Morning by Morning-Charles Spurgeon

-This was an extremely moving moment in my time with the Lord this morning. Such a simple and child-like request yet one that carries heavy implications and greater challenge than we ever might dream of. May this truly be the desire of my heart.
October 31
"Renew a right spirit within me."—Psalm 51:10.
A backslider, if there be a spark of life left in him will groan after restoration. In this renewal the same exercise of grace is required as at our conversion. We needed repentance then; we certainly need it now. We wanted faith that we might come to Christ at first; only the like grace can bring us to Jesus now. We wanted a word from the Most High, a word from the lip of the loving One, to end our fears then; we shall soon discover, when under a sense of present sin, that we need it now. No man can be renewed without as real and true a manifestation of the Holy Spirit's energy as he felt at first, because the work is as great, and flesh and blood are as much in the way now as ever they were. Let thy personal weakness, O Christian, be an argument to make thee pray earnestly to thy God for help. Remember, David when he felt himself to be powerless, did not fold his arms or close his lips, but he hastened to the mercy-seat with "renew a right spirit within me." Let not the doctrine that you, unaided, can do nothing, make you sleep; but let it be a goad in your side to drive you with an awful earnestness to Israel's strong Helper. O that you may have grace to plead with God, as though you pleaded for your very life—"Lord, renew a right spirit within me." He who sincerely prays to God to do this, will prove his honesty by using the means through which God works. Be much in prayer; live much upon the Word of God; kill the lusts which have driven your Lord from you; be careful to watch over the future uprisings of sin. The Lord has His own appointed ways; sit by the wayside and you will be ready when He passes by. Continue in all those blessed ordinances which will foster and nourish your dying graces; and, knowing that all the power must proceed from Him, cease not to cry, "Renew a right spirit within me."

Birthday Festivities

Yesterday I turned 23...talk about feeling old-I know, I know, it's not really that old but it feels like it! Someone asked me how it would be better to be 23 rather than 22 and I replied, "it won't be because last year was my golden birthday and two is my favorite number...haha"-i was just kidding and I'm confident this year will be absolutely amazing! The day was full of all the things I love: friends, family (via phone calls), fabulous weather, food and fun. The first picture is of Hannah, Ruthie, and Micah-3 kids from Sri Lanka and part of the family that runs the children's home I stayed in last summer during my time there...it was sooo amazing to be able to see them again (I honestly didn't know if I ever would after leaving Sri Lanka) and on my special day :0) The other two pictures are of the gang that came out to play some ultimate frisbee and football that afternoon.
Thank you to all who called, wrote or stopped by-you made it very special! :0)

For All You Single People Out There

Check out this article by Mira Klein...It talks about one of the realities of dating that most people don't think about!! Absolutely hilarious! :0)

Let's Get Real, As Dr. Phil Says
I had an epiphany a few weeks ago as I was settling into bed after a fancy restaurant dinner of seafood fettuccini alfredo and caesar salad courtesy of my visiting parents. The secondary effect on me from such elegant dining is a ballistic case of ...(clue: it starts with an "f", and rhymes with carts). As I settled into my cozy new comforter pleasantly stenching up my personal space, I thought oto myself, "Being single is great." If I had a man in my life and bedroom, I would be faking an urgent need to check my email so that I could have some gassy relief somewhere other than curled up next to my sweetie.
What do you married women do? Being a recidivist single woman, I have yet to cross this noxious terrain. For me, if I've over indulged in the bean dip, I can always go home alone, leaving loverboy longing for more, un aware of the wicked potential of my lower gastrointestinal track. What happens when you no longer have that escape route?
Worse, what happens when they know your routine? They know you get into bed with your jammies at 9:15. How do you create a believable distraction to keep them at bay long enough for your personal cloud to disperse? Or, do you summon up the skills you've developed from therapy and just come clean? "You know darling, we had raw broccoli. I'm now going into the living room. You many not, MAY NOT, distrub me for the next 1.5 hours, or until I signal the air is clear."
Some women I know just poot, like my friend "Kathleen." Kathleen reports she "rips 'em when she feels them," even in front of her husband. She says she shopped for a fart-tolerant husband. With her previous boyfriend, she used to hold everything in and after many weekends of guy pain, she finally concluded she must be able to "let go" in a committed relationship. So early on when dating Ed, she purposely let loose a few stinkers. Ed did not seem to mind. They have been happily married ever since.
Speaking from personal experience, I dated a fart-liberated person once. "Chuck" felt comfortable power gassing in all situations, and then eventually reached the apex and let one slide with my head in the draft zone. I NEVER felt compelled to enter that uncertain territory again.
Since this issue isn't frequently discussed, I'd like to know where you stand on the gas line. Pro/Con? Words of insight? Do Marrieds give up Mexican food after the honeymoon?

8" Chop

I chopped my hair today!! I am soo thrilled with it! I needed a change and this is a light/perky solution...plus I might actually look my age now! I am donating the hair I cut off to Pantene Beautiful Lengths (www.beautifullengths.com) so they can use it to make a wig for someone who can't have hair right now :0)

Humility

"Humility-the discipline of putting others ahead of self, and the choice to value others above self-is, at its core, a matter of faith. If we genuinely believe that 'He cares for us' then we need never worry about serving our own interests. We can afford to focus our entire attention on meeting the needs of others because we have every confidence that God will spare nothing of His infinite resources to meet ours...Everything I have, everything I am, every good thing I enjoy would not be possible were it not for Him...Humility is an exercise in trust."
-Charles R. Swindoll

"When I read the Bible I see the sinful nature that is in me; I see my failures, my shortcomings. But even then there is a tendency to defend them. there is only one thing I know of that crushes me to the ground, and humiliates me to the dust, and that is to look at the Son of God, and especially contemplate the cross."
-D.Martyn Lloyd-Jones

Nervous Nellie's

Nervous Nellie's is my most recent discovery in Ballard. Located at 56th and 17th, it is an independent coffee house full of bright colors and vintage furniture. They also have amazing toast options...I recommend the cinnamon toast...I had it this morning...delicious! It's two stories and is located in a building spot that is south facing-we all know that means LOTS OF SUN!! I wish I had taken a picture of the inside...maybe next time but for now you must either imagine it or work up the courage to go try it yourself. :0)

My First Big Piece of Art

Today I bought my first big pice of art!! It's an absolute dream...it caught my eye as soon as i walked in and I couldn't get it out of my head-I actually walked around the store for about 30 minutes trying to convince myself not to buy it...to no avail...it now hangs gloriously in my room bringing cheer to my soul!! it incorporates all my favorite colors-look!

ah...the work world

so it' friday...thank God. i have a pounding headache, aching back and hungry tummy...can't stand the sound of the printer for another moment and am excited to be FREE for two days!!!

i don't hate my job...really, i don't...i like it...it's just been a long week-the weekend is supposed to be nice and i plan to play in the sun A LOT! i think i understand what 'living for the weekend' really means!! :0) yay for rest.

i think i'm going down to the market on saturday and then i might go see some African Acrobats on sunday...random, i know...but how often do you get to go see that?! :0)