One Week

Someone once said," What a difference a day makes." Very true. In Texas, what a difference a few minutes can make when you're speaking of the weather. Just this morning, I awoke to the loud crashing claps of thunder, the steady yet gentle downpour of rain, and my favorite, the lights displayed across the early morning sky. I quickly grabbed my silky blanket :) , a cup of joe in my favorite cup, put on the tunes of Shane and Shane and spent some quality time with the Lord and his display of nature! It didn't take long for the scene to change. And once again that other ball of fire I like so much had taken the place of the rain and the steam set in.

What a difference a week can make too. One week ago today, goodbyes had to be exchanged, not fun. One week from today, I should be laying on a beach, enjoying some time before... one week from the day we return home, we take Julie to ACU... one week from that day, I begin a new career as a first grade teacher and Justin leaves for school... one week from that day I get a vacation day(well almost a week). Days quickly turn into weeks, weeks to months, and before you know it months to years. Individually, some seem really long and some fly by before you know it. I'm not sure which one is worse.. you know the long days and expect that eventually they will get better but the ones that sneak past you? Those may be the hardest to recover from.
Tomorrow is a new day ( and Justin's 22 birthday! yes, I was a very young momma) (VERY)
and with any luck, it will begin with lights.

From the Inside Out

Everlasting, Your light will shine when all else fades
Neverending, Your glory goes beyond all things

My heart and my soul
I give you control
Consume me from the inside out

Let justice and praise
Become my embrace
To love You from the inside out

And the cry of my heart is to bring You praise
from the inside out, Lord, my soul cries out to You.

Sleep

Proverbs 6:9-11 How long will you lie there, O sluggard? When will you arise from your sleep?
A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, and poverty will come upon
you like a robber, and want like an armed man.

Proverbs 20:13 Love not sleep, lest you come to poverty; open your eyes and you will have plenty of bread.

I Corinthians 15:51 Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,...

Perhaps a bit out of context.

What if I'm just being prepared for "the day"? What if I get to be one of the ones who won't sleep? How cool would that be? Being wide awake at the coming of Christ! Sleep or no sleep, thanks be to God who gives us victory through our Lord Jesus Christ! Knowing this we can rest in peace.

Night lights

Lightning is one of the most beautiful displays in nature. It is also one of the most deadly natural phenomena known to man. With bolt temperatures hotter than the surface of the sun and shockwaves beaming out in all directions, lightning is a lesson in physical science and humility.

Beautiful display = deadly phenomena.

Still, can't think of too many things I'd rather do than watch a good light show. Whether it spreads across the night sky like a huge flashlight, sends out "spider veins", makes a direct vertical hit, or does the occasional upside down or swirly strike, to me, it is one of God's most incredible masterpieces. It is especially exciting to watch over a body of water in the darkest of skies. Not too many people appreciate this deadly phenom, but the beautiful display is worth the risk, especially if someone else is with you to take the hit. J/K.

I'm not really interested in all the physical science part of lightning. I do feel humbled everytime I witness God's majesty and power in this incredible display of His creation. Wouldn't it be cool if since you can see the same stars from different states, you could still see the light shows that way too?

Good-Bye

Sometimes I read Kelli's blogs ( I accidently typed Keeli just then which is what I voted for to be your name oops!). She is a great writer. This past week Kelli said goodbye to an old friend. I have to admit I immediately teared up. If you know me, you know that used to be my nature, immediate flowing wetness from the eyes. Following many petitions for that to be taken away from me, it was, for awhile. I mean I could flow over the silliest things. Mostly, the petitioning worked and I've become a closet crier, this may be the closet I'm not willing to come out of. Kelli said goodbye to her favorite t-shirt of many years, I recognized it right away in the picture posted on her blog. Kelli, I am truly sorry for your loss. May I suggest an American Apparel t-shirt to take its place? They are nice and soft. While I know that no other t-shirt can take the place of this one, I hope you find joy and comfort in a new soft garment!
I am also thinking it's time to say good-bye, at least for now, to something that has had a special place in my life for the last year or so. I wish it was a shirt. It isn't anything concrete, no one ever saw it but it was good for awhile. A few people already assumed I had said my good-bye in recent weeks but until now I wasn't ready. Such is life and if it ever comes back again, perhaps I'll wake up and embrace it once more. But for now, so long, and I'll move on to the tasks set before me, whether they be a room full of first graders, a corporate position (won't hold my breath) or serving coffee at the local chain with all the other green aprons, it's all good in the hood, affectionately known as Camelot.

Saturday Night's the Night I Like

If you have an eclectic taste in music or are as old as I am you can finish the verse to the title of this blog! Late 70's .
It seems like Saturday nights are the nights my mind just takes off on a free ride. In reviewing the past blogs I've written, it seems maybe I have been a bit down.
So it's time for a change!
There are many things that bring joy to my heart. This summer I have been blessed to experience heart joy at two different church camps! I can't think of too many things in life that bring more joy to my soul than watching teens praise the Lord. Teens with outstretched arms, heads thrown back, singing at the top of their lungs, praising God. Or teens bowed in prayer, offering their hearts to God and accepting His forgiveness, His grace, and His salvation.
Some will say it's just the "church camp" experience that will soon fade away. Even if that is true, I can't accept that those times of surrender won't leave some lasting impression on their heart and soul. Maybe they won't even be aware of that imprint until some day when they least expect it and that memory shows up at just the right moment to offer a renewed hope in a crucial time in their life. Even they recognize the possibility that this "fire for God" is momentary. You could hear them pray, "Please God, don't let this pass when we leave camp, show us how to take it into our schools, our youth group, our families, and our activities."
That is a cry that should be acted on by all of us. We can't afford to leave our kids at the doorstep of the Youth Room and hope that something there continues to guide them. It is up to all of us to be an example to them, to be a prayer warrior for them, to build relationships with them, to hold them accountable, to play with them, to share scripture with them and to love them unconditionally. They are not just our future, they are our present, already engaging in the battlefield everyday. Thank God for kids!!