tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-222630502024-03-08T06:23:30.536-08:00Merry Happy.Haley Bodinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09600820439543980275noreply@blogger.comBlogger48125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22263050.post-70815299012530052362013-05-21T18:00:00.000-07:002013-05-21T18:00:02.448-07:00Blog has moved---Subscribe by email!Hello, everyone! My blog has moved to:<br />
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<a href="http://www.haleybodine.wordpress.com/">www.haleybodine.wordpress.com</a>.<br />
<br />
I have also renamed my blog "Unveiled" in order to more accurately capture the vision of what I pray this ultimately becomes.<br />
<br />
Click the link above, and you may subscribe by email to receive my posts in your inbox.Haley Bodinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09600820439543980275noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22263050.post-15056472223680932013-05-16T06:24:00.003-07:002013-05-16T06:24:39.683-07:00With Audacious Faith, Sun Stand Still
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For the last month or so, a common theme has been ringing in
my ears. I have been studying I and II Kings, reading <i>Sun Stand Still </i>by Steven Furtick, and following my former Church
home in Virginia on Twitter. Over and over again, I sense the Spirit of God
calling me to believe upon Him for big things. Audacious things. Things I can’t
dream or imagine. If that is true, the things I am talking about believing God
for must be really big because I have quite the active imagination! <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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For those of you that know me well, you know that I, by
nature, am a dreamer. When I was a little girl, I lived in a world of
make-believe. My toys were props in elaborate play, and people were players in
my imaginary world. I have always been captivated and moved by epic stories. My
dream world was adventurous, and bold. I would put my Lion King cassette tape
in my Walkman and color in my Looney Toons coloring book while daydreaming
about a grey horse being in my backyard, waiting to take me on another
adventure through fields of wildflowers. I would spend hours swinging in a tire
swing singing at the top of my lungs just dreaming of the big things that life
would hold. <o:p></o:p></div>
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That little girl still lives in my soul. I have graduated
from my Walkman to itunes, and my Looney Toons coloring book has been replaced
with my personal journal and a good cup of coffee, but I still dream big. I
still cry at the end of epic movies like The Chronicles of Narnia, The Lord of
the Rings, and others because the idea of reckless abandon for the sake of a
greater cause speaks to my core. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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God is moving in my heart to not just dream, but to believe
Him. No, I’m not suggesting that God is going to grant me everything that I
ever wanted. He’s not my genie in a bottle that I can simply use for my own
personal gain. But I do believe that God is wild, and invites us into daring
adventure with Him. Like Aslan in The Chronicles of Narnia, He is not safe, but
He is good, and He is the author of adventure and dreams. God knows that we
will only be satisfied by a life running hard after Him for the things that
matter eternally, and He invites us into that with Him. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Many of us have read the Bible verse that says, “Delight yourself
in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart” (Psalm 37:4). It
is really tempting to read this and think, “Ok, so if I delight myself in God,
He will give me everything I want!” However, when we view this properly, what
we see is that if we draw near to the heart of God, our desires will transform
to align with His heart. His dreams become our dreams. His passions become our
passions. When we truly encounter God’s presence, we cannot help but be
changed. Our motives and dreams are a reflection of those things we love. As we
grow in love with God---His person and presence---our dreams are changed to
reflect that love. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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So where do we start? I had the privilege to know and learn
under the late Dr. Jerry Falwell. Jerry often told students, “Nothing of
eternal significance is ever accomplished apart from prayer.” We begin on our
knees, humbly acknowledging that our biggest dreams can only be accomplished by
God; we are vessels surrendered to the hands of the Master. We ask God for eyes
to see what He sees, to love what He loves, and to dream what He dreams. We
obey what God has already revealed in His Word, and we wait expectantly for
that which is to come. We work diligently and faithfully with what God has
already given us, knowing that God cannot bless what we do not do, and that the
work we have today ultimately matters along the journey. We learn to be faithful
and fruitful where we are planted, and not waste today for the sake of dreaming
about tomorrow. Today’s work is the foundation of tomorrow’s dream, and we are
to be responsible for that. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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So what is it that you are boldly asking God for? <o:p></o:p></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Haley Bodinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09600820439543980275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22263050.post-72910841963016921572013-05-10T18:26:00.002-07:002013-05-10T18:26:25.627-07:00Valleys of Sorrow to Rivers of Joy
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Dear friends, let me first just say that this post is taking
a great deal of faith to write. I talk often about being “real,” about living
free, about passion for Christ. This time, I’m going to open up about a very
personal struggle that is requiring more courage than I can say. I believe that
God wants to inspire hope in us all. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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For a week I have been grasping at the wind for what to
write. I’ve spent a few days tweaking an article about dreaming big, and
believing God for big things, but today all I can think about are the valleys
of my life. There have been dark, treacherous places in my life that only the
Lord could have seen me through. Today, I was overcome with gratitude for those
times. That seems absurd to some of you, I’m sure, especially if you knew the
specifics of the times I am referring to. Thankful for such pain? Abuse? Heartache?
Fear? Sickness? <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Yes. Thankful. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’m not thankful for the experiences in and of themselves.
But I am thankful that we have God that doesn’t leave us in the middle of
sorrow, tragedy, and fear. He is there with us, willing to lead, comfort, and
heal us in the middle of them. It has been the darkest seasons of my life that
God has shown Himself strong, gracious, compassionate, and faithful. It is the
darkness that drove me to utter dependency upon God’s mighty strength and love
to carry me through. It is those times that my spirit was stilled with the song
of my Father’s love over me. Most recently, 2012 was a dark season that
ultimately showed God’s faithfulness to my weary heart. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Today, I originally set out to write about dreaming big,
audacious, God-sized dreams. That post, God-willing, will still come together.
But before we get there, I want to come clean about what this last year was
really like. Maybe I’m foolish for putting this out there, but that’s what this
blog is all about: being real. Getting to the heart of issues, and looking them
square in the face knowing that our God is greater than the struggles we face. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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My most recent encounter with pain was just last year. In
March of 2012 I fell into a dangerous emotional pit. Seemingly out of nowhere I
was overcome with fear that gripped me at my core. I couldn’t sleep. I couldn’t
function. I was crippled for months with such great panic, sadness, pain, and
fear that I was no longer myself. I was desperate, and anyone close to me could
see it. The Lord had taken me through trials and turmoil before, and in those seasons
drew me closer to Himself. Last year showed me that He wasn’t finished yet. I
knew that if I had any chance of being healed and getting to the other side of
the darkness, I had to stick close to my Shepherd. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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I cannot tell you the number of times I found myself weeping
over the Word of God begging for healing. Begging for freedom. Begging to be
released from the grip of such oppression. In the middle of the fight, my
husband and I moved our family to another part of the country, and I was
starting over building local community. It was a lonely year. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It didn’t take me too long to realize that while God isn’t
the author of fear and pain, He was allowing me to experience this season. He
didn’t want to torture me, He wanted to heal me of an emotional cancer that was
eating at me for years without being dealt with. It had to boil to the surface
for Him to carve away at it. I had to face it, and allow Him to work. I had to
sit still long enough on the operating table for Him to do what only He could.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
For a while I hid. I went off of social media. I quit
blogging. I didn’t want to be in the spotlight or public eye. I didn’t want to
be known. All of my life, I had been an extrovert that enjoyed being in front
of people. And suddenly, there I was just wanting to hide away. But God was
softening me. Changing me. Bringing me into a place of gentle dependence upon
Him. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I read Psalm 27 nearly every day, asking God to build in me
faith to believe it. Just as nighttime fades away into morning little by
little, I found myself little by little being set free. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 16.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
This last year, the Lord lifted my head to stare at
the face of my personal “monsters in the dark,” and He showed me that even in
the darkness, even in the danger, even in the thick of the shadows of our worst
nightmares, He is still good, and His grace will sustain us. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 16.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
So, reader, here I am. Letting go of fear, and
trusting God to do what only He can. I won’t say much more about this last
year, except to say that I will walk with an emotional limp for the rest of my
life. As with any major surgery, there
will be scarring. But what joy I have knowing that my limp causes me to lean on
Jesus even more now than ever. What joy it is to be changed to have to trust
God to be in a public blogging forum rather than it being “natural.” <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 16.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
May the God of all comfort be with you in your trials,
and your pain. And may His gracious hand cause you to lean harder on Him, to
listen to His song over you, and to be greatly encouraged that these dark hours
are not the end of the story, but rather darkness leading to a beautiful dawn. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 16.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;">
“I will
sing of your mercy that leads me through valleys of sorrow to rivers of joy.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 16.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;">
–Jars of
Clay<o:p></o:p></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Haley Bodinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09600820439543980275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22263050.post-44182807396815243902013-04-25T10:52:00.000-07:002013-04-25T17:13:28.601-07:00You're Invited!<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
I enjoy exercising. I have exercised regularly for years.
When I was a teenager, I worked out primarily because I wanted to have a
perfect body (I never got there). Over time, my motivations for exercise have
dramatically shifted. I feel better when I exercise. I’m happier. I’m not as
anxious. I am more alert and awake to do the other things I love. I choose to
exercise because I see the evidence that it prevents physical atrophy and helps
me to be a better “me.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The same can be said of serving within my local church.
Serving promotes personal growth, authentic discipleship, and prevents
spiritual atrophy.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I committed my life
to following Christ and was baptized when I was 17 years old. For several years
after that, I was growing and changing rapidly from the person I was before,
but I never chose to step up and serve in the church. I would hear recruit
teams share the needs their areas were experiencing, and I would hope to avoid
eye contact so that I didn’t have to make up some reason why I couldn’t give of
my time to help. Quite frankly, it wasn’t that I didn’t have time; I just
flat-out didn’t want to do it. I didn’t want to <i>make </i>the time to give of myself. I didn’t see how I could add value
to my church by serving, and I didn’t see how serving would add value to my
life. My goodness how blind I was!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Fast-forward a few years. I was a college student in
Virginia attending a church in which “serve and be served” was a basic premise.
If you called this church “home,” you were encouraged to be an active participant
in the organization in some capacity. This “encouragement” didn’t come from a
perspective of legalism, or expectation, but rather of love and invitation.
This church really honed in on the God-given gifts and skills of the people
that were there and invited them to use those skills to advance God’s kingdom
right there. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
How many of you out there would say that you want to be
valued, part of something meaningful, and as though you “belong?” I would be willing
to bet that most of you responded with an adamant, “Yes!” <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
During my years at this church, I began to feel wanted. I
quit believing that I was expendable, and I and started to realize that as a
Christ follower, I wasn’t just called to believe, I was invited to be
intricately woven into God’s family. Serving wasn’t just for the people that
had “arrived,” it was for me too!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I decided to sign up to work with this church’s children’s
ministry. I started out just filling in when someone would be absent, and then
steadily I became more and more involved. After several years, I was asked to
join the part-time staff at the church. Now, years later, one of my greatest
passions is God’s people---<i>all </i>of
God’s people---evaluating their God-given skills, talents, and interests and
finding a place within the body of Christ to use those gifts. Not everyone gets
excited about holding babies every week. Not everyone is comfortable leading.
But <i>everyone </i>has something to bring
to the table. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I think that as people we are wired to weigh opportunity
costs. We can’t have or do everything, so we make choices. Sometimes these
choices are based on pure motives like what is best for others. Sometimes our
choices are based on what has the most value. Sometimes our choices are just
for the sake of preference and what we would enjoy the most. I know I am not
the only one that struggles against the clock every day. I think that most of
us would say we want our time to matter and count towards something; life is
too short to waste. Some of you might be like me 10 years ago, and maybe you
just don’t see the benefit of giving of your time to your church. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But what if I told you that stepping up to serve all those
years ago changed me? What if I told you that for the first time, I belonged
somewhere? What if I said that plugging in and intentionally saying “no” to
other things (including my Sunday afternoon nap) grew me into someone that
finally had a place to call home? Serving in the Church enabled me to really
connect and develop relationships with people. Serving was the catalyst to me
honing in on who God created me to be, and I had so hungered for purpose and
meaning. Don’t we all? And what is more meaningful than owning our salvation
purchased by Christ, and embracing the Body of Christ called “the church?” <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Some of you may legitimately be unable to serve during traditional times like Sunday mornings. It's ok to think outside of the box on your role in your church family! Maybe you attend a house church and there isn't a major organization to jump right into, or maybe you live abroad and culturally the dynamic of church is very different than American church. To all believers reading this, I boldly declare that the Body of Christ transcends culture and time restraints. Serving means giving of yourself to meet the needs of other believers out of your abundance of time and resources. I cannot tell you what this looks like for you personally, but I certainly encourage you to search God's heart on the matter! He loves you and you were made with His purposes! </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
With all of my heart I believe that we each have a vital
role. Paul writes to the church in Corinth that we are all equipped with
different gifts, and we are called to use them. Can you imagine if your stomach
quit working because it said, “This body doesn’t need me; the lungs have got
this one.” How crippling! In the same way, we are all a vital part of the
global, eternal Body of Christ. You are invited to be all in and more than
someone that watchers from the sidelines.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Like exercise, it may mean carving out the time because you
see the value added. But I promise that God uses your energy, time, and talents
to change the world when you commit them to Him, when you humbly submit your
time and energy to Him to be used up for His glory. Serving impacts your
community, your church, your peers, your family, and it impacts YOU! Give it a
try. Commit to giving of your time in an area that you are interested in. Give
it more than a few weeks---a year?—and see how your own heart changes as a
result. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Haley Bodinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09600820439543980275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22263050.post-33060304134004209872013-04-17T17:00:00.000-07:002013-04-17T17:00:05.730-07:00More than Another Bible Study
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“Now all who believed
were together, and had all things in common, and sold their possessions and
goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need. So continuing daily with
one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their
food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with
all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being
saved.” (Acts 2:44-47)<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When my husband and I got married, we committed to always
being engaged in a small group of believers that would intentionally gather to
pray, and live life alongside of each other. Over the years, we have found that
the safety net of community has exponentially strengthened, challenged, and
encouraged us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We share life with other
believers, we desire to truly know others: their struggles, their joys, and to
share in “doing life” alongside of one another. I am convinced that more than
once our community group saved our marriage, saved our families, and pointed us
to Jesus like a lighthouse guides a ship safely to shore. These friends became
family to us, and they got their hands dirty investing in our lives. When we
moved to another part of the country, one of the hardest parts was saying
goodbye to our “family.” <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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My husband and I recently joined a new community group
through our new church. Adam and I had the opportunity to sit down with the
other couple that we are leading this small group with, and really cast a
vision for where we hope to grow and what type of group we want to develop. One
of the most important things that we shared during our meeting was that we
don’t need to have “just another Bible study.” We absolutely <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">should </i>delve deeply into God’s Word; I
am not suggesting that we shouldn’t. But we don’t just need another chance to
read and study the latest church leader’s bestseller. Instead, we need
authentic community. We need a small group of believers that seeks to meet each
other's needs, to pray together for the real things in our lives and not just a
quick prayer that checks it off of a to-do list. We need intentional
intercession on each other’s behalf. We need God’s people in our lives so that
when the bottom falls out, we have a safety net of support.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We need God’s people deeply invested in us,
and vice versa. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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If you are a part of a church, you may be like me: it is far too easy for me to get
comfortable. It is so easy to enjoy my Sunday coffee and donut and completely
miss the point. Church isn’t another club. Church is God’s people empowered by
the Spirit of God to change the world for His glory. This doesn’t happen by
being comfortable and being a part of a club. This happens by willingly and
intentionally getting our hands dirty in each other’s lives and committing to
authentic discipleship, as well as owning that the Great Commission is a call
to each of us. </div>
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<br /></div>
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As Christ followers, we are engaged in a real battle for the
souls of men, and for each other. Can you imagine a Marine in the trenches
eating a donut while his comrades fought on the front lines? Let’s go a step
further and imagine that this marine was suited up, and one of his comrades
asked him what he was doing in the trenches, and he simply replied, “I’m not
called to the battlefield.” <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My friend, if you have trusted Jesus, you are called: called
to follow Him at all costs, called to love His people, called to serve, called
to live engaged in His mission. Jesus Himself told us that the world would know
Him by our love for one another. So why don't we seek out opportunities to do just that? Most of us are busier than we want to be. I get that---time is rarely on my side. But the fight needed to carve out time to be involved in authentic Biblical community is well worth it.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Within the Church, marriages are floundering. Single moms
are lonely and in “survival” mode. Children are suffering. We don’t need another
Band-Aid over a gaping wound; we need the Church to be the church, and we need
all believers involved in the living Gospel of the Body of Christ.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In Acts 2, we see that individuals within the New Testament
Church sold their belongings and gave to one another out of their own
abundance. No one was left hungry or in need because God’s people stepped up
and gave of themselves for the sake of others. It was because of this that the
Church continued to grow in numbers every day. There weren’t always extravagant
speeches. The printing press hadn’t been invented yet, so reading the next bestseller
in Christian non-fiction wasn’t an option. Instead, they followed Christ’s
command to love one another, and to reach out to each other, live in community,
and to allow God’s kingdom to come to earth. I believe that “outsiders” wanted in because as people, we
are hungry to be a part of something bigger than ourselves, and yet we also
desire to be known intimately and to live in the context of relationships. They
saw that Christ-followers had both of those things, and they wanted “in.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
How can we intentionally live in community with one another?
We live in a generation that honors and glorifies independence. We have our own
houses, our own playgrounds, our own “stuff.” We juggle everything that the
world tells us to juggle, and it is a shameful thing to ask for help (though I’m
sure I am not the only one that needs it…often). <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
What if we were to allow God’s spirit to move us into Biblical community with one another? What if we went out of our way to intentionally
live and serve one another the way that Christ and the early Church modeled?
How would the Church be redefined? How would families grow? How much more secure
would we feel, seeing faith in action in our own lives and being affirmed that
there are people that would do anything to take care of us, pray for us, and
make sure that we aren’t alone? I believe that living in authentic Biblical
community is one of the greatest ways to overcome anemic faith, and one of the
biggest obstacles that the modern church must overcome to continue carrying out
the Great Commission. We must move beyond only attending “big Church” on
Sundays and into the lives of other believers. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
How are you “doing” community? How has this impacted you? <o:p></o:p></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Haley Bodinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09600820439543980275noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22263050.post-2539125540327758952013-04-13T06:42:00.003-07:002013-04-13T06:42:47.346-07:00Excellence Honors God
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<b><span style="color: #686868; font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">1.</span></b><span style="color: #262626; font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">the fact or state of </span><a href="http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/excel"><span style="color: #262626; font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">excelling</span></a><span style="color: #262626; font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">; superiority; eminence</span><b><span style="color: #686868; font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #686868; font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">2.</span></b><span style="color: #262626; font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">an </span><a href="http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/excellent"><span style="color: #262626; font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">excellent</span></a><span style="color: #262626; font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"> quality or
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<span style="color: #262626; font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>When I was 15 years old, I worked at
a sandwich shop. It was the 2<sup>nd</sup> job that I had held, having
previously worked one summer at an ice cream parlor. I never could have guessed
that when I began my new job I would experience a major paradigm shift in my
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #262626; font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>As the youngest employee at this
local purveyor of sandwiches, I had a lot to learn. I worked with one woman in
particular that I liked: a single-mom in her late twenties or early thirties
that worked hard, worked honestly, and did everything to the best of her ability.
I was so drawn to her. I wanted to emulate her. I took everything that she said
very seriously. I enjoyed conversation with her, asked questions, and hoped
that she liked me too. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #262626; font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">She didn’t. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #262626; font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">One of the most
mortifying moments of my life came when the two of us were engaged in a
conversation, and she didn’t mince words to tell me that she thought I had poor
work ethic. I didn’t apply myself. I didn’t do things well or fully because I
chose not to, not because I couldn’t. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #262626; font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">Ouch! My ego
took a huge hit that day. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #262626; font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">I tried to
console myself—think of all of my positive attributes, make up for this major
lapse in my character, defend myself…but she was right. I was capable of doing
mundane tasks better. I lazily hoped to earn money by doing things half-way.
However, if I was on the receiving end of goods or services, I expected
top-notch service and quality (don’t we all?). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #262626; font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">Looking back, that
woman changed my life. What she said hurt. Proverbs 27:6 tells us that “Wounds
from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiples kisses.” John MacArthur says
that “to genuinely love is to manifest the truth, even if it means to rebuke”
(MacArthur, Proverbs 27:6). <a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=22263050#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="color: #262626; font-family: Georgia;">[1]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a> This woman may not have
enjoyed working with a young teenager that, quite frankly, slacked. She may not
have <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">liked</i> me, but she did actively
love me. She chose to not be silent in regards to something that ultimately
affected my future. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #262626; font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">I was not a
believer at that time, so my motive for improving my performance was solely for
the sake of myself. It would take the Lord radically transforming my spirit
from the inside out for my motives to move beyond personal gain to spiritual
service and excellence. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #262626; font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">I imagine we can
all share stories of situations in which we could clearly see apathetic work,
laziness in others, or “service” that was greatly lacking. I cannot count the
times that I have asked a cashier in a store how they are doing, and he or she
replies, “I’ll be better in half an hour when I get to leave.” Yikes---not even
an attempt to force a smile to a customer. I think we can all agree that this
type of sentiment is seen and heard almost daily in our interactions with
others, even other believers. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #262626; font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">Work, however,
is not a consequence of the Fall. God created work for man’s enjoyment (surprise)!
He designed us to be productive, to enjoy the fruit and profit of labor. Sin
unfortunately marred that gift from God too. We were made to work. We were made
to produce, to create, to grow, and to enjoy the rewards. Our sinful pride
insists that we should reap the benefits of labor without expending any energy
to sow. We want without cost. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #262626; font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">Tommy Newberry
is a Christian life-coach based out of Atlanta, Georgia. In his book <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Success is Not An Accident,</i> Newberry
says, “Many Americans have been misled into believing they will not be held
accountable for their choices and that they will miraculously harvest something
other than what they planted” (Newberry 15).<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=22263050#_ftn2" name="_ftnref2" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn2;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="color: #262626; font-family: Georgia;">[2]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a> Many of us, if not all of
us, at some point have hoped to reap what we have not sown. We want the
benefits of work without actually performing the job well or at all. Paul
writes in the book of Galatians that we should “not be deceived: God cannot be
mocked. A man reaps what he sows” (Galatians 6:7). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #262626; font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">Please do not
misunderstand me. I am not saying that we should all aim to be CEO’s of major
companies, make millions of dollars, and bathe ourselves in the riches of this
life. Life is too short for any of us to live for anything less than eternity. Many
of us may never make much money or be known by thousands of people. However,
those things aren’t of importance to begin with! Bringing glory to God means
living obediently to the life that He has created for YOU as a uniquely and
wonderfully made individual, regardless of your resume. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #262626; font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">Regardless of
worldly accomplishment, we are called to live with excellence wherever we are
in life. We are to steward the resources of money, time, and energy according
to God’s revealed will and to ask Him for wisdom for His personal will in our
individual lives. Working with excellence is one of the primary ways that
believers can live in the world, but not as part of the world. People notice
excellence, and excellence is a platform for professing the love of Christ.
Would you take the guy that shows up late every day, has a bad attitude, and
does sloppy work seriously when he told you about his love for God? That love
may very well be genuine and authentic, but if you were not already a believer,
it would be very difficult to see something different about him based on the
way he lives. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #262626; font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">So what are some
ways that we can practically live lives of excellence regardless of our
occupations, stage in life, etc.? Here are 5 things to consider each day as you
live your life:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #262626; font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-font-family: Georgia;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><u><span style="color: #262626; font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">Determine the
priorities in your life according to God’s word</span></u><span style="color: #262626; font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #262626; font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"> </span></div>
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<span style="color: #262626; font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"> We can’t do everything and do it
well. We must say “no” to less important things in order to do the most
important things with excellence. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #262626; font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #262626; font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-font-family: Georgia;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><u><span style="color: #262626; font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">Stop
complaining.</span></u></div>
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<span style="color: #262626; font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #262626; font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"> Some of our
least pleasant experiences we have are when we are being “serviced” by a worker
and we overhear them grumbling about how much they hate their jobs. Is this
you? Are you lifting people up with the words you say about your job, even if
it isn’t an easy or “fun” place to be? A positive attitude shines a light very
differently than the majority of attitudes shown in the typical workplace. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #262626; font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"><br /></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #262626; font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-font-family: Georgia;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><u><span style="color: #262626; font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">Do tasks to the
best of your ability.</span></u><span style="color: #262626; font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="color: #262626; font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #262626; font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"> This doesn’t
mean that everything you do will be top-notch, or award winning. How would we
ever grow if we were already arrived? None of us are perfect, but we do
intrinsically know when we are intentionally cutting corners, when we are being
lazy, when we are apathetic, and when we just want the rewards without the
labor. Whether you are making a bed, doing the dishes, writing a blog, giving a
presentation, studying for school, analyzing Excel spreadsheets, or whatever
else under the sun you do on a day-to-day basis, do it to the best of your ability
(even if that isn’t a professional-level ability). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #262626; font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #262626; font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-font-family: Georgia;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><u><span style="color: #262626; font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">Show up on time.
Stay for your whole shift. </span></u></div>
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<span style="color: #262626; font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="color: #262626; font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"> Do not abuse your work time for leisure. This is a form of theft
known as time-stealing. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #262626; font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #262626; font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-font-family: Georgia;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">5.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><u><span style="color: #262626; font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">Treat people the
way you would want to be treated.</span></u><span style="color: #262626; font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="color: #262626; font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="color: #262626; font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"> Mom was right when she repeated this over and over again.
Change in a culture begins with change in the lives of individuals. Work for
your clients, family, customers, and peers with the same positivity, the same empathy,
and the same quality that you would hope to receive if it were you. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #262626; font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">Working with
excellence in all that we do honors God. If we are stewards of all that He has
given (time, money, talent, etc.) how are we doing? Are we beacons of hope that
point to a God that gave us everything in Christ? Let us run the race before us
well. Run hard. Love strong. Serve and work with love, with excellence, and
always pointing to the redeeming hope that is found in Christ alone. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="mso-element: footnote-list;">
<!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><br clear="all" />
<hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" />
<!--[endif]-->
<div id="ftn1" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=22263050#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Cambria;">[1]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a> <i>MacArthur Study Bible</i>. New King James
Version. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, Inc.,
1997. Print. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn2" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=22263050#_ftnref2" name="_ftn2" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Cambria;">[2]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
Newberry, Tommy. <i>Success is Not an Accident</i>. Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. 1999. Print</span><o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
</div>
<!--EndFragment-->Haley Bodinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09600820439543980275noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22263050.post-16739331920312389902013-04-10T18:21:00.002-07:002013-04-10T18:21:56.583-07:00An Echo of Memory
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Enveloped <o:p></o:p></div>
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Surrounded<o:p></o:p></div>
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That’s how I want to be<o:p></o:p></div>
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That’s how I want to live<o:p></o:p></div>
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That’s how I want to stay<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Full<o:p></o:p></div>
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Complete<o:p></o:p></div>
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The longing I have. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Can I remember a place that I have never been? <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
Can I call that place my home? <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
I am a vagabond waiting <o:p></o:p></div>
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To be the place I belong. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Haley Bodinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09600820439543980275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22263050.post-33135955460797429062013-04-08T12:39:00.001-07:002013-04-08T12:39:57.030-07:00Patience in Imperfection
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<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: blue;">“We all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a
mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from
glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord”</span> <span style="color: blue;">2 Corinthians 3:18</span><o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Last night I undertook the task of sorting through baby
clothes and toys to determine what to sell, what to save, and what to give
away. My house was an absolute wreck. I spent the entire morning this morning
not only organizing closets to put things away, but scrubbing and cleaning so
that now I can drink my coffee and write with my surroundings “in order.” <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I am very impatient with myself when it comes to processes.
I have very little tolerance for waiting for something to be completed when it
is in my power to complete it. When I have moved from one house to another, I
stayed up late, got up early, and did not stop working until boxes were
unpacked, broken down, and thrown away. I like things to be settled. I like
things to be neat, tidy, and completed as quickly as possible.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Our faith doesn’t work that way though. I often I wish that it
did, but it doesn’t. I wish I was perfect, polished, and made fully into the
image of Christ as of yesterday, but I’m still a mess. Don’t get me wrong: I
know that I am fully forgiven by the power of Christ’s death and resurrection.
I know that I belong 100% to God the father as a result of my faith in Him.
However, the sanctification process and renewal of my mind can feel so daunting
sometimes. I see so many weak areas of my life---selfishness, control, and pride
are all deep-rooted weeds in the garden of my heart. I am so thankful that the
Master Gardener cares about me enough to not leave those weeds in place! <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Becoming a parent has so greatly affected my perception of
God and myself. Parenthood is an amazing earthly shadow of what God’s love for
us really is like. I mean can you imagine if I expected my three-year-old son to act
and reason as an adult? Okay, Okay, Okay, so there’s another area of
imperfection in me: sometimes I DO expect him to act like an adult! However,
does it make sense to do so? No! He is a "grown-up-in-progress." I'm okay with that. I'm ok that he is not an adult yet because he's not! He's still new to this life, and it is my job to teach and train him to be a mature, responsible adult.<span> </span>This is a LONG process with a lot of repetition, a lot of discipline, and a lot of humor required. While he is not perfect, or grow up yet, he is 100% my son. He has access to me, my
home, where I am. I provide for him. I love him unconditionally. </div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In the same way, as believers we are fully accepted into the
Lord’s home as His children once we have authentically placed our faith in
Christ. However, His word tells us that we are now His ambassadors. We
represent Him to a lost, broken world, to desperately invest in the mission to invite
all people into His kingdom as sons and daughters through the Gospel. So, He
equips us. He changes us. He reaches deep into the pit of our heart and starts
to root out weeds that choke out His spirit from within us so that our work may
be increasingly fruitful and abundant.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Immediately on the
outset of our faith journey, God invites us to work alongside of Him as a
father would invite his child to help him. In my house, “help” is usually a big
mess when my son is involved. But we adore the intimacy built with him when we
share labor. Can my husband and I do the work without him? Absolutely, and
usually better and faster.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But we love
him, and we want him to be an active participant in our family---to identify
with my husband and I that he is a part of “us.” As he grows up, his impact in
this work develops more and more. God has invited and commanded us to work
alongside of Him in His power as His children because He wants us to identify
with His heart, and His kingdom. What a privilege, and what a joy that we do
not have to have “arrived” to be co-laborers with Him! <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Miles J. Stanford has a fantastic book about Spiritual
growth called <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Green Letters</i>. In
it, Stanford states that, “many [believers] feel they are not making progress
unless they are swiftly and constantly forging ahead.” He goes on to quote A.H.
Strong: “When God wants to make an oak, He takes an hundred years, but when He
wants to make a squash, He takes six months” (Stanford, 6-7)<span class="MsoFootnoteReference"> <a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=22263050#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title=""><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS 明朝"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[1]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a></span>.
Maturation, growth, and spiritual depth take time. This is no excuse for
choosing to sin or oppose God’s word. Rather, it is an opportunity to be set
free from the self-expectation of immediate perfection. God is working,
shaping, deepening, strengthening, pruning, and creating healthy, fruitful
followers. Let us continue to accept His invitation to work alongside of Him,
to hear His words, to accept His loving discipline as our Great Father. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="mso-element: footnote-list;">
<!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><br clear="all" />
<hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" />
<!--[endif]-->
<div id="ftn1" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=22263050#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS 明朝"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[1]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a> Stanford,
Miles J. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Complete Green Letters</i>.
Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1975. Print.<o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
</div>
<!--EndFragment-->Haley Bodinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09600820439543980275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22263050.post-74669273891668051802013-04-06T18:47:00.000-07:002013-04-06T18:47:00.134-07:00Crushed and Created
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">This week has left me speechless. It has seemed that
everywhere I look there is sickness, pain, death, war, and trauma. The effects
of sin are seemingly endless. I find myself whispering in my heart, “Jesus,
come quickly.” Hearing of a dear friend's recent cancer diagnosis, reading news stories of war, suicide, and more I am
reminded that none of us are immune from pain. None of us can say we have never
hurt deeply. We are all very, very broken, and we all need a Savior. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I have a
three-year-old son that I adore. He is so funny, creative, smart, and
imaginative. Like most three-year-olds, he has days that make me want to pull
my hair out. Some days I fight him tooth-and-nail to listen and obey, and to
understand that I love him and want good things for him, but he needs to trust me and obey. Some days I just want to cry from sheer frustration when his strong
will and mine collide.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">If my son
wakes up in the middle of the night crying because he is scared, I go to him.
It doesn’t matter how bad of a day we had. It doesn’t matter how angry he made
me. I love him fiercely, and I don’t want him to be scared. I want him to trust that I
will be there when he needs me. I want him to know he is safe, loved, and that
I am with him. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I have to believe that God feels
even stronger about us. We are pitiful, sinful</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">beings that refuse to listen and obey the God that loves us
and wants good things for us. We buck against His authority, in spite of how
good He is. And yet He loves us with an everlasting love. In spite of the sin,
the shame, the guilt, he came to us in the middle of our nightmare and rescued
us. We are not alone in the darkness; our God is with us. It doesn’t take away the darkness, but the morning will come. Until then, we are not alone.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I look back on certain parts of my life with sadness. I had a
tumultuous upbringing that left me shattered, insecure, and utterly broken for
many years. People that should have protected me and taken care of me either
left, or watched on while abuse and neglect occurred. Even when I was placed
in a stable home, internally I was a wreck and I didn’t know how to reconcile
all that had happened with the Gospel that I heard in church on Sundays. When I
committed my life to following Jesus at the age of 17, I was changed from the
inside out. I started on a journey of healing from wounds I lived with, and
learned to forgive those that had hurt me the deepest. Don’t
misunderstand---the situations didn’t change, in fact they got worse for a time. But I was
changed. I saw things differently.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"></span>During my
first year of college, I entered into one of the darkest years of my entire
life. But that year is the year that God broke me, and showed me His
faithfulness like never before. In the thick of depression, I found myself
literally hiding under a desk sobbing over the word of God. My Bible still has
tear-stained pages from hours spent asking God to meet me in the middle of the
pain. I studied the book of Hosea, and the Lord showed up in my heart. I was
never the same when I studied what the Lord spoke to Israel through the prophet: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>14 </b>“Therefore I am now going to allure her; I will
lead her into the wilderness and speak tenderly to her.<b>15 </b>There I will give her back her vineyards, and
will make the Valley of Achor<b>[b]</b> a
door of hope. There she will respond<b>[c]</b>
as in the days of her youth, as in
the day she came up out of Egypt. <b>16 </b>“In that day,” declares the
Lord, “You will call me ‘my husband’; you
will no longer call me ‘my master.<b>[d]</b>’
(Hosea 2:14-16)</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The Lord led Israel into difficult, trying times
not to show himself as a God that will beat his subjects into submission, but
rather to show the intimate nature of His love and compassion towards His
people in spite of themselves. It is so easy and tempting in tumultuous times
to believe the lie that God no longer cares, that He has forsaken us, that He
doesn’t love us. It is easy to believe that we are simply being punished. In
that season of my life, I believed I would never be better, and I would be left
to rot in the wilderness. But that season is now one of the fondest of my
spiritual life because I look back and see God’s goodness, tenderness, and
kindness to me in the midst of my doubts, fears, and brokenness. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">God does love us madly. He is with us in the
desert to show us His heart, to show us that when all is lost, He is constant. Maybe
you are suffering tremendously. Look to Him. He has come for us like a Father
goes to his child. He loves us with a radical love that changes us. He is able
to take the Valley of Achor (the valley of trouble) and make it a doorway of
hope. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">How have you seen God move through tragedy and
pain in your own life? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">If you are like me, you enjoy a good song that
speaks into the heart of an issue. Here are a few I encourage you to check out:
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">“The Cure for Pain” by Jon Foreman<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">“After All (Not for a Moment)” by Meredith
Andrews<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">“Crushed and Created” by Caitlyn Smith<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">“If You Want Me To” by Ginny Owens</span><b style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></b></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Haley Bodinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09600820439543980275noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22263050.post-62559197066972525152013-04-04T05:04:00.000-07:002013-04-04T12:31:38.220-07:00The Mess of Relationships<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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I have control issues. I love to bake because I not only
have a crazy sweet-tooth, but because I also enjoy knowing that if I mix the
right measure of each ingredient, mix it properly, and bake it at the right
temperature for the right amount of time, I can expect to receive just what I
was working on. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Life doesn’t work that way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Relationships don’t work that way. We want them too. We want
relationships to fit in nicely tied packages that fit “just so” in our lives.
The truth is that relationships are messy, often inconvenient, and sometimes
flat-out hard. We can’t add “the right ingredients” and follow our “recipe” and
be guaranteed that it will produce exactly what we intended. But the other
truth is that relationships are worth it. And sometimes the results are even
better than our recipe could have produced to begin with. As people, we crave
intimacy and connection with other people. We were designed for it. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This last year I realized something so ugly within myself
that I didn’t want to face it. Have you ever had a moment like that? When you
want to just throw your personal “junk” into the proverbial closet and pretend
it isn’t there? I like to think that I’m a people person. I thrive on people. People
energize me. On Sunday mornings I have the privilege of serving alongside of
children’s ministry volunteers at the church I call home. I often feel so
excited to be around these people that I feel like the hyper squirrel from the
movie <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Ice Age</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>People excite me. People possibilities make
me dream big. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But the truth is that people also terrify me. People are
wild cards: unpredictable, and having the capacity to cause great destruction
both physically and emotionally. The “thing” that I love also scares me to my
core. This last year, one of the biggest reasons that I stepped away from
writing was to deal with this exact thing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The Lord allowed me to reach a point of collapse nearly a year ago in
which I found myself living in fear. I couldn’t sleep. I couldn’t enjoy things.
I could only contemplate the harm that people can do, and it was scary. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I believe that our enemy threw me into a pit intended
to destroy my hope in the Lord. Admittedly, there were many days that I
questioned if I would make it through that season. But our God is gracious,
patient, and is able to turn such pits into beautiful years of work and
accomplishment in our hearts, even if it is painful and trying. The Lord didn’t
leave me in my fear, but met me in it. He challenged me to really come face to
face with my deepest fears, most of which revolve around the loss of my son or
the forced separation of me from him, and to deal with them on me knees. I will
spare you all of the details of the last year, but through days, weeks, and
months of asking God hard questions, seeking truth, and seeking counsel the
Lord has shown me repeatedly that even if the worst occurs, the story is not
over. He is God. He is good. His grace is big enough to carry us through our
deepest fears. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I share all of that because this last year was tempting for me
to hide away and forget about people. To shut down and say, “Relationships are
too hard, too messy, and I don’t want any piece of that.” The truth, however,
is that God loves people, and I love God. God’s spirit in me beckons me to
share His love for people that cost Him everything. The Gospel shows us that
Jesus disregarded the mess that we as people are, and met us right in the thick
of it. He came into the cold water with us, so to speak, and rescued us. He
endured ridicule, shame, lies about Himself, excruciating death, and the wrath
and separation from God the father all for the sake of…us. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
All of this has left me broken. God has wrecked shop on my
heart, and I find myself slowly taking more risks to let people “in.” I tend to
hold people at arms length. The world tells me that it’s because of abandonment
issues and the tumultuous childhood and adolescent years I had. But God says it
doesn’t have to be that way, and He is completely revamping my heart to pursue
people in spite of the mess. I want to be willing to be inconvenienced for the
sake of relationship. Acts 2 shows us that disciples grew in number because the
Church was the church, living in authentic community and relationship with one
another. There is great power in relationships. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
How can we intentionally invest in people? How can we allow
ourselves to be vulnerable to others? How can we let go of our control issues
to get into the mess of “people?” <o:p></o:p></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Haley Bodinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09600820439543980275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22263050.post-11033174468575706462013-04-02T17:51:00.001-07:002013-04-04T12:06:32.849-07:00The Evidence SpeaksThis past weekend I had the privilege of taking a break. My sweet husband gave me the gift of time away from responsibility, so I did what my nerdy-self loves best: I tucked away into a bookstore by a window, complete with my hot cup of coffee--Cafe Verona (my coffee-snob-self's favorite blend), my headphones, my journal, and my Bible. I couldn't remember the last time that I didn't have a major "to-do" list. My family has been so busy recently with moving, overtime, major church events, and more.<br />
<br />
I confessed to the Lord that morning that I didn't know how to stop moving long enough to relax and be still. I started to write in my journal, but nothing would come out of my head. I felt like a tangled mess with no concrete thought. As I confessed that to the Lord in prayer, I decided that I would just be. I wouldn't try to write or think, I would just enjoy the moment looking out a window and listening to my music (Vienna Teng playlist on Pandora).<br />
<br />
After a short time, I felt myself relax. I felt myself breathe. I allowed myself to just be and enjoy the stillness. I relished the fact that I was still capable of relaxing.
As I allowed the music to wrap around me like a blanket, I felt more and more inflated within. I felt more full and less drained. I opened my Bible and continued my journey reading through the Gospels.<br />
<br />
I was in John 9 that particular morning.
I absolutely love Scripture. My entire being has been transformed over the last 10 years of studying God's word. I am not who I was when I first turned to Christ, praise Him for it. I love that I can never boast in my familiarity of Scripture because it is so dynamic. The Word is living and active, and is the breath of God into us. We can drink deep and never feel guilty for over-indulging. I love that I can read a passage for the very first time, then over and over again, and still be refreshed by it with something new that the Lord has to say to me.<br />
<br />
This particular day, as I studied John 9, I was blown away by the story told. A man was born blind, and Jesus' disciples asked Jesus what most people asked as they passed by that man every day: what did that man do, or what did his parents do, that was so terrible that he deserved to be blind?<br />
<br />
Stop there for a moment with me. Don't we do that? We are hardwired to assume that sickness, heartache, tragedy, and more are a payback from karma for something that we did horribly wrong. Jesus, as is beautifully typical, looks as His disciples and turns their assumption on its head. Jesus simply replies, "Neither this man nor his parents sinned [...] but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him" (John 9:3, NIV).<br />
<br />
I'd like to point out that the day prior to me reading this passage, I received a phone call from my best friend--a sucker punch of a phone call informing that her husband had a tumor that is most likely cancerous. What do you say in that moment? We cried together, I did my best to muster up more than a pitiful, "I'm so sorry." Reading John 9 hit a chord with me Saturday morning.<br />
<br />
Jesus went to the blind man in his darkness and spit in the dirt, proceeding to put the mud on the man's eyes. Wait a minute. Imagine that! You're blind. You were born blind, and have never seen a physical person. You beg, living off of the mercy of others to sustain you because you have no other option. And a stranger that you can't see spits in the dirt and puts that on your eyes. Umm...my immediate instinct is to say, "Yuck!" and be completely repulsed. However, this man received what Jesus offered, as bizarre and quite frankly messy as it was. He listened when Jesus said to go to the pool of Siloam and wash his eyes. He trusted and responded. As a result, his sight was restored.
People began to talk and question if it was a hoax of some kind. Maybe this wasn't the same man. However, the man's own parents stepped up and acknowledged that it was in fact their son, and yes he had been born blind, and yes he could now see.<br />
<br />
The Pharisees in their rage questioned the man amid threats of him being thrown out of the synagogue---a disgrace to any Jew. Upon questioning, he acknowledged his own doubts. He claims that Jesus is a prophet. His own parents leave him hanging, telling him that he's a grown up and must take responsibility for what he says about Jesus. They didn't want to risk losing their spot in the synagogue. This man was verbally abused and mocked by the Pharisees (so much for a "congratulations on the restoration of your sight"). Finally, the man looks at the Pharisees and declares, "Whether he is a sinner or not, I do not know. One thing I do know, I was blind and now I see!" (John 9:25, NIV). He had questions. He didn't know for sure that Jesus was the sinless Son of God, the Savior that He claimed to be. However, he did have the evidential support of what had been accomplished in his life.<br />
<br />
Looking further, we see that the man sustained even more injury from the Pharisees who cornered him and continued to hurl insults upon him as one of Jesus' disciples. The man dared to stand up to the Pharisees and boldly declared, at the risk of all he had, “Now that is remarkable! You don’t know where he comes from, yet he opened my eyes. We know that God does not listen to sinners. He listens to the godly person who does his will. Nobody has ever heard of opening the eyes of a man born blind. If this man were not from God, he could do nothing" (John 9:30-33, NIV).
I could not help but think of my own life when I read this man's testimony of God's grace and healing in his life.<br />
<br />
I confess that I have doubts. Sometimes doubts wash over me like a sea squall, suddenly and out of nowhere. I sometimes ask hard questions like, "Am I just buying into this 'faith stuff' to make sense of pain? To make myself feel better when life hurts? To make up hope so that it isn't purposeless?" Am I crazy to assume that I am not the only one with questions? However, the evidence speaks. My life was what I in my southern-mannerisms call a "hot mess" ten years ago. I was depressed, battling an eating disorder, angry, "good" on the surface, drowning on the inside. I couldn't handle the brokenness occurring within my family.<br />
<br />
When I encountered Jesus and surrendered to him, I felt like I could see for the very first time. It was as if I was dead and someone literally breathed into me and I took my first real breath. Things weren't suddenly easy as a new believer; in fact, many problems, especially within my family, got worse. However, something inside of me was changed. I began to be healed, I began to learn to forgive, to love. Ten years later, here I am. I can't always make sense of Jesus. I can't always wrap my head around the truth of the Gospel. But I can say that that I was blind, and now I see. I can say that if Jesus were not from God, He could do nothing. I can say that the evidence speaks. How about you? Are there places in your life that God has so clearly worked that it assuages doubt in your heart and mind?Haley Bodinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09600820439543980275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22263050.post-757751765830156882013-04-02T16:04:00.001-07:002013-04-02T16:04:39.141-07:00And we're back!Welcome back to Merry Happy! My writing this last year took a much more personal and private turn than is typical for me. I will be posting more about the journey of this last year in an upcoming post, but for now know that the Lord brought forth deep rooted issues within my heart that needed to be faced and dealt with before being able to do anything more in any sort of public writing forum. I look forward to sharing more about this journey soon.
I am so excited to move forward with Merry Happy in the hopes of joining you in your journey through this life. Happiness and joy are not founded in anything apart from Jesus Christ in the supreme place of our lives and hearts, and all that demands and requires.
Let's continue walking forward together...Haley Bodinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09600820439543980275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22263050.post-69211239919633236472012-01-18T08:35:00.001-08:002012-01-18T08:35:39.652-08:00Do It Now!I used to work with a direct sales company that was a very optimistic and positive environment. Professionally, the job provided me with greater coaching, mentorship, and training than any other position I’ve held. I recall being at a conference in Charlotte, North Carolina and hearing one of the leaders of this company challenge me to be a part of the “Din Din Club. Do it now! Do it now! Do it now!” Do not put off what can be done today. The discipline to use our time effectively today has an exponential impact on what will have been accomplished for our future. If we run today, we will have some immediate benefit: endorphins, higher energy levels, better sleep, and an immediate sense of self-confidence. If we run every day for three months, the benefit compounds to even greater payoff and results. Similarly, when we discipline ourselves to invest time into the things that are most important to us on a daily basis, we will not only experience immediate benefits, but compounded benefits long term. <br /> I am not suggesting that every little thing that needs to be done be done immediately. That would deter from the point I am trying to make. Instead, live according to your priorities and do not procrastinate the steps and daily “to-do’s” that line up with them. Maybe it’s a career goal that requires small steps that will accumulate to great pay off. Maybe it’s daily, disciplined investment into your nutrition and health choices. Perhaps it is taking the time out of the consuming busyness we all experience to spend intentional time with your children each day, knowing that you aren’t going to remember doing the laundry in twenty years, but you and your children will remember your times together. Maybe it’s taking the time to write a thank you card, or a note of encouragement to an estranged friend to invest in that relationship. My prayer is that you would hunger for the Lord, and know that strategic, intentional time each day with Him will lead to the life of Joy He has promised. Like any relationship, the more invested we are with Him, the more intimate and satisfying it will be. Whatever your personal goals and priorities, life your life accordingly, and do it NOW. The long term pay off of your choosing to strategically invest your own life and into the lives of others will have long-term benefits that outweigh the exercise it will take to make the decision today.Haley Bodinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09600820439543980275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22263050.post-33151861760282135122012-01-03T10:12:00.003-08:002012-01-03T10:12:48.108-08:00The Power of PerspectiveI was grocery shopping yesterday during a relatively busy time of day. There were several people ahead of me in the check-out line, and I didn’t have my son with me, so I was actually able to hear what people around me were saying. I began hearing the cashier yell over his shoulder to his co-worker that he only had 20 minutes until he was free. As he continued to work and “serve” the customers in his lane, he mentioned his imminent “freedom” several times. My instinctive thought was, “How unprofessional and rude. Someone should tell his manager that customers feel more burdensome than authentically served.” Compassion settled in, realizing that the cashier was probably only 16 or 17 years old. When it was my turn to be checked out, I asked the young man how he was doing. “Good….better in 20 minutes when I’m out of here” was his reply. Rather than correct him, or “teach him from my infinite professional wisdom” I simply responded with, “I understand. Well, hey. You have the opportunity to serve people and make their days a little brighter, so even the next 20 minutes can be good.” The young man looked surprised---not offended, but like a light bulb went off. He cocked his head to one side, and simply said, “You know, I’ve never thought of it that way before. I guess you’re right!” Maybe we all just need a little perspective to truly enjoy the moments that create days, that create years, that create legacies. Are we truly delving into what is before us?Haley Bodinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09600820439543980275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22263050.post-49589907538093504492012-01-03T10:12:00.001-08:002012-01-03T10:12:33.525-08:00Book Spotlight: The 4:8 PrincipleOne of the most meaningful books I have ever read is The 4:8 Principle by Tommy Newberry. No other book has so practically challenged me, and quite literally, my way of thinking. Tommy Newberry is a renowned Christian life-coach based in the Atlanta area. This book is based upon Philippians 4:8 which says, “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” Newberry empowers his readers to take ownership and personal responsibility for their thought life, and thus their overall happiness and satisfaction.<br /><br />Our thoughts impact our attitudes which impact our actions which impact our lives. In his book, Newberry states, that “all lasting change is preceded by changed thinking.” I first read that sentence about a year and a half ago, and a journey began to exercise intentional, positive thinking. I recently returned to work as an admissions counselor at Liberty University. I am in the same position that I held two years ago---prior to becoming a mother to my now 18 month old son. I was recently told by my supervisor that I am more joyful, positive, and in general pleasant than I was before I left for maternity leave. He went on to explain that I was always a “nice” person, but that things are more predictably positive with me. Wow. Apparently this is having an impact on the person I am becoming! Am I perfect? No. Do I find myself wrestling myself during bad moods? Absolutely! However, the fight for joy, and the fight to feel better more often is increasingly easier the more that I choose joy, and choose to think upon right things.<br /><br />If you want to learn more about practical application from a field expert, I highly encourage you to check out Tommy Newberry’s book! Visit http://www.the48principle.com/ for more information!Haley Bodinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09600820439543980275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22263050.post-62684488399716999172011-03-01T07:42:00.001-08:002011-03-01T08:08:23.449-08:00To Know His LoveI have been away from the blogging scene for quite a while. It really wasn't intentional; I actually thought of writing often, but to sit down and do so has been challenging, on top of going through a "blank canvas" period, and having no inspiration. I am learning to juggle more things now than I could six months ago. Crazy what a baby will do! :) Even more crazy that my baby is officially a toddler, and is two weeks shy of his first birthday. My goodness.<br /><br />This morning felt much like a hangover of bad emotions from yesterday. Anyone that has read my previous posts knows that I have a fear of severe weather. A calm thunderstorm is one thing, but you throw the word "tornado" anywhere into the mix, and I start convincing myself to move to Seattle. They have only had five tornados since 1950. I am kidding...I don't become so irrational as to actually consider moving, but I do get nervous. I have for as long as I can remember, but since I have become a mom, it is magnified. If I am honest, it's ridiculous. <br /><br />So between the media, and the clouds forming overhead yesterday, I mentally prepared for the worst. I imagine roofs getting blown off, siding being torn away, and me trying to cover a squirming child. Imagine how silly I felt last night when we got....rain. That's right. Rain. Not a single utterance of thunder. As I reflected on the day, I realized just how much I doubt God. Specifically, I doubt that He really loves me. My fears yesterday were rooted in the subconscious notion that God had given up on me; I will never become the person that He created me to be, and I am a lost cause. Wow. Pretty harsh, huh? Just keeping it real in hopes that someone reading this will say, "I understand. I feel that way too." Reader, you are not alone. But here is the glorious part. We are so wrong. I am so wrong. I sat down this morning and read through the book of 1 John in its entirety. Talk about humbling. God is love. God loves us. He LOVES us, and He wants us to know without a shadow of a doubt that He LOVES; that He IS love. He doesn't want to leave any room for thinking, guessing, or assuming that He loves us. He wants us to be completely covered through and through wih the rich knowledge of that fact. John Mark McMillan wrote a song about the loss of one of his dearest friends. This song has become an anthem in many churches, and one line in particular declares, "I don't have time to maintain these regrets when I think about the way that He loves us." Powerful stuff right there. I don't have time to regret, to fear, to hate, to envy, to boast, to hurt when I think about the way that He loves us. His love may allow us to experience tragedy. There are no guarantees that a tornado will not rip through my neighborhood and destroy everything. But this I know, that God is good, and as Job declared in the midst of sickness, loss, tragedy and more, "He gives and takes away. Blessed be the name of the Lord." He does not change. His love is stronger than the hurricanes, and more glorious than the heavens. And we are His. "Behold what manner of love the Father has given to us that we should be called the sons of God."Haley Bodinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09600820439543980275noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22263050.post-13479703111869893872010-06-09T16:44:00.000-07:002010-09-04T08:02:18.696-07:00Run Hard. Love Strong.Does anyone else struggle with comparing themselves to others? Goodness knows that I do. I look at some person that I admire and wonder why I can't be like that, why I can't be so beautiful, talented, have that wonderful family, grace, faith...<br /><br />If anyone is reading this and nodding in agreement, I hope that you are encouraged that you are not alone. I was reminded of the verse of scripture that says that no struggle has come upon you that is not common to humanity. There is comfort in knowing that you are not alone. <br /><br />As I was drying my hair this morning (glorious white noise of a hair dryer allows free-flowing thought), I felt the gentle nudging of God reminding me to run my race. Run to win. Run hard. Running to win requires focus on my path. If I were running a literal race, my focus could not be on any other person if I expected to run well. Horses running races have blinders put next to their eyes to block out distractions. I need some blinders. <br /><br />When we focus on what we think we lack in comparison to others, we lose all perspective of what we do have. We become depressed, and obsessed with idolizing that person in our minds. We place them on a pedestal, an unrealistic one might I add. When I have that person in my mind, it is usually someone that I either do not know at all, or am merely acquainted with. Surely if we really knew that person, we would see that they are imperfect, sometimes selfish, not always dressed up, and yes, they too struggle in marriage and other relationships. They get stressed, they fall short. They very well may even struggle with exactly what we are talking about: self-comparison. <br /><br />Here's the problem--this behavior is emotional suicide! We lose ourselves and the joy of the lives that we have been given in this fictional image of another person! The enemy of our souls rages against us and robs us of all joy by whispering that seductive lie: "If you were only like HER, you would be happy, content, joyful. If your husband looked like THAT. If you had THAT talent. If you had THAT personality. If you had THIS many facebook friends. If you held THAT title, then life would be good." Dear friend, hear me now---let's put down the vile of poison. Let's put up our spiritual blinders and run the race set before us, fixing our eyes upon Jesus---the author and finisher of our faith. <br /><br />Peter compared himself to John. He saw the disciple that Jesus loved, and after all that Jesus had done to restore Peter personally, still asked Jesus, "Well, what about that guy? Why can't I do what he is doing." Jesus, direct as He is, cut to the chase. He looked at Peter and said, "Don't worry about him. YOU follow me." That is our call. YOU (Me) follow Him. Today. Now. <br /><br />Scripture reminds us that we are equipped for everything that God has for us. We have been given everything for life and godliness. Seek the shelter of the Good Shepherd that fights off our enemy that steals, kills, and destroys life and joy. Claim what has been given to you in Christ, and know that you are uniquely and wonderfully made. <br /><br />Let us pray for hearts that understand greater what Christ has accomplished for us. Let us look to Him and stand in awe at who HE is, rather than the life of so-and-so. Let us be amazed that not only is Christ so wonderful, but He is intimately involved in our lives. He is humble, and loves us. THAT is truly worthy of gratitude. Let us pray for understanding of what this means so that we are no longer tempted to be ungrateful for the lives that we as individuals have been given, or to idolize the imperfect lives of others.Haley Bodinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09600820439543980275noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22263050.post-48470426829079686142010-05-31T08:28:00.001-07:002010-09-04T07:35:01.469-07:00Does My Life Matter, and Other Questions I can't GoogleBefore I begin this entry, let me first just point out what an amazing cultural phenomenon Google.com has become. The term "google" has literally transcended the form of a proper noun to what is now a common place verb.<br /><br />I don't think that the questions I ask are rare. I don't think that I am alone when I ask, "Does my life matter? Am I making an impact? Am I at least moving in the right direction for something greater?" I think most of us ask ourselves those questions, and I think that most of us find ourselves in ruts of despair and finally settle into thinking that the questions will be left unanswered. Allow me to be transparent: I'm there right now. I find myself daily asking if this day-to-day living makes a difference. I find myself wondering if these things that seem so mundane are moving me in the right direction of leaving a legacy. Does it matter that the majority of my days right now are spent producing milk for a 3 month old? Does it matter that I work hard to stay caught up with laundry, dishes, and errands? Do my coffee dates with girlfriends make a difference in anything? What about my prayers---are those hitting the ceiling? Do all of the conversations about our desires to serve and be used matter for my husband and I? My flesh tells me that they don't matter. It's too small, too ordinary, too mundane to matter. I need to do more, be more, love more, serve more. But my faith tells me differently. My faith tells me that every breath matters. Every day counts. And my God loves me so much that the life that He gave to me is intentional. Often, my flesh FEELS like 90% of my thoughts, and my faith 10%. I feel bogged down by my blindness. But I believe with all of my heart that questions will be answered through my faith, and that yours can too. The Creator of the Universe---the Creator of you and me---He is the one that has the answers. <br /><br />Sometimes I wish God had a search engine. I wish I could go to answersinJesus.com and type in, "Why did you create me?" and pull up a reference from God Himself that says, "Haley was born on November 21, 1985 so that I could use her to ________________________." Can I get a witness? <br /><br />But here I am. On a journey that I believe will lead me home, and that does, in fact, have a purpose for the Kingdom of God. That purpose may turn out to be completely different than what I imagine, but as my husband has told me so many times, if that is the case it will be even better. Now, I just need to learn to trust the Lord (surely I am not the only one that has a hard time with this one), and live obediently in those things that seem so ordinary. <br />h some of youHaley Bodinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09600820439543980275noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22263050.post-5809282927473114502010-05-17T07:12:00.001-07:002010-05-17T12:53:45.253-07:00The Meaning of SacrificeOne word has come to mind over and over these last few days: sacrifice. <br /><br />I was reading in Hebrews 13 this morning where, presumably Paul (though the author is unknown), says, "For here we have no continuing city, but we seek the one to come. Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name." This follows a passage exhorting believers to be content with what they have and to not be covetous of what they do not have, remembering that God has promised to never leave or forsake His children. Psalm 84 reminds us that we are pilgrims en route to "home." En route--not yet arrived; this is not our home. I forget that. I hunger for all the wrong things: wealth, possessions, security in the number I see in my bank account... but the truth is that these things will not satiate my thirst, just like drinking gasoline will not satisfy my physical thirst. Rather, it will kill me. This is not it; we are on our way home, and our focus must be to sacrifice our lust for the praise of the one who gave it all for us. <br /><br />Sacrifice can be defined as "the surrender or destruction of something prized or desirable for the sake of something considered as having a higher or more pressing claim." As a mother, I will sacrifice my morning cup of coffee (trust me---a prized possession, no matter what anyone says) so that my son can eat when he is hungry, and be changed when he needs a new diaper. I am now accustomed to microwaving a cup of coffee no less than 2 times before being able to finish it. This is a petty example, but an exhibit of sacrifice none the less. My cup of coffee is of value to me personally, but my son's health and well-being has a higher and more pressing claim. It is far more valuable. Now, let's magnify this. God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, Jesus, as a sacrifice for the salvation of all who would believe and follow Him. God watched His son go through 33 years of ridicule, mockery, and ultimately a brutal death. What a cost! But the cost was WORTH IT in the mind of the Almighty. He saw US---that's right! You and Me!---as a higher and more pressing claim that justified the sacrifice that has justified us! Sacrifice. <br /><br />So back to Hebrews. Be content with such things as you have, offer the sacrifice of praise. What does this mean? Honestly, I'm wrestling through it. I'm not going to pretend to know something that I haven't come to understand. I do know that it means giving up something that I authentically prize for something that I hold as higher. I love the Lord. I follow Him. But I have never seen my praise to Him as a sacrifice--what am I going without to praise Him? Is it that I praise Him, worship Him, and give my all for Him in spite of what I feel like I do not have? Or in spite of conditions, circumstances, or other discomforts? That must be it. In spite of what may be happening (or not happening, depending on what I want at any given time), my heart should offer the sacrifice of praise. <br /><br />Unfortunately, I fall short of offering such a sacrifice consistently. This must, however, be my focus, my mission, my true joy. <br /><br />Today, I praise Him that my agenda is void--that this post has taken me 6 hours to complete, that I am finishing my cup of coffee at 4pm, that I am still living in Lynchburg, VA, that I had a baby one month after my one year anniversary, that my life is in His hands, that today is no accident...praise Him for sacrifice, for cost, for paying the cost. Praise Him.Haley Bodinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09600820439543980275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22263050.post-12713523039875807912010-04-21T03:14:00.000-07:002010-04-21T03:24:51.300-07:00God Must Be ProudIt is 6:16am. Logan and I are up for "first breakfast." I don't remember when I brought him into the living room. I think it was around 3, but my most coherent memory is waking up in the chair in our living room with Logan snuggled against my chest. I had to have been half asleep when I moved from the bedroom to the living room. Bizarre.<br /><br />Logan will be six weeks old this Saturday. Wow. Six weeks ago today, I was still able to sleep past 5:30am. I'm used to it now though. It's so beautiful to see his personality starting to come out. He loves observing things. He loves looking at lights, and bright colors. He has started playing with Adam and I---kicking his arms and legs, and we've even gotten a few solid smiles out of him! Each day, I love that I have the privilege of watching him grow. I can't imagine letting this happen in a day care and missing it! It's so precious to be a part of this little man's growth! I love interacting with him. He's my little buddy :-) And I'm so proud of him. Every milestone that he reaches, every growth spurt, every new skill that he learns, I celebrate. <br /><br />That got me thinking. Surely God, as the perfect Father, does the same with us. We are His children, and surely He celebrates our growth. He loves us unconditionally---ransomed by the blood of Jesus, and free of the Law----yet He grows us into His perfect image. He must be so pleased by His children's development. <br /><br />I'm learning so much more about God now that I am a parent. I figured that I would, but it really is neat. <br /><br />I decided to read the book of Judges. I've never read the entire book! I am amazed at God's perfect paternity. He gave Israel clear standards of right and wrong. As a Father, He had to allow consequences when Israel crossed the line. Yet, every time that Israel called out to Him, He rescued them. As parents, Adam and I will do our best to show Logan what is right and what is wrong. Inevitably, there will be times when Logan will choose wrong, even when the right decision is clear. Adam and I will have to allow consequences. We will have to allow Logan to suffer pain and difficulties as a result of his choices---not because we enjoy watching him squirm, but because he will have to learn why right is right, and wrong is wrong. But when he looks to us and says, "I need help. I was wrong," we will be right there to love him, and get him back on the right track. <br /><br />I'm loving this. It's the most challenging calling I've ever been given. I can't have what I want, when I want it anymore. My six week old son dictates when I can read, when I can eat, when I can enjoy a cup of coffee, how long I can be out and about to run errands...I'm having to die to myself like no other time in my life. But I love it. It's so worth it to see him smile back at me.Haley Bodinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09600820439543980275noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22263050.post-38657973384624822602010-04-16T12:07:00.001-07:002013-04-04T13:40:43.231-07:00Is it Thursday? Wait, no...Tuesday? Oh! It's Friday!My days all blur together! It's Friday, but it feels like Thursday, and I can't remember what happened on Tuesday because Tuesday felt like Monday, Wednesday felt like it didn't happen, etc. etc. I'm not used to not being on a schedule. It's getting easier though. <br />
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I've been reading a phenomenal book called "The 4:8 Principle" by Tommy Newberry. I highly recommend it. The book is based on Philippians 4:8 which says, "Whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy---meditate on these things." The book is about joy being within our grasp, not as a result of changed circumstances, but as a result of changed thinking. Far too often in my lifetime, I (like most) have been a slave to my emotions. If I FEEL negatively, life stinks and there is nothing I can do about it, except complain and FEEL. However, this book challenges that notion. What if joy has nothing to do with circumstances, but has everything to do with right thinking? God has given us permission to be joyful! He has given us freedom, and the power of His spirit to be full of joy, regardless of what is happening! But it takes our effort to meditate on the right things. We are what we think upon! <br />
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It is a mental exercise for me, to be sure. Waking up each morning saying, "I get to get out of bed," rather than, "I have to get out of bed," but day by day, it is easier. Very similar to physical exercise: the more often you do it, the easier it gets, and the better you feel. My attitude is within my control, and I am called to joy. Beautiful!<br />
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Logan is five weeks old tomorrow! He's getting big, and in so many ways I cannot fathom that 6 weeks ago, he was still in my belly! He is developing his own personality, and like his dad, enjoys observing things before engaging in them. He is fascinated by light and color. There is a painting in our dining room that is just abstract color, and he will just sit and look at that painting for minutes upon end. He is also captivated by a little black stereo that we have in our kitchen. Adam has promised to give it to him when he is old enough to appreciate it. <br />
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We are slowly but surely settling into a sense of normalcy in our family life. We have fought to meet our family value of having at least one meal together per day at a table, and we believe it is worth the fight. Adam and I are learning how to take advantage of the few free moments that we have at the same time to enjoy each other, connect, laugh, talk, catch up, pray together, and bask in our relationship. Before we ever found out we were pregnant, we decided together that when children did come along, our marriage would be a priority. If our marriage falls apart because we become too busy or distracted, we are doing our children no service at all. Our love for each other is worth the fight to know each other through the years, and with a newborn, it has been a fight. But by God's grace, we are doing it. <br />
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Sorry this post has been a little bit of a stream-of-consciousness entry; I'm lucky to be conscious at all! Logan just now settled into a deep nap. It's 3:20pm, and normally he has been sleeping for the last two hours! I'm going to go enjoy the remaining moments of his sleep---quietly. <br />
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Thanks for reading. Tune in next time for more ramblings.Haley Bodinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09600820439543980275noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22263050.post-48448798030987466392010-04-09T09:09:00.000-07:002010-04-09T09:20:17.817-07:00Sometimes all you can do is laughYesterday was quite the interesting day. Logan and I got up and met my mom and my aunt for a final shopping venture before they headed back to Tennessee. It was wonderful having them here. I love them both so much, and miss them terribly. <br /><br />We figured out that my stroller isn't broken after all--simply a user-malfunction! haha. All this time I had been trying to attach the carrier into the stroller incorrectly, and I thought that a part was missing. While in Toys R Us, I had the notion to look at the strollers there, and aha! Saw my blunder. I was very excited to use my stroller for the first time :-) No more hauling the carrier everywhere! I have wheels!<br /><br />Throughout the day, I could tell that Logan didn't feel well. He was fussy, and kept scrunching his little legs up to his belly. My mom bought infant gas drops, so I gave him the recommended dose. Within one hour, my son pooped 3 times. I'm not talking small diapers either. I'm talking, "Did that just come out of my 9 pound baby, can't even wrap the diaper up" kind of diapers. By the way, no one ever tells you that baby poop can shoot out across the changing table. Yeah. That happened. While I was cleaning up, Logan started spitting up and coughing, so I moved to the other end of his body to assist him and clean THAT up. While cleaning up the spit up, a stream started flying past my face. That's right. In a single changing session, I got pooped on, spit up on, and peed on. Awesome. <br /><br />Within the following 30 minutes, Logan spit up everything he had eaten. I presume it was everything because it was several heaves, and projectile spit up going all over me, the couch, the floor, and the coffee table. Poor kid. What a rough afternoon! I text messaged Adam to keep him on alert that if this kept up, I was taking Logan to the doctor. Fortunately, after the next feeding, Logan kept everything down and was just fine. Just a little "blip" in the day. <br /><br />Fast forward a few hours. Adam was at work until 9. I was home alone, and news flashes kept coming over the television that we were under a tornado watch. The meteorologist showed several tornadic events taking place in southern Virginia, and showed the path of the storm--moving our way. About 7:30, *beep*beep*beep*, "Campbell county is under tornado warning. Take cover..." yada yada yada. Little known fact about adult Haley---I have always been terrified of severe storms. I enjoy good summer storms with rolling thunder, but tornados, hail, wind, lighting, sharp/loud thunder...no way. I used to hide out in closets and dark hallways as a kid with my walkman turned up as loud as possible playing "The Lion King" soundtrack. As an adult, my feelings aren't too different. I've just gotten better at keeping myself composed. So back to last night. It's really rather comical. I took blankets, pillows, my cell phone, a bottle of milk for Logan, his diaper bag, his bouncer, and a pacifier into our interior bathroom to set up camp. There we were---my 1 month old son and I, camped out in a bathroom for 20 or 30 minutes, and no tornado. I mean, I guess I'd rather play it safe than sorry, but it really is entertaining now that I look back on it. <br /><br />All of that to say that sometimes all you can do is laugh, and enjoy the ride. We are all doing well, and learning to adapt to this new life.Haley Bodinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09600820439543980275noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22263050.post-43373768928864716142010-03-28T10:27:00.000-07:002010-03-28T10:35:58.458-07:00Let Everything that Has Breath Praise the LordThe past few weeks away from an 8-5 job have provided me the opportunity to feel like ME again. The beautiful ache for beauty, the empathy that I share with music, my desire to be bathed in the Word of God, and my desire to write again. Maybe these are mundane things to most people, but those are deep, real things that make me who I am. Since I have worked in a call center, for whatever reason, I have felt loss because these things seemed to be missing. Music wasn't quite penetrating me the way that it used to, my hunger for God seemed jaded, and I had writers block like never before. But even with the busy-ness of maternity, I feel more like myself than I have in a very long time. <br /><br />I wish I had my piano here. I miss playing, and I ache for the release that it was for me. Those deep parts of me that are so difficult to express verbally found their way out through my fingers on 88 keys. I heard someone talking about modulations and music theory today, and remembered that I actually know a lot of music theory, after all, I studied it for 12 years. I would still love for the Lord to use music in some way through me. <br /><br />I have also been missing involvement in global missions. I have been recalling my cross-cultural experiences---the faces, the places, the purpose...and long to be involved again. I pray that Adam and I are able to go together and serve somewhere. <br /><br />I long to know Jesus and to be conformed to His image. I long to love deeply, richly, and selflessly, and I long to desire the things that He desires. I fall so short, but am learning to lean on grace. <br /><br />This entry has been scatter brained--much more a personal journal entry than a public blog, but thank you, reader, for bearing with me. I close with the lyrics to a song that has been on repeat in my home lately: <br /><br />Hallelujah from the heavens <br />Hallelujah in the heights above the earth <br />Hallelujah all His angels <br />Hallelujah for the last will be first <br />Let everything that has breath praise the Lord <br />Let everything that has breath praise the Lord <br /><br />Hallelujah in the morning <br />Hallelujah for the beauty of His scars <br />Hallelujah in the twilight <br />Hallelujah sun and moon and shining stars <br />Let everything that has breath praise the Lord <br />Let everything that has breath praise the Lord <br /><br />When the night seems so long (throw your hands to the sky) <br />You can sing a new song (wipe the tears from your eyes) <br />when you're weak, He is strong <br />He can heal your wounded soul <br />And calm the storm inside <br /><br />For all your times of laughter <br />In every hopeful prayer <br />When the world weighs on your shoulders <br />Through sorrow and your despair <br />With everything, with every breath, praise the Lord <br />Let everything, that has breath praise the Lord <br />Let everything that has breath praise the Lord <br />Let everything that has breath praise the Lord <br />Let everything that has breath praise the Lord <br />Let everything, that has breath praise the Lord <br /><br />When the night seems so long (throw your hands to the sky) <br />You can sing a new song (wipe the tears from your eyes) <br />When you're weak, He is strong <br />He can heal your wounded soul <br />And calm the storm insideHaley Bodinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09600820439543980275noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22263050.post-52383935732155963352010-03-23T08:14:00.001-07:002010-03-23T08:26:46.369-07:00New LifeIt's 11:14am. The sun is shining through our living room glass doors, and I am holding my 10 day old son, Logan, against my chest while he sleeps. This seems to be his preferred sleeping position, as once he snuggles up against me he doesn't move (as opposed to basinet sleeping where the poor baby sleeps for 1/2 an hour max at this point. Looking forward to longer sleeping patterns in his bed). <br /><br />Logan was born on Saturday, March 13, 2010 at 6:47pm. He was 7 lbs 11oz and 20 1/2 inches long. Very healthy, very strong. Very sweet. Thus far, he's been an easy baby to take care of! Once he's fed, changed, and slept, he's incredibly docile and observant. I think he's going to be a smart one :-) He looks around and takes it all in. He reminds me of his dad for that reason---definitely an observer. It's a great quality really. Mom, however, doesn't always take the time to observe before leaping, so my boys bring me balance. haha. <br /><br />Logan is pacified by singing. He doesn't like getting his diaper changed all that much. Mark that---he doesn't like having a dirty diaper, but the process of fixing it isn't always pleasant. However, if mommy and daddy sing to him while we change him, he calms down and lets us proceed with our work. This past week, I have sung "Jesus loves me" more times than I can count, but it's been a beautiful reminder to myself that when I am weak, He is strong. <br /><br />One of my favorite verses in the Bible is Zephaniah 3:17 which says, "The Lord your God in your midst, the Mighty One will save. He rejoice over you with gladness. He will rejoice over you with singing." That verse comforted me through several difficult years in late high school/early college. However, this last week has brought a whole new dimension to the beauty of that verse. Logan is pacified by his mom and dad singing over him. Likewise, our Heavenly Father rejoices over US and sings over US when we are fussy. Often, I can hardly get through a song to Logan before my eyes well up with tears of joy and gratitude for this little man, and I am amazed to think that God delights in His children that way---no, infinitely more so! How beautiful and precious. <br /><br />Having only been a parent for 10 days now, I am already amazed at what a different perspective it affords of our loving creator. I consider the cross, and wonder how God was able to give up his only son for us. The thought of Logan experiencing pain is terrifying, bringing a whole new perspective to the beauty of Christ's sacrifice on our behalf. <br /><br />In more ordinary terms, this week was full of feedings and changings, and that's pretty much it. Eat, poop, sleep, repeat. Daddy has had more unfortunate floods on his shirt than mom. I think it's a dominance issue. haha. I, however, got pooped on last night, and am getting used to dried spit up on my shirts. <br /><br />We're embarking on a whole new adventure. It's a calling, and I am both thrilled and absolutely dependent upon the Lord for strength and guidance. Little sleep and learning to die to myself for the health of my son are real struggles. I cannot imagine what this would be like if I were alone. Adam is amazing. He is such a natural father---involved, sensitive, in tune with Logan's and mommy's needs, and eager to meet them. I am so blessed to have a husband like that. He's my hero. <br /><br />Well, looks like it's time for little man to get some more food. More updates to come. <br /><br />Love,<br />the BodinesHaley Bodinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09600820439543980275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22263050.post-69794347230896451322010-03-08T08:33:00.000-08:002010-03-08T08:35:37.730-08:00March Madness<p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">The month of March brings different images to different people. Some think of leprechauns and pots of gold. Some think of St. Patrick. Some remember being tortured as a child when they forgot to wear green and got pinched all day on the 17<sup>th</sup> (that was me. Very rarely did I “luck” out and accidentally wear green on that day). Millions think of March Madness---the NCAA Men’s Division basketball championship. No, this article isn’t going to be about my bids for the year. Ok, admittedly, I don’t even know what a bid is, much less who mine would be on. But I did a little research on this championship in pursuit of something bigger: taking the chance that you get. </span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1"> </span>March Madness is held each year during the spring, and features 65 college basketball teams in the United States. The tournament was first developed by the National Association of Basketball Coaches in 1939. The NCAA took over the tournament the following season. The tournament has less famously been known as “The Big Dance.” The tournament is a single-elimination contest, thus, for success, it is essential that a team be “on their best game” at all times. There is no making up for a loss. Teams have one chance, and they either make it or break it. One team inevitably walks away the champion. They took everything that they had, they stayed focused, and they finished victoriously. </span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1"> </span>Ok, I’m going to diverge from the basketball analogy for a little bit to more familiar territory for me. But hold on, I promise I will make the connection! </span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1"> </span>I love music. I always have. My journals from the time I was 10 years old to now have been full of song lyrics that impacted me than my own pros. Even instrumental music has always moved me to the core. Something about music stirs life in me like nothing else. It’s as though someone reaches into the most central part of my soul and turns it inside out. I love it, but I can no way effectively describe it. Jon Foreman’s lyrics are probably the most common in my journals. He conjures up poetry that I could only hope to compose myself. In one of his recent releases with Switchfoot, Jon sings, “It’s no accident we’re here tonight; we are once in a lifetime.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">Stop. </span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">Take that in. </span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">It’s no accident you are here. It’s no accident that you are right where you are. It’s no accident that you <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">ARE</i> at all.</span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">YOU are once in a lifetime. This is your life, and it’s your one chance. </span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">There’s the connection I promised I’d make. Like March Madness, you have one chance to make your life count. The Bible tells us that we are fearfully and wonderfully made. We are unique individuals that happen once in a lifetime. You are the only YOU this world will ever have. Granted, your one chance is (God-willing) composed of many days. There are failures. There are wins. Thus, unlike March Madness, if you lose one day, you are not destined to lose it all. In fact, that’s the beauty of salvation! Christ came to redeem your loss! Selah. </span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">However, while “every breath is a second chance” (another Jon Foreman lyric), each “win” moves us to the next level. As we daily choose to live as a champion, a winner, and a victor under the direction of our Great Coach, we move to the next level. We must take the day-to-day opportunities that we have and play well in order to move forward. In Luke 16:10, Jesus says, “He who is faithful in little will be faithful with much.” Each opportunity is a new round. How are YOU playing? How did you handle that student on the phone? How did you react to that unexpected bill? How did you treat that person in the grocery store line? How did you help your colleague? Each little opportunity is part of your great, once in a lifetime life. This month’s challenge is to evaluate your lifelong championship. Are you taking what you have been given and running hard with it? If not, it’s not too late to start! Run Hard. Love Strong. Stay focused, and live victoriously. </span></p>Haley Bodinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09600820439543980275noreply@blogger.com0