Saturday, November 15, 2008

R.I.P. Stuart Little

Today I got the bright idea to mosey on over to the Super Secret
Wal-Mart off of Cottage Hill, in order to save a little dough and maybe, just maybe avoid any and all holiday shoppers. But this day turned out to be much more than I had anticipated. Aside from the usual events that take place in the sleepy South on Saturdays, i.e. SEC Football--I was thrown the curve ball of curve balls. Let me set the scene. I left my apartment at approximately 2pm with my grocery list in hand and proceeded to Wal-Mart. Upon arriving at my not-so-undisclosed destination, I parked my car while avoiding running over children--whose parents should take my advice and march back into the store and purchase a kid-e leash. Do they not get TLC? Have they not seen Jon and Kate Plus 8? Seriously, parking is much more complicated than in days of old due to the many distractions that my ADHD mind is bombarded with. Really, everyday the world around me offers up a full on assault for my senses. Did I mention I have ADHD? OK, so I park my car, grab my purse and make my way into the store. The automatic ENTER/EXIT doors opened, which can be extremely confusing since people are prone to enter via the exit and or exit via the entrance doors. The doors are clearly marked, but who's gonna stop em'? I have a theory. I think that on a subconscious level people want to "stick it to the man" "buck authority" "rebel" and much like Henry David Thoreau, carry out acts of "Civil Disobedience." Back to the pressing matter at hand... I proceeded to cross the threshold where, unbeknownst to me, I would come face to face with a sight of horror. After surviving the F5 tornadic winds--you know what I'm talking about, that gust of wind that hits you smack in the melon and completely ruins your hair--yeah, that mysterious gust housed in the breezeway, I owned it! A very nice woman greeted me at the door, whom I believe is probably an undercover operative looking to sniff out shoplifters. Just a hunch...I got so distracted by her eager and warm welcome that I forgot to get my cart. I don't believe in chance or in luck. Serendipity is a term that I have held in high regard for it's pleasantry when leaving one's lips--but none the less I do not believe in accidents whether happy or not. Which brings me to this question: what's the antithesis of serendipity? I'll stop I promise. I turn around and exited where just moments before I had entered. I find myself waiting in line to get a shopping cart and once the sea of shoppers had parted, I made my way into the cart terminal. At first I thought of going for the cart to my left but something in me moved my feet towards the right. I was either compelled or possessed--who knows? I take hold of the cart and yank it from it's other cart friends, only for my chosen cart to reveal a most disturbing scene. There on the cold, painted gray cement was a dead body. No it wasn't a person. It...was...a.............wait......for....it....a........RAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Oh my goodness! Oh dear! Holy crap! Shiza! OMG, OMG!!! There it was or at least what was left of it's mangled body. I'm not even going to describe what the crime scene looked like. I don't think I'll ever get it out of my head. As I looked into it's lifeless eyes I felt a pull within my heart--but then I remembered it was a rat and that rats carry diseases and I should step away from the rat ASAP. So I told myself, "Self, step away from the rat." I complied. But I couldn't just leave it there. I panicked. But just as quickly as they came, my fears subsided when I saw the answer to my dilemma: one cart boy donning a very conspicuous hunter-orange colored vest. He was my knight in Hunter Orange. "Excuse me sir," I whispered. He motioned the go-to, "Who? Me?" Then I motioned the go-to, never fails come hither "finger curl." All I have to say is Match. Set. Point. He thought I was hitting on him and was all "aww shucks" but then I hit him with the dirty work. "Umm, there's a dead rat over there and there's a lot of blood." "A what!? A dead(insert whisper sprinkled with shock) rat?!" "Yes, it is a rat and yes it is dead rat." I watched as the color drained from this strapping young man's face. Honestly, I got a kick out of it. There's something so pleasing in seeing a man squirm or get squeemish. Does that make me a bad person? I think not.

So to all of the Wal-Mart shoppers I say "You're welcome." This good samaritan saved you and your children from the anguish and certainty of nightmares to follow, involving the deaths of our beloved childhood mice: Stuart Little, The Great Mouse Detectives, The Mouse and the Motorcycle,Fievel and Mickey Mouse.
Just a note: Stuart is my favorite--he's just too cute and Mr. Kitty bears a striking resemblance to him. Stuart Little=LOVE in my book.

Sunday, November 9, 2008

Songs of the Season










Today I write with much love swelling up from within my heart. I am anxiously anticipating our next holiday--and no I'm not speaking of Thanksgiving,although I have much to be thankful for. I am referring to the "holiday of holidays"-- the "season of seasons"-- the best of times...You've got it:Christmas! I love everything about this time especially because it is a season of remembrance for the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ--mad props Constantine. But as an added bonus to the true reason I love Christmas (Jesus) is the music. Let me just say that when I say "music" I am not referring to that load of poo we hear over and over again in the mall or at Target. No! I am speaking of those Cd's that take refuge in our cases and desk drawers, eagerly anticipating that day and time where they will be removed from those places of safe harbor and once again resume their role as celebratory and nostalgia-filled merry-makers, to be broadcast over loud speakers in our homes, cars and the occasional parade or two. I am not ashamed of my love for Christmas music. I am professing my undying love for those classics of yesterday that never cease to evoke the awe and wonder of my childhood. I long for those times when composers actually composed music with intentional care and reverence for the season. Needless to say I will not be purchasing the litany of albums put out at mind blowing speed just in time for the holidays by Pop artists such as The Cheetah Girls or their trashy-not classy older sisters The Pussy Cat Dolls or by any other poser-composers. Nope. I've been called a lot of things in my life--stubborn, hard-headed etc. But I've never been called a fool or pushover and I'm not about to give the world a reason to make a new claim. So today I salute those Christmas classics of the past with much gratitude and love. This music has made the car ride from Fairhope to Atmore and Mobile to Atmore every Christmas Eve for the past 20 years, all the more tolerable and has left me filled with a sense of wonder that has never ceased to leave. I have to admit that every time I see a blinking red light in the distance coming from a radio tower--for a moment I think to myself,"Could it be? Really?...Ru..Ru..Rudolph?" Then I come to my senses and smile at the little girl within me--the one I miss when times are hard or nearly unbearable at times--and I conclude that she never really left..that the little girl within me will always be and that is a gift in and of itself. Merry Christmas my friends :)

Favorite Songs of All Time:

O Holy Night

All I Want for Christmas is You

Christmas in Africa

The First Noel

Angels We Have Heard on High

Favorite Albums of All Time:

NOW That's What I Call Christmas Vol. I

Merry Christmas, Mariah Carey

Christmas Offerings, Third Day

Songs 4 Worship: Christmas Joy

Home for Christmas, NSYNC

White Christmas, Martina McBride

Monday, November 3, 2008

The Secret Life of Bees...


Mobile, AL----At about 10 AM an incident occurred at the corner of Grelot and University. An innocent bystander was assaulted at the Chevron Car Wash by an unnamed subject. The victim described the perpetrator as about 1 inch in size, yellow and black striped with a HUGE stinger. Kristen Lyles, the victim, describes the scene in full: "I was enjoying my new CD and listening to Womanizer by Britney Spears as I pulled up to the car wash. Just as I was singing the chorus at the top of my lungs, I rolled down the driver's side window to enter the super secret car wash code. Then it happened. A ferocious bee with the malicious intention of inflicting pain, flew out of the change tray and into my coiffed hair. As I fought to spare myself from being stung in the eye the bee flew into my jacket. In the midst of the chaos, I had forgotten to put my car in park and The Corolla (The White Cloud, The Ship, Rolla) began to move forward and nearly crashed into the wall. Surprisingly, I managed to enter the code and put on the brakes. The green light came on and I moved forward, still fighting for my life--when suddenly the bee made it's way out of my jacket and onto my steering wheel. I grabbed my Coldplay CD, Viva La Vida, and smacked the bee--thrusting it out of my window and into a nearby bush. Then I quickly rolled my window up. The bee returned to finish what it started and flung itself at my window multiple times. It was a relentless bee and any and all pride it held, I as the victor--squashed it. I was pretty shaken up after the incident and next time I will definitely be more aware of my surroundings and any potential dangers that may threaten the livelihood of my pretty face." Miss Lyles is recovering nicely and did not suffer any injuries, however, she is being closely monitored for Post Traumatic Stress. The perp is still at large, so we ask that the public remain guarded and on the look out for Mr.Bee.

Saturday, October 25, 2008

Beam Me Up Scotty! AHHHH!!!






So yesterday was one of those bizarre-o days straight out of the "Twilight Zone" or should I say the "Final Frontier." I drove to Fairhope yesterday to get my hair cut and colored at the swanky
Nou Veau Par La Rive Salon and Day Spa. I walked in and to my delight they had MUZAK programmed on "The Best of the 80's." I sat down in a plush leather chair after being offered a beverage of my choice to which I said, "No thank you, I'm good." Just as I was drifting off into a world where George Michael, Prince, and Madonna were serenading me, there it was: my hairstylist. A 5 ft 11' gentleman named Arthur. I was startled...OK OK I'm being euphemistic. I was shocked and speechless! My body went numb and I stopped breathing ( I was holding my breath). So I was extremely uncomfortable... Not because my leather chair was beginning to mold to my legs---not because of Arthur's gender or his Clay Aiken-like accent and swagger. Nope. It was his appearance that caught me off guard to say the least. He was in full costume and let me just go ahead and say that he was the ONLY one dressed up. "What was he wearing?", you ask. Standing before me grinning from ear to ear was a grown man, a professional hairstylist and master colorist, dressed from head to toe like Dr. Spock from STAR TREK!!! OMG!!! I began to panic on the inside and I made a joke to myself since none of my friends were with me to witness this display. In my current state of "Fight or Flight" under my breath I said, "Beam me up Scotty!" Oh and by the way, he heard me. Oh dear. Anyway, he is a "Trek-y"----no seriously, I'm not kidding. He came to work already dressed for an early Halloween party he was to attend that night. The above photo should give you an idea of what I was faced with that immediately leveled and squashed any and all excitement and hopeful anticipation of a killer hair cut. NouVeau Day Spa not only shocked me but also left me in awe. Three things I would like to leave you with: 1) Dr. Spock(Arthur) has mad color skills and I am loving the color. 2) Dr. Spock is "scissor happy" and cut off alot of my hair--but it is the best cut I have ever had. In the words of Sheryl Crow: The First Cut is the deepest..." To that I say, "Baby, I know!" and 3) No one has things like this happen to them in real life. Only me.... Who else can say that Spock gave them an "out of this world" cut and color. But hey, I love a good story! Here's a little something to leave you with...
Space. The Final Frontier....
These are the voyages of the Starship Enterprise.
It's continuing mission
To explore strange new worlds...
To seek out new life...new civilizations...
To boldly go where no one has gone before!


Sunday, October 19, 2008

Life is Good

So I finally figured out how to jazz up my blog. I'm kind of found of it and I think it looks like me. Anyway, I'll be writing more later. Here's a little something to meditate on for now. These have been on the forefront of my heart and mind---I wanted to share. Much love!

"Come, all who are thirsty,
come to the waters: and you who have no money,
come,buy and eat!
Come, buy wine and milk
without money and without cost.
Why spend money on what is not bread
and your labor on what does not satisfy?
Listen, listen to me and eat what is good
and your soul will delight in the richest of fare.
Give ear and come to me;
hear me that your soul may live...

Seek the Lord while He may be found;
Call on Him while He is near."
~Isaiah 55:1-3,6

"Create in me a pure heart, O God,
and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Do not cast me from your presence
or take your Holy Spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of your salvation
and grant me a willing spirit,
to sustain me." ~Psalm 51:10-12

"Let me hear joy and gladness,
let the bones you have crushed rejoice."
~Psalm 51:8

Tuesday, August 26, 2008

Who is Jesus?

I wanted to share with you all a beautiful reminder of who Our Jesus is, through one of my favorite hymns. I hope this serves as an encouragement for all of you in every aspect of life; that we serve and are spoken for by The Lion and The Lamb, The Redeemer of Our Souls, The Counselor, The Comforter, The Healer, The Son of God, Imanuel, Yesuah, The Christ, Our very Salvation; Who, when facing Calvary, did not open His mouth in protest or waver in His promise to His Father: To redeem a Generation created for His Glory. He said a most deep, profound and infinite "Yes." Now, having been given the Grace of God through Jesus, we have been given the right to be called Sons and Daughters of The King and enjoy ALL of who He is for us, in us and through us everyday for the rest of our lives. Let us honor Him with thankful,grateful and humble hearts. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus: The Author and Perfector of Our Faith. Jesus came to set the captives free...and we are free indeed!
I love you My Jesus. Thank you for my life and for making me complete; knowing me fully and loving me completely. Before I was, You were--in You I remain blameless and pure.

Wonderful, merciful Savior
Precious Redeemer and Friend
Who would've thought that a Lamb could
Rescue the souls of men
Oh, You rescue the souls of men
Counselor, Comforter, Keeper
Spirit we long to embrace
You offer hope when our hearts have
Hopelessly lost our way
Oh, we've hopelessly lost the way
CHORUS
You are the One that we praise
You are the One we adore
You give the healing and grace
Our hearts always hunger for
Oh, our hearts always hunger for
Almighty, infinite Father
Faithfully loving Your own
Here in our weakness You find us
Falling before Your throne
Oh, we're falling before Your throne
You are the One that we praise
You are the One we adore
You give the healing and grace
Our hearts always hunger for
Oh, Our hearts always hunger for

Sunday, August 10, 2008

"What Up J.C.? I.D.K...I Need Thee?"

For the past few days I feel as though I have been bombarded with one theme that keeps me company as I lay awake at night: I Need Thee. The hymn, "I Need Thee Every Hour" is one of my all time favorites. I'm a little partial to the Jars of Clay Version:

"I need Thee every hour, most gracious Lord;
No tender voice like Thine can peace afford.

I need Thee, O I need Thee;

Every hour I need Thee;
O bless me now, my Savior,I come to Thee.

I need Thee every hour, stay Thou nearby;
Temptations lose their power when Thou art nigh.

I need Thee, O I need Thee;
Every hour I need Thee;
O bless me now, my Savior, I come to Thee.

I need Thee every hour, in joy or pain;
Come quickly and abide, or life is in vain.

I need Thee, O I need Thee;
Every hour I need Thee;
O bless me now, my Savior, I come to Thee.

I need Thee every hour;
teach me Thy will;
And Thy rich promises in me fulfill.

I need Thee, O I need Thee,
Every hour I need Thee,
I need Thee every hour.

I need Thee every hour, most Holy One;

O make me Thine indeed, Thou blessèd Son.

I need Thee, I need Thee, I need Thee every hour..."

Here lately....I've been in mid-conversation with a few people and a single question was raised in my heart regarding their individual circumstances:"What do you want?" Then after they answered I said, "What is it that you desire?" Then finally, I said, "But what is it that you need?" Of course I was met with silence...

People today may know what they want and may even know what they "need" in order to get what they want. But do they truly know what they need? Do they know that the very desires of their hearts come from the very being who put them there and that they NEED HIM? No, I'm afraid they don't.
As to not commit a literary fallacy of making a huge "party-foul" in writing--by playing the "sweeping generalisation" card, let me be more specific :We live in the "Communication Age." I laugh at that notion because it seems that with every technological advancement in communication we are being moved into the desert of "non-communication." We are deceived. Case in point: The generation only 5-7 years younger than me is addicted to "texting." They have become experts in all things text, so much so, that they can text while their phones are in their pockets. I can call them on the phone and no answer. But if I can text them--- there is an immediate response. Does this generation only know how to "talk" via a keypad and LCD screen? Seriously, I hate texting. It has marred ,if not murdered the all important "relational quality" of relating--and has stolen the foundation of relationships from this current generation-- which is sharing our hearts with one another, building one another up in brotherly love, "supping" together...meeting together. They are delusional and deceived. Thus, inadvertently exchanging the truth of God for a lie. They are oblivious and UNAWARE. Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't it true that the thief comes in the middle of the night when we are asleep? And isn't this same thief the "roaring lion"--waiting to devour us in order to fulfill his agenda of "stealing, killing and destroying?" Yes it is. The "Thief," "The Roaring Lion," "The Accuser" and "The Deceiver" are one in the same. The Devil is his name. He accuses us day and night before the throne of God--Rev.12. He is RELENTLESS. We have to wake up from this slumber! Become aware of our need for True Fellowship with Believers and with The King of Kings. We need to become RELENTLESS in our pursuit of God as our TREASURE.

So to tie up the lines of communication within with my two thoughts: 1) We do not know what we need AND we do not know how to talk, ask, open our mouths or ENGAGE with one another on a heart level. And secondly, if we fail to do so with one another, how then can we expect to succeed in battle for a deeper relationship with The Lord? You can't send God a text or say, "What up J.C.?" If we could I wonder how He would respond..."I.D.K. my BFF John." Do you see what I mean? It is ridiculous to think that one could have a real conversation or encounter with Jesus via the "cellular." So why do we consider it to be OK to do so with each other? It's not. We are self-saboteurs--deceitful and deceived! The heart is deceitful above all things--it is beyond cure...We are blinded by the culture of today, led by the god of this age, who preaches the lie that says, "If you loved me you'd say it in a text." Are you kidding me? Be serious.

On another note: I was semi-watching a movie last night entitled, License to Wed. The plot has an engaged couple going through pre-marital counseling class. The climax occurs when the bride-to-be realizes that they do not have a foundation in communication, and she calls off their impending nuptials. On top of that, she realizes that she has failed to allow herself to "need" Him. She loved him and he loved her, but she didn't need him--and he loved her anyway.Why would anyone want to be with someone who didn't need them and why would anyone need to be with someone who didn't want them? I can't think of any human relationships like that. But I do recall one: Rebellious, sinful children, orphaned and defiled, separated from God. God longed for us from His heart--the place we were created. And even though we rebel everyday and some days he is last on the list of people to talk to, that is IF He even makes the list--still He loves us and wants us. Why? I don't know. The best I can come up with is found in His word in Isaiah 43: "Bring my sons from afar, and my daughters from the ends of the earth...whom I formed and made...FOR MY GLORY. So to answer my own rhettorical question, "We were made for His GLORY." We are his "Trophy Wife." That is true--but only made possible because He first loved us. Christ is the gold that covers our flaws, our bruises and our sin. We are trophies of The Lord's because of Christ.

Essentially in all relationships there is a cyclical balance of the two: Need and Want. The "groom to be" wanted to be with someone who "needed" Him. They get together in the end, happily ever after, yada yada. The desires of the engaged couple were to "be known,understood, needed and wanted--all made complete in their love together." Let me paraphrase a verse out of the book of James: "How can two walk together, less they be AGREED?" News flash:GOD DOES NOT NEED US--HE WANTS US. And He wants more than anything for us to want Him. That would reconcile our hearts with Him and enable us to be "AGREED." He already knows that we'd be lost without Him--umm hello, that's why He sent us Jesus, but do we know this, recognize this and believe it everyday? Here's the truth: We are guilty of both when it comes to relating to the One who knows us better than any one in the world: God. All of us would fail pre-marital counseling as the collective Bride of Christ. Thank God it was not required.

My point is this: I need My Father, My God, My Jesus and My Holy Spirit. Not only do I need them, but I want them. For me to enjoy all that our relationship has to offer I have to communicate well--and God will do the same. He promises to never leave...He is with us always...If we love Him we will live as a freed people and lead righteous lives pleasing to Him. Actions speak louder that words: Once we cultivate this relationship it will spill over into every part of our lives. I think of the Apostle Paul's words, "If I love them more, will they love me less?" Of course He was speaking about a people who did not know the Lord--going to them and loving them, sharing the Gospel and his life--He could only do so by being driven by Christ's love which enabled Him to love in the first place. But because of Christ's love He was able to love despite flack and discouragement from people telling him to give up on having relationships with others. In doing so His love for Christ abounded! All of it is cyclical.

We are FREE to LOVE and ENGAGE. "It is for FREEDOM that Christ has set you FREE. Therefore, no longer allow yourself to be yoked in slavery." Galations 1:5 "Where the SPIRIT OF THE LORD is there is FREEDOM." 2 Corinthians 4.... We have been given the honor and privledge to enter into the "Holy of Holies"--the veil has been torn, from top to bottom, The Savior has come--IT IS FINISHED! Believe. Honor Jesus by fighting for your relationship with Him. No longer return to your former selves. Instead, live dangerously guirded with the truth that, "if the Son has set you FREE, you are FREE indeed!" Word and Amen to that!

In closing...See this with me: If we commune with God He communes with us. If we honor Jesus, the Holy Spirit is glad within us and honors us. If we "communicate" with God, He will "communicate" with us. Get the picture? But first we have to recognize our need. Our need is for Fellowship with Christ, Fellowship with believers and fellowship with His word. In order for our needs to be met, we must first talk to Him and ask for true, genuine, undefiled, blessed conversation. God's promises are made "Yes" in Christ. He will answer any and all calls. He is mighty to save...faithful when we remain faithless. Nothing can ever seperate us from His love--nothing can ever pluck us from His hand. My Jesus is not a "Screener." He is not a God of texting. He is an intimate God who is familiar with every facet of our being--he knows every hair on our heads! His thoughts towards us, far out number the grains of sand.Embrace these truths! Take advantage of Him and the Freedom we have been given by Him, the RIGHT to be called, "Sons of God." There are no "roll-over minutes" to fall back on. We are a vapor--He is FOREVER. Be diligent and fight for the most PRESCIOUS GIFT you have ever received, which is ALL OF HIM. Once we embrace this truth and believe it we will then have, "Spiritual Awakening,Spiritual Renewal and Spiritual Authority and Power." He will wake up His sleeping bride and breathe life into her. All because in Him and through Him He meets every need and grows us in Christ through His word and The Holy Spirit every second, every minute and every hour of our lives! View COMMUNICATION in its most genuine state: A BLESSING AND GIFT OF THE LORD in the form of HIM--not in part--but in WHOLE. He wants us to know Him deeper,wider, and higher! Seize every opportunity to grow in Him. Do not waste it! My charge to believers is this: stop having .5 second conversations with God--stop putting Him on hold, stop "missing" His calls and or "screening" them; and for the love talk to the body of Christ. All of this "grieves" Him. Choose to: Engage. Show up. Love, Love, Love!

My Jesus has Nextel and can't receive or reply to any and all texting...sorry for any inconvenience in this "modern" era.

Lord Jesus, I Need Thee....I Come to Thee.

Kristen

Thursday, July 3, 2008

I Stand in Awe of You

You are God in heaven
And here am I on earth,
So I'll let my words be few-
Jesus I am so in love with You.
And I'll stand in awe of You,
Yes I'll stand in awe of You,
And I'll let my words be few-
Jesus I am so in love with You.
The simplest of all love songs
I want to bring to You,
So I'll let my words be few-
Jesus I am so in love with You.

I love My Jesus.
I love My Lord.
I love My Life with all of it's serendipitous occurrences....
I am blessed and have been given immeasurably more than I deserve or ever thought possible. My God is good and He is faithful to His children--He never ceases to amaze me by all that is within Him.
I was walking on the bay the other day and I was captivated by The Lord's creation that surrounded me. Every hue, tone, color and shade stood together and shouted in unison the truth of God's Glory. I was humbled to be able to see Him in all that surrounded me in that moment. Then we watched the sun set. I don't think I have ever gotten to marvel and share in the experience of the setting sun before. Sitting on a bench, I was thankful to get to take part in one fleeting whisper of God's Glory and I was joyful to share my excitement and wonder of God's masterpiece with Him. Finally I could breathe. In that moment I was overwhelmed by God's love for me in His provision and timing; not withholding any good thing because he loved me. I could enjoy all that the moment held because Jesus first loved me. I took a breath and was thankful for the air I breathed...the smell of the bay...the wind that gently touched my face spoke softy to me in a whisper from the Lord: "Beloved, I take great delight in you. You are my daughter. I have ransomed your heart to me forever. You are lovely and are loved. I know you and I pursue you with relentless passion everyday. I will not waver in my promise. I can never forget you: You are engraved on the palms of my hands....I love you."
Over the past week God has done nothing but amaze me. Everything I ever wanted I have found in Him. I love Him and I am truly blessed. I am humbled by His love and will praise Him all of my days. There is nothing else...all pursuits all worthless and empty except that of Jesus, the One and Only...My Redeemer...My Savior. My King. Thank you Jesus for loving me and saying "Yes!" Thank you for my life and for the heart you have given me. Without you I am nothing. Thank you for knowing my fully and fully completing me. Soli Deo Gloria!

Kristen

Wednesday, June 25, 2008

God's Writing Style

"A friend comes at a moment when you look at the other and say, "You too? I thought I was the only one!"--very rough translation from one of my favorite spiritual titans C.S. Lewis

The Aha! Effect. God is so wonderfully humorous in His soverign ways. The very times in my life I've been looking, seeking, asking and praying for things is generally not the specific time He answers. Not because He doesn't care, or is withholding any good thing from me--it's more or less about His perfect and infallable timing. He knows what is best and He knows every season of my life because, after all He is the author of my life. Thinking about my life as a book and God as the Author, I wonder what title He would give my book. Maybe Song of the Redeemed or something along the lines of that. Regardless, indeed He is writing my story and what a good read is has been and still continues to be. It's a page-turner, full of twists and turns, and every human emotion available. He hits on points of all interest. I can't help but want to skip ahead or flip to the end and read the last page. How will it end? What will I be? I know that I will be the woman He has created to be and that's good enough for me. I don't need to know everything right now-----but I really want to. My whole point to this stream of consciouness is to say that whenever i recognize the hand of God in my life, when it is so brilliantly orchestrated, I have the "Aha!" moment. It's a gentle reminder from God that He is always with me, taking care of me, meeting all of my needs and doing immeasurably more than I am capable of imagining or trying to fathom. But when this happens I say thank you My King. You are worthy of praise! I'm thankful and grateful for every intricute detail, even down to what I get to eat for dinner. My God is good. My story is amazing and I love Him more and more everyday. I can't wait to go back over the current chapter in my life and insert quotes and titles alongside My Jesus. To God alone be the glory!

Kristen

Sunday, June 15, 2008

Father's Day

So it's Father's Day and of course I am thinking about my father, but more so I am thinking about my Heavenly Father. I have a maker. I have a creator. I have been spoken for, sought after, fought for, longed for and redeemed by the Creator of the Universe: My Father, My God.
Yahweh--The Lord of Lords--The Great I Am--The Beginning and The End--My Dad. I am completley known and perfectly loved! I am a Child of God---A Daughter of the King! That is who I am! When He set dimensions for the earth with The Holy Spirit and made boundaries for water and foundations for the land---it was good. I picture God The Father, Jesus The Son and The Holy Spirit having a conversation as they admired their creation: "Well, we really do good work. But something is missing. What more can we create for our Glory? We will create man, all for love, all for our Glory. Whom shall we call "child"? And then they did it. They knew us and loved us before the creation of the world. Amazing! Before we were born God loved us and ransomed our hearts to Himself---all for His glory. You know someone asked me not too long ago what I thought God was most passionate about. I thought about it for a moment and said this: " Well, just looking at what He has done--the story we know---His story of Redemption, His work of salvation to redeem broken, sinful and hopeless people for His kingdom---my first answer would be, "God is most passionate about His children." But taking it further, why did He do what He did? I am reminded of Isaiah 43 where He demands "Bring my sons from afar, and my daughters from the ends of the earth, whom I formed and made, whom I created for my Glory. Therein lies the answer. God is most passionate about His glory. He did what He did all for love, but ultimately for His glory. Everything is for His glory." As I sit here, I can't help but wonder how I can most glorify God. Even if I don't know specifically what it looks like, I will honor my Father with my tongue, heart, mind, body and life. All of me. So today I say to my Heavenly Father, the God of the Universe who remembered me when He created all things and decided to give me life despite everything He knew I'd do and everything He knew I wouldn't---Thank You for not leaving me orphaned. Thank you for loving me a rebellious child. Thank you for picking me up---for telling me everything is going to be ok---and for the moments I didn't believe You, You held me in your arms and comforted me. Thank You My God My King. I love you. You are better than life! Thank You for Jesus, for The Holy Spirit--the Great Counselor, The Body, Your Word and your promises that have been made "Yes" in Christ. I am humbled by your love for me and relentless pursuit of this daughter's heart. Thank You for giving me brothers and sisters. Thank you for your unfailing love. Thank you for the still quiet voice You allow me to recognize. Thank you for revealing your glory in all of creation. I am grateful to be part of your vast, immeasurable, limitless, infallable plan. You are My King. You are My Father. Thank you and Happy Father's Day Abba Father!

Friday, June 13, 2008

Thoughts On Glory

Thoughts on Glory

I long to know how deep, how wide, how long and how high...

I long to know the depth, breadth, and width; the length, and the height of Our Sovereign Lord’s Glory.

But the mere thought is soberingly profound—yet the truth of His existence and its reality is awe-inspiring.
His glory is one that is without measure. It is without boundary or limits of time and space. It does not rest satisfied in mere human thought or remembrance. It gnaws, it eats, it tears, and it destroys our human nature. For the idea in itself is more than beautiful. But the truth of its existence wages war within us, knowing all the while that indeed it is true.
We fight the truth and belittle it to a mere thought, idea, or notion. We dismiss it as random thunder of groans roaring up within us. We try as we might to ignore its roaring oration, but cannot, for He set eternity in our hearts.

As babies cry out for food never knowing of its existence, never formally being introduced, so men cry out for His Glory.

We try to capture the hidden moments revealed every so often, in paintings, photographs, books, poems and song. But to no avail, we are unable to describe Him in His infinite glory and splendor. Men are limited by pen, by words, brushstrokes, eyes, and our hearts. How can one with limits ever endeavor or ascribe to capture One without any?

It is impossible and that is the tragedy of being human. So long as we remain here on earth we will never fully understand, but we can know that it is true. And from that truth and acception of it, comes joy.
Our thoughts are not His thoughts and neither are our ways His ways. No! They are higher, lofty, and greater than all. They hold weight and power.

We seek to find something we forgot and find nothing.
We are compelled to capture unobtainable beauty but are thwarted.
Something in us does not allow it. It is our flesh—our humanity.

Humans can only obtain what is given.
Humans can only find what is revealed.

We try to understand but are left confused. Humans can only understand what can never be explained by humans, through divine revelation from God.
We know what He allows or lets us know and the truth that God set eternity in our hearts only fuels this great perplexion. Why? Why that? He could have put, love, joy peace, kindness—but eternity?
God Himself set eternity in our hearts so we would know that indeed there is more than what is seen. So that we would recognize that the longing within us wasn’t by accident, but held purpose: the purpose of bringing His children back to Him;redeeming a generation of orphens, widows, and fatherless for His Kingdom. The purpose of glory for Him.

Eternity is not an emotion, thought, or idea. It is forever, and we believe.

So why eternity? Because it is not something we automatically accept at first. We bat it away like a mosquito. We run from it as if it were a rabid dog. But it is real, and clearly He wanted us to remember. To remember something we’ve never met. Why? So we would recognize it when we see it and believe. Eternity is Him.

Longing for more is not a moment or expressive thought or a painting or a photograph or for that matter a book or poem: Longing for more is longing for Him. The ache we feel buried so deep is not a burden but a birthright. Only those who are His will recognize it as Him. We were created with the longing because the creator created us, for His glory, of which we long for. He left His fingerprints on our hearts and can never forget us: we are engraved on the palms of His hands.

It is not by mistake that nothing on earth can satisfy, for nothing temporal can answer the question of eternal or stand up to forever or hold the weight of no-end. All pursuits are counterfeit except those of God. He is gracious to reveal Himself, but His insurmountable glory, of that, we must wait until the day of Christ Jesus. On that day we will most assuredly enjoy the spoils of the longing and be more than able to put a face to it, that of our savior: Jesus, the One and Only.