An insatiable hunger to read

have you ever tasted the kind of fear that comes with the discovery of a great book?--whet your lips with the sentiment that is summed up in the potential inability to ever again find another of matched beauty, depth and influence? I have... while reading Shadow of the Almighty: The Life and Testament of Jim Elliot. with each turn of the page the pace... at which the words enter my consciousness... is lessened until I am crawling through the text... in hopes that it will never end!

yesterday God relieved me of this fruitless anxiety by allowing me to find a number of promising titles that I have not yet read. praise Him! for He truly gives food to the hungry (psalm 146).

being missional.

Your relational network is your mission field.

Mission fits into the natural rhythms of your life.

The question isn’t if you’re a missionary.

       It’s what kind of missionary are you.

(from my favorite blog by j.s.)

A Poem:

Sermons We See

Edgar Guest

I'd rather see a sermon than hear one any day;

I'd rather one should walk with me than merely tell the way.

The eye's a better pupil and more willing than the ear,

Fine counsel is confusing, but example's always clear;

And the best of all the preachers are the men who live their creeds,

For to see good put in action is what everybody needs.

I soon can learn to do it if you'll let me see it done;

I can watch your hands in action, but your tongue too fast may run.

And the lecture you deliver may be very wise and true,

But I'd rather get my lessons by observing what you do;

For I might misunderstand you and the high advise you give,

But there's no misunderstanding how you act and how you live.

When I see a deed of kindness, I am eager to be kind.

When a weaker brother stumbles and a strong man stays behind

Just to see if he can help him, then the wish grows strong in me

To become as big and thoughtful as I know that friend to be.

And all travelers can witness that the best of guides today

Is not the one who tells them, but the one who shows the way.

One good man teaches many, men believe what they behold;

One deed of kindness noticed is worth forty that are told.

Who stands with men of honor learns to hold his honor dear,

For right living speaks a language which to every one is clear.

Though an able speaker charms me with his eloquence, I say,

I'd rather see a sermon than to hear one, any day.

Joshua 1:9

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go."

I know I reference Jason Salamun's blog a ton these days, but somehow his entries seem to target me very personally. and consistently. just yesterday in my entry I wrote about how I felt like I needed courage... and again God finds a way to make sure I hear Him. from the blog:

"This quote is for the folks who have the courage to go for it.

'It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.' - Teddy Roosevelt"

call me crazy

God is sending me signs all over the place.

I've been kinda lost and directionless for a while now. so I've been praying for Him to make it plain to me what I should do. and He has. but now that God is making it clear to me where I should go, I found that what I need now is the courage and faith.

we're meant to live and be holy. you know what that means? set apart. I might look a lot different from your ordinary person, but that's how I intend to live. Jesus died to set us free. I'm going to start living that way.  truly. 

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a connection I made today: If your husband or wife had to move to another country for whatever reason, job, whatever--would you get up and follow him/her? I would. even if I had my most ideal job and environment here... I would go. because my relationship with him would come first and all else is secondary. in the same way, if God is moving in a certain place and calling me to come and join Him, I would go. everything else is secondary.