We are on the verge of POSSIBLY getting an offer on our home. I have a lump in my throat -- no, not a lump, a basketball.
The decision to sell our house has been a painful one. Going back and forth about what is the best thing to do? But, there's just so many questions ... will we be coming back to Seattle? What kind of job are we going to get? On and on the questions go, with really no answers.
But, we truly belive that God said not to worry about what will happen in the future, just keep focused on the here and now and He'll reveal to us what we need to know when we need to know.
Until then, I need to deal with this basketball and trust that we will be ok. But, breaking up is still so hard to do.
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Should I Stay or Should I Go?
One of the favorite verses of mine and my mom's is "Be still and know that I am God." We each have our own reasons for loving that verse, but the heart behind it is the same. It is just knowing that we can be assured that God is able to handle anything that we might be facing.
Now, if you know me, "Be still" isn't quite how you would describe my (or my mom's) personality. We are doers, go-getters, planners and shakers.
That is why I was so excited to read in my Bible this morning: "Oh, God, do not be still" Psalm 83:1.
So, as God calls me to be still in anticipation of what He has for me, I am encouraged that He is not still!
Solomon said there is a time for everything -- what do you need to be doing right now?
Now, if you know me, "Be still" isn't quite how you would describe my (or my mom's) personality. We are doers, go-getters, planners and shakers.
That is why I was so excited to read in my Bible this morning: "Oh, God, do not be still" Psalm 83:1.
So, as God calls me to be still in anticipation of what He has for me, I am encouraged that He is not still!
Solomon said there is a time for everything -- what do you need to be doing right now?
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
How Does Your Garden Grow?
With all the craziness of trying to sell the house, we just didn't have the time to invest into the vegetable garden this year. We barely got the seeds in the ground, said a quick prayer, and hoped for the best.
Our pea-patch turned out to be a thistle-ridden, weed-infested hot spot with only a few patches of edible delights.
Recently, I spent a couple of hours sacrificing my fingers to my thorny foes and managed to irradicate almost all of them from the plot. But, I began to realize that as I was pulling out the weeds, I was also pulling out the real vegetables along with them. Their roots had become so tangled with one another.
The ones that didn't get yanked out immediately collapsed on its side since it didn't have the support it once had.
Hmmm, I thought, this scene can be fodder for tons of analogies about love, life, God.
So, I ask you again, how does your garden grow?
Our pea-patch turned out to be a thistle-ridden, weed-infested hot spot with only a few patches of edible delights.
Recently, I spent a couple of hours sacrificing my fingers to my thorny foes and managed to irradicate almost all of them from the plot. But, I began to realize that as I was pulling out the weeds, I was also pulling out the real vegetables along with them. Their roots had become so tangled with one another.
The ones that didn't get yanked out immediately collapsed on its side since it didn't have the support it once had.
Hmmm, I thought, this scene can be fodder for tons of analogies about love, life, God.
So, I ask you again, how does your garden grow?
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
I just lost 50 pounds!
To fully understand my secret to success you need to understand something about me -- I am a book lover. I love how they look, how they feel, how they SMELL! Yes, how they smell!
To illustrate even further, when I borrow a book from someone it's as if I have a precious document in my possession. I will keep it in a special bag and tuck it safely away in my sweater drawer when I'm not reading it. And when I'm ready to peruse the pages, I gingerly open the book just enough to take a peek inside.
I would never dream of bending the spine, or folding a page, even writing in a book only happens if I read something utterly profound.
Ready for my weight loss secret? I got rid of 30+ years worth of memories in the form of year books and cook books. So you might be thinking at this point "big deal," but let me go on. I, Mrs. Book Lover, tore out the pages I wanted and recycled the rest.
When Jonathan wanted a favorite chicken recipe of ours and I pulled out a ragged sheet from a cookbook I could see his eyes bulge and heard a gasp as he saw what I had done. Yes, in my zeal to purge I have broken my oath to lovingly care for ALL books.
But, I lost 50 pounds!
Are there areas in your life that could use a little weight loss management?
To illustrate even further, when I borrow a book from someone it's as if I have a precious document in my possession. I will keep it in a special bag and tuck it safely away in my sweater drawer when I'm not reading it. And when I'm ready to peruse the pages, I gingerly open the book just enough to take a peek inside.
I would never dream of bending the spine, or folding a page, even writing in a book only happens if I read something utterly profound.
Ready for my weight loss secret? I got rid of 30+ years worth of memories in the form of year books and cook books. So you might be thinking at this point "big deal," but let me go on. I, Mrs. Book Lover, tore out the pages I wanted and recycled the rest.
When Jonathan wanted a favorite chicken recipe of ours and I pulled out a ragged sheet from a cookbook I could see his eyes bulge and heard a gasp as he saw what I had done. Yes, in my zeal to purge I have broken my oath to lovingly care for ALL books.
But, I lost 50 pounds!
Are there areas in your life that could use a little weight loss management?
Saturday, July 24, 2010
There's no place like home
Well, the price reduction of our home was as painful as we anticipated. The stress and pressure of it all utterly exhausted us physically and emotionally.
I didn't think that totally surrendering everything would be this difficult. Almost every day and every moment we need to lay down our wants, desires, security, etc. to go after the God we serve.
I'm interested to see what will happen with our home sale. Praying for our open house next Saturday!
What are some things in your life that you are valuing more than what God has for you?
I didn't think that totally surrendering everything would be this difficult. Almost every day and every moment we need to lay down our wants, desires, security, etc. to go after the God we serve.
I'm interested to see what will happen with our home sale. Praying for our open house next Saturday!
What are some things in your life that you are valuing more than what God has for you?
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Feeling a bit stiff-necked -- I need a massage!
Every time I would read about the Israelites journey in Exodus I would marvel at all their complaining! How could they whine when God would provide them manna in the morning, meat at night, water in the desert ... not to mention just being rescued from the mighty Egyptian army.
Yes, I thought all those things -- until tonight. On July 22, I officially joined the ranks of being one of God's "Stiff-Necked People."
We are on the eve of meeting with our realtors to discuss a price drop for the sale of our home. It has been on the market for almost two months.
I could feel the anxiety rise as Jon and I were praying about it tonight, and for the first time on this adventure, I had the thought of abandoning it all and running back to the security of Microsoft (read that as Egypt!) and living in our beautiful home (hmm, slave to the American Dream) forever!
The thought lasted for about six seconds, but it was long enough. I had just entered the Stiff-Necked Zone.
So, welcome to Our Dream, the good, the bad and the downright crazy! Perhaps not the best way to start a Blog, but hey, at least you know it will be real.
Have you said "thank you" today to the people who help make your daily life run smoothly?
Yes, I thought all those things -- until tonight. On July 22, I officially joined the ranks of being one of God's "Stiff-Necked People."
We are on the eve of meeting with our realtors to discuss a price drop for the sale of our home. It has been on the market for almost two months.
I could feel the anxiety rise as Jon and I were praying about it tonight, and for the first time on this adventure, I had the thought of abandoning it all and running back to the security of Microsoft (read that as Egypt!) and living in our beautiful home (hmm, slave to the American Dream) forever!
The thought lasted for about six seconds, but it was long enough. I had just entered the Stiff-Necked Zone.
So, welcome to Our Dream, the good, the bad and the downright crazy! Perhaps not the best way to start a Blog, but hey, at least you know it will be real.
Have you said "thank you" today to the people who help make your daily life run smoothly?
What if you could dream?
It's in the little, day-to-day things -- when put together -- create a magnificent picture that you know didn't just happen by chance. Thanks to my dear friend Alicia for encouraging me to chronicle our journey toward all that God has for our family and the lives we will touch along the way.
This new chapter in our life began in March when I asked Jonathan, "If you could really dream about what you would do, what would it look like?"
Through prayer we discovered that we were to leave Microsoft and go on a missions trip as a family. We weren't really expecting that to be the answer ... we thought it might be more like working with XBOX or Google, not a missions trip ... however, we weren't surprised either.
In September, we will be joining up with YWAM in Kona for a 3-month training time followed by 2 months of overseas mission work. We have a feeling that God will reveal our next step as we walk this faith walk.
To be totally available to the "what next" factor, we have put our house on the market and are excited to see what 2011 will be like.
But, as the title says, a little more information would be appreciated! We are being stretched in ways we have never been before. We won't always get it right, but we know we're on the right track to becoming a family of faith.
What's your dream?
This new chapter in our life began in March when I asked Jonathan, "If you could really dream about what you would do, what would it look like?"
Through prayer we discovered that we were to leave Microsoft and go on a missions trip as a family. We weren't really expecting that to be the answer ... we thought it might be more like working with XBOX or Google, not a missions trip ... however, we weren't surprised either.
In September, we will be joining up with YWAM in Kona for a 3-month training time followed by 2 months of overseas mission work. We have a feeling that God will reveal our next step as we walk this faith walk.
To be totally available to the "what next" factor, we have put our house on the market and are excited to see what 2011 will be like.
But, as the title says, a little more information would be appreciated! We are being stretched in ways we have never been before. We won't always get it right, but we know we're on the right track to becoming a family of faith.
What's your dream?
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