With summer quickly approaching, I'm mindful of the spiritual seasons of my life. I'm a Spring and Autumn kind of gal, myself. Who isn't? But I'm also aware that it is the seasons of Winter and Summer where the preparation for growth is so prevalent. I suppose that I should embrace these seasons as the intended cycle of my life but, in all honesty, I still prefer Spring and Autumn. Call it spiritual immaturity, if you like. I do.
One Thing I Know For Sure
Just as God created the world within a framework of seasons, He created you and me within a framework of seasons. There is an order amidst the seeming chaos. Life is cyclical.
Take a look at a brief description of the seasons. What season are you in?
Winter
Barren. Desolate. Isolated. These are the words that come to mind when I think of my winter seasons. It's a lethargic state. Sometimes depressive. Bleak. These winter seasons can be brutal. Questions arise. Where are you, Lord? Why me? Sometimes, there is no voice for prayer. Thank God we have the Holy Spirit as intercessor.
Spring
Renewal. Rebirth. Life. Following a winter season, often comes Spring. We made it through perseverance. God brought us through the desolation of winter and we "feel" again. There is a renewed sense of purpose in Spring. An energy produced from the lethargy of Winter. We are alive. The planning begins again.
Summer
Hot. Movement. Sweat. With the clear vision and mission newly birthed in Spring, comes the work of Summer. Thoughts in the head from Winter move to feelings in the heart from Spring to work in the hands in Summer. God designed us for work. It dates back to creation in the garden of Eden.
Autumn
Plenty. Harvest. Fulfillment. The work of our hands produces the fruit of our labor. It's the fulfillment of our vision. Our labor is rewarded with tangible produce. We look at the seasons of our life and realize just how good He really is. Promises fulfilled. Questions answered. Obedience and perseverance turns to treasure.
Looking Through A New Lens
Until I truly understood the seasons of my life, God's word seemed contradictory at times. During a Winter season, I would read the Bible and find a promise that seemed so contradictory to my current season. I would ponder it. Internalize it into something false. I couldn't see through the barrenness of my soul.
Then God would bring Spring into my life and with it a new lens from which to look. His lens. As the cycle of my life continues, I am aware of these seasons. I choose to believe what He has promised. If that promise is not currently being fulfilled, it will come in another season.
I believe. Do you?
Thursday, May 31, 2007
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
What if…we knew that we are created beautiful
As a little girl with color I grew up in a world where my beauty was disallowed. My dark skin, my hips, my lips, my hair – were not seen as signs of beauty.
I remember that as a child my father would set apart a monthly sum from his scanty minister’s salary to purchase Ebony magazine. As the father of two black girls he understood the importance of developing a healthy self-concept, particularly in the times we lived in. Thus, he made sure that we were exposed to identifiable and positive images of beauty.
My sister and I would spend hours captivated by the beautiful pictures of those brown-skinned beauties. These women were really not new to our reality, they looked like our Mommy, our aunties, the ladies at church. Nevertheless, they were Women whose beauty we very rarely saw “positively” displayed on TV and in other magazines.
Twenty-something years later, when images of beauty are supposedly global, I find it disturbing that little girls of color are still experiencing the same type of beauty disallowance. While they might have more exposure to their types of beauty than I ever had, there is some unsettling distortion to the exposure.
While their “brownness” to a certain extent is “acceptable”, there is still the societal perception that to be considered beautiful, their type of beauty must somehow be re-arranged fit into an already pre-defined beauty box.
I think that something is wrong with a world where people find the need to constantly re-create themselves to fit certain man-made and partial beauty standards. I think that something is wrong with a world where uniqueness is not celebrated, and instead beauty is fixed to fit certain arranged standards. Perhaps its time that we each take a hard look at our personal definitions of beauty.
There is nothing wrong in admiring and celebrating outward appearance, it is part of the unique package our creator gave to us as humans. There is a problem, however, when we use our own sinful definitions of what beauty is to tell God, ”You made a mistake with me, or with certain people.” And then, we find it necessary to change and re-create God’s creative palette of beauty. This notion that God made a mistake with our beauty has lead women to become vain, capricious, catty and prejudiced.
What if we were to believe His word? What if we were to believe that He made us “fearfully and wonderfully” (Psalms139:14)? If we were to believe, then we would understand that we are already beautiful.
Note: To see the effect that societal definitions of beauty have on children of color click on this link 4realwomen.com - Film: A Girl Like Me
I remember that as a child my father would set apart a monthly sum from his scanty minister’s salary to purchase Ebony magazine. As the father of two black girls he understood the importance of developing a healthy self-concept, particularly in the times we lived in. Thus, he made sure that we were exposed to identifiable and positive images of beauty.
My sister and I would spend hours captivated by the beautiful pictures of those brown-skinned beauties. These women were really not new to our reality, they looked like our Mommy, our aunties, the ladies at church. Nevertheless, they were Women whose beauty we very rarely saw “positively” displayed on TV and in other magazines.
Twenty-something years later, when images of beauty are supposedly global, I find it disturbing that little girls of color are still experiencing the same type of beauty disallowance. While they might have more exposure to their types of beauty than I ever had, there is some unsettling distortion to the exposure.
While their “brownness” to a certain extent is “acceptable”, there is still the societal perception that to be considered beautiful, their type of beauty must somehow be re-arranged fit into an already pre-defined beauty box.
I think that something is wrong with a world where people find the need to constantly re-create themselves to fit certain man-made and partial beauty standards. I think that something is wrong with a world where uniqueness is not celebrated, and instead beauty is fixed to fit certain arranged standards. Perhaps its time that we each take a hard look at our personal definitions of beauty.
There is nothing wrong in admiring and celebrating outward appearance, it is part of the unique package our creator gave to us as humans. There is a problem, however, when we use our own sinful definitions of what beauty is to tell God, ”You made a mistake with me, or with certain people.” And then, we find it necessary to change and re-create God’s creative palette of beauty. This notion that God made a mistake with our beauty has lead women to become vain, capricious, catty and prejudiced.
What if we were to believe His word? What if we were to believe that He made us “fearfully and wonderfully” (Psalms139:14)? If we were to believe, then we would understand that we are already beautiful.
Note: To see the effect that societal definitions of beauty have on children of color click on this link 4realwomen.com - Film: A Girl Like Me
Monday, May 28, 2007
What if ... our Sabbath day was truly a memorial day for us?
Beautiful post about Memorial Day Randee! I hope everyone is taking time out to remember those who have fought for our freedoms and are still enjoying the holiday.
As I have been considering my writing for the book project on the 10 commandments, God has been bringing to my attention with much conviction from several different sources just how much I fall short to truly spend my Sabbath days in memory of and in worship of my Savior and find myself not taking that day of rest as we are called to do. I find myself only spending a short time out of the day in worship of Him then once I get back home I so easily slip back into taking care of all of the responsibilities of life to prepare myself for a smoother upcoming work week.
I realize just how backwards that is and see how much more important it is to prepare for our Sabbath day so we can spend the whole day in memory and worship of our Savior so we can truly rest in Him on that day and set aside all responsibilities in life so we can truly be refreshed and ready for the upcoming work week.
As I have been considering my writing for the book project on the 10 commandments, God has been bringing to my attention with much conviction from several different sources just how much I fall short to truly spend my Sabbath days in memory of and in worship of my Savior and find myself not taking that day of rest as we are called to do. I find myself only spending a short time out of the day in worship of Him then once I get back home I so easily slip back into taking care of all of the responsibilities of life to prepare myself for a smoother upcoming work week.
I realize just how backwards that is and see how much more important it is to prepare for our Sabbath day so we can spend the whole day in memory and worship of our Savior so we can truly rest in Him on that day and set aside all responsibilities in life so we can truly be refreshed and ready for the upcoming work week.
What If...We Remembered On Memorial Day?
Did you know that originally Memorial Day was called Decoration Day? There are many stories that prompted the celebration of Memorial Day. One of them dates back to the Civil War when organized women's groups began "decorating" the gravesites of those precious lives taken in the war. This seems fitting to me given the hearts of women generally.
Memorial Day recognizes the lives lost in service to our country. As I watch the pictures and stories of war, I honor these great men and women with remembrance.
It gets me thinking...
There was a war that took place in the garden of Eden---a spiritual war. Countless lives have been lost in this war. Then God came to earth, fully man and fully God. He died and in His death was victorious in the ultimate war...the war that saved countless souls.
So...as we remember those lives lost for this nation today...may we also remember the love, life, death, and resurrection of the One who died for all nations.
God bless you all!
Memorial Day recognizes the lives lost in service to our country. As I watch the pictures and stories of war, I honor these great men and women with remembrance.
It gets me thinking...
There was a war that took place in the garden of Eden---a spiritual war. Countless lives have been lost in this war. Then God came to earth, fully man and fully God. He died and in His death was victorious in the ultimate war...the war that saved countless souls.
So...as we remember those lives lost for this nation today...may we also remember the love, life, death, and resurrection of the One who died for all nations.
God bless you all!
Sunday, May 27, 2007
What if...the illusion continues
Dove's Campaign for Real Women has a great one-minute video that shows the evolution of a "real" young woman into a billboard model. Click here and then choose the Evolution Film at the bottom of the screen.
What if...outer beauty was an illusion?
I ran across this on another blog, and thought it fit in perfectly with our Outer/Inner Beauty Pageant discussion. What a great video to share with young women and girls who might be intimidated by all the media representation of "beauty".
Saturday, May 26, 2007
What If...we released this sense of entitlement?
Okay. I know I'm posting out of turn but it's Saturday morning and I have something to say.
Many of you know that I have taken on a position outside the home to help alleviate some of the financial pressure from my husband. The work environment is really toxic. I'm struggling...really struggling. Mostly to keep my big mouth shut. (Hence, the post on the Monday Mutes.)
I was reading an article yesterday about the rise and fall of the creator of Veggie Tales. He speaks very poignantly about the time when he came across the passage in the Bible on the fruit of the Spirit and he realized that he wasn't bearing this fruit. He realized he was in trouble.
So, before I went to work I began to pray fervently. Holy Spirit, be with me. Bear the fruit for me. I'm lost. I'm struggling. My heart is not right. I cannot do it on my own. It must come from you.
Then, I went to work. On to the next subject...
I work with a group of young ladies with a real sense of entitlement. They rarely work but they expect reward. The "rules" don't quite apply to them. They are the exception. ( If there is one area where my parents exceedingly excelled was in teaching me about work ethic. I know how to work.) I keep telling myself. They are young. They simply don't know how.
So...I was leaving for my one hour lunch break yesterday, making a mental list of notes in my head of all I had to cram into this one hour. (By the way...food was not on the list) Go home and feed the dog, make 2 return phone calls for the PCC, stop by my PO Box and pick up the mail, pay the water bill, etc.
I'm clocking out when one of these young ladies walks up to me at the desk. Uh, hon, I need you to go pick me up a cup of ice for my bottled water. And, your best bet is to go to QT not MacDonalds because the line is too long and you'll be waiting too long.
My immediate (and flippant) reply: No. My best bet is for you to get your own ice.
Of course, the whole group was at the desk and heard my reply. After the initial silence was the various comments on how much of a {BLANK} I was.
So much for my witness (again). So much for staying mute. What about love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness....Remember the old commercial: Where's the beef? Yesterday, I was kicking myself in the tail asking:
Where's the fruit?
Many of you know that I have taken on a position outside the home to help alleviate some of the financial pressure from my husband. The work environment is really toxic. I'm struggling...really struggling. Mostly to keep my big mouth shut. (Hence, the post on the Monday Mutes.)
I was reading an article yesterday about the rise and fall of the creator of Veggie Tales. He speaks very poignantly about the time when he came across the passage in the Bible on the fruit of the Spirit and he realized that he wasn't bearing this fruit. He realized he was in trouble.
So, before I went to work I began to pray fervently. Holy Spirit, be with me. Bear the fruit for me. I'm lost. I'm struggling. My heart is not right. I cannot do it on my own. It must come from you.
Then, I went to work. On to the next subject...
I work with a group of young ladies with a real sense of entitlement. They rarely work but they expect reward. The "rules" don't quite apply to them. They are the exception. ( If there is one area where my parents exceedingly excelled was in teaching me about work ethic. I know how to work.) I keep telling myself. They are young. They simply don't know how.
So...I was leaving for my one hour lunch break yesterday, making a mental list of notes in my head of all I had to cram into this one hour. (By the way...food was not on the list) Go home and feed the dog, make 2 return phone calls for the PCC, stop by my PO Box and pick up the mail, pay the water bill, etc.
I'm clocking out when one of these young ladies walks up to me at the desk. Uh, hon, I need you to go pick me up a cup of ice for my bottled water. And, your best bet is to go to QT not MacDonalds because the line is too long and you'll be waiting too long.
My immediate (and flippant) reply: No. My best bet is for you to get your own ice.
Of course, the whole group was at the desk and heard my reply. After the initial silence was the various comments on how much of a {BLANK} I was.
So much for my witness (again). So much for staying mute. What about love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness....Remember the old commercial: Where's the beef? Yesterday, I was kicking myself in the tail asking:
Where's the fruit?
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