Frustration!

Oh I am so peeved right now. I am watching the Tyra show, and it is a segment on racism. It is featuring 10 or so people with different races speaking out their view on the other races. It is for the most part negative. I am just so frustrated. There was just a blurb on a white, blonde hair blue eyed girl who started dating a Latino man. Her best friend found out about this and got in her face yelling at her about it. Now, on the show, her best friend explains "I was raised in a Christian home, with Christian values. And I was taught that in the Bible we are told not to date outside of our race." She goes on to defend herself saying things like "I know it sounds dumb, but that's what I have been taught from my parents and grand parents about the Bible." My heart rate shot through the roof when I heard that. I GOT SO ANGRY. I hate that Christians can be seen / portray themselves as such IDIOTS. I'm not sure what passage she could possibly be referring to, but I'm sure it is a passage written to a specific audience, and God gave them that command for a very specific reason. Probably keeping his people separate from the pagen idol worshippers of the time. IT IS NOT A TIMELESS TRUTH! Ahhhh I had to get that out. It is so important for Christians to rise up and study the Word for themselves and not be spoon fed, especially when what they are taught totally contradicts other parts of scripture. I.E. "Love your neighbor as yourself..."

Ok that's it.

One thing I ask...

Wow, this passage has been ringing so beautifully in my head and heart for weeks now. The Lord brings it to my mind at some of the most random times, and I almost break down every time I hear it.

Psalm 27:4

"One thing I ask of the Lord,
this I will seek;
that I may dwell in the house of the Lord
all the days of my life,
to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord
and to seek him in his temple."

Ah, how this passage refreshes and lifts my spirit! I know that this will be a reward for me, and every single believer in Jesus Christ, as we live out the calling He has given us! We GET to dwell in the presence of Almighty GOD - the Maker of heaven and earth and everything in between. The one who longs to ravish our souls everyday if only we would let him. The one who created our inmost being, having so many hopes and dreams for us. He is so beautiful. My favorite part about this passage, is that it's not necessarily just talking about heaven or eternity. I believe so strongly that we are able to live a life that constantly gazes upon the beauty of the Lord! That we can see so much of him in our day to day lives by shifting our focus. Right now I write completely convicted that I do not live this way enough. Since I got home from work today, I have done absolutely nothing productive. I have sat around my house feeling lonely, bored, and lazy. I am so ashamed that when there is a God whose beauty is entrancing, I have been twiddling my thumbs. He is worth so much more than that, and I so badly want to seek his beauty right now. He deserves that from me!

Lord I seek so desperately to live a life that is a love song to You! That as I LIVE, I would be a constant worshipper - in everything. You are so beautiful and You deserve my utmost! Thank you for loving me in the midst of my passivity, and that, with Your help, I can break through passivity into passion. You are so good!!

Holy Ghost encouters at Disneyland.

This is my God!!!!! He's alive and active and so, so phenomenal.

My Friend :)

I have been inspired to write a blog. My dear friend Melissa started a blog over a month ago and has written a new post everyday. I just read a hand full of them, and have been so deeply touched. Mel is such a good friend to me. I know I have written some posts about her, or her baby, Mr. Keaka in the past, but I feel the need to brag on her briefly. :) I met Mel when I was doing my 9 month study of the Bible in Kona, HI. She is a personal trainer who taught a workout class offered to the entire campus twice a week. We began hanging out weekly, doing various things such as yoga, Starbucks, coffee at her house, and lots and lots of talking. Her and her husband's condo was such a get-away for me in the midst of such an intensive school and too much campus life! After being a student in Kona, I went back to staff the same 9 month Bible school. This is when mine and Mel's friendship got deeper. :) Within the first couple weeks of my second big trip to Kona, Mel announced to me that she was PREGNANT! I was so ecstatic. At that point we hung out probably 2-3 times a week. As her pregnancy progressed, we hung out more and more. I loved being around her prego self and exercising with her.

Then in September she had her precious baby boy! We had been hanging out in the afternoon into the evening when she was having consistent contractions, and did not feel like going on a walk - no wonder!! I went home, and a couple hours later got the call that they were heading to the birth center. I got to watch their dogs while they went and had their amazing son. After he was born, I ended up hanging out more and more at her house even than I had before. It was a double wammy - I got to be around my dear friend AND I got to hold a newborn!! I don't know where I'm going with this. I could spend hours writing on how much I love her and how much her friendship has touched me, but maybe I'll just leave it at that for now. :)





I just love this family. Mel has been and still is such an encouragement to me as a single girl, going through daily battles of wishing I wasn't so single and what not. She prayed an amazing and powerful prayer for me over the phone last night that has completely refreshed my soul. Mel, you are incredible!!!

More wedding photos!!

Here's the link to Ean's new blog
http://studio190.wordpress.com/2009/07/03/grae-and-taras-wedding/
ENJOY and BE BLESSED!

Life...

Hooorah! My best friend is now a married woman. I could not be more happy for her and her husband! Their wedding turned out to be soooo gorgeous, and on top of it being awesome, they had the best photographer ...EVER... ::cough:: Ean Perkins ::cough:: The location got changed last minute.. I mean, the day before the wedding.. due to weather. But it turned out more beautiful that we could've imagined, plus we got to take some awesome photos at the original location that we wouldn't have, if it was set up for a wedding. God was so good to us, and provided a beautiful back up plan. :) His ways are good.

Here are a couple photos I just jacked from facebook. I hope Ean doesn't mind! The one of the actual ceremony was taken by an audience member, not Ean. :)




I must admit, however, I am very relieved that the big event is said and done now! I wouldn't take back all the time and energy put into that wedding for ANYTHING, but it is time for me to get into a more consistant routine, which I am! I started my nannying job three weeks ago, AND AM LOVING IT!! Every day I get more and more attached to the little lady. :-) Speaking of, I am at work right now, but princess is sleeping. Yay for newborns loving to rest!!! What a great job.



(I= excited, She = confused)!

All Other Ground is Sinking Sand

Wowzers I have been a busy MOH. (Maid of Honor, lol). My time has been consumed by babysitting and wedding / shower planning. I must admit, though, I LOVE the busyness. I do love being on my toes and having a semi-routine. And Praise the LORD that semi-routine will soon turn into a real routine, I start my NEW NANNYING JOB on the 15th. That is such a blessing, I couldn't be more thankful. It's great pay and for a precious newborn girl. I cannot wait to get started. We had our 'practice run' last night while her parents were out to dinner and we had a great time, she even gave me some half smiles! :-)

Ok so I just had a very intense worship session in my bedroom with Jesus. My eyes are all bawled out, I'll say that much. But when I am surrounded by His presence, it's hard to do much else. I have to share about an intense revelation He gave me on Sunday during worship at church. We were singing the old hymn "On Christ the Solid Rock I Stand" and this song had never blown me away like this before. As we were singing the part " all other ground is sinking sand " I was asking God in that very moment what my "sinking sand" is. Before I could even ask the entire question, He answered me! So quick! "Your emotions." Ok, WHOA, God. I almost broke down right then and there - I DO NOT WANT TO BASE MY LIFE OFF MY EMOTIONS!! I was overwhelmed with the truth of this profound idea. He is showing me to base the way I love, the decision I make, the thoughts I think, the words I speak on the truth of who HE is. To live a life as a woman after His own heart, I can no longer base those things off the way I FEEL. I realize this is especially true being a woman, but I don't care about emotions. To be blunt, I don't want to care about the way I 'feel' when it is not based on truth. Yes, emotions are a good thing and if we were all emotionless (like men, jk) this world would be a very interesting place. But I think as a believer I (we) have control over such things, by the power of the Holy Spirit. He enables us to live through truth in a world that lives off lies or fleeting emotions.

This topic has been something that has gotten to me a lot lately. I am becoming quite passionate about it. This is kind of a silly way to end, but I don't even know where else to go with my thoughts. Plus I am tired. If you have any thoughts please, share them!!