yummy goodness

if there is one thing i have been learning as of late, its that you really shouldn't ask of God anything you don'y really want...prayers like "break me Lord" or " give me patience" should only be petitioned with great care and intentionality.
but the cool part is, even if the lesson isn't really what you were up for, the outcome is quite worth the tumultuous journey in getting there.

"this is how we know that we love the children of God; by loving God and carrying out His commands. this is love for God: to obey His commands..."

i john 5:2-3

so i guess when i asked God to teach me to love i didn't really know what i was getting myself into. i thought learning to love was all about other people, i didn't really think first He would turn my life upside down and shake out all the crap i was holding onto that was preventing me from abiding more deeply in Him.

but i learned a great lesson today. because through these refining fires Christ has faithfully proved Himself to me...my unmoving stronghold, my portion, the salvation of my heart, my perfect peace. so when the opportunity to love arrived at my doorstep this morning my instinct to turn and flee got tripped up on the Cornerstone and i found myself flat on my face with nothing left but Christ's love pouring out of me! i don't think i've ever been quite so afraid, felt quite so vulnerable, or come so close to peeing my pants in my sweet little buick. nor have i ever been quite so overwhelmed by the unwavering confidence that my God was there to do whatever i asked in His name.

i tasted a bit of John 15 today and i'm not sure my appetite will ever be quite the same ;o)

speaking of appetites, this week i found out you can eat corn dogs, mashed potatoes, mushy salad, and red jello and really truly jump out of your seat for seconds!!!...for all of it!
i also discovered that sleeping in one's clothes for the next day can prove to be a noteworthy time-saving technique, that i can last exactly four and a half days without showering, that a few sparkly bracelets can dress up anything...even an old t-shirt from goodwill, and that kids really really love chugging contests, but not as much as comparing their puke afterwards.