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Love

Love/ Spiritual

An Ever-Present Touch

Matthew 11:28,29
Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy-laden and overburdened, and I will cause you to rest. 
(I will ease and relieve and refresh your souls.)
Take My yoke upon you and learn of Me, for I am gentle (meek) and humble (lowly) in heart, and you will find rest (relief and ease and refreshment and recreation and blessed quiet) for your souls.
For My yoke is wholesome (useful, good–not harsh, hard, sharp or pressing, but comfortable, gracious, and pleasant), and My burden is light and easy to be borne.

Matthew 11:28,29 (the Message version)
“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me.  Get away with me and you’ll recover your life.  I’ll show you how to take a real rest.  Walk with me and work with me–watch how I do it.  Learn the unforced rhythms of grace.  I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you.  Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”

This picture is so beautiful.  It represents how I felt much of the weekend.  Not that I was submitted at His feet all weekend, I was not, but I was weary, and I felt his hand on my head.  Gentle, firm, reassuring, present. Ever-present.
Why do I lift my head and turn the other way, looking in expectation at those who cannot take my burdens?  As I turn back and rest, His hand is still there, reminding me that “He will never leave me, or forsake me.”  Reminding me that He gets it–He gets me– more than anyone else could, more than I even think I do.
Beauty/ Love

Different Do’s I Have Done

I am a cosmetologist, but I have not done hair in a salon for years now.  I do keep my skills up by doing the hair of family and friends, it brings in a little extra income, and is much fun!

Changing hairstyles just comes with the territory when you are a hair stylist.  I don’t think I have stuck with the same do’ or color for more than a few months. There are just so many to choose from, by the time I get my hair grown out, I find a short style I like, so out come the shears and… CHOP!  After I go short, growing it is a fun process because it takes me through the different lengths and I get to experiment along the way.

So at the risk of coming across as very self absorbed, I thought it would be fun to post pictures of the different do’s I have done.  I just started taking purposeful pics of my different styles/colors the past few years, just for fun, and to remember the styles I have worn. Oh, how I wish I would have taken more pics through the years of my adolescence and of cosmetology school days.  Boy, would that give us all a good laugh!  I loved that Rave hairspray, it is amazing how high I got my bangs with that stuff!

 Right now, I am collar bone length, and I am my natural color (the last picture is very recent) which is kind of nice since I almost forgot what it looked like.  I figured I would experience it for awhile, before I start getting those gray’s and feel like covering them up!  I am about to turn 34, and have not seen a gray hair…yet.

Did you notice I have at least part of my forehead covered with hair in every picture?  No joke, I have a forehead that goes on forever, so I soften it up with bangs. On top of that, I have ears that stick out!  Needless to say, you will never see all my hair slicked back in a classy chignon…
Ah-ha, ha!  That reminds me of a story I must tell you.
 My high forehead and “sticky-outie ears” are responsible for my husband and I getting in our first fight as a married couple. We were on our honeymoon, I know… sad day, but oh-so-funny now!
We were in Florida, just boarding our cruise ship.  We were giddy and googly eyed, ready to tackle the Caribbean as husband and wife.  My adoring husband had the camera around his neck and was ready to capture every moment. (we came back from our honeymoon with 13 rolls of film to develop)  We went up to the deck of the ship to watch the sun- set and the ship leave the dock.  My husband must have been in awe of my beauty,(ha) because he was determined to take my picture.  Usually, I would get posey and cheese ball it up, but at this moment there was NO WAY I was going to let him take my picture.  Why?  Because…we were on a ship…on the deck…leaving the dock…and… THE WIND WAS BLOWING!  It wasn’t just a little breeze, it was a super- duper strong wind, blowing right in my direction, lifting all my lovely, long locks and exposing my mile-high forehead and fievel-the-mouse ears.  I could not turn with my back against the wind, because the whole point was to capture the sunset behind me. He just could not believe I would not let him, and I just could not believe he wouldn’t take no for an answer!  Both of us had our heels (flip-flops) dug so far into that ship deck, I’d love to go back and see the marks.
I think I got my way, and my poor husband pouted…that is, until we got to our cabin.  Then we both remembered that we were on our honeymoon and got busy making up.:)
Its been 13 years, and yes, I am over my jumbo forehead and my dumbo ears.  I have a wonderful man who loves me and thinks I am beautiful, and I have a God who knew what He was doing when He created me, and who loves me more than I can imagine.
I hope you enjoyed my do’s from the last 4 years.  I am now growing it long again.  We’ll see how far I get before I get bored, then….CHOP!
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Love/ Spiritual

Hurting Humanity

The song below expresses my heart.
It begs God to give us His eyes for the lost, poor, and broken.  God has allowed me to see, now I must check myself and ask if it HIS eyes I am choosing to look through.  Too often, I look through my own eyes, and start lose grasp of hope.

 Many broken hearted and hurting people have cross my path.  Unbelievably strong people, who have experienced much pain and turmoil, with very little hope that their circumstances will change here on this earth.  I see people I know who care so deeply that it hurts, as they have no choice but to watch someone they love deconstruct, making poor choice after poor choice. I see people in poor health, being told to see a specialist by their doctor, but don’t because they can’t afford to, and walk away with fear in their eyes, wondering about the results of tests that will never be taken.  I see mental illness wreak havoc on precious brains, taking them on terrifying highs and lows.  I see a mom, who’s heart breaks as she visits her son in jail, and soars as she welcomes him home, full of a love that is beautiful, complete.  I see a grandmother, fighting the system for 9 years, to save her grandchildren from a father who has done the unimaginable. I see her taking them in as her own, worn out from work, pressing on in school to finish a degree, all the while in physical pain due to chronic illness.  I see a woman who is demoralized as her husband continues to betray her, sitting in front of a computer, choosing to find fulfillment in something that never fulfills, but destroys.  I see young girls being sold, their purity ripped from them day after day as they experience a hell called brothel.

Every one of these people have a name, a name that I have the privilege to know. These are ones who are, as the song says, “broken-hearted, ones that are far beyond my reach.”

True…BUT, they are not beyond HIS reach, the reach of my HEAVENLY FATHER.

I must point them to eyes that are perfect, compassionate, full of hope, the answer.  I must point them to HIS eyes, and pray that they will feel His reach, and be whole.

Love/ Spiritual

Hold On

  I think too often as Christians, we expect perfection from each other, and even from ourselves. This way of thinking sets one up for extreme failure and a life that is not authentic.  We are all in a state of growth.  We as Christians are pilgrims on a journey of walking with the One whom we love, and want to be like.  We stumble.  We often fall flat.  When we do, the Perfected One, Jesus, is right along side us, waiting to hear from us that we need His help, reaching out His hand to help us up, and reaching out His other hand offering grace and forgiveness.  We will not be perfect until we get to Heaven, yet, when we accept His hand of grace and forgiveness, He makes us whole, pure, blameless.  What a concept!


How beautiful would it be if we chose to see each other in that light? To see each other in the process of being perfected, continuously being made new.  To see each other as ones whom the God of the Universe thinks the world of, so much so that He came to our world to make a way for us to become like Him, so we could spend eternity with Him when we leave.  I think we would be much more prone to forgive, to bear each others burdens, to say the words “I’m sorry,” to speak the truth gently in love, to look at ourselves instead of pointing a finger, to just love one another because we are all on our own pilgrimage, walking this treacherous path of life.  What if we trusted Jesus with the ones we loved, trusted Him to continue the good work He has started, trusted Him to change their hearts and to reveal to them how He wants them to walk?  What if we kept our eyes on our own path, making sure we are walking it with our hands clasped to the One who leads?  How many times are we walking along, but let go of His hand to point with a finger of accusation at another pilgrim? We let go, distracted by someone else’s journey and our own pride, and stumble.  Or we let go, and cause another to fall, sometimes on purpose because they may have pushed you in the past and caused pain.  How many times do we just simply turn to our Friend of power who is holding our hand and ask Him to help our fellow pilgrims?  He’s right there, next to us, waiting for us to simply ask, to simply pray.  Instead, we pridefully think our limited brains know better, so we let go to point out those who are stumbling, all the while not realizing we are up to our chins in muck ourselves.  


Why do we expect perfection from each other and from ourselves?  How can we not offer forgiveness to one another or accept the forgiveness He offers us? How dare we think less of each other, when this amazing God has reached out His hand to each one of us, no matter who we are, what we have done, how much money we make, what color our skin is, no matter how far we have fallen.  We are ALL made by Him, and He is reaching out to each one of us offering Himself, offering an eternity of TRUE perfection with Him, at the end of this journey.

Love/ Spiritual

A Priceless Gift

“Spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness and your night will become like the noonday.” ~ Isaiah 58:10

Today I received one of the best gifts. Kathy, my mother-in-law, gave me what is called a One Girl Bracelet.  She bought it from Tiny Hands International, an awesome Christian non-profit organization who are committed to finding the greatest injustices in the world, and works toward relieving them however possible.  They are particularly called to orphans, street children, and the victims of the sex-trafficking industry.
My Uncle, Doug Dworak is on staff with Tiny Hands International as the director of Compassion Ministries. The love and dedication he and his wife, Shirley have for this ministry is pretty phenomenal, it has been a pleasure to watch and continue to learn what it looks like to have a heart that breaks for the oppressed, and one that is committed to serving God for His glory, no matter where it takes them.

This bracelet is extremely special to me. Not only because of who gave it to me, but also because of all it represents.  It was hand-crafted by a girl residing in Princess Home, a home for girls who have been victim to the Kathmandu sex industry. It is part of the One Girl initiative that Tiny Hands International has recently launched in their fight against sex trafficking in Nepal.  10,000 Nepali girls are trafficked each year into sexual slavery.  These girls are taken at a very young age. The average age is fourteen, though some are as young as six. (it makes my stomach churn to even imagine such an atrocity) Tiny Hands International believes that prayer will play a big part in the eradication of sex trafficking in Nepal, and I completely agree.

Here is part of an email that I received from Doug that tells more about why prayer is the key element in making a difference:

This, we have come to understand, is NOT a battle of flesh and blood but it’s one that is being fought in the heavens.  Knowing this is a spiritual battle and a battle that will only be won as we intercede for these girls before the Throne of Grace we are asking each of you to consider becoming a partner with us in ONE GIRL.  
ONE GIRL is first and foremost an initiative of prayer.  It is our desire to raise up at least 10,000 men and women around the world that would commit to pray for one of these girls throughout the year.  For $10 per year you will receive a bracelet made by our girls of Princess Home, which is a home in Nepal for girls that have been trafficked, sexually abused or are vulnerable to sexual abuse.  The bracelet is made of black cord representing the darkness these girls find themselves in and a gold stone which represents God’s light of hope.  It’s provided to you as a reminder to pray!  In addition, your $10 contribution will go directly toward the interception or rescue of one girl this year!  For as little as $10 ONE GIRL can be intercepted and avoid the horrors of a life in the brothels which, in most cases, will result in their death.

Now can you see why it is such a special gift? Truly priceless. What a privilege it is to lift one of these precious girls up in prayer, and to know I am praying with other prayer warriors from all over the world. I marvel that a $10 gift can not only rescue a girl from a horrid life that I can’t even imagine, but will also most likely, save her life, and give her an opportunity for rehabilitation.

What is Sex Trafficking and How Do Girls Get Sold?
Sex trafficking is the process of deceitfully transporting people across international borders for the purposes of sex work. It is important to note that in real cases of trafficking the girls do not know what they are getting into. And once they are in their destination country they are completely powerless to seek justice because they don’t know the culture or speak the language. This creates a situation in which innocent girls can be ruthlessly exploited by those seeking pleasure or money at their expense. 

Nepali girls are most often tricked by traffickers offering high paying good jobs in India. Often traffickers will also “marry” the girls in order to traffic them, and then abandon them in a brothel. The trafficker will collect a fee from the madame in a brothel, and then the madame will tell the girl that she has been “sold” and she must pay back the price spent to traffic her before she is free. In most cases, this takes many years, and by the time the girl is allowed to leave the brothel, her youth and innocence have been spent, and she may have HIV. 


“The Day My God Died”

This movie deals with content only suitable for mature viewers. It is hard to watch, but a very powerful piece of truth that needs to be seen. Even if you only have 5 minutes, it is still worth watching. It is a feature-length documentary that presents the stories of young girls whose lives have been shattered by the child sex trade. They describe the day they were abducted from their village and sold into sexual servitude as, “The Day My God Died.”

The film provides actual footage from the brothels of Bombay, known even to tourists as “The Cages,” captured with “spy camera” technology. It weaves the stories of girls, and their stolen hopes and dreams, into an unforgettable examination of the growing plague of child sex slavery.
Read more about what Tiny Hands International is doing in this fight against Human Trafficking:



“Let us remember, what hurts the victim MOST is not the cruelty of the oppressor, but the silence of the bystander.”
~Elie Weisel, Holocaust Survivor

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Love/ Spiritual

Centered

 

I’m feeling off-kilter. 

I know the solution to this problem, and that solution is time with God.  

He centers me.  My thoughts go all askew, He brings them back to truth.

For this to happen, I need time with Him. Reading His message, listening and talking to Him, knowing Him.  Like any relationship, little time together creates distance.  In this relationship, however, there is only one who chooses distance, never God, only me.  Time with Him is sweet.  Why do I let life and self distract?  


I let emotions distract. I am a feeler.  I have to work hard not to rely on my emotions and accept them as truth.  I have to compare what I am feeling with His truth.  My emotions are  beautiful when He is in my spotlight.  They lead me astray if not.


I am intuitive.  It is something lovely God did when He created me, but when I am caught up in my world, intuition deceives.  What I think is truth and what really is, are different.  Selfishness distorts what should be lovely.


I love the Bible- His word to me.  Its grounds me.  It reveals.  It gives me sweet fellowship with my dearest friend. It takes the crazy kaleidoscope of life and creates beauty.  It reminds me who I am and who He is.  It whispers gently, words that restore my essence, inflate my spirit, give me life.  It helps me to push pause on worry, and shows me what is outside my circle- the things I am not responsible for and cannot change. It spotlights what I can and should change in myself, and then reassures me that I am wholly loved, never alone, and fully whole.


It centers me, it makes Him my center.  

I read it, then I look through life’s kaleidoscope and it is lovely.


Lyrics

you’re the sweet dreams that soothe me

when i cant fall asleep
you’re the field
in the middle of the city
when i’m rushing by
at the speed of light

you’re the strong resolution
when I find no peace
you’re the church bells a ringing
in the evening
when all is quiet
your whisper comfort
lift my heart
i get so weak

Chorus: (x2)
oh you’re lovely lovely
you’re the center of my universe
(my universe)
a thousand times
i look around me and I find

you’re the soft words that touch me
when i just can’t speak
you’re the breeze on the ocean
in the morning
reminding me
to greet the day

you’re the flowers i remember
seeing in italy

colors through

a golden haze,

bright and radiant

soft and fragrant

in the noon day sun,

it makes me sing.

Chorus: (x2)

i understand
there may be grief
and there may be pain
but i am aware
you blind the darkness
with who you are
because

Chorus (x2)

 

FAMILY/ Kids/Family/ Love/ Marriage/ Spiritual

Real Commitment

Com.mit.ment 

-noun
1.  the act of commiting 
2.  the state of being committed
3.  the act of committing, pledging, or engaging oneself
4.  a pledge or promise;obligation
5.  engagement; involvement

Our ancestors viewed marriage as a vow before God, a vow to be taken very seriously.  They knew the meaning of commitment.  Today, we live in a culture steeped in immorality, pornography, alcohol and drug abuse and selfishness.  All of these factors have contributed to broken marriages, and a key element that is missing is real commitment.  Look at the words above that define commitment; a pledging; engaging oneself; a promise; involvement.   Whoa.  It makes me pause and ask myself… Am I practicing these things?   Am I involving myself in my husbands life?  Am I fulfilling those promises I made on my wedding day?  Am I participating in his world?  Am I aware of the importance of prioritizing these things?



I remember the night I became engaged, it was such a magical time.  I remember being in awe that this amazing man put a symbol of commitment on my finger.  I knew that it represented his commitment to me above all others, and that felt like such a beautiful compliment!  I love my ring, it helps me to remember to treasure commitment, and to be on guard for things that threaten to steal it.  When I look at it, it reminds me how important it is to check myself periodically, to be purposeful in nurturing my marriage relationship, and to remember how important real commitment is.

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