There is a song titled “The High Place” that has been in my head for quite some time. The part that keeps running and running through my head is the line that says, “And the high places I’ll bring down.” When I pray, I pray against the high places that I have set up in my own life and the strongholds I have allowed to take root in my spirit. I also pray for the lives of my friends and my family.
Kyrie Eleison, which is Greek for “Lord have mercy,” is a phrase that I have began using in my prayers. The Bible talks about sowing with the wind and reaping with the whirlwind. I sometimes hear people comment that an event happening in someone’s life was just karma or them reaping what they have sown.
This could be true, but a part of me is very careful not to make those types of judgmental observations. There are things I will have to reap and I pray that the Lord will have mercy on me. It’s like the concept of grace and mercy become foreign when we are dealing with other people’s lives.
So today, my thoughts are pretty simple. I pray the God will have mercy on all of us and that we will allow Him to take the High Places down.
I also pray for marriages. I am very saddened by what I see and what I hear.
At the beginning of the year, I thought this would be a good year to meet Prince Charming and settle down into Happily Ever After. Since then (and it’s only been two months), a lot has happened around me. I am trying to not become jaded or cynical by what I see and hear.
In fact, I wake up in the middle of the night praying for the marriages of my friends and family. I must have been sleep when the memo came out that marriages were under attack, but I am up now!
I haven’t given up on the idea of marriage, and I know that I can’t avoid it for myself based on bad things that could happen. I can say that I am happy, and if it isn’t broke, don’t fix it.
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Bon Jovi Rocks!
Last night, I went to see Bon Jovi in concert. This is my second time seeing the band live, and I think they are so awesome. I like their music because if you listen to the lyrics, there is a positive message that runs through most of the songs.
This may sound strange, but both times I left feeling very inspired after their concerts. With music, the lyrics are always what draw me into a song. I could care less about a good beat. Many of the Bon Jovi songs have a theme around pushing aside your fears and doing your dream. It’s like a constant mantra to do something good in the world that will help others.
Lent started on Wednesday, and I have been without TV, DVDs, etc. I can already tell I am going to get a lot of reading done between now and Easter. I also want to think long and hard about my dream (as stated in the previous post). How does that vision come into reality? As the Bible says I Corinthians 16:9, “For a great door and effectual is opened unto me, and there are many adversaries.”
Or, in the words of Bon Jovi:
It's my life
It's now or never
I ain't gonna live forever
I just wanna live while I'm alive
(It's my life)
My heart is like an open highway
Like Frankie said, "I did it my way"
I just wanna live while I'm alive
'Cause it's my life
This may sound strange, but both times I left feeling very inspired after their concerts. With music, the lyrics are always what draw me into a song. I could care less about a good beat. Many of the Bon Jovi songs have a theme around pushing aside your fears and doing your dream. It’s like a constant mantra to do something good in the world that will help others.
Lent started on Wednesday, and I have been without TV, DVDs, etc. I can already tell I am going to get a lot of reading done between now and Easter. I also want to think long and hard about my dream (as stated in the previous post). How does that vision come into reality? As the Bible says I Corinthians 16:9, “For a great door and effectual is opened unto me, and there are many adversaries.”
Or, in the words of Bon Jovi:
It's my life
It's now or never
I ain't gonna live forever
I just wanna live while I'm alive
(It's my life)
My heart is like an open highway
Like Frankie said, "I did it my way"
I just wanna live while I'm alive
'Cause it's my life
Week Six and Other Confessions
Yesterday was the six-week anniversary of getting my hair locked. Six weeks seemed so far away when faced with six weeks of not washing my hair! The first two weeks were by far the hardest! I didn’t think I was going to make it. I was ready to rip through my hairs with my nails for sweet, sweet, sweet relief!
When I went back at four weeks, I was told me I wouldn’t get a real wash for a month. But, yesterday when I went, behold a real wash and it felt GOOD! Technically, I can go once a month now, but I had already made two 2-week apart appointments. I still can’t wash my own hair though.
Yesterday was rough on me. It was one of those days I wanted to quit my job, sell my condo, and travel for a year, which is what I REALLY want to do.
Actually, what I really want to do is own my own publishing company, take photographs, and travel write. Hmm…how do I make that happen!?
When I went back at four weeks, I was told me I wouldn’t get a real wash for a month. But, yesterday when I went, behold a real wash and it felt GOOD! Technically, I can go once a month now, but I had already made two 2-week apart appointments. I still can’t wash my own hair though.
Yesterday was rough on me. It was one of those days I wanted to quit my job, sell my condo, and travel for a year, which is what I REALLY want to do.
Actually, what I really want to do is own my own publishing company, take photographs, and travel write. Hmm…how do I make that happen!?
Saturday, February 13, 2010
No TV for You
I am very grateful for a three-day weekend! Woohoo!
Wednesday is Ash Wednesday, which means Lent starts! I’ve been going back and forth on what to give up for Lent this year. I’ve given up meat many times. In fact, giving up meat is no longer a struggle or sacrifice anymore. I’ve given up TV in this past, which is something I like. So, I will give up TV between Ash Wednesday and Easter. I will also place my Netflix account on hold for this time period.
Oh, what to do with all that spare time! I can read. I can study. I can work on my church’s website. I can work on my writing. I can work the April 1 issue of my church newsletter. Yes, there are things I can do besides veg and watch TV.
I thought about giving up Facebook, but decided not to close myself off from social networks. I say this with the understanding that Facebook, email, and texting is away to communicate with people. It takes time and real conversations to develop and maintain real relationship!
Wednesday is Ash Wednesday, which means Lent starts! I’ve been going back and forth on what to give up for Lent this year. I’ve given up meat many times. In fact, giving up meat is no longer a struggle or sacrifice anymore. I’ve given up TV in this past, which is something I like. So, I will give up TV between Ash Wednesday and Easter. I will also place my Netflix account on hold for this time period.
Oh, what to do with all that spare time! I can read. I can study. I can work on my church’s website. I can work on my writing. I can work the April 1 issue of my church newsletter. Yes, there are things I can do besides veg and watch TV.
I thought about giving up Facebook, but decided not to close myself off from social networks. I say this with the understanding that Facebook, email, and texting is away to communicate with people. It takes time and real conversations to develop and maintain real relationship!
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Locking: Week Four (Almost) & Heralding Bus Adventures
Today, I had my third hair appointment. It’s actually not quite four weeks, but her schedule is pretty booked up. I’ve been taking time off from work because I’m pretty much getting in where I fit in.
I left work at 10:45 to catch the 11:10 bus. The bus comes at 11:15, and was I bothered. I like to be on time to appointments. It shows respect for the person’s time.
The bus takes forever to make it down Third Avenue. By the time we reach fourth and Yesler, I’m beginning to seethe. At this point in time, a very angry man gets on the bus and yells at the driver for being so late. He continued talking very loudly about it while he was on the bus. When he got off, he yelled some more. Meanwhile, a slow bus ride is compounded by elderly, slow moving passengers and the lift being used three times. I was screaming my rage very loudly in my head. By the time I reached my appointment, I was only three minutes late. I then waited 30 minutes to be washed. Go figure.
It did get me thinking. Is it better to internally control emotions or is better to rage out loud? Not sure. The rage of the man of the bus was so alive.
After the appointment, I high tailed it to 12th and Jackson (from 20th and Yesler). I didn’t see the number 1 so I decided to walk to 5th and Jackson to catch the 99. Of course, the number 1 goes rolling by me when I’m halfway there. Then I see the 99 come around the corner. I missed both. I decided it would be quicker for me to walk than wait for the next bus. So 25 minutes later, I made it to work.
I had blocked an extra hour of “buffer” time. A coworker booked a meeting with me even though the time was clearly booked. I did not accept it. I barely made it in time for my three o’clock meeting, which ended up being rescheduled. Sigh!
All of this for my hair. Jeez. So, my hair has not “budded.” The original plan was six weeks get the “real” wash. Now, it will be eight weeks. After which time, I will go every month.
I left work at 10:45 to catch the 11:10 bus. The bus comes at 11:15, and was I bothered. I like to be on time to appointments. It shows respect for the person’s time.
The bus takes forever to make it down Third Avenue. By the time we reach fourth and Yesler, I’m beginning to seethe. At this point in time, a very angry man gets on the bus and yells at the driver for being so late. He continued talking very loudly about it while he was on the bus. When he got off, he yelled some more. Meanwhile, a slow bus ride is compounded by elderly, slow moving passengers and the lift being used three times. I was screaming my rage very loudly in my head. By the time I reached my appointment, I was only three minutes late. I then waited 30 minutes to be washed. Go figure.
It did get me thinking. Is it better to internally control emotions or is better to rage out loud? Not sure. The rage of the man of the bus was so alive.
After the appointment, I high tailed it to 12th and Jackson (from 20th and Yesler). I didn’t see the number 1 so I decided to walk to 5th and Jackson to catch the 99. Of course, the number 1 goes rolling by me when I’m halfway there. Then I see the 99 come around the corner. I missed both. I decided it would be quicker for me to walk than wait for the next bus. So 25 minutes later, I made it to work.
I had blocked an extra hour of “buffer” time. A coworker booked a meeting with me even though the time was clearly booked. I did not accept it. I barely made it in time for my three o’clock meeting, which ended up being rescheduled. Sigh!
All of this for my hair. Jeez. So, my hair has not “budded.” The original plan was six weeks get the “real” wash. Now, it will be eight weeks. After which time, I will go every month.
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