Could you? Would you?

My home is neat, clean and very quiet. It is a 'sad' thing. The NY crew have headed home, and while they are happy to be back together, we B'ham crew are having our lonely moments.

Now we are trying to get back to our own brand of 'normal'. My pastor & worship leader have asked for a vignette to wrap up the final Sunday of a series on Noah. This part of the process can be easy, but I find myself wondering what his life was like. 'Evan Almighty' has given me plenty of funny and poignant ideas. While Evan's journey only lasted me two hours, Noah's lasted for years. What monotony, what nausea, what smells. In spite of how God brought the animals to him, in spite of how God, Himself closed the door, in spite of the rains, I know myself well enough to realize that those miracles might not have been enough against my doubt. The reality might have overwhelmed me against His plan. I guess that's why He has never asked me to build an enormous boat...

Lara

Time is too short

Isn't it interesting how close Heaven can be when you have those you love around you? My niece and nephews are down here in AL from Poughkeepsie, NY. The house is a WRECK and laughter abounds! Stealing hugs and kisses from a precocious eight year old. Snuggling with a ten year old who has snuggled just that way since he was born. Having 'grown up' conversations with my almost fourteen year old niece. I have heard that in Heaven, we never have to say goodbye to our loved ones, we will have unlimited time together! This month has been a small glimpse of that. There are other people who bring this type of delight into my life. Friends from Liberty Bible College in Pensacola, FL; friends from High Point, NC (after college); friends (and my sista's) from my jobs and my church here in Birmingham, AL. These people are not just friends, they are family. I long to see them on a daily basis, but God calls each one of us to different paths. Some days I can't wait for Heaven. I can't wait for that unlimited time with my friends! Love to all of you!

Lara

Sometimes I act like a two-year-old... Do you? I want MY way. I want My stuff. I want MY baggage. I just through with a week that I felt that way. I want to sleep, not get up early to read my Bible! I want to listen to my radio, not my worship CD! I want to play games, watch TV, or read instead of doing something productive! Now you may think that after weeks of VBS prep and VBS itself, that I deserve some down time--well, I thought so, too! So--I did just that! Days of 'I want, I want, I want!' Let me just let you in on a not so hidden secret. After down time that spreads itself a little (or a lot) too long, the heart and mind start to wallow. You know, like a pig. Mud can be rather heavy, let me tell you. Driving home, the other day, it was almost as if I woke up from my tantrum. I felt the weight of my 'self' and didn't like it. Tossing it off, I faced my Lord. There He was, just waiting out my selfishness. Did you know that forgiveness weighs nothing? It actually diminishes the weight on your shoulders? You can actually breathe better when you don't act like a two-year-old...