AMAZIMA = TRUTH

I read this quote today on the blog of an amazing young woman I follow. I think it captures the situation we face right now like nothing else I've seen.

"What, therefore, is our task today? Should I answer "Faith, hope and love?" That sounds beautiful. But I would say - courage. No, even that is not challenging enough to be the whole truth. Our task today is recklessness. For what we Christians lack is not psychology or literature... we lack a holy rage - the recklessness which comes from the knowledge of God and humanity. The ability to rage when justice lies prostrate on the streets, and when the lie rages across the face of the earth... a holy anger about the things that are wrong in the world. To rage against the ravaging of God's earth and and the destruction of God's people. To rage when little children must die of hunger, while the tables of the rich are sagging with food. To rage at the senseless killing of so many, and the madness of militaries. To rage against the lie that calls the threat of death and the strategy of destruction peace. To rage against COMPLACENCY. To restlessly seek that recklessness that will challenge and seek to change human history until it conforms to the norms of the kingdom of God."

-Father Kaj Munk, 1944

To learn more about Katie and her inspiring work in Uganda, visit her blog here.

Haitian Children - Child Trafficking

Praying for the safety of these precious children and the efforts of those trying to help them!

For more info regarding consistent efforts and how you can help, visit The Restavek Foundation.

So thankful....

...for the work God continues to do in my heart, that He never gives up on me, regardless.
For the gracious perspective He provides through His Word.
For His perfect timing.
For His love and comfort.

Ecclesiastes 7:3 "Sorrow is better than laughter, for a sad face is good for the heart."
This is a verse that has seemed kind of puzzling to me. But considering the state of my heart, and the changes in my overall outlook on things over the past months, I certainly believe the sorrow I've faced has been used by God to lead a transformation within. Sorrow has helped align my priorities and efforts. Sorrow has inspired me. Sorrow has given me a desire to connect with and help others. Sorrow has revealed the amazing love of my Creator like I've never experienced before.
I read a quote today from Henry Clay Trumball that said, "In the same way we say, 'Blessed is the night, for it reveals the stars to us,' we can say, 'Blessed is sorrow, for it reveals God's comfort.' How true this has been for me. And as I pray specifically for those around me hurting and sorrowful...family, friends, the people of Haiti, strangers, orphans, those serving and those being served...my prayer is that they may experience His complete comfort, a comfort that surpasses all our understanding.

Perspective

I feel like I'm surrounded by so many things I simply don't understand. While I have no doubt prayed for understanding, I am realizing that more important than understanding in the midst of it all is having HOPE. Remembering that God IS fully aware of all that surrounds me, you, Haiti, the world. I want to be filled with the genuine hope that comes from remembering that there truly is something more. Something bigger than the here & now. Something great, that God will reveal in each appropriate moment. With sickness, deep sadness and devastation seemingly abundant, this can be hard. My perspective blurs and I realize what a shortsighted person I am. But today, today I am hopeful! No real miracles yet to report, but just the open door of possibilities. This is a new day. The day the Lord has made, and I will rejoice. Not because my heart isn't broken or my burdens are light, but because there is HOPE.

God comforts us not to make us comfortable but to make us comforters. - John Henry Jowett

hmmm...

One of those days that I'm simply relying on the promises of His word....

Mark 11:24 Whatever [I] ask for in prayer, BELIEVE!

Trusting. Believing. Praying.

To be a Violet

On the suggestion of a very sweet person, I've been reading the devotional by L.B. Cowan, Streams in the Desert. First let me say, I recommend it! Enlightening, encouraging and challenging! Well I wanted to share an entry that is particularly relevant to contentment. Bear with me, it's good...and simple enough to share with a child to help understand the concept of being content as God made you.

"A story is told of a king who went to his garden one morning, only to find everything withered and dying. He asked the oak tree that stood near the gate what the trouble was. The oak said it was tired of life and determined to die because it was not tall and beautiful like the pine tree. The pine was troubled because it could not bear grapes like the grapevine. The grapevine was determined to throw its life away because it could not stand erect and produce fruit as large as peaches. The geranium was fretting because it was not tall and fragrant like the lilac.
And so it went throughout the garden. Yet coming to a violet, the king found its face as bright and happy as ever and said, "Well, violet, I'm glad to find one brave little flower in the midst of this discouragement. You don't seem to be the least disheartened." The violet responded, "No, I'm not. I know I'm small, yet I thought if you wanted an oak or a pine or a peach tree or even a lilac, you would have planted one. Since I knew you wanted a violet, I'm determined to be the best little violet I can be."

People who are God's without reservation "have learned to be content whatever the circumstances." His will becomes their will, and they desire to do for Him whatever He desires them to do. They strip themselves of everything, and in their nakedness find everything restored a hundredfold."

Phillipians 4:11 "I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances."

To be a Violet.....

OH MY!!!

The Notebook.
So have you seen it???

I watched it for the first time last night. Yes, I am terribly behind on all the great movies of the past decade due to being trapped in an animated/annoying songs that get stuck in your head/children's movie time warp....thankfully I have escaped! And I am thrilled about the latest movie that I will be adding to my all time favorites list, The Notebook.

This really is an amazing movie! The absolute perfect image of love! Not perfect in the sense of white picket fence happily ever after, but perfect in capturing REAL LOVE. Pure. Passionate. Heartbreaking. Unconditional. Raw. Beautiful. Angry. Triumphant. Unpredictable. Forever LOVE. The kind of love that if you are blessed enough to have experienced, you have truly lived. The kind of love that defines who you are and every decision you make. The kind of love you pray your children find. The kind of love that CAN make miracles!
Oh I love this movie! I will be watching it again this evening with My Love...the one who makes me CRAZY in so many ways but that I am so lucky to be lovin!

If you've never seen this movie, or it's been awhile, watch it! Let it inspire and remind you of the dreams of your heart. Then ask yourself if you are living those dreams or maybe, something even better than you dreamed!

It was a Kool-Aid Day!

Yes, it was a Kool-Aid day at our house today! Kool-Aid is a rarity reserved for special occassions around here. Today, being the first day back to work, school & the early rise routine, I felt it called for a little extra inspiration of the pink lemonade form....everyone agreed! :) And while we had all refused to admit that the end of our holiday was coming, up until the very last minute yesterday evening, it turned out to be a wonderful day! Most everything went smoothly and the things that didn't, just didn't seem like such a bid deal anyway. The girls and I had one of those rare, uninterrupted heart to hearts to start the morning, my big boy that turned FIVE over the holiday officially started his first math lesson (which he was so adorably excited about and was so much fun!) and the evening came to a close with a box full of some of the most lovely fabrics waiting for me when we arrived home. It was a good day! It was a Kool-Aid day!

Image of Contentment

Meet my babies, of the furry kind, Princess Ebony and Sir Smokey. I love these cats! I've had cats on and off most of my life, and these are the latest additions. While I love animals of all kinds, I'm particularly fond of cats. They just hold a special place with me. They are so smart, warm, loving, easy to care for and just down right cuddly! (Now, before all you dog lovers get sensitive, I have also had many different dogs in my life, including a gorgeous German Shepherd and lively Black Lab that currently own my backyard!)
Nonetheless, these cats are special! They have decided that their new favorite place to nap is my sewing table. Thankfully it is large enough to accommodate both of us! I love the unspoken feeling of HOME they add to my special room and the unconditional love they share with me while in here. They offer a natural calming effect that I welcome!

Contentment Reminder

Ok, so I'm not much of a country music listener, but stumbled across this song on a friend's page and thought it relevant. A good reminder of soaking up the now rather than simply existing. Learning to truly live in the moment...certainly a lesson I've been learning! Hope you enjoy! :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vG9XfJxMY8A

By the way, HAPPY NEW YEAR! :)