It still blows me away that I get to be a part of this.
Monday, August 24, 2009
Saturday, August 22, 2009
And in this place...
I'm slowly starting to get my mind around some of the projects that need done around here. The ones that get to fall to me. The ones that make me plug my ears and eyes...hear no evil, see no evil. I rebelled about some of them this week. The nice(er) version went something like,
"Seriously!? I like organizing things. I like seeing progress. I like things clean. But com'on! Two major yard sale events in three months? I had all year to work towards the first one. What was _________ thinking!?! Did they do anything? I know not everyone has the same gifting, but are some folks completely devoid of common sense? I don't give a rat's butt about seeing this accomplished. Forget it. I'm gonna go unpack. Hang pictures. Sort my socks. Paint my toenails in stripes. Remove the grippy adhesive strips from the floor of my shower. Rearrange my coffee mugs, again."
But it's still there. I can see it when I close my eyes.
TO DO:
- organize contents of the metal inferno of a three car garage into a useful pattern for a yard sale
- host yard sale that will rake in the profit before the inferno becomes a freezer, or we all have to eat our socks because there is no other money coming in
- create two usable and beautiful spaces for the residents to be able to 'shop' for things for themselves and their babies
- do something about the kitchen that needs everything from a power wash to proper supplies to gluing in place the toe kick that's been flopping off for two years
God made me pause on that word gifting. Order out of chaos is His specialty. Creating beauty out of ashes. Restoring what was lost. It's my gifting too. And I have His anointing to accomplish the work He has given. He told me so by leading me to ancient promises from the prophet Haggai:
"Does anyone remember this house—this Temple—in its former splendor? How, in comparison, does it look to you now? It must seem like nothing at all! But now the Lord says: Be strong, Zerubbabel. Be strong, Jeshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest. Be strong, all you people still left in the land. And now get to work, for I am with you, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. My Spirit remains among you, just as I promised when you came out of Egypt. So do not be afraid.’ “For this is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: In just a little while I will again shake the heavens and the earth, the oceans and the dry land. I will shake all the nations, and the treasures of all the nations will be brought to this Temple. I will fill this place with glory, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. The future glory of this Temple will be greater than its past glory, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. And in this place I will bring peace. I, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, have spoken!”
That word followed closely after this one from a dear friend:
Dueteronomy 31:8
Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord will personally go ahead of you. He will be with you; He will neither fail you nor abandon you.
And this farewell gift from another friend the day I moved. The figure's name: Peace
"Seriously!? I like organizing things. I like seeing progress. I like things clean. But com'on! Two major yard sale events in three months? I had all year to work towards the first one. What was _________ thinking!?! Did they do anything? I know not everyone has the same gifting, but are some folks completely devoid of common sense? I don't give a rat's butt about seeing this accomplished. Forget it. I'm gonna go unpack. Hang pictures. Sort my socks. Paint my toenails in stripes. Remove the grippy adhesive strips from the floor of my shower. Rearrange my coffee mugs, again."
But it's still there. I can see it when I close my eyes.
TO DO:
- organize contents of the metal inferno of a three car garage into a useful pattern for a yard sale
- host yard sale that will rake in the profit before the inferno becomes a freezer, or we all have to eat our socks because there is no other money coming in
- create two usable and beautiful spaces for the residents to be able to 'shop' for things for themselves and their babies
- do something about the kitchen that needs everything from a power wash to proper supplies to gluing in place the toe kick that's been flopping off for two years
God made me pause on that word gifting. Order out of chaos is His specialty. Creating beauty out of ashes. Restoring what was lost. It's my gifting too. And I have His anointing to accomplish the work He has given. He told me so by leading me to ancient promises from the prophet Haggai:
"Does anyone remember this house—this Temple—in its former splendor? How, in comparison, does it look to you now? It must seem like nothing at all! But now the Lord says: Be strong, Zerubbabel. Be strong, Jeshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest. Be strong, all you people still left in the land. And now get to work, for I am with you, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. My Spirit remains among you, just as I promised when you came out of Egypt. So do not be afraid.’ “For this is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: In just a little while I will again shake the heavens and the earth, the oceans and the dry land. I will shake all the nations, and the treasures of all the nations will be brought to this Temple. I will fill this place with glory, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. The future glory of this Temple will be greater than its past glory, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. And in this place I will bring peace. I, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, have spoken!”
That word followed closely after this one from a dear friend:
Dueteronomy 31:8
Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord will personally go ahead of you. He will be with you; He will neither fail you nor abandon you.
And this farewell gift from another friend the day I moved. The figure's name: Peace
And he walked up and said, "What'll it be?" I said, "The good stuff."
This week I....
~ finished unpacking
~ went to my second to last regular orthodontist appointment. gah! my mouth feels like it did at first. two more weeks. I can hardly wait
~ watched the birth of a baby girl, and said good bye to her and her teenage mom all the same day. not sure I like the immediate departure part of the maternity division of this ministry. makes me thankful that whatever I bind or loosen here is eternal
~ had a key made for the main house. it didn't work. the garage key worked. therefore discovered that I can maneuver an extension ladder three times my height and weight without killing myself or breaking anything in order to reach the roof and climb in the window of my second story apartment
~ celebrated my oldest niece's 16th birthday
~ bought some more African coffee
~ unexpectedly caught an episode of goats mating in the barnyard
~ finally replaced the zipper in the dress I argued a price reduction for because of said zipper
~ finally hemmed my friend's jeans
~ finished some belated birthday gifts. see below. now don't you wish you lived closer?
~ started the next batch of gifts for the birthdays this next week. spread out the occasions people, seriously.
~ bought a vintage sewing tool I wanted to use in hemming my friend's wedding dress tomorrow. found it on Etsy yesterday and met in an undisclosed location today to pick it up from the seller. isn't she awesome to do that for me!!
~ talked to a customer service dude for Ebay via chat....told him I'd 'loved' a couple times since I'd last used my account and therefore couldn't log in since I didn't remember what information I would have used. ahem. *moved a couple times*
~ found the 1957 version of Cinderella I'd been looking for right here on the bookshelf and watched it tonight while eating the pieces of birthday present that didn't fit in the jar. now to find a copy to own.
~ finished unpacking
~ went to my second to last regular orthodontist appointment. gah! my mouth feels like it did at first. two more weeks. I can hardly wait
~ watched the birth of a baby girl, and said good bye to her and her teenage mom all the same day. not sure I like the immediate departure part of the maternity division of this ministry. makes me thankful that whatever I bind or loosen here is eternal
~ had a key made for the main house. it didn't work. the garage key worked. therefore discovered that I can maneuver an extension ladder three times my height and weight without killing myself or breaking anything in order to reach the roof and climb in the window of my second story apartment
~ celebrated my oldest niece's 16th birthday
~ bought some more African coffee
~ unexpectedly caught an episode of goats mating in the barnyard
~ finally replaced the zipper in the dress I argued a price reduction for because of said zipper
~ finally hemmed my friend's jeans
~ finished some belated birthday gifts. see below. now don't you wish you lived closer?
~ started the next batch of gifts for the birthdays this next week. spread out the occasions people, seriously.
~ bought a vintage sewing tool I wanted to use in hemming my friend's wedding dress tomorrow. found it on Etsy yesterday and met in an undisclosed location today to pick it up from the seller. isn't she awesome to do that for me!!
~ talked to a customer service dude for Ebay via chat....told him I'd 'loved' a couple times since I'd last used my account and therefore couldn't log in since I didn't remember what information I would have used. ahem. *moved a couple times*
~ found the 1957 version of Cinderella I'd been looking for right here on the bookshelf and watched it tonight while eating the pieces of birthday present that didn't fit in the jar. now to find a copy to own.
Monday, August 17, 2009
the best things come in small packages, tis true
real mail makes me happy
more than just about anything else
very happy
this particular package came close to causing the happiness meter to rise high enough to break into pieces and leak all over the neighborhood
it contained a hand written letter; a birthday card; new music; excellent, thought provoking, growth inspiring messages on faith; surprise! an mp3 player with which to listen to said media in modern fashion; and a nifty water bottle to support future jogging sessions and hiking adventures
the mp3 player has yet to wear out any batteries, but I have it on good authority that it will be broken in further soon
there are many jobs on my list that would be made more bearable by excellent content flowing from this little device
most of all, mingled somewhere among the packing peanuts, a friendship of words became tangible, delivered grace in time of need and refueled inspiration for the busy, difficult weeks that were to follow
more than just about anything else
very happy
this particular package came close to causing the happiness meter to rise high enough to break into pieces and leak all over the neighborhood
it contained a hand written letter; a birthday card; new music; excellent, thought provoking, growth inspiring messages on faith; surprise! an mp3 player with which to listen to said media in modern fashion; and a nifty water bottle to support future jogging sessions and hiking adventures
the mp3 player has yet to wear out any batteries, but I have it on good authority that it will be broken in further soon
there are many jobs on my list that would be made more bearable by excellent content flowing from this little device
most of all, mingled somewhere among the packing peanuts, a friendship of words became tangible, delivered grace in time of need and refueled inspiration for the busy, difficult weeks that were to follow
the view changes only for the lead dog
so
far
behind
in
this
blogging
department
of my life
I have excuses
and reasons
and cute pictures to make it all worthwhile
behind....
get it?
far
behind
in
this
blogging
department
of my life
I have excuses
and reasons
and cute pictures to make it all worthwhile
behind....
get it?
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