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.

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.

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.

it's been so good!

Today has been a wonderful wonderful day! If everyday could be like today, I would be the happiest person ever. I started the morning off by meeting a friend for coffee at my favorite coffee shop. We had a great conversation, caught up and were just plain honest with what's going on in our lives. Afterwards, I stayed at the shop for a bit to chat with "D". He's a really sincere person and a good listener. He said something that profoundly stuck out to me. I was telling him that I have a lot of questions (Who am I? What do I want to become? What does it mean to be in community? What is important to me? What is essential to my faith? etc.) He said that sometimes we don't find answers. We don't come up with a solid conclusion that we were hoping to get. Instead, the contentment comes when we pursue the questions with God. When we ask the questions to God and with God. The understanding and the assurance comes when we are walking with Him. He may help us answer some of our questions, he may just reveal things to us in a certain way that will change the way that we approach the question. He may have a fresh revelation one day and then the next time we pursue that question find something else new and exciting. That's the joy of pursuing life's questions with God. I find that to be such a good word. He is My Jesus who is with me. So after coffee, I went to work for five hours. A great shift. It would be grand to just work five hours a day! After work, I practiced some guitar and listened to my mom talk about how proud she is of my brother for registering for University. Her kids are growing up and she's one proud mamma. I'm sure that's such a special thing to be watching your children grow up and make decisions. I could see how happy she was. It was one of those moments where I thought she might cry again (just like when she was so proud of me for getting my driver's lisence). So afterwards I went over to "M's" house for dinner- an adapted Korean Feast! yummy yummy. It was nice to share a meal with a friend and eat from caserole containers. Then, before we started my guitar lesson, I got to hear one of M's original worship songs. Again, I fell in love with it. This song was about, "Jesus, my Jesus" and Him walking before us, and us resting in Him. I don't know how he does it, but the lyrics of his songs always speak to me. These ones spoke once again to where I was at. It's almost like sometimes I want to cry when I hear them because they are so beautiful. I love hearing the stories that are behind the songs, it helps. But I also love making the songs mine and just sitting back, closing my eyes and enjoying them. His music is so refreshing. Anyway, after the worship song he played another one that's still in the works. So I was hoping he would have had more, but unfortunately I was sort of left hanging. I loved the words- something to the extent of, "Beloved, don't give up your dreams." I like to think, "Beloved (daughter), you are Mine, and your dreams are specially unique to you. Embrace them and don't forget them. Look for avenues to see them be fulfilled. Find joy and be who you are created to be." Then I had my guitar lesson and made some progress today. That's always good. I reviewed my chords and the strum pattern and then worked on a new strum pattern and transitioning between chords. After an hour my fingers were sore. ahhh. This was such a good day. I think I forgot to mention that the sun was shining and it actually felt like summer. It was even late until 10 tonight. I feel so alive and so refreshed! so it's the end of the day- 11:24 pm and I think I should end by praising God for the poeple he's placed in my life, and the day of joy and encouragement. My Song, "It's in times like these- It's in times like these where there are so many questions, so much spinning 'round in my head. So much already seen and already learned, but yet so much more to come. I want to be so free. I want to be alive- alive and awestruck by the One who knows me. It's in times like these where I look at the past. I think about who I was and where I've come from. It's in times like these where I look at everything around me and say. I want to be so free. i want to be alive- alive and awestruck bythe One who knows me. It's in this time- in this time where life is going so so well. The meaningful converstaion along the way. The whisper in my ear from the One who knows me. The dreams that come to pass, so I can be so free. I can be alive- and asestruck by the One who knows me." (maybe more will come, these words just came to mind at the moment. But I've been thinking of the line, "In times like these" for the last little while."). So there we have it... a GREAT day! Praise God for today!

old draft that i never posted, but the thoughts still remain...

thoughts at the moment,



I want to be a Dream Catcher- to catch the dreams that God has for me. to dream great dreams- to retrieve old ones; to do things that I'm passionate about; to live full and abundantly; to see what is around the corner; to be willing to put myself out there; to be someone with heart, compassion, love, words of encouragment and a genuine interest in others. I want to journey together with others, be actively involved in relationships with others.

Happy Mother's Day!

Momma and Auntie Dianne
"The Boys"
"WHAT??"
Cousins

Having fun in the kitchen

We had a great dinner for Mother's day with our family, the Brodlands Grandma and Grandpa Norm and Uncle Wes. Thanks for everything you do mom!