Stopping for the Experience

The crowd was impossibly thick. Hands clung to any thread that could be reached. Thunder could not have masked the frail and desperate pleas that begged for just a fraction of a miracle. It would have been easy to press on. It would have been easy to brush aside the one hand that grazed His hem and gave Him reason to pause...

She was just another wandering soul that never dared to dream her silent prayers made it beyond the ceiling of taunting, blue sky. She was just one in the sea of faces that ebbed and flowed around Him day after day. But she caught hold of His dusty hem. It wasn't but a moment, but it was enough. She was suddenly whole. And being nothing more than one among thousands, it would have been easy for her to disappear into the barren wasteland...

It would have been easy for them to go their sepearte ways - the encounter accomplishing next to nothing.

But He stopped and called for her. She hid and he pursued her. She responded and she was known.

Suddenly she was the one among thousands. The one who stopped for the experience. The one who encountered Jesus and walked away changed for His glory.

Luke 8:42-28

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It is easy to sneak up behind Him, snatch at a piece of His hem and steal away, thinking I am nothing more than one of thousands. It is easy to believe that I blend into the chorus of voices pleading for their piece of an answered prayer. It is easy to believe He will never notice and continue on His way.

To the contrary, He pursues me and invites me to stop for the experience.

******

"Had she stolen away in the crowd, she would not have met Jesus personally or heard His words of assurance and comfort." - Warren Wiersbe (The Wiersbe Bible Commentary: New Testament, page 164)

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It is impossible to encounter Jesus and remain the same.

Isaiah 55

Something New

With a move looming in our near future, I figured I would throw in just a little more change. Nothing like a new layout to mix things up.

Thank you to Lena for giving the technically challenged an equal chance at having a beautiful blog. Her free templates are such a gift.

That's all I have time for today folks, so I'll leave you with this:

Let the beloved of the Lordrest secure in him, for he shields him all day long, and the one the LORD loves rests between his shoulders.

-Deuteronomy 33:12-

I hope you rest in Him today - at home in his presence and secure in his love.

Moving On

It's hard to believe that we've been in this city for almost a year. It seems that just weeks ago I was feeling unsettled and purposeless. Now I'm living in a place that feels, and looks, like home. Hubby and I are working jobs we really enjoy. We have friends and a church. I can drive around without a map. We know our favorite places to eat and shop. This big city isn't feeling quite so big anymore.

And just when I decided that it was time for us to settle down where we are, we are deciding to move on.

While this little one bedroom apartment of ours has been a delightful and cozy way to spend our first year living together, we do crave a bit more space. An extra bedroom where guests can rest their heads. A kitchen that is more than a corner in the living room. A living room and dining room that can host a game night or a dinner party.

Over the next couple of weeks we will sort through our closets and drawers. We will clean out cabinets and clear off shelves. We will pack our simple life into boxes and we'll move on.

And while we aren't going far, just up the street to a bigger apartment, it suddenly seems like this move will be bittersweet. We are leaving what has been our first home - not only in this city, but as a married couple as well.

It would be easy to get sentimental about this simple, small apartment. But I won't subject you to that now - especially when we have so much to look forward to...like a new place with more rooms to decorate!

A Weekend Away

Actually we've spent the past two weekends away. This weekend was fun, but a little tiring. My dear friend is now married and she and her new Hubby were wisked away to Hawaii to spend the first week of their new life together. And I discovered that I thrive on planning and directing since I was largely responsible for running her reception.

But it was our anniversary weekend that was the real delight. As I hinted, Hubby and I spent the weekend in Asheville together. Saturday afternoon we spent hours walking the streets of downtown, peeking into quaint little shops and sipping drinks from the old soda shop in the Woolsworth building.

One of our favorite parts of the whole weekend was the fun surprise we received when we checked into our hotel - our room was upgraded. So we spent the night in the biggest, softest bed I've ever seen in my life and the bathroom had one of those fancy showers. It was a delightful evening after a long afternoon walking around in the hot sun.

Sunday we spent hours on the Biltmore estate. We took a tour of the house. We had a delicious brunch at the Deerpark Restaurant. We toured the winery and had a chance to taste some of their best wines. And to top it of we spent a couple hours wandering through the 250 acres of beautiful gardens.

And of course, when we got home we had to share a slice of our anniversary tier from our wedding cake. It was amazingly good - especially since it's been in the freezer for 12 months.

It really was a fantastic weekend. We enjoyed the chance to explore, the chance to rest and the chance to cherish undisturbed time together. Our first anniversary will defnitely be one to remember.

*** My computer isn't being nice and won't let me upload my pictures from the weekend. Check back and hopefully they'll be up soon!***

Reminicising

This weekend I get to help a close, childhood friend with her wedding. I get to co-hostess her bridal luncheon. I get to help decorate for her. I get to meet the caterer and the baker and make sure they know where to go. I get to direct her reception. I get to calm her nerves and assure her that everything is where it should be.

And I get to be reminded of my own wedding. I get to be thankful for all the friends and family that did those things for me. I get to reminisce.

*****

On another note, Hubby and I enjoyed a wonderful weekend in the mountains for our anniversary and we spent all day Sunday here...

I'll share more pictures and stories on Monday. But first let me get through this weekend!

On This Day I Married My Best Friend...

I confess - today is not the actual day. Sunday is the day. June 14 is our first anniversary. But we'll be away this weekend, so this is the closest that I could get.

It's hard to believe that it's already been a year since our wedding. It seemed like the year of our engagement took forever, but I suppose that happens when you have something you are desperately looking forward to.

Its also hard to believe how much you can learn about someone in a year. He never ceases to amaze me with his kind and gentle heart; his desire to serve and love me; and his quiet and steady strength. He fills my days with great joy and has an uncanny ability to make me laugh hysterically. He is always encouraging and supporting me.

But even more than that he loves the Lord and it is clear in his daily decisions. He leads our home with a prayerful and purposeful spirit. And he always seeks to do what is best for me and for us.
What a fantastic adventure this year has been!



Photos are courtesy of Emily from Chatting at the Sky.

On this day I married my best friend. The one I live with, laugh with and love.

Happy Anniversary, Love!

Right Now I'm Watching...

...... So You Think You Can Dance!!!

I can't even begin to explain how much I love this show. I spent almost ten years training in classical ballet and while I loved it with all my heart, I really wish I could have tried other genres. But alas, permanently pointed toes tend to make me look like a freak when trying to be a cool hip-hopper. So I get to live vicariously through these dancers on my TV.

Tonight is the first night of real competition - the top 20! I can't wait to see what they've got. And I can't wait to pick my favorites. Someone is bound to be fabulous.

I hope I'm not disappointed.