Around the World in 80 Days

First of all, a big shout out to the FBI in Huntsville who are taking child predators, long time fugitives, and all the other "bad guys" and basically "squaring them away" and putting them behind bars for a long time. I don't know who these good guys are specifically, but I think they need (though they would never ask for or expect them) some kudos. Not the bars. Well, maybe the bars. Or maybe a big kiss. Who's to say?? I guess it all depends...

Next on the agenda... the great Northwest! A couple of things here...
1) Mis padres just came back from Lake Louise and the Victoria area in Canada. They reported snow but they are also reporting the very same report as 18 years ago when we went as a family.
It is STILL the most beautiful place to visit!
2) Nashville Preds have been sold to our friendly Canadian Billionaire who also bought 30 acres up north (beyond our borders) and an arena. So, given that information, how long do you think that Nashville has to beef up sales for the games before we are without a world class hockey team? I say it's a done deal and they have started renting storage units and selling their halter tops. They are gone and it is such a shame because I hear that they are really good. I know, I have not been doing my part to support but I have trouble understanding them talk, I usually cannot find the puck watching a game, and all the violence... I am a Southern girl and I guess that sometimes we have trouble with whole hockey thing no matter how good they are. Maybe it is just me. I will listen to 104.5 THE ZONE when they are discussing the Preds and I think that is at least something...
3) Mis padres are travelling on Thursday to the great Northwest again (they got back yesterday) for sweet Besher's wedding. That would be my cousin, Beth's, wedding. Her name is Dorothy Elizabeth and she is using polka dots in her wedding because her nickname is "Dot". I say that is nothing but cute! Thankfully, her groom is not named Polka. He is named Ernie, which also is cute. However, if you saw him, you would use a different word besides "cute". The guy is a good looking guy and it is my understanding that he thinks Beth can do no wrong and treats her like the princess that she is. I say Amen to that! I am really excited for her and wish I could go.

Finally, I know several people going to Spain in early July. One is running with the bulls. (Begin praying at your earliest convenience.) The others are just going to see if Taco Bell in Nashville is the same as Taco Bell in Spain. If you are going to Spain in early July, let me know and perhaps we could orchestrate a mixer of some sort for vacationing Americans over in Spain. I'm thinking we should name it. We could call it:

"Christi's Connections"

or

"Americans Abroad"

or

"You're Going To Have Some Ex-SPAIN-ing To Do When You Get Home"

or

"Come-Have-Ice-Cream-With-Other-High-Falootin'-Americans-Who-Think-Idaho-or-Utah-Aren't-Good-Enough-to-Vacation-at".

Who knows - maybe my parents will show up??

"All We Are is Dust in the Wind"

"He knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust."

Psalm 103:14 NIV

"What a blessed relief to be reminded that God knows me - in fact, he knows me so well He understands that apart from Him I can do nothing.

I don't have to prove myself to God.

I don't have to worry about disappointing God.

I don't have to earn His respect.

I don't have to deserve His blessings....

He created me in the first place....

I am just a little dust person infused with the very breath of God!"

--Just Give Me Jesus

Anne Graham Lotz

I was reading this verse and little devotional yesterday and it occurred to me yet again just how much God loves me and wants the best for me. No matter how it looks to me, God's ways are best and I don't have to understand, prove myself, earn or deserve anything He chooses to give me. Left to my own devices, I would succeed at making a complete mess out of everything that I try to "fix" for Him - from events, people, or circumstances into my life. Isn't that sad? For me.

Then tonight I was talking to my friend, Carrie, and she mentioned hearing teaching tonight on the Valley of Dry Bones. The message that she carried away with tonight was the fact that those old bones are not going anywhere without the complete sustaining power of God. Together putting these two pieces together, it once again reminded me how very incompetent and unable we are without Him. We pray for our own will to be done, we talk about things which we cannot possibly fathom and take credit for things that God blessed us with. What is wrong with us?

My favorite part of the devotional is when she calls me " a little dust person infused with the very breath of God." So this is it. We are strictly dust walking. Think about that. We are able to hold our human form solely based on God's benevolence and grace that allows a little of Him to inflate our skin with His holy breath. Somewhere along the way, we have allowed that breath from God to penetrate our heads and our egos and not so much in a good way. Why do we think that God's way is not good enough? Why is God's timing not quick or slow enough? Why do we think that the thoughts formed in our heads trump the very Mind of God who created the tapestry of who you are, the earth on which you walk, and the number the days you have left in your life?

Unfortunately, I find I am just that arrogant to think my ways are better. Praise the Lord, He doesn't think so. Do I throw some temper tantrums when I don't get my way? Yes. Do I pray for God to do it my way? Yes. Do I thank the Lord when things are just as He wills it to be and doesn't resemble in any way, shape or form what I desperately wanted? Not enough but I am trying. I trust Him and when I answered His call on my life to follow Him for the rest of mine, there were no promises with regard to comfort or convenience. There was a call from Him and then we began to walk together. Period. There were no caveats. There were no bargains. I am a dust person infused with the very breath of God. My body, my mind, and my life is strictly the venue. He is what people want to see. Not me. Anything at all attractive in me is the Spirit of God and His likeness. I pray that you can see Him and His choices for me written all over my dusty life.

To God be all the glory and honor.