Crossing Over My Kidron

In my quiet time this morning, I read something in Spurgeon's "Morning and Evening Devotions" that touched my heart, spoke to me, and encouraged my soul. Below are some excerpts:

"David passed Kidron when flying with his mourning company from his traitor son. The man after God's own heart was not exempt from trouble, nay, his life was full of it. He was both the Lord's anointed and the Lord's afflicted. Why then should we expect to escape? At sorrow's gates, the noblest of our race have waited with ashes on their heads, wherefore then should we complain as though some strange thing had happened unto us?...It is a great joy to believe that Jesus has been tempted in all points like as we are. What is our Kidron this morning? Is it a faithless friend, a sad bereavement, a slanderous reproach, a dark foreboding? The King has passed over all of these. Is it a bodily pain, poverty, persecution, or contempt? Over each of these Kidrons the King has gone before us...We shall yet with joy draw water out of the wells of salvation, though now for a season we have to pass by the streams of sin and sorrow. Courage, soldiers of the Cross, the King himself triumphed after going over Kidron, and so shall you."

New York City, baby

In prep for my trip out here, I burned some CDs to wile away those long hours in the minivan. I call them "NYC baby", 1-16. So now, everytime I say New York City, I have to put a 'baby' on it; it doesn't sound natural if I don't. But I digress, right from the start. NYC is wonderful. God has been so gracious to me; L and I arrived out here safely on Saturday, after approx. 23 hrs. in the van. Our friend J lives here, and we spent the past few days with her, exploring the city, seeing the peeps, doing what comes 'natch' (short for naturally). It was Brooklyn Bridge's 125th birthday this weekend, and there were many festivities planned to celebrate it. We saw a great movie in the park, "It Happened in Brooklyn" with Frank Sinatra. I love Sinatra, but we couldn't stop laughing at this movie. It was pretty nuts. I've never seen a more depressed, bizarre cast in my life. Many an inside joke was created because of that one. Times Square at night is crazy crazy. But I loved the energy there, the life, the activity. I can't think of any other city I've been in where I've walked by people speaking Polish, French, German, Spanish, etc. all around, and everyone seeming to really embrace their heritage and the backgrounds of their neighbors, even if it is different from their own. And the native New Yorkers are very nice! A street vendor gave me a free bottle of water after a conversation we had; the doormen and taxi drivers are very polite and helpful, people hold doors. I miss my dear Minnesota, and part of my heart will always long for the shores of Lake Calhoun, or the open expanses of trees, fields, flowers. But I am rapidly growing to love this city, and having a fabulous time getting around and exploring. School starts tomorrow, and I am so excited about what I'll be learning. God has ridiculously, over-the-top blessed me with this, but also with all of the wonderful friends I have back in the Midwest.
"This is what the LORD says--your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: 'I am the LORD your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go.'" ~Is. 48:7

May He direct my path, and teach me what is best!

And counting...

I leave in a few hours, surrounded here at home with some of my dearest friends, doing everything for the last time. Such a finality to it. I sold my car tonight; such a strange feeling being carless. Don't know why I still don't realize that I am moving, for a long time, to a new state tomorrow. My heart breaks to leave my loved ones behind, but I am confident about the future. Today's Bible verse on bible.com was a balm to my troubled and flustered soul:

Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. John 14:27

HSR

With faith, let go and let God lead the way
Into a brighter and less-troubled day.
For God has a plan for everyone,
If we learn to pray, "Thy will be done."
For nothing in life is without God's design
For each life is fashioned by the hand that's divine.

Love can transform the most commonplace
Into beauty and splendor and sweetness and grace.
Love is unselfish, understanding, and kind,
For it sees with its heart and not with its mind.

~Helen Steiner Rice

New York

I haven't written in awhile, but that's because I've been too busy living to write about living. My life is going to be turned upside down in five days, and it's got me in an emotional maelstrom. Leaving my friends and family for the unknown is a daunting thing, but as the big day approaches, I find myself getting more and more excited about the life that awaits me. I'm anticipating being stretched and challenged in ways that I would never be here, excited to learn and grow and explore and meet lots of fascinating people and see lots of incredible things. The question marks in my future are double-sided; pee-my-pants scary on the one, roller-coaster exciting on the other. Time is carrying me along, whether I feel ready or not.

"The trouble with New York is it's so convenient to everything that I can't afford."~ Jack Barry

"Let us all be happy, and live within our means, even if we have to borrow the money to do it with." ~ Artemus Ward