What a gift! A quilt, that is like me, flawed and beautiful...
Saturday
February 28, 2009 Flawed and Beautiful
Several years ago, one precious boy I taught at church, his mom gave me an awesome quilt as a 'thank you' gift. What a labor of love! And it's one I snuggle under every day when resting on the sofa. I can't help think of her and her family when I look at it. When she (and her name was Teresa also, even spelled it the same) gave it to me she said 'every one of my quilts has a flaw in it to remind me that we are not perfect and flawed and beautiful in God's eyes'. When looking for the flaw in the quilt I could not find it until she pointed it out. What a beautiful example of how God sees us! When He looks at us He doesn't see mistakes or flaws, He sees only beauty in His awesome created children. I could say so much more in regard to this but it would only clutter up what is so important. Thank You, God that You don't look at my mistakes or our flaws, You know they are part of this life, part of how You created us and the beauty of how You see us.
What a gift! A quilt, that is like me, flawed and beautiful...
What a gift! A quilt, that is like me, flawed and beautiful...
Friday
February 27, 2009 Follow
What I am about to say is quite ironic considering I send this out every morning.
Whatever you do, don't listen to me because I will always at some point in time say something unintentionally that is out of line, inconsiderate, uncompassionate, thoughtless, hurtful and ego driven.
Don't follow me because me, myself and I cannot show you how to walk your own journey. Even as much as I desire to be a model for Christ, I will fail. I will fall off the road when my ego is driven to the things that entice me in the world.
But do follow me where I am going. Down a long, treacherous road, with beautiful creation growing along the sides and under my feet. But remember if you should decide to follow me, I am learning the steps are single and only one at a time. When I lift my right foot, I don't know where my left foot will step. Which is absolutely amazing considering I was so sure in the past that I had it all mapped out and along the horizon line I saw the golden pot at the end of the rainbow. That golden pot may be there but my vision has been shortened to look down at my feet. I am learning not to worry about the next day or even the next hour. And it's the most amazing blessing, glorious discovery of my entire life. And I need to keep walking this way.
So when I say don't follow me, and don't listen to me, I mean it, because I'm walking with Jesus.
Whatever you do, don't listen to me because I will always at some point in time say something unintentionally that is out of line, inconsiderate, uncompassionate, thoughtless, hurtful and ego driven.
Don't follow me because me, myself and I cannot show you how to walk your own journey. Even as much as I desire to be a model for Christ, I will fail. I will fall off the road when my ego is driven to the things that entice me in the world.
But do follow me where I am going. Down a long, treacherous road, with beautiful creation growing along the sides and under my feet. But remember if you should decide to follow me, I am learning the steps are single and only one at a time. When I lift my right foot, I don't know where my left foot will step. Which is absolutely amazing considering I was so sure in the past that I had it all mapped out and along the horizon line I saw the golden pot at the end of the rainbow. That golden pot may be there but my vision has been shortened to look down at my feet. I am learning not to worry about the next day or even the next hour. And it's the most amazing blessing, glorious discovery of my entire life. And I need to keep walking this way.
So when I say don't follow me, and don't listen to me, I mean it, because I'm walking with Jesus.
Thursday
February 26, 2009 Wounded Healer
"Sheri's new picture intrigued me. Once again she drew a perfectly symmetrical vase with swirly handles on the sides. Once again, the same two large hands firmly gripped it. The deep crack down the middle of the vase was still there too.
But Sheri had added something new. Using a fluorescent yellow marker, she had drawn heavy lines, like beams of light, spilling out of the fissure and flowing to the edge of the paper. Pointing to the crack, she said, 'That's where God shines through.'
Once again I was reminded that it is through our suffering, our trials, and our wounds that God's glory is often revealed. The caption under Sheri's picture could have read, 2 Corinthians 4:
For God, who said, 'Let light shine out of darkness,' made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down but not destroyed. (vv 6-9)"
"And as for Sheri, the broken pieces of our life--the fractures, fissures, and jagged edges--can become the very locales where God's glory spills through in a torrent of light, hope and healing. Out of our own personal darkness, God's penetrating light can touch those who still grope in the shadows.
Just ask one of the regulars on the rape crisis hotline." --The Wounded Woman, Dr. Steve Stephens and Pam Vredevelt
Sheri is a young rape victim whose story is told in this book. What an amazing depiction of how His light shines bright in our woundedness and pain and times of crisis, showing the way for those desperate in darknesss and hiding in the shadows.
And saying the same thing, this was sent out in Jim's blog yesterday...
"For the true minister of his time is called to recognize, clarify, and recontextualize the sufferings of his time, however unconscious and vague among the many, to bring those sufferings into fine focus in his own heart, and to make that distilled refinement of understanding the starting point of his message and service work. Whether he tries to enter into a dislocated world, relate to a convulsive generation, connect with a couple in bitter crisis, or speak to a dying man, his service will not be perceived as authentic unless it comes from a heart wounded deeply by the exact and very personal (however ubiquitous) suffering about which he speaks, and it's not about his clearing or mastering or solving of it, but his complete and utter surrender to it as an indelible mark of his humanity and the only way of liberation and freedom." -- Henri Nouwen, in The Wounded Healer
Today is the memorial for one amazing young man, Aaron Hobart, a beautiful, wounded healer, who's life was extinguished so young, who in an unimaginable tragedy, left his indelible mark and pointed to the Way out of the darkness and shadows to Jesus' inextinguishable Light. I was again moved to tears when I heard what Aaron's precious family shared this week at Love Machine. They asked 'please remember to pray for the police officer and his family also, every time you pray for us'. This is a profound example of Jesus' love and the magnitude and latitude of lives touched will be infinite.
Jesus' thank You as You hold Aaron, he is with You face to face, You are holding his family closely. Thank you that in Your infinite great Love for all of us, You will work this out for good and for Your glory.
I captured the last bit of this unbelievably beautiful sunset with my cell phone on Wednesday, February 18 as Ken, Susan and I were were driving to the hospital to be with the Hobarts. My only thought as it captured my attention, was it was Aaron's light and God painted the sky with it as he was leaving. I hope that someone else had captured more of the amazing gold and crimson color that filled the sky prior to this shot, because it literally diminished in a matter of a few minutes. I think it would be a blessing to Aaron's family.
But Sheri had added something new. Using a fluorescent yellow marker, she had drawn heavy lines, like beams of light, spilling out of the fissure and flowing to the edge of the paper. Pointing to the crack, she said, 'That's where God shines through.'
Once again I was reminded that it is through our suffering, our trials, and our wounds that God's glory is often revealed. The caption under Sheri's picture could have read, 2 Corinthians 4:
For God, who said, 'Let light shine out of darkness,' made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down but not destroyed. (vv 6-9)"
"And as for Sheri, the broken pieces of our life--the fractures, fissures, and jagged edges--can become the very locales where God's glory spills through in a torrent of light, hope and healing. Out of our own personal darkness, God's penetrating light can touch those who still grope in the shadows.
Just ask one of the regulars on the rape crisis hotline." --The Wounded Woman, Dr. Steve Stephens and Pam Vredevelt
Sheri is a young rape victim whose story is told in this book. What an amazing depiction of how His light shines bright in our woundedness and pain and times of crisis, showing the way for those desperate in darknesss and hiding in the shadows.
And saying the same thing, this was sent out in Jim's blog yesterday...
"For the true minister of his time is called to recognize, clarify, and recontextualize the sufferings of his time, however unconscious and vague among the many, to bring those sufferings into fine focus in his own heart, and to make that distilled refinement of understanding the starting point of his message and service work. Whether he tries to enter into a dislocated world, relate to a convulsive generation, connect with a couple in bitter crisis, or speak to a dying man, his service will not be perceived as authentic unless it comes from a heart wounded deeply by the exact and very personal (however ubiquitous) suffering about which he speaks, and it's not about his clearing or mastering or solving of it, but his complete and utter surrender to it as an indelible mark of his humanity and the only way of liberation and freedom." -- Henri Nouwen, in The Wounded Healer
Today is the memorial for one amazing young man, Aaron Hobart, a beautiful, wounded healer, who's life was extinguished so young, who in an unimaginable tragedy, left his indelible mark and pointed to the Way out of the darkness and shadows to Jesus' inextinguishable Light. I was again moved to tears when I heard what Aaron's precious family shared this week at Love Machine. They asked 'please remember to pray for the police officer and his family also, every time you pray for us'. This is a profound example of Jesus' love and the magnitude and latitude of lives touched will be infinite.
Jesus' thank You as You hold Aaron, he is with You face to face, You are holding his family closely. Thank you that in Your infinite great Love for all of us, You will work this out for good and for Your glory.
I captured the last bit of this unbelievably beautiful sunset with my cell phone on Wednesday, February 18 as Ken, Susan and I were were driving to the hospital to be with the Hobarts. My only thought as it captured my attention, was it was Aaron's light and God painted the sky with it as he was leaving. I hope that someone else had captured more of the amazing gold and crimson color that filled the sky prior to this shot, because it literally diminished in a matter of a few minutes. I think it would be a blessing to Aaron's family.
Wednesday
February 25, 2009 Thank You
Needing One Another
"Our wounds force us to face our need for one another. We all need someone to lean on--someone who will try to understand. We need people who will love us and whom we can love back. A world without relationships would be cold and lonely. The poet Samuel Coleridge once wrote that 'friendship is a sheltering tree.' On a hot summer's day it shades us, and on a blustery winter's day it protects us from the storm. We all are strengthened by those who stand around us. Their smiles make us smile, and their encouragement keeps us from giving up. My best times are with people. If our lives were perfect, we might become so self-sufficient and independent that we wouldn't need others. Yet we aren't perfect. Chuck Swindoll reminds us that 'tucked away in a quiet corner of every life are wounds and scars. If they were not there, we would need no Physician. Nor would we need one another.' __The Wounded Woman, Dr. Steve Stephens and Pam Vredevelt
Thank you to those everywhere who are loving and receive love in return.
Thank you to those everywhere who are sheltering trees, cool in the summer and protection in the winter.
Thank you to those everywhere who are smiles and encouragement.
Thank you to those everywhere who cry and allow crying.
Thank you to those everywhere who understand how much we need each other.
"Our wounds force us to face our need for one another. We all need someone to lean on--someone who will try to understand. We need people who will love us and whom we can love back. A world without relationships would be cold and lonely. The poet Samuel Coleridge once wrote that 'friendship is a sheltering tree.' On a hot summer's day it shades us, and on a blustery winter's day it protects us from the storm. We all are strengthened by those who stand around us. Their smiles make us smile, and their encouragement keeps us from giving up. My best times are with people. If our lives were perfect, we might become so self-sufficient and independent that we wouldn't need others. Yet we aren't perfect. Chuck Swindoll reminds us that 'tucked away in a quiet corner of every life are wounds and scars. If they were not there, we would need no Physician. Nor would we need one another.' __The Wounded Woman, Dr. Steve Stephens and Pam Vredevelt
Thank you to those everywhere who are loving and receive love in return.
Thank you to those everywhere who are sheltering trees, cool in the summer and protection in the winter.
Thank you to those everywhere who are smiles and encouragement.
Thank you to those everywhere who cry and allow crying.
Thank you to those everywhere who understand how much we need each other.
Tuesday
February 24, 2009 Leaping Together
There's that part of life that just gets weary. It happens to all of us. How do any of us overcome these difficult times? Through loving support, with those who will allow you to feel it all, feel you with their own hearts and walk with you and love you through it all the way.
And as I'm typing this I get a phone call to remind me how crucial this loving support is for each other. We all experience crisis and weariness. We are here for each other, loving each other, holding each other, crying with each other, mirrors of each other.
I am reading a very 'on time' book my sister-in-law loaned me 'The Wounded Woman' by Dr. Steve Stephens and Pam Vredevelt with one crucial outline made for our times of crisis:
'When you've been wounded, find safe friends who...
Don't shock easily, but accept your feelings.
Don't give unwanted advice.
Help you recall your strengths.
Trust you to be able to come through this difficult time.
Trust you like an adult who can make your own decisions.
Respect your courage and sense of determination.
Understand that grief is normal.
Have been through difficult times and can share their experiences with you.
Try to understand what your feelings mean to you.
Pray with you and for you."
Then after walking together through it all, when ready, we hold each others hands, leap, and continue towards the Son...
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1341/1471620040_c20965e605_m.jpg
Overcome: swept off one’s feet
Steve, Pam and Chris we are holding you through this crisis, and only when you say you are ready, we will leap with you.
"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time, we will reap a harvest if we do not give up" Galatians 6:9
And as I'm typing this I get a phone call to remind me how crucial this loving support is for each other. We all experience crisis and weariness. We are here for each other, loving each other, holding each other, crying with each other, mirrors of each other.
I am reading a very 'on time' book my sister-in-law loaned me 'The Wounded Woman' by Dr. Steve Stephens and Pam Vredevelt with one crucial outline made for our times of crisis:
'When you've been wounded, find safe friends who...
Don't shock easily, but accept your feelings.
Don't give unwanted advice.
Help you recall your strengths.
Trust you to be able to come through this difficult time.
Trust you like an adult who can make your own decisions.
Respect your courage and sense of determination.
Understand that grief is normal.
Have been through difficult times and can share their experiences with you.
Try to understand what your feelings mean to you.
Pray with you and for you."
Then after walking together through it all, when ready, we hold each others hands, leap, and continue towards the Son...
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1341/1471620040_c20965e605_m.jpg
Overcome: swept off one’s feet
Steve, Pam and Chris we are holding you through this crisis, and only when you say you are ready, we will leap with you.
"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time, we will reap a harvest if we do not give up" Galatians 6:9
Monday
February 23, 2009 Intentional, Purposeful Warrior
Before I begin, what comes to me is to say please embrace or at least put your hand on someone's shoulder today and tell them how much you love and care for them. And yes Shirley, it is time to be an intentional, purposeful man and woman. So here it is... I was thinking this morning of a warrior, how intentional he or she is. There is no retreating, they know their purpose and the fight is to the death (life). We live with one common heart (loving community) with a purpose.
The battle field looks like this. Fully equipped with the armor of Love, we put it on, live in it and sleep in it 24/7. We recognize who we are in Jesus and in His grace and we walk across the battlefields of our neighborhood streets, our apartment and town home courtyards, across market aisles and checkout lanes, business office aisles, our church pews, and oh my, my, my, our dens, our kitchens and our bedrooms. We go with our amour on, Swords (the message of His great Love)...there is no retreating, this is what we've been training for all our lives.
Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
A dear sister, Lizabeth Doolittle, wrote this on Facebook to express her love for a family within our community after their son Aaron was tragically killed last week, to say Love is the answer, 'let love break out'. This is what the infinite community of God sounds like and acts like. It is intentional, with unconditional love being poured out. The battle field is infinite in time and space and a warrior is not equipped with carnal weapons of destruction but spiritual weapons of Love. I know Aaron experienced this great love within this community and is now experiencing and living with and basking in the main source of this Love, Jesus.
Love Broke Out
By Lizabeth Doolittle
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 violently
Adjective: violent vI-(u-)lunt
1. Acting with or marked by or resulting from great force or energy or emotional intensity
Let 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....
___________
This is being intentional.
The battle field looks like this. Fully equipped with the armor of Love, we put it on, live in it and sleep in it 24/7. We recognize who we are in Jesus and in His grace and we walk across the battlefields of our neighborhood streets, our apartment and town home courtyards, across market aisles and checkout lanes, business office aisles, our church pews, and oh my, my, my, our dens, our kitchens and our bedrooms. We go with our amour on, Swords (the message of His great Love)...there is no retreating, this is what we've been training for all our lives.
Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
A dear sister, Lizabeth Doolittle, wrote this on Facebook to express her love for a family within our community after their son Aaron was tragically killed last week, to say Love is the answer, 'let love break out'. This is what the infinite community of God sounds like and acts like. It is intentional, with unconditional love being poured out. The battle field is infinite in time and space and a warrior is not equipped with carnal weapons of destruction but spiritual weapons of Love. I know Aaron experienced this great love within this community and is now experiencing and living with and basking in the main source of this Love, Jesus.
Love Broke Out
By Lizabeth Doolittle
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 violently
Adjective: violent vI-(u-)lunt
1. Acting with or marked by or resulting from great force or energy or emotional intensity
Let 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....
___________
This is being intentional.
Sunday
February 22, 2009 Tied Together
So that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and high and deep is the Love of Christ. Ephesians 3:17-18
The extension I see reaching wide and high and deep with my precious family everywhere, is the power of Love. It really is that infinite tapestry.
I found this, it's a really great example of our being tied together.
It begins like this....
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3094/3236262450_543f9e0769.jpg?v=0
Interwoven Tapestry of Love
"It's hard to imagine most of the time. We've got a lot of problems here on earth. A lot of pain and confusion and hurt. A lot of fear. A lot of anger and frustration. But through it all, we have a blanket of love that keeps things going."
Then it looks like this....
The extension I see reaching wide and high and deep with my precious family everywhere, is the power of Love. It really is that infinite tapestry.
I found this, it's a really great example of our being tied together.
It begins like this....
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3094/3236262450_543f9e0769.jpg?v=0
Interwoven Tapestry of Love
"It's hard to imagine most of the time. We've got a lot of problems here on earth. A lot of pain and confusion and hurt. A lot of fear. A lot of anger and frustration. But through it all, we have a blanket of love that keeps things going."
Then it looks like this....
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