Thunderstorm!!

You probably can’t tell in this picture…but lightning and thunder and lots of rain are happening right through that window.  The power flickered for a bit and I got completely drenched walking down to dinner!  I love a good storm.  Mostly because of the change, the awe, the power, the sound, and the gorgeous new green grass.  I’m feeling this in my life lately too.  I see now the newness that comes after the storm and after light has been shed on dark areas.  Storms in life and being starkly exposed can bring such great intimacy and new life in Christ if we choose to respond positively.   So, how are you responding to His pursuit of intimacy with you today?

Lesson of the Day

As I’ve mentioned earlier, I’m learning and re-learning things.  Part of this includes wrestling with how things will look and seeking guidance from Him and others.  Today, turned out to be one of those days where I learned a bit more and made the lesson a little more tangible, real, and sink in.  Since I’m into those dictionary definitions lately, we’ll start there:

let go: relinquish one’s grip, allow to move, stop holding onto

To go along with this definition, there’s this little handy story to go along with it.  I have a watch that I decide to give to you.  I give the watch to you and put it on your wrist.  Except, I decide I want to look at the time so I take it back and then put it back on your wrist.  Or maybe I just hold onto the watch while it’s on your wrist or keep touching the watch while you’re wearing it.  Awkward, I know!  Basically, if I keep doing this then I haven’t really given you the watch.  We’re more sharing the watch or I’m trying really hard to get the watch back.  So, if I want to “let go” of the watch, I must actually give it up and not peek at it or take it back for a few minutes, for a second or for any amount of time.

The same thing is true with the things that we lay down at the cross for Jesus to take care of for us.  We have to trust Him with the valuable item and let Him have it completely.  He gets to do whatever He wants with that watch whether He changes it into something else or gives it to someone else or even lets us have it back some day.  We can’t hold onto the watch or try to keep tabs on what He’s doing in and for the watch.  At this time, for me, this tangibly means that I have to let go of communicating, checking blogs, asking others, and I need to genuinely and continually trust Jesus with the whole situation and lay it at the cross (He even gave me a physical reminder by leaving the outline of my cross necklace thanks to some happy sunshine).  Laying it down and actually letting go is hard, but once again worth it in the end because then I’m not focused on what I’ve “let go” at all.  I only fix my eyes on Jesus who can give me whatever He wants in whatever timing He likes.

Wonderwall

Wonder: a feeling of surprise mingled with admiration caused by something beautiful, unexpected, unfamiliar or inexplicable

Wall: a continuous vertical brick or stone structure that encloses or divides an area of land. something perceived as a protective or restrictive barrier.

“Today is gonna be the day that they’re gonna throw it back to you

by now you shoulda somehow realized what you gotta do

I don’t believe anybody feels the way I do about you now

And all the roads we have to walk are winding

and all the lights that lead us there are blinding

Because maybe you’re gonna be the one that saves me

and after all you’re my wonderwall.“

I’ve realized what “I gotta do.”  Run to my wonderwall (my protector, my strong tower, the one who leaves me in awe and wonder at His love and forgiveness).  Run to Jesus.  Because that is where I find healing and I trust Him “because You’re gonna be the one that saves me.”  He is the one that makes “all the lights that lead [me] there are blinding.”  He brings light to the darkness (1 John 1:5).  God is so blinding that Moses literally glowed when he left the presence of the Lord (Exodus 34:29).  He makes a way in the wilderness: “Do not call to mind the former things, or ponder things of past.  Behold, I will do something new, now it will spring forth; will you not be aware of it? I will even make a roadway in the wilderness, rivers in the desert” (Isaiah 43:18-19). He wants me to get to the place where He wants me and to do what “I gotta do” because He knows what is best and causes all things to work for the good of those who love him (Romans 8:28).  He loves me like no nobody else does.  So, that’s where I’m running today.  To the foot of the cross where I lay it all down and ask Him to “take it all” because I trust Him.  He’s my wonderwall.

I Will Praise You

I’m in a waiting place filled with questions and events.  Questions about the future, about God’s timing, about His direction, and so much more.  Events such as family days, the end of shredding, the end of the internship, new beginnings, trips in December and other little things.  I’m setting my eyes and waiting.  I am surrendering my will and choosing to be like Daniel and Esther.  I am seeking wisdom, clarity and direction.  I refuse to be tossed around like a wave of the sea, but instead am holding tight to the One who will give me the desires of my heart.

The Past

“Some spend their lives painting images that only remember the past.” p. 4

The past…entraps, makes you feel stuck, holds you back.  Through examining our past, we can move forward with greater clarity and understanding of ourselves.  Yet, our focus must be on Jesus the author and perfector of our faith for He will transform us as we continue to abide in Him and renew our minds.

“What darkness has consumed you and stolen from you, robbed from you, sucked out of your soul the dream God created you to flesh out?” p. 31

What has distracted you? What has pulled you off the path?  The dream still exists whether or not we have lost focus.  We can return and reclaim that dream.  Not all is lost.

“You are being manipulated by the circumstances of your life rather than being moved by a calling with purpose and mission.” p. 47

Seasons come and go throughout our life.  We choose our attitude.  We choose our reactions.

“What we should learn from wisdom we insist on learning through the pain that comes from being unteachable.” p. 51

I strive to be teachable.  To listen well and accept advice, criticism, and observation about myself and my life.  As others recognize things, I need to examine my heart and recognize the areas in need of transformation without becoming defensive.  Easier said than done!

“Are you settling for a life that essentially seeks the measure of everyone else’s value of who you are? Are you a prisoner to the opinion of others, or are you willing to allow God to create the life of your dreams?” p.113

I am easily swayed by popular opinion and by my perception of people’s opinions.  My perception sways my thinking.  I may perceive something far different than reality.  Thus, I must instead turn to God to allow Him to inform my perception and help me create a masterpiece out of my life.

ht: Wide Awake by Erwin McManus

LaunchPad

I love LaunchPad.  I love teaching.  I love how excited and curious the students are in class.  Not only that, but the questions they have are great!  I definitely can’t say that I was thinking about or even caring about these types of questions when I was in middle school/high school.

Questions:

How does the Trinity work—is Jesus the son of God and how does that work?

Did the people who killed Jesus go to hell?

Why can’t we see God face to face today?

Life

“Everyone I’ve met carries with them a picture of what they want life to be. This picture may be well defined…”I want to get married, have 2.5 children, live in this neighborhood…” or it may an unconscious picture that drives their decision-making. I believe that God asks us to give up the picture. Not because there is something wrong with it but because He has something else in mind. This is where the rub is. Most often we don’t trust Him to give us a life that is better than the one we dream up for ourselves. Jesus said in Luke 9:24 & 25, “For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self?” Let go of your picture so you can enter the adventure that God has for you!”

-ht: Fridays

Day of Thoughts, part 2

“Romance is the deepest thing in life, romance is even deeper than reality.”
G.k. Chesterton

Thoughts from a talk on leadership:

• Fear is a backwards motivator
• Pure obedience comes from a love for Jesus
• What are you trying to hide?
• Keep your heart yielded and keep following Him.
• When you understand the way of a leader as being a shepherd then you will be a dynamic leader.
• A shepherd feeds his sheep everyday and only shears once a year.

Andy Stanley Series: That Hideous Thing (jealousy)

• You think God ripped you off.  God could have given you this, God could have done that.
• 1 Cor. 13 You can’t love until you get rid of envy
• 1. Acknowledge this truth and take it to God. I think God owes me. 2. Confess your jealousy to the person if you need to. 3. Celebrate the people you envy and celebrate them out loud.”

Captivating: Healing the Wound

• Now, Jesus said, don’t you think God cares just a little bit more for you than for the birds of the air? “Are you not much more valuable than they?” (Matt. 6:26).  Indeed, you are.  You, dear heart, are the crown of creation, his glorious image bearer.  And he will do everything it takes to rescue you and set your heart free.
• He came to restore the glorious creation that you are.  And then set you free….to be yourself
• Our journey toward healing begins when we repent of those ways, lay them down, let them go. 
• Healing never comes against our will
• We all still need to know and find the answers in God: Do you see me? Am I captivating? Do I have a beauty all my own? Will you heal me? Can you really heal me? Am I really worth it? 

Soul Cravings, Part 2

“There is only one reason for God to come himself, because in issues of love, you just can’t have someone else stand in for you.”

I have never thought of this in quite the same light.  How amazing that God came.  God came because He is love.  

Think on this.  You’re madly in love.  You met, became friends, and started dating.  He brings you flowers for no reason at all.  You take long walks and talk about anything and everything.  He takes you on dates.  He teaches you new things and you learn about each other along the way.  Your community (friends, church, family) actively engage and advise on your relationship.  Everything is going perfectly.  You want to spend the rest of your life together.  

His friend shows up at your door with flowers and a ring.  He proposes to you for your love.  What!? I don’t think so!  I, for one, would not be happy at all if someone else proposed for him.  Even more, I would be sad that he was not there.

So, in all reality, it makes sense that God came.  He came to show His love.

The Year Through Pictures

So…I’m a copy cat.  Annie had this awesome post and so I wanted to do the same:

January: Ringing in the New Year–ready for a fresh start

February: A little salsa dancing fun before “real life” aka full-time job-ness sets in.

March: No homework means time to make fun recipes like Cheesecake pops, read lots of books, take a ceramics course, and work out

April: “ 1Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. 2Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:1-2

May: I said hello to love at first sight

June: Summer nights with friends and  enjoying our sweet deck

July: There were a few crashes along the way this year.  A few rough spots, but in the end the plastic pops right out and the head lights are millimeters away from being smashed.

August: Spent some time with family.  Said “Look at the bull ship,” which was interpreted as “Look at all this bull shi*” (say that 3 times fast and your family will think you are NOT having fun when really you are)

September: Life may be a little messy, but at the end of the day I can always turn to my “church family” for anything I need.  I’m going to miss them…

October: “Ransomed” God, theology, podcasts, blogging, life, and everything in between could always be found in our conversations.  I miss her already!

November: “But if the bright lights don’t receive you, you should turn yourself around and come on home.”

December: Stay warm with a puppy, lots of blankets and hot chocolate while looking forward to a New Year. 

Good-bye 2008. Hello 2009.