how many times?

out of the overflow of my thoughts, my hands type.  :o)  i will finish the other catch-up posts soon... i promise.

last night during worship, God reminded me of a story out of 2nd Kings chapter 5.  the story of a man with leprosy who seeks healing and doesn't like the answer he receives.

Elisha sent a messenger to say to him, "Go, wash yourself seven times in the Jordan, and your flesh will be restored and you will be cleansed."  But Naaman went away angry and said, "I thought that he would surely come out to me and stand and call on the name of the LORD his God, wave his hand over the spot and cure me of my leprosy.  Are not Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than any of the waters of Israel? Couldn't I wash in them and be cleansed?" So he turned and went off in a rage. 

2 Kings 5:10-12

how often am i mad that God doesn't do things exactly the way i planned?

the thing that stuck out last night as i remembered the story is {how many times} it took to receive healing. 

So he went down and dipped himself in the Jordan seven times, as the man of God had told him, and his flesh was restored and became clean like that of a young boy. 

2 Kings 5:14

the first six times didn't work...but they were an essential part to the healing.

what if i knew how many times it would take to learn a lesson, be healed or make a difference in any situation? 

 what if we started viewing our "failures" as part of the process instead of being frustrated with ourselves?

 realize it didn't work, learn from it and jump back in!

how many times?

out of the overflow of my thoughts, my hands type.  :o)  i will finish the other catch-up posts soon... i promise.

last night during worship, God reminded me of a story out of 2nd Kings chapter 5.  the story of a man with leprosy who seeks healing and doesn't like the answer he receives.

Elisha sent a messenger to say to him, "Go, wash yourself seven times in the Jordan, and your flesh will be restored and you will be cleansed."  But Naaman went away angry and said, "I thought that he would surely come out to me and stand and call on the name of the LORD his God, wave his hand over the spot and cure me of my leprosy.  Are not Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than any of the waters of Israel? Couldn't I wash in them and be cleansed?" So he turned and went off in a rage. 

2 Kings 5:10-12

how often am i mad that God doesn't do things exactly the way i planned?

the thing that stuck out last night as i remembered the story is {how many times} it took to receive healing. 

So he went down and dipped himself in the Jordan seven times, as the man of God had told him, and his flesh was restored and became clean like that of a young boy. 

2 Kings 5:14

the first six times didn't work...but they were an essential part to the healing.

what if i knew how many times it would take to learn a lesson, be healed or make a difference in any situation? 

 what if we started viewing our "failures" as part of the process instead of being frustrated with ourselves?

 realize it didn't work, learn from it and jump back in!

feeling bleh.

this time last week, my joy was immeasurable.  today i am bleh.

motivation = 0
brownie batter + ice cream = food medication

did i seriously think that sugar would fill the need for God time and a good workout?  yeah...didn't work and now i'm regretting it.

it is amazing how many times i don't think about what the backlash may be for my renewed passion.  once again i was a threat.  after countless similar experiences i still wasn't prepared for retaliation.  discouraging thoughts and frustrations have been my constant companion this week and it took me until just about an hour ago to figure out why. 

satan doesn't like my bible study.  he doesn't like my passion or confidence. 

where did i run?  food.

i'm turning around and foiling his evil plans.  time for some God time.

feeling bleh.

this time last week, my joy was immeasurable.  today i am bleh.

motivation = 0
brownie batter + ice cream = food medication

did i seriously think that sugar would fill the need for God time and a good workout?  yeah...didn't work and now i'm regretting it.

it is amazing how many times i don't think about what the backlash may be for my renewed passion.  once again i was a threat.  after countless similar experiences i still wasn't prepared for retaliation.  discouraging thoughts and frustrations have been my constant companion this week and it took me until just about an hour ago to figure out why. 

satan doesn't like my bible study.  he doesn't like my passion or confidence. 

where did i run?  food.

i'm turning around and foiling his evil plans.  time for some God time.

tulip time!

on april 10th i set off down to woodburn on a quest to find tulips.  stacy (a friend since middle school) met me at starbucks and we were on our way to the wooden shoe tulip farm.  it had been a while since we had hung out and i was so blessed to hear how God was challenging her.  He has great adventures planned for her on the mission field!

i absolutely adore tulips.  hundreds of pictures didn't quite capture the beauty of being surrounded by these precious flowers, but here are a few of my favorites.

i love my boots.  seriously felt like a kid while i purposefully squished through the mud.  i don't really know why it makes me so happy, but it does.

there is an orchard next to the tulips and we took a little stroll through the trees and felt like it belonged in a movie.  this picture is {priceless}.  we almost gave up before finally getting this one.  timing was everything and it took us quite a while to both be airborne when the timer on my camera expired.  it made for a nice little workout between running to and from the camera and jumping.  worth every bit of the effort.

the entire day was a thing of beauty.  sunshine, tulips, creative and fun pictures, ooh... sharing an elephant ear, God conversations, catching up with a friend and even a little shopping to finish the day off right.

one thing i am working on is doing what i love to do instead of the things i like to do.  the things i love tend to take a little more effort but abundantly bless me in return.  too often i turn on the tv instead and later feel like the day was wasted.  this is only the second time i have been to the tulip festival... i missed numerous opportunities because of my lack of initiative.

i learning to fight the monotony of daily life.

tulip time!

on april 10th i set off down to woodburn on a quest to find tulips.  stacy (a friend since middle school) met me at starbucks and we were on our way to the wooden shoe tulip farm.  it had been a while since we had hung out and i was so blessed to hear how God was challenging her.  He has great adventures planned for her on the mission field!

i absolutely adore tulips.  hundreds of pictures didn't quite capture the beauty of being surrounded by these precious flowers, but here are a few of my favorites.

i love my boots.  seriously felt like a kid while i purposefully squished through the mud.  i don't really know why it makes me so happy, but it does.

there is an orchard next to the tulips and we took a little stroll through the trees and felt like it belonged in a movie.  this picture is {priceless}.  we almost gave up before finally getting this one.  timing was everything and it took us quite a while to both be airborne when the timer on my camera expired.  it made for a nice little workout between running to and from the camera and jumping.  worth every bit of the effort.

the entire day was a thing of beauty.  sunshine, tulips, creative and fun pictures, ooh... sharing an elephant ear, God conversations, catching up with a friend and even a little shopping to finish the day off right.

one thing i am working on is doing what i love to do instead of the things i like to do.  the things i love tend to take a little more effort but abundantly bless me in return.  too often i turn on the tv instead and later feel like the day was wasted.  this is only the second time i have been to the tulip festival... i missed numerous opportunities because of my lack of initiative.

i learning to fight the monotony of daily life.

condiments.

ketchup tomorrow...relish today.  :o)  that is how i've been living lately.  my blog desperately needs to be caught up though, so i am attempting to edit pictures and write amidst the frequent interruptions.  the kids all tend to want to sit in my lap whenever i sit down at the computer intent on accomplishing anything.

here is my blog to-do list:
__ tons of tulips
__ hike to multnomah falls
__ night out with meshach
__ beth moore bible study stuff

ready...go!

condiments.

ketchup tomorrow...relish today.  :o)  that is how i've been living lately.  my blog desperately needs to be caught up though, so i am attempting to edit pictures and write amidst the frequent interruptions.  the kids all tend to want to sit in my lap whenever i sit down at the computer intent on accomplishing anything.

here is my blog to-do list:
__ tons of tulips
__ hike to multnomah falls
__ night out with meshach
__ beth moore bible study stuff

ready...go!

proof that azariah can read...

well, kinda.  check this out!

proof that azariah can read...

well, kinda.  check this out!

long lost friend.

as each day ends, a judgement is made.  i weigh my actions, attitudes and accomplishments as i lay down for the night.  more often than not i fall terribly short.  my performance-based outlook distances me from God.  ashamed of how things went and how little i interacted with Him, i keep that distance because i haven't held up my end of the relationship.

i still don't quite grasp the meaning of grace.

last night i asked for prayer regarding this ongoing struggle and i received a new perspective through truth about another friendship i have.

my best friend talia lives on the other side of the world.  this gives me a great excuse to travel, but the majority of the time i don't like it.  i miss her.  communication was much easier when we shared a bunk bed.  facebook, e-mail, phone calls and old fashioned snail-mail help, but i am not always consistent or purposeful about keeping in contact.  in fact, i don't think i have ever sent talia a letter.

the next time talia comes to visit, will i avoid her because of my communication issues? no way!  if at all possible, i will be at the airport with huge embarrassing signs to welcome her. 

why should my relationship with God be any different?

it's a relationship. not a to-do list.

long lost friend.

as each day ends, a judgement is made.  i weigh my actions, attitudes and accomplishments as i lay down for the night.  more often than not i fall terribly short.  my performance-based outlook distances me from God.  ashamed of how things went and how little i interacted with Him, i keep that distance because i haven't held up my end of the relationship.

i still don't quite grasp the meaning of grace.

last night i asked for prayer regarding this ongoing struggle and i received a new perspective through truth about another friendship i have.

my best friend talia lives on the other side of the world.  this gives me a great excuse to travel, but the majority of the time i don't like it.  i miss her.  communication was much easier when we shared a bunk bed.  facebook, e-mail, phone calls and old fashioned snail-mail help, but i am not always consistent or purposeful about keeping in contact.  in fact, i don't think i have ever sent talia a letter.

the next time talia comes to visit, will i avoid her because of my communication issues? no way!  if at all possible, i will be at the airport with huge embarrassing signs to welcome her. 

why should my relationship with God be any different?

it's a relationship. not a to-do list.