Just Say No

I have a problem: I can't say no. My concept of time is skewed. Sure, no problem, I can be at eight places in one day! I have a confessioin: I even VOLUNTEER myself for things without someone asking me! But there is only so much one can do in a 24 hr. period! The hard thing is that most of the things I do are things I love. However, when you have too much to do, they become more of a chore than pleasure. I think that I often feel that I need to "do" for God-though a wise person once said, "we are human "beings," not human doings." God doesn't love me for the things I do for Him, but who I am. And if I don't spend time with Him, my efforts are fruitless (John 15 "I am the vine, you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in Him, he will bear much fruit. Apart from me, you can do nothing.") Oh, if I could just remember that. And learn to say no.

Do You Think I'm Beautiful?

I just finished reading a fabulous book by Angela Thomas called "Do You Think I'm Beautiful?" I was kind of embarrassed to admit I was reading it (my luggage got lost recently by the airline and the only "identifying" object I could think of was the book) but I think it is a question every woman really asks. One of my favorite parts of the book is her comparison to our pursuit of God like hungry people after food. She compares us to starving people, waiting in line for a truck with food. These people don't wait patiently in line or wait their turn. They all-out go after the truck, in desperate pursuit of food. In the same way, we should be starving for Christ.

My other favorite part is her affirmation of God's promise to us:

"You are beautiful.

You are desired.

You are known.

You are held.

You are protected.

You are rescued.

You are forgiven.

You are pursued.

You are seen.

You are precious.

You are My princess.

You are My beautiful bride." (pg. 200)

Allow God to speak those words over you today...

So I was really excited when my dermatologist suggested a facial for my acne..I had one in China for like $5, and it was really more of a hour long massage. So I was excited to have a "reason" for this luxury. I arrived at the "aesthetician's" (anyone know how pronounce that?) office and there was soft music playing, feeding into my thought that this would be a relaxing experience. I was very mistaken. She began rubbing this cream on my face, which didn't feel too good. I began hoping I wasn't paying her for nothing. But it got better. She proceeds to tell me that she was going to do chemical extractions: i.e. she takes some kind of pencil object and digs it into every blemish on my face. Then she adds some more cream that stings. This was not what I imagined..or would even have nightmares about. Then she tells me that she is going to put something else on and it's going to sting a bit. "Oh well," I thought, "everything else hasn't felt good." That was an understatement. This stuff was so hot that tears ran down my face and I wanted to run for a bucket of water to submerge my steaming face. To top it all off, when I looked in the mirror later after going out in public, my face looked like a lobster. Lovely. Hopefully, this will serve as a warning: if your doctor recommends this kind of "therapy," RUN!

A New Journey

So I have finally caved and am a proud new owner of a blog. I have long loved to read others' blogs (i.e. snoop around the lives of people I don't know in real life :) I hope this will be a fun way to chronicle the journey of this year, as I embark on two adventures-first to Peru, and then to Baylor. So welcome, world!