a prayer

Teach us, good Lord, to serve Thee as Thou deserves; 

to give and not to count the cost; 

to fight and not to heed the wounds; 

to toil and not to seek for rest; 

to labour and not to ask for any reward 

save that of knowing that we do Thy will, O Lord our God.
amy carmichael

.....

vivid

. . .and the word is
{vivid}

go.

Full of colour, full of life.  How do we live this one life that we have been given?  Do we go through life living in a world that is shades of grey?  Or do we embrace life, embrace the various challenges, the alternating hues?  Do we spend every day wishing for that elusive 'something different', 'something more'?  Have we put life on hold?  Or do we decide to do something different?  Oh, may we set our hearts to follow our God fully, to live every moment that He has given us.  And our God does beautiful things, does marvelous things as we allow Him to orchestrate our lives.  He can turn the most ordinary day into the most extraordinary adventure as we fix our eyes upon Him.  Inconveniences and grey dullness no more.  Let us embrace the full gamut of vivid, vibrant living this pilgrim way.  May we look with His eyes to see the beauty found in each day, each moment.

stop
....

by the way, if you happen to write something today, I'd love to check it out so leave a comment!  Or if this happens to have you think a thought you wouldn't otherwise have thought, twould be fun to hear it.

I think that was one of the strangest sentences I've ever written.

smile.

rejoice evermore

"rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, rejoice."  

Philippians 4:4

awake

Last week, I saw this on a friend's blog and was inspired.  And it seemed a lot more 'doable' than the 300 word thing at this point in time.  (question: is doable a real word? or is it one of those made-up words?)  

"For only five short, bold, beautiful minutes. Unscripted and unedited. We just write without worrying if it’s just right or not." from this site

It was hard, really hard, not to stop or push the backspace button.  But it has been so good this month to do things that are hard or new or challenging.  So for five minutes I wrote whatever came to mind based on one word.


and this week's word is {awake.}
go.

Every morning I awake, His mercies are new. As the sunshine fills my room, joy can enter my heart for I know that my Redeemer liveth. And He has called us, comissioned us to be His ambassadors. We are called to go out into all the world, proclaiming the glories of Him who called us out of darkness and into His glorious light. For the God that we serve is light and there is no darkness in Him. No fear, no evil, no guilt, no pride, no shadow. He is light; pure and shining far brighter than the sun. It is because of Him that we can face the challenges that each day brings. It is because of His life that we are equipped to go walk victoriously along this pilgrim way. Our souls have been awakened to the truth, the truth that sets the captives free. The truth that changed our lives and that still changes lives. He is glorious and mighty to save and it is this God that we wake up to each morning. And as the sun shines through my window, my King beckons me to spend another day walking by His side and learning from Him. Awake, my soul, and praise the Lord.

stop.

skating

today I went skating.

tis something that I've always wanted to know how to do

photo credit

and while holding onto my gallant younger brother with one hand

and the boards with the other

isn't quite the graceful figure skating I've always imagined

twas wonderful none the less.

and by the end, going around the rink alone

unaided and abetted by the boards

(or brothers)

gave me a wee taste

of the real thing.

mountains.

today

we went to the mountains.

twas lovely.

and I did something I don't do often.

I took pictures.

through the van window.

I love how the mountains

seem to bring life into perspective.

how amazing to think

that the God who created such mountains

is the same God

in whom we are called to trust.

how wonderful

to trust and know and love and obey

such a God

who created

such mountains.

a new year

The first post of a new year is almost like starting a new journal.  Or like the first paint stroke on an empty canvas (which I actually wouldn't know, because I never graduated from stick figures and you do not need a canvas to draw those) 

And beginnings are always exciting. . .like flipping through an empty journal and realizing that sooner or later that it will be filled with experiences, feelings and memories yet to happen.  Or looking at a calendar for 2012 and knowing that each day that shall pass shall be a unique and full. 

Turns in the road have always held this appeal to my soul.  What is around the unknown corner?  And true to form, the Lord has given me this new year an ambiguous 'turn in the road'.  When I'm to go back to my wee little campus home, I do not know.  What I do know is that each day where I am is a gift, and His desire for each of His children is to walk in daily obedience to Him and His will.  As for specifics, such as dates for my return, well, that is still up in the air :) 

I am reminded of a letter that Hudson Taylor wrote to his sister during his time of missionary preparation in London.  What joy to realize that we today can ground our lives on the exact same truths!  He wrote;

"No situation has turned up in London that will suit me; but I am not concerned about it, as HE is "the same yesterday, and today, and forever."  His love is unfailing, His Word unchangeable, His power ever the same; therefore the heart that trusts Him is kept in 'perfect peace.'  . . .I know He tries me only to increase my faith, and that it is all in love.  Well, if He is glorified, I am content."