Living Life In-Between

I woke up at 6:15 a.m. to go to New Hope Farrington's 7 o'clock service with Kourtni and Auntie Sonia. Its all the way in town so we have to leave early. The first thing that comes out of my mouth when Kourtni wakes me up is, O.M.G. Because I just got in from LAX late last night and I feel like I haven't slept for a week. Which is true. I loved every moment in California. Which brings me to this sermon of "Living Life In-Between" by Pastor Wayne Cordeiro.

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Three constant challenges of life in-between:

Wherever you are BE THERE.
"At once Jesus realized that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd and asked, "Who touched my clothes?" Mark 5:30

Ruthlessly, remove all HURRY from your life.

"Be still and know that I am God." Psalm 46:10

BALANCE your life between people and tasks.
"¹As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. ²Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love." Ephesians 4:1-2

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I remember the last time I heard Pastor Wayne do a sermon... I may have been 10 years old or somewhere around that age. It was the first time I've ever been to a Christian church. I'll never forget that day because my Auntie Marleen brought me, Jaymi, and Noey to church and as we sat in the service I remember we were writing down on a piece of paper all of the superficial things we wanted when Auntie became a millionaire. They did a play that day and I didn't understand anything about it. It may have been on an Easter Sunday. There were large tents outside and at the end of the service auntie made us go to the youth group where we were challenged with the question, "What do you think is the armor of God?" The leader stared at me and I shook my head because I don't think I even knew what armor was. Noey was 7 or 8 and although vague in my memory, I remember her answering the question correctly. I wondered how she knew the answer and why I wasn't ever taught in school what the armor of God was. Then I remember walking around the parking lot hearing Christian music being blasted through speakers... and thought to myself how Christian music made me feel weird because it was so positive and mysterious. Due to the fact that they sang about God and I didn't even know who God was. Instead, I would be forced to watch MTV every morning before school because that's what my brother made us do, literally. The only light I could find was in a song called "Hero" by Mariah Carey. A song that changed my life... where I would replay the bridge over and over and over hoping I could understand what she meant and where she was going when she sang "Lord knows, there will be tomorrow, in time, we'll find a way."

It is truly amazing how God has tried to pursue me ever since the day I was born. If it wasn't for that day that Auntie Marleen made us go to youth group, I wouldn't have ever pondered about the armor of God for so many years. That simple question in that single minute that I couldn't answer, made me feel like I didn't know what truly was important in life. There was a wisdom of life and living there that I wouldn't get to learn in school or from my parents... where I would have to seek it on my own.

Now its been over 10 years and I finally got to listen to Pastor Wayne preach again. I can't imagine what my life would have been like if those years in-between were spent in his congregation. I look back on my entire childhood and it reflects back to me in utter thirst of life. Even though I was a good girl, got good grades, won trophies and all that jazz... and have not love, it was all meaningless and in vain, and I was nothing. as 1 Corinthians would explain.

Now that I have a daughter, I pray that I would never take for granted one single minute of her being. She gives me hope to be a woman of faith. I discovered today that she truly knows who I am. My mom, dad, and brother tried to calm her crying... I was sleeping at the time and finally heard her. My brother was like, "I tried everything." As soon as I picked her up she stopped in an instant. I never felt so blessed in my life... and I can't wait for more times like these where she finds that she wants to belong in my arms.

? How many miracles have I missed ?

Change the World

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Today's message was completely relevant to the things that are presently being focused on between my friends and I. We've been talking amongst ourselves about CHANGE in the world. Discussing world events, social activism, environmental issues, and most importantly - how to inspire others to make a difference in the world today. Whether we are writing, blogging, creating art, composing music, taking photographs... our hope is that we could all come together in unity to expand the kingdom of God by inspiring each other; keeping ourselves accountable by using our talents and gifts that God has given.

There is always a special TIME that each one of us will look down at our own hands and wonder why we do what we do, and how do we do what we're s u p p o s e to do. We each have a CALLING, and in most cases, our visions our blurred when we try to do it on our own. Some are leaders, some are followers, in a beautiful way. Those who take leadership, capture me. God gives special gifts to those who take it humbly and use it wisely.

?How can God use me to change the world?

As a mother, I want to raise my daughter to love God. That I believe is tremendously h u g e in itself. Our children follow in our footsteps, so I have no choice but to make a difference for the sake of her being. Within the next two years I hope to build a company with my dear fireflies&songbirds that inspire all that we believe in. Hoping to travel the world and teach art&creativity, until then, I support those who travel and minister to people in other countries. I do pledge to support Gospel For Asia, and hope that God will continue to provide my income to be able to give to them and to other organizations that are non-profit. I will always write songs that praise the Lord or inspire change in humanity. I will use all that I know to my knowledge to change the world.

My alarm clock reads "Labor in Love."
& my hearts says to "Move in Love."

myQuestionToYou ...
?What about YOU?