love thy neighbor

Wit Beyond Measure

I just want to stay in bed and have my own Harry Potter marathon. And that's pretty much how I feel all the time.

My Life in Lists #14

Eleven Things I’ve learned from Mary Poppins:

1. Well begun is half-done.

2. Promises are like pie crusts: easily made, easily broken.

3. In every job that must be done, there is an element of fun. You find the fun, and snap! The job’s a game.

4. Supercallifragilisticexpialidocious: when the cat has got your tongue, there’s no need to dismay! Just summon up this word, and then you’ve got a lot to say.

5. When you’re with a sweep, you’re in glad company.

6. Practically perfect people never permit sentiment to muddle their thinking.

7. Never explain anything.

8. A spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down in the most delightful way.

9. Close your mouth. We are not a codfish.

10. Never judge things by their appearance… even carpetbags.

11. Don’t fall and smudge the drawing.

words to live by

He was amazed

When Jesus had finished saying all this to the people, he returned to Capernaum. At that time the highly valued slave of a Roman officer was sick and near death. When the officer heard about Jesus, he sent some respected Jewish elders to ask him to come and heal his slave. So they earnestly begged Jesus to help the man. “If anyone deserves your help, he does,” they said, “for he loves the Jewish people and even built a synagogue for us.” So Jesus went with them. But just before they arrived at the house, the officer sent some friends to say, “Lord, don’t trouble yourself by coming to my home, for I am not worthy of such an honor. I am not even worthy to come and meet you. Just say the word from where you are, and my servant will be healed. I know this because I am under the authority of my superior officers, and I have authority over my soldiers. I only need to say, ‘Go,’ and they go, or ‘Come,’ and they come. And if I say to my slaves, ‘Do this,’ they do it.” When Jesus heard this, he was amazed. Turning to the crowd that was following him, he said, “I tell you, I haven’t seen faith like this in all Israel!” And when the officer’s friends returned to his house, they found the slave completely healed.

Luke 7:1-10

I have been so challenged and encouraged by this scripture. It can be difficult to possess faith like this Roman soldier, but it is so incredibly worth it.

The Desiderata

The Desiderata of Happiness

Max Ehrmann

Go placidly amid the noise and the haste,

and remember what peace there may be in silence.

As far as possible, without surrender,

be on good terms with all persons.

Speak your truth quietly and clearly;

and listen to others,

even to the dull and the ignorant;

they too have their story.

Avoid loud and aggressive persons;

they are vexatious to the spirit.

If you compare yourself with others,

you may become vain or bitter,

for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.

Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.

Keep interested in your own career, however humble;

it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.

Exercise caution in your business affairs,

for the world is full of trickery.

But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;

many persons strive for high ideals,

and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself. Especially do not feign affection.

Neither be cynical about love,

for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment,

it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years,

gracefully surrendering the things of youth.

Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.

But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.

Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.

Beyond a wholesome discipline,

be gentle with yourself.

You are a child of the universe

no less than the trees and the stars;

you have a right to be here.

And whether or not it is clear to you,

no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore be at peace with God,

whatever you conceive Him to be.

And whatever your labors and aspirations,

in the noisy confusion of life,

keep peace in your soul.

With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,

it is still a beautiful world.

Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.

the love of God

"The love of God is one of the great realities of the universe, a pillar upon which the hope of the world rests. But it is a personal, intimate thing, too. God does not love populations, He loves people. He loves not masses, but men. He loves us all with a mighty love that has no beginning and can have no end. In Christian experience there is a highly satisfying love content that distinguishes it from all other religions and elevates it to heights far beyond even the purest and noblest philosophy. This love content is more than a thing; it is God Himself in the midst of His Church singing over His people. True Christian joy is the heart's harmonious response to the Lord's song of love."

A.W. Tozer, The Knowledge of the Holy

My Life in Lists #7

Upon being reunited with most of my closest friends, I've been able to quote many a movies that we all hold near and dear to our hearts. We have lines that we say over, and over, and over again that still cause quite a giggle. Since I'm on this kick of making out lists, I thought I'd throw out some of my favorite movie quotes of all time.
Without further ado, and in no particular order...
1. "I don't know how to tell you this, but there's a chinese family in our bathroom." (500) Days of Summer
2. "I came down from that cloud REAL QUICKLY." Hairspray
3. "We could have been killed...or worse, expelled." Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
4. "That's okay, baby, walk it off. YOU'RE STILL HOT." Valentine's Day
5. "Sorry baby, didn't mean to...spit...on you." It's Complicated
6. "A mall? Where y'all think we're at, Boise, Idaho? Shooot." Adventures in Babysitting
7." I'd give her a HA! And a HI-YA! And then a OUU-WA! And I'd kick her, sir." Anastasia
8. "You don't smell like Santa! You smell like beef and cheese!" Elf
9. "I DON'T KNOW YOUR LIFE!" Baby Mama
10. "I don't know, but I think what I've got is something slightly resembling... GUMPTION!" The Holiday
11. "We're looking for his son Fabio" Finding Nemo
12. "The name's NWANDA." Dead Poets Society
13. "Don't put twinkies on your pizza." Heavyweights
14. "I look like my great Aunt Tessie. I SMELL like my great Aunt Tessie." Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
15. "This is as good as it's gonna get." Princess Diaries
16. "Mmmmmn...niiiiiiccccee." 27 Dresses
17. "Don't touch anything. You could get hepatitis." 10 Things I Hate About You
18. "You have this kind of problem? Yeah... of course you did, you saucy minx!" Love Actually
19. "Put some windex on it!" My Big Fat Greek Wedding
20. "Let me break it down for you like a fraction." Oceans Twelve
21. "Good Morning! Welcome to another day of higher education!" Pretty in Pink
22. "You go, Glenn Coco!" Mean Girls
23. "Only grown-up men are scared of women." The Sound of Music
24. "He makes me melt like a popsicle on the fourth of July." Little Rascals
25. "I'm bakin' like a toasted cheese-it!" The Sandlot
26. "Congratulations. I'm one hundred years old." The Proposal
27. "You are a lone reed, standing tall, waving boldly in the corrupt sands of commerce." You've Got Mail
28. "Is this like an RSVP thing?" Legally Blonde
29. "You're good James, but, you're just not good enough." The Parent Trap
30. "I used to be legit. In fact, I was too legit. I was too legit to quit. But now I'm not legit. I'm un-legit. And for that reason I must quit." Hot Rod