I just discovered two blog postings that were just sitting there as drafts, never having been shared. 'The simple things' as well as my thoughts on Jackie Pullinger are postings from my time in Kona, HI 2011.

The Simple things

I love to be challenged in how I see the world....to not be separated from the Truth, to walk humbly and pursue a love for justice. I believe God has had much mercy on my life and today I discovered a huge gift of communion presented to me. There are a few words that root from a well known late Middle English word: Common. Communion, Community, and Communication which I discovered were very integral to my day and caused me to stop and ponder often....I saw a thread that tied them all together...in Common! What does it mean to partake in Communion? To share intimate thoughts on a mental, emotional or spiritual level is what the dictionary says. I think there is a grace that is needed to enter into this exchange which transcends one's own agenda, and calls for one to lay down and become humble. This is not an easy process if your mind is flying all of the time with ideas, imaginations, quandaries, to just pause and listen to someone else's world. You did that for me today and for this I am grateful.

Reflections on Miss Jackie Pullinger who graced us here with her presence this past week. She spoke at the community meeting and everyone pretty much got rocked by her beautiful simplicity of faith.

The time of singing was anointed and primed by an invitation for the children to come and be part of what was happening. They later were invited to come and lay their hands on the sick that they may be healed. She said that God reveals himself through his people and he always has a word for us, so we must expect this because he is a communicating God. We must ask, seek, knock.

Hebrews 1:3 says that Jesus is the exact representation of God.
She said that she is so astounded by how people responded to Jesus in the Bible with desperation and a knowing that he had exactly what they needed. The examples were the man who said, 'Jesus, son of David, have mercy on me!' The woman who came and said, 'if only I could touch him...' The ten lepers who were healed and the last one who came back to him with a heart of thanks.

Ephesians 1:17 says that we would 'know' him...this is 'Yada,' which means to know someone in the most intimate way. He knows everything about us and yet he still loves us. She then told a story about her dialogue with God, beginning by calling him father. She then hears him speak to her how beautiful she is. She goes back and forth with him about how she wants to talk about work and he just tells her over and over how beautiful she is. She said that God is 'OTT'=over the top about how beautiful she is.

2 Corinthians 3 is talking about the veil being taken away. The wonder of his glory is to be revealed through you and me; we are but earthen vessels (2 Cor. 4:7). We are not on earth to get more holy but to tell others about what we know of him.

Then she spoke about Kindness!!!!!! She said that kindness gives us permission to do miracles. This is an amazing thing when we interact with others in simple kindness.

Hearing the stories of the miraculous things that God can do when we just are kind and believe him to work when she was a missionary in China was amazing. I was inspired to

My Cup Overflows

Life bursting through  Blueberry picking with Miss Ellen Elizabeth and Sarah Joy.  This time of SJ's visit was a time to drink deeply of the blessing our friendship has brought both of us...and then we were delightfully surprised to also get to spend time with Ellen too! 

 New Season  

Mr. Billy finally has made his move to Washington....and I am happy!  We spent a whole day this past week with my nephews picking peaches, flowers, berries, and then creating delicious things to eat with them...all except for the flowers, which he arranged in a aesthetic way.  This relationship has been unfolding for about six months now long-distance style, so will now be able to relate on the same time zone more consistently, which we are both excited about.

 

Kid's Town

 Ever since the month of June I have been volunteering with the kiddos at Bethany Community Church, where I call home. At the beginning I purposed to ask the leaders to plug me in where I was needed until recently because of my heart-felt prompting to work more intentionally with the 2-3rd grade girls.  Every month I teach the kids a new virtue, which also has a scripture verse to assist them in the renewal of their minds.  This month is 'Contentment' and the passage is from Philippians 4:11-12.  Today we created sign language movements to assist in the memorization of this important verse.  They wrote on a note card something that they are worried about and at the end of our time together proclaimed that they need not worry about tomorrow because God is trustworthy.  The note cards turned into a crumpled ball to be thrown into the trash with purpose!

Merry Hearts

I continue to work with this lovely family as their full time nanny.  This next fall I will work for them part time, but am looking forward to being a part of their world still.  These two kiddos are a huge blessing in my life! Between school, gymnastics, and music class, these kids keep me on my toes.

 

Beautiful relationships

This photo was taken by Sarah Joy at Carrie's good friend Kjersti's wedding. My mother, Ellen, and myself were taking a little cookie and coffee refreshment time next to the country bears....which apparently Ellen really loves!  These two ladies have been a part of the journey of my life for many years (ha! my mother definitely has!) and they continue to be so!

Transitions

You know what it feels like to have a vision of somewhere you'd like to be or something you'd like to do...or even someone who you'd like to become and it just hasn't happened yet? Well lately I have been processing this very thing. I think about how much really lack the gift of gratitude for all that has been done! This new year has brought me some still moments of reflection upon what has been, what is, and where where I am going next. So many questions don't seem to bewilder me anymore and I am becoming grateful for them because there is a challenge and mystery there.

My time of living in Hawaii was good. I reflect on the original purpose that God had for me to finish what I have started: the School of Biblical Studies.... It is so good to trust that he knows what he is doing, even when we don't understand why. He brought me back there and I believe it was to do something foundational in my life. I have the space to dream again and am much more grounded in the Word. Psalm 97:1 says 'The Lord is king! Let the earth rejoice; let the any coast-lands be glad!' He is the King over all and reigns over the events that happen in my life. As I was in Hawaii there were many times of discovering how this is true. The coast-lands are glad because he is the King! Even when I don't worship him...all creation does. He waits and longs for this. There is something like a regrouping, regathering, reconquering, reestablishing that has happened in me since in Hawaii and I am thankful. There is no longer looking back but looking forward in hope.

I have moved back to the NW and took a job as a full time nanny...which I love! The are are two little ones: the girl is six and the boy is three. They are such a delight. I live with two lovely ladies who love the Lord and enjoy a good time too. I am feeling quite blessed and know that whatever I have in my life comes from the Lord, the enjoyable and the not enjoyable, but at this point, I am wanting to just say 'Thanks' in all things...while keeping HOPE in my heart strong.

The Gomes'-stead Saga

About a week before I left Longview to come to Kona, some dear friends of mine asked if I wouldn't mind meeting some of their friends who live in the north part of Hawaii. I was fascinated with these friends of theirs how they live off of the land, using the water from the mauka, and utilizing solar panel energy for their home, growing all sorts of fruits one could ever imagine, and most outstanding is the kindness that they possess. The kindness of this couple: Mike and June Gomes has touched my heart, as well as the many friends I have had the privileged of sharing them with! The things that I have learned from chatting with them while hiking along one of the most beautiful pieces of land I have ever seen has been wisdom, endurance, patience, gentleness, and most of all: love. Included in this blog are a few of my favorite pictures from our times with them, including a list of things to remember when visiting! (as I had forgotten some and felt compelled to compile a list for those who go after me). Maybe someday you will have the honor of getting to know my friends too! Enjoy.

Merry Christmas in Hawaii

Merry Christmas!!!!!!

This year I baked the very special bread my mother has made for years every Christmas morning and today brought it to a dinner with friends. Mmmmmm. Delicious.

Celebrating this season with joy!