Showing posts with label creation. Show all posts
Showing posts with label creation. Show all posts

Sunday, March 30, 2008

Thoughts on a Psalm and Birthday and COH Briefing

Psalm 19 has been one of my favorite Psalms for the last few months. There are Psalms for so many different occasions - ones for when you are sad, happy, under attack, and all Psalms are praises and prayers to God. This Psalm is not really an occasion Psalm, but a praise to God and and then at the end asking God to help us live each day right. I love nature and often feel my closest time with God have been when I am experiencing his creation whether this be a run on West Cliff drive, a sunny day drive up the 101, or snowboarding in the mountains (as my brief time as a blogger you have probably heard this already). I love the language of the Psalm and how creation is God's. The other reason I love this Psalm is because it is so God focused. Even when the Psalm turns to asking God to help us live right it is focused on HIM and needing HIS help and making sure we remember it is HIS work. I have typed the Psalm below for your own reading pleasure =).


Psalm 19 - The Message Translation


"God's glory is on tour in the skies, God-craft on exhibit across the horizon. Madame Day holds classes every morning, Professor Night Lectures every evening.


Their words aren't heard, their voices aren't recorded, but their silence fills the earth: unspoken truth is everywhere.


God makes a huge dome for the sun - a superdome! The morning sun's a new husband leaping from his honeymoon bed, the daybreaking sun an athlete racing to the tape.


That's how God's word vaults across the skies from sunrise to sunset, Melting ice, scorching deserts, warming hearts to faith.


The revelation of God is whole and pulls our lives together. The signpost of God are clear and point out the right road. The life-maps of God are right, showing the way to joy. The directions of God are plain and easy on the eyes, God's reputation is twenty-four carat gold, with a lifetime guarantee. The decisions of God are accurate down the the nth degree.


God's word is better than a diamond, better than a diamond set between emeralds. You'll like it better than strawberries in the spring, better than red ripe strawberries.


There's more: God's word warns us of danger and directs us to hidden treasure. Otherwise how will we find our way? Or know when we play the fool? Clean the slate, God, so we can start the day fresh! Keep me from stupid sins, from thinking I can take over your work; Then I can start this day sun-washed, scrubbed clean of the grime of sin. These are the words in my mouth; these are what I chew on and pray. Accept them when I place them on the morning altar, O God, my Altar-Rock, God, Priest-of-My-Altar."



On an a different note - I turned 23 this week. My dad was out in Colorado to help wrap up the end of the project I have been working on, so he decided to take me to Aspen on my birthday. We started the day at Snowmass and ended it at Aspen. It ended up being a great day. I got to snowboard all day, most of my friends and family remembered to call me, and I got steak for dinner. I even remembered to take some pictures, which I have included at the bottom of the page.


Lastly, I would like to be at Convoy of Hope by May. I write this fully knowing God works in his own timing which may or may not be ours, but this doesn't mean I (and you) can't pray that I will be their sooner rather than later!!! If you could continue to pray that I will be able to raise my funds (even in the midst of this countries financial uncertainty) and pray that they will be raised before the end of May I would appreciate it!
Be Blessed!


Sunday, February 10, 2008

Mountain Adventures 02/10/08

For one reason or another for the last several years I have wanted to snowboard the Colorado Mountains. Yesterday was my first Saturday off and so I decided to fulfill this dream. Friday after work I headed over to a local sports store and rented a board and boots (mine got left at home). I asked about road conditions and where to go. The local answer is "Really anywhere is good" and then a list of places. Hate to break it to the locals, but that doesn't really help someone who knows nothing. A cost anaylsis along with the challenge of slopes and snow conditions would of been helpful. Fortunately for this California girl the internet holds some answers. So Saturday morning at 7:30am I headed up to Copper Mountain in my Ford Mustang (which is much better for braving LA freeways than Colorado mountains).

Its a little nerve racking heading up to unexplored (unexplored by me) mountain passes to a ski resort I have never seen of or heard of until the day before. I knew that if I made it to Copper Moutain and got to strap my feet into a snowboard the risk would be well worth it. I believe that many of us let the unknown stop us from experiencing life and all that it may hold. The thing is we never know what God will do when we take a step into the unexplored. Many times we stop short of experiencing all God can do because of our own fears.

Finnally at 11:00am I made it to the slopes (I learned that I need to leave much earlier to avoid the mountain rush). It was clear, sunny and beautiful. My snowboard and myself spent the day shredding down the mountain slopes. There were times that I would stop to rest and take in the scenery. If I waited for all the other skiers and boarders to leave the area I would find myself in the company of towering trees and snowcapped mountains and stillness. It made me stop and think "WOW my God created all of this, what a big and amazing and creative God I serve". God often uses his creation to make me slow down and to show himself to me.

It is a good thing that I was in the company of such a beautiful place to remind me of who God was because when I realized I lost my cell phone somewhere on the mountain I needed a good reason to not let it ruin my day. I decided to continue snowboarding and to worry about where my cell phone might be after the lifts closed. I did send several prayers to God about helping me find my cell phone. At 4:00pm I went and put in a report with lost and found. In the middle of giving this report a man walked up and turned in my phone. This was my little miracle. It made my day that much better. After finding my phone, a good meal at little restaurant at the resort and a nonfat vanilla latte I headed home. Content and very happy that I decided to embark on this adventure.

My only regret is that I forgot to take a picture so that I could share a little more of this adventure with you. =)