Oh the joy of making things

I make stuff to eat in the kitchen. It usually starts with me looking up recipes on the internet. Which then ends up being an hour or two of sitting on the couch eating Cheez-it and watching tv sitcoms. It doesn't feel good. Lol. But i've gotten better at cutting back on bumming around on the worldwide web. The Cheez-it though, i dunno if i'm ready to let go of that yet. Anyway, back to recipes...i NEVER follow them. I usually check to see if i have the ingredients in the fridge to make said "quick and easy meal," admire the photo and "examine" how the ingredients were presented on the dish and remix it (wink wink). I seem to operate well on not knowing what i'm doing. Sure i end up making a complete mess, but it feels pretty good to come out with something new. Literally. I mean, the same dish is different every time. Pretty exciting stuff, right? :)

So anyway, what i really wanted to say was that life is exciting. Waking up to a brand new day where you get to be you is pretty awesome. Because you're awesome. I mean, you were woven together in your mother's womb by the Creator of the universe (Psalm 139:13). Have you seen the universe lately? It's an astrological wonder. Whenever i think about the Lord's greatness, the picture of the universe often comes to mind. But even its magnificence pales in comparison to the One who spoke it into reality. I marvel at the Lord's creativity. I doubt that anyone could ever get tired of creation's beauty. But we fail to just sit and remember that sometimes, though. We fail to appreciate the beauty of our own lives and all the little and big things GOD puts in it to remind us of His goodness.

It takes me a considerable amount of energy before i get really deep in thought about something. It takes even more time for me to articulate it in words. I write simply and often times i wish i could write more artistically. But the truth is that my thoughts are plain and uncomplicated. I praise GOD at almost every turn--my normal body functions, grocery shopping, greeting my husband at the door as he comes home from work, chai tea, making a crazy mess in the kitchen, vacuuming, seeing friends. This is what makes my life rich. It's rich with GOD's blessings. And your life is too :)

As i was looking up bible verses for "happiness," somehow it led me straight to "contentment." I think it's crucial for these truth to be told.

Hebrews 13:5
Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; Never will I forsake you."

1 Timothy 6:6-8
⁶Now there is great gain in godliness with contentment, ⁷for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. ⁸But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. 

 I am encouraged to guard my heart from seeking worldly riches today. I hope you are too.

The Worshipper

Somehow, my own life seems unreal to me. I knew this trip back to the United States was different--I knew the Lord had something big planned for me that I couldn't quite grasp yet--or even imagine! But I was excited and, with great expectancy, packed my bags and stepped out in faith. The Lord had lead me to pursue trying to apply for a Master's degree in Urban Development. But during the course of that pursuit, however, He also called me to serve in a ministry that taught me exactly that! God put me in a place where I could be surrounded by his people--loving, kind, genuine, worshipful. He supplied my every need--a room to stay, food and clothing. In a place where I knew no one, HE built me a home and gave me new brothers and sisters, new fathers and mothers. At a point when I thought I would be stepping into a raging ocean of unknowns, He brought me a great calm and unimaginable joy. I struggle to understand His goodness. I never can fathom His love for me.


I am suddenly a wife now. To a man I never knew I needed. He looks nothing like what I was hoping for, and nothing like I dreamed he would be. He's perfect for me--the Lord's will always is. And I revel in the fact that He gifted me with a love so extraordinary, and delightful, and handsome!


I also revel in the fact that I could've missed it all--but I didn't. I was running down the wrong path, persistently going as fast as I could. Stumbling over every step of the way and becoming more lost and weary. It was an extraordinary rescue. But i'm finally back on the right track. What an extraordinary God!


I often think back on days when my sister and I were little. Growing up in a terribly troubled home, she and I would literally spend hours laying around in bed, dreaming out loud for a better life. The 12 year old me would have never believed this was what was in store for her. I still can't.


There is much to praise the Lord for.

"Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows." James 1:17

I encourage you to take the time to think about Him today. There is such great pleasure in it :)