Back on board
I know, I know. I am painfully aware of my blog-neglect over the last several days. In case you've been wondering where I've been, let me tell you: deeply enjoying the company of friends from back home. Mike and Robbie and their son have been visiting us this week, and we have had a terrific time clocking in hours with them, as well as introducing them to some of our friends from here to help give them an idea of what we're doing and who we're doing it with. In this process, we've enjoyed entertaining a handful of our friends in our home, some of whom haven't been around to our place for a long time. Nothin' like a good excuse for a dinner party!
I was expecting that this week would be our chance to bless Mike and Robbie and help them have a great vacation here in NZ; but it actually has felt more like they have been the ones pouring into us, simply by being who they are and loving us well. They are an amazing couple. I feel refreshed, encouraged, and believed-in. Needless to say, it's been a fun week.
They've gone this evening to see some more of the country, but we'll meet up with them one last time next Friday in Auckland before they fly back home. What will we be doing in Auckland next Friday (besides seeing them?). Well, because you asked, Aaron leaves to go to Fiji tomorrow. He gets in late Thursday night, so I'll drive up to Auckland to pick him up, and we'll spend the night up there. Busy, busy, busy! We have a few days off over Easter, which I think we're desperately ready for.
Speaking of Easter, I have grandeous ambitions of producing some homemade peirgois and perhaps some other Polish food (traditional Warren family Easter fare) next Sunday, but in the same breath I will also confess that those ambitions could easily remain just that - ambitions with little or no energy to turn them into reality. I have to say, lamb roast, piergois, and poppy seed bread does sound like a pretty yummy Easter dinner......
Saturday, March 31, 2007
Monday, March 26, 2007
A different sort of day
It all started at 6:30am when there was an accident on the main road right outside our house. Someone hit the power pole, creating quite a bit of damage to the power lines. As a result, we spent the whole morning and the better part of the afternoon without power today. I'm going to confess that it was actually really nice - having no phone and internet for a few hours wasn't such a bad thing! Aaron occasionally takes Monday mornings off, because we don't have any other morning off during the whole week. So today he stayed home with Taylor while I went up the mount and then ran a bunch of errands around town. The rest of the morning was really quite restful, with no work able to be done.
Tomorrow some good friends from the States come into town to see us! We're really looking forward to having them here and to be able to spend some good time with them. It's going to be quite a busy (but very fun!) week.
Speaking of tomorrow, it will be here sooner than I'm ready, which means it's time for me to be off to bed - something I should have done a while ago!
It all started at 6:30am when there was an accident on the main road right outside our house. Someone hit the power pole, creating quite a bit of damage to the power lines. As a result, we spent the whole morning and the better part of the afternoon without power today. I'm going to confess that it was actually really nice - having no phone and internet for a few hours wasn't such a bad thing! Aaron occasionally takes Monday mornings off, because we don't have any other morning off during the whole week. So today he stayed home with Taylor while I went up the mount and then ran a bunch of errands around town. The rest of the morning was really quite restful, with no work able to be done.
Tomorrow some good friends from the States come into town to see us! We're really looking forward to having them here and to be able to spend some good time with them. It's going to be quite a busy (but very fun!) week.
Speaking of tomorrow, it will be here sooner than I'm ready, which means it's time for me to be off to bed - something I should have done a while ago!
Saturday, March 24, 2007
The internet and my guitar
After experiencing technical difficulties with our internet in the last 24 hours, we are now back online, thanks to the generous help and support from our new friends at Telecom. I'm liking Telecom these days - between their great phone plans and helpful customer service representatives, they've had a good run this week. This is good, especially as I am no big fan of the customer service in New Zealand.
Onto slightly more relevant news for the evening, I picked up my guitar tonight for the first time in a long time. It's something I've been wanting to do for a much too long now, and for some reason I decided tonight that there was nothing else on the priority list that couldn't wait until tomorrow. I thoroughly enjoyed myself, and it felt good to be strumming again. Except for the fact that my fingers don't feel so good right now. But that just goes with the territory; no avoiding that reality. I'd love for that to become more of a regular occurrence in my life -because we all know I really need to be looking for something else to do in all my spare time. But hey, why not?
After experiencing technical difficulties with our internet in the last 24 hours, we are now back online, thanks to the generous help and support from our new friends at Telecom. I'm liking Telecom these days - between their great phone plans and helpful customer service representatives, they've had a good run this week. This is good, especially as I am no big fan of the customer service in New Zealand.
Onto slightly more relevant news for the evening, I picked up my guitar tonight for the first time in a long time. It's something I've been wanting to do for a much too long now, and for some reason I decided tonight that there was nothing else on the priority list that couldn't wait until tomorrow. I thoroughly enjoyed myself, and it felt good to be strumming again. Except for the fact that my fingers don't feel so good right now. But that just goes with the territory; no avoiding that reality. I'd love for that to become more of a regular occurrence in my life -because we all know I really need to be looking for something else to do in all my spare time. But hey, why not?
Friday, March 23, 2007
Lots of sheep and no snakes
Many of you reading this may have already heard this story, but I'd bet there are a good number who haven't, so I thought I'd tell it. Every now and then I remember this story, and feel God 'winking' at me as I recall it. It's one of those that shouts the sovereignty of God to me if I'm ever doubting it, which makes me love Him all the more. I was thinking about this yesterday when I was outside with Taylor, and she was asking me if there were any snakes. It's always my delight to tell her no!
When I was a young child (say, 6 or 7), I had this strange obsession with sheep. For some reason, I loved them. They were my favorite animal. I had sheep calendars, stuffed animal sheep toys, little glass sheep on my dresser, sheep, sheep, sheep. And I hated snakes. Still do. So one day, randomly out of the blue, for some reason I say to my mom, "Mom, there should be a place where there are lots of sheep and no snakes. That would just be perfect!" To my complete surprise, she said, "There is a place. There's a island in the Pacific Ocean called New Zealand. And it has more sheep than people, and no snakes." I couldn't believe it. "Really?!" I asked. I couldn't fathom how there was not one snake hidden under one rock somewhere in the middle of the forest that no one knew was there. I thought for a moment. "Mommy?" I asked. "I want to go there someday." I went to the globe and found New Zealand, and was so disappointed, because it was soooo far away. I thought I'd never be able to go there. And from that time on throughout my childhood, I had this 'thing' for New Zealand. We had to buy kiwifruit - 'cuz they were from New Zealand. If the sticker on the apples said they were from New Zealand - we had to buy them. It wasn't a long or lasting obsession, but enough that I remember it.
Who ever would have known back then I would not only go there someday - but live there, too. Out of the mouth of babes.....and the gift of my own mother prophecying my future without even knowing it. Now that's sovereignty.
Many of you reading this may have already heard this story, but I'd bet there are a good number who haven't, so I thought I'd tell it. Every now and then I remember this story, and feel God 'winking' at me as I recall it. It's one of those that shouts the sovereignty of God to me if I'm ever doubting it, which makes me love Him all the more. I was thinking about this yesterday when I was outside with Taylor, and she was asking me if there were any snakes. It's always my delight to tell her no!
When I was a young child (say, 6 or 7), I had this strange obsession with sheep. For some reason, I loved them. They were my favorite animal. I had sheep calendars, stuffed animal sheep toys, little glass sheep on my dresser, sheep, sheep, sheep. And I hated snakes. Still do. So one day, randomly out of the blue, for some reason I say to my mom, "Mom, there should be a place where there are lots of sheep and no snakes. That would just be perfect!" To my complete surprise, she said, "There is a place. There's a island in the Pacific Ocean called New Zealand. And it has more sheep than people, and no snakes." I couldn't believe it. "Really?!" I asked. I couldn't fathom how there was not one snake hidden under one rock somewhere in the middle of the forest that no one knew was there. I thought for a moment. "Mommy?" I asked. "I want to go there someday." I went to the globe and found New Zealand, and was so disappointed, because it was soooo far away. I thought I'd never be able to go there. And from that time on throughout my childhood, I had this 'thing' for New Zealand. We had to buy kiwifruit - 'cuz they were from New Zealand. If the sticker on the apples said they were from New Zealand - we had to buy them. It wasn't a long or lasting obsession, but enough that I remember it.
Who ever would have known back then I would not only go there someday - but live there, too. Out of the mouth of babes.....and the gift of my own mother prophecying my future without even knowing it. Now that's sovereignty.
Tuesday, March 20, 2007
Awesome phone plan
So here's a piece of random information for you. Telecom (our phone provider) has just come out with a new long-distance plan that will suit us well. $45 a month now allows us to call anyone, anytime - both domestic and international numbers - for up to 2 hrs. per phonecall, not to exceed 6000 minutes a month (which works out to be 3 hours a day). They told us it would save us about $40/month. Suddenly, picking up the phone and calling overseas now seems as cheap as calling next door. Now that, my friends, is a good deal. Thanks, Telecom.
So here's a piece of random information for you. Telecom (our phone provider) has just come out with a new long-distance plan that will suit us well. $45 a month now allows us to call anyone, anytime - both domestic and international numbers - for up to 2 hrs. per phonecall, not to exceed 6000 minutes a month (which works out to be 3 hours a day). They told us it would save us about $40/month. Suddenly, picking up the phone and calling overseas now seems as cheap as calling next door. Now that, my friends, is a good deal. Thanks, Telecom.
Sunday, March 18, 2007
Fall is here
Fall is definitely starting to set in. This weekend was daylight savings in New Zealand, which means that now it gets dark much earlier than it did before. The evenings are getting chillier, the weather more unpredictable. If only the leaves were changing colors (and falling!) and Thanksgiving was just around the corner........It still seems strange to me to have fall in March. I don't know if that will ever feel normal. I really am a season-oriented person, so having Easter in the fall, Christmas in the summer, and 4th of July in the winter just makes me feel like I live life backwards and turned-around.
One good thing is that chilly evenings means it's hot pools season again! We're headed out there in a few minutes, so I've gotta get ready to leave. That's all for now, folks!
Fall is definitely starting to set in. This weekend was daylight savings in New Zealand, which means that now it gets dark much earlier than it did before. The evenings are getting chillier, the weather more unpredictable. If only the leaves were changing colors (and falling!) and Thanksgiving was just around the corner........It still seems strange to me to have fall in March. I don't know if that will ever feel normal. I really am a season-oriented person, so having Easter in the fall, Christmas in the summer, and 4th of July in the winter just makes me feel like I live life backwards and turned-around.
One good thing is that chilly evenings means it's hot pools season again! We're headed out there in a few minutes, so I've gotta get ready to leave. That's all for now, folks!
Friday, March 16, 2007
Thursday, March 15, 2007
A cross-cultural experience
I've spent this evening at a local marae (Maori meeting house) to attend a fundraising dessert for an emerging ministry in the city that is focused on reaching Maori (both saved and unsaved). They have a new and innovative approach to disciple Maori in a context that is non-threatening and familiar, modeling to them a way to maintain the beauty and uniqueness of their culture while still living an authentic expression of Christianity in daily life.
The evening definitely was a cross-cultural affair! Being on a marae is a unique expereince in and of itself, as there is nothing quite like it in Western culture. Many of the speaches, prayers, and songs were spoken/sung in Maori (and in English as well); and although I have very little idea what they are saying (except for the occasional word here and there), it's such a beautiful language and I love to listen to it being spoken. For a few moments this evening, I felt like a "real" missionary, as I definitely found myself in the midst of a different culture, language, etc!
It was a really fun night, and I left with excitement in my spirit as we heard what the Lord is doing in our city and how He is raising up the Maori to be a clear voice both here in New Zealand and in the nations of the world. They are a people with a definite calling to express a part of the heart of God that no other culture has the ability to express, and it's a privilege to see the beginnings of that emerging.
I've spent this evening at a local marae (Maori meeting house) to attend a fundraising dessert for an emerging ministry in the city that is focused on reaching Maori (both saved and unsaved). They have a new and innovative approach to disciple Maori in a context that is non-threatening and familiar, modeling to them a way to maintain the beauty and uniqueness of their culture while still living an authentic expression of Christianity in daily life.
The evening definitely was a cross-cultural affair! Being on a marae is a unique expereince in and of itself, as there is nothing quite like it in Western culture. Many of the speaches, prayers, and songs were spoken/sung in Maori (and in English as well); and although I have very little idea what they are saying (except for the occasional word here and there), it's such a beautiful language and I love to listen to it being spoken. For a few moments this evening, I felt like a "real" missionary, as I definitely found myself in the midst of a different culture, language, etc!
It was a really fun night, and I left with excitement in my spirit as we heard what the Lord is doing in our city and how He is raising up the Maori to be a clear voice both here in New Zealand and in the nations of the world. They are a people with a definite calling to express a part of the heart of God that no other culture has the ability to express, and it's a privilege to see the beginnings of that emerging.
Wednesday, March 14, 2007
Too many balls to juggle. Too many batons to balance.
It's 10pm. It feels like it's midnight. I'm tired.
The last several days have been good, but long. I'm feeling caught in the balancing act of loving Jesus well, loving my husband well, loving our daughter well, and leading a ministry well. It seems like most days, one of the four suffers. I hate that feeling of realization that one of those all-important proverbial "balls" has been dropped. Only to remember that there are 5 other important ones that need to be juggled as well. Sometimes I feel like I'm always bound to let someone down - it's just a matter of who.
Meanwhile, in the midst of trying to juggle it all, I want to learn to do it with a heart at rest - not a heart that is striving or stressed or anxious. For if my heart isn't at rest (that is, living in peace that is a result of communion with the Holy Spirit) the inner rhythm of my spirit will be off, and it will affect all I put my hand to. The result? The balls will drop, the batons will tumble, and I won't be able to do anything well.
Sounds like my aim should be to grow in how I carry my heart, not necessairily to grow in my ability to balance all the aspects of life.
It's 10pm. It feels like it's midnight. I'm tired.
The last several days have been good, but long. I'm feeling caught in the balancing act of loving Jesus well, loving my husband well, loving our daughter well, and leading a ministry well. It seems like most days, one of the four suffers. I hate that feeling of realization that one of those all-important proverbial "balls" has been dropped. Only to remember that there are 5 other important ones that need to be juggled as well. Sometimes I feel like I'm always bound to let someone down - it's just a matter of who.
Meanwhile, in the midst of trying to juggle it all, I want to learn to do it with a heart at rest - not a heart that is striving or stressed or anxious. For if my heart isn't at rest (that is, living in peace that is a result of communion with the Holy Spirit) the inner rhythm of my spirit will be off, and it will affect all I put my hand to. The result? The balls will drop, the batons will tumble, and I won't be able to do anything well.
Sounds like my aim should be to grow in how I carry my heart, not necessairily to grow in my ability to balance all the aspects of life.
Sunday, March 11, 2007
A whole bunch of random thoughts
It's hard to believe the weekend has come....and gone. Some friends of ours from Wellington came up here to Tauranga for the weekend, and stayed with us last night. We had a great time catching up with them and really enjoyed having them here.
It's been great having Aaron home these last several days. Life has still been pretty full-on, but it has been full-on together, which is always more fun than living life full-on apart! This week he goes back to Wellington, and then will be home for a couple of weeks. As much as I miss him when he's gone, I can definitely tell that there is lots of grace for us in this season, for which I am so thankful.
Speaking of being thankful, I was home with Taylor the other morning just going about my day when I started thinking about all that has happened this last year and how the Lord has led us so kindly, and I was just so grateful. I realized that so many of the things that are just "normal life" for us now weren't guaranteed to us when we moved here, and how the Lord has given above and beyond what we ever could have thought. I mean, when we moved here, we knew the Lord had called us, but we didn't know how anything would turn out. We didn't know if we'd make any friends. We didn't know if the internship would be a failure. We didn't know if anyone would show up. We didn't know if I would hate it here and miserable. We didn't know if we would see any growth, or if there would be years of painful 'sowing' before we saw the fruit of our labor. I guess it just struck me that things could have easily turned out so differently than they did, and I am so, so grateful to the Lord that He has been with us and that it hasn't been nearly as hard here as it could have been. That's not to say we haven't had difficult moments, but really - things could have been so much worse than they have actually been.
Now, that's a good realization to have.
It's hard to believe the weekend has come....and gone. Some friends of ours from Wellington came up here to Tauranga for the weekend, and stayed with us last night. We had a great time catching up with them and really enjoyed having them here.
It's been great having Aaron home these last several days. Life has still been pretty full-on, but it has been full-on together, which is always more fun than living life full-on apart! This week he goes back to Wellington, and then will be home for a couple of weeks. As much as I miss him when he's gone, I can definitely tell that there is lots of grace for us in this season, for which I am so thankful.
Speaking of being thankful, I was home with Taylor the other morning just going about my day when I started thinking about all that has happened this last year and how the Lord has led us so kindly, and I was just so grateful. I realized that so many of the things that are just "normal life" for us now weren't guaranteed to us when we moved here, and how the Lord has given above and beyond what we ever could have thought. I mean, when we moved here, we knew the Lord had called us, but we didn't know how anything would turn out. We didn't know if we'd make any friends. We didn't know if the internship would be a failure. We didn't know if anyone would show up. We didn't know if I would hate it here and miserable. We didn't know if we would see any growth, or if there would be years of painful 'sowing' before we saw the fruit of our labor. I guess it just struck me that things could have easily turned out so differently than they did, and I am so, so grateful to the Lord that He has been with us and that it hasn't been nearly as hard here as it could have been. That's not to say we haven't had difficult moments, but really - things could have been so much worse than they have actually been.
Now, that's a good realization to have.
Tuesday, March 06, 2007
Castles in the sand
Every night when we put Taylor to bed, we ask her what her favorite part of the day was. Before she even answers, she turns the question around on us and we have to tell her our favorite part of the day. So, in the spirit of a bedtime "chat", here was my answer to the question today:
Playing in the sand with Taylor on the beach. I have to admit that I really did miss playing in the snow with her in what would have just been our American winter, but I guess I really don't have too many complaining rights. I never would have had today's fun in Kansas City, 1500 miles away from either ocean. (Does Galvaston count as a real beach?). Anyways, Nic and I went up the mount today, and since Aaron is out of town, that means Taylor came, too. But instead of climbing halfway up with us today, she decided to bring her sand toys and play on the beach with us. We made a sand castle (or should I say, I made the sand castle. Despite her desire to build one, when it came right down to it, she wasn't too interested). I guess the other sand toys were more attractive today, for some reason.
Aaron comes home tomorrow - yeah! Can't wait to have him home again.....and someone else is really looking forward to going to the airport to pick up her daddy!
Every night when we put Taylor to bed, we ask her what her favorite part of the day was. Before she even answers, she turns the question around on us and we have to tell her our favorite part of the day. So, in the spirit of a bedtime "chat", here was my answer to the question today:
Playing in the sand with Taylor on the beach. I have to admit that I really did miss playing in the snow with her in what would have just been our American winter, but I guess I really don't have too many complaining rights. I never would have had today's fun in Kansas City, 1500 miles away from either ocean. (Does Galvaston count as a real beach?). Anyways, Nic and I went up the mount today, and since Aaron is out of town, that means Taylor came, too. But instead of climbing halfway up with us today, she decided to bring her sand toys and play on the beach with us. We made a sand castle (or should I say, I made the sand castle. Despite her desire to build one, when it came right down to it, she wasn't too interested). I guess the other sand toys were more attractive today, for some reason.
Aaron comes home tomorrow - yeah! Can't wait to have him home again.....and someone else is really looking forward to going to the airport to pick up her daddy!
Monday, March 05, 2007
The Nightwatch
I have less than 10 minutes to go before my self-imposed 11pm bedtime....so this will be a short post. :-)
I've just been emailing this evening one of my dear friends who did (and still does) the nightwatch at IHOP-KC. We actually did the nightwatch together waaay back in the day....which seems like a lifetime ago now. As I was emailing her, I remembered a verse that was so real to our small nightwatch community back then: Psalm 143, " Behold, bless the Lord, All you servants of the Lord, Who by night stand in the house of the Lord! Lift up your hands in the sanctuary, And bless the Lord. The Lord who made heaven and earth Bless you from Zion!" Oh, the unique blessing that is promised to those who stand by night in His house!
Thinking of this made me reflect on my own nightwatch days - those months in which so many memories were created; when so much of who I am today was formed on the inside of me. It also reminded me how highly I esteem those who are still laboring in intercession through the night in Kansas City. And it also made me long for the day when the nightwatch is birthed here in New Zealand. Blessed is the city who has worshippers and intercessors crying out before the Throne even through the night. And I'm unashamedly jealous to see that here someday.
So....if there are any nightwatchers out there who are reading this, thank you for your labors. And may the Lord bless you from Zion!
I have less than 10 minutes to go before my self-imposed 11pm bedtime....so this will be a short post. :-)
I've just been emailing this evening one of my dear friends who did (and still does) the nightwatch at IHOP-KC. We actually did the nightwatch together waaay back in the day....which seems like a lifetime ago now. As I was emailing her, I remembered a verse that was so real to our small nightwatch community back then: Psalm 143, " Behold, bless the Lord, All you servants of the Lord, Who by night stand in the house of the Lord! Lift up your hands in the sanctuary, And bless the Lord. The Lord who made heaven and earth Bless you from Zion!" Oh, the unique blessing that is promised to those who stand by night in His house!
Thinking of this made me reflect on my own nightwatch days - those months in which so many memories were created; when so much of who I am today was formed on the inside of me. It also reminded me how highly I esteem those who are still laboring in intercession through the night in Kansas City. And it also made me long for the day when the nightwatch is birthed here in New Zealand. Blessed is the city who has worshippers and intercessors crying out before the Throne even through the night. And I'm unashamedly jealous to see that here someday.
So....if there are any nightwatchers out there who are reading this, thank you for your labors. And may the Lord bless you from Zion!
Sunday, March 04, 2007
Sunday Night Church
On a whim, I decided to go to church tonight. We don't usually go on Sunday nights, but today I decided to put Taylor to bed early (left her with Nic), and go out for the evening. I have to say, it was perhaps the best church service that I've been in since being in New Zealand. For one reason alone: the worship was awesome. It reminded me a bit of the days of my youth at Gateway, when the worship could have (and often did) go on for hours. Tonight, I just wish they hadn't stopped. I also quickly discovered that Sunday night is primarily a young adult congregation.....so that's where they've been all this time. God is doing some pretty interesting stuff around here. It's a bit too early to see how it all is going to come down, but I'm excited to think of the possibilities. And to be part of it.
Now, if I can just get to bed before 11pm these days, I'll be doing good.....
On a whim, I decided to go to church tonight. We don't usually go on Sunday nights, but today I decided to put Taylor to bed early (left her with Nic), and go out for the evening. I have to say, it was perhaps the best church service that I've been in since being in New Zealand. For one reason alone: the worship was awesome. It reminded me a bit of the days of my youth at Gateway, when the worship could have (and often did) go on for hours. Tonight, I just wish they hadn't stopped. I also quickly discovered that Sunday night is primarily a young adult congregation.....so that's where they've been all this time. God is doing some pretty interesting stuff around here. It's a bit too early to see how it all is going to come down, but I'm excited to think of the possibilities. And to be part of it.
Now, if I can just get to bed before 11pm these days, I'll be doing good.....
Saturday, March 03, 2007
A few thoughts on prayer and the Holy Spirit
In the middle of my day, I still have the much-appreciated luxury of an hour and a half to two hours of un-interrupted time while Taylor takes a nap. I am already dreading the day when she grows out of naptime, but I will choose to be optimistic and believe that this day is still afar off. So today, I decided to work on some notes for some material that I need to teach soon, and in the midst of doing so, found myself struck by the following verse:
For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful. What is the conclusion then? I will pray with the Spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding. I will sing with the Spirit, and I will also sing with the understanding. (1 Cor. 14:14-15, emphasis added).
This verse spells out something so clearly to me that I have known in my mind for years, but today held revelation in my spirit. It's not just my mind that prays; it is my spirit. So often we think of prayer as words; prayer as being conversation with God. So that in order to pray, I need to be consciously using words to communicate something to God. Which is true. But this verse describes something other than the limited communication that originates in the mind; something surpassing the restraint of weak human words, and hints at a reality so far beyond my own finite definitions and steryotypes of prayer. The reality of my human spirit communing with The Spirit who lives on the inside. This foundational truth of the Christian faith is stunning: the Spirit of the living, eternal, un-created God lives on the inside of me. And not only does He live inside of me, but because He lives on the inside of me, my spirit can relate with Him in a reality that surpasses words, and it is called prayer. I have recently (as in, the last 9 months or so) been fascinated with this subject of fellowshipping with the Holy Spirit. Of walking in the Spirit, living in the Spirit, and being led by the Spirit. Something that goes so far beyong, "What shirt do I wear today?", but actually talking with the Spirit throughout my day. Actually keeping my spirit alert, mindful of, aware of, tenderized to His presence. On the inside. Being deliberate to have an active, living, present-tense relationship with this One who dwells within me. Herein lies the power to win the raging war against the law of sin and death. Herein lies the power to embrace and walk in the fruit of the....what?.....the Spirit. In western Christianity, the "fruit of the Spirit" has become such a watered-down, sunday-school, cute little phrase, when in reality, it is describing the evidence of one who lives a life of present-tense fellowship with the Holy Spirit. I can promise you, this preaches a lot easier than it actually lives, but this is our inheritance as believers of Jesus Christ. This is the essence of the Christian faith. This is what Jesus died for, so that we could live in this reality. And that means that it is available for every single person on the earth who calls on the name of Jesus. Which means, why not me? I am on a quest to discover and to live in this reality; to carry my heart in such a way that my spirit prays; not just my mind. I'm not saying I do it perfectly. In fact, I fall short way more than I succeed. But my heart is hungry. For Him.
How 'bout yours?
In the middle of my day, I still have the much-appreciated luxury of an hour and a half to two hours of un-interrupted time while Taylor takes a nap. I am already dreading the day when she grows out of naptime, but I will choose to be optimistic and believe that this day is still afar off. So today, I decided to work on some notes for some material that I need to teach soon, and in the midst of doing so, found myself struck by the following verse:
For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful. What is the conclusion then? I will pray with the Spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding. I will sing with the Spirit, and I will also sing with the understanding. (1 Cor. 14:14-15, emphasis added).
This verse spells out something so clearly to me that I have known in my mind for years, but today held revelation in my spirit. It's not just my mind that prays; it is my spirit. So often we think of prayer as words; prayer as being conversation with God. So that in order to pray, I need to be consciously using words to communicate something to God. Which is true. But this verse describes something other than the limited communication that originates in the mind; something surpassing the restraint of weak human words, and hints at a reality so far beyond my own finite definitions and steryotypes of prayer. The reality of my human spirit communing with The Spirit who lives on the inside. This foundational truth of the Christian faith is stunning: the Spirit of the living, eternal, un-created God lives on the inside of me. And not only does He live inside of me, but because He lives on the inside of me, my spirit can relate with Him in a reality that surpasses words, and it is called prayer. I have recently (as in, the last 9 months or so) been fascinated with this subject of fellowshipping with the Holy Spirit. Of walking in the Spirit, living in the Spirit, and being led by the Spirit. Something that goes so far beyong, "What shirt do I wear today?", but actually talking with the Spirit throughout my day. Actually keeping my spirit alert, mindful of, aware of, tenderized to His presence. On the inside. Being deliberate to have an active, living, present-tense relationship with this One who dwells within me. Herein lies the power to win the raging war against the law of sin and death. Herein lies the power to embrace and walk in the fruit of the....what?.....the Spirit. In western Christianity, the "fruit of the Spirit" has become such a watered-down, sunday-school, cute little phrase, when in reality, it is describing the evidence of one who lives a life of present-tense fellowship with the Holy Spirit. I can promise you, this preaches a lot easier than it actually lives, but this is our inheritance as believers of Jesus Christ. This is the essence of the Christian faith. This is what Jesus died for, so that we could live in this reality. And that means that it is available for every single person on the earth who calls on the name of Jesus. Which means, why not me? I am on a quest to discover and to live in this reality; to carry my heart in such a way that my spirit prays; not just my mind. I'm not saying I do it perfectly. In fact, I fall short way more than I succeed. But my heart is hungry. For Him.
How 'bout yours?
Friday, March 02, 2007
Mommy-Taylor bonding time
Once again, Taylor and I have a mommy-daughter weekend. Aaron left this afternoon for Wellington and Auckland, and Nic has gone away for the weekend to visit some family friends. So we get to enjoy a quiet weekend together, holding down the fort here at home. I'd like to make it a special time for her, so I'm thinking about starting off tomorrow morning with a pancake breakfast, just for something a bit different. I usually go into the prayer room on Saturdays, but since I'm a full-time mom this weekend, we get to have a lazy Saturday morning. I can't say I'm disappointed about that one! Hopefully Taylor will decide to have one of her legendary 8am sleepins tomorrow morning - especially since it's now 11:30pm and I really should be getting to bed!
But one more note before I do......I was in the grocery store the other day and saw some piergois in the frozen food section. On a whim, I decided to buy some (although I have yet to find kilbasa to eat them with). So tonight I decided to cook some up for dinner - complete with the onions fried in butter.....and boy, did it bring back some awesome memories of childhood! My dad used to make those (from scratch) every Easter along with lots of other yummy Polish food. One of these days, I'm going to pull out my recipe and make 'em from scratch, too. (Hmmm....Easter is coming up....). If only I could find some kilbasa, we'd be on our way to a good Polish Easter. It might be time to start searching every butcher in the city that I know of and see what we can find.
Once again, Taylor and I have a mommy-daughter weekend. Aaron left this afternoon for Wellington and Auckland, and Nic has gone away for the weekend to visit some family friends. So we get to enjoy a quiet weekend together, holding down the fort here at home. I'd like to make it a special time for her, so I'm thinking about starting off tomorrow morning with a pancake breakfast, just for something a bit different. I usually go into the prayer room on Saturdays, but since I'm a full-time mom this weekend, we get to have a lazy Saturday morning. I can't say I'm disappointed about that one! Hopefully Taylor will decide to have one of her legendary 8am sleepins tomorrow morning - especially since it's now 11:30pm and I really should be getting to bed!
But one more note before I do......I was in the grocery store the other day and saw some piergois in the frozen food section. On a whim, I decided to buy some (although I have yet to find kilbasa to eat them with). So tonight I decided to cook some up for dinner - complete with the onions fried in butter.....and boy, did it bring back some awesome memories of childhood! My dad used to make those (from scratch) every Easter along with lots of other yummy Polish food. One of these days, I'm going to pull out my recipe and make 'em from scratch, too. (Hmmm....Easter is coming up....). If only I could find some kilbasa, we'd be on our way to a good Polish Easter. It might be time to start searching every butcher in the city that I know of and see what we can find.
Thursday, March 01, 2007
Meat
(to receive the full impact of this post, you must read the next sentence with a slow, southern drawl...)
(to receive the full impact of this post, you must read the next sentence with a slow, southern drawl...)
Now this here....
....is whatchya git when you live in farm country.
What you're looking at is perhaps the freshest lamb meat you have ever seen.....at a price equivalent to robbery. We know someone who owns one of the most respected sheep farms in the area, so today we went to the farm to pick up our meat order. How awesome is that?
Taylor was looking forward to the trip all day. When she woke up from her nap, she excitedly told me that she had to bring her stuffed animal sheep, so she could "show it to all the other sheep at the farm!" This was the first time Taylor had ever been on a real farm; that became quite obvious when we walked into the shed where the pigs were and she cringed at the smell and didn't want to go in! :-) But once she got over that, she quickly decided that her favorite part of the farm were the 13 little piglets running around. She had a great time!
As for me, I'm excited about the lamb roasts we get to cook (and eat!) once the chilly weather sets in.
I guess I'll be learnin' real quick how to cook 'em good...
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