So I went to see the eye doctor, got my contacts, and my glasses Rx.  I was ready to go.  Zenni Optical’s site is so easy to use.  When I tell you it’s easy, I mean it.  They even have a feature which allows you to upload a picture and try glasses on your photo.  I really liked this feature.  After looking through several pages of frames, I finally settled on a pair.  Ordering was very easy.  The only thing you have to make sure you have is the PD – papillary distance.  Without this, you cannot order glasses, your eye care provider should be able to do this for you for no charge.  Mine did.

Total cost for frames – $6.95 plus Anti-reflective coating $4.95.  I also paid shipping and handling.  Got my glasses in about a week and a half.  They’re near perfect.  I just have to get used to wearing them.  I hadn’t had a new Rx for glasses for over six years.  Overall, I am happy with Zenni Optical and think you would be too.  So check them out.  Tell your friends about it to.  It’s worth it.

That’s just a little something to consider in an economy where folks are trying to save where they can.

So on the eve of yet more change, I say…”BRING IT ON!!!” Of course, I might have a couple of bruises, but those heal. To live a life fully and with no regrets is how one grows as a human being. To live simply and simply live is my motto. For many of you, you know what I am talking about, but several of you may be wondering. I will fill you in briefly. My dad passed away in March. My sister found new employment elsewhere. I resigned my teaching position for more than obvious reasons. My brother and his family moved to central Texas hill country. I am moving too. Just like that comes the change. I have no idea what I am going to do or where I will work, but I figure God already knows what’s going on in and with my life; and perhaps this is His sovereign way of propelling me forward. To this I reply, I will trust you God because you are more than able and have only good for me. Though storms may arise, He will never leave me nor forsake me.

I will see you on the other side of change. This is my second grand adventure. Shak if your’re reading, go for it. Live out those dreams.

Till next time,

live simply and simply live.

How’s that working for me?  Ha! It’s not.  I cannot become righteous of my own free will.  It is all a vain attempt.  I cannot do holiness in and of myself; it fails every single time.  I cannot be perfection because I reside as critical judge, but oh there is freedom in dropping one’s guard and coming face to face with the sin-disease—that I have made myself my own God.  You may balk at this but take a look at your own heart.  When was the last time to you let God be God without trying to manipulate Him, others, circumstances, or your own life?  Have the results changed or been the same?  This is insanity.  What we’re doing isn’t working, but there is One who can.  It requires faith, pure and simple, just faith.  And of course laying down one’s will at the foot of the Cross.

Paul wrote further “I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. ¹³ No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, ¹⁴ I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.  ¹⁵ Let all who are spiritually mature agree on these things. If you disagree on some point, I believe God will make it plain to you. ¹⁶ But we must hold on to the progress we have already made” (Phil. 3. 12-15).

The reality is that every day is an attempt to live rightly for Him.  God already knows we are but flesh.  The relief is that we don’t have to try so hard anymore.  We don’t have to keep trying to do the work of the Cross.  That’s God’s job, and He takes it seriously.  He does not leave us as we are.  He works through us to do His good will and to change us, but it requires faith from us in Him without dabbling our fingers in the pot.  Paul reminds us to look forward.  God is in front of us, directing traffic and leading the way.  We can press on to possess perfection in Christ—by faith.  God will do the work in us.   God’s work is a work of grace.  When I don’t let go, then I am operating under the law, under the flesh.  No wonder things don’t turn out quite right.  No wonder the change is not long lasting.  No wonder the change doesn’t take root.  No wonder we feel like we’ve gone around the same mountain 40 years.  God’s way means, I willfully choose to believe Him.  It means, I have faith in Him to do what He says He can do.

Now that…is something to consider.  Laying down the selfish, strong-willed human impulse and taking hold of faith.  A faith that births hope and clings to the Savior so that we can boldly say, “Lord, I’m ready.“

As Paul wrote, “For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ and become one with him. I no longer count on my own righteousness through obeying the law; rather, I become righteous through faith in Christ. For God’s way of making us right with himself depends on faith.” (Phil. 3. 8-11). This is the essence of recovery.

We can take off the mask. We can be known as we really are and without apology or excuse. We can be loved. We can be forgiven. Nothing we do makes God love us any less. We can be free. We can let our selves off the hook. We can let God do the deeper soul-work. Yes, this is recovery. This is restoration. To rest between His shoulders.

Now to move forward!

“Let the beloved of the LORD rest secure in him,
for he shields him all day long, and the one the LORD

loves rests between his shoulders.”
~Deut. 33.12

and these comprise those critical steps of 6 & 7. Relinquish your hold on your life. God has something so much better. Do not be afraid. Walk in the Light.

Just drop the rock….breathe. It’s okay to let go. God will catch you!

While it’s wonderful to have quick and easy, instant access to what’s going on with who and when, there’s a human connection peace missing for me.  While I like the updates and postings, I don’t like what it’s done for my creativity and personal interests.  I used to have a few favorite hobbies, but they’ve disappeared as I’ve spent more and more time online.  I remember being taken aback when a friend of mine quite Facebook. I thought, “how is she ever going to stay connected with anyone.  This is horrible.”  But in reality, it deters real life connections.  Call me old fashion, but I’d rather go back to the days of the handwritten note or letter.  Something that takes more than logging in and logging off.  Hand writing forces me to stop, breathe, and think through how I am uniquely bound to the person I’m writing.  I’d like to get out of the media frenzied rat race.

When was the last time you had an original thought free from the influence of a media crazed world? I’m thinking it’s time to make some changes and get to a more organic and simplified life. One should not allow life and passion or purpose to be subsumed by outside forces like media saturation.  So I’m going back to the old way in my own kind of way.  Cell phone?  Yes I’ll still have one.  Will it be glued to my hips for constant, nonstop updates? No.  I am choosing to disconnect from too much tech so I can plug back into the more important things in my life.  TV and DVR?  Well, I think it’s time to detach from that stuff too, I mean really.  Who needs to stay stuck in front of the television for hours on end when there’s a world out there to explore.  It’s time to engage, explore, and reignite lost passions.

Judge me not.  Each of us has a choice to make, and I’ve chosen mine.  For my own growth and development.  To get back to creativity, craftiness, developing original thoughts, learning something new, baking, discovering hidden talents and ideas.  I’m ready.  Let’s do this.

There was no fault found in Daniel.  So  men made up a law to catch Daniel in a trap—no one could pray or worship anyone but the king on pain of death.  But Daniel prayed as he always did.  Here’s what happened next…

15 Then the men went as a group to King Darius and said to him, “Remember, Your Majesty, that according to the law of the Medes and Persians no decree or edict that the king issues can be changed.”

16 So the king gave the order, and they brought Daniel and threw him into the lions’ den. The king said to Daniel, “May your God, whom you serve continually, rescue you!”

17 A stone was brought and placed over the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the rings of his nobles, so that Daniel’s situation might not be changed. 18 Then the king returned to his palace and spent the night without eating and without any entertainment being brought to him. And he could not sleep.

19 At the first light of dawn, the king got up and hurried to the lions’ den. 20 When he came near the den, he called to Daniel in an anguished voice, “Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to rescue you from the lions?”

21 Daniel answered, “May the king live forever! 22 My God sent his angel, and he shut the mouths of the lions. They have not hurt me, because I was found innocent in his sight. Nor have I ever done any wrong before you, Your Majesty.”

23 The king was overjoyed and gave orders to lift Daniel out of the den. And when Daniel was lifted from the den, no wound was found on him, because he had trusted in his God.

“For he is the living God

and he endures forever;

his kingdom will not be destroyed,

his dominion will never end.

27 He rescues and he saves;

he performs signs and wonders

in the heavens and on the earth.

He has rescued Daniel

from the power of the lions.”

28 So Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus the Persian.

Daniel 6 NIV

Daniel was a man of faith.  He did not falter in prayer and honest worship of God.  He did not fear man.  He fear God alone.  May it also be with us that we choose the Lamb.

A Prayer for us all.

God we pray and ask for Your Grace and Favor as we walk upon the earth and do Your works.  Silence the voice of the evil one who seeks to steal, kill, and destroy.  Protect us and watch over us in our comings and goings.  And when men seek to destroy our good name, the work we’ve done, or how we remain loyal to You, for us as you did for Daniel.  Rescue us from the lion’s den.  Help us to remain faith, strong, and true to you.  May we overcome by the Blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony.  Help us Lord to extend grace to everyone around us.  We acknowledge that we live, work, and play amongst broken people who often don’t know they’re broken–so they live and respond from a place of brokenness.  But you, oh Lord, came to set every captive free.  Help us Lord God to remember that you desire that no one perish but that all come to salvation through Christ Jesus.  Fill our hearts with your love, our minds with your peace, and our lips with your words.  Help us God to release to you those who have hurt, offended, angered, or saddened us.  Help us to lay down our resentments, anger, fear, distrust, mistrust, disgruntledness, hurts, and hang-ups.  Holy Spirit give us the Father’s perspective so that we can clearly see and know how to pray in the midst of the storms.  You are the only Righteous Judge.  Let our hearts be made right before you.  Fight for us oh Lord.  Let us, your holy people cling to you in reverential awe.  Turn our heats back to you Lord, and have mercy on us.  We are in such desperate need of you.

Thank you Father God that you hear our prayers and you answer them.  May your name be forever glorified.

Amen!

If you’re in Irving, check out the Samosa Hut and Grill.  Thanks to K. and S. for this supper club suggestion.  The samosas are made to order.  I had the chili chicken–fiery, but tasty.  I’d venture to say I’ll try everything on the menu at some point in time, of course not all at once.

That’s a little something to consider for your belly today or tomorrow or for whenever.  You got fave-food spot?  Lemme know.  I am adding to my culinary travels.

Here’s to living well, living to eat, and eating to live.  Life is too short not to try new things.  Go live more!

Short Ribs

Short Ribs and Naan Bread

Samosas

Peri-Peri Fries

Peri Peri Fries

Chili Chicken.

Naan Bread

Naan again

Chili Chicken. WoW with Spice!

Your life is yours and belongs to no one but you.  You are accountable for your life.  Live your life without fear.  Live your life without regret.  Live your life without deferring to others.  Live your life in accordance to what you feel the Lord is leading you to do.  Trust that Jesus knows you—the want of your heart, the desires for your life.  Permission to live your life is in your own hands.

Take your life and live it.  Press play.  Stop hitting the pause button.  God has much good in store for you.  With God there is always more to come.  Always more to come is with Christ.  Live your life with boldness and without reservation.

To move forward.

To believe.

To hope against all loss.

To keep moving forward.

One should not wait for life to be perfect as that seldom happens.  Life happens in moments, in tiny increments called today.  Hour by hour, second by second.  One should not wait for things to change.  Make change happen.  For me this rings clear.  For what I cannot control, I will not sit by and wait.  I will focus on that which I can control–my responses, my choices, my thoughts.  I will keep making my plans and allow God to direct my steps.  Waiting is active.  It is not just some passive event.  It means moving forward in faith even when things appear the contrary.  One should not wait for the perfect mix of ingredients.  God so often meets us once we get going–moving forward, taking one step in front of the other.  God is with us, and He is for us.

Just a little something to consider for today.  Don’t stay stuck.

Hebrews 11 (NKJV)

By Faith We Understand

¹ Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. ² For by it the elders obtained a good testimony.
³ By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.

I suppose we keep faithing it, clinging to Jesus no matter what. I don’t know how the heroes of the faith held to God, but somehow they did–through thick and thin, sickness, death, loss, bankruptcy, poverty, and all sorts of yuck. I guess that’s where the rubber hits the road–when the fires of life test our faith, and we have to believe in spite of circumstance. We may say to ourselves that God is bigger than this mountain even though we may feel small. Nothing is difficult for our Great God. This is what I must remember when turmoil arise without and within.

And the answer is YES…… God can cause me to prosper even in the desert places. He can cause me to prosper in the wildnerness. He can cause me to prosper in pain. He can cause me to prosper when hope seems lost. He is not without hope. He is not without goodness. He is not without faithfulness. He is not without love. He is not without hearing. ALL His promises are yes and Amen–whether in the valley of the shadow of death, or high on the mountain, God has not left us as orphans.

To all of you on walking the journey, keep faithing it. We know God’s word is true and the He–God–is NOT a man that he should lie. What he has promised, He WILL bring to pass. THIS I must believe.

Psalm 34, 116
Hebrews 13:5
Psalm 23, 27
Isaish 54:17