Who can hear these silent tears?
Who can be trusted completely?
Who can cherish this broken heart?
Who can fulfill these wild dreams?
Who can really love me for me?
Who can I love without restraint?
There is only One...
When I follow His lead...
His dreams become mine, my dreams become His
He guides and protects, His love will never end
My heart belongs to Him, He keeps the perfect beat
There is no one like Him, He is truly wonderful
Oh, how I love You...
My God, my Father, my Friend!
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
JoYjOyJoY
Christmas. A time when we are supposed to celebrate God’s gift to us, the gift of salvation, eternal life, Jesus, our Savior.
Why do we take this for granted? It is so easy to forget and to focus on other less important things. There are so many distractions everywhere. So many places to go, family and friends to see, gifts to buy, trees to decorate, lights to put up, giant blown-up snowmen to place in our front yards. Santa Claus has become the center of the season. St. Nicholas, the one who gave gifts and snuck away before he was caught, I guess he tried that trick one too many times. Now he is all people can talk about when the Christmas season arrives and I'm sure he didn't plan for that.
December is a time when most people are expected to be happy, laughing constantly, and eating candy, spending money like there is no tomorrow and we all seem to expect that it will all be grand, lovely and fun, but it never seems to turn out that way in the end. I always forget this. When autumn turned to winter I found myself thinking about all of the pretty snow that would fall and the glamour of the beautiful, snowy season. I began to look forward to Christmas once again. Yet after a few months of that pre-holiday bliss I am suddenly awakened to the fact that Christmas is not all that fun after all. It is not fun when there is more sorrow than happiness, more taking than giving, and more strife than peace. There are unexpected funerals taking place or other such unpleasant occurrences that create an unsettled feeling deep down inside.
Why do we take this for granted? It is so easy to forget and to focus on other less important things. There are so many distractions everywhere. So many places to go, family and friends to see, gifts to buy, trees to decorate, lights to put up, giant blown-up snowmen to place in our front yards. Santa Claus has become the center of the season. St. Nicholas, the one who gave gifts and snuck away before he was caught, I guess he tried that trick one too many times. Now he is all people can talk about when the Christmas season arrives and I'm sure he didn't plan for that.
December is a time when most people are expected to be happy, laughing constantly, and eating candy, spending money like there is no tomorrow and we all seem to expect that it will all be grand, lovely and fun, but it never seems to turn out that way in the end. I always forget this. When autumn turned to winter I found myself thinking about all of the pretty snow that would fall and the glamour of the beautiful, snowy season. I began to look forward to Christmas once again. Yet after a few months of that pre-holiday bliss I am suddenly awakened to the fact that Christmas is not all that fun after all. It is not fun when there is more sorrow than happiness, more taking than giving, and more strife than peace. There are unexpected funerals taking place or other such unpleasant occurrences that create an unsettled feeling deep down inside.
My Dad is constantly “on call” for these funerals and as I write this he is preparing for another service that will take place later today. He rarely asks favors of me, but yesterday he was running short on time and he asked that I copy out the obituary for him. I did not know the person who passed away, but as I was typing out the short column that was supposed to portray a summary of their life, the page before me blurred and I suddenly found tears streaming down my face that would not be stopped. This person has left behind family and children, the youngest being only 2 years old. That little one will never fully know their parent on a personal level. They will have to be raised by another and not feel the love in that parents embrace ever again on this earth. There are so many people who go through the pain of losing a loved friend or family member and I cannot begin to imagine the pain they are feeling at this time. How will that family enjoy the holidays this year?
I wonder how God enjoyed that first Christmas long ago when He sent His precious Son into the world as a vulnerable little baby! I wonder how much pain it must have caused when He placed Him in this evil world... to be raised amidst sin and hatred and violence. He sent Him to die. Did he enjoy that? No, I am sure that He did not! It must have been so painful for Him. Yet He did it for us. He sent His wonderful perfect Son to us, mere humans, to die a horrible death, be beaten, be wrongfully accused, abused and physically destroyed so that we may be saved from our sins and have eternal life. For us! He did raise Him back to life again on the third day and I am so glad! That is pretty amazing.
Only a loving God could sacrifice so much for our gain. We have no idea how much he loves us all. He is awesome and we need to be grateful to Him at all times. In Him and only Him is there hope! He knows the future, He has a good plan, He provides for us and all of our needs. With Him we can have Joy amidst this pain! Joy! Real Joy! A real joyful smile! Is it possible? YES! It is Him who we need to focus on this Christmas. It is the Salvation that has been given so freely that we should be thankful for. The most wonderful gift ever given in the history of time! God’s Son, Jesus Christ! God is love. So let’s recieve Love and tell the world about Him. I want to celebrate CHRIST this year! He is the One who gives us true Love, Joy and Peace! Thank you for the best present ever, Dear God! I love you!
Friday, October 12, 2007
Proverbs 3:5
Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don't try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for God's voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he's the one who will keep you on track. Don't assume that you know it all. Run to God! Run from evil! Your body will glow with health, your very bones will vibrate with life! Honor God with everything you own; give him the first and the best. Your barns will burst, your wine vats will brim over. But don't, dear friend, resent God's discipline; don't sulk under his loving correction. It's the child he loves that God corrects; a father's delight is behind all this.
(The Message)
(The Message)
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
I wonder if Jonah liked fish...
I run. That's my thing. If something in the air doesn't feel right, I run. If an animal looks at me wrong, I run. If someone who looks dangerous approaches me on a dark street, I turn and run the opposite direction. That is a good thing right? I mean, those things could hurt me and then I could possibly die or something tragic like that if I didn't run away from them right away. But I run from other things too. Pretty much anything actually. I'm a chicken. If there is something I should be doing, but it doesn't seem like something I normally would enjoy, I run. If someone gets too close to me, or even tries to get to know me at all, I run. Even if it is someone I think is cool, if they get that look that says, "I'm trying to get to know you better, lets be friends" I take off... in a full out run... or I say something rude so that they decide on their own that they don't want to get to know me after all. Why? I have no clue...
Finally, this past summer, I discovered that I could not run anymore. It is a waste of time and energy! What I had known in my head finally became real in my heart. I decided that I would do those things that I knew I was supposed to do and had been running from for years. I chose to let go of my fears and get to know people, get to know them and actually let them get to know me as well (a little bit). I still run from creeps and cows who give me the evil eye, but other things like getting to know my Grandma better and getting closer to my family doesn't seem quite so freaky anymore. Anyways, I am beginning to find out that standing still and getting to know other people is actually a good thing... isn't it? Maybe. There is always the possibility of getting hurt, but perhaps it is worth the risk. We'll see. Now lets just hope that I don't suddenly go from running away from life to chasing it down till it turns and runs from me. Sigh* There is always something new to learn. :)
Monday, April 02, 2007
ah... the simplicity
'My Utmost for His Highest' (children's version)
Once I couldn't see Jesus.
I wanted to have lots of things.
I wanted people to like me.
I wanted everyone to do what I said.
But something happened.
I put all that down.
And now I can see.
Now I can see Jesus.
Once I couldn't see Jesus.
I wanted to have lots of things.
I wanted people to like me.
I wanted everyone to do what I said.
But something happened.
I put all that down.
And now I can see.
Now I can see Jesus.
Monday, March 05, 2007
Psalm 23
The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters,
He restores my soul.
He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me;
your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.
He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters,
He restores my soul.
He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me;
your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.
Thursday, November 09, 2006
Goodbye Stuff!!!
Wow, I just spent the afternoon cleaning my room, going through every storage box in my closet, finding stuff that I never use and putting some in the garbage, some into another bag for the Salvation Army and some to sort through later, my whole room was a mess of things that I rarely think about or use. The sad thing is, I put the majority of it back into my closet again thinking "what if I want to come back to it someday and it's not there?" It's sometimes really hard to let go of old toys, favourite sweaters, stuffed animals, sometimes even cute old socks with holes everywhere. Yet there are other things that I would just love to throw away, but don't have the heart to go through with it because they were gifts from people I love, but oh, some of the stuff is so gross. *Shiver*
Isn't that the way it is with life though? Everyone has stuff deep down inside that we have a hard time letting go of. Baggage that we just can't give up. Hatred towards people who have hurt us. Unforgiveness for others who have hurt us unintentionally and deep down we think it would be fun to hurt them back. Moments we want to redo over again, but can't, so we just keep hanging on wasting time thinking about how we wished it never happened. There is so much that should be given up, burned, or thrown out, it's so hard to carry through with the process of getting rid of it all, but we must. I must! Some stuff can stay, there is good stuff that is still current and useful and some is best shared with others to make them smile, but life is so much easier and less cluttered when the nasty stuff is dealt with and gone completely. When we let God do the cleaning and let Him show us which stuff needs to be dealt with it's best because he's very thourough. He has discretion as to what can stay and what must go, but we must let Him have free access to get it all out in the open before we'll start to feel the big change He's making!
It feels good to get rid of useless junk! It has been a very successfull day. I'm glad God doesn't get tired!
Isn't that the way it is with life though? Everyone has stuff deep down inside that we have a hard time letting go of. Baggage that we just can't give up. Hatred towards people who have hurt us. Unforgiveness for others who have hurt us unintentionally and deep down we think it would be fun to hurt them back. Moments we want to redo over again, but can't, so we just keep hanging on wasting time thinking about how we wished it never happened. There is so much that should be given up, burned, or thrown out, it's so hard to carry through with the process of getting rid of it all, but we must. I must! Some stuff can stay, there is good stuff that is still current and useful and some is best shared with others to make them smile, but life is so much easier and less cluttered when the nasty stuff is dealt with and gone completely. When we let God do the cleaning and let Him show us which stuff needs to be dealt with it's best because he's very thourough. He has discretion as to what can stay and what must go, but we must let Him have free access to get it all out in the open before we'll start to feel the big change He's making!
It feels good to get rid of useless junk! It has been a very successfull day. I'm glad God doesn't get tired!
Monday, October 16, 2006
Pretty World
The beauty of the different seasons is awesome! Only a few months ago I could look out the window and find frost covered trees and snowy fields gleaming in the sunlight, then it seemed that over night all of the snow melted and little sprouts of green grass started to appear and tiny little leaves were forming on the trees, within a month there were violets smiling up at me as I walked by the flower gardens and soon there were flowers of all different types surrounding them, thriving on the happiness of the day as though they didn't have a care in the world. Fall arrived soon after and with it came cold nights and gorgeous, colorful, leaves. The ground begin to harden with the cold and the green grass turned to brown, the big fields of sunflowers resembling corpses rather then the bright lively things they once were, and yet even now with muted browns covering the earth there is amasing beauty remaining throughout it all. The sky is brighter and bluer than ever, and when the sun sets the colors are magnificent contrasting against the stark brown valley just beyond our fields, there are no sunsets like these cold sunsets just as there is nothing comparable to a steaming cup of hot chocolate in a cozy house while the world freezes around us. Today I looked outside I watched as a pretty mist settled all around like a blanket adding a feeling of serenity to the air. I can't begin to understand how God has created these beautiful seasons for us to enjoy, but He has and I am so thankful for them! There is always something to look forward to as each season comes and goes. God is so cool!
Sunday, September 17, 2006
Wednesday, August 30, 2006
Saturday, January 14, 2006
Beauty As We Don't See It
Today as I was getting dressed, I pulled out my brand new pair of jeans and as I was putting them on I noticed there was a little inscription on the inside "Aged With Love". Needless to say, I was a bit surprised. Before their life with me had even begun they were tossed with a handful of stones into a washer to make them more appear OLDER and therefore, more beautiful. They have wrinkles sewn permanently into the seams, with little tucks and scrapes here and there to make them appear used. And that is what makes them so desirable. What?! Who saw THAT coming?!
How sadly contradictory that is to real life. People everywhere are striving to be THE hottest, most youthful looking person they know, no matter the consequences. Reality Shows are getting amazing popularity by transforming "the weakest most wrinkled looking person" into "the strongest most youthful looking person", but they forget the most important part. While they are training, tucking, polishing and pulling at these sad, heartbroken people, they are forgetting about their hearts, their dreams, their life as it should be. While we are wasting our time trying to fix the flaws of our bodies, our dreams are wasting away deep inside of us and we are losing sight of what really matters. What does really matter? Isn't life just about getting through it with the least amount of trouble possible? No, I realize that it isn't. Our relationship with the one true God and our relationships with the people in our lives are what really matter. No matter how much pain LOVE costs us, it is still worth it in the end. No matter how hard we try to make ourselves beautiful on the outside, it's the inside the counts. Why can't we see ourselves like we see jeans? The older and the more wrinkled, the better!
There are so many different styles of jeans, but the most popular are the "aged" ones. Here a few examples I've seen of how designer's have used "age" to get people to buy their jeans.
-"Limited edition. Destroyed and deconstructed. Premium vintage wash on lightweight denim. This jean is fitted through the hip and thigh for an allover sexy silhouette."
"Tried and true blue. Stretch fabric and classic 5-pocket styling create a comfortable jean that conforms to your body while still giving you room to move. The dark true blue stretch denim has been whiskered and treated with subtle abrasion and sandblasting."
"Bleached-out and broken-in. Tried and true blue. The AE Hipster Skinny Flare Jean has been destroyed for a lived-in style that looks like you've had them for years. Holes down front leg and thigh.
Why isn't our value rated the same way? Age used to be looked on with respect and admiration. To be aged was to be beautiful! My Grandma T is is one of the most beautiful people I know, her face has laugh-lines, her skin is wrinkled and lovely. She has been "treated with subtle abrasion and sandblasting", spiritually and physically, and has come out beautifully. She has been "aged", she beautiful because she has a kind and gentle heart, because she is loving and is loved. When you look at her you see character and beauty, and it is real.
I want to be like that someday! I also want to look at people and rate them by their inner beauty and strength, rather then their outer appearance and strength. Beauty really does "come from the heart!"
How sadly contradictory that is to real life. People everywhere are striving to be THE hottest, most youthful looking person they know, no matter the consequences. Reality Shows are getting amazing popularity by transforming "the weakest most wrinkled looking person" into "the strongest most youthful looking person", but they forget the most important part. While they are training, tucking, polishing and pulling at these sad, heartbroken people, they are forgetting about their hearts, their dreams, their life as it should be. While we are wasting our time trying to fix the flaws of our bodies, our dreams are wasting away deep inside of us and we are losing sight of what really matters. What does really matter? Isn't life just about getting through it with the least amount of trouble possible? No, I realize that it isn't. Our relationship with the one true God and our relationships with the people in our lives are what really matter. No matter how much pain LOVE costs us, it is still worth it in the end. No matter how hard we try to make ourselves beautiful on the outside, it's the inside the counts. Why can't we see ourselves like we see jeans? The older and the more wrinkled, the better!
There are so many different styles of jeans, but the most popular are the "aged" ones. Here a few examples I've seen of how designer's have used "age" to get people to buy their jeans.
-"Limited edition. Destroyed and deconstructed. Premium vintage wash on lightweight denim. This jean is fitted through the hip and thigh for an allover sexy silhouette."
"Tried and true blue. Stretch fabric and classic 5-pocket styling create a comfortable jean that conforms to your body while still giving you room to move. The dark true blue stretch denim has been whiskered and treated with subtle abrasion and sandblasting."
"Bleached-out and broken-in. Tried and true blue. The AE Hipster Skinny Flare Jean has been destroyed for a lived-in style that looks like you've had them for years. Holes down front leg and thigh.
Why isn't our value rated the same way? Age used to be looked on with respect and admiration. To be aged was to be beautiful! My Grandma T is is one of the most beautiful people I know, her face has laugh-lines, her skin is wrinkled and lovely. She has been "treated with subtle abrasion and sandblasting", spiritually and physically, and has come out beautifully. She has been "aged", she beautiful because she has a kind and gentle heart, because she is loving and is loved. When you look at her you see character and beauty, and it is real.
I want to be like that someday! I also want to look at people and rate them by their inner beauty and strength, rather then their outer appearance and strength. Beauty really does "come from the heart!"
Tuesday, January 10, 2006
I Want to be a Princess
I want to be a princess
Will you be my prince?
I want to be a princess
I really don't want a frog
I want a someone who will love me
As no one else ever could
I want someone who will protect me
And stay true like he should
I want someone who will be a friend
Who will never break my heart
I want someone who will pursue me
Not tear my dreams apart
I just want to be a princess
Why is that so hard?
Yesterday I met Him
He is valiant, amazing and strong
And I know that He is real
He has been there all along
He fought the wild dragon
He saved me from certain death
He gave me beauty from ashes
He has given me a heart fullfilled
Today I became His princess
And oh, He loves me so
As no man ever has
As no man ever will
Someday I will see His face
His wonderful, sincere grin
He says He’s coming very soon
And those who love him will definitely win
He’ll rescue as a hero
As a champion to save our lives
With all my heart I know this is true
For He has never told a lie
Monday, September 26, 2005
Prince Edward Island
September 26, 2005
It is absolutely amazing how our God was able to create this entire world and everything in it, in the space of 6 days! How I would have loved to watch Him at work during those days! I get a thrill out of watching someone create something beautiful on a canvas with a couple of different colors of paint and a brush, I can’t even begin to imagine how amazing it must have been when this world was created!!! Very cool!
Today I swam in the ocean, tasted genuine salt water, felt sand under my feet and experienced picking my very first seashell off a real beach! There is really nothing to compare it with. I felt as though I was discovering something unknown, something I never knew existed, and it was such an amazing feeling! My nieces and nephews enjoyed it all very much, but I think I might have liked it even more!
Yesterday, we arrived at this very nice campground about 2 miles from Cavendish Beach PEI. Nearly as soon as we arrived B and I took off to explore the Island on foot. We walked through fields of dandelions, saw L. M. Montgomery’s gravestone (what a thrill... not. haha!), and managed to find our way to the sea. It was so fun! There is something about being close enough to be able to reach out and touch something so huge and seemingly endless that is so unreal and amazing.
This time I have had away from home and away from everyday life has taught me so many things, but the biggest one I think is how important it really is to stop, breathe, relax, and know that life isn’t about what’s going to happen next, what fun thing I need to be planning for tomorrow or what I can find to entertain myself with right now, but it’s about how I can serve God better in my normal everyday life, in any area that needs it. This is going to be tough to accomplish, but it’s important that it’s done. I wasn’t put here on earth to have fun and see what great thing I can find to do next. My life should be about serving others and God in any area there is a need or that He calls me to. I will trust him to lead me where he wants me.
It is absolutely amazing how our God was able to create this entire world and everything in it, in the space of 6 days! How I would have loved to watch Him at work during those days! I get a thrill out of watching someone create something beautiful on a canvas with a couple of different colors of paint and a brush, I can’t even begin to imagine how amazing it must have been when this world was created!!! Very cool!
Today I swam in the ocean, tasted genuine salt water, felt sand under my feet and experienced picking my very first seashell off a real beach! There is really nothing to compare it with. I felt as though I was discovering something unknown, something I never knew existed, and it was such an amazing feeling! My nieces and nephews enjoyed it all very much, but I think I might have liked it even more!
Yesterday, we arrived at this very nice campground about 2 miles from Cavendish Beach PEI. Nearly as soon as we arrived B and I took off to explore the Island on foot. We walked through fields of dandelions, saw L. M. Montgomery’s gravestone (what a thrill... not. haha!), and managed to find our way to the sea. It was so fun! There is something about being close enough to be able to reach out and touch something so huge and seemingly endless that is so unreal and amazing.
This time I have had away from home and away from everyday life has taught me so many things, but the biggest one I think is how important it really is to stop, breathe, relax, and know that life isn’t about what’s going to happen next, what fun thing I need to be planning for tomorrow or what I can find to entertain myself with right now, but it’s about how I can serve God better in my normal everyday life, in any area that needs it. This is going to be tough to accomplish, but it’s important that it’s done. I wasn’t put here on earth to have fun and see what great thing I can find to do next. My life should be about serving others and God in any area there is a need or that He calls me to. I will trust him to lead me where he wants me.
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