Random Musings

Yesterday, Jay and I began Whole30...thirty days of drastically changing the way we eat.  Hopefully, the outcome will be better health.  It means more preparing, more planning, more cooking! I am kind of a go with the flow kind of girl, so I will also have to change my way of doing things.  Jay will be more dependent on me - no more cans of soup or cereal for supper!

This morning, I woke early (as usual) but just moved to the couch for 2 or 3 hours.  What is it about a couch and a droning tv that produces such wonderful napping? 

Then I decided it was finally time to work on breakfast - we're already weary of scrambled eggs.  So, I thought frittata! I have been scouting recipes and had all necessary ingredients. I made my first attempt at clarifying butter last night - not sure it's perfect but it's more clarified than it was. So there.

It's snowing outside (rare for NE Arkansas), not heavily but a continual light snowfall.  Temps are to rise above freezing, so it won't last long.  I turned up the furnace and went to work in the kitchen (by the way, I have a missing iron skillet).  I am happy to report - the frittata turned out perfectly!  Here it is...

Crunchy edges, lots of good for you veggies - what can I say?  I can already think of ways to make it new each time.  Jay has built-in radar - always appears when food is almost ready.  Sides of avocado and mango - needless to say, we are full!

For over a year, I have been observing, experiencing and learning more about trouble in our life.  I don't have it all "learned" - but this I know, life is full of trouble.  Job said it.  It's in the Bible - that makes it true.  We seem to spend all our energy trying to reverse our trouble, or asking "why".  I'm not saying I am not as guilty as the next one.  And believe me, we are having our share of difficulties now.

Does music "speak" to you?  It does me.  I am SO thankful God created music.  He is musical...
He knows truth can be communicated in song.
There's a song that's been out awhile, Fall Apart by Josh Wilson.  Some of the words are...

         Why in the world did I think I could...only get to know You when things were good?
         When everything just falls in place...the easiest thing is to give You praise.
         Now it all seems upside down... cause my whole word is caving in
         But I feel You now more than I did then....How can I come to the end of me
         And somehow still have all I need...God I want to know You more
        Maybe this is how it starts...I find You when I fall apart.

Another song that speaks to me so strongly is Blessings by Laura Story...

We pray for blessings
We pray for peace
Comfort for family, protection while we sleep
We pray for healing, for prosperity
We pray for Your mighty hand to ease our suffering
All the while, You hear each spoken need
Yet love is way too much to give us lesser things

'Cause what if your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if the thousand sleepless nights are what it takes to know You're near
What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise

We pray for wisdom
Your voice to hear
We cry in anger when we cannot feel You near
We doubt your goodness, we doubt your love
As if every promise from Your Word is not enough
And all the while, You hear each desperate plea
And long that we'd have faith to believe

When friends betray us
When darkness seems to win
We know the pain reminds this heart
That this is not, this is not our home

       
                     
Is this how we think?  That our trouble is reminding us we aren't home yet?  That Your goodness has allowed this trouble to come our way...for Your purposes in us? 

I think God had a plan when he placed me in a job in a retirement community for 6+ years.  163 units equaled so many residents and all their families.  They were my sweet, dear friends...and I watched them and their families deal with aging, with heartaches, with difficulties.  I was 20 years younger then, and the thought that that might one day be ME, never entered my mind.  But so many of them, and their struggles come to me lately.  It wasn't always pretty and sweet.  It was often very, very hard.

The moment we come into this world we begin to age and eventually we die.  God in His mercy has made provision for our eternal home - and all we have to do, is accept His Son and His payment for our sin.  God in His Graciousness, has provided His Word and His Spirit to guide, lead, comfort, teach and insure our journey to Him.  He never promised ease, in fact He honestly tells us to expect trouble.  We live in a fallen world.  We are not exempt from anything.  But we Do know our destination as His children.  We DO know He has a plan and purpose for our life.  We DO know He is good, that He is in control.  So, if trouble comes, can I not be assured there is profit in it for me?

I am not home yet.  Home will be wonderful, painfree, no trouble - it will be HEAVEN.

My job now is to trust, to obey, to believe and to demonstrate the love, joy and grace of the Christ who lives within.