The red headed girl with hairy feet.

Some of the weird things that I can't stand: uncrossed sevens, writing in blue ink, letting the microwave get through to zero without stopping it (which involves MANY last second dashes to the microwave), long nails... but worst of all; feet.
But in the shower today I remembered a girl I met in New Mexico back in August.  We were attending a camp seminar where the speaker made us all pair off. Now I had gone with two other girls so I went off to find a 'stranger' to buddy with. And we had to share our testimony and struggles with each other and all these other activities whilst the speaker timed us then we would switch over and she talked about her family and this guy she was dating who her family didn't like based on racism and it was just one of those Holy Spirit moments where you get to share your heart, without restraint, with a sister you will never see again.  But what I remember most about her was that she had REALLY hairy feet... but she was beautiful, and I sincerely want to remember that.

"She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks." Proverbs 31

So today at Beautiful Feet, we got promoted.  Gone are the days of stocking the storeroom or slicing cakes, today Holly and I were entrusted with making Chili for 800 people attending an event tonight, I hope you can envision just how much meat we had to fry between the two of us!  But as I see how different our time there has become it makes me think about the abilities we have that we never tap into. There really isn't all that much that you can't be taught, sure it may take time and there is probably always somebody who could do it better, but my fear is that one day we will come to the end of our lives and the Lord will show us what we did with our time then he will show us what we had the POTENTIAL to do with our time and we will be frustrated at the difference.  I know its probably an over-used quote but this is what came to mind today, 

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine as children do. It's not just in some of us; it is in everyone. And as we let our own lights shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others."

Honestly, everyday is a struggle against idleness for me: I could happily spend my days sleeping, reading, eating and watching the odd movie, but I know that the Lord desires SO much more from me.  So again I pray for diligence, knowing I'm the only one who can answer my own prayers.

Some would say its foolishness...

A couple of days ago I was reminded of one of my favourite stories in the Old Testament in 2 Samuel where, "David, wearing a linen ephod, danced before the Lord with all his might," and when told he was acting as a disgrace and a commoner he replied,

"It was before the Lord, who chose me rather than your father or anyone from his house when he appointed me ruler over the Lord's people Israel - I will celebrate before the Lord.  I will become even more undignified than this"

And I think that was a timely reminder that the ways of the Lord sometime's call for an undignified response of forgetting ourselves and all we strive to portray in order to fling ourselves into wholehearted worship, or to cry on our knees for the lost, or to be ridiculous with that friend who is lonely. Last night I read back through my latest journal and it half made me laugh at the random and ridiculous things I talk to the Lord about but it was also just crazy to see together how the Lord has been relentlessly pursuing me and speaking his love over me.  A love that requires more than a dignified appreciation;

[I will dance I will sing to be mad for my king 

 Nothing lord is hindering the passion in my soul  

And I'll become even more undignified than this 

Some would say it's foolishness but  

I'll become even more undignified than this].

Soli deo Gloria.