Contagious Joy December 17, 2009

Contagious Joy…I love it! Have you ever met someone who has that? Gosh, it’s incredible. The other night I went to a Christmas party at the Pastor’s house of the church my parents have been attending. Unfortunately I cannot attend, because I work Sundays…but they ended up having this party on a night I could make it. I’m so glad I could! Never have I wanted so badly wanted to be a part of a church family as I did that night…and I was a part of it, which was so awesome! It’s just so different from the other churches I have been to. The atmosphere of the house was of JOY! It was so happy! Everyone was smiling and laughing and honestly caring about each other. Never have I felt so welcomed and accepted…..not judged and condemned.

It got me thinking. So often churches are all about repentance and mourning our sins…pretty much just taking a whip and whipping ourselves in the back everyday, every hour….for everything we do wrong. How awful! Who would want to do that!? Now don’t get me wrong…there is a time for repentance….and truly being sad about sin. But God has forgiven us!! He doesn’t want us to dwell on that! Gosh, that’s just what the devil wants! The Bible says, “The joy of the Lord is our strength.” That makes all the difference. So that night it got me thinking about how many people just miss out on that joy….because they’re so focused on the “do’s and don’ts.” It’s sooooo sad! Because that contagious joy is sooo good and full of LIFE! And there is SO much to be joyful about!

So may you find that joy…because it’s life giving and just makes life so much better

“You did not bear the shame, you resisted…sacrificing your life for freedom, justice and honor.” December 15, 2009

“Many small people, who in many small places, do many small things, can alter the face of the world.” The East Side Gallery is an international memorial for freedom. It is a 1.3km long section of the Berlin Wall. It’s so humbling.

Words of Wisdom November 15, 2009

No one likes ulterior motives, so none should possess them. Honesty is a priceless gem.

!!! November 8, 2009

My first article was published!!!!

Jesus Wept October 8, 2009

We are fragile. Life is fragile

I am reminded of this whenever there is a passing away of life.

But if there’s anything I’ve learned, I’ve learned that whatever we feel in that moment…the sinking feeling in our heart, numbness, denial, anger, shock…it’s okay. Or even if you don’t feel anything at all. It’s okay. It’s okay to not have answers, or explanations, or even words.

“Jesus wept.” -John 11:35

There is so much in those two words.

I’m learning that I can’t avoid my response to things and think that they’ll just go away. If I stuff things deep down inside of me, it’s in there somewhere…and it’ll come out. It may even be things from years ago…if I didn’t properly grieve, then it’s in there somewhere.

If Jesus, the Son of God, needed to let it out. To weep. Then we do too.

I hope that we…that I, can come to realize that Jesus wept. That whatever I am feeling is okay. That I may choose to be open and not bury it deep inside of me. That I may realize that God is with us, that He is grieving our loss, but also restoring. In that, we can find hope.

Hot Air Balloon October 7, 2009

“I’ll be out of my mind and you’ll be out of ideas pretty soon, so lets spend the afternoon in a cold hot air balloon. Leave your jacket behind. Lean out and touch the treetops over town. I can’t wait to kiss the ground wherever we touch back down” ♥

I Cannot Make My Own Heart Beat October 1, 2009

October 1st, 51 degrees, sweater, mocha cappachino, pure vanilla soy candle, and a runny nose.

Although I appear and talk about living a quite, balanced, peacful life…deep down inside I’m so high stressed, unbalanced, and anxious.

I don’t like it and my response to it is to go take a nap.

It’s such a paradox that we have to fight for peace.

This past week, stress just built up so high…that I just had to cry for a few days. It made me feel better.

Peace: freedom from disturbance; quiet and tranquility. Mental calm; serenity.

There cannot be peace in the world (The places around us, where we go, live, work), until there is peace in the soul.

Peace is not just going to come find me, it’s something I need to fight for.

Endurance, we need…I need endurance to make it through each day. And perspective that each season in our lives is growing us and is taking place for a reason. How awful is it that people live for their weekends?

And somehow throughout all of this, I just forget. I forget that my heart does not beat on it’s own. I forget that shalom, the greatest peace…that is fulfilling comes from the Lord. I forget that He is my strength. I forget that my best and true self is found in Him.

So through tears as I write this. I must say that I have neglected my source of life…because I have forgotten. No wonder why Jesus said, “Remember me”

How pivotal is it for us to remember. To remind ourselves of His peace, joy, love….to remind ourselves why our hearts beat. It’s not us, it’s Him.

Travels and Stats September 29, 2009

I must say! I was super surprised when I looked at my blog stats to see that there are quite a few people who ACTUALLY read my blog! Haha!

Anyway, two years ago to the day I touched down in Northern Ireland for a six month adventure across the world. Sheesh! And what an adventure it was!

I would like to go to Nova Scotia.

The End.

Live in tune with the Song September 28, 2009

“The song is playing all around us all the time, the song is playing everywhere,

it’s written on our hearts, and everybody is playing the song.

See, the question isn’t whether or not you’re playing a song,

the question is, ‘Are you in tune? What does it mean for you to be in or out of tune with the song?

There are people who talk as if they know everything about being a Christian and yet

they can seem way out of tune. And then there are others who would say they don’t

know much at all about the Christian faith, and yet they can seem very in tune

with the song. Can you believe in God and be out of tune with the song?

Does it work the other way around?

Maybe you have this sense like you have no sort of relationship with God

because of all these things, these ideas you have about what that means,

all these things that you’ve been told about what it is or what it isn’t.

And an infinite, massive, kind of invisible God, that’s hard to get our minds around,

but truth, love, grace, mercy, justice, compassion – the way that Jesus lived,

I can see that.

I can understand that.

I can relate to that.

I can play that song. Do you believe that if you live the way Jesus taught us to live, being in tune with the song,

that you “will have life in its fullest”?

May you come to see that the song is written on your heart.

And as you live in tune with the song,

in tune with the creator of the universe,

may you realize that you ARE in relationship with the living God.”

-Rob Bell “Rhythm” NOOMA 011

Zooborns.com August 30, 2009

THIS IS WHY I LOVE GORILLAS <3