Calling All Readers...

I've been doing a lot of reading this week. I'm trying to finish off some of the many books that I read approximately half of before purchasing something new and getting engrossed in the new work at the expense of the old.

I polished off Rob Bell's "Velvet Elvis" yesterday. I do recommend this one. I'll probably write a bit more extensively about it another time. Good read though, and some challenging things to think about.

I spend way too much money on books to not actually finish reading them. Plus, one of my goals for this year was to broaden my reading, to actually finish books off, and to challenge my abilities to think - basically to not just read "fluff" all the time.

I'm working on a list of the books I need to polish off before I buy too many more. The trouble is that I'm a sucker for a deal, and I basically can't walk into a bookstore without making a purchase. The books just call my name.

Anyway... in the spirit of expanding my mind through reading, I have some questions for my faithful blog readers:

1. What is the one book you would recommend that others read, and why?
2. What is the best novel you have ever read?
3. If you could pick any book to curl up and spend a day with, what would it be, and why?

My answers to come... (along with the list of books that I need to finish reading!)

mish mash of thoughts...

Another mish mash sort of post...

Hung out with Megs again last night. We talked a lot more about the opportunity that has presented itself to us. Tried to decide if we've lost our minds, and decided that we have, but it sure feels right! Had another driving lesson and stalled her car for the first time... whoops... can I just say that I'm not the most coordinated person at the best of times, and driving that suddenly requires two feet is just a little more complicated than my brain is willing to handle! We discovered another interesting "God" coincidence and laughed as we shared the similar things we've been learning as individuals. And we had an important reminder. We'd talked about praying together again (something we try to do regularly, but especially now with our new opportunity) and meant to do it, but didn't. She'd literally walked out my door, gotten in her car and started to drive away. I'd settled into something else when I heard her come back into our house, tell my dad she'd forgotten something, and as I headed out to meet her, propelled me back down the hallway into my bedroom, closing the door behind us. "We forgot to pray, and if we're not praying about this than it isn't worth anything and it will come to nothing." A good reminder. So, we once again committed ourselves, our opportunity, and the forthcoming days and weeks to God. A sweet way to end an evening with one of my dearest friends.

Got up early this morning because someone gave my mom and I tickets to the "Women of Faith" conference that was being held at the Saddledome today. We kind of laughed and enjoyed our way through the day.

I did realize though, that I'm not cut out for huge groups of Christians in one place. I can never decide if I like it or hate it. I guess the whole "family of God" illustration isn't that far off - I feel the same way a lot of the time about my blood relatives too!

Also, that many women in one place... wow... that's a whole lot of estrogen. I don't often hang out with groups of women. To be honest, I don't know a lot of women that I find intellectually stimulating to converse with. I have a lot of friends that I love - very intellectual women, but as a whole, I'd usually rather be part of a conversation that guys are having than one that girls are having... But some of the women who spoke today... I laughed my way through their words, and even gained some insights. I am challenged to become someone who can communicate well - who can easily share the things that I am passionate about, or that God is teaching me.

And with that I'm off to take the evening off. I'm going to curl up with a novel, do a little bit of creative stuff, and just hang (possibly with Megs who needs to drop her violin off at my place to avoid it being in her car in the heat all day while she's at work tomorrow, but won't have time to run home and pick it up before church.)

Tomorrow I'm planning a day of rest and relaxation. Time to think and pray and hang out with God. Time to read and time to just be. (And maybe a little bit of laundry thrown in!)

Prayin' my way through today

I've spent quite a few chunks of time talking to God today. I had a job interview this morning that brought me face to face with a bit of the reality of the new opportunity that has arisen. The job will be impossible for me to accept because of the opportunity. Tried to call the friend who I'm considering this with, but she wasn't around, so I left a message.

I sat down at the bus stop and began to wonder if I'd been mistaking God for an adrenaline rush. Thankfully I had my journal in my purse, so I used the half-hour I had waiting for the bus, the bus trip, and the second bus trip (after the transfer) to journal and pray. I'd already been talking to God this morning, asking for His guidance, asking that the perfect opportunity would present itself in the case of my work situation. But I was caught off guard by the little dose of reality that came.

Then, I prayed my way through the walk to the next job interview (this one seems more promising) and my way through the walk home.

All that praying and here are my conclusions. I think this really is an opportunity from God. I think I'm going to continue moving forward as if the opportunity is definitely going to become a reality. I need to talk with my parents about the opportunity tonight or tomorrow. If I don't tell them soon, I'll back myself into a corner by telling evasive lies in answer to their questions about the job interviews I had today, and I don't want to lie about this.

That said, pray for me please as I tell my parents. Although my friend and I see God's fingerprints all over this crazy opportunity for our lives, I'm not so convinced that my practical, rational, religious parents will see the same. And I am a bit afraid to share this new thing with them, lest is be squashed in me, or lest it increase the tension in our home for the months until the opportunity can come to fruition.

And now, I'm off to pray my way through a shift at the Bay - one of the only ways to make an evening at the store worthwhile!

Musings on a Wednesday Morning

Okay, so my titling could use some help again. It's hard to come up with a title that will encompass everything I want to communicate in a super fast mish mash sort of way.

• First off, I saw the new "Pirates of the Caribbean" movie with my parents last night. I quite enjoyed it, which is somewhat unusual for me with that sort of movie. However, I did dream about that weird octopus headed dude all night last night. Are you beginning to see why I mostly stick to romantic comedies? Characters from those rarely manage to inhabit my dreams in a disturbing manner!
• Secondly, I have a birthday coming up in just a bit over a week. I'll be twenty three. It seems odd to me. I remember being fifteen and listing the things I wanted to have accomplished by this point in my life. I think the only one that came true is the finishing college one. At fifteen your time perspective is sort of skewed. At fifteen, twenty-three seemed so old, so adult, so settled. I figured I'd be married with babies by twenty three. At a few weeks shy of twenty three I'm immensely glad that I am in fact NOT married with babies (although I wouldn't mind if some prospective guys started appearing in my life!)
• Thirdly (is thirdly a word? we're going to pretend that it is, even if it isn't, because I just used it and I'm too lazy to come up with something else.) Thirdly, then, I have two job interviews scheduled for tomorrow. Hopefully one of these times one of the jobs will pan out.
• Finally, (or fourthly if you prefer) I'm off to get ready for work, write and mail a card to a friend, make a phone call or two, check my email and a couple of blogs, and then head off to work. Have a fantastic day!

Free Evening

I'm looking for some way to spend my evening. I spent last evening with a friend, and then cleaning. I was supposed to have house church tonight, but apparently it's been cancelled... I hate when we cancel it. I really miss the chance to hang out with God and my friends all at the same time.

So, if you've got a good evening idea, give me a call... or send me an email! I'll probably do the usual reading and writing that I tend to devote huge chunks of my free time to, and I'll probably be near my computer off and on. I may do errands, or I may go and watch the new "Pirates of the Caribbean" movie.

More doors opened again yesterday in regards to the opportunity that has so recently presented itself to us. Makes me smile and laugh in bewilderment every time I think about it! I can hardly believe I'm even considering it, and yet, God seems to be leading in that direction. It's one of those things that seems to make all kinds of sense on the heart level, and hardly any sense at all on the head level.

It reminds me of these lyrics from a Jason Upton song that caught my attention again on the weekend:

It's more of what we need, and less of what we know
It calls not to our minds, but cries out to our soul.

It makes me smile a happy, bubbling, secret smile!