Perspective is Everything!

So I'm finally back from my trip to visit my friend.  God is so good! I really needed the break and time to just be. 
I find it so interesting how even on vacation God speaks to us.  The whole trip seemed to have a theme.  Over and over again I was amazed at the idea of perspective in nature. 

This picture is for real!  I know it looks almost fake it is so beautiful.  This was the first hike I went on and I couldn't help myself, I started singing.  And yes for all those other musical lovers out there, it was from The Sound of Music. :) LOL  How can you look at such beauty and not want to sing!  I was also reminded of the song that has been on the radio more called Stronger.  Mainly because one refrain in the song is "Let your name be lifted higher, be lifted higher, be lifted higher!" And that is what I was doing singing and hiking higher and higher :) 

But then along the way I see beautiful little things like this.

Daisy's just make me smile.  They are like God's little smiley faces sprinkled all over the world to remind us of His love. :)  But a totally different perspective from the above picture. 

Again this idea of perspective just echoed over and over in my head.  I love traveling because it gives me a new view.  It open's my mind to new people and new things and helps me see things in a different way that I never thought before.  How we look at things and what things we choose to look at and study mold and shapes how we think and what things seem important to us.

Perspective is incredibly powerful and influential in all of our lives!  If we choose to look at the ground all the time we only see the grass, rocks, dirt, and flowers, which can be nice, but if we don't look up we miss the open blue sky and mountains, people, fields, and lakes. Vice versa, if we only stare at the sky or the mountains we miss all the beautiful details of the flowers and grass :) The more we look all around and take in everything around us, the better understanding we can have of ourselves, God, and the people around us.

Something else that impressed me on this trip was lenses.  Yes I said lenses :)  I have my phone and my camera.  My camera has a greater capacity to take wider range of pictures but its lens only captures one set light based on the setting.  My phone however, has this feature called HDR and mixes 3 different light settings to get a more natural light and perspective on the picture.  Which you can see in the mountain picture above. the sky was really bright that day and my regular camera could not capture the clouds be cause the light contrast was too great.  But my phone with HDR was able to get the whole scene and you can even make out the clouds in the sky over the mountains.

As well as perspective, the kind of lens we look at life with also effect how we see people, the world, and ourselves.  I know this first hand in my life. For a long time because of my hurt an pain, I could only see things through a darkened lens, I missed so much good things.  But now with God, things look totally different.  He opens my eyes and I see more and more of the His mercy, grace, and love and begin to see others in a whole new light. It's like going from black and white to 3D HD technicolor!  Yes even in the rocks and dirt of my life!

So after this trip, I am reminded how important perspective in all forms and lenses, can bring darkness and pain or bring health and life to our body, minds, and spirits.  The truth we seek is right before us, but it is how we look at it and what lens we choose that makes all the difference. The mountains and the sky still exist even if we only stare at the ground, the flowers and grass still exist even if we chose to only stare at the sky. Either view taken exclusively can warp us in the long haul, but taken together can create the beautifully harmony and view that makes our hearts sing for our Awesome Creator and share with others His love.

So perspective is everything! Chose God's lens in your life and see what wonderful and beautiful things He has place in between the rocks and dirt of your life.  Look up and dare to take in the solid mountain of strength and power and the blue sky full of grace and beauty for you!

• Psalms 36:5-9 : "Your love, Lord, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies.
   Your righteousness is like the highest mountains,
  your justice like the great deep.
  You, Lord, preserve both people and animals.
   How priceless is your unfailing love, O God!
  People take refuge in the shadow of your wings.
   They feast on the abundance of your house;
  you give them drink from your river of delights.
   For with you is the fountain of life;
  in your light we see light" NIV

• Psalms 121:1-2 :  "I lift up my eyes to the mountains—where does my help come from?
   My help comes from the Lord,
  the Maker of heaven and earth" NIV

Of course now I have to put in a verse or 2 that fit so well. :)

So I hope this helps encourage you to try to take in a new perspective or change out your lens to be open to God and His view.  What have you got to lose?  More like think of all the beautiful things you have to Gain! :)
Perspective is everything! 

Little Break

So I'm going on vacation for couple weeks. I'm looking forward to the break and some time with my good friend and her family. I hope to write a couple times but may not be able to due to being in another country.  Blessings to all if you and I will be back. 

Isaiah 26:3-4

You will keep in perfect peace

those whose minds are steadfast,

because they trust in you.

Trust in the Lord forever,

for the Lord, the Lord himself, is the Rock eternal.

Kori

MORE! Together!

So this morning I'm struggling with longing.  You know that feeling in your heart for something more.  We as humans seem to always have this desire for more. It is part of our DNA some how.

Lately for me it has been a longing for revival in my church. I grew up in a more conservative church. There isn't as much stigma now, but when I was growing up there were several rules focused on outward things that had no real bearing on salvation, but were treated almost as such.  I could tell many a story of people being shunned or treated badly because of things that were totally not related to salvation and some of those things completely out of the person's control.

Now things are not as strict as they used to be but, this culture of legalism still exists to a level and brings a environment of church culture that is difficult sometimes to explain to a non-believer.  I know all churches have their own culture to an extent.  Some of you may have the exact same thing in your church.  I see how easy it is for us a humans to add our own twists on the Bible doctrine and end up with a ridged mangled view of what God really intended.

The reason I long for revival, is because I long for the Holy Spirit to drive the church not human rules.  I long to have an environment of God so present in every service that I know that whoever I invited would get a serving of God's love straight up, instead of an agenda.

For a few years I stepped out of my church and sought out other things.  For me my church had become a dead routine, with focus more on culture and rules and mediocrity.   I felt there was no life, just pretending.  Now I know that is not completely true.  There are always some that just do things to feel better about themselves going through the motions, but there are always people as well that are seeking with true hearts.  Everywhere, this exists.  There is no place where Christian church is perfect.  But for me I had hit a wall.

I eventually began going to a non-denominational church.  It had  written over the door "Helping people take their next step toward Christ... Together".  This is their church mission.  Their whole service was focused on people that are seeking God, Not members.  Members had a more in depth service during the week.  The whole weekend was the members of church reaching their community. Dedicated to sharing Jesus in a relevant way to the people around them.  They would have baptisms of hundreds  a certain time of year.  The environment was alive!  Now they had their issues like every church, but their focus was different.

So I long for revival, I long for a shift of focus, I long for a re-arrange of our narrow thinking as humans, to God's thinking.   We focus on feeding ourselves a lot sometimes as Christians, but miss the ones around us spiritually starving daily, longing for something more in their lives.  As Christians we know the answer is Christ! How can we help them take their next step toward Christ.... Together!?

Every church no matter the denomination has the potential to do this. Isn't this what Jesus commissioned all Christians for? Yes we all have different talents and gifts but together as a body our one and only mission is to do this very thing, Help Others Find Christ!

So I want more.  Yes More.... More Of Christ! in me and my church. I put my hope in God and His word to show me what I can do to help.

• Psams 119:81 : "My soul faints with longing for your salvation, but I have put my hope in your word" NIV

What do you long for?  Whatever it is, Christ and His love is the only one that can fill that void.   As Christians, How can we long for God so much we long for others to know Him too?  How can we help people take their next step toward Christ?  That is our Mission if we choose to accept it!  What a beautiful one it is!  One that every Christian all over the world can stand behind.  Together!

Kindness Multiplied!

Today I was listening to the radio and they were talking about people paying for the person behind them in line at the drive thru.  I thought that was such a awesome way of doing an act of kindness.  The person in the restaurant manning the drive thru, had called in and said that from that one act of kindness 7 other people behind them did the same thing for the people behind them in line.

As a Christian sometimes I find it hard to imagine that one small act of kindness does anything past a moment.  There are times where, I hold a door open for someone, give a smile, leave a quarter in the cart at Aldi rather than reclaiming it, or stay late and see a patient for someone else.   But some days I wonder if any of those things really make any long lasting dent in our hard human hearts.

Listening to that story on the radio made me realize that all these acts of kindness do make an impact.  It may not be a miraculous lightning bolt from the sky, but it does make an impact and can multiply!

It makes reflect on times when the smallest thing lifted me up. Some days when I was down and having a bad day even the smallest kind gesture from another person lifted me up.  Over time, all those little things add up and helped me see God through the tough times and they still do today. Usually I am able to then give better to someone else that day or return the favor for someone else. I forget sometimes. And the devil is happy to try and help me get distracted and forget.

But today was a very good reminder. Here are some verses that are good reminders of kindness.

• Proverbs 12:25: " Anxiety weighs down the heart,
  but a kind word cheers it up" NIV
• Proverbs 14:31: "...but whoever is kind to the needy honors God." NIV
• Proverbs 19:16: "Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will reward them for what they have done." NIV 

So when you are waiting in line at the register in Walmart and you let a frantic mom and her kids cut in front of you in line, or wave at the neighbor, or encourage a co-worker, you DO make an impact! You may not know the full outcome, but it does make a difference.  I bet the first person, that paid for the order of the car behind him in the drive thru, had no idea after he drove off that his gift of love multiplied by 7 that day.  And how many people after hearing that story on the radio will try it one day and show the same love to others multiplying it even more.  I don't know about you but I'm going to try it :) So you can at least say multiplied by 8 :)

What acts of kindness have inspired or lifted you up?  Remember even if you don't see it, every act of kindness multiplies, and shows the love of God to others! 

Silent No More! Soar, Run, Walk!

Yesterday I went to a baptism. So beautiful! The day was really hot and humid, but somehow I didn't care.  Normally our church does baptisms in a baptistry in the front of the church in between pieces of the program.  Today was different.  Today we got to go to a small lake and see a young teenager give his heart to God through baptism.

Not that I need to be baptized again, but if I did I would do it just like this.  More authentic and more of a celebration of the most important decision of a person's life. We celebrate weddings, graduations, and even sporting events with more joy and enthusiasm than we do this life altering pivotal decision.

There was a nice group of people that came from the church as well.  This is pretty good, because I think sometimes it is easy to get stuck in routine, and harder to step out of our comfort zones especially on such a hot and humid day.  It allows people to connect on a different level and brings new life and connections, that formal church can stifle.

I was really encouraged by this young man's testimony. He didn't speak long, but he spoke from his heart and about his friend Jesus.  How Jesus had spoken to his heart.  He quoted a Bible verse in Isaiah.

• Isaiah 40:31:  " but those who hope in the Lord
  will renew their strength.
  They will soar on wings like eagles;
  they will run and not grow weary,
  they will walk and not be faint." NIV

He said that this verse always gives him courage and strengthens his faith to know that God is with him and will help him soar over life's problems to share Jesus with others.  Such a beautiful encouraging message!  Such a wonderful verse!

We need these reminders from each other as Christians that God is working in each other's hearts.  If we don't share what God is doing in our lives then we have a tendency to believe, when we are feeling down, that God is not there or is indifferent to our struggles.  But when others share, we are reminded about our powerful and loving God and our Faith and courage is renewed and our hearts are comforted.

We remember who God really is and What He is really capable of!

I am being more and more convicted of this in my own life and what today's Christians need to remember.

Who do you Really believe God Is?  And what do you Really believe He is capable of?  If you have a story to share. Share It! God will multiply blessing from it beyond what you know and you will encourage others!

If you struggle to answer these questions, take time to remember what God has done in your life.  You might even write them down. Talk to another Christian friend and ask them to share their stories about how God has worked in their life.  You will find strength and comfort.

Encourage each other!  God strengthens us as a body of believers when we share, and helps us, Like this Verse:
 Soar on the wings of eagle's, (over problems of life)
 Run and not grow weary, (even when times are tough)
 Walk and not be faint  (Hold onto Faith when its dark)

God is God, Let God be God

This was an inspiring quote this week for me from the book Restless by Jennie Allen, I thought I'd share.

"Faith is the measure to which we believe God is God.  And Faith is the measure to which we let God be God." pg. 202

This week I have been thinking about why today as Christians in America we struggle to really live out our faith and make a real impact.  I'm sure many of you could list off a few things that could definitely ring true. 

In this last year 1/2 + my heart has been set on going beyond just a passive spectator "good person" that never causes any ruffles.  My prayer has been, "Lord, I want to be fruitful" "I want my Christian life to bear fruit"

Doesn't it have everything to do with who we really believe God is and how much we surrender to Him and let Him be who He is in our lives?

Something to really think about.  Are we as Christians here in American and 1st world countries going to sit back and relax in the comforts we have and get lulled to sleep with endless distraction?  Have we really forgotten Who God really is?  How powerful He is? And what miracles He can work if we just let go of our egos, selfishness, and let Him do what He does best in our hearts?

Wouldn't our churches be different? Wouldn't our communities be different? Wouldn't this world be a different place if we did?

What would it take for you to really surrender completely to God and believe He is who He says He is and let Him be Who longs to be in your heart to you and others?  Blessings to each one of you that dares to take a step closer to God this day!

Tail Spin Lifted Heart!

Do you have weeks sometimes where you feel like you are drowning?  Where you feel like you can't get a handle on anything and anxiety or fear tries to take over and loneliness starts seeping in. This is one of those weeks for me.

I have felt like an airplane in a downward spin feeling out of control.  I have been trying to pull up on the controls and break this spin but not having the power or strength to save myself from this nauseating circular ride.

Sometimes all the nitty-bitty things in our lives is what start these spirals.  An irritating co-worker, a mistake on a bill, someone not returning an important phone call,  bad hair day, even wilty lettuce on a salad you bought just slowly eats away at our defenses.

Recently, I prayed God would grow my faith.  And this week, this is a new lesson on how to truly give things up and trust.  Like I've said before, I can be a little of a control freak.  I struggle when things seem out of my control.  Usually it is these tiny little things that can more easily get to me, it starts to make me feel like my world is starting to spiral out of control.

The reality is, it probably isn't as bad as I think, and even if it is, I serve a God that has my back.  This is so hard to remember when everywhere you turn, something else seems to be going wrong.

So by mid week I was feeling like I was in a free fall, no words to say stuck and spinning. Trying to do worship very hard and feeling very disconnected.

I am beginning to realize it is times like these, I have tried to take over my life and fly the plane myself.  I get under the illusion that I have it figured out and pride sets in.  What is that phase they say about pride? :) Something like it comes before a fall?  Hmmm kind of appropriate don't you think? :)

So I abandoned trying to read my Bible one morning and just got real with God.  I told Him all my fears and why I was feeling so out of control.  It was like God said to me, "You have to trust me even in the small things. I will carry you but you have to let me. "   Instantly, I realized that I was not letting God in to comfort me or minister to my heart because I had taken over.  I was trying to work out my "Formula" that I thought was working rather than leaning on God in Everything.

Suddenly, my heart evened out.  My circumstances didn't change, but God just lifted up my heart and started carrying me. What a great comfort! Verses started coming to my head that remind us of Gods promises.

• Philippians 4:13: I can do all this through him who gives me strength. NIV

• Romans 8:28: And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.  NIV

This morning the verse of comfort is this one.

• Numbers 6: 24-26: “The Lord bless you
  and keep you;
   the Lord make his face shine on you
  and be gracious to you;
   the Lord turn his face toward you
  and give you peace.”’ NIV

What a loving comforting God we have!
What are you fighting lately that has got you in a Tail Spin?  Give it to God even if you can't see the answer.  Trust that He will show you the way and take care of things for your good! You will be amazed at how He carries you!