Father God (and) Mother Nature...

God speaks to my heart (mostly) through nature. He often takes my breath away-through a particular sunrise or sunset. How often does He create these beautiful 'pictures' for us, and we are so wrapped up in whatever, that we actually MISS them-how sad-take time today to appreciate the pictures God created-maybe just for you, and then say thank You.

Annoying...

WHAT is it about you?
What!
I'm over it.
Ok, maybe not...
Yeah-definitely AM.
Darn!
Maybe not...
Yes!
No.
We'll see...

All the leaves are brown...

...and the sky is grey. Lately I've been feeling down in the dumps, it's probably due to the fact that I just moved, school is overwhelming, work is exhausting, and all of the other "life stressors" are really hitting hard. Jesus remains my constant steadiness through it all, I've been going through a period where the main thing I've been "hearing" from God is WAIT. The whole wait thing currently applies to many aspects of my life and I seem to be settling into a comfortable obedience w/it (it's brilliant how God knows the very best ways to produce effective growth in our individual lives). Of course He's now moved on to something new for me (which I appreciate), and it is BEING STILL. Being still for any reason is hard enough this day in age, but to be still and listen to what He's trying to work out in us is even harder b/c He does things when He wants to (trust me-this is a good thing for most of us). I will say this; when I am having a major self-pity party, am ridiculously frustrated, sad, tired, lonely, mad, or whatever-getting into God's presence is the ONLY solution I have found that really works, it's hard to explain. The key to coming to God to receive this peace is this: you have to WAIT for as long as you and He needs to, you can’t just say, “ok God I have five minutes and I need some peace!” sorry doesn’t work like that. Now, you may be thinking well, what do I say? A piece of advice (myself included)-NOTHING, if it’s one thing we all need to learn it’s when to just keep our mouths SHUT, my favorite type of people and friends are the ones who say everything w/out speaking-it’s a great attribute, coming into God’s presence is no different, sometimes I just cry, sometimes I just lift my hands up to Him, whatever I feel led to do, I don’t have any guidelines. The place is also important, I like to be outside (where there are usually less distractions), but as it gets colder you just have to find a place that works for you, I’ve even used my closet ( I had a really nice big walk-in closet-but no more!), hey, do what you need to do-it will be worth it-to get that “peace that passes all understanding”-trust me.

Obedience-whew, learning that each day w/God-no easy task. I am thankful for all of these "tests" from God b/c-as Joyce Meyer says: We must all go through the "refiner's fire" (Malachi 3:2). I know I'm going through it right now, and to that I say-burn away God! All of my recent "troubles" are part of it I'm sure. I recently visited my parents church (out in the big town of Creedmoor), a traditional baptist church, the choir sang one of my favorite hymns (I'm a big fan of good old hymns), here's my favorite line:

"When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,When sorrows like sea billows roll;Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,It is well, it is well, with my soul."

I love this line b/c it's a reminder to all who love Jesus, that no matter what your situation is-good or bad-it's going to be ok-God doesn't change-He loves us and comforts us, despite the fact that we definitely DON'T deserve it. Awesome.

When I feel like caving in
My heart my soul is wearing thin
I just want to give up
Nothing seems at all to add up
Can you hear me Lord?
My face is down upon the floor
It's then You whisper in my ear
Be still and Know I'm here

~Storyside B

Unconditional love is...

un-conditional.

Slow motion.

Submerged to the throat

gasping for air

trapped in a bubble

filled with despair

light’s growing dimmer

candle’s burned out

pleading for rain

in the midst of a drought

What am I, a puppet?

no, not even that

tap, tap-silence

“feelings”-FLAT

Answer me quickly!

I’m sorry-just kidding

Did you forget child?

This is MY time you are bidding.

~RlR

A beautiful day.

I just wanted to comment on how beautiful today was. I got up this morning, and when I walked outside to take my pup out-WHAM-beautiful weather-thanks God! As I walked around my apartment complex, I was even more excited at how beautiful it was. Now, there were things that I could have been depressed about, such as the fact that my anatomy teacher falsely believes that we attend Harvard, or the fact that I very nearly ran out of gas in the middle of nowhere. So...moving on-I went to Jordan Lake w/my pup, my sis, her pup and her boyfriend, just in time to see the sunset-gorgeous! All of this “leads me to believe-that You make everything GLORIOUS” (props to David Crowder) and that You made this day beautiful, not only for me, but for everyone that lives and breathes! There is so much in my life that I am thankful for-life itself should be enough, but there is so much more-God wants to give us everything we desire, and trust me I want everything that God wants to give me, but I want it in His timing ONLY, He has a perfect plan for everyone who truly loves Him and all I can do it WAIT, and that my friends, is the hardest part, but will it be worth it? I absolutely trust that it will be worth it, I am learning that every good thing in life usually comes at the “expense” of a waiting period, but I wouldn’t want it any other way-builds character (and so much more) by golly! Every now and then, let me rephrase, quite often we all get discouraged and days like today just remind me Who’s REALLY in control. Now that it’s almost time for me to hit the hey, I wanted to say that I just finished watching (sadly for the first time), Tyler Perry’s “Diary of a mad black woman” and it was awesome! (although I cried through several parts …sigh), I also heard a good quote in it: God has the power to show you WHO’S God, well yes He proved that today :o)

“This is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it!” Rejoice I did, and rejoice I always will do-knowing Who’s I am :o) Muahhh!

Side note: the pic above is unfortanately not from today, it's from April 29th to be exact (but that is my pup-Hudson), anyway, I wouldn't have been able to capture today's beauty in a camera-it was all just too much :o) Enough already Rach-go to bed!