Sunday, July 22, 2007

A 4:30 am scroll of remembrance

Update: For all of you girls who apparently have a heart after my own...I'll let you know where the black and white dress is from :) This store: Forever 21
My weekend:
1) Eating at Ted's Montana Grill for the first time. After I got over my shock of drinking from a paper-made straw and my recyclable glass cup of sweet tea (they're an eco-friendly restaurant which was totally cool in my world), I was able to enjoy my tree-size portion of broccoli that came with my meal. ALL of it. I got to meet up with two of my Georgia Tech girlfriends that I haven't seen since graduation and we talked non-stop. And of course, because we're girls, we just had to take photos out by all the beautiful scenery outside. And despite your first thoughts of vanity, we won't get to see each other again because we all moving, so we had to take a few! (Er...uh...I'm supposed to be moving.)


2) A spend-the-night party with Kiran, Andrea, and myself. We watched a chick-flick, and then managed to stay up until 4:30 in the morning talking. My heart is still about to pop from the encouragement of spending time with these girls.

"But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called "Today," so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin."

As long as it is still called 'Today' ... we, on the other hand thought that just 'Today' was insufficient, and decided to add 'Tomorrow' in that verse as well, seeing as our conversation extended to the next stinking day! (My body cannot handle those nights anymore; my spirit on the other hand could not stop boasting in my Jesus).
"Then those who feared the LORD talked with each other, and the LORD listened and heard. A scroll of remembrance was written in his presence concerning those who feared the LORD and honored his name." Malachi 3:16

I have not ceased thinking about this verse since my slumber-party with my siestas on Friday night.

Can you just picture Him leaning a bit on the edge of His holy Throne, His ears inclined to hear your voice as you talk about Him? Taking notes!!!??? I don't mean to imply that He is on some egotistical trip of pride, but I suspect He loves hearing the heart of His children come to further grasp how wonderful He is. In so grasping who He is, they become more devastated by His love. To know Him is to love Him girlfriends.

Take the time to boast in the Lord with one another. Be encouraged by one another. Ask each other the hard questions. Laugh until your sides ache. The Lord will set your heart to burn with the glory of His Name. I just get the giggles picturing Him leaning over to one of the angels, giving them a holy elbow nod, and going 'Did you hear that? She thinks I'm Wonderful. She thinks I am faithful in that situation." A big smile just must come across His face as He nods back to me in the unseen heavenlies, with a knee-slap of delight echoing through the skies, saying 'Yes child' back to me! And the angels cry 'Holy, Holy, Holy' all the meanwhile.

I don't want Him to have cliff notes. Bless the Lord, all my soul, and all that is within me, bless His holy name.' (Psalm 103). Sisters, sometimes you may have to command your soul to 'bless the Lord,' but His person alone is enough reason to praise Him. But I'm sure it will be fine if you go to bed earlier than 4 in the morning from doing so!


Scroll-writing girlfriends


30 comments:

Lindsee Lou said...

So fun! I love those nights...and I have 'those' girls!

Last time we were up till 5:30 in the stinking morning. Are you kidding me?!!?! We had to be up at 8:00. We are insane. And then I drove 6 hours home.

Thank you, Jesus that I am still alive after making stupid choices! ;)

So fun, and I still love the dress! ;)

Lyndy said...

So fun for sure. Nights with the girls are some of the best.

Loved the pictures...you are so dang cute.

Hugs, Lyndy

jennyhope said...

I think I recognize the girl on the right in the 3rd pic down as the one singing into her water bottle on one of your previous posts! I wish you lived near me girlfriend. I guess blog land will just have to do! I am so glad the Lord sovereignly let me meet you!
Cant wait to go see Beth soon!
I love your heart and the pics of you are so pretty! love you my siesta! the funniest thing btw is that I used to be able to pull the all nighters and after i had Shelby and Morgan my body cant take it. I was on the phone with a girl one night and she had a real monotone voice...would you believe i fell asleep while she was talking! He who watches over Israel neither slumbers nor sleeps thank goodness!

debra parker said...

Can I be a true girl here and tell you that I love the black dress...love it.

I also love all that you had to say. sweet words.

Anonymous said...

Read your blog about your future a few days ago. I am praying that God will help you to TRUST HIM with your future....even these days of waiting is part of your testimony that HE will use for others. I want you to watch James Robison's daily program today....the Lord just reminded me of you as I was listening to Kathy Trocolli interviewing Priscilla Shirer....I believe God has a "word" for you today!! Be blessed....HE KNOWS THE WAY THAT YOU TAKE...AND AFTER THIS TESTING...YOU WILL COME FORTH AS GOLD(because your feet Shelley have kept to His way without turning aside....and you have not departed from the commands of His precious lips; you have treasured His words more than your daily bread.) Job 23:10-12
www.lifetoday.org (the program is aired online if u dont catch it on ur tv. I'm sure u know this since Beth is on every wed.) :o)
Blessings!
Donna

Little Steps Of Faith said...

Hi Shelly:)
Awww, I love that you got to spend time with your girls:)
i haven't had much time to do that lately, but I am do for one:)

I love how you had verses for each part of it. Its very cool.

I had a dream this morning that Beth Moore was in, I know you would love to read about, quite an unexpected one.

But maybe it was because I was watching the " Ten Commandments" before bed. You know the whole Promised land part in " Believing God?." ?

Anyways, I AM leaving for FL tonight.

I hope you have a great day!

Ang

Jenny said...

Isn't girl time just so wonderful and therapeutic? Your true friends are the ones you can stay up with till 4:30am just chatting and sharing our God's love with one another! You are a beautiful daughter of Jesus Miss Shelly (Type A!!) :) Have a wonderful day!

mandy said...

FUN!!!!
so glad you got some girl time.
:)

LeRay said...

Sounds like a wonderful girlie time! What a blessing to have that many sweet friends. Thanks for leaving comments on my blog, it's "nice to meet you" in blog world I guess. I will be back, I am anxious to see how God provides for the seminary thing. My husband attended seminary after college, we had just gotten married, so money was an issue. I received a phone call one day out of the blue saying that a scholarship I had applied for the semester before had "extra" money. WHAT?? So they wanted to give it to me, despite the fact I was in my LAST sememster of college. They just cut me a check. Crazy!! Yes. God showing up!! YES!!! That paid for the start of seminary. Just thought I would share in hopes of encouraging. Sorry so long!

My Heavenly Wings said...

Sounds like yall had a great time in the Lord. That's one of the little things that God let's us experience sometimes just so we can share his love. I just love those little moments. I thought that you and your friends glowed with the joy of the Lord in your picture together. I hope you have a wonderful day today.

jennyhope said...

Shelly! I was thinking of you last night when I was reading Systematic Theology by Wayne Grudem. Girl that book does nothing but point me to the greatness of God. I thought you would enjoy it. It takes a LONG time to get thru! Also, how is Bible works coming? Have you figured it out?
Can't wait to come to Atlanta in a couple weeks!!

Kiran Thadhani said...

Oh girl,

Malachi 3:16 gives me goosebumps when I read it. I love love love that verse! AH!! So beautiful!

This weekend was so wonderful! I love you.

Kiran Thadhani said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Christina said...

What a wonderful weekend!!!! :-)

Heather said...

Great post! Isn't girl time great? Makes me miss my girls back in ATL from the youth group we led ...

holy chaos said...

""Then those who feared the LORD talked with each other, and the LORD listened and heard. A scroll of remembrance was written in his presence concerning those who feared the LORD and honored his name." Malachi 3:16"

Wow!!!! that is a cool verse that I have never read!!!!!

you ate ALL of your tree size broccoli??? funny image! hehehe : )

xoxox

coreygk said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
coreygk said...

you have a ton of comments

Lisa Bolling said...

I am so glad you had a great time with your girlfriends. I hope you will be able to remain close as the years roll by. Girltime with good friends is so important.
And, again, you have touched me with your post.
I just luv ya, girlfriend.

Toknowhim said...

My best friend and I love talking about Jesus, and the work that He is doing in our lives. There is rarely a conversation we have that doesn't include a mention of his sweet name.

My friend and I are being transformed more and more each day into his likeness. The journey is not always easy (and boy do, I see my sin so clearly at times) She said something this week about the journey just being FUN. At first, I thought fun was not the right word, but the more I think of it.. FUN is a great word to describe the journey with JESUS.. Fun is just one word to describe an indescribable Lord.

Blessings..

jennyhope said...

give me the low down on the dress???

Linda said...

Thank you so much for visiting - and for your comment. What a joyful blog you have. It looks like a wonderful time with special friends - doing terrific things together. You are all adorable!!

Unknown said...

Girls so totally rock! I love girls nights! I agree with Jenny though, I can't seem to hack an all nighter anymore! This mom needs to sleep at least a little!
If that special LPL for the Siestas ever happens that will be the most amazing night ever!

Profbaugh said...

Time with your girls and the LORD. Who could ask for anything more?

P.S. You all are so beautiful; you can really see Christ shining through! (Oh, and your dress rocks!)

Crazy for Christ,
~Cheryl

Linda said...

What a sweet post. It really looks and sounds like you and your friends had a great time. Thanks for the imagery. I am so visual and I can just see the Lord leaning over and listening in. Your posts really are a blessing.

Kiran Thadhani said...

along with everyone else...MAJOR ditto. That is a greatttt dress!

LOVE YOU! Sorry I'm such abig lurker!

Lisa @ The Preacher's Wife said...

how fun was that?? and did you wear all those cute outfits in two days time? i'm thinking you need to repent for being so stinkin' cute..LOL

Sharon Brumfield said...

i so agree that He sits in the heavenlies and listens. And I am sure there is a lot of writing going on in that book of remembrance.
I love boasting in my God too!

Janelle and Ella said...

I am always so encouraged by your posts! They always give me much to think about throughout the day.

And I totally love Forever 21 too. I am wearing a shirt right now from there!

connorcolesmom said...

Shelly,
I love the post and boasting in the Lord is so filling!!
I have not had girlfriend time in awhile but I look forward to it b/c we just praise Him and I leave so full of His joy!!
I too can picture Him delighting in us delighting and boasting in Him - love it!!
Have fun with your sister!
Be safe and I look forward to the recap!
Love,
Kim