Saturday, May 27, 2006


"A close friend asked Gandhi, "If you admire Christ so much, why don't you become a Christian?" It is said that Gandhi replied, "When I meet a Christian who is a follower of Christ, I may consider it." Daily Bread, May 13, 2006

Friends, what does it mean when a wiseman makes such a comment regarding Christian culture? What does it mean to you to follow Christ?

Blessings,
Danielle

Friday, May 26, 2006


THERE IS SOMETHING AT STAKE

BJK from Inthequiet shared this quote with me and I love it. It is where I'm at right now...

"To quarrel with God is to pay God the supreme compliment: it is to take God seriously. It is to say that God matters enough to be worth some anger. To be indifferent to God is to pay God the supreme insult. It is to say that nothing of consequence is at stake." - Robert McAfee Brown, in his book, Elie Wiesel Messenger To All Humanity

This anger, my restlessness, my hunger, I offer it to God. He takes it from me.

***
When they found him on the other side of the lake, they asked him, "Rabbi, when did you get here?"

Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, you are looking for me, not because you saw miraculous signs but because you ate the loaves and had your fill. Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. On him God the Father has placed his seal of approval."

Then they asked him, "What must we do to do the works God requires?"

Jesus answered, "The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent."

So they asked him, "What miraculous sign then will you give that we may see it and believe you? What will you do? Our forefathers ate the manna in the desert; as it is written: 'He gave them bread from heaven to eat.'[a]"

Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world."

"Sir," they said, "from now on give us this bread."

Then Jesus declared, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty. John 6:25-35 (NIV)

***
JESUS CHRIST IS MY BREAD
God understands my deeper hunger. He acknowledges my needs. He too sees the images of this world that wholly deplete me...that leave me wrestling for a deeper understanding of Him.

My granny used to play piano to me...my favorite song was called "The Spinning Wheel." And I was never satisfied with the way she would naturally play The Spinning Wheel. I would shout, "Faster! Faster, grandma, faster!" and she would play faster and faster to my delight. And I would watch for her cue to turn the page of her music book, hungry to be a part of the rhythm.

God moves with our rhythms. He moves with us through places uncharted. He even moves in our passionate anger...and in those moments when we turn and take refuge when we're fed up with the fight.

He is THAT big. He is THAT willing to nourish us. Not unlike a mother with a fussy child at the breast...her patience ever-present in her enduring love.

Thank you, Becky...blessings, sister...for also getting it!

Wednesday, May 24, 2006


WHAT ARE YOU SMOKIN'?

"So my question for leaders -- and for Christians everywhere -- is, are you smoking what you're selling?" Rob Bell, Velvet Elvis

I threw this quote out to some friends of mine recently. I was trying to prompt a discussion. I was met with complete silence. Is this quote irreverent? Am I irreverent? Am I just plain crazy? Oh well...this isn't quite the point I wanna make here...

As of late, I've been wrestling with God, wresting with what it means to follow Christ. Much of this wrestling has to do with scripture and how it is used to guide our lives. A legalistic approach doesn't work for me and yet, I'm not about to toss stuff out. Rick is digging into some of these same concepts...check out his blog New Life Emerging...I'd place a link here but I can't figure out how to. (sorry, Rick) However, a link is provided on the front of my blog.

Okay, so I'm wrestling, I'm tackling...and you know what? God isn't gonna break. God is the father who invites us to tug on him, to trust that when we pull his beard, he will smile. And I am gonna tug on God my whole life. And he's gonna tug back. He's gonna let me get into the driver's seat but He already knows my feet can't reach the pedals.

Tonight, I wanna thank those of you out there who are wrestling with God right along with me...I want to thank those who are tugging...I have been enjoying your blogs and your journeys immensely.

Rob Bell continues...(and I'm diggin' what he's saying...drug culture reference aside...)

"I cannot lead people somewhere I am not trying to go myself. I don't have to have arrived. I don't have to be perfect, but I do need to be on the path. And that's why for so many the church experience has been so shallow -- so many leaders have never descended into the depths of their own souls. They haven't done the hard, difficult, gut-wrenching work of shining the bright lights on all of the years of baggage and destructive messages."

****
And wise Paul reminds us...

"As the scriptures say,

No one is good--
not even one.
No one has real understanding;
no one is seeking God.
All have turned away from God;
all have gone wrong.
No one does good,
not even one.
Their talk is foul, like the stench from an
open grave.
Their speech is filled with lies.
The poison of a deadly snake drips from
their lips.
Their mouths are full of cursing and
bitterness.
They are quick to commit murder.
Wherever they go, destruction and
misery follow them.
They do not know what true peace is.
They have no fear of God to restrain them.

Obviously, the law applies to those to whom it was given, for its purpose is to keep people from having excuses and to bring the entire world into judgment before God. For no one can ever be made right in God's sight by doing what his law commands. For the more we know God's law, the clearer it becomes that we aren't obeying it." Romans 3:9-20 (NLT)

****
I'm thankful for the journey...thankful tonight that God renewed my life that I might be privileged to ask these deeper questions...to face my Father-God as a child, as a woman.

Tuesday, May 16, 2006


MOTHER'S DAY

Thursday, May 11, 2006

"If you give encouraging guidance, be careful that you don't get bossy; if you're put in charge, don't manipulate; if you're called to give aid to people in distress, keep your eyes open and be quick to respond; if you work with disadvantaged, don't let yourself get irritated with them or depressed by them. Keep a smile on your face." Romans 12:8 (MSG)

"Those of us who are strong and able in the faith need to step in and lend a hand to those who falter, and not just do what is most convenient for us. Strength is for service, not status." Romans 15:1 (MSG)

Friends, I'm sagging tonight. Not in the best of moods, not entirely in the worst of moods. I have been serving people all week. I need to plug in to God.

A woman I do not know called me for prayer tonight. Her tears echo within me. So many are disconnected. So many are hurting. I give her God, not me. I'm learning.

Tuesday, May 09, 2006


TODAY'S HIGHLIGHTS...
Went to lunch today with a girlfriend who works for a non-profit Christian organization. There was a Mercedes in the parking lot with a personalized plate that made reference to their ministry. It set me back a bit. The car, from what I understand, lists for close to 80k.

It was offputting to see such an expensive vehicle with a personalized plate referring to non-profit ministry.

It was insensitive.

It was gauche and tacky and weird.

It was totally, totally ME.

I have a confession. Whilst I hedge my way towards deeper service unto the Lord, don't think that I haven't had those moments...those private conversations with God where I lay my insensitive, tacky self before him,

Father, take me further into your arms
Allow me to love on, to serve others
Allow me to leave my selfish life behind
But, Father-God, let me keep my highlights
Lord, don't ask me to serve you with brown hair

As I continue to surrender my finances unto you
Leave me with enough to go see Melissa
Who doesn't screw with my hair
Who knows exactly what I want
But charges an ever-loving fortune

Lord, I need these highlights
They bring out the color in my cheeks
They make me feel more attractive
And see, I feel I need this because you gave me bad eyes
And I'm stuck with glasses

And I haven't found a man yet
So maybe if you'd give me my cupcake
I could deal with more-brown-er hair
And maybe do some home highlights
But I'd have to be sure my man really really loved me first

erh..Amen.


Friends, the moment we consider we're better than someone else, we're doomed...and moreoftenthannot we will compare ourselves to other Christians...I ain't too proud that I did this...but it did cause me to look a little deeper within to ponder whether or not I'm ready to expose my roots.

Are you?

Sunday, May 07, 2006



TABITHA & STEPHEN
Tabitha, a true joy in my life will be moving on soon. Her husband, Stephen, is in the service and their family is gearing up to receive his orders to relocate. They are still uncertain where they are headed but one thing seems imminent...they are leaving Southern California.

I am really going to miss my best friend. I know that we will stay in close touch via phone and email...but just the awareness that she won't be physically nearby leaves me sad and grieving.

I thank God for these gentle friends of mine. They are passionate, intelligent and considerate creatures. Stephen was one of the first people to show up the night I began my small group. Tabitha joined our study not long thereafter. Together, we have discussed, debated and embraced what it means to be followers of Jesus Christ. This has created a special bond between us as human beings and for me and Tabitha, a friendship and sisterhood like no other.

This post is for Tab and Stephen. I love you and may God keep you in your travels and protect Stephen as he heads to Iraq.

"So that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge--that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God." Ephesians 3:17-19 NIV

Wednesday, May 03, 2006


TEAM RWANDA! WE'RE SLASHING PRICES...
Friends, I have a prayer request for you. I know, I know...this might seem like a tall order but I'm gonna shoot:

Please pray for our junk.

Yes prayer warriors, Team Rwanda had a garage sale last weekend and we are getting ready for round two. We hope to raise funds for some minor expenses we are encountering. And we're gonna raise those incidental funds one blessed quarter at a time...




I am posting photos here of these...erh..lovely items...I am asking you to pray for these goodies and for us...

Please pray that these items would find good homes, pray that they would be sold for the best possible price, pray that although it would seem to me that no one in their right mind would want this stuff...that somebody out there really needs a copper elephant walking between two enormous tusks...or a printer that I can't get to work...or a pocket sized ghetto blaster...or a wooden box shaped like a carrot...

Ebay's got nothing on us.

Africa is calling.

"I'm a hostage here for hope, not doom." Acts 28:20 (MSG)

"Things are gonna change, I can feel it." Beck

Monday, May 01, 2006



SING PRAISE & PRAYER REQUESTS
Friends, if you have a PRAISE or a PRAYER request, please post...I would like to pray for you this week.

I leave you with a Psalm...

"God promises to love me all day,
sing songs all through the night!
My life is God's prayer."

Good evening, blogger friends...

Danielle

(Note: the photo is of an old wooden pier not too far from my home...a place of special interest to me...)