Dreaming of Revelry...

Its been a sweet, lazy couple of weeks. The ones where you feel exhausted because you decided to wake up at 10 instead of 11, when you are too tired to go work out, and accomplishing one thing of importance all day is huge. I've been loving it too much. I have a new favorite word because of it.

Revelry.

Defined as merrymaking.

Awesome.

So Monday comes, and I actually have something to do, Bible study at church. So I decide since I'm leaving the house, I might as well go work out. I bundle up and walk outside to see my car covered and surrounded by snow and ice. *I have a small sedan. No 4 wheel drive, nothing.

So I am hopeful, just kick out the snow from beneath the tires, turn on that defroster and get movin'! Well, after about 1o minutes of not movin', my neighbor Steve pulled up. He's the neighbor who always talks your ear off when you're late... Steve shouts at me, "You have front wheel drive on that?!"
"Nope Steve, I'm hoping for some major horse power to pull me through."
"Well from my past experience, you're not getting out of there! You're in pretty deep."

Okay, so Steve has only lived here for over 50 years, he clearly doesn't know what he's talking about. I was about to make progress, my car was about to move an inch. Then Juliana, my roommate pulls up. "Rach, don't think you're going to make it."
"Really, does it look that bad?!"
"Yep, you're completely surrounded by snow."
"Okay, I'll be in soon."

I felt defeated and pleased at the fact of skipping a work out and bible study, both of which I was not in the mood for. So I sat there, closed my eyes, and said "Lord, if you really want me to go tonight, you better pull my car outta here."

I tried a couple more times, and what do you know, my car literally zoomed over the snow. Juliana was watching. I was so ecstatic I jumped out of the car and yelled to her, "Did you see that!?!"

Okay, fine, God, I'm going to Bible Study. Fine. But thanks for the push in my car!

So I went, and it was probably the best one I've been to so far. And it was convieniently relevant. She encouraged us to memorize a verse I had started memorizing on my own in December and gave up on (for whatever reason..).

"You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you."
Isaiah 26:3

My crazy mind keeps me from really delighting in God, because it is always consumed with numerous false realities. Thinking about who I am going to marry, imagining scenarios of what I saw on TV that night, making up fights and resolving them... weird fake stuff. Often I can't fall asleep because of it, or my mood is radically shifted, all because of one thought. God promises us, He will keep us in perfect peace.

You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast.... one version says, "whose mind is stayed on You."

Just a nice reminder that I need to continue to guard my thoughts, let them be full of gratitude, surrender them and forget about the worries that tame us daily. So thanks God. Thanks for making me go to Bible Study. Cheers.

44

Currently watching the Inauguration, and just got my first glimpse of Obama. I can't help but wonder what he is thinking, feeling. He is getting ready to take our country into his hands, and our country is a mess!

As he walks down the steps, he has a curious smile on his face, one not to show too much elation and just enough poise. The entire mall is going nuts, record amounts of people cover the strip leading up to the white house.

Rick Warren prayed and the whole world heard him pray to our God and Father in Heaven. Yaweh, Jesus, Immanuel--God with us. One thing that Warren said stuck with me, " When we think that our prosperity is ours alone, forgive us."

I pray that as Obama walks up to the plate, with God's grace upon him, he will humbly seek the good of our country, of our world, and of God's creation. That Obama will not let the enemy of pride overcome him, but that God will protect him and be incredibly close and audible.


Let all those who love justice and love mercy say AMEN.