Alright, everyone! Are you happy?

So, awhile ago, Janel challenged me to write a post of ten things that are either wierd or just little known facts about me. I know, you're all thinking, "How can she pick just ten?" but I assure you, I had a little trouble thinking of strange things no one knows. Most of my eccentricities are well-known, indeed, unconcealable (is that a word? it is now)! So here goes:
1. I have been known to enjoy eating my rice with mustard on it.
2. In an amazing twist of Providence, I too have freckles on my toes! Well, just one on the big toe of my left foot.
3. I jump really easily, even when I'm not really scared or startled.
4. My family used to called me "Weese McGeese" and "Weesie." (Ok, they still do, but generally not in public!)
5. I have a little necklace an angel gave me when I was born. Actually, it's a little freckle that's right in the groove of my collarbone, so it looks kinda like on of those "invisible necklaces" that used to be all the rage.
6. My dance teacher once told me I had beautiful feet, much to my surprise, as I had felt a bit awkward presenting her with my broad size-nines at first. And no, she was not referring to the fact that I am a carrier of good news.
7. When I was younger (about twelve or so), I read over one hundred books in a single summer. It was during this time that I came to be on first-name basis with the staff at the Ferndale library...
8. I still play dress-up.
9. When I'm embarrassed, I smile. The more embarrassed I am, the bigger the smile.
10. If I were a superhero, I'd choose to be able to fly. And I would never, never, never wear spandex. I can honestly sing with Larry the Cucumber, "...I don't look good in leggings..." I mean, really. Who does?

Ok? I posted something! See you next month.

Sunday Morning Discussion

So, God and I had an interesting conversation during the introduction to my pastor’s very good, but completely unrelated message. Here’s how it went.
Lisa: Oh, man! That woman is here again. She’s weird. I don’t think she’s quite there mentally. I hate talking to her. I know she’s lonely and she needs You and she needs love, but I don’t want to!
God: Lisa, you absolutely may not pick and choose who you are going to love.
Lisa (whining): But I don’t like it! It’s uncomfortable, it’s difficult, it’s not fun!
God: You know that’s not true. Remember how awesome Monday was when you focused on serving? When have you felt happiest, most content, most filled to overflowing with joy? That’s right. It is when you are least concerned with getting these very things for yourself, least concerned with yourself at all, when you are sacrificing your comfort for that of others and your interests for Mine. Is it enough that I asked you to do it?
And Lisa didn’t say anything. She just tried her hardest to obey. And He was right.
Then, when I got home, I was reading a good book by Eric Ludy and I read, “From the outside, it would appear that a life of sacrifice is a life of discomfort and pain. But actually, a life of sacrifice is a life of matchless satisfaction and exhilaration. To go where our King goes and do what our King is doing is to forge a deep and eternal friendship with the God of the universe.”
Lately, God has been teaching me a lot about how my life cannot be lived for my enjoyment, but must be consumed in loving Him and loving others, which basically equals service. And every time I obey and cheerfully surrender my agenda and my comfort, it’s absolutely amazing. However, as my shameful part in the above conversation shows, my memory is short. But He is faithful!
Father, thanks for not giving up on me!

Much-Afraid and Me

If you've never read Hannah Hurnard's Hinds Feet on High Places, you must! It's a really good book. It's an allegory (even if you despise allegories, you should read this book. Jesus liked allegories...) for a believer's walk with God. In the story, Much-Afraid is a simple, lame shepherdess in charge of a small flock of the King's sheep. But her fearsome Fearing relatives have her completely in their power, and as their name suggests, in their power is not a very nice place to be! But every morning and every evening, Much-Afraid slips away to a crystal pool to keep tryst with the Shepherd. One day the Shepherd asks her to go with Him to the High Places. Much-Afraid protests on account of her malady. The Shepherd tells her that by going to the High Places, she will develop hinds' feet, and then He plants the seed of Love (which is very like a thorn) in her heart. The sowing is painful, but the Shepherd promises her that Love cannot come without pain, and that when the seed of Love has grown up and is ready to bloom, then He will take her up to the High Places. But it will be a long and arduous journey which she must begin at once. The Shepherd give Much-Afraid two helpers to help her on her way and to bear her up when her lameness keeps her from ascending. These helpers are sisters names Sorrow and Suffering.
Well, to hear the rest, you'll just have to read the book! I hope my little synopsis has whetted your appetite. The most special thing about the book is the relationship between Much-Afraid and the Shepherd. She is a cowardly, crippled thing, but something about her looks very familiar...
Read it!

You know what I love about Amy Carmichael? You have to read her stuff about three times before you understand it and then three more to realize what it really means. But it’s not because it’s tedious. It’s because it’s so rich! There is so much depth and wisdom in her writing. Check out this poem that’s on the back of my copy of her book If:

Love through me, Love of God
Make me like thy clear air
Through which, unhindered, colors pass
As though it were not there.

Powers of the love of God,
Depths of the heart Divine,
O love that faileth not, break forth,
And flood this world of Thine.

‘Nough said!

Breaking Pretzel News... sorta

Guess what, everyone? The Parmesan Herb pretzel is back at Auntie Anne's after being discontinued for over two years! This discontinuance (is that the right word? Oh, well, my blog, my rules!) has not stopped people (generally Canadians) from trying to order this pretzel at least once a week, and being generally annoyed at the news that it's been gone for a matter of years. So with great anticipation, I carefully prepared myself a Parm, as per Aunt Marie's instructions, and, armed with a marinara dip, plunged into the back to make my tastebuds acquainted with the infamous Parmesan Herb pretzel....
I see why they discontinued it. Don't get me wrong, it's not bad, and I did enjoy it, but there are others I like better. So much for that great moment of triumph. Tune in again next week.