Here I sit with...

bags of frames at my feet, frames holding pictures of our church's global partners and maps of their areas of ministry

a small, white, empty plate (save a few strawberry Pop-Tart crumbs)

my hair in a ponytail

my eyes on the screen

a crick in my shoulder

the drip of the faucet in my ears

Les Mis' "One Day More" playing through my speakers

the thought that I need to do the dishes

delight from getting Roald Dahl's Esio Trot from a used bookstore using our store credit

questions: Should I take our unwanted books back to Glendale tomorrow?  Where will I get new frames for church?  Will my hair and face cooperate for church staff pictures on Wednesday?

gratitude for a new assistant job at this school

Les Mis again (how about "Stars" this time)

the thought that I really do need to do the dishes...

Around the web 4

Here are some links I've enjoyed recently:

Believing That Which Is Hard To Believe by Mike Gaston, small group and outreach pastor at Grace Baptist
"Wouldn't it be arrogant of me to assume that God would only do that which I am capable of understanding?"

My Dad's Impromptu Challenge by Nancy Leigh DeMoss
Ever thought of making 50-year goals?

Listening to Young Atheists: Lessons for a Stronger Christianity by Larry Alex Taunton for The Atlantic
This just in (okay, it's old news), but Christian youth turn from the church when they sense that the teaching is neither genuine nor able to answer their tough questions.  Interesting study.

How to Read a Book by The Art of Manliness
I haven't read this article yet, but I plan to soon!

Crockpot Peach Chipotle Chicken at thefrugalgirls.com
This recipe was just for inspiration.  I made peach preserves and mixed it with a little bit of honey barbecue sauce, onions, and bell peppers.  We ate it over grilled chicken breasts with brown and white rice, green beans, and avocado.  It was really good.

Song of the week by Michael Buble': It's a Beautiful Day

And a funny video that Danielle showed me on Monday, when I invited myself over to her house:
Cat Jump Fail with Music

Les Miserables

Amos and I went and saw Les Mis on Saturday, and the music is just beautiful.  I'm a little slow to jump on the bandwagon, but that's okay.

Here are YouTube links to two of my favorite songs from the movie.  I saw an offer for a free $2.00 MP3 credit for amazon.com, so I used it to buy these two songs. :)  Hopefully more credits will come along so that I can get the rest of the album. :)

I Dreamed a Dream - So sad. I'm so thankful that I don't have Fantine's life, though I know that many women around the world do.

In My Life/A Heart Full of Love - Amos thinks this song is ridiculous, but I like it. :)

Here is a blogpost on Les Miserables that I thought was excellent!  My friend Grace Wheeler (from the "Snowsemite" weekend) posted it on Facebook.  (Amos and I personally thought that Russell Crowe sang very well, though he didn't sound evil or scary or anything...but this blogpost address the lack of "scary" in his voice very well, I think.)

Young, Hugo, Lewis, and Adams

I like this song by Adam Young, aka Owl City, for the Disney movie Wreck It Ralph.  The music video is kind of weird/cheesy, but I like the song.

I love books.  I'm about 200 pages into Les Miserables by Victor Hugo, and I have 1,060ish pages to go!  I'm reading it for a few reasons.
1. A new theatrical version is coming out in a few weeks.
2. Several of my friends have seen a play version of the story and/or love the music.
3. The discipline of reading a long loooooooooooooong book is good for me as a reader and as a person.
4. I want to be able to say that I've read the unabridged version. ;)

I'm almost done with Surprised by Joy: The Shape of My Early Life by C.S. Lewis.  I like it a lot.  Here is one quote that really stuck out to me.

"What I like about experience is that it is such an honest thing.  You may take any number of wrong turnings; but keep your eyes open and you will not be allowed to go very far before the warning signs appear.  You may have deceived yourself, but experience is not trying to deceive you.  The universe rings true wherever you fairly test it."

This reminds me of a quote from one of my teacher ed professors.  Dr. Adams never married, even though she wanted to.  She is now set to retire this spring, and Master's will have a hard time replacing her.  She taught a few seminar and credential classes as well as the intense-but-fun class known as Children's Lit.  She has a hundreds of children's books in her office. *sigh*

One year Dr. Adams spoke in a women's chapel about...something?  I think it was about trusting God with your life; I'm not sure.  Though I can't remember the exact topic, I do remember one exact sentence.

"God isn't going to let you unknowingly ruin your life."

This is very encouraging, and I think it goes along with C.S. Lewis' quote.  God will not let me unknowingly ruin my life.  He is a loving God, so He will use circumstances, people, His Word, and my conscience to show me the right way to go.  Even when I am confused, God is on my side.  He won't let me accidentally ruin my future.

Around the web...again...

Well, here's the third installment of "around the web"!

The Flight From Conversation
This interesting article was posted by my friend Ryan Heathers on Facebook as well as by Tim Challies on his blog.

Of "Dad Moms" and "Man Fails": An Essay on Men and Awesomeness
This came from the on-line version of the Journal of Biblical Manhood and Womanhood.  Thought-provoking, especially the paragraphs under "A Better Way..." and the conclusion.

"Dementia" by Owl City, featuring Mark Hoppus
Song of the week!  The new Owl City album comes out this summer and I'm soooooo excited!

Prodigal Magazine
A Christian e-magazine.  I haven't read a lot of the articles on this site, but they seem to be pretty good...

Homemade Soft Pretzels
If I had known pretzels were this easy to make, I would have made them a long time ago!

Seven Ways To Pray for Your Prayer Life
This could be useful to most of us... ;)

Around the web...

I hesitate to say this, but I'm considering doing a weekly post with links that you can follow to good YouTube videos, my song of the week, thought-provoking articles, etc.

We will see if I keep it up...

Here we go!

Unexpected Joy via challies.com
I needed more than one tissue after I watched this.  What a comfort Jesus can be when life takes an unexpected turn.  What a sweet little boy who is helping his family become more like Jesus. Biological brothers + adopted brothers + a handicapped brother + fierce joy and hope =  tears.

Oh Happiness! by the David Crowder Band
Oh happiness!  There's grace enough for us and the whole human race!

Rescued via Amos via challies.com again
As a former-foster-never-adopted-child-now-apostate-adult told me one time, adoption into a Christian family doesn't mean that the adopted kids will get saved.  (I wonder if that person reads my blog...)
But I say, those kids definitely will be exposed to the Gospel, if the parents are living a faithful life and loving their kids.

Behold Our God by Sovereign Grace
Behold our God seated on His throne!  Come let us adore Him!

Christian Ministry in the Shadow of the Mosque [with video] via albertmohler.com
I watched this video last week while stuffing bulletins for church.  I learned some new things about Islam as well as heard ways to love Muslims in the United States.  I don't know any Muslims personally, but it was good to have my way of thinking challenged; I must be an American Christian, never a Christian American.

Ranch Dressing II Recipe via allrecipes.com
I made this recipe with few small changes (1/2 cup buttermilk, 1/2 cup mayonnaise, and 1/2 cup plain yogurt; a little more garlic and onion powder).  It tastes pretty good so far!  It needs to sit in the fridge for a while so all the flavors can "mingle."

God Is Able

I love this song by Hillsong.

There is one line that says,
"God is with us, God is on our side..."

I thought, "That is awfully presumptuous, that God is on our side.  What if we are in sin?  Who am I to assume that God is on my side?  I'm a human, so I could be doing the wrong thing even when I believe it is right."

Then I realized, God is on our side because even in the midst of sin, there is no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1).  He will work everything, even our backsliding and bad situations, for our good and His glory.

God is for us; God is on our side.  For our good always.  Deuteronomy 6-8

Just stuff...

1. We sang this song from Sovereign Grace in church today.  I am a big fan of Sovereign Grace music as it takes lyrics from both Puritan prayers and the Bible.

2. My brother Scott and sister-in-law Ashley are waiting to adopt a little baby from Uganda.  My old IBEX friend Nate and his wife Miriam have been waiting over two years to adopt two babies from Rwanda.  Gunner and his wife Cindi adopted one little boy from Uganda several years ago and two boys and one girl from Rwanda this summer.  Please pray that Scott and Ashley's baby and Nate and Miriam's babies come home soon.

3. I don't know what to do with my free time sometimes, but I feel like I should DO something with it... *sigh*

4. In other news, Christmas is only a month away!  As our pastor said today, "we set apart the days to celebrate the birth of our Savior."  Our Savior; the Muslims' Savior; the Hindus' Savior; the atheists' Savior; your Savior; my Savior.

Beloved

I love this song.  I found it on my Pandora internet radio station, and I've played it over ten times today.

When I think of this song, I think of the book of Hosea, one of the many books in which God calls unfaithful Israel to return from her infidelity.  I also think of the Church, which isn't perfect but is the bride of Christ.  Finally I think of myself, who struggles to keep God at the forefront of my mind, who struggles to remember I can't and don't have to be perfect, who struggles to believe and remember that God loves and delights in me.  Sometimes I don't like being a perfectionist.

I am thankful for this song.  The lyrics are below, and if you click on the title, you can listen to this song on YouTube.

Beloved
by Tenth Avenue North

Love of My life
Look deep in My eyes
There you will find what you need
And give Me your life
The lust and the lies
The past you're afraid I might see
You've been running away from Me

You're My beloved
Lover, I'm yours
Death shall not part us
It's you I died for
For better or worse
Forever we'll be
My love, it unites us
And it binds you to Me
It's a mystery

Love of My life
Look deep in My eyes
There you will find what you need
I'm the Giver of life
I'll clothe you in white
My immaculate bride you will be
Oh, come running home to Me

You're My beloved

Lover, I'm yours

Death shall not part us

It's you I died for

For better or worse

Forever we'll be

My love, it unites us

And it binds you to Me

You've been a mistress, My wife

You're chasing lovers that won't satisfy

Won't you let Me make you My bride

You will drink of My lips

And you'll taste new life

You're My beloved

Lover, I'm yours

Death shall not part us

It's you I died for

For better or worse

Forever we'll be

My love, it unites us

And it binds you to Me

It's a mystery

"New updates are now available"

Well, it's a lazy Sunday afternoon here.  This morning Kat and I met Amos at church, then we all came back to my apartment, talked for a while, and had smoothies.  Kat headed off to hang out with Jess, and Amos and I had lunch.  Amos went home for a nap (he's working an overnight shift tonight), and the Michelles and I watched a movie and took naps on our couches. :)  The Michelles are still sleeping, but I'm writing a blog post and listening to some Michael Buble' through my headphones.  I've found that I like listening to music through my headphones sometimes; the sound is fuller than when I just play music from my computer speakers.  Maybe I should borrow Amos' really nice, Sony headphones sometime... ;)  I also just realized that if I use my headphones, I can listen to a song as many times as I want to without driving my roommates crazy! (Hmmmmm, I think this is the twelfth time I've listened to this song?  Or maybe the thirteenth?)
The picture above is from a few nights ago.  It's been hot here in SoCal, but we had huge, beautiful white clouds for about a week.  In the last few days we've also had random showers and thunderstorms.  Unfortunately I missed the thunderstorms; they happened around 3:00 in the morning, so maybe it's good I missed them!  I loved the clouds, though.
I'm finished with my consistent subbing now.  My last day of testing was on Thursday, and then I had a regular sub job on Friday.  I talked to a long-term substitute teacher on Friday and got some good ideas for how to get more sub jobs and/or a long-term sub job, so I have to implement those ideas now!  I'm so thankful that I got to do CELDT testing for a month!  Out of the last twenty-fours days I was available to sub either as a CELDT tester or as a regular sub, I actually worked twenty-one!!!  I also just finished teaching a three-hour SAT class on Saturdays.  I hope my students do well next Saturday when they take the test.  Wow, I have been busy!  Please pray that I'll continue to get work in the coming months.  Right now the only fersure (like my new word?!) job I have is two hours of tutoring per week.  However, I am getting paid in a week for my sub jobs and then in two weeks for my previous tutoring.
In other news, I'm headed home on Thursday to get a haircut and to watch the little kids for a few days.  Mom and Dad need a break and are paying for my plane ticket home for the weekend.  I'm glad I get to fly up because I'd much rather spend an hour in a plane than six hours in a car!  Yes, I will be driving a minivan, making dinner, hanging out with my cute brothers and sisters, recording hilarious quotes, making sure everyone gets to church on time, and cleaning for a few days.  We'll see how that goes.
While I'm gone, Amos is going on a mission trip to Mexico!  A team from our church is headed south of the border to build a house for a poor family.  The house was constructed in pieces yesterday and will be carted down and assembled by a crew from our church.  Amos is one of three or four guys going, so hopefully there are some burly women going, too!
Anyway, that's just a little bit of what has been going on down here.
Life is hard at times, but God is good.

Update: The music sounds REALLY good in Amos' headphones. :)