Tuesday, October 31, 2006

Which Incredibles Character Are You?

So according to a few friends, when I talk I sound like Mrs. Incredible or Violet, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Incredible. Well, I happened upon this quiz and thought I would complete it for fun and here are the results.







Which Incredibles Character Are You?



So, according to the survey, I am Violet. The question I have for you is this...Which Incredibles Character Are You????

Monday, October 30, 2006

Place Your Life Before God

So here's what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life - your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life - and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.

I'm speaking to you out of deep gratitude for all that God has given me, and especially as I have responsibilities in relation to you. Living then, as every one of you does, in pure grace, it's important that you not misinterpret yourselves as people who are bringing this goodness to God. No, God brings it all to you. The only accurate way to understand ourselves is by what God is and by what he does for us, not by what we are and what we do for him.

~ Romans 12:1-3 (MSG)



I was asked to read this passage of scripture during church yesterday morning. I agreed right away...Romans 12 is one of my most favorite passages of scripture. It speaks of how we are supposed to live in this world as a Christian and about how to live a life full of God's grace and love.

When I began reading the first line of verse 3 (the second paragraph), I was completely blown away as I became overcome with emotion...I was not prepared for the fact of having to choke back tears and try to keep it together as I continued through the passage. That line is powerful in a variety of ways...


"I'm speaking to you out of deep gratitude for all that God has given me, and especially as I have responsibilities in relation to you."

I don't share enough about the deep gratitude I have in my heart for all that God has done and is doing in my life. Sometimes it's too easy to get caught up in the busyness of this world and life and to forget about who put you here and what His plans are for you. I don't think enough about the responsibilities I have in relation to the people I come into contact, in person or via the web. I have the responsibility to act in a Godly manner always...no matter the circumstances, how my day's going, how I feel, what might have been done, etc. I have the responsibility to be lifting the people around me up in prayer daily...to stand in the gap for them on a continual basis. I have the responsibility to always give them the benefit of the doubt, to not be judgmentalal hypocrite, to love them even when they don't really want me to, to be there for them even when they might give a cold shoulder, etc.

Do I do this on a daily basis? I am so guilty of not giving deserved gratitude enough and just not always being as responsible as I'm called to be in my relationships. I tend to sometimes 'play with fire'...before we moved I had an informal accountability partnership, but since the move, I haven't established this. I know I need to do it, but because I've been 'burned' times before, I have trouble letting down my guard and letting people in. I know I might do it here, but I find it easier to allow things to fly off my fingers, then sometimes speaking it in real flesh and blood.

Basically though, the fall's been a circus for us and I'm guilty of not always laying everything down at His feet...in surrender or as an offering. I have been too busy and/or consumed with things to truly sit back and embrace what He does for me.

I didn't necessarily realize how crucial it was to as my friend says, "Breathe in the breath of God", until my life entered a time where it seems there's been no 'breathing room' at all.

"The only accurate way to understand ourselves is by what God is and by what he does for us, not by what we are and what we do for him."

The hardest thing for me, is that when there's no 'breathing room', it seems I have trouble understanding things in general. I am thankful for the fact that, despite this, He's still there and speaks in whatever ways necessary. We have just went through a few major changes in our family...ones which will bring better health to our family and me a lot closer to finding the 'breathing room' I need to so desperately have. We have went from a home schooling family of three, to a home schooling family of one, with two in the school system. One child wanted into the school system and prayer consideration revealed that it was best for another to go as well.

Do I feel guilty about this? No, I feel a huge sense of relieve. Our kid's lights will shine strong for Christ in their mission-field and our family will become stronger and closer as a result of the decision. Most importantly...I will find the essential down time and 'breathing room' that I need to draw closer to Him and know more closely what He's doing and planning to...and as a result of that, gain a better understanding of myself. I know this has been long.Probablyly one of the first times I've actually sat down and the words flowed freely out of my brain. I love the remainder of Romans 12 as much as the part I've quoted and therefore am going leave you with that further 'food for thought'.



In this way we are like the various parts of a human body. Each part gets its meaning from the body as a whole, not the other way around. The body we're talking about is Christ's body of chosen people. Each of us finds our meaning and function as a part of his body. But as a chopped-off finger or cut-off toe we wouldn't amount to much, would we? So since we find ourselves fashioned into all these excellently formed and marvelously functioning parts in Christ's body, let's just go ahead and be what we were made to be, without enviously or pridefully comparing ourselves with each other, or trying to be something we aren't.

If you preach, just preach God's Message, nothing else; if you help, just help, don't take over; if you teach, stick to your teaching; if you give encouraging guidance, be careful that you don't get bossy; if you're put in charge, don't manipulate; if you're called to give aid to people in distress, keep your eyes open and be quick to respond; if you work with the disadvantaged, don't let yourself get irritated with them or depressed by them. Keep a smile on your face.

Love from the center of who you are; don't fake it. Run for dear life from evil; hold on for dear life to good. Be good friends who love deeply; practice playing second fiddle.

Don't burn out; keep yourselves fueled and aflame. Be alert servants of the Master, cheerfully expectant. Don't quit in hard times; pray all the harder. Help needy Christians; be inventive in hospitality.

Bless your enemies; no cursing under your breath. Laugh with your happy friends when they're happy; share tears when they're down. Get along with each other; don't be stuck-up. Make friends with nobodies; don't be the great somebody.

Don't hit back; discover beauty in everyone. If you've got it in you, get along with everybody. Don't insist on getting even; that's not for you to do. "I'll do the judging," says God. "I'll take care of it."

Our Scriptures tell us that if you see your enemy hungry, go buy that person lunch, or if he's thirsty, get him a drink. Your generosity will surprise him with goodness. Don't let evil get the best of you; get the best of evil by doing good.

~ Romans 12:4-21 (MSG)

Thursday, October 26, 2006

Normal.......

So I was talking to a friend about the fact I feel like an alien in the land of normalcy sometimes and just wish I could be more normal. My friend's answer was this...Yeah, but what is normal? Type in 'aliens' at www.biblegateway.com and you get some interesting stuff...


Some highlights:

Ephesians 2:19

Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow
citizens with God's people and members of God's household,

Hebrews 11:13
All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not
receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a
distance. And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on
earth.

1 Peter 2:11
Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to
abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul.

So bless you as you sort it out. If you find an answer to your question
of how to be normal, KEEP IT TO YOURSELF...

;-D


After reading that, I'm okay with being perceived as an alien in the land of normalcy...I don't ever want to try and become 'normal' in the world's eyes. The conclusion I came to is that I am perfectly 'normal' in His eyes and those are the only eyes which matter. I received this poem this summer and thought it would be a fitting close to this post.

One side note though...I'm really thankful that God allows us to become part of a community who become friends and essentially family, that walk alongside each other. It's a real blessing!


TO EACH HIS OWN...

"Instead of a gem, or even a flower, cast the gift of a lovely thought...into the heart of a friend."

I cannot change the way I am,
I never really try,
God made me different and unique,
I never ask him why.

If I appear peculiar,
There's nothing I can do,
You must accept me as I am,
As I've accepted you.

God made a casting of each life,
Then threw the old away,
Each child is different from the rest,
Unlike as night from day.

So often we will criticize,
The things that others do,
But, do you know, they do not think,
The same as me and you.

So God in all his wisdom,
Who knows us all by name,
He didn't want us to be bored,
That's why we're not the same

~Author Unknown~

Tuesday, October 24, 2006

God Bless the Broken Road

I set out on a narrow way, many years ago
Hoping I would find true love, along the broken road
But I got lost a time or two
wipe my brow and kept pushing through
I couldn't see how every sign, pointed straight to you

Every long lost dream, led me to where you are
Others who broke my heart, they were like northern stars
Pointing me on my way, into your loving arms
This much I know is true
That God blessed the broken road
That led me straight to you

I think about the years I spent, just passing through
I'd like to have the time I lost, and give it back to you
But you just smile and take my hand
You've been there you understand
It's all part of a grander plan, that is coming true

Every long lost dream, led me to where you are
Others who broke my heart, they were like northern stars
Pointing me on my way, into your loving arms
This much I know, know is true
That God blessed the broken road
That led me straight to you

Now I'm just rolling home
Into your loving arms
This much I know, know is true
That God blessed the broken road
That led me straight to you
Yes, God blessed the broken road
That led me straight to you


**This song has been in my head for a long time...it reminds me of the journey my life has went on and what the prize was at the end of the winding and broken road. Mr. Cinder is a present straight from God's hands and an unexplainable blessing!**

Monday, October 23, 2006

20 Ways to Maintain a Healthy Level of Insanity

**So I'm not feeling really creative lately...this gave me a really good laugh and I thought it would be a good post for me...kind of picked my brain big time!**

1. At Lunch Time, Sit In Your Parked Car With Sunglasses On And Point A Hair Dryer At Passing Cars. See If They Slow Down.

2. Page Yourself Over The Intercom. Don't Disguise Your Voice.

3. Every Time Someone Asks You To Do Something, Ask If They Want Fries with That.

4. Put Your Garbage Can On Your Desk And Label It "In."

5. Put Decaf In The Coffee Maker For 3 Weeks. Once Everyone Has Gotten Over Their Caffeine Addictions, Switch to Espresso.

6. In The Memo Field Of All Your Checks, Write "For Smuggling Diamonds"

7. Finish All Your sentences with "In Accordance With The Prophecy".

8. Don't Use Any Punctuation.

9. As Often As Possible, Skip Rather Than Walk.

10. Order a Diet Water Whenever You Go Out To Eat; With A Serious Face.

11. Specify That Your Drive-Through Order Is "To Go."

12. Sing Along At The Opera

13. Go To A Poetry Recital And Ask Why The Poems Don't Rhyme

14. Put Mosquito Netting Around Your Work Area And Play Tropical Sounds All Day.

15. Five Days In Advance, Tell Your Friends You Can't Attend Their Party Because You're Not In The Mood.

16. Have Your Co-workers Address You By Your Wrestling Name, Rock Bottom.

17. When The Money Comes Out The ATM, Scream "I Won!, I Won!"

18. When Leaving The Zoo, Start Running Towards The Parking Lot, Yelling "Run For Your Lives, They're Loose!!"

19. Tell Your Children Over Dinner. "Due To The Economy, We Are Going To Have To Let One Of You Go."

20. And The Final Way To Keep A Healthy Level Of Insanity.......Send This E-mail To Someone To Make Them Smile.

It's Called! Therapy.

Friday, October 20, 2006

WWJD

Asleep In The Light
by Keith Green

Do you see, do you see, all the people sinking down,
Don't you care, don't you care, are you gonna let them drown,
How can you be so numb, not to care if they come,
You close your eyes and pretend the job's done.

Oh Bless me Lord, bless me Lord, you know it's all I ever hear,
No one aches, no one hurts, no one even sheds one tear,
But He cries, He weeps, He bleeds, and He cares for your needs,
And you just lay back and keep soaking it in, oh, can't you see it's such sin?

Cause He brings people to your door,
And you turn them away, as you smile and say,
God bless you, be at peace, and all Heaven just weeps,
Cause Jesus came to your door, you've left Him out on the streets.

Open up, open up, and give yourself away,
You've seen the need, you hear the cry, so how can you delay,
God's calling and you're the one, but like Jonah you run,
He's told you to speak, but you keep holding it in,
Oh, can't you see it's such sin?

The world is sleeping in the dark,
That the church can't fight, cause it's asleep in the light,
How can you be so dead, when you've been so well fed,
Jesus rose from the grave, and you, you can't even get out of bed,
Oh, Jesus rose from the dead, come on, get out of your bed.

How can you be so numb, not to care if they come,
You close your eyes and pretend the job's done,
You close your eyes and pretend the job's done,
Don't close your eyes, don't pretend the job's done.
Come away, come away, come away with Me, My love,
Come away, from this mess, come away with Me, My love.


As I leave for my weekend, my head is full of so much stuff. What I came back with in my head this summer, was that I need to be out in my community more. I need to love the mission-field I've been placed in and do all I can to help them. Our church has already done more than one community church project since the beginning of September and I know that God has much more exciting things planned...I can't wait. Keith Green speaks so much truth in this song...I need to open my eyes more than ever before. If we are going to love this world how Christ would have, then we truly have to see the world through His eyes...have to feel what others are feeling...have to put ourselves out there to help and love them.


"You see this is where I quite heartedly disagree, the cup is not half full if we can say 'I am good' to another's 'suffering'. That's not half full at all, that others having emptiness to our cup runneth over. Time we started pouring some drinks." (societyvs)


I read this quote this morning and I agree with it 100%. As I commented...if we are fortunate to have our cups even half full, if not running over, then it's time the contents of the cup quit being hoarded and instead shared around. Things would be a lot better in this world if, instead of sitting on the sidelines trying to protect what we had, we just shared it around to help everyone's cup to be full...that's living a life of love and really in my mind, what the call of the 'church' is to be.

I'm as guilty as the next person about feeling the fear of the unknown. I am trying hard and will continue to begin living this life for those around me, instead of for me. We need to begin pouring some drinks for those around us and helping people to get their cups full as well. That's community and love in the purest form...WWJD...He'd be out there pouring drinks and filling people up!

Wednesday, October 18, 2006

Be Quiet and Listen...

I read a devotion Friday, as I was frantically and mentally going through everything I needed to get done, before I could leave to go to a retreat. At the time I read it, I was surrounded by lots of kids and people talking and laughing, so I put it aside until I could find some quiet.

I ended up finding some quiet on Saturday morning and was able to sit and listen. What brought me to this point? The following question was posed in my devotional book...


"Be silent for more than a moment and listen to what God is speaking to you right now, at this very hour of time. If we recognize that He sometimes even speaks through silence, what is His message to you now?"


So, what was His message to me? A really mixed bag, but a message which spoke a lot of truth and love into my heart. Here's just a sample...


~ You need to slow down and take time to breathe me in, meet with me and truly love me.

~ You need to be true to yourself and who you are. Don't be ashamed or question who I've created you to be or where I've placed you in this world.

~ Know that you are precious and loved in my eyes. You have a very special purpose for being here and it's not completed. It will continue to evolve and grow through the years.

~ Don't lose hope - stay strong in me and never forget that I have a plan in all things - I'm with you every step of the way.

~ Live life through my eyes.

~ You need to give me control of everything.

~ Know and trust that I ultimately know what's best for you.

~ Everything will be revealed in my perfect timing.


It was an amazing time...I didn't say a word for almost an hour and just sat, listening to the wind blow the Autumn leaves, breathing in the crisp fall air and simply waiting in silence to hear the whispers and promptings of God.
So, I ask you today...Is He speaking to you too?


"Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth."
~ Psalm 46:10

Wednesday, October 11, 2006

Friendly-Fire...Not-So-Friendly-Fire

It's so hard to see someone you love beaten down, defeated, basically with a crushed spirit. You feel really helpless to know what to do to help them (at least that's how I feel in that situation). Especially when it seems they have inadvertently been dragged into a 'battle' which they didn't even choose to be a part of. Just kinda got 'hit' in the so-called 'friendly-fire' which went on between the people around them.

Proverbs 18:14,19,21
A man's cheerful heart gives him strength when he is sick. You can't keep going if you have a broken spirit...A broken friendship is harder to deal with than a city that has high walls around it. And arguing is like the locked gates of a mighty city...Your tongue has the power of life and death. Those who love to talk will eat the fruit of their words.

As I've thought about this, I've been led to many scripture passages...these are just a few of them. They talk about if the people around you are truly friends, then they will be there with you through all things. They'll see through the smoke-screens and know who you truly are in character and spirit, despite all the things which might fly around. They say that you need to have a cheerful heart...it's good medicine and helps to make you healthy. That a broken spirit will dry you up...that you can't keep on going in this life if your spirit is broken.

Despite reading all these words, I still have to admit that it's hard sometimes. As I walk alongside this very special person, I see how crushed they are and how it is affecting their spirit. But I understand, considering the circumstances, as to why they are at the place they are. There are going to be times when we do go into the valleys and places where we are battled and tested.

Proverbs 17:17,22,27
A friend loves at all times. He is there to help when trouble comes...A cheerful heart makes you healthy. But a broken spirit dries you up...Anyone who has knowledge controls his words. A man who has understanding is not easily upset.

I guess the thing to remember is this...we might not be able to truly know where people are at each stage in life. But we can walk alongside them despite that...be the true friend they need us to be. We can encourage them with the words of God's love and peace in all circumstances and situations. We can be lifting them up in prayer and letting them know that we'll be there for them in whatever way they need us to be.

Psalm 34:17-20
Godly people cry out, and the Lord hears them. He saves them from all of their troubles. The Lord is close to those whose hearts have been broken. He saves those whose spirits have been crushed. Anyone who does what is right may have many troubles. But the Lord saves him from all of them. The Lord watches over all of his bones. Not one of them will be broken.

You know, tonight I went to prayer with an awesome group of friends. I haven't been attending these prayer nights the past month...it was so refreshing and uplifting to be back with everyone again. The scripture below was one of the passages of scripture read tonight as we started. It speaks so much truth as to what the church needs to be to each other and those in the world around them. We need to live a life which overflows with love and with a love that never quits growing. We need to be an unified front who comes together in love and works together for the common purpose of selflessly serving the Lord throughout every aspect of our lives. That's what this life needs to be...not one that's filled with 'friendly-fire' and 'not-so-friendly fire' attacks that come without warning and a lot of times, with no real and concreted purpose. We need to get our priorities straight and start living this life with the realization of what's truly important. Really, until we begin doing this on a daily basis, I don't think you'll ever truly see unification in our churches and in our world!

Philippians 1:3-11
I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy. I am happy because you have joined me in spreading the good news. You have done so from the first day until now. I am sure that the One who began a good work in you will carry it on until it is completed. That will be on the day Christ Jesus returns. It is right for me to feel this way about all of you. I love you with all my heart. I may be held by chains, or I may be standing up for the truth of the good news. Either way, all of you share in God's grace together with me. God can give witness that I long for all of you. I love you with the love that Christ Jesus gives. I pray that your love will grow more and more. And let it be based on knowledge and understanding. Then you will be able to know what is best. You will be pure and without blame until the day Christ returns. You will be filled with the fruit of right living produced by Jesus Christ. All of those things bring glory and praise to God.

Tuesday, October 10, 2006

Thanksgiving

So, Thanksgiving for our family this year was as untraditional as you could probably of dreamed. What did the week leading up to and the weekend hold for us this year?


- A late night call saying my mom was really sick and being rushed in the middle of the night to hospital via ambulance.

- A really bumpy journey for my mom through the week as she fought her way back to stable health.

- ICU, Observation, various waiting rooms, hospital food, fellowship with other families dealing with similar or worse situations than us, etc.

- Hungry Man dinners cooked in a hospital hostel for Thanksgiving dinner.

- Friends who wrapped around us in prayer from our home which we were away from and also from our old home where we were.

- The overwhelming presence of God's love and guidance as we walked this journey.


I think the thing which I brought away this Thanksgiving was the fact that we sometimes place way too much value in the 'traditional' aspects of holidays, etc. We don't take enough time to just truly breathe and be thankful for the blessings we have. We sometimes seem overly concerned with all the things which are supposed to happen every year, because they always have. Really, as long as you are together with your loved ones, then it doesn't matter one bit whether you do things conventional or not...it's just a blessing that you are able to celebrate together rather than apart.

We were fortunate to have friends invite us to spend a couple of nights with them, so as to have a 'break' from the hospital. It's a really special friendship...they are our former pastor and we worked together, but now are moving forward in friendship, despite the fact we live in different cities. They opened their home to us and didn't expect that we would be up to 'socializing', but they simply wanted to embrace us with friendship and love...they truly succeeded in this one!

We were able to attend church with them on Sunday and hear the Lord speak through our friend. He gave a really awesome Thanksgiving message and it spoke deeply. He asked a very poignant question..."Do we have thankful hearts OR do we have a complaining spirit?" Then he went on to say that our natural inclination is to be selfish, especially when things don't go your way. He talked about how God wants us to be thankful in all circumstances, but we truly can't do this if we are living with a selfish heart...if our our focus is on ourselves.

I walked away with the scriptures he quoted in my memory bank. They really spoke deeply in terms of where my focus needed to be, despite all that was going on.


"Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you."
~ Philippians 4:4-9

"Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."
~ 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18


I know how I need to live my life and where my eyes need to be placed, but this past week, I realized just how hard that sometimes is. I realized how selfish I was, especially when it comes to having my mom by my side for as long as possible. You see, I have lots I still want to do with my mom and I know that she got a lot of life left to live and I found out how hard it is when you truly have absolutely no control over what the outcome will be.

Over at northVUs site http://northvus.blogspot.com/2006/10/being-negative.html, Jollybeggar wrote a post about Thanksgiving. I still have to write my list of things I'm thankful for, but thought, even though for a lot of you Thanksgiving is next month, you might want to read and think about what you are thankful for right now.

For me...right now, I'm just overwhelmingly thankful to have my mom alive and back home. Each moment you get to have with your love ones is precious...don't waste it, squander it, take it for granted that it will be there tomorrow...we don't know what this life holds. We simply need to try and live each moment as it's our last, relish and make all the memories we can!

Thursday, October 05, 2006

Hairy...

CAME TO MY RESCUE
(Hillsong United)

Falling on my knees in worship
Giving all I am to seek Your face
Lord all I am is Yours

My whole life I place in your hands
God of mercy humbled I bow down
In your prescence at your throne

I called You answered
And you came to my rescue
And I want to be where You are

In my life, be lifted high
In our world, be lifted high
In our love, be lifted high


It's been a hairy week...I planned on posting these lyrics at the beginning of it, but am just gaining computer access long enough to do it now. They have been singing through my head and really speak a lot of truth as to what our focus should be.

I'm really too tired right now to get into the nitty gritties of what's going on. Long story short...we're not at home due to a family emergency and don't quite know where our Thanksgiving weekend will be spent. The one thing I do know is this...where ever we end up, it will truly be a day of thanksgiving for more than one reason. This scripture says it all tonight...


Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
~ Philippians 4:6