This morning I got up at 6am. Went to the beach, ready to look for some awesome seashells!
The sunrose, it was beautiful. I could do this everyday.
But as i was looking at all the seashells washed up on shore, and there were LOTS! I started picking some up. So many of them, are broken, or chipped. And it got me thinking, the broken ones, we tend to throw back...because we don't want them, because they don't look as nice as the full ones. My favorite shells, are the ones that kinda wrap around each other that your supposed to hear the ocean in...only there arent big enough ones i can find.....for free..lol (im prayin bout this one!) but i love those ones. but they are fragile i think, that the only ones you see, are the small ones and they are all broken....
so we throw them back. because who wants a broken sea shell?! (unless its so unique and one of a kind that u cant throw it back!)
and i was thinking. we do the same w people. broken ppl...we tend to push aside. ignore. walk away from. because we don't want something thats broken. we don't want to fix it, or don't know how to fix it, (or them).
but God LOVES broken people. broken things. Because He is the ultimate fixer! Healer.
So why do we throw back the broken ones?! Why don't we embrace the broken things(ones) like God does?! We have to be willing to get dirty, sandy, for the beauty of the brokenness.
Because let's face it, all we have to do, is look deeper into something broken, and i can promise you, that you will see something beautiful.
There is beauty, found in the broken. In the chipped. In the cracked.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Do you glorify God?
Does your life glorify God?!
When I say life...i of course, mean every part of your life.
God has been speaking to me about glorifying Him lately.
So i ask you, does your life glorify God?!
What you spend your money on, where you go, what you watch, what you listen to, what you read, what you say, what you think, your attitude, how you react, how you interact....are you glorifying God?! are you trying or even wanting to glorify God?!
Because Jesus died on the cross that you can be COMPLETELY free and He deserves our every praise. our ever effort. and we forget that. we don't do ALL that we can...
so i challenge you, like God is challenging me. Live your life, every single part of your life and who you are, so that God can be glorified.
When I say life...i of course, mean every part of your life.
God has been speaking to me about glorifying Him lately.
So i ask you, does your life glorify God?!
What you spend your money on, where you go, what you watch, what you listen to, what you read, what you say, what you think, your attitude, how you react, how you interact....are you glorifying God?! are you trying or even wanting to glorify God?!
Because Jesus died on the cross that you can be COMPLETELY free and He deserves our every praise. our ever effort. and we forget that. we don't do ALL that we can...
so i challenge you, like God is challenging me. Live your life, every single part of your life and who you are, so that God can be glorified.
Thursday, June 11, 2009
I've been thinking...like normal.
But this is my conclusion.
God's will is being done. Amongst all the questions, all the sadness, all the dysfunction, all the evil, and the pain, and hurt and frustration...God's will is being done!
And I feel so good about that! And I and others are not bound by what is happening around us and in us. We are not bound by it, therefore it does not control us. Because God controls us. There is joy amonst the sadness and frustration, rather than living it, we live in the freedom Jesus bought for us! Tis the greatest thing!
Praise God for Freedom. For Jesus. For His Spirit. For His ways, His control, His faithfulness to those who are faithful to Him. and His love and grace and joy. Ugh. I just love love LOVE living with God in my life! No better way.
11Here is a trustworthy saying: If we died with him, we will also live with him; 12if we endure, we will also reign with him. If we disown him, he will also disown us; 13if we are faithless, he will remain faithful, for he cannot disown himself.
2 Timothy 2:11-13
But this is my conclusion.
God's will is being done. Amongst all the questions, all the sadness, all the dysfunction, all the evil, and the pain, and hurt and frustration...God's will is being done!
And I feel so good about that! And I and others are not bound by what is happening around us and in us. We are not bound by it, therefore it does not control us. Because God controls us. There is joy amonst the sadness and frustration, rather than living it, we live in the freedom Jesus bought for us! Tis the greatest thing!
Praise God for Freedom. For Jesus. For His Spirit. For His ways, His control, His faithfulness to those who are faithful to Him. and His love and grace and joy. Ugh. I just love love LOVE living with God in my life! No better way.
11Here is a trustworthy saying: If we died with him, we will also live with him; 12if we endure, we will also reign with him. If we disown him, he will also disown us; 13if we are faithless, he will remain faithful, for he cannot disown himself.
2 Timothy 2:11-13
Friday, June 5, 2009
God is Enough.
I want to start off by quoting a line from a song...called Beloved by 10th Avenue North.
the lyric is..
"Love of my life, look deep in my eyes there you will find what you need..."
This is being said as if Jesus were saying it to us. To me. I have everything that I need, in Jesus. His love is all I need, is what should get me through, is what gives me my worth and makes me beautiful, inside and out. His love, His being, is what makes me who I am, is all that I need to get through a day, to love other people, to have confidence, to be friendly, to be interested....everything.
In God's love, in His eyes, we will find what it is we need....
to glorify Him, to live a life of purpose and of love.
God is enough. God(in all He is) is what we need. Is what I need. All I need. and That should be enough. His love, should be enough. Can we say that for our own lives?! Can we tell God in all honesty that He truly is enough for us?! Does our lives, show God and other people, that He is enough?! Do we give in to ourselves or to God?! Do we stay in our little bubble or go out of the bubble (aka comfort zone) and show God that we WANT Him, and that Jesus' love really is enough for us!
I pray mine does. I believe wholeheartedly that my Jesus is more than enough for me! I know it. I believe it. I am doing my best to live it! But once again, I can't do anything w/o Him. The Spirit (my partner) is what empowers me to live a life of devotion and love...(that's a whole other entry). But my Jesus is enough....
Then in my devotions this morning...it talked about Jesus and the rich man.
Mark 10:17-23 (New International Version)
The Rich Young Man 17As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. "Good teacher," he asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?"
18"Why do you call me good?" Jesus answered. "No one is good—except God alone. 19You know the commandments: 'Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, do not defraud, honor your father and mother.'[a]"
20"Teacher," he declared, "all these I have kept since I was a boy."
21Jesus looked at him and loved him. "One thing you lack," he said. "Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."
22At this the man's face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth.
23Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, "How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!"
Jesus wasn't enough for the rich man. He enjoyed His "stuff" too much. And what we hold onto, what we WANT...is worthless unless it is wanting more of Jesus, holding onto Jesus.
I know I want so many things in this world...clothes, dvds, new car, food...necessary things and unnessary things...but all of this world and all things that I will not take with me to heaven.
So why do I want them so bad?! Why do I wish I had more money so that I could go shopping or so that I could buy something new, which I really don't need?! It's not gonna get me anywhere. It will only satisfy me for what, a couple weeks?!?!
Why can't we just be content and happy with what God gives us. Why do we always want more of this world, and not more of Jesus?! Or, we want more of both...we can't have more of both.
One or the other.
So really, which do we want more of?! Which are we willing to let go of?!
Is God enough?! Is not buying all the new toys, not spending your money on clothes or cds or dvds all the time worth it for more of Jesus?!
It is for me. It's just time to live that out.
Jesus is calling us to more....yes we lose out on some of this stuff of the world...we need to sacrifice...but look at the sacrifice that Jesus made.....
and look where we will be in the end...face to face....in full glory....Jesus is worth it. Sacrifice is worth it. Uncomfortableness is worth it. Stretch marks in our lives, are way worth it!
Praise God today. Because He chose you. He wants to embrace you with His love. He wants more of you. He wants to bring you to himself. He wants more for you!
Embrace Him. Everything about Him. Because He IS, Enough.
For me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. Philippians 1:21
the lyric is..
"Love of my life, look deep in my eyes there you will find what you need..."
This is being said as if Jesus were saying it to us. To me. I have everything that I need, in Jesus. His love is all I need, is what should get me through, is what gives me my worth and makes me beautiful, inside and out. His love, His being, is what makes me who I am, is all that I need to get through a day, to love other people, to have confidence, to be friendly, to be interested....everything.
In God's love, in His eyes, we will find what it is we need....
to glorify Him, to live a life of purpose and of love.
God is enough. God(in all He is) is what we need. Is what I need. All I need. and That should be enough. His love, should be enough. Can we say that for our own lives?! Can we tell God in all honesty that He truly is enough for us?! Does our lives, show God and other people, that He is enough?! Do we give in to ourselves or to God?! Do we stay in our little bubble or go out of the bubble (aka comfort zone) and show God that we WANT Him, and that Jesus' love really is enough for us!
I pray mine does. I believe wholeheartedly that my Jesus is more than enough for me! I know it. I believe it. I am doing my best to live it! But once again, I can't do anything w/o Him. The Spirit (my partner) is what empowers me to live a life of devotion and love...(that's a whole other entry). But my Jesus is enough....
Then in my devotions this morning...it talked about Jesus and the rich man.
Mark 10:17-23 (New International Version)
The Rich Young Man 17As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. "Good teacher," he asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?"
18"Why do you call me good?" Jesus answered. "No one is good—except God alone. 19You know the commandments: 'Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, do not defraud, honor your father and mother.'[a]"
20"Teacher," he declared, "all these I have kept since I was a boy."
21Jesus looked at him and loved him. "One thing you lack," he said. "Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."
22At this the man's face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth.
23Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, "How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!"
Jesus wasn't enough for the rich man. He enjoyed His "stuff" too much. And what we hold onto, what we WANT...is worthless unless it is wanting more of Jesus, holding onto Jesus.
I know I want so many things in this world...clothes, dvds, new car, food...necessary things and unnessary things...but all of this world and all things that I will not take with me to heaven.
So why do I want them so bad?! Why do I wish I had more money so that I could go shopping or so that I could buy something new, which I really don't need?! It's not gonna get me anywhere. It will only satisfy me for what, a couple weeks?!?!
Why can't we just be content and happy with what God gives us. Why do we always want more of this world, and not more of Jesus?! Or, we want more of both...we can't have more of both.
One or the other.
So really, which do we want more of?! Which are we willing to let go of?!
Is God enough?! Is not buying all the new toys, not spending your money on clothes or cds or dvds all the time worth it for more of Jesus?!
It is for me. It's just time to live that out.
Jesus is calling us to more....yes we lose out on some of this stuff of the world...we need to sacrifice...but look at the sacrifice that Jesus made.....
and look where we will be in the end...face to face....in full glory....Jesus is worth it. Sacrifice is worth it. Uncomfortableness is worth it. Stretch marks in our lives, are way worth it!
Praise God today. Because He chose you. He wants to embrace you with His love. He wants more of you. He wants to bring you to himself. He wants more for you!
Embrace Him. Everything about Him. Because He IS, Enough.
For me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. Philippians 1:21
Saturday, May 9, 2009
Response
Tonight I was looking at Tenth Avenue North's website because I bought their cd last weekend, and it is amazing (go check it out) and one of the bandmates wrote a blog today. and in it...he said this...
"To be a Christian to to live a life of response."
the last week or so, I have been questioning myself on if my life speaks God, speaks Jesus, speaks truth, and if I DO what I know I am called to do, if I DO what Jesus did, if I DO whatever the Holy Spirit urges me to, to say.....
because sometimes, okay a lot of times, i don't do a great job.
For those of you who really know me, I'm not the type of person who finds it easy to express my feelings to people, to confront people, to show my love/emotions to people in front of them. its just hard for me. but a lot easier than it used to be.
but i feel called and have a desire to encourage people. i have a desire to have Jesus shining through my life so that people can see I am different.
I just want Jesus to shine in my life.
and i guess I sometimes fear that I am not shining, that I am not acting on what God is teaching me and showing me. and sometimes I respond too late...i always think of things to do or say AFTER the situation is passed...but i just gotta learn to make God even more a part of my day, even more a part of my mind and my thoughts! just have to trust that in that present time, what happened is what God allowed and still made a different positively somehow.
It is still a reponse. I just want my reponse to be right, to be full of God and glorifying God.
But i know that God is forever shining! and I thank Him for that! and I also think that if God is really speaking to you strongly, and you feel really passioniate about something, you can't help but act on it.
So i guess now my prayer is that God just births more passion into my life each day! so that I can act more, and be more obedient, and Shine. and glorify God. So that's God's glory can be known!
I love what he said in that quote because it is so true. It is all a response. A response to what Jesus did on the cross. A response to God's love. A response to choices. A response to love other people, to know what love truly is because of God. A response to act. To allow change, and to respond what God is telling you, what is going on in your life...a response to be obedient....a response on how to live your life because of the Wonder who created you!!
so our life is a response. a response to God and Him in our lives ultimately.
I guess the whole point of this is...I want my life to be a response to God. to make a difference. to Shine for Him. for Him to Shine through all things.
"To be a Christian to to live a life of response."
the last week or so, I have been questioning myself on if my life speaks God, speaks Jesus, speaks truth, and if I DO what I know I am called to do, if I DO what Jesus did, if I DO whatever the Holy Spirit urges me to, to say.....
because sometimes, okay a lot of times, i don't do a great job.
For those of you who really know me, I'm not the type of person who finds it easy to express my feelings to people, to confront people, to show my love/emotions to people in front of them. its just hard for me. but a lot easier than it used to be.
but i feel called and have a desire to encourage people. i have a desire to have Jesus shining through my life so that people can see I am different.
I just want Jesus to shine in my life.
and i guess I sometimes fear that I am not shining, that I am not acting on what God is teaching me and showing me. and sometimes I respond too late...i always think of things to do or say AFTER the situation is passed...but i just gotta learn to make God even more a part of my day, even more a part of my mind and my thoughts! just have to trust that in that present time, what happened is what God allowed and still made a different positively somehow.
It is still a reponse. I just want my reponse to be right, to be full of God and glorifying God.
But i know that God is forever shining! and I thank Him for that! and I also think that if God is really speaking to you strongly, and you feel really passioniate about something, you can't help but act on it.
So i guess now my prayer is that God just births more passion into my life each day! so that I can act more, and be more obedient, and Shine. and glorify God. So that's God's glory can be known!
I love what he said in that quote because it is so true. It is all a response. A response to what Jesus did on the cross. A response to God's love. A response to choices. A response to love other people, to know what love truly is because of God. A response to act. To allow change, and to respond what God is telling you, what is going on in your life...a response to be obedient....a response on how to live your life because of the Wonder who created you!!
so our life is a response. a response to God and Him in our lives ultimately.
I guess the whole point of this is...I want my life to be a response to God. to make a difference. to Shine for Him. for Him to Shine through all things.
Sunday, April 26, 2009
The Click
Northern Ireland:
My second home. I adore this place. But even more, I adore the people from this place. The people I have created relationships with. old and new.
my good friend brought up to me the other night, that no matter how long you go from seeing people or even talking to people, you know you have a great friendship if you can be away for so long and pick up right where you left off with life going on in between.
God has completely blessed me with the most amazing relationships. here and at home. and i know that he will continue too. and i am excited.
it really saddens me to leave them all again. and i am determined to keep in touch better...becasue keeping in touch is not my strong point at all. so i need to work on that! i want to work on that!
but one thing ive realized...this trip has helped me realize. is that i didnt necessarily need to come back to be healed from what happened to me and what i went through. jesus has already set me free! i was already living in that freedom and healing! coming here wasnt even really for me at all. but for other people. i realized (and this may sound a bit conceited...) that life went on for these kids without me. they grew up, God protected them and strengthened them. and it is incredible! God looks after your work. and blessed the relationships!! so encouraging.
i jsut cant thank God enough or even say enough how much i adore these relationships. every single one of them. they mean so much to me. and have brought me so much life.
one thing that God has kinda put on my heart. is all about the holy spirit. within the last few months. really been realizing the holy spirit is there. and just longing for more of him to be alive in me. surrender and sacrifice to living in the spirit and in relationship with jesus and in reverence to God is a daily thing. i just want to grow and grow.
to not have any expectations of my life. to not have plans...because by me having plans for my life...is putting God's plans out of the picture. which God's plans are much better than mine ever could be and He is the creator so I kinda want Him in control of my life!!
i just wanna grow. and be and live in relationship with God and the trinity and to just go day by day and surrender daily.
we are constantly impacting people.
i want to be an encourager. i realized the other night that maybe a part of God's calling on my life is to encourage ppl. to disciple people and to stretch and push them. to help them be who God wants them to be. to help them share what God has laid on their heart with others. i love being that person. i feel empowered by it.
and ive finally realized...i mean...ive known this for a while..cuz God keeps hinting at it...but ive just never really accepted it because I don't really want it...but i know God is calling me into some kind of leadership. which scares me. because I don't see myself as a leader...i dont want to be known as a leader...ive always seen myself as a follower. and i always will be some kind of follower. but God always seems to do somethin in my life to where I have to lead something...or take charge. and a lot of times...i try to hide from it. which doesnt work very well.
and tonight...i just let it go. If God wants me to be in leadership, I will be in leadership. Ive come to terms that i just may need to. and i do enjoy it to an extent! so we will see what God does with my life and where He leads it!
so this has just been kinda randomness...but its all whats on my heart. my heart is overflowing. and my mind is so full of thoughts!! like always. but this is good stuff!! i dont even know what all to write cuz there is so much!
i love conversations. especially focused on God. my life needs to be more focused on God. i want to be consumed by Him! to naturally be controlled and thinking of His ways!!
My second home. I adore this place. But even more, I adore the people from this place. The people I have created relationships with. old and new.
my good friend brought up to me the other night, that no matter how long you go from seeing people or even talking to people, you know you have a great friendship if you can be away for so long and pick up right where you left off with life going on in between.
God has completely blessed me with the most amazing relationships. here and at home. and i know that he will continue too. and i am excited.
it really saddens me to leave them all again. and i am determined to keep in touch better...becasue keeping in touch is not my strong point at all. so i need to work on that! i want to work on that!
but one thing ive realized...this trip has helped me realize. is that i didnt necessarily need to come back to be healed from what happened to me and what i went through. jesus has already set me free! i was already living in that freedom and healing! coming here wasnt even really for me at all. but for other people. i realized (and this may sound a bit conceited...) that life went on for these kids without me. they grew up, God protected them and strengthened them. and it is incredible! God looks after your work. and blessed the relationships!! so encouraging.
i jsut cant thank God enough or even say enough how much i adore these relationships. every single one of them. they mean so much to me. and have brought me so much life.
one thing that God has kinda put on my heart. is all about the holy spirit. within the last few months. really been realizing the holy spirit is there. and just longing for more of him to be alive in me. surrender and sacrifice to living in the spirit and in relationship with jesus and in reverence to God is a daily thing. i just want to grow and grow.
to not have any expectations of my life. to not have plans...because by me having plans for my life...is putting God's plans out of the picture. which God's plans are much better than mine ever could be and He is the creator so I kinda want Him in control of my life!!
i just wanna grow. and be and live in relationship with God and the trinity and to just go day by day and surrender daily.
we are constantly impacting people.
i want to be an encourager. i realized the other night that maybe a part of God's calling on my life is to encourage ppl. to disciple people and to stretch and push them. to help them be who God wants them to be. to help them share what God has laid on their heart with others. i love being that person. i feel empowered by it.
and ive finally realized...i mean...ive known this for a while..cuz God keeps hinting at it...but ive just never really accepted it because I don't really want it...but i know God is calling me into some kind of leadership. which scares me. because I don't see myself as a leader...i dont want to be known as a leader...ive always seen myself as a follower. and i always will be some kind of follower. but God always seems to do somethin in my life to where I have to lead something...or take charge. and a lot of times...i try to hide from it. which doesnt work very well.
and tonight...i just let it go. If God wants me to be in leadership, I will be in leadership. Ive come to terms that i just may need to. and i do enjoy it to an extent! so we will see what God does with my life and where He leads it!
so this has just been kinda randomness...but its all whats on my heart. my heart is overflowing. and my mind is so full of thoughts!! like always. but this is good stuff!! i dont even know what all to write cuz there is so much!
i love conversations. especially focused on God. my life needs to be more focused on God. i want to be consumed by Him! to naturally be controlled and thinking of His ways!!
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Feels So Good
So here I am back in the office where I would come to 4 days out of a week.
Brings back memories. :) Good and bad!
but I focus on the good.
It feels just like i have never left. I feel peaceful and just great. I love these people with all my heart. People have changed, the places have changed a bit. People grow up! Its a part of life. And there is absolutely nothing wrong with that! Growing up is great! A good thing! Especially with younger people.
:)
Peacefulness is my feeling for this month I think.
Been reading a bunch of the Psalms this last wee while. So amazing. Just how God is our rock, He is our Salvation. Under His fortress we will never move and will never be shattered!!
I love it. I love Jesus!
Was talking to Jude last week after Tina and I spoke at YF just about the past year and all. and my relationship with God.
With how before it was more of just a relationship. where now, it is in the midst of turning into not just a relationship, but more spiritual. more than it ever has been or was before.
and i had never thought about that. but it is so true. and I cannot wiat for this spiritual bit of our relatinoship to continue to grow! More God. More Jesus. More Holy Spirit!
yay!
Brings back memories. :) Good and bad!
but I focus on the good.
It feels just like i have never left. I feel peaceful and just great. I love these people with all my heart. People have changed, the places have changed a bit. People grow up! Its a part of life. And there is absolutely nothing wrong with that! Growing up is great! A good thing! Especially with younger people.
:)
Peacefulness is my feeling for this month I think.
Been reading a bunch of the Psalms this last wee while. So amazing. Just how God is our rock, He is our Salvation. Under His fortress we will never move and will never be shattered!!
I love it. I love Jesus!
Was talking to Jude last week after Tina and I spoke at YF just about the past year and all. and my relationship with God.
With how before it was more of just a relationship. where now, it is in the midst of turning into not just a relationship, but more spiritual. more than it ever has been or was before.
and i had never thought about that. but it is so true. and I cannot wiat for this spiritual bit of our relatinoship to continue to grow! More God. More Jesus. More Holy Spirit!
yay!
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