echoes.

Gently, the pages are opened. Gently they are felt under hand, each precious letter holding something, some long sought after treasure. And the voices come, across time they float, glide, living, breathing, into my head, into my heart. Some are heard like the mighty crash of ocean waves, while others whisper in my ear as silent as a gentle breeze, more felt than heard. Angry, tired, indignant, joyous, sorrowful, overflowing with joy, grieved, laughing, they are all different, each bearing a different emotion. Each paints an individual story and none are the same. Their stories are as different and colorful as the voices that bring them to life. Yet, they each have a common thread, a cord that binds them together as surely as if they were one. Ever pointing to one thing, ever singing the same song, speaking if only in shadow, of that which was coming and came.

My hand passes over the thin pages, taking delight in the crinkling song they sing out with each one turned. Skimming down the text, words begin to take form and spring to life before my eyes. I am amazed by the detail put into this book, how there is no question that each word was carefully thought out, weighed in the balance, and written out so very long ago. I am becoming lost in the stories as the greatest of adventures are told. And the voices speak of things unimagined. Things that seem so long ago, yet because of what they point to, as if they were happening in my own life...and in some ways, they are. For the voices tell of those who were unworthy, the least, the ones who surely should not have been used to accomplish what they did. They tell me of how they could not speak, of how some were but children, and others the oldest in their society, awkward and stumbling. They speak and laugh and wail of what they were burdened for, what their hearts ached for, what they took joy in...and through it all the cord still runs. Like a golden light burning through each life, always and forever pointing to but one thing. And I smile. For if that golden cord, if that burning light could be so strong and bright in these lives, in these voices that fill my days, then I am assured. I am assured that though this life of mine is lowly and means nothing, it can be used despite of me, to point as their's did, to that one, glorious thing. And I smile. And my heart echoes the beat of the hearts the voices speak of in this beautiful book in my hands....Jesus....

ordinary and unordinary.

Ah, the end of another day:-) A day full of kiddo laughter, some kiddo tears, lots and lots of kiddo questions, designing, music, Jesus, peace, joy...just to name a few. So, here I sit, listening to the Anne of Green Gables soundtrack (thank you Lauren! You have added such delight to my life by giving me this!!) and thinking over the day. Thinking over simple, lovely, wonderful things as well. Pondering how, though each day does not hold some grand exciting adventure, there are many, many little ordinary ones that make it quite interesting. I'm all about the ordinary, every day little things...you know, like:

• Waking up to the smell of coffee and thinking again of how much it's enjoyed:-)
• Making pancakes and enjoying the "homeliness" of such a delightful, ordinary thing.
• Opening the Word and realizing afresh that there is nothing ordinary about it.
• Pink roses....:-)
• Making a delicious healthy lunch that included, but was not limited to quinoa and fresh spinach...oh, and fresh corn! Yum!
• Listening to an exciting book on tape and having it press me even more into my Lord.
• Reading a daily devotional from Charles Spurgeon, which is a nice little adventure in and of itself....oh, you'd like to receive them too? Well, here's the link! http://www.blueletterbible.org/devotionals/me/
• Thinking of how much I love this quote and what a beautiful, grand, adventure it is to wait upon such a thing: 

"Perhaps, after all, romance did not come into one’s life with pomp and blare, like a gay knight riding down; perhaps it crept to one’s side like an old friend through quiet ways; perhaps it revealed itself in seeming prose, until some sudden shaft of illumination flung athwart its pages betrayed the rhythm and the music; perhaps . . . perhaps . . . love unfolded naturally out of a beautiful friendship, as a golden-hearted rose slipping from its green sheath."

—Lucy Maud Montgomery (Anne of Avonlea)

•  Loving the "cloudiness" (who wants to use a word like "overcast" when "cloudiness" will do just as well....and it's such a nice word too, don't you agree?) of this Tuesday.
• Thinking again of how wonderful life must have been before cell phones. Now, here's an adventure I'd greatly enjoy...not having the dreadful thing at all!! I greatly detest my cell phone. True story. 
• Getting little notes written on my little white board on the back of my door from a very dear friend (who by the way, has been a bit lax in writing said notes the past few days. No, I will not tell you who I'm talking about! Why would you even ask such a question?? A lady never names names!) 
• Thinking of how it's a lovely, ordinary adventure to write on this blog, never knowing just what might come out:-) And, hoping that it gives you a little ordinary adventure in your day to read my random little posts! 
• Also, I appreciate you dear reader, whomever you may be, even if you have never left a comment and I may never know your name. You are appreciated and loved by a God who just truly adores you:-) Isn't this the greatest, most unordinary realization of all?

leave it at the door.

Ah! How in the world has over a month gone by without me posting one single thing?? Well, no more! I love writing too much to leave you all hanging...plus, I owe several chocolate recipes:-) They shall be forth coming, but not this night. Just gives you something to look forward to...for longer! Tonight, I have so many things flowing through my head and trying to capture just one fleeting thought seems impossible.

I've been thinking a lot these past few weeks of how, no matter what anyone says, no matter their denomination, the only thing that matters when you come down to it all, is Jesus. Just more and more and more of Him. Nothing else, not doctrines, or laws, or does and don'ts will get us one inch closer to Heaven. And one day when we stand before our King, what will we plead? Our doctrines? What we did and did not do? No! The ONLY thing we can plead is Jesus and Him crucified. I desire so much to pursue my Jesus with my whole heart...to love Him more and more with each passing day, for I know if I do this all else will fall perfectly into place. I know as sure as I know the sun will rise tomorrow morning, that He is faithful to those who follow after Him with all their hearts.

It's strange to me how we have this idea that if we don't go to a certain church or believe a certain something, we're somehow going to miss Christianity and at times, salvation. As if running after Jesus were not enough, as if by not believing that something, our whole relationship with Him matters not. What can we possibly be thinking? If there's one thing that I want those who read this blog to know, it's that I believe with my whole heart and soul that Jesus is all that matters! I don't care what church you go to, what day you worship on, what denomination you grew up in, and what doctrines you may hold to, if you truly focus 100% on Jesus Christ, read each verse of His Word with Him in mind, knowing that all of it points directly to Him, you will find what the Christian life is all about! He is faithful and will never leave His children without all that they need when they search for Him with all their hearts. This is a simple truth, it's not this gray area that we can't be sure about, it's rock solid truth! Though, we do try to over complicate it much of the time. Yet, it is simple! Praise His name, He is enough! This is a truth we should rejoice over and know like the beat of our hearts. He is enough!!!

Ah, but I can never seem to be filled enough, I'm always left wanting more of Him! It's one thing I pray I never stop wanting, one thing I never want to be to full of, this knowing Him more each day. I would be refined and tried by fire that I may know all that He would teach me. I would leave all that I have, all that I know, to know Him more. I would be so emptied of self, that when others meet me, they would not even remember my name, but walk away thinking only of Him. May I never desire attention for myself, that my works are noticed, that my thoughts are esteemed, but let me forever decrease that His name may increase through my life. Let there be a resounding echo through every corner of my small little world, and may that cry and echo be "Jesus! Jesus! Jesus!"

So, this is what I come back to the blogging world with. Have you tasted? Have you caught a glimpse of His precious face? If not, leave your doctrines at the door and truly get to know Jesus. I assure you, He is worth leaving all you have been taught for...

To go deeper on this subject I'd recommend you listen to this amazing sermon:
http://www.ellerslie.com/Eric_Ludy_Sermons/Entries/2011/7/10_The_Ellerslie_Experiment.html