Thanks to my friend Lacey, I am currently obsessed with the new Coldplay song, Viva la Vida. If I knew how to link audio, I would do that right here. But, since I don't, you should go to iTunes and check it out for yourself. It has such a good sound. The verdict's still out on what the song means. Feel free to let me know what you think.
I am also currently a little hooked on drinking Powerade. Random, I know. I guess that I am just in a sick-of-drinking-water stage. The strawberry lemonade and orange flavors are particularly yummy in my opinion.
Apparently, I am also quite stuck on the word ridiculous. It has a pervading presence in my vocabulary lately. I am trying to put this to a stop, but have been sadly unsuccessful thus far.
What are your latest addictions?
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Failures, Successes, and Spiritual Gifts
Failures:
I am not a very good blogger. I know this about myself. Although I enjoy catching up with other people through their blogs and anticipate new posts, I recognize that I am not a very faithful blogger myself. I'm sorry, friends. I will try to do better. A blogger that I follow recently posted a list of "Blogging Tips," one of which being that you should not start a blog unless you are committed to updating it, with his recommendation being at least every 3-5 days. Oops. I will try to get better, friends!
Successes:
I am so excited! I have successfully managed to keep flowers alive for more than a week! If you know me, you know that I have an extensive history of planting flowers only to watch them die, seemingly in a matter of days. But, not this time! The flowers I planted a couple of weeks ago are not only still alive, but seem to be growing and making new buds! I know this may seem like a small victory that may be short-lived, but I am super excited about it nonetheless!! Here is my favorite one, which started with 3 blooms and now looks like this:
Exciting, huh?? Here's hoping it continues to grow! I actually have no idea what kind of flower this is, so if you happen to know the name, feel free to leave a comment to enlighten me. Here is a close-up of one of these flowers that came out blurry, but that I like for it's artsy feel:
I am also excited that my gerber daisy that I thought was done blooming also has new buds beginning to grow. The vinca that I planted are still alive, too.
Spiritual Gifts:
My community group has been studying through the spiritual gifts for the past month or so. Looking primarily at the passages in Romans 12 and 1 Corinthians 12, we have tried to identify and define the gifts in an effort to identify our own gifts. This has been such a good (though often challenging) process. I so enjoy studying Scripture in a group setting where I can hear the perspectives of those around me and see what kinds of insight the Lord has given them about His Word. It has been cool to watch my friends use their gifts even as we study what they are. It has also been interesting to realize that we are often hesitant to accept the gift that the Lord has placed in us. Several members of our group, including myself, have sort of balked at the idea that our spiritual gift may really be...(fill in the blank). I wonder why this is? As I have considered this question in myself, I think that it is partly my insecurities that hinder my ability to accept the truth that God has uniquely gifted me in certain ways. I should instead accept my gift in freedom, praising Him and thanking Him for the way that He uniquely created me. Pursuing this together in community has emphasized the way that the Lord has uniquely gifted each of us as individuals for the purpose of building up the body. Each of the 11 of us are gifted differently, but as a group we embody most, if not all of the gifts. I think this is part of the beauty of community, and of the body of Christ.
I am not a very good blogger. I know this about myself. Although I enjoy catching up with other people through their blogs and anticipate new posts, I recognize that I am not a very faithful blogger myself. I'm sorry, friends. I will try to do better. A blogger that I follow recently posted a list of "Blogging Tips," one of which being that you should not start a blog unless you are committed to updating it, with his recommendation being at least every 3-5 days. Oops. I will try to get better, friends!
Successes:
I am so excited! I have successfully managed to keep flowers alive for more than a week! If you know me, you know that I have an extensive history of planting flowers only to watch them die, seemingly in a matter of days. But, not this time! The flowers I planted a couple of weeks ago are not only still alive, but seem to be growing and making new buds! I know this may seem like a small victory that may be short-lived, but I am super excited about it nonetheless!! Here is my favorite one, which started with 3 blooms and now looks like this:
Exciting, huh?? Here's hoping it continues to grow! I actually have no idea what kind of flower this is, so if you happen to know the name, feel free to leave a comment to enlighten me. Here is a close-up of one of these flowers that came out blurry, but that I like for it's artsy feel:
I am also excited that my gerber daisy that I thought was done blooming also has new buds beginning to grow. The vinca that I planted are still alive, too.
Spiritual Gifts:
My community group has been studying through the spiritual gifts for the past month or so. Looking primarily at the passages in Romans 12 and 1 Corinthians 12, we have tried to identify and define the gifts in an effort to identify our own gifts. This has been such a good (though often challenging) process. I so enjoy studying Scripture in a group setting where I can hear the perspectives of those around me and see what kinds of insight the Lord has given them about His Word. It has been cool to watch my friends use their gifts even as we study what they are. It has also been interesting to realize that we are often hesitant to accept the gift that the Lord has placed in us. Several members of our group, including myself, have sort of balked at the idea that our spiritual gift may really be...(fill in the blank). I wonder why this is? As I have considered this question in myself, I think that it is partly my insecurities that hinder my ability to accept the truth that God has uniquely gifted me in certain ways. I should instead accept my gift in freedom, praising Him and thanking Him for the way that He uniquely created me. Pursuing this together in community has emphasized the way that the Lord has uniquely gifted each of us as individuals for the purpose of building up the body. Each of the 11 of us are gifted differently, but as a group we embody most, if not all of the gifts. I think this is part of the beauty of community, and of the body of Christ.
Sunday, June 15, 2008
Happy Father's Day!!
Happy Father's Day to the best Dad a girl could ask for! Thanks for all that you have done for me. I hope that your day is a great one!Things I learned from my dad:
* How to make "Lahey cookies," which some argue are the best chocolate chip cookies around.
* How to drive a golf cart long before I was old enough to actually drive (and may I say that I was the daughter who did so without running into trees or people)
* How to be a good Braves fan - I loved watching games with Dad and still love our yearly trips to Turner field
* How to work hard - he always encouraged me with words and example how to work hard and always give it my best
* How to enjoy Christmastime - my dad loves the holidays, which are always filled with innumerable batches of cookies, many trips to the mall, and multiple viewings of It's a Wonderful Life and Miracle on 34th Street
* How to love Jesus - my parents always made sure that we were at church any time the doors were open while we were growing up, and I will always be grateful for that!
Thanks for all the things that you have taught me, Dad! I love you!
**Note: Dad tried to teach me numerous other useful skills, like how to bowl a strike, or how to swing a golf club, or how to make lists so that you don't forget things when you are packing, or how to keep a checkbook balanced. Unfortunately, a girl can't be good at everything...
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