Define A Good Day

Different people mean different things when they say, "I've had a good day". Sometimes they mean that they got a lot done. Or they made a new friend. Or they felt happy. Or they had a really fun time.

I guess today was a really good day, but not by any of the definitions above.

I went to church.

The funny thing about your church family is that you're often drawn together by a sad event--a tragic loss, in this case--that effects you all. That's when you really know that you have a unifying bond in Christ: when something happens you all turn to Him together.

So that's what I mean when I say that today was a good day. A couple people were called home to Jesus, and the rest of us who remain behind are faced with really mixed feelings. Like, sadness at the loss but joy because they don't have to experience any more of this paradoxical, mixed-up world. Or like crying in a pew but not feeling embarrassed because practically half of the congregation is doing the same thing.

For me, a good day is when I feel a little closer to God.

Izori

Tomorrow Is Easter

While we're caught up in the Easter egg hunts and munching our chocolate bunnies, let's not forget why we really celebrate Easter. No, it's not for the big, giant bunny. It's not for the chocolate.

It's because Someone loved us so much that He not only tolerated our existence--as we took every opportunity to insult and defy Him--but He died for us. He died, and God piled all our guilt on Him.

Jesus didn't do anything wrong. Think of something that was so unjust that it just made you sick. Well, it's ten times worse than that. It's like someone being falsely accused of a horrible crime while the real criminal gets off completely free, even benefits.

Please remember that Jesus not only died, but He came back to life so that we can live a new life free of guilt. Happy Easter!

Hugs & Blessings,

Izori

Merry Christmas

O little town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie;
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep the silent stars go by:
Yet in thy dark streets shineth the everlasting Light;
The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.

A stable isn't the most sanitary place to have a baby.

A feeding bin--cold and covered with animal slobber--doesn't make the best crib.

Shepherds were the only ones who came to welcome Christ. Not the cute little children with the clean lambs and smiling, adorable faces. These shepherds were like today's garbage men--rough and dirty.

All around, life milled in the crowded city. Pickpockets wove in and out of the crowd. Blindly, everyone went on, not knowing that if they could have only stopped to peek into a dirty stable, they would have seen a miracle that the world had never seen before.

But that's who Christ came to save. The blind, the selfish, the doomed for death.

The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.--Isaiah 9:2

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.--Isaiah 9:6

Have a blessed and merry Christmas!

Izori

When things don't seem to be going our way...

...all you can do is get down on your knees and pray.

God never said this life would be easy. The road's straight and narrow, and sometimes it's really lonely. Sometimes you have to wonder if maybe you're on the wrong road. Everyone feels that way at least once in their lives.

It's not easy, watching everyone sprint past you to earthly life's best pleasures on a road that seem so easy. There are so many people following the 'easy road' that it's hard not to think that so many people can be wrong.

And then you just kind of reach a point where the path seems to be crumbling underneath your feet. Echoes of Psalm 23 bounce in your head, but not the part about green pastures and quiet waters--more about the valley of the shadow of death.

I have two prayer requests, and the first is for my blogging friend, Emily. You may remember her: the same Emily who had leukemia, who we've been praying for so hard for such a long time. It seemed like things were going great, but now she's back in the hospital with a headache that's growing worse. You can read her latest update HERE.

Then there's Laurea's thirteen year old cousin, Joe. He's just been diagnosed with cancer...again. Please pray for Joe.

...yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me...

Psalm 23:4

I forget...what's thankfulness?

I am very behind on NaNoWriMo. Think a couple days worth of writing.

I am seriously starting to think I'm lactose intolerant.

I am SO behind on Biology. So behind...*moan*.

And I miss my blog! I really want to make more time to post, but things are so hectic...

Ran a 5k on Saturday in 35 minutes. No, I did not run all the way, and yes I'm a horrible runner.

Doesn't seem like I have much to be thankful about, huh?

My family. My friends (from the ones I've known since I was 3 to the ones I met this August). All this wonderful food that I can look forward to on Thursday. The ability to write. The freedom that I have in America that came at such a great cost. My health (what's left of it). My God. My church. America.

Let's thank God this Thanksgiving. No, it's not Turkey Day. What do you think we do, thank the great turkey for letting us eat him?

Thanksgiving is a day to spend time giving God the gratitude that He deserves.

Hey, we wouldn't even be here without Him. Think we could spend one day--just one day--saying thank you?

Operation: Combat! {URGENT}

Talk about brilliant ideas! Squeaks at HIDDEN DOORWAYS is starting something called Operation: Combat.

I am sure a lot of you follow Emily's blog. She's a beautiful Christian teen with leukemia.



She will be going through a bone marrow transplant. This includes chemo and radiation to destroy her bone marrow so she can get a transplant from her new baby sister.

Sounds painful?

Yeah.

Emily desperately needs your prayers, everyone.

I remember when my dad had cancer. Seriously, guys, it was hard and I wasn't even the person with the cancer. I remember watching my dad choke down every meal, even though food absolutely revolted him. I remember when we had to give up our dream of living on a farm because dad didn't want to leave mom with a bigger mortgage to pay if he died. He still has a scar on his neck from the operations, which also severed some nerves in his face. I would have meltdowns in my room every day, and muscles in my face and arms would just randomly twitch because of the stress. Cancer is life-shattering for a daughter of someone with cancer, believe me. How much more is it if you actually have cancer?

So this is Squeak's idea. During the time when Emily will be in the hospital, we can pray and fast for her. Click HERE to get to Squeak's post on Operation: Combat. I just talked to my mom, and I will be skipping dessert and occasionally some lunches.



Please, please, please, if you want to make a difference in Emily's life, join Operation: Combat. As Philippians 4 says, "The Lord is near". I know that this will encourage her.

I know that at least some of you will do this.

Where Has September Gone...?

Man alive. Is there some giant black hole somewhere that just sucks time into it? I can't believe it. It's September 20. Almost October.

AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH! *gasp* *gasp*!

Actually, I'm quite happy right now. I just got a constructed time with God. I rarely get that because I'm so busy, and it made me realize how much better I feel when I spend some time with my Father. Not the 'in-touch-with-my-inner-self' kind of feeling, but more of a peaceful feeling. It's amazing how much it makes a difference...especially 'cause I'm kind of running on caffeine right now. =)

Life has been absolutely hectic. Biology and History...both pretty cool, and both take a lot of time. And Algebra actually isn't that bad. I'm also reading Elements of Style which I'm finding very helpful. Just in time for NaNoWriMo, too!

I'm sorry I haven't really gotten to answer your guys' lovely comments! Just letting you know, I've read them all and I really, really appreciate them!

So, how has life been for you guys? Really busy? I hope I'm not alone in my overwhelmed-ness. =)

Gold

Well...here I sit in front of the computer. I feel like my life is falling around my ears in shambles. Our washing machine is yet to be fixed. Now our AC is giving us problems--and in the heat and humidity that we have, you don't want to have young children and no air conditioning. Everything is just completely thrown off balance. We were on a thin pole already, and with one shove we're teetering.

I know it's really hard to believe this in even minor calamities, but God is always in control. He knew that our washing machine would break, and it would never do so unless He wanted it to. Why? Maybe he wants to open our eyes to how dependent we are on modern conveniences. Maybe he wants us to trust in Him, because He always knows what's best...even when our life plot looks like it's taking a major twist for the worst.

Yesterday, my dad had a scan on a suspicious lump on his foot. His doctor thinks it's just a cyst, but with dad's medical history they want to be absolutely sure. We've supposed to get the results today or tomorrow. It's hard to think that those stressful months of radiation and chemo were actually by the will of God, but they were.

Dave Ramsey has an interesting metaphor. Gold is only made by heat--heat that melts the gold and brings the impurities and gunk to the top to be skimmed out. The gold is left pure, and it wouldn't have been without the strong heat. This is almost like us. Life can turn up the flames, but it's really God's way of turning us into pure gold.

Yes, the fire can hurt. But, if God is the craftsman, it will bring out things in us that we didn't even know we had. Patience. Faith. Purity.

God knows our limits even better then we do ourselves. He knows just exactly how much heat we can possibly stand before it will break us. He knows how to bring out the gold.

Izori

Tornadoes and Whirlwinds

No, we're not having tornadoes and whirlwinds at our house! =) It is raining though, which seems like a fitting ending to this day.

First of all: the whirlwind. Things have been so busy in life lately. I'm writing several stories, my script 'deadline' is August 20-something, I have summer schoolwork, the whole house is a wreck... It's not 'busy' as in a dancer performing an intricate, challenging dance, which you can look back on happy that you've done something beautiful. It's more of a 'busy' as in a watercolor painting that's been worked with too much. Everything's blurred and drab.

And, of course, the tornadoes. Remember that we got Fios, but our DVD player wasn't working? Well, now it's the entire TV that isn't working. Our washing machine was supposed to be fixed today, and well...it wasn't. One of the parts that was shipped to us was cracked. Another two weeks without a washing machine...=/

You know, usually I like wind. Somehow, it kind of reminds me of God. It's powerful, refreshing, relaxing, and just...awesome. This wind, however, is really messing with me.

Ah, well. Short, not so great post. Now I'm off to either write my script or make my bed so that I can go to bed in three hours.

Izori