Simplicity of Diversity

As I sip on my carmel latte in my happy place by the sea, I am surrounded by artists, musicians, hippies and backpackers. I have come to a realization, of how much I love the simplicity of diversity. I know that some people really don't enjoy spending time with people who are different then them, I however, depending on the scenario love these adventures! 
  
This weekend, I went camping at a place called Salt Creek in Washington State. Every night, I would curl up in my sleeping bag smelling like a bonfire and hear the sound of the waves crashing behind the tent. One of the young people who I was camping with has a very negative attitude. I really enjoyed being around him because despite our polar opposite attitudes we actually got along very well! A lot of times, the unexpectedness of people and whatever it is that makes them different than your personality has a lesson to teach us. His attitude, taught me to be more positive and as he would complain sometimes I'd laugh and comment about how much he cracked me up which a brought a smile to his face. My second realization, is how much I love to be around people. I never expected Washington State to become like a new home for me. Minnesota will always be my home, but Washington has become a place my soul hungers to learn as well as flourishes to come alive. Both places have had deep impacts on my life, but its crucial that we all have that place where our souls can flourish and grow within the diversity around us. The simplicity of diversity is realizing the difference of those around us whether that's my own family back in Minnesota, or the hippie to my left in this coffee shop. It's realizing that we don't have to be complicated and over think in order to reach a common ground with the people who God puts in our life. For me, when it comes to diversity the common ground is realizing how simple it is. Ask God how to reach out to the people who are different from you in whatever simple way you can. I simply need to engage in the story God has placed me in right now, stories will flow out of the life I choose to live.

Junkyard or Art?

Words cannot do it justice compared to the feeling of your toes sinking in the sand, or hearing the waves crashing on the shore or the familiar laughter of the hippies talking about their latest adventure! I spent the evening in Port Townsend and there is truly no place like it, at least none that I could begin to think of! If you have walked the streets of this small town or even driven through it you might get a glimpse of the uniqueness and simplicity of this town, but something that really caught my eye today, as I sat talking to a couple of friends of mine was the display to my left. I'm not even going to try to describe it to you because it is just simply a weird kind of beautiful! I couldn't make up my mind to try to decide about whether it looked like a lot of junk or art! I came to the conclusion that I wasn't going to make up my mind about the endless possibilities that I could try to think of, of what to name this place. I think there are some places that God puts us in where we are simply meant to be and dwell there. I wouldn't be surprised if during Jesus' time on earth that this would have been one of his favorite hang out places to simply be and dwell amongst the people. He saw the beauty and weirdness of humanity and that was His favorite place to be right in the middle of it all:) 

Where You Lead Me

 I could be safe

 I could be safe here in Your arms and never leave home, never let these walls down

But You have called me higher, You have called me deeper 

And I will go where You will lead me Lord

Where You lead me...

        There are a lot of weirdos in this artsy community I find myself living in, for 3 more weeks as I am a part of a leadership internship. One of our outreaches is helping out with the local youth group at the church nearby my base. Many of the kids at this church do not understand the faithfulness of God because of abandonment from their parents and the town that is by my base is influenced by a lot of drugs. So, when we had this amazing night last week of breakthrough and prayer for these kids hearing that God's faithfulness is just the way He is, was an amazing new concept for them! I don't know what your back-round  is or what community of influence you find yourself in, but I want to encourage you to look at the youth or community and ask yourself if they know what it safety means or if they can grasp the concept of faithfulness. You as a believer, have the power of Christ in you to daily offer an example of God's faithfulness based on how you treat them. I want to encourage you to YouTube the song, "Higher," by All Sons and Daughters and make it your daily prayer , it doesn't have to take you going on a plane somewhere to show the limitless love of God's faithfulness to someone it can be your family or co-workers, simply asking God, to daily lead you has the power to change your life and the lives of others!

Plan to be Surprised (Part 2)

There was never a part 1, to the last blog post, but do we ever plan on having a part 1 and 2 when it comes to being surprised? I've made a decision to return to YWAM and part of that next step will be me leaving in two weeks, to fly back out for an internship that I will be doing on the West Coast. 
       I was recently asked the question, "What makes you come alive?" Think about it. It took me awhile to, because whether I am at home, at a friends, or traveling to a foreign country, so many things can make me smile and thankful to be alive! I think the key that I realized to unlocking my heart to come alive, was when I had this mini revelation yesterday. Sitting, on the favorite corner of my couch I turned to my dad and said, "Dad, I think I just had this mini revelation. I am so blessed. I have been given so much and I don't ever want to take this life for granted, but when I think about how much I've been given it also makes me think of how much I have to give!" This is what unlocks my heart to come alive, the willingness to lay it all down. 
       "I want to love with much more abandon and stop waiting for others to love me first. I want to hurl myself at a creative work worthy of God. I want to follow Peter as he followed Christ out onto the sea, pray from my hearts true desire. Life is not a problem to be solved, but an adventure to be lived." -John Eldredge, Wild at Heart. 

Plan to be Surprised

"Instead of telling your young people to plan ahead, we should tell them to plan to be surprised."-Dan in Real Life.

     Life has taken me by surprise, whether that's by the sea in Washington, or sitting, blessed to sit by incredible friends on a dock. There will be many surprises in life, some will be good and some bad, whether we are surprised now or later what's really crucial is that we dwell in the Word of God now. This way, when the, "Storms of life they came and the road ahead gets steep, I will lift these hands in faith I will believe..." (Love Came Down, by Kari Job). My prayer for you is that right now you will be dwelling in the Word, pressing in and lifting your hands in faith both now and when the storms of life will come. 

       

Taking a Bath

So, for all you who like to sing in the shower...every afternoon as we would gather in the small village church in southeast Asia, for worship or intercession we would hear one of the teachers walking down to the river to bathe and he would be singing at the top of his lungs, unashamed! It was often my favorite part of the day, because no matter how exhausted we were from hard labor in the morning we would be in the presence of Jesus and then get to laugh at that familiar voice singing in his own language every day as he walked down to the river to take a bath! 

The other day I was working out at the YMCA on the mat and the woman beside me was humming to whatever music she was listening to on her iPod. It made me stop for a minute and turn my head to look at her. I had music playing from my own iPod, but isn't it interesting how often we turn our heads in America to the sound of music coming from someone's lips, unless it's on a concert stage? It took me back to the teacher going to bathe in the river and made me happy to think of people who just aren't afraid to sing! Whether its your shower or stretching on a mat, whatever your element, "I will sing and make music with all my soul. Awake, harp and lyre! I will awake the dawn. I will praise you, Lord among the nations; I will sing of you among the peoples." Psalm 108:1-3 Whatever helps you praise Him the most, please do that! 

Song of Songs 2:4

"Our God is Intimate"

Like a peaceful river His mercy flows

Reflecting from the sunsets is the joy of His face and longing to pour down delight on His children

He is a Lover looking for the lost 

Calling His Beloved to arise 

It doesn't matter the season, He is simply yet overwhelmingly there, like a resting place His grace overflows

Do not wait, "Arise my darling!" He beckons leaping over the hills

His longing is intimate as He beckons the broken to come close He announces His presence by wrapping His arms around the dirty

He is waiting for His beloved's

The prostitutes, orphaned, suburban alike each and everyone precious in His sight

The moon high up in the sky reflects His love for those down high 

His jealousy for them like a hurricane they are a tree

He is holy all creation will cry, "Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God Almighty the earth if filled with His glory."

He is smiling, delighting, hopeful for those to waken to their call to rise up as Beloved Ones

His banner over us is love

"Arise come my darling, my beautiful One come with me."

This is our God.

~Amen