Week 17: Communication

Communication is more than words. 

It is pictures and visions and inflections and 

emotions and

colors and brightness and 

sullenness and interpretation. 

The way an idea is communicated can make you move or make you stop. 

It can make you cry for joy or sorrow.

It stirs the soul.

 

  The best thing is that words are not needed.

Week ?? : Getting Back on Track

After my Lent experiment of writing every day, I've taken a little bit of a break. The last two weeks have been a little feast and famine in my life - chaos and solitude - that allowed me to space to remember and reflect on the business of the last several moments, months, and moves. 

However, it also happened to remember me of my new year's commitment to 

STEADFASTNESS.

I remember committing to steadfastness in mind, body, spirit, and relationships. To making priorities and living in them. To talk in action and not words. And to write in this space at least once a week. 

I also remembered how far I have NOT come on my resolution for steadfastness. This year has only been four months and already I have gone through cycles of crazy business and restless numbing boredom. I've raced through life without intention and yet failed to race at all. I have not started exercising regularly and my eating habits go more with my mood than my stated plans.

Yet in this I find grace. A grace that before moving to DC almost 9 months ago, I had never truly experienced. The type of grace you can extend to yourself and let yourself rest in. The type of grace that allows you to hold on to the lessons of the past but not the memories or emotions. That type of grace that allows you to readjust or change course after realizing you've been heading in the wrong direction. The type of grace that rocks me to sleep each night and is new every morning.

So even if I have failed to be intentional in steadfastness these last four months, I can say that I'm definitely learning to be  STEADFAST IN GRACE.

When "It's Okay to Quit"

She did not consider her future. Therefore she has fallen astonishingly.” Lamentations 1:9

  Sometimes, life and time take over and you forget to stop and make that time your own.

  2011 was a year that I let happen to me, and I spent the majority of it depressed and unmotivated. It must sound crazy from the outside to hear that 2011 was a hard year for me spiritually and emotionally because so many amazing things happened. I sold tons of eBooks and earned a full-time income, I got two publishing deals, got asked to speak at various events, and was even about to start a new conference. Life from the outside was a dream come true.

  On the inside of this life, I was sad, and lost, and didn’t know what I was doing. I felt overwhelmed, tired, depressed, and alone. I was busy, and I didn’t take the time to eat the Word that my soul so desperately needed. I was going and going and trying to make it on my own, without trying. I didn’t pursue any of the things that happened to me, and while I am excited about them, and thankful for them, I didn’t really choose. I let things happen. It’s a strange thing when you are thrilled about something you get to do because you love it, while also feeling torn and stretched and confused about whether or not you should be doing it. And then it happens, and it’s good, and you see God all over it and you praise Him. But you are awakened to the fact that you must fight for the small, even in the blessing.


Read the rest of Sarah's encouraging blog here: Stretching into the Blue: It's Okay to Quit

Reflections on Lent: Waiting for Saturday

There is so much "hype" for Good Friday and so much for Easter morning -- and for good reason. This is the season that means to the most who confess Jesus as their Lord and Savior for it is on Easter that Christ is risen from the dead so that we may not just be saved BUT HAVE LIFE through him.

However, what do you do on this Saturday then...wait for Sunday morning? 

What does this say about how we spend the other  "in-between" days - in between jobs, 

in between relationships, in between spiritual highs...???

Most of our lives are spent in Holy Saturday. In other words, most of our days are not filled with the unbearable pain of a Good Friday. Nor are they suffused with the unbelievable joy of an Easter. Some days are indeed times of great pain and some are of great joy, but most are…in between. Most are, in fact, times of waiting, as the disciples waited during Holy Saturday. We’re waiting. Waiting to get into a good school. Waiting to meet the right person. Waiting to get pregnant. Waiting to get a job. Waiting for things at work to improve Waiting for diagnosis from the doctor. Waiting for life just to get better.

To read the rest go to, http://www.americamagazine.org/blog/entry.cfm?blog_id=2&entry_id=5043

This season of Lent has been a large part reflection and small parts doing. It's been examining our lives and habits to check them against our said priorities and God's. It's a check of how we spend of money, our time, and our emotions. But it's also been that - a check. It does no good to reflect these last 40 days if we don't take the next steps now - the steps from "to Judea to Samaria and to the ends of the earth."

Happy Lent  (and an even more HAPPY EASTER just a little early!)

Reflections on Lent: IF

My church has been focusing on I Chronicles 7:14 this Easter season with a sermon series called "IF"

"If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land."

It's a time to reflect on NCC's ministry mission and how God is working it out:

Ordinary people, empowered by God’s Spirit, doing what Jesus did, together, wherever they are.
 

NCC and Community

Reflections on Lent: God-Sized Dreams

“The mind of man plans his way, But the LORD directs his steps.” Proverbs 16:9

 

How Tightly Should We Hold On to Our Dreams?

“God-sized dreams” might be small, and tucked in, and quiet. Sometimes it’s easier to think that “God-sized dreams” mean big dreams, our dreams, the things that are exciting and appealing and out “there.”

 

I’ve often wrestled with the phrase, “God-sized dreams” because I don’t understand what it means. God-sized? Dreams? What does that even mean?

And what of our dreams? What if they are just that, our dreams? Haven’t many people followed their dreams as an excuse to go their own way? To leave their families? To neglect the small, mundane, precious things that teach us patience, humility, and compassion?

I think about these things because I am on the verge, the edge of possibilities that could drastically change my life, my small, somewhat quiet life. I’m desperate not to lose the small. I want to hold on to my home and my little ones and my husband and stay within reach.

To read the rest of this blog, go to (in)courage....

Reflections on Lent: Ananymous Extraordinaries

Remember - You've been "called" to every moment of your day... 

"All I was doing was trying to get home from work" -Rosa Parks

 

Natalie Warne: TEDTalk

Reflections on Lent: If Leaders

So when people talk about calling, most times I think of getting the task of leading a movement. But it doesn't have to be that way. Calling maybe a simply call to be obedient as a mother, a wife, a boyfriend, a best friend, a secretary, or a co-worker. It may be to sell all you have and set off for a far away place or it may be as scary as going to your fence and having a conversation with your neighbor.

Reflections on Lent: The Sacrifice of Calling

The Sacrifice of Calling

Are you working or are you pursing purpose? 

Is what you do daily making you more alive or is it killing you one joy at a time? 

What is it that your heart beats for?

What skills do you uniquely possess? 

What are you doing to make a difference in the world around you?

These are all questions that float through my mind - no lets be real - these are all questions that wreak havoc on my mind and have cost me my fingernails, sleep, and smiles.
Coming off a weekend of contemplation, another phone call with the sister to talk about life, yet again questioning how I spent my time and money, still struggling with the feelings of failure yet not even knowing what I'm failing at...?
And then I listened to this video this morning and feeling the release of resting once again. Of Exodus 14:14 where God commands us "I will delivery you, you need only be still."  Today, I heard about a release from that. I heard about a journey that started with God and being still and ended with the same. Yes, there's growth in the middle but as this speaker says

"Life is not going to make sense while you're living it. 

It really only kind of makes sense in retrospect..But in the moment you really don't know."

When will I learn to fully trust? When will I learn to leave my cares in the Lord's hand? Probably the same day He says

"Well done my good and faithful servant."

So here's to life

with all the crazy moments of fear, 

of exhilarating moments of release, 

and many many more regular days that fill the in between moments.

Reflections on Lent: Labeling Myself

What's a label you've found is true about yourself during the Lent Season aka what do you miss?

potato chip-a-holic

shop-a-lic

non-water-a-holic

Whatever you've found yourself missing this Lenten season, maybe you're like me and have recently realized an addiction like how I turn to a cup of coffee as a source of calm in the storm. No seriously, just holding that cup of steaming joe has an alluring quality of calm and control that makes me feel confident approaching any situation.

Reflections on Lent: Oh the Randomness that is my thoughts

Please tell me I'm not the only one who sometimes has trouble remember how in the world I started thinking about that ice cream shop...

 in the middle of Kansas... I visited when I was 10... on the way to Denver... for Thanksgiving...

 in the middle of my board meeting?!?

As I sit and think about what informs me, describes me, and is expressed by me, I stumble on instance of this ...of random rememberings,
          ...of times of conviction and great sorrow,
                                ...of joyous times,
                                              ...of times the Lord has walked me through,
                                                              ...of times I've run away,
                                                                                  ...of times I've run to,

of times I've been surrounded by the grace and love of the Father.

Often, I write things down to help myself remember:
- what I need to get done
- what I've done
- what I want to do
- people I need to call
- things I need to create
...etc. etc.

Lists to Remember

As I stumbles on the slideshow above, I thought to myself "What if I knew these types of things about the people in my life?"

What would sharing you daily lists/thoughts with those you are closest with do? 
What would it change in your life if anything? 
Would it change your relationship with them? 
Would it change how you saw and approached the world?

Just some random thoughts in my head in the middle of my board meeting...

Reflections on Lent: Real Life Becca

Real Life Becca: Whatever.: If your life ended with this sentence, what would you regret? I had an epiphany three months ago. It transformed my worldview. God loves me...

Check out the rest of Real Life Becca's post about the amazing discovering of letting God describe you!

Reflections on Lent: Sacrifice What Describes You

Words are the way we express our selves. The way we give life to our ideas. The way we describe the desires of our hearts. Words like:

Honesty.          Hope.         Cheerful.           Positive.          Driven.              Welcoming.

What are the words those you love use to describe you? When I think of those questions, I hope they're ones like the ones listed above. But if I'm honest, they could very easily use words like:

Impatient.                  Controlling.                    Drama Queen.                    Tactless.

as well. How does that make me feel....?

Reflections on Lent: Not your typical story

TED Blog: Leymah Gbowee

In 2004, working on women’s rights, she was asked to take a 9-year-old, who had been raped every day by paternal grandfather for months. And she did. Every day the child lay beside her, saying, “I wish to be well, I wish to go to school.”

Reflections on Lent: May my words be few...

So here's what I want you to do, God helping you: 

Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you. 

- Romans 12 (The Message)

Dearly Love by Jimmy Needham

Reflections on Lent: One Person, One Action, One Prayer

Why not add something to your day during Lent...

...you may just change the world (or your little part!)

Pastor to end rooftop vigil following donation from Tyler Perry

 

A South Side pastor who has spent more than three months living in a tent on the roof of an Englewood motel said he will end his vigil today, thanks to a promise of $98,000 from movie mogul Tyler Perry that will allow the pastor to buy and demolish the motel to make way for a community center.

For more on the story, go to (click Title above!)

Lord to hear my prayers

"Even in fasting, we have the choice."

Something seems disingenuous to "fast for solidarity" with the poor or against human trafficking -- we can never know their experience and no day or hour or meal without food will have the ability to teach us that. 

Today is my first fast in solidarity to the poor and on the walk to the train, I realized just how silly this felt. Not the act of fasting or the idea of lifting up the poor; but the idea that somehow I am can choose to be in solidarity with the poor by simply overlooking the food in my fridge, in my cubicle, in the grocery story next door, or in my friend's hands. Nothing I do or do not eat or do can every place me in their position, I will never know their experience because I have the ability to choose.

Pray with me today for those who have no choice.

In Year in Review and Preview

 "He will keep in perfect peace those whose mind are steadfast, for they trust in Him. Trust in the Lord, the Lord, is the Rock Eternal" - Isaiah 26:4

As 2011 came to a close, I spent the last month or so really just trying to catch up. It was a year of filled pursuit - being pursued by God as well as pursuing God like never before. Come November, I was weary - emotionally, physically, and relationally.

I needed to go home. 

Picture this...

...little boys...

If you're like me you have a pictures of adorably ornery little boys in your life, like me and my nephews affectionately know as "Runt" and "Squirt" by my brother-in-law!

Being here in DC, I miss them like CrAzY?!?! 

War