Turnaround

Is is amazing how Jesus can turn a day around! A little Tylenol and tobyMac doesn't hurt any, either. :)



This is me NOW!



You got me feeling so fly
There ain't a day that goes by
A supernatural high
Oh my goodness - people
I can't deny
You got me feeling so fly


Uh oh, here we go again
Talk about that thing that so genuine
Uh huh, gonna make it known
So a freak like me get his cover blown
Can't help but glorify my Adonai
Gotta testify
Uh oh, here we go again
Talk about His love so genuine...


So fly when it's You and I
And the way we hangin' in the mornin' time
So dope I can barely cope
When you make my joy go and overflow
Can't help but glorify
My Adonai
Gotta testify!

....You got me feelin' so fly
(like I'm kissin' the sky)
(and it can't be denied)
You got me feelin' so fly...

The Big Picture

I must not be seeing the big picture, because right now this doesn’t make any sense. I know this is God’s place for me. Right now, I am to be here.


And I know He is with me. He promises never to leave me.


But it’s tough: today, yesterday. Perhaps not tomorrow? My mind is overwhelmed these hours and my body aches. So much I am required to do does not make sense to me. So much of my class work seems purposeless and dry. I keep going, doing my present best, doing the next thing. Tears flow, but so do praises.


Because I’m still the new person He has made me. And He speaks to me sweetly of the vastness of His love. And I know He never leaves me. Even when it doesn’t make sense. School is not forever. Please, Jesus, I want to go home. Keep me.

One Last Weekend

It seemed last week like my relaxing summer had come to a sudden stop and the pressures of responsibility were landing on my mind with a heavy weight.

It’s amazing how God takes care of me. It’s just like Him to do it. He gave me one of the best weekends of the summer just when I needed it. This weekend calmed my nerves.

Cher came to see me! We had a delightful time. We hung out, talked, and had a beautiful hike in the San Isabel National Forest. It was an interesting drive to find the trail (we weren't exactly lost), but the hike itself was pure pleasure. Aside from mosquitoes, and who cares about them?

So today I start school. It looks to be an exciting and different semester. I can feel God at work in my life and I know He is working in the lives of others as well. I can’t wait to see what happens! I can't wait to see His work and His power. And I can’t wait to meet the friends He is going to put in my life!

When I fear, He reminds me I am safe because of His amazing strength.

So shall they fear the name of the LORD from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him. [or, shall put him to flight]
Is 59:19

Leaving

The time has come. The time is now.
It might not be perfect, but I do care how.
I really don't want to go with a boom.
I don't really want to leave this room.

I don't want a zike bike or a zumble-zay.
I want to stay home forever and a day!

But...

you know,

"I said GO and GO I meant!!"
"The time had come, so Marvin went."

And really, I love school. I love learning, and seeing new things, and being "out there." I know this semester is going to be so very different from last, and that makes me unafraid. I'm ready to go!

I've been thinking about my blog. At the beginning of the summer I had intended to only blog until school started again. But I didn't know how much I was going to enjoy it! So now I'm thinkin'...maybe I'll try to keep up by posting on the weekends. Because I don't want to just leave you all in the dark!

Anywayz, today I'm packing the last little bit of stuff and heading out. I think Cher's gonna come up for the weekend. Maybe we'll do a little hiking before I'm stuck inside again. I hope!

Wishing you all the greatest,

Millie Jo

Single

I'm single and
it's sweet.
Because You are sweet.
What could be better?

I know
when I am not alone
You will still be sweet.

But I joy
because today
we have each other completely.

For I am single
and you are God.

All Hours of the Night

Anyone who knows me much could probably tell you I'm not exactly a night person. OK, so I stay up late sometimes, but only when I feel like it, and when I want to go to bed not much will stop me.

Yeah. So can you imagine me working on my room 'till midnight or one and not getting to bed 'till one or two? I've been doing that! I've been organizing and de-junking, and rearranging furniture. I've been throwing bags and bags of stuff away (Ok maybe that's exaggerating a little). And I've been listening to tobyMac, trying to keep my energy up for just a few more objects...

I can't wait till I'm finished with this project. I'm losing my sense of time. My internal clock. My comfortable schedule. Buuuut.... I'm gaining a lot, too.

My room is getting so nice. And my stuff is mostly either packed or ready to pack...and...
moving in a few days is going to be so much easier.

Today I have a 3 hour mowing job. If it weren't for the heat, I would joy in the solitude of mowing. Instead, I try to drink water and drink water and not get heatstroke. Probably I'll be up in the cool of night working and waiting for the heat of the day to wear off so I can sleep.

I think I'm going to move to Alaska.

Going Back

Everyone is feeling it. "Summer" is ending. Of course Summer still goes on, but for practical purposes, our summers are almost over. Many of my friends start school this week. I start next week.

So I am working on organizing my stuff. Cleaning, de-junking, throwing stuff out and packing what I need to keep: these are all things I have meant to do all summer, but find myself doing now at almost-the-last-minute.

It is refreshing, really, to bet getting back into things, to see my work rapidly approaching. I am excited about this coming semester. Because things are going to be so very different.

Last semester was hard. I tried to put a good face on it, to make the best of what I had, but in all honesty, I think last semester was the hardest semester so far.

I have changed so much this summer! I am not the same person I was last semester...not at all. Jesus has made me a new person. I'm new almost as if I was just new born, even though I have been in His family a long time. I think some people would call this a revival. I don't know what it is. I just know that the rest of my life is going to be different!

I'm putting Jesus, and knowing Him, and satisfying my need for Him above my commitments to school (and anything else!!). And I know my life is not about myself, but the sweet, satisfying joy of knowing my Creator.

I am so happy. Have I ever been this happy?! I think I can only be happier as I get closer to my Savior.

I can't wait to worship in eternity.

Till then I guess I'd better go pack.

Millie Jo

Summer Fruit (and veggies!)

Yay! I love summer fruit.

Watermelon.
Cantaloupe.
Peaches.
Plums.

And veggies!

Yellow Squash.
Zucchini.
Green beans.
Beets.

Some of it must be eaten immediately. But others will save.

Today Mom and I are canning green beans from our garden. I love it, but...there's just one draw back. I have but a week left before school, and hang it all, I'm going to miss harvest! My most favorite part of summer comes right at the end, when my family has the chance to put up everything from sweet corn to peach, cherry, or sand-hill-plum jam.

I think I love putting up food because I have fond memories of doing it with my sweet Grandma. But there are more reasons than that to love it! There is the pleasure of working together; the good company and good conversation; the sense of accomplishment. Something is satisfied inside when a batch of cinnamon pickles comes out of the caner, lids popping as they cool. Something says, ahh inside. It's the same ahh one feels when one comes in from hard work in the snow to the smell of stew and fresh bread. C-A-N-N-I-N-G (and f-r-e-e-z-i-n-g) spell Home.

Go Between

mom: Hi Rissa
rissa: Dad wants to know if you will come sit by him while we watch the movie
mom: Tell him I'll come sit by him if he'll hold my hand
rissa: Dad says he'll hold your hand if you sit by him
mom: Ask him if he is going to eat all my ice cream
rissa: Dad says he will help you with your ice cream
mom: Ok tell him I'm coming!!
rissa: Dad, she's coming!

So, I'm gonna go play rummy w/Cher.

My home is awesome!

no confidence

For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the Spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh. ~Phil. 3:3

Look what I found! Isn't this a beautiful description of the body of Christ? My ESV says "the real circumcision," which I like, because it is saying that we are what the circumcision was meant to be in the first place. The real circumcision worship (God), rejoice (in, and may I say because of, Jesus), and remember what to (and not to) put their confidence in. How cool is that!

Jesus is so sweet. It's strange how slowly I turn to him. When I do, I remember again how delightful He is. This summer I have remembered. I am a new person.

I don't want to go back.

Let me only worship, rejoice, and put no confidence in the flesh.

I know He will never let me down.

Meteor shower

Yay! Everyone!

Late Sunday night and early Monday morning we will be able to see a meteor shower.

You can read about it here.

Have fun watching the skies! I love it. Scorpio has been particularly beautiful the past few weeks, with the whole thing visible.

Happy watching.

Millie Jo

Happy Birthday Mom!

Happy Birthday to you
Happy Birthday to you
Happy Birthday my Mommy
Happy Birthday to you!

I love you so much Mom. You have given goodness into my life through your obedience to God. Thank you for loving me (no matter what I've done!), for directing me, for never fearing to reprimand me and point me gently back into the fellowship of the Spirit of God. You are my hero, and I praise God for your life!

Hoping to have you for years and years to come,

Your loving daughter,

Millie

One Last Day

Of fair work, that is. This morning I will walk in the parade with the Cheyenne County Republicans. I'm not sure how I feel about that. Do I want to associate myself with the Republican party publicly?? Its almost like a baptism and I don't think I like it. But I'm doing it anyway...I said I would...and I get to throw candy.

Then I will eat and let entries go from my department.

Finally, I will be finished. To the gym!!! (I told Alli that I was afraid my one tiny muscle was going to leave me this week, because the fair booted "gym" out of my schedule. She just laughed)

It's less than two weeks till I go back to school. Yikes. What is the semester going to be like?

Today, I just enjoy today.

Keke

Yay! My Keke's home!

And we are going to the Ranch Rodeo.

So goodnight. Mine is.

Fair Week

The Cheyenne County Fair is this week. For some people that means nothing, but for a 4-H family like us, those two words mean a lot.

A lot of work, that is. Some of it is rewarding. My work is to volunteer as the superintendent of the open fancy work dept. It is a job my grandmother did for years and years. Now that she is gone, somehow the work just fell to Cherokee and I. I think the best part of it all is having time to knit while I wait for people to bring entries in.

Mom's work is bigger. As our 4-H club leader, she has to organize and direct almost everything...or so it seems at times.

So...I'm off to clean tables and rot like that. Hopefully it will rain and bring us some relief from the tormenting heat.

Love Him Better

I get so frustrated with myself. Because I am stupid, that's why!

I do what I long to hate.

I long follow my Savior's desires. Every time I see Him again, I want to hate what He hates, and love what He loves.

But then my mind tricks me, because I forget to look to Him. I forget to adjust my thinking. I let the world seep in, or I just get lazy and start to act on my own, in my own strength. Then I fall. And then I hurt, because sin hurts, always. So why do I do it?

Why???

It's this flesh. Someday I'll be free of this flesh. For now, I have the pleasure of looking to Jesus to help me out of all my fleshly predicaments. He forgives me, heals me; He shows me the way.

And I know what to do next. It's all I need to know.

And I love Him.

His name is Jesus, Jesus
Sad hearts weep no more.
He has healed the broken hearted,
Opened wide the prison doors,
He is able to deliver ever more.

Quick Week

For the three people who read this blog: it was a quick week! I'd wanted to make a post sooner, but wow. My week went fast. And I'm afraid that the rest of my time at home is going to be much the same. There are many things to do before I head back to school in a couple of weeks!

Still, I am refreshed because of God this summer. Mom and I were talking about this last night. We were hoping it would be a special summer, but we didn't know how special! The work of God in our lives has been indescribable. I feel empowered and beautiful, ready to work in His kingdom with Joy until the time I will get to worship forever in eternity.

So what made this week go by so quickly?

1. A cookout at my Grandpas...
2. A mowing job...thank you God for money!!
3. A sunburn...
4. A new knitting project...lovely fingerless gloves for a friend
5. Kit Carson County Fair...fun, and I got to see old friends and share
6. Cherokee...lots of good conversations and cruises in her sweet car with sweet speakers
7. Dad...lovely talks about the Bible and life
8. Mom...a walk every night with my best buddy

And of course there is the garden and my work to do...

I'll try to make another post or two before I head off to school. They might be few and far between after that. Maybe at Christmas...