Learning

As I am writing this, I am sitting down (for the first time today) in my favorite chair, sipping a cup of steaming hot chai tea, watching the setting sun slowly disappear, and taking in the last bits of today. This is my favorite part of the day, and yet, it seems to melt away entirely too quickly. Sure there is a million items on my "to-do" list. But for right now, for this moment, I am choosing to stop and breathe it all in...

I feel as if during this season of my life, I am in school with God. In some areas, I am blossoming through my junior year. In other areas, I am maturing through about 7th grade (you know, the awkward years of zits and braces). Yet still in others, I am only merely in 3rd grade, taking tiny steps and totally relying on my Father for my needs. The most vital part is that I am growing, and I am learning.

Throughout the craziness that this season brings- every bite-size morsel- I believe God is teaching me. The irony is that I am an educator, and it is my career to teach children. But my Spiritual Life longs for more- more learning, maturing, and growth. My relationship with my Creator beckons for my heart and mind to be stretched. This requires me to submit as a student of the Word.

I do not feel as if my current life circumstances are permanent, rather they will last for only a season. He is preparing me...for something. For what, I have no idea. And I may have no conception of when this change will commence. Of one thing I am certain, however- I want to be right where He wants me to be. No, I need to be right where He wants me to be. I want to be so in tune with His will that I cannot discern His desires from my own. I desire to be so deeply rooted in His Word that I can clearly hear His voice. I am determined to live a life that is pleasing in His sight. This begins now- with the position and opportunities He has provided me with today.

The reason I am writing this is simply because this concept of being "in school" with God has been on my heart. I am so thankful for the patience, and love, and grace, and mercy that my Teacher offers freely every single day. I am so thankful He does not throw chaos or confusion at me and passively stand-by to assess my response. My heart is full of thanks for His ever faithful leading and guiding...no matter how many assignments or quizzes I may fail without truly recognizing His instructing.

May we look upon each other with loving and graceful eyes. May we continually lift one another up; encourage one another with righteous acts. May we realize that we are all merely students, each at various levels, but all seeking and learning together.

Where did the time go?

Blogging has been pushed to the back-burner lately. I blame several inconveniences for ignoring this new hobby: having sketchy internet signal at home (probably because I still "borrow" signal from my neighbor's wi-fi), surviving my first year of teaching and completing it with my head above water (after swimming through piles of end-of-the-year assessments and paperwork), entertaining my ever-so-lively mom in my house for nine jam-packed days, and then welcoming summertime by vacationing at the lake. Now, none of these reasons have been negative reasons, but the desire is mine to update my blog. And let me assure you, there is A LOT of updating to do.

Let me start with this thought- I am stunned, and still in somewhat disbelief, that it is currently the middle of June, 2010. Where on earth did the time go?!?! I feel like I just began my first year of teaching. I can still feel the nerves and excitement as I prepared to meet my students for the first time. And now, two weeks have already passed since I watched them drive off in school busses, wiping tears fromboth my eyes and theirs, saying goodbye to many of them for the last time. Where did the time go?

I have already returned from vacation at the lake...actually, I returned almost a week ago now. We planned the trip for weeks, psyched ourselves up for it, and now it has come and left us (with many fun memories, no doubt). Where did the time go? Parker and Jordan completed their first year of college. Say what?! That one still gets me. They are traveling for TNU this summer, leading worship in camps across the Southeast Region. They are challenged with decisions to be made over questions resulting in huge impacts on their futures. Really? Where did the time go?

Recently it seems that as I see friends, more often than not we are saying, "Where have you been? It's been too long! We need to get together!" By the time we do get together, we realize just how much "life" has occured since our last meeting. Where did the time go?

Life is crazy. Life is busy. Life is short.

I am an active person. I experience difficulty in saying, "No." I am overcommitted, but truth be told, I enjoy living life that way. I love to stay busy and live life hands-on. However, I am coming to believe that this is not actually what God intended when he gave me breath to life and to live it abundantly.

Last week, as three good friends of mine and I spent a week relaxing, being lazy, and having fun on the lake, I had an epiphone- this is what life should be like. Not just on vacation, but there should be glimpses of this rest, relaxation, and enjoyment in our everyday living. Wow! Rocket science, I know. Therefore, this summer, I am going to fully enjoy the two months summer break that accompany my teaching career.

I realize that life is not always as perfect-perfect as it is during vacation, but after such a whirlwind of a year, experiencing many changes, challenges, and blessings, I am intentionally going to take the time to just...be. To breathe. To read. To listen. To laugh. To rest. To create. To grow. To love. To experience life the way God intended for me to live.

At the end of the summer break, I do not want to be haunted by the question, "Where did the time go?" I desire the feeling that I embraced the summer months; that God stretched me, taught me, and prepared me for this next chapter.

Life is crazy. Life is busy. Life is short. But, even as cliche as it sounds, God is good. He is sooo good. I'm anticipating this time to enjoy Him.

(And as long as my...ahem, my neighbor's...internet remains faithful, I'll be able to blog about it.)

What are your summer plans?

It's the Simple Things.

In my life, the simple things seem to bring such an abundance of happiness. Everyday, ordinary things bring such unexpected joy into my journey. Repeatedly, I am realizing the importance of taking the time to meditate on and be thankful for things such as these:

Sunshine warming my skin.
Wind blowing through my hair without a cloud in the sky.
A few extra seconds in the morning to sip on my coffee a little longer.
The aroma of something baking in the oven filling my house.
Creating something beautiful for my house.
Cooking delicacies (or easy dinners) for my friends.
My students greeting me with big smiles and tight hugs.
My students experiencing a break-through moment.
My favorite song (or one of them) playing on the radio.
Hand-written cards.
Unexpected evenings spent in the company of good friends.
Planned evenings spent in the company of good friends.
Talking to my mom on the phone multiple times throughout the day, and laughing harder with each conversation.
Receiving encouragement and advice from my Granny and Grandmother.
A text saying someone's thinking about me on that day.
Listening to one of my dad's three minute long voicemails and hearing love in his carefully planned words.
Good hair days.
Realizing my brothers and I live in the same city again, and stopping by just to see them.
Singing with my extremely talented brothers.
Reading a book that moves me through its words.
Feeling my Maker's presence surround me, from the first steps of the day until the last.
Meeting genuinely sweet people.
Cooking in my kitchen while blaring jazz music.
Reliving traveling adventures by flipping through pictures.
The setting sun peering in the windows.
The Living Word reviving me with my Father's words.

What simple things bring happiness to your life? Take the time to be thankful for these things.

Morning

I love morning. There is just something about waking up to a brand new day. I especially love being the first one awake. In the stillness of the house, while the rest of the world is sleeping, I am ushered into God's chamber. I thank Him for a restful night of sweet dreams and for His continued protection. I thank Him for blessings so abundantly flowing into my life that I am entirely undeserving of receiving. I breathe my friends' and family's names in prayer, and pray a special blessing over them. I thank my Heavenly Father for His amazing love and grace that He offers anew every single day. I must remember to merely ask. Therefore, I humbly ask that He continue to walk this journey with me. "Please give me Your grace today," {some days I must request a little extra (grin)} "and fill me with Your love so that in my presence Your love abounds, everywhere I may go, whomever I may encounter."

I was not always enamored by morning. Don't get me wrong- I love my sleep! And honestly, in the midst of a busy week and waking up extremely early for work, this peaceful rising does not usually occur. However, a noticeable difference extends throughout my day when I begin the day with my Maker. Rising early each day to spend time with the One who makes each day is something I am striving for.

"Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul." Psalm 143:8

Attached are snapshots of my favorite morning visions: My kitchen ablaze with the morning light. Coffee (a "must-have") alongside toast and jelly. And my Word- my true bread for the day.

Voice

All my life, I have said, "I cannot discern the Voice of God. God, please speak to me and help me to know it's you." Lately I've realized that I do know God's voice. I recognize what It sounds like, and I know what He's saying. It's just that most of the time, I am too afraid of what He is asking me to do.

I am letting go of my fear; fear that cripples and makes me lame. I am laying the confusion down. If there is one element I'm experiencing, it is that our God is not a God of chaos. (A point spoken by my mother time and time again.) He gives wisdom and discernment to those who seek these things. Today, this is impressed on my spirit:

Seek.
And keep seeking until you find.
Listen.
With an abandoned heart.
Follow.
No matter how scary or how high the resistance may seem against you.
Trust.
Always.
Trust.

Deuteronomy 30:20
"and that you may love the LORD your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the LORD is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob."