purpose

If you think your life is insignificant, that you have no purpose and that you will never affect anyone else, I challenge you to consider how much impact a twisted piece of wire can have on one shower - one life. If a "shower caddy" has a purpose...why not you?

Secure in the Everlasting Arms

"A prayerful heart and an obedient heart will learn, very slowly and not without sorrow, to stake everything on God Himself" (p. 34).

"The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me; your love, O Lord, endures forever - do not abandon the works of your hands." Psalm 138:8

"We are meddling with God's business when we let all manner of imaginings loose, predicting disaster, contemplating possibilities instead of following, one day at a time, God's plain and simple pathway. When we try to meet difficulties prematurely we have neither the light nor the strength for them yet. 'As thy days so shall thy strength be' was Moses' blessing for Asher - in other words, your strength will equal your days" (p. 37).

"Faithfulness today is the best preparation for the demands of tomorrow" (p. 39).

"Are we assured that we are safe in the hands that hold the stars? Can we wholeheartedly surrender to God, leaving quietly with Him all the 'what ifs' and 'but what abouts'? Will we truthfully say to Him, 'Anything You choose for me, Lord - to have to be, to do, or to suffer. I am at Your orders. I have no agenda of my own'?" (p. 39)

excerpts from Secure in the Everlasting Arms by Elisabeth Elliot

Remember

"All shall be well, and all shall be well,
and all manner of things shall be well."
~St. Julian of Norwich

Not meant to work alone

As a secretary I create a lot of posters. Sometimes I do a really bad job and sometimes I amaze myself (whether other people are amazed, I don't know since I can only speak for myself). Unfortunately the bad drafts always come first. I have learned not to create posters when I'm in a bad mood or I have been stressed for a while because those are truly scary.

Wednesday I created a poster I was quite happy with for the junior high ministry's next Tuesday night series (Not Alone) and sent a jpeg to our junior high guy - the image is above. He liked it, but was picturing something else. So he asked if I could get a different picture, one of someone walking alone.

I admit I was skeptical, it painted a totally different picture in my head, but if I have learned anything in my 2 years at this job it is that I am often wrong, I need to have other's opinions and the picture on the poster is important - it sets the stage for a lot of impressions. So I went in search of a more suitable picture. In my hunt I discovered the image that follows (thank you, iStockphoto). I loved it because I knew I could make the picture itself the poster - all I needed to do was add text. It is simple and powerful.

I look at this image and the words on the page and I want to stand in front of a hundred people and teach on this topic!!

An ode to my morning

I'm a complicated woman,

And though I’m saved by grace,

There are those certain mornings

When I shouldn’t show my face.

By the time I’m up and moving,

I’ve thought of a dozen things

I really shouldn’t think about

Until it’s dawn in Beijing.

I feel I never have the time

To get ready and to work

Even when I’m early

I still can go berserk

I head on down to breakfast,

Too much on my mind

I ask a simple question

Not wanting an answer, I find.

When the answer I wasn’t wanting

Comes to me anyway,

I find my temper rising,

And my nerves begin to fray.

My mother has done nothing

She’s only trying to help

I know I’m over-reacting

But I can’t control my yelp.

My tone begins to sharpen

As I try to calm myself

There are so many topics

We should leave up on the shelf.

As the seconds tick by faster

And I know my hair’s still wet

I determine I must get going

There’s no real reason to fret.

I chastise my own behavior

As I quickly blow-dry my mane

Reminding myself I’m cruel,

Ridiculous and lame.

As I grab my bag and keys,

Shove my feet into my shoes,

I hurry out the door

Still curt, a little rude.

I remind myself again

That though I’m saved by grace

I am far from perfect

A fact that I must face.
I am a work in progress

As I struggle to succeed

I want to be a godly woman

Clothed in strength and dignity.

So I offer my apologies

To all of you who see

Sometimes I simply relate too well
To my pet, Itch: one very sassy bee.