Author Archives: therealmimi

More “beautiful”

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I’ve been a fan of a crazy band called “Five Iron Frenzy” since my early 30’s when we lived in New Mexico.  They’re a SKA band: kind of a punk, hyper sound with brass and lots of zip.  One reason I really like them is because the lead singer sings with such incredible passion – he really belts it out!  Some of their songs are nonsensical and funny but there are a few really poignant ones like the one entitled “It Was Beautiful.”  I think it was written 6 years ago when they were breaking up as a band.  It’s about wrapping up their career, thinking back to those moments when God was especially close while they sang, performed, and traveled together.  If you have a few minutes listen and follow along with the lyrics below.  When I hear it I feel happy and thankful and in awe of our God who truly is the One who makes things sweet, good, and beautiful.

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It’s beautiful

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As we walked into Crossroads for worship this morning a little late I saw a room practically full and once I sat down several more came in after me. I looked around and saw a lot of young faces belonging to high school and college students and young adults. I don’t know why but it made me smile to see the teen boys who shuffled in and sat down in front of us with their hoodies, shaggy hair and tennis shoes. All of us listening to God’s word, truth being spoken into all the listening ears and hearts. After the message we stood to sing and soon I was overcome. The voices behind and beside me were loud but off-key. I happened to be among some enthusiastic singers who can’t hold a tune but today it didn’t throw me off or bug me, it blessed me. They were singing their hearts out.

Several times our lead worshipper would step back from the mic and then we could hear the sound we were making together (I love it when he does that). I know, no matter who was on pitch or not, that it was a sweet sound in God’s ears.

As we kept singing and after worship while I looked around at all the college kids standing to visit and leave, my heart swelled. I wonder if God will give me a place to serve where I can love on and minister to college students because my heart is drawn to them. I don’t know most of the kids that were there today but I felt love for them.

Some of my happiest moments this past year have been when my college daughter and a whole slew of her friends came over to our house several times to eat and hang out. We make sure to take a moment to pray for them before they go back to school. I’m looking forward to meeting some more friends when my 2nd daughter, who’s in college this year, brings some of her peeps home soon.

God loves people at every stage of life but today I was bowled over by His love for young people. Give me moments when I can encourage them as they follow You, Jesus. Give me opportunities to love them. Thank you for the life and energy behind all those voices, God, and for allowing me to stand in the midst of it today.

‘Tis Thankful Thursday

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I forgot about thankful Thursday last week  ~gasp~ so I want to post before I forget again.

Thursday makes me think of being really close to the weekend

Which makes me think of free time and a lil’ bit of sleeping in

Which makes me think of pillows

Which makes me glad someone invented pillows

Which makes me impressed by people who invent things

Which makes me think of our brains

Which makes me ponder a moment in awe of God’s ingenuity

Which makes me want to try and think harder and use more of my brain’s potential

Which makes me laugh a little

Which makes me feel good, laughing that is

Which makes me glad God thought up laughing, what a great idea!

Which makes me want to show you this:

I lift up my hands

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I lift up my hands in prayer – presenting myself wide open and vulnerable before You, God.  I trust You.

I lift my hands in awe and amazement and then spread them far out in front of me as I kneel down with my head to the ground.  You are holy.  The palms of my hands press against the cool earth, a reminder of where I came from, that I’m really dust.  How is it that you care about me, God?   Continue reading →

Love is the Reversal

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Yeah, nothing here’s as good as it should be, ’cause this is the rehearsal.  In between the “was” and the “could be,” love is the reversal.  – Starfield, Beauty in the Broken ©2006

Sometimes I picture this path at twilight, with a chill in the air.  I’m walking with my hands in my pockets, the collar of my coat turned up around my neck, being drawn by the warmth I see way off in the distance:  tiny golden squares of light which are the windows of home.  The lights stay on no matter what time of day it is, I just see them more clearly when it’s dark out.  I don’t know exactly when I’ll get there but I keep walking.  There are lots of people walking the opposite direction.  They seem to be oblivious that home is far off in the other direction.  Or maybe they don’t realize this isn’t their real home, this dusty path on earth.   My Papa’s love compels me to reach out, grab their sleeve and try to convince them to turn around and come with me.  “This life is good in many ways, sure, but it’s nothing like it could be and will be if we follow Christ!  Come this way.” or “I know this life really sucks sometimes, hurts and leaves us broken.  Come this way with me and find healing, hope and love.”

Ever feel like an outsider in your own life?  Continue reading →

One step closer to hope

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SPOILER ALERT:  This post contains details about the movie “Devil” currently in theaters, story by M. Night Shyamalan.

Do you believe in the devil?  If so, what do you think about him?  Or what fables have you heard about him?  I’ve always wondered where the image of a little red guy with a greasy mustache, pointy tail and a pitchfork came from.  There really aren’t many details about him in the Bible that tell us who he is other than a fallen angel, thief, prince of darkness, father of lies, and deceiver.  Jesus said the devil only aims to do three things:  to steal, kill and destroy  (John 10:10).  Peter warned us, “Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”  I Peter 5:8

M. Night Shyamalan uses that verse from Peter as a springboard to tell a story about sinners and their fate.  Although it’s fantasy, there are some truths in the movie, truths that won’t leave me alone today. Continue reading →

A day to ourselves

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Good morning!  I slept in as long as I could, being a tried and true morning person.  When I see sunlight streaming in windows I can hardly stay in bed any longer.  I’m trying to decide what to do first.  You see, John is off today and Krissy is away at a student conference so we have the day all to ourselves!  No agenda!  No plans yet.  I’m so silly that I almost get anxious thinking what we should do because I don’t want to waste it.  I’ve been updating categories and such on my blog and while reading through old posts was reminded so many things God’s been teaching me the last few years.  One in particular struck me that I should let God make the plans today.  I think I’ll go for a walk, no ipod or anything, and just put myself out there.  Here’s this day, God.  Here’s this time with you and with my husband.  Make some good plans for us.  I’ll let you know how it goes.

UPDATE:  God told me to just enjoy this day He’s given me and enjoy my husband.  No guilt over needing to do something, just enjoy.  That sounds good to me!

Know your enemy

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Someone I dearly love has been wrestling with lies from the enemy and shared more openly with me tonight about it.  As I listened I got mad, furious that he would torment her and give her such ideas, ideas to harm herself.  I reminded her that he doesn’t care about her and she doesn’t have to listen.  She said she needs a miracle.  The beautiful thing is that we serve a God who does miracles all the time.  Read this and be encouraged:

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(I posted this on my old blog a few years ago – I want to post it again)

Our spiritual enemy wants the opposite of what God wants for each of us. He will use lots of different tactics to try to drag us away and turn from God.

In order to defend yourself or even have a chance at defeating an enemy, you must know about the enemy. Here are a few things you need to remember about our spiritual enemy, the devil: Continue reading →

Connecting

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I’m in the middle of my week-long social media fast and so far, so good.  I do miss it, miss that community I feel a part of.  I realize that it’s a habit for me to tweet a lot because whenever things happen or I have a thought I want to share with someone I reach for my phone thinking, “I should tweet that!” and then I remember that I’m not using twitter right now.  I also feel like I don’t know as much of what’s going on in my friends’ and family’s life because I often see on facebook where people are going, what they’re dealing with, and how they feel.  In fact, a day or so ago my sister sent me an email (something I’m still using) and said, “Hey!  What’s going on? John just put on twitter that 3 churches are interested in him?  I need details!”  And I replied, “So do I!  I don’t know what you’re talking about!”  Continue reading →