beyond the setting sun...

Been thinking about eternity. Alot. Partly because I need the reminder to focus UP on CHRIST instead of down here on myself. I'm so self-centered. It makes me sick. Not only that, but I allow myself to focus on circumstance and challenges in my life. Rather than on God and how He can help me walk through them. He is so mercifully patient! Far more so than I deserve. I can't count the times He prods my proud heart, showing my self-sufficiency and accepting my thousandth surrender. How often He lifts my gaze from the road to His glorious cross! So, I've been focusing on heaven. This world is not my home. When I let my soul really ponder the reality of heaven, it completely changes my heart attitude. How can one not be joyful? How can your soul not sing for gratefulness? To really ponder heaven brings you back to the cross--the only reason we can even think about heaven. What incredible, loving grace has made that hope possible....
The next several posts will be on heaven. Just to warn you, don't expect any deep theological anything. Or profound insights. It'll mostly be quotes or such. Because deepishness and slightly more meaningful posts take time. You have to think about what you're writing and go over it. At least I do. ((even then it doesn't always make sense)). ow ya'll know my crazy random posts all come completely off the top of my head. I don't actually read them first. I put a little more effort into my serious ones.

This song makes me think of a sunset and ships sailing west...some of the words could be changed around to make it better...but I won't. I'd ruin the song, and critics would be upset. *laughs* but I do love the picture of longing for heaven being a wound...that ache in our souls that is often ignored; but it doesn't ever really go away. i don't think it will until we are home, and seeing our Savior's face...

I've got a wound that doesn't heal,
Burning out again,
Burning out again
I'm not sure which of me is real,
And I'm alone again,
Burning out again

My hope runs underneath it all,
The day that I'll be home
It won't be long, I belong,
Somewhere past the setting sun
Find me free, find me strong,
Somewhere back where I belong

Something shared with me again,
But I'm not buying it,
I'm not buying it
My wound goes deeper than the skin,
There's no hiding it,
So I'm not trying it

Let the weak say I am strong, and it won't be long,
Let the right say I was wrong, and it won't be long....


see ya there.
dami

I don't think of believers in other countries very often. God's people, called out from those around them to be pinpricks of light. Often they are abused and persecuted for following His call. What would it be like? To live surrounded by spiritual darkness, working faithfully to spread light--yet seeing little fruit? If any! Been convicted lately that I should be praying for these places and people. Much more than I do.

After all, who knows which of us might find ourselves in similar situations someday? Our lives are not our own. God could use any of us in any way He chooses. Amazing. Maybe a little scary?

~off to caregroup.
dami

nothing redeeming in this post

THE DELL IS BACK!! here's a bit of randomness from yesterday's adventure before i go to a pharmacy and pick up pain(meds) for dad:

The best scenerio for eating cinnamon buns: Run out and buy (pick up irish cream coffee too) at your friendly neighborhood Albertson's. At midnight with 3 girl friends. Then you must go home and watch The Village while eating them and drinking coffee. Not sure how that makes them taste oh-so-much better, but it does. Probably the music more than anything else.

if your friends have older brothers, it's okay if your car runs out of gas. just so long as you tell them beforehand. (don't bother trying to explain how highly unrealistic thier logic is)

if you know somebody well enough, the two of you can plan a good prank using facial expressions and well-directed looks. verbal evasion might be neccessary, if the person you intend to prank is sitting between you. even if you don't carry it out, they'll be paranoid. I.e. "i hate it when you two get that sparkle in your eye! i never know if you're planning or if you've already done something!"

last but not least. biblical fellowship is possible at 2am. but after 3, don't even attempt to be serious. by then everything becomes hilarious. and you feel incredibly stupid, decide to not talk in an attempt to be quieter; yet all comes to naught if you so much as look at someone you're laughing again...

good times were had by all.