OK friends,
I've been living with Kathy's words from two weeks ago Wednesday and can't believe how applicable they are to most relationships. She was speaking about a difficult relationship and acting in order to create the hope of a loving relationship in the future.
In other words...what do we do in the meantime when a relationship isn't healthy or mutually loving.
"Always keep the door open...but have no expectations of outcome."
Keep the door open through our actions (writing notes, calling every once in a while, praying that they be blessed, inviting over when appropriate) but don't expect our own desired relationship...just make room for the other person to respond.
Unselfish? yes. Loving? yes. Hard? oh my goodness! but extremely helpful!
Thank you Kathy!
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Surrender to the cocoon
Here's a quote for today:
"Whatever else is going on in your life, God always has his eye on your transformation.
This is good news, by the way. All of the other things we long for in life--love and friendship, freedom and wholeness, clarity of purpose, all the joy we long for--it all depends on our restoration [read: holiness, sanctification, redemption, the Kingdom of God within you (all words for the same thing)]. You can't find or keep good friends while you are still an irritating person to be around. And there is no way love can flourish while you are still controlling. You can't find your real purpose in life while you're still slavishly serving other people's expectations of you. You can't find peace while you're ruled by fear. You can't enjoy what you have while you're ruled by fear. You can't enjoy what you have while you're envying what the other guy has. On and on it goes."
Friends, I've been spending the last two weeks in this book and I love this quote by John Eldredge in his book, Walking with God. The whole book has gems of wisdom surrounded by lots and lots of ordinary life. But, that's what we need, right? How do we, like Brother Lawrence, in Practice the Presence of God while we do the dishes. I admit between filling the dishwasher over and over, I haven't figured that out yet.
God knows who we were meant to be. God knows who we can be! What joy! He is the Kingdom Dream-Keeper, the Creator and ReCreator, the Holy Editor, the Lover of our Souls. We can trust that He has our best interest at heart...He is good. All the time.
We just need to ask God to form within us a teachable heart.
Future butterflies, don't be afraid to climb into that cocoon and give God the authority over your life to recreate you.
"Whatever else is going on in your life, God always has his eye on your transformation.
This is good news, by the way. All of the other things we long for in life--love and friendship, freedom and wholeness, clarity of purpose, all the joy we long for--it all depends on our restoration [read: holiness, sanctification, redemption, the Kingdom of God within you (all words for the same thing)]. You can't find or keep good friends while you are still an irritating person to be around. And there is no way love can flourish while you are still controlling. You can't find your real purpose in life while you're still slavishly serving other people's expectations of you. You can't find peace while you're ruled by fear. You can't enjoy what you have while you're ruled by fear. You can't enjoy what you have while you're envying what the other guy has. On and on it goes."
Friends, I've been spending the last two weeks in this book and I love this quote by John Eldredge in his book, Walking with God. The whole book has gems of wisdom surrounded by lots and lots of ordinary life. But, that's what we need, right? How do we, like Brother Lawrence, in Practice the Presence of God while we do the dishes. I admit between filling the dishwasher over and over, I haven't figured that out yet.
God knows who we were meant to be. God knows who we can be! What joy! He is the Kingdom Dream-Keeper, the Creator and ReCreator, the Holy Editor, the Lover of our Souls. We can trust that He has our best interest at heart...He is good. All the time.
We just need to ask God to form within us a teachable heart.
Future butterflies, don't be afraid to climb into that cocoon and give God the authority over your life to recreate you.
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
luminous women--shining like stars
When my Tuesday morning group arrives at the front door of my little yellow cottage, (and I'm feeling particularly shiny that day) I often greet them with a "welcome, luminous women."
And they are.
We've been studying scripture and various Christian books for two years now and WOW what a joy! God is being reflected more and more.
Our blog name comes from Philippians 2:15, but here's the context, (a scripture I've been quoting to my children almost constantly lately...and to myself as well :) "Do everything without complaining or arguing so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation in which you shine like the stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life..." Shine like stars in the universe...as you hold out the word of life. Wow, I'd like to take a bath in that, it's so good.
So, my luminous women (Andrew is right now teaching me how this blog thingy sets up and is laughing at the words, "luminous women" --What do you think about “Glow in the Dark Chics” or “Radioactive Maidens,” Phosphorescent Females, he really could go on!) what does it mean to be shiny...to shine...today?
This song by Sara Groves and Matt Bronlewee sums up what I've been learning about worship and realigning myself with the God of the universe:
You Are the Sun
You are the sun
shining down on everyone
Light of the world
giving light to everything I see
Beauty so brilliant
I can hardly take it in
And everywhere You are
is warmth and light
And I am the moon
with no light of my own
Still you have made me to shine
And as I glow in this cold dark night
I know I cannot be a light
unless I turn my face to you
It's so good to remember, isn't it? Though we may be shiny, we are never the center of the universe and the light source doesn't even originate within us! As John Eldredge says in his powerful daily prayer in the back of most of his books, "He is the hero of the story...and the end of all things, including my life." So, I am starting this blog to encourage you, my friends, and anyone else out there who desires to let God make us light reflectors. Some days our blog will be just a quote from a book, other days a thought and some days just a picture of something I find particularly beautiful.
In particular, our dear friend Stephanie is moving this week...to ALASKA, of all beautiful and rugged and luminous places...Stephanie who God gave me in order to have the courage to leave the Episcopal church and create a safe (Anglican) haven for new believers to grow. So, this is my parting gift to you, my dear...for you to visit your friends on the Lake...and make your way up the path to the little yellow cottage anytime you so desire. Stephanie, You are a luminous woman! What a joy it has been to have you in our lives. Loved. Always.
And they are.
We've been studying scripture and various Christian books for two years now and WOW what a joy! God is being reflected more and more.
Our blog name comes from Philippians 2:15, but here's the context, (a scripture I've been quoting to my children almost constantly lately...and to myself as well :) "Do everything without complaining or arguing so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation in which you shine like the stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life..." Shine like stars in the universe...as you hold out the word of life. Wow, I'd like to take a bath in that, it's so good.
So, my luminous women (Andrew is right now teaching me how this blog thingy sets up and is laughing at the words, "luminous women" --What do you think about “Glow in the Dark Chics” or “Radioactive Maidens,” Phosphorescent Females, he really could go on!) what does it mean to be shiny...to shine...today?
This song by Sara Groves and Matt Bronlewee sums up what I've been learning about worship and realigning myself with the God of the universe:
You Are the Sun
You are the sun
shining down on everyone
Light of the world
giving light to everything I see
Beauty so brilliant
I can hardly take it in
And everywhere You are
is warmth and light
And I am the moon
with no light of my own
Still you have made me to shine
And as I glow in this cold dark night
I know I cannot be a light
unless I turn my face to you
It's so good to remember, isn't it? Though we may be shiny, we are never the center of the universe and the light source doesn't even originate within us! As John Eldredge says in his powerful daily prayer in the back of most of his books, "He is the hero of the story...and the end of all things, including my life." So, I am starting this blog to encourage you, my friends, and anyone else out there who desires to let God make us light reflectors. Some days our blog will be just a quote from a book, other days a thought and some days just a picture of something I find particularly beautiful.
In particular, our dear friend Stephanie is moving this week...to ALASKA, of all beautiful and rugged and luminous places...Stephanie who God gave me in order to have the courage to leave the Episcopal church and create a safe (Anglican) haven for new believers to grow. So, this is my parting gift to you, my dear...for you to visit your friends on the Lake...and make your way up the path to the little yellow cottage anytime you so desire. Stephanie, You are a luminous woman! What a joy it has been to have you in our lives. Loved. Always.
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