love this song...besides the fact that i've never been able to hear the whole song without shedding a tear...the fact that it is sung by such a young girl...with such passion...simply beautiful! enjoy your weekends...
may He guide You with His grace...
Friday, July 30, 2010
Thursday, July 29, 2010
the boy...the sign...a new perspective...
love this story...
A blind boy sat on the steps of a building with a hat by his feet. He held up a sign which said: "I am blind, please help." There were only a few coins in the hat.
A man was walking by. He took a few coins from his pocket and dropped them into the hat. He then took the sign, turned it around, and wrote some words. He put the sign back so that everyone who walked by would see the new words.
Soon the hat began to fill up. A lot more people were giving money to the blind boy.
That afternoon the man who had changed the sign came to see how things were. The boy recognized his footsteps and asked, "Were you the one who changed my sign this morning? What did you write?"
The man said, "I only wrote the truth. I said what you said but in a different way." I wrote: "Today is a beautiful day but I cannot see it."
Both signs told people that the boy was blind. But the first sign simply said the boy was blind. The second sign told people that they were so lucky that they were not blind. Should we be surprised that the second sign was more effective?
Moral of the Story: Be thankful for what you have. Be creative. Be innovative. Think differently and positively. When life gives you a 100 reasons to cry, show life that you have 1000 reasons to smile. Face your past without regret. Handle your present with confidence. Prepare for the future without fear. Keep the faith and drop the fear.
A blind boy sat on the steps of a building with a hat by his feet. He held up a sign which said: "I am blind, please help." There were only a few coins in the hat.
A man was walking by. He took a few coins from his pocket and dropped them into the hat. He then took the sign, turned it around, and wrote some words. He put the sign back so that everyone who walked by would see the new words.
Soon the hat began to fill up. A lot more people were giving money to the blind boy.
That afternoon the man who had changed the sign came to see how things were. The boy recognized his footsteps and asked, "Were you the one who changed my sign this morning? What did you write?"
The man said, "I only wrote the truth. I said what you said but in a different way." I wrote: "Today is a beautiful day but I cannot see it."
Both signs told people that the boy was blind. But the first sign simply said the boy was blind. The second sign told people that they were so lucky that they were not blind. Should we be surprised that the second sign was more effective?
Moral of the Story: Be thankful for what you have. Be creative. Be innovative. Think differently and positively. When life gives you a 100 reasons to cry, show life that you have 1000 reasons to smile. Face your past without regret. Handle your present with confidence. Prepare for the future without fear. Keep the faith and drop the fear.
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
the pure in heart...
there once was a pharisee named simon...who was quite sure that if God had a list of favorites...he would be near the top...as a member of the jewish elite...he prided himself on keeping the ten commandments and wore robes to set himself apart from the common rabble of humanity...and as a jew...like generations before him...simon was waiting for God to send the promised Savior...
there once was a woman who was just as certain...however...she was certain to be on no one’s list...she knew she was worthy of nothing but contempt from the men and women she encountered...she was a woman who had kept neither God’s nor man’s rules...and had no hope of ever being accepted...
then there was Jesus in the middle of it all...confusing and bewildering...He was breaking man’s laws to follow God’s...and showering love on those who believed they deserved it least...
these three individuals are the key players in a story found in luke 7, verses 36-50...simon had invited Jesus to dinner...then showed Him no common courtesy...Jesus’ feet weren’t washed...His cheeks weren’t kissed and His head wasn’t anointed with oil...everyone in attendance would have noticed these breaches in polite behavior...the air must have been thick with tension...it was as if simon had slapped Jesus in the face...
as the dinner progressed...a woman crossed the courtyard...she knelt beside Jesus...tears coursed down her cheeks...landing in splashes on Jesus’ feet...she took her unbound hair and gently wiped the muddy spots from Jesus’ feet...she then anointed them with perfume...Jesus’ feet were dirty...cracked and calloused...but they were beautiful to her...
scripture doesn’t tell us how this woman knew about Jesus...but it is clear she knew enough to act with an extravagance that speaks of great love and gratitude...
simon must have been disgusted with this display of emotion...simon the judge...whose heart was bound by pride...judges the woman and Jesus...there was no love in simon’s heart...
it’s at this time that Jesus reads simon’s thoughts...simon said to himself, “if this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of a woman she is – that she is a sinner...” Jesus then goes on to acknowledge simon’s thoughts...and teach a lesson about forgiveness and love...
what strikes me about this story isn’t the parable that Jesus teaches...which is important enough to address on its own...but it is the fact that simon had been waiting all his life to see the Messiah...Jesus was the fulfillment of the promise to all of simon’s ancestors...and yet...when the Messiah – God incarnate...walked into simon’s home...simon didn’t recognize Him...
in matthew 5...Jesus taught what we now call “the beatitudes.” in verse 8...Jesus speaks these words, “blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.” the truth of these words was demonstrated in the story of simon...
simon made sure the outside of his life looked really good...but he neglected the condition of his heart...simon didn’t see his need for forgiveness...or his need for a Savior...the woman in the story had just the opposite condition...the outside of her life was a wreck before she met Jesus...but she knew her desperate need for salvation...her heart was stripped of pride and was overflowing with love...now consider...which one saw God?
a pure heart…the ability to see God…is it possible for me? only with God’s help and a willingness to be brutally honest about the sin that’s been hiding in my heart...i know i would rather have the heart of that woman and see God act in my life...than be bound by pride and miss Him...
there once was a woman who was just as certain...however...she was certain to be on no one’s list...she knew she was worthy of nothing but contempt from the men and women she encountered...she was a woman who had kept neither God’s nor man’s rules...and had no hope of ever being accepted...
then there was Jesus in the middle of it all...confusing and bewildering...He was breaking man’s laws to follow God’s...and showering love on those who believed they deserved it least...
these three individuals are the key players in a story found in luke 7, verses 36-50...simon had invited Jesus to dinner...then showed Him no common courtesy...Jesus’ feet weren’t washed...His cheeks weren’t kissed and His head wasn’t anointed with oil...everyone in attendance would have noticed these breaches in polite behavior...the air must have been thick with tension...it was as if simon had slapped Jesus in the face...
as the dinner progressed...a woman crossed the courtyard...she knelt beside Jesus...tears coursed down her cheeks...landing in splashes on Jesus’ feet...she took her unbound hair and gently wiped the muddy spots from Jesus’ feet...she then anointed them with perfume...Jesus’ feet were dirty...cracked and calloused...but they were beautiful to her...
scripture doesn’t tell us how this woman knew about Jesus...but it is clear she knew enough to act with an extravagance that speaks of great love and gratitude...
simon must have been disgusted with this display of emotion...simon the judge...whose heart was bound by pride...judges the woman and Jesus...there was no love in simon’s heart...
it’s at this time that Jesus reads simon’s thoughts...simon said to himself, “if this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of a woman she is – that she is a sinner...” Jesus then goes on to acknowledge simon’s thoughts...and teach a lesson about forgiveness and love...
what strikes me about this story isn’t the parable that Jesus teaches...which is important enough to address on its own...but it is the fact that simon had been waiting all his life to see the Messiah...Jesus was the fulfillment of the promise to all of simon’s ancestors...and yet...when the Messiah – God incarnate...walked into simon’s home...simon didn’t recognize Him...
in matthew 5...Jesus taught what we now call “the beatitudes.” in verse 8...Jesus speaks these words, “blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.” the truth of these words was demonstrated in the story of simon...
simon made sure the outside of his life looked really good...but he neglected the condition of his heart...simon didn’t see his need for forgiveness...or his need for a Savior...the woman in the story had just the opposite condition...the outside of her life was a wreck before she met Jesus...but she knew her desperate need for salvation...her heart was stripped of pride and was overflowing with love...now consider...which one saw God?
a pure heart…the ability to see God…is it possible for me? only with God’s help and a willingness to be brutally honest about the sin that’s been hiding in my heart...i know i would rather have the heart of that woman and see God act in my life...than be bound by pride and miss Him...
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
the knots prayer...
dear God;
please untie the knots
that are in my mind,
my heart and my life.
remove the have nots,
the can nots and the do nots
that i have in my mind.
erase the will nots,
may nots,
might nots that may find
a home in my heart.
release me from the could nots,
would nots and
should nots that obstruct my life.
and most of all,
dear God,
i ask that you remove from my mind,
my heart and my life all of the am nots
that i have allowed to hold me back,
especially the thought
that i am not good enough.
amen
author known to God
Monday, July 26, 2010
the long walk in the valley...
one of my favorite things to do is hiking...i live in an area that is pretty close to some incredible hiking spots...where you feel like you are lost in the lush of forest...or valleys so deep...all within about a 25 minute drive...there have been a few moments...when hiking...where i got in so deep...and became so tired...that i thought i would never make it out...
this happened to me about a week ago...it was warm outside...and it only got warmer as we headed down into the canyon...it was a great hike as we circled the interesting rock transformations...we wound our way down the valley with steep mountains on all sides...after a while...i was hot...tired and ready to sit down and relax...
as i rested on a rock...i looked up at the canyon rim...wiping salty sweat out of my eyes...it looked very far away...i wished for a shortcut to get out...but knew there wasn't any...short of calling in a helicopter...there was only one way out...and it was to walk across the valley and up the mountain...sitting there on that rock might give me a moment's rest...but it didn't get me out of the valley...
i've also been in other valleys...those of fear...worry and hopelessnes..i'll be honest...when i'm in those valleys...my inclination is to sit...fear paralyzes me...worry straps itself to my feet like weights...hopelessness misconstrues reality so i'm blinded to the truth...and so i stay...planted firmly in the valley of misery...over and over...i review how others have hurt me...and forecast possible fearful outcomes...none of those choices gets me out of the valley of misery...in fact...they get me nowhere...
what does get me out of those difficult valleys is when i keep walking...and walking to me is when i keep praying even though it seems like my prayers hit the ceiling...it's when i keep reading my bible...even though the words seem to have less meaning...it's when i keep going to church or a small group even when i'd rather stay home...it's singing songs of worship...even though my heart isn't soaring with joy...but when i keep doing those things...i take steps toward truth and eventually get out of the valley...
walking through a valley to me means doing the things that are healthy and God-honoring...even when i don't feel like doing them...there is always a way out of a valley...but it means i have to keep walking...then climb a mountain...and that takes work...but when i do the work...God rewards me with a breathtaking view...
God speaks to our hearts during these dark valleys...i need to remember that He is the truth...and not my circumstances...these are the times i ask Him for strength to do the right things...and not stay planted in misery during a time of difficulty...i long to be out of this valley...but i choose to praise Him at the bottom...and i will praise Him from the mountain top...for He alone is worthy...
this happened to me about a week ago...it was warm outside...and it only got warmer as we headed down into the canyon...it was a great hike as we circled the interesting rock transformations...we wound our way down the valley with steep mountains on all sides...after a while...i was hot...tired and ready to sit down and relax...
as i rested on a rock...i looked up at the canyon rim...wiping salty sweat out of my eyes...it looked very far away...i wished for a shortcut to get out...but knew there wasn't any...short of calling in a helicopter...there was only one way out...and it was to walk across the valley and up the mountain...sitting there on that rock might give me a moment's rest...but it didn't get me out of the valley...
i've also been in other valleys...those of fear...worry and hopelessnes..i'll be honest...when i'm in those valleys...my inclination is to sit...fear paralyzes me...worry straps itself to my feet like weights...hopelessness misconstrues reality so i'm blinded to the truth...and so i stay...planted firmly in the valley of misery...over and over...i review how others have hurt me...and forecast possible fearful outcomes...none of those choices gets me out of the valley of misery...in fact...they get me nowhere...
what does get me out of those difficult valleys is when i keep walking...and walking to me is when i keep praying even though it seems like my prayers hit the ceiling...it's when i keep reading my bible...even though the words seem to have less meaning...it's when i keep going to church or a small group even when i'd rather stay home...it's singing songs of worship...even though my heart isn't soaring with joy...but when i keep doing those things...i take steps toward truth and eventually get out of the valley...
walking through a valley to me means doing the things that are healthy and God-honoring...even when i don't feel like doing them...there is always a way out of a valley...but it means i have to keep walking...then climb a mountain...and that takes work...but when i do the work...God rewards me with a breathtaking view...
God speaks to our hearts during these dark valleys...i need to remember that He is the truth...and not my circumstances...these are the times i ask Him for strength to do the right things...and not stay planted in misery during a time of difficulty...i long to be out of this valley...but i choose to praise Him at the bottom...and i will praise Him from the mountain top...for He alone is worthy...
Friday, July 23, 2010
therapy at the farmer's market...
there is something so incredibly relaxing about a farmer's market...there was a time i used to go all the time...it was my weekly visit to get all my fruits and vegetables...and fresh flowers for the house...and then along the way...life got in the way...and i stopped...it has been a few years...
so yesterday...i was meeting a friend for dinner...and she suggested going to the farmers market first...which was conveniently located on the street of one of our favorite hangouts...
i had always gone on saturday mornings...so this was a little bit different...farmers market early evening...the streets were closed off...and it was THE most perfect day...weather wise...
after a week of being completely slammed with bad news after bad news...i needed to get out...and see "new" surroundings...
and as i write that...i am thinking..."God's timing is perfect" =)
i got there a little before my girlfriend...so as i waited...i noticed how quickly the stress of the week that i had been carrying was being lifted...
the combination of the sun...the live music...the people...the laughter...it was exactly what i needed...
my girlfriend & i walked around the farmer's market...surveying all the wonderful fruits & veggies...made our selections...and then ended up yacking the night away at one of our local jaunts...
all in all...a wonderful end to a horrible week...and a beautiful start to a much needed weekend...
so yesterday...i was meeting a friend for dinner...and she suggested going to the farmers market first...which was conveniently located on the street of one of our favorite hangouts...
i had always gone on saturday mornings...so this was a little bit different...farmers market early evening...the streets were closed off...and it was THE most perfect day...weather wise...
after a week of being completely slammed with bad news after bad news...i needed to get out...and see "new" surroundings...
and as i write that...i am thinking..."God's timing is perfect" =)
i got there a little before my girlfriend...so as i waited...i noticed how quickly the stress of the week that i had been carrying was being lifted...
the combination of the sun...the live music...the people...the laughter...it was exactly what i needed...
my girlfriend & i walked around the farmer's market...surveying all the wonderful fruits & veggies...made our selections...and then ended up yacking the night away at one of our local jaunts...
all in all...a wonderful end to a horrible week...and a beautiful start to a much needed weekend...
Thursday, July 22, 2010
deposits in the bank account...
love this email i received...it truly does depend on our perspective of things...and how we choose to look at situations...
A 92-year-old, petite, well-poised and proud man, who is fully dressed each morning by eight o'clock, with his hair fashionably combed and shaved perfectly, even though he is legally blind, moved to a nursing home today.
His wife of 70 years recently passed away, making the move necessary. After many hours of waiting patiently in the lobby of the nursing home, he smiled sweetly when told his room was ready.
As he maneuvered his walker to the elevator, I provided a visual description of his tiny room, including the eyelet sheets that had been hung on his window.
'I love it,' he stated with the enthusiasm of an eight-year-old having just been presented with a new puppy.
"Mr. Jones, you haven't seen the room; just wait."
'That doesn't have anything to do with it,' he replied.
Happiness is something you decide on ahead of time.
Whether I like my room or not doesn't depend on how the furniture is arranged ... it's how I arrange my mind. I already decided to love it.
'It's a decision I make every morning when I wake up. I have a choice; I can spend the day in bed recounting the difficulty I have with the parts of my body that no longer work, or get out of bed and be thankful for the ones that do. Each day is a gift, and as long as my eyes open, I'll focus on the new day and all the happy memories I've stored away.. Just for this time in my life.
Old age is like a bank account. You withdraw from what you've put in.
So, my advice to you would be to deposit a lot of happiness in the bank account of memories!
Thank you for your part in filling my Memory Bank.
I am still depositing.
'Remember the five simple rules to be happy:
1. Free your heart from hatred.
2. Free your mind from worries.
3. Live simply.
4. Give more.
5. Expect less.
A 92-year-old, petite, well-poised and proud man, who is fully dressed each morning by eight o'clock, with his hair fashionably combed and shaved perfectly, even though he is legally blind, moved to a nursing home today.
His wife of 70 years recently passed away, making the move necessary. After many hours of waiting patiently in the lobby of the nursing home, he smiled sweetly when told his room was ready.
As he maneuvered his walker to the elevator, I provided a visual description of his tiny room, including the eyelet sheets that had been hung on his window.
'I love it,' he stated with the enthusiasm of an eight-year-old having just been presented with a new puppy.
"Mr. Jones, you haven't seen the room; just wait."
'That doesn't have anything to do with it,' he replied.
Happiness is something you decide on ahead of time.
Whether I like my room or not doesn't depend on how the furniture is arranged ... it's how I arrange my mind. I already decided to love it.
'It's a decision I make every morning when I wake up. I have a choice; I can spend the day in bed recounting the difficulty I have with the parts of my body that no longer work, or get out of bed and be thankful for the ones that do. Each day is a gift, and as long as my eyes open, I'll focus on the new day and all the happy memories I've stored away.. Just for this time in my life.
Old age is like a bank account. You withdraw from what you've put in.
So, my advice to you would be to deposit a lot of happiness in the bank account of memories!
Thank you for your part in filling my Memory Bank.
I am still depositing.
'Remember the five simple rules to be happy:
1. Free your heart from hatred.
2. Free your mind from worries.
3. Live simply.
4. Give more.
5. Expect less.
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
thought for the day...
you are now 90 years old sitting outside and feel the spring breeze brushing against your face...you are blissful and happy and are pleased with the wonderful life you've been blessed with...looking back at your life and all that you've achieved and acquired...all the relationships you've developed...what ended up mattering to you the most?
make that your focus today...and everyday...
make that your focus today...and everyday...
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
loving through the quirks...
have you ever noticed when you move into a new place...after a few months...the quirks start to show...perhaps it is one of the burners on the stove not working on the low setting...or a piece of tile on the counter top not glued in all the way...maybe you find that the outlets in one of the rooms is wired wrong...which means sometimes the electricity in that room works...and sometimes it doesn't...perhap sometimes...if someone turns the water on in the upstairs bathroom...there is a high-pitched squealing noise in the pipes of the downstairs bathroom...hopefuly this does not happen in the middle of the night...jolting you out of a deep sleep... =)
i remember when i first moved into my home...i was so ready to get out of the old apartment...i wanted to get into the new one so i could get away from the old quirks...the faucet in the kitchen sink that didn't work quite right...the place in the floor where the linoleum had buckled by the door...the neighbors that were loud...when i first moved into this apartment...i thought i had escaped all of those annoying traits...and i had...i just hadn't counted on all the new ones that would pop up in the new apartment...i had counted on perfection on the other side of the fence...forgetting for a moment that we live in an imperfect world...a place where quirks abound...
the thing about quirks is that they usually aren't evident on the surface...you usually have to spend quite a bit of time...digging deeply to unearth the quirkiness of a person...place or thing...i didn't see all the quirks at the new apartment before i moved in...it took living here for several weeks before they became evident...
the same is true with people...you usually have to spend day in and day out together before they let their guard down enough to show you their quirks...before they trust you enough to let you see who they really are...the trick is to keep on loving them after you get that glimpse...seeing their faults and failures...their insecurities and idiosyncrasies...
i mean...am i sticking a sign in the yard of my apartment because i see some problems? not at all...i realize that my apartment is bound to have quirks...some i can work through and some i will just have to live with...
the other night i went to the movies with an old friend who knows me...quirks and all...she and i have had moments of struggle as we have learned to accept each other's quirks...through the years...we have learned to laugh about most of them and talk about the ones that we just don't get...as we sat together in the movies...i thought about how freeing it is to know and be known...to truly love someone is to embrace who they are...quirks and all...as we dig deeper and see what lies beneath the surface...we can choose to walk away or we can choose to stay...no matter what...
while this might be hard at times...it is what God requires of us...why? because it is the kind of love He has showed each of us...as 1 john 4:19 states..."we love because He first loved us." if He loves us...quirks and all...then He must want us to do the same...extending love in the same way we have received it...
i remember when i first moved into my home...i was so ready to get out of the old apartment...i wanted to get into the new one so i could get away from the old quirks...the faucet in the kitchen sink that didn't work quite right...the place in the floor where the linoleum had buckled by the door...the neighbors that were loud...when i first moved into this apartment...i thought i had escaped all of those annoying traits...and i had...i just hadn't counted on all the new ones that would pop up in the new apartment...i had counted on perfection on the other side of the fence...forgetting for a moment that we live in an imperfect world...a place where quirks abound...
the thing about quirks is that they usually aren't evident on the surface...you usually have to spend quite a bit of time...digging deeply to unearth the quirkiness of a person...place or thing...i didn't see all the quirks at the new apartment before i moved in...it took living here for several weeks before they became evident...
the same is true with people...you usually have to spend day in and day out together before they let their guard down enough to show you their quirks...before they trust you enough to let you see who they really are...the trick is to keep on loving them after you get that glimpse...seeing their faults and failures...their insecurities and idiosyncrasies...
i mean...am i sticking a sign in the yard of my apartment because i see some problems? not at all...i realize that my apartment is bound to have quirks...some i can work through and some i will just have to live with...
the other night i went to the movies with an old friend who knows me...quirks and all...she and i have had moments of struggle as we have learned to accept each other's quirks...through the years...we have learned to laugh about most of them and talk about the ones that we just don't get...as we sat together in the movies...i thought about how freeing it is to know and be known...to truly love someone is to embrace who they are...quirks and all...as we dig deeper and see what lies beneath the surface...we can choose to walk away or we can choose to stay...no matter what...
while this might be hard at times...it is what God requires of us...why? because it is the kind of love He has showed each of us...as 1 john 4:19 states..."we love because He first loved us." if He loves us...quirks and all...then He must want us to do the same...extending love in the same way we have received it...
Monday, July 19, 2010
when we need heart surgery...
one of my closest friends found out this week that her dad has leukemia...we talked alot about it...how she is feeling...and how her dad is feeling...does she want her dad to be well? absolutely...but more then that...she has a longing...here is a tiny portion of her email...God is already at work!
"There was a tremendous shift in my father's voice last night, and I truly believe that the healing of his heart has begun. I love my father and I am believing that he will come out better than ever! I want him to experience what a miracle feels like when God heals the mind, body and soul. I am confident that God will do this and that he will be glorified!"
God is so good...who are we to question how He works? His timing is perfect...when we choose to listen...God is speaking to us...the day that i spoke to my good friend...before we knew it was leukemia...i read this that evening...
"the heartache no one sees" by sheila walsh...
whether we are looking for sign and wonders...physical healing...or a balm for our wounded souls...underneath it all...what we are longing for is God...we might not recognize that...but we are made to be in intimate relationship with Him...when we are not...we try to fill that void with whatever we perceive to be our greatest felt need...underneath it all we want God to be real to us...to touch us...
God moves in many different ways...and who am i to say what God will do for anyone or how He might choose to manifest His presence? i have learned enough to know that God's ways and thoughts are outside my human capacity for reason...what troubles me...though...it that we seek what God might do instead of seeking God himself...what troubles me is that we are more after God's hand than God's face...
you could have every tooth in your head turn to gold...but what would it profit you in the long run? what we need is heart surgery...we need God to heal our broken hearts...God could heal your body...but if your heart is still full of pain...bitterness...and disappointment...the healing is limited to what would show up in an x-ray...
God asks that we be hungry for Him, seek Him, kneel down and roll our burdens onto Him...the greatest gift that you and i can give ourselves is to fall in love with Jesus...everything else in this life is temporary...only life with Him has any lasting meaning...let's not occupy our lives chasing after the latest craze...let's chase after the God who is crazy about us...
"There was a tremendous shift in my father's voice last night, and I truly believe that the healing of his heart has begun. I love my father and I am believing that he will come out better than ever! I want him to experience what a miracle feels like when God heals the mind, body and soul. I am confident that God will do this and that he will be glorified!"
God is so good...who are we to question how He works? His timing is perfect...when we choose to listen...God is speaking to us...the day that i spoke to my good friend...before we knew it was leukemia...i read this that evening...
"the heartache no one sees" by sheila walsh...
whether we are looking for sign and wonders...physical healing...or a balm for our wounded souls...underneath it all...what we are longing for is God...we might not recognize that...but we are made to be in intimate relationship with Him...when we are not...we try to fill that void with whatever we perceive to be our greatest felt need...underneath it all we want God to be real to us...to touch us...
God moves in many different ways...and who am i to say what God will do for anyone or how He might choose to manifest His presence? i have learned enough to know that God's ways and thoughts are outside my human capacity for reason...what troubles me...though...it that we seek what God might do instead of seeking God himself...what troubles me is that we are more after God's hand than God's face...
you could have every tooth in your head turn to gold...but what would it profit you in the long run? what we need is heart surgery...we need God to heal our broken hearts...God could heal your body...but if your heart is still full of pain...bitterness...and disappointment...the healing is limited to what would show up in an x-ray...
God asks that we be hungry for Him, seek Him, kneel down and roll our burdens onto Him...the greatest gift that you and i can give ourselves is to fall in love with Jesus...everything else in this life is temporary...only life with Him has any lasting meaning...let's not occupy our lives chasing after the latest craze...let's chase after the God who is crazy about us...
Friday, July 16, 2010
it's just not fair...
how many times have you caught yourself saying that? me...too many times to count...it is funny how things are going along quite well...you've forgiven...you've moved on...and then you hear...this person got a blessing...do your insides curl up? or are you truly happy for them?
our reaction speaks volumes of our heart...and true forgiveness...
i was reading the parable in the bible about the landowner who went out early one day to hire workers for the day to pick his crop...you can read it in matthew 20...basically this landowner hired people at the beginning of the day...and then again at the sixth, ninth, and eleventh hour...and when it was time to pay them...he paid them all the same amount...and of course...those that had worked from the beginning of the day...got all worked up...because they received the same amount as those who didn't work the whole day...the landowner of course spoke up and said..."didn't i pay you what we agreed on?
when Jesus told this story...the thing to celebrate was the goodness of the owner of the vineyard..."God"...it was a picture of His kingdom...and it was shocking to the people...
sometimes God's generosity is scandalous...
our reaction to God's scandalous ways tells us how close we are to His heart...are we thrilled that even those who straggled in at the last moment received the same generous grace of God as those of us who were slogging away all day? do we stand in line offended by God's generosity?
God's rules are not our rules...His ways are not our ways...thank God! they are so much greater and higher...
it's much more difficult when God turns the tables and suddenly everything that seemed right is wrong and those who are wrong are given the opportunity to be made right...what makes us happy and what makes us sad are good gauges of where we are in our relationship with God...
do we celebrate his outrageous grace...or do we pout like spoiled children when someone else receives a gift?
our reaction speaks volumes of our heart...and true forgiveness...
i was reading the parable in the bible about the landowner who went out early one day to hire workers for the day to pick his crop...you can read it in matthew 20...basically this landowner hired people at the beginning of the day...and then again at the sixth, ninth, and eleventh hour...and when it was time to pay them...he paid them all the same amount...and of course...those that had worked from the beginning of the day...got all worked up...because they received the same amount as those who didn't work the whole day...the landowner of course spoke up and said..."didn't i pay you what we agreed on?
when Jesus told this story...the thing to celebrate was the goodness of the owner of the vineyard..."God"...it was a picture of His kingdom...and it was shocking to the people...
sometimes God's generosity is scandalous...
our reaction to God's scandalous ways tells us how close we are to His heart...are we thrilled that even those who straggled in at the last moment received the same generous grace of God as those of us who were slogging away all day? do we stand in line offended by God's generosity?
God's rules are not our rules...His ways are not our ways...thank God! they are so much greater and higher...
it's much more difficult when God turns the tables and suddenly everything that seemed right is wrong and those who are wrong are given the opportunity to be made right...what makes us happy and what makes us sad are good gauges of where we are in our relationship with God...
do we celebrate his outrageous grace...or do we pout like spoiled children when someone else receives a gift?
Thursday, July 15, 2010
strong enough...
the words to this song get me everytime...
"strong enough" by stacie orrico
As I rest against this cold, hard wall
Will you pass me by?
Will you criticize me as I sit and cry?
I had fought so hard and thought that all my battles had been won
Only to find the war has just begun
Is He not strong enough?
Is He not pure enough?
To break me, pour me out, and start again
Is He not brave enough?
To take one chance on me
Please can I have one chance to start again?
Will my weakness for an hour make me suffer for a lifetime?
Is there anyway to be made whole again?
If I'm healed,renewed, and find forgiveness find the strength I've never had
Will my scars forever ruin all God's plan?
Is He not strong enough?
Is He not pure enough?
To break me, pour me out, and start again
Is He not brave enough?
To take one chance on me
Please can I have one chance to start again?
He took my life into his hands and it turned it all around
In my most desperate circumstance
It's there I've finally found
That You are strong enough
That You are pure enough
To break me, pour me out and start again
That You are brave enough
To take one chance on me
Oh Thank You for my chance to start again
"strong enough" by stacie orrico
As I rest against this cold, hard wall
Will you pass me by?
Will you criticize me as I sit and cry?
I had fought so hard and thought that all my battles had been won
Only to find the war has just begun
Is He not strong enough?
Is He not pure enough?
To break me, pour me out, and start again
Is He not brave enough?
To take one chance on me
Please can I have one chance to start again?
Will my weakness for an hour make me suffer for a lifetime?
Is there anyway to be made whole again?
If I'm healed,renewed, and find forgiveness find the strength I've never had
Will my scars forever ruin all God's plan?
Is He not strong enough?
Is He not pure enough?
To break me, pour me out, and start again
Is He not brave enough?
To take one chance on me
Please can I have one chance to start again?
He took my life into his hands and it turned it all around
In my most desperate circumstance
It's there I've finally found
That You are strong enough
That You are pure enough
To break me, pour me out and start again
That You are brave enough
To take one chance on me
Oh Thank You for my chance to start again
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
under construction...
"I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths...I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them." Isaiah 42:16
it was about a year ago...actually maybe a bit longer...that i monotonously approached the exit to my mom & dad's neighborhood exit where a newly posted sign announced that i could not make my normal exit...lined up on the exit as far as i could see around the bend was a neatly laid row of orange and white barrels...road construction had interrupted my usual routine...
and so it came to be that my visits (which are frequent) to my parent's home would now be detoured due to the construction...faced with this disruption that would surely put a kink in my life...i felt agitated and even hit the steering wheel with my fist...(i know...really grown-up of me) i would have to design new ways to reach my destination and wasn't happy about it...
one day when construction was completed enough to allow some through traffic...it took a 5 minute drive off the exit about 30 minutes...and believe me...i tried everything...taking the exit before...taking the exit after...but no matter which way i took...it severely added a much longer driving time...so...needless to say...this whole year as i rolled up to the exit...with its orange and white barrels...it triggered in me negative thoughts and feelings...
soon after...my life was more seriously interrupted...a disturbing phone call forced me to drop everything...the bad news exploded like a bomb...my heart and mind quaked with emotion...spiritual frustration filled my soul in the following months...i can't remember how many times my fist hit hard places...i screamed at God when life carried me away from the direction i wanted to take...
"how long will You take me out of my way?" i questioned God...i longed for my life before the interruption...managing my days on autopilot was no longer an option as i faced my new circumstances...slowly i began to see that this spiritual reconstruction paralleled the roadwork outside my parent's neighborhood...
a few days ago...as i made my way to my mom & dad's...the orange and white barrels were gone and i was free to exit at the once familiar road...i appreciated the results...smooth asphalt spread out before me...two lanes of traffic moved steadily...the "earthquake zone" had been transformed into a beautiful setting...admiring the new landscape...i realized i'd been inconvenienced...but now i could see that the long delays were worthwhile...
today...although my life continues to zigzag through various "construction sites..." i realize God allowed me to experience the orange and white-barreled roads to illustrate a truth...He is at work up ahead rearranging the landscape of my life...psalm 37:34 says, "put your hope in the Lord...travel steadily along His path...He will honor you by giving you the land."
i may not be able to see what that land looks like...but i believe His word...so...with His help...i put my hope in Him...traveling the paths He lays out for me...even though they are not the familiar roads i would normally take...
Father...You know how difficult life is right now...my interrupted life and the difficult roads You have me traveling feel like they'll break me...give me the capacity to graciously travel the paths You lay out before me...help me trust You...in Jesus' name...amen...
it was about a year ago...actually maybe a bit longer...that i monotonously approached the exit to my mom & dad's neighborhood exit where a newly posted sign announced that i could not make my normal exit...lined up on the exit as far as i could see around the bend was a neatly laid row of orange and white barrels...road construction had interrupted my usual routine...
and so it came to be that my visits (which are frequent) to my parent's home would now be detoured due to the construction...faced with this disruption that would surely put a kink in my life...i felt agitated and even hit the steering wheel with my fist...(i know...really grown-up of me) i would have to design new ways to reach my destination and wasn't happy about it...
one day when construction was completed enough to allow some through traffic...it took a 5 minute drive off the exit about 30 minutes...and believe me...i tried everything...taking the exit before...taking the exit after...but no matter which way i took...it severely added a much longer driving time...so...needless to say...this whole year as i rolled up to the exit...with its orange and white barrels...it triggered in me negative thoughts and feelings...
soon after...my life was more seriously interrupted...a disturbing phone call forced me to drop everything...the bad news exploded like a bomb...my heart and mind quaked with emotion...spiritual frustration filled my soul in the following months...i can't remember how many times my fist hit hard places...i screamed at God when life carried me away from the direction i wanted to take...
"how long will You take me out of my way?" i questioned God...i longed for my life before the interruption...managing my days on autopilot was no longer an option as i faced my new circumstances...slowly i began to see that this spiritual reconstruction paralleled the roadwork outside my parent's neighborhood...
a few days ago...as i made my way to my mom & dad's...the orange and white barrels were gone and i was free to exit at the once familiar road...i appreciated the results...smooth asphalt spread out before me...two lanes of traffic moved steadily...the "earthquake zone" had been transformed into a beautiful setting...admiring the new landscape...i realized i'd been inconvenienced...but now i could see that the long delays were worthwhile...
today...although my life continues to zigzag through various "construction sites..." i realize God allowed me to experience the orange and white-barreled roads to illustrate a truth...He is at work up ahead rearranging the landscape of my life...psalm 37:34 says, "put your hope in the Lord...travel steadily along His path...He will honor you by giving you the land."
i may not be able to see what that land looks like...but i believe His word...so...with His help...i put my hope in Him...traveling the paths He lays out for me...even though they are not the familiar roads i would normally take...
Father...You know how difficult life is right now...my interrupted life and the difficult roads You have me traveling feel like they'll break me...give me the capacity to graciously travel the paths You lay out before me...help me trust You...in Jesus' name...amen...
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
it's official...
back in 2005...maybe a little before...i'm bad with remembering dates...i had a dream...a big dream...and although i went through all the necessary steps...researching...planning...praying...my dream never came to fruition...
i still remember how i felt when i came to the decision that this dream was not to be...i think the hardest part was all of the non-support that i received during this time...mostly from family members...that i know meant well...and were looking out for me...at that time...however...i just focused on the non-support...
i went through a period where i really evaluated the whole situation...why it didn't come to fruition...what would i do now...and finally came to the point in my life where i knew this dream needed to die...it was not going to happen...so i let it go...and moved on...and really...never looked back...
was it a bad dream? no...
was it the wrong dream? no...
was my heart in the right place? yes...
it just wasn't right for me...at that time...at the place i was in my life...and although i didn't quite understand why...i knew in my heart that it just wasn't meant to be...there was really no explanation for it...other then that...
fast forward to now...and my dream is alive...not anywhere near how i envisioned it back then...but here...
i marvel at how it came about to be...the people that God placed in my life...through social media...to get me to this spot...
so here it is...my dream from way back when...now fully open and operational...the funny thing is back then...it would have taken up every day of the week to get it running...it would have meant hours upon hours of hard work...and lots of financing involved...and it would be a local endeavor...
my dream now...is hitting all 50 states...and canada...and if i so choose...will be international...
i have often heard...and often said...that God's timing is perfect...and it is...it truly is...
so here it is...my very own consignment store...
introducing: fabulous finds consignment boutique
as a wardrobe consultant...i go through many many closets...and when going through client closets...sometimes...they have pieces that are beautiful...but just not right for them...i figured i would offer up a new service...in that i sell these clothes for my clients...
this is how fabulous finds consignment boutique came to be...
just like any consignment store...this is the place to find some unique pieces...sometimes...with the tags still on...
so for my faithful readers...feel free to shop...and be sure to check back...as items will continue to be added...and...coming shortly...we will be adding a "men's corner"...
extra bonus for local peeps...if you've got clothes that you aren't wearing...in good condition...why not consign? have a little extra cash flow come your way...just email me at fabulous.finds@yahoo.com
i still remember how i felt when i came to the decision that this dream was not to be...i think the hardest part was all of the non-support that i received during this time...mostly from family members...that i know meant well...and were looking out for me...at that time...however...i just focused on the non-support...
i went through a period where i really evaluated the whole situation...why it didn't come to fruition...what would i do now...and finally came to the point in my life where i knew this dream needed to die...it was not going to happen...so i let it go...and moved on...and really...never looked back...
was it a bad dream? no...
was it the wrong dream? no...
was my heart in the right place? yes...
it just wasn't right for me...at that time...at the place i was in my life...and although i didn't quite understand why...i knew in my heart that it just wasn't meant to be...there was really no explanation for it...other then that...
fast forward to now...and my dream is alive...not anywhere near how i envisioned it back then...but here...
i marvel at how it came about to be...the people that God placed in my life...through social media...to get me to this spot...
so here it is...my dream from way back when...now fully open and operational...the funny thing is back then...it would have taken up every day of the week to get it running...it would have meant hours upon hours of hard work...and lots of financing involved...and it would be a local endeavor...
my dream now...is hitting all 50 states...and canada...and if i so choose...will be international...
i have often heard...and often said...that God's timing is perfect...and it is...it truly is...
so here it is...my very own consignment store...
introducing: fabulous finds consignment boutique
as a wardrobe consultant...i go through many many closets...and when going through client closets...sometimes...they have pieces that are beautiful...but just not right for them...i figured i would offer up a new service...in that i sell these clothes for my clients...
this is how fabulous finds consignment boutique came to be...
just like any consignment store...this is the place to find some unique pieces...sometimes...with the tags still on...
so for my faithful readers...feel free to shop...and be sure to check back...as items will continue to be added...and...coming shortly...we will be adding a "men's corner"...
extra bonus for local peeps...if you've got clothes that you aren't wearing...in good condition...why not consign? have a little extra cash flow come your way...just email me at fabulous.finds@yahoo.com
Monday, July 12, 2010
like a weaned child...
psalm 131 - “my heart is not proud...o Lord...my eyes are not haughty; i do not concern myself with great matters or things too wonderful for me...but i have stilled and quieted my soul; like a weaned child with its mother...like a weaned child is my soul within me...o israel...put your hope in the Lord...both now and forevermore...”
i find psalm 131 curious at first read...it is very short...only three verses long...in it...the writer david portrays himself as a child who has been weaned...
several places in scripture God is depicted as a mother...even a nursing mother...this may seem jarring if you are used to His “God the Father” title...but it’s a warm and nurturing picture of God...it conveys a loving life-giver who wants to see their child grow up healthy and strong...psalm 131 shows us that weaning must take place in order for that to happen...
as i am not a mother...i really can't contribute too much to the subject of nursing...but i've heard many a moms talking about it..
basically...most baby's would rather nurse than do just about anything the first 12 months of their live's...they are not interested in crib toys...stuffed animals...blankets...the baby swing...a pacifier...or a bottle....they only want to nurse...nearly all the time....they don't need that much food...and...all that nursing makes them happy...but it also makes them chubby...plus...they can't go on nursing forever...so while they are getting more nutrition than needed at the time...it wouldn’t provide all that was needed in the coming years...the child needs to be weaned and learn to eat the more mature food put on the table...
weaning can cause some anxiety for the child...they do not like having what was comfortable and familiar taken away...some even throw tantrums over it...however...once the weaning process is complete...the child is content with their new reality...through the weaning process...their appetites are changed...and it also gives the child more time to master walking and enjoy playing...they are now able and eager to stand at their mother’s side and explore the world as a toddler...
yes...i'm sure i have completely over-simplified the process...again...i'm not a mom =)
determining the right time to wean depends on the child and the parent but when the time comes...weaning involves withholding from the child what they want...but no longer need...God often withholds things we want but do not need...in order to change our appetites...this is not meant to inflict anxiety or pain...but to mature us and prepare us for the next level in our walk with Him...too often we want life to be easy and comfortable...we don’t want to grow up and face responsibilities...but that would lead to stunted development...we forget that growth and maturity are almost always forged through some type of hard work or difficulty...
other times...however...we do want to grow up – WAY UP – and we get in a hurry to do so...we’re like the toddler who assumes she is can do everything herself...psalm 131 speaks to this tendency in us as well...david says in the first verse that 'he keeps his soul from being too proud or overly ambitious...' basically...david is saying he has to make sure he doesn’t get too big for the britches God has given him...
can you relate?
the Message writer eugene peterson puts it this way: “God...i'm not trying to rule the roost...i don't want to be king of the mountain...i haven't meddled where i have no business or fantasized grandiose plans...i've kept my feet on the ground...i've cultivated a quiet heart...” (psalm 131:1-2a)
psalm 131 ends with david urging us to place our trust and hope in God...so today...i will not hope in my ambitions or grand plans for the future...nor will i desire an "always-easy" path so i don’t have to face difficulty...rather...i will leave all that to Him and i will simply stand at God’s side...ready to explore my day...
i find psalm 131 curious at first read...it is very short...only three verses long...in it...the writer david portrays himself as a child who has been weaned...
several places in scripture God is depicted as a mother...even a nursing mother...this may seem jarring if you are used to His “God the Father” title...but it’s a warm and nurturing picture of God...it conveys a loving life-giver who wants to see their child grow up healthy and strong...psalm 131 shows us that weaning must take place in order for that to happen...
as i am not a mother...i really can't contribute too much to the subject of nursing...but i've heard many a moms talking about it..
basically...most baby's would rather nurse than do just about anything the first 12 months of their live's...they are not interested in crib toys...stuffed animals...blankets...the baby swing...a pacifier...or a bottle....they only want to nurse...nearly all the time....they don't need that much food...and...all that nursing makes them happy...but it also makes them chubby...plus...they can't go on nursing forever...so while they are getting more nutrition than needed at the time...it wouldn’t provide all that was needed in the coming years...the child needs to be weaned and learn to eat the more mature food put on the table...
weaning can cause some anxiety for the child...they do not like having what was comfortable and familiar taken away...some even throw tantrums over it...however...once the weaning process is complete...the child is content with their new reality...through the weaning process...their appetites are changed...and it also gives the child more time to master walking and enjoy playing...they are now able and eager to stand at their mother’s side and explore the world as a toddler...
yes...i'm sure i have completely over-simplified the process...again...i'm not a mom =)
determining the right time to wean depends on the child and the parent but when the time comes...weaning involves withholding from the child what they want...but no longer need...God often withholds things we want but do not need...in order to change our appetites...this is not meant to inflict anxiety or pain...but to mature us and prepare us for the next level in our walk with Him...too often we want life to be easy and comfortable...we don’t want to grow up and face responsibilities...but that would lead to stunted development...we forget that growth and maturity are almost always forged through some type of hard work or difficulty...
other times...however...we do want to grow up – WAY UP – and we get in a hurry to do so...we’re like the toddler who assumes she is can do everything herself...psalm 131 speaks to this tendency in us as well...david says in the first verse that 'he keeps his soul from being too proud or overly ambitious...' basically...david is saying he has to make sure he doesn’t get too big for the britches God has given him...
can you relate?
the Message writer eugene peterson puts it this way: “God...i'm not trying to rule the roost...i don't want to be king of the mountain...i haven't meddled where i have no business or fantasized grandiose plans...i've kept my feet on the ground...i've cultivated a quiet heart...” (psalm 131:1-2a)
psalm 131 ends with david urging us to place our trust and hope in God...so today...i will not hope in my ambitions or grand plans for the future...nor will i desire an "always-easy" path so i don’t have to face difficulty...rather...i will leave all that to Him and i will simply stand at God’s side...ready to explore my day...
Friday, July 9, 2010
all i can do...
it seems lately...that a lot of my friends and family are going through a lot of stuff...my first reaction of course...is to try and help in any way i can...unfortunately...most times...when loved ones are going through things...there is really not much we can do...except pray...
i have heard myself say this a lot..."all we can do is pray" and this phrase has really been on my mind lately...as i have thought about this...i've thought about every conversation and wondered how many times i have idly commented that praying was “all i could do...” what i meant was that my prayers were a last resort...something to do when there was nothing else i could do...no meals i could bring...no band-aids i could apply to the hurt...no actions i could take...and yet...i was missing the best possible response i could have...
what i know...is that people will say that all they can do is pray...but really...that’s the best we can do...we can pray for those in our lives that are hurting...that are going through horrible situations...we can storm the gates of heaven on their behalf...they need our prayers right now so we just need to keep praying...
praying is not a last resort...it’s a first response...it’s not the action of a powerless...hopeless person whose hands are tied in every other way...it’s the powerful...heaven-summoning activity of a warrior who doesn’t want to fight alone...praying...isn’t all i can do...it’s the best i can do...
are you facing a situation right now that you can’t do anything about? maybe you are watching someone go through something that you can’t help with...do you wonder what good it will do to pray? do you despair of anything changing...or of your prayers helping? have you...like me...shrugged your shoulders and commented that all you have left is prayer...when really your prayers are exactly what is needed?
let’s focus today on doing what’s best...let’s get on our knees for ourselves...our family members...spouses...children...our neighbors...our friends and our nation....let’s focus on the power in our prayers...our intercession...and nothing more...might be exactly what God desires...let’s not forget that we can offer the most help when we are on our knees...
i have heard myself say this a lot..."all we can do is pray" and this phrase has really been on my mind lately...as i have thought about this...i've thought about every conversation and wondered how many times i have idly commented that praying was “all i could do...” what i meant was that my prayers were a last resort...something to do when there was nothing else i could do...no meals i could bring...no band-aids i could apply to the hurt...no actions i could take...and yet...i was missing the best possible response i could have...
what i know...is that people will say that all they can do is pray...but really...that’s the best we can do...we can pray for those in our lives that are hurting...that are going through horrible situations...we can storm the gates of heaven on their behalf...they need our prayers right now so we just need to keep praying...
praying is not a last resort...it’s a first response...it’s not the action of a powerless...hopeless person whose hands are tied in every other way...it’s the powerful...heaven-summoning activity of a warrior who doesn’t want to fight alone...praying...isn’t all i can do...it’s the best i can do...
are you facing a situation right now that you can’t do anything about? maybe you are watching someone go through something that you can’t help with...do you wonder what good it will do to pray? do you despair of anything changing...or of your prayers helping? have you...like me...shrugged your shoulders and commented that all you have left is prayer...when really your prayers are exactly what is needed?
let’s focus today on doing what’s best...let’s get on our knees for ourselves...our family members...spouses...children...our neighbors...our friends and our nation....let’s focus on the power in our prayers...our intercession...and nothing more...might be exactly what God desires...let’s not forget that we can offer the most help when we are on our knees...
Thursday, July 8, 2010
lunch with the papacito...
i was really looking forward to today...i was having lunch with my dad...my papacito...although i do that quite often...today was different in that we were going to the city...to his "hood"...where he hangs out...being retired and all...
it was an interesting dynamic to see my dad...hanging out at one of his favorite restaurants...and seeing how basically everyone around us knew him...so i was introduced to the owner of the restaurant...chilo...of "tio chilo's grill"...i have heard this name for so so long...it was great to finally meet him...and put a face to the name...i met chilo's daughter...who is an absolute sweetheart...
it was kind of endearing...when we were driving to the city...my dad says..."this isn't a really fancy place..." which was ok by me...so walking around the little neighborhood in the mission district...all these people were yelling out to my dad when they saw him...it was really quite sweet...i've always joked with my dad about his "hood"...but it was an actuality! haha...
as we were walking back to the car...he pointed out where he gets his haircut...and of course when they owner saw him...she ran out...smiling from ear to ear...calling him "senior" victor...
so...during lunch i was asking my dad about the neighborhood and how close was our old house to where we where...he tells me that after lunch we will cruise through the neighborhood...so i saw the elementary school that my older brother went to...and...we did a drive-by by the house i lived in for the first 5 years of my life...
that was pretty wild...i remember little bits and pieces of it...like my grandparents living in the upstairs unit...and we were in the downstairs unit...when i saw the stairs...i remember that our family took lots of pictures on that stoop...
my dad must have said to me at least 10 times "thanks for your company today"...i don't think he realizes...that it is me that is thankful for his company...
so here it is...where i lived...way back when...good ole folsom street...
it was an interesting dynamic to see my dad...hanging out at one of his favorite restaurants...and seeing how basically everyone around us knew him...so i was introduced to the owner of the restaurant...chilo...of "tio chilo's grill"...i have heard this name for so so long...it was great to finally meet him...and put a face to the name...i met chilo's daughter...who is an absolute sweetheart...
it was kind of endearing...when we were driving to the city...my dad says..."this isn't a really fancy place..." which was ok by me...so walking around the little neighborhood in the mission district...all these people were yelling out to my dad when they saw him...it was really quite sweet...i've always joked with my dad about his "hood"...but it was an actuality! haha...
as we were walking back to the car...he pointed out where he gets his haircut...and of course when they owner saw him...she ran out...smiling from ear to ear...calling him "senior" victor...
so...during lunch i was asking my dad about the neighborhood and how close was our old house to where we where...he tells me that after lunch we will cruise through the neighborhood...so i saw the elementary school that my older brother went to...and...we did a drive-by by the house i lived in for the first 5 years of my life...
that was pretty wild...i remember little bits and pieces of it...like my grandparents living in the upstairs unit...and we were in the downstairs unit...when i saw the stairs...i remember that our family took lots of pictures on that stoop...
my dad must have said to me at least 10 times "thanks for your company today"...i don't think he realizes...that it is me that is thankful for his company...
so here it is...where i lived...way back when...good ole folsom street...
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
the window from which we look...
i always love when a simple story says so much...
A young couple moves into a new neighborhood.
The next morning while they are eating breakfast,
the young woman sees her neighbor hanging the wash outside.
"That laundry is not very clean", she said.
"She doesn't know how to wash correctly.
Perhaps she needs better laundry soap."
Her husband looked on, but remained silent.
Every time her neighbor would hang her wash to dry,
the young woman would make the same comments.
About one month later, the woman was surprised to see a
nice clean wash on the line and said to her husband:
"Look, she has learned how to wash correctly.
I wonder who taught her this."
The husband said, "I got up early this morning and
cleaned our windows."
And so it is with life. What we see when watching others
depends on the purity of the window through which we look.
So never judge others until you clean your own windows.
A young couple moves into a new neighborhood.
The next morning while they are eating breakfast,
the young woman sees her neighbor hanging the wash outside.
"That laundry is not very clean", she said.
"She doesn't know how to wash correctly.
Perhaps she needs better laundry soap."
Her husband looked on, but remained silent.
Every time her neighbor would hang her wash to dry,
the young woman would make the same comments.
About one month later, the woman was surprised to see a
nice clean wash on the line and said to her husband:
"Look, she has learned how to wash correctly.
I wonder who taught her this."
The husband said, "I got up early this morning and
cleaned our windows."
And so it is with life. What we see when watching others
depends on the purity of the window through which we look.
So never judge others until you clean your own windows.
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
obedience...
obedience...seems so simple...but yet...it is something i fight with daily...not because i'm some "can't take orders from others" person...or anything like that...but the mere fact that i am afraid...sometimes...
i thought about some areas where i had been dragging my feet...i knew what i needed to do but i kept putting it off as if things would change and God would change His mind... =) you've got to smile at this point..how many times have we been at this point? really at the base of my reluctance to obey was fear...i was afraid of what i might lose or what certain people would think if i followed through...
it’s not like i don’t recognize the season that i am in...this is the season where God peels away the things that cannot come with me to the next season...if i don’t give up these things it will delay my entrance into the next thing He has for me...every other time i trusted God and did what He said...the results were miraculous...so why is it still so difficult to trust at times?
from what i have observed...we as humans usually start from a foundation of lack...this is a behavior that many of us must unlearn...when things change we wonder if there will be enough resources or if we will be good enough to adapt...when God requires a sacrifice...we worry there won’t be enough left over for us...somehow we trust our own logic rather than the kingdom principles that have been in effect from before the beginning of time...
what i have also observed is that there is no plan i could work that will produce better results than the plan that God has for me...in other words...when i do things His way...i find myself living the life that i truly want...when my obedience to His way is delayed...i find myself frustrated...aggravated...discouraged...and ashamed...
i make this decision often...but i made it again today...i will move forward to the next level...the comfort zone is not good enough for me...i am living my life to make a difference...for me...my family and anyone else who wants it...this kind of life requires total trust in the Lord and submission to His will...and i for one...and ready...
i thought about some areas where i had been dragging my feet...i knew what i needed to do but i kept putting it off as if things would change and God would change His mind... =) you've got to smile at this point..how many times have we been at this point? really at the base of my reluctance to obey was fear...i was afraid of what i might lose or what certain people would think if i followed through...
it’s not like i don’t recognize the season that i am in...this is the season where God peels away the things that cannot come with me to the next season...if i don’t give up these things it will delay my entrance into the next thing He has for me...every other time i trusted God and did what He said...the results were miraculous...so why is it still so difficult to trust at times?
from what i have observed...we as humans usually start from a foundation of lack...this is a behavior that many of us must unlearn...when things change we wonder if there will be enough resources or if we will be good enough to adapt...when God requires a sacrifice...we worry there won’t be enough left over for us...somehow we trust our own logic rather than the kingdom principles that have been in effect from before the beginning of time...
what i have also observed is that there is no plan i could work that will produce better results than the plan that God has for me...in other words...when i do things His way...i find myself living the life that i truly want...when my obedience to His way is delayed...i find myself frustrated...aggravated...discouraged...and ashamed...
i make this decision often...but i made it again today...i will move forward to the next level...the comfort zone is not good enough for me...i am living my life to make a difference...for me...my family and anyone else who wants it...this kind of life requires total trust in the Lord and submission to His will...and i for one...and ready...
Friday, July 2, 2010
happy independance day!
we have so much to be thankful for...our beautiful country & freedom...
Thursday, July 1, 2010
amazing grace...
have you ever been to a conference where there were thousands and thousands of people...and you all are singing that incredible song "amazing grace?"
seems random...i know...but hey...my blog is called random thoughts about nothing and everything... =)
i was chatting it up with a friend...and obvi we were a bit tired...where the conversation took off to incredible random moments...and one of the ones i thought of was the incredible feeling that i have always gotten...when i have been in a huge crowd...singing that song...
it has happened at "women of faith" several times...a ccapella...wow...but i get the same feeling when it is sung in church...but there is something about a big crowd singing it...
to me...this is a song that...well...putting it bluntly...if it doesn't touch yah...you are dead...seriously...for me...when i have heard it...for example at "women of faith" this is what happens in my little head...
well...first...not in my head...but it brings me to tears...every.single.time.i.sing.it...and the whole "in the crowd" bit...i sit there and think...here we are...all the little "wretches" singing together...and it is ONLY by His amazing grace...that we are able to do so...
pretty powerful...no?
amazing grace...how sweet the sound...that saved a wretch like me...i once was lost...but now i'm found...was blind...but now i see...
seems random...i know...but hey...my blog is called random thoughts about nothing and everything... =)
i was chatting it up with a friend...and obvi we were a bit tired...where the conversation took off to incredible random moments...and one of the ones i thought of was the incredible feeling that i have always gotten...when i have been in a huge crowd...singing that song...
it has happened at "women of faith" several times...a ccapella...wow...but i get the same feeling when it is sung in church...but there is something about a big crowd singing it...
to me...this is a song that...well...putting it bluntly...if it doesn't touch yah...you are dead...seriously...for me...when i have heard it...for example at "women of faith" this is what happens in my little head...
well...first...not in my head...but it brings me to tears...every.single.time.i.sing.it...and the whole "in the crowd" bit...i sit there and think...here we are...all the little "wretches" singing together...and it is ONLY by His amazing grace...that we are able to do so...
pretty powerful...no?
amazing grace...how sweet the sound...that saved a wretch like me...i once was lost...but now i'm found...was blind...but now i see...
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