tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1341005525918785192024-03-13T08:34:46.657-07:00My Tongue is the Pen of a Skillful WriterLyndahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02193517831367163741noreply@blogger.comBlogger58125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-134100552591878519.post-41803762593619774972013-09-23T19:18:00.002-07:002014-09-28T20:39:04.195-07:00On Being TransparentI was at work recently when I received an unexpected message from a childhood friend on Facebook. I hadn't talked to her in a while when she started to ask me questions. She opened up to me about her struggles with the mind and confessed that she felt really low about herself and didn't know if I really liked or accepted her. She felt rejected because of her condition.
Instead of encouraging her and offering her a nice quote to wrap up the conversation, I shared of my own experiences struggling with depression, unwanted thoughts, and anxiety. She was genuinely surprised that I too struggled to some degree with her issues. I offered her a book called Battlefield of the Mind by preacher Joyce Meyer, since it helped me tremendously years ago. She thanked me and said she would check it out. I promised to pray for her.
After our conversation I thought about how important it is to empathize with others who struggle. We live in a very dark world where people struggle every day to make sense of what is happening while coping with their stresses and pain. We all hurt in some way, some more than others. But I'll tell you this, there is nothing like feeling like you are not alone in your pain.
When I was a young girl I always believed that there was something "wrong" with me. Because my early childhood was filled with trauma, stress, and personal loss, I grew up with a lot of fear and I was constantly watching my back. I never truly felt safe as a child. When you grow up feeling unsafe it is difficult to know how to open up to people and truly trust that the world is going to treat you well.
I had a lot of anxiety growing up, that I mostly kept to myself because there was really no one to speak to about them. My family wasn't exactly the kind that sat at the dinner table and talked about feelings. Because there was no one to open up to I learned early on to keep things to myself. I escaped through music, writing, and I'd spend hours in front of a mirror pretending that I was being interviewed by Oprah or Barbara Walters (one of my favorite shows as a kid was 20/20). It's no wonder that I have a passion for media and film. I think even God felt for me and decided to make it a calling. I'm a voice over artist. :-)
I often had two recurring dreams as a little girl. One was that my permanent teeth were falling off. The other was that I was lost. I remember dreaming that I was lost in my own neighborhood. I'm no psychologist, but I believe that this was due to the fact that I didn't always feel at home in my own home. I often felt like an outsider. The books that I read provided a visual way of escape and the stories I wrote were the cries of my soul that were unspoken. It's no wonder that my favorite book at 10 years old was The Giver. A story about a boy who lives in a community of sameness who is given the gift of seeing and learning what the world was before everything became the same.
As a child, I too felt like I carried the world on my shoulders. I was a peacemaker in my family. Humor was the best way that I knew how to cope since I never learned how to cry or express feelings in a healthy manner. I was not in touch with feelings or emotions. When you grow up in troubled situations, there is a lens from which you view life and people. Therefore I carried fear in my pocket which resulted in quiet anxiety. I call it quiet because I never let anyone know that I was terrified to the point of hyperventilating. I would freeze when it came time to read out loud in class. Anything that required vulnerability scared me. It still does at times. And even in graduate school, I walked out of a class when the teacher announced we were doing improv. I wasn't prepared for it and it scared me.
It wasn't that I wasn't talented. It's just that fear always got in my way. Fear of failure. Fear of success. Fear of being laughed at and judged. Fear of being applauded. I grew to detest the word fear. It would take years for me to find myself beyond the ugliness of fear. To learn who I was beyond my childhood trauma. To see myself as more than a peacemaker and fixer. At 30, I learned for the first time that I am meant for more in life and that I deserve to be happy. I am still working on accepting all that comes with that.
So back to the conversation with my friend, I smiled because I knew that in that very brief conversation, I was letting her know that she wasn't alone. I told her I knew what it was like to struggle with overwhelming anxiety and thoughts that become almost empirical. I too have had demons I've had to battle (literally). And in sharing some of my pain with her I understood the importance of being vulnerable with others. It is so much more freeing to be honest with oneself and others than to pretend like we have it all together, when we clearly don't. I am still working through this. Sometimes fear's little uglier sister gets in my way. Her name is shame.
I hope this post will be an encouragement to someone out there too. You are not alone.Lyndahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02193517831367163741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-134100552591878519.post-6272781661725157102012-04-16T13:25:00.003-07:002012-04-16T13:27:45.302-07:00Life As A StormSometimes the storms of life can hit you so hard that the only thing you have left is the hope of what might lie on the other side.<br /><br /><iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/zBu9l_EKWVs" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Lyndahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02193517831367163741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-134100552591878519.post-3698982903304114792012-04-10T02:07:00.014-07:002012-04-10T21:46:17.755-07:00Entrepreneurship: Daring to dream"2012 looks to be the year of the entrepreneur. There has never been a better time for individuals to start new businesses. Taking up entrepreneurship is now an extremely doable means to overcome unemployment and under-employment, and perhaps even get rich" -Time Magazine Online<br /><br />One of my favorite stories of the recession are those of people who were laid off from jobs and decided to pursue their childhood dream or take a chance at a dream. With the scarcity of jobs available, and long lines of people attempting to collect unemployment, many sat down, looked at their life and started to consider options for themselves.<br /><br />Karen Young knew firsthand the struggles of being unemployed when her job as an editor for a community newspaper ended after they closed their doors. Young had to figure out how she was going to support her two children. She decided to really review her life and all that she enjoyed doing. According to Young, she took into account all of the things that she loved. "And then it came to me—the Internet. I am an information junkie, so I was forever surfing the web. Why couldn’t I build a business on the web where I could do everything I loved? Why should I look for a job when I could create my own?" Young created My Daily Find, an online resource for local events and attractions.<br /><br />Like Young, many people have found themselves figuring out a way to support themselves without necessarily working for man. I too found myself at a low after I graduated from school in 2007, and could not find employment anywhere. No one would give me a chance because I didn't have ten plus years of experience. I was forced to evaluate all of my talents and I pursued what I always seemed to open up for me, which was working with kids. <br /><br />I worked at a preschool for about a year and a half and later offered private tutoring in Spanish, while babysitting for local families. When unemployment hit the city I lived in, and McDonald's had a 300 person wait list, my husband and I knew we had to relocate. We sold most of what we owned and moved in with my mother-in-law who lives in Kansas for about a year. <br /><br />During this time, we started to build our dream of a media business. While I collected unemployment, we began by building a media website in 2009. Because we knew that our living situation was temporary, we sought council from our pastor, friends and family, and searched for a place we knew we could grow our business. We prayed, my husband visited Castle Rock, CO and the rest is history!<br /><br />Although it took some time, we have seen much growth within the last year. Our business is thriving to the point where we've had to turn down clients. I am fortunate to live in a city where the majority of the economy comes from entrepreneurs. I call Castle Rock, "the land of dreams." Our media business offers music lessons, film music orchestration and voice over recordings for aspiring voice talent. To learn about our business, you can visit our site at www.thegoldenspindle.com.<br /><br />Do you have a dream or vision that you would like to start? Perhaps you're afraid to jumpstart that dream because you're used to working under someone, or no one has ever truly supported your dream. Don't be afraid of stepping out! There are many out there just like you who have the same fears, so you're not the only one. Take some time today to analyze your life and where you are today. Are you happy? Are you truly fulfilled? <br /><br />The world often teaches us to suck it up and do what we have to do to survive. But who really wants to just survive? Yes, we have to work jobs to pay the bills. I worked part-time at a different job and babysat for local families while building my business, but I saw it as a job to get me where I envisioned myself in the future. Don't get stuck when you could be thriving and fulfilling your true call. In the words of Oprah: "Find a way to get paid for doing what you love."<br /><br />To read more about Karen Young and her story you can visit the My Daily Find website at http://www.mydailyfindsites.com/about. Watch the inspiring video below to see how two women started their own businesses later in life. <br /><br /><iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/GmKS3jz-mwg" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Lyndahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02193517831367163741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-134100552591878519.post-51489032948955718072012-03-15T23:55:00.002-07:002012-03-15T23:59:40.880-07:00DeathEver since my grandparent’s died two years apart, one in 2010, the other 2011 I have been thinking more and more about heaven. Although I have been a Christian for more than ten years now, I’ve never spent too much time thinking about heaven. I know I’m going to go there some day, but I’ve been busy thinking about my life and what I’m doing while on earth still. Plus, I’m still in my 20s.<br /><br />A number of years ago, my marriage was hurting so bad that I felt lost. I felt like I no longer knew who I was, since I had poured so much into a marriage that was close to crumbling. I was on Facebook one night when I noticed a church friend was online. I was desperate for prayer or an answer since I was so broken at the time. I told this friend how lost I felt and her response to me was, Just focus on heaven.<br /><br />Needless to say I was pretty frustrated with her reply. Why was she telling me to focus on heaven? I need some real advice here! I was 26 years old at the time, and heaven really isn’t something that you wake up thinking about at this age.<br /><br />Although I was mad at this person for telling me to focus on heaven during my turmoil, I think I understand now what she was getting at. Our life here on earth is so fleeting. If you ask anyone in their 20s or 30s if they ever give thought to the after life, their reply would probably be a resounding no. And I understand why. <br /><br />When you’re young you don’t think about dying. And some of us think we’re immortal. Often it’s when tragedy or major events in life shake our lives that we tend to look beyond our circumstances to remember that there is a promise beyond this earth for us if we’re open to it.<br /><br />With the recent deaths of family members and major icons in the industry like Michael Jackson and Whitney Houston, I’m thinking more and more about what eternity promises us. Sometimes life can be so difficult, painful and traumatic that the only hope for some is to leave this earth and enter eternity’s arms.<br /><br />Now that I’m nearing my 30s I think about heaven a whole lot more. And you know what? The idea that all the tears that I’ve cried, and all the negativity and pain that this earth often serves us is non-existent in heaven, keeps me longing for eternity. I know where I’m going when I die and on those dark nights of the soul, that knowledge brings me hope and encouragement.<br /><br />We are but a breath away from heaven’s door. Don’t waste your life, days or soul.<br /><br />~LLyndahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02193517831367163741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-134100552591878519.post-81065700404226614922012-02-14T17:52:00.000-08:002012-02-14T18:24:23.489-08:00HonestyI’ve learned in life that honesty is something that people truly value. I am currently reading a book by HLN host Robin Meade titled, Morning Sunshine: How to Project Confidence and Feel it Too. The author discusses how she found her confidence after years of anxiety attacks. In the book she explains that although she tried to belittle the anxiety issues in front of co-workers and even her husband, it was in hiding her issues that she was actually causing herself to sink deeper into it.<br /><br />I appreciate Robin’s candidness in sharing so openly about her struggles. I love how she lists things that she likes and dislikes about herself. How great is that? Isn’t it refreshing to see someone that you would otherwise believe had all their ducks in a row admit that they don’t like themselves at times? I know that makes me feel wonderful! It makes me feel like I’m not the only one with some skeletons in my closet. I’m not the only one filled with inner storage boxes of painful memories, insecurities and false belief systems.<br /><br />I believe that there’s power in transparency. When you are open about the struggles in your own life you not only gain freedom from your problems, but you also free others. It’s often the beginning of healing. People want someone to relate to in life. Experience is often the key to reach others. And when someone has learned that you have lived what they are currently struggling with then they find hope in their own lives.<br /><br />The HLN anchor also shares how the “Aha moments” actually grant us more responsibility in the long run. Isn’t that the truth? Once you believe you’ve learned a lesson or perhaps have overcome something you’d been struggling with for a while, you are free to then do what you could not do because of it. It opens up doors of new responsibilities in your life.<br /><br />I love “Aha moments,” just as much as anyone, but I also like the journey of learning. And I don’t believe that we ever arrive at a place where suddenly everything is just fine and all our issues just disappear. We may have breakthroughs in areas that crippled us in the past, but I like to believe that life is a continuous journey full of lessons learned. We are constantly evolving and growing. And I just thank God for His grace because without it I don’t believe I’d have the strength in myself to overcome the many hurdles life has handed me.<br /><br />Let’s be honest with ourselves and with others. Use wisdom, but be honest. People appreciate authenticity more than phoniness. And none of us has the ultimate answer to anything. I believe there is freedom in not knowing and understanding everything. <br /><br /><iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/JXiMzu-WAnY" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br />~LLyndahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02193517831367163741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-134100552591878519.post-58116363061252588802012-02-02T17:31:00.000-08:002012-02-02T17:42:13.716-08:00Be kindI recently read an article discussing depression in America. And I'm not just talking about recession and The Great Depression. I'm talking about the millions of Americans that are struggling through this economy and the overall negativity that the news feeds us on a daily basis. I recently heard from a church friend that three different men whom he knew through another friend took their own lives on the same week. THey were depressed because they could not provide for their families. It seems like every day we read stories of people committing suicide due to financial issues, unemployment or a form of mental illness. What this tells me is that there is a lot of pain in our world and people need hope. I am reminded of the scripture verse in the Bible that says, "Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life." (Proverbs 13:12) People need hope-bottom line. When you lose hope you lose the will to live.<br /><br />I think America has been in a great depression, and it began on 9/11. Based on the stories I watched on television on the 10th anniversary of 9/11 last year it seems that we still have not recovered. My prayer is that we will see hope again, a great economy and opportunity for those who have not had one. In the meantime, I am making an extra effort to be kind to people and I'm starting with my home and even myself and letting it trickle to everyone, including strangers. Will you join me in spreading more kindness?<br /><br />~Lynda<br /><br />http://youtu.be/n7TLTjqUyogLyndahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02193517831367163741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-134100552591878519.post-1014982262585603322012-01-16T18:25:00.000-08:002012-01-16T18:36:52.494-08:00Trees<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSfP1-TC3yIm-eUtOriYTSSSbWy2ztvzY_GOAHwriH39LyzkCNAHczDzqNVDwgF_ymjasGwUSla3cF8o1_QGnshpe9Hl27WjDb-02-0V0Q72-ED_7_5uYqm3E4DPHst_TDJiMAOkuXxZU/s1600/IMG_6955.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSfP1-TC3yIm-eUtOriYTSSSbWy2ztvzY_GOAHwriH39LyzkCNAHczDzqNVDwgF_ymjasGwUSla3cF8o1_QGnshpe9Hl27WjDb-02-0V0Q72-ED_7_5uYqm3E4DPHst_TDJiMAOkuXxZU/s200/IMG_6955.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5698422945254484258" /></a><br />I love trees. Trees are one of God's best creations, in my opinion. Trees represent new life, peace and they're a reflection of time and seasons we live. I have a theme of trees and leaves throughout my home because they are a reminder to me of new life. I am a fan of sitting under trees and reflecting on all of God's creation. It builds my faith in life and God himself. Trees are wonderful!<br /><br />I took this picture on a windy day here in Castle Rock. I love how the sun is shining through the leaves. I can appreciate the simple beauty of this picture, because sometimes in life the simple things are what bring us the greatest peace and joy. I know it does for me.<br /><br />~LLyndahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02193517831367163741noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-134100552591878519.post-22581105782521284052012-01-10T18:05:00.000-08:002012-01-10T18:07:32.018-08:00I Have To vs. I’d Like ToWith so many responsibilities in life I often find myself weighing the “I have to” and the “I’d like to.” It’s easy to get caught up in all the responsibilities and feel that I should focus entirely on the immediate needs like paying my bills and taking care of household needs. These things are important and should get done, but it’s also important to set aside time to have fun.<br /><br />Like for instance I’m contemplating starting Pilates in February. When I was researching places in the area I found myself thinking about just buying a video and doing Pilates in my Loft at home. But then I thought about how much more fun it would be to join a class where I could share an experience with other women. I could save some money and pay a bill or two or I could take a really fun class and experience something new and different. You get my drift?<br /><br />With 2012 in place, I’m making goals that aren’t just work or “need” related but also fun. I am giving myself permission in this new year to do things that are creative and work other parts of my brain that are often comatose because they don’t get used enough.<br /><br />Some of my goals for 2012:<br /><br />-Finish writing my children’s book.<br />-Do Pilates on the weekends.<br />-Work on arts & crafts during downtime.<br />-Enjoy my city by visiting museums and local attractions.<br />-Spend more quality time with lady friends.<br />-Read more.<br /><br />I’m learning that life isn’t only about setting goals and taking care of the “important things.” Taking a walk with my dog or playing a card game with my husband is just as important as all of other responsibilities in life. And frankly, when I take the time to do things that are more creative I find that I have more energy to tackle the responsibilities.<br /><br />What are your some of your goals for the New Year? Are they all work-related or are you having fun as well? : )Lyndahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02193517831367163741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-134100552591878519.post-19504108744771115132011-11-15T17:06:00.000-08:002011-11-15T17:13:31.115-08:00Don’t Hoard Your StoryWhenever I come across a lesson, a certain quote, or a principle more than once I know that God is trying to tell me something. Recently, I’ve read a lot of stories of people simply sharing their experiences of survival. I read a quote a few weeks ago that read, “Don’t hoard your experiences.” It struck me because I’ve never really looked at not sharing the good things that God has done for me as hoarding. But I guess it can be similar to not cleaning your house, or keeping items that you never use or wear in your closet. Having gifts and talents, and not sharing them with others is also a form of hoarding and even disobedience.<br /><br />I went to a wonderful women’s retreat last month, and the speaker encouraged us to use what we gain after we’ve received from God. She said that we often spend time in God’s presence asking for more of Him, or even multiplication of what we already have. The problem is that once God has give what we’ve asked of Him, we do nothing with it. Obedience brings blessings!<br /><br />I was also convicted recently when I heard a well-known speaker say that he was in a season where God wasn’t giving him anything new. He was easily sharing prophetic words with others and watching God move in their life, but he wasn’t seeing that same movement in his own life. After seeking God, and asking why he wasn’t moving forward, he felt like God told him that he wasn’t responsible with the last portion that he was given.<br /><br />Let’s finish what we start! There are so many things in life that can distract us, but let’s work beyond the things that keep us losing track and finish. I am currently in a season where I'm working to complete the “projects” that I started months ago. It’s a battle in itself, but can be accomplished with motivation, concentration and being purposeful.<br /><br />Below is a reference from an article that I read recently in The Denver Post, written by Hoda Kotb, co-host of the “Today” show with Kathy Lee Gifford. Four years ago, she had breast cancer and went through a divorce in the same year. While on a business trip, she sat next to a man who taught her something valuable. After she shared about her experience with breast cancer, she feared what he would say to others about her. His response was, “Breast cancer is part of you, like getting married or working at NBC. You can put stuff deep in your pockets and take it to your grave or you can help somebody. Don’t hog your journey; it’s not just for you.”<br /><br />Check out these points from the article:<br /><br />1. Surround yourself only with people who fill you up.<br /><br />2. Don’t sweat the little stuff—90% of what you worry about won’t happen.<br /><br />3. If you’re still standing after surviving an illness or death of a loved one or whatever your cross to bear is, you get four words: You Can’t Scare Me. Use them.<br /><br />4. Don’t hog your journey; share it to help others.<br /><br />One of the greatest things that we can do with what we've been taught is to bless others with it…I’m still learning how to do that myself.Lyndahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02193517831367163741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-134100552591878519.post-87405183520456700962011-11-10T14:41:00.000-08:002011-11-10T14:59:17.301-08:00AuthoritySeveral months ago, I had a dream that I was in a restaurant with my family. We were enjoying a nice meal when another diner whom I didn’t know began to insult us. Then for some reason the insult was directed to me alone. He was being so disrespectful for seemingly no reason, that I decided to walk out of the restaurant. As I was walking out of the restaurant, strangers would walk past me on the street and they would say mean things or try to get right in my face. I wondered why these people whom I didn’t even know were being so cruel. What did I ever do to them?<br /><br />The dream reminded me of the movie, “Fallen” starring Denzel Washington, where a demon spirit jumped from person to person and created chaos. In the dream, there’s a scene where Denzel’s character is walking through a busy street and the demon is speaking to him using the body of random strangers. It speaks through several people literally using them as offenders and then leaving their bodies. One of the people used is an elderly man who looks harmless, yet when the evil spirit enters his body he is suddenly evil. <br /><br />Back to the dream: Just as they continued to walk up to me, intimidating and disrespecting me, I began to discern that they were not human, but demons. There was no reason to believe they were demons in the natural because they looked like normal people, but I kept feeling strongly that they were not human. Then I began to quote different scriptures, with one that I quote all of the time standing out to me the most: “May no weapon formed against (me) shall prosper,” Isaiah 54:17<br /><br />As I quoted the scriptures and yelled the name of Jesus to these “demons,” they began to show their true form. They seemed shocked and frightened as my spiritual boldness grew and I quoted the verses. As the words came out of my mouth, the people turned into the demons they were and began to disappear and some disintegrated in front of me. I literally fought them with the words coming out of my mouth. It reminded me of how Jesus fought the enemy when in the desert for 40 days. He used the scriptures as weapon. <br /><br />When I woke up I wondered why I had such a vivid dream. I decided to pray and ask Him what the dream meant, and I heard Him say, “I am showing you your authority.”<br /><br />God began to show me that I was in a season of great revelation where HE was literally exposing the truth behind the strong men in my past. I started to think about all the people that had intimidated me in the past or even how the enemy would intimidate me through fear and a false perceptions of reality and even God.<br /><br />I used to be very fearful and still struggle with some fear. I often say that I inherited it from my mother who is a very nervous person. I think I learned some fear from her. But as we know, the enemy of the soul can take something that’s frail and exaggerate and corrupt it. In the past, my fear was so out of control that I would have panic attacks and my hands would be cold and clammy on a constant basis. I had false imaginations running through my head daily to the point of insanity. A number of years ago, I found healing from the extreme torment of fear. I still become afraid at times, but it’s not as severe as it once was. Scripture and prayer have seen me through the battles.<br /><br />I am currently in a season where God is showing me the power in trusting in Him. Even though I don’t know what tomorrow will bring, it is the confidence that I have in His power through me that gets me through the toughest days. When man or circumstances come against me, I can lean on the truth in the word, and speak out His promises even when I doubt or fear. And my prayer to Him is that when He calls me to step out in His name, that He would supply me with my staff like He did for Moses centuries ago.<br /><br />The transfer of evil:<br /><br />http://youtu.be/563xkXq4duwLyndahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02193517831367163741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-134100552591878519.post-30675477785962300272011-07-12T17:55:00.000-07:002011-07-12T17:59:29.514-07:00Build it.I’ve never really been a fan of baseball as a sport, but I respect it. I prefer to watch basketball or ice-skating (is it considered a sport?) yet I can appreciate a good story or movie based on the sport. Field of Dreams is one of my favorite movies of all time. The story is about a man named Ray Kinsella, who hears a voice as he’s walking through his cornfield that says, “If you build it, he will come.”<br /><br />I think if anyone of us heard a voice in the middle of a cornfield telling us to build something we’d be a little freaked out. I know I would be. But Ray Kinsella hears this voice, and after seeing a vision of a baseball field in his cornfield, decides to build the field. He sees it before it’s even there. He then begins to put the pictures he sees together while finding signs along the way meant to guide and direct him. <br /><br />Building takes passion and perseverance. Ray Kinsella steps out in faith to build the field in his property. This is what life is all about. Taking steps of faith and following the path we feel led to.<br /><br />His brother-in-law doesn’t have the faith or the vision to see. There’s a scene in the movie where Ray and his daughter are watching these great baseball players of the past play a game in the field he created. His brother-in-law isn’t able to see the players in the field. He thinks that Ray has lost his mind, and thinks Ray should sign off the property over to him since it’s in danger of being foreclosed. Ray decides not to sign off and continues focused on the plan. <br /><br />This story is like real life in many ways. Often the one, who has vision to build something incredible, that no one has ever seen before, encounters criticism from others who may not see the vision. They’ll find opposition or doubt from those who don’t understand, but just because they can’t see doesn’t mean it’s not there.<br /><br />I am in a season of building. I too have a vision to build and see people come whether it’s inviting people to my house, and showing hospitality, or adding another post to my blog, and having someone comment. I have a media company that I am growing and adding to each day because I have a vision in mind. I believe that if one dreams of something and plants seeds to build that dream, they will bear fruit. <br /><br />Are you building something special in your life? Choose to believe in its potential.<br /><br />I love how prophetic this scene is.<br /><br /><iframe width="560" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/7SB16il97yw" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br /><br />Tagline: “If you believe the impossible, the incredible can come true.”Lyndahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02193517831367163741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-134100552591878519.post-85596752407091546962011-06-18T14:48:00.000-07:002011-06-22T16:08:30.288-07:00Born to die?I recently watched a movie called, “Into the Wild” about a young man who after graduating from college decides to leave everything behind, including his family and even his identity to live out in the wild. His dream was to go to Alaska and just live among the wildlife away from people and reality. <br /><br />His family doesn’t understand him or why he chose to cut all ties with them. Everyone with whom he comes across question his actions and motives. One old man whom he befriends tells him he's running. In the end, the protagonist dies alone in Alaska- the very place that he’d dreamed of going to. <br /><br />As I watched this movie I had two different thoughts. The first one was that sometimes when a person sets out to do something that is out of the ordinary they are misunderstood and judged by those closest to them. Because their family and friends cannot understand their dream they despair over the choices of the individual. But sometimes people are called to do things that aren’t ordinary…<br /><br />A soldier for example risks his life on a battlefield and may eventually lose his life for a cause that others may condemn or deem unfair. The wife he left behind may not appreciate being a widow, but does that change the fact that the soldier was meant to carry out a purpose that would eventually lead to his death? And then I think of jesus Christ who was literally born to die on a cross for the sins of mankind. <br /><br />When he shared that his impending death was approaching, one of his disciples, Peter said to him, “Never Lord.” But in the end, while his mother wept by the cross he gave his last breath and is forever remembered as God and Savior to his faithful followers. And even those who don’t believe in his divinity still acknowledge him as a man of great wisdom.<br /><br />Now back to the movie…my first thought was this kid couldn’t live until he went to Alaska. He literally felt no happiness in the life that surrounded him—"the real world," as some would call it. There’s a scene in the film when he is walking through a busy California street and observes a man in a tie laughing with a lady friend. The man’s face changes into his own and then back to his original face. The protagonist tries to imagine living a “normal” and acceptable life but it’s impossible for him. You could almost say that it's not in his DNA. He sets out again on his own into the wilderness. <br /><br />Now on the flipside, he dies all by himself in Alaska. I thought about how sad it would be to take your last breath with no one around to hold your hand. And although I admire the fact that the protagonist wasn’t defeated in pursuing his dream to travel, and was not bound by time or man, I thought of how tragic it would be to achieve your dream and have no one to share it with. Isn't the purpose of life to have community, build relationships and help others? What's the point of living if you're doing it in isolation?<br /><br />So I guess I'm trying to figure out what the balance is between pursuing your dreams and the fact that in pursuit of those dreams one could lose friends, family or even their life. Should one change their dream to satisfy the desire of another? Is that even possible? Is there a way to pursue a dream that is risky, and yet still be admired for your efforts and the very pursuit? Or are some people born to achieve great things and then simply die? And were some people placed on the earth simply to die?<br /><br />I don’t know if there are any real answers to my questions. I just wanted to throw it out in the cosmos…or into the wild.<br /><br /><br /><iframe width="560" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/taFaFEuwHLQ" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Lyndahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02193517831367163741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-134100552591878519.post-54669249969604144492011-06-01T22:46:00.000-07:002011-06-18T14:48:20.170-07:00Are you controlled by what you own?My husband and I are fascinated with the A&E program called "Hoarders." This reality show takes you into the lives of people who hoard things to the point where their homes are literally unlivable and even pose a health risk. Some of the people in the stories have been threatened with eviction and others have seen their families fall apart because of the excessive hoarding. It's amazing to see how the people in these stories are actually owned by what they own. <br /><br />In one particular episode a woman wept as she held a teddy bear from her childhood. Although I understand that memories and keepsakes can bring you back to the past and specific memories, I was struck by the fact that most of the hoarders on these shows are living in the past. I feel really bad for these people because I see how deceived and controlled they really are.<br /><br />The reason my husband and I enjoy watching these shows is because in the last three years of our lives we've gotten rid of most of our furniture, things from the past and just about anything that reminded us of negative things. We first began this journey after attending a conference where a well-known speaker spoke of finding healing through cleaning out the trash in our lives. <br /><br />I had never made the connection between emotional healing and cleaning my house. Cleaning was always a chore and an obligation. Yet I was struck when the speaker said that the act of throwing things that reminded us of bad memories or even just ridding our house of excessive trash brings healing to the mind and emotions.<br /><br />I was convicted because I knew that I was a hoarder in some ways. I was the girl that kept the gum wrapper because I'd purchased the gum during a vacation I enjoyed. I kept the "just in case" things in case the day would come that I needed it. The day never came and the things would collect dust in a box somewhere.<br /><br />After attending this conference my life partner and I decided to do some serious housecleaning. We went through boxes and bins of things that we'd accumulated for years and gave away things that had been stored away and forgotten. Though I dreaded the process at times and wanted to quit, I threw away bags of things that I knew deep down I really didn't need.<br /><br /> I now understand how keeping so much stuff can control your entire life and gives you a false sense of security. My husband and I continue to clean out the trash and our lives are so much simpler without all the unnecessary baggage. <br /><br />At the end of the day all that we own are just things, and when we die we're leaving it all behind. I feel free knowing that I can now trash things that I know I don't need or won't use. I don't want a messy house or life. I feel a real sense of control rather than the false one that led me to hoarding. Most of that was based on guilt. I'm happy to say that I've been delivered from hoarding!<br /><br /><br /><iframe width="425" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/aAnah0l0rqk" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Lyndahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02193517831367163741noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-134100552591878519.post-74309791077062360252011-05-22T12:09:00.000-07:002011-05-22T16:53:20.451-07:00Somebody's got lots of splainin' to do.....<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj18-4RxmXm_nUKjAHRj3-ZWxPOrYxxvQkTud2_4384yzqGbsz5nBnwKMOCvSmVTEPybjOMvHHFNi9O6XkCCkABEx2Y8NjTJ1jmOpnHW9qW2PtKQkB342GiXk7EJ59S1yk_BU_dNvYRoz8/s1600/Screen+shot+2011-05-22+at+1.05.10+PM.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj18-4RxmXm_nUKjAHRj3-ZWxPOrYxxvQkTud2_4384yzqGbsz5nBnwKMOCvSmVTEPybjOMvHHFNi9O6XkCCkABEx2Y8NjTJ1jmOpnHW9qW2PtKQkB342GiXk7EJ59S1yk_BU_dNvYRoz8/s200/Screen+shot+2011-05-22+at+1.05.10+PM.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609620207369029378" /></a><br /><br />He also told them this parable: "Can a blind man lead a blind man? Will they not both fall into a pit?" -Luke 6:39<br /><br />Moral of the story: If God said no one would know, then He probably wasn't kidding.Lyndahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02193517831367163741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-134100552591878519.post-71348847040190753362011-04-05T19:43:00.000-07:002011-06-30T17:32:28.578-07:00The StaffI've been hearing a lot of references to the story of Moses lately, and usually when I hear something mentioned repeatedly I know that God is trying to say something. Moses was a man who made a decision that changed his life forever. He killed a soldier that was mistreating a slave. Because of this he was banished and was to live a life in total isolation. He lost all the privileges of his former life and lived as a common man, even developing a speech impediment.<br /><br />Years later, God appears to Him unexpectedly through the fires of a burning bush. God calls out to Moses bidding him to free the slaves from Egyptian captivity and abuse. Moses looks at himself and his circumstances and questions God. How could someone who killed a man and lost everything, including his reputation go before a Pharoah and speak on God's behalf? Rather than leave Moses to wrestle with his insecurities, and feelings of inferiority, God equips Moses for the call. God gives Moses a staff and tells him to put it on the ground. The staff then becomes a snake as a sign and a wonder for the people to see and trust that he truly is called by God. Moses continues to question until the very staff in his hand becomes a snake.<br /><br />Moses was successful in fulfilling God's mandate because he looked past his insecurities and put all his trust in God. I sometimes feel like Moses. I question God in what I feel that He's called me to. How can I go out into the world and do what He's asked of me? Who am I? <br /><br />But like Moses I often ask God to provide me with my own staff. I ask Him to give me the words and the wisdom to do and say what He's asked me to. And I find comfort in knowing that as long as I trust in Him and let Him lead that I can do whatever He says to do even when I'm afraid or feel unprepared. If God can give Moses a staff then I know He'll give me my staff in the package that He decides......What is your staff?<br /><br />"God doesn't call the qualified. He qualifies the called." ~unknownLyndahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02193517831367163741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-134100552591878519.post-69682694638931051372011-03-22T18:58:00.000-07:002011-03-22T19:06:18.569-07:00Another little tree<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU9I5iuTj94aZmiO2KBQO8-0dfWCNFjnE7XHKW_iblSsQjkCy9C611Q84aD4ocOzzqosZ7-HPU0Lm1Z6z5oOaiT3c1ZChP7bXt7n8PWZ1SIcZ0cAFtzRq8g7bPsO2wcMbnmIyxeR1wXB4/s1600/splashLandscape.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 123px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU9I5iuTj94aZmiO2KBQO8-0dfWCNFjnE7XHKW_iblSsQjkCy9C611Q84aD4ocOzzqosZ7-HPU0Lm1Z6z5oOaiT3c1ZChP7bXt7n8PWZ1SIcZ0cAFtzRq8g7bPsO2wcMbnmIyxeR1wXB4/s200/splashLandscape.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5587089350114760482" /></a><br />When I was little I enjoyed watching reruns of Bob Ross painting on television. He always had a way of creating the most amazing sceneries. One thing he loved to do was add trees to his paintings. He would paint a tree or two and sometimes he would add so many trees that it seemed he was ruining the picture. I would think he messed up the painting when in the end he would add enough color and dimension that it all seemed to work together.<br /><br />Rob Ross’s trees remind me of life. We often do things in life that to some may seem wrong or abnormal. I know in life I’ve made decisions that have caused others to question my ideals and motives. Because in my mind I knew the vision and big picture, I continued to do what I believed I should do even though others seemed uncertain and often voiced their disapproval. <br /><br />In my faith walk, I don’t always understand what God is doing in my life either. I’m a pretty honest person and will often voice my thoughts to God and even argue with him over things that I don’t understand. I often don’t understand or see the big picture. And then a little “tree” appears somewhere in my life and it seems wrong somehow. But in the end it always seems to come together somehow.<br /><br />The next time I watch another rerun of Bob Ross paint I’ll sit back and enjoy it rather than argue with him. Because I’ve learned from watching him paint in the past that even though his little trees seem out of place in the beginning, it always completes every painting he’s started. It all comes together in the end.Lyndahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02193517831367163741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-134100552591878519.post-35332087703066481962011-01-10T00:30:00.000-08:002011-01-10T13:29:09.103-08:00A Time For Women To Rise<span style="font-style:italic;"></span>According to statistical data, women are surpassing men on a number of sectors. This is a far cry from a time when women were raised to solely care for their household. History has shown us that shoving women in the background or removing from them the right to communicate, educate themselves, and work makes for an unbalanced world. <br /><br />As Hanna Rosin points out, our world has changed and many of today's jobs require the talents that women seem to naturally bestow. We are natural caretakers, communicators, organizers, planners and we know how to listen. It is a time for women. Let us shine as we do what we are called to do without hesitation or reservations. Use your voice, talents, and gifts to change, challenge and impact your world! <br /><br /><object width="416" height="374" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" id="ep"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><param name="wmode" value="transparent" /><param name="movie" value="http://i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/.element/apps/cvp/3.0/swf/cnn_416x234_embed.swf?context=embed&videoId=living/2010/12/30/Ted.Hanna.Rosin.mov.TED" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#000000" /><embed src="http://i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/.element/apps/cvp/3.0/swf/cnn_416x234_embed.swf?context=embed&videoId=living/2010/12/30/Ted.Hanna.Rosin.mov.TED" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" bgcolor="#000000" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="416" wmode="transparent" height="374"></embed></object>Lyndahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02193517831367163741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-134100552591878519.post-82489065805487752762010-12-24T00:39:00.000-08:002011-01-10T13:28:18.635-08:00My Favorite Christmas movie of all time!Frank Capra's, "It's a Wonderful Life" is my favorite Christmas movie of all time. I love the movie so much that I will not watch it until Christmas Eve and Christmas day every year so that it doesn't lose its luster. I still remember the first time I watched it as a little girl. We had just had our Christmas family gathering with food, music, and dancing like every Christmas...... <br /><br />Christmas has always been my favorite time of the year so the holidays were always special, and I always looked forward to celebrating. One night, after all the festivities I was still awake and flipping through the channels when I found a magical black and white film playing on television. I watched the character of George Bailey run through his town telling everyone how much he loved them and appreciated them. My heart was so glad as I saw the joy in this man's face as he genuinely expressed his appreciation for his life. Ever since that night I make a tradition of watching "It's a Wonderful Life" every Christmas. <br /><br />"It's a Wonderful Life" is a movie that helps to reshape our perspective and offers hope. If you've ever felt like a failure because things haven't turned out too well in your life, or you were disappointed by something or someone, you may feel tempted to give up. George Bailey wanted to die after losing all his money and facing possible jail time. He felt like a failure and tried to end his own life until an angel named Clarence showed him what his world would look like if he were never born. George Bailey learns that he did in fact make an impact. He also learned that although his life didn't turn out the way he wanted it to, it was still significant and he was loved. He mattered.<br /><br />I didn't understand the story when I was a little girl, but it sure became reality for me last year after life handed me much pain and disappointment. This year, as I'm still in recovery, I will enjoy "It's a Wonderful Life" once again for its charm, warmth, and for the smile it always brings to my face.....regardless of my situation.<br /><br />If you've never watched this film, please do so. Whether you love it or hate it you will walk away feeling something because there's a message in it for everyone.<br /><object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/0k_Vsmqf6X8?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/0k_Vsmqf6X8?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object><br /><br />"Remember, George: no man is a failure who has friends." <br />-ClarenceLyndahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02193517831367163741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-134100552591878519.post-69609278917989575822010-12-01T10:56:00.000-08:002010-12-01T11:13:54.211-08:00Send a holiday letter to a soldier!The American Red Cross is accepting letters that will be given to our soldiers this Christmas. Send a letter to encourage our brave heroes who risk their lives daily for our freedom. Christmas is especially difficult for them and their families. Let's put a smile on their face this Christmas. : )<br /><br />The deadline to send mail is December 10th.<br /><br />Holiday Mail for Heroes <br />P.O. Box 5456 <br />Capitol Heights, MD<br />20791-5456 <object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/o_S0jSC8JvE?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/o_S0jSC8JvE?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object><br /><br />To learn more, visit www.redcross.org.Lyndahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02193517831367163741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-134100552591878519.post-86209173032639761682010-11-03T03:52:00.000-07:002010-11-03T03:54:37.681-07:00Who Says?It’s rare the times that I'll learn something from a commercial. Sure those “Columbia House” commercials back in the day made me cry. And yes, I’m still very moved by those sentimental Hallmark card commercials they play during Christmas. And we mustn’t forget the old ‘Folgers” commercial where the son returns from war and his mother embraces him with such love to cause a grown man to cry like a baby. Yes, commercials can have an emotional factor to them. But recently, a simple statement in a birth control commercial sort of empowered me.<br /><br />You know that commercial that tells women that they don’t have to have their period every month? In the commercial the women look at the camera and say, “Who says you have to have your period every month?” And yes, it may seem silly to be motivated or to learn something profound from a contraceptive commercial, but the simple words, “Who says…” really affirmed the season that I am in at the moment.<br /><br />I am living in a season where I am questioning some of the things that I thought to be law, things that we all seem to accept. For example, who says that I can’t be strong and yet feminine at the same time? Pink is still my favorite color. : ) Who says that I can’t question aspects of my faith that I don’t understand? Who says that I shouldn’t take chances? <br /><br />It’s amazing how many things in life we accept just because we think we should. It’s almost like there’s this invisible rulebook or checklist we’re supposed to live and abide by. Who says I’m supposed to follow? I’d rather take a chance in life and pursue what I believe is right than just follow and accept something just because everyone else does.<br /><br />There are so many choices and mindsets in my life that I have recently learned were influenced by the words in that boring rule book. I’m learning that it’s okay to be me and to have the desires that I have. Just because someone is well liked by everyone else doesn’t mean that I have to like him or her too. And just because a certain path or formula worked in someone’s life doesn’t mean it will work in mine. I’m learning not to feel bad when the corporate world shuts another door in my face. I don’t feel we’re compatible anyway.<br /><br />The truth is we are all in a different path, learning different things in different ways. What I am called to is not necessarily what the next person should pursue. It’s amazing the transformation that can take place in one’s life when the rug has been pulled from under them repeatedly. Or when they’ve tried “everything” the voices have suggested and still the doors stay stubbornly shut.<br /><br />Who says I have to think, feel, and be what the rulebook says I should? I’m on my own journey. In the words of “Popeye,” “I am what I am, and that’s all that I am”Lyndahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02193517831367163741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-134100552591878519.post-17843267343185354202010-10-26T17:56:00.000-07:002010-10-26T18:17:12.982-07:00When I am sadI really believe that God likes it when I'm sad. Is that a strange statement? Well, I really believe it....at least today.<br /><br />When I am sad I write profound poems, personal essays, and song lyrics. <br /><br />When I am sad I think about the hurting and the voiceless in the world and how I'd like to end their suffering.<br /><br />When I am hurting I seem to gain enough wisdom to light a candle on somebody else's darkness.<br /><br />I offer them words, they applaud my wisdom, and then I re-enter my dungeon of introspection.<br /><br />When I have a "dark night of the soul" my creativity grows and I find that I'm taken to deep places that I never knew existed inside of me.<br /><br />Sometimes I am moved to tears, other times I am inspired. Sometimes they work together.<br /><br />I don't say this in arrogance or pride. In face there are days that I would give anything to be shallow. <br /><br />I wish that my greatest concern was not having the right top to match my pants.<br /><br />But, in my life pain is real. And when it hits it's strong enough to cause me to lose hope for moments at a time.<br /><br />But then, I rise up off the floor and I open my notebook or laptop and write once again. I'm a "survivor" as some would say. <br /><br />My pain inspires me, and apparently this is what God uses.<br /><br />Sometimes I wish that I didn't survive and that God would be moved to the point that He removed it all.<br /><br />But, then I think that in some weird psychotic way I would miss it all. <br /><br />Because for whatever strange reason pain and happiness walk hand in hand in my heart and mind. I don't know that I'd be the same person without them.<br /><br />"The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise." -Psalm 51:17 (NIV)<br /><br />"Dear God,<br /><br />I heard that there is a reward for this, but I'm still waiting for my consolation prize....Can you bring it before I get to heaven?"Lyndahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02193517831367163741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-134100552591878519.post-5286950029084811072010-08-25T13:00:00.000-07:002010-12-01T11:12:34.435-08:00Wax-On, Wax-Off: Learning Lessons Through the OrdinaryThe Karate Kid has always been one of my favorite movies from the 80's. Maybe it’s because we watched it every other day, or the fact that my brother resembled Ralph Macchio. Watching The Karate Kid became as much a ritual as brushing my teeth and playing with my Barbie dolls.<br /><br />When I became a Christian, this classic 80’s movie became a symbolism for something far greater than warm fuzzy memories. It became a sort of metaphor for my relationship with God. I can’t help but think that the relationship between Daniel-San and Mr. Miyagi is very similar to our own relationship and walk with God. <br /><br />We don’t always understand what God is doing. Most of the time we’re questioning what everything means. In my own life I have had to ask God to help me see what He sees because I just simply don’t understand. <br /><br />In the movie, as Daniel is venting to Mr. Miyagi about feeling used, he tells Mr. Miyago that he’s in pain for all the work he’s had to do for him. He feels that he has wasted all his time when he could’ve actually been learning karate. Mr. Miyagi’s response: “Not everything is as seems.” <br /><br />Mr. Miyagi then asks him to show him "sand the floor," “wax-on, wax-off,” “paint the fence,” and all the other chores Daniel was responsisble for. Mr. Miyagi goes on to show the very confused and frustrated Daniel how one thing related to the other. Daniel was then able to see how all the meaningless tasks he had done actually related to karate. His eyes were opened up to the realization that he was learning, but not in the way that he expected.<br /><br />Brother Lawrence, author of the popular book, “Practicing the Presence of God,” learned life’s lessons while washing dishes in a kitchen. Jesus taught his disciples lessons and principles through fishing and even reached a Samaritan woman by relating to her through thirst. Why does God use the ordinary to reach us? Because he wants to relate to us, he wants to speak our language.<br /><br />So, the next time you're confused about your life and what God may or may not be doing, why not ask Him to help you see what He sees? You may even get a revelation like Daniel did.<object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/8aYl7N0JPWs?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/8aYl7N0JPWs?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object><br /><br />The Karate Kid starring Ralph Macchio and Pat MoritaLyndahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02193517831367163741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-134100552591878519.post-17912192572138802702010-07-20T19:48:00.000-07:002010-07-24T15:47:44.543-07:00Honor<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5hT4PIyREStKU7JUzVxjYful6vdQwwTipJT_NsSC31sC57UWZ4v7m3DPy8k6cFLYWLa1-YNlveV9rSiku1SXRGTEmxJ4A_AAbab4d5Ef5lPS-IBL3TYZIREjiqLWD4fzgHnHlcMn_wnQ/s1600/mother-teresa-feeding.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 142px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5hT4PIyREStKU7JUzVxjYful6vdQwwTipJT_NsSC31sC57UWZ4v7m3DPy8k6cFLYWLa1-YNlveV9rSiku1SXRGTEmxJ4A_AAbab4d5Ef5lPS-IBL3TYZIREjiqLWD4fzgHnHlcMn_wnQ/s200/mother-teresa-feeding.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496187594471149906" /></a><br />I read a story once about how Mother Theresa found the body of a man who had died of hunger in an impoverished country. She lay hands on the man and prayed for him. When asked why she bothered to pray for a dead man she said she didn’t want him to be overlooked or forgotten. According to Mother Theresa, every life is precious in life and in death.<br /><br />What a beautiful image. Everyone deserves honor. Whether you’re the weary soldier who has just returned from the battlefield, the battered woman who has taken a second chance at love, or the janitor who sweeps the floors and wipes the toilets. No man should ever be overlooked.<br /><br />After the terrible tragedy of hurricane Katrina, “The Oprah Winfrey Show” dedicated an entire show on the aftermath of the disaster. Dr. Oz, a frequent guest on the show who currently has his own program, walked the streets of New Orleans providing medical care to the wounded and dying. As he walked the streets of New Orleans he caught site of the body of a woman lying on the side of a road and he said, “This is someone’s daughter. Somebody gave birth to this person.” He then proceeded to cover the forgotten corpse.<br /><br />We live in a world of injustice where countless faces die everyday. It may be the prostitute beaten and killed by a client, the child sold into sexual slavery, or the lonely old man in the nursing home whose family has neglected him. No matter who we are, human beings deserve honor. We all have a name and a purpose. We have importance and value.<br /><br />Have you ever felt over-looked and unacknowledged? May you receive the honor you deserve not only in death but also in life. After all, we’re only given one chance to live.<br /><br />“Honor has not to be won; it must only not be lost.” -Arthur SchopenhauerLyndahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02193517831367163741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-134100552591878519.post-3818508954972904432010-06-30T18:29:00.000-07:002010-06-30T18:47:40.262-07:00Living life as a "Receiver"<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2TR-LXJSlWTYA44ychp4E61Gg9S_3q-4nhZPOK1zPIjEX5ZUWMo0_CcE-bqmay0nxmBzIi1RvOQ4FFwLyLQar0l9Z9qssU_qJ1qh90DuG_Wf9i-xoMzKwmM0rVH4ixQWFVnhHcESIWdg/s1600/The+Giver.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 118px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2TR-LXJSlWTYA44ychp4E61Gg9S_3q-4nhZPOK1zPIjEX5ZUWMo0_CcE-bqmay0nxmBzIi1RvOQ4FFwLyLQar0l9Z9qssU_qJ1qh90DuG_Wf9i-xoMzKwmM0rVH4ixQWFVnhHcESIWdg/s200/The+Giver.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488744386643369426" /></a><br /><br />I went to a wonderful service at church last night where a very wise woman spoke about the importance of receiving what God has to give us. I have been practicing this in private. For days I’ve been playing my favorite worship songs and seeking God. I’ve felt him appear and speak to me. Now, please don’t think I’m crazy. I’m a very sane and intelligent woman. But a recent encounter with God in my bedroom overwhelmed me. I literally felt like the spirit of God walked through me and filled all of my insides with his power. I felt encircled by his greatness.<br /><br />Last night I had a similar experience. I took in every word this woman spoke. She talked about how hard it is for us to receive blessings at times and encouraged us to receive all that God had to give us. She explained that she felt God was telling her that it was a time to receive more of him. Then, she began to call people out of the audience to pray over them. She pointed at me and said, “You, come over here.” I walked up to her and she said to me, “Put your arms up I’m laying hands on you… you’re already in the river.” I fell back onto the floor and surrendered to the presence of God. I lay there for a while soaking in the presence of God receiving all the words that I felt He was speaking to me. I’ll share more of that in another post. <br /><br />About an hour later, I was at home contemplating on the events of the night while preparing a snack in the kitchen. That’s when I remembered the book that I’m reading. One of my all time favorite books is called, The Giver, which was written by popular children’s author, Lois Lowry. I read it in the 5th grade and fell in love with it. A week or so ago I felt the urge to re-read this book again.<br /><br />The book is about a boy who lives in a Utopian community where everything is the same, every family unit has a son and daughter, and there is no pain or color. “The Committee” that predetermines the fate and destiny of its occupants controls everything. What always impressed me about the story was the main character Jonas. He’s a 12-year-old boy that receives a special assignment from the community in the “Ceremony of Twelves.” He is given the task of being “The Receiver.” <br /><br />"The Receiver" is to meet with “The Giver” to receive whatever is to be imparted to him. Little does Jonas know that “The Giver” will show him the reality of what life used to be before the committee controlled everything. Jonas’ eyes and mind are opened up to love, desire, and the taste of an apple, the feelings of sexuality, and pain. He is to receive this knowledge from “The Giver” but cannot share it with anyone else because it could hurt the community.<br /><br />The reason I always loved this book was because as a kid I often felt like I was introduced to a lot of information that was at times too great for me to comprehend. And like Jonas I had to hold it all inside. For whatever reason I felt the urge to re-read this book a week ago. But God is a God of details and I know that he often uses coincidences to prove his point. As I contemplated on the book last night I smiled, as I understood that I too am in a season of receiving. And like last night and a few nights ago in my bedroom, my arms are continually open to receive what THE GIVER would want to impart on me. Even when it’s painful…Lyndahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02193517831367163741noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-134100552591878519.post-29420666054527154652010-06-05T11:17:00.000-07:002010-06-07T14:08:08.631-07:00Exiting Egypt<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFrU3-kYiiHbZH5PDI4MLL0I1jnKgG90sODgqnwc8vKKkvdl28EsqLu4bQU-tj5qzjI_4V9L8UlnKFF5cfQaakdI_shy2f3XOKQgdWZwIF86KMd-7ncrAy1oLzPpjJjMBlANDQFebNC4w/s1600/27869_1379096928871_1575352982_878845_824098_n.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFrU3-kYiiHbZH5PDI4MLL0I1jnKgG90sODgqnwc8vKKkvdl28EsqLu4bQU-tj5qzjI_4V9L8UlnKFF5cfQaakdI_shy2f3XOKQgdWZwIF86KMd-7ncrAy1oLzPpjJjMBlANDQFebNC4w/s200/27869_1379096928871_1575352982_878845_824098_n.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5479361918462591746" /></a><br />I once read a story about a man in Germany who had been in prison for fifty years. After his term was completed he was set to be released. Instead of leaving prison he decided to stay in his cell. The guards tried to convince the man to leave his cell and enjoy his freedom, but the prisoner refused. <br /><br />How many times do we continue to stay in our own prisons even after being set free? For some of us prison could mean an old mindset, an unhealthy relationship, or a bad habit.<br /><br />I'm currently living in one of the most gorgeous cities in America, Colorado Springs. The scenery is beautiful with unrealistic mountains that often make me feel like I'm living in a painting. I am often in awe and wonder and I can't believe that I am fortunate enough to call such a beautiful place my home.<br /><br />But even though the mountains are breathtaking and I see beautiful deer in my backyard on a weekly basis, it took me some time to really enjoy and take in the beauty of my surroundings. When I first arrived in Colorado Springs I was apprehensive. I had been so discouraged in the last few years of my life that I couldn't possibly fathom the idea that I would live in a place of such beauty. And even though my surroundings were beautiful my approach was a cautious one. I was so afraid of being disappointed again that I wasn't enjoying the place that I was in.<br /><br />The Bible tells the story of the Israelites wandering in the desert for forty years. Although they had been freed from their bondage, their mentality was still in captivity. They literally had to change their thought processes in order to exit Egypt and enter into the Promised Land.<br /><br />I have recently made the decision (and yes it is often a decision) to start believing that life can be fruitful again. Although my life was filled with much disappointment in the last few years, it doesn't mean that my future will also be. Yes, I did lose a house that I loved two years ago, and had to say goodbye to dear friends, but it doesn't mean that history will repeat itself. I have to learn from the mistakes of the past and accept the losses. I have to daily make a choice to keep my eyes set on the future and what's before me. <br /><br />I have to believe that the future will be as bright as Pikes Peaks and that my dreams will surpass my highest expectations. I must keep my vision focused and high enough to reach the mountains before me. Life will be great.Lyndahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02193517831367163741noreply@blogger.com1