Lilley of the field

The sun is streaming in the windows. The dogs are playing next to me. I am drinking a delicious strawberry ale. I've got my new trendy glasses on. It is Friday afternoon of my first week of school and I, by miracle of miracles, have energy to spare. And yet, it is both a miracle and the product of a string of conscious decisions. We have grandly titled this year our "Year of Sabbath." We have purposely said no to things, stepped down from things, and thankfully finished some things- like being Teacher of the Year and Aaron's grad school. Some weights feel lifted. So I went to work each day and  I came home each day and I loved loved each day. Wednesday, we filled our house with about 22 people and we ate around a table, laughed, shared stories, and prayed to our good, good Father. Thursday, a dear friend who has moved away came over for dessert and we shared about life. We say "yes" to people, to rest, to a peace filled home, to abundant room for time ...

I didn't think I needed Jesus today. On Easter of all days. I woke up with the bright sun shining, life bursting with possibilities and new joys. Of course, I didn't say those words out loud, but I acted that way because something unthinkable happened on Easter. I actually sinned. I said and thought selfish thing before we actually even arrived at church. Somehow I was frustrated by that. I thought, I am a new creation. The old has gone and the new has come. Today is a different day. It's Easter. I am supposed to be holier today- more selfless from this day forward. Only there sin came breaking in again. My earthly nature creeping through those cracks in this little jar of clay. This morning as I sat in church and sang songs of praise with my brothers and sister, I contemplated the rugged cross that hung before us and before the communion bread and juice. Believing in Jesus isn't the end. It's really the beginning. Easter is not the end- it's the beginn...

Peace. That is the candle for week 2 of advent... at least the meaning I like to assign. It can also be known as the preparation candle which can tie into peace very nicely. God opened my eyes yesterday to a new way of viewing peace. Peace is often talked about in the church and here's how it's often discussed. We are a people who desire order and calm and often find ourselves in the midst of a storm feeling like we have no peace. Christ has come and those who believe in Him have peace. It is not absence of the storm, but knowing God is present in the midst of the storm. We have peace. (all true by the way) But our faith is not just a way to have peace, our faith is the means with which we make peace. I started thinking about making peace instead of just having peace.. Peace is something that can be offered- to make peace with a brother or sister- to make a treaty of peace with an enemy. A peace offering says, "I am on your side. We fight together." Jesu...

"You will keep in perfect peace..." -Isaiah 26:3 It's been my second day back to work for pre-planning days. While I am actually quiet excited, I've been so emotionally up and down the past 2 days. I was so joyful yesterday morning after our district kick-off and welcome. I love to work in a place that really celebrates their employees and also mourns with them. One of our teacher passed away this summer. It can really be a family. But the whole day was filled with meetings and by the end I was drained and had a headache. I came home and was just mean and grouchy. I felt no peace. I was frustrated, because my day had started off so well. I read a note left on our counter by a friend whose boyfriend stayed the night with us. We had told them to have a quiet breakfast at our house by themselves since we would be at work. We know how hard it can be to get alone time when you long distance date :) They said that they felt such "tangible slowness and peace," ...