Pup-pup

Last night during a wonderful girls' night with a new friend of mine the topic of God's "Daddyness" remained central to our conversation. We talked about (well she reminded me) of how, as women, we are princesses of a divine father. This is not just fru-fru Christian talk here. We are chosen daughters of the Master Creator of the earth and all that is in it. We've got just as much right to say we are princesses that Princess Grace, Princess Diana, or Pop Princess Miley Cyrus do (though they're not excluded from receiving God's inheritance). This is not symbolic, or theorhetic, or hypothetic. It's true.

This princess talk led to many topics: parents, boys, grace, and God's job as Heavenly Father. Somehow the conversation led to running ahead of God, and having him lovingly tug us back, sort of like a parent with a (gasp) baby leash!

I am not a mommy, but I am an auntie. And I'll tell you that, my 6 nieces have made my heart explode with love in a way that I never thought possible. I love these little girls with such fierceness, I without a doubt would do anything for them.

I have on particular niece who is 20 months old, going on 14. She is beautiful and funny and daring; and headstrong, stubborn and once she accrues more words to her vocabulary will be very outspoken. She calls me "Teetee" and would rather say no than hear it. My sister lives near a business highway and once my little niece puts her shoes on and is out the door, she bee lines for the excitement of the cars and trucks passing by. After we got tired of chasing her and carrying her kicking and screaming away from the danger, my sister invested in a backpack-baby-leash, otherwise known as "Pup-pup".

Now, everytime we play outside my teeny little princess wears pup-pup. We give her freedom to roam, but when she gets too clos to that business highway, we give pup-pup a tug and pull her back. Now, you know where I'm getting with this...

We would never keep her from excitement and fun to be mean. We keep her away from those rushing cars for the obvious reason: we love her a lot and we would like to keep her around, forever. When she is ready, (at age 16 with a driver's license) she will hit the road. Until then, though she fights us, we protect her from the harmful traffic. She doesn't understand now, but I think she will thank us (and pup-pup) later.

Jesus replied, "You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand." -John 13:7

I think God may have many of us on these baby leashes. We get excited, we run for the freeway and all that it holds, only for him to pull us back. And when we kick and scream because we don't understand and we don't get what we want, God holds us and loves us enough to let us be mad at him. Just like my beloved little niece, he loves us too much to lose us. He knows the danger of the highway, he holds us back until we are ready, and I think we will thank him later.

Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. -Romans 8:17

what WOULD Jesus do, exactly?

"You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." Jer. 29:13

It is official, I am truly world's worst blogger. I've read somewhere that the key to having a successful blog, is "update, update, update!". Whoops. I promise you this, girls, that my heart is truly and richly devoted to a ministry for women of all ages, and my passion lies in pouring out what God has revealed to me, hoping that it encourgaes the faith-journeys of others.

Sometimes I think God thunders, and we can't help but spill what he has for us. Other times, I think he whispers. Intimate, quiet messages and lessons that are meant for, and personalized, just for me. I think that is the season I have been in this summer, and I hope you can relate. Our relationship with God is meant to be personal, because we are each personally loved, that sometimes our growth and our learnings (that's a word right?) can not be put into words, because they are special conversation with an intimate God.

Here is what I can tell you though; that this summer my eyes have been opened to the personability of God. He has shown me how he a) never leaves or forgets us (Hebrews 13:5) and b) he has every detail of our lives on his radar and c) he loves me. That last one, is a simple proclamation that I have heard since I was a little girl, but accepting and believing it and understanding the BIGNESS of it all is something that is brand new to me.

I have spent the last year of my life searching. I have been digging through theology, trying to figure out what is right to believe and what is not. I have been taking baby steps on all sorts of life paths, thinking maybe that's the direction God wants me to go in. I have been seeking and listening for God's voice (through all different medias) hoping he will show me the way and either fulfill my desires, or take them from me. I have been investigating how Jesus would live his life if he were in my shoes. For example, how would he vote? how would he dress? what would he do for fun? would he drink alcohol? would he approve two-piece swimsuits? would he watch MTV? would he tell me to spend time with those who've hurt me, or to cut them out of my life? Would he go green, or save the whales? Trust me, I've racked my brain with questions such as these, I chalk it up to a coming-of-age thing.

This coming-of-age thing, while fascinating, has been paired with much anxiety. My gosh, is the way I've always thought about life right? Am I doing life right? Or have I got it wrong the whole time, and God is shaking his head? I've had good intentions, but have I had the right actions? At times, this search for truth became so frustrating, I just said "forget it, this is too hard God. You're going to have to inject my mind and my heart with the right stuff, because I'm so afraid of being wrong." And so I sat on my couch, Sunday after Sunday, watching Friends reruns, and not caring if that was okay or not.

Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. -John 14:6

Well, God had his way of course. He didn't let my heart go. He didn't let my frustrations tear me away from Him. I began church-hunting, and through my skeptical, pouting attendance in plush chairs and pew benches, God spoke to me. He said, "We're in this together, seek me and you will find me. I'm the one stable thing in your life, I am a rock you won't fall from."

For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened -Matthew 7:8

Well duh, I am seeking him. I want the truth more than anything. I want to live right, and love right, and accept the grace that he is given when I DON'T get it right (on a daily basis). God is with me in my church-hunt, job-hunt, housing-hunt, and HIM-hunt.

I hope that this all makes sense and that this may encourage those of you that have been searching for God as well, and have had to become anxious, frustrated, and jaded only to give way to the rest that God is with you, the Holy Spirit is guiding you, and you are never alone. God is not threatened by our doubts, our questions, or our raised eyebrows. There aren't enough people in this world looking for him, so I get a feeling when he sees his pretty little daughter searching for him, he rushes to her.

Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you -James 4:7-8

Trust God to find you. Trust him to reveal his truths to you. Trust him to never let you wander off his path, as long as you keep your eyes on him.

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. -Matt. 6:33

Getting Even

Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord. -Romans 12:19

Two yelling, whining, laughing, and splashing boys were ruining my relaxing afternoon by the pool. I am working on getting the perfect tan, and becuase of their canon balls, I keep having to change position; not cool.

I finally give in, set aside my book (so preserve its pages so I can read it later) and sit calmly watching these two boys. As I put my book down, I turn to see the younger one crying and the older one pleading, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry. Here, you punch me. A free shot. As hard as you can." The flow of tears comes to a halt and is replaced by the huge smile as he winds up and takes his best shot....

Ah ha! Right there. The perfect picture of how we get this messed up idea that revenge will make us feel better. That getting even makes out hurting stop. Forgive me if I've overused the following quote, but it's one of my favorites so bear with me:

"Forgive and forget. That’s what they say. It’s good advice, but it’s not very practical. When someone hurts us, we want to hurt them back. When someone wrongs us, we want to be right. Without forgiveness, old scores are never settled… old wounds never heal. And the most we can hope for, is that one day we’ll be lucky enough to forget.In life, only one thing is certain, apart from death and taxes. No matter how hard you try, no matter how good your intentions, you are going to make mistakes. You’re going to hurt people. You’re going to get hurt. And if you ever want to recover... there’s really only one thing you can say. "-Meredith Grey, ABC's Grey's Anatomy

I passed a church sign a few weeks back that stated, "The Best Way to get Even is to Forget." I agree, but I had to scoff a little at that. I mean c'mon, who really forgets what made the deepest scars in their life? And if we could choose to forget these pains, wouldn't we all choose that? With all do respect to that church, I would like to make a slight edit to their sign. I think the best way to get even is to forgive.

If we hit back, our bruise doesn't magically clear up. If we just plain enjoy bringing pain upon someone who absolutely deserves it, it may make us human, but I also think it hardens our hearts a little bit. Getting revenge doesn't erase the past, in fact it keeps us on the same path that brought us face to face with whatever offended us.

These aren't profound words, but just as soon as I forgave those boys for showering me with their Shamoo-sized splashes, I've had this analogy in my head and had to spill it out somewhere.

Give up your grudges. Give them to God, let him even the scores. Give up trying to fix and protect yourself, let him heal your heart. Let him help you grow and learn and guide you through your pain. Let him set you free.

The Spirit of God, the Master, is on me because God anointed me.He sent me to preach good news to the poor, heal the heartbroken,Announce freedom to all captives, pardon all prisoners.God sent me to announce the year of his grace— a celebration of God's destruction of our enemies— and to comfort all who mourn,To care for the needs of all who mourn in Zion, give them bouquets of roses instead of ashes,Messages of joy instead of news of doom, a praising heart instead of a languid spirit.Rename them "Oaks of Righteousness" planted by God to display his glory.They'll rebuild the old ruins, raise a new city out of the wreckage.They'll start over on the ruined cities, take the rubble left behind and make it new.You'll hire outsiders to herd your flocks and foreigners to work your fields,But you'll have the title "Priests of God," honored as ministers of our God.You'll feast on the bounty of nations, you'll bask in their glory.Because you got a double dose of trouble and more than your share of contempt,Your inheritance in the land will be doubled and your joy go on forever. -Isaiah 61:1-7 (The Message).

lessons

I just celebrated a birthday--with my arms crossed, a pouty face, and stamping my feet. Well, not literally, but that's what I felt like inside. I don't like the thought of getting older. However, my Grandma forwarded me this email and it was eye-opening and perspective-changing. So I thought I would share it with you. Here it is:

Written By Regina Brett, 90 years old, of The Plain Dealer, Cleveland , Ohio

"To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me. It is the most-requested column I've ever written.

My odometer rolled over to 90 in August, so here is the column once more:

1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.

2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.

3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.

4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and parents will. Stay in touch.

5. Pay off your credit cards every month.

6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.

8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.

9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.

10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.

11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.

12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.

13. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.

15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks.

16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.

17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.

18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.

19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.

20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.

21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.

22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.

23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.

24. The most important sex organ is the brain.

25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.

26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words 'In five years, will this matter?'

27. Always choose life.

28. Forgive everyone everything.

29. What other people think of you is none of your business.

30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.

31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

32. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

33. Believe in miracles.

34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.

35. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.

36. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.

37. Your children get only one childhood.

38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.

39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.

40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's,we'd grab ours back.

41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.

42. The best is yet to come.

43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

44. Yield.

45. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift."

wrestling match

As promised...here it is!

When I was a little girl, on many occasions, I would attempt to fight with my older brother. Out of anger or playfulness, I foolishly thought I stood a chance. My brother is a big, brawny, dude and I was a skinny, awkward brat. You see the odds. I could get in, maybe...one good tackle (if I caught him by suprise). However, my brother had this secret move where he would extend his arm out in front of him and place his palm on my forhead. Since my arms weren't long enough, I would continue to move forward, forehead pressed tightly against his outstretched hand, swinging at him, but missing his stomach by a good 5 inches. He would hold me steady, I would swing at thin air. This would go on for a very long time, until I had no choice but to quit. Another important fact to remember is that if my brother had launched a full-fledged assault on me, I would be injured badly.

This is how I feel about wrestling with God, and His will. Which is what I keep doing over and over again. God loves me (as my older brother does), he knows that what I am fighting him for may not be the best for me right now, or ever. God can see future pain and wants to protect me from it. Trying to fight God is like punching air while he holds me steady until I am too exhausted to go on.

It comes down to trust. Trusting that God is a good god, who loves me enough to ruin my plans so he can implement a better one. THIS IS NOT EASY! When I want something badly, it is not easy for me to give that dream or desire to God and let him handle it, in his timing, on his terms. No way! I'm an independent woman. I'm smart and resourceful. I can make things happen for myself...right? All I have to do is tell God my plans...and he makes it happen...orrrrrr not.

God sees the result of each of our plans. In one of his writings, Max Lucado talks about how if God gave us everything we want it would be like a Father letting his child eat at every ice cream shop on the street. Yeah sure, it would be great.....until we were paralyzed in a Rocky Road coma.

Jeremiah 29:11: For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope."

Gods plans are good. He will let us fight until we are exhausted. He will hold us steady until we are still and allow God to be God.

Proverbs 3:5-6 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding.Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take."

Back to the skinny dork fighting the hot shot brother. If I would have taken one step back, and let go of my fight, I would have not felt the presure on my forehead, I would not have become exhausted. So if you are fighting and wrestling, and building your own path, I challenge you to let go. When you stop running in circles of the plans you are making, you can rest and wait for God to show you the one plan he has for you. Trust God that he is a good God, and a god with good plans for your life.

Proverbs 19:21- "You can make many plans, but the Lord's purpose will prevail."

A couple quotes I would like to share with you in closing:

"No I cannot count the ways You have made my life so blessed. All I know is that You came and made beauty of my mess" Aiyesha Woods, "Happy". When God messes up our plans, he is protecting us from making our own mess.

"But You say let it go, You say let it go. You say life is waiting for the one to lose control. You say you will be, everything I need. You said if I lose my life it's then I'll find my soul. You say let it go." -Tenth Avenue North, "Let it Go" Jesus said those who lose their life will gain it. Luke 17:33

"He had your days planned before there was time. You are thoughtfully considered, delightfully created, and loved beyond belief.
'Trust me.' God is a risky god! To bring us closer to Him, He is willing to let your foundations be shaken, your walls rattled, your pieces scattered. He was willing to flood the earth for re-growth, send a baby to be King of all, and sacrifice that very Son. He let Jesus take on our ugliest puzzle pieces so we wouldn’t be slaves to them. Ours is a god of surprises, and He asks us to trust in His master plan, crazy and painful as it may be.
Today, may all your expectations be frustrated, may all your plans be thwarted, may all your desires be withered into nothingness, that you may experience the powerlessness and poverty of a child and sing and dance in the love of God who is Father, Son, and Spirit. Amen." -my best friend, http://girlwithblog.blogspot.com You are loved by a God who will not rip you off.

blog-cation!!!

Sorry girls, I know I have been M.I.A. for a little while. I am cooking up a good new post so bear with me!

"Life Won't Kill You" -Jennifer Weiner

Ok, this is totally blog-cheating, especially since I haven't post squat in awhile (I have an idea in my head..I'm just waiting for it to bloom a little more!)

Anyways, check out this site. The article is written by the author of In Her Shoes, which is a favorite movie of mine--based on a book I haven't read. Anyways, it's a good read about girl*friends..which we all need, and we know how crucial they are to survival! (I should know, I just got back from a trip to see a few of my favorites!!!)

http://lifestyle.msn.com/relationships/simple-moments-of-joy/articleglamour.aspx?cp-documentid=18764660&gt1=32028

as if he were faithful

This blog is borrowed from one of my favorite authors, Max Lucado. I feel like betrayal is something each of us has faced, or will. And its one of those obstacles that hurts the worst. Not only is betrayal in itself bad enough, but the loss of trust, friendship, the shock, and anything else that piles on, can make dealing with this unbearable. Read on to see how Jesus dealt with it:

When betrayal comes, what do you do? Get out? Get angry? Get even? You have to deal with it some way. Let’s see how Jesus dealt with it.

Begin by noticing how Jesus saw Judas. “Jesus answered, ‘Friend, do what you came to do.’ ” (Matthew 26:50)

Of all the names I would have chosen for Judas it would not have been “friend.” What Judas did to Jesus was grossly unfair. There is no indication that Jesus ever mistreated Judas. There is no clue that Judas was ever left out or neglected. When, during the Last Supper, Jesus told the disciples that his betrayer sat at the table, they didn’t turn to one another and whisper, “It’s Judas. Jesus told us he would do this.”

They didn’t whisper it because Jesus never said it. He had known it. He had known what Judas would do, but he treated the betrayer as if he were faithful.

It’s even more unfair when you consider the betrayal was Judas’s idea. The religious leaders didn’t seek him, Judas sought them. “What will you pay me for giving Jesus to you?” he asked. (Matthew 26:15) The betrayal would have been more palatable had Judas been propositioned by the leaders, but he wasn’t. He propositioned them.

And Judas’s method … again, why did it have to be a kiss? (Matthew 26: 48–49)

And why did he have to call him “Teacher”? (Matthew 26:49) That’s a title of respect. The incongruity of his words, deeds, and actions—I wouldn’t have called Judas “friend.”

But that is exactly what Jesus called him. Why? Jesus could see something we can’t...
Jesus knew Judas had been seduced by a powerful foe. He was aware of the wiles of Satan’s whispers (he had just heard them himself). He knew how hard it was for Judas to do what was right.

He didn’t justify what Judas did. He didn’t minimize the deed. Nor did he release Judas from his choice. But he did look eye to eye with his betrayer and try to understand.

As long as you hate your enemy, a jail door is closed and a prisoner is taken. But when you try to understand and release your foe from your hatred, then the prisoner is released and that prisoner is you.

B-E-A-UTIFUL!

" I was so unique. Now I feel skin deep, I count on the make-up to cover it all. Crying myself to sleep 'cause I cannot keep their attention. I thought I could be strong, but it's killing me. Does someone hear my cry? I'm dying for new life. I want to be beautiful, make you stand in awe. Look inside my heart,and be amazed. I want to hear you say who I am is quite enough. Just want to be worthy of love, and beautiful." -Bethany Dillon, "Beautiful"

Don't get me wrong, I love dresses and make up and being pretty! But I do not like it when that is all that is seen, all that is known. I want my heart to be beautiful, and I want that to be seen and known as well. Can you relate? Have you wanted to be more than simply, a shell?

Following is an excerpt from Stasi Eldredge's book Captivating regarding this longing:

A Beauty Worth Pursuing

The desire to be beautiful is an ageless longing. Beauty has been extolled and worshiped and kept just out of reach for most of us. (Do you like having your picture taken? Do you like seeing those pictures later? How do you feel when people ask you your age? This issue of beauty runs deep!) For others, beauty has been shamed, used, and abused. Some of you have learned that possessing beauty can be dangerous. And yet—and this is just astounding—in spite of all the pain and distress that beauty has caused us as women, the desire remains. And it’s not just the desire for an outward beauty, but more—a desire to be captivating in the depths of who you are.

Cinderella is beautiful, yes, but she is also good. Her outward beauty would be hollow were it not for the beauty of her heart. That’s why we love her. In The Sound of Music, the Countess has Maria beat in the looks department, and they both know it. But Maria has a rare and beautiful depth of spirit. She has the capacity to love whiskers on kittens and mean-spirited children. She sees the handiwork of God in music and laughter and climbing trees. Her soul is Alive. And we are drawn to her.

Ruth may have been a lovely, strong woman, but it is to her unrelenting courage and vulnerability and faith in God that Boaz is drawn. Esther is the most beautiful woman in the land, but it is her bravery and her cunning, good heart that moves the king to spare her people. This isn’t about dresses and makeup . . . Don’t you recognize that a woman yearns to be seen and to be thought of as captivating? We desire to possess a beauty that is worth pursuing, worth fighting for, a beauty that is core to who we truly are. We want beauty that can be seen; beauty that can be felt; beauty that affects others; a beauty all our own to unveil.

My beautiful hula ladies!

princesses

One of my nicknames is "Princess." This is not because I'm filthy rich, live in a castle, wear a crown, or have an entourage of eligible princes asking for my hand in marriage. This nickname was given to me intentionally to remind me of my identity in Christ.

Romans 8:17 "And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering."

Think of Chronicles of Narnia--Edmond, Lucy, Susan and Peter are common children who stumble on the revelation that they are, in Azlan's world, kings and queens. You are, in God's world (which includes Heaven and Earth) royalty.

So..this is all pretty sweet when you think about it. However, sometimes I wonder what the big deal is that I'm a true princess..if everyone else is too? How can I be special, personally and deeply loved by God, if the person next to me--good, bad, pretty or ugly, is loved equally and passionately by God as well?

The answer came to me when my friend and I were having a serious discussion (which her husband found humorous) about which Disney princess was our favorite. We had to choose one. But it was tough. (I chose Ariel because she's fearless and hangs out in her swimsuit all day). But, at any moment my mind could have changed to Belle. You see, I love all of the princesses! They are each unique but I love them equally! (Yes, I'm 23 and I will never grow out of this).

I think this is how God's sees us! Just on a huger scale...

You see, as of 2007 God had made approximately 3,300,600,000 princesses. Each one beautiful. Each one different. Each one dearly loved by him. He pays attention to the details of each one's life, the way we know the stories of each Disney princess.

God can have a lot of favorites, but it doesn't decrease anyone's value. How many "favorite" songs do you have? What about movies? Bands? Actors? Shirts? Does one special person in your life make another special person less special? Probably not.

So whether you are an Aurora, Belle, Jasmine, Ariel, Mulan, Pocahontas, Cinderella, Snow White, Giselle, etc. your role in the royal family of God is unique, valued, and irreplaceable. YOU are his favorite!

1 John 5:1 "Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well"

Risky Business

Maybe I should start an exclusive John Eldredge blog. Well, here's another one from his book Wild at Heart (which I believe was written for guys, but girls can like it too).

God's love for us was a risk, one with life or death stakes. He asks us to take that same risk when he invites us to love him, and commands us to love others. I think God might be a bit of thrill-seeker, but also, I think he knows love is a risk worth taking. Read on....

God’s relationship with us and with our world is just that: a relationship. As with every relationship, there’s a certain amount of unpredictability, and the ever-present likelihood that you’ll get hurt. The ultimate risk anyone ever takes is to love, for as C. S. Lewis says, “Love anything and your heart will be wrung and possibly broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact you must give it to no one, not even an animal.” But God does give it, again and again and again, until he is literally bleeding from it all. God’s willingness to risk is just astounding—far beyond what any of us would do were we in his position. Trying to reconcile God’s sovereignty and man’s free will has stumped the church for ages. We must humbly acknowledge that there’s a great deal of mystery involved, but for those aware of the discussion, I am not advocating open theism. Nevertheless, there is definitely something wild in the heart of God.

just say it!

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.

-Ephesians 4:29

With approximately 6.1 billion people inhabiting the earth, how is it possible that so many people feel lonely? Why is it that a large number of people, of all ages and types, report feeling unloved?

The reason I'm writing this is because it's Valentine's Day. A day that seems to celebrate romance and magnify the lonely and unloved feelings of those lacking romance. I feel it is only appropriate to address this issue today.

My uneducated theory, (that has been tested in my brain alone) is that the reason members of our 6.1 billion population feel isolated, unlovable, unwanted, and a multitude of other negative emotions, is not because they are any of those things, its just that they don't know the truth.

Tell me, when was the last time an onslaught of compliments hurt anyone? Why is it that we hold back the things we want to tell people, the things we should tell them? I have no clue as to why, but I feel like we may be embarrassed or prideful, or feel silly about telling someone what we like about them. However, I feel like sacrificing the tiny bit of awkwardness to brighten someone's day may have a powerful effect. To say, "I love your shoes" "You have a beautiful smile" "I really appreciate you".....and on, and on, and on. You know you've thought those things, so here's your homework: just say it!

A kind word may erase feelings of being unloved. An invitation for coffee may thwart the beliefs that one is alone. The taking of someone's hand in comfort, may help them make it to the next day.

Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. -1 Thess. 5:11

The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit. -Prov. 18:21

To those Valentine's haters: Believe me, YOU ARE LOVED! By our heavenly Father, who watched his son be tortured and die so that you can live in Heaven forever, by Jesus who sweat blood but carried his own cross for you, by the Holy Spirit that soothes yours soul in times of greif, that lifts your heart when its too heavy to carry. To add to this list: Those who love God are called to love others, seek them out! God will bring friends, co-workers, bosses, teachers, waitresses, children, people into your life to show you how much you are cherished.

To all others: Please don't hold back one more minute. Tell your best friend you love them, and at the very least, smile at a lonely stranger. There is power in the good you do for someone else.

Happy Valentine's Day!

winter.

Look at the life of Jesus. Notice what he did. When Jesus touched the blind, they could see; all the beauty of the world opened before them. When he touched the deaf, they were able to hear; for the first time in their lives they heard laughter and music and their children’s voices. He touched the lame, and they jumped to their feet and began to dance. And he called the dead back to life and gave them to their families. Do you see? Wherever humanity was broken, Jesus restored it. He is giving us an illustration here, and there, and there again.

The coming of the kingdom of God restores the world he made. God has been whispering this secret to us through creation itself, every year, at springtime, ever since we left the Garden. Sure, winter has its certain set of joys. The wonder of snowfall at midnight, the rush of a sled down a hill, the magic of the holidays. But if winter ever came for good and never left, we would be desolate. Every tree leafless, every flower gone, the grasses on the hillsides dry and brittle. The world forever cold, silent, bleak. After months and months of winter, I long for the return of summer. Sunshine, warmth, color, and the long days of adventure together. The garden blossoms in all its beauty. The meadows soft and green. Vacation. Holiday. Isn’t this what we most deeply long for? To leave the winter of the world behind, what Shakespeare called “the winter of our discontent,” and find ourselves suddenly in the open meadows of summer? If we listen, we will discover something of tremendous joy and wonder.

The restoration of the world played out before us each spring and summer is precisely what God is promising us about our lives. Every miracle Jesus ever did was pointing to this Restoration, the day he makes all things new.

From Epic, by John Eldredge

Have you ever been through a storm in life and woke up one day realizing you've survived? After months and months of pain and turmoil, you can finally look back with a sigh of relief. Healing is a gradual process, it takes a long time and there's no quick fix. However, God seems to have a way of gently restoring us, in a way that once we do heal, we are able to look back at our battle, assess our wounds, and thank God that he was there to fight for us, and to carry us away from the battlefield for healing.

One of my current addictions is Grey's Anatomy. Last night I was watching an episode from Season 4 and I was struck but why Meredith (the main character) says in her narrative:

"Don't wonder why people go crazy. Wonder why they don't. In face of what we can lose in a day, in an instant, wonder what the hell it is that make us hold it together." -Meredith Grey

(Do you ever wonder why you haven't gone crazy in your life?)

Left to our own resources, we would not be able to hold it all together. We are human. From the time we are small children, we cry, we scream, we throw fits, we get scared, we fall apart, and we reach for someone who can keep us together. Someone who can make our world okay again.

If you are entering a "springtime" in your life, embrace it. Learn from the Winter. If you are in the middle of the blizzard, hold on, God will make sure you make it to see the snow melt.

the est.

"Somewhere in you is the you whom you were made to be. We need you to be you. We don't need the second anybody. We need the first you." -Rob Bell, "Velvet Elvis"

My niece and her best friend are in constant competition. They fight like cats. Oh no, you read it right, I did say her best friend. The one she loves and plays with, and misses when they're not together.

You know in high school, when a new girl moves in to town--whats the first thing you want to know about her? Is she pretty? Am I right?

Why is there tension when someone is wearing the same dress at the party? When a strange girl looks like she could be your sister? When she even shares your name? Its weird right?

Whats the deal?

The deal is, we girls want to be the "est."

It starts with best. Than it branches off into families of the prettiest and the cutest. The funniest. The smartest. The richest. The happiest. The sportiest. The craziest. The calmest. The boldest. The loudest. The shyest. The nicest. The skinniest. The est.

You may be asking yourself..what is so stinkin' important about this, and where the heck is she going with all this "est" business?

What I would ask you, is: Do you find yourself longing to be the "est" (c'mon, I know you have), and if so.... WHY?

I've thought about this for a few weeks now. From the tender age of 3 and 4, I've watched my niece and her friend struggle with this little girl battle. At the age of 23, I find myself fighting the same one.

The est gives us our role. Whether we like the role or not, we have one. It makes us stand out, it makes our character needed in this drama of life. Its who we are, and if someone take our "estness" from us, they take our spot. Its fragile. When we can't be the est, we are no longer needed. Our friends will love the new "est" girl and forget about us.

WRONG! This is a lie we girls have been tricked into believing.

God made one you. One unique [insert full name here] est. NO ONE can take your spot. Not in God's show. You were made for a specific purpose. Wired with special characteristics, talents, quirks, personalities, the list goes on. Not only that, but you weren't thrown together on an assembly line, your were skillfully crafted..in the image of Your Maker.

Genesis 1:27: So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.

Psalm 139: 13 & 14 says: You made my whole being; you formed me in my mother's body. I praise you because you made me in an amazing and wonderful way. What you have done is wonderful. I know this very well.

What this means for you and me is that we don't have to worry about being "the est." We already are. God has secured your role. Your role is secured in him and by, in your friends and family that love you no matter what. Yes, God's wonderful invention of love makes you his "est."

So, the next time you feel your competitive urge rise up in you, don't worry about if you have all that she has, be certain that you have what she doesn't.

1 Corinthians 12:14-18: Now the body is not made up of one part but of many. If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be.

find your heart.

Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. -Luke 12:34

According to the Scriptures, the heart can be troubled, wounded, pierced, grieved, even broken. How well we all know that. Thankfully, it can also be cheerful, glad, merry, joyful, rejoicing. The heart can be whole or divided—as in that phrase we often use, “Well, part of me wants to, but the other part of me doesn’t.” It can be wise or foolish. It can be steadfast, true, upright, stout, valiant. (All of these descriptions can be found by perusing the listings for the word heart in any concordance.) It can also be frightened, faint, cowardly, melt like wax. The heart can be wandering, forgetful, dull, stubborn, proud, hardened. Wicked and perverse. I think we know that as well.

Much to our surprise, according to Jesus, a heart can also be pure, as in, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God” (Matt. 5:8). And even noble, as in his story about the sower: “But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop” (Luke 8:15). The Bible sees the heart as the source of all creativity, courage, and conviction. It is the source of our faith, our hope, and of course, our love. It is the “wellspring of life” within us (Prov. 4:23), the very essence of our existence, the center of our being, the fount of our life.

There is no escaping the centrality of the heart. God knows that; it’s why he made it the central theme of the Bible, just as he placed the physical heart in the center of the human body. The heart is central; to find our lives, we must make it central again.

The heart is central. That I would even need to remind you of this only shows how far we have fallen from the life we were meant to live—or how powerful the spell has been. The subject of the heart is addressed in the Bible more than any other topic—more than “works” or “serve,” more than “believe” or “obey,” more than money and even more than worship. Maybe God knows something we’ve forgotten. But of course—all those other things are matters of the heart. Consider but a few passages:

Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. (Deut. 6:5) [Jesus called this the greatest of all the command-ments—and notice that the heart comes first.]

Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart. (1 Sam. 16:7)

Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (Luke 12:34)

Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. (Prov. 3:5)

Your word I have treasured in my heart, that I may not sin against You. (Ps. 119:11 NASB)

These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. (Matt 15:8)

For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. (2 Chron. 16:9)

--excerpts from Waking the Dead, by John Eldredge

simply love

Galatians 5:13-You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature ; rather, serve one another in love.

Mark 12:31-The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these."

Deep at the centre of my being there is an infinite well of love. I now allow this love to flow to the surface. It fills my heart, my body, my mind, my consciousness, my very being, and radiates out from me in all directions and returns to me multiplied. The more love I use and give, the more I have to give, the supply is endless. The use of love makes me feel good; it is an expression of my inner joy. Yes, I love myself, therefore I take loving care of my body. I lovingly feed it nourishing food and beverages. I lovingly groom it and dress it and my body lovingly responds to me with vibrant health and energy. I love myself, therefore I provide for myself a comfortable home, one that fills all my needs and is a pleasure to be in. I fill the rooms with the vibration of love so that all who enter, myself included, will feel this love and be nourished by it. I love myself, therefore I work at a job that I truly enjoy doing, one that uses all my talents and abilities, working with and for people that I love and love me, and earning a good income. I love myself, therefore, I behave in a loving way to all people for I know that that which I give out returns to me multiplied. I only attract loving people in my world for they are a mirror of what I am. I love myself, therefore I forgive and totally release the past and all past experiences and I am free. I love myself, therefore I love totally in the now, experiencing each moment as good and knowing that my future is bright, and joyous and secure, for I am a beloved child of the universe[I would say God] and the universe lovingly takes care of me now and forever more. And so it is.

-"I Love Myself Affirmations" by Louise Hay

Tears Of.

New Years Eve is usually a pretty fun night. Lots of games, good food, fun people, all of that sweet stuff. Mine was like that. It was perfect actually. However, in the early hours of 2009 I sat clinging to my best friends shoulder bawling like a baby.

Weird.

But not so weird. After a way fun party, I was blessed with the priviledge of ringing in 2009 with some really awesome people. And at about 2:30, we decided to pray for our upcoming year; our upcoming lives. The Holy Spirit was there amongst our group of five friends as we loved, cared, and lifted each other up. And when we said amen, all I could do was cry.

I don't know that I've ever cried full on tears of joy. But these were. Straight from the gut, these were tears of joy with the realization that I have a God that loves me so much.

They were also:

tears of thankfullness, to be surrounded by amazing friends.

tears of weariness, for a 2008 that was full of battles.

tears of love, because I felt it really deeply.

tears of brokeness, I needed it. God did it.

tears of sorrow for things lost, and tears of bliss for things gained.

....and probably tears of exhaustion...I'm not usually at 2 a.m. kind of girl.

Something in my soul released last night, through my eyes, into my mascara, on to my best friend's shoulder. I made no resolutions. But I did make a choice. One that I have made before, and one I will have to make everyday.

It was to let God have my life for 2009. Really have it. To take my world and shake it, bounce it, mold it, and to make my life what its meant to be. These words can't describe what I felt, and what I'm still feeling, knowing that my soul has taken one step closer to God, and one step closer to understanding his love.

I hope you welcomed 2009 in with a bang. I hope your heart feels renewal. I hope that in 2010 you will reflect on a good year. I hope you allow God to work in you every day.

And I hope you feel and see and experience his love so greatly that the only thing left to do is let it burst out of you in a big way!

Happy New Year!