Wednesday, January 16, 2008

The Pleasures of God

Today is just one of those days when my gratefulness to God is on a whole new level. Like the highest level before your head spins around and you explode from trying to hold in all your feelings of love and thankfulness to our Father. I know that doesn't sound very pretty, but frankly, I can't always stop the flood of emotions that accompany said thankfulness.
Take this day for example. A freezing cold, snowy clear picture perfect day in ZigZag. Riding the quad with the dogs in the morning is exquisite. The quad has to fight to get over some frozen snow drifts and the frosty air burns my throat. The clear blue of the sky meets the pristine white of the snow and the beauty makes my eyes tear up with joy. I will literally talk to the Lord out loud (not sure if he can hear me over the Polaris's engine, though) and invite him to come with me around our loop. We watch the dogs chase each other and notice deer,rabbit and occasionally bear footprints in the deep snow as we ride.

Just about now, I know some of you are are wishing you lived here,too.
Others are wondering what kind of drug I am on, and if I'll soon be examining my own hand with wonder, awe and a spacey look in my eyes.
No. I'm not and I won't. I'm seriously just so thankful to the Lord for placing us here and letting me experience his stunning creation at this mountain. I know it may only last for a season, and I am thankful for this time.
I'm starting to read John Piper's "The Pleasures of God". To be honest, I'm still struggling though the introduction and forward. I'm not kidding. But there is some good stuff in there.
Anyway, one thing he said is "One way to mediate on the excellency of God is to meditate on his pleasures. One way to see the glory of God is to see his joy." If that is true, and I believe it is, then I know that God takes great pleasure in his creation up here at the mountain, and in me taking great pleasure in it as well. So, he can go on quad rides with me around the loop any time he wants. It's all good.
Also, I have so enjoyed my family this week. Not only is Josiah back home in the states, but Rod turned 50!
I dearly love every gray hair on his old, decrepit head. Not the ones in his ears....or the curly long mutant ones that keep growing out of his eyebrows, though.
Oh, I kid.
Rod is my very best friend whom I choose to spend time with before anyone else. I love him more now than when I married him. He keeps me laughing.
Amy and I took him to his favorite restaurant for dinner where we all had brussel sprouts for an appetizer (I'm not kidding.) and salmon for dinner. We had such a good time together; it was just the perfect evening.
Except for that glitch when Rod described the smell of our curried lentil soup like something in a cow barn. And Amy kept guessing things like , "Hay? Is it like hay? How about udder? Is it like cow udder?" At that point I was looking for a way out the nearest window.
That part of dinner; not so fun. But the rest was perfect. Really.

1 comment:

Amy Guerino said...

Diane,
I found your blog through Randy's. I read your testimony and remember it vaguely from Good Shepherd. Thank you for your vulnerable, open, honesty. My darling husband just recently said in a sermon, "All pain has redemptive potential." Your experiences and honesty about them is giving you an opportunity to share and point others to the wellspring of life.

I'm reading John Piper's The Pleasures of God as well. I'm finding it deep and refreshing. I love studying who God is and what he is like. Piper's study of theology covers so much and if we take the time to let our finite minds be stretched around the infinite we will be blessed....and be able to see this broken world more clearly....having his perspective. Press through it.

I didn't know you actually lived with the Alcorns....but that doesn't surprise me...they are humble servants of our great God.

I'm new to blogging myself...and got Matt to get going at it. I'm loving the connection with Good Shepherd family members....I'm missing that place but relish God's leading in being the teaching pastor's wife at Harvest in Beaverton. I'll be visiting your lovely blog often....it was your blog that helped me overcome my fears of writing just anything...and I got the shelfari bookshelf from you as well! :)
Thanks for inspiring me!