You Are My Strong Tower, Fortress When I’m Weak

” …people are haunted by the idea from the intellectual heights that life is, in reality, absurd.” p. 10 The Divine Conspiracy by Dallas Willard

Loving this book and definitely have felt like that before.  Like life is boring, not purposeful, the same thing over and over.  But not today and for that I’m thankful.  I’m thankful for dreaming, realistic planning, being able to run 5 miles, a camera, good talks after Core Team (even if I went to bed WAY too late), exciting plans, achieving goals, friends home from Australia (above! with yummy fruit), biking, Kutless (I love their songs “Strong Tower” and “Take Me In”–can we say, repeat), and that tomorrow is Friday!

No goose, but there was a rabbit!

Yay. I ran 5 miles.  Sorry if the slideshow doesn’t show up unless you click on the view all images. I’m being technologically challenged–boo.

p.s. The title of this post makes sense when you know that I want to read this and review it on my blog!

That’s how fast I run, of course…

Daring Bakers…

I tried…and then realized that if I’m going to bake I need more sugar than I had and that I don’t own a food processor and that well let’s be honest I don’t own a lot of baking tools. Although, a while before I tried a previous challenge and that turned out so I forgo the “disaster–aka the hazelnuts are too big” pictures and give you these instead. heh. enjoy 🙂

Cheesefries

This fun little article informed me that the FDA has no definition of “all natural.”  So, when you hear on that advertisement that the chicken or beef or what have you is “all natural” run.  They might be lying!  I’ve heard the book contains fun, disappointing little facts about what menu items may be deceiving and appear to be healthy when in fact they can be over 1000 calories.  Yikes, kind of makes me not want to eat out ever again!  But…let’s be honest, that won’t happen.  Eating out can be fun.  I’ll just make sure not to order the Outback Aussie Cheesefries coming in at 2,900 calories 🙂

 

Bursting Inside

I’m overflowing with thoughts, ideas, words, sentences, and creativity.  I wish I could throw all of them on the page right now, but I know I need to process.  Sorry this is a teaser post.  Tomorrow is another day.

Ragamuffintop Challenge Week 9

Sunday: 30 minute run/walk

Monday: 50 minutes of Biggest Loser Cardio

Tuesday: 10 minutes of Biggest Loser Body Sculpt, 1 hour of tennis, 50 minute walk

Wednesday: 10 minutes of Pilates, 45 minute bike ride

Thursday: Walked 45 minutes

Friday: Drove home 🙂

Saturday: Biked 45 minutes

Sunday: Biked 40 minutes, Ran 21 minutes, swam 1 minute haha

Monday: Run/walk 25 minutes, walked and talked a lot more…hour? longer? 

Thoughts: A bit late, but better than never.  🙂 I got nothing else.

I bought a cd…

When I wander through the desert

And I’m longing for my home

All my dreams have gone astray

When I’m stranded in the valley

And I’m tired and all alone

It seems like I’ve lost my way

I go running to Your mountain 

Where Your mercy sets me free

Take me past the outer courts

Into the Holy Place

Past the brazen altar

Lord, I want to see Your face

Cowgirl fun!

Go here and look at the second to last picture! So much fun 🙂  I love how she wore cowgirl boots too!

Closest Friends

 

“Everyone approaches God with a set of preconceptions gleaned from many sources: church, Sunday school lessons, books, movies, sermons by television evangelists, stray comments by believers and skeptics alike. These tend to linger, as afterimages burned into the mind. … I spend time with my closest friends not because of what they can do for me but for the pleasure of their company. How can I do that with God?”

Philip Yancy quote from this post.

God’s Will–I want Direction and I want it now! :)

I listened to Andy Stanley’s podcast about God’s Will today and found myself left with a heap of questions.  Retrospective thinking brings up even more questions!  So here are some of my notes and quotes from the podcast:

• God does not give us direction so that we can take it into consideration
• Do I only want to trust Him with part of my heart so that I can keep my options open in case I don’t like His so much?
• “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:5-6

Personal thoughts:

• I weigh option after option and look at the issue from all sides.  Giving up control is a big stumbling block for me.  I like big-picture plans.  I can be flexible, but I don’t like change.
• I lean on my own finances, abilities, intelligence, and experience more often than not.
• Am I ready to acknowledge Him in all ways and let go of my own understanding? I pray that my heart would be willing.
• Are God’s plans just taken “into consideration” in my life or are they the only way?

Sorry for the questions over thoughts, but here’s to wrestling through the written word.  Blog readers beware.  I’m hoping to listen to Part 2 of the series tomorrow.  More thoughts and questions, I’m sure, to come!