MareBearHitstheRoad Blogger - April 30th, 2010 - Day 19 - This will need to be short (and everyone says "thank goodness") as tonight we have a prayer group and a party and I have been a lazy good for nothing all day - although I must say I think that my tribute to my sister Helen qualifies as doing something. I am sitting here and listening to my dog ASA (yes named after the King in the bible - his name means healer or Dr. Unfortunately when I first was choosing a name for this magnificent dog (English Cream Golden Retriever) I got a completely different meaning wherever I searched which said it meant obedient or faithful (can't remember which because I also looked up the name Hezekiah). Now I chose the names Asa and Kiah for my dogs because GR are notorious for their faithfulness, licking abilities, lover of children and easy to train, obedient - mine, not so obedient at times. Well as it turns out Kiah means Forgiveness and Asa means Healer - so as I write this today about Dogs, let's reflect on the attributes of God and how the word Dog spelled backwards is GOD
Now personally I think that it is not by coincidence that these wonderful animals are dubbed man's best friend. God is our BFF. Dogs are the epitome of unconditional love, save for dinner time when it's every dog for himself. God is Unconditional love. There are more dog lovers in the world than cat lover's although you might getting into a knock down drag out if you raise that point with a cat lover. \But any way you slice it, dogs are just amazing creatures (as are all God's creations) in how they just give and give and give and then they give some more. They ask nothing of us. They revolve their world around us, and the sun rises and sets on us, their master.
So is it so big of a stretch for us to give the same to our King, to the master of our lives. The sun rises and sets over us, everything we do is of interest to Him, our creator, and the love - OH the LOVE - so unconditional and flawless...now I am not saying God is a dog waiting to lick yer face - although He does have a great sense of humor, he just might. No what I am saying is that we have something that we ALL want and hope for everyday of our lives - Unconditional Love, the kind that says I love you even when you are a butt head to me. I love you even if you leave me out on the porch for hours(years or a lifetime) on end. I love you even if you do not pet me or give me your love in return. I LOVE YOU.
So today I am reflective of that Unconditional Love and as I look so lovingly at my pooches, and they follow me around as though I am not coming back, I am looking at my dogs and thinking of my GOD. He is before me in all I see and do. He is with me no matter what - just like my dogs - He is the ultimate BFF.
Hence, His sense of humor as the BFF International was created. As we think of the BFF God is in our lives, so too we can give that love to BFF International - the youth out there that are hurting, homeless, hopeless, and hungry. BFF is an organization that wants every child to have the opportunity to bring that message out to these kids, to show them that God is our BFF - and when we use the analogy of our beloved 4 legged friends, it gives a lighthearted comfort to our message and love for these kids. SOmething they can relate to and share with each other, but most of all meditate on and get the big picture.
Happy weekend everyone who is following and share your heart with someone today.
Blessings,
marebear
The Journey for Breiter Futures Foundation....Transforming the lives of our youth through Faith, Hope & Love...
Friday, April 30, 2010
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
SACRIFICE
MareBearHitstheRoad Blogger - April 28, 2010 Day 20...I added a link to the I Expect GOD to Act! page because Rev Mark Brown has just an incredible way of reminding us about what it means to walk in Faith. But when we walk in Faith we are carrying with us so much more. We bring with it Hope, Love, Compassion, Empathy, Understanding, Humility, Grace, Mercy...the list just goes on and on. But when push comes to shove, what are we willing to really give up to walk Boldly in our Faith - whatever Faith that may be. I appeal to every faith, religion or religious beliefs here because they all call for SACRIFICE in some form or another. My most keen reference of course is in Christianity, and the greatest sacrifice ever made and that is the one where Jesus gave His life for ours, on the Cross.
In Catholicism sacrifice is no meat on Friday's and a 100 other rules that Catholics should live by. In Judaism Saturday is a day of sacrifice from sun up to sun down and again, 100 plus other rules to live by. In Islam, prayer is mandatory to the beliefs of Islam at least 5 times a day, and on the extremist side the Jihad is the ultimate sacrifice. But you get the idea. Each Faith or Organized Religion has a set of "rules" that we must follow or more correctly, things we must sacrifice in order to demonstrate our faith to GOD.
Right choices require us to think outside of ourselves, outside the box, outside our own understanding and see what is not always obvious. The consequence. Rules are typically thought of as directives that we MUST follow, where as right choices are ideals that are in the best interest of each individual and consequences are often quite clear. When I read the commandments I do not see a set of rules but rather a guideline or guidebook as to what living righteously means. How do we get there? In other faiths and religion rites and rituals are important if you are to gain entrance into heaven. In cults false Gods are worshipped and threats, fear and intimidation are used to force the follower to be in line with what that group believes.
The Muslims believe that if you spend your life doing good works, and it is quantitative, when you stand before Mohammed in death - even though you led this righteous life - you WILL not know if you did enough! WOW, maybe even a double wow. In Catholicism is a lot about works again, being a "good" person, helping others, being charitable etc..but if you go into most Catholic churches you still see Christ on the Cross...but that is biblically incorrect and not in line with Scripture. I don't want to get into a pissing match over which religion or faith believes what - but one of the running themes in all faiths is that we are to sacrifice ourselves for the sake of whomever or whatever we believe.
Sacrifice according to webster's means:
1 : an act of offering to a deity something precious; especially : the killing of a victim on an altar
2 : something offered in sacrifice3 a : destruction or surrender of something for the sake of something else b : something given up or lost
In Catholicism sacrifice is no meat on Friday's and a 100 other rules that Catholics should live by. In Judaism Saturday is a day of sacrifice from sun up to sun down and again, 100 plus other rules to live by. In Islam, prayer is mandatory to the beliefs of Islam at least 5 times a day, and on the extremist side the Jihad is the ultimate sacrifice. But you get the idea. Each Faith or Organized Religion has a set of "rules" that we must follow or more correctly, things we must sacrifice in order to demonstrate our faith to GOD.
Whether Jew or Gentile, Muslim or Hindu, sacrifice means different things to different people. As I read the post by Rev Mark - 'I want to Recklessly follow Jesus Christ. I Don't want look before I leap, not hesitate when I step out, not be afraid. I HAVE FAITH!'by Jake Witherell I was struck not just by the poignancy of this quote but it also touched my heart regarding the sacrifice that is asked of us daily by our King. Throughout the Bible we are told to be obedient to God's commandments and when you study them carefully, they are a set of rules really but I like to think that they are right choices for right living. BIG DIFFERENCE here. Rules and Right Choices are one in the same yet they are different.
Right choices require us to think outside of ourselves, outside the box, outside our own understanding and see what is not always obvious. The consequence. Rules are typically thought of as directives that we MUST follow, where as right choices are ideals that are in the best interest of each individual and consequences are often quite clear. When I read the commandments I do not see a set of rules but rather a guideline or guidebook as to what living righteously means. How do we get there? In other faiths and religion rites and rituals are important if you are to gain entrance into heaven. In cults false Gods are worshipped and threats, fear and intimidation are used to force the follower to be in line with what that group believes.
The Muslims believe that if you spend your life doing good works, and it is quantitative, when you stand before Mohammed in death - even though you led this righteous life - you WILL not know if you did enough! WOW, maybe even a double wow. In Catholicism is a lot about works again, being a "good" person, helping others, being charitable etc..but if you go into most Catholic churches you still see Christ on the Cross...but that is biblically incorrect and not in line with Scripture. I don't want to get into a pissing match over which religion or faith believes what - but one of the running themes in all faiths is that we are to sacrifice ourselves for the sake of whomever or whatever we believe.
Sacrifice according to webster's means:
1 : an act of offering to a deity something precious; especially : the killing of a victim on an altar
2 : something offered in sacrifice3 a : destruction or surrender of something for the sake of something else b : something given up or lost
In Christianity, faith in Jesus Christ and His sacrifice on the Cross for us is common knowledge. It is not obscured by anything. Christ came as the Son of God and Man and Sacrificed His life for ours, in honor of the God we serve. So now I would like to get things back into focus.
Are we willing, able, and can we comprehend what right living and sacrifice mean and how intricately they are entwined? I believe that when we come to know Jesus, in our hearts through the leading of the holy spirit we come to understand the meaning of those two principals. But the question is ARE WE WILLING? As the quote above states: are we willing to recklessly follow our Faith in ALL situations, sacrificing much for that which we cannot see? Are we willing to walk outside our comfort zone and give complete trust to something/someone we cannot see? Are we willing to courageously Sacrifice the comforts of this life for the comforts we can expect and are promised in the next?
Finally, as I say farewell's and cya's to my deeply loved and cherished Oregonian Family and Sacrifice the comfort and security of their love and friendship, support and encouragement, for new adventures and service to our King, I am willing to sacrifice it all to walk Blindly into the unknown because of that very same FAITH. I think that what Jake Witherell is trying to convey is that we need to commit to making every sacrifice, no matter the price, to serve but one master. We need to always be cognizant at all times that what we do and say WILL have an impact and leave an impression on those lives we become a part of or run in to. That we need to be care free as children in our walk in this world, and to me that means I must Sacrifice myself in all things, in order to serve righteously in His world.
The story of Abraham and Isaace is one of my favorites because it not only addresses the issue of sacrifice everything we have for our King but it also teaches us to walk without fear, with trust, with a willing heart to sacrifice that which is not really even ours in the first place....the altar was simply a symbol and Isaac was the example....are you slaying the Isaac's in your life for a fuller, richer life with the KING?
Blessings and great love and joy for you today,
marebear
ENCOURAGEMENT
MareBearHitstheRoad Blogger - April 27, 2010 - 21 days until this former New Yorker, now native Oregonian, hits the road. I cannot begin to describe how many encouragers I have in my life. It boggles my mind and leaves me in a state of awe and wonderment. How could one person be so incredibly blessed by so many men and women that encourage and lift up, even when they themselves are struggling and hurting. Well, I can tell you how! They can do it because when you walk in faith it is as natural as breathing to want to lift up your brothers and sisters, regardless of your own lot in life, because for one thing, it certainly helps you take your mind off your current woes and worries. Secondly, it is easy because to truly encourage from the heart you must be at a place of love. Third, despite the toils and troubles of the day, it never ceases to encourage us when we encourage others...especially when we see the fruits of our love blossom in another.
Encouragement comes in so many ways. Sometimes it is as simple as a smile to a stranger or from one, not the kind that gives you the creepies but the kind that tells you that you just received a blessing from someone else. It can come by the simple touch of someone's hand on your shoulder at a time of struggle or loss, or simply because they just felt you needed it. Encouragement while you, yourself are in the fire of struggle and pain, is EXTRAORDINARY encouragement because that is the kind that comes selflessly in someone else's pit of darkness or despair. Encouragement comes from a place deep within our hearts - the place where we want to know and give unconditional love and support to another, without question, without strings attached, sometimes in the quiet and sometimes like a sonic boom.
I love to encourage others because it makes me feel wonderful. I feel as though by lifting another up and reminding them of the special blessing and joy they are to me or to others, I am forced to take the focus off of me, my times of need, and instead redirect out and upward...with a heart of love, friendship, compassion, empathy and understanding. Often I use humor to encourage. Granted I may not always be funny, but hey at least I try and really, at the end of the day that is all any of us can do. But I learn how to encourage others because of how others encourage me. Or by watching them encourage others. And most often I learn how to encourage because every time I open the bible I am reminded of the Love, the Sacrifice, the Encouragement that is written on every page.
It is a gift we receive and a gift we share. And it means the most when it comes when we least expect it. I am encouraged daily just by waking up and seeing the world with fresh new eyes of Hope, Commitment, Love, Friendship, Support and Blessings that come flying at me, especially when I least expect it. And it is in those moments that I see GOD. And it is in that moment that Faith comes pouring out of me and spills over into someone else's cup, only to find out at some point down the road that in that single faithful moment I encouraged them...and they encouraged me. I have chosen the scripture from "The Message" as it feels particularly right in it's poetic translation of encouraging others.
Blessings of Encouragement,
marebear
Encouragement comes in so many ways. Sometimes it is as simple as a smile to a stranger or from one, not the kind that gives you the creepies but the kind that tells you that you just received a blessing from someone else. It can come by the simple touch of someone's hand on your shoulder at a time of struggle or loss, or simply because they just felt you needed it. Encouragement while you, yourself are in the fire of struggle and pain, is EXTRAORDINARY encouragement because that is the kind that comes selflessly in someone else's pit of darkness or despair. Encouragement comes from a place deep within our hearts - the place where we want to know and give unconditional love and support to another, without question, without strings attached, sometimes in the quiet and sometimes like a sonic boom.
I love to encourage others because it makes me feel wonderful. I feel as though by lifting another up and reminding them of the special blessing and joy they are to me or to others, I am forced to take the focus off of me, my times of need, and instead redirect out and upward...with a heart of love, friendship, compassion, empathy and understanding. Often I use humor to encourage. Granted I may not always be funny, but hey at least I try and really, at the end of the day that is all any of us can do. But I learn how to encourage others because of how others encourage me. Or by watching them encourage others. And most often I learn how to encourage because every time I open the bible I am reminded of the Love, the Sacrifice, the Encouragement that is written on every page.
It is a gift we receive and a gift we share. And it means the most when it comes when we least expect it. I am encouraged daily just by waking up and seeing the world with fresh new eyes of Hope, Commitment, Love, Friendship, Support and Blessings that come flying at me, especially when I least expect it. And it is in those moments that I see GOD. And it is in that moment that Faith comes pouring out of me and spills over into someone else's cup, only to find out at some point down the road that in that single faithful moment I encouraged them...and they encouraged me. I have chosen the scripture from "The Message" as it feels particularly right in it's poetic translation of encouraging others.
Romans 15:1-6 (The Message)
Romans 15
1-2 Those of us who are strong and able in the faith need to step in and lend a hand to those who falter, and not just do what is most convenient for us. Strength is for service, not status. Each one of us needs to look after the good of the people around us, asking ourselves, "How can I help?" 3-6That's exactly what Jesus did. He didn't make it easy for himself by avoiding people's troubles, but waded right in and helped out. "I took on the troubles of the troubled," is the way Scripture puts it. Even if it was written in Scripture long ago, you can be sure it's written for us. God wants the combination of his steady, constant calling and warm, personal counsel in Scripture to come to characterize us, keeping us alert for whatever he will do next. May our dependably steady and warmly personal God develop maturity in you so that you get along with each other as well as Jesus gets along with us all. Then we'll be a choir—not our voices only, but our very lives singing in harmony in a stunning anthem to the God and Father of our Master Jesus!Blessings of Encouragement,
marebear
THE EXTRAORDINARY
MareBearHitstheRoad Blogger - Officially today marks 21 days until I depart for something greater than myself and humbly to serve others in extraordinary ways that will bring Faith, Hope and Love where none is. Extraordinary is a wonderful word. It is a telling word and it a word that conjures up in our minds eyes things of incredible wonder and amazement. As I began this journey, I knew I had extraordinary family and friends. I knew that extraordinary things would and will happen if I stepped out in Faith and walked what I believe reverently in my heart. I knew that I would witness the extraordinary with eyes wide open, heart bursting and love to spare.
Extraordinary is a wonderful place to be, witness, share in, but most of all it is what we should all not just want for our lives but for the lives of our children, our family, our friends and, last but not least, our faith. Extraordinary is an adjective that means to be beyond ordinary, and from Websters online dictionary:
1 a : going beyond what is usual, regular, or customary
Jesus, the apostles, Paul, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Sarah, Ruth, Ester, Mary, Job, Ezekiel and so many other people of biblical text, these were Extraordinary men and women, even the Samaritan woman at the well. Of all of them, by far Jesus fits the profile best. Yet, I have listed but a few of the many, actually all of the extraordinary men and women that are used throughout the Bible to share, teach, inspire, lend faith, hope and love, to us today so that we too become not just people, but extraordinary contributors to the cause of Christ and humanity.
But extraordinary takes courage, strength, resolve, humble ambition towards something greater than ourselves, and takes something that is THE single most powerful gift we can give anyone and that is the extraordinary gift of unconditional Love. Some spend their whole lives trying to be that. Some people could care less, while others pridefully strive to be extraordinary because it gives them feelings of esteem and significance.
We are all extraordinary in the eyes of science. We are unique right down to the very hairs on our heads and the ridges of on our finger tips. We are extraordinary in every way imaginable. Our physiology, our psychological makeup, or emotional blueprints are so unique and extraordinary, 21 centuries later we are still learning extraordinary things about ourselves and each other.
Whether you believe in nurture or nature; the case for faith or not for faith no one can argue this one fact - Human Beings are extraordinary!!! The World is Extraordinary!!! Our Creator is by far the most Extraordinary!!!
Breiter Futures Foundation was and is founded/inspired by an extraordinary young woman, who through the extraordinary way that her values were nurtured to the extraordinary integrity she brings to her commitment to serving her brothers and sisters regardless of their station in life or deliberately because of it. Her extraordinary BLIND Faith brings extraordinary Hope to lives that would not otherwise be impacted. And she does all this with extraordinary humility and grace. And because of this young woman, one day God will take this fledgling Foundation and do extraordinary things to the youth of our generation. A generation that lives in a world bombarding them daily via the media, peer pressure, internet and other mediums that can & often do, challenge them in ways we can't even begin to imagine. Our youth of today are extraordinary because they dare to be involved and to ask. They are extraordinary because they need to make life choices earlier and earlier; they are asked to make life changing decisions that bring with them heavy consequences, sometimes good and sometimes NOT so good.
Tonight I was blessed to spend my evening with a family that has always been dear to my heart. Holly and Brian have raised beautiful, well balanced, very intelligent and faith driven girls that are blossoming into young women, extraordinary women who are not content to simply be window dressing and are not willing to stand on the sidelines of life and faith but actually fight to make a difference. I was blessed to feel the Holy Spirit fill my/our evening with laughter, good food, extraordinary moments! I may not be able to sit here and share biblical passages but what I can do is dare to be extraordinary. Dare to reach for possibilities that are so far our there one might easily be discouraged or give up. I dare to ask the hard question of everyone, do you want the extraordinary life God has purposed, planned from the moment you first were conceived until the day you die.
Now I need to confess that I began this very late last night and as my eyelids grew heavy at about 1:20 am, I didn't get this out as planned so I am actually finalizing it tonight, which has given me the opportunity to mull and ponder these very thoughts and words and emotions of yesterday. I am willing to become unpopular because I choose the extraordinary, a life serving God, which in turn means I serve all my brothers and sisters, regardless - if that means I come to your home and scrub your floors or clean you bathrooms, then it is a gift for me and to you. It is an opportunity to wash your feet and serve selflessly, even if I am rejected.
Trisha is like that, willing to give her life so that another might know the freedom and Love that comes from the extraordinary God we love. So tonight as I wrap this up, I leave you with Acts 20:24 -" However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me--the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace."...so I ask you this question...Do you want a life filled with the extraordinary? If there is one single thing that I can say about the entire troop of people that have been placed in my path over the course of this lifetime, they are, always were and always be extraordinary - not because they shared my faith necessarily but because they stepped out of their comfort zones to be there for someone else...that is not just a blessing and a lesson but it is...EXTRAORDINARY...thank you!
Many blessings,
marebear
Extraordinary is a wonderful place to be, witness, share in, but most of all it is what we should all not just want for our lives but for the lives of our children, our family, our friends and, last but not least, our faith. Extraordinary is an adjective that means to be beyond ordinary, and from Websters online dictionary:
1 a : going beyond what is usual, regular, or customary
Jesus, the apostles, Paul, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Sarah, Ruth, Ester, Mary, Job, Ezekiel and so many other people of biblical text, these were Extraordinary men and women, even the Samaritan woman at the well. Of all of them, by far Jesus fits the profile best. Yet, I have listed but a few of the many, actually all of the extraordinary men and women that are used throughout the Bible to share, teach, inspire, lend faith, hope and love, to us today so that we too become not just people, but extraordinary contributors to the cause of Christ and humanity.
But extraordinary takes courage, strength, resolve, humble ambition towards something greater than ourselves, and takes something that is THE single most powerful gift we can give anyone and that is the extraordinary gift of unconditional Love. Some spend their whole lives trying to be that. Some people could care less, while others pridefully strive to be extraordinary because it gives them feelings of esteem and significance.
We are all extraordinary in the eyes of science. We are unique right down to the very hairs on our heads and the ridges of on our finger tips. We are extraordinary in every way imaginable. Our physiology, our psychological makeup, or emotional blueprints are so unique and extraordinary, 21 centuries later we are still learning extraordinary things about ourselves and each other.
Whether you believe in nurture or nature; the case for faith or not for faith no one can argue this one fact - Human Beings are extraordinary!!! The World is Extraordinary!!! Our Creator is by far the most Extraordinary!!!
Breiter Futures Foundation was and is founded/inspired by an extraordinary young woman, who through the extraordinary way that her values were nurtured to the extraordinary integrity she brings to her commitment to serving her brothers and sisters regardless of their station in life or deliberately because of it. Her extraordinary BLIND Faith brings extraordinary Hope to lives that would not otherwise be impacted. And she does all this with extraordinary humility and grace. And because of this young woman, one day God will take this fledgling Foundation and do extraordinary things to the youth of our generation. A generation that lives in a world bombarding them daily via the media, peer pressure, internet and other mediums that can & often do, challenge them in ways we can't even begin to imagine. Our youth of today are extraordinary because they dare to be involved and to ask. They are extraordinary because they need to make life choices earlier and earlier; they are asked to make life changing decisions that bring with them heavy consequences, sometimes good and sometimes NOT so good.
Tonight I was blessed to spend my evening with a family that has always been dear to my heart. Holly and Brian have raised beautiful, well balanced, very intelligent and faith driven girls that are blossoming into young women, extraordinary women who are not content to simply be window dressing and are not willing to stand on the sidelines of life and faith but actually fight to make a difference. I was blessed to feel the Holy Spirit fill my/our evening with laughter, good food, extraordinary moments! I may not be able to sit here and share biblical passages but what I can do is dare to be extraordinary. Dare to reach for possibilities that are so far our there one might easily be discouraged or give up. I dare to ask the hard question of everyone, do you want the extraordinary life God has purposed, planned from the moment you first were conceived until the day you die.
Now I need to confess that I began this very late last night and as my eyelids grew heavy at about 1:20 am, I didn't get this out as planned so I am actually finalizing it tonight, which has given me the opportunity to mull and ponder these very thoughts and words and emotions of yesterday. I am willing to become unpopular because I choose the extraordinary, a life serving God, which in turn means I serve all my brothers and sisters, regardless - if that means I come to your home and scrub your floors or clean you bathrooms, then it is a gift for me and to you. It is an opportunity to wash your feet and serve selflessly, even if I am rejected.
Trisha is like that, willing to give her life so that another might know the freedom and Love that comes from the extraordinary God we love. So tonight as I wrap this up, I leave you with Acts 20:24 -" However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me--the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace."...so I ask you this question...Do you want a life filled with the extraordinary? If there is one single thing that I can say about the entire troop of people that have been placed in my path over the course of this lifetime, they are, always were and always be extraordinary - not because they shared my faith necessarily but because they stepped out of their comfort zones to be there for someone else...that is not just a blessing and a lesson but it is...EXTRAORDINARY...thank you!
Many blessings,
marebear
Friday, April 23, 2010
LOVE
MareBearHitstheRoad Blogger - Today is April 22, 2010 and in 26 days I will be crammed into my Saturn with 2 very large dogs, 1 large cat and one medium cat and another human being. In tow will be everything I own now, which ain't much other than the necessary items - like clothes, computers and electronic equipment. I will be sharing this journey with Gene, the brother of my oldest and dearest friend, who has graciously offered to come to Oregon and help me schlep back to NY on the open road. Which other drivers will be quite grateful for since I get the road sleepy's and inside of 2 hours I will be nodding off at the wheel. This Journey is a labor of Love for Breiter Futures Foundation and for Christ. Sure there are wonderful and exciting things happening and unfolding but ultimately it's about loving.
What is Love? For some it is measured by words of affirmation or gifts. For another, it might be demonstrated through acts of service and hospitality. Some find that physical touch is Love, and in many ways it does manifest through touch, but not necessarily of the sexual nature. Some people don't believe in Love, they believe we "choose" to love someone and then it happens. Others believe it can be at first sight. Some define love by the negative aspects of it - jealousy, envy, coveting by another demonstrates love. Many find that love eludes them, like a secret or mystery to be found, and are so busy trying to manifest the appearance of Love they fail to see and capture the pure beauty of Love.
God teaches us in every book of the bible that He is a God of Love. He teaches us like any good Dad would through Love. And just as He must sit by at times and watch His children struggle through pain and heartache, He remains ever faithful in His greatest promise - that of a LOVE so UNCONDITIONAL that we cannot even fathom it in our puny little minds. He is not a God of vengeance or punishing. Many would and will challenge that statement and I am ready to stand firm in that very Promise because I know. And it's good to challenge that which we don't understand, if we didn't we would be simply puppets. I am not a puppet. You are not a puppet - we are not puppets. God Loves us so much that He made the ultimate sacrifice for US. He gave His Son for our salvation - so that we would know eternal love and the perfection of that eternal love.
We have all been hurt by love, in one way or another or many ways. Pain from love's heartache can leave us broken and empty; cold and bitter; self-hating and lonely. The joy from love fills our cups to overflowing proportions (I use that expression a lot - it's a favorite of mine); it brings untold satisfaction and peace; passion and fire; serenity and calm. One could argue that it is the single greatest emotion we can have because it has the ability to destroy with just a word or expand and overwhelm us to irrational, illogical and down right silly behavior. But here is my take on Love based on what I know to be true.
Love can be unconditional because we receive it, I receive it from God every moment of every day. Love can be painful because we often must go through the refiner's fire just to journey closer to God and His unconditional Love and build an intimacy with Him. Love is blind and sometimes stupid. Love is in everything if you simply look for it. It's kind of like the glass being half full or half empty - we can choose how to see things and if we allow our tainted hearts to control our perception of love then it makes unconditional love almost impossible. How many times has someone said "well, if you really loved me....you fill in the blank". Or how about this one "If only I had a perfect body or more money others will love me"? The truth is that the only one who can possibly love us so unconditionally is God - why? Because He knows every little dirty detail of our lives from start to finish, but He still loves us, craves to spend time with us, bless us, hold us close when we are hurting and sometimes quietly He loves us, so that we can learn to love ourselves.
I realized tonight that I had not yet touched on this subject and since it is so critical to this new chapter of my life, this journey, it's about time I did so. When we practice the presence of God, when we actively listen, meditate and journey with Him, the only thing you can possibly see is LOVE.
On October 22, 2009 I was prepared to do the most unthinkable thing. I had researched for months the right way and wrong way to do it. I had picked the day, the hour and the method by which I would do the unthinkable. I didn't want to think or draw close to God because I knew He would show me nothing but Loving Kindness and the way back. I didn't want to come back. I was lost in a sea of self hatred brought on by mistakes and poor choices and a sense of failure so great that I couldn't see anything but darkness. But here is where it gets really interesting, God wasn't finished with me yet. He loved me so much that even as I was trapped in my own darkness, shame and humility there was Grace and His mercies. That is love. When I fail because of poor decisions or choices, to blame God is ludicrous. Yet, we as humans expect God to wave a magic wand and it will all be better or go away or whatever we think in times of great struggle, loss, pain and despair. But ask yourself this, in the mind and heart that you have beating within you, lies Christ in wait for you to breathe Him in and say Howdy, great to meet ya...wanna take a ride together?
There is only one Faith that rests solely on the principals of Faith, Hope and Love, the greatest of these is Love...it is the faith of one who believes that the Son of God...the Son of Man, who loved us so very much because of our inequity chose to lose His life for ours. WOW WOW W
So I have decided that each day when I get up I will make every best effort to love the unlovable, as well as the lovable. That I will shine bright with Hope that I will be blessed over and over because I choose this path and not be taken down by those who feel forsaken by Love. And I have decided that through Faith in that which I cannot see, and the Hope in things I can, that I will do my very human best to LOVE at all times, unconditionally and with eagerness and genuinely, always hoping that through that Love, Christ's light will burn so bright in me, that others will want to know Him too. I am not afraid of being rejected or scorned because I am prepared and ready to lose my life for Christ in order to gain it everlasting. And there is no greater gift you can give another than to give of your heart - through LOVE.
I have been reconnected with old friends, united with new ones, and eagerly anticipate the ones to come...and I want to say thank you and I love you to everyone along the way...you have taught me in ways only God knows, through the bad and the good...and always WITH LOVE.
Blessings,
marebear
What is Love? For some it is measured by words of affirmation or gifts. For another, it might be demonstrated through acts of service and hospitality. Some find that physical touch is Love, and in many ways it does manifest through touch, but not necessarily of the sexual nature. Some people don't believe in Love, they believe we "choose" to love someone and then it happens. Others believe it can be at first sight. Some define love by the negative aspects of it - jealousy, envy, coveting by another demonstrates love. Many find that love eludes them, like a secret or mystery to be found, and are so busy trying to manifest the appearance of Love they fail to see and capture the pure beauty of Love.
God teaches us in every book of the bible that He is a God of Love. He teaches us like any good Dad would through Love. And just as He must sit by at times and watch His children struggle through pain and heartache, He remains ever faithful in His greatest promise - that of a LOVE so UNCONDITIONAL that we cannot even fathom it in our puny little minds. He is not a God of vengeance or punishing. Many would and will challenge that statement and I am ready to stand firm in that very Promise because I know. And it's good to challenge that which we don't understand, if we didn't we would be simply puppets. I am not a puppet. You are not a puppet - we are not puppets. God Loves us so much that He made the ultimate sacrifice for US. He gave His Son for our salvation - so that we would know eternal love and the perfection of that eternal love.
We have all been hurt by love, in one way or another or many ways. Pain from love's heartache can leave us broken and empty; cold and bitter; self-hating and lonely. The joy from love fills our cups to overflowing proportions (I use that expression a lot - it's a favorite of mine); it brings untold satisfaction and peace; passion and fire; serenity and calm. One could argue that it is the single greatest emotion we can have because it has the ability to destroy with just a word or expand and overwhelm us to irrational, illogical and down right silly behavior. But here is my take on Love based on what I know to be true.
Love can be unconditional because we receive it, I receive it from God every moment of every day. Love can be painful because we often must go through the refiner's fire just to journey closer to God and His unconditional Love and build an intimacy with Him. Love is blind and sometimes stupid. Love is in everything if you simply look for it. It's kind of like the glass being half full or half empty - we can choose how to see things and if we allow our tainted hearts to control our perception of love then it makes unconditional love almost impossible. How many times has someone said "well, if you really loved me....you fill in the blank". Or how about this one "If only I had a perfect body or more money others will love me"? The truth is that the only one who can possibly love us so unconditionally is God - why? Because He knows every little dirty detail of our lives from start to finish, but He still loves us, craves to spend time with us, bless us, hold us close when we are hurting and sometimes quietly He loves us, so that we can learn to love ourselves.
I realized tonight that I had not yet touched on this subject and since it is so critical to this new chapter of my life, this journey, it's about time I did so. When we practice the presence of God, when we actively listen, meditate and journey with Him, the only thing you can possibly see is LOVE.
On October 22, 2009 I was prepared to do the most unthinkable thing. I had researched for months the right way and wrong way to do it. I had picked the day, the hour and the method by which I would do the unthinkable. I didn't want to think or draw close to God because I knew He would show me nothing but Loving Kindness and the way back. I didn't want to come back. I was lost in a sea of self hatred brought on by mistakes and poor choices and a sense of failure so great that I couldn't see anything but darkness. But here is where it gets really interesting, God wasn't finished with me yet. He loved me so much that even as I was trapped in my own darkness, shame and humility there was Grace and His mercies. That is love. When I fail because of poor decisions or choices, to blame God is ludicrous. Yet, we as humans expect God to wave a magic wand and it will all be better or go away or whatever we think in times of great struggle, loss, pain and despair. But ask yourself this, in the mind and heart that you have beating within you, lies Christ in wait for you to breathe Him in and say Howdy, great to meet ya...wanna take a ride together?
There is only one Faith that rests solely on the principals of Faith, Hope and Love, the greatest of these is Love...it is the faith of one who believes that the Son of God...the Son of Man, who loved us so very much because of our inequity chose to lose His life for ours. WOW WOW W
So I have decided that each day when I get up I will make every best effort to love the unlovable, as well as the lovable. That I will shine bright with Hope that I will be blessed over and over because I choose this path and not be taken down by those who feel forsaken by Love. And I have decided that through Faith in that which I cannot see, and the Hope in things I can, that I will do my very human best to LOVE at all times, unconditionally and with eagerness and genuinely, always hoping that through that Love, Christ's light will burn so bright in me, that others will want to know Him too. I am not afraid of being rejected or scorned because I am prepared and ready to lose my life for Christ in order to gain it everlasting. And there is no greater gift you can give another than to give of your heart - through LOVE.
I have been reconnected with old friends, united with new ones, and eagerly anticipate the ones to come...and I want to say thank you and I love you to everyone along the way...you have taught me in ways only God knows, through the bad and the good...and always WITH LOVE.
Blessings,
marebear
Thursday, April 22, 2010
HOME
MareBearHitstheRoad Blogger - April 21, 2010 - Day 27 - WOW, I cannot believe how time is flying by and that in a months time, as I blog from the road, I will be heading Home. Now, bear in mind that my HOME right now is Oregon. I love Oregon, I love my friends and family here, I love the landscape of what has been an awesome 22 years. My insurance agent used to poke fun at me because I moved so often he couldn't keep up with me. You would think I was a military brat but nope, just love to move around. Oregon is only the second place where I have spent so many years in, and ironically, about as many years in my native Home, NY. Yes, I was once a NY girl, fast life, big living, and nothing but trouble..LOL.
On Saturday night, in NY, the Susan Wagner HS class of 1975-1976 got together for a reunion in NJ. Old friendships were renewed or refreshed; existing friendships regaled and admired; tales of success, tales of woe shared and exchanged. But reunions are about going home to catch up and see where we all have come from, what we have done and where we are headed. Most people dread reunions because age and time has not been kind or they have not been kind to themselves. Or that it will be about what they do, how much they make, their level of success, the house and car they drive, how good they do or do not look..you get the idea. I have often thought what I would do if there were a reunion of the class of 1978, Susan E. Wagner Alum unite for one night after 30 odd years. For many it is very much like going home after a long absence.
Going home means different things to different people. As mentioned above, it can be all about the superficial stuff or it can be about the meaningful things in life, like hearth and home, family and life long dreams fulfilled and fulfilling! For me, Home has always been where ever I created a special place for my stuff. Until 16 years ago I avoided pets or owning anything of any real value because, well it just makes it harder to move around. Always a free spirit, loving to explore and travel, I can make a home just about anywhere because wherever it is there will be new challenges and adventures, which in turn means I grow as a person. I learn tolerance and diversity, I become more flexible, yielding to change and new things. I gain new perspectives and become more open-minded; and undoubtedly I WILL create a home regardless.
But I love Oregon, I love my friends, I love my family, I love my church, I love my memories and adventures both good and bad. So why would I give it all up, for big city life, hustle and bustle, and well it's NY folks - it's a hellova town. But now it's time to go home, to where I was raised, to where there are many bad memories and poor choices, and wrong living. But as I return, I am being blessed all over the place by renewed contact with friends from childhood, friends from HS and the new friends I will be making as I start this new adventure for the BFF. Coming Home has some real meaning for me, and it is not something I thought I would ever do, but so far it appears that there is nothing but green lights ahead.
But as I reflect on the many homes I have had, the one I lost, and the ones I may never see again, I am reminded that it is not what I own or have, materialistically speaking; it isn't about stuff that fills each room and decorates the walls, and it is most certainly NOT about money, power or position. Home really is where your heart is. While I may be leaving the place that is HOME today, a home that has filled me up to overflowing proportions; a home that has blessed me in countless ways and on innumerable occasions; a home filled with friendships that will be life long, love learned and lost; home of many successes and an equal number of failures and mistakes; the family that extends beyond my siblings to those brothers and sisters in Christ...I am reflecting on what this change will bring and how my new Home will take shape in my heart.
As blessed as I have been with my family here, the family that helped and stood by me through good times and bad; the family that taught me to first crawl, then walk and then run, I pray that in my new Home, my return Home I too might bring those same lessons and love to others and to my family and friends there. Like the Women;s Retreat "Rooms of the Heart", which I have mentioned in a previous blog, my heart is Christ's Home. If I reflect the light and love and joy and hope and the very essence of His message to the world, with others, they will come into my Home and together we will build solid friendships on a solid foundation, that will go unbroken.
NY is the antithesis of Oregon in almost every way. I am leaving behind wide open spaces while I live in the metro area. I am leaving behind easy access to mountains and skiing or oceans and dog friendly beaches, both within an hours drive for a city that never sleeps, that culturally can only be compared to cities like Paris and Milan, where you can get anything 24 hours a day. I am leaving behind the ability to leave my doors unlocked at night without reservation for a city that 3 locks are mandatory for every entrance to your home. I am leaving behind my HOME, as I have known it for 22 years. So first, I want to thank Oregon for being such a people friendly, eco-friendly, entrepreneurial friendly, pet friendly place. I want to thank native Oregonians for their hospitality and friendliness. But mostly I want to thank the people that have spent the last 10 years loving me, befriending me, caring for me and most of all, encouraging and praying for me. Without these things, I literally would not be here at this moment in time, sharing with you.
As my bags are packed, and my belongings sparse, and with challenges not yet revealed or overcome ahead of me, I am excited to be going HOME, to the place where I was raised and to friends who remain and to family that I have not seen in a long time. But the thing I am looking forward to most of all is going HOME without the baggage that I left with. I can go home like a bright & shiny new penny filled with Hope, Love and Faith AND that in all things great or small, I will work tirelessly to share that with those around me. That as I return Home to the roots of my childhood, I return not empty handed or empty in spirited but renewed and refreshed for I am a new creation through Christ, who not only changed how I look at the world but MORE IMPORTANTLY how I love the world.
"I can do all things through Christ Jesus, who strengthens me". As the days slip by faster and faster and as my dance card becomes filled with special times with special friends and family, I am at peace with the path I have chosen and the direction it will take me. If necessary, my Home could be a cardboard box because ultimately what defines me, my heart and my home, wherever it may be, is my relationship and intimacy with Jesus Christ.
I will not shy away from sharing my faith and belief with others, and I will not/do not need to defend GOD, and I will walk with the kind of Faith that moves mountains. Our home is many things, but if it is not filled with Faith, Hope and Love, the greatest of these being Love, then I ask you what is HOME?
Blessings,
marebear
On Saturday night, in NY, the Susan Wagner HS class of 1975-1976 got together for a reunion in NJ. Old friendships were renewed or refreshed; existing friendships regaled and admired; tales of success, tales of woe shared and exchanged. But reunions are about going home to catch up and see where we all have come from, what we have done and where we are headed. Most people dread reunions because age and time has not been kind or they have not been kind to themselves. Or that it will be about what they do, how much they make, their level of success, the house and car they drive, how good they do or do not look..you get the idea. I have often thought what I would do if there were a reunion of the class of 1978, Susan E. Wagner Alum unite for one night after 30 odd years. For many it is very much like going home after a long absence.
Going home means different things to different people. As mentioned above, it can be all about the superficial stuff or it can be about the meaningful things in life, like hearth and home, family and life long dreams fulfilled and fulfilling! For me, Home has always been where ever I created a special place for my stuff. Until 16 years ago I avoided pets or owning anything of any real value because, well it just makes it harder to move around. Always a free spirit, loving to explore and travel, I can make a home just about anywhere because wherever it is there will be new challenges and adventures, which in turn means I grow as a person. I learn tolerance and diversity, I become more flexible, yielding to change and new things. I gain new perspectives and become more open-minded; and undoubtedly I WILL create a home regardless.
But I love Oregon, I love my friends, I love my family, I love my church, I love my memories and adventures both good and bad. So why would I give it all up, for big city life, hustle and bustle, and well it's NY folks - it's a hellova town. But now it's time to go home, to where I was raised, to where there are many bad memories and poor choices, and wrong living. But as I return, I am being blessed all over the place by renewed contact with friends from childhood, friends from HS and the new friends I will be making as I start this new adventure for the BFF. Coming Home has some real meaning for me, and it is not something I thought I would ever do, but so far it appears that there is nothing but green lights ahead.
But as I reflect on the many homes I have had, the one I lost, and the ones I may never see again, I am reminded that it is not what I own or have, materialistically speaking; it isn't about stuff that fills each room and decorates the walls, and it is most certainly NOT about money, power or position. Home really is where your heart is. While I may be leaving the place that is HOME today, a home that has filled me up to overflowing proportions; a home that has blessed me in countless ways and on innumerable occasions; a home filled with friendships that will be life long, love learned and lost; home of many successes and an equal number of failures and mistakes; the family that extends beyond my siblings to those brothers and sisters in Christ...I am reflecting on what this change will bring and how my new Home will take shape in my heart.
As blessed as I have been with my family here, the family that helped and stood by me through good times and bad; the family that taught me to first crawl, then walk and then run, I pray that in my new Home, my return Home I too might bring those same lessons and love to others and to my family and friends there. Like the Women;s Retreat "Rooms of the Heart", which I have mentioned in a previous blog, my heart is Christ's Home. If I reflect the light and love and joy and hope and the very essence of His message to the world, with others, they will come into my Home and together we will build solid friendships on a solid foundation, that will go unbroken.
NY is the antithesis of Oregon in almost every way. I am leaving behind wide open spaces while I live in the metro area. I am leaving behind easy access to mountains and skiing or oceans and dog friendly beaches, both within an hours drive for a city that never sleeps, that culturally can only be compared to cities like Paris and Milan, where you can get anything 24 hours a day. I am leaving behind the ability to leave my doors unlocked at night without reservation for a city that 3 locks are mandatory for every entrance to your home. I am leaving behind my HOME, as I have known it for 22 years. So first, I want to thank Oregon for being such a people friendly, eco-friendly, entrepreneurial friendly, pet friendly place. I want to thank native Oregonians for their hospitality and friendliness. But mostly I want to thank the people that have spent the last 10 years loving me, befriending me, caring for me and most of all, encouraging and praying for me. Without these things, I literally would not be here at this moment in time, sharing with you.
As my bags are packed, and my belongings sparse, and with challenges not yet revealed or overcome ahead of me, I am excited to be going HOME, to the place where I was raised and to friends who remain and to family that I have not seen in a long time. But the thing I am looking forward to most of all is going HOME without the baggage that I left with. I can go home like a bright & shiny new penny filled with Hope, Love and Faith AND that in all things great or small, I will work tirelessly to share that with those around me. That as I return Home to the roots of my childhood, I return not empty handed or empty in spirited but renewed and refreshed for I am a new creation through Christ, who not only changed how I look at the world but MORE IMPORTANTLY how I love the world.
"I can do all things through Christ Jesus, who strengthens me". As the days slip by faster and faster and as my dance card becomes filled with special times with special friends and family, I am at peace with the path I have chosen and the direction it will take me. If necessary, my Home could be a cardboard box because ultimately what defines me, my heart and my home, wherever it may be, is my relationship and intimacy with Jesus Christ.
I will not shy away from sharing my faith and belief with others, and I will not/do not need to defend GOD, and I will walk with the kind of Faith that moves mountains. Our home is many things, but if it is not filled with Faith, Hope and Love, the greatest of these being Love, then I ask you what is HOME?
Blessings,
marebear
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
STORMS
MareBearHitstheRoad Blogger - April 19, 2010 - Day 30 - Casting Crownsl does a song call the Voice of Truth. It is a wonderful song that reminds us that when we keep our eyes and hearts fixed on God, all things are possible. But in the STORMS, what do we most often do...we sink. Not because we don't believe but because as the lightening strikes and thunder roars, and the waves come crashing over us in the boat of life, we lose sight of our creator and are trapped by fear, uncertainty, anxiety, worry and a dozen more negative emotions - fight or flight mentality that clouds our vision. And in those moments, it is not that we are without Faith in God and His promises, but looking up is so much more difficult than we thought it would be, during times of trial and sacrifice, loss and discouragement, etc.
How do we face the Storms as they approach, sometimes by surprise and sometimes expectantly, without forgetting that our creator wants to bring us nothing but blessings and build us up to serve Him in the way that He wants us to? How, when we know He always provides, do we remain unraveled or unshaken by the slings and arrows of the evil one, as we draw closer to God? How do we keep our feet firmly fitted in the Gospels, the truth, wearing the full armor of God?
And...have you ever noticed how whenever you are on a strong spiritual path or in service to God, via the many ways that we do that, we seem suddenly bombarded with hurdle after hurdle along the way? How the road of service is constantly under attack one way or another? Or how about when you try to spend some time in the word and all of a sudden your eyes become heavy with the desire to sleep? Or as you are on your way to church on Sunday morning, for stupid reasons you end up fighting with your spouse? Or as you work diligently to get your house in order to go out in service to the King, only to find that for every 3 challenges you overcome, 10 more crop up like weeds, to stand in your way?
I am pretty certain that I know how you have answered these questions, since we have all been there done that. Well first and foremost, we must always Look UP and not out. If we are staying focused on the crashing waves and not at the man in the boat, the Captain, then inevitably we will always be in the eye of the Storm. As I began this late last night, my eyes became heavy with exhaustion from another day of battles, all won but still the battlefield is never easy. As I finish this tonight I pray that somewhere in the midst of this particular blog, something pops out to at least one person who is facing trials or tribulations.
I was having a conversation with my oldest and dearest friend and confidant yesterday about Abraham and Isaac..I was speaking in terms of this move to NY and the sacrifices that I am making along the way to meet that goal and be forward thinking toward future challenges and goals. In so doing I was referencing this particular scripture because as I have been preparing for this journey, I have had many moments where God has said bring it to the mountain top and sacrifice for me. My "Isaacs" have been belongings, my pets, friendship and family - all of which are gifts of abundance and joy for me, but ultimately they are GOD's. It is through His provisioning that I have anything at all, much less possessions, wonderful pets, work, friendship and the family that I love. As we spoke of this particular biblical story, one of my personal favorites, my friend became very upset as he felt that this particular scripture sends out the wrong message to "the crazies" of the world, for lack of a better term, the people who take some scripture too literally when in fact they are lessons by which He teaches us how to be the very best not just as children of God but also teaches us what FAITH means.
Storms are tests of faith and commitment. And we all fail sometimes and we all succeed at other times. The tale of Abraham's great Faith and Trust in God is witnessed in this particular scripture because he does exactly as he is instructed by God. He does not waiver, he unconditionally believes GOD and His promise to provide. How many of us are willing to be so obedient as to lay our lives, belongings, comforts, children, pets or whatever it is we hold dear and lay it on the altar for GOD as a sacrifice and be absolutely trusting and BELIEVE GOD that he will provide? Storms are the very thing that teach us how to do that. And while we may not always handle ourselves well during the storm; we may fail to look UP but rather out or inward; though we may turn our back on all we know to be true because we are blinded by the wind and rain and waves of the storm; when the clouds begin to clear and the rain ceases to fall, the waves disappear and followed my calm seas and a gentle wind we remember that He is God, we are Not and that He IS in control.
So, when we hear that song by Casting Crowns, and listen to the words...imagine that it is Christ that is at the helm of your ship as the seas become rocky and remember as He whispers to you...get out of the boat, you can walk on the water, if you believe and keep your eyes fixed on me because I will not fail you - YOU WILL NOT SINK. I will be the calm that you seek, that you need in every storm. I will be the wind in your sails, and the anchor at the shore.
Stand firm in your faith and He will take care of the rest...maybe not the way you think, and definitely not always solving your problems to your anticipation or liking but when the fair weather arrives, and the seas are calm once more and you can look back with renewed eyes and unclouded vision - then and only then can you be witness to the glorious blessings that occurred while you were in the Storm. Lay your Isaac's down before the King and know that He WILL provide...because in the end - it's all His anyway!
Blessings,
marebear
How do we face the Storms as they approach, sometimes by surprise and sometimes expectantly, without forgetting that our creator wants to bring us nothing but blessings and build us up to serve Him in the way that He wants us to? How, when we know He always provides, do we remain unraveled or unshaken by the slings and arrows of the evil one, as we draw closer to God? How do we keep our feet firmly fitted in the Gospels, the truth, wearing the full armor of God?
And...have you ever noticed how whenever you are on a strong spiritual path or in service to God, via the many ways that we do that, we seem suddenly bombarded with hurdle after hurdle along the way? How the road of service is constantly under attack one way or another? Or how about when you try to spend some time in the word and all of a sudden your eyes become heavy with the desire to sleep? Or as you are on your way to church on Sunday morning, for stupid reasons you end up fighting with your spouse? Or as you work diligently to get your house in order to go out in service to the King, only to find that for every 3 challenges you overcome, 10 more crop up like weeds, to stand in your way?
I am pretty certain that I know how you have answered these questions, since we have all been there done that. Well first and foremost, we must always Look UP and not out. If we are staying focused on the crashing waves and not at the man in the boat, the Captain, then inevitably we will always be in the eye of the Storm. As I began this late last night, my eyes became heavy with exhaustion from another day of battles, all won but still the battlefield is never easy. As I finish this tonight I pray that somewhere in the midst of this particular blog, something pops out to at least one person who is facing trials or tribulations.
I was having a conversation with my oldest and dearest friend and confidant yesterday about Abraham and Isaac..I was speaking in terms of this move to NY and the sacrifices that I am making along the way to meet that goal and be forward thinking toward future challenges and goals. In so doing I was referencing this particular scripture because as I have been preparing for this journey, I have had many moments where God has said bring it to the mountain top and sacrifice for me. My "Isaacs" have been belongings, my pets, friendship and family - all of which are gifts of abundance and joy for me, but ultimately they are GOD's. It is through His provisioning that I have anything at all, much less possessions, wonderful pets, work, friendship and the family that I love. As we spoke of this particular biblical story, one of my personal favorites, my friend became very upset as he felt that this particular scripture sends out the wrong message to "the crazies" of the world, for lack of a better term, the people who take some scripture too literally when in fact they are lessons by which He teaches us how to be the very best not just as children of God but also teaches us what FAITH means.
Storms are tests of faith and commitment. And we all fail sometimes and we all succeed at other times. The tale of Abraham's great Faith and Trust in God is witnessed in this particular scripture because he does exactly as he is instructed by God. He does not waiver, he unconditionally believes GOD and His promise to provide. How many of us are willing to be so obedient as to lay our lives, belongings, comforts, children, pets or whatever it is we hold dear and lay it on the altar for GOD as a sacrifice and be absolutely trusting and BELIEVE GOD that he will provide? Storms are the very thing that teach us how to do that. And while we may not always handle ourselves well during the storm; we may fail to look UP but rather out or inward; though we may turn our back on all we know to be true because we are blinded by the wind and rain and waves of the storm; when the clouds begin to clear and the rain ceases to fall, the waves disappear and followed my calm seas and a gentle wind we remember that He is God, we are Not and that He IS in control.
So, when we hear that song by Casting Crowns, and listen to the words...imagine that it is Christ that is at the helm of your ship as the seas become rocky and remember as He whispers to you...get out of the boat, you can walk on the water, if you believe and keep your eyes fixed on me because I will not fail you - YOU WILL NOT SINK. I will be the calm that you seek, that you need in every storm. I will be the wind in your sails, and the anchor at the shore.
Stand firm in your faith and He will take care of the rest...maybe not the way you think, and definitely not always solving your problems to your anticipation or liking but when the fair weather arrives, and the seas are calm once more and you can look back with renewed eyes and unclouded vision - then and only then can you be witness to the glorious blessings that occurred while you were in the Storm. Lay your Isaac's down before the King and know that He WILL provide...because in the end - it's all His anyway!
Blessings,
marebear
Saturday, April 17, 2010
FRIENDSHIP
MareBearHitstheRoad Blogger - April 16, 2010 - Day 32 - As I approach the 30 day countdown, I have been quite reflective of my life here in Oregon and the friendships won and lost along the way. Fortunately, there is very little in the loss column, and an abundance in the won column, in spite of myself. There is an expression out there that goes something like "you can count yourself blessed if in your lifetime you have had one true and wonderful friend." But how often in life have we, with very cavalier hearts, let a dear friend or friends drift out of our lives never to be seen or heard of again. So it seems fitting that as I begin to share time and spread myself thing to spend time with all those that I count not just as friends, but true blessings and pebbles to my ripple.
On the intro to my blog is the popular expression "Christ's Heart, My Home". What does that mean to you? To me it means that I have not just invited myself in to His world but Him into mine. I have chosen to take Christ and move Him from the foyer of my heart and into the whole house. In 2003, our churches Women's Ministry leader, counselor and pastor's wife lead a women's retreat called "Rooms of the Heart". While it would take far to long to go into an in depth detail of this Life Changing, Faith Changing event, I will try to share briefly how this ties into Friendship.
So let me ask you, have you invited Jesus into your heart and then left Him standing in the Foyer? Not inviting Him into the Living Room, Kitchen, Bedroom etc - of your heart and faith? Not only is it a very difficult transition to make but it is also even more difficult to admit that He is not in every area of your daily living. Can we truly know Christ if we do not open up every room in the house and share with Him all the great and good things, but also the icky, yucky stuff that usually gets trapped in a closet, the basement or a damp and dark attic? And the irony - He already knows all that stuff so why would we just leave Him hangin in the foyer?
When we open our hearts and allow intimacy with God to happen, we invite a life long Friendship that has no boundaries, no conditions, no limitations; is as vast as the universe and better than all the possible blessings you can imagine or hope for! Is it a friendship that you save for special occasions like Christmas and Easter rather than everyday living? Or, do you bounce out of bed each day hopeful for all that is in store for you from the Best Friend you will ever have? When Breiter Futures Foundation was just a lump of clay on the wheel (which is still that, although I am starting to see a shape begin to form) I loved how God, my best friend forever was in the details and what an incredible sense of humor He has. BFF International dba Breiter Futures Foundation has the same initials and is inspired by an amazing young woman who works tirelessly with At-Risk Youth struggling not just with the times, peer pressures, broken families and gang members but also loss of Faith, Hope and Love.
Friendship is such an important part of building bridges of change, with people, within the community and around the globe. As I begin the arduous task of making certain that all of my friends understand the impact they have had on my life, it is equally important that they know the level of respect and appreciation I have for each of them, even though I haven't always been successful at that. So just as I practice friendship with God, so too should I put as much investment into friends of the earthly kind. True love and friendship come out of the core principals of my faith. Faith, Hope and Love, the greatest of these is Love. BFF International is and will remain committed to that message, that promise of true Friendship - on a level playing field and without condition just as GOD intended.
I am grateful that I have learned the value of true friendship and pray always that I not take them for granted, as I have in the past. Moving forward, I am so happy that there are forums like Facebook where we can do just that! Thank you friends...none of this would be possible without your love, support and encouragement. And today this message is to honor you and your sacrifices for me, now, in the past and in the days to come. I love you and pray my actions meet my words!
There are too many pebbles to count that have rippled my life over the span of 49 years, and when that wave hits the shore...watch out!
Blessings,
marebear
On the intro to my blog is the popular expression "Christ's Heart, My Home". What does that mean to you? To me it means that I have not just invited myself in to His world but Him into mine. I have chosen to take Christ and move Him from the foyer of my heart and into the whole house. In 2003, our churches Women's Ministry leader, counselor and pastor's wife lead a women's retreat called "Rooms of the Heart". While it would take far to long to go into an in depth detail of this Life Changing, Faith Changing event, I will try to share briefly how this ties into Friendship.
So let me ask you, have you invited Jesus into your heart and then left Him standing in the Foyer? Not inviting Him into the Living Room, Kitchen, Bedroom etc - of your heart and faith? Not only is it a very difficult transition to make but it is also even more difficult to admit that He is not in every area of your daily living. Can we truly know Christ if we do not open up every room in the house and share with Him all the great and good things, but also the icky, yucky stuff that usually gets trapped in a closet, the basement or a damp and dark attic? And the irony - He already knows all that stuff so why would we just leave Him hangin in the foyer?
When we open our hearts and allow intimacy with God to happen, we invite a life long Friendship that has no boundaries, no conditions, no limitations; is as vast as the universe and better than all the possible blessings you can imagine or hope for! Is it a friendship that you save for special occasions like Christmas and Easter rather than everyday living? Or, do you bounce out of bed each day hopeful for all that is in store for you from the Best Friend you will ever have? When Breiter Futures Foundation was just a lump of clay on the wheel (which is still that, although I am starting to see a shape begin to form) I loved how God, my best friend forever was in the details and what an incredible sense of humor He has. BFF International dba Breiter Futures Foundation has the same initials and is inspired by an amazing young woman who works tirelessly with At-Risk Youth struggling not just with the times, peer pressures, broken families and gang members but also loss of Faith, Hope and Love.
Friendship is such an important part of building bridges of change, with people, within the community and around the globe. As I begin the arduous task of making certain that all of my friends understand the impact they have had on my life, it is equally important that they know the level of respect and appreciation I have for each of them, even though I haven't always been successful at that. So just as I practice friendship with God, so too should I put as much investment into friends of the earthly kind. True love and friendship come out of the core principals of my faith. Faith, Hope and Love, the greatest of these is Love. BFF International is and will remain committed to that message, that promise of true Friendship - on a level playing field and without condition just as GOD intended.
I am grateful that I have learned the value of true friendship and pray always that I not take them for granted, as I have in the past. Moving forward, I am so happy that there are forums like Facebook where we can do just that! Thank you friends...none of this would be possible without your love, support and encouragement. And today this message is to honor you and your sacrifices for me, now, in the past and in the days to come. I love you and pray my actions meet my words!
There are too many pebbles to count that have rippled my life over the span of 49 years, and when that wave hits the shore...watch out!
Blessings,
marebear
Friday, April 16, 2010
LISTENING
MareBearHitstheRoad - April 15, 2010 - Day 33 - I am excited to explore how the next 40 days will unfold - such a significant biblical number and I am hoping that it will be a time for reflection, renewal, rejoicing, and rebuilding...as I prepare for the next journey God has planned. Today was a difficult day because I had to face facts on some matters that I am in the middle of, and not because I want to be. As I helped my friend last week, I am now realizing that I should have yielded to that still small voice that was telling me to trust God. I am now in the middle of the consequences of that decision to intercede where I was told not to. And while I was faced with the challenge of "to help vs not to help" I chose the "to help button", which in prayer God was very specific - Trust in Him.
So often we try to do things in our own strength or because we believe it is "the right" thing to do as part of our responsibility in faith, when in fact - sometimes we are to do nothing. In spending time in the word, in meditation with God, fellowship with our brothers and sisters, and walking in those biblical truths of Faith, Hope and Love; God can do so much with the clay. He gave us keen minds, lips and mouths to share and witness to the Love of God; ears with which to listen, not just to our spiritual leaders, and counselors but also so that when we are in the quiet of His presence, we can hear Him. His Will, His Purpose, His Perfect Love and His Grace.
I started this message 4 days ago, and stopped as my heart was just not where it needed to be to finish this, much less share it. As I review what I wrote above, I see how perfectly it ties into all the other messages that have come before and since. Each one poignant and thought provoking to at least one person, me. This journey I am choosing to share with friends, family and people who I don't even know who may stumble across it, is about CHOOSING God. Over the past several months I have watched as my enthusiasm for this life change has grown daily. How excited I am to watch as God reveals all that is in store for Breiter Futures but also for the direction He has me going. I have wanted to do full time ministry since my first Mission trip in 2004. It was life changing, heart changing and I have never been happier than when I am serving others and the kingdom.
But am I really listening or trying to fill some void or gap in my life that even I may not be aware of. And so I stop and I try to listen. Sometimes, it is in my car. Sometimes it is when I am in the shower praying in the quiet flow of the hot water clearing my mind - silencing my heart long enough to hear. Sometimes, I can't believe what I am hearing when I listen. No way he wants me to do this or that. But if we spend enough time in quiet with our King; if we spend enough time in meditation of the Word; if we spend enough time being SILENT during times of challenge and strife, and LISTEN, He speaks to us. Sometimes it is through another person or circumstance, sometimes it is simply the still quiet voice that whispers in the quiet times; and other times it is a scream or loud thump upside the back of the head. But HE does speak to us.
But listening is an art form truly. It takes great patience, self-sacrifice, courage, strength and a willing and eager heart - to listen to anyone, much less GOD we need to step outside ourselves, give of ourselves, and be secure in who we are - not just with others, but especially with GOD.
There are 2 books out there, one is called "Search for Significance" written by Robert McGee. It is a Christian book but I believe that most anyone of faith would benefit from this wonderful book. The other book that I want to mention is a fiction Christian book called "Redeeming Love" by Francine Rivers. These books changed my life, my heart, how I saw myself, how I grew to understand how God sees me, where Freedom really comes from, and how to let go of shame and fear...but most of all because of all these lessons...I learned to LISTEN and TRUST in that still quiet voice, rather than question it.
I am a princess! I am the Daughter of the King! My significance comes from one place and one place only, my relationship with Jesus. I am not defined by money, how much or little I have; I am not defined by the car I drive or the house I own; I am not defined by my position of employment; I am not defined by power, success, or influence I have. And the reason I know this, the reason that it guides me daily is because in LISTENING to God, He painstakingly has been faithful at every step of my journey closer to Him and closer to what His purpose is for my life. And I notice daily that when I stop listening or DON'T listen and lean on my own understanding, desire, will or whatever suits me at that moment, often I lose the blessing(s) He has/had in store had I listened. Listening to what God wants us to do, following His direction can, at times, be painful because in so doing we sometimes have to watch someone we love and care about walk through the refiner's fire not trusting His promise that the flames will not scorch His faithful servants.
As I reflect back to when I began writing this entry, I was disheartened with myself because I had not listened to what God wanted me to do nor did I trust what He told me and therefore was working outside His plan and will. I believe with all of my heart that these months leading up to my relocation back to where I began, God has been talking to me, giving me insights and clarity, hope and vision. As I write these blogs I am amazed out how much I am learning and HEARING, as I re-read them or receive a comment/observation/critique of each one.
And I am grateful. Grateful that I am willing! Grateful I am pliable and moldable and changeable! Grateful that I am actively LISTENING.
Blessings,
marebear
I started this message 4 days ago, and stopped as my heart was just not where it needed to be to finish this, much less share it. As I review what I wrote above, I see how perfectly it ties into all the other messages that have come before and since. Each one poignant and thought provoking to at least one person, me. This journey I am choosing to share with friends, family and people who I don't even know who may stumble across it, is about CHOOSING God. Over the past several months I have watched as my enthusiasm for this life change has grown daily. How excited I am to watch as God reveals all that is in store for Breiter Futures but also for the direction He has me going. I have wanted to do full time ministry since my first Mission trip in 2004. It was life changing, heart changing and I have never been happier than when I am serving others and the kingdom.
But am I really listening or trying to fill some void or gap in my life that even I may not be aware of. And so I stop and I try to listen. Sometimes, it is in my car. Sometimes it is when I am in the shower praying in the quiet flow of the hot water clearing my mind - silencing my heart long enough to hear. Sometimes, I can't believe what I am hearing when I listen. No way he wants me to do this or that. But if we spend enough time in quiet with our King; if we spend enough time in meditation of the Word; if we spend enough time being SILENT during times of challenge and strife, and LISTEN, He speaks to us. Sometimes it is through another person or circumstance, sometimes it is simply the still quiet voice that whispers in the quiet times; and other times it is a scream or loud thump upside the back of the head. But HE does speak to us.
But listening is an art form truly. It takes great patience, self-sacrifice, courage, strength and a willing and eager heart - to listen to anyone, much less GOD we need to step outside ourselves, give of ourselves, and be secure in who we are - not just with others, but especially with GOD.
There are 2 books out there, one is called "Search for Significance" written by Robert McGee. It is a Christian book but I believe that most anyone of faith would benefit from this wonderful book. The other book that I want to mention is a fiction Christian book called "Redeeming Love" by Francine Rivers. These books changed my life, my heart, how I saw myself, how I grew to understand how God sees me, where Freedom really comes from, and how to let go of shame and fear...but most of all because of all these lessons...I learned to LISTEN and TRUST in that still quiet voice, rather than question it.
I am a princess! I am the Daughter of the King! My significance comes from one place and one place only, my relationship with Jesus. I am not defined by money, how much or little I have; I am not defined by the car I drive or the house I own; I am not defined by my position of employment; I am not defined by power, success, or influence I have. And the reason I know this, the reason that it guides me daily is because in LISTENING to God, He painstakingly has been faithful at every step of my journey closer to Him and closer to what His purpose is for my life. And I notice daily that when I stop listening or DON'T listen and lean on my own understanding, desire, will or whatever suits me at that moment, often I lose the blessing(s) He has/had in store had I listened. Listening to what God wants us to do, following His direction can, at times, be painful because in so doing we sometimes have to watch someone we love and care about walk through the refiner's fire not trusting His promise that the flames will not scorch His faithful servants.
As I reflect back to when I began writing this entry, I was disheartened with myself because I had not listened to what God wanted me to do nor did I trust what He told me and therefore was working outside His plan and will. I believe with all of my heart that these months leading up to my relocation back to where I began, God has been talking to me, giving me insights and clarity, hope and vision. As I write these blogs I am amazed out how much I am learning and HEARING, as I re-read them or receive a comment/observation/critique of each one.
And I am grateful. Grateful that I am willing! Grateful I am pliable and moldable and changeable! Grateful that I am actively LISTENING.
Blessings,
marebear
Thursday, April 15, 2010
TRUST
MareBearHitstheRoad Blogger - April 14, 2010 - Day 34 - How do you define trust? How is trust received or earned? Is trust something to be offered up without question? Is it possible to trust blindly? I am going to keep this brief tonight. I TRUST God with every aspect of my life. But I do not trust myself to do as HE tells me to or leads me to, because all too often - especially in the past 2 weeks, I have failed miserably at that very thing. This is heavy on my heart and it has me reflective of Hebrews 11:1. Faith is all about trust. Blind Trust. And I think next to pride, it is the second biggest reason that people lack faith or a belief in God and Jesus. To walk in faith, to me means that I must trust God at ALL times, with ALL matters!
When I attempt to do things in my own way, I do not trust God to protect, teach, watch over, guide, love, and bless me or those that I love and care about. So today I have made a decision, a decision that I must wake up and make every day of my life. I WILL begin and end each day with a commitment to TRUST GOD with every aspect of my life, His purpose for it, and to lead me down right paths. I WILL FAIL. But, and this is the critical part, I will still be loved unconditionally, I will still be forgiven and I WILL continue to try with every new day. Each day is a blessing because each day is a do over. I am terrible sometimes at quoting scripture. But there is a verse I have on the tip of my tongue that tells us exactly that...it goes something like His mercy's are new everyday...I trust that, I rest in that, I am grateful for that and I am humbled and broken by that...are you? And if you are not, what holds you back from Trusting Him? It is an interesting journey to Trust, I hope you will make it.
Blessings,
marebear
When I attempt to do things in my own way, I do not trust God to protect, teach, watch over, guide, love, and bless me or those that I love and care about. So today I have made a decision, a decision that I must wake up and make every day of my life. I WILL begin and end each day with a commitment to TRUST GOD with every aspect of my life, His purpose for it, and to lead me down right paths. I WILL FAIL. But, and this is the critical part, I will still be loved unconditionally, I will still be forgiven and I WILL continue to try with every new day. Each day is a blessing because each day is a do over. I am terrible sometimes at quoting scripture. But there is a verse I have on the tip of my tongue that tells us exactly that...it goes something like His mercy's are new everyday...I trust that, I rest in that, I am grateful for that and I am humbled and broken by that...are you? And if you are not, what holds you back from Trusting Him? It is an interesting journey to Trust, I hope you will make it.
Blessings,
marebear
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
BUILDING BLOCKS
MareBearHitstheRoad Blogger - April 11, 2010 - Day 38 - First I would like to apologize, this past 10 days has been quite the roller coaster and I am so grateful to be off that ride - and it has kept me from here, something that is important to me and a commitment I made. And for all those who have known me for years, please accept my deepest apologies for "the drama" over the years. Hopefully, I have changed on the plus side that now it is all just a distant memory and considering where I am today; I hope you know how important you all were along the way...and continue to be.
Building Blocks, we all had them as kids, we know what they are, and we know how they work - or should work. Hopefully most of us have been raised with a core set of blocks, good ones based on good values, right living and love. But not everyone gets that. As a matter of fact, sadly, there are probably more people who did not get those good life lessons (Building Blocks) and still stumble through the world looking for happiness, hope and love...usually in destructive and unfulfilling ways.
Good, solid Building Blocks are things that build integrity, character, righteous living, giving, responsible behavior, love without all the baggage, friendships everlasting and a myriad of other characteristics that teach people how to be successful not just in life, but in society. Sometimes, at a young age, those blocks are knocked down, taken away, or destroyed and crumble leaving gaps and holes where a foundation should be. And we all need a good foundation. Without it -we might as well be living in a house of cards.
Jesus was the cornerstone - IS the cornerstone of the Christian Faith. In no other faith or religion do you find LOVE as the basis or consistent theme/message to the believer. All other faiths are about what we can do to get into nirvana, heaven, the afterlife or whatever you believe. Only in Christianity is it NOT ABOUT US. Now that is what I call a foundation. I can do nothing in my own strength but I can do everything through Christ who strengthens me. I can do no good deed good enough that earns me a place inside the pearly gates...nothing, nada! All the good works in the world mean nothing.
So, as I sat in church yesterday and I looked up at the banner above me, at the depth of what those words represent for me, for us and what my Pastor and church stand for, I was brought to my knees once more...reminded that God is in control. That everything I do, we do, can and will bring glory to God - we just might not always see it. And as Don spoke of our thoughts and how they can make or break us; how imperative it is that we rely on the building blocks of our Faith and the promise that screams at us throughout the bible, to keep us from being held captive by our very thoughts, I looked up and read those words and today I want to share them with you.
Building People for the Glory of God! (this is a link to their site)
WOW WOW WOW - what a message of hope, of righteousness, integrity, promise, of faith and of LOVE.
Today I want to thank The Way Home Church, not just today but from 10 years ago, 8 years ago, 5 years ago and for all the years to come. Committed to bringing the word to life in the heart of the believer; committed to building the sheep for His glory through truth and faithfulness, they are impacting the Kingdom of Heaven for eternity. I walked in to this small body of believers and had no blocks. At least not the kind of blocks that build a strong foundation.
Today, as I prepare to go out and serve Breiter Futures Foundation (BFF International) and share the message of Faith, Hope and Love in all endeavors of the future, I go with a foundation in Christ that was built using blocks that will not crumble even though I might; they will not fail when I do; they will not fade when I am weary; and they will still be strong when I am weak. As He rebuilds my foundation over and over again, always to draw me closer to God and building something that is beyond me, not about me, but ABOUT HIM.
Thank you Celebration Fellowship, Thank you The Way Home....because of your faithfulness, foundations are being built with Building Blocks of Hope, Faith and Love.
To all - I am in the ripple you created, as are soooo many others we don't even know about.
love you so very much,
marebear
Friday, April 9, 2010
REST
MareBearHitstheRoad Blogger - April 9, 2010 - Day 40 - In the bible we know that Jesus spent 40 days and 40 nights alone in the desert with nothing but God to light his path and guide him. He trusted his father with his every need, every desire, everything. He was tested and tempted, taunted and teased. He walked through the refiner's fire with nothing more than the knowledge and faith that the father would protect him and keep him from harm. He knew he would be challenged, but he also knew that God is in control. He knew that he would face some of the difficult temptations of the flesh that we suffer too. He would bear witness to the lies and schemes of the enemy and reject them, in the flesh. But in all of this there is something He did that we too need to do, we need to Rest in the knowledge and the faith that God is always in control. He is always the captain of our ship and the preserver of our lives, spiritual and otherwise.
To REST in faith that God is the Alpha and the Omega is no easy task. We are so eager to do things in the flesh, to not listen to the still small voice that speaks to us in times of struggle or uncertainty; or times of solitude when we pause for a moment to hear His Will for our lives. Resting in God takes practice and patience. Neither of which are easy for us. We live in a world of "instantaneous gratification". Technology has created a must have right now in us that will not or sometimes, cannot be silenced. And when we do have the time or inclination to REST, often we fill that time with things like sleep, television, house work, projects that lay unfinished, etc. As my friend Cindi is fond of saying "I can rest when I am dead".
But Resting in the Lord is not just about a physical rest; it is not about an emotional rest...it is about the Spiritual Rest. The kind of rest that when you are done, you walk away not only refreshed and renewed, but you walk away RESTED! How many of us take the time each day to find our quiet place, A quiet place where we can simply spend time walking with God?
As I prepare to Hit the Road for Breiter Futures Foundation and for unchartered waters in a world filled with hustle and bustle, I am reminded daily how important it is that I REST in Him. Because if I do not, all perspective can become open for attack, lack of focus, become about me and not Him..the list is endless. But if I wake each day and I look UP not out or in, if I give Him the glory; If I keep my ears in listening mode; if I spend time in the Word and Prayer, and if I REST in the more than 6000 promises of the Bible...then most certainly I cannot fail...WE cannot fail. Our significance comes from above. Not through power and prestige, money or position, through others loving us and friendship...it comes from Resting in the knowledge that we are children of a KING, and that is ALL the significance we need and there is a peace in that. And in that peace we can Rest with quiet confidence that all things are possible through Christ Jesus.
So tonight, as you lay your weary head and/or body down, look up and take peace and solace in the knowledge that in Resting in God for all your needs, desires, hopes and dreams...is the safest place to be. We may not succeed each day but in making the effort to do so, He provides.
Blessings, may your rest be restful and a time of refreshing and renewal.
marebear
Thursday, April 8, 2010
HUMILITY
MareBearHitstheRoad Blogger - April 7, 2010 Day 41...the past week, while filled with so many blessings has also not been without its challenges, with some of those blessings on the not so obvious side. But as I sat having lunch with my dearest friend yesterday, we talked about some of what has been going on (too much to list here yet alone share) and the lessons that came with. We all know what humility and being humble is all about but there is a time when we must be careful because we can be prideful in our humility. And when we recognize the ugly beast it is so enlightening and well, humbling that it will change you. As I rode the wave of joyfulness pretty much through the weekend and into Monday, it was invigorating and exciting. It was electric. But let me tell you as Monday came to a close and I fell into Tuesday, I became quite introspective because of all that had happened and wanted to really reflect on the lesson I was in the midst of.
So often in our faith we have moments with great highs and extreme lows. Sometimes we are in balance and other times we are way off center. At the heart of faith it is important to recognize and respect that God is always in control. We are to fear God not because He is a God who punishes, but because it is important we know He is God and we are not. But for some reason, despite all of the hardships and pain getting here, I have trouble fearing God. Not because I do not know Him and my place in the palm of His hand, but because even when I have been on the humbling side of faith, where I have been "smacked down and reminded" of His goals, His plan, His purpose for me and for each of us, I can always find the lesson - or the not so obvious blessing and KNOW that I have been not just impacted positively by that lesson, no matter how hard it is/was but I KNOW God is teaching, pruning and molding me. The clay gets a smack down from the Potter.
As time draws nearer to my departure and as things are beginning to be hurled at me, from every angle, our God is showing me how important it is to remain in a place of humility rather than believe I am causing or doing it. It doesn't mean I have done anything wrong, if anything it means I am working in the direction I should...one where I trust Him, and regardless of the slings and arrows that come my way, put my whole faith to work. All things are worked for His Glory. Resting in that quietly and with true humility is a difficult task and one that we will have to work on each moment of every day. I trust God so much with my life, I am willing to lose it to be in His Will. I am willing to say "this is not of my doing but of God working through me and I can do nothing in my own power but only through Him who gave His life so that I might know eternity".
Without realizing it at the time, I was being prideful in my joyfulness, unintentionally and God swiftly reminded me that Pride comes before the fall. As my friend and I finished lunch I was so blessed to talk it through and share my lesson and while I am still not certain why I find it so hard to fear God, I am resting now in a place of quiet assurance that He will teach me. I am humbled daily as I watch what He is doing not just in my life, but more importantly in the lives of those around me, the life of the BFF and in the journey I inch toward. I worry sometimes that this change is not in His Will...but I can only pray that He will hit me really really hard over the head if it is not, and if I still don't get it..that I trust He will still make lemonade. Tonight, in closing I pray this prayer:
Father God, I lay myself at your feet and give honor an praise to you, to your sovereignty over my life. I trust Lord that you will protect and watch over not just your daughter, but over the endeavors she attempts, in your name. I ask Lord that you would keep me humble. That I would not be a willful child but a willing child. That I would rely not on my strength but in yours and in looking UP not out, or IN...that I have the ears to hear and the eyes to see all that you have in store and will hear your commands and follow obediently."
Challenge for my readers: Try spending one day in a truly humble place, with out pride, can you?
Blessings,
marebear
Monday, April 5, 2010
Blessings - a Side Note-ii
MareBearHitstheRoad Blogger Day 46 - April 4, 2010 - Unfortunately I was unable to complete my post on Resurrection Sunday but it is late and much has shaped what is now yesterday, and spilled into today. As I lay my head down for the night and prepare for another day filled with many challenges, I pray that everyone was as blessed as I was to have spent this day honoring my King, and giving thanks and praise for the redemption He has given by his blood.
Blessings,
marebear
Sunday, April 4, 2010
BLESSINGS
MareBearHitstheRoad Blogger - April 4, 2010 - Resurrection Sunday, the tomb is empty and He is Risen...when I wrote yesterday's blog, I knew I was going to spend the day helping someone else, and was pretty darn certain that it would not go as I expected. And it did and it didn't. As I prayed throughout the day pleading with God for me to be a blessing only, that I would stand behind the core values of what every Christian holds dear - Faith, Hope and Love, but of these Love Always. A little poetic license taken, but the message is clear. It was a glorious day, I was blessed beyond measure over and over and over again. This blog is going to be short because Blessings needs to have it's own day which may be today, I don't know yet. But what I did want to share was at the end of this very long and very blessed day, feeling WOW, sharing that WOW with someone who definitely needed some WOW, satan tried to steal it away - he slithered in and took my WOW day and I watched it disintegrate right before my eyes. As I was returning the rental truck, it was late and dark and the rental place was overflowing trucks to the point where I wasn't even sure I would be able to get my car.
And then I heard it, then I tried to solve it, and then I lost it. I exploded into an eruption of anger and obscenity. I had been trying to park the vehicle and another renter had parked their truck with a car trailer in tow...in the way of the drive. As I tried to maneuver to park, I was unable to see the trailer and it scraped my truck creating a dent and a hole. I don't have the money to pay for this, I did not get their insurance but I am insured. I began taking pictures and of course, my phone active abd buzzing all day was dying, near dead so I hope that I was able to get enough photos to plead my case tomorrow before I go to church, to the lovely rental company that I hope gives me some grace.
My point: Sometimes, when we are blessed it is obvious and it brings us great joy and we get on a joy high. And if we allow him, the snake will slither in and try and derail all the great work of the day or moment. Then he wins, we lose. But just when you think, I have failed again God, I have let you down, I have fallen short of the mark...God steps into to save the day. He's like Mighty Mouse! The friend that I was helping had been listening to me throughout the day bring him encouragement, praising God that he was safe and sound. That we had been blessed by God in the undertaking of the day. But at the end of the day, tears coming down my cheeks, disgraced and worried about the damage, this friend turned the tables on me...and again, I was in someone's ripple.....
When I got up to today I was determined to Expect God to Act, in me and through me. He did and just when I thought I had failed Him, I was reminded of the pebble I was to my friend in his hour of need and that I should Trust God to help in what could be a costly matter. As we prayed together in my car, nearly 10 at night, I cried - not just tears of sadness that I had faltered, even if only a moment, but tears of joy and blessing...my friend who stands at the edge right now - not certain of where or what tomorrow will bring - was lifting me up in ernest and love.
Again, I will take the BLESSING!
marebear - more after services tomorrow!
Friday, April 2, 2010
FORGIVEN
MareBearHitstheRoad Blogger - Good Friday, April 2, 2010 - Day 48
Everyone is writing about this day at The Bible.com, I Expect God to Act etc...and as I look outside, where I have spent the better part of my day, dogs in tow, driving in icky and cold rain, working at this very thing through someone else, I was praying the entire time what should I blog about today. My first inclination was to spout off about this problem that I was helping to solve and the anger that welled up at various times at this person. So I thought - self, why not write about that today? Well, a little voice tapped me on the shoulder and said ask ME what you should write about. So I did! And I am certain that as I write this I will have some help in what to say and why it needs to be said.
Blogs are great, in a way they are an open journal for others to share in. And hopefully, along the way the thoughts and feelings and solutions one person has found or had, will bring hope to another person's untenable situation. Funny how it works really. But I will get to that. Today Christians around the world will celebrate the sacrifice of the cross. They will lift up or bow down, and give glorious thanks to God who through His Son Jesus Christ, saved the world from itself. satan rules the earth, God everything. Well if God rules everything but satan has the earth, then it's a no brainer whose gonna win really. I mean even with birth control, we are still outnumbered: The Omega, the omnicient versus 6 Billion, +1 (satan). I'll take the Godly odds.
And all He asks is for us to accept him into our lives, and poof - eternity in heaven versus eternity in hell. Ummm..again, pretty sure this a no brainer even for the smallest of creatures. As Christ hung there, his words were "forgive them father, for they know not what they do". Even as I write it, I get chills...think about it, for just a moment - one man, hanging with 2 thieves, head raised to the heavenlies, body torn and battered, wearing a crown of thorns, man oh man that had to hurt but STILL as he hung there, dying for us, he pleaded FOR us. WOW.
Today, my day was started with a crisis, not mine, some one else's. I went out frustrated and angry that it seems to be my job to bail this person out. And then I took the wrong exit on a trip that I have taken over a thousand times in 22 years here. I knew where I was going and how to get there. So this added more frustration and anger. And then God whispered, 'in my name'.
I get there and w I am still frustrated as I am given wrong information and still can't seem to get to the friend in need. Anyway, tired and hungry we went to Elmer's to sit and chat, refresh, clear my head, calm my heart and walk in His grace. But the problem was I was still angry. Now, how can I possibly be a help when I am angry - where was the forgiveness I was sure I had for my friend in need? Where was the compassion and empathy that comes through Generosity, Courage and Grace? Where was the love behind why I even went to help? Forgiveness is an ongoing process us mere humans must go through. While intellectually, I truly felt forgiveness, I still carried deep hurts and anger to my friend. He hurt me deeply, he used me, he took something away from me that I thought I would never get back. But all the time I kept telling myself I have forgiven him. And most days, I probably really feel that way. But today was a special day. As the storm clouds rolled in and temperatures were cold, unlike what a spring day should be, my heart turned heavenward and I was ashamed. How could I walk before my brother in crisis and present a Christ like heart of love and forgiveness when I carried all this anger and unforgiveness? I could not. My friend was continuing to make bad choices, my friend continued to turn from what he knows is truth and walks in blindness to the very thing he is probably most knowledgeable about. Yet he still makes these bad choices. And I can't change that. All the time I have known him, God has consistently reminded me that He has this friend. He does the changing not us. satan taunts and tempts by cutting into the very weaknesses we have as human beings, we all got it and it ain't goin no where....UNLESS, we fight the good fight, we look up and not inward or outward for that matter...Always up, because the moment we let our guard down, or become distrustful of what we know is truth...he slithers in and derails us. Doesn't matter how ya slice it folks, it's always the same...Pride comes before the Fall.
Pride is the most despised sin, even though all sin is abhorent to God and equally wrong whether you lie or kill. It's sin, plain and simple. But pride is the root of all our sin. It is what cast Adam and Eve out of the garden and it is what took God's most favored angel and made him the ruler of the earth. And when you really examine pride, the root of it is that we desire and want and choose to put our need above that of our brothers and sisters. When I choose to not give forgiveness, I am choosing selfishness. And in the end, I end up the loser and satan the winner. I mean really think about it. When we choose anything over God and a righteous living, as best as our ability as mere mortals we can, then we are choosing for the wrong reasons. The websters definition of pride is this"1 : the quality or state of being proud: as a : inordinate self-esteem : conceit "
then if you move on and continue to review the words associated with pride, and then meditate on it - guess what - at the source of all our weaknesses is pride. We believe we are able to do things in our own strength, through our own ability, through our own skill. But really can we? Can we forgive so unconditionally that we can let God be God in our lives, and pour forth blessings to others through that Love?
I posted the link above because it is poignant to this tale. As I sat there, face buried in my hands, alone at the table for a few moments, I sat and prayed. I asked God to calm me, hold me, heal me, so that I could give the way I wanted to, to begin with, the way GOD WANTS ME TO! And as I sat there, my phone alerted a new email and attached was the above posted Utube video - this movie is not only the greatest reminder for me of what Christ's Love is, but the song clipped to the video is not only one of my favorites, but it also speaks to that very same video. And as I listened, the tears came strolling down my cheeks and I was changed. When my friend returned, I was able to talk and be loving and caring and supportive but still be to the point. Instead of my words of anger and hurt and unforgiveness, my voice was softer, even toned, and quiet. Only God brings that kind of peace.
Today, as I stand in the shadow of His presence on the cross, I fall to my knees and thank Him for giving His life for mine. And as we count the moments until He is Risen, this Sunday, let us reflect on our Forgiveness. Today I realized my head had not yet connected with my heart and I needed to change. Today I started out as a boulder that went thud, and as I prepare to bring it to a close, it is my prayer to be the pebble. So way back in the beginning of the blog I wrote how I would get back to this, scroll back to paragraph 2. Each day, as I count down to Hittin the Road for Breiter Futures Foundation, I pray that I can be a pebble that causes the ripple that creates the wave that crashes against the shore. Have you been a pebble or a boulder or both? Blessings,
marebear
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