this is my Father's world

posted by Rebecca at 5:23 PM 1 comments

namesake

Please meet Julia Liesbeth "Rebecca" Smith...or at least meet her mother. I just found out a few days ago that my dear friends Sean & Sarah are naming their first child after me. Unreal. I can't even put into words what an honor it is. In fact, words seem to trivialize it. (Probably because I don't have a "gift" with words.) I've only cried about it three times so far. I think that's pretty good. Of course, when I meet her for the first time I'll probably have one big, long cry. I can't wait.

Sean & Sarah, thank you! I can't wait to see how God uses her for his Kingdom! xoxo


In other news, I hung out with my family and some longtime, family friends last night. We (or I should say "Erik") grilled, swam in their fabulous pool...



...and played with my brother & sister-in-law's new pup, Lucy. So friends, meet Lucy. She's three months old and a sweetheart.

posted by Rebecca at 5:40 PM 11 comments

work & calling

"Lord, let me know clearly the work which you are calling me to do in life. And grant me every grace I need to answer your call with courage and love and lasting dedication to your will."


"The place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world's deep hunger meet."

posted by Rebecca at 11:25 AM 3 comments

lusting for godliness

A friend recommended this article by Dan Allender. I wanted to share it with you, too.

Lust isn't just about sex. I don't know about you, but I want to lust for godliness. I long for the day when I will be made whole, and am with Jesus forever.

posted by Rebecca at 11:42 PM 0 comments

books, books, books

I have this "thing" with books. I realize that my "thing" with books isn't nearly as extreme as some other people who have a "thing" with books, too, but mine is still pretty bad.

I really love books. But I don't necessarily love to read books. Anyone relate? Here's the deal. My whole life I've wanted to be a book nerd. Honestly. I've wanted to be one of those really well-read, cool people who've read all the classics (three times), all the obscure "classics", all the theological "greats", all the "postmodern" hoopla, etc., etc. So I buy those books. A lot of them. And I start to read them. And before I know it I've started 20 books and haven't finished any of them. Hmmm. (Maybe this should've been saved for later
until I blog about A.D.D.??) And it's not that I can't read them, or that they're "over my head", I just lose interest...for a few months...and then return to them
eventually. I even own books that I've forgotten about. I was looking at my Amazon account today and saw a book I had purchased a couple of years ago - and had completely forgotten about it! Geez.

So, are you wondering what I'm in the middle of right now?

Here's the list...books I am in the middle of...or have at least read the first few chapters and hope to finish the book within 2008:

The Reason for God by Tim Keller

Gary Vaynerchuk's 101 Wines: Guaranteed to Inspire, Delight and Bring Thunder to Your World by Gary Vaynerchuk

Easy Pour by Joel M. Roberts

The Wounded Heart by Dan Allender

When People Are Big and God Is Small by Ed Welch

Pleasures Evermore by Sam Storms

From Fear to Freedom by Rose Marie Miller (I first read this in 1997)

Smart Organizing by Sandra Felton

Driven to Distraction by Hallowell & Ratey

unchristian by Kinnaman & Lyons

The Revolution: A Manifesto by Ron Paul

posted by Rebecca at 11:04 PM 4 comments

my perfect day

I was going to blog about my thoughts on attention deficit disorder, but that will have to wait...I got distracted, no lie! :)

I listened to a sermon this morning as part of my time with Jesus (one of the big perks of raising support full time - flexible schedule!) and it was amazing. I've talked about Dr. George Robertson before. I've been attending a Bible study with a few ladies from my church and we are going through his series on the Psalms. But this particular sermon was from 1 Peter 1:3-5.

3Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade—kept in heaven for you, 5who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.

Do yourself a favor, find a quiet spot with your favorite beverage and listen to this sermon. Take those 30 minutes that you may have thrown away surfing the internet, checking your email, watching a sports game, doing your nails, picking your nose, reading a magazine, stalking on SpaceBook or MyFace, etc. and be encouraged in your faith and relationship with Jesus.

I came away with so many thoughts, but one in particular is that our Father's purposes for us are ALWAYS good. No matter what. Taking that one step further, I was talking with a dear friend today who, without knowing I had listened to this sermon earlier in the day, said,"When you lay your head on your pillow tonight, I want you to thank God for this perfect day He has given you - because every day/week/month you live is perfect because it's under His control." Ok, I'm paraphrasing at this point, but it was such a powerful reminder that I don't know sh*t about how to run my life, but I so often think I do! I want control! But when ever I get control, I really lose control. It is such a glorious thing to relinquish control to Jesus each day...and to know that my day is perfect because it's under HIS control...and his purposes are always good. I have the ultimate, Living HOPE in Jesus.

posted by Rebecca at 9:14 PM 5 comments

worship

This little girl brought me to tears...and laughter.

posted by Rebecca at 9:52 PM 3 comments