Life is a ticket to the greatest show on earth
Blood, sweat, and tears, partial price for this ticket
but rewards so far beyond the price
Life is our pass to the most worthy show
and to think some relinquish their ticket so easily...
Monday, February 1, 2010
Friday, January 22, 2010
Alive to live
I stepped outside today into brisk winter air, but somehow it seemed less harsh than our cruel Michigan winter mornings. It took but an instant to figure out why- a group of about 3 different birds (all different levels of singing) greeted me by bursting out into a splendid, polyphonic piece of music. What a joyous sound to perforate the otherwise cold air. It set my day off great. As I went into breakfast, grabbed food, sat down and proceeded to read, what do I hear but the fellows behind me talking about angels. I smiled to myself and gave God thanks- it isn't very many places where you hear a conversation like that at 9 in the morning. I adore my nonverbal storytelling class (WOR/DRA 244 if anyone ever wants to take it) our prof is choreographing a dance to "the nearness" by David Crowder. I never knew this type of dancing would be so wonderful. Life is interesting though... don't quite know what to make of it... besides, of course, that God is good!
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Real beyond the Veil
There's this song that I've been humming lately... All I know is that God IS holding onto whatever I'm feeling if I will choose to let Him. He delights when he sees my heart begin to heal, not of my own accord, but through his strength. I want others to drop their masks, to be real, why won't we all just admit what we feel?
My hands are searching for you
My arms are outstretched towards you
I feel you on my fingertips
My tongue dances behind my lips for you
This fire rising through my being
Burning I'm not used to seeing you
I'm alive, I'm alive
I can feel you all around me
Thickening the air I'm breathing
Holding on to what I'm feeling
Savoring this heart that's healing
Take my hand
I give it to you
Now you own me
All I am
You said you would never leave me
I believe you
I believe
My hands are searching for you
My arms are outstretched towards you
I feel you on my fingertips
My tongue dances behind my lips for you
This fire rising through my being
Burning I'm not used to seeing you
I'm alive, I'm alive
I can feel you all around me
Thickening the air I'm breathing
Holding on to what I'm feeling
Savoring this heart that's healing
Take my hand
I give it to you
Now you own me
All I am
You said you would never leave me
I believe you
I believe
Blood through my Veins
have I started too late for the blood to rush through my veins
reviving me, and washing away all these stains, all of my stains
would you reach out and touch me even now
removing this pain, God would you teach me how
oh, how to love you, I want to love you
why is this something I can never do
could you teach me how to give myself awayyyyy?
Oh my selfishness, is holding on, it would stay
and you, only you, can drive that away
Be gone, it's all you must say
but can you teach me how to let go?
How can it leave when I'm saying no
I'm screaming for myself
it's burning like fires of hell
why is the refining fire so hot
in my mind I'd rather this was not
but in you I can have the strength to say: consume me
until smoking flesh, and scalding spirit is all I can see
O Lord consume me, am I inviting pain?
So I am consumed by you, only your name
frighten all fear to flee from my mind
so true love in you I will finally find
reviving me, and washing away all these stains, all of my stains
would you reach out and touch me even now
removing this pain, God would you teach me how
oh, how to love you, I want to love you
why is this something I can never do
could you teach me how to give myself awayyyyy?
Oh my selfishness, is holding on, it would stay
and you, only you, can drive that away
Be gone, it's all you must say
but can you teach me how to let go?
How can it leave when I'm saying no
I'm screaming for myself
it's burning like fires of hell
why is the refining fire so hot
in my mind I'd rather this was not
but in you I can have the strength to say: consume me
until smoking flesh, and scalding spirit is all I can see
O Lord consume me, am I inviting pain?
So I am consumed by you, only your name
frighten all fear to flee from my mind
so true love in you I will finally find
Saturday, January 16, 2010
Do we know our Slaves?
I was reading an article in Forerunner Magazine, and stumbled across these horrifying statistics, you can read more here if you'd like- written from an interesting viewpoint...
International Statistics
» There are at least 27 million slaves worldwide.
» Worldwide at least 1.2 million children are trafficked every year, and at least 800,000 people are trafficked across borders each year.
» Human slaves are cheap. In 1850, the average slave cost $40,000 in today's dollar. Presently, a slave costs $90 on average.
» At the extreme fringe, children are kidnapped, held in remote camps, and chained at night to prevent their escape. They are put to work on road-building and stone-quarrying. Such child labor, often hard and hazardous, damages health for life, and deprives children of education and the normal enjoyment of their early years.
» Forcible recruitment of children into military service occurs in many parts of the world. The consequences are devastating. Many have died or been disabled in armed conflict, while others have been interrogated, tortured, beaten, or kept as prisoners of war. An estimated 300,000 child-soldiers, some younger than 10 years old, are involved in over 30 areas of conflict worldwide.
» Some children between 7 and 10 years of age work 12 to 14 hours a day and are paid less than one-third of the adult wage. In addition, 126 million children work in the worst forms of child labor— one in every 12 of the world's 5-17 year olds.
» Child domestic servants not only work long hours for a pittance, but are particularly vulnerable to sexual as well as other physical abuse.
» Worldwide, the multibillion-dollar sex-trade industry involves an estimated two million children—including Cambodia, Thailand, and Costa Rica, where "sex tourism" is big business. The average age of women entering into prostitution is 14. The profits to be made are immense when 12- to 15-year-old children can be purchased for $800 to $2,000—and used for five to ten years before they are cast away.
American Statistics
» The United States is principally a transit and destination country for trafficking in persons. The U.S. Central Intelligence Agency estimates that 50,000 people are trafficked into or transited through the country annually as sex slaves, domestics, and garment and agricultural slaves, of which 80% are women and children.
» Research conducted with Free the Slaves found documented cases of slavery in over 90 U.S. cities. States with the greatest concentration of trafficked persons are New York, California, and Florida. Washington, DC, also has a large trafficked population.
» Between 100,000 and 300,000 children in the U.S. are at risk for sex trafficking each year. As many as 2.8 million children live on the streets, a third of whom are lured into prostitution within 48 hours of leaving home. The average age of a person's entry into pornography and prostitution in the U.S. is between 12 and 14.
» Forced marriage is another form of slavery, and at least 200 "matchmaking" organizations operate in the U.S., arranging prospective "brides" for male clients.
Child labor, military service, domestic servants, sex-trade industry, prostitution, forced marriage - horrors of our society, horrors that happen every day, even as we are blind to them. The injustice agitates my spirit- what happens to those children's playtime, to tickling wars with their siblings, to baking cookies with their mothers, why should these small joys be stolen away from them? Why should we allow this to happen right under our noses? Do you notice how much slavery has to do with sex? All slavery is a form of selfishness, but I feel sexual slavery is the most selfish thing to force upon a child. Can you imagine it? A young girl, only thirteen years old, skipping home from school, her parents are out working so she goes to play in the streets, hopelessly lost she doesn't find the way back home that night. The next day passes, her parents are concerned, but think perhaps she had a sleepover with one of her friends. Night comes and she is still on the streets alone, and afraid. Next thing you know someone offers her warm place to stay, disoriented and hungry she accepts. Before she knows to scream "help!" she is threatened into prostitution. Do we think they want this? They don't know their "options" they are frightened, and they are children,they are psychologically bonded to those who enslave them, and we allowing this to happen! We don't know the filth of the crimes committed in our own nation. It is time to get educated!
"The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) estimates that well over 100,000 children and young women are sex trafficked every day. Many victims are not runaways or kids who have been abandoned but rather have been lured or coerced by clever predators."
Read more at Suite101: Sex Trafficking of Children in America: Girls Lured or Kidnapped into Prostitution
International Statistics
» There are at least 27 million slaves worldwide.
» Worldwide at least 1.2 million children are trafficked every year, and at least 800,000 people are trafficked across borders each year.
» Human slaves are cheap. In 1850, the average slave cost $40,000 in today's dollar. Presently, a slave costs $90 on average.
» At the extreme fringe, children are kidnapped, held in remote camps, and chained at night to prevent their escape. They are put to work on road-building and stone-quarrying. Such child labor, often hard and hazardous, damages health for life, and deprives children of education and the normal enjoyment of their early years.
» Forcible recruitment of children into military service occurs in many parts of the world. The consequences are devastating. Many have died or been disabled in armed conflict, while others have been interrogated, tortured, beaten, or kept as prisoners of war. An estimated 300,000 child-soldiers, some younger than 10 years old, are involved in over 30 areas of conflict worldwide.
» Some children between 7 and 10 years of age work 12 to 14 hours a day and are paid less than one-third of the adult wage. In addition, 126 million children work in the worst forms of child labor— one in every 12 of the world's 5-17 year olds.
» Child domestic servants not only work long hours for a pittance, but are particularly vulnerable to sexual as well as other physical abuse.
» Worldwide, the multibillion-dollar sex-trade industry involves an estimated two million children—including Cambodia, Thailand, and Costa Rica, where "sex tourism" is big business. The average age of women entering into prostitution is 14. The profits to be made are immense when 12- to 15-year-old children can be purchased for $800 to $2,000—and used for five to ten years before they are cast away.
American Statistics
» The United States is principally a transit and destination country for trafficking in persons. The U.S. Central Intelligence Agency estimates that 50,000 people are trafficked into or transited through the country annually as sex slaves, domestics, and garment and agricultural slaves, of which 80% are women and children.
» Research conducted with Free the Slaves found documented cases of slavery in over 90 U.S. cities. States with the greatest concentration of trafficked persons are New York, California, and Florida. Washington, DC, also has a large trafficked population.
» Between 100,000 and 300,000 children in the U.S. are at risk for sex trafficking each year. As many as 2.8 million children live on the streets, a third of whom are lured into prostitution within 48 hours of leaving home. The average age of a person's entry into pornography and prostitution in the U.S. is between 12 and 14.
» Forced marriage is another form of slavery, and at least 200 "matchmaking" organizations operate in the U.S., arranging prospective "brides" for male clients.
Child labor, military service, domestic servants, sex-trade industry, prostitution, forced marriage - horrors of our society, horrors that happen every day, even as we are blind to them. The injustice agitates my spirit- what happens to those children's playtime, to tickling wars with their siblings, to baking cookies with their mothers, why should these small joys be stolen away from them? Why should we allow this to happen right under our noses? Do you notice how much slavery has to do with sex? All slavery is a form of selfishness, but I feel sexual slavery is the most selfish thing to force upon a child. Can you imagine it? A young girl, only thirteen years old, skipping home from school, her parents are out working so she goes to play in the streets, hopelessly lost she doesn't find the way back home that night. The next day passes, her parents are concerned, but think perhaps she had a sleepover with one of her friends. Night comes and she is still on the streets alone, and afraid. Next thing you know someone offers her warm place to stay, disoriented and hungry she accepts. Before she knows to scream "help!" she is threatened into prostitution. Do we think they want this? They don't know their "options" they are frightened, and they are children,they are psychologically bonded to those who enslave them, and we allowing this to happen! We don't know the filth of the crimes committed in our own nation. It is time to get educated!
"The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) estimates that well over 100,000 children and young women are sex trafficked every day. Many victims are not runaways or kids who have been abandoned but rather have been lured or coerced by clever predators."
Read more at Suite101: Sex Trafficking of Children in America: Girls Lured or Kidnapped into Prostitution
Friday, January 15, 2010
Cranial Capacity: Kinda Crammed
So I was reading some Christian magazine articles online (here) and wow! There was some great stuff, I picked out a few quotes that really hit me...
"Sin grabs us with rational truth ("it will feel good") while discarding subsequent facts ("until it doesn't"). Sin has a great salesman: a voice that knows how to overmarket its temporal benefits while downplaying the imbalanced cost."
Of course sin feels good! While else would people want to do it? We don't like pain, and sometimes doing the right thing is just oh so painful...
"Sin separates us from God and from one another. Sin separates us from peace. Sin separates us from joy. Sin destroys family, relationships, community. Sin forges a wedge of hatred between cultures, denominations and political parties. Between interest groups, races and genders. Sin convinces us that we are right and everyone else is wrong and that this distinction is more important than love. Sin numbs a heart until it no longer yearns after people—and eventually no longer yearns after God.Regardless of how hard you attempt to defend your life habits, regardless of how acceptable they are in modern society or church community, if those habits accomplish any of the above, they are sin."
Sin... kind of like satan, it's around to steal, separate, kill and destroy. If we could only learn to love more, because love pushes these things, and sin out.
I've been learning so much today I fear my brain may explode soon!
"Sin grabs us with rational truth ("it will feel good") while discarding subsequent facts ("until it doesn't"). Sin has a great salesman: a voice that knows how to overmarket its temporal benefits while downplaying the imbalanced cost."
Of course sin feels good! While else would people want to do it? We don't like pain, and sometimes doing the right thing is just oh so painful...
"Sin separates us from God and from one another. Sin separates us from peace. Sin separates us from joy. Sin destroys family, relationships, community. Sin forges a wedge of hatred between cultures, denominations and political parties. Between interest groups, races and genders. Sin convinces us that we are right and everyone else is wrong and that this distinction is more important than love. Sin numbs a heart until it no longer yearns after people—and eventually no longer yearns after God.Regardless of how hard you attempt to defend your life habits, regardless of how acceptable they are in modern society or church community, if those habits accomplish any of the above, they are sin."
Sin... kind of like satan, it's around to steal, separate, kill and destroy. If we could only learn to love more, because love pushes these things, and sin out.
I've been learning so much today I fear my brain may explode soon!
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
To Awaken in Love
I'm not sure what it was this morning. But it was amazing beyond the silly words I can say. I awoke around 6 in the morning to get a drink, and then went back to bed, into a restful sleep. Around 8 the sun brought me back from dreamworld, but as I looked out my window it was a vision itself. The sun was midway up a giant pine, needles dark, standing majestically straight, I dozed off again, and when I re-awoke the sun was at the top of the pine, it was then I noticed that it has two tops; the normal one going straight up to the sky, and a confused bough arcing off to the left. Did I mention the beauty of this all? With my eyes closed at times, and half as much soaking in the beauty of the sunrise I thanked God. I don't know what it is but I am SO grateful to be alive this morning. How could I be so blessed as to have another day with my Lover, and living among people whom I love, and the extravagance of nature- how did all these glorious things come to me? How did I win this life? Not by lottery, or gambling, it was both an intentional choice and a gift. I feel like I could never stop praising a God who has given me everything, and this very breath that I may delight in all God has blessed me with. After thanking God I grabbed my bible in the drowsy-happy state I usually awake in, it opened right up to Psalm 9,
"I will praise you, O Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonders. I will be glad and rejoice in you; I will sing praise to your name, O Most High."
It was as if the words I had just been thinking were quickly composed into my Bible, flowing right from my own heart. And indeed, I thanked the Lord again for his great love.
It is my desire that everyone could have at least one morning like this, one moment where God shows them what true joy can be had in Him, and what he blesses us with. I desire so deeply that all could find delight in God as I have been allowed to.
"I will praise you, O Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonders. I will be glad and rejoice in you; I will sing praise to your name, O Most High."
It was as if the words I had just been thinking were quickly composed into my Bible, flowing right from my own heart. And indeed, I thanked the Lord again for his great love.
It is my desire that everyone could have at least one morning like this, one moment where God shows them what true joy can be had in Him, and what he blesses us with. I desire so deeply that all could find delight in God as I have been allowed to.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)