I liked it!

I liked the part when Mary called Sarah & asked us to let her into the house cause she had locked herself out and she was wearing slippers.
Did I mention it was hailing?!

I liked the part where we decided to wait out the hail so we wouldn’t get too wet.

I liked the part where Sarah & I ran outside to the car and were soaked from head to toe anyways after being in the rain for just 4 seconds.

I liked the part when we received a phone call from Mary right after we got in the car, letting us know that another roommate had just arrived home and she had gotten in the house.

I especially liked the part when we laughed a lot about all this.

Thoughts, Part II

A while back I had some thoughts related to this piece and I have some more; just as I promised I would!

Nelson Mandela
*************
Our deepest fear is not that we are
inadequate.
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful
beyond measure.
It is our light, not our darkness,
that most frightens us.
We ask ourselves,
who am I to be brilliant,
gorgeous, talented and fabulous?

You are a child of God.
Your playing small
doesn't serve the world.
There's nothing enlightened about shrinking
so that other people won t feel insecure
around you.
We were born to make manifest
the glory of God that is within us.
It's not just in some of us;
it's in everyone.

And as we let our own light shine,
we unconsciously give other people permission
to do the same.
As we are liberated from our own fear,
our presence automatically liberates others.

Let’s open this one up again.

So Sister and I were watching some Parkour videos earlier today and were greatly intrigued. These people climb the sides of walls, they jump off roofs, they leap great distances. Quite often we find ourselves calling these people extraordinary.

I would love to be able to do what they do. But then I go to thinking about what that would take:

- I’d have to get into shape

- I’d have to eat better

- Basically I’d have to change a lot about the way that I live and become self- disciplined.

But I have a question: What if those people who do that Parkour stuff are living life the way God intended. What if they are using their bodies to the fullness of human potential?

What if God intended all of us to have the ability to jump out of trees, and soar from rooftops?

I’m starting to think he did.

Set that aside.

After mulling it over, I came to a few conclusions about who I see myself to be:

- I want to love the Lord with all I have; but often times I think too much and that keeps me from acting.

- I love people and care deeply for many; but I fear rejection and therefore I say nothing.

- I have incredible hand-eye coordination, I am a very quick learner, and I am a decent challenge when it comes to logic/strategy games; but I fear being a threat to others so I often hold back.

Our deepest fear is that we are powerful
beyond measure.
It is our light, not our darkness,
that most frightens us.
We ask ourselves,
who am I to be brilliant,
gorgeous, talented and fabulous?

Yes. I am afraid that I will be ‘extra ordinary’. I fear that people will notice me. As much as I want to follow the Lord, I am afraid that if I do, I will reach my full potential.

However, I must admit that it’s not my full potential alone that scares me. What scares me is that if I reach that point where people are watching, or I am better at something; I won’t know how to react. I won’t know how to remain humble and loving.

It’s so much easier to hide in the shadows, than it is to step out and take a compliment, or encourage others as I ‘succeed’ where they ‘fail’.

You are a child of God.
Your playing small
doesn't serve the world.
There's nothing enlightened about shrinking
so that other people won t feel insecure
around you.
We were born to make manifest
the glory of God that is within us.

God created each and every one of us. We were created to glorify him.

If he made us to jump off buildings and land without a scratch, we should trust that he is going to keep us safe.

If he made us to create music and share it with others, we should trust that he is going to turn the praise to himself and not let it remain on us.

And if he made us to have a full heart so that we may love others, we should trust that he is going to give us words of encouragement, as well as the means to handle every situation that comes our way.

We hear that everyone fails and that we should not let a fear of failure hold us back. I’m not afraid of failure, cause I know everyone fails.

But I am afraid of success.

However, I need to remember that everyone was made with a great purpose in mind. Not just me.

And as we let our own light shine,
we unconsciously give other people permission
to do the same.
As we are liberated from our own fear,
our presence automatically liberates others.

It’s a matter of embracing our passions and desires, because as long as we are following the Lord, those passions are the desires of the heart of God.

They are good, and the Lord of all things will empower us as we let him.

2 Timothy 1:7 -- God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.

Today

Today was a beautiful day!

Community to the max!

Blessings in abundance!

Love!

I’m glad you were all a part of it!

1 Corinthians 13

Love is a choice.

Love is patient. Love is kind. Love does not envy, love does not boast, love is not proud. Love is not rude, love is not self-seeking, love is not easily angered, love keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil. Love rejoices with the truth. Love always protects. Love always trusts. Love always hopes. Love always perseveres. Love never fails.

God is love.

If we choose God, it is then we can love.

It is then we are patient. It is then we are kind. It is then that we can celebrate the victories of others; then we are modest, then that we embrace humility. It is then, after we choose God that we desire what he desires; being respectful, showing selflessness, it is then that we experience true peace. Previous to choosing God, we may have had the opportunities to forgive, but without God it is all little more than a good idea. He is the bringer of all things good. After we turn towards our maker, and only then, are we fully capable of hating evil and embracing the great truth of the Lord. Because God is love. And love always protects, always trusts, and always gives hope. Love perseveres. God perseveres. God pursues.

God pursues and never fails.

Love never fails. God never fails.

no title

as I sit here and I close my eyes.

I see it all so clear.

I see you and I can feel your smile, it’s for me.

all around us there is so much chaos

so much noise.

it’s dark.

but as I focus in on you

I can feel you

I am comforted

I settle in to you

and I can’t help but reciprocate that smile

I haven’t felt this joy in months

I open my eyes and am reminded of the pressing dark

I feel the chaos

but you are so bright that I am blinded by your hope

currently that’s all I can see

but still I hesitate

how long will this last?

with a deep sigh I realize something

it doesn’t matter

right now, I am here with you

and it’s here that I will rest

I will rest in you

you pursue me

Check & Check.

- Wrote

- Snuggled with Stinky

- Enjoyed the rain

- Made brownies

- Jumped in the pool

- Ate brownies, drank milk

- Graced a thrift store with my presence

- Visited Sister’s Art Show

- Watched Oscar

- Downloaded Google Chrome

- Learned that it'll rain all weekend

- Realized it’s only Friday!