Water

Hey, readers, Now, this may sound a bit cheesy, or green, or earthy, or something weird, but it's not. This is a call up, a new perspective, a different way of looking at things.

I'll admit, I first heard this idea on the Disney channel, and I don't entirely agree with why they are doing what they're doing, but I do agree with the what, and I think that we Christian, Kingdom people can do something. Disney channel suggested that we focus on conserving water, just a drop at a time. They mentioned turning off the faucet while brushing our teeth or washing the dishes. Just by turning off the faucet for a few seconds will eventually add up to thousands of gallons of water saved.

Now I don't want to judge or condemn Disney by saying that they're doing something wrong, or their motives are all messed up, because I don't know that they are. And the thing is, they are doing something.

So I would like to challenge you, my readers, to save some water. But not for the express purpose of "saving the planet." Here's the thing: we own the planet! We were told to take dominion over it {check out the first few chapters of Genesis!}, but we are also told to steward it. I have to check myself sometimes, because I get so anti-tree-hugger that I think, augh! I'll just go use whatever I want, because it's mine anyway!

But that's not true. God has called us to rule and subdue, yes, and also to steward. That means multiply, and add to, not waste just because we've been given possession of it. I hope that this challenges you, readers, and gets you thinking about how you can be a better steward of the earth, not because the earth is fabulous {although I think it is}, but because God has given it to us to steward and take care of, and saving water when we brush our teeth is one way we can do that.

So I've been applying to a bunch of colleges this Christmas season, and I'm praying that God will lead me to just the right school...but I haven't been trusting Him to do so. I keep wanting Him to do things in my timing, my way, but that's not how God operates. He has perfect timing, not me, so I have to wait and rest in Him. He has the perfect school all picked out, with testimonies ready to abound as I apply and get in...I just don't know where it is yet!

My mom told me the other night that I have to worship my way through this. Yes, I can pray, but I can have a sucky attitude while I pray, so that doesn't really work. But it is impossible to have a bad attitude and remain mad at God while you worship Him. It can't be done. Try it, I dare you. Your attitude, your problems, your anger and frustration and desire to strangle some necks will all diminish as His Presence invades your heart and mind.

So that's where I'm at, readers. I'm choosing to worship as I trust and rest in Him. God SO has the better plan than me, so I just have to praise Him for that and keep believing Him.

Disciples

When Jesus called out to His first disciples, before they even knew what they were getting into, what made them come? Was it that Jesus knew their names?

Did the term "fishers of men" ring true in their spirits? Was it the "ordinary man" thing, that because they were working with their dads, it meant that they had been rejected by other rabbis?

But what would make them walk away from all things familiar, right away? Was it such a deep hunger for something that they had to go, even though they had no idea what that something was? Did they ever think back to the first day: gosh, look at where I'd be if I had ignored Jesus. I can't believe that this was the awesome plan God had for me...this is why all that stuff happened to me as a kid- it was preparing me for this!!!

Deafness

I've been thinking a lot about deafness again, and the main concept I keep coming back to is what do we as the hearing world know about not hearing? Think of all the things that make noise. Typing on this computers. Clothes rustling as my arms move. The bed creaking when you lie down. Shoes walking down a hallway. Doors opening and closing. Chairs and couches sighing as you seat yourself. Curtains humming as you pull them open or shut. Swallowing.

All these things and more make noise that we hearing people take for granted. In the book Deaf in America, the point is made that when a fork falls off the table, a hearing person would pick it up because they heard the fork fall. A deaf person would pick it up because they could no longer see it on the table. The deaf don't associate a noise with the action. What are your thoughts, readers?

Scars

"Scars remind us where we've been...they don't determine where we go." "You can't change where you've been, but you can choose who you'll become." I've been contemplating past and present recently. How much of our past determines our future?

What have we done in the past that needs to change so that our future can be better? Is the hope of the future worth the pain of the present as we work to change the results of the past? I can make a better future, and it will be worth the pain of the present as I work to overcome my past. You can, too.

On my dresser, next to my mirror, I keep a vase with dried roses. There are some that are rubber-banded together because they came like that, and there are some that are individual roses. I have kept them because they each represent a special time, and because they are beautiful.

What is in us that desires beauty? Why do we yearn for something pretty? How come some things are not right until they have that "special something" that completely transforms that common item? I think it is the Lord's DNA in us. God is beautiful; He made [and makes!] beautiful things, and He has placed in us, His creation, the desire to create beauty also. We can't create something of His caliber, but with what He has given us, we do pretty well!

Because we are made like Him, we desire to see things that remind us of Him. Even when we're not conscious of it, our spirits desire beauty. The roses on my dresser reflect Father's heart. They are beautiful. This is why I keep them.

Beautiful

I don't remember if I've mentioned this before, but in case I haven't, YOU, my dear readers, need to see the movie Bella. It is the most incredible story I've ever seen, and my favorite part is that most of the movie takes place in one day, with some flash-backs and -forwards.
Here is the link to one of the best songs of the movie, and this is also the information about some other great songs. Unfortunately, Bella does not have a soundtrack put together, although I've heard that the producers are working on it.

But for right now, here are my favorite songs.

Joey Ryan ~ Light On

Rosemary Clooney ~ Sway

Rachael Yamagata ~ Meet Me by the Water

Enjoy!

P.S. Here is the link to one of the movie trailers...GO SEE IT!!!

Torn

I've been contemplating a lot recently on God's view of deafness. For those of you who don't know me, or just didn't know this about me, I have been studying American Sign Language for about a year and a half at my college. These classes fulfill both my foreign language requirements and my cultural diversity requirement, because in the classes, students are taught about the Deaf culture as well as the language of the Deaf.

First of all, I must say that the Deaf culture has one view of deafness, and then there is another view that the Deaf dismiss. The first is the cultural Deafness, and this is where the capital D comes in: when someone is culturally Deaf, it means that they cannot hear and they are proud of their deafness {the physical non-ability to hear}, their sign language, and their culture.

The other perspective of deafness is the medical perspective, that there is something wrong with the ear or the nerves around the ear, and that something should be done in order to fix the individual's hearing so they can be normal. As you can see, the Deaf culture dismisses this medical view of deafness as an insult to the core of who they view themselves as! How offensive for someone to tell you that there is something WRONG with you, that you need to be FIXED!

My struggle as of late has been finding the Lord's perspective. I'm trying to leave the culture and the feelings and all the individuals' personal preferences out of this, and just hear Him. But at the same time, He loves all those individuals and made them perfectly how they are. What is "normal" anyhow? Who decides what normal is? Are we too insecure with ourselves that we feel so threatened when someone else is comfortable with their differences? Why does everything have to be uniform and the same? As you can see, I don't have all the answers. I haven't heard a voice from above saying that this way or that way is right. I don't know what His perspective is on deafness. All I know right now is that I need to keep seeking Him and His heart, and as I get closer to that, revelation will follow. If you have any thoughts, ideas, or resources, please post them below! Thanks.