Fond Memories

Many years ago there were three little girls named Beth, Heather and Ashleigh. They were the best of friends and usually got along famously.One of the things these three girls had in common was their stubbornness, or if you rather, their determination.
These three musketeers always enjoyed a good sleepover, as most young girls do and they particularly enjoyed camping out. So a grand idea was hatched one day that they would set up a tent in the backyard of one of their houses and they'd have a wonderful time sleeping out of doors.
And so, with the consent of their parents, it was set and they were to sleep in the backyard at Heather and Ashleigh's house.This was always Beth's first choice, because they owned a trampoline and what is more fun than a trampoline?
So Beth trundled down the block with her backpack and pillow to Heather and Ashleigh's house.
There was laughter and small arguments as they got the tent set up correctly. Soon it was time for bed and the three girls eagerly crawled into the nests of blankets that each had arranged for themselves in the tent.They quickly settled down to their favorite game of drawing on each-others backs. Whoever was having their back drawn on would have to guess what was being drawn.
Being silly little girls, they had hardly paid any attention to the storm that was brewing outside their little tent.
It soon began to rain, and unworried, they simply pulled their blankets away from the walls of the tent so as not to let in the water. After talking and giggling some more, they soon realized that the storm was getting worse. The wind began to whip around the tent and the thunder started crashing, and the lightning flashing.While they would never admit to being scared of a thunderstorm, they quickly agreed to sing whatever songs they could think of.
They were quite unaware of the fact that Heather and Ashleigh's older brother had decided to sleep on the couch by the living room window and that he had left the window open. And so, unknowingly, they gave him quite a concert sung at the tops of their lungs and rather out of tune.
The next morning they woke to find that the rain had found it's way into the tent and their blankets were soggy. To their embarrassment they also found out that they had provided quality entertainment for said older brother.
But never let it be said that those three girls lacked determination (or stubbornness, whichever you prefer).

Boxes

Do you ever feel like someone has placed you in a box?
I've been thinking a bit lately about how we tend to judge people too quickly. How often do you hear around here, "Oh, you must be so and so's grandson/granddaughter". Wham, you're in a box. That person will always see you as so and so's grandson/daughter. Whatever they may think of you will be related to that first. They see you through a specific lens, so to speak.
That has often bugged me. I don't want to be seen through a specific lens. I don't want people to think of me only as how they have first perceived me.
How often do you forget about people's individuality? How often do you find that you are prejudiced about someone by their dress, accent, race, or just by how you first met them? I want to remind you not to allow what we know about someone to color your understanding of them as an individual. I believe that each person has so many things about them that makes them who they are and there is no way that you can ever believe that you already know someone completely. The only way to know someone is to spend time with them and let them tell you about themselves not only in what they say (sometimes that can be deceiving) but in how they act.
This subject first popped into my head a couple of days ago when I was listening to a song on the radio.

"Fingerprints of God" by Steven Curtis Chapman.

I can see the tears filling your eyes
And I know where they're coming from
They're coming from a heart that's broken in two
By what you don't see
The person in the mirror
Doesn't look like a magazine
Oh but when I look at you
It's clear to me

That I can see the fingerprints of God
When I look at you
I can see the fingerprints of God
And I know it's true
You're a masterpiece that all creation
Quietly applauds
And you're covered with
The fingerprints of God

Never has there been and never again
Will there be another you
Fashioned by God's hand and perfectly planned
To be just who you are
And what He's been creating
Since the first beat of your heart
Is a living, breathing
Priceless work of art

And I can see the fingerprints of God
When I look at you
I can see the fingerprints of God
And I know it's true
You're a masterpiece that all creation
Quietly applauds
And you're covered with
The fingerprints of God

Just look at you
You're a wonder in the making
And God's not through
In fact, He's just getting started!


For those of you who sometimes feel like you are placed in a box and labeled, remember that God knows who you truly are and what other people think of you shouldn't make you believe you should change who you are. Let God mold you. :)
I would also like to encourage you to open yourselves up to getting to know people. Let them tell you who they are. Be open with them. You never know who'll turn out to be a huge blessing to you or how God can use you in someone's life.
It can be hard to be vulnerable and let people in, but wouldn't you rather be able to say that you were open and available rather than shutting out anyone and everyone who could potentially change your life forever?

Centered

Not sure how many people still check this blog.
Just wanted to share some thoughts if I can manage to put them into coherent words.

The earthquake in Haiti has become another thing that has impressed upon me how short our life is and how great our responsibilities are while we are here. Thoughts of how many people's lives have been affected by this disaster and how it affects us, have been running through my head. We are so far removed from it and yet we're not. We have huge responsibilities around the world. Not just in caring for physical needs, though those are at the forefront of our thoughts as people are in great need in the midst of a crisis, but also for spiritual needs. How many of those people who were killed in the earthquake knew Jesus? In a country where voodoo is still the national religion, I would say that many of those people are eternally separated from God. Yes, the people who are alive and suffering right now are the people we are trying to help.

Please God, help us keep them alive long enough to give them the only message of hope!

I can't even come close to comprehending how much it hurts God's heart to see people dying without Him.


A song that has been stuck in my head for the past week is by David Crowder Band "How He Loves"

He is jealous for me, Loves like a hurricane, I am a tree,
Bending beneath the weight of his wind and mercy.
When all of a sudden, I am unaware of these afflictions eclipsed by glory,
And I realize just how beautiful You are,
And how great Your affections are for me.

And oh, how He loves us oh
Oh how He loves us,
How He loves us all

He is jealous for me, Loves like a hurricane, I am a tree,
Bending beneath the weight of his wind and mercy.
When all of a sudden, I am unaware of these afflictions eclipsed by glory,
And I realize just how beautiful You are,
And how great Your affections are for me.

And oh, how He loves us oh,
Oh how He loves us,
How He loves us all

He loves us,
Oh how He loves us,
Oh how He loves us,
Oh how He loves.

And we are His portion and He is our prize,
Drawn to redemption by the grace in His eyes,
If his grace is an ocean, we’re all sinking.
And heaven meets earth like an unforeseen kiss,
And my heart turns violently inside of my chest,
I don’t have time to maintain these regrets,
When I think about, the way…

That He loves us,
Oh how He loves us,
Oh how He loves us,
Oh how He loves.
Yeah, He loves us,
Oh how He loves us,
Oh how He loves us,
Oh how He loves.

Yeah, He loves us,
Oh how He loves us,
Oh how He loves us,
Oh how He loves.


What an incredible love! A jealous love that is angered by all the things that keep us from Him. A compassionate and love as he sees the hurt. A merciful love as he continually intervenes. Knowing that he has that kind of love for us, for me, makes me want to do whatever I can to make sure that my life is only for the purpose of furthering His kingdom.

I am encouraged by what I hear of all the different countries doing whatever they can to send relief to Haiti. If only there were that sense of urgency for saving people throughout the world who are dying without hope, the hope that is the assurance of being with Christ forever.

It is so easy for us to allow our worlds to become smaller and smaller, shrinking around us until all we see is what is going on in our little lives. 'gotta re-shingle the roof, gotta clean up the house, gotta work, busy, busy, busy'. Yes we are busy, and day to day life is necessary, but where is our perspective? What are we doing in our prayer lives? Are we taking the time to make sure we are available for God's work? Are we making our lives count in his kingdom? Are we giving until it hurts?


Another song that has made an impression on me is by Reinstate "Need to Give"

Worlds apart from the start
you were dreaming of a life to live for
I am here without fear
dreaming of the day I make it to the top

But love has spoken
Hearts been broken
We are all the same
It does not matter
What we have in this life
Only that we give it away

So much pain suffering
On your side of the world where dreams don't come true
Here are we happily
Meeting all our needs without a second thought

While parents dying
Their children crying for love
And we all turn our backs
And we don't attack the pain
That we all see

It's time to give our lives
It's time to give our lives
It's time to give our lives away

Parents dying
Their children crying for love
We all turn our backs
And we don't attack the pain

If we'd open up our eyes
Look outside our lives
We'd see the needs, the hopes, the wants, the dreams
Of those with not enough
Whose hopes have turned to dust
While we have lived our lives so selfishly

Enough is all we need to live
It's time for us to give
Let's drown out the doubt
That we can live without
One day we'll stand before the throne
Of the King that I adore
We cannot afford
To ignore the need anymore


Now if I had just put those lyrics up to begin with, I wouldn't have needed to write anything else. It says it all right there. Let's all get some perspective shall we? Where are our lives centered? Please take this as a challenge not only for you, but also for me.