tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15628632364254098402024-03-05T19:54:38.280-08:00SpirareChristosSpirarehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05990166295293810594noreply@blogger.comBlogger37125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1562863236425409840.post-56096295626132702702017-07-29T05:51:00.001-07:002017-07-29T05:51:04.658-07:00Glimpses of Poverty<span style="font-size: large;">There are times when get to have glimpses of different life realities. One we may want to ignore is the poverty around us. My first glimpses came while working in Mexico. Seeing the slums there - people living in cardboard boxes on the sides of the hills was heart retching.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Moving forward to Spain years later, I worked alongside of Sisters of India in their soap kitchen. I also spent a lot of time with a group of street kids who had to leave the orphanage when they turned sixteen. Having nothing in lift, they gravitated to others like themselves. There I met Tito, who was now in his mid-twenties. He had nothing but the clothes on his back and spent his days begging on the streets. We would meet and talk while he would eat the sandwiches I brought him. He told me story after story of his life struggle, yet all with such a joyful attitude he met each new day with a hope of good things.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Later in Kenya with my parents, visiting the refugee center which was the focal point where supplies were brought in and later flown in to various cities in Sudan. Kids with nothing but sticks to play with - happy just to have other kids with whom they could play their own version of kick-ball.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Downtown Minneapolis talking to a tall native American who was so drunk he did not know how to get home. Two transgenders we ran in to once the attendant opened the lock so we could use the women's bathroom. The stories and glimpses are still fresh, real.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">St Cloud is another place where glimpses happen. Serving in a local fellowship where they had some funds for the poor brought a string of people in seeking aid. We came up with a voucher system so true needs would be what the gifts would go toward. Once in awhile we would also pay an electric bill or helped with their rent. In the midst of this cycle, I met C out on the streets asking for help. I gave her a voucher and hoped it would help her get a meal. Over the months I ran in to her more than once. After awhile she would walk from downtown out to our location, which would take her hours. She was thin enough, giving her vouchers for her next meal, always seemed needed. I learned she has lost everything. We offered to help her recover her ID so she could stay in a shelter. C was resistant to that option. Our help seemed very limited. Over the years we saw her on multiple occasions. Now C is outside of my reach and I am unsure of her current well being. I keep C in my prayers that she will one day find her way to a better life.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">In all our communities there are those struggling to make ends meet or to just get through the day. I encourage you all to find a place to plug in and make a difference.</span><br />
<br />Spirarehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05990166295293810594noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1562863236425409840.post-36134122116510968742016-09-12T11:53:00.003-07:002016-09-15T16:08:26.702-07:00Cross Lake - Arrival in a New World<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">When you have been up all night in order to get to the <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">destination</span> quickly - you know the drive has been a long one. You stop at a gas station and it no longer looks like home. You enter to pay and you are now the minority. You are getting close. The landscape has changed and bring you reflections of childhood. The road gets worse yet and now the holes are big enough - you better miss them. Dust is going everywhere. The kids in the back seat are watching for bears. You are no longer in Kansas - or rather Minnesota.<span id="goog_1558855527"></span><span id="goog_1558855528"></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Finally finding the entrance to the reservation, we go looking for the right building. Instead we come up on a T in the road and there are big signs about the missing children and some who have been murdered. All young. To young.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We finally have to stop and call. We head to a "gas" station, but not one that looks like the ones back home. We met up with our hosts. The lead us to another part of town and then a dirt driveway. There is a spot on the right to park the camper. Then off to the center of town for the final breakfast of Indian Days. We pull up to what is a very small center of town. One government building and a couple others that could be a bank - maybe a post office? There is a big white tent near the water. We park and bail out of what has been our transport for 18/20 hours. It is a bit of a blur. We join the local celebration and we definitely stand out. We start meeting people as our host - Victoria and Gordon are friends with most everyone. We find a spot and get in line for breakfast. I chat with the people near me and smile at the adorable children. Dogs are roaming the area looking for scraps of food. There is one puppy that is getting a lot of attention.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Breakfast is good. It helps to get some strength of the day. I thank the ladies who have been making the food in big, cast iron looking open type pots. I get introduced to the chief and confirm meeting another day.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Back in our vehicle and back to the camper. We begin to setup when the first phone call comes in. Anna, Pam and I grab a few things and head out to follow Victoria. A grandmother has called because her grandson is in real distress and she is afraid for him. So begins our time here. One young person of many that we will come to know and have opportunity to bring them come encouragement.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The time spent with this young man starts slowly, cautiously on his part. The grandmother arrives and "takes charge" to make sure he lets us come in to talk. The grandmother is a real prayer warrior. Victoria is there helping us to communicate through the moments of difficulty with communication. She also has quite a heart for intercession. We begin and help R find the one he is needing most. He opens his heart and new life begins, but still there is wounding so we start helping him open his heart to The Father. I try to work through listening to him and hearing Papa's next thing for R. I remember bits of my Sozo training and take what feels like awkward steps, but a break through comes as he emotionally shares the loss of his father. More prayer - some in Cree by Victoria - PTL for her! He begins to find hope. We head out hoping we can see him again.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Victoria knows another family very close we should drop in on. We swing by their place and take time meeting them. The woman has been ill, so we spend some time in prayer for her, her husband and family members present.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Wow! It is not even lunchtime yet. Back we go to our "base camp". Camper is up and things are working. There is a meal to prepare, as friends from the local Christian community are coming over before the tent meeting tonight. It is only part of our first day in Cross Lake. So much to take in already, so much fills my heart.</span></div>
Spirarehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05990166295293810594noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1562863236425409840.post-33276134511762322792014-08-29T15:56:00.004-07:002016-01-19T15:57:00.849-08:00A Rose With A Different Name<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />A nice young lady was waiting on us that evening. I noticed she had a very
unusual name. It looked like it should have been two names or at least
hyphenated. I was curious and felt a inward impulse to find out more about the
story behind her name. She (we will call her Danielrose) told us her tale of
how she got stuck with her name because her parents could not decide on one. It
was an odd combination of names, but stirred my heart to this young ladies
uniqueness. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />I love being connected to the One who is beyond time and cares more deeply
about people's lives than my schedule... Still love knowing He can take care of
my time schedule too!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In a season of life when regular travel between two cities was a regular
part of life, i met a friend at a near freeway restraint. We were meeting to
spend a bit of time catching up before I made my journey to the other city.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><o:p>D</o:p>anielrose continued to attend us with a charm and attentiveness not typically
found. The evening was coming to an end. I began to "check-in" on a
deeper level with what my response should be to this unique gal. I told my
colleague that I wanted to give Danielrose a rediculous tip. We pulled out all
our change and dollars. I t filled my two hands and laughing i went to find
her. She was near by finishing up with bussing another table. I began to tell
her how she was a unique gem and that though I sensed she felt a bit of a
mistake, her name was given to her as much more. We chatted and i told her
there was one who care deeply for her, who guides my life. I told her I had
heard she needed to know how special she is and gave her our "tip".
Tears started to run down Danielrose's cheeks. She began to tell me more of her
life and how she was a single mom trying to put herself through college. We
talked on and I pointed her toward the One who knew her more than I could ever.
I assured her that He would be opening a way for her and thanked her again for
her wonderful service and said goodbye.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Little did I know that was not the end to my evening. I headed out, more
than an hour later than I had hoped to be. I called ahead to my destination as
it was already quite late and very dark. No one answered, so all I could do was
hope. I was heading out when my colleague called me to chat a bit more about
the evening. I passed a very familiar road sign as I answered the call. Only a
couple minutes later I drove through some unusual white cloud like fog that
covered most of the road, but not the spot I was traveling in. It happened a
few times in a very short period. It cleared and then I passed another very
familiar road sign. I gasped and asked my colleague how long we had been
talking. They checked their watch and it had been only 10 minutes. I began to
calculate when I saw the first road sign and the time lapse in our
conversation. I gasped again and told my colleague where I was. She gasped, as
I was now only 15 minutes from my destination instead of an hour and 20 minutes
out... which is what it should have been.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">I love being connected to the One who is beyond time and cares more deeply
about people's lives than my schedule... Still love knowing He can take care of
my time schedule too!</span><o:p></o:p></h3>
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Spirarehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05990166295293810594noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1562863236425409840.post-8132608997919788142014-08-14T14:54:00.001-07:002014-08-14T14:54:14.827-07:00Reflections from the Heartwood<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Here we are - away in the <span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><strong>woods</strong></span>. Here seeking the Lord for His heart </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">& direction for this year. We took time to worship together & have devotions. The harmonies were good, the worship rose up and I was thankful to be part of seeing that the Lord answered incredibly and a piece of last years vision has been realized. The prescense of the Lord was present & our hearts were being touched. We had paused, turned to Him and He met us.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We are <span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;"><strong>worshipping</strong></span></span><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;"><strong> ...</strong><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><strong>but also....</strong><span style="color: #351c75; font-size: large;"><strong><span style="color: #990000;">encountering</span> </strong><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">the grace of God with us, involved with us. Preparing our hearts for tomorrow and for "a night of rest". We found ourselves taking a moment to reflect on His word - Eph. 3:20-21 is shared. We talk of how to <span style="color: #20124d; font-size: large;"><strong>Stand. Strengthen. Serve. </strong><span style="color: black; font-size: small;">We find pieces of scripture touching our hearts. Yet, we pause - breathe and prepare our hearts even more to listen and move forward once again.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">Off we go to rest... thankful for the Lord's goodness. Thankful for the friends He gives us. Thankful for the "fellowship"!!!</span></span></span></div>
Spirarehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05990166295293810594noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1562863236425409840.post-67050413474931472892014-08-14T14:50:00.002-07:002014-08-14T14:53:04.720-07:00Spirare Christos - Breathe Christ<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp2AgKGmpBqTW_WhoR_U7NrDGWFBROUKqHbSiYL2GAocgMYo9PS7F0qQR48e5hhcHDQV1ryaG4CaB7S2rpBUpNOn0WttmCdSYw3KkAfZl86q5ORnlt57r8SU3uXb4_l9M5fth2qVS-IMvr/s1600/21300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp2AgKGmpBqTW_WhoR_U7NrDGWFBROUKqHbSiYL2GAocgMYo9PS7F0qQR48e5hhcHDQV1ryaG4CaB7S2rpBUpNOn0WttmCdSYw3KkAfZl86q5ORnlt57r8SU3uXb4_l9M5fth2qVS-IMvr/s1600/21300.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Why this? In a moment of defining who we desire to be - it came in a simple phrase, "One who breathes Christ." His essence in, His life in - into the core of who we are - no closed doors, no hidden agenda. Simply one who is connected to the understanding of complete dependence through total abandoned - knowing every breathe comes from Him and is for Him.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Then it is one who after breathing IN - breathes OUT... His life, His essence into the world around them. Who has as a core desire the quest to be "poured out" for Him in service & love to those we touch in our daily lives.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">I am one desiring to BREATHE CHRIST moment by moment - to touch the world one life at at time!</span>Spirarehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05990166295293810594noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1562863236425409840.post-86893438110325660722014-08-14T14:44:00.002-07:002014-08-14T14:44:32.973-07:00Pauses to Be Thankful<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6iFqoRCGUY9TX12rcpAFm5VDb64qNWDQavyyn_sl0JDIoQrIiH-Ik2ZdFh_441L2RIJpqZrEQMBg9H6X_L9hKLvHdwnL4tRZjoCOroz03Pn6vO8gIeOdBYUwUvLIOQa9Js4pvPHzc8vpn/s1600/brit.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6iFqoRCGUY9TX12rcpAFm5VDb64qNWDQavyyn_sl0JDIoQrIiH-Ik2ZdFh_441L2RIJpqZrEQMBg9H6X_L9hKLvHdwnL4tRZjoCOroz03Pn6vO8gIeOdBYUwUvLIOQa9Js4pvPHzc8vpn/s1600/brit.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Wow! You have one day of fun and find another to stop because of the sorrow one feels. We were home one day and our little dog came out to see me. She all the sudden had a huge seizure which went on for a couple minutes. When it was over she got up and seemed fine. Still - it is just the next phase of her aging. She has been having mini-siezures for sometime now. She falls down lots of times a day, she falls off things - like our bed and we hope she does not hurt herself - once even went down our stairs, which was awful! You stop and have to consider how far to let things go. You cry thinking about the decisions and feel for your parents who have been through it before. Life is hard in these moments! It makes one identify with the fact that "creation" groans for something better. Yet, this is such a small thing in comparison with the suffering that goes on around us. Our neighbor had a friend commit suicide - and you stop and shed a tear for the loss of someone so young. It makes you get on your knees and share your heart with the "Creator". It makes you feel His heart for all that happens and how He longs to make Himself real to each one who cries.</span>Spirarehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05990166295293810594noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1562863236425409840.post-18820806460902298422014-08-14T14:42:00.003-07:002019-08-02T20:20:19.460-07:00Evening of Pondering<br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have spent the last few days on a quest to understand a new trend. It is a trend that young </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoLr64ovkz8ci7hVy05HwagSl1S7hlaQQO2AJWIVP2WcbHL4mkz550C-f2sks1X0jN-m07WDNVkRXgzGiVmvo1JUQyPZTrI6sttIRN2MtrqgKtLupdbiuHP40RxBCUUCPci8Szae7SFmqC/s1600/love.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoLr64ovkz8ci7hVy05HwagSl1S7hlaQQO2AJWIVP2WcbHL4mkz550C-f2sks1X0jN-m07WDNVkRXgzGiVmvo1JUQyPZTrI6sttIRN2MtrqgKtLupdbiuHP40RxBCUUCPci8Szae7SFmqC/s1600/love.JPG" height="292" width="400" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">teenagers are getting in to more these days. It is "cutting". I have been asked why young people would want to do this to themselves, and I have found myself seeking the Lord for answers. I read about the sadness that fills the hearts & lives of young people. I read how it is a "temporary" release to the pent up feelings. I hear how my daughters have fb friends who have tried it or gotten caught in it. Questions fill my heart and I ask, how do we reach out? How does one touch the lives of ones who are hurting? In the midst of these times of soul searching and listening in the quiet for answers, I am reading a book called "Jesus Loves You, this I know" by two guys who have gone beyond the ordinary to show an empty world that there is unconditional love out there. It does not come with a list of does and don'ts or a list of "how to join the club". Rather, they found unconventional ways to go the extra mile. To do the extra-ordinary to touch loves with Jesus' love. I pause and look deep into my own live, my past, my experiences and long for ... those "connecting points" to be one who shares a moment with a stranger, who finds a new friend a long the way, who walks alongside the one who is hurting and lonely... Thoughts... Prayers... Waiting...</span>Spirarehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05990166295293810594noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1562863236425409840.post-74063045226548602312014-08-14T14:41:00.003-07:002014-08-14T14:41:22.779-07:00Appreciating the Moments (Gals Night Out)<div style="border: medium none;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPn_jYwkM3ixjC35ZxS9j6QbmRWsAbMTb66oLZzEQu1j9TOMZb-uTvCOs3-1BYXu0skX8fOkiqlsF04YBw_eAkLmQZsWjtXVn9ZsU5hFVDG-7wRfoPJ_bseCgQFCB0592guij6e6thKaCh/s1600/GalsOut.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPn_jYwkM3ixjC35ZxS9j6QbmRWsAbMTb66oLZzEQu1j9TOMZb-uTvCOs3-1BYXu0skX8fOkiqlsF04YBw_eAkLmQZsWjtXVn9ZsU5hFVDG-7wRfoPJ_bseCgQFCB0592guij6e6thKaCh/s1600/GalsOut.JPG" /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">After two days away at a "Gals Night Out", which consisted of my closest "female" family members, I pause to think how wonderful it is to have the times to stop and create memories. We had a blast, out at a hotel, swimming in the pool, resting in the hot tub, eating out, watching DVDs we brought, getting a make-over from a friend, telling silly ghost stories late at night... not getting much sleep BUT <em>WOW</em> the fun memories! So much to record in the wonderful memories with my mom, my neice & my girls. Laying in the pull out sofa bed while my girls laughed so much and told such silly stories... my mom got laughing so hard she could hardly stop. All of us just enjoying each other's company and finding fun in each moment.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I stop pausing to thank <em>my dearest friend</em> for this opportunity. Thankful to friend to be able to leave the office with confidence, while throughly enjoying being away. Thankful for the PAUSE in what has been a very busy couple of months.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What an incredible day!</span>Spirarehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05990166295293810594noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1562863236425409840.post-74276678158685245912014-08-04T11:34:00.003-07:002014-08-04T13:37:52.118-07:00Sunday Encounter<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It was a beautiful sunny afternoon, we were running to
Target to pick up some chips and things to contribute to the afternoon picnic
with friends. After gathering our items, we dashed through checkout and jumped
in our car – heading out to the local park to meet our friends. There in the
center of the median was a lady with dark glasses and a walking stick, holding
a sign asking for help. We swooshed past and headed down the road. My mind was
circling around the story I had heard earlier from a friend that had stopped
and helped someone in a similar situation.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSiY_jtHYRsOFeUi1cO_s_WU2n9GpKFSlqaTDZITYyxElaWaXRNUcEwrkzn0XkSFXD71Vh84wR3aUF6Ki78U6YgAq6NjS7cTy64BWEaqzHKqT4-YfDiLKF6ow9RLsZxQIXJuCbewt7Wnry/s1600/pearl-shell.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSiY_jtHYRsOFeUi1cO_s_WU2n9GpKFSlqaTDZITYyxElaWaXRNUcEwrkzn0XkSFXD71Vh84wR3aUF6Ki78U6YgAq6NjS7cTy64BWEaqzHKqT4-YfDiLKF6ow9RLsZxQIXJuCbewt7Wnry/s1600/pearl-shell.jpg" height="242" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As we arrived at the park, we dropped our teenager and her
friend off, told them to go ahead and to tell our friends we would be back
shortly. My husband read my mind and knew I wanted to go back and see if we
could help the lady we had seen. We formed our thoughts as we drove back to
Target. We would get a couple of sandwiches and drinks – then take a moment to
meet her. We got our items together and I crossed the parking lot. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Jem was standing there with her sign. She obviously had
limited sight. Jem gladly received the lunch type items in my bag – along with a
Target card for later. She told me about losing her home and about her family’s
situation. She was in our neighborhood so her daughter, who was also struggling
would not see her. She cried as she talked about trying to get a bus ticket to
join her sister in Tennessee, who is also blind and has room for her. Her mother’s
heart struggled with leaving her daughter and grandchildren in Minnesota to
resolve the custody battle she was dealing with. We talked and took a moment to
declare blessing over her next steps. I truly met a “jem” of a person that
afternoon. I was glad to have followed that inner heart leading, as my
afternoon was a bit blessed by the encounter.</span></div>
Spirarehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05990166295293810594noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1562863236425409840.post-35686682138195022242013-06-12T07:20:00.000-07:002013-06-12T07:20:57.030-07:00Traveling Giving Encouragement<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0S5s_IyJFJGXblR3vquHwmmbzYn4uBZbRw7gHO1i-SqSnleO6RwVpduUvjjpIbUU-LqrVSQymol2RySO4bc_soMp3f65llIHG2sQo7f-OiN7vL0lqHO-DuOKRSxmIqvkpUutS4RTT7BCy/s1600/encourage-synonyms.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0S5s_IyJFJGXblR3vquHwmmbzYn4uBZbRw7gHO1i-SqSnleO6RwVpduUvjjpIbUU-LqrVSQymol2RySO4bc_soMp3f65llIHG2sQo7f-OiN7vL0lqHO-DuOKRSxmIqvkpUutS4RTT7BCy/s1600/encourage-synonyms.jpg" height="274" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Do you have friends who are wonderful at coming to your aid when you need some encouragement? I do and I love them dearly for it! I never thought of the Apostle Paul that way, yet I came across this verse...</span><br />
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<div style="background-color: white;">
<div class="heading passage-class-0" style="margin-bottom: 15px; margin-top: 10px;">
<h3 style="color: #5c1101; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">
Acts 20:2-3</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="text Acts-20-2" id="en-NIV-27629"><sup class="versenum" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;">2 </sup>He traveled through that area, speaking many words of encouragement to the people, and finally arrived in Greece,</span><span class="text Acts-20-3" id="en-NIV-27630"><sup class="versenum" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;">3 </sup>where he stayed three months...</span></span></div>
<div style="color: #5c1101;">
<span class="text Acts-20-3" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span class="text Acts-20-3" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Paul was traveling, and what did people notice about him? The people noticed that he went "speaking many words of encouragement to the people." Wow! I appreciate just a quick couple of words from my friends, yet Paul was hallmarked with being a person who spoke many words of encouragement to those he came in contact with as he traveled. Instead of being a traveling salesman, he was a traveling encourager; (Pause.) a different picture than what I typically thought of Paul. Maybe it is because of the life he lived before Jesus knocked him off his horse! Once again it causes me to stop and have a moment of amazement at what the regenerating work of Christ does in the heart of a person. Paul had been known for a lot of things before he encountered Jesus. Encouragement would not have been on that list.</span><br />
<span class="text Acts-20-3" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">His life is quite a challenge to us in many ways. I think I will take up this one simple thing this summer and look for opportunities to speak words of encouragement to the people I meet along the way. How about you?</span></div>
</div>
</div>
Spirarehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05990166295293810594noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1562863236425409840.post-88460442316381228812013-06-06T13:08:00.000-07:002013-06-06T13:08:30.461-07:00Living with Intention<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A man pleaser? Is that what we want to be, yet I read this verse that Paul wrote.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1 Corinthians 10:33, "I, too, try to please everyone in everything I do. I don't just do what is best for me; I do what is best for others so that many may be saved."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK6hTzHsbMA2mCGAXCKMGgdwkbtdd_x5tqC5DjMBVq-jSJo7Qs6gGOdM-d0IVwW2n8CuJoPWzM39vU1qmErxrgWqns1Sui3rLTSqgkER2KvHeVfZJ2qLsi9G16txCsnvNl5P0d6E7u4fcA/s1600/concert_8056cn+(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK6hTzHsbMA2mCGAXCKMGgdwkbtdd_x5tqC5DjMBVq-jSJo7Qs6gGOdM-d0IVwW2n8CuJoPWzM39vU1qmErxrgWqns1Sui3rLTSqgkER2KvHeVfZJ2qLsi9G16txCsnvNl5P0d6E7u4fcA/s1600/concert_8056cn+(2).jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Where are we being "the church"?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">This verse makes me stop
and think a lot about what is the "bottom line" in relating to those
around me. Are we looking to spend our time and talents on ourselves - consuming
them for our own good? Are we gathering together as the church to be fed and
have our needs met... or do we gather together with our hearts open to each
other looking to encourage each other and to reach out to those we may not know
yet?</span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><br />
Once more in this verse, Paul talks about "doing what is best for others
so that they may be saved." How are we investing so this might be a
reality in our lives and in the lives of those we have in our sphere of
influence? Are we using our time and talents to reach those who are not yet
followers of Jesus? Luke 15:4 says, "If a man has a hundred sheep and one
of them gets lost, what will he do? Won't he leave the ninety-nine others in
the wilderness and go to search for the one that is lost until he finds
it?" </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><br />
</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><br />
Am I living in a way that I let my life be led so it benefits others coming to
know Jesus’ love? Do I live with intention, looking for the Holy Spirit to lead
me to opportunities to share the Lord's love with others? Do I take time
to truly listen to those around me and hear their hearts, so the
words I share are relevant and show I really care? This might mean my life
takes a turn in its direction and priorities. It might mean that sometimes I
feel uncomfortable because the Holy Spirit challenges me to reach beyond my own
personal comfort zone. It might mean my time away is spent differently than I
intended... being led to invest in a stranger that I have met along the way.
Maybe the individual in front of me on a Sunday or in a local diner has
personal struggles they are facing. Maybe they have health issues, financial
struggles, a marriage on the rocks, etc. How would Jesus respond to this
person? Would he pause to give them time? Would I be willing to let their need
touch my heart and move me in such a way that I show them Jesus in my response?
Will I dig deep in my heart so I can find Jesus' words? Will I share some
encouragement or comfort? Taking time to care is like giving them a cup of cold
water when they are thirsty. </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><br />
</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><br />
Sharing Jesus’ love is not difficult. We just have to posture our hearts to be
looking for the opportunities that are all around us. If we are willing to have
our normal routine interrupted in order to touch a life with His love, doors
will open and we will step into a great adventure this summer.</span>Spirarehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05990166295293810594noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1562863236425409840.post-71654128340465468022013-04-16T19:24:00.000-07:002013-04-17T09:42:01.251-07:00Another Shortcut?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzfQIwygiXZKa0dfv5xEy46KGTmUOQI2K88xYEr_KGv1Zwi-R5KRUZAYAv-Ywy-EA8BNPVjSbrroNZcCriPSOYLoF-SwH5N2C3DOz0f0skHwOdA6xXuJ2fZeAeaanlcLFk_zI0qarYnUC9/s1600/DSC01278.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzfQIwygiXZKa0dfv5xEy46KGTmUOQI2K88xYEr_KGv1Zwi-R5KRUZAYAv-Ywy-EA8BNPVjSbrroNZcCriPSOYLoF-SwH5N2C3DOz0f0skHwOdA6xXuJ2fZeAeaanlcLFk_zI0qarYnUC9/s1600/DSC01278.JPG" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Shortcuts, shortcuts, and yet more shortcuts..</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Today I took a moment to pause... Well, I took several as I reflected on some good moments from the years when I was still at home with my parents. We were living in Alaska at the time and it started a "historic family phrase" that my dad would often use as we traveled from place to place. Every thing was so beautiful, but some of the road maps were not always that detailed. We would head out on what should have been a trip of a half an hour, then find ourselves still on the road after an hour. We would do the typical, "Are we there yet?" Often times our time delay happened because my dad had decided to take what he perceived was "a shortcut"... Often those shortcuts were actually "longcuts" instead. Yet those adventures often took us on very beautiful roads, in very beautiful country. We would discover all kinds of animals along the way and eventually we would arrive at our destination. None of the time spent was wasted, as we chatted, laughed, sometimes whined a bit, but always created 'memories' along the way.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When we moved back to the "lower 48" (at the time) we still took time to travel together as a family. We still took many of dad's "shortcuts" and made many more memories together.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Today my dad stopped by the office where I work. He was trying to send a text to a friend on his "non-smart" phone. I wiped mine out and used SIRI to help me get a quick text to his phone before he could get his sent. He complained as my text buzzed his phone in the middle of his message. Another friend told my dad about many of "smart" phones features including built in GPS. My dad said he didn't need it and I had to tease him that maybe he needed SIRI so he wouldn't need any "shortcuts" any more. He laughed and went on his way.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As I closed up the office, my mind was reminiscing on many of our past "shortcuts". I jumped in my car thanking the Lord that SIRI did not exist when I was young. I thought of all our "shortcut" trips that would not have happened if SIRI's GPS got us there. Then I reflected on how grateful I am that when I try to take "shortcuts" in my walk with Jesus, that He would knows how to turn those "longcuts" in to beautiful memories even if the road takes me longer.</span>Spirarehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05990166295293810594noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1562863236425409840.post-13201223030119112832013-03-27T17:03:00.001-07:002013-03-27T17:03:12.322-07:00A Weekend of Shifting<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV3LvNHNwR9qPc8zVCvudUfSQTKJ_S3QH00Lq9XIjiD3038-tbX906KX16LxkqGmgy9Y7c5-RViI19iwRQ8qaFRh78cYpww7Mb9yLphFS82sRv9MBYN5wS87IO1CD-Cf8cfedDD2E2SaDk/s1600/arise13_r1_c1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV3LvNHNwR9qPc8zVCvudUfSQTKJ_S3QH00Lq9XIjiD3038-tbX906KX16LxkqGmgy9Y7c5-RViI19iwRQ8qaFRh78cYpww7Mb9yLphFS82sRv9MBYN5wS87IO1CD-Cf8cfedDD2E2SaDk/s1600/arise13_r1_c1.jpg" height="238" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<h1 id="watch-headline-title">
<span class="watch-title yt-uix-expander-head" dir="ltr" id="eow-title" title="The Art Of Thinking Brilliantly with Graham Cooke.">The Art Of Thinking Brilliantly with Graham Cooke</span></h1>
<span class="watch-title yt-uix-expander-head" dir="ltr" title="The Art Of Thinking Brilliantly with Graham Cooke."><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I recently attended a conference with some dear friends at North Heights. It was an incredible weekend! It was one of those times where you really get an "upgrade" as Graham Cooke says. Each session took us to the new step. The first was a time of "giving back our stuff". We had been in a season of stress as a family. The dream Graham shared opened up a whole new understanding to me of my own soul. As Graham shared how Jesus dealt with him when he allowed fear and worry back in to his life. He dealt with me as well. Jesus had pointed out to Graham how He paid for those things and were his. He wanted them back - I knew I had some of the same things to give back. It was the beginning of a weekend of re-surrendering the stuff I was "stressing over" back to the Lord. I went home that night with a fresh, clean feeling in my soul. Jeff couldn't imagine how much it would be of benefit to him as well. No husband wants a cranked up wife. :)</span></span><br />
<span class="watch-title yt-uix-expander-head" dir="ltr" title="The Art Of Thinking Brilliantly with Graham Cooke."><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span class="watch-title yt-uix-expander-head" dir="ltr" title="The Art Of Thinking Brilliantly with Graham Cooke."><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Anyway, the new day we learned about how problems don't exist in heaven... only promises and possibilities. We learned to re-frame ourselves and to also let our relationships get re-framed. Part of re-framing was about getting a heavenly perspective on both of those things. Then our final focus was one we all could work on forever - getting to know God's goodness. Wow! It opened up an understanding of knowing the Lord with a new depth, plus sharing His goodness with others... letting that share His love with others by helping them see His goodness.</span></span><br />
<span class="watch-title yt-uix-expander-head" dir="ltr" title="The Art Of Thinking Brilliantly with Graham Cooke."><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I have been reviewing the CDs of the message and preparing my heart for the upcoming conference! I can hardly wait for the "Upgrade Life" coming in April.</span>Spirarehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05990166295293810594noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1562863236425409840.post-71383221173697919922012-04-03T03:14:00.000-07:002012-04-03T03:17:28.239-07:00Moments with Misty Edwards<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Misty Edwards</b> is an incredible Christian artist. She dedicated her life to touch the heart of God through song. I have recently been dwelling on the words of two of her songs. The titles are "You Won't Relent" and "Finally I Surrender" both off her album called "Relentless". "You Won't Relent" is about how the Lord pursue's us and how He does not stop until He has our whole heart. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Here are the words...</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1c3044; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-weight: bold;">You Won't Relent</span><br />
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You won't relent until You have it all<br />
My heart is Yours<br />
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I'll set You as a seal upon my heart<br />
As a seal upon my arm<br />
For there is love that is as strong as death<br />
Jealousy demanding as the grave<br />
Many waters cannot quench this love<br />
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Come be the fire inside of me<br />
Come be the flame upon my heart<br />
come be the fire inside of me<br />
Until You and I are one<br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The other is "Finally I Surrender" ("Surrender)</span></div>
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<div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-weight: bold;">
All I want is You to have Your way</div>
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You are the Potter and I am the clay<br />
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All I need is You to have Your way<br />
You are Creator and I'm what You've made<br />
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Finally I Surrender<br />
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You are God I am man You are sovereign</div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This is a simple heart cry, but one we all need to make. It is in a place of abandonment, that He can take our lives and bring us to our real purpose. He knows how each one of us fits in to His plan. I want to "Surrender" my life to change the way He desires, even if those changes are difficult at times.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Pastor Jamey of "The House" in Burnsville talks about how we need to be exactly who He created us to be. He said, anything less would grieve His heart. I want to purse that complete Surrender. I want Him to be the "fire inside of me, the flame upon my heart... until He and I are one."</span>Spirarehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05990166295293810594noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1562863236425409840.post-58966723748873883332012-03-28T20:17:00.001-07:002012-04-03T03:31:32.885-07:00Dark Night<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://www.christianbooksummaries.com/library/v3/cbs0348.pdf"><span style="font-size: small;">Summary Can Be Found</span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There is an old classic that I read bits of when I lived in Spain. I was in placed where this old Saint lived and walked in places where St John of the Cross was... Leaves you wondering if my feet picked up some of their dust and it turned into a bit of anointing on my life. I find some of the experiences are similar, yet I have a long way to go. Joshua 1:3 "</span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">I will give you every place where you set your foot</span><span style="background-color: white; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><b style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px;">..</span>." </b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Maybe the dust brings a good dose of his saturated experiences.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Here are some quote from St John of the Cross...</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"In the evening of life, we will be judged on love alone." - St. John of the Cross</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"In tribulation immediately draw near to God with Confidence and you will receive strength, enlightenment and instruction. Abide in peace, banish cares, take no account of all that happens and you will serve God according to his good pleasure and rest in him." - St. John of the Cross.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The attached article is a short summary of his book. Takes you through the principles he learned. One can take a moment of good reflection. I found myself revisiting some of his work, putting several things of real value into the Lord's hands and trusting that if they were to no longer be connected to us - that the Lord would know what He was working in us and it would have value in what it would work in our hearts.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"</span></span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">The </span><em style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">fire of evil can better be fought with flames of</em><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"> ecstasy than through fasting and mortification." —</span><em style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">Abraham Heschel</em></div>Spirarehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05990166295293810594noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1562863236425409840.post-13737688701333002422011-07-28T07:03:00.000-07:002011-07-28T07:03:55.211-07:00Speaking the Truth in Love<div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifjhYXhcHaYsA9EZxLYOyA6_LmPdK_LN6jx9vC29f-rxCDB_qJJdvNc2xLZsrk3wTfTe2mFexaO2hA20TXqWmdIoWXNotJ_kaMeTPp2TdB9E2HONs-hPQIMVc_hWFAEz7tintSGKxujVN0/s1600/5890_1106597779549_1064926219_30279077_7003121_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifjhYXhcHaYsA9EZxLYOyA6_LmPdK_LN6jx9vC29f-rxCDB_qJJdvNc2xLZsrk3wTfTe2mFexaO2hA20TXqWmdIoWXNotJ_kaMeTPp2TdB9E2HONs-hPQIMVc_hWFAEz7tintSGKxujVN0/s200/5890_1106597779549_1064926219_30279077_7003121_n.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></u></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;"><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">Ephesians 4:14-16 (New King James Version) </span></i></b><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><sup><span style="color: black; font-size: 8pt;">“14</span></sup></i></b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"> that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, </span></i><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><sup><span style="color: black; font-size: 8pt;">15</span></sup></i></b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"> but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— </span></i><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><sup><span style="color: black; font-size: 8pt;">16</span></sup></i></b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"> from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.”</span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; line-height: normal;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Summer months are wonderful times to get out and do extra things with our family. At the same time it can be times where we may have our patience with each other challenged a bit more. It can be from having the kids home and them getting “too much” of each other. It can be from times our plans don’t work out the way we would like. There are lots of opportunities to “grow” and sometimes we just want to “tell each other like it is.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">This can happen between believers as well. Sometimes the words are said that can be hurtful to each other, leaving “bad seed” in each other’s hearts. Sometimes in the church we tell each other “little white lies.” This is not what this verse is speaking about when it says, “speaking the truth in love.” Those words are followed by very important ones – “may grow up in all things into Him who is the head – Christ.” I don’t know about you but I want to fully “grow up.” He is the one who joins us together and causes us to really function the way we are created to be. Being joined & knit together is what causes us to bring about the “growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.” </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I sure want that kind of growth which will edify those around me in love, but how to keep it truthful. I read an article recently about a Pastor, Phil Callaway, who took the challenge to tell the total truth for a year. After a couple months he shared that he realized he had a lot to learn. He came up with a key… Phil Callaway, in his book, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">To Be Perfectly Honest</i> has an acronym for truth-telling: <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">THINK</b>. Is it <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">True</b>? Is it <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Helpful</b>? Does it <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Inspire</b>? Is it <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Necessary</b>? Am I <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Kind</b> about it? These words became the microscope he used to examine the “truth” he was going to share, before he shared it. I think it was a great thing to keep in mind when we want to share the truth with each other.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;"><br />
</div>Spirarehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05990166295293810594noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1562863236425409840.post-35592223837739111512011-06-23T19:31:00.000-07:002011-06-23T19:34:13.613-07:00A Chance Encounter<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo6H0pNPgyKBDuqDUlW8KXFVhK3jns-539RbKINnrpEx-G7SpCMIDERhKnUhHpJYm7yID86pTHD0ZKZDmiEG8j3QEE_xYuc11anrmVbJtHSZWjG9R6f0NxKdb0IFc7-LGynaDdgDOr3LGH/s1600/cooler_coffee.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo6H0pNPgyKBDuqDUlW8KXFVhK3jns-539RbKINnrpEx-G7SpCMIDERhKnUhHpJYm7yID86pTHD0ZKZDmiEG8j3QEE_xYuc11anrmVbJtHSZWjG9R6f0NxKdb0IFc7-LGynaDdgDOr3LGH/s200/cooler_coffee.jpg" width="108" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">It was Saturday night and I had gone to a Gathering with Jeff. It became apparent that I had something different I needed to do. I had an overwhelming sense that I needed to be somewhere else. I jumped in my car and went in search of</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> that something else. I thought about having a coffee at Caribou and seeing who was there. I pulled into the parking lot but it didn't seem right so I didn't go in. I went down a side street and pulled over to the curb to call a friend I hadn't spoken to in quite some time. We had a good discussion which lasted for some time. We finished our conversation and I started up my car.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">I had noticed some gals sitting on the back steps of the house near me. As I drove off the one gal waved like she knew me. I wondered if they thought I was "stalking" the neighborhood and swung my car around to let them know I had parked to make a call. They laughed and told me they thought I was their neighbor who lived in a nearby house. I drove back to Caribou - still with coffee on my mind. When I got there, there were only men having coffee. While in line, I remembered a time when a friend did a random act of kindness and bought the next person's coffee. It came to mind I should buy some coffee coolers and take the ladies one, to enjoy while they talked. I drove back to my previous spot with three flavors of coffee coolers. I jumped out and headed across the street, only to realize I was missing one as the two gals had been joined by two guys. I told them my little tale of wanting to give them "a random act of kindness" like my daughter had done. They openly received them and told me I had the perfect amount as one gal did not like coffee. As I went to leave they invited me to stay and have a beer, which I declined because I am not "a fan" of beer. I turned to leave, but by the gal who waved at me in the beginning asked quickly, "Do you like wine." I felt this was an "open door". I had time to spend with them, so I accepted the invitation. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">It turned out to be a wonderful evening - lots of talking, laughing and sharing stories. Here with four strangers - we enjoyed an evening of open conversation. When Jeff finally sent me a text to come pick him up, and I got up to go, these four new friends made me promise to come back and see them another day this summer.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">I left pondering the Lord's leading, being very glad I followed. There are four new friends in my life and I look forward to seeing them again.</span>Spirarehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05990166295293810594noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1562863236425409840.post-74302957186990047212011-06-22T19:51:00.000-07:002011-06-22T19:51:00.337-07:00Morning Stop Points – A Reflection of Unfailing Love<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Let me hear of your unfailing love each morning, for I am trusting you. Show me where to walk, for I give myself to you.</span></i></b><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">” </span></i></b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Psalms 143:8, NLT</b></span></i><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">This is a verse that I hope will warm your heart as it does mine. It seems with so much going on in the world over the past months that this verse is like a cup of cold water on a hot day. It sure has been to me.</span></div><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">irst unfailing love</b>, stands out and it reminds me that even if the circumstances around me or in my life seem difficult, that God’s love for me has not changed. He is totally unchangeable in His love for each of us. It may be that we feel dry or disconnected, but He is faithful to us. What a wonderful reminder to have each day as we wake.</span></div><br />
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<tr> <td align="left" style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); padding: 0in;" valign="top"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 46.3pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column; mso-element-anchor-vertical: paragraph; mso-element-linespan: 3; mso-element-wrap: around; mso-element: dropcap-dropped; mso-height-rule: exactly; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; page-break-after: avoid; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 60pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-text-raise: -3.5pt;">I<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></b></span></div></td> </tr>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">nclination to listen</b> is key. We listen when we hear our name. Here the writer requests to hear the Lord reminding him of His unfailing love each morning. His is putting himself in the position to listen. He wanted to hear the Lord speak, so he was focusing his attention to listen. It is important we cultivate hearts ready to listen. You will be amazed at what you hear and how much the Lord knows you and loves you.</span></div><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">emember</b> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>to look to the Lord and give Him time to guide my day. I don’t want to just bolt out in to the day without His guidance. It may be I am just heading out to work, but I want His guidance in what my focus is to be for the day. I also want myself to be ready to be “detoured” by Him if there is a someone to whom He wants me to reach out to and share His love in some way.</span></div><br />
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<tr> <td align="left" style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); padding: 0in;" valign="top"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 46.3pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column; mso-element-anchor-vertical: paragraph; mso-element-linespan: 3; mso-element-wrap: around; mso-element: dropcap-dropped; mso-height-rule: exactly; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; page-break-after: avoid; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 60pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-text-raise: -3.5pt;">S<o:p></o:p></span></div></td> </tr>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">urrender myself</b> and my schedule each morning. “Our mindset (for our day) should not be the prevalent one of taking God with us wherever we might go. It must be instead, that we <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">join</i> God in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">his</i> mission.” <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">(From Right Here, Right Now, by Alan Hirsch & Lance Ford.)</i> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It means I give Him my life each day and I let Him be the one who is in charge. After 9-11 I became convinced of the importance of hearing the voice of the Lord and obeying it. If it is part of our daily practice, we can rest assured the Lord will guide our steps.</span></div><br />
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<tr> <td align="left" style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); padding: 0in;" valign="top"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 46.3pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column; mso-element-anchor-vertical: paragraph; mso-element-linespan: 3; mso-element-wrap: around; mso-element: dropcap-dropped; mso-height-rule: exactly; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; page-break-after: avoid; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 61.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-text-raise: -4.0pt;">T<o:p></o:p></span></div></td> </tr>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">rust in the Lord</b> can be a real challenge in the midst of difficult circumstances. If we keep guard over our heart and choose to keep trusting no matter what goes on around us, it keeps hope alive in our hearts. Hope is the key to having faith begin to grow. The Bible defines faith as the “certainty of things not seen.” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have a piece of jewelry I have worn for years which reminds me to “hope.” For me this is a physical reminder of who I set my hope (trust) in each day. I get reminded when I put a shoe or sandal on before I leave the house.</span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">These “morning stop points” are ones that are easy to take with you. If hope that even when the storms come, you will remember to keep the FIRST things first at the beginning of your day!</span></div>Spirarehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05990166295293810594noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1562863236425409840.post-46417141522389107782011-06-15T11:11:00.000-07:002011-06-15T11:11:41.776-07:00Please Hear What I Am Not Saying<div class="WordSection1" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b><i><span style="color: black;">From the poem, “Please Hear What I Am Not Saying”</span></i></b></span></div></div><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> </span><i style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"><br clear="all" style="page-break-before: auto;" /> </span></i></span> <br />
<div class="WordSection2" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span style="color: black;">With your power to touch me into feeling</span></i><i></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span style="color: black;">you can breathe life into me.</span></i><i></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span style="color: black;">I want you to know that.</span></i><i></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span style="color: black;">I want you to know how important you are to me,</span></i><i></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span style="color: black;">how you can be a creator--an honest-to-God creator--</span></i><i></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span style="color: black;">of the person that is me</span></i><i></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span style="color: black;">if you choose to.</span></i><i></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span style="color: black;">You alone can break down the wall behind which I tremble,</span></i><i></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span style="color: black;">you alone can remove my mask,</span></i><i></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span style="color: black;">you alone can release me from my shadow-world of panic,</span></i><i></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span style="color: black;">from my lonely prison,</span></i><i></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span style="color: black;">if you choose to.</span></i><i></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span style="color: black;">Please choose to.</span></i><i></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span style="color: black;">Do not pass me by.</span></i><i></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span style="color: black;">It will not be easy for you.</span></i><i></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span style="color: black;">A long conviction of worthlessness builds strong walls.</span></i><i></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span style="color: black;">The nearer you approach to me</span></i><i></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span style="color: black;">the blinder I may strike back.</span></i><i></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span style="color: black;">It's irrational, but despite what the books say about man</span></i><i></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span style="color: black;">often I am irrational.</span></i><i></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span style="color: black;">I fight against the very thing I cry out for.</span></i><i></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span style="color: black;">But I am told that love is stronger than strong walls</span></i><i></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span style="color: black;">and in this lies my hope.</span></i><i></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span style="color: black;">Please try to beat down those walls</span></i><i></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span style="color: black;">with firm hands but with gentle hands</span></i><i></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span style="color: black;">for a child is very sensitive.</span></i><i></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span style="color: black;">Who am I, you may wonder?</span></i><i></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span style="color: black;">I am someone you know very well.</span></i><i></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span style="color: black;">For I am every man you meet</span></i><i></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span style="color: black;">and I am every woman you meet.</span></i><i></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black;">Charles C. Finn</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black;">September 1966</span></span></div></div><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 6.5pt;"><br clear="all" style="mso-break-type: section-break; page-break-before: auto;" /> </span> <br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;">These words were ones in a poem that my daughter did a paper on for school this morning. This is only a portion of the poem. You can easily find in its entirety on the internet. It rings so loud in my ears with the attempted suicide of two boys that my kids know. It causes me to ponder who each one of us touching is…</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Jesus has given us a commission, to</span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.”’ Mark 16:15. I read this poem and have to ask myself if I am missing some of the people right in front of me? Am I overlooking their message?</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I read recently that it is not about "taking Jesus with us", but rather about "going with God where He wants to go." It would seem to me then it is also about functioning with God - or submitting to His leading - to touch the lives He wants us to touch with His presence and His love. If we breathe His life in to the people He leads us to won't this fulfill His will.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">At the Greenhouse Neil Cole talked about setting your alarm to go off at 10:02... so I did when I came home. It goes off twice a day - both AM and PM. It went off last night and my daughter caught me and said - well, aren't you going to pray. What a timely reminder to pray out of Luke 10:2, "</span></span><span class="woj" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field." It takes my daughter to remind me once in awhile... Yet, I desire to have those opportunities - to be one of those laborers. Do you want to join the adventure? I think following Jesus wherever He leads surely is one of the BIGGEST and BEST adventures of my life!</span></div>Spirarehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05990166295293810594noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1562863236425409840.post-72124024140812061232011-05-17T14:04:00.000-07:002011-05-17T14:04:12.147-07:00Be The Church<div _mce_style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7Yrk3yQNQDxkzfV43k3MFIUlLL8Wfj0U0RuTTh-MHkfKpPtmFRn046yP8TsoO7uWUrCdGODJslL6F87nG9ZVH2Is8m6Kx54QFY9evLjc1DYRDI-wXXIvMAJTydUcRS8a2Yu9qwCigEK08/s1600/3534087a90bf__1303582500000.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7Yrk3yQNQDxkzfV43k3MFIUlLL8Wfj0U0RuTTh-MHkfKpPtmFRn046yP8TsoO7uWUrCdGODJslL6F87nG9ZVH2Is8m6Kx54QFY9evLjc1DYRDI-wXXIvMAJTydUcRS8a2Yu9qwCigEK08/s320/3534087a90bf__1303582500000.jpg" width="320" /></a>Here is a quote from Alan Hirsch's book, <i><u>Right Here, Right Now</u>. </i>"You <i>are</i> the church before you <i>do </i>the church. If we take Jesus at his word when he says, "As the Father has sent me, I am sending you" (John 20:21), the we realize that our being "sent" (Latin: <i>missio</i>) is the basis of our "doing" church and not the other way around. What is more, this applies to every disciple and not just to the so-called clergy <i>(the called ones)</i>. We are all called into the kingdom and into living our life under orders. What we normally infer by the word <i>church</i> limits what the Bible means by it. Church is not simply a building or a formal community meeting, it is who we <i>are</i> - a people who have been formed out of a direct encounter with God in Jesus Christ."</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Each of us doing our part - being the being the church wherever we are! Taking the moment to give someone a listening ear, to speak a word of encouragement to them, having our hearts open to be lead by the Lord - so our encounters with people will count for this Kingdom.</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">My daughter picked up this flower and took a picture of it - to have a memory. A reminder of a moment in her life. May our lives be those "memory" spots in peoples' lives. May we leave an essence of Jesus behind us.</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I love Alan Hirsch's words on what it means to be the church - "you are the church before you do the church. It is all about each of us - no one can sit on the sidelines and not realize that something would be missing, for someone, somewhere. Someone would have missed that opportunity to be touched by the love of Jesus! Be formed by a daily encounter with Jesus and go out and change your world!</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div></div><div _mce_style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></div>Spirarehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05990166295293810594noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1562863236425409840.post-82953788415432154382011-04-12T20:02:00.000-07:002011-04-13T09:39:42.007-07:00Living Simply - "Taste and See"<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">We meet at LOC on Saturday. I so enjoyed listening to what the women on the panel had to share. They had Jeanie Keil, Teri Bierman, Gabby McGreevy and Beth Schulze on the panel of women. Nick was scheduled to wrap up, and each moment was filled with insightful thoughts and a lot of deep heart sharing.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg71e1hpeSyG4zlk73YKXqXIYO_-vEaMDfPLUKVN4xYBvmxssnjc4y3tlE9k-Id_-tF8pDYAqbW0aQzFVp8qFDJwhcVhKkpjg9Zsq5jo07tlZHnZf4JmeZsp8AzVpN0Hk7F3aYhAkI5vrCZ/s1600/DSC07183.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg71e1hpeSyG4zlk73YKXqXIYO_-vEaMDfPLUKVN4xYBvmxssnjc4y3tlE9k-Id_-tF8pDYAqbW0aQzFVp8qFDJwhcVhKkpjg9Zsq5jo07tlZHnZf4JmeZsp8AzVpN0Hk7F3aYhAkI5vrCZ/s200/DSC07183.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Gabby M. shared on the devotional she uses called, "LOL with God: Devotional Messages of Hope and Humor for Women." She read an expert and the laughter began. You could sense the ease that came over the room as we entered on a couple of hours of adventure and discovery together.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibgwZikcaBCgAubz2RYCWKi52Vsf7XrWL79jXeuAXhCdLAfY__7SGJet2Jo6SMSlQka01h2o6Xu7HuuMMMrYV4e1CaryA6bhhwfIwP__E67QL5op15NtuvFMmd2ovqFC1SsaRauDowlZer/s1600/DSC07181.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibgwZikcaBCgAubz2RYCWKi52Vsf7XrWL79jXeuAXhCdLAfY__7SGJet2Jo6SMSlQka01h2o6Xu7HuuMMMrYV4e1CaryA6bhhwfIwP__E67QL5op15NtuvFMmd2ovqFC1SsaRauDowlZer/s200/DSC07181.JPG" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Teri B. shared, "God has different dreams than we might have for ourselves - when life does not go the way you think - you have to find your new normal so you can move on with God." </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Gabby M. commented that what has formed her - struggle. "He has my life in His hands and I have nothing to do with that. He made such beauty out of such junk." (No one would have ever thought there was any 'junk' in that young ladies heart. She shown with the love she feels for Jesus as she shared. I had never meet her, but Wow! she was so engaging. I guess the junk was the struggle of walking along through her mother's struggle with cancer.</span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Beth S. had insights on helping your children grow. "Living out our faith and encouraging our kids to do the same- coming alongside them in whatever they are involved in....Jeff is a great (her husband) story teller and he can connect real life issues to Biblical truths. This is awesome. Having God's word available to kids in their language in a way that speaks to them is important (- key). Sharing our story with the kids. Being open about our faith - successes and struggles." </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbNhYpsuZgHz4Fhopjd5xqUNMMGW8Vz54_uu9G4AU8Qg-pwXBxpIfjjNhK_pX0KsbQmHT4yFaDnupOt-3GAVNqgdrqmMnpDhT6Xfx6_t8jPQsHj7xSoPutOsYJ6NS_jugNtWzQrKIT0Gl8/s1600/DSC07180.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbNhYpsuZgHz4Fhopjd5xqUNMMGW8Vz54_uu9G4AU8Qg-pwXBxpIfjjNhK_pX0KsbQmHT4yFaDnupOt-3GAVNqgdrqmMnpDhT6Xfx6_t8jPQsHj7xSoPutOsYJ6NS_jugNtWzQrKIT0Gl8/s200/DSC07180.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Jeanie K. "Parents prayers for their kids should be constant. Mother said, 'I've got you covered.' I knew she did. "Everything you do is an example to them, whether you they they see you or not."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Beth - "God is bigger than all of it - even all of our struggles put together. You have to know your "winter" (times when you are struggling) - then you have to press in to God."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Jeanie M. "Young women like me really need mentors. Please pray about it - step out and find a young woman, girl and reach out to them."</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><object class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="http://0.gvt0.com/vi/RssH_yao74g/0.jpg" height="266" width="320"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/RssH_yao74g&fs=1&source=uds" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><embed width="320" height="266" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/RssH_yao74g&fs=1&source=uds" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed></object></div><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Then came Nick Larson...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Nick share with us a bit about his journey into a place of deep intimacy with the Lord. It started in his basement...Quite a moving story! I am hoping he will put a bit of it to pen sometime for us. It was in this time where he felt the Lord was sad because he was not spending time with Him... It was then that God became really real to Nick. The more that he wanted to "hang out with God" the more his direction was formed.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Two Hinderances to Imtimacy:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">1. Guilt and projectionism - Unhealthy guilt and condemnation which keeps us immobilized. Projection if the process where we unwittingly project upon the Lord, our attitudes and feelings about ourselves. We feel bad about ourselves and assume God feels the same way about us. God has unconditional love - accepts us sins and all. Has tender compassion toward us. Romans 8:1 - Forgiven, God loves you and accepts you!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP53kzP-uOmdYul_SMvRfIoxjvQ1V993r0qVFtdeyySJdp1qikxt6f9QD6Bz3w6abNHPScDKpNnJJxnwPSZaFqq4tpwue-1ZPvZxiUGYceaxzkC09DZdrycBG4Pnxy_HDIAY7UiKvVxy_h/s1600/DSC07176.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP53kzP-uOmdYul_SMvRfIoxjvQ1V993r0qVFtdeyySJdp1qikxt6f9QD6Bz3w6abNHPScDKpNnJJxnwPSZaFqq4tpwue-1ZPvZxiUGYceaxzkC09DZdrycBG4Pnxy_HDIAY7UiKvVxy_h/s320/DSC07176.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Brennan Manning: "But we cannot assume that He feels about us the way we feel about ourselves - unless we love ourselves compassionately, intensely and freely. In human form Jesus revealed to us what God is like. He exposed our projections for the idolatry that they are and gave us the way to become free of them. It takes a profound conversion to accept that God is relentlessly tender and compassionate toward us just as we are - not in spite of our sings and faults (that would not be total acceptance), but with them. Though God does not condone or sanction evil, He does not withhold His love because there is evil in us."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">2. Business - second hinderance. Luke 10:38 about Mary & Martha became a very interactive part of Nick's talks. The ladies asked numerous questions and opened up the talk even more. Both loved Jesus & enjoyed His company. Yet Jesus said, "Martha, Martha..." (a bit of correction to come be with Him.) Preparations had been made for Jesus' coming, but she did not know how to slow down and enjoy the time with Jesus. We can be busy or we can meet with Jesus. Martin Luther said, "When he did not have time to spend an hour with Jesus, he would then spend two hours." It was to important when he was busy. *Time in prayer will change you." The Lord is calling each one of us into more intimate relationship with Him...because He loves you passionately. His love for you will never fail and He wants you to experience that. Psalm 27 is David sensing the Lord calling him to seek him and pursue him more deeply. Something to meditate on this week.</span>Spirarehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05990166295293810594noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1562863236425409840.post-11927065412721545642011-01-24T11:29:00.000-08:002011-04-12T19:56:37.679-07:00A Moment of Pause<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">There are times when we all need to stop and refocus. There are silly ways we get slowed down in life. Ways the Lord gets ahold of us to make us focus... or to pause. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Early December I had a moment of reflection. I got a "pause" inserted into my day. I went to let someone in and found they were not coming into the church, but rather using our parking lot to turn around. The wind was gusting and it caught the door, slamming it behind me. I found myself locked out of the church!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I was so grateful for the smaller entryway. I was also grateful for the small heater that keeps that area warm. I spent several moments praying for those who were out in the cold seeking warmth.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyZQXM5dBUo4BKO2L0MP7iq039fYBV-yuUXtNChaaZ6yO3L5K06ldoI3b4VWY_XOceHKubPNZzBq-6MG1LzKjWKlE-rRZVfSWbcgPoX8dsH5k7HosuEbKEzz54aP3wMewe7X_YLRbUcjSt/s1600/Seed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyZQXM5dBUo4BKO2L0MP7iq039fYBV-yuUXtNChaaZ6yO3L5K06ldoI3b4VWY_XOceHKubPNZzBq-6MG1LzKjWKlE-rRZVfSWbcgPoX8dsH5k7HosuEbKEzz54aP3wMewe7X_YLRbUcjSt/s320/Seed.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Seeds in My Heart!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I was also grateful for Todd, who was at home planning on coming to the men's Bible study, which was a little over an hour away. He listened to God's prompting, which sent him over to the church early!!! He was able to give me a quick ride over to P.O.P. where Rose was coaching the girls basketball team. Fortunately she had her key with her.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">As I returned and opened the door, I looked at that space and thought of all the people who search for spaces like that to keep themselves warm overnight. I don't walk through that entry the same any more.</span><br />
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</span>Spirarehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05990166295293810594noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1562863236425409840.post-11573366848091226972010-08-27T18:34:00.000-07:002010-08-27T18:34:02.549-07:00To Save A Life - Awesome Movie!<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKp_mZZVvZGMc4dlsEKKIE_C7I-K6MGKSIBwCGsxEe1RFM291W26lvVoX6n56VZvQhyphenhyphenB2sNNu5C4F1QDDaWuUymqagOzX09O1HLVuTzudyPGLwBg5T1eP3CrzXgw44ehXAQ8r5T4FLG0wf/s1600/ToSaveALife.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKp_mZZVvZGMc4dlsEKKIE_C7I-K6MGKSIBwCGsxEe1RFM291W26lvVoX6n56VZvQhyphenhyphenB2sNNu5C4F1QDDaWuUymqagOzX09O1HLVuTzudyPGLwBg5T1eP3CrzXgw44ehXAQ8r5T4FLG0wf/s320/ToSaveALife.jpg" width="164" /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Movies that touch your heart are sometimes easy to find, but ones that touch the entire family are not so easy. This was a movie that touched each of us. We give it our five star approval. We were brought in to the pain of the tragic loss of a young man who committed suicide and the struggle his best friend has to move on. While this young man is on his journey, he realizes that he could have done more and it changes him forever. It moves his heart to really "see" lives of other young people who are around him, struggling with their own doubts in who they are and in their own significance. He is changed forever in what transpires in the movie. What is more important is that the movie is not just there for fun, but to help get the word out so students don't get treated badly at school or don't get ignored just because they are not popular. They also have a website to offer online help at <a href="http://www.tosavealifemovie.com/needhelp/">http://www.tosavealifemovie.com/needhelp/</a> (Check it out especially if you know someone who needs you to be there for them.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We all need to "see" those who are around us and not be afraid to reach out and make a difference.</span></div>Spirarehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05990166295293810594noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1562863236425409840.post-75607402837016318492010-08-17T06:44:00.000-07:002010-08-17T06:44:48.574-07:00Words of Light<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5XfAfn6qtciHs7Ab2vzOBcjlDAszEKz2N7mWxFej4pViBe6LyENfSlSCs29BTXJW5KjjC1M0c3A064mJSGBTBC2Y5LPXhnOLhRMjTf6IMIOcgSJQ7FZFfEjVPxcyBkRiq9I1B8cSufNZ2/s1600/lantern_5030c.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5XfAfn6qtciHs7Ab2vzOBcjlDAszEKz2N7mWxFej4pViBe6LyENfSlSCs29BTXJW5KjjC1M0c3A064mJSGBTBC2Y5LPXhnOLhRMjTf6IMIOcgSJQ7FZFfEjVPxcyBkRiq9I1B8cSufNZ2/s200/lantern_5030c.gif" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Psalm 119:130 "The teaching of your word gives light, so even the simple can understand."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">I was reading in the book of Psalms and came across this verse. It is such a short verse, but it speaks volumns. Verse 135 says, "Guide my steps by your word, so I will not be overcome by evil." </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">These two verse talk of how God's Word gives us guidance. It gives "light" when our way is not clear. It "guides our steps", so we can make it through times of difficulty where we might be drawn to evil. Instead, God's Word shows us the way to go, so we can stay clear of the trap that evil would bring into our lives.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">I love the picture of "the Word giving Light" when I open my Bible each day. I look to what it says to help my heart stay at peace, even when circumstances around me might seem out of control. I am thankful I can turn to One who has the wisdom I do not. I am glad to have a "road map" to lead my heart to an understanding of the One who guards my life. I am thankful that He has shown me the way to get to know Him more fully. </span>Spirarehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05990166295293810594noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1562863236425409840.post-18545552247938567322010-06-26T10:20:00.000-07:002010-06-26T10:27:54.794-07:00Abiding In His Love<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">John 15:4-5 "Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. 5 “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing."... Wow! What a challenge this is for us.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">John 15 is one of my favorite passages. It has so much in it - that I encourage you to read the entire chapter. It is one that grabs my heart and challenges me daily to make time to "abide".</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj69W5UzZWhCzluzAP_ROYg83dR_8qrRU3FGbtthGy4oaBwQ732Grwb-yQAZcQnJIlB58V_QMLNOd8GekTT-miwUallMzYW1HF7YEKIGHiGFDE8iazepdIPrCIT5ZhgYfws2qNSBZP-P7rG/s1600/flower.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj69W5UzZWhCzluzAP_ROYg83dR_8qrRU3FGbtthGy4oaBwQ732Grwb-yQAZcQnJIlB58V_QMLNOd8GekTT-miwUallMzYW1HF7YEKIGHiGFDE8iazepdIPrCIT5ZhgYfws2qNSBZP-P7rG/s320/flower.bmp" width="234" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">ABIDE means: To wait, to endure without yielding, to bear patiently, to accept without objection, to remain stable or fixed in a state, to continue in a place. Synonyms: Stay, continue, bear. ABIDING: enduring, continuing.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">In this passage abiding has to do with being - not in doing. It is not the things that we do that are the essence of abiding, but it has more to do with our relationship with Christ. The things we do in our Christian walk, like reading scripture, praying, sharing our faith, etc... is hopefully the outcome of a relationship with Jesus that understands what it means to really "abide" in Him. Yet, they are not the essence of what abiding is... Abiding is when we open our heart and life to allow time to remain in His presence. We can use Bible reading and prayer to help prepare our hearts to "be" in the place of abiding, but it is when we stop our efforts and really yield ourselves to Him in relationship where true abiding begins. As a branch is graphed into the vine to gain its sustenance, so we must have our lives graphed into Jesus to draw our sustenance from His life. He awaits our giving Him space/time in our day so He can share Himself with us. He is not distant from us - but rather scripture says He gave us His Holy Spirit to indwell us. This is the life blood of our connection to Jesus. We gain understanding into His heart and become more acute to hearing His voice speaking to us... when we give Him time in a place of stillness - abiding. This is not a time of our agenda, but a time of our surrender to Him. Waiting expectantly - relating joyously - deeply.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">This chapter goes on to tell us that this place is a place of love. Jesus extends to us the same love that He received from the Father. The place we abide in is the place of His love. John 15: 9-11 states, “As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. “These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full." Jesus told all of this to fill our hearts with joy! It excites me to know that His love is there for me. I love coming to Him and allowing Him to pour His love into my heart and life. I so desire for this to be the outflow of my life... which these scriptures promise will produce fruit. It is fruit that will come out of being nourished in love.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Don't neglect that place of abiding love... He is there for you each day. Take time to abide no matter where you are this summer.</span>Spirarehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05990166295293810594noreply@blogger.com0