The Pearl

I know - I still owe you stories of Djibouti, and my life - Sorry!  I know - terrible updater, and I promise I will do it, and SOON!
But for now, I want to blog about the Pearl.  Matthew 13 tells us about the kingdom of God being like a fine pearl.  That when the merchant saw it, he sold everything he had to buy it.

That is focus.  That is seeking the treasure.  Pearls are not formed quickly or easily.  For a pearl to be perfect it needs to be finely cultured for a perfect amount of time.  They are roughed out and imperfections are sanded out. 

We are not promised easy things.  We are actually promised quite the opposite.  What makes all the hurt and hard work worthwhile though is the knowledge that we have hope.  The wonderful, fabulous, light at the end of the tunnel - the Good News of hope, and freedom, and love, and eternity, and undeserved salvation.

When we see adversity, when people push us off, make us feel worthless, or hurt us - it is so easy to just stop and pity ourselves, or doubt ourselves - or our call.  But instead we need to press on with the focus of the merchant.   I am not saying our feelings are an insignificant detail of the mission.  I think our heart is very important and I know that God cares intimately for each of ours.  But I also think that what is reflected in our actions are a visualization of our hearts.  And clearly - the merchant's heart was focused on that pearl, and when you want something badly enough, you will give up everything for it.  And I would like to say that I am that way about the call I've had in my life.  I can't honestly say that, but I can admit to trying.

Colossians 3:23-24 says "whatever you do, work at it with all your heart as if workign for the Lord, not for humans, since you know that you will recieve an inheritance from the Lord as a reward.  It is the Lord Christ you are serving."

Press on to the pearl.  Work with all your heart to get it.  Find your treasure and hold on to it.  That's what I plan to do.

favorite things and dreams

I blogged a few months ago about one of my favorite things in the world... lilies.

Today I would like to blog about something else that I love just as much. Pearls.
I think pearls are beautiful and classy and they come in all types of colors and sizes. They are formed throughout a long and painful process once the sand gets into the oyster. They are unique and original in each beautifully and naturally crafted pearl. They represent purity and beauty. They are of great value, and are the focus of my favorite parable in which a merchant sells everything he has to buy one.

Nothing makes me feel quite as beautiful as pearls, and nothing makes me happier to put on my neck, ears, or wrist. I love the beautiful texture, and it reminds me how in every way I can be beautiful and flawless, and refined to perfection once I find myself in the craftmanship and care of my oyster.
See that pearl bracelet on my wrist? That was my christmas gift from my mom and dad. This is the single most beautiful piece of jewlery that I have ever owned, and this gift almost brought tears to my eyes.

On to other things I love, my OJ (again with the nicknames) and I developed a list of adventures to go on. Some may know this as a bucket list, or a list of things to do before I die, but I just like to look at it as 50 adventures and challenges that I can conquer. So, in no particular order, here is my list of my 50 challenges:

1- Ride an elephant in the Jungle (Indonesia)

2- Skydiving

3- Missions trip in a foreign country

4- Hike to the peak of a mountain

5- Take a sailing trip

6- Go on a cross country road trip

7- Learn to drive stick shift

8- Kentucky Derby with a big hat

9- Ice skate at Rockefeller at Christmas

10- Ride on the back of a motorcycle

11- Give everything I have to someone (can be everything I can give, everything I have at that moment… I’ll know when it happens)

12- White Water raft on the CO River

13- Run a ½ marathon OR do a sprint triathlon

14- Worship with a different culture

15- Dance freely in front of at least 10 people

16- Take a helicopter ride

17- Go rock climbing

18- See the Northen Lights

19- Visit and explore Rio de Janerio

20- See Victoria Falls

21- Visit all 50 states

22- Ride the biggest roller coaster in the US

23- Make my own wine

24- Read all 100 books (I have a list of 100 books to read)

25- Not be in control

26- Spend a weekend, just me and God

27- Do God’s will, not my own

28- Help build a habitat for humanity home

29- Spend Christmas at a shelter

30- Make a difference in someone’s life

31- Write and publish a book

32- Watch the 50 Greatest American Movies of all time

33- Be a loving mother and wife

34- Go on a safari

35- Spend mornings with my husband and coffee on the porch

36- Attend a professional tennis tournament

37- Act ridiculous

38- Live in the now

39- Start a collection of willow angels

40- Watch the mummers parade – live

41- Send my parents to a YL camp as adult guests

42- Drop everything to help someone

43- Have a life changing conversation with someone about faith

44- Go back to school

45- Stand out of the sunroof of a moving car

46- Grow a garden

47- Sleep under the stars

48- Build or fix something

49- Explore the beaches & ocean of Australia

50- Surf in the Pacific

Random thoughts, but all things that make me happy, and that I am very excited to check off slowly.