Archive - Life RSS Feed

Technology Sabbath

March 1, 2011 in Family, Life with 10 Comments

Do you remember 20 years ago?  No one had cell phones.  Twitter, Facebook, and MySpace weren’t even figments of a person’s imagination.  20 years ago the internet was fairly new to the mainstream.  I got my first cell phone in 1997.  A heavy piece of Motorola technology.  My minute charges varied by where I called in the city.  All I could do was take & place phone calls.

Today in the not quite yet “George Jetson” era of 2011 my life, like yours, is wrapped up in technology.  Nearly everything I do from the moment the morning alarm goes off on my cell to the last check of Twitter and/or Instamgram is inundated with some form of technology.

Technology isn’t a bad thing and is of course extremely useful, but there are times we just need to unplug ourselves lest we be led to destruction by it.

March 4 – 5th, is Nat’l Day of Unplugging.  24 hours to remove yourself from technology and invest yourself in your family, your friends, yourself.  The Nat’l Day of Unplugging was started by a Jewish organization called Sabbath Manifesto.  They took the commandment of God and applied it to technology.

This year Shawn and I will be participating.  Our cells will be on silent (used only in the case of an emergency).  Tweets will be untweeted.  Our laptops & computer will remain off.

If you’re interested in participating and wondering what you could possibly do for 24 hours without Twitter or text messaging check out this article.

Also let me know if you’ll be unplugging also.  Before Friday at sundown of course. ;)

Dreams

February 28, 2011 in Faith, Life, On Mission with 10 Comments

When I last wrote about my dream I had questions.  While I received an answer back on the question I’d asked I feel as though I was left with more questions and more struggle.  I’ve been wrestling through this passion God’s given me and how He wants me to put it into practice.

I believe this weekend my question(s) changed though.  For the last month I’ve been asking what am I supposed to do with this.  Looking back I see that in some elements this is me seeking how to do it in my own power [hint: this never really goes well].

I feel that it’s time to share that passion that I feel God is fueling to be my dream.

About a year ago God heavily placed orphan care on our hearts.  It’s something that has grown in intensity.  We read all we can, we follow people who are doing adoption & orphan care advocacy.  Our hearts break and tear at that stats we hear.  We believe God has called us to do something.

For me (and the both of us) these stats are overwhelming.  I wonder how I can make any difference to such a huge problem.  Especially when I know I we’re supposed to do something, knowing that if doing something only touches one life it still makes a world of difference.

I feel that God wants to lead me into something with adoption & orphan care advocacy.  It is very general and broad and I’m still left with lots of questions as to how [especially since i have no sense of entrepreneurialism] .

Saturday Shawn and I sat over chips & salsa and a shared Mexican mini-appetizer plate.  We discussed what we’d heard so far from the speakers at !C//Orphan.  We discussed the overwhelmingness of the emergency that is set before us.  And he brought up new ways we should be asking our questions.  From “What am I supposed to do?” to “Lord, what would you have me do?”  They are the same question but one as I said earlier puts the weight on me, while the other Jesus power is behind it.

So once again I ask for your prayers as we both seek God’s guidance.  Pray that fear would have no part in our seeking.  Pray that we would have open hearts to where God leads.  One thing I plan to do over the next several weeks is to contact people who are doing adoption & orphan care advocacy and see how I can get involved.

If you’re interested in what happened at !C//Orphan, my friend Elora, live blogged during the main sessions.  You can read those posts here.

Heart Conditions

February 16, 2011 in Guest Blogging, Life, Nikita with 10 Comments

My daily reading plan includes three chapters in the Old Testament and one in the New Testament.  I’m currently reading through Genesis, 2 Chronicles, Psalm, & Acts.

Last night I was reading 2 Chronicles 18.  It is the story of King Ahab, the king of Israel and King Jehoshaphat, the king of Judah.  In short King Ahab asks King Jehoshaphat to go to war with him.  Both kings bring in their prophets to ask if they should go into battle and if they will be successful.  All the prophets say that they should go and that they will be successful.  Only King Jehoshaphat’s prophet tells King Ahab that he will die in battle.  Needless to say, Ahab dies.  At the beginning of chapter 19, a different prophet comes to King Jehoshaphat and rebukes him.

The rebuke was that he helped the wicked and love those who hate the Lord.  A similar rebuke happened in chapter 16 of Jehoshaphat’s father, King Asa.

King Asa ended up getting a serious foot disease.  The chapter ends with Asa’s death.

I was thinking about the difference in the rebukes.  They are similar, but different.  They were delivered by the same man.  Asa receives a serious health condition.  Jehoshaphat receives an encouragement.

The only major difference I can see is the difference of heart.  Asa refused to repent.  Samuel doesn’t say whether Jehoshaphat repented or not, but as far as I can tell with what I’ve read he must have.

Lack of repentance has serious consequences.  God is always ready to forgive.  Why do we refuse to repent especially when we know the consequences may be worse than if we did repent?

My Dreams of Community

February 2, 2011 in Community, Family, Life with 12 Comments

Early yesterday morning I had the most beautiful dream.  I awoke from it with a heart filled with joy and aching.  I laid there in the quiet dark of early morning and cried out to God to move.  It haunted me throughout the day and my cries echoed.

I’ve shared before our lack of local community, and lately the ache has grown more fierce.  My heart aches, booming low like a kick drum within my chest.

I love the online community that I have.  And I wouldn’t give them up for anything.  A couple of them have become my closest friends and confidants over the last year.  But I long for hands to hold as I walk this road called life.  For shoulders able to catch tears of joy, frustration, and sorrow.

You see…my dream…was that Shawn and I were part of a community of like minded people that we did life with.  It was truly a beautiful scene.  The laughter still rings in my mind’s ears.

And my heart aches that we don’t have that.  My spirit is starving for it.  I can’t help but think that God gave me this dream because it’s His dream for us as well.  We were created to be in community, and I can only imagine that if my heart aches as much as it does His hurts even more.

I know that He will answer.  I know that He will provide.  Like I said, He created us for community.  In a sense I would say this dream could even be prophetic, even if the faces and the place are different, because I know He wants this for us.

Seeking To Lose

January 31, 2011 in Faith, Grace, Life with 12 Comments

Last year I practiced Lent for the first time.  God worked in ways I’d never experienced previously, and it was one of the best decisions I’ve made.

For the last week or so I’ve been seeking God on what I should seek to lose.  I’ve considered Twitter for a second year, but really want to make a decision based on His desire for me.

One verse I forever remember from my two years in Christian private school is Romans 12:1.  Paul instructs us to offer ourselves as living sacrifices.  Giving up ourselves for Christ.  Losing that which keeps us bound to other altars.

I want to lose those things.  I want to get up off the altar that wants to burn me up in its passions and offer myself to God and God alone.

So I’m seeking Him on what He wants me to lose.

Have you practiced Lent previous whether as part of a community of believers or on your own?  Are you planning/considering practicing it this year?

Daring To Ask

January 27, 2011 in Life with 10 Comments

Some questions just seem like they’d have an obvious answer.  I think it’s those questions in particular that can have deeper, hidden answers.

One of the phrases that we were consistently instructed in during Dream Year was to ask big questions.  Dare to ask the big questions that take you steps into your dream.

As I said on Monday I’m still wrestling out with God my dream.  Tonight I had to ask a question.  I’d been putting it off because I assume the answer is obvious, but it may not be.

Hopefully, I’ll have more answers.

Grace Confessions

January 25, 2011 in Faith, Grace, Life with 19 Comments

At the airport on Friday I wanted to ungraciously tell a guy he was in the wrong numbering position to get on the plane.  I was #53, he was #54, he was in front of Shawn who was #52.  I became so angry, “Why couldn’t this guy just pay attention”.  My angry thoughts echoed in my head, my heart became hard.  The Holy Spirit was quick to whisper, “Grace”.  Conviction and my anger began to battle it out.

God is teaching me grace in the little things.  Things like responding to the guy in the airport.  Anger should not have been my first reaction to something so stupid (and when I say stupid I mean who cares if the guy was not in the correct spot?).

I was thinking yesterday that I wish it was the end of the year and this lesson could be over.  That I could be 12 months deep into it and be the person God has for me to be then.  But that’s not the way life works.  We don’t get to jump from point A to point Z.  There are a lot of blood, sweat, and tears to go through; and in the end we still may not be at point Z.

Over the last 25 days I’ve felt like throwing in the towel.  I’ve told God I don’t get it.  That it’s hard.  That I’m not sure what it is I’m supposed to be learning.

I know I’m not the only one.  Resolutions are hard, but I think this……is a lot harder.  Choosing having God give you a One Word is allowing Him to take you and completely rearrange your life, your mind, your soul, your heart etc.

I’m not giving up, and neither should you!

So…how is your One Word going?

Deconstructing Dream Year

January 24, 2011 in Faith, FEAR, Life with 26 Comments

I’m sitting in a hotel room in Nashville.  Overlooking a frostbit Vanderbilt University.  My mind feels as if it imploded.

Attending Dream Year Weekend was amazing, and I’m not even sure how to begin digesting what I heard.  I can’t even form sentences in my mind.

On Friday I asked what you dream about.  What your passions are.  I was blown away by what you had to say.  The passions that you all have, these dreams are awesome!  I was moved to tears reading.

One thing that was repeated the whole weekend is that our Dream (our passion) is born out of a frustration.  Your comments show me just how true that is.  What your heart wants to do is all because of a frustration; whether it’s your frustrated your walk with Christ isn’t what you want it to be, or because of the experiences in your own past that lead you to wanting to counsel people.  Dreams that God has planted, that He has given you a hunger to see accomplished.

As for my dream – I’m still wrestling it out.  I have a very general idea, but I’m unsure how it would play out in the real world.  For the time being I feel the need to keep it close to the vest.  To seek God concerning it.  When the time is right I will share here.

For now….please pray for me.  Attending Dream Year Weekend brought up a lot of questions I need to answer, and that need answers.  Pray that I would have clarity in what God wants me to do.  Pray that I would not walk in fear.  In the last 24 hours the enemy has already begun his lies, and fear is creeping up.

And I’ll be praying for you.  That God would refine your dreams and show you steps to begin walking them out.

If You Could…

January 21, 2011 in Life with 18 Comments

If you could be anything, without exception what would you be?

If you could do anything, without fear of failure what would you do?

What dream is wiggling around in your heart. mind. soul?

Are you taking steps?

.

The winner (by random number) of the copy of Gracenomics is: #10 – Matt.  Congratulations Matt!

.

Between The Lines

January 19, 2011 in Family, Life with 18 Comments

I love a good story.  I think that is one reason I love reading.  I love getting lost in the pages, to become almost one with the characters.

I recently finished East of Eden by John Steinbeck.  I read it based solely on of the recommendation of a friend who feels everyone should read the book.  It is one of the best books I’ve ever read – hands down.

It’s not just a story, but a story inlaid with story after story.  It spans over 60 years, two families, & 14+ people.  At the end of the book I was left in tears and breathless.  It is a story of overcoming, of giving up, of right, of the VERY wrong.

So I’m wondering what my story looks like.  It’s only spanned a little over 35 years.  It’s been touched by numerous amounts of people.  People who have influenced me to be a better person and those who have hurt me deeply.

My story doesn’t define me, it just tells who I am and who I was, and in part who I may become.

What is your story saying about you?

Page 4 of 16« First...«23456»...Last »