Ok... for you avid Narnia fans... I have a interesting quote for you that so relates to how God relates to us...
As part of my 100 things to do list, one of my goals is to read the entire Chronicles of Narnia series by CS Lewis.
Lately I have been reading a few pages before bed but this afternoon before I settled in for a long afternoon nap I decided I would finish "The Horse and His Boy". I ran across this interesting quote... debated whether to post it as my fb status... decided against it as everyone sees that and put it in my blog instead.
Here goes...
Preface...
Rabadash... a cocky young prince is taunting those around him
Aslan... the just King of Narnia represented as a lion
Aslan allows Rabadash to be turned into a donkey after warning him- "Take heed. Your doom is very near, but you may still avoid it. Forget your pride (what have you to be proud of?) and your anger (who has done you wrong?) and accept the mercy of these good kings."
Rabadash doesn't heed Aslan's advice... turns into a donkey... and then Aslan says...
"Now hear me, Rabadash,... Justice shall be mixed with mercy. You shall not always be an Ass."
How many times does God allow us to make an "ass" out of our self in order to humble us and bring us back to him? Just as Aslan gave Rabadash a way to turn back into a human... God shows his grace and mercy to us by helping us out of the mire clay, washing us off, and putting us back on our feet to stand with him.
Sunday, May 16, 2010
Stand
Stand by Donnie McClurkin
What do you do
when you've done all you can
And it seems like it's never enough?
And what do you say
when your friends turn away,
you're all alone?
Tell me, what do you give
When you've given your all,
and seems like
you can't make it through?
Stand and be sure
Be not entangled in that bondage again
You just stand, and be sure.
God has a purpose.
Yes, God has a plan.
Tell me what do you do
when you've done all you can
And it seems like you can't make it through
Child you just stand
You just stand
Stand
Don't you give up
Through the storm, through the rain
Through the hurt, through the pain
Chorus: Well, you just stand
When there's nothing left to do
You just stand
Watch the Lord see you through
Yes, after you've done all you can
You just stand
Don't you bow, don't bend
Don't give up, don't give in
Hold on, just be strong
God will step in and it won't be long
Tell me,
how do you handle the guilt of your past?
Tell me, how do you deal with the shame?
And how can you smile
when your heart is broken
and filled with pain?
Tell me what do you give
when you've given your all
Seems like you can't make it through?
After you've done all you can
After you've gone through the hurt
After you've gone through the pain
After you've gone through the storm
After you've gone through the rain
Prayed and cried, you've prayed and cried
Prayed and cried, prayed and cried
After you've done all you can, you just stand.
Child you just stand,
when there's nothing left to do
You just stand
Watch the Lord see you through
Yes, after you've done all you can
You just stand.
What do you do
when you've done all you can
And it seems like it's never enough?
And what do you say
when your friends turn away,
you're all alone?
Tell me, what do you give
When you've given your all,
and seems like
you can't make it through?
Stand and be sure
Be not entangled in that bondage again
You just stand, and be sure.
God has a purpose.
Yes, God has a plan.
Tell me what do you do
when you've done all you can
And it seems like you can't make it through
Child you just stand
You just stand
Stand
Don't you give up
Through the storm, through the rain
Through the hurt, through the pain
Chorus: Well, you just stand
When there's nothing left to do
You just stand
Watch the Lord see you through
Yes, after you've done all you can
You just stand
Don't you bow, don't bend
Don't give up, don't give in
Hold on, just be strong
God will step in and it won't be long
Tell me,
how do you handle the guilt of your past?
Tell me, how do you deal with the shame?
And how can you smile
when your heart is broken
and filled with pain?
Tell me what do you give
when you've given your all
Seems like you can't make it through?
After you've done all you can
After you've gone through the hurt
After you've gone through the pain
After you've gone through the storm
After you've gone through the rain
Prayed and cried, you've prayed and cried
Prayed and cried, prayed and cried
After you've done all you can, you just stand.
Child you just stand,
when there's nothing left to do
You just stand
Watch the Lord see you through
Yes, after you've done all you can
You just stand.
Saturday, May 15, 2010
"For I know my Redeemer lives"
How many times in the crazyness of life do I lose focus on what God has called me to do???
After an extremely long week and some "major" spiritual battles, I had a reality check today. My normal Saturday routine includes catching up on sleep, housework, and projects that get pushed to the side during the week.
Today was a bit different... I woke up at 5:15am to participate in the Na Puuwai 10K with Bri. Then we hit a couple of garage sales, went to breakfast at Hotel Molokai, ran some errands in town and then went to a concert/conference entitled "Women through the Generations" held at Kaunakakai Baptist Church.
By 11 am when the conference started, a nap was sounding really good but God had an awesome message in store. The couple that came to speak shared their testimony through word and song as well as some scripture that had been very pertinent at certain times in their lives.
After the struggles I have been having over the past few weeks, when I heard this couple speak and be real with what God has brought them through it brought all things into perspective.
In Job 19:25-27, Job states
"For I know my Redeemer lives
and at the last he will stand upon the earth.
And after my skin has been thus destroyed,
yet in my flesh I shall see God,
whom I shall see for myself
and my eyes shall behold, and not another.
My heart faints within me!"
Job lost his children, his wife was telling him to curse God, his friends were not being very encouraging, his livelihood was taken away, he was covered in boils... living in pain and agony.... BUT his focus was on his Redeemer rather than his circumstances.
My momentary troubles pale in comparison to even a fraction of what Job endured. After being reminded of this, my focus is knowing that MY REDEEMER LIVES! And if I had nothing else... My Redeemer is enough. When I focus on that so much changes...
Instead of focusing on not being married... seeing singleness as a gift where I get to serve others with my time and energy.
Instead of focusing on not being a mommy... seeing my 17 hanai little ones as a blessing that I get to show the love of Jesus to on a daily basis.
Instead of focusing on not being close to family... seeing that I have an amazing group of friends and church family here.
Instead of focusing on not being able to travel.... seeing where I live in a new light. How many other places can you be surrounded by water, warm weather, and amazing sunrises and sunsets year round?
Instead of focusing on not having the newest and best... seeing that what I have is so much more than most of the people in our world.
By this point, I can't think of anything else that I have been struggling with because I am so overwhelmed by what God has done that I am speechless....
For I know my REDEEMER lives!!!
After an extremely long week and some "major" spiritual battles, I had a reality check today. My normal Saturday routine includes catching up on sleep, housework, and projects that get pushed to the side during the week.
Today was a bit different... I woke up at 5:15am to participate in the Na Puuwai 10K with Bri. Then we hit a couple of garage sales, went to breakfast at Hotel Molokai, ran some errands in town and then went to a concert/conference entitled "Women through the Generations" held at Kaunakakai Baptist Church.
By 11 am when the conference started, a nap was sounding really good but God had an awesome message in store. The couple that came to speak shared their testimony through word and song as well as some scripture that had been very pertinent at certain times in their lives.
After the struggles I have been having over the past few weeks, when I heard this couple speak and be real with what God has brought them through it brought all things into perspective.
In Job 19:25-27, Job states
"For I know my Redeemer lives
and at the last he will stand upon the earth.
And after my skin has been thus destroyed,
yet in my flesh I shall see God,
whom I shall see for myself
and my eyes shall behold, and not another.
My heart faints within me!"
Job lost his children, his wife was telling him to curse God, his friends were not being very encouraging, his livelihood was taken away, he was covered in boils... living in pain and agony.... BUT his focus was on his Redeemer rather than his circumstances.
My momentary troubles pale in comparison to even a fraction of what Job endured. After being reminded of this, my focus is knowing that MY REDEEMER LIVES! And if I had nothing else... My Redeemer is enough. When I focus on that so much changes...
Instead of focusing on not being married... seeing singleness as a gift where I get to serve others with my time and energy.
Instead of focusing on not being a mommy... seeing my 17 hanai little ones as a blessing that I get to show the love of Jesus to on a daily basis.
Instead of focusing on not being close to family... seeing that I have an amazing group of friends and church family here.
Instead of focusing on not being able to travel.... seeing where I live in a new light. How many other places can you be surrounded by water, warm weather, and amazing sunrises and sunsets year round?
Instead of focusing on not having the newest and best... seeing that what I have is so much more than most of the people in our world.
By this point, I can't think of anything else that I have been struggling with because I am so overwhelmed by what God has done that I am speechless....
For I know my REDEEMER lives!!!
Thursday, April 15, 2010
All in a days work...
I always thought that if I ever move back to the mainland there would have to be some serious mentality changes from the way island life is...
Take my day for example...
4:45 am- Woke up, showered, and got dressed in khaki pants, socks, boots, and a red sweater... it was cold (65 degrees F!!!)
5:50 am- Left for airport (yes only 10 minutes from my house!)
6:00 am- checked in for flight... despite the long line ( 4 people in front of me) the Island Air agent (who I knew) just took my id and brought me my boarding pass since I had no luggage.
Talked story with several friends who work TSA security and had a few minutes to read several chapters in Deuteronomy
6:45 am- boarded flight to Oahu with 30 other people... a third of whom I knew!
7:30 am- arrive in Oahu... talk story with some Molokai friends while waiting for our shuttles
8:00 am - NAEYC accreditation meeting begins
12 - 1pm- Pasta buffett for lunch provided with the meeting... (yes it is silly to find food this exciting but a good lunch is always a motivating factor when headed off island)
1 -4pm- The rest of the meeting.... very beneficial and what I needed to rekindle the fire for me to continue working on portfolios for the accreditation process.
4:15pm- Back to the airport where I meet up with the Aunty of one of my preschoolers to transport a forgotten camera and developed picts back to a scrapbooking mom. (Sorry Jeremy- No time for Micky D's today)! Check in and run into one of the kids I had in Good News clubs ten years ago (he is now an island air agent).
4:30pm- Pull out my laptop and work on a few class write ups before the plane arrives and the line starts to board. While waiting I catch up with Aunty Tess who assisted me when I bought the house.
5:25pm- Walk out onto the tarmac in the afternoon Hawaiian sun and board the plane. Sit in the first row and talk story with Uncle Dino for the 20 minute flight back to MKK. Just enough time to catch up on world events and how all of creation is crying out for Jesus to come back.
6:10pm- Arrive in Molokai and I am home in my warm comfy pj's by 6:30pm out watering my plants.
Where as most people just hop in their cars to get to meetings... the adventure of flying every other month to a meeting (and paying almost $200 for the flight... $184 for today's journey) is something that will be missed if God ever moves me back to the continental USA!
DISCLAIMER: This email is not.... I repeat... IS NOT... stating that I am moving. Molokai is my home for such a time as this and I am blessed to live here. This blog is simply reminding myself of all the blessings there are in a simple days work!
Sunday, April 4, 2010
Before and working on....
I was reminded recently that life is a journey... the goal is to glorify God and never stop learning. As I look back over the past several years, I think how blessed I am for amazing friends and family that love me and encourage me to do what is right.
One thing that has always been a struggle for me is food. Three years ago I realized that it had become my god of choice... I turned to it when I was sad, upset, and angry... used it to celebrate... when I was tired and needed a pick me up... you get the picture. Anyway at that same time as you can well imagine, my body had ballooned into something that I wasn't happy about. Clothes were no longer fun to put on... shopping was horrendous. So a slow metamorphosis began to take place....
You see those commercials that say in 30 days you can go from this... to this... and the 2nd picture doesn't even resemble the person in the first. That was not my goal. Diets don't work! This has been a slow process but through a lot of prayer and hard work this has become a lifestyle change.
So before I go any further.... this is my "before" pict... definitely not one of my heaviest picts but what we will use as a reference point....
New Zealand 2006
I feel silly posting this for the "world" to see and couldn't bring myself to post actual numbers but some fb friends have been encouraged by my story and have kept me motivated to lose the rest. So I prayerfully write this with the intent to encourage you in whatever your struggle is... that with God all things are possible. Put Him first and he will lead, guide and direct your path.
One thing that has always been a struggle for me is food. Three years ago I realized that it had become my god of choice... I turned to it when I was sad, upset, and angry... used it to celebrate... when I was tired and needed a pick me up... you get the picture. Anyway at that same time as you can well imagine, my body had ballooned into something that I wasn't happy about. Clothes were no longer fun to put on... shopping was horrendous. So a slow metamorphosis began to take place....
You see those commercials that say in 30 days you can go from this... to this... and the 2nd picture doesn't even resemble the person in the first. That was not my goal. Diets don't work! This has been a slow process but through a lot of prayer and hard work this has become a lifestyle change.
So before I go any further.... this is my "before" pict... definitely not one of my heaviest picts but what we will use as a reference point....
New Zealand 2006
After three years of eating better and exercising more, I have lost around 60 pounds and feel freer to do the things that God has called me to do. This second picture is my "working on" picture as the dr tells me I still have 20 - 30 more pounds to go. It is a slow and steady process but as the Tortoise learned in the story the Tortoise and the Hare.... Slow and steady wins the race!
My 30th birthday- 2009
I feel silly posting this for the "world" to see and couldn't bring myself to post actual numbers but some fb friends have been encouraged by my story and have kept me motivated to lose the rest. So I prayerfully write this with the intent to encourage you in whatever your struggle is... that with God all things are possible. Put Him first and he will lead, guide and direct your path.
"Obedience is the very best thing"
Ever have a spiritual temper tantrum????
You know what I mean... when God is calling you to do something and you don't want to??? or.... God is closing a door (see previous post) and you keep wanting to open the door and walk through it to escape?
Why am I so stubborn not to listen to my heavenly Father? I almost feel like kicking myself! How many times in a day do I tell my preschoolers "obey the first time, every time, with a happy heart"? I can almost see my heavenly Father shaking His head saying... "My child listen to me... obey the first time, every time, with a happy heart."
I know what God is telling me but yet I want to argue.... "You must not really mean THAT." but that small still voice is saying - trust me.... obey me.... you know what is right!
ARGH!!!! At the moment, I would be lying if I said I was ready to obey... it would be closer to the truth if I said I want to spend some time crying and pouting about it. But just as with all temper tantrums... they just delay the inevitable.... OBEDIENCE.
You know what I mean... when God is calling you to do something and you don't want to??? or.... God is closing a door (see previous post) and you keep wanting to open the door and walk through it to escape?
Why am I so stubborn not to listen to my heavenly Father? I almost feel like kicking myself! How many times in a day do I tell my preschoolers "obey the first time, every time, with a happy heart"? I can almost see my heavenly Father shaking His head saying... "My child listen to me... obey the first time, every time, with a happy heart."
I know what God is telling me but yet I want to argue.... "You must not really mean THAT." but that small still voice is saying - trust me.... obey me.... you know what is right!
ARGH!!!! At the moment, I would be lying if I said I was ready to obey... it would be closer to the truth if I said I want to spend some time crying and pouting about it. But just as with all temper tantrums... they just delay the inevitable.... OBEDIENCE.
Monday, March 29, 2010
"What life would be like"
Driving home from Bible Study tonight, the WOW 2010 CD was in my CD player and it was as if God's hand had queued this particular song for exactly this 5 minute car ride. (It again just reminds me how every situation we find ourselves in is intricately woven together by the master's hand.)
A friend and I just finished Beth Moore's Bible Study "JESUS: 90 days with the One and Only". What should have taken at most 30 weeks (3 lessons per week) has taken us a little over a year but I don't think we could of hand picked a more opportune time to complete this study with what is happening in both of our lives.
Anyway after a sweet time of fellowship and prayer, I got in my jeep and headed the 2.5 miles home. This was the song playing...
"What life would be like" by Big Daddy Weave
I wish I was more of a man
Have you ever felt that way
And if I had to tell you the truth
I'm afraid I'd have to say
That after all I've done and failed to do
I feel like less that I was meant to be
And what if I could fix myself
Maybe then I could get free
I could try to be somebody else
Whose much better off than me
But I need to remember this
That it's when I'm at my weakest
I can clearly see
He made the lame walk
And the dumb talk
He opened blinded eyes to see
That the sun rises on His time
Yet He knows our deepest desperate need
And the world waits
While His heart aches
To realize the dream
I wonder what life would be like
If we let Jesus live through you and me
What if you could see yourself
Through another pair of eyes
What if you could hear the truth
Instead of old familiar lies
And what if you could feel inside
The power of the hand that made the universe
You'd realize
All our hearts they burn within us
All our lives we've longed for more
So let us lay our lives before the one
Who gave His life for us.
"What life would be like" by Big Daddy Weave
I wish I was more of a man
Have you ever felt that way
And if I had to tell you the truth
I'm afraid I'd have to say
That after all I've done and failed to do
I feel like less that I was meant to be
And what if I could fix myself
Maybe then I could get free
I could try to be somebody else
Whose much better off than me
But I need to remember this
That it's when I'm at my weakest
I can clearly see
He made the lame walk
And the dumb talk
He opened blinded eyes to see
That the sun rises on His time
Yet He knows our deepest desperate need
And the world waits
While His heart aches
To realize the dream
I wonder what life would be like
If we let Jesus live through you and me
What if you could see yourself
Through another pair of eyes
What if you could hear the truth
Instead of old familiar lies
And what if you could feel inside
The power of the hand that made the universe
You'd realize
All our hearts they burn within us
All our lives we've longed for more
So let us lay our lives before the one
Who gave His life for us.
I have heard this song numerous times but tonight as I again listen to the lyrics my heart just broke from the conviction of the Holy Spirit.
Lately there have been so many "closed doors" that I wonder if anything is ever going to open. Wondering if I should try to start opening some of those doors on my own knowing good and well that if God has closed them that they are not meant to be opened at this point. Knowing that stepping over the threshold of any of these closed doors would be disobeying God and lead to consequences.
After all that has been going on in my heart over the past couple of weeks and all that God has been teaching me through His Word, I can truly say that I am at one of my weakest points... humbled at the foot of the cross. I have no where else to look but up into the face of my Savior!
If He can cause the lame to walk... the dumb to talk... the blind to see... the sun to rise and set... how much more does He care for our deepest desperate need... Jesus' heart aches on our behalf when we struggle! He has truly been in our shoes and overcame all that life could put on him (including all the sins of the world). Perfect reminder as this is Passion Week!
What would life truly be like if I let Jesus live through me...
instead of trying to do things on my own...
instead of listening to the lies of the enemy...
instead of being persuaded by the world...
Oh God... hear my broken and contrite heart... I desire to serve you. Life is meaningless without you. You died for me, the least I can do is live for you. Create in me a heart that desires to put the worldly ideas aside and focus on your truth and vision.
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