Goodness Into Freedom

Choosing the good part, doing the good deed, believing He will do what He says. This is goodness. This is the one necessary part.

And it centers on Jesus.

It is Mary of Bethany choosing to sit and listen to Jesus when a plethora of needed service was vying for her attention.

It is Mary of Bethany again “wasting" lots of costly perfume, worth what could have fed the poor, to drench the feet of her Beloved Jesus.

It is Mary, the Mother of Jesus, who counts being considered an unfaithful bride as nothing in comparison to holding the Baby God in her womb.

Scandal, waste, laziness!

In order to provide the space of nurture and adoration for the Lover of our Souls, the Ultimate Baby, the God-Man.

And each of us ministers to this Guy in unique ways! And each of us are given personalized missions to meet His needs through loving others!

Sometimes I think there are people who don't understand my call. And I know why I'm doing what I'm doing. And I know Jesus is with me and in it. But so often I feel myself, my actions, reactions, and general choices in life are met with so much opposition and judgment, so much negation towards my heart.

And Martha, and Judas, and Joseph questioned the motives and choices of the Marys as well. And the Marys didn't jump to and explain their side, or stop the listening or stop the anointing. They continued to act their mission with single focus, caring not what anyone thought, but Him.

And freedom is only realized when His pleasure is our only want. Goodness is realized in His plan for me. Freedom is gained when I am being my quirky, authentic self wrapped up only in the ribbons of His will for me and my relaxation in His satisfaction.

So I cuddle and carol with our kitties. I find hearty health in practicing yoga to Christmas tunes. I find my most beautiful expression of God in the form of a Baby who came to grow up to be our best Friend! And I pray. No opposition can ever rob us of the power God shares with us. To battle for goodness and genuine freedom through prayer. I pray in song! I pray simply saying the Name of Jesus over and over! I claim with pride and great gratitude the bloody gospel that infuses the dead with life!

“Every thread of hope I have left, I tie to Jesus!”

Credit: The Soul Doctor 

Unforced Rhythms of Grace

I have found my manifesto in my home.

I have children that I can't just bundle into car seats and take them everywhere. They're cats; it would terrify them. I love being with them! I have a husband with a physical condition that makes it very painful to be away from the comfort of home for any length of time. I love being around my guy!

I have been forced this week, due to putting my back out, to be up and bustling for only about an hour at a time, then have to lay down for about that same amount of time. God gave me yoga in February as an alternative to smoking. And I have a feeling He is both reminding me of the limits of being in my 40's and enabling my "get up and do" nature to be still and write.

Writing has been a huge desire for years and so often I have just not been able. And now I am! And it's super exciting! I’ve found both the habit and the words! I thrive from moving my body, which I will always continue to do. Yoga chose me and it has balanced me emotionally as well as physically in the most delicious way. Yet there are times to be still and cry out what is the beat of my heart.

That cry, that beat is that people and animals be reminded of who their Creator and Rescuer really are. I want you to know my Jesus!!! 

I was abundantly confused through lots of dogma growing up and, thanks be to God, my husband from the day we met has shown me God's wide-open spaces, a delightful place with soft blankets and gushing wells of joy where I learn to crawl and scooch and wobble towards Him to find His way of life, which is the way of grace.

I learn in yoga to transition from pose to pose with grace. And I don't mean in it in the sense of perfect poise, but instead of intention and gentleness towards our bodies with every bend and every twist. Like a baby who is hesitant yet determined, focusing only on that next step.

That whole ancient idea of being as wise as serpents and as gentle as doves. The dance of life is out there, but the focus becomes only in the beauty of the nuance of the next move no matter how miniscule. The spice, the light in the simplest action or word or prayer is the subtle flavor, the tiny spark that can turn the most hurt heart to understand the deep love of God for the very first time.

Illustration by Mary Engelbreit 

Joy Prayers: Caroling!

There are times of grief and begging God to take this cup from us. David did it pleading for the life of his first born son with Bathsheba. Jesus did it before the inevitable separation from His Father that He dreaded so desperately. I did it before my first born kitty boy, Toby, flew into Jesus' arms. I sure wasn't ready for him to leave mine.

Yet, I know all of Jesus' prayers were not done in desperation and sadness. He was full of gratitude, overcome with the joy of mingling with his own creation, indescribably loving His Father.

Talking to God should not be some formula, but magically unique, and from what Ruth Heflin says in her book, Glory, it should be more than anything about praise!

Psalm 8 and Matthew 21 say that God both perfects praise through the coos and Hallelujahs of His little kids, and He halts the evil and violent through those same Hosannas!

I have enlisted in the praise chorus of Christmas. The kitties and I are starting our mornings in songs of comfort and joy. As Ruth Heflin did, we are praising Him with souls in mind all over the globe. Little kids I've taught. Family who I don't get to see a lot. Endangered animals. Human Orphans in Uganda. Animal Orphans in Aruba. Powerful women who love God.

Anywhere we see a need, we're caroling our way for them to find joy through the Christmas Baby!

Our two guidebooks are the beautiful picture books, Margaret Wise Brown's The Moon Shines Down and Debby Anderson's Jesus Loves the Little Children.

God's kids from one to ninety-two are the little ones whose praise brings revolution and the most beautiful understanding of all, that God came to be with us, our Emmanuel!

https://www.flickr.com/photos/goddessofchocolate/
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Ghostbusters

My hubby surprised me this afternoon by renting the new Ghostbusters! It was breathtakingly beautiful!

Yes, women are the heroes, but not what you expect; instead, full-out quirky, cute, and not so lady-like realness.

Yes, Chris Hemsworth plays a stupid guy whose only visual asset is his looks, yet his heart is pure gold in its loyalty to the power ladies.

I have heard this touted as pushing women's lib. We watched the extended cut, which is not preaching, simply affirming the power women already possess and can grab hold of! Why raise a lady when you can raise a warrior, right girls?

What really struck me though is that amongst the ivy league collegiate circles, the famed scientists of the time, and the general governmental "protection" of the masses; Erin, a ghostbuster, has to succumb to the agendas of these esteemed while hiding the thing that first haunted her soul as a kid and still now, beckons her attention.

It's real to her. But over actively laughed at, then violently covered up by the important, by those who "know better".

It's real to her!

*******************

But we seek a better country!

We seek things that were, when God was best friends with humans and animals, walking hand in hand in the cool of the day.

We glimpsed Jesus who disregarded the accusation of being a drunkard and glutton just so he could live the fullness of human life and have authentic and imperfect friends. He found comfort in angels and wild animals when life on Earth became too tragic.

We grasp the otherworldly in hope! Hope that we will embrace our sweeties who've traveled before, hope that there really is a new Heavenly world where lions and lambs waltz together, and there actually are wildly awesome animal-human beasts that lead us into dazed-out awe over the ever-cool deep magic of God!

Honestly, my life as a full out cat mom and this combo of woman-warrior, husband-adorer, and Jesus-worshiper all in one get strange looks and whispers. I kind of don't fit into any circles. And I think some people really do think I'm crazy. But..

It's real to me!

Lisa Bevere's book Without Rival

Lisa Bevere's book Without Rival

Lisa Bevere's book Without Rival

Wisdom! The Antidote to Guilt

Guilt kicks my butt! Guilt robs me of energy! And it is not God's gentle nudge helping me stop a screwed up behavior. It is a full blown condemnation that me and the things I do are not enough. That I am disappointing God, my husband, living souls in general. I am failing.

It hangs on me like a weight and disregards the wisdom that is in me. The wisdom that I have learned from my mistakes and triumphs in my 41 years of life.

And as I'm writing this, I think that is what I need to use to fight back. My wisdom.

I teach self care in yoga and I have the hardest time applying it to myself. Realizing that I am enough. That taking time to myself is not only allowed, but encouraged. That fueling myself charges me to care for others. That I deserve kudos for learning through my years, and my decisions are not only valid, they are delightful, and they display what only I, in my uniqueness, can shine to the earth.

This verse in Proverbs 8 of The Message version of the Bible is uncontainable joy to me! Wisdom is speaking about creating with God. She says, “Day after day I was there, with my joyful applause, always enjoying His company, delighted with the world of things and creatures..”

And it is this back and forth dance, full of grace and applause, that is life partnering with the God of creation. Take His hand and go forth. Spread the delightfulness of Christ in YOU to the world!

Being a yogi, I picture it best as dancing sometimes in the hatha yoga style of beautiful pose, hold and breathe deeply, to graceful transition; or the vinyasa fluidity of moving in and out of poses seamlessly; or the inhabiting depth of holding still in the yin yoga stretches; or the still peace and restfulness of restorative yoga.

Creating with God has fluid movement, quick movement, patient waiting, holy naps to refresh, and always at it’s depth is breathing, breathing deep, breathing through emotions of joy and sadness, breathing air, breathing glory!

Illustration found http://gitmekilekalmak.tumblr.com/image/89292920288

http://www.dumpaday.com/funny-pictures/funny-pictures-of-the-day-32-pics-7/

http://everyday-i-show.livejournal.com/45132.html

He Went Away To Pray

I am overwhelmed in my heart today with love. Love for my charmed life..with a totally amazing husband, 5 kitties and counting, and the spinner of the deep magic, Jesus.

I love my home, especially our cozy bedroom cave. Jesus went to the wilderness to pray and He was surrounded by the wild animals. I kind of use my home as my wilderness. Bursting with animals, my space of comfort, I use it to recharge for a life of sharing with others.

God keeps pulling me out to mingle with other people. Me, an introvert, that has a hard time trusting. My mom in law was telling stories of missionaries at lunch yesterday. Those stories ignite fire in me. The fire to willingly and right now do what God tells you!

Sometimes I have a hard time having people over to our home, because I put on myself the pressure of entertaining and hostess-ing perfectly. Sometimes I feel horribly guilty about this.

Then I remember that Jesus got away not to forget about people, but instead to pray His heart out for them, and to rev up for eating and drinking and talking and laughing with them.

I’m starting to see my solace with my husband and animal babies not as selfish, but as a springboard to commune with the Creator of every living being, and to get my marching orders to minister to Him through His precious creatures.

I see me learning to form eyes to see God's image, to feel God's breath in every living soul. I go forth from my little habitat, my sanctuary armed with the joy of Jesus!

Illustration by Greg Olsen