tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-77174315809241290782024-03-06T10:58:46.794+09:00The Carpenter's HandSassiekiwihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08201502064231879505noreply@blogger.comBlogger108125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7717431580924129078.post-48655428099600216792020-03-22T10:32:00.000+09:002020-03-22T10:32:10.669+09:00Let Beauty Rise<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: #cfe2f3;">"It was the best of times ... it was the worst of times ..." </span></blockquote>
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(Charles Dickens - A Tale of Two Cities)</blockquote>
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<span style="color: #d9ead3;">"The light shines in the darkness and the darkness cannot overcome it ..." </span>(John 1:5)</blockquote>
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The Dickens quote sums up much of what we are seeing in our world right now. As someone so aptly put it this week, the world is on fire. All around us we see Covid-19 numbers skyrocketing ... countries shutting borders ... people on lock down in their homes ... people anxious and panicking ... stories from all around the world of hoarding and empty supermarket shelves ... countless videos of people coming to physical blows over toilet paper ... it seems to be a very dark time. I want you to know there is light in this darkness. Little pockets of it are rising everywhere.<br />
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Here in Korea, we are entering a very early Spring. At first glance, things are still brown and barren but there are small signs if you have the eyes to see. Last week out walking, I noticed ... the tiniest unfurling of a delicate cherry blossom ... new green buds on a tree ... a pop of sunny yellow in the corner from the forsythia ... delicate pink of an early azalea ... all shyly just doing their thing ... bringing a hint of what is to come ... the explosion of Spring ... life - hope - joy. I posted some pics and a friend replied with the idea that Songdo was further ahead in Spring than Seoul. The irony was, I had taken the pics in her backyard in Seoul. She had walked the same area and seen none of it! Our vision can be so consumed with the things immediately in our face, it causes us to miss the subtle.<br />
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I have been weathering this Covid storm in South Korea for the past month and a half, having finished my 5th week of working at home, practicing social distancing and living in self isolation, I am starting to find a rhythm and starting to see more clearly. And what I see amongst the chaos and the mess ... in the midst of darkness ... is beauty rising. It's powerful and stunning to watch. The signs are there if you have the eyes to see ...<br />
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My beloved Italia is being hit hard but we see the human spirit rise up and people sing from their balconies ... Beauty rises.<br />
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A friend who has closed his gym ... thinking outside the box (literally) ... setting up home workouts for their people ... loaning out the equipment for members to use at home and using Zoom to provide connection and community whilst people are self isolating ... Connection and exercise are two powerful antidotes for anxiety and depression. Beauty rises.<br />
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On a day I was struggling with disappointment and sadness, a Korean friend texts me out of the blue to see if I was ok and offering to help me purchase wipes and sanitizer online if I needed it ... Beauty rises.<br />
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An invitation to a friend's apartment for lunch to connect with her and her family ... Beauty rises.<br />
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People checking in on others ... helping with food ... leaving treats at doors within apartment complexes ... Beauty rises.<br />
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Kindness. Compassion. Selflessness. Connection. Community. This is the way through this ... Reach out to someone ... we have different levels of self isolating ... you might not be able to go out so use your tech to connect. If you are mobile, offer to pick up groceries for someone who is in the risk group. If someone comes to your mind, don't dismiss it. Check in on them. And be kind to yourself ... breathe ... walk ... stay off obsessive media watching ... acknowledge the feelings - fear - disappointment - sadness. It is what it is. It's ok to acknowledge it and then move on ... open your eyes and look ... see the beauty all around you. It's rising and it's glorious.<br />
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Sassiekiwihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08201502064231879505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7717431580924129078.post-43864749100064211902018-11-22T15:20:00.002+09:002018-11-22T15:58:41.643+09:00Just Adopt!<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">“Just Adopt” … or it’s 4 word cousin … “you can always adopt” … words that sound so simple, yet convey a vast chasm of ignorance about the adoption process.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">As it is “National Adoption Month” (and who comes up with these things anyway ... do we have a National Month for non adoptees?) and I have a personal connection with adoption, I would like to share a few of my thoughts. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Recently I have seen two posts on Social Media that demonstrate society's lack of understanding about adoption.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">I realize that someone is trying to make a point, but do you realize how devastating a post like that is to many adopted children who struggle with a sense of rejection and identity (despite the love of their incredible families)? This message could be interpreted as adopted children are unwanted in the womb AND by society. Similar sentiments were expressed in a reaction to a recent post on social media (which in context had nothing to do with adoption).</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Technically abandoned?! Do you know how much strength, courage, thought, love, care and commitment are part of the adoption story? Have you considered the courage it takes a woman to carry a baby to term knowing that she will not be keeping it? Can you imagine the difficulty and grief of a mother (or birth father) relinquishing their child to someone else to raise? Have you considered the sense of longing and joy of the adoptive family … who more often than not have been on a very difficult journey before travelling down their adoption path? Adoptees are in no sense of the word “abandoned”. They are loved and wanted.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">You can’t have children? Just adopt. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">How often are these words spoken to grieving parents - or those who long for children that they cannot conceive or carry. As if adoption is the cure for infertility. It sounds so simple: </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;"> Unwanted baby + parents who can’t have children = match made in heaven </span></span></blockquote>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">… or is it? Adoption and infertility are different journeys - even though their paths may cross.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Just adopt. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Have you considered the low number of children available for adoption in western countries? Have you considered the would be parents who held their new adopted children in their arms, opening their heart to love, only to have it shattered into a million pieces when a birth mother (for whatever reason - no judgment here) changes her mind within the 30 day confirmation period and cannot go through with the adoption? </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">All those children in foreign orphanages - just adopt! (be a saviour!). </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Do you realise the difficulty of inter-country adoption - for all involved? Do you know that there must be intercountry agreements between governments for intercountry adoption. Depending what country you are from, you may not have many options at all. When you had your children, did someone carry out invasive home studies, character checks and references to decide if you were young enough, financially able and fit to be a parent? Did you have to pay for the cost of those home studies? Did you have to have your life turned inside out and displayed to complete strangers? And then … when the wait dragged on and on … have to pay to have it done all over again? Have you considered why children are up for adoption in the first place? What the circumstances are? </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Just adopt.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">How will you deal with your child’s aching need to know their roots and yet not feel like they have any roots? Resolving identity is one of Erikson’s psycho-social stages of development. It’s even more complex for adoptees ... and more so again, for those who are interculturally adopted. How will you deal with their identity issues? </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Just adopt. Simple words that deny the massive trauma and loss for the birth family, the trauma of separation for the child and the joy and guilt entwined for the adoptive parent(s) who know that their joy is often someone else’s pain. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Just adopt.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">There is no just about it. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">There is strength, courage, selflessness, joy, a profound connection and the miracle of children. From there … like any child, the road can wind all sorts of ways. Nothing in life is perfect - we make the best road we can. I am so thankful for the gift of adoption in my life and that of my family. I am grateful for growing up loved and cherished. But just adopt? There was no “just” involved in that journey and that is true for all adoption.</span></span></div>
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Sassiekiwihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08201502064231879505noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7717431580924129078.post-26656440282519172382018-02-11T20:43:00.000+09:002018-02-11T20:44:31.696+09:00Growth - The Art of Becoming ...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI6odbApGXDMTyoZvkMqLOLb_6Ej-cFbPvKSdXGfTXqOtAxjRH2xUEsjZqtwwz6Yq1UFBKFbwABPjO6ipr3MUUrRYmGrFCN2_7TBzsprOruPbTVAbFQ7u1H5KzIDcHE71JUqehW74qnks/s1600/growth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI6odbApGXDMTyoZvkMqLOLb_6Ej-cFbPvKSdXGfTXqOtAxjRH2xUEsjZqtwwz6Yq1UFBKFbwABPjO6ipr3MUUrRYmGrFCN2_7TBzsprOruPbTVAbFQ7u1H5KzIDcHE71JUqehW74qnks/s400/growth.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Growth is an interesting concept. The late Rich Mullins put it so well:<br />
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<i>"It's not that we have become, it's that we are continually becoming ..."</i></blockquote>
This ties in beautifully with a concept introduced in The Shack. God refers to self as a verb:<br />
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<i>"I am a verb. I am that I am. I will be who I will be. I am a verb ... alive, ever active, dynamic and moving ...</i> "</blockquote>
If we are made in God's image and he is the great, "I am" ... then we are called to be the same. Not, "I was ..." ... not "I will be ..." but rather alive in the moment, growing, dynamic, changing.<br />
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Growth is hard. So often we want to sit. We get absorbed into complacency. Sitting doesn't engender growth. Growth hurts. Growing pains hurt. We are stretched. It's uncomfortable. But we must grow. For life is about more than ourselves. When we grow ... when we breakthrough, others follow.<br />
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Isaiah 54:2-3<br />
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<i>"Enlarge the place of your tent. Stretch your tent curtains wide, do not hold back' lengthen your cords, strengthen your stakes. For you will spread out to the right and to the left" ...</i></blockquote>
This year I am in a new job, in a new school. One of the biggest reasons I made the move, was because I realised for me personally, I had reached all the growth that I was going to have at my old place of work. It was an amazing job and I was grateful for the years and the growth that I had there. However like a root bound pot plant, I knew that if I was to stay any longer I would not thrive any more. It was time to go. The move has been good. I am on a massive learning curve in my new job and it's good. Not always comfortable and sometimes, really hard. But it's good, it's right and I am stretched. I am becoming. Becoming what? More of who God made me to be. Although I am challenged, I feel more aligned in my current job than I have in any of my previous ones. It's good.<br />
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The story of the Velveteen Rabbit speaks beautifully about this art of becoming ...<br />
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It's a process. I am challenged. How about you?Sassiekiwihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08201502064231879505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7717431580924129078.post-47769311342890308142016-06-03T07:04:00.002+09:002016-06-03T10:54:44.143+09:00Seasons ...<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/UvyHuse6buY" width="560"></iframe><br />
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<i>Five hundred twenty five thousand six hundred minutes<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Five hundred twenty five thousand moments so dear<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Five hundred twenty five thousand six hundred minutes<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />How do you measure, measure a year?</i></div>
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<i>In daylights, in sunsets<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />In midnights, in cups of coffee<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />In inches, in miles, in laughter, in strife<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />In five hundred twenty five thousand six hundred minutes<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />How do you measure a year in the life?</i></div>
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<i>How about love?<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />How about love?<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />How about love?<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Measure in love</i></div>
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This song from Rent is a favourite for me because it says so much (and the harmonies rock). This is the time of year I don't like. Sometimes this time of year is easier than others, but this year ... oh this year. This year it feels like pieces of me are being ripped out. <br />
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When you live life as an expat, Goodbyes are part of the cycle. Sometimes you say so many goodbyes you don't want to form the relationships because relationships take time and quality relationships don't exist without sowing pieces of yourself into the relationship. And holes are left when people move on. Since being away, my metaphor for this has been a beautiful woven, handmade carpet.<br />
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Threads of different colours ... each one individual ... each one just a coloured thread, nothing special. Yet ... when the master artist takes those threads and begins to weave, magic happens. Threads are woven together, irrevocably, and something new ... something different ... something stunning emerges. For a time the threads stay together and and its beautiful ... but every weaving has a point where the threads stop weaving together ... that work is done. individual threads run out the ends once more ... and the weaving is cut from the loom. <br />
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Right now I am struggling with the cut. It hurts. It's so incredibly painful I can't even speak of it and I know that I am not the only one. We say our goodbyes but we don't. We laugh. We cry. We say "it's not goodbye ... I will be seeing you". But in reality, who knows what life will bring. And when you are in other countries spread out around the world, sometimes the world is a very big place. And whilst social media and technology go a long way to closing that gap, they don't. We now trade late night cups of coffee or card games and trash talk for a two line status update on someones life. When you have been woven together with someone ... when you have walked through the deepest darkest valleys with them ... when you have scaled the heights ... when you have laughed ... cried ... sworn ... broken bread together ... seen each other at best and at worst ... the cutting of the threads is an excruciating thing. So how do we deal with this grief ... with this sense of loss?<br />
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And here is where I love the lyrics of RENT<br />
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<i>It's time now to sing out</i><br />
<i>Though the story never ends</i><br />
<i>Let's celebrate</i><br />
<i>Remember a year in the life of friends</i><br />
<i>Remember the love</i><br />
<i>(Oh, you got to, you got to remember the love)</i><br />
<i>Remember the love</i><br />
<i>(You know that love is a gift from up above)</i><br />
<i>Remember the love</i><br />
<i>(Share love, give love, spread love)</i><br />
<i>Measure in love</i><br />
<i>(Measure, measure your life in love)</i><br />
<i>Seasons of love (love)</i><br />
<i>Seasons of love (love)</i><br />
<i>(Measure your life, measure your life in love)</i></blockquote>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEecz72A0i7Sn4eO_mDz3HLbnBP_12pQ3J91dD_2Wh-90F2qt8tZJsmxO_mGhfuxTh7ZHcOQP2HRubPgHdD0o_jQa_HmwEPrIuZwPAvDq4FEBpKAIXL5_9NcOd60mVa5SuG5iZUmDtrd4/s1600/DSC_0396.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEecz72A0i7Sn4eO_mDz3HLbnBP_12pQ3J91dD_2Wh-90F2qt8tZJsmxO_mGhfuxTh7ZHcOQP2HRubPgHdD0o_jQa_HmwEPrIuZwPAvDq4FEBpKAIXL5_9NcOd60mVa5SuG5iZUmDtrd4/s400/DSC_0396.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A spot of bother in the garden ...</td></tr>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 16px; widows: 1;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span style="widows: auto;">Its's all about LOVE. I would never trade the heartache and grief of these goodbyes because my life is so much richer for the weaving. The gifts of friendship and love are irreplaceable. You cannot buy them. You cannot manipulate your way into having them. They are freely given yet priceless in value. </span></span><br />
<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 16px; widows: 1;"><span style="widows: auto;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 16px; widows: 1;"><span style="widows: auto;">I have nothing but gratitude for this season and this time with these people I love. I cannot imagine my life without these people in it. There are people who walk through life in poverty. Not material poverty ... I am speaking of the poverty of never understanding what it is to be loved and to love others. To have the richness and depth of friendships where you have been woven with others and walked together for seasons, being intricately and intimately involved ... knowing the imperfections, the twists, the knots and seeing that they just add to the beauty of the weaving.</span></span><br />
<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 16px; widows: 1;"><span style="widows: auto;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 16px; widows: 1;"><span style="widows: auto;">To my loved ones ... Coco, Heather, Nicole, Jeff, Aisha, Nicholas and Elise, who are closing a big chapter in their life journey and beginning the next ... my prayer for you is that you walk in freedom and peace ... knowing that he who led you here is leading you on ... he goes before you, behind you and his hand is upon you. I love you. I am forever grateful for all you are. It has been my privilege ... my joy and my gift to walk with you in this season. My heart goes with you. Be free. xxx</span></span><br />
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 16px; widows: 1;"><span style="widows: auto;"><i>Psalm 139</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 16px; widows: 1;"><span style="widows: auto;"><i>You hem me in behind and before</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 16px; widows: 1;"><span style="widows: auto;"><i>You have laid your hand upon me ...</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 16px; widows: 1;"><span style="widows: auto;"><i>If I rise on the wings of the dawn </i></span></span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 16px; widows: 1;"><span style="widows: auto;"><i>and settle on the far side of the sea, </i></span></span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 16px; widows: 1;"><span style="widows: auto;"><i>even there your hand will guide me</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 16px; widows: 1;"><span style="widows: auto;"><i>your right hand will hold me fast ... </i></span></span></div>
Sassiekiwihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08201502064231879505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7717431580924129078.post-58462065335977384392014-08-16T21:30:00.002+09:002014-08-16T21:32:10.702+09:00RainReading a <a href="http://themaskedrabbitsblog.wordpress.com/2014/08/13/when-the-spirit-comes/" target="_blank">blog buddy's post</a> tonight and it reminded me of this song/prayer I wrote a few years ago, so I picked up my guitar to share with her. Maybe the prayer in it will resonate with you. Please forgive the strings that need replacing and fingers and a voice that have not made music in months, and just hear the prayer. Lyrics below ...<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="334" mozallowfullscreen="" src="//player.vimeo.com/video/103583326" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="500"></iframe> <br />
<a href="http://vimeo.com/103583326">Let It Rain</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user10456173">Sarah Carpenter</a> on <a href="https://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.<br />
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Rain<br />
In this desert place<br />
Lord I seek your face<br />
Come rain ... on me<br />
Rain on me<br />
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In this dry and barren land<br />
Lord stretch out your hand<br />
Come rain ... on me<br />
Rain on me<br />
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Lord I need you<br />
And I want you<br />
Rain ... rain on me<br />
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You're my lover<br />
There's no other<br />
Rain ... rain on me<br />
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Only you can satisfy<br />
Living water<br />
Come bring new life<br />
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Let it rain<br />
Streams of living water flow<br />
Come rain<br />
On me<br />
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Let it rain<br />
I reach my hand<br />
cry out for you<br />
my rain<br />
Come rain<br />
On meSassiekiwihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08201502064231879505noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7717431580924129078.post-90946702826344685662014-06-10T08:04:00.002+09:002014-06-10T08:10:16.048+09:00SeasonsIf you are an expat, May and June can be difficult. It's farewell season. Some years are harder than others and this year is a particularly hard one, as there have been too many farewells to people who are significant in my life and mean a lot to me. These are the farewells where you feel raw. Where there is a certain amount of grief. I notice that none of us like to say "goodbye" ... its always, "see you later", "see you on Skype ... Facebook" ... etc. Promises made of visits. But in the end, the threads of the fabric you have woven together are still untangled and cut - and there is a certain level of rawness and grief that goes with that. It hurts. <br />
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What I do choose to focus on, is the beauty of what has been woven together in this specific season. Yuri Kochiyama (who was a Japanese American human rights activist) nailed it when she said, "Life is not what you alone make it. Life is the input of everyone who touched your life and every experience that entered it. We are all part of one another."<br />
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Although it hurts to say farewell, I would never forgo the hurt. It only hurts because there is love involved. To my beautiful friends who are leaving this year and to my friend who has already left - thank you. Thankyou for love, laughter and friendship. Thankyou for opening yourself to me. Thank you for travelling with me on life's journey and becoming part of the fabric of my life. This one is for YOU. <br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="281" mozallowfullscreen="" src="//player.vimeo.com/video/97699877" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="500"></iframe> <br />
<a href="http://vimeo.com/97699877">Seasons of Love</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user10456173">Sarah Carpenter</a> on <a href="https://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.Sassiekiwihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08201502064231879505noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7717431580924129078.post-26277784635184238122014-05-07T22:36:00.005+09:002014-05-07T22:57:28.774+09:00What's In Your Hand?<div>
In Exodus 4, God and Moses are having a discussion. Well, rather, God is telling Moses to go and Moses is coming up with all the reasons why he is not equipped. God says to Moses, "What's that in your hand? … Use that!" </div>
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What's in your hand?</div>
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I have been giving a lot of thought to that over the past week. Ask yourself that question - "What is in YOUR hand"? </div>
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Everyone of us is wired a certain way. Psalm 139 tells us that we were woven together in the secret place … that God's eyes saw our unformed body and that all our days were written in his book before one of them came to be. We were made ON PURPOSE FOR A PURPOSE. And here is the thing. Often, we don't give credit to that which is in our hand, and often we don't use that for God's glory because we are overfamiliar with it and we discount it. We don't value what it is that God has placed in us.</div>
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The thing is, if we use what is in our hand - the gifts and abilities that God has given us; if we surrender our own plans and purposes to those of God; if we look to use what is in our hand to bless others, it can be an incredible powerful, beautiful thing. We can make our world a different place - little things and big things. It is not ours to worry about how they will be useful, just sow them out as seeds and see what happens. </div>
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Here are a couple of examples of exactly that, to get you thinking. When I was in gorilla trekking in Uganda last year, Jenny and I visited several community projects. Perhaps my favourite one was "<a href="http://www.ride4awoman.org/" target="_blank">Ride 4 A Woman</a>", in Buhoma, near the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. This group of women are doing some awesome things. Their initial project didn't take off the way they wanted, but an Australian quilter came through one day and showed them how to quilt. These ladies now make the most incredible handmade quilted products, using all african fabrics. That quilter took something everyday that she could do, gave it away by teaching others, and is changing countless lives of women and their families. She could have said, "well I am not a nurse, a doctor, or a teacher. What difference can i make?" Instead, she offered up the little she had. It's like the loaves and fishes in <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+6:1-14" target="_blank">John 6.</a> Jesus took the simple things a young boy offered, multiplied them and fed a huge hungry crowd. This is the amazing thing that can happen, when we take what is in our hand and offer it to God, giving it away.<br />
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Another example. Simplicity itself. I love photography. I offered to take pictures in North Korea when I was up there on a medical aid trip. The photos I took, whilst I didn't think were anything amazing, were exactly the type of pics the organisation needed. People photography is not even my strength, but I understood light, angles and prayed to capture the moments. I was invited back to take pictures again because they were so happy with them. Add to that, I have taken on the media and the <a href="http://sfsdongdaewon.blogspot.kr/" target="_blank">blogging</a> and <a href="http://sfsdongdaewon.blogspot.kr/2014/03/interesting-and-informative-links-to.html" target="_blank">video making</a> for our fundraising to support this organisation. Its time consuming, but I can blog, I can use words to connect and I love to create with video. Those photos and videos have been used to raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for MDR TB treatment. A simple thing. Using the little thing in my hand, magnified by God, changes lives.<br />
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Another simple one. Words is something I can do. This past week, I have taken the time to give back in the form of words with the intention of blessing. I have been intentional and asked God to help me write in a way that is truthful and encouraging - a way that will lift up. I don't know the impact of those, but I do know that I wanted to give them away to be a blessing as I had been blessed. <br />
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Yet another. I have a friend who is amazing at hospitality. She loves to cook … is a chef, and does hospitality at an amazing level. It's just a normal thing for her - something she loves to do. She has used this gift to bless many people. She has also put up multiple brunches each year for the past few years in our silent auction for our TB care centre fundraising. Something simple, multiplied, is changing lives in North Korea.<br />
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A final example. I have a friend who has been doing cross fit and bootcamp coaching here on a campus for the past couple of years. Again something simple. A trainer. He was an awesome trainer, but in the way that we do, we could just say, well its just training. But it wasn't. He has just left us and the impact that he has had in this community has been huge. For kids and adults alike. Lives have been changed and transformed. Did he try to do that? No … he used what was in his hand and just functioned in who he was wired to be as a person to build people. And for some of us it was life changing. God multiplies. <br />
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Don't discount or undervalue the things that are in your hand. A little boy rocked up to Jesus with 5 loaves and two fishes. He could have been laughed out … "Really? There are 5000 hungry people here and you bring us 5 loaves and 2 fishes? Really?" But he gave away what he had, and he trusted God to do the work with his offering. What's in your hand? Get intentional about giving it away. Sow it out there and see what God can do!<br />
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Sassiekiwihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08201502064231879505noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7717431580924129078.post-20831769252730514932014-01-25T16:18:00.000+09:002014-01-25T16:20:51.409+09:00When The Unexpected Happens ...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Sometimes we have the illusion that life is under control. More specifically, we can think life is under OUR control. And then … the unexpected happens. Something happens and we realise that the idea of us being in control is an illusion. In a heartbeat … in a moment … life can turn on a dime, the unexpected happens, and we realise that life happens. Like being caught in a riptide, we are swept off our feet and carried in a direction that we never anticipated. <br />
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These unexpected moments are life defining moments. They are different for each of us, but when they come, they rock us … to the core. Our illusions shattered, we have to face them and deal with a new reality. Whilst we cannot control the event, we can control how we choose to respond. <br />
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I have had a few of these moments in my life: my father dying of cancer at 49 was a big one. Being told I would never have children and having a hysterectomy at 39 another one. My pituitary tumour yet another. Whilst each of these events rocked me to the core, I have learnt a couple of things. Here is what I know for sure.<br />
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<b><span style="color: #b6d7a8;">1. Whilst I am surprised/shocked, God is not.</span></b><br />
He knew me when I was knit together in my mother's womb. He knows all of my days before one of them came to be. He has laid his hand on me and hems me in behind and before. He is Alpha and Omega - the beginning and the end. He has gone before me, therefore I am not in uncharted waters. He knows the way through. I just have to fix my eyes on him and put my feet on his feet and we will dance our way through the storm.<br />
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<b><span style="color: #b6d7a8;">2. Se La Vie. It is what it is.</span></b><br />
This is not being fatalistic. I have just learnt that I need to be in the moment. Asking why, will just take me in a non productive, often downwards, spiral. Sometimes we try and make sense of tragedy. Or even worse, other people try and make sense of it for us. Sometimes, there is no sense to be made. The only thing I know for sure is that God never meant for this world to be full of tragedy. It is the result of a sick, fallen world. It's not the way it was meant to be. As I said to a dear friend recently, we don't get a free pass from tragedy and hardship because we are a Christian. Likewise, it is not our lack of faith that causes it either. It is what it is. Now we deal.<br />
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<b><span style="color: #b6d7a8;">3. Lean on Others</span></b><br />
We are not islands. One of the beauties of life is love. Who is in your life that cares about you? Sometimes, we need to lean on others and allow them to help us walk along the path. Just as we are not in control, we are not self-sufficient either. We are made for community. We are made to connect. Don't give in to the myth that you must be strong and independent. <br />
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In my case, in the early stages of my tumour, I was really sick, I didn't share with anyone (including my family) for months. The main reason was that my family were dealing with the news of my 11 month old niece having been diagnosed with leukaemia and I didn't want to add worry. I also rationalised that whilst my tumour was knocking the stuffing out of me, it wasn't going to kill me, whereas darling Ruby was in a fight for her life. I figured sharing my struggles would be selfish. Often we do this - compare our struggles to someone else's and think that we are better off, so keep a positive outlook. I try to have a positive outlook on life, and part of my mind style and the way that I am wired is, "just get on with it!" I was so busy trying to be positive and get on with it, that I struggled for months on my own. When I eventually told my boss I was struggling at work, and told my Mum I was struggling to get through my days, it helped me acknowledge the very real challenges I was facing. In opening up my journey to family and friends, I found grace and encouragement. Share with those in your life who know you and care. Whilst they are not walking your journey, they can hold you up when you are struggling and shine a light for you when you are in dark, scary places.<br />
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If you are currently in one of those unexpected times yourself, and you are feeling swept off your feet, take a moment and meditate on the words of David … Peace be with you.<br />
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<h3 style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 1.05em;">
<span class="text Ps-139-1" id="en-NIV-16241" style="background-color: black;">Psalm 139</span></h3>
<h4 style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-top: 1em;">
<span class="text Ps-139-1" style="background-color: black;">For the director of music. Of David. A psalm.</span></h4>
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<span class="text Ps-139-1" style="background-color: black; position: relative;"><span class="versenum" style="display: block; font-size: 0.75em; font-weight: bold; left: -4.8em; position: absolute; vertical-align: top;">1 </span>You have searched me,<span class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-16241A" title="See cross-reference A">A</a>)"></span> <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span>,</span><br />
<span class="indent-1" style="background-color: black;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="font-family: monospace; font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-139-1" style="position: relative;">and you know<span class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-16241B" title="See cross-reference B">B</a>)"></span> me.</span></span><br />
<span class="text Ps-139-2" id="en-NIV-16242" style="background-color: black; position: relative;"><span class="versenum" style="display: block; font-size: 0.75em; font-weight: bold; left: -4.8em; position: absolute; vertical-align: top;">2 </span>You know when I sit and when I rise;<span class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-16242C" title="See cross-reference C">C</a>)"></span></span><br />
<span class="indent-1" style="background-color: black;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="font-family: monospace; font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-139-2" style="position: relative;">you perceive my thoughts<span class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-16242D" title="See cross-reference D">D</a>)"></span> from afar.</span></span><br />
<span class="text Ps-139-3" id="en-NIV-16243" style="background-color: black; position: relative;"><span class="versenum" style="display: block; font-size: 0.75em; font-weight: bold; left: -4.8em; position: absolute; vertical-align: top;">3 </span>You discern my going out<span class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-16243E" title="See cross-reference E">E</a>)"></span> and my lying down;</span><br />
<span class="indent-1" style="background-color: black;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="font-family: monospace; font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-139-3" style="position: relative;">you are familiar with all my ways.<span class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-16243F" title="See cross-reference F">F</a>)"></span></span></span><br />
<span class="text Ps-139-4" id="en-NIV-16244" style="background-color: black; position: relative;"><span class="versenum" style="display: block; font-size: 0.75em; font-weight: bold; left: -4.8em; position: absolute; vertical-align: top;">4 </span>Before a word is on my tongue</span><br />
<span class="indent-1" style="background-color: black;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="font-family: monospace; font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-139-4" style="position: relative;">you, <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span>, know it completely.<span class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-16244G" title="See cross-reference G">G</a>)"></span></span></span><br />
<span class="text Ps-139-5" id="en-NIV-16245" style="background-color: black; position: relative;"><span class="versenum" style="display: block; font-size: 0.75em; font-weight: bold; left: -4.8em; position: absolute; vertical-align: top;">5 </span>You hem me in<span class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-16245H" title="See cross-reference H">H</a>)"></span> behind and before,</span><br />
<span class="indent-1" style="background-color: black;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="font-family: monospace; font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-139-5" style="position: relative;">and you lay your hand upon me.</span></span><br />
<span class="text Ps-139-6" id="en-NIV-16246" style="background-color: black; position: relative;"><span class="versenum" style="display: block; font-size: 0.75em; font-weight: bold; left: -4.8em; position: absolute; vertical-align: top;">6 </span>Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,<span class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-16246I" title="See cross-reference I">I</a>)"></span></span><br />
<span class="indent-1" style="background-color: black;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="font-family: monospace; font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-139-6" style="position: relative;">too lofty<span class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-16246J" title="See cross-reference J">J</a>)"></span> for me to attain.</span></span></div>
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<div class="poetry top-05" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding-left: 2.6em; position: relative;">
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<span class="text Ps-139-7" id="en-NIV-16247" style="background-color: black; position: relative;"><span class="versenum" style="display: block; font-size: 0.75em; font-weight: bold; left: -4.8em; position: absolute; vertical-align: top;">7 </span>Where can I go from your Spirit?</span><br />
<span class="indent-1" style="background-color: black;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="font-family: monospace; font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-139-7" style="position: relative;">Where can I flee<span class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-16247K" title="See cross-reference K">K</a>)"></span> from your presence?</span></span><br />
<span class="text Ps-139-8" id="en-NIV-16248" style="background-color: black; position: relative;"><span class="versenum" style="display: block; font-size: 0.75em; font-weight: bold; left: -4.8em; position: absolute; vertical-align: top;">8 </span>If I go up to the heavens,<span class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-16248L" title="See cross-reference L">L</a>)"></span> you are there;</span><br />
<span class="indent-1" style="background-color: black;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="font-family: monospace; font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-139-8" style="position: relative;">if I make my bed<span class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-16248M" title="See cross-reference M">M</a>)"></span> in the depths, you are there.</span></span><br />
<span class="text Ps-139-9" id="en-NIV-16249" style="background-color: black; position: relative;"><span class="versenum" style="display: block; font-size: 0.75em; font-weight: bold; left: -4.8em; position: absolute; vertical-align: top;">9 </span>If I rise on the wings of the dawn,</span><br />
<span class="indent-1" style="background-color: black;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="font-family: monospace; font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-139-9" style="position: relative;">if I settle on the far side of the sea,</span></span><br />
<span class="text Ps-139-10" id="en-NIV-16250" style="background-color: black; position: relative;"><span class="versenum" style="display: block; font-size: 0.75em; font-weight: bold; left: -4.8em; position: absolute; vertical-align: top;">10 </span>even there your hand will guide me,<span class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-16250N" title="See cross-reference N">N</a>)"></span></span><br />
<span class="indent-1" style="background-color: black;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="font-family: monospace; font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-139-10" style="position: relative;">your right hand<span class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-16250O" title="See cross-reference O">O</a>)"></span> will hold me fast.</span></span><br />
<span class="text Ps-139-11" id="en-NIV-16251" style="background-color: black; position: relative;"><span class="versenum" style="display: block; font-size: 0.75em; font-weight: bold; left: -4.8em; position: absolute; vertical-align: top;">11 </span>If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me</span><br />
<span class="indent-1" style="background-color: black;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="font-family: monospace; font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-139-11" style="position: relative;">and the light become night around me,”</span></span><br />
<span class="text Ps-139-12" id="en-NIV-16252" style="background-color: black; position: relative;"><span class="versenum" style="display: block; font-size: 0.75em; font-weight: bold; left: -4.8em; position: absolute; vertical-align: top;">12 </span>even the darkness will not be dark<span class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-16252P" title="See cross-reference P">P</a>)"></span> to you;</span><br />
<span class="indent-1" style="background-color: black;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="font-family: monospace; font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-139-12" style="position: relative;">the night will shine like the day,</span></span><br />
<span class="indent-1" style="background-color: black;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="font-family: monospace; font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-139-12" style="position: relative;">for darkness is as light to you.</span></span></div>
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<div class="poetry top-05" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding-left: 2.6em; position: relative;">
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<span class="text Ps-139-13" id="en-NIV-16253" style="background-color: black; position: relative;"><span class="versenum" style="display: block; font-size: 0.75em; font-weight: bold; left: -4.8em; position: absolute; vertical-align: top;">13 </span>For you created my inmost being;<span class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-16253Q" title="See cross-reference Q">Q</a>)"></span></span><br />
<span class="indent-1" style="background-color: black;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="font-family: monospace; font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-139-13" style="position: relative;">you knit me together<span class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-16253R" title="See cross-reference R">R</a>)"></span> in my mother’s womb.<span class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-16253S" title="See cross-reference S">S</a>)"></span></span></span><br />
<span class="text Ps-139-14" id="en-NIV-16254" style="background-color: black; position: relative;"><span class="versenum" style="display: block; font-size: 0.75em; font-weight: bold; left: -4.8em; position: absolute; vertical-align: top;">14 </span>I praise you<span class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-16254T" title="See cross-reference T">T</a>)"></span> because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;</span><br />
<span class="indent-1" style="background-color: black;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="font-family: monospace; font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-139-14" style="position: relative;">your works are wonderful,<span class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-16254U" title="See cross-reference U">U</a>)"></span></span></span><br />
<span class="indent-1" style="background-color: black;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="font-family: monospace; font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-139-14" style="position: relative;">I know that full well.</span></span><br />
<span class="text Ps-139-15" id="en-NIV-16255" style="background-color: black; position: relative;"><span class="versenum" style="display: block; font-size: 0.75em; font-weight: bold; left: -4.8em; position: absolute; vertical-align: top;">15 </span>My frame was not hidden from you</span><br />
<span class="indent-1" style="background-color: black;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="font-family: monospace; font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-139-15" style="position: relative;">when I was made<span class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-16255V" title="See cross-reference V">V</a>)"></span> in the secret place,</span></span><br />
<span class="indent-1" style="background-color: black;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="font-family: monospace; font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-139-15" style="position: relative;">when I was woven together<span class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-16255W" title="See cross-reference W">W</a>)"></span> in the depths of the earth.<span class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-16255X" title="See cross-reference X">X</a>)"></span></span></span><br />
<span class="text Ps-139-16" id="en-NIV-16256" style="background-color: black; position: relative;"><span class="versenum" style="display: block; font-size: 0.75em; font-weight: bold; left: -4.8em; position: absolute; vertical-align: top;">16 </span>Your eyes saw my unformed body;</span><br />
<span class="indent-1" style="background-color: black;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="font-family: monospace; font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-139-16" style="position: relative;">all the days ordained<span class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-16256Y" title="See cross-reference Y">Y</a>)"></span> for me were written in your book</span></span><br />
<span class="indent-1" style="background-color: black;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="font-family: monospace; font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-139-16" style="position: relative;">before one of them came to be.</span></span><br />
<span class="text Ps-139-17" id="en-NIV-16257" style="background-color: black; position: relative;"><span class="versenum" style="display: block; font-size: 0.75em; font-weight: bold; left: -4.8em; position: absolute; vertical-align: top;">17 </span>How precious to me are your thoughts,<span class="footnote" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="[<a href="#fen-NIV-16257a" title="See footnote a">a</a>]">[<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+139#fen-NIV-16257a" style="color: #b37162; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: top;" title="See footnote a">a</a>]</span><span class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-16257Z" title="See cross-reference Z">Z</a>)"></span> God!<span class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-16257AA" title="See cross-reference AA">AA</a>)"></span></span><br />
<span class="indent-1" style="background-color: black;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="font-family: monospace; font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-139-17" style="position: relative;">How vast is the sum of them!</span></span><br />
<span class="text Ps-139-18" id="en-NIV-16258" style="background-color: black; position: relative;"><span class="versenum" style="display: block; font-size: 0.75em; font-weight: bold; left: -4.8em; position: absolute; vertical-align: top;">18 </span>Were I to count them,<span class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-16258AB" title="See cross-reference AB">AB</a>)"></span></span><br />
<span class="indent-1" style="background-color: black;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="font-family: monospace; font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-139-18" style="position: relative;">they would outnumber the grains of sand<span class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-16258AC" title="See cross-reference AC">AC</a>)"></span>—</span></span><br />
<span class="indent-1" style="background-color: black;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="font-family: monospace; font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-139-18" style="position: relative;">when I awake,<span class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-16258AD" title="See cross-reference AD">AD</a>)"></span> I am still with you ...</span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="poetry top-05" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding-left: 2.6em; position: relative;">
<div class="line">
<span class="text Ps-139-23" id="en-NIV-16263" style="background-color: black; position: relative;"><span class="versenum" style="display: block; font-size: 0.75em; font-weight: bold; left: -4.8em; position: absolute; vertical-align: top;">23 </span>Search me,<span class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-16263AM" title="See cross-reference AM">AM</a>)"></span> God, and know my heart;<span class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-16263AN" title="See cross-reference AN">AN</a>)"></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black;"><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="font-family: monospace; font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-139-23" style="position: relative;">test me and know my anxious thoughts.<span style="font-size: 0.75em; font-weight: bold;"> </span></span></span><span class="text Ps-139-24" id="en-NIV-16264" style="position: relative;">See if there is any offensive way<span class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-16264AO" title="See cross-reference AO">AO</a>)"></span> in me,</span></span><br />
<span class="indent-1" style="background-color: black;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="font-family: monospace; font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-139-24" style="position: relative;">and lead me<span style="font-size: 0.65em;"><span class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-16264AP" title="See cross-reference AP">AP</a>)"></span></span> in the way everlasting</span></span></div>
</div>
Sassiekiwihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08201502064231879505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7717431580924129078.post-36039999143654763532013-09-14T22:10:00.000+09:002013-09-14T22:15:48.031+09:00Hemmed In ...<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHsUaV4Zxuqjmv-IxzDOH9CEfEgUnPCSHRG0j7qwcZTCUwABWg6VlJkGN06qEb4FXw1TD-J1gSEB81MKXrkk4n-xyWJ7Qb15kvuWPfoGvjaN770EP8yUHY2rpJb4GLn7gV8I-ytUawvmc/s1600/IMG_0032.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHsUaV4Zxuqjmv-IxzDOH9CEfEgUnPCSHRG0j7qwcZTCUwABWg6VlJkGN06qEb4FXw1TD-J1gSEB81MKXrkk4n-xyWJ7Qb15kvuWPfoGvjaN770EP8yUHY2rpJb4GLn7gV8I-ytUawvmc/s320/IMG_0032.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Liquid Satin<br />
Kaikoura, New Zealand<br />
Copyright Sarah Carpenter</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: white; font-family: inherit;">This week, I have been
hemmed in. I tried to leave Seoul for Chusok by booking tickets in March.
I tried to go to lovely Sorrento but couldn't get flights. I tried
to go and see a friend in Den Haag, but couldn't get flights. I then
tried to go and see a friend in London. Yup ... no flights. Crazy. Some
other things happened and made me realise that God wants my undivided attention
this week. I am facing some major decisions and need to hear from him. More
than that, he wants time alone with me. So this week, I am kind of on a
retreat ... at my house in Seoul.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: white;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I was recently writing to a friend replying that
I was not travelling this break </span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">and I was a little MEH about that. A</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">s I was writing, I felt a scripture
from the bible drop in my mind, It's from Ps 139 and it says, "you hem me
in behind and before, you have laid your hand upon me ..."</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="color: white; font-family: inherit;">and I said to my friend, "I think God has
hemmed me in this vacation ... he wants my undivided attention ..."</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="color: white; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="color: white; font-family: inherit;">In the same Psalm, it says "if I
rise on the wings of the dawn, and settle on the far side of the sea, even
there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast" ...<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: white;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;">This is an interesting scripture to drop into my mind during a time of possible transition as it is the same one that God impressed on me when I made the move to Seoul. Along with that scripture, I had a clear image in my mind. T</span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">he image I had was that when I got
to the airport and I was leaving ... it would be like God was standing at the
departure gates waving me off saying "have a great time ..." I</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">n the same image I could also see
him walking through the departure gates with me, saying, "let's go ... its
going to be awesome!" </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">I also could see
me arriving at the other end and see him there waiting for me as I came out of the arrival gates
saying ... "come in ... so glad you are here ... its all organized!"</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: white; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: white;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I took a lot of comfort in that picture, knowing that I was not walking alone on the path unfolding for me. But something even more amazing happened. This</span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> is what actually happened with it
in real life ...</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="color: white; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: white;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I got to the airport with about 80 kilos of luggage ... m</span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">y whole life packed up and resources for school. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">I had called the airline ahead and they
told me it would be $18 NZD a kilo for excess ...</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">I decided I had to just bite it and pay.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: white; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="color: white; font-family: inherit;">When I got to the airport it was 40 dollars a
kilo and they told me my bill would be about $2,000<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: white;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;">So I turned to my friend who was with me
and said, "go tell the others to pray ... its way more than they said
..." </span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">and then I looked at the lady and said (respectfully), "well, I guess I just have to pay.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">I am moving my whole life to Korea .... and I need all these things."</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: white; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="color: white; font-family: inherit;">She told me to wait, walked away for a bit and then came back and said, "you only have to pay $200!"<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: white; font-family: inherit;">Seriously! Unheard of. No one at airports is that nice with
excess luggage ... :) So there is God behind me ... waving me off ...</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: white; font-family: inherit;">I get on the flight ... It was
good ... and then ... the story gets better ...</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="color: white; font-family: inherit;">I arrive at Incheon airport - it had been open about a month.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="color: white; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: white;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I step out of the door of the plane onto the jetway ... and notice </span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">there
are some officials there ... one of them is holding a sign that says, "welcome Sarah Cartenter".</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: white; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="color: white; font-family: inherit;">I looked at "Cartenter" and thought ...
that must be me ... with a typo ...<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="color: white; font-family: inherit;">So I looked at them and said, "Carpenter?"<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="color: white; font-family: inherit;">(and we are in the jetway remember ...
right by the door of the plane) ...<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="color: white; font-family: inherit;">so they go, "Seoul Foreign School?" and I reply "yes ..."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="color: white; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: white;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;">There is a flurry of bowing and
card exchanging and I am whisked off with the officials ... thinking "what the
heck ...?!?" I</span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">t was all super fast ... they
grabbed my passport ... whilst I freak out about that, I was roared off to the diplomat channel ... someone grabbed
my bags and I was through this huge international airport in about 10 minutes
... whipped out in the arrival lounge where the head of school was waiting for
me looking completely bemused as I was diverted sideways to meet more officials in a flurry of bowing! </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: white; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: white; font-family: inherit;">I could see my new boss wondering what the heck was going on ...</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="color: white; font-family: inherit;">as was I ...<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="color: white; font-family: inherit;">God was smiling. He went before me.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="color: white; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="color: white; font-family: inherit;">Here is the back story to that ...<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: white;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;">My school in NZ had quite a few
Korean kids ... and one of them, Danny, was not in my class, but was in my
team. And as a senior teacher, I
had had to deal with him a few times on behavior issues! W</span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">hen he heard I was moving to Korea he was really excited and kept asking how I was going ... when would I
get there ... so I told him I was flying Korean Air and the day I was leaving.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: white; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="color: white; font-family: inherit;">His father was the one who met me at the
door. His uncle was a key facilitator in the development of the new airport ...very important
person. So I got the VIP
treatement into Korea ...<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="color: white; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: white;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;">God hemmed me in behind
and before ... he went before me ... waited and said, come on in ... its all
ready for you! A</span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">mazing! </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: white;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;">To me it is interesting that at this time of
possible transition, the scripture he reminds me of this week, is the same one
I had in my heart before I left for Korea ... </span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">I know my steps are ordered ... and I
just know this week, I need to connect with him and make the plans and see what
happens ...</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="color: white; font-family: inherit;">Tonight as I end my
reflection time I am grateful. I know without a shadow of a doubt that I am
loved. Although I am single, I do not have to make the big decisions in my life
that I am facing by myself. I have someone whose hand is on me and under me.
Tonight I am reminded that he hems me in behind and before. He has laid his hand on me. If I rise on the wings of the dawn and settle on the
far side of the sea, even there, his hand will guide me. His right hand will
hold me fast.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="color: white; font-family: inherit;">God has proven that time
and time to me. I rest easy and my heart is full of gratitude.</span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Sassiekiwihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08201502064231879505noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7717431580924129078.post-84260051556313427042013-05-22T14:41:00.001+09:002013-05-22T14:41:42.409+09:00Finish StrongThoughts shared with SFS staff May 22nd 2013<br />
<br />
<iframe src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/66703338" width="500" height="281" frameborder="0" webkitAllowFullScreen mozallowfullscreen allowFullScreen></iframe> <p><a href="http://vimeo.com/66703338">Finish Strong</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user10456173">Sarah Carpenter</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.</p>Sassiekiwihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08201502064231879505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7717431580924129078.post-80133405323824958632013-05-06T22:22:00.001+09:002013-05-06T22:22:16.752+09:00Looking for Crossfit and Bootcamp Posts?!?Hi All<br />
<br />
I decided I needed to start a new blog that is for my crossfit/bootcamp journey as this one was really not about that! This one is more about my spiritual journey!<br />
<br />
Also, I decided that as part of my professional development (I am a Ed Tech person), I need to get my head around wordpress. So apologies ... the new blog currently looks horrible, but I am working on it as I can.<br />
<br />
The content will be my thoughts and reflections on my journey to health and wellness!<br />
<br />
Stop by ... see you over there<br />
<a href="http://0ut0fthebox.wordpress.com/">http://0ut0fthebox.wordpress.com</a><br />
<br />
Peace<br />
<br />
Sarah<br />
<br />
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<br />Sassiekiwihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08201502064231879505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7717431580924129078.post-24852224166974186282013-04-28T21:19:00.001+09:002013-04-28T21:19:31.316+09:00Break it Down<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I like the idea here about "grooving a habit so that you reflexively respond in the correct manner" ...<br />
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Exercise is like music! When I was child learning piano, you would break it right down. Take a couple of bars ... left hand ... right hand ... hands together. Sometimes ... you would go over and over a specific fingering. It did not always feel comfortable but once you got the groove of it, it would just flow!<br />
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Earlier this year I attended a functional fitness workshop as part of an educational conference. The guy taking it gave me a lightbulb moment! He said for years, we have taught children PE by teaching some skills and expecting them to go for it. I used the analogy of music. He used the analogy of writing. First we teach children their phonics ... they make words ... then they make sentences ... then they put those together and do paragraphs. Often in PE, we ask children to jump straight into paragraphs instead of helping them make words and sentences. Wow. Yes. That was my experience too ... and as an uncoordinated child ... it wasn't a positive experience, I couldn't get it. <br />
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Yesterday I was working with my coach and this is what we did. We took the movement of a push jerk and broke it right down. We spent a lot of time just working on dropping into position with hips back. Once I got that (and it took a bit) ... we added driving hips through and extending ... coming up onto toes and then once we had that ... we added dropping back down with feet jumping out. Words ... sentences ... paragraph. Back to the basics. What do you need to work on? Break it down and build it back up. You won't regret it!Sassiekiwihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08201502064231879505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7717431580924129078.post-32549910795912226162013-04-25T07:31:00.000+09:002013-04-25T08:18:44.636+09:00Get Comfortable Being Uncomfortable!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf1uwIaPj3K2zFduTjHtP0D-ItM05cLCaxN0o0g2QD_IeI-JfOz-Xa4SIAUqDmmsuNcWs0DfeAVCXspOqQMDF14oHQPG8goyD6nPPeun7pWz4eO_VRXo_lBE-XKg0KzrRc1Cty_-kBxbc/s1600/comofortable+with+uncomfortable.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f3f3f3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf1uwIaPj3K2zFduTjHtP0D-ItM05cLCaxN0o0g2QD_IeI-JfOz-Xa4SIAUqDmmsuNcWs0DfeAVCXspOqQMDF14oHQPG8goyD6nPPeun7pWz4eO_VRXo_lBE-XKg0KzrRc1Cty_-kBxbc/s320/comofortable+with+uncomfortable.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f3f3f3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The other week, part of my workout involved several rounds of rowing sprints - rowing hard, then kicking up into a handstand. I had less than two minutes for each of the rowing segments ... whatever the seconds marked off after the first minute were, was the amount of time I had to hold the handstand. So if my row took 1.52, then I would need to hold the handstand 52 seconds. As part of the workout, I had 30 seconds to get myself up into the handstand from the time I got off the rower. A month or so back, I would probably need the 30 seconds to either (A) get over the mental fear of committing hands to ground or (B) I would need multiple tries to get up. After a stern talking to myself (which went something along the lines of, "stop thinking about it ... hands flat, foot to the wall and commit ..." I kicked every one of my handstands first time. Holding in position has never been the issue ... just getting there. I took 30 seconds I had, to get my breath back under control.</span><br />
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At the end of that session, my coach had a talk with me about the need to get comfortable being uncomfortable. His point was that I just need to transition to the next thing, even when it is not physically comfortable for me. </span><br />
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This brings me to the subject of comfort zones. Our best growth occurs when we push outside of them. Sometimes it is a mental comfort zone (such as me overcoming my fear of crashing down and injuring myself) and sometimes it is physical ... where we think we can't do another thing because we are sucking air! If we keep pushing through ... one thought ... one choice ... one rep ... one step at a time, we will win the moment and win the day!</span><br />
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Sometimes, we need those people in our lives who keep pushing us when we think we have stretched as far as we can. Commit to the stretch and get comfortable with discomfort!</span>Sassiekiwihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08201502064231879505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7717431580924129078.post-77632428187184143482013-04-17T06:43:00.001+09:002013-04-19T11:40:17.218+09:00How Much Longer?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Recently, I have had several friends ask how much longer will I be exercising 5 times a week. That question has also been asked as, "what weight will be enough?"<br />
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It's not about the weight and hasn't been about the weight for a long time (do I still need to lose some ... yes I do ... ). Weight is the thing that people focus on because it is the physical manifestation of this journey I have been on.</div>
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I sat with a friend the other week trying to explain what it is that keeps me going. I said that I love the challenges ... Can I do a handstand? Yes (I still have to take a breath and slap my mind around it but am becoming less fearful)! Can I do a handstand pushup? Not yet but I am determined that I will! Can I do an unassisted pullup? Not yet, but I have graduated from a black band to a green one! Can I get out of the hole when squatting with weight? Not very well yet ... but I am working on it. Most of all, I love overcoming fear and doing something that I was afraid of. The joy of the journey is in the little successes along the way, and like life, we never arrive. </div>
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As the "unsporty" kid, I never dreamed as an adult I would find exercise enjoyable. And never in a million years did I realise the connections between the mental and the physical. When work is stressful, it really helps to go and push some weight around. When I am tired and cranky, it often helps to work out. My body feels more in balance and my mind is being stretched and changed. How much longer? Hopefully, for life!</div>
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Sassiekiwihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08201502064231879505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7717431580924129078.post-53988566368443969872013-04-07T19:26:00.003+09:002013-04-07T19:26:50.811+09:00What I Learnt From The Crossfit Open<div style="text-align: center;">
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">My training buddy Jenny and I</span></i></div>
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So ... the Crossfit Open is over for another year. A year ago I would never have imagined I would participate, let alone get 3 scores on the board. My coach and workout buddy talked me into participating this year and I am glad they did. Here is what I am taking away from the the 2013 games.<br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b6d7a8;">It's All About Participation</span></b></div>
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Really, to be part of a global community all participating in the same thing is something quite amazing. This year 138,000 people around the world registered to compete.</div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b6d7a8;">Benchmarks Are Great Things To Have</span></b></div>
When I said that I would do the games, I honestly expected to do all the workouts in a scaled form as I am so new to Crossfit and still have not mastered many of the skills. I never dreamed that I could do any of the workouts RX. My little scores (way WAY down on the leaderboard) were pretty much personal bests for me. I pb'd burpees ... I pd'd snatching (heck I learnt the basics of snatching 2 weeks before 13.1) and I pb'd my overhead split jerk. I got 75lbs up for the first time three days before 13.2 and to do that workout and get it up 15 times (although one was a no rep because I forgot to bring my feet together under it - darn it!) was a really incredible thing for me.<br />
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Best of all, I have a good sense of where I am at on many of the movements - as well as where I am not! When I made the decision not to do 13.4, I felt like I made that out of a place of strength rather than a place of fear. Previously, I didn't want to do workouts because I was afraid. This time, I was able to look at it and know that I was likely to injure myself trying and the smart thing to do would be to do a scaled workout and then go cheer my training buddy on!<br />
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Having a good sense of where I am now, makes me clearer about where I would like to be in a years time. For example, I would like to be able to do toes to bar. I would like to be able to do handstand pushups. I would like to be able to clean and jerk 95lbs. And ... if I can sort my stinky archilles out, I would like double unders!<br />
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Warming Up for 13.2</span></i></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b6d7a8;">Increased Confidence</span></b></div>
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Having a better sense of what I can and can't do, has given me more confidence. For example, when training the other night I had some sets of burpees to do. I was trying to keep my pace on the workout high (and since I was sucking air at the end of each round, I think I did!). When I hit the burpees I remember that I just kept hurling myself to the floor and getting up, to immediately hurl myself back to the floor. At one point going through my brain was the thought that not so long ago I struggled to get down and kick my legs out and back, let alone get up again. However, after doing 13.1, I was like ... Burpees ... I got these!</div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b6d7a8;">Form is Everything</span></b></div>
One of the great things about the games is that every workout is judged, so you must maintain good form. I learnt how costly a no-rep is in 13.2 when split jerking my 75lbs overhead. This was an incredibly hard weight for me and it took EVERYTHING I had. The deadlifts were super easy and I was managing the box step-ups fine too. By forgetting to bring my feet together under my weight when it was up, I no-repped that effort. It was the difference between the 4th and 5th in the set. If I had my feet together, I would have been able to go straight onto deadlifts and box stepups, had a small rest from the jerks and probably got another 25 - 28 on my score. Instead, because of that huge effort and a small failure in form, I wasted the energy and spent nearly two minutes trying to get ONE more rep over my head. That one rep cost me a LOT.<br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b6d7a8;">Bumper Plates Are A Gift</span></b></div>
Because I often train in our weight room and we do not have bumper plates, I cannot drop the weights when pushing hard. This also means I don't push as hard on heavier weight, because bringing it down is hard work too. When I was doing 13.2 at the box, I seriously messed up my shoulders (they were black and blue for two weeks after the workout) by not dropping the bar and not having the strength to bring it down tightly controlled! I learnt quickly ... when you have bumpers, drop the weight. SO much easier and you save a lot of energy. Seriously, bumper plates rock - drop the weight people!<br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b6d7a8;">Never Underestimate the Power of Encouragement</span></b></div>
This is what I love about the crossfit community. People cheer and encourage others. It's not only about the hero athletes ... the elite ones ... its about Joe Normal - you and I, those ones that just get in there and give it everything they have. I love that people are thrilled for people's achievements, no matter where they are at! Everyone has been there at some point. I was inspired watching others workout and being able to cheer them on. It's thrilling to watch someone do their best and give it their all ... even when they are new like me and struggling, to see them persevere and push through is powerful!<br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b6d7a8;">A New Definition of Athlete</span></b></div>
My training buddy and I thought it would be fun to get a tshirt for the open and surprise our coach wearing them to one of the open workouts. One night at training, my buddy was wearing her shirt. My coach looked at me and asked if I had worn mine yet. My response, "nope". When he asked why not, I responded that I had a problem with it. When asked what the problem was, I said, "the word ATHLETE". And I did have a problem with that word, because it conjured up someone physically amazing (which I am not). My training buddy (who happens to be a very good athlete) and I had a chat about athlete and she redefined it. In our conversation, she mentioned that people often think of athlete only in terms on the "doing" or achievements - and how well you do defines whether you are an athlete. We talked about the qualities of an athlete - not the doing, so much as a state of being ... dedicated ... consistent ... courageous ... willing to push beyond ... try again and again ... and not accept failure and defeat. When I thought of an athlete in those terms, I find myself starting to believe that maybe, I am becoming an athlete after all. <br />
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Am I thankful I registered? Heck yeah ... Bring on 2014 :)<br />
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<br />Sassiekiwihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08201502064231879505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7717431580924129078.post-54488629090155772352013-03-03T17:24:00.001+09:002013-03-04T12:27:03.143+09:00Reflections on A Year's Journey of Bootcamp and Crossfit ...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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A year ago this week, I started a journey ... and what a ride it's been. A year ago this week, I made the decision to become a lot more proactive in my health. I had come out of several years of poor health, dealing with chronic anaemia and severe endometriosis, a hysterectomy at 39, and then a pituitary tumour. These things knocked the stuffing out of me - literally. In my darkest, hardest times, I was sleeping a day and a half of every weekend, sleeping after school for 3 - 4 hours, getting up to make some food and then going back and sleeping like the dead for another 9 - 10 hours a night. I needed multiple alarms to wake me up because I slept so heavily. I lived in a state of constant exhaustion - so bad that there were a few times I caught myself having fallen asleep at my computer at work. Exercise was the furtherest thing from my mind. After my hysterectomy, we stabilized my anaemia and then I just had to deal with my tumour. As I have continued in treatment for that, it gradually shrank and I've gotten stronger and healthier and felt so much better. My body was ready for more.<br />
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In March 2012, <a href="http://www.reebokcrossfitsentinel.com/" target="_blank">Reebok Crossfit Sentinel</a> started a satellite bootcamp class on our campus and I realized that this was my opportunity to get moving and start to rebuild health and become stronger. For those of you that don't know me, I have never been athletic or coordinated and have many negative memories of sport at school. In fact, I have realized whilst working through the past year, that a lot of shame was attached to physical activity for me. Shame of not being good enough and constantly failing. Basically, I locked that part of my life up tight in a basement room with huge steel doors and never went near it. No one else was allowed near it either!</div>
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In the beginning of March 2012, I rocked up to our very first bootcamp class and spent the next two months literally hating it. I liked the variety of exercises and the different routines. I just hated the exercise part. It was hard, it hurt, I struggled to master the movements and felt so inadequate. I turned up because I knew I needed to, and I knew that from where I was ... things could only get better. By the third month, something started to change and click and I loved Bootcamp. I couldn't wait to go. I began to relish the mental challenge and realize just how big a role the mental thing played in the workouts.</div>
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Just after 3 months of Bootcamp, we hit the summer break. I looked at the 2 months stretching out ahead of me and thought, "I am not stopping Bootcamp". I had come too far and the memories of how awful it felt starting were too fresh. So, I got onto some crossfit websites and found bodyweight movements that i could work with through the summer. I designed my own workouts and kept going until September when we started up Bootcamp again. In Arizona, this meant I was outside at 5am when it was 25 degrees, because I knew in 2 hours it would be 35 - 40 degrees and there was no way I could workout in that! It was hard working out by myself, but I wanted to keep moving forward and I realized that staying on the bus is a lot better than getting off and then trying to get back on!</div>
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In October I started training with my Bootcamp coach and my buddy (thanks Brett and Jenny!) ... we started learning crossfit. This is great because Crossfit boxes are all over, and when I am out on vacation at home or elsewhere, I can attend class and keep growing and moving forward. So ... here we are now ... one year on and the journey has been incredible. Here are some of the things I have learnt along the way:</div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b6d7a8;">Just Do IT!</span></b></h3>
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Stop making excuses and JUST DO IT. The famous Nike slogan has a lot of truth. Many of us are brilliant at rationalizing and finding excuses to not exercise. The biggest one I hear, is time. I get it. When I started, I was trying to juggle a very intensive Masters degree and a full time job. I couldn't see how I could fit in three one hour workouts a week. My friend challenged me with ... it's only 3 hours a week Sarah ... come on. I decided I would just sign up and see what happened. And I learnt ... it's all about priorities. We make room in our life for that which we prioritize. Interestingly, everything else in my life still got done. </div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b6d7a8;">Get Your Head In The Game</span></b></h3>
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This is probably the biggest lesson I have learnt. Although my body has been undergoing a lot of physical transformation, the bigger transformation is in my mind and thinking, and it is here that the battle really has to be won. Our thoughts have HUGE impact on what we do. The Bible has a bit to say about taking every thought captive ... by doing this, we pull down mental strongholds. I am learning this again and again - at different levels each time. I have a mantra that has helped me through this year ... it gets me through the hard moments ... </div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffe599;">One thought,</span></i></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffe599;">One Choice</span></i></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffe599;">One Step,</span></i></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffe599;">One Rep at a time ...</span></i></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffe599;">Win the moment ...</span></i></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffe599;">WIN THE DAY</span></i></div>
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The mental thing is something I still deal with. For some reason, in this area of my life my brain is quick to go down the "I can't" trail rather than the ... "let me nail this sucker" one. Rewiring our thinking is important. Catch the thought and then go back to the Nike thing ... "JUST DO IT". Yesterday I jumped on a crossfit box, for no other reason than box jumps currently scare the willies out of me and the day before had been a very stretching day in terms of learning that I CAN jump onto a box. They still scare me ... but every time I do it, I am rewiring that negative voice that says "I can't". </div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b6d7a8;">Nutrition Is Important</span></b></h3>
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One of the big parts of this journey has been nutrition. I have never been a fan of diets. Generally I eat well. I enjoy food and I have a sweet tooth! I have had to learn to view food differently - it's fuel for my body. When I eat this way, I feel better and my body performs better. When I eat for the enjoyment of food, I can get into trouble quickly! </div>
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Essentially my coach and I looked at my diet and noted that I was not eating nearly enough protein and fat. Seeing food as fuel has also changed WHEN I eat certain types of food. I am learning what my body needs before and after a workout. Food logging is a really good place to start getting a handle on how and why you eat. We don't calorie count, we just look at how I am eating and whether it is meeting the needs of my body. </div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b6d7a8;"><b>Be Consistant and Faithful</b></span></h3>
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This is one of the hardest things for us in exercise and nutrition. Living in a fast paced world, we are accustomed to fast ... we want results fast. When we don't see them on the time schedule that we think we should, we get discouraged and quit. I had this temptation. In June 2012, I was very discouraged about how little weight I had lost. The point of this journey has not been about weight, but I had a lot of weight to lose as it was contributing to my poor health. One of my goals has been to get my body fat composition into an acceptable, healthy range - I still have a ways to go on that but I am so much closer than I was. In June, a friend who had been working out similarly had lost over 10 kgs and I had only lost 4. There was the temptation to throw hands in the air and give up. Instead, I thought of my two friends Edie and Dominic, who lost huge amounts of weight and are healthy and fit now. Both of them were consistent in their exercise and nutrition ... in for the long haul. This isn't a quick fix ... this is a life change. I knew if I was consistent and faithful in both those areas, eventually change would happen. I decided that no matter what I was seeing on the outside, change would be occurring on the inside if I just kept going.</div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #93c47d;">No (Wo)man is an Island</span></b></h3>
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The journey is so much easier if you travel with others. We are built for connection. Never underestimate the power of encouragement and journeying with others. This is one of the strengths of crossfit - the great community. People cheering others on. It's awesome. I watched a throwdown at Sentinel with Matt Chan (#2 in the 2012 Crossfit Games) and his wife Cherie. Watching a group of powerful athletes pushing through a full-on workout and then going back to cheer others on when they were finished, was inspiring. We have an awesome group at Bootcamp. I look forward to every workout with that crew!</div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b6d7a8;">Don't Compare Yourself With Others</span></b></h3>
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A common issue when we workout with others, is comparing. Don't. Your journey is yours and yours alone. If you compare to someone better than you, you get discouraged. If you compare to someone who is not as good as you, you are tempted to slacken off. The best comparison you can make is with yourself. Are you growing? Can you do more? Are you seeing changes? This is why logging your workouts is really important ... its pretty exciting to go back and see how far you have come.</div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b6d7a8;">Encouragement and Motivation are Important</span></b></h3>
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What motivates you? For me, the initial motivation was health. Then the motivation was to never feel as awful as I did again about starting with fitness. My motivation has changed to mastering new skills (such as OLY lifts and handstands, and not falling off a bar!) and growing stronger. I want to be that badass girl that can push weights around and push her body around.</div>
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On a daily basis, the thing that really helped me was knowing that I am a word person. I compiled a folder of workout quotes, and when I lack motivation, I scroll through quotes until one resonates with me for the day. There is always something that pushes my buttons!</div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b6d7a8;">Get Help From Someone Who Knows What They Are Doing</span></b></h3>
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For me at this stage on my journey, it is important that I have a coach and go to classes. I started this journey pretty clueless. I have been learning a lot and I still have a lot to learn. I am learning a lot about form and what I can do. In fact right now, my coach has a better sense of what I can do than I do. I am learning to trust that. Each time I have been down an "I can't" road ... he proves me wrong ... slowly I am changing, but right now I am doing things that I would never do if I was left to my own devices, for no other reason than I wouldn't think i could. Some things scare me and my coach pushes me past my comfort zones. This brings me to my next point ...</div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b6d7a8;">Wanna Grow? Get Out Of Your Comfort Zone</span></b></h3>
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I am growing and changing and the main reason is that I am pushing beyond my comfort zone. If you stay with what you are comfortable with, you won't grow. Isaiah 54 commands us to enlarge and stretch ... we need to do this ... don't you want to be bigger and stretched so that you have a greater capacity? I do ... it might be uncomfortable ... but I want to be more than I was. There is joy in growing.</div>
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I cannot emphasize this point enough. As adults we get pretty good at arranging our world so that is comfortable for us. As I mentioned earlier, I had locked up this whole area of my life in a basement room with big doors and I let no-one in there. Too much shame and failure in that room. Bootcamp cracked open those doors, and right now they are wide open! It's uncomfortable and often I feel very vulnerable. I don't like putting myself in a place of failure and having to confront those shame feelings. But as I do, I see more success and those shame feelings are becoming less because there is nothing to be ashamed of when you commit to trying and doing your best. I learnt that one day when I was doing a partner stretch at the end of a workout. I could barely lean forward into the stretch and I was laughing with my partner saying, "wow, that's pathetic". I didn't realize that my coach was behind me. He came around in front of me and said, "I don't ever want to hear you say that Sarah. Everyone starts somewhere and the fact that you have started, is not something to call pathetic". It really challenged me. And he was right. We all start somewhere. What is important is that we start, and we commit to giving our best. </div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b6d7a8;"><b>Take Pride In Your Journey</b></span></h3>
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Where ever you are at in your fitness journey, take a moment to take pride in what you are doing and how far you have come. Then lace up your shoes and push on :)</div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b6d7a8;">A Final Question ...</span></b></h3>
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This has been an amazing year. I have stretched ... grown and changed. Much as there are days I struggle with the challenges, I am so thrilled with the progress I have made. I am stronger and I am grateful. I look forward to the continuing journey. Thanks Jo, Brett, Jenny and all of my Bootcamp buddies who have walked this with me. You are awesome.</div>
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Sassiekiwihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08201502064231879505noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7717431580924129078.post-87981129291275080042012-08-26T11:26:00.000+09:002012-08-26T12:26:08.963+09:00See<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyBxmRUKcM8rc7w1cdYaIpoB3b2Sm9ytG2gITcf4U-FhwRW8zlAuh6kPOgEJCuRVrziE46yEpsHW8epngH4Tg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Papyrus;">I have
already written on the idea of seeing <a href="http://carpentershand.blogspot.kr/2010/02/i-see-you.html" target="_blank">here</a>.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Papyrus; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">But
again, I find myself coming back to it. In the video, I talk about a
young North Korean man that I encountered on the side of the road one day on my first trip to North Korea. I
think of him often. Perhaps it is because it is so easy to see past
people to what we think they represent. We lose their humanity. Its so easy to have stereotyped views in our head ... whether they are political, racial, sexual orientation, or religious. Bottom line is ... people are people and, they matter.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Papyrus; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">With
the tune above, I have had a simple lyric in my head ... something along the
lines of ...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Papyrus; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">I see a
young man<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Papyrus; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">On the
side of the road<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Papyrus; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">His
smile …<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Papyrus; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">Well it’s
a mile<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Papyrus; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">And his
face is all aglow<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Papyrus; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">Light
dances<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Papyrus; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">Moves
as it will<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Papyrus; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">I see
you<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Papyrus; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">And I
know<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Papyrus; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">He does
too<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Papyrus; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">This
lyric ... the idea of seeing and connecting with people took me back to my
first trip to Egypt. There were so many photos I wanted to take but did
not feel I could as I did not want to be offensive with my cameras. One
of those images that is etched in my mind is of a lady walking. Like the
young man in North Korea, we made contact without a word spoken. I saw
her. Not the Muslim lady dressed in galabaiya, carrying her shopping on her head, but instead, her. A
fellow human traveling through life. Much loved by God and of great
value. For an instant we connected. Our paths crossed for a moment and light sparkled.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Papyrus; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Papyrus; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">I came back from Egypt and tried to create word pictures of the
photos I had wanted to capture but didn't. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Papyrus;">Her
word picture is simply called "Lady"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Papyrus;"><b>Lady</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Papyrus;">I see you<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Papyrus;">Gliding along the pavement
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Papyrus;">I see you<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Papyrus;">Your poise, posture and
grace <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Papyrus;">Black galabaiya cannot hide
you<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Papyrus;">I see you<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Papyrus;">strong and proud<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Papyrus;">crowned with dignity and
your shopping<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Papyrus;">Provider for your family<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Papyrus;">I see you<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Papyrus;">Mother<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Papyrus;">Nurturer<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Papyrus;">Strong one<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Papyrus;">Lady<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Papyrus;">Green eyes meet brown <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Papyrus;">I smile<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Papyrus;">Light dances across your
weary face <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Papyrus;">I see </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Papyrus;">You<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Papyrus;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Papyrus;">I guess this morning, I am thinking how we are all fearfully and wonderfully made in God's image - it doesn't matter that we are imperfect with struggles and challenges. Each of us is beautiful. The challenge is ... can we look past the baggage or the surface and see the beauty within. We are all cracked pots ... none of us is flawless ... realize that our simple cracks are ways for the light within to shine out.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Papyrus;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Papyrus;">Peace.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Papyrus;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Papyrus;">S</span></div>
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Sassiekiwihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08201502064231879505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7717431580924129078.post-82380243312010834382011-12-07T06:43:00.000+09:002011-12-07T06:43:59.133+09:00He Reigns - The Song<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxBQ_06KMRclRjTWd2XVIUdcDRIgUe_kVViqZKIqhOBmLqvQcp3VdcN2JPcAW_Z7Yo3fYXS1nB4UOEHqy3n' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br />
I recorded this last night for a friend of mine who is going through some hard times. It actually is a song I wrote in some very dark times for me a few years ago. I posted it about it <a href="http://carpentershand.blogspot.com/2009/04/he-reigns.html" target="_blank">here</a>. The file is 24mb so might take a couple of minutes to download.<br />
<br />
I can't believe its been a year since I have posted anything here. Working on my Masters has consumed pretty much all my spare time - leaving me little time to think, ponder and write. Not even sure if anyone is still reading this, but if you are ... maybe this will encourage you if you are in season of hard times.<br />
<br />
I thought I would add an excerpt from my post on <a href="http://carpentershand.blogspot.com/2009/04/to-every-thing-turn-turn-enduring.html" target="_blank">enduring seasons</a> that explains a little of the "he makes me lie down" line ...<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">One of the things I have learnt over the past few years (and I am still learning it!) is what it means to trust God, stop fighting, lie down and submit. I’ll give you one last story to illustrate this point. When I was diagnosed with my tumour, things were spinning out of my control and I was really struggling. I had to go for an MRI and I did not know what to expect. I did my best to prepare but nothing I read, prepared me for the fact that when they did it, they would want to put a needle in my arm, insert a canula and inject dye. I am really needle phobic and need to psych myself up for things like that. At the MRI machine, none of them spoke English so it was even more of a drama. It might sound strange to you, but one of the hardest things for me was to have to lie down on that MRI machine and surrender control of my body to other people – especially people I could not communicate with. I was telling a friend about that and she spoke the following to me, “the Lord is my shepherd … he MAKES me lie down …” This made me think of my friend Frances. When we were growing up, she had a pet lamb named Thunder. She would pick him up and he would bleat and baa, and kick and struggle. She would flip him on his back and he would go completely limp and lie peacefully in her arms gazing adoringly at her face. Sometimes we are like Thunder. We don’t want to lie down, we kick and we fight. We struggle to gain control. Sometimes, all God is asking of us, is to lie down and surrender to the process … whatever that process is. Lie back in his arms and trust him completely.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><br />
</span><br />
<br />
Peace!<br />
<br />
S<br />
<br />
<a href="http://carpentershand.blogspot.com/2009/04/he-reigns.html" target="_blank">http://carpentershand.blogspot.com/2009/04/he-reigns.html</a>Sassiekiwihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08201502064231879505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7717431580924129078.post-30606823858061152912010-12-06T01:37:00.002+09:002010-12-06T01:37:59.508+09:00Hungry?<!--StartFragment--> <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvw9rfoedYfzrbqgLllfMFv0JXyXvtZWuN8qTn_csjJX8N2gXrZbczb55uvUIuhv5CO7LnSJP7bV4gYznj9RCuq26-fROLa3L-KJuBD7pMywBbTw57StqmujT0oKpkhaAI3QZ8Qg_qcuo/s1600/Amalfi+Sunrise.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvw9rfoedYfzrbqgLllfMFv0JXyXvtZWuN8qTn_csjJX8N2gXrZbczb55uvUIuhv5CO7LnSJP7bV4gYznj9RCuq26-fROLa3L-KJuBD7pMywBbTw57StqmujT0oKpkhaAI3QZ8Qg_qcuo/s320/Amalfi+Sunrise.jpg" width="220" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">Right now there is such a stirring in my heart … and I am hungry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I want more of God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is a place in me that is not satisfied with anything but more of him … everything else … and I mean EVERYTHING else … is temporary and does not satisfy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As the writer of Ecclesiastes said … it is meaningless … a vapour … a puff of smoke and gone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But the one thing that remains is God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He is my constant in a world that’s shifting … my solid ground when I am adrift on an ocean … he is vision when I cannot see … the words when I am speechless … he is my breath … my life … my all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And I don’t have enough of Him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is still too much of me …<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">I want to walk through this world leaving deposits wherever I go … I don’t want to be a taker … I want to be a giver.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And I am stirring on things that have been in my heart and dormant for many years … I want to walk in his presence and know what it is to be his light in a dark world … that I would shine wherever I walk … that I would leave people with a taste of him that leaves them hungry for more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know he wants that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am feeling challenged to step higher, believe more and pursue with an attitude of expectation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How about you?<o:p></o:p></span></div><!--EndFragment-->Sassiekiwihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08201502064231879505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7717431580924129078.post-86870892171571695902010-11-19T12:58:00.000+09:002010-11-19T12:58:04.429+09:00Have some Fun Giving!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikhtMvf-FJGL7h7YToG1RsEtAIFjMJUqJk4n3bPHJ38lcsO1TrACJ9mJBO9QQg5r-Lo5ujy5B5Gzx5upS6ZA1NNd5UuT8am5Cezld1wgCtArF8yxaF9xO7Y-K_p2_JUkytRHiU2V0YZO0/s1600/Shaun_Groves.full.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikhtMvf-FJGL7h7YToG1RsEtAIFjMJUqJk4n3bPHJ38lcsO1TrACJ9mJBO9QQg5r-Lo5ujy5B5Gzx5upS6ZA1NNd5UuT8am5Cezld1wgCtArF8yxaF9xO7Y-K_p2_JUkytRHiU2V0YZO0/s320/Shaun_Groves.full.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<br />
Meet Shaun Groves. He writes an excellent <a href="http://www.shaungroves.com/">blog</a> which I have been lurking on (reading and not posting ... - NOT stalking ;) ... ) for the past year or more. I really like his honesty about life, his heart for God ... his heart for his family and his desire and desire to make a difference in the world. He has raised a lot of awareness for Compassion.<br />
<br />
Anyway Shaun is a musician and has in his heart to make a new record - which costs $$$! At present he is fundraising to make his new record and I just love his idea. And ... his heart comes through in terms of he is looking for fun creative ways to give back even as he is asking for support. LOVE IT ...<br />
<br />
So my blog friends ... I wanted to encourage you to be a part of this ... just a little from a lot of us, goes a long way ... and how fun to be the answer to prayers from someone you don't even know ... VERY COOL.<br />
<br />
Check it out <a href="http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/shaungroves/make-a-record-with-shaun-groves">here</a> and be stirred to give a little and have fun :)<br />
<br />
<br />
Peace<br />
<br />
SSassiekiwihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08201502064231879505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7717431580924129078.post-83372065770791215722010-11-17T22:21:00.000+09:002010-11-17T22:21:44.352+09:00Thought For The Day<div>Hi. I am in Romania right now ... and doing some thinking. Today I had a chat with a friend in Melbourne and we were discussing the things that we feel God has placed on our hearts ...</div><div><br />
</div><div>I have been reflecting on Korea and thinking how for me, in many ways, it has been nine years of stripping. Everything I was passionate and fulfilled in - stripped away. Many times over the years I have wondered why ... why am I in this country (Korea?). It seems a paradox that God would take us from somewhere where we were feeling fulfilled and used and then strip us ... </div><div><br />
</div><div>Friday night, I was in a car driving to Brasov for the weekend and had very long talks with a new friend all the way up and back (well ... she mainly talked and I listened) ... and I talked to her about how one of the things that I had learnt during a time of stripping and being in a somewhat dry place, was the importance of being able to dig my own wells.</div><div><br />
</div><div>So how do my friend in Melbourne, reflecting about Korea and driving to Brasov all tie together?</div><div><br />
</div><div>My friend in Melbourne referred to a conference where she was challenged and impacted by a speaker whom I looked up ... and I came across this - you join the rest of the dots!</div><div><br />
</div><div><!--StartFragment--> <div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><i>Moses was the only one among the Israelites with any desert training. Prophets and pioneers always go through things ahead of time on bealf of themselves and the wider company of people. It was in his own exile that Moses developed his personal inner resources to learn how to live in a hostile environment. Our personal inner resources before God are then used by Him to develop the corporate inner resources of the company of people traveling with us.</i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><i>People grumble and complain in the wilderness because they have no desert training, a poor relationship with God, and little trust in leadership. Moses represents the indwelling Christ in touch with the Holy Spirit. We must learn to live with and serve the “great I Am.” (Graham Cooke - Transition Pt 2.)</i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">I am thinking ... how about you?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><br />
</span></div><!--EndFragment--> </div>Sassiekiwihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08201502064231879505noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7717431580924129078.post-14924434147312538892010-09-23T15:09:00.001+09:002010-09-23T15:09:19.015+09:00Life Within Life<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3eeqnSJ1UPTyMOoW2GDa4Zk3JQp0mNZ9PZu-oHWJr_6sXKz9YDz55hGTuGHWVAFA7k1zXKtn43lwK40HEUF_RsmN1veRFsGobtnXNO7dJFnNp8RLYnxeRPBamTld6PbiOL_1WKOlvrDM/s1600/Breath.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3eeqnSJ1UPTyMOoW2GDa4Zk3JQp0mNZ9PZu-oHWJr_6sXKz9YDz55hGTuGHWVAFA7k1zXKtn43lwK40HEUF_RsmN1veRFsGobtnXNO7dJFnNp8RLYnxeRPBamTld6PbiOL_1WKOlvrDM/s320/Breath.jpg" /></a></div><i><br />
</i><br />
<i><br />
</i><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><i>Meaningless! Meaningless!</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>says the Teacher.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Utterly meaningless!</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Everything is meaningless!</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>(Ecclesiastes 1:2)</i></div><br />
I used to find Ecclesiastes a bit of downer but I finally get it! Lately, as I have had time to think, I realised in me is a deep hunger ... a deep yearning for ... something. When I stop for just a moment, I can see the emptiness - and that emptiness ... that yearning is for God. Nothing else will fill that place. I am hungry and I am destitute without intimacy with God. Everything else is just a hollow shell, because it is God who inhabits, and brings life, purpose and meaning. The picture I have that relates to this state and this emptiness is from when my father died. I was with him when he passed and I remember thinking he is no longer there. His body was a shell and the very essence, the life, the core had gone. And this is how life is without God for me. It's all just a shell.<br />
<br />
I have been privileged to see and experience wonderful things. I have travelled beyond my wildest dreams ... seen and done things that people only dream about. The places, the faces ... the experiences have been incredible and yet, none of it satisfies. Without God in it, it's all just a lifeless shell. I can understand why the writer of Ecclesiastes lamented that everything was meaningless. He had so much ... by world standards ... everything ... and yet he was hungry and unsatisfied.<br />
<br />
The Hebrew for the word "meaningless" comes the world "hebel" which means breath. It can also mean vapour, and figuratively speaking, vanity. When I read this, it kind of blew me away because I had been thinking of the lifeless shell image. The Ecclesiastes writer got it exactly. Everything ... all the gold ... all the glory ... all the girls ... all of it was just a hollow shell without life. None of it would satisfy because there was no breath. And all of it, here and gone like a vapour. How like life this is. We run from experience to experience - it's here, and whoof! Gone ... vapourized. <br />
<br />
What is the answer? Well lately, I have found myself singing an old Vineyard song ... and really it says it all ... you might want to sing it or pray it along with me.<br />
<br />
<i>Jesus, be the centre</i><br />
<i>Be my source</i><br />
<i>be my light</i><br />
<i>Jesus</i><br />
<i><br />
</i><br />
<i>Jesus, be the centre</i><br />
<i>Be my hope</i><br />
<i>Be my sun</i><br />
<i>Jesus</i><br />
<i><br />
</i><br />
<i>Be the fire in my heart</i><br />
<i>Be the wind in these sails</i><br />
<i>Be the reason that I live</i><br />
<i>Jesus, Jesus</i><br />
<i><br />
</i><br />
<i>Jesus by my vision</i><br />
<i>Be my path</i><br />
<i>Be my guide</i><br />
<i>Jesus</i>Sassiekiwihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08201502064231879505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7717431580924129078.post-71606844382724210272010-09-19T21:41:00.005+09:002010-09-19T21:46:40.692+09:00Taylor Swift and Kanye West - the Showdown!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjydAi1-3PTJZNrBBjjQWCOujEUj1EAHizcEnbNT7b-1DnFEONfghEqqay7DoXNhzS2ZkV6IzV3BS6X2t4elG-2v9Hw_WBtK_jvrHyC0xP9RE6B3Dh4fEFc7-eM0IfrkJve0tyZRx_dwoY/s1600/45152-taylor-swift-performs-song-about-kanye-west.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjydAi1-3PTJZNrBBjjQWCOujEUj1EAHizcEnbNT7b-1DnFEONfghEqqay7DoXNhzS2ZkV6IzV3BS6X2t4elG-2v9Hw_WBtK_jvrHyC0xP9RE6B3Dh4fEFc7-eM0IfrkJve0tyZRx_dwoY/s320/45152-taylor-swift-performs-song-about-kanye-west.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Picture sourced from </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">http://au.ibtimes.com/articles/61620/20100913/taylor-swift-absolves-kanye-west-in-mtv-vma-2010.htm</span></div><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Last weeks MTV VMA awards have left me thinking a lot this week. I didn't actually watch them, but all over the news headlines in the buildup was speculation on what would happen between between Kanye West and Taylor Swift. For those of you that don't know, last September as Taylor was receiving the award for best female video, Kanye walked into her spotlight ... into her moment to shine, and said that Beyonce should have received the award. Wow. Imagine it. You are 19 and it's your moment and then someone tries to take that from you. What would you feel ... how would you feel? Public opinion was for Taylor and Kanye experienced major backlash in his personal life and his career. It rocked his world.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span> </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Fast forward to this year. Taylor and Kanye are both presenting songs at the awards. The media are in a frenzy and most speculation is that Taylor is going to skewer Kanye. He had acted terribly. The crowd are rooting for her. As I read this, I was saddened at the thought that this could happen - that Taylor could skewer him and have the support of public opinion behind her. Taylor was in a place of power. What did she do with it? She started her performance with a video flashback to last year and then she started to sing (and while it wasn't the best vocal, it was one of the most powerful things I have ever heard) ... check it out </span></span><a href="http://www.mtv.com/videos/misc/559926/innocent-live.jhtml"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #9fc5e8;">here</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> and read the lyrics below:</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span> </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 27px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I guess you really did it this time</span></span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 27px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 27px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Left yourself in your warpath</span></span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 27px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 27px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Lost your balance on a tightrope</span></span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 27px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 27px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Lost your mind tryin' to get it back</span></span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 27px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 27px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 27px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Wasn't it easier in your lunchbox days?</span></span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 27px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 27px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Always a bigger bed to crawl into</span></span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 27px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 27px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Wasn't it beautiful when you believed in everything?</span></span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 27px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 27px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">And everybody believed in you?</span></span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 27px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 27px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 27px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">It's all right, just wait and see</span></span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 27px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 27px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Your string of lights is still bright to me</span></span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 27px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 27px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Oh, who you are is not where you've been</span></span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 27px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 27px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">You're still an innocent</span></span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 27px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 27px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">You're still an innocent</span></span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 27px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 27px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 27px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">There's some things you can't speak of</span></span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 27px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 27px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">But tonight you'll live it all again</span></span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 27px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 27px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">You wouldn't be shattered on the floor now</span></span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 27px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 27px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">If only you would sing what you know now then</span></span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 27px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 27px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 27px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Wasn't it easier in your firefly-catchin' days?</span></span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 27px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 27px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">And everything out of reach, someone bigger brought down to you</span></span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 27px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 27px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Wasn't it beautiful runnin' wild 'til you fell asleep?</span></span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 27px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 27px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Before the monsters caught up to you?</span></span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 27px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 27px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 27px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">It's all right, just wait and see</span></span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 27px;"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></i></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 27px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Your string of lights is still bright to me</span></span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 27px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 27px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Oh, who you are is not where you've been</span></span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 27px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 27px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">You're still an innocent</span></span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 27px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 27px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 27px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">It's okay, life is a tough crowd</span></span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 27px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 27px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">32, and still growin' up now</span></span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 27px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 27px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Who you are is not what you did</span></span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 27px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 27px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">You're still an innocent</span></span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 27px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 27px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 27px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Time turns flames to embers</span></span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 27px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 27px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">You'll have new Septembers</span></span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 27px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 27px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Every one of us has messed up too</span></span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 27px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 27px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 27px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Lives change like the weather</span></span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 27px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 27px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I hope you remember</span></span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 27px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 27px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Today is never to late to</span></span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 27px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 27px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Be brand new</span></span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 27px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 27px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 27px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">It's all right, just wait and see</span></span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 27px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 27px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Your string of lights are still bright to me</span></span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 27px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 27px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Oh, who you are is not where you've been</span></span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 27px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 27px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">You're still an innocent</span></span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 27px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 27px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 27px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">It's okay, life is a tough crowd</span></span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 27px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 27px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">32, and still growin' up now</span></span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 27px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 27px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Who you are is not what you did</span></span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 27px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 27px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">You're still an innocent</span></span></i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 27px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 27px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Stunning. Just stunning. The maturity of a twenty year old who can take her power and use it to offer forgiveness - to model grace. There in the place of his failure, in front of the place where he wounded her, the place where he fell from favor - she reaches out powerfully to Kanye and says, "I believe in you. You can be new. You can be different. I believe you are not where you've been and you are not what you did." Wow. What a stunning offer of hope and what a fantastic model of the grace we find in Christ. I believe in you. Who you are is not where you've been. Who you are is not what you did. I make all things new. I will wash you as white as snow. Your sins are forgiven. I remember them no more. </span></span></span></i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 27px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></span></i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 27px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Huge contrast to Kanye's song where he just seemed to hate on himself more and beat himself up - albeit in a sarcastic manner. His view? Runaway from me ... I am nothing (except Kanye is a little more explicit than that). </span></span></span></i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 27px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></span></i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 27px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I look at Taylor and how as a young twenty year old she handled this, and I look at Kanye - someone who has been in the industry a long time - a 33 year old man. How is it that they have such different approaches to this situation? What is in their hearts, in their heads to provoke such different responses? Kanye continued to self-flagellate and Taylor extends a hand of grace. And that hand of grace in such a public place is one of the most powerful things I have ever seen. I am grateful for the reminder of the hands of grace that have been extended to me in my life and I am forever grateful for THE hand of grace continually extended to me. I am praying that I also have hands that willingly extend grace and forgiveness. And it starts with us. Who we are is not what we did. Who we are is not where we come from. We all mess up ... start with the grace to forgive yourself. And so we pray, "Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us ..."</span></span></span></i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 27px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></span></i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 27px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I'm thinking ... maybe you are too.</span></span></span></i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 27px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></span></i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 27px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Peace.</span></span></span></i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; line-height: 27px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-style: normal; line-height: normal;"><br />
</span></i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; line-height: 27px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-style: normal; line-height: normal;"><br />
</span></i></span>Sassiekiwihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08201502064231879505noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7717431580924129078.post-33195436989572472482010-09-13T17:32:00.004+09:002010-09-13T18:06:41.471+09:00Walking in the Footsteps of the Saints<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg69kpbN8TYDHzRfy76SeSbcRmGsCVALrwFj2xU_3FMIB1CvSFdJmwUlFs_Gwj9In6lw_Vm-wnnoBnKe3Jseepoy1mELuHu53LyZ5vRY_xJdaQc8ttWnwbMsog5zWEHaenlwt2uAwkUbAI/s1600/DSC_0142.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg69kpbN8TYDHzRfy76SeSbcRmGsCVALrwFj2xU_3FMIB1CvSFdJmwUlFs_Gwj9In6lw_Vm-wnnoBnKe3Jseepoy1mELuHu53LyZ5vRY_xJdaQc8ttWnwbMsog5zWEHaenlwt2uAwkUbAI/s320/DSC_0142.jpg" /></span></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span> </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span> </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Did they tell you stories</span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'bout the saints of old?</span></i></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></i></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></i></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Stories about their faith?</span></i></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></i></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></i></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They say stories like that make a boy grow bold</span></i></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></i></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></i></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Stories like that make a man walk straight</span></i></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(Rich Mullins - Boy like Me, Man Like You)</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Having recently been wandering around in some great churches in England, I have been thinking about the saints of old and the crypts that many of those churches have. The beautiful thing of wandering around crypts is that you are walking around on graves of those who went before ... those who have passed on. They are part of the foundations and the path upon which you walk ... Stop, pause for a moment and think on that. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The saints of old ... stories about their faith ... Stop, and think and be encouraged. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hebrews 12</span></i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></i><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-30198" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">1</span></span></i></sup><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. </span></i><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-30199" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">2</span></span></i></sup><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. </span></i><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-30200" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">3</span></span></i></sup><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.</span></i></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span> </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Message puts it beautifully ...</span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px;"><sup class="versenum" id="en-MSG-12766" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">1-3</span></span></i></sup><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Do you see what this means—all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we'd better get on with it. Strip down, start running—and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins. Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we're in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God—he could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame, whatever. </span></i></span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Be encouraged that although you stumble and fall ... you have a great cloud of witnesses cheering you on ... cheering for you to run your race and to finish strong ... walking in the crypts and seeing the graves in the churches reminded me of the saints who have gone before. Much of what we have is because of the legacy they laid down. Those who have gone before us are not just the saints of old ... think of the legacies of faith in the people God brought into your life. Friends ... family ... those who have been running their race and running it strong ... be encouraged by their walks. You will find that they have the same thing in common as the great cloud of witnesses ... you will find it in Hebrews 12</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> vs 2 ... Let us </span><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">fix our eyes on Jesus</span></i></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> ...</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Another beautiful thing about the old cathedrals is the architecture is designed to lift the eyes ... </span></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipoWq98oSzSdJhRCUzu_TuMZHBSr94nLGiIthqMRQY_RomKJkOcAODwcSqwQsv7rrFA7ulE-ZjTbXpLVyoImL98QaU1Uf4sJayBTqcr9r-I7rptGSRG2bvHeQh7PIfnFX-P7ZXtOiDI88/s1600/DSC_0178.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipoWq98oSzSdJhRCUzu_TuMZHBSr94nLGiIthqMRQY_RomKJkOcAODwcSqwQsv7rrFA7ulE-ZjTbXpLVyoImL98QaU1Uf4sJayBTqcr9r-I7rptGSRG2bvHeQh7PIfnFX-P7ZXtOiDI88/s320/DSC_0178.jpg" /></span></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Psalmist had a bit to say about that in the opening of Psalm 121 when he said, </span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"I will lift my eyes to the hills - where does my help come from?"</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">. The point is not the hills ... the point is "I will LIFT MY EYES ..." or as Hebrews clearly lays out for us ... fix our eyes on Jesus.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Dwell on the rest of that Psalm (a Psalm of ascents) for a moment ...</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><div class="result-text-style-normal" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><h4 style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Psalm 121</span></i></h4><h5 style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">A song of ascents.</span></span></i></h5><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i></i></span><br />
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<i><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></i><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-16083" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">1</span></span></i></sup><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> I lift up my eyes to the hills—</span></i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><i></i></span><br />
<i><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: center;"><div style="display: inline !important;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> where does my help come from?</span></i></span></div></div></i><br />
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<i><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: center;"><div style="display: inline !important;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></i></span></div></div></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-16084" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">2</span></span></i></sup><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> My help comes from the LORD, </span></i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><i></i></span><br />
<i><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: center;"><div style="display: inline !important;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> the Maker of heaven and earth.</span></i></span></div></div></i><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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<i><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: center;"><div style="display: inline !important;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></i></span></div></div></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></i><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-16085" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">3</span></span></i></sup><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> He will not let your foot slip— </span></i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><i></i></span><br />
<i><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: center;"><div style="display: inline !important;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> he who watches over you will not slumber;</span></i></span></div></div></i><br />
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<i><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: center;"><div style="display: inline !important;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></i></span></div></div></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-16086" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">4</span></span></i></sup><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> indeed, he who watches over Israel </span></i></span></div></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i></i></span><br />
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<i><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> will neither slumber nor sleep.</span></i></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></i><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-16087" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">5</span></span></i></sup><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> The LORD watches over you— </span></i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><i></i></span><br />
<i><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: center;"><div style="display: inline !important;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> the LORD is your shade at your right hand;</span></i></span></div></div></i><br />
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<i><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: center;"><div style="display: inline !important;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></i></span></div></div></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></i><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-16088" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">6</span></span></i></sup><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> the sun will not harm you by day, </span></i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><i></i></span><br />
<i><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: center;"><div style="display: inline !important;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> nor the moon by night.</span></i></span></div></div></i><br />
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<i><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: center;"><div style="display: inline !important;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></i></span></div></div></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></i><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-16089" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">7</span></span></i></sup><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> The LORD will keep you from all harm— </span></i></span></div></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i></i></span><br />
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<i><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> he will watch over your life;</span></i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></i><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-16090" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">8</span></span></i></sup><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> the LORD will watch over your coming and going </span></i></span></div></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i></i></span><br />
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<i><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> both now and forevermore.</span></i></span><br />
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</span></i></span></div></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We all stumble and fall and get muddy ... but when you do ... know two things from the cathedrals ... you have those who went before you ... also people who got muddy ... who fell ... who failed ... but pick yourself up! Lift your eyes ... take courage from the journeys of those who have gone before ... and finish strong.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsxOjVF-qLuETRSciJ3t05aMMUL7xLNkWu2Ec5uj_pu7EkaZ4cUWAU6s0S45jQ4WPIdH445dBz2RP0JQEYeV7bhotysOZWw5ofqaBfNaarU3UN-JMFKWunxShLHIhFNDM0cqkmlfLwGJE/s1600/DSC_0152.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsxOjVF-qLuETRSciJ3t05aMMUL7xLNkWu2Ec5uj_pu7EkaZ4cUWAU6s0S45jQ4WPIdH445dBz2RP0JQEYeV7bhotysOZWw5ofqaBfNaarU3UN-JMFKWunxShLHIhFNDM0cqkmlfLwGJE/s320/DSC_0152.jpg" /></span></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div></span>Sassiekiwihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08201502064231879505noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7717431580924129078.post-80043604981953790002010-06-26T02:42:00.002+09:002010-06-26T02:45:57.248+09:00Be. Still.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVfRZgdLwkdsWbgeuIvTvy2hFP_xv7jgalLvFsx_I20ZwngqVUA3adhS3bRXuYnG_ottOlBu0ijcBBFdHAHRTQeKAXD3OpNsTPBpVO4nJ81FZIK61aGJZF7-hPeBvWR0W9X3aL06GVqgE/s1600/Mirror+Lake.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVfRZgdLwkdsWbgeuIvTvy2hFP_xv7jgalLvFsx_I20ZwngqVUA3adhS3bRXuYnG_ottOlBu0ijcBBFdHAHRTQeKAXD3OpNsTPBpVO4nJ81FZIK61aGJZF7-hPeBvWR0W9X3aL06GVqgE/s320/Mirror+Lake.JPG" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br />
</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br />
</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>"Be still and know that I am God"</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Ps 46:1</i>0</div><div><br />
</div><div>The Message puts this scripture another way. "Step out of the traffic! Take a long, loving look at me, your High God, above politics, above everything".</div><div><br />
</div><div>Most of us are familiar with this scripture. But sometimes, we skim over without taking time to dig down deep and really know what it is talking about. Lets break it down and have a look. </div><div><br />
</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #93c47d;"><b>Still</b></span> - comes from the Hebrew word Raphah. This word means:-</div><div>to sink, relax, sink down, let drop; sink, relax, abate; relax, withdraw; to let drop, abandon, relax, refrain, forsake, let go; to be quiet.</div><div><br />
</div><div>Wow. There is so much in this one word. When I read the word "sink", I think of a load off, just sinking down and breathing out a long sigh, "aahhh" - the weight is off and I can stop. </div><div><br />
</div><div>The idea of abate and withdraw is also a strong one. This coming school year, I am on Sabbatical. This means I have a year away from work, (I will be continuing with my Masters study). So right now, I resonate strongly with those words abate and withdraw. I know for sure that this is a big part of what Sabbatical is about for me personally. I can't even describe how insane my life has been. This past year particularly so. Between working, studying and chairing our Dongdaewon campaign, I have reached the end of myself. I have nothing in me to give right now and I am running on empty. My tanks have not been this low for about 12 and a half years - when I finished my ministry internship. To have a year out of the madness is a gift, and not one I intend to squander. It is almost a detoxifying process for me. </div><div><br />
</div><div>I have been caught up of the mad roundabout of life ... spinning faster and faster. The roundabout has been a blur, the music is frenzied, there is a whine in the engine and smoke is billowing. And I, am empty. Completely empty. Right now, I don't even know how to draw close to God. He has never left, but I have never stopped and that busy-ness is seriously damaging to relationships, including our one with God. </div><div><br />
</div><div>This year is a time to be still ... a time to recharge and meet with my God. When I reach the end of my Sabbatical and look back, above all else, I want to be able to say that I was still and that I KNOW my God. I have a lot of thoughts sparking this morning on all of this, and I will be posting them here as i pick them apart over the days to come.</div><div><br />
</div><div>For now ... I am just going to sink and go "aaaahhhh".</div><div><br />
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</div>Sassiekiwihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08201502064231879505noreply@blogger.com0