He splashed orange in the sunrise and cast the sky in blue.
And if you love to see geese as they gather, chances are you'll find that too.
Did He have to make the squirrel's tail furry?
Was He obliged to make the birds sing?
And the funny way that chickens scurry
or the majesty of thunder when it rings?
Why give a flower a fragrance?
Why give food its taste?
Could it be He loves to see that look upon your face?
Friday, July 8, 2011
Sunday, July 3, 2011
Harvest of Hope
This past weekend I attended a mission trip to Harvest of Hope in Watha, NC. That weekend changed me.
Our first night there we watched a video that really touched my heart. It showed the lives of children that brought my eyes to tears. These kids were probably 6 or 7 years younger than me and they have worked harder in probably one day than I have my entire life. One girl gathered cow dung everyday so that they could lay it out in the sun to dry and use it for their fires. This family didn't have access to any wood in the area. That made me at first make the most disgusted face. Then I started to think... what kind of life is that? I never once have even had to come close to cow dung and here this girl was who had to pick it up with her bare hands, everyday, for her family so they could survive. Another life of a young girl had to gather wood for her family. She carried the load on her back and the video captured her breathing. She was so out of breath and you could hear her struggling with her frail and fragile body.
These families’ lifestyles are the most foreign thing to me. Never once have I woken up to a floor for a bed, a cold house, or not to have a meal waiting for me. These families are poor. To me most of my life I associated poor people with those who don't have the latest technology, or the coolest clothes. But as I've gotten older I realize how wrong I really was.
The next morning we got up bright and early, had our worship service, breakfast, and then headed out to the kale patch where we spent about 3 hours working in the field. I didn't even know what kale was before this trip, now I'm not sure I ever want to see it again! I even took several breaks along with our lunch break. At the end of the 3 hours we had collected over 10,000 thousand pounds of kale. That is a lot of kale. You may not have ever held kale before, but it isn't heavy... at all. At the end of the day during our worship service, we were told that what we had collected that day would at the least be on a hungry person's plate by the next day. That to me is incredible. It makes you feel good how just giving a couple hours of your time can help someone in need. It also gives you a new appreciation for anyone who has to work in a field for not only 3 hours but more around 12 hours. We all were very thankful that it wasn't too hot that day.
Saturday night for dinner we were all given a card with either a picture of a potato, an apple, or a strawberry. The strawberries for dinner got to eat in the unit lodge (where there is A/C) and have salad, pasta, potatoes, and rolls. The apples got spaghetti and ate in a circle on benches surrounding a campfire. The potatoes had a cup of rice with beans. I was an apple, lucky me! They had the world percents of who is in each category, however, I can't remember then. Just know that the majority is potatoes. But something beautiful happened. The people, who were strawberries and got the nice, luxurious meal, came and offered parts of their meal to us who had less. Scott Briggs, our leader, told us that it was his dream that one day not only would the people who were blessed with such a meal, not only would offer us parts of their meal, but they would invite us to come and eat at their table. What a wonderful idea that is. I have hope and so does Scott, that one day that will happen. After our meal when we headed in for worship our leader told us to all gather in one big circle. We did an activity where we went around the circle and each person shared one word that came to mind about our meal. The words varied from blessed, thankful, frustrated, hungry, and a few more. While some of us were still a bit hungry and were throwing fits and talking about how much we would love some bojangles, we still had a blessed meal compared to most. We had a covered roof over our heads. The food was served to us; we didn't have to go get it ourselves. There is still so much we don't realize that we have to be thankful for.
Our worship leader D (yes, that's his name), talked about compassion a lot. Compassion translated to Greek I believe, means movement in your bowels. This, I agree, is quite funny to hear. But think about it. If you have compassion for someone, or something, it moves something inside of you. I believe that if you are really that compassionate about something you will act upon that feeling. Scott (our leader), has compassion for those who are hungry. All of us are compassionate about different things. Maybe yours is the hungry, or maybe the sick or whatever it may be, I pray that each one of us will act upon something that we are compassionate about.
RUTH 2 (gleaning passage)
Now Naomi had a relative on her husband’s side, a man of standing from the clan of Elimelek, whose name was Boaz.
2 And Ruth the Moabite said to Naomi, “Let me go to the fields and pick up the leftover grain behind anyone in whose eyes I find favor.”
Naomi said to her, “Go ahead, my daughter.” 3 So she went out, entered a field and began to glean behind the harvesters. As it turned out, she was working in a field belonging to Boaz, who was from the clan of Elimelek.
A shout out to my youth leader, Doug, thank you for arranging this trip. SPF-12 appreciates you and all you do. Along with Phil, and Nell. We all are blessed to have such wonderful youth leaders here at Forest Park.
Our first night there we watched a video that really touched my heart. It showed the lives of children that brought my eyes to tears. These kids were probably 6 or 7 years younger than me and they have worked harder in probably one day than I have my entire life. One girl gathered cow dung everyday so that they could lay it out in the sun to dry and use it for their fires. This family didn't have access to any wood in the area. That made me at first make the most disgusted face. Then I started to think... what kind of life is that? I never once have even had to come close to cow dung and here this girl was who had to pick it up with her bare hands, everyday, for her family so they could survive. Another life of a young girl had to gather wood for her family. She carried the load on her back and the video captured her breathing. She was so out of breath and you could hear her struggling with her frail and fragile body.
These families’ lifestyles are the most foreign thing to me. Never once have I woken up to a floor for a bed, a cold house, or not to have a meal waiting for me. These families are poor. To me most of my life I associated poor people with those who don't have the latest technology, or the coolest clothes. But as I've gotten older I realize how wrong I really was.
The next morning we got up bright and early, had our worship service, breakfast, and then headed out to the kale patch where we spent about 3 hours working in the field. I didn't even know what kale was before this trip, now I'm not sure I ever want to see it again! I even took several breaks along with our lunch break. At the end of the 3 hours we had collected over 10,000 thousand pounds of kale. That is a lot of kale. You may not have ever held kale before, but it isn't heavy... at all. At the end of the day during our worship service, we were told that what we had collected that day would at the least be on a hungry person's plate by the next day. That to me is incredible. It makes you feel good how just giving a couple hours of your time can help someone in need. It also gives you a new appreciation for anyone who has to work in a field for not only 3 hours but more around 12 hours. We all were very thankful that it wasn't too hot that day.
Saturday night for dinner we were all given a card with either a picture of a potato, an apple, or a strawberry. The strawberries for dinner got to eat in the unit lodge (where there is A/C) and have salad, pasta, potatoes, and rolls. The apples got spaghetti and ate in a circle on benches surrounding a campfire. The potatoes had a cup of rice with beans. I was an apple, lucky me! They had the world percents of who is in each category, however, I can't remember then. Just know that the majority is potatoes. But something beautiful happened. The people, who were strawberries and got the nice, luxurious meal, came and offered parts of their meal to us who had less. Scott Briggs, our leader, told us that it was his dream that one day not only would the people who were blessed with such a meal, not only would offer us parts of their meal, but they would invite us to come and eat at their table. What a wonderful idea that is. I have hope and so does Scott, that one day that will happen. After our meal when we headed in for worship our leader told us to all gather in one big circle. We did an activity where we went around the circle and each person shared one word that came to mind about our meal. The words varied from blessed, thankful, frustrated, hungry, and a few more. While some of us were still a bit hungry and were throwing fits and talking about how much we would love some bojangles, we still had a blessed meal compared to most. We had a covered roof over our heads. The food was served to us; we didn't have to go get it ourselves. There is still so much we don't realize that we have to be thankful for.
Our worship leader D (yes, that's his name), talked about compassion a lot. Compassion translated to Greek I believe, means movement in your bowels. This, I agree, is quite funny to hear. But think about it. If you have compassion for someone, or something, it moves something inside of you. I believe that if you are really that compassionate about something you will act upon that feeling. Scott (our leader), has compassion for those who are hungry. All of us are compassionate about different things. Maybe yours is the hungry, or maybe the sick or whatever it may be, I pray that each one of us will act upon something that we are compassionate about.
RUTH 2 (gleaning passage)
Now Naomi had a relative on her husband’s side, a man of standing from the clan of Elimelek, whose name was Boaz.
2 And Ruth the Moabite said to Naomi, “Let me go to the fields and pick up the leftover grain behind anyone in whose eyes I find favor.”
Naomi said to her, “Go ahead, my daughter.” 3 So she went out, entered a field and began to glean behind the harvesters. As it turned out, she was working in a field belonging to Boaz, who was from the clan of Elimelek.
A shout out to my youth leader, Doug, thank you for arranging this trip. SPF-12 appreciates you and all you do. Along with Phil, and Nell. We all are blessed to have such wonderful youth leaders here at Forest Park.
Monday, June 20, 2011
Passion
-Oprah Winfrey
I stumbled across this quote today and it made me think. It made me ask myself: Where do I have the most energy? Where am I the most excited?
When I asked myself this question it didn't take long at all to know the answer. The answer for me is Church. As soon as I get to church on Sunday morning or Wednesday evening I don't wait a minute to get out of the car and into the church. As soon as I walk in I feel at home. My friends and family surround me and I become the happiest girl in the world. I'm surrounded by the family of God. I look at each face and I know that each one is a beloved child of God.
So if this is my passion, what does it mean? I believe that I have a passion for people. Not just certain people. Everyone. Wether you're tall, short, fat, skinny, poor, rich, mean, or nice. My best friend once told me this: "You love pretty much everything and everyone, not matter what they've done or do. This, along with maybe one or two other things is probably my favorite thing about you. Forgiveness is hard for me, and I admire you for it." Where this passion will lead me I have no idea. But I know that God is leading it somewhere, and I trust him with my whole heart.
So, what is your passion?
"The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these."
Mark 12:31
Saturday, June 18, 2011
A Test of Love
St. Augustine once preached a sermon in which he proposed a kind of self-test to see if we truly love God:
Suppose God proposed to you a deal and said, "I will give you anything you want. You can possess the whole world. Nothing will be impossible for you.... Nothing will be a sin, nothing forbidden. You will never die, never have pain, never have anything you do not want and always have anything you do want-except just one thing: you will never see my face."
Augustine closed with a question:
Did a chill rise in your hearts, when you heard the words, "you will never see my face"? That chill is the most precious thing in you; that is the pure love of God.
What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forgeit his soul? Mark 8:36
Suppose God proposed to you a deal and said, "I will give you anything you want. You can possess the whole world. Nothing will be impossible for you.... Nothing will be a sin, nothing forbidden. You will never die, never have pain, never have anything you do not want and always have anything you do want-except just one thing: you will never see my face."
Augustine closed with a question:
Did a chill rise in your hearts, when you heard the words, "you will never see my face"? That chill is the most precious thing in you; that is the pure love of God.
What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forgeit his soul? Mark 8:36
Saturday, June 11, 2011
Graduating Class of 2011
Today, the senior class of 2011 graduated. I thought earlier in the year that I would be incredibly sad on this day. However, I am not. As I heard each one of my friends names called to walk across that stage and recieve that much earned diploma, I felt only joy. Joy because this was a day that they have worked towards for 12 years. 12 long but worth it years.
People say that they become sad when they think that they'll probably never see half of those people again. But I don't become sad over that thought. Not because I don't like those people or anything, but because the people who you are close to, and are dear friends, will always be there. 20 years later, your best friend will be there. If I had to choose between seeing my best friend throughout the rest of my life, and seeing all those faces throughout my life, I'd choose my best friend. So, don't be sad because you won't see some of these people again. Be joyful because you are about to enter into the rest of the world with your friends that will be there every step of the way.
Next year will definately be different. I won't see some of my bestest friends faces next year everyday of school. I won't get to let out all my problems on Cheyenne, Kiara, and Colleen. I won't get to get my good advice from Keri. I won't get a much needed hug from Kilby everyday. I won't get to see my bestest friend Carson everyday. I won't get to get a lot of positive energy from Mariah everyday and most certainly every football game. I won't get to act like a "thug" with Ryan. Last but not least, I won't be able to see Rob Lee everyday, a person who has been a big part of my sophmore year as well as everyone else I've mentioned and those that have gone unmentioned.
Even though I won't see these people everyday for the rest of my life, each and everyone has left me with many fond memories and will always have a place in my heart. I pray that God will bless each and everyone of you in your journey throughout the rest of your life. I pray that you will all pursue your dreams wholeheartedly. I pray that each one of you will have love in your life always. This I know, that you will always have love from God, and me. Thank you everyone for all that you have ever given me and all that you will give to me in the future. I love you all.
"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
Jeremiah 29:11
People say that they become sad when they think that they'll probably never see half of those people again. But I don't become sad over that thought. Not because I don't like those people or anything, but because the people who you are close to, and are dear friends, will always be there. 20 years later, your best friend will be there. If I had to choose between seeing my best friend throughout the rest of my life, and seeing all those faces throughout my life, I'd choose my best friend. So, don't be sad because you won't see some of these people again. Be joyful because you are about to enter into the rest of the world with your friends that will be there every step of the way.
Next year will definately be different. I won't see some of my bestest friends faces next year everyday of school. I won't get to let out all my problems on Cheyenne, Kiara, and Colleen. I won't get to get my good advice from Keri. I won't get a much needed hug from Kilby everyday. I won't get to see my bestest friend Carson everyday. I won't get to get a lot of positive energy from Mariah everyday and most certainly every football game. I won't get to act like a "thug" with Ryan. Last but not least, I won't be able to see Rob Lee everyday, a person who has been a big part of my sophmore year as well as everyone else I've mentioned and those that have gone unmentioned.
Even though I won't see these people everyday for the rest of my life, each and everyone has left me with many fond memories and will always have a place in my heart. I pray that God will bless each and everyone of you in your journey throughout the rest of your life. I pray that you will all pursue your dreams wholeheartedly. I pray that each one of you will have love in your life always. This I know, that you will always have love from God, and me. Thank you everyone for all that you have ever given me and all that you will give to me in the future. I love you all.
"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
Jeremiah 29:11
Monday, June 6, 2011
Intimacy With God
Intimacy with God? It's simple really.
It's not the pillar we sit on; it's the house we live in.
It's not a list of dos and dont's; it's a branch staying connected to the Vine.
It's not striving to know God, but realizing that our Father longs to know us.
And it's free for the taking-at least or you and me.
But we must never forget-it cost Jesus his very life.
-From Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World by Joanna Weaver
So I pray to stop putting God on the bookshelf when that's He's the book I need to read the most and He is longing for me to read it.
It's not the pillar we sit on; it's the house we live in.
It's not a list of dos and dont's; it's a branch staying connected to the Vine.
It's not striving to know God, but realizing that our Father longs to know us.
And it's free for the taking-at least or you and me.
But we must never forget-it cost Jesus his very life.
-From Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World by Joanna Weaver
Here recently I completed a Disciple Bible Study course that lasted about 9 months and covered 70% of God's Holy Word. This journey has taken my walk with the Lord to such a closer level. But as I continued throughout the course, sometimes I tended to just put my daily readings on my to-do lists. Once I finished, I checked them off and continued to the next thing. But doing so left me feeling dry. I was thirsty for the Lord and hadn't taken the time to let him fill my dry cup. I know, too, that He wants to fill my cup. He wants to fill my cup probably more than I want Him to fill it.
Robert Boyd Munger says it best in his book My Heart Christ's Home: The Lord told me, "The trouble with you is this: You have been thinking of the quiet time, of the Bible study and prayer time, as a factor in your own spiritual progress, but you have forgotten that this hour means something to Me also."
As I get carried away in my own business of life, my time with the Lord seems to always get to be put on the bookshelf. Then, as I continue living that way, I start to feel like I'm drifting away from God. Whereas once I felt the closeness of Him everywhere I went, I now felt distant. Lost. But really all that it takes to be intimate with God is just prayer, the Word, and time. So I pray to stop putting God on the bookshelf when that's He's the book I need to read the most and He is longing for me to read it.
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Change
Change: some love it and some hate it. I love change for the most part, depending on what it is.
I believe that one of our human problems is not wanting ourselves to change. We tell ourselves that we like who we are and don't want to change. We are born loving darkness, not light because the light shows us our every sin. None of us want to be told just how perfect we're not.
In the book study I recently joined we are reading a book called "Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World" by Joanna Weaver. The first chapter of the book mentioned that it is impossible not to change in the presence of Jesus.
Jesus led the perfect life. We're taught to imitate Him in our own lives. Which sometimes brings more disappointment than anything.
What brings me joy, however, is that I'm forgiven. I am forgiven for falling short. I'm forgiven for every sin. I'm forgiven. Christ knows that we can't do it. We can't be perfect, not on our own. Which is why our Father sent His one and only Son, to die on the cross. He knew we weren't going to change. The fall of man, fell hard. We needed someone to pick us back up again.
We need someone to change our dark hearts. When Christ becomes alive in your heart you begin to change from the inside out. But you still aren't perfect. You still fall short everday in this life. I have the hope and my eyes set upon the day that we stand before God perfected in Christ. The day that we are called home.
I believe that one of our human problems is not wanting ourselves to change. We tell ourselves that we like who we are and don't want to change. We are born loving darkness, not light because the light shows us our every sin. None of us want to be told just how perfect we're not.
In the book study I recently joined we are reading a book called "Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World" by Joanna Weaver. The first chapter of the book mentioned that it is impossible not to change in the presence of Jesus.
Jesus led the perfect life. We're taught to imitate Him in our own lives. Which sometimes brings more disappointment than anything.
What brings me joy, however, is that I'm forgiven. I am forgiven for falling short. I'm forgiven for every sin. I'm forgiven. Christ knows that we can't do it. We can't be perfect, not on our own. Which is why our Father sent His one and only Son, to die on the cross. He knew we weren't going to change. The fall of man, fell hard. We needed someone to pick us back up again.
We need someone to change our dark hearts. When Christ becomes alive in your heart you begin to change from the inside out. But you still aren't perfect. You still fall short everday in this life. I have the hope and my eyes set upon the day that we stand before God perfected in Christ. The day that we are called home.
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