Let’s get down to business, Mulan-style. Today’s been one of those days when I want to write about everything, but probably shouldn’t. Writers back me up here. So, to keep me from trying to solve the world’s problems, let’s talk business.

This blog has purpose. Much like it’s creator. 

My purpose (in case you didn’t know) is to glorify God, the one true God, and enjoy Him forever. My friend, Peggy, recently reminded me of the story of Eric Liddell. Liddell was a Scottish Christian who loved to run. He says, “I believe God made me for a purpose, but he also made me fast. And when I run I feel His pleasure.” He was an olympic runner. This got me thinking… Writing is one of the few places on this earth where I find the most joy and contentment in our Lord. I should be a good steward of the talent he has given me. Putting it to practice and sharing it with others so that maybe, just maybe, they might see the glory of God in a well written sentence or an inspiring metaphor or even a conversational voice. 

Being the creator of this blog, Becoming Beulah, its purpose is to serve as a platform to share those findings with you. I hope you will be a reader. I hope you will find something here that makes you think or remember or imagine. I hope you find beauty and truth here. And if you don’t, reprimand me and call me back to my purpose. To share the truth of beauty in brokenness - that is the gospel - through writing. 

You will find quotes from literature, film, maybe even political figures; lyrics; chords; anecdotes; pictures; videos; art - any variety of medium - all an inspiration to me. A string of unconnected events or encounters that have taught my spirit the truth. 

That string will inevitably result in an occasional selection of writing crafted by the sweep of God’s sovereign hand in my life which brought about certain experiences that couldn’t go without being written and documented. 

Please read. Hold me accountable to the truth. Comment. Help me be a good steward of my talent - make me a better writer, demand it. 

I should warn you that you will find the truth here. You will find beauty here though it may not look like what you imagined. Beauty will be in the redemption of broken things. Therein lies the truth. Our righteousness is as filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6) and He loves us. 

A taste of what’s to come:

Walking out of Spirits felt a little like letting out a sigh of relief. Djarum Lights in my left hand. “Eight bucks for a box that will be half smoked by my friends,” muttered under my breath without my permission. I felt suspicious, like I was watching myself from that police car that always parked at the bank juxtaposed to the liquor store. Paying for fiber glass filled sticks of memories.

Friends on being a consumer:

Phoebe: Uck, look at this! Pottery Barn, yuck!

Rachel: Yeah, y’know what? Don’t look at it. (Realizes the display is their living room) Seriously, don’t look at it. (Tries to pull Phoebe away.)

Phoebe: No! Look-look! There’s the coffee table they stole from us!

Rachel: Ugh, those bastards! Let’s go.

Phoebe: That fan kinda looks like ours. And the birdcage and the…wait a sec! This is our exact living room!

Rachel: No! No! No! No it’s not! No it’s not! Come on! Phoebe, ours is totally different! I mean we don’t have the… (Looks desperately for something different.) We don’t have the…that lamp! And-and that screen is y’know, on the other side.

Phoebe: Oh my God. This is where you got all our stuff, Pottery Barn! Oh my God!

Rachel: Okay! Okay-okay look—no I did, I just wanted this stuff and I know how you feel about Pottery Barn. Just… Come on don’t be mad.

Phoebe: No-no-no, but I am mad! I am mad! Because this stuff is everything that is wrong with the world! And it’s all sitting up in my living room and all I can think about is how I don’t have that lamp!

Thanks www.livesinabox.com/friends for the script!

Elaine from Seinfeld defending her goodness:

“Yeah, and when I see freaks in the street I never, ever stare at them. Yet, I’m careful not to look away, you know, because I want to make the freaks feel comfortable.”

Dear Elaine, thanks for being honest so the rest of us can be.

My church, www.2cities.org, has been praying fervently for the Lord’s guidance as we participate in the ministry of mercy in our neighborhoods, workplaces, and playgrounds. In a personal mission to escape the mercy mission at hand, I found myself heart heavy watching Seinfeld’s “The Lip Reader” episode from which the above quote is found. 

Counting the cost. 

So, who’s Beulah? 

Inquiring minds want to know, I hear. Okay, okay, don’t get your panties in a wad. I’ll tell you. 

Meet Beulah… 

For Zion’s sake I will not keep silent, And for Jerusalem’s sake I will not keep quiet. Until her righteousness goes forth like brightness, And her salvation like a torch that is burning. And the nations will see your righteousness, And all kings your glory; And you will be called by a new name, Which the mouth of the Lord will designate. You will also be a crown of beauty in the hand of the Lord, And a royal diadem in the hand of your God. It will no longer be said to you, “Azubah (Forsaken),” Nor to your land will it any longer be said, “Shemamah (Desolate)”; But you will be called “Hephzibah (My delight is in her),” And your land, “Beulah (Married)”; For the Lord delights in you, And to him your land will be married.* 

Not enough? Then please keep reading. You’ll find her becoming amid these tangled words in the form of anecdotes that make you smile or make you think, current events to include especially awkward moments, promises and real life insights, and in the words of mini creators creating creative creations. (and I guess alliteration too.) 

I found Beulah in Word. I hope to extend the favor. 

*Isaiah 62:1-4

From Will & Grace “Sour Balls”: Too funny and random not to post.

Karen: I’m ashamed of you. And not just because you look like an audience member from The Price Is Right.

Ellen: Excuse me, this is Ann Taylor Loft.

Karen: (with a Cockney accent) Yes and I bet when you walked down the street they all loft

Hi. My name’s Jordan Rae, and I suck at blogging.

I turn twenty-four in a week. Each year sounds more “grown-up” than the last. I was really looking forward to twenty-three because I liked the sound of it. I’m partial to odd numbers. When I was twenty-two, I had plans. When I was twenty-three, those plans were thwarted. Now, I’m about to be twenty-four, and there’s a new plan in action. I’m doing something totally different. I’ve got high hopes for twenty-four. I’ve recently started fondly referring to the twenty-somethings as “The Lost Years”.  I remember telling a woman I respect at the start of 2009: “I really want to make the most of the time.” Meaning: I just graduated from college. All the plans I made have suddenly fell through except for this ‘ballin part-time nannying gig I’ve been doing for close to two years. Now, I have all the free time in the world, and I want to do the right thing, but I’m so concerned about doing the right thing that I won’t do anything at all. So, here we are, a year later and I’d like to tell you the same thing: “I really want to make the most of the time.” Maybe this is my year. Twenty-four; Twenty-four hours in a day. Surely! If not, it’ll still be okay. I’ll be okay. Though, there will be days I won’t think I’m okay. I will be. So, this is a story all about how my life got twisted turned upside down. I’d like to take a minute- just sit right there. I’ll tell you how I became a claims clerk living in North Georgetown…

…errrr! (sound of brakes).  This was written four months ago. Since then, I bought a house, got a dog, and had a crush. I’m a little behind. The goodness you read above was the one and only blog post to grace the walls of www.northgeorgetownsessions.wordpress.com. It’s pathetic, but then again it’s how I found my way to tumblr. It’s how I found my way to you, good looking. So, maybe, just maybe, it’s true what they say, “the third time’s the charm”.  or the fourth. or the fifth. or maybe I’m just afraid of commitment. Whatever my problem is,  I hope you’ll come with me while I become Beulah.