Questions to Ponder...

What is the legacy you want to leave here on this earth?

Is your life leading to that legacy that you want to leave?

What changes should you make?

What should you persevere in?

What sacrifices are necessary?

Whom shall you decide to love in spite of your feelings?

Whom shall you stand up to in spite of your fear?

Whom will you forgive when they don't deserve it?

Where are you going?

When are you going to quit?

How are you going to do it?

When are you going to start thinking about it?

When are you going to do it?

An Answer to Prayer

There has been an answer to prayer that I shared on here a while back in this post. Actually, there have been three answers to specific prayers from that post.

First of all...

our whole department got RAISES across the board!

Do not fall over.

Do not call personnel.

Just go with it.

The second and third miracle are too personal to discuss here in this public forum but I have to tell you that God has orchestrated details to come together in ways that I could have never imagined. Two of them happened within 7 days of each other. I am so blessed. I knew the Lord would completely take care of this situation and He, once again, has shown Himself to be more than faithful with my life and my heart and the things that I care about.

He is so good to me in all things. I cannot imagine my life without knowing the Christ. I don't know how to explain powerfully enough the difference it makes in your life when you depend on something else bigger than yourself. The security and the relief that comes from trusting that the Creator of heaven and earth loves me and knows exactly what I need is unmatched by any job, any relationship, any amazing event, any circumstance, any opportunity. Period. And I look to find substitutes - every day. Haven't found anything that fulfills like Jesus does. Nothing even close.

My life is not perfect. It will never be perfect and it will definitely not look like anything I dreamed it would look like. Yours won't either. It will, however, look like the exact picture God had of your life when He thought of you. He has your days numbered before you ever came to be. He says that His ways are higher than our ways. He is crafting the tapestry of your life, intricately weaving the delicate threads stitch by unique stitch, each section taking on a beauty that could only have been envisioned by the One who sees the potential in us, who loves us and created us to be faithful to Him.

I can't believe the blessings that I have received at the perfect time only because He wanted to. I did not earn these blessings by any stretch of the imagination. They are gifts of grace, things I don't deserve but receive all the time. You have your own storehouse of blessings specific to your life. Are you receiving these blessings? Why or why not? He has them. They are sitting waiting for you to reach out and take hold of them. Trust and believe and know that He alone is God and when it is time, He will give you nothing less than His best. Nothing less. Ever.

Be blessed, friends, and know

that when God chooses to move,

you will know...

... I have seen it and it is amazing.

Simply.

An Opaque Vision Turning Translucent, Not Yet Tranparent

When I was a little girl, I was inevitably asked the same question by many people. When you were a child, you were asked the same question.

What do you want to be when you grow up?

I don't know what your answer was ... or IS. I guess some of us are still growing up. Maybe I am one of those people. I remember knowing somewhere in my "knower" that I was going to be a singer and a mommy and I went about telling people that these two things were my goal in this lifetime. Funny, that at my age, well into my 30's, I have yet to achieve either of those things. Less "funny" meaning "Ha! Ha!" and more"funny" meaning "odd" in my perspective. However, in God's perspective, I think that "funny" might mean "that girl is so crazy thinking that I have forgotten her." All in due time, friends.

I have mentioned on here that I am getting close to the CD launch in Houston. It is coming, FINALLY. I do not have a completely firm date but hopefully, I should find that out tomorrow afternoon and I will post as soon as I know. Here is the glory of God... it looks totally different than what I ever thought it would look like. Seriously. Totally different. I had no idea what it would look like because my vision was really opaque but a vision nonetheless. In some ways, might it be like the pictures you see in the clouds. When studying them, you really think there are images, concepts, pictures visualized in this ethereal world. And then, their gone. Were they even there at all?

Friends, it appears that the vision was real and the Lord is lifting some of the fogginess of the initial vision. What is so amazing is that while I was wondering if the vision was real or not, questioning the timing and situations surrounding it, the Lord has been orchestrating people, events, and circumstances to almost completely encircle the cloudy vision, just outside of my visibility.

Isn't that just like God?

Always working on our behalf and showing up at just the perfect time. Why do we doubt?

Through random (to me) and yet clearly God-ordained circumstances, the use of technology and a step of faith, I have been contacted by a national group who are basically a networking group/ministry who have presence in Christian media outlets from TV, radio, web based businesses, music, and written word. I have been asked to be part of the Nashville connection/Southeast US regional group. This is an opportunity that I was not looking for and honestly, had no idea anything like this was even out there. I will be on the task force for this area and work hard to bring other like minded women into the Nashville fold - those that are interested in becoming an integral part of media as christian women and furthering the cause of Christ through a means almost completely taken over by culture and a godless society.

I wanted to share this opportunity for a few reasons.

• First, if I am completely honest, I am scared to death about this very clearly ordination of the Lord to move me in a different direction than where I have been operating on a day to day basis. It is what I wanted and what I want even now but I am still scared. Satan knows this is the area where I struggle and he taunts me day after day about the unknown and the illogical reasons why this should or could be happening. He is a strong foe but I serve a mighty God and I know that He has placed me in this position that I am in for such a time as this (Esther 4:14). I know that I know.
• Second, I share this because I am requesting prayer for this new leg of the journey that I am travelling. I pray that fear would not paralyze me and not cause me to be disobedient to what the Lord has called me to do. I pray that I would walk by faith and not be sight. I pray that I would want what He wants for me rather than what I want for me. I don't even know what that looks like. I do know that I would hate to be caught wondering what it was that He wanted me to do while, in 20 years from now, I was still sitting doing what I knew I could do on my own and walked in the knowledge and power of ME. What a sad testimony for my life!
• Third, I want to use this situation as an encouragement to you. Are you struggling with stepping out on faith? Are you holding on the dream of what may be instead of what is? "Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things now seen". (Hebrews 11:1) I am not saying that God is a sort of "Sugar Daddy" but He is our Father and He loves to give us things that we desire that can be found in Him. He has storehouses of blessings stored up for us to disseminate to us throughout our lives. Don't think that He is finished passing out your blessings. He is not. Dare to dream outside of the reality you live in and know that God is the God of the "impossible". Move forward in faith. Take responsibility for your obedience and do not let fear keep you stuck where you are. He has called you to life and life abundantly.

Psalm 27:13-14:

"I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the LORD

in the land of the living!

Wait on the Lord;

be strong and let your heart take courage;

wait for the LORD!"

Patience and perseverance are key. Wait for the Lord. Take the courage that has been prayed up for you. Do it today! Don't wait. Live abundantly. Even if it is one tiny step, MOVE! You have to. Don't take the easy way out. You pray for me. I'll pray for you. Let's move together and trust God with our very lives. Then, when the fog lifts and the opaque turns to translucence and the translucence turns to tranparency, WE WILL SEE GOD.

We will see how He has created the vision,

He has organized the manpower to help facilitate this vision to fruition,

He has orchestrated the symphony you will march to,

He has counted the seconds of time until the exact moment of revelation and

He has positioned Himself

in the greatest possible place of receiving glory

for the world to see.

We serve a great and amazing God of grace and glory! I am humbled and blessed.

I Wish You Could Have Seen What I Saw...

... this morning.

My roommate, holding Vivi, the adorable, peeing cavachon pup turning out very lives upside down, sitting on her settee before church and giving the pup a full on manicure. Oh, what I would give for a picture of this moment. We have made jokes before how Vivi is CLEARLY NOT a shelter dog. She is MOST DEFINITELY a "designer dog" and all that that implies. The picture is worth a 1000 words. There she is in all her glory... totally sitting there relaxing having her belly scratched and her toenails filed while watching FOX news.

Come on... She is a conservative, if nothing else.

Who wouldn't want to live like this?

Parking... AGAIN!!!

I know, I can't believe I am writing another post about the parking here but I AM!!! Frustration is NOT the word for this morning. Irritation is not really strong enough.

It's more like... IR-RO-TA-SHONE!!!!

I have now missed Bible Study AND church because I am now stuck between two neighbors cars who are, themselves, wedged between cars that should not be there. I was supposed to be at bible study at 9:00 this morning. Missed that. Church started at 10:30. Thought "Surely someone will move by then". That would be a negatory, Ghost rider. At 10:25, I started my walk down the street to all of my neighbors homes. After waking them up, most were very nice and understood the problem. However, unfortunately, being nice is not a superpower with cars and the one particular car that I am talking about has been around for awhile: bumps and dings around the car and the trunk is taped up... with duct tape. I have listened for voices. I have heard nothing.

I do have lunch plans to take my sweet friend out for lunch for her birthday but this appears to be a no go at this point.

Suggestions, friends? What say you?

Amazingly Good

Just FYI-

God's timing and provision are Absolutely, 100%, Prime-Time, Grade A, Out-of-this-World, Shockingly and yet Totally Expectedly, should-clearly-shut-my-doubting-mouth A-MAZING!!!

Just wanted to remind you... and myself!

Updates to come...

There is a friend who sticks closer than a brother...

Last weekend was a spectacular weekend with my oldest and dearest friend, Alicen. She and I could not be more different than we are but that is seriously what makes it work so well. She knows everything about me as well as almost anybody. She knows everyone in my family well and has heard many stories about my friends... maybe even you. She is really tall and really thin and could be, outside of my mom, one of the best mothers a child could ask for. She is steady Eddie and I love her for it. She talks me down out of the tree when I tell her I think I want to jump to see if I can fly and then at the bottom of the tree, brainstorms, encourages and trusts that we will get a feasible plan together that will, INDEED, allow me to fly. She tells me the truth and listens to my crazy stories ad nauseum. I am so thankful for her and her friendship for the last 21 years.

Together, two and a half days, we went non stop and learned all about Nashville and what makes her the gem she is. I haven't taken the time to really do the touristy thing in Nashville since I moved her about 7 years ago and I was so glad that I was able to play tour guide and learn right along with her. Great memories together to add to our already colorful history together.

Friday night, picked her up and went to the Nashville Sounds game where we played the Round Rock Express. Why does this matter? Alicen is from Round Rock!! What are the chances? We had dinner at the ballpark in the shape of a dog with ketchup and I think it was the best meal I had eaten all week. I feel certain it was the company! IN honor of her being here, the Sounds played down their game and allowed the Express to get in there and ... PRESTO! Win for the Round Rock Express. We bend over backwards for our guests to feel welcomed. That's just what we do here in Nashville. GREAT fireworks afterward! Who'd a thunk the best fireworks I've seen all year (And I've seen about 5 pyrotechnic shows thus far this year ... What?! I told you drama follows me!) would be when the Nashville Sounds lost to the triple team from Austin?

Saturday, went to Noshville for brunch and it was delish!! No fireworks but we were ok without them. Trip next door to Gigi's cupcakes to see what all the fuss was about and could not get geared up enough to actually buy one of those icing-laden heart attacks so we took menu to be kind. Car issues - easily fixed and then the Belle Meade Plantation. As they say in Alabama "Well, a plantation by any other name is just a farm but it just rolls of the tongue a little sweeter."

This ain't no farm, kids!

This is a plantation and everything that brings to mind. So interesting and so much to look at. Loved it. Loved the mansion, loved the carriage house, loved the lady toting oxygen behind her all the way through the tour, loved it. Alicen enjoyed it as well. You should head up here or down here as the case may be and come visit.

Went home got dressed for dinner at Opryland Hotel which was jammed packed and so Alicen suggested Opry Mills for something. Chili's? Macaroni Grille? Rainforest Cafe?

How 'bout pizza from the food court?

Christi knows how to treat, that is fer sure!

We had bad seats for the Grand Ole Opry but come on... it was the Grand Ole Opry. Little Jimmy Dickens, Jeannie Sealy, Mike Snider, OPry Square dancers, Billy Dean, Jennifer Hanson and Allison Krauss with the Cox family all present for Alicen's debut at the Opry. Great show!

Downtown Nashville following the show was a bust! Didn't happen but several grand attempts.

Sunday, church at an amazing church, Grace Community Church, where I am blessed to go each week. Fantastic service with sermon on sanctification and holiness which was timely, relevant and instructive. What a blessing!

Baby shower for Christi - packing for Alicen as she prepared to head back to the great state of Texas. While Alicen was here, it was the great state of Tennessee. Blessed by the visit and so sad to see her go. We had a great time together and bonded us together in yet a different wayand created memories. These memories I will pack away right next to the ones that include:

• middle school pottery wheel electrocutions,
• sisters with hammers running at glass,
• trampoline jumping and blue bike riding,
• card games at night under the covers with flashlights,
• missing fingers,
• soccer ball confessions,
• loves that stayed and loves that left,
• children,
• matching broken feet with matching sweaters... on picture day,
• space trolley rides
• broken families
• Mrs. Staley's contracts

...and my favorite ~ lingering thoughtful conversations through the fence at home, meeting in the middle and living life together.

Since third grade, Alicen has been an integral part of my life and I wouldn't be the same without her. She is still just as integral to my life now, over 20 years later, as she was when we lived next door. The Lord knows our hearts and sometimes, in some of the greatest blessings of our lives, the Lord trusts us with people... His people and those He loves so dearly.

Thank you, Lord, for trusting me with Alicen and her precious friendship. Thank you for shaping it, stretching it, strengthening it and allowing to grow in godliness with each passing year. Bless her as you have blessed me with her.

Parking: Part II

OK. Sorry for the delay. Unfortunately, because it has taken me so long to get this written down, there have actually been a two more funny episodes that have happened since the parking issue but, as with many sanguine personalities, I can no longer remember them. I just remember thinking, Oh My Gosh! I am totally going to blog about this!!! Now... my memory is shot.

So, let's move along on this story before I forget this one as well...

The parking saga...

If you will remember, a while back I posted and entry about the territorial neighbors that I live around. It went something like this. Review at your leisure.

So, because there are such issue with parking in this community, the HOA has given out parking notices to each resident to place on people's cars if there is a problem with parking. They are little squares of paper that say stuff like: You are parked illegally in this place based on the following qualifications:
- parked in someone else's parking place without permission
- parked going the wrong direction
- parked on the curb
- parked too far from the curb
- parked in front of a hydrant
- parked in front of a house with a door
- parked on concrete
- parking brake depressed on this park job
- your car has windshield wipers
- you have a first and last name
- you pay monstrous dues for HOA and yet we need more money.

You get the drift...

I have to be honest, due to the geographic location of the condo where I live, it is very common for other people to park in my parking place in front of the condo. We are the first condo when you pull into the street so it offers mucho convenience for everyone... except me when I come home from work and there is someone parked in my spot. I don't generally get angry easily. I get irritated sometime over stupid stuff but usually, I find most things funny.

I do NOT find this funny. I honestly get really TICKED when someone is parked in my parking place. Why? BECAUSE I KNOW THOSE JOKERS WHO LIVE AROUND ME ARE GOING TO CALL THE COPS AND MAKE 'EM WRITE ME A TICKET IF I PARK ANYWHERE ELSE BESIDES IN FRONT OF MY CONDO!!!

That is why.

I would by lying if I told you I had not put a few of those tickets up on the windshields of cars parked illegally in my parking place. HOWEVER, I always leave nonabrasive notes attached. NOT like the one that I got with threats of tow trucks and doggy disposal. In fact, this is what I wrote on the last parking notice I left on a truck with a Texas license plate...

"Hi! I LOVE Texas people and so I am sure that you guys are great but unfortunately, this is a personal parking place and I don't have anywhere else to park so, even though you are visiting and probably didn't know, please park near the pool so I can park in my correct spot. Enjoy your visit! :)"

Hello!! I practically offered to be there tour guide for the duration of their trip. Nonabrasive? I would call it really overly friendly. Probably obnoxious to some. My sister would totally roll her eyes if she got that message so I am sure some people would gag. Sorry. Love me, love all of me. Anyway, they got the message (because I was watching out the window) and put it in their truck and left. When they came back , they parked in front of their host's condo. I felt a warm fuzzy feeling.

UNTIL...

The next morning, I received a parking notice on my car that was parked IN MY OWN PARKING SPOT for the following reasons:
- parked going the wrong way
- parked on the curb
- being a generally nice person.

OK - I'm kidding about the last one but I am NOT kidding about the parking notice. What? Someone has their feathers ruffled when they parked in the wrong place.

I am so very black and white in so many cases.

My feelings were kind of hurt because that is just unnecessarily ridiculous. Then, when I came home that day, I parked off the curb and going the correct way.

I am big enough to admit and take responsibility for my mistakes. And I fixed them.

Still irritated that they gave me a notice in my own parking place. Just for meanness.

Why?

Yo no se!

I should have Vivi leave them a present. She is so sweet.

Parking Saga Continues...

I have not the time nor the energy right now to blog about this (primarily because I have notes, discharge summaries, treatment plans, comprehensive reports and transfer notes to write tonight), but DO NOT FEAR, I WILL be blogging the next installment of "How to Emblazon your Neighbor through Parking Shenanigans".

Honestly, this place is so ridiculous. I can not WAIT to tell you about the fun that ensues and the tempers that inflame.

Tune in...

SinGLE - Party of One - SinGLE

Want to pitch out some articles or series of written entries that I have read about singleness, courtship, relationships in general. These primarily came from my blogging "friends" that I visit and read on regularly and wanted to share with my single readers. These are not only for SINGLE ladies and they are not only for single LADIES. They will impact the lives of those that read them no matter what your relationship status is. Let me say this, if you yourself are not single, there is a really good chance that someone you love (like your aunt or your daughter) is or will be sometime in their lifetime. These are really thoughtful and wise writers who have a strong spiritual heritage and recommendations to back up their reputations.

Check them out!!!

1) Carolyn McCulley's blog: Radical Womanhood -
Great article on the cultural romance "flu". It can change how you feel about love and courtship.
http://solofemininity.blogs.com/posts/2009/06/youve-got-lies-chick-flicks-and-the-worlds-approach-to-men-and-marriage-.html

2) Carolyn Mahaney and her three grown daughters blog: Girl Talk -
Section of entries on what to do while your preparing for marriage and how not to waste your single years....Let's use the time positively we have while we still have it...
http://www.girltalkhome.com/blog/category/courtship/

3) Nancy Leigh DeMoss blog- Reviving Our Hearts -
I LOVE her! She is herself a single women who just turned 50 and is so wise, discerning and solidly biblical when it comes to theology. Her article actually pertains to women who are married to "unbelievers" or a husband living as an "unbeliever".
http://www.reviveourhearts.com/pdf/uploads/ABCsSpiritualSingle.pdf

4) Lydia Brownback blog- The Purple Cellar -
Collection of short entries about facets of single life. I really enjoy reading everything on her blog.
http://purplecellar.blogspot.com/search/label/singleness

5) Titus2Talk
Great blog where they post lots of great pieces from around the web. They reference some very solid articles. This is their section on singles.
http://titus2talk.blogspot.com/search/label/Singles

I don't do that very often but thought I would show you around to the places that I visit from time to time and I haven't particularly talked to my single friends in a while.

So, blog out, venture away.... but be sure and come back.

A Pressing Fear...

The more I read, I feel more convicted that I have feasted on spiritually good upbringing, good heredity and milk toast theology. The problem is that I question if this has been enough for me. Have I rested on my laurels being the "good girl" and never delved into when I stand before Him and my actions, thoughts, desires, evidence of belief, are on display what He will say to me and about me? Have I tried to strike a bargain with God, promising to keep a bunch of rules? I fear I'm a spiritual slug.

As I am reading C.S. Lewis "MERE CHRISTIANITY", I have been profoundly impacted by the truths that are so often glossed over. A few thoughts that I have run across:

Final Curtain Call:

"Some of us who seem quite nice people may, in fact, have made so little use of a good heredity and a good upbringing that we are really worse than those whom we regard as fiends. That is why Christians are told not to judge. We see only the results which a man's choices make out of his raw material. But God does not judge him on raw material at all, but on what he has done with it. ..... All sorts of nice things which we thought our own, but which were really due to good digestion, will fall off some of use; all sorts of nasty things which were due to complexes or bad health will fall off others. We shall then, for the first time, see everyone as he really was. There will be surprises."

PRIDE

"According to Christian teachers, the essential vice, the utmost evil, is Pride. Unchastity, anger, greed, drunkenness, and all that, are mere fleabites in comparison: it was through Pride that the devil became the devil: Pride leads to every other vice: it is the complete anti-God state of mind... it is Pride which has been the chief cause of misery in every nation and every family since the world began...For Pride is a spiritual cancer: it eats up the very possibility of love, or contentment, or even common sense....The first step is to realise that one is proud.... At least, nothing whatever can be done before it. It you think you are not conceited, it means you are very conceited indeed."

One more...

ONE BODY, MANY PARTS: Satan's Skew

"Things which are parts of a single organism may be very different from one another: things which are not, may be very alike. Six pennies are quite separate and very alike: my nose and my lungs are very different but they are only alive at all because they are parts of my body and share a common life.... If you forget that (someone) belongs to the same organism as yourself you will become an Individualist. If you forget that he is a different organ from you, you will want to suppress differences and make people all alike, you will become a Totalitarian. A Christian must not be either..."

"(We have a tendency to point out to each other) - which of these errors is the worse. That is the devil getting at us. He always sends errors into the world in pairs - pairs of opposites. And he always encourages us to spend a lot of time thinking which is worse. You see why, of course? He relies on your extra dislike of the one error to draw you gradually into the opposite one. But do not let us be fooled."

I am so glad that I have taken the time to read this book as I see it becoming a foundational book from which to draw deeper into the knowledge and love of Christ. I highly recommend it if you have not read it. I have almost the whole book underlined and highlighted. :)

You might find that you, too, could be a spiritual slug, moving about so slowly in your spiritual growth and depending on your good upbringing and good "heredity" that we do not work out our own salvation with fear and trembling. We take on everyone else's faith and don't ever go beyond what is specifically fed to us by a trusted pastor, a parent, a good friend who attends church or mate that reads the Sunday School lesson before church.

This should not be.

There will be surprises. Of this, I am sure.

Oh Lord, please come quickly.

It Is a Blessing....

It is a blessing to have a job

that pays a regular check each and every month.

It is a blessing to have good health

and ability to be active.

It is a blessing to have good friends from 1981

all the way to my newest friend

made a few weeks ago.

It is a blessing to have a healthy family

where no one suffers from life ending illnesses

and/or physical diseases.

It is a blessing to have clothes

and enough to not wear the same shirt everyday.

It is a blessing to have a place to stay

with my own room and closet and study area

and place to be by myself.

It is a blessing to have a God centered church

with exceptional preaching and scripturally based worship.

It is a blessing to have parents

that are still married after 39 years.

It is a blessing to have an outlet where I can write

and hopefully encourage, vent, inspire and teach

and make some laugh a little.

It is a blessing to have opportunity to minister to others in music.

It is a blessing to live in a free country

where millions of other people would like to live.

It is a blessing to have financial resources

to pay my bills and much of my entertainment desires.

It is a blessing to have options.

It is the biggest blessing to have a relationship with the

Creator, Healer, Savior, Redeemer,

Teacher, Sovereign, Almighty God

who can take anything we give to Him,

good or bad,

and use it

to make us holy.

__________________________________________________

This is me talking myself out of complaining on here.

Really, when you have so much to be thankful for,

why complain about anything?

Service with a Smile

On this Memorial Day, I want to say THANK YOU to all the military members, past and present, who have served this country without a hint of selfishness, sacrificing the comforts and conveniences of home. They go when told to go, they do when told to do, and they serve when told to serve. They eat meals that have been vacuum packed. They miss school plays and piano recitals. They sleep on dirty palettes. They live under constant scrutiny and authority and thrive there. Their instincts are first to protect and secure. They are fighting a war minute by minute that many of us don't think about on even a daily or sometimes weekly basis. They miss out on the love of their wife and the hugs of their children and the support of their parents/siblings.

To these people serving me and my country, appreciation and gratitude is not enough. It is hard to put a value on freedom but it is calculated by years of service and the actual lives sacrificed by those stepping up to the plate year after year. To those that have served and are serving, we all applaud you and pray for you and appreciate your sacrifice for the individual and corporate good of our amazing and free United States.

Thank you to:
Mr Henry Harper Sr. (and my awesome Pappaw),
Mr. Lloyd Fredregill (my awesome Grandpa)
Mr. Wayne Rogers,
Mr. Bill Patterson,
Mr. Patrick Sieber,
Mr. Charles Wingo, and
Mr. Dale Ausborn

...just to name a few of those whose service has had an impact on me or someone I am close to directly. I appreciate the willingness to sacrifice those things mentioned and unmentioned for someone else other than yourself. We are forever grateful!

Is there anyone else who you want to thank publicy on Memorial Day 2009? Comment away...

The Name - MASTER

Is Jesus only our Savior or is He our true Master?

One saying that has gained a lot of popularity in societal circles has been "It is better to ask forgiveness than permission." I feel certain that I have said it myself. Unfortunately, it almost always stems from a heart that puts our wants, needs, choices as our Master rather than Christ. After putting our preferences in that "Master" position, we expect and depend on Christ as Savior to save us from our poor choices. This is not Christ's best for us.

I do not want to take ANYTHING away from the saving grace of Jesus's death and resurrection and those that know my heart, know this about me. Absolutely we are nothing without the blood of Jesus shed to glorify His Father and for the salvation of the children of God. However, just because we are forgiven does not give us the right and or opportunity to live in ways that are not submissive to our Master. It says in I Samuel 15:22-23 --

"Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices,

as in obeying the voice of the Lord?

Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice,

and to listen than the fat of rams."

John MacArthur states in his commentary (which is EXCELLENT, by the way)...

"This is the essential OT truth. Samuel stated that God desires heart obedience over ritual sacrifice... (Sacrifice) was never intended to function in place of living an obedient life..."

Being obedient to the Master rather than depending on the Savior when you choose to ignore the Master is commanded. Are we going to fail and need the Savior? Of course. But, should we placate our desires at the expense of submission to the Master?

Never.

The Name - King

I have had "a day" today. "A day" in which I felt that I really needed to get off the train that is looping round and round the earth at break neck speed because I am starting to feel nauseated.

I need a breather.

I need a little bit of time alone.

The circus monkey needs a nap and probably a banana.

Dipped in chocolate no less.

Are you getting me?

Today, I started off weepy and ended weepy and had a few weepies in the middle as well. I was set off by a kind comment this morning, by the lack of a kind comment at lunch, by the frustration of being unable to say "no" at times, and again at the end of the afternoon while recapping the crying with a friend at dinner.

I also had a kid spit in my coffee this morning which didn't help the matter.

I want someone to be in charge of my life and so I can just rest and quit worrying. I need someone stronger than me, smarter than me, more patient than me, more powerful than me, calmer than me and more loving than me to take charge here. I think maybe that is what a King does. That is what Christ the King does.

I need Christ to be King of my life and not the page boy. I need to be Esther coming boldly before the King pleading for the people in my life. I need to feel the security of royal body guards the King provides. I need to know the wisdom of the King. I need to nestle up in the King's robes and sit with Him at His feet and put my head on His knee.

And He is waiting even still today for me to do just that.

He is waiting for you, too.