surrendering to the author of our lives...

from time to time...i suppose each of us stops to think about the direction our life is taking...you never could have imagined ten...fifteen...or even five years ago where you are today...living where you are...doing the job you're now doing...engaged in relationships with specific people...the losses...achievements...sorrows...and joys...

had we been the authors of our lives...we certainly would like to rewrite some parts...perhaps edit out a chapter or two...and condense or expand others...but we don't hold the power of the red pen...that role rests alone with the sovereign author of life...our Lord Jesus...that role is what the psalmist surrenders...in part...when he wrote "my times are in Your hands..." (psalm 31:15)

i was reminded of this recently when finishing a book by corrie ten boom...a longtime hero of mine...the way corrie interwove her life and faith sets her apart...but it's an interesting fact that corrie lived 52 relatively uneventful...obscure years before God placed her in the center arena...in fact...corrie...along with her also-single sister...still lived in their childhood home with their father and quietly ran a watch repair shop until the outbreak of world war II...(you can read all about it in the classic "the hiding place".) who would have figured the course God intended for their family...including corrie out of holland and sending her crisscross around the world for the next 35 years? certainly not corrie...and yet...as our author...God writes our life's chapters and determines our direction...

i can't imagine that corrie...at age 52...would have believed it if she could have seen what God had planned for the rest of her life...but that's why surrendering to the author of our lives is always the most exciting and safest story...

kind of makes you wonder...if we were able to look ten...fifteen...or even five years into the future...could we imagine how the Lord will choose to use us?

time for a treat...

woke up this morning at 6:30am...all ready for the day...had no desire for that extra 30 minutes i would normally be clinging to...as 7am is usually the time i crawl out of bed...

so...feeling this incredible burst of energy...i figured i might as well make the most of it...working through my morning routine...i figured why change things up? just start on it a bit earlier...

and then it happened...i got the cleaning bug in me...it was SO sudden...and believe you me...that doesn't happen often...so i figured i would tackle my least favorite chore...cleaning the bathroom...

this was no ordinary cleaning...i scrubbed down the walls...scrubbed down the tiles...with toothbrush in hand...went in for the kill...you know...the tiny crevaces in the tile...corners etc...that you normally can't get to? yeah...i got to them...from ceiling all the way down to the floor...not an inch of space was neglected...

so now...i have an exceptionally clean bathroom...and i am exhausted...really exhausted...being that it is only 1:50 pm...i'm wondering how long i will last till bed-time...

oh no...is this the first sign of old age? the moment where you do one task...and you are done for the day??

hopefully not...but now i'm thinking for all that hard work...i need a nice treat...deciding what that treat will be...hmmm...should it be edible?? or something that lasts a bit longer?

my mind is racing with all the possibilities...

and then on the other hand...i'm thinking...really elena? was it really such an exceptional feat that you finished that requires such grand recognition??

hey...it's my life...and so i say...yes!

bet you are wondering what that treat will be...

the window from which we look...

A young couple moves into a new neighborhood.
The next morning while they are eating breakfast,
The young woman sees her neighbor hanging the wash outside.
"That laundry is not very clean", she said.
"She doesn't know how to wash correctly.
Perhaps she needs better laundry soap."

Her husband looked on, but remained silent.

Every time her neighbor would hang her wash to dry,
The young woman would make the same comments.

About one month later, the woman was surprised to see a
Nice clean wash on the line and said to her husband:

"Look, she has learned how to wash correctly.
I wonder who taught her this."

The husband said, "I got up early this morning and
Cleaned our windows."

And so it is with life. What we see when watching others
Depends on the purity of the window through which we look!

what prompts people to do what they do...

...no this is not a "deep" post...although the title may have suggested that...was it a ploy? hmmm...

as i was running around town this morning...doing my errands...it struck me as funny...and this happens all the time...i might add...but this morning...it seemed to happen everywhere i stopped...

my car has a "whistle" type sound when it locks...which i have always laughed about...saying that my car whistles at me every day...

what is funny...is how many people decide to imitate that sound when they walk by...and everyone seems to smile...

which i would say is a good thing...although i'm trying to think if i would mimmick a sound from a car...in my outside voice...

...probably not...but if my car whistle brings a smile to a few faces...then i guess it is all good...

enjoy your weekend...and if you hear a car whistle...it just may be mine...

happy 3 year...

...blogaversary to me... =) wow...after three years...and 716 posts...that is a lot of random thoughts about nothing and everything...thank you to all my readers for coming along for the ride...

photo source

hold on...

i have had many friends going through a lot of "stuff" lately...with much of it...unexpected...unplanned...and devastating...sometimes...in the midst of "stuff" we forget...maybe for a moment...that there is someone always with us...even when we don't feel Him...

this song came through my "random" shuffle on my ipad this morning...i love the way the Lord can bring a song to you...or to someone you know...who needs to hear...

be encouraged...

hold on...by nicole nordeman

It will find you at the bottom of a bottle
It will find you at the needle's end
It will find you when you beg and steal and borrow
It will follow you into a stranger's bed

It will find you when they serve you with the papers
It will find you when the locks have changed again
It will find you when you've called in all your favors
It will meet you at the bridge's highest ledge

So baby don't look down, it's a long way
The sun will come around to a new day

So hold on
Love will find you
Hold on
He's right behind you now
Just turn around
And love will find you

It will find you when the doctor's head is shaking
It will find you in a boardroom, mostly dead
It will crawl into the foxhole where you're praying
It will curl up in your halfway empty bed

So baby don't believe that it's over
Maybe you can't see 'round the corner?

To hang between two thieves in the darkness
Love must believe you are worth it

where has the time gone?

busy...busy...busy...

that has been my week this week...and it is tuesday? sheesh...the good thing...is that the week seems to be flying by...actually...the month is flying by...actually...now that i think of it...the year is flying by...a little to quickly...

wouldn't you say?

i went to the movies today...and during the previews...one of the movies stated..."coming this december" and for a moment it hit me as so odd...but then i thought...wow...christmas is really not that far off...

so i'm thinking during this busy busy week...i really should find some time to pull out my 2011 goals...and see how i've been doing...

i do know...that one of the things i planned to get done 1st quarter of the year...is just getting started now...better late then never...right?

catching up with an old friend...

...and in old...i mean...long-time...friend... =) because we still consider ourselves young...at least i do...

this friend..."g" and i went to grade school together...on all the way through high school...we had such a lovely morning/afternoon...catching up on life...dreams...hopes...and memories...it was the perfect combination of talking...over coffee...then looking through her beautiful watercolor paintings that she does...which still amazes me...because i can't even draw a decent stick figure...and then...she started showing me a lot of her mom's clothing...vintage clothing from the 50's...many of it hand sewn by her mom...

here is the thing...this stuff never gets old for me...it is like stepping into someones life...seeing the clothes they wore...imagining what party...or wedding...or church function this piece was worn to...i even got to see the dress she had worn on her honeymoon...so incredibly beautiful...

then we had some lunch...chatted some more...and before you knew it...over 4 hours had passed...just like that...

driving home...once again...i was just so thankful to the Lord...because He has put such incredible people in my life...friends that have remained in my life for years and years and years...some we may have lost touch...but once that connection was made again...mostly through facebook (which for that i am ever grateful for fb) it was like we started right where we left off...hopefully just a little bit wiser...

that's what faith can do...

you know those songs that the words just pierce your heart? the songs that you feel as if the words are directed just to you? that is when you know a song comes annointed by the Lord...

and this one...the latest from kutless...wow...i can listen to it over and over and over...what a beautiful description of what faith can do...be encouraged...

What Faith Can Do Lyrics ~ Kutless

Everybody falls sometimes
Gotta find the strength to rise
From the ashes and make a new beginning
Anyone can feel the ache
You think it’s more than you can take
But you're stronger, stronger than you know
Don’t you give up now
The sun will soon be shining
You gotta face the clouds
To find the silver lining

I’ve seen dreams that move the mountains
Hope that doesn’t ever end
Even when the sky is falling
I’ve seen miracles just happen
Silent prayers get answered
Broken hearts become brand new
That’s what faith can do

It doesn’t matter what you’ve heard
Impossible is not a word
It’s just a reason for someone not to try
Everybody’s scared to death
When they decide to take that step
Out on the water
It’ll be alright
Life is so much more
Than what your eyes are seeing
You will find your way
If you keep believing

I’ve seen dreams that move the mountains
Hope that doesn’t ever end
Even when the sky is falling
I’ve seen miracles just happen
Silent prayers get answered
Broken hearts become brand new
That’s what faith can do

Overcome the odds
You don't have a chance
(That’s what faith can do)
When the world says you can’t
It’ll tell you that you can!

I’ve seen dreams that move the mountains
Hope that doesn’t ever end
Even when the sky is falling
And I’ve seen miracles just happen
Silent prayers get answered
Broken hearts become brand new
That’s what faith can do
That's what faith can do!
Even if you fall sometimes
You will have the strength to rise

festering hatred...

i have been seeing a lot of what festering hatred could do...to a person...to a family...to a generation...and to many generations to come...

and most times...there is nothing one can do about it...but pray...

but what you want to do...is shake that person...and plead with them...to let go...because that hatred keeps you...keeps you locked up in a prison...keeps you from flourishing...keeps you from blessings...keeps you from growing...and mostly...keeps you stuck in mire that is just not worth it...ever...

festering hatred...how it breaks the heart of God...this is not how He intended His children to live...it is one thing to see it in the lives of unbelievers...but when you see this in the body of Christ...what can you say?

what can you say to those who know...what can you say to those who have heard the word...and choose to ignore it...or choose to apply the parts they want to apply...but not all...

God's way of living is not a "i'll take a dash of this...and a portion of that...but this here...no no...not for me" kind of choice...do we choose to take all of His commandments...and live the life He asks of us...or do we pick and choose? and ultimately lose...

God's word says...do not hate...love thy neighbor as thyself...it is plain and simple...no two hundred ways to intrepret that...just basic..."do not hate..."

He will make a way...

yesterday morning...as i finished off my prayer time...i gave out a big sigh...really to myself...but i know God heard it...obviously...as i had gone through my prayer list...it just seemed like so many people on my list were at a place where they really needed God to come through for them...whether for the cancer...or the restoration of a relatonship...or the need for finances...it just seemed like there was no way out for those that i was praying for...

and as is customary...as soon as my devotional time and prayer time is done...the ipod goes on...always set to "random" so each song is a nice surprise...

well...as i always say...there are no coincidences...and in my ipod...at last count i had somewhere in the range of over 6000 songs...

...and this is the first song that comes on...after my sigh...an oldie...but what a reminder...that with God the things that look impossible...are in fact possible...

hope these words encourage you...because wherever you are at...at this very moment...He hears you...He knows you...and He knows the right timing...and He will make a way...where there is no way...praise His wonderful name!!

He Will Make a Way...by Kathy Troccoli

I know that you’re discouraged
But you’re not alone
There is absolutely no situation
Out of His control
One door may close
Another will open
Jesus is healer of all that is broken

Chorus:
He will make a way
Where there is no way
He will bring His peace
Where there is no peace

Watch Him put together
What’s been torn apart
He can soften up the most
Hardened of hearts

He will make a way
Where there is no way

Don’t you go believin’ lies
He’s not forgotten you
There’s gonna be another
Higher, greater place He will take you to
Watch Him move mountains
Ride you through the waves
He can deliver in the darkest of days

Repeat chorus

There is no war
He doesn’t win
When you’re at your end
He’s just beginning

He will make a way
Where there is no way

Our only hope is in Him
No matter what this life can bring
Jesus stands alone
As the God of impossible things

Repeat chorus

Watch Him move mountains
Ride you through the waves
He can deliver in the darkest of days

Repeat chorus

simple...just say "thank you, Lord..."

What Happens In Heaven When We Pray?

I dreamt that I went to Heaven and an angel was showing me around. We walked side-by-side inside a large workroom filled with angels. My angel guide stopped in front of the first section and said, 'This is the Receiving Section. Here, all petitions to God said in prayer are received.

I looked around in this area, and it was terribly busy with so many angels sorting out petitions written on voluminous paper sheets and scraps from people all over the world.

Then we moved on down a long corridor until we reached the second section.

The angel then said to me, "This is the Packaging and Delivery Section. Here, the graces and blessings the people asked for are processed and delivered to the living persons who asked for them." I noticed again how busy it was there. There were many angels working hard at that station, since so many blessings had been requested and were being packaged for delivery to Earth.

Finally at the farthest end of the long corridor we stopped at the door of a very small station. To my great surprise, only one angel was seated there, idly doing nothing. "This is the Acknowledgment Section, my angel friend quietly admitted to me. He seemed embarrassed." How is it that there is no work going on here? ' I asked.

"So sad," the angel sighed. "After people receive the blessings that they asked for, very few send back acknowledgments"

"How does one acknowledge God's blessings? " I asked..

"Simple," the angel answered. Just say, "Thank you, Lord. "

"What blessings should they acknowledge?" I asked.

"If you have food in the refrigerator, clothes on your back, a roof overhead and a place to sleep you are richer than 75% of this world. If you have money in the bank, in your wallet, and spare change in a dish, you are among the top 8% of the world's wealthy. "

"And if you get this on your own computer, you are part of the 1% in the world who has that opportunity."

"If you woke up this morning with more health than illness .. You are more blessed than the many who will not even survive this day. "

"If you have never experienced the fear in battle, the loneliness of imprisonment, the agony of torture, or the pangs of starvation ... You are ahead of 700 million people in the world."

"If you can attend a church without the fear of harassment, arrest, torture or death you are envied by, and more blessed than, three billion people in the world."

"If your parents are still alive and still married ...you are very rare."

"If you can hold your head up and smile, you are not the norm, you're unique to all those in doubt and despair......."

Ok, what now? How can I start?

If you can read this message, you just received a double blessing in that someone was thinking of you as very special and you are more blessed than over two billion people in the world who cannot read at all.

Have a good day, count your blessings and thank God for everything!

a purposeful cup...

my mom & dad's pastor...pastor jerry posted this pic on his facebook page...makes my heart so happy...can't wait till i get my venti skinny hazelnut latte and have this on my cup...



may your weekend be fabulous...

my constant help...

i know it shouldn't surprise me...but it still does when God comes through so incredibly for me...actually maybe that is the wrong word...it is amazement...and i think being amazed by God is a good thing...right?

i have come to trust God in pretty much everything...the big things and the small...and although there are times i still have fear...or a little bit of anxiety...i find myself repeating..."you've never let me down before..." and "God...calm the fear..."

what i am always amazed at...is not only the fact that He truly does come through each and every time...but also how He comes through...

it is a reminder...that His ways are far better then mine...in every single situation...time and time again...

thank you Lord...for always being my constant help...healer...friend...father...and calmer of the storm...

not worth remembering...

a well trained memory permits you to forget things not worth remembering...

reading beyond your means...

no doubt you know the troublesome phrase "living beyond your means," and the disaster and peril that await those who do...i am definately in favor of living within your means...but i am equally in favor of what i call..."reading beyond your means..."

it only costs a few dollars to buy a copy of architectural digest, town & country, or gourmet...it cost millions to try to imitate the lifestyles shown within...go ahead and indulge yourself with a few hours of peeking in on the lifestyles of the very, very rich...don't use this as an excuse to get all worked up about your lot in life...don't march out and charge something you saw advertised and saddle yourself with years of debt...do pay attention to the smaller things...the colors the rooms are painted in a palace...for instance...most of us can't really afford the jewelry, the clothes, or the restaurants...but you can find so much about living gracefully...about incorporating beauty and style into your own abode...

over the years...i've incorporated many things into my home & wardrobe...taking cues from these magazines...and doing it on a lower cost basis...it is possible...the idea of the magazines is to draw inspiration from...it is an inexpensive way to bring a bit of architectural digest gloss into your life and home...

try it...

...and while you are at it...when you can't travel to exotic places...you can always read about them...and soak in the lovely pictures...the next best thing to being there...

can you hear me now?

distractions...they come in all shapes and sizes...don't they? whether it be mindless tv...a long to-do list...whatever...but most times...the one who gets pushed off to the end is our wonderful Father...and as He sits waiting patiently...sometimes it takes a while for us to realize...that all these distractions are keeping us from the One we need to focus on most...

i love the parable in luke 8 about the fallen seed...have you read it?

in the midst of our distractions...we need to get back to basics...and sometimes...we don't know where to start...making a conscious effort of doing the things that we know are right...but not only right...the are the lifeline for us...

but many cannot hear Him...

it starts with an open mind...

v. 5 says - some seed fell on the path and it was trampled on and the birds of the air came and ate it up...

v. 12 says - those along the path are like people who hear and then the devil comes along and takes away the word from their hearts so they cannot believe and be saved...

what causes us to have a closed mind?

pride - anytime we make a decision without prayer - we are telling God we can do it on our own...

fear - when we are afraid of what God might say to us...or what He might ask us to do...

bitterness - blaming God or being angry at Him for things that have happened...

after we develop an open mind...we must take time to listen...

v. 6 says - other seed fell on shallow soil with rock beneath. this seed began to grow but soon withered and died for lack of moisture...

v. 13 says - those on the rock are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. they believe it for a while, but in the time of testing, they fall away.

and when we take time to listen...we must eliminate the distractions...because nothing that you are doing is more important than listening and hearing God...

v. 7 says - other seed fell among the thorns (weeds) which grew up with it and choked the plants...

v. 14 says - this seed that fell among the thorns stands or represents those who hear the word but as they go on their way they're choked by life's worries, riches, and pleasures...

and after we take time to listen...we must cooperate with what He says...have a willing heart...

v.15 says - the seed on the good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart who hear the word of God and retain it and by persevering produce a good crop...

as it says in james 1:22...don't merely listen to the word and so deceive yourself...

...we kid ourselves if we think we are growing by just going to church...we need to do what the word says...

look back...

...it reminds us how God has worked in our lives...and how He has and can heal us...

this is the reason why we need to open our heart to God...and trust Him for our future...

open is the key word...i heard it said this way once in a sermon...

close your hand in a fist...look at it...those are the things you are holding on to...

...hate...fear...hurt...

emotions have that fist tightened...how have those emotions held you back because you held on to them...

if we stay in hurt...we will hurt...
if we stay in fear...we will live in fear...

let go today...and start living the life God intended for you all along...

living in the moment...

a proverb a day...

...keeps you close to the Father up above...

ok...so maybe not really...there are other ways of keeping close to the Father up above...talking with Him...through worship...through His word...

but i've always loved the fact that there were 31 chapters in proverbs...one for every day of the month...and if there are 30 days...well that 31st chapter is just a bonus...especially since it talks about the woman...also known as the proverbs 31 woman...

what a great way to start your day...if you are having difficulty with what to read when you open that massive book (the bible) full of so much insight...so much direction...so much love...hope...why not start with a proverb a day?

the answers all in one room...

a friend of mine sent this to me...and i thought it to be so clever...

When I woke up this morning, I asked myself, "What is life about?"
I found the answer in my room.

The fan said, "Be cool."
The roof said, "Aim high."
The window said, "See the world!"
The clock said, "Every minute is precious."
The mirror said, "Reflect before you act."
The door said, "Push hard for your goals."
The floor said, "Kneel down and pray"

today i made eye contact with a mountain lion...

...and it wasn't at the zoo...which is probably the way i prefer to see a mountain lion...

the funny thing...is that as my girlfriend & i started off on our hike...one of our favorite hiking trails...mostly because of the lush trees (shade) and mountain terrain (great workout)...i said to her..."oh...yesterday on the news...they said that there was a mountain lion sighting at the crystal springs golf course..." and we laughed...saying...cool...we are no where near there...

and off we went on our hike...

about 45 minutes into it...i look ahead onto the trail...and there he is...i would say no more then 75 to 100 ft in front of me...we made eye contact...what seemed like forever...and then he ran off...

so...yes...i got a bit freaked out for a moment...i mean...obviously...i am on his turf...he rules...whatever he wants is okay by me...as long as i am not on the lunch menu...

so first...i would like to thank my wonderful Father up above for His protection over us...and second...may i just say...what an absolutely beautiful creature i saw...beautiful coat...and a cute face...and for a split second...i thought...wouldn't he be a great addition to my kitty family...

hmmm...i wonder how chester & sasha would have reacted... =)