I heard this song at church on Sunday and I have to say it hit me pretty hard. The words are insanely powerful and they've now been running through my head for 2 days. I love it when God puts things like songs into our lives to make us think a little (or a lot, like this song does). This seems to be a running theme in my life right now, so I'm loving that Michael Gungor has already put my thoughts into words for me. What songs are hitting you lately?
Song For My Family
Words and music by Michael Gungor
There is a song for my family
Outside the walls of Sunday
Morning from some within.
This is a song to confess our sins,
Lay it all out, and try to begin again.
To hope again.
Please forgive our ignorance
In looking down on you
Please forgive our selfishness
For hiding in our pews while the world bleeds
While the world needs us to be what we should be
This is a song for my family who
Just can’t believe in the Jesus that you’ve seen on Sunday morning.
This is a song for the cynical saints.
The burned out and hopeless.
The ones that we’ve cast away.
I feel your pain.
Please forgive the wastefulness of all that we could be
But don’t forget, there’s more than this
Her beauty still exists
His bride is still alive
His bride is still alive
His bride is still alive
His bride is still alive
His bride is still alive
This is a song for my family inside
The walls of Sunday morning.
Be what you should be.
© 2007 worshiptogether.com songs/ASCAP. Admin by EMI CMG Publishing.
Monday, September 13, 2010
Monday, September 6, 2010
#27 The Power of Music
I'm not going to say much, just because this guy says enough. It's amazing how changing your perspective on the "enemy" can change the outcome of your story. What enemies can you sing a love song to?
Monday, August 9, 2010
#26 Alone
I needed this today. Hope it touches you too:
Here is the poem that they read:
HOW TO BE ALONE by Tanya Davis
If you are at first lonely, be patient. If you've not been alone much, or if when you were, you weren't okay with it, then just wait. You'll find it's fine to be alone once you're embracing it.
We could start with the acceptable places, the bathroom, the coffee shop, the library. Where you can stall and read the paper, where you can get your caffeine fix and sit and stay there. Where you can browse the stacks and smell the books. You're not supposed to talk much anyway so it's safe there.
There's also the gym. If you're shy you could hang out with yourself in mirrors, you could put headphones in (guitar stroke).
And there's public transportation, because we all gotta go places.
And there's prayer and meditation. No one will think less if you're hanging with your breath seeking peace and salvation.
Start simple. Things you may have previously (electric guitar plucking) based on your avoid being alone principals.
The lunch counter. Where you will be surrounded by chow-downers. Employees who only have an hour and their spouses work across town and so they -- like you -- will be alone.
Resist the urge to hang out with your cell phone.
When you are comfortable with eat lunch and run, take yourself out for dinner. A restaurant with linen and silverware. You're no less intriguing a person when you're eating solo dessert to cleaning the whipped cream from the dish with your finger. In fact some people at full tables will wish they were where you were.
Go to the movies. Where it is dark and soothing. Alone in your seat amidst a fleeting community.
And then, take yourself out dancing to a club where no one knows you. Stand on the outside of the floor till the lights convince you more and more and the music shows you. Dance like no one's watching...because, they're probably not. And, if they are, assume it is with best of human intentions. The way bodies move genuinely to beats is, after all, gorgeous and affecting. Dance until you're sweating, and beads of perspiration remind you of life's best things, down your back like a brook of blessings.
Go to the woods alone, and the trees and squirrels will watch for you.
Go to an unfamiliar city, roam the streets, there're always statues to talk to and benches made for sitting give strangers a shared existence if only for a minute and these moments can be so uplifting and the conversations you get in by sitting alone on benches might've never happened had you not been there by yourself
Society is afraid of alonedom, like lonely hearts are wasting away in basements, like people must have problems if, after a while, nobody is dating them. but lonely is a freedom that breaths easy and weightless and lonely is healing if you make it.
You could stand, swathed by groups and mobs or hold hands with your partner, look both further and farther for the endless quest for company. But no one's in your head and by the time you translate your thoughts, some essence of them may be lost or perhaps it is just kept.
Perhaps in the interest of loving oneself, perhaps all those sappy slogans from preschool over to high school's groaning were tokens for holding the lonely at bay. Cuz if you're happy in your head than solitude is blessed and alone is okay.
It's okay if no one believes like you. All experience is unique, no one has the same synapses, can't think like you, for this be releived, keeps things interesting lifes magic things in reach.
And it doesn't mean you're not connected, that communitie's not present, just take the perspective you get from being one person in one head and feel the effects of it. take silence and respect it. if you have an art that needs a practice, stop neglecting it. if your family doesn't get you, or religious sect is not meant for you, don't obsess about it.
you could be in an instant surrounded if you needed it
If your heart is bleeding make the best of it
There is heat in freezing, be a testament.
Here is the poem that they read:
HOW TO BE ALONE by Tanya Davis
If you are at first lonely, be patient. If you've not been alone much, or if when you were, you weren't okay with it, then just wait. You'll find it's fine to be alone once you're embracing it.
We could start with the acceptable places, the bathroom, the coffee shop, the library. Where you can stall and read the paper, where you can get your caffeine fix and sit and stay there. Where you can browse the stacks and smell the books. You're not supposed to talk much anyway so it's safe there.
There's also the gym. If you're shy you could hang out with yourself in mirrors, you could put headphones in (guitar stroke).
And there's public transportation, because we all gotta go places.
And there's prayer and meditation. No one will think less if you're hanging with your breath seeking peace and salvation.
Start simple. Things you may have previously (electric guitar plucking) based on your avoid being alone principals.
The lunch counter. Where you will be surrounded by chow-downers. Employees who only have an hour and their spouses work across town and so they -- like you -- will be alone.
Resist the urge to hang out with your cell phone.
When you are comfortable with eat lunch and run, take yourself out for dinner. A restaurant with linen and silverware. You're no less intriguing a person when you're eating solo dessert to cleaning the whipped cream from the dish with your finger. In fact some people at full tables will wish they were where you were.
Go to the movies. Where it is dark and soothing. Alone in your seat amidst a fleeting community.
And then, take yourself out dancing to a club where no one knows you. Stand on the outside of the floor till the lights convince you more and more and the music shows you. Dance like no one's watching...because, they're probably not. And, if they are, assume it is with best of human intentions. The way bodies move genuinely to beats is, after all, gorgeous and affecting. Dance until you're sweating, and beads of perspiration remind you of life's best things, down your back like a brook of blessings.
Go to the woods alone, and the trees and squirrels will watch for you.
Go to an unfamiliar city, roam the streets, there're always statues to talk to and benches made for sitting give strangers a shared existence if only for a minute and these moments can be so uplifting and the conversations you get in by sitting alone on benches might've never happened had you not been there by yourself
Society is afraid of alonedom, like lonely hearts are wasting away in basements, like people must have problems if, after a while, nobody is dating them. but lonely is a freedom that breaths easy and weightless and lonely is healing if you make it.
You could stand, swathed by groups and mobs or hold hands with your partner, look both further and farther for the endless quest for company. But no one's in your head and by the time you translate your thoughts, some essence of them may be lost or perhaps it is just kept.
Perhaps in the interest of loving oneself, perhaps all those sappy slogans from preschool over to high school's groaning were tokens for holding the lonely at bay. Cuz if you're happy in your head than solitude is blessed and alone is okay.
It's okay if no one believes like you. All experience is unique, no one has the same synapses, can't think like you, for this be releived, keeps things interesting lifes magic things in reach.
And it doesn't mean you're not connected, that communitie's not present, just take the perspective you get from being one person in one head and feel the effects of it. take silence and respect it. if you have an art that needs a practice, stop neglecting it. if your family doesn't get you, or religious sect is not meant for you, don't obsess about it.
you could be in an instant surrounded if you needed it
If your heart is bleeding make the best of it
There is heat in freezing, be a testament.
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
#25 meshing of cultures
Huge changes in my daily schedule have left me struggling to find time to blog. But i'm going to attempt at starting off slow again and hope i can get back to my regular postings. For today, here's a little photo i found on the internet. I thought it was an awesome mix of cultures. Let your mind wander :)
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
#24 Counting Happiness
This week's TEDTalk is coming from an economic standpoint, but I think we can apply this to our own lives as well. I hope you enjoy Chip Conley and his thoughts on the importance of happiness.
Link for this TEDTalk is: Chip Conley
Link for this TEDTalk is: Chip Conley
#23 Sophisticated Star Wars
I needed some serious inspiration to get me up and motivated to finish my painting that i've been working on for 2 weeks. I just happened to be lucky enough to stumble onto these picture at this site. Enjoy!
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
#22 You're awesome!
We're going to take a break from TED this week. I have so many deadlines for art shows coming up that I honestly haven't had time to watch TEDTalks like I normally do. But I'm not leaving you without anything!! Instead of a TEDTalk, I'm posting this short film (which just happens to be one of my favorites!)
It kind of goes a long with the validation theme I was sort of talking about a few weeks ago. God has been really hitting me hard on that topic lately. I'm realizing more and more that God validates us, and does his best on a daily basis to tell us how amazing we are and how much he loves us. So if we're supposed to be living like Christ, doesn't that mean we should be striving to do the same thing??
My goal for the next week is to do my best to put a smile on the faces of the people around me. It's amazing how much a smile can affect the world around you. This video is a great example of that:
It kind of goes a long with the validation theme I was sort of talking about a few weeks ago. God has been really hitting me hard on that topic lately. I'm realizing more and more that God validates us, and does his best on a daily basis to tell us how amazing we are and how much he loves us. So if we're supposed to be living like Christ, doesn't that mean we should be striving to do the same thing??
My goal for the next week is to do my best to put a smile on the faces of the people around me. It's amazing how much a smile can affect the world around you. This video is a great example of that:
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
#21 In Praise of Slowness
Today's TEDTalk comes from author and journalist Carl Honore. I first heard about him from another blog writer that i follow and LOVE his idea about our need as a society to slow down. We try to do things so fast that i think we sometimes miss out on life and the little things that are around us.
Carl wrote a book aptly named, "In Praise of Slowness", if you have a chance to pick it up you should. I haven't had a chance to read all of it yet, but what i have read i have appreciated and have been extremely challenged by it.
Enjoy!
What can you do to slow down?
Carl wrote a book aptly named, "In Praise of Slowness", if you have a chance to pick it up you should. I haven't had a chance to read all of it yet, but what i have read i have appreciated and have been extremely challenged by it.
Enjoy!
What can you do to slow down?
#20 On washing feet (delayed post from Saturday)
I don't know about you, but i hate feet. If you stick your feet on me or my pillow you'll actually see tears welling up in my eyes. No joke. They gross and freak me out. Weird, i know, but it's there. I've gotten better at it through the years (like you can touch me on my legs or kick me with your feet and i won't freak out, but don't ask me to give you a foot massage because i'll run the other way.)
Because of this hatred of feet i always had an issue connecting with the passage in John about Jesus washing his disciples feet. I mean, think about it. They all walk in sandals, in the dirt, probably not the best hygeine so they stink and are nasty and probably have all these crazy sores and ingrown tonails all over them. Yuck! And what does Jesus do? He doesn't just wash one pair of feet and then say, "ok, your turn Peter, go wash Matthew's feet now." No, instead he washes the feet of ALL 12 disciples. I mean, really??? Gross!! Just the thought of that much foot odor and toe jam makes my stomach churn.
But apparently God decided i needed a little lesson in the foot washing department today. Never fails, you comment that you absolutely hate something and God takes that and uses it as a lesson.
My lesson came because my wonderful Grandma (who i absolutely adore!) had hip replacement surgery a few weeks ago. Thankfully she's home and healthy, but her first week home she needed people to stay with her just to make sure she was ok. My mom did most of the week, but i took Friday night to go and sit with her. I thought i was just hanging out, keeping her company and getting things for her in hard to reach places. I didn't realize that the getting things part of that deal also included her feet. She couldn't get down to wash them. So bright and early Saturday morning the dear old gal sheepishly broached the question of me washing her feet for her. To be honest, i don't think she knows about my deal with feet (if she is reading this i guess she does now). I'm almost positive she would not have asked if she had known, because that's just who she is. But there it was, this ominous question hanging over me and i had to make a decision. I'll admit that the thought was making my trusty gag reflex kick into high gear and i wasn't sure i would be able to handle the task. But my love for my grandmother over-powered my fear and so i sat there, on the floor, and washed her feet.
It was then that it hit me that God was teaching me a lesson. There are dirty parts of us that i'm sure God hates so much that it makes him cringe and want to puke. We all have those disgusting parts whether we care to admit them or not. But God's love for us over-powers the hatred for the dirty, diseased areas of our lives to the point where he is willing to come and get in between our spiritual toes and clean out all of that spiritual toe jam and dirt.
Wow.
I think that made me get over my fear of feet just a little more. If we are to love like Jesus loves, we have to be willing to get messy, and fight our fear and disgust, and come out on the other side where our love over-powers the messiness.
Grandma, i will wash your toes any day!! ;)
P.S. If you want to find the passage about Jesus washing feet it's in John 13.
Because of this hatred of feet i always had an issue connecting with the passage in John about Jesus washing his disciples feet. I mean, think about it. They all walk in sandals, in the dirt, probably not the best hygeine so they stink and are nasty and probably have all these crazy sores and ingrown tonails all over them. Yuck! And what does Jesus do? He doesn't just wash one pair of feet and then say, "ok, your turn Peter, go wash Matthew's feet now." No, instead he washes the feet of ALL 12 disciples. I mean, really??? Gross!! Just the thought of that much foot odor and toe jam makes my stomach churn.
But apparently God decided i needed a little lesson in the foot washing department today. Never fails, you comment that you absolutely hate something and God takes that and uses it as a lesson.
My lesson came because my wonderful Grandma (who i absolutely adore!) had hip replacement surgery a few weeks ago. Thankfully she's home and healthy, but her first week home she needed people to stay with her just to make sure she was ok. My mom did most of the week, but i took Friday night to go and sit with her. I thought i was just hanging out, keeping her company and getting things for her in hard to reach places. I didn't realize that the getting things part of that deal also included her feet. She couldn't get down to wash them. So bright and early Saturday morning the dear old gal sheepishly broached the question of me washing her feet for her. To be honest, i don't think she knows about my deal with feet (if she is reading this i guess she does now). I'm almost positive she would not have asked if she had known, because that's just who she is. But there it was, this ominous question hanging over me and i had to make a decision. I'll admit that the thought was making my trusty gag reflex kick into high gear and i wasn't sure i would be able to handle the task. But my love for my grandmother over-powered my fear and so i sat there, on the floor, and washed her feet.
It was then that it hit me that God was teaching me a lesson. There are dirty parts of us that i'm sure God hates so much that it makes him cringe and want to puke. We all have those disgusting parts whether we care to admit them or not. But God's love for us over-powers the hatred for the dirty, diseased areas of our lives to the point where he is willing to come and get in between our spiritual toes and clean out all of that spiritual toe jam and dirt.
Wow.
I think that made me get over my fear of feet just a little more. If we are to love like Jesus loves, we have to be willing to get messy, and fight our fear and disgust, and come out on the other side where our love over-powers the messiness.
Grandma, i will wash your toes any day!! ;)
P.S. If you want to find the passage about Jesus washing feet it's in John 13.
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
#19 Saying Thank You
I started a new job last week and the focus on trying to learn a new position had me a little distracted. I will be back up and running more soon. But for now here's the TED Talk for the week:
Laura Trice is a counselor with a very fascinating idea. Hope this short little blurb makes you think ;)
I'm not sure how comfortable i am with the idea of telling people that i want them to thank me for certain things. But i see a challenge of being more open with your close friends as a good thing. So maybe it's not telling people to thank you, but something else that you need to do to take a step of faith in your friends.
For me, i'll admit that my lack of self-esteem makes it hard to open up in general. I feel like i'm too needy, or overly emotional and feel bad for sharing with people how i feel. Thankfully i have some wonderful friends that don't let me get away with that and have slowly helped me step out of that comfort zone and tell them how i feel.
So what about you? What do you need to to do to step out of your bubble and engage in deeper friendships?
P.S. If you want to visit the actual link for this video (it goes directly to the TED website) Click Here
Laura Trice is a counselor with a very fascinating idea. Hope this short little blurb makes you think ;)
I'm not sure how comfortable i am with the idea of telling people that i want them to thank me for certain things. But i see a challenge of being more open with your close friends as a good thing. So maybe it's not telling people to thank you, but something else that you need to do to take a step of faith in your friends.
For me, i'll admit that my lack of self-esteem makes it hard to open up in general. I feel like i'm too needy, or overly emotional and feel bad for sharing with people how i feel. Thankfully i have some wonderful friends that don't let me get away with that and have slowly helped me step out of that comfort zone and tell them how i feel.
So what about you? What do you need to to do to step out of your bubble and engage in deeper friendships?
P.S. If you want to visit the actual link for this video (it goes directly to the TED website) Click Here
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
#18 TED Tuesdays
I've decided to start a new thing on my blog every week called TED Tuesdays. For those of you who don't know what TED is: TED is a small nonprofit organization devoted to, what they call, "Ideas Worth Spreading." It is basically a collaboration of the world's most inspired thinkers and other curious people to discuss new ideas that can help inspire and change the world for the better.
On the TED website there are 700+ videos you can watch (most under 30 minutes) that talk about probably every subject you can imagine. I love going to TED and listening to the talks. I never fail to walk away feeling a little more inspired, motivated, and a little more knowledgable about my world. So every Tuesday from now on I'm going to post a TEDTalk. I hope you get as inspired as i do. :)
We're going to break in TED Tuesdays with Mallika Sarabhai, a dancer/actor/politician who uses the arts for social change. This particular talk of hers is called, "Dance to change the world".
What can you do to change your world?
On the TED website there are 700+ videos you can watch (most under 30 minutes) that talk about probably every subject you can imagine. I love going to TED and listening to the talks. I never fail to walk away feeling a little more inspired, motivated, and a little more knowledgable about my world. So every Tuesday from now on I'm going to post a TEDTalk. I hope you get as inspired as i do. :)
We're going to break in TED Tuesdays with Mallika Sarabhai, a dancer/actor/politician who uses the arts for social change. This particular talk of hers is called, "Dance to change the world".
What can you do to change your world?
Monday, May 24, 2010
#17 Beauty from Pain
By Superchick
The lights go out all around me
One last candle to keep out the night
And then the darkness surrounds me
I know I'm alive
But I feel like I died
And all that's left is to accept that it's over
My dreams ran like sand through the fists that I made
I try to keep warm but I just grow colder
I feel like I'm slipping away
After all this has passed
I still will remain
After I've cried my last
There'll be beauty from pain
Though it won't be today
Someday I'll hope again
And there'll be beauty from pain
You will bring beauty from my pain
My whole world is the pain inside me
The best I can do is just get through the day
When life before is only a memory
I wonder why God lets me walk through this place
And though I can't understand why this happened
I know that I will when I look back someday
And see how You've brought beauty from ashes
And made me as gold purified through these flames
Here I am at the end of me
Trying to hold to what I can't see
I forgot how to hope
This night's been so long
I cling to your promise there will be a dawn
The lights go out all around me
One last candle to keep out the night
And then the darkness surrounds me
I know I'm alive
But I feel like I died
And all that's left is to accept that it's over
My dreams ran like sand through the fists that I made
I try to keep warm but I just grow colder
I feel like I'm slipping away
After all this has passed
I still will remain
After I've cried my last
There'll be beauty from pain
Though it won't be today
Someday I'll hope again
And there'll be beauty from pain
You will bring beauty from my pain
My whole world is the pain inside me
The best I can do is just get through the day
When life before is only a memory
I wonder why God lets me walk through this place
And though I can't understand why this happened
I know that I will when I look back someday
And see how You've brought beauty from ashes
And made me as gold purified through these flames
Here I am at the end of me
Trying to hold to what I can't see
I forgot how to hope
This night's been so long
I cling to your promise there will be a dawn
Saturday, May 22, 2010
#16 Things i'm thankful for
I've been reflecting on my attitude a lot lately, and sadly i have to admit that Miss Generally Optimistic took a sadly pessimistic short cut for a while.
We were discussing how dangerous short cuts can be in our church a few weeks ago, and it made me realize how i was in such a hurry to get to one place in my life that i was missing all the amazing things happening around me every day. So in an attempt to slow my butt down and enjoy what is going on around me now i started making a list of all the things that ARE going right in my world.
One of my favorite verses in the Bible is 1 Thesselonians 5:16-18, " Always be joyful. Keep on praying. No matter waht happes, always be thankful, for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus." So here's what i've got so far:
There's many other piddly things that i could be thankful for. But those are the biggest ones standing out to me right now.
What are you thankful for?
We were discussing how dangerous short cuts can be in our church a few weeks ago, and it made me realize how i was in such a hurry to get to one place in my life that i was missing all the amazing things happening around me every day. So in an attempt to slow my butt down and enjoy what is going on around me now i started making a list of all the things that ARE going right in my world.
One of my favorite verses in the Bible is 1 Thesselonians 5:16-18, " Always be joyful. Keep on praying. No matter waht happes, always be thankful, for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus." So here's what i've got so far:
- I started a new job yesterday. (woohoo!) I'm nervous about it (i feel like it's my first "big girl" job if you want to put it that way...it's not a sales job, and it has regular hours. I'm so out of my comfort level it's scary!) But for once i actually get to feel like i'm helping people with what i'm doing. That's going to be an amazing feeling, no matter how much stress comes with the learning process.
- My knee has been out of a brace for 2 weeks! This is so amazing considering 4 weeks ago i couldn't walk without a brace. I go back to the doc this week and i'm hoping he'll tell me i can start dancing again. I miss my regular swing dance events!!
- The one year anniversary of my whole world falling apart is coming up on Wednesday. I am so thankful for all the friends and family that have stood by me and walked with me on this crazy journey. Sometimes they even had to carry me, and i will be forever grateful to them. I'm so glad God put such amazing people in my life. :)
- I just got asked by a Christian t-shirt company to start designing t-shirts for them. I'm a little excited about this one. Publicity like that for my art would be fantastic... now to actually start working on my growing pile of art projects.
There's many other piddly things that i could be thankful for. But those are the biggest ones standing out to me right now.
What are you thankful for?
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
#15 Happy Birthday Salvador Dali
In honor of his birthday i thought i would share some of my favorite quotes from the man himself. I hope you find these as inspirational and humorous as i do:
"At the age of six I wanted to be a cook. At seven I wanted to be Napoleon. And my ambition has been growing steadily ever since."
"Don't bother about being modern. Unfortunately it is the one thing that, whatever you do, you cannot avoid."
"Drawing is the honesty of the art. There is no possibility of cheating. It is either good or bad."
"Each morning when I awake, I experience again a supreme pleasure - that of being Salvador Dali."
"Have no fear of perfection - you'll never reach it."
"Intelligence without ambition is a bird without wings."
"Mistakes are almost always of a sacred nature. Never try to correct them. On the contrary: rationalize them, understand them thoroughly. After that, it will be possible for you to sublimate them."
"Progressive art can assist people to learn not only about the objective forces at work in the society in which they live, but also about the intensely social character of their interior lives. Ultimately, it can propel people toward social emancipation."
Thursday, May 6, 2010
#14 Things I learnt from John 9
I've been going through the book of John in my quiet time and was focusing on John 9 this morning. I found some very interesting life lessons today that i thought i would share:
1. Don't look for someone to blame, instead look for what God can do in the situation.
2. Be energetically at work for God.
3. Sometimes it takes mud, grime, and someone spitting in your face to help you finally see the truth.
4. Even when God tells you to do something seemingly ridiculous, do it! You never know what miraculous results will come of it.
5. Always be prepared to give an answer, you never know who will suddenly consider you an expert!
6. Stick to simplicity. God will make clear what you need to know.
7. God listens carefully to anyone who lives in reverence and does his will.
What have you been learning lately?
1. Don't look for someone to blame, instead look for what God can do in the situation.
2. Be energetically at work for God.
3. Sometimes it takes mud, grime, and someone spitting in your face to help you finally see the truth.
4. Even when God tells you to do something seemingly ridiculous, do it! You never know what miraculous results will come of it.
5. Always be prepared to give an answer, you never know who will suddenly consider you an expert!
6. Stick to simplicity. God will make clear what you need to know.
7. God listens carefully to anyone who lives in reverence and does his will.
What have you been learning lately?
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
#13 Television is a drug
This is why i DON'T own a TV. Sadly though, i think this can relate to computers (namely twitter, facebook, myspace etc) too.
Television is a drug. from Beth Fulton on Vimeo.
What kind of addictions do you struggle with?
Television is a drug. from Beth Fulton on Vimeo.
What kind of addictions do you struggle with?
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
#12 Dance
I love dancing. I can have the absolute worst day imaginable and all i have to do is dance for a little bit to get my attitude adjustment that i desperately need. Dancing reminds me to always enjoy life and to find the beauty in all that's going around. With that in mind, here's some gorgeous photos from Jordan Matter. It's a series called "Dancers among us". I hope it inspires you to dance through your week too. :) P.S. Click here if you want to see more of Jordan's work.
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
#11 Stop the Violence
Monday, April 26, 2010
#10 Ole!
I'm having a bit of a busy day today, so instead of writing something myself i thought i would share a TedTalk video that is really encouraging to me. Enjoy!
Thursday, April 22, 2010
#9 Encouragement from Carlos Whitaker
I just read this on Carlos Whitaker's website. It encouraged me. I hope it encourages you too!
Will You Please Give It Up?
You are on the verge of giving up on your dream.
You are tired.
You are broken.
You are weak.
You are done.
Guess what?
You are finally at the place where you can achieve your dreams.
“For we rejoice when we ourselves are weak but you are strong” – 2 Cor 13:9
You are sitting at the place where you can give up your feeble attempt of living the Christian life and finally let Him live this impossible life FOR YOU.
So in your weakness…may your dreams finally begin to rise.
Be encouraged ragamuffins.
Los
Will You Please Give It Up?
You are on the verge of giving up on your dream.
You are tired.
You are broken.
You are weak.
You are done.
Guess what?
You are finally at the place where you can achieve your dreams.
“For we rejoice when we ourselves are weak but you are strong” – 2 Cor 13:9
You are sitting at the place where you can give up your feeble attempt of living the Christian life and finally let Him live this impossible life FOR YOU.
So in your weakness…may your dreams finally begin to rise.
Be encouraged ragamuffins.
Los
#8 How to Cope in a Frustrating Situation
As i referenced in my last post, i have been somewhat distracted lately by a medical issue. The truth? I completely busted my knee while enjoying a night of swing dancing. Oh, i could make many "conservative" Christian jokes about that one, i know. Being stuck at home reading John Acuff day after day doesn't help with the sarcastic thoughts either. But it's only been in the last week that i'm finally starting to let God speak to me and teach me through this annoyingly looooonng process. And i'm not kidding. I've been laid up, not even allowed to go to work, for almost a month now (yeah, it's THAT bad). Not that i'm trying to whine about my situation or anything, but context is needed in light of what God has been teaching me.
For those of you who don't know me, i'm a total doer. I can't stand sitting still for a long time. I like to stay busy and like to know i'm being useful. I'm a Martha in all sense of the word. So for me to have to sit still, with an ice pack and do nothing has been very discouraging to say the least. I was getting to the point where i was starting to feel REALLY sorry for myself when something happened:
I have this full-length mirror right by the side of my bed and attached to the mirror i have this poem that a friend gave me a few months ago (i'll put the poem at the end of this post). I was sitting on my bed, feeling pouty because of my lack of ability to do anything when the poem randomly "flew" off my mirror and landed by my bed. I honestly haven't read the poem since the night my friend gave it to me, but something made me read it when i picked it up and that's when it hit me: I might not be able to move very much, but God has some other ways to make me feel useful.
I started to realize that sometimes God allows me to get sick or hurt, makes me stop running around so much, so that i will just sit with him and listen, take time to REALLY pray for my family and friends, to REALLY study his word, and to re-adjust my focus. It's like i'm stuck on an extended Sabbath in a lot of ways. At first i didn't like that thought, i didn't want to do that, i wanted to be useful, i wanted to be DOING. But what God has taught me this week is that i AM, as long as i'm focusing and learning what he's trying to teach in the situation. I still don't think i've learnt what i need to through this experience, something tells me i have a bigger epiphany coming. And it's definitely not easy learning, it hurts and i've wanted to quit. But the same friend who gave me that poem en-grained a crazy, irritating, yet truthful "mantra" in my head: Stand up, Don't quit, Be strong, Move on.
Get off your butt, stop moping and listen for what God's will is. Don't give up because it's difficult, God's lessons are seldom easy, but they're totally worth it in the end. Be strong in your desire to follow God, don't let the frustrations swallow you. And keep moving in God's pleasing and perfect will.
So i'm slowly learning to cope in my frustration. I'm learning to say, "ok God, what are we doing/learning today?" and just waiting for the answer. This week has been a wild ride. We'll see where we go from here.
How do you cope in frustrating situations?
Btw, here's the poem that i was talking about:
For those of you who don't know me, i'm a total doer. I can't stand sitting still for a long time. I like to stay busy and like to know i'm being useful. I'm a Martha in all sense of the word. So for me to have to sit still, with an ice pack and do nothing has been very discouraging to say the least. I was getting to the point where i was starting to feel REALLY sorry for myself when something happened:
I have this full-length mirror right by the side of my bed and attached to the mirror i have this poem that a friend gave me a few months ago (i'll put the poem at the end of this post). I was sitting on my bed, feeling pouty because of my lack of ability to do anything when the poem randomly "flew" off my mirror and landed by my bed. I honestly haven't read the poem since the night my friend gave it to me, but something made me read it when i picked it up and that's when it hit me: I might not be able to move very much, but God has some other ways to make me feel useful.
I started to realize that sometimes God allows me to get sick or hurt, makes me stop running around so much, so that i will just sit with him and listen, take time to REALLY pray for my family and friends, to REALLY study his word, and to re-adjust my focus. It's like i'm stuck on an extended Sabbath in a lot of ways. At first i didn't like that thought, i didn't want to do that, i wanted to be useful, i wanted to be DOING. But what God has taught me this week is that i AM, as long as i'm focusing and learning what he's trying to teach in the situation. I still don't think i've learnt what i need to through this experience, something tells me i have a bigger epiphany coming. And it's definitely not easy learning, it hurts and i've wanted to quit. But the same friend who gave me that poem en-grained a crazy, irritating, yet truthful "mantra" in my head: Stand up, Don't quit, Be strong, Move on.
Get off your butt, stop moping and listen for what God's will is. Don't give up because it's difficult, God's lessons are seldom easy, but they're totally worth it in the end. Be strong in your desire to follow God, don't let the frustrations swallow you. And keep moving in God's pleasing and perfect will.
So i'm slowly learning to cope in my frustration. I'm learning to say, "ok God, what are we doing/learning today?" and just waiting for the answer. This week has been a wild ride. We'll see where we go from here.
How do you cope in frustrating situations?
Btw, here's the poem that i was talking about:
Don't Quit (Author Unknown)
When things go wrong as they sometimes will,
When the road you're trudging seems all uphill,
When the funds are low, & the debts are high,
And you want to smile, but you have to sigh,
When care is pressing you down a bit -
Rest if you must, but
Don't you quit.
Success is failure turned inside out,
The silver tint of the clouds of doubt,
And you never can tell how close you are,
It may be near when it seems afar,
So, stick to the fight when you're hardest hit -
It's when things go wrong that
you mustn't quit.
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
#7 Healing the Wound
I apologize for the lack of blogging this last month. Due to an unforseen injury i have been otherwise occupied. But things are hopefully going to be back on track after this week. In light of that i have one quick food for thought. I've been reading Captivating by John and Stasi Eldredge and this amazing little part stuck out to me today. Yes, guys, the book is focused on women, but i think it speaks to men too. If not it'll at least help you understand the gals a little more ;) Enjoy!
"God went back and got the shaking little girl that was hiding under the bed and convinced her to come out. He unclenched her little fists and took her hand and placed it in his and answered her question. He held her and told her it was ok for her not to be tough. He would protect her. She didn't have to be strong. He told her she wasn't a rock but a child. An innocent child. His child. He didn't condemn her for anything but instead understood her and loved her! He told her she was special... like no other and that she had special gifts like no other. She knew his voice and trusted him. She could hear the pleasure He had for her in His voice and felt His delight in her as He talked. He was so gentle and loving she couldn't help but melt in His arms."
"God went back and got the shaking little girl that was hiding under the bed and convinced her to come out. He unclenched her little fists and took her hand and placed it in his and answered her question. He held her and told her it was ok for her not to be tough. He would protect her. She didn't have to be strong. He told her she wasn't a rock but a child. An innocent child. His child. He didn't condemn her for anything but instead understood her and loved her! He told her she was special... like no other and that she had special gifts like no other. She knew his voice and trusted him. She could hear the pleasure He had for her in His voice and felt His delight in her as He talked. He was so gentle and loving she couldn't help but melt in His arms."
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Creative Witness 2
This is an interesting collaboration between hip hop artist Voice and author Josh Harris. Enjoy!!
Whatever It Takes by Voice by Joshharris
Whatever It Takes by Voice by Joshharris
Monday, March 22, 2010
Creative Witness
Although i agree that sometimes we lose our creativity by finding and using everything we see on the internet, i believe there are some rare jewels out there that deserve notice. Chris Tse isn't really about the technology side of things but the dude gets mad props for his creativity!! He is using his talents to make people stop and think and i can totally appreciate that in him.
What are you doing to make people stop and think? How are you challenging people to change? I'm going to post more examples over the next week or 2 of other people bringing challenges to the world. Hope they change your life like they do mine!
What are you doing to make people stop and think? How are you challenging people to change? I'm going to post more examples over the next week or 2 of other people bringing challenges to the world. Hope they change your life like they do mine!
#6 Christian Fear and Health Care
In light of everyone fretting and commenting about the new health care bill, i thought it very fitting to share some thoughts that challenged me (and i hope challenge you too):
Isn't it ironic that we get so frustrated and caught up in all of these earthly issues but we never seem to give that much emotion to our Christian walks, or the salvation of our friends and neighbors? I was very humbled to read Russell Moore's thoughts today. I know i can get my nickers in a twist over the slightest "bad" thing that happens in my day, or get super enthusiastic over something that i deem as worthy, and good and in either case i am always more than willing to share with random passer's by about my life. Now what if i took that motivation and channeled it into sharing Christ and what He's done in my life? What if i was so excited about things i was learning in my faith that i couldn't shut up about it? Or if something bad happens, what if i recognized the spiritual attacks that motivated it and focused on those instead of the wrong done to me?
Please note, i'm not saying that paying attention to our society and what's happening there is a bad thing, in fact it really is a good way to reach out. I just think we tend to lose our perspective on a lot of things in this life. We get so easily distracted and and lose focus that everything falls out of whack. So challenge this week, how are you going to keep your focus and be enthusiastic about God and your faith so that everyone knows?
Christian Fear and Health Care
Posted using ShareThis
Isn't it ironic that we get so frustrated and caught up in all of these earthly issues but we never seem to give that much emotion to our Christian walks, or the salvation of our friends and neighbors? I was very humbled to read Russell Moore's thoughts today. I know i can get my nickers in a twist over the slightest "bad" thing that happens in my day, or get super enthusiastic over something that i deem as worthy, and good and in either case i am always more than willing to share with random passer's by about my life. Now what if i took that motivation and channeled it into sharing Christ and what He's done in my life? What if i was so excited about things i was learning in my faith that i couldn't shut up about it? Or if something bad happens, what if i recognized the spiritual attacks that motivated it and focused on those instead of the wrong done to me?
Please note, i'm not saying that paying attention to our society and what's happening there is a bad thing, in fact it really is a good way to reach out. I just think we tend to lose our perspective on a lot of things in this life. We get so easily distracted and and lose focus that everything falls out of whack. So challenge this week, how are you going to keep your focus and be enthusiastic about God and your faith so that everyone knows?
Christian Fear and Health Care
Posted using ShareThis
Friday, March 19, 2010
#4 Creative photography
I love seeing artists getting creative with their art mediums of choice! These photos of kids is a lot of fun :)
25+ Photos That Creatively Capture Kids
25+ Photos That Creatively Capture Kids
#3 Spiritual Rituals
I'm catching up on all of my "google reading". It's been a long week and i haven't had much time to sit and sift through. So be prepared for a lot of posts today. This generally won't happen but on days when i'm playing catch up and find things i really want to share it probably will.
This blog really spoke to me, because it definitely has some points that i used to work really hard on in my life but have been a little lacking lately (not the actual acts, but the motivation behind them). This was a great reminder for me and i hope it speaks to you too!
If you ever get the chance, there's an amazing book along these same lines called, "Practicing the Presence of God". It's by a guy name Brother Lawrence. It's a really small book but full of amazing gems. Read it! It'll change your life!
Turning every day action into spiritual rituals - Don Miller
This blog really spoke to me, because it definitely has some points that i used to work really hard on in my life but have been a little lacking lately (not the actual acts, but the motivation behind them). This was a great reminder for me and i hope it speaks to you too!
If you ever get the chance, there's an amazing book along these same lines called, "Practicing the Presence of God". It's by a guy name Brother Lawrence. It's a really small book but full of amazing gems. Read it! It'll change your life!
Turning every day action into spiritual rituals - Don Miller
#2 Sharing
So one of the things that's been requested of me is to post all of the fun, random, and thought provoking things that i find on the web (i'm obsessed with my google reader!!). Fair warning, not all of it is highly spiritual or anything. Most of it is just fun. Enjoy.
This is the 1st - Don Miller is one of my favorite authors so be prepared to get a lot of him!!! :)
If it werent for God you'd be more efficient - Don Miller
This is the 1st - Don Miller is one of my favorite authors so be prepared to get a lot of him!!! :)
If it werent for God you'd be more efficient - Don Miller
#1 The beginning
At the request of a number of my friends, i'm starting this blog. I have to admit, i've blogged before and never really succeeded at it. I would do well with keeping up for a month or two and then slack off. So i'm starting this with a lot of fear and trepidation that that will happen again. I hope this time that i do better.
But thinking about my past failures, how often do we do that with other things too? I get all excited about something (like a new hobby, and new spiritual discipline, a resolution etc.) and i'll work hard at it for a while, and then it loses it's excitement and it's "shininess". I try to stick with it and find new ways to get the excitement back, but eventually i give up and move on to something new. I know i'm not the only one.
We inherently fail a lot at the consistency game in a lot of ways, but none half as bad as our spiritual walks. I admit it, i have my peaks and valleys, and those valleys can be pretty low sometimes. I'm not saying this is a bad thing, in fact the Bible specifically says that challenges are a good thing. But what if we looked at our relationships with Christ the same way that He looks at them? The Bible says that God starts new with us every day (Lamentations 3:23). It's like as we sleep our slate gets wiped clean, and we become shiny and new again. Granted, this particular verse is talking about His mercy towards us, but there are other verses that talk about our whole being starting fresh each morning. What if we did that towards God? What if every day was like the 1st day so it was still an adventure and still full of excitement? Maybe we wouldn't get so discouraged and give up during the hard times if, like the cliched saying goes, we took it one day at a time.
Thoughts to ponder... and definitely one that's on my mind today.
But thinking about my past failures, how often do we do that with other things too? I get all excited about something (like a new hobby, and new spiritual discipline, a resolution etc.) and i'll work hard at it for a while, and then it loses it's excitement and it's "shininess". I try to stick with it and find new ways to get the excitement back, but eventually i give up and move on to something new. I know i'm not the only one.
We inherently fail a lot at the consistency game in a lot of ways, but none half as bad as our spiritual walks. I admit it, i have my peaks and valleys, and those valleys can be pretty low sometimes. I'm not saying this is a bad thing, in fact the Bible specifically says that challenges are a good thing. But what if we looked at our relationships with Christ the same way that He looks at them? The Bible says that God starts new with us every day (Lamentations 3:23). It's like as we sleep our slate gets wiped clean, and we become shiny and new again. Granted, this particular verse is talking about His mercy towards us, but there are other verses that talk about our whole being starting fresh each morning. What if we did that towards God? What if every day was like the 1st day so it was still an adventure and still full of excitement? Maybe we wouldn't get so discouraged and give up during the hard times if, like the cliched saying goes, we took it one day at a time.
Thoughts to ponder... and definitely one that's on my mind today.
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