Wow... it's been 5 months since I posted anything. You would think I don't like to write...
My world has changed and I haven't had much time to be creative in this kind of outlet here, but I haven't stopped using my creative side! I cannot wait to share it with you, what has been happening over the last several months.
However, on this morning I only have time to share this small thought that has been running through my spirit the last day or so.
FORGIVENESS in Your Heart + His GRACE = FREEDOM.
I pray today you choose to walk in this equation.
love love love,
Natasha Jovin
Thursday, April 10, 2014
Tuesday, November 19, 2013
Live Life to the Fullest...
A friend of mine posted this on Facebook a few days ago and I couldn't help but share! I think that these life lessons, and suggestions for life are so key to a healthy one! I hope that by reading this list you are encouraged and inspired to live life and live it to the fullest!
1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.
2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.
3. Life is too short – enjoy it.
4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick; your friends and family will.
5. Pay off your credit cards every month.
6. You don't have to win every argument. Stay true to yourself.
7. Cry with someone; it's more healing than crying alone.
8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.
9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.
10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.
11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.
12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.
13. Don't compare your life to others; you have no idea what their journey is all about.
14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.
15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye, but don't worry, God never blinks.
16. Take a deep breath; it calms the mind.
17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful. Clutter weighs you down in many ways.
18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.
19. It's never too late to be happy (but it’s all up to you and no one else).
20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.
21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion; today is special.
22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.
23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.
24. The most important sex organ is the brain.
25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.
26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words: 'In five years, will this matter?'
27. Always choose life.
28. Forgive.
29. What other people think of you is none of your business.
30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.
31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
32. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
33. Believe in miracles.
34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.
35. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.
36. Growing old beats the alternative of dying young.
37. Your children get only one childhood.
38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.
39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.
40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.
41. Envy is a waste of time. Accept what you already have, not what you need
42. The best is yet to come.
43.No matter how you feel, get up, dress up, and show up.
44. Yield.
45. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift.
be blessed,
Natasha
1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.
2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.
3. Life is too short – enjoy it.
4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick; your friends and family will.
5. Pay off your credit cards every month.
6. You don't have to win every argument. Stay true to yourself.
7. Cry with someone; it's more healing than crying alone.
8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.
9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.
10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.
11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.
12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.
13. Don't compare your life to others; you have no idea what their journey is all about.
14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.
15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye, but don't worry, God never blinks.
16. Take a deep breath; it calms the mind.
17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful. Clutter weighs you down in many ways.
18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.
19. It's never too late to be happy (but it’s all up to you and no one else).
20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.
21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion; today is special.
22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.
23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.
24. The most important sex organ is the brain.
25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.
26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words: 'In five years, will this matter?'
27. Always choose life.
28. Forgive.
29. What other people think of you is none of your business.
30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.
31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
32. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
33. Believe in miracles.
34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.
35. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.
36. Growing old beats the alternative of dying young.
37. Your children get only one childhood.
38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.
39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.
40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.
41. Envy is a waste of time. Accept what you already have, not what you need
42. The best is yet to come.
43.No matter how you feel, get up, dress up, and show up.
44. Yield.
45. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift.
be blessed,
Natasha
Friday, October 18, 2013
The fear of the Lord
Junior and I recently went on a cruise! Fun... right!!! We celebrated 3 years of marriage this past July and we haven't gone anywhere when we travel except to see family in Haiti and Kansas City , so we thought it was about time! We don't have kids and financially it is much more affordable, the joy and benefits of costal living. Plus, Junior has wanted to go on a cruise since I have known him, so it was fun for him to cross that off his bucket list.
However, I have always felt that it wouldn't be my favorite adventure to be restricted to a boat with things that consist of American entertainment (pools, bars, water parks, casinos, drinking, comedy acts, etc). When I travel I like to explore the place I am visiting, enjoying the freedom to roam, so my assumption was right. Although we had time to explore the Bahamas, not the kind of time I would prefer. With that said though, I love trying new things, so now I know what it's like to have experienced a cruise, plus Junior and I made plenty of fun memories in the process.
One of my favorite things was seeing the sunrise and sunsets out in the middle of the deep blue sea. It really leaves you speechless in its vast appearance. Truly amazing! I feel like the Lord blessed me with several revelations on this trip, but I will spare you all the details and share one that I have been thinking on today...
It is the reality of just how BIG our God is!!! I have experienced a lot of God's power in my life. It amazes me to think about it, from tornado stories to being in the center of a massive earthquake, I have learned that I am tiny and God's power is infinite. I do have the fear of the Lord. In fact, I often call myself a wimp because I fear when the weather is exhibiting signs of tornadoes, floods and the like.
However, This trip it hit me hard in a moment when Junior and a few friends were playing in some seriously rough waves on the beautiful Bahamas shore. I braved it and went in once, but didn't last long. I came out and verbally processed why I'm a wimp for the first time. I have seen the power of God and His creation up close and personal and I don't want to test it, for I am tiny and He is BIG!
Yet since being home a friend asked me, is it the fear of the Lord or the fear of death? It really has me wondering. In Proverbs 7:1 it states, "the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction." If the fear of the Lord brings knowledge than it seems to me that it would be a place of revelation in knowing who God is. When we know who God is, that reality should call us to worship. In worship we should find peace and in peace we should have no fear. So what does it really mean to fear the Lord?
Perhaps, the fear of the Lord is more about full abandonment and trusting than anything. If He is who He says He is than no matter the circumstances, His plans for you are best plans possible. Whenever death comes is it not the Father's will? When our lives are in a state of constant worship we will be free from all fear. Do not fear is said more in God's word than anything else, but we are called to fear the Lord. What does this look like to you? I am contemplating the fact that separation from Him should be the greatest fear of all, in all His holiness, grace, love, and infinite beauty should we not long to be with Him more than to have life on this earth.
I have a tattoo on my wrist, it is the Hebrew word, HESED. This word has many meanings, but recently a friend and I were talking about it and he shared a sentence he had heard about one of the many meanings. This one sentence profoundly spoke to me as I often try to explain hesed when people ask, but it isn't near as elegant as the sentence said by John Oswalt. "The love of a superior for an inferior, especially when that love is undeserved." To me this sums up the Fear of the Lord, should we not be in awe of this Kind of love, to loose this would be much greater than loosing one's life. I pray that I am learning more of what it means to fear the Lord, in His infinite power, grace and love.
be blessed,
Natasha Jovin
However, I have always felt that it wouldn't be my favorite adventure to be restricted to a boat with things that consist of American entertainment (pools, bars, water parks, casinos, drinking, comedy acts, etc). When I travel I like to explore the place I am visiting, enjoying the freedom to roam, so my assumption was right. Although we had time to explore the Bahamas, not the kind of time I would prefer. With that said though, I love trying new things, so now I know what it's like to have experienced a cruise, plus Junior and I made plenty of fun memories in the process.
It is the reality of just how BIG our God is!!! I have experienced a lot of God's power in my life. It amazes me to think about it, from tornado stories to being in the center of a massive earthquake, I have learned that I am tiny and God's power is infinite. I do have the fear of the Lord. In fact, I often call myself a wimp because I fear when the weather is exhibiting signs of tornadoes, floods and the like.
However, This trip it hit me hard in a moment when Junior and a few friends were playing in some seriously rough waves on the beautiful Bahamas shore. I braved it and went in once, but didn't last long. I came out and verbally processed why I'm a wimp for the first time. I have seen the power of God and His creation up close and personal and I don't want to test it, for I am tiny and He is BIG!
Yet since being home a friend asked me, is it the fear of the Lord or the fear of death? It really has me wondering. In Proverbs 7:1 it states, "the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction." If the fear of the Lord brings knowledge than it seems to me that it would be a place of revelation in knowing who God is. When we know who God is, that reality should call us to worship. In worship we should find peace and in peace we should have no fear. So what does it really mean to fear the Lord?
Perhaps, the fear of the Lord is more about full abandonment and trusting than anything. If He is who He says He is than no matter the circumstances, His plans for you are best plans possible. Whenever death comes is it not the Father's will? When our lives are in a state of constant worship we will be free from all fear. Do not fear is said more in God's word than anything else, but we are called to fear the Lord. What does this look like to you? I am contemplating the fact that separation from Him should be the greatest fear of all, in all His holiness, grace, love, and infinite beauty should we not long to be with Him more than to have life on this earth.
I have a tattoo on my wrist, it is the Hebrew word, HESED. This word has many meanings, but recently a friend and I were talking about it and he shared a sentence he had heard about one of the many meanings. This one sentence profoundly spoke to me as I often try to explain hesed when people ask, but it isn't near as elegant as the sentence said by John Oswalt. "The love of a superior for an inferior, especially when that love is undeserved." To me this sums up the Fear of the Lord, should we not be in awe of this Kind of love, to loose this would be much greater than loosing one's life. I pray that I am learning more of what it means to fear the Lord, in His infinite power, grace and love.
be blessed,
Natasha Jovin
Friday, September 13, 2013
Red Dirt
Recently my mother sent me a link to a pretty incredible business, Red Dirt and I really love what they are doing. Women empowering developing countries and individuals living there as well as individual entrepreneurs who are making a go of their art, like myself. What a great idea to make a partnership with these two! In short they sell phone cases with designs by artists and the proceeds go towards organizations that are transforming lives and communities in the developing worlds.
The founders of this company are inspiring and I am excited to inform you that I have applied to be one of their artists! Please pray that the Lord's favor will be in it as I really would love to be apart of what they do. I feel strongly that what they are doing encompasses so many of the reasons I create and am going after the artist in me.
Here is more on their story and why they do what they do!
Thanks for believing with me!
Blessings,
Natasha
The founders of this company are inspiring and I am excited to inform you that I have applied to be one of their artists! Please pray that the Lord's favor will be in it as I really would love to be apart of what they do. I feel strongly that what they are doing encompasses so many of the reasons I create and am going after the artist in me.
Here is more on their story and why they do what they do!
Thanks for believing with me!
Blessings,
Natasha
Psalm 34
I will bless the LORD at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
My soul will make its boast in the LORD; the humble will hear it and rejoice.
O magnify the LORD with me and let us exalt His name together.
I sought the LORD, and delivered me from all my fears.
They looked to Him and were radiant, and their faces will never be ashamed.
The poor man cried, and the LORD heard him and saved him out of all his troubles.
The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear Him, and rescues them.
O taste and see that the LORD is good; How blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him.
O fear the LORD, you His saints; for to those who fear him there is no want.
The young lions do lack and suffer hunger; but they who seek the LORD shall not be in want of any good thing.
Come, you children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the LORD.
Who is the man who desires lengths of days that he may see good?
Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit.
Depart from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.
The eye of the LORD are toward the righteous and His ears are open to their cry.
The face of the LORD is against evildoers, to cut off the memory of them from the earth.
The righteous cry, and the LORD hears and delivers them out of all their troubles.
The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
Many are the affiliations of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him out of them all.
He keeps all his bones, not one of them is broken.
Evil shall slay the wicked, and those who hate the righteous will be condemned.
The Lord redeems the soul of His servants, and none of those who take refuge in Him will be condemned.
Psalm 34
My soul will make its boast in the LORD; the humble will hear it and rejoice.
O magnify the LORD with me and let us exalt His name together.
I sought the LORD, and delivered me from all my fears.
They looked to Him and were radiant, and their faces will never be ashamed.
The poor man cried, and the LORD heard him and saved him out of all his troubles.
The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear Him, and rescues them.
O taste and see that the LORD is good; How blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him.
O fear the LORD, you His saints; for to those who fear him there is no want.
The young lions do lack and suffer hunger; but they who seek the LORD shall not be in want of any good thing.
Come, you children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the LORD.
Who is the man who desires lengths of days that he may see good?
Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit.
Depart from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.
The eye of the LORD are toward the righteous and His ears are open to their cry.
The face of the LORD is against evildoers, to cut off the memory of them from the earth.
The righteous cry, and the LORD hears and delivers them out of all their troubles.
The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
Many are the affiliations of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him out of them all.
He keeps all his bones, not one of them is broken.
Evil shall slay the wicked, and those who hate the righteous will be condemned.
The Lord redeems the soul of His servants, and none of those who take refuge in Him will be condemned.
Psalm 34
Friday, August 30, 2013
Practice Make Perfect
Practice makes perfect!
I have a long way to go when it comes to being fluent in the language of my husband, in-laws, and country I so deeply love, AYITI! I need more motivation, more discipline to practice. I often tell Junior he needs to speak with me more in kreyol, but he forgets. Our relationship started in english and has mainly been built in english. Sometimes I think it's hard for his brain to go back and forth, I know it is for me at times.
I have dear friends that live in Gonaives, Haiti and they have a weekly kreyol class that I am jealous of in my humanness. I am excited for them, but wish I had the tools and resources to have a weekly class taught by Keziah Furth, she is pretty amazing. I know my skills would increase in ways I can't even comprehend with her guidance. I secretly want them to skype me in every week, but I know that is easier said than done.
So until then, I will do my kryenglish and listen to this video my Dad sent me recently! If I put it on repeat while I sleep maybe it will help me being fluent (typed with laughter!) What do you think?
Or maybe just maybe Junior will get to a place that he will want to teach a class in Brunswick, GA where we live. I think many people would even pay to come as so many LOVE Haiti in this area. Let me know what you think? Maybe we could just start a group that wants to grow in knowledge and we can start a petition to motivate that desire in Junior, what you think ;) ? He is a gifted teacher... in case you didn't know!
Just a little brainstorming, dreaming and laughter in my thinking today!
be blessed!
xoxox
Natasha
I have a long way to go when it comes to being fluent in the language of my husband, in-laws, and country I so deeply love, AYITI! I need more motivation, more discipline to practice. I often tell Junior he needs to speak with me more in kreyol, but he forgets. Our relationship started in english and has mainly been built in english. Sometimes I think it's hard for his brain to go back and forth, I know it is for me at times.
I have dear friends that live in Gonaives, Haiti and they have a weekly kreyol class that I am jealous of in my humanness. I am excited for them, but wish I had the tools and resources to have a weekly class taught by Keziah Furth, she is pretty amazing. I know my skills would increase in ways I can't even comprehend with her guidance. I secretly want them to skype me in every week, but I know that is easier said than done.
So until then, I will do my kryenglish and listen to this video my Dad sent me recently! If I put it on repeat while I sleep maybe it will help me being fluent (typed with laughter!) What do you think?
Or maybe just maybe Junior will get to a place that he will want to teach a class in Brunswick, GA where we live. I think many people would even pay to come as so many LOVE Haiti in this area. Let me know what you think? Maybe we could just start a group that wants to grow in knowledge and we can start a petition to motivate that desire in Junior, what you think ;) ? He is a gifted teacher... in case you didn't know!
Just a little brainstorming, dreaming and laughter in my thinking today!
be blessed!
xoxox
Natasha
Wednesday, August 21, 2013
Social Media breakdown
My dad posted this video recently and it is so profound and sadly so true. Real relationships don't come out of liking a photo and making a comment on a social media site. Real community and relationships come out of sitting face to face, sharing meals, going through the trials of life together, laughing and having inside jokes, and doing life together, not via the internet.
The video is something that we need to acknowledge and dialogue about.
This month marks two years that Junior and I have lived in our house here in Brunswick. Most days it feels like this has been our home for way more than a couple years, but every once in awhile when I look at my dream list of things we want to do in the house I remember it hasn't been that long.
When we first moved into our house in Brunswick, I really struggled to find deep relationships, and community. I had tons of friends in my social networking world, but I didn't feel like I had a strong community that I was taking part in like when I first moved to Georgia. However, once I started investing in a few girl friends, sitting with them face to face, being vulnerable with one another and doing life together things changed. My pastor's wife also started a young married women's group and since then more and more this place feels like home.
In our world today it's easy to feel like we have community with Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, you name it...we have a social network for it. I often debate staying on Facebook and if it wasn't for living far away from my family and my shop online I don't know that I myself would stay on it. But I can handle taking part in social media, because I know that those online places don't hold my true community.
My true community is with my friends and family, the people I do life with, that have seen me through ups and downs. They talk with me face to face on a regular basis and tell me they love me, not via the web, but via life, in present time, whether over the phone or at a coffee shop. I am blessed, that I have this and loneliness is not part of my life. I have deep relationships I can call upon whenever I am in need.
What has social media done though for those that don't have true community and deep relationships they can call upon in their time of need...
The video is something that we need to acknowledge and dialogue about.
This month marks two years that Junior and I have lived in our house here in Brunswick. Most days it feels like this has been our home for way more than a couple years, but every once in awhile when I look at my dream list of things we want to do in the house I remember it hasn't been that long.
When we first moved into our house in Brunswick, I really struggled to find deep relationships, and community. I had tons of friends in my social networking world, but I didn't feel like I had a strong community that I was taking part in like when I first moved to Georgia. However, once I started investing in a few girl friends, sitting with them face to face, being vulnerable with one another and doing life together things changed. My pastor's wife also started a young married women's group and since then more and more this place feels like home.
In our world today it's easy to feel like we have community with Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, you name it...we have a social network for it. I often debate staying on Facebook and if it wasn't for living far away from my family and my shop online I don't know that I myself would stay on it. But I can handle taking part in social media, because I know that those online places don't hold my true community.
My true community is with my friends and family, the people I do life with, that have seen me through ups and downs. They talk with me face to face on a regular basis and tell me they love me, not via the web, but via life, in present time, whether over the phone or at a coffee shop. I am blessed, that I have this and loneliness is not part of my life. I have deep relationships I can call upon whenever I am in need.
What has social media done though for those that don't have true community and deep relationships they can call upon in their time of need...
Tuesday, August 6, 2013
Prayer Retreat Blessing
Recently I went on a women's prayer retreat and it was truly a blessing! Six women together, embracing vulnerability, quality time with our savior and the beautiful scenery that He made of Hird Island.
We talked a lot about vulnerability and the importance of it in our journeys. Which is so funny because before I even left for this retreat I started reading a book about this very thing. It is called Hiding from Love, by Dr. John Townsend and the two things that it focuses on is why we long to be cared for, but we prevent it. Townsend says that our two main problems in the process is that we're unfinished people and we fear what we need. An interesting thing to process and explore.
This TED talk about vulnerability is so good, I encourage you to watch it HERE.
This prayer retreat was prefect timing and I couldn't have more respect now for the ladies that I went and shared the experience with. I am so thankful for each of them and what they brought to the retreat.
It is a beautiful thing when we steal away and take time to breathe deep, bask in the glory of our Savior, experience sweet moments in His presence and remember how He is good all the time and all the time He is good! And it is also a beautiful thing when we do the journey together!
Friday, July 26, 2013
Thankfulness
One of my favorite quotes says,
"Thankfulness trumps EVERYTHING."
This has been my theme the last couple weeks, as Junior and I celebrated our three year anniversary!!! Our anniversary was during the middle of the week, so we did dinner with a walk on the pier enjoying the beauty and the sunset. Then Saturday we enjoyed a fancy meal and some frozen yogurt accompanied with live music afterwards. All in all, it was a fun celebration week. I am thankful to have had three years together and excited for what the Lord will do in the years yet to come! I know that marriage isn't easy, in fact, it has been the hardest thing I have ever done, but I also believe it is worth it! These is nothing like it. God is good, and I have learned so much about who God is and how to be a better person through learning to love my husband. I read a blog recently that I loved about the daily choice to LOVE in marriage. I encourage you to click HERE and read it as it spoke volumes to me, I hope it does the same for you.
To enforce that favorite quote of mine this week, Junior was in an accident. It could have been SO much worse than it was. His brakes didn't work properly making him run a red light and causing a collision in the middle of the intersection on a busy street. His truck was totaled as well as he was banged up. His nose is cracked, lips swollen, leg swollen, chest tight, headaches.... it could have been devastating. When I first got his voice-mail I was panicked as he only said he had been in an accident and to call him. Unfortunately, my husband is not good at wearing his seat belt and that is all I could think about at the time. However, by the grace of God he had put his seat belt on seconds before the accident occured. He has a new perspective on why I always bug him about wearing it and I am thankful for this. We are praising and THANKING God for keeping him safe and alive.
With these events in the last couple weeks I am remembering how good and bad things happen, but it all boils down to our perspective on it. Do we let it rock us and be discouraged or do we celebrate in the goodness, or worry about what is to come? I encourage you to be thankful. It is a powerful tool you have to embrace the beauty and remember your blessings. I also believe it will help you have peace, that kind of God peace that passes all understanding. Thankfulness trumps everything!
So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself.
Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Matthew 6:33-34
Thursday, July 11, 2013
Summer time travels
I can't believe it has been almost a month since my last post... where in the world has time gone. Summer is flying by so fast, they always say the older you get the faster time flies. I believe this more and more with each new day. The past two months have been full of travels. We have been gone more weekends than we have been home in that time frame.
Two of those were spent with our family in Marianna, FL filled with wedding festivities, where Junior was the best man. Weddings are a great time to remember your own journey of Marriage and to rekindle the sweetness of being newlyweds. We were able to speak wisdom into the the new couple as the Lord continues to teach us, which is truly an honor.
One of the weekends we spend translating for Haitian migrant workers which was such an experience. We don't realize how there are communities in our backyard suffering for the food we put on our table. I have watched documentaries and read about migrant farmers, but meeting them face to face and hearing what they go through is all so different. Now I know their names and every time I sit down to eat a piece of corn for example I think of them. It was a blessing for us to be a part of this clinic for migrant workers and for me an added dose of confidence in my creole ability was wonderful.
The past two weekends were spent with family and friends in Nashville and Kansas City along with lots of driving. We drove up to KCMO to see my family for the 4th of July and it was absolutely wonderful. I couldn't tell you the last time I had been there when it was warm, in fact Junior had never been there when it was warm. It is so much more lively, we did a lot more tourist experiences because, well we could. We went to see KC Sporting soccer game, the zoo, First Fridays, the River Market and pool time at my parents. It was a lovely visit. I am very tempted to skip the cold and just head there from now on in the warm seasons!
Overall, it has been busy and I have missed writing on here, but the beauty is while I was not writing I was living. I can also say I was living well... going after the treasures in my heart: family, friends, vacations and celebrations.... all the while trusting in the Lord's provision.
God is good, I hope that this season you too, are living well.
Two of those were spent with our family in Marianna, FL filled with wedding festivities, where Junior was the best man. Weddings are a great time to remember your own journey of Marriage and to rekindle the sweetness of being newlyweds. We were able to speak wisdom into the the new couple as the Lord continues to teach us, which is truly an honor.
One of the weekends we spend translating for Haitian migrant workers which was such an experience. We don't realize how there are communities in our backyard suffering for the food we put on our table. I have watched documentaries and read about migrant farmers, but meeting them face to face and hearing what they go through is all so different. Now I know their names and every time I sit down to eat a piece of corn for example I think of them. It was a blessing for us to be a part of this clinic for migrant workers and for me an added dose of confidence in my creole ability was wonderful. |
| First Fridays |
 |
| Pool Party and the Parents |
 |
| River Market |
 |
| traveling through God's beautiful creation! |
Overall, it has been busy and I have missed writing on here, but the beauty is while I was not writing I was living. I can also say I was living well... going after the treasures in my heart: family, friends, vacations and celebrations.... all the while trusting in the Lord's provision.
God is good, I hope that this season you too, are living well.
Thursday, June 13, 2013
The 4 R's
I recently heard a sermon that got me thinking. It was about maximizing your summer and how we need to not play into the culture of tuning out over the summer.
It was so full of wisdom and truth that I wanted to share.
The pastor compared our lives to the farm worker. That the summer was not a time to sit back and forget about your crops. It was the season to tend to it, make sure that everything is running smoothly so that when harvest time comes you will reap a bountiful harvest.
He compared this to our culture and our walk with Christ. In America summer is the time for the pool, vacations, relaxing, having fun and forgetting about focusing and striving after things. It is the season to relax, but perhaps this isn't what God designed summer to be for. The pastor stated that summer is the season God gave us to remember to invest in the future harvest.
If summer is the time for relaxation and recreation than we need to look at these words again.
relaxation:
recreation:
His whole point was that we must not check out, we must invest in our spiritual life. We have opportunity to cultivate that future harvest that is to come. For if we do not invest we will not reap a good harvest.
It was so full of wisdom and truth that I wanted to share.
The pastor compared our lives to the farm worker. That the summer was not a time to sit back and forget about your crops. It was the season to tend to it, make sure that everything is running smoothly so that when harvest time comes you will reap a bountiful harvest.
He compared this to our culture and our walk with Christ. In America summer is the time for the pool, vacations, relaxing, having fun and forgetting about focusing and striving after things. It is the season to relax, but perhaps this isn't what God designed summer to be for. The pastor stated that summer is the season God gave us to remember to invest in the future harvest.
If summer is the time for relaxation and recreation than we need to look at these words again.
relaxation:
- The state of being free from tension and anxiety: To me number one happens when we rest in the Lord. We ourselves cannot be free from tension and anxiety without it coming through the peace that passes understanding through Christ Jesus. Therefore relaxation requires us to find that sacred place with God to bring us true rest.
- Recreation or rest, esp. after a period of work: To me this is the obvious one, but in our culture I think that sometimes we aren't really resting we are checking out so to speak. Often in relaxation we choose to disengage.
recreation:
- Activity done for enjoyment when one is not working: To me is true, but true enjoyment happens when we are filled with the Joy of the Lord. Often we look to others or things to bring us enjoyment, but often we will be disappointed if we are looking for enjoyment there, but if we are with people and doing things that bring enjoyment with the Joy of Christ filling us in the process that is where the real recreation is. This is life giving!
- The action or process of creating something again: I really like this statement because the action or process of creating something again, means that it is full of engagement. There is action to renew, engage, and create.This connects to the pastors point that true recreations causes us to engage, rather than disengage.
"But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts,he will be blessed in his doing."
-James 1:22-25
These are the 4 R's that he gave to stay active in cultivating your harvest and not neglecting your growth in the seasons, even summer, but to maximize who you are and your investments.
1. Read the Bible- look intently
2. Review it - Meditate on it
3. Remember the promises - Do not forget His words, memorize (Psalm 119:11)
4. Respond to Him - engage, and take action
After all of this I started thinking about how the 4 R's apply to all relationships as well. No wonder it is extremely key that we do them with God first.
For when we are doing those four R's the lies, behaviors and fears cannot win over the joy, peace and harvest to come because we are so engaged with our heavenly Father!!! And when we are in this place we always will love well.
But I also started thinking about how when we look at people like this its kind of the same thing...
This is how my brain has started seeing it with relationships:
when we get to know who they are it is like Reading them
when we go deeper with them it's like we are reviewing what we have read of them already
when we remember who they are and what they love we can be prepared to love them better
when we respond to them it is the fruit of loving them well and staying engaged in a relationship with them
It all boils down to relationship, first with Christ and then with others. Let's learn to cultivate so we have a bountiful harvest!!!
Read
Review
Remember
Respond
Thursday, June 6, 2013
The Presten's & A Complicated Balancing Act
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| Bethany & I with baby Selah: Their sweet little girl! |
I consider Bethany one of my besties, here in GA, despite the move to London, so it is a beautiful thing to have her back in the area, to just simply know she is here. What is even better is to see that she genuinely cares to stay connected!
I personally know how hard finding balance can be. The balance of staying connected and giving family, extended family and friendships that you consider to be family the time they each desire and deserve. It is extremely hard. I am proud of how she is handling it all, and with a brand new baby, 5 hour time difference and jet lag. This friend of mine is a super woman, the key I believe; she is totally filled with the Holy Spirit!
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| Dinner @ Fancy Q's: Junior & Zach & Selah Presten! |
I watch her as I to prepare to go home for the 4th of July, the last time I was home was almost 8 months ago. Every time it is hard, how do you see everyone you love in less than a full week? How do you invest the quality time they each deserve? My family taught me that family doesn't always mean blood. I grew up playing with foster kids as cousins and families that had adopted children. I grew up in a family that had such a gift for hospitality and open doors. I am beyond thankful for this mindset, but it also makes it more complicated at times.
As always I feel I may just be rambling, but in most situations in life, I find it is often about finding the balance and discerning what is best for your spirit and your spouse. And most importantly finding the places and spaces that honor God in your life, being obedient to what He is calling you to do. Some days I have no idea what this looks like....
So for now I am thankful for the Presten's, what they mean to our family and what they mean to my Father in heaven. Next week, perhaps I will try and prepare for the complexities of not living where a lot of my loved ones live and figuring out the balancing act of investing in each of them.
blessings to you as you find the balance in your own life!
Natasha
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