A Note On Praying Worthwhile Prayers

from Sun Stand Still, p. 153 "Prayer is the arena where our faith meets God's abilities. And there is never going to be a moment when the audacity of our faith surpasses God's capacity to respond. That's why timid prayers are a waste of time. Is it really worthy of God to ask him for a good day as our main point of conversation with him every morning? Or to ask him to make our jobs more tolerable? You and I are called to pray beyond that. Not just that God would give us a good day, but that he would show us his greatness throughout the day. Not just that we will find the strength to tolerate our work, but that we will find a purpose that can drive us to excel in our jobs for his glory."

With that in mind, I'm praying for me and Casey both to see His greatness every moment of today, and I'm asking that we both will find purpose in our jobs that drives us to excel in them for God's glory. He is able. And faithful. Let it be.

Lightbulb Moment

We're in the midst of a series at our church on the life of King David called "The Search for a King." The last sermon in the series was from 2 Samuel 7. This is the part where David is sitting with his friend Nathan the prophet, and he's looking at his amazing palace of cedar, and then looking at the tent where the ark of the covenant, and thus God's dwelling place among His people Israel, is, and he says, "Here I am, living in a palace of cedar, while the ark of God remains in a tent." (2 Samuel 7:2b) So, Nathan says, "Whatever you have in mind, go ahead and do it, for the LORD is with you (2 Samuel 7:3)." (basically, go ahead and build that great temple for God)

But, overnight, God comes to Nathan and tells him to tell David:

"This is what the LORD says: Are you the one to build me a house to dwell in? I have not dwelt in a house from the day I brought the Israelites up out of Egypt to this day. I have been moving from place to place with a tent as my dwelling. Wherever I have moved with all the Israelites, did I ever say to any of their rulers whom I commanded to shepherd my people Israel, 'Why have you not built me a house of cedar?'...The LORD declares to you that the LORD Himself will establish a house for you: When your days are over and you rest with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, who will come from your own body, and I will establish his kingdom..." (2 Samuel 7:5-7, 11b-12)

Did you see that? God just told David 'No, wait David. You aren't gonna build a house for me. No, I am gonna build a house for you.' He just one-up-ed David. Since the beginning, God has been the one freely building Israel, and freely building David, and things are not gonna change now. David, and Israel, and you and me---we owe God everything---life and breath and everything (Acts 17)---BUT we owe God nothing. I mean, we cannot pay God back. "He who did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also, with Him, freely give us all things (Romans 8:32)?"

God has been teaching me this---well, probably forever---but I've especially noticed Him teaching me this recently. Over and over. That's usually how I know He's trying to get my attention on something---it comes up everywhere. Church. Small group Bible study last night. Reading Faith in Future Grace (John Piper) this morning. I read the first chapter of the book titled "The Debtor's Ethic: Should We Try To Pay God Back?" The answer: No. In fact, just the opposite. Instead of 'returning the favor', we simply trust God more. Trust Him for the future. Trust Him to provide for us again, the way He already has, over and over and over.

After reading, I got the song "Trust & Obey" in my head. I'm a little ashamed to admit that I've never liked this song. Until now. To me, it's always reminded me of my lack of obedience to God. The refrain just seemed to be mocking me. 'You know, there's no other way to be happy in Jesus if you aren't obeying!' But somehow, I was missing the first part. Trust. Suddenly, it clicked. This is freeing! Because trust leads me to obedience. Not guilt. Not a sense of debt. Not a comparison to other people. Trust. Once I trust, obedience is not a burden. And, it is absolutely true---"there is no other way to be happy in Jesus than to trust and obey."

When Life Gives You Tangerines, Google "Tangerine Recipes"

Every now and then I like to watch an episode of "The Middle" online (because it's hilarious). A couple weeks ago I watched the Christmas episode "A Simple Christmas." Here's a snippit on that episode: "Frankie always puts an orange into the kids' stockings because it's the only thing her grandmother ever got during the depression. She wants her kids to appreciate the rewarding simplicity of citrus fruits." Now, I can only assume that this is my own mother's thinking each year as she places at least one apple and one orange (or tangerine) into mine and my sister's stockings. This year it was two tangerines for both me, and now that we're hubby and wifey, Casey. Casey, I suppose because he's bigger, also got a navel orange. The only problem is I never eat the fruit. One, because I don't really like citrus fruits. Two, because who wants to eat a tangerine when you have Reese's Christmas Trees? So, we brought home our tangerines (and single navel orange) and I set them alongside the tangerines, apples, and bananas that Mama Adams gave us the week before. We looked kinda healthy for a while, what with all the fruit in our kitchen. But the reality that fruit rots started to sink in, and I decided we must do something with it, because I HATE waste. Naturally, banana bread followed. And then, I went on a search for what in the world to do with tangerines (besides eat them plain, which I already told you we don't really enjoy)...which led me to the most unhealthy way possible to consume a tangerine---a Paula Deen recipe. And now, here is the result of said recipe in picture form:

The hardest cup of juice and tablespoon of zest I've ever worked for.

I ran out of flour, but sweet husband ran to get me some more at HT.

I'm just thrilled I didn't burn them!

Um, yum. (PS-don't you love our cake carrier!?)

That was exhausting.

I roused myself from sleep to eat the fruit (yes, I did) of my labor.

Good to the last bite.

After I had a piece, and I cut hubby a piece, and mom a piece (which she will taste today when she comes to Raleigh to play with me!), I took it to work because WE DO NOT NEED to eat that whole thing ourselves---do you know how much cream cheese/sugar/butter/sour cream/eggs/etc are in that thing??? I do. A lot. Everyone enjoyed it---my manager said it was delicious and that I should go into business, which made my day. Then I started thinking..."Could I go into business...*daydreaming*..." Then I remembered how hard it was to get that cup of juice and tablespoon of zest (and the second tablespoon of zest that I didn't see I needed until I started on the icing...and had already zested every last tangerine...enter navel orange). So, it may be my only tangerine cake ever, but it was a beaut'.

Christmasssssss 2010 (& New Year's Too)

Alrighty, here is a rundown of Christmas (& New Year's 2010/2011), in the opposite order of occurence:

This, my friends, is a French Press. A beautiful thing. We actually received this as a wedding gift (yes, in July---thanks Mark & Katherine!), but I've been too afraid to try it out til now (new things scare me). Going out of town for Christmas meant we needed some coffee supplies and this is the best way to have coffee while you travel! I LOVE this thing. It made me awake for Christmas morning, and it made me a hero the day after Christmas (at least with mom and Danni). I'm on my second cup of coffee from this thing this morning (it's SO good!!!).

This is the once beautiful pot of Christmas flowers Casey got me (see picture below), that I've somehow already managed to kill. I've been reflecting on this, and my former limited experience with pets (two dead goldfish, and one dead hermit crab) and really hoping this has no bearing on my parenting ability.

This is the AMAZINGLY beautiful two-days-after-Christmas sunrise outside our apartment. We spent Christmas Eve and some of Christmas Day in Roxboro. It started snowing there early on Christmas afternoon and didn't stop til the next day. We headed to Burlington Christmas evening and brought the snow with us. It stopped midday Sunday and we built a lovely snowman with gingersnap eyes, which Casey said was cruel because birds would come eat them. We headed back here Sunday night, and it was still snowing in Raleigh!!! Beautiful.

Me & Case did our Christmas on the Wednesday night before Christmas because it was the only night we both had off. Here's all the fun things he got me, including that once-beautiful pot of flowers. I ate all but like two of those delicious cookies by myself---I think he's trying to fatten me up. My personal favorite in this pile---the 64 box of Crayons. It has a sharpener people!!!

Here's Casey stash from me. He hasn't put this book down, and he went to that game wearing his new shirt yesterday afternoon. He called after the game and said "Yeah, it was a close one." Me: "Oh, really? What was the score?" Casey: "Like 103-52." Okay smartie Carolina fan. You've had your fun beating previously unknown teams...let's see what happens in conference play ;)

Us in front of our little baby tree (aka my parent's former TOP of an artificial tree) with my homemade ornaments, a few of my growing-up-years ornaments, two mini pairs of Chinese minority shoes, and a couple ornaments that friends made for us. Call me Charlie Brown, 'cause I love this humble little thing.

This is from that icy Wednesday a couple weeks ago, that unfortunately didn't get me out of work, but was beautiful with all the coated trees, and this pinestraw hanging off our neighbor's roof.

And, finally, early December out-of-the-blue-couple-inch snowfall that happened during a short trip to the mall with Erin for Christmas gifts. Love it! Merry Christmas 2010, & Happy 2011!