no eloquence here...just ruffled feathers.

so. i have been thinking about some verses lately. i came across one a few days ago and then several since then. i keep looking at them thinking: 'hmm...i should write this down in some fashionable font and hang them on my wall.' but we're out of wall space in the golbov household. so then i thought: 'self, why don't you write a lovely little essay or piece including a dissection of these verses. maybe you could connect them somehow???' but then, it lacked any sort of clarity or beauty. that, i could not handle. then, i read in inanera's post this morning: "If there was a well-designed blog [NOT Bible Gateway] that was dedicated to entering nuggets [I hate that word] of the Bible, would you read it?" after this i thought: 'emily ann, the word of God is enough alone. if He blesses you with some sort of insight, but all means share it. but if he simply lays these verse on your heart, he will use them how he sees fit.' hence, i give you some verses on my heart:

"Keep on loving each other as brothers and sisters. Don't forget to show hospitality to strangers, for some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it! Remember those in prison, as if you were there yourself. Remember also those being mistreated, as if you felt their pain in your own bodies." Hebrews 13:1-3

• on this particular verse i have a comment (or two...forgive me!) my pastor recently preached on this passage. his point, rather God's point, to quote him "It's not about how to go to church but how to do church." so true.

"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever." Hebrews 13:8 (bet you can't guess what book of the Bible we're going through in church right now! (; )

"'I am who I am' say this to the people of Israel: yaweh, the God of your ancestors, -- the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob -- has sent me to you. This is my eternal name, my name to remember for all generations." Exodus 4"14, 15

"You are my God, and I will praise you! You are my God, and I will exalt you! Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever!" Psalm 118: 28,29

• perhaps i am being taught a lesson in the endurance of the Lord. a lesson in His unchanging nature, regardless of my changing nature. He is the same always.
  

"The world would love you as one of it's own if you belonged to it, but you are no longer part of the world. I chose you to come out of the world, so it hates you." John 15:19

• this last one is from the study i am doing in John during my morning devotions. i love the way Kathleen, the author of the study references this verse: "Jesus said outrageously true things in order to shine light on people. We keep them to ourselves in order to avoid problems or criticism or misunderstandings. Do we want to be a light or not? Do we want to be well-liked, popular? It won't work. They hated Jesus...they are going to hate us. Get past it."
  

thank you Lord for your Word. thank you for making it accessible to me on a daily basis. thank you for sending your Spirit to tickle my brain and say "hey! this is important, don't ignore it! speak up, have courage and stop being politically correct for the sake of not ruffling feathers!"

so. ruffle away i will.

thinking back time...

for some reason i cannot stop thinking about my mother today. she created such wonderful memories for my brother and me: turning trips to the grocery store into exciting learning experiences, hand-crafting numerous halloween costumes, allowing us to run rampant through the house with our pot and pan marching band and even going the extra mile to establish small familial traditions that no other family had or has. i can't even begin to thank her for all the hard work. i know on several occasions i called her the "meanest mother in the world" or yelled out the phrase "i can't WAIT to move out of here." but all in all i'm so very glad to have had the meanest mother in the world, because that meant she cared. thanks mom for being the amazing woman of God that you are and always putting in the extra effort to make Ross and me feel needed, loved and at home.

day one of...

+ exercising early to start the day off with a bang

+ coming home with an hour before husband gets up to drink coffee & water, read the Word and enjoy the mellow blueness of morning.

+ tearing through my old room, mom and daddy's basement & attic in an attempt to FINALLY move EVERYTHING out.

+ writing a letter or card every morning to someone.

+ reading again. oh good books, i've missed you so.

+ expanding my vocabulary. word of the day - here i come!

+ new routines of ambling and taking time for what matters. :)

on the brain...