anti-puppy sentiments

after chasing maddie about the house, tackling, and sitting on her, i was able to force her into her puppy costume. she screamed and stomped and growled, but in the end mom won. our rabie infected pouch changed tune when she realized the purpose of this expedition. - candy calmed our savage little beast.

God is God

and the pain falls like a curtain on the things i once called certain
and i have to say the words i fear the most i just don't know.
and the questions without answers come and paralize the dancer
so i stand here on the stage afraid to move
afraid to fall, oh, but fall i must
on this truth that my life has been formed from the dust

God is God and i am not
i can only see a part of the picture he's painting
God is God and i am man
so i'll never understand it all
for only God is God

and the sky is filled with thunder
and i'm filled with awe and wonder till the only question that remains is
who am i
can i form a single mountain
take the stars in hand and count them
can i even take a breath without God giving it to me
he is first and last before all that has been
beyond all that will pass

how great are the riches of his wisdom and knowledge
how unsearchable for to Him and through him and from Him
are all things

so let us worship before the throne of the one who is worthy of worship alone.

steven curtis chapman

how can i fear when the omnipresent, omniscient, omnipotent God is my Father.
to fear to to take my eyes of Jesus...

random acts of kindness

today we spent hours in search of an animal rescuer costume. they're hard to find b/c every four year old little girl wants to be an animal rescuer for halloween. oh wait, that's not true, most four year old little girls want to be cinderella. our little girl will be the only little girl or boy at fright free fun night (at our church) dressed in a hunting vest. we scoured the stores for a tackle vest in her size, but it's hunting season not fishing season, so a hunting vest it is. while on my desperate expedition to find a tackle vest in an extra small child size, i stopped at the local tractor supply company. i asked the man at desk if they had munchkin vests - of couse not. then i asked if they had cheap binoculars - they did for bird watching. then the man asked why i needed cheap binoculars and a tackle vest. (apparently an odd combination. ) so i told him that my little princess wanted to be an animal rescuer for halloween. he asked her age, gasped at her vivid imagination for her age and said, "come by tomorrow and i'll give her a pair of binoculars and a safari hat i don't use. i would rather a child develop her imagination and get some use out of these things then let them continue to sit in my closet." ah, a random act of kindness towards my small animal rescuer.

maddie is going as a puppy. unfortunately, that's what emmy has been calling her. we maybe forking out much $$$ in the future for maddie's psychologist. but that is another post.

blackberries

earth's crammed with heaven,
and every common bush afire with God
but only he who sees takes off his shoes
the rest sit around it and pluck blackberries
ebbrowning

i wonder if i pay attention to burning bushes around me or am i just too busy to see the flames, too busy to hear the crackle, and feel the heat. what am i missing while i eat of the fruit or even ignore it all together. what does God want me to learn from those who do take off their shoes and be still. what does he want me learn from those who just eat their berries. well as you've probably guessed there is a deep seeded reason for all this philosophy. Dave and Vicky are sitting at the burning bush being still and faithful while the church about them are apparently eating "crack"berries. okay, that wasn't nice, but... this evening as i sit at the bush (not as patiently as my sister) i'm praying that God will interrupt the sleep of the deacons and pastor of their church, open their eyes and loan Dave and Vicky 50K to buy the house God has obviously provided. specifically, i am praying that God will lead the deacons and pastor to agreeing that dave and vicky should only repay the loan if they leave the church or sell the house. the current deacon plan would put them in a worse financial situation then they are currently in. which is ridiculous. i am amazed at how many doors God has opened for the church to do the right thing, but amazed at how many times the deacons have slammed the door on God and said "God must be shutting the door." they don't even see the bush a flame right in front of them. i'm also thankful for an unsaved real estate agent who sold there house in two hours, for an unsaved neighbor of my parents who wants to sell them a house for close to 50K less tan he could ask for, and an unsaved banker who is bending over backwards to get them a loan that would work for them. notice all the people helping them are unsaved. God is good and He is providing, now if only the saved would sit up and notice God and join him in His work, instead of working so hard against him. so with that very long and confusing story complete, i ask you to join me in prayer tonight and tomorrow for dave and vicky, their children (who are freaking out at the possibility of being homeless for the second time in four years at the hands of God's people) and the pastor and deacons of the church that they will realize God wants leave their "comfort zone and jump into the great unknown where Jesus is holding out his hand"

facets of God

c.s.lewis once surmised that each of us is created to see a different facet of God's beauty- something no one else can see in quite the same way - and then bless all worshippers through all eternity with an aspect of God they could not otherwise see. - screwtape letters
isn't grand to know that God love us enough to make us unique, so we can worship him like no other can.

sky art

yesterday, as we walked to the park under brillant baby blue skies, emily looked up, stopped and exclaimed, "look at the sky art." adults would see polution spread by jets, but emmy saw art.

stained glass masquerade

is there anyone that fails
is there anyone that falls
am i the only one in church today feelin' so small

'cause when i take a look around
everyone seems so strong
i know they'll soon discover
that i don't belong

i tuck it all away, like everything's okay
if i make them all believe it, maybe i'll believe it too
so with a painted grin, i play the part again
so everyone will see me the way i see them

is there anyone who's been there
are there any hands to raise
am i the only one who's traded
in the alter for a stage

the performance is convincing
and we know every line by heart
only when no one's watching
can we really fall apart

but would it set me free
if i dared to let you see
the truth behind the person
that you imagine me to be

would your arms be open
or would you walk away
would the love of jesus
be enough to make you stay

are we happy plastic people
under shiny plastic steeples
with walls around our weakness
and smiles to hide our pain
but if the invitation's open
to every heart that has been broken
maybe then we close the curtain on our
stained glass masquerade

mark hall nichole nordeman - casting crowns

the best theatrical talent resides in our churches. mark hall writes "i don't think it bothers the world that we sin. i think it bothers the world that we act like we don't."

he knows my name

i have a maker
he formed my heart
before even time began
my life was in his hands

i have a father
he calls me his own
he'll never leave me
no matter where i go

he knows my name
he knows my every thought
he sees each tear that falls
and hears me when i call

no one can deliver me out of your hand
for you created my inmost being
and you knit me together in my mother's womb
your eyes saw my unformed body
you summon me by name and call me your own
i am precious and honored in your sight
because you love me
i am created for your glory

tommy walker


in memory of will habegger. september 12, 2005 - october 13, 2005
to read more about will please see his website www.caringbridge.org
visit - willhabegger

stolen house

today we visited the ruins of the house we lived in last winter. a few weeks ago it was torn down and all that is left is a mound of dirt. emmy first asked, "where did they move the house to?" followed by "it's o.k. we don't live there anymore." followed by "the house was stolen; i hope they don't steal our new house." i assured her our new house was still standing and had not been stolen.

mustard seeds

"if you have faith as small as a mustard seed you can say to this mountain, 'move from here to there' and it will move. nothing will be impossible for you." matthew 17:20
yesterday my sister, vicky, sold her house. typically homes in their area take a year to sell. yesterday my sister put a for sale sign up in her yard. yesterday it took two hours to sell for full asking price. yesterday a miracle happened because their family took hold of a mustard seed and wouldn't let go; God moved their mountain. in fact, a few weeks ago dave, (brother-in-law) told vicky, "God can sell this house in a day if he wants" God took that mustard seed and did abundantly above. they don't have a house to move into yet, but God sold their house he'll povide a new one. more mustard seeds. more mountains. the question becomes clear. why are we so surprised that their house sold in two hours? we've prayed that if the Lord wanted them to go back into ministry that He would provide. we've prayed specifically that the house would sell quickly and when it does we stand mystified.

just a mustard seed...

praise be to God who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or even imagine!

Blogging - Clogging or Flogging?

i haven't decided whether i'm up for blogging. my writing skills have faltered in the past four years. currently, i'm re-learning to print the ABC's with my 4 year old. (one letter per page) be patient as i attempt to re-master the art of words. the verdict is still out whether this experience will resemble an exhilarating dance or a cruel beating. i lean towards the latter.