Monday, July 28, 2008

could it be? real fruit!


July 5, 2008 - God’s Way- Life of the Spirit

Galatians 5:22-23 (Msg). “What happens when we live God’s way? He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard- things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity. We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. We find ourselves in loyal commitments, not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal and direct our energies wisely.”

So I have been reading from the message lately because it is very refreshing for me to see things from a new angle/point of view. It helps my perspective. So I loved what the message had to say here because these are things that I really want my life to exemplify. I thought, “wow, they’ve summed it up.” This represents authenticity. I want to be that person who is real and desires to shower love on others. Do I do this all the time? Is this always my biggest priority? No, it isn’t. But I want these sorts of things to flow out of my life and spill into the lives of those who are around me. So I didn’t even realize until after that this is Eugene Peterson’s interpretation of the fruit of the spirit. I should have known that this was the passage, “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness…” but it wasn’t until after that I made the connection. The way that the message has put it shows how I can practice and display each of these things. It makes it more concrete and tangible and it makes me want to strive to do such things.


Sunday, July 13, 2008

Arise, Worshipper, Arise



I've started writing a song on guitar and it comes out of my church experience today. Today I experienced freedom and wept during the entire worship set at church. It came out of watching those around me embrace Christ without restrictions or imposed guidelines. There was real freedom to worship and adore Christ as individuals while meeting together as a community. So my song is just in the works right now. Nothing is set in stone yet. But the first verse describes the boy I was watching worship God. He was a little tiny kid who wanted to run around and sing and dance and move and be a kid. He went up and grabbed the ribbons that were there and didn't even know what he was suppose to do with them, but was so fascinated by them that he knew he wanted to do something with them. So he brought them back to his dad, and together the dad and the sun raised the ribbons and danced and jumped for Jesus. The little boy ran to the front when he saw the piano and started pounding on it, but nobody minded at all. All that mattered was that he had the same right to approach the father as the older people did. It made me laugh and smile and weep to see him so free. In my song I say, "Today he is free to just be." Then I go on to talk about how often times we try to shush kids up in church, to keep things quiet and orderly and act prim and proper, forgetting that God wants the children to come to him as they are. I say in my song, "Dont have to stand up straight, Dont' have to hush and whipser- For a child can come before the King today... as he is." The next verse is still in progress, but it is about the beautiful woman with special needs that I saw who worshipped God in her own way. He innocence and simplicity intrigued me. She didn't overcomplicate things like I tend to do. She was just there, and worshipped as she pleased. She danced and she approached people inviting them to join her in movement. She raised her flag and was without hesitancy. She didn't resist. She just enjoyed. When she overthought things I could see her get confused, so she was just being in each moment. I'm not sure yet, but the chorus goes something like this, "Arise arise arise and worship; commune and delight; rest and wait; create and know your freedom." I was so blown away by the freedom that was in that place this morning. I have never really seen anything like it before. Christ's bride should be free. If it's in you to relate to the father by standing, do that. If you want to kneel- do that. If movement stirs up within you- let it out and dance before the king. If you must rest- be still. If you must cry- let it all out. But I am learning that freedom comes when we express ourselves to God in accordance to who we are. Freedom comes when we live, breathe and create as who Christ designed us to be and Intimacy with the Father comes when we choose to respond to Christ just as we are. Intimacy with the father is our expression of love. So I was shown today that intimacy with my Father comes when I release what is in me to Him. When I give back what is in my heart, I draw close to Him. Let us remember that we Arise, Let all that is within us Arise and worship the King today as His free and beloved children.

Thursday, July 10, 2008

wow, i have so much to say




... but I don't think i could poissibly write it all now (12:45am). So i will just share one small thought.





I just bought one of Shane and Shane's Cd's and I'm totally captivated by the chorus to the song "Vision of you," yet at the same time i have some issues with it. Here are the words, "Awaken what's inside of me. Tune my heart to all you are in me. Even though you're here, God come. And may the vision of you be the death of me. And even though you've given everything, Jesus Come."

I love the words "Awaken what's inside of me." I think it's prfound. A lot of what i have been thinking lately has been to do with rebirthing old dreams and daring to dream new ones. I have been thinking that God is not a genie. If we have a dream he doesn't just magically grant it to us. We have to pursue it. To run towards it and see it happen. we need to see how opportunities can be taken advantage of to make this dream a reality. And you know these things that we love (or are passionate about)- the things that get us excited are embedded into who we are. So i'm certain that we need to go after those things and not let them lay dormant. And sometimes we need to give life to them, to breathe into the things that may seem dead and revive them. I almost think the next line should read, "Tune my heart to all I am in you," rather than "Tune my heart to all you are in me" but i understand it both ways. I just think that it should be God focused, not me focused. The next part makes me think. "Even though you're here, God come." To be honest, I love this. We always sing, "Come Lord Jesus Come." but we know that God is all around in the first place. But yet there is something about knowing the active presence of God. It's almost like the words here are saying God I want to be intimate with you right now. I want to sit with my daddy in the rocking chair and commune with you. It is intentional. Overall this song is stirring me. I love it!








The Gals


sailing sailing! Oh T, you are so cute!


Our first trip, to OK falls


On the ferry great shot!


she's a natural!

Here are some pictures of what we've been up to.