Is There Dust on My Feet?

After you here something for the third time you start to get that you need to know it. The sames statement keeps coming to me in everything I read, the disciple's of a rabbi followed their teacher so closely that the dust that flew as they walked covered their feet.

I hope I have dirty feet, because I am trying to stay on His heels. I hope that it seems that their are almost one set of footprints because that's how close I want to follow. I hope to leave the same carbon imprint on this world that He did.

Teach me your ways oh Lord because I love you. Please show me how to love your Word. Create in me a clean heart. Use me as a servant. Bless me so that I may proclaim your name among my friends and enemies. Have mercy on me. Grant me a place in this world so I can show love. Help my eyes to see the needs around me. No matter which way I turn please be there. Do not let me stay from the ways of your teaching. Renew my heart, renew my mind. Line me up. I need you, You are bigger than I am. You see things for how they really are, bind up those who fight against me, because they are against you. Show your light, revel truth. I am not afraid because you guide me. You are my deliverer. You provide all I need. I love you. I choose you. I love you. Thank you for singing and dancing over me. Thank you for the victory over this world. I want to rest in you.

Excess

Excess
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Excess is a state of something being present beyond a requisite amount. In certain contexts, it has a more specialized meaning:
In insurance, similar to deductible.
In chemistry, describing any reagent that is not the limiting reagent.
Excess is also the title of a track by Tricky featured in the film Thir13en Ghosts (see also Blowback (album)).

I am currently in the state of cleaning out my house and making so beautiful that buyers cannot resist it when it hits the market. I am making it a "magazine" house. One that simultaneously looks like you want to live in but no one really lives in.
In order to do this I am having to sell, give away, and store a good half of the clutter I (we) have acquired.I really hate stuff right now. I hate the excess. My son Ethan (11) does not like to share is stuff, my son Evan (12) holds on to his for dear life, and my husband spent the last two years bringing so much stuff home I ran out of places to put it. I have to say he is on board now because he can see how great our house can look sans stuff.
I do not want to accumulate more stuff. I feel like it standing in the way of something way more important..people. We (Americans) rush out to purchase, pile it up in our homes, garages and trash cans, and we rush home from work to watch our stuff, guard our stuff and play with our stuff. Not to mention watch TV on how to make our stuff look good (I'm talking to myself here).
"So what does this all mean?" you ask. I'm taking a break form stuff. I am committing to myself not to buy anything new for a month (outside of food). I know it may not seem long to you but I'm trying something very difficult for my family. If we buy stuff I want it to be used, goodwill, garage sales, e-bay. Laugh if you want, but this will be difficult for my family.

Homemade Laundry Detergent

I have a friend who makes her own laundry detergent. She has been doing it for a year and it only cost 3 cents a load. I am so trying this. Here is a link to the directions. Save money, save the earth, and one less trip to walmart. What's not to love?

http://www.homemaking911.com/2008/02/02/make-your-own-laundry-soap/

Making Mud Pies

As a child on of my favorite things to do was spend hours and I do mean hours making mud pies. Now let me tell you why, I was imitating my mom's wonderful ( no really really wonderful) chocolate pies. You know the fight over the last piece,knock your four brothers down to get to it kind of pie. I wanted to make a pie like that when I grew up...so I practiced in the mud. The funny thing about mud pie is it's not so satisfying. It does look like chocolate pie but it taste like dirt and water.

So that's the point here. I'm a grown up and I no longer have to settle for mud pies. I am no longer satisfied to settle for something less than what God has for me. I don't want imitation anything: safety, comfort, reality, etc. I desire truth and longevity.

John Piper tackles this subject in Desiring God. ( Did I mention I love to read?) "In fact the great problem of human beings is that they are too pleases.They don't seek pleasure with nearly the resolve and passion that they should. And they settle for mud pies of appetite instead of infinite delight." He sights C.S. Lewis sermon The Weight of Glory "...We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what it its meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased." I cannot tell you how many of my days I have wasted by not seeing the promises that God has for me.

I serve a God who is able to do more than I dare to dream ask or even imagine I often put worldly limits on him in my own mind. We all are guilty of not wanting to bother Him with the details that He already knows and cares for!

My desire is set to His desires for me. I do not want to short change myself by limiting God and not being all I can be for Him! I do not want to believe lies from the enemy that attempts to define me with less than who He says I am. I am the woman at the well and I will no longer be defined by my culture, my geographic location, or my religion. I choose to be defined by the one who knows all about me and calls me to Him. I am approved.I want to be patient and wait when He is calling me to wait. I am no longer a child. I am holding out for the real chocolate pie.

Psalm 23

I bet you know this one by heart. I do. I did. I always will, but do you get it? That's what happened last night. This "road trip" that I'm on is causing me to slow down and look at what I know in a new and fresh way. I do know that I make a great sheep, I'm not the smartest creature but I have learned my shepherd's voice. So take your time and read it through slowly one verse at a time and just meditate. He is all I need. He leads me through the good and bad. He doesn't promise that I won't experience discomfort or pain but that he will provide for my needs through it all. I desire to honor His name and I desperately want Him to pursue me!
Abiding in Christ does not mean a pain free life, but it is still better than anything else I could choose! I choose Him. He is enough.
1 The Lord is my shepherd;
I have all that I need.
2 He lets me rest in green meadows;
he leads me beside peaceful streams.
3 He renews my strength.
He guides me along right paths,
bringing honor to his name.
4 Even when I walk
through the darkest valley,[a]
I will not be afraid,
for you are close beside me.
Your rod and your staff
protect and comfort me.
5 You prepare a feast for me
in the presence of my enemies.
You honor me by anointing my head with oil.
My cup overflows with blessings.
6 Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me
all the days of my life,
and I will live in the house of the Lord
forever.

giving in to peer pressure

OK this one is completely dedicated to my Friend and blogger Shanda. I have surrendered to the pressure to blog. I always have so many words to say you would assume that I would have a million to write, but since I have always reject journaling ( I see blogging as journaling) yet completely accept scrap booking I decided- why not. So here it is at almost midnight and instead of going to sleep I am posting my very first blog. Random funny life story's including my 10 things I did not want to do before I die... but have done list, my alien encounter, and my second coming story all to come!!
Thanks Shanda... I think. Visit her http://www.embracingandbeingembraced.blogspot.com/