Somehow my blog that I posted earlier this morning has disappeared. Ack! Sorry. It was entitled "The Great Romance" and it is missing. I will keep trying to fix it, but I wanted to post something for those of you looking for day seventeen. I will repost if I find it. Again, sorry!
**Update, I think I deleted it on accident. :/ I don't have time to re-write it...lesson learned, save posts somewhere else besides on the blog itself.
Just know that it was more about my Jesus and how he loves us. I read Hebrews 11 and 12 this morning and He spoke to me so clearly that seeking to know more about His discipline is a good thing and He disciplines us for our good. I will stay on this road of Spiritual Disciplines to see where He takes me.
Love you all and am grateful to be on this journey with you.
Love from the islands (again),
Twyla
Friday, January 20, 2012
Thursday, January 19, 2012
Day Sixteen: Spiritual Disciplines
This morning I have been thinking about spiritual disciplines. Is that supposed to be capitalized? Spiritual Disciplines...in my imagination they are capitalized because they seem so stern and adult-like. I've been afraid of "Spiritual Disciplines" (said in a loud deep voice). The words conjure up visions of crazy-eyed priests beating themselves with whips. I have an active imagination. I'm fairly certain I have lost track of what they truly are and what their purpose is in the believer's life.
Don't get me wrong. I do know something about them. I'm a freed legalist, so I have studied them and tried to follow them much of my life. But they were a list of rules to follow. If I fast, am silent (Ha!), study, confess, etc, etc...I will be...what will I be?...good?...accepted?...mature?
January is the "discipline" month, right? Isn't this the month we get back on the wagon in regard to eating, exercise, finances, Bible reading plans...Maybe that's why I am thinking about Spiritual Disciplines. I do know that there is something about them that draws me. What is it?
I want to be like Jesus. I want to know Him more and I know that the true goal of Spiritual Disciplines is Jesus Himself. So where do I start? The scriptures are a good place. Yesterday I read that Jesus was made perfect through suffering (Heb 2:10). Umm...I'm getting the vision of that crazy priest again. Lord, help! How do I find You through discipline when I am so afraid of suffering?
"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls." (Matt 11:28:29)
Is the goal to rest in Jesus? Through Spiritual Disciplines will I find that He has a better "yoke" than I can imagine...even with my imagination? I do want to learn from Him.
I'm going to embark on a quest to find out what Spiritual Disciplines are all about. Do you want to join me? I just got the book, The Life You've Always Wanted by John Ortberg. It's about Spiritual Disciplines and comes highly recommended by many people. Have any of you read it? What are your thoughts? I liked the book review I read about it. It said, "The disciplines are neither taskmasters nor an end in themselves. Rather they are exercises that build strength and endurance for the road of growth."
I like that. Sigh. I can do that. I will take on Jesus' work for me and will learn from Him. I can trust Him.
Love from the islands,
Twyla
Don't get me wrong. I do know something about them. I'm a freed legalist, so I have studied them and tried to follow them much of my life. But they were a list of rules to follow. If I fast, am silent (Ha!), study, confess, etc, etc...I will be...what will I be?...good?...accepted?...mature?
January is the "discipline" month, right? Isn't this the month we get back on the wagon in regard to eating, exercise, finances, Bible reading plans...Maybe that's why I am thinking about Spiritual Disciplines. I do know that there is something about them that draws me. What is it?
I want to be like Jesus. I want to know Him more and I know that the true goal of Spiritual Disciplines is Jesus Himself. So where do I start? The scriptures are a good place. Yesterday I read that Jesus was made perfect through suffering (Heb 2:10). Umm...I'm getting the vision of that crazy priest again. Lord, help! How do I find You through discipline when I am so afraid of suffering?
"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls." (Matt 11:28:29)
Is the goal to rest in Jesus? Through Spiritual Disciplines will I find that He has a better "yoke" than I can imagine...even with my imagination? I do want to learn from Him.
I'm going to embark on a quest to find out what Spiritual Disciplines are all about. Do you want to join me? I just got the book, The Life You've Always Wanted by John Ortberg. It's about Spiritual Disciplines and comes highly recommended by many people. Have any of you read it? What are your thoughts? I liked the book review I read about it. It said, "The disciplines are neither taskmasters nor an end in themselves. Rather they are exercises that build strength and endurance for the road of growth."
I like that. Sigh. I can do that. I will take on Jesus' work for me and will learn from Him. I can trust Him.
Love from the islands,
Twyla
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Day Fifteen: A Worn, Taped Up Little NIV
Today I read Hebrews 1-6. Yes, I am still finishing up my Bible reading plan of 2011. I just can't seem to read through the letters to the church in quick succession. There is so much meat in these small books (well in the whole Bible, right?) and it is taking me much longer than what the reading plan suggests. But as I've stated before, the reading plan is a guide and I'm going to take these last days slowly, savoring the words and the conviction it is producing in my soul.
"For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any double edged-sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow, it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart." (Hebrews 4:12)
Isn't it amazing that we have access to the Word of God? What a blessing and a treasure. Sometimes in the mornings I will just sit with the Bible in my hand and look at it. What joy fills my soul as I think that I am about to read God's words to me for today. Many mornings I am brought to tears as I drink my coffee and think of the wonderful privilege that is mine to have the entire word of God at my finger tips.
What will you say today, Jesus? What promise do you have for me? What needs changing? What warning do you have for me? These are all whispered prayers that escape my lips as I hold my worn, taped up little NIV.
It's exciting to think about meeting Jesus everyday in His Word. We can be assured that He WILL speak each and everyday. Yes, there are dry times that inevitably come along. But even in those times I can look back at my journal and see that He just kept repeating a word to me until I obeyed it. What I thought was a dry time was really just Jesus waiting on me to move with Him.
One morning when Chloe and Sam were four and two, I read Psalm 118. When I read this encouraging Psalm, my heart began to feel that the Lord was really warning me to take courage for that day. I sensed that something difficult would happen soon.
The Psalm goes on and on about the Lord's help, strength and salvation. There are shouts of joy and victory because the Lord has brought the Psalmist through a difficult battle with his enemies. And then there is:
17 I will not die but live, and will proclaim what the Lord has done.
Louie was laid off work that day from a job he had had for seventeen years. When Louie called me to tell me, I was not crushed or even fearful. I was actually excited. What was God doing? What did he have in store for us? I felt in my spirit that Jesus was paving the way for us to finally go overseas, and "proclaim what the Lord has done." The Lord had not only prepared me for the news but had instilled in me a sense of joy and expectation. That was two years before Louie got on the plane to Southeast Asia to work in the tsunami zone. Praise Him!
"How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!" (Psalm 119:103)
Love from the islands,
Twyla
"For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any double edged-sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow, it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart." (Hebrews 4:12)
Isn't it amazing that we have access to the Word of God? What a blessing and a treasure. Sometimes in the mornings I will just sit with the Bible in my hand and look at it. What joy fills my soul as I think that I am about to read God's words to me for today. Many mornings I am brought to tears as I drink my coffee and think of the wonderful privilege that is mine to have the entire word of God at my finger tips.
What will you say today, Jesus? What promise do you have for me? What needs changing? What warning do you have for me? These are all whispered prayers that escape my lips as I hold my worn, taped up little NIV.
It's exciting to think about meeting Jesus everyday in His Word. We can be assured that He WILL speak each and everyday. Yes, there are dry times that inevitably come along. But even in those times I can look back at my journal and see that He just kept repeating a word to me until I obeyed it. What I thought was a dry time was really just Jesus waiting on me to move with Him.
One morning when Chloe and Sam were four and two, I read Psalm 118. When I read this encouraging Psalm, my heart began to feel that the Lord was really warning me to take courage for that day. I sensed that something difficult would happen soon.
5 In my anguish I cried to the Lord, and he answered by setting me free.
6 The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?
7 The Lord is with me; he is my helper. I will look in triumph on my enemies.
8 It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man.The Psalm goes on and on about the Lord's help, strength and salvation. There are shouts of joy and victory because the Lord has brought the Psalmist through a difficult battle with his enemies. And then there is:
17 I will not die but live, and will proclaim what the Lord has done.
Louie was laid off work that day from a job he had had for seventeen years. When Louie called me to tell me, I was not crushed or even fearful. I was actually excited. What was God doing? What did he have in store for us? I felt in my spirit that Jesus was paving the way for us to finally go overseas, and "proclaim what the Lord has done." The Lord had not only prepared me for the news but had instilled in me a sense of joy and expectation. That was two years before Louie got on the plane to Southeast Asia to work in the tsunami zone. Praise Him!
"How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!" (Psalm 119:103)
Love from the islands,
Twyla
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Day Fourteen: Chloe
Chloe has a heart to adopt. She has been after me and Louie to adopt a baby since she was four or five years old. She has the gift of mercy. She has a heart to feed the hungry. She has a heart to give medical care to those without it. She has a heart for the world.
Knowing all of this about Chloe, my friend Jana, asked me if I had heard about Katie Davis, the young woman in the video below. She is following her Jesus as best as she knows how. She is an inspiration. Please watch it, but be warned. You will be left desiring more from your life and for your life.
When I first watched this I thought, Katie is the perfect person for that job. God created her to love and show mercy. God created her for the perfect work at the perfect time. But isn't that true for all of us? Hasn't he created us all to do good works created for us in Christ Jesus (Eph 2:10)?
What is it He has created you to do? Is there a dream you have had, but have not chased after it? Is there something Jesus has called you to do, but you think it too extreme or crazy? If it is biblical and it is from Him, there is nothing He can't do through you.
Katie is a great role model for my Chloe. I want to put before her all kinds of people who are following Jesus passionately. Chloe has already asked me if we can volunteer for Amazima ministries with Katie. We're going to be following this young woman with much interest in the coming years.
Now to Him who is able to do immeasurable more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. (Eph 3:20-21)
"...throughout all generations..." You are never too young or too old to chase your Jesus. Let's see where He leads us! Won't this be fun?!!
Love from the islands,
Twyla
Monday, January 16, 2012
Day Thirteen: Chasing Jesus
"I run in the paths of your commands for you have set my heart free." (Psalm 119:32)
This verse has become, over the years, our family theme. It is what we fall back on whenever we are facing difficult choices and decisions. We first used it to help us make the decision to come to Southeast Asia.
The tsunami of 2004 devastated many parts of Southeast Asia. Louie was glued to the television set that Christmas night of 2004. His heart was torn and broken over the loss of life and physical destruction. But what could we do sitting in Los Angeles? There was a need for immediate action and we were stuck in middle class American life. Three weeks after the tsunami Louie was on a plane to Southeast Asia.
Why? What could possibly motivate a man to pick up and leave like that? Only Jesus can do that. Only following Him with all you have can cause grown people to change their entire lives and redirect all their efforts. In our family we call it, "Chasing Jesus." Whenever there is a call to do something that is beyond ourselves or our ability, we call each other to, "run in the paths of His commands for He has set our hearts free." We want to live in a constant state of gratefulness that causes the hardships or trials of following Him to dim in the presence of His glorious grace in our lives.
"Chasing Jesus," doesn't that sound fun? I imagine playing "Chase" with Jesus. He's laughing and running to broken person after broken person looking to see if we will follow Him in this marvelous adventure. Will we camp on the beach in a broken part of the tsunami devastation? Will we get eaten up by bugs and be taken advantage of by those we trust in the culture? Yes! Because we chase Him. We long to continue on the adventure with Him.
These verses have also set in motion a desire to not "straddle the fence" of obedience. Many times I find myself looking at the other side...you know the "grass is greener," other side. I know Jesus has called me to this side of the fence, but boy, that other side can sure look good. This life of always wanting the other side can be life-draining. If I am lingering at the fence looking at what I want instead of running in His commands I am missing that great adventure of His path. I want to leave the fence and run as far as I can in His commands. Why? Because He has set my heart free.
What waits for me at the end of the path? Jesus! "...set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed." I see glimpses of Him and it moves me forward..."Though you have not seen Him, you love Him; and even though you do not see Him now, you believe in Him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls." (1 Peter 1:8-9, 13)
Do my writings seem like "pie in the sky" sometimes? I worry about that. That you will think I am just an emotional, crazy person. But then verses like the one above remind me that I AM out of my mind and that I do love Him and am filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy. My inadequate words are just the tip of the iceberg of trying to describe what is inexpressible.
Love from the islands,
Twyla
This verse has become, over the years, our family theme. It is what we fall back on whenever we are facing difficult choices and decisions. We first used it to help us make the decision to come to Southeast Asia.
The tsunami of 2004 devastated many parts of Southeast Asia. Louie was glued to the television set that Christmas night of 2004. His heart was torn and broken over the loss of life and physical destruction. But what could we do sitting in Los Angeles? There was a need for immediate action and we were stuck in middle class American life. Three weeks after the tsunami Louie was on a plane to Southeast Asia.
Why? What could possibly motivate a man to pick up and leave like that? Only Jesus can do that. Only following Him with all you have can cause grown people to change their entire lives and redirect all their efforts. In our family we call it, "Chasing Jesus." Whenever there is a call to do something that is beyond ourselves or our ability, we call each other to, "run in the paths of His commands for He has set our hearts free." We want to live in a constant state of gratefulness that causes the hardships or trials of following Him to dim in the presence of His glorious grace in our lives.
"Chasing Jesus," doesn't that sound fun? I imagine playing "Chase" with Jesus. He's laughing and running to broken person after broken person looking to see if we will follow Him in this marvelous adventure. Will we camp on the beach in a broken part of the tsunami devastation? Will we get eaten up by bugs and be taken advantage of by those we trust in the culture? Yes! Because we chase Him. We long to continue on the adventure with Him.
These verses have also set in motion a desire to not "straddle the fence" of obedience. Many times I find myself looking at the other side...you know the "grass is greener," other side. I know Jesus has called me to this side of the fence, but boy, that other side can sure look good. This life of always wanting the other side can be life-draining. If I am lingering at the fence looking at what I want instead of running in His commands I am missing that great adventure of His path. I want to leave the fence and run as far as I can in His commands. Why? Because He has set my heart free.
What waits for me at the end of the path? Jesus! "...set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed." I see glimpses of Him and it moves me forward..."Though you have not seen Him, you love Him; and even though you do not see Him now, you believe in Him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls." (1 Peter 1:8-9, 13)
Do my writings seem like "pie in the sky" sometimes? I worry about that. That you will think I am just an emotional, crazy person. But then verses like the one above remind me that I AM out of my mind and that I do love Him and am filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy. My inadequate words are just the tip of the iceberg of trying to describe what is inexpressible.
Love from the islands,
Twyla
Day Twelve: Coffee
"Drink Coffee. Do stupid things faster with more energy."
I pinned this saying to my pinterest account awhile back. It was a funny joke. Ha! It's an exaggeration right?
I love coffee. I have always loved coffee. I grew up in Latin America for goodness sake. I started drinking my dad's espresso when I was five years old. I googled adjectives to describe coffee and this is what I got..."It's hot, smooth, aromatic, floral, bold, rich, and brisk." Yum! I even became a barista. It is the best job I have ever had next to being a kindergarten teacher.
Caffeine has never affected me until this last year. I used to say that holding my caffeine was my super power. I could drink a double espresso an hour before bedtime and not blink an eye. I couldn't, I would already be asleep.
But this last year something weird started happening to my body. I turned forty-four and I couldn't tolerate the caffeine anymore. What??!!! (said through sobs) I began to feel really bad every afternoon and it wasn't until I quit drinking coffee that it got better.
At this point an inspiring blog would say that I quit drinking coffee and have felt amazing ever since. Well, hopefully you know me well enough by now to know that a great big confession is about to pop up. I didn't want to let it go. So I changed coffee brands and that helped a bit. I only drink coffee in the morning and I can tolerate it better now. However, it's not exactly as good as I feel when I am completely on the wagon.
Ok, so fast forward to a couple of days ago. I drank a big (BIG) cup of coffee at three o'clock in the afternoon to give me some energy for the evening. I had already had a cup in the morning, so this was my second cup...yes, yes, the second cup that I'm not supposed to have...and yes, yes, the afternoon coffee that I'm not supposed to have.
That night I was so wired that I could hardly be civil to people. Do you remember that scene in Captain America where Dr. Erskine says, "The serum amplifies everything that is inside. So good becomes great and bad becomes worse." Well, my "serum" amplified everything that was bad in me.
Seriously, I argued with people and gave my opinion to every little conversation without regard to how offensive I was being. Ugh! I look back on that night and want to take it all back. My poor husband got the brunt of the Mr. Hyde in me. Poor guy. But it wasn't just Louie that I was ugly to. There were some dear friends that got the tip of my overly wired impatient, sarcastic self. And worst of all I was outwardly angry with some people that don't know Jesus.
Do you ever have one of those nights? I am responsible for my behavior. The coffee didn't make me do it. It just enhanced it a bit. The sin was mine. I have since gone to Louie and one of my friends to confess and ask forgiveness. There are a couple more I need to see and I will especially go to my young friend that doesn't know Jesus and ask her to forgive me.
This is my ugly truth. But life on the Way is not about being perfect. It's about making things right at all costs. And about following Jesus in His kindness, His mercy and His forgiveness.
"But when the kindness and love of God our Saviour appeared, he saved us not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy." (Titus 3:4) Thanks be to Jesus!
Love from the islands,
Twyla
I pinned this saying to my pinterest account awhile back. It was a funny joke. Ha! It's an exaggeration right?
I love coffee. I have always loved coffee. I grew up in Latin America for goodness sake. I started drinking my dad's espresso when I was five years old. I googled adjectives to describe coffee and this is what I got..."It's hot, smooth, aromatic, floral, bold, rich, and brisk." Yum! I even became a barista. It is the best job I have ever had next to being a kindergarten teacher.
Caffeine has never affected me until this last year. I used to say that holding my caffeine was my super power. I could drink a double espresso an hour before bedtime and not blink an eye. I couldn't, I would already be asleep.
But this last year something weird started happening to my body. I turned forty-four and I couldn't tolerate the caffeine anymore. What??!!! (said through sobs) I began to feel really bad every afternoon and it wasn't until I quit drinking coffee that it got better.
At this point an inspiring blog would say that I quit drinking coffee and have felt amazing ever since. Well, hopefully you know me well enough by now to know that a great big confession is about to pop up. I didn't want to let it go. So I changed coffee brands and that helped a bit. I only drink coffee in the morning and I can tolerate it better now. However, it's not exactly as good as I feel when I am completely on the wagon.
Ok, so fast forward to a couple of days ago. I drank a big (BIG) cup of coffee at three o'clock in the afternoon to give me some energy for the evening. I had already had a cup in the morning, so this was my second cup...yes, yes, the second cup that I'm not supposed to have...and yes, yes, the afternoon coffee that I'm not supposed to have.
That night I was so wired that I could hardly be civil to people. Do you remember that scene in Captain America where Dr. Erskine says, "The serum amplifies everything that is inside. So good becomes great and bad becomes worse." Well, my "serum" amplified everything that was bad in me.
Seriously, I argued with people and gave my opinion to every little conversation without regard to how offensive I was being. Ugh! I look back on that night and want to take it all back. My poor husband got the brunt of the Mr. Hyde in me. Poor guy. But it wasn't just Louie that I was ugly to. There were some dear friends that got the tip of my overly wired impatient, sarcastic self. And worst of all I was outwardly angry with some people that don't know Jesus.
Do you ever have one of those nights? I am responsible for my behavior. The coffee didn't make me do it. It just enhanced it a bit. The sin was mine. I have since gone to Louie and one of my friends to confess and ask forgiveness. There are a couple more I need to see and I will especially go to my young friend that doesn't know Jesus and ask her to forgive me.
This is my ugly truth. But life on the Way is not about being perfect. It's about making things right at all costs. And about following Jesus in His kindness, His mercy and His forgiveness.
"But when the kindness and love of God our Saviour appeared, he saved us not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy." (Titus 3:4) Thanks be to Jesus!
Love from the islands,
Twyla
Sunday, January 15, 2012
Day Eleven: Why I Hate Religion, But Love Jesus || Spoken Word
I'm going to take a break from my usual format today. Enjoy!
Oh my word! This video by bball1989 has gone viral on facebook. This is why we boast in weaknesses...
"Spent my whole life building this facade of neatness but now that I know Jesus I boast in my weakness."
What is Jesus doing with this truth? It's going viral because we are tired of pretending that we have it all together. We can't do it anymore. We need Jesus.
"I don't have to hide my failure, I don't have to hide my sin. Because it doesn't depend on me. It depends on Him."
Many people have given up finding hope for their lives. Let's shout it from the mountain tops. There is hope in Jesus!
"Religion says do. Jesus says done. Religion says slave. Jesus says son. Religion puts you in bondage while Jesus sets you free. Religion make you blind but Jesus makes you see."
Enough said. "Jesus sets you free."
Love from the islands,
Twyla
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