Who Let the Dogs Out?

On Sunday morning I decided to go for a jog before church. It was a typical Sunday morning, and a typical run. I rounded the corner on a particular street less than half-way through my 3-mile jog, like usual. And I saw the run-down pink house, with the unkempt yard.

And then out of nowhere, a friend came to greet me—their big, brown, muscular dog. It didn’t bark. It didn’t growl. It simply chased me about two steps, jumped at my leg, and bit me. It sunk its sharp teeth into the soft meaty flesh, which is the back of my thigh. And I stopped in shock and genuine surprise at the audacity of this mutt.

The bite was worse than I initially thought. Two circular puncture wounds mark the dog’s bicuspid fangs, and a semi-circle of black, blue, and purple is the perfect replica of Bruiser’s mouth. I don’t know the dog’s given name, but I choose to call him Bruiser, because that is what he is.

Now don’t worry. I told the owner what happened. I went to the doctor who informed me that it is a very “clean” bite. But I don’t think there’s anything clean about it! Apparently that means it’s not infected, I don’t need antibiotics, and I’m not going to die of rabies. Yay.

So, what is the lesson? I know there must be one. Is it to carry pepper spray when I jog? Bring a stick? Run down a different street? No. Well, those are all ideas…but that’s not the lesson I learned. From this experience I took away two things. First, don’t wait until your neighbor’s dog bites you before you knock on the door and introduce yourself. And second, don’t run on Sunday…it’s the day of rest! ☺

Change

I’ve never been good with change. In fact, if my memory serves me correctly, I’ve written a blog entry about change in the past. I don’t know what it is, but to me, there is something soothing about schedule, disciple, order, rules, regularity, predictability. It’s comforting, satisfying even. I thrive when I can anticipate things.

But unfortunately that is not real life. Most of the time, we can’t predict the future. And we especially can’t control the future. That’s a problem for someone like me. And I use the word “problem” loosely. It is actually a good thing because it forces me to trust the Lord.

So as much as change scares me, it’s good for me. It stretches me, and it makes me more like my Savior. So I won’t fight it—I’ll embrace it. Change? Bring it on!

White Christmas

I am going to listen to my Michael Buble Christmas CD one last time on the way home from work today before I put it away for an entire year! It's inconceivable how quickly the holidays flew by. It seems unreal. It's almost impossible to believe how drastically things change from when you're a kid. But if any time at all, Christmas is the best time to search for that spark, that simple joy you had as a child.

I spent a week with my sister, my B.I.L., my two nephews, and 3 of their cousins...in all there were 5 boys ages 1,2,3,4, and 5! Yes, it's true. It was crazy and insane. But such a blast! Being around kids like that on Christmas really changed everything for me, and it was such a special time. Enjoying their new toys, going on bear hunts, making Christmas cookies and happy birthday Jesus cakes, playing in the snow...it was so much fun.

My sister, B.I.L., and the boys leave tomorrow to go back to Uganda, so sadly that week at Christmas was the last time I will see them for a couple of years, unless God allows me to take a trip to Africa. The cost is great, but the mission is worth it. I will gladly sacrifice having my sister around if it is for the sake of the kingdom.

Goodbyes are bitter cold, like the snow we used to build our snowman. I am trusting that the warmth of these amazing memories will melt the frosty parting and burn brightly until the next time I get to be with my family again.

Too Good to Be True

Have you ever been in a place in life where everything seems to be going smoothly? You feel like you've got everything together and everything is moving along like normal. I'm not talking about WONDERFUL times where great things are happening...just the times that are peaceful. You aren't in the midst of any big trials and things are manageable. Things are safe and predictable and the possibility of hurt is minimized.

But then something really good happens, and it's hard to believe it's true. It's hard to accept. At least for me it is! I've been so used to going through trials and hard things, that when something good does happen, it can be a little hard to accept the gift, for fear that it will be taken away. It's easier to keep going in the "manageable" and the status quo than to step out and take a risk by stepping into something new and good.

But some gifts are so amazing, you can't help but hope they are true and take the chance. So you step out in faith and push off the "good" and reach for "great". It's worth it! I believe that. Because God is the giver of every good and perfect gift. He is not harsh or unfeeling. He is kind and gives good things.

I'm Alive and Thinking...

I've been encouraged to keep up my blog, despite good distractions that fight for my time. So I'm vowing to do my best. It's my Thanksgiving resolution, I suppose. Why wait until the new year?

Yesterday at work in staff meeting we had a devotion on Psalm 139 which says,
"Do I not hate those who hate You, O Lord? And do I not loathe those who rise up against You? I hate them with a complete hatred; I count them my enemies."

I have to be honest, this is a hard thing to swallow. I have always been told the cliche, "Hate the sin and love the sinner." And I know the intent behind that saying. But then, how am I to I take a verse like the verse above? Clearly it tells me to hate those who hate God. It calls them my enemies! There is no getting around it. I have nothing in common with those in darkness. I have no fellowship with sons of the devil. It's harsh, but true! There is no truce. No friendship, flirting, or comfort in the presence of an enemy. Too often I think of people as "good." In theory I know that's not true. I know sin abounds. But in practice I am at peace and comfort that everyone around me is pretty much good. NO. I am surrounded by enemies, and I am commanded to hate. Gulp.

But here's where I am blown away. I am also clearly commanded in Scripture to LOVE my enemies! Yes, I am surrounded. Yes, I hate them and loathe their father, Satan. But I LOVE them with a supernatural love. The same love that God love me with when even though I was His enemy, He died for me.

And this hatred of sin should lead directly to reflection in my own life--which is the very next verse in Psalm 139,
"Search me, O, God and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!"

And that is my prayer today!

Winding Down

My sister, bro, and the boys are only here for a couple more weeks. The time has gone so fast! I just can't believe how precious my nephews are! I think my heart is going to break when they are gone. Even just a few days without them and the house seemed so empty it was scary! It was too quiet and it felt strange to actually sleep in a BED! But right now I'm going to forget about that moment when they leave, and I'm going to enjoy my next few weeks on the blow-up mattress and more important, my time with my amazing sister and those dear boys!

Adventures in Life

I visited a church with my sister this past weekend. Something the pastor said got me thinking. He said the Christian life is never dull or boring. When we live in total, wild, crazy abandon for Christ, we are living a great adventure. We never know what a day can bring. It can be delightful, fun, relaxing, filled with joy and good things. Or a day can be hard, tiring, stressful, even tragic. But it all comes from the hand of a good God who loves me. And the exciting part is, I never know what comes next, or what to expect when I wake up in the morning and lift my head off of my pillow. I have chosen this journey and I will continue it with a smile as I think about the future. How about you?

It's Been a Long Time

I realized I've been sadly negligent of my blog! But I have a good reason. And since they say a picture is worth a thousand words, I will share a few pictures. I think they will explain for themselves why it's been over a month since I've posted!

Nap

Naps are strange things...

I don't normally take naps, not because I don't like them, but because they never seem to work for me. Either I can't fall asleep, or I get woken up. But not today...today I had a great nap. I fell asleep while watching a movie, I won't name the movie, because I don't want to give it a bad rep. for making me fall asleep. Yes, I blame the movie. "Blame" being a good thing in this case. I suppose I should say I give "credit" to the movie for helping me fall asleep. :)

Well, you know that feeling you get after you take a nap? That hazy, dreamy feeling? I got that today big time! After a 3 hour nap, yes I did say 3 hours, I was woken up by my aunt calling me and telling me their house alarm went off and asking if I could go and check on the house. I'm thankful the house was just fine!

But I just had to share about the best nap I've had in a long time. And a reminder of that hazy, dreamy, feeling that I haven't felt in so long!

Some Things I'll Never Understand...

1. Why some people are attractive and others, not so much. :)

2. Why God chose death as the vessel to bring His children to glory.

3. Guys(need I say more?)

4. Why I was born in a rich, easy nation like America.

5. Why the foods that are the worst for you taste the best.

6. Lemurs.

7. Movies like Willow.

8. The people who work at the Rite Aid by my house.

9. Brussel sprouts.

10. Why I'm such an emotional person.

Ouch!

This morning I was on my way to work, minding my own business. I was stopped at a red light when the big semi-like truck in front of me started to roll backward...right into me. The driver said his gears "jumped." O boy...here comes the insurance fun!

I am so glad I drive a big car like Tonto or I would have been squashed! Seriously. When I bought my car, it was between a Mini Cooper and my FJ. Honestly, if I had been in a Mini Cooper today, that backward-driving truck would have squashed me like an accordion. Yet Tonto just has a slightly munched bumper.

I'm so thankful to God!

Reunions

HS reunions are strange things. You'd think I could probe the creative recesses of my word-nerd brain and come up with something more descriptive, right. Well, I'm sticking with it--they are "strange things."

Don't ask me how, but somehow I got sucked into helping with the planning of my HS reunion. I didn't realize what I was getting myself into. And now the reunion is 3 weeks away and I'm totally stressing out. There is so much I've been assigned to do at the last minute. And how can I possibly say no at this point?

I'm happy to help and I know it will be an enlightening and interesting dinner with my old classmates, so I'm glad to go, but at the same time it seems surreal. I can't be this old, because I don't feel this old! Well, recently my hip has been hurting me when I run. Does that mean I'm getting old too? Lord help me!

I'm dreading the reunion, but I'm also intrigued and excited about it at the same time. Any reunion stories to help me cheer me up? Or freak me out?

A Strange Feeling

I woke up this morning and went outside for my normal morning run. And the first thing I noticed was my car...it looked like I had run over something and splattered it all over my tires. When I went in for a closer look, I saw that it was paint! Someone had spray painted with graffiti paint the tires all along the bottom side of my car!

It's a strange feeling. People say you feel violated when you are robbed or mugged. And I kind of feel like that. My car was parked in my driveway! Someone did that to my car in my own driveway!

It's a strange, sick feeling I have in the pit of my stomach. I can't explain it. It's not fear. Just disgust and even sadness. Kind of like a slap in the face to remind me of the sad realities of the world we live in.

Humility

Today at work we had a "retreat" where we could get away and analyze our team, how we work together, our strengths and weaknesses. It was very encouraging. We started the first chapter of Humility by CJ Mahaney. It was very timely. Over the past few weeks the Lord has been revealing to me the pride that is in my heart. It's always been there, but it's been spilling out in puddles lately when different circumstances have shaken it up! God was already working in my heart even before we had this meeting and then up pops this discussion about humility. I don't believe in chance. I know it's God who ordained this in His grace to call me to repentance.

On top of being spiritually nourishing, the day was just plain old FUN! We were in a box at the Home Depot Sports center in LA. And we did a little planning for the Galaxy game event we are promoting. We had lunch at Five Guys...yummy burgers and fries. I realized how unique and fun LA can be. I forget there is so much to see and do because I don't go into LA that often. I've lived here my entire life and haven't seen a lot of the typical LA touristy things! Ha! Go figure.

The Great Adventure

Every stage in life is so different.I'm learning to see each stage as an adventure. A dear friend, and woman I look up to very much, was telling me about how she recently found out that her husband must undergo open heart surgery. Now, if you knew my friend, you would know that she and her family have been through some extremely difficult trials in the past couple of years. And yet, in the midst of this new, huge trial, my friend was joyful, hopeful, calm, and even kept her sense of humor! I was amazed at her deep trust in the Lord which kept her so composed with a gentle, quiet, unfrazzled spirit! When she explained the situation of her husband's illness, she described it as "their newest adventure."

Since that conversation with my friend, I can't get that idea out of my mind. Adventure! Every stage in my life, every place where God has me, every trial I go through, I must see it as an adventure!

Good Friday

For me, Good Friday has always been overshadowed by Easter. But for some reason this year it has gained more significance to me. I think about the people worshipping Christ as he entered the city, shouting hosanna, and laying their coats on the ground for Him. And then, just a few days later they were spitting on Him, mocking Him, and nailing Him to a cross to die.

I'm just as fickle. One moment I am praising Him with my lips and rejoicing over what He has done and the next moment I question His goodness and His plan in my life. I am like the disciples who can't even stay awake to pray for one hour in His time of greatest need. I sleep as He anguishes in prayer in some of the last moments of His life. I rest as He sweats drops of blood.

But He STILL died for me and He rose again and conquered death so that I might live in newness of life and spend eternity with Him forever!

Amazing love, how can it be, that Thou my God should die for me!

All By Myself

So, today at work I'm ALL BY MYSELF! What should I do?
Stop at Jamba Juice on my way to work?
Turn my music up and sing at the top of my lungs?
Listen to This American Life?
Go out to lunch?
Yep. Sounds good to me!

Be Still and Know...

As the deer pants for the water, so my soul longs after God!



There's been a recurring theme in my life the past couple of weeks and that is--be still and know that I am God. What exactly does it mean to be still before God. Whatever it is, I know I don't do it enough. Things get so busy and hectic. Even my time in the Word doesn't feel like I am being STILL.

I'm striving to figure this out. For now I think to meditate on Scripture and let it permeate me, to let God speak to me through his Word, and to acknowledge the presence of the Holy Spirit in all things is a good start.

Learning Lavish Forgiveness

I'm starting to see something. The Christian life is all about battling our sin until the day comes when we are without sin! And that means death or until Jesus comes back. For the believer, life is not going to be easy. Because we are in a war! A lot of Christians want life to be neat and clean and tied up in a pretty little package. God never promises that. Even our sin is "neat" and respectable. But the truth is, that's not the case. Even if we think our life is nice and neat, it's not. Our sin is ugly and dirty. We are desperate, and there's no point in pretending we're better than we really are.

That's what makes His forgiveness so lavish! The fact that we are so depraved, and yet He chooses to forgive us, is astounding. His forgiveness makes our scarlet sins as white as snow. The restoration, healing, and blessing God can bring out of our lowest point is incomprehensible. I've seen it! It is real.

I praise God for His great grace!

Not Just Another Shower

I went to a baby shower today. Yes, I've been to tons of showers, but this one was different. There were so many special details about this shower...handmade favors, ribbons, decorations, flower pens, even pregnant onion plants. I think more love went into this shower than any shower I have ever been to. And today I had an epiphany. The only reason for a shower is to pour out love on the person having a baby (or getting married...whatever the occasion). Sure that doesn't sound like much of an epiphany, but I had never thought of it that way before.

This grand awakening happened when we started playing one of the games. Here's a quick lowdown. Eat baby food, guess what it is. Person with the most right guesses wins! Now I'll be honest. the only reason in the world I will eat baby food is because I LOVE the person who's baby shower I am celebrating. If I didn't love you, I wouldn't come to your shower, and I certainly wouldn't eat baby food!

And then it hit me. Duh! That is the only reason to have a shower of any kind. To show love to the person. I will never look at showers the same way ever again!