I received some of the following statements in an email forward after getting an earlier email the same day about a friend of mine who is struggling right now. She's a single mom who is so dedicated to her kids, her friends, her church, and her community and I thought of her when I read it. I also thought of several other ladies, some single some not, who have shared some things with me over the past few months... I tweaked it a bit and added a few thoughts. Ladies, this is for for you...
Dear Friend, if you are longing today, you don’t have far to look:
He is a gentleman – He never takes anything by force, and gives selflessly
He is a confident provider and protector
He is rich and powerful… He owns everything; and there is nothing He wouldn't do for you
He perfects all things concerning you
He anticipates your wants and needs, He has from before you were formed
Every day He tells you and shows you how much He loves you – Are you listening?
You never have to perform in order to earn His love
He keeps all of His promises
No one can influence His opinion of you – in fact He intercedes on your behalf and you have no greater fan!
He is the ultimate intimate partner – the lover of your soul, your creator and the only One who knows you inside and out
He can't disown you or throw you away, you are a part of Him and bought with a precious price
He covers you and doesn't expose you
And He left you the most wonderful love letter, unforgettable words of encouragement and care so you will never forget how He feels about you…
Wake up every day and greet Him in your life!
His is Christ Jesus, and His perfect love is all you need.
Rejoice today no matter what it may bring - The King has claimed you as His princess and His bride and loves you more than any man or anyone ever could!
Marisa
Love89
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Thursday, August 20, 2009
I was wearing Jesus!
In the middle of 250+ children, countless moms, the deacons and elders, pastors, project workers, and the team I was traveling with in Ghana Africa, at the Galilea Gods Will Compassionate International Student Center… I, a simple 43 year old mom and wife, learned what it was like to wear Jesus.
Outside of Accra Ghana, as our team gathered to interact with the children who had been planning and anticipating our arrival for weeks, the energy was palpable.
After an amazing worship service together their eyes and smiles were so big as they watched us begin to set out our bags of toys and playthings down to arrange them. I remember wondering if their little faces might actually be getting sore from so much smiling - their little cheeks almost bursting!
The laughter, singing, squealing, and hand clapping was deafening as we pulled out the bubbles, coloring sheets, stickers, balls, jump ropes, and more! The children rushed up against me, against us all, making large circles surrounding us at least 7-8 bodies deep.
They were so excited! So were we!
The air was so thick, hot, and humid with all our bodies pressed together. The music started again and some groups began dancing . They LOVE to dance!
As I moved from one spot on the floor to another just to try and make sure I interacted with as many different children as possible they followed me as if their cloths were sewn to mine.
Suddenly what could have been have been overwhelming suddenly wasn't at all. Everything seemed to almost begin to move in slow motion and I felt calmness and a sense of peace in that chaos that was so surreal.
That’s how it began...
As things slowed I could almost hear the rustling of cloth against cloth as I moved through the crowd of kids, then the scrape of my shoes along the concrete floor as I moved back and forth. I looked down as I felt the small arms of a young wisp of a girl wrap around my waist and her small feet stepped up to stand on mine - just to be as close to me as possible.
I heard a whisper in my heart say "see, this is what it was like for me, to be surrounded by those who love you because you are you, and simply want you to love them the same way in return".
“What?” my heart lurched.
"See the child at your side, she has been waiting to just be able to touch you, for you to just be with her and show her you care.” I did see how she simply looked at me with excitement and expectation and I wrapped my arms around her and we swayed together to the drums. I told her she was beautiful and she beamed!
After we danced a while, I worked my way over to where the bottles of bubbles were and begin holding the wand up to all their lips. Laughter erupted from all of us each time the bubbles floated up!
The voice whispered again, “See there, there is a young boy waiting for you to really see him" I seemed to feel gentle fingers gently turn my head to where a group of children still sat in their chairs, not up and running around like the others. I saw a young boy with what I could only assume was cerebral palsy being held in his sisters lap – they were watching me intently.
As the sounds all rushed back as my eyes rested on that young boy. I walked over to him holding the bubble wand out. His big brown eyes crinkled up in the corners as he tried to smile at me. I held the wand close to his lips and he breathed out toward it as best he could, trembling with excitement… his sister smiled so sweetly at him then at me. I joined him in blowing into the wand and bubbles flew up! He jerked with joy! And when he felt the tiny bubble burst on his cheek that we created together his breathing turned to bursts of his own unique sound of laughter!
I laughed out loud too and Jesus whispered again. “See how beautiful? How precious each breath is? How much I love Him and how much I love you? So much that I orchestrated and wove threads of your lives together over 10,000 miles of ocean apart just to bring you to this place, at this moment, all so this young child could blow bubbles with me!”
Tiny hands reached for my attention again and I turned. As I reached out to pull all the children close to tell them of how much my Jesus loved them, what He did for them long ago, what He wants for their lives, it was as if I could feel His hands lovingly on top of mine, His arms draped along my shoulders as I hugged them… As I asked them if this news of my Jesus made them happy they began to dance with joy and pulled me along with them.
That voice sweetly said “See? Through you I love them, I touch them, I play with them and I dance with them, and through them I love you, touch you, and dance with you my daughter”
Oh my word, I was wearing Jesus!
See the thing is, we can make a choice every day at any given moment whether or not to put on Jesus. Like the softest of sweaters we can see with His eyes, touch with His hands, serve with His heart, dance with Him... He’s already there, waiting.
Oh how I want to wear Jesus!
Monday, August 10, 2009
All I Can Say Is Beautiful!
We serve a beautiful God who could weave a thread across and ocean to bind the lives of an African child to mine... Todd and I just became mom & dad again with the help of Compassion International! Meet my Bernard and his sweet sister Beneditta from Ghana!
Sunday, August 9, 2009
Lucy
Day 2 continued - Lucy walks home from the Compassion Project long dirt roads. A beautiful girl with a shy smile who passes street after street lined with adults and kids alike in need, looking for hope. She passes a man selling third hand shoes that he found in the dump to earn a living. She keeps her head up though. She passes a building falling in on itself that holds a make shift market stand where a woman sells soup to take care of her family - selling it to those who have nothing to cook soup on... no big silver pot to place over an open flame for them or they would try to eek out a living too.
Lucy walks on, gingerly stepping on stones over the open sewer stream that runs where a street used to be a few years ago. That sewer stream leads to a small lot with a three walled room where she and her family crowd into to sit, and escape the midday sun, and simply be a family.
Did I mention her family consists of Lucy, her dad, her stepsister an brother, her grandmother and great grandmother, who cares for them all while the dad makes $1.50 a day to fish on another mans boat. That is their income - when the fishing is good that is. It not right now. Both previous wives walked away from this family. Did I mention they have to buy undeground water because they have none in the home? Did I also mention that everytime it rains it foods the three walled concrete floor with that sewer waste we so carefully stepped around and over to visit her home? And that they need rain though to grow food? And that they asked us to pray about both????
Did I mention Lucy has hope because each day when she walks home its from the local Compassion Project where she has just been fed, looked after, educated, and loved on by men and women who love Jesus and want to make sure Lucy has every opportunity to know and love Him too?
to sponsor a child log on now to love89.org and click the link on the bottom left!
Marisa
Lucy walks on, gingerly stepping on stones over the open sewer stream that runs where a street used to be a few years ago. That sewer stream leads to a small lot with a three walled room where she and her family crowd into to sit, and escape the midday sun, and simply be a family.
Did I mention her family consists of Lucy, her dad, her stepsister an brother, her grandmother and great grandmother, who cares for them all while the dad makes $1.50 a day to fish on another mans boat. That is their income - when the fishing is good that is. It not right now. Both previous wives walked away from this family. Did I mention they have to buy undeground water because they have none in the home? Did I also mention that everytime it rains it foods the three walled concrete floor with that sewer waste we so carefully stepped around and over to visit her home? And that they need rain though to grow food? And that they asked us to pray about both????
Did I mention Lucy has hope because each day when she walks home its from the local Compassion Project where she has just been fed, looked after, educated, and loved on by men and women who love Jesus and want to make sure Lucy has every opportunity to know and love Him too?
to sponsor a child log on now to love89.org and click the link on the bottom left!
Marisa
Friday, August 7, 2009
My Africa?
After quite the ordeal to get here that meant our finally plane left JFK 3 hours late and with a whole new brake system... I was strangely very calm about.
I arrive in the capital of Ghana. Standing in the rundown airport, with it's odd odors, the airport staff wearing facial masks to ward of the swine flu germs and Lord knows what else floating around, people from so many places, going to so many places, and bits of languages I do no understand in the least... I am still strangely calm.
After sitting in a shuttle van for almost an hour crammed full of most of our team and luggage alone in the parking lot in strange country waiting on our team leader who was inside the airport with 2 whose luggage did not make it... I am again, calm.
Check in. Lunch. An unexpected chance to go ahead and visit a Christian school outside Accra with Dr John of the Ashanti Tribe & Rev Harry Thomas of the states (the two men have been friends for 20 years & with Gods divine vision obediently birthed this school to sit right smack dab in the middle of a Muslim Community!).
I met the head mistress (helping run this school since its inception, she is 60 years old now with the most beautiful skin and smile and laugh.
The ride from there to the top of a mountain Dr John wanted us to see took us through villages and towns with an assault on my senses - smells, sights, sounds, potholes that could swallow small cars, the haves and the have nothings living side by side along the way... not only am I calm... I feel at home.
What does this mean? I think it means that the next few days of my Compassion International Trip that has brought me to this strange and wonderful place I have somehow yearned for will contain untold assaults on my other senses, the more important ones - my spiritual eyes and ears, my heart, and my soul... I can't wait to see what God will reveal here in Ghana~
Marisa
Love89
I arrive in the capital of Ghana. Standing in the rundown airport, with it's odd odors, the airport staff wearing facial masks to ward of the swine flu germs and Lord knows what else floating around, people from so many places, going to so many places, and bits of languages I do no understand in the least... I am still strangely calm.
After sitting in a shuttle van for almost an hour crammed full of most of our team and luggage alone in the parking lot in strange country waiting on our team leader who was inside the airport with 2 whose luggage did not make it... I am again, calm.
Check in. Lunch. An unexpected chance to go ahead and visit a Christian school outside Accra with Dr John of the Ashanti Tribe & Rev Harry Thomas of the states (the two men have been friends for 20 years & with Gods divine vision obediently birthed this school to sit right smack dab in the middle of a Muslim Community!).
I met the head mistress (helping run this school since its inception, she is 60 years old now with the most beautiful skin and smile and laugh.
The ride from there to the top of a mountain Dr John wanted us to see took us through villages and towns with an assault on my senses - smells, sights, sounds, potholes that could swallow small cars, the haves and the have nothings living side by side along the way... not only am I calm... I feel at home.
What does this mean? I think it means that the next few days of my Compassion International Trip that has brought me to this strange and wonderful place I have somehow yearned for will contain untold assaults on my other senses, the more important ones - my spiritual eyes and ears, my heart, and my soul... I can't wait to see what God will reveal here in Ghana~
Marisa
Love89
Thursday, July 9, 2009
To Sweat or Not To Sweat
To sweat or not to sweat – that is the question...
OK, I’m reading “The Noticer” by Andy Andrews, our Chick Chat Book Club selection of the month for July. One of the main characters, Jones, a.k.a the noticer, who always turns up just when he’s needed with just the right things to say, the right advice to give, and a different perspective of their life that seems to impact that life almost supernaturally, just spoke something into the life of another character in the chapter I was on last night that really was pretty cool. Jones asked Henry if he had ever heard the phrase “don’t sweat the small stuff?”
We’ve pretty much all heard that one and we all agree probably that in the usual context (things out of our control) that its very true and very good advice. But Jones challenged Henry to view that statement in a different way. Not to negate the meaning of it the way we have always heard it, but to see it in a different light, from a different perspective. We should sweat the small stuff when it comes to the actions we choose to take, that affect others, that affect how they see us, things we are in control of at least in the sense of having that choice.
The choice to make dinner for that sick person at church, or down the street
The choice to offer to run an errand for a friend that is overwhelmed
The choice to take a couple bucks and give it to the person in front of you in line at the store because they’re a little short
The choice to court your spouse like you did before you were married
The choice to ask that friend out for coffee that you haven’t spent time with lately – or that new friend that needs to feel included
The choice to stop, smile and say hello to that person at the table next to you at Panera who looks like they could definitely use someone just to acknowledge they are alive
The choice to sweat the small stuff that you can do or not do that really matter to everyone around you.
We all have a dream, the big picture if you will, of what we want our life to be, and how we want others to see us…. In “The Noticer” Jones said that in this case most of us don’t get that the big picture we envision will be entirely composed of the small stuff – that the big picture will never be a masterpiece if we ignore all the purposeful tiny brush strokes… and a lot of those have been painted into our big picture by others right?
Matthew 7:12 So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you,
The truly amazing thing is that when we do in this context “sweat the small stuff” we not only change our own big picture but we can actually get to be one of the beautiful tiny brushstrokes in someone else’s masterpiece!
Marisa
Love89
OK, I’m reading “The Noticer” by Andy Andrews, our Chick Chat Book Club selection of the month for July. One of the main characters, Jones, a.k.a the noticer, who always turns up just when he’s needed with just the right things to say, the right advice to give, and a different perspective of their life that seems to impact that life almost supernaturally, just spoke something into the life of another character in the chapter I was on last night that really was pretty cool. Jones asked Henry if he had ever heard the phrase “don’t sweat the small stuff?”
We’ve pretty much all heard that one and we all agree probably that in the usual context (things out of our control) that its very true and very good advice. But Jones challenged Henry to view that statement in a different way. Not to negate the meaning of it the way we have always heard it, but to see it in a different light, from a different perspective. We should sweat the small stuff when it comes to the actions we choose to take, that affect others, that affect how they see us, things we are in control of at least in the sense of having that choice.
The choice to make dinner for that sick person at church, or down the street
The choice to offer to run an errand for a friend that is overwhelmed
The choice to take a couple bucks and give it to the person in front of you in line at the store because they’re a little short
The choice to court your spouse like you did before you were married
The choice to ask that friend out for coffee that you haven’t spent time with lately – or that new friend that needs to feel included
The choice to stop, smile and say hello to that person at the table next to you at Panera who looks like they could definitely use someone just to acknowledge they are alive
The choice to sweat the small stuff that you can do or not do that really matter to everyone around you.
We all have a dream, the big picture if you will, of what we want our life to be, and how we want others to see us…. In “The Noticer” Jones said that in this case most of us don’t get that the big picture we envision will be entirely composed of the small stuff – that the big picture will never be a masterpiece if we ignore all the purposeful tiny brush strokes… and a lot of those have been painted into our big picture by others right?
Matthew 7:12 So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you,
The truly amazing thing is that when we do in this context “sweat the small stuff” we not only change our own big picture but we can actually get to be one of the beautiful tiny brushstrokes in someone else’s masterpiece!
Marisa
Love89
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Gifts
To really live, fully live and feel alive, we have to find our passion... we have to use our gifts to serve. And we all come equipped for at least one thing that is THE thing that will pull and draw us to finally selflessly serve & give to others and will simultaneously draw us closer to Christ. By the way, serving is simply doing what He has already made you good at to make someone else’s life better!
We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully. (Romans 12:6-8)
Sometimes the way we become aware of that gift comes quite unexpectedly. It may not be what you ever even knew you had a heart and burden for, or ever considered that you would be good at... sometimes it’s revealed because we decided to step outside our comfort zone one day, we go along with our family or small group to join others at a homeless shelter, or decide to adopt a single mom and her family at the holidays, or we pitch hit for a friend who is sick and can’t pull her Mobile Meals route one day, and WHAM - your heart becomes both broken for what you see the needs are around you and at the same time it is joyful and you somehow feel more excited and fulfilled than you have in years – if ever before!
Identifying what your gifts are can be gained from close introspection of yourself, how you react to certain situations, by taking a spiritual gifts assessment (of which there are plenty online, and in most churches), sometimes God simply reveals it to you with a resounding clarity during a mission trip, walking through a difficult season of life with a friend , any number of experiences where you spend selfless time... God will use that time to hone your gifts and reveal them to you and to others.
And no, you aren’t the exception, a person with no visible gifts, you were not left out, EVERYONE has been gifted with talents. If we are made in His image we contain His love, compassion, and concern… He would not command us to do His work without giving us what we need to do it!
(continued)
Discover them:
1. Take a gifts test to determine how God has gifted you. They are easy to search on the internet or your home church may already have one. Also ask yourself what gives you life? What makes you happy to do? What are you good at? What do your friends think you are especially good at?
2. Make a list of your top two or three spiritual gifts you score the highest on. What ways do you already use those gifts? Look for ways you can serve God and others that highlight these strengths. Think about the things that cause you concern in your world.
4. If there are things you’re currently committed to and perhaps not gifted in, you may need to cut back a little so you can make time to really use your gifts. If you are doing something just because, truly begin seeking that new passion – it may be right under your nose!
1 Corinthians 12:4 (New Living Translation)
There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit is the source of them all.
Romans 11:29 (New Living Translation)
For God’s gifts and his call can never be withdrawn.
Whatever you do seek and use your gifts. Think about it this way - if you gave a gift to someone that you really thought so long and hard over, that you went through the trouble matched up a gift for someone with everything you knew about their likes, their dislikes, their personality, what you thought would benefit them the most, and they never used it, no doubt you’d be disappointed . . . How much more so must God, who uniquely created and gifted each one of us, eagerly desire to see us use our gifts!? He’s passionate for you, be passionate for funding the purpose He created you for!
We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully. (Romans 12:6-8)
Sometimes the way we become aware of that gift comes quite unexpectedly. It may not be what you ever even knew you had a heart and burden for, or ever considered that you would be good at... sometimes it’s revealed because we decided to step outside our comfort zone one day, we go along with our family or small group to join others at a homeless shelter, or decide to adopt a single mom and her family at the holidays, or we pitch hit for a friend who is sick and can’t pull her Mobile Meals route one day, and WHAM - your heart becomes both broken for what you see the needs are around you and at the same time it is joyful and you somehow feel more excited and fulfilled than you have in years – if ever before!
Identifying what your gifts are can be gained from close introspection of yourself, how you react to certain situations, by taking a spiritual gifts assessment (of which there are plenty online, and in most churches), sometimes God simply reveals it to you with a resounding clarity during a mission trip, walking through a difficult season of life with a friend , any number of experiences where you spend selfless time... God will use that time to hone your gifts and reveal them to you and to others.
And no, you aren’t the exception, a person with no visible gifts, you were not left out, EVERYONE has been gifted with talents. If we are made in His image we contain His love, compassion, and concern… He would not command us to do His work without giving us what we need to do it!
(continued)
Discover them:
1. Take a gifts test to determine how God has gifted you. They are easy to search on the internet or your home church may already have one. Also ask yourself what gives you life? What makes you happy to do? What are you good at? What do your friends think you are especially good at?
2. Make a list of your top two or three spiritual gifts you score the highest on. What ways do you already use those gifts? Look for ways you can serve God and others that highlight these strengths. Think about the things that cause you concern in your world.
4. If there are things you’re currently committed to and perhaps not gifted in, you may need to cut back a little so you can make time to really use your gifts. If you are doing something just because, truly begin seeking that new passion – it may be right under your nose!
1 Corinthians 12:4 (New Living Translation)
There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit is the source of them all.
Romans 11:29 (New Living Translation)
For God’s gifts and his call can never be withdrawn.
Whatever you do seek and use your gifts. Think about it this way - if you gave a gift to someone that you really thought so long and hard over, that you went through the trouble matched up a gift for someone with everything you knew about their likes, their dislikes, their personality, what you thought would benefit them the most, and they never used it, no doubt you’d be disappointed . . . How much more so must God, who uniquely created and gifted each one of us, eagerly desire to see us use our gifts!? He’s passionate for you, be passionate for funding the purpose He created you for!
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