Pass by

As I stand on this mountain trembling with fear...     I hear Him say...
Return to the way, the way of the wilderness My dove
My child do not be dismayed, you will never be alone
I have reserved 7,000 who have yet to bow down

In the quiet of my soul I search for You
In the stillness of my soul I take time for You
In the quiet of my soul I hear You
In the stillness of my soul You pass by

Your not in the wind that is breaking the mountains
Your not in the quake that is shaking the nations
Your not in the winds that breaks the rocks to pieces
Your not in the fire consuming the world's desires

As I stand on this mountain top trembling with fear
Searching for my Beloved who I know is very near
Those who have ears let them hear ... let them hear, let them hear, let them hear, let them hear
As my mantle drapes around me, I hear what the Spirit says

In the quiet of my soul I search for You
In the stillness of my soul I take time for You
In the quiet of my soul I hear You
In the stillness of my soul You pass by

Jesus, Your not in the wind
Jesus, Your not in the quake
Jesus, Your not in the fire full of humanities desires
Your not in the wind, Your not in the quake,
Your not in the fire full of humanities desires

Then I hear a still small voice...
                  a still small voice...
              
Jesus, Your the Mantle of my soul

The professional travel with class

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This goes out to my peep in Kansas. Travel with class... not with a back-ache.
Warning from the Education General. :-)

Stepp'n off a jet into the Desert

It's true. It's true. I finally did it. I moved to the Middle East.
Boarded a plane in Chi-town...
landed in a brown sandy ravine surrounded by the Persian Golf.
Wait or should I call it the Arabian Golf? Either way I'm in the desert but on the beach.
Wow! Should I say it's just mildly hot here? I guess that would be an understatement.
As I walk out the hotel sliding glass doors looking for an infamous pink female-only cab...
I go to rub off the instant steam forming upon my sunglasses.
At 7am it feels similar to walking into a steam room... but it should eventually subside with the cooler winter.
I'm employed through an all girls primary school and it’s definitely not in the city.
Although I am staying in the city until further notice...
placed high up in an Aloft. Apartments are being sought as I type (hopefully).
Seems there is a lack of enrichment in city apartments due to the high importation of foreign English teachers.
I'm beginning to feel apartment cooped. AAUUGGHH!!!
This to say that I have been to the gym quite often these past few weeks.
It's not a "Lifetime Gym" but it sure does do the trick of burning energy, as well as stress.
Now only if I could find a GNC. Heard there was one in Dubai (1 1/2 hour drive).
Did I mention the driving? Some drive an easy 200 K on this sandy path.
No longer have to watch out for deer... because you just might hit a camel!
Did you know that 1 camel is worth a quarter of a million dollars!
No wonder camel racing is the big hit here!
Back to the driving situation...
let's just say the U.A.E. is known to have the most accidents in the world.
Although it is also known to be one of the safest cities in the world.
Give or take... accidents vs. safety. Contradiction huh?
Got in a wreck the other day. A small mini bus hit the back of our cab.
Pretty hard hit. Jarred my thoughts and gave confusion.
Thankful that I came out in perfect condition. Not a scratch, bruise, or sore muscle. Praise the Lamb!
Speaking of praising... Found a church last Friday.
Still have to say that I miss IHOP.
Yes Friday is the holy day here. This will take time to adjust to.
Even though every day is holy in my little praise book.
So my Thursday is actually my Friday.
My Friday is actually my Sunday.
Surprisingly my Saturday is just my normal Saturday.
Now my Sunday is now my Monday. I don't like this one, but again you give or take.
Well this has been the longest 2 weeks of my life.
I'm alive, healthy, a little lighter, smiling-today, praying, still dreaming :-), and praising the Lamb with no reservation (even with the paper mache hotel walls).
Yes it's true. I moved to the desert and I will sing.
Looks as if I am no longer in Kansas anymore.


ps. I now for the first time in my life have a "bidet toilet" and I'm scared to use it!

Abu Dhabi at Corniche Boat Dock









Sunset from my rooftop

 

Annointing of Bethany

What if this fragrant oil is everything that has ever meant anything?
What if this alabastar flask is our very lives and the oil is all of our dreams, hopes, and desires. 
To take our flasks and break them open giving up our oil, which is everything that is really anything, and its all worship unto this King.

I hear the peoples of society saying...
 "Why this waste?  Why this waste? 
For this fragrant oil might have been sold for much and given to the poor!
What a waste! A life wasted and thrown down the drain!
When this life could have been used for fortune, business, or fame!
What a waste we say!"

Then I hear the King say...
"Leave my child be for my child has done a good and pleasing work unto me.
May the whole world know that this life was not a waste in time.
May this be a memorial of her love and devotion of faith.
Beautiful worship in preparation."

I then hear the child say...
"What is this life anyway? I live for another day."

Bonded

"The evangelization of the world is in desperate struggle with the Prince of Darkness and with everything his rage can stir up in the shape of obstacles, vexations, oppositions, and hatred, whether by circumstances or by the hand of man.  It is a serious task.  Oh, it should mean a life of consecration."   Francois Coillard


Bonded unto life. Bonded unto death.
Bonded unto Christ but more Alive.
A life of dedication. Prayer. Fasting. Purity. Kindness.
A life of happy holiness. Pursuit of Highest. 
Oh this Joy.  Oh this Joy.
A life full of love. A life of love.
A life bonded unto this Beautiful Man, Christ Jesus.
The pursuit of a life of consecration.
What does this mean?
A life of a bonservant of Christ Jesus.
Freely you have received. Freely you shall give.

"Nestle" from Heaven

As I pulled into the parking spot, I thought to myself "why not start at a different location." So as I put my running gear on, I began to prepare for the 6 mile run. Something about running on cool days makes my spirit come alive. :-D So I placed my IPOD on Genesis and began to treck through the book of Genesis as I ran over the hill and through the woods (and not Grandmother's house).

About half way through my jog, I realized that there was no water stand. "Oh why did I have to start at a different location?" Usually I start at the beginning of the Indian Trail and about half way through I reach my third park, which has a water rest area. It's the perfect place to rest; grab water, stretch, watch random children play, and then treck back. I was now wondering why I had started at the rest area. I guess some decisions we make can never be deciphered. See what change gets me into... thirst! About this moment, I stopped and sent up a short prayer to Heaven. I looked up and said "Oh Lord. No water. So thirsty. Help." Not thinking for much of a response to my prayer, I continued to run down the all-so-luscious-green trail.

Continuing on my journey through Genesis, I ran for about 1.2368 minutes and came across an amazing surprise! Right in the middle of the path sat a water bottle! I slowed my pace, as when putting a movie on slow motion to see a funny affect. As I slowly jogged past the water bottle, I looked at it with complete amazement! I then stopped and looked over my shoulder... "Yep, it was still there." I then began to jog backwards, as a movie being put on rewind to recapture a funny affect. As I got to the water bottle, I came to a stop or should I say "pause mode." I just stood there in amazement! I bent down to touch it to see if it was real. It was real alright, I wasn't experiencing a vision. Not only was the water bottle real, it was unopened, and cold! To top it off, the brand was "Nestle-Pure Life." Everyone knows this is the best brand, not to mention how aesthetically appealing the container is. Who would have thought that I would be in need of water, pray, and come right across 9 fl oz of purified water enhanced with minerals for taste, in which is unopened and cold to quench my thirst?

I am still wondering the odds being at this specific location, starting at a new destination, thirsting, praying for water, running upon a bottle of water, it being unopened, cold, purified at that, and most importantly the exact brand that I drink! What are the odds? What are the numbers of possibilities? You know what I say to the odds and number? Forget the odds and numbers, let’s drink!

Now whoever said that prayers are never answered?  He must love me or something. :-D

I love Thee

_________________________

Your always so patient with me
You never get fed up
With my resistibility
Your always so patient with me
… and He’s so patient with me

Your always so patient with us
Wanting none to perish
But all to come to repentance
Your always so patient with us
… and He’s so patient with you

Jesus     Jesus     Jesus

Always so patient
Wanting us to seek His Face
Always so patient
Wanting us to open the door
Wanting us to fall into His saving grace
Wanting us to fall in love

Jesus      Jesus      Jesus

Jesus I think I’m in love
Jesus I think I’m in love
Jesus I’m in love
_______________________

ache of rain

As I stood at the sliding glass door holding my groceries, I looked out upon the flooded parking lot. "It absolutely is raining 'Noah's flood' ... but where is the Ark" I thought. As I waited for the rain to calm, I couldn't help but take in my surroundings... breathing in the freshness of the rain, the sound of the thunder in the distance, and the beauty of the white lighting streaks upon the dark sky. I absolutely was in love and my heart hurt. All of a sudden I had this ache in my heart to be near Him. How I love thunderstorms and have ever since I was a little girl, but suddenly at this point in my life (beginning today it seems), they seem to bring about an ache of lovesickness. At that moment I just had this image flash into my soul...


There I was standing in the darkness of the night, standing in the middle of the rain. My head looking upward in the dark sky, and gazing into the eye of the storm. The rain was absolutely soaking me and I was loving every single drop that hit me. I raised my hands in worship. Somehow as I was drawn to the eye of the storm, it brought calmness to my soul. I stood in the center of the storm, rain pouring down upon my soul, lighting and thunder crashing around me, and I worshiped.


The rain began to let up slightly and I thought to myself  "What the heck... might as well get wet. My heart is lovesick for Him anyway." So I began to slowly walk out to my car. A precious older man offered to give me a lift to my car (who knows he might have been an angel-seemed to have a special glow about him) but I just looked up and said no-thank you and blessed him. How the rain felt soothing. I climbed into my car and as I pulled out of the 'Wall-mart' parking lot, I began to feel the ache creep up into my heart again. How much I longed for Him. How is it that I can long for a Man that I have never seen in the natural? Or maybe the natural isn't really the natural and the night-time-dream-land is really the natural? Or maybe there isn't really a natural but only the reality of my soul? I'd like to think of the latter... but someday He will surely explain it to me as I sit with Him at His table. Maybe it really won't matter when I finally get to His table. So as I drove home, I began to put a new association with the center of a storm and the center of my heart. As I pulled up to my house, I just sat in my car. Not wanting to move, not wanting to go in, wanting to be all alone with Him. As I now sit listening to the rain fall upon my window, listening to the thunder come crashing down, all I can think about is how much my heart aches. It's true. I am lovesick for a Beautiful Man. When can I be with Him? When?

Holy Spirit in the MAC aisle

As I walked into the Macy's entrance, I stopped while taking a long inhale of the perfumed fragrance. One of my favorite smells is the aroma of a department store's perfume counter. While taking in the aroma, I thought to myself "I wonder if this is what Heaven smells like?" I can probably almost guarantee that Heaven smells much greater than the perfume counter of a department store but if I had to pick a smell, well this would be it. As I began to meander my way through the maze of perfume and makeup counters, I somehow found my way to the MAC counter. Who would have figured right? I knew that I had come to the counter only to buy mascara. I tend to easily get distracted by the trendy new and bright shadows and shades that MAC is all so infamous for. Girls I'm sure you know what I'm talking about. So I had to just keep reminding myself "I am only in here for mascara... I am only in here for mascara... I am only in here for mascara."

As I began to mingle through the MAC section, I of course found my way to the shadow not mascara plank. I was admiring the new Liberty of London Eye Shadow which is a turquoise shadow with a slight hint of gold sparkles that seemed to paint across the small circular glossy white plastic container. To top it off it was the limited edition and it had an exclusively created floral motif. It was at this very moment that the beautiful MAC sales associate asked if she could be of assistance. This brought me back to my original mission. I replied to the young woman (who's eye makeup just happened to be of perfection), "I am only in here for mascara." I told her that I wanted the High Definition Mascara." She then proceeded to tell me about the Liberty of London Limited Edition Eye Shadow that had just been released. I told her again "I am only in here for mascara." Then smiling at me, she said that she would be just a few moments with my purchase. As she began to walk to the stock wall full of mascaras, I heard this still small voice within me say "the green one... tell her it's the green container." I then began to speak within my spirit to the still small voice, "I told her it was the High Definition, and she should know that it's the green one."

As I proceeded to check out, she bagged up my small purchase into the very modern translucent MAC bag. We all know that carrying a MAC bag is part of the MAC purchase experience and one should always reach for the high tech bag even if it's a small purchase. As I began to meander my way through the Macy's maze toward the exit, I heard this still small voice within myself once again. The voice said... "Check your bag." Once again I responded within my spirit... "Check my bag? Why should I check my bag? I made the right purchase. Is that really You speaking?" To tell you all the truth, I was beginning to feel the onset of conviction for spending so much money on a measly little green plastic stick of mascara. I believe that I ignored the still small voice within myself because I felt a little silly for spending so much on the purchase. (Just for future reference, I do not recommend ignoring the still small voice.) Although I did have to rejoice because I did only go into the MAC store with one mission and I came out of the MAC store with only one purchase. So it seems that the infamous MAC store has before been one of my weaknesses. I just have to say "the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak." So as I was leaving the store I thought to myself "mission accomplished" or so I thought. Just before pushing the Macy doors open, I stopped to inhale once more the almost therapeutic aroma of what I thought Heaven might smell like.

That night when coming home, I threw my purchase upon my bed and still refused to check my bag. The next day as I reached into the MAC bag to begin to apply my High Definition Mascara, I saw something very peculiar. This famous green container of mascara was not green at all but the container was black! I had bought the wrong container of mascara, it was Studio Fix Lash not High Definition Lash. I must say that I was not at all a fan of the lash brush. I then began to retrace what the still small voice had spoken to me. I then began to laugh until I had tears in my eyes. Oh how much I love Holy Spirit. He concerns Himself in every activity of our lives, even in the little ones that consist of our purchases that we shouldn't really even be making. Even through my stubbornness or should I say convicting spirit, Holy Spirit cares and intervenes. I am reminded of Psalm 139:7 "Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? Even in the Mac aisle You are there." (emphasis added)

God wears a white t-shirt

Tonight at church I had a question pierce into my mind.  I was worshiping and I just imagined my words being sung directly into the actual Heart of God.  To be precise I had a vision of my words leaving my heart, going up and out upon my lips, and going into the Father's heart.  What is strange is that I could not see His heart.  As I sang, I stood in front of a Man and His chest was directly parallel to my face.  I sang directly into His chest and had the urge to just want to lean over and rest my head upon His chest.  I just stood there staring at His white t-shirt.  Yes, He was wearing a white t-shirt! :-D  All I saw on Him was the very center of His chest, I could not see anything else.  My focus was sure, I was after His heart.  I desired to see His heart.  What I was going to do with it when I saw it, I do not know.  I am a very visual person and when doing something I usually have to visualize it to get the full impact of what I am doing.  As I sung into the Father's heart I tried to invision it.  I'm sorry to say that I could not see His heart.  As the music came to an end, I longed for my question to be answered...   "What does God's heart look like?"  As I sit here late in the evening, my heart is burning to see.