CcloudsM's Xanga

Ecuador!

Mon, 24 Aug 2009 20:57:05 GMT

I went to Quito, Ecuador! Traveled down there last weekend (Wednesday through Sunday) for my good friend's wedding. It was quite a trip. I love America! Those of you on Facebook probably already know this. I had a couple minutes and thought I'd just put up a couple pictures. Enjoy!

I Don't Do That!

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 08:37:48 GMT

Every five weeks, I serve in the toddler nursery at my church. These kids (2-3 yr olds) are surprisingly well-behaved and extraordinarily cute. Two of my favorite little boys are aging past 2, which means they’re starting to recognize me now. You’ve experienced that joy, right? the kind that warms your heart when a child’s face lights up as you enter the room? It touches the heart like little else. Anyway, on this particular Sunday I was serving along with a young married couple. I let them do the leading, and was amused by their method of communication. Something happened that caused me to think about my own sinful state and I’d like to share it here…

During snack time, one little boy, Jacob, decided that he was finished drinking his water. So he just dumped it out on the table. He looked around like, “What’s the big deal? I’m finished.” It was funny to me, however, he was gently reprimanded for his actions by the husband. As the other half dozen two year olds watched this whole scene, it was quiet… for about five seconds. And then a small voice… “I don’t do that!” followed by similar encores. I couldn’t help but relate the situation to grown-ups. See if this makes any sense as it leaves my brain and flows through my fingertips onto a keyboard and ending on your screen…

We are born judging others. No one had to teach these kids to proclaim their own innocence when someone else was caught in error. They look at a person caught in sin – they look at their lives – and they proclaim themselves innocent, conveniently ignoring all those times they have committed the same sin or worse. Making such judgment calls creates distance between the Judger and the Judgee. And friends, I’m sorry to say it, but, we don’t grow out of this just because we learn to read.

Some people state, “I was born this way!” as an excuse for their bad behavior, and they’re partly right. We are born sinners. However, for those who have repented from sin and entered into a relationship with the Lord… we now have a choice. Christ died to free us from sin. Is He too weak to break those strongholds in our lives? Are we so in love with ourselves that we would break the unity of the Body by pointing fingers?

Thoughts I've been considering this week.

(You‘ll be happy to know that I refrained from dumping out water on my desk while writing this. See? I’m waaaay more mature than a two year old. *pats self on back*)

National Healthcare

Tue, 23 Jun 2009 08:40:11 GMT

Can't figure out how to link a video... boy, my Xanga knowledge is rusty...!! But below is a 10 minute speech by a great past president, discussing socialized healthcare. Check it out... before ABC helps the current administration shove this stuff down our throats tomorrow night.

Click Here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fRdLpem-AAs

Shots from a .22

Tue, 23 Jun 2009 00:00:59 GMT

My attempts to write a blog over the weekend were thwarted by a trip to Durham, NC, an afternoon at the park, and an evening with the girls.
My morning has been spoiled salt-water taffy from a coworker... bring on the sugar.
Going to Wing Street for dinner this evening... Looking forward to some good wings.
Any thoughts on why Sandra Bullock hasn't had a number one movie in ten years or why it took Ryan Reynolds to get her there?
There's still time to get your Nordstorm brand E.L.F. makeup for $1!
One silly thing that's made me smile recently was receiving an email with the Jefferson's theme as the subject line.
What's your interpretation of the phrase "God is at work". Is it a question or a statement of faith?
I found 100 Facts About Guys on Youtube and was pretty entertained by it, though I am aware that not all of them are true about allguys.
God doesn't waste anything. As read in John 6:12, NLT. Cool.
Most memorable thing from the sermon yesterday: God graciously pursues us by probing our hearts to help us recognize our unmet expectations of Him. Also: Too often we seek relief from circumstances, rather than redemption from sin. God isn't an Easy Button. He's a Redeemer.
I've been using LiveStrong.com to track my daily food intake. It's great. And I'm hungry. Often.
Since I spend very little quality time at my laptop at home, my goal is to write a blog during work hours, and then post it after arriving home.... I'd appreciate encouragement while trying to achieve this lofty goal. If anyone can tell me how to email blog posts directly to my blog, I'd appreciate that, too!

Wow... It's been a while...

Tue, 16 Jun 2009 20:05:00 GMT

Hello!

My apologies to the owner of friend invites, messages, and other various communications! I have not even looked at my site for months. <img src="http://s.xanga.com/images/surprised.gif" width="15" border="0"> Awful, I know. So sorry. I'm making it a goal to write a new blog by Sunday. So watch for it!

~Cherise

The Joys of Giving

Sun, 08 Feb 2009 05:21:00 GMT

Perhaps a baked good of the month club would be a fun way to interact on Xanga.

Hmmm.... any takers?

God's Paint Job

Sat, 07 Feb 2009 14:10:47 GMT

My parents are giving a facelift to their house. Upstairs, they have white ceilings. At least... that's what color they were when they moved in. After one strip of white paint, however, it became obvious that the 20+ year old color had become dingy greenish-gray over time. With all the ceilings covered by new brilliant white paint, the place looks a thousand times better.

Talking with mom about the situation, I thought this was a great illustration of our own pride and self-deception. Humans often believe themselves to be fine, okay, acceptable. Christians fall into this, too. We work hard to portray ourselves as something clean, nice to look at, and perfect. But we are dingy and dirty. We are gray. We are lifeless.

But when we see God's purity, His victory, His holiness (as Isaiah did in Is. 6), we recognize our sin and need to be covered. Our covering cannot be of our own making, for how can unholy creatures make themselves white and pure? No, our need is for God to put His own holiness over us. This is what Christ did. He gave us His white robes, while taking on our sin-soaked rags. Now, we stand in God's sight as white and pure as His own Son, Jesus.

Amazing what a little covering can do, eh?

More On Point

Mon, 15 Dec 2008 01:41:21 GMT

This entry won't be as depressing, sullen, or heartbreaking as my last one. I just came back from viewing "Eagle Eye" with two friends. (I thought the film actually lived up to the promise shown in the trailers) There was a quick comment from one of my friends that confirmed something that I've suspected for about, oh, two weeks. Due to the sensitive nature of this comment, I will not divulge the details. However, let me say that I am pretty stubborn and God is very patient to repeat things until I hear them. Sometimes He says things that I don't like and that cause some pain. But what is pain, if not a method to draw me closer to the arms of Compassion? Every emotion I am captivated by, every insecurity that passes through my thoughts, He is familiar with. His compassions fail not. God. chose. me. Dead in sin, there I lay. He, in His infinite wisdom, love and grace, chose to save me from sin. He heard not a plea for help from my lips, but saved me anyway. Long before I even knew His name, the work was done. What sort of God would do this? One full of love. compassion. grace. mercy. This is my God. This is the God I am called to hope in. So, I'll stand in the rain, stand in the pain, asking for this God to quiet my heart, as He stands with me.

Therefore let everyone who is godly pray to you while you may be found;
surely when the mighty waters rise,
they will not reach him.
You are my hiding place;
you will protect me from trouble
and surround me with songs of deliverance.
Psalm 32:6-7

The Only One In The Room

Tue, 09 Dec 2008 01:43:40 GMT

No, I'm not referring to that physical event that takes place when you're the only breathing creature within four walls.

I'm referring to that oh-so-comfortable-and-inviting-occurance of being the only single person in the room.

In a world full of marrieds, engageds, and serious daters, it is sometimes quite difficult to maintain a Christ-like perspective.

Tonight I joined several other delightful women from my small group for a cookie exchange. Very quickly, my singleness was felt. By me. The others were gracious and they understand the plight of the terminally single woman. But even their silence could not cause me to forget that I had no husband, no fiance, no boyfriend to share the cookies with.

"Woe is me."
Aye?
"Nay" says logic and reason.
"Nay" says the Lord.

But which voice do I heed?

I lower my head in shame as I confess that I sometimes find more comfort in woe than in the lasting hope found in the Lord. This only highlights my need for grace and forgiveness.

My status as Beloved.
My status as Christ's friend.
My status as a Forgiven Child.

So, with this confession duly noted in the public eye, I shall retire for the evening. If you find yourself in a similar place, then I pray for us. May God grant both of us the wisdom and humility necessary to see things not through the lens of What-I-Have-Not but through the lens of I-Already-Have-Everything-In-Christ.

Lord, have mercy on my heart.

iTunes Survey

Thu, 16 Oct 2008 00:38:46 GMT

1. Put your iTunes on shuffle.
2. For each question, press the next button to get your answer.
3. YOU MUST WRITE THAT SONG NAME DOWN NO MATTER HOW SILLY IT SOUNDS!
4. Tag your friends who might enjoy doing the game as well as the person you got the note from.

IF SOMEONE SAYS "IS THIS OKAY" YOU SAY?
Hello
David Cook

WHAT WOULD BEST DESCRIBE YOUR PERSONALITY?
Ask Me
Amy Grant

WHAT DO YOU LIKE IN A GUY/GIRL?
A Whole New World
Aladdin
(haha! This is pretty accurate!)

HOW DO YOU FEEL TODAY?
I Need to Know
Blake Lewis
(wow - scaaarily accurate)

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE'S PURPOSE?
Toxic
Britney Spears
(ha ha! yeah right... or maybe completely right...)

WHAT IS YOUR MOTTO?
Unfaithful
Rihanna
(hardly!! I dont wanna be a murderer, though)

WHAT DO YOUR FRIENDS THINK OF YOU?
Confessions of a Broken Heart
Lindsay Lohan
(if this means my friends confide in me - then yes, this is true)

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT VERY OFTEN?
Special
Wilshire
(?)

WHAT IS 2+2?
I Hope That I Don't Fall in Love With You
Tom Waits
(HA!)

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR BEST FRIEND?
Room
Rachel Lampa
(um... "you made room for me"... yes! I like friends who make space for me in their lives)

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE PERSON YOU LIKE?
Hole
Kelly Clarkson
(There’s a hole/Inside of me/It’s so cold/Slowly killing me/Secrets/Eating at the core of me)

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE STORY?
Alright My Friend
Decemberadio
(Are you alright my friend/couldn't help but notice that you're all alone/all alone/I'm reaching out my hand
and hoping that one day you will understand/love will lead you home)

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP?
I Lift My Eyes
Kutless
(indeed. to have my vision filled with Jesus!)

WHAT DO YOU THINK WHEN YOU SEE THE PERSON YOU LIKE?
With a Little Faith
Stacie Orrico

WHAT DO YOUR PARENTS THINK OF YOU?
Up!
Shania Twain

WHAT WILL YOU DANCE TO AT YOUR WEDDING?
Enigma
Miles Davis

WHAT WILL THEY PLAY AT YOUR FUNERAL?
Everything
Jason Patchett

WHAT IS YOUR HOBBY/INTEREST?
Glass House
Jaci Velasquez

WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST SECRET?
Nuclear
Ryan Adams
(HAHA!)

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR FRIENDS?
What I'm Fighting For
Phil Stacey
(indeed)

WHAT'S THE WORST THING THAT COULD HAPPEN?
Give It to Me
Timbaland, Justin T'lake, Nelly Furtado
(but I don't like that song...!! I didn't mean to have it in my library. Promise)

HOW WILL YOU DIE?
She Goes All The Way
Rascal Flatts

WHAT IS THE ONE THING YOU REGRET?
See You Again
Miley Cyrus

WHAT MAKES YOU LAUGH?
I Surrender All
Acquire the Fire
(yeah... no...)

WHAT MAKES YOU CRY?
Makes Me Wonder
Maroon 5
(did you ever care about me?)

WILL YOU EVER GET MARRIED?
Happy Ending
Mika
(let's hope!)

WHAT SCARES YOU THE MOST?
Love Me Tender
David Archuleta
(wow)

DOES ANYONE LIKE YOU?
All That I Am
Rob Thomas
(yea, that doesn't say anything)

IF YOU COULD GO BACK IN TIME, WHAT WOULD YOU CHANGE?
Love of My Life
SonicFlood

WHAT HURTS RIGHT NOW?
County Line
Sugarland

WHAT WILL YOU POST THIS AS?
P.S. (I'm Still Not Over You)
Rihanna