Angelou's Biggest Revelation

Maya Angelou's biggest life revelation...go to 1:45 and watch. So beautiful! :)

 

How To...Words of Knowledge

I decided to peruse the Jesus Culture website during lunch today. I love ministries that give instruction on how to be empowered in the Spirit. Here's an video on letting God have access to your mind/imagination and speaking through it to others.

Getting Words of Knowledge

Maya Angelou Quotes

Maya Angelou

Oh sad. Maya Angelou passed away. I've so enjoyed her quotes!!!!

One of my favorite pieces of advice from her was something she told Oprah Winfrey during a time of pretty intense attack. Makes me think of a friend of mine who's been targeted lately. A wonderful teacher. Angelou said..."You aren't in that!" What she meant was that it's easy to take the a personal attack and let it spit on our own spirit...let it define or frame something untrue about ourselves. The truth is that we can face a storm and NOT be defined by it...NOT receive the hurtful message of an assault in the core of our identity. YOU aren't in that....so powerful. 

Show Me Your Face

I was at a Bethel Worship event the other night (worship team from Bethel Church in Redding, CA on tour). One of the songs had a section that said, "I don't wanna talk about You like you're not in the room. I wanna look right at you. I wanna sing right to you." I decided to ask God to let me see His face so I could sing to Him.

Hahahahahaha...be careful what you ask for... ;)

So, I closed my eyes, and within seconds I was face-to-face with a huge lion. Not just a still image. I moving, breathing lion. It's eyes were piercing and focused on me. Yowza!! I was so shocked...and a little freaked out...that I almost jumped backwards. It was an encounter...not with fear...but with power. Jesus, the Lion of Judah. Amazing.

"Stop weeping! Look, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the heir to David's throne, has won the victory. Revelation 5:5

This Is Amazing Grace

I absolutely love the verses to this song. We've started singing it at church, and I think it's a beautiful picture of the possibility of more life here today. Wonderful! When we realize that we know more about church tradition or operation than actually knowing God...when we realize we have more of a relationship with His word than with Him...we have an invitation to so much more. Wholeness, freedom, relationship, encounter...today!! Here's to accepting the offer for more life today!! :)

 

What Would It Look Like?

"What would your city look like if the kingdom of God were superimposed over every realm of society? Can you imagine what would happen to the crime rate, the divorce rate, terminal diseases, hate, abortion, depression, poverty, hopelessness, molestation, rape, pornography, addictions, unemployment… if you and other dreamers began to envision the future of your city with God, and then impregnated the populace with that vision like Martin Luther King did in his day?" -Kris Vallotton from "How Heaven Invades Earth"

I saw this quote and wondered about some of the realms I am involved in. What would those areas look like if the kingdom of God was more fully released there? Envisioning a future!!! Birthing a vision!!!!! Oh, to become a dreamer on behalf of those realms!! Wow...what a beautiful calling we have.

Jesus spoke so much about what the kingdom of God looked like and that it was near. What a privilege to be released in His desire...flooding the world with compassion, hope, love, joy, goodness, provision, healing, community, stewardship, worth, creativity, inspiration...the Kingdom list goes on and on.

If you are a friend of God, this is your work! Have fun and DREAM BIG!!! :)

Friendship With God

Growing in Patience

Super interesting experience last week. I ended up posting something that provoked a little bit. It wasn't provocative to me but pushed some buttons for another.

**I should add that things that provoke thought don't really rock me too much...but maybe that's just me. I like to have something to think about...a challenge. That's why I've loved reading things by Rob Bell, Greg Boyd, Bill Johnson, Graham Cooke, etc. They offer great challenge. It doesn't mean I have to agree...although sometimes I do. Mostly it's a great sharpening exercise.

One of my friends emailed me what she thought about it which I greatly appreciated. The other responder, though, wanted to argue about it and by the end was arguing points I made at the onset as though they were still against me. I was so confused by it and as to why it was a big deal in the first place, but I was also noticing a little irritation and wanted to try to respond appropriately....so I did a little research...and some contemplating.

So...I'm a bit of a mystic. I've talked about that before. I believe it is not only possible but desired by the Trinity that we can experience a living and active relationship with God today. I believe in the gift of the Holy Spirit and the release of greater power and destiny because of that gift. I believe in the need for balance so as to not become so experiential that grounding in truth is negated, but nevertheless I believe the Holy Spirit is for today and is a source of truth (John 16:13). Because of the work of Jesus on the cross, I'm headed back to Eden in a way...where they walked with God, heard Him speak what was true, and freely walked in who He said they were because of Him. They ruled from that place. Powerful and beautiful. Of course, it's all a process...but totally a possible one...and one I believe was meant to start today...NOT AFTER DEATH.

As such, I view the Bible, God's Word, as necessary but also as a springboard into more....a guide to greater encounter with the Trinity and one of the major tools for transformation and freedom. Paired with interpretation through the lens of who Jesus is (the Word who became flesh)...humility and surrender...and empowerment by the Holy Spirit...it's a powerful key to living out kingdom life today.

I do not live solely between the two covers of the Book though...and for someone who does, some of my thoughts are problematic. Wrong even.

I'm trying to be sensitive to that. My ideas about how to interpret Scripture and then how to use it for more would come off as an insult to their main mode and definition of relationship with God. How to challenge that and not seem heretical???? I'm guessing that's an impossibility. How to at least keep a door open for communication regarding the possibility of so much more in Christ??? I don't know. If there's judgment on either side, it won't happen. I absolutely love their value of Scripture, but I also have some concerns about the implications of a Book-only life.

I'm guessing it's not realistic...and maybe that needs to be ok. At least I can take away from them a call to delight in the Word.

Blessing of Community

I'll tell you what...community matters. What a phenomenal blessing! It matters to have people around you who will encourage you in your walk. It matters to have people who will invest in the transformation of your mind through challenge. It matters to have people who will celebrate your victories and grieve your sorrows.

Don't be a lone ranger!!!

The Trinity is relational to the core. We are made to be relational...and grow within that context.

What a privilege!

Disciple of Paul...or Jesus?

"It's really important for us that the words of Jesus become more important than the words of Paul, that we see Paul's ministry through the light of the gospels and that we don't see Jesus through the light of the Epistles. That's really important. Why?...because we are following Presence. I don't want to be a disciple of Paul. I want to be a disciple of Jesus." - Graham Cooke 

Oh, I love this...Jesus is the lens for interpreting Scripture. Man...I wonder what would be modified in the church if this order of seeing and interpreting was put into practice more often. Interesting to think about. 

Vball Season Begins

I'm a sub this year for our vball team. So far I have had to play both nights, and it's been really fun. I find it so hilarious, though, how my "rules" come out....expectations in a game.

1. This is war. The other team is the enemy. Stop making nice unless it is a strategy. Hahahaha! Oh dear. I'm working on this...sort of. ;)

2. We can't get stuck in our heads with negative self-talk. It's not remotely helpful in the battle!!! Shake it off. Move on. It's all good.

3. Teamwork is the ideal. I find I actually get a high. I'm serious!! Hahaha! I love when we can each use our strengths, have focus and control, and do beautiful set-ups. Oh baby....so lovely.

4. Be teachable. No one is exempt from improvement. Take the investment. It means you have potential for more.

5. Patience. They say it's a virtue...those jerks. ;) You can still be serious about winning and be patient with progress. I have to work on that...in regards to myself too.

6. Alcohol...definitely don't get too influenced. You'll play like an idiot...because you are one. Hahaha!

Oh boy...some to work on...some to maintain. Here's to a great season! :)

Outdoor Worship Event

How fun! Helping plan an outdoor worship event at church this summer. Pretty excited to secure groups and then...worship together!! :) Not all churches or churchy people are interested in broader community events. Has to be all about "us" on our own islands, you know. Frustrating. But...some...oh yes...will come together as brothers and sisters in Christ and share His kingdom together. We shall see!

Praying for the Nigerian Girls by Name

You may have heard about the Nigerian girls that were kidnapped from their classroom by a terrorist. He has been pretty outspoken about his intents to sell and exploit them...likely already is. Someone released the names of the girls still in captivity. I'm going to be praying for those precious ones by name. Please join in! :)

 

Jesus and the Woman's Place

I'm thankful every day for the ministry involvements that I have. We are allowed to become who we are made to be in Christ.

Jesus and the Woman's Place

Religion is Anti-Me

I saw this on Facebook the other day, and I was intrigued...because I totally agree! Haha! I'm one who loves Jesus, yet I agree with an atheist about "religion". Oh man...the kind of belief that reduces faith to legalism and sin management...the Pharisaical "religion"...is so destructive. Yes, it keeps some people behaving themselves, but it robs people of real life...the kind of life that releases people into true freedom and destiny. It robs people of the ability to love beyond rules...which makes for an awful reputation of cruelty. So terribly sad.

So...yep...I believe religion is anti-me too. I won't ever go back. :)