Tipped the Jet Ski, Not the Canoe

Some of you may remember the lake there in Camdenton that we used sometimes in the summer on furlough. Everything is so blue and dark green! We have about two more weeks of enjoying it right now before we move to Kansas City, where it is still very green, but of course we won't live this close to a lake.

A couple weeks ago we spent the afternoon with my Uncle Marv and family on his pontoon boat. They brought the jet ski, and I decided to try it first riding behind my dad. That seemed to work fine, so then we decided to trade places. I got in the water, and then tried to cimb back on, which ended with the jet ski upside down and my dad in the water with me. We got it upright again, and finally managed to get back on and I was in front. Surely this would be easier than driving a car, which I've found to be fairly perplexing!

Anyways, I tried making it go forward at an appropriate speed as well as steering, but it was more like jolt...jolt... fast...slow...jolt all while trying not to tip over again. I ended up convincing my dad to take over from behind me, since his arms were long enough to reach. After several suggestions from him which I could not seem to implement, I pleaded "You do it!"

My all-encompassing lack of coordination was thus confirmed, although they said it would have been easier if I was by myself.
Maybe that was the problem. : )

Today we went out on the water in a canoe, successfully I might add, and I decided that it is my preferred mode of water travel. It is very simple, no starting and stopping, just lots of paddling or drifting. You can't tip it over unless you try really hard. Yay!

The jet ski thing suddenly reminded me of my relationship with God, not that everything has to be made into an object lesson, but it occurred to me, so I'll just say it.
I want to be involved in my life, and focused, but not in control. : )

The Trip

When we were driving up here, we passed these windmills, and I thought it might be fun to be tied to one of the blades and be flung around and around, kind of like a roller coaster. As we got closer, I realized it would be highly dangerous and probably deadly. Oh well, it was a nice thought. : )



I think this is the road heading to the mission property. If you've ever been there, you might recognize it. Unless I'm wrong, which is quite possible.



This is one view from our house, and on the far right is a bench and a picnic table close to the water. I like to sit there and read.




It has been very refreshing to be surrounded by so much green and water and quiet. I think we will all be ready to be back on a schedule after this little "vacation." In the meantime it is a very nice change of pace.

A Prayer

From "The Valley of Vision," a collection of puritan prayers.


...Though my sins rise to heaven, thy merits soar above them;
Though unrighteousness weighs me down to hell, thy righteousness exalts me to thy throne...

...All things in me call for my rejection,
All things in thee plead for my acceptance...

...I am guilty, but pardoned,
lost, but saved,
wandering, but found,
sinning, but cleansed.
Give me perpetual broken-heartedness,
Keep me always clinging to thy cross,
Flood me every moment with descending grace....

Things I'm Learning... (Part 1)

...while reading "Get Out of That Pit!" by Beth Moore:

- She describes a pit as feeling stuck.

- Some bondages/patterns of thinking happen to us because life throws it at us, some we slide into in ignorance or stupidity, some we jump into, knowing full well what we do.

- God is always good. He is unapproachable light and He has no dark side. (Meaning we can trust Him in difficult circumstances. That is an encouraging thought, that God has no dark side. He is not playing games or plotting for our demise.)

- To avoid sliding into a pit, don't just practice innocence, practice integrity. (I have sometimes arrogantly thought that I had integrity because of my innocence, but innocence can be very ignorant and proud without an active commitment to grow in holiness out of love for Christ.)

- Lost innocence can be traded in for integrity. (This is my favorite! In areas where we have fallen, God can bring restoration, and we come out the other side with a new depth of wisdom and integrity, and the ability to help and warn others.)

- We can help someone else climb out of a pit, but we do not have the power to sustain them. Only God can. (Because only He has that kind of wisdom and staying power.)

- Encourage one another and do not let the lie be told that victory is impossible. (Especially with God.)

Laugh More

I was innocently reading through the yahoo homepage news stories and happened upon this happy bit of information. : )

"And it has been confirmed that personality profile Type C—people that tend towards melancholy, depression, and excessive worry — are prone to develop cancer."


I don't tend to be depressed most of the time, but the other things are characteristic.

God certainly knows that our attitudes can affect our health and Scripture says that a joyful heart is good medicine!

A Picture

Because I think kittens are incredibly cute to look at and because sometimes I feel like this, a little out of control and inadequate. : )

Change

Today I was looking through my old childhood school journals. Surprisingly enough, or not surprising at all actually, as a kid I enjoyed reading and being at home. I also described myself as someone with the inability to say no for fear of hurting someone's feelings.

I wonder if I've changed at all!

Of course with time my written expression has gone from things like "I like school. I like carrots. I can't wait for the pizza party," to thoughts a little more coherent. But I can still see my current self in that nine year old's reflections.

Something must be different, though, because my world is not so small anymore. Neither is my experience with God limited to my salvation. These things have grown and expanded.

Some parts of our personalities do not change entirely, that is who we are, but I think they can be refined to reflect the character of Christ in us. Scripture says we are being transformed and renewed.

I continually feel God pushing me to widen my circles of interaction and to make decisions for His sake and not just for the sake of those I would hate to disappoint. I'm glad He does, because if initiating change were up to me....