advent reading for today: Dec 3

Today’s reading comes along with an excerpt from Mark D. Roberts. 

This passage looks ahead to the coming of the Lord who will care for his people like a Shepherd. “A voice cries in the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord; make straight in desert highway for our God. Isaiah 40:3-5, 11.

 A voice cries:
“In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord;
make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
⁴ Every valley shall be lifted up,
and every mountain and hill be made low;
the uneven ground shall become level,
and the rough places a plain.
⁵ And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed,
and all flesh shall see it together,
for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”

He will tend his flock like a shepherd;
he will gather the lambs in his arms;
he will carry them in his bosom,
and gently lead those that are with young

{from the Advent Reading series of posts}

along with a very silly surprise treat in our bag…hehe. pretty funny for an all-single-girls-dwelling goodie bag.

train tracks

I am learning to lean toward the proactive side
and quit falling on the passive side of life
my dating convictions have negatively affected the way i pursue life
i don’t think there is anything wrong with my dating convictions,
they remain strong convictions: do not pursue, girls don’t pursue.
however, as i said, it’s spilled over into the rest of how i live my life
how i make decisions (or not)
and ultimately how i live my my life.

i fear being too proactive and plan-y and goal-driven
for fear that i take too much control and try too hard to
DIY.
to do it myself.

but waiting can’t look like nothing for too long
and life doesn’t just drop into my lap
i have spent much of my life RESPONDING to invitations and opportunities
and much less pursuing or asking if I could come along.
i speak primarily of my career pursuit(s) and goals and jobs and such

i want to find the right balance of honoring and waiting on the Lord and listening and following the Holy Spirit and
at the very same time moving forward, knocking, taking steps, pursuing, going after things, and seeking
instead of sitting here
watching the clock
tick
and tick

and tick and tick

and tock

until someone stumbles into my path and offers me the perfect dream job ever in my life.
yeah. so unrealistic.

learning to find the balance between rhythm and seeking and sacred and resting and being present and listening and stepping and moving and knocking and going and asking and looking and all that without falling off the narrow track and taking control and running my own life.

it’s not my life.
but it is my life.
mine to give
mine to give back
to the original giver
he sings over me
he fashioned me
he has plans for me
no eye has seen, no ear has heard what God has in store for those who love him.
ask. seek. knock. A.S.K.

Go and do.
faith without deeds is dead.
GO.
DO.
{all images from gettyimages.com compiled into my own collage}

some words

sooo much
good stuff
sooo much
growth
taking place
growing
stirring
healing
hoping

in me
around me
surrounding me
and within me

i feel
myself
after a long time
of feeling
off

i feel
life again
i feel
joy again
i feel
whole again.

 

all will be

so all of our strivings would be losing
without the right Man on our side
as we walk along this narrow road
crowded with discord and disunity
and we try and we try

we live in a world that is not our home
in the tension of the already and the not  yet
we have had a taste of what should be
and yet

we have tasted and we crave
what we know could be

and perhaps the tension we feel
is a reminder that it is a process of
becoming
of growing
along the vine
as our roots grow down deeper
into the soil of His marvelous love

for one day there will be a feast
the not yet will no longer be
for all will be as it should be

remembrance

her eyes wide awake
despite the time
as she winds down
opens up her twitter app
sees something that catches her
wide open eyes
digs deeper

to remember..
why we remember
why we must remember
history so we may not repeat mistakes
so we may learn from history
to learn of the losses
that everyone of them is a human life
and they matter
this is why we remember

it’s not just this republic remembering
it’s many countries around the globe
remembering
The Eleventh hour on the eleventh day of the eleventh month in 1918
at Gallipoli
A day and time which
signaled the end of the War.
The end of the first World War.
and peace for a time.

Armistice day, Remembrance day, Veterans day
all the same day, fought those same wars of old worlds
differing names, same meaning
Remember

it’s not enough to care about her country of birth
as other countries captured her heart
literature student of war and peace in her Eleventh year
in an Australian High School English class
in her History class two years before

walking in the War Memorial in the capital city
of Anzac veterans
of the pool of reflection
the eternal flame
of blood colored poppies
Remember

of shoehorn sonata’s
and nurses, so brave
of boys barely men
in herds they were led

her eyes droop
every blink heavier than the last
as the short night before
catches up to her
and again
she remembers
why she remembers

one day all wars will cease.
we remember

why are we so afraid to dream?

I am a dreamer. I have lots of ideas and dreams and passion(s) and hopes…

I am very open about sharing my dreams…and I wonder why we, collectively, are afraid to dream. And also, why are we afraid to share our dreams? Do we doubt the dream giver? The dreams I have, I hold deeply, believing particular dreams are from God and holding onto that, hoping for those to come to life, in His perfect timing. And if they’re not…then they won’t. And I just hold onto Ephesians 3:20-21 looking forward to things I can’t even dream or even imagine!

I read this amazing book last year called Dreaming with God by Bill Johnson of Bethel Church and Jesus Culture, and there were only a few minor things that I didn’t fully agree with, just a couple minor doctrinal things. But the meat of this book was about simply that…Dreaming…with…God.

He talks about culture and the power of dreaming big dreams for God, for His Kingdom. The subtitle alludes to this, Co-laboring with God for cultural transformation.  This totally ties into what Justin Pardee has been teaching on at the Co+op the past month. PRD explains how there are 7 areas of influence/sectors in society:

-Business, Government, Education, Arts & Entertainment, Science, and the Church. (I think I missed one…someone? help?comment?)

The only thing that all of those have in common is the church.

Justin’s been reinforcing this point that the local church is the hope of the world. Along with this statement:

God has called me to tell a story WITH my life rather than just the story of my life.

Going back to the Dreaming book, Johnson really reinforces the ideas of co-laborer and how we are to live as people who have been created in the image of God, and how we are to bear that likeness and represent our God well. He talks about wisdom and honor, and the connection between divine wisdom and creativity.

A few quotes from the book:

“Partnering with Him in His dreams will release in us a new capacity to dream like Him.

“When UNbelievers lead the way in inventions and artistic expression, it is because the church has embraced a false kind of spirituality.”

“His heartbeat becomes our heartbeat as we celebrate the shift in our own desires.”

“The devil himself has no creative abilities whatsoever. All he can do is distort and deform what God has made.”

It’s really interesting to think about creativity and wisdom. In the second chapter of Dreaming, he talks about how Bezalel (the creatively awesome dude in Exodus 31 and 35) is one of the first if not the first guys who’s described as being filled with the Spirit. Just really cool stuff. I think I just convinced myself to go re-read it..haha. I’ll end this here…and maybe we’ll pick back up on this later.

Peace…and dreams :)

Strawberry girl friendraiser

I am having a friend-raiser to help get to Colorado. Place your order for delightful chocolate dipped strawberries or dessert filled berries. =)

Take chocolate dipped strawberries to the next level! Cheesecake, cookie dough, or birthday cake stuffed strawberries. made fresh and delivered in a pretty box, order one flavor, a triple threat combo or pick and choose!

One week only, last day to order berries is Thursday June 9, 2011, with final deliveries on Friday June 10, 2011, or for pickup at my summer sendoff party :)

If you would like to donate please go here to give online through Campus Crusade: https://give.ccci.org/give/View/0648577

 (you know it’s my page since my face is on there =)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

beauty in the eye of…the Father

Ladies, women, girls, this is for you.

I came across some beautiful art, videos, and spoken word, and other poetry when my mom linked to this beautiful video, at this beautiful new site called:

The Beheld.

Watch this video:

Love this poem, also on this site:

BY JESSICA JENTINK

makes me hate
everything I am
everything I am not
everything I have
everything I have not

makes me want
more than I can afford
more than I need
more than I should want
more than anyone should want

makes me feel
like I should have skipped lunch
like I should have skipped lunch for the past 3 months
like I should fit into their jeans
like I should fit into their designer girl

makes me think
about the kids who look for crumbs
about the kids who are crying
about the kids who are dying
about the shirt I forgot I had

makes me angry
at America for calling me ugly
at my family for not understanding
at myself for being an idiot
at my God for conviction

beauty is value
says the lie
value is beauty
says the truth

the tug-of-war for a heart
her heart

well,
she’s tired of manipulation
she’s tired of fighting it
she’s tired of buying the look
she’s tired of buying the girl
she’s supposed to be

she’s the American girl

so shut up, American mannequin
you don’t work
you don’t diet
you don’t study for finals
you don’t have a boyfriend
or an atrium
or know anything at all
about what it means
to be a girl
because you are fake
fake like their lies

you are not real
pimples are real
wrinkles are real
adipose tissue is real
and it’s okay
if you know it’s okay
to say goodbye to beautiful

to the boys:
find a new beautiful to want
one that doesn’t cost so much
and one that a girl can be
without trying
because she already is that beautiful
underneath her skin

and be happy
that ABC
never gave Miss America
a Mr. America
to make you feel

the way we do

reblogged; taken from beheld.wordpress.com and http://thebeheld.wordpress.com/2010/11/21/the-mall/
rights belong to the author, I do not take credit for this in any way! I’m just reposting to share and spread the love!  Check out the site to see lots more poems and writings. Beautiful stuff,

Ladies, YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL!!

creative gift ideas for your valentine

1. FLOWERS!  i don’t think you can ever go wrong with flowers. (unless you are one of those few people who don’t like flowers) but i think it’s a good idea to add something meaningful to that. or pick them yourself. a fresh bouquet of wildflowers or flowers from YOUR garden. (or ask permission first if you want to pick from someone else’s garden!)

L. I got these beauties from the farmers market for $3! (or if you want flowers that are more of a reddish than yellow…go for it) R. from my friend’s wedding, this is my bridesmaid bouquet. (working with what i have in my archives folks…hint…i could use some valentine’s flowers :) hehe

I think these are pretty well received among the ladies: I recommend roses, tulips, bright assorted flowers, daisies, irises. Go to the florist if you really want help. Fresh ‘n’ Easy has gorgeous bouquets.

HEY GUYS! Want to know the language of flowers so you don’t give the wrong message? (simple and best chart  I found here)

RED ROSES = LOVE (aka TWU Love, mawwiage is wut bwings us togetharrr)  (good for married and engaged)

2. Be CREATIVE!

• write a poem
• write a letter
• write a song
• record video of you telling a story, reading a poem or singing a song.
• make a video montage or your family, friends, or your love
• get a nice photo frame and a print a couple of your favorite pictures

3. Get CRAFTY!

make something

• crochet a hat (like this one that I made for my little bro Sunday night in one sitting…just go in circles!)
• cut out shapes from construction paper. make a garland. make a collage. make a diorama (why not?) haha

4. Make MUSIC!! Make a playlist and burn MIX CD!

• Put some thought into the songs, the lyric content and message. don’t just look for the keyword love. think of songs they love and songs they will love. Everyone loves new music. This is a personal favorite. And don’t forget about the packaging! One year I made square CD sleeve envelopes with an extra flap to write the track listing on. You could also sew one. Or use a paper bag folded in half and decorate it. Simple makes beautiful <3

5. Use your SKILLS!

• If you are a Web designer…why not make your love their own website?? That would be rad.
• Think along the lines of what you’re good at and creative doesn’t have to be scary or time consuming. But don’t be afraid to try something new!
• Do you make awesome pie charts and graphs? Work with it!
• Build something. Saws. Hammers. Nails. Manly.
• Oil change, car wash, detailed, and leave a cute little something behind in the car. (not chocolates if it’s warm weather!)
• Use the skills you’ve got and make something magical!

GET SOME MORE GREAT VALENTINE’S DAY GIFT IDEAS HERE:

• the cutest thing ever…for the health conscious love of your life: FRUIT STICKERS! A PDF you can print and apply to your own fruit or fruit basket! (from Twig & Thistle)
• Crafty paper valentines. Cut, write and stick. from Andrea Rodgers
• For even more crafty, creative, artful ideas or inspiration check out CraftGawker.com

Here’s the main thing. <3

Make it meaningful, heartfelt. Don’t give fake sentiments away. Nobody like scheap sentiments. Yuck. Happy Crafting, Making and Giving!! Let me know if you have other ideas, or if you end up using any of mine!

How to show love and care for the musician in your life

  

1. Encourage and support them with your words and actions by showing up to any events they play/perform at, especially the small ones.
2. Encourage them by interacting with their Facebook page or twitter accounts. *like*
3. Ask them about new stuff, ask: are you writing? How’s it going? Ask if they’ll share a new song with you. May take a bit of prodding. Encourage them to put up a new video. Offer to help give your time and resources.
   1. examples include…recording/shooting video for a music video, picking out new clothes for a photoshoot or even just their wardrobe.
   2. If you’ve got it, we’ll take it :)
4. If you’re looking for gifts to give, notebooks, pens, Master Writer, money for music equipment, iTunes is always a good choice, and books, some musicians like having songbooks.
5. The best gift I can think of right now is a weekend away with a nice (grand) piano and a comfy bed and place to write and create. Or even a regular date with said piano and space. An empty music hall or sanctuary with a beautiful piano and permission to be there and privacy is one of the biggest things I would love to have right now. Permission to create, uninterrupted, permission to be loud (space) and not critiqued, and freedom to create.

 

Remember we are creatives and that comes with a lot of pressure and chaos and requires a great deal of encouragement and support and even accountability in creating and writing new stuff.