Balance

To me life has so much to do with balance.  A balance between living in the world, but not of the world.  A balance between giving the flesh what it needs, but not whatever it pleases.  A balance between hating sin, yet loving the sinner.  A balance between having admiration versus harboring feelings of coveting.  

Right now I feel as if I am living life a bit imbalanced...there's not enough of the Spirit ruling within me.  I am sure that a little talk with Jesus will make it right, but what about when you don't want to have a talk with Jesus because you know HIS way of making it right will come at a cost to you?  More specifically, a cost to my comfort.  Then I suppose there is another form of balance, accepting what you can get and realizing that you can't always get what you want.  

So, I have a choice to make: Live life imbalanced, or in harmony with the will of God?

And So It Seems...

that I'm always in a reflective mood,

wondering how trees give us air

and how the tide is pulled by the moon

And I believe that most things begin genuinely,

but end up corrupted like

marriage, human creation, and police stations

At least so it seems...

that we always find ways to fill our time

except we don't have any hours

to honor the Divine

And so it seems that life is full of perplexities

and we try and make the best guess

of what the answers could be

And so it seems that crap always hits you

when your're down

And it seems that we embelish to make things better,

but why can't we be satisfied with the way things are?

And it seems that you haven't achieved anything

unless someone envies who you are,

but you don't need to be on a cover to be a star

Go on, and live by your heart

And please God

It seems it's hard to get people

to think like you do

because everyone believes they possess some truth

It seems we all live a life filled with contradictions

instead of our reality we yearn for fiction

for another life

for another place

At least, that's how it seems to me.

Remorse

You can never really be sure that a person is sorry.

Actions are precipitated by motivations

and we can never judge true motivations

until we enter hindsight.

When you are hurt,

it is the hardest thing to extend forgiveness

without knowing whether that person is really sorry

It is truly righteous to give mercy in the midst of

uncertainty and pain.

You may never know, but you give it anyhow

Just as it is always given to us from Above

I Gotta Be Me

My only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me---the task of testifying to the Good News of God's grace. (Acts 20:24, NIV)

"You' re the only person in the world who can live your life.  No one else can live your life for you, and no one else is in competition with you to complete the task Jesus gave you.  Take a deep breath, and rest in the truth that God created you with such a unique mix of spiritual gifts, passions, abilities, personality, and experiences that only you can be you.  No one else can duplicate you, and you cannot, should not, imitate another, you are an original masterpiece from the Master's hand."

---Jon Walker

Lip Service

When someone asks you to pray for them, do you really do it?  When you hear about a situation that needs prayer, how do you respond?  Lately I've received a lot of prayer requests, they're usually phrased like "Just keep us in your prayers" or "Pray for my family".  I realize that until recently I would assure the individual that I would meet their request, only to walk away and not really think about the request anymore.  It's not that I was being fake, but rather I wasn't taking the opportunity to pray in the moment.  God is good about giving us opportunities for growth. In light of my family's recent tragedy I have been urged to pray more and more.  In fact, during an interview yesterday I spoke with a fellow interview candidate and as I listened to her tell me about her family's economic struggles and her own disability I found myself praying in my heart "Lord, please bless her with this job.  She really needs it".  I'm sitting here praying for my competition without a second thought!  Later, while driving home from the interview I heard a prayer request on the radio for a family whose baby is undergoing surgery and as I drove I instantly began praying in my heart and mind for the entire surgery to be a success and for his family to remain hopeful during this time.  I've realized that I do not want my agreement to pray for someone to simply result in lip service, just saying "Yes, I will pray", and then forgotten when I pray at night.  Instead I will pray in the moment.

Gone, But Never Forgotten

There is something about the pain of loss that leaves me speechless.  I do not handle grief very well.  When grieving situations occur I am distant.  What can I say? What can I do that will change this sorrowful circumstance?  I wish I had magic words that could cure loss. I wish my presence was enough to ease pain, but it's not.  There is only one Comforter, and I am inadequate to shoulder pain compared to Him.  

"And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to His eternal glory in Christ Jesus, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you." --1 Peter 5:10

Rest peacefully Mr. Donald

March 9, 1992-August 5, 2012

Keep it Simple

                                              

 I hate complicated stuff.  The easier the better.  Don’t get me wrong I welcome a challenge—but there’s a big difference between a challenge and unnecessary complexities.  Oh how I’ve endured my share of both (how do you think I learned the difference? ). 

I consider a challenge a situation that puts your skill and will to the test, yet leaves you with a sense of achievement.  I consider unnecessary complexities as things designed to confuse and obstruct progress, leaving you with a sense of “Aaargh!” (think navigating through the Facebook timeline.  boo.)

You know who knew how to keep it simple?  Jesus, that’s who! 

Remember when He turned water into wine?  Remember when He said, “Hey everybody, look what I can do!”  Yeah, neither do I because Jesus did not make a big show out of replenishing the wine.  His directions to the servants were quite simple:

“Jesus said to the servants, ‘Fill the jars with water’;  so they filled them to the brim.  Then he told them, ‘Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet.’  They did so...” ---John 2:7-8

Hmm… simple instructions and immediate obedience.  The Scriptures do not record the servants as grumbling or asking questions.  This is a good example of faith and obedience.  In addition, Jesus was discreet in performing this miraculous act.  Scriptures state that the master of the banquet tasted the wine and “did not realize where it had come from” (vs. 10).  You know, there are times when He moves in our lives and we don’t even know He’s been at work until it is done.

From simple instructions and immediate obedience major blessings took place:

-         The water was turned into wine and replenished for the wedding

-     When the disciples saw the miracle they believed (“…He thus revealed his glory, and his disciples put their faith in him."—John 2:11)

What directions has God spoken to your heart?  Whether they are simple or not, BE obedient. Learn the lesson. Experience the blessing.

Lord~  when you give directions may I follow immediately, without complaint, without question. 

1 John 4:18

I asked the Lord, “What’s bothering me?”

He said Fear

Of  what? I wondered

Everything!  He responded

Afraid to obey my commands

Afraid of what other people think

Afraid of the future you think you will have

I insist that I want to live a life passionate for the ways of Christ

He calls me to surrender

You grow afraid when your will and my will do not match

Let it go Patrice,

Wholly give yourself to Me

You are worried and upset about many things,

But only one thing is necessary

Wholly give yourself

Let go of the fear

Fear of what other people think… how they might criticize or assume… fear of doing My will…fear of a life unknown

After all this time I should know that He always works for my good, not to punish me.  What is there to dread?  Sometimes I don’t know what I’m afraid of—a good life? A better life? Because that is all God has in store for me. :)

“There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear.  For fear has to do with punishment and whoever fears has not been perfected in Love”

--1 John 4:18

So, Here Goes...

 

My very first blog post!

I see a blank document before me, waiting for a stream of letters to form the words that will bring you into my world of thoughts.

Will anyone read this? (I hope.)

Will I have anything interesting to share? (I think so.)

I'll be honest, this screen where I type my messages to you doesn't look anything like I thought it would...but it is user friendly (mommy like!).

I won't get too deep tonight but trust me, the forthcoming posts will live up to this blog's namesake!

Blessings,

Patrice