Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Through the questions.
Green = Growth
I want/need/desire/expect to grow in this next season.
I want to take on the adventures.
And with energy.
And with people that I love and that love me.
I think that's my biggest struggle right now.
Erickson's Intimacy vs. Isolation. He is so right on. Right now in life is exactly about figuring this out. To what extent am I developing significant, intimate relationships? Who really loves and understands me? To what extent am I willing to reach out for connection verses waiting for someone else to initiate or verses retreating to my home in isolation? Tough questions. Yes, I am develoipng friendships and yes, my life is meaningful. But I do still want a best best friend who really understands me to my core. And to what extent can I even expect that from a human relationship as opposed to need to seek that in my relationship with God? Hmm.
Father, There are so many questions.
Please help me trust and worship not in spite of the questions, but through the questions, Father.
I know that You are the Good Father and that You have given us guidelines, instructions, words, letter because You love us. You want Your best for us, even more thatn we do (and yes, that is still hard to believe and accept, still working on it).
Through the questions.
Through the questions.
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
gotta love it
Well the truth I know today is that God is definitely working in me. I'm reminded tonight of Philippians 1:6. The assurance that our God who began a good work in me will carry it on to completion. Love it. Thanks so much, Dad!
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Ephesus-ians
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
You find it in the middle of the armor of God passage in Ephesians 6. Duh. Don't know why I hadn't known all along that's where I would find it. Struggle, battle, armor. It's all tied together.
You know, it's always interesting to explore the context of any Scripture that you hold dearly. Because you want to know the story behind the story. I would like to know about who these Ephesians were. What was their deal? I mean, Paul sure had a lot to say to them. Just reviewing through the whole book this morning, I realize how many different great bits and pieces this letter contains.
And you know, at first glance, it seems like a lot of the bits and pieces are really random. But I'd like to explore and discover the links. The connections here. So I'm going to be camping in Ephesians for a bit. I'll keep you posted.
Katherine as Celebrity
Reese Weatherspoon's Elle Woods in Legally Blonde
Rachel Green from Friends, and
the character of Jacks in Love and Other Disasters.
Yes, definitely. .
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
so beautiful
Oh Father, Thank You so much for the beautiful beautiful people You've blessed me with. I ask that as I go forward to follow You into this new season of ministry that You would help me to trust. To trust You as I develop new relationships and potentially reconnect with old friends. Father, Please prepare the way. May we each be mindful each day of the amazing ways You have blessed us and the preciousness of the lives in which we get to share. I'm so thankful You've blessed us with community. Thanks for knowing us better than we know ourselves. You are too good. Thank You.
Friday, July 3, 2009
Joy in Peace
http://my.ekklesia360.com/Clients/waspPopup.php?theFile=http://freeport.crossroadscn.com/media/2008-12-07-1045-joy-is-found-in-contentment.flv&w=450&h=315
more than just friends
But let's cut to the chase. There are friends. And then there are friends. Real friends. True friends. Laugh with you out loud at you because you are just so real with each other. Make you grin from ear to ear just because you start to realize how special they are friends. Like you find yourself smiling to yourself or laughing at an inside joke even when it's just you and it's all because of your friend.
I love those friends. Love them. Can't live without friends like those. Which then begs the question: whichout such friends, is one truly living?
Thursday, July 2, 2009
On marriage
And then I wonder, how could you possibly go about finding this person without some serious guidance and some help? Anybody with me here? I mean, I feel like I’ve got a pretty great support team. Actually, that’s under appreciating them in even saying that. I have a rockin’ great group of people who love me and want to see me succeed and want me to end up with a fabulous man in a strong healthy growing loving forever-lasting marriage. And I have my God leading me. I mean, I’ve got our Dad on my side!
So then how do people even begin to start and feel at all confidence in this search of theirs if they don't have a great dad or role model or entire cheerleading/wisdom team on their side? Man, no wonder so many people don’t believe in marriage, so many fail. We are so broken and need a leader. And I mean like a really good leader. The Leader.
Oh my Father, I am so fabulously ridiculously glad to have you on my side. Thank You. For everything. You are the best.
faithful always
So my friend Jennie lives in Sudan. She writes:
So you now know what happened this month, but how has the month been? Honestly, quite difficult. Who wants to admit that? Blech. It reeks of weakness. :) Ah, but weak I am. Very weak... Aren't you glad that even though our emotions can - and do - cycle, our Father is forever faithful to us?
Oh my, I am sooo glad! I know most girls are emotional creations. And I tend to be a really emotional even for a girl. But our Father is not dependent on how we feel. Praise Jesus. Praise Jesus!
I’ve been thinking about marriage a lot lately. And when you consider marriage. A promise of lifelong faithfulness. Faithful to love and serve your partner each day, in and out, even when you don’t feel like it. Wow, we sure have a good example in our Father. But wow, what a tall order. Thank You, Father, for being faithful.
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Dietrich on Community
"Whoever loves their dream of Christian community more than Christian community itself will become the destroyer of every Christian community, no matter how honest, earnest, and sacrifical their intentions may be."
Gettin Dirty
http://www.esa-online.org/images/mmDocument/PRISM%20Archive/Features%202009/MayJun09LearningLifeLasts.pdf