Sometimes All We Need is A Little ...Encouragement??

So I've spent the last half hour killing time and this is what I found.....

Friday Night Thoughts

It has been an exceptionally busy week. We're 'summertime busy' in the office and we've still a week before the first official day of Spring. I'm not complaining, exactly, busy is good, very good. At the same time, I'm feeling the crunch. So many things to get done, so little time to do it in.
So it's a toss up...do I work tomorrow or do I rest. I'd really rather rest. But I will probably work for a few hours.
I have really neglected my personal life the last few weeks due to all the chaos at work. One of the things I've found has been impacted has been my ability to exercise my spiritual will over my physical. It's easier to worry that stand in faith. Easier to be angry than to forgive. So this weekend will be have a more spiritual focus than some. I need that time to think, meditate, read, write...time to just be. I'm going to focus on this truth: " In quietness and trust is your strength" (Isa. 30:15)
What do you plan on doing this weekend?

Saddleback Worship Conference Giveaway

This is a contest held over at pinkhairedgirl.net go there to participate!

Saddleback Worship Conference Giveaway

This is totally turning into the free stuff blog over the last week. I promise real posts are coming soon. But this is a BIG giveaway.

Today, I am giving away ONE TICKET to Saddleback Worship Conference, June 24-26. Not only that, but this ticket includes admission to the Pre-Conference on June 23.

Seriously, this is a $350 value… yours for free if you’re the winner!!
All you’ll need to do is get yourself there.

LEARN…
From world leaders in the Worship Arts arena and from Saddleback’s own staff…

EXPERIENCE…
Great Worship Times, Concerts, Devotionals, Late-Night Events, Exhibitors & more…!

PARTICIPATE…
Perform on a Daystage, sing in the Conference Choir, or Submit your own songs, scripts and videos to SongSeeker, DramaSeeker, and our all new SermonSpice Video Competition!

PLUS
Many many many workshops to choose from. One of which led by Carlos Whittaker (and maybe me too) on all things Web 2.0.

Leave a comment below by 11pm (CST) and you’re entered to win. The winner will chosen using Random.org and will be announced at MIDNIGHT (CST). And tell your friends to really make the contest interesting.

Spring

I love Spring. I love everything about it: the cool, crisp air, warm sun, birds singing, flowers growing. Over the last few years I haven't gotten to enjoy Spring much...the places I've lived in really only have two seasons...wet (hot) and dry (really hot). Except for the frigid 9 months I lived in Canada....where I nearly froze to death.

I like this middle ground, between winter and summer. I find it incredibly soothing.

Saturday I went hiking in a nearby state park. Apparently a lot of other people had the same idea because even the rugged trail I was on, was crowded. Not exactly great for taking great pictures or thinking, but it was still nice to be outside.

Even though the economy is still tanking, hope is soaring at work. Both of my jobs are doing well. Grass always grows and people are always getting sick/hurt so I'm fairly certain my jobs will be around for awhile. Nevertheless it's been awesome to see God at work, especially in the family business. The phone has been ringing off the hook and we've not had a shortage of opportunities to give bids. I could credit that to the time I've spent marketing...but I know better :-) I know God's the one who provides what we need, exactly when we need it.

A headline I read this morning said "Obama: 'don't fear future'". It'd be easy to fear the future...just look at the headlines. It's all wars and tragedy. But I was reminded this morning of Joshua 1:9 which says "Have not I commanded you? Be strong, vigorous, and very courageous. be not afraid, neither be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go." (AMP)

I thought this morning about who my hope is placed in...men who fail and are often wrong or God who is always right (and right on time)?

Who are you trusting in?

Friday Morning

I know the time stamp is off, it's still set to African time, I just haven't had the time to change it. So this really is Friday morning :-)

I am hopeful that this weekend is restful. I know I keep saying this, but I've been really busy. So even though I should spend a little extra time working, I'm going to make time to do some things I've been putting. Nothing screams "pleasure" to me more than a comfy chair, a great book and peace and quiet. I also may poke around the Library. I am actually all 'out' of books. A rare thing for me as you know.

Starting off this Friday morning I'm pondering the incredible steadfastness of God. I've had a really great week spiritually. No real insight just reminders of His amazing love. Little things like realizing I haven't made one trip to the hospital in the last three months. For the first time in years I've been able to run and walk fast without passing out. I haven't been sick at all actually. It's an awesome feeling, health. One I highly doubt I ever take for granted.
Further confirmation that I'm in the right place, doing what I need to be doing, and giving myself the rest I need.

One thing I continue to look forward to is my upcoming trip to St. Lucia. I had an email from my friend this morning and we are busy making plans. It will be so good to see her again!

There's a quote that really spoke to me this week. It's from Withering Heights but it had a bit more of a spiritual implication for me.

"If he loved you with all the power of his soul for a whole lifetime, he couldn't love you as much as I do in a single day."

When I first read it, I was struck that this is true about God's love versus human love. Being single, there's always that topic of "when will Andrea find a nice young man" hovering around family get togethers and functions. This quote reminded me that regardless of when the eventual "nice young man" turns up, and regardless of how great he might be...his love or anyone's love for me will never be able to match or surpass God's love for me.

So there you have it...my rambling thoughts early in the morning :-)

Great Clip-Free Music: Kingdom Coming

If you have a minute (or 6.45 to be exact) I'd like to encourage you to watch this clip from Shaun Groves. He's speaking on a song he wrote recently called "Kingdom Coming". It's a great little clip, perfect to ponder while you're waiting for NCIS to come on tonight :-)
You can download a free (and legal, which makes it even better!) mp3 copy of Shaun's song by clicking here.
So,Check out this little video where he speaks on the Good News taught by Jesus in the first chapter of the gospel of Mark. And then download the song “Kingdom Coming”

Kingdom Coming from Shaun Groves on Vimeo.

Faith, Friends and Thankfulness

For the last several months I have had the honor of leading a ladies Bible study on the topic of faith. I have had a kind of love/hate relationship with the study simply because of where I've been at personally. For much of this time I have been doing my 'duty'. Always well though out, prepared ect. but not exactly putting my heart into it.
There are reasons for that...but I'm not going to go into those reasons too much. I'm tired of rehashing issues.

I will say though that the last few days have brought some sense of breakthrough. After nearly two years of pain and a very, very long road of recovery faith is becoming, once again a source of joy rather than something I'm clinging to because I know it's true.
Cleaning out my inbox brought this little revelation about. I was going through old emails, trying organize and delete what was no longer needed. I came across many emails from friends who were encouraging me, sharing with me, "doing life" with me even though we were thousands of miles apart. Their emails ministered to me then....but made a huge difference this weekend.

Insecurity and fear will always be a weak point of mine. But thankfully, I am finally seeing light at the end of the dark tunnel of grief, anger, shame, fear, doubt, bitterness etc. I've been going through. I finally feel like I'm ready to move on. Not because of anything I am, or know or can do. But because of who Christ is. He loves me wholly, believes in me unconditionally and his plans for me are faultless. I choose to believe in the eternal security of Christ than any promise made by a man.

I don't know what my future holds. I don't know how grad school will work out or what I'll eventually end up doing or when I'll go back into ministry/missions full time. At this point I can't really tell you anything except that I am finally at rest and beginning to look forward to what will be and ready to move on from what was.

Psalm 33:18-19 Behold the Lord's eye is upon those who fear Him (who revere and worship Him with awe), who wait for Him and hope in His mercy and loving kindness. To deliver them from death and keep them alive in famine.

Thank you, my dear friends, for standing beside me. For continuing to believe in me, even when I'd given up on myself. For not allowing me to wiggle away from truth. Thank you for loving me, even when I haven't deserved your friendship.
For Sarah, James, Jody, Anna, Thabiso, Johan, Krista, Bethany I. and so many others who've been the truest kinds of friends I am so thankful for you! I look forward to sharing this journey with you in the days ahead.

Love,
Andrea

On a Wednesday night....

As a Mac Lover....it may seem odd to have Bill Gates on my blog. While I may prefer not to use his computers...I agree with his opinions.

Besides that- Wicked long EMT shift today. Most interesting call was a guy with shrapnel in his eye. I'm too tired to write tonight.

So without further ado......
Life Rules by Bill Gates
Love him or hate him, he sure hits the nail on the head with this! Bill Gates recently gave a speech at a High School about 11 things they did not and will not learn in school. He talks about how feel-good, politically correct teachings created a generation of kids with no concept of reality and how this concept set them up for failure in the real world

Rule 1: Life is not fair - get used to it!

Rule 2 : The world won't care about your self-esteem. The world will expect you to accomplish something BEFORE you feel good about yourself.

Rule 3 : You will NOT make $60,000 a year right out of high school. You won't be a vice-president with a car phone until you earn both.

Rule 4 : If you think your teacher is tough, wait till you get a boss.

Rule 5 : Flipping burgers is not beneath your dignity. Your Grandparents had a different word for burger flipping: they called it opportunity.

Rule 6: If you mess up, it's not your parents' fault, so don't whine about your mistakes, learn from them.

Rule 7: Before you were born, your parents weren't as boring as they are now. They got that way from paying your bills, cleaning your clothes and listening to you talk about how cool you thought you were So before you save the rain forest from the parasites of your parent's generation, try delousing the closet in your own room.

Rule 8: Your school may have done away with winners and losers, but life HAS NOT. In some schools, they have abolished failing grades and they'll give you as MANY TIMES as you want to get the right answer. This doesn't bear the slightest resemblance to ANYTHING in real life.

Rule 9: Life is not divided into semesters. You don't get summers off and very few employers are interested in helping you FIND YOURSELF. Do that on your own time..

Rule 10: Television is NOT real life. In real life people actually have to leave the coffee shop and go to jobs.

Rule 11: Be nice to nerds. Chances are you'll end up working for one.

Thoughts on a Monday...

Well, another week begun. I must say I’m rather excited. Not because anything with work or school has changed, just because I’ve made some decisions…finally. I still have quite a few things still to work through but I am comforted by the fact that I know God hasn’t given up on me yet. I know He is good and He is faithful and nothing, not circumstances or the failures, successes or opinions of men can in anyway, impact his love or plans for me. I trust that knowledge far more than I trust anything else. Because His faithfulness and his blessing in my life isn’t dependant upon me! (Thank God!) It’s totally dependant upon His character and His faithfulness to follow thru on promises he has made. The Lord’s word is a silver refined in fire seven times…meaning, it never, ever fails.

I have decided to follow Jesus, as the hymn goes, no turning back.

There are loads of things I don’t get. But I’m okay with only seeing part of the picture. I don’t know where or when or how any of my heart’s desires for things like marriage, family and ministry will come about but I know that when I seek and pursue Christ above material and worldy things (or even just doing what I know is right rather than what I ‘feel’ is right…) He will satisfy my desires with good things. And that makes me excited.

End of A Long Week...

Well, it's the end of a very long week. And I'd much rather be here ---->
I did get a fair amount done at work today, even with all the interruptions, which was nice.
I am read for the weekend though! I really need to get my life in order....I'm tired of not existing outside of work. I'd like to develop a social life here and maybe even put down some roots. To that end I had planned on attending a knitting/sewing session from 9pm-11pm at The Living Room. But Nighttime really isn't my thing so I doubt I actually make it. Which is sad. If it were at any other time, I'd go and really enjoy the outlet.

Instead I'm heading to the gym and then home where I'll probably have cereal for dinner, shower and crash with a book.
I have to work Saturday and Sunday is a birthday dinner for my grandmother so family will take the bulk of Sunday.
I am looking forward to the gym, it'll be good to work out my frustrations :-)

Sometimes....

there are days. like today that totally suck. These days usually occur because of things far beyond my realm of control. Like today. It really sucked to see someone I cared about make such horrible mistakes born out of fear, stubbornness, immature and complete arrogance. Honestly, I love this person very much...but they can really be a complete nightmare. Do they honestly not realize what they're doing or the cost that will come with their attitude?

On these days my typical response, once it's all over and I've called it a day, I hit the gym as usual, followed by a decent meal (not always usual...it depends on who's cooking...lol!) and a really hot shower. I love showers. They are awesome. Having lived for several years without them (not that I didn't bathe .... I just didn't have access to a real, proper shower) I will never, ever neglect to be thankful for such bliss. It never fails to make me feel happy.

So, I'm crawling into bed for a good read and hopefully tomorrow will put us all on the road to healing the wounds from today.

*sigh* it's shame that people are so stupid. They give the rest of us a bad name.

Because Money Does Not Grow on Trees....

And we all wish it did: I'm going to share with you what I use to save and track my money.

Over the years I have used a lot of different products and even created my own systems. I have often needed some rather complex solutions that could cope with multiple currencies and exchange rates. At times my spread sheets were pretty hard to read. And then, I fell in love with two solutions that have helped me...no matter where in the world I may be.

For saving I use a program called SmartyPig. It's simple, which is important when I'm using unreliable internet connections overseas. It's also automatic, which is great. It takes some of the 'labor' out of transferring money from my checking accounts to savings. I find this feature invaluable. It helps me to keep on track and reduces my use of sticky notes. What I really like about SmartyPig is the 3.25% AYP. This is the highest AYP I've been able to find for savings programs that are not directly linked to investing. Unlike Money Markets or CDs, I'm not investing in the Stock Market or tied to a contract. If at any point and time I really need the money I've been socking away, I can end the goal and have the money transferred right back to my checking account...and take with me the interest I may have earned thus far. Or I can opt to have the money loaded onto a debt card and mailed to me. Another unique feature is SmartyPig's partnership with many brand name retailers. If you choose to spend your saved money with them with gives you certain perks and in some cases, extra money. And extra money is always a good thing!

For traking my expenses I use Mint.com A lovely little tool that takes takes a lot of time out of tracking expenses. Unlike some similar programs, Mint is totally free. You log in your bank details and it will automatically track, graph and report to you how much you spend and where you spend it. You can set up budgets, track investments...the tools keep growing. The only detractor is that you can't enter expenses paid for with cash. Which, for me is fine for the most part. I normally use my debit card or checks anyway. I carry small amounts of cash, but I keep track of where those go in my check register.
Anyway if you're looking for away to avoid keeping track of every single reciept - Mint is a great tool. I've really loved the budget feature and the emails Mint sends out if I go over my set limit for a particular catagory (books are my downfall!). I also really like the carts that show a breakdown of where my money goes. I can compare my expenses month to month and also to the national average.

So there you go! Andrea's finances in two paragraphs. Having lived by faith for many years, I still find those principles of trusting God to provide for and meet my needs relevant...even now that I get a regular paycheck. He's just as capable as providing for me now as in years previous when I was on the mission field. But the theology of all that is for another post.

Now if only there was a way to effortlessly generate more income...wouldn't that be great! :-)

TAXing Day

<--This is what my desk looks like....I’ve spent the last 10 hours compiling, editing, recalculating, printing…reprinting and filing tax forms for the business. If I have to figure out how to get one more ‘x’ into a pre-printed form..I am going to cry…and then demand a raise.

Thank God my taxes are fairly simple and straight forward!

While I’m off to go to yoga and hopefully relax my incredibly stiff neck and spend the rest of the night not staring at a computer screen…I thought I’d leave you with some links.

Surprisingly there’s some good stuff floating around the web today ☺

If you’re married, or even if you’re not, LifeChurch.tv has a great series going on called The Vow, it’s all about drawing closer to God and closer to each other.
You can find more about it here www.internet.lifechurch.tv

Christian Personal Finance, a blog on finance and wealth management from a Christian perspective has as list of The Top 20 Christian Financial Websites I think you’ll find helpful.

And last but certainly not least is today’s post, Getting Single People Married as Fast as Possible, on the blog Stuff Christian’s Like. It cracked me up this morning, Jon Acuff, owner and writer for this blog consistantly turns out great stuff so poke around and have a laugh ☺

Uncertain Pathways

Sometimes life seems to get really complicated. It reminds me of when I took this photo. We hiked all day long in the fog and there were times when there was no path at all, it felt like we were just going around and around and higher and higher with no real point to any of it. Until we hit this clearing. It was the most amazing view. The fog had lifted and I could see a little better. Suddenly my attitude toward my guide changed…he actually did have plan!

That’s kind of how I feel my life has been recently. It’s hard to get perspective and see the ‘big picture’ that is our Journey. But every once in awhile we have moments of clariety where we can look back and see where we’ve come from and look forward to where we are headed and know that our present position…regardless of how difficult, is worthwhile.

Sometimes we have to wait longer than others…but clearings do come.
When I took this picture my initial thought was “crap! Look at how far we still have to go!” As I was reminded today though, the journey, the process is just as important as the momentary times of clarity and understanding that come.

I still don’t know where I’m going, or what’s coming in a month from now let alone years from now. When I get bored of the process I’m in right now (school and work) this picture reminds me that my Guide does have a plan. He knows where I’m going and eventually I will too. Until then, in the midst of this seemingly endless fog and the apparently pointless circles, I choose to trust.

My Stress

It's Thursday. It feels like it should be Friday...of next week. That's how long this week has been. Thank God, it's nearly over!!

The main source of difficulty has been serious employee issues with a supervisor. It's put a ton of stress and strain on all the other owners as well. We really wanted this guy to succeed but he's intent on self-destructing. It's sad because we've poured a lot of time, effort and money into training him. And now he's basically just throwing it all back in our face.

So the issues, problems and various methods of approaching the situation have been discussed multiple times in various mental states and attitudes.

Then we've got a heap of work going on, my to do list is ever expanding and I know everyone else is having the same problem. Spring is coming and we still aren't ready. I'm not sure where this supposed 'off season' went to but I wish it would come back and give us a few more weeks!

For now I'm going to shut down for the day, hit the gym, watch a movie and hope for better perspective tomorrow, it will be Friday after all!

My Mac

Thinking I was being a good Mac owner I did some maintenance last night and now everything seems buggered. What I did wrong, I'm not sure. But some files open and some won't. Some programs work and some don't. It was an epic Fail, to be sure. However, there is hope. I called Donna and she's coming tomorrow morning to fix me :-) Thank God for people who know more than I do! Hopefully I can learn something tomorrow morning!

In the mean time I am limping through a very busy work day at the YB Office with substandard computer capability. *Sigh*

Things at YB are really busy! Between all the marketing stuff going on, all the bidding for new work in 2009, getting the new accounting system rolling, recovering from the loss of all our 2008 payroll data (GRRRR) and in general trying to get HR, Marketing and Accounting organized, planned out and ready to roll for summer. I'm busy...

So nothing really has happened with my bridging coursework, my knitting project remains unfinished, my violin still needs new strings. My eyesight still sucks because I keep delaying the office visit. And I still have phone calls and letters to write to friends.

Then there's the new years resolution of getting out and meeting new people and making new friends here in my new 'home' town. yeah hasn't really happened yet either.

And this is the 'off season'?

The Gaza War

I don't claim to subscribe to everything Joel Rosenberg says or stands for, honestly I don't know that much about him. However, I've been getting his updates for awhile and he's always been spot on. I thought I would share this. Please take not, in particular of the verses included.

New posts are coming soon! :-) It's part of my New Year's Resolution!

EARTH TO EUROPE, RUSSIA: HAMAS MUST BE CRUSHED, NOT CODDLED

By Joel C. Rosenberg

(Washington, D.C., December 31, 2008) -- The Gaza war rages on with no immediate end in sight. Indeed, Israeli sources tell me a ground operation into Gaza is not yet definite, but is likely.

Israel has rightfully rejected a French-proposed 48 hour cease-fire, saying the Gaza operation will continue until Israel's goal of shutting down the terrorist rocket threat is accomplished. The leaders of the European Union, Russia, and many governments around the world are putting enormous pressure on Israel to stop defending the Jewish people and stop attacking the terrorist strongholds in Gaza. This is crazy. Why do the Europeans and Russians have such a double-standard when it comes to Israeli national security?

More than 6,300 rockets and missiles have been fired at Israel by Hamas since Israeli withdrew its military forces from Gaza in 2005. Some 400 rockets have been fired at Israel just since December 19th. Would the French or Germans agree to a cease-fire if they were being hit by hundreds and thousands of rockets, missiles, and mortars by enemies sworn to annihilate them? Of course not. The Russians invaded Georgia for far, far less.

"We didn't initiate the Gaza operation in order to end it while Israeli towns are still under fire, as they were before the operation," Prime Minister Ehud Olmert told reporters. "Israel has shown restraint for years; she gave the truce a chance; we told ourselves 'let's try it,' but Hamas violated the truce."

I don't often say this, but Olmert is right. Hamas must be crushed, not coddled. Yet the world is trying to coddle these Palestinian Radical Islamic jihadists. It's an outrage. The onus is on the Hamas terrorists to lay down their arms and stop firing rockets into Israel. Until that happens, the IDF should continue fighting.

It pains me to see the suffering on both sides, but this is entirely Hamas' responsibility. They were urged by Egypt, by Mahmoud Abbas, and by the Israelis not to let the previous cease-fire lapse, but they chose war instead. They have never been hit this hard. Indeed, Gaza has not seen this level of fighting since 1967.

Israelis living within rocket range are truly safe and secure. Yet, the Islamic Radicals in Gaza don't appear ready to surrender. To the contrary, Hamas is using longer-range rockets than ever before - some of them made in Iran - putting hundreds of thousands of more Israeli at risk than in previous clashes. Hamas has already fired more than 50 rockets, mortars and missiles at Israel as of 4pm local time (9am eastern). Two hit the Israeli city of Beersheva last night, some 28 miles from Gaza. This is the first time Beersheva has ever been in range of Gaza-fired rockets. Haaretz reports that no one was injured but 40 people were treated for shock. The city is rattled, and theaters, cinemas and other shops and businesses are shutting down. Rockets also continue to hit the town of Sderot, and the Israeli coastal cities Ashkelon and Ashdod. I'm told that most of the children in Sderot have been evacuated from the town. Many are now temporarily relocated to northern Israeli cities and towns, such as Haifa.

Iran, in addition to providing Hamas longer-range rockets, is also now apparently recruiting some 10,000 volunteer suicide bombers to attack Israel.

To visit Joel's new weblog site and get the latest developments in Israel, Russia and the epicenter -- including links to stories mentioned in this Flash Traffic report -- please click here

To visit Joel's website -- www.joelrosenberg.com -- please click here

GAZA WAR: Prayer Update

The people of the Holy Land are going through great pain and suffering right now. But we should not be discouraged. Rather, we must turn to the Scriptures for the Lord's perspective, embrace His promises, and obey His commands.

The Bible is clear: God loves the people of Israel, as well as their neighbors. He has a wonderful plan for their lives, plans for good and not for evil, plans to give them a future and a hope. Jesus offers those who choose to follow Him true peace that cannot be found anywhere else. He promises to protect His people. He promises them an abundant life here, and in the hereafter. He promises to answer their prayers when they pray for His will to be done and pray in His Name. What's more, He commands His followers to love their neighbors and their enemies. He commands them to feed the hungry, give water to the thirsty, and care for the suffering. Should we not draw near to Him and follow Him wholeheartedly at this critical time?

"I have loved you with an everlasting love," the Lord says in Jeremiah 31:3. "Therefore, I have drawn you with lovingkindness."

"Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love." (I John 4:8)

"For I know the plans that I have for you," says the Lord in Jeremiah 29:11-13, "plans for welfare and not calamity to give you a future and a hope. 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 search for Me with all your heart."

"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy, but I came that they might have life and have it abundantly," said Jesus in John 10:10.

"Behold, He who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord is your keeper....The Lord will protect you from all evil; He will keep your soul. The Lord will guard your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forever." (Psalm 121:4,5,7,8)

"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you," said Jesus in John 14:27. "I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid."

Jesus said, "Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father's house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also....I am the way, the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me....Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father. Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it." (John 14:1-3,12-14)

"If you love me," Jesus said in John 14:15, "you will obey what I command."

* Please continue praying for real peace -- not just the absence of conflict but the presence of true justice and true security on both sides of the fence.

* Please also continue praying for the scores of children on both sides who are being traumatized by all the rockets and bombs -- pray for the Lord to comfort and care for them in a supernatural way.

* Please pray for the followers of Jesus in Israel and Gaza, that they will have courage and hope from the Lord, that they will hear from the Holy Spirit how best to love their neighbors and their enemies, and that by their words and actions they can communicate the good news of God's great love and plan for Israel and her neighbors.

Christian Personal Finance - Christmas Give-A-Ways!

I've been following the Christian Personal Finance blog for about a year. I think technically I'm considered a 'lurker' because I don't usually comment on anything...and that I think is what 'lurkers' must do.

However I decided to break with tradition and post a link to CPF here:
http://www.christianpf.com/christmas-giveaways-two-ipods-and-more/
because the give a way contest is pretty awesome...and I have benefited a lot from the site. I follow several *secular* finance blogs too...but I like to compare and contrast the views and opinions.

Hope you enjoy the blog as much as I have.

says it's going to be a long, cold night

What To Do With Christmas?

Someday I need to write a real post. You know, the kind that actually is informative....
I actually do have some pretty decent thoughts and paragraphs tumbling around....perhaps soon I can make the time to put them on paper...or at least post them here. It just feels like I'm constantly two steps behind everyone and everything else. I feel perpetually behind, and seeing as I detest being late....it's rather annoying.

Everyone has been pretty stressed out of late, a lot is going on even though lawn and landscaping is slowing down. Work slowing down outside only seems to stress everyone else out. Just because things are slacking in that department doesn't mean I'm not busy...I'm just as busy now, and a little more so than I was in the summer. I have a ton to get done in preparation for next season. Of course though that doesn't exactly pay the bills for the next three months.

For a few days I was really getting into the whole Christmas thing. Listening to Christmas music, thinking about decorating. A couple weeks and countless 'holiday' commitments later and I'm over it. I'm really over the "Mary Did You Know" song, it's always been source of irritation. It's a pretty tune, a nice melody but I find it to be flawed theologically (yes, folks Mary did know) ...hence my irritation that it's pretty much "the" song of every Christian holiday event. I think downhere's "How Many Kings" would be a much better choice....it actually has the potential to make people think. Anyway what's with this present thing? I love giving gifts, I do it all year round. I especially enjoy when I find a gift that's perfect for someone and it's something they aren't expecting. I love giving things to people, it's awesome. I guess I'm just being stubborn, in the fact that I don't want to give someone something that I haven't put my heart into. I mean really, why do people seem to think that inviting someone to a party that they've fought with all year long, will suddenly erase all that? The "oh, it's Christmas" mentality as if that should make everything all right....I find it shocking. I'm not fighting with anyone, I just used that as a rather poor example.
I should say much though, I don't really have a social life so it's not like I have the delimma of choosing which things to go to. I don't go to anything, so at least I don't have to worry about hurting someone's feelings by not showing up.

I am making some headway in terms of hammering out a plan. Nope, still haven't sent those year overdue letters to my former supporters yet. Shocked by my Procrastination? I'm not...I procrastinate when I'm afraid of something....in this sense primarily I'm afraid to write them. I feel like I failed them, it's hard to wrap my mind around how to say what I'd like to say. I'd like to share what God is doing, I'm just too chicken to do it. And this is what I talk about with my counselor. Lot of good it seems to do if I still haven't written, eh?

Maybe if I made my own Christmas card and said "Please Don't Reject Me" on the outside and "I really do have a plan" on in the inside. That would help, right? I mean that's being totally honest. That's why I haven't written. It's like trying write a normal sounding letter, when all I really want to say is that. You try writing without saying what you really want to say....and let me know how it goes....I'll hire you to write my letter.

Why is this an issue? Oh, who knows. Why do people have "issues" anyway? Technically I think its all in my head, but that certainly doesn't make it seem any less real or valid.

So, in my broken little mind I'm viewing Christmas with a kind of perplexity.....ignore it or enjoy it?
In reality it isn't about all the stuff, the music, the socializing, commitments to fulfill etc. It's about Jesus. Thank God. Because that's a much more enjoyable prospect. Regardless of how much changes in my life or in the lives of those I love, He never changes.

When thinking about what to do with Christmas; I'm going to focus on spending time with Jesus. Celebrate His love and enjoy being loved unconditionally, because that is the rarest gift of all.