I want one.... They are free!!! And they live down the street.
Amelia and I punked Mary's car yesterday, it was amazing. Mary thought it was hilarious. You can read about it here, at our joint blog. Then we studied at Albertsons for THREE HOURS! We took our final today and it was easy, as in we really over prepared for it. But that's okay we had so much fun studying. I saw a lot of people that I know, it was good times... Tomorrow we are going to eat at the Mongolian Grill as a end of the quarter celebration. Hopefully we can get Mary to come as well.
PEPITO!!!!!!!
Diesel thinks that he's the bomb, but he just ends up looking retarded. I love my cat. I found him a couple minutes ago sleeping in that same flower pot, I'm not sure how that is comfortable.
January 2, 2007
Will You Go Out Without Knowing?
He went out, not knowing where he was going —Hebrews 11:8
Have you ever "gone out" in this way? If so, there is no logical answer possible when anyone asks you what you are doing. One of the most difficult questions to answer in Christian work is, "What do you expect to do?" You don’t know what you are going to do. The only thing you know is that God knows what He is doing. Continually examine your attitude toward God to see if you are willing to "go out" in every area of your life, trusting in God entirely. It is this attitude that keeps you in constant wonder, because you don’t know what God is going to do next. Each morning as you wake, there is a new opportunity to "go out," building your confidence in God. ". . . do not worry about your life . . . nor about the body . . ." (Luke 12:22). In other words, don’t worry about the things that concerned you before you did "go out."
Have you been asking God what He is going to do? He will never tell you. God does not tell you what He is going to do— He reveals to you who He is. Do you believe in a miracle-working God, and will you "go out" in complete surrender to Him until you are not surprised one iota by anything He does?
Believe God is always the God you know Him to be when you are nearest to Him. Then think how unnecessary and disrespectful worry is! Let the attitude of your life be a continual willingness to "go out" in dependence upon God, and your life will have a sacred and inexpressible charm about it that is very satisfying to Jesus. You must learn to "go out" through your convictions, creeds, or experiences until you come to the point in your faith where there is nothing between yourself and God.
My heart was hard toward God I didn't want to hear what He had to say on that day. When I looked back on that day I almost cried... God gave me what I needed to hear, but I wasn't about to listen to Him. It took Him speaking through my sister, my youth group leader, and Philippians 2:14-15 (Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe) before my heart was softened. I'm so glad God never gives up on me!
Not long after my rescue
I let my failures get me down
My sin had robbed me of the joy I had in you
Then you saved me from that too
(chorus)
All I wanna do is talk about Your grace
I don't wanna go unless I go Your way
Get a little closer to You everyday
I'm gonna turn around and go Your way (X2)
What I thought of as my freedom
Was a prison without walls
I held on tightly to the shackles that I hate
But this wasn't freedom at all
(chorus)
I thought that I'd gone too far
Then I heard You call my name
Return to me child
I am eager to forgive
But leave behind the chains (X2)
(chorus)
-Go Your Way by the Supertones
I was listening to this on the way home from youth group tonight, and it made me
think of all the people that have fallen away. My friends that think it's cool to
be a rebel, and they think that the way I'm living is repression. It's not.
"What I thought of as my freedom
Was a prison without walls
I held on tightly to the shackles that I hate
But this wasn't freedom at all
I thought that I'd gone too far
Then I heard You call my name
Return to me child
I am eager to forgive
But leave behind the chains"
God is always close, and He always wants us to come back. He desires mercy, not
judgement! I hope my friends come to realize that God gave us His laws to set us
free. And if you know someone that is deceived, like my friends, keep praying!
God has a way of working on people's hearts.
2 Corinthians 5:11-21 (New International Version) [with emphasis added by me for those of you who glaze over when Scripture is presented. And by the way, read this passage, k? Do it for me!]
The Ministry of Reconciliation
11Since, then, we know what it is to fear the Lord, we try to persuade men. What we are is plain to God, and I hope it is also plain to your conscience. 12We are not trying to commend ourselves to you again, but are giving you an opportunity to take pride in us, so that you can answer those who take pride in what is seen rather than in what is in the heart. 13If we are out of our mind, it is for the sake of God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. 14For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. 15And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.16So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. 17Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! 18All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God. 21God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
And on that note, I leave you. I think I will go watch some Star Trek.
All my love, Elyse.
I can't believe it's been a year, time really does pass quickly. Last year at this time I was in an E.R., unable to walk. Now, I can stand on my own two feet (notice my sweeeeeet vans!).
Dashboard jesus
he sits with his head bobbing with the bumps
the american ideal of what faith looks like
a plastic figurine with light skin, silky hair and clean outstretched hands. (because you know, carpenters have very clean hands.)
you can pat his head for luck
"Help me to find free parking this morning..."
after the e-brake is pulled and you grab your things you pull him from the dash and put him into your dark, linty pocket.
Because you control him.
When you want something pull him out, pick the lint out of his hair and then ask him for presents
and when you get what you want just shove him back inside. Inside that dark pocket he can't see what you do. Which is good because you gave the bird to the cab that cut you off in traffic this morning.
Sometimes you don't get what you ask for. So when he doesn't come through you can just kick him across the street into the bushes
but you'll eventually rummage through the leaves to find him
because you'll need him to find you free parking tomorrow.
Do you have a dashboard jesus?
Sometimes I think I do
lower case jesus. a non-existent jesus. a made-up figurine. might as well be a rabbit's foot. severed animal feet and plastic, robe wearing, sandal sporting christs...both have as much power as cooked spaghetti.
Are you living your life under the rule of a Sovereign King? or is he just a toy?
I have been graciously convicted of how I sometimes don't view God with fear nor awe. He has been so kind and so patient to show me that I do not give Him the place He deserves.
'Jesus you are magnificent. and you are powerful. and you own me. I know there are times I let you down, but you have always reached down with your calloused, pierced hands to pick me up. You are my best friend, and you are my King. and your gentle touch always steers me back to the path that leads to you.'
-Sarah Morrison
Lord, you have been our dwelling place throughout all generations. Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God. You turn men back to dust, saying, "Return to dust, O sons of men." For a thousand years in your sight are like a day that has just gone by, or like a watch in the night. You sweep men away in the sleep of death; they are like the new grass of the morning-- though in the morning it springs up new, by evening it is dry and withered. We are consumed by your anger and terrified by your indignation. You have set our iniquities before you, our secret sins in the light of your presence. All our days pass away under your wrath; we finish our years with a moan. The length of our days is seventy years-- or eighty, if we have the strength; yet their span is but trouble and sorrow, for they quickly pass, and we fly away. Who knows the power of your anger? For your wrath is as great as the fear that is due you. Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom. Relent, O LORD! How long will it be? Have compassion on your servants. Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days. Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us, for as many years as we have seen trouble. May your deeds be shown to your servants, your splendor to their children. May the favor of the Lord our God rest upon us; establish the work of our hands for us-- yes, establish the work of our hands.
Good pranks, good times. So, since I'm a college kid now and I hang out with college kids, does that mean we are mature? No way. Amelia and I got up early and stopped at Albertsons, we bought a balloon that looks something like this. Except more awesome, I should take a picture and post it. Anyway, Amelia and I tied him to Mary's side mirror. She called me and said something like, "I'm guessing that it was you who vandalized my car.... I hate you, but not really because it made me laugh. Call me back..." I didn't call her back, because I knew she would be just a tad hyper. Anyway she called me the next morning and was like, "Elyse.... Um. You didn't call me back and ummm." Anyway, I felt really bad but it was still funny. I told Amelia I should have told Mary that I saw her stalker over by her car with an obnoxious yellow balloon, but I didn't. ;)1. How many candles on your last birthday cake?
Two. Seriously. OK, so that picture doesn't show, but I think I just had two.
2. How many siblings do you have?
Blood-wise? Three. I actually have four. I count Rob as my brother, I've known him since I was like three years old and he is basically my brother. So there. =P
3. How many first cousins do you have?
Ugh, I don't want to count. It would take forever. I'm thinking at least 15, probably more.
4. Name five smells you like.
Evergreen trees, a certain type of lotion that I like, but I can never say the name of it or where I bought it.... Umm... The smell of sweet babies and puppies. And.... Pink Grapefruit by Bath and Body works.
5. Name the four funniest people you know.
Kristy, Rob, John (when he feels like it), Mary and Caroline (I'm counting them as one).
6. How many different countries have you lived in?
Meh.... I'm lame, go ask my world traveling sister. I've only lived in one.
7. If you could change one thing about yourself what would it be?
Nothing. I'm pretty sure God picked out everything and put me together, so I'm not going to contradict Him! :)
8. Name the friend who has impacted you more than any other.
This is a toss up... Mary and Caroline and Allie. All three of them.
9. Have you ever volunteered your time anywhere?
Yuppers. Can you say AWANA child? I can.
10. Do you cry often?
Not really, only when my feelings have been hurt or when I'm really tired and irrational. But those times don't happen to often, so no, I don't cry often.
11. Something you are looking forward to?
Summer.
12. A friend you wish you could see again?
Seamus, but that would be kind of awkward since we were homies when we were wee. Um... Madeline? Yes, I wish I could see Madeline more.
13. How many people have you cooked a home-made meal for?
Two, that's when my Mom was in England and I had to cook for my brother and Dad. My Dad seems to think that he helped to cook, but I was like, "NUH UH!!! *head bobs and shakes*"
14. Where do you see yourself in ten years?
Hopefully with some sort of degree, maybe I'll be working in a hospital. I have no idea where I will be though.
I got some new sunglasses, I'm pretty psyched. I tried them on Chato, I think she was pretty psyched too. =)
MOLEY! Baby mole, it was... about 3 inches long.
Then I saw the bird, I thought it was more pine needles. Under close inspection I found it to be a bird. Notice the exposed backbone.
I didn't get so bad as to show him eating them, thankfully he hasn't eaten them. He likes to play with them though. Cats are gross. Remember when he did this?
"NOT AS MEAN
NOT AS LEAN
STILL A MARINE!"
Bella was pretty happy to see Mom and I.
Kristy can see this from her yard. It's so gorgeous. Bella and I were playing basketball and I looked up and stopped, the mountains were breath taking.
We took a walk to this cliff type thing. It was pretty great. I got some good pictures.
Max was pretty excited to see us too.
Heheh... She kept putting her hands over her mouth, all the while saying, "Come on, do it!" lolFrom Brian Regan Live: Stupid in School [1]
"I before e... always."
- "Brian, what's the i before e rule?"
"What are you, an idiot, Brian?"
"Apparently."
So she explains it.
"No, Brian. It's i before e except after c and when sounding like a as in neighbor and weigh, and on weekends and holidays and all throughout May, and you'll always be wrong no matter what you say!"
That's a hard rule. That's a- that's a rough rule.
Plurals were hard, too.
“Brian, how do you make a word a plural?”
“You put a ‘s’…put a ‘s’ at the end of it.”
“When?”
“On weekends and holidays.”
“No, Brian. Let me show you.” So she asked this kid who knew everything. Irwin. “Irwin, what’s the plural for ox?”
“Oxen. The farmer used his oxen.”
“Brian?”
(chuckling)“What?”
“Brian, what’s the plural for box?”
“Boxen. I bought 2 boxen of doughnuts.”
"No, Brian, no. Let's try another one. Irwin, what's the plural for goose?"
"Geese. I saw a flock of geese."
"Brian."
(half-crying) "Wha-at?"
"Brian, what's the plural for moose?"
"Moosen! I saw a flock of moosen! There were many of 'em. Many much moosen. Out in the woods- in the woodes- in the woodsen. The meese want the food. The food is to eatenesen. The meese want the food & the food is to eatenesen! The food is to eatenesen!"
"Brian! Brian. You're an imbecile."
"Imbecile-n."
"What are you speaking? German, Brian?"
"German. Jermain. Jermaine Jackson. Jackson Five. Tito!"
Frankie and Emma.
Emma bosses Frankie around, she'll walk past him and hit him with her butt. She's the alpha dog. She is 6 months old and Frankie is 4 years old. (sorry, no pictures of Mory today!)
Here is my fearless, hunter cat-cowering beneath a quilt. Well, at least Chato won't be as scary for him. I think he thought Chato was here, because Frankie and Emma's barks sound like Chato's. But now he's figured out that there are two of them.
I know at least one person is laughing really hard at seeing me like this, it looks like I'm in a neck brace. Well Kristy, I'm glad you are enjoying yourself. Looks like I crumbs in my hair, I was eating a lemon bar (which ended up being a process of squooshing the lemony-stuff on my front teeth and swallowing. Looks like I got a little crazy... lol)
Guess what everybody? My favorite athlete is on Dancing with the Stars!
So I asked him if he would read something, I handed him my Bible (it was open to Isaiah 40, you should go read it right now... It's awesome). After he read it he asked me why people blame other people, I told him about Adam and Eve. Adam, "My wife did it!" Eve, "It was the snake!!!" Blaming others has always been around. Then he asked why, I told him that people don't like to take responsibility for their actions. He wasn't too open, but I told him that he should rely on God. God supplies me with strength. I told him I couldn't do anything without God. He told me that I could, then I said, "Who made me? Who gives me strength?" Anyway, I told him that God is always near, he said something like, "Only if you think he is." I said, "No, He's always near. He loves you A LOT." Anyway, it was awesome to be able to plant seeds. I know God will work in his life and I'm glad God used me. He totally gave me strength and words to say. I can be timid, very afraid of offending people, but God spoke through me.Anyway, so I sent that email to Jaho on um... Thursday night I think. Jaho posted this today.
11 He tends his flock like a shepherd:
He gathers the lambs in his arms
and carries them close to his heart;
he gently leads those that have young.
30 Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;31 but those who hope in the LORD
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.from Isaiah chapter 40
God is good, He has never left me. Naps are also good, they help people who REALLY neeeeeeeeed them.
Celebrity:
1) Hugh Jackman
2) Johnny Depp
3) Brittany Spears (closely related to Brian, apparently... lol)
4) Anna Nicole Smith
5) Matt Redman
Happy:
1) Circumstantial
2) Spring
3) Flowers
4) Laughter
5) Friends
Amazing:
1) God's love, shown in Jesus Christ
2) Red Beard's beard.... lol
3) Snow Patrol
4) Mini Coopers
5) Nature
Political:
1) Strangely enough, driving by and seeing Jaho at an intersection campaigning
2) Jaho
3) Our Governor......
4) A candidate that lost from my district, he would have been awesome
5) Guilt
Food:
1) Pizza
2) Salads
3) Pintos and cheese
4) Guilt.....
5) POPCORN!!!!!!
Aren't the flowers glorious?
