Browsing Category

FAMILY

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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Kids/Family

Fall Break Fun

My girls have a week off of school for fall break.  Today was the first day, and after chores were done this morning, it only took about an hour until I heard the words “Mom…I’m bored!” When I think of all the awesome things my sweet but spoiled girls have to keep them busy, I was pretty surprised to hear those words so soon into our break!

I know a list helps keep me focused and on track with the flow of my day, so I thought maybe it would help them, too.  I grabbed a pen and paper, called my girls into the living room and made them pop a squat on the living room floor right in front of my feet.  Then I asked them to help me make a list of all the fun things they can do to keep themselves busy during break.  They really got into it and we were able to come up with a whole bunch of fun stuff to do!  As we brain stormed, it was neat how they were able to think of things they have not done in awhile, like lincoln logs and making paper snowflakes.

When we were done, I copied the list onto a large piece of paper and hung it on our dining room wall.  I made a place for each of them to initial beside each idea, so they can keep track of what they have done.
They played with playdoh for the first time in a very long time today, it kept them quite busy!  They are all excited to wake up tomorrow and decide what they are going to do next. I think we were able to come up with enough things to make this fall break very fun!

Here is what we came up with:
Legos, Art, Twister Dance, Karaoke, Sidewalk Chalk, Play-Doh, Nintendo DSi, Pop Beads, Computer, Hullabaloo, Puzzibits, KEVA Planks, Pop Beads, Beads, Paper Snowflakes, Doll House, Babies, Dress-Up, Barbies, Marker Board(Dry Erase Board), Hullabaloo, Scooters/Bikes, Lincoln Logs, Sticks, Crossword Puzzles, Piano, Basketball, Hide n Seek, Sardines, Trace Cookie Cutters, Bake/Cook, Doctor/Nurse, Beauty Shop, Lite Brit, Puppets, Puzzles, Tea Party, Tinker Toy, School, Play Food, Coloring Pages, Polish Nails/Toes, Boochie, Life, Battleship, Circus Game, Drawing Game, Parcheesi, Visit Library, Play At Park, Go For A Hike!  Whew!

FAMILY/ HOME/ Homemaking/ Marriage/ Simplifying

Is Your Bedroom A Retreat?

 

There is something about staying in a hotel that I love.  Yes, the fact that I am not the one to wash the sheets, make the bed, or take out the trash is pretty awesome, but it is more than that.  I LOVE the simplicity of it.  There is no clutter in a hotel room, and everything that exists in the room is well thought out and purposeful.  There is a chair to sit in to put my shoes on, there is a nightstand with a lamp and clock that are both bedside and easy to reach.  There is a drawer in the nightstand to house books and my Bible.  A pen and paper sitting ready for me when I need to jot something down.  The closet is small enough to hold only the bare minimum, which forces one to think through what is put in there.  There is an extra pillow and blanket in the closet, just in case.  A laundry bag for dirty clothes, an iron and ironing board to grab if needed and a trash can for waste.  All of these things are practical and useful and make our stay comfortable.

At home in our own room, I have most of the things mentioned above, minus the extra blanket, pillow, trash can, pen and paper.  I would have to walk downstairs for an extra pillow and blanket, to the bathroom for the trash can, and to my daughters room for a pen and paper.  That sounds like a bit too much walking for me, so I will add these items in my room when I get home!  Notice the thinking through process…I am constantly thinking about the most practical spot in my home for things, depending on how and where I use them.  I have to pause and think, “Is it worth having this item in more than one spot in the house?”  I try to avoid having the same item in two different places, as much as possible, for the sake of simplicity.  Before I add new items to any area, I stop and make sure it jives with the simplistic approach to life. So, do I really need a pen in my room?  How often would I need or use one?  The answer is quite often.  I love sitting on my bed and reading my Bible.  There are many times I want to underline what I am reading, but I have to get off my cozy bed to get a pen. Or, those times when I have my phone right by me  and I need a pen to jot down a phone message.  Yes, it is time to put a pen on my nightstand, in a pretty holder, within reach!

(Not our bedroom.  Thought I would keep ours a private retreat:))

 I have been very purposeful about keeping our bedroom clutter free and comfortable.  It is important to me that our bedroom is a room that we both want to be in, that is intimate, relaxing, comfortable, practical, and that feels like a retreat from the rest of the world.  There are a few things I have done to help create all those things. I did not spend a bunch of money, most things are just small touches here and there.

Here are a few ways I created a retreat like feeling in our room:

-A good place to start is get rid of clutter!  I cannot relax when I am surrounded by stuff, and I do not want reminders of what I have not done staring at me while I am trying to retreat from life, trying to “spend time”:) with my husband, or trying to sleep.
-Get rid of those piles of clothes.  Hang clothes up right away that are clean, have a place to put clothes that are dirty.
-Make sure everything you use regularly has a place.  Have a basket for the tv remote, a shelf, basket or drawer for books.
-Clear off open areas (like the top of a dresser) and keep them clear except for things that are important to you and belong there.  On my dresser, there are pictures of my kids that make me smile, a picture of Todd and I on our honeymoon, a few candles, and mirrored vases that reflect the candles which makes great ambience. (ohhh, this is getting a bit personal…moving on)
-Gender neutral, if there are two of you.  I made sure the decor in our room is not too feminine,  I am sure Todd appreciates this:)  Remember, if you are married, this is a place for both of you, so be careful how much pink and flowers you use.  Let your husband know by your decor that you care about how he feels in the room, too.
-Invest in quality bedding.  We couldn’t afford the best sheets in the world, but I bought the best we could afford.  Our comforter is fluffy and soft, and we have enough pillows to prop us up in bed to read or watch t.v.
-Pillows!  Ahhh, pillows.  I love pillows.  I must confess this is an area where Todd has complained.  I got a bit carried away with decorative throw pillows,(ok, really carried away) and every night he would have to move a boatload of pillows to get into bed.  We are now down to moving just three, they add color and beauty to the bed and are not that big of a deal to move.  If I am in the room before my hubby, I try to remember to move them out of the way for him and pull his covers down.  I don’t know if he notices this, but I know it is a small touch hotels do that I love, so I do it for him.
-Music! This is something that is missing from our room.  I would love, love an ipod speaker dock that comes with a clock!  Maybe someday..:)  Relaxing music would be great to add atmosphere and ambience.

So as much as I love hotels, coming back home is always something I am ready for.  I love our home, and I am so very thankful that God has blessed us with a little retreat from the world that I get to take care of! (and yes, that includes being thankful to make the bed and wash the sheets!)

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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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