"Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world."
1.21.2010
Beautiful Dania, Beautiful Catrina
I have no words only tears of joy as I watch this video. I am so grateful for God providing for Catrina and Nate and I am humbled to know people like them and I am so so so happy for them. Please remember them as they will continue to have may opportunities to share how they follow God's calling of James 1:27:
1.20.2010
Haiti Orphan Update: GO GOD!
THE BEST NEWS EVER: the orphans in Haiti have all been air-lifted out and are now in Pittsburgh!!! Catrina and her husband went there last night and will be united with their adoptive daughter today!!
Through disaster there is blessing. I am so grateful for His hand in this. I can't imagine the emotions and the whirlwind of thoughts for my friend. Thank you for your prayers.
I do not believe God caused the earthquake in order for Catrina to get her daughter sooner, but I do believe "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." (Romans 8:28)
And I also believe that Catrina's circumstance is one of the countless ways in which God, in His great kindness and mercy and compassion and love uses this disaster to bless. He gives and takes away. Sometimes the ways He choses both to give and take away are never the way we would plan.
Danny just called to tell me he heard Haiti has just experienced another earthquake. I'm speechless.
The general and the detail. Our detail prayers now are for Catrina's daughter, recovering, adjusting, etc. Our general prayer must continue to be for Haiti and all the nameless people that we will never know.
Through disaster there is blessing. I am so grateful for His hand in this. I can't imagine the emotions and the whirlwind of thoughts for my friend. Thank you for your prayers.
I do not believe God caused the earthquake in order for Catrina to get her daughter sooner, but I do believe "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." (Romans 8:28)
And I also believe that Catrina's circumstance is one of the countless ways in which God, in His great kindness and mercy and compassion and love uses this disaster to bless. He gives and takes away. Sometimes the ways He choses both to give and take away are never the way we would plan.
Danny just called to tell me he heard Haiti has just experienced another earthquake. I'm speechless.
The general and the detail. Our detail prayers now are for Catrina's daughter, recovering, adjusting, etc. Our general prayer must continue to be for Haiti and all the nameless people that we will never know.
1.14.2010
Give. NOW
You are not in Haiti. Thank God. I cannot imagine. Please don't take the time to think it over, just take the time to give through your church, the American Red Cross, whatever. I don't think as believers in Christ you need to pray about it.
My friend Catrina is in the process (going on 4 years now) of adopting her daughter from a Haitian orphanage in the area of the earthquake. Praise, praise, praise God she got news that her daughter is alive and safe and the orphanage seems to be in tact. The damage is considerable and you don't need news reports to know they are desperate for water, food, and other humanitarian aid. Here are links to organizations you can donate to:
Answered Prayers (this is the adoption organization Catrina works with)
GAin (A Campus Crusuade for Christ organization)
The American Red Cross
My friend Catrina is in the process (going on 4 years now) of adopting her daughter from a Haitian orphanage in the area of the earthquake. Praise, praise, praise God she got news that her daughter is alive and safe and the orphanage seems to be in tact. The damage is considerable and you don't need news reports to know they are desperate for water, food, and other humanitarian aid. Here are links to organizations you can donate to:
Answered Prayers (this is the adoption organization Catrina works with)
GAin (A Campus Crusuade for Christ organization)
The American Red Cross
1.06.2010
Two Conversations
Today I was fortunate enough to get "phone" time with two old, old (really back in the day old) friends who have known me forever.
The wonderful thing about both these friends is that they are the kind of friends that when I pick up the phone, it doesn't matter how long its been since we've talked, it feels like we talked last week. As I got off the phone with each of them, my heart felt the same way, "UGHHHH, I wish they were in my daily lives. I wish they lived down the street. I wish we were going to church together and our families were a part of each other's lives. I wish we were getting to spend hours yacking like when we were kids."
I love these two women and they have both had (and still do) a huge impact on my life as Christian friends and godly women. All of our lives have similarities -- God, husband, children.
But that's about where it ends.
One has an autistic child and does not only face the challenges of that, but is called to research and share the injustices, lies, and false information out there about autism, its causes, lack of cures, etc. The other a mother of 3 boys, was called to adopt a daughter from Haiti which she is still now waiting on for almost four years. In the meantime, she and her husband also took in a friend's teenage daughter and has basically been "parenting" her for the last two years. If you think its difficult parenting your own teenage child, imagine trying to do it for someone else.
Their heartaches and challenges and setbacks and obstacles are vastly different. There is some seriously rough crap they have endured (and still do). Life is not a comparision contest. I love to compare myself only to those that will make me feel good about myself. Stop laughing, you secretly do the same.
But when I talk to these friends, God so intricately reminds me He is good. He is enough. He will provide. He IS all the things His word declares He is. It takes little time into a conversation with either of these friends before I realize, how good I have it.
I don't think I should feel guilty my struggles are different or not that difficult. But when my mother was dying of cancer, I'm sure neither of them would have jumped to trade places with me. Why does God place us where we are? Is it only through hardship that we really see His face? Both, both these women I know have seen the face of God in ways I may never.
Seasons of life. They come and go. Thankfully and bittersweetly. I am trying desperately to enjoy and savor and be grateful for the days of life in this timeline of Raleigh. None of us get to chose a lot of things in life. The heartaches of my life are what they are and there will be more to come. There WILL be more to come.
May my faith prove to be pure and authentic during those times, just as faith of these two friends are. If you had asked me back in the day, if either of these girls would become the women of God they are today, I'm not sure I would have believed it. The depth and height and the width and the length in which they know Christ is both and encouragement and convicting presence in my life.
The wonderful thing about both these friends is that they are the kind of friends that when I pick up the phone, it doesn't matter how long its been since we've talked, it feels like we talked last week. As I got off the phone with each of them, my heart felt the same way, "UGHHHH, I wish they were in my daily lives. I wish they lived down the street. I wish we were going to church together and our families were a part of each other's lives. I wish we were getting to spend hours yacking like when we were kids."
I love these two women and they have both had (and still do) a huge impact on my life as Christian friends and godly women. All of our lives have similarities -- God, husband, children.
But that's about where it ends.
One has an autistic child and does not only face the challenges of that, but is called to research and share the injustices, lies, and false information out there about autism, its causes, lack of cures, etc. The other a mother of 3 boys, was called to adopt a daughter from Haiti which she is still now waiting on for almost four years. In the meantime, she and her husband also took in a friend's teenage daughter and has basically been "parenting" her for the last two years. If you think its difficult parenting your own teenage child, imagine trying to do it for someone else.
Their heartaches and challenges and setbacks and obstacles are vastly different. There is some seriously rough crap they have endured (and still do). Life is not a comparision contest. I love to compare myself only to those that will make me feel good about myself. Stop laughing, you secretly do the same.
But when I talk to these friends, God so intricately reminds me He is good. He is enough. He will provide. He IS all the things His word declares He is. It takes little time into a conversation with either of these friends before I realize, how good I have it.
I don't think I should feel guilty my struggles are different or not that difficult. But when my mother was dying of cancer, I'm sure neither of them would have jumped to trade places with me. Why does God place us where we are? Is it only through hardship that we really see His face? Both, both these women I know have seen the face of God in ways I may never.
Seasons of life. They come and go. Thankfully and bittersweetly. I am trying desperately to enjoy and savor and be grateful for the days of life in this timeline of Raleigh. None of us get to chose a lot of things in life. The heartaches of my life are what they are and there will be more to come. There WILL be more to come.
May my faith prove to be pure and authentic during those times, just as faith of these two friends are. If you had asked me back in the day, if either of these girls would become the women of God they are today, I'm not sure I would have believed it. The depth and height and the width and the length in which they know Christ is both and encouragement and convicting presence in my life.
1.05.2010
Blow Thy Horn! Farewell to Zorn!
Excerpt from online article:"When I heard the news early this morning that Washington Redskins General Manager Bruce Allen fired Jim Zorn at 4:00 AM Eastern Time upon the team’s arrival at Dulles Airport, I couldn’t help but feel sad for the much maligned former coach.
Then, I hear he was escorted from Redskins Park by security as if he were a disgruntled postal worker. Did you watch how this went down, Mike Shanahan?"
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
What a painful, painful season. Thank God its over. I'm sorry for poor Mr. Zorn's experience and undoubtedly we should all have some "words" for Mr. Snyder. But those are not things within my control. I hope this isn't as a result of my new practice of imprecatory prayer......
1.01.2010
Starting Another Decade: 2010
Ahhhh . . . a new year. I'm done with wishing you all a "happy" new year, as happy is a fleeting and momentary emotion. I offer this prayer of blessing for you and yours:
Numbers 6:23-26
The LORD bless you and keep you;
the LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you;
the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace.
For those of you who know Christ, may you see Him more clearly this year. For those of you who don't know Him yet, may you see Him clearly, period.
As I reflect on the past year (and yes, I must), I think about how last year this time I had no idea 2009 would bring such events as the death of my mom or that I would have started to seriously paint again. The blessings and heartbreak, God's Word teaches are all for the same purpose: an opportunity to praise Him, an opportunity to chisel my character to look like Christ.
So what are those upcoming opportunities that only God knows He has fashioned specifically for me in 2010? I am excited, but slightly suspicious. The blessings I am sure will far exceed my dreams (despite my dreams thank God) and the heartache will be in areas of my life I probably am too proud or ignorant to at this moment consider. Gulp......
I love resolutions and goals. I love them as a guideline and as motivation and because I actually love "lists." So here is my 2010 list of things I care about on the first day of this year that I may forget in about 90 days:
1. Read only FICTION. My list includes finishing Amy Tan's "Saving Fish From Drowning", and two by Marilynne Robinson (who I have not read yet) "Gilead" and "Home."
2. Exception to goal #1 -- The Bible. I'm done reading about what others think about God's Word as almost an excuse to replace me actually reading the Bible. I am not being judgemental about those types of books, I just know I have a way of making more time for them then God's Word.
3. Start attempting some REAL cooking. I realized for me that when I truly enjoy the sensation of a delicious fine meal (like at a restaurant), I am in a state of praise. Go ahead laugh, but its true. I literally say "Thank you Jesus for this!" I am not talking about just stuffing your face and eating, I am talking about the pure delight of my taste buds thanking God for the joy of that experience. In many ways its a similar experience of enjoying God through the act of painting. So, since I don't want to go into debt over fine dining experiences, I would like to try to make them for myself. I am also slightly inspired after seeing the movie "Julie & Julia."
4. Get back into working out and losing weight. The good news I have already hit the gym 3 times this past week. The bad news is I need to lose 7 pounds. The more immediate goal is that I lose it before I head to California to visit my cousin and aunt for Vietnamese new year because I will be going to a special tailor shop that custom makes the traditional Vietnamese dress the ao dai (pronounced "ow yai"). I wore one of my mother's at her funeral.
5. Pray. Pray more. Pray in ways that seem trivial. Pray in ways that are uncomfortable. Pray in ways that are different. Pray more of scripture. Pray. Pray. Pray. No, I'm asking now for you to pray for ME! I want my life to reflect the character of praying. I can certainly "talk" well enough to those around me, why can't I pray to the God who is always around me?
So 5 things. Not so ambitious.
Ringing in The New Year
Last night Danny treated me to a fine dining experience at the Second Empire. We went there last year for New Year's Eve. And it was delicious again this year.
CAT -- here is what we had:
During dinner a young couple (like seniors in college) got in engaged at the table next to us. I imagine that happens a lot at that restaurant on New Year's Eve. The guy got down on his knees while the waiter video taped the event with the girl completely surprised. Danny and I sprung for their desserts and as they were leaving they came by to thank us. It was a sweet moment with two people we will never see again. She excitedly showed off her ring while he said nervously looking for affirmation, "My sister helped me pick it out. She's had a lot of experience, she's been married 3 times." We made small talk with them and told them we would pray for their marriage. It was just a precious encounter.
This is the kind of restaurant Jack and Yen Snead taught me how to enjoy. I have never realized how much of impact my parents have on me until they were gone and how much I am so like them. This makes me smile and cringe! This is the type of place that has individual hand towels in the restroom with not only a soap dispenser, but a lotion and mouthwash dispenser. Yes, the mouthwash dispenser was the one my darling Danny mistook for the soap dispenser. Needless to say his hands smelled minty fresh the rest of our evening.
After dinner, we headed back to the coziness of our home and our PJs and Ryan Seacrest for ABC's Rockin' New Year's Eve in Times Square. And the time was also spent texting various friends good wishes. It was a lovely evening indeed.
Numbers 6:23-26
The LORD bless you and keep you;
the LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you;
the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace.
For those of you who know Christ, may you see Him more clearly this year. For those of you who don't know Him yet, may you see Him clearly, period.
As I reflect on the past year (and yes, I must), I think about how last year this time I had no idea 2009 would bring such events as the death of my mom or that I would have started to seriously paint again. The blessings and heartbreak, God's Word teaches are all for the same purpose: an opportunity to praise Him, an opportunity to chisel my character to look like Christ.
So what are those upcoming opportunities that only God knows He has fashioned specifically for me in 2010? I am excited, but slightly suspicious. The blessings I am sure will far exceed my dreams (despite my dreams thank God) and the heartache will be in areas of my life I probably am too proud or ignorant to at this moment consider. Gulp......
I love resolutions and goals. I love them as a guideline and as motivation and because I actually love "lists." So here is my 2010 list of things I care about on the first day of this year that I may forget in about 90 days:
1. Read only FICTION. My list includes finishing Amy Tan's "Saving Fish From Drowning", and two by Marilynne Robinson (who I have not read yet) "Gilead" and "Home."
2. Exception to goal #1 -- The Bible. I'm done reading about what others think about God's Word as almost an excuse to replace me actually reading the Bible. I am not being judgemental about those types of books, I just know I have a way of making more time for them then God's Word.
3. Start attempting some REAL cooking. I realized for me that when I truly enjoy the sensation of a delicious fine meal (like at a restaurant), I am in a state of praise. Go ahead laugh, but its true. I literally say "Thank you Jesus for this!" I am not talking about just stuffing your face and eating, I am talking about the pure delight of my taste buds thanking God for the joy of that experience. In many ways its a similar experience of enjoying God through the act of painting. So, since I don't want to go into debt over fine dining experiences, I would like to try to make them for myself. I am also slightly inspired after seeing the movie "Julie & Julia."
4. Get back into working out and losing weight. The good news I have already hit the gym 3 times this past week. The bad news is I need to lose 7 pounds. The more immediate goal is that I lose it before I head to California to visit my cousin and aunt for Vietnamese new year because I will be going to a special tailor shop that custom makes the traditional Vietnamese dress the ao dai (pronounced "ow yai"). I wore one of my mother's at her funeral.
5. Pray. Pray more. Pray in ways that seem trivial. Pray in ways that are uncomfortable. Pray in ways that are different. Pray more of scripture. Pray. Pray. Pray. No, I'm asking now for you to pray for ME! I want my life to reflect the character of praying. I can certainly "talk" well enough to those around me, why can't I pray to the God who is always around me?
So 5 things. Not so ambitious.
Ringing in The New Year
Last night Danny treated me to a fine dining experience at the Second Empire. We went there last year for New Year's Eve. And it was delicious again this year.
CAT -- here is what we had:
First Course:The meal was inspiring. Yes, you read me right. Forget the way to Danny's heart, the way to my heart is over my taste buds and to my stomach.
Jax: Steamed "Snead's Ferry" clams with roasted butternut squash, smoked collard greens, potato gnocchi, grilled red onions, grape tomatoes, curry white wine jus
Danny: Roasted duck & molasses-glazed wild mushroom ravioli, cannellini bean ragout & bok choy, N.C. sweet potato puree, roasted califlower & green tomato salsa, orange & fennel reduction
Entree:
Jax: Veal cheek, pork tenderloin & venison rack trafecta, broccolini & pumpkin bread casserole, autumn vegetable puree, pineapple & cranberry salsa, arugula, Bad Penny brown ale reduction
Danny: Grilled Pacific Ahi tuna loin, hickory smoked hominy grits, Napa cabbage & asparagus, Swiss chard, butternut squash compote, pineapple & green peppercorn jus
Wine: Picket Fence Russian Valley Pinot Noir 2006
Dessert: Tiramisu (Danny's FAVORITE!)
During dinner a young couple (like seniors in college) got in engaged at the table next to us. I imagine that happens a lot at that restaurant on New Year's Eve. The guy got down on his knees while the waiter video taped the event with the girl completely surprised. Danny and I sprung for their desserts and as they were leaving they came by to thank us. It was a sweet moment with two people we will never see again. She excitedly showed off her ring while he said nervously looking for affirmation, "My sister helped me pick it out. She's had a lot of experience, she's been married 3 times." We made small talk with them and told them we would pray for their marriage. It was just a precious encounter.
This is the kind of restaurant Jack and Yen Snead taught me how to enjoy. I have never realized how much of impact my parents have on me until they were gone and how much I am so like them. This makes me smile and cringe! This is the type of place that has individual hand towels in the restroom with not only a soap dispenser, but a lotion and mouthwash dispenser. Yes, the mouthwash dispenser was the one my darling Danny mistook for the soap dispenser. Needless to say his hands smelled minty fresh the rest of our evening.
After dinner, we headed back to the coziness of our home and our PJs and Ryan Seacrest for ABC's Rockin' New Year's Eve in Times Square. And the time was also spent texting various friends good wishes. It was a lovely evening indeed.
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