Ode to Friendship

 95. Write a Book/Script


This year has been so full of meaningful friendships. I'm so greatful for the people in my life at the moment; the friends I've know since forever and are still around, the friends that happened by accident, the God-ordained friends, the friends I've cried with, the friends I've laughed with, the friends I've just sat in silence with.


I've come to know the value of community, the gift of people, the grace and truth of being in relationship with people. Life was never made to be lived alone. We weren't made to be alone.


One of my dearest friends I met this year. We've had our awkward moments, silent moments, philosophical moments, many laughs, and even a few tears.
It was his birthday in September. I decided to do something different. I wrote and illustrated a little book for him. It's possibly one of the bravest things I've ever done, definately one of the most rewarding!

My creativity has always been exactly that; MINE.

Creation is a vulnerable thing. It's all the things within you that nobody sees. The ideas and hues and textures, the sounds and silences, all the secrets only you know. Everything risks being seen in Creation. When you create; a part of you becomes real, a part of you risks the opinions of others, a part of you is completely exposed.

I have found in Willem a friend who smiles at my awkwardness and lets me be, a friend who encourages the rawness of reality and walks there with me. I don't have to explain myself, I don't have to be live in camoflage either.

Everyone needs a friend with whom they can just be. Isn't that the intended beauty of life; that we would just be... together... that we would just be.

The Good the Bad and the UGLY...

79. Go for a Picnic.

We all have those gifts we hate receiving. For me, it’s creepy ornaments. For Jess it was Mugs. So as only true friends would do, we ALL bought her the ugliest mug we could find. She ended up with about 15-20 hideous mugs! Seriously? At least the mugs have a function... she won’t have to do dishes all that often!

Frequent Reminders

57. Go to the Botanical Gardens.

A bunch of us went to the Botanical Gardens for a friend’s birthday. It’s only recently though that Jess and I have become what I’d actually deem friends, but I guess this botanical expedition would’ve had something to do with that!

It’s funny how a certain flower seems to be appearing everywhere to me. It started about three or four months ago, I think. God invited me to start dreaming about my wedding day, something I had never afforded myself the luxury of doing. I’ve grown fond of the idea of orchids. They are incredibly beautiful. Roses have never really done it for me!

No lies, I’m seeing orchids EVERYWHERE! I see them when I go shopping for groceries, in movies I watch, in random people’s houses I visit, I even saw one at another friend’s birthday!

God sees me. He knows the desires of my heart. He delights in reminding me everday!

What can one do but smile...

Run Baby Run

73. Do the 'Spar Ladies 10km'.

So we walked 5km's... Ha ha! It was fun, we realised we could've probably walked 10km's... not run though, that would be pushing it!

Next year... Maybe.

Nothing like a breath of fresh air to clear you mind!

"You can't look at a cupcake without smiling."

 80. Decorate Cupcakes.

The past four months has brought such a beautiful family into my life. The van der Merwe family have blessed my life abundantly; each one of them.

Alison has, in a short space of time, become my best friend. when it was her birthday, my sister and I arranged with her husband, Luke to fetch their three beautiful children, Nathan, Hannah, and Abigail. We brought them to our house and we all got our hands sticky icing cupcakes for mommy's birthday!

Once the cupcakes were iced, the card was made, the balloons were blown and the princess crown adorned, we made our way back to their house! What a blessing to be a part of a family's joy! It stirs a hope in me for my family one day!

I close with the thought:

"Life is not boring when you are living with passion while eating Cupcakes."

Set in Stone...

67. Make something with Clay.

We had an "Identity" day for the young adults at church a couple months ago.

There was nothing I hadn't heard before, but I felt challenged to embrace the intricacies of my heart.

There were tables set out with huge amounts of clay for one to merely express what God was doing in the heart. I took a big lump home...

A couple weeks later I made my heart...

I make no excuses for the beauty within my heart, I make no excuses for the broken pieces either. Do you?

Life is as serious as you make it...

40. Get False Nails.

I’d almost forgotten I did this! We had a Winter Ball the beginning of June. So I figured the easiest way to eliminate the problem of wearing these unsightly things for more than a couple hours was to pluck them on for the night!

It was a lot of fun – the evening, not the nails – and I did let my hair down a bit.

I guess we all need moments were we take life a little less seriously!

"You Shall Love Me..."

82. Buy a Ring.

I've been looking for a rose ring for a long time and the other day I finally found the perfect one!

I'm finding that I'm allowing myself to dream more about my wedding day. It's still a bit scary and intimidating for me though, but none the less, I've decided to dream again.

Greater Things...

77. Make a YouTube Video

The 2010 Soccer World Cup is over and gone, but what remains is something far greater...

We did this the Sunday of the Opening Ceremony:

Indeed: Greater Things!

Video - Greater Things...

Chris Tomlin - God of this City

All you need is LOVE

16. Go on a Boat.

A couple months ago my sister and I filmed my friends, Adrian and Rozanne's wedding.

If you look in the middle of the boat on the photo below, you will notice a camera and the top of my head!

So... yes, I did go on a boat!

 I'm smiling at the idea that sometimes things are fulfilled in ways we would never have imagined... but somehow in the grander scheme of things, it all fits together!

Today I think I'm just overcome by the simplicity of Love.

By simplicity I am in no way demeaning Love,

rather my wish is to highlight its profundity.

The Beatles

Love, love, love, love, love, love, love, love, love.

There's nothing you can do that can't be done.

Nothing you can sing that can't be sung.

Nothing you can say but you can learn how to play the game

It's easy.

There's nothing you can make that can't be made.

No one you can save that can't be saved.

Nothing you can do but you can learn how to be you in time

It's easy.

All you need is love, all you need is love,

All you need is love, love, love is all you need.

Love, love, love, love, love, love, love, love, love.

All you need is love, all you need is love,

All you need is love, love, love is all you need.

There's nothing you can know that isn't known.

Nothing you can see that isn't shown.

Nowhere you can be that isn't where you're meant to be.

It's easy.

All you need is love, all you need is love,

All you need is love, love, love is all you need.

All you need is love (all together now)

All you need is love (everybody)

All you need is love, love, love is all you need.

 http://snow-covered-dreams.deviantart.com/art/All-you-need-is-Love-115895347

I find myself no longer satisfied with abstractions and mere theories.

I'm beginning to give consideration to the concreteness of reality.

So I pose the questions:

"What does love LOOK like?"

"What is the SOUND of love?"

"Can one TASTE love?"

"Does love have a SMELL?"

"What is it to TOUCH love?"

Time to Tick Off

76. Play Hockey.

It never ceases to amaze me just how intricately involed God is with our lives.
I am ridiculously busy at the moment juggling 101 different things in a week and somehow still managing to do the majority of them well.

I loved playing hockey in high school, so putting it down on my list was more something i wanted to revisit than something i wanted to try out.

Somehow, in the busyness of things, I managed to squeeze in some hockey at the beginning of the season. Of course; God in His wisdom afforded me the luxury of getting my ducks in a row too late to secure a permanent spot in the team. In His grace, however, he blessed me with the opportunity to play in the opening match as a substitute for one of the other defenders who was away.

So it's done, another tick on my list! God created just enough space to allow one more ticked item! What kindness! That even the smallest of desires in my heart finds time in God's schedule to be fulfilled!

Here's to the kindness of my God, and a great game of hockey!

Birth of the Skinny :)

64. Wear Skinny Jeans (GAG!)

It seems I've fallen prey to the skinny's!
Although, I do still cringe at the sight of some boys in them... Arg!

So for my birthday (23 May - yes it's been ages since I posted anything) we once again went to the Greek Easy (Thanks Nancy!). I must say it was an eventful evening! In retrospect, I was a completely different person stepping into that resturant for my birthday than i was stepping in for Nancy's birthday!

The Beauty of Redemption is starting to be visible!
I am alot more open and engaging than I used to be, although there is still a mountain ahead of me!
I guess sometimes it just takes someone believing in you to make you want to be a better version of yourself!

My friendships have grown stronger the past few months

 I'm believing in myself more too.

I'm able to laugh more

And joke more

Because I trust more.

I know the love from my friends and family is real.

All in all a night in skinny jeans didn't turn out so bad! In fact, just yeasterday I bought another pair! GAG!

Learning Curves...

100. Give a Waitron 100% Tip.

It's been really crazy for me this term trying to juggle working and studying full time. But somehow things fall into place at the end. A couple weeks ago my sister and I decided to have a study day. So we packed up our study paraphernalia and made our way to a Mugg and Bean. At this point it's probably good to note that I have studied many a time there with one of my friends.

We ordered breakfast (which was really amazing) and got the bottomless coffee going, fully intending to remain in our seats till lunchtime, then order lunch and study a bit more. We got as far as breakfast and two coffees, which was about a 3/4 chapter of work.

Long story short, what I can only pressume to be the owner, decided anything besides eating and drinking will not be tolerated in his resturant! He kindly asked us to leave citing the "queue" of people outside waiting for a table as his reason for rudeness. I decided not to mention the fact that we had had breakfast, and were going to have lunch later as well. When my sister got back from refilling our mugs, i relayed the message to her. So we packed away our stuff, and sat for about another 15mins just finishing our coffee.

Two Questions:

If we sat just drinking bottomless coffee for three hours without a hint of books or laptops, would we still have been asked to leave?

If we were two well dressed businessmen sitting for three hours on our laptops would we have been asked to leave?

So anyway, we simply migrated to another coffee shop (studying at home doesn't work because we get distracted too easily). We were much better received at this destination.

So we landed up at Bugatti's, had awesome lunch and tea and studied a good few hours.

When we got the bill, I had the urge to completely turn my day around... so our waiter was blessed with what ended up as more than 100% tip. Lucky guy:)

It really redeemed my day! Exactly the lift I needed. Even now today I've been thinking how even in the worst of times, simple acts of kindness lift one out from the depths and entice you to appreciate a world saturated in beauty.

The Challenge: Regarless of what's currently happening i n your life, choose one person, one day whom you can bless with a random act of kindness!

Violins and Other Things Beautiful 02

59. Learn to Play an Instrument.

I've had my first few lessons for violin already and got my violin yesterday! I'm so excited. Although it seems I have a streak of natural talent, it's still a challenge. My first lesson was hard. Not the actual playing of the violin, as what it seems to be symbolising in my life.

For the last two and a half years, whenever I've heard the sound of the violin, I feel as though my soul has become the strings. I almost literally feel the bow moving across my soul, touching the individual strings, producing beautiful music.

The story is just beginning...I'm scared to listen, but it sounds so beautiful.

"Sometimes You Can't Make it on Your Own"

84. Climb a Water Tower.


When we did the 'Great Water Tower Climb', I was not dressed to go climbing. It was one of my few rash moments and I had silly little flip flops on, which if anyone is wondering, are not inducive to climbing or walking in long grass!
 
I was almost fine climbing up the hill to go back, but my right foot had a mind of it's own and decided it no longer wanted to step on my shoe, but onto the wild earth next to my shoe. Needless to say next to my shoe where the little rebel decided to step was a thorn just waiting to make friends with her!
 
Yes, it hurt... I felt it piercing my skin! No, I did not scream... A simple wimper sufficed. YES, IT'S STILL IN MY FOOT... I've been hoping it would just kinda fall out!
 
So I've been limping around for nearly TWO WEEKS now; Firstly because I hoped it would just fall out, Secondly, Because I couldn't get it out myself, and Thirdly, because I didn't trust anyone to get it out for me!
 
How many times have I done this?
 
Life sticks a thorn in my flesh and I ignore it, hoping it'll go away.
 
Inevitably it doesn't and I adapt my entire life to just cope with the fact that it's there. I've started walking differently, you probably wouldn't notice by just looking though. Sadly, I'm really good at hiding. I don't want to always have to alter my existance to cope with something that shouldn't even be there in the first place!
 
Life has a way of happening (I think it has something to do with the way it way designed), its the choices we make with what's happening that determines who we become.
 
The thorn can stay in your flesh and you can deny its existance, all the while it maims your existance, or you can at least admit it's there!
 
I eventually told my dad about it, he's the only person I really trust with these sort of things. He got out torch and examined it, concluding that it was now to deep to get out with tweezers and the knife wasn't working too well either. He diagnosed drawing ointment and sent my gran off to sort it out.
 
The thorn is still in my foot, and I still walk funny, but it's so close to being okay again.
 
Sometimes I've been taught all I need to know to fix the problem. Usually the best person to run to is Daddy. He's always placed people in our lives who possess the medicine to make it better.
 
The moral of the story: In the words of U2...

"Sometimes you can't make it on your own."

Believing in Hope again

44. Have an Easter Egg Hunt.

Both my sister and I were working at the church this Easter weekend, so we weren’t home much. We decided Saturday after the morning service we would go buy our Easter Eggs for the 'Great Easter Egg Hunt'. We had decided to hide each other’s eggs in our own rooms, i.e. I hid her eggs in her room, she in mine. It was fun hiding the eggs on Sunday afternoon when we were both home again. We figured we could hunt for our eggs while we packed to leave for our holiday the next day.

I must admit I put off searching for the eggs, for fear of not being able to find it. I didn’t want to hope for something that I may not be capable of finding. Silly I know; there are only so many places you can hide eggs in my room! None the less, I did keep looking, not with much intention or vigour though, I must add.

I found one by accident, which gave me the boost to risk looking for number two. Half way there I was getting nervous, so I just started tidying my room and packing my bag, hoping like hell I’d find these remaining two eggs. Well, I found one. Intensification of nerves; if I wanted to find this last egg, I would have to actively look for it! And what of my hope if I never found it?

‘“You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”Jeremiah 29: 13

“And if you search for him with all your heart and soul, you will find him.” Deuteronomy 4:29

"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.” Matthew 7:7-11

Yes, I did eventually find the last egg, but I needed a lot of clues because I was afraid to be disappointed each time I looked and never found.

Why am I so afraid to seek that which the Lord has placed before me?

God may I have the Courage to Hope again, to follow the clues you lay out before me, to trust that there IS a treasure to be found!

The Spaces Between Reality and Your Dreams

84. Climb a Water Tower.

I am trying to embrace the space space between my Dreams and Reality.

Sadly the harder one to grasp is Reality. But I know living Reality becomes easier when it's what You're aiming your Dreams to be!

Standing on the top of the water tower breathing in the stillness gave me Hope to start dreaming again!

Violins and Other Things Beautiful...

70. Watch the Orchestra.

The difficulty of writing this is unbearable...

We went to the orchestra Saturday evening. It was such a beautiful, unexpected evening. Beautiful Music, Beautiful Faces, Beautiful Mental Stimulation, Beautifully Real.

I’m transitioning to a place where my Strength will be the most beautiful thing about me. The transition requires Courage and Bravery.

My Violin hasn’t been played much; the strings are out of tune and eroding with dust. I’ve forgotten how to hold my bow; it’s not even in my hand anymore. Few people have picked it up for me; fewer know how to hold it properly; One seems to comprehend the extraction of music with it.

I’m aware of you as you linger behind me, you touch my arm, guiding it to position. My chin automatically settles. Your hand rest around my wrist; You’re holding my bow. I take hold of it, You gently let go.

Deep Breath.

How will this sound? I want to know if I’m still capable of beautiful sound. Will you continue to listen if it’s not true? I’m still aware of your touch.

Deep Breath.

The bow moves along the strings, innately I know how. It’s out of tune badly. I’m scared to try again; I’m scared to see your reaction. Have I disappointed you?

It hurts to hear what has been tarnished. The dusty erosion still feels so raw. The feeling of bow against dust is uncomfortable and vulnerable. I know my sound can be beautiful.

Will You help me? Will You redeem my sound? Will You restring my soul? I want to play for you.

Be brave little Violin, Be brave.

“Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this; He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noon day sun. Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him.” Psalm 37: 4-7

Guiding me into Reality

1.Start a Blog.

It's now three months into the year and the thing that keeps me smiling is how the things on this list seem to be falling into me lap.

I struggle to move ideas and intentions from my head into actions in reality. That is the main reason why I have a list of concrete things to do, with access for people to hold me accountable.

Most of the stuff to do is fun, some is serious, some are about conquering fears. All of them are about getting into the habit of making things real.
My life is not real if it's lived all in my head.

As I've said, it has been so encouraging to see how God has kinda been rooting for me in this. It seems so many times the Holy Spirit has prompted me to see things as opportunities to tick my list off. I'm seeking to make things real.

I was promted to give flowers to Maxine, we went to the Zoo for my Sisters birthday, to a Greek resturant for Nancy's birthday. I'm learning to speak Korean, with the incredible grace of  my Korean friends around me. I've worn my slippers to the mall, and worn a different colour of the rainbow each day of a week. I've been blessed by feeding an under priveleged child, I'm vegetarian for Lent. I got to see my favorite SA band LIVE, Got their autographs AND did something awesome for my special friends Udo and Eddie for Valentine's day. And most recently, I've returned to my state of blondeness!

Alot of these things I've done with my Sister, which has strengthened our relationship. Most of the time the things I've done have served others, or at least brought them some joy. NOTHING IN THIS WORLD IS RANDOM, of this I am sure!

This journey is fun, tedious and overwhelming at times, but fun. The Holy Spirit is definately my buddy in this!

"And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us." Romans 5:5 (NIV)

Thank You God that I'm not alone, that that which I hope for is attainable through Your Guiding Spirit.

Being Blonde

4. Go Blonde.

So I decided to go back to my roots in a sense and do the blonde thing. The stereotypical stupid blonde thing has always amused me.

  "Many highly intelligent people are poor thinkers. Many people of average intelligence are skilled thinkers. The power of a car is separate from the way the car is driven." -Edward De Bono

What is smart? what is stupid? Who decides?

So after four diffrent Internet IQ tests, I've come to the conclusion that maybe I'm a smart kid. A Blonde and Smart Kid! (I am naturally blonde.) I average 136 for the four tests! Woo Hoo!

Where did all this smart IQ stuff come from, and what does it mean?

IQ scores reflect general capacity for performing intellectual tasks, such as solving verbal and mathematical problems.

The average IQ score is 100. The standard deviation of IQ scores is 15. So, this means:

• 50% of people have IQ scores between 90 and 110
• 2.5% of people are very superior in intelligence (over 130)
• 2.5% of people are mentally deficient / impaired / retarded (under 70)
• 0.5% of people are near genius or genius (over 140)

http://www.3f68.com/google3/iqtest/
http://www.wilderdom.com/intelligence/IQUnderstandingInterpreting.html


Lewis Terman (1916) developed the original notion of IQ and proposed this scale for classifying IQ scores:

Over 140 - Genius or near genius
120 - 140 - Very superior intelligence
110 - 119 - Superior intelligence
90 - 109 - Normal or average intelligence
80 - 89 - Dullness
70 - 79 - Borderline deficiency
Under 70 - Definite feeble-mindedness

 http://www.free-iqtest.net/

http://www.iqtest.com/
http://www.3smartcubes.com/
http://www.queendom.com/

But these "Blonde" quotes are still hilarious:

Britney on capital punishment:

"I am for the death penalty. Who commits terrible acts must get a fitting punishment. That way he learns the lesson for the next time."

Brooke Shields on her campaign against smoking:

"Smoking kills. If you're killed, you've lost a very important part of your life."

Cameron Diaz on science:

"I've been noticing gravity since I was very young."

Christina Aguilera on film festivals:

"So where’s the Cannes film festival being held this year?"

Britney Spears

"I get to go to lots of overseas places, like Canada."

Britney Spears

“I’ve never really wanted to go to Japan. Simply because I don’t like eating fish. And I know that’s very popular out there in Africa.”

Britney Spears on her first tour:

"Where the hell is Australia anyway?"

Jodie Marsh on cooking:

"Is an egg a vegetable?"

Mariah Carey on the death of the King of Jordan:

"I loved Jordan. He was one of the greatest athletes of our time."

Jessica Simpson when offered buffalo wings:

"Sorry I don't eat buffalo."

Ivana Trump on literature:

"Fiction writing is great. You can make up almost anything."

Britney on why she did a cover of I Love Rock and Roll:

"I always loved Pat Benatar."

Expect Great Things... Attempt Great Things...

38. Learn anothr Language.

As I stand looking out at the prospects of my future, the waves seem very high and the horizon very far. I’m pondering the meaning of “go and make disciples of all nations” (Matt 28:19a).


For me, “all nations” has come to qualify nations foreign to English. My God is not an English God. He not only speaks more than English, but he adopts a culture wider than just English. “All nations” has, for me, come to signify the Far East.

In this season of preparation, I’m obviously learning new things; another language being one. With language comes culture, and with culture the challenge to separate what’s absolutely true from what’s culturally acceptable.

Perhaps someone noteworthy to mention would be William Carey.

"Taking his life as a whole, it is not too much to say that he was the greatest and most versatile Christian missionary sent out in modern times." Fred Barlow

Missions today has Carey to thank for his following vital contributions.

Firstly, he wrote his famed “Enquiry Into the Obligations of the Christians to Use Means for the Conversion of the Heathen”. This masterpiece on missions gave answers to arguments, reviewed the history of missions from apostolic times and surveyed the entire known world in regards to countries, size, population and religions. It was also practical with its application of how to reach the world for Christ! I’ve always appreciated people who are able to breakthrough mere knowledge into practical application!

Secondly, in 1792 he became a founding member of the Baptist Missionary Society. This was the first of what turned out to be many missionary societies. Carey himself volunteered to be the one of the organizations first missionaries.

I’m reminded of the scripture in Isaiah6:8 (NIV)

“Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, ‘Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?’

And I said, ‘Here I am. Send me!’”

William Carey arrived in Calcutta. India in November 1793. Seven years later he baptized his first convert! I don’t know how willing I would be to stay in a foreign land for seven years, each day diligently serving, awaiting the fruit of my labour. But Carey was focused on his work, driven by the compassion in his heart for a nation in India.

Having a knack for linguistics (by 21, he had mastered Latin, Greek, Hebrew and Italian and was turning to Dutch and French) Carey not only learnt to speak many of the Indian languages but he also translated the entire bible into India’s major languages: Bengali, Oriya, Marathu, Hindi, Assamese, and Sanskrit.

I too have found I have a knack for languages. I am encouraged to pursue language when I note the impact it had when Carey used it for God’s works. For me, language is a way of communicating what’s inside you. The words used to communicate these things differ, but the heart, thoughts and feelings of people can be universally understood.

Other parts of Carey’s ministry in India that I like are his tackling of social injustices and the desire to train people. His concern was not only regarding who people were living for but also for how they were living.

When I read of the life of William Carey, I am encouraged to approach ‘the gospel’ as more than just believing in the saving work of Jesus, but that the gospel is in fact the good news of ‘God’s way of Life’. There is a biblical way to do everything from plumbing to accounting to nursery school, to motor mechanics. You get the picture.

I close with these words;

“Expect great things from God, attempt great things for God” William Carey

http://www.wholesomewords.org/missions/biocarey.html

A Pale Shade of Grey

90. Wear a Different Rainbow Colour each day of the Week.

This was fun. definately solved the problem of what to wear in the morning!

In thinking about colour, I think about Grey. It's a colour but to me it feels numb.

I wrote this the beginning of last year, seemed apt to post it:

Are You Relevant? Do you bring Change?
Are you the same Dull Grey as Sciety seated around you, or is there something within you that is standing?
Are things moving forward and positively changing because of you?
Are you relieving our World's desperate need for Love,or are you just Queuing for your Next Life?

Still in your Grey overalls?
Are you still just a face in the Crowd?
Or do you have the Face that draws the crowd?
Is your voice heard when the crowd fall silent, or does it add to the murmur of gossip and complaining?
Will you stand out? Are you content to fit in?

Grey really does nothing for you.
Grey may be the season's hottest trend, but it's really quite misguided. There are so many Colours for you, a multitude for the individual.

But because it's in Fashion: Everything is Grey.
Apathy comes best in Grey. Selfish Pride is available in various Shades of Grey. And of course, Conformation to Numbness comes in a striking Mid-Grey tone. Vibrant and Upbeat for the Season. All definite must haves!

Available Everywhere! Stocks don't run out!

Get yours NOW: be a part of this Global Trend!

The Meat of the Matter...

92. Be Vegetarian for a Month.

So its a week into Lent already and the Veggie thing is going well. I keep thinking how blessed I am to even have the option of giving up a particular kind of food!

God has really blessed me this year with a place to stay, a car, I have an awesome job, and manage to full time study too. Sometimes it's hard, but the pressure is good. God has given me alot. I am greatful. I also want to do my best with what He has entrusted to me.

May this time of Lent be focused on diligently living out that which He hath set before me.

His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!' Matthew 25:20-22 (NIV)

http://julieclawson.com/2010/02/16/preparing-for-lent/

A Rose by Any Other Name?

24. Get an Autograph

So our group stood in line after the gig waiting to chat to the guys of Just Jinjer. Being the bright kid I am I decided to kill the third bird with this stone. Get an Autograph! This was by far one of the easier tasks on my list.

I got to thinking about how we are all known for something. It's not the autograph in itself that we seek, but what it represents. The name is the motif for one's identity. What are you known for? What would cause your signature to escalate in value. What do you represent to the world? 

 May these words challenge you to consider you Life and from it, what sound the the world hears. When you sign you name at the end of the day, who have you been singing to?

"Lifesong" - Casting Crowns

Empty hands held high

Such small sacrifice

If not joined with my life

I sing in vain tonight

May the words I say

And the things I do

Make my lifesong sing

Bring a smile to You

Let my lifesong sing to You

Let my lifesong sing to You

I want to sign Your name to the end of this day

Knowing that my heart was true

Let my lifesong sing to You

Lord I give my life

A living sacrifice

To reach a world in need

To be Your hands and feet

So may the words I say

And the things I do

Make my lifesong sing

Bring a smile to You

Hallelujah, Hallelujah

Let my lifesong sing to You

http://www.castingcrowns.com/

www.justjinjer.com/tour.html