I’ve sang “Happy Birthday” about six time in the last hour.  No big deal, right?  Except for one thing…it’s not anyone’s birthday!    My youngest nephew’s here tonight for a sleepover.  He keeps wanting to light candles and sing “Happy Birthday” so he can blow them out.  Of course I do it. 

It’s actually his first solo-sleepover.  He’s 2 3/4.  We’re having fun so far…we’ll see how bed time goes.    Last time he was here with his sister and cousin and he fell asleep in the middle of a movie so we’ll see how he does by himself.

So far we’ve:

• Gone to the bank to get something notarized.  He played with his truck while we waited.
• Bought some groceries so we’d have something for dinner (I haven’t been eating meat or milk so I had to get something for him).
• Came home and played cars. (After he almost fell asleep in the car.)
• Made dinner (chicken nuggets for him, cheese pizza for me) and ate.
• Read a book.
• Played on the balance ball (that was actually fun…he loved it, I got a little workout).
• Now we’re watching a movie before bed.

Tomorrow we’re:

• Going to the farmers market for my weekly food
• Going for donuts and “coffee” (that’s what he calls hot cocoa)

So, that’s how I’m spending my Friday night.

Now for some complete randomness.  Do you know how difficult it is to find blogs for/by Christian SINGLE women?  There are more blogs for mom’s then I can count.  But, NOTHING geared towards SINGLE people.  Heck, you can find devotions for WIFES. You can find devotions for MOMS.  But, devotions for SINGLE WOMEN?  Nope.  Blogs for SINGLE WOMEN, or more specifically SINGLE CHRISTIAN WOMEN?  Nope.  At  least I can’t find them.  Really it drives me crazy.

I know, I could write one, but I want to read one.  I want one that can inspire me.

OK, it’s time to go sing Happy Birthday again.

]]> http://www.javagabbin.com/2009/08/happy-birthday/feed/ 1 http://www.javagabbin.com/2009/07/freedom/ http://www.javagabbin.com/2009/07/freedom/#comments Thu, 30 Jul 2009 17:21:53 +0000 Lanel http://www.javagabbin.com/?p=55

Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 2 Corinthians 3:17

I have been on a journey recently, a journey to free myself from some unwanted extra weight.  The thing that has been most surprising on this journey is what I have been learning about myself.  Through this journey I have been freeing myself from some of the weight that’s been dragging me down but I’ve also been freeing myself of some of the emotional baggage that has been holding that weight in place.

Through this journey, what I’m coming to learn is that there is freedom in being me.  There is freedom in being free to be me.  What I have learned on this journey is that I was hiding me behind a shield of fat.  By facing these giants that have been hiding underneath my shield I’m finding freedom from the weight.

For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. Psalm 139: 13-14

Listen! Listen to the roar of his voice, to the rumbling that comes from his mouth. He unleashes his lightning beneath the whole heaven and sends it to the ends of the earth. After that comes the sound of his roar; he thunders with his majestic voice. When his voice resounds, he holds nothing back. Job 37: 2-4

Normally I love storms.  I’ll sit in my living room (I’m too chicken — or smart) to sit outside and watch them.  I love to watch the lightning flash. I love to hear the thunder roar.  When the heavens unleash I’m usually sitting back and enjoying the beauty that comes with it.  Usually these storms have a calming affect on me.

Last night was a different story.  I went to bed but had trouble falling asleep because a storm was brewing.  It was loud.  It was strong.  It rumbled to the deepest part of my being.  I awoke many times to the fierce screaming of that storm.  The thunder rolled with violence.  The rain’s pounded relentlessly.  All night long it seemed like the strength of the storm would prevail.

God’s voice thunders in marvelous ways; he does great things beyond our understanding. Job 37:5

But this morning it was calm.

The storms in life are the same.  At times it feels like there will be no end. At times it feels like the strength of the storm will take us down.  It feels like we will be defeated.  But, every time, some times at the point when I feel I can’t take one more second, Jesus calls the storm.

When the weight of depression had me near the point of no return He brought a doctor to tell me it would be OK.  Or when the weight of facing another day seemed more than I could bear He brought a little child to say I love you.

“Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him.”  Luke 8:25b

Who is this that can lift the weight of the world off my shoulder?

Who is this that can calm the storm within me?

He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters; the storm subsided, and all was calm. “Where is your faith?” he asked his disciples.  In fear and amazement they asked one another, “Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him.”  Luke 8:25

Random, I’m home from work with a sick kid.  I know, you’re thinking so what.  I don’t have any kids.  None.  I have a cat, but no children.  But, here I am working from home with a sick kid.  Now, before you think I picked some random sick kid off the streets and brought him so I could stay home from work, it’s my nephew.

My sister works for the county as a 911 dispatcher so it’s really hard for her to take off.  I work for myself and can log-in from home.  The boy has a nasty, red, itchy rash.  He was supposed to be at a friend’s today but I figured Aunties was a little better.  So, I’m watching the clock, lathering him with itch lotion and keeping the benadryl tablets coming on a regular basis.  The doctor said that’s all we could do so that’s what I’m doing.

But, he wants my computer (to play a game) so I’ve been asked to let him.  (I really should have asked his mom to leave her laptop for him to play on.)

So, there’s my first venture into the Caffeinated Randomness world.  Home sick with a kid when you don’t even have a child.    Pretty random if you ask me.

]]> http://www.javagabbin.com/2009/07/caffeinated-randomness/feed/ 2 http://www.javagabbin.com/2009/07/here-i-am-send-me-2/ http://www.javagabbin.com/2009/07/here-i-am-send-me-2/#comments Fri, 24 Jul 2009 03:00:22 +0000 Lanel http://www.javagabbin.com/?p=43

What would be the title of a book about your life?

If I were writing a book about myself I’d probably title it:  Here I Am, Send Me.  I wrote a poem once with that title and truthfully it is the story of my life.  It’s not fully finished, but is our story ever complete?

Life has been good to me, I’ve been blessed throughout my journey but it took me fully surrendering and saying “Here I Am, Send Me”.  Because it took giving up MY plans, MY ideas, MY rational to get to a point where I was able to truly live the life that the Lord had planned for me.

Here’s the cool part…as soon as I surrendered and said “Here I Am, Send Me” things started happending RIGHT.  That’s not to say things have been perfect (as I would define perfect) since I surrendered things have really happened to prove to me (without a doubt) that the Lord is in control and that’s pretty cool. 

Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.  John 15:12-13

I watched Gran Torino this evening.  The movies is offensive, funny, touching, amazing.  You have to get past the obscene racial slurs but it’s definitely worth it.  (Not something you want your kids to see/hear, though.)  When the movie ended, with tears streaming down my face, the one thing running through my head was this verse:  “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.”

If you’ve watched the movie, you get it.  If you haven’t seen the movie, I recommend it.

You’ll see.

Greater love has no one than this,

that he lay down his life for his friends.

John 15:12-13

4 WIVES

Once upon a time there was a rich King who had four wives. He loved the 4th wife the most and adorned her with rich robes and her to the finest of delicacies. He gave her nothing but the best.

He also loved the 3rd wife very much and was always showing her off to kingdoms. However, he feared that one day she would leave him for another.

He also loved his 2nd wife. She was his confidant and was always kind, considerate and patient with him. Whenever the King faced a problem,He could confide in her, and she would help him get through the difficult times.

The King’s 1st wife was a very loyal partner and had made great contributions in maintaining his wealth and kingdom. However, he did not love the first wife. Although she loved him deeply, he hardly took notice of her!

One day, the King fell ill and he knew his time was short. He thought of his luxurious life and wondered, I now have four wives with me, but when I die, I’ll be all alone.”

Thus, he asked the 4th wife, “I have loved you the most, endowed you with the finest clothing and showered great care! over you. Now that I’m dying, will you follow me and keep me company?”

“No way!”, replied the 4th wife, and she walked away without another word. Her answer cut like a sharp knife right into his heart.

The sad King then asked the 3rd wife, “I have loved you all my life. Now that I’m dying, will you follow me and keep me company?”

“No!”, replied the 3rd wife. “Life is too good! When you die, I’m going to remarry!” His heart sank and turned cold.

He then asked the 2nd wife, “I have always turned to you for help and you’ve always been there for me. When I die, will you follow me and keep me company?”

“I’m sorry, I can’t help you out this time!”, replied the 2nd wife. “At the very most, I can only walk with you to your grave.” Her answer struck him like a bolt of lightning, and the King was devastated.

Then a voice called out: “I’ll go with you. I’ll follow you no matter where you go.” The King looked up, and there was his first wife. She was very skinny as she suffered from malnutrition and neglect. Greatly grieved, the King said, “I should have taken much better care of you when I had the chance!”

In truth, we all have the 4 wives in our lives:

Our 4th wife is our body. No matter how much time and effort we lavish inmaking it look good, it will leave us when we die.

Our 3rd wife is our possessions, status and wealth. When we die, it will all go to others.

Our 2nd wife is our family and friends. No matter how much they have been there for us, the furthest they can stay by us is up to the grave.

And our 1st wife is our Soul. Often neglected in pursuit of wealth, power and pleasures of the world. However, our Soul is the only thing that will follow us wherever we go next. Cultivate, strengthen and cherish it now, for it is the only part of us that will follow us to the throne of God and continue with us throughout Eternity.

Thought for the day: Remember, when the world pushes you to your knees, you’re in the perfect position to pray.

This, then, is the state of the union:  free and restless, growing and full of hope.  So it was in the beginning.  So it shall always be, while God is willing, and we are strong enough to keep the faith.  ~Lyndon B. Johnson

To all my clients, friends, and colleagues. Have a safe and happy Independence Day!

Mark 4:39 He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.

Nothing calms me like the sight of a White Tree.  Frozen in time, peaceful, and welcoming.  The sight of them calm me and remind me of the rest we have in Christ.  The time to just be.  A white tree doesn’t sway in the wind.  It doesn’t produce anything.  It just is.  It is peaceful, resting, renewing, waiting for it’s time to produce again.

We need that time too.  We need that time to rest, renew, and prepare to produce.