Brandon Heath, a Christian artist, has a song called "Give Me Your Eyes" and the words are just amazing! Dan isn't the biggest fan of Christian music, but he sometimes tolerates me listening to it in the car. He definitely makes fun of this song with the "ye-ahs" and sometimes sings along with a Spanish/Jamaican accent. I laugh.
Anyway, back to the words, they are so powerful. People are hurting, frustrated, lost...and how often do I look beyond myself and seek their needs? Well, my job allows for this, but what about in "real life"? I have started to pray for those people who really piss me off when I'm driving. Those who cross the center line coming towards me, those who swing into my lane to make a right-hand turn or those who drift over into my lane for no apparent reason except that they're texting or talking on their phones. This is a hard discipline. I usually get so angry that I'm seething.
Now to extend this to every part of my day. Can I look at people as God does? He loves them...all! Lord, please give me your eyes and help me show Your love to those I encounter and to those You place in my path. May I love them as You love me.
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
The Valley of Vision
I found this Puritan prayer and was so touched by it.
Lord, high and holy, meek and lowly, Thou hast brought me to the valley of vision, where I live in the depths but see Thee in the heights; hemmed in by mountains of sin I behold Thy glory. Let me learn by paradox that the way down is the way up, that to be low is to be high, that the broken heart is the healed heart, that the contrite spirit is the rejoicing spirit, that the repenting soul is the victorious soul, that to have nothing is to possess all, that to bear the cross is to wear the crown, that to give is to receive, that the valley is the place of vision. Lord, in the daytime stars can be seen from deepest wells, and the deeper the wells the brighter Thy stars shine; let me find Thy light in my darkness, Thy life in my death, Thy joy in my sorrow, Thy grace in my sin, Thy riches in my poverty, Thy glory in my valley.
Lord, high and holy, meek and lowly, Thou hast brought me to the valley of vision, where I live in the depths but see Thee in the heights; hemmed in by mountains of sin I behold Thy glory. Let me learn by paradox that the way down is the way up, that to be low is to be high, that the broken heart is the healed heart, that the contrite spirit is the rejoicing spirit, that the repenting soul is the victorious soul, that to have nothing is to possess all, that to bear the cross is to wear the crown, that to give is to receive, that the valley is the place of vision. Lord, in the daytime stars can be seen from deepest wells, and the deeper the wells the brighter Thy stars shine; let me find Thy light in my darkness, Thy life in my death, Thy joy in my sorrow, Thy grace in my sin, Thy riches in my poverty, Thy glory in my valley.
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
No caffeine!!!
I did it! I'm off caffeine! I do have a small cup of green tea in the morning, but that is great for me! I was drinking 2 big cups of coffee in the morning and 1-2 in the late morning or early afternoon.
I have also started my wii workouts again after taking off the summer. They are kicking my butt and I have been sore, but the workouts are getting better. EA Sports Active is my cardio workout while wii fit is my yoga and strength training.
I'm not the biggest fruit person, but I have boosted my eating to include fresh fruits and vegetables. Now that I have a pressure cooker, that has cut out canned beans. I hope to eat most of my food unpackaged from now on. We used to eat everything frozen (fruits and veggies) and from a can (spaghetti sauce, tomatoes, beans, etc.). We'll see how long I can keep this up. I do however eat "Health Choice" frozen meals at work if I get sick of taking sandwiches.
I hope this fall and winter will be energy packed as I stick to healthier habits.
I have also started my wii workouts again after taking off the summer. They are kicking my butt and I have been sore, but the workouts are getting better. EA Sports Active is my cardio workout while wii fit is my yoga and strength training.
I'm not the biggest fruit person, but I have boosted my eating to include fresh fruits and vegetables. Now that I have a pressure cooker, that has cut out canned beans. I hope to eat most of my food unpackaged from now on. We used to eat everything frozen (fruits and veggies) and from a can (spaghetti sauce, tomatoes, beans, etc.). We'll see how long I can keep this up. I do however eat "Health Choice" frozen meals at work if I get sick of taking sandwiches.
I hope this fall and winter will be energy packed as I stick to healthier habits.
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Women on the corner
Everyone knows there is prostitution. It is talked about in different contexts and glamorized by Hollywood with Julie Roberts in Pretty Woman. I have never encountered prostituted women (the politically correct term since calling them prostitutes is too much of a label I guess), until I moved to this part of Clifton last year.
We live two blocks from the street (the largest prostitution area) where these women walk up and down and men in Mercedes, BMWs, Minis, etc. all stop and pick them up at all times day and night. I was shocked. I couldn't understand. These women are no Julia Roberts either. They are all drug addicts and continuously look strung out at all times.
As soon as I realized what was going on (it took me a couple months to get it), my heart broke. I couldn't stop thinking about these girls. This was awful. I couldn't imagine their life, nor wanted to, but I was haunted by them. Dan and I passed them every time we got on I-75. This past spring, one girl was completely bloodied. I started praying for these girls and found that I was having nightmares about them. I wanted to do something for them, but what?
This past August, I had a patient who was a girl who worked down my my house as a prostitute for drug money. She gave me a lot of insight about how prostitution works, pimps, and other things that I have never known. She told me that she was often homeless and would go hungry to buy heroin. After having her 4 days in a row, I asked her if there was something I could do for those girls; maybe I could take food. My patient said bottled water would be the best.
That is where is sparked. I talked to a friend about passing water and protein bars out to prostitutes. She thought it was a great idea. She also had a friend who was completely wanting to do this. We gathered together and prayed. Every Saturday morning (except the days I work), we go out passing out water and protein bars. I continuously look for the pimps, but there have not been that many girls out when we've gone out.
Please pray that God's love would shine through us as we pass the water out to them. We are not trying to take them out of prostitution nor take their time talking about Jesus, we're just giving them water and protein bars and hoping they feel/experience true love.
We live two blocks from the street (the largest prostitution area) where these women walk up and down and men in Mercedes, BMWs, Minis, etc. all stop and pick them up at all times day and night. I was shocked. I couldn't understand. These women are no Julia Roberts either. They are all drug addicts and continuously look strung out at all times.
As soon as I realized what was going on (it took me a couple months to get it), my heart broke. I couldn't stop thinking about these girls. This was awful. I couldn't imagine their life, nor wanted to, but I was haunted by them. Dan and I passed them every time we got on I-75. This past spring, one girl was completely bloodied. I started praying for these girls and found that I was having nightmares about them. I wanted to do something for them, but what?
This past August, I had a patient who was a girl who worked down my my house as a prostitute for drug money. She gave me a lot of insight about how prostitution works, pimps, and other things that I have never known. She told me that she was often homeless and would go hungry to buy heroin. After having her 4 days in a row, I asked her if there was something I could do for those girls; maybe I could take food. My patient said bottled water would be the best.
That is where is sparked. I talked to a friend about passing water and protein bars out to prostitutes. She thought it was a great idea. She also had a friend who was completely wanting to do this. We gathered together and prayed. Every Saturday morning (except the days I work), we go out passing out water and protein bars. I continuously look for the pimps, but there have not been that many girls out when we've gone out.
Please pray that God's love would shine through us as we pass the water out to them. We are not trying to take them out of prostitution nor take their time talking about Jesus, we're just giving them water and protein bars and hoping they feel/experience true love.
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Wow, Goodbye Summer
I'm thoroughly shocked that it's September. I've been writing the date at work and am so surprised that August was a blink in time. Dan and I have had an enjoyable summer.
At the end of July, we went to Kansas City to see a great friend of mine. KC was a great city and I was surprised at how nice the people are. The BBQ was awesome too!
My (31st) birthday was the 18th of August. Dan and I went shopping, went to the Beach Waterpark, and then had a bday party at a Mexican restaurant and bowling all in one week. We had a great time at all these places.
The last trip we took was last week. We saw some old friends who have a cabin in KY on Lake Cumberland. We got a lot of R&R at the cabin and went out on a pontoon boat a couple of times. It was very fun and I really missed Wisconsin. I'm hoping to get to WI in November.
For the Labor Day weekend, I worked Saturday night, we watched the famous Cincinnati fireworks from home on TV, and then went to The Beach Waterpark again yesterday. I'm so sore. We had 4 tickets to actually go with two other people, but we couldn't find anyone who wanted to go with us. It was a great opportunity to be a kid and realize I'm not 14 anymore :)
At the end of July, we went to Kansas City to see a great friend of mine. KC was a great city and I was surprised at how nice the people are. The BBQ was awesome too!
My (31st) birthday was the 18th of August. Dan and I went shopping, went to the Beach Waterpark, and then had a bday party at a Mexican restaurant and bowling all in one week. We had a great time at all these places.
The last trip we took was last week. We saw some old friends who have a cabin in KY on Lake Cumberland. We got a lot of R&R at the cabin and went out on a pontoon boat a couple of times. It was very fun and I really missed Wisconsin. I'm hoping to get to WI in November.
For the Labor Day weekend, I worked Saturday night, we watched the famous Cincinnati fireworks from home on TV, and then went to The Beach Waterpark again yesterday. I'm so sore. We had 4 tickets to actually go with two other people, but we couldn't find anyone who wanted to go with us. It was a great opportunity to be a kid and realize I'm not 14 anymore :)
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