Beautiful Longings Ordained ~n~ God

"He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to the end." Ecclesiastes 3:11 Sharing a little of my heart, soul, and mind which make up my Beautiful Longings Ordained ~n~ God. May it make you smile,draw you closer to God, comfort you, and spur you on in your walk with God-the One in whom all of my longings are granted in what He ordaineth.

Monday, February 27, 2006

~The Bachelor~


Well my friends my romance in Paris is over. Tonight the Bachelor finale was on and Travis picked Sarah. I had some girls over to celebrate the final rose ceremony. Yes totally senseless and unrealistic, but I liked howTravis handled himself in this show. He definitely showed more class than I've heard and seen in some of the previous seasons.

I had several sisters to laugh with, a Bachelor trivia door prize which Becky won, good food to enjoy(including some good caramel corn made by Becky from a recipe given to her from our friend Dan), and a good prayer time for a brother in need. I will miss my Bachelor time as it made me feel closer to Paris. I am feeling drawn to Paris for the past couple of months. I would love to visit or take a missions trip there one day.

I heard the bachelor's family ask each of the 2 final contestants what they thought of their brother/son. If a potential suitor was asked this by my family I hope he could say the following about me:

Proverbs 31:30Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.

Friday, February 24, 2006

~Lay Lake~



I'm stoked. Mom flew in last weekend and we went to look at lake front property and she and Larry decided on a lot to buy. Please pray that all the final details/business end goes smoothly. Props to my friend and Sunday school teacher, Bill, for giving Mom a referral for a real estate agent to use, Rita Underwood. My Mom was pleased with her service. Mom and Larry will be building a new home on a lot in a new development on Lay Lake and tentatively plan on moving here this fall. So we know what this means?? Partay! Fortunately Mom and Larry plan on doing several vacations since they will be retired and fortunately they will need someone to watch their dog, Addie! Well I guess in in the summer they won't have to twist my arm and I hopefully won't have to twist some of my peeps' arms to come out there with me for a weekend or 2 or 3....Now we need to work on the waverunner purchase. This may take time, but at least we will have a boat. Thank God for this blessing and for my Mom moving back home and Larry blessing my Mom with the choice of where they will retire. Her home is in Alabama now. I never would have thought it, my Mom the yankee turned southern!

Ok on a sidenote, may I just add that my arms hurt after tonight of some batting. GQ is a drill sergeant...J/K I just had to throw that in there, he's really an awesome, laid back, coach....at least in preseason he is :)

Tuesday, February 21, 2006

~Eccentric~

I loved this daily quote on my desk today!

"I am not eccentric. It's just that I am more alive than most people. I am an unpopular electric eel set in a pond of goldfish."~Dame Edith Sitwell

I had a great night tonight. I enjoyed a supper club and met some new friends! There are some pretty good chefs in Birmingham :) Looking forward to more supper clubs to sample more cuisine and build stronger bonds.
I hope all who read this are growing in faith, hope, and love.

Sunday, February 19, 2006

~Christmas Reminiscing~

How does the timer work?






























Top Row: Nathan(sis's b'friend),Amber(sister),Nathan(brother), Julie Ann,
Nicholas(nephew),Clem(brother-in-law)
Bottom Row: Larry(Mom's husband),Mom, Angela(sister), Amanda(niece), Tony(teacup Yorkie)















Ber and Nathan: She is an editor for the AADE in Chitown and she loves to travel;
Nathan is a teacher and loves to guide whitewater rafting trips















The men~ Nicholas a senior this year with interest in aerospace enginneering
and Clem is a Home Designer;They both love motorcycles and cars.















The women~Amanda is working on becoming a prima ballerina
and Angela is a wonderful decorator, shopper, and ballerina assistant!















Ber and T~He's so cute!! I want a Yorkie :0)















Get it together!
















Amanda, Angela, Julie Ann, Amber


A wonderful day of worship, laughter, fun, fellowship, and food!
Christmas 2005

Saturday, February 18, 2006

~You're Beautiful~



James Blunt - You're Beautiful Lyrics
My life is brilliant.
My love is pure.
I saw an angel.
Of that I'm sure.
She smiled at me on the subway.
She was with another man.
But I won't lose no sleep on that,
'Cause I've got a plan.



You're beautiful. You're beautiful.
You're beautiful, it's true.
I saw you face in a crowded place,
And I don't know what to do,
'Cause I'll never be with you.


Yeah, she caught my eye,
As we walked on by.
And I don't think that I'll see her again,
But we shared a moment that will last till the end.


You're beautiful. You're beautiful.
You're beautiful, it's true.
I saw you face in a crowded place,
And I don't know what to do,
'Cause I'll never be with you.
You're beautiful. You're beautiful.
You're beautiful, it's true.
There must be an angel with a smile on her face,
When she thought up that I should be with you.
But it's time to face the truth,
I will never be with you.



Ok so this morning I have been really questioning my worth and beauty. Satan often does this to me as He knows it is something I struggle with in the flesh; but nothing He can test me with can come without my Father's permission. So as I was listening to the radio this AM I was in my fleshly attitude after somethings that transpired last night and I was flipping the stations and the first song I went to was the beginning of the song above. Now I know this is not a Christian song and it doesn't appear to glorify God, but the Lord can use all things to His glory.

Romans 8:28[ More Than Conquerors ] And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

God can use so many beautiful things He has created to be distractions to us and we can question our own beauty in Him when we turn our face and gaze away from Him.

Psalm 27:4One thing I ask of the LORD, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple.

Psalm 45:6-11
6 Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever; a scepter of justice will be the scepter of your kingdom.
7 You love righteousness and hate wickedness; therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy.
8 All your robes are fragrant with myrrh and aloes and cassia; from palaces adorned with ivory the music of the strings makes you glad.
9 Daughters of kings are among your honored women;at your right hand is the royal bride in gold of Ophir.
10 Listen, O daughter, consider and give ear: Forget your people and your father's house.
11 The king is enthralled by your beauty;honor him, for he is your lord.


Add To The Beauty ~ Sara Groves
We come with beautiful secrets We come with purposes written on our hearts, written on our souls We come to every new morning With possibilities only we can hold, that only we can hold.


2 Corinthians 3
1Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, like some people, letters of recommendation to you or from you? 2You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everybody. 3You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.

I pray I can start to focus more on His beauty so I can truly see the beauty and purposes written on my own hearts and in others.

Thursday, February 16, 2006

~Memories from Colorado~



Thursday, February 9, 2006:
1. I arrive in Denver. Spend a good night just relaxing with Mom and Larry, see Sweet Adelaide, my Mom's dog, and watch Dumb and Dumber!

Friday, February 10, 2006:
2. Wake up Friday morning to a beautiful blanket of snow! Thank-you Lord.



3. Visit Colorado Springs and venture out on my own! Tour Focus on the Family.


4. Attempt to visit Air Force Academy with my nephew Nick in mind. However, the visiting center was closed due to weather. God knew best and had a 26 year Air Force Colonel that works for Special Ops at the Pentagon sitting next to me on my flight back and telling me things to encourage my nephew Nicholas who is interested in Air Force ROTC and becoming a pilot. His son is also going to Auburn and going to major in the one of the areas my nephew is considering, aerospace engineering.















5. Afternoon trip to Red Robin (good hamburgers) and NORDSTROM RACK!!

6. Night out on the town to Belmar-The Elephant Bar Restaurant, Belmar Ice Rink, and Centruy Theaters(they rock!). Saw the movie Firewall-awesome house in the movie!

Saturday, February 11, 2006
Breckenridge-Little Mountain Lodge


Fun in the SNOW!!!!!

















Starbucks~Cinnamon Dolce Latte!





Snow Mobiling the High Country! This rocked.

I went 50mph on this baby!


OOPS~I busted!

Thank-you Mom for the picture!







The Crown Cafe-Classic~Fav!

Monday, February 13, 2006

~Mile High City~

Hello all! I am trying to make it back to the Ham. I am stuck in Denver tonight. My flight was scheduled to depart @ 3:55 PM to Charlotte, NC and then onto Birmingham arriving at 9:58 PM.

Well the flight attendant came to the intercom stating, I kid you not, "Hmm...we are having to change a part on the plane, something is wrong....don't know what the reason is or what they are changing, but something is being changed and the flight will be delayed 10 minutes." At first I was cracking up because of the way she announced this. I would imagine this led to some bit of panic for some travelers as I was discussing with the lady sitting next to me. Don't they go to some type of training on proper ways to announce such things? Good stuff!

Well 10 minutes turned into 30 minutes into 45 minutes which at this point I knew I would miss my connecting. So here I am and the best they could do was an early flight tomorrow AM, a food voucher, and a night at the La Quinta Inn. So I'm mixing with the locals in Denver and heading out in the AM. Please say a prayer for my safe flight home tomorrow.

Happy Valentine's Day from Denver~I John 4:7 Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through Him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that He first loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has eveer seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and His love is made complete in us.

Thursday, February 09, 2006

~Little Reminders of Home In Colorado~



I made it. Great flight, I was impressed with US Airways. I am a little tired, but enjoying just hanging out with my Mom and Larry as we're watching Dumb and Dumber. Perfect timing!

I'm enjoying being 1,400 miles away and still having reminders of home with seeing my Mom's KitchenAid mixer and her dog, Addie, that lived with me for several months in 2004. I like the area she lives in, Lakewood, and a new development of shopping near her apartment called Belmar. I love the Coldwater Creek store, the Bally Fitness, and the Whole Foods store.

My Mom introduced me to Pumpernickle Pretzel Jalapeno Cheddar sandwhich crackers. I am looking forward to my trip to Colorado Springs tomorrow. I'm venturing out on my own to do some things I've wanted to do for a couple years. I'm excited! I think we have decided to go snow mobiling instead of skiing, per a great plug from my new blog sister, Dede. I think the snow mobile is more my cup of tea! I love seeing the mountains with the snow on top. I can't wait to make it up there Saturday morning! I'm stoked(my new word)! I have my fav Columbia fleece vest that will actually get some use and some new North Face hats that were clearance up here!

Wednesday, February 08, 2006

~A Little Place Called Breckenridge~



I am off to Colorado to visit my Mom and her husband, Larry. I am psyched! I love snow and I can't wait to see some. As far as our weekend plans to head to Breckenridge to ski, well all I can say is....

Harry: Skis, huh? Beth: That's right! Harry: Great! They yours? Beth: Uh-huh. Harry: Both of 'em? Beth: Yes. Harry: Ah... cool!

Yeah, I don't think I will be much of a ski buff. Although, I can say I am stoked (new word from Bachelor this week!) about staying in the mountains at Little Mountain Lodge. I'm ready to unwind and relax a little. Please pray for my safe trip.

God has been speaking to me about Faith, Hope, and Love this past month. Tonight while reading my friend Patrick's blog, In Like Flynn, God spoke to me. I will make this easy and just put what I wrote on his post.

God has been speaking to me about faith, hope, and love over the past month and I don't quite get what He's trying to speak specifically to me, but I am just focusing on what His Word has to say about the 3.While reading your post tonight He spoke to me through you and told me that hope inspired by Him, His Ordained Plan Envisioned(H.O.P.E) is necessary to have faith to lead to works which will be generated by love. Faith without works is dead, therefore, without hope, my faith will be weak to carry out works towards what I am certain of in hope. I believe He is telling me that Hope is the Inspiration, Faith is the Work, and Love is the Completion.

Proverbs 13:12Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.

I'm looking forward to next week celebrating Faith, Hope, and Love at SAD. For those of you unaware of SAD, more to come.

Romans 15:13May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Sunday, February 05, 2006

~My Be"atitude"~


The Beatitudes
"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be
filled.
Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs
is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all

kinds of evil against you because of me. 12Rejoice and be glad, because
great is your reward in heaven.

"Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven." Matthew 5:1-16

My sister Angela is so funny when she says to my niece, "Don't take that 'tude with me!" She is referring to attitude, and usually an unpleasant or defiant attitude coming from my niece. Sometimes she says it to me, too! So how's my 'tude? Maybe I should be asking more frequently how is my Beatitude?

This weekend I went to a retreat and attended a peacemaking seminar presented by David Cox. He used the book Peacemaker by Ken Sande and the principles of Peacemaker Ministries. This seminar was so beneficial and I believe the information I learned will be used by God to alter my behavior and change the way I view and handle conflict.

I believe I am a pretty assertive and confrontational person, and I have never thought of that as bad. Through this training I learned that it is not a bad thing to confront people, but I did learn several things about restoration and reconcilliation of relationships that I never thought about.

In the Bible you have Creation, the Fall, and Redemption. It is the same in our relationships. We have relationships created with others, there will be conflict and falls in relationships due to each person being fallible, and redemption, restoration, and reconcilliation needs to be attempted in order to glorify God.

The Holy Spirit convicted me this weekend in ways I need to change the ways I handle conflict and also validated some of my beliefs and behaviors related to confrontation and restoration that I already try to practice. Here are the principles of The Peacemaker's Pledge. I encourage anyone seeking to glorify Christ more in their relationships attend this training.

A Commitment to Biblical Conflict Resolution

As people reconciled to God by the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, we believe that we are called to respond to conflict in a way that is remarkably different from the way the world deals with conflict. We also believe that conflict provides opportunities to glorify God, serve other people, and grow to be like Christ. Therefore, in response to God's love and in reliance on his grace, we commit ourselves to respond to conflict according to the following principles:

Glorify God — Instead of focusing on our own desires or dwelling on what others may do, we will rejoice in the Lord and bring him praise by depending on his forgiveness, wisdom, power, and love, as we seek to faithfully obey his commands and maintain a loving, merciful, and forgiving attitude.

Get the Log out of Your Eye — Instead of blaming others for a conflict or resisting correction, we will trust in God's mercy and take responsibility for our own contribution to conflicts—confessing our sins to those we have wronged, asking God to help us change any attitudes and habits that lead to conflict, and seeking to repair any harm we have caused.

Gently Restore — Instead of pretending that conflict doesn't exist or talking about others behind their backs, we will overlook minor offenses or we will talk personally and graciously with those whose offenses seem too serious to overlook, seeking to restore them rather than condemn them. When a conflict with a Christian brother or sister cannot be resolved in private, we will ask others in the body of Christ to help us settle the matter in a biblical manner.

Go and be reconciled — Instead of accepting premature compromise or allowing relationships to wither, we will actively pursue genuine peace and reconciliation—forgiving others as God, for Christ's sake, has forgiven us, and seeking just and mutually beneficial solutions to our differences.6
By God's grace, we will apply these principles as a matter of stewardship, realizing that conflict is an assignment, not an accident. We will remember that success in God's eyes is not a matter of specific results, but of faithful, dependent obedience. And we will pray that our service as peacemakers will bring praise to our Lord and lead others to know His infinite love.

God was sweet to me this weekend through this time of retreat, fellowship with old and new friends, new revelation through His word and His ordained teachers, and some pretty hilarious top ten worthy moments and quotes. More to come if I can remember them all, and hopefully pictures, too! If no one has told you this today, "I Love You" ~Your Heavenly Father