Fay is done, gone the sun...

I just have to giggle.  I don't know what it is but EVERY time the forecasters predict a tropical storm or hurricane coming our way, Alan (my husband) gets sooo excited.  When it doesn't "manifest" like it is supposed to, he is completely disappointed.  Hence his facebook status this morning after waking up to partly cloudy skies when he was anticipating a deluge...."Why did Fay stand me up?" 

It is really quite sick.  But then again, a little humorous as I hear him talk with other maniacal men who feel the same way!  

Does it call to that need to be a chivalrous one?  I just don't know.

Things that make you say, "hhmmmmm"....

Day is Done....ALREADY!

Aww man!  TOTALLY forgot about the blog today.  OOPS!  

Gon make up for it this weekend as it looks like we will be spending much the time indoors thanks to T.S. Fay.  WOOO HOOO! 

Pantry stocked - movies rented.  We READY!  Bring it on!  Good Night!

"Axiom Rose" - Take Me Home

So there I was...mindin' my own biznez drivin' along in my car.  I reached down to grab hold of my soul-soothin', extra-hot latte with no foam when my misguided hand accidentally hit the button on my radio and sent my signal from Power 88 to "The Pirate" - best of the 70s, 80s and 90s...

Without even knowing what was happening, all of the sudden, my head began to slam backwards and forwards. (fear not!  the following description has nothing to do with spewing green stuff or the likes)  My hand started beating out the rhythm on the steering wheel when I broke out into my best helium-pitched soprano and sang along with Axle Rose and all of his screeching background guitars:

"Take me down to the very last city 

Where the grass is green and the girls are pretty

Oh won't you please take me hooommmeee yaahaa."

I am thinking maybe those are the only words to the entire song because Axle and I must have sang it at least 5 times as I cruised up Cottage Hill Rd.  In a flash, the song was over and I had come back to the 21st century (after a slight mental trip back to the twelfth grade - permed hair, bandanas around the pantleg, swatch watches, jelly bracelets...the whole bit!)

I thought to myself - "how in the world is it that I can remember the words to 20 year old songs and yet I cannot, at times remember what I did yesterday or where I put that piece of paper this morning?"  

I just don't get it!  Does anyone have some explanation for that little file drawer in the head that files away every last lyric to every last song heard.  How 'bout suggestions as to how to put OTHER thoughts etc. into that file?  Anyone know what I am talking about?  SHEEZ!  

I'm thinking if only I could have sang my way through 10th grade Geometry!......  

"Ladies and gentlemen, Axle Rose singing his hit debut -  Pythagorean Paradise"  Now THAT would have been helpful!

I may have been but HE IS!

So I saw this really cool you tube of Kirk Franklin.  He was talking about how we as humans are the only ones who reminisce.  We love to talk about what we were ie.  "I was a swimmer." or "I was President of my class".  We also say things like, "When I grow up I will be a _______."  But you see, God is not like us.  He never says anything of the sorts.  He doesn't say, "I used to be" or "One day I might be".  He simply says, "I AM".  Yesterday.  Today.  Forever.  I AM.  

 

There is no turning, no changing, no inconsistency with our God.

It seems there is so much shifting going on in our world these days. Corporately. Individually.  From politics to the pulpit to the personal, change seems to surround us in this season like never before.  BUT, today, I have been gently reminded that slap up in the middle of EVERY change, EVERY shift is the One who never changes - who never 'used to be' but always is.....I AM.  With that, I will sleep well tonight!  I pray you do too!

He Sees. He Knows.

It was HOT!  Like Africa hot!  Your typical Mobile, August day - 85 degrees by 7:00 a.m. and only climbing from there.  So I decided to do what all insane people do when they suffer from OHS (overly humidified syndrome) of the brain.  I went to the park to run.  

Now, let me set something straight from the get go.  Many say to me, "I see you are a runner", but here's a little secret...I am not REALLY a runner, I am just someone who likes to crank their worship music up to an unhealthy level in their ipod, sing as loud as possible, and run to the beat.  It is not unusual for me to be spotted heading down Grelot road with hands thrown up in the air, nose scrunched and eyes squinted as I belt out the lyrics to "All Consuming Fire..." or the likes.  Worship is a full body experience for this blonde!  

Anyway, as I did my warm up loop at Cottage Hill Park, I found my mind and prayers switching from the topic of "Why does the sun have to be so hot?" to "God, are you there?"

 You see, Alan and I have entered a season of transition upon his recent "retirement" after 20 years in youth ministry - (the last 12 being at Christ Church here in Mobile).  It is a season of many questions...how? when? where?  what?  Some days are filled with many answers...others...not so much.  This day was one of the "others".  

So as I was about ready to break out onto the open road one of my most favorite songs of this season came on my ipod...it goes like this:

I have decided, I have resolved, to wait upon You, Lord. 

My Rock and Redeemer, my Shield and Reward,

I'll wait upon You, Lord.  

As surely as the sun will rise You'll come to us.  Certain as the dawn appears You'll come.

You'll come, Let Your glory fall as you respond to us... Spirit rain...flood into our thirsty hearts again...You'll Come...You'll come 

We are not shaken, we are not moved.

We wait upon You, Lord

Mighty Deliverer, My Triumph and Truth

We wait upon You, Lord....

Disregarding all common sense (and indicators on my heart rate monitor), I began to run harder, singing with greater intensity. I was "goin at it".

  

I thought about how many times in the Word we read that He REMEMBERED His covenant, He KEPT His promises to His children.. He HEARD their cries...

His faithfulness was seen over and over and over again.  

As I remembered His "rememberings" and promises I said, 

"Lord, just knowing that you see....knowing that You know....let that be enough for me. Let me not have to have all the answers today.  Let my heart rest in knowing that You see, knowing that You know."  

At that moment, out of nowhere, I felt one, then two, then many gentle rain drops as they fell from the perfectly sunny sky.  I giggled in my spirit thinking "OH GOD!  You do see!"  (Why, You even see how red my face is!)  :)  

As I made my way out of the park, I quickened my steps right before I turned the corner from Knollwood onto Grelot.  I made the turn still shouting out (notice "singing" was not the 'verbage' I used here)..."I have resolved to wait upon You, Lord..." and lo and behold, as I lifted my head, I saw IT... IT was FANTASTIC!!!!  

My sweet Daddy had painted the most marvelous rainbow over the whole West Mobile sky.    

It was as if He was saying, in that moment, "Kellie, remember, I HAVE INDEED come.  I DO INDEED see and I ABSOLUTELY know. I AM your covenant God.  Rest in that."  

Ahhhh....sigh.....He is JUST TOO MUCH sometimes!  Too much, I say!

So, if you find yourself today, wondering, "God, are you there?", rest assured that He is not just there....He is HERE and EVERYWHERE working it all out on YOUR BEHALF as He responds to you.....He SEES!  He KNOWS!  Take courage!