Because I Need it Today...

Things I love/am thankful for/that are making me smile - the November 7, 2007 edition!

• Weather that's not absolutely freezing cold right now.


• That this coming Monday is a holiday for me.


• That plans for hosting a prayer room in my house this weekend are taking shape.


• That my brother's surgery last week went quite well and the surgeon is hopeful that he will again be able to use his wrist and play guitar.


• Starbucks passion tea


• Moxie's Cuban Chocolate Espresso Mousse shared with Janneka last night - just as completely deadly as it sounds!


• Janneka


• A chance to see my parents tonight


• my nose piercing (which seems to be healing well) that reminds me of the miracles Jesus has worked in my life every time I glance in the mirror (or wrinkle my nose!)


• a heavy duvet on my bed


• sweat pants for comfort when you're sleeping or not feeling well


• casual Fridays


• A Wednesday that seems a little less all over the place than the last several Wednesdays have been


• my ipod that lets me have my entire musical library at my fingertips while at work


• emails from friends


• cute shoes


• that I seem to have lost some weight (even if it is probably from stress and illness)


• friends who are praying people


• a decent working relationship with my boss


• an upcoming chance to do some traveling


• Psalm 3, Psalm 91, Ephesians 6


• green beans


• blackberries


• smoked gouda


• potatoes cooked almost any way possible


• a warm sweater to wear in my cool office


• dreams


• friends who push me into new spaces


• mountains


• a beautiful sunset driving home from work on Monday night


• that I don't have to take public transit on Friday because my roommate will be out of town and has offered me the use of her car


• An upcoming Saturday in the mountains with a friend


• facebook - for the communication it lets me have with friends spread across the country and around the world


• a new camera


• a functioning new cell phone that I'm finally getting used to


• a phone call from Alex last night, excited about the upcoming weekend


• that the atmosphere in my office is calmer today


• people that have a heart for the non-western world


• people that have a heart for the western world


• the color blue


• candles


• nag champa incense


• artists and the way they see and share the world with us


• an office full of plants to add life


• bottled water

Health and well-being

I am feeling quite ill again today. Nausea. Stiff, tight muscles, headache.

It seems that this has been happening a lot in the last few months since my life once again shifted into an intense season of change and growth.

If the pants I'm wearing for work today are any indication, I've once again lost weight. They're sliding down my hips, and they used to be tight. The weight loss (though I have been trying to eat more healthily and exercise more regularly) can probably be attributed to the number of days I've felt like I do today - little or no appetite, generally smaller meals, and eating less often.

I can't get sick this week. I don't have time to be sick this week. I have a meeting tonight, prep for an event I'm hosting this weekend tomorrow night, and then, 24 hours of prayer in my living room, with youth kids and friends, from Friday night at 7 pm to Saturday night at 7 pm. (By the way, if you're interested in coming to pray (and I'd love to have you!), either look me up on facebook - I've created an event - or email me lpippus (at) telus (dot) net)

I wonder a bit about the way the spiritual affects illness. It certainly affects my mind and body in other ways, does that mean it can make me ill as well?

But I have to say, in spite of the illness I've battled the last several months, in spite of the illness I'm battling today, I've never been in a better space. I am living in a place of intense closeness to the Father, and to His people. I am being called daily to deeper and new things. I am overwhelmed, shocked, and completely grateful for this latest hijacking of my life. I may have health problems - but I am living in a space of well-being.

Another bit from Henri Nouwen

I got this great bit this morning from the Henri Nouwen society, and am once again passing it along to you. (In case you wonder why I put all of these up on the blog, it's mostly for me - I can store them somewhere where they won't be lost if they're on the blog, but if they're in my work email, they clog the box, and are hopelessly hard to wade through. I just hope you enjoy them as much as I do!)

Telling the Story of Jesus

The Church is called to announce the Good News of Jesus to all people and all nations. Besides the many works of mercy by which the Church must make Jesus' love visible, it must also joyfully announce the great mystery of God's salvation through the life, suffering, death, and resurrection of Jesus. The story of Jesus is to be proclaimed and celebrated. Some will hear and rejoice, some will remain indifferent, some will become hostile. The story of Jesus will not always be accepted, but it must be told.

We who know the story and try to live it out, have the joyful task of telling it to others. When our words rise from hearts full of love and gratitude, they will bear fruit, whether we can see this or not.