Mudpies

If you have read Herschel's most recent blog, then you might have noticed that he mentions my making of mudpies. I thought I might explain. One of my favorite quotes from CS Lewis is this:

"We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in the slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by an offer of a holiday at sea. We are far too easily pleased. "

I am a mudpie maker. I love the sea. I desire the sea. I have my ticket for the sea. But there is this deep dark side of me that loves to play in the mud way too much.

Perhaps Paul says it best:

Romans 7:14-25. New International Version:
We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.
So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God's law; but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!
So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God's law, but in the sinful nature a slave to the law of sin.

I am thankful that God is merciful. I praise God for His grace. It blows me away that He loves those who make mudpies - enough that His Son's blood can wash the mud off.
Lord help me to desire you more and sin less.

A Return To Blogging

Time. There is never enough time for the things we love. I love to write and I love to read things others write. The end of a school year this past spring took me away from blogging. It is a busy time and it was a busy summer and really now is not any less hectic. However, here it is - a return - a return to tell you about Derek Webb. Do you know him? If you don't, get ready. I loved this CD. And Derek Webb being Derek Webb is offering it as a free download. Go get it quickly. He has so much to say. Savor it. Study it. Look, listen and hear. You won't regret it. It's free. www.freederekwebb.com

A Dangerous Woman

Here's my book report for the 50 books in a year a thon.

Finished

• Suprise Me God by Terry Esau
• Sister Freaks by various authors

Both were excellent reads. I highly recommend them.

Currently Reading

• White Collar/Blue Collar God by Terry Esau
• Nice Girls Don't Change the World by Lynne Hybels

I am almost finished with WCBCG. It is a good read.

I have just started NGDCW. In the book she says "The opposite of being a nice girl is a good woman. And, not just a good women, but a downright dangerous woman. A woman who shows up with everything she is and joins the battle against whatever opposes the redeeming work of God in our lives and in our world." Oh to be that kind of woman.

SURPRISE

OK - I haven't been posting my Surprise Me God surprises here, so if you want to read them you have to follow the link on the right to Jon's Blog. But, I am going to post here a few of the things I think have been surprises that maybe aren't the normal things you think of as surprises from God. I however - I choose to believe that just as my earthly father sometimes gives me things I want and not always just provides that things I need, so does my Heavenly Father. It's kind of like when I take my nieces to Barnes and Noble and I want to buy them quality children's literature and they want "Walter the Farting Dog". Sometimes, you just have to buy "Walter the Farting Dog". Anyway, here it goes:

1.) I have a favorite billboard. (Doesn't everyone?) About a year ago, it was taken down. IT HAS BEEN PUT BACK UP!!!! I just saw it on Friday. I can't quote it exactly, but it says something like "Tall Outdoor Type Seeks Relationship". I know, I know - but it always makes me happy!
2.) I got two scrapbooking magazines in the mail today - not one - TWO!
3.) I got an extra half hour of free time at work today!

Now, I know these are ridiculous things, but in the light of some trying weeks, these have been bright spots. So work with me here.

Day One - Acts and Surprise Me God

Day One of Surprise Me God started 10 minutes into the dawn of a new day. I awoke sick. Quite sick. The stomache flu that had made it through the rest of my family over the weekend had decided to set up residence inside me. There wasn't an hour throughout the night and much of the morning where I wasn't sick. But, that happens. I don't necessarily count that the surprise, although it wasn't something I was anticipating. What was a surprise was how beautiful the sunrise was as I drove to work. I had to go into work to lay out things for a substitute. I was driving to school at 6:30 this morning. That's a good hour before I normally head out. God was having a good painting day. And after a night of flu - I needed to see something pretty. While I was in awe of the sunrise, God managed to steer 4 deer out of my path - thank you Jesus. And it is the end of day one - and though I am feeling pretty wrung out - I did just eat my first thing of substanance in over 24 hours. Life is good. Day One of Acts was a good study too. Jesus goes home - but with a promise that He will be back. Good news indeed.

Sweet Anticipation - 30 Days of Surprise Me God and Acts

www.surprisemegod.com

A big thanks to Jon at http://jonperes.blogspot.com/. He posted about a new book called "Surprise Me - A 30 Day Faith Experiment". It's an experiment where you wake up and pray "Surprise Me God" for 30 days. SCARED, NERVOUS, EXCITED! Jon had earlier invited his readers to join him in a study of the book of Acts during the month of February. I don't know what is going to happen as a result of either one of these things. But, from what I know of God - He is going to show up. I can't wait!

Signs

Today I was talking to someone about signs that God gives. Different kinds of signs. Signs that bring us comfort and peace. We were talking about those things that some like to call coincidence. She was talking about one sign God had given her - something so small to some, yet so large to her. She said, "It just shows you how far I will reach." And it came to me, and I replied, "No, that's how far God will go." I am so thankful for a God who takes delight in blessing us in big and small ways. He never fails, yet I continue to do so over and over again. He gives and it doesn't depend on my performance and that is grace greater than imaginable.

Back At Ya CODY

Sometime ago Cody sent me this email with a quiz about how observant you are. He had said that he had scored a 17. I, being the cocky smart alec that I am, was positive that I would easily beat that score. Friends, I scored a 12. A sad, pathetic 12. However, today I got an email to try the MENSA Intelligence Test over at http://mensa-test.com/. The site states that according to MENSA, if you get 19 + of these, you are a "genius". It took me a bit, and I almost burnt a batch of cookies, but I scored a 22. Cody - if you read this, and you beat me, please don't tell me. I think you're quite smart, but I just want to be smarter.

Let's All Join In

Julie of Julie's Jolly Blog issued a challenge a few weeks ago for all of us to join in reading 50 books this year. I have decided to begin with a book given to me by one of my Sunday School students. Thank you Marylee Snyder for "Sister Freaks". You're one of my favorite "sister freaks." Thanks Jules for the challenge.

Show me the books he loves and I shall know the man far better than through mortal friends.

Dawn Adams

Because I Know You All Care

I know this will be so interesting to the masses, but I have been tagged by Nathan so read on.

Four jobs you’ve had in your life: I answer the phones and assist with enteries at the New Wayne County Agricultural Fair, I was Nathan's 3rd Grade Teacher, I am currently a 2nd grade teacher, and I was a Video Leasing Engineer at Star Video for 9 years!
Four movies you could watch over and over: You've Got Mail, How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, Sweet Home Alabama, Hope Floats
Four places you’ve lived: Our old house in town, the house I live in now, a lovely pea green house in Terre Haute during college, and 410 Taylor Hall at good old EIU!
Four TV shows you love to watch: LOST, ALIAS, General Hospital and Everyday Food
Four places you’ve been on vacation: Panama City, Memphis, Nashville, and Holiday World
Four websites you visit daily: www.yahoo.com, www.cnn.com, www.ebay.com, and www.wfiwradio.com
Four of your favorite foods: Have I mentioned I am Italian? Jack Daniels Chicken from TGI Friday's, French Onion Soup from TGI Friday's, and my grandma's scalloped potatoes.
Four places you’d rather be: I really kind of like it here if you want to know the truth - but since you made me choose I am going with:
1.) I hear Heaven is better than here
2.) My acceptance party for the Publisher's Clearinghouse
3.) At any Archiver's scrapbook store with my money from Publisher's Clearinghouse
4.) England - I have always wanted to go there.
Four albums you can’t live without: Michael Jackson's Thriller (LOL Got ya there - just kidding - although there was a time....)
1.) The Soundtrack from Dying Young (it's great to sleep and paint to)
2.) Winds of Heaven Stuff of Earth Rich Mullins
3.) Keith Green The Collection (Please don't make me choose between the silver or gold CDs.)
4.) Journey Greatest Hits (I am a child of the 80s)
Four magazines you read: TV Guide, CCM, Creating Keepsakes, Instructor
Four cars you’ve owned: 1979 Monte Carlo, 1986 Bronco II, 1994 Grande Am, and my current Gas Guzzlin V-8 1996 Limited Jeep Grande Cherokee
Four people I'm tagging: I am way too old to play tag.