Saturday Game Night Fun

a moment of awe

God is doing something big. Huge. Things have been set into motion. Pieces are aligning. And every now and then it hits me. The world stops. Just for a fraction of a second. And all that keeps moving is Him. That's when I really see it. When I feel it. And it takes my breath away.

Dear Rental Homes on Craig's List,

Please stop trying to tempt me. I mean, you just prance all around and I'm sure you love how you can make me look at you, but its not right. I need to place my attention on where it belongs; looking for a job first.

So just back off for now, K?

Thanks.

Picture of Giving

Watching people give towards God’s Kingdom is a wonderful thing. The faithfulness of His servants is inspiring, and the creativity some of them place into raising funds and awareness is breathtaking.

Barbara Kostohryz, for example, is an amazing artist in Athens, OH. She painted these great pictures of Haitian girls who were living in the HOPE Orphanage when it was destroyed by the earthquake January 12, 2010.

Babara sells prints of these paintings to raise support for building a new orphanage. She has truly blessed many by sharing her talents in this way; capturing the beauty of His creation and sharing His love of these children.

Romans 1:20

“For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities-his eternal power and divine nature-have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.”

My wife’s smile.

How sound-waves are perceived in my brain.

The feel of wind.

The stars.

All revealing to me the eternal power and divine nature of our mighty Creator.

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• As I look for jobs in California, I seem to come across more in Utah. There are lots of really cool specialized treatment facilities there, which makes me wonder; whats up with Utah? Do they just take residential treatment really seriously, or are there all-sorts of crazies there that require extra care???
• The boxes in our living room are turning into piles: keep piles, give-to-so-and-so piles, donate to shelter piles, take to Threads piles, throw away piles, sell piles, re-pack piles . . . I predict an intense loathing of piles to develop in our household over the next couple months.
• Speaking of jobs, I'm excited to be looking for one in the youth-work field. Yes. Really. I've gotten all sorts of discouraging reactions when I share that, but over the past 9 months at CSI ministries, I've really been able to rejuvenate and feel this is the direction God is leading me. I reconnected with some old contacts recently who are very pleased I am getting back "on the field" and are really supporting me and helping me network in CA. I'm pumped!
• Thats all for now ;o)

Deep breath . . . and PRAY!!!

I just wrote to an organization in Vista, CA expressing my interest in employment there! Ahhhh!

Boxes

Our living room is nearly overwhelmed with boxes at the moment. We've spent this weekend digging everything out of our storage unit to bring it to the apartment. This eliminated an unnecessary expense and serves as a continuous prompt to sort through, get rid of, give away, and pack up our belongings in preparation for our move to Escondido.
As I consider what steps need taken before this next stage in our life, I have a strong sense that the process of this upcoming transition will be a fast one. I'm unsure if this is in reference to perception of time; as in how life seems to move so quickly certain moments and stand still in others, or if this sense is directing me towards something more literal; that this process of relocating our lives will actually move much more quickly than expected.
Either way, its a sense I feel is worth paying attention to.
So, if you happen to stop by for a visit, please excuse our boxes.

I Love This Song Right Now: Something Beautiful

Colossians 3:23

"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men."

So.
Hard.
To do.
Sometimes.

Snip Snip

"I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener.He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful." John 15:1-2

"Notice that both branches get cut. The difference is in how we respond to the pain of the pruning. In many ways, the way that we bear the pruning is how we know that we are growing in our relationship with God. Do we get bitter, or better? What does the experience of loss or hindrance expose in us?

Our Father is a faithful gardener, ready to cut off the things in our lives that don't bear fruit, and reminding the fruitful ones that our life is not in the fruit, but only in the vine."

Commentary by:
Dave Whitehead, Senior Pastor GraceNYC.org

copy/pasted from http://thedailybibleverse.blogspot.com/

Oh, and Happy Valentine's Day ;o)

Dear 'Well, I Figured'

Um . . . that's kinda rude. And much like Weird Face, I'm not even sure what you mean. So, if you could just cut it out, that would be great.

Thanks!

Dear Weird Face

Facial expressions are great and all. Really. They're an important part of communication in our culture. Non-verbal cues enrich out interactions. But you, Weird Face, confuse me. You're incongruent with the words you're presented with. Frankly, what are you trying to say to me? I just can't tell for sure. This might be difficult for you, but I think for everyone's sake, you should just sit this one out. I mean, just let Words do all the talking this time, you know? Well, Weird Face, I'm glad we could have this chat. I hope there aren't any hard feelings! -Peace!

Shut My Mouth

The Chapel: Where Man Covers His Mouth
by Max Lucado


"I am not worthy; I cannot answer you anything, so I will put my hand over my mouth." (Job 40:4)

The phrase for the chapel is "Hallowed be thy name."

This phrase is a petition, not a proclamation. A request, not an announcement. Hallowed be your name. We enter the chapel and beseech, "Be hallowed, Lord." Do whatever it takes to be holy in my life. Take your rightful place on the throne. Exalt yourself. Magnify yourself. Glorify yourself. You be Lord, and I'll be quiet.

The word hallowed comes from the word holy, and the word holymeans "to separate." The ancestry of the term can be traced back to an ancient word which means "to cut." To be holy, then, is to be a cut above the norm, superior, extraordinary. Remember what we learned in the observatory? The Holy One dwells on a different level from the rest of us. What frightens us does not frighten him. What troubles us does not trouble him.

I'm more a landlubber than a sailor, but I've puttered around in a bass boat enough to know the secret for finding land in a storm ... You don't aim at another boat. You certainly don't stare at the waves. You set your sights on an object unaffected by the wind—a light on the shore—and go straight toward it. The light is unaffected by the storm.

By seeking God in the chapel, you do the same. When you set your sights on our God, you focus on one "a cut above" any storm life may bring.

Like Job, you find peace in the pain.

Like Job, you cover your mouth and sit still.

"Be still, and know that I am God" (Ps. 46:10). This verse contains a command with a promise.

The command?

Be still.

Cover your mouth.

Bend your knees.

The promise? You will know that I am God.

The vessel of faith journeys on soft waters. Belief rides on the wings of waiting.

Linger in the chapel. Linger often in the chapel. In the midst of your daily storms, make it a point to be still and set your sights on him. Let God be God. Let him bathe you in his glory so that both your breath and your troubles are sucked from your soul. Be still. Be quiet. Be open and willing. Then you will know that God is God, and you can't help but confess, "Hallowed be thy name."

From The Great House of God
Copyright (Thomas Nelson, 1997) Max Lucado

Everybody Hurts

Escondido, CA

My introduction to this place was a good one. The scenery was breathtaking nearly everywhere we went. I enjoyed good food and great fellowship of new and old friends.

It was a great feeling just to be in this place we've been praying about for several months now. My grasp of, and understanding about the vision for this venture in ministry has grown. I'm able to see myself plugged-into this movement, taking part and making an impact for the Kingdom.

Questions arise, but I'm quickly reminded of this: the Kingdom. Not mine. Not ours. But His. This was an amazing trip and I look forward to another visit to Escondido, hopefully soon.

Kimberly, I Miss You!

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Today we visited a vineyard just outside of Escondido, and, of course, it was beautiful! Nate C. snapped this shot with his cell's camera. Isn't this an awesome view!?

Taking a Stroll

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Mmm . . .

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We safely touched down in San Diego last night, stopping to eat at an In-n-Out before making our way into Escondido. The day has just begun here (it's only 9:45am here) and its already been great. James drove us to Dixon Lake, where the view is gorgeous!

Here We Are!