Trekking with Me

God is doing a new deep transforming work in me. I feel like Eustace in the Narnia series, "The Voyage of the Dawn Treader"... when Eustace turned into a dragon. When he met Aslan, he began trying to rip off the scales of his skin... yet he could not do it completely through his own efforts. He had to lay down and allow Aslan do what seem deathly cruel, rip apart the scaly skin that was his flesh. In that gruesome process, a New Eustace emerged with beautiful fresh skin, and a fresh, vibrant heart. He had a fresh new start... because of the dying process. I am thankful for God's work in me, even though it can be confusing, painful, and even deadly, I know it is His hand that is working in me to transform and renew my heart and mind into His Image. Romans 8:28-32 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of H...

At this very moment, I am reclining on my bed, in the middle of the day, the sun is shining in my open window, a breeze is flowing through the house, as Pepper is all sprawled out and snoring under the natural light.  I hear birds singing in the trees... a delicious quiet stillness envelopes my house, my room... Sometimes, we just need to listen to the cry of our hearts... the little child inside of us... and allow them to tell us what to do. Reading homework on the swing in the back yard... Getting a soft-serve ice cream cone at McDonalds, eat it as slow as you possibly can with the sunroof open... letting the wind be your orchestra. Drinking a chai... savoring it's warm spicy calming complexities, as you walk through Lowes shopping with your favorite person. Enjoying a warm affectionate hug with your sweetie... in the middle of the pasta section at Publix... just because. Play... laugh, sing and dance. Matthew 18:3  Jesus said, "What I'm about to tell you...

Because I am in need of a little extra fiber... Because I am in a domestic mood today... Because it is an amazingly beautiful October day... Because I promised a fresh loaf of bread to a friend who is having a baby and isn't particularly comfortable in these pregnancy months... Because I wanted my house to smell like fresh bread today... I am baking bread and want to give a few loaves away - they are the smallish size version - like I usually eat a whole little loaf myself seconds after extracting the cute little mouth-watering buns from the oven... The first 3 people who leave a comment on this post... will get a fresh loaf of bread delivered to them today! (DISCLAIMER: YOU HAVE TO LIVE IN COLUMBIA, SC TO WIN)

Yesterday while I was sitting in church drinking in a profoundly challenging message from John 6, something about it revealed to me the deep need we have to see our need for Jesus.  We so desperately try to hide, cover up, mask our depravity, our imperfections. Jesus was revealing what salvation, what truth, what relationship with God requires.  You must unmask yourself, in a sense, to know your need of Him. Unmasking is scary.  It is revealing! (profound huh!?)   Yet, only in unmasking ourselves can we enter into true intimacy.  This is a deep, very personal lesson I am experiencing.  I did not even realize how hard I have tried to hold a mask over myself especially in regards to human relationships.  The problem with a mask is it keeps people out... it blocks intimacy.  Love.  Relationship.... The things that we were created for.... God longs for this with us... He created us for His glory: for relationship with Him.  Sin, a...