The way of Love....

I just started reading this book I found in my parents attic called "Secrets of an irresistible woman, smart rules for capturing his heart" by Michelle McKinney Hammond. In this book she talks about "the rules" which I'm sure some of you have read. I started reading it while I was in college, but put it down because I thought it promoted manipulation and lying. But, regardless of that there were some good advice that I'm sure we could all benefit from following. This book though, promotes God's view of how love should be which is stated in 1 cor. 13. The love chapter. It was a good reminder for me to read that again and I wanted to share it with you from the Message Bible. I think we can all benefit from a reminder of "The way of Love..."

1 Cor. 13 - Message
If I speak with human eloquence and angelic ecstasy but don't love, I'm nothing but the creaking of a rusty gate.
If I speak God's Word with power, revealing all his mysteries and making everything plain as day, and if I have faith that says to a mountain, "jump," and it jumps, but don't have love, I'm nothing.

If I give everything I own to the poor and even go to the stake to be burned as a martyr, but I don't love, I've gotten nowhere. So, no matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I'm bankrupt without love.

Love never gives up.
Love cares for more for others than for self.
Love doesn't want what it doesn't have.
Love doesn't strut,
Doesn't have a swelled head,
Doesn't force itself on others,
Isn't always "me first,"
Doesn't fly off the handle,
Doesn't keep score of the sins of others,
Doesn't revel when others grovel,
Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth,
Puts up with anything,
Trusts God always,
Always looks for the best,
Never looks back,
But keeps going to the end.

Love never dies. Inspired speech will be over some day; praying in tongues will end; understanding will reach its limit. We know only a portion of the truth, and what we say about God is always incomplete. But when the Complete arrives, our incompletes will be canceled.
When I was an infant at my mother's breast, I gurgled and cooed like any infant. When I grew up, I left those infant ways for good.
We don't yet see things clearly. We're squinting in a fog, peering through a mist. But it won't be long before the weather clears and the sun shines bright! We'll see it all then, see it all as clearly as God sees us, knowing him directly just as he knows us!
But for right now, until that completeness, we have three things to do to lead us toward that consummation: Trust steadily in God, hope unswervingly, love extravagantly. And the best of the three is love.

God is good!

Wow! I was just tremendously blessed by reading about what God just did for a friend of mine. I feel like jumping up and down in my office for him. It's exciting to see God in action. If you let Him into your life there's no limit to what He can do for you if you just let Him. It's really all about Matthew 6:25-33... ³³ But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.


Happy New Year to all!

Love thunderstorms...

there's a thunderstorm passing through town right now, the thunder is pretty powerful and I'm just enjoying my new apartment... burning some candles, listening to Gavin and all of a sudden got the urge to write some. I guess this weather is perfect for this sort of thing...

I just had an amazing weekend. Got to catch up with a friend who I haven't seen since last October, celebrated another friends birthday at Oscar's and had a great day with mom on Sunday for Mother's day. Tonight I had dinner with my roommate and my best friend at Elote, this awesome Mexican restaurant downtown. They serve all fresh, locally owned foods and I was soooo happy with the salsa :D I can't wait to go again... Tomorrow, May fest begins and I should probably walk over and check that out. Always fun to see what goes on there...

Be safe!

Ciao!

Gavin DeGraw!

It's been a while since I've been on here and for that I apologize. I've been busy getting used to being back in T-town. New job, new apartment and practically a whole new life. I'll be posting pics of the apartment soon.

Last night I, finally, got to see Gavin DeGraw in concert and it was the most amazing show ever. He is just an amazing artist. So into his music, it's just fascinating to watch him perform. If you haven't heard his new record (Free) yet, I highly recommend you get it.

The end of a chapter....

This is my last week in Fredrikstad and at my job in Oslo. I'll miss my coworkers, they are some of the greatest people ever. I have had more fun with them this year than I ever expected to have. (Stina, you better keep your promise and come visit this summer.) At the same time, I'm so thrilled to be moving back "home" to Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. Most people don't even know where that is. 15 years ago I didn't either, but I've come to love this place more than I ever thought possible. And now, after one year in Norway, and 4 months of waiting for a work visa, I'm coming home!! Yay!!!

Words have creative power....

I have been thinking a lot about words I speak and how powerful they are. Words create. Either something good or something bad. Words spoken can change the atmosphere in a room in an instant. It affects you and those around you. The words you speak today, determine where you are tomorrow.

I have not been sick one day this past year. In fact, I can't even remember the last time I was sick. I thank God for divine health every day. When other people around me (mostly people at work cause that's where I am most of the time) talk about the cold coming on or "it's winter now, so I'll probably get sick soon." All I say is, I never get sick! they do and I don't :D Praise God!! I am confident in the Lord and His principles. We believe and therefor speak. You have what you (constantly) say. You end up believing what you say if you keep saying it. Faith comes by hearing. So, what you end up believing depends on what you are listening to on a daily basis.

So, think about what you say.

God is my healer! my provider! my constant help!

what is the deal?

I don't break down, I don't really cry much. I cried today... I think, after 4 months of waiting for my visa, I had had enough and the dam broke. I have tried to keep it in, smile and say everything will be just fine. And it will. No matter the outcome, I will be OK. But it just doesn't feel like it right now.

I miss my family more than you can imagine. I miss my dog. My car. My trips to get coffee. The sun... I'm not one to feel sorry for myself and I hate it when I do. I can't stay sad very long, it just isn't who I am. And thank God for that! I do catch myself thinking sometimes though, what if...I don't get the visa? What then? What am I supposed to do? but I can't really allow myself to go there. If I do, I'm in a real emotional mess.

I don't even know how to write about this in a way that makes sense. I just need to get it out. I feel a bit better when I do and I don't think a whole lot of people read this anyway, so it's probably not that big of a deal...

What is the deal?

I'm frustrated. I want to make something happen and I can't. My hands are tied, so to speak, and I don't like it. I like to be able to do something practical, to see some progress. I don't like the not knowing part. It's very uncomfortable. I just need some feedback! Dear Lord!