Hungry

This verse from Mary's Song found in Luke 1 has been impacting me recently:

"He has filled the hungry with good things and sent the rich away empty" Luke 1:53

Isn't that beautiful? Do you think the rich are sent away empty because they think they are already full or because they think they possess everything? I know I'm usually in the "rich" categories found in scripture, but I'm feeling awful hungry these days...

Mary is "an example of a simple human touched by divine power and presence [commentary]" I love how simple & profound those words sound. I love that I, Andrea-the-ordinary-everyday-gal, am touched by the divine power and presence...

Missing Out?!

“If only my kid wasn’t so grumpy I could stay at the Christmas party”

“I wish I could spend Christmas on the slopes like the Jones family!”

“I wish I could do that!”

Ever notice yourself feeling as though you are missing out due to the situation you’re in? Perhaps it’s a financial thing. Sometimes when I see someone in a higher income bracket than me going traveling, getting nice clothes, etc, I feel like I’m missing out. Moreover, not being able to participate in certain social events can really frustrate me. Since having Luke, there are many things I cannot partake in due to the fact that the baby stage is quite demanding.

What does the Truth have to say about such predicaments???

Truth has often reminded me of a picture that each of us has our own pathway to walk. In each of our pathways there are gifts along it. Some are pretty and attractive. Others appear unattractive and uninviting. Nevertheless they are gifts. If I were to name a couple of unattractive gifts in my life right now they would be: feeling drained and staying home in the evenings.

Both of these unattractive gifts have enabled me to continue my journey towards transformation. I have had sooo many opportunities to experience my unfiltered thoughts (my husband gets the brunt of these!)…it is not pretty…but I desire to become unselfish and transformed in the likeness of my Generous Friend above. Oh to be more like Him!!!

As my frustrations rise to the top WAY faster these days, I am forced to face myself and have been invited to let go of the control that I desire to have over my marriage, the way I would like Luke to be, the constant mess in my house, and the fact that I can’t complete most tasks due to “wah, wah”! This is enough to drive me nuts on a daily basis. However, on the rare occasion that I can open my hands and let things go, Grace suddenly shows up with a gift of sanity and peace.

To finish the “path” picture above…I find when I look to another’s pathway with longing, I happen to miss a gift that is in my pathway. When I fail to be present to what is in front of me, I can’t receive what is.

So perhaps the very language of “missing out” is a failure to embrace what is, which therefore concludes that we are missing out.

Merry Christmas! May we embrace the unattractive gifts in our path this season!

Ordinary

“God comes to us disguised as our life.”

-Paula D’Arcy

I’m finding it mysterious, refreshing, and difficult to find God in the everyday hum-drum of life.

In the past I’ve done it all: YWAM, School of Discipleship, Spiritual Retreats, Bible school, Mission trips, etc. Whenever I’ve gone on these treks, I’m on the alert to see where God is and what He is doing. However, I venture to say that it is just as significant if not more to see the divine at 4 am when a crying baby awakes you, to see Christ in those you meet at the grocery store, answering the phone, or to be present while cooking supper!

Whenever I’ve come back from one of these spiritual treks, I’ve often been asked to share in church things learned and how I experienced God. I recall thinking, “Why do I get the opportunity to share what God taught me on YWAM, but so-and-so doesn’t get to share what they learned working at Friesen’s this week?” I guess this reveals what our system values. It is great to learn of a persons service opportunity (I revel in this), don’t get me wrong, but what of the rest of the world? The majority of the world is poor and can’t afford to go on a retreat or program. Are they somehow stunted in their growth because of it?

If God comes to us disguised as everything that occurs in our day, then that is CRAZY exciting and surprisingly ordinary. The question becomes, “Am I willing to receive Christ in the ordinary?” Often I don’t want to meet Christ in the ordinary hum-drum of my day, because certain situations are tedious, uncomfortable, and normal. I often prefer a shiny sparkly Jesus as opposed to an everyday event. I prefer and find it easier to meet Christ in a spiritual author rather than the kids who come to my door daily.

Yes, this has been another Andrea-rant…

Cheers!

World Changers

The nature of the contemplative mind is to love one’s enemies. Those are the people
who will change the world.

-Rohr