Further thoughts on "Plan B"

Continuing thoughts from the previous post regarding the fact that the Father has no “Plan B” circumstances for us... I think the challenge in living as if we believe in the Father's sovereign plan can be fighting for faith to believe Him. My thoughts drifted back to a recent message the pastor of my church preached a couple of weeks ago. In the sermon he explained the faith that Christ marveled at when he saw (what an amazing faith if Christ marveled when he saw it!!). He also went on to give the following 3 foundational truths that must buttress or under gird our faith, including faith in God’s sovereign “Plan A” for us:

1. Only God knows what is best for you… even better than you know yourself what is best for you.
2. Only God can give you what is best for you; no one can provide for you better than God (Phil 4:19)
3. God only wants to give you the best… (Psalm 84:11-12) God gives us the best because he gives us himself!

So I say, ask for grace and fight for faith to believe these truths about the Father!

"Plan B"

I went to church yesterday in Nashville at Crosspoint Community Church where they are currently in the middle of a sermon series entitled “Plan B.” Unexpectedly, God had a powerful little reminder for my soul as a result of this and I share it in hopes that it will encourage you as well. Simply stated: God doesn’t have any “Plan B” situations for our lives. Our circumstances are always exactly, sovereignly ordained as He planned so the end result is that God gets the greatest glory and we get the greatest joy. Now I will be the first to admit that sometimes our circumstances don’t appear to be laden with joy, so what is our greatest joy in these times? It has to be getting more of God as we live on him in dependence. It has to be seeing Him a little clearer than we did before. It has to be fellowship with God, through Christ, in a way we previously couldn't comprehend. And as we begin to experience our great God, who indeed is big enough to field all of our questions and confusion about our current circumstances, we fall in love with him all over again and we desire to live our life in pursuit of this great God. Therefore, any circumstance where I find the Father has placed me to bring about these things absolutely has to be his “Plan A.” So, I’m learning to, by His grace, stifle rebellion that sometimes lays wait in the recesses of my soul, surrender my “Plan A” and joyfully embrace God’s “Plan A.” After all doesn’t the Father always know best?

Fun times and Fabulous Friends

Nashville is a wonderful city and major props to their race director for putting on such a great race for 30,000 runners! Saturday morning started out a bit rainy but by the time I made it to the start line (45 minutes after the gun time!!) the rain had moved on and the temperature was slightly cool, which translates into absolutely perfect weather for running. By the time I had completed the 13.1 mile run the sun was just beginning to peak out from behind the clouds and give great hope for what turned out to be an absolutely beautiful day!

Part of the fun in running an race is the great post race food! My great friend (and college roommate) suggested we go chow down on the best burger in Nashville... she wasn't kidding! If you are ever in Nashville you must add Rotiers to your list of places to go. This little hole in the wall resturant produced the cheeseburger that inspired Jimmy Buffet's Cheeseburger in Paradise and once you've had one you will understand why! The hamburger on French bread was amzing but the grilled cheeseburger is to die for! Think grilled cheese sandwich meets hamburger... mmm....

Perhaps one of the best parts about the whole weekend was being able to hang out with my fabulous college roommate (and her amazing family! :), Laura, who recently accepted a position at Vanderbilt and moved back to Nashville. There is something to be said for the blessing of old friends and the ability to "pick up right where you left off" no matter how long it has been since you've actually seen them. Thanks Laura for providing great crowd support during the race and showing me around Nashvegas, local style! I can't wait to go back!

Lay it ALL upon Christ

"Lay all your loads and your weights by faith upon Christ. Ease yourself, and let him bear all. He can, he does, he will bear you." -Samuel Rutherford The Loveliness of Christ

weather

Today is one of those absolutely beautiful days where you wish you could blow off your job (if you sit at a desk in an office with NO windows remotely close to your desk, as I do) and be outside all day. However, since I am attempting to be a responsible adult, I will not do this. Therefore, riding around the city running errands on my lunch hour with my windows down will have to suffice.

On a related note, I am praying that the predicted weather for Saturday in Nashville will not be a reality... at least the rain part. Running the Country Music 1/2 Marathon in the rain when it will, in all likelihood, end up being very humid might not be optimal! However, Nashville puts on a great race and so I'm sure Saturday's race will surpass my expectations, regardless of the weather!

more progress on the house...

Well, I figured it was time for an update on the house. I can now report that the only remaining "room" yet to be painted in my house is in fact the upstairs hallway. Thanks to Emily Blanchard and Kelly Rodgers my bedroom is now completely painted (including both closets which I painted this weekend); thanks guys! I now officially have a new refrigerator and am slowly accumulating furniture. Enjoy the following recent pics!

Just so you know...

Picture 1: New kitchen table and chairs (pub height)

Picture 2: Kitchen with the new fridge

Picture 3: Antique desk from my aunt in the "entryway" area

Picture 4: Upstairs bathroom

Picture 5: Bedroom with a very fresh coat of paint!

Trouble Christ until He fills you...

"There is as much in our Lord's pantry as will satisfy all his children, and as much wine in his cellar as will quench all their thirst. Hunger on; for there is meat in hunger for Christ: go never from him, but trouble him (who yet is pleased with the importunity* of hungry souls) with a dishful of hungry desires, till he fill you; and if he delay yet come not ye away, albeit ye should fall faint at his feet." -Samuel Rutherford The Loveliness of Christ

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*Importunity means 'persistence in solicitation' or 'an insistent or pressing demand.'

Pike's Place

I am a firm believer that far too many Americans spend far too much of their monthly cash flow at Starbucks on things like venti white chocolate mochas with soy milk and an extra double shot of espresso (that will be $12.73 please…). For some, if they cut their monthly Starbucks runs by 25% they could probably support a small third world country in addition to loosing about 5 pounds. Maybe the elimination of Starbucks could single-handedly pull America up from the negative personal savings rate it currently has (this time last year it stood around -0.5%, meaning most Americans spent more than they made… surprise). Contrary to your perception about how I might feel regarding Starbucks, I do stop in every so often and enjoy a tall coffee of whatever variety happens to be brewing. Yesterday I stopped in twice to enjoy a tall cup of the newest blend of coffee Starbucks has to offer, Pike Place. I must report that I liked it quite well. I must note that the reason I stopped in twice yesterday is because I have this promotional offer coupon (which Starbucks NEVER has) where you can get a free tall Pike Place blend coffee every Wednesday from now until the end of May. Exciting! Free coffee! The Pike Place blend is very good, for you coffee connoisseurs. Starbucks touts that it has a “smoother finish and subtle flavor of cocoa and toasted nuts.” I would highly suggest you try it… just think about that small third world country as you are standing in line for you 4th cup. Enjoy!

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Might I also mention that: (1) Exxon has great, inexpensive coffee, and (2) If you are looking for an excellent coffee to make at your home to get you going in the morning, Ugly Mug has to be the absolute best!

17%?!?! you have to be kidding me!

I have to admit that while I have paid attention to politics both locally and nationally for a while, as a homeowner, I now have an even greater vested interest in local politics. So, when our city's wonderful mayor (note the sarcasm) called for a 17% property tax increase yesterday it really got my attention. The question I have for Mr. Mayor is, why do I have to alter my personal budget to compensate for your administration’s inability to keep our city's budget in check? In all fairness, I understand that times change, inflation is at times imminent, and small increases in taxes on occasion can be warranted, however the question still remains, 17%?!?!?!? In one year?!?!? Insane!

Adoption

My small group from my church is reading an absolutely wonderful book by John Owen called Communion with God. The chapter we discussed last Sunday night centered on our adoption as believers into the family of God, by the great work of Christ, and the great privileges we are now entitled to because of this adoption. Owen explains how this great work of adoption has its source in the love of the Father and how "Adoption is the authoritative transfer of a believer, by Jesus Christ, from the family of the world and Satan into the family of God with his being admitted into all the privileges and advantages of that family." The similarities that exist between our heavenly adoption and the earthly adoption of a child into a new family is quite evident and serve as a beautiful picture of what the Father has done on our behalf. Our adoption into the kingdom of God is a great miracle which we have no part in. It is indeed a miracle that God sees fit to transfer one, so corrupted and defiled, into his pure and holy kingdom. O what manner of love is this!

What I would like to submit to you today is a beautiful picture of earthly adoption from the mother of a family that adopted one of my family's foster babies (Natalie) the early part of last year. This precious family had just completed two somewhat simultaneous adoptions (Carlos and Jeremiah) when they received a call from Life Choices saying their profile had been selected and they would be receiving their third child (Natalie). Shortly after settling into life as the parents of three young children they found out that miracle number four (Baby Ben) was on the way, from the womb of a mother that was once thought barren! Wow! What follows is her precious thoughts regarding having three adopted children and now one biological child. Praise God that when he looks at us as believers he sees us, through the blood of Christ, as his children, regardless of where we came from or how we came to him. The ONLY condition to be adopted to His family.... we come through faith in Christ. Praise God for the miracle of adoption!

Thoughts on DNA

I’ve been thinking about DNA for a few months now….wondering if it really makes that much of a difference. Does having a child who shares your DNA make that child more “yours”? Does it make you love him more? Will you feel differently about him? Will you look at him and say, “you are mine because we share DNA”. I’ve been thinking about this all during my pregnancy with Ben and I was going to write about it, but I decided to wait and see….I had an idea, a theory, but I decided to wait and see what my reality was.

When I look at each of my children I see four miracles. Miracles that only God could create. A family tapestry that only God could envision. Each of my children, Carlos, Jeremiah, Natalie and Ben are a true miracle.

When I see Carlos I see a child who endured poverty, neglect and more, but what shines out from his eyes is his radiant spirit, his tender heart and love for life. I see a little boy who jumps out of bed each morning with a zest for the day. The miracle of
Carlos is that God chose him for our family. And God provided all we needed for Carlos to come home.

When I see Jeremiah I see our first child….because he was our first child and our only child for a whopping 10 days!! I see a miracle boy who would not have survived past a month old. I see a little boy who’s personality is just like mine. He is the miracle baby we waited years to love and call our own.

When I see Natalie I see my daughter. God used the miracle of time…a very small amount of time. I never dreamed I would hold a little girl in my arms less than 10 weeks after starting the paperchase for her adoption. God’s time is always perfect….He’s never early and never late….Natalie proves that!! What a beautiful gift God granted our family in Natalie.

And when I see Ben I also see a miracle. The miracle that God knit him together perfectly in my womb. God granted us a first-born-fourth-child, something I never thought I would experience.

I heard someone say recently that they didn’t think that they could love someone else’s child as much as their own. And I couldn’t agree more. But I’m not loving someone else’s child when I look at my blessings….I’m loving my children. Yes, they joined our family in different ways, three through the miracle of adoption and one through the miracle of birth, but each belong to our family. So does DNA matter? Not to me! I love my four miracles….and they are mine for a short time on loan from God.

From: http://www.xanga.com/HouseOfSmooches

Work in Progress...

Thanks to two very gracious friends, I can now report that almost the entire downstairs of my house has a fresh (and colorful) coat of paint. Many thanks to Laura and Joel Minton (who are expert painters) for their hard work last night helping me paint. Here's the results of our progress after the evening...

For the record, the color you see in the living room is called Tobacco Road and though it has a greenish tint in the photos above it is really a beautiful khaki with a slight olive undertone--it is quite nice actually.

I must also give props to Emily Blanchard for helping me paint the cabinets (though they are not really pictured here); thanks Em!

Snowing?!?!?!?

You have to love Memphis weather: for a brief moment it was snowing this morning. In Memphis. In the middle of April. Unbelievable! It's get's better... Wednesday's weather:

A great run.

As a runner, I find that there are times when you are about halfway through a particular run when you realize that this particular run is different from most other and is in some way working like medicine or therapy for your soul. Sounds weird? Maybe to some, but it is true! Last night was one of those great runs. It was a run that wasn’t necessarily planned and it didn’t really fit into a training schedule. There was no real structure, minimum mileage or goal time for the workout. I didn’t have a running partner, a watch, or cell phone—I just ran. At times, with certain events and emotions that tend to cloud your vision and confuse your thinking, there is nothing like lacing up your running shoes and heading out the door. Leaving everything surrounding you for a few brief moments and retreating to the sound of the birds beautifully chirping after a brief thunderstorm, your shoes hitting the wet pavement in just the perfect rhythmic cadence, and the setting sun reflecting off the clouds in just the right way so as to gloriously produce a multitude of burnt orange, yellow, and red hues all across the sky can all work together to bring everything back into perspective. Being outside on a run like this reminds me there is a Creator who is far greater than I and my life is about Him. Suddenly, with this reminder, the clouds in my soul roll back (if even only for a moment) and my vision is clear again. Yes, a great run can indeed be therapy at times.

(p.s. Of course that is ME running in Fern Canyon, CA in the photo above! Right, but in reality maybe I'll add this in as a stop when I am in California in May... then it really will be me!)

I can support THIS business!

While walking through several grocery stores these days (Wal-Mart and Kroger, to name just two) you can’t help but see a display for these delicious Bolthouse Farms drinks found in your produce section—just next to the carrots, lettuce, asparagus, etc. One of my personal favorites is the ‘Perfectly Protein Vanilla Chai with Soy Protein’ Mmm… so very tasty and great for you too! It’s got a great chai taste, a hint of vanilla, and packed with 19 grams of soy protein… who knew soy protein tasted so fantastic! But what I absolutely love about these drinks is their company mission statement and corporate philosophy. Now this is a philosophy I can definitely jump on board with! Praise God for the individuals that make up corporations that publicly bring the Gospel of Jesus Christ to bear on every aspect of their world… including their business dealings.

Company Mission
"I have planted… watered... but God gave the increase." I Cor. 3:6
Corporate Philosophy
The purpose of this Company is to glorify God through our business transactions, our work, and our relationships. It is further our desire to bring honor and glory to the Name of Jesus Christ by following God's Word in all of our dealings with employees, suppliers, and customers. God's Work as contained in His Inspired Scriptures will be the final authority in all Corporate matters concerning direction, decisions, and disputes.

Only one game left...

Wow! The Memphis Tigers are only ONE game away from becoming the 2008 National Champions and by the way they have been playing all year and especially in the tournament, they surely to deserve it! They are now officially the winningest team in NCAA basketball history with a 38-1 record to date!!!

As I was out and about today I noticed exactly how much support this team has from so many people in the city. Tiger basketball has a way of bringing the city of Memphis together like little else does—and it takes a lot to bring this city together. It unites the people of this city regardless of their race, educational level, and socio-economic levels. For a few brief weeks in March and thankfully now on into April, barriers that at most times stand tall and wide come smashing down. So here’s to the Tigers, another stunning victory and a brief reprieve from all that is so divisive for our city. May the Lord give us grace to take one giant step towards making this a permanent reality.

*As an addendum to the previous post, I must note that the tattoo on Chris Douglas-Roberts right arm has been confirmed to be Psalm 37:1-3 by The Commercial Appeal (also known as “the morning publication” for any Mike Fleming fans out there) rather than the previously mentioned Psalm 57.