Thursday, April 28, 2011

Seem or see

http://www.ransomedheart.com/more_dailyreading.aspx?id=4%2F28%2F2011
In these Ransomed Heart daily emails (link above) and through John Eldredge's books I have heard this question many times: "Will we leave our small stories behind, and venture forth to follow our Beloved into the Sacred Romance?"

I hear this and my heart shouts, "Yes, yes, of course I will!" The reality of this question and this proclamation are difficult, but they are also simple.

What is our small story? Is it our daily, "ordinary" life? No, it can't be. The Bible tells us all the time how God uses ordinary people and the ordinary events of their lives to fulfill his extraordinary purposes. He tells us what great plans he has for each of us.

"'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans to propser you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,' declares the Lord, and will bring you back from captivity.'" (Jeremiah 29: 11-14).

This must mean our lives are much more extraordinary than they seem.

Seem. How do things seem? Scripture gives us numerous examples of things not being as they seem. Most recently on many of our minds is the Resurrection. It seemed like all hope was lost in the crucifixion. As Mary Magdalene sees the empty tomb, it seems that someone has taken Jesus' body , rather than that Jesus has Risen like he said he would (John 20:10-18). As John and Peter walk on the road to Emmaus, it seems that Jesus was perhaps just a prophet, rather than the Messiah. And even as they meet Jesus on the road, he seems to be just an outsider, who knows nothing about the crucifixion (Luke 24: 13-35). Things are not as they seem.

Our lives seem like small stories, but they are actually the extraordinary stories of God's people.

The difference between how things seem and the reality of our big roles in God's story is how we SEE. It was not until John and Peter had spent the whole day with the man they met on the road to Emmaus, and while they were breaking bread with Him no less, that, "Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him," (Luke 24:31). It was not until Saul was knocked off his donkey and had scales removed from his eyes that he turned his life from persecuting Christ to following Him. It was not until Joseph learned in a dream that Mary had conceived through the Holy Spirit that he saw the real situation at hand.

"Will we leave our small stories behind, and venture forth to follow our Beloved into the Sacred Romance?"

Venturing into God's big story does not require creating a big story of our own. The story is already there. To be in a romance, one must simply allow oneself to be swept up into it. It just requires an openness and desire to have eyes to see the truth, a positive R.S.V.P to His invitation. The invitation comes now. And all throughout our days it comes again and again, asking us to live life with him moment by moment.

"I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe." Ephesians 1:18

It's all about the eyes:

1 Samuel 15: 17- "Samuel said, 'Although you were once small in your own eyes, did you not become the head of the tribes of Israel? The Lord anointed you king over Israel.'"

Psalm 119: 18- "Open my eyes tat I may see wonderful things in your law."

Proverbs 4:25-27- "Let your eyes look straight ahead, fix your gaze directly before you. Make level paths for your feet and take only ways that are firm. Do not swerve to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil."

Matthew 6:22- "The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are bad, your whole body will be full of darkness."

2 Corinthians 4:18- "So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal."

Hebrews 12:2- "Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart."

Monday, April 25, 2011

What I've been up to

Here's a sneak peek at my latest project. Does anyone (except Lisa, who I told) know what it is? It was exciting to get to buy pinking shears (or zig-zag scissors, as Lisa remembered them from when we were little) for the project. I bet I can find all kinds of ways to use them!



The project is a birthday gift for my Mom, who will celebrate her very-much-still-in-her-40s-ness this Wednesday.



Love you, Mom!

I've also been busy preparing for our move and our new home. Given that the military is moving us, it seems there shouldn't be much to do, but there is plenty of organizational, errand-running, selling-on-Craigslist type stuff to do to keep me pretty busy. We've already sold a boat and a car, now on to a bathroom shelf, water ski, desk chair, washer, and dryer!!

I'm also enjoying coming up with decorating ideas for our new home. Curtains for the bedroom have already been ordered...found a terrific sale at J.C. Penney.

Okay, off to call the utility companies, movers, and work on Craig's List.

Have a great day!

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Red chevy cavalier


Pictured here is me with the Cavalier the day before we sold it. Hubby cleaned the outside, me the inside, and then I took it for a nice, long drive while listening to The Bangles on cassette! I also got pulled over for the rear brake light that's been out since about 2006! No ticket, no worries.

I meant to blog this a few weeks ago, when it happened: we sold the Cavalier. A family who needed it found us, and it was time to let go. I planned to write all about its history and sentiment for you. Instead though, perhaps you will enjoy the same information we shared with its new owner. For some of you this will surely bring back memories...

(Click to enlarge the letter. It is posted as three separate images.)



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