Say it loud...

I have felt God impressing upon me in the past couple days that we may not have all the time we think we have to do all the things we'll "get to" someday. For example,getting serious about sharing my faith with friends and family. My dad is a non-practicing Greek Orthodox Christian, who mailed me my Thea (Aunt) Maria's plaque of "Saint Nicksomething" and told me that if I pray to him, my prayers will be answered (especially 'cause we're related in some way). My stepmom is a non-religious Jew. Their son, my kid brother, is fourteen and I am not close to him. I don't know what he believes. I know that God has a plan for my life. He told me (audibly) that I was to move to Richmond. That conversation went like this..me on the verge of sleep and a big voice saying "Go to Richmond"..me saying "what?" and God saying "Go to Richmond". Now, I talk to myself in my head all the time, I dream all the time. This was not my voice and it was no dream. I also know that "He who has begun a great work within me will not abandon the works of his hands" (paraphrasing). But how many opportunities do I put off thinking that there's always tomorrow? I am way more vigilant in my relations with coworkers and those whose "rejection" I can handle. If my family and unsaved friends think I'm weird..it hurts. And then I feel like I'm already defeated the next time I broach the subject of God with them. What if I became a radical Christian? I know that I grow everyday in Christ. I know my hearts' desire is to glorify His name with my thoughts, motives, actions, and words..but do you believe that even with that sincere desire I still hold onto stuff? I still think that I need to be perceived as "not totally boring", and today at work I even found myself telling a story of when I wasn't a Christian with a little "hee hee I was bad" attitude. Yeah, that's a good way to be a witness. I am not on the fence, I just keep a picture of it in my back pocket. I need my life to be lived in a way that allows me to grasp every opportunity, to bring hope and light into this perpetual darkness. What is in my way? Me. I'm scared, not able, apprehensive. I have to learn to trust. I have to do one of those cliff jumps my friend Edie posted about recently (trusting God to catch me). Because I don't have all the time in the world. God appointed me for this time, for these people, and I don't want to look back and mourn opportunities lost. We are his mouth, to proclaim his mercy. Give me courage, Lord, to step out of this comfort zone and into a great adventure with you.

Psalm 40:9
I proclaim righteousness in the great assembly;
I do not seal my lips,
as you know, O Lord.
I do not hide your righteousness in my heart;
I speak of your faithfulness and salvation.
I do not conceal your love and your truth from the great assembly.

Some kind of Award

“The “Arte y Pico” award was created to be given to bloggers who inspire others with their creative abilities, whether it be writing or artwork in all media. When you receive this award it is considered a special honor. Once you have received this award, you are to pass it on to at least 5 others.”

I have found the creator of the Arte y Pico award to be a blogger named Eseya who lives in Paraguay. She created a blog for the sole purpose of giving this award to other bloggers who’s art she admires. The award has sincerely been given to many bloggers. Some, I consider worthy of receiving this award and I do not see they have been given. So, it is not that the person's blog is unworthy, they have just not been discovered by the barer.

Here are the rules:

1. You can copy the picture from my page and save it to your picture file on your computer. Then when you are ready to present it on your page, you may find it is easier to use your page elements function to paste the award to your page. And now give thanks to the person you received this award from by posting a link back to the award presenter. This award was granted me by James Leasure at Journaling for Growth.
2.Link to the originator of this award.
It originated here . The expression is difficult to translate to English accurately. It translates to say something like, “Wow! The Best Art! Over the top!”


3. Please pick 5 blogs that have artistic accomplishment of some sort, for inspiration, design and creativity. Pay this award forward to these five persons by stating their blog title by link on your acceptance statement. Notify that person and ask that he/she accept your request to allow you to honor them. Then ask that they link to five blogs they wish to bestow the award to in the following manner on their page.

1. Edie at Rich Gifts..she makes the prettiest scripture tags..and gives them away for free! Art and heart all in one sweet lady!
2. Diane at Meyers on the Hood because her hobby is butter and she posts terrible pictures of cats wearing hats.
3. Pamela at Pinkshoelady because her storytelling is an art form. She gives me lots to think about.
4. DeeDee at Fiddledeedee. She makes milk squirt out of my nose.
5. Kathy at Blessed Builder. She posts gorgeous pictures and is very creative.

I am blessed to be able follow the walk of these women and am thankful for their creative ways of showing Jesus to others.

Plug it in, Plug it in

We have the power and the protection of a mighty God behind us..so why don't we believe that all things are possible? I was at my Dad's birthday party this weekend, and my Aunt Ann (not the one of pretzel fame) was talking about a healing mass she attended at her church recently. My mom's side of the family was brought up Catholic, but many have become non-denominational Christians, which in my limited experience are more focused on relationship and less on ritual. Aunt Ann still attends Catholic services, and at the healing mass they brought forth an eight-year old boy named Austin who is in a vegetative state due to asphyxiation in the womb when the placenta separated prematurely. They prayed over him, and the priest announced to the congregation that he is certain that God would heal Austin; that one day the boy would come to the healing mass not on a gurney but on his own two legs. Aunt Ann thinks it's a bunch of malarkey, and that they are giving the parents false hope and putting the boy through unnecessary trauma. She also said that a woman there said her feet, which had been hurting, claimed that she was feeling much better after they mentioned "feet" from the altar. She thought that was nonsense too (and it very well may have been). But I think sometimes we sell God short, as well as the power of our own prayers. We are to be persistent..if God just answered prayer right away (and sometimes he DOES) all the time, then we would take him for granted, and I think we would lose much of our wonder and our gratitude. I listened to this sermon by Dr. Michael Youseff this morning, and it reminded me that we, by our own power, are so weak, but with God we can experience amazing results..people saved, people healed,the protection of our loved ones. We can't expect trouble free lives, but we can live victoriously as we call on the name of Jesus. There is power in that name. We are the lamps, he's the light source. Plug it in, plug it in.

Mighty to Save

My heart opens up in worship when I hear this song, and I love his version. Enjoy!

Psalm 116:1-7

I love the Lord, for he heard my voice;
he heard my cry for mercy.
Because he turned his ear to me,
I will call on him as long as I live.

The cords of death entangled me,
the anguish of the grave came upon me;
I was overcome by trouble and sorrow.

Then I called on the name of the Lord:
"O Lord, save me!"

The Lord is gracious and righteous;
our God is full of compassion,
The Lord protects the simplehearted;
when I was in great need, he saved me.

Be at rest once more, O my soul,
for the Lord has been good to you.

Hey Friends,

I got tagged! I am being tagged by Pamela R. who always has a worthwhile read waiting for you at Pinkshoelady.

Here are the rules:

1) Link to the person who tagged you (see above)

2) Post the rules on your blog (this is what you are now reading)

3) Write 6 random things about yourself (see below)

4) Tag 6 people at the end of your post and link to them (humm...whom shall I tag)

5) Let each person know they have been tagged and leave a comment on their blog. (quick go look)

6) Let the tagger know when your entry is up.


Six random things:

1. I am half Greek. My dad has been in America for 30 years and it's still hard to understand him. Especially when he's trying to pronounce "prosthesis" while recounting a joke about an ex-pirate.

2. I like to learn at least a couple words in as many languages as possible. Anoong ganagawanmo means "what are you doing" in Tagalo.

3. I just saved money on my car insurance by switching to Geico.

4. I wish life was more like a musical. I break out into song whenever possible.

5. I biked across Florida twice during my youth group career. It took a week each time, and it was one(I guess technically two) of the most fun things I've done so far.

6. Not a big Chuck Norris fan.

And here are the lucky winners!!!

1. Edie at Rich Gifts.

2. Penn Tomassetti at All of Grace.

3. James Leasure at Journaling for Growth.

4. Kathy S. at Blessed Builder.

5. Diane at Meyers on the Hood.

6. Mariel at Growing in Godliness.

Okay, if I tagged you you can end here but I thought it would be neat to find six random things about me from the Bible..to make it more interesting I will flip to random pages and find something that fits,so here goes...

1. Ecclesiastes 2:13
I saw that wisdom is better than folly, just as light is better than darkness.
2.Ezekiel 47:12
Fruit trees of all kinds will grow on both banks of the river. Their leaves will not wither, nor will their fruit fail. Every month they will bear, because the water from the sanctuary flows to them. Their fruit will serve for food and their leaves for healing.
3.Matthew 8:12-13
On hearing this, Jesus said, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.
But go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.' For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."
4. Psalm 16:8
Better a little with righteousness than much gain with injustice.
5.Job 7:17
What is man that you make so much of him, that you give him so much attention, that you examine him every morning and test him every moment?
6. Ok, now I'm cheating cause I used this yesterday but I love it so much..
Psalm 61:5
For you have heard my vows, O God; you have given me the heritage of those who fear your name.
May you know God more intimately with each day that passes.
Angela

A New Outlook

I am rereading Max Lucado's "In the Grip of Grace",(very good book) and I think I have come to a new realization. I was having a thought about how I have been learning about God and growing consistently in my walk for about 3 years now, and that I will be able to tell new Christians many things I have learned or experienced..and then I thought, you know, three years isn't very long..but I'll bet in twenty years I'll be really wise..and then I realized that I am never going to be wise. I'm never going to know it all. I am going to have to go to the Lord each and every day and lean on him all over again. And it's enough. I can be obedient and I can be thankful, and I will certainly tell people about God and who he is, and how much he loves them. I want to make a lifestyle of thanksgiving and praise and trust. I have to learn to forgive, daily, hourly when people hurt me or are rude, and I am reminded that they don't have the peace that when this is all over, it's going to be okay. I get that. I would be cranky too. God forgives as we forgive. So, I have just had a thankful, kind of introspective day. It's been sweet. I prayed Psalm 61 and 62 this morning..verse 5 stuck out to me.

Psalm 61:5
For you have heard my vows, O God;
you have given me the heritage of those who fear your name.

P.S. One of my closest friends called me this morning and told me she got married in a private ceremony to her boyfriend (whom I haven't even met yet). He is in the Navy and is shipping out for six months in August. I cried. He is a nice guy, but not a strong Christian. Not exactly the best choice, considering that she's not strong in her walk, either. I wish she would have given it more time. I think people rush because they don't want to give it time to go wrong..but if that's the case, then why would you want it? I pray that God would take over in both of their lives and that they would have a solid, loving relationship. Also, we held our first Bible study. It was great, just four of us, and all Christians. We didn't all know each other well, so it was a good time for us to share our testimonies and just get some good God talk going, which was a blessing because we will be having unbelievers join us and they probably wouldn't have been able to relate yet.

One more:
Psalm 62:8
Trust in him at all times, O people;
pour out your hearts to him,
for God is our refuge.

Any thoughts on Young's Literal Translation? I want to get as close to the actual text as possible.