There is little transition (besides the changing color of the leaves), it just kinda hits us like a ton of bricks. Honestly, and oddly enough, I kinda like it. I enjoy getting back into a routine and being busy. For some reason I become much more productive when I have NO free time on my hands. However, with that, it is easy to become yet again distracted by “tomorrows worries” and “past regrets”. Let’s all take this change in season to allow for a change in season of heart as well. Allow yourself to acknowledge today as a glorious gift. Live life abundantly, and allow yourself to experience God’s grace today, tomorrow and forever. And so folks, “Let’s SHINE on…”

What’s in a name? As the Park is to the City, so the Word is to Life. Central Park is comprised of 843 acres– an area that constitutes less than 6% of the entire island of Manhattan. Despite its small bite out of the Big Apple, the Park has a huge impact on the lives of New Yorkers. Similarly, the Word is life-restoring for Christians. Despite its small size, the Bible’s impact on our lives far exceeds that of any other book on our shelves. In it, we can run about in joy, explore meaningful truths, and delight in God’s promises. The founder of Park Forum, Bethany is an email friend of mine. She has a BIG heart the is bursting with love for the Lord, and I encourage you to support her work in the city!

So, that is where is all began. You might be wondering what that little 125 x 125 pixel square geometric grid of green, white and black is on the right hand side-bar. Let me tell you, it’s your direct link to The Park Forum. Whether you’re a New Yorker of not, the site is worth subscribing too. Their daily urban devotional, Morning Walk, serves up a warm dose of inspiration to me everyday! These quick reflections don’t take a lot of time to read through, but ADD a lot of “goodness” to your day. It is for sure to be added to your blog feed after you visit, also serving as a reminder that…”in whatever we do (even in reading online blog posts), in word or in deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.” (Colossians 3:17)!

[if you feel called to support The Park Forum, you can do so by mail or you can choose from their online donation methods here]

I had a minor late night break down one night last week. I have decided that change is super exciting, but in reality it is straight up scary. I called my sister, knowing that she would be the only one up – at 11:30 PM – that I really wanted to talk to. I just started thinking about what is to come in the next few months, creating scenarios in my head, leading to worry. Ugh…I am such a planner, and sometimes that is just a flat out awful thing. My sister, and all her 16 years of wisdom, calmed my heart reminding me of Jeremiah 29:11. Then – yes the Lord is so sneaky – I got this email from Stan today via his work daily devotion emails, which coincidentally plays off of Sundays sermon I talked about here (@ the end of the post). I’ll interject in bold:

When the Future seems Uncertain  by Rick Warren

“For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans … to give you a future and a hope … You will find me when you seek me, if you look for me in earnest.” Jeremiah 29:11, 13 (LB) No matter what the pollsters, pundits, and prognosticators claim, no one can accurately predict all that is going to happen this year, let alone in the next few weeks. Our best forecasts are just educated guesses. [like James 4:14 tells us “…you do not know” and frankly worry is the result of assuming that “you know”] Change is not only increasing in speed and intensity, but also in unpredictability. The Bible suggests three timeless principles for facing an uncertain future: Set goals according to God’s direction [as Tim Keller put it in the church sermon at Redeemer last Sunday, “let go of the American Life Control Illusion”] It’s foolish to make plans without first consulting God. He’s the only one who DOES know the future – and he’s eager to guide you through it. The Bible says, “We may make our plans, but God has the last word.” (Proverbs 16:1) In other words, planning without praying is presumption. Start by praying, “God, what do YOU want me to do in 2010?” Live one day at a time — While you can plan for tomorrow, you can’t live it until it arrives. Most people spend so much time regretting the past and worrying about the future, they have no time to enjoy today! John Lennon once wrote, “Life is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans.” Decide to make the most of each moment this year. Jesus said, “Don’t be anxious about tomorrow – God will take care of your tomorrows. Live one day at a time.” (Matthew 6:34) Don’t procrastinate – DO IT NOW! – “Don’t boast [boasting=corrosion of you from the inside out, see James 5:3] about what you’re going to do tomorrow, for you don’t know what a day may bring forth.” (Proverbs 27:1) Procrastinating is a subtle trap. It wastes today by postponing things until tomorrow. You promise yourself that you’ll do it “one of these days.” But “one of these days” is usually “none of these days.” What did you plan to get done last year that you didn’t do? When do you intend to start working on it?

My heart now rest in the fact that God WILL work out His sovereign will…submit your lives to him and let him be the perfect architect, designer, & crafter of your life!

(images via flickr: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 &  7)

You are in for lots of fun and excitement. This post is jammed full of some of my very favorites in NYC. Including a lot of “design & tasty favorites” for sure. Why I was editing some of my pictures, I got to thinking about the City and some observations I made while I was there. The city is fascinating, every single time I go (I think it has been 11 times now?) I discover something new and amazing. Yet, there are some “discoveries” I find myself revisiting over and over and over again! I will share those with you in a few. For now, here are some observations/conclusions I came to this time: 

• subway tiles sure glisten in House Beautiful and  Interior Design Magazine, but that’s not quite the case in the NYC subway

(*image via flickr)

• young children seem more well-behaved and content in comparison to children in the South (they are pretty happy just being pushed in their strollers)
• women wear less make-up than in the South
• canned drinks are always served or purchased with a straw (I like this b/c I despise of putting my mouth on that dirty/dusty can)
• healthy (and super yummy) food is SO easily accessible
• 8:00pm dinner reservations are completely normal. Dinner at 6:00pm? Sorry we are still working! 
• brunch on the weekend is a must, a pretty good cure for people’s late nights
• talk! Engage in conversation, I promise you will meet some really cool people!
• The city is the ultimate test of a rock solid faith
• has the most unique venues for children
• has cobblestone lined streets, like Rome, in TriBeCa
• has really confusing check out system @ Whole Foods-Union Square; God Bless any non-english speaking visitors
• and look out for details in EVERYTHING…

I mean really, where else can you find a “Cupcake Truck?” 

Those are just some of many discoveries I made while I was on my weekend getaway. And maybe I was the most exhausted from simply being over-stimulated, not from all the walking? I do not know, but when I constantly see things that you LOVE, I cannot sketch, photograph, or even wrap my brain around things quick enough before I have already moved on to the next things. For instance, I enter the ABC Home Store and before I can stop drooling over how absolutely precious this circular, bow chandelier would be in a little girls room…

I was totally enamored by the racks of napkin rings I could use to create any table setting theme I wanted. 

And to make matters worse  I continued trekking up Sixth Avenue until I saw the flying banners…M&J Trimming. Talk about over stimulation. I have never, ever in my life seen some many beautiful ribbons, trims, buttons, appliques, you name it-they got it! 

I just could not leave empty handed. I tried to think forward to some projects I have coming up, and some things I might need. I ended up buying a yard of a handful of different trims & ribbons, simply for fun. [You can purchase online, but those pictures do not do the product justice. There is nothing like seeing and touching this stuff for real!]

I really wanted a few yards of some trim to coordinate with the fabric for curtains I had made for my room last fall. One problem-I didn’t have sample of the fabric. I took a gamble, and bought what I thought would coordinate anyway. Well lookie here…it is perfect. I was thrilled. 

and over an hour later…I made it out without a heart attack caused by excitement. Then a few blocks away, I got really excited for someone who was about to receive their new pillows from the delivery man. I have seen this fabric used many times, and it is just gorgeous. Lucky client… [I know this delivery man was curious as to why I'd decided to snap a picture of him working]

Next stop, Fishs Eddy. Needless to say, based on the sign below, I am pretty disappointed the TSA doesn’t allow knives in your carry-on. 

Later I discovered a piece of the Berlin Wall smack in the middle of Manhattan. I was also pretty excited to take a rest in a Bertoia Chair. 

and later on:

Love it! From a flower shop that I passed in the West Village on my to…

Chelsea Market where I ended standing at the window of Amy’s Bread completely smitten by these men and women hard a work making bread. I came to the conclusion that I might like a job here. It wasn’t like me trying to bake at home…they could of completely cared-less as to the fact that flour was literally flying! Oh and FYI for those who do not know: Chelsea Market is in the Meatpacking District, it is an urban food/shopping court. Also, one of the big tenants-the Food Network. The space was designed by the famous Japanese architect Tadao Ando. 

And my other BIG artsy adventure, a trip to the MoMA (Tim Burton collection currently on exhibit). 

every thing about the museum fascinated me. from the signage, 

to the high-chairs in the museum cafe, 

and even the amazing architectural thought behind the design. Sensational, you could visually see the circulation through the museum floors…it was like living art. 

the museum is home to endless pieces of modern work:

anything from an old suit,

to Starry Night, by Dutch post-impressionist, Vincent vanGogh

Last but not least, Redeemer Church. One word: WOW! I went to the Sunday night West Side service. It was sensational. Dr. Timothy Keller preached on the book of James. The series: The Gospel of God in Community – “A Community of Justice”. This weeks sermon isn’t up yet, but last weeks is here. It was really a bold message, but very engaging. He spoke of the Life of Breath (James Ch.4) and the Breath of Life (the Holy Spirit). He walked the congregation through the scripture, James 4:13-5:6. In a nutshell we must remember that Life is a gift of our gracious God, and we must abandon the American “Life Control Illusion” we fall into as fools (blind to reality) of this world. 

Okay, I am going to wrap post #1 up now. I have a few other dining experiences I want to share with you. But…it is late, and I am tired. The whole airport experience drains my energy, or maybe it is the fact that I am back to reality now. Who knows, but for now – Good Night!