Tag: life

A quiet night

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This lovely Saturday evening slowly winds on. Been a beautifully sunny day and now as the sun slowly sets, I have some potatoes in the oven and a book at my side. Ah what a night! I think this is my first quiet night to myself in quite some time…you know how nice it is to just rest and read and have some time to yourself? Well, that’s my desire tonight. And I think it just may come true!

By the way, I completed my 25th year yesterday. What.

And before I sign off the internet for the night, some lovely words I’ve been reading in Owens –

“Should I engage into the consideration of this love of Christ, which was the great means of conveying all the effects of divine wisdom and grace unto the church,-that glass which God chose to represent himself and all his goodness in unto believers,-that spirit of life in the wheel of all the motions of the person of Christ in the redemption of the church unto the eternal glory of God, his own and that of his redeemed also,-that mirror wherein the holy angels and blessed saints shall for ever contemplate the divine excellencies in their suitable operations;-I must now begin a discourse much larger than that which I have passed through.”

Beautiful. And if I can just sum that up in a few words of my own…what bliss it is to know the love of our Father and be known by Him. What a pure and more perfect peace is given to us that are at rest in Him. What joy is ours! With uplifted eyes and eager faces do we gaze upon the manifest glories of our Lord. We cannot help but shudder in anticipation of that day when we will be in the very presence of God. We cannot help but to lose ourselves in the love of Christ. There is nothing now better in this life. Ne’er will there be.

Softly dreaming

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So should I be in bed right now? Well, yes. Actually, I am sort of in bed already now, since my bed is the couch and I am sitting on it! But while my eyelids are drooping and my thoughts are fading…I still feel I must write a few words. And so I will be uncharacteristically brief, but wanted to write one last post from Florida before I fly back to Scotland tomorrow.

This trip has been most glorious – although it’s flown past far too quickly for my liking! Nevertheless, I have been oh so blessed these past days…from my times of joy with my family and friends to a pretty sweet weekend past in Gainesville(where I spent time with some of the best friends known to mankind…maybe later I’ll write more on this, but just know that hanging out with Rob, Laurie, Dan and Betsy is pretty much the best thing ever. Just saying. Talking and talking and praying and being together…epic. I can’t really think of a better word right now. Maybe I’m just tired. Or maybe there just isn’t one. Nonetheless, I should probably close this parentheses) But yeah, Gainesville was awesome(also may have included some sweet disc golfing with Dan, Rob, Laura and George…as well as quality time back at the Lebos – one of my favorite families ever!!)

And then driving back home with Laura this afternoon, with the beautifully thunderous rain pounding down on the windshield and the windswept trees of central Florida shadowing our path…I just couldn’t help but thank our God for his goodness to me. Always.

And then being with my family tonight – eating dinner and talking and being encouraged by the best parents in the universe and then watching some classic 24(3 episodes was not enough!)…capped by reading a few Psalms together. Love it.

And since this post has been characteristically not brief…I’ll close.

Time for some sleep. And then one more day here in Florida. Here at home.

Love longs to leave one last encore-
Songs spill across the sun spun night,
Crystal chandelier, caressing sight.
And stars named
and blessed
with light.

T-town

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And yes it’s true! Chilling at home here in Tampa right now, soaking in the sun – soaking in the love. Been such an amazing past week and it’s not done yet!! Don’t have too long to write now, but just thought I’d update real quick since it’s been a while. I can smell pork chops, potatoes and green beans in the oven right now…oh does Mom make such delicious meals! I cannot complain. One bit. So great to be back home in the USA!!

And this week has been full of dates with various family members, nights spent eating mint-choc ice cream and watching Jack Bauer domination and days full of luxuriating in the blessings of our God! I have to say, I am supremely blessed. And I cannot claim credit for any of this. All glory to our Father, beloved and supreme over all! Amen and Amen.

Now, as I sit in the family room here…the news softly blaring in the background and Dad sitting in his chair…Mom singing sweetly in the kitchen and the kitties napping on the floor…yeah, I feel – yet again – overwhelmed by the goodness of our God. Always. Forever and ever.

Now, time to help with dinner, methinks. Peace y’all!

A white knight

James HoganLeave a comment

And what a lovely Saturday evening it is! I don’t think I shall write too many words tonight, but thought it’d been a touch too long since I’ve last updated y’all! This evening, I currently have lasagna in the oven, perfuming the apartment most nicely. I hadn’t planned on making it, but me and Rosemary were talking about it last night and so I got this craving…and yes, when I was in the store, couldn’t resist buying everything I needed for the king of meals. Of course it’s not as good a lasagna as the one I’ll be having a few weeks, when I’m home in Florida!!! Yes, that’s right – don’t know if I told you all previously about my plans(Well, I’m sure most of you reading this already know!), but I’m flying back to Tampa on the 5th and staying through the 15th! Going to be in Tampa for most of my vacation, but will be in Gainesville for Robert and Cindy’s wedding!! Wow, I still STILL cannot believe Cindy is getting married…I still remember when I was a senior at UF and she came in, such a crazy little freshman…and now she’s about to embark upon one of the greatest adventures – married life. Can’t wait for the wedding!

And of course, being back home with the fam will be pretty sweet. Y’know.

Anything else I can update you on? Well, work is going much as usual – hectic and crazy. Yet my Lord God gives me a most supreme peace and I cannot deny His goodness to me! And while work takes up far too much of my time and I don’t get to see other people that often, the times I have with my friends, I treasure dearly. Wednesday nights at church are indeed one of my favorite times at the week, plop in the middle of my week…what an oasis of love and rest. I talked with Dominic this week a bit(I’m going to be speaking on Isaiah 40 in a few weeks, so he was giving me some pointers – pray for me!!) and I shared with him my sometimes uncertainty as to my future and for God’s plans for my life. While I know my Father has indeed a most glorious future and hope for me, yet my heart sometimes rebels and wonders. Oh why do our feeble minds offer battle to the words of almighty God? I know not. Yet I do. While we live in this world, these earthly temples of ours still cling to the sweetly tempting and faintly beautiful things therein. Yet does our soul and our spirit cry out within us for the fulfillment and glory that awaits us. Come Lord Jesus! Come.

And now that I’ve written far more words than I intended, and allowed my mind to drift to the far beyond…it’s time for me to take the lasagna out of the oven to set. These bodies of ours do need food, after all – and if food, it might as well be deliciously magnificent, so say I!

Have a most beautiful evening, my friends, my brothers, my sisters.

Belonging to the Lord

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Meatloaf in the oven, a lazy Saturday afternoon slowly drifting by and a fresh book unopened. I cannot complain. This morning was spent in a bit of work catch-up(this last week has been so crazy that I didn’t have time to open up half my emails!). Now though, back home and relaxing. Was thinking about driving out in the country today to get some time alone, but it’s a bit cold and cloudy so decided to stay home instead. John wants to see Hunger Games, so I may go see that tonight for the 2nd time! Already saw it last Monday with Zara and Jackie – an intense movie, but most well done.

And as non-stop insane as this last week has been…the Lord my God has kept me standing throughout. And given me grace unending. My burden indeed seems heavy at times…oh but the yoke of my Father is oh so light! And now while I sit this day on my bed in Aberdeen, Scotland – I can only praise His most holy and glorious and beautiful name. I may have no idea of my future or what is therein…but I worry not. My Father, my Lord and my God holds me close to Him. Always.

Now it’s time for my meatloaf. Grace and peace, y’all.

Cloudless

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Ah what a gorgeous day this is!! Just got finished making a mammoth salad for my dinner(probably enough for another few dinners too..) and enjoying feeling the spring breeze waft through the windows. After walking back from church(where a good haggis/neaps/tatties lunch was enjoyed by all), the springtime sun shone down so brilliantly on me that I couldn’t help but immediately change into my shorts and t-shirt and dash back outside again! Went for a Sunday drive to the store to pick up my salad ingredients, enjoying seeing the blossoming trees and yellow tulips sprouting everywhere! About 70 degrees here. Love it. It should stay this weather for every day here, ever. I so decree.

And that’s enough about the weather, just couldn’t help but glory in the beauty of it all!! Now I think I’m going to enjoy eating my salad before going out again to walk to evening service! Enjoy this day of rest, you all.

Be not dismayed

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And another week slowly rolls to a close. This has been a long intense week at work, but as always, God is oh so gracious! And as I drove home from work in the softly fading sunlight, I couldn’t hope but glory in the God who has blessed me so!! Oh why does He love me so?? I feel so at peace in the beauty of His love, I could weep.

Ah Lord God, how great your lovingkindnesses; how magnificent your faithfulness! Never failing is your goodness to us, your sons and daughters. Always abounding are your mercies. My heart sings – oh to play the lute of joy in your presence, my Lord and my God! Oh to sit down and dine with you in your courts above, my Jesus!

Ah…and now it is time to read, I say. Tonight will be a nice dinner of burgers, green beans and baked potatoes – a good Friday night dinner, I do say! Just going to rest and read tonight, I think. Oh rest is ever so needful at times.

Love to you all, my dear friends.

Molten chocolate

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Good morning!!

I shockingly slept in quite late this morning…I first woke up around 7, but the state of my head informed me that today would most definitely not be a church day. Tried to get up before falling dizzily back into bed. So, slept a few more hours before waking up again, feeling considerably better. I needed the sleep, methinks.

And now I’m enjoying a delightful breakfast of bacon, eggs, toast and hot cocoa…

While I’m saddened I wasn’t able to be at church this morning, there’s nothing stopping me from my own worship! And it’s an outrageously gorgeous day outside, so I’m thinking it shall soon be time for a walk.

And last night was a bittersweet riot of dagger thoughts and liquid poetry…maybe I shall share some of it with you later. Maybe.

Have an amazing rest of the day, y’all! As for me, I am back to breakfast and worship. Sing to the Lord a new song!!!

Strings of beauty

James HoganLeave a comment

And I sit peacefully in Starbucks here in Aberdeen this Saturday morn…

I’ve been here for a few hours now. Successfully got some work done(although there is always more to do…) and now relaxing with my mocha and my reading. Mmm. I think I’ll stay here another hour or so, and then away home! I’m planning on going to David and Rosie’s tonight for dinner/gaming, but been feeling sick last night and this morning…so I may have to settle for a quiet night in instead. We shall see.

This girl at the table in front of me has been intently reading this book for the past hour or so and I’m tempted to ask her what it is…think that would be weird? Yeah, probably.

This week has been intense, but not always the bad kind of intense. Emotionally draining and anxiety-heightening? Yes. But still, the Lord does provide, always.

As I read today,

More than the sounds 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.

Mm, yes.

And now before my mind wanders and my pen strays, I shall cease this writing and leave you all to your day. I say it’s time for some classic Isaiah for me. Yes?

No matter how your emotions dip or rise, no matter the wild desires of your heart, no matter your love-fueled dreams or woe-filled cries – set your gaze on our Jesus above. Seek for His beauty. Long for His love. Worship Him as Lord and God. Forever and always. Jesus. Rejoice with me!!

Joy Inexpressible

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And another Sunday evening rolls slowly on..

I meant to write a longer entry tonight, but I am getting a reading craving right now(first Ted Dekker’s Blink, then I’m thinking some classic John 17…oh yes) so thinking this will be pretty short. Famous last words.

Anyways, this day’s been simply lovely…despite waking up feeling severely under-rested. Played RISK at Ruth’s place last night with her and David and Rosie – epic game! Of course, I was eliminated first…but thus is war. Didn’t get to sleep until late, and then this morning woke up a bit early, since I was preparing to speak at the local Woodend hospital church service. I won’t dwell too long on that, except to say that God gave grace abundantly. (In case anyone’s interested, spoke on 1 Peter 1:3-9, our ever increasing joy as we love Christ more)

Then this afternoon, after church, came back and had a quick lunch before being overcome by my exhaustion. Did I have a two hour nap? Just possibly, yes. I feel asleep practically before my head hit the pillow and slept like a log. Woke up feeling simply amazing! You know those naps where you wake up feeling worse than when you lay down? Yeah, definitely wasn’t one of those.

And did I just spend a paragraph on my Sunday nap? Oops. Anyways! This evening was a lovely service at church, dwelling on John 21 and the restoration of Peter. Oh I wish I could have breakfast with Jesus!! Someday. Someday.

And now I feel it’s reading time, before my cocoa gets cold. Have a lovely week, y’all. My prayers and thoughts are with you. You who are far away(you know who you are!), oh how I long for the next time we can speak face to face!

G’night all – and sweet dreams.