Tag Archives: starbucks

Photo of the Week: Forty Two & Forty Three

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This is what an early Saturday evening in November looks like after a physically draining, but spiritually refreshing worship ministries retreat Friday night and all day Saturday to prepare/rehearse for our Christmas concerts.

And yes, since I’ve been absent from the blog since the end of the 31 Days series, this photo is pulling double duty as photo of the week 42 and 43, so that I can finish the photo of the week posts on December 30th with photo 50. I know … that’s not technically a full year. But close enough. And hey, it’s my blog, so my rules. Grin.

And since we’re on the subject of being absent from the blog, I really haven’t even been writing much (or involved in social media much) since I wrapped up that series. Life on this side of the screen has been full, and my mind has welcomed the break.

But be on the lookout for a real post later this week.

Until then, the Compassion bloggers are heading to Peru in a couple of days, and you should plan to go follow their stories here … you will not be sorry.

Hope your weekend has been full of good rest and much joy!

“…why should I gain from His reward? I cannot give an answer. But this I know with all my heart: His wounds have paid my ransom.”

All Things Fall

When Melissa at The Inspired Room announced that her Fall Nesting Party 2011 was right around the corner, the first thing that popped into my mind was something to the effect of:

“Umm…I’m pretty sure since it’s still pushing 90 degrees around these here NC parts, I won’t even begin to think it’s fall until late October.”

But since fall is by far my favorite season, I decided to join in the celebration of all things fall after all!

So in the spirit of fall, over the past couple of days…

…pumpkin made its first official appearance of the season in the form of these pumpkin cupcakes with a cream cheese topping thanks to my awesome roommate.

…the weather actually decided to join the party and the highs have remained in the sixties for two. whole. days. With temps like that, I don’t even mind the clouds.

{and if you only knew what I went through for that picture} 

…I decided to pull out the fall decorations for the coffee table. To see other fall decorations (and non-cellphone photos) that will likely make an appearance later in the season, check out this post from last year. You can just ignore the part about Koine Greek. It hurts my head, too.

…and I enjoyed my first Pumpkin Spice Latte from Starbucks, which is typically a sure sign that fall has, indeed, arrived. And to make this particular latte even better, when I pulled up to the drive-thru window, the barista informed me that the car in front of me had already paid. Apparently, this paying-for-the-order-in-the-car-behind-you had gone on for quite a while, so I gladly joined in the fun and paid for the gentleman in the car behind me as well. Unexpected blessings in early fall are simply the best!

Are you ready for fall?

His Thoughts, His Ways

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” – Isaiah 55:8-9 (ESV)

I go through my favorite Starbucks’ drive-thru on the way home from church almost every Sunday afternoon. Typically, I get a Caramel Latte (iced during the summer!), but I have been known to deviate on occasion…

Recently during one of my Sunday visits, as I was sitting in line I happened to overhear the order of the car ahead of me. I was so amused that I wrote it down:

1 Iced Venti White Mocha, skinny, 7 pumps of sugar free syrup, light ice, no whip.

I kid you not.

But my amusement quickly faded into conviction.

And I have been pondering these questions ever since:

How often do we submit our “orders” to the Lord in the same manner?

How often do we approach the Lord, express a desire to submit to His plan, and then proceed to give Him a detailed list of specifications for that plan as if we somehow know better?

How often do we modify the Lord’s plan based on those specifications to the point that we can no longer recognize His plan?

How often do we fail to trust His thoughts and His ways?