what blessing newness is

Tonight is the last of 2005. I don't know about you, but it was quite a year for me ... I learned a lot, about myself and others, that I will remember for the rest of my life. I'm looking forward to 2006, if for nothing else than because it is a shining, shimmering white page to write on ... a length of white satin, awaiting embroidery and beading ... a blessed new canvas yearning for a paint-bath ... it's New. No mistakes, no wrong word-choices or hasty judgements. No hurts or tears or scars healing over. Of course, that same newness means it is void of laughter, love, memories and delights. No adventures, no discoveries. *sigh* Our mission is to live with all we are, to fill this year with all the good - and to weather the bad like the warriors we are called to be. Thank God we are not alone in that!
Happy New Year, blessings, and a lot of love!

matchmaker

Ok, I admit: I love to play at matchmaking. But I balk like crazy when people suggest a match for me. *sheepish grin* Whenever someone declares that so-and-so is the perfect match for me, I immediately get on the defensive - often this 'pairing up' is enough to dissuade any feelings or leanings I may have had. Now that I'm in a place where I'm teetering on the edge of something that could potentially move from 'friend' to 'more', their declarations and teasings take on a different mantle. Instead of making me jump backwards, the promises that these people make seem almost plausible! And that, ladies, is terrifying. Absolutely terrifying. Because I am listening to them now (dontcha love generic, mysterious words like 'them'?), things are getting strange. Is the something I sense and feel at times truly there because it's growing naturally, or is it a creation of the mouths? Is the teasing going too far, taking too much power? Or is this thing really something beautiful and promising? I'm not sure ... But I've got a peace about it all. I'm perfectly fine with watching where this is going to go - sure, I'll admit that sometimes I wonder "What if ..." and etc, but it's actually kinda fun to watch each day/interaction progress. 'Sides, chillin' lets me figure out what's going on inside of me, and be stiller, ready to listen to the Still Small Voice that whispers to my heart ... But these same people who are convinced we are a forever-thing, they push and prod --> telling me I'll never learn anything unless I make a move, take a step, do something! They can't fathom that I'd actually choose to wait rather than experiment (for lack of a better word). I've been hurt by "just friends" before, and I've seen friends taken close to breaking because of a romantic involvement gone awry. I don't want to be part of one of those. Ideally, my first boyfriend will be my last. So, I wait. I sit back. I talk, laugh and cut-up. I observe. I ponder. I "store up all these things in [my] heart". And I get slightly annoyed at these darling people who can't understand - incompetence and ignorance are pet peeves of mine. ;-) There's no telling where any of this will go, but it's one fun ride in the process! I just have to keep my heart-involvement to a minimum so I shan't be crushed by my own stupidity. %)
Love!

A Glimpse and Thoughts

"This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith." 1 John 5:3&4 (NIV my emphasis)

At first it scares me - "obeying His commands" - but then what are his commands? To bring/share the restoration and hope He has given to us. Think of the unspoken command given to the children everytime they visited Narnia. They brought hope, peace, and restoration. They helped Narnia be the place Aslan intended it to be. Yet they never had to accomplish this entirely on their own. In The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, while Peter and Edmund were fighting their best, Aslan was helping or rather Susan and Lucy were helping Aslan free those the Witch had turned to stone. In fact, Aslan was really the only one doing the actual freeing - it was his breath that brought them to life. Yet still - Susan and Lucy were necessary. Aslan could have freed Narnia years before but humans were who he put in place to govern that realm. And when Peter and Edmund were about to make their last stand, Aslan came to their aid with the newly freed warriors. And even in the midst of war Aslan brought healing - in the form of Lucy and her flask.

Do ya see the parallel I'm drawing here? God ordained us to be ambassadors of Himself on this earth. He set up mankind ot rule and reign in the garden but the destroyer came and deceived us. And now our mission is to share the truth and the freedom of what He's called us to, with others.(Isa 61:3&4) And our only requirement for success is that we believe/receive His gift and love Him. How marvelous is that?! It is one of those sweet glimpses into the real and true reality that is far greater and sweeter than the story that mirrors it. But that is His continued work in us. He is always expanding our hearts to hold more of Him, more of His love, and more of His purpose for our lives.

let this be me heartsong

There's no where else that I'd rather be
Than dancing with You as You sing over me
There's nothing else that I'd rather do
Lord than to worship You.

So rejoice, be glad, rejoice oh my soul
For the Lord, your God, reigns forevermore
I rejoice, for my God reigns.
So rejoice, be glad, your Father and your Friend
Is the Lord, your God, Whose rule will never end
I rejoice, for my God reigns.

My God reigns, and I'll dance the dance of praise
My God reigns, with a shout I will proclaim
My God reigns and I will worship without shame
My God reigns, and I will rejoice, for my God reigns.

We sang this yesterday morning for the first time in ages, and I felt this Cheshire cat grin spreading across my face - I couldn't hold it in. I so want it to be true of me, that there is no where else I'd rather be than dancing with Him, while He sings over me.

Welcome!

Hi Everyone!

I know I've been talking about starting a ladies' Bible study group at AB Tech for ages and it's just never come about. Between schedules, time constraints and life in general the likelihood of it ever happening isn't very good either, so I thought perhaps we could try this out. If we all become members of this blog and post what God's teaching us/showing, perhaps we could keep up with some form of online Bible study that would be more convenient for each of us to participate in. I'll be posting the first devo sorta thing in a couple of days (that is unless anyone has something they're just itching to post and get to it before I do ;). So... let's see how this works out! :)
Love ya'll!
Megan