anyone thirsty?

there comes a time in every girl's life when she must stop dancing, get off the dancefloor and get a drink. the other day i did just that.

i simply stopped working for a moment, left the office and took a little road trip with a friend. our first stop....starbucks, of course. well, we had trouble finding it - imagine that - in this big world with a starbucks on every corner, we couldn't find one. but our incredible desire for coffee and her amazing ability to sniff out a starbucks, we found ourselves in a kroger to fill our thirsty void. and there it was. big as day. right/write on their board. pumpkin spice latte.

let me say that again. PUMPKIN SPICE LATTE. have you heard of it? have you had it? when i saw the announcement of it on the starbucks board i almost wet my pants. i felt a great need to put away the flip-flops, pull out the sweaters, and go buy a turkey. it was as if the great coffee maker was telling me....fall is coming - fall is coming - fall is coming. guess what - fall is here. so i drank. oh it was so very tasty.

now it may not feel very much like fall (on a rare day it might)here in south texas. but i will take heart knowing that fall is here. change is coming. the long, hot, tired days of summer are over. now is the time to sit for a moment outside, enjoy a slightly cooler temperature and watch the leaves change color (if they even do that here) but more than that. on my "IT'S MY VERY FIRST PUMPKIN SPICE LATTE OF THE SEASON" day, God reminded me that change is good. i need to be purposeful in slowing down and enjoying the season - the one i'm in, the one i've just come from and the one he's prepared for me. it was by no accident that God provided a sweet blessing in the form of coffee. He's like that - ever so thoughtful of what i would enjoy. oh that i would always remember that He knows me - what i need and what will bless me.

so. in those rare moments when i get off the dance floor. in those times that i attempt to quench my thirst. every time this fall that i slowly sip and then proceed to lick the sides of the cup of the a most enjoyable starbuck's pumpkin spice latte, i'll be reminded that my Creator is preparing another season for me. i will enjoy the season i'm in (pumpkin spice latte) and look forward to the next (could it be something with mint?).


pumpkin spice latte
mmmm - tasty.

Taste and see that the Lord is good!

mmmm - tastier.

clear the dance floor

when did the dance floor become so crowded? when did the 'stuff' start taking over my life....crippling me, frustrating me, getting in the way? what is exactly is all this stuff and why do i think i need it?

it's not that i want an empty dance floor. actually some of the stuff is very useful. but i think i've allowed it to take over my dependence upon Him. would i be able to walk away, if needed? would i be willing to lose it, if asked? would i give it all up in exchange for a much simpler life? i don't know the answers to those questions right now.....because i am smack dab in the middle of all this stuff.

so my prayer is this: Dear God, please grant me simplicity! i need the ability to say no and stop buying stuff. i need the desire to live with what is necessary and not think that i need everything. i want my life to truly be a reflection of the beautiful creation you are making me. but right now....i can't see that because of all the stuff.

and while i'm clearing things that are visible - i want to make sure that i'm being purified and cleaned on the inside: my heart, mind and soul.

it is not going to be easy to change my ways. it will take a lot of time to sort through everything. i'll need courage to allow the things that have been hidden for so long to come to the surface. but i know that it will be worth it. so that i can dance freely for His glory.

what is in the way of you being free to dance?

changing partners

square-dance, anyone? seems kind of old-fashioned, but i've had the image of square dancing in mind lately.

in square-dancing there are actual dance moves that the dancers know will happen and usually know in what order. but there is a 'caller' - you know, the guy who calls out amusing little phrases that then tells the dancers what to do (even though they already know what to do).

so, here's my thought - if we all in this dance of life, and the way i see it, God is the music maker/dj/square dance caller....shouldn't we know what dance move to make when we he calls it out? hmmmmmmm my observation of a recent situation has caused me to think hard and deep about it. and all i do is say 'hmmmmmm' could it be that we haven't been 'practicing' enough - being in His Word, so that we understand what He wants us to do when He tells us? why do we think and pray and hope for God to answer and make a situation all clear, when all along, He has made it clear.

i don't think i know it all. i know i haven't even read it all. but why do i continue to want to dance through life and think it fathomable that my God, my Savior, the lover of my soul would want me to get on the dancefloor and dance for His glory without having the benefit of understanding Him as revealed through His word?

oh to be able to just sit and drink in His word. oh that the parties of life would stop for a while so that i might regain a passion that only His Word can fill. oh that i would respond and react when my 'caller' comes calling. oh for the glory of His name.

get back on the dancefloor and listen for His call.