tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26800056810977460082024-03-14T04:02:25.221-04:00The Open Bench Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger23125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2680005681097746008.post-48445212387529419312014-09-23T16:57:00.000-04:002014-09-23T16:57:16.823-04:00New Website and Life Coaching!!<div id="test" onmousedown="return false;" onselectstart="return false;" style="text-align: center;">
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2680005681097746008.post-51616885535888022492014-07-18T11:41:00.000-04:002014-07-18T11:43:27.489-04:00circles<div id="test" onmousedown="return false;" onselectstart="return false;">
<div>
I grew up moving. A LOT. This made it a struggle for me to make friends. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
That's not entirely true. I had friends. I wasn't a total loner with no one to talk to.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
But I didn't let anyone in.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
No one really knew the real me.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I was really good at putting a smile on my face as the new girl, and joining in with the crowd.</div>
<div>
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXdpJhggcUhmrzi8VOwQrwvF8tvMAG2YE2-6U0A8iEVuRne0WrD8VhTidktw7RmqCX7sZSBOFAGFOItoQ3m2TzlowyO-1acsTJjv9_gdMrqwNGhGHSiA7trt_uYVBReXwksYGWDjkc67X8/s1600/0dc4f6353826393cbc8862e6eb98438e.png_650.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXdpJhggcUhmrzi8VOwQrwvF8tvMAG2YE2-6U0A8iEVuRne0WrD8VhTidktw7RmqCX7sZSBOFAGFOItoQ3m2TzlowyO-1acsTJjv9_gdMrqwNGhGHSiA7trt_uYVBReXwksYGWDjkc67X8/s1600/0dc4f6353826393cbc8862e6eb98438e.png_650.png" height="290" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">photo from wix website builder</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
But I never felt like the girls in this picture.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
These
girls remind me of my sophomore year of high school. I was entering my
11th school... and I made it to the cheerleading team. All of my
cheerleading "friends" looked like these girls. They could be found
smiling and laughing and telling stories in a circle everywhere they
went.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
They "accepted" me into their group, but I
was never really in the circle. The more they leaned into one another
to talk, the more and more I began looking at the backs of their heads
and shoulders.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #0f3a3a;">_____________________________________________________________________</span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
This "outside the circle" feeling followed me throughout most of my life. It wasn't a very good feeling.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
In a nutshell...it felt like UN-Belonging.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Did you know that we have a psychological need to belong? Your brain experiences pain when that need isn't met.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Actual physical pain.</div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Every year that went by in my life that I didn't feel like I belonged, my brain was feeling the pain of it.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Eventually
I stopped looking for friends. I was afraid of the pain I might feel
when they leaned in forward to their other friends. I believed it was
better to just not have friends than to feel that pain again.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
But do you know what.... even though I was choosing to "not belong".... it still hurt.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #0f3a3a;">_____________________________________________________________________</span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
God designed our brains to need each other. Choosing to go against that design didn't make life any easier.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Over
the past few years, I've noticed that God keeps putting other people in
my life to develop relationships with. People that are friendly, people
that are not so friendly. People that are stronger than me, and people
that are weaker than me. People that are flawed, just like I am, and
people that also need to connect with me.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I've discovered that I can only meet that need of belonging, when I let people in.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
That need to belong won't be fooled by fake relationships.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Surprisingly, being myself has led me on a journey of making friends.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Or maybe it's not so surprising. It's the way God designed us to live.</div>
<div>
<span style="color: #0f3a3a;">_____________________________________________________________________</span></div>
<div style="font-size: 24px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 24px;">
<span style="color: white;"><span style="font-size: 24px;">How about you? Are you choosing to "not belong" or to "belong"? How's that working out?</span></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2680005681097746008.post-71377994112752337372014-06-25T19:09:00.003-04:002014-06-25T19:12:26.851-04:00buckets<!--[if !mso]>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Bad things happen</b>. They happen to everyone. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Some people seem
to crumble under the weight of “bad things” in their lives while others manage
to let things go quickly and easily and don’t appear to be affected by the very
same “bad things”. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If you’re in the 2<sup>nd</sup> category, you probably don’t
even know why you are this way. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If you’re in the 1<sup>st</sup> category, you wish you knew
their secret.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As a category 2 person myself, I think I’ve figured it out
and I want everyone to learn this secret! I don’t want it to be a secret, I
want it to be a freely given gift to everyone I meet!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If you’ve been reading my blog, you’ve probably heard me
talk about<b> joy</b>. But did you know that there is something that goes hand in hand
with joy? It’s called <b>capacity</b>. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My techy friends probably picture the hard drive of their
computers and think they know what capacity is.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglTxzvE4Bos0_KEXiuj8AdoeCHT3EhZokqoerPI5srQ287WNcsbxHug4sj0svYuSu_0uJ9qQWiMa6IWkOJ9h9TDibNRcUyZXR2muRBU2IbQeLSU_b-wmtBwoYtaaA-wB9wgYt3fjbNrNZz/s1600/overload.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglTxzvE4Bos0_KEXiuj8AdoeCHT3EhZokqoerPI5srQ287WNcsbxHug4sj0svYuSu_0uJ9qQWiMa6IWkOJ9h9TDibNRcUyZXR2muRBU2IbQeLSU_b-wmtBwoYtaaA-wB9wgYt3fjbNrNZz/s1600/overload.jpg" height="262" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My electrician friends probably see the wiring of a house
and think they know what capacity is.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Anyone who’s ever heard my Dad Ed Khouri teach probably sees
the mountain climbing graphic he made to describe capacity, joy and trauma.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But I think I’ve got a different picture that might help it
really click for everyone.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Capacity is like a bucket.</span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkcMDv9bN0QsVQVOOZhtnExXzI8NIOgvwYZX0ePZS06Z5TPHQ2Zc6Vdy4rOpfXhG-l-4cmxaL4XVPneSNgRqBkVhsGiM2ozlpaGdcq-ojB1zd0fRI2Id2R5Qj8tCIKB4jMbZHowesJiNSY/s1600/wrs30.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkcMDv9bN0QsVQVOOZhtnExXzI8NIOgvwYZX0ePZS06Z5TPHQ2Zc6Vdy4rOpfXhG-l-4cmxaL4XVPneSNgRqBkVhsGiM2ozlpaGdcq-ojB1zd0fRI2Id2R5Qj8tCIKB4jMbZHowesJiNSY/s1600/wrs30.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Some people have a <span style="font-size: large;"><b>big </b></span>bucket,
others have a <i><span style="font-size: xx-small;">small</span></i> bucket, and even others might just have a tiny lid.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLsDtV8deE9mDIhoraYg6ZLnt-lwKPRZY5PuKwl-MpHCvCtgGXqVwRSHQo7iLQiMSccO4pbTIV-NOsqxWqZWZONLTvzcRYARRkIpxGnQSHnhA9VG4clvVlHAF-pDBTyYkKQhpbkT9GTMA7/s1600/SuperStock_1654-8175.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLsDtV8deE9mDIhoraYg6ZLnt-lwKPRZY5PuKwl-MpHCvCtgGXqVwRSHQo7iLQiMSccO4pbTIV-NOsqxWqZWZONLTvzcRYARRkIpxGnQSHnhA9VG4clvVlHAF-pDBTyYkKQhpbkT9GTMA7/s1600/SuperStock_1654-8175.jpg" height="320" width="222" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"><b>When
your bucket gets full and spills over- things get messy! </b></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sometimes this
results in you losing your temper, sometimes it looks like a mental breakdown,
sometimes it results in a night of sobbing uncontrollably… and most of the time
it leads us to crave stuff that will hurt us in the long run. (Alcohol, drugs,
junk food, unhealthy relationships, etc).</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<p>Picture your bucket… whatever size your bucket is, that is a
representation of how many “bad things” you can handle without spilling over.
Bad things might be actual traumatic events in your life… things like abuse,
abandonment, death of a loved one, divorce, fire, storms, war etc. </p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>(the world
of psychology calls these things Trauma B)</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But bad things can also be things
like traffic jams, fights with your spouse, deadlines piling up, screaming
kids, lack of nutrition, etc. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>(these are called Trauma A- the absence of good
and necessary things. Did you realize that normal everyday stressors are the
absence of peace that you need to function properly?!!)</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-size: large;">But did you know that you that you actually have 2 buckets?</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">JOY is also like a bucket.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The 2<sup>nd</sup>
bucket is your <b>JOY bucket</b> and it holds all the good things for you.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Good things
like those times when someone was glad to be with you! Good times like walks in
the park, watching sunsets, catching fireflies, laying on the beach listening
to the waves, petting your dog, laughing together with friends. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>The really interesting thing is our buckets always match in
size. </b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwQzpo_Wc5uckgm2aTczRsmjD9WoO8-QbnRYFSboRvi4XwbaenMURKcJ9pup3uzGREs_HP7Rbxwqg_EiMz36sXmtw93h-rDVbg-q1XV9oy8qcX-dcWn86B01X1c9kpwUB6yLPotRQtSAZm/s1600/bucket+sizes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwQzpo_Wc5uckgm2aTczRsmjD9WoO8-QbnRYFSboRvi4XwbaenMURKcJ9pup3uzGREs_HP7Rbxwqg_EiMz36sXmtw93h-rDVbg-q1XV9oy8qcX-dcWn86B01X1c9kpwUB6yLPotRQtSAZm/s1600/bucket+sizes.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We actually WANT our joy bucket to overflow!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Why?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Because when the joy bucket gets full, it
automatically trades up for a bigger size. This means, your capacity bucket
gets bigger too!</b> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The bad news is, without much joy in our lives, our joy
bucket shrinks, and so does our capacity bucket. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Having a bigger joy bucket and a bigger capacity bucket
means we can handle all the stuff life throws at us. Our capacity bucket can
handle just about anything that comes our way. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">photo borrowed from
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Opensocietyfoundations.org
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Some of you might be thinking, “But I don’t want a big capacity
bucket because that might mean more bad things will happen.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>But that’s not true.</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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You see, having a big capacity bucket doesn’t mean we will necessarily
fill that bucket with bad things. It just means when a bad thing comes along, there’s
room for it to rest at the bottom. </div>
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<br /></div>
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<i>(We don’t really carry them around like the
boy in the picture above, so they don’t need to be balanced.)</i></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>Remember, it’s the JOY BUCKET that decides how big of a
bucket we need.</b> </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So keep filling that joy bucket! Trade up for a bigger set of buckets!
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Make filling your joy bucket a priority!</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<b>Here’s a few things you can do to get started:</b></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"></span></span></span>Smile at someone; ask them how they are doing.
Be more like “Elf”! “I’m Buddy the Elf, what’s your name? What’s your favorite
color?!”</li>
<li><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"></span></span></span>Go for a walk at sunset with someone. (a loved
one, a neighbor, a sibling anyone!)</li>
<li><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"></span></span></span>Fly a kite!</li>
<li><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"></span></span></span>Start an Appreciation Journal (have you heard about the power of gratitude lately?!)</li>
<li><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"></span></span></span>Make a CD of your favorite songs and give it to
someone!</li>
<li><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"></span></span></span>Put down your cell phone and look into the eyes
of the person across from you! </li>
<li><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"></span></span></span>Sing really loud to a favorite song with someone
in the car with the windows down</li>
<li><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"></span></span></span>Laugh! Out loud! Just start laughing… it becomes
contagious! You don’t even need a reason sometimes. <span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"></span></span></span>Whenever you’re with a loved one, pause and
remember that the most important thing is to be glad to be together. Whether
you’re working, cleaning, watching TV, playing cards or eating a meal… make
being glad to be together the priority!</li>
</ul>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Here's to filling our joy buckets!!!</span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2680005681097746008.post-85365498335488887992014-06-12T13:28:00.000-04:002014-06-16T12:38:19.379-04:00talk to strangers<!--[if !mso]>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Don’t talk to strangers” was the theme for my generation
growing up. It remains the theme today in most parenting advice columns. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
With pedophiles and murderers on every mother’s mind… it’s
not surprising that we continue to insist on this rule.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Don’t talk to strangers” when said to a child in the
context of protecting them is a necessary blanket statement that we hope will
keep them from getting into that strangers white van or accepting a piece of
candy from the old man behind the playground.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"></b><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"></b><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Now, maybe this is
just me, but I think somewhere deep in the file cabinet I call a brain, I still
hear this warning when I’m around people I don’t know. This silent warning has
blended with my “introversion” and “shyness” and kept me from lots of joy.</b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-COkiyenISG0/U5ngHyTQODI/AAAAAAAAJss/IKF3VULD7HI/s1600/Rachael_Erick-6266.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-COkiyenISG0/U5ngHyTQODI/AAAAAAAAJss/IKF3VULD7HI/s1600/Rachael_Erick-6266.jpg" height="400" width="266" /></a>You might be
wondering why I just brought up joy. If you think that joy is happiness, it
shouldn’t have anything to do with maintaining that rule of “Don’t talk to
strangers”. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">But joy isn’t happiness.</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Joy is relational. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></b><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Joy is the reaction in
our brain when someone is glad to be with us.</span></b><br />
<sup>a</sup></div>
<div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<br /></div>
<div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<br /></div>
<div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This can happen when we’re experiencing a happy situation, a
sad one, a scary one.... any situation at all. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But it only happens in the context of RELATIONSHIP. Joy is
what we need. It helps our brain grow healthy connections. Joy reduces stress,
improves our immune system, improves resiliency and transforms lives for the
better. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
For people like me, who “shy” away from meeting new people;
that means joy is hard to come by unless I’m with my existing “people”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The problem is, I moved a lot. I moved so much growing up
that in 12 years of school I went to 20 different schools. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
That meant that I was constantly meeting “strangers”. The
file cabinet in my brain made it an extremely lengthy and difficult process to
make friends. Whether I realized it or not, I was fearful of new people and new
relationships. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Even though that’s
exactly what I longed for.</b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1L6Apg0zHPNXOzWxW5cxaRYIhexn_Az2p7s48VdN6ummuFol8jbzocNlDjFGX6gy37-yJajpQf5WYczf2qB04zIgqhY1fc69QPF379HRU40uwtBmid2HaRvKMxCvRCtKoA3GknRUBAmRB/s1600/insecurity0001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1L6Apg0zHPNXOzWxW5cxaRYIhexn_Az2p7s48VdN6ummuFol8jbzocNlDjFGX6gy37-yJajpQf5WYczf2qB04zIgqhY1fc69QPF379HRU40uwtBmid2HaRvKMxCvRCtKoA3GknRUBAmRB/s1600/insecurity0001.jpg" height="264" width="320" /></a></b></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It’s not the ideal environment for joy when you’re afraid of
everyone. Now don’t get me wrong… I was not CONSCIOUSLY aware that I was afraid
of people. This was a fear I wasn’t in touch with. But that’s the really
special thing about our brain… it does quite a few things automatically without
us realizing it!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2CPEMJ8fzag/U5ngPbyIBHI/AAAAAAAAJs0/5MXBHhC9aho/s1600/_MG_3802-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2CPEMJ8fzag/U5ngPbyIBHI/AAAAAAAAJs0/5MXBHhC9aho/s1600/_MG_3802-3.jpg" height="204" width="320" /></a><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 115%;">God designed our brains
to come alive in the context of relationships with Himself, and with other
people. </span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When I walk around avoiding eye contact, avoiding
conversation, and embracing my “shyness”, my brain becomes starved for joy. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But what if I wasn’t trained to be afraid of everyone? What
if I saw people I met as opportunities for joy? What if I opened myself up to
relationships and my brain was fed with those relationships?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Do you know what else your brain can do all by itself? It
can read people. In the world of psychology it’s part of what they call
“emotional intelligence”.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
For our purposes, let’s just call it the “reading system”.<sup>b</sup>
The reading system helps our brain interpret what’s going on in others brains. However,
if it isn’t working correctly, I might “misread” you. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Actually, let me be honest... SINCE mine <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">isn’t</i></b>
working correctly, I’m controlled by fear because I can’t read you!<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>"Better to
be safe than sorry" is my brain’s motto.</b></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 12.0pt;">
Another way to look at this, is
that if I’m feeling fear (unbeknownst to me), and your reading system works
well, it will recognize that I’m afraid and your interactions with me will be
colored by that knowledge… even though you didn’t consciously form an opinion
about me! <sup>c</sup></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<b>Being “wired” in the
brain with fear is really a major hindrance to anyone who is trying to build
joy. </b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1bhojsHJmaHtVetAaWJcn8H51qMlPHksA9q885ZiIqh_nr7QHig_YefuYNPrRgVtAlr71ozME2bcTcRCZSr-uoqL-NotkxJ617pOa7OexC1E7x5IRbD8kFaVZpomRDXll_RS8sN3mJJWp/s1600/untitled.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1bhojsHJmaHtVetAaWJcn8H51qMlPHksA9q885ZiIqh_nr7QHig_YefuYNPrRgVtAlr71ozME2bcTcRCZSr-uoqL-NotkxJ617pOa7OexC1E7x5IRbD8kFaVZpomRDXll_RS8sN3mJJWp/s1600/untitled.bmp" height="184" width="200" /></a>That’s where an active relationship with Immanuel can help.
Immanuel is able to help me recognize my <br />
own fears, and when I am able to look
at them with honesty and vision set in reality, I can then use the facts of
what’s really going on around me to determine whether or not my “fear” is
justified. 9 times out of 10, it’s not. And for those times when fear was a
healthy reaction to the person in front of me, Jesus is able to help me feel
safe again.<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Now I can talk to strangers.</b> I can see people as opportunities to smile and make
friends; even if it’s just while I’m standing in line at Wal-Mart. I can build
joy everywhere I go. It’s good for me, and it’s good for them. When I’m not
living out of fear, joy has a chance to grow. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Coming Soon:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Life & Recovery Coaching that will come along side YOU
and teach you how to build an active relationship with Immanuel so you can move
from a fear based life to a joy based life!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Sources:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
a: “Joy
Starts Here” by James Wilder, Edward Khouri, Chris Coursey, and Shelia Sutton <a href="http://www.joystartshere.com/">www.joystartshere.com</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
b:
"Brain-Based Parenting" by Daniel A. Hughes and Jonathan Baylin</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
c: “Reading
a face is tricky business” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><a href="http://phys.org/news105118816.html#nRlv">http://phys.org/news105118816.html#nRlv</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Photos are mine</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2680005681097746008.post-64587818532215958782014-06-09T14:14:00.000-04:002014-06-09T14:15:36.226-04:00joy island<!--[if !mso]>
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I am currently in the process of getting certified as a Life and Recovery Coach through the <a href="http://prc.recoverycoachtraining.com/" target="_blank">NET Institute's Rise Recovery Coach program</a>. One of my recent homework assignments was to come up with a creative "story" that will explain how addictions use the way our brain was designed against us. The trick to this assignment was that I was NOT allowed to use brain talk or scientific wording at all! </div>
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<br /></div>
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Here is the story I came up with..... I hope it paints a picture for you that peaks your interest in this subject! This story can serve as a "base line" of understanding the brain.... which I'll explain more about in future posts! </div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>For now.. Welcome to the islands...... </b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOY9aJx0m624wcjDHcCrWBcv3zdvTQiR7byjJF9rY9sXoEEyc6dSXzTHrszjt24Q0xBfhfXD5U0Gw-X5JzZRedT75BVSFokJ4MRUXtM1ONVdIDFL_kvD_b5Z-3A_ROqSXgaAp5PU0ZMBno/s1600/mago-huge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOY9aJx0m624wcjDHcCrWBcv3zdvTQiR7byjJF9rY9sXoEEyc6dSXzTHrszjt24Q0xBfhfXD5U0Gw-X5JzZRedT75BVSFokJ4MRUXtM1ONVdIDFL_kvD_b5Z-3A_ROqSXgaAp5PU0ZMBno/s1600/mago-huge.jpg" height="176" width="320" /></a>Once upon a time there was a mystical land of islands. The
main island was called Joy Island. Everyone that lived on the island of joy was
free to come and go as they pleased. Joy Island was a great place to live.
People here supported one another and were always glad to be with each other.
They did things together and had lots of fun. Even their work and chores felt
like fun because of the way they were glad to be together. </div>
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Joy Island had everything they needed, but sometimes things
would happen that required them to travel to the other nearby islands. Those
islands were Sadness, Anger, Fear, Disgust, Shame and Hopeless Despair.</div>
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<span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">
</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">
</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hBT-bzUFYsk/U5XzIim_jrI/AAAAAAAAJlM/YRui3Z4JKOI/s1600/Bridge+to+the+village+of+Fredvang+on+Moskenes+Island+in+the+Lofoten+Islands%252C+Norway+20131115.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hBT-bzUFYsk/U5XzIim_jrI/AAAAAAAAJlM/YRui3Z4JKOI/s1600/Bridge+to+the+village+of+Fredvang+on+Moskenes+Island+in+the+Lofoten+Islands%252C+Norway+20131115.jpg" height="179" width="320" /></a><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><p>Each family would
build their own bridges to get to those islands when they needed to. The more
frequently they went as a family, the bigger and stronger their bridge became. Walking together over to Anger island or Fear island on a regular basis, and then returning back to home on Joy Island was the way to build strong bridges. Strong bridges meant that it was perfectly acceptable to go back and forth. It was totally safe to explore all the islands from their well built bridges.</p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhag96A5i7w6KEyETZ122ZQi1-EzmyIn91HZDrK7EXZCJIKhZe8fqdXkAPl7UJWxzTV-7B0bAeA0-A5GwgMrv9IV4f_QVQxN3tYu9xWR1p0y6YjLmxlE3ybDw_Kjr0s2V-_DEndqA5MFzDJ/s1600/PC140733.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhag96A5i7w6KEyETZ122ZQi1-EzmyIn91HZDrK7EXZCJIKhZe8fqdXkAPl7UJWxzTV-7B0bAeA0-A5GwgMrv9IV4f_QVQxN3tYu9xWR1p0y6YjLmxlE3ybDw_Kjr0s2V-_DEndqA5MFzDJ/s1600/PC140733.JPG" /></a>However, if they avoided a certain island, their bridge might be nothing more than a
flimsy wooden swinging bridge! Only going a few times to an island, or pretending they didn't ever need to visit a certain island was a sure way to end up with a rickety bridge!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>There was really only one rule about traveling to those
islands. Don’t go alone! It was really hard to get back to Joy Island from the
other islands if you went alone, and no one wanted anyone to get stuck in those
places!</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Overtime though, some families stopped going to some of
those islands all together. This left really weak bridges in place that couldn’t
hold up to any stormy weather.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wVZk2wg2g4c/U5XzJGzi-nI/AAAAAAAAJmI/guc6kf9HvKg/s1600/Philippines-Palawan-wooden-bridge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wVZk2wg2g4c/U5XzJGzi-nI/AAAAAAAAJmI/guc6kf9HvKg/s1600/Philippines-Palawan-wooden-bridge.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">
</span></div>
One day, little Evie took a trip by herself to the island of
sadness. She used one of those small, weak bridges to get there and as soon as
she arrived, a storm raged and washed away her bridge. She was stuck! Being
stuck on Sad Island was not fun! Sad was a miserable place to live. <b> </b><br />
<br />
<b>It was only
meant to be a temporary place to visit after all</b>.<br />
<br />
It didn’t have any of the
things she needed. And it was lonely. There weren’t any fruits in the trees
here, and hardly any shade to shelter her from the sun. She was forced to go
inland to look for shelter as more and more storms kept raging by. The problem
is, the further inland she went, the sadder she felt.<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZayYojN8KSyfk9B2z0VjNbhZVKE0tDCkdBhgMxOVrziCUEYCq_pVFB-MAFCxVaZV070H7yfzBy8GhHDSilksyamxrLS7RQce6_b_gyqTHmqfb7rVjMQOS_VoFiyMwNQxDorutarQj5ABR/s1600/dreamstime_margarita.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZayYojN8KSyfk9B2z0VjNbhZVKE0tDCkdBhgMxOVrziCUEYCq_pVFB-MAFCxVaZV070H7yfzBy8GhHDSilksyamxrLS7RQce6_b_gyqTHmqfb7rVjMQOS_VoFiyMwNQxDorutarQj5ABR/s1600/dreamstime_margarita.jpg" height="320" width="267" /></a> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
She started looking around Sad Island to find something to
make her feel better. Much to her surprise she discovered a drink that made her
smile easier. She started drinking it every day! It felt so good to smile
again! It was getting easier to live on Sad Island now that she had this drink!
Even though she still felt sad in between drinks… she was starting to believe
that her drinks were better than life back on Joy Island. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4rMr6293f9POtn3LAkNp1YBEGNI5fZeV7qF5yt7X5ej81WHXfwLZXZCwMYSjS70EkmXVsSPFf0jhv03HPKbxMNWp532nmz07YbHMYvoiirv8Tl6UzYQVNBbg8TX8DJKpsHYMPIPhSz6LJ/s1600/3-day-fraser-island-party-hard-tour-couple-on-the-beach-24534.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4rMr6293f9POtn3LAkNp1YBEGNI5fZeV7qF5yt7X5ej81WHXfwLZXZCwMYSjS70EkmXVsSPFf0jhv03HPKbxMNWp532nmz07YbHMYvoiirv8Tl6UzYQVNBbg8TX8DJKpsHYMPIPhSz6LJ/s1600/3-day-fraser-island-party-hard-tour-couple-on-the-beach-24534.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a>One day, she discovered some other people who had come to
Sad Island on a boat from their home on Anger Island. (They had gotten stuck
there a long time ago and found a way between these 2 islands). One of these
people was a man… he told her how pretty she was and introduced her to sex. Now
she was starting to feel really good on Sad Island! With her drinks and her
sex, she could barely remember Joy Island anymore. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Except for those annoying times when she was quiet and alone
and the sad feelings started creeping back in.</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Pretty soon, her drinks and her Anger Island boyfriend
stopped feeling so good. So she needed to get more. She traded her boyfriend
for a new one, and added some pills to her drinks in order to feel good again-
for a little while. This continued until she eventually lost her little shelter
on Sad Island. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZlZNFi7UCfw/U5XzKrOEv7I/AAAAAAAAJmE/DZd2rZbsw8I/s1600/jdg12964_L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZlZNFi7UCfw/U5XzKrOEv7I/AAAAAAAAJmE/DZd2rZbsw8I/s1600/jdg12964_L.jpg" height="200" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
She decided to move since she couldn’t afford to live with
all her drinks and pills and boyfriends anymore. She stole the boat from Anger
Island and tried to find a new place to live. Unfortunately, she ended up on
Hopeless Island! </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9X9iQUGaPgmbgj8mxsFpCSYB3nN5fEEdInqQ5OQQNAvC-ksUGmLBZtb77usvFhfytmY7tclba6ybau6XSvRp8kibWJyqRTYg7e7RE_bVhaqVUpel4xVzkKMyoLb-SVzwCsDbf7De2s9LR/s1600/Woman-eating-a-lot-of-chocolate.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9X9iQUGaPgmbgj8mxsFpCSYB3nN5fEEdInqQ5OQQNAvC-ksUGmLBZtb77usvFhfytmY7tclba6ybau6XSvRp8kibWJyqRTYg7e7RE_bVhaqVUpel4xVzkKMyoLb-SVzwCsDbf7De2s9LR/s1600/Woman-eating-a-lot-of-chocolate.jpg" /></a>Hopeless Island was really isolated and far from the other
islands. Here Evie missed her drinks and pills and boyfriends, but discovered a
sugar tree to help ease her pain. She built a new home right next to the sugar
tree… the sugar tree feelings didn’t last long, so she had to keep eating from
it all day and all night long. Whenever she stopped eating from the sugar tree,
the noises from Shame Island (her closest neighbor) drove her crazy!!<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b>Evie is so far from home now that she is just ready to give
up on life. She knows that making homes on these islands was not what she
wanted in the 1<sup>st</sup> place, but she has no idea how to get back to Joy
Island- or if it even exists anymore. </b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>
</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Can you relate to this story? Stay tuned for my explanation for how this story can be translated into real life, and real science, and real "God's design" for our life. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
*None of these pictures are mine. They were all found using
google image search.</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2680005681097746008.post-25951435665983926202014-05-21T09:00:00.000-04:002014-05-21T13:32:33.520-04:00to the top<!--[if !mso]>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=2680005681097746008" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
My friend
and partner on this hike posted this picture and statement on Instagram…. And I
couldn’t have said it better:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lENVYHyl6ZA/U3u8Nz8rT9I/AAAAAAAAHl8/nc2IboU8M7A/s1600/trail+by+jpothatsme.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lENVYHyl6ZA/U3u8Nz8rT9I/AAAAAAAAHl8/nc2IboU8M7A/s1600/trail+by+jpothatsme.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
</div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>“Looking at this
now, it's so hard to even see the trail, even when the blaze is showing the
way. Life can be like that sometimes, can't it?” @jpothatsme
</i></blockquote>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Before the
final climb, we got lost. Well, not really lost, but definitely not on the
right trail. While walking along, we totally missed one of the signs that told
us which way to go. We kept going and going, oblivious to the fact that we were
heading in the wrong direction. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Has that
ever happened to you before? </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>Along the
Tanawha Trail, this was not the first time in my life when I went the wrong way,
and ended up making my journey longer than necessary.</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Sometimes
God puts signs up for us, and we walk right by them without even noticing them.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Sometimes we
discover later on that we just worked really hard only to have to turn around
and backtrack for awhile.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
The same was
true on this crazy hike of ours. What really blows my mind is that it wasn’t
just the leader at the time that missed it…. All 3 of us missed it. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Be careful following
others so closely that you forget to look around for your own signs along the
way!</i></div>
<div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">And, even more
importantly, when you (or those you are with) make a mistake…. It’s not the end
of the world. </i></div>
<div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;">
<br /></div>
<div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Looking back at this
moment of our journey, I am very aware of the fact that even though we were
miserably uncomfortable at the time, we still responded tenderly to each other
for our mistakes. There was no condemnation or blaming taking place, and no criticism
either. So, we walked an extra .6 miles… at least we realized it before long…
big deal. Staying true to who we really are meant we simply turned around and
got back on track. </i></div>
<div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;">
<br /></div>
<div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Reminds me of when the
Lord shows me when I’m messing up something. My “repentance” doesn’t have to
involve me feeling a truckload of shame or spiraling into a pit of despair. It’s
more like “whoops…” and then go fix it. You know…. “go and sin no more”. </i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
By the time
we got back on track, we knew we were now behind schedule, and needing a “3<sup>rd</sup>
wind” so to speak. We also knew we were probably about a mile or so from
meeting up with some others who were going to join us for the last segment of
the hike. We began recognizing where we were and picking up our pace in
anticipation of seeing their smiling faces. Just knowing that they were up
ahead waiting for us gave us this rush of excitement that we needed to break on
through this last piece of exhaustion. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
When we
reached Linn Cove Viaduct and heard my family members up there cheering us on,
nothing could have been sweeter. Add to that the presence of a toilet and we
were definitely smiling now!!!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
This was
mile 11.8.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
The last leg
of our journey was now here! All day we’d looked forward to this moment. We
were energized by the presence of “fresh” hikers including my 17 year old
daughter who effortlessly bounded ahead of us like an elf in the Lord of the
Rings through Fanghorn forest. At one point I jokingly said something to her
about deserving an award for most energetic hiker or something like that. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
She stopped
dead in her tracks, turned to look me in the eye and said “No, YOU deserve an
award for hiking this WHOLE DAY”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
BAM! There
it was! The truth I had not yet looked at yet along my hike. MY VALUE! MY hard
work, and effort, was worth something. I had reason to be proud of myself. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
It took me
looking at my daughter and feeling proud, and then her reflecting it back to
me, for me to really get it. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZJENyv5n0iU/U3u7kZMVVeI/AAAAAAAAHls/MKVRvWIM3nk/s1600/PSX_20140514_081907.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZJENyv5n0iU/U3u7kZMVVeI/AAAAAAAAHls/MKVRvWIM3nk/s1600/PSX_20140514_081907.jpg" height="640" width="360" /></a></div>
The happiness and
joy I felt in this moment burst through my exhaustion just like the sun
bursting through the clouds. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And wouldn’t
you know it… that’s exactly what happened next. The clouds began to part and
the sun in the west began to shine on our path to the finish line up ahead. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
The last
mile was a blur really, I was fully aware that I was going to make it. There
was no more doubt, no more uncertainty… only belief that continuing to put one
foot in front of the other would lead me to my destination without failure. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
My daughter,
the elf, who was running ahead and then coming back to meet up with us, came
back and said, it’s just up ahead around the corner!! You’re almost there!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Michelle
turned back to me and said “Are you ready”…. And I was overwhelmed with a tidal
wave of emotion that took my breath away. My eyes flooded with tears… the tears
I’d heard other people talk about that came at the end of a race, the tears I
had thought just 10 minutes prior would not likely be necessary…. Rushed into
my eyes and clouded my vision with such ferocity I didn’t know how to stop
them. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
I hugged
Michelle and choked on my emotions that had no words. Still now, I can’t put to
words what I was feeling at that moment. Pride, relief, joy, excitement, love,
passion, gratitude, and all the pain I’d carried along with me for the past 11
hours… or maybe it was the pain I’d carried with me for the past 41 years. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
All of it
came to the surface in that moment. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Then, we
realized that somehow we had gotten here too early! My husband and other
friends/family were not going to arrive for another 30 minutes or so! We couldn’t
cross our finish line without them!! </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
So, we
rested. We stopped .3 miles from the end and rested. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Never in a
million years would I have pictured my ending to my Finish Line Hike like this!
But God is good. And he loves to give good gifts. We stood there in the woods and
soaked in His presence while we waited to take those last steps. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Fully washed
in His love…. embracing the moment with all of our senses fully aware. We received
His song…</div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div align="center" style="text-align: center;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“You’re
more real than the wind in my lungs<br />
You’re more real than the ground I’m standing on</i></div>
<div align="center" style="text-align: center;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">You’re
thoughts define me, you’re inside me<br />
You’re my reality</i></div>
<div align="center" style="text-align: center;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Abba,
I belong to you</i></div>
<div align="center" style="text-align: center;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">You’re
closer than the skin on my bones<br />
You’re closer than the song on my tongue”</i></div>
</blockquote>
<div align="center" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
We knew even then, how purposeful it was that we were being asked to rest
right before the crossing of the finish line. <br />
<br />
In resting, we are more aware of God’s presence.<br />
<br />
In resting, we can connect
with Him even as we are striving towards a goal.<br />
<br />
In resting, we are grounded to
the reality of who we are in Him.<br />
<br />
Resting restored our focus.<br />
<br />
Resting gave us time to breathe in the moment and
prevented us from rushing ahead and missing out on that tender moment in His
arms. That tender moment of love between Father and Beloved even before we
completed our task meant even more than if He had just offered it at the end.<br />
<br />
This time of rest didn’t require me to finish… it was a freely given gift.<br />
<br />
This time of rest had grace written all over it. <br />
<br />
<div align="center" style="text-align: center;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“So
then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, for whoever has
entered God's rest has also rested from his works as God did from his.” Hebrews
4:9-10</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
After the
time of rest, we walked arm and arm up to the finish line where we could
celebrate. We didn’t need to rush forward and collapse in exhaustion because of
the sweet rest we had just tasted. With eyes bright and spirits high, we
crossed into that finish line together.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Valued, Worthy, and full of hope. </b></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Chd_Koyckrk/U3u7vsa3wJI/AAAAAAAAHl0/aUBMgK52Nmo/s1600/PSX_20140513_222602.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Chd_Koyckrk/U3u7vsa3wJI/AAAAAAAAHl0/aUBMgK52Nmo/s1600/PSX_20140513_222602.jpg" height="253" width="400" /></a></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2680005681097746008.post-19267414392382702162014-05-20T13:21:00.000-04:002014-05-21T13:32:15.215-04:00through the ups and downs<!--[if !mso]>
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<br />
<div class="line1">
In a normal half marathon setting, as you move along you are
encouraged by supporters that cheer you on and offer you water. My 14 mile hike on the Tanawha Trail
was not quite the same experience, but that doesn’t mean I didn’t have
supporters along the way. </div>
<div class="line1">
<br /></div>
<div class="line1">
I can’t write about this journey without mentioning how awesome
my husband was during it all! We started off arriving at our “lunch” point
quite a bit early and he rushed up the path all alone with a cooler, bread,
peanut butter and jelly, snacks and a gallon jug of water to refill our
camelbaks while we sat by the Boone Fork River with our feet in the water
taking a break.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-p-ZCGdR3URk/U3uRqkk13tI/AAAAAAAAHlc/f7IB1xpKp1E/s1600/PSX_20140514_230345.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-p-ZCGdR3URk/U3uRqkk13tI/AAAAAAAAHlc/f7IB1xpKp1E/s1600/PSX_20140514_230345.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
</div>
<div class="line1">
<br /></div>
<div class="line1">
Originally I had posted about this hike asking supporters to
come and meet us at spots along the way to give it the “race” feeling, but up
until Mile 11.5… my husband was the one who was there. He gave his entire day
to drive up and down the parkway getting us supplies and meeting us for water
refills and offering encouraging smiles. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His support is appreciated GREATLY!</div>
<div class="line1">
<br /></div>
<div class="line1">
After our 2<sup>nd</sup> meetup with him, we were entering the
“Rough Ridge” zone of the hike. Believe me, I never fully realized the meaning
of Rough Ridge up until this point. Sure, I’ve hiked this beautiful section
before as a small mile out and back hike, but on this journey, the Rough Ridge
became our “wall”. </div>
<div class="line1">
<br /></div>
<div class="line1">
Every runner or
marathoner will tell you that at some point, they hit a wall when their body
tells them that they can go no further. It’s actually a real thing, caused by
the depletion of glycogen stores in the body that can leave you feeling
fatigued and without energy.</div>
<div class="line1">
<br /></div>
<div class="line1">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fL2bpEe9K_0/U3uHjQ07kVI/AAAAAAAAHks/tpgzwfKngl0/s1600/PSX_20140513_194843.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fL2bpEe9K_0/U3uHjQ07kVI/AAAAAAAAHks/tpgzwfKngl0/s1600/PSX_20140513_194843.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a>Rough Ridge was the 9 ½ mile point for us. It was a steep
boulder hopping climb to an elevation of 4773 that afforded breathtaking 360
degree views of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Getting to the top of it was
exhilarating! </div>
<div class="line1">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Yj0jjm4CN-8/U3uHkMD4IfI/AAAAAAAAHk0/99XguT09RuI/s1600/PSX_20140513_195315.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Yj0jjm4CN-8/U3uHkMD4IfI/AAAAAAAAHk0/99XguT09RuI/s1600/PSX_20140513_195315.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></div>
When we arrived at the first outlook, the winds were blowing so
strong I felt like I was standing on the front of the Titanic with Leonardo
DiCaprio holding my arms out shouting “I’m on top of the world!!”<br />
<br />
<div class="line1">
<br /></div>
<div class="line1">
<br /></div>
<div class="line1">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IBxdpI6168o/U3uHglUEhjI/AAAAAAAAHkU/FrEMIlh8mbI/s1600/PSX_20140510_232614.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IBxdpI6168o/U3uHglUEhjI/AAAAAAAAHkU/FrEMIlh8mbI/s1600/PSX_20140510_232614.jpg" height="466" width="640" /></a>But the most
incredible thing was the green. Everywhere we looked the color green was
climbing up the mountains. Just the week before, it was still mostly brown, but
on this Mothers’ Day weekend, spring was racing up the mountain right with us. </div>
<div class="line1">
It was honestly breathtaking. I’m used to the “Blue” view… but
this kaleidoscope of green felt dreamlike. Every different type of tree had a
slightly different shade of baby green. The fact that we didn’t have blue skies
didn’t even matter.</div>
<div class="line1">
</div>
<div class="line1">
</div>
<div class="line1">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="line1">
From up here… only the views mattered. Our tired legs didn’t
even seem to care about the depleting glycogen stores.</div>
<div class="line1">
<br /></div>
<div class="line1">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xYjqPEPMvTI/U3uHgsGWldI/AAAAAAAAHkY/NwIUFZffTFI/s1600/PSX_20140510_235113.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xYjqPEPMvTI/U3uHgsGWldI/AAAAAAAAHkY/NwIUFZffTFI/s1600/PSX_20140510_235113.jpg" height="241" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="line1">
We explored the
cliffs and played around taking pictures for a while. Momentarily we felt like
our journey was over.<span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="line1">
<br /></div>
<div class="line1">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3Tlm1jZI83M/U3uHfw-YdeI/AAAAAAAAHkM/vhtbAz7SbiA/s1600/PSX_20140510_233524.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3Tlm1jZI83M/U3uHfw-YdeI/AAAAAAAAHkM/vhtbAz7SbiA/s1600/PSX_20140510_233524.jpg" height="275" width="400" /></a><span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="line1">
<span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"> Until we noticed that bridge over
there in the pictures. That bridge is our destination, or rather, the mountain
top BEYOND that bridge is our destination.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="line1">
</div>
<div class="line1">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">From up here, I think the realization that we still
had a long way to go was starting to sink in. </span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-k6St7MVcrYQ/U3uHj3xTTkI/AAAAAAAAHkw/9n66vngQUvc/s1600/PSX_20140512_202350.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-k6St7MVcrYQ/U3uHj3xTTkI/AAAAAAAAHkw/9n66vngQUvc/s1600/PSX_20140512_202350.jpg" height="400" width="225" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"> </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: right;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"> I’ve felt that way in life
before too. I’m very aware of the fact that I’m FAR from perfect. I’m FAR from
who I was created to be, and who I want to be. Sometimes, when I get a glimpse
of just how far off I am … it can be a little overwhelming. Sometimes, it even
seems pointless. And that can leave me not wanting to even try anymore.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">
</span><br />
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wvVo-KrFH7s/U3uHlr1oigI/AAAAAAAAHlE/iRULnyueBHY/s1600/PSX_20140514_230043.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wvVo-KrFH7s/U3uHlr1oigI/AAAAAAAAHlE/iRULnyueBHY/s1600/PSX_20140514_230043.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
I remember
clearly sitting atop the highest peak on Rough Ridge thinking those same
thoughts. Thinking, this is good enough. This is far enough. Let’s just settle
here. I even felt peace in that moment and I knew that Jesus was going to love
me even if this was as far as I got.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Then I stood
up, stretched, and said, “let’s do this!” and started down the steep descent of
this current mountain crest with my friends by my side. We didn’t talk much at
this point. I think we were all sorta lost in our own thoughts… and we continued
down…. and around, and down some more, and through the boulder field… each of
us beginning to become aware of just how exhausted we were. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Have you
ever experienced something exhilarating and amazing only to be followed by a
low point… a crash? </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
This is what
we were going through for miles 10-11. The low. The down. The “what goes up,
must go down” moment. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Just when I
was about to stop and give up, I thought to ask Jesus where He was at that
exact moment. I was in the “lead” at that time, and noticed my 2 friends were
slowing down behind me and I was starting to feel like they didn’t want to be
with me anymore. (I mean, this was “my thing” and they were just along for the
journey right... they were probably feeling pretty sorry they had agreed to
this by now!) </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>When I feel
alone like that, I’m learning to find Jesus with me in the moment. Since He is
Immanuel, God With Us… why not ask Him to let me see where He is??!!</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
So, in my
head, I asked Him, “Where are you now Jesus?”. And I got a glimpse of Him, just
ahead of me on the path, turned backwards kinda jogging backwards… full of life
and energy… with a glint of excitement and love in His eyes. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
He was waving me
forward saying “Come on!” I felt a huge surge of energy burst through my veins
and my pace picked up. I felt like I was skipping along the trail, hopping over
rocks effortlessly, chasing after my leader who was so full of life it was irresistible!
I turned around and saw that my friends had fallen back behind me quite a bit
so I shouted back to them to encourage them as well. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>I reminded them that we
were not alone on this journey and kept pressing on...</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-k-6_FE3mRSM/U3uJmd01ALI/AAAAAAAAHlM/C_Hg7ogAJSo/s1600/PSX_20140512_202847.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-k-6_FE3mRSM/U3uJmd01ALI/AAAAAAAAHlM/C_Hg7ogAJSo/s1600/PSX_20140512_202847.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i> "But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar
on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk
and not be faint." Is 40:31</i><span class="p"><br /></span></div>
</blockquote>
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
<a href="http://theopenbench.blogspot.com/2014/05/to-top.html">to be continued.... </a></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2680005681097746008.post-13625200426772422152014-05-13T17:38:00.000-04:002014-05-21T13:31:42.320-04:00from the bottom...<!--[if !mso]>
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<br />
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The whole week before my big event is now just a blur of
memories of checking the weather! All the weather reports kept giving me a 60-80%
chance of thunderstorms throughout the day of my hike. I was beginning to panic
and question and doubt, when that still small voice said once again, <span style="font-size: large;"><b>“I got
this”</b></span>. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I don’t know what it is about those 3 little words. They
seem just as impactful and powerful as “I love you”. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
With the phrase “I got this” whispered in my soul from my
beloved…. I rested in a deep shalom knowing that no matter what happened it
would all be okay. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As Saturday morning arrived, one last glance at my weather
app showed me that overnight, much of the bad weather had turned north or dissipated
and while the clouds still remained… my chances for rain were much smaller. Before
the sun even rose, I knew that God was working things out behind the scenes all
along.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
With excitement stirring in my belly all the way up the
parkway, the fog lifting off the mountains seemed to paint a picture for how I
felt at that moment. It wasn’t butterflies in my stomach, but a cool misty fog
rising up from within that would soon lift away making room for the adventure
of a lifetime. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8zc8Ff2NHUs/U3KOTIsgnoI/AAAAAAAAHMQ/bPamTnWioTc/s1600/PSX_20140510_230856.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8zc8Ff2NHUs/U3KOTIsgnoI/AAAAAAAAHMQ/bPamTnWioTc/s1600/PSX_20140510_230856.jpg" height="285" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The 3 of us started
off with prayer and some stretching and it wasn’t long before we were surrounded
in the tunnels of the rhododendron. How fitting that the beginning of our
journey symbolized a birth. Like a birth canal, the tunnels urged us forward
into a new life. We began noticing the extensive root systems under our feet,
and even over our heads in these tunnels. How fitting that these roots became
the stepping stones that gave us the strength to push upward and onward thru
the hills. Occasionally, we would stumble on these roots though, and our feet
would get caught in them… usually it was a quick kick that<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>propelled us to stay on our feet, but it occurred
to me that if we weren’t careful, these roots could cause one of us to fall. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kIrpdoWh9Qo/U3KNgV01MJI/AAAAAAAAHMA/z97nIpeJ0lQ/s1600/PSX_20140511_201153.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kIrpdoWh9Qo/U3KNgV01MJI/AAAAAAAAHMA/z97nIpeJ0lQ/s1600/PSX_20140511_201153.jpg" height="400" width="225" /></a> <span style="font-size: large;">This is so true in life
as well. It’s our roots… our family... our history… our past…. That gives us
strength sometimes. We can use those roots to propel us forward and rise up to
new things. OR, we can trip on them, get stuck and never move on from them. </span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I believe I’ve spent much
of my life up til this point, sitting on the forest floor with my foot wrapped
around a root system. </span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>But no longer.</i> </span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Now I am able to allow
most of my roots to give me a step up, and I’ve got friends and loved ones who
will take my arm and balance me when other roots try to trip me up along the
way.</span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As we continued on the trail, we moved on from the tunnels
and out into beautiful open pastures. Graceful hills, distant trees, tall
grasses and wildflowers beckoned us to dance and skip like little girls.
Reminiscent of the Little House on the Prairie views…. <b>I felt the beginnings of
freedom rise up within my heart.</b><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6WbULq1Qi3s/U3KQaCCQV7I/AAAAAAAAHMc/OwNwlO6-7c0/s1600/PSX_20140513_173536.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6WbULq1Qi3s/U3KQaCCQV7I/AAAAAAAAHMc/OwNwlO6-7c0/s1600/PSX_20140513_173536.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The fog had lifted by now and the birds were
singing fresh morning tunes inviting us to continue on. From here we could see
Grandfather Mountain in the distance… a glimpse of our destination. It looked
so far away, but at this point, only encouraged us to pick up the pace… excited
that we were actually going to go that far!!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The next few miles
took us back into the woods, with steeper inclines and beautiful quiet streams.
Every quiet stream always reminds me of Psalm 23. Now that I mention it, the
scripture was a perfect description of the trail so far…</div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PKuoQh6Fbw0/U3KNrFozMbI/AAAAAAAAHMI/_vgsP-jSsLU/s1600/PSX_20140513_164939.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PKuoQh6Fbw0/U3KNrFozMbI/AAAAAAAAHMI/_vgsP-jSsLU/s1600/PSX_20140513_164939.jpg" height="262" width="400" /></a></div>
<div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;">
<span class="text">"The </span><span class="small-caps"><span style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span></span><span class="text"> is my
shepherd, I lack nothing.</span><br />
<span class="indent-1-breaks"><span id="en-NIV-14238"> </span><span class="text">He makes me lie down in green pastures,</span></span><br />
<span class="text"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">He leads me beside quiet waters,</i></b></span><span class="indent-1-breaks"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> </i></b></span></div>
<div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;">
<span class="text"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
refreshes my soul.</i></b></span><br />
<span class="text">He guides me along the right paths</span><br />
<span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text">for
his name’s sake.</span><br />
<span class="text"><sup><span id="en-NIV-14240"> </span></sup>Even though I walk</span><br />
<span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text">through
the darkest valley</span><br />
<span class="text">I will fear no evil,</span><br />
<span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text">for
you are with me;</span><br />
<span class="text">your rod and your staff,</span><br />
<span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text">they
comfort me."</span></div>
</blockquote>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span class="text">Before long, we started to hear the rumblings of thunder and we
trudged on knowing that when God said “I got this” that he meant it no matter
what it looked like to us. The rain came down, slow at first, and we put on our
rain gear. Then the skies opened up and just poured out the waters upon us. All
we could do was just keep putting one foot in front of the other. With our
heads down the path was our main focus. Always on the lookout for slippery
spots, we took special care not to trip on roots here, especially where the
path was skinny and the soft edges would have sent us tumbling downhill. I took
comfort in the scriptures that I searched out during the week prior to this
moment.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span class="text"> Scriptures that showed me that when the Lord sends rain- its purpose is
to cause fruit to grow. </span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span class="text">I thanked the Lord for his provision, for his rain. And we kept walking
with good spirits and without fear. The few claps of thunder in the distance
were not cause for concern. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span class="text">Yet the reminded me of this section of 2 Samuel that I had prayed over
our journey just the night before. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div align="center" class="line1" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span class="text"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“</i></span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">He shot his arrows and scattered the enemy, with
great bolts of lightning he routed them.” </i></div>
<div align="center" class="line1" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">2 Sam 22:15</i></div>
</blockquote>
<div align="center" class="line1" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="line1">
I imagined my enemy (in the spirit) along the trail being
scattered away… so that the rest of my journey would be clear and I would not
be ambushed. I thanked him for his protection.</div>
<div class="line1">
<br /></div>
<div class="line1">
And the rain stopped. Our way was clear now. </div>
<div class="line1">
<br /></div>
<div class="line1" style="text-align: right;">
<br /></div>
<div class="line1" style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://theopenbench.blogspot.com/2014/05/through-ups-and-downs.html">to be continued</a>.... </div>
<div class="line1">
<br /></div>
<div class="line1">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2680005681097746008.post-67367143367285278942014-05-05T09:26:00.002-04:002014-05-05T09:31:45.667-04:00my finish line hike: this saturday!As many of you know, I am getting ready to hike the entire Tanawha Trail here in the Blue Ridge Mountains. <span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://theopenbench.blogspot.com/2014/04/valued-celebration.html">I posted all about why here.</a></span><br />
<br />
<p>For those of you who want to join me or partner with me for a section, or just celebrate with me at the end.... Below you will find 2 tentative schedules that I am hoping will be pretty accurate.</p><br />
<br />
As of now, the weather forecast is calling for rain at least towards the late afternoon/early evening, so that is the reason for the "2" schedule choices.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">If you plan to meet up with us, please <a href="https://www.facebook.com/denesiachristine" target="_blank">message me</a> your phone number so I can text you on Friday to let you know if we're going with Schedule A or Schedule B!</span><br />
<br />
Also, I should point out, that on this schedule when I say that we will be at a "parking area" and give a mile marker.... those are along the Blue Ridge Parkway. We will not be walking down to each parking area! You will need to come up the trail-head to where the Tanawha Trail passes through and wait for us! (usually only about 300 feet or so)<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4miEkRg_74U/U2eM-VVwJEI/AAAAAAAAGeQ/vF-Bh_-WhoA/s1600/PSX_20140416_182820.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4miEkRg_74U/U2eM-VVwJEI/AAAAAAAAGeQ/vF-Bh_-WhoA/s1600/PSX_20140416_182820.jpg" height="320" width="212" /></a></div>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Finish Line Hike Tentative Schedule “A”</span></b>
<br />
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Adobe Caslon Pro","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">8am</span></b><span style="font-family: "Adobe Caslon Pro","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">:
Tanawha Trail Entrance @ Price Lake (park near Amphitheater)</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Adobe Caslon Pro","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">11:40-12:00</span></b><span style="font-family: "Adobe Caslon Pro","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
Lunch – Boone Fork Parking Area mm 300- walk up about 600 feet to the Boone
Fork River to meet us for lunch!</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Adobe Caslon Pro","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">2:30</span></b><span style="font-family: "Adobe Caslon Pro","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">*</b>Rough Ridge Parking Area on our way
up to Rough Ridge (mm 302.8)</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Adobe Caslon Pro","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">4:30-4:45</span></b><span style="font-family: "Adobe Caslon Pro","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
Linn Cove Visitor Center MM 304.4 (potty break!)</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Adobe Caslon Pro","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">6:30</span></b><span style="font-family: "Adobe Caslon Pro","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
@ Beacon Heights FINISH LINE (mm 305.2) (Take trail from parking area… always
fork “right”. Wait for us on the flat rocks! This section of the trail is only
about .35 miles)</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Finish Line Hike Tentative Schedule “B”<span style="font-family: "Adobe Caslon Pro","serif"; line-height: 115%;"> </span></span></b></div>
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am: Tanawha Trail Entrance @ Price Lake (park near Amphitheater)</span></div>
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Boone Fork Parking Area mm 300- walk up about 600 feet to the Boone Fork River
to meet us for a snack break!</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">*</b>Rough Ridge Parking Area on our way
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@ Beacon Heights FINISH LINE (mm 305.2) (Take trail from parking area… always
fork “right”. Wait for us on the flat rocks! This section of the trail is only
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2680005681097746008.post-54546546524306376792014-04-28T16:00:00.000-04:002014-04-28T16:36:26.098-04:00an introduction to the immanuel process<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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A friend of mine once told me that she was envious of my
ability to “self-heal”. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But what she didn’t realize at the time was that I don’t
heal myself… I only allow the Lord to come and do the work in me.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When I say things like that to people, sometimes I get a
polite nod and an “isn’t that nice” type of response. Other times I am met with
a totally blank stare. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I realize that this concept of “allowing the Lord to heal me”
is very vague and mysterious for someone who hasn’t experienced it themselves.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sure, there are some circles (SOZO & other inner healing
ministries) who know what I’m talking about… but to be honest, most of my “friends”
aren’t in those circles! </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<p>So, today I want to give you an example. A peek into one of
those times that I let the Lord do some work in me. After reading this next
section (which will come straight out of my prayer journal), I will then
explain a little bit about what was going on and give you some links for
learning more! And in case you're wondering- yes, this post will be a bit longer than normal!</p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>*First some background on what was going on in my life at
the time: I had just discovered that my uncle, (I’m giving him a fake name of
Peter in this blog entry) who had abused me as a child, was on Facebook because
his picture showed up in one of those “friends recommended for you” based on
common friends notifications. I was thrown into a fit of disgust, despair and panic and
found myself on the bathroom floor sick over the thought of him possibly seeing
my daughter’s picture on Facebook somehow. The next morning I went to the Lord
with my pain.</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Be with me Jesus, I
am ready to go wherever you want to take me. Remind me of your love Lord-</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’m remembering when
I was driving home from Bradenton watching the sunset- singing praises as loud
as I could. Feeling so close to you God- feeling alive- my entire body lifted
up and so aware of your presence in the car with me. I felt your love and your
joy and your pride and overwhelming acceptance. All of this was felt at my
core- I could feel you smiling- I was warmed and touched by the sunset-
watching pink spread across the sky like a blanket- each breath I took seemed
to extend the reaches of color even further across the sky. As I sang- you
painted- and we created joy together.</div>
</blockquote>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HXNc3S6jZ9A/U16waj1qSyI/AAAAAAAAGGY/Q1GUVQfxKDE/s1600/PSX_20140404_202146.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HXNc3S6jZ9A/U16waj1qSyI/AAAAAAAAGGY/Q1GUVQfxKDE/s1600/PSX_20140404_202146.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></div>
</blockquote>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div class="MsoNormal">
In my mind,
remembering this time, I need to ask you…. “Jesus, where are you now as I am
faced with seeing Peter again?</div>
Distractions… frustration…
nothing!!! </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div class="MsoNormal">
(Decided to call my
Dad to help me connect with Jesus again- I told him briefly about how I was
stuck and not able to hear from Jesus about his situation)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I go back to the
image in my mind of the car and thinking about the sunset and singing and joy
together with Jesus.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I ask Jesus… “What’s
up with this panicky feeling?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Everything feels
really dizzy….. the room is spinning ….</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My Dad reminds me to
stay focused on Jesus.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Everything is
spinning but me and Jesus. Like in the mad tea cups at Disney world… in my head
everything is crazy… but there’s Jesus. Standing still, in the middle of it all
with me.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Now, instead of
feeling panicky and afraid, I still see Jesus and I have peace.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Now it’s like a ride
at the fair- part scary- part fun- exciting.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
What does Jesus want
to show me about all this spinning?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
He takes my hands and
spins me around like a child. We laugh together.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
All the spinning in
my head comes to a complete stop.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
What now Jesus?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
He still has my hand
in his- and now we are in a very dark hallway.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But I’m not afraid. (Normally
I would panic at this point, afraid of where he’s taking me)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But I’m not afraid.
We’re just in a dark hallway… and suddenly I have a rush of overwhelming
compassion for Peter come over me.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It’s like I’m here-
at peace with my Jesus- but I know Peter is alone in the dark somewhere.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I ask Jesus, “Why
aren’t I scared?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And I notice that I
know the door is right behind me. Behind the door is light- its outside- its
fresh air and bright sunshine.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I ask, “Jesus, what
do you want me to know about this door?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I have a choice. I
can stay in the dark and let fear creep back over me OR I can go through the
door and shut Peter alone inside OR I can go through and leave it cracked open
so he can find the light OR I can go through and burst it open- letting the light
flood in over him.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There’s no right or
wrong here. It’s my choice.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I choose to leave it
cracked open for him. It feels like me to do that. Part of me wonders if it
would be more holy to leave it wide open though.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Jesus reminds me that
when you’re in the dark- a large quantity of light thrown at you hurts… it’s gentler
to do the “cracked door of light”.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Jesus is okay with my
choice.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So Lord- what does
this mean literally?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Peter has seen me-
but I am not a victim- I have Jesus’ light in me- and it’s okay to let him see
that.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The disgust I was
feeling is gone- I don’t have to go charging at him- I can trust that God has a
plan and take comfort in focusing on Jesus- not Peter.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I am safe."</div>
</blockquote>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
What you just read is an example of what is called the “Immanuel
Process”. This is a healing prayer format that is led by the spirit… not by
man. It begins from a place of appreciation … in a “memory” of a good
connection with the Lord. This is different from other inner healing methods because
it begins in a place of safety instead of jumping headfirst into a trauma
memory. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sharing a time of peace and joy with “God with us”
(Immanuel) essentially warms up our brain so that it is more open and receptive
to hearing from God or dealing with pain. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Because I had done this before, I was comfortable doing it
right in my living room with just me and Immanuel. But I hit a wall. The issue
I was dealing with was a big one and I needed someone else to come along side
me as well to help me increase my capacity. That’s why I called my Dad. My Dad
didn’t do much talking at all… he was simply glad to be with me and his presence<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and familiarity with the situation and with
the Immanuel process I was in gave me the strength I needed to overcome my
fears. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As you see, after hitting the wall… I had to go back to the
joyful memory before pressing on further into the painful place. This is another
key element of the Immanuel process that makes it feel much safer. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Then you’ll notice that I still had a wall of sorts to get
through… in the Immanuel process, whenever you notice something…whether it’s a feeling
or a picture or a word… you simply ask Jesus what he wants you to know about
it. As you can see from this example, <span style="font-size: large;">he is quite capable of using the walls we
hit to move us beyond them without our even realizing it!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Over the course of an Immanuel Process, the key element is
that God is with me. Even though God is technically always with me… discovering
where He is and recognizing that He is there is when I am able to experience
His peace and healing happens. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Before I knew (experienced) God was with me, I felt
disgusting and panicky and I wanted to run away and hide forever. But then
Immanuel showed me that He was with me and that I had a choice about what to do
with my pain. When I made my choice and started to question if my choice was
the right one, he came alongside me again and encouraged me. Knowing that I had
a choice and that my choice was pleasing to Him removed the panic and the
disgust that I felt before. </span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If you’d like to know more about how to experience Immanuel
Healing for yourself… check out this free brochure with instructions from <a href="http://www.joystartshere.com/site/doc/Immanuel%20Healing%20Doc.pdf">Life
Model Works</a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or purchase this
booklet with even more information: <a href="http://www.joystartshere.com/shop/">Share
Immanuel</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
You can also learn more at <a href="http://www.immanuelapproach.com/">Karl Lehman’s website</a>. (He’s the Christian
psychiatrist who developed this process.)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If you’d like someone to be your helper in learning to
experience this process, I can help you with that! I am currently in the
process of becoming a certified Life and Recovery Coach and plan to offer help
with Immanuel process prayer as one of my services. I’m currently looking for
some “practice clients” so <a href="mailto:deni@equippinghearts.com?subject=Practice%20Client%20Information">email
me</a> if you’re interested!</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2680005681097746008.post-65874819759806635802014-04-25T11:14:00.001-04:002014-04-25T11:14:03.697-04:00we dance...<br /><br />
Check out this incredible new song from Bethel Music.<br /><br />
<br /><br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="270" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/fFfw6OSbUwE" width="480"></iframe><br />
<br />
<br /><br />
<div id="test" onmousedown="return false;" onselectstart="return false;"></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2680005681097746008.post-4830816384311252462014-04-20T20:36:00.000-04:002015-04-03T09:27:38.391-04:00mercy and justice leave the comfort zone<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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When I read the Word, sometimes I see 2 very different Gods.
But because I am a Christian, I often gloss over the side of God that I don’t like. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Yep, you heard me- I admitted it- “a part of God I don’t
like”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If you’re honest with yourself, you probably know exactly what
I’m talking about. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
You’ve come across those verses in the Old Testament where
God is harsh and cruel and unrelenting in his anger. You've skimmed over them, or speed read through them as quickly as possible. You might have even flipped your Bible to a safer New Testament spot just to make you feel better.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I mean, really, that CAN’T
be the same God that is all loving and wants to be our friend. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Logically we conclude, “Well, that was God, not
Jesus!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus is my friend. :)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
And we start singing kumbaya. ♪♫</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In the meantime the God of
the Old Testament remains in the back of our mind as the authoritarian Father figure that none of us really wants to have a relationship with, let alone to mimic.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
As a proud Jesus follower I've found it much easier
to stick within my comfort zone picture of God and just focus on His love and
grace all the time, rather than take a long hard look at “that” side of God
that made me squirm.<br />
<br />
But as I approached Easter this year, a strange question
began to rear up within me that made me really uncomfortable.<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">(and if I’ve learned
anything this year, it’s that change happens OUTSIDE of your comfort zone!)</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhySzQxagkqn72mTDrjJPfK6xGxsDdiQDfQHxi85MkKTeofflMO5_g2M6okz-0haZhZy3vX-O2Ftk2xDlWCD2yC1qwbFIhCiCoVuwA0WBdam16VDdZnRm98AOqptmu288PWx9sfnc3qdEqH/s1600/leaving+comfort+zone.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="photos.com" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhySzQxagkqn72mTDrjJPfK6xGxsDdiQDfQHxi85MkKTeofflMO5_g2M6okz-0haZhZy3vX-O2Ftk2xDlWCD2yC1qwbFIhCiCoVuwA0WBdam16VDdZnRm98AOqptmu288PWx9sfnc3qdEqH/s1600/leaving+comfort+zone.jpg" height="265" title="" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So here it is… fully uncomfortable:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>“What kind of God
requires a blood sacrifice for sin anyway?”</b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Normally, us proper Christians look at this monumental
moment in our faiths history as the ultimate example of love and sacrifice. We
ache for the result of all our sins cast upon the innocent shoulders of a
perfect son of God. We sing songs to thank Him for rescuing us, washing us clean,
and making us white as snow. Deep inside we’re breathing a sigh of relief as
our punishment takes the form of stripes on His back.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">(whew… boy am I glad I
didn’t have to pay for my own sins!)</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But truth be told, God didn’t just send his son to die for
us. God required blood as payment in the 1<sup>st</sup> place. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Am I the only one to question this? </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Am I the only one willing to
admit that sometimes- I don’t think He’s very nice. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When I have thoughts like this, the best thing I know how to
do, is take it straight to Him.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">(Did you know, it’s
not only possible, but actually a sign of maturity, to still be glad to be with
someone that you’re upset with or in a disagreement with?!)</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Asking God “why?” seems to be the trigger word for the Holy
Spirit to show up quickly and show me where I might be wrong. This time was no
different.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When I sat down to ask Him why He needed such a sacrifice,
the 1<sup>st</sup> thing I had to do was admit that I’m not fit to be the judge
of Him. My “why” showed up in a judges robe, with a gavel ready to pound in judgment
against God. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Right after realizing that, and admitting it, He was quick
to show me a new perspective. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">(by the
way, that’s called repentance)</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In a flash, He showed me centuries and centuries of victims
crying out. Abused children, raped women, pillaged towns, murdered sons,
atrocities piled on top of atrocities. It went on and on until I couldn’t bear
to look anymore. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And then I saw a Father- whose children were hurt and
bleeding and crying out for justice. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I empathized with this Father deeply- if one of my children
was hurt like these millions had been hurt- I’d be the 1<sup>st</sup> one to
call for the death penalty. I wouldn’t even think twice about it. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Maybe, just maybe, blood is the penalty- the justice- that
all the victim children demand even from their graves.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJMHZTcBozb6W0QdnzL9ghBgUQOPPgU-IZZ0Ssk7iyhyphenhyphensQR8Yk5iHi3fJc85scGfnjnR3cPusXXL7s3BHoXuWAwFkDgsTwqZ5spWK03VQkcey-UNUeJ446Di7Klw8Q-MXhpMbWmhQEKxiD/s1600/PSX_20140420_090413.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJMHZTcBozb6W0QdnzL9ghBgUQOPPgU-IZZ0Ssk7iyhyphenhyphensQR8Yk5iHi3fJc85scGfnjnR3cPusXXL7s3BHoXuWAwFkDgsTwqZ5spWK03VQkcey-UNUeJ446Di7Klw8Q-MXhpMbWmhQEKxiD/s1600/PSX_20140420_090413.jpg" height="200" width="121" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This doesn’t make God a “mean, harsh and cruel God”.<br />
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This makes Him- <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">perfectly
understandable.</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
Easter- <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">the cross</b>-
is just as much a story about justice as it is about love and mercy.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I think about those that hurt me when I was a child. And I
see a Father up in heaven poised to get revenge for my sake. I feel a sense of
relief- and finality in this moment that I’ve never fully realized in the past
along my healing journey. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">This protective Father
God satisfies a war cry deep within me that I wasn’t conscious of before
exploring this God of the Old Testament that the prim and proper Christian girl
didn’t really like much before.</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And then Jesus is there- carrying that cross. Beaten,
bloodied, bruised, and taking the brunt of all that revenge. A combination of nausea
and relief almost knocks me down. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This time I recognize my own sin putting Him on that cross. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This time I’m not the victim demanding justice- now I’m the accused- guilty-
and all my failures are exposed before God. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I am deserving of this “justice” that I cried out for in a
different breath.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Then my Father is there. My loving Father who wants nothing
more than to end all this suffering.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
comes up with a way to satisfy His love for his children- both the victims and the
guilty- all in one fell swoop.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The cross</span></b><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">(justice)</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">His son</span></b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">(mercy)</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Mercy and Justice come together.</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqrL0kQOmUtcVzlfdqDDJMv0Wa3rnK_5716sgDjb04i26MfzKQlZICamT6-_W7-eCpteiaWS4hK-QoWlWs2hObqgYO3nIVQ5LFP5rFUddGoVMmxiS83TDRKQzFFf5RZ-IVGtIBrWM_fWtI/s1600/PSX_20140420_073143.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqrL0kQOmUtcVzlfdqDDJMv0Wa3rnK_5716sgDjb04i26MfzKQlZICamT6-_W7-eCpteiaWS4hK-QoWlWs2hObqgYO3nIVQ5LFP5rFUddGoVMmxiS83TDRKQzFFf5RZ-IVGtIBrWM_fWtI/s1600/PSX_20140420_073143.jpg" height="192" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The entire story from start to finish is <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">a God who loves</b>. God and His son- are
BOTH expressions of love that overwhelm me. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I have a new understanding now of the One True God, not 2
distinctly different Gods- not a God who changed over time- but the one true
God who loves- with a stronger love than I can ever comprehend.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A God I can love in return wholeheartedly- without ever
needing to gloss over the parts I haven’t yet learned to understand.</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2680005681097746008.post-81189802448550848752014-04-11T12:55:00.000-04:002014-04-11T13:08:03.326-04:00its okay to be weakI was invited to be a "guest author" over at<a href="http://iwokeupyesterday.com/2014/04/11/its-okay-to-be-weak-denesia-christine/"> I Woke Up Yesterday! Check out my latest post over there!</a><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div style="text-align: center;">
"His grace is my waterfall!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
His grace puts on a marvelous display of beauty when it encounters my weaknesses.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
He fills my gaps with His love in so many ways."</div>
</blockquote>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://iwokeupyesterday.com/2014/04/11/its-okay-to-be-weak-denesia-christine/" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="http://iwokeupyesterday.com/2014/04/11/its-okay-to-be-weak-denesia-christine/" border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tE8ApM_oxgs/U0geIfkljgI/AAAAAAAAEVM/LFuLDvBXxoo/s1600/confidence-pic-with-Deni-300x300.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2680005681097746008.post-40893094970363361262014-04-02T11:03:00.000-04:002014-05-05T09:08:24.077-04:00valued celebration<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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Late last year I wrote a blog post called “<a href="http://theopenbench.blogspot.com/2013/09/the-pointpoints-forward.html">The Point</a>”, and
in that post I was coming to the realization that I needed a goal. Ever since
then, I have been reaching towards a goal of healthier eating and physical
activity. I’ve been the tortoise in this scenario, rather than the rabbit, but
I am still moving forward towards that goal.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
At the same time, I’ve been participating in a course that
my friend Michelle Howe (<a href="http://www.howeawesome.com/">howeawesome.com</a>) is running that goes along with her
book titled “It is Finished”. In this course, she challenges us to begin
training for a race of some sort that has a “finish line” for us to cross. She
asked us to assign a “word” to our race early on in the course and to keep it
in mind as we train and prepare to cross that finish line.</div>
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It took me awhile to realize what my “word” was going to be,
but the Lord kept showing me over and over that my finish line word was “Valued”.
I am valued. I am worth A LOT to Him! As I train, and walk towards my goals of
healthy living, He is cheering me on because I am finally beginning to
recognize my own value! Taking the time to eat healthy and exercise not because
I’m disgusted with myself but because I’m WORTH the effort is a major mind
shift and it’s exciting for Him to see me here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I am leaving behind my insecurity, and the nagging belief system that whispered
in my head “you’re not good enough” for most of my life. And when I cross my “finish
line” I will be able to CELEBRATE!!! </div>
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Celebration is also a “new” thing for me too. Understanding
that I am valued gives me permission to celebrate my accomplishments! </div>
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In the past, I have felt good about things, but my external
ability to actually celebrate them was always subdued and held back. I think
part of that is because I was never giving myself permission to believe that I
was worthy of celebration. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--r8m2iP5QT4/UzwmGF0aYjI/AAAAAAAADsM/ht0Ee6ZKuxw/s1600/PSX_20140402_105753.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--r8m2iP5QT4/UzwmGF0aYjI/AAAAAAAADsM/ht0Ee6ZKuxw/s1600/PSX_20140402_105753.jpg" height="320" width="219" /></a>One memory stands out to me as a good example of this. When
I was 14 or so, I was living at a place called Dunklin Memorial Camp out in the
middle of nowhere in Okeechobee, FL. My parents were in training to work with
addicts there. While it wasn’t always the best place for a 14 year old girl to
live, I actually loved it. For the first time in my life I could actually be
around HORSES! I LOVED horses! Dunklin had horses and I would walk to the barn
every day and just hang out with the horses. I would whistle and they would run
to see me. I would take care of them, lay in the fields with them, and I
learned to ride them too. The leader of Dunklin, Mickey Evans, recognized that
I loved horses and went out of his way to get me my own horse! I was beyond
excited and inside I was jumping and squealing in delight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But when I got my horse… I stayed calm, and
cool, and barely said thank-you. </div>
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This was one of those times when someone in my life valued
me and gave me a gift that I couldn’t celebrate because I didn’t recognize my
own value. I didn’t feel worthy of the gift, and therefore I couldn’t celebrate
the gift when I received it. </div>
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I think I even approached Jesus that way over the years as well. </div>
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I received His gift. But for years I didn’t recognize my own
value and didn’t feel worthy of the gift… and therefore I couldn’t celebrate
the gift when I received it.</div>
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The same is true of things I accomplished over the years.
When others would be proud of me, I would smile and be polite, but I didn’t
celebrate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not recognizing my own value
had prevented me from a lifetime of joyful celebrations! </div>
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You know what? I’m ready to celebrate!</div>
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I am ready to celebrate gifts that are given to me, and I’m
ready to celebrate accomplishments I make. I am starting to realize that my
accomplishments ARE gifts! They are gifts to myself!! My accomplishments are
gifts to myself because I am WORTH IT!</div>
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<br /></div>
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So, who wants to celebrate with me?!</div>
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I am planning a big “Finish Line Hike” for Mother’s Day
weekend. My friend Michelle and my friend Jessica have both agreed to join me
on this momentous occasion to walk with me and share in the journey. This hike
will traverse across almost 14 miles of the Blue Ridge Mountains on the Tanawha
Trail. We will climb 3487 feet and descend 2736 feet within those 14 miles. We
will go through tranquil pastures, tunnel through thickets of laurel and rhododendron,
dip down into remote hardwood coves, ascend across boulder fields, and hop
across cascading streams. </div>
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My “Finish Line” will be at the top of Beacon Heights right
before sunset where we will celebrate our journey with friends and family. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikf3hbvWGKubIotnV472BnVru_kRfnN_TTy0dFLOeNI_0U-arIzmoqn_yfJv1razcY3SDKwp1lLAe6kp4CfI2ylt5SftKSa2Norl0BEEBYQxuMf1j1yhG6LkFdwZjiWR2ODD9l7pLoVXc6/s1600/_MG_8849.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikf3hbvWGKubIotnV472BnVru_kRfnN_TTy0dFLOeNI_0U-arIzmoqn_yfJv1razcY3SDKwp1lLAe6kp4CfI2ylt5SftKSa2Norl0BEEBYQxuMf1j1yhG6LkFdwZjiWR2ODD9l7pLoVXc6/s1600/_MG_8849.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
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(This hike will take us at least 10 hours!!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Technically, we are doing the trail “backwards”
by going from the lowest point to the high point, but I wanted my finish line
to have the big view rather than end at the low point. Since most people hike
it going “down” in 7 hours, I’m thinking it will take a little longer to hike
it “up”.)</div>
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If you can come to hike a section with me…. Or even just
cheer me on along the way at a few points where the trail comes close to the
Blue Ridge Parkway…. Or to celebrate with me at the finish line I’d love it! </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<strike>I will have an actual “schedule” posted on my Facebook as we
get closer, but it will be on Saturday May 10<sup>th</sup>.</strike><br />
UPDATE: Here is a Tentative Schedule. We might need to start really early depending on the weather report! <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;">Finish Line Hike Tentative Schedule “A”</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Adobe Caslon Pro","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">8am</span></b><span style="font-family: "Adobe Caslon Pro","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">:
Tanawha Trail Entrance @ Price Lake (park near Amphitheater)</span></div>
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Lunch – Boone Fork Parking Area mm 300- walk up about 600 feet to the Boone
Fork River to meet us for lunch!</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Adobe Caslon Pro","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">2:30</span></b><span style="font-family: "Adobe Caslon Pro","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">*</b>Rough Ridge Parking Area on our way
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Linn Cove Visitor Center MM 304.4 (potty break!)</span></div>
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@ Beacon Heights FINISH LINE (mm 305.2) (Take trail from parking area… always
fork “right”. Wait for us on the flat rocks! This section of the trail is only
about .35 miles)</span></div>
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mso-style-noshow:yes;
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mso-para-margin-right:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt;
mso-para-margin-left:0in;
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mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="font-family: "Adobe Caslon Pro","serif"; line-height: 115%;">*
means we will be on the trail near there. If you want to meet us or cheer us
on, you may need to hike from the parking area to the Tanawha Trail connection.
(less than 300 feet)</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">Optional Timing:</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Finish Line Hike Tentative Schedule “B”</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Adobe Caslon Pro","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">6:30</span></b><span style="font-family: "Adobe Caslon Pro","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
am: Tanawha Trail Entrance @ Price Lake (park near Amphitheater)</span></div>
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Boone Fork Parking Area mm 300- walk up about 600 feet to the Boone Fork River
to meet us for a snack break!</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Adobe Caslon Pro","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">1:00</span></b><span style="font-family: "Adobe Caslon Pro","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">*</b>Rough Ridge Parking Area on our way
up to Rough Ridge (mm 302.8) (Johnny will bring us lunch to bring to the top)</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Adobe Caslon Pro","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">3:15-3:30</span></b><span style="font-family: "Adobe Caslon Pro","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
Linn Cove Visitor Center MM 304.4 (potty break!)</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Adobe Caslon Pro","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">5:00</span></b><span style="font-family: "Adobe Caslon Pro","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
@ Beacon Heights FINISH LINE (mm 305.2) (Take trail from parking area… always
fork “right”. Wait for us on the flat rocks! This section of the trail is only
about .35 miles)</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4miEkRg_74U/U2eM-VVwJEI/AAAAAAAAGeM/QlMN7gIYDXI/s1600/PSX_20140416_182820.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4miEkRg_74U/U2eM-VVwJEI/AAAAAAAAGeM/QlMN7gIYDXI/s1600/PSX_20140416_182820.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
See you on the Tanawha!</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2680005681097746008.post-19633661202647984932014-02-28T15:45:00.001-05:002014-02-28T15:45:24.747-05:00disappointing God<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tAoLC_ZVOv0/UxDxMPr3-PI/AAAAAAAAB6o/uFG2UAjYX2k/s1600/57954956_640.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tAoLC_ZVOv0/UxDxMPr3-PI/AAAAAAAAB6o/uFG2UAjYX2k/s1600/57954956_640.jpg" height="112" width="200" /></a>“I know you and
everything about you. Why would I have an expectation other than what I already
know? That would be foolish. And beyond that, because I have no expectations,
you never disappoint me”. </div>
</blockquote>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
~Papa, The Shack</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The first time I read this, my jaw literally dropped at this
new mind blowing concept. Could this be true? Could it be possible that God was
never disappointed in me? In all my failures? In all my short comings? </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My mind wrestled with this new idea for months. It kept
coming back to this dark hidden belief that I had deep down in my heart that my
Father in heaven was surely disappointed in me. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I was a sinner after all. And even when I “confess and
repent”... I had to face the fact that I had disappointed him as part of that
process. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Right?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Looking at this new concept brought up a truck load of disappointments
in my life. </div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Wasn’t my very existence a disappointment to my
biological father (who left the country when he found out my mom was pregnant),
wasn’t my conception something that caused disappointment in my mother by her
family? By his family? I mean for real… having a child out of wedlock at 15
MUST have been a disappointment! Surely God was disappointed when I was conceived.</li>
<li><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"></span></span></span>Wasn’t I disappointed by not having a father
growing up? YEP Surely God was disappointed by that too.<span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Wasn’t I disappointed when I was abused by a
neighbor, by my uncle and by family “church” friends throughout my youth? YEP.
Surely God was disappointed by that too.</li>
<li><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"></span></span></span>Wasn’t I disappointed when my mom got married
and I had to start sharing her? Yep. Maybe God wasn’t disappointed by that, but
I sure was at first.</li>
<li><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"></span></span></span>Wasn’t my constant mask wearing a disappointment
to everyone around me? Or actually, WOULDN’T it be a disappointment when my
different groups of friends discovered my masks? This was a fear I hid from for
a LONG time! Surely God was disappointed in me for wearing masks.</li>
<li> <span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"></span></span></span>Wasn’t it my fault when my kids messed up? Wasn’t
my “disappointment” in their issues actually disappointment in my own parenting
failures? Surely God was disappointed in me more than He was in them.</li>
</ul>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The list went on and on… times and places where I had been
disappointed by others, and I was disappointing to others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But here I was, starting to recognize a still small voice negating
the idea that God was disappointed.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
At first I wanted to hold tightly to the idea that God was
disappointed. That’s one of the ways that I had been able to grasp the concept
of “when bad things happen”. When bad things happened, they disappointed God
too, and someday they’d pay for it!!! </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Wait a minute… looking at this “when bad things happen” to
me stuff, shouldn’t I be using a stronger, harsher word than “disappointed”?
Some of these things on my disappointment list should have made me downright
angry. Some of them legitimately could have made me sad. As I began to explore
this concept, I was able to move past the band-aid of “disappointment” and
actually deal with my anger and sadness over all the hurts in my life. I also realized that much of my life was being lived in fear
of disappointing others! The feeling I had when I thought about disappointing
God and others was toxic shame. It didn’t go away easily. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sometime later I re-read the Shack, and there it was again. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
“I know you and
everything about you. Why would I have an expectation other than what I already
know? That would be foolish. And beyond that, because I have no expectations,
you never disappoint me”. </div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
~Papa, The Shack</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This time I could see a loving Father, looking directly into
my eyes saying it even clearer. </div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“You never disappoint me… I know exactly how
many times you’re going to mess up before you get it right. Each time you miss
the mark it’s a cause for celebration because you’re now 1 miss closer to the
time you’ll get it right!”</i></div>
</blockquote>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sin means we’re malfunctioning. We’ve fallen short of His
design for our lives. Sin is a failure on our part. But here God was telling me
that when I sin (miss the mark) he’s not disappointed?! </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-size: large;">What if He was pleased just to be in relationship with me?</span></i></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-size: large;">What if He was pleased that I could agree with him that I
mess up (daily!)?</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TU_Pu4CZSeA/UxD1AlurCiI/AAAAAAAAB7M/6IFKgnJ8WXw/s1600/il_570xN.320141599.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TU_Pu4CZSeA/UxD1AlurCiI/AAAAAAAAB7M/6IFKgnJ8WXw/s1600/il_570xN.320141599.jpg" height="320" width="241" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This looks totally different from a God who was disappointed
in me for my weaknesses.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Then the word GRACE interrupted my thoughts. I saw the
cross. I saw Jesus there, dying for my malfunctions… every one of them. And the
big picture became clearer. He’s not disappointed, because He already paid for
it. He’s not disappointed because He didn’t expect anything less. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I don’t need to “get it right” to please Him. This love and
grace He extends is stronger than all the lies that try to separate us. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
All He
asks of me is that I admit that I didn’t get it right. He doesn’t ask me to
wallow in guilt and shame for weeks over it… just look in His eyes and “celebrate
that I’m 1 miss closer to the time I’ll get it right”.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And even though I don’t know the future, I want to extend
this way of life to my loved ones. I am done putting expectations onto the
people around me and falling into the despair of disappointment when they fail.
People fail us, that’s what they do. I fail too. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But I have (and continue to) experienced the tender heart of
a loving God in response to my failures and now I’m beginning to want to do the
same for those around me that mess up too.</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2680005681097746008.post-82675655038127457172014-02-10T10:51:00.000-05:002014-02-10T10:51:10.598-05:00the yellow brick road<!--[if !mso]>
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Have you ever felt like part of you really missed out on
something in childhood? Like, maybe you weren’t allowed to jump on the bed, maybe
you wanted nothing more than to grow up, or perhaps you had a childhood like
mine that was robbed of the carefree wonderment of being a kid way too young. <br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
We spend the majority of our lives as adults, and the idea
that childhood is fleeting doesn’t become understood until it’s much too late.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There is such simple joy in the way a child looks at life.
Such innocence, joy and glee in the eyes of a child. It’s not surprising that
Jesus wants us to be childlike when we approach him! </div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
“He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you
change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of
heaven." Matthew 18: 2-3</div>
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
</blockquote>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTyIvRfSIP0NTBRP1aUF4IyezZZYdjwTSs2fjGs-dJTIcBh_lqQt3uxCWcEQkUEERvQ0-8_feOLYWoEEaJ_OScKZDib-B4wYzcPsstdzmrUBHnzyf8J0nXnAsW2kCsL9FHKvpI2lVbCJ-r/s1600/3789966841.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTyIvRfSIP0NTBRP1aUF4IyezZZYdjwTSs2fjGs-dJTIcBh_lqQt3uxCWcEQkUEERvQ0-8_feOLYWoEEaJ_OScKZDib-B4wYzcPsstdzmrUBHnzyf8J0nXnAsW2kCsL9FHKvpI2lVbCJ-r/s1600/3789966841.jpg" height="200" width="129" /></a></div>
Sometimes, life just
speeds by and before we know it, we’ve forgotten what it feels like to stomp puddles
in the rain.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Even though our job in life is to mature and grow. I don’t
think that we really get what that means. Most of us just put on our pretend
clothes and high heels and make the most of life by sneaking in an extra
chocolate bar here and there hoping that will curb our desire to be giddy like
children. Or perhaps we refuse to “grow up” and spend our lives searching for
the next “night we won’t remember” with our friends because we think that “fun”
times will keep us forever young.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">But maybe, just
maybe, “growing up” and “maturing” is not supposed to rob us of our joy, our
innocence and our glee. </b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This year I’ve been on a journey… as I am every year… to get
back something that was stolen from me long ago.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’ve read before that the enemy is always waiting to pounce
like a lion... and always wants to steal our joy. And I’ve known it to be true
before, but this particular year I’ve seen it play out literally.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
You see, a few months ago, I discovered the Land of Oz. The
Land of Oz is an abandoned theme park on Beech Mountain here in NC. But in my
memory, the Land of Oz was attached to a memory of my uncle molesting me when I
was around 5 years old. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Without going all into <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">THAT</i>…..
let me just say that because of that one day, I never got to really enjoy the “wonderful
wizard of Oz”. This movie was part of my childhood every single year. It always
came on the TV once a year and everyone made a big deal out of it coming on.
Even me. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I loved the cowardly lion most of all, and each year, when
the movie came on, I wanted to be that little girl all over again and <span style="font-size: large;"><b>JUST WATCH THE MOVIE</b></span>. I wanted to be
able to just enjoy the show.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But every year, I put on my “big girl pants” and pretended
that the movie didn’t make me cringe inside. I pretended that I was Dorothy…. singing
“Somewhere Over the Rainbow”… wishing that my own “rainbow” hadn’t been a
nightmare. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
“Why oh why can’t I” became my life’s theme!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp2fDfKNxglZ4-yU8PsxlFTPeYhW0ghrYgbdDE5UOKvrbtSvJMOh8yU1dDJI0y3Ru8OFG6-Y5au8Cq7RsliPq2UFDkGiy9acmiNEkqCkE3scxilrtzTFpMYFhO7mehbAhdDPkykU6GQA0l/s1600/jg-woo-sotr.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp2fDfKNxglZ4-yU8PsxlFTPeYhW0ghrYgbdDE5UOKvrbtSvJMOh8yU1dDJI0y3Ru8OFG6-Y5au8Cq7RsliPq2UFDkGiy9acmiNEkqCkE3scxilrtzTFpMYFhO7mehbAhdDPkykU6GQA0l/s1600/jg-woo-sotr.jpg" height="216" width="320" /></a>I LOVED how Dorothy would
sing. I loved how she escaped the wicked witch. I loved how she made such
wonderful friends along the yellow brick road, and I loved how safe she felt
when she made it back home to Aunty Em.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But I didn’t escape the wickedness in my own life. I didn’t
make many friends along the way… and I didn’t feel safe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>~The enemy was successful in stealing my joy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“Why oh why can’t I”</i></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Then, years later,
(this year as a matter of fact), I got the opportunity to walk on the yellow
brick road myself. I purposely went alone. I purposely wanted it to be just me
and Jesus making my own trip to Oz. I was hoping it would be another critical
step forward in my own recovery from sexual abuse. The morning of my adventure
in healing, the Lord showed me a picture. I saw a toddler, just learning to
walk. I saw the excitement and eagerness that both the child and the father had
as the first steps were being taken. And I saw that child start to squat down
as she got tired and decide to sit. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
You know what I mean right? Have you ever seen a child’s
first few steps? They take 1 or 2, and then plop right down on their butt.
Safely sitting, because they KNOW how to do that and it’s much safer than
falling!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bnZ8eUsxZb0/UvjxALPReNI/AAAAAAAAAhQ/9HIF600-AUo/s1600/standing-up.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bnZ8eUsxZb0/UvjxALPReNI/AAAAAAAAAhQ/9HIF600-AUo/s1600/standing-up.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
With this picture, the Lord spoke to me, He told me that I
was that child and that when I “sit” -<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">I
am no longer trusting Him</b> to catch me. Then He showed me a new picture.
This time, the loving Father was walking right with the child. And when the
child started that squat position, about to sit on her own… the Father lovingly
put his hands down to catch her bottom and push her back up… he encouraged her
to keep walking along, and she did. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi1OchOZ5HMwOArrNgPT8KJIn2HzsA_-W2yw9odo3mnFsmlBMIZ06XBpxKKyhiSd9cKOrxWK32jtGL3Pf4MiTGzjK4a-vANgmBNtI9O0bBk_uwtB0CxfSuhPZ3hMolaPcu5sO6UD6pO0H9/s1600/1842_473536.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi1OchOZ5HMwOArrNgPT8KJIn2HzsA_-W2yw9odo3mnFsmlBMIZ06XBpxKKyhiSd9cKOrxWK32jtGL3Pf4MiTGzjK4a-vANgmBNtI9O0bBk_uwtB0CxfSuhPZ3hMolaPcu5sO6UD6pO0H9/s1600/1842_473536.jpg" height="320" width="285" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I totally “got” what He was trying to say to me, and I’m now
learning to walk right along with my Father in a spiritual sense. He’s asking
me to trust Him, and I’m receiving His “prodding” to keep moving forward,
instead of sitting on my own or reverting back to crawling which I’ve already
mastered. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"></span></div>
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<span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So, off we went to find my yellow brick road. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgdgi9CF2XLWIMmI9IDBctHAcso7UDk1AeA0Km7bYmGw5Ypcxgj-n4EW5pk4Pydl6YLdSBxirNjtLP7vBxoKNg-27c0Bn6N_1h9JKov-b6RIroIuk7beInkf5M2Nbk95oBt_Gp3Z2PWBhk/s1600/apple+tree.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgdgi9CF2XLWIMmI9IDBctHAcso7UDk1AeA0Km7bYmGw5Ypcxgj-n4EW5pk4Pydl6YLdSBxirNjtLP7vBxoKNg-27c0Bn6N_1h9JKov-b6RIroIuk7beInkf5M2Nbk95oBt_Gp3Z2PWBhk/s1600/apple+tree.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When I found it, I
felt like a giddy little girl again. I couldn’t believe how excited I was.
There I was, standing on the Yellow Brick Road walking along the forest with
the talking apple trees! If anyone else had been there, they probably would
have thought I was crazy… I giggled with glee when I saw the first tree face.
This tree was “throwing” snowballs at me instead of apples and all I could do
was literally laugh out loud at what was happening. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I felt the Lord there with me, enjoying my freedom to be in my
very own Dorothy moment. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And then the enemy was there~ ready to pounce like a lion to
steal my joy.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
He is a clever enemy…. And he likes to use any opportunity
to stop us from connecting with the Lord’s will for our lives.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So, the next thing I knew, my feet were slipping out from
under me, and I was falling on an icy section of the yellow brick road! I threw
my hand back behind me to catch myself, and broke my elbow in the process. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Instantly, this adventure became a little scary. The yellow
brick road no longer looked inviting. The whole place felt creepy… and I
started to cringe inside again. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I started to question God too. “Um Hello…. I thought you
were the loving Father who would CATCH me if I walked instead of sitting!!!”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But something within me rose up and gave me the nerve to
continue on and enjoy my plans for the day. (perhaps it was the cowardly lion
who stepped up inside me and actually defeated the enemy posing as a lion!)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But, since I did actually break my elbow… the next 6 weeks gave
me a chance to decide if I was going to let my joy be robbed or not.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I said “NOT”!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Once I came to terms with that ugly blame question that I
silently wrestled with in the aftermath of this situation, I decide to go back.
I had come to realize that it wasn’t God letting me down or removing his hand
from me… it was an attack by the enemy to make me stop trusting God! A blatant
attack, because the enemy doesn’t like it when God’s children start to realize
who they are and what they are meant to do. He hates it when our relationship with
the Lord becomes close and intimate!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I decided to not let the enemy win. I realized that this
journey to Oz was not going to be just another place of wounded-ness that would
give me cause to doubt my relationship with God. This journey to Oz was in
fact, a step I needed to take to prove that I indeed have a brain~ that
receives from the Lord, a heart~ that longs to skip and sing arm in arm with
friends, and the nerve~ to overcome any pains the enemy sets out for me. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This time I went with a new friend who also loves adventures.
It was still icy and cold, but it was a clear day and I discovered a gift that
I didn’t know was mine. The yellow brick road leads to a majestic view of the
Blue Ridge Mountains that totally blew me away! </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9feIiZmQUWQt-tXKtefT-4HNbqpwAbIYx2Ufa5v1THlxKmJJf7qoD7MWKtnFhAQYkb8ruh6shlXg850Duw3FSxwpEuVPmEx5EYLhP3bQaV2iGjScg0DnFRJ9YtCkc-ZI-oTMAqE-_tZ2P/s1600/yellow+brick+road+to+mountains.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9feIiZmQUWQt-tXKtefT-4HNbqpwAbIYx2Ufa5v1THlxKmJJf7qoD7MWKtnFhAQYkb8ruh6shlXg850Duw3FSxwpEuVPmEx5EYLhP3bQaV2iGjScg0DnFRJ9YtCkc-ZI-oTMAqE-_tZ2P/s1600/yellow+brick+road+to+mountains.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
The yellow brick road
also brought me a new friend to share the curves with, and a new song to sing in
my own voice.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There I was, high
above the chimney tops, where troubles melt like lemon drops~ and my dreams were
really coming true. I, like Dorothy, was realizing that “over the rainbow” is a
state of mind. It was a new start, a place to look with fresh eyes at
everything around me. A place to face my fears and a place to grab hold of the
hand of a friend. Friends that will skip and sing away the dark places and
friends that are glad to be together when you’re scared, sad, ashamed AND
happy! A place where the winter white washes away the darkness and the
mountains sing praises to their creator!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQOPFWXzanY4O0Fp6Vocchu1pN3XzTrynyVGdQzk68m8FdgUYhn5P7aCs7OOOJUPFo1zChJwktzU0-iR8TrSnuRB8ue6bHY3DnhSY6iyNiB7vi4Q6vswVIjZUinRexcM72UxnFlkTOymRK/s1600/sing+winter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQOPFWXzanY4O0Fp6Vocchu1pN3XzTrynyVGdQzk68m8FdgUYhn5P7aCs7OOOJUPFo1zChJwktzU0-iR8TrSnuRB8ue6bHY3DnhSY6iyNiB7vi4Q6vswVIjZUinRexcM72UxnFlkTOymRK/s1600/sing+winter.jpg" height="640" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
After I got home from
my return to childhood…. My heart was full of joy. The whole day was one I will
always remember and cherish. I’ve created new memories of Oz that don’t leave
me feeling dirty or pained at all. I now have images of majestic beauty covered
in snow that I love so much, and this will remain with me forever. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As always, the Lord loves to confirm my journeys with
song.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I couldn’t help but smile when I
listened to the song “Sing Winter” by my favorite worship artists Jonathan and
Melissa Helser on the way home.</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
"Hear the song
of beauty, melodies and sounds. Cover you in white love, a joy you lost but now
you found."</div>
</blockquote>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I have found a joy that once was lost. I think that is
exactly what the Lord wants me to do. Walking, skipping, singing, dancing, even
twirling like a little girl in a winter wonderland…. All of these things are
exactly what He wanted for me all along. This is how I will enter the kingdom
of heaven. This is how I choose to grow up and maintain the joys of childhood
forever.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And no enemy can stop me!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2680005681097746008.post-21725205593923765912014-02-03T12:19:00.000-05:002014-02-03T12:19:01.696-05:00Repairing<!--[if !mso]>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAEqylRn-XrZv-hRdDG9OUc9biqsUV-vu2uDBLtQuTF8C9YjVnTL-a1cvSYckyOUWW1hJsoGu253JmauIvaedL__S5z_VDilddFVwHTYc6WZr2FuE83OjKXdeW3KVrwOATWXlF48UtT-Nl/s1600/brickwall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAEqylRn-XrZv-hRdDG9OUc9biqsUV-vu2uDBLtQuTF8C9YjVnTL-a1cvSYckyOUWW1hJsoGu253JmauIvaedL__S5z_VDilddFVwHTYc6WZr2FuE83OjKXdeW3KVrwOATWXlF48UtT-Nl/s1600/brickwall.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a> Reading in Nehemiah
I couldn’t help but notice that the word “repaired” was repeated over and over
again in Chapter 3. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This passage is all about how Nehemiah found the walls of
Jerusalem in ruin and was inspired by God to have them rebuilt. Often when I
think of “walls” I think of the walls that I’ve put up around my own heart to
protect me. My walls have been used in the past to keep everyone out… including
those I love, and even for some time, to keep God out too. I’ve spent years
learning to tear DOWN my walls. If you’ve spent any time on my blog, you’ve
seen lots of references to the REMOVAL of walls!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And here I find Nehemiah with instructions to REBUILD the
walls of Jerusalem. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And over and over again I see that the different sections of
the wall were repaired. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The word repaired in my NIV Bible, is translated from the
word <a href="http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=H2388&t=NIV">cHazaq</a>
in Hebrew. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And while the word repaired
works fine in this picture of rebuilding a wall, I was struck with how ELSE
this word is used. cHazaq also means to give strength, to be made strong, to
rally strength, to encourage.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So, would God want to have me made strong? Would God want to
encourage me, to give me strength? YES!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I kept reading…</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It also is used to say “to take courage, to hold onto, to
embrace, to cling, to take hold of, to fasten (join together), to be equipped,
supported, to fight bravely, to triumph, to be victorious</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The same word is used in this verse</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div class="MsoSubtitle">
<i><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">When
he hesitated, the men <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">grasped his hand</b>
and the hands of his wife and of his two daughters and led them safely out of
the city, for the LORD was merciful to them. Genesis 19:16</span></i></div>
</blockquote>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And again here</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div class="MsoSubtitle">
<i><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Lift
the boy up and <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">take him by the hand</b>,
for I will make him into a great nation.” Genesis 21:18</span></i></div>
</blockquote>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sometimes there is a valid reason for needing protection.
But God clearly wants to be with us on the inside of those protective walls. He
wants to join together with us to keep us safe. He draws a picture of “repairing”
that is synonymous with us taking hold of His hand and then clinging to Him. He
repairs our heart walls with His strength, His love, and His bracings.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There is no shame in needing repair. Not once does the
definition of repair say “fix” in the Hebrew word. I think sometimes we get
offended that God would want to “repair” us because that means we need fixing.
But this really isn’t about fixing anything is it. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RrZpL2KGUBg/Uu_OEH43UWI/AAAAAAAAAgY/GvfDbEayHIA/s1600/6320193a7a4211e3aad01236c82f7517_8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RrZpL2KGUBg/Uu_OEH43UWI/AAAAAAAAAgY/GvfDbEayHIA/s1600/6320193a7a4211e3aad01236c82f7517_8.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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Take the beauty of an
old abandoned, decaying barn. (one of my favorite things). If you “fixed” it –
it would become something totally different. It would lose some of its
character and charm. But to strengthen it to keep it from falling down
completely would be a wonderful thing. Especially if you could do it from the
inside. Brace the walls, give it support, fortify it from within and it will
stand forever. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQMO1vT4YPT5nphPD5eowGQpK0Ol25TdYJ_vLHwfp5hHvCtPG60CNyhRxfRth4t5ojzt21aY0bOI0eR3NItRCymvqWjjMA059U9dCN43Fg5GqN_nZKw0tlkkPBXQmfRZmZtUoq_1t5Qh9w/s1600/cd6f039669c111e3be1e12ecf4f23ea5_8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQMO1vT4YPT5nphPD5eowGQpK0Ol25TdYJ_vLHwfp5hHvCtPG60CNyhRxfRth4t5ojzt21aY0bOI0eR3NItRCymvqWjjMA059U9dCN43Fg5GqN_nZKw0tlkkPBXQmfRZmZtUoq_1t5Qh9w/s1600/cd6f039669c111e3be1e12ecf4f23ea5_8.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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I can imagine that the way I feel about looking at old
buildings like this one is similar to how God looks at me. He sees beauty, as
is. Am I weak in places? Yes, of course, but he doesn’t want to just tear me
all the way down and start over. He chooses instead to “repair”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He chooses instead to take what is already
here, and give it what it needs to stand strong and triumph. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The story I hold in all my fallen walls is one
that deserves to be gazed upon and loved. I choose to also embrace my
weaknesses not in shame, but by reaching out my hand to take hold of the One
who will give me strength and victory. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLcEtrrDrofQFOhgMz8S46TCvpjlYiLto_4vrV63nAillyqamBCfJuFaYDczLQHzZJh3LJ6Vbpm9Hp6THjPXadyaIz_cF5OEwjGeSMjwMq0zSdeIH4vxhkJgBpbPmxWtA-GvuR46b21ELL/s1600/26132fec7fd211e3b67612fed55d42e5_8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLcEtrrDrofQFOhgMz8S46TCvpjlYiLto_4vrV63nAillyqamBCfJuFaYDczLQHzZJh3LJ6Vbpm9Hp6THjPXadyaIz_cF5OEwjGeSMjwMq0zSdeIH4vxhkJgBpbPmxWtA-GvuR46b21ELL/s1600/26132fec7fd211e3b67612fed55d42e5_8.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I cry out “cHazaq me
Lord! In all the ways it could be defined!”</div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div class="MsoNormal">
Repair me Lord</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Strengthen me Lord</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Encourage me Lord</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Support me Lord</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Join together with me Lord</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Fortify me Lord</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Brace me Lord</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Embrace me Lord</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Equip me Lord</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Fight bravely with me Lord</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Triumph with me Lord</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Be victorious with me Lord</div>
</blockquote>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2680005681097746008.post-29519003267198740832013-09-30T12:15:00.002-04:002013-09-30T14:34:37.690-04:00the point...points forward.<!--[if !mso]>
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<br />
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Sometimes when I sit down to write, I honestly have no idea
where to begin.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There is so much running through my head, and it’s all so
complicated I imagine that any stranger reading it would have no clue what they
were reading. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But if I truly started at the
beginning, those of you that actually know me might get bored and not get to
the POINT that I’ve come to realize as of THIS MORNING!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So, I’m gonna start with “THE POINT” and then work from the
beginning, forward.</div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
“So let’s keep
focused on the goal, those of us who want everything God has for us” </div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
~Philippians 3:15 The
Message Translation</div>
</blockquote>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Some years ago, I lost sight of my goal. I gave up on some
of the things God has for me. Well, actually it was really just one thing. One
major thing.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
6 1/2 years ago I had a goal. I believed that God wanted me
to succeed in that goal and I joined together with a group of other people who
also had that same goal. I mostly reached that goal, for a moment. But in the
midst of that process I was deeply hurt and I got stuck in shame for a long
time because of it. The result: my goal was fleeting and I stop believing that
it was mine to hold onto. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Somewhere along the way, I started believing that if my goal
was something God wanted for me, that He would just “give it to me” and I
wouldn’t run the risk of taking any of the glory for myself. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Eventually I started believing that God didn’t
want that goal to be mine. (Since He didn’t just “give it to me”) </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But the truth is, that goal is mine. That goal is part of
His plan for me. As I have lived pretending that it’s not important to me
anymore, I have become stubborn and rigid. My refusal to even glance at that
goal anymore meant I needed to build a really big brick wall…. A very thick
brick wall that pushed me further and further backwards away from the goal!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sOlQxKqfLEY/Ukmhcg-AbsI/AAAAAAAAASE/14ophNNQ9go/s1600/brickwall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sOlQxKqfLEY/Ukmhcg-AbsI/AAAAAAAAASE/14ophNNQ9go/s320/brickwall.jpg" title="" width="320" /></a></div>
Part of me even started to blame God for how far away I’ve
gotten from my goal. I would be lying if I denied ever thinking “if He had just
“<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">given it to me</i>” then I could have
held onto it”. I’d be lying if I denied ever thinking “this brick wall was
built by HIM to make sure I don’t ever reach that goal”. And thoughts like that
probably gave birth to thoughts like “He is a mean God, because He wants to
take that goal away from me”. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Each thought like that, added a brick to my wall. And led me
backwards another step.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But then I read, </div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
“…He rescued me
because He delighted in me” 2 Samuel 22:20</div>
</blockquote>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And I knew…. Really knew in my soul, that those words were
true for me too. I felt His delight in me. And then I also read,</div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div class="MsoNormal">
“You are my lamp, O Lord; the Lord turns my darkness into
light. With your help I can advance against a troop, with my God I can scale a
wall” 2 Samuel 22:29-30</div>
</blockquote>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And I became aware of 2 things. 1<sup>st</sup>- the Lord is
involved. 2<sup>nd</sup>- David DOES something… he advances and is able to do
the impossible. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I kept reading.</div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div class="MsoNormal">
“It is God who arms me with strength….. He enables <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">me to stand</b> on the heights…. He trains
my hands for battle, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">my arms</b> can
bend a bow of bronze…You armed me with strength for battle…. And <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">I </b>destroyed my foes.” (Excerpts from 2
Samuel 22)</div>
</blockquote>
<div class="MsoNormal">
While I’ve been sitting behind my brick wall, believing that
God didn’t want me to reach my goal because he wasn’t behaving like a genie
would have… I failed to utilize the strength He had given me. I failed to “train
for battle” and I completely dismissed all thoughts of “destroying my foes”
myself. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
For the past 6 years, I have been creating and trusting in
lies and moving backward. Apparently I’m not unlike the Israelites as written
about in Jeremiah. </div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
“But look, you are
trusting in deceptive words that are worthless” Jer. 7:8</div>
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
“they went backward,
not forward” Jer. 7:24</div>
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
“they cling to deceit”
Jer. 8:5</div>
</blockquote>
<div class="MsoNormal">
That last verse sent me to explore the Message translation
in context, where I really woke up this morning. </div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
“So why does this
people go backward, and just keep on going backward? They stubbornly hold onto
their illusions, refuse to change direction. I listened carefully, but heard
not so much as a whisper. No one expressed one word of regret. Not a single “I’m
sorry” did I hear. They just kept at it, blindly and stupidly banging their
heads against a brick wall”. Jer 8:5-6</div>
</blockquote>
<div class="MsoNormal">
With that, the truth was revealed to me. The Lord’s light
came bursting through my brick wall with His Word. I repented wholeheartedly…
for all of those things.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And now I come to the point again. Today I have opened my
eyes to take hold of the vision of my goal. The goal that my God has set before
me, because He delights in me and wants what’s best for me. </div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is
ahead. I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me
heavenward in Christ Jesus” Philippians 3:13</div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So, does anyone want to join with me in looking forward and
moving forward?! (<a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/236417556515258/" target="_blank">Request to join my group on Facebook!</a>)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
(PS- at the end of my journey with the Lord and His Word this morning, He prompted me to put on a new CD I had just <a href="http://www.davidbrymer.com/" target="_blank">downloaded for free</a> yesterday... this is the song that came on 1st.... and I'm certain it was a clear message to me from my Savior!<br />
<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2680005681097746008.post-59333315288914624042013-06-26T16:08:00.001-04:002013-06-26T16:18:46.025-04:00strength, or weakness?To begin this post I am searching my memory for a time that I can remember only focusing on simply one task. It's difficult to do. I sorta pride myself on being a good multi-tasker. Both in my work and in my "play" I am usually doing more than one thing at a time.<br />
<br />
If I'm doing housework- I'm not just cleaning; I'm also listening to music, probably singing and going down memory lane at the same time as I come across items that need to be put away. <br />
<br />
If I'm working at my desk- I'm not just doing one task at a time; I'm on the phone and checking my email. I'm posting on Facebook (yeah, that's part of my job) and running a webinar, I'm filing and running reports- simultaneously.<br />
<br />
If I'm watching TV- I'm not just watching TV; I'm also on my phone, checking emails, or playing mindless games like Candy Crush or Angry Birds or Bejeweled.<br />
<br />
If I'm reading a book- I'm not just reading; I'm looking for impactful, favorite sections of the book to highlight and talk (or blog) about later!<br />
<br />
If I'm having my "quiet time"- I'm not just being with the Lord; I'm also journaling, worshiping along with whatever music I've chosen for that morning, and holding back the tidal wave of other "to do" lists in my mind. I might also be stopping the dog from chewing the cat, or stopping the cat from scratching the dog!<br />
<br />
Even when I'm hiking and enjoying nature- I'm not just enjoying nature; I'm also taking pictures!<br />
<br />
Lots of people tell me that it's a gift, and a talent, to be able to multitask the way I do. It's such an effecient use of my time... a time saver, one could say. I get more work done in less time than most people do.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>Or do I?</i></b></div>
<br />
This "strength" of mine helped me take care of my kids while still getting the laundry done, the bills paid and the house cleaned. It helps me organize and run events for work. As a photographer it was crucial, to pay attention to my clients expressions, the angle of the light, the wind and noticing any distracting details that might show up in the photo. At my old job- it was an absolute necessity.... we called it "Daniel Dancing"... and I was a pro at it. I was teaching, planning, monitoring anxiety and attention levels of my students, defusing extreme behaviors before they got out of control, shuffling students between the classroom, therapy sessions, music lessons, computer room, etc. Without multi-tasking I would not have survived. I NEEDED my brain to be able to "take it all in" at all times.<br />
<span id="goog_1408761913"></span><span id="goog_1408761914"></span><br />
<br />
But, what am I giving up when I pursue this constant "busyness"? What am I missing out on by being so driven to do more than one thing at a time? Am I getting more "done" in a minute or losing a minute of joy?<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilHReKd2-J1LMVuoSYevmV-iF-TuNvfai-URJ6K3KIyLEQdTG4duKfqcgQ0jcvTmPWQOChvqRifley7XPxsZhJEZ_ZxJ-eFwsK97uuggZ_6sbo9V2Qx5k_dq688jjQmcZBTt4IN8MOGY-O/s1600/IMG_5884logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="287" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilHReKd2-J1LMVuoSYevmV-iF-TuNvfai-URJ6K3KIyLEQdTG4duKfqcgQ0jcvTmPWQOChvqRifley7XPxsZhJEZ_ZxJ-eFwsK97uuggZ_6sbo9V2Qx5k_dq688jjQmcZBTt4IN8MOGY-O/s320/IMG_5884logo.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
I'm now reading a book called <a href="http://www.amazon.com/One-Thousand-Gifts-Fully-Right/dp/0310321913/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1372277273&sr=1-1&keywords=one+thousand+gifts" target="_blank">One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp</a> and I'm starting to recognize that this "strength" of mine might actually be a weakness. It's got me thinking- in a much slower way than usual.<br />
<br />
What if time really could stand still like the way I can capture it in an image. I am keenly aware of the sound of the ticking on this particular clock when I wake up before everyone else and sit in my chair by the window with my coffee, journal and Bible. But in this picture, it is still and quiet.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><b>Frozen.</b></i></div>
<br />
And I love to look at it.<i><b> </b></i>Perhaps that's what I like about photography so much. Photography stops time for a moment and allows me to take it all in. I can see the second hand stopped permanently hanging in the balance between the 25th and 30th second of that exact minute. I see the glare of the light pouring through my window, bouncing off the reflective edges of the metal frame. The rest of the image is bathed in that light- bright white, soothing light. It's the light that truly makes the picture. It's the light that makes me feel warm and at peace when I look at this picture.<br />
<br />
<br />
Maybe when I'm multi-tasking- I'm missing out appreciating the beauty of the moment.<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><b>The here and now. </b></i></div>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Ann Voskamp writes, "Time is a relentless river. It rages on, a respecter of no one. And this, this is the only way to slow time: When I fully enter time's swift current, enter into the current moment with the weight of all my attention, I slow the torrent with the weight of me all here. <i>I can slow the torrent by being all here</i>. I only live the full life when I live fully in the moment. And when I'm always looking for the next glimpse of glory, I slow and enter. And time slows. Weigh down this moment in time with attention full, and the whole of time's river slows, slows, slows."</blockquote>
Her words scream at my busy mind "SLOW DOWN!"<br />
and they whisper,<br />
<i><b>"appreciate, savor, eucharisteo<span style="font-size: xx-small;">{a}</span>~ this is where God is".</b></i><br />
<br />
And I'm inspired to do just one thing:<i><b> </b></i><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><b>Be Here.</b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<i><b><br /></b></i>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i><b>"Wherever you are, be all there" ~Ann Voskamp</b></i></blockquote>
</div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhphFgMq3HPCFQdLvoTbH-0yeMDaa94DnOBs86wjRoxyUkZI_DfiBmp_iWqSyj-ZD0rWKE-2Jf9JjIXapDk0ZV0mUKbtk9qADaZWnl_muVgc1Nb6hYRj5D98dmsOzCF_Nvribbts9ckmOz8/s1600/1+sunlight+on+the+flowers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhphFgMq3HPCFQdLvoTbH-0yeMDaa94DnOBs86wjRoxyUkZI_DfiBmp_iWqSyj-ZD0rWKE-2Jf9JjIXapDk0ZV0mUKbtk9qADaZWnl_muVgc1Nb6hYRj5D98dmsOzCF_Nvribbts9ckmOz8/s320/1+sunlight+on+the+flowers.jpg" width="320" /></a></b></i></div>
<br />
<br />
And so I begin, the search for my 1000 gifts- one moment at a time.<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i><br /></i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>1. the sunlight as it falls across my garden in the morning.</i></b></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<i><b><span style="font-size: xx-small;">{a} </span></b></i><span style="font-size: xx-small;">E</span><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">ucharisteo is something that Ann Voskamp is talking about A LOT in the book One Thousand Gifts. It means literally: "thanksgiving, to give thanks". The actual Greek word is made up of the words "grace and joy". It's a word I'm SAVORING as I learn about it!</span></span><br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2680005681097746008.post-86518421789435681902013-06-19T18:05:00.001-04:002013-06-19T18:05:23.415-04:00the big picture<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQv4fG-i2k-q1pDJf3wBAQFCSdUQxyAn-9xXfegMz4za0B28Njo50MHuye87-MVxpSZMNwWAO4uC5gBmPbIW7dr8DAxWc7raVOWlaYCeTZ6M18ept1wiabJbqsEKhbceyYa1TTnOHPYRVf/s1600/_MG_6337.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQv4fG-i2k-q1pDJf3wBAQFCSdUQxyAn-9xXfegMz4za0B28Njo50MHuye87-MVxpSZMNwWAO4uC5gBmPbIW7dr8DAxWc7raVOWlaYCeTZ6M18ept1wiabJbqsEKhbceyYa1TTnOHPYRVf/s320/_MG_6337.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Last weekend I escaped up into the mountains with my husband to celebrate our 20th anniversary. After hiking a bit through the woods, we came to one of my favorite destinations: the Black Rock on Grandfather Mountain. You have to climb up a rope ladder to get to the top, but the view is amazing... <br />
<br />
<b><i>every time I see it.</i></b><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpTNjOa9_C-nAFAxZ9bjA3HkMyG8-tJmucDyh1vfpWbjbt0ilc0mutMYlzSPFiZu6ebZnh0cdrofP25qdrAqhU2PWtR-VhFdq37UU3ihYrkQ-IFtnkCiZoFM-9XfrISZUf0BHbz1UUjxfo/s1600/_MG_6418.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpTNjOa9_C-nAFAxZ9bjA3HkMyG8-tJmucDyh1vfpWbjbt0ilc0mutMYlzSPFiZu6ebZnh0cdrofP25qdrAqhU2PWtR-VhFdq37UU3ihYrkQ-IFtnkCiZoFM-9XfrISZUf0BHbz1UUjxfo/s320/_MG_6418.jpg" width="213" /></a>Up there on that rock..... you are completely alone. No one else is usually there, and you can just sit and admire the panoramic view.<br />
<br />
This time, I sat, and couldn't help but think about how expansive it all was. As I kept slowly turning around to take in the entire panorama, my eyes couldn't even focus on the distances I was seeing. I thought again about the "big picture" and how perspective is everything. I mean ALL THIS... together... in one view.... is so gorgeous!<br />
<br />
And then the Lord dropped an idea in my head. This giant panoramic view that HE MADE, is made up of bazillions of tiny minute details. And He is involved in placing each one in its place. He is involved in every leaf on every tree. He knows of every animal taking shelter in the forests and every bug that crawls by unaware of the role it plays in the entire system. He cares deeply about each tiny detail, and He knows how important each detail is in making up the "big picture". I saw glimpses of so many of these little details, like I was using a telescope to zoom in as I surveyed the view. And I heard Him saying, "I've got that", and "I put that there", and "look at this flower!" I felt His heart and His joy at His creation.<br />
<br />
<i><b>and I felt shalom.</b></i> ~everything was together in the right place, the right amount, at the right time.<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJDGg5tQ-K8H6ae2aMuky5Tcz3Pvr_EEEEbx9wpItYlHER135KZLAZOOIq0b1TmrbfE5QBr7LxCb73pj7m3AdB6bu-oj0iXEDfRmKIaAcIigSejHzqJ1QDWoHBcZJ_Xv6JbQ_Zm7T1paaK/s1600/_MG_6369.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJDGg5tQ-K8H6ae2aMuky5Tcz3Pvr_EEEEbx9wpItYlHER135KZLAZOOIq0b1TmrbfE5QBr7LxCb73pj7m3AdB6bu-oj0iXEDfRmKIaAcIigSejHzqJ1QDWoHBcZJ_Xv6JbQ_Zm7T1paaK/s320/_MG_6369.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Have you ever taken the time to really think about how special that makes us? How much more does the Father care for us, His children, than he does for these things He places in our paths to enjoy? There, on top of a giant rock in the mountains, He takes the time to rest with me and share His thoughts. He comes down from the "big picture" of all the earth, and enjoys spending time with just one of His most important details:<br />
<br />
<i><b>me.</b></i><br />
<br />
His presence and shared thoughts with me up on that mountain top were so peaceful. If He's capable of creating and maintaining something like this.... I don't have a single thing to worry about in my own life. He's more than capable of paying attention to the details in my life just as well.<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKMU0dNHMNp-SPaXkqw5hmj41ll_X0rIUOGTwggfTYRGNBhKZoz7GIXpnDO7K139TIXYI6n-SiEr6glOtHP0fANUZdYuFe1L3J_CCnPf4hDqicJN6_WWE188_LACyg3LkjmtIVwnO_jnnC/s1600/_MG_6391.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKMU0dNHMNp-SPaXkqw5hmj41ll_X0rIUOGTwggfTYRGNBhKZoz7GIXpnDO7K139TIXYI6n-SiEr6glOtHP0fANUZdYuFe1L3J_CCnPf4hDqicJN6_WWE188_LACyg3LkjmtIVwnO_jnnC/s320/_MG_6391.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
I know, like I know the seasons will change the way "the big picture" looks, that He's got me, and He's got my family.<br />
<br />
<i><b>and YOU too! </b></i><br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0Grandfather Mountain, Pisgah National Forest, 2135 Grandfather Mountain Entrance Road, Linville, NC 28646, USA36.0958102 -81.8320251000000110.573775700000002 -123.14061910000001 61.617844700000006 -40.52343110000001tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2680005681097746008.post-34293109389669946722013-06-07T09:33:00.002-04:002013-06-07T10:23:13.150-04:00Boomerang<div id="test" onmousedown="return false;" onselectstart="return false;">
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I must confess, I've been boomeranged. </h4>
It's not an easy thing to admit either. In fact, writing about it in a public place is quite humbling.<br />
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This morning as I journaled my heart out to Immanuel, I discovered something about myself that I wasn't proud of.<br />
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I've been married 20 years (this upcoming Wednesday). 20 years is a long time, but it's only a fraction of how long I hope to be married. However, lately I've noticed that I've become less than loving in the way I respond to my husband when he's grumpy. And he's been kinda stressed for quite a while now.....<br />
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excerpt from my journal:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"Lord, help me change the picture and feelings I get when I think of my husband. I want to find my appreciation for him, I want to rediscover my love for him. Sadly, when I think of him I feel disrespected, unappreciated, blamed and shamed.....as I sit and talk with you Lord, I am suddenly aware that the way I "feel" is also a description for how I've responded to him lately. Forgive me Lord! I don't want to be a reflection of him, I want to be a reflection of YOU"</blockquote>
I almost cringe at putting this out here, but it's the best way for me to express what the Lord taught me this morning.<br />
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My husband has weaknesses and failures. So do I. So does everyone. Many times I have cried out to the Lord about my hurt feelings based on my husbands weaknesses, and he has comforted me. He doesn't want my husband to hurt me with his words and the way he treats me. But this morning, he also showed me that he doesn't want <u>me to hurt my husband</u>. The "hardness" I complain about in my husband, has boomeranged and I've become hard towards him as well.<br />
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This awareness made my heart ache. I don't want to continue responding this way to my husband. I want to learn to have a tender response to his weaknesses... instead of "jumping on his failures and criticizing his faults" I want to love him and help him .<br />
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I asked Jesus to show me a picture of what a tender response to weakness would look like, because in my pain I have been unable to find it on my own. He showed me an image of how I responded to my students when I was a teacher. My students had plenty of weaknesses; they were in residential treatment for behavioral and psychological issues; but my reaction to them was to come along side them and help them quiet their anger, frustration, or fear. I would become quieter myself, I would look them in the eye and give them support while setting clear limits and boundaries for what they could and could not do when they were in this state of mind. I would give them "escape routes" for getting back within those boundaries when they messed up.... not lock them out forever for making a mistake.<br />
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After seeing this and remembering this, I now have a model for how to respond to my husband's weaknesses.<br />
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And I'm so grateful for the grace of God to teach me this <b>instead of</b> "jumping on me for my failures and criticizing me for my faults". That's the kind of boomerang I want to experience. That's also the kind of grace I want to extend to my husband.<br />
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I am sharing this for 2 reasons. 1- that perhaps it will speak to one of you and be just what you needed to hear, and 2- for those that know me personally, to ask for accountability! That I would respond with grace instead of hardness, tenderness instead of disrespect, gentleness instead of blaming and shaming.<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2680005681097746008.post-72420620757583094732013-06-03T12:00:00.000-04:002013-06-03T12:50:37.464-04:00Referee<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<h3 class="uiStreamMessage userContentWrapper" data-ft="{"type":1,"tn":"K"}">
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}"><span class="userContent">"We
are to let God's shalom be the referee and every time shalom is gone,
we must stop the game and get it back before we can do anything else!" ~Joy Starts Here pg 152</span></span></i></span></span></span></h3>
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I am currently reading a book that my <a href="http://gentleripples.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Dad</a> and a few of his friends have written called <a href="http://www.joystartshere.com/" target="_blank">Joy Starts Here.</a> One of the many things that is jumping out to me as an "aha" moment is based upon a deeper understanding of this verse:<br />
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"And let the <b>peace</b><i> </i>{shalom} of God <b>rule</b> {"brabeuo" to be a referee} in your hearts....." </blockquote>
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(Col 3:15)</blockquote>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Peace</span></b> is the first word I think I need to more deeply explain because it's much more than just peace. The Jewish word Shalom, could be described as an "inner peace" in mainstream dictionaries. However, the authors of this book take it much further. Shalom, goes hand in hand with joy. God offers Shalom as a reward almost every time Joy is mentioned. (pg 9) Shalom is that deep "knowing" within us that everything is going to be okay. Shalom is that quiet response to knowing that God is with us, and that God is glad to be with us. We were created to experience Shalom as our "normal". Yet so many of us only have moments where we experience shalom. We can get so caught up in life and circumstances that we go months without noticing that we haven't experienced shalom. Our bodies get stressed out and tensions become a drain on our resources. Sometimes we seek out moments of shalom as an escape from our reality.<br />
But God actually designed us to experience shalom as normal.... His design was for us to always be in shalom. We are supposed to notice when shalom is missing IMMEDIATELY. Why? So we can do what we need to do to get it back! Sadly, this isn't the case for many of us.<br />
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To continue in this verse, I'm drawn to the word <b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Rule</span></b>. <br />
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The word used here in greek is "brabeuo" which means to be a referee. As a football fan, I am intrigued by this understanding of the word. What does a referee do anyway? The first thing that came to mind was that a referee throws the flag and stops the game when something has gone wrong. This verse seems to be saying that shalom should be our referee.... so doesn't that mean that shalom is the flag thrower, the whistle blower telling us to stop?!!<br />
If Shalom is the referee, what else might it do? Shalom can "call a touchdown" and point out things for us to be thankful for! Shalom can walk out ahead of us, show us what to look for, stay with us in the middle of a massive pileup, intervene when our temples flare, run along with us at full speed towards our favorite destination! <br />
Allowing Shalom to be our referee, as instructed in scripture, means we don't "play the game of life" without it. <br />
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It's so important for us to get back to how we were designed. I want to encourage you, and myself as well, to start checking if your referee is on the field throughout the day. Remember, shalom comes from knowing that God is with us and glad to be with us. The more you check in with Him, the more you'll get shalom!<br />
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Change your opinion about the referee..... shalom is the perfect referee, and won't make bad calls! :) We need the referee, we need to notice when the referee is gone... because when that happens, we can get hurt. We might end up hitting too hard, playing dirty, losing our sportsmanship, getting into fights, running to long and too hard, & forgetting to take timeouts and water breaks. <br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2680005681097746008.post-86212799234477700412013-05-29T23:25:00.000-04:002013-05-30T17:22:51.712-04:00Settling in<div id="test" onmousedown="return false;" onselectstart="return false;">
It's funny to be blogging now about "settling in", since I actually moved from Florida to North Carolina LAST summer.... but here I am moving my blog and looking for something interesting to write about, and realizing that I'm only now actually settling in.<br />
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It's been almost a year since I sold my house, packed up my life and began the journey to NC. Moving to NC has always been a dream of mine. It may sound strange but there is something about this state that always makes me feel at home.<br />
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I remember going to the Outer Banks with a girlfriend {can I still say that and not have people assume the wrong image here?} and her family one summer when I was 16. We hung out on the beach under the stars chilling next to a bonfire with a hippie family we met there, listening to Pink Floyd and roasting marshmallows. Daring each other to swim in the dark ocean and laughing at each other when we couldn't handle more than running in and back along the crest of a single wave.<br />
I'm no longer in touch with her, and I have no idea what happened to that family.... but the memory of that summer will always remain with me. Somewhere on that beach, a part of my identity was formed- the part that cherishes time spent together in the midst of nature. No expectations, no "plan", no timeline or schedule. Just enjoying whatever is right there in front of you.<br />
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I also remember visiting friends of our family in Charlotte, every summer for a few years when I was just on the edge of puberty. I loved the "big family" feel and the "country" neighborhoods they always lived in. Shared my first kiss in a tent out on their property and thought the whole world was completely wonderful each summer we visited. When we came to NC I could enter into a dream world, and find safety in their home- and peace in their surroundings. Another part of my identity was formed here- the part that wants nothing more than to provide a home in the country that provides peace and safety to those who enter it.<br />
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It really shouldn't be a surprise to me now, that living here has taken some time to get settled in. How do you settle in to real life when you're stuck in a dream? How do you make sense of things when your "dream" has all the same old problems as real life did before? It's all about perspective.<br />
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When I first moved up here, my step-mom took me hiking up in the mountains not far from our town. After spending the first few hours of the day hiking and praising God together, (yes... we sing out loud while we are hiking!) we drove to another peak for a different view. This place is called Wiseman's View. This view is breathtaking... you can see the entire Linville Gorge, Table Rock, ... who knows what else... let me just tell you, it's spectacular. We climbed off the trail a little bit and sat on the edge of a rock and just took it all in. We asked Jesus if there was anything He wanted us to know while we were sitting there. As I sat there, relaxing in the light breeze, watching a lone eagle soar across the expansive sky He whispered in my soul, "This is home".<br />
Sometimes you have to get up early and work up a sweat to get here, but the peace and safety I feel here, it comes from Him. The "wiseman" knows where his help comes from. The "wiseman" knows that rest is a major ingredient of peace and safety.... but without the "hike" and "drive" to get there... it might never become the "view" you are looking for.<br />
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My "dream" of living in NC is now a reality. And it takes both an internal drive and hard work to get to the place where dreams come true. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuHurLItQVnrfSQzPcXHdkCl2mn6qhxCgnyiVpqKDnPI55EpM3X1rUxWTZ2s2hzBSl_r8Z3XU-RkTJCd3WxoKCLeNje_Pq6tO1PCqc2tptbOmLvjdf-Gobi-e6DwEkpLqurq3NrQtkQTPH/s1600/Wisemans+View+My+SpotWM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuHurLItQVnrfSQzPcXHdkCl2mn6qhxCgnyiVpqKDnPI55EpM3X1rUxWTZ2s2hzBSl_r8Z3XU-RkTJCd3WxoKCLeNje_Pq6tO1PCqc2tptbOmLvjdf-Gobi-e6DwEkpLqurq3NrQtkQTPH/s320/Wisemans+View+My+SpotWM.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Y4sMuAqxh94/Uae0GVYsadI/AAAAAAAAAI0/rFUO_2Vqv9M/s1600/Wisemans+View+My+Spot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"> </a><i>I'm so thankful..... this is "Home" </i> </h4>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2