I believe photographs can speak for themselves. These photos have spoken to me lately. Some are mine and some are from the internet. I thought instead of writing I would just share these pohtos.
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Thursday, August 13, 2009
The Big Picture
It is so easy to get caught up in the smaller details of life that you lose sight of the big picture. Yesterday I was reminded of what my big picture is. I am in an online Old Testament class right now and I was watching a video lecture by Dr. Carol. He was lecturing about Jeremiah. There were a couple of parts that really caught my attention. He was talking about Jeremiah's calling in chapter 1 and stressed the importance of the call to ministry. You must be called. The next part that really made my heart start pounding was when he talked about Jeremiah 20:7-9. Jeremiah is complaining about the hardships he has been through, but then says he can't help but speak God's name because "his word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it in; indeed, I cannot." Dr. Carol asked how many of us feel that fire. That question struck me.
Honestly, right now I don't feel that fire. I have in the past and I hope to once again in the future, but currently it is not really there. I can feel it slowly trying to start again. Little things over the past couple of weeks have reminded me about that fire. In the past month I've come to realize that the past 8 months of my life have been very self-focused. I've focused on my problems and issues that have arisen that needed to be dealt with. I still need to continue dealing with them, but I also want to start focusing on others as well. Being completely self-focused is absolutely draining. I can see now that the fire starting going out when I started being self-focused instead of others-focused.
I have been caught up in the smaller details of my life and for a while lost sight of why I was even in seminary. That lecture reminded me. I was called here to study Biblical counseling. I am confident of my calling and I need to remind myself that God has a purpose in that. He also has a purpose in all the little details going on in my life. Those little details help make up the big picture. The are not insignificant by any means, but they also should not overshadow my calling.
This morning as I was praying I asked God what he wanted of me. "Be patient" was the answer I recieved. I'm not sure exactly what I am supposed to be patient for, but I have some ideas. I have really been craving change lately. I kind of feel like I am stuck and that things need to be shaken up in order for me to move forward. Maybe that change will come and maybe it won't. Maybe it will be completely different from what I am expecting. Maybe something I've felt all along God might be telling me is actually coming, but I must be patient.
So, while I am waiting for change I will be patient. While I am waiting for change I will keep the big picture in mind.
Honestly, right now I don't feel that fire. I have in the past and I hope to once again in the future, but currently it is not really there. I can feel it slowly trying to start again. Little things over the past couple of weeks have reminded me about that fire. In the past month I've come to realize that the past 8 months of my life have been very self-focused. I've focused on my problems and issues that have arisen that needed to be dealt with. I still need to continue dealing with them, but I also want to start focusing on others as well. Being completely self-focused is absolutely draining. I can see now that the fire starting going out when I started being self-focused instead of others-focused.
I have been caught up in the smaller details of my life and for a while lost sight of why I was even in seminary. That lecture reminded me. I was called here to study Biblical counseling. I am confident of my calling and I need to remind myself that God has a purpose in that. He also has a purpose in all the little details going on in my life. Those little details help make up the big picture. The are not insignificant by any means, but they also should not overshadow my calling.
This morning as I was praying I asked God what he wanted of me. "Be patient" was the answer I recieved. I'm not sure exactly what I am supposed to be patient for, but I have some ideas. I have really been craving change lately. I kind of feel like I am stuck and that things need to be shaken up in order for me to move forward. Maybe that change will come and maybe it won't. Maybe it will be completely different from what I am expecting. Maybe something I've felt all along God might be telling me is actually coming, but I must be patient.
So, while I am waiting for change I will be patient. While I am waiting for change I will keep the big picture in mind.
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Past Present and Future
My past, my present and my future are all very different. Certain things from my past carry over into my present and probably my future, but other things don't. Some things should carry over and some things shouldn't. No matter what I choose to bring with me into my present and future, everything in my past is still a part of me. I can't erase things and I can't do things over. What is done is done.
In the past week or so I have come to the realization that I have been trying very hard to erase some things from my past and start all over with something new. Now this is not neccessarily a bad thing. In fact, in some ways it is a very good thing. The problem is that in the process of trying to erase my past and create something new, I have forsaken some things that are an important part of me.
After going through a semester of seminary and practically a whole summer of trying to rediscover my identity I still am confused. Go figure. I have been trying so hard to shed all the misjudgments and stereotypes that people have laid upon me that I've gone and confused myself all over again. I feel like I'm walking from one extreme to the other trying to figure out where I really belong. Maybe that is how it is supposed to work.
I've spent the past 2 week with my best friend. We don't get to see each other that often since we now live in different states. We've been besties for about 3 years now. She has seen the good, the bad and the ugly. She has walked with me through alot of crap. She has rejoiced with me one day and cried with me the next. I've changed alot since I've moved to Denver, and I knew she would notice some things. Spending time with her reminded me about my past and of some of the things that I have been running away from. We had some good conversations and now that she is gone I am left mulling over some things.
Tonight is the first night in a few weeks that I have had completely to myself. It is nice. I finally have a chance to think about what has been stirring in me the past couple of weeks. I need to really think about the things from my past I want to keep and the things I'd rather leave behind. I've made many mistakes in my past that are coming with me. I wouldn't take any of them back because I've learned extremely valuable lessons from all of them...painful, but valuable. I have no idea what my future holds. All I know is that I want to learn something today. That might mean learning something new about a friend, learning more about counseling, learning through my pain, learning from God's creation, learning from a book or learning more about my maker.
So, even though I have a million thoughts running through my head about all of this, I do know that I learned something today. That made today worth it.
In the past week or so I have come to the realization that I have been trying very hard to erase some things from my past and start all over with something new. Now this is not neccessarily a bad thing. In fact, in some ways it is a very good thing. The problem is that in the process of trying to erase my past and create something new, I have forsaken some things that are an important part of me.
After going through a semester of seminary and practically a whole summer of trying to rediscover my identity I still am confused. Go figure. I have been trying so hard to shed all the misjudgments and stereotypes that people have laid upon me that I've gone and confused myself all over again. I feel like I'm walking from one extreme to the other trying to figure out where I really belong. Maybe that is how it is supposed to work.
I've spent the past 2 week with my best friend. We don't get to see each other that often since we now live in different states. We've been besties for about 3 years now. She has seen the good, the bad and the ugly. She has walked with me through alot of crap. She has rejoiced with me one day and cried with me the next. I've changed alot since I've moved to Denver, and I knew she would notice some things. Spending time with her reminded me about my past and of some of the things that I have been running away from. We had some good conversations and now that she is gone I am left mulling over some things.
Tonight is the first night in a few weeks that I have had completely to myself. It is nice. I finally have a chance to think about what has been stirring in me the past couple of weeks. I need to really think about the things from my past I want to keep and the things I'd rather leave behind. I've made many mistakes in my past that are coming with me. I wouldn't take any of them back because I've learned extremely valuable lessons from all of them...painful, but valuable. I have no idea what my future holds. All I know is that I want to learn something today. That might mean learning something new about a friend, learning more about counseling, learning through my pain, learning from God's creation, learning from a book or learning more about my maker.
So, even though I have a million thoughts running through my head about all of this, I do know that I learned something today. That made today worth it.
Monday, July 20, 2009
Seasons
There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven:
a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear town and a time to build,
a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain,
a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
a time to tear a a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.
-Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
As these verses say, there are seasons we will each go through. Some are more fun than others. The hard seasons are needed in order to appreciate the good ones. Throughout each season God is molding our character and shaping us into the person He desires us to be...if we allow Him.
Sometimes it feels as though we are stuck in the same season and will never get out. I know I have felt that way before. It is not fun. If that is you right now....be encouraged....it won't last forever. It will last as long as God needs it to last in order to more perfectly shape you in His image.
I really like the song "The Valley" by Lindsey Kane. It speaks to me every time. The words are full of truth. Here are the lyrics:
Just when I thought this valley couldn't get any deeper
Just when I thought I was stepping out of this
Just when I thought a mountian was in my view
That's when I saw you
You didn't take me out of it but you joined me in it
You didn't lift me out of it but you lifted me up in it
You didn't pull me out of it but you pulled me toward you in it
and I know
I'll be ok
Jesus where would I be without your sovereignty?
Jesus where would I be without your sovereignty?
Just when I thought this mountain couldn't get any steeper
Just when I thought I was falling off of it
Just when I thought that valley was in my view
That's when I saw you
You didn't take me out of it but you joined me in it
You didn't didn't lift me out of it but you lifted me up in it
You didn't pull me out of it but you pulled me toward you in it
And I know
I'll be ok
Jesus where would I be without your sovereignty?
Jesus where would I be without your sovereignty?
Thank you for this valley
In it I am made to be
You didn't take me out of it but you joined me in it
You didn't lift me out of it but you lifted me up in it
You didn't pull me out of it but you pulled me towards you in it
And I know
I'll be ok
Jesus where would I be without your sovereignty?
Jesus where would I be without your sovereignty?
You may not like the season you are in, but God is there in it with you. He may keep you there for awhile, but He will NEVER abandon you. As I write these words I am challenged to believe them as well. The seasons will change and better times are ahead. I know that God has great plans for my future and my hope rests in that. I cannot hope in anything but Him because I will be disappointed everytime. Put your hope in Him and Him alone.
a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear town and a time to build,
a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain,
a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
a time to tear a a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.
-Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
As these verses say, there are seasons we will each go through. Some are more fun than others. The hard seasons are needed in order to appreciate the good ones. Throughout each season God is molding our character and shaping us into the person He desires us to be...if we allow Him.
Sometimes it feels as though we are stuck in the same season and will never get out. I know I have felt that way before. It is not fun. If that is you right now....be encouraged....it won't last forever. It will last as long as God needs it to last in order to more perfectly shape you in His image.
I really like the song "The Valley" by Lindsey Kane. It speaks to me every time. The words are full of truth. Here are the lyrics:
Just when I thought this valley couldn't get any deeper
Just when I thought I was stepping out of this
Just when I thought a mountian was in my view
That's when I saw you
You didn't take me out of it but you joined me in it
You didn't lift me out of it but you lifted me up in it
You didn't pull me out of it but you pulled me toward you in it
and I know
I'll be ok
Jesus where would I be without your sovereignty?
Jesus where would I be without your sovereignty?
Just when I thought this mountain couldn't get any steeper
Just when I thought I was falling off of it
Just when I thought that valley was in my view
That's when I saw you
You didn't take me out of it but you joined me in it
You didn't didn't lift me out of it but you lifted me up in it
You didn't pull me out of it but you pulled me toward you in it
And I know
I'll be ok
Jesus where would I be without your sovereignty?
Jesus where would I be without your sovereignty?
Thank you for this valley
In it I am made to be
You didn't take me out of it but you joined me in it
You didn't lift me out of it but you lifted me up in it
You didn't pull me out of it but you pulled me towards you in it
And I know
I'll be ok
Jesus where would I be without your sovereignty?
Jesus where would I be without your sovereignty?
You may not like the season you are in, but God is there in it with you. He may keep you there for awhile, but He will NEVER abandon you. As I write these words I am challenged to believe them as well. The seasons will change and better times are ahead. I know that God has great plans for my future and my hope rests in that. I cannot hope in anything but Him because I will be disappointed everytime. Put your hope in Him and Him alone.
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Colorado
I love Colorado. I love that I actually live here. That fact alone will make me smile every time. Texas was great and all, but Colorado sure beats that Texas heat anyday. I love that I can sit on my balcony in the morning drinking my coffee and reading my Bible with a view of the mountains. The morning air is the perfect temperature and there is a certain smell to Colorado mornings that is different from anywhere else.
I am guaranteed a gorgeous sunset almost every evening. They never cease to take my breath away. One of these days I am going to get in a wreck because I was too busy watching the sunset instead of the road. Last Thursday my roommate and I were on our way to meet up with some friends around 8pm. It was raining but you could still see an amazing sunset over the mountains and to the east was a double rainbow! It was stunning no matter where you looked.
The South Platte River is a 2 minute drive or 10 minute walk for me. There are miles and miles of trails around my apartment and the seminary. I can bike, run, rollerblade, walk, tube, kayak or swim anytime I want (well except that I don't have the equipment for some of those activities...but in theory I could). I have always LOVED the outdoors and I finally live in a place where pretty much any outdoor activity I could ever want to do is at my fingertips. It is pretty darn amazing.
All that to say...I am blessed. I am blessed to live in a place that I love and enjoy. I may have lots of other junk going on in my life, but at least I live in Colorado! :)
P.S. I hope this didn't make all you Texans too jealous ;)
I am guaranteed a gorgeous sunset almost every evening. They never cease to take my breath away. One of these days I am going to get in a wreck because I was too busy watching the sunset instead of the road. Last Thursday my roommate and I were on our way to meet up with some friends around 8pm. It was raining but you could still see an amazing sunset over the mountains and to the east was a double rainbow! It was stunning no matter where you looked.
The South Platte River is a 2 minute drive or 10 minute walk for me. There are miles and miles of trails around my apartment and the seminary. I can bike, run, rollerblade, walk, tube, kayak or swim anytime I want (well except that I don't have the equipment for some of those activities...but in theory I could). I have always LOVED the outdoors and I finally live in a place where pretty much any outdoor activity I could ever want to do is at my fingertips. It is pretty darn amazing.
All that to say...I am blessed. I am blessed to live in a place that I love and enjoy. I may have lots of other junk going on in my life, but at least I live in Colorado! :)
P.S. I hope this didn't make all you Texans too jealous ;)
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Breakthrough
I had a big breakthrough this past weekend and I believe I am on my way to a couple more. I was able to tear down some walls that I had built up around myself to keep me safe. I was so afraid to break through those walls because I wasn't sure that I would hold up without them. Those walls were keeping me protected from what I thought was going to hurt me. I've known for the past 6 months that I needed to do something about these walls. I knew that when I finally tore them down I would be free, but I wasn't ready yet.
I know this all seems a little ambiguous. It is supposed to be. If you really want to know more about it just ask me. I can tell you that it was through painting that these walls began to fall down. I know...you might be surprised. Most people don't know that I enjoy painting. If you do know then you have probably lived with me or know me pretty well. In the past I would paint just because I enjoyed it. It was relaxing for me, but I usually never liked what I ended up painting. It wasn't good enough for me. I usually wouldn't ever show anyone what I had created. I didn't realize that it didn't matter what other people thought, but my walls kept me from seeing that.
This semseter I realized how much I missed painting along with all my other creative outlets. Through various people and experiences I started to realize that art is personal and unique to its creator. My creation doesn't have to look like the art you might find in a museum. Each creation tells a story about the person who created it. My art tells a story about me. I finally realized that this weekend. I was able to paint what I have experienced this semester. I painted freedom. I knocked down my walls and it felt great. I didn't feel the need to try to copy someone else's art...I created my own and actually liked the finished product. Now whether or not anyone else likes it is irrelevant. I painted it for me, not anyone else. I know the significance behind each brush stroke and that is good enough for me. This painting will be a reminder that I am free and that I want to live a life without walls. I would encourage you to do the same.
Thursday, July 9, 2009
I'm finished making plans...
I am a planner for the most part. I do enjoy the occasional spontaneous activity, but usually I like to make plans. I like to know what is coming so I can be ready for it. I like to be suprised sometimes, but not by big huge non-expected things. I suppose what I am really trying to say is that I don't like to be caught off guard by things (unpleasant things usually) I am not expecting....so this is why I make plans...to avoid being caught off guard.
Well you would think that by now I would have learned that you can't predict the future. I can make all the plans I want, but things change and sometimes there is nothing you can do about it. I can prepare myself for what I think is going to happen, but then it doesn't happen...so where does that leave me? It leaves me frustrated and confused and mad at myself for once again trying to predict the future. I realize that I am not in control, God is.
Why do I try to control things? I suppose I think I know what is best for me and what I need...but that is totally ridiculous. God has proven to me time and time again that I don't know what is best at all. He does though. At least somebody knows what is going on in my life...maybe someday I will figure it out too.
I have to make a daily choice to wake up and trust God with my day. I have to trust him with not only things involving me, but things involving other people as well. When I see other people hurting, my first instinct is to fix it. That is not my job though. I can't fix people (another control issue). Really...only God can fix them. I can be His hands and feet and do what He asks of me, but ultimately God is the healer, not me. This is realllllly hard for me to accept because I absolutely hate to see people that are hurting, especially if it is someone close to me. I've tried to "fix" people in the past and learned that that usually only causes more pain. So, I must learn to trust God with the people I love. He will heal them in His timing, not mine.
Well you would think that by now I would have learned that you can't predict the future. I can make all the plans I want, but things change and sometimes there is nothing you can do about it. I can prepare myself for what I think is going to happen, but then it doesn't happen...so where does that leave me? It leaves me frustrated and confused and mad at myself for once again trying to predict the future. I realize that I am not in control, God is.
Why do I try to control things? I suppose I think I know what is best for me and what I need...but that is totally ridiculous. God has proven to me time and time again that I don't know what is best at all. He does though. At least somebody knows what is going on in my life...maybe someday I will figure it out too.
I have to make a daily choice to wake up and trust God with my day. I have to trust him with not only things involving me, but things involving other people as well. When I see other people hurting, my first instinct is to fix it. That is not my job though. I can't fix people (another control issue). Really...only God can fix them. I can be His hands and feet and do what He asks of me, but ultimately God is the healer, not me. This is realllllly hard for me to accept because I absolutely hate to see people that are hurting, especially if it is someone close to me. I've tried to "fix" people in the past and learned that that usually only causes more pain. So, I must learn to trust God with the people I love. He will heal them in His timing, not mine.
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