Church doesn’t normally require 3-D glasses, but today our missions service at Mars Hill Community came with a little extra equipment.
My husband has Kennedy hair today. (due to the awesome costal wind)
Sugar Shock
Enjoying my first latte in about a month. But seriously—was my grande toffee nut non-fat latte always this sweet? Yikes. I think I’m going to cut back to half the number of pumps it’s supposed to have. I can’t even finish it b/c of the sugar shock.
"In Shansi I found Chinese Christians who were accustomed to spend time in fasting and prayer. They recognized that this fasting, which so many dislike, which requires faith in God, since it makes one feel weak and poorly, is really a Divinely appointed means of grace. Perhaps the greatest hindrance to our work is our own imagined strength; and in fasting we learn what poor, weak creatures we are - dependent on a meal of meat for the little strength which we are so apt to lean upon."
— James Hudson Taylor, pioneer missionary
- Ben: Look at that sweet frat house.
- Kathy: That's not a frat house.
- Ben: True, they have plants on the porch.
Walking the Race
At my high school (Panther Pride!) it took 4 and a half laps on the track to make a mile. Just so you know—I haven’t run a mile since … well… Okay, I don’t know if I’ve ever run an entire mile. It’s one of my upcoming goals (thanks to P.Karen).
I digress…
I was a bit of a contrarian back then (understatement on two levels there). So when the P.E. teachers were pushing us to run the straights and then walk the curves, I argued (shocking, right?). Why, if I can walk the entire thing just as fast, if not faster, than kids who were using the run/walk method, did I really need to run at all? I kept a steady pace and always finished within the time allotment for that little red patch that you got for meeting national physical fitness standards (The mile was not my problem - it was those stupid pull-ups. Ugg.).
But regardless of how you “ran” the race… a bunch of sprints followed by dragging steps with side-splitting pain, a brisk walking pace consistent the entire time, a nice jog all the way around… the goal was the same - finish the race. And regardless of your pain or non-pain level, there was nothing like coming around that last curve and seeing Mr. Knight, clipboard in hand, and knowing the end was near. Suddenly it all seemed easier, and this ridiculous energy burst allowed you to speed up towards that finish line.
For our fast, we’ve started to round the last corner. You may be struggling right now, or maybe you’re in a sweet spot. But regardless, take the burst of influence from the Holy Spirit and finish well.
how fantastic are these cases for macbooks?!
hi, need.
(via Hither and Tither)
Yeah - I want one too.
Prayer mtg @marshillfamily. Nearing the end of our @awake21 fast.
the weight on your shoulders.
When you’re fasting, a lot tends to happen in your spiritual life.
I know, I know… understatement.
But here’s the thing - it doesn’t always happen in some gigantic epiphany moment. Sometimes it’s a gradual, softer experience. And one thing that tends to happen over time is a great realization that God is always speaking or working. We’re just not always listening or watching. But when we allow ourselves to be still, to focus more, we can then tune the world out and tune in to the Holy Spirit.
Tonight, I’m here in my office working on Awakening devotional e-mails. As I sit at my desk, I remind myself to sit up straight, as my posture can get pretty horrendous after a few hours at the desk. And I instinctively reach to move the scarf around my deck to a little further back, so it’s not seeming to pull my neck down.
And then I hear Him - what else is pulling you down? It wasn’t an audible voice, it was an internal one. And instantly God teaches me, because I’m ready to learn. Sometimes it might be a necessary, God-assigned thing that you’re carrying on your shoulders, but that doesn’t mean it has to weigh you down. Just push it back a little. Get some perspective. Then the weight is easier to bear.
Finally. Got this baby cranked.
