a little different...

...the church is to be different. to have a distinct smell, an unmistakeable flavor, and a love and conviction that dance perfectly together.

please share your personal thoughts... i would love to hear each and every perspective...

learning,

rachel

no matter how hard we try...

"We may ignore, but we can nowhere evade, the presence of God." Lewis

so many times, the thought of hiding under a rock seems like a reasonable choice. the rocks seem to take on different characteristics and appearances than the ordinary hard, grey stone. whatever my "rocks" are, he can see me. to be known by his gentle pursuit and kindness makes me want to behold him, face to face.

pulling back the stones,

r.

Things to do between now and New!

New Years. Now, some may cringe at my mentioning it's arrival, but let's face it - there are only 87 days, 0 hours, 21 minutes and 30 seconds until we all make our famous resolutions. Some more lasting than others... ;)

If you are looking for some to add to your list, here are the most popular, "top ten":

1. Spend more time with family and friends
2. Fit in Fitness
3. Tame the Bulge
4. Quit Smoking
5. Enjoy life more
6. Quit drinking
7. Get out of Debt
8. Learn Something New
9. Help Others
10. Get Organized

Now, your list may look a bit different from the worlds Top Ten list. Maybe a bit more creative, abstract, lofty or simple. None the less, it is still a list no matter how complex they are.. Checking things off lists is a VERY desirable thing, wouldn't you agree? Well, perhaps it's a secret pleasure of mine. I have digressed just an itty bit...

Okay, so here is my question (stemming from personal experience). What makes us think we will actually follow through with our goals after never having practiced them before?! Quitting a bad habit cold turkey. Hmm, not the most easiest thing in the world.

Why not begin now - who want's to wait 87 days before they get to enjoy their life, or before they see their family and friends on a regular basis, or before they get to fit into their old favorite pair of jeans? Tomorrow is never promised, but new beginnings are!

To bring in the season right, let's prepare (practice) our resolutions we hope to carry out...

enjoying new beginnings,

me

sticks and stones...

being a human, i am completely susceptible to imperfection. in fact, this disease of The Self runs so deep within me that at times i wonder how, on God's lovely green earth, i am still in his grace, never to be lost.

also, being a human means i have the need to communicate. to feel, and to love through words is one of the many things that sets us apart from any other life on this planet.

i have been acutely aware, these past few months, of the power of words. it's ALL about timing, tone, context, pace, and facial expression, right? hmmm, i think their may be a bit more to this.

what motivates you to encourage through words? in what attitude do you ask questions? are you inspiring others to live fully? are you secure enough in who you are to lift others up?

i want to...

know who i am. speak confidently. have conviction. love well.

here is an interesting video on the Power of Words.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k2hWcZlrEss&feature=channel

speaking slowly,

rach

on the move...

just imagine if this sign was found on the front door of your church.

imagine if this sunday, you went to church, only to find that it was an empty building? not just any building, but one with beautiful stain glass windows on each wall, a gorgeous grand piano with worn in ivories, and enough pews to house the down town area, and then some!

i have been challenged, more than anything else this year, to major on the fact that the church is not A building. the Church is a group made up of a bunch of imperfect people, who love imperfectly, worship with one eye open, remain alone in their thoughts and insecurities, but are loved, perfectly, beyond imagination by the God of this world. the Creator himself.

let's MOVE! i am not saying, ditch your church! i am saying, let's love one another as Christ loves his people... his church. let's move on from our own insecurities, pretenses and facades. let's move in to all that Christ's blood was shed for. Serve our communities through love and compassion. laugh with those who laugh. morn with those who morn. rejoice with those who REJOICE!

we are IMPERFECT but are loved PERFECTLY.

what does a "church on the move" look like to you?

thoughts?

digging deep,

rachel

do you know?

all too often i forget how much i am wanted. how deeply i am loved, and how i have been made clean. i love this hymn. it has served as a reminder today of how i have been set free, and i no longer need to slap on the chains that have been broken. i hope that we all remember, daily, how much our freedom costed the Father, and how he desires us to live fully, being affected by his grace.

come ye sinners lost and lonely

Jesus' blood can make you free

for He saved the worst among you

when He saved a wretch like me

and i know, yes i know

Jesus' blood can make the vilest sinner clean

and i know, yes i know

Jesus' blood can make the vilest sinner clean

to the faint He giveth power

through the mountains makes a way

findeth water in the desert

turns the night to golden day

and i know, yes i know

Jesus' blood can make the vilest sinner clean

and i know, yes i know

Jesus' blood can make the vilest sinner clean

in temptation He is near thee

holds the powers of Hell at bay

guides you to the path of safety

gives you grace for every day

and i know, yes i know

Jesus' blood can make the vilest sinner clean

it's the blood of Jesus

oh, the blood of Jesus

i have not really been doing a great job of updating my blog, not that i have many insightful things to share. BUT, i did come across this hymn that i believe is so fitting for this season we are rapidly approaching. Just wanted to share it ;)

Lay aside your passing pleasures

look beyond what cannot last.

Shallow hopes are mere distractions.

Earthly comforts soon are past.

See in Christ a grand horizon.

Find a life more rich and vast

Raise your eyes and see the Savior,

feel His love, and hear His call.

follow Him in self-denial.

Find your Father all in all.

Take the cross, accept the suffering.

Soon the cost will seem so small.

Gladly trade your crumbling treasure.

Gain the pearl of greatest price.

Life is more than pain and pleasure.

Life in Him is true delight.

Find your freedom,

find your glory,

find yourself in Jesus Christ

Ken Bible