spelling it out for God

This morning I was reading in Genesis 15 and was struck by the words of Abram as He was speaking with the Lord:

"But Abram said, 'O Lord God, what will you give me, for I continue childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?' And Abram said, 'Behold, you have given me no offspring, and a member of my household will be my heir.'" Genesis 15:2-3

I had to read these verses twice because I realized that Abram was just repeating himself. My translation:

Abram said, "God, why have you not provided children when Eliezer will be my heir? Hello, God! Did you hear me? This means if I were to die today, just this member of my household will be my heir!"

As if God didn't know that! We can be so good at spelling things out for Him. I have done a lot of that in the past months. My prayers have gone something like this. "God, I know you are calling Justin and I to another town, another church, but do you realize you're also calling me away from the Pregnancy Support Center? Hello, God! Do you know that this means you are taking away the only staff member?? How are things going to keep going?"

Oh, the prayers disguised in genuine concern that just ooze with pride! God really had to work on my heart (mostly through wise words about humility and God's provision from my husband) and show me (again) how He has everything in control. And oh, how I am so thankful. God has already shown Himself in Elkin, as I believe there is a position that I may be able to fill at the Crisis Pregnany Center here. And how He has shown Himself in the great job applications and resumes we received for the Pregnany Support Center in Roxboro.

Just like Abram, I'm good at spelling things out for God, even when I know He has the best for us in mind. Just a few short chapters later, God calls Abram to offer his son as a sacrifice, and he does so with hardly any questioning. Such a difference from chapters before. As God continues to display His best plans for myself, and for you, I pray that we will be able to follow Him with greater faith in the next chapters of our lives. Allowing God to slowly spell things out for us...in His timing!

top ten tuesday

top 10 household items I love right now!

maybe a boring blog...but these are things that i am so glad have been invented

....major product plugs....worldly blog of the week...for the opposite, see my friend Sheila's Thought's on TV

10. The new windows in our house that open up for easy cleaning...I know they've been there a while, but they're new to me!

9. the colorful (ok, brown!) placemats on my "new" dining room table...I just like them

8. Dish sponge & soap dispenser...making dishwashing easier (step below a dishwasher)

7. Febreze Air Effects in Summer Splash ...smells good...even to me

6. Coat rack...we've never had one before and it's great to hang your coat up by the door!

5. Not really an item, but the wonderful closets in our house...we've got two walk-ins in our bedroom...not hard to get used to!

4. Our ice maker in our brand new fridge!

3. Mr. Clean shower cleaner....awesome!

2. Maybe not "household," but I'm counting it....my new razor phone...lovin' it - my 5 year old phone has seen its last days

1. Dirt Devil Broom Vac...so convenient!

musical monday

We sang this song at church yesterday and it is one of my favorites! How amazing God's grace is...it truly is scandalous. As humans, I know we can't fully comprehend what Christ has done for us...leaving the glory of heaven to be scorned on earth. How amazing to fully follow and submit to the perfect will of His Father. Praise the Lord that He took on our cross so that He could overcome all death for us, sacrificially making a way between us and God.

This is Our God

Who is this Light invading our darkness

Glorious might, the Sun rising for us

Conquering night

He captures the hardest of hearts

Who is this Hope that Heaven has given

Coming for souls, our rescue His Mission

Tenderness flows

And without condition He loves

This is our God, living and breathing

Call Him courageous, relentless, and brave
This is our God, loving and reaching
Scandalous mercy and mighty to save
Hallelujah, this is our God
Sing praise

Who is the One Who will not condemn us
Why would He come to shoulder our sentence
Nothing we've done
Will keep Him from giving us grace
Who is this One, we watch and we're speechless
God's only Son embracing our weakness
He overcomes all death
And frees us to live

This is our God suffering and dying
Call Him the Hero redeeming the lost
This is our God, Love sacrificing
All that is Holy, accepting our cross
Hallelujah this is our God
Sing praise

i must seriously have a twin...

Everywhere I go, it seems that people are coming up and telling me that I look exactly like someone they know or something like that. It's kind of interesting to think about how everyone really does say you have a twin somewhere. I almost feel like I must have septuplets (?) or something.

The other night, we were at Chili's (yum...my favorite) and this family kept staring at me. (I noticed because I kept looking at them to try and figure out exactly how they were related - I've become quite a people watcher lately). So...the teenage boy was the first one who kept looking at me - so I did the 'ol "look behind me to make sure there wasn't someone else he was staring at," but we were right by the window and all you could see were car lights outside. Then the two college-age girls started looking at me and one of them had to turn her head to actually see me. At that point, it was getting really obvious, so I mentioned it to Justin. It was really creeping me out/making me laugh at this point. Then I remembered my usual "you look just like someone I know" problem and started to understand.

Next, the mother (?) turned around (for quite a while) and just looked at me as I acted oblivious. She did a double take and then I heard her say, "well, they say that everyone has a twin," so my theory was confirmed. After this had gone on over about 10 minutes, I about lost it when one of the girls pulled out a camera! I continued to look in their direction just so they couldn't "sneak" a picture of me! I really don't know why they pulled out the camera, but it was very weird. They seemed very determined to figure out if I was indeed the person they knew, so I didn't know what lengths they would go to!! Justin dared and dared me to go up to them and say, "Here I am. Would you like to take a picture for proof?" but you all know I didn't do that - as much as I actually wanted to. Anyway...that was a fun Chili's experience I wanted to share.

Side note - I'm tired of this stupid writer's strike or whatever...we are having serious Office withdrawals!

happy 2008!

What a day! It's 2 in the morning and I need to go to bed, but I thought I would wish everyone a happy new year! I had a wonderful day hanging out with college friends - catching up and enjoying time together. Then, since we live right by the church, we just had to stop by the youth lock-in, which thankfully we were not chaperoning, so we could leave before too late (after Justin showed off some basketball skills for the guys).

I'm excited about a new year and new opportunities and hope that this time next year I can look back and see how God has continued to mold and shape me to be more like Him. I pray that I will be clay in the Potter's hands this year, as much as that can hurt at times, I know that I do not want to be the same person a year from now that I am right now. I'm so thankful for a God who does not leave us where we are, but continues to change us and challenge us with His incredible love and guidance.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!