Trick or Treat!

good gifts

"If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith!" Luke 12:28

I wanted to show off some pictures I took with my camera I got for Christmas and my newest lense I got for my birthday. Check more out here.

My wonderful husband gave me a choice a couple weeks before my birthday. I could have a dvd recorder, which I really wanted, or a surprise he was planning for me. It was quite a dilemma for me. On one hand the new TV season was starting and with group on Wed nights, I'd never get to see Lost again unless we got a dvd recorder. On the other hand, John's surprise presents are great. And I think he loves giving them as much as I love receiving them. But, after much debate, I chose the practical gift over the surprise.

On the day of my birthday, I already had my dvd recorder (Lost had started its new season that week!) Yet, John informed me he had another gift for me to open. Imagine my surprise when he I opened the box to find a new telephoto lens for my camera. John had decided to buy both presents. So I'm reminded of the verse "If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!" Not that I would call John evil, but he is human. Yet he knows me and loves me enough, to give me a gift I didn't even know I wanted, how much more the Father wants to bless us with!

Somewhere Over the Rainbow

An evening this past May, I was out on a bike ride, in the country. As the fresh spring air, filled my lungs. I wondered, what does the future hold? Can I trust a God, that allowed my dear co-worker, to be taken so tragically in the fatal car accident; just a month ago? Is God loving or merely a mad scientist up there flicking his creation around?

My wounded spirit was crying out to God, on the country dirt road.

Then, out of no where it started to rain and I melted into a hurting child. Riding in the rain.

A little miracle appeared, out on the horizon. I spotted the most beautiful rainbow. Without a shadow of doubt, I knew God put that rainbow there just for me. My heavenly Father, knew my pain and provided sweet comfort from above.

Riding back, I knew who held the future. I must have faith in that.

Yes, there are days, I do still question the loss and many other events. But, its a little easier now.

The money pit

Once upon a time Haircut (Erin) and I bought our first house. It's a duplex. 3,000 square feet of fun. She was always up for the idea of fixing up a place but I never really had much experience living in a "fixer-upper" but I remember feeling God tell me that we were to buy a duplex. We discussed it and knew this would be a source of income for us in the future because we felt God was leading us down the economic ladder as we looked ahead to the future.

The place was in decent shape and we got a pretty good deal understanding that we'd need to put some work into it. We started out living on one half with a single father and his daughter living on the other side. The original plan was to fix up a the place a little so we could place it up for rent.

Somewhere we got the brilliant idea that we should do more than just a little work. We began thinking through how we could do it all and what it would look like when we finished. We were pretty excited. We purchased tools and began taking out walls 100 year old walls made with plaster mixed with horse hair, we began rebuilding the stairs, sand the floor (Daniel-son), and a million other things. We were also living on the side of the house we were fixing up (which I wouldn't recommend to my worst enemy) while fixing it up and after a little over a year we started running out of steam... and cash.

Fast-forward 3 years... we're still working on the house and not completely thrilled with the idea. We haven't rented it, are running thin in cash and having severe bouts with an illness known as "low-mo" (low motivation). Lately we find ourselves joking about selling the house and moving into an apartment or at least buying a downtown condo that which will probably end up being the size of a large closet.

How did all this happen? How did us being obedient to how God was leading turn into a massive attack of frustration? Walking out obedience can be a struggle. I have faith that this is going to work out in the end but the day-to-day portion of this... suckus maximus. Through all this I'm learning a great deal though. I guess it's kinda funny how God will use anything, even use a house, help you grow.