Be Still

Fresh snow has fallen on the ground, steam puffs out of the pipes on the roof tops, the sun is slowly rising, and my coffee is brewing.  I love quiet mornings, people are sleeping, the world around me is peaceful. Few things are better than this.

Everything in this world moves so fast, it's easy to get swept up in the tide of business.  I have to be purposeful to find still moments. Taking a cue from my Savior, I often rise early in the morning before my family to spend some time in peaceful solitude, alone with my God.

Mark 1:35 and rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed. (ESV)

I have found that if I don't take this time to stop and be still (aka if I choose sleep instead)...I'm often not a fun person to be around, I'm grouchy, I'm quick to snap...I'm not my usual joyful self.  Taking this time helps me face hard times with a little more grace and be fully present for the joyful times.  I crave for, I long for, I need time to be still.

Psalm 46:10 Be still, and know that I am God.

I stumbled upon this poem and it made me giggle thinking about my early morning rising...it's not always easy:

A Morning Poem

I woke early one morning,

The earth lay cool and still,

When suddenly a tiny bird,

Perched on my window sill,

He sang a song so lovely,

So carefree and so gay,

That slowly all my troubles,

Began to slip away,

He sang of far of places,

Of laughter and of fun.

I stirred beneath the covers,

Crept slowly out of bed,

Then gently shut the window,

And crushed his little head,

I'm not a morning person.

-Author Unknown

OK, I have to admit my first response was to roar with laughter instead of feeling sad for the little bird...I mean we've all been there, right?  Sleep is SO important to our bodies, it's natural to want to sleep a little later.  We were created to sleep for a reason; however, time for me to be still is often important...plus it gives me a good excuse for a nap later on. haha

I hope you can find some time in your day (maybe it's not early mornings for you) to stop and be still.

Blessings!

My One Word - Thanksgiving

Ending 2010 I wrote a post about how I'm not going into 2011 with New Years Resolutions, but instead was going to pick one word to define this year. I thought in mid-January I had picked my word.  I thought I had picked the word "Present".  I felt like I needed to focus on being present in each moment, with each person I was spending time with...instead of distracted over last night's conversation, or what someone else who is sending me on a text message...I felt I needed to focus on being fully in the moment with the person I'm with.  This isn't a new goal for me, it is one I've written about and struggled with for years.  I didn't post about picking this word though, because I hadn't settled with it, I wasn't comfortable with it.  I guess I knew that it wasn't "the word."

Today I bought Ann Voskamp's book One Thousand Gifts and while reading it my word chose me, my word smacked me in the face. Thanksgiving. I'm not living in the present moment, because I'm not thankful for the present moment.  I'm not content with what I have been given, I'm not choosing joy. This has to change, for I have been given so much.  I have been blessed with amazing family and friends, there is much to be thankful for, and this is where my focus needs to return.  So, Thanksgiving is my word for 2011.  Have you picked your word yet?

Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus (1 Thes 5:18, NLT)

And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ (Eph 5:20, NLT)

Blessings!!

A Dios Le Pido - I Ask to God

The teens in my life introduced me to this song, and I have to say I love it.  I catch myself singing it often. Reminds me of a friend.



The Lyrics in English:
I Ask to God

That my eyes wake up every day with the light of your look, I ask to God
That my mother will not die and that my dad remembers me, I ask to God
That you stay by my side and that you never leave from my life, I ask to God
That my soul never rests when it is about loving you my sky, I ask to God
For all the days that remain and the nights that haven't arrived, I ask to God
For the sons of my sons and the sons of your sons, I ask to God
That my country doesn't spill so much blood and my people will rise, I ask to God
That my soul never rests when it is about loving you my sky, I ask to God
One more second of life to give you and to stay forever by your side
One more second of life to give you and my entire heart to give you
One more second of life, I ask to God
And that if I die will be of love and that if I fall in love will be of you
And that your voice will be this heart everyday, I ask to God
And that if I die will be of love and that if I fall in love well be of you
And that your voice will be this heart everyday, I ask to God, I ask to God

Stop and Think

I'm currently reading a book called Crazy Love by Francis Chan.  He has several videos he has made to correspond with the book.  I loved this video because it clearly states what God is all about.  The God we serve is all about love.  In this world we see a lot of people do/say hateful things in the name of God...but I say they have it all wrong.

I hope you enjoy this video:

How Do You Measure a Year?

My Church just started doing a series called Crazy Love, with a challenge to measure this next year with love. It really resonated with me since I still had love on my mind from yesterday's post.

Our praise team sang this song from Rent and it was awesome.  If you're choosing love this year, why not make it Crazy Love?



Blessings!

Things that brought me joy today:
* Breakfast with my family
* Amazing church service
* Chill time this afternoon :)

Choose Love

Happy New Years!!  I guess it's natural to be reflective over this week, and I'm no exception to that.  I was listening to my iPod this morning and Luther Vandross's song What the World Needs Now came on.  I know it might be a little cheeseball, but I think it's so true.  What would happen if we lived in a world where people chose to love?  Not just the people in our lives we should love (although I know I can do a better job about that as well), but also the people in our lives that are hard to love.

Matthew 5:43-48

"You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy'. But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven.  He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.  If you love those who love you, what reward will you get?  Are not even the tax collectors doing that?  And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?"

Love your enemies...what a powerful message. I think it is too easy in every day life to look for the negative, to be judgemental and condescending.  There is unity in complaining about wrongs or the sense of being wronged.  It is not only easy, but it seems acceptable to display anger and hatred....even among Christians.

What if people started to turn the tide?  Started practicing love, patience, grace....forgiveness?  In this New Year, New Decade, my challenge to you is to choose love.  Choose to show your loved ones that they are loved.  Choose to show grace to the guy who cuts you off in traffic or the person in front of you with a cart-full of groceries in the 20 items or less line.  

Happy New Year dear friends. 

Blessings!

Goodbye 2010 and Goodbye Resolutions

It's New Years Eve, I'm in my living surrounded me the Christmas tree and decorations that still adorn our house.  I suppose I should take them all down this weekend.  I'm reading posts of people who are reflecting on 2010 and making resolutions for 2011.

As far as resolutions go, I'm choosing to not make any this year.  I mean, let's face it...I'm not very stellar at sticking to them. Yesterday on the radio I heard the DJ's talking about choosing a one word theme for the year, instead of resolutions.  They talked about how resolutions are so much focused on the past and what's wrong with us we would like to fix instead of focusing on moving forward into the future. I like the idea of the one word theme, focusing on the positivity of moving forward instead of the negativity of regrets.  In that spirit I'm currently trying to decide on what my word will be for 2011.  I don't think I'm going to decide on this word before tomorrow, but I will decide on one soon.

Some words I'm pondering:

Present
Love
Listen
Positive
Joy

Have you done a One Word Theme?  If so, what was your word?  If you haven't picked a word, check out My One Word and get inspired.

Happy New Year my friends.

Things that brought me joy today:
* Breakfast with my family
* Watching Eclipse with Yngvild
* A clean house

Blessings!