I am sitting in my bed listening to "One thing remains" a song i have sung and listened to countless times, but somehow this time it has a new meaning to my life. So i stopped what i was doing, what i was thinking about and decided it was worth deciphering. I asked myself why does this song seem new, inviting in a way that I have not experienced before? And then the answer came to me, it has a beautiful new arrangement. Interesting how something so familiar can take on a whole new meaning by changing the tempo, the key sung in, the melody of the musicality, yet it is still the same song.
In many ways this reminds me of life. You continuously "sing" the same "song" and eventually it can become thoughtless, background noise, meaningless. Well, let's give our lives a new arrangement. I feel 2013 is a year full of potential for taking what God has given you and asking how he is going to rearrange it and then step into it.
Are you ready to mix this song up with me?
Tuesday, 1 January 2013
Tuesday, 10 January 2012
I'll become even more undeignified than this
It is ten days into the year 2012 and I have really been questioning where these next 12 months are going to take me? When I look back on 2011 so many emotions surface; joy, sadness, heartache, but above all else happiness. God has filled my first year with him with undescribable awesomeness (not a word but indulge with me for a moment). I have the sense that last year was about myself, as selfish as that sounds God really wanted me to understand his unconditional love for me. Looking back at my journal entry from February 3rd I read "I want you to know my love Hannah." a phrase I heard while sitting silent listening praying for something, anything to to soothe the ache I felt.
Now the ache is no longer there, 365 days of healing and growing have brought me to a place I couldn't have ever dreamed I would be. So enough about 2011 this entry infact is about 2012. I really feel a pull to let loose, to recklessly abandon my worries, my predisposed notions of how I am to act and be in society and to embrace my love for Jesus and not be so selfish with it. This is a year full of building new relaiotnships, nurishing old ones and embracing all that Jesus wants for this hurting world. Yes, I am only one person but with you that makes two and then three and then four. Join me this year on a journey of being what He wants you to be and stepping out of the fear of worrying what "They" want you to be.
"In God's presence I'll dance all I want!...Oh yes, 'll dance in God's glory- more recklessly even than this. And as far as I am concerned... I'll gladly look like a fool." 2 Samuel 6:22
Let's be a little more like David this year.
Now the ache is no longer there, 365 days of healing and growing have brought me to a place I couldn't have ever dreamed I would be. So enough about 2011 this entry infact is about 2012. I really feel a pull to let loose, to recklessly abandon my worries, my predisposed notions of how I am to act and be in society and to embrace my love for Jesus and not be so selfish with it. This is a year full of building new relaiotnships, nurishing old ones and embracing all that Jesus wants for this hurting world. Yes, I am only one person but with you that makes two and then three and then four. Join me this year on a journey of being what He wants you to be and stepping out of the fear of worrying what "They" want you to be.
"In God's presence I'll dance all I want!...Oh yes, 'll dance in God's glory- more recklessly even than this. And as far as I am concerned... I'll gladly look like a fool." 2 Samuel 6:22
Let's be a little more like David this year.
Wednesday, 30 November 2011
Thank you 2011
This past year I have truly discovered that God has an innate sense of humour, which makes perfect sense when you really think about it. After all we are made in his image and all love to enjoy a belly rolling, eyes tearing laugh every once in a while. So it is only natural that our creator would enjoy the same.
When I first started my walk with Jesus this January it was more a leap of faith than I can put into words. I was at a point where to smile was painful, to do anything was painful; physically, emotionally, mentally my whole body ached from injury. Injuries accumulated over the duration of way too much time away from God and so much time spent in a broken dysfunctional relationship. Now that I have put into context my life at this time you will better understand what I describe next.
I had just handed in my resignation from my job, decided to sell everything in my apartment pack up my little versa and move to a new country 15 hours away from what I knew to be home for most if not all my life. At church the last Sunday before I was to make my big move I was speaking with my pastor and he had a word for me. He told me that he saw a picture of me overflowing with joy, like a spring of water. And there was no pain insight, the joy over took me and I couldn't even remember the pain that I was experiencing at that very moment what was so real to me would be nothing more than a distant memory.
For the past 6 months these words remianed with me, I loved the hope that it brought, to think that God had this promise of such joy waiting for me. I have realized as 2011 is coming to an end and I am forced to look back on the year and all that I encountered that I infact have experienced this vision on more than one occasion. The joy of crossing the pond to a world that I only ever dreamed of exepriencing, the people I met when I was there, the pure joy of seeing a culture that I connected with immediately, the laughter I have shared with new friends and old alike, the warmth that radiated through my body as I saw my very best friend get married this fall, phone conversations that last half the day talking about nothing but enjoying everything, dancing with my father, baking with my sisters, skype dates where I cleaned out my closet and making money off of it, great music discovered, an amazing latte, feeling Jesus right beside me every day of my life, getting back up when I fall, taking on each day as a new challenge, living my life hopeful for the future and respectful of my past, connecting with people in a way that is refreshing and somewhat unknown but invigorating all the same. All I can say is that I feel the spring of overflowing joy, and I am truely greatful for each step I take, even when I am unsure of where my foot will fall.
You have been one amazing year 2011, Thank You!!
When I first started my walk with Jesus this January it was more a leap of faith than I can put into words. I was at a point where to smile was painful, to do anything was painful; physically, emotionally, mentally my whole body ached from injury. Injuries accumulated over the duration of way too much time away from God and so much time spent in a broken dysfunctional relationship. Now that I have put into context my life at this time you will better understand what I describe next.
I had just handed in my resignation from my job, decided to sell everything in my apartment pack up my little versa and move to a new country 15 hours away from what I knew to be home for most if not all my life. At church the last Sunday before I was to make my big move I was speaking with my pastor and he had a word for me. He told me that he saw a picture of me overflowing with joy, like a spring of water. And there was no pain insight, the joy over took me and I couldn't even remember the pain that I was experiencing at that very moment what was so real to me would be nothing more than a distant memory.
For the past 6 months these words remianed with me, I loved the hope that it brought, to think that God had this promise of such joy waiting for me. I have realized as 2011 is coming to an end and I am forced to look back on the year and all that I encountered that I infact have experienced this vision on more than one occasion. The joy of crossing the pond to a world that I only ever dreamed of exepriencing, the people I met when I was there, the pure joy of seeing a culture that I connected with immediately, the laughter I have shared with new friends and old alike, the warmth that radiated through my body as I saw my very best friend get married this fall, phone conversations that last half the day talking about nothing but enjoying everything, dancing with my father, baking with my sisters, skype dates where I cleaned out my closet and making money off of it, great music discovered, an amazing latte, feeling Jesus right beside me every day of my life, getting back up when I fall, taking on each day as a new challenge, living my life hopeful for the future and respectful of my past, connecting with people in a way that is refreshing and somewhat unknown but invigorating all the same. All I can say is that I feel the spring of overflowing joy, and I am truely greatful for each step I take, even when I am unsure of where my foot will fall.
You have been one amazing year 2011, Thank You!!
Wednesday, 9 November 2011
Social networking isn't social at all!
I am sitting in a coffee house, well lets start this blog off being truthful, Starbucks, and I am surrounded by technology. Technology comes in many forms, people on cellphones, people on their laptops, people reading their kindles, people doing anything but connecting with other people. My mom's best friend is visiting from Canada for the week and we had a nice little chat this morning before i went to work about technology and what it is doing to our society as a whole. How many times today alone have you checked your facebook? And what were you hoping to get out of those twenty plus visits to a site dedicated to you. Are we really that important? I think we would like to think so, and the better question is why are we checking a website to see what our friends have to say to us when we could just pick up the phone and chat with them, or better yet when possible sit in a cafe with them and converse face to face. When did electronic social networking become the favorable way to connect with our peers? How easy is it to hide behind a computer or even a text. Do not get me wrong I love technology and I know it has a place in our lives, but when did it become more important to bring your cellphone with you on that jog then to just go for the jog? Seriously, I saw this with my own two eyes yesterday on the Greenway, a lady jogging and chatting on her phone. Well at least she wasn't checking her facebook page!
Basically this post is to make you think, think about where your life is headed, where our society is headed and if you want to join it? I put this challenge to anyone who is reading this post; one week facebook free. Can you do it?
Basically this post is to make you think, think about where your life is headed, where our society is headed and if you want to join it? I put this challenge to anyone who is reading this post; one week facebook free. Can you do it?
Sunday, 23 October 2011
Midnight Music
My sister shared this song with me today in an email and I feel it would be truly selfish to keep it to myself, so I am sharing it with you all now.
Enjoy: John Mark McMillan, Carbon Ribs
http://grooveshark.com/#/s/Carbon+Ribs/3UQgNd?src=5
Enjoy: John Mark McMillan, Carbon Ribs
http://grooveshark.com/#/s/Carbon+Ribs/3UQgNd?src=5
Embrace the journey on your way to your destination
I have been very house bound these past few weeks. Actually to be more specific room bound. I spend much time on my bed with my laptop on my lap (go figure) and the television playing in the background. So this Thursday after work I decided to get some much needed exercise and go for a walk on the Greenway boardwalk a mile from my house.
It was near 5pm so the sun was starting to take its decent and it begged to blind my eyes, the fall leaves crunched under my feet, the smell of cool air embraced my lungs and grabbed so tightly making it more and more difficult to breathe as i took each passing step. I was about half way through my walk when i noticed a side path off of the main boardwalk. Deciding that this adventure needed some spicing up I decided to follow the dirt path. Beyond the trees i found a little stream, so I sauntered down to the edge of the water and plotted myself down. I just sat and listened to the water trickle past and I couldn't help but wonder; when was the last time I enjoyed my surroundings? I was hard struck to find a time when I simply enjoyed the journey, not being completely preoccupied with my destination. Something so simple as going for a walk, the entire time I am walking I usually am concerned with how long I have been walking, how much longer I have to go and when will i reach my car so I can begin my next task. How many times have I missed the colourful crunching leaves under my shoes, or the warmth of the sun on my face or the pure fact that God has created such beauty all around me and I ignore it almost every single day.
In the grand scheme of things I have been living my life much with the same attitude as I have when I go for a walk, what is my destination and how long until i get there. I am so concerned with what my next step is in life that I miss the enjoyment of taking the step. It is time to stop walking through my life like a New Yorker, only concerned with where I am going, and instead start enjoying everything in my life with all my five senses maybe more so like a tourist visiting the big apple for the very first time. There is no point in getting to ones destination without being able to remember the journey that got you there.
It was near 5pm so the sun was starting to take its decent and it begged to blind my eyes, the fall leaves crunched under my feet, the smell of cool air embraced my lungs and grabbed so tightly making it more and more difficult to breathe as i took each passing step. I was about half way through my walk when i noticed a side path off of the main boardwalk. Deciding that this adventure needed some spicing up I decided to follow the dirt path. Beyond the trees i found a little stream, so I sauntered down to the edge of the water and plotted myself down. I just sat and listened to the water trickle past and I couldn't help but wonder; when was the last time I enjoyed my surroundings? I was hard struck to find a time when I simply enjoyed the journey, not being completely preoccupied with my destination. Something so simple as going for a walk, the entire time I am walking I usually am concerned with how long I have been walking, how much longer I have to go and when will i reach my car so I can begin my next task. How many times have I missed the colourful crunching leaves under my shoes, or the warmth of the sun on my face or the pure fact that God has created such beauty all around me and I ignore it almost every single day.
In the grand scheme of things I have been living my life much with the same attitude as I have when I go for a walk, what is my destination and how long until i get there. I am so concerned with what my next step is in life that I miss the enjoyment of taking the step. It is time to stop walking through my life like a New Yorker, only concerned with where I am going, and instead start enjoying everything in my life with all my five senses maybe more so like a tourist visiting the big apple for the very first time. There is no point in getting to ones destination without being able to remember the journey that got you there.
Wednesday, 5 October 2011
Sugar and Spice and Everything Nice
So I am sitting on my bed with my laptop in tow and I can't help but think, I have done this before. I went to work, I came home, relaxed with coffee, some blogging and then proceeded to have dinner on the back porch with my parents and grandmother. Guess what, now I am back on my bed fervently typing and watching T.V. Wait I have done this before, over and over and over again. I need to spice things up a little, any suggestions?
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