"The Truth must Dazzle Gradually" ~ Emily Dickenson

Friday, December 25, 2009

Christmas Morning

"The Adoration of the Wise Men"
by
Cecil F. Alexander

"Know ye not that lowly baby
Was the bright and morning star,
He who came to light the Gentiles,
And the darken'd Isles afar?



And we too may seek His cradle,
There our hearts' best treasures bring,
Love, and Faith, and true devotion,
For our Savior, God, and King."

Thursday, December 17, 2009

Rearranging Books

Someone recently told me that rearranging books is very therapeutic. I wonder at this logic, since it seems to take me forever to move my books. Once I have them a certain way, I leave them like that... for years! The more I know about the authors, the more fun I have puting them on the shelf. Dickens goes next to Hawthorne - But I think that they would fight so I might let alphebatizing slide and let Hemingway mediate. Can you imaging a fight between Dickens and Hawthorne being refereed by Hemingway? Ridiculous. Hemingway would have them wrestling before a bell could toll. Whitman would probably have to come in and calm everyone down by talking about leaves and grass. Or I could just let Louisa May Alcott distract everyone with her tales of long, fatal love chases. (Thats why I keep the female authors on a seperate shelf - Too racey and distracting for the likes of the Old Man at sea and too improprietous at the House of Seven Gables.) However, I keep Grace Livingston Hill with the ladies, because the men would make fun of her for writing the same book with different settings 32 times. They all agree upon my 'special' collection having a shelf of their own; Lewis, MacDonald, Chesterton, and Sheldon - to name a few.

I'm not quite sure how therapeutic this type of arranging is, all I know is that my books need dusting!

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

December Ramblings

DECEMBER 1st
A new month... a new day...
So much potential
So much to do...
Why is it that I always want to read what I don't have to?
Have to read - "Macroeconomics"
Want to read - "The Art of War" &" Phantastes."
Today, I am thankful for the decent distractions college life presents and the beautiful Seattle city lights.
Coffee and Seattle are synonyms.

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

The Wind in His Fists


... LET GO ...

... LET THE WIND BLOW ...

... WHO KNOWS WHERE YOU WILL FIND YOURSELF...

Remember...
You're definitely not alone.
He controls the wind.

Monday, November 9, 2009

Daunting Monday


This picture is so ridiculously thought provoking, I had to share it!
I am challenged by it...
It reminds me of life and adventure,
of sadness and hope,
of God and His awesomeness... Daunting, isn't it?
I encourage you to take a minute and just be with God today.
As I was reminded this weekend... we are 'BEings' not 'DOings'

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Monday, October 19, 2009

Time Worth Taking


Time...

We're always asking for
More... Slower... Faster... Longer... Stop...
.
..
...

Breathe. Feel your heart beat.

You can't change the passing of time any more than you can give back the last breathe you just took.

So embrace the time you have. Ask yourself if getting so stressed out ~ over the littlest things ~ is really worth. Have another cup of tea.

"So teach us to number our days, That we may present to You a heart of wisdom." ~ Psalm 90:12

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

The Joy of Being Alone


Today
I miss Hawaii.
It probably doesn’t help that it has been very warm today and I was just listening to Jack Johnson.

If I’d have been there any longer I would have either started going stir crazy or I would’ve begun to adjust to the island lifestyle.
(It is hard to imagine as anyone who knows me will understand that I have a hard time sitting still... ever!)

I miss the Hawaiian culture.
I love the importance they have on children and family.
I love the colors of Oahu - People – Clothes – Flowers – The Sea! Amazing
I love that even with all the tourists there are always secluded places where one can feel completely alone.

The good kind of alone... Just me and God.
This kind of alone is joy.
Joy like...
...warm sand between your toes
...fragrant plumeria on the breeze
...sun kisses

(See why I miss Hawaii?)

In my crazy busy life, its easy to push God into the corners of the day instead of remembering that He belongs in the center.

Since I'm not running off to a secluded Island anytime soon,
I shall endeavor to find secluded places in the crowds.
Places where I can just BE...
Alone...
Just me and God.

Tuesday, September 8, 2009

Wisdom


It is September 8th!

This morning I drank my cup of coffee, ate my oatmeal, and read Proverbs 8.

This stood out to me from the Message...

"My mouth
chews
and savors
and relishes
TRUTH -
I can't stand the taste of evil!
You'll only hear TRUE and right words
from my mouth;
not one syllable will be twisted or skewed.
You'll recognize this as TRUE-
You with open minds;
TRUTH-ready minds will see it at once."

What does it mean to have a "truth-ready mind"? How can I have one?

According to Proverbs 8, Wisdom holds the key. In our relativistic, truth bending, over tolerant society, we need to chew, savor, and relish His Word. That is where we must begin to walk in Wisdom's Way and understand how to delight in His Truth.

Saturday, August 29, 2009

I was a Neighborhood Party Crasher


A couple of weeks ago I was walking around Wallingford (Just a hop and skip over the Fremont bridge from SPU), when I happened upon people having a bar-b-que in the middle of the street. I had stumbled upon one of the hundreds of "National Night Out" block parties!!! As the neighborhood children ran around climbing trees, peopled talked, and got to meet their neighbors. Food was shared amongst strangers and anyone happening to pass (including myself). Between the bagpipe band and accordion player, the fire department sent a truck over and gave kids a tour. These people know how to encourage neighborhood safety.

This national party happens annually, all because one man had the idea that throwing a block party would help people get to know their neighbors - creating safer neighborhoods!

After all, isn't being a good neighbor what following Jesus is all about? National awareness has created the perfect opportunity to be just that. So don't miss out - mark your calendar for next year's night out and spend a pleasant evening getting to know your neighbors.

Friday, August 7, 2009

Questions...

I never run out of questions. Big ones, small ones, the essentials to down right dumb.

Do you ever stop to question yourself?
I think we all do, but when was the last time you did it on purpose?

Do you ever take the time to question God?
It may be surprising how often we pose questions to God, without even realizing it.
When was the last time you asked God a question and trusted Him with the answer?

I love that God is big enough to handle all of our questions.
Don't be shy. Take a deep breath and ask Him!
And when you're ready to be adventurous expect Him to answer... in the most surprising ways. Your neighbor, your kids, your boss, and then, of course, His Word, the Bible, and who knows where else. He likes to keep us on our toes.

~ Psalm 19:1 ~

Monday, August 3, 2009

Sweet Laughter

I think I'm starting to figure out what makes things worth while...

Of course in following Jesus we seek to enjoy to the fullest the life that He has for us. But how do we do that? How do we know what's worth pursuing and what isn't? These are persistent questions worth asking yourself on a regular basis.

For me, today I did some random things and the monotonous was made worth while because of the laughter and joy surrounding it. Getting up early to walk with my Mom was worth the flow of endless conversation like a stream that bubbles and has moments of depth and good shallow parts that are easy to get across. Even laundry and cooking brought forth reasons for joy.

So why do I do the things I do? I go through the tough times working towards those moments, those moments which remind me that this life God has blessed me with is a joy.

Sunday, August 2, 2009

Seemingly Serengeti Sun

As dusk fell over the Pacific Northwest, the sun burst forth with a vivacious fluorescent reddish-pink. Not the sky around it but the sun itself. It was beautiful and alluring, and certainly wasn't something we see around here everyday. I wanted to know why the sun was that color... so I googled it :) There is a really amazing scientific definition which I highly recommend reading. I however prefer wikiAnswers response to that questions...
...Because God made it that way.

Saturday, August 1, 2009

The Ship of Friends

Today was one of those wonderful days where I ignored the list of things to do and did what I really wanted...

I sat in the afternoon sunshine under the apple tree reading
I let my hair dry in the sunshine
I played on my computer - email, facebook, blogging, skype, etc
I took a nap
I cooked for fun
I watched a tv show

The joy of summer... I am truly blessed!

Monday, July 13, 2009

Faith like Rain

As rain falls down from heaven to earth
So my souls pours out to You, Oh Lord.

In Seattle, rain is a constant. I'm not saying that it rains all the time, because it actually doesn't. I'm saying that even if there is a drought, it is short lived. For me, there has always been the assurance that the rain will come again. This gift from God is a reminder of His faithfulness
God's gifts of love, grace, peace and so on, are like the rain in that ~
~ We have no control over them
~ Sometimes there is a down pour that is impossible to ignore
~ More often, there is a light rain that we can far to easily take for granted
~ There is the assurance that when it isn't here, it hasn't gone very far.
~ We need it to keep going.

Faith like Rain

As rain falls down from heaven to earth
So my souls pours out to You, Oh Lord.

Tuesday, June 30, 2009

"Crazy Love"

Sometime life is hard. We all know this.

The other day, I was fighting this shoulder sagging, heavy sigh producing reality.

God sent some encouragement my way -> Francis Chan's book "Crazy Love" Read it!

Thursday, June 11, 2009

Sacred Softball...

So...
this may kind of seem like cheating
to post a link to another blog,
but I wrote this article for the ETC blog, here at SPU...
...and I had alot of fun doing it. Enjoy!

http://etcmagazinespu.blogspot.com/2009/06/sacred-softball-who-says-theology-and.html

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

"The Hound of Heaven"

"I fled Him, down the nights and down the days, I fled Him...
For, Though I knew His love Who followed, yet was I sore adread...
Fear wist not to evade, as Love wist to pursue...
'Ah, fondest, blindest, weakest,
I am He Whom thou seekest!'"

Amazing!!!

This poem has inspired countless people since it was written in the early 1900's by Francis Thompson. He was able to strike the emotions, with a beautifully graphic words that draw a picture of God's persistent love for us. Among those inspired; "Lord of the Rings" author, J.R.R. Tolkien, as well as, journalist and catholic social activist, Dorothy Day.

These old verses present a fresh reminder that life is full of joy and sadness, but over all of life the Love of our Jesus Christ is a persistent hound following us until we recognize He is what we have been running from and searching for all at once.

Follow the link if you'd like to read it yourself.

http://www.cs.drexel.edu/~gbrandal/Illum_html/hound.html

Thursday, March 12, 2009

The Forest Wild

Children's author, Mercer Meyer, wrote a story about Herbert the timid dragon who wanted to be a brave Knight. Herbert the Dragon lives "in the forest wild." Although I'm hardly timid, I do associate with his desire for adventure. I also feel as if I've grown up on the edge of "the forest wild." This isn't a scary thing at, but rather a comfort. Now I live in the city wild and I miss the comfort of the forest.
Trees help me think clearer...
Ok, so the trees don't actually help me think,
but the way that God made them is worth stopping to reflect on.


Generally speaking
Trees -
- stand strong
- point to the heavens
- dig deep to have strong roots which gives them a strong foundation
- the seasons of change are very important to its growth...
And the list goes on for quite some time.

If I am like a tree and Jesus is the gardener... much to ponder. I'm going to leave this for you to ponder (exposition would defeat the purpose of a short blog entry.)

When was the last time you took time out to just look at the world around you?

Perhaps you could use a fresh perspective...
even if it comes from the edge of the forest wild.

Saturday, January 31, 2009

Seeking Inspiration?

I was once catching up with an old friend who had become an artist. He was in the middle of a big project and had fallen in a rut, that had lasted for several months. When I asked him what was wrong, he told me that what basically had happened was that he had lost his muse and he was trying to find it again.

Lost his muse... What is a muse? And how does one lose it? More importantly how does one find it again?

According to Webster, "Muse"
verb; to be lost in thought
noun; (Rooted in Greek and Roman Mythology) a woman, or a force personified as a woman, who is the source of inspiration for a creative artist.

Each person is an artist of sorts, regardless of how creative one happens to be. Some are just more obvious about it, or I should say more artistically creative than the rest of us. Accountants could be said to be artists with numbers, just as a roofer could be considered an artist with a hammer. So don't sell yourself short. Whether we're artists or not, we all need and seek inspiration.

We all have days where we 'lose our muse' or as I'm seeing it, need to find something that preoccupies our mind in a good way. We are looking for that something or someone that will inspire us to do even better. No one can find for you. You have to find for yourself.

Recently, I've been wonderfully surprised by interesting conduits for inspirations. Why does it take us so long to open our eyes and see all that God has put around us? If this day finds you lacking in 'muse', here are few things that I have found to inspire me.

People who are starting over - no matter how big or small
The sun glistening on the morning dew
Chimney smoke
The 19 yr old, who is majoring in music with her upright bass
The stillness in a fog
The Japanese girl who is seeing God for the first time and told me, "God is beautiful."
The uninhibited laughter and play of children
When random strangers break through social barriers to give another stranger a compliment
Answered prayer

Open your eyes and see...

~

Psalm 51:6
"Behold, Thou desirest truth in the inward being;
therefore teach me wisdom in my secret heart."

Monday, January 19, 2009

Treasure in a Stream of Light

Today is an adventure. God has given us the map. Jesus leads the way. With the Holy Spirit as our faithful companion, it is up to us to find the treasure that today may hold.

I was walking through the woods the other day. It was a cold crisp morning and there was a beautiful and haunting fog. The kind of day that makes one forget what time it is and makes one want to quietly wonder about all sorts of things in life. As I walked along, the fog cleared just enough and the sun came bursting through the trees. In that beautiful moment, I wanted time to stop. Just long enough, so that I could play in God's light. I ran over to a sun stream and jumped in it, feeling the warmth through the winter's air. For a moment, I was a little girl just playing outside enjoying God's creation.

I think we need more moments like that, where we take time to enjoy the Light of Christ through the fog of our busy lives and to delight in the simple things the Lord has blessed us with. I pray that in the business of life, I can catch those treasures to pause and watch a bird, stand long enough in one place to feel the warmth of the winter sun, or quiet my busy mind to listen to the rain.

"The heavens are telling of the glory of the Lord, the expanse is declaring the work of His hands." Psalm 19:1&2

Thursday, January 1, 2009

New Year, Same Heart

Step out into the freshness of the New Year! It lets us walk away from all that has happened last year and look ahead to all that is yet to come, not in forgetting but learning and moving on. I've heard over and over how resolutions are ridiculous, or not taken seriously, or made to be broken. January 1st is merely the gift of starting fresh that we need to move forward. Be they resolutions, goals, or determined deeds (whatever you wish to call them), I think they are good for us. Here are a few things that I would like to better myself in...

Enjoy each moment ~ Breathe Love ~ Listen Harder ~ Speak Slower ~ Take Time Out ~ Pray Purposefully ~ Talk to God as soon as I wake up everyday ~ Read my Bible, not just to read it but to love it ~ Walk Slower, so that I can really see what is around me ~ Drink more water ~ Encourage people around me ~ Thank the bagger/checker every time I go through the grocery line ~ Focus on one thing at a time ~ Continue to Dream Big!

Happy New Year