So I just finished reading the 5 love languages by Gary Chapman.
I decided to start reading this after the new guy asked me how I give and receive love on our last date.
I had thought I'd read the book before. I'd certainly discussed it before.
But when it came down to it and he was asking me about it I didn't know much about it.
I was pretty sure I knew how I gave love according to the 5. But I had no idea how I receive love.
Truth be told. I think I have a pretty hard time receiving it.
And I told him as much. But it made me curious.
So I bought the book. It took me just a little over 2 weeks to read it. It really only took that long since we had all the holiday things going on.
I think I would have had it finished sooner of not for that.
It was a very enlightening book to me.
One that I think will transcend into "regular life" not just my romantic relationship.
It really talks about how to love all those around you, from family to friends, to coworkers and of course boyfriends/girlfriends. Loving them in the way that they need, desire & long to be loved. In the way that they are most Lilly to accept it. They way they crave to be loved.
It took me almost the whole book to figure out how I receive love best. That and the quiz in the back :)
But once I did I could totally see the point an things it was saying on how I desire to be loved.
Now don't get me wrong it's not 100% right on. After all, my primary love language may be Quality time but I also need someone who will call or text, initating communication. I know that I need to know that the person really wants me. That they desire me as a human not just a girl or a bed warmer or something like that.
Which is hard. How do you explain that to a boy?
Is it right or wrong to let them know what you need?
Do you go into the why of it? The aside from the last guy I was seeing, every boy cheated on me? Or is that too much info for a new relationship? And if it is where does the whole honesty thing come into play. If I want things to work, and I think I do, do I lay it all out there? Do I expose my heart? Or hold it all tight and wait till things get farther along?
Hummm, things to ponder as we approach the new year.
One thing I know though. I look forward to putting into practice is loving others as they need to be loved. After all if we do that can we really go wrong?
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
San Diego
I've come to CA. A place I've never been before (except LAX which in my book doesn't count).
I arrived yesterday mid day and we spent most of the day out and about. Hitting La Jolla Beach and then going "home" to my friends sister's place in Oceanside.
Today we spend the whole day around Dan Diego. At the beach in Coronado, then Balboa Park, at the Art museum, then shopping at Horton Plaza.
It's so nice here. Mind you right now it's pretty cold at home so the high 60's here in SoCal feel pretty great.
And it's so pretty. With the ocean, beaches, palm trees and everything so green.
I think I could live here.
There's just one problem... The ex is from this area. And it's stirring up all kinds of feelings and emotions and all that. Which sucks.
It's making me miss him. I don't want to miss him. I know things can never work with the two of us, not unless he were to come to know the Lord. And he shows no interest in that. Which just makes me sad again.
But I'm not going to let that ruin my break. I'm going to have a good time and when he comes to mind I'm going to pray for him. And maybe pray for the new guy too ... There's potential there I'm sure. After all I'm looking forward to him returning on the 3rd and really looking forward to the 7th and our date.
If I don't eat myself to a new size before that.
I arrived yesterday mid day and we spent most of the day out and about. Hitting La Jolla Beach and then going "home" to my friends sister's place in Oceanside.
Today we spend the whole day around Dan Diego. At the beach in Coronado, then Balboa Park, at the Art museum, then shopping at Horton Plaza.
It's so nice here. Mind you right now it's pretty cold at home so the high 60's here in SoCal feel pretty great.
And it's so pretty. With the ocean, beaches, palm trees and everything so green.
I think I could live here.
There's just one problem... The ex is from this area. And it's stirring up all kinds of feelings and emotions and all that. Which sucks.
It's making me miss him. I don't want to miss him. I know things can never work with the two of us, not unless he were to come to know the Lord. And he shows no interest in that. Which just makes me sad again.
But I'm not going to let that ruin my break. I'm going to have a good time and when he comes to mind I'm going to pray for him. And maybe pray for the new guy too ... There's potential there I'm sure. After all I'm looking forward to him returning on the 3rd and really looking forward to the 7th and our date.
If I don't eat myself to a new size before that.
Saturday, December 25, 2010
I'm not a fan...
So the truth is I'm not a fan of Christmas...
(courtesy of Google Images)
I'm not 100% sure why or even when it all really started.
See I come from a Christmas lovin' family.
I mean they really....really love Christmas. So much so that my dad has a Santa hanging on his rear view mirror all year long. Now, please know that my family is full into the spirit of Christmas and all that. And while my dad LOVES Santa it's not the real belief in Santa but what he stands for and all that.
In fact I don't remember ever thinking Santa was "real" but he was always present...but I digress.
That's not the point of this post.
Maybe I don't like the commercialism of the season.
That could be it. I HATE how the world seems to lose the total focus of what the real reason for the season is.
And I hate that it's all about buying, buying, buying. More often then not buying things people don't need and spending money that we don't have.
Or maybe it's just me...while I am normal in the aspect that I do like a little bit of attention I'm not a huge attention seeker.
I don't really care for sitting there with everyone watching me open presents.
I keep thinking that maybe it's just me, maybe I'm odd.
I'm not sure...But I thought I did a pretty good job of not letting my family know that I'm not a big fan of Christmas.
Till today, when my mom & I were standing at the window watching my sister, her husband and my nieces leave. We were commenting on the kiddos and all that and she asked me if I was ok. (something rare, since I'm the "tough" one in the family) and I told her I'm just not that into Christmas.
Her response was "Yeah, you never really have been."
I guess I haven't hidden it as well as I thought I had been :o) And I guess that's ok.
I also know it's ok if I'm not a big fan of the holiday.
I am a big fan of the one the holiday is for. :o) And that's what's really important.
(courtesy of Google Images)
I'm not 100% sure why or even when it all really started.
See I come from a Christmas lovin' family.
I mean they really....really love Christmas. So much so that my dad has a Santa hanging on his rear view mirror all year long. Now, please know that my family is full into the spirit of Christmas and all that. And while my dad LOVES Santa it's not the real belief in Santa but what he stands for and all that.
In fact I don't remember ever thinking Santa was "real" but he was always present...but I digress.
That's not the point of this post.
Maybe I don't like the commercialism of the season.
That could be it. I HATE how the world seems to lose the total focus of what the real reason for the season is.
And I hate that it's all about buying, buying, buying. More often then not buying things people don't need and spending money that we don't have.
Or maybe it's just me...while I am normal in the aspect that I do like a little bit of attention I'm not a huge attention seeker.
I don't really care for sitting there with everyone watching me open presents.
I keep thinking that maybe it's just me, maybe I'm odd.
I'm not sure...But I thought I did a pretty good job of not letting my family know that I'm not a big fan of Christmas.
Till today, when my mom & I were standing at the window watching my sister, her husband and my nieces leave. We were commenting on the kiddos and all that and she asked me if I was ok. (something rare, since I'm the "tough" one in the family) and I told her I'm just not that into Christmas.
Her response was "Yeah, you never really have been."
I guess I haven't hidden it as well as I thought I had been :o) And I guess that's ok.
I also know it's ok if I'm not a big fan of the holiday.
I am a big fan of the one the holiday is for. :o) And that's what's really important.
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Facebook Christmas Story
(courtesy of Google Images)
Have you seen the buzz on this one? The Christmas story briefly told as it could have been had facebook been around when the birth of Jesus happened.I think it's a neat concept. I really like that it's only 3minutes & 51seconds. So it's short enough that you can really watch the whole thing.
There were a couple things that really stood out to me as I was watching yesterday.
Ok so the first one was when people unfriended Joseph and it gave the notification of 25 (guesstimate) people unfriended- I thought "Oh My Goodness" people can see that you unfriended them! I know...not really the greatest thought to have when watching a things one the Christmas story....but still it was one of my first thoughts.
The next thought i did have was when Joseph was changing his status after finding out Mary was pregnant.
And how hurt and confused he was. And how "real" that all seemed.
Now mind you we often hear songs of Mary and what her thoughts AFTER the birth could have been...like "Mary did you know" and all that stuff.
But more often than not we neglect what Joseph was thinking or feeling as all this was going on.
And I must say that I do think Joseph was a pretty cool dude as he went through all of this. I mean it was a REALLY big deal having a woman you were going to marry turn up preggers suddenly. After all he KNEW it wasn't his baby. And we know how most men are Christian or not ...this would have most pretty upset, pretty wounded, pretty much going to guarantee that they were not going to stick around.
Especially back then when their society REALLY REALLY frowned upon that kind of behaviour. When I'm sure there would have been many more grave consequences for Mary. Not to mention even ones for Joseph if nothing else on a possible business side of things...remember he was a carpenter. To me that has to be a business that depends on other people.
But I was also thinking this morning as I was getting ready how God appeared to them.
And especially how God appeared to Joseph in the dream via Angels to him letting him know it was ok.
That this really was him. That it was HIS plan and HIS plan included Joseph.
But I love the way that God came to him when he needed it. When he was hurt and confused he made sure Joseph was getting the message.
And I wonder...how often does he do that for us and we don't see/hear it?
After all Joseph got his message via a dream. But do we ever get our from a person maybe? Be it a blog someone has written, or a kind word from someone we pass on the street, maybe a pat on the shoulder from a friend or a coworker.
Now I know maybe it's hard to see God in those things, after all it's not an ANGEL...but maybe it is.
Maybe it is God using someone here on Earth as an Angel because that's what we need.
Most of us these days would probably think we were off our rockers if we had dreams or visions of angels.
It's in a form that we can accept. Even if we don't always realize that God is giving us the thing we need.
I often think of the phrase that I heard all the time when I was younger.
"You may be the only Jesus a person ever sees."
And I think that is so true...there are so many people who will never step foot in a church this holiday season.
There are so many people who aren't willing to read a Bible.
There are so many people who are out there hurting who REALLY need the love of Christ.
People who God so desperately wants to reach.
And there are CHRISTIANS that are hurting, that God wants to let know.
I'm here...
I'm listening to you...
I'm waiting for you...
I'm hurting with you...
I LOVE you...
Even now... in your pain... in your suffering.
I haven't left you...
I WILL NOT leave you...
And I'm sending your sister or brother to help you...
Accept it...
Accept my love from them...
And feel that I will be here with you...
Even when you feel that you can't feel it...
Remember...
I'm here...
And I ALWAYS will be...
The Question is, will we hear it and choose to accept it?
And will we allow ourselves to be used to be that angel to someone else when they need Him?
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
A few of my favorite Christmas songs
So I'm not big into Christmas music.
Most of the time it gets old to me, real fast.
But there are a few that I really enjoy and I wanted to share them with you.
I hope you enjoy them....
Winter Snow- by Audrey Assad
I LOVE this song even not in the Christmas season. Plus the video for this one is pretty great too if you ask me. It's found on Chris Tomlin's Christmas CD should you be looking for it.
The next one is by Nicolas Jonas (I can say that when I heard this song YEARS AGO I had NO IDEA it was one of THE Jonas Brother's singing.I was a little appaled to find out that's who it really was today but oh well I still like the song a LOT!)
For me WORDs are key with me when it comes to songs. Not that music in it isn't very important as well with setting the mood and all that but words just speak so here you go.
Most of the time it gets old to me, real fast.
But there are a few that I really enjoy and I wanted to share them with you.
I hope you enjoy them....
Winter Snow- by Audrey Assad
I LOVE this song even not in the Christmas season. Plus the video for this one is pretty great too if you ask me. It's found on Chris Tomlin's Christmas CD should you be looking for it.
The next one is by Nicolas Jonas (I can say that when I heard this song YEARS AGO I had NO IDEA it was one of THE Jonas Brother's singing.I was a little appaled to find out that's who it really was today but oh well I still like the song a LOT!)
For me WORDs are key with me when it comes to songs. Not that music in it isn't very important as well with setting the mood and all that but words just speak so here you go.
UNWRAPPING JESUS- Faith Barista Jam
Faith Barista Jam
I love getting my Wednesday emails from Bonnie over at Faith Barista (http://www.faithbarista.com/)
They offer the topic of what the Jam for Thursday will be.
And honestly I LOVE getting mine finished before she posts her’s.
Odd right? – well it’s just because of 2 things 1.) I love reading hers and want to do so right away. 2.) If I finish before she posts my thoughts aren’t mixed with hers- and many times we end up right on the same thought line which is just so God to me.
So this week’s topic is “Unwrapping Jesus”
(courtsey of Google Images)
My first thought goes right to the Christmas season and gifts that are given.
And since the whole season SHOULD be revolving around Jesus I think this is a very fitting topic.
The question comes to mind, how do you open your presents Christmas morning?
Are you the type that tears into the gifts quickly? Or are you a slow unwrapper?
Personally I’m a slow one when it comes to Christmas presents. It started this way when I was teenager and my younger sister wanted me to go faster, so I went slower. Not nice I know but I promise I'm much nicer to her now. These days I just don’t care much about what I’m getting so I'm still slow. Plus I usually know most of my gifts since I do the shopping for others. – I’m picky and hard to buy for so I often buy my gifts for the others.
But when it comes to unwrapping Jesus I think slow is SO NOT the way to go.
When we are unwrapping Jesus we should be like a kid on Christmas morning. Ripping the paper off with reckless abandon.
We should be excited and hyper when it comes to getting this present.
Barely being able to sleep the night before in gleeful anticipation of what the gift will be the next morning.
We can be like that every day- should be like that every day.
Because the gift of Jesus is a gift that never stops giving.
And it’s a gift we should never stop unwrapping.
Pause for a moment on that line. And think about it.
See our faith in Christ isn’t something that once open, once received is done.
Our faith can (and should) grow – daily even if allowed.
In little and big things.
In everyday things.
We should be taking the time to open our gift-via our Bibles, Our prayer lives, our acts of kindness toward others, welcoming the Holy Spirit, and seeking that gift giver.
Not in just what Christ gives but in who He is.
We should be learning more each day, seeking his face not his hand alone. Seeking what those gifts are that he has in store for us, waiting for us to discover.
And he will bring all things to us. He will provide for us. Care for us, not just our physical needs but also our emotional and spiritual ones. He will supply us with Peace, Hope, Joy, Contentment, LOVE, Grace....(you know I could keep going there.) :o)
But we also need to know, to learn about this gift so we can work the gifts He freely gives us. Hence the DAILY unwrapping of our gift.
John 114:13
And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
Matthew 18:18
Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.
Luke 11:9
So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.
I know that in my humanity I can often be forgetful. And I need the reminders of who God really is daily.
I also know that I should be learning and growing closer to him daily.
That I should be making time to spend with Him daily.
Do I think he understands when I don’t? When my day was too busy and I forgot.
I do, because he is understanding but I also think it hurts him when I get caught up in the world, and push him aside- intentional or unintentional. Because....
After all God not only GAVE the GREATEST GIFT- He IS the GREATEST GIFT.
And I want to honor that.
1John 2:15
Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world you do not have the love of the Father in you.
John 3:16
For God so loved the world that He gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.
I love getting my Wednesday emails from Bonnie over at Faith Barista (http://www.faithbarista.com/)
They offer the topic of what the Jam for Thursday will be.
And honestly I LOVE getting mine finished before she posts her’s.
Odd right? – well it’s just because of 2 things 1.) I love reading hers and want to do so right away. 2.) If I finish before she posts my thoughts aren’t mixed with hers- and many times we end up right on the same thought line which is just so God to me.
So this week’s topic is “Unwrapping Jesus”
(courtsey of Google Images)
My first thought goes right to the Christmas season and gifts that are given.
And since the whole season SHOULD be revolving around Jesus I think this is a very fitting topic.
The question comes to mind, how do you open your presents Christmas morning?
Are you the type that tears into the gifts quickly? Or are you a slow unwrapper?
Personally I’m a slow one when it comes to Christmas presents. It started this way when I was teenager and my younger sister wanted me to go faster, so I went slower. Not nice I know but I promise I'm much nicer to her now. These days I just don’t care much about what I’m getting so I'm still slow. Plus I usually know most of my gifts since I do the shopping for others. – I’m picky and hard to buy for so I often buy my gifts for the others.
But when it comes to unwrapping Jesus I think slow is SO NOT the way to go.
When we are unwrapping Jesus we should be like a kid on Christmas morning. Ripping the paper off with reckless abandon.
We should be excited and hyper when it comes to getting this present.
Barely being able to sleep the night before in gleeful anticipation of what the gift will be the next morning.
We can be like that every day- should be like that every day.
Because the gift of Jesus is a gift that never stops giving.
And it’s a gift we should never stop unwrapping.
Pause for a moment on that line. And think about it.
See our faith in Christ isn’t something that once open, once received is done.
Our faith can (and should) grow – daily even if allowed.
In little and big things.
In everyday things.
We should be taking the time to open our gift-via our Bibles, Our prayer lives, our acts of kindness toward others, welcoming the Holy Spirit, and seeking that gift giver.
Not in just what Christ gives but in who He is.
We should be learning more each day, seeking his face not his hand alone. Seeking what those gifts are that he has in store for us, waiting for us to discover.
And he will bring all things to us. He will provide for us. Care for us, not just our physical needs but also our emotional and spiritual ones. He will supply us with Peace, Hope, Joy, Contentment, LOVE, Grace....(you know I could keep going there.) :o)
But we also need to know, to learn about this gift so we can work the gifts He freely gives us. Hence the DAILY unwrapping of our gift.
John 114:13
And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
Matthew 18:18
Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.
Luke 11:9
So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.
I know that in my humanity I can often be forgetful. And I need the reminders of who God really is daily.
I also know that I should be learning and growing closer to him daily.
That I should be making time to spend with Him daily.
Do I think he understands when I don’t? When my day was too busy and I forgot.
I do, because he is understanding but I also think it hurts him when I get caught up in the world, and push him aside- intentional or unintentional. Because....
After all God not only GAVE the GREATEST GIFT- He IS the GREATEST GIFT.
And I want to honor that.
1John 2:15
Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world you do not have the love of the Father in you.
John 3:16
For God so loved the world that He gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.
Date Night
Last night was my second date with Zoolander. (3rd if you count the non-date/date)
That's what I plan to call him going forward due to the whole modeling thing and all that.
Plus Zoolander is a HILARIOUS movie, so everytime I think it or say it
That's what I plan to call him going forward due to the whole modeling thing and all that.
Plus Zoolander is a HILARIOUS movie, so everytime I think it or say it
(Courtesy of Google Images)
one of these images from the movie comes to mind and just makes me laugh or smile and that is always a good thing.
Things seems to be going really well with Zoolander, I find that I'm really looking forward to going out with him when we arange to.
And he's easy to talk to for the most part.
But I'm SO bad at this whole dating thing.
Horrible at it.
Really.
He asks questions which yes I know you're supposed to ask them when getting to know someone.
But I find I'm really not comfortable with talking about myself for the most part.
Or he'll ask something and I just don't know - I can't seem to come up with the answer, so while I'm trying to answer I'll be thinking to myself this isn't right, that's not what I want to say, or something like that will be running through my head.
It's stupid really.
But I'm at a total loss for what I need to do.
And lets face it, I'm scared. I think I might have mentioned that before.
But what do I do? How do I get past this fear of being hurt again? I know that fear is bad. I know that it's not from God. I know that He is healing and that it is a process so it will come complete in time.
But I don't really want this guy to think I'm a retard in the time being.
I made the statement last night that I'd been hurt, he made a joke out of it, basically saying that we all have been hurt. (which is VERY true in most cases)
But the truth of the matter is I've yet to be in a successful relationship- all of my past ones have ended badly.
On the phone later after we were both home I told him that. So I really don't know what he thinks of it, but I guess it was something I really needed to say. Which is probably just one more mark on the crazy side for me. :o(
What do you think?
Friday, December 10, 2010
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
On My Mind
There seems to be so much on my mind these days.
Some of it good- like the new guy, that's good.
Not all of it is good though.
There are lots of things happening in the world today.
Lot's of things that cause one to question things.
Like a blogger friend of mine who struggles with infertility and just had a failed attempt to get pregnant.
She has a desire to be pregnant so bad. It's one thing that she seems to want more than anything else.
But endo has taken most of her chances on carrying a child.
Then there is a little boy in our area that is fighting a brain cancer.
There is very little the doctors can do for him. They are trying some chemo but the doctors told his mom that they don't believe he will leave the hospital.
I also received news from a friend of mine who has been serving on the mission field for 14 years that she is coming back to the states for, well at least a good while by the sound of it. She fought and beat breast cancer 4 yrs ago and only returned to the field just this year. And now she is coming back to the states.
This weekend I also heard of a pastor friend and his wife's struggle with their adopted son. I son I have met, a RAD kid. (RAD- reactive attachment disorder). The hurt and pain this child is causing (even when he doesn't know he is causing it) to his adoptive family as his condition seems to worsen- not get better as he grows older.
It just doesn't seem fair. Not one little bit.
Now I say all this knowing that God has a plan.
And I say that I don't understand His plan.
But I do wonder- I do have a hard time wrapping my head around the whys.
And even in this Christmas season I still question things.
And I find it amazing how much this message of HOPE seems to be calling out.
I wrote my blog post for the jam last week regarding HOPE for the CHRISTMAS season.
And then have had so many more moments of God showing and telling me of that Hope since then.
Something I had never really thought of before (something the new boy actually indirectly prompted me to think about after our non date Monday the 22nd. When we were talking about Christmas and his lack of really caring for the holiday- and my honest feelings toward the same but also noting that I love the feeling behind the season).
This Sunday the sermon of the church I was attending (I was out of my own hometown) the pastor even spoke of the hope of the Christmas season.
These are some of the notes I took that morning, he was talking about the Christmas season yet HOPE was so entwined in all of it.
Hope-the joyful anticipation of good
Any area of your life that doesn't have hope is under the influence of a lie.
Hopelessness -the expectation that nothing will change.
We need hope of this side of the miracle- meaning once we have the miracle we don't need to hope for it- after all it has already happened- we have our miracle.
When we don't have hope we don't care about what happens.
We have:
Hope because he hears us
Hope because he is like us
Hope because we can be like him.
Luke 1:5-?
The Christmas story is about the birth of John & Jesus
(How often do we leave John the Baptist out of this?)
We see more angelic activity in the Christmas story than we do anywhere else.
Luke 1:13
Your petition (prayer) has been heard. (said to Zachariah- John's father)
As the pastor put it,The prayer that you no longer pray has been heard.
See Zack (yep I'm calling him that for short) and Elizabeth (Mary's cousin) had been barren for a long time. Zack was old. I'm not sure how old Elizabeth was but let's just say they waited for a child for many, many, many years.
Sometimes the realities of life hit and we just stop praying because we can't handle the disappointment.
YET the prayers that you no longer pray have a long shelf life in heaven. It still talks. They are still echoing up there
Acts10:4
In the birth of John the fulfilment of prophecy and prayer gives us hope.
Jesus birth we discover a hope for a different reason.
It's the Me too aspect- someone gets your situation.
The incarnation where God enters into our story. They can understand. This is the God who knows what it's like to be human. A God who's present and knows what it's like.
A God on the cross who says I know how you feel.
We can't say- you don't know how I feel. You don't know what it's like.
He's been through everything we will ever go through.
God became like us so he can know what it is to be like us.
There is Hope in the Christmas story so we could become like him.
If Jesus did all things as the son of God instead of the son of man thru the holy spirit it would be different. But He didn't- he did it - In right relationship with God.
He couldn't do things by himself and the spirit of God came upon him.
The son of God became and man so man could become sons of God. CS Lewis.
Acts 10:38
Faith is the substance of things hoped for.
Heb10:23-25
Romans 15:5-6
If I could say anything to any of the people mentioned above, even the ones that already know this, would be this thing.
Don't give up hope.
Cling to it. Hold on tight.
We have HOPE no matter what our circumstances are.
No matter what path we walk or where we are in our life's journey.
We have a God who brings us HOPE, who gives us HOPE if we will just choose to believe in that HOPE.
The HOPE that is in HIM, not in us, not in ourselves, our jobs, our spouse, families, doctors or anything at all.
But our HOPE in HIM.
It changes all the rules of the game we call life.
Some of it good- like the new guy, that's good.
Not all of it is good though.
There are lots of things happening in the world today.
Lot's of things that cause one to question things.
Like a blogger friend of mine who struggles with infertility and just had a failed attempt to get pregnant.
She has a desire to be pregnant so bad. It's one thing that she seems to want more than anything else.
But endo has taken most of her chances on carrying a child.
Then there is a little boy in our area that is fighting a brain cancer.
There is very little the doctors can do for him. They are trying some chemo but the doctors told his mom that they don't believe he will leave the hospital.
I also received news from a friend of mine who has been serving on the mission field for 14 years that she is coming back to the states for, well at least a good while by the sound of it. She fought and beat breast cancer 4 yrs ago and only returned to the field just this year. And now she is coming back to the states.
This weekend I also heard of a pastor friend and his wife's struggle with their adopted son. I son I have met, a RAD kid. (RAD- reactive attachment disorder). The hurt and pain this child is causing (even when he doesn't know he is causing it) to his adoptive family as his condition seems to worsen- not get better as he grows older.
It just doesn't seem fair. Not one little bit.
Now I say all this knowing that God has a plan.
And I say that I don't understand His plan.
But I do wonder- I do have a hard time wrapping my head around the whys.
And even in this Christmas season I still question things.
And I find it amazing how much this message of HOPE seems to be calling out.
I wrote my blog post for the jam last week regarding HOPE for the CHRISTMAS season.
And then have had so many more moments of God showing and telling me of that Hope since then.
Something I had never really thought of before (something the new boy actually indirectly prompted me to think about after our non date Monday the 22nd. When we were talking about Christmas and his lack of really caring for the holiday- and my honest feelings toward the same but also noting that I love the feeling behind the season).
This Sunday the sermon of the church I was attending (I was out of my own hometown) the pastor even spoke of the hope of the Christmas season.
These are some of the notes I took that morning, he was talking about the Christmas season yet HOPE was so entwined in all of it.
Hope-the joyful anticipation of good
Any area of your life that doesn't have hope is under the influence of a lie.
Hopelessness -the expectation that nothing will change.
We need hope of this side of the miracle- meaning once we have the miracle we don't need to hope for it- after all it has already happened- we have our miracle.
When we don't have hope we don't care about what happens.
We have:
Hope because he hears us
Hope because he is like us
Hope because we can be like him.
Luke 1:5-?
The Christmas story is about the birth of John & Jesus
(How often do we leave John the Baptist out of this?)
We see more angelic activity in the Christmas story than we do anywhere else.
Luke 1:13
Your petition (prayer) has been heard. (said to Zachariah- John's father)
As the pastor put it,The prayer that you no longer pray has been heard.
See Zack (yep I'm calling him that for short) and Elizabeth (Mary's cousin) had been barren for a long time. Zack was old. I'm not sure how old Elizabeth was but let's just say they waited for a child for many, many, many years.
Sometimes the realities of life hit and we just stop praying because we can't handle the disappointment.
YET the prayers that you no longer pray have a long shelf life in heaven. It still talks. They are still echoing up there
Acts10:4
In the birth of John the fulfilment of prophecy and prayer gives us hope.
Jesus birth we discover a hope for a different reason.
It's the Me too aspect- someone gets your situation.
The incarnation where God enters into our story. They can understand. This is the God who knows what it's like to be human. A God who's present and knows what it's like.
A God on the cross who says I know how you feel.
We can't say- you don't know how I feel. You don't know what it's like.
He's been through everything we will ever go through.
God became like us so he can know what it is to be like us.
There is Hope in the Christmas story so we could become like him.
If Jesus did all things as the son of God instead of the son of man thru the holy spirit it would be different. But He didn't- he did it - In right relationship with God.
He couldn't do things by himself and the spirit of God came upon him.
The son of God became and man so man could become sons of God. CS Lewis.
Acts 10:38
Faith is the substance of things hoped for.
Heb10:23-25
Romans 15:5-6
If I could say anything to any of the people mentioned above, even the ones that already know this, would be this thing.
Don't give up hope.
Cling to it. Hold on tight.
We have HOPE no matter what our circumstances are.
No matter what path we walk or where we are in our life's journey.
We have a God who brings us HOPE, who gives us HOPE if we will just choose to believe in that HOPE.
The HOPE that is in HIM, not in us, not in ourselves, our jobs, our spouse, families, doctors or anything at all.
But our HOPE in HIM.
It changes all the rules of the game we call life.
No Date...
Well, no date last night just as I expected.
But really what are you going to do? If you're sick you're sick.
I've been told it will be made up to me, which really in my mind isn't necessary but I think it's sweet that he thinks so.
Of course today he told me all about his congestion, headache & snot....that's right ladies he told me snot was one of his symptoms.
And while generally speaking, that's really gross, it made me laugh.
Because really what do you say in response to snot.
Anyhow, I'll have a "real" post for you all later.
But really what are you going to do? If you're sick you're sick.
I've been told it will be made up to me, which really in my mind isn't necessary but I think it's sweet that he thinks so.
Of course today he told me all about his congestion, headache & snot....that's right ladies he told me snot was one of his symptoms.
And while generally speaking, that's really gross, it made me laugh.
Because really what do you say in response to snot.
Anyhow, I'll have a "real" post for you all later.
Monday, December 6, 2010
Big sigh...
Well, tonight may not happen either. :o(
Got a text from the new guy who said he is sick.
On drugs, and hoping that he will feel better by this evening but it's possible tonight is going to be a no go as well.
I do totally understand though since I was sick last week myself.
Got a text from the new guy who said he is sick.
On drugs, and hoping that he will feel better by this evening but it's possible tonight is going to be a no go as well.
I do totally understand though since I was sick last week myself.
Sunday, December 5, 2010
Slightly disappointed
Well, right now I should be out with the new boy.
But obviously if I'm writing this I'm not. :o(
It's ok, really it is. I am disappointed, which to me actually is a good thing.
After all it helps me to see that I'm somewhat vested in this.
That I'm not keeping my self fully at a distance.
That I can see potential.
And he had a good reason.
See he's on the church worship team and they had a slight issue come up.
One where they needed to have a meeting.
It just happened that they needed to have the meeting tonight.
They didn't think it should wait. That they need to take care of the issue before it became a bigger issue.
I since I've worked other churches and currently work in my own church I do understand all of that.
He called as soon as as he got out of church this morning to let me know. Apologised and we are set for tomorrow night instead.
Which I'm looking forward to.
But I am still slightly disappointed that we couldn't do tonight.
Though on the other hand I'm very exhausted from my weekend away.
So much so I think I may end up in bed around 8:30.
Which being this tired would not have been good for the date.
So tomorrow is a new day and God's timing is perfect.
So here's to tomorrow night. :o)
Full of potential and expectation.
But obviously if I'm writing this I'm not. :o(
It's ok, really it is. I am disappointed, which to me actually is a good thing.
After all it helps me to see that I'm somewhat vested in this.
That I'm not keeping my self fully at a distance.
That I can see potential.
And he had a good reason.
See he's on the church worship team and they had a slight issue come up.
One where they needed to have a meeting.
It just happened that they needed to have the meeting tonight.
They didn't think it should wait. That they need to take care of the issue before it became a bigger issue.
I since I've worked other churches and currently work in my own church I do understand all of that.
He called as soon as as he got out of church this morning to let me know. Apologised and we are set for tomorrow night instead.
Which I'm looking forward to.
But I am still slightly disappointed that we couldn't do tonight.
Though on the other hand I'm very exhausted from my weekend away.
So much so I think I may end up in bed around 8:30.
Which being this tired would not have been good for the date.
So tomorrow is a new day and God's timing is perfect.
So here's to tomorrow night. :o)
Full of potential and expectation.
Saturday, December 4, 2010
Yesterday
So yesterday's lunch date went good.
I will say that I'm not a big fan of lunch dates though.
It seemed like we finally got to a point of rolling conversation and then it was time to go back to work. An hour (less really if you count drive time) just isn't long enough at this point.
But I had a good time. It was nice. And I'm finding myself thinking I can do this.
And not only that I can but I want too.
He just seems really nice. And sweet.
Plus he seems to pickup on the fact that I'm going to need to take things slow.
But he seems totally ok with that.
I realized something too, today when I had to pause in writing this post.
He asked me yesterday how my week was.
Now I know that may not seem like a big deal but when I was with the other guy I can't tell you the last time he asked how my day/week was or anything like that.
New guy not only asked but when I said it was ok, wanted to know why it was just ok. I've been sick since Tuesday (sinus infection) which puts a damper on the week.
So big time brownie points to him. Ones he doesn't even know he scored. Because too even though I have a great family I'm not the one "worried" about most of the time. So that's something that's very important to me in a future spouse.
So, even though I wasn't looking for this. Even though I worried about the timing. Even though I worry about finding time. And even though I don't really know if this is "the one" (or that I really believe in that).
I find that I'm excited. That I'm healing from the past hurts, that I deserve a nice guy, and that there are still nice guys out there.
Tomorrow night we have our 2nd date.
I'm looking forward to it. I just wish I knew what I should wear. :o)
I will say that I'm not a big fan of lunch dates though.
It seemed like we finally got to a point of rolling conversation and then it was time to go back to work. An hour (less really if you count drive time) just isn't long enough at this point.
But I had a good time. It was nice. And I'm finding myself thinking I can do this.
And not only that I can but I want too.
He just seems really nice. And sweet.
Plus he seems to pickup on the fact that I'm going to need to take things slow.
But he seems totally ok with that.
I realized something too, today when I had to pause in writing this post.
He asked me yesterday how my week was.
Now I know that may not seem like a big deal but when I was with the other guy I can't tell you the last time he asked how my day/week was or anything like that.
New guy not only asked but when I said it was ok, wanted to know why it was just ok. I've been sick since Tuesday (sinus infection) which puts a damper on the week.
So big time brownie points to him. Ones he doesn't even know he scored. Because too even though I have a great family I'm not the one "worried" about most of the time. So that's something that's very important to me in a future spouse.
So, even though I wasn't looking for this. Even though I worried about the timing. Even though I worry about finding time. And even though I don't really know if this is "the one" (or that I really believe in that).
I find that I'm excited. That I'm healing from the past hurts, that I deserve a nice guy, and that there are still nice guys out there.
Tomorrow night we have our 2nd date.
I'm looking forward to it. I just wish I knew what I should wear. :o)
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Tomorrow's the Date....
So, I can't remember if I posted that the new guy finally called or not.
But he did, Monday night.
And the call went well, really well. There was a lot of laughing.
And we have a lunch DATE tomorrow.
We had to make it a lunch thing since our schedules didn't mesh well this week.
The evenings I had free (which basically were Monday and Thursday- and he didn't call till about 7 Monday night so that made that night out of the question) and the evenings that he had free didn't coincide with mine...he tried to offer to get out of some of his plans for Thursday but I'm one who feels you should keep your commitments so I wanted him to keep his.
But we both seemed to still want to see each other so when he suggested lunch I went ahead and agreed. Even though he refrenced that a "day date" doesn't follow the regular rules that the evening dates do, so I wonder what's really in store for tomorrow.
I will say that I do see now if this is going to have any kind of chance I may need to work on freeing up my schedule a little bit.
Life is SO busy right now that may take a little time. But I find that I'm actually willing to try to do that.
All in all so far he seems like a really nice guy.
And did I mention that he's pretty good looking?! :o)
If I didn't let me do that now....
He's PRETTY GOOD LOOKING!
I'm already starting to get a little nervous about lunch, but that's ok. It's totally normal for me.
Hopefully I'll have a nice little post for you tomorrow afternoon or at least after this weekend.
But he did, Monday night.
And the call went well, really well. There was a lot of laughing.
And we have a lunch DATE tomorrow.
We had to make it a lunch thing since our schedules didn't mesh well this week.
The evenings I had free (which basically were Monday and Thursday- and he didn't call till about 7 Monday night so that made that night out of the question) and the evenings that he had free didn't coincide with mine...he tried to offer to get out of some of his plans for Thursday but I'm one who feels you should keep your commitments so I wanted him to keep his.
But we both seemed to still want to see each other so when he suggested lunch I went ahead and agreed. Even though he refrenced that a "day date" doesn't follow the regular rules that the evening dates do, so I wonder what's really in store for tomorrow.
I will say that I do see now if this is going to have any kind of chance I may need to work on freeing up my schedule a little bit.
Life is SO busy right now that may take a little time. But I find that I'm actually willing to try to do that.
All in all so far he seems like a really nice guy.
And did I mention that he's pretty good looking?! :o)
If I didn't let me do that now....
He's PRETTY GOOD LOOKING!
I'm already starting to get a little nervous about lunch, but that's ok. It's totally normal for me.
Hopefully I'll have a nice little post for you tomorrow afternoon or at least after this weekend.
Faith Barista Jam!--"Your Hopes For Christmas".
It's time for the Faith Barista Jam again.
Hop on over to Bonnie's site if you want more details on what this is all about.
http://www.faithbarista.com/
Otherwise today's Jam topic is:
Your Hopes for Christmas
I'm writing this ahead of time so I don't know what Bonnie is going to say but here are some of my thoughts and feelings on my hopes for Christmas 2010.
I think my biggest hope for this Holiday season is that my focus will be what the season should really be all about.
Not the hustle and bustle that always seems to come this time of year but that the focus will be on
HOPE
I think that's what the season- the birth of Christ - really is about (in a nut shell because don't get me wrong there's the salvation aspect and all that.)
But the birth of Christ to me signifies the Hope that we can have for our lives, our future, our eternity.
And my wish for this season is that it won't be just a season. But that will be an ushering of a change in each one of us.
That the "good will" we feel toward men this season will be something we adapt and allow to transform us not only for the month of December but one that will continue in us into the New Year, that will continue in us as we continue to walk this earth.
I think if we can focus on these things, then the hustle & bustle, the buying should fade more into the back ground. So we can really focus on the way we should be living or celebrating the season.
Hop on over to Bonnie's site if you want more details on what this is all about.
http://www.faithbarista.com/
Otherwise today's Jam topic is:
Your Hopes for Christmas
I'm writing this ahead of time so I don't know what Bonnie is going to say but here are some of my thoughts and feelings on my hopes for Christmas 2010.
I think my biggest hope for this Holiday season is that my focus will be what the season should really be all about.
Not the hustle and bustle that always seems to come this time of year but that the focus will be on
HOPE
I think that's what the season- the birth of Christ - really is about (in a nut shell because don't get me wrong there's the salvation aspect and all that.)
But the birth of Christ to me signifies the Hope that we can have for our lives, our future, our eternity.
And my wish for this season is that it won't be just a season. But that will be an ushering of a change in each one of us.
That the "good will" we feel toward men this season will be something we adapt and allow to transform us not only for the month of December but one that will continue in us into the New Year, that will continue in us as we continue to walk this earth.
I think if we can focus on these things, then the hustle & bustle, the buying should fade more into the back ground. So we can really focus on the way we should be living or celebrating the season.
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