To Keep From Forgetting

This morning I was reading Sarah's blog. She spoke of us not forgetting the true meaning of Christmas. It spurred a thought process of mine. What's the point of Christmas without Christ? Yes, Santa Clause would then skyrocket in popularity. But let's be honest... America is able to materialize any holiday and even create some of their own (aka Sweetes Day, etc). Yes, our society can take any family holiday and turn it into a bloodthirsty, shop-o-holic experience of pure materialism and anti-family tendencies. I mean seriously... look at what they have done to Thanksgiving. Yes, you "give thanks" while fighting with family and gorging yourself on that "Turkey Day" and then the very next day you go express your thanks by making a mad dash through crowded store, loosing your sanity and personality for the gift that you just "have to have". But whatever happened to a true Thanksgiving?

So maybe it's our job to promote Christ through love and reverence to our Father. It's so easy to get lost in buying the perfect gift for someone, but the truth is that the Perfect Gift has already come. While it may be wonderful to see someone's eyes light up as they open a gift from you, let us not forget how Joseph's eyes must have lit up atthe sight of our Lord. As the weather gets cooler, let us not forget how cold it could have been that night that Christ lay in the stable. Please, may we do whatever it takes to keep from forgetting that Christ is Christmas.

The manger scene is lit.
The cattle all in their stalls.
The angel firmly placed with golden locks flowing down her sholders.
The three wisemen stand at a distance adjusting the placement of their gifts.
The shepherds lean wearily on their staffs, preparing for the long night's stand.
Joseph and Mary lean over the manger, hoping to stirr the perfect example of parenthood.
But what do we discover?
In all the preparation, we have forgotten the most important one.

The manger is empty.

Heaven forbid we ever get to a point in the Christ-following community that we have forgotten Christ on Christmas.

Abandoned Projects

Just some neat pictures I found of abandoned projects.

4 a.m. Monologue

Last night I couldn't sleep. So in honor of my rommate, here is my "4 a.m. Monologue".

G'morning God.
It's a little early, being 4 o'clock and all, but I trust that your timing is perfect.
I sit here on the couch listening to two purrers in the darkness.
No Franklin activity.
The heater blowing.
The refrigerator humming.
The couch cover's much colder at 4 a.m.
Maybe I'm just more sensitive.
The rustling of the goldfish cracker box stirrs the wild out of once-peaceful kittens.
"Basic, not acidic." Kelly's advice echoes in my mind as I attempt to neutralize stomach acid.
The reflection of my bedroom light reveals activity in Franklin's water.
Guess the headcount of those awake is now four.
Two cats, one turtle, one Monica. No Robin.
The orchestra of coughing, plastic bag crinkling and cat collar bells plagues the silence of a once-quiet apartment.
Personal space violations and finger bites from the vampire cat spur the completion of goldfish cracker snacking.
Now what?
Silence surrounds me.
I wish Robin were up. And yet I don't.
She looks peaceful.
Overhead footsteps reveal that there are now five awake.
Two cats, one turtle, one Monica and one neighbor.
The footsteps stop.
Now back to four; two cats, one turtle and one Monica.
The cats settle back into the couch beside me.
My eyelids heavy. Alas... sleep becomes me.
Whiskers tickle my nose, reminding me that sleep does not belong here.
Cold toes find warmth beneath bedcovers. No Robin disturbed.
The 4 a.m. Monologue now the 5.
Sleap... please become me again.

It didn't until nearly an hour later.

How Shallow Feels

What does shallow feel like?

Is it something you can taste?
Is it something you can see?
Is it something you know you are in...
you are doing...
you are saying...?


Maybe it's just that you don't know what shallow looks like...
what shallow feels like...
what shallow tastes like until you know the fullness of depth.

The sweet tastes ...
with the bitter...
the beauty...
with the ugly...
the overwhelming sense of "you belong"
with the sense of "sticking out"
that echoes in your soul through depth.

And yet... It's enough to make you never want to feel the shallow again.


Never, never, never again...





Lord, protect me from the shallow.
May I encourage others to depth with Your words... not my own.


I love you, Lord.

Faithful Servant

This thought reflected through my thoughts again this morning. And it is interesting to think of all that in light of all the new proposals of "my generation".

"Aren't you excited?" My best friend asked me in light of the new news of someone else's proposal.
"Yeah..." Came my unexcited response. "I guess."

Oh don't get me wrong... proposals are fantastic! [I am biased.] The joy is fantastic! [Again, biased.] But the divorce rate kinda scares me. Oh it doesn't scare me in light of thinking that Matt and I would ever get divorced. And it's not one of those naive "we'll never do that," sayings. Truley... Matt and I have discussed the seriousness of marriage and how divorce is not an option. Faithfulness, even in trials, is a life moto of both of us. But... I wonder if that's every newly engaged couple's moto.

I guess while my thoughts are overjoyed with the thought of friends and aquantances becoming engaged, my heart simultaneously hurts for those who will fall to the statistics of divorce. My heart hurts for those currently married who have put God into a box and take Him out on Sundays and thier marriage reflects that choice.

"Have you looked for a dress?" was asked to me.
"Nope... but I think I passed my exams!" verbalized.
I have nine months... I'll look soon enough. Came internally.

I guess it's just this thing... August 25th is one day... yes.. one day that we'll have in our memories. Yes the beginning of "one". But it is just that... one day. I'm focusing less on spending a huge amount of money for one day and more on preparing my mind for the endurance of marriage.
Oh I am so excited for August 25th. I am! Because that will be the start of fulfilling my promise to God that I will live the rest fo my life striving to follow God as Matt's wife, wherever He takes us and whatever may come. But how much more exciting... how beyond expressions exciting is the thought of spending the rest fo my life fighting the good fight with Matt. That blows the wedding day out of the water in my mind. And while a good start is always nice... the race is won through endurance, not a sprint.

I pray that more and more Christ-followers will race with endurance.

May more and more of us when we come face to face with Beautiful Jesus hear the words...
'Well done, good and faithful servant.'

He's what I live for.

To God be all the glory.
Thank You for saving my heart, my soul and, Lord... thanks You so much for saving my mind.

To Avoid the Label of 'Crazy'

You know a lot of people do things to avoid the label of 'crazy'.

But not me.

So it snowed last night! YEAH!!!!
This morning I awoke and saw the remnants of snow powdering the grass and my car. And what thought did that trigger in my mind?
You got it! Let's go for a bike ride.

I checked the weather prediction to decipher how many layers I needed. Once fully layered, I was off. Some people may fear frostbite... but not me. Afterall, you can only live once. Right?

Yes, the thirty degree air was crisp. Yes, I couldn't feel my cheeks. Yes, I'm still fighting off my cold. Yes, my nose ran constantly. But my oh my it was fun. [Especially the part where my gears jammed in the middle of Woodman Road's traffic.] Heck yes! Life is truly fun!

I gotta be honest.. I was just tired of this sickness taking me out. And who knows... maybe some good frigid air and a continually running nose will do the trick.

Even if it doesn't... I had fun.

Thanks God, for the simple blessing of a bike ride.

Have a wonderful day all!

One Last

So tonight is my last final exam. I'm stoked!!!

And here it is at 8:45 in the morning and I am up... ready to study for THE LAST EXAM OF MY LAST FALL QUARTER!!!!

Oh... why you ask.. why is it my last Fall Quarter?

Well...

I'M GRADUATING IN AUGUST!!!!!!
Just in case you forgot.

And then... after I am done with this exam tonight... for one whole week before interm classes... I'm not going to have a clue what to do with myself. Fan-stinkin-tastic!

Alright... back to studying.

Deficiency and Pride

This morning I turned on some music as I was checking my finances and these lyrics "randomly" came to my ears:

Holy design
This place in time
That I might seek your face, my God
My God



Lord I want to yearn for You
I want to burn with passion
Over You, and only You
Lord I want to yearn for You
I want to burn with passion
Over You, and only You
Lord I want to yearn

Your joy is mine
Yet why am i fine
With all my singing and bringing grain
In light of Him

Oh You give life and breath
In You we live and move
That's why I sing

~ "Yearn" by Shane and Shane

When looking at my finances, I sincerely questioned whether I would be able to tithe this paycheck. My heart breaks to find the discomfort in the answer. But you know what's funny? It's not even a deficiency problem. It seems to be a pride problem. Can I ask for help?

I believe God is Big.
I believe God is Mighty.
I believe God provides.
And even in discomfort, all I need is given to me.
Just ask.

So out of the GREAT gain of knowing Christ Jesus, My Lord, self-denial and leaving behind pride seem to be such easier steps.

I just have to keep my eyes on Christ.

I trust my God.

He will be exalted through my obedience.

Us Two

August 25, 2007
293 Days
Matthew S. and Monica E.

I can't wait!

Thank you, Jesus.

Update

There's some triathlon pictures.
Sorry it took so long for me to post some.

Oh, and in case you didn't know.
Elaine and I (pictured above) got 3rd place in the Women's Division.

Total surprise.
Totally awesome.

Thanks be to God.