：：祈り：：

i was asked recently when do i pray? 

the person asking wanted to know what holidays were traditional occasions for prayer.

 as someone who believes in God and follows Jesus... we are given the goodness of knowing an intimate relationship with God through prayer. 

we can pray any time.

we can pray any place.

there is no formula.

in fact the simpler... the better.

it is simply and humbling asking for God's help.

it is recognizing that you (me too) are in fact "created". 

this is only recognized by the acceptance of imperfection and therefore, 

need of a Creator (God) who is Perfect.

when we can accept this as truth for our lives... 

we can sit humbly before God without fear of condemnation.

instead... we can approach him assured of complete acceptance and love.

I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?” (John 11:25-26)

Sweet Daisy Love , only 8 years old, who has been battling cancer for the past three years both knew it and believed it! This morning she went home to be with Jesus. Her family  remains in our prayers. You are not forgotten sweet girl. Your 8 years of life spoke volumes of His love through your courage, cheerful disposition, and faith! You have touched more hearts in your little time on earth than I could even hope to have done in all my years. 

When asked what she wanted to be when she grew up she would say, "Im leaning towards astronaut, but maybe warrior for the Lord". 

When I grow up... I want to be like you Daisy Love.


We, simple-minded humans, cannot understand the ways of the world. Life is pain. Everyone whether they admit it or not has it. But God is present... everywhere, and is working all things....Let not your hearts be troubled. There is prayer.

Peace be yours.

pray as simply as this:

"our father in heaven,

reveal to me who you are,

set the world right,

do what's best- as above , do so also below,

keep us alive with three square meals,

keep us forgiven with you and forgiving others,

keep us safe from ourselves and from the Devil,

You're in charge.

You can do anything you want.

You're ablaze in beauty!

YES, yes and forever again yes!"

::: a plate of good memories, please ? ::::

"Everybody is a story. When I was a child, people sat around kitchen tables and told their stories. We don’t do that so much anymore. Sitting around the table telling stories is not just a way of passing time. It is the way the wisdom gets passed along. The stuff that helps us to live a life worth remembering."-Rachel Naomi Remen

 

This past week while sharing food and drink with co workers, I was reminded of the goodness of this that fills not just ones stomach but the deepest places in us.

 These pictures are from months ago when visiting Fukushima, Aizu ( 鶴ヶ城)Tsuruga Castle with dear friends. At one point during dinner, the conversation turned to history of samurai and I had to have a silent giggle to myself thinking of this day as I remembered the memories. But what I've learned in reflection is these stories are meant to be shared. When we visited Aizu Tsuruga Castle we learned about the history of the place... there were stories being shared.  Dinner reminded me of the importance of doing life together with others as well as sharing the stories. We are each rich with history and therefore each and of ourselves a story to be shared. Each new place we go and person we share an experience with creates a new story.

 

 

They say that helping, fixing, and serving represent three different ways of seeing life. 

When you help, you see life as weak. 

When you fix, you see life as broken. 

When you serve, you see life as whole. 

 

Fixing and helping may be the work of the ego, and service the work of the soul.    

If this is the case, then simply sitting around a table in the company of friends, family or co workers sharing stories is a valuable thing... 

If not the finest!

 

Stories are your offering served up to those whose company you are within. 

You are making the world more whole by doing so... please tell your story!

 

love me some Japanese grandma... they have the BEST stories.

it was not easy to get this photo and if you really know me... you know why!

 

::: joy :::

i haven' t written in a long while.

its a mix of not knowing what to say and processing that which i do want to say.

i apologize too because I feel its my own fault that others dont understand or know me better and that I do not know others better.

but most of all... one thing I am certain of, and that is, that no matter how much I experience here, the difficulties, the heartaches, the laughs, the beautiful moments, the blahs, 

the shake um offs, the mundane.... there is: 

JOY!

there is so much JOY in living this life.

this years theme for 2013 is "one thousand gifts of joy"!

I want to remember everyday all that we are given.

My goal is to look back at the end of this year and have well over 

one thousand sheets of paper in my jar 

 filled with sweet reminders

 of how I was "gifted graces" in life this year... how I found joy in daily life.

"He who is grateful for little is given much laughter... and its counting the ways of Love..

 this is what multiplies joy."

Before Christmas we got to celebrate all that has been given since 3.11

My heart was full of so much JOY this day. It was a really nice time.

：：：c h e r i s h ：：：

to "cherish" is to value, to prize, to adore, to think lovingly of, to lay hold of.
there is no other word in the english language that comes close to its meaning.

to cherish His word is essential  in our lives and in the lives of those around us.



its daily I find myself needing to make decisions about where to "step"...


 the further and deeper  we go with God, as we allow Him to lead us deeper and deeper into the understanding of His affections and truth; the less of this world we we will try to hold onto.

so deciding to set our eyes on Him and devoting ourselves to learning what is "truth", is necessary for  re-caliberating the affections of our hearts.

Proverbs 7 reminds: 

" Keep my words",
" Treasure my commandments ",
" Bind them on your fingers",
" Write them on the tablet of your heart",
"Call Wisdom, 'my sister' ",
" Call understanding , 'your intimate friend' "...

without cherishing the word, "daily", we cannot live as a light with such an unashamed passion for goodness and truth.




Our God and our Father, help us we pray, not only to speak and to hear your word but by the enabling of your spirit to live it out. Forgive our sins Lord, forgive our meanderings in the dark places, help us with the ideas and perspectives that hold us in their grip rather than freeing us. Create in us clean hearts God. Set us free that we might live to the praise of your glory.