simon says

So I'm reading in Proverbs 2 today and it focuses in on listening to wisdom, searching for wisdom, tuning your ears to wisdom. And it got me thinking about Simon Says. Yes, the game.

You must listen closely to follow Simon's instructions and only Simon's instructions. Only the things you're told to do that are directly preceeded by "Simons says" are to be followed. Otherwise, you'll screw up and start flapping your wings like an eagle and get disqualified because oops, Simon didn't actually say that one.

So Simon Says is actually a remarkable game for teaching kids to follow The Way.

In life, we hear a lot of voices, a lot of messages. People are calling out instructions, advice, counsel. But if you listen to everyone, or even to just anyone other than "Simon," you lose. Following God's way, the way of the Master, following Christ, means listening intentionally for His voice. Learning to distinguish His voice among all the noise.

Father God, May we see that You are the Simon. May I listen closely and attentively to hear what You are saying and telling me.

learning from the birds

So I'm reading in Proverbs this morning and I come across this verse I don't remember ever reading (or at least understanding) before. (Which is part of the reason I like reading out of my NLT sometimes. It's different and fresh to me wording makes me stop and think about even familiar passages in a new way.)

"When a bird sees a trap being set, it stays away." -Proverbs 1:17 (NLT)

Makes sense. I'm not sure if I knew that birds were this smart or not, but I like the simple concept. The birds sees you setting a trap. The bird knows it's a trap. The bird stays away from the trap. The bird doesn't flirt with the trap, trying to see how close it can get without getting caught in the trap.

Solomon is comparing this to our foolishness as people. In our folly we lay traps for ourselves with poor decisions. We set ourselves up to fail, or at least to experience some really icky consequences.

Let's learn from the birds on this one, and follow wisdom.

to strip or not to strip

I'd be lying if I said I've never considered stripping as a job option. I know you can make good money.

Talking with a friend tonight, I found out that he's taken on weekend stripping jobs for bachelorette parties, etc. He makes $400-500 in a 4-hour stint. Great money. He's doing it for the cash. He and his fiance, you see, need to raise some money if they are going to pay for their big wedding coming up. And neither of them blink an eye at this particular method of (very effective) fundraising.

I had another friend who also stripped for a long time. I"m sure she was great at it. And she had the same attitude as my friend tonight. It's just a job. She needed the cash. It was the best paying job for miles around. So she did it.

When my friend exclaimed (trying to get a reaction out of me) that I had never had felt the freedom that comes in stripping, I replied (quite honestly) that I fully intend to strip all the time for my husband once we're married. And that will be the best freedom.

I have a whole married life in front of me. So I needn't be in too much of a hurry right now.

best compliment ever

Today, I found something out that totally kinda rocked my world.

Chris and I were good friends as teenagers, but we haven't seen each other or talked in years. Recently, Chris found me on facebook. I noticed his profile picture was with him and a little girl, and I wondered if he had a daughter now.

Chris messaged me today to tell me his little girl's name is Kathryn. He said, "I just wanted you to know that I named my daughter Kathryn...She's a pretty perfect little girl...When I found out she was a girl, I had to think of a name of the best girl I ever knew and I thought of you."

Wow.