never been here before

Yet another reason to hate Wal-Mart. I hate what "stuff" does to this country.

As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth; It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. You will go out in joy and be lead forth in peace; the mountains and hill will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands. -Isaiah 55: 10-13 More on this later. Just wanting to leave you all with this beautiful word as we enter into the Thanksgiving holiday.

Play this while you read. A lot of people warned me that seminary would be less about learning than I would expect or would maybe even want. Expect lots of reading, expect messiness, expect needy people, expect to be broken. I knew that going in. I promise I did. I crumble at Your kiss and grace I'm a weakling in the dust Teach me how to cling to You With all my life and all my love I think over the years, I've managed to forget what it means to be on a journey. I've always been well aware that the life of following Christ is a work in progress, something where I'm always stretching and growing. But it's different here. The journey is very different. There are a lot of rocks in my road, sometimes boulders I can't move. The bag I'm carrying is heavy and burdensome. Father come to me, hold me up 'cause I can barely stand My strength is gone and my breath is short, I can't reach out my hands But my heart is set on a pilgrimage to heaven's own bright

No matter who you voted for, not matter how much your heart is breaking or how much your heart is celebrating, let us remember: God is sovereign. As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the LORD is flawless. He is a shield for all who take refuge in him. For who is God besides the LORD ? And who is the Rock except our God? -2 Samuel 22:31-32 It is vital we pray for President-Elect Barack Obama. This man has his work cut out for him. Father, Protect Barack Obama and his family. Make him an instrument of your will. Draw him closer to yourself and give him the wisdom he will need to lead this country for the next four years. You have placed him in this position for a reason, Father, and we trust in your good and pleasing and perfect will. Amen.

I am really homesick. Really and truly. Sitting at the table in a kitchen conversation You spilled the words you read just yesterday He said, "Be perfect, perfect as I am" "How can this be done," you ask, "when every time I try to be Someone with such a mastery, I see how weak I am" I said, "See the sweet dichotomy Mercy mirrored in the face of impossibility" The weight of the words Can crush you, they can break you Or they can heal and they can take you to the throne of grace The weight of the words Will lead you like a beacon When your strength is finally beaten by the weight of the words And so the constant struggle to remind each other of the fact That the rest is easy on the shoulders of the One who came To pay for what we lack Now our welcome burden is to strive with humble gratitude We cannot take lightly what He carried on His back Can you feel the gravity Compelling mystery Life for those who will believe The weight of the words Can crus