Excerpts from Tea Time

I've talked before about our tea time on Sunday afternoons. Today we had some quiche Florentine, spa tea (raspberry zinger tea and apple cider) and sat outside together. We have all joined the tea times now; Nick, Jenny, myself, Gavin and all of the girls (and Marneaux while she's here visiting). After each person finishes their reading we all clap in approval. It's a very enjoyable way to spend an hour on Sunday afternoon.

We each read several excerpts, but I've chosen my favorites for this entry. Here are a few quotes from some of the readings today.

Gavin: "...Earth's crammed with heaven, And every common bush afire with God:
But only he who sees, takes off his shoes..." -Elizabeth Barrett Browning

Rae: "...God speaks in a whip-poor-will's song. 'I set the North star in the heavens and I mean for you to be free.' Harriet sees the stars twinkling. 'My mind is made up. Tomorrow, I flee....' -Carole Boston Weatherford, "Moses, When Harriet Tubman led Her People to Freedom"

Emily: "Let's have one day for girls and boyses when you can make the grandest noises. Screech, scream, holler, an yell - Buzz a buzzer, clang a bell...One day a year do all of these, The rest of the days - be quiet please." -Shell Silverstien, "Noise Day"

Jenny: "What is, therefore, our task today? ...we lack a holy rage - the recklessness which comes from the knowledge of God and humanity. The ability to rage when justice lies prostrate on the streets...to rage against the ravaging of God's earth, and the destruction of God's world. To rage when little children must die of hunger when the tables of the rich are sagging with food...to rage against complacency...and remember the signs of the Christian church have been the Lion, the Lamb, the Dove and the Fish...but never the chameleon. -Kaj Munk, Danish Pastor just before his death in 1944 by Gestapo.

Nick had a great excerpt from Donald Miller (but I don't have the book at my disposal right now), about an interview Miller saw. Larry King was interviewing Billy Graham just after the Columbine shootings. When asked what was coming of our world, Miller assumed he would reference the recent studies on how video games and violence on TV were desensitizing children to the sanctity of life and humankind. Instead Rev. Graham began to speak, very eloquently, about how a long time ago there was a woman and a man in a garden, and they ate from a tree...."and I knew in my heart he was right" -Donald Miller, "In Search of God Knows What"

We ended the tea with one last reading from Raegan: "I wish...I wish I had feathers. I wish I had wings. I wish I was covered with prickly things....What? You say I'm the only kid you see, who acts quite like, talks quite like, is quite like me? You mean I don't need a horn, stripes or tail? NO googlie eyes or a spout like a whale? I guess you are right! I just have to be- TO BE - the one, the only, MAGNIFICENT ME! -Dan Haseltine, "The One, The Only Magnificent Me!"

I hope you are enjoying your family today!
much love to you all, dear friends.

From the Inside Out

Everlasting, Your light will shine when all else fades. Never ending, Your glory goes beyond all fame. And the cry of my heart is to bring You praise, from the inside out, Lord my soul cries out.

My heart and my soul, I give you control. Consume me from the inside out, Lord.

--------------------------

The way I have always shown my thankfulness to the Lord and given Him praise, is through music. This song from Hillsong United, along with some other Jason Upton songs, speak my heart. I understand why Gavin loves the prayers of the saints. They are prayers of his heart. Songs like this are the same for me.

Augustine said, when you sing, you pray twice. I love that!

("The Shack" has given me such a sweet perspective and love for the Trinity. Sarayu; the wind; light; equally God; Holy Spirit - what a precious friend. Jesus; fully man; fully God; funny; lovely - what a precious Savior. Papa; protector; You love me; humble; gentle; mighty - what an amazing God!)

God is Good!

Praise the Lord!! God is so good!!

All glory and praise belongs to the Lord! He has allowed us to find favor in the eyes of those "in control" of this situation. We have been assured that all has been resolved positively [due to the sensitivity of this matter I can't talk about any details].

This means that we will most likely be able to keep our Cambridge home! We are lowering the price again in hopes that it will sell soon.

These are the times when I feel my praise is so inadequate. "Praise the Lord" just doesn't seem to cut it... Do you ever feel like that? I would love a more tangible/passionate way to express my thankful heart and praise. What do you do to express your thankfulness to God?

To all my prayer warriors...you bless me more than you will ever know. Thank you for your prayers and thoughts and well wishes. My heart truly is overflowing!

Yes, We Can!

I realize this is belated, but it goes without saying that we are thrilled to have Barack Obama as the Democratic nominee!

Yes, we can. Yes, we can. Yes, we can. ...to God be the glory!!

My Cup Runneth Over

Sorry for the King James wording.....it just seems appropriate for my current state. I've just been reading my friend's blogs and am so encouraged. Whether it's celebrating healthy and happy marriages, sharing God's blessing over different ministries, sharing menus for the week, or sharing time with children...I'm reminded of how blessed we are, and how blessed I am for these friendships.

Gavin and I had a challenging week this past week. [because of the sensitivity of the matter I can't talk about the details.] We took a huge hit. I've talked before about needing our home in Cambridge to sell because we really can't afford to keep it. We were hoping for the bonus to get us current on our mortgage, among other things.

Because I am a lover of justice, this is hard to swallow. We have a great Realtor in Cambridge and we're getting a lot of traffic, but no offer yet. We are having to come to grips with the fact that we may loose that home to foreclosure.

In light of all that, I can honestly say that Gavin and I are completely at peace. Not only are we still joyful, but we're actually happy. Don't get me wrong...we're NOT happy about the possibility of losing our home. We are happy to be right in the palm of our Lord's hand. We truly believe that He is good and has good things for us. He has provided for us over and over and over again. He is faithful. So what if we loose our home in Cambridge?! For the first time in five years, I can actually say that without cringing. I know the Lord has plans to prosper us and not to harm us - He has lovingly and graciously proven Himself, though He didn't have to.

Confession: The Lord has brought me a LONG way as I re-read what I just wrote. The old Emily (not so long ago) would have been angry about this injustice, not just at Imperial but also at God for allowing these injustices. Though it is shameful to admit, I confess that for those who may also struggle with feeling anger toward God over injustice.

Though the Lord has used many things to gently change my heart, (including a sermon from Pastor Dave, Cambridge Vineyard, New Years sermon 2004 - that totally rocked my world - challenging us to truly "give thanks in EVERY circumstance") the most recent reinforcement has been from "The Shack":

God speaking:
"The real underlying flaw in your life, [Emily], is that you don't think that I am good. If you knew I was good and that everything - the end, the means and all the processes of individual lives - is all covered by my goodness, then while you might not always understand what I am doing, you would trust me. But you don't."

Lord, I know that you are good! I trust you. You are worthy of all praise, glory and honor, and you are certainly worthy of my trust - especially when I don't understand your ways. Have mercy on me. Thank you for your love, grace and peace that passes all understanding. Thank you for this season of special dependence on you! Please sell our home in Cambridge.

My cup overflows! Blessed be your name, O Lord!

Peace and Rest cont.

That was just a weird night, the other night. Thankfully the peace and rest has been restored in our home. Thank you for all your sweet prayers!!

On a side note: I've finished "The Shack" and it is the most challenging and thought-provoking thing I have ever read. It also, however, challenged my trust in God which stirred up some fear issues - which I think had something to do with the other night...

I'll write more later about this. I'm still working through all that the book stirred up in me. One word of caution: don't buy into the controversial hype. Yes, God appears to the main character, Mack, as a woman - which raises justified red flags. However, it is quickly explained that God is neither male nor female. Mack has major father issues and therefore God the Father, called Papa in the book, appeals to him from a more gentle perspective. Papa also explains to Mack that after the fall they (the Trinity) knew that the Father figure would be the one most needed by their children which is why He is referred to as "the Father" throughout scripture. And, fyi Papa does appear to Mack as a father later on in the book.

There are so many amazing things about this book - don't miss out on it!

A few of the things I'm dealing with because of "The Shack": forgiving others, understanding all I've been forgiven, trusting God through life and death, the power of mutual submission, and feeling a new sense of intimacy with God - the Trinity.

much love, dear friends!

Peace and Rest

I've been thinking about this blog for several days. There are several reasons to write about this topic, for me, and last night added one more.

First I began thinking about this because all of my friends here in NoVa describe me as laid back and easy going. I'm pretty sure that's a first!!! I've always been known to be a bit edgy, somewhat confrontational - loving, loyal, and very considerate to my friends - but always quick to throw myself into a movement I believe in, and definitely willing to cause ripples. I really don't think ANYONE in my past would describe me as laid back and easy going.

When I first began hearing this description of me I was shocked...but mostly flattered! I am still very much the "Emily" I described above, but I realized that I really LOVE being known as a person of peace....though I'm still not sure how accurate a description it is.

Either my friends have a skewed perspective on easy-going and laid back, or the Lord is actually changing me to have a more peaceful approach to life, despite my activist tendencies!! I really hope it is the latter.

Secondly, the words "peace and rest" have been on my lips a lot over the past few years. These are the words I pray over Eliot as I lay her in her crib at night, and Raegan and Reece as I tuck them in: That the Lord would bless them with a peaceful, restful sleep.

Whenever we have company, these are the words I pray for them while they are in our home: That their hearts would be filled with peace and rest.

I've come to relish my meditation play list because of the peace and rest I feel when I listen to it. (Don't think I don't still have hip-hop and all kind of crazy stuff playing, too.....I don't see that ever changing. I still like to get my groove on...you know....:))

Thirdly, I think this may be a ministry the Lord is giving our family - to be a place of peace and rest for those who need it. ...we'll see.

Lastly, I am greatly disturbed when that peace and rest is interrupted or disturbed as it was last night. Eliot had a really awful night last night. Something was scaring her so terribly that she ended up crawling out/falling out of her crib. This was after hours of praying through her room, trying to work with her through the fear, moving the night light to a different part of the room, trying to have her sleep with us (she has never slept with us...not because we didn't want her to she has just never wanted to, much to Gavin's great disappointment - last night was no different). I bound the spirit of fear and cast it out of our house over and over, asking the Holy Spirit to replace it with peace and rest and lots of love. Finally, around 4am I was able to rock her to sleep (a first) and lay her down in her bed. I stayed for a little while to be sure she would remain asleep. ....it was a weird and painful night. I would appreciate any prayer for wisdom and insight - eyes to see what was scaring her so much, and prayer for peace, rest and comfort over little Elle.

I pray peace and rest over you, dear friends.
much love,
em