I've left the Psalms behind for now, and at the moment, I'm digging the letters of Paul! I took a class in Epistles last year, which I actually found pretty boring, but surprisingly it awoke my fascination for them, anyway.  So I decided to journal the epistles. Right now I'm working backwards (started in Hebrews and I'll finish in Romans - see, I figured that Romans is a bit too deep for simple me to take on straight up, but maybe if I get used to Paul's style, themes and figure of speech first, I'll understand some of it...!)

Here's a short passage that spoke to me recently: 

"It's in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for. Long before we first heard of Christ and got our hopes up, he had his eye on us, had designs on us for glorious living, part of the overall purpose he is working out in everything and everyone." Ephesians 1:11-12 (MSG)*

My identity is in Christ… and in fact, this is the only place where I can finally, truly know who I am.  There is no other place, no other possible option. He is it!  And even now… even though I have accepted Christ into my life, whenever I lose sight of this, my own sense of identity is jeopardized.  When I seek to find my identity in my figure, my face, my hair, my ministry, my preaching, my abilities…  it is then that my whole identity becomes uncertain, shaky… confidence crumbles and power dies.

I know who I am only in Him – because it is only in Him that I truly live, that the real me appears. Apart from Him, I am a corpse with life-like make-up and puppet strings.

I also find direction in Christ – in Him I know why I live, where I am headed and who I am meant to be.  As I come to Him, everything falls into place and my blurred vision clears. Oh to live in this place! To live in His presence and to walk everyday with this clear vision!

Oh Father, right now I just want to invite you again with all of my heart to take charge of this journey.  You are my hero, You are my mentor… please take me by the hand and lead me to wherever  You have in mind. You are my true destiny and I absolutely, completely trust and love You!       

*Note: I don't use the Message as my main Bible translation, and I don't feel I could recommend it as such. But as an added resource, it is a blessing. 

My sis and her beautiful family

I can hardly believe that so much time has passed since posting here. Time has a funny way of slipping by while you turn your head away for the briefest moment!  But every day has left its mark of happy moments in my heart. God spoiled Ben and I with an incredible US holiday during Christmastime.  Some friends in California got married and asked us to shoot the wedding! Being part of it, surrounded by amazing friends and living in each fun-filled moment was just so incredible.  One of those unforgettable moments: I'm standing by a truck about to head for the wedding rehearsal, tray filled with decorations for the church,  atmosphere charged with anticipation... when Ben goes, "Oh, Danica had the baby." My big sis was soo hoping for a baby girl from this pregnancy (after two boys), so I begged Ben to tell me what she had. After a few long minutes of suspense, he casually commented, "It's a girl" and I went crazy! Our friend, and pianist for the wedding, Sean Nebblett was standing by and laughing while I danced around the truck, squealing, clapping and jumping up and down.

After the wedding, an amazing twist of circumstances took us to Lake Tahoe for two days of snow-white wonder.

Jonathon & Kelsey Sims

I have to wonder sometimes, How can I be so spoiled? and I hug myself and whisper "Thank you." It's You. You just love spoiling us, don't you, Daddy? Just like my sister and her family delight to spoil baby Hannah, You love to spoil me! You just keep taking my breath away... reminding me in so many ways, how much You love me. 

Oh Daddy, what does this year have in store for me? I just hope... that it will be a year filled with discovering You more and exploring with You... You are all I want!