twitter was fun while it lasted. but in reality, i'm not a fan of all these updates and statuses.
they can be very self centering and consuming. they can be misleading. but they can also be informational and full of worthwhile knowledge.
this is where my struggle has been the past week. am i consumed by online social networks, or am I just using them as a medium to continue established and heart to heart relationships?
i like to keep people updated on my where abouts, thoughts and social life. i like that through all these social networks i have an accountability and bragging system, but it is not the person I desire to be.
in sociology we study all about the concept of the self and society. several theories and rationales have determined how centered the self is on social interaction. how the looking glass self appears to be one thing and is really another. how a person adapts and changes depending on the situation they are in. it's based on Herbert Blumer's theory of symbolic interaction...the Chicago School vs. the Iowa school. Or you can look at George Mead's theory on Marxism.
So much of my life in the next year is going to be determined by how good I look on paper and in the classroom. I don't need that anywhere else, not on twitter, not on myspace or on facebook.
I need accountability in my heart, from scripture, and rooted in God. I want people to know me for me and not for the person I appear to be on a profile or in a tweet.
All this ran through my mind as I am supposed to be studying the critical theories of sociology, but oddly enough this pose pertains directly to what is on my final in 3 hours :] PTL.
can't --> can.
there is this power in learning something new.
challenging yourself.
making a can't into a CAN.
I'm living it right now.
I'll never be able to get that fore hand toss in Frisbee. HA!
Stand on a skateboard without help? yeah right!
graduate college? mom didn't, how will I?
teach kids with a speech impediment and hearing aids? out of reach.
move home to spread Christ's love to my parents. no way hose, i do what I want.
If only I could explain the feeling inside the pit of my stomach every time I glide around on Dilyn's longboard. It's this deep satisfaction of knowing I accomplished a fear, a challenge, and overcame this insecurity that CAN'Ts put on my heart.
Now I've got this other pile of can'ts, never would I evers, and unworthys in front of me that I have to tackle, mess around with, and sort out. It's that white elephant I talked about. How are you doing with your white elephant?
It's a bit daunting...but why do I have all those things anyways? They don't need to be there, I pile them there. Those cants, not so muches and heck nos are only there because I put them there, because I build those walls and say "Never would I ever!." They are there because I believe what society tells me, because I fall for the love of others and not for the love of Christ.
Next thing I know I'll be cleaning public restrooms for fun, speaking in front of large crowds, surfing, rockclimbing, and moving to a foreign country thousands of miles from home. Yeah right. I'de never do that. No way. HA, funny thought God, funny thought.
challenging yourself.
making a can't into a CAN.
I'm living it right now.
I'll never be able to get that fore hand toss in Frisbee. HA!
Stand on a skateboard without help? yeah right!
graduate college? mom didn't, how will I?
teach kids with a speech impediment and hearing aids? out of reach.
move home to spread Christ's love to my parents. no way hose, i do what I want.
If only I could explain the feeling inside the pit of my stomach every time I glide around on Dilyn's longboard. It's this deep satisfaction of knowing I accomplished a fear, a challenge, and overcame this insecurity that CAN'Ts put on my heart.
Now I've got this other pile of can'ts, never would I evers, and unworthys in front of me that I have to tackle, mess around with, and sort out. It's that white elephant I talked about. How are you doing with your white elephant?
It's a bit daunting...but why do I have all those things anyways? They don't need to be there, I pile them there. Those cants, not so muches and heck nos are only there because I put them there, because I build those walls and say "Never would I ever!." They are there because I believe what society tells me, because I fall for the love of others and not for the love of Christ.
Next thing I know I'll be cleaning public restrooms for fun, speaking in front of large crowds, surfing, rockclimbing, and moving to a foreign country thousands of miles from home. Yeah right. I'de never do that. No way. HA, funny thought God, funny thought.
In the beginning
Happy Genesis One day!
"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth."
Yes, God did! He created this beautiful place we live on (and if you feel like debating that, let's get coffee and chat it out). How am I doing treating this earth? I can only imagine what it looked like thousands of years ago, under the bright sun and rid of industrialism, consumerism, and and buch of other isms.
A friend reminded me yesterday about the importance of recycling, about saving paper, and about being more conscious of how I am treating the ground I walk on. It was a bit convicting, but I'm not sure it was enough to make me change my habits. So here we go, this blog will serve as an accountability system in my environmental (lack of) friendly habits. Feel free to show me videos of how the world is going to end because the ozone layer collapses, or how our public water system is litter with prescription drugs because people flush them down the toilet. It might scare me into having better habits faster!
Lauren's YAY Genesis 1 Environmentally GO GREEN list:
1. Put gum in trash and not on ground
2. Buy our house a recycle bin...and recycle
3. Support environmentally GREEN businesses.
4. continue using my own cups at starbucks and for my water to cut down on wastes
Thats all I've got for now! GO GREEN! HAPPY BIRTHDAY EARTH!
"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth."
Yes, God did! He created this beautiful place we live on (and if you feel like debating that, let's get coffee and chat it out). How am I doing treating this earth? I can only imagine what it looked like thousands of years ago, under the bright sun and rid of industrialism, consumerism, and and buch of other isms.
A friend reminded me yesterday about the importance of recycling, about saving paper, and about being more conscious of how I am treating the ground I walk on. It was a bit convicting, but I'm not sure it was enough to make me change my habits. So here we go, this blog will serve as an accountability system in my environmental (lack of) friendly habits. Feel free to show me videos of how the world is going to end because the ozone layer collapses, or how our public water system is litter with prescription drugs because people flush them down the toilet. It might scare me into having better habits faster!
Lauren's YAY Genesis 1 Environmentally GO GREEN list:
1. Put gum in trash and not on ground
2. Buy our house a recycle bin...and recycle
3. Support environmentally GREEN businesses.
4. continue using my own cups at starbucks and for my water to cut down on wastes
Thats all I've got for now! GO GREEN! HAPPY BIRTHDAY EARTH!
thumbs up for GOD!
hello fellow readers,
I love the word hello and fellow, it's funny how they sound the same but fellow has the privilege of having a 'w' and hello doesn't. English is weird. :]
I thank you all for your comments lately. I'm glad God is using my words for his purpose.
This may be an act of self defense or justification, but I wanted to make sure that the intentions of my blog are known. A lot of people think blogs are for "egotist", or people who are self absorbed/selfish/etc. and want to spill all their beans for the whole world to see and sympathize with. I can completely see their point and understand their reasoning. However, before you call me an egotist let me educate you on what I see my intentions to be of my blog and why I highly encourage you to start one as well.
My blog serves 3 purposes that are known to me at this moment.
1. Honor my father in Heaven and the sacrifice he made of his one and only son so I could live the life I blog about and so I could partake on the incredible journey towards eternity. (Sounds cliche, but so true!)
2. My words and prayers never seem to make sense until I have them in front of me. My mind and my heart go a million miles a minute everyday and all the time. Journaling/Blogging helps me take mumble jumble and create it into something of substance and sense.
3. I have always
ALWAYS learned more in life from other people and other words. I am easily inspired, motivated, and persuaded by the ways that God has created other people to live. Therefore, it is my hope that my story will somehow inspire someone else. And that is why you should blog!
Nothing of my story is my own, it is all in God's glory and is meant to spread the peace and hope of J.C.'s return to this earth. Thumbs up for GOD and blogging! :]
I love the word hello and fellow, it's funny how they sound the same but fellow has the privilege of having a 'w' and hello doesn't. English is weird. :]
I thank you all for your comments lately. I'm glad God is using my words for his purpose.
This may be an act of self defense or justification, but I wanted to make sure that the intentions of my blog are known. A lot of people think blogs are for "egotist", or people who are self absorbed/selfish/etc. and want to spill all their beans for the whole world to see and sympathize with. I can completely see their point and understand their reasoning. However, before you call me an egotist let me educate you on what I see my intentions to be of my blog and why I highly encourage you to start one as well.
My blog serves 3 purposes that are known to me at this moment.
1. Honor my father in Heaven and the sacrifice he made of his one and only son so I could live the life I blog about and so I could partake on the incredible journey towards eternity. (Sounds cliche, but so true!)
2. My words and prayers never seem to make sense until I have them in front of me. My mind and my heart go a million miles a minute everyday and all the time. Journaling/Blogging helps me take mumble jumble and create it into something of substance and sense.
3. I have always
ALWAYS learned more in life from other people and other words. I am easily inspired, motivated, and persuaded by the ways that God has created other people to live. Therefore, it is my hope that my story will somehow inspire someone else. And that is why you should blog!Nothing of my story is my own, it is all in God's glory and is meant to spread the peace and hope of J.C.'s return to this earth. Thumbs up for GOD and blogging! :]
God, you've got a sense of humor.
when I was home at the end of march, I read through my old journals and found two entries from a little over four years ago. I started this blog but never finished it and made connections with 2005 to 2009.
Funny how God works. Take note of the dates :]
January 22nd, 2005
Hey there Lord. Thank you for being with me today at MSU. I really needed to feel like a school was good for me, but I am still not certain if that is where you want me to go. So I pray for your guidance with that God. I'm really worried about how many people go there from Saline and I am not sure I like that. It is also just really big and confusing. I would be lost in a second! Especially since I still can't navigate our new high school hallways. Also, I don't know if I want to go somewhere where YL is so big, I want something new and different.
January 30th, 2005
I spent the past weekend at Loyola. I really like the friendly people, how close it was to downtown, and the way I pictured myself there. Although, I can't quite figure out if it would be fulfilling your will or my dream. So, I need to sit down and think this one out with you. Please God, this is a big decision and I need to know that you support me.
March 11th, 2005
God, I really wanted to go to Loyola or Indiana. Now you've given me this cancer crap and I'm stuck in Michigan. Why can't I just switch doctors? Why am I 18 and already having to base my life paths on medical treatment? Why can't I just go where I want to go? I understand the cancer, I understand the peace you've put in my heart about that, but I don't understand why it has to carry over into my college choice. Can't I just go, leave, and learn? I'll turn in my housing stuff tomorrow, but I'm not going to be happy about it.
March 15th, 2009
Michigan State has given me everything I could hope for. The grace of God in friendships, classes, professors, crushes, and conversations. The peace of God has sent me to Williamston middle school girls who need love, joy, and simplicity...all of which I understand. The challenge of God has lead to me to a career focus that digs deep into my greatest insecurities and forces me to die at the feet of Jesus every day. God, thank you for Michigan State. Thank you for Spartans, for March Madness, and for all the people you have introduced me to in the past four years. Cancer will never win, but I have learned that it will lead me closer to a heart that is rooted in your peace, your grace, your simplicity and your challenges.
Funny how God works. Take note of the dates :]
January 22nd, 2005
Hey there Lord. Thank you for being with me today at MSU. I really needed to feel like a school was good for me, but I am still not certain if that is where you want me to go. So I pray for your guidance with that God. I'm really worried about how many people go there from Saline and I am not sure I like that. It is also just really big and confusing. I would be lost in a second! Especially since I still can't navigate our new high school hallways. Also, I don't know if I want to go somewhere where YL is so big, I want something new and different.
January 30th, 2005
I spent the past weekend at Loyola. I really like the friendly people, how close it was to downtown, and the way I pictured myself there. Although, I can't quite figure out if it would be fulfilling your will or my dream. So, I need to sit down and think this one out with you. Please God, this is a big decision and I need to know that you support me.
March 11th, 2005
God, I really wanted to go to Loyola or Indiana. Now you've given me this cancer crap and I'm stuck in Michigan. Why can't I just switch doctors? Why am I 18 and already having to base my life paths on medical treatment? Why can't I just go where I want to go? I understand the cancer, I understand the peace you've put in my heart about that, but I don't understand why it has to carry over into my college choice. Can't I just go, leave, and learn? I'll turn in my housing stuff tomorrow, but I'm not going to be happy about it.
March 15th, 2009
Michigan State has given me everything I could hope for. The grace of God in friendships, classes, professors, crushes, and conversations. The peace of God has sent me to Williamston middle school girls who need love, joy, and simplicity...all of which I understand. The challenge of God has lead to me to a career focus that digs deep into my greatest insecurities and forces me to die at the feet of Jesus every day. God, thank you for Michigan State. Thank you for Spartans, for March Madness, and for all the people you have introduced me to in the past four years. Cancer will never win, but I have learned that it will lead me closer to a heart that is rooted in your peace, your grace, your simplicity and your challenges.
BIG white elephant.
I hate those white elephants. The ones who live in the corner of your room or in my case, the corner of your heart and decide to cause all kinds of ruckus at the time that feels convenient for them.Honestly, I asked for this white elephant to come out of hiding. You faithful readers know that my prayer has been to be moved, shaken, changed, and challenged. Well this white elephant might be a little bit harder to push then I expected.
Especially since it's not the elephant I was expecting to visit. In fact, this elephant is quite the opposite. I was expecting the frequent white elephant that I see daily to come again, but this one is from a circus I've never seen before.
Now, I'm not sure you can comprehend anything I am writing about. But for the sake of not boring the entire 4 of you who read this, I just want to say two things.
1. Think about your own white elephants tonight. Find them and confront them.
2. Please pray for insight and a plan on how to confront mine. I've got no skills in approaching this kind of elephant and will be asking God to show me scripture and to put me in conversations that teach me everything I need to know.
the mystery of a whisper.
What does a whisper sound like?My mom used to tell me that whispers were like two cotton balls rubbing together, or like the rustling of a pair of pants, she said it was like the flapping of a birds wings in the tree. Sounds beautiful, sounds peaceful, sounds just lovely.
It's poetic really, not being able to hear whispers, it's a mystery waiting to be explored. Whispers are everywhere and they are used in multiple ways to communicate. Whispers are used to say something soft and sweet, used in a quiet setting, told with care and secrecy; whispers are full of emotions and seem to me like a complete mystery.
In situations where whispers occur you can usually find me smiling and nodding pretending to be engaged in conversation, or just uninvolved in the discussion at hand. I laugh a lot of the time, because I'll try and read lips and then it just gets really awkward because I am only receiving bits and pieces of what is really going on. Being closer when someone is whispering always helps, looking at their lips and connecting it with their hand and eye motion leaves some great cues, but when it comes down to it...most whispers remain a great mystery to me and I enjoy that :]
thank you justin.
Just listened to this song, What love is this, on my I-pod for the first time.
It's by Justin McRoberts.
He is slowly becoming my favorite and I think I know a few of you readers who will relate to this song right now.
Done Living is another favorite.
Hope you enjoy my multiple posts today :] I seem to be on a roll.
______________________________________________
What Love is This?
How long? How long to wait when my heart’s ready to break?
How long? How long to stand when I don’t know who I am?
[Chorus]
Would you be my lover if I had no love
And no beauty to speak of?
Would you still be faithful if I had no faith
And I questioned everything?
Amen
What then if I turned away and in darkness hid my face?
Would you leave me then?
Or would you draw me to yourself again?
[Chorus]
What love is this? What love is this,
That will never change? That could never change?
What love is this? What love is this,
That remains the same? It remains the same
Amen.
It's by Justin McRoberts.
He is slowly becoming my favorite and I think I know a few of you readers who will relate to this song right now.
Done Living is another favorite.
Hope you enjoy my multiple posts today :] I seem to be on a roll.
What Love is This?
How long? How long to wait when my heart’s ready to break?
How long? How long to stand when I don’t know who I am?
[Chorus]
Would you be my lover if I had no love
And no beauty to speak of?
Would you still be faithful if I had no faith
And I questioned everything?
Amen
What then if I turned away and in darkness hid my face?
Would you leave me then?
Or would you draw me to yourself again?
[Chorus]
What love is this? What love is this,
That will never change? That could never change?
What love is this? What love is this,
That remains the same? It remains the same
Amen.
fisher or aquarium?
I've asked God for a challenge, and change, a make me/shake me/change me kick in the butt that will move me.
In everything I've read, listened to, wrote, conversed about in the past month, have all ended in the conclusion that the scripture will give me an answer. It always comes back to the scripture for me, and I always deny it. Unwilling to submit to what it will tell me, challenge me to do, and teach me to understand.
I listed to a podcast from Francis Chan of Cornerstone Church in Simi Valley, CA titled "The Gospel Conference Part 5." Although the entire teaching was phenomenal, I was re
ally struck by something he was trying to base his life, love, and church off of.
He explained the concept of exegesis and eisegesis.
Eisegesis
The interpretation of a text (as in the Bible) by reading it into one's own ideas --> importing into the bible our desires/wants/needs.
Exegesis
The explanation or critical interpretation of the text --> taking from the bible.
He says that our priorities should be based on what is commanded first, what is from the text, what is already written from the word of God. We shouldn't be
Basically there were three things I took away.
1. Rather then changing the words and choosing parts in the bible to fit to my needs, I need to change my heart.
2. There are so many times in our life where we wonder, "I want to make a change, but where the heck do I start?" Start with scripture, start with the word of God.
3. Instead of becoming fishers of men, I have become my own aquarium, this misrepresents everything scripture commands me to do.
I'm still looking for all of these in scripture, but at the end of the teaching, Mr. Chan POWERFULLY states all these commandments. It gave me goosebumps.
What is Commanded?
love one another.
serve one another.
be at peace with one another.
show hospitality towards one another.
honor one another.
receive one another.
do not fight with one another.
do not envy one another.
admonish one another.
greet one another.
care for one another.
bear the burdens of one another.
show deference towards one another.
forgive one another.
be kind to one another.
submit to one another.
don't lie to one another.
provoke the good works in one another.
comfort one another.
concern yourself in the affairs of one another.
don't hate one another.
don't speak evil of one another.
pray for one another.
be like minded towards one another.
don't hold a grudge towards one another.
highly esteem one another.
do not be partial towards one another.
have fellowship with one another.
edify one another.
teach one another.
do good one another.
exhort one another.
administer spiritual gifts towards one another.
*some of these may be wrong, since I based them on what I heard, which we all know is not the greatest :]
In everything I've read, listened to, wrote, conversed about in the past month, have all ended in the conclusion that the scripture will give me an answer. It always comes back to the scripture for me, and I always deny it. Unwilling to submit to what it will tell me, challenge me to do, and teach me to understand.
I listed to a podcast from Francis Chan of Cornerstone Church in Simi Valley, CA titled "The Gospel Conference Part 5." Although the entire teaching was phenomenal, I was re
ally struck by something he was trying to base his life, love, and church off of.He explained the concept of exegesis and eisegesis.
Eisegesis
The interpretation of a text (as in the Bible) by reading it into one's own ideas --> importing into the bible our desires/wants/needs.
Exegesis
The explanation or critical interpretation of the text --> taking from the bible.
He says that our priorities should be based on what is commanded first, what is from the text, what is already written from the word of God. We shouldn't be
Basically there were three things I took away.
1. Rather then changing the words and choosing parts in the bible to fit to my needs, I need to change my heart.
2. There are so many times in our life where we wonder, "I want to make a change, but where the heck do I start?" Start with scripture, start with the word of God.
3. Instead of becoming fishers of men, I have become my own aquarium, this misrepresents everything scripture commands me to do.
I'm still looking for all of these in scripture, but at the end of the teaching, Mr. Chan POWERFULLY states all these commandments. It gave me goosebumps.
What is Commanded?
love one another.
serve one another.
be at peace with one another.
show hospitality towards one another.
honor one another.
receive one another.
do not fight with one another.
do not envy one another.
admonish one another.
greet one another.
care for one another.
bear the burdens of one another.
show deference towards one another.
forgive one another.
be kind to one another.
submit to one another.
don't lie to one another.
provoke the good works in one another.
comfort one another.
concern yourself in the affairs of one another.
don't hate one another.
don't speak evil of one another.
pray for one another.
be like minded towards one another.
don't hold a grudge towards one another.
highly esteem one another.
do not be partial towards one another.
have fellowship with one another.
edify one another.
teach one another.
do good one another.
exhort one another.
administer spiritual gifts towards one another.
*some of these may be wrong, since I based them on what I heard, which we all know is not the greatest :]
spontaneous smiley.
Someone else in the world appreciates the value of seeing something not just as what it is, but what it could be.
What if we did this for everyone, everyday. Saw them for the people that God created them to be, and not the people we perceive them as. This has always been my mission throught the gospel with our middle schoolers. My hope is that I can be an example of what happens when they open their eyes and their hearts to the smiley's that surround them.
Seeing the outcast in their school as people with joy and love, showing them Christ in difficult situations, explaining how obeying their parents is a great thing - prying them away from the mirror and their cellphones so they can look out and see simply beauty inside their hearts and in the community. These simple beauties sometimes come in the form of a smiley.
What we see isn't always what is there. God creates smiles from even the most basic/abstract, crazy parts/things in our life.
I hope you see a spontaneous smiley today.
What if we did this for everyone, everyday. Saw them for the people that God created them to be, and not the people we perceive them as. This has always been my mission throught the gospel with our middle schoolers. My hope is that I can be an example of what happens when they open their eyes and their hearts to the smiley's that surround them.
Seeing the outcast in their school as people with joy and love, showing them Christ in difficult situations, explaining how obeying their parents is a great thing - prying them away from the mirror and their cellphones so they can look out and see simply beauty inside their hearts and in the community. These simple beauties sometimes come in the form of a smiley.
What we see isn't always what is there. God creates smiles from even the most basic/abstract, crazy parts/things in our life.
I hope you see a spontaneous smiley today.
poetic find.
May you have a star to light your way
What you can't see what's ahead
and strong wind beneath your dreams
lifting you up and carrying you on.
May you have prayers, strong and deep,
untying your cares when the threads get tangled
and hope in tough situations.
May you have the harvest of moments,
memories, good times
sunshine amongst the clouds
and smiles that turn anguish to joy.
May you have silence when words are needed
and all that it takes to watch your cares drift away.
May you have tomorrows
as vast as the universe -
opportunities far beyond
what your heart believes.
May you have love, lasting and giving,
and a happy heart - everyday, all year through.
Linda E. Knight.
What you can't see what's ahead
and strong wind beneath your dreams
lifting you up and carrying you on.
May you have prayers, strong and deep,
untying your cares when the threads get tangled
and hope in tough situations.
May you have the harvest of moments,
memories, good times
sunshine amongst the clouds
and smiles that turn anguish to joy.
May you have silence when words are needed
and all that it takes to watch your cares drift away.
May you have tomorrows
as vast as the universe -
opportunities far beyond
what your heart believes.
May you have love, lasting and giving,
and a happy heart - everyday, all year through.
Linda E. Knight.
embracing the hardships of a Good Friday.
Sunday is the celebration of the resurrection of Jesus. But what about today? Today is the remembrance of the Crucifixion of Jesus, the painful death he suffered so we could have the choice and the chance to be with God someday.Relevant Magazine just published an article and here is a quote:
"Thank God for those, but many are so focused on comfort and victory that they miss the raw, candid and abrasive road that made those graces possible. Theirs is a cross-less, agony-free, Gethsemane-free faith, which domesticates the Jesus-story, making it nice, clean and G-rated. But it was Paul who claimed that we can only “know Christ and the power of his resurrection” if we are willing to enter “the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings” (Philippians 3:10). This text suggests that if we want to enter into the power of the resurrection, we need to pause and let the suffering of Jesus touch us. Remember Jesus’ words, “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted” (Matthew 5:4)? But we don’t want to mourn. We want to move directly to victory. We want the “fix,” the “solution.” We don’t want to face Christ’s suffering head-on in order to taste and experience that suffering.
" [Ed Gungor]
My faith is not G-rated. My Jesus did not die free of pain and agony, he was crucified for my sins, my wrongdoings, and my faults. He took my weight on His shoulders and gave me life. I mourn, I weep, I lay it all at the feet of Jesus. Okay, I fibbed. I focus on the positive, the bunnies, flowers, and pretty things. I close my eyes, hug a pillow, and plug my ears when pictures and video clips come on of Jesus doing what no one else in the world would do for me.
Today, I will embrace the crucifixion. I will know that because Jesus died on the Cross, today is a GOOD Friday. I challenge you to do so as well.
For your reference:
Scripture on the Crucifixion
Remember what Cancer CAN'T Do.
Meant to post this on Monday.
Young Adult Cancer Awareness
Praise God for how far Cancer treatment has come and for all the doctors working so hard to help those in need. Always my favorite for those days that it seems to eat away at my zest for life:
- Cancer is so limited
- It cannot cripple love
- It cannot shatter hope
- It cannot erode faith
- It cannot eat away peace
- It cannot destroy confidence
- It cannot kill friendship
- It cannot shut out memories
- It cannot silence courage
- It cannot invade the soul
- It cannot reduce eternal life
- It cannot quench the spirit
- It cannot lesson the power of the resurrection
built on rock.
"Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash." [Matthew 7:24-29]
Praise God for the realizations in my life. The lessons learned the prayers prayed and my ears that are listening. Tonight, I was granted the understanding of how important it is that I am building things on rock and not on sand.
My future, my excitements, my struggles, my dreams, my relatioships...all God's plans. What is eternal? What is strong? What is stable? What is true, real, good?
God, change me, move me, break me, challenge me to make my life a life on rocks and life on solid ground and supported by faith. I want to stand on the rocks of your son Jesus and know that the winds, rain, snow, and michigan weather can crash and burn around me...but my feet will not be moved, I will not be shaken, I will not be doubtful. Because I am standing on the rock of Jesus Christ who was crucified, died, and rose again.
bits of notes
David Bayless“One of the basic and difficult lessons that every artist must learn is the even the failed pieces are essential.”
Awesome time learning about the God who wastes nothing tonight.
What do you think your failed pieces are?
Those ugly little nasty times in your life that you feel are stagnant, gross, and uneventful.
Did you know they were of value, of purpose, of plan?
The God who wastes nothing uses everything to create opportunities.
The question is: What are you going to do in response to those opportunities?
In the Native American culture it is unacceptable to make perfect rugs. Where the blemish is in the rug is where the spirit enters.
God enters when we suffer, when we are in pain, when we are reduced to millions of blemishes.
more to come :]
sin
On my mind....
God knows. He does it daily, over and over. His hope to us was Jesus, or virtue is to be rooted in the bible and in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
We were saved by grace, lead by hope, and rooted in love...all because Jesus died for us on the Cross.
Sin challenges us. Take it on. Face it. Be careful not to be angered by it, worried by it, and frustrated with it. Sin will always exist, but our minds can be changed to react to it, fight it, and concur it.
- "Why I love Jesus" by Noel Heikkinen
- People without hope have no reason for virtue.
- Everything that irritates us about others can lead us to an understanding of ourselves.
- Love is saying "I feel differently" instead of saying "You're wrong."
- When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves.
- hate the sin. love the sinner.
God knows. He does it daily, over and over. His hope to us was Jesus, or virtue is to be rooted in the bible and in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
We were saved by grace, lead by hope, and rooted in love...all because Jesus died for us on the Cross.
Sin challenges us. Take it on. Face it. Be careful not to be angered by it, worried by it, and frustrated with it. Sin will always exist, but our minds can be changed to react to it, fight it, and concur it.
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