Tonight, as I was putting together a post on my natural beauty routine, I came across a fellow blogger and sister in Christ's entry on the unfortunate Fifty Shades of Grey phenomenon that is sweeping the world this week. I definitely have my own thoughts on the book and the film, (though I have not read it, and I will not see it) I've heard and I've seen enough to know that this isn't what girls should be emulating. It's not healthy, it shouldn't be promoted as such and it's not love. Well, Trinity sums it up so very, very well and takes to the Word. A beautifully written piece and I wanted to share. Click the link below to read. Living Water Is One Shade: Clear
0 Comments
#1: Faith. When I get busy I am the first to admit that church falls to the wayside. I hope this changes when we are parents, as I want to instill its importance in our children's lives. I love our Lord with all my heart. Though I know, like with any habit, if I don't do it now, I can't expect to set a great example for my future children. However, God isn't only in church. He's in us, so I do make a point to do morning devotionals every day, couples devotionals at night with my hubs and stay active in prayer. And as it states "A Virtuous Woman serves God with all of her heart, mind and soul. She seeks His will for her life and follows His ways." This is something I try to be intentional with everyday. I look for Him for guidance in all areas of my life and I try to stay aware of ways He is asking me to serve him with those around me.
A lesson that I had to learn is... don't beat yourself up over how much you do or don't do. God knows our stories, our reasons, our excuses, and our attempts. He loves us no matter what, but I feel its important to make an effort so that we can grow. Comment and share how you stay active in your faith day to day. I'd love to hear inspiring feedback! There is so. much. inside. of. me.
I spent many magical nights singing my heart out. Literally using all of my breath to exude pure musical talent. Singing to crowds as little as one, as large as thousands. I miss it sometimes. I've written songs that are complete crap. Yet, I have written songs that could be number one hits. And have charted in the U.S and overseas. I've written stories that have gone straight to the garbage. And stories have been published in international glossy magazines. Electric chemistry has flowed between my producers and I that we couldn't explain. Almost otherwordly in its ease, the process,perfectly, beautiful, flawless. Lyrics strung together with catchy melodies over beats that came as natural as the beat of ones own heart. I feel like that isn't something that I can look back on as "something I did in my youth". It flowed out me as if it's what I was born to do. Who I was born to be. Its all fleeting though, isn't it? Those moments of electric intensity. Does that mean it wasn't worth it? Absolutely not. It's sculpted who I am. Who I'll forever be. But as we grow, can it all be that simple? The deep, gut-wrenching, heart breaking love of the art. What about responsibility and earthly life. How does one do it all. How do you fight for it when you've exhausted all of your resources to do so. I'm a phone call away if you have the answer to this. How have you kept your dream alive? And when you stop and look around, is what you're doing what you always wanted? Deep in your soul? Why? Why not? That's the question isn't it. The hard, unimagineable question that you don't dare to think about when you're young and free. When the road stretched out before you runs as far as your imaginations eye can see. Then as you grow and tumble over rocks, climb steep mountains, swim treachourous streams, fighting for the dream you've hungered for since you were just a child, you reach a clearing a long, long way down the road. And it gets foggy. The air grows thick, and the jungle you need to push through to stay on the path, thicker still. You find yourself at one of lifes inevitable crossroads. And maybe you sit here, for a long while. Days, weeks, tragically even wasting years. You shift your eyes to the right. The dream and the heat of the fire still rages on. Or, to your left, you see the safer choice and the warmth of security in this nice little place you've created for yourself, right here in the clearing. So what do you do? Both have lovely possibilities. One seems so much easier, while the other is a chase. A race that your legs are tired of running. But the blood, sweat and tears of training for that race made you feel so... Alive. Isn't that what we're here to do? Love fiercely, help each other, and ultimately live? God given talent. God guided passions. Listen for His voice, run towards it and never let go, never look back. If only it was so simple. Maybe it is. Maybe I'm missing it. Or maybe I've missed it. Or maybe it wasn't meant to be gotten. Or maybe I've had it all along. Either way, it's a beautiful journey this life. The powerlessness in not having the answers is what grows us. Its what fuels the creativity. Its what keeps Him in control. The songs, the stories, the passion. Let us always be grateful for that. So, whatever your dream, hold on tight to it when it makes you feel alive, let it go if it no longer does. It may not look as though you imagined it, dreamed it. Doesn't mean it still isn't worth living, dreaming, molding... Pray continually for direction in where to use the talents. The Creator of all created this in me, and I'm eager to see where He allows me to go with each aspect of what truly connects me to me and me to Him. I just have to remember to practice patience. For patience is a virtue, and quite possibly one of the hardest to master. That's a beautiful sentiment. And I know through Christ we can get there. But there are days, like today, where my hormones are out of whack, I'm frazzled, work was stressful, missing family time and I just don't connect to that thought like I long too.
I closed my eyes and thought about what makes my soul happy. Not my mind, nothing that is fleeting, but true deep soul happiness. I want to be in the moment more. On my phone less. I want to write more. I want to think less. I want to see family more. I want to keep to myself less. I want more adventure. Less fear. More veggies. Less cheating with grains. So. How can I do all this? Not by large changes. I am blessed. I adore my job, my home, my marriage, my relationships. What I don't adore is my stressful nature to feel like I have less than what I have when anything upsets those situations. That diminishes the blessing. And that is not my intention. So I will try to do better at taking it one moment at a time. I will try to take more deep breaths. Intentionally carve out more hours for writing and friends. And look at the good at the opportunities that lie before me. And I will continue to pray through it all, because I am me. I know my weaknesses and the habits that pull me down. May I be able to become stronger and more able to do what makes my soul happy each and every day. There is a beautiful devotional series I subscribe to called Just Between Us. And they send me refreshing morning devotionals and scripture and its such an amazing way to start my work day. As I'm trying to find balance, body, mind and soul, I read this piece by Cathy McIlvoy this morning and just waded in the comfort of knowing that God holds it all. He holds my mind, my body and my soul. It's what I do with the lessons He teaches and the paths He directs me towards that can ensure I do what I can to be healthful in a balanced way. Enjoy this lovely little piece, it's quite a read, but worth it.
Truth. (Dwell on it.) We need to be purposeful about keeping the truth in us because, throughout the day, that which is untrue is set before us in large portions: “You will be satisfied when you make more money;” “Plastic surgery is the answer to your low self-esteem;” “Keep busy, busy, busy with ministry so God will be pleased with you;” etc. In Phil. 4:8 Paul exhorts us to think about “…whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely…” In her popular book, Disciplines of the Beautiful Woman, Anne Ortlund offers a practical formula. “Eliminate and concentrate” is her method of obtaining an efficient, clean closet, a productive schedule and more. Her theory is that by eliminating what is unnecessary, we can see what is truly needed and use our time and possessions wisely for the Lord. Sometimes I find it helpful to reverse the formula. I don’t always recognize the lies that are bogging me down. Deception can be subtle. We begin to lose our joy. Peace is replaced with anxiety and irritability. We must first step back and take a good look. Concentrate. Examine. Pray. “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts…” (Psa. 139). Listen to the Holy Spirit and godly people you trust. Read and study God’s Word. Memorize Scripture. Then we can better recognize when deception is being dished up. Once identified, we can go through steps to eliminate it and get it off our plates. Fellowship. (Commit to it.) Whether you are by nature an extravert or an introvert, there is an ingredient essential in life to keeping your soul supported - a true friend. We need to be vulnerable with someone. We need a friend who will be vulnerable with us. People in leadership and ministry often do not want to appear weak. We think that if we keep our shortcomings and struggles to ourselves, others will believe that we are truly worthy of our position. The truth is, none of us is worthy. God uses us in spite of ourselves. We all need regular, true fellowship to keep our soul nurtured with encouragement, exhortation, and companionship. We need to be that safe place for others as well; we need to feed each others souls. Pleasure. (Do what you love to do.) In the movie Chariots of Fire, Olympic athlete and missionary to China Eric Liddell, is quoted as saying, “…when I run, I feel His pleasure!” You may not think there is anything spiritually nourishing about running. But Liddell knew from whom his ability came, so he ran his fastest and believed it pleased the Lord. I do not enjoy running, but God has given me an appetite for other activities. He has given all of us abilities, talents, and desires for different types of activities. By making the time to partake in what we enjoy doing, we refresh our soul and therefore nurture it. Maybe you need to spend time gardening, playing a musical instrument, or going to the art supply store to buy some watercolors and brushes. Fix a special meal and invite others to enjoy it with you. We serve a creative God who makes unique and creative people. Commit to experiencing an activity that brings you relaxation and gratification. God will meet you there. You will lose track of time, appreciate the Lord more, feel His pleasure, and bring nourishment to your soul. Ken Gire, author of Windows of the Soul, writes: “We reach for God in many ways. Through our sculptures and our Scriptures. Through our pictures and our prayers. Through our writing and our worship. And through them, He reaches for us.” |
archives
November 2018
tags
All
|