things aren't always what they seem...duh
I watched The Illusionist tonight. I'm a big
Edward Norton fan (and Paul Giamatti...but notsomuch Jessica Biel...although she wasn't too bad), so I was a bit disappointed in the movie...ok, more than a bit. It just seemed to be lacking something...I'm not a reviewer, so I'm going to end it there. I was disappointed.
Anyone else see it? What did you think?
*note: I'm an E.N. fan thanks to my fine
college friends who introduced me to him...end note*
imogen heap made me ramble...
It's feeling like winter. It's hard to believe that three weeks ago it was 70 degrees. It was 7 degrees on Friday morning as I drove into the city for my weekly breakfast crepe with some of my co-workers.
So the interview/meeting went really well yesterday. Thanks for your prayers!! I could tell you all were praying. The job sounds great, and with great potential to move up to an Account Executive very quickly. However, I know where my heart really is, and I don't feel at peace taking a job that I know I will be leaving pretty quickly - even if I do give them at least a month or two notice. But, I still told her I would "think" about it over the weekend and let her know on Monday. So I could still use your prayers. It's looking more like I may continue with my current company, but on a part-time basis. Of course, this would mean I'd be with out insurance (again), but I will still pay for catastrophic insurance (I know this is so interesting :) ). I'm still in awe of how the Lord has basically taken me out of having to make the decision of when to leave my job, taken me out of having to tell my employer that I'm leaving, has still provided two part time jobs for me...in my mind, leaving (my job) NOW is NOT the best thing. But I guess that's not my decision at this point :) I'm hoping for a really large tax return!
So, it's looking like I'm going to have more of that time for support raising that I've been whining about not having for the last six months...no excuses now! :)
Jesus and I had a really good conversation last night in the car - I think the Spirit's really been showing me my sin lately - and not just the "surface" stuff - it's been the really deep, dark stuff - the unbelief, the wanting to be in control, going to everything but my Jesus to soothe my soul...hm. Even something like engrossing myself in episodes of "Ugly Betty" so I don't have to talk to my Father or face what's going on in my heart...using the TV show as an "escape", rather than sitting in the pain, loneliness, ache - and asking my Jesus to meet me there and bring HOPE and TRUST and FAITH and JOY back into my heart...
Anwyay, life is certainly an adventure - and I LOVE it. A good friend just emailed Psalm 34 to a bunch of people today...
1 I will extol the LORD at all times;
his praise will always be on my lips.
2 My soul will boast in the LORD;
let the afflicted hear and rejoice.
3 Glorify the LORD with me;
let us exalt his name together.
4 I sought the LORD, and he answered me;
he delivered me from all my fears.
5 Those who look to him are radiant;
their faces are never covered with shame.
6 This poor man called, and the LORD heard him;
he saved him out of all his troubles.
7 The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him,
and he delivers them.
8 Taste and see that the LORD is good;
blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.
9 Fear the LORD, you his saints,
for those who fear him lack nothing.
10 The lions may grow weak and hungry,
but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing.
11 Come, my children, listen to me;
I will teach you the fear of the LORD.
12 Whoever of you loves life
and desires to see many good days,
13 keep your tongue from evil
and your lips from speaking lies.
14 Turn from evil and do good;
seek peace and pursue it.
15 The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous
and his ears are attentive to their cry;
16 the face of the LORD is against those who do evil,
to cut off the memory of them from the earth.
17 The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them;
he delivers them from all their troubles.
18 The LORD is close to the brokenhearted
and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
19 A righteous man may have many troubles,
but the LORD delivers him from them all;
20 he protects all his bones,
not one of them will be broken.
21 Evil will slay the wicked;
the foes of the righteous will be condemned.
22 The LORD redeems his servants;
no one will be condemned who takes refuge in him.
hitting a nerve
So it's coming to my attention that I'm really bad at blogging...or I should say, I'm bad at keeping up with blogging. Maybe it's because I feel like I have nothing "of note" to say. Sure, I've got a lot going on, but I think, "Do people really want to read this?" And then I think how much I love reading other people's blogs...and I get over myself. :)
I got together with a good friend last night at this cozy cafe in Lancaster city. Our time together was so encouraging and refreshing, and I was able to freely share my heart with her. Which got me thinking about how much "easier" life would be if we were all more open with each other about our struggles and sins. There's so much FREEDOM in being able to openly repent and believe and share with other followers of Jesus - it's like suddenly the power of satan and your flesh is greatly diminished...and the power of the Cross is amplified. Wow. Why are we so afraid to talk about our struggles? Why are we so afraid to share what sins weigh us down, show up on a consistent basis in our lives? The more we keep "secret" the more we are suffocated into believing that 1) we're the only ones struggling and 2) that Jesus isn't enough and isn't really who he says he is. What lies we believe! So all this rambling to say that I was so encouraged last night - and it's such a BLESSING to be freed by the Spirit to confess to other followers of Jesus. Repentence and Faith.
On another note - I have insanely talented friends! And not just a couple - loads of them! I saw my dear friend Joanna in Jean-Paul Sarte's "No Exit" this past weekend. Brilliant. And Everett directed it. Fabulous. Loved it. I was so proud. That happens every time I get to see/hear/taste/touch/smell something that a friend has created. I love it. It's like you get to experience a different part of God through the gifts he's given your friends. So cool.
And lastly, does anyone have any good advice on "treating" a sciatic nerve issue? It's plaguing me once again. Has been for about a month. Yeesh.
of note...
We took down our tree yesterday...with it being 70 degrees and sunny outside we figured that must be what it's like to live in Florida over Christmas time...windows wide open, bare feet and t-shirts to take the ornaments off the tree? Yesss.
And today was a day of overwhelming blessings once again. Yep. I am overwhelmed by the people that God has given to me and put in my life. The encouragement, love, support, prayers...I feel like words don't cut it to even try to explain it.
I'm currently watching the Eagles game. If they lose this game I may have to hate them for the rest of my life, and instead root for the Steelers...what?! Yea, who am I kidding. It's Philadelphia forever for the Williams family through the good, the bad, and the just plain ugly.
And the rain pours down...
ingredients in Egg Nog
Okay. I had tried posting earlier, and I hit the wrong button or something like that and lost it all...which really isn't a bad thing, as the entire blog was about the song "Auld Lang Syne"...not the most exciting thing you've ever read. However, I do have to post this great quote from "When Harry Met Sally" when Harry states that he never understood what the song really meant:
"I mean, 'Should old acquaintance be forgot'? Does that mean that we should forget old acquaintances, or does it mean if we happened to forget them, we should remember them, which is not possible because we already forgot?"
So profound. And lately I've been finding myself unable to remember who I had a conversation with the day before...i.e. I can remember the conversation and everything we talked about, but I have NO IDEA who I was talking to. Hm. This can't be a good thing at 27 years of age.
Anyway, here I sit in a bit of a "nook" in my parent's house drinking enough Egg Nog to coat every vein, artery, what have you in my body, reflecting on 2006 and asking the Holy Spirit to calm my anxious and unbelieving heart about 2007. *sigh*
Just ONE major blessing that came out of 2006 (and there are MANY) is that I'm finally learning how to drive a manual transmission car! A
second family in my church (the generosity is overwhelming) has given me a wonderful car to use until I move in June, and it's a manual, which is fantastic. I figured if I had to move to London without knowing how to drive a stick shift I'd manage, but I really thought it would be a good idea to know how before I ended up learning on the other side of the road AND the car, and using my left hand to shift. My very first time in the car was quite hilarious...and discouraging for me. I'm that awful type that wants to be able to do it NOW. So when I just wasn't getting it
right away, I was beginning to fall apart. However, I slowly caught on. And with really only one day (and not even a full one) of driving under my belt, I'm doing ok! So, I stall about 3 times on my way to work...who cares. The people behind me can wait. :) I'm just so excited to be driving a stick shift. The whole thing is an answer to prayer that I didn't have the courage or thought to ask for. Our God is amazing and his followers are humbling.
And in other news, I will officially have a sister-in-law this year. Yesssss. Keith & Chantal are engaged!
Will start posting more photos in the next couple of months when I get a digital camera. In the meantime I hope you enjoy these random ones I find on the World Wide Web.
