Spiritual Lesson: He Makes all Things New

Today I had lunch with a wonderful person who I serendipitously met this past month at what we found is both of our favorite go-to Bubble Tea spots (phew, long sentence).

She is one of the most thoughtful, beautiful, bright and genuine people I've met in a while. Like a breath of fresh air she was brought into my life and I into hers. We have no shared characteristics or walks of life except that we were in the same place at the same time, we're both flawed believers and God used our meeting each other to bring encouragement.

Today she reminded me that God doesn't just restore or rebuild broken walls, He makes ALL things NEW.

"⁴ He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away." ⁵And he who was seated on the throne said, "Behold, I am making all things new."" Rev 21:4-5

She also said, people who do something great often don't know how it'll happen but know that it WILL happen. It doesn't mean we're to be lazy, but when God gives us gifts, talents and callings, He WILL open the doors of opportunities for it to come to pass.

I have KNOWN in my spirit that God gave me a desire to sing to Him in worship and to be a voice towards that purpose since I was a freshman in college. I've crossed many bumps in the road that sometimes hid my view from the horizon but I know in my spirit God will make a way.

She also reminded of the word "But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." Matt 6:33

How I've lost in faith in this, but oh how God is bringing me back to that faith. And I'm finding peace, purpose and life through it.

Starting a Lesson a Day

This past year has been a whirlwind that is hopefully starting to take more formation trajectory and direction. As I've walked out of a breakup, took a leave of absence from social work school, rejoined my church worship team, wrote my first two songs, started sound mixing, and got a new Mac which is spurring my interest in technology, I feel my mind is trying to make ground in so many areas of my life.

I've decided to dust off this blog and to use it to write "A Lesson a Day". As an INFP this will help me finalize things and build upon them in small increments which I very much need.

I'm excited to see the things I'll learn and write about. It can be about random facts, or things I study, read, or find personal revelation in. It'll also hopefully track what my mind and hands continue to dwell upon.

I might also have multiple lessons a day under different topics. Here goes!

Our playing small does not serve the world

Nelson Mandela, in his 1994 inaugural address quoted Marianne Williamson’s beautiful words below:

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light, not our darkness
That most frightens us.

We ask ourselves
Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?
Actually, who are you not to be?
You are a child of God.

Your playing small
Does not serve the world.
There's nothing enlightened about shrinking
So that other people won't feel insecure around you.

We are all meant to shine,
As children do.
We were born to make manifest
The glory of God that is within us.

It's not just in some of us;
It's in everyone.

And as we let our own light shine,
We unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.
As we're liberated from our own fear,
Our presence automatically liberates others.

Blessings of Discomfort

May God bless you with discomfort at easy answers, half truths and superficial relationships, so you may live deep within your heart.

May God bless you with anger at injustice, oppression and exploitation of people, so that you may work for justice, freedom and peace.

May God bless you with tears to shed for those who suffer from pain, rejection, starvation and war, so that you may reach out your hand to comfort them and turn their pain into joy.

And may God bless you with enough foolishness to believe you can make a difference in the world, so you can do what others claim cannot be done.

--Franciscan Prayer

Everyone has aloneness

As I self-differentiate from the influence of my parents and weigh their concerns for my life against my need for independent decision-making, I must remember that element of aloneness. No one is living my life for me or living out my career choices but me. I alone live my life and I will die alone. My choices and my life are mine to make and live. There can be connection with others but there are boundaries as well.

In Weakness

Even in weakness and repentance, the Father loves me. I will keep my heart open and believe that by His wounds I am healed.

"But he was pierced for our transgressions,

he was crushed for our iniquities;

the punishment that brought us peace was upon him,

and by his wounds we are healed. "

-Isaiah 53:5

On the Brink of a Cold and Needing to Vent

Since my chiropractor has bolstered my immune system, I haven't broken out in a cold this season yet! And it's already almost January. This is definite proof he's doing something good.

But today, I've been battling sniffles and almost sneezed on someone's hoodie in the train. I tried so hard to hold it all in because I didn't want to be that person.

Maybe it's because I'm not feeling well, but I just had to vent. I hate when people do all of these things for others and then make people feel bad that they aren't doing as much in return. If you're going to give, do it because you want to give and not because you expect other people to give back. If you're going to give things and then wind up making people feel bad about it, then don't give it in the first place because then it's not really for them, but it's for you. You need to feel special! You can't earn people's affections! Ah. Sigh.

What do you do in return when someone does this type of thing? Yes, give back, but something feels off about giving back to appease them. Because then they won't even know if you gave out of obligation or they might use these things as a measure of some sort, which is scary!

I don't want to get caught up in this, but if presents is what makes people feel affirmed, then presents are what I'll give.