tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-66164131151892571302024-03-05T00:22:33.812-08:00crickl's nestcricklhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15898815306124652046noreply@blogger.comBlogger796125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6616413115189257130.post-84594265980205096122021-12-07T10:33:00.003-08:002021-12-07T10:51:10.175-08:00Midnight Psalms<p><span style="background-color: white; color: #161a1e; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: large;">Nov 4th midnight</span></p><p><span style="color: #0b5394;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue";"><span style="font-size: medium;">Psalm 96</span></span></span></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; background-color: white;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: medium;">"Sing to the Lord a new song." </span></span></p><p style="color: #161a1e; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; background-color: white; font-kerning: none;"><br /></span></p><p style="color: #161a1e; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: right;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; background-color: white; font-kerning: none;">One we haven't sung before </span></p><p style="color: #161a1e; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: right;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; background-color: white; font-kerning: none;">because there are new experiences, </span></p><p style="color: #161a1e; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: right;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; background-color: white; font-kerning: none;">new heartaches, new troubles we haven't known before. </span></p>
<p style="color: #161a1e; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px; text-align: right;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p>
<p style="color: #161a1e; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: right;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; background-color: white; font-kerning: none;">Our song is new....it's different. </span></p><p style="color: #161a1e; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: right;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; background-color: white; font-kerning: none;">But we will sing it. </span></p>
<p style="color: #161a1e; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px; text-align: right;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p>
<p style="color: #161a1e; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: right;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; background-color: white; font-kerning: none;">God is doing things we've never seen Him do before. </span></p><p style="color: #161a1e; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: right;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; background-color: white; font-kerning: none;">It makes us walk in deeper faith and trust. </span></p><p style="color: #161a1e; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: right;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; background-color: white; font-kerning: none;">We cling to Him </span></p><p style="color: #161a1e; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: right;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; background-color: white; font-kerning: none;">because everything </span></p><p style="color: #161a1e; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: right;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; background-color: white; font-kerning: none;">we've ever thought of </span><span style="background-color: white;">as strength in our lives</span></p><p style="color: #161a1e; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: right;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; background-color: white; font-kerning: none;"> has crumbled in our hands.</span></p><p style="color: #161a1e; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: right;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; background-color: white; font-kerning: none;"> We were heading strong towards a mark </span></p><p style="color: #161a1e; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: right;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; background-color: white; font-kerning: none;">and precious things were crushed and stolen</span></p><p style="color: #161a1e; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: right;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; background-color: white; font-kerning: none;"> from those You entrusted us with.</span></p>
<p style="color: #161a1e; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px; text-align: right;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p>
<p style="color: #161a1e; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: right;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; background-color: white; font-kerning: none;">So our song is now a little more humble, </span></p><p style="color: #161a1e; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: right;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; background-color: white; font-kerning: none;">a little more contrite and dependent on God. </span></p><p style="color: #161a1e; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: right;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; background-color: white; font-kerning: none;">Our need is so much greater, </span></p><p style="color: #161a1e; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: right;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; background-color: white; font-kerning: none;">our cry is more desperate. </span></p><p style="color: #161a1e; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: right;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; background-color: white; font-kerning: none;">There is no more of our own strength. </span></p>
<p style="color: #161a1e; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; background-color: white;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: medium;">"Ascribe to the Lord the glory due His name; bring an offering and come into His courts."</span></span></p>
<p style="color: #161a1e; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p>
<p style="color: #161a1e; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: right;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; background-color: white; font-kerning: none;">I'm remembering the glory that is due the Lord tonight </span></p><p style="color: #161a1e; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: right;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; background-color: white; font-kerning: none;">and laying down a precious offering. </span></p><p style="color: #161a1e; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: right;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; background-color: white; font-kerning: none;">A costly offering, </span></p><p style="color: #161a1e; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: right;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; background-color: white; font-kerning: none;">but I know He will consume it </span></p><p style="color: #161a1e; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: right;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; background-color: white; font-kerning: none;">with great mercy and grace. </span></p>
<p style="color: #161a1e; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px; text-align: right;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p>
<p style="color: #161a1e; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: right;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; background-color: white; font-kerning: none;">I'm laying this precious thing, </span></p><p style="color: #161a1e; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: right;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; background-color: white; font-kerning: none;">this pearl, down on Your altar. </span></p><p style="color: #161a1e; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: right;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; background-color: white; font-kerning: none;">I offer this to You for Your will and purpose. </span></p><p style="color: #161a1e; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: right;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; background-color: white; font-kerning: none;">Breathe new life in and cast all that is evil out. </span></p><p style="color: #161a1e; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: right;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; background-color: white; font-kerning: none;">Your mercies are new every morning. </span></p><p style="color: #161a1e; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: right;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; background-color: white; font-kerning: none;"><br /></span></p><p style="color: #161a1e; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: right;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; background-color: white; font-kerning: none;">Great is Your faithfulness, Oh Lord.</span></p>
<p style="color: #161a1e; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px; text-align: right;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p>
<p style="color: #161a1e; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: right;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; background-color: white; font-kerning: none;">Some morning I want to wake</span></p><p style="color: #161a1e; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: right;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; background-color: white; font-kerning: none;"> to a new song </span></p><p style="color: #161a1e; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: right;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; background-color: white; font-kerning: none;">of victory</span></p><p style="color: #161a1e; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: right;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; background-color: white; font-kerning: none;"> over what was restored </span></p><p style="color: #161a1e; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: right;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; background-color: white; font-kerning: none;">and given back ten fold.</span></p>
<p style="color: #161a1e; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p>
<blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"></blockquote><span style="color: #161a1e; font-family: Helvetica Neue;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(22, 26, 30);"><br /></span></span><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"></blockquote><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px;">I waited patiently for the Lord;</span><br /></span><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"></blockquote><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px;"> he inclined to me and heard my cry.</span><br /></span><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"></blockquote><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px;"> </b><br /></span><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"></blockquote><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px;">He drew me up from the pit of destruction,</span><br /></span><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"></blockquote><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px;"> out of the miry bog,</span><br /></span><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"></blockquote><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px;">and set my feet upon a rock,</span><br /></span><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"></blockquote><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px;"> making my steps secure.</span><br /></span><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"></blockquote><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px;"> </b><br /></span><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"></blockquote><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px;">He put a new song in my mouth,</span><br /></span><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"></blockquote><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px;"> a song of praise to our God.</span><br /></span><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"></blockquote><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px;">Many will see and fear,</span><br /></span><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"></blockquote><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px;"> and put their trust in the Lord. </span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px;">Psalm 40:1-3</span><br /></span><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"></blockquote><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(22, 26, 30); color: #0b5394;"><br /></span></span><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"></blockquote><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px;">For the Lord your God is living among you.</span><br /></span><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"></blockquote><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px;"> He is a mighty savior.</span><br /></span><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"></blockquote><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px;">He will take delight in you with gladness.</span><br /></span><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"></blockquote><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px;"> With his love, he will calm all your fears.</span><br /></span><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; background-color: white; font-kerning: none;"> He will rejoice over you with joyful songs. </span><span style="background-color: white;">Zeph 3:17</span></span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: right;"><span><span style="background-color: white;">I'll wait for You.</span></span></p><p style="color: #161a1e; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"></span></p>
<p style="color: #161a1e; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"></span></p>
<p style="color: #161a1e; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p>cricklhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15898815306124652046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6616413115189257130.post-42518518427741597242020-07-09T13:32:00.001-07:002021-12-07T10:48:44.460-08:00Remember <h3 style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; letter-spacing: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 20px; min-width: 0px; text-align: left;">
<span class="text Ps-77-1" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;">A prayer for our wandering loved ones. </span></span></h3>
<h3 style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; letter-spacing: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 20px; min-width: 0px; text-align: left;">
<span class="text Ps-77-1" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;">Our wandering journey to the Promised Land sometimes takes us through a violent, stormy parting of sea, but God always goes before us. I'm remembering when He's done it before, His mighty power, set in motion through nights of prayer and choosing to trust Him to work in our loved one's life, surrendering them to Him. I opened the Bible this morning, worried and desperate for answers and this was my Psalm for today. </span></span></h3>
<h3 style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; letter-spacing: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 20px; min-width: 0px; text-align: left;">
<span class="text Ps-77-1" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;">Oh, and I should mention that my word for the year 2020 is Remember. </span></span></h3>
<h3 style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; letter-spacing: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 20px; min-width: 0px; text-align: left;">
<span class="text Ps-77-1" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;">And my prayer word for her is Promised Land. </span></span></h3>
<h3 style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 1.5rem; letter-spacing: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 20px; min-width: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="text Ps-77-1" id="en-NIV-15095">Psalm 77</span></h3>
<div class="poetry" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; margin-top: 1em; min-width: 0px; padding-left: 2.6em; position: relative;">
<div class="line" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; line-height: 2.4rem; min-width: 0px;">
<span class="text Ps-77-1" style="position: relative;"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-size: 1.2rem; font-weight: 700; left: -4.4em; line-height: normal; position: absolute; text-align: center; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">1 </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
I cried out to God for help;</div>
<span class="indent-1"><div style="text-align: right;">
<span class="indent-1-breaks" style="font-family: monospace; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-77-1" style="position: relative;">I cried out to God to hear me.</span></div>
</span><span class="text Ps-77-2" id="en-NIV-15096" style="position: relative;"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-weight: 700; left: -4.4em; line-height: normal; position: absolute; text-align: right; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;"> </span><div style="text-align: right;">
When I was in distress, I sought the Lord;</div>
</span><span class="indent-1"><div style="text-align: right;">
<span class="indent-1-breaks" style="font-family: monospace; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-77-2" style="position: relative;">at night I stretched out untiring hands,</span></div>
<span class="text Ps-77-2" style="position: relative;"><div style="text-align: right;">
<span class="indent-1-breaks" style="font-family: monospace; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-77-2" style="position: relative;">and I would not be comforted.</span></div>
</span></span><br />
<div class="poetry top-05" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; margin-top: 1em; min-width: 0px; padding-left: 2.6em; position: relative;">
<div class="line" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; line-height: 2.4rem; min-width: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<span style="color: #990000;">I remembered you, God,</span> and I groaned;</div>
<span class="indent-1"><div style="text-align: right;">
<span class="indent-1-breaks" style="font-family: monospace; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-77-3" style="position: relative;">I meditated, and my spirit grew faint.</span></div>
<span class="text Ps-77-3" style="position: relative;"><span class="text Ps-77-4" id="en-NIV-15098" style="position: relative;"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-weight: 700; left: -4.4em; line-height: normal; position: absolute; text-align: right; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;"> </span><div style="text-align: right;">
You kept my eyes from closing;</div>
</span><span class="indent-1"><div style="text-align: right;">
<span class="indent-1-breaks" style="font-family: monospace; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-77-4" style="position: relative;">I was too troubled to speak.<span style="font-weight: 700;"> </span></span></div>
<span class="text Ps-77-4" style="position: relative;"><div style="text-align: right;">
I thought about the former days,</div>
<span class="text Ps-77-5" id="en-NIV-15099" style="position: relative;"><div style="text-align: right;">
<span class="indent-1-breaks" style="font-family: monospace; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-77-5" style="position: relative;">the years of long ago;<span style="font-weight: 700;"> </span></span></div>
<span class="text Ps-77-6" id="en-NIV-15100" style="position: relative;"><div style="text-align: right;">
<span style="color: #990000;">I remembered my songs in the night.</span></div>
</span><span class="indent-1"><div style="text-align: right;">
<span class="indent-1-breaks" style="font-family: monospace; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-77-6" style="position: relative;">My heart meditated and my spirit asked:</span></div>
</span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="poetry top-05" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; margin-top: 1em; min-width: 0px; padding-left: 2.6em; position: relative;">
<div class="line" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; line-height: 2.4rem; min-width: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
“Will the Lord reject forever?</div>
<span class="indent-1"><div style="text-align: right;">
<span class="indent-1-breaks" style="font-family: monospace; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-77-7" style="position: relative;">Will he never show his favor again?</span></div>
</span><span class="text Ps-77-8" id="en-NIV-15102" style="position: relative;"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-weight: 700; left: -4.4em; line-height: normal; position: absolute; text-align: right; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: right;">
Has his unfailing love vanished forever?</div>
</span><span class="indent-1"><div style="text-align: right;">
<span class="indent-1-breaks" style="font-family: monospace; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-77-8" style="position: relative;">Has his promise failed for all time?</span></div>
</span><span class="text Ps-77-9" id="en-NIV-15103" style="position: relative;"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-weight: 700; left: -4.4em; line-height: normal; position: absolute; text-align: right; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;"> </span><div style="text-align: right;">
Has God forgotten to be merciful?</div>
<span class="indent-1"><div style="text-align: right;">
<span class="indent-1-breaks" style="font-family: monospace; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-77-9" style="position: relative;">Has he in anger withheld his compassion?”</span></div>
</span></span></div>
<div class="poetry top-05" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; margin-top: 1em; min-width: 0px; padding-left: 2.6em; position: relative;">
<div class="line" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; line-height: 2.4rem; min-width: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
Then I thought, “To this I will appeal:</div>
<span class="indent-1"><div style="text-align: right;">
<span class="indent-1-breaks" style="font-family: monospace; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-77-10" style="position: relative;">the years when the Most High stretched out his right hand.</span></div>
<span class="text Ps-77-10" style="position: relative;"><span class="text Ps-77-11" id="en-NIV-15105" style="position: relative;"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-weight: 700; left: -4.4em; line-height: normal; position: absolute; text-align: right; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;"> </span><div style="text-align: right;">
<span style="color: #990000;">I will remember the deeds of the <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;">Lord</span></span>;</div>
</span><span class="indent-1"><div style="text-align: right;">
<span class="indent-1-breaks" style="font-family: monospace; line-height: 0;"> <span style="color: #990000;"> </span></span><span class="text Ps-77-11" style="position: relative;"><span style="color: #990000;">yes, I will remember</span> <span style="color: #990000;">your miracles of long ago.</span></span></div>
</span><span class="text Ps-77-12" id="en-NIV-15106" style="position: relative;"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-weight: 700; left: -4.4em; line-height: normal; position: absolute; text-align: right; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;"> </span><div style="text-align: right;">
I will consider all your works</div>
</span><span class="indent-1"><div style="text-align: right;">
<span class="indent-1-breaks" style="font-family: monospace; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-77-12" style="position: relative;">and meditate on all your mighty deeds.”</span></div>
</span></span></span><br />
<div class="poetry top-05" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; margin-top: 1em; min-width: 0px; padding-left: 2.6em; position: relative;">
<div class="line" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; line-height: 2.4rem; min-width: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
Your ways, God, are holy.</div>
<span class="indent-1"><div style="text-align: right;">
<span class="indent-1-breaks" style="font-family: monospace; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-77-13" style="position: relative;">What god is as great as our God?</span></div>
<span class="text Ps-77-13" style="position: relative;"><span class="text Ps-77-14" id="en-NIV-15108" style="position: relative;"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-weight: 700; left: -4.4em; line-height: normal; position: absolute; text-align: right; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;"> </span><div style="text-align: right;">
You are the God who performs miracles;</div>
<span class="indent-1"><div style="text-align: right;">
<span class="indent-1-breaks" style="font-family: monospace; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-77-14" style="position: relative;">you display your power among the peoples.</span></div>
</span><span class="text Ps-77-15" id="en-NIV-15109" style="position: relative;"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-weight: 700; left: -4.4em; line-height: normal; position: absolute; text-align: right; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;"> </span><div style="text-align: right;">
With your mighty arm you redeemed your people,</div>
<span class="indent-1"><div style="text-align: right;">
<span class="indent-1-breaks" style="font-family: monospace; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-77-15" style="position: relative;">the descendants of Jacob and Joseph.</span></div>
</span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="poetry top-05" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; margin-top: 1em; min-width: 0px; padding-left: 2.6em; position: relative;">
<div class="line" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; line-height: 2.4rem; min-width: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
The waters saw you, God,</div>
<span class="indent-1"><div style="text-align: right;">
<span class="indent-1-breaks" style="font-family: monospace; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-77-16" style="position: relative;">the waters saw you and writhed;</span></div>
<span class="text Ps-77-16" style="position: relative;"><div style="text-align: right;">
<span class="indent-1-breaks" style="font-family: monospace; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-77-16" style="position: relative;">the very depths were convulsed.</span></div>
<span class="text Ps-77-17" id="en-NIV-15111" style="position: relative;"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-weight: 700; left: -4.4em; line-height: normal; position: absolute; text-align: right; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: right;">
The clouds poured down water,</div>
<span class="indent-1"><div style="text-align: right;">
<span class="indent-1-breaks" style="font-family: monospace; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-77-17" style="position: relative;">the heavens resounded with thunder;</span></div>
<span class="text Ps-77-17" style="position: relative;"><div style="text-align: right;">
<span class="indent-1-breaks" style="font-family: monospace; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-77-17" style="position: relative;">your arrows flashed back and forth.</span></div>
<span class="text Ps-77-18" id="en-NIV-15112" style="position: relative;"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-weight: 700; left: -4.4em; line-height: normal; position: absolute; text-align: right; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;"> </span><div style="text-align: right;">
Your thunder was heard in the whirlwind,</div>
<span class="indent-1"><div style="text-align: right;">
<span class="indent-1-breaks" style="font-family: monospace; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-77-18" style="position: relative;">your lightning lit up the world;</span></div>
</span><span class="indent-1"><div style="text-align: right;">
<span class="indent-1-breaks" style="font-family: monospace; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-77-18" style="position: relative;">the earth trembled and quaked.</span></div>
<span class="text Ps-77-18" style="position: relative;"><span class="text Ps-77-19" id="en-NIV-15113" style="position: relative;"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-weight: 700; left: -4.4em; line-height: normal; position: absolute; text-align: right; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;"> </span><div style="text-align: right;">
Your path led through the sea,</div>
<span class="indent-1"><div style="text-align: right;">
<span class="indent-1-breaks" style="font-family: monospace; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-77-19" style="position: relative;">your way through the mighty waters,</span></div>
</span><span class="indent-1"><div style="text-align: right;">
<span class="indent-1-breaks" style="font-family: monospace; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-77-19" style="position: relative;">though your footprints were not seen.</span></div>
</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="poetry top-05" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; margin-top: 1em; min-width: 0px; padding-left: 2.6em; position: relative;">
<div class="line" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; line-height: 2.4rem; min-width: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
You led your people like a flock</div>
<span class="indent-1"><div style="text-align: right;">
<span class="indent-1-breaks" style="font-family: monospace; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-77-20" style="position: relative;">by the hand of Moses and Aaron.</span></div>
</span><br />
<div class="footnotes" style="box-sizing: border-box; min-width: 0px;">
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<br class="Apple-interchange-newline" />cricklhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15898815306124652046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6616413115189257130.post-34569578648488335262014-04-26T16:34:00.001-07:002014-04-26T16:34:51.735-07:00Love like a waterfall<blockquote class="uncited tr_bq">
<div>
<br /><blockquote>
Deep calls to deep<br /> in the roar of your waterfalls;<br />all your waves and breakers<br /> have swept over me.<br /><br /> By day the Lord directs his love,<br /> at night his song is with me—<br /> a prayer to the God of my life.</blockquote>
</div>
</blockquote>
<br /><br />I read this from Psalm 42:7-8 this morning. The
wind here today is roaring like a waterfall, so I've been enjoying the thought of sitting
by God's waterfalls, waves and breakers of understanding and love
sweeping over me.<br />
<br />
He knows the deep places of our souls, our longings and aching. He understands and directs His love toward us like waves and waterfalls. Amazing. <br />
<br />
New Living Translation:<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span class="text Ps-42-7" id="en-NLT-14539">I hear the tumult of the raging seas</span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Ps-42-7">as your waves and surging tides sweep over me.</span></span><span class="text Ps-42-8" id="en-NLT-14540"></span> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span class="text Ps-42-8" id="en-NLT-14540"><sup class="versenum"> </sup>But each day the <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span> pours his unfailing love upon me,</span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Ps-42-8">and through each night I sing his songs,</span></span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Ps-42-8">praying to God who gives me life.</span></span></blockquote>
cricklhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15898815306124652046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6616413115189257130.post-799419522678620072014-03-04T10:59:00.003-08:002014-03-04T10:59:38.033-08:00Full of?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj106wdZOO8XB_z6EchWBPrHsQ_jqUHWTvqob-MMGrjYarux6KTqMpzpMoK0qmgu7NM0dmRRl-jd8ZTq4yeo9Ht_pVpQs4DcKHxj-vJ7KPxC9ultZv9nAq1xOC5EN9h9qKd0oPyy9vjHp30/s1600/fullofself.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj106wdZOO8XB_z6EchWBPrHsQ_jqUHWTvqob-MMGrjYarux6KTqMpzpMoK0qmgu7NM0dmRRl-jd8ZTq4yeo9Ht_pVpQs4DcKHxj-vJ7KPxC9ultZv9nAq1xOC5EN9h9qKd0oPyy9vjHp30/s1600/fullofself.JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Beth Moore quote.<br />
<br />
God's fullness is about being full of the right thing....recognizing the wrong things.<br />
cricklhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15898815306124652046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6616413115189257130.post-11248670144002062662014-01-27T22:36:00.000-08:002014-01-27T23:03:12.582-08:00Filled to the measureFullness sounded like such a great word a few weeks ago. <br />
<br />
Then I was listening to or reading something about 2 weeks ago....I can't remember where... I was instantly taken away in thought about it. The thought was that in order to be filled with one thing you have to be <i>empty</i> of all else.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie_y64hklRovs0qb9BSbZoXQ1HmpAKfEwriPD-xdpaxpw_Qi4DORld4fEt1lilX_6M4ts-s7aoMRQiuMKtJJaxe56UvmUmg7dCgk5Bhey6J0oiWNQLv46zKI9MPTz6D0UYVVgkblcN67If/s1600/full.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie_y64hklRovs0qb9BSbZoXQ1HmpAKfEwriPD-xdpaxpw_Qi4DORld4fEt1lilX_6M4ts-s7aoMRQiuMKtJJaxe56UvmUmg7dCgk5Bhey6J0oiWNQLv46zKI9MPTz6D0UYVVgkblcN67If/s1600/full.png" height="200" width="200" /></a><br />
If a cup is full of water, that means there is no tea in it. It is filled with water. <br />
<br />
I realize of course, that this will not be easy. The emptying has begun and it seems to be emptying through my eyes. Leaking, pooling, downright weeping. No point in wearing eye makeup these days. I'm being emptied. <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Paul asked God to bless his friends with the fullness of God. <br />
<span class="text Eph-3-14"><sup class="versenum"> </sup></span><br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
<span class="text Eph-3-14">For this reason I kneel before the Father,</span> <span class="text Eph-3-15" id="en-NIV-29267"><sup class="versenum"> </sup> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<span class="text Eph-3-15" id="en-NIV-29267">from whom every family<sup> </sup>in heaven and on earth derives its name.</span> <span class="text Eph-3-16" id="en-NIV-29268"><sup class="versenum"> </sup></span></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<span class="text Eph-3-16" id="en-NIV-29268"><sup class="versenum"> </sup>I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you </span></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<span class="text Eph-3-16" id="en-NIV-29268">with power through his Spirit in your inner being,</span> <span class="text Eph-3-17" id="en-NIV-29269"><sup class="versenum"> </sup></span></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<span class="text Eph-3-17" id="en-NIV-29269"><sup class="versenum"> </sup></span><span class="text Eph-3-17" id="en-NIV-29269">so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<span class="text Eph-3-17" id="en-NIV-29269">And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love,</span> <span class="text Eph-3-18" id="en-NIV-29270"><sup class="versenum"> </sup></span></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<span class="text Eph-3-18" id="en-NIV-29270"><sup class="versenum"> </sup>may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, </span></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<span class="text Eph-3-18" id="en-NIV-29270">to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ,</span> <span class="text Eph-3-19" id="en-NIV-29271"><sup class="versenum"> </sup> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<span class="text Eph-3-19" id="en-NIV-29271">and to know this love that surpasses knowledge</span></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<span class="text Eph-3-19" id="en-NIV-29271">—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.</span> </div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
Ephesians 3:14-19</div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
I love that. I guess I still think it's a great word. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br />
And then he concluded the prayer with this:</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<span class="text Eph-3-20" id="en-NIV-29272">Now to him who is able to do immeasurably <i>more than all we ask or imagine</i>, </span></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<span class="text Eph-3-20" id="en-NIV-29272">according to his power that is at work within us,</span> <span class="text Eph-3-21" id="en-NIV-29273"><sup class="versenum"> </sup> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<i><b><span class="text Eph-3-21" id="en-NIV-29273">to him be glory </span></b></i><span class="text Eph-3-21" id="en-NIV-29273">in the church and in Christ Jesus </span></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<span class="text Eph-3-21" id="en-NIV-29273">throughout all generations, for ever and ever! </span></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<span class="text Eph-3-21" id="en-NIV-29273">Amen. Ephesians 3:20-21</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
For His glory, according to His power, immeasurably more than we can ask or imagine.....throughout all generations. Forever.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
I may have to buy stock in the Kleenex tissue company.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
cricklhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15898815306124652046noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6616413115189257130.post-10932571310045376022014-01-18T20:48:00.000-08:002014-01-18T20:49:01.210-08:00Gracious Blessings<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="text John-1-14" id="en-NLT-26025"><sup class="versenum"> </sup>So the Word became human and made his home among us. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="text John-1-14" id="en-NLT-26025">He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness.<sup> </sup> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="text John-1-14" id="en-NLT-26025">And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son...</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="text John-1-16" id="en-NLT-26027"><sup class="versenum"> </sup></span><span class="text John-1-16" id="en-NLT-26027"><sup class="versenum"> </sup></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="text John-1-16" id="en-NLT-26027"><sup class="versenum"> </sup>From his abundance [fullness] we have all received one gracious blessing after another.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span class="text John-1-16" id="en-NLT-26027">John 1:14-16 </span></div>
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<span class="text John-1-16" id="en-NLT-26027">Our first Sunday service of the year, the floor was opened up for testimonies on what God had done in our lives in 2013. One by one, my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ stood to honor God's gracious blessing in their life. My tears would not stop flowing. </span></div>
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<span class="text John-1-16" id="en-NLT-26027">He's been so good to them....to us.... to me...</span></div>
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<span class="text John-1-16" id="en-NLT-26027">....I'm not talking about our great circumstances, material wealth or ease of life, but because of God's work, guidance, care and favor in spite of our circumstances.... because of His abundant grace in our lives. And it is absolutely radiant in these dear people. </span></div>
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<span class="text John-1-16" id="en-NLT-26027">"</span><span class="text John-1-16" id="en-NLT-26027">From his abundance [fullness] we have all received one gracious blessing after another."</span></div>
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<span class="text John-1-16" id="en-NLT-26027">We have all received one gracious blessing after another. Look around and you'll see God's grace in the lives around you, as well as in your own. Then take time to acknowledge it, honor Him. It's kind of like treasure hunting. </span></div>
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<span class="text John-1-16" id="en-NLT-26027">It's been 3 weeks now and I can't seem to keep my eye makeup on through a worship service since then. There is a real connection between gratefulness and sincere worship...looking back to remember what He's done, acknowledging His work and His grace in our lives. Then worship flows.</span></div>
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cricklhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15898815306124652046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6616413115189257130.post-35315561378599213512014-01-14T10:31:00.003-08:002014-01-14T10:31:36.291-08:00In health or in warfare, there is fullness of joy in the presence of the LordIs January zipping by for everyone or is it just me! I need to get back in the habit of posting here, but I'm not making any promises....or resolutions.<br />
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I'm just not a resolute type of person I guess. There are many things I should <i>be</i> <a href="http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/resolute" target="_blank">resolute</a> about, but, ehn. So a few years ago, I gave up making New Year resolutions and began asking God to give me a word for the year.<br />
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I began this spiritual practice at the end of 2010, being challenged by a group of other pastors' wives I am involved with. Here is my little history of what God's shown me in the past few years....<br />
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<b>2011</b> Joy ....coming after a few terribly stressful years. The housing crisis hit and we were devastated and humbled by it. I lost 2 jobs because of lay offs. I felt very unsure of myself and vulnerable. These, along with a lot of other things that involved loss, just made it a difficult series of years for us that led up to 2011. In fact, when I got this word after praying for one, I kept rethinking it. I was in such a state of being humbled and vulnerable that I kept thinking it was just wishful thinking and not something from God. But it was, it kept being confirmed to me and I finally, thankfully, accepted it.<br />
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Even though it wasn't a perfectly happy and pain free year, God developed an inner peace and contentment throughout that year that I truly realized the truth I did know in my head, I just wasn't practicing it. Joy comes from within, from being submitted to the Lord, grateful and obedient to Him, not from outer circumstances. The word could have been trust, because I was learning to trust what He was doing in our life, but that was the process....the gift was accepting joy. <br />
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The beginning of that year found us packing up our home and moving to a very cheap rental house, wondering what would come next. But it was a freeing time too. We no longer had a huge house payment and I did not <i>have to</i> work. We could afford for me to stay home again and it was...joyful. We were content to live in that little rental house and had plans to be there for as long as we could foresee. But the end of the year found us moving into a large, beautiful home owned by a generous person who charged us less rent than the cheap rental house. We learned to be content and find joy wherever we were. It was kind of an amazing journey of letting go of stuff and trusting what God was doing. <br />
<b> </b><br />
<b>2012</b> Health ....not striving for health (which was my first thought), but a
gift of... an answer to a lot of different health problems that did not
seem connected. I was beginning to feel very worn down, used up and in pain a lot. In February an ultrasound for female things showed that I had a left kidney full of stones. Even though I'd had numerous kidney stones before, I had no idea that was where my pain and problems were coming from. After a grueling 2 lithotripsies and an emergency hospitalization, I remembered an old friend's kidney stone problem was caused by an overactive parathyroid gland, so I mentioned that to my doctor. One simple blood test later, I ended up having one of my <a href="http://www.parathyroid.com/" target="_blank">parathyroid</a> glands taken out and wow, what a difference! I'm so thankful. <br />
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<b>2013</b> War. Scary word, but I
was invited to join in the spiritual warfare that was raging against my family and our church. The word Victory was popping up all over the place, even the day after I got
this word, so it was a very hopeful time, even though it was a very hard
year....the hardest of my life. There were many victories too. Trust me. <br />
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This is the main reason I have not blogged very often this year. The things going on in my life and head were a little too personal and not really about me, so I could not share. <br />
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<b>2014</b> Fullness<br />
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<i> Are you kidding me! </i>Bring it! I am ready. Already I am hearing this word pop up in my husband's sermons....even before telling him my word. And see it all the time in my devotional time. I made a <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/crickl/fullness/" target="_blank">Pinterest board</a> on it. The verse I'm mainly focused on is Psalm 16:11...<br />
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You will make known to me the path of life;<br /><b>In Your presence is fullness of joy;</b><br />In Your right hand there are pleasures forever.<br />Psalm 16:11 NAS</div>
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Fullness only comes from God, so I am eagerly anticipating this year and what He will show me. God is so good to us in that group of women I meet with, giving us a little glimpse of the year, a little
prophetic word to hold on to, to anticipate.... Each woman has a story to tell about their words. He is active and working and teaching us
so much. </div>
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cricklhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15898815306124652046noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6616413115189257130.post-6654036056336024132013-10-29T20:21:00.001-07:002013-10-29T20:21:44.604-07:00Signs in the SkyI would never have classified myself as a signs and wonders type of person. I mean I always knew God <i>could</i> perform signs and wonders if He wanted to, but I didn't think they were necessarily something for my daily life.<br />
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But y'know what? That is changing. It's not that the signs and wonders weren't there before, it's that I didn't recognize them. I wasn't looking or expecting anything. God is working all the time, all around us. He wants us to join in and notice......to be grateful and mindful of His power and presence.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj388rPDE8J836K4-UC4EmgQUVDlw_ToT0P7Gt9VSjPCESxqKbJyUZttBJwlbC9K6HGTNGR_97a-UjhxRNRierE17v0CG1Q4hFUqdD9uRzVUtTasjDagFM4vgPOblw7GvnYHStTRCheVhm3/s1600/semicolon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj388rPDE8J836K4-UC4EmgQUVDlw_ToT0P7Gt9VSjPCESxqKbJyUZttBJwlbC9K6HGTNGR_97a-UjhxRNRierE17v0CG1Q4hFUqdD9uRzVUtTasjDagFM4vgPOblw7GvnYHStTRCheVhm3/s200/semicolon.jpg" width="200" /></a>A couple of weeks ago, Maggie and I were driving in to Albuquerque for a driver's education practice and I looked up at the mountains that divide Albuquerque from our East Mountain area. I always look at them when we're driving and since she was driving, I was <i>really</i> looking. It's a beautiful view of the green covered sweeping mountain ridge, lately with patches of yellow aspen. Right above the top of the ridge--I kid you not!--was a semicolon. It was made from a couple of small clouds. It was the only patch of clouds I could see, sitting there all alone in a perfect backwards semicolon. I even pointed it out to Maggie and she said yes, it was a semicolon and added that I was weird. (I was a little excited, that's all)<br />
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Punctuation in the sky.<br />
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It gets your attention. It <i>is</i> weird.<br />
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I dropped her off to drive with her instructor and then I had to google semicolon to see what it's purpose is because, <i>clearly</i> it was a sign of some sort. <br />
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
--A semicolon is used to join 2 independent, yet somewhat related, statements.<br />
--Semicolons are described by writers as old fashioned, middle class, and optional. <br />
--Semicolons can be used to link transitional phrases.<br />
--Semicolons are used to separate words of opposed meaning.<br />
--They also allow for a rapid change of direction in a sentence.</blockquote>
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In full time ministry lifestyle, we are constantly praying for God to put a kind of symbolic semicolon into people's lives. <br />
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Charlie used drugs to escape the emptiness of life; when he turned his life over to Christ, he was set free and now has direction and Hope.<br />
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Susan's life was all about fighting for cause after cause; God showed her true purpose in life, to let Him love others through her.</blockquote>
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Our church has been prayer walking together at least once a month in different neighborhoods. It is amazing what you are led to pray for someone by just walking by their property. It gets very personal and it's obvious that people need a semicolon these days. The last 3 uses listed anyway.<br />
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--To link transitional phrases.<br />
--To separate words of opposed meaning.<br />
--Allows for a rapid change of direction in a sentence.<br />
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On October 31st we will be taking the children of our church trick or treating in a neighborhood near our church. As the children go to the doors, the adults will be covering that household in prayer. The children will hand the person answering the door a small gift bag with a little gift and a card that tells them we care and have prayed for their household.<br />
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We want to see that huge semicolon inserted into people's lives....transitions, radical changes, true Hope where there is now only emptiness.<br />
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<br />cricklhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15898815306124652046noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6616413115189257130.post-27050049152946898672013-09-03T15:31:00.002-07:002013-09-03T15:35:18.272-07:00Snapping backThis past week my mind has snapped back into action. Toward the end of last year, I asked God for a word for the year. I do this each year, the past few years and it is amazing what God shows me. It opens my eyes spiritually. The word He gave me for this year is <a href="http://cricklsnest.blogspot.com/2013/02/no-wobbling-zone.html">war</a>. NOT a lackadaisical kind of word....not one you really look forward to having for a whole year. Not a real pleasant word. But then I thought about how God works. I remembered I had a <a crickl="" href="http://cricklsnest.blogspot.com/2013/02/not-our-fight.html%3Ethe%20word%20He%20gave%20me%20the%20year%20before%3C/a%3E.%20I%20remembered%20that%20He%20is%20not%20a%20God%20of%20confusion%20or%20strife.%20In%20fact,%20He%20is%20a%20God%20of%20good%20contradictions.%20Weakness%20is%20strength,%20etc.%20It%20was%20going%20to%20be%20okay....good,%20in%20fact.%20Dare%20I%20even%20say%20%3Ci%3Evictorious%3C/i%3E.%20I%20even%20made%20a%20%3Ca%20href=" http:="" pinterest.com="" warfare="">Pinterest board about it</a>. Just looking at the pins on that board, mostly Bible verses, I feel strength to jump back in....because I got lazy and the enemy gained ground.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO4z427nM8eyjO-XHe4nSaK9NiVAgsYweysnYMGXi34MVD7IaZnAl5zPS3gRaklozkWw3aD2-Zl693x80aRDYzQQ9GPPOm-29s3U1F3Db12TRr99l3Eqr5KRU-jbnDSadv2JHQ_E_0W2GU/s1600/c1b886d722d7c60d8d4b5ef5d6def6ef.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO4z427nM8eyjO-XHe4nSaK9NiVAgsYweysnYMGXi34MVD7IaZnAl5zPS3gRaklozkWw3aD2-Zl693x80aRDYzQQ9GPPOm-29s3U1F3Db12TRr99l3Eqr5KRU-jbnDSadv2JHQ_E_0W2GU/s400/c1b886d722d7c60d8d4b5ef5d6def6ef.jpg" width="312" /></a><br />
So anyway, being snapped back into action and all. I was reminded like a slap in the face, that I am in a year of warfare. And war is proactive. There is nothing passive about it unless you want to get creamed.<br />
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And I don't want that.<br />
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So I am stepping back on the battlefield today, right now. I thought maybe someone who reads this may need the same encouragement to get back in their armor. We are all involved in this battle. And it is never in vain. We must fight for each other.<br />
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God help us.<br />
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<br />cricklhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15898815306124652046noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6616413115189257130.post-73184352376069985162013-08-16T23:32:00.000-07:002013-08-16T23:32:49.322-07:00The Dovecot<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I love it when I'm doing something ordinary and something extraordinary happens.<br />
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My sister Julie asked me to send her Hannah and Bradley's new address. They are on their honeymoon, so I was trying to figure out their house number on my own. I looked it up on Google maps and then clicked on the street view option. I couldn't see the house number but while I was looking at it from different angles something else jumped out at me.<br />
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So I took a screen shot of the Google map view.<br />
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In one angle of the street view, there are two birds (they look like doves) taking flight right in front of the one eave on the house. It is a tiny, tiny house....400 square feet I think. When my sister Julie saw it last week, she said it reminded her of the little cottage where Meg and John Brook live in Little Women. They called it <a href="http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dovecote">the Dovecot</a>.<br />
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I love how symbolic it is that the doves are just taking off in flight, just like the newlywed couple. <br />
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Many, many blessed times and years to them.cricklhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15898815306124652046noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6616413115189257130.post-69436807684860189072013-08-02T17:48:00.000-07:002013-08-02T17:48:35.737-07:00Caged beauty My dog, Maisy, eats my pansies. They haven't bloomed all summer until now<br />
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....inside their
cages. <br />
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I tell them it's for their own protection.<br />
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Maisy has moved on to squirrels, but she hasn't gotten to taste one yet....though not for lack of digging after them into their holes. cricklhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15898815306124652046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6616413115189257130.post-1491396120451582582013-07-30T18:23:00.000-07:002013-07-30T18:27:17.108-07:00Autumn came in my mailbox today<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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We haven't live in New Jersey since 1997, but a bit of NJ autumn arrived in our mailbox today!<br />
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Ivins' Spiced Wafers...... I wrote a <a href="http://www.angelfire.com/art2/crickl/view/index.blog/1222749/in-the-mood-for-something-sweetzel/">whole post about these little cookies</a> once (<a href="http://cricklsnest.blogspot.com/2011/09/acclimating.html"></a><a href="http://www.blogger.com/:http://cricklsnest.blogspot.com/2008/10/autumnish-weekend.html"> and here </a><br /><a href="http://cricklsnest.blogspot.com/2011/09/acclimating.html"> and here</a>). The recipe there is a good ginger snap recipe, but it's really nothing like Ivins'. <br />
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I have talked about them so much since moving away from New Jersey that my friend Sue thinks of me every time she sees them in the store.....which is only during the fall! They only make them for fall. The rest of the year you must have to anticipate (or stockpile them in your freezer).<br />
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Well this year, when Sue saw them in the store, she not only thought of me, but she bought me some and mailed them all the way to New Mexico. (the postage cost more than the cookies) She is <i>that kind</i> of wonderful. And it made my day! Sue, you are a really cool friend and I thank you, thank you, thank you!<br />
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Oh and the reason I don't have a picture of the actual cookie is because I must wait to eat them until I have a tall glass of ice cold apple cider to accompany them.<br />
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<br />cricklhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15898815306124652046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6616413115189257130.post-15828559362018843882013-07-17T09:31:00.003-07:002013-07-17T09:31:52.587-07:00Oatmeal Marmalade CookiesTomorrow Maggie is coming home! She's been gone for 33 days now. Mission trip and then visiting in Phoenix. My sister is driving her home tomorrow and will be here to visit for a few days.<br />
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I got some baking mojo last night, so that I'd have some treats for company, and baked a new kind of cookie, so I thought I would share the recipe (because I am that nice). :)<br />
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<br /><b> </b>When we moved into this rental house, our landlord baked us cookies as a
housewarming gift. (there were even homemade dog biscuits that were pumpkin flavor) She labeled each kind and one was Oatmeal Marmalade
Cookies....chewy oatmeal cookies with a slight orange flavor. I've made 2 recipes and this is the one that turned out the
best. <br />
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<b>Oatmeal Marmalade Cookies</b><br />
IMPORTANT: Do not mix the marmalade in with the wet ingredients. Follow the instructions and stir it in last, with the raisins, after everything is mixed. They will not turn out right if you mix it in. (been there, done that)<br />
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1 cup all-purpose flour <br />
1 1/4 cups old fashioned oats<br />
1/2 tsp baking powder<br />
1/2 tsp baking soda <br />
1/2 tsp salt <br />
1/2 tsp cinnamon <br />
1/2 tsp ginger <br />
1/4 tsp nutmeg <br />
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1/3 cup softened butter<br />
1/2 cup white sugar<br />
1/2 cup brown sugar <br />
1 egg<br />
1 tsp. vanilla<br />
<br />
1 cup golden raisins <br />
1/3 cup orange marmalade<br />
<br />Preheat oven to 350°F.<br />
<br />Combine flour, oats, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger and nutmeg and set aside.<br />
<br />Beat together the butter, sugar and brown sugar. Beat in the egg and vanilla.<br />
<br />Add the flour mixture to the butter mixture and stir by hand until almost combined. Add the raisins and marmalade, and stir until just blended.<br />
<br />Drop rounded teaspoonfuls of dough 2” apart on a cookie sheet. Parchment paper really helps them not to stick to the pan! Bake for 15–20 minutes, until deep golden all over, but not brown (see photo). Cool for a few minutes on the cookie sheet, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.<br />
<br />Makes 2-3 dozen cookies.cricklhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15898815306124652046noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6616413115189257130.post-19700160183046674642013-07-17T09:12:00.001-07:002013-07-17T09:12:34.196-07:00The Mountain<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The mountain opened up again yesterday after being closed because of fire danger, so we took a walk.<br />
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We're so thankful for the rains recently!cricklhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15898815306124652046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6616413115189257130.post-59844935625887625532013-07-13T09:19:00.000-07:002013-07-13T10:09:34.127-07:00Things I haven't blogged about lately...This is my catch up list! (with very fancy bullet points)<br />
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- I sent Maggie off on a mission trip. Our youth group went to Oakland/San Francisco, California to help clean up a neighborhood and be Light to the people there. They have some wonderful stories too!<br />
- Sent Charles off to Phoenix (you are seeing a trend here I assume) to perform a wedding and to pack up our outdoor furniture, grill, chiminea, lawn mower, weed whacker, and assorted other outdoorish things. We didn't have room in our original moving truck for these things and have been begging and borrowing lawn mowers and eating only indoor cooked foods since we moved here so...YAY! We've also broken every folding camping chair we had except one because we sit on our deck so much. Love having our furniture set again. Love having a mowed lawn and grilling food outside. <br />
- I flew to Phoenix 2 days after Charles to attend Hannah's wedding shower at her sister-in-law-to-be's house. Then we went whirlwind shopping to try to find a bridesmaid dress for Emma which was unsuccessful but fun. Then I met Charles at the church, where the wedding he reception he was involved with was wrapping up, hopped into the small moving truck drove with him back to Albuquerque (from which I flew away early that same morning). We arrived somewhere around 3:30am, bleary eyed and almost in an altered state! ;)<br />
- Youth mission team arrived back on Monday night but without Maggie. Her sisters picked her up as they drove through Flagstaff and she has been in Phoenix visiting ever since. She helped with our former church's Vacation Bible School this past week and left yesterday to go to youth camp with her old youth group until Tuesday. She will be home Thursday, when my sister will drive up to visit for a few days.<br />
- I have found that life around here is either full steam, barreling ahead or it's completely quiet and peaceful until your ears are ringing. Maggie described it that it's like being dropped in honey....every. thing. slowwwwwws. doooooown. Meditate on this for a while. It's taken a while to get used to but we are enjoying it now. I think it's healthy and was needed. And now imagine floating in honey without a Maggie in the house. You've gone from honey to molasses in January. I am cracking up because that is exactly what it was like for a week or so. .....and then the barreling starts.<br />
- In one long weekend we volunteered at a field day for the community center's children's summer recreation program. I manned the dart game.....with real darts with one inch stickers on the ends. (Yes, that was as intimidating and stressful as it sounds when you are assisting keyed up K-6th graders with dangerous weapons) Sunburn number one happened.<br />
- The very next day, our church put on a block party. Our church does a block party every summer as a way to get to know the community better. But this year we also did it as a fund raiser for a neighbor of ours named Steve. On Memorial Day weekend, our neighbor 7 houses down the road lost his house in a fire. Sometimes it takes something tragic to bring people together and we have seen how God's used this tragedy to bring our neighborhood closer. No one was hurt in the fire, but he lost everything. As a single dad, he's been blown away by the community's concern and help for him. We had tons of help at the block party, but with prep, set up, greeting and visiting with dozens of new people, helping an out of town youth group get set up and know what to do, and standing for 7 hours, hooo, baby, I was wiped out. We didn't feel it until we hit our front door. It was a great day, full of energy and neighbors becoming friends, and people pouring out money and concern for Steve. <br />
- Had the out of town youth group over for the afternoon after the block party while they did their debriefing and finished their blog and photo booth projects. Fed them tacos. (Thankfully they cleaned up my kitchen afterwards! Very cool.) Then they left for the next leg of their mission trip and we basically collapsed into a heap. :)<br />
- Sunday was youth led worship and service. They all gave testimonies about their mission trip and what God did in their own lives. Leadership team meeting after church until almost 6pm. I did not contribute much, just kind of sat there and tried to stay focused and take notes for the newsletter.<br />
- This week, I demanded Charles actually take a day off. He was very willing after that busy weekend. So we decided to tour northern New Mexico. We drove up to Taos, visited a place he wants to take our young adult group for a retreat in a month and drove home that evening. It was beautiful weather and scenery. This is a spectacular place with a lot of unspoiled wilderness and natural beauty. There is not even a big highway that goes up there, you have to take little state highways and figure out your route carefully to get where you want to go.<br />
- The forest fires here are mostly out now and the rain has finally been falling....almost daily! It's like everything in our yard has come back to life and the trees of our field are clapping their hands in delight of moisture and blessing. It's refreshing to the human soul as well.<br />
- I've been getting curriculum and classes lined up for Maggie because we are going back to homeschooling this year! She is done with dramatic drama in schools and is ready to focus on school and enrichment studies without the anxiety. She auditioned for a concert choir in a homeschool enrichment studies program and made it in. And in a week she will begin driver's education class at a school in Albuquerque. Our last girl to start driving. I find it is one of the most stressful times in my life, when my kids start driving. But God uses it to grow my faith and trust in Him every time! I will have to write on that in another post.<br />
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God is good. He is giving us vision and showing us where to join in with Him in this community....where our church fits in and how we can be effective here to show His love and be His Light. <br />
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- ETA: The men's breakfast was held in my house this morning, giving me
time to hide out in my room and write this post. Last night I told
someone I wasn't going to come out of my room until the kitchen was
clean. And it was! Thank you to the guys! My husband made bisquits &
sausage gravy, scrambled eggs and orange juice ...another man brought
bacon. And now my kitchen is all clean and Charles is out mowing the
lawn while I was adding some Miracle Grow to my gardens. Everything is
growing great now that the air has a little moisture in it and it's been
raining each day. I will try to post a picture soon. cricklhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15898815306124652046noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6616413115189257130.post-86079915067831626352013-07-01T11:53:00.000-07:002013-07-01T11:53:50.725-07:00Snakes in the laundry roomThis happened today....<br />
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Our landlord took our back door off to get a new one the correct size. In the meantime <i>someone </i>(named George) took full advantage of the situation. </div>
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Even though he looks dangerous, he is only a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bullsnake" target="_blank">bull snake</a> and harmless, unless you are a songbird or mouse. They also chase away dangerous snakes from your yard, so we'll keep him. Charles wrangled him out the door and we covered it up and chased him into the part of the yard where there are gopher holes. ;) </div>
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Go George go! </div>
<br />cricklhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15898815306124652046noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6616413115189257130.post-77266383120701302482013-06-18T15:37:00.000-07:002013-06-18T15:38:08.455-07:00Blog subscriptionsIf you use Google Reader to read the blogs you like to keep up with, you probably already know that they are discontinuing blog subscription service on July 1! I have over 100 blogs that I like to keep up with, so I was researching today on what other options are out there.<br />
<br />
I found <a href="http://www.bloglovin.com/">Bloglovin</a> is very user friendly and once you sign up, it gives you an immediate prompt to import your Google Reader subscriptions. It was so easy! And you just have to post this link: <a href="http://www.bloglovin.com/blog/4476215/?claim=ak745gu89zw">Follow my blog with Bloglovin</a> to get stats on your blog traffic there too.<br />
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And if you follow several blogs, it's smart to subscribe to this kind of reader because it updates you every time someone has a new post up. :) (especially good if they are a slacker and don't post regularly like me)cricklhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15898815306124652046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6616413115189257130.post-3816599259134226562013-06-14T10:45:00.001-07:002013-06-14T10:45:26.914-07:00DroughtsThe days have been warm enough this week to turn on the cooler around 1pm and keep it on until evening. It does a great job cooling down the house. It's a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evaporative_cooler">swamp cooler</a>, not air conditioning. And it's very effective here in this very dry climate. I think it's a lot drier here than it is in Phoenix....my lips get chapped quite often.<br />
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We are praying for rain. They've had a few years of drought here and there are now 4 big forest fires raging in the mountains around us...not our mountain range, but near enough to see the smoke. Last night I could hear the thunder and saw a few sprigs of lightning light up my living room window, but the rain did not fall on our neighborhood. I go out every morning and walk through the powdery dust of our front yard and water my little vegetable garden. The birds all fuss at me to fill the bird bath with water. There is never any moisture left in it 24 hours later.<br />
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The other night I was invited to eat dinner with a church friend. Our husbands were both out of town, so we planned a visit. She lives at the very top of a mountain. We sat out on the patio as the sun went down behind us and watched the mountain ranges change colors, the smoke from distant fires blew down the valleys and the lights of the nearby neighborhoods and then of Santa Fe came up and glistened as we chatted. Hummingbirds zipped all around our heads by the dozens! I think there were about 2 dozen of them at least, coming to her feeders to get their last sips of the day. A few times we saw 10-12 birds on one feeder, all sitting shoulder to tiny shoulder, heads popping up occasionally to peep at each other. I loved it! There were also all sorts of birds at other feeders and coming to drink at the pond and waterfall in front of us. She and her husband had very lovingly made an oasis in the dry climate. Plants, flowers and water all carefully placed and planned out, chairs and pathways in just the right places to catch the different venues of wildlife, nature and views.<br />
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We talked about our lives, where we'd lived, our families, our coming to know Christ. We talked about our love for the area and for nature. And we talked about how dear it is to have such a great fellowship of Christian friends here in the middle of this spiritually arid climate of secular society. That doesn't just happen and it is more and more dear, the older I get. I realized that has to be carefully and lovingly cultivated as well. It takes spending time together, just sitting together in the quiet evening, chatting about life or in each others' homes learning to better handle the Word of Truth.<br />
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As darkness came, her solar lighting came on and the landscaping made it's own little island of glowing lights. I realized it was time to drive back home. The mountain road seemed endless in the pitch black night (oh, I dislike driving by myself at night) and I was never so glad to see the main highway and know I was back to other people, to streetlights and the sure way home.<br />
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I feel the same way about our little church here, so blessed to have this community in this culturally arid climate. We need the rain, so the land will flourish again. It's nice to be in an oasis of life to enjoy when the land is so starved and dry. It's a vivid picture to me of what else we're missing....God's Word and Spirit to flow out of the oasis, so the dry souls will flourish too.<br />
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God, bless the land with rain, but most of all, bless the people here. The fires are ravaging the land, but the enemy is ravaging the people with false beliefs and sin. Send refreshing showers and the life-giving nourishment of Your Truth. Let Your love flow through Your servants like rain blesses a dry land.....<br />
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<br />cricklhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15898815306124652046noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6616413115189257130.post-60002181692172078562013-05-22T22:49:00.002-07:002013-05-22T23:06:38.830-07:00God help us after the stormsIt's the time of year for dust devils. This past week I've seen dozens of them on the horizon as we drive along. Tall funnels of dust and debri towering up into the sky. <br />
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The wind here can be strong in the spring. I often have to put my folding camp chairs back upright when I go outside. Once when Maggie and I were waiting in the car for Charles at the gas company I pointed out about 70 tumbleweeds piled up on their chain link fence, frozen in mid-tumble. She looked at them and asked, "Those are tumbleweeds?" and at that moment the wind shifted and those tumbleweeds all came tumbling at us like a stampeding herd. We both squealed because it was startling and funny. For about 30 seconds it seemed like we were being attacked by them, barreling at us and scratching on the car. <br />
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Today the wind just seemed like a very bad memory, knowing what damage it caused across the middle of the United States.<br />
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Then this morning my husband got an email from someone who just moved from this area. His former neighbor's son had just died. Charles met him briefly while helping this friend pack his truck for the move, so he felt compelled to minister to him. As we drove out to their house in the next town over, he explained to me what had happened. The man's grown son had been helping roof another neighbor's house when a gust of wind lifted the roof off beneath him and hurled him down. He was found in the rubble 300 feet away.<br />
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That was on Monday, the same day as the Moore, Oklahoma tornado.<br />
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Today was calm, sunny, and peaceful. No one answered the door of the house, although the driveway was filled with cars and trucks. The wind whipped around the house.... they were probably in the back having lunch and didn't hear the knocking. So Charles left a sympathy card with his phone number on the porch, held there with a large rock so the wind wouldn't steal it away. <br />
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Dust devils spiraled up on the open fields. I counted 8-10 of them on the way back home. I had no fascination for them today, only sadness.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span class="text 1Kgs-19-11" id="en-NLT-9375">“Go out and stand before me on the mountain,” the <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span> told him. And as Elijah stood there, the <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span> passed by, and a mighty windstorm hit the mountain. It was such a terrible blast that the rocks were torn loose, but the <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span> was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span> was not in the earthquake.</span> <span class="text 1Kgs-19-12" id="en-NLT-9376">And after the earthquake there was a fire, but the <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span> was not in the fire. And after the fire there was the sound of a gentle whisper. 1 Kings 19:11-12</span></blockquote>
After the wind blows through and the violence of the storm is over, God is there in the gentle whisper, in the aftermath while we are standing there disheveled and bewildered, quiet and solemn.<br />
He is there. God help us in the wake of the storms. <br />
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<br />cricklhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15898815306124652046noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6616413115189257130.post-40860155913295918952013-05-14T22:57:00.000-07:002013-05-14T22:57:02.421-07:00...that we may live peaceful and quiet livesWe are getting more used to the slower pace of life here. It's nice.<br />
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My neck spasms are noticeably less. The last 2 years have been stressful in both good and hard ways. About a year ago I woke up and could not move my neck without extreme pain. Gradually it got better, but it is now my body's go-to stress reaction for my neck to clench and muscles spasm. I don't have to take Advil until later in the day now, although I don't think I'm down to not taking <i>any</i> yet.<br />
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We are doing a lot of getting to know people and getting to know the area. I am taking lots of pictures so I got an Instagram account so that my family in Phoenix can see what we're doing here. Follow the adventure <a href="http://instagram.com/cricklsnest#" target="_blank">here</a>. It's a fun way to keep connected.<br />
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The link for Instagram is also in my side bar. <br />
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There is so much to be said for a quiet and peaceful life. I know it's not going to always be so peaceful and quiet here, but it seems to be the general state so far. :)<br />
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<br />cricklhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15898815306124652046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6616413115189257130.post-28677723232415085252013-04-30T10:54:00.002-07:002013-04-30T11:05:21.333-07:00Yard life<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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We have spent time lately out on our little deck by a big juniper tree. The songbirds here are all over the place, so we've been watching them. (and they watch us) So one day Charles got out his iphone and opened an application from Audubon Guides called Birds.<br />
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He started trying to figure out what kinds of birds we had in the trees around us by finding their calls. He would play the call and soon we noticed the calls around us were closer and closer. We were being closely monitored with fly-by agents and reconnaissance spies in the branches around us. It was hilarious, but I had to be quiet because it was so much fun.<br />
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The Mountain Chickadee answers back when you imitate and the Juniper Titmouse came right up to us, within 3 feet of our chairs to investigate, a look of shock to see what weird birds we were. I was holding Maisy in my lap and she just trembled with anticipation of what that bird would do as they locked eyes with each other. Then he abruptly flew off. Maisy just sighed. No one wants to be her friend. ;)<br />
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And that's the news from the animal kingdom here.<br />
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P.S.<br />
Charles did find a snake in the front yard yesterday. It was shortish and brown but had no rattle, so he let it slither off to eat gophers.<br />
(I am shamelessly cheering him on in that) cricklhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15898815306124652046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6616413115189257130.post-25870471754726848952013-04-26T13:17:00.002-07:002013-04-26T13:17:59.621-07:00Divine encounterAbout 6 years ago my husband, Charles, flew to Oklahoma City to pick up a car his brother wanted our daughter Bethany to have. He visited for a day or two and then started the drive back. And around Albuquerque he began to realize this car was not going to make it back to Phoenix. In fact, it died....cracked head gasket (whatever that is, I don't usually ask). He called home to tell me he was spending the night in Albuquerque with a friend of a friend. He just happened to make the connection because he called our friend Dave to ask car advice. Dave called his friend in that city and the friend dropped everything to come and rescue my husband.<br />
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He not only gave him a ride. He arranged for towing, invited Charles back to stay at his family home for the night and fed him dinner. I remember Charles saying they were people you felt like you've always known, so friendly, hospitable and kind. The next morning Dave came from Arizona to help Charles tow the car back home but he always remembered this friend of Dave's who had come to his rescue. He said he wanted to find him and invite him to dinner and to visit our new church once we moved here to Albuquerque.<br />
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You never know Who is listening when you say things like that.... ;)<br />
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The other day we went to switch to New Mexico driver's licenses. We thought it would be quick and easy, but they require you bring documents to prove your residency and also your social security cards. As we headed away from the window, the woman helping us happened to mention that if our social security cards were laminated, they would not accept them. Ehnn, yeah, about that. Years ago we did laminate them before seeing the instructions not to on the back side. So she said we had to go to the social security office and get new ones. Sssssigh...<br />
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This was our mission this morning. We headed out with our passports, old social security cards, birth certificates, etc. We did not want to be turned away because we didn't have the right documents. I had no idea this was such a big deal. As we headed in to the office, there was a security check point, metal detector and 4 police officers checking us out. Then we entered a room of about 50 people sitting in plastic chairs, waiting for their number to be called to talk to someone about their social security needs. It did not look like fun. Drat those laminating machines! <br />
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We waited to be checked in and given a number so that we could wait some more. But when we got to the front of the line, Charles beamed and called out his old friend of a friend's name. He was the one checking people in! We were all just smiling and thinking it was an amazing <i>chance </i>meeting. He and Charles had a wonderful few moments of connecting again. Then, just as amazing, he said he would get us to a window right away so we wouldn't have to wait in those plastic chairs with those 50 other people and then shuttled us to the next window.<br />
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I usually don't like to take cuts, but boy oh boy....that was meant to be and we appreciated it so much. The woman helping us had us out of there in about 5 minutes. And the old friend assured us he would come visit the church in a week and come to dinner with us afterwards.<br />
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Maybe....instead of that friend being there to cut us a break, we were probably the ones who he needed to connect with. I hope he comes to our little church and finds out what God is doing in his life. <br />
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Very cool morning. You never know what a day will hold, do you?<br />
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<br />cricklhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15898815306124652046noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6616413115189257130.post-1137467208676451232013-04-15T20:03:00.002-07:002013-04-15T20:03:41.644-07:00Moving DayWell...I had a few What. Are. We. Doing!? moments this morning but once we rolled out of the driveway I was fine. Leaving our kids behind was a strange moment. Leaving didn't feel real until we were in the highway and a certain John Denver song came on. (When driving Charles' truck you have to listen to his CDs) He was singing,<br />
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Friends, I will remember you<br />
Think of you<br />
Pray for you<br />
And when another day is through<br />
I'll still be friends with you.<br />
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I started thinking about our time here and realized we have invested more of our hearts here than anywhere else. There has been flooooods of water under this bridge, folks. So many things we got to do, things we got to witness in people's lives, and best of all, so many dear, dear friends we've collected here. It's a beautiful collection. I could barely stop hugging some of them this morning when we were trying to leave.<br />
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Charles said this past week that part of leaving well is saying good-bye well. I hope we did. We love our friends and family here.<br />
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I will try to update after we arrive in our new location, but we won't have Internet until at least Thursday and trying to type well on Charles' iPhone is making me nutsy!<br />
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On to new things...cricklhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15898815306124652046noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6616413115189257130.post-16898803686736678992013-04-06T20:06:00.001-07:002013-04-06T20:06:49.095-07:00One more weekSince Easter we have been in full on packing, sorting and pitching out mode.<br />
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We've also been to a different person's home or taken out to eat each day since then.<br />
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We have one more week in Phoenix before moving to Albuquerque. <br />
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It is getting sad to think of leaving our dear family and friends here, so I probably won't be posting much unless there is something encouraging to share. I mean, it's all been encouraging, just hard....kind of the same processing, over and over, with each group or family. And that's okay, this is part of it and we want to do it well.<br />
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Tonight we went to our future son in law's parents' home. They had family in from out of town and one of their daughters is expecting a baby, so it was a fun, happy night. They are Romanian and it's a very family upon family affectionate and close bond when they all get together. We were blessed to be a part of it.<br />
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<br />cricklhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15898815306124652046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6616413115189257130.post-70090540813565542452013-03-30T23:55:00.000-07:002013-03-30T23:55:39.218-07:00New Life....and candy! The Easter bunny was put out tonight because all appropriate baskets for treats have been packed. So we have 2 semi-appropriate baskets and one Christmas basket to offer him.<br />
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Happy Easter everyone!</div>
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Celebrate the new life we have in Christ </div>
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because He was victorious over death.</div>
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span class="text Rom-6-8" id="en-NLT-28038"><sup class="versenum"> </sup>And since we died with Christ, we know we will also live with him.</span> <span class="text Rom-6-9" id="en-NLT-28039"><sup class="versenum"> </sup></span><br />
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<span class="text Rom-6-9" id="en-NLT-28039"><sup class="versenum"> </sup>We
are sure of this because Christ was raised from the dead, and he will
never die again. Death no longer has any power over him.</span> <span class="text Rom-6-10" id="en-NLT-28040"><sup class="versenum"> </sup>When he died, he died once to break the power of sin. But now that he lives, he lives for the glory of God.</span> <span class="text Rom-6-11" id="en-NLT-28041"><sup class="versenum"> </sup> </span><br />
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<span class="text Rom-6-11" id="en-NLT-28041">So you also should consider yourselves to be dead to the power of sin and alive to God through Christ Jesus. ~Romans 6:8-11</span></blockquote>
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cricklhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15898815306124652046noreply@blogger.com0