Wow. What a whirlwind the holidays have been for me. It may be belated, but I hope everyone had a truly blessed Christmas. I loved going up North to celebrate with my family. In most cases, it had been at least 10 years since I've seen them. I don't want to go that long without seeing them again. Can you imagine what it would be like if God left us alone for 10 years? Yikes.
Anyway, I hope all have a fantastic, safe, and prosperous New Year! I will try to not treat this blog like I had grown accustomed to treating my family. Reaching out should be one of my resolutions! No more isolation (in all forms) in 2011, please!
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Potential v. Kinetic Energy
I named this blog “Kinetic Love” for a reason. Kinetic energy is energy that’s been set in motion. I’ve always wanted my life to be that way, constantly moving, doing, changing, evolving, creating. I’m an artist. At my core, that’s who I am. I can be many different things successfully, but the deepest part of me longs to create things of beauty and significance. It’s why I write, why I sing, or any of the number of other things I do.
One of my biggest pet peeves is wasted potential. I’ve seen it happen to so many people: they have so much talent, but it’s being wasted because of their situation or job or lack of motivation. I never wanted that to be me. I don’t want to have all this stored up potential talent/energy; I want it to be “in motion.” If you’ll notice, I haven’t written anything in almost 2 months. I have become the thing I hate. I feel I’ve had nothing “in motion” to share, so I just didn’t. I don’t know if I’m doing anyone a disservice but myself. I feel my desire to create being stifled by my situation in life right now. I feel my gray cubicle walls closing in on me, and I’ve done little to dig myself out of the hole I feel I’ve fallen in.
So, I do want to apologize for the lack of updates. Even if I don’t feel I have anything of worth to share, I realize now that I should at least try. Because I am not alone. We are never alone in this. As a Christian, I admit I often neglect the gift of fellowship. I’m generally a pretty solitary person, and I don’t feel that I handle social situations well, but Jesus gave us the example by forming close bonds with his disciples. He reached out and shared life experiences with others. I know I need to do more of this. So if you are reading this, thanks for reading. You are not alone, and neither am I. Pray for me to be more responsible with the gifts God has given me. And please, don’t neglect the gift He’s given you (1 Tim. 4:14).
Monday, October 11, 2010
Little Faith
Matthew 6: 25-34
"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?
"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Have you ever tried to tell someone something you knew was true, but they just wouldn't believe you? Being somewhat of an insufferable know-it-all by nature, this happens to me often. Why is it that everyone else feels like he or she has to try it first before it's accepted as truth? Why do children feel they all need to touch the hot stove after you tell them it's hot?
Then, I realized this is what we do to God on a daily basis. He says, "I will provide," and we stress out about where the money for the car repairs is going to come from. He says, "you're beautiful," and we pick apart our reflections in the mirror. He says, "I have a plan," and we go searching down every avenue to find out where we're going.
The thing about worry is, it takes the control from God and gives it back to us, the imperfect human. We don't deserve that control, but we sure do like to have it. Sometimes it's just a little too hard to trust Someone you can't see with your variables. Where am I going? What am I doing? These are common questions we all ask. The problem arises when we also think we have all the answers. Sometimes we have to learn how to jump in the passenger seat and let God take the wheel. (I feel like there was almost a country song reference there... glad we avoided that.)
"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?
"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Have you ever tried to tell someone something you knew was true, but they just wouldn't believe you? Being somewhat of an insufferable know-it-all by nature, this happens to me often. Why is it that everyone else feels like he or she has to try it first before it's accepted as truth? Why do children feel they all need to touch the hot stove after you tell them it's hot?
Then, I realized this is what we do to God on a daily basis. He says, "I will provide," and we stress out about where the money for the car repairs is going to come from. He says, "you're beautiful," and we pick apart our reflections in the mirror. He says, "I have a plan," and we go searching down every avenue to find out where we're going.
The thing about worry is, it takes the control from God and gives it back to us, the imperfect human. We don't deserve that control, but we sure do like to have it. Sometimes it's just a little too hard to trust Someone you can't see with your variables. Where am I going? What am I doing? These are common questions we all ask. The problem arises when we also think we have all the answers. Sometimes we have to learn how to jump in the passenger seat and let God take the wheel. (I feel like there was almost a country song reference there... glad we avoided that.)
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Hard Times
I'm really not too good with the whole blogging thing. I start off great and then kind of fizzle out. However, I'm determined to not let this blog fall by the wayside like the others I've started. Sometimes it's just a little hard to get motivated.
And isn't that like so many other things in life? How many times have you started something with the best of intentions, only to give up after a week or two? It's especially hard to keep going at something once the obstacles start sprouting up. I guess my point is, I haven't given up. And neither should you. Whatever you may be facing today, remember that "suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope" (Rom. 5:3-4).
And isn't that like so many other things in life? How many times have you started something with the best of intentions, only to give up after a week or two? It's especially hard to keep going at something once the obstacles start sprouting up. I guess my point is, I haven't given up. And neither should you. Whatever you may be facing today, remember that "suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope" (Rom. 5:3-4).
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Distractions
Luke 10:38-42
As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!"
"Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her."
Do you ever get distracted? I know I - oh look, a dust bunny! I kid, but in all seriousness, distractions are a big thing for me. I meant to read my Bible, but I got distracted by a tv show... I meant to practice guitar, but I got distracted by a jar of nutella... I meant to write a new blog, but I got distracted by online mahjong. You get the idea.
Sometimes my life is one big distraction. On paper, it doesn't look like I've got too much going on, but when it comes down to it, I feel like I don't have time for anything. Or rather, I'm not spending enough time on the important things. I don't know why I let trivial pursuits get in the way of the bigger picture. You'd think it would have been something I'd have learned by now. But I still do it. I still lay my head down at the end of the day, thinking about all the things I wanted to do and how many I actually did.
Are you like that at all? Maybe you're not. Maybe you've got it all together and always get all the checks on your to-do list. For the rest of you distracted procrastinators like me, hang in there. Don't let the small things get in the way of the big. Keep your focus on the One who's driving you to do it, and the rest will come along... eventually.
As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!"
"Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her."
Do you ever get distracted? I know I - oh look, a dust bunny! I kid, but in all seriousness, distractions are a big thing for me. I meant to read my Bible, but I got distracted by a tv show... I meant to practice guitar, but I got distracted by a jar of nutella... I meant to write a new blog, but I got distracted by online mahjong. You get the idea.
Sometimes my life is one big distraction. On paper, it doesn't look like I've got too much going on, but when it comes down to it, I feel like I don't have time for anything. Or rather, I'm not spending enough time on the important things. I don't know why I let trivial pursuits get in the way of the bigger picture. You'd think it would have been something I'd have learned by now. But I still do it. I still lay my head down at the end of the day, thinking about all the things I wanted to do and how many I actually did.
Are you like that at all? Maybe you're not. Maybe you've got it all together and always get all the checks on your to-do list. For the rest of you distracted procrastinators like me, hang in there. Don't let the small things get in the way of the big. Keep your focus on the One who's driving you to do it, and the rest will come along... eventually.
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Busy? Rest.
Matthew 11:28-29
"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls."
I have been so busy this week. We're going through some changes at work and it's required me to take on more responsibility for a while and work some extra hours. Nothing major, but piled on top of the stuff I already have to do, it feels like a lot. I get bogged down. I realize I haven't updated the blog, and when I started this blog, my intent was to update on a near daily basis.
The thing about life is that it will always be busy. There's always something that's not going to get done. I need to stop focusing so much on all that stuff, and focus instead on spending some time with my Savior. He's promised me rest... then why do I have such a hard time resting?
I don't really have an answer right now. And I think that's OK. What I'm being reminded of tonight is that Jesus called the weary and burdened to Himself. The reward is rest. Maybe I should come to Him more; learn from Him more; spend less time in the world. Maybe then I would know what real rest is.
"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls."
I have been so busy this week. We're going through some changes at work and it's required me to take on more responsibility for a while and work some extra hours. Nothing major, but piled on top of the stuff I already have to do, it feels like a lot. I get bogged down. I realize I haven't updated the blog, and when I started this blog, my intent was to update on a near daily basis.
The thing about life is that it will always be busy. There's always something that's not going to get done. I need to stop focusing so much on all that stuff, and focus instead on spending some time with my Savior. He's promised me rest... then why do I have such a hard time resting?
I don't really have an answer right now. And I think that's OK. What I'm being reminded of tonight is that Jesus called the weary and burdened to Himself. The reward is rest. Maybe I should come to Him more; learn from Him more; spend less time in the world. Maybe then I would know what real rest is.
Monday, September 13, 2010
Heart Sanitizer
I thought about this over the weekend as I attended Rock the Universe at Universal Studios in Orlando. Hand sanitizer is a handy thing to have around when going to a theme park. All those handrails and rides that thousands of people have been in before... it's just a good idea to have some.
How often do you wash your hands? I wash mine quite often (being a bit of a germaphobe after volunteering at the hospital 2 consecutive summers in my teens). We wash after the bathroom, before handling food, and anytime our hands get dirty or sticky. But what about your heart?
We see so many negative and disturbing things on a daily basis, but what steps are we taking to ensure the grime of this world doesn't dirty our hearts? I'm talking to myself, here. It should be common sense with all we see and hear that we do something to counteract that filth: read the Bible, talk with God, listen to some positive music, take a walk in the park. Sadly, this is something many of us forget. Then we wonder why we feel bogged down, even depressed.
It's a great thing to have good hygene practices. But next time you crack out the hand sanitizer, think about what you're doing to clean off your heart.
How often do you wash your hands? I wash mine quite often (being a bit of a germaphobe after volunteering at the hospital 2 consecutive summers in my teens). We wash after the bathroom, before handling food, and anytime our hands get dirty or sticky. But what about your heart?
We see so many negative and disturbing things on a daily basis, but what steps are we taking to ensure the grime of this world doesn't dirty our hearts? I'm talking to myself, here. It should be common sense with all we see and hear that we do something to counteract that filth: read the Bible, talk with God, listen to some positive music, take a walk in the park. Sadly, this is something many of us forget. Then we wonder why we feel bogged down, even depressed.
It's a great thing to have good hygene practices. But next time you crack out the hand sanitizer, think about what you're doing to clean off your heart.
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