"joyful and glad in heart
for all the good things
the Lord had done for his
servant" ~1Kings8:66
Monday, October 24, 2011
Monday, September 12, 2011
MONDAY GRATEFUL
Happy Monday!
Again, it is that time of the week. It really does resemble an opening act.
An opening to possibilities of good, so-so, or bad; to each its time
Mondays and I have an interesting relationship. “To love or not to love” Shakespeare re-mixed.
As I’m sitting here with a pillow supporting my back, I am truly grateful. For you especially!
The counted thanks:
•A new week bringing news of loss here below but gain upstairs
•Well-worn black sweaters. Thick and stylish, just like that girlfriend of yours.
•A face marred with break-outs because it brought with it the realization that beauty is not a thing of the outside.
•Grass that used to be lush green rapidly turning uncompromising beige.
•The once-upon a time fiery hot sunny days being replaced
by darker skies and freezing breeze
•A cellphone that found its end in a flood in my purse. A seeming curse now more clearly seen as a blessing hidden in plain sight. Time-out from being mobile.
•Intentionally making the mind acute in preparation.
Preparing to be in the front lines.
•Covenants made lightly that now act as steady,
hard reminders to be full of integrity.
•The emptying to be filled. Again. And again.
•Permission to STOP FAKiNG IT. Yes, WE CAN. Drop the act. Just be.
•Exciting opportunities to step and grow into. Grow into that woman.
•Job descriptions posting “courage” as a requirement. Do I have what it takes?
•Breaking the valve of bitterness that only poisons and imprisons.
Life is too fragile to stay angry forever.
•Women of substance living BIG, rich lives by how they build their people up. The endless cooking, cleaning & rearing are really the hard labor of love. It’s a beautiful sight to witness.
•Getting back into gym-ing and nudging the memory of my muscles to remember exercise
•Nap time. Even though I don’t seriously now how to nap.
•Words & their power
That is all.
Again, it is that time of the week. It really does resemble an opening act.
An opening to possibilities of good, so-so, or bad; to each its time
Mondays and I have an interesting relationship. “To love or not to love” Shakespeare re-mixed.
As I’m sitting here with a pillow supporting my back, I am truly grateful. For you especially!
The counted thanks:
•A new week bringing news of loss here below but gain upstairs
•Well-worn black sweaters. Thick and stylish, just like that girlfriend of yours.
•A face marred with break-outs because it brought with it the realization that beauty is not a thing of the outside.
•Grass that used to be lush green rapidly turning uncompromising beige.
•The once-upon a time fiery hot sunny days being replaced
by darker skies and freezing breeze
•A cellphone that found its end in a flood in my purse. A seeming curse now more clearly seen as a blessing hidden in plain sight. Time-out from being mobile.
•Intentionally making the mind acute in preparation.
Preparing to be in the front lines.
•Covenants made lightly that now act as steady,
hard reminders to be full of integrity.
•The emptying to be filled. Again. And again.
•Permission to STOP FAKiNG IT. Yes, WE CAN. Drop the act. Just be.
•Exciting opportunities to step and grow into. Grow into that woman.
•Job descriptions posting “courage” as a requirement. Do I have what it takes?
•Breaking the valve of bitterness that only poisons and imprisons.
Life is too fragile to stay angry forever.
•Women of substance living BIG, rich lives by how they build their people up. The endless cooking, cleaning & rearing are really the hard labor of love. It’s a beautiful sight to witness.
•Getting back into gym-ing and nudging the memory of my muscles to remember exercise
•Nap time. Even though I don’t seriously now how to nap.
•Words & their power
That is all.
Monday, September 5, 2011
Monday, August 29, 2011
MONDAY GRATEFUL
Welcome back!!
I’ve missed sharing more with you last week. It was a GREAT week, full of newness.
I was busy planning, shaping and executing.
It was a busy week, and an even busier week-end. But oh-so-worth-it.
My Monday thanks:
•The beginning of a season of learning to want what has been given
•Out-of-town trips in yellow school buses
•Left-over socks littering, literally left over here and there
•Youth and young adults unashamedly encouraging, inspiring, approaching, seeking
•Honest life stories that peel the layers of pretense off.
•Declaring that I’m the BEST.
•Don’t worry, so are you. You’re the best at being you!
I couldn’t do you the way you do you.
•Hearing with the ears of the heart. Seeing with HIS perspective. Hearing the deeper questions of the soul that are hidden between the angry, blistering words.
•Choosing love, the hard love. The love that hurts to give.
But that is the very thing needed to muscle hearts; the only offering required.
•Telling her she has value. That I value her.
It was one of the kindest yet hardest of things.
•The voluntary turn of the other cheek, to offer mercy. Undeserved mercy.
But is that not the only way of mercy?
“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood” – Ephesians 6:12
•The heavy eyes telling a tale of rest and restoration to the rest of the body
•Getting backpacks ready for back to school
•The bittersweet promise of grade one. Less time to play, but so much to discover
•Tight good night hugs
•Blessings given over e-mail. Thank you
•Broken homes and families within the reach of redemption. It's never too late
•Thinking, really thinking of what is needed to make the world a better place
•The intentional plucking from the very best of me to give something of worth. After all, how can one learn unless showed?
•Home-made cake & clean kitchens
What are your Monday thanks?
I’ve missed sharing more with you last week. It was a GREAT week, full of newness.
I was busy planning, shaping and executing.
It was a busy week, and an even busier week-end. But oh-so-worth-it.
My Monday thanks:
•The beginning of a season of learning to want what has been given
•Out-of-town trips in yellow school buses
•Left-over socks littering, literally left over here and there
•Youth and young adults unashamedly encouraging, inspiring, approaching, seeking
•Honest life stories that peel the layers of pretense off.
•Declaring that I’m the BEST.
•Don’t worry, so are you. You’re the best at being you!
I couldn’t do you the way you do you.
•Hearing with the ears of the heart. Seeing with HIS perspective. Hearing the deeper questions of the soul that are hidden between the angry, blistering words.
•Choosing love, the hard love. The love that hurts to give.
But that is the very thing needed to muscle hearts; the only offering required.
•Telling her she has value. That I value her.
It was one of the kindest yet hardest of things.
•The voluntary turn of the other cheek, to offer mercy. Undeserved mercy.
But is that not the only way of mercy?
“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood” – Ephesians 6:12
•The heavy eyes telling a tale of rest and restoration to the rest of the body
•Getting backpacks ready for back to school
•The bittersweet promise of grade one. Less time to play, but so much to discover
•Tight good night hugs
•Blessings given over e-mail. Thank you
•Broken homes and families within the reach of redemption. It's never too late
•Thinking, really thinking of what is needed to make the world a better place
•The intentional plucking from the very best of me to give something of worth. After all, how can one learn unless showed?
•Home-made cake & clean kitchens
What are your Monday thanks?
Monday, August 22, 2011
MONDAY GRATEFUL
This week, Monday came way too fast.
The alarm was happily ringing as if to spite me out of sleep.
The day started on a slow pace; grumpiness
consistently at my heel ready to wreak havoc.
I flirted with the idea of not writing my thanks today.
But isn’t that the first step towards locking the heart in a bitter cage?
Today, I am intentionally thankful for:
•Moments like this
•A week-end spent building bridges
•Taking beliefs out of the box to wear them as convictions.
•Backing my words up with actions.
•Big and small surprises coming our way
•The weak courageously facing a week screaming uncertainty and instability, because all things are indeed possible
•Paths running straight & crooked, leading us in different directions
•Quick meetings in train stations
•Randomly running into friends and savoring time spent reconnecting
•The things that do not come easy
•Ironing - one of my favorite chores, by the way.
(I know you don’t get it, but it’s ok.)
•Heated debates over how to properly pronounce the word “iron”
•Growing up inside; the insides growing stronger really
•Learning from my mothers, the women that went before me. The ones that lived well, not perfect.
•Friends choosing the best for each other
•Learning that I am third, that others come second, and He is first
•Him, the hero of my story; His story
•The freedom to admit that “Yes, I am a mess. A huge one.” But the beauty is that He isn’t, & I am in Him.
•Guarding my heart
“Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.”
~ Proverbs 4:23
How are you giving thanks, guarding your heart today?
The alarm was happily ringing as if to spite me out of sleep.
The day started on a slow pace; grumpiness
consistently at my heel ready to wreak havoc.
I flirted with the idea of not writing my thanks today.
But isn’t that the first step towards locking the heart in a bitter cage?
Today, I am intentionally thankful for:
•Moments like this
•A week-end spent building bridges
•Taking beliefs out of the box to wear them as convictions.
•Backing my words up with actions.
•Big and small surprises coming our way
•The weak courageously facing a week screaming uncertainty and instability, because all things are indeed possible
•Paths running straight & crooked, leading us in different directions
•Quick meetings in train stations
•Randomly running into friends and savoring time spent reconnecting
•The things that do not come easy
•Ironing - one of my favorite chores, by the way.
(I know you don’t get it, but it’s ok.)
•Heated debates over how to properly pronounce the word “iron”
•Growing up inside; the insides growing stronger really
•Learning from my mothers, the women that went before me. The ones that lived well, not perfect.
•Friends choosing the best for each other
•Learning that I am third, that others come second, and He is first
•Him, the hero of my story; His story
•The freedom to admit that “Yes, I am a mess. A huge one.” But the beauty is that He isn’t, & I am in Him.
•Guarding my heart
“Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.”
~ Proverbs 4:23
How are you giving thanks, guarding your heart today?
Friday, August 19, 2011
NEW
n e w
I spell it out shyly, hesitantly
Is it really true?
How can it even be?
Surely, it's not for me?
Don't you see the mess & decay?
What about the stench?
Don't you hear the foul, sword-sharp words?
They're LOUD. They break; things, you, me.
No, you say.
new. New. nEW. NEw. neW. NeW. nEw
new YOU. NEW you. nEw YoU. NeW yOu
yes. Yes, it's true. It's true for me. It's true for you.
Whoever you are, wherever you are. You are new.
That is your new name.
Let me say it again. “You are new”
I can say it out loud because I know it's true, in spite of me.
I know that every day is is FREEDOM DAY.
Days to declare my new identity that is settled, sure and secured.
Days to wear my new identity like an armor, because I am a warrior princess
Days to proclaim liberty to the captive and whisper in your ear that you are new.
You ARE.
You are new because you can let go of the hurts, the fears
the doubts and the shame.
You can take your troubles to His very heart & open the door for him to break
Bre-ak to uproot, & transform.
Transform to make new. The new you. The REAL you. Remade
The broken made beautiful
I spell it out shyly, hesitantly
Is it really true?
How can it even be?
Surely, it's not for me?
Don't you see the mess & decay?
What about the stench?
Don't you hear the foul, sword-sharp words?
They're LOUD. They break; things, you, me.
No, you say.
new. New. nEW. NEw. neW. NeW. nEw
new YOU. NEW you. nEw YoU. NeW yOu
yes. Yes, it's true. It's true for me. It's true for you.
Whoever you are, wherever you are. You are new.
That is your new name.
Let me say it again. “You are new”
I can say it out loud because I know it's true, in spite of me.
I know that every day is is FREEDOM DAY.
Days to declare my new identity that is settled, sure and secured.
Days to wear my new identity like an armor, because I am a warrior princess
Days to proclaim liberty to the captive and whisper in your ear that you are new.
You ARE.
You are new because you can let go of the hurts, the fears
the doubts and the shame.
You can take your troubles to His very heart & open the door for him to break
Bre-ak to uproot, & transform.
Transform to make new. The new you. The REAL you. Remade
The broken made beautiful
Monday, August 15, 2011
Monday Grateful
Welcome to a new week!
To start it off right, let’s take time to choose & count joy.
Counting joy doesn’t come naturally, I know.
Instead, our default is to grumble grumble GRUMBLE
like the Israelites.
Be thankful? For what?
Be grateful because that is how we hold on to truth.
Truth: Only good comes from his hand; even that thing you think is bad
It’s a lesson I’ve had to tightly hold on too; especially this year
I keep forgetting. Do you remember? I need reminders. Daily reminders.
The simple, complex, easy and hard moments we choose to be thankful result in our awakening to God’s intimate touch in our daily living.
So, this soggy gray-ish day, I’m thankful for:
-Mornings even though I wouldn’t be described as a “morning person”
-Life’s pesky things that reveal the ugly parts of me I try hard to hide
-Daily trials (the stuff that drive you & I crazy) because through them God consistently seeks to create perseverance, then character, then hope. Then, better you and me.
-A missed express bus that results in a short drive and time to listen
-Hot red shoes like Dorothy’s
-Wishing happy belated; you’re never forgotten
-Budding pink rose boldly opening itself up to the world; true beauty
-Piled emails
-Cocoa butter hand lotion ‘cuz I wash my hands a lot
-Being present in each other’s lives; just being there
-Courageous people that spill their hearts out for others to grow strong
-International calls
-Unexpected opportunities masked as hard work
-Answers to come for the people of Somalia; for Mama Africa as a whole
-People that fearlessly accept to become world-changers.
(The fear is always there but it is simply silenced)
-Strong legs that work hard so that weak hands can eat
What joys can you count this Monday?
To start it off right, let’s take time to choose & count joy.
Counting joy doesn’t come naturally, I know.
Instead, our default is to grumble grumble GRUMBLE
like the Israelites.
Be thankful? For what?
Be grateful because that is how we hold on to truth.
Truth: Only good comes from his hand; even that thing you think is bad
It’s a lesson I’ve had to tightly hold on too; especially this year
I keep forgetting. Do you remember? I need reminders. Daily reminders.
The simple, complex, easy and hard moments we choose to be thankful result in our awakening to God’s intimate touch in our daily living.
So, this soggy gray-ish day, I’m thankful for:
-Mornings even though I wouldn’t be described as a “morning person”
-Life’s pesky things that reveal the ugly parts of me I try hard to hide
-Daily trials (the stuff that drive you & I crazy) because through them God consistently seeks to create perseverance, then character, then hope. Then, better you and me.
-A missed express bus that results in a short drive and time to listen
-Hot red shoes like Dorothy’s
-Wishing happy belated; you’re never forgotten
-Budding pink rose boldly opening itself up to the world; true beauty
-Piled emails
-Cocoa butter hand lotion ‘cuz I wash my hands a lot
-Being present in each other’s lives; just being there
-Courageous people that spill their hearts out for others to grow strong
-International calls
-Unexpected opportunities masked as hard work
-Answers to come for the people of Somalia; for Mama Africa as a whole
-People that fearlessly accept to become world-changers.
(The fear is always there but it is simply silenced)
-Strong legs that work hard so that weak hands can eat
What joys can you count this Monday?
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