25 thoughts on the 25th: mindless and meaningful.
> Is 43:18-19 Will you be aware of it?" Behold I am doing something new now." we are Too aware of what has happened that we miss what is happening. Consciously be more aware of what He is up to then what has been.
> John 14:21-23- I will love her and make Myself at home with her. The comforts a soft living room brings the outer man so His presence to our inner man.
> Eggs bacon coffee at a rattan table outside Under a canopy of green vines- nothing like a Cali morning.
> The Ivy in LA. Enough said.
> Flipping through cookbooks is a form of Inspiration.
> A good brisk jog by Starbucks and boutique windows is prayerful entertainment.
> John 16:24 "Until now you have asked for nothing in My name" ."Until now" is another way of saying "the tension of suspension". We should be asking much of Him on the tight rope heights of tension in our lives. Tension between now and not yet should be elevated up in prayer!!
> I love fall wind with summer sun.
> Business and blogging from the back porch is nice.
> The south and the west meet in good friends over fine fare.
> Sunday brunch at The Wolfs need I say more?
> Children are a form of health for an adult. They cure the sickness of selfishness.
> A lost joy and privilege is standing in the gap for someone elses plea. Try it.
> Family as friends is a gift.
> Freedom was bought don't deny it or cheapen it.
> Matt. 28:20 Emmanuel.
> Ice cold bottled water goes down easier than from a glass
> Candles burning regardless of time of day is cleansing.
> Made beds bring a since of order
> culver city- home away from home
> Skinny jeans, boots, soft worn shirt with accessories.
> The daily light and coffee to start a Monday.
> Oh how He loves us!
> Sacrifice is different than loss. Loss is involuntarily losing something regardless of value that will not return. Sacrifice is voluntarily giving up something of lesser value to gain something of greater value in return! Loss is a gap. Sacrifice is a gain.
Abraham believed God could and would done what He said. Should we? Absolutely.
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Thursday, October 07, 2010
Catalyst 2010
Tension is not only vital but good. Receive it and become a leader through it. Leaders are born for and in the tension. What a transcendent truth! It is more than a theme orchestrated by an event team, but it is reality. Embrace this truth and start to really minister.
Tension holds bridges together.
Tension keeps relationships developing.
Tension invites God to intersect and intervene.
Tension creates the need for vision.
Tension reduces whatever control we are tricked into believing we have.
Tension demands attention.
Tension is vital and good. Tension is God... He ordains and allows tension to occur for all that tension instigates in the life of His children. Throughout Scripture we see people in tension. We see them between armies and seas. We see them between prisons and palaces. We see them between fields and fortunes. We see them between pressure and Presence. We see them between "the now and the not yet"... Oh it is the tension between the now and not yet that engages faith for the impossible.
So accept it. Invite it. Leverage it. Tension is Good.
Tension holds bridges together.
Tension keeps relationships developing.
Tension invites God to intersect and intervene.
Tension creates the need for vision.
Tension reduces whatever control we are tricked into believing we have.
Tension demands attention.
Tension is vital and good. Tension is God... He ordains and allows tension to occur for all that tension instigates in the life of His children. Throughout Scripture we see people in tension. We see them between armies and seas. We see them between prisons and palaces. We see them between fields and fortunes. We see them between pressure and Presence. We see them between "the now and the not yet"... Oh it is the tension between the now and not yet that engages faith for the impossible.
So accept it. Invite it. Leverage it. Tension is Good.
Tuesday, October 05, 2010
Community
Tonight I am privileged to have dinner with Pastor Peter Tan Chi and his wife, Deonna from the Philippines. Christ Commission Fellowship is their church. www.ccf.org.ph
God unites His people of this world for reasons beyond us. I lived in Austria during the fall of 2006 and became very close to their daughter, Carolyn. She has a passion for the Lord like few woman I have met, and I have met a lot. Carolyn stands out, heads above others, in a crowd because of how committed her heart is to the One and Only God. She and I found a commonality between our hearts as if we were separated from birth. Community was born between us and has maintained over these 4.5 years. There is nothing like unity of the spirit in the bond of peace as Eph. states.
It is not coincidence that finally I get to meet her beloved family the very same week of Catalyst, which brings them to the USA. I am excited to find commonality with them as we mention our Lord's names and wonders. I am humbled to fellowship, glean, and serve with thousands at Catalyst 2011 this week as well. I will be reporting from a suite- so keep checking for blog posts this week and facebook updates.
Community is common unity. How small the world of believers becomes when lived in light of common unity shared in a large God!
God unites His people of this world for reasons beyond us. I lived in Austria during the fall of 2006 and became very close to their daughter, Carolyn. She has a passion for the Lord like few woman I have met, and I have met a lot. Carolyn stands out, heads above others, in a crowd because of how committed her heart is to the One and Only God. She and I found a commonality between our hearts as if we were separated from birth. Community was born between us and has maintained over these 4.5 years. There is nothing like unity of the spirit in the bond of peace as Eph. states.
It is not coincidence that finally I get to meet her beloved family the very same week of Catalyst, which brings them to the USA. I am excited to find commonality with them as we mention our Lord's names and wonders. I am humbled to fellowship, glean, and serve with thousands at Catalyst 2011 this week as well. I will be reporting from a suite- so keep checking for blog posts this week and facebook updates.
Community is common unity. How small the world of believers becomes when lived in light of common unity shared in a large God!
Friday, October 01, 2010
Catharsis
Autumn drive from Nashville to Atlanta.
Charlie Hall's new album.
Windows down.
Engaging conversations.
Dreaming about the future possibilities.
Writing.
Singing Celine's "A New Day has come".
Planning for Passion 2011.
Baking/Cooking of any kind.
Laughing out loud at You Tube videos.
Making a sale.
Getting a bargain from anthropology.
Cupcakes.
Homemade soup.
TGIF.
Iced Coffee.
Mercy Girl's face.
Running a couple miles.
Creating Book titles and chapters.
Beginning The Book!
Reading the Word.
All done in a day's work...
Charlie Hall's new album.
Windows down.
Engaging conversations.
Dreaming about the future possibilities.
Writing.
Singing Celine's "A New Day has come".
Planning for Passion 2011.
Baking/Cooking of any kind.
Laughing out loud at You Tube videos.
Making a sale.
Getting a bargain from anthropology.
Cupcakes.
Homemade soup.
TGIF.
Iced Coffee.
Mercy Girl's face.
Running a couple miles.
Creating Book titles and chapters.
Beginning The Book!
Reading the Word.
All done in a day's work...
Monday, September 20, 2010
Ode to Old
Today in cleaning out my garage, my car, and my room my heart too was cleansing. Old books. Old clothes and shoes. Old journals of tales past. Old napkins with nuggets written on them. Old heart breaks recorded in notebooks. Old recipes. Old magazines. Old memories. Old misery births new ones. In the midst of the old and the long past missing, I ached for the new. New memories. New journal entries. New hope. New nuggets. New strength. New hugs. New resolutions jotted down on post its. New friends. New love. New space. New outlook. New laughs. New adventures. New things. New tears of joy. New truth written on my heart. Maybe even New perspectives on old things even.
As Solomon says, "nothing is new under the sun". But as I know God, "everything is new in the Son". Thank you for that promise when all around me smells old. You usher in newness, Lord. "Do not recall the former things for they have past; behold I am doing something new!" Replace what has been lost. Repair what has been broken. Remind me of what You can and will do. Renew what my heart deep down knows as truth. Replenish what has been emptied.
Good bye Old. Hello New.
As Solomon says, "nothing is new under the sun". But as I know God, "everything is new in the Son". Thank you for that promise when all around me smells old. You usher in newness, Lord. "Do not recall the former things for they have past; behold I am doing something new!" Replace what has been lost. Repair what has been broken. Remind me of what You can and will do. Renew what my heart deep down knows as truth. Replenish what has been emptied.
Good bye Old. Hello New.
Saturday, September 18, 2010
Psalm 27
Woke up with ache in my mind and heart today after an act of obedience this week. Obedience hurts. God asks of us "faith works" that sometimes do not logically make sense in the grand scheme of the story but faith moves forward, despising the pain, and obeys anyway. As my eyes slowly opened this morning my mind immediately wants to wander into What If Land. Have you ever visited that land? It is not a place to vacation. It is not even a place worth visiting. What If Land steals joy, kills hope, and paralyzes faith that longs to move forward. I hate that land. Pain is the passport and I was headed there in my thought life today. As my mind was wandering over the border this morning Psalm 27:13 stopped me. It literally was etched in bold across my thoughts.
"I WOULD HAVE despaired unless I HAD BELIEVED that I WOULD see the Goodness of the Lord in the land of the living".
The land of the living! That is where I want to walk and have my mind centered. The Land of the living is the here and now IN Christ that brings hope, joy and peace because it is a land full of His goodness to the enlightened eye! Enlighten my eyes O Jesus. I love the past tense used: "I would have despaired", BUT DID NOT. "I had believed" long ago and still do that I WILL ( coming future) see, not just hope for, His goodness! He is good and He is for us, even when every other voice or thought screams otherwise. He is good. Taste and SEE that He is good!
Oh the word just flooded me as my eyes opened and closed this morning on that one verse.
Ps 27:13.
I made my way out of bed, a little sore all over, and walked the dogs. Every step I took I was envisioning that verse and His goodness filling my soul ( mind, will, emotions) and my life presently. Taking my thoughts captive and putting away the passport. I was not going to travel to that What If Land anymore! I asked GOD to continue echoing to me His truth for every lie that would enter.
I had an impression to check my email upon entering the house with my two sweaty dogs. What was there but an email from Passion City Church on Psalm 27! There it was IN BOLD in my mailbox: Psalm 27. When He speaks a Word, He repeats His Word. How sweet of Him! I am clinging to Him as an anchor when all else has failed. I am standing, though feeble, on His Word that resonates deep in my mind not just on the pages of paper. His Word is real to me, needed by me, and spoken to me.
"Blessed are the pure in heart for they will SEE God". Matt 5 Oh I long to see Him in the here and now of life. I do see Him actually. I see God in everything, even the pain. I see God though a little blurry through my tears. Maybe that means He is sharpening my vision and purifying my heart then! Wow. To see Him, know Him, sense Him, and hear Him instead of wandering into What If Land! Thank you Father. Show Yourself Oh Lord again and again. Thank you for Psalm 27!
"I would have despaired had I not believed that I WOULD SEE the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living."
"I WOULD HAVE despaired unless I HAD BELIEVED that I WOULD see the Goodness of the Lord in the land of the living".
The land of the living! That is where I want to walk and have my mind centered. The Land of the living is the here and now IN Christ that brings hope, joy and peace because it is a land full of His goodness to the enlightened eye! Enlighten my eyes O Jesus. I love the past tense used: "I would have despaired", BUT DID NOT. "I had believed" long ago and still do that I WILL ( coming future) see, not just hope for, His goodness! He is good and He is for us, even when every other voice or thought screams otherwise. He is good. Taste and SEE that He is good!
Oh the word just flooded me as my eyes opened and closed this morning on that one verse.
Ps 27:13.
I made my way out of bed, a little sore all over, and walked the dogs. Every step I took I was envisioning that verse and His goodness filling my soul ( mind, will, emotions) and my life presently. Taking my thoughts captive and putting away the passport. I was not going to travel to that What If Land anymore! I asked GOD to continue echoing to me His truth for every lie that would enter.
I had an impression to check my email upon entering the house with my two sweaty dogs. What was there but an email from Passion City Church on Psalm 27! There it was IN BOLD in my mailbox: Psalm 27. When He speaks a Word, He repeats His Word. How sweet of Him! I am clinging to Him as an anchor when all else has failed. I am standing, though feeble, on His Word that resonates deep in my mind not just on the pages of paper. His Word is real to me, needed by me, and spoken to me.
"Blessed are the pure in heart for they will SEE God". Matt 5 Oh I long to see Him in the here and now of life. I do see Him actually. I see God in everything, even the pain. I see God though a little blurry through my tears. Maybe that means He is sharpening my vision and purifying my heart then! Wow. To see Him, know Him, sense Him, and hear Him instead of wandering into What If Land! Thank you Father. Show Yourself Oh Lord again and again. Thank you for Psalm 27!
"I would have despaired had I not believed that I WOULD SEE the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living."
Wednesday, August 04, 2010
I See You
The famous line from Avatar remains glued to the forefront of my heart and mind. "I see you." There is more to that statement than hollywood characters, the color blue on people, the planet of Pandora or Pixar animated plots. There is a spiritual dimension to those precious words. While in FWB this weekend on the phone with one my girls from ESTABLISH HER, those words haunted me. In her tears, the revelation of this fact came to me. The desire to be seen and the reality that I am, regardless of circumstances.
Living a full life, busy loving others and being loved, this little one can still feel unseen by the closest people to me. Why is that? Because innately in me is the desire and need to know I am SEEN, by the One who saw me before I was visible. I am seen by many, few, all, and of course, God. But sometimes it feels as those everyone goes blind and no one notices. We all want to be noticed, appreciated, recognized, known, and SEEN.
In hectic schedules, travel arrangements, new relationships, old friendships, demands of life, and ministry opportunities it is easy, ironically, to feel anything but seen. God whispered to me as I counseled her on the phone, " But I see you, Sarah". When I feel forsaken, taken for granted, overlooked, passed by, missed, discarded, or obscure, Jesus whispers " I see you, beloved girl". Oh I needed that fresh breath this weekend! His eyes are mentioned through the scripture... It is beautiful.
The eyes of the Lord scan the whole earth looking for someone whom He can show Himself strong. II Chron 16:9 His eye rests on me and you. Show Yourself strong O God.
The eyes of the Lord are on those who fear Him and hope in His unfailing Love. Ps 33:18 He sees me and you with eyes of unfailing loving gaze.
"I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go, I will counsel you with My eye upon you." Ps. 32:8 I love His eyes being on us, counseling us in the way to walk!
He keeps me as the apple or little daughter of His eye. Ps 17:8 What an endearing close posture this to me! To be so close to Christ that in His gaze on me I see who I am in His eye. My God has fixed focus!
The eyes of the Lord are in and on every place and person. Prov 15:3
To my memory was brought Gen 16 as I continued to counsel with my dear friend and console my own heart. Hagar was mistreated by the maidservant whom she had only served and obeyed. She ran from her straight into the arms of God. Hagar has a perspective too. Her story is worth telling. She was abandoned into the wilderness under a tree by a well up against a wall. Cornered, literally. She was not seen by anyone and felt that with bitter tears. Then the Angel of the Lord visits her and asks her why she is running. Then He comforts her, with His eyes directly on her, and commands her back to Sarai. God viewed Hagar and she viewed Him. Her tears were dried and her feet were strengthened to head back for service. Hagar said, "Now I have seen the God who sees me". She named that very location, "Beer LaHai Roi", The Living One who sees me!
Oh Hagar and I have much in common at times. I long to be seen and my heart remembered this weekend that I am. I am seen by the Living One. He sees me! El Roi, the God who sees.
Take comfort in your heart, be strong and courageous for God is looking closely at us saying,
"I SEE YOU."
Living a full life, busy loving others and being loved, this little one can still feel unseen by the closest people to me. Why is that? Because innately in me is the desire and need to know I am SEEN, by the One who saw me before I was visible. I am seen by many, few, all, and of course, God. But sometimes it feels as those everyone goes blind and no one notices. We all want to be noticed, appreciated, recognized, known, and SEEN.
In hectic schedules, travel arrangements, new relationships, old friendships, demands of life, and ministry opportunities it is easy, ironically, to feel anything but seen. God whispered to me as I counseled her on the phone, " But I see you, Sarah". When I feel forsaken, taken for granted, overlooked, passed by, missed, discarded, or obscure, Jesus whispers " I see you, beloved girl". Oh I needed that fresh breath this weekend! His eyes are mentioned through the scripture... It is beautiful.
The eyes of the Lord scan the whole earth looking for someone whom He can show Himself strong. II Chron 16:9 His eye rests on me and you. Show Yourself strong O God.
The eyes of the Lord are on those who fear Him and hope in His unfailing Love. Ps 33:18 He sees me and you with eyes of unfailing loving gaze.
"I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go, I will counsel you with My eye upon you." Ps. 32:8 I love His eyes being on us, counseling us in the way to walk!
He keeps me as the apple or little daughter of His eye. Ps 17:8 What an endearing close posture this to me! To be so close to Christ that in His gaze on me I see who I am in His eye. My God has fixed focus!
The eyes of the Lord are in and on every place and person. Prov 15:3
To my memory was brought Gen 16 as I continued to counsel with my dear friend and console my own heart. Hagar was mistreated by the maidservant whom she had only served and obeyed. She ran from her straight into the arms of God. Hagar has a perspective too. Her story is worth telling. She was abandoned into the wilderness under a tree by a well up against a wall. Cornered, literally. She was not seen by anyone and felt that with bitter tears. Then the Angel of the Lord visits her and asks her why she is running. Then He comforts her, with His eyes directly on her, and commands her back to Sarai. God viewed Hagar and she viewed Him. Her tears were dried and her feet were strengthened to head back for service. Hagar said, "Now I have seen the God who sees me". She named that very location, "Beer LaHai Roi", The Living One who sees me!
Oh Hagar and I have much in common at times. I long to be seen and my heart remembered this weekend that I am. I am seen by the Living One. He sees me! El Roi, the God who sees.
Take comfort in your heart, be strong and courageous for God is looking closely at us saying,
"I SEE YOU."
Tuesday, August 03, 2010
Write It Down
Ok so I am contemplating the effort and reward of writing or "blogging" as we call it, on a more consistent basis. Consistency is a word that needs to be defined. Life is full but so is my heart therefore I long to communicate. In this season I think consistency could be once a week or so maybe. I mean, really, who has time to jot and tittle their life away while they are living it too? I feel compelled to write though time comes and goes. Intentionality comes along with this type of writing. So here is my confession of needing to write more. Revelation 21:5 says "And the one seated on the throne said: “Look! I am making all things new!” Then He said to me, “Write it down, because these words are reliable and true.”
I am compelled to write. He has told me. He is indeed doing new things all the time, worth recording and remembering. I pray my words are reliable and true, however His are all the time. Praise! I aim to share His word through my experience with my tiny knowledge through my unfolding life stories for His glory by His spirit's power. There will be honesty, humor, word pictures, biblical truth, heart ramblings, confessions, hopes shared, and many questions left unanswered at times along the way. But "write it down" keeps running through my mind. So as Nike says, just do it. I have talked much of this and dreamed of writing (rambling) long enough now that I just want to do it not dream it. Big difference.
There is so much to share from the simple to the significant. I dont have the corner on anything nor am I the greatest aspiring writer. However through writing I can achieve a true state of catharsis in my soul. I think there are many like that in the world. Writing is a gift of expression from the Greatest Author. I long to steward that gift well. I love to free flow what is in my head, on my heart, or throughout my day with the beauty of words. I love knowing I have spoken, been heard, and hopefully understood. I enjoy painting pictures with my words through my life stories, the ones I write and even more so, the ones God trumps mine with. He is the best Author, isnt He? I love articulating what He reveals to me and in me, whether right or wrong. Writing is solace. Writing is healing. Writing even right now is telling me I should "just do it". So Stay tuned....
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