Off the Cuff

Writing Again?

megsupdate — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 17:48:24 +0000

I’ve been waiting (and praying occasionally) for the Lord to move me to start writing again. I haven’t really written anything since college, and sometimes, I even forget that I used to love it. Actually, I wonder if I ever did love it, or if I simply loved the idea of it. Pride’ll do that. Lately, though, I’ve been thinking about it more and more and finding myself thinking, “that’d make a decent story,” and such . So, one thing I remember from writing classes is you can’t write unless you write and write and write.

I used to feel so familiar with words, and now they are elusive and slippery. I’ve lost a great deal of confidence in finding the right words, and even more in having anything worth putting into words. How can I be original and creative and striking in my prose? What do I have to say that’s clever, or poignant, or moving?

I need to start reading more, that’s one thing that is certainly clear. I need to read Bible like I breathe and I need to read great writers who can teach and inspire me. This is where I’m lacking. I also need the discipline of loneliness. As it is, I hate to be alone. I love to be around people and feed off the energy of others. Writing is a lonely task.. Perhaps it would help if I kept a great book close at hand whenever I’m writing, so that if I get lonely I can pick it up and connect with it’s author. That way, when I’ve had my fix, I won’t have committed myself to a two-way conversation.

First time in the ER

megsupdate — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 19:10:37 +0000

First time mommy couldn’t make it OK, first time getting x-rays, first time watching TV all afternoon, first time eating ice cream and cookies for dinner.

Not a fan of packing

megsupdate — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 10:55:37 +0000

When moving, is it wrong to “pack” one’s clothes and those of one’s children by throwing them into plastic bags?

More than he bargained for

megsupdate — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 18:27:48 +0000

Mark 2:1-12 This is one of those stories that I have become so familiar with since childhood that I’ve never really thought about what it means. This morning as I read, I was struck by the extraordinary grace of our Lord. Jesus gives the paralytic so much more than he bargained for.

The man wanted to be healed. He probably thought one of two things, either that was all he could ask of Jesus, or his infirmity was his biggest problem. Jesus, though, gives the man what he really needs, “Your sins are forgiven.” Sure, physical healing would have transformed the man’s life on earth, but to say your sins are forgiven means now that man has hope infinitely beyond his earthly life. And, to show that he has the power to forgive sins, Jesus heals the man.

So, what if the Scribes hadn’t been sitting there thinking, “He is blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?” Jesus says, “…that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins…I say to you rise, pick up your bed, and go home.” The text seems to imply that His main reason for healing the man physically was not that the man asked, but that others might see and believe. Hmmm… so forgiveness of sins, leading to eternal enjoyment of God (beginning here on earth and never ending but only increasing) is the gift of Christ to the paralytic. Even if he hadn’t been healed, would it really have mattered?

First Word

megsupdate — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 02:43:02 +0000

Bill came home early from work today while Gracie was sleeping. When she woke up I brought her into the room where he was. She took one look at him, smiled and said, “dada.”

This is bittersweet for me. I love that she’s already starting to connect words with meanings, but I do wish “dada” could’ve been her second word.

In the pool

megsupdate — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 01:21:26 +0000

Joshua can’t wait to move to Minneapolis because he thinks it will be one long vacation and life will be just as it was when we visited in February. Living in a hotel, sleeping in mommy and daddy’s bed, going to the pool everyday, sounds good to me too.

I guess I’m a blogger now

megsupdate — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 19:35:05 +0000

I was so excited to start blogging, until I sat down to write this. Now I’m asking, what do I have to say?

I’ll start with the basics. I’m a homemaker, married to my wonderful husband Bill. We have two little ones, Joshua, 2 1/2, and Grace, 8 months. We currently live in South Jersey, but we’re hoping to relocate very soon to Minneapolis so we can become a part of what our awesome God is doing at Bethlehem Baptist church. We feel called there and we’re so excited to get going.

The most important thing about me isn’t about me at all. In a nut shell, I pray God will work in me to live my life in a such a way that I can honestly say, “For me, to live is Christ and to die is gain,” because “…I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.” Phil. 1:21, 3:8