Wednesday, February 28, 2007

Lovesickness

Calm my restless heart,
Take me to the eyeOf the storm.
War’s walls all around,
Peace within
Where Your presence dwells.
O, I wait!for You –I never knew it took
So much strength
To sit
So much strength
To trust.
The raging thunders of water
Seem to overflow me.
I tumble, dizzy and sleepless –
O to know what You are doing
In this moment –
This very hour –
History’s significance rests on
Today.
Take me to our secret place
Where You whisper in my ear,
Gaze into my being
With eyes of fire,
And embrace my frail body
Until it hinders me no more
From running into You,
Just to be where You are.
The weight of glory,
The majesty of royalty,
My eyes behold my King
And my heart bows low.
My mind does not wander,
For once.
My hands do not work fruitlessly,
They only extend,
Facing up,
Holding my life inside.
For it belongs to You,
My Maker.
You created this pot
Then gave it a choice:
“Be filled with your gloryor Mine?”
This pot cries out,
“FILL ME WITH YOUR GLORY!”
I cannot stand my own barrenness
I despise my own works
I am weary of my own words
I am too weak to be strong;
Alone.
I yearn for Your fruitfulness
I long for Your tender healing touch
I ache to hear Your voice
I am consumed by You.
You turn me into ash
Then clothe me in brightness.
WHO ARE YOU?
More than earthly love
Do I crave Your touch,
Your embrace
Your nearness.
Intimacy with You
Pulls my fragments together
Makes me whole and well.
But I can’t see past my Lover’s doorway!
Where can I go
But where I hear Your voice?
Chamber corners
Ricochet false echoes
And I chase nothing.
But then, O!
It is my Beloved!
Yes, that is His tone!
Wait for me,I am coming!
Yes, I am coming quickly!
Do not leave me
For Your presence is all I am.
Without it, I die.
I wither, I dry out,
I march to the same beat
as the fallen world.
NO!
I will dance to the rhythm of the King!
I will seek His face alone,
His hand alone
His embrace alone.
I have tasted, I have seen
That other lovers fall short,
Disappoint, leave me wanting,
Craving something more.
But You!
WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO ME?
Gloriously precious is this servant
In the eyes of his King.
You have stolen me,
My life
My heart
My affections
You have won this bleeding spirit
Until the end –Then beyond.
I AM YOURS
Forever.
I care not of my own,
Only of You.
Take my hand
Lead me on,
King Jesus
As deep calls unto deep
To Your chamber’s halls.

~Matthew Harri

Go here to see some of the other poetry this guy's written. It's really good. I can't write poetry, but I do appreciate it very much. I love this poem.

Tuesday, February 27, 2007

Mad libs are great!

Note that everything in caps is added by us

Dream Prince
by Joa
Edited by Bill Kendrick
Once upon a time there was a princess named JAMIE. Every night, she would dream about a very handsome prince named JACOB. She started falling in love with him even though he wasn't real. One 7:61 AM in the SPRING she saw a prince that looked just like JACOB from her dreams! She thought hard to find a reason to meet him. He saw the way she was looking at him, and knew she must be in love with him. But alas, her SECOND COUSIN ON HER AUNTS SIDE wanted her to have nothing to do with him, and told of stories that JACOB was wanted for STEALING SOMEONES SEAT! But JACOB was not only handsome, but smart, as well. He learned of these stories, which were lies, and knew that princess JAMIE's SECOND COUSIN ON HER AUNTS SIDE must be evil. So one day, when noone was watching, prince JACOB found JAMIE and they ran away together to start their own YOUNG kingdom.
The Box
The doorbell rang. BJ and LAUREN raced to the door. There on the doorstep was an enormous, VERBOSE box. What could be inside? They EXCITEDLY CATAPULTED the box into the ATTIC. LAUREN GROTESQUELY put her HAIR FOLICLE close to the box. She thought she heard a voice whisper, “DARN YOU AQUA SCUM!”
“Hurry. Open the box!” screamed BJ. To their amazement, KIRK CAMERON leaped out of the box and started singing “I'VE GOT YOU UNDER MY SKIN.” There was nothing else to do but sing along.
Simply Delicious!
PIPES a la WARDIngredients
99 cups of PIPES
SQUARE ROOT OF 4 pounds of chopped WAGONS
57 teaspoons of TAILS
23 cups of SWEAT
21 BOOGERS Directions
ACTING the PIPES under cold water and place them in a(n) LOVELY bowl.
CREATIVELY add the chopped WAGONS, TAILS, SWEAT, and BOOGERS.
BRUISING well until all the ingredients are GREEN.
Place spoonfuls of the mixture on a 9” x 12” TREE.
Bake 704 minutes at 7687 degrees.
Serves 64453

We had fun tonight..

Monday, February 26, 2007

Welcome to Storyville

Wear your story. I stumbled across this website today because well... I was nosy. We won't go into that. And I found that I really love some of the designs and tees that the designers offer. It's like a local "Threadless". They're over on Chimes St. They'll print your "dream shirts" for you. You know how we're always saying we need to make stuff into a t-shirt? Well now we can.

Here are some of the ones I particularly liked:

I really love this one. It's just a tad too 'spensive for me..


If you've ever been to Grand Isle - and I have many times! Then this is hilarious!
This one is just funny. Especially if you live in La.

I'm going to buy this one... For Mrs. Sharon.. lol

If you go to the website it has links to all the sites that sell these shirts, and others.

Thursday, February 15, 2007

To quote you..

I've been reading some poetry and quotes and things the past few days on different blogs and in articles. Here are a few that I really liked. Many of them pertain to the Valentine season.

"Like a rose can be preserved for many years without losing it's color, so a
letter saves deep thoughts and earnest prayers for years and retains the sweet
fragrance of the moment they were written." ~ someone I don't know


"There is no safe investment. To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything
and your heart will certainly be wrung and possibly be broken. If you want to
make sure of keeping it intact, you must give your heart to no-one... Wrap it
carefully around with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements; lock
it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket—safe,
dark, motionless, airless—it will change. It will not be broken; it will become
unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable. The alternative to tragedy, or at least
to the risk of tragedy, is damnation. The only place outside heaven where you
can be perfectly safe from all the dangers and perturbations of love is
hell." ~ C.S. Lewis

Wait um.. well that's it! Hope you enjoyed them!

Tuesday, February 13, 2007

Be My Valentine


I have always loved Valentines Day. I believe that it should never be a day to mope in loneliness and self pity, but rather to rejoice in Godly friendships. I take great delight in the excuse to write little notes of encouragement this time of year. So now I want to take this time to let all of my church family know how much I love you. I wanted to mail these out but I didn't plan far enough ahead to be able to.

Bob and Sharon: Thank you for graciously opening your home to us every week. I know that I am welcome there. Thanks for your prayers and encouragement and for your faithfulness in seeking the Lord... Thank you for setting a Godly example as a couple and allowing us to witness your love for one another. I appreciate your humble service to my family and I. I love you both dearly and thank God every day that He gave me you to lead me.

Holly: You are always a breath of fresh air to me. I love how easily you laugh. You bring joy to the bleakest setting and bring out the best in people - their humor! But you also know there is a time for everything.. I appreciate your discretion. Your diligence and hard work is such an example to me. Know that I think of you often and pray for you just as much.

Jamie: What an encouragement to be able to witness the transformation God has brought to your life. Witnessing everything He’s brought you through has bolstered my faith to new levels. I enjoy the fellowship we have together and look forward to time spent with you. I cannot wait to see what God is going to do with us next!

BJ: You may not know it, but God has taught me a lot through our friendship. I appreciate that you are so gracious when Jordan and I have our “immature girly moments”. I’m comfortable around ya’ll, a miracle in itself! I appreciate your example of humility in home church. Thank you for speaking up when no one else wants to.

Deanna: What can I say? Thank you for being you. Thank you for never being afraid to speak what God has put on your heart. I appreciate your steadfast friendship. You model Christ to me in a way no one else does. I pray, not only that God would give me more friends like you, but that He would teach me to be a friend like you have been to me.

Lauren: You know my heart. You have shared in my sorrows and I in yours. Whenever I need someone to understand in every way I know that I can go to you. As Paul said in Philippians 1:7 – “I hold you in my heart.” You are held in my heart very dearly. I pray for you always. Your steadfast pursuit of the things of God spur me onward in Him. You sharpen me (..as iron..). I cannot begin to understand how someone as undeserving as I have a friend so faithful as you. Our friendship is such a testimony of the grace of God. You are closer than a friend - you are my sister. I love you more than you can know.

Jordan: I'm not even sure what I can say that you don't already know. You and I have been through it all - together. You know me like no one else and love me the same. You see past my faults to who I want to be in Christ and help me strive toward that end. I've said it before, but I say it again; God knew I needed you. I would never have made it this far without you by my side. I am so encouraged by the evidence of His work that I see in you. My gratefulness to the Lord is beyond measure for the gift of you. I love you all the way to the moon and back - for infinity!

My G.I.F.T. Girls: What a privilege I have to be able to fellowship with you all each week. I consider you my little sisters. You guys make me giggle - especially when you trip me! It's so exciting for us to be able to watch as God begins to show you things. You are growing in His wisdom and all I can do is praise God for the work He is doing in you! I cherish your friendships and love each of you.

To other families in The Body: Nan and Bro. Teryl, Penny, Bro. Danny and Mrs. Sara, Kandi and Darrin, Mrs. Michelle and Mr. Danny, Seth and Deb, Mrs. Vicki, Mrs. Beth M., Heather, Amber and Bryan.. I could keep naming people, but mostly I want to address those who I know read my blog. If I took the time to name all of the ways you've made an impact on me I would never sleep! So many of you are a part of my "multitude of counsel" and I count it a privilege to be able to say so. You've provided me with practical advice as well as Godly wisdom and encouragement. The fellowship in the light that we have shared has been invaluable to me. I have fun with ya'll no matter where we are or what we're doing. I have done nothing to deserve your friendship, but I praise God for His mercy that I have it. I love you all so much.

May God bless you as you continue to pursue Him!

Monday, February 12, 2007

Sweet Fellowship

This morning was so refreshing. By "this" morning I mean Sunday morning. It's past midnight, but I can't sleep because I fell asleep reading this afternoon. We didn't get started until around 11am because of different stuff that was goin' on at the Hill household (ask Bob about that!). So at Jacobs suggestion we decided to eat first and commune over the meal. As everyone was finishing eating Bob started talking about 2 Thessalonians and things just flowed easily from there. I felt like there was a renewal of unity among us that we seem to have been lacking, or maybe it's just been me. We even had fun with conversation hearts during church and passed each other edible "love messages" while we talked.

I needed that. I'm afraid that I sometimes neglect to let my home church know how much I love them. I love the ease that we have with one another. I love how easily we laugh together (and at one another). Thank you for being gracious when you see our shortcomings. Being around you guys is refreshing to my spirit. Hearing your thoughts about the word and your heart on a matter God is showing you, builds my faith. God is doing unspeakable things in me right now. Your friendship and the fellowship in the light that we share is invaluable to me at this time. Thank you..

Wednesday, February 07, 2007

Grand Ole 52

While BJ celebrates the past-the-200 mark on his blog, I am here to announce that I have only reached 52 posts. Not that I really care, I just thought I'd let you know. I know how boring it is to check someones blog every day and not see anything different for a week, so I apologize for my inactivity. I've not had the spare time to even read everyones blog (ahem.. Holly!).

Part of the delay has been getting settled in at work. For those of you who don't know, I've now been an employee of the State of Louisiana for a week. It was overwhelming at first with so many things to remember, but through the process of repitition it's becoming much easier. I'm even beginning to get close to the daily quota, which makes me very pleased. I enjoy my new job. It has good hours that afford me the time I need to come home and continue my culinary traning. So far I've had two successes this week. Thank you very much Deanna for your recipe for pork chops, and Deb for your suggestion of potatoes. I actually liked the pork chops for a change! But none of that really concerns many of you who read this.

The word that is burning in my heart right now is renewal. The definition of it is this: to make like new : restore to freshness, vigor, or perfection, to make new spiritually, to restore to existence, to make extensive changes in. It seems as though there isn't one area of my life that God isn't beginning to do this. The area of relationships is definately at the top of the list. God is making extensive changes. I feel like I'm facing the cleaning of worlds messiest walk-in closet. It's overwhelming. But I will cling to the hope of renewal.