You make beautiful things

~ You make beautiful things out of the dust.

You make beautiful things, you make beautiful things out of us. ~

- all around hope is springing up from this old ground- out of chaos life is being found in you-



Been thinking of the following quote that I stumbled across the other week. It goes like this, "Don't ask yourself what hte world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive and go do that because what the world needs is people who have come alive."



I have so many things to say about this quote... so I better just release! It dawned on me as I was talking to Z last month that we have no right to ever discourage anyone from doing what has been placed within them to do. Woulnd't you hate to be the one who silences someone else's dream? I was not created to do the same thing as you and you were not created to do the same things as the persona beside you- each of us was designed by God to have a certain bent, certain skill sets and ways that move us to action. Isn't that what makes the world beautiful, and yet so mysterious? We are each unique! say it again... I believe that instilled within us are secrets that the world can not know until we release them. I suppose they are more like treasures- what we want to uniquely offer the world and those around us. Bill Johnson says, "Our dreams are not independent from God,but instead, exist because of God." This is exaclty what I am trying to say. Do you need me to shout out the dreams that God has placed within me? I don't think that's necessarily the right approach. Can't the way we live show what God has put in us? That's how it is supposed to be- our lives are a response to what has irrevokably been put in us. We may call these things longings. I wanto go and love people. I want to tell the children I interact with that they are valuable and designed by a Father who will never let them out of his sight. "One of the most significant ways to serve others is to be present with them" (Charles Ringma, Dare to Journey with Henrdy). The idea of ~presence~ has been resonating with my spirit lately. We cary the presence of Christ and that is lovely. So in God's presence things Change. As Kim Walker declares, "we are not the same after we encounter the presence of God." Really his presence compels us and softens us. Just think: If I bring the presence of God wherever I go, how does the atmosphere change as a result? How do people respond and receive the presence of God? T always says, "wherever you are, be present." This speaks to me and I hope it calls us to delight and be more full. I know my thoughts are a little scattered but that's how it goes sometimes (espcially when you haven't blogged regularly). I have been wondering since the summer about how come there is power when we pray in a particular spot. We can pray boldly from any location, however physically briging the presence of Christ to a spot brings light, healing and freedom and that's probably why intercession/ prayer walks have the ability to change the atmosphere becuase darkness is becoming invaded by light. Spoken words of Light overrule the darkness. The theif always comes to destroy what God wants to use for good, so then our presence (if we know our authority) can release God's power to supersede the patterns of this world by invading it with the will of God (the kingdom of God becoming a reality on earth). Wow. I think of the story of Jesus passing through the crowd and the one woman being healed when she just walked by. Can't that be a reality now? I long for a greater release of the Spirit of God to touch and intervene in those avenues of people's physical and spiritual bodies that need healing and reconciliation. Just think of touch people can receive from God if we act as carriers of Christ to this people. When I travel, I have a new desire. I want to be a worshipper from whichever city/ country I find myself in. I don't know the complete mystery; however, releasing worship declares God's reign over a place and invites God to expose the darkness and bring communion/ relationship. His heart is for relationship. Worship expresses relationships and invites deeper levels of relatioship. We carry the presence of Christ.

May we extravagantly RADIATE!



more thoughts to come... on the next post.

~faith~ courage~ obedience~ overcomer!~

www.youtube.com/watch?v=OR7VOKQ0xJY

a few of my favorite things

Bubble Tea- Authentically Chinese!
Sharing Tea with Friends
The Power of A Smile
The Story Behind Each Face

Children- Joy! Fascination! Wonder! Curiosity!

Friends! Sisters! Travel... The World!

Babies! Didn't we all start as one?

wish list

I really want one of these. so beautiful. so elegant. wink, wink :) (orchid)

102

"We care for only what we love.

We love only what we know.

We truly know only what we experience."

(Steven Bouma-Prediger)

* I forgot to mention that I wrote my 100th post the other day. This is blog entry #102! Thanks for reading! Peace be with you!

each of us is a flower...

growing in life's garden (it's a children's song by Charlotte Diamond)

I like this funny little Christmas Cactus. It seems silly, but I'll be honest and say that I feel proud when I look at it becuase at the office it's my responsibility to water the plants every Saturday. I really have no idea about how to care for plants, but I faithfulfully do my duty every week of watering the plants in each office. When I walked in one week and saw this little plant with these purple flowers, I made me so HAPPY! A little purple added to that December Saturday. I felt like I helped bring life to that little thing. I had no idea the potential that little plant had. I didn't even realize that a flower would come out of it. I have a lot of learning to do. Throughout our science module at school, I have had an increased sense of WONDER and AWE for God's creation. May I help foster that same sense of wonder and awe in my students' for the natural world. Perhaps they get it even more than us. Perhaps they are already in awe. They have a deep fascination with the world around them. They probably don't need to be taught it. EMBRACE BEAUTY FOLKS! appreciate and celebrate God's handiwork and know that you are an integral part of God's creation.

are we changed?

The
love
of
God
changes
us-
and
we're
never
the
same
after we
encounter
the love of God!

glean truth where you can...

Desiderata- by Max Ehrmann (1920)

"Go placidly amid the noise and haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence.

As far as possible, without surrender, be on good terms with all persons. Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even to the dull and the ignorant, they too have their story. Avoid loud and aggressive persons, they are vexations to the spirit.

If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain and bitter; for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself. Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.

Exercise caution in your business affairs, for the world is full of trickery. But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals, and everywhere life is full of heroism. Be yourself. Especially, do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love, for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment it is perennial as the grass.

Take kindly to the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth. Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.

Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a child of [God]... You have a right to be here. And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be, and whatever your labors and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace in your soul.

With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world.

Be cheerful. Strive to be happy."

Although you may not agree with everything in this poem, I hope you can glean some wisdom from it. I had to alter the one part because I had to insert truth into it. This poem has so much wisdom. This past week my science teacher has been reminding me about some of the things that matter most in life through reading Ecclesiastes. "Each day is God's gift. It's all you get in exchange for the hard work of staying alive. Make the most of each one! Whatever turns up, grab it, and do it. And heartily!" (Ecclesiastes 9:8- the mesage).

"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"

(Romans 12:9- the message).

Calvin is someone who lives life with gusto! Whenever he plays, he is beaming.

He is so inspiring to listen to and watch because you can see how fully he lives life.