A tribute to the face senses

If eyes are a window into the soul
Then what are mouths?
Perhaps the voice box
Sometimes a mask…

And what of ears?
They are necessary for hearing,
But not perceiving.
A tool for listening,
A way to gain information
That the mind will process.

My nose!
It must be the Disney land of all organs!
To have the sole responsibility of
Smelling, recognizing scents of
Nature, people, places…
Some good, and some not-What fun!

Touching is

the connection to reality

To know that something/someone exists

Radically changes perception...

Touch, nose, ears, mouth,
And then back to eyes.

Will life go on if one of these
Players of life recognition
Goes out of business?
Fortunately yes.
However, recognition isn’t quite as much fun.

I am grateful for my eyes
-may they be the window to my soul.
I am thankful for my mouth
-always a voice box, hopefully never a mask.
Hurray for my ears-hearing is my favorite!
I love my nose…

And to touch is to feel

What a gift to sense…

Judas, Peter

Because we are all
betrayers, taking
silver, and eating
body and blood, and asking
(guilty) is it I, and hearing
him say yes,
it would be simple for us all
to rush out
and hang ourselves.

But if we find grace
to cry and wait
after the voice of morning
has crowed in our
earslearly enough
to break our hearts,
he will be there
to ask us each, again,
do you love?
-Luci Shaw

Branded by Blood

Based on Luke 8:43-48
No one can know
No one can see
But if I could just touch Him once
I might be clean

I have waited alone too long
I have tried everything else
Great hope, Great faith, Bitter disappointments
If only I could just be clean

The blood makes me dirty
I am unfit for good company
I have been left by all those who claimed to love me
But, I can't blame them
After all, I am unclean

There are so many people around Him
I must get through the crowd
I can't see Him yet
There are so many people-it is so loud

There He is, I must get through
Its now or never...Thats it, the floor is good enough
I will crawl,
Just one touch of His garment

Cleansed forever.

Don't call me "little miss perfect"It makes me afraid.

Because I know the inner recesses of my mind

And I know my past mistakes and future struggles

And perfect does not describe them.

If you really knew what I struggle with,

If you had been there in my dark days,

If I could show you my sin...

Well, I just wouldn't want to.

Please, don't put me on that ivory pedestal

I have been up there before,

Fallen hard, And never want to go back.

Standing upright with all your expectation

is just

too

tiring

For I have known hardship, pain,

and FAILURE...especially failure.

My life has not been conflict free.

The success you claim to see

Is born out of failing.

The joy that you see

Is an intentional response to fear.

My confidence is born out of insecurity.

So you see,I am not "little miss perfect"

-Nor will I ever be.

But, I am in the process

Of being perfected...

Doing Church as a Team

As a part of my internship at my church, I am reading a book called "Doing Church As a Team" by Wayne Cordeiro. At the end of each chapter are thought questions-I have chosen to blog my answers...

1.) Read John 15:16. If God were to tell you six things that he wants for your life to stand for, what would they be?
John 15:16 (New International Version)
16You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.
· Protection of the oppressed and hurting
· Protection of the truth of his word and its importance in our everyday lives
· Passionate worship in music and in life
· Pro-active leadership development in self and others
· Pursuing relationships with believers and non-believers alike
· Purposeful interaction with people in every life situation

2.) Why do you think God gave you certain gifts and placed you in a specific church?
I don’t believe in chance. I chose Mountain Ridge church because of the family atmosphere and the instant bond that I felt with the people. I believe that I have specific gifts that fit the specific needs of the church. Because God placed me at mountain ridge, I play an integral role in reaching the Redmond area for Christ, and strengthening and empowering MRCC family members in their faith. I take that opportunity/responsibility seriously.

3.) What is one thing you want to accomplish before God takes you home? Write as a prayer.
Father, there are so many things I want to accomplish-I want to serve you with my whole life. I desire to be a good friend, and a good wife, but mostly I want to be a good mother. Lord, please give me the opportunity and responsibility to raise children who love and serve you with their whole life. I want to mother children from my own body and also to mother those who have no one to raise them and comfort them. I want to be a part of raising up a generation that honors you and brings you glory-please let me a part of that! Not my will but yours be done.

Originally, I told my pastor that I would do two chapters a week, but after this first chapter I realized I can only do one chapter a week-these questions prompted the re-writing of my life purpose statement and included a lot of deep introspection.