Life is so interesting. At one point life can be so tiresome, sad and lonely; at another it can be so exciting, funny, and fellowship oriented.
I was at the pool today, jamming to my ipod when I heard the giggles of a small child. There was a mother and a little girl dancing in the pool. The girl was just enthralled by the idea of dancing in the pool. The look on the mothers face expressed extreme delight. At this point I had to take the earphones out of my ears and watch the incredible view.
Such delight and innocence. Such beauty in something so incredibly small.
Are you finding delight in the small things today?
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Monday, July 12, 2010
Beautiful Prayer
I love this prayer....
The Serenity Prayer
God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.
Living one day at a time;
Enjoying one moment at a time;
Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;
Taking, as He did, this sinful world
as it is, not as I would have it;
Trusting that He will make all things right
if I surrender to His Will;
That I may be reasonably happy in this life
and supremely happy with Him
Forever in the next.
Amen.
--Reinhold Niebuhr
The Serenity Prayer
God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.
Living one day at a time;
Enjoying one moment at a time;
Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;
Taking, as He did, this sinful world
as it is, not as I would have it;
Trusting that He will make all things right
if I surrender to His Will;
That I may be reasonably happy in this life
and supremely happy with Him
Forever in the next.
Amen.
--Reinhold Niebuhr
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Staying True to the Vine
The last month I have been working part-time teaching English as a second language to business persons and their families. One of the clients that I work with has been teaching me daily lessons on faith.
A Catholic background and different native tongue have not stopped God from speaking through this lady`s life. She has been teaching me lessons on forgiveness, virtue, humility, evangelism, etc. Tonight she was telling me that all she wanted to do was be close to God. I feel like God is trying to teach me a lesson because this is the same theme that I read in the Ted Dekker book today. The question in the book was, "Do you live to die in order to be with Christ? Are you longing for eternal bliss?"
I think the point the author was making is that many Christians today have settled for the slumber of Christianity. Many Christians live unfulfilling and adventureless lives. Few of us have an unsatiable appetite for God` Word and a deep longing to be with him every second of everyday. In fact, if you are anything like me, I can go weeks without a "longing" to spend time in God`s Word.
This is what I found so profound this evening. A woman who is living in a different country, speaking a foreign language, having one friend, no real identity, this amazing woman has a deep and utterly mystifying longing for Christ. She wants to spend time listening to Him each day. She thanks God everyday for who and what she has. Do you do that? I know that I don`t. There have been times in my life where that was true, but not lately.
When I opened my Bible this evening, I landed on John 15. "Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself, it must remain in the vine."
We cannot live fulfilling and purposeful lives without Christ. We cannot bear fruit without Him. Why is it then, that we insist on trying to live life on our own?
A Catholic background and different native tongue have not stopped God from speaking through this lady`s life. She has been teaching me lessons on forgiveness, virtue, humility, evangelism, etc. Tonight she was telling me that all she wanted to do was be close to God. I feel like God is trying to teach me a lesson because this is the same theme that I read in the Ted Dekker book today. The question in the book was, "Do you live to die in order to be with Christ? Are you longing for eternal bliss?"
I think the point the author was making is that many Christians today have settled for the slumber of Christianity. Many Christians live unfulfilling and adventureless lives. Few of us have an unsatiable appetite for God` Word and a deep longing to be with him every second of everyday. In fact, if you are anything like me, I can go weeks without a "longing" to spend time in God`s Word.
This is what I found so profound this evening. A woman who is living in a different country, speaking a foreign language, having one friend, no real identity, this amazing woman has a deep and utterly mystifying longing for Christ. She wants to spend time listening to Him each day. She thanks God everyday for who and what she has. Do you do that? I know that I don`t. There have been times in my life where that was true, but not lately.
When I opened my Bible this evening, I landed on John 15. "Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself, it must remain in the vine."
We cannot live fulfilling and purposeful lives without Christ. We cannot bear fruit without Him. Why is it then, that we insist on trying to live life on our own?
Monday, June 28, 2010
Oh the Mundane Adventures!
Its`s 3pm. I can`t believe its already 3pm. Two months ago I would have taught 6 subjects, 7 hours of school, the students would have come and gone by now. It`s 3pm. What did I do today?
Finally got up at 9:30am (due to many restless nights of sleep). Took care of the dogs, ate breakfast and showered. Got on the phone around 10:30 and spent 2 HOURS talking to insurance agents trying to switch from Allstate to Progressive. 2 HOURS!!!! After getting hung up by Allstate at 12:30 I decided to make myself a nice cup of coffee and defrag from the insanity! 1-2pm I did dishes and baked two loaves of bread for the week. 2-3pm I picked up around the house, fed the dogs and began cleaning the gutters(after about 15 minutes I realized how afraid of heights I am and decided to leave it for the man of the house) Now its 3pm. I haven`t eaten lunch and in an hour and a half I will be heading to work.
I have to ask myself, what is the purpose in the mundane? Its difficult to find purpose and meaning in days like today. I didn`t touch any lives (unless you consider feeding grateful dogs a twisted idea of blessing someone), I didn`t accomplish any task of significance.
How does one find the adventure and meaning in the mundane daily tasks?
Finally got up at 9:30am (due to many restless nights of sleep). Took care of the dogs, ate breakfast and showered. Got on the phone around 10:30 and spent 2 HOURS talking to insurance agents trying to switch from Allstate to Progressive. 2 HOURS!!!! After getting hung up by Allstate at 12:30 I decided to make myself a nice cup of coffee and defrag from the insanity! 1-2pm I did dishes and baked two loaves of bread for the week. 2-3pm I picked up around the house, fed the dogs and began cleaning the gutters(after about 15 minutes I realized how afraid of heights I am and decided to leave it for the man of the house) Now its 3pm. I haven`t eaten lunch and in an hour and a half I will be heading to work.
I have to ask myself, what is the purpose in the mundane? Its difficult to find purpose and meaning in days like today. I didn`t touch any lives (unless you consider feeding grateful dogs a twisted idea of blessing someone), I didn`t accomplish any task of significance.
How does one find the adventure and meaning in the mundane daily tasks?
Saturday, June 26, 2010
"The Slumber of Christianity"
I am reading this book by Ted Dekker and it has been quite the read. The author has been addressing some of the issues and questions that I have been grappling with. For instance, "how are we different from non-christians?" We have the same divorce rate as the unchurched, pursue the same goals and have the same feeling of dissatisfaction.
Dekker argues that though there are some Christians whose lives are 'on-fire' and feel satisfied, the majority of Christians live parallel lives to the unchurched.
C.S Lewis quotes, "Indeed if we consider the unblushing promises of reward and the staggering nature of the rewards promised in the gospels, it would seem that our Lord finds our desires not too strong but too weak. We are halfhearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered to us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in the slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday by the sea. We are far too easily pleased."
Dekker comments, " Your fundamental view of life and faith will be challenged and changed. Then, and only then, will you be able to look at the adventure set before you on this earth and embrace it with the kind of anticipation a child has for Christmas."
Dekker argues that we are constantly striving for greater and better only to be left feeling utterly dissatisfied, questioning the truth of Scripture and the promises made in it. We have lost sight of the ultimate goal and prize, heaven. With the greater understanding that nothing on this earth will EVER satisfy us, we must awake from the slumber and find satisfaction in Him.
But how? How do we do this on a daily basis?
To be continued.....
Dekker argues that though there are some Christians whose lives are 'on-fire' and feel satisfied, the majority of Christians live parallel lives to the unchurched.
C.S Lewis quotes, "Indeed if we consider the unblushing promises of reward and the staggering nature of the rewards promised in the gospels, it would seem that our Lord finds our desires not too strong but too weak. We are halfhearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered to us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in the slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday by the sea. We are far too easily pleased."
Dekker comments, " Your fundamental view of life and faith will be challenged and changed. Then, and only then, will you be able to look at the adventure set before you on this earth and embrace it with the kind of anticipation a child has for Christmas."
Dekker argues that we are constantly striving for greater and better only to be left feeling utterly dissatisfied, questioning the truth of Scripture and the promises made in it. We have lost sight of the ultimate goal and prize, heaven. With the greater understanding that nothing on this earth will EVER satisfy us, we must awake from the slumber and find satisfaction in Him.
But how? How do we do this on a daily basis?
To be continued.....
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Silencing the Noise
For the first time in a very long time, I am not working full-time. This has given me LOTS of time, dare I say too much time, to think. When the noise of the world dims and the business of life slows down it is quite scary to see what is left. I am left with my own thoughts, fears, insecurites and dreams. When life slows down enough it is as though all the suppressed thoughts come flooding into your life. Its crazy!
Embarking on a Journey
I am starting this blog as a journal of my daily discoveries. As I embark on a new journey and spend time reading, praying, and in fellowship with others, I want to share the lessons I learn.
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