Happy Girl

I am now the proud owner these lovely, nature friendly bags. I love being green. I feel better about my existence when I do things that are better for the environment. It's kind of like working out, or eating healthy, or reading, instead of sitting on the couch watching Family Guy and eating chips every night. I guess it's a feeling of accomplishment; that I, too, can help save the planet. I think that should probably be one of my main focuses. I mean, humans kind of depend on this planet, right? We act like we're autonomous, like we can function separately from the earth. But guess what? There's a reason we haven't found humans on other planets. I'm scared that we will just keep seeing nature as a resource to take advantage of and use to gain wealth and forget what it's here for.

And the LORD God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground—trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food. Genesis 2:9

Nature is a glimpse at the beauty of God. It's here for His glory. So we will see some beautiful scene in nature and give glory and praise to God. It's also for surviving. If you cut down a tree, plant another one. We need food more than a wooden privacy fence or a roll of paper towels.

Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory. Isaiah 6:3

Every time the words "glory" and "earth" were in the same verse before this, it was saying "May Your glory fill the whole earth". This has to mean that God's glory is not only so huge that it will fill up the whole earth and then some, but it also means that God created everything in the earth in reflection of His glory.

Caleb calls me a tree-hugger, and I'm okay with that. I love nature and I'd live in complete harmony with it if I could. But for now, I'll just let my inner-hippie get on her soap box once in a while.

Saturday marked the 5 month-a-versary of my relationship with this lovely fellow pictured at your left.


I would write a big long mushy blog about how much I love him, but that kind of stuff isn't my forte.


So just know that I love him a lot.


=]

One of the reasons I love Birmingham:

I drive around aimlessly a lot. It's just been one of my favorite pastimes since I started driving. I may have a few destinations, but for the most part, I'll just drive, look around, find new things and places, and just sightsee in the city I've lived in my whole life. There are so many things in and around Birmingham that I never knew were there, so I like to go explore them. Well, most of the time I do this, I get lost, but the good thing is, in Birmingham, you can always find your way back to a road you know. Caleb and I got lost in Southside or Mt. Brook, I'm not exactly sure because I was lost.

But my north star, my compass is this lovely man . . .





So if you're ever lost, look to man with the iron butt and he will guide you home.

"Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."Luke 12:32-34

This week I will be cleaning out, picking through, and sorting all of my possessions. Since I don't have a job and I live with my parents, it's hard to determine what I actually possess, if anything, so I'm claiming anything that stays in my room or bathroom for longer than a week as mine (i.e. bedding, jewelry, clothing, knick-knacks, shoes-OH the shoes!, electronics, etc.) I'm doing this little task while praying for God to show me what I can't live without and what I can live without. It's just the beginning of this project and I already know that there are very few items that will be in the "Can't live without" category.

I'm learning that my life has nothing to do with me, what I want, what I need, or what makes me happy or content. I've known this fact for quite a while. I grew up in a household that gave me whatever I needed or wanted whenever I wanted it. I was pretty spoiled as a young'un and I'm thankful for the things I was given, no matter how wasteful. As I've gotten older though, my attitude has changed from what I can get to what I can give. But my attitude and my actions rarely matched. Is willingness to do good enough to please God? Does being willing to "sell everything and give to the poor" really make me qualified to be a disciple? Or is God calling me to something deeper than just comfortable, lavish willingness?

"Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead." James 2:15-17

This post is a request for accountability. This isn't meant to be boastful in any way. This is strictly to remind myself of my commitment, to let a few friends know and be praying, and maybe inspire a few to do the same. I'm good at talking myself out of things, so I need the accountability.

Goals for Oct. 20-25:
1. Sell as much as possible to Plato's Closet. Use 10% of the money earned to tithe and give the rest to local charities. (www.platoscloset.com)
2. Give the remainder of the clothing and shoes to Jimmie Hale Mission and Jessie's Place. (www.jimmiehalemission.com)
3. Give electronics to the Salvation Army. (www.birminghamsalvationarmy.org)
4. Give canned foods to Community Kitchens of Birmingham. (www.thecommunitykitchens.org)
5. Pray this prayer every day. *I stole this prayer from David (Psalms 86).

LORD,
Hear and answer me, for I am poor and needy. Guard my life, for I am devoted to You. You are my God. Save Your servant who trusts in You. Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I call to You all day long. Bring joy to Your servant, for to You, O Lord, I lift up my soul. You are forgiving and good, O Lord, abounding in love to all who call to You. Hear my prayer, O LORD. Listen to my cry for mercy. In the day of my trouble I will call to You, for You will answer me. All the nations You have made will come and worship before You, O Lord. They will bring glory to our name. For You are great and do marvelous deeds. You alone are God. Teach me Your way, O LORD, and I will walk in Your truth. Give me an undivided heart, that I may fear Your name. I will praise You, O Lord my God, with all my heart. I will glorify Your name forever. For great is Your love toward me. You have delivered me from the depths of the grave. You, O Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.
Among the gods there is none like You, O Lord. No deeds can compare with Yours.

When we were kids, we all, at some point, laid down in the grass, stared at the sky and let our imaginations run wild. Today I found myself with two hours to spare at school, so instead of studying like an astute young lady, I got myself a double cheeseburger and chilled in my car. I cherish days when I have (or make) time to do that. It never fails to give me time to think and process and I always come out of my car happier than when I got in. Today was no different. I put in a good CD (Hillsong), laid my seat back, and stared into the sky through my windshield . . .

"Keep your eyes on the road", they say, but how in the world can I keep my eyes on the road when I'm constantly surrounded with beauty beyond compare? Have you ever just stared into the sky? Or even just looked around while you're driving? The brilliant colors and textures and contrast and complexity of it all. DiVinci who? We spend ridiculous amounts of money and time contemplating works that will never compare to the masterpiece we so take for granted and walk on day after day. If it's this beautiful after we've so polluted and dirtied it up, I can't even imagine how breath-taking it must have been at the very second it was formed.

My mind cleared and all my thoughts became centered on this huge blue mass. As I laid there, the clouds moved, changing shape and form only to reveal more beauty for my eyes to behold. The longer I stared, the more God I saw in every inch of everything. Even the most random ordinary things became coveted spectacles to me, but I was most encompassed by the blues and whites and grays of the sky. Try as I might, my imagination was failing me and I was disappointed. All the clouds just looked like clouds. I couldn't make anything fantastic of the shapes. I finally gave up and closed my eyes to rest a bit, though it was hard to keep them that way knowing what I was missing out on . . .

"God delights in revealing Himself to those who will seek Him with all their hearts." In the book "Captivating", the author (Stasi and John Eldredge) tells a story about how her husband had gone away to have some quiet time with God on the beach when he saw this huge whale gracefully careening through the water. He knew, at that moment, that the whale was God's gift specifically to him. God knew that he needed a something manly, something that would catch his attention and that's what he got. God planned and designed the moment and it was perfectly executed as an illustration of His love. "All of this is yours, my love".

Not much resting had been done when I opened my eyes. Most of the time was spent pondering the songs that were playing or thinking about school work. But much to my surprise, when I did open my eyes, something stunning appeared before me. I KNEW beyond any doubt that it was for me, designed by my Father to demonstrate His faithful love for me . . .

"I see the King of glory
coming on the clouds with fire."

If you've known me for any period of time, you know I love horses. Most people want a fancy new car with fancy gadgets... give me a horse and bale of hay and I'll be happy! I just adore the creature. I think they are one of the most beautiful animals created. Well, God knows my love for them too. (See picture) I was kissed right on the cheek by the lips of the living God. He not only showed me His love, but it was His way of saying "Hello love. I'm still up there. I'm going to mold some clouds into your favorite animal. Maybe you wont be too busy or preoccupied looking in the mirror to look up."

I've found myself listening to that particular Hillsong CD and reminiscing about the first time I heard that song, or missing the people that were in my life then and how close to God I was, thinking somehow that these people had an effect on how often or how intently I sought after God. This cloud, and circumstances, revealed to me a certain truth that I had long forgotten: God is still there, whether the friends are or not. He is in the same place I left Him. That means that no matter who I find in my company, if I'm truly, earnestly looking for Him, God will be found in any and all situations.