Tag: life

Strings of beauty

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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.

A cup of chocolate

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And a brief few words from me before I dive into my lovely Thursday night reading. Just had a good meal of leftover pork chops, potatoes and green beans and now enjoying my hot chocolate as John watches the football(Man U vs. Ajax, 1-1, 49th minute for anyone interested!). Had yet another crazy day at work, but I cannot complain when I am so abundantly blessed!! Last night had a beyond lovely time at church(still going through Revelation – the letter to the church at Sardis – oh so convicting and yet I loved it so) being encouraged by the Word of God and being encouraged by His people. May all of us become ever more driven by the passion to know our Lord more and to seek after Jesus and to gaze into His glorious face! May our hearts burn ever hotter and may our lives glow ever brighter with the Spirit that is poured out upon us so mightily. May we be so washed in the love of Christ and so aware of His beauty that we cannot help but follow after Him in the sheer bliss of being His. Oh inexpressible joy!

And I totally didn’t mean to spiral into such an outpouring…but thus goes my heart.

And going back to last night…after such an amazing time at church, came home, but did I do the sensible thing of eating dinner and going to bed? Of course not. Instead I walked the sidewalks near my flat as I conversed with my dear friend back in Florida…ah how sweet an evening it was! And though I never did get dinner last night, it was all worth it.

And now, with my brief words said, it’s reading time. And maybe time for another cup of cocoa.

Love you all, ever so much.

Peace.

Thyatira

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So another crazy week comes to an end…one overflowing with the joys and trials of work…and one in which I was reminded evermore of the goodness of our Lord. Ah how gracious is He to us – to provide us with such good things! I have been blessed with such sweet friends here in Scotland…and my God is always with me.

And now, my hastily cobbled together dinner is almost ready(I wasn’t really sure what I wanted to eat, so I ended up with chicken, pasta, romano cheese, onions, tomatoes, tomato sauce, green olives and lots of basil in a pan in the oven…now time to top it with mozzarella and see how delicious this experiment turns out…)

Farewell, all.

Grace and peace.

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.