perspective>

Last night, around 3am, I had one of those "life interruptions" that God orchestrates every once in awhile to remind me who it's really about. He breaks into my mundane routine, stirs things up and says "Remember, it's not your life anymore?"

It wasn't spectacular, looked for, or dramatic.

I got sick.

My immediate reaction? "God, please, I can't be sick! I can't afford to miss work. I don't have time, there's so much to do..." But God changed my perspective. I started having flashbacks to the last time I was sick...losing a breakfast I never ate in the ER bathroom. Wishing I could cry, scream or black out; any other reaction but the one I was having from the pain that seemed to be everywhere. Funny how much your perception of one circumstance can change in a few seconds! I was immediately convicted. I was in minor discomfort. But I was already griping about how it messed up "my plans"! Ouch. Instead of whining about the "inconvenience", I started thanking God for what I could be grateful for. Guess what. The rest of my evening was oddly pleasant. Laying in the hall, on wood floors that mimicked the 26F outside temperature, I had some wonderful time with God. As weird as it sounds. I'm so glad He interrupts my plans. Even if it isn't "so fun".

enjoying His grace. with a side of fever.

"Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the people of old received their commendation. By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.
By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he was commended as righteous, God commending him by accepting his gifts. And through his faith, though he died, he still speaks. By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death, and he was not found, because God had taken him...These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city...And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets-- who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. Women received back their dead by resurrection. Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they might rise again to a better life. Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword. They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated-- of whom the world was not worthy--wandering about in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.
And all these, though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised, since God had provided something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect."

{Hebrews 11.1-5; 13-16; 32-40. emphasis added}

adorable.

Princess Belle. One of the kids I nanny for. She's the quirkiest ever. She loves to make you laugh. She has no healthy sense of fear. (haha) Her favourite princesses are Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty and Belle. I call her Belle because she adores books, playing outside, and loves the Beast. (when she saw Beauty and the Beast live at disney, she wasn't scared; nope she wanted to give him a hug afterward. !!)

Future soccer champ. :)

"Fe-Fe" & "the bunny". They join us for tea parties. Where the vase serves as a creamer. (?)She loves to dance. She'll ask for "the purple dress" and "music". But it has to be the right music...if you put in anything other than classical ballet (nutcracker, swan lake, etc) watch out for the conniption!

so cute. i love this kid.

intentions.:

"But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ--by grace you have been saved--and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus." [Eph. 2.4-7]
>I was convicted Sunday by David's excellent message about my lack of intention in the area of memorizing scripture. It's not something I plan or initiate; it's more like "this speaks to me I'll try to memorize it". Not to say that's wrong, but my lack of intentionality often leads to a lack of any lasting fruit. I used to have post-it notes everywhere. I think I have one left. Anyway I figured I'd put the first one up here. Since I don't have time for a "real post".<

"It is not sleepy habits, but grace in exercise, that preserveth us." -Richard Sibbes ((i think my physical therapist would say that pain goes in there somewhere too. haha.))