Time passes so quickly. It seems that just a few days ago, we were in the tempestuous days of transition from winter to spring. The seasons appear to find it difficult to change without a tug of war. We enjoyed brilliant spring days with flowering trees and bulbs. It was warm and rainy one day then cold and snowy the next. Then a few days later it was above eighty degrees and we wondered if we would skip directly to summer. Then we suffered a setback: more cold, rainy, days, and with the abrupt changes came some violent storms. As the storms moved off to the east, the temperatures soared once again. Just when we thought we had broken through, we were once again shivering along with the flowers and the trees. The temperatures were achieving a yo-yo effect.
In just a few short weeks we have progressed through the process of budding and blooming and leafing out. We are now completely revitalized. It is hard to remember the bleak, gray, nothingness of winter.
Even though it is only the latter part of May, our landscape is dressed in her summer finery. Our Ozark scenery is arrayed in a varying palette of colors. I don’t remember living anywhere else where we have seen such a vast number of different wildflowers displayed prominently at every intersection and roadside.
My daughter works in a Victorian boutique, and I have been amazed to learn how often the store must be re-decorated and re-arranged. The store is decked out in sumptuous displays that beg you to stop and enjoy them. That shop is conservative in comparison to God’s roadside window dressing. He provides a lavish and ever-changing exhibit of color and texture. I have often been tempted as I sit at an intersection to jump out of my car and scurry around gathering wildflowers in my arms. I have restrained myself so as to not divulge my lunacy to all around, but as I write this, I have no good explanation for not enjoying my surroundings to the fullest.
One of my favorite sights is the roadside bluff. Most of these are not naturally occurring. They were created as the roads were made. The back roads of this area are a vast network of switch- backs, very steeply pitched and full of hair-pin turns. So when they put in the highways; they blasted through the hills to make straighter, safer roads; which provide a more direct route to popular destinations. This blasting has created some very interesting textures and silhouettes.
The layers of rock that are exposed are fascinating to me in themselves; with their contrasting colors. Many times they have darker hues where water is seeping through, or cascading down the face of the bluff. They may have vines twining up their faces like wizened men who have forgotten to shave. Some of these bluffs have been powerfully impacted by the elements. The high water table bleeding through the strata coupled with the very plentiful rain has eroded these rock structures into very interesting monoliths. Some of them appear to have grown out of the ground and seem to be standing as sentinels watching the traffic go by. They are craggy and rough, with a look of age and knowledge. Others peer out from behind their green cloaks of vines, wildflowers, and weeds. Some seem to have a shock of green hair like friendly giants watching from the side. Many of them wear a garland of wildflowers on their heads providing a whimsical contrast to their sober faces. I never cease to gain enjoyment from seeing these reminders of the age and substance of these Ozark hills.
I am reminded that these hills are infants in comparison to our God. The times we are living in are as turbulent as spring weather, but He remains the same. His word is true and there is a reason why the scripture speaks of Him over and over as a rock. (Psalm 18:2, 62:7, 94:22) He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. (Hebrews 13:8) He is the author and the finisher of our faith. (Hebrews 12:2) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (John 1:1,3&14)
God will stand unchanged, long after these hills have melted away. (Nahum 1:5, 2 Peter 3:10) He is forever. He is ageless, timeless, and completely steadfast and true. (Proverbs 8:25, Revelation 19:11) He is never surprised, never unnerved, never upset. He knows the end from the beginning and can change any circumstance, but He Himself is unchanged. In these seemingly uncertain times we can be confident that God is still true to His word (Isaiah 46:10). He will do just exactly what He said He would do. (Psalm 33:4)
You may be facing challenging circumstances right now. You may not feel as though you are going to make it. Find a scripture that addresses your problem and hold on to it. It will not fail. It will produce what it says, (Isaiah 55:11) and when the dust settles, you will be standing like one of these bluffs, strong, solid and unmoved!
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Friday, January 30, 2009
Not Entirely Random
I just completed a request from some of my Facebook friends for “25 Random Things About Myself”. I have been told before that I am too serious. In fact, a minister friend once said to me “Shauna, you need to get out and read a funny book.” I have a very serious side. I am passionate about the plan of God for my life and about being a good wife and mother. I am a stickler for the Word of God, and being a doer of the Word. I am very opinionated, and have strong feelings about many subjects. Because of these traits that I am known most for among my close acquaintances, I chose to chronicle 25 of my more whimsical traits. Here they are:
Everyone who knows me at all, knows my serious side. In fact, most people think that is my only side. I am actually surprisingly multi-faceted. So, here, I am itemizing some of my lesser known and more zany qualities.
1) My brother calls me a troll. " A Troll is nothing if not thorough." (Patrick McManus) She laughs trollishly. Ha Ha!
2) I prefer gnomes. Gnomes seem more friendly, they have cheery, bright red hats, and they are friends with otters. Otters are playful. Everyone otter have an otter for a friend.
3) Ice cream is a basic food group. Mint Chocolate Chip is my favorite followed by Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough. Blue Bell is Tops! After homemade of course.
4) I like moose and loons. Does this make me looney? I like pretty much anything lodgey.
5) I really love cows. Raw milk, cheese, real butter and ice cream are all necessities. Life is about cheese, but not about blue cheese, because that is just mold. Andrew understands this.
6) Animals and children love and trust me, and they are very good judges of character.
7) I always have a dictionary and thesaurus handy. I just have to know.
8) I adore a good pun.
9) I really enjoy anything Victorian. I want a big rambling country Victorian house with a wrap around porch.
10) I also want a log cabin and lots of quilts. It must have a porch overlooking the woods, and a really comfortable rocking chair.
11) I have never outgrown toys. I would love to own a toy store. Especially an educational toy store.
12) I would like to travel all over the world. I especially want to visit Scandinavia and Europe.
13) I have frequent outbursts of singing. Sometimes it makes sense, sometimes it doesn't.
14) I think in rhyme, much of the time.
15) I am not very organized. I used to say this is because my father was the absent minded professor and my mom is an artist; so I missed the neatness gene.
16) Given my last statement, you wouldn't think I would be a germ freak, but I am. I like everything clean. Really, really clean.
17) I have an innate inability to mail things. I just don't get the concept.
18) I am very fond of Scottie Dogs. They make me feel positively plaid.
19) I collect porcelain shoes. There is a family story behind this.
20) I used to paint and really enjoyed it, but I haven't painted a canvas in over 20 years. I was never any good at it, but it was therapy of sorts. I intend to pick it up again when my life calms down.
21) I would like to have a hundred acres or so, and a whole menagerie of wacky animals. I really seem to gravitate toward unusual animals with little or no monetary value.
22) The older I become, the more stories I seem compelled to tell. (Much to the chagrin of my kids I might add)
23) I like cookie dough better than cookies.
24) Chocolate is no longer a vice, it is a health food. Whew! I am sure glad to know that.
25) I like about any kind of tea, but I can't abide coffee of any type.
As whimsical as I am, I really struggled to come up with all of these.
It is interesting is how much time it took me to come up with that list, and how really difficult it was for me. My close friends and family know that I can take about any experience and make it entertaining. I have been accused of thinking that I am the entertainment at family events
So why did I have such a hard time coming up with 25 things on the light-hearted side of my life? Maybe it’s because I don’t really want to talk about myself, or maybe I feel silly revealing that I have a silly side? In any event, I am sure it was a good exercise for me. And I believe that the friends who view this list will undoubtedly recover from the shock and will feel they know me better.
Every year at our church on the first Sunday of February we have what we call Vision Sunday. We spend the weeks leading up to that Sunday praying and searching our hearts. According to Habakkuk 2, we write the vision. We ask the Lord to reveal His plan and purpose for each of our lives. We write the vision of that plan for the next year. We prayerfully decide what we desire to do for the kingdom of God, and we commit ourselves to running our race.
My challenge to you is this: examine your heart and take inventory of your dreams and desires. Where are you on your life’s adventure? What have you accomplished for the Kingdom? What remains to be done? What do you desire God to do for you? Pray and allow God to direct you in His plan. He has a great plan for you. Jeremiah 29: 11 “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Think about that! God has good thoughts about you, and He has planned good things for you.
And while you’re at it, remember that God also has a sense of humor, and acknowledge your whimsical side.
Everyone who knows me at all, knows my serious side. In fact, most people think that is my only side. I am actually surprisingly multi-faceted. So, here, I am itemizing some of my lesser known and more zany qualities.
1) My brother calls me a troll. " A Troll is nothing if not thorough." (Patrick McManus) She laughs trollishly. Ha Ha!
2) I prefer gnomes. Gnomes seem more friendly, they have cheery, bright red hats, and they are friends with otters. Otters are playful. Everyone otter have an otter for a friend.
3) Ice cream is a basic food group. Mint Chocolate Chip is my favorite followed by Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough. Blue Bell is Tops! After homemade of course.
4) I like moose and loons. Does this make me looney? I like pretty much anything lodgey.
5) I really love cows. Raw milk, cheese, real butter and ice cream are all necessities. Life is about cheese, but not about blue cheese, because that is just mold. Andrew understands this.
6) Animals and children love and trust me, and they are very good judges of character.
7) I always have a dictionary and thesaurus handy. I just have to know.
8) I adore a good pun.
9) I really enjoy anything Victorian. I want a big rambling country Victorian house with a wrap around porch.
10) I also want a log cabin and lots of quilts. It must have a porch overlooking the woods, and a really comfortable rocking chair.
11) I have never outgrown toys. I would love to own a toy store. Especially an educational toy store.
12) I would like to travel all over the world. I especially want to visit Scandinavia and Europe.
13) I have frequent outbursts of singing. Sometimes it makes sense, sometimes it doesn't.
14) I think in rhyme, much of the time.
15) I am not very organized. I used to say this is because my father was the absent minded professor and my mom is an artist; so I missed the neatness gene.
16) Given my last statement, you wouldn't think I would be a germ freak, but I am. I like everything clean. Really, really clean.
17) I have an innate inability to mail things. I just don't get the concept.
18) I am very fond of Scottie Dogs. They make me feel positively plaid.
19) I collect porcelain shoes. There is a family story behind this.
20) I used to paint and really enjoyed it, but I haven't painted a canvas in over 20 years. I was never any good at it, but it was therapy of sorts. I intend to pick it up again when my life calms down.
21) I would like to have a hundred acres or so, and a whole menagerie of wacky animals. I really seem to gravitate toward unusual animals with little or no monetary value.
22) The older I become, the more stories I seem compelled to tell. (Much to the chagrin of my kids I might add)
23) I like cookie dough better than cookies.
24) Chocolate is no longer a vice, it is a health food. Whew! I am sure glad to know that.
25) I like about any kind of tea, but I can't abide coffee of any type.
As whimsical as I am, I really struggled to come up with all of these.
It is interesting is how much time it took me to come up with that list, and how really difficult it was for me. My close friends and family know that I can take about any experience and make it entertaining. I have been accused of thinking that I am the entertainment at family events
So why did I have such a hard time coming up with 25 things on the light-hearted side of my life? Maybe it’s because I don’t really want to talk about myself, or maybe I feel silly revealing that I have a silly side? In any event, I am sure it was a good exercise for me. And I believe that the friends who view this list will undoubtedly recover from the shock and will feel they know me better.
Every year at our church on the first Sunday of February we have what we call Vision Sunday. We spend the weeks leading up to that Sunday praying and searching our hearts. According to Habakkuk 2, we write the vision. We ask the Lord to reveal His plan and purpose for each of our lives. We write the vision of that plan for the next year. We prayerfully decide what we desire to do for the kingdom of God, and we commit ourselves to running our race.
My challenge to you is this: examine your heart and take inventory of your dreams and desires. Where are you on your life’s adventure? What have you accomplished for the Kingdom? What remains to be done? What do you desire God to do for you? Pray and allow God to direct you in His plan. He has a great plan for you. Jeremiah 29: 11 “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Think about that! God has good thoughts about you, and He has planned good things for you.
And while you’re at it, remember that God also has a sense of humor, and acknowledge your whimsical side.
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