Good Morning to all! (I suppose good afternoon would be a bit more accurate - I stayed up crocheting with my roomie till 2-something AM and didn't fall asleep till 3:30 or so. I know, I live such an adventurous life! :)
It seems to be warming up a tad - it's 24 degrees as of right now. A whole 14 degrees warmer than yesterday, I'll take it! We were planning on going garage-saling this morning to find some furniture for my room and our balcony, but with this cold weather it'll simply have to wait. I'd rather sit indoors with my cup of hot coffee and search craigslist archives than freeze in someone's musty garage.
Do you ever find yourself in a conversation where you're just begging God to put the words in your mouth? It seems to be a common occurrence for me these days, but the coolest thing about it is that He does! Lately, I've realized how important it is to guard my heart with His truth and His Spirit. Working at a church didn't exactly require much guarding of my heart, but now that I'm living on my own in an unfamiliar place, surrounded by unfamiliar circumstances and people, I have to be on my guard. I desire to be constantly in tune with what He's doing and how He's moving in me and through me. It's so liberating, being in touch with my Creator! I stumbled upon another neat Psalm this morning : "Lord, who may abide in Your tabernacle? Who may dwell in Your holy hill? He who walks uprightly, and works righteousness, and speaks the truth in his heart...He who swears to his own hurt and does not change....He who does these things shall never be moved." (Psalm 15:1-2, 4b, 5b) And check out what I came across yesterday in Matthew: "...do not worry about how or what you should speak. For it will be given to you in that hour what you should speak; for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you." (Matt 10:19-20) How fitting?! I LOVE how He does that. He just drops little bits of encouragement and confirmation in my lap just when I think I've gone crazy. I love how He desires to use me, even when I least expect to be used. This past week I've had so many conversations that have literally left me speechless but in the moment that my mind is racing to find the words to say, my mouth blurts out the most perfect piece of advice, encouragement or truth, and it leaves me in awe of the One who gave me those very words. I love my God. I love how He cares for me and delights in me. What a wonderful thing His truth is!
Hope you're staying warm today.
Much love and blessings,
d
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Friday, January 16, 2009
In the quiet...
Sweet Amber, thank you for your blogging accountability - you know I need it! :)
So I'm here! I've made it to Tennessee, and boy is it COLD! This Florida girl is sooo out of place! I woke up yesterday morning, looked out the window and thought, "hmm, it's a perfect morning for a run!" I put on what I thought was "warm clothes" and headed out the door. The air hit me like a brick wall. "Just get going, you'll warm up once your blood is moving," I tried to convince myself. A mile later I couldn't feel anything below my neck. "This is ridiculous," I thought, "I'm heading home." I got back to the apartment and ran to check the temp - 12 degrees and getting colder!!! I sat in front of my heater and tried to do anything to feel my legs again - 4 hours later I finally felt normal. Note to self : don't go running without checking the temp. Today is colder, this morning my weather.com app said 10 degrees but feels like 2 degrees. We're supposed to have weather below zero a little later this week - I can't believe people live in this all their lives!
Enough about the cold, Tennessee has been an adventure. The people are ever-so friendly, my new roommates are wonderful, the apartment is coming along (well my share of it at least), it's beautiful and wintery (quite a change from my flat, hot & humid homeland), and the best part - I'm at total peace about the entire move. My life has come to a screeching halt, I've gone from crazy busy to almost bored, but it's been such a blessing! I've had such a wonderful time "nesting" (if you can call it that at 21), creating my little sanctuary, cooking my own meals, catching up on my much missed quiet time and just relaxing. No agenda, no meetings, no stress and no pressure - it's been wonderful! I can't keep this up forever, I'm starting to get a little bored, but it's been nice for a few days or so. Before I left home, I kept feeling a tug on my heart saying "listen to me." I totally brushed it aside until I got here, but now that I've had time to listen, that little voice has become the music my heart sings to. My boyfriend and I didn't really do resolutions this year, but we did set a goal to go through the Bible in a year together. So far so good. It's been so neat going through it together, it makes the distance a little more bearable. A Psalm I came across has been resonating in my heart over the past few days of quiet, "But know that the Lord has set apart for Himself him who is Godly; The Lord will hear when I call to Him. Be angry and do not sin. Meditate within your heart on your bed and be still. Offer the sacrifices of righteousness and put your trust in the Lord." Psalm 4:3-5 I've read that verse several times before, but this time it really spoke to me. He has set me apart for Himself and He's listening! :) I love that! So many days I feel like I chatter prayers on and on in my quiet time or just throughout the day and by the end of it, I feel as if I'm just talking to myself. Regardless of my chatter, He is listening, He hears me and He's delighting in me! Simple truth, but one that grabbed me.
Once again, it's been over a month since I last updated, so here are some pictures to make up for lost time. I hope you're doing well. I'm missing all my GB friends and family so much, know that you're all being thought about and prayed for daily!
Love and blesings,
d
(Sorry, they're all out of order)
My beau and I, counting down till 2009!
Downtown Countdown 2008
Beautiful Amber and I at the Downtown Countdown on New Year's Eve
Mom, Sister and I at the Women's Christmas Tea
Our MASSIVE but beautiful Christmas tree!
My new roomies! (Aren't they beautiful?! :)
Saying Goodbye for now. :(
One LAST photo
Annual Christmas Pics...
So I'm here! I've made it to Tennessee, and boy is it COLD! This Florida girl is sooo out of place! I woke up yesterday morning, looked out the window and thought, "hmm, it's a perfect morning for a run!" I put on what I thought was "warm clothes" and headed out the door. The air hit me like a brick wall. "Just get going, you'll warm up once your blood is moving," I tried to convince myself. A mile later I couldn't feel anything below my neck. "This is ridiculous," I thought, "I'm heading home." I got back to the apartment and ran to check the temp - 12 degrees and getting colder!!! I sat in front of my heater and tried to do anything to feel my legs again - 4 hours later I finally felt normal. Note to self : don't go running without checking the temp. Today is colder, this morning my weather.com app said 10 degrees but feels like 2 degrees. We're supposed to have weather below zero a little later this week - I can't believe people live in this all their lives!
Enough about the cold, Tennessee has been an adventure. The people are ever-so friendly, my new roommates are wonderful, the apartment is coming along (well my share of it at least), it's beautiful and wintery (quite a change from my flat, hot & humid homeland), and the best part - I'm at total peace about the entire move. My life has come to a screeching halt, I've gone from crazy busy to almost bored, but it's been such a blessing! I've had such a wonderful time "nesting" (if you can call it that at 21), creating my little sanctuary, cooking my own meals, catching up on my much missed quiet time and just relaxing. No agenda, no meetings, no stress and no pressure - it's been wonderful! I can't keep this up forever, I'm starting to get a little bored, but it's been nice for a few days or so. Before I left home, I kept feeling a tug on my heart saying "listen to me." I totally brushed it aside until I got here, but now that I've had time to listen, that little voice has become the music my heart sings to. My boyfriend and I didn't really do resolutions this year, but we did set a goal to go through the Bible in a year together. So far so good. It's been so neat going through it together, it makes the distance a little more bearable. A Psalm I came across has been resonating in my heart over the past few days of quiet, "But know that the Lord has set apart for Himself him who is Godly; The Lord will hear when I call to Him. Be angry and do not sin. Meditate within your heart on your bed and be still. Offer the sacrifices of righteousness and put your trust in the Lord." Psalm 4:3-5 I've read that verse several times before, but this time it really spoke to me. He has set me apart for Himself and He's listening! :) I love that! So many days I feel like I chatter prayers on and on in my quiet time or just throughout the day and by the end of it, I feel as if I'm just talking to myself. Regardless of my chatter, He is listening, He hears me and He's delighting in me! Simple truth, but one that grabbed me.
Once again, it's been over a month since I last updated, so here are some pictures to make up for lost time. I hope you're doing well. I'm missing all my GB friends and family so much, know that you're all being thought about and prayed for daily!
Love and blesings,
d
(Sorry, they're all out of order)
My beau and I, counting down till 2009!
Downtown Countdown 2008
Beautiful Amber and I at the Downtown Countdown on New Year's Eve
Mom, Sister and I at the Women's Christmas Tea
Our MASSIVE but beautiful Christmas tree!
My new roomies! (Aren't they beautiful?! :)
Saying Goodbye for now. :(
One LAST photo
Annual Christmas Pics...
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