this season i have been inspired for change. not the change that comes from a new president and his cabinet; but real change. the kind of change Jesus brought when he turned reality upside down. He is constantly calling us into an alternate reality. a call to announce Jesus is lord in our hearts; not caesar.
yesterday my family drove to downtown kansas city to serve the homeless at hope faith. i've never felt more alive. walking in to a place i served all summer, it felt like home. a home i hadn't been to in so long. but i was welcomed back with open arms and blessings. my friend Roy gave me a deep smile from his eyes as he remembered i'd come to his bible study. he told me how good God is. i see more of Jesus in Roy's eyes than i've seen in a long time. my heart filled with so much joy and love for this man; poor but content. CONTENT. this man has his treasure in heaven, and i am so thankful how God chooses to reveal himself. not in the proud and intellegent; but in the lowly and humble.
from this experience i gather strength to enter into the season of advent. a season the world tells us is for consumerism and frustration. instead my posture will be of service. giving time and making gifts. and i tell you what, there is nothing the enemy wants more than for me to give up and go out and buy buy buy. target ads, cute clothes, presents that would be easy to get and check off my list. it's all there; all the time.
i am learning everyday how it is better to give than receive. the emptiness that comes from a holiday season of stress and frustration is not what i want this year. i am putting my time and effort into sincere gifts from the heart. it's a lot harder than i thought, but so good.
i encourage you to give. love. help. serve. conspire.
amen.
Friday, November 28, 2008
Sunday, November 23, 2008
god put a smile upon your face.
my weekend was nothing short of great for so many reasons. this includes but is not limited to:
1. friday night in (wheel, once, blue moon, chipotle)
2. cleaning my house from top to bottom.
3. sleeping in.
4. unexpectedly seeing the bf.
5. unexpectedly receiving a hilarious note from the paper delivery boy.
6. wonderful church.
7. pumpkin trail mix from target.
AND this. the amazing instrumental song WITH LYRICS. be patient, they happen towards the end.
coldplay is coming out with a semi-cd of songs that didn't make it on viva la vida. so far the two songs i've heard are amazing. the rest come out tuesday on prospekts march.
whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
amen.
1. friday night in (wheel, once, blue moon, chipotle)
2. cleaning my house from top to bottom.
3. sleeping in.
4. unexpectedly seeing the bf.
5. unexpectedly receiving a hilarious note from the paper delivery boy.
6. wonderful church.
7. pumpkin trail mix from target.
AND this. the amazing instrumental song WITH LYRICS. be patient, they happen towards the end.
coldplay is coming out with a semi-cd of songs that didn't make it on viva la vida. so far the two songs i've heard are amazing. the rest come out tuesday on prospekts march.
whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
amen.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Friday, November 14, 2008
vitamins.
my name is karlie mann and i am addicted to vitamins.
i have never really taken vitamins regularly before (excluding my youth when i ate flintstone vitamins like they were candy) but recently, i have become nothing less than obsessed.
it started with vitamin c to kick a cold, and as i stared down the isle of vitamins i couldn't help myself. A,B,C,D,E, fish oil!? i settled for a multivitamin that solved everything. a quick pill that would give me everything i need.
until i read an article on cnn.com about the vitamins doctors take. their list always started with a multivitamin, but there were three or four vitamins on top of that that were highly recommended. B vitamins for metabolism boost, vitamin D for just about everything, iron, folic acid, fish oil, etc. so apparently the multivitamin is not so multi.
after reading up i decided to take a multivitamin, vitamins A, C, and D, and a B complex. but I WANT MORE.
truth be told, my body probably doesn't have a deficiency of any of those vitamins, so i will just flush them all out*, but you just never know. one doctor said taking vitamins is like having insurance. you might need it, you might not, but everyone has it just in case.
once i start using a pill box with the days on it, someone stop me.
*B complex vitamin makes you excrete blindingly neon yellow urine, in case you are interested.
i have never really taken vitamins regularly before (excluding my youth when i ate flintstone vitamins like they were candy) but recently, i have become nothing less than obsessed.
it started with vitamin c to kick a cold, and as i stared down the isle of vitamins i couldn't help myself. A,B,C,D,E, fish oil!? i settled for a multivitamin that solved everything. a quick pill that would give me everything i need.
until i read an article on cnn.com about the vitamins doctors take. their list always started with a multivitamin, but there were three or four vitamins on top of that that were highly recommended. B vitamins for metabolism boost, vitamin D for just about everything, iron, folic acid, fish oil, etc. so apparently the multivitamin is not so multi.
after reading up i decided to take a multivitamin, vitamins A, C, and D, and a B complex. but I WANT MORE.
truth be told, my body probably doesn't have a deficiency of any of those vitamins, so i will just flush them all out*, but you just never know. one doctor said taking vitamins is like having insurance. you might need it, you might not, but everyone has it just in case.
once i start using a pill box with the days on it, someone stop me.
*B complex vitamin makes you excrete blindingly neon yellow urine, in case you are interested.
Monday, November 10, 2008
what is love.
life just seems unusually bright lately. even though the weather is cold and dreary, it seems like the Lord is showing himself faithful over and over. he's warming my heart and making me feel. i finally feel inspired again.
it must be november sizzler. the past few novembers i've gotten extremely sick. be it bronchitis, sinus infections, mono, or even pneumonia - november has never been on my side. except when bryce avery rode in the same car with me after using the bathroom at taco bell.
but this november is looking bright. especially when i see this commercial:
who would've thought eating mcribs would be cute? but it is.
my principal told me i am a natural teacher today.
affirmations mean a lot.
it must be november sizzler. the past few novembers i've gotten extremely sick. be it bronchitis, sinus infections, mono, or even pneumonia - november has never been on my side. except when bryce avery rode in the same car with me after using the bathroom at taco bell.
but this november is looking bright. especially when i see this commercial:
who would've thought eating mcribs would be cute? but it is.
my principal told me i am a natural teacher today.
affirmations mean a lot.
Sunday, November 2, 2008
litany of resistance.
Today we pledge our ultimate allegiance... to the Kingdom of God
To a peace that is not like Rome’s
To the Gospel of enemy love
To the Kingdom of the poor and broken
To a King that loves his enemies so much he died for them
To the least of these, with whom Christ dwells
To the transnational Church that transcends the artificial borders of nations
To the refugee of Nazareth
To the banner of love above any flag
To the one who rules with a towel rather than an iron fist
To the one who rides a donkey rather than a war-horse
To the revolution that sets both oppressed and oppressors free
To the Way that leads to life
To the Slaughtered Lamb
And together we proclaim his praises, from the margins of the empire to the centers of
wealth and power
Long Live the Slaughtered Lamb
Long Live the Slaughtered Lamb
Long Live the Slaughtered Lamb
To a peace that is not like Rome’s
To the Gospel of enemy love
To the Kingdom of the poor and broken
To a King that loves his enemies so much he died for them
To the least of these, with whom Christ dwells
To the transnational Church that transcends the artificial borders of nations
To the refugee of Nazareth
To the banner of love above any flag
To the one who rules with a towel rather than an iron fist
To the one who rides a donkey rather than a war-horse
To the revolution that sets both oppressed and oppressors free
To the Way that leads to life
To the Slaughtered Lamb
And together we proclaim his praises, from the margins of the empire to the centers of
wealth and power
Long Live the Slaughtered Lamb
Long Live the Slaughtered Lamb
Long Live the Slaughtered Lamb
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)