to end '07

I am so sure of God's guiding hand that I hope I shall always be kept in that certainty. You must never doubt that I am traveling with gratitude and cheerfulness along the road where I am being led. My past life is brim-full of God's goodness, and my sins are covered by the forgiving love of Christ crucified. I am most thankful for the people I have met, and I only hope that they never have to grieve about me, but that they, too, will always be certain of, and thankful for, God's mercy and forgiveness. Forgive my writing this. Don't let it grieve or upset you for a moment, but let it make you happy.

- Dietrich Bonhoeffer (Letters and Papers from Prison)

to end 07 - while i wait

Across the way the man who made my latte today sits alone on a miniature brick wall. I wonder what his story is. I could ask. But with him I prefer to wonder.

The leaves of the tree outside my window shiver. I have a feeling they want to dance. I want to dance. With the leaves of the tree. And sing. And be ridiculous. And not care that I am. Because of the splendor of the Music.

Let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them;
let all the trees of the forest sing for joy.

It is 12:56. I wait. I am seeing a movie later. Waiting is sweet. I get restless when there is nothing to look forward to.

I wait for the movie. I wait for the new year. I wait for the new creation.

While I wait, He prepares.

A place for me...

He prepares me...

a heart still seeking to prove its worth...to accomplish a victory on the ground of defeat.

I am not yet fit for His place. But soon.

Let all creation rejoice before the LORD, for he comes,
he comes to judge the earth.
He will judge the world in righteousness
and the peoples with His truth.

TRUTH: One day the trees WILL sing.

if it were up to me

new years eve would include a few really cool people

in a massive library

with a fire place

telling stories, drinking apple cider, singing songs of praise,

laughing and dancing,

           dancing,

dancing.

so this was christmas

This Christmas Day consisted of:

1. n. levoy
2. a starbucks shortbread latte
3. blueberry pancakes
4. s. wells (via ichat)
5. a 2001 tim keller sermon
6. time with my love (jesus, duh)
7. amazing grace
8. when harry met sally
9. the office
10. the office
11. the office
12. the office

either or

to myself and to everyone else,

  

  either curse Jesus

             or step down off your throne and worship Him. 

   hate Him and rebel 

            or love Him and submit (regardless of if you like it).

for if you merely "like" Him 

and have subscribed to some of His (so called) teachings: 

(love, peace, happiness and prosperity),

I dare say you know nothing of the true God. 

six hours with lewis (sort of)

I (friend of books and lover of story) am a very slow reader. Though today in a total of six hours (consisting of three sittings), I read from beginning to end: 

So far it is my favorite by Mr. Lewis.

'Friend,' said the Spirit. 'Could you, only for a moment, fix your mind on something not yourself?'  (The Great Divorce)

by rebecca burchett

regarding him

The voices of many
add nothing
to the the secrets unfolding
between us.

to him

Extinguish my eyes, I’ll go on seeing you.
Seal my ears, I’ll go on hearing you.
And without feet I can make my way to you,
Without a mouth I can swear your name.

Break off my arms, I’ll take hold of you
With my heart as with a hand.
Stop my heart, and my brain will start to beat.
And if you consume my brain with fire,
I’ll feel you burn in every drop of my blood.

- Rilke

by "Merry Christmas", I mean...

The faith position
On which I bet my life,
For which I contend and press:

Once upon a time…
There was a life transforming,
paradigm shattering event:*

The….

Ideal became real.
Invisible became visible.
Abstract became particular.
Eternal became touchable.
Extraordinary became ordinary.

God became human,
Breaking into history.

Jesus.

The Forevermore.

...When I say “Merry Christmas”, I mean “may you know in your inner being and take joy in what God has done in history to get you to know him personally.”*


*From T. Keller's sermon "The Meaning of Christmas"

my favorite picture of matt

what was this moment all about?

white flags

What happens when all the radiance of youth ceases to be? When the extravagance we've gleaned from the world passes away? When there is nothing but weakness in our fragile bodies? When we are truly old, not merely fending it off? When there is nothing more of value to offer, then might we finally offer that which has been the only valuable thing thus far:

Our LIFE in full surrender to the Living God?

Will I only trust him when all else fails to save me?

Most likely.

Does He know this very well, yet love me steadfastly?

Most certainly.

a request

O Love, meet fear and swallow it whole.

november 23, 1654

I seek this:

From about half past ten in the evening until about half past twelve, FIRE - God of Abraham, God of Isaac, God of Jacob, not of the philosophers and scholars. Certitude, certitude. Heartfelt joy, peace. God of Jesus Christ. My God and thy God. Thy God shall be my God. Forgetfulness of the world and of everything, except GOD. He is only found by the ways taught in the Gospel. Grandeur of the human soul. Righteous Father, the world has not known you, but I have known you. Joy, joy, joy, tears of joy.

- Blaise Pascal

who we are

Rejoice! Rejoice! Daughter of the True King,

Yes! Royal blood was spilled on your behalf;

It dances through your veins. Know this sweet one:

His courts for you will be the grandest thing

And liberty will free your soul to laugh

Eternally. And sing and dance like none

Before. For no one has your offering.

*Inspired by R.B.

lover of mission

I bid you search by love for greater life

And be diminished not by lack of praise.

For blessings out of liar's mouths do curse

And verily of lies - all men rehearse

Grand speech proclaiming vict'ry absent strife.

And now concerning failure-laden days:

He too failed - marked by the world’s ways.

*Inspired by R.B.

thank you

I was thanked today for supporting and encouraging someone.*

(This meant a great deal to me.)

Someone with remarkable talent and ability. 

All I did was reinforce a truth that had been weakened by frustration. 

We need to do this for each other often. 

Too often we remain silent.

*M.O.

wilson's brother

Why do I love Niki, Kevin and Renee?

When I was board out of my mind at work tonight

and started making friends with the cantaloupe

oddly placed in the walk-in white wine cooler,

They made friends with him too.

Wrote him notes.

Talked him out of suicide. 

His name is Canti.

'tis the season

This gift was given to me this morning by the lovely gentleman outside Peet's coffee who is paid to watch people get out of their cars 12 minutes before the alloted time for street cleaning is over (mind you the street has already been cleaned) and then write them a $50 ticket. 

When unfortunate events such as this happen, I proceed to go out and buy myself a gift. 

five in one

What brings me joy today?

1. I know him more...

for

2. he revealed to me his heart...

by

3. the telling of his story...

through

4. the words of his friends...

viz.

5. Hosea, Keller, Lewis and Edwards.

G.M. ii

Therefore, O Lord when all things common seem,

When all is dust, and self the center clod,

When grandeur is a hopeless, foolish dream,

And anxious care more reasonable than God - 

Out of the ashes I will call to thee - 

In spite of dead distrust call earnestly:

O thou who livest, call, then answer dying me. 

- George MacDonald

G.M. i

How I spent my morning:

To know takes effort.

I am a little weary of my life - 

Not thy life, blessed Father!  Or the blood

Too slowly laves the coral shores of thought,

Or I am weary of weariness and strife.

Open my soul-gates to thy living flood;

I ask not larger heart-throbs, vigor-fraught,

I pray thy presence, with strong patience rife. 

- George MacDonald (Diary of an Old Soul)