I’m trying this new workout and it’s making me soooooo sore… I don’t like being sore… for days… but I do kinda like the new routine, so I think I’ll keep it up.

My friend recommended a book that I’ve been meaning to read Water for Elephants (not to be confused with Like Water for Chocolate 😉 I’ve only read a few of the first pages, but it seems awesome.

Any good books you’re reading?

Have you read Water for Elephants?

What’s next on your list?

Today G and I headed to Athens for the day just to remember and enjoy one of our favorite cities together again. It did not disappoint. We headed straight into town, and after the requisite drive through of Pineview and then the KD House, we made a bee-line for Amici’s (my very favorite little Italian place) in the heart of downtown. We had mozzarella sticks and tortellini (amazing) and were joined by the lovely Maggie H before exploring more of our old haunts. We strolled across the street and checked out the deals in Masada (few and far between, if I do say so myself). We browsed looking for water-proof gear for our upcoming trip, but found their collection of (affordable) options lacking. So we made our way to the Grille for a milk shake before we and Maggs parted ways at the Arch. {Always a pleasure to spend time with you, presh.}

Grant and I walked under the Arch and made our way across North Campus, taking a few pics along the way. I just love Herty Field (the fountain was iced over, but my foot still throbbed a little anyway due to the close proximity and long memory of freshman year). It was peaceful and campus was all but deserted with the lingering ice and snow and Monday off for holiday. We visited my beloved Park Hall and snapped a few in front of Terry before meandering through the SLC (now the ZMLC: Zell B. Miller Learning Center… whatev… SLC forever) and Tate 2–crossing the road to view a snow-covered Sanford Stadium (still glorious). As we walked back to North Campus and our car, we reminisced about college, school, and what it was like during our time at UGA together and before we’d met. It was perfect.

We drove past St. James UMC and Drew and Nat’s first house–now the youth building–where we all hung out so much (too much, probably) during their first year of marriage. We stopped by Kinnucan’s where there was a much larger selection of affordable gear, but nothing that worked for us. We did find a new Eno hanging seat that was amazingly comfortable… maybe we’ll get that later. Anyway, after driving by all our favorite places–and gawking at the changes (how could life possibly go on without us in Athens??)–we joined Benji and his gf Kristen and Wart (aka Josh) for dinner at Senor Sol. It’s so fun to be in on the hip new restaurants again in Athens when you have fun young friends still living there. The food was delish and quite authentic.

We headed back and had a playlist ready when we hit 316–all the songs that reminded us of life in Athens. It was a truly perfect day, remembering a pretty fantastic season of life. Every time we go back we wonder what it would be like to live in Athens again… who knows. But visiting is very fulfilling (for now, anyway 😉

that is all…

Strangle title, huh? I wasn’t reading about circumcision, actually, I was reading about our hearts. Strange how God pairs these two things together, but He does so in both the Old and New Testaments.

Biblical Context
The context is important because the promise is after a list of blessings (and what happens if you try to take advantage them, but defile God in your heart). Note: promises and blessings are biblically two different things… but that’s for another day 😉

Deuteronomy 30:6
“The Lord your God will circumcise your hearts and the hearts of your descendants, so that you may love Him with all your heart and with all your soul, and live.”

Covenant-Circumcision
According to Easton’s 1897 Biblical Dictionary:
“covenant” is: a contract or agreement between two parties. In the Old Testament the Hebrew word berith is always thus translated. Berith is derived from a root which means “to cut,” and hence a covenant is a “cutting.”

The symbolic separation of His people the Israelites from the rest, setting them aside, making a covenant with them bound in blood that required a transaction and a cutting, is physically manifested in this “cutting” or circumcision of the body. Then all who saw them would know that they had changed something in a rather substantial way as a sign of a much deeper covenant bond.

New Testament References
Romans 2:29b:
“…And true circumcision is not merely obeying the letter of the law; rather, it is a change of heart produced by God’s Spirit…” Along with 1 Corinthians 7 and Romans 4.

Other Old Testament References
Genesis 17:10, Deut 10:17, Josh 5:2-8 among many others.

What does this have to do with me?
We (Gentiles) are included in this promise for two reasons:
1-We are Abraham’s children
Romans 4:11b, 16b “….So Abraham is the spiritual father of those who have faith….Abraham is the father of all who believe.”
2-Abraham’s promise is our promise, honored by God
Galatians 3:29 “And now that you belong to Christ, you are the true children of Abraham. You are his heirs, and God’s promise to Abraham belongs to you.”

The point is–returning back to the original verse, Deut 30:6–we have this image of cutting off the extra, removing what is not necessary, preparing to make something clean–even if pain is initially involved. It will hurt. But it will heal. We cannot do this ourselves. But God promises that He will do it for us. And in doing so, we will be more able to obey, serve, and most importantly love with both our spiritual and emotional beings. And the ultimate promise that gives us most hope: we may truly live. It’s not a means to an end, nor is it the end in and of itself. We will reap the benefits of the process–letting God teach us, prune us, mold us into loving with our whole heart and whole soul–but in the end, we will experience LIFE. That’s what it’s all about and why He came: “I have come that they might have LIFE and life abundantly!” (John 10:10b).

As we enter this new year, I’m counting on that promise: that God will circumcise my heart (even if it hurts) so that I will love Him with wild abandon and so that I will truly live. Amen!

I was really dreading coming in today because I was afraid it would disturb the immensely wonderful daydream-like quality of having snow everywhere and might put a damper on enjoying the snow. It’s been quite the opposite! Coming in, braving the roads, falling into the work routine (breakfast, coffee, email, music, spreadsheets) has actually been really therapeutic–what is happening to me?? I love being alone. I love being in our apartment. I love staying in, cuddling up with blankets, watching movies and napping the day away. But it has been a nice change of pace to get dressed, come in, and have a bit of space of my own. A little solitude away from the solitude of home (if that makes sense). And using my brain again (other than in board games, books, and sudoku).

This snow has also brought with it some perspective. People seem to bond together in the midst of a (weather) “crisis”. There must be some connection we can make between the camaraderie and unwarranted neighborly love that we’ve all experienced over the past few days. Is it that sometimes God allows (or even brings about) hard or difficult circumstances so that we can reach out (outside of ourselves and our often self-centered world) to human connection? Could it be that God notices the friendships (albeit some short-lived) and finds solace in the fellowship that can happen when His kids gather together–whatever the reason–and He thinks, this is good. I wonder…

We’ve met more people, helped more neighbors, walked through more doors, spent more time outside, and have interacted warmly more with strangers over the snowpocalypse than we have since we moved in… A bit of perspective while at work and play in the snow. I am so grateful that God provides us every opportunity to see more of Him in every circumstance here on earth.