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Archive for the category “Respect”

17 Apr 2012

even so…come quickly

For seeing that something always comes
to fill the empty places.
For making spaces,
and not being afraid of
the empty places —
for letting all the moments be
these empty containers
sure of the filling of God.

– Ann Voskamp
http://www.aholyexperience.com/

I have waited a lot over the years, for many different reasons. In 1997 I stepped out in a leap of faith, and my life exploded in ways I certainly never expected and I began a walk of faith that has been quite an incredible journey with God. It certainly was not what I would have picked for myself, yet, I do not question the way. As the song, Heal the Wound says, ‘I have not lived a life that boasts of anything, and I don’t take pride in what I’ve done, But I’ll build an alter with the rubble that you found me in, and every stone will sing of what you can redeem.’

In 2008 I waited on God for 52 days. It was an indescribably difficult time, in so many ways, and it changed me. It took my relationship with God and my faith to a new level. It was a time of learning and trusting God way beyond anything I had ever done before, and it set incredible things in motion over these next years. It took me to places of growth and healing that I did not expect, yet and so grateful for.

As you can probably tell by this blog over the past week or so – I am at another place of waiting, and, as I walk thorough it I am so thankful I have the prior experiences to encourage me as I walk through this time. Yes, patience is a virtue because it’s HARD!!! haha Certainly doesn’t come naturally for me…how about you? I want to make things happen! Shake up the people involved! Get something resolved – RIGHT NOW!!!! And yet I know, if I wait on God, if I am patient, it will be the right resolution, not just an end, or a beginning. Living with faith, having patience, putting life’s tough issues into God’s hands – then not worrying about them, and just waiting for Him is a practice of strength, discipline and courage – it is a choice which adds maturity, peace, joy, abundance, and so many other great benefits to our lives. It also allows us to grow in intimacy with God in ways that are like nothing else we experience.

As I read Ann’s words above, I, too, am sure (and eager) of the filling…and so I wait…

Posted in Becoming Yourself, Beginning, Beliefs, Blessing, Change, Choice, create, Encouragement, Faith, find art at pinterest, Grieving, Growth, inspiration, kindness, Life, Love, Patience, People, Poetry, power, Prayer, quiet, Quotes, Reality, Reflection, Relationships, Respect, Solitude, strength, success, Tenderness, thankfulness, Thoughts, time, Today, Trust, truth, Vulnerability

16 Apr 2012

It’s more…

WHEN GOD IS SILENT

Gentle Pilgrim,

do not be anxious in those times

when your prayers are struck dumb

and God falls silent.

Do not worry when you walk among ruins

longing for an explanation,

when you break your questions

against the hard darkness,

when the ears of your heart

stop up like wells of clay,

when you listen and hear

nothing.

Take heart: you have not

been cut off,

you have fallen into the

deep green pool

at the center of the world

where there is no language,

only presence.

You have passed out of the

market of words

and into the hands of God.

Wrap the silence around you

like a prayer shawl,

this communion with mysteries too great

to be compressed into the paper cups of words.

Be still, and trust God’s mute embrace,

God’s sigh too deep for words,

God’s presence,

beyond all explanation.

_______________________________

http://songsfromthevalley.com/September-09-2.18-Alone.pdf

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15 Apr 2012

1 Comment

Worry is not a necessary part of life

The spiritual life is a life that is guided by God’s Spirit, the same Spirit that guided the life of Jesus. So, how can we be in touch with the Spirit, hear the voice of the Spirit, and allow ourselves to be guided by the Spirit?
Can we create some space for God where we can hear, feel, and experience the Spirit of God, and where it becomes possible for us to respond? Is there space in our lives where the Spirit of God has a chance of getting our attention?
We fill our inner space with worry about things that might happen and guilt about things that have already happened. And beneath our worry and our guilt there is a deep fear of empty spaces.
When we create an empty space, we make room for something to happen to us that we cannot predict, something that might be really new.

– Henri Nouwen
http://www.henrinouwen.org/

Posted in Alone, Becoming Yourself, Beginning, Beliefs, Blessing, Choice, commitment, confidence, courage, determination, Encouragement, Faith, find art at pinterest, Freedom, Gratitude, Growth, Habits, healing, inspiration, Letting Go, Life, Love, Patience, Peace, People, Prayer, quiet, Reality, Reflection, Relationships, Respect, Solitude, strength, success, Tenderness, thankfulness, Thoughts, time, Today, Trust, truth, Vulnerability, words, worry

13 Apr 2012

1 Comment

Into the silence

I am still
I wait
I pray
I clean
I am alone
– for the most part
Solitary
– even in a crowd

I wish for it
– interruptions come
some enjoyable
some annoying
I am present, yet not

I know the answer will come
I know movement is coming
but for now
It is the silence
That I embrace
and endure
with patience
and courage
at other times I have even been cheerful during this time
but not this time

This time,
I am in mourning
Grief surrounds my heart
heavy sadness
– for choices made
– being made even now

I long for intimacy
I long to be the choice
I wish I could help
but I can’t

Only God can do what needs to be done
– and He can only do it if the choice is made by you
– to ask, seek, knock – even the slightest opening He can transform
the choice is personal and must be freely made

and so we wait –
me and God
Jesus puts his arm around my shoulders
and pulls me close
I feel the Spirit holding my heart and bringing me comfort
I close my eyes and hear his promise,
‘I will never leave you or forsake you’
and my sadness is blurred
with the surge of peace and joy

The silence is good
we know each other here
in the waiting
we have been here many times before
I have learned to wait
– Even enjoy this path
the answer will come soon enough
this is the place of intimacy and trust
where we know each other most

Life will move forward
and I will spring into action
and do what is being set for me to do in my waiting

I do not question the way
– I am a willing vessel
Mine was a shattered life
which has known your healing touch
you, so lovingly, put my pieces together again
and mended me with love

My God knows the way
– mine is a heart of thankfulness
I am the grateful follower
waiting to love you and share with whomever I can
Not for any other reason except love

You have allowed me to glimpse
My belovedness
My value
The value of each soul you have created
The depths of your love is unending

I desire only to please you
My creator, my savior, my lover, my friend

I long to share this love
with the ones you allow me to

And so I wait
I stay in the silence
until my answer comes
and God speaks
I am listening, Lord
As You have before,
Speak when you are ready

AL 4/13/12

Posted in Alone, Becoming Yourself, Beginning, Beliefs, Blessing, Career, Change, Choice, commitment, courage, determination, do, Encouragement, Faith, find art at pinterest, Freedom, Gratitude, Grieving, Growth, Habits, Happiness, healing, inspiration, Joy, Letting Go, Life, Lonely, Losing, Love, Miracles, Passion, Patience, Peace, People, Poetry, Prayer, Purpose, quiet, Reality, Reflection, Relationships, Respect, Solitude, strength, success, Tears, Tenderness, thankfulness, Thoughts, time, Today, Trust, truth, Uncategorized, Vulnerability, worry

12 Apr 2012

Make someday today!

Posted in art, beauty, Becoming Yourself, Beginning, Beliefs, Blessing, Change, Choice, courage, determination, Encouragement, Faith, find art at pinterest, Gratitude, healing, inspiration, Letting Go, Life, Love, Patience, People, Prayer, Reality, Reflection, Relationships, Respect, strength, success, Tenderness, thankfulness, Thoughts, time, Today, Trust, truth, Uncategorized, Vulnerability | Leave a comment

09 Apr 2012

Don’t wait to commit!

How do you feel about commitment? I used not to think about it very much, and then my whole life changed and I had to make some of the toughest decisions I could ever have to make in this world. Did my faith really matter? Did my commitment level really make a difference? You bet it did!

I just finished the book, Not a Fan, by Kyle Idleman http://www.notafan.com/ it is one of the best books I have ever read on this subject. Are you a fan or a follower? Do you understand commitment? Do you understand intimacy? Do you understand the price of being free? Do you know your value? Are you committed? To Christ? To any of your relationships?

When my whole life exploded (about 15 years ago now) and I plunged into poverty, loss, homelessness, chaos…for year after year. When I thought I had nothing left to lose and then I lost more and even more – I had a choice to make: Was I committed? What did I really want? I didn’t understand exactly that I was committing. I remember in 1990, praying, I want to be happy…and AS LONG AS I am moving in that direction…I will continue to follow God’s path. Ha Well, it certainly hasn’t been the path I expected, but I have become so in love and so consumed and so full of love, joy and peace – not because of me, but because of the Spirit of God, I have found it is my all-consuming passion to die to myself and to attempt to move out-of-the-way so I can live and love in God’s way that is sooo much more than I can ever explain!

There have been several moments when it could have gone either way for me, I stood on the edge of the decision, day after day, and made the very tough choice toward faith. It didn’t make sense to many people, there were many times when it certainly didn’t make sense to me, and during those times I would cling to the promises. I would read Psalm 37, James 1, Matthew 5-7, and daily words of encouragement, many times over and over. I would listen to music, I would walk in nature. Each time I struggled and each time I found peace, hope, grace to continue my journey with Jesus.

I have to tell you, many times God seemed silent, Jesus was just a shadowy figure who didn’t seem real or relevant, and I had to look back at the path behind me, the miracles of the past years to keep my faith alive. Many times I sat for a while and just couldn’t move any further, a few times I made desperate decisions and ended up having to deal with those decisions for many years, but every day I have continued to ask, seek and knock. My faith and my passion have grown and I want nothing else in this world than to know my creator more. To understand love so that I can share that same love with others.

Posted in Becoming Yourself, Beginning, Beliefs, Blessing, Change, Choice, commitment, courage, determination, do, Encouragement, Faith, find art at pinterest, Freedom, Growth, Habits, Happiness, Happy Holiday!, Hope, Imagine, inspiration, Letting Go, Life, Love, Miracles, Passion, Patience, Peace, People, Reality, Reflection, Relationships, Respect, strength, success, Tenderness, thankfulness, Thoughts, time, Today, Trust, Vulnerability, Winning | Leave a comment

07 Apr 2012

This one’s for me!!!

Posted in Becoming Yourself, Beginning, Beliefs, Blessing, Change, Choice, Encouragement, Faith, find art at pinterest, Growth, Habits, Happiness, inspiration, Judging, kindness, Life, Love, Patience, People, Relationships, Respect, Tenderness, thankfulness, Thoughts, time, Today, Trust, truth, Uncategorized, Vulnerability, words | Leave a comment

04 Apr 2012

2 Comments

Choices, choices, it’s all about choices

April 4, 2012
Starting New
A Moment of Choice

We can choose to start over in this very moment, there is no need to wait for a new year or a new month or a new week.

There are times in our lives that lend themselves to starting something new. The beginning of a new year, finishing school, leaving a job, or changing homes—these all are times that turn our minds to fresh starts. Their advantage is that they bring with them the energy of that event, creating a tide of change around them that we can ride to our next shoreline. But we can choose to start anew anytime. In any moment we can decide that a bad day or a relationship that’s gotten off on the wrong foot can be started again. It is a mental shift that allows us to clean the slate and approach anything with fresh eyes, and we can make that choice at any time.

Starting new is most powerful when we focus our attention to what we are choosing to create. Giving all of our attention to the unwanted aspects of our lives allows what we resist to persist. We need to remember to leave enough room in the process of new beginnings to be kind to ourselves, because it takes time to become accustomed to anything new, no matter how much we like it. There is no need to get down on ourselves if we don’t reach our new goals instantly. Instead, we acknowledge the forward motion and choose to reset and start again, knowing that with each choice we learn, grow, and move forward.

Making the choice to start anew has its own energy—it’s a promise made to you. The forward momentum creates a sort of vacuum behind it, pulling toward you all you need to help you continue moving in your chosen direction. Once the journey has begun, it may take unexpected turns, but it never really ends. Like cycles in nature, there are periods of obvious growth and periods of dormancy that signal a time of waiting for the right moment to burst forth. Each time we choose to start anew we dedicate ourselves to becoming the best we are able to be.
http://www.dailyom.com