Five Minute Friday :: Perspective

"Though we see through a glass darkly....one day we will see face to face."

Sometimes I have to remember that my life, what I see and hear and feel, is just a dim picture of what is really REAL, what it eternal.

In the fast pace of my mind and heart, I all-too-often-forget to remember that He is in every single thing.

In my gleeful childhood
In my angsty adolescence
In those formative college years
In the steps into adulthood
In the "hard" years, where I wanted to give up, give in, and just check out.

He was there, not only just drawing, calling, longing for me to come close to His heart, but also shaping my destiny and my future for something greater that I cannot see, something other-worldly.

It reminds me being a little girl and lying on my back on the rooftops in Haiti gazing up at the star-lit sky in amazement of how small I am and how large He is.

Every Friday, I join with Lisa-Jo, master word-weaver herself, and MANY other amazing word mavericks who throw caution to the wind and write for just 5 minutes, instructing the mind to just chill and for the heart and soul to take over. It is sort of a beautiful thing. Have you ever tried it? Please consider it this week....I promise once you get over the initial scary...something magically wonderful will happen to you on the inside....


So...join me??

Five Minute Friday :: REAL

Joining with our sweet Lisa-Jo, who challenges us every Friday to write just because you love it, just because it's fun, just because you were born to and you cannot help yourself and not to edit and hold back, but fly and dream and create and paint....oh well...you get the idea!!


This week's topic.....REAL

We're living real life over here
filled with rainy days, dirty dishes, and chronic pain.

Real days of loneliness and sorrow.
Heartbreak and empty arms.

Real moments of isolation, separation, and negotiation with the Father who ordains it all.

And suddenly, just when you finally start to fall into the hard realness of a life of waiting, or maybe when you have reached the end of your rope {the jury is still out on that one}, door opens up and you see His REAL hand putting the puzzle pieces together.

When the letter from Social Services that you have been waiting for, telling you that you are cleared to begin your home study, arrives in the midst of your unopened stack of mail, you blink at the timing...5 days after sleeping in your new house.

And then you look at the date. April 13th. The same day of the signing for said house.

And you cannot help but step back and say, "Wow, God...are you for REAL?"

For those who have been following and praying for our journey{and to those who are new here}, thank you for your continued prayers and support. We NEED them!! We met with our social worker yesterday to begin the home study process for foster care and adoption licensure. It is exciting and scary and amazing and awe-inspiring. Just watching Him piece together the puzzle pieces takes my breath away.


 

Five Minute Friday: Real

Real.

It has always been a word I have valued

and strived to be.

In fact, after my 4 years in university, I think it was the greatest compliment that I received in those days,

"Lindsey, you are so real."

I held to that desire to be authentically me
and to take it a step farther even...
inviting you...and you...and you...to be authentically YOU!

And then life twisted and turned and the wheels tightened.
The vices gripped me beneath their grasp.
And I took on a different real.

Real Strong.
Real Tough.
Real Solid.
Real...courage....at least on the outside.

And little by little, the real woman...the real little girl on the inside slipped away into the facade of who I must be, what I was expected to do, the things that needed to be done.

I must be strong
I must have faith
I must show courage.

But what about when I am not....cannot.
When then?
What now?

I will be real scared
real brave
real open
real secure
in the One
who holds me today the same as He did the day He formed me in my mother's womb.
And I will see His hand and heart guiding me, showing, my loving me

and know......that is real.

Joining with The Gypsy Mama as we...well...let me tell you in her words....

"Around here we write for five minutes flat on Fridays.

We write because we want to, not because we have to. We write for fun, for joy, for discovery.

We just write without worrying if it’s just write or not.

Won’t you join us?"

The REAL Fairytale

The band begins to play.

"Shall we?" he says as he offers her his hand.

She gently places hers in his.

He leads her to the dance floor.

The budding of unspoken love is palpable as the song continues, and they dance on.

One can almost feel the hearts racing with the surprise of the discovery

as the room seems to swirl around them and then slowly fade away.

And there, in that moment,

That beautiful moment when he looks into her eyes and softly, so that only she can hear, he sings,

"And now you're beside me

and look how far we've come.....

So far.....

we are....

....so close."

As he pulls her close to his heart.

Image Credit

{SIGH}
Okay. I will admit it.
I am a hopeless romantic. Pretty much to the core.
And I make no apologies for that.
NOT. ONE.

I have watched Enchanted more times than I can count, much to my husband's chagrin at times, and yet there are scenes that have yet to NOT make me want to laugh or sing or dance or even cry. My emotions are provoked every time.

I sat today wondering why that is.
Why THIS movie?
With all the beautifully written love stories out there {many of which I also love and adore}, why does this fanciful tale inspire & delight my senses time and time again?

And then I realized.

She doesn't choose the prince.

She doesn't pick the "Happily Ever After," according to the story books, that is.

She had a taste of REAL life, with all of its frailties and woes, and she said YES to that.


YES to the imperfections.
YES to the daily grind of working at love.
YES to the knowledge that I would rather TRY HARD with you,
then REST EASY with anyone else.


Gizelle was not simply in love with the idea of love.
The fantasy that her mind told her was reality.


She changed.


She was transformed beyond imagination and beyond make-believe into a world that was far beyond what her dream could have conjured.

And is that not the essence and beauty of true love?

That moment when you realize that love is more than just a feeling, a crescendo in a song, a one-liner that changes everything.

True love is giving up one's culture for the sake of his love.
True love is showing grace when the object of his affection has none to give.
True love is believing the best even when despair seems imminent.
True love is wading through the hard, icky, stuff that threatens to drown you both.
True love is knowing....this IS not the end....that happily ever after is a choice -- a beautiful, gut-wrenching, powerful, knock-your-socks-off, toe-curling, rest-of-your-life choice.
True love is saying, "It's you-and-me, Baby!" until it becomes so real you cannot help but believe it because the love has become a part of you.

“Real isn't how you are made,' said the Skin Horse.

'It's a thing that happens to you.

When a child loves you for a long, long time, not just to play with,

but REALLY loves you, then you become Real.'

Image Credit

Does it hurt?' asked the Rabbit.

Sometimes,' said the Skin Horse, for he was always truthful.

'When you are Real you don't mind being hurt.'

Does it happen all at once, like being wound up,' he asked, 'or bit by bit?'

It doesn't happen all at once,' said the Skin Horse. 'You become. It takes a long time. That's why it doesn't happen often to people who break easily, or have sharp edges, or who have to be carefully kept. Generally, by the time you are Real, most of your hair has been loved off, and your eyes drop out and you get loose in the joints and very shabby.

But these things don't matter at all, because once you are Real you can't be ugly, except to people who don't understand.”

― Margery Williams Bianco, The Velveteen Rabbit

REAL is MY Fairytale.

The End from the Beginning

This new world loomed large in my mind's eye, like a mystery yet to be unraveled.

Daunting and impossible, my heart buried the desire to spread its wings and fly

To the place where dreamers dance and artists paint with words of sorrow & joy

So in the secret of my heart, fantasy lies down to give space for practicality

Until the thinly veiled wall cracks under the weight of The Master's hidden potential

And, like Alice in the Looking Glass, I step through the magical mirror into a dream,

transformed by the wonder of the promise, the Relevant moment that is now,

amazed, thankful by this gift from my Father, who knows the end from the beginning......

Linking with Mama Kat's Writer's Workshop challenge to post in 8 lines

and Bonnie's Faith Barista on a gift that I recently received from God.

More about the Relevant 2011 blogging conference ::

I am going to Relevant

The Importance of Being Relevant

I am a Writer

{RE}discovering Him :: Day 24 - The Revealing

Since finalizing my trip to Relevant {yesterday!!} to leave on Thursday {yikes!!}, I have felt a plethora of emotions -- excitement, nervousness, fear, anticipation, wonder, amazement, and SO. MUCH. MORE!

So even though I am a bit late to the rodeo, I thought I would share with my Relevant roomies {as well as with all of you BEAUTIFUL peeps out there}, a little of what they can expect meeting me IRL.


1. I am SO a people person, but I have been through a challenging couple of years {which you can read about here, here, & here} so I have been a bit gun shy meeting new people. However I am ready to "get back to my old self again." This conference is a big step in that direction.

2. I love learning about people, how they tick, what they love, who they are deep inside, so if you will let me, I will JUST LOVE getting to know you better.

3. I'm kind of quirky {I think}. Being a missionary kid & an ex-pat, my frame of reference is a blend of a few different cultures.

4. I am a night owl, but I am going to try to get to bed "early" because my health is a bit fragile at that moment. We'll see IF that works!!

5. The reason that might be hard is because I hate missing out on ANYTHING. I've got childhood stories to back this up....

6. I love to tell stories, but I will TRY REAL HARD not to "over share". My husband says it's one of his favorite qualities about me, but well, HE LOVES ME! But if you want to know anything...just ask!

7. I am a VERY light sleeper so when I whip out my pink eye mask, ear plugs, and white noise maker, I promise I'm not a diva, just trying to get enough sleep to function like a "normal" person.

8. I am a late night snacker. I know, it is terrible, but with my messed up sleeping habits, my eating habits are off too, and my body thinks it's time to eat

9. I love learning, so during the session, you will most likely find me at rapt attention feverishly writing {instead of typing} because I learn the best with multiple senses engaged.

10. I am a picture fanatic, and I just got a new DSLR {YAY!} so please don't be surprised when I am clicking away. I love candids and I won't publish anything that I wouldn't want published of me! You can trust me on that one!

And most of all, I am just so excited and blessed that I am getting to BE THERE and learn and glean from so many amazing, beautiful, Jesus-filled writers. What a treasure!!

{RE}discovery :: Sharing about yourself, being open, risking what others might think, is well, hard, challenging, heart-stopping even, but when you do take that leap, you just might find the most precious treasures, the very substance that makes HIS heart beat -- people!

Previous - Day 23 :: The Gift

Next - Day 25 :: The Grace

{RE}discovering Him :: Day 13 - The Wisdom

I am just kind of in awe of this revelation that God has given to me. The wholeness IN Him, taking me, holding my hand, and sometimes even carrying me through this intense season of brokenness struck me with amazing REALness.

HE is with me.

Even when I HATE the process

Even when I think HE hates ME. {which I know He doesn't}

Even when I cry because I think I cannot take any more.

Even when the heart break threatens to suck me into its black hole.

Even then....

He is with me.

Changing me.

Transforming me.

Developing me.

Into His image.

Reflecting His heartbeat.

Shining His light.

Walking in my purpose.

{RE}discovery :: The journeys that we take often seem irrelevant, insignificant, & maybe even irreverent in some ways, and yet the more, the longer, the harder, I cling to Him, I start to become that which moves His heart, brings joy to the world, and surrenders to the One who knows the end from the beginning.

How little people know who think that holiness is dull.

When one meets the real thing,

it is irresistible.

~C.S. Lewis

Previous - Day 12 :: The Broken

Next - Day 14 :: The Coach

{RE}discovering Him :: Day 11 - The Letting-Go

{RE}discovery :: When I "let go" and allow God to have complete control of my life, when I am "real" about my journey -- the ups and downs, when I walk with an attitude of openness to all that God has for me, I open up the doors for others to SEE Him in my life, for them to know that I, like each of us, need His grace, for them to know His love is SO-JUST-FOR-THEM -- to come home -- where they belong.

Today.

This is my prayer.

Previous - Day 10 :: The Potential

Next - Day 12 :: The Broken

Linking up with Heart to Heart with Holley in You Are Called

Knowing His Rest; Writing with Grace

I want to write something real.

I want to write REAL words.

Words that wield challenge and encouragement.
Words that pour grace and restoration.
Words that offer healing and renewal.
Words that transport you to a place in time filled with wonder or sorrow.
Words that inspire.....

What are these tools....these words....these gifts....these curses.....these blessings?

The power that they hold.
The impact of their weight.
The reach of their ripple.

How can one sift and measure accurately these tools given to us by the Master Himself?

For.....

Are they not gifts to be poured out freely?
Are they not treasures to be shared?
Are they not instruments in harmony at an orchestra in which beauty or sorrow can be played?

Therefore, I choose....

AGAIN....

TODAY....

...to yield these precious morsels back into His hands....

....asking Him to sift the chaff and bring forth the wheat....

There I find joy...
There I find peace...
There I find TRUE rest...

...as once again, my life falls into the rhythms of His grace....

Psalm 91

1 Those who live in the shelter of the Most High

will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty.

2 This I declare about the Lord:

He alone is my refuge, my place of safety;

he is my God, and I trust him.

3 For he will rescue you from every trap

and protect you from deadly disease.

4 He will cover you with his feathers.

He will shelter you with his wings.

His faithful promises are your armor and protection.

Linking up today with:

Finding Rest at:

and

What Inspired You? at:

and

Amanda at:

Don't Doubt in the Darkness....

This season of learning....this season of desert.....this season of the unknown.....this season of waiting is sometimes hard to put into words. I am learning so much and the learning process often makes one feel like more of a failure because you realize, "I have really been living my life ALL ABOUT ME! How did I, after growing up as a missionary kid and then pursuing ministry as a single and then as a married woman, live a life seemingly of service and yet it be so much STILL about me??"

Oswald Chambers, yet again, knocks it out of the park for me today and puts it in words that I wish I could find....enjoy!

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Vision and Darkness

Whenever God gives a vision to a Christian, it is as if He puts him in “the shadow of His hand” (Isaiah 49:2). The saint’s duty is to be still and listen. There is a “darkness” that comes from too much light-that is the time to listen.

The story of Abram and Hagar in Genesis 16 is an excellent example of listening to so-called good advice during a time of darkness, rather than waiting for God to send the light. When God gives you a vision and darkness follows, wait. God will bring the vision He has given you to reality in your life if you will wait on His timing. Never try to help God fulfill His word. Abram went through thirteen years of silence, but in those years all of his self-sufficiency was destroyed. He grew past the point of relying on his own common sense. Those years of silence were a time of discipline, not a period of God’s displeasure.

There is never any need to pretend that your life is filled with joy and confidence; just wait upon God and be grounded in Him (see Isaiah 50:10-11).

Do I trust at all in the flesh? Or have I learned to go beyond all confidence in myself and other people of God? Do I trust in books and prayers or other joys in my life? Or have I placed my confidence in God Himself, not in His blessings? “I am Almighty God . . .”— El-Shaddai, the All-Powerful God (Genesis 17:1).

The reason we are all being disciplined is that we will know God is real. As soon as God becomes real to us, people pale by comparison, becoming shadows of reality. Nothing that other saints do or say can ever upset the one who is built on God.

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Father, may my confidence and my hope be in You alone -- not in my deepest longings, my unfulfilled dreams or my limitless blessings. May knowing YOU and YOU ALONE be my #1 priority so that other's opinions and thoughts (including my own) "....pale by comparison".

Oh Christmas Tree!

I have always hated taking down the Christmas tree, ever since I was a little girl. Sometimes as a teenager or college student, my parents would do it on a night that I was out with friends because I hated it so much. It seems like such an end to me of the holiday that I SO look forward to plus my whole family always goes together each year to pick out the tree at a tree farm, so I have to say goodbye to our time-consuming, hand-picked beauty. Also after all the time decorating and making it perfect, who wants to have to put it away and go back to REAL life!! HA!

This year wasn't any different. My parents are home for Christmas from Haiti, and next week we are hosting a gala event commemorating the one year anniversary of the earthquake last year. Then they leave once again for Haiti two days later. So this weekend the tree HAD to come down. Of course, Arno & I could do it AFTER they leave, but that just seemed SUPER sad.

So we worked on it today -- me & Mom & Dad, and although I still loathe doing it, it wasn't so bad! I decided to organize all of the boxes and categorize them with all the various Christmas items. Somehow creating order in chaos made things seem better.

It made me think about the Lord and how He works with us. The process is often messy just like with our tree.


It was REAL dry this year(and YES, we did water it!) so when Dad took off the ornaments and lights, the needles just fell off and it created this green carpet on the floor. Mom and I had to sweep and vacuum twice, but eventually the carpet was clean again. Organizing the boxes and getting things straight was MUCH messier WHILE the process was happening, but in the end, all was righted. And best of all, next year, finding exactly what we are looking for will be simple.

So back to how God works with us.....sometimes it is so messy and when He is getting rid of things that are dying, the process is painful and leaves us feeling barren and exposed. However, once He has removed the junk and sorted out all the "stuff" in our lives, the work He has done carries over into our future. We then see that His deep and thorough threads, weaving bolding through our lives, are not in vain but makes our lives much easier in the long run.

"....His yoke is easy, His burden is light...."