Random Musings

This week has been full of overwhelming comprehension of the goodness of God.  More than once this week, I've had to pinch myself to make sure I'm not dreaming.  If I'm honest, I've been pinching myself for well over a year.  I am living out my heart's desire and it is so beautiful.  God's faithfulness is being proven to me over and over with each new day. I am a believer, a dreamer of dreams.  I know that the Lord has promised certain things to me and I've worked hard to be obedient to His calling.  It hasn't always made sense to me.  Sometimes I've had to leap into the darkness with no idea of what might break my fall.  It's been lonely and scary at times.  And, there have been moments when I wanted to give up hope and stop believing in dreams.  But, the Lord is faithful and He loves His children.  All good and perfect gifts come down from Heaven. In less than five weeks, I will join hands with the man of my dreams and become ...

"Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life." - Proverbs 13:12 For so many years, I held onto a hope that seemed impossible.  I knew that the Lord had something amazing waiting for me, but I just had to stand in obedience until He brought it to fruition.  It is true that "He [makes] all things beautiful in His time" (Ecclesiastes 3:11), but it is sometimes so difficult for us.  Our bodies long and yearn for the fulfillment of our hopes and dreams.  We become heart sick when it seems like we'll never receive the promise.  We ache for what we do not know. But, then something beautiful happens...God comes through for us.  The joy that is found on that morning is beyond compare.  This year has been a year of desires fulfilled.  I am reveling in the goodness of a Father who would see fit to give me all of these good things.  It's amazing.  It's humbling.  It's more than I dared to dream...

"Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of heavenly lights..." James 1:17 I've heard it said that, "Once in a while, in the middle of an ordinary life, love gives us a fairytale".  On December 31st, 2012, the Lord gave me a good and perfect gift.  Nick Giardino, the love of my life, planned a perfect day and the Lord surrounded and protected it with love and beauty. The entire day was a surprise adventure for me.  Nick planned everything with great love and attention to detail.  I met him at his house that morning and we set off for a day I'll never forget.  It was beautiful to be able to rest and trust in him to lead me through the day. The Lord gave us beautiful little moments and gifts throughout the day.  As we started on the journey, Nick said we needed to listen to some love songs.  He had a soundtrack for the day!  As he pulled it up on shuffle (it was in order for a different part of the journey), the ...

If you know me, you know that I love a good story of redemption. Books or movies that fail to redeem something broken in the story line often leave me feeling flat and unsatisfied. I love grace and I'm so thankful for it (because Heaven knows I need it!). And also, if you know me, or have been around me recently, you also know that God is weaving a beautiful story of redemption in my life. It's more than I could have hoped for and better than I dared to dream. I'm so happy and completely overwhelmed that God has chosen to show His favor and grace in the way that He is right now for me. As a church, we've been reading through the Bible. Our plan is to read through it together in a year. We've just made it through Leviticus and I was struck by how many times the word "redeem" is used. From the beginning, God has been working for our redemption. He's been showing His grace and favor and giving us a way out. It's an amazing and overwhelming t...

Today is my Grandparents' 59th wedding anniversary. Can you imagine? Married to the same person for 59 years! I am in awe of such an accomplishment and so thankful I have a marriage like that to observe. It's always so interesting to me when I talk to my Grandparents about all of the things they have done and observed over the years. There is so much wisdom to be found at the feet of those who have already walked the road. My Grandpa has always been a hard worker and very good with his resources. He has always done what he needed to do to provide for his family and he is a skilled craftsmen at so many things. He's patient and kind and generous. He's a good, good man. My Grandma is a very creative person. I love seeing how she chooses to express herself through her artwork. And, she has a passion for passing that love of painting on to others. She loves to teach and watch her students grow. She has, along with my Grandfather, raised 5 children and watched as...

As a vocalist, I've been involved in more than my fair share of weddings. I've also had the honor of attending a number of them as a guest. And, tomorrow, I will be helping photograph one for the first time. So, as wedding season approaches and I prepare by learning new music, practicing the piano, and brushing up on my photographic skills, I've had the opportunity to think a lot about brides. I love wedding ceremonies. I think they are beautiful. When I've had the honor of singing for a bride and groom whom I love deeply, I fight hard to remain professional and not burst into tears in the middle of a song. I love the beautiful dresses and the fragrant flowers. I love getting to be part of a day that means so much in the lives of two people. But, what I love most about weddings is that they represent the relationship between Christ and His Bride, the Church. It's an earthly picture of that moment that awaits us when we are finally face to face with our Belov...

I just had an amazing conversation with a friend I have known for more than 17 years. We know each other well and have prayed one another through many things in life. She is a blessing to me, a true gift from God. We just spent time sharing our burdens and carrying them before the Father together. What a joy to walk this road with others who are on the same journey. It makes it so much more fun! I've been digging into wisdom literature lately and my conversation with my friend reminded me of this passage from Ecclesiastes 4:7-12: 7-8 I turned my head and saw yet another wisp of smoke on its way to nothingness: a solitary person, completely alone—no children, no family, no friends—yet working obsessively late into the night, compulsively greedy for more and more, never bothering to ask, "Why am I working like a dog, never having any fun? And who cares?" More smoke. A bad business. 9-10 It's better to have a partner than go it alone. Share the work, share the w...

I spent some time thinking about "Qualified Love" this morning and shared my thoughts in a blog post . Although there are different types of love, a qualifier makes it seem unlike love at all to the receiver. And, I think the same is true for apology; a qualified apology doesn't seem to hold the same healing power as an unequivocal one. Recently, I received an apology from a friend for something that happened many years ago. This apology was sincere and unqualified. The speaker didn't blame his actions on a response to mine. He took responsibility for what he had done and asked for forgiveness. The truth is that he was forgiven long ago, but this step provided a healing for me that I didn't even realize I needed. His unqualified apology and humble heart made all of the difference. Now, I must take a second here for a sidebar. I do not expect someone to apologize or ask for forgiveness for something they didn't actually do. I have seen situations where the offe...

Have you ever heard the phrase, "I love you like a friend"? For any of us who have been in the dating world for any length of time, we've likely heard or received that phrase. Whether giver or receiver, it's always an uncomfortable and awkward conversation to have. Why is it so uncomfortable? I'm sure the answer to that question is as complicated as whatever relationship created the need for the conversation in the first place, but simply, I think it's because it's a phrase that qualifies love. If you're the one saying it, you are trying to communicate to the other person that, "I am fond of you, but not in the way you had hoped". If you're on the receiving end, you are probably receiving a tough blow that signals the end of hope in the relationship. Is qualified love really love? When we qualify love, aren't we really saying, "I like you, but not that much"? Now love, for a Christian, is something that is commanded. W...

I'm in a weekly Bible study with the most amazing collection of women. We're all joined by a relationship to one woman, but come from different areas of her life. This Bible study has been a huge blessing to me in the short time we've been meeting. One of the ladies has been employing a method of studying the Bible for years that seemed interesting to me. She has gone through and written her own paraphrase of the books she's studied. She shared some of it with us last week, and it struck me as such a good way to really understand and get the words into my heart. Being able to put an idea into your own words shows a strong understanding of the idea itself. I've been thinking a great deal about I Corinthians 13 since pastor Greg's message a few weeks ago. So, I thought I'd try my hand at this new technique of Bible study. So, before I share my venture with you, a word of caution: This is my paraphrase and understanding of this passage. I haven't gone to th...

1 Corinthians 13 (The Message) The Way of Love 1 If I speak with human eloquence and angelic ecstasy but don't love, I'm nothing but the creaking of a rusty gate. 2If I speak God's Word with power, revealing all his mysteries and making everything plain as day, and if I have faith that says to a mountain, "Jump," and it jumps, but I don't love, I'm nothing. 3-7If I give everything I own to the poor and even go to the stake to be burned as a martyr, but I don't love, I've gotten nowhere. So, no matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I'm bankrupt without love. Love never gives up. Love cares more for others than for self. Love doesn't want what it doesn't have. Love doesn't strut, Doesn't have a swelled head, Doesn't force itself on others, Isn't always "me first," Doesn't fly off the handle, Doesn't keep score of the sins of others, Doesn't revel when others ...

A recent sermon by my pastor and a blog post from my friend have me asking some questions about love and what I don't understand about it. If you have a moment, take a break from what you're reading here and read Rachael's Blog: We Don't Fully Understand Love If you can't access it by clicking above, you can access it here: http://rmirabella.blogspot.com/2011/02/we-dont-fully-understand-love.html It won't hurt my feelings if you don't make it back to this blog after reading Rae's. She gives her readers a great deal to think through, and I am still chewing on what she said. But, I would love to see some discussion about it, as it always helps me to hear what others are thinking. At Word of Life , we are currently enjoying a series based upon the book "The Hiding Place" by Corrie Ten Boom. There are so many examples of love and faith in God in that book that it is at times overwhelming. To see love in action in the lives of the Ten Boom family...

I spend alot of time thinking about what it means to love like Christ. It's such a small statement, but so difficult to truly live. I wrestle with my flesh all of the time when it comes to dying to myself and truly loving others as I've been called to love them. Jesus said, "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." - John 13:34-35 It's a command. Love one another as I have loved you. If we claim the name of Jesus, we don't have a choice about this one. As I was thinking about it this morning, I came across a really familiar verse that struck me afresh. "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, alwa...

So, there's something pretty important that you should know. It's life changing, really. It's actually already something many of you do know, but it's easy to forget and always worth hearing again. So, since it's been on my heart and mind all day, I'm gonna tell you now. You are so loved. It's true. And, even though many of you know that you are loved by your parents, or friends, or whoever, it doesn't always feel that way, does it? That's what happens when you are loved by imperfect people. Sometimes we forget to tell people that we love them. Sometimes we fail to show it. Other times, we let it die because of something silly or something we think we should hold onto forever. But, there's a truth that gives me hope even when I feel completely unseen, unloved, and unappreciated by those around me. You ready? Here it is: "The Lord your God is with you, He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with...

I've been a big sister since just before I turned 4. When my parents brought Daniel home from the hospital, I was a little disappointed that his blanket was blue - not pink. But, that disappointment was short lived and I stepped into my role as big sister. It's a fun job. I had the opportunity to witness a milestone in the life of my brother last weekend - a milestone that highlighted the role of siblings in each other's lives. On Sunday, we had a baby dedication for Ansley Katherine in which we had the opportunity to commit to help them raise her in the ways of the Lord. It was a precious, precious time. As I stood and watched my brother sit there with his wife and little girl, I couldn't help but think of the other milestones I've witnessed in his life. I remembered when he really came to understand the power of God in his life. I was in awe of a middle school boy who boldly presented the Gospel to his friends. I remember being challenged by the way he hel...

As I was growing up, my mom’s favorite verse was Philippians 4:8 “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” I can remember growing to cringe everytime she responded to our questions with that verse. “Mom, can we go see this movie?” “Is it pure and lovely?” “Well, it’s PG-13, so probably not” “Then, no”. AUGH! How frustrating for a teenager! Nothing in the world is pure and lovely! Wait. Maybe that was her point. As I’ve grown up and had the opportunity to look back at my upbringing some, I realize that my mom was teaching us to be discerning about what we let into our minds and hearts. If we couldn’t apply that litmus test to the upcoming activity and come away clean, then it’s something we probably didn’t need to do. Today, as I was thinking about conflict in relationships and how sometimes we get so far down a ro...

It's not often in life that we get to experience unconditional love. I think that's what leads to a special bond between a dog and her owner. And, when you find a dog who really knows what it is to love and be a loyal companion, you are doubly blessed. So has been the last 10 years of my life. When I was in college, on a night that was no different from any other, I went to a friend's house and came home with someone new to love. I didn't go there with the intention of bringing Gracie home, but when I saw her, I fell in love with her. She chose me that night. I knew it was irresponsible to bring her home when I lived in an apartment, but she just sat right in front of me and looked up at me with this face that just said, "Take me home and love me...I think you're my mom". And, so I did. I took her home and, as much as I loved her, I think I was more the blessed for having done it. For 10 years, she brought me joy, companionship, comfort and loyalt...

I just finished reading the last book in a series about a family in Indiana. The story started with The Redemption Series by Karen Kingsbury and has continued in The Firstborn Series. (I hear there's a third series on the way and I can't wait to see what happens next). Anyway, this series of books follows the ups and downs of a Christian family as they learn to love each other and make it through the trials that are thrown their way. At the heart of the family are John and Elizabeth Baxter, the parents. In this story, they weather many storms together through decades of marriage. At one point in their journey, Elizabeth takes the time to write down her "Ten Secrets to a Happy Marriage". And, although this is drawn from a fictional story, I found the words to be poignant and applicable to all relationships, not just marital ones (although some of them are specific to marriage and may even raise a few eyebrows for some of you). I wanted to repost them for you he...