Monday, April 14, 2008

Re-Runs and Cold Pizza...

I recall when I was a single gal and in my first apartment that a Saturday night could very well include a good book and a plate containing a couple of pieces of cold pizza. Cold pizza and iced coffee are wonderful bedfellows. Maybe it would be a re-run of an old TV show. I am stepping out of the closet as a Trekkie...

The re-run was not the only thing that repeated in this scenario. I would sometimes have to reach for the tums, an open window, or a combination of both. Freedom is a dangerous thing when it is indulged in to excess. Had I kept more company as a grave-shift hermit, I might have been forced to eschew such behavior in favor of being more sociable.

Human nature tends to seek out the comfortable and familiar places and routines; returning to a previous path has its' allure. Re-runs end the way that we expect them to. Cold pizza tastes like...cold pizza. It may be an aquired taste, but once you have it programmed in your neurons; it is found in the endorphin zone:).

New life has its' way of moving us past our comfort zones towards unexplored country, however. Life has changed and expanded the sights and sounds of daily life for me. Luckily for me, my husband also likes re-runs and cold pizza. What a man. He turns on the tube, and I reach for the pizza and the window...and there is love:)...Heaven alone can surpass such simple joys. I can hardly wait.

Cup o'joy
and a fresh taste of the bread of heaven....

Lynne

Friday, April 11, 2008

Joy In The Journey

I may be taking a leap of faith with regards to what I sense as the Lord's leading, but I am thinking that I am being encouraged to remember that there is much joy in the journey with Him(even in the midst of stressful situations). I am not talking about being happy with the situation at hand. No. I am really not saying that...

However, there are moments to be grasped and praises to be sung in the midst of anything. He inhabits our praises and ushers in words of comfort by the Holy Spirit
when we seek Him with our whole heart. Trying to see the situation from His perspective isn't always possible; but just making the effort to remember that His ways are past our understanding can jolt us out of a self-inflicted pity party. If I am "going down", I want to "go down" swinging. You may think of it as a giant raspberry in the face of our adversary. "I still love the Lord, even though I am confused at the moment. So there."

He is worthy of our praise in the valleys as well as the mountains. My prayer is to stay out of the pit as much as possible. I am setting the goal on the prize of being like Him. If I fall on my derriere, I want as much cushion as possible. Praise is like that cushion...bringing the joy of Lord into the darkness of the valleys. He is able to make all things new in His timing. He is that awesome.


Have a cup o'joy and a fresh taste of the bread of heaven...

Lynne

Praying for Patience...

I think I must have been praying for patience lately. I am pushing jello up a hill, it seems; and the result is a mess. I am honestly a tad irritated, confused, and would just like to "take my ball and go home." This sounds pretty human, and it is. On days like this, I think I can understand why hermits sign off on the normal bumps and bruises brought on by interpersonal contact. We seem to grow contentious quite easily; brandying about strong emotional responses to comments not intended to inflame either soul or spirit. I am ready to fight.

On the other hand, I am praying with confidence that the events of my days will either blow over or morph into a glorious blessing that I haven't fathomed yet. I am still trying to clean the steam from my lenses brought about by the emissions of my ears. I know it must be either for my good or brought about by my own human failing. I am going to go for a walk or just consider conversation kept on a most superficial level for about a week as a breather. I might look for the bullseye my husband uses to practice his archery skill just to take out some of my aggression. The dross has to go somewhere; and I figure that is a safe outlet.

The only thing left to do is to lay my heart before the Lord and just seek Him with regards to what I am doing wrong. It is not my responsibility to explain myself ad nauseum until the other parties are convinced I am in the right. I am not sure I am right in the first place. He knows what's best. I, for one, don't want to talk to another human being until the Lord and myself have had some time together. He is my hiding place, and I rejoice in knowing that He has an answer. The question is: am I going to listen? I pray that I do.
Joy in the Journey,
Lynne

Wednesday, April 9, 2008

The Learning Curve

I recall the phrase "grading on the curve" in school. It was a mixed bag, as I never knew if the grade I received was a true reflection of the quality of work I produced. I am sure it pulled my fat out of the fire academically a few times; I must admit. There is no pride in that admission; only guilt. What does this have to do with my post? Hang in there, and you will see...
Can you imagine if God "graded us on the curve"? What a mess that would be. He has standards; not a round-table of discussion with regards to what the cost will be for falling off the wagon. It would depend too much on the actions of fickle humanity and the chameleon-like behavior that humanity puts forth as righteous.
It seems to me that we act like He evaluates us on the curve. I know that I do when I start evaluating my worth against what others are able to do. I am not them; and that sets up an impossible standard. My learning curve is set by the Lord; and not by evaluating my worth against what others are called to do and to be. I would love to be able to master music theory, understand physics, or publish a novel. It would even be nice to hike the Appalachian trail or work out of my house and make enough money to put my kids through college. The eye is never satisfied.
Instead, I propose that the learning curve begin where we are. Wherever we are on the journey towards becoming like Him, let's begin each day with the expectancy that comes from knowing who He is. That is the best place to be on the learning curve.

Have a cup o'joy
and a fresh taste of the bread of heaven...

Love,
Lynne