A mountain that can not be touched, A tree that cannot be uprooted

"You have not come to a mountain that can be touched...But you have come to Mount Zion, to the heavenly Jerusalem, the city of the living God. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the judge of all men... to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant." Hebrews 12:18,22-24

Reading this today made me think of how I love the fact that it refers to God as a mountain that cannot be touched. It's not even like this scripture says He is a mountain that can not be climbed, He can't even be touched. I love this aspect of God. He is so big for our human words. There are so many things that I don't understand about Him. His ways don't makes sense to me most of the time and when they do finally makes sense it seems such a simple lesson. Can you imagine a city that was owned by God. What ,would God be like the mayor? This reminds me of that song ,"Would if God were one of us, just a stranger on a bus" that's a bit of a sidenote. Anyway, this part "you have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly,to the church of the firstborn" makes me think of the legacy of people who have gone before me believing in this God. It makes me remember I am a part of the firstborn church ever? The first church ever, what did that look like? My ancestors in this family are many and thier lives speak of this God still today. Will my life speak of something even after I am gone, and what will it say?

The picture I have attached is of a tree that was on my mom-in-laws property in Mississippi. It was blown over by the storm named Katrina. It lays on the ground, roots exposed, yet it still grows. In fact right now it is in full bloom. This tree spoke to me of so many things, but I think the most prevalent message it conveyed was that when our roots are deep we cannot help but grow even when we have fallen down. We still live on and this speaks of God's goodness, faithfulness, and grace. Remembering this helps to think of how deep and strong those roots are that have grown in my life. I know there have been many storms in my life and that there will be many more but I pray like this tree I would continue to grow and therefore reveal my roots even when knocked down.

Approaching the Sabbath

Today was a bittersweet day for me in that it was great to be with everyone but as I looked around I began to feel sad in a way knowing that I won't be seeing everyone for the next few weeks. In sharing communion at second service I began to get a bit teared up which is silly I suppose but then maybe not. This past few weeks have been emotional for our family and as I looked around the room this morning I was very grateful for all the relationships that I have come to enjoy through Hillside. I was feeling the" vitamin love." :)
I am very excited in many ways to have this time because I believe that God is going to do some really big and also very small things to continue to grow me. I am proud to call Hillside my church family/community and I am proud of all of us for answering this call to step it up a notch. At the same time I am very mindful of how much this thing we call church has become a very normal part of my routine, a connection point if you will, and again not being one who is big on change it takes me a minute to get fully on board with any change.
I am on board fully with this change. Mostly because I know it a direct call to obedience but also because I know it is a necessary part of our growth as a church family.
Today some very close friends came to visit Hillside for the first time and thier newbie commentary was so, so positive. It made me really appreciate some things that maybe I have come to take for granted for the last 3 years that I have been a part of Hillside.
All that to say, I will miss you family. Looking forward to our bon-voyage on Saturday and the party that will launch this and also to what lies ahead.

Some things you never , ever forget

Tomorrow I was invited to go on a bike ride with a my sister friends. I haven't been on a bike for a while but I think that I will be alright. They reassured me that this ride wouldn't be too vigorous. I think it will be good to get out since I have pretty much been in house since last Friday when Chloe was in the hospital. They say you never forget how to ride a bike. Once you have learned it just comes back to you no matter how long it has been . I believe that to be true. At least I know it is for me.

Something I will also not soon forget when they rolled Chloe away for surgery. It has made me reflect, pause, clean house and re prioritize my life. Nothing else matters but the people God has given us as gifts. I really want to make sure that all the relationships I have been blessed with in this life I appreciate on a daily basis. Sometimes I forget things like how great it is to hear my children laugh, or go running through the house. I forgot how many people are around me on a regular basis that have made my life richer. I forgot that all that really matters and all that I can take with me when this journey here on earth is over are those relationships. I am thankful for new days, new beginings, and for some things you never, ever should forget.

Love Hate Relationship

The ice cream truck or trucks that frequent my neighborhood several times a day slow down or completely stop in front of my house about 3 times a day. I have a love hate relationship with them.Now this is a relationship I feel I must explain. On the one hand I love this truck that symbolizes something so familiar to me and my childhood and the songs that they play can bring me right back to living in a small house on Siskiyou St. in Carson City. You could hear the truck from a mile away, it was much quieter back then :) and me and my siblings would pester my mother for probably back then 25 to 50 cents and off we would run to catch the ice cream truck. Also it reminds me of a HILARIOUS little bit that Eddie Murphy used to do about the ice cream truck man and if you haven't heard this act you have not truly lived.
The HATE comes in and enters stage left here- I am not made of money. Contrary to what my 4 children believe , it's really true. It doesn't grow on trees either some of the very same phrases I remember my mom saying to us when we were kids(sorry again mom) so that poses hate number one. Hate number two-enter stage right is that every time the kids get an ice cream I feel I need to get one also , in fact even when they don't get one I have my own secret stash of cold things in the freezer to get me through the summer months, and so the weight saga continues :)
I am not complaining , just explaining the saga of the ice cream trucks that come out and stay out until the sun goes down and the weather gets cold. Thought I would share , hope you enjoy.
Do you have any love hate relationships that you would care to share with me?

Leaness of Soul and one Fat Soul

" Why should not every year be richer than the past, in love, and usefulness,and joy?-I am nearer the celestial hills, I have had more experience ofmy Lord, and should be more like Him. O Lord, keep far from me thecurse of leanness of soul; let me not have to cry, "My leanness, myleanness, woe unto me!" but may I be well-fed and nourished in thyhouse, that I may praise thy name."
This excerpt is from Charles Spurgeon's daily devotional and the language toward the end is bit difficult to understand so I thought why not put it out there on a blog and see what others think the last part might mean. What does it mean to have "leaness of soul"?
I think that the "curse of leaness of soul" would mean keep me from living a shallow life. A life consumed with things that don't really mean all that much but seem to busy up my day more than the people who I should be investing in or the time I should be getting closer to God. I believe I get closer to God everytime I hear my children laugh because of something funny that was said or done, or when I read them a book, or when I spend time tickling them to the point of being tickled back. I believe I get closer to God by talking to my friends who are struggling in this life's journey and we discuss questions and answers of some things that have worked and some things that haven't worked. I believe I get closer to God when I am taking care of business with my husband :), greiving with a friend, rejoicing with another, and so many other ways that many people take for granted as just part of living. I don't believe anymore that the only way I can get closer to God is by reading the bible or going up on a mountain top to be alone with Him. I used to believe this to be true and I still believe these are ways that I can get closer to Him but they are not the only ways to avoid this "leaness of soul".
Our lives are made rich by the people and experiences that come our way, by hard work, and by easy living. My soul is filled to overflowing with substance, meaning, purpose, and it is all because of love. I believe I am well-fed and nourished by every house I enter because of Who enters into that house within me and for that I am truly thankful.