I don't know much about this book/series other than seeing covers and over-hearing conversations about it everywhere I go. However, from even the little I do know, it seems this lady has a biblically founded perspective on it.
(And she uses one of my all time favorite verses to back it up!)
Is Twilight for you?
Friday, November 6, 2009
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Light - Into, or With?
As I headed out this morning my first direction was east – watching the sun coming up over the mountains. It’s blinding, the light so strong that everything around it seems dark. My path, the landscape around me, the wash, the bunnies, everything is shrouded in various shades of black as I walk in my dark, walking against the sun whose blinding light leaves me in a state where I can’t really see anything around me. My visibility is so limited that I don’t plug in (ipod) during this part of the walk. I need every bit of auditory input available to me for my own security. I’ve got to listen, completely unimpeded, to what’s going on around me, as my limited field of vision is not nearly enough to keep me safe.
It’s like this with God too. Sometimes, we get into a situation where we've been caught off guard. We panic and run straight to the Lord. It’s ok, that’s where we should go. We run hard and fast to Him and can’t see anything around us, save for His blinding light. Whatever has caused the panic is blurred, we can’t make sense of it, it is unclear. We go into hyper-auditory mode, listening for anything that could give us a clue as to how to handle it.
As I took the curve I began a change of direction, just like the Lord does with us. No abrupt about-face. Just a gentle turning to begin moving in the same direction as the light.
Moving with the light, rather than against it, offers a completely opposite effect. Colors are clarified into vivid greens of the shrubbery and brush, mountain browns, magenta and purple in flowers, a brilliant blue sky, and clean white clouds. Before, a sound would first alert me to a bunny very near by. The shift of illumination shows me clearly the same friends (and more) at a distance, long before I come upon them. There are long, long shadows stretching out in front of me, warning me what’s going on behind me. Now there is enough safety to risk enjoying some music for the duration of my time, as even when I cut out some of the ability to hear what’s going on around me, my visibility is such to make up for it – and them some.
When I am walking in the same direction as the Lord, I can see where I’m going, what I’m walking into, I know what’s around me and know what’s coming from a ways away. I am prepared to handle what’s attempting to sneak up behind me, all while enjoying everything He has for me. Spying out a bevy of quail, finding a supporting beat previously undiscovered in a song, a slight drop in temperature or direction of the breeze, the enticing smell of coffee from the shop upwind . . . mmm . . . yes!
Should we never walk into the figurative light? Certainly not! But I’m so thankful that when we do we are gently turned around, and shown that life is so much lovelier when we are moving in the same direction as our Creator.
In which direction are you moving today?
It’s like this with God too. Sometimes, we get into a situation where we've been caught off guard. We panic and run straight to the Lord. It’s ok, that’s where we should go. We run hard and fast to Him and can’t see anything around us, save for His blinding light. Whatever has caused the panic is blurred, we can’t make sense of it, it is unclear. We go into hyper-auditory mode, listening for anything that could give us a clue as to how to handle it.
As I took the curve I began a change of direction, just like the Lord does with us. No abrupt about-face. Just a gentle turning to begin moving in the same direction as the light.
Moving with the light, rather than against it, offers a completely opposite effect. Colors are clarified into vivid greens of the shrubbery and brush, mountain browns, magenta and purple in flowers, a brilliant blue sky, and clean white clouds. Before, a sound would first alert me to a bunny very near by. The shift of illumination shows me clearly the same friends (and more) at a distance, long before I come upon them. There are long, long shadows stretching out in front of me, warning me what’s going on behind me. Now there is enough safety to risk enjoying some music for the duration of my time, as even when I cut out some of the ability to hear what’s going on around me, my visibility is such to make up for it – and them some.
When I am walking in the same direction as the Lord, I can see where I’m going, what I’m walking into, I know what’s around me and know what’s coming from a ways away. I am prepared to handle what’s attempting to sneak up behind me, all while enjoying everything He has for me. Spying out a bevy of quail, finding a supporting beat previously undiscovered in a song, a slight drop in temperature or direction of the breeze, the enticing smell of coffee from the shop upwind . . . mmm . . . yes!
Should we never walk into the figurative light? Certainly not! But I’m so thankful that when we do we are gently turned around, and shown that life is so much lovelier when we are moving in the same direction as our Creator.
In which direction are you moving today?
Monday, November 2, 2009
Walking the Line
I am so thankful that my children can sniff out evil and see that there is no way to Christianize evil celebration.
There are so many godly things to celebrate – why do we jump at the chance to dabble in Halloween? Why not Ramadan? Aztec child sacrifice?
Are they really so different?
I don't think so.
There are so many godly things to celebrate – why do we jump at the chance to dabble in Halloween? Why not Ramadan? Aztec child sacrifice?
Are they really so different?
I don't think so.
The Simple Woman's Daybook
FOR TODAY...
Outside my window ~ a patio that needs a sweep.
I am thinking ~ so many things to do – which first?
I am thankful for ~ my husband being home today.
I am wearing ~ comfy clothes.
I am remembering ~ my last trip to CO.
I am creating ~ new spaces. The LSI scrapbook room is being moved into Chaos, and the closet that was the scrapbook room is going to hold the boys’ workboxes for their studies.
I am going ~ to look at condos on Wednesday.
I am reading ~ 5 books at once. Ug!
I am hoping ~ That something works itself out in this next condo venture.
On my mind ~ This transition time, two weeks of studies left, shifting, lots in the air and needing to settle.
We are studying ~ How to finish strong!
Noticing ~ the things I missed with the boys.
Pondering these words ~ “amusement means, ‘without thought’” WOW!
From the kitchen ~ clean dishes!
Around the house ~ gentlemen changing air filters and vacuuming the vents.
One of my favorite things ~ taking a walk in the morning. Hope I keep it up!
A few plans for the rest of the week ~ World Tour Wednesday, need an orthodontist appointment, some clothes shopping, a party for the children . . .
From my picture journal ~ nothing today. I’m on the wrong computer for that!
Outside my window ~ a patio that needs a sweep.
I am thinking ~ so many things to do – which first?
I am thankful for ~ my husband being home today.
I am wearing ~ comfy clothes.
I am remembering ~ my last trip to CO.
I am creating ~ new spaces. The LSI scrapbook room is being moved into Chaos, and the closet that was the scrapbook room is going to hold the boys’ workboxes for their studies.
I am going ~ to look at condos on Wednesday.
I am reading ~ 5 books at once. Ug!
I am hoping ~ That something works itself out in this next condo venture.
On my mind ~ This transition time, two weeks of studies left, shifting, lots in the air and needing to settle.
We are studying ~ How to finish strong!
Noticing ~ the things I missed with the boys.
Pondering these words ~ “amusement means, ‘without thought’” WOW!
From the kitchen ~ clean dishes!
Around the house ~ gentlemen changing air filters and vacuuming the vents.
One of my favorite things ~ taking a walk in the morning. Hope I keep it up!
A few plans for the rest of the week ~ World Tour Wednesday, need an orthodontist appointment, some clothes shopping, a party for the children . . .
From my picture journal ~ nothing today. I’m on the wrong computer for that!
Monday, October 26, 2009
The Simple Woman's Daybook
For Today
Outside My Window
A drift of bougainvillea petals blowing around the yard.
I Am Thinking
I have a fabulous life.
I Am Thankful For
EVERYTHING!
From the Kitchen
Coffee in a few more minutes.
I Am Wearing
Seriously cutified flip flops.
I Am Studying
The Workbox System
I Am Reading
Matthew, Job, The Workbox System, Specter of the Past,
Parenting Your Internationally Adopted Child
I Am Hoping
For a terribly productive week.
I am Creating
Photos . . . lots of photo printing going on around here!
I Am Hearing
The constant passing of printer heads over paper,
children giggling while cleaning their rooms upstairs.
We Are Learning
The art of finishing strong.
Around the House
Printing, cleaning, ignoring our social worker. Next up? Studies.
One of My Favorite Things
My Husband.
A Few Plans for the Rest of the Week
Finish printing photos, finalize curriculum requirements for next year, plan the next cycle of menus, World Tour Wednesday, cook/bake Thursday, depart for
Here is a Picture Thought I am Sharing With You
Walking to the park for the last time in Wroclaw, Poland.
Every time I see it I hear, "The Long and Winding Road".
Care to Join Us?
Monday, October 19, 2009
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
