Payphone

Disappointed

I've been watching another situation unfold. Ugh. Very disappointing. I'm starting to wonder if I'm delusional in my expectations of how people will treat others. It's just that I always find myself so surprised...that people didn't act better in the end. I seriously think I expect people to be more mature, more relational, more "others" focused... It's a good reminder for me, but honestly, I'm not looking for another lesson in the "do's and don'ts" of ministry. I'm purely, completely...frustrated. I'm committed to being "Susie Sunshine" for the team, but inside...yep, I find things very disappointing. Not because the future is disappointing...oh heck no...it's bright. More because people continue to be...imperfect. Haha! Oh well...moving on!!! :)

Six Words You Should Say

Oh my...this is wonderful! I take it beyond the family too. Everyone needs to hear this!! Let it be from YOU!

And...if I may be so bold...God says this to you too! It's possible to learn to hear it! Oh the delight. :) And even more...you can learn to see Him working and say to HIM too! Sigh...so good.

Six Words You Should Say

Yellow Eye Balls

Something I've NEVER seen before. A friend of mine has been struggling with some health issues lately. Jaundice started setting in causing...YELLOW EYE BALLS. Her issues are resolving, but I'm still in...SHOCK. Hmm...interesting.

Fear of Death

"Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil— and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death." Hebrews 2:14-15


I know this is about so much more, but I have to tell you how special it was to read these verses this week. Having medical issues on the mind can raise some of those more serious heart-questions that we prefer to keep tucked under other things. Letting them surface is totally appropriate...but I prefer to wrestle with them in the presence of the good Father. (at least...I'm learning to...) Realizing we are getting older, falling apart...evaluating the unknown things down the road...can really put us in a place of the "fear of death". How encouraging to remember that the sting of death (spiritual, physical, etc) has been spoken to by Christ. The only power now found in death is holy...a sacred thing. There doesn't need to be fear there...

Fab Doc

I'm telling you. I have an awesome doctor! Historically, I have been a bit of a 'hypochondriac', but wow, I'm realizing that it's less than ever! Nevertheless, there are a few things that are a bit 'worthy' of a worry. Well, at least for the precautionary check-ups. #1 on the list is some family history of cancer. Enter Dr. Amazing to the rescue!!! She has this awesome plan to keep tabs on everything until it's the right time to make some more permanent preventative decisions. Talk about relieving some pressure!!

And I have to add...it's an added measure of shalom-peace in my life. Even if the family history becomes something I have to physically face, I'm seeing His fingerprints in this here-and-now...it only adds to my ability to see them even more clearly down the road if "going through" is the path. To me...that will always be the greater miracle. :)

Doing "Everything"

So this year is the year for me. A ton of closing doors to open new ones. A while ago, my sis and I were talking about how we've decided that we can "have it all"...meaning that we are going to live life with the expectation that anything is possible and that nothing will stand in our way. Nice, right? The problem for me has been that I also have held on to a bit too much independence...thinking that "everything" meant doing it all by myself...needing to be "strong" enough to be "more than enough" for all of it. Well...it turns out I'm meant for community as opposed to total self-sufficiency. And that's a very good thing!!!

So...I've been learning to ask for help and accept it as a gift. (For Ms. Independent, that's been a struggle...has seemed like weakness in the past.) And the latest???...paying a kiddo to clean my house!!!! Man, oh man...it has alleviated a ton of pressure!! Thank God!!!

In Christ Alone

Happy Easter!

To say it was solely about sin made the Good News a bit small. Not "small" because sin's not a problem..."small" because His vision is SO MUCH BIGGER! The heart of heaven beats for the restoration of all things. That mankind would see sin as the fruit of something deeper...broken relationship...broken identity. And beyond...see that the death and resurrection ushered in the presence of God in the heart's of men if we so allow. The kind that breaks chains of sin's slavery, brings peace to wounds and hurts, calls out true strength, releases into dreams and destiny, unleashes the great romance and adventure...AND sets sights OUTWARD...to bring justice to the poor, enslaved and broken, to steward His precious creation, to build and create and inspire, to evict the evil that we permitted and take back ground lost to its scheming...to bring compassion and hope and change to the world...and it goes on and on and on. So when Jesus died for and of your broken heart, He did it so you could truly LIVE from a whole one. He set His sights on the words that the good Father inscribed on the walls of your heart and was dreaming BIG dreams for you. He saw what the infusion of His presence in your life could illuminate and release...and found it worth dying for. It was...and still is...beautiful. So...Happy Easter, Love! May it be a new year of grand and divine adventure!

Kite-Flying

Sis and I are going kite-flying with Dad, and I'm SO excited!!! When I was a little girl, it was such a magical experience for me...and I know it's going to be again!!! I have two for the occasion. One that I thought was a cool geometric pattern. The other that has a loooooong tail!!! Oh man...I'm beside myself with excitement!! :)

I'm a "Jesus" Girl

It has been one AMAZING season!! My faith exploded once again...Jesus came crashing out of more boxes into the wide open spaces...beckoning me to come too. The Gospel has become so much bigger, making life and possibility and dreaming that much bigger too! Some corners of Christianity have defined Jesus' work on the cross TOO SMALL. To say it was all about sin was drastically minute. Oh man...the cross was a gate to original glory. The realer real and deeper deep contained in every person made. He's the key that unlocks that door fully. I'm convinced beyond anything that Jesus came to bring forgiveness...AND healing, strength, identity, destiny...greatness. The Good News wasn't only for the individual either!! It is personal, social, environmental...restoration. Ohhhh man...the cross ushered in the presence of God...the source that illuminates the words of identity inscribed on the human heart. True you. True becoming. True LIFE. And I'll stand for that any day. Happy Easter, Friends! :)

Respect First and Always

I try not to mock the beliefs of others...and try to encourage my students to live bigger lives than the petty norm. Man, when the mockery comes my way???...that's a toughy. Hard to not take it personally. Thinking about things though...there are way better causes to defend than individual convictions. Good practice to always give respect even if it's not given.