Peace, With Me Now

I feel restful, not fitful. I feel peaceful, not fretful. Very soon I will sleep.

Today was Friday. This morning I enjoyed prayer with Ang, RJ, and Andy. I was tired and quiet, though t'wards the end Ang began individually praying for various people of the house and it thrilled me. I prayed for Andy, and Andy prayed for me, and I laughed because Ang was so embarrassed for forgetting to pray for me. So instead she prayed several times throughout the day for me.
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Off to work I go. I got stuck in some construction briefly which was a little stressful, but it only lasted a little while. I called in to let Kyle know and he offered to pick me up a green tea. How generous.

Work was cold this morning. Cold winds and humidity chilled my fingers to ice. It was 3 degrees. We are fixing a house. Another crew kind of did some of it. So with inspiring work and weather, Kyle took us out for breakfast as the snow began to fly. We went back to work and lasted until lunch break. Lunch break came, and I had a revelation. I opened my lunch pail to discover a container that I had not placed there. It contained two chocolate chip cookies. The world flipped inside out and sunshine pierced the clouds. Now you have to understand I wasn't feeling bad to begin with, but now I was truly alive. I enjoyed my delicious lunch and enthusiastically dug out the passage of Jesus feeding the multitude with the boy's offering of 2 fish & 5 loaves (or was it the other way around?). What a generous boy! How kind and generous of Jesus! What a beautiful life! But what followed afterward was what stuck in my mind:

27Stop toiling and doing and producing for the food that perishes and decomposes [in the using], but strive and work and produce rather for the [lasting] food which endures [continually] unto life eternal; the Son of Man will give (furnish) you that, for God the Father has authorized and certified Him and put His seal of endorsement upon Him.

28They then said, What are we to do, that we may [habitually] be working the works of God? [What are we to do to carry out what God requires?]

29Jesus replied, This is the work (service) that God asks of you: that you believe in the One Whom He has sent [that you cleave to, trust, rely on, and have faith in His Messenger].

This is the work that God asks of me. That I cleave to Jesus. That I trust Jesus. That I rely on Jesus. That I have faith in Jesus. The rest is a lot of consumption. What I eat, what I wear, where I sleep, how I paid to do those things - these cannot be what I toil at. Those are just things I do. My work is Jesus, while I do everything. And getting back to how my revelation started, hopefully what I'm doing includes a lot of serving and loving others!

I had a litre of vanilla roiboos cranberry tea, caught a quick nap and went back to work as the sunshine peeked its way back into my part of the world. We wrapped up early so Jay could drive his friend to the airport and Kyle could go get some sleep and I could go on my merry way to the Chiropracter for the next level of jaw adjusments. The kind girl at 7-11 let me use the washroom! Most of them won't. Back home I read a couple blogs before my computer's connection glitchiness took control, then I helped Sherry look for a box of CDs amongst all the other boxes in our house. We found it, and I started listening to the Joyce Heron talk that we both got a CD of (mine doesn't work). Jason called and was tired and wouldn't be coming over to pray. We chatted a little and then I went off in search of supper. I had some yummy left over queesh. Andy was sick but wanted me to go to the Global Day of Prayer for him if he wasn't going. So I hung out and socialized some more, Andy ate, Andy looked a little bit better, and off we went.

It was stellar. But now it's getting very long I'm sure and will not be stopping so you might wish to conclude here and return later.

We got there late of course but that didn't bother me at all. I was still in a gradiose mood and had even got to pray on the way over with Andy for both him, and his brother who was burglard, again! When we arrived they had just started a promo video showing some of what went on around the world on the last GDoP. It brought back memories of being there with Joe & RJ and checking out the Epic crew's painting, and dancing on concrete. It was also encouraging to see all the different cultures around the world. My favourite were the cool dance lines snaking around in Africa while they sang to God. Oh, and the timid little boy in Poland praying before such a big group.

We quickly got into small groups to pray for our representative local churches' involvement with the GDoP for a minute which was really cool because me and Andy landed ourselves with some very nice ladies (of the elders to us variety in case you're RJ and completely distorting the picture right about now). Then we read two Psalms and prayed in response to them. Also cool. Then we sang some songs which was further coolness because the band was very sensitive to the Spirit's leading and they did an incredible instrumental song for awhile. Then some people shared some prophetic words that they'd been given and we ended up partnering up with someone of a different generation so that we could pray for them. Well a kind man by the name of Ben caught my eye and came up to pray with me and Jeanine (sp?) came and joined from behind. I firmly volunteered to do the praying first because I was in a rather enthusiastic disposition and prayed using some scripture from Colossians 3. Actually I wanted to do the praying first because I wanted to honour my elders and bless them. It was really nice to be surrounded by mature adults in Christ full of wisdom and love.

Then they prayed for me. Ben fervently prayed for more fire and zeal for Christ in me. Jeanine had politely asked him if he had anything first, and after he was finished she began praying. She expressed that God loved me dearly in a way I sensed she was actually listening to him - Spirit & Truth prayer... She prayed for me to give more and more of my heart to God so that he could fill me more. She prayed for deeper intimacy with God for me - especially in the secret place, the place of rest.

Bingo! These were piercing my spirit very directly! The last prophecy I received was that of God intending to occupy me (dwell in, not keep busy, but an active dwelling...). I needed to give to God more of my heart, so that he can occupy that. Now in the previous prophecy, I was told I wouldn't actually have to do much, God had it covered. That's good. At the same time, some of what Jono responded with on the last post rings true here...

Deeper intimacy with God, in the secret place, the place of rest, has been something that I began to learn about more two years ago with some Graham Cooke books but I have most certainly not developed very well, and it's never too far from my awareness.

Next Jeanine started praying blessings over my musical abilities. Um what! God you're telling her things! She stopped after awhile to double-check I played an instrument, but not in a timid way, more in a polite way. The next question was whether it was with guitar or piano because she had a picture of my fingers going. She prayed a blessing over my fingers using a text out of Jonah. About fire going right into my bones. Then she switched directions (or so it seems) and prayed that I would covet the gift of prophecy. She prayed this over a couple times in slightly different ways and even stopped to make sure I understood the correct context of covet here. Then she prayed over misconceptions I had about this passage (out of 1 Corinthians, I know it well, God was really speaking about this same thing last Spring in Ontario).

This was very timely. In the last while I've been wondering whether I should even be coveting the gift of prophecy. Whether God has different gifts in mind for me.

Then she launched back into music. She prayed about the music I would make, that it would be prophetic and have power in the spiritual realm.

Yes!!! Very personal right here, and timely again, as Andy and I just started writing a song on Tuesday.

Oh I forgot that she had prayed for a Thorn in the flesh earlier. She knew I didn't want it, but that it's very helpful for some people, as they are going into something where they will need to remember where they came from. So I accepted it. How could I not? I trust Jesus.

She prayed some generational prayers as well, and ended by praying for my wife-to-be in other terms, except that she double-checked that I knew what she was talking about afterwards. I did and didn't and did. As in no I don't know whom she was specifically praying for, although I had mild curiousity if it was connected to a previous person who came up in prayer a while back, but didn't say anything about that, but yes I did know what she was praying about.

All in all, it was very edifying, and all that prayer for fire had me cooking too!

The rest of the evening was splended as well, but it's supremely late and Jamie thinks I've moved onto writing a sequel novel I've been typing so long.

Ha, what does he know? He's sleeping on the couch so he can be closer to me instead of in his bedroom.

So what happened after? Well I perked up in my listening! When they moved onto praying for family, I had someone come to mind right away and I didn't worry about questioning. I obeyed. And went up to the front and asked for someone to pray for me since they were encouraging us to do it, even though it feels rather funny doing it that way. They encouraged me to fill out a card so that their prayer team could pray for it for the next month too. I did. I mean do I love this family member or what? I had an impression of the desperate people who flocked to Jesus with their concerns, and I thought, yes, YES! JESUS I WANT YOU TO!

Then I went back and joined Andy who was talking and listening with someone else. I sat and basked in the thick peace of God's spirit that was bringing such rest to mine. And when they started to pray I had to join, and uplift Andy, which really turned to a lot of spirit to spirit worship (mine to God's not Andy's) that brought me to tears. I got to exchange smiles with several people, and they weren't superficial smiles. They were how could we not smile with so much joy and love in the very air. A kind elderly gentlement stopped to tell me he could see Jesus in my eyes and did I know that?

I thanked some people and hung about then walked out with Andy who was kind enough to hold my belongings while I did a cartwheel. I always liked saying I love you to God that way. I thanked God for the good night on the car ride over beforehand but man what an understatement.

I also had to repent because I had in my mind the prayers of the GDoP where they gave you mere minutes to pray and filled all the time with lengthy speeches and videos (I had to repent back then when my attitude crept up). Instead I was met with an incredible time of prayer in Spirit and Truth (as I mentioned before) with unity and love binding us together.

I wasn't done yet. I got to go home and make my way through the delightfully restful prayer labrynth set up in our basement this weekend for our 24 hour - 2 day stint (starting 7 PM Friday and going until 5PM Sunday or something like that?). My utmost respect and appreciation goes out to Andrea and RJ and Andy and everyone else who helped put the room together. It's fantastic. You're all welcome to come. I did send out an email right? I can't remember. Maybe I meant to but my internet connection glitchiness overcame that intention.

Captain's Log, Stardate: 12:41 AM Saturday Oct 14

These are the voyages of the starship enterprise, to boldy go where no man has gone before. Dun, dun dun dun, dun dun dun...
Yes, now I too can be cool by using sci-fi references. Actually I finally gave in and wrote it since several times the line comes into my head: Captain's log... as I start typing a blog. Ugh, I almost forgot that I dislike the word blog, but recently it feels ugly again.

So anyway, I have to fill you in on my adventures. Today God gave me super powers. I was given the ability to light anything my hands touched on fire! Not only that but with invisible fire! That way it burned but you couldn't see why. Sadly I wasn't very bright about my new found powers and went and had a shower... You can blame that poor decision on my supper though (in more ways than one) because how can you expect to be thinking clearly after eating mold, oh wait, I did that on purpose, something new, and that was probably a poor decision too, so what can explain that?

Later on I went to Sleep Country Canada with RJ and Connor and tried out beds, found a good one, asked Cyler to order two, and moved onto shopping at the mall. So weird. It's one of those things from a very distant past, quite foreign now, much like the Electronics Boutique store they wanted to stop in briefly. I'd like you all to know about my spectacular purchase. Yes after eight long years (guessed), I bought another belt. I'm sure I've been meaning to do that for the last two years but today was that day.
Then we came home and had icecream with candied walnuts and for everyone else, skor bits. MMMmmm icecream. Andrea thought I was pretty special and gave me a second bowl. Wow. As a way of saying thanks I gave her back the DVD that is way overdue that I'd been hiding from her for the last week. Just say goodbye to late fees right? Right?

Then RJ and I settled in for a highly appropriate movie for this freaky Friday the 13th...
Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants. Now I know some guys out there might be reeling at the thought of enduring such a pure chick flick and wondering how we could scare ourselves that much over some silly superstitious thing that apparently came about from 13 guys being at Jesus' last supper and him being crucified on a Friday. Well now comes the scarier part, we wanted to watch it. Yes we borrowed it from Melanie, on purpose. Yeah well it was great so there. I almost cried 2 or 3 times. RJ did cry. Man he wouldn't even stop. I made sure he knew I wouldn't be mopping up all that mess, man alive.
Seriously though, good movie. And it was stimulating.

We'll just keep waiting for something stimulating.
-Project 86 or my skewed recollection of lyrics really similar (the line has been running through my head for weeks now and I haven't heard the song in a long time)

And so RJ and I had a good conversation afterwards, which I was very thankful for. Movies are much better things to have conversations after than running around over-busy.
And now he is off walking around and I am regaling (sp? what is it gale or gail and what does either have to do with storytelling?) you with tiny pieces of my life.
Excerpt of thought brought up:

If you're not sure, try, and if it feels right afterwards and things move along, keep going.

Wait until everything's lined up and then go for it.

Those are only ideals, there's infinite amounts of variations for both because ideals aren't real.

But in my case, I still believe God will speak to me. So I won't make any hasty moves, and I don't care if it lines up or not, but I earnestly desire for God to say it. It's not the correct one of three. I think God made people for all of them. But it was good for me to realize.
It's painful and confusing. So many questions like is God speaking now but I'm not hearing him? If he is then what am I doing wrong? Maybe I am hearing him but I'm expecting something else. Maybe he's not a chatterbox and doesn't speak very often. And always I feel so busy and blame that for not hearing him. Because if I gave him more exclusive time to speak, maybe he'd use the opportunities. And I'm not a person living in complete righteousness. Likely I have this whole life thing wrong, and I'm too soft, and selfish, and cruel. So maybe even if I gave him the time he still wouldn't because I'm wasting all the rest of my time. These are my thoughts. They've lived for a long time. And it would be difficult for them to leave because of the nice things you say.
I still believe God will speak to me.

On wednesday, I threw on Andy Hunter's Exodus CD at work and Kyle enjoyed the trip down memory lane to when he listened to techno and Jay got very annoyed. He complained, this music is for people who are high. Kyle asked, what about Nolan? He's not high. Jay replied, Nolan is naturally high.
I'm not sure what that all encompasses, coming from Jay, but it was interesting to hear.

I like the sunrises. I see them every morning again. They remind me that God loves me and is with me. He paints absolutely beautiful sky art even while I am being an impatient, rather intense driver.

Goodnight.

24 hours of... me

So I have the intention of writing about my life within the UM with this post, but you never know where my mind will meander.

I felt curiously calm this evening. Part of it may have been some of the strangeness (how non-committed was the beginning of this sentence?) during the reflective drive home - the old way home. I haven't gone that way since May because of construction. It felt so foreign. So far away in memories of youth gone by. I was listening to Thrice again and realized with a start that I bought that album when I still lived at my parents. But how could that be? I've been gone... oh only 6 weeks. Yes, I continue to stay true to my ridiculously fast adapting nature.

So what is normal now?

Normal is waking up at 5:30 AM, throwing on a hoodie, and going out to the kitchen to make myself breakfast and lunch. Both of these are slightly different now. I have my own kitchen cupboard and I have two fridges to choose from (actually there's 3 but I practically forget the other one exists and never look inside). Since the rest of the house is drinking skim or 1% or really weird, soy, I have to be different and have switched to homo. Connor shares my milk since it's especially vital that kids are nutritious.
Depending on how long I took for food, I will then unload the dishwasher and put away any dishes on the drying rack(s). This is very similar to home I suppose, it's just a different kitchen. Mine is much bigger, and much cleaner. My poor Mom, and the rest of the family. One day, one day.
At 6:30 AM is morning prayer. If I am responsible then I have already gone back to our room and changed into work clothes, grabbed my keys and wallet and have brushed my teeth. If not then at 6:40 AM is morning prayer...
Morning prayer has had low turnout so far with a few faithfuls (mostly the guys) but the others are repenting, just kidding, I kept telling them they could have a second morning prayer session later so they don't have to wake up early but Andy is just so darn cute that the girls can't bring themselves to have prayer without him.
I really appreciate whenever Jamie prays in the morning. I would never vote him a morning person but man alive he has some amazing prayer going on first thing.
Our prayer times have usually resembled reading a chapter or scripture, often a psalm, often 3 times, and then praying. We'll probably become more creative later. Either way, Andy blesses us with his previous experience with such things and has cool latin names for different styles of prayer.
Off to work I go. It usually takes me 25 - 30 minutes to drive to work in the morning. 60 km/h is what the lights are timed to and even then weaving may be required to ensure non-stop flow. Some mornings it's easy to relax and not care, others, well, I should say, nearly all, I am my usual intense driver self. Music is usually loud in my car.
7:30 AM I start work. It's really dark now at 7:30 AM. Day light savings kicks in though in a couple weeks so no sense in changing start time. Especially since it doesn't affect Jay who car pools and gets there at 8 anyway, and Kyle who likes to let me set up all the tools and then start working, or else just wait until 8 when Jay arrives. I actually don't mind. In principle it bothers me a tiny bit, but really I kind of like the quiet alone time without the stress of thinking about what I must do - I already know it.
Work until 10:00 AM. I do my thing, hopefully it goes alright. I like when I have ample materials to work with. I like when equipment is accessible and working properly. I like when I am not wet or cold. I like when I am not tired, because I like when I complete tasks quickly, and correctly. I don't like not knowing how to do something.
30 minute break time. I eat food, usually carrots, an apple, some yogurt. Then I read my Bible. Today for example I re-read Psalm 139 which we read for morning prayer. I love my amplified bible. It cleared up lots of thoughts from the morning. Then I was really tired, so I had a nap.
Work until 1:30 PM Work always includes discussing the news, sports, last night's activities, lots of joking around, music, and whatever else comes up.
30 minute break time. Repeat as above except I eat something a little more substantial, often left-overs, and more fruit. Today I read Proverbs 3 because God convicted me of my selfishness on the ride to work because this morning I was running late and flipped on the bedroom light instead of just the closet light because it makes finding keys, phone, etc. easier, except that Conner had come down and slept with RJ (this is the first time it's happened since we moved). RJ asked me to turn off the light. No. Please. No. He flipped the light off, I switched to the closet light. What was that you just read? Selfishness.

Let not mercy and kindness [shutting out all hatred and selfishness] and truth [shutting out all deliberate hypocrisy or falsehood] forsake you; bind them about your neck, write them upon the tablet of your heart.

Then I noticed a cross-reference to Deuteronomy and ended up reading chapters 24-28 which are sweet. I have a couple friends quite interested in Judaism in various forms, and I myself am rather intrigued with the ideas, and I loved reading these chapters today.
On that note, please pray for Jesse, ask the Holy Spirit...

Work until 5:30 PM I wish I had more opportunities, or was bolder, or that Jesus would reveal himself to them, I suppose I'll just continue praying.

Drive home. More traffic, different strategies, still takes 35+ minutes.
Chat with whomever is around - probably in the kitchen though today I had to go looking downstairs (although if I'd actually come home at supper time tonight there would have been people in the kitchen).
Shower, dress, more kitchen hang out, or eating.

Evenings. This might include hanging out with people in the house, talking, listening, praying, cleaning, cooking. I have to do laundry once a weekish. I have dance classes on Thursday nights. I have so many friends (that I was advised to 'dump' some of them) to hang out with along with family. I'm always busy somehow. I don't know why. I can't believe I've lived here 6 weeks and my bedroom is such a disaster. I still have to go try mattresses, have Cyler order them (isn't he swell and a half?), figure out how to make a bedframe and then do it, along with the shelves and bookshelf we're building.
Hopefully Tuesday nights will become jam time. As always I'm beginning to feel the nag of my less than zealous nurture of my hobbies. I don't practice dancing during the week or go clubbing. I don't practice guitar. I don't do anything active.
I also fight with the question of whether either of those hobbies has any eternal significance.
Whether anything I do has any eternal significance. Yes 23 is a rather vague year. My focus is hazy and I don't understand life but it certainly keeps moving at breakneck speed.
I stay up too late. I'm usually in bed no sooner than 11:30 PM, and thus feel satisfactorily irresponsible and very angry that I will be tired the next day.
I end every day with my prayer from Ricardo. My liturgy. I know it's important, and almost every day it feels personal, even if I hardly need to look at the paper anymore. Still I have the nagging thoughts that I'm neglecting any intimate alone time with God.
Most days I have hope that the weekend will bring rest, or at least I tell myself it will, until the weekend comes and I am busy then too.
I also suspect I'm becoming addicted to people. I never want to hang out by myself. Maybe that's because I drive by myself and I have breaks at work by myself and many times at work I'm performing tasks by myself. I haven't seen friends for eleven hours.

Ha! Fooled you, I haven't written about the UM at all, just about me, me me me, all me.
Ah well maybe some other day, it's 11:00 PM and I haven't even showered, and by now I really don't care...

I love you all

My 22nd birthday party was fantastic.

Really this whole last while full of celebrations has been terrific. Faye's, Chasey's, Marty & Kari's, and others I didn't manage to attend.

Today was good God. I'm glad you made it.
So many great people I've had the priviledge to meet and know. Today I was allowed to thank them with some pizza that turned out scrumptious.
So many treats and I want to thank you for them.
Stu showing up even though I didn't invite him. I wasn't half as organized as I would have liked to be and missed inviting several people, but it was splendid having him over.
Thanks for Melanie getting me the pizza stone which proved itself on its commissioning.
Thanks for the opportunity to pray for Sherry this morning, and Sara briefly tonight.
Thanks for random fun in cutting up the cake my family put together for me.
Thanks for RJ taking me shopping and setting up.
Thanks for the other UMers cleaning up the house for this evening.
Thanks for giving me life all this week to meet each day.
Thanks for the chance to hang out with Kyle, Jess & Jay on Monday. Be mischevious Holy Spirit...
Thanks for bollywood lessons tonight.
Thank you for putting me in this house.
Thanks for breakdancing fun.
Thank you Father, for you give good gifts.
Please pour favour on those at the King's Table tomorrow.

It is now very late, as per usual, only today was not usual. Good night. Or as Shay always says, have a God night.

I've got it! I've lost it!

So I'm writing from my parents', again. I slept here last night as a matter of fact. On their new couch. It's not long enough for me and I'm sore today but I doubt very much that the couch can be blamed. The night earlier I was given the chance of a life time. Damien has taken tumbling which trained him with some of the many amazing talents he possesses. One of these is back flips. Whether you're aware of it or not, I've wanted to learn how to do backflips for a very long time. So last night I was presented with a large (to me) trampoline and a trainer. And I could not succeed. Instead I am sore from the ten times or so of landing on my head. It's very hard to break the natural rules your body has worked so hard to follow for years and years. Walking on 3 1/2 inch piece of wood beside a 30' drop means you naturally maintain balance, because you like living. Jumping on your own (smaller) trampoline for the last couple years, as high as you can possibly get yourself, you naturally don a particular posture, intended to help you land gracefully (maybe) and in control.

Anyway, it was not to be before I was 23.

Changing ages. A few months ago, I was very intent on having parties. Parties! Now I find it so hard to care. There have been a few breaks here and there. On Wednesday night I practiced the stuff I'd learned at my Funk class. I threw on Brandtson's new album, which I absolutely love now, and nailed down my routine with some wild energy unleashings thrown in here and there all to convince the rest of the house that I'd snuck elephants into the house and lit their tails on fire. OK OK so that wasn't my motivation at all, but the end result was still the same. I radiated life. I felt like myself for perhaps the first time since moving.
It was only 9:30 when I finished too which was bizarre! Then I grooved about putting dishes away and zealously cleaning the kitchen. The kitchen has been for a long time and will always be very personal for me. I cannot adequately describe how motivating it is for me to keep our kitchen clean when it actually is clean. Having lived at home where that was impossible, it was always a cycle of zealous energy with hopeless surrender. Now though I can fight to maintain, and according to our meetings' aggreement, the goal is to keep everything looking like, "gramma's house"

Anyway, in the midst of my kitchen groove, I remembered why I wanted to party in the first place.
Then I stayed up late and was tired again in the morning and almost cried at work I hated my job so much but was consoled by praying. Then I went to dance class and had great fun with a substitute teacher who taught us Hip Hop.
Friday I hated my job again and wasn't especially thrilled with life and in desperation on my break looked up Colossians 3:16 which is my life's verse - actually that's just a verse amidst a big passage that I clung to and actually memorized awhile back as having great meaning for life.
All of Colossians 3 was bread and air for me.

Colossians 3

1IF THEN you have been raised with Christ [to a new life, thus sharing His resurrection from the dead], aim at and seek the [rich, eternal treasures] that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.^(A)

2And set your minds and keep them set on what is above (the higher things), not on the things that are on the earth.

3For [as far as this world is concerned] you have died, and your [new, real] life is hidden with Christ in God.

4When Christ, Who is our life, appears, then you also will appear with Him in [the splendor of His] glory.

5So kill (deaden, ^[a]deprive of power) the evil desire lurking in your members [those animal impulses and all that is earthly in you that is employed in sin]: sexual vice, impurity, sensual appetites, unholy desires, and all greed and covetousness, for that is idolatry (the deifying of self and other created things instead of God).

6It is on account of these [very sins] that the [holy] anger of God is ever coming upon the sons of disobedience (those who are obstinately opposed to the divine will),

7Among whom you also once walked, when you were living in and addicted to [such practices].

8But now put away and rid yourselves [completely] of all these things: anger, rage, bad feeling toward others, curses and slander, and foulmouthed abuse and shameful utterances from your lips!

9Do not lie to one another, for you have stripped off the old (unregenerate) self with its evil practices,

10And have clothed yourselves with the new [spiritual self], which is [ever in the process of being] renewed and remolded into [fuller and more perfect ^[b]knowledge upon] knowledge after the image (the likeness) of Him Who created it.^(B)

11[In this new creation all distinctions vanish.] There ^[c]is no room for and there can be neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, [nor difference between nations whether alien] barbarians or Scythians [^[d]who are the most savage of all], nor slave or free man; but Christ is all and in all [^[e]everything and everywhere, to all men, without distinction of person].

12Clothe yourselves therefore, as God's own chosen ones (His own picked representatives), [who are] purified and holy and well-beloved [by God Himself, by putting on behavior marked by] tenderhearted pity and mercy, kind feeling, a lowly opinion of yourselves, gentle ways, [and] patience [which is tireless and long-suffering, and has the power to endure whatever comes, with good temper].

13Be gentle and forbearing with one another and, if one has a difference (a grievance or complaint) against another, readily pardoning each other; even as the Lord has [freely] forgiven you, so must you also [forgive].

14And above all these [put on] love and enfold yourselves with the bond of perfectness [which binds everything together completely in ideal harmony].

15And let the peace (soul harmony which comes) from Christ rule (act as umpire continually) in your hearts [deciding and settling with finality all questions that arise in your minds, in that peaceful state] to which as [members of Christ's] one body you were also called [to live]. And be thankful (appreciative), [giving praise to God always].

16Let the word [spoken by] Christ (the Messiah) have its home [in your hearts and minds] and dwell in you in [all its] richness, as you teach and admonish and train one another in all insight and intelligence and wisdom [in spiritual things, and as you sing] psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, making melody to God with [His] grace in your hearts.

17And whatever you do [no matter what it is] in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus and in [dependence upon] His Person, giving praise to God the Father through Him.

18Wives, be subject to your husbands [subordinate and adapt yourselves to them], as is right and fitting and your proper duty in the Lord.

19Husbands, love your wives [be affectionate and sympathetic with them] and do not be harsh or bitter or resentful toward them.

20Children, obey your parents in everything, for this is pleasing to the Lord.

21Fathers, do not provoke or irritate or fret your children [do not be hard on them or harass them], lest they become discouraged and sullen and morose and feel inferior and frustrated. [Do not break their spirit.]

22Servants, obey in everything those who are your earthly masters, not only when their eyes are on you as pleasers of men, but in simplicity of purpose [with all your heart] because of your reverence for the Lord and as a sincere expression of your devotion to Him.

23Whatever may be your task, work at it heartily (from the soul), as [something done] for the Lord and not for men,

24Knowing [with all certainty] that it is from the Lord [and not from men] that you will receive the inheritance which is your [real] reward. [The One Whom] you are actually serving [is] the Lord Christ (the Messiah).

25For he who deals wrongfully will [reap the fruit of his folly and] be punished for his wrongdoing. And [with God] there is no partiality [no matter what a person's position may be, whether he is the slave or the master].

And here is what I memorized and have been reviewing:

12Since God chose you to be the holy people whom he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. 13You must make allowance for each other's faults and forgive the person who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. 14And the most important piece of clothing you must wear is love. Love is what binds us all together in perfect harmony. 15And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are all called to live in peace. And always be thankful.

16Let the words of Christ, in all their richness, live in your hearts and make you wise. Use his words to teach and counsel each other. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts. 17And whatever you do or say, let it be as a representative of the Lord Jesus, all the while giving thanks through him to God the Father.

And about that time I came upon some inspiration for another party to come about the beginning of November. We'll see what happens. I'm really good at getting grandiose ideas...

Yesterday I read a letter my grandpa gave me a copy of that he had written to a Jehovah's Witness some years ago. It was very encouraging, and I thanked God for it.

I went to the Crossroads Market for Faye's birthday party which was fun. I really hate shopping by myself (although I'm sure most people hate shopping with me), so it was fun to drag people around with me, like Chasey and my Mom, to sample fruit varieties and buy some stuff and just chat.

I will likely return today at 3 when everything will get price drops to clear out before closing.

Then I'm making waffles with Jenn.

I'm still drowning in the everlasting list of to-dos and the weight that brings. But little things like playing wall ball at night with tennis rackets, and casual regular life encounters with people at home, and freak-out moments about finances that turn out alright, these are good toys to have in the pool.