Snooki, Mother Theresa .... and What Reality Could Be

I think Snooki needs yellow Police tape wrapped around her.... with an extra dose around her mouth. 

I listened to her interview with Matt Lauer on The Today Show and I'm shaking my head after all this time listening to her Snooky-isms.

Does she realize she speaks nonsense? 

Does she believe her own words, does she think anyone else does? 

Sadly, I think yes.

 I quote Miss Snooki, "My ultimate dream is to move to Jersey, find a nice, juiced, hot, tanned guy and live my life."

This was the only quote I could find that did not have words that began with f, and I'm not referring to fun.

You can't blame it on being a Jersey girl, or the Jersey Shore, or the times we live in. 

No way, I will never agree to such lame excuses.

I was close to being a Jersey girl. 

New York is physically next to New Jersey, and we shopped in Paramus... no sales tax. That counts. 

I went to the Jersey Shore every summer.

I lived in Seaside Heights the summer I graduated high school (I was 17, what were my parents thinking?!)... same town as Snooki and her cronies. 

I believe she is actually living in my old house... yeah, I'm pretty convinced.

My husband is from New Jersey.

All of these things make me half New Jersey. 

Really.

I went to the beach every day, walked to work at the VIP Restaurant from 4 pm to Midnight, 6 nights a week,  then out to clubs, listening to some mediocre bands till about 3 or 4 am. I don't remember seeing The Boss, Jon Bon Jovi or Ricky Sambora, but I could have forgotten.

Yeah... so it was 1979, a few years ago. Do you know how bad people behaved then? Very similar to 2011.

I had so much fun during that time...and yet I never got in a fist fight, threw my drinks on anyone, becoming a drunken mess and I always remembered to come home... alone.

No, I was not perfect... I just had a different view of a good time than Snooki.

The reality of this..... reality TV personality is that Snooki isn't even from New Jersey, or Italian. She was born in Santiago, Chili, adopted by an American couple and grew up in Marlboro, New York..... even closer to where I grew up.

Yikes, the similarities between us are astounding.
Not...

What an opportunity this young woman has by being an American citizen, and now being famous. Oh, what a cheap word that has become. 

I wonder if Snooki had different influences on her life what she might have become. Of course, it's not too late. She still can be the woman God desires her to be, but it becomes harder as we grow up.

We become hardened and our eyes are covered by blinders... 

to the truth of what life can be.
We believe the lies that satan pushes... life is about us, you only have now, today, get what you want, don't worry about tomorrow.

Truth is, if this is your world view point, you had better worry about tomorrow. Eternity is going to be here in a minute. What have you chosen for yours?

Maybe if Snooki had known Mother Theresa, read Ann Graham Lotz, Ann Voscamp, studied under Priscilla Shearer, Beth Moore, listened to Rebecca St James, Nicole Nordeman, Yolanda Adams..... the list is endless of positive female role models we have. I just grasped at a few.
We are rich in women who love God and show what it means to be a healthy, strong woman.

Yet...

 if we refuse to fill our souls with the truth of Gods beautiful, rich, exciting plan for our lives, we settle for junk.

Dirty, filthy lies and at the end of the day we see ourselves as worthless.

Our souls hunger for Him, not tan, Italian guidos. 

They will never satisfy our souls.

Trust me, I am married to one.

But, mine loves Jesus... but he still can't satisfy my soul and neither can I satisfy his.

I hope Snooki finds the Truth. What a great opportunity to use her fame for Him, for good and become a role model to young women.

Snooki.... I am praying for you girl. 

Threaten Me With Heaven

Threaten me with heaven.....

“What’s the worst thing that could happen if they say my time is through.

 Can they take away the love or the years I’ve shared with you?

 What’s the worst thing that could happen, what’s the worst that they can do?

Threaten me with heaven, that’s all they can do. I believe it's true."

Vince Gill just released this song. The words remind me of the goal, the prize, the reason for this life.

Probably best described as...... these 70 or 80 years we spend on earth are like singing The Star Spangled Banner at the beginning of the World Series. 

It's the warm up band...not the headliner. It's the appetizer before the Lobster appears, the training before the race. 

Mostly... we forget about the goal. It's our nature we say. We make excuses, say that it's all we know. We are only human after all.

Our nature is sinful. That is the nature that we live in and yet....

If you live in the light of Christ... if you recognize Him as Lord of your life.... if you live in relationship (not religion) with Him, then you have an option. 

The option is to look up everyday to the Lord of all, the One who gave His Son for you. Give Him your life, your day, your husband, your children... and get ready. He will use you.

The challenges will come, but you will have a relationship to sustain you. The one relationship we all need and our soul longs for... especially as our days grow short.  Then we can sing the sweet words of Vince.

 "What’s the worst thing that could happen, what’s the worst that they can do?

Threaten me with heaven, that’s all they can do. I believe it's true."

Don't forget .... Heaven IS the goal and heaven is for eternity.

I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.

Philippians 3:14

Please check this out..Rich Mullins: A Ragamuffin's Legacy Teaser Trailer 2

Be a ragamuffin.. you are the beloved of God!

A video with Brennan Manning... filmed in Wichita...
"Do not skip lightly through the text of Gods word, because its going to be a life changing experience." He loves you. Let yourself be loved by God

All is Grace by Brennan Manning

The Storms Bring The Gifts

I'm not afraid of storms, for I'm learning how to sail my ship. - Louisa May Alcott

Have you noticed it takes a good storm to bring in the biggest, loveliest shells?

On calm days, when the sea is smooth, a few gems may roll in.. longing to impress with their beauty.

When storms approach and waves roll in like coasters at a theme park..... screaming with a force that still takes my breath away, pushing the gifts that lie deep.. up, up and out into the sun. We get a glimpse of things that are mostly hidden from us. The waves push them out of the dark places... the power in all of this, surely a glimpse of God.

What we are left with is days of beautiful sea jewels..... bumping into our feet, surprising us, like unexpected gifts.

Two days I asked God to give me a gift from the sea as I walked... in quiet, but for the waves that remind me of His power.

The answer... two days lovely cowries and conch shells rolling in, as if saying, "Here, I am, just for you."

On each of those days I spotted purple rimmed spherical shells. I waited and grabbed as the surf brought them in.

Each time I was amazed at the loveliness of the gift. I also noticed it was inhabited.... It was home to a conch... life.

I tried to lure it out, one tried to muscle it's way down the beach. I tried to encourage it to move to another conch... one not as pretty.

It seemed that this fella enjoyed his pretty home and was going nowhere.

I gave up both times, lobbing them out as far as I could throw.

Without the storms I would not have witnessed the beauty, saw the life inhabited or taken a moment to breath in the salt air. The storm showed me new things, made me stop and look closer at what was around me. It showed me a bit of majesty of the God of the heavens and the earth and the sea......

Is it not the same with the storms of life? They try and ravage us and wear us down.... they come on furiously, sometimes without warning and yet He is there. He is always there and He has gifts to give us, truths to show us and bless us in ways we would never have expected.

We learn to trust Him.. daily.

When the storm passes and the sun shines on us again... we see the gifts that roll in, surprising us, touching us deeply.

Without the storms, we would miss the gifts, the beauty, the blessings. We would miss Him.

If I ride the wings of the morning, if I dwell by the farthest oceans,
even there your hand will guide me, and your strength will support me. - Psalm 139: 9-10

You Are Here

I read a blog post today by a guy who is funny, talented and a solid follower of Jesus. I met him this summer when we were both asked to spend the week with about a thousand amazing high school students. Yes, good times and lots of fun.

His life has changed in the past year. So has mine? Has yours ? Yes, I figured it may have. 

His blog post reminded me that even when life changes, throws us a curve, steps on our toes and makes us hurt..... our life's call, passion... what God created us to do in our short time here, does not change.

Thanks Ben...you can check him out at http://benjaminwoods.me/2011/10/10/be-present-part-1-living-a-great-story/

1 Corinthians 7:17

Each of you should continue to live in whatever situation the Lord has placed you, and remain as you were when God first called you. This is my rule for all the churches.

God is clear to us, to stay the course, keep our eyes fixed on the goal, and He will cover the rest. 

We will all have days where we struggle, wither from external happenings or internal battles, fighting our human desires, wishing we could die to them and yet, recognizing His strength in those moments. He is there... always.

Wherever you are today... know that God has placed you there and promises to use you for His glory. Stay faithful, not matter the cost.

Today... You are here.. Be here.

Who Let The Holy Spirit Out?

                                                         

   I have had some time lately… to look at my computer, organize my desktop, clean the keys…. Do you know how long it can take to clean up A through Z, when it’s been awhile?

My internet has not been up… can’t seem to find the code to log in … since I have been away from home.

So, I clean my keys… they feel nice now.

Problem is I do not know what to write….Life can change quickly. We blink and we are in another world.

I walked on the beach yesterday. I prayed. Prayed for peace, comfort and mostly an overflowing of the Holy Spirit.

We forget that I think.

Priscilla Shirer mentioned in her study, Discerning The Voice Of God, that the sin of this generation is the denial of the Holy Spirit.

I think she is correct.

We deny The Spirit by ignoring Him, failing to recognize what He is capable of doing for us, in us and through us….

We keep God in that little box… little, can you imagine? Who made God little?! 

I do, when I believe that He thinks like me….

So, I prayed for the Holy Spirit. To flow into me, and out of me….. to make a difference.

I wonder if you ever do this…. Do you forget the Holy Spirit?

He is real, an active part of the Trinity. 

Let Him out of the box…. And see what happens.

Praying

The grating sound of TV News that repeats itself, over and over, in case we have not heard. The humming of the oxygen machine.... the telephone, ringing, sending love and prayers through the thin line that reaches out like fingers to their world. "Have you heard, tell me how he is, what can I do?"

I look for a quiet place... I find none.

I Pray for my dad, to have comfort. 

"Lord, I ask for your healing, your mercy and grace in these moments." Thank you Lord, for always hearing when I call out to you.

Watching my mom hold his hand, sing a hymn to him, cuddle with him.

Thank you Lord for this picture of love you give me.

Praying for my mom to have comfort, peace and an iron will.

Thank you God for showing her... and me, the strength that she exudes... from You.

Feeding him ice chips and him smiling at me, reminding me that he is glad I am his daughter, and he loves me and is thankful I am there.

Thank you God for carrying us through this with your grace and mercy. 

Thank you for a brother and sister who have been here and are devoted to this family. Blessed that they call me each day and check in.... that they will return in a few days.

I am helpless and yet necessary. To walk with, stand by, hold up when the path gets shaky.

I look out to the beach and all its beauty and look within to the pain of loss.
How do I reconcile these two pictures before my eyes?
They remind me of God's power and grace and timing.


James 4:14 says,
Whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.


Psalm 144:4 says,
⁴ Man is like a breath;
         His days are like a passing shadow. 


These scriptures are to help us keep perspective in our life. We belong to God and he has ordained our days. He is in control and will provide all that we need.
Will we trust Him when the day goes dark and the road is hidden with danger? Do we fear or fall on our face and seek Him, knowing there is no fear when we walk with the Savior.

Peace and Light in being Still

The Scottish preacher Alexander Whyte wrote;

" I give thee thanks, O Lord. Evening draws nigh: make it bright. For as day has its evening, so has life. The evening of life is old age; and old age is fast overtaking me: make it bright... Let the fast-coming close of my life be believing, acceptable, sinless, fearless: and if it pleases thee, painless. And let me out-strip the night, doing, with all my might, some good work."

The passage of time. 

How beautifully written... the life we have, the way it may go, the light we seek. 

Today, let us think on these things as we are STILL.

Be Still and Know That I Am God.

Psalm 46:10

Be

Be Still

Know

Know that you are not God.

Know that I am God.

Be Still And Know....

Yesterday I walked on the beach.

I talked with God and asked Him for guidance, comfort, peace and healing.

Today I walked on the beach and prayed for the same.

Tomorrow I will walk. I will pray.

Will I listen for His voice? Will I trust Him for all that is good and beautiful in this life? 

Will I "be still and know that He is God"?

Some days we need to be reminded of this truth. 

 "Be Still and Know That I Am God."  Psalm 46:10

The verse continues...

"I will be exalted among the nations,

   I will be exalted in the earth."

God will be exalted, but will He be exalted in my life. No matter my circumstances, the road I find myself on, the difficulties?

Will I let Him be God of all? 

Will I exalt Him?