Risky Overflow

Life is full to the brim.
Not stuffed or crowded, but overflowing...and that word usually signifies blessings.

With the blessing of relationships comes sorrow and pain,
but only because we live and love in community.
In community we can be real.
And that reality includes sin’s brokenness.

I’m truly learning the importance of living by giving:
love, time, trust.
And in order to give, I need to be filled with the Giver.

Honest, unconditional love.
It hurts, twists my heart,
and involves an incredible amount of risk.
But it’s worth it.
And it’s commanded and taught by our Teacher.

Seeing hurt,
and wanting to feel and heal and alleviate.
Knowing that I’m so limited,
but also so privileged.
Knowing that I know the Healer,
the Redeemer,
I can continue to live out of His love.

May I be cautious and prayerful,
watchful and deliberate,
with all the relationships entrusted to me.
Conscious of the spiritual battle
and the wiles of Satan
and the power of our victorious Savoiur.
Living each day in His strength,
for His glory.

in awe of Him

Rejoice in the LORD, O you righteous!

For praise from the upright is beautiful.

Let all the earth fear the LORD;

Let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him.

Psalm 33: 1,8

Tears for Bella

Yesterday I saw a movie in the theatres: Bella.
This was a unique event, besides the fact that I almost never see movies in the theatres. It’s unique since Bella is currently playing in only 11 Canadian cities.

And while there are a just one or two critiques I could write about this 2006 winner of Toronto’s “People’s Choice Award,” I will rather share praise for all of the outstanding, worthy things.

Bella is definitely pro-life on many levels.
Pro-life as in anti-abortion and pro-adoption.
Pro-life as in appreciating the beauty of the family unit.
Pro-life as in acknowledging the gift of each day and the opportunities presented in it, no matter what hardships come.
Pro-life as in understanding the need for compassion, brotherly love, and forgiveness.

From an artistic standpoint, the film is incredibly well produced. It effectively engages the viewer with foreshadowing and flashbacks, and it includes striking, powerful imagery.
The cast is extremely believable and pulls you into their lives, subtly aided by the great music and filming. The Mexican-Portuguese family is true to character and dialogues in Spanish, adding to the authenticity.
It is also unique in that it’s virtually free of anything offensive.

Bella is a powerful film.
On two occasions during the film, I was outright sobbing as I engaged in the lives of those portrayed.

I cried for those who have experienced incredible loss and pain,
and for those who have lived through broken dreams.
I cried for all the unborn babies.
I cried for those who want children but can’t have them.

I cried because they were speaking in Spanish,
and it made me miss Honduras incredibly.

Then I sobbed again after the movie when I tried to explain to my friends why I was crying!!
I realized I was also crying because I needed to release those tears.
For the grief-filled moments.
For the children who live on the streets, and for those who seem to have no hope.
For words that were said that shouldn’t be,
and for the families that are broken by sin and hatred.
For the unbeliever who doesn’t know God and doesn’t have a solace for their tears, who is perishing apart from the Lord.


Bella.
In Spanish, “Bella” is pronounced “Bay-ya” and means “beautiful” when referring to a female noun.

Beautiful.
How appropriate for this beautifully inspiring film.
And for the tears that were able to be shed.

Jesus

“You may never know that Jesus is all you need, until Jesus is all you have.”
~ Corrie ten Boom ~

Do we know it
and live it?
Do we treasure Him
above all else?

Of course, one could argue
that Jesus isn't really "all" we "need."
What about food and shelter
and friendship and family...?

But.
Where is our source of strength?
That is at the heart of ten Boom's statement.
When all else is stripped away -
which sometimes it is -
where is your hope?

no condemnation

"There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus,
who do not walk according to the flesh,
but according to the Spirit."

Romans 8:1, NKJV

perspective

... sometimes things are just a matter of perspective...

Part Five: Glorious God

(Sorry for the delay…part five of Exodus 33….)

The deepest longing of the fabric of our being is to be united with our Lord and Saviour.
The more we know about God,
the more we want to know and behold Him.

To behold his beauty and stand amazed.
To worship!

Moses was bold in his petition to see God’s glory (Ex 33:18).
And the gracious Lord allowed Moses to catch a glimpse of his presence, for his servant’s encouragement and edification.

May we, too, turn our eyes to behold God’s glory,
To catch glimpses of his majesty,
and to proclaim his incredible worth:
adoring,
glorifying,
exalting,
lifting high.

May we behold God’s
Lovingkindness
Mercy
Justice
Righteousness
Incredible, awe-inspiring, humbling Glory,
too great to be fully revealed to us sin-saturated creatures.

It’s amazing how He makes everything seem dim in comparison.
And also more beautiful.

But I saw no temple in [the city], for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light. Revelation 21:22-23 (underline mine)

let it happen

Some goals / dreams, you must work hard to accomplish.

Other goals / dreams, you must let "happen" to you.

Those seem to be harder.
But I suppose they're more beautiful when they're fulfilled.


Post-script: if you have read this post, please also take a moment to read the comments as they "round out" some of the original thoughts. TS