"We make our new beginnings,

not where we used to be

or where we wish we could be,

but only where we are
and with what we have at hand."
-Lewis B. Smedes

Focusing on God

Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now,

and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen

tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever

hard things come up when the time comes.

Matthew 6:34

Henri Nouwen once wrote...

"Compassion is hard because it requires the inner disposition to go with others to the place where they are weak, vulnerable, lonely, and broken. But this is not our spontaneous response to suffering. What we desire most is to do away with suffering by fleeing from it or finding a quick fix for it. As busy, active, relevant. . . [people] we want to earn our bread by making a real contribution. This means first and foremost doing something to show that our presence makes a difference. And so we ignore our greatest gift, which is our ability to enter into solidarity with those who suffer."

"What shall we say the kingdom of God is like,

or what parable shall we use to describe it?

It is like a mustard seed,

which is the smallest seed you plant in the ground.

Yet when planted,

it grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants,

with such big branches

that the birds of the air can perch in its shade."

Mark 4:30-32

it's The Climb.

The struggles I'm facing

The chances I'm taking

Sometimes they knock me down but

No I'm not breaking

I may not know it

But these are the moments that

I'm going to remember most

Just keep going,

I gotta be strong

Just keep pushing..

Live Productively

bulletproof

he hears

he listens

he knows

i feel very invincible in this world tonight.

so un-acknowledged, so unknown.

is this what the psalmist felt?

anyone out there?

can anyone hear me?

let alone see me?

the depths of my soul longs to be understood.

the depths of my heart longs to be loved.

the depths of who i am just wants to be acknowledged.

that i am:

seen,

heard,

known,

understood

acknowledged,

and SO VERY LOVED!!!!!

God,

you see me right?

you're listening to me now?

you understand?

you know what i'm thinking

when the world goes about in its own business,

yet you take the time to stop in your tracks to take notice.

to hear out my soul

to hear my hearts cry,

listening to the words of my inner self.

you see the me within.

you know the me within.

and you love the me within,

you love me

you love me

you love me

so.

"By day the Lord directs his love,

at night his song is with me-

a prayer to the God of my life."
-Psalm 42:8

-Live Productively

knees to the earth

I'm just like everyone else

We are all hiding

Acting like I have a wealth

Of knowledge and peace

But all I've ever wanted

And what men have given their lives for

Is a God who understands my weaknesses

A God that I can love

You've done nothing but have compassion on us

So be near when I've given up, be near me