shine

we were flipping through the channels tonight, and the movie Coach Carter was on and we saw the part with the following quote in it. it's one that i've always loved. frequently credited to nelson mandela, it's by Marianne Williamson. just a reminder, you probably affect many more people than you realize, just in your day to day life...


"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others."

interesting thought...

If men could regard the events of their own lives with more open minds, they would frequently discover that they did not really desire the things they failed to obtain.

- André Maurois

hopes

what's the word that's burning in your heart?

today

Today. Today was a difficult day. Started out difficult. Ended difficult.

In between there were good things. Good people. Laughter.

I wish I knew what else to say. I feel like I have tons of things that should be expressed, but perhaps I don’t know how? Or maybe I’ve become in the habit of not. Or maybe I just don’t want to…

When I know, perhaps there will be something here.

sums up my thoughts today...

to quote kathleen kelly (meg ryan), on you've got mail:


"Sometimes I wonder about my life. I lead a small life. Well, not small, but valuable. And sometimes I wonder, do I do it because I like it, or because I haven't been brave? So much of what I see reminds me of something I read in a book, when shouldn't it be the other way around? I don't really want an answer. I just want to send this cosmic question out into the void. So good night, dear void."

preparing for the week ahead...

Nations fall when You speak
And You have spoken over me
I am tired of giving in so easily
The way You keep on loving me
Is changing everything I see
It's a great big mystery
The fingers on my weathered bow
Are giving out and letting go
I need You now to take me in
I cannot fight alone again
Can't fight alone again

(great big mystery, bethany dillon)



sometimes i'm not as strong as i seem to be. overwhelmed. scared. insecure. these are words that can at times be used to describe how i feel. just needed to share that.

God, however, is never these things, and He has saved me from them, and myself.

freedom

Amazing grace
How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me
I once was lost, but now I'm found
Was blind, but now I see

'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear
And grace my fears relieved
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed

My chains are gone
I've been set free
My God, my Savior has ransomed me
And like a flood His mercy reigns
Unending love, Amazing grace

The Lord has promised good to me
His word my hope secures
He will my shield and portion be
As long as life endures

My chains are gone
I've been set free
My God, my Savior has ransomed me
And like a flood His mercy reigns
Unending love, Amazing grace

My chains are gone
I've been set free
My God, my Savior has ransomed me
And like a flood His mercy reigns
Unending love, Amazing grace

The earth shall soon dissolve like snow
The sun forbear to shine
But God, Who called me here below
Will be forever mine
Will be forever mine

You are forever mine


Amazing Grace (my chains are gone) by: Chris Tomlin

life.

every man's life ends the same way. it is only the details of how he lived and how he died that distinguish one man from another.
---ernest hemingway

light. hope. life.

Pennsylvania, family, pumpkins...

Well, we got back from Pennsylvania on Friday night. It wound up being a pretty great week. Not only was it nice to get away for a little while, but it was wonderful to see my family. I hadn't been back to Sunbury (Dad's side) since November 2005, for Mom-mom's funeral, and I hadn't seen my Mom's side of the family in 2 1/2 years.

Monday was Pop-pop's 90th birthday, so we had a party for him at his church. He's wonderful, and nobody ever believes that he's 90! :) Here's us, and a couple other pictures I took that afternoon at the party.

I'll put up some pictures of the pumpkins Kevin, Kelly, and I carved in another blog. They're pretty much amazing! and I took some ok pictures of God's landscapes...maybe I'll post those, too.

Maybe this blog is going to end up being more pictures than words. And it's probably going to be more for me, than other people...you know, all those people who aren't reading it :) It works out well.

maybe, just maybe

so, another blog. interesting. we'll see how it goes...

i just was thinking that maybe if i have a place where i can focus my thoughts and share things, maybe something will start making sense. or maybe i'll just understand me better. or maybe something else. we shall see.

this picture just describes me perfectly sometimes. you'll probably see it a lot.