Look Up

"C'mon, c'mon, c'mon, c'mon, it's time to look up!"
-Rend Collective Experiment "Come On My Soul"
What do you see today? Do you see the dreary gray sky, the seemingly endless Seattle rain? Do you see the tasks waiting in front of you, those tasks that also feel like they will never have an end? Do you see the burden of your relationships, that person that you can't quite seem to love the way you should? Do you see the brokenness and meaninglessness of all those milling about around you?
Or today do you see Jesus?
Look up from the things that are so easy to see! See the beauty that he has hidden away for just you to find today. It only takes a seeking and an open heart to find it.
See the joy that fills the smile of that child you get to care for or meet in the grocery store. See the sadness of those around you and offer a smile or a positive word to bring light to their day. See how the rain makes the roads glisten, and thank Him for the life it brings.
We are made to bring beauty and worship our King. Always.
So let's look up today.

January is national human trafficking awareness month. Ask God how you can join the fight. Lives and hearts are at stake.
http://vimeo.com/57094581

Crochet for Freedom

Hello everyone,
For anyone who reads my blog I just wanted to let you know of an opportunity I have to help out a friend I met on my missions trip to Thailand last year. This young lady has come out of the life of working in the bars and after radically encountering the love of Jesus and giving her life to him started her own business crocheting things. We got to meet her last March and hear part of her story.
She is very talented at what she does. I have seen many of her items close up and they are beautiful and wonderful quality. She sells these items to help free other girls in Thailand from the line of work she used to be in, and even has been able to employ a few girls in her own business. Her heart is amazing, and it's incredible to see how God has turned her life around and is now using her in such a great way to help other girls that were in her similar situation. Such a picture of redemption!
I have recently offered, per her request for some assistance, to help her sell some of her beautiful crocheted items that she will be sending me. I wanted to get the word out there now for anyone who might be interested in purchasing something to support this amazing young lady and this cause to get Thai girls out of the sex industry. She told me she will send baby booties and hats. As soon as I receive them, I will mention more about prices and hopefully post pictures.
I'd love to hear from you if you are interested at all or know of someone who is! You can leave a comment on here or find me on facebook, or of course contact my cell if you have my number already. Thank you so much; I can't think of a better cause to support!

The Character and Personable Nature of Jesus

Though it may not always seem or feel like it, Jesus is very present in our lives today. It is different than in the first century when he walked the Earth in that we cannot physically see him like those current day people could.But he is here, still, fully God and fully man, with an unrelenting desire to be active and intimate with our daily realities. After he ascended back to Heaven, Jesus promised the gift of his Holy Spirit. This Spirit is, in essence, him. Jesus. God with us. The one who knows what it is like to be human and to struggle along while living in this world.
Because he did struggle. And yet he lived in such a way that the pain was always worth it. Something greater always came out of it, because of his willingness to allow Father to be in control, to allow his love to come through the brokenness.
So many people suffer through life in a state of confusion and loneliness, questioning even God's own character as to why he would allow such hardship. It doesn't make sense. He's a God of love and peace, right.
Right.
And he showed us the right way to live through our hardships. Love abandonly, even at personal cost. Relate to others with a soft heart, celebrate with those who rejoice, and weep with those who mourn. Obey your Father in Heaven.
The fact that so many of us seem to either miss or forget is that Jesus, or God, understands. He was here, still is here. He's fighting for our freedom today. He won't take away the hard things just so we can have an easy life. Is that really love?
We must rest in knowing and believing that God's plan is the best, that he can see the end from the beginning. We must not question his character. He's living this life with us.
What can we see when we look into the eyes of Jesus? What did the people see who had the opportunity to look at him in person? I like how this book, The God Portal, by Tim Ferguson describes it:
"“So tell me, what should I expect when I meet him?” “When you meet him,” Zabud said, “You’ll remember his eyes…” He paused, searching for the right words. With a look of concentration, he started afresh. “Lawrence, when you meet a man, even one who is a dear friend, rarely are his eyes pure. If you look deeply enough you can see shades of darkness, such as mistrust. Sometimes you see fear. Or you see his cruelty. Or you see his pride, the way his eyes measure you, cutting you into small pieces. Do you understand what I’m saying?” “Yes,” Dr. Macklin said. Zabud smiled, his features softening...
“What did you see?” “I don’t have the words…” His voice trailed off, and he became quiet. “In his eyes,” Zabud said finally, “You will see the love of a brother. You will say to yourself, ‘I can trust this man, for he loves me like a brother.’”
https://kindle.amazon.com/post/SMF75cTKQiqdjF_gPAz_cw
When we look into the eyes of Jesus, we can see eyes that do not judge, that are completely pure and true, and know that we are loved by this man. By this God.
How can we bring into question one who has so clearly demonstrated his love for us, who so clearly desires for us to know his love, and went all the way to the cross to prove it, like we needed proof!
God's character, Jesus' character, can only be good.
What an amazing reality this is for us. Let him be intimately involved in your life today, knowing that he understands you and your life more than anyone ever will.

The Lover

This is from a personal encounter I had with Jesus the other morning. These are the images he showed me. I believe encounters like this are meant to be shared, so I pray that as you read you also encounter the radical love of Jesus for you.

I can’t see his face yet, but my hand is in his. And it’s the best feeling in the world. He wraps his fingers tightly around my delicate ones, and he leads me into a forest. He wants me to go with him, to show me something, and all I want to do is follow. His strength and the purpose I detect in his stride compel me, make my heart lurch with anticipation. So I walk, trailing behind him, into this brilliant forest, with trees so tall I can’t see the tops.

Leaves crunch under our feet, and the sun shines through the trees, illuminating the forest like gold. Finally we reach a particular tree and we stop. He turns towards me and I see his face for the first time. He is radiant with joy, his green eyes dancing with delight. He is more beautiful than the forest we have entered, and he fills my heart with a kind of love I’ve never felt before. What does he see in me that is so lovely? I notice that our initials are carved into the tree like childhood sweethearts.

Perhaps I’ve known this man longer than I realize.

He looks tenderly into my eyes and touches the side of my face until my heart melts within its cage. He kisses me with affection, then pulls away again and gazes with longing and love, smiling. I don’t know how to react; I just want to cry. But I say nothing, just bask in this embrace of passion. He says to me, “My heart swells with love for you.” For me? I think. Then he says, as if in response, “You are worthy of my love because I have made you worthy.” My whole being expands with gratefulness. I just want to look into his face forever.

But he leads me on again, taking me by the hand. We walk through the trees, still shining brilliantly in the sunlight that is cascading down all around us. As we walk I think, this is my lover, and I want nothing but to be with him and get to know him for the rest of my days.

We come upon an unexpected chasm in the forest, so that when I look down all I see is darkness. I lean on my lover’s shoulder, wondering what he will do next. He turns to me and asks, “Do you trust me?” to which I answer “yes.” He then sweeps me up into his arms and effortlessly leaps over the massive chasm, safely transporting us both to the opposite side. He puts me down gently and says, “I would never let you fall.” And I know he won’t.

We continue to walk, my hand always in his strong grasp. He is eager to lead me forward and thankful for my trust. We come upon an ambush. Arrows soar towards us, and my lover shifts me behind him as if he is my shield and pulls out a bow of his own, beginning to slay the attackers. But then he pulls me beside him again and hands me a glowing sword.

He wants me to fight with him.

What do I have to lose? There is no fear in my heart, so together we fight against our enemies. We begin to sprint now, while our foes shoot their arrows from either side. I am holding my sword up high, and it deflects every arrow.

We make it securely through the forest, our enemies far behind us, and we are safe in an open field full of brilliantly colored flowers, sparkling with new life.

He leads me by the hand again, out into the glorious field. He turns and looks at me with his eyes full of joy, and a face that only speaks of love, then offers me both his hands. I take them willingly, as I am in love, and we begin to dance.

We just keep dancing. He lifts me in his strong arms, and I know my lover will do anything for me. He will always fight for my love.

And I know I will do anything for him.