Carrie's Random Thoughts

Sunday, September 26, 2004

Just a Few Words Before I Sleep.

Hey, I realy should be in bed already, but I couldn't resist writing for a little bit. Its once again been so long since I have written, but when this lenght between posts is indiciative of a busy and fulflling life, I cannot regret the gap. I really have been busy lately, and in some ways too much, and I am ever grateful for the wise council and strong words of friends and coworkers weho have counciled me to not take too much on. For example, I am going t be leading a Bible Study on Francine Rivers' excellent book Redeeming Love. It parallels the story of Hosea and Gomer in the Bible as well as highlighting the ardor and force of God's love in our lives, and how He continually loves and forgivess us, even when our sins are a direct affront and betrayal of the love He has shown us. It is another commitment, but Christi Link asked me to do it I couldn't say no- partly because I had wanted to do it connected to the library, and I love that book. As an aspiring writer Francine Rivers is an inspiration to me, for so often we excuse Christian culture for being sub-par because people are, "trying their best," or, "God is blessing their efforts," or, "we don't want to offend anyone by saying anything that is actually real, inspiring and life altering." That said, her book does have a disclaimer written by Rivers herself at the beginning, which states that this book, if it were a movie, would proabably be at a PG-13 level, due to the subject matter it deals with.
Okay, didn't mean to go off on a tangent like that, but if you read my blog at all, then you know that this is pretty typical. Today, God did something to make me take some time and clean at home and relax a little bit- my car is broke! That kind of ticks me off, especially since I have no money to fix it, but I am trusting in God that I can work something out- and I really mean that, I'm not just saying it in hopes that it might become true. I also forgot my phone at work and now I can't get it since my car is boken, so I have spent all of today at home cleaning, reading, etc. I watched Sleepless In Seattle, a movie that I love (even if it is hopelessly cheesy), but haven't seen in quite a while. I Hope that it is just my brakes that need fixing- I know the sound of grinding brakes fairly well in my years of driving second-hand cars.
Tomorrow I get to go to Martin to Stacie's house after church for a small group get together. I am very excited to have the chance to have more fellowship, because usually we are all on a time crunch to get up there and greet. I also had a chance to fellowship with Melissa and Stacie when we went to see a movie up at the M-89 Cinema and then went out to Plainwell Ice Cream. It was great to be able to talk and open up to them, which is usually something I don't let myself do. I think that Melissa and I needed that fun time too, now that things are finally calming down at the school. I am so thankful to have people that I can trust enough to open up to- and who are willing to drive me places when my car decides to misbehave.
One further blessing is that school is closed on Monday so I can take my car in first thing and wait with it, go to Sweetwater's, or even walk home, because my car place is only about a mile away from my apartment. Praise God for unexpected blessings- you never know when they're coming, but you can expect them nonetheless, for we have alving and generous God.



Thursday, September 02, 2004

Never, Never Land

Couldn't I just move to Never Never Land where no one has any rent payments, or car repairs, or any grown up issues with responsibility and workplace politics? Or better still, why couldn't we all just get along and not be always going after our own angle- especially when our job is at a Christian School. But I guess thats impossible- personalities will always conflict, and since everyone is in different classes, not everyone will always see eye to eye on whats important. Its so easy to let the small things overhwelm us and alienate us from each other. We just have to keep in mind that the devil rarely comes at us with obvious sins- "Choose now to steal this child's puppy!" BUt rather he will attack us with the smaller details, over and over until we weaken and fall into discontent and disunity. It seems like every major relationship that I have right now is going through a major time of intensity- both for the good and the bad. I was talking about this to Scott H. on our way home from Kortnie's wedding (Which rocked in case I haven't mentioned it) and I had said that I was worried that God had me in training for some sort of major conflict- and that though I appreciated the training I'd rather just not have the conflict at all. I'm trying to keep in mind what he told me- "It will all be worth it. It will all be worth it." Maybe if I chant it a few more times I'll actually believe it.