preposterous

So I sat down to read the other morning and realized that one of the short stack of books on my bed side table held a similar characteristic between it's pages, a bookmark. I know it doesn't seem so preposterous that my books are sandwiching bookmarks, isn't that where bookmarks belong? Inside books? Obviously. The preposterous thing is that my bookmarks seem to find residence about 3/4 of the way through and then the binding of a new book is bent back and my interest drifts towards the beginnings of a new book. I think the creative part of me really enjoys new things, new ideas, new experiences and new starts. It's the beauty of creativity I suppose. But I want to be someone who can appreciate something new and enjoy it all the more as it becomes familiar and known. I want to soak in the richness that comes with depth and time. So I'm starting with my books, going back to the one that has been neglected for far too long and moving my little bookmark till it no longer belongs within those pages. Here's to learning something new each day, even in the things that are familiar.

william cowper

A dear friend recently shared the lyrics to this hymn and I thought I'd share them with you as well. As I was reading over them I decided to do a little research about the author and learned that ol' William:

• wrote/co-wrote 66+ hymns over his lifetime along with numerous poems
• lived most of his days in Norfolk, England
• studied to be a lawyer but never practiced law
• suffered from manic depression
• used his literary influence to support the anti-slavery movement in England
• he was close friends with John Newton, author of "Amazing Grace"
• "God Moves in a Mysterious Way" is the last hymn he wrote

"God Moves in a Mysterious Way", written by William Cowper in 1774.

God moves in a mysterious way His wonders to perform; He plants His footsteps in the sea And rides upon the storm.

Deep in unfathomable mines Of never failing skill He treasures up His bright designs And works His sovereign will.

Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take; The clouds ye so much dread Are big with mercy and shall break In blessings on your head.

Judge not the Lord by feeble sense, But trust Him for His grace; Behind a frowning providence He hides a smiling face.

His purposes will ripen fast, Unfolding every hour; The bud may have a bitter taste, But sweet will be the flower.

Blind unbelief is sure to err And scan His work in vain; God is His own interpreter, And He will make it plain.

taking time

If you know me well, you know that I love to look back through old journals and pictures that seem to capture time as it passes all too swiftly. As our team gathered together this week, we collectively practiced looking back on our experiences together this fall and what the Lord has done right before our very eyes. While many of the things mentioned were repeated as we shared, I didn't grow tired of hearing them time and time again. It seemed as if those very memories grew my appreciation and understanding for what He has done among us. He used the same situation to speak much into us as individual children and as a team. For it is only in and through and because of Him that we are satiated by His grace and provision. What a joy it is to look back and watch him make good of all that has come.

I hope that you feel connected to this portion of my journey thus far and in my desire for you to feel that I wanted to share a couple of the things that found their way from my memory to my paper:

For all the promises of God find their Yes in him [Jesus]. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory. And it is God who establishes us with you in Christ, and has anointed us, and who has also put his seal on us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.

2 Corinthians 1:20-22

{before my eyes}

• He has provided for all we need {Matthew 6:25-34}
• He has most certainly prepared the way before us in a way that we must rely on him {Isaiah 30:21}
• the soil of hearts softening {Matthew 13:18-23}

{in me}

• a deeper desire to know him {Jeremiah 29:12 & 13}
• opportunities to exercise trust in who He is {Hebrews 4:14-16}
• burden for the nations {Matthew 28:16-20}