I'm Gonna Blog... Really I Am

Hey, guys. I haven't really been feeling very bloggy the last few days. Some of that has to do with just not feeling the bloggy mood. Much has to do with busyness, which is a good thing for me... an unusual thing for me. Anyway, I just wanted to post this little blog today... about not blogging... just so you don't get the idea that I'm not gonna keep on blogging. I really am. In fact my friend Shelly, from EBCS days, has given me some good blog material, so I am getting ready to wax verbosity (is that a real word?) any day now. (Thank you, Shelly.)

Hang with me. I'll be back.

A Day of Study

Since my friend is out of town who usually leads ladies Bible study on Tuesday, I have the privilege of leading it next week. Usually I do a book study, typically from my favorite preacher John Piper. This week I felt led to leave that book and do a study on Psalm 27 because it's special to me. There's a lot there that I think we miss if we just read over it and not understand it's deeper spiritual meaning.

So I've been studying this morning. From scratch. I am creating my own questions and reading over various commentaries... whew, it's tough. It's been really productive, though. I am enjoying the things I've already learned that go a little more beneath the surface stuff than I had already seen in months of meditating on it by myself.

One of the first observations that finally clicked in for me is the pattern that is laid out for being victorious in trial. First David preaches to himself. Then he prays for help to maintain his faith. Then this results in hope as he trusts the Lord and waits on Him. In all the times I've read Psalm 27, I never saw that progression before.

Maybe I'll share the rest in an upcoming blog another day. Only after the study on Tuesday is finished, of course. I can't be giving away any of the answers. :)

I better get back to the books now.

My Favorite Psalm

I love Psalm 27. It's probably my favorite. I was reading it again this morning, wondering when I will ever learn to abide in the safety of God's tabernacle, His presence, where true joy, contentment, and peace remain. I want to dwell there constantly, not sporadically. As I'm getting ready to prepare a Bible study for Tuesday, I sensed that this Psalm is what the Lord was laying on my heart to teach. I've gathered materials today to begin studying. I'm excited about what the Lord will teach me and what I'll get to share with the ladies.

1 The Lord is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid?

2 When the wicked came against me To eat up my flesh, My enemies and foes, They stumbled and fell.

3 Though an army may encamp against me, My heart shall not fear; Though war should rise against me, In this I will be confident.

4 One thing I have desired of the Lord, That will I seek: That I may dwell in the house of the Lord All the days of my life, To behold the beauty of the Lord, And to inquire in His temple.

5 For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion; In the secret place of His tabernacle He shall hide me; He shall set me high upon a rock.

6 And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me; Therefore I will offer sacrifices of joy in His tabernacle; I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the Lord.

7 Hear, O Lord, when I cry with my voice! Have mercy also upon me, and answer me.

8 When You said, "Seek My face," My heart said to You, "Your face, Lord, I will seek."

9 Do not hide Your face from me; Do not turn Your servant away in anger; You have been my help; Do not leave me nor forsake me, O God of my salvation.

10 When my father and my mother forsake me, Then the Lord will take care of me.

11 Teach me Your way, O Lord, And lead me in a smooth path, because of my enemies.

12 Do not deliver me to the will of my adversaries; For false witnesses have risen against me, And such as breathe out violence.

13 I would have lost heart, unless I had believed That I would see the goodness of the Lord In the land of the living.

14 Wait on the Lord; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the Lord!

My Latest Pottery Design

Hey, I just got my latest pottery creation. This is a pink, speckled bowl that I am going to keep on my dining room table for fruit. I love the way it turned out! I wanted to share it because people are always asking what I'm making. So here it is!

Blogging

Alright... I see people with blogs, and I think I've got to have one of my own, too. The only problem I've run into is that I can't seem to come up with anything to blog about. Why does it seem like everyone else is so much wittier than me? I either don't have anything interesting enough to talk about, or I think some stuff would just be too personal to post out there in blogland for all the world to read. I've read enough blogs to know that large readership invites criticism. It's kinda scary. Hmmm...

I've decided to ask you, my friends, for suggestions on what you would like to hear me blog about. So tell me what you think. What would you like me to blog? Really...I'm taking suggestions.

Another Day...Another Run

Ugh! Why is this choice to run so hard? I'm gonna do it today, more out of need than anything. The back of my legs feel tight, so I'm feeling the need to get out there. I know why it's a hard choice...it's DISCIPLINE. Not one of my favorite words. Anyway, I'm gonna do it...today. I'm gonna put on my headphones and hope the music just carries me away.

Golf Yesterday

Rich and I went out to a different golf course yesterday, other than our usual par-3 course that we were getting bored with. We had looked it over online and thought we might give it a try. It didn't seem so daunting on "paper". It was only a 9-hole, but it has several dog legs and 400+ yard holes...Ugh! It was tough. Not only was it hard to manage this more difficult course, neither one of us was having a good golf day. Mistakes all over the place and hardly managed to get any distance with our swings. We never even finished. We walked off at the 6th hole. :( It was very depressing.

It's Only Tuesday?

It sure has been a long day. Cooking real dinner sure does take it out of ya. Okay, just kidding. It wasn't really the dinner that wore me out. I actually felt pretty satisfied in that accomplishment.

I just can't believe it's only Tuesday, yet Wednesday is lurking just around the corner, and before I know it the weekend will be here.

Just in case you were concerned, my car is running fine. Maybe Rich was right...I got a bad tank of gas. You can't even tell that there was anything wrong with it as well as the engine is running now. Crazy!

Tomorrow is another running day for me. I'm psyched! (I'm sure EmiJo is, too.) LOL! My legs are feeling sore after Monday's run, though. I never can predict how I'll feel after a run. I would think that I'd get past the pain if I do the same thing every time, but that hasn't been the case.

I'm golfing with Rich after that. We are planning on going to a different course to break up the monotony. It's a little scary going to a new place. The fairways are longer than what we're accustomed to, and if we have people following close behind, it puts the pressure on to rush. I guess we'll see how it goes.

Catch ya later...

Car Problems

My car has been making a different chugging noise the last few days, so tonight when I started it up to leave church, it was really running hard. I was afraid it wouldn't continue running. After starting it up and shutting it off a couple times, it started to kick back into a more normal sound. A friend followed me home, just to be sure I didn't stall out somewhere.

Rich was home with a migraine, so he wasn't really very happy when I told him the bad news. He was kinda grumpy, in fact. He thinks I might have gotten a bad tank of gas, but I can't imagine that it would act the way it is because of gas. It seems a little more serious than that.

I don't know if my car will start in the morning, but I guess I'm not really worried about it right now.

Dinner

Alright...I've finally broken down, and I'm gonna make "real" dinner again. For those who don't know how I have been preparing meals, since I HATE to cook I have been buying those frozen pre-made meals that you just throw in a skillet, put the lid on, and 10 minutes later... VOILA...you have stir-fry. I imagine I am probably spending more money on one meal than I would if I bought all the ingredients and prepared a meal that had leftovers. I also wonder what's in those prepared things.

So I AM going to make real dinner. I'm going to the grocery store this afternoon...with a shopping list and everything.

A Favorite Blog

You really should check out the "Because I Said So" blog. The lady who writes it is hysterical. She's got her hands full with six kids, and she writes daily about their latest antics. Moms will identify, but you don't have to have kids in order to enjoy her humor.

Because I Said So

Another Pottery Blog

I just found out from Sherry that my pottery is already fired and ready to be picked up. I can't believe it because you're always supposed to give them a week. It's just been days. Sherry is picking it up for me, and I can't wait to see how it turned out. I hope it's as good as how I pictured it in my mind. I'll be sure to post a pic when I get it. I know you're all anxious to see it. :)

Pottery Night

Here's just one picture of our girls' night out. Me and Lisa. She is so nuts! Somehow we always end up sitting next to each other.

I'll be making a photo album of all my pics on Facebook later. Tonight maybe?

See more pics that my sister took. Click here.

Back from a Girls' Night Out

We had a good time tonight, me and the "girls". We went to Chili's, and I ordered the Boneless Shanghai Wings. Mmmmm, are they good! My sister bought my dinner, too, so they were especially good. LOL!

We headed to Pottery Schmottery afterwards and met up with some more friends. As much fun as it is to work on your own project, I love looking at what everyone else is creating. People have the best creativity! I wonder how they come up with their ideas. Very cool! If I have time tomorrow, I will post pictures. (I know Mary is looking forward to that.)

Blogging Again

Guess I'll start blogging again. I've got all sorts of weird things going on in my head, so I might as well express them somewhere.

I'm heading out now for my birthday dinner and Pottery Schmottery with the girls, so I'll be blogging later about that.

Later...