Me, the secret and Monday with Banita.

I have a client that comes into my work. Lets call her Banita (rhymes with..) She, for the record is the one of whom had the appt to receive her weekly "bear hug" to "deal with the issues from when I was dropped by my parents on the floor when I was a pre-verbal infant." I realize that there are so many issues with that last sentence I will not even discuss them in this forum. Except this one, pre-verbal infant!?! Are you kidding me? Anyway, I had told Banita that I would help her out with some chores around the house and filling out some paperwork for her. She has chronic fibromyalgia and just needed some help. Let me just say it was a very long 2 hours. It began with the dream catchers placed around the house and ended with me doing photo cataloging. The highlight was this. I went and was moving a computer monitor for her. Above the monitor was a fake blank check she had written out to herself and her husband (lets call him) Bwilliam. the check read "to:Banita and Bwilliam Stetter in the amount of 5,000,000.00 from: The Universe. Did you get that?! A fake blank check from...bum ba da da THE UNIVERSE. Apparently this is from the Secret, where you put a desire out into the world and the universe is supposed to grant it. Only those who know me personally will have any idea how hard it was for me to keep my mouth shut. This is what managed to creep out anyway.
Me-so...5,000,000.00 that is...exact. Why not 2.5 or 10 million?
B-It just sounded like a good number, we could retire on that.
Just a fun glimps into my Monday night.
-Banita and the lack of the real last name is just in case she googles herself, this would not be a surprise.

Does liking this make me evil?

Grape stomping gone horribly wrong..or does this make me evil?
Because she is better than I...pals and gals, I give you Dooce.
"This video has been around for a while, and the first time I saw it was at the beginning of last summer when my cousin GEORGE! showed it to me. And I wanted to link to it then, but I felt so much pity for the woman that I couldn't bring myself to do it, although in the privacy of our home we pretty much made fun of her for three months straight. In fact, GEORGE! and I have a running joke where one of us will suddenly interrupt the other one and go, "STOP!" And then make this terrible noise like we've just fallen off a four-foot-high platform. Why am I linking to it now? What has changed? I thought, you know, someone out there right now is having a really crappy day, and maybe when they see this their whole mood will turn right around. You're welcome."

The return

"I shall not die, but I shall live, and recount the deeds of the Lord, The Lord has disciplined me severely, but he has not given me over to death." -Ps 118:17-18

In light of recent events in the past weeks a friend encouraged me to find my rest in the Psalms. I have been making my way through them slowly, trying to unlearn years of speed reading. I have found myself sometimes only able to read a part of a chapter at a time before I become overwhelmed. When I came across the above vs, I was stopped dead in my tracks especially seeing it tie in with the previous chapter that contained "Return, O my soul, to your rest; for the Lord has dealt bountifully with you." He is our rest, our joy and our strength. Sometimes he takes my breath away with his goodness.
My friend Abraham had written a song for his son Orisons dedication and contained in it was the line (from memory...sorry Aber, apparently this is nowhere on the web!) I still have a bruise upon my neck from where I was yanked back from the tender rod of God. That is exactly how I felt, there is this bruise, getting it did not feel loving or good. This bruise has shaped the way I see people, sin, the lost, myself and most of all, God. This bruise seems to serve as a reminder of his tender justice yanking me back before I fell. How gracious he is! How marvelous that though outward we are wasting away he is renewing us day by day with grace that is sufficient just for that day. I love him.

Christmas Music

This year at the D'Agosta family Christmas along with the task of baking cookies I have been given the intense task of making the mix cds. When you come from a family of musicians who each vehemently claim that their music taste is the only one that matters, to say this is a task is no exaggeration. Now, I have worked in retail for years and have had the pleasure of hearing some of the worst music out there (creed, I am speaking of you.) This year I have taken my task very seriously especially knowing that my cookies might be lacking and I need to step it up a notch this year.
Here you g. In no particular order, some music that does indeed, rock.

Sufjan Stevens the 4 disk Christmas album. -A warning, Sufjan is eclectic, it is perfect for your emo family members. For those of you not familiar with the term emo, it stands for emotional rock It typically involving eyeliner, by men. Yes, I also realize that this is an obvious choice that is why I put it out there early.

Beautiful Scandalous Night by the Robbie Sealy Band.

Chanticleer-I happen to enjoy choral music. There is something about a 4 part harmony that I love. I just get lost in it. They are not the best, but its free on itunes this week so i took them up on their offer.

Messiah Part II #44 hallelujah. Its Handels Messiah, it is like the steak of steak and eggs.

Mel Torme-Chestnuts roasting on the open fire.

Fools Rush In -Sinatra (Frank)

Bing Crosby

Steve Green

That is a taste of what will be playing. Any ideas to add? Always open for the suggestions.

for the soul

I realize that my postings have been more biblically based than humor lately. Jesus is moving in sweet ways in my life and this is where I am at. May you find encouragement.

Isaiah 26:3-4
" You keep him in perfect peace
whose mind is stayed on you,
because he trusts in you,
Trust in the Lord forever,
for the Lord God is an everlasting
rock."

Is 26: 8-9
"In the path of your judgments,
O Lord, we wait for you;
your name and remembrance are the desire of our soul.
My soul yearns for you in the night,
my spirit within me earnestly seeks you."

who by worrying

I have been working lately on a redeeming of my alone time. I am to often apt to spend it wandering aimlessly around bookstores buying more than I have time to read or just tossing in a movie. I have been making my way through the book of Luke as of late. In it I came across Luke 12 in which part of the chapter is dedicated to worry, this was quite timely.
My mind began to wonder back to a conversation I had about a week ago with a single friend of mine. She was lamenting this fact and began to talk about her fears and her future. It is amazing how sometimes the Lord can use us to speak the very truth we need to hear ourselves to one another, He is incredibly kind. As we talked I asked the questions "if you knew, for sure, that marriage is not what he has planned for you, what would you do with your life?" Her dreams for what she wants to do are incredible, she desires to change the world.
I was reflecting on that conversation along with trying to think of it in practical terms of my own life. Karla, you who are prone to wander, what would you want to do/what would you dream of if you were totally trusting your God? Worry is an area of sin for me. I want to be reassured, not forgotten, in control. These are the things that I would do and what I dream about.
-I want to see the poor find their rest in Christ
-I would talk to my family about Jesus with tears and pleading, that they would know and love him.
-I want to have kids and adopt. To raise my children to love and fear their God.
-I would support more missionaries
-sit in silence more, be still.
-listen, not be so quick to fill the silence.
-buy less...stuff.
-make more time for people

I am not even sure what I am trying to convey in this post. As I was trying to make this list the only thing I want that keeps coming to mind is, to be known by my God, to be found in him, to belong to him. I have been laboring under this illusion that worrying will add a day to my life, as if, if I don't worry who will. I have a father who will feed and clothe the sparrows, how much more does he love us. I suppose this entry is really just me preaching to my own soul, but I hope it can do some good for you also.

i love this.

"He has a sovereign right to do with us as He pleases; and if we consider what we are, surely we shall confess we have no reason to complain; and to those who seek him, His sovereignty is exercised in a way of grace. All shall work together for good; everything is needful that He sends; nothing can be needful that He withholds. Be content to bear the cross; others have borne it before you. You have need of patience; and if you ask, the Lord will give it: but there can be no settled peace till our will is in a measure subdued. Hide yourself under the shadow of His wings; rely upon His care and power; look upon Him as a physician who has graciously undertaken to heal your soul of the worst of sickness..... Yield to His prescriptions, and fight against every thought that would represent it as desirable to be permitted to choose for yourself. When you cannot see your way, be satisfied that He is your leader. When your spirit is overwhelmed within you, He knows your path; He will not leave you to sink. He has appointed seasons of refreshment, and you shall find He does not forget you. Above all, keep close to the throne of grace." -John Newton

awesomeness, I think so

I need to get hip. I am sure there are new things out here in the world wide web but I am often to lazy to look. Or if not lazy, just lacking in time. Tonight I had some free time so here are some things I did.
1) signed up for msn chat. my email is karlarae1979@gmail.com You sign up also and we shall be friends.
2)Someone had just recommended the new tv show "Pushing Daisies" while I was hesitant at first. I know am fully on board and love it. It is actually quite artful and beautiful in its filming style. Abc.com lets you watch all episodes for free.
3) tried to download the office ringtone. failed. I am just not technologically swift, at all. But I do love technology, just not as much as you, you see.
4)In the google search engine I typed in "Awesomeness" This came up. You know what? It really is an awesome web page! I find it insightful, funny, witty and all around wonderful. Enjoy.