un(related): no apparent connection

From now on I will tell you of new things,
of hidden things unknown to you.
They are created now, and not long ago;
you have not heard of them before today.
So you cannot say,
‘Yes, I knew of them.’
(Isaiah 48:6b-7 NIV)

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When I saw the two letters on the wall of the coffee house, I didn’t know that it was the beginning of a new awareness. I pointed out the white “un” to my family and friends. They were fairly unimpressed; we were there to celebrate and listen to music. But those two letters imprinted themselves into my consciousness.

Thus began this adventure of un(Lent). Last week, I was unable to post any of my “un” sightings. We were celebrating the engagement of our oldest son to his lovely girlfriend! They invited the moms to join them in their initial visits to photographers and reception halls, and so we gave them our undivided attention.

In between appointments and eating at fun little restaurants around town (of course, we had to eat between venues and photographers), I noticed “un”words in my daily readings, emails and even a worship song on Sunday!

So to catch you up from last week, I have compiled these seemingly unrelated experiences that reminded me that nothing goes unnoticed by God, not even my desire to pursue this un(Lent) journey.

If we could untangle the mysteries of life and unravel the energies which run through the world; if we could evaluate correctly the significance of passing events; if we could measure the struggles, dilemmas, and aspirations of mankind, we could find that nothing is born out of time. Everything comes at its appointed moment. (Joseph R. Sizoo)

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The following article from the Slice of Infinity post provided some unlikely food for thought:

The Unlikely by Stuart McAlister

And on Sunday, I found out that I won a copy of the book Unquenchable, stories compiled by Carol Kent, including one written by my friend, Lynn D. Morrissey.

And then on Sunday, we sang of God’s unrelenting love in this song: “How He Loves” from David Crowder Band (We sang it twice; once in Sunday School and then again in worship!)

He is jealous for me,
Loves like a hurricane, I am a tree,
Bending beneath the weight of His wind and mercy.
When all of a sudden,
I am unaware of these afflictions eclipsed by glory,
And I realise just how beautiful You are,
And how great Your affections are for me.

God never ceases to amaze my with His unending ways of expressing His affection for us!

 

 

 

un(merited): not earned

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Thus he shows for all time the tremendous generosity of the grace and kindness he has expressed towards us in Christ Jesus. It was nothing you could or did achieve—it was God’s gift to you. No one can pride himself upon earning the love of God. The fact is that what we are we owe to the hand of God upon us. We are born afresh in Christ, and born to do those good deeds which God planned for us to do. (Ephesians 2:8-10 J.B. Phillips)

Linking with The Sunday Community, Still Saturday and Sunday Stillness

un(fold): to happen as time passes

So we’re not giving up. How could we! Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without his unfolding grace. These hard times are small potatoes compared to the coming good times, the lavish celebration prepared for us. There’s far more here than meets the eye. The things we see now are here today, gone tomorrow. But the things we can’t see now will last forever. (2 Corinthians 4:16-18 The Message)

I love how a journey unfolds. You open your map. You plan your destination, make your reservations and then look forward to the day of departure. The day arrives with much expectation and even a little uncertainty of how the trip will turn out.

Today, I planned to link up with Random Journal Day, so I was wondering how to weave my un(Lent) adventure with Dawn and Susie’s monthly journey into our journals.

One way I keep track of my life is with a planner. And I thought that I would feature my planner this month for the link-up. This little side trip fits right in with my word for today: unfold.

A calendar/planner is a great way to watch how the year unfolds. I have been on a hunt for a long time for a planner that also doubles as a journal. With my new found love for mixed-media art in my journals, I was really excited when I heard about The Documented Life Project.

I had some extra time yesterday to catch up with the project. I was impressed with their cool planner/journal/sketchbooks. But I had one unplanned problem, I didn’t have a Moleskine planner like theirs. I almost jumped in the car to go buy one, when my word for the year (use) whispered in my ear, “Use what you have!”

I have a planner* for July 2013-June 2014. I was a little disappointed that I’d only be able to use it through June. I really wanted to have one for the rest of 2014. One of the features of the one online was fold-out pages attached to the existing calendar pages. Aha! I could “add” pages to my planner with fun paper and washi tape.

So I added pages for July through December for my month at a glance, and had enough other pages for week at a glance in a two-page spread format. Here’s the results:

The month pages added in…

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Close-up of the month tabs.

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Two page spread for week at a glance…

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unfolds to give more space for journaling and art! (I cut a piece of watercolor paper to the dimensions of the planner, then taped it to the existing page with decorative washi tape.)

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The taped in pages create a colorful edge!

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Decided I had to decorate the cover, too!

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So as the year unfolds with unexpected joys and bends in the road, I have a really inviting place to document life!

*I bought the blank planner at Office Depot, it’s a Foray (6×8 bound version) Academic Planner. You can use any planner that you have 🙂

un(leash): to cause (something very powerful) to happen suddenly

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When the Feast of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Without warning there was a sound like a strong wind, gale force—no one could tell where it came from. It filled the whole building. Then, like a wildfire, the Holy Spirit spread through their ranks . . . (Acts 2:1-4a The Message)

Give me the Love that leads the way
The Faith that nothing can dismay
The Hope no disappointments tire
The Passion that’ll burn like fire
Let me not sink to be a clod
Make me Thy fuel, Flame of God
(Amy Carmichael)

What if? I often ask this question of unlikely scenarios that I fear might happen to me or my loved ones. What if I fail? What if there’s an earthquake? What if I run out of ideas or money or love? Some things are more likely than others to happen, but all are unwanted worries that rob me of peace, hope and passion.

What if the Holy Spirit was unleashed in my life? What if the Spirit of God spread through our ranks? What if, instead of worrying about my past mistakes or my present shortcomings, I lived like the new person that God created me to be? The Spirit filled person that Jesus promises that I am!

Sometimes I feel like my new dog, who pulls at her leash, straining to get to her next adventure. Yet, I reign her in because I want her to behave. When she is off her leash, in the house or in the fenced backyard, she romps and chases her tail and runs as fast as she can for the pure joy of it.

Oh, how I want to live an unleashed life, filled with  the power of the Holy Spirit. I long for a life full of unexpected power and unparalleled joy.

Unleash in me
New fervor.
Let your Spirit blow, where
Embers fade.
Add more fuel;
Stoke my
Hearth with flames of love.

 

 

 

 

un(Lent)

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Thus says the Lord of hosts: The fast of the fourth month and the fast of the fifth and the fast of the seventh and the fast of the tenth shall be to the house of Judah seasons of joy and gladness and cheerful feasts. Therefore love truth and peace. (Zechariah 8:19 ESV)

Holy Spirit, think through me till your ideas are my ideas. (Amy Carmichael)

I want Jesus. (the dying words of Mother Teresa)

I am not giving up donuts or coffee for Lent. As a matter of fact, I am not going to abstain from anything in particular. I am observing un(Lent) this year. This may seem like an unconventional attitude to have during a fast season, but I sense God calling me to feast, rather than fast. To lengthen my reach, rather than reign it in. To practice generosity and abundance, rather than miserly asceticism.

I want to practice the meaning of “un” during this 40 day journey.

“Un” is used as a prefix before adjectives, nouns and verbs. The most interesting meaning is its use with verbs. When combined with a verb there is a nuance of release, such as unburden or unhand. This season instead of abstaining from something, I need to be released from my meager expectations of God. I sense Him inviting me to receive; to love His truth and peace. To embrace the joyful knowledge and experience of His unfailing love!

I still want to practice praying, alms-giving and fasting, but in an unassuming way, like Jesus taught in Matthew 6:1-18.

Instead of being unfulfilled, I long to be filled with the Holy Spirit.

Instead of being unmoved, I desired to be thrilled by God’s presence.

Instead of being unable, I want to be strengthened by Jesus’ love.

Linking with Soli Deo Gloria Sisterhood Party!