::: all of this beauty :::

you are beautiful...

................................................................................................................................................

at a molecular and cellular level you are a marvel. your body is simultaneously a work of art and an unfathomable complex machine. most importantly it is a vessel for your spirit.

the existence of billions of other humans does not dim the miracle of your life; it confirms it.

beauty is not a matter of opinion but rather a fact. its an intrinsic component, part of what makes something what it is. it radiates independent of outward appraisal, it cannot be measured by a ruler or scale.

if something is beautiful, it is beautiful whether it is noticed or not. sometimes we want people to notice... don't worry, its human too. its not vain to believe you are beautiful. know it with conviction, learn to identify it. not only in yourself but in others as well.

CS Lewis in the Screw tape letters says this about our true identity...

...thousands of humans have been brought to think that humility means pretty women trying to believe they are ugly and clever men trying to believe they are fools...

...what He wants is each man in the long run to be able to recognize all creatures ( even ourselves) as glorious and excellent things.

rejoice in the differences that diversify and give variety to everyone around you.
believe in their beauty as fiercely as your own and you will inevitably generate the attractiveness you inevitably long for; people will want to be around you because they will want to see themselves the way you see them.

from the time we are young... we are looking for the things that identify us. this is our path of discovery. we chose ways to accentuate our physical beauty and search for ways to outwardly express our identity.

this task belongs to you and no one else. we chose what we conceal, what we will reveal, and with whom we will share it with. we do this not only with our hearts but also with our bodies. 

and so... while outwardly we may grow weary by the filth we discover in some choices; 
the truth remains... that He made beauty from ashes. 
the masterpiece alive inside you is just as much alive on the outside as well.

i say all this not to diminish or erase any bit of truth from the reality that we are far too easily persuaded to believe and see too much or too little in ourselves. 

humility is not discovered in thinking less of ourselves but rather in glorifying the One who made such remarkable beauty in you. 


        So may the choices we make always be made out of love,

may your beautiful feet carry you through trial and confusion, knowing when to lead and when to follow,

may your beautiful legs help you to firmly stand your ground,

may your beautiful knees bend in gratitude for your Savior,

may your beautiful belly be full of laughter, good food and plenty of drink that will make you well,

may your beautiful hands create works of righteousness.

may your beautiful shoulders grow strong enough to bear sorrow and hard work; soft enough to give and offer comfort and support.

may your mouth speak truth with kindness.

... and with your beautiful eyes.... see BEAUTY! 

::: eucharisteo :::

Each year I choose a theme.. something I both need and want to grow in my understanding of better. This year, 2013, I chose JOY.

What is it? Where does it come from? How does it appear? Who has it?

The books I've chosen to read this year have all been part of discovering more joy in life.

One such book is, "one thousand gifts", by Ann Voskamp

eucharisteo: its thanksgiving and it always proceeds the miracle.

There are countless accounts of Jesus healing people.

His words are simple but bold.

         " Rise. Go. Your faith has made you well"  Luke 17:19

The very word for " well" here in Greek is sozo. It means being made well or whole.

More literally... to be saved.

When did the leper and the countless others receive their sozo? 

When he began to give thanks.

"Our very salvation is associated with our gratitude."

The book paves the road for one to begin making steps to the full life...

Naming any and everything around you as something to give thanks for.

thank you for sunshine on my face

thank you for the refreshment of rain

thank you for a chance to see the world through Children's eyes... everyday.

thank you for clean clothes

thank you for a place to sleep

thank you for kind eyes

thank you for kind smiles

thank you for food to fill my stomach and to feel satisfied

thank you for daily graces

thank you for sound nights sleep

thank you for laughter that makes my heart elated

thank you for dance

thank you for legs that can jump

thank you for feet that can run

thank you for arms that can hug

thank you for hands to hold

my list continues...

slowly unwrapping more than one thousand gifts.

While I may not always feel joy, God asks me to give thanks in all things, because He knows that the feeling of joy begins in the action of thanksgiving.

though relationships may not "bud" and I may continue to "fail", and my work produce little "yield", though there is not enough money it seems to float my dreams, or at times no dream left in the heart...though others may choose different ways to live their own life, till my last heaving breath, I will fight to the death... " I will take joy" Habbakkuk 3:18

oh, what on earth does it look like to " rejoice in the Lord always". (Philippians 4:4)

I'm still learning... to consider it joy when troubles come my way. (James 1:2)

Perhaps its because without struggle we all too quickly take the pedestal of pride. 

"Pride slays thanksgiving"- Henry Ward Beecher

And all the while..true humility ( the kind that requires we go lower/ deeper) is filling us with grace.

As graces flows on and on and on ... the joy grows. From a heart marked with thanksgiving.

thank you for life... a full life.

:: humble "who" ::

"humility is not thinking less of yourself,

its thinking of yourself less."

c.s. lewis

::: 少しずつ ::: little by little :::

day break broke with light over japan this morning dawning on us a new day...

 for most around the world this brings renewal and hope.
maybe even a chance to put yesterday behind you.
but for all here in my dear,Tohoku, it signified a day marked with pain, destruction, and loss.
some with hope but still more  barely holding on.


"can there be such a "good" God? Where is God, really? " ... when thousands of lives were lost, and people continue to choke down the stingy taste of what is not a " then" yet and still very much a "now". for the most part you don't see it on the faces of the people here. 
the people of Tohoku are remarkably resilient. very slow to complain. hard working. determined to rebuild and restore their land. but its been two years, today.  and its from very raw voices I hear stories emerging from the lips of the people here. its good. it needs to be talked about. 

but the truth remains we cannot save ourselves from such destruction happening again...
and many are giving up.  so what are we to do? just endure? its not enough to recover from a negative to zero... we have to find ways to move from zero to the positive. to return to a place that enables us to " full lives". 

How do we live "full lives" when life is full of so much hurt, though?

 I can easily understand if such questions fill many minds and hearts today.
How can He be "good" when babies and loved ones died, communities were destroyed,  and dreams perhaps blown away? All in a matter of a moment.

to be frank... preparing to write this is something I have really put off.

i don't have the words for it.

and I dont have an answer for "why" the events happened or how long into the future it is until the people find their revival and Tohoku finds healing for the ache it feels.

but last night after grappling and spinning about this trying to fall asleep...  I dreamt of eyes looking on this land loving it only the way eyes can rightly express. these eyes were a Saviors eyes... full of loving kindness.

the way only a Fathers eyes could look on His daughter lovingly.

you see... he is slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness. 
many think that the events of march 11 were God's punishment on the people here for wrongs done in the past, but this is not the loving God I know.

God is
slow to anger......

abounding in lovingkindness......


i often ask the wrong questions too, like "WHY", when I am faced with tragedy or uncertain circumstances.  but to ask why is to question His sovereignty and goodness.  the question we should better ask is, "WHO"? who is there at the time of tragedy? Who can we depend on? We can depend on God. 

Psalm 46:1-3

God is our refuge and strength. A very present help in trouble.

Therefore we will not fear, though the earth change and though the mountains slip into the heart of the sea; Though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains quake at its swelling pride.   

Selah

詩篇 46:1-3 JLB

"神様は私たちの隠れ家、また力、そして苦難にあえぐ時の確実な助けです. ですから、たとい全世界が吹っ飛び、山々が海に沈もうとも、こわがることはありません。 海よ、鳴りとどろき、白くあわ立つがよい。　山よ、激しく揺れ動くがよい。"

blessings  on you today and in all the tomorrows Tohoku.
there is no way that I can say something to make the pain go away or even know what its like for you...

keep your "spirit" that only you, Tohoku, have... but know that you don't have to go it alone.im going to keep on praying for you. with the smallest bit of understanding I can possess...my heart cries out to God with you. 

you are not alone.

yoriiso, minamisanriku, miyagi, japan 2012