn are almost home. Roast chicken, potatoes, onions, mmmm…chocolate cake to follow, along with some 24-watching? Yeah, pretty good night coming up if you ask me.

Over and out.

Scent of Roses

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And as I think of writing a few lines here…I sign in happiness, relaxing at home in Tampa!! The cool Florida sea-breezes are blowing through the house and I smell lunch(hash – fried beef, potatoes, onions and carrots, mmmmm…) on the stove and I’m chilling here with Dad…yep it’s a good day!! Just had a sweet few minutes outside in the glorious Florida sunshine, watering the roses and digging in the garden a bit.

But no, getting home wasn’t that easy. After a somewhat over-adventuresome journey home(missed my connecting flight in Amsterdam, barely got on the next flight to Detroit, then snagged the last seat – first class, yo – on the Detroit-Tampa flight to arrive home some five hours later than I’d planned. And without my luggage. But I’m here home now and all is well!! Oh how wonderful it is to relax with Dad, Mom and Katharyn and enjoy this lovely vacation!

Yesterday was Dad’s 58th birthday!! So of course we celebrated in classic Hogan-style, complete with Pizza Hut and a few episodes of ’24’. How we do it! Dad and I finished up the evening watching the Oklahoma State(ranked #2) vs. Iowa State game…went down to 2OT with Iowa State pulling off the massive upset, complete with the field being rushed! A good birthday present to my dad, I’ll say! (Yes, Iowa State alumnus)

And now lunch smells almost complete – and how can I spend too much time on the computer when I can spend it with the fam here! – so I think I’ll be away. Before I do…some sweet verses I read this morning…(actually I would love to quote verbatim Psalms 37 and 38 in their entirety, but I’ll spare you)

Delight yourself in the LORD, and He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD, trust also in Him, and He will do it. He will bring forth your righteousness as the light and your judgement as the noonday.
-Ps. 37:4-6

Oh glorious verses! How I long to follow my God in all that I do – and for Him to bring forth righteousness in me as the rising sun! Oh bliss.

And I’m really off now. Love y’all.