Snow and Ice

The snow was beautiful coming down at work today, however, I didn't know what awaited me on the roads. One of the women from Arizona was a little concerned, she was told that we didn't get snow here. I assured her we don't get much, but we don't know what to do with it so it is a problem when it comes.
We left work early, yea :) My happiness at that only lasted until I started down the hill and noticed that the traffic wasn't moving down the hill. I tried going the back way but a truck had slid and was blocking the road so I went back to the beginning and made the slow crawl down the hill. What should have been a 5 minute drive took an hour, but finally I was off and the roads were clear, for a few moments. It seems the snow was traveling with me. My 1/2 hour drive home took two adrenaline spiked hours, but I made it home. Many ended up sleeping in their cars or walking. I am so grateful for 4 wheel drive.
Of course as a mom I checked with my kids and they all made it home OK so I could relax at home, feeling a little guilty thinking of those in their cars and wondering if my co-workers husband was able to get to her.
My focus through it all was pretty much on me, getting home, wishing I was home. I thanked God often on my trip for 4 wheel drive and for cell phones and for my friend that helped maneuver me down "the hill". She lives up there and is used to it.
Fear, thanksgiving and finally relief, all in such a short period of time. I think it shows how safe my life is that I don't very often experience such things.

The Truth Shall Set You Free.....

Mark Gali has written "Jesus Mean and Wild", I'd prefer Jesus Holy and Wild, but I do like and recommend the book. After the title it says " the unexpected love of an untamable God". This is a good description of the book.

He starts with a quote from St. Isaac of Syria:

"It is a spiritual gift from God for a man to perceive his sins."

Some of the things said in the chapter that challenged and encouraged me are.

"The fact that some days I can hardly imagine my need to repent just shows how shallow my faith has become-- as if it's mostly about religious and social graces and the occasional act of mercy."

"The first step toward God is a step away from the lies of the world", Eugene Peterson.

"Shame indeed there is when each makes known his sins, but that shame, as it were, ploughs his lands, removes the ever-recurring brambles, prunes the thorns, and gives life to the fruits which he believed were dead...If you plough after this fashion, you will sow spiritual seed. Plough that you may get rid of sin and gain fruit." Ambrose

Relating shame to an athlete who has made a mistake and been called on it:
"But when such things happen, wise athletes don't go into a funk, wallowing in their mistakes. They let the shame and guilt do it's work: motivate them to play better."

and finally:

"For it is a grievous thing not to believe in the hope of repentance"



The truth is that "there is no good thing dwelling in me, in my flesh" I need to continually live with an awareness of this along with the truth that, " there is therefore now, no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus."

What a wonderful God we have. He knows our deepest secrets and the ugliness or our hearts, and yet He loves us and showed His love on the cross.

God is gentle and loving and kind, He is also strong enough to save us. And he loves us too much to pamper us.

Help me God not to seek pampering, but the truth that will lead me to a greater understanding of and knowledge of you. And keep me from pampering myself.

Power's out, again!

We lost power at work today and we are all happy to go home early, however as I approached my neighborhood and saw that the traffic lights were out and then all the lights were out in our shopping area, I knew we'd be out too. An afternoon off with no electricity. So much for all the things I was going to do. Do you believe how dependent we are with electricity?

I feel guilty that I get frustrated with this. I know that having a home, even with no power, is better than most of the world, and yet I grumble. At least a little. It is a good reminder that we are not in control.

One of the ladies at work got stuck in the elevator when we lost power and she entertained herself playing games on her cell phone until someone came to get her out. I think everyone else was more concerned than she was about the situation.

It reminded me of how God's grace works. He has promised us the grace need for any situation we find ourselves in, not for those around us.

O How Loved We Are

I heard a short message from John Piper this week called "How a Dead Dog loves a King". It was a graduation message he gave and it was about Mephibosheth and his love for David. You can read the story in II Sam. 9, 16 and 19. It is a very humbling reminder of how undeserving we are of God's love and kindness to Him.

The small group I meet with on Sundays had a great discussion from this on His love and our trust in it. One of the ladies had to wrestle through a very hard issue last week. The choice of obedience over desire was very hard and when she made it, God honored and blessed her choice, by allowing her to continue in the direction she felt Him leading her and by allowing her struggle to encourage others around her. But the wrestling was painful and so hard. We were reminded of Christ wrestling in the Garden and realized that He knows our struggle.

He is a God we can trust and He is working out His good in us. He doesn't guess or get distracted or make mistakes, as we often do.

I read a great statement this week by Jan Meyer in her book "Listening to Love";

I am no longer a slave to my story, I am freed by the endless pursuit of the lover of my soul.