That quote above, I have heard a few times lately. The way you perceive things, is mostly what will seem real to you. I must say that I am guilty of it, and very often it becomes reality. Though somethings in life are not as we perceive them. For example:
When I went to New Zealand, I would gaze at magazine covers, and gaze away. Not knowing who is on the cover, and since I don't know them, I don't really have a pull to buy it. Then again the women behind me, grabs a magazine and has her eyes glued to every page, as if that she knows that person very well. Perception. To her she can relate to it, cause she knows that face. I on the other hand, don't relate at all. So how can something seem important to one person, and unimportant to another. Perception.
To that lady with the magazine, she feels like that person is famous, and in her reality, she is important. It makes sense. to her.
Sometimes our eyes can show us something, and we take it as reality, though there may be two sides to the coin. Well actually most likely...there is. When that moment comes in life, when someone tells you what you perceive as real, isn't at all. First reaction: angry and wanting to prove my perception is true. (There are of course things in life, like Jesus that regardless of your perception, He is real). If that lady that was sucked into the magazine, were to turn to me, and say something like, " Isn't that shocking? Can you believe that she got a nose job?" I would kinda be like, " um... I guess, but I never saw her nose before, so I can't see much difference". I could see that lady being a bit fluster, that I interrupted her reality, with a little bit of mine.
I sometimes get lost in my own ideas, and imagine them to be real. Then today, I had a break through moment. Things look different from different views. How can you tell which one is correct? ( Of course using the answer key : Jesus and His Mighty True Word).
I sat on the couch as my mom chatted away on the phone, and I gazed out the window at a little bird. It was balancing on the top of a tree, on a tiny branch. My first thought, " How does that bird not fall over, how does he stay balanced"? Then I kept watching, hoping he would take off in flight, and I could see him do it...he didn't move...at all. In my boredom I was staring at him, and closed one eye. Then I closed the other eye, and took turns looking at the bird, one eye at a time. It was as if the bird was moving from the left, to right. I close my right eye, and he moved left, I close my left eye, and he moved right.
That was it. Unless I look through both eyes, I would have a wrong picture of reality. I would think the bird is on the left, then the right. Though with both eyes open I can clearly see, he is in the middle. I also closed both my eyes for the fun of it, and had no idea where the bird went. ha.
Its important to keep your eyes open, both of them. To get a CLEAR view of the TRUTH. We sometimes close one eye, and think something is one way, when really it isn't. We must be willing to let go of our perception of reality, and lay hold of Gods. When we start to look through both eyes at God, He will show us what is real, and true.
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
::::::Dream up Reality:::::
So my evening looked like this:
I traveled way down Powers, visited a total of 3 blockbusters, and ended my exploration with a drive thru frozen custard from Culvers. The flavor of the day was cookies and cream. One scoop did me good. I was on a movie hunt for The First Daughter. Its old school, but I was in the mood for a good old walk down memory lane.
I popped my movie in, got a blanket, and found a cozy spot on the couch. The next hour and a half, was spent with me, completely trapped into another hopeless romantic film. Now I don't know about you, but as for me, I walk out of a good movie, and still feel like I'm the main character, carrying out the rest of the movie in my normal life. It takes some time for it to finally wear off.
I wish I knew what part of me that does that, so I could turn on the " I'm just watching a movie, and it's not real life, so when it's over, you can return to your daily tasks". I have yet to find that button. It might be the actress in me, or just my wildly vivid imagination. My imagination tends to write stories all day long, as I talk with people, and just listen.
This is not to say I am a writer by any means. If the stories in my head were to be put into words on a page, it wouldn't seem as wonderful as it does to me hidden away. I once told my sister, "It is much better to imagine up someone, then encountering the real 'someone' ". We happened to agree on that point.
When I lived in Wellington, New Zealand, many times I would take myself on walks, to just think and watch people. At times I would spot a lovely looking fellow just passing by, going who knows where. Then for the next few moments I come up with a wonderful romantic love story to go along with him. Though I realize what I came come up with in my mind, could truly be more fantastic, then if he were to: stop, turn around, come back, and say " Well hello there...". I would then have to interrupt my imagination, and fix up a few of the details I thought were fitting. Example: He says " Well hello there..". So #1, in my imagination I pictured him saying, " I had to turn back around to see you once more...", and #2 he had bad breath. Then I now have to go back into my mind, and redo the gliches and apply reality to it. Never as fun as making up a whole story, that may just be a story.
Imagination is a complete gift from God. He wants us to use it in great ways. He wants us to see things that haven't ever been see, and imagine up things we can accomplish. I believe that part of us, is a BIG part of Him. Its a way of Him giving us a picture of impossible things, that are possible to happen with Him. Not just imaginations of stories of handsome men, or distance ships, but stories of hope and destiny.
I have pictures on the inside of me that I know God gave me, things He has planned out for me to do, & He can't wait to lead me into them. I need to begin to think on those things, and believe unlike my walking day dreams, that these stories I imagine of will soon become reality.
Never quit believing that the pictures God has given you are possiable of becoming REAL. With God NOTHING is impossiable. nothing.
P.S. I don't want to put a P.S. in, (but) I know if Paul ( the disciple in the bible) were writing, he would include:::::: Use wisdom, and discernment. Not every picture that we get in our hearts is from God. Just like a relationship, if you spend time with the person, you will know what they what was from them, and what wasn't from them. OR if they would say this, or say that. That is how you know if an idea is from God or not. When you are in relationship with Him, and listening to His voice, you will know if it lines up with His word, or just with yours.
Enjoy dreaming up reality!
I traveled way down Powers, visited a total of 3 blockbusters, and ended my exploration with a drive thru frozen custard from Culvers. The flavor of the day was cookies and cream. One scoop did me good. I was on a movie hunt for The First Daughter. Its old school, but I was in the mood for a good old walk down memory lane.
I popped my movie in, got a blanket, and found a cozy spot on the couch. The next hour and a half, was spent with me, completely trapped into another hopeless romantic film. Now I don't know about you, but as for me, I walk out of a good movie, and still feel like I'm the main character, carrying out the rest of the movie in my normal life. It takes some time for it to finally wear off.
I wish I knew what part of me that does that, so I could turn on the " I'm just watching a movie, and it's not real life, so when it's over, you can return to your daily tasks". I have yet to find that button. It might be the actress in me, or just my wildly vivid imagination. My imagination tends to write stories all day long, as I talk with people, and just listen.
This is not to say I am a writer by any means. If the stories in my head were to be put into words on a page, it wouldn't seem as wonderful as it does to me hidden away. I once told my sister, "It is much better to imagine up someone, then encountering the real 'someone' ". We happened to agree on that point.
When I lived in Wellington, New Zealand, many times I would take myself on walks, to just think and watch people. At times I would spot a lovely looking fellow just passing by, going who knows where. Then for the next few moments I come up with a wonderful romantic love story to go along with him. Though I realize what I came come up with in my mind, could truly be more fantastic, then if he were to: stop, turn around, come back, and say " Well hello there...". I would then have to interrupt my imagination, and fix up a few of the details I thought were fitting. Example: He says " Well hello there..". So #1, in my imagination I pictured him saying, " I had to turn back around to see you once more...", and #2 he had bad breath. Then I now have to go back into my mind, and redo the gliches and apply reality to it. Never as fun as making up a whole story, that may just be a story.
Imagination is a complete gift from God. He wants us to use it in great ways. He wants us to see things that haven't ever been see, and imagine up things we can accomplish. I believe that part of us, is a BIG part of Him. Its a way of Him giving us a picture of impossible things, that are possible to happen with Him. Not just imaginations of stories of handsome men, or distance ships, but stories of hope and destiny.
I have pictures on the inside of me that I know God gave me, things He has planned out for me to do, & He can't wait to lead me into them. I need to begin to think on those things, and believe unlike my walking day dreams, that these stories I imagine of will soon become reality.
Never quit believing that the pictures God has given you are possiable of becoming REAL. With God NOTHING is impossiable. nothing.
P.S. I don't want to put a P.S. in, (but) I know if Paul ( the disciple in the bible) were writing, he would include:::::: Use wisdom, and discernment. Not every picture that we get in our hearts is from God. Just like a relationship, if you spend time with the person, you will know what they what was from them, and what wasn't from them. OR if they would say this, or say that. That is how you know if an idea is from God or not. When you are in relationship with Him, and listening to His voice, you will know if it lines up with His word, or just with yours.
Enjoy dreaming up reality!
Saturday, February 12, 2011
Roots...
January 25th, my car straight out died on me. I barely got it back to my house, my dad has to follow me home from blockbuster. It was sluggish, and the check engine light was on. Maybe a few days before that, I had went to get my car checked, cause it was acting weird for a while. I know my car ( cam cam ) pretty well, and I could tell she wasn't being herself. The people at auto zone said I just have a a little problem, and it can be fixed easy. So Eric ( my super step dad) fixed her up.
Though she was fixed, there was more problems, that we couldn't "see". Then on that Tuesday night, my car wouldn't work anymore. It could barely run, and sometimes wouldn't start. So the next day I took it to a car place to have them see if they could figure out what was happening. The guy said it would cost a lot of money, and take a lot of time. He would have to take all these parts out to find the "root" of what was happening. He couldn't figure it out.
Instead of paying him, I took my cam cam home, again...and asked Eric to take a look at it whenever he could. So since then it sat for a long time, and Eric would look at it, and drive it from time to time. Finally he got a few different parts, and started to try replacing different things. Its like working with something you have no idea what may be causing the problems.
Its been about 20 days, almost a month, that I have been away from my car...Its funny how I miss it, though I have still been provided with rides every time I need it. Though its just not the same.
Tonight Eric tried putting another part in, and the check engine light went away and he said it was running. So I asked if I could just go drive it. "They are still some things not working", he said. As I walked to the car, I was almost a little sad, just feeling like I hadn't driven her in so long. I got in, I move my seat forward to where I could reach the peddels, and then saw the E-brake was on. I couldn't remember where the release was...funny how only after 20 days, I had already forgot where it was. I turned the light on, and found it.
It was hard to start, and didn't drive the same. Its like its moving quite slow, and it won't go as fast. I felt like I almost wanted to just get a new car, its been almost a month, and none of us can figure out what is happening with it. Not only have I got discouraged, but so has Eric. Even though the check engine light had turned off, as I drove it...it came back on.
I want to give up some days, and just go get another car. That would be easy, cost a lot, but it was be "easy". I wouldn't have to spend some much time and effort. Though as I drove I just started to realize, I have a good good car, its been wonderful, and yeah it has some problems, that I can't figure out on my own, but what it requires really...is time. Time, and belief that it will get figured out.
The thing is, there are a few little problems that popped up that got my attention, but those all came from a "root" problem. So I believe we are going to find it soon, and then my car will be back in working order.
With all that car talk, here is what God has showed me.
People are like cars. You know them well, and maybe even for a short while. Though, if they are having a hard time, or seem to be a bit off, you ( most of the time) can notice. Though there are times that you don't have a clue, and they just have a break down.
You tried to fix what has happened, or ask other peoples advice. Everyone seems to have different ideas of what what have caused the break down, though no one really knows.
You try to figure out what it may be, by asking people, or asking the person, or checking the owners manuel. Though no matter how much investational work you do, you realize it is just going to take time and belief to see the root problem get fixed.
Of course just like my car, there are times you want to just go and get another car. Or in the people department, another person. You think, I can't figure this out, or figure out how to help you, so I'm going to just step away. Its not a bad thing, its more of what you believe for. If you are believing that you have a good car, that works great, but is just going to need some fixes. Or you think its old, and obvisiously not working, why spend so much time with this, and instead go get one you know is working fine.
With people: you think its been frusterating, or hard to figure out how to fix whats going on. You at times wonder if its worth your time and effort, if its actually making a difference. Then thats when you deciede if you believe that this person truly will recover, or you think you might as well cash your chips in, cause its "easier".
I don't say these words to condem myself, or make me feel like I can to keep my car, or keep my friends. I say it cause God even though we weren't running right, and things were going wrong...Gave us brand new life. He didn't give up, and never goes. No matter how long, or how broken down we may be. He sees that the "root" problem is that we need Him to make us BRAND NEW. Once that happens, the car ( and us) can begin to start running again. God never cashes in for a new car, or a new child, He sees us as up and running. He believes in us...
thank you God.
Though she was fixed, there was more problems, that we couldn't "see". Then on that Tuesday night, my car wouldn't work anymore. It could barely run, and sometimes wouldn't start. So the next day I took it to a car place to have them see if they could figure out what was happening. The guy said it would cost a lot of money, and take a lot of time. He would have to take all these parts out to find the "root" of what was happening. He couldn't figure it out.
Instead of paying him, I took my cam cam home, again...and asked Eric to take a look at it whenever he could. So since then it sat for a long time, and Eric would look at it, and drive it from time to time. Finally he got a few different parts, and started to try replacing different things. Its like working with something you have no idea what may be causing the problems.
Its been about 20 days, almost a month, that I have been away from my car...Its funny how I miss it, though I have still been provided with rides every time I need it. Though its just not the same.
Tonight Eric tried putting another part in, and the check engine light went away and he said it was running. So I asked if I could just go drive it. "They are still some things not working", he said. As I walked to the car, I was almost a little sad, just feeling like I hadn't driven her in so long. I got in, I move my seat forward to where I could reach the peddels, and then saw the E-brake was on. I couldn't remember where the release was...funny how only after 20 days, I had already forgot where it was. I turned the light on, and found it.
It was hard to start, and didn't drive the same. Its like its moving quite slow, and it won't go as fast. I felt like I almost wanted to just get a new car, its been almost a month, and none of us can figure out what is happening with it. Not only have I got discouraged, but so has Eric. Even though the check engine light had turned off, as I drove it...it came back on.
I want to give up some days, and just go get another car. That would be easy, cost a lot, but it was be "easy". I wouldn't have to spend some much time and effort. Though as I drove I just started to realize, I have a good good car, its been wonderful, and yeah it has some problems, that I can't figure out on my own, but what it requires really...is time. Time, and belief that it will get figured out.
The thing is, there are a few little problems that popped up that got my attention, but those all came from a "root" problem. So I believe we are going to find it soon, and then my car will be back in working order.
With all that car talk, here is what God has showed me.
People are like cars. You know them well, and maybe even for a short while. Though, if they are having a hard time, or seem to be a bit off, you ( most of the time) can notice. Though there are times that you don't have a clue, and they just have a break down.
You tried to fix what has happened, or ask other peoples advice. Everyone seems to have different ideas of what what have caused the break down, though no one really knows.
You try to figure out what it may be, by asking people, or asking the person, or checking the owners manuel. Though no matter how much investational work you do, you realize it is just going to take time and belief to see the root problem get fixed.
Of course just like my car, there are times you want to just go and get another car. Or in the people department, another person. You think, I can't figure this out, or figure out how to help you, so I'm going to just step away. Its not a bad thing, its more of what you believe for. If you are believing that you have a good car, that works great, but is just going to need some fixes. Or you think its old, and obvisiously not working, why spend so much time with this, and instead go get one you know is working fine.
With people: you think its been frusterating, or hard to figure out how to fix whats going on. You at times wonder if its worth your time and effort, if its actually making a difference. Then thats when you deciede if you believe that this person truly will recover, or you think you might as well cash your chips in, cause its "easier".
I don't say these words to condem myself, or make me feel like I can to keep my car, or keep my friends. I say it cause God even though we weren't running right, and things were going wrong...Gave us brand new life. He didn't give up, and never goes. No matter how long, or how broken down we may be. He sees that the "root" problem is that we need Him to make us BRAND NEW. Once that happens, the car ( and us) can begin to start running again. God never cashes in for a new car, or a new child, He sees us as up and running. He believes in us...
thank you God.
Sunday, February 6, 2011
Thankful
Yesterday night as I drove home, it was lightly snowing, the sky was black, but white snow clouds were blowing around. I loved looking at the sky at night, and having it look so different then usual. I began to thank God for how wonderful life is, and all the little things that I forget to notice.
One day a few weeks ago, I had enjoyed being out in the sunshine, and around 5:30pm the sun started to go down, and for the first time in my life, I was thinking, " I really am going to miss the sunshine...I don't want it to go down." As I had that thought, I was reminded by God in an instant, that the moon and stars were coming out soon. God never leaves us without light. I loved that, that even though in my heart, the sun going down was bad news, right away good news came.
That night when the moon and stars came out, I looked up and just loved the fact that you can enjoy different times and season.
So last night, as I got all thankful, God showed me more things I had not noticed were good, and happening around me. Let me start with what I would call the "bad" things, and then end with the "good" things.
A few weeks ago, my car started to act up, and I wasn't able to drive it anymore. My step dad can fix cars, but during these past few weeks, he has been busy at work on the house. So I ( patiently) waited, and got lifts from friends, and used my moms car when it was avaiable. Along with that I have felt lead to do volunteer work, instead of getting a paid job. Found out about some places I can serve in. I get so excited about working towards something, voluntaraly.Though at the same time, it puts me in the postion to TRULY trust God for increase. Also one of my friends has been going through a bit of a ordeal, and I am not quite sure where my place is in it. I find myself mostly praying, and pretending like I have all the answers.
As these things kinda come up at once, it can seem like a pile of bad. This is how my thinking has been the past couple weeks: " I don't have a car, so I have to get rides back and forth, and then I have to use my moms car at night, and then I need to pay for things, but then my heart is to serve voluntary, and I don't know how to help my friend." So, to have some time away to think and talk with God I have started running at night. I will pray outloud if no one is there, and I love that. Last night was one of those nights, I didn't "have" to go run, but I knew I should. I got into a negitative nancy mode, and needed to get out of it.
As I ran I just prayed for everthing, and just was quiet for a while to hear what God wanted to say. Didn't hear anything really..until on the way home, when I saw those winter clouds in the night sky. I got this since of thankfulness. I was driving my moms car home, and it's as if my eyes finally saw what was right in front of me. A LOAD OF GOOD that I didn't see before.
The "good" things:
-For the past 3 weeks, I have been getting FREE rides from a wonderful couple, that happen to live down the street from us. I have been to school ON TIME everyday, because they always pick me up early. Then they offer to give me rides back.
-The car my mom has, happens to be one of my favorite, an SUV Honda, and is WAY better then my Cam Cam. I have been driving around a super fantastic SUV for 3 weeks no questions asked.
-In the midst of doing Volunteer work, God has placed quite a few oppurtunities for me, and the people gaven OVER and ABOVE what I could have imagined.
-Because I haven't been driving I haven't had to pay for my cars tank..PRAISE GOD!
-My step dad happens to be a machanic and can fix anything with my car, for Free.99! ha
-Even though my friend is having a hard time, every day I have been surround with GOOD REPORTS of improvement, and surround with friends that all are standing together and believing for the VERY best.
and so on...
All of a sudden I saw how life comes ( and sometimes other "things") to pull us aside and discourage us, and say YOUR SURROUND WITH BAD, and your never getting out of this. Then God continues to speak the TRUTH to me, and surround me with the very very very best every moment. HE knows that I already have the victory, cause I am His, and He already won! My job is to beleive His report more then my own, and others.
I came home with an attitude adjustment FOR SURE. Thank God for His goodness, and for the good things He has that are surrounding me.
One day a few weeks ago, I had enjoyed being out in the sunshine, and around 5:30pm the sun started to go down, and for the first time in my life, I was thinking, " I really am going to miss the sunshine...I don't want it to go down." As I had that thought, I was reminded by God in an instant, that the moon and stars were coming out soon. God never leaves us without light. I loved that, that even though in my heart, the sun going down was bad news, right away good news came.
That night when the moon and stars came out, I looked up and just loved the fact that you can enjoy different times and season.
So last night, as I got all thankful, God showed me more things I had not noticed were good, and happening around me. Let me start with what I would call the "bad" things, and then end with the "good" things.
A few weeks ago, my car started to act up, and I wasn't able to drive it anymore. My step dad can fix cars, but during these past few weeks, he has been busy at work on the house. So I ( patiently) waited, and got lifts from friends, and used my moms car when it was avaiable. Along with that I have felt lead to do volunteer work, instead of getting a paid job. Found out about some places I can serve in. I get so excited about working towards something, voluntaraly.Though at the same time, it puts me in the postion to TRULY trust God for increase. Also one of my friends has been going through a bit of a ordeal, and I am not quite sure where my place is in it. I find myself mostly praying, and pretending like I have all the answers.
As these things kinda come up at once, it can seem like a pile of bad. This is how my thinking has been the past couple weeks: " I don't have a car, so I have to get rides back and forth, and then I have to use my moms car at night, and then I need to pay for things, but then my heart is to serve voluntary, and I don't know how to help my friend." So, to have some time away to think and talk with God I have started running at night. I will pray outloud if no one is there, and I love that. Last night was one of those nights, I didn't "have" to go run, but I knew I should. I got into a negitative nancy mode, and needed to get out of it.
As I ran I just prayed for everthing, and just was quiet for a while to hear what God wanted to say. Didn't hear anything really..until on the way home, when I saw those winter clouds in the night sky. I got this since of thankfulness. I was driving my moms car home, and it's as if my eyes finally saw what was right in front of me. A LOAD OF GOOD that I didn't see before.
The "good" things:
-For the past 3 weeks, I have been getting FREE rides from a wonderful couple, that happen to live down the street from us. I have been to school ON TIME everyday, because they always pick me up early. Then they offer to give me rides back.
-The car my mom has, happens to be one of my favorite, an SUV Honda, and is WAY better then my Cam Cam. I have been driving around a super fantastic SUV for 3 weeks no questions asked.
-In the midst of doing Volunteer work, God has placed quite a few oppurtunities for me, and the people gaven OVER and ABOVE what I could have imagined.
-Because I haven't been driving I haven't had to pay for my cars tank..PRAISE GOD!
-My step dad happens to be a machanic and can fix anything with my car, for Free.99! ha
-Even though my friend is having a hard time, every day I have been surround with GOOD REPORTS of improvement, and surround with friends that all are standing together and believing for the VERY best.
and so on...
All of a sudden I saw how life comes ( and sometimes other "things") to pull us aside and discourage us, and say YOUR SURROUND WITH BAD, and your never getting out of this. Then God continues to speak the TRUTH to me, and surround me with the very very very best every moment. HE knows that I already have the victory, cause I am His, and He already won! My job is to beleive His report more then my own, and others.
I came home with an attitude adjustment FOR SURE. Thank God for His goodness, and for the good things He has that are surrounding me.
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