same blog title, similar style content, new location.
join me at https://alittlebitmoresite.wordpress.com
I hope to reconnect with you there! :)
~Becky
"As the Spirit of the Lord works within us, we become more and more like him and reflect his glory even more." 2 Corinthians 3:18
20.10.16
20.5.14
revival
It's been many months of living life without feeling compelled at all to write anything in this space. Some sweet friends have asked about it, and I can't tell you how much it means to me that you would even ask - you know who you are!
So this morning I am here.
I drove my husband to work and as I made the very short drive home, I heard a particular song on our local Christian radio station. Don't you love it when you've heard a song a million times and it's never even registered in your brain, and then one day... I heard the song and as I revelled in the truth of it in my life, I also began to think about how it could be effective with a group of recovering addicts that I get to sing with every so often. I came home and found the music online so I could try it out. As I watched the music print, something began to stir in me. Something that hasn't stirred in too long. (not shaken or stirred - haha, do you get the 007 reference? ....i've never even seen the movie, why that come to mind?...)
but I digress....
I grabbed the music from the printer and grabbed a big stack of paper that had been silent and sat down. As I began to play and sing, the release came. The funny thing is, I play and sing all the time. It's kinda my job to do so! But this playing, this singing is different. This is personal and so often where the Spirit speaks to me. And yet, the music has stayed neatly stacked and the keys have remained silent. So many days I've felt "bored" and looked at those keys and then walked away. But this time, even as I sat down I knew it would be different. It would be different by being the same as it had been so many times before.
I sang and played and waited.
I waited for what the Lord wanted to me to hear. And then it came. A couple of lines in a song I learned last fall when Hillsong released a new album.
Now, I wouldn't consider myself as one walking through the fire, but I can tell you I've felt as grey as the sky is today. Last week I searched the Word for verses related to "revive" and "restore" as I waited for the cloud to lift. (Look! Ps 85:6; Isa 58:12; Ps 51:12; 1 Pet 5:10) There is Truth and comfort in the Word. Isaiah 57:14-15 gives such a great reminder that I need to get the obstacles out of the way as I wait.
He is a God who cares about the "grey" and He desires for me to be full of His light.
So that song - it reminded me that I am not revived because I suddenly have a burst of energy or have had a good laugh (or cry). I'm revived in His story. Can you just sit back and think for a moment about the fact that YOU get to be part of His story? That before the creation of the world, He saw the very role YOU would play in His grand production? (Eph 1:4; 1 Pet 1:20)
And I was reminded that there is nothing more that God needs to do to "prove" how much He loves me. "I look to the cross and my failure is lost." Oh, what joy to think that I would forget, lose the memory and sting of how I've failed, by fixing my eyes on the cross of Christ. That's what He paid for!
So here's the song for you to listen to, if you've made it to the end of this post. :) But don't forget to open the Word today, dear friend.
So this morning I am here.
I drove my husband to work and as I made the very short drive home, I heard a particular song on our local Christian radio station. Don't you love it when you've heard a song a million times and it's never even registered in your brain, and then one day... I heard the song and as I revelled in the truth of it in my life, I also began to think about how it could be effective with a group of recovering addicts that I get to sing with every so often. I came home and found the music online so I could try it out. As I watched the music print, something began to stir in me. Something that hasn't stirred in too long. (not shaken or stirred - haha, do you get the 007 reference? ....i've never even seen the movie, why that come to mind?...)
but I digress....
I grabbed the music from the printer and grabbed a big stack of paper that had been silent and sat down. As I began to play and sing, the release came. The funny thing is, I play and sing all the time. It's kinda my job to do so! But this playing, this singing is different. This is personal and so often where the Spirit speaks to me. And yet, the music has stayed neatly stacked and the keys have remained silent. So many days I've felt "bored" and looked at those keys and then walked away. But this time, even as I sat down I knew it would be different. It would be different by being the same as it had been so many times before.
I sang and played and waited.
I waited for what the Lord wanted to me to hear. And then it came. A couple of lines in a song I learned last fall when Hillsong released a new album.
I'll walk through the fire with my head lifted high
And my spirit revived in Your story
I'll look to the cross as my failure is lost
In the light of Your glory and grace
Now, I wouldn't consider myself as one walking through the fire, but I can tell you I've felt as grey as the sky is today. Last week I searched the Word for verses related to "revive" and "restore" as I waited for the cloud to lift. (Look! Ps 85:6; Isa 58:12; Ps 51:12; 1 Pet 5:10) There is Truth and comfort in the Word. Isaiah 57:14-15 gives such a great reminder that I need to get the obstacles out of the way as I wait.
And it will be said:
“Build up, build up, prepare the road!
Remove the obstacles out of the way of my people.”
For this is what the high and exalted One says—
he who lives forever, whose name is holy:
“I live in a high and holy place,
but also with the one who is contrite and lowly in spirit,
to revive the spirit of the lowly
and to revive the heart of the contrite.
He is a God who cares about the "grey" and He desires for me to be full of His light.
Restore us, O God;
make your face shine on us,
that we may be saved.
Psalm 80:3
And I was reminded that there is nothing more that God needs to do to "prove" how much He loves me. "I look to the cross and my failure is lost." Oh, what joy to think that I would forget, lose the memory and sting of how I've failed, by fixing my eyes on the cross of Christ. That's what He paid for!
So here's the song for you to listen to, if you've made it to the end of this post. :) But don't forget to open the Word today, dear friend.
The unfolding of your words gives light;
it gives understanding to the simple.
Psalm 119:130
13.12.13
home
This morning I reached for my new coffee cup and thought of my granny. Birds always make me think of her. She knew about all kinds of local birds and took pleasure in feeding them. She taught me how to call chickadees to let them know the feeder had been filled.This will be her first Christmas in heaven.
I've always thought of heaven as kind of a big camp fire - everyone gathered around, sharing stories. And as they share, they realize with complete clarity that Christ was with them every step of the way. Sometimes the stories will recount dark days of disappointment and sadness, but they won't be sad tales. They will be testimonies of Jesus' presence. Sometimes the stories will be interrupted with bursts of laughter because sometimes life is just crazy-hilarious. But these moments won't leave the Lord out of the spotlight because then, too, will it be obvious that even if it seemed like a "non-spiritural" kind of event, He was there. He was delighting in you and laughing with you.
This Christmas, I see Gramps, young and spry, grabbing Granny's arm saying "you've gotta see this." Maybe they know they spent their earthly life as partners, but compared to being in the presence of Christ, it's really neither here nor there.
And when it's her turn to tell a story, she's ready! Gramps laughs along, he remembers that time. And the Lord's eyes smile as He always smiles when the ones He loves finally can see the big picture.
"The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth." John 1:14
My grandparents will have a wonderful Christmas with the Lord this year. Don't we who are waiting for home want the same? Oh, that we would have a glimpse of the glory of the One and Only and that, like Moses, our faces would shine for having seen Him.
He is not just a baby in the manger. He is everything.
Glory.
3.12.13
in case i forget...
it can be good.
even when i feel so grumpy.
even when i feel hard-done-by.
it can be good.
even when i feel forced.
even when the youngest has expectations as high as the sky.
it can be good.
even when i'm tired.
even when it isn't "working for me."
it can be good.
even when he has another meeting.
even though she snaps at her sibling.
it can be good.
sit and breathe in the Word.
"Do not be afraid, I bring good news..."
Lord, You are good.
and after the good has washed over my soul,
there are cookies to make
and stories to read.
soft cheeks that still welcome my kisses.
it's all good.
(photo credits: E & C Hall)
30.11.13
small fire
It got so cold so quickly around these parts. A lovely fall one day, full-on winter the next, it seemed.
Isn't life just like that sometimes?
(and all the Manitobans said, "amen.")
But really, life, isn't it like that sometimes?
You're just walking through a season of beauty and warmth - you feel it all around you....
And suddenly - so very suddenly, it all gets cold.
And you find yourself in winter.
Not the winter that will go away by tomorrow, and you'll see grass again. The one where the coldness gets colder and the showers are always flakes and pile and pile and pile.
But the warmth isn't all gone.
There's a small fire - a glimmer of grace, a feeling of love. It pours down from heaven and this you hope will pile up and overflow.
And as you wait, it does overflow.
Truth and mercy.
Grace and goodness.
And it's still winter, but
the Light of love has come
and isn't going anywhere.
So all that's left to do is praise.
26.11.13
november 26
an average tuesday in most homes, but in our home we had a birthday to mark!
my beloved husband is (as he told the children) 10,047 today. (wink!) unfortunately as busy days go, it wasn't the most magical of birthdays, but we tried to squeeze in a little celebrating.
here in these moments as he reads Narnia to the kids, i can take the opportunity to remember.
remembering is good for the soul.
good for a marriage.
my husband is God's gift to me.
we talk about that a lot in premarriage counselling. if i believe it, which i do, how should i receive it...him? i like presents, but a gift from God Himself? that's got to be the best!
my husband is not perfect.
but that's not what i'm here to talk about....
he is faithful and loving, truthful and kind.
and he loves me.
and he shows how much he loves me in a variety of ways.
he is an example to me of how to love.
he's not the same guy i fell in love with 19 years ago, though he has the same smile and same twinkle in his eye... i have had the privilege of court side seats to watch God at work in him. the work isn't finished and hasn't always come quickly, but God is at work - isn't that what we hope for in ourselves? he has grown to share more and more of himself. just last week i learned something new! he sets goals for himself ~usually secret goals~ and i only notice after he's met it. growing and learning at 10,047? amazing!
i am not the same woman i was in 1994, either. praise God! my husband has been one of the primary chisels God has used to shape me to become more like Himself. sometimes it's been through encouraging words. he is my biggest fan and cheerleader! sometimes it's been through learning to accept that i can't change him....hello humility, where have you been all my life?
overall, i'm just so thankful.
i'm thankful when he takes me to my favourite places, i'm thankful when he's in a bad mood for 2 days straight. he is my gift and we fit together.
and if i ever stop being thankful for him, please tell me to get over myself and remind me to appreciate my gift.
here in these moments as he reads Narnia to the kids, i can take the opportunity to remember.
remembering is good for the soul.
good for a marriage.
my husband is God's gift to me.
we talk about that a lot in premarriage counselling. if i believe it, which i do, how should i receive it...him? i like presents, but a gift from God Himself? that's got to be the best!
my husband is not perfect.
but that's not what i'm here to talk about....
he is faithful and loving, truthful and kind.
and he loves me.
and he shows how much he loves me in a variety of ways.
he is an example to me of how to love.
he's not the same guy i fell in love with 19 years ago, though he has the same smile and same twinkle in his eye... i have had the privilege of court side seats to watch God at work in him. the work isn't finished and hasn't always come quickly, but God is at work - isn't that what we hope for in ourselves? he has grown to share more and more of himself. just last week i learned something new! he sets goals for himself ~usually secret goals~ and i only notice after he's met it. growing and learning at 10,047? amazing!
i am not the same woman i was in 1994, either. praise God! my husband has been one of the primary chisels God has used to shape me to become more like Himself. sometimes it's been through encouraging words. he is my biggest fan and cheerleader! sometimes it's been through learning to accept that i can't change him....hello humility, where have you been all my life?
overall, i'm just so thankful.
i'm thankful when he takes me to my favourite places, i'm thankful when he's in a bad mood for 2 days straight. he is my gift and we fit together.
and if i ever stop being thankful for him, please tell me to get over myself and remind me to appreciate my gift.
18.11.13
tune in
it's a new day, a new week.
i got the kids off to school safely - everyone in these parts seem to still be getting used to the new snow...myself included!
i sit here with my coffee near by, as usual, wondering what to do with the day. i'm looking at the week wondering how it will all turn out.
i feel pretty refreshed (now that i've some of said coffee) and fairly energized, but i feel compelled to sit still for a few moments.
"coincidentally," i came across this beautiful rendition of Come Thou Fount:
Come Thou Fount of every blessing
Tune my heart to sing Thy grace
Streams of mercy never ceasing
Call for songs of loudest praise
Teach me some melodious sonnet
Sung by flaming tongues above
Praise the mount, I'm fixed upon it
Mount of Thy redeeming love
Lord, at the start of this new day, this new week, would You tune my heart to Your grace - how I need it! As a musician tightens loose strings to tune their instrument, would You have Your way with my heart strings, even if it stretches me. May I be an instrument of Your grace. You are the never ending fountain of blessing in my life, let me be on the hunt for all the ways You love me. Give me the strength to stand firm on You, the solid foundation that will never be shaken.
O to grace how great a debtor
Daily I'm constrained to be
Let Thy goodness like a fetter
Bind my wandering heart to Thee
Prone to wander, Lord I feel it
Prone to leave the God I love
Here's my heart, Lord, take and seal it
Seal it for Thy courts above
A day doesn't go by, Lord, that I don't find a new way to need Your grace, it seems. Bind my heart to Yours, beat by beat. Help me to catch myself each time I feel like I'm about to wander; Remind me who You are. Take my heart, give me the courage to be the woman You are calling me to be this day. I love You and give You all praise and glory.
"And the LORD replied, 'My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.'" Exodus 33:14
i got the kids off to school safely - everyone in these parts seem to still be getting used to the new snow...myself included!
i sit here with my coffee near by, as usual, wondering what to do with the day. i'm looking at the week wondering how it will all turn out.
i feel pretty refreshed (now that i've some of said coffee) and fairly energized, but i feel compelled to sit still for a few moments.
"coincidentally," i came across this beautiful rendition of Come Thou Fount:
Come Thou Fount of every blessing
Tune my heart to sing Thy grace
Streams of mercy never ceasing
Call for songs of loudest praise
Teach me some melodious sonnet
Sung by flaming tongues above
Praise the mount, I'm fixed upon it
Mount of Thy redeeming love
Lord, at the start of this new day, this new week, would You tune my heart to Your grace - how I need it! As a musician tightens loose strings to tune their instrument, would You have Your way with my heart strings, even if it stretches me. May I be an instrument of Your grace. You are the never ending fountain of blessing in my life, let me be on the hunt for all the ways You love me. Give me the strength to stand firm on You, the solid foundation that will never be shaken.
O to grace how great a debtor
Daily I'm constrained to be
Let Thy goodness like a fetter
Bind my wandering heart to Thee
Prone to wander, Lord I feel it
Prone to leave the God I love
Here's my heart, Lord, take and seal it
Seal it for Thy courts above
A day doesn't go by, Lord, that I don't find a new way to need Your grace, it seems. Bind my heart to Yours, beat by beat. Help me to catch myself each time I feel like I'm about to wander; Remind me who You are. Take my heart, give me the courage to be the woman You are calling me to be this day. I love You and give You all praise and glory.
"And the LORD replied, 'My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.'" Exodus 33:14
16.11.13
a moment
in a flash, a memory...
driving down the road the other day, i reached for my starbucks and gave it a little shake. just a little coffee left. thankful, i tilt the cup waaaay back to get every last drop.
in that moment, as though looking through a photo album, i see three babies. my babies. each them with a sippy cup, angled just so, head thrown back enjoying the last sips of milk.
(i always feel like i'm drinking from a sippy cup when i have coffee out...)
everyone will say it, but man, time flies.
those days felt so long, but the years truly are, as they say, short.
i kept those sippy cups around for a few years after my youngest outgrew them (much sooner than the other two, as these things go). i told myself it was a good thing to have on hand for when baby-friends came to visit.
i think we can be honest and agree, i just didn't want to stop seeing them in my cupboard!
ages and stages, this too shall pass, cherish every moment....
take from this what you will.
i took a few moments to look through old pictures and remember with a smile. i looked at my kids and wondered what i will miss the most about the stage they're in now.
and then i decided to be here now, present and alert.
and i chose to say Thank You.
driving down the road the other day, i reached for my starbucks and gave it a little shake. just a little coffee left. thankful, i tilt the cup waaaay back to get every last drop.
in that moment, as though looking through a photo album, i see three babies. my babies. each them with a sippy cup, angled just so, head thrown back enjoying the last sips of milk.
(i always feel like i'm drinking from a sippy cup when i have coffee out...)
 |
| double fisting the sippers |
everyone will say it, but man, time flies.
those days felt so long, but the years truly are, as they say, short.
i kept those sippy cups around for a few years after my youngest outgrew them (much sooner than the other two, as these things go). i told myself it was a good thing to have on hand for when baby-friends came to visit.
i think we can be honest and agree, i just didn't want to stop seeing them in my cupboard!
ages and stages, this too shall pass, cherish every moment....
take from this what you will.
i took a few moments to look through old pictures and remember with a smile. i looked at my kids and wondered what i will miss the most about the stage they're in now.
and then i decided to be here now, present and alert.
and i chose to say Thank You.
6.9.13
today
and listen closely...
what's that sound?
it's silence.
quiet.
calm.
it's the coffee percolating,
the washer spinning,
the air conditioner blowing.
stillness.
it's Bible pages turning,
pen writing,
keyboard tapping.
peace.
no questions asking,
no distant fighting,
no tv blaring.
hush.
finally,
and yet suddenly?
the day has arrived.
backpacks,
lunches,
squeaky new shoes.
the first day of school.
breathe deeply
and enjoy the sound
of silence.
25.6.13
24.6.13
hello again
But each time I consider walking away, there's something that pulls me back. I read around the blogosphere that I am what they call a "bad blogger." I don't post often enough, or predictably enough, or maybe I haven't found my niche.
Well, I'm here to say that I will continue to resist that label and I will continue to resist being bound by those rules.
Rules are typically a comfort to me, but those rules make me want to rebel!
And I've also decided ~again~ that I'm not going to worry too much about what you, dear reader, think. Harsh? I hope you don't hear that way! What I mean is that I'm going to be as honest as I feel called and trust that you will receive it with grace and understanding.
I've said before, that I'm guilty of caring too much about what people think, about pleasing someone-everyone.
But one of my goals is to release myself from thinking too much of what others think of me. I am prone to worry if someone doesn't respond well to me in any given situation (did I offend them??) and can spend days
The thing I'm learning, and am working on continuing to learn, is that everyone has their own stuff going on. Just because someone seems annoyed or distant or unfriendly or ambivilant toward me, it's not necessarily a reflection on me. It could have been the traffic they just faced, the bad news they just received, the argument they just had, the heartbreak they've had, the toe they just stubbed....
nothing remotely about ME.
The Lord has been showing me that it is my PRIDE that needs to be released. While it feels like insecurity, it's actually pride. How else could one define the notion that everyone around you is thinking about you all the time??
Romans 12:3 (NIV)
Proverbs 29:25 (CEB)
People are trapped by their fear of others;those who trust the Lord are secure.
Huh! So there goes God's Word perfectly describing my circumstance again! I feel trapped by worry and performance anxiety when I think only of what people think of me. Security comes from trusting in the Lord alone. Thank you gracious Lord!
And so, the blog stays and along with it comes all the familiar inconsistancy and irregularity. Like it or lump it, as they say!
May we continue to keep in step with the Spirit, looking to Him for our sense of acceptance and approval above and beyond all else!
31.5.13
remembering & a recipe
Yesterday afternoon I was preparing to have company that evening, but all the while I was missing my Granny - she's been gone to Glory for a week now.
Then it struck me....
What better way to reminisce the life of a lady I loved so dearly than to make one of her "famous" recipes for our guests!
At her funeral a couple of days ago, almost everyone who shared a memory spoke of her hospitality. Her daughters said her simple and unapologetic style was a lesson to them, while her grandkids all remembered many, many delicious meals. Homemade bread and jelly would have been the most traditional thing I could have served our friends last night, but I decided to pull out a recipe that she made often when the ladies of the church were required to bring "dainties" and always at Christmas time.
In my recipe book, it is simply called "Granny's Cheesecake" (though there is no cheese in it!).
I love this recipe because it's simple - no mixer required! - and light. Like many recipes in my family book, the instructions are ....brief. But really, brief is plenty in this case!
Granny's Cheesecake
Mix together:
1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs (crush them yourself if you like extra work!)
3/4 cup flour
1/3 cup brown sugar (packed)
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup melted butter
Press half the mixture into the bottom of a 5x7 pan. (I used an 8x8 that's teflon. The recipe didn't say to grease it...so I didn't, but if your pan is not non-stick, maybe you want to?)
In a separate bowl, mix together:
1 can Eagle Brand milk (there was a time that this was a very popular baking ingredient!)
1/2 cup lemon juice (I used one fresh squeezed lemon to make 1/4 cup and filled the rest with bottled juice. I know my Granny never would have used fresh lemon - too expensive, but I happened to have one on hand.)
1 tsp lemon extract
Pour into pan and top with the rest of the crumb mixture. Lightly press.
Bake at 350F for 20 minutes. (I think I should have done 25 min in the 8x8 pan, but it still turned out great!)
I left it in the pan for the afternoon and cut it just before our guests arrived. The crumb mixture is very crumbly (go figure) but the filling holds it together just right!
As I pressed the crumbs on top of the filling, I noticed I left a few hand prints. I smiled as I could imagine my hands becoming Granny's hands, her rings on swollen-from-work fingers, delicately but quickly pressing the crumbs in - there are other chores to be done! I thought about how many of her hand prints I hand eaten over the years in her cheesecake, breads, toffee, and many other specialties.
Of course I never thought of such crazy things at the time... but I guess that's what memories are for.
Then it struck me....
What better way to reminisce the life of a lady I loved so dearly than to make one of her "famous" recipes for our guests!
At her funeral a couple of days ago, almost everyone who shared a memory spoke of her hospitality. Her daughters said her simple and unapologetic style was a lesson to them, while her grandkids all remembered many, many delicious meals. Homemade bread and jelly would have been the most traditional thing I could have served our friends last night, but I decided to pull out a recipe that she made often when the ladies of the church were required to bring "dainties" and always at Christmas time.
In my recipe book, it is simply called "Granny's Cheesecake" (though there is no cheese in it!).
I love this recipe because it's simple - no mixer required! - and light. Like many recipes in my family book, the instructions are ....brief. But really, brief is plenty in this case!
Granny's Cheesecake
Mix together:
1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs (crush them yourself if you like extra work!)
3/4 cup flour
1/3 cup brown sugar (packed)
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup melted butter
Press half the mixture into the bottom of a 5x7 pan. (I used an 8x8 that's teflon. The recipe didn't say to grease it...so I didn't, but if your pan is not non-stick, maybe you want to?)
In a separate bowl, mix together:
1 can Eagle Brand milk (there was a time that this was a very popular baking ingredient!)
1/2 cup lemon juice (I used one fresh squeezed lemon to make 1/4 cup and filled the rest with bottled juice. I know my Granny never would have used fresh lemon - too expensive, but I happened to have one on hand.)
1 tsp lemon extract
Pour into pan and top with the rest of the crumb mixture. Lightly press.
 |
| (You can turn the pan different angles to get the filling into the corners!) |
Bake at 350F for 20 minutes. (I think I should have done 25 min in the 8x8 pan, but it still turned out great!)
I left it in the pan for the afternoon and cut it just before our guests arrived. The crumb mixture is very crumbly (go figure) but the filling holds it together just right!
As I pressed the crumbs on top of the filling, I noticed I left a few hand prints. I smiled as I could imagine my hands becoming Granny's hands, her rings on swollen-from-work fingers, delicately but quickly pressing the crumbs in - there are other chores to be done! I thought about how many of her hand prints I hand eaten over the years in her cheesecake, breads, toffee, and many other specialties.
Of course I never thought of such crazy things at the time... but I guess that's what memories are for.
20.5.13
Monday
walking in the room
i felt drawn to her
as i always have
she would greet me with a smile
a big hug
"my girl"
something cooking on the stove
i looked at her face-
was her brow furrowed
or are the lines there from years of squinting in the sun?
her eyes laid closed
but i remember their sparkle
blue like love
i held her hand
it was warmer than the other day
her breathing has changed
i looked at her arm and asked about the bruises
i thought about her watch and
how i used to turn and stretch it as she held my hand
and i studied her skin
i stroked her hand and saw her wedding ring
such a lovely setting
her heart belonging only to him even after he was gone
i listened to her breathe
like a deep sleep
with a sense of urgency
and i prayed
we love her, Jesus
we know You do too
be her Comfort
be her Peace
amen.
i felt drawn to her
as i always have
she would greet me with a smile
a big hug
"my girl"
something cooking on the stove
i looked at her face-
was her brow furrowed
or are the lines there from years of squinting in the sun?
her eyes laid closed
but i remember their sparkle
blue like love
i held her hand
it was warmer than the other day
her breathing has changed
i looked at her arm and asked about the bruises
i thought about her watch and
how i used to turn and stretch it as she held my hand
and i studied her skin
i stroked her hand and saw her wedding ring
such a lovely setting
her heart belonging only to him even after he was gone
i listened to her breathe
like a deep sleep
with a sense of urgency
and i prayed
we love her, Jesus
we know You do too
be her Comfort
be her Peace
amen.
16.5.13
Thursday
Today has been an average Thursday.
I got my teeth cleaned.
I went to our weekly staff meeting at the church.
I did some laundry and tidied the house.
The kids had music lessons.
I didn't make supper (thank you McHelper).
We had some sweet couples over for our young marrieds small group.
I tucked kids in, listened to prayers and kissed soft cheeks.
But this average Thursday has had a sound track that has been running through my mind (and playing on my computer) all day.
"O Love That Will Not Let Me Go" by George Matheson
This beautiful old hymn has been my sound track as I stretched out on the dentist's chair, as I washed sheets and put away lego pieces and stacked books. These words have rung on as I have driven to and fro, as I made coffee and waved good bye to our guests. Lyrics have become prayer as I thought of my loved ones walking through scary and deep waters, as I pondered the coming days, weeks, months.
And on an average Thursday, I trace the rainbow through the rain and feel - as best as I can - the promise is not vain. I lift up my burdens and the burdens of those I love and I try to trust enough for all of us.
I got my teeth cleaned.
I went to our weekly staff meeting at the church.
I did some laundry and tidied the house.
The kids had music lessons.
I didn't make supper (thank you McHelper).
We had some sweet couples over for our young marrieds small group.
I tucked kids in, listened to prayers and kissed soft cheeks.
But this average Thursday has had a sound track that has been running through my mind (and playing on my computer) all day.
"O Love That Will Not Let Me Go" by George Matheson
This beautiful old hymn has been my sound track as I stretched out on the dentist's chair, as I washed sheets and put away lego pieces and stacked books. These words have rung on as I have driven to and fro, as I made coffee and waved good bye to our guests. Lyrics have become prayer as I thought of my loved ones walking through scary and deep waters, as I pondered the coming days, weeks, months.
- O Love that wilt not let me go,
I rest my weary soul in thee;
I give thee back the life I owe,
That in thine ocean depths its flow
May richer, fuller be. - O light that foll’west all my way,
I yield my flick’ring torch to thee;
My heart restores its borrowed ray,
That in thy sunshine’s blaze its day
May brighter, fairer be. - O Joy that seekest me through pain,
I cannot close my heart to thee;
I trace the rainbow through the rain,
And feel the promise is not vain,
That morn shall tearless be. - O Cross that liftest up my head,
I dare not ask to fly from thee;
I lay in dust life’s glory dead,
And from the ground there blossoms red
Life that shall endless be.
And on an average Thursday, I trace the rainbow through the rain and feel - as best as I can - the promise is not vain. I lift up my burdens and the burdens of those I love and I try to trust enough for all of us.
O Love, You will not let us go.
7.5.13
Jesus
I broke my promise to myself. At the beginning of the year, I committed to reading the Bible through in a year, and this time I wasn't going to let myself get more than a week behind.
So far today I've read the scripture passages for April 27 and 28.
sigh.
BUT, I'm reading and I'm thankful for the Holy Spirit whispering to me. The kids ran out the door for school and my eyes fell on the new issue of Better Homes and Gardens that I picked up yesterday. I was saving it for today... but I heard the whisper "do not neglect My Word."
Picking up my Daily Devotional Bible, I knew what was coming (and maybe that's why I was putting it off a little): Job. Not exactly uplifting material. Very real life.
And yet!
I saw something today that I hadn't noticed before. (If you have, please smile knowingly as I share my "discovery.")
You know the story of Job - super good guy, considered "the finest man in all the earth- a man of complete integrity" by the Lord Himself. Satan assumes Job is this way because of all the blessing he has received from the Lord, so God allows Satan to take away everything - everything - except Job's life. Job is obviously very shaken by this turn of events but never curses God...questions, yes, but never curses.
But what I noticed today was a certain longing that Job expressed as he sat with his friends and they tried to counsel and comfort him. Two times (in the 14 chapters I've read so far!) Job speaks in "if only" terms that seem to point to someone he didn't know - Jesus.
In chapter 9, Job addresses his buddy Bildad, reminding him of how awesome and in control God is. At the end of the chapter, you can almost see his gaze change from looking into the face of his friend, to looking far off - maybe to the sky - as he wonders aloud:
"If only there were a mediator who could bring us [God and people] together, but there is none." (v33)
Did a scripture just pop into your mind?
So far today I've read the scripture passages for April 27 and 28.
sigh.
Picking up my Daily Devotional Bible, I knew what was coming (and maybe that's why I was putting it off a little): Job. Not exactly uplifting material. Very real life.
And yet!
I saw something today that I hadn't noticed before. (If you have, please smile knowingly as I share my "discovery.")
You know the story of Job - super good guy, considered "the finest man in all the earth- a man of complete integrity" by the Lord Himself. Satan assumes Job is this way because of all the blessing he has received from the Lord, so God allows Satan to take away everything - everything - except Job's life. Job is obviously very shaken by this turn of events but never curses God...questions, yes, but never curses.
But what I noticed today was a certain longing that Job expressed as he sat with his friends and they tried to counsel and comfort him. Two times (in the 14 chapters I've read so far!) Job speaks in "if only" terms that seem to point to someone he didn't know - Jesus.
In chapter 9, Job addresses his buddy Bildad, reminding him of how awesome and in control God is. At the end of the chapter, you can almost see his gaze change from looking into the face of his friend, to looking far off - maybe to the sky - as he wonders aloud:
"If only there were a mediator who could bring us [God and people] together, but there is none." (v33)
Did a scripture just pop into your mind?
"For there is one God and one mediator
between God and mankind,
the man Christ Jesus."
1 Timothy 2:5
Later in chapter 14, Job laments that life is all there is - he assumes there is nothing after the last breath.
"If mortals die, can they live again? This thought would give me hope, and through my struggle I would eagerly wait for release. You would call and I would answer, and you would yearn for me, your handiwork. For then you would count my steps, instead of watching for my sins. My sins would be sealed in a pouch, and you would cover over my iniquity."
He dreams of time where His sins are covered and His relationship with God is clean.
"We have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place
by the blood of Jesus...
let us draw near to God with a sincere heart
and with the full assurance that faith brings,
having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us
from a guilty conscience and
having our bodies washed with pure water."
Hebrews 10:19-22
He dreams of restoration and newness that we know comes when God fulfills His promise of a new heaven and new earth...all because of the finished work of Jesus.
And I couldn't help but imagine the look on Job's face when he got to heaven, after a life devoted to God in good times and very difficult times. I picture the Father pointing to His Son, and imagine Job's face as he looked into the eyes of Jesus. Can you just see the slow recognition, as the bigger picture came into view? Don't your eyes burn with tears as you envision Job, his own tears streaming down his face as he slowly falls to his knees in worship. I imagine I can hear his voice whisper through his tears, "thank you. thank you. thank you."
For he now knows it was Jesus all along. Jesus was the Hope, the Mediator, the Plan.
Take the whisper with you all day long: thank you.
23.4.13
competition
From the time girls are small, they tend to be very relational.
This often comes in the form of "me too!"
"I got a new toy," a girl might mention, and her friend will happily chirp, "Me too!" even if her new toy was 6 months ago... Or, "my favorite food is pizza!" to which one of the girls in her circle will reply, "Me too! I like pepperoni!" even when her real favorite is spaghetti...
This desire to be relational, to say "me too!" can also take the form of "notice me! I'm the same!"
I saw it more than once in the line up in front of my daughter's preschool class. "That's a pretty dress, Cassidy!" a little cutie would comment. And if my child didn't immediately reciprocate, I would see the girl start to sway her own twirly skirt until my daughter would see and respond, "I like you're dress too!"
This doesn't end in the preschool, or even middle school... As women, we want to belong and we want to be noticed. We attempt to prove our worth to the people around us to gain their approval and to feel good about ourselves. We compete with the other women in our lives - whether that is what we would like to call it or not. We don't compete like men. This is no head-to-head combat, where the winner takes all (and they walk away still friends). This is more subtle than that, and we might not even really realize what it is happening. If we are not careful, we will find ourselves trying to one-up the people we care about. Oh you did that? ...Well listen to what I did!
We can see it through social networking. Often.
status update: "Today I cleaned out my storage closet. What a job!"
comment: "wow, great job! i cleaned out my closet today too. and my garage, and all my kitchen cupboards! :)"
instragram photo: "Here's a picture of the cake I made for my son's birthday"
comment: "looks great! i wish i had time to make cakes, i've been so busy growing organic produce in my backyard."
tweet: "So proud of my child for winning the spelling bee!"
comment: "how fun! i remember my child's first spelling bee win..."
And that's how we respond on a good day, a day when our self esteem is in a good place!
On a day when we feel low or insecure or responses would be different:
"Rejoice with those who rejoice;" Romans 12:15 says, "mourn with those who mourn."
Let's look for ways to encourage others today, without expecting anything in return!
This often comes in the form of "me too!"
"I got a new toy," a girl might mention, and her friend will happily chirp, "Me too!" even if her new toy was 6 months ago... Or, "my favorite food is pizza!" to which one of the girls in her circle will reply, "Me too! I like pepperoni!" even when her real favorite is spaghetti...
This desire to be relational, to say "me too!" can also take the form of "notice me! I'm the same!"
I saw it more than once in the line up in front of my daughter's preschool class. "That's a pretty dress, Cassidy!" a little cutie would comment. And if my child didn't immediately reciprocate, I would see the girl start to sway her own twirly skirt until my daughter would see and respond, "I like you're dress too!"
This doesn't end in the preschool, or even middle school... As women, we want to belong and we want to be noticed. We attempt to prove our worth to the people around us to gain their approval and to feel good about ourselves. We compete with the other women in our lives - whether that is what we would like to call it or not. We don't compete like men. This is no head-to-head combat, where the winner takes all (and they walk away still friends). This is more subtle than that, and we might not even really realize what it is happening. If we are not careful, we will find ourselves trying to one-up the people we care about. Oh you did that? ...Well listen to what I did!
We can see it through social networking. Often.
comment: "wow, great job! i cleaned out my closet today too. and my garage, and all my kitchen cupboards! :)"
instragram photo: "Here's a picture of the cake I made for my son's birthday"
comment: "looks great! i wish i had time to make cakes, i've been so busy growing organic produce in my backyard."
tweet: "So proud of my child for winning the spelling bee!"
comment: "how fun! i remember my child's first spelling bee win..."
And that's how we respond on a good day, a day when our self esteem is in a good place!
On a day when we feel low or insecure or responses would be different:
status update: "Today I cleaned out my storage closet. What a job!"
comment: "I wish I had a storage closet to clean out. I have no storage at all."
or,
comment: "You are so lucky to have so much free time!"
instragram photo: "Here's a picture of the cake I made for my son's birthday"
comment: "my last attempt at a cake was a total disaster. i wish i could make cakes like you."
tweet: "So proud of my child for winning the spelling bee!"
comment: "my kid couldn't win a spelling bee if the words were taped to her face. :( "
Of course, we probably wouldn't post those ones. We'd just think it... and walk away feeling less-than.
Is there a way to share our lives with each other without measuring ourselves by the successes and failures of the people around us? Is there a way we can celebrate with our friends without lamenting ourselves? Can we choose to just be happy for someone and have it not be about us at all?
Today I remind myself that scripture has the answer! If I want to know what love in action looks like, what it means to be humble (because that will help!), and how God is calling me to live, His Word is where to find it. Today I'm thinking about Romans 12. I want to give all of myself - heart, mind and body to the Lord. I want to keep a right perspective of myself. And I want to be sincere in my love for others! I will, with the help of the Holy Spirit, get myself out of the way when I look at others and let it just be about them.
Today I remind myself that scripture has the answer! If I want to know what love in action looks like, what it means to be humble (because that will help!), and how God is calling me to live, His Word is where to find it. Today I'm thinking about Romans 12. I want to give all of myself - heart, mind and body to the Lord. I want to keep a right perspective of myself. And I want to be sincere in my love for others! I will, with the help of the Holy Spirit, get myself out of the way when I look at others and let it just be about them.
"Rejoice with those who rejoice;" Romans 12:15 says, "mourn with those who mourn."
Let's look for ways to encourage others today, without expecting anything in return!
17.4.13
thinking about thinking
Sunday morning as we drove to church, my son commented on a few geese we saw in the sky. "It's amazing, isn't it, that God made animals' brains to know when to go and when to stay, even though they don't think like humans?" he said. We agreed. "The human brain is even more amazing," he continued, "That in itself is proof that there is a Creator." We agreed again.
It got me to thinking...
The human brain is an amazing thing, and yet at the same time, it can sometimes feel like our undoing.
Thinking thoughts... always thinking.
Good thoughts, happy memories, dreams and positivity.
But all to often...
Angry mental tirades, regrets, worry and negative thinking.
Thoughts seem to come out of nowhere, and in the past few days I've been burdened by thoughts that are bringing me down and I can't explain why these things have popped up. Every time these unwelcome thoughts enter my mind, I pray they would just as quickly leave. And when they return, I pray again.
Where do thoughts come from and how do we manage our thought life?
Scripture says to "take every thought captive" (2 Corinthians 10:5)... That came to mind right away, and I believe it! I also believe that in order to get rid of ugly thoughts, I need to replace them with positive things.
So I searched biblegateway.com.
thoughts, think, mind...
The Bible has much to say on these topics!
The book of Romans contrasts a mind set on fleshly desires (worldly things) vs. a mind set on spiritual things and describes the mind as the starting point of my actions. (Romans 8:5) It also challenges me to "renew" my mind (Romans 12:2), for that is the way to true transformation to becoming more like Christ.
When Colossians 3:2 tells me to "set my mind on things above," does it mean to think about pearly gates and streets of gold?
I guess that could be part of it, but I think it's more about training myself not to dwell on unlovely thoughts. By that I don't mean unconfessed sin or something of that nature (because those things would need to be dealt with before the Lord), but anything that is untrue or discouraging - things that make me feel like a failure, or unloveable.
When unexpected thoughts come into my mind, I shoo them away by replacing them with Truth! I remind myself of Who God is and what He has done in my life and in the world. I look to the Word or sing praise songs to His name. I fix my heart and mind on the saving work of Jesus. I recite one of the verses I haven't forgotten (Phil 4:8).
I don't know why these thoughts come in when they are never entertained for long and are certainly not welcome - you'd think they'd get the hint! But I do believe Isaiah 26:3 is true:
How do you keep yourself from drowning in your thoughts?
It got me to thinking...
The human brain is an amazing thing, and yet at the same time, it can sometimes feel like our undoing.
Thinking thoughts... always thinking.
Good thoughts, happy memories, dreams and positivity.
But all to often...
Angry mental tirades, regrets, worry and negative thinking.
Thoughts seem to come out of nowhere, and in the past few days I've been burdened by thoughts that are bringing me down and I can't explain why these things have popped up. Every time these unwelcome thoughts enter my mind, I pray they would just as quickly leave. And when they return, I pray again.
Where do thoughts come from and how do we manage our thought life?
Scripture says to "take every thought captive" (2 Corinthians 10:5)... That came to mind right away, and I believe it! I also believe that in order to get rid of ugly thoughts, I need to replace them with positive things.
So I searched biblegateway.com.
thoughts, think, mind...
The Bible has much to say on these topics!
The book of Romans contrasts a mind set on fleshly desires (worldly things) vs. a mind set on spiritual things and describes the mind as the starting point of my actions. (Romans 8:5) It also challenges me to "renew" my mind (Romans 12:2), for that is the way to true transformation to becoming more like Christ.
When Colossians 3:2 tells me to "set my mind on things above," does it mean to think about pearly gates and streets of gold?
I guess that could be part of it, but I think it's more about training myself not to dwell on unlovely thoughts. By that I don't mean unconfessed sin or something of that nature (because those things would need to be dealt with before the Lord), but anything that is untrue or discouraging - things that make me feel like a failure, or unloveable.
When unexpected thoughts come into my mind, I shoo them away by replacing them with Truth! I remind myself of Who God is and what He has done in my life and in the world. I look to the Word or sing praise songs to His name. I fix my heart and mind on the saving work of Jesus. I recite one of the verses I haven't forgotten (Phil 4:8).
I don't know why these thoughts come in when they are never entertained for long and are certainly not welcome - you'd think they'd get the hint! But I do believe Isaiah 26:3 is true:
You will keep in perfect peace
those whose minds are steadfast,
because they trust in you.
And so I trust, I train myself to focus on His good and I thank God for a reasonably sound mind (most days!)
How do you keep yourself from drowning in your thoughts?
2.4.13
united
one of my favourite feelings is "us against them."
 |
| jeremyhiebert.ca |
does that require some explanation?
ok then. what i mean is, one of my favourite feelings within my family is "parents against the kids."
those days are great!
...so much better than feeling like i'm smarter and know more about how to handle every parenting situation that comes our way.
...so much better that feeling right.
...so much better than being on the side of the kids.
being on the same side with him is much more fun.
i need to remember this.
27.3.13
back in time
scents of cinnamon and spice waft through the kitchen. the monkey bread smells almost done.
i fluff the pillows and straighten things up in the living room as we wait for our guests to arrive.
moving back to the kitchen, i pull out my bright green colander and some colourful fresh fruit for washing.
strawberries, raspberries and bright green grapes.
washing carefully, i methodically hull and quarter the strawberries. i remove the stems of the grapes. as i place them mixed in my favourite bowl, i add the raspberries. but not before i pop one in my mouth.
in an instant, i am transported through time.
i am ten years old, in my granny's garden looking for the biggest, ripest raspberries, trying not to take them all from the same area.
i am running with my brother or a cousin past the property line marked by tall grasses and rocks. i am hopeful that the old school house will be open for exploration like it was just that one time. i am hopeful that i haven't collected too many wood ticks.
i am visiting the crates filled with bunnies. i pause at the babies and stick my finger through the wire to feel soft white fur.
i am watching my grandpa chop wood and stack it carefully in the pile, row upon row for a winter's worth of warmth.
i am cleaning the playhouse. organizing empty spice jars filled with twigs and rocks and opening the window for fresh air.
i am hearing my granny's voice, calling me in for lunch. homemade soup, fresh warm bannock, raisin spice cookies, grandpa's favourite.
and then the doorbell rings, our guests are here. i shake my head into today and smile.
and i have another raspberry.
i fluff the pillows and straighten things up in the living room as we wait for our guests to arrive.
moving back to the kitchen, i pull out my bright green colander and some colourful fresh fruit for washing.
strawberries, raspberries and bright green grapes.
washing carefully, i methodically hull and quarter the strawberries. i remove the stems of the grapes. as i place them mixed in my favourite bowl, i add the raspberries. but not before i pop one in my mouth.
in an instant, i am transported through time.
i am ten years old, in my granny's garden looking for the biggest, ripest raspberries, trying not to take them all from the same area.
i am running with my brother or a cousin past the property line marked by tall grasses and rocks. i am hopeful that the old school house will be open for exploration like it was just that one time. i am hopeful that i haven't collected too many wood ticks.
i am visiting the crates filled with bunnies. i pause at the babies and stick my finger through the wire to feel soft white fur.
i am watching my grandpa chop wood and stack it carefully in the pile, row upon row for a winter's worth of warmth.
i am cleaning the playhouse. organizing empty spice jars filled with twigs and rocks and opening the window for fresh air.
i am hearing my granny's voice, calling me in for lunch. homemade soup, fresh warm bannock, raisin spice cookies, grandpa's favourite.
and then the doorbell rings, our guests are here. i shake my head into today and smile.
and i have another raspberry.
20.3.13
modest
I like clothes.
And I like to look nice.
I'm pretty sure I've always been like that.
My grandma has a picture in her collection of me and my cousin standing together the year we coincidentally ended up with very similar swimsuits. We were probably around 9 or 10, and while we were both very much "children" in our appearance, one of us was standing like a regular kid and the other was posing like (what she thought was) a super model.
I'll let you guess which was which...
I've always cared about my appearance and my clothes - sometimes too much. In the last number of years, however, I've thought a lot more about modesty. I certainly went through a phase where modesty was of no concern to me, but as I've gotten a little older and watched the styles and trends change; as have had two daughters of my own, modesty has been something I've spent more time considering. Why is modesty important? Who is modesty for? What does modesty look like?
Last summer at teen camp, my husband asked me to speak to the girls about godly sexuality, and modesty again came to mind. Today I was reminded of some of things the Lord taught me in preparing for that talk. A facebook friend/relative of mine posted a link to an article written by Sharon Hodde Miller for Relavant magazine which also included another link to a separate article she had written for her-meneuntics (a division of Christianity Today).
[click the links to read both articles]
Let me just say, this lady and I are of one mind!
As I read (and "amen-ed") these two pieces, I thought of my seven year old daughter. This girl cares about her personal style. She likes colourful dresses and fun tshirts, and she loves to be complimented on her outfit! As a toddler, she was the one who could be seen twirling her skirt for the attention it brought her. More than once I wondered about the fashion choices she would want to make as a teen....
I'm not sure when I first introduced the idea of modesty to her. I don't remember it being intentional. But at some point the word came out and the concept must have been explained, because she knows what it means. As we watched the red carpet for the Oscars together (doesn't everyone do that with their 7 yr old?), she had much to say about the dresses she admired!
What made my heart swell at the time was that she wasn't judgemental of the choices the actresses had made, she showed discernment. "oh, her dress is such a pretty colour and I love the way it ruffles in the back," she would say, "but it probably is a little immodest at the front top part...."
It makes me think. Here is a girl who doesn't yet understand the feeling of power a young woman can feel by dressing in a way that makes boys swoon (which is sweet way of saying something that likely isn't sweet). She's learning to assess outfits and choices based on whether or not it's appropriate for her and honouring to God. Maybe she doesn't think it exactly in those terms, but she is thinking.
I want modesty for my daughters, but I don't want it for them if it means they think their bodies are bad or dirty or irreverant just because they're female. I want my girls to honour the bodies God has made for them by feeding them well, exercising them for health, and dressing them appropriately - so that they are fit (in all senses of the word) for the things God is calling them to do.
I want this for myself too, and for all women. Let us offer our bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God. This is our spiritual act of worship. (Rom 12:1) And may we be motivated by love for our loving Creator and a desire to serve and please Him.
And I like to look nice.
I'm pretty sure I've always been like that.
My grandma has a picture in her collection of me and my cousin standing together the year we coincidentally ended up with very similar swimsuits. We were probably around 9 or 10, and while we were both very much "children" in our appearance, one of us was standing like a regular kid and the other was posing like (what she thought was) a super model.
I'll let you guess which was which...
I've always cared about my appearance and my clothes - sometimes too much. In the last number of years, however, I've thought a lot more about modesty. I certainly went through a phase where modesty was of no concern to me, but as I've gotten a little older and watched the styles and trends change; as have had two daughters of my own, modesty has been something I've spent more time considering. Why is modesty important? Who is modesty for? What does modesty look like?
Last summer at teen camp, my husband asked me to speak to the girls about godly sexuality, and modesty again came to mind. Today I was reminded of some of things the Lord taught me in preparing for that talk. A facebook friend/relative of mine posted a link to an article written by Sharon Hodde Miller for Relavant magazine which also included another link to a separate article she had written for her-meneuntics (a division of Christianity Today).
[click the links to read both articles]
Let me just say, this lady and I are of one mind!
As I read (and "amen-ed") these two pieces, I thought of my seven year old daughter. This girl cares about her personal style. She likes colourful dresses and fun tshirts, and she loves to be complimented on her outfit! As a toddler, she was the one who could be seen twirling her skirt for the attention it brought her. More than once I wondered about the fashion choices she would want to make as a teen....
 |
| she's poser - just like her mom! |
What made my heart swell at the time was that she wasn't judgemental of the choices the actresses had made, she showed discernment. "oh, her dress is such a pretty colour and I love the way it ruffles in the back," she would say, "but it probably is a little immodest at the front top part...."
It makes me think. Here is a girl who doesn't yet understand the feeling of power a young woman can feel by dressing in a way that makes boys swoon (which is sweet way of saying something that likely isn't sweet). She's learning to assess outfits and choices based on whether or not it's appropriate for her and honouring to God. Maybe she doesn't think it exactly in those terms, but she is thinking.
I want modesty for my daughters, but I don't want it for them if it means they think their bodies are bad or dirty or irreverant just because they're female. I want my girls to honour the bodies God has made for them by feeding them well, exercising them for health, and dressing them appropriately - so that they are fit (in all senses of the word) for the things God is calling them to do.
I want this for myself too, and for all women. Let us offer our bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God. This is our spiritual act of worship. (Rom 12:1) And may we be motivated by love for our loving Creator and a desire to serve and please Him.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
