Walking with Open Hands

There is an expression "holding with an open hand" which, in the Christian circles I've been in, indicates a willingness to be open to God's plans, to be open to His choice for the future plans.
Similarly, I read something that brought that concept to a whole new level, beautifully said by Darlene Wilkinson in "Secrets of the Vine for Women":

I grew up believing that everything I love, treasure, enjoy and consider good on earth is a gift from God. But I didn't understand that every gift in this life has a time limit. People die, possessions can be destroyed, and positions taken away. That's just the way life is. And if I assume that everything I hold in my hand today is mine to keep, I will be deeply disappointed. Ultimately, I'll begin to question God's character and His intentions toward me - and that can spell big trouble.

So besides keeping my hands open, I've imagined a place for an expiration date written on the back of each treasure in my life. Then I leave it up to God to fill in that date. Why not? He is the only one who knows my future anyway. And He is the only one who knows what would be best for me.

Walking without Words

Received in my email the other day from an old dear friend:

"You realize of course that you no longer have a blog. Blogging requires you to actually type something into the computer to share with the world. "

She's right. Sorry, world, I've been more quiet recently. Although, it's not all bad. This week I stumbled upon Psalm 46 which God led me to in a moment of need as I read,

"Be still and know that I am God."

~Psalm 46:10

And He is.

Walking through States

[With apologies for a loooong time between posts...]

“… for I have learned in whatever state I am to be content. I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. …” Apostle Paul (to the Philippians)

“…for I am learning in whatever state I am to be content. I know how to be in Massachusetts, and I know how to be in Georgia. Everywhere and in all things I am learning both to be in a hotel and in my home, both to cook and eat on the plane…” ~lg (to her darling friends at home)

This season in life has held a bit of business travel and lessons in contentment for me. Unlike Paul, who had learned, I am yet still learning. Gratefully God is gracious and allows me the time to learn the lesson.

Priase God for Good News from Beijing!

In Beijing a young man on our team made the choice to stay in Beijing and continue to serve the people of China. He writes in his blog an AMAZING story!!!

Printed in a Chinese newspaper is the story of a young man, searching for meaning, who began reading the Bible, and became a Christian.

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/metro/2010-03/17/content_9602273.htm

The significance of this story is that it is public, especially in a nation where persecution is in the recent past.

Proverbs 25:25
Like cold water to a weary soul is good news from a distant land.

Prayer Walking

When I feel busy I feel like I "don't have time to pray". Silly, really, in light of the fact that God gives us all we need to do all He asks (reference 2 Cor 9:8).
But today as I was (speed) walking home through Washington Sq Park, I saw two guys sitting on the concrete fountain rim, talking. And I thought, "That could be two friends from church, talking about God, talking about how to follow Jesus, how to love God and others." And I began praying for them, that they would talk about the weighty matters of life, that they would come to discuss life purpose and meaning. Then I passed two women sitting on a wooden bench, talking. And I began praying for them, too. That they would be encouraged and challenged to really ponder what life is about.

There is a song called "God of this City" which sings:
"You're the God of this city
You're the King of these people"

I do pray for New York City, that more see Him and His work and His love for His people.

Walking around Albany

One of my two darling roommates sang to me tonight..

"... cause you're leeee---aving .. on an Amtrak...

but we knowthat you will--ll be back..."

I joined in...

".. Wednesday, eight: thirty-four... I'll come in, right through the door..."

A little business trip to Albany for two days (nope, thankfully not government work). As I have more and more reasons (friends) who are in the Big Apple, the more I want to be in the city too.

Though I am grateful every day for the job God allows me to have, and know that travel comes with it, I may still pray that my trips are fewer and farther apart for work :-)

Vancouver 2010 ~ Downtown

If a picture is worth a thousand words, here's a short novella.

Downtown Vancouver during week one of the Winter Games!

http://picasaweb.google.com/lauragimpel/2010VancouverOlympicsDowntown?authkey=Gv1sRgCOLO6oewyqSdDg#

Walking around Whistler

I'm so grateful for the remarkable opportunity to attend the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver! Many direct answers to prayer, namely gorgeous weather all week long. (I keep hearing about these cities where it constantly rains but when I've visited I've yet to see it come true ;-)
We had a fantastic week, luge at Whistler Mountain Monday, Ice Hockey Wednesday (Czech v Slav, 3-1 final), and Curling Friday (Go Canada Go!). Between times gorgeous food with the Lee family. More soon...

God's Playlist

Every day I walk to and from work. It's about 25 minutes each way, and I find it's a great break to not be in front of a screen.

Over the holidays I had time to add some CDs to the iPod, including some Christian music, some oldies, and some of the Bible on Audio Book. I put it on shuffle when I'm walking and was tickled the other day when the story of the Israelites rejoicing after escaping from Egypt played (Exodus 15) followed by the hymn "Great is Thy Faithfulness"!

Though I'm still trying to figure out the other playlist connection... from Abraham's willingness to sacrifice Isaac and Aaron Neville's "Louisiana Christmas Day"

Walking & Stopping

In the movie Dave there is a great scene with a tour guide in the White House. She leads the group, saying, "We're walking... and we're walking. And we're stopping. And on your right is..."

This morning I read Ps 27:14

¹⁴ Wait on the LORD;
Be of good courage,
And He shall strengthen your heart;
Wait, I say, on the LORD!

At times God calls us to wait. Sometimes I think I know why. More frequently I haven't a clue. The story of the Israelites is helpful. We see, in hindsight, God sent Jacob and his eleven sons to Egypt purposefully (Genesis 46). There, the Israelites grew as a large nation under the protection of the Egyptian government. At precisely the right moment, God rescued them, parting seas and whatnot to make it happen.

Here's to courage during the wait, and hope for the future!

Playgrounds

Remember when you were five and you could walk up to another five year old and say "Want to be my friend?" And then you were.

I miss that...

Walking by the Tiles

On my walk to work are many tiles. It's part of the daily scenery, so some days I don't really see them. Other days I really do notice them, and remember the day they commemorate, September 11, 2001.

It was a day that is memorable for many of us. I was in NYC at the time, working for the high tech firm I still work for. We were a small office then, about 40 people in New York. On that morning, we were anticipating the first visit from our new CEO; he was coming in from California that day to meet us all.
A woman in our office got a call, stood up at her cube and said, "A plane just hit the World Trade Center." Immediately I had three thoughts. 1 - That was a really big mistake. 2 - My mom is going to worry! 3 - The verse I'd memorized that very week :

2 Peter 3
¹¹ Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, ¹² looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? ¹³ Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.

And I was comforted. Strangely, I felt that God knew somehow that this would happen. The heavens were on fire right before my eyes. And the evil that brought this to be was in fact evil. In the future, in Heaven, God will see a perfectly just world. Although our world is filled with evil, it is not beyond God's notice. He is kind to point us toward the future - Heaven - and His perfect world of righteousness.

As a footnote, I'm happy to say that God allowed the phone lines to stay up long enough for me to call my mother, grandmother, and brother. Gratefully all those I knew in the city were well, and the memory of the day, though difficult, is highlighted by the memory of His promise of the future new heavens and new earth.

Orange Colored Sky

I was walking along... minding my business..

When out of an orange colored sky... Flash! Bam! Ala-kazam!

Wonder-full you came by...

Last week I was walking along, and yes, I was in fact minding my business. It was after a normal day at work, followed by doing something for a friend. Feeling a little - not low but not buoyant... quiet maybe - I got off the subway at an inconvenient stop. Just a little bit longer to walk home, it was cold, but I knew doing something for my friend was important that night. So I pulled my scarf up a bit, and began hurrying home. When I saw it! The WAFFLE Truck!

A month prior Nic & Vin had been raving about the Belgian Waffle truck that has the best Belgian waffles and was in a new location every day. Read: waffles, Yum! location, inconvenient. But this was Right There! Literally in my path. Of course I stopped. And it was delicious! A little blessing from God, a fun orange-colored (or yellow-colored) truck with lovely delicious Belgian waffles!

But that's not all....

I had been looking for the movie Love Actually, and it was difficult to find, actually. So as I'm munching on my lovely Belgian waffle, served hot on a chilly January night, what should I see but Flash! Bam! a dvd store closing! With tremendous discounts on... that's right. Love Actually.

God gave me little flashes of an Orange Colored Sky that night ~ as I was minding my business doing my best to do the right thing. Here's to a gracious God who delights in the little things.