Yes, Yes, Yes...

It's been OVER a year since I've posted... but much has changed since then, including my blog.

So my new address, to go with my new name, is: beingmrswylie.blogspot.com

See you there!

Changes and catching up

There have been a few things over the past month that I have tried to make a mental note to blog about.

First, I'll address the books.

I read "Choosing Forgiveness" by Nancy Leigh DeMoss. I have read several of her books and have enjoyed every one of them. This book talked about recognizing the need to forgive, that everything is forgivable (whether it feels like it or not) and helps you to determine if you really have forgiven. The other great thing she does is help point out the consequences to a lack of forgiveness and clinging to sin and bitterness toward other people and even yourself.

The second book I wanted to mention is "The Wisdom of Tenderness" by Brennan Manning. I tried to read it over a year ago and couldn't make it past the intro. I picked it up a little over a month ago and read it quickly. Manning does a great job delving into the tenderness that is Jesus and his love. He talks about what it is to show that tenderness to others, but more so how to live in the tenderness of Christ in our relationship with him.

On a fictional note, I've also read two of Vince Flynn books (his first two). They are great thrillers. FBI, CIA and secret service type books.

The other fictional book that I would highly recommend to those that like to read... "Lonesome Dove" by Larry McMurtry. There are some quarky things about the book, but really just great characters. The portrail of people and life is excellent. I had a hard time predicting what would happen next... and definitely felt the frustration of people's choices just like I do in the real world.

Now on to life details.

I am living with the Cherrys. My house went on the market in December, and I am hoping to close in the next week. I also found a job at SBTI (Sigma Breakthrough Technologies, Inc.) down in San Marcos. The commute is FABULOUS!

That's about life for now. I will tell you that work is great. I think it might be one of the best places I've worked at to date. The people are nice. They are laid back and seem to enjoy what they do. There is very little drama and office politics. I was talking to one guy today that has been there over five years, and he was saying some very positive and encouraging things that he didn't have to say about the company - no one else was around to hear.

I'm not sure that I have anything else to share right now. So I'll return with more as life goes on.

Back to Blogging

Do you ever just look around and wonder what is going on? How you got to where you are? What made you who you are?

I’m sitting down, laying actually, in the guest room – my room – at the Cherry home. I have been back in Austin for a little over two weeks… and I have no regrets. No regrets leaving or coming back.

I am jobless. I am job hunting. I am blessed with a place to stay and with people who care about me. I know God gave them to me. I am amazed that he would meet all my needs – not just financial. I am humbled that I could have ever doubted him – that he could meet my needs and that he’d know all I need.

I feel as though I am surrounded by spiritual giants. I don’t understand why or how… but rather than intimidating (my usual state around people God uses and is using), it’s completely exciting to me.

So it brings me back to my original questions – do you ever just look around and wonder what is going on? How you got to where you are? What made you who you are?

Really, it’s more:
Are you excited that, though none of the answers above really matter or even make sense, God is doing something new, different, big? Cause, I am completely excited.

I believe I am about to be prepared for something else. Or maybe I’ve been prepared and now I am to put it into practice? I don’t really know. All I know is that I feel as though I am on the cusp of something. Fun times.

Coming Out of a Daze

The past two weeks have felt like this. I can’t believe how quickly the last six months of my life has past – I also can’t believe how much has transpired in that amount of time. I feel like a totally different person. I told my aunt today that the last six months of “trial and tribulation” has produced more change in me than 18 months of “spiritual high” produced.

I moved from Austin to South Africa (six weeks counts in my mind!) to Tucson to California (again six weeks counts!). I left a great job and a difficult boss. I met my new sister-in-law and saw my brother get married. I lost my grandfather. I “met” my family… I got to know them for all their many good traits and faults. I discovered many of my own traits – good and bad. I was humbled. I found peace. I’m learning to rest and to trust. I am finding myself in quiet awe of the God who controls my life and who loves me. At times it's still hard to believe.

A lot has been happening in my family. My grandmother is deciding where and how she wants to live. Mom has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. Quincy is married. I feel as though there has been some “rocking” in the boat and things under the surface of our family are making their way to the top... and becoming oh so obvious.

2008 is bound to be an amazing year. I remember saying that about 2007, and I believe it was an amazing year. What could possibly be in store for us, for me… We shall soon find out.

The New View

This is the neighborhood I've been staying in the past six weeks.

This is a picture of the entrance to my aunt and uncle's house. It's one of my very favorite.

My first fishing lesson

This is my favorite picture of my grandpa and me. I'll have more pictures coming soon. I hope to show you some of the views from where I'm at here in California.

So much for every week

In my last post, I said I was going to try and post once a week. So much for that! Things have been a bit more than hectic. In my effort to catch up with the weeks I’ve missed, I am going to post a few back to back.

I'm going to do my best over the next few months, but I can't promise anything!

Manuel M. Gonzales

My grandfather passed away on October 18, 2007. I was blessed to be with him. I was taking over “the night shift,” in order to experience what it would be like when we brought him home. My dad had just finished an entire day with him, and I was relieving him to go home and rest. It was my turn to do all night.

Around an hour after my arrival, my grandfather left. He was peaceful. I wish that I was more alert to what was going on… it all happened so fast that my memory is fuzzy. I thought I was seeing things. I had to get the nurses to check and to tell me.

I remember holding his hand and saying “I will see you soon.” I promised him that I would take care of his wife of over 63 years – his high school sweetheart. And I touched him…. I finally got to remove the hospital gloves and touch him. Flesh of his flesh holding his hand and touching his face.

A man loved and respected. His memorial was beautiful. It honored the God he served and the life he lived.

Rant and Revelation

You will have to figure out which is which. I’m not sure there’s an easy way for me write out, or even put in words, this post. I will give it my best shot and try to stay brief at the same time.

Let me start with James 2:14-26. Emphasis added is mine.

What use is it, my brethren if a man says he has faith, but he has no works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and be filled,” and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that? Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself. But someone may well say, “You have faith, and I have works; show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works.” You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe and shudder. But are you willing to recognize, you foolish fellow, that faith without works is useless? Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he offered up Isaac his son on the altar? You see that faith was working with his works, and as result of the works, faith was perfected; and the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “AND ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS RECKONED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS,” and he was called the friend of God. You see that a man is justified by works, and not by faith alone. And in the same way was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works, when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.

Two words come to mind: obedience and passiveness.

Passiveness is our family curse. It is our tendency to let things go rather than correct, confront or create conflict. What is more common is snapping back, reacting with disrespect or not bothering to acknowledge the other person at all, pretending like they aren’t even there.

Obedience is what we have been called to. So much change and improvement is hindered by a lack of obedience. What do we hinder when we choose not to obey?

So these two actions, or lack thereof, combined with the phrases “God can do anything” and “Jesus fights my battles” anger me. To leave it all to God when He has asked for obedience and then be shocked when He waits for our obedience before moving us to the next step, drives me nuts. Let me clarify. I believe both of these phrases and truths. I also believe that God calls us to obey and fight with him and outcomes are affected by our choices.

OK. Thank you for reading. I’m done. I have now sparked a conversation that I feel the need to participate in.

Now I'm going to have to post a part two to this post based on the aforementioned discussion.

Welcome to the desert

Things have been hectic this past week. I want to show you some of my saving grace.

When it's cool enough to read, pray and study outside, here's where I do it... It's a fantastic view. I will miss it if/when we move to town.

We have not found anywhere to move, yet. My hope is still there.

I have more to post later one revelation and one rant.