Month: November 2012

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life

Muck to Masterpiece: Happy

Happy is SUCH A GREAT CHOICE.

So many people are mourning, doubting, breaking, crying, frowning, cowering, and body bent in the world. BE a part of a positive trend to CHOOSE happiness. Not happy because things are just peachy perfect around you. Happy IN SPITE of the situations. Paul talks about being content in any season. Seriously… the made up mind is the champion in this scenario.  I admitted to some of my brothers and sisters at church that I had an Elizabeth spirit. I have learned to truly celebrate with those around me. Like Joseph (Barnabas) I have learned the value of encouragement. Like David I can dance. Like Martha, I know who to trust (the I AM). I am really REALLY smiling right now…as I type this.

The reality means nothing to a God who can do anything, use anyone, …Jesus is the ORIGINAL REMIX. Revelations 21:5 He came to make all things new!!

Trust that the muck can be a masterpiece! Abstract art makes sense to some and no sense to others! I am ART. YEAS! Happy is the most beautiful thing you can put on in the morning and one of the most generous gifts you can give!

**there is an underlying theme in this piece…did you see it? T R U S T G O D;)**

Ivy Out

Categories
life

Most Wanted Hit List

Comfort. 

 

Comfort is a killer. A silent killer. It’s akin to “complacent” and a close cousin to “settling”.  Comfort has never been indicted, although it’s publicly known for causing surges of negative impact on every life it encounters. Is comfort on trial in your life?

Once upon a time today would look different. Happy to say that maturation has had something to do with recent decisions. #GoJesus 

*fist pump*

Ivy Out

Categories
life

Reset Button

How many times do you self correct? Today I caught myself having to readjust. I was getting aggrivated by little things that should have not even raised an eyebrow. I am seriously not going to begin to blame my hormones for this “episode”, but I can blame habitual living.

In a life of preperation and learning one must always seek to improve in areas of weakness. As a emotional woman, who is learning to faith through flesh fiascos, I can pinpoint previous outcomes. I have learned that silence is both essential and aggrivating. I default to silence when I either want to avoid further gasoline charged fires, or if I need to gather myself. My silence is calming and neccesary on my end, but it may frustrate others. That becomes a problem. I am a super social young lady who has learned the value of isolation. Not because I wanted to but because I was placed there.

The reset button: Recognize, Submit, Apologize, Restart.

Is it always that simple? It can be, if you make that the new habit.

Smiling Now: Ivy Out

Categories
life

food for thought

When given an opportunity to make a stand against the status quo, do your instincts tell you to speak up or run?

It can be very uncomfortable to be the “different”, but yet very rewarding.

Individuality in the world is celebrated, individuality in morality is shunned. Why do we do that? Why do we pick and choose from the Bible like a buffet. We don’t get to pick and choose which part of salvation or mercy we receive…why then do we pick and choose what to observe and follow?

If your children obeyed your rules, like we obey God’s, would you punish them?

Food for thought.

Ivy Out

Categories
life

PACK EARLY

There are sooo many things that I really wanted to share, but I will settle on short and sweet. 

When you begin to pack for a trip to a new destination you can take one of two approaches. You can meticulously plan ahead and pack with time to spare…or you can rush and throw things together. The latter usually accounts for things left behind. Things of value and purpose. 

Why do we treat our lives in the same manner? Most of the time people long for destinations and things without being ready to transition there. If you want to work…generally you acquire skills needed to complete that work. If you want to cook a dish, it can’t be done without the ingredients. If you want to be married, it’s time to burn the black book. There is ORDER in preparation. (I could segway into people asking God to bless them but living however they choose…but I won’t)

Psalms 37:5 – COMMIT EVERYTHING YOU DO TO THE LORD, TRUST HIM AND HE WILL HELP YOU. 

If the steps of a righteous man are ordered…there are things YOU must do FIRST. 

 

**Disclaimer: THIS BLOG WAS FOR ME!**

IVY OUT

Categories
life

Grow through labor…

There is a comforting place that can sprout out of discomfort when you know that you are in God’s hands. Things won’t always seem right, feel right, or feel comfortable. Comfort is actually a stagnant place. Comfort is where the dust settles and you’re ok. That is NOT a good thing. That means you aren’t growing, you are being tested – therefore you don’t know your strengths. Am I advocating a tumultuous life? Absolutely not! I do know that the life happens to us all, but God orders the steps of a righteous (wo)man.

Carved into every lesson, every new-ness, is labor pains. Thanks to some pesky fruit eating human beings (satirical truth), there is pain associated with birth. I have not given birth to children yet (as a wife, it would be on my “to do” list, lol), but I have heard many say that mothers forget or forgive the pain the first time they see their child. I have experienced this when something I’m assigned to do is difficult. You don’t enjoy the pain that is associated with carrying out a task, but once it’s done it’s an amazing feeling. I have planned events, worked projects with my hands, created new meals, set personal goals, worked with people (JESUS!), and worked with myself. Most all of these required a special measure of endurance which can only be accomplished by finishing until the end. In that, I find a place of comfort in the following words: God has all power. If God assigns me to do something, He has empowered me to complete that work.

If it’s beginning to look a lot like a storm in your life, put on your rain gear and gird yourself with a WHOLE HEAP of JESUS, and grow through it. That very storm maybe the deliverance testimony that someone on their way to your life will need. God is also awesome enough to send you not only the Holy Spirit to comfort you, but great friends. Friends who pray with you, stretch with you, and sometimes just hug you when words are too heavy to speak.

Daddy is good like that 😉

Ivy Out

Categories
life

familiar text

So yesterday during my extended study/lax/reading time before Bible study I went to a familiar text to review…Ruth.

Now, I have read this book many times. Two years ago I taught a Bible study at my house with Ruth and Esther as the foundation. I even juxtaposed the preparation difference between the two thinking Ruth’s was significantly short. YESTERDAY I was corrected. She gleaned for the REST of Barley season. When I started looking at information that gave way to the length of this season…I gathered at least 5-6 months. Why is this significant? Glad you ask… I am a woman. Most women anticipate relationships or connections..and we get nervous if we don’t know anything definitive. I am also VERY honest. One thing being single taught me was to glean. Garner wisdom and knowledge from viable sources and respect time. God set time in motion and it doesn’t go backward or bend to human will. Ruth gleaned in this field at the instruction of Boaz and her mother-in-law Naomi. She FOLLOWED INSTRUCTIONS. She was PATIENT. She didn’t know Naomi was going to suggest Boaz redeem her, until she suggested it.

I kind of POPPED UP out of my comfortable reading position when things began to click. Often times, when we don’t follow the wisdom available to us, we move out of turn. We anticipate moves before it’s time. When we do this, we destroy order. (or we make emotional decisions and ignore wisdom)

The last thing I will leave you with is this: twice I can point out the fact that Ruth’s character preceded her. The people around her knew of her. They had nothing negative to say. Are we living in a way that people have nothing negative to say about our character? As a single woman, it doesn’t behove me to have a bunch of people doubting my character, suitors or not. I am not referring to those who are just malicious and vindictive. Boaz mentioned her character TWO significant times for good reason(s).

I have more reading to do…I will continue to share as I read. Growth is a process. I see growth in my life, but I’m not close to the pinnacle.

Ivy Out

Categories
life

How Do You Define?

Can people live without definitions?

In school you learned the definitions of terms to help you understand new concepts. Let’s face it, every new concept comes with its own vocabulary. Every grown up knows that industries come with their own language…we call it jargon or acronyms. And yes, I said grown up, maturity doesn’t play a part in detecting that jargon exists.

Can we exist without clear definitions? If we can’t, why did the dictionary fail to define ministry for me? Seriously, I went to two online dictionaries, which left me baffled. The definitions given, although extensive, didn’t tell me what I wanted to know. The perimeters, the confines, the structure of the meaning of the word “ministry”. Ministry, Love, Healing…these are all heavy concepts. Healing as it relates to the medical field could be defined, easy enough, but what about as it relates to the human existence. So many people are seeking healing but they can’t define what they are healing from or what’s needed to heal. So how do you do what you can’t define. How can we effectively minister if we can’t define ministry? It’s simple…you don’t look in the wrong source for the definition.

*insert audible*

Love: can not be defined by man because man didn’t create it. Have you ever realized that if you ask a child (and some adults) what color love is, they will begin to hypothesize answers. Seriously, I work with students, I’ve done it. Our social concepts are constructed without formal education’s guidance because it can’t teach everything. Love is best defined in the word. It’s defined in actions. If I want to know what love is, I look at what love causes people to do. I use the term people lightly because the ultimate view of love was shown by God. From this can I surmise what love “is”. Ministry can also be defined this way. When I looked in the wrong place for the answer, I came up empty handed.

I do NOT believe that human beings with minimal intelligence can live in a world without definition…which means the “super-smart-intelligent-can-figure-out-anything” human beings MOST CERTAINLY CAN NOT. So throw caution to the wind and realize that you must look in the right place to set your foundational knowledge.

*women define relationships, men define boundaries, politicians define policy, God defines love. (not an inclusive statement…but definitely true by definition, lol)

Ivy Out

Categories
life

The BIG-NESS of GOD

Seriously, I believe we worry about too much. I can only speak from experience. I worry too much. Not that the reasons behind my concern aren’t worthy, but who am I to doubt God’s ability to do EXCEEDINGLY, ABUNDANTLY, ABOVE ALL I CAN ASK, THINK, OR IMAGINE? God knows me. He knew me in my mother’s womb (Come On Word), and he knows the capacity in which I can operate. Which means…if it’s coming my way I either have the capacity to deal with it, or it’s a reminder that I need to know when to turn it over to Daddy (see previous post about me REALLY calling God Daddy).

There are things that concern me that my hands can’t fix. For example, I am truly praying for those on the East coast. But my two hands do not bring that region relief. I can pray to the Father and then donate anything applicable within my scope. I am not saying that we should ignore our part because Faith w\o Works…yea no bueno. I am saying that most of us pray while still holding on to the issue. We have got to pray with the courage and faith that it is done, in JESUS’ name.

Don’t tell God how big your problems are, Tell your problem HOW BIG YOUR GOD IS.

IVY Out