Memorials

Today was the third memorial service I have attended in the last month and a half. At the first, the couple had been married 4.5 months (second marriages for each). At the second, they were married 62 years (my grandparents). Today's couple was married 32 years. The service today had the greatest reflection of the love of Christ. Joyce had been fighting cancer for five years. Her husband was tireless in his support. Their son-in-law read Ephesians 5 as a description of David's love for Joyce these past years, and their son had everyone give a round of applause for David's indefatigable love. Two people mentioned how even in the worst of pain, Joyce was concerned for David's welfare. Several people mentioned how Christ was the family's strength and how important it was for David and Joyce to give that legacy to their children and grandchildren. I only met Joyce once, but I teared up several times today hearing the testimonies and reflecting on how we experience God's love and strength the most in the midst of our greatest pain.

The taste of my own pain and sadness makes me hurt more for others who suffer far greater wounds and losses. Yet, perhaps they also have a greater taste of God's infinite goodness. Sometimes I get overwhelmed with the depth of suffering in the world and my complete inadequacy to assist. Yet, other times reflecting on this topic makes me more determined that people will not interact with me without taking some of God's love to heal and transform their hearts.

More gems

Discovered during data entry:

And this:

Went home and looked up the band's website: 

This song speaks "of the struggle to believe God's promises when there are no answers to the questions I want answered." 

"This is a song to say that sometimes there aren't answers and we just need to hurt with people."

Awesome design idea

Guess what--this wallpaper was hand drawn with gold Sharpies! Isn't that awesome? Read more about it here.

This weekend

Yesterday:

Christmas lunch at Wood Ranch compliments of my boss.

"Voyage of the Dawn Treader" with Mom. (2/3 pretty good, last 1/3 terrible)

Stayed up late finishing my first text adventure, courtesy of Christy.

Today:

Majorly slept in, enjoying the rain.

Paid traffic ticket from August and complete traffic school online. (Highly recommend Improv Traffic School. Super fast and easy for $25.00.)

Had a computer glitch in the middle of my second text adventure and abandoned the effort.

Goodwill run as a break from traffic school. Found Beth a new Converse dress from Target, a shirt, and another dress. She fits into everything.

Tomorrow:

Morning Christmas reading at church. Mom gave me a substantial chunk because my elocution is more vivacious.

Convalescent home service at 4pm.

Mime presentation at 7pm. All of my siblings are mimes and elves. I find it strange that I am the rebel for NOT being a mime or an elf. 


Am majorly worn out, but I press on.

Current state of To Do list

Wrap presents

Flyer B and G

Call Tammy

Burn CDs

Watch documentary

Korie stationery

Traffic school

Order checks

Bank

Get addresses

Read French book

Unpack

Fix skirt

Sew coat button

Call Veronica

Call Molly

Scriptures Pop

Renew House Beautiful

Renew National Geographic

Print Nordstrom Rack Groupon

Fix transcript

Bleach shoes

Laundry

Call Prevosts

Email Korie/Rocio

Carlene shower present

Find Prevost Key

Nicki birthday card

Pam and Terri birthday cards

Amy thanks

Call Cal Tech

Mehl recommendation

Mail cards

Grandma birthday card

Grandma book

Deanna card

I give up.

Some of you may recall me talking about surrendering to God early on v. waiting until we come to the end our own strength. I discovered this song today via my Ginny Owens Pandora station. (Realizing recently I really like Third Day.) I appreciate how it talks about surrendering our failures and other "negative" things to God. I'd say more, but that would be silly since the lyrics speak for themselves.

Fears and Lies

This is a conversation I have been having with my friends for the past, oh, 6 months about fears and lies. I like the way the author puts it. The last line of the post reminds me of the Ginny Owen's song "Who are You Listening To?" In April and May I would put that song and "If You Want Me To" on repeat and lie in my living room playing spider solitaire. P.S. Despite investigating, I still haven't figured out how to add audio files to this blog.

This is your life,
And yet somehow,
They decide,
What you're about,
You learn your lines,
And take your cues,
But who are you listening to?

You change your clothes,
And how you speak,
You place your hope,
In what they think,
Before you know
There's no more you,
Who are you listening to-
Have you noticed how much you fear,
All the voices you choose to hear

Who are you listening to?
Who tells you what to do?
Who rules your thoughts at night?
Whose rules define your life?
Oh, you know it's up to you,
So who are you listening to

This is your life,
You have no choice,
You will rely
On someone's voice,
And it's all right
To question who,
Who are you listening to?
Do the words that you believe
Set your soul and spirit free

There's a quiet voice,
Whispering in your heart,
It's been there all along,
It believes in you,
It will tell the truth,
Can't you hear it call? 

God has "long arms."

I have so much that I'm surrendering to God these days: Edna at the convalescent center who's had a stroke, my consideration for a development job in Encino, the plight of human trafficking victims, my non-relationship, my relatives, trials happening to my friends, etc. I realized that this is no different than normal; I just care about these things more than I cared about things in the past. I have been encouraged with the phrase, "Is the arm of the Lord shortened that it cannot save?" 
 
We see this first in the book of Numbers. God had just miraculously delivered the Israelites from Egypt and had provided manna for them in the wilderness. The Israelites began to complain, and then Moses took up their complaining. Among other things, they complained that they were sick of eating manna. (Keith Green has an amusing song about this.) So God said He would provide meat, which I think was quite generous. And Moses basically says, "Look God, there are a whole lotta people here. You just said that you are going to provide meat for them for a month. Might want to rethink that one. How are you going to pull that off?" God's response: "And the Lord said to Moses, 'Has the Lord's arm been shortened? Now you shall see whether what I say will happen to you or not.'" Numbers 11:23

I find it rather embarrassing that this was Moses' response given the miracles he had witnessed. In the next chapter, it says that Moses was the most humble man on the face of the earth! I think this is why the Bible often reminds us to remember the great things that God has done for us. Are you going to believe circumstances or are you going to believe God? This is what I find myself asking often these days. Which is more trustworthy, Katie? Which is faithful? Which is true? Well, the answer is obvious.


The other example is in Isaiah, when he is talking about the judgment of Israel. It comes right after one of my favorite chapters in the Bible, all about God's chosen sacrifice being to care for the poor and seek justice.
"Behold, the Lord's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; nor His ear heavy that it cannot hear." Isaiah 59:1 However, Israel's sins had separated them from God. Verse 15a-16 says, "Then the Lord saw it, and it displeased Him that there was no justice. He saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor; therefore His own arm brought salvation for Him; and His own righteousness, it sustained Him." This speaks to God's judgment of Israel, but also the coming of Messiah.

More decor pt. 3

Pretty much everything except the useless bench. Oh, and the blue lamp.

Pretty much everything except the lamp and red wire dog.

Short lists

These are mildly interesting mostly because of what is NOT listed.

Favorite Christmas Carols

O Come, O Come Emmanuel

What Child is This

Unfinished Christmas Presents

Pop's

Grandma's

My Magazine Subscriptions (once I renew them)

National Geographic

House Beautiful

Countries I Have Visited

Mexico

Peru

South Korea

Britain

Ireland

Scotland

France

Italy

(Tokyo Airport)