A Random Silly 'Starr' Thought

I wonder if someday someone will make a movie like 'The National Treasure' except instead of a map being on the back of the Declaration of Independence there is a map on the front and back of an Oreo cookie?

I wonder what the map would lead too?

Just say NO

I like to be useful, I like to be needed, I like when I feel like I'm making a difference.
A lot of those happy, warm feelings that come from 'doing' have all been flushed down the toilet as I've come into the new season of 'Just Say No!'.
'What are you talking about?' you ask very intently.
Well, I don't know that I can fully explain it, because I have never experienced this season, to this degree, before.
In 2007 I was BUSY, but it was a good busy. I was raising my son, helping with church stuff, praying for my country, friends, and family, and now the tires have screeched to a stop, and I feel the Lord taking me into a place of 'being' instead of 'doing'. 'I' feel like it's a holding place, but maybe that's a bad way to look at it-- who out there likes to be on hold? NOT ME!!
Lately every opportunity that may come up to serve in some capacity or to commit to some prayer group always ends in the Lord gently saying 'Just say no'.
'WHAT?? Esccuuuuse me Lord, don't you neeeeed my prayers, and neeeed me to serve at the church. '
'Yes, but not right now'
So, with my 'doing' being taken away, what IS He saying yes to:
Yes to more time with Him and in His word
Yes to more time with my son just to simply play and be together
Yes to long walks in complete silence
Yes to rest
Yes to peace
Well, maybe I should be thankful for this season. How about instead of thinking it as a Holding Cell; I'll try to look at it as a Rejuvenation Retreat.

Interesting Insight

It may be hard for an egg to turn into a bird: it would be a jolly sight harder for it to learn to fly while remaining an egg. We are like eggs at present. And you cannot go on indefinitely being just an ordinary, decent egg. We must be hatched or go bad. C. S. Lewis

Hungry?

When my son is hungry he acts like he is going to die if he doesn't eat right then and there. We can be in the car driving down a lonely highway and somehow he expects 'magical mommy' to pull a McDonald's Kids Meal right out of my purse IMMEDIATELY!
I guess I can't hold it against him; I, myself, hate feeling hungry. I guess the difference between me and my Ever Trusting son is that he knows that I am going to provide him some food as soon as I can. I, on the other hand, tend to completely freak out when certain hunger pains come up, worrying whether or not the Lord is going to provide the means to suffice my need, or knowing that He will, but wondering how long the waiting period is going to be 'this time'.

Luke 11: 11-13 "Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? 12 Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!"

Have I ever let my son starve to death?
No.
If he asks for chocolate cake do I give him vegetables?
Yes-- if he needs something healthy.
Does he sometimes get chocolate cake after eating something healthy?
Yes.

I surrender all my hunger pains to my Father that knows what is best for me, and always knows how to give good gifts. I choose to come to His banquet table and eat of the Lord's choice fruits!

Luke 6: 21 Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be satisfied.

Stone Mountain

Here is a picture of Matthew pointing at the moon on top of Stone Mountain from a couple of weekends ago. I hope to post some more pics of this amazing day when I get the chance.

Me, Kathryn, and our kids had a blast!!

In the Stillness

Have you ever been in a place were someone is trying to whisper in your ear, but you struggle to hear them because the room is full of loud people?
That thought popped in my head this morning on my way to work. Lately things have been coming up, trials or fears that I'm desperate for help in. I think during those times -'Man, I wish I had a husband to talk this over with or to hold me.' or I think 'maybe, I should call so and so, they may be able to help.' And lately, in those places I find myself alone. That friend I normally go over things with is busy with her family (and that's okay), and the husband I'm waiting for, well he's simply not here yet.
In His kindness the Lord has taken me by the hand to His quiet place. Away from other's opinions and solutions because He has the answer in the stillness and even in the quietness.
I get so upset with the Lord's still small voice-- Oh how I wish He would yell so I could be absolutely sure that He is near, but then again, a whisper is so intimate. When someone whispers in your ear they are right next to you, shoulders touching, leaning in-- close enough for a kiss!! It is because of His kindness and desire for us to know Him more that He draws us away, and sometimes others away from us for a time, that we might draw near to Him. I want to learn to love His whisper; to love those times of just me and Him. Jesus treasured these times. He had the sick and broken waiting for what He had to give, but He knew that He had to have His Fathers whisper to be effective; to be Love to others. So even He would sneak away from the crowd and His disciples for alone time with His Abba Father.
Lord help me to be aware of these seasons, to treasure them and not try to escape them. Your whisper sustains us, it moves us, it strengthens us, and so much more.
He is in the stillness, quietness, and the loneliness-- right there.

Quirky Quirks

~I don't like parking decks, but I don't panic or freak out when I'm driving in one.

~I am paranoid that I have big hair, but if I was African American I would totally sport an Afro.

~I do not like elbows- they're funny looking and pointed, and I especially don't like being touched by them-- SO KEEP YOUR ELBOWS TO YOURSELF!

~If I was insane I would probably walk around with a bag of chocolate chips eating and singing songs from old musicals.

~I have stereotypes about red headed men that drive big trucks, but I won't say what they are.

~I think 3 Musketeers, Tootsie Rolls, and Candy Corn are nasty.

~I grew up in a town named after a fish that had a population of 945.

~I don't like the snow unless it is high on a mountain in Colorado in July.

~When I was little I couldn't say the 'R' sound. So when people would ask my name I would say 'Sta... Like in the sky' and I would point to the sky. I have said my 'R' sounds perfectly for a long time now.

~When I am stressed out I eat raw Oscar Meyer Cheese Hotdogs-- I know it's nasty-- I hope we can still be friends.

~If I was stranded on an island the thing I would want the most would be ice water.

~I don't know what a carburetor looks like or does and I don't want to know.

~I just noticed the other day that I'm one of those people that says 'mmbye' when getting off the phone.

What are some funny quirks you have?

MMBye...........