Get Ready for Explosive Growth!

So this spring, I bought a wisteria plant for my porch. The lady at Home Depot was telling me about it and one thing she said was to buy some pruning shears and to "get ready for some explosive growth!". Here's what it looked like when I bought it, about 3 months ago...


Here's what it looks like tonight as I write this!

Yes, that is a mere three months of growth! Believe it or not, I can actually look at the branches in the morning when I water them and look at it again when I get home from work and actually see that it has grown! Apparently these things can grow 10 feet in a year! It's pretty exciting. :)

And to tell you the truth, this little plant describes a lot in my life right now. I feel like there has been some "explosive growth" everywhere! God has been teaching me and stretching me in leaps and bounds...I feel "explosive" in my own personal walk, I feel this way in relationships, I feel this way in my work life, and I feel like God is moving explosively through the church and throughout the nations. Stuff is happening and I want to be a part of it!

Amy said it right last week when she said she feels like one of those little wind up toys that is all wound up and spinning it's wheels in the air and at any moment will be put on the ground and will just take off!! That's the perfect way to describe it. I'm all wound up and just waiting to be put on the ground to take off. It's a little scary because I'm don't know if I'm ready, or prepared, or good enough, or know enough...but then again I must because the Lord has put me here for a reason. And the truth is, there will be a season where I will need to be pruned back and it will probably hurt, but it will make the next season of growth even greater than the last!!

Lookout people...get ready for the explosion!

Today I will...

Sleep in till 9am...check!
Have a great chat with my Lord over coffee...check!
Healthy breakfast...check!
Clean my house, go shoe shopping, pay a few bills, and general chillage on the couch with my cat.
Excellent Sunday afternoon!

Bloggy Break

As usual this time of year, there has definitely been a post-Easter recovery phase happening in past few months...part of that includes sleeping in whenever possible, spring cleaning the disaster area that has become my apartment and my truck, catching up with friends, spring planting and porch decorating, and oh yeah, actually going outside and seeing that thing they call the sun!

Unfortunately it has not included blogging or anything else that requires more than a minimal amount of brain usage. But now I'm back and ready to tell you all about the amazing things God is doing in my life, and all the not-so-amazing dorky things I do on my own.
I don't know if anyone even reads this blog anymore but if you do stay tuned, cuz it's good to be back!

Today's the Day!

Hard hat...check
Pink tool belt...check
Freakin awesome volunteers...check
God who provides it all...check!

It's here...the day I've been working towards since last October! I can't wait to see how awesome God makes this day and this week!! Don't you dare miss the Easter services :).

T-minus 3 days...

Let me guess...we're about to go over a huge waterfall.

Yep.

Sharp rocks at the bottom?

Most likely.

Bring it on.

Is this REALLY a good idea...?

Let me start this post by saying I totally support any christian values, or any trace of morality for that matter, in today's government and courthouses and Lord help us because of the state we are in...so don't take me too seriously on this one...but just some food for thought;



...is it really a good idea to make a graven image of the 10 Commandments? ;)

Productive Weekend!

This weekend was pretty productive! I got everything done except filing taxes, cleaning the house, and buying that computer...I even made it to hometeam! Maybe I can knock the rest out Monday morning and have a fully crossed off list! Then the new to-do list for this week is 1) build build build and 2) do not stress!! If I don't get sick after Easter, it will be a whole year of health! Considering I was sick from exhaustion more weeks out of last year than I was well, that speaks volumes. And because of that...it's off to bed, big week ahead!

Today's/Tomorrow's To Do List

1. Coffee and Quiet Time
2. Get truck inspected, washed, and filled up since it was unearthed from the parent's barn yesterday.
3. Grocery Shopping
4. Catch up with class...read Leviticus, type two classes worth of notes, read commentary and handouts, catch up on journaling
5. Clean house and put away laundry (that was washed last week)
6. File taxes (that were finished but not filed last week)
7. Weekly budget/checkbook balancing
8. Buy new computer (that we've been researching/deciding on for a month)
9. Finalize talk and devotional for FC Creative Nights

So far, I've got #1-3 finished, with a brief chicken-noodle-soup break before tackling #4. However I notice an interesting pattern..God, truck, food, God, cleanliness, money, spend money, God.

Ok so maybe the truck comes before food...don't judge, at least the bookends are right. :)

Which bible character are you?

You are King David.
People like you and follow your leadership. You love deeply even though relationships can cause you great pain. You’re sensitive and just want to get along with everyone.

Hmmm...is it weird that according to this quiz, I'm a man?

Which mighty woman of the bible are you?

You are most like DEBORAH
You aren't afraid to speak your mind. You know what you want, and go for it. You are motivated, and you revel in personal victories. You are wise in many ways, and you know well, and trust the God you serve. You are courageous, and can look fear in the face. You are a victor.

Think it's true?

15 Things I Say to Myself:

(In no particular order)

1. I can't. God can.
2. (insert opinion here)...but I'm willing to be wrong about that.
3. Don't. check. your. email.
4. Lead. Love.
5. Be yourself.
6. I need coffee.
7. I am completely talentless. But for some reason God shares his ideas with me.
8. Don't be so quiet.
9. Keep going.
10. ...really?
11. My back hurts.
12. I am not getting sick, I am not getting sick.
13. That's ridiculous.
14. Think of more questions/What are you missing.
15. In case you didn't know, I am pretty amazing.

And for those of you who are about to comment, "standby please", "negative" and "10-4" were on this list but I don't really say that to myself as much as to the rest of you... :).

Momentary Silence Over With...

Ok, I lied...momentary silence over. I just finished watching the finale of "The Bachelor" and I'm disgusted by this guy. I can't NOT comment!
If you missed it, the bachelor proposed to Melissa, and in the 6 ensuing weeks since it happened in real life and since it aired on national tv, he's changed his mind and wants to pick the other girl, Molly. To back up even further, this guy has been previously divorced and was also rejected on The Bachelorette last season, making women everywhere feel bad for his little puppy dog heart.

In the 6 weeks since he proposed, he admitted talking a lot to Melissa...6 weeks he could have been a man and given her the respect of breaking up with her at home. Instead, he brought her on national tv to do it. She obviously didn't see it coming, because you could see the moment when she realized what he was about to say.

Here were some of his comments...
"I can't control what I'm feeling" and "on that day, i loved you"
I'm sorry, "on that day?" What if men everywhere tell their girlfriends when they get engaged that he loves her, but just for that day?

She responds with, "you put a ring on my finger, you told me you loved me, you told me you wanted to give me everything, but you don't want to fight for me" Amen sista. She was so right on...no wonder this guy is divorced, he turns and runs as soon as it gets a little hard because it's all about him and what he feels and nobody else. Her final words, "Don't call me, don't text me, leave me alone please". Good for her, dangitt! So many women don't have the guts to put guys in their place when they deserve it (key words: when they deserve it...there are plenty of women who put guys in their place when they don't deserve it...but that's another post for another day...) So of course he tries to give this puppy dog look as she leaves and I'm sure he genuinely feels bad, but I have no sympathy. Maybe that worked in the previous season, but no more jerkoid. He knows dang well he's in the wrong, that's why he feels bad about it.

But then I had to yell at the tv again because while she is so right, in the limo driving home she questions what she did wrong to make the relationship sour. Why do we do this?? She had the exact right attitude and even kept her grace under fire, and still can't help but question what is wrong with her. Argh...we just can't help ourselves, can we ladies.

She commented, "I can't be mad for Jason not being in love with me"...ok fair enough. But you can be mad at him for making a lifelong committment to you and then backing out after a mere 6 weeks of real life. I do suppose the upside is she didn't find out AFTER walking down the aisle.

After she left he tells the host, "I never lied to her"...maybe the truth, I don't doubt you cared for her... but not the point, igmo. I hope you don't put your kid through more divorces in his life because you're looking for a marriage that doesn't require work and makes you feel happy all the time.

What's even better, 5 minutes later he professes his love to Molly, who while confused and non-committal, is obviously happy about the situation. I hope she watches this episode tonight and sees what happened 5 minutes before her entrance and sees the truth of who this guy is. But what does he say to her? This cracked me up; "When I think about living in the moment, it's with you" In the moment? He's wanting a marriage yet cannot even commit till the end of the show. "You have to follow your heart, even though it's impacting other people. You can't control what you feel".
That's right, just do whatever you want, regardless of the impact of other people. You know what, I feel like punching you in the face right now, that will make me feel good, even though it will impact you (literally!)...I bet he'd have a slightly different opinion if somebody said that to him right now...

His last words to Molly before the end of the show, "As I sit here I can say I fell in love with you, I am falling in love with you still, and I will always be in love you with"...to that I say...bullcrap.

Momentary Pause...

Between the awesomeness of C3, the post-C3 "holy hangover", and getting ready to start building for Easter, all my energy has been used up, and any writing inspiration that might be left has been applied to school papers! But no worries, I will begin posting again shortly, I already have a couple ideas in the can! This is but a momentary pause...intermission if you will...the Crys McDonald Show will resume again shortly!

Are you ready to live?

I was reading in John 13: 31-38 this morning where Jesus predicts Peter’s denial just after washing the disciples’ feet. Verse 37 is Peter’s response, “Lord, why can’t I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you”. I found it interesting because Peter was ready to die for Jesus, but he wasn’t ready to live for him. What I mean is just a few chapters later we see him again, ready to die and willing to fight a group of soldiers single-handedly in the garden to defend Jesus, but he was not willing to wash the feet of his brothers as Jesus had done just a few minutes earlier.

As the rag-tag soldiers for Christ that we are, we are ready to fight and go into battle together, but often we can be reluctant to love and serve each other. And it’s this same passage that Jesus gives the command to no longer just love your neighbor as yourself, but love as HE has loved us. We are so willing and ready for the battle...in fact sometimes we are so full of readiness that we end up fighting with each other! But what we are not ready for is to love each other as Christ loved us, and this is where Satan knows he can divide us.

We are ready to fight the battle, we are willing to die to ourselves for Jesus. But are we ready to live for him? Are we ready to love each other in the midst of the battle?

How you know you're working like a crazy person...

You know how every time you open up a word document, it keeps count of how many you've opened and labels it something like "document4" until you save it and name it something else?
I just opened up word document #294...so I decided it was time for a lunch break.

I'm Over It

Just about every Valentines Day, you can count on me having something to say about it on this blog. Sometimes it's a girl-power, singles-can-have-just-as-much-fun-as-couples-today post, sometimes its a today-is-stupid-and-overrated post (See V-day 2007, one of my favorites!). Today, it's neither. I'm neutral. I'm Switzerland. This Saturday is just another day and to be honest, I'm not planning on doing anything different than I would normally do on a Saturday. Basically, I'm over Valentines Day.

So what if I am single on Feb 14th...what makes that different than any other day of the year? And yet somehow come every February 14th, there's that little girly part of me that thinks "maybe this year is different...maybe this year that secret admirer I didn't know existed will leave secret notes on my car and show up with a handful of flowers to take me out and sweep me off my feet..." and every year (shockingly enough) that doesn't happen, and there's just a little part of me that is disappointed.

But why? I don't have these thoughts on any other day of the year? What is so special about Feb 14th? So this year...nothing. Nothing is special about Feb 14th, it's just another day. Call me bitter or jaded or cynical if you want, but I have no need to fill a regular day with a pint of ice cream and a cheesy chick flick just because I'm single, so why Valentines Day? I do still think it's sweet for a couple to celebrate it, and I know this post would be different if I were in a relationship. But for me, this year, it's just another regular day.

I'm over it.

We never remember the compliments

For some reason, the things people say that hurt us seem to ring in our ears for years and years, and there's always just a little bit of sting left to them no matter how much time has passed. I remember so many things people have said that have hurt me, that I have taken to heart and believed as truth. I could list them off right now except I don't want to see them in writing where they will live forever. But for some reason, we never remember the compliments. And for that matter, we rarely even try to remember the compliments, while the hurtful comments seem to just magically appear in our brains.
Tonight I tried to remember special compliments I've received, and the truth is I had a hard time. Somehow it's just so much easier to believe the lies...maybe it's because I'm a woman and we're just better at it, or maybe it's human nature, or maybe the environments we typically surround ourselves in really are more negative than encouraging. Whatever it is, we could all do a better job of building each other up. Everyone needs to hear the real truth about themselves because most of the time, we won't look in the mirror and see it ourselves.

So I tried to remember some of the compliments that have always stuck out to me...not to toot my own horn by any means, but so the truth could be in writing and overcome the lies Satan uses to keep me discouraged and ineffective! So here's a couple:

*Once in college, a girl was explaining my uniqueness to me: "You are so awesome because you are 'one of the guys'; you are independent and tough and know things like how to use a jigsaw, and you could probably kick the butts of most of them here. But you are also so...so feminine, and...soft. Those two don't usually mix".

*From Ross: "Besides my mom, I've never met anyone who God spoke to so openly and clearly, and someone who obeyed him so instantly and completely." (that compliment is two-fold if you know Ross's high opinion of his mom!)

*From Amy: "If you were an inanimate object, you would be a pink hard hat. You ARE a pink hard hat!"

Today's Headlines

Today's headlines from msn.com...
"Timothy Geithner's well-greased path to confirmation as treasury secretary is a sign of the severity of the recession and congressional willingness to give President Barack Obama the benefit of the doubt and look the other way..."In more quiescent times, he would have been thrown over the side," said Ross Baker...he suggested Geithner's nomination was helped by the deepening financial crisis, initial good will toward Obama and Geithner's reputation as a financial wizard...Baker cites historical precedent from the American Civil War in the 1860s: "Abraham Lincoln was willing to overlook Ulysses S. Grant's excessive drinking because he was a brilliant war commander.""
-Ok, I can understand the Abe Lincoln argument. But Grant was not trying to reign in all the alcohol in the free world. Geithner is the Treasury Secretary, and yet did not pay all his taxes in 2001 and supposedly made the same "innocent" error the next three years in a row. Financial wizard my foot. Either he really is a financial wizard because he almost got away with it and now he's full of crap with this "innocent mistake" business, or he's some schmo who can't even handle his own taxes and now he's supposed to handle the entire country's. Either way, it ain't good folks.
I also like the part about let's give Obama the benefit of the doubt and look the other way...good way to start things off.

With the clock ticking toward the Feb. 17 deadline for TV broadcasters to shut off their analog signals and go entirely digital, analysts say more than 6.5 million households are not ready. Now Congress appears poised to postpone the transition to June — but a delay could bring its own problems. To avoid blacking out TV sets in unprepared homes next month, the Obama administration is seeking the delay to give the government more time to fix a subsidy program that has run out of money for coupons that help consumers pay for digital converter boxes for older TVs. Senate Democrats late Thursday reached a deal with skeptical Republicans on a bill to push the digital transition to June 12 — setting the stage for a vote early next week. The House is likely to move quickly after the Senate acts.
-Really? This is why the economy sucks, because you people are sitting around worried about your stinking tv! If people haven't gotten a new tv by now, it's not your problem to solve it...what's the worst that will happen? Their tv shuts down and that weekend they buy a new one. Is is a government issue for us to miss one week of tv? Pull the cheetos out of your belly button and vote on something that matters.


The Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation estimates that in an average year the adult entertainment industry — which is headquartered primarily in Southern California — registers total sales of $12.6 billion. Recently Larry Flyny and Joe Francis requested a $5 billion bailout from Congress...Paul Fishbein, chairman of AVN, is entering his 27th year in the business, “and this is the first time I can honestly say the adult business is not recession-proof. Everybody I’m talking to says the business is down anywhere from 20 to 30 percent,” he explained. “That’s in line with the rest of the economy. ...While the recession has something to do with it, Fishbein said, the availability of cheaply made adult fare online is cutting into the cash flow for traditional outlets and establishments. “There’s enough free porn on the Internet that, if you don’t care about quality, you can get what you want,” Fishbein said...What Francis is more upset about than the current economy is the frequent pirating that occurs with his product. “We’re facing what the music business faced a few years ago,” he said. “These sites are stealing our content. We want copyright laws enforced.”
-Excuse me while I say...boo freakin' hoo.

Today I'm reading in Genesis 24...I won't write out the entire passage, but the gist is that Abraham's servant is sent out to find a wife for his son Isaac. The servant prays specifically for God to point out the right woman, and "before he had finished praying, Rebekah came out with her jar on her shoulder" (24:15). He asked her for a drink, and she quickly obliged, going even a measure more to give water to his camels. This was the exact sign that he had asked for moments ago, and knew he found his woman.

As I read this story, I have to admire Rebekah. She was blessed simply by doing the ordinary...the routine...by just being her everyday self. She was an answered prayer...in a way she realized because she met his need for water, but also in ways she didn't realize because she had no idea her very presence was tangible evidence of God's provision to him! What an honor to be such a clear, specific prayer to someone...she really must have been special! I wonder how many times she had gone down to that well before, lifting heavy jars of water and walking all the way back up, day after day. How tired she must have been. I wonder if she sighed as she picked up her jar and started heading to the well. But she embodies Proverbs 31:17, "she sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks". She was strong, beautiful, and pure...an excellent reflection of the Lord she served.

Furthermore, when she was approached by a strange man asking for a favor as it was getting dark, she quickly jumped at the chance to serve...Prov 31:20 "she opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy". What happens if a strange man approaches me on the side of the road at night when I am alone? Well I am far from open, I'll tell you that much! But she gave him what she had and was open and vulnerable to him, and as a result was rewarded. She even went a measure more to water his camels...and you know camels don't drink a little water! She seriously got her workout that day.

But she was just being herself. She was a specific, answered prayer in more ways than one, and because she allowed herself to live in that place she was greatly rewarded.

Lord help me to live more like Rebekah...help me to carry out my ordinary, routine days with the grace, beauty, and servant heart that she did. Not so I may be rewarded, but so I may be available to become someone's specific answered prayer today.

My Quiet Time Today

Was in Genesis 2:18-23...
"The Lord God said, "it is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him." Now the Lord God had formed out of the ground all the beasts of the field and all the birds of the air. He brought them to the man to see what he would name them; and whatever the man called each living creature, that was its name. So the man gave names to all the livestock, the birds of the air and all the beasts of the field.
But for Adam no suitable helper was found. So the Lord God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man's ribs and closed up the place with flesh. Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man. The man said "This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called woman for she was taken out of man."

Lord, I think it's interesting how you could have just said "I will make a helper". But instead, you were very specific in wanting to find a helper suitable for him. Lord I love that you cared for him so much to want to find just the perfect helper for him. And then the quest that must have ensued! Each and every bird of the air and beast of the field you brought to Adam for his approval? Although I notice you didn't say "I will find a helper, you said "I will make"...so I suppose you already knew that none of these would compare to the creation you and Adam had in mind. I also love how you made everything from the ground...not just Adam, but also all the beasts and birds...except Eve, she was different!

I wonder how long it must have taken to show him all your animals. I wonder how lonely he was, and how his heart must have sank a little deeper as he got closer and closer to the end of the line, as he saw his options dwindle and none were right. I wonder just how deep his loneliness was as you had him drift off to sleep. I wonder how proud you were to make this "secret present" for him while he slept, and how excited you were to bring her to him! And I love how instantly Adam recognizes her, not only as "the one" but as part of himself, made from him and for him. How much you must have loved him to go to so much trouble and care.

I wonder Lord...you loved him so much, do you also love me?

God's Will Revealed!

Going off my last post and the unending quest for the answer of "what is God's will for my life?". Well, turns out the answer is actually not that hard to find, it's actually written quite clear if I know where to look. One of my new favorite verses is John 6:40;

"FOR MY FATHER'S WILL IS..." (if that doesn't get your attention, nothing will!) "...that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day."

Not enough for you? Eph 2:9 says "And he made known to us the mystery of his will according to the his good pleasure...". Not only is it not hidden, but it makes the God of the universe happy that it's shared with us. And Paul continues to talk about it in chapter three verses 3-6, and emphasizes how we have insight and understanding to the mystery of Christ, "this mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus."

One more? Romans 16:25-26 "Now to him who is able to establish you by my gospel and the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery hidden for long ages past, but now revealed and made known through the prophetic writings by the command of the eternal God, so that all nations might believe and obey him."

I just think it's amazing that God does not hide himself from us, but reveals himself to us so we can understand him. And it brings him joy to do so! How often do we search everywhere for answers that he's already made quite clear? How often we sit and beg for his wisdom, his love, and his guidance when he has taken thousands of years to painstakingly write it all down to make sure we know that very thing!

What if we got what we asked for?

One of the biggest questions that seem to continually pop up throughout my life and most other Christ followers I know is the question of "What is God's will for my life?"
As I was reading through Genesis 6:9-7:1 today, I came across an interesting sentence in which God is giving instructions to Noah to build the ark, and then says the following in v. 17;

"I am going to bring floodwaters on the earth to destroy all life under the heavens, every creature that has the breath of life in it. Everything on earth will perish."

Noah's response in v. 18 goes like this;
"Wow. Um...excuse me God, let's back up a second. Did you just explain your plan to me...and did I hear your right? Because I gotta admit, that scares the crap out of me..."

Ok v. 18 I made up :). But seriously, what on earth could have gone through Noah's head at hearing this? I'm sure a lot of gratitude, thankfullness, and humility as he understands that his own family will be saved. But what about the fear, anxiety, worry? I mean, God just flat out told him his plans and they weren't exactly comforting. Noah was about to face the biggest challenge of his entire life, and he gets to hear just about every detail in advance...except why. And except what would happen afterwards. And except where they would go or what they would do when it was all over.

What if God really did answer us they way we want him to when we ask what His plan for our life is? What if he laid it all out, told us about all the trials and challenges we would face? What if we knew in 5 years we would be diagnosed with cancer? What if we knew the man we were about to marry would die tragically young in a car accident? What if we knew our second child would be born with a life-changing disease? What if we knew the job we took today would lead to an extramarital affair by next year?
Would knowing those things really give us peace?

I think we don't really want to know God's plan for our life is. No question about it, the ark was a miracle, with a happy ending, and fulfilled the grand purposes of God... and if we let him, God can perform miracles just as great in our own lives. But if we knew them in advance, if we truly got the answer we wanted to our prayers, I think we would be so shocked and stunned at the scale of the miracle he has in store for us that we would never be able to fulfill them...instead we would be paralyzed in fear, anxiety, and worry just thinking about it! It's not our fault, our own humanness can't stand the glory of God...we would crumble at the mere thought of what God would have us do. So instead, we don't get to know...we trust, we obey, we get to see just one small step at a time because God knows that's the real answer to our prayer.

I wonder what he's getting ready to do in 2009!