"If the world were merely seductive, that would be easy. If it were merely challenging, that would be no problem. But I arise in the morning torn between a desire to improve the world and a desire to enjoy the world. This makes it hard to plan the day."
E.B. White made this remark. E.B. White, Pulitzer Prizer winner and author of such children's classics as Charlotte's Web and Stuart Little. Interesting.
I've loved this quote from the first time I heard it from a friend in college. It so captures the pull, the tension I feel so often in my life.
Monday, November 9, 2009
Sunday, September 13, 2009
kindred spirits
It's so beautiful to connect with a kindred spirit. This week has been especially beautiful in this way. Because I met Carrie.
Carrie and I initially met via email. We were both looking for a roommate. I've been in Baltimore this week for Care Net's National Pregnancy Center Conference. Carrie and I were both looking to split the cost of a hotel room by finding a roommate. And boy, am I so glad we found each other!
Carrie and I understand each other. We're both passionate people. Both searching for the truth. Both wanting to reach out with love and hope to women who find themselves in unplanned pregnancies. Wanting to strive for organizational excellence in our nonprofits. Desiring God's best for our lives and the lives of those around us. Both wanting to love our God and the people around us with not just our hearts, but our minds and souls, our bodies and our whole complete selves. Both praying for continued healing in our lives, and trusting our Father to continue using us as we humbly continue to follow.
The best thing here at Conference is definitely the people. People who understand the ministry. Who are living the ministry. So beautiful.
Thank You, God, for kindred spirits.
Carrie and I initially met via email. We were both looking for a roommate. I've been in Baltimore this week for Care Net's National Pregnancy Center Conference. Carrie and I were both looking to split the cost of a hotel room by finding a roommate. And boy, am I so glad we found each other!
Carrie and I understand each other. We're both passionate people. Both searching for the truth. Both wanting to reach out with love and hope to women who find themselves in unplanned pregnancies. Wanting to strive for organizational excellence in our nonprofits. Desiring God's best for our lives and the lives of those around us. Both wanting to love our God and the people around us with not just our hearts, but our minds and souls, our bodies and our whole complete selves. Both praying for continued healing in our lives, and trusting our Father to continue using us as we humbly continue to follow.
The best thing here at Conference is definitely the people. People who understand the ministry. Who are living the ministry. So beautiful.
Thank You, God, for kindred spirits.
Saturday, August 29, 2009
on insecurities
So I'm visiting this new (to me) church in the Quad Cities. The minister is midway through a message series on emotions that can cripple. Last night's focus was on insecurity. How very appropriate. As I enter this new season of life and ministry, I am faced with new situations. New people, new places, the unknown. And the unknown inevitably brings with it some level of anxiety because you're not sure what to expect. A wave of initial insecurity. Having to remember who you are, whose you are.
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
advocate
I want to be an advocate for strong, faithful, passionate marriage relationships.
Relationships are crumbling all around me. Promises broken. Hearts broken. Hopes shattered. Dreams torn in half. It hurts so much to watch. To be near it all. And I ponder how that if it causes me so much pain, how much greater that pain must be for those involved.
How can I work to affirm the marriage relationships in my life? My family. My friends. My neighbors. I've several times been told I possess the gift of encouragement and exhortation. So now I seek to leverage that gift to work as an affirmer, an advocate, a cheerleader, a support.
Relationships are crumbling all around me. Promises broken. Hearts broken. Hopes shattered. Dreams torn in half. It hurts so much to watch. To be near it all. And I ponder how that if it causes me so much pain, how much greater that pain must be for those involved.
How can I work to affirm the marriage relationships in my life? My family. My friends. My neighbors. I've several times been told I possess the gift of encouragement and exhortation. So now I seek to leverage that gift to work as an affirmer, an advocate, a cheerleader, a support.
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Through the questions.
Taken from a personal journal dated Sunday, March 30, 2008. A year and a half ago, and yet still so relevant today. I think this expresses the searching and questions and desires of many young single Christian women. Maybe someone reading today will be able to connect. And so I share...
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.
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
So I found an old journal of mine tonight randomly. From a year and a half ago. So intriguing. I'll share more later, but I just needed to say how amazing it is that God can work through the weirdest things. Mysterious ways, I guess is what they say.
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!
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
So for the last couple weeks, I've just kept coming back to this verse about our real struggle, right? It's one of those passages where you pretty much have it memorized, but don't actually have any idea where you've read it in the Bible. Can anybody else relate here? So I tracked it down the other day.
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.
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.
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