Leap Year!

Woo Hoo! It's a day that doesn't exist for the majority of our years and I had to get a blog in! I would hate to have been born on Feb 29...

Well, a ton is going on in my life, but what I really wanted to talk about is corpuscular rays. :) They are one of my most favorite things to photograph. If you don't know what they are, it's what they call rays of light (or the absence of light) that break through some other atmospheric material. (i.e. clouds, mist, smoke...) Here's a photo I snapped with my phone as I was driving to work on the morning of Feb 21, 2008.



It's not the greatest photo, but it captured the moment. It was another one of my first days of freedom, and whenever I see the sun shining through the clouds, it's like God is coming down through sky and time to touch the earth once more. I love it. I imagine Him saying, "See, I'm here..."

Whoever He Really Is, He's the Real God...

I've known for a long time that God isn't who we think He is.
He's so much more than human words and minds can imagine.
When someone comes to a fantastic idea about God, it seems that they write a book about it, the idea catches on for a while or in a certain area of the world, perhaps a new denomination of Christianity is formed... perhaps a new religion is formed... Well, I'm not going to write a book - I may read one or two of the books already out there that are seeking the "true" nature of God, but I'll be content to blog and pray, "hoping to God" that I'm not deluding myself or making it more difficult to commune with Him.

"Commune with Him." Sometimes certain phrases I've said all my life strike me and make me stop and think how crazy and wrong I must sound to someone who does not know God. But then I think about all the other religions that have their own ways to God like "following the Noble Eightfold Path" (which is actually pretty good until the last one...) and "Worship Allah as if you see Him."

And so I, because I have grown up in Christianity, have come to believe in the God of the American Protestant convention. Don't get me wrong, whoever He really is, He's the real God, creator of the universe, and He loved us enough to give us the choice to love Him - because who really feels loved when the other person has no choice? And He loved us enough to come rescue us when we blew it and turned away from Him.

But, but, but, the waves of doubt crash on my forehead... what if we're not completely right? Or what if some of those other religions are on the right track but just haven't reached the Jesus switch? At times like this I turn to the book I have that for centuries has been snipped and stretched, translated and screen played, but has always been called "the Word of God." This is an excerpt from the book of Romans. (Romans 1:1-7, 18-28. My emphasis added.) Paul was a killer of Christians who was forgiven by Jesus in a blinding flash of light. Then he couldn't stop telling people about the love of God...

"Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God— the gospel he promised beforehand through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures regarding his Son, who as to his human nature was a descendant of David, and who through the Spirit of holiness was declared with power to be the Son of God by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord. Through him and for his name's sake, we received grace and apostleship to call people from among all the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith. And you also are among those who are called to belong to Jesus Christ.

To all in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints:
Grace and peace to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

- - -

The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.

For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles.

Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen.

Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion.

Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done. They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; they are senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless. Although they know God's righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them."

Sit in that for a while. That's what I'm going to do... thanks for reading.
- Jen

Sometimes I Say It Pretty Well Too...

Ahhh, "vacation." Right now, I'm sitting on the couch at Steve's place and we are watching X-Files all day on the Sci-Fi Channel. But we are also each on our own laptops; (what's the world coming to?) he's playing Texas Hold 'Em and I'm finding and listening to new music, Googling things we see in commercials, and checkin' the old email.

See, yesterday was our 12-year-anniversary and even though we aren't going anywhere special, we kind of are, because we are together, just living. It's nice. Thanks to everyone who has been praying for us. Our plan is to find a place that we can afford and takes dogs around April 1 (no joke...) when Steve's lease is up.

There's so much more going on, but that's the general plan for now. God works miracles.

Others Always Say It Better...

New Creation

Today's Scripture

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come” (II Corinthians 5:17).

Today's Word from Joel and Victoria

Everyone loves to get something new. But as a believer in Jesus, you’re not only getting something new, you are something new. You are a brand new creation! Your eternal being, or the spirit on the inside of you, is re-created in Christ. The old is gone, the new has come. The Bible says that we are to work out our salvation. That means you have to retrain your body and mind to act, think, speak and live according to the new spirit within you—instead of the old habits you used to have. Don’t ever get stuck in a rut thinking, “I’ll never change…that’s just the way I am.” No, the Bible says that the Spirit of God aids us in our weakness. He gives us strength to overcome. He empowers us to live as more than conquerors. Is there something you want to change in your life today? Remember, you are a new creation in Christ. You are empowered to overcome. You are equipped to walk in the new, abundant life the Lord has in store for you!

A Prayer for Today

Father in Heaven, thank You for making me a new creation. Thank You for empowering me to live as an overcomer. I give this day to You and ask You to help me fully understand the plan You have for me. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Variation on Similar Situation from Oct 22, 2007

It's that feeling when you wake up, that it's the most warm, safe, cozy place you've ever been, why would you get up? The cotton flannel sheets come up just right over your nose and mouth, allowing you to breath without suffocating you, but keeping you warm. The good feelings from the dream you had still linger in your subconscious. Your head swims, a little dizzy from the cough medicine you took at 3am when you couldn't stop coughing...

I called in sick today. I always feel guilty calling in sick. I am sick, but I could have gone to work. I'd be miserable and coughing on people all day. So, I'm sorry, but not too sorry. I won't beat myself up over it.

I just thought to write about it now. It's at that point when it would no longer be feasible to go in for the rest of the day. Almost like that feeling when you would stay home from school and the clock would hit 3:30pm and you knew all your friends were home too... at least that's how I was. I didn't have to feel guilty anymore - even if I was truly home sick...

Too Many Things...

Well, it's almost 2008. I know people always ask this, but what is it about changing the calendar year that holds such a magical hope about it? Do I really believe that I could actually start over... is that truly possible? Living alone in the world without God - no. Just take a stroll down the "self-help" aisle of your local Barnes & Noble. God's the only one who can bring the "magic" of the New Year to us any day of the year. At any moment in time, I can ask God to make me a new person. I can, and I have. So now that I am a new creation, the old being gone, how am I going to live my life? Will I take this amazing gift and toss it in the pile of token Christmas favors or will I hold it dear and cherish it before my eyes each morning, focusing on the prize for which Christ has called me heavenward?

Too many things... I must stop "trying" to live. I'm trying to hard. I have too many things going on in my life and most of them aren't even real. It's going to be incredibly hard for me, but I am going to seriously scale back (notice I can't quite let go yet) on network sites and blogs from now on, not just in this new year. I have let them take over my every spare moment so that I have not made time for Christ, let alone real relationships with real people. So look for me in the new year - in the flesh. I'll be more focused, more peaceful, more gentle, more musical, and hopefully, more real.

I'm a Fool but...

I want to be a fool for God, and laugh and cry and surrender all. I want to truly trust and humbly serve, come to Him broken and live life renewed.

I thought to myself, "you're a fool" this morning as I used a Starbucks card to get coffee and some holiday bread. I was inconsiderate to the barrista when I said, "the side of the cup is all wet," when he gave me my cup. I said, "do you have a napkin back there?" but I never asked him to please wipe it off for me... I expected it. I'm so sorry for being rude. It didn't hit me until I was standing on the corner waiting for the light to change... I looked down at my brown Doc Martins that terribly clash with my black outfit and thought, "you look like a fool." I felt the wetness of my freshly cleaned Eggnog Latte and remembered how I had acted. How could I make up for it? I had no time to go in and apologize; I had to get to work. I could go back later today or tomorrow but who knows if he will be there - or if he'd remember. But that's not the point. So who knows what I'm going to do. This is the dilemma of living...

Today's Word

Joy in His Presence

Today's Scripture

“You have made known to me the path of life; You will fill me with joy in Your presence, with eternal pleasures at Your right hand” (Psalm 16:11).

Today's Word from Joel and Victoria


Do you need more joy in your life today? God promises that joy is found in His presence, and if you’ve accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior, then His presence lives inside of you! That joy manifests when you focus your mind and heart on the Father and begin to praise Him for what He’s done in your life. The Bible says that He inhabits the praises of His people. When you begin to praise and thank Him, you are in His presence where there is fullness of joy. It doesn’t matter where you are or what’s going on around you, you can access the joy that’s inside of you at anytime, day or night. And know this: God wants you to experience His supernatural joy and peace at all times. That’s why He chose to live inside of you and give you an endless supply. Don’t waste another minute feeling overburdened and discouraged. Let the joy of the Lord be your strength, and you will move forward in victory on the path of life He’s prepared for you!



A Prayer for Today


Father in heaven, thank You for an endless supply of joy. Today, I choose to cast my cares on You and give You the praise, glory, and honor You deserve. Let joy flow through me today so that I can be a witness of Your goodness to those around me. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.