Thursday, September 15, 2011

Price Tags

Whenever I go shopping- on the rare occasion that I do- I always seem to be taken aback by the price on all two items that I'm interested in buying. They are normally priced about twice as much as I would even consider ro pay for them. And my taste isn't that grand either- I just want a new item every now and then.

With this in mind, can I just ask why people tend to have this impulse to buy new things when their old things have not yet lost all value? For me, I like surprising myself with something that I would never think of getting. Which is why I am currently in te process of trying to get my chic roommate to go shopping with me and create parts of a better wardrobe.

We like the feeling of new, yet at the moment, the fashion world likes to sell retro stuff. This is how I have been feeling all week. God has been giving me revelation after revelation that it is almost impossible to keep up. But the hilarious part about it is the fact that He is giving me that same words that He has always given me. The only difference between now and then is that now all the words and revelations actually mean something. When he says He finds me funny, I'm outrageous. When He says I'm gorgeous, I'm stunning. And when He says I'm valued, I'm priceless.

Back to the price tag conundrum, everything in stores is marked by a tag. We constantly see these, yet the most important tags are often invisible to us. Our own. If we ever took the time to look at them, we wouldn't find them to be neat little cards, all crisp and clean. Rather they are saturated by blood, dripping the life of Christ. We forget, but God doesn't.

We buy new things to make us feel new and fresh, but as Christians, we are already wearing the best fashion line. We just don't always see it. Notice yours more often.

Tuesday, September 13, 2011

Fabulous thought

Here is one of my favorite mysteries about God:

I am His favorite

And you are His favorite

And you are His favorite

And you are His favorite

AND YOU ARE HIS FAVORITE!!!!!

Sunday, September 11, 2011

What really matters

Toronto Canada is a massive city, to me anyway, but itis also one of the most culturally diverse cities in the world. Yesterday, my friends and I took a 45 minute trek to the mall and I was floored at how many cultures I could see in one place. I thought it was pretty impressive that I was traveling with a New Yorker, an English, and a Norwegian, but oh was I wrong. Over 200 ethnic origins are respresented in a city of 2.5 million people. New York is a city of 8.1 million and only has only a few dozen.

I walked into a toy store and the teller was from India, I saw at least 5 middle eastern families, Asians, Europeans...whatever nationality you can think of was probably inside that mall! And this revelation hit me: All of these people are under the same roof because they all have a common interest. Obviously they do not agree on everything, but their desire to purchase something for themselves or for their families trumps all hinderances. They can coexist in one place because of a similar desire. If it so easy for them to get along and be civil, why are some churches unable to do as much?

This also presented itself in the IHOP (International House of Prayer...not Pancakes) Toronto unveiling that I attended tonight. There were dozens of nationalities, but instead of bickering about doctrine, predestination, or guessing how many people at that moment were going to Hell, they came together to celebrate their common passion. Jesus.

Jesus' beauty is so overwhelming but oftentimes people are blinded by their own bigotry; trying to decide who is right and who is wrong that they miss the whole point and search aimlessly in the dark for something they want to hold meaning.

Christians do not need to agree with others about every little thing. Jesus is to be the focal point of our existance, everything else is either superfluous or a detail. Rather than condemning others for their opinions, embrace them. Show love. We are to emulate Christ. We are to be little Christ's.

Tuesday, September 6, 2011

New Chapters...and a whole lot of in your face people

Hello and good day to all of those who care enough about me to actually read what I have to say in full display of all on the Internet.

I, being a graduate from the lovely establishment known as high school, am currently embarking on a new journey that I am loving to call my own. As of this moment I am a student in the Catch the Fire School of Ministry in Toronto, Canada. Apart from being in a country that is definitly NOT home and being thrust into a school that is very fast paced and lively, I have had a not stressful experience so far.

To understand what is going on and for my own advantage of not having to answer this question again, I found out about this school from two very lovely people from church. These said lovely people told my sister, my sister attended last fall, and this fall it is my turn to be here. I chose to come here before college because I have no idea what I am supposed to be doing with my life and I would rather worship than attend a math class any day of the week. That, in a nut shell, is why I am here.

On Labor day, my friend Jacob and his family, my mom, and I made a 10 hr trek to Toronto. It really wasn't too bad, either. Today was the first day of school and I had to say farewell to my mom...tears. It really didn't hit me until I realized that I was by myself...in a small room...with three other people that I didn't know who were my new roommates. However they are fabulous people. Talia is a native to Canada, Inka is from Finland, and Sarah is from England. Sufficient to say we are a diverse group.

After a meet-and-greet and dinner, everyone was whisked into worship in the sanctuary. BEST WORSHIP EVER!!! I don't think I have ever feel the Holy Spirit fall on me so fast. The fact that everyone was there out of a deep passion from their hearts and that everyone was pursuing God together made it so much easier! I loved it.

It is now time for this retiring night-owl to say goodnight