Monday

March 31, 2009 In the moment

The first rule of focus is 'Wherever you are be there'. Unknown

Eventually there's an epidemic of backstabbing, and truth is but a distant memory. They think religion is a way to make a fast buck. 1 Timothy 6:5 The Message

Prosperity teaching or motivational seminars, wealth gaining schemes, have nothing in this moment or enjoying what is right now. They are all about gaining a lie or an illusion for the future.

I'm enjoying the simplicity of the moment, sitting on the sofa wrapped up to my neck in my quilt eating a bowl of 'southern style' grits, and for those who aren't sure what that is. it's grits with butter, salt and pepper.

So to all of the temptations that this world has to offer and lies of what isn't real or worth pursuing, which can only be seen after 'been there done that', on the other side of the illusion. I have only one thing to say as I enjoy the steam from my bowl....



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Saturday

March 28, 2009 Light and Peace

There is no doubt that 'peace, peace where there is no peace' is a reminder of the world's illusion of false peace. With this 450 blog entry I just want to send real peace and hope to you as we remind each other to hold onto Jesus Who is within us. He is our Peace, our Strength, our Fortress, our Immovable Rock, our Healer, our Provider, our Deliverer, our Protector, our All in All.

With all that we are hearing these days out there in the world and closer to home, I want to send you this message that peace is not 'out there', it is only 'in here', within us...''Don't be afraid, friend. Peace. Everything is going to be all right. Take courage. Be strong.' "Even as he spoke, courage surged up within me. I said, 'Go ahead, let my master speak. You've given me courage.' Daniel 10:19 (The Message)

Let it out how ever you can, every one's style is different...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RNa9cbEGyV8

Honestly, how can we hide it when it isn't a 'little' Light anyway?


Friday

March 27, 2009 Fly Ball

It isn't quite that easy in trying to determine what God is bringing back into the picture after it has been surrendered or should I say laid to rest. What am I saying? After dropping assignments of directing/organizing or coordinating, my challenge now is to stand (that is not move first) on the side lines in order to allow God to bring it back if He chooses to and if He chooses to it may not be in the previous form. I can honestly say with total peace, yes Lord, please lead me, please show me Your way. I see it as standing on the sidelines and if the ball is thrown my way I'll catch it straight into my glove.

One thought which comes to my mind was at an Astros game when a fly ball came my way and fell one row of chairs in front of me. I literally jumped over the chairs to get the ball. Next thing I know a man grabs me to get it away with one arm around my neck like a vice until I screamed at him 'get off of me!!'.

So with this image and what I said above, all of the balls coming my way feel like tests to see if I can just 'stand' without jumping over everything to take the them, because next time if I wait for God to drop the ball in my glove I won't need to scream about getting choked.

Nice!!


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Thursday

March 26, 2009 No Doubt

There is no doubt that when our focus is on difficult circumstances is easy to dive right in and if not careful drown. But when we can allow ourselves to feel these feelings and begin to walk down a path with understanding family and friends and our hearts connected we can find a place to breathe and sigh when all the internal and external screaming and crying settles down. We then arrive at the end of these moments to find peace, hope and experience God's love.

There is no doubt that when I encounter wonderful relationships with whom God has allowed our paths to cross (what are the mathematical odds of that?!) that I am more richly blessed as we walk together in truth, honesty, openness, deep understanding, joy and a full spectrum of deep connecting expressions. I am feeling one awesome friend today, Pam Hobart, yes, she is a wonderful friend whose birthday is today and the gift is mine knowing her. Happy Birthday Pam :-)

There is no doubt that when a man seeks the heart of God and his highest desire is for those seeking to find Jesus, the harvest grows. We were at a funeral yesterday for the grandfather of dear friends, the Edwards. I never met C.H. Akins aka Preacher but in the few minutes of sharing from his family I felt I had known him. He lived a life devoted to the call of Jesus Christ. He left a legacy for his children and his children's children to continue in this call. It was shared that he often said 'plow to the fence' what an amazing thought, and he did.

There is no doubt that when everything is said and done and we have done all that we can do, we see that there has always been One with us and waiting for us all the time, reminding us that this is not the end but the beginning and as we walk towards and into His amazing Light.

There is no doubt that this has been an amazing week and it isn't over yet.


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Wednesday

March 25, 2009 Beauty Within

What we seek we will find. If we look for beauty we find beauty.

It has become my choice to look for beauty 'within'. When our focus is on beauty 'without' there is a dis'ease' of comparison. We bypass observations of outer beauty by going straight to the heart or inner being. It is here we find no measuring, no comparing, no feeling greater than, no feeling less than, only 'oneness' with each other because 'real' love is present, not the fake version of it.

This is the most amazing piece of sculpture I've seen. Depiction of being 'Born Again' I was thinking about this sculpture when writing the above. It depicts beauty 'within', peeling off or shedding of our old self to a beautiful 'rebirth' exposing all that is left, a totally transparent 'Beauty Within'.


1 Peter 3:4 Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight.

This is the place where we are equal and the same.

Tuesday

March 24, 2009 No Calendar, No Clock

I guess this is coming late. I don't want to get caught up with a preciseness of time, although that had been my nature for most of my life, that is, preciseness and perfection (which really is an illusion). This blog will be 4 away from 450 entries. I guess it surprises me that I had that much in me to share, and on the other hand it doesn't surprise me that I have that much to share. There seems to be this endless flow from deep inside of me and it feels like abundant Life.

I've been thinking that at 500 I would stop, but for now I'm learning to live in 'this moment' and make adjustments whenever and wherever necessary. I once lived by stressful deadlines in my work, day after day, heaping on more and more like some kind of crazy-making game with myself, with everyone around me suffering to conform to 'my' filled-up days. It feels so wonderful to live in 'this moment' and not worry for tomorrow. Well, 500 is still quite-a-ways to go, a little over a month, so I'll set aside that thought until that day comes.

And to think I once wondered what it would be like to live without a calendar or clock. I guess in this life that isn't going to happen, but if it could I think it would be like heaven.

I want to be able to live this completely with total surrender to a God who knows what I need every moment of every day. Matthew 6:24 Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don't get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes. (Message)

'Consider the lilies'

Monday

March 23, 2009 Applying for a lucrative job

A religious man is a person who holds God and man in one thought at one time, at all times, who suffers harm done to others, whose greatest passion is compassion, whose greatest strength is love and defiance of despair. Abraham Joshua Heschel

This says so much, 'passion is compassion'. What a profession it would be! The conversation of someone seeking information in this field of work might sound like this....

Excuse me, what type of work do you do? Oh, my life's passion, I am an investor in the field of Compassion. Oh, what is the return on the investment? Well, the return is quite lucrative. How's that? The investment yields 30, 60 and 100 times in interest. Really?! That's unheard of in this world. Tangible assets? Assets are from something more precious than the commodity of gold. The assets build infinite capital and liability is completely paid in full. Wow, where do I apply? To apply go to the the one nearest to you, listen to His instructions. Do I need to take anything with me? Nothing, just follow Him, He will tell you what to do next.

Sunday

March 22, 2009 Feeding the Heart and Soul

Proverbs 25:1 A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.

Brings light into eyes as it nourishes the heart and soul.


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Saturday

March 21, 2009 One in Reasoning Cognitive Dissonance

We are having some amazing connection in 'being one' these days as we search for a deeper connection with our Creator and each other. We are living His Love with every breath we take, we experience Him in us and in each other, we are one.

John 17:20 "My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: 23 I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me."

So here we are continually searching the depth of our existence, observing our reactions, our responses, our receiving from each other, as our God, our Lord, our Savior reveals Himself to us in such an amazing profound Truth. He is revealing to us how we are deeply connected with each other 'oneness in love'.

It is no longer becoming something 'untouchable', 'unreachable' or 'unallowable', but it is as close as we allow His Truth to come forth from within ourselves. We ponder together, search out our hearts together and submit to one another by serving with unconditional love, first to God with complete surrender. We are no longer afraid to express our hearts and no longer justifying through diminished dissonance, no longer running 'from' but 'to' it as we reason together.

This came to a group of us last night as we are not afraid to lay it all out to ponder and reason together.

Here is the definition out of Wikipedia, as is. Here's the link if you would like to read more studies http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cognitive_dissonance

Cognitive dissonance is an uncomfortable feeling caused by holding two contradictory ideas simultaneously. The "ideas" or "cognitions" in question may include attitudes and beliefs, and also the awareness of one's behavior. The theory of cognitive dissonance proposes that people have a motivational drive to reduce dissonance by changing their attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors, or by justifying or rationalizing their attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors. Cognitive dissonance theory is one of the most influential and extensively studied theories in social psychology.Dissonance normally occurs when a person perceives a logical inconsistency among his or her cognitions. This happens when one idea implies the opposite of another. For example, a belief in animal rights could be interpreted as inconsistent with eating meat or wearing fur. Noticing the contradiction would lead to dissonance, which could be experienced as anxiety, guilt, shame, anger, embarrassment, stress, and other negative emotional states. When people's ideas are consistent with each other, they are in a state of harmony, or consonance. If cognitions are unrelated, they are categorized as irrelevant to each other and do not lead to dissonance.A powerful cause of dissonance is when an idea conflicts with a fundamental element of the self-concept, such as "I am a good person" or "I made the right decision." The anxiety that comes with the possibility of having made a bad decision can lead to rationalization, the tendency to create additional reasons or justifications to support one's choices. A person who just spent too much money on a new car might decide that the new vehicle is much less likely to break down than his or her old car. This belief may or may not be true, but it would likely reduce dissonance and make the person feel better. Dissonance can also lead to confirmation bias, the denial of disconfirming evidence, and other ego defense mechanisms.

We can all come to the table and stuff ourselves. It's complete joy without the calories!


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Friday

March 20, 2009 'Spread Out'

I spent most of my adult life pursuing comfort that came in my path as a gift from God for a better life. But over the past few years the greatest comfort has come through experiencing outward brokenness which through surrendering to it, brought inward brokenness and a catharsis for a more abundant 'inward' comfort, peace and life. I always thought the continuous flow of tangible gifts were from God for being a good servant, by 'doing' what I thought was right in His eyes. That is, a nice home, nice car, pantry full, good job, closet full and on and on but this was my misunderstanding. But now realizing that it was never in the 'doing' of anything and these gifts are definitely abundant gifts, so the overflow can be for His Kingdom, that is to tend, feed and love His sheep. I now realize they don't come as gifts for the doing, but rather total surrender to being His servant, and if they come, they come, if not that is okay too. In the surrendering we see His infinite provision and His love for us, that He never leaves us or forsakes us. The greatest peace and joy is in being His servant and not serving for the purpose of receiving.

As we tend, feed and love His scattered, hurting, searching sheep we are doing it for Him. If we spread out we can cover a greater area in the harvest field. The work has a unique assignment waiting for all who are willing to surrender to His call.

Paul wrote in Colossians 'Tell Archippus, See to it that you complete that work you have received from the Lord.'

A beautiful step by step description of our assignment for tending sheep, by St Francis of Assisi:

Lord, make me an instrument of Thy peace;
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master,
grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;
to be understood, as to understand;
to be loved, as to love;
for it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life. Amen.

An alternate translation Twelve Steps in Alcoholics Anonymous

Lord, make me a channel of thy peace;
that where there is hatred, I may bring love;
that where there is wrong, I may bring the spirit of forgiveness;
that where there is discord, I may bring harmony;
that where there is error, I may bring truth;
that where there is doubt, I may bring faith;
that where there is despair, I may bring hope;
that where there are shadows, I may bring light;
that where there is sadness, I may bring joy.

Lord, grant that I may seek rather to comfort than to be comforted;
to understand, than to be understood;
to love, than to be loved.
For it is by self-forgetting that one finds.
It is by forgiving that one is forgiven.
It is by dying that one awakens to eternal life.
Amen.


'Okay, everybody, spread out'


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Thursday

March 19, 2009 More of this Unique Walk

I shared yesterday about this uniquely designed walk with God for my life and want to continue sharing about the awesome revelation that occurs as I surrender on this path. And as I look at this surrender thing, and it comes all day long, it is apparent there is a continuous choice on my part. I can choose by surrendering to things which I cannot see fully, trusting God, or I can choose by not surrendering to things which I do see and do it on my own.

I wrote yesterday that I am not responsible for those once they take His hand in response to 'follow Me'. After more thought, this statement is partly incorrect because we do walk together, we are our brothers' keeper. And to clarify further, there is that part of each uniquely planned path that I now respect and will not control but revel in the experience and wonder as we walk together into this revelation which is before us.

'We evaluate others with a god like justice, but we want them to evaluate us with a godlike compassion' Sydney J. Harris

'If we judge people, you have no time to love them' - Mother Theresa

'But if we walk in the light, God himself being the light, we also experience a shared life with one another, as the sacrificed blood of Jesus, God's Son, purges all our sin' 1 John 1:7


http://static.flickr.com/2312/1865221998_fa0a3ee0b7.jpg

Oh yeah, let's keep doing it!! It's so beautiful!!!


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Wednesday

March 18. 2009 This Unique Path

Certainly I don't understand fully as a corruptible human being, God's magnificence, nor am I able to comprehend His infinitely glorious Word with the same corruptible mind. I can only wait for revelation or wonder about the experience of seeing Him face to face. But even as heaven is available on earth, if it wasn't for the flesh that separates me from seeing Him face to face, the experience of knowing Him more by faith is greatly increased in my curiosity and questions of what I am not able to see. This faith is ample but never satiating my desire to want to know Him more because there is more than I know.

As a little girl I can remember with the mind and freedom of a child, curiously uninhibited searching for God in beauty and nature. Then little by little my child-like heart was 'reformed' and adjusted to human pain and limits. This is not my way of being critical of any tradition or situation, it is only my way of trying to express as best possible the beauty that is infinitely unfolding before my eyes with each step, and God is once again revealing Himself to me as the crusty hardness around my heart falls off (or maybe that's the beam in the eyes of my heart). The portion which He reveals to me is just for me, and each one has their own unique journey to live out according to Truth as Truth is revealed to him or her. No teaching or words are ever needed, only the constant prayerful breath which connects us with God and His infinite, unfathomable Love.

Our human interpretations of the divine nature of God and His Word if not careful creates confusion in searching, innocent hearts and poisons the harvest before it reaches maturity. There is nothing that completely or accurately exemplifies God Himself as He holds out in His magnificent hands offering the most precious gift of all, without cost, a gift purchased with a great price.

My language is changing and when I wrote this yesterday evening as it came to me, I didn't send it out this morning in order to check my heart, and stay in check and seeing I no longer am able to teach but only point to The Way beyond me, to the path where God takes each precious human being the rest of the way. It is not my responsibility to 'teach with limits' anyone once they take His hand in response to 'follow Me'. Then it was only confirmed to me today as we met in the community of Love Machine that He is revealing simultaneously, His nature through His Spirit, to all of those (us, you, me) seeking His face to love and know Him more, as much as is humanly possible.

Tuesday

March 17, 2009 Exemplifying the Genuine

Love cannot be faked. There are many forms of fake love out there. To distinguish, the fake-feeds the ego or self, and the real-is given to and received from an exposed, wide open, vulnerable heart.

I came across this site with all quotes on love from Mother Teresa. Here are examples of untiring, relentless, genuine love shown in many ways. There are too many to post, here's the link to read them as you have time. http://home.att.net/~hillcrestbaptist/mt.html

Just because I am writing about genuine love don't think I totally understand or always exemplify this, I have an ego that needs to constantly die. One thing I do know and experience everyday comes only by the ongoing process of surrendering, being crushed, dying, rebirthing into new life and experiencing God's unconditional love. Love is never ceasing, but always increasing exponentially as I allow my heart to become more and more exposed.

The actions of our heart will exemplify the words 'I love you' by being totally vulnerable to give and receive genuine love. We give love because we desire the highest for each other.

Here are the words. Let's start with Gaelic in celebration of St. Patrick who 'lived' love for the Irish.
'Ta gra agam ort'

Chinese
"Wo ie ni"

Greek
's' agapo'

Japanese
'Kimi o ai shiteru'

Italian
'ti voglio bene' or 'ti amo'

Dutch
'Ik hou van jou'

Welsh
'Rwy'n dy garu di'

Afrikaans
'Ek het jou liefe'

German
'Ich liebe Dich'

French
'Je t'aime'

Spanish
'Te quiero'

and of course

English
'I love you'


So simple, so complex, so profound,
We love because He first loved us. 1 John 4:19

Monday

March 16, 2009 Crushed to Life

It came to me this weekend that life is perfect just as it is and there is no need for change, ever.

We have been taught to run from pain. I am now seeing inextricable pain and turmoil along with healing and peace are natural processes in this life's journey. There is beauty in God's plan for our lives and He allows it all to happen, the turmoil and pain with healing and peace. No matter how hard we try to explain it away, run or avoid it, isolate ourselves from it, it will happen. Yes, prior to the 'crushing' there is internal life dormant and waiting.

Pain, turmoil, crushing, death, joy, peace, healing, growth, life, are all necessary for a more abundant Life and I am accepting it, embracing it, allowing it (i.e. not resisting it), and fully experiencing it all.

This could be misunderstood, but I am sharing how much I love my life, because it is full and abundant and I don't mean with 'things'. I am no longer resisting what I perceive to be hurtful, painful or difficult because it is part of His perfect plan for this unfathomable journey, and being crushed brings forth life from within.

There is life within the seed, in order for there to be seed there must be a full life.


http://www.historyforkids.org/learn/egypt/food/wheat.jpg

Here is an interesting video showing the ancient threshing method. Notice the sequence of the threshing: turning (surrender), crushing, separation and the inner part remains, refinement, combed and washed. Makes me tired watching it and going through the process of being threshed does make me very tired but it's all worth it, 'I'm worth it'.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fDmciOFo7M4


Galatians 6:9 So let's not allow ourselves to get fatigued doing good. At the right time we will harvest a good crop if we don't give up, or quit. The Message (And I don't plan to give up or quit)

I am seeing that there really is something to celebrate about this whole process. And I want some polenta and Italian sausage now!! Anyone ready for lunch? :-)

Friday

March 13, 2009 Living Prayer

James 5:16....The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. NIV

Have you ever thought about what prayer looks like? Our perceptions of sin and prayer is something outwardly visible, like a mouth moving or words spoken or heard or something being done.

The Word of God is alive, It is a discerner of the hidden thoughts and intents of the heart. Just waking up each day with our glorious, continuously functioning bodies is ongoing prayer, infinite communication with our Creator. Hidden, living prayer is our breath and our heartbeat, no spoken words are needed (although we do this).

I just finished sketching some leaves in a piece of art. This is not it but the title of this photo 'A Living Prayer'. This is what I want to be, not just prayer at certain times of the day but 'Living Prayer', every breath, every heartbeat.

http://sk1.yt-thm-a01.yimg.com/image/13581ee36f6b26a4

We are leaving for Austin for some family time, so I won't be sending an email out until Monday morning. Know that my breath and heart beats with yours, it is our ongoing prayer.

Thursday

March 12, 2009 Money, Power, Futility

"God's designs may be frequent justification for our actions, but it is we, the "self-made men", who take the credit."

"Illusion is needed to disguise the emptiness within."

"The heart, not the head, must be the guide."
__ Arthur Ericksen, Architect

We live in a world out of control because of self gratification, self recognition, self exaltation, the focus has been to acquire power and position creating destruction, turmoil and great loss in all cultures throughout history.

There is a plan for life with One Who doesn't just sit inactively observing as we go from one civilization, one ideal, one culture to another. It has been proven throughout history that man is incapable of fully understanding God's perfect plan for our lives. We edit His blue print in an attempt to fill our emptiness and 'take the credit' for our forgery of Truth. The legacy is deficit and ruin; the beauty is redemption is relentlessly waiting at the door.

Ecclesiastes 2:1 I thought in my heart, "Come now, I will test you with pleasure to find out what is good." But that also proved to be meaningless. 2 "Laughter," I said, "is foolish. And what does pleasure accomplish?" 3 I tried cheering myself with wine, and embracing folly--my mind still guiding me with wisdom. I wanted to see what was worthwhile for men to do under heaven during the few days of their lives. 4 I undertook great projects: I built houses for myself and planted vineyards. 5 I made gardens and parks and planted all kinds of fruit trees in them. 6 I made reservoirs to water groves of flourishing trees. 7 I bought male and female slaves and had other slaves who were born in my house. I also owned more herds and flocks than anyone in Jerusalem before me. 8 I amassed silver and gold for myself, and the treasure of kings and provinces. I acquired men and women singers, and a harem as well--the delights of the heart of man. 9 I became greater by far than anyone in Jerusalem before me. In all this my wisdom stayed with me. 10 I denied myself nothing my eyes desired; I refused my heart no pleasure. My heart took delight in all my work, and this was the reward for all my labor". ......(in hind-sight it took all this for Solomon to realized he wasn't satisfied with great wealth and power, it was all futile)...11 Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun.

And after this....



as we are stepping down or falling down from the need for power and money as a means for self gratification or even self preservation here is genuine Truth.

...something beautiful happens...


http://static.flickr.com/2282/1765138696_75d21edd1d.jpg

Isaiah 55:1 "Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. 2 Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of fare."

Wednesday

March 11, 2009 Love...

GO OUT AND LOVE...

COMPLETELY,

ABSOLUTELY,

UNCONDITIONALLY

Tuesday

March 10, 2009 Birth in Stillness

I cannot think of one circumstance in my life or as I listen to situations in other's lives, where being still didn't bring answers or an awareness for what is being sought. With our racing minds and our racing hearts, the greatest difficulty is finding stillness within us. How do we overcome the need to constantly be 'doing' or 'speaking' every second of every waken day? Where is time to be still? I cannot answer that question for anyone, not even for myself. One thing that is sure, it seems to be my choice.

The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still. Exodus 14
(Can I say 'easier said than done'?)

Somehow it has become real or surreal to me as I stand still, not moved, and allow the Lord to do what He desires in me and watch while His hand moves the universe all around me.

I've been fighting to remove the next paragraph thinking it doesn't belong with what I'm saying, but it does...

I woke up with this on my heart and as I searched deeper, Hannah had this stillness in her heart and out of it she gave birth to both spirit and flesh. 1 Samuel 2:1 Hannah prayed: I'm bursting with God-news! I'm walking on air. I'm laughing at my rivals. I'm dancing my salvation. 2 Nothing and no one is holy like God, no rock mountain like our God. 3 Don't dare talk pretentiously - not a word of boasting, ever! For God knows what's going on. He takes the measure of everything that happens. 4 The weapons of the strong are smashed to pieces, while the weak are infused with fresh strength. (The Message)

I guess I must find the place to be still and watch as everything moves around me. I've been writing about it a lot these days.


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Monday

March 9, 2009 Goal - Opening the Door to Deeper Connection and Intimacy

Almost every morning I start with a thought and it turns into something else before I finish. But I want to get back to my original thought from the other day. Here is a bit of the craziness brought to the light that we expect of ourselves and often of others from the The Wounded Woman, by Dr Steve Stephens and Pam Vredevelt:

"We live in a world of 'shoulds' and if we do not meet our particular list of shoulds, we frequently feel guilty. Yet the real question is: 'Are those shoulds of ours realistic or healthy or even possible?'

Should comes from the Anglo-Saxon word for scold. Too often we scold ourselves for not being perfect or not being able to make those around us happy. But nobody's perfect, so it's time to stop beating ourselves up.

A Few Common 'Shoulds'

I should always be kind, patient, loving and encouraging in ever situation.
I should never make mistakes.
I should never forget.
I should always be happy and positive and have a great attitude.
I should be able to quickly find the best solution to every problem.
I should never be angry, frustrated or lose my temper.
I should never hurt anybody.
I should always be prepared (for anything).
I should be a positive example in all I say and do.
I should never get sick or exhausted.
I should be able to deal with any difficulty or trauma with complete composure.
I should never let people discourage or disappoint me.
I should never let my feelings control me.
I should always be perfect."
_______

Taking the 'shoulds' to the next level. Turning the need for power grabbing, pushing 'shoulds' into inclusion, deep connection and opening the door to trust and intimacy through loving inquiry. Thank you, to both Jims, for this timely email the same day...

'It is a common human desire to be heard, understood, and valued by others. This is good. There is an even deeper, even more fundamental need to feel connected and included as an equal among one's fellow human beings. This is great. As Jim Collins says so cleverly in his bestseller, Good to Great, "the enemy of the great is the good." Pursuing the good (one's own sense of personal power), at the expense of another, which can often sound very needy and prescriptive, with sentences starting like (or feeling like to them), "You need to ..." or "You should ..." often destroys the impact of whatever potentially useful information might follow. Speaking from a desperate "needing to be understood" is a cleverly disguised power grab, an attempt to feel more powerful than another, and it pushes away the more essential need for equality, inclusion, and intimacy. Words like, "Can you please help me better understand you?" or "Is there anything you are requesting from me in this, or would you just appreciate my listening and support?" are connective in nature, desiring intimacy through inquiry. They often open the door for input through trust and deep connection, in a way that is sure to be heard and valued, thereby increasing the power and influence of whatever relevant information that might follow.'



I may never fully get it and won't beat myself anymore up as a student in this study of 'Life' as I am constantly learning and practicing 'to choose life' with this goal and objective: Set aside the need to exert personal power (where I fail everytime) by trying to force connection with 'shoulds' and 'ought tos' and instead practice opening the door to listening and support to find deeper connection and intimacy.












Sunday

March 8, 2009 FW: Words of encouragement as black clouds seem to gather

My email for this morning can wait until tomorrow. This dropped in my heart and is creating a flood...with all the relentless pounding of despair and darkness all around us, please don't give up, please remember where your help does come from. It isn't from any other institution, person, bank or government. We have One standing and waiting for us to cry out to Him; this is where we find peace, protection and provision.



As I prayed hard this morning, feeling the upcoming challenges that lie ahead in living and supporting people (starting with my own family) through quite possibly the darkest times of their lives, as they wrestle with their choices and their own conscience vs. the world's promotions and seductions, feeling so tired, like they're groping exhaustedly in the dark, here are the amazing words He offered to encourage me in the daily battles. And the battles sure do unfold before right before our eyes, as worldwide financial miseries mount, and it's becoming easier to see the strain on and tears in the very fabric of our society - with faith waning and cynicism and jadedness growing, family and marital chaos, disconnection, and disharmony abounding, abuse, bitterness, and competition seething, delusions, denials, and distractions multiplying, performance and work obsession rising to new heights in a state of disarray and panic and total loss of focus or sense of purpose. What an amazing time to be alive and empowered as a light in the darkness - in this amazingly beautiful mess. I do not need to find my own safety, to use my intellect or good ideas to save myself. He did not cause my difficulties or problems, I did, in my surrender to the world. And now I simply need His protection as I surrender my life to do His will.

Isaiah 50 (The Message)
1-3 God says:
"Can you produce your mother's divorce papers proving I got rid of her?Can you produce a receipt proving I sold you? Of course you can't. It's your mistakes that put you here, your wrongs that got you shipwrecked.So why didn't anyone come when I knocked? Why didn't anyone answer when I called?Do you think I've forgotten how to help? Am I so decrepit that I can't deliver?I'm as powerful as ever, and can reverse what I once did:I can dry up the sea with a word, turn river water into desert sand,And leave the fish stinking in the sun, stranded on dry land . . .Turn all the lights out in the sky and pull down the curtain." 4-9The Master, God, has given me a well-taught tongue, so I know how to encourage tired people. He wakes me up in the morning, wakes me up, opens my ears to listen as one ready to receive orders.The Master, God, opened my ears, and I didn't go back to sleep, didn't pull the covers back over my head.I followed orders, stood there and took it while they beat me. I held steady while they pulled out my beard.I didn't dodge their insults and faced them straight up as they spit in my face and mocked me.And the Master, God, He stayed right here with me and helped me, so I'm not disgraced.Therefore I set my face like flint, confident that I will never regret this.My champion is right here. Let us take our stand together!Who dares bring suit against me? Let him try!Look! The Master, God, is right here. Who would dare call me guilty?Look! My accusers are a clothes bin of threadbare socks and shirts, fodder for moths! 10-11Who out there fears God and actually listens to the voice of his servant?For anyone out there who doesn't know where you're going, anyone groping in the dark,here's what there is to do right now: Trust in God. Lean on your God!But if all you're after is making trouble, playing with fire, go ahead and see where it gets you. Set your fires, stir people up, blow on the flames, but don't expect me to just stand there and watch. I'll hold your feet to those flames. ...



and we'll just let Him warm our feet together.

And then I looked over at the desk calendar, and here was today's message:"The key to empowerment, both personal and collective, is the understanding that, although darkness stalks the light relentlessly, the light will always reassert itself and prevail. No matter what is happening, the universe is fully invested in healing and wholeness. God always has the final say; He is running things, and He has everything firmly in hand. He even has the enemy's feet held firmly to the fire, even as he tries so desperately to dance and dart about, to totally mess with us. The good news is that, in the end, he's hopeless - his efforts are futile and useless - his vain war already lost."


Jim Spivey
Revolution Consulting
2219 McDuffieHouston, TX
77019(713) 854-4848

e-mail: jspivey@revolutionconsulting.com
blog: http://www.revolutionconsulting.com/blogger.htm

"helping people wake up and come alive, connect deeply with God, themselves, and others,and choose a life of passion, purpose, and self-responsibility"

Saturday

March 7, 2009 Love Hidden Breaks Out

I am coming to an amazing place as I understand the only way to love someone is to let them find their own path, and on their path their own way. Because if I interject anything of 'myself' it will only be misdirection or the wrong way. Oh yes, I am following Jesus, He is in me. I can point everyone to Him, and also say 'please don't follow me'. There is flesh to be dealt with every moment of everyday. There is ego to die, the tongue to control, the mind that needs to be renewed and the 'acting out' of fear, which are always going to be poor examples of my faith and of God's unconditional love and compassion. Worship, reading His Word and speaking about the Lord always invites the Spirit, but when out of the Spirit the flesh manifests fleshly desires and fear which need to always be conquered. I now see there is no place for judgment, ever, only unconditional love, compassion for those hurting and searching and desiring to be loved.

Yesterday I was hurting as I heard about a man that lived within our courtyard of our apartment complex. Neighbors asked if I heard what happened and I said 'no'. He had committed suicide after losing his job. There are so many deeply hurting people, finding no way out their pain, no one available to listen, no one to love them without judgment. They are everywhere. To be able to look at them, and smile or at least say a silent prayer because we 'do' know. It may be all they need to get them through another day. We can be sure of it, everywhere people are in despair and hurting. We can choose to lead them to Jesus knowing our hope and our difficulties, but for others to see Him in me, I must be truthful about myself without facades. True unconditional love and true compassion (love can never be faked) draws searching and the desire to know and desire more.

“When I meet someone, I look into his or her eyes, because that person for me is Jesus.” Mother Teresa

'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.' Jesus ___ Matthew 25


Love them Like Jesus loves them
Love them like they are Jesus

Love Them Like Jesus, Casting Crowns
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1qfaiKiCh7I&feature=related


I sent the following out recently. It was written by a dear friend Lizabeth Doolittle on February 20 after the despair and grief for another dear family, whose son who was tragically killed two days before. It is so powerful and if we could only completely get it. And Pam if you are reading this...I so love you and Steve and Chris. We cannot even begin to imagine how difficult it is for you, but if it ever feels like you want to give up please remember that you are surrounded by love and we are all prayerfully waiting for you.

Love Broke Out (I like the past tense here)

Verb: break out breyk awt1. Start abruptly"After 1989, peace broke out in the former East Bloc"- erupt2. Begin suddenly and sometimes violently"He broke out shouting""Love Broke Out", "Prayer Broke Out", "Kindness Broke Out"These are the headlines I would love to see in the newspapers, instead of the senseless tragedies we do see. A family in our community lost a son in such a senseless event. Headlines were written about this unfathomable loss of life and all of those who loved this family and those who just love life wanted those headlines and reporting to be a made up horror story, lies, fabrications, a fictional tragedy. But the loss was real.A friend, Vicky, wrote to me on facebook that a 15 year old girl was life-flighted from her neighborhood, after suffering a stroke. Vicky said all the neighbors came out of their homes and "prayer broke out".I love this definition of "break out"--- 2. Begin suddenly and sometimes violentlyAdjective: violent vI-(u-)lunt1. Acting with or marked by or resulting from great force or energy or emotional intensityLet love break out. Let prayer break out. Let kindness break out. Let us be violent, forceful, energetic, passionate, purposeful, proactive about our prayers, displays of love, and tangible acts of kindness! Jesus encouraged us (yes, even us pacifists) that the violent take the Kingdom of heaven by force. THIS is the violence we need to see. Real women and real men passionately, purposely loving. Let love and prayer and kindness break out (suddenly and sometimes violently) now. Remember the song, "Let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me"? Let violent, passionate, purposeful, proactive, energetic, love break out and let it begin with me. And you. And you. And you....

Friday

March 6, 2008 Being Still, Mastering Oneself

One can have no smaller or greater mastery than mastery of oneself. Leonardo DaVinci

The sculptor represents the transition from one pose to another.. he indicates how insensibly the first glides into the second. In his work we still see a part of what was and we discover a part of what is to be. Auguste Rodin


Wow Auguste, do I need that inspiration of 'what is to be' about right now. But I know that it isn't the future vision anymore it is the present moment from which the vision is born. It is that stillness and wonder that inspires every artist, it then becomes and extension of the artist's very being and thought. This is why we were created, that is, to communicate. All communication is an art.

The most wondrous thing that has occurred in my searching for a deeper or closer walk with Jesus, is finding that place to be able to be still and wait on or with Him. I know first hand it is very hard with too much exterior interference, like talking too much, 'doing' too much, planning too much, being on the computer too much :-). There were quick glimpses of stillness with Him that 'I allowed' if looking at this perspective, because it really is always my choice to be still. It seems that this is the devil's greatest achievement, that is, keeping us too busy, taking away time to be still, to be present with Him and with each other. This isn't just a modern day phenomenon.

Personally, I would change this title from 'The Thinker to 'Being Still' because it is also easy to 'think too much'. This is the mastery of oneself.

Thursday

March 5, 2009 Life Happens

Life Happens!!!

With faith like a child. It's not 'childish', it is totally dependant on God for everything. Totally naked before Him, totally stripped of the need for anything other than sustenance. What a hard and difficult lesson to learn in our society. There is no fear, just childlike faith, loving life and clearly watching and waiting for the next beautiful miracle fluttering in our path.

How beautiful life is!!

Wednesday

March 4, 2009 What are we doing out there?

Satellites are tracked by United States Space Surveillance Network (SSN), which has been tracking every object in orbit over 10 cm in diameter since it was founded in 1957. There are approximately 560 satellites operating in Earth orbit, out of ~8,000 man-made objects in total. In its entire history, the SSN has tracked more than 26,000 space objects orbiting Earth. The majority of these have fallen into unstable orbits and incinerated during reentry. The SSN also keeps track which piece of space junk belongs to which country. ___www.wisegeek.com

Satellite Internet access operates via geostationary (fixed-position) satellites that beam microwaves from about 22,300 miles above the Earth's equator to your dish antenna and transceiver (transmitter/receiver). Satellite Internet access is available in two forms: two-way and one-way.
http://www.articlesbase.com/technology-articles/how-does-satellite-internet-access-work-82574.html

Anyway, I guess I am in one of those moods, seeking information though important to those in the this tech world but a waste of time for someone like me. I guess this is another as I'm in thinking about how we are able to communicate through these tiny boxes without seeing a face except in our mind's memory drive. It is a great tool, but I don't ever want to forget how important it is to be with you and all of God's creation and experience it all first hand and not by this artificial intelligence method. So, you may think the next is so out of place in my emails but it's what I am feeling this morning....so don't be shocked. It's a peculiar way of saying 'I love you' and want to make sure your computer screen is clean enough to see clearly all of this information that is flying around cyberspace. :-).

Here it is after traveling approximately 44,600 miles from my computer.
http://www.raincitystory.com/flash/screenclean.swf

Tuesday

March 3, 2009 Transition to the Promise

Work hard, then, on the disappointment or anticlimax which is certainly coming to the patient during his first few weeks as a churchman. The Enemy allows this disappointment to occur on the threshold of every human endeavour. It occurs when the boy who has been enchanted in the nursery by Stories from the Odyssey buckles down to really learning Greek. It occurs when lovers have got married and begin the real task of learning to live together. In every department of life it marks the transition from dreaming aspiration to laborious doing. The Enemy takes this risk because He has a curious fantasy of making all these disgusting little human vermin into what He calls His "free" lovers and servants—"sons" is the word He uses, with His inveterate love of degrading the whole spiritual world by unnatural liaisons with the two-legged animals. Desiring their freedom, He therefore refuses to carry them, by their mere affections and habits, to any of the goals which He sets before them: He leaves them to "do it on their own". And there lies our opportunity. But also, remember, there lies our danger. If once they get through this initial dryness successfully, they become much less dependent on emotion and therefore much harder to tempt. _________The Screwtape Letters, C. S. Lewis


Wow, we can all relate to this transition, the disappointments. Yes, we want freedom, but when coming down to the bottom of all of it, if we don't become disillusioned in the desert, we then are able to cross over to the promise waiting for us. This is so powerful, this is the point of making it or breaking it, giving up or going on. There is absolutely no temptation when my emotion or my ego is out of the way. I want to be deliberate in explaining what I feel about all of this because I often wind up in this place between wonder and disappointment, ecstasy and despair, we all do. And when feeling trapped and wanting to go back (how crazy is this?!), which truly is all from trying to 'do it on my own' and 'working hard' (which is the 'doing' instead of the 'becoming'), those moments in the dry places when I begin to choose what appears to be 'opportunity' but instead it is a very, very 'dangerous' place. And thank God now I see the obvious temptation. This is more than taking my life back, it is choosing not to give it away. There is no longer fear of going back, it is being frozen (what a thought in the heat of the desert!) and not going forward, which will cause me to wander for many, many years.

So while being uncomfortable and purged while my sick, vile, ego is being burned off little by little, there is emerging this great and awesome wonder called FAITH.

Maybe I can't watch this today because of the flood of emotion it brings, it is me, the artist, the one seeking comfort, the one looking back (how dangerous this is), the one wandering, the one who sees the promise land ahead and the giants don't scare me anymore. Because the all consuming fire has burned off that part of my ego and I want to go forward.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vSXciv06218&feature=PlayList&p=388378D6FDF31FC3&playnext=1&index=9

Monday

March 2, 2009 Together in Crisis

With so many concerned about the direction of this economic crises, and so many losing their jobs, their life's savings, concern is everywhere. This crises can be survived, any crises we can survive standing with and serving each other.

Ken and I lost everything 3 years ago, we can honestly say we survived with you at our side. We are living examples of this promise and stand 'waiting' to survive this together with you as a constant reminder as He uses all of us, as we are His servants, we 'wait' on Him Lord Jehovah Jireh - 'Our Provider', we 'wait on' and 'serve each other'. And as this brings me tears thinking about how true it is, we are here for each other. We will soar above it all as we encourage and support each other.

Yesterday it was loud and clear to me in one of those profound ways that happens like 'hit you up the side of the head' experiences reminding me to 'wait' on the Lord. I couldn't help remember what came to me last year thinking of the oxen's yoke and the eagle. Here is part of it from June 6 last year.

Psalm 103:1 Praise the Lord, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. 2 Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits-- 3 who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, 4 who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, 5 who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.

Isaiah 40:31 But those who wait on the Lord Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.

Matthew 11:28 "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."


When we are yoked together the burden is shared. Notice the similarity in the photos of this wooden oxen yoke and the wing span of the eagle in flight.



Some interesting eagle facts:
Although poets sing praises of the apparently effortless soaring and gliding of bald eagles, in fact their flight may be awkward and exhausting. Because of their size, eagles need optimal flying conditions to display true elegance. Optimal conditions include enough wide-open space (unhampered by trees or branches), a high take-off point, and good wind conditions. Eagles depend on large masses of warm air called thermals to soar and glide gracefully. The rising air lifts the birds to great heights. When winds pass over hills and mountains, an updraft of air is created along the windward sides. This upward sweep of wind works with the eagle's wing size and span to keep the eagle aloft. ____ Eagle Biology; Structure & Anatomy http://www.eagles.org/vueaglewebcs/bio_str_anat.htm

Oh yeah!!!

Video & Song
'Everlasting God' Lincoln Brewster
http://youtube.com/watch?v=jP2nz6PG8KM

Matthew 25:40 "The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for Me.'

Sunday

March 1, 2009 Silent Reaching

There are many hands and hearts needing to be held, all the time, every moment of every day.

The action of reaching may not be the obvious holding out a hand asking to be held. If not careful we will miss the reaching because it sometimes comes with silent cries. With deliberate attention we slow down enough to look into the soul of another and find that place where we all connect, a place of beauty and perfect love.

It may not be a hand reaching, but with eyes looking into eyes, hearts looking into hearts. Words become unecessary when communication is from the heart and the soul.