The cyber world has been a bit of a mystery to me since my DH, the computer engineer, first explained what the World Wide Web would be able to do waaaay back in ancient history around 1995.  But in spite of the mystery I have learned enough to be a user and consumer of sorts over the years!  And so have you since you are reading this blog!

 One of the things I have LOVED about the web is the possibility to use this amazing technology for the glory of God and the good of others.  I endeavor to do so in my blogging, my facebook and my tweets.  But I am really a nube compared to the women I enjoy following through A Woman Inspired.

 For the month of January, these women are committing themselves to blog very intentionally for God’s glory and on topics that will be for our good as well.  I encourage you to hop on over and get connected…. you really won’t regret it!

I love the newness that comes with the first day of school, the smell of new binders and paper, the fresh bulletin boards and newly sharpened pencils.  Can you remember the joy of the first day of marriage, or the first day of life for your first child (or second, or third, etc.)?  All these firsts bring such excitement and anticipation!

But do you celebrate the newness of opportunity that the turning of the first page of a new calendar brings?  Are you looking forward to doing new things?  Or in doing old things in a new way?  There are so many thoughts bouncing around in my mind! 

One thing I am aspiring to do is persevere: true confessions, I am a great starter, but often lack the perseverance to go the distance.  I have been attempting to change this characteristic though.  Last year I became a cyclist and rode two century event rides with my DH on our tandem.  There is a lot of training that goes into being able to go out and ride one hundred miles in one sitting!  This year I am attempting to ride 3000 miles over the year.  A worthy goal for a middle age woman, don’t you think?

I am reading through the Bible using You Version and am on Day 160.  I am so thankful to have this on my phone so that no matter where I am, I can keep up without excuse!  This goal is so beneficial to me and everyone I come in contact with because I am changed by interacting with God’s Word on a daily basis.  And changing to be more Christlike today than I was yesterday is a good goal!  I have a partner Who will never let me down too!

Those two goals bring excitement to this New Year for me.  Growing in perseverance will be challenging for sure but I know that perseverance brings proven character, and thus hope!  “and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.” (Romans 5:5)

1/1/11 Beginnings.  What are your goals for this New Year?

 

So it’s the last day of 2010 Already! It’s the trend to speak of the top things of the year passing away and then to look forward with a resolute heart (hence “resolutions”) to the year to come.

So not to be left out… My 2010 Tops:
1) Road trips! I loved driving across country from Chicago to SLO and through Utah twice this past year!

2) Becoming a cyclist with my DH, who has always been a cyclist (hence great legs!) We rode almost 2,000 miles in 2010!

My Resolute Heart for 2011:
1) Cycle 3,000 miles

2) The dreams, desires and goals of this year would be guided by listening well to
the Holy Spirit Who lives in me.

I would really encourage you to write down your resolutions, your goals. Commit to them. Review them. Step toward them daily.

You can write them here!

Now seriously people, I want to know what your thoughts are!

What does this mean? It’s not all that mysterious– “I adore you” in French. No offense please, but I don’t mean I adore You, but I am exploring how I express my adoration for God to God. Daily. During various activities. In many ways.

I have found that when I am alone in the house (or the men are all still asleep–it is vacation for those still in school!) I speak out loud to God. I include Him in what I am doing, like vacuuming or washing dishes. When I have forgotten where I left something I will say out loud “I wonder where that is?” and when the picture of where it is sitting comes to mind then I say out loud, “Thank You Lord!” and go off to find the misplaced item. Sure enough, there it is!

Sometimes I stare out the window at the birds hopping from one plant to another seeking bugs. I am especially drawn to hummingbirds and have learned to listen for the whirring sound of their wings when I am gardening. Being still in the yard has given me many close encounters with hummingbirds and I am filled with both awe and joy then I whisper Thank You to Him Who sent them my way.

Other times the warmth of the sunlight streaming through the window draws our cat to lounge on the floor, basking in comfort. That picture reminds me of being “in the Light” and I am moved to thank God again.

I am trying to learn how to show God love. He has poured out His love for me in so many ways, the most significant is His Presence. I am learning to be present to His Presence.

What ways have you learned to show God you love Him?

(above photo is from Zion National Park, Utah. Taken August, 2010)

I have been offline intentionally; college son home for the holidays; AFS German son in town for two weeks; high school son home during break. Enough said.

I have found time for reading though and am musing a bit about what I’ve read and what the Biola student has shared from his courses this fall. This post’s title sums it up: Already and Not Yet. This references the inaugurated Kingdom of God actually. I am already a part of God’s Kingdom through the completed work of Christ at Calvary. But His Kingdom has also not yet been completed in our time frame and I am also not yet complete in my sanctification. I am no theology student but my take aways from my listening have been deepening me as I think more about what I have been reading.

Sacred Pathways by Gary Thomas is a book written to encourage and help each one of us to discover the spiritual route we were individually made to travel, marked by growth and filled with the riches of a close walk with God. I don’t know about you, but whether I am greedy or it’s hungering and thirsting for righteousness, I want more of God! I don’t want more head knowledge; I want Him.

In Thomas’ book he shares 9 different pathways of connecting with God. Now lest you think this is merely a metaphysical book, his foundational premise is the Word of God. The full counsel from Genesis to Revelation showing the Trinity in action and His people relating to Him throughout time. In fact, one particular statement referencing Mark 12:30 has prompted me to share my musings and invite you into the conversation. (go read the link; it will make sense of what follows!)

Quoting from Sacred Pathways: “Complete Christians-which all of us are called to be- should exhibit adoration, belief, divine guidance and service.”

Part of this mysterious journey called “Life” is discovering what it looks like for me to love God with all my heart, soul, mind and strength. I like Thomas’ words: adoration, belief, divine guidance, and service. I want to explore each of these ideas to identify ways for me to acknowledge God throughout my day. For example, in what real, practical ways can I or do I show God that I adore Him?

How about you? Please let me know what ways you adore God in your days. Join me in this journey!

The first week of Advent is almost over. What have you been doing in the area of preparations?

If your life is like mine, you’ve spent time converting the seasonal colors from golds, oranges, browns and reds to your family’s traditional holiday colors and decorations. Could be lots of busyness or it could be a sweet time of memories and reflections.

The season of Advent is intended to help us slow our rhythms down and focus our hearts toward Christmas. The first week’s emphasis is on HOPE.

I am full of HOPE for a quiet season inside me. I want to go deep under the surface of activities and be at peace. Today has been a terrific start of that internal peace for me; walk on the beach, time of reflection and time of recognition of the One Who calls to me in the middle of the hustle and bustle quietly.

So what do you HOPE for at this time?

You may know I love learning! I also like to know answers to “Why…?” Lately on Facebook there have been posts to a food court impromptu singing of the Hallelujah Chorus. I got to thinking about why that piece of Handel’s Messiah has become so famous and why we stand at its singing. So here is a little history for you…

And now a different treat courtesy of singers in Philadelphia:

What is the difference between Advent and the Christmas Season?

I had the opportunity to spend an evening at Disneyland during Veteran’s Day weekend earlier in November. Although my phone photo is a little blurry you might be able to make out the Christmas tree on Main Street. Everywhere we looked there were Christmas decorations! White lights, colored ornaments, bows and Disney characters in their Christmas attire made the experience so festive! I look forward to the annual transformation from fall decor to Christmas decor at Disneyland. The little kid in me gets so excited about the coming season!

The word Advent means “coming” or “arrival.”
For Christians who follow the liturgical church calendar Advent is the beginning of the year. As some protestant churches have left traditions behind, the meaning and emphasis on the seasons of the year have also been lost. Advent has traditionally been a time of preparation: hearts and homes making room for the celebration of the birth of the baby Jesus.

I have a question for you: is it possible to enter into both the Christmas season and the season of Advent at the same time? How do you integrate Advent traditions with childlike fun and frivolity?

Oh my! I just looked up and a month has passed since the last time I blogged!

Life has been a little like this photo from a hillside near our home. Somewhat shady and comfortable but full of distractions on every side! Some beautiful distractions, some messy but it’s been hard to stay the path and keep moving forward. Yet here it is, a month later.

I have had the privilege of preparing to teach at our church’s women’s Bible study so a lot of this month has been full of reading, study, prayer and writing in addition to being my normal self (that’s a relative statement!) Just today I have had sweet, intimate fellowship with the Holy Spirit as I sat in the doctor’s office having some multi-syllabic word for cancer carved out of my arm. Now I have a Frankenstein gash/stitch that will heal (Lord willing) and only leave a 3 inch line on my arm! But my time there was so sweet as I talked with the doctor of his time living in San Antonio and being a part of worship teams at his church; all the sweet distraction from the activity and centered on the work of the Lord in this world! What a gift! As my friend Sue reminded us this morning, “God is in the details”. He knows us so well!

Where have you seen God at work in your life lately? How much has changed in your life in the last month?

Don’t have a photo for this post; you really need the authentic image of me in my lycra with my bike helmet to fully appreciate this adventure!

You may or may not know this about me, but I make a habit of feeling fear and facing it down. I am not talking about doing crazy antics but facing a fear that keeps me paralyzed from living life fully. Everyone around me gets to hear about how scared I am about whatever it is, but I have found dealing with fear face to face has helped me develop trust.

Two things I want to be clear on–
1.) I don’t trust myself–I have grown in my trust of God.
2.) You can’t be brave without being afraid

So how has facing fear helped me to trust God? I literally remind myself of several truths about Him:
* I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength (Phil 4:13)
* My times are in His hands (Ps. 31:15)
* Perfect love casts out fear (1 Jn 4:18)
…to name a few.

You can’t be brave without being afraid. This statement has become a family truism over the years. When our eldest was 10 he would NOT go on roller coasters. A family friend took him aside at a theme park and asked him if he believed that God is all powerful and all knowing. Matt said yes… and the friend encouraged him with the fact that nothing is outside God’s awareness so go ahead and take the risk; if it is your time to go, you’ll go!

SO my big scary fear that I faced on Tuesday (and will face again I am sure) was riding my new road bike. This may sound really ridiculous to some but I am less afraid of riding the tandem with my husband than I am of riding my own bike! I have learned to trust him! Remember, I don’t trust myself! The anticipation of traffic, mechanical issues, high speed wobbles on downhills, all gave me a sick stomach ache! But rather than allowing my fears to paralyze me and keep me from getting out there and riding, I confessed my fears to several people, asked them to pray for me and then I went out to ride.

I rode 20 miles without my husband anywhere around! (He was watching me via satellite though and he knew when I had arrived at Starbucks!)

Thankfully for my first venture there were no issues! A good friend was there to encourage my progress and be patient with me.

Will I do it again? Absolutely!

Will I be afraid? Probably until I get more comfortable with handling potential issues.

Did I get to know God more through this? Indeed! The peace that passes all understanding guarded my heart and my mind.

How about you? What fear is keeping you from participating in life fully?