Thursday, June 30, 2011.

"Rejoice at your weakness. When you are weak I am strong. Strong to help, to cure, to protect."

1 Corinthians…

If people are good only because they fear punishment, and hope for reward, then we are a sorry lot indeed. –Albert Einstein.

2 Corinthians 12:: Paul's Visions and His Thorn

12 I must go on boasting. Though there is nothing to be gained by it, I will go on to visions and xrevelations of the Lord. 2 I know a man yin Christ who fourteen years ago was zcaught up to athe third heaven—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, bGod knows. 3 And I know that this man was caught up into cparadise—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, bGod knows—4 and he heard things that cannot be told, which man may not utter. 5 On behalf of this man I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, dexcept of my weaknesses—6 though if I should wish to boast, eI would not be a fool, for I would be speaking the truth; but I refrain from it, so that no one may think more of me than he sees in me or hears from me. 7 So fto keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations,1 ga thorn was given me in the flesh, ha messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. 8 iThree times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. 9 But he said to me, j“My grace is sufficient for you, for kmy power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that lthe power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 mFor the sake of Christ, then, nI am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For owhen I am weak, then I am strong.

Concern for the Corinthian Church

11 pI have been a fool! You forced me to it, for I ought to have been commended by you. For I was qnot at all inferior to these super-apostles, reven though I am nothing. 12 sThe signs of a true apostle were performed among you twith utmost patience, with signs and wonders and mighty works. 13 For in what were you less favored than the rest of the churches, except that uI myself did not burden you? Forgive me this wrong!

14 Here vfor the third time I am ready to come to you. And I will not be a burden, for wI seek not what is yours but you. For xchildren are not obligated to save up for their parents, but yparents for their children. 15 zI will most gladly spend and be spent for your souls. If aI love you more, am I to be loved less? 16 But granting that bI myself did not burden you, I was crafty, you say, and got the better of you by deceit. 17 Did I take advantage of you cthrough any of those whom I sent to you? 18 dI urged Titus to go, and sent ethe brother with him. Did Titus take advantage of you? Did we not act in the same spirit? Did we not take the same steps?

19 Have you been thinking all along that we have been defending ourselves to you? It is fin the sight of God that we have been speaking in Christ, and gall for your upbuilding, beloved. 20 For I fear that perhaps hwhen I come I may find you not as I wish, and that you may find me not as you wish—that perhaps there may be quarreling, jealousy, anger, hostility, slander, gossip, conceit, and disorder. 21 I fear that when I come again my God may humble me before you, and I may have to mourn over many of those iwho sinned earlier and have not repented of the impurity, jsexual immorality, and sensuality that they have practiced.

Footnotes

[1] 12:7 Or hears from me, even because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations. So to keep me from becoming conceited

Divine Compass…

Disgusted::

See the good in everybody. Love the good in them.

"Do not weigh yourself down with sorrows of the world. Look for the loving, the true, the brave in the many around you."

"Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world... For all that is in the world... is not of the Father, but is of the world..." (1 John 2:15-16)

Overwhelmed::

"It is not the passionate appeal that gains the Divine ear so much as the quiet placing of the difficulty and worry in the Divine hands."

"...you are worried and bothered about so many things, but only one thing is necessary..." (Luke 10:41)

Rejected::

"Your need is My chance to help. Faith is all I need to manifest My Power."

"Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us..." (Ephesians 3:20 )

No Direction::

"My Will is the unspeakably rich treasure. Seek it. Know it. Ask Me for it."

"Marvels beyond all your imaginings are unfolding. I am your Guide. Joy in that thought."

"Seek diligently for something to be glad and thankful about in every happening and soon no search will be required."

"Look on each difficulty as training to enable you to acquire My Peace."

"Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them..."  (Psalm 119:165 )

"Let nothing touch the harmony of the real you that is hid with Me."

"Have no fear of the future. Be quiet, be still, and in that stillness comes strength."

"Consciousness of Me opens your whole nature to Me and that brings relief. Relief brings peace. Peace brings joy."

The Untitled First Draft about Conquering All By Conquering Nothing. Transcending Inadequacy, Revering Majesty, Recognizing Humility.

I look out and see him embracing the waves. he’s always checking on me, catches my weak spots and encourages them with a tip of the day. I know I’ve got nothing to worry about. if I tip, big whoop, help is only a few feet away; by the time I understood the situation help would be telling me step by step how to get back on our way.

air so breathable all my being gasped at its pureness and cleansed itself with every breath I took.

serenity rippled through my being in waves of silk.

steady waves embodied one of the grandest rhythms of nature, harmony.

"I have been a witness, and these pictures are

my testimony. The events I have recorded should

not be forgotten and must not be repeated."

-James Nachtwey-

"Know I am with you, ready to comfort, strengthen, and guide." –El Shaddai

“Know I am with you, ready to sustain, teach, and purify.” –Jehovah Jirah

heal this arrogant heart; I have not been a blameless ambassador for Your Great Name, please, let my foolishness not..

Stretch:: 1. Gracilis Muscle. 2. Iliopsoas Muscles. 3. External Abdominal Oblique Muscles.

Destress:: 1. Laugh out loud. 2. Clean the clutter. 3. Drink some orange juice. 4. Sing a song. 5. Take a walk. 6. Use Aromatherapy.

BetterDay:: 1. Make your bed. 2. Pack a snack (fruit,nuts) 3. Clear your desk. 4. Pump up the music. 5. Sniff a lemon! 6. Stretch! 7. Meditate&Breathe. 8. Keep a gratitude diary. 9. Turn off your electronics. 10. Prioritize.

5-10minEveryHour::

Change the scenery. If you're inside, go out. Upstairs? Go downstairs. The important thing is to move away from the desk or computer you’ve been glued to and focus on something else.

Take a good look around. Go outside, walk around, and really take in the sights, sounds, and smells. Describe the sky using as many adjectives as you can (fluffy, serene, wispy). How many birds can you count? What do you smell?

Get minty. Studies suggest peppermint makes you more alert mentally and physically. Enjoy peppermint candy or gum, take a whiff of peppermint oil, or even take a brain break to brush your teeth.

Be mindful. Meditation clears your thoughts and helps you focus your mind. It's easy: Sit or lie down in a quiet location away from your project. Breathe deeply and slowly through your nose. Focus your attention on a specific object (a pillow), image (a secluded beach), or mantra (a word like "calm" or "peace"). Keep at it until you feel relaxed and centered.

Energy:: 1. Eat your breakfast. oatmeal, grapenuts. 2. Do a downward dog. 3. Belt out your favorite tune. 4. Have a drink of water. 5. Go nuts. (almonds) 

The purpose of shifting your focus is to temporarily get your mind off whatever challenge has it tied up in knots. "Disengage from whatever is so stressful, and then come back to it," Fabick recommends.

Here are a few tricks that will help clear your mind and return you to problem solving refreshed and renewed:

• Choose something mindless. Play solitaire on your computer. Watch a funny video online. Clean out your refrigerator or organize your office filing cabinet. Give your brain a rest, and you'll have a clean slate for when you come back to problem solving.
• Switch gears. Instead of doing something mindless, another option is to do something mindful to get your brain occupied -- but in a different direction. Work on a crossword or jigsaw puzzle, or read a chapter of a thought-provoking book. The goal is to occupy yourself with a pleasant task, which provides the energy to regroup later.
• Walk away. Literally. Take a break from whatever you're doing and go outside for a walk. Exercise not only reinvigorates your body, but it also sends oxygen-rich blood surging to your brain. Research suggests that exercise might even trigger the growth of new brain cells. You’ll feel better after the physical activity, and the original problem will seem more manageable.
• Take a breather. If you're really worked up over a problem, what you need is some stress relief. Try whatever works for you, whether it's yoga, deep breathing, meditation, prayer, or just having a good laugh with a friend.

PEACE CORPS.

You need an understanding of people’s culture and a willingness to see things from their perspective, not require them to adjust to yours. -Dan McDonald (Volunteer in Thailand)

In many cultures, it’s the process that matters and not the outcome, so the ways in which you interact and communicate with people may become much more important than the things you actually achieve. -Karen Voetsch (Volunteer in Guinea)

It takes accepting that you don’t always have all the answers. You have to be willing and open to having your own assumptions, sensations, and world view challenged and questioned almost daily. -Helen Perry (Volunteer in Morocco)

Resolve.

I am finding that my ideal time for reading His Holy Scriptures may be in the morning, eating a balanced breakfast, sipping some coffee (or tea, or lemon water).

This book, “the practice of the presence OF GOD,” has already cleansed my mind with words of Truth.

“The dear brother remarked that we must give ourselves totally to God in both temporal and spiritual affairs. Our only happiness should come from doing God’s will, whether it brings us some pain or great pleasure. After all, if we are truly devoted to doing God’s will, pain and pleasure won’t make any difference to us.

We also need to be faithful, even in dry periods. It is during those dry spells that God tests our love for Him. We should take advantage of those times to practice our determination and our surrender to Him. This will often bring us to a maturity further on in our walk with God.”

The italicized words stuck out… like a sword before me. The bold words… they stuck out, then pierced my gut. All this, right after being cut with brutal conviction from Red Sea Rule #2: Be more concerned for God’s glory than for your relief.

…Red Sea Rule #_…Nicholas Herman…

Another practice that I am including in my resolve is this; to set aside certain times for prayer & processing each day.

The Best Productivity Tool You're Not Using

…

Jesus, You are my hope and stay…

My stay…

-verb

5. to support, prop, or hold up (sometimes followed by up ).

6. to sustain or strengthen mentally or spiritually.

7. to rest on (something, as a foundation or base) for support.

8. to cause something to become fixed or to rest on (a support, foundation, base, etc.)

-noun

21. Informal . staying power; endurance.

22. stay the course, to persevere; endure to completion.

2 obsolete : self-control, moderation

4: capacity for endurance

1: one that serves as a prop : support

…Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee, because he trusts in thee…

third grey day of the week.

deciding to complete a project does not complete the project.

that’s what i have learned today… again. and again. and again. what the crap.

domingo, 27 marzo, 2011

Lord, it’s such a task- being asked to discern a thing such as this.

For history, I was assigned to examine the life and doctrine of Aimee Semple McPherson and decide whether she was a heroine, heretic or hypocrite. Harsh. To place myself in such a place of danger is quite difficult, but then to be forced to analyze another’s heart when they claim to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ my Savior- it has outright distraught me.

I deeply wish to find first hand words, writings written by Aimee herself, something besides a sermon or critique. I want to base my decision on information provided by Aimee herself, not info from anyone else, for everyone is [helplessly] bias.

El Shaddai, please, replenish me daily, wake me to hear Your Words with utter delight. Make me to long for all Your saints with the affections of Christ Jesus. Strengthen me with calm and peace to complete this assignment to the best of my ability, all in the perspective, continued perspective, of gazing deeper and deeper into Your eyes with the intent on knowing You, loving You and all that You love. I do love You, El Shaddai. A good night, You did make it. Amen.

CureKids! kids that will be physically healed as a result of El Shaddai’s lavishing love!

Bertha Maxwell; 2 years old;Awaiting surgery for burn injury

Lezina Kosmasi; 10 years old;Awaiting surgery for burn injury

 

difficult to think that here, in America, these types of injuries can be called simple cases and easily healed (what we typically refer to as “fixed”) while in other countries people can be made outsiders because of them…

These Times…

The stability (or instability) of my circumstances does not matter near as much as the stability of my mind. For the instability of circumstances/situations is inevitable. But the stability of mind despite the circumstance is what is going to keep me being me, and keep me under His umbrella, with a protected mind… by choice (& maybe even habit) acting in ways that spring from His righteous desires and commands.

These times, when I’m not sure I could really go in a deep study… who says a simple but repetitive practice of one piece of His Scriptures is not a deep study? it’s a study thru practice; seeing situations where I need to apply that specific Scripture (or concept from Scripture)… learning to see the signs, praying it over and over, and praying it for others. These times when it seems so easy to focus on myself and what I think I need—what if I simply drowned myself in praying Scriptures for others!?

Oh Lord above all, if I believe it’s already been given me as I ask You this, may it be so that I may receive it! Please!—be my strength and clarity to not delay! to run quickly! to run steadfastly! If it be so, 1000% for sure, it’s all You (for we both no none of that exists in me alone)! & oh it will be so! You are not finished, yet You will continue to transform!

Satisfy all my longings and fill all my hollow places with Your lavish and unfailing love! that i may love You and know You more than anything in my life! more than anything on earth may i please know You!

You.

Today, Lord You woke me up with the lightest head I have felt in months. Thank You thank You thank You!

this week’s Words were…

from 2 Corinthians 3:17

“Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.”

-I ask Him to satisfy all my longings and fill all my hollow places with His lavish, unfailing love.

(“this frees me from craving the approval of others and requiring others to fill my ‘cup.’”)

--- Then, if someone takes the time to demonstrate love to me, that’s the overflow. I’m free to appreciate and enjoy it, but I don’t require it emotionally. ---

~Where the Spirit of the Lord’s lavish love is, there is freedom!~

from Matthew 4:4

‘MAN SHALL NOT LIVE ON BREAD ALONE, BUT ON EVERY WORD THAT PROCEEDS OUT OF THE MOUTH OF GOD.’ ”

from 1 Corinthians 10: 12-13

    [12] Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall. [13] No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

Those words; ‘satisfy all my longings and fill all my hollow places with Your lavish, unfailing love’… ‘then, if someone takes the time to demonstrate love it me, that’s the overflow and I am free to appreciate and enjoy it, but I don’t require it emotionally.’ …oh, how these words will permeate my heart for the rest of my life. They will, I know they will, especially now, in this season—I need His lavish and unfailing love, desperately. I know it’s not always a “good” notion to be desperate but when it comes to longing for Christ to satisfy all my longings and fill all my hollow places I believe desperate might just be the best state to be in. I now know that HE is the only one who can satisfy me and who I can rightfully long for and HE is the only one who will ever satisfy me.. so, in view of His mercy, being in desperate longing for Him is the best place I can be right now. ..as long as i take that longing and bow to Him presenting myself and all my longings and hollow places, and clinging to His Words [for man does not live on bread alone but on every word that proceeds from the mouth of God… bread,food and water does not sustain my life NO!- my life is sustained by the words that proceed from the mouth of God!

oh, how i wish with my heart that i could hear that reminder every minute every hour!

Oh, Scholarships.

Completed an application to the College JumpStart Scholarship… answered the question: “What are your educational goals?”

How do you think I did? (judged by content not writing style)

I am working to graduate from college with a lot more than a degree. I'm looking to study Communications with a concentration in Public Relations, in which I'll be able to apply my interests of Photography, Photojournalism, non-profit missions, language, the arts and simply being around people. I wish to learn the ways of my career by studying comprehensively and hands-on, as well as abroad. I am also planning on earning a minor in Spanish, Photography and possibly International Business. Although plans often change, I know I'll end up in a field that allows me to continue learning, practicing creativity and communicating for the rest of my days. Thus, I have great hope to find an environment in which I will learn, mature, grow, and daily strive to fulfill my potential.