Christmas in July

So... I find it odd that lately I've been experiencing nostalgia over Christmas in the middle of July... I've been delighted to re-discover James Taylor's "Have yourself a Merry Little Christmas" on my iPod, I've recently watched "The Holiday" and "Elf", and while meandering through HobbyLobby the other day, the thought of "all Christmas items on sale" gave me butterflies in my tummy.

I want fall to hurry up with cute sweaters, boots, jeans, and wraps, so that Christmas can get here sooner this year ;) I'm ready for yule tide carols, ugly sweaters, Christmas cheer, togetherness, family memories, new traditions, the warmth of a heavy blanket, the smell of apple cider, a reason for hot cocoa, and the overall feeling of Peace on Earth and Goodwill to Men that hovers around December.

Is this odd? or is this perhaps a longing--like my "desperately wanting" God-shaped hole--for what He wants (no matter the season)? peace. love. fellowship. counting blessing not costs. finding the good even in hardship.

I want Christmas in July. I want heaven on earth. Your kingdom come. Your will be done. We need it. Now. xoxo

Desperately Wanting

I feel alive. I have a deeply rooted desire—need—to be outside, to hear the night noises of crickets and bullfrogs, to smell wet earth and farmland and dirt, to see the starts. It is an intense yearning in my bones and I cannot deny it. When it beckons, I go—wherever the road may take me. I must experience more of this incredible place God our Father created for us to live, to explore, to seek adventure. I miss this: the ability to pick up and take off on a whim with no explanations, worries, thoughts of money or budgeting, totally spontaneity—oh, to take a real random roadtrip again. I miss it—the freedom.

Travel helps. Going places, experiencing new pieces of the globe, partaking of new cultures, meeting new people—that is all part of filling up this specific hole in my heart.

Music helps. I know a large chunk of my heart lies with James Taylor in “September Grass,” "Desperately Wanting," and with “Blackbird singing in the dead of night,” John Lennon and Paul McCartney; my heart sways with “Something in the way she moves” and “Country Road;” and I know that “The long and winding road” and “Long ago and far away” will fill my heart up—with either love and tears (the good kind; the cleansing, releasing, appreciative tears.)

Quiet time helps. Spending time with the Lord, silence and waiting with Him, the quiet, delving into His word, remembering His promises—that fills up the God-shaped hole and pours over into the other hole, too.

Grant helps. Spending quality time with him, experiencing more of our life together, working through hopes and dreams, fears, and possibilities—that fills up the Grant-shaped hole and runs over as well.

But the hole remains; and when it longs for more, I must respond… and when I do, God is it good. It’s like all the good things in my life are magnified and the few negative factors disappear—as if looking intently at the stars answers, or better, quiets my questions and just lets me stand in awe—thankful for God’s goodness, faithfulness, and grace; grateful for the love Grant has for me; intrigued all the more for encounter more spaces of earth—like a drug that leaves me wanting more. It’s such a pure and untainted addiction.

I will continue to go. I will continue to reclaim my freedom. I will continue to follow where the road takes me. I will continue to answer the call and leave satisfied yet burning for more. I will continue to thank God and I will continue to love Grant—including him in as many pieces of my life and holes in my heart as possible.

Encounter America

Finally! I can talk about what I've been working on for so long! This is the website for the emerging company: Encounter America. Please check it out, click around, and tell me what you're thinking! [more to come on this later!!!]

MJ

RIP michael jackson. we had some good times... you know, on the dace floor. you will be truly missed, as made obvious by 200 of my closest homeless friends in 5 points atlanta today. a dj rolled into 5 points, stopped traffic and started a Michael Jackson Appreciation Day dance party.

awesome.

it ended with a billy jean dance off. i jumped in for a few faves--thriller, rock with you, the way you make me feel. what a fun impromtu afternoon. i heart the A.

mj: you are missed and i hope we set up a national holiday in your honor ;)

*ash, i know you're with me on this one

one year in the direction of eternity

Having been married for a year (and some change), I decided to write a little bit about a few things I've learned. I hope to learn more and more forever--I want to be a student of my love ;)

trust his wisdom--he's probably right, and even if he's not, he knows that you trust him anyway

let him lead--when you don't, you're stealing a chance for him to develop into more of who is is, who he's meant to be

indulge his dreams--you have to believe in him... even if it seems silly to you, if it's important to him, it's important

listen--always better to listen and hold your tongue

catch him doing good--look for ways to compliment and encourage him when reveals the goodness in his heart

seek out experience to share--things that you both love and can enjoy together

make dates--you only have so many weekends per year and so many sunsets, sunrises, roadtrips, and dinners to share in a lifetime

romance, romance, romance--i just found this quote " you are the only legitimate source of romance in your spouse's life"

have make-out parties--when was the last time you and your hubby just made-out for 30 minutes like you did in college? very fun.

be creative--dream together, plan together, share hopes and dreams for the future you share

leave notes for him to find--in his briefcase, in his lunch, on his desk, under his pillow, surprise him

believe in him--even if it doesn't make sense, even if he may not succeed, it's important to believe in who he is over what he does or wants

support him in all ways in all times--don't undermine him, especially in front of his friends; things can be talked about candidly in private, but not in front of the guys

endure the ebbs and flows--the ups and downs will come, but you have to know that what you have together is more important

make time--quality time. just because you live together doesn't mean quantity replaces quality--you need both

leave and cleave--pick him first, before family and before friends and make that clear to them and especially to him

treat him like a best friend--he is your bff

work together, play together--split up the chores and play list equally, then keep up your side of the bargain, without mentioning if/ when he doesn't

put him first--humility/ submission is all about putting his deal above your deal--whatever it is, it's more important b/c he's more important to you than you are (self-less rather than selfish)


Any other thoughts, advice, knowledge... you know what to do::: post! xoxo

thank God

someone is saying it please WATCH

thank you, former job

i am currently cashing my last paycheck to spend on a trip to NEW YORK!! i will be there tuesday-friday and will see 5 SHOWS in four days. boom.

thanks, former job, for forcing me to quit when i did... thank the Lord... now you can pay for my trip to nyc.

i have much to blog about, but since i've been at the lake for about 10 days and will leave for new york the minute i get back, it'll have to wait until after our ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY!!!

[seriously... timing is everything.... hehehehehehe]

ttyl

I finally quit

I resigned yesterday after being berated for three-hole-punches being out of line in a binder I put together on Friday. The partner proceeded to explain what a waste of time I was and how quickly he could find a high school graduate who could do better and that this was "intolerable." He said that he and the partners would make a decision about the repercussions of my actions later... wait? over a three-hole-punch issue with a binder? Yes.

Ok. That was it for me. Many of you know how I feel I've been treated at this job and my overall feelings about working there... There was no point in staying on longer.

The Final Conversation: I told him that I would like to talk to him and he basically said that if I didn't have a message for him, it was unimportant and would have to wait, as he pushed past me and out of his office into the hallway. I had wanted to wait to say things in private, but he was rude, so what did it matter? I simply said, "I'll make the decision easy for you: I'm resigning." He turned, continued walking, and said over his sholder, "That does make it easy." I gathered my things and left. What can I say: he was true to character. No handshake. No eye contact. No well-wishes. I'm not worth any of that in his eyes--never was.

As I walked out the doors of the building, I really felt like I was just shaking the dust from my sandals and leaving a black-hearted place that does not have ears to hear or eyes to see.

I'm glad to be gone. However, I will miss the others--the other support staff and associates. I wish them all the best. I also hope that the partner's change or are soon found out for who and what they truly are.

On a happier note: I think I've found something else--much bigger and better. Nothing's set in stone yet, so I can't say much, except that my work environment will be the complete opposite and I will actually enjoy going to work.

Lend me your thoughts and wisdom, I love you so much--what do you think? The only part I'm having trouble with is the fact that I did not wake up yesterday and plan on making this financial decision. Pray for rest and peace in knowing that God will provide and we made the right decision. Thanks

Lucy

ps. AS I WAS WALKING OUT OF THE BUILDING I SAW SANDRA BULLOCK FILMING HER NEW MOVIE... I COULD'VE REACHED OUT AND TOUCHED HER, EXCEPT FOR HER BODY GUARD! SHE IS BEAUTIFUL AND IT WAS AMAZING!!!

Recent Praise!

Papa's well!

Let me explain: We went to Huntsville for the weekend to celebrate Mother's Day with my fam--which was awesome. Mama: we love you very much. But Sunday afternoon we got a call that Grant's grandfather was rushed to the hospital having blacked out on the way to church (he usually doesn't go to church; in fact, if he'd have stayed at home like he typically does he would've surely died). An ambulance carried him to St. Joseph's were tests were run and it was determined that a blood clot had formed and was pressing on his brain. He was quickly transferred to University Hospital, were he underwent brain surgery this morning at 7:00am. We drove straight through from Huntsville to Augusta (a solid 6.5 hours) to see him and pray for him before his surgery.

Two things worthy of God's praise:
1. An 83 year old man successfully pulled through a 2.5 hour brain surgery without any difficulties or problems coming out of anesthesia. (when does that happen? Glory be to the Father!).

2. Papa has had some difficulty over the years with his faith, and resisting church, we all kind of wondered where he stood with the Lord. Before his surgery after we prayed for him, he said, "If I don't make it through this, I know the KING is coming for me" and a man I have never seen shed a tear wept silently. It was a beautiful thing. I'm so glad we were there, and as Lynn said, "We were right where we needed to be."

The up-hill battle now is recovery. Please keep him and Grant's family in your prayers. It has been crazy--this being the third major surgery in 6 years after open-heart surgery and the removal of a tumor on his esophagus. In the words of the surgeon, "You're a lucky cat with 9 lives to have lived through all of this!"

We are thankful for the successful surgery and for his profession of faith!! Praise the Father! Papa is well--in more ways than one.

ps. grant and i are a little exhausted to say the least--having had about 4 hours of sleep in the past 40. keep us in mind too, as we seek peace and rest. thanks!

be of one mind, united in thought and purpose

quick update: remember this post? i'm not the only one experiencing and marveling at the inseparable connection between God's overwhelming love and grace, our call to be a light in the darkness, and the need of salvation from opression for the poor. God has such a heart for them, tapping into His love for them is like opening a waterfall from a mere faucette.

Here's an excerpt from what Beth Moore's daughter recently wrote about the subject on the LPM blog:
"Can I just tell you that the more I fall in love with the people in Calcutta the more grateful I am that we serve a God who cares deeply about the poor? I could list verse after verse as far back as Genesis all the way through Revelation that reflect God’s concern for the poor and oppressed... but right now I am far too consumed with Isaiah 58, especially the first eleven verses.

I am especially stricken by Isaiah’s definition of true religion. I hope you'll take some time to study this passage on your own but in brief, the people of Israel cry out with frustration because they do not feel that God is responding to their pious fasting. The text goes on to convey that, in fact, God really isn’t all that impressed by their outlandish religious demonstrations like bowing their heads in “humility” or laying in sackcloth and ashes.


No.

His definition of fasting is cast in remarkably different terms. If the people of God want to fast in such a way that they just might get God’s attention then they need to start being agents of justice in a broken world. They need to stop believing that humility before God and apathy toward their fellow human beings, especially the poor and oppressed, could ever co-exist. They need to loosen the chains of injustice. Set the oppressed free. Share food with the hungry. Clothe the naked. The incredible part about this passage is the promise that if the covenant people of God would really truly fast in such a mind-boggling and earth-shaking way, then light will break forth like the dawn. The Lord will turn his ear toward them and His very glory will be their protection. I take so much heart in the fact that our God is a God who loves the people in Calcutta who are bound by the tight grip of poverty. That He thinks that caring for them is essential, that it is at the very core of our personal and corporate spirituality. What a vivid picture of the bountiful and impartial love of God."

then a quote from Richard Bauckham:
“Poverty, in a sense, exposes the truth of the human situation in its need of God. It dispels the illusion of being self-sufficient and secure, with no need of God. The poor are those whose material condition enables them to see more clearly than most the human need to be wholly reliant on God. It is in this sense that the biblical poor are understood as paradigmatic in their faith.” (Richard Bauckham, Wisdom of James, disciple of Jesus the Sage, 190).

and finally says:
"Perhaps Jesus speaks of the poor as the paradigmatic people of God because the poor, kind of like the chronically ill, are most likely to recognize their utter need for God’s saving power. Perhaps the Lord commands the rich (which in context of our global economy is you and me, even the poorest among us) to empathize and identify with the plight of the poor and care for the needy so that they too can glean this truth. Humankind in its totality is completely dependent on God’s power and provision. There are no exceptions. All material wealth is fleeting and fading quickly."


i love it. and i love learning more about experiencing and understanding and taking-in this kind of love, this level of devotion, this extremity of adoration.