christmas eve gallivants.

well, today's christmas eve. i guess i only update on holidays! after a slow cozy morning, snowflakes softly began to drift from the sky, and as the temperature has warmed significantly since yesterday [all the way up to 19F baby! windchill has improved by 32 degrees, but -1F windchill is still a bit brisk], i bundled up and set my face toward the great outdoors for a trip trap through the fields and woods.

first i looked for a perfect charlie brown christmas tree. alas, i did not bring my handsaw.

alas, i also did not bring my snowshoes. we'll use them tomorrow.

spoiler alert: we're celebrating Wilderness Wednesday tomorrow. as a whole family. 

best christmas ever. pretty extremely excited about that.

so i walked and walked, through meadow and forest, finding this and admiring that, and ofttimes sprinting across the drifts to combat that awful wind, and eventually my extremities began to warm themselves.

i especially appreciated the dinky little trees. can you tell?

and then i beheld a haywagon ripe for the picture taking, and/or a blustery ride. so i ran across the snowdrifts to investigate.

and, of course, i promptly photobombed it for posterity's sake.

eventually i found the river, and watched the snow ice-skate across it.

found another charlie-esque evergreen, and headed back into the woods.

my face was frozen, but heart was happy and hands and feet were quite cozy.

which was good, since i promptly got lost in the woods. 

i guess sometimes taking the "path less traveled by" makes a different sort of difference...

well anyway, i eventually found the right path, found the car, cranked up the christmas tunes, got home, got warm, and sat down by the fire to enjoy the beautiful day.

happy christmas to all! [don't get lost in the woods.. for too long.]

Happy Thanksgiving and Hanukkah!

It was snowing so prettily this morning, the coffee brought out the poet (and a bit of a sentimental abolitionist) within me. Happiest Thanksgiving (and Hanukkah) to you, my dear friends!

--

I'll tell you what actually happened today,

Once the sun was awake and the clouds flew away:

The stars looked down and saw the earth,

And shook themselves free from their twilit berths;

They came whirling and floating and dancing on down,

And scarcely a one did touch even the ground,

And the sun shone bright as they twinkled and swirled,

For the starry heavens had given the world

Just the tiniest glimpse of the wonders of night,

When their star-snow-diamonds took to flight;

And the day did sparkle and glimmer and glisten,

But did seeing eyes see, and hearing ears listen?

The multitudes hurried along their way,

Shouting good cheer and bustling all day

To prepare the way for the holidays

With grim obligation and mindless glaze,

Because, "Really, there's so much work to be done,

And there's a high modern standard for good modern fun,

Which doesn't involve too much head, soul, or heart;

Just money and things and photographable art,

And running and rushing and doing and going

And performing" -- and wait; do you see it's still snowing?

Those glistening flakes do give my heart a whirl,

But maybe I'm just too old-fashioned a girl.

Whate'er your opinion, I believe it to be

A sign from above, meant for you, them, and me.

As the Father of Lights giveth good gifts to each,

Contented thanks-giving is not out of our reach.

The Light of the world doth illuminate all;

Lift your eyes, and behold; His great goodness recall.

-akj, 28 nov 2013 ❤

Tack, O Gud.

tonight i was looking, playing, reading, and singing through our old covenant hymnal. as it is nearly thanksgiving, this one caught my eye. [also, it's original text was in swedish, which is a fool-proof annie trap, really: anything in swedish.] i made up a new little tune for it, and put together three quick tracks on garageband. it's been a long time since i've done anything of the kind.

it sums up a long season, and unfailing lovingkindness Himself.

Thanks to God for my Redeemer,
Thanks for all Thou dost provide!
Thanks for times now but a memory,
Thanks for Jesus by my side!
Thanks for pleasant, balmy springtime,
Thanks for dark and dreary fall!
Thanks for tears by now forgotten,
Thanks for peace within my soul!

Thanks for prayers that Thou hast answered, Thanks for what Thou dost deny! Thanks for storms that I have weathered, Thanks for all Thou dost supply! Thanks for pain, and thanks for pleasure, Thanks for comfort in despair! Thanks for grace that none can measure, Thanks for love beyond compare!

Thanks for roses by the wayside, Thanks for thorns their stems contain! Thanks for home and thanks for fireside, Thanks for hope, that sweet refrain! Thanks for joy and thanks for sorrow, Thanks for heavenly peace with Thee! Thanks for hope in the tomorrow, Thanks through all eternity! Amen.

-August Ludvig Storm, 1891 (Translated by Carl E. Backstrom 1901-?)

On brokenness.

“Those who are broken in wealth, and broken in self-will, and broken in their ambitions, and broken in their beautiful ideals, and broken in worldly reputation, and broken in affections, and broken ofttimes in health; those who are despised and seem utterly forlorn and helpless, the Holy Ghost is seizing upon, and using for God’s glory. 'The lame take the prey,' Isaiah tells us.”

--Streams in the Desert

There is nothing

More glorious

Than the first

Day of snow.

It's like apple pie.

Sometimes you just really want dessert. But when most dairy products make you sick, and gluten is bad for you, and sugar gives you a whopping headache (and/or all of the above are taboo), you have to improvise.

So here's the deal.

Slice up an apple or two from the tree outside.

Slide a little butter into a small pan, and let it melt.

Add the apples, a couple packs of Truvia, and a big old sprinkle of cinnamon, and simmer away.

As an afterthought, crumble some walnuts on top and let them get all warm and cozy in the apples. (Or better yet, toast the walnuts in the pan before you add anything else.)

Add more cinnamon, because cinnamon is awesome.

Once the nuts are warm and the apples are soft and gooey, scoop them into a bowl and top them with a big dollop of plain Greek yogurt. And more cinnamon. 

(The trick with the yogurt is that it adds protein, to balance out the carbs in the apples, and an undeniable creamy factor, since ice cream is, like, verboten.)

Voila! Tastes like amazing apple crisp, with no sugar or gluten, high protein (yogurt plus walnuts), a little fat (which is good for you, and even tastes like butter, because it is), and some good carbs (fresh picked apples). Ok, and cinnamon obviously adds the unmistakable flavor of fall, and is good for your memory, or something. I forget. (Which is kind of hilarious because I eat a lot of cinnamon, so I ought to remember). 

It's November! 

(I also had a little coffee today; can you tell?)

Life is totally worth enjoying in November. 

Samuel Longfellow, 1864

I look to Thee in every need,

And never look in vain;

I feel Thy strong and tender love,

And all is well again:

The thought of Thee is mightier far

Than sin and pain and sorrow are.

Discouraged in the work of life,

Disheartened by its load,

Shamed by its failures or its fears,

I sink beside the road;

But let me only think of Thee

And then new heart springs up in me.

Thy calmness bends serene above,

My restlessness to still;

Around me flows Thy quickening life,

To nerve my faltering will;

Thy presence fills my solitude;

Thy providence turns all to good.

Embosomed deep in Thy dear love,

Held in Thy law, I stand;

Thy hand in all things I behold,

And all things in Thy hand;

Thou leadest me by unsought ways,

And turn'st my mourning into praise.

Amen.

i'd like to bake a carrot cake.

but the trouble is, i don't feel particularly inclined to peel carrots. also, i have no pineapple. the internet tells me i can substitute apples for pineapples; it must be the common denominator in name. [sometimes that works in other places, but don't count on it.] but wouldn't i need to peel them too? that just gave me a great mental picture of peeling a pineapple. first i'd peel away the pine, then the apple. i've decided to write instead. maybe it'll muster up courage. maybe it'll burn energy. only time shall tell.

i used to bake a lot. i rather enjoy baking. the conditions in which baking holds the most possible joy for one such as i are as follows: one, quiet house; two, kitchen to myself; three, good music; and four, all the time in the world. somewhere amidst the vast unseen wiring of my brain and, therefore, person, there exists a very low capacity for tolerating loud noises, the feeling of being rushed, and a shared kitchen. i dearly love the people with whom i do dwell, and i am assured of their lifelong love for me [as i have dwelt among them, and never once in a tent, since the dawn of my understanding of time.. give or take a few years in europe], but when i have asserted myself into the creative and tactile pleasures of baking, i do not especially relish anyone's presence. i think it makes me feel as though i may possibly make a mistake [people are terribly distracting]. and if you're going to go through all the trouble of baking something, it's preferable to know what you're doing and/or feel confident that it may indeed succeed. [that being said, i am capable of baking in the presence of others, and experienced at failing at baked goods; be all at rest, insecure baker or bakeress.] [[i just made up that word and i think it's tops. also, it rhymes with rest.]] also i don't eat much that can be baked anymore, unless it's a vegetable.

i used to blog a lot too. the vague realization that nearly 14,000 people have visited my blog has recently arisen upon me. [..has recently upon me arisen. i like version two better. either it reminds me of foreign grammar, or old books. probably both.] the general perusal of the posts i've posted heretofore will verify the veracity of this and the aforementioned paragraphs' point.

but the point is, i don't really bake or blog anymore. it's kind of weird. well, to be entirely factual, i don't really do much of anything anymore. i used to work; stopped. i used to bike; got cold. i used to do lots of things; got sick. this summer i read a million and a half books [actually, it was 30]; don't even really do much of that anymore. kind of.

last week i had a really hard week. it felt like my brains went on furlough and forgot to invite me along. i couldn't think, and that's kind of my favorite pastime. i couldn't read two sentences together, but neither of them made any sense on their own anyway. it was kind of scary. i felt so disconnected and unable to reconnect to anything at all. but i slept a lot; that was a plus. i am really grateful for sleep. some nights i wake up three or four times, but last week i mainly could sleep anytime, forever. "He giveth to His beloved sleep."

i stopped consuming all forms of caffeine five months ago, in the beginning of june. [here's a few brief tips: be prepared for the worst week of your life // you will become unusually angry // valid explanations of your behavior are gladly accepted // if you don't explain, they may just assume you've turned into a crazy person // the headaches don't last more than a week // it is possible, but for heaven's sake do it in the summertime.] life became much slower paced, due to various circumstances and choices. it was good. but having tasted and seen the glorious horizons of a once-caffeinated brain, it's hard to come back down to normal life without it. i was sick, uncaffeinated, and thoroughly unamused. and i like being amused. but i was resting.

i kind of go through phases of amusement/unamusement. first, after giving up caffeine, and having been given a reason to give up the rest of the busyness, i amused myself by sleeping as much as i needed. then by soaking up all the summer sun rays i could manage. then by riding my bike slowly into the sunset nearly every evening. and by reading all the classic children's books i could find. and by gallivanting out in nature. and by instagramming tiny beautiful things for which i was thankful.

and i was thankful. and i appreciated those lovely things. but somewhere in the mix, either the wonder, the practicability, or the energy for all of those wore off, and i found myself last week again encased in blankets, with no more summer to cheer me up. so i had a cup of green tea on saturday. it was really hard to do. i'd been perfect at not having caffeine for five months. i didn't like what it was doing to me back then, and i stopped it. i didn't want to trick my adrenals anymore that they actually worked when they actually didn't. but i bit the proverbial bullet and made the tea. and it helped. and it reminded me that though it may be figuratively or actually dark, the dawn of hope yet remains. i could think again, and could focus all my energy into ridding my abode of long-ignored clutter and dust. i could make jokes again; it's been months since i could do that. i could walk around without feeling i may tip over at any moment. i could focus better than i had in many weeks.

i had a little caffeine yesterday, and got through a long day at church without the usual desire to flee from all personal contact. it isn't that i don't like people; it's just that there isn't anything in me to say, and that's a crushing realization, and one that's easier dealt with by flight than by fighting it out or explaining. i had a little more green tea today, but it didn't all the way help. at least it has antioxidants.

i've more or less been able to read again in the last few days too. i'm thankful for that. somehow all of the hundreds of books with which i'm daily surrounded lost all their charm and interest for a while. so i waited, and i'm gradually getting back into it. not dozens at a time, but one really good re-read is currently delighting me.

i think i had a really good and clever point toward which i was coming in a roundabout way for this post, but i think i may have forgotten. if you'd like to be amused, read through the posts from 2010 and 2011. they're hilarious. i was in the thick of a different health adventure then, but one infused with a bit more pharmaceutical energy.

eventually i suppose i shall arrive back at a place of creativity again. i'll be glad for such a day. but i know that this season is teaching me and shaping me into something better than i could ever have been in its absence, so i'm thankful. someday i'll have enough internal resources stored up to peel all the carrots, and the pineapple to boot; to write a blog post from beginning to end on the same train of thought; to read books and see people and have things to say; to stand up without immediately wanting to sit back down for internal reasons; to go places again; to have a cup of coffee for really reals just because i like it.

but tonight i've done all i can do, and it's enough. isn't it wonderful to realize how much grace the Lord constantly extends to us? if we were always strong, we wouldn't need grace. if we were never weak, we'd never know what paul told the second-corinthians to be true. but when we're just too weak to bear anything at all, we've still got the same amount of grace. and God's not upset because we're doing less highly-caffeinated and in-some-ways-possibly-regrettable busy little things. "i'm learning the to-be of be still." être. selah.

so if it's a choice between carrot cake and grace, i'll take the grace. these mountainous obstacles of tiny everyday things which today seem so terribly impossible to overcome shall one day become a plain, with shouts of grace, grace to it.

that one time when i made a cd

my paypal account has been charged. my album has been uploaded, artwork and all.
all i'm waiting for is an email saying we're ready to roll.

it's official.

THE PROCESS will be released by next tuesday.

if you are interested, here are the album notes, explaining what this project is all about. read them for now, and stay on itunes alert!

----

The Process is a progression of songs I wrote in 2011-2012. I was in between seasons of knowing what I was supposed to do with my life; in fact, that has been my foremost motivation in writing songs since 2007. I want to do God's will, and I want to live by faith; but faith is not sight, and in much eager searching of the Scriptures, I've come to find that more often than the commands of "Go" and "Do" are those of "Wait" and "Be Still". God's Word says that those who wait for the Lord shall be blessed, and shall not be ashamed.

In my eagerness to go and do, the Lord has continually, emphatically, and sometimes painfully, told me to wait. He doesn't tell us to wait to be cruel to us. God's patience is a great deal higher than my thoughts can ever comprehend. He waits that He may have mercy upon us. To our fickle human understanding it seems unfathomable to not grant requests when perfectly capable of so doing. But having been brought to places where there is no apparent way out, I have learned that God's goodness requires that His ways and thoughts be higher than mine. He knows, He sees, and He is always good.

As I have said, many of my songs have been an attempt at grasping this fact, while crying out for wisdom and understanding and direction. God's Word says that my ears will hear a word behind me, saying, "This is the way, walk in it," whenever I turn to the right or the left. God's Word says that He will never leave me nor forsake me; therefore I may boldly and confidently say, "The Lord is my Helper; what can man do to me?" The Bible, as God's inspired, infallible Word, gives us vast, great, wonderful promises such as these. If we will hear these words and believe them, we are blessed; and we shall see God's powerful hand at work on our behalf. "Stand still and see the salvation of the Lord."

"I would have lost heart, unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait on the Lord, be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart. Wait, I say, on the Lord."

While writing these songs, one of my most-read authors was Oswald Chambers. The inspiration for the title of this album comes from this quote, out of his book, "So Send I You" - ironically, it's a book about being sent out as a missionary, which aligned with my hopes at this time in my life; but there is a deeper lesson within it, regardless of calling or place. We are called to simply belong to the Lord, and trust Him through ordinary circumstances to "order our way aright." The times of stillness in the wilderness come not by mistake or neglect; they are the very seasons which fit us for that which is ahead. Here is the quote:

'Each one of us has a counterpart somewhere in the experiences of these three men of God. In the case of Abraham, the valley of humiliation lasted thirteen years; Moses, forty years; Isaiah, a few minutes. No two of us are alike, each one stands alone before God. Your valley may be a darkness where you have nothing but your duty to guide you, no voice, no thrill, but just steady, plodding duty; or it may be a deep agonizing dejection at the realization of your unfitness and uncleanness and insufficiency. Let God put you on His wheel and whirl you as He likes, and as sure as God is God and you are you, you will turn out exactly in accordance with the vision He gave you. Don't lose heart in the process.'

This album is my testimony that God is faithful, even when I don't know, and I can't see, and all seems lost. I've learned to slow down since writing these songs; I still "ask and seek and knock," as He commanded us, but I have found a peace in Him that rests on His unchanging goodness and faithfulness. I have found that the purpose of life is not how much one can accomplish, or how fast you can move from one thing to the next. If we are to "be still and know that He is God," the doing thereof takes a certain amount of literally being still. I've been nearly stopped in my tracks, even since the recording of this project in early 2013. I've been commanded by outside sources and personal lack of all strength to be still and to rest. While some may consider this a terrible disruption to plans (by the way, who plans their steps and Who establishes them? The Proverbs will tell you about that), I've realized what precious riches I've been given. I am among the privileged few who get to learn stillness without the harried scurry of modern life. These songs, written 1-2 years ago, are continually coming back to my remembrance, and I understand them better with the passing of time.

In resting and being still, I've found that the purpose of life is truly in knowing God. We can know God in manifest ways. We can recognize His tender care for a flock of sparrows in a hedgerow on a cold and blustery day, and in "considering the birds of the air" we see His character and concern, and with renewed confidence we trust His care over us, and rejoice along with these beloved creatures; like them, we're doing what we're supposed to do if we trust Him! That is the theme of track one, Birds. We can know God's goodness in seeing the process of life, when we behold "the lilies of the field" (or dandelions and butterflies in the ditches of cornfields), and their utter dependence on God's gracious rain and warm sun and hardy winds which strengthen; that is the theme of the final track, Ditches. We are called to consider these small, humble, reliant things, made and kept so carefully and exquisitely by the hand of God, and in the consideration of them we learn of Him and know Him more completely.

These two considerations seemed a fitting beginning and end to this project. Life is a process. Considering brings the sense and value to that process. Track two, Snome, was written after a paradigm-shifting trip to Europe and the Middle East; it caused me to seek to really know and understand the Gospel, even while the conclusion of the trip brought more uncertainty as I returned home. Travel is an invaluable experience, one which I would highly encourage to everyone, because it enables and enriches perspective. It also changes us; and once changed, we realize that part of our life and strength and affection is scattered all this world abroad, and therefore cannot be simply confined to one area anymore. It leads to the question of home: where is it? how does it happen? can it ever be refound? It's a breaking process, but one that drives us to the only One who remains unchangeable, and Who therefore is our home as "sojourners and pilgrims on the earth" until we come permanently to His mansions in the sky.

Faithful is the next in this process: first we stop to consider how well the Lord cares for His own, whether great or small, which must of course include me, regardless of placement on this globe, which must resound in songs of praise, and strong, bold confidence in His promises. He has ever proven Himself to be true. This song is basically a list of every way I could think of that God describes Himself as faithful in His Word, written right after my plans had quite fallen through. This is the first song, chronologically, that I wrote for this album. When things fall apart, and we don't know what to do, we must run to the Word. It is there that we shall find hope and peace and "quietness and confidence."

Thyme is an herb; perhaps you've heard of it. I have heard that over time, certain plants have been associated with particular meanings or symbolic ideas. Thyme's meaning, for which reason I am yet unaware, is courage. "Courage, dear heart," those words so heartening to Lucy from her dear Aslan, gave strength and steadfastness to continue on. This song is more particularly about time, but I do not think thyme and courage to be frivolous associations to it. No fruit happens without time, and fruit is God's business; have you noticed that? In seasons of waiting there shall be long, open stretches of seeming drudgery. Then is the very time we must "be of good courage, and strengthen our hearts" - courage, dear heart. He's got you.

Hey Little is a very personal song to me. It was written and roughly recorded within the space of an hour, in a dark little apartment in Germany, partly to encourage a friend and partly to encourage myself, written from God's vantage point, at a point when fear was very real indeed. He loves us. He doesn't want us to fret; that only causes harm.  This gentle waltz is a Father beckoning His dear child to come, take His hand, and let Him lead, although that child may adamantly deny any skill at dancing. Again, it is a picture of trust (as, you may have noticed, are all of these songs about the process; perhaps the process itself is faith? or letting go? or learning to rejoice without knowing?). It's a bit of call and response, as my own weary frame cries out in calm and resigned realization, that really what I need is Him; really all I need is Him. And He lets me enjoy the dance with Him, if I let my little heart slow down and rest.

Sweet Savior is, again, autobiographical, but maintains the contrast between my utter frailty and incapability and God's unfathomable mercy and love. This song was nearly the last written of these songs, chronologically, and is not the same in nature as the rest. Instead of crying out in desperation and quandary, the realization of the Savior's vast worth and unmerited favor has already dawned upon the heart, and it responds with the best weakness it can give. The process is a humbling one, dear friend; but we know very well to be true that "blessed are the meek." Blessed because we've learned meekness from trusting the Meekest One of all, and meek because we're so undeserving of such blessing.

Ditches, as I've already described, is another consideration. A storm is coming; the butterflies are trembling and fluttering around as the wind picks up and the scent of rain begins to assail the senses. In it all, they know it's a blessing. Perhaps one storm, one process, has been successfully weathered, but of necessity more shall arise. Life is never a race to the finish line; much more often it feels like a merry-go-round. You think you've passed something for good; but wait! there it is again. The process is as such. But we needn't "fear the storm; for we are learning to sail our ship."

The picture on the album cover is of a massive, sturdy, time-tested cedar tree. I love going to the woods and fields and hills for inspiration (have you noticed?); on this particular walk I was awed to behold such majesty. Mighty cedars don't grow in a day. A tree of this size is very old, and has withstood a great many terrible winters, beating winds, humid hot summer days, and driving rains. A tree of this size has been faithful to its calling: it has been a tree, in season and out of season, straight and tall and true. "The righteous shall flourish like a palm tree, He shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon." Cedars have a deep significance, a beautiful scent, and are highly valued for the strength and longevity of their lumber. Imagine the roots that such a giant would require; upon what am I anchored? It had better be a firm rock, and they had better be deep roots. The picture focuses on the trunk and the roots - seemingly commonplace things, not nearly so glorious as the treetop or branches; this was intentional. The process is not glamorous, but it is deep and necessary, and is beautiful even in its roughness. "Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, and whose hope is the Lord. For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, which spreads out its roots by the river, and will not fear when heat comes; but its leaf will be green, and will not be anxious in the year of drought, nor will cease from yielding fruit." I want to be like a cedar, no matter how long the process takes.

This album could not possibly have come to existence without the vast amounts of time, musical and production skills, encouragement, and overall insistence of a dear brother in Christ, Greg Fadness. I am indebted to his kindness, which was great indeed. Thank you, sir, for your example and personal investment into this project. My family has been incredibly kind and patient to me and encouragingly impatient about this whole deal coming to life at long last. I love you, family: each of you has played a deep part in the process of my life, as well as the writing of these songs, and the coming-to-be of this album. Thanks to Tyler for flying out to Idaho to record it with me, and for all three of my brothers' impeccably high standards in music. My church, the people in our community, and friends flung wide across the earth, have been very supportive of this, much more than I thought I deserved!

I pray that this album is a blessing to each of its hearers; in fact, many months of prayers to that effect have prefaced this one. These songs are rough little glimpses at some of the gloriousness of God and His kindly dealings with mankind. It is an album by no means perfect or complete, but neither am I. It would be a disservice to present myself as any less flawed than I truly am; but I'm being transformed, and so are you, if you're letting God put you on His wheel and spin you as He likes.

"For now we see as in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known."
"But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord."

Thank you for listening. Don't lose heart in the process.

gratuitous blog post of the summer.

i never post on here anymore [obviously], but here's a whack at what's been going on.

album is finished but not yet released- needs artwork. i'm fairly happy with the end result, although it's difficult to be completely objective about it. it's been quite "the process". who knows when it'll be released? motivation eludes me.

i've had a quiet summer, having been thoroughly exhausted and diagnosed with adrenal fatigue, after traveling all spring. the traveling was wonderful, and the quiet restful season has been wonderful in a different way. i've read 30+ books this summer. i've also ridden my bicycle, reveled in picking from the garden, and slept 14 hours a day for weeks on end. i'm not working anymore; doc's orders for a month, but until i feel significantly better i'll not be working. it's kind of really nice.

my brothers played worship with me at church this summer, and at camp a few times. now one is in california and the other in italy, as they both study at bible college. i'll miss them. i'm the only kid at home now. i'm hoping to visit italy this winter, if all goes well. my oldest brother brought the nephews and dinner over last night, and we had a grand old time. my mum has been taking the nephews for nature walks at the state park every week, and i've been joining them. we find frogs, leaves, ovenbirds, and crayfish, get sunburnt and muddy, and have picnics which always end in ninja-snap cookies. it's lovely.

i had a lymph node removed from my neck this week, and i'm still recovering from surgery [which means feeling less well]. biopsy will come in a few days. my life is one long extended health problem, it seems! i don't feel terrible, but i haven't felt great for many months. come what may, i'm confident that the Lord knows, sees, and is always good.

i'm surprisingly ready for fall weather, as august was rather brutal toward its last weeks, but unnerved by the thought of winter. i'm sad to see the sun setting earlier every day, but always happy to see it set, nonetheless. in a few days my parents and i will head toward the border for a lovely few days spent relaxing on the north shore. i really can't wait.

life never remains the same, does it? last year at this time i was racing pell-mell between ministries and bible studies and worship nights and discipleship and meetings and work and friends, and barely sleeping; this year i'm not, but i'm well-rested enough to notice the smaller delights of life. i'm learning to stress less, and to enjoy more. to say yes less immediately, and no more confidently. to keep margin in my life. perhaps i've gone a bit overboard and have become a hermit; but i'm really quite content to just be and not do. the things i do are heartfelt, and who i am is more assured. it's been necessary.

life is never as expected either, is it? i'd made ever so many plans and thoughts for this season, but i find myself in an entirely new realm that's unseen, unknown, and not changing very fast. so be it. "take your share of the suffering...and do it in the power of God" are the words spoken from 2 timothy to my heart these past couple of days. no routine shall exist forever. no plans shall stand unless the Lord establishes them. i'm willing to go and to do, but not nearly so desperate about it. life is meant to be lived, not just ground out as fast as possible.

so here i am. "whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say, 'It is well, it is well with my soul.'"

Blessings Out of Buffetings

Consider the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ as He taught and confounded the so-called intellectualism of His day. The Spirit-taught mind is the portion of the person who, through waiting upon God, has been taught by the Spirit of God, and in whose life it is equally true that the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and who has within him the light and enlightenment of soul that can never be obtained from any university anywhere. It has come because it has been imparted by the Holy Spirit into the heart from heaven, "For He shall take of the things of Christ and reveal them unto you ... He shall guide you into all truth," in effect, said our Master. He it is who will take of the things of Christ and reveal them to you. He imparts truth to you as no other ever could. Is yours a Spirit-taught mind, a life with the ability in the Holy Spirit to teach what only He can impart?

Again, is there about our lives, as there was about the Lord Jesus (and how this hits home in these days of haste and feverish rush!), a leisureliness of spirit, a quietness of heart, a readiness day by day to wait upon Him for His guidance and direction? Or are we just blustering our way through at our own pace and in our own time, far outmatching the pace of God and leaving behind altogether the guiding of His Spirit? Is yours a leisurely heart today? Spiritual leisureliness and human pressures are not necessarily antagonistic to each other. If there was anybody who knew pressure upon Him, it was the Master, but in the midst of it all there was a divine leisureliness of soul. And this is what a feverish world needs to see and to have revealed to it: that quietness of spirit, that absence of strain and tension, that sense of release in the Spirit of Christ.

- Alan Redpath

summer is

the sweetest and the best.

unfailing.

who knows the mind of the Lord?
who has become His counselor?
You made the heavens with a word
unsearchable

You are the Author and Finisher
our greatest treasure, Counselor
oh the depths of wisdom, Your very word
unsearchable

Your ways, higher than my understanding
Your grace, deeper than the sea
Your strength, perfect in my weakness
You are unfailing

You are the anchor of our soul
steadfast and constant, immovable
all-knowing Father, You're in control
unshakeable

Your love is stronger than all my fear
Your presence sweeter, it draws me near
no trial deep, You're not deeper still
immeasurable, immeasurable

Your ways, higher than my understanding

Your grace, deeper than the sea

Your strength, perfect in my weakness

You are unfailing

our life is hidden in Christ alone

our future certain before His throne

our Savior saved us, the work is done

unchangeable, unchangeable

-scott cunningham

album leaf.

i'm flying to Boise tomorrow.
i'm leading worship in Twin Falls on Sunday.
i'm recording an album on Monday and Tuesday.
i'm coming home Wednesday.

blessed.

now thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!

I heard the river running.