1. Praise God we have a responsible renter in the VA house as of Saturday! A divorced dad who wanted to specifically live near his daughter. He is an Air Force guy and not only does direct deposit with rent, but pays EARLY! Good things come to those who wait on the Lord!!!
2. November marks the beginning of holiday season, and I am feeling the pangs of missing my parents, especially my mom. It seems stupid, but every time I think that I don't have to go to Harrisonburg this year for the holidays and that I WON'T get to buy my mother a Christmas gift (and I truly loved shopping for her), it breaks my heart. I'm so sad at the thought I have no parents for the holidays. Last year I remember how happy my mother was when we brought Christmas dinner with us.
3. I am experiencing 7th grade girls small group fatigue. I have no options EVER to miss a Wednesday night unless I am sick. It is not them, it is me. Last week, all of them knew their memory verse even my autistic girl when I thought maybe only one or two would know it. Each of them were excited about reciting it to me.
4. New friendship -- it is often difficult to find another couple to be a couple friend with. We have been blessed with Will and Linda, who live in our neighborhood. Will is a church planter and Linda a homeschooling mom. Will was also on Danny's soccer team. Anyway, the four of us have really connected and have been spending significant time together. Linda and I also meet on Monday nights, but have become a daily part of each other's lives through email and texts. They are both mature believers and just plain "cool." The blessing has been that we all know this friendship is not accidental and not just about hanging out and having fun. We are all connected by the sense of community Christ calls us to. This is a first of its kind for the Dulins.
5. I got a pair of dark green cords from Old Navy and I love them.
6. My daughter asked for prayer that she would be more obedient to Danny and I. What a blessing a child with a heart that seeks to honor God is --- it humbles me to think of what God has done in her life.
7. My parents' Harrisonburg house goes on the market today. I suspect it won't get bought anytime soon, but its still a weird and bittersweet thought.
11.03.2009
10.27.2009
Prayer
Zoe recently gave me Philip Yancey's book "Prayer: Does it Make Any Difference?" She is also reading a library copy. The reason she gave it to me is because we are in a season of studying prayer.
I also meet with 2 mature Christian women in my neighborhood on Monday nights for a time of fellowship and Bible study. We are studying prayer. But we are not using any type of guide or book, etc, we've chosen to let God bring to mind Scripture about various aspects of prayer. It has been quite an amazing time of rich insight, humble revelation, and a deep encouragement to pray for each other.
My study of Luke at CBS has also been instrumental in this whole "prayer" topic. I am seeing Jesus as a man of prayer, in many ways for the first time clearly in my Christian life. How odd.
I feel that its almost like I am learning about who Jesus was during his ministry for the first time. Why, when, where, how, for how long did Jesus pray as recorded in scripture is such an intimate window into the heart of our Saviour. I am ashamed to confess, I had no idea. I had no idea the prayers He DIDN'T pray are also as important as the prayers He did.
Yancey's book is "uncomfortable" initially to read because it does ask the hard questions about prayer you fear may not have the "right biblical" answers. The question of WHY we should pray could be answered so many practical ways. But the simple truth is this: We should pray because Jesus did (p. 78). And if I know WHO Jesus is, then I will understand why I should pray.
I have been a Christian since I was 13. That's 26 years. That's over a quarter of a century. My heart is almost crushed that I do not know my Saviour. His Word is full of the intimacies of His life, love, wisdom, character and on and on and on, and somehow this entire time I missed so many of the details. And much of it is revealed in His praying.
My prayers are so idiotic. And at this point, I can barely get the words out to say, "Lord, I just want to KNOW you." What if another 25 years goes by and I am at the same place of "I do not really know my Saviour" ???
I also meet with 2 mature Christian women in my neighborhood on Monday nights for a time of fellowship and Bible study. We are studying prayer. But we are not using any type of guide or book, etc, we've chosen to let God bring to mind Scripture about various aspects of prayer. It has been quite an amazing time of rich insight, humble revelation, and a deep encouragement to pray for each other.
My study of Luke at CBS has also been instrumental in this whole "prayer" topic. I am seeing Jesus as a man of prayer, in many ways for the first time clearly in my Christian life. How odd.
I feel that its almost like I am learning about who Jesus was during his ministry for the first time. Why, when, where, how, for how long did Jesus pray as recorded in scripture is such an intimate window into the heart of our Saviour. I am ashamed to confess, I had no idea. I had no idea the prayers He DIDN'T pray are also as important as the prayers He did.
Yancey's book is "uncomfortable" initially to read because it does ask the hard questions about prayer you fear may not have the "right biblical" answers. The question of WHY we should pray could be answered so many practical ways. But the simple truth is this: We should pray because Jesus did (p. 78). And if I know WHO Jesus is, then I will understand why I should pray.
I have been a Christian since I was 13. That's 26 years. That's over a quarter of a century. My heart is almost crushed that I do not know my Saviour. His Word is full of the intimacies of His life, love, wisdom, character and on and on and on, and somehow this entire time I missed so many of the details. And much of it is revealed in His praying.
My prayers are so idiotic. And at this point, I can barely get the words out to say, "Lord, I just want to KNOW you." What if another 25 years goes by and I am at the same place of "I do not really know my Saviour" ???
10.26.2009
Wine-Price Weekend 09
Several weekends ago, we had our annual Wine-Price Girls at the beach. This is our 5th (?) year at the beach but probably our 8th annual get together. I can't even remember now.
As the years have passed, as we've aged, as we've faced various life circumstances, these weekend experiences have changed as well. Some years are pure girly fun. Others are more "challenging" in our friendships. But in the end, the tie that binds us has always been our shared faith in Jesus Christ. We are as different in personality as we look. The seasons these friendships have gone through bring laughter, tears, frustration, growth, grace, and ultimately gratefullness.
Here's to the Wine-Price girls, to our flaws and our fashion and our friendship!
As the years have passed, as we've aged, as we've faced various life circumstances, these weekend experiences have changed as well. Some years are pure girly fun. Others are more "challenging" in our friendships. But in the end, the tie that binds us has always been our shared faith in Jesus Christ. We are as different in personality as we look. The seasons these friendships have gone through bring laughter, tears, frustration, growth, grace, and ultimately gratefullness.
Here's to the Wine-Price girls, to our flaws and our fashion and our friendship!
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