What I've been up to these days

Dear readers,

I thought it might be worth sharing with you what I've been up to since I last wrote. It's been a very powerful season in my life- busy and exciting. I wanted to share an article I've written about a project I've been working with- Imagine This! TV. After reading, I'd encourage you to check out the trailer. It's worth your time. You will find it here: http://su.pr/8r6c0H.

Two years ago, actor Eion Bailey had an idea. He had a love for cinematography, a passion for culture, a heart for people, and desire to foster change. His dream soon became what would be the new reality of reality television. Eion, along with a team of Hollywood producers, artists and field experts, travelled to Peru to meet the need of hundreds of children who endured a grueling 8-hour daily walk to school. Coming together from around the world, the team rewired a bus to run on vegetable oil, providing a sustainable solution for the children and the entire community. The team built an amazing playground, bringing a new joy to these little ones. This was all captured and produced on film as the pilot episode of Imagine This! TV.

“I have always had a desire to inspire people to greatness,” Eion said, “and this is a perfect example of how anyone can use their skills and passions to better this world.”

Imagine This! is more than just a show to watch. It is a show to create. It is an ever expanding network of filmmakers and storytellers, activists and environmentalists, inventors and engineers, doctors, artists and many others dedicated to creating sustainable, life-altering projects for communities around the globe. With the power of an interactive website (www.imaginethistv.com), members have the opportunity to suggest episodes, comment on potential ideas, and tell their stories. Some of these stories and projects will be chosen as episodes of a television series that shows the world as a canvas of creation where everything and everyone is inextricably connected.

On June 10, the pilot premiered at an advanced screening at Project Butterfly in Los Angeles. The response was overwhelming. Eion and the other producers answered questions about the show, the vision for their work, and the impact they hope to leave on both the communities and the viewers they serve. The episode received a standing ovation, confirming for Eion and his partners, that Imagine This! has the potential to revolutionize reality TV.

Currently, the Imagine This! team is looking to increase their website membership to over 10,000. “With this demonstration of public support,” said Rafael Monserrate, Executive Producer and Director, “we will show the networks that this is the kind of television people want to see. The kind that celebrates culture and changes lives.” Anyone can sign up at www.imaginethistv.com.

Filmed with breathtaking cinematography, Imagine This! will journey to multiple exotic destinations — from a sacred valley to a holy land, from the mother of all jungles to the grandfather of all deserts, as well as few of the United States. At each stop there will be a community in need, a mission to complete, and a week to make a difference.

All are encouraged to join the movement, said Eion. “The adventure begins now.”

Thanks for your support! And please continue to pray for me as the busyness of this life continues. God is glorious, faithful and worthy to be praised.


Visit Imagine This! TV

The Simplicity of the Cross

"Make me to know your ways, O Lord, teach me your paths. Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long."~ Psalm 25:4-5

I was lead to this passage of scripture this evening thanks to a sermon on my home church website. The sermon, called "Fix your eyes on Jesus" from March 9, 2008 comes from a Bishop within the Anglican Mission in America. As he spoke and as I have been contemplating on what it is that Jesus has done, I was struck by the grand but simple nature of Christ's sacrifice. He brought salvation- grand, immense, unfathomable. Through forgiveness of sins-forgiveness-it is not complicated or chaotic. It's simple. Profound, yes. Complicated, no. 

I recognize how complicated I make things. I think and think and think and consider until the circumstance is dead. Can you identify? A dear friend recently reminded me of this habit I have. And tonight, as I was listening to a short sermon from Erilynne Barnum, she said "When we don't understand something, we attempt to exert control over it." That sounds so complicated to me! And it is. This habit of pulling things apart, and then trying to put them back in to place is 1) not my job, 2) not fruitful. It leaves me obsessed with something else other than life. Other than truth. Other than Christ. Which leads me to the point of this entry... 

Tonight, I was thinking about how to do this Christian life. The list can get pretty long, can't it? We focus on not saying this; not doing that; being this way and so on. But as I listened to the words of this Bishop, combined with several seeds of planted thought, a refreshing truth came over me. The Bishop said, "Fix your eyes on Jesus means focus closely on Jesus." Focus closely, don't allow anything to sidetrack us or distract us. And then I realized how simple that is: the concept of focusing on someone. I am capable of focusing on an individual's character, responses, thought processes. I've done it numerous times in this life. So focus on Jesus. Learn His ways, meditate on His character. Learn who He is through serving- as He served in John 13. 

Why do I do this? Because in Him is life, freedom, simplicity. Did I mention freedom? I've never been one who loves drama. My preference is a relationship in which I can be completely myself. I have the freedom to be forthright, open, not coy. Real. Drama is complicated; manipulation is deceiving. And it's tiresome. Focusing closely on Jesus demands simplicity in thought, grace in words, and love in action. 

I was singing this song tonight- one I've sung multiple times. Here are the 2 lines that stuck out:

Take my hands and let them move at the impulse of Thy love. 

In each movement, action...moving at the impulse of the Love of God. Think about that for a second. That takes radical focusing on Christ- knowing how He loves (fully and perfectly). I know that prayer, when I sing, is one that I've yet to understand. Lord, let each movement I make, each action, be one filled with Your pure love. Wow. 

Take my lips and let them be filled with messages from Thee.

Another big one. I think about the stuff that comes out of my mouth on a regular basis. Yikes. So, Lord, may each sentence that comes from my mouth be from Your word. Again, wow. 

Both of those prayers take a knee-bent, eyes-lifted approach to the Throne. And the only way to do this, is through knowing Him, thus, knowing His word. I've spent too much time away from Him lately (translated: I've not been reading His word faithfully), and it's shown. 

So, for those of you who read this, I'd like you to take up a challenge with me. For the next 30 days (May 10), read 1 verse/passage of Scripture in the morning, with the specific intention of focusing closely on our Savior. Fixing our eyes. That simplicity of Christ, this refreshing simplicity reminds us of what He has done for us-thus, who we are. We are made in need of a Savior. That we might know Him...what Life will come.

"He leads the humble in what is right and teaches the humble his way. All the paths of the Lord are steadfast love and faithfulness for those who keep his covenant and his testimonies."~Psalm 25:9-10. 

Such Love, Such Grace, Such Life

"The Lord is far from the wicked, but he hears the prayers of the righteous. The light of the eyes rejoices the heart, and good news refreshes the bones. The ear that listens to life-giving reproof will dwell among the wise."~ Proverbs 15:29-31

My dear friends, I wanted to write to you this evening to share with you the wonder that was this day in my life. I have experience such the sweet presence and blessing of the Almighty God today- his blessings are abounding. 

I had my ninth surgery today on my ears. For those of you who may not know, I was born with a deformity that meant I was without middle ears and had unformed outer ears. Since 1992, I've had nine surgeries in effort to repair this. Needless to say, it has been quite the process. I've had the incredible blessing of being surrounded with powerful prayer warriors and church family who have devoted themselves to loving me in and through this. In addition, God provided access to the absolute best doctors in the field, ensuring that these procedures were done excellently. My life story, in this regard, is filled with blessing and provision. 

Today was the first surgery I had as an adult. It was a different experience, of course, as the surgeon addressed me, rather than my parents, I had to sign the papers, the surgery was my decision. This entire past weekend/week has been saturated with brutal attacks from the enemy. He's been relentless in effort to discourage and distract me from this circumstance. Even yesterday, during the first pre-operative appointment, my family and I met with the previous surgeon (he did the last 3 surgeries), who has since retired. The actual surgeon was unable, at the time, to meet with us, which gave great tension to both my parents and me. Sparing details, we left that appointment emotionally distraught, tense with each other, and discouraged. However, later that evening, the actual surgeon made time to meet with us, describing the actual procedure, allowing me to fully understand what was going on. Peace began to come. 

The surgery was scheduled at 12pm this afternoon. Prior to checking in, a family friend met us in the lobby of the hospital and shared with me that she had had vision. She saw the glory of the Lord encircling my head, recognizing that the Lord's protection and power was (and is!) present. Blessing #1 of the day. After getting up to the waiting room, I had some time with my parents, talking with them about all of this. Blessing #2. But after the IV nurse came in, the reality of the procedure set in. I began to sadden as I recognized that this was really going to happen. It's tough stuff-never fun. Tears poured down. But as if on cue (Blessing #3), two dear family friends- my second set of parents, if you will, came into the room. Mark came over, anointed me with oil, placed his hands on my head, and began to pray. He shared that in his dreams the night before, he saw Jesus with his hands over a man's ears speaking Aramaic, "Be open".  As we waited for the doctors and anesthesiology team, Mark began stroking my hair (a great source of comfort for me) and we all began to talk. Mark and Yolie are children of joy and laughter, which began to fill the room. So when the other physicians came in, I was in such a place of joy and peace. The sadness and mourning had left, replaced by the Holy Spirit's presence in His people. 

I woke up around 6pm, after being in recovery for an hour. I was groggy, of course, but I realized I felt very different than the prior 8 times. My throat was dry, but not in pain, my head wasn't throbbing, and I wasn't nauseous. Within 20 minutes of being "awake", I asked the nurse if I could use the toilet, rather than the typical bedpan. She was surprised, but wheeled me to the restroom, which I used with ease. Over the course of the next hour, the groggy feeling completely left. I drank 3 cans of ginger ale, used the bathroom again, and ate crackers with no problem. And again, no pain, no nausea, and I was completely coherent. The surgeon came to meet me around 7:30 and told me, based on the way I was looking and feeling, that I could go back to the hotel! I know this may not seem phenomenal, but this was the FIRST time in the 18 years of surgical experience that I had this option. I would always stay the night to monitor pain and nausea. It's about 1AM right now, and I feel wonderful. I ate a full dinner (complete with coffee ice cream!) and have been able to walk around with no dizziness or pain. Miraculous. 

My heart is overflowing, right now. I can't really explain with words the peace and joy that has come with this day. But, I know that this whole process serves as testimony to the greatness of my God. I pray that in your struggles and the frustrating times, you would see them as preparations for great joys set before you. It is so easy (and I know this!) to get bogged down by the harsh reality of the enemy and his despicable attempts to destroy children of God. But it is just not possible when we are in the strength of Yahweh. 

This song has been the echo of my heart today. I pray it blesses you as it has me. 

With love and such rich joy,

Lily

Victory

"When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written:

'Death is swallowed up in victory.'

'O death, where is your victory?
O death, where is your sting?'

The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."~ 1 Corinthians 15:54-57

When the perishable puts on the imperishable...death is swallowed up in victory. When we receive the power of the Lord through His resurrection, the sting of death and sin no longer holds us. I love the image of "swallowed up". Death has not chance in the battle of death and victory and Jesus demonstrated this when he rose in power.

Something that has resonated with me recently is the reality of the battle we fight against an active enemy. Looking at Job, we see an evil destroyer, that I believe we tend to disregard in our daily lives. Just think about it for a second. He is deceitful...and good at it. He's mastered deceit in such a way that we forget he hates us. I forget he hates me. I'll find myself battling against temptation, apathy, laziness, questioning where this is all coming from, reaching a conclusion that I have to draw more lines, set more boundaries, write more laws to conquer this circumstance-as if I am a conqueror on my own (Romans 8:37).

But the way to defeat this, is to recognize and worship the King. In the power of the Holy Spirit- in the self-control He provides, cut off the sin that entangles and immediately turn to worship the Lord. It is in Him that we have power, in Him we have life, and in Him all find rest. There is mighty power in the name of Jesus Christ.

The mighty God, our Father, our Savior, and King, has conquered and defeated our enemy. It is finished...end of story. And we have access to that through Jesus Christ. Recognize the presence of an enemy, rebuke it in the name of Jesus, and then rejoice in the power of victory!

Choosing freedom...and walking in it

*I previously wrote a post on this passage, but after some very interesting thought, I choose to revisit it.*

"And there was a woman who had had a disabling spirit for eighteen years. She was bent over and could not fully straighten herself. When Jesus saw her, he called her over and said to her, 'Woman, you are freed from your disability.' And he laid his hands on her and immediately she was made straight, and she glorified God."~Luke 13:11-13

This story mirrors the joy of freedom in finding our identity in Christ. When I think of how the Lord has touched my life, setting me free of "disabling spirits" which have so crippled my very day-to-day process, I'm brought to a place of awe. 

Not too long ago, my Bible study had a discussion about this very passage. I posed the following question. "What if you were there that day when this lady was healed and then a few months later, saw her bent over once again in the streets? What would you say to her?" The responses were as expected, "Why are you not walking as a healed woman? Don't you know that Jesus healed you? I saw it with my own eyes!" Take the circumstance now and make it analogous to our own lives. As Christians, we are set free from that which held us captive. We can walk straight. However, disability can be comfortable, can it not? Maybe that woman was used to the bent over way of life. I mean seriously, think of the implications. Healing is life changing/altering and from the little that I know of human nature, we are generally change averse. 

I was sitting in my strategic management class today and my professor drew out this complex theory of the process of problem solving. The individual responsible for this model had considered so many areas of this process-he highlighted the implied nature of outcomes, the importance of perspective, and the relationship between administrators and the value they produce. However, he did all of this under the assumption that the individuals operating within this model are 1) rational 2) willing to fulfill their roles as citizens in considering the public good and 3) value focused.  Have you met an individual, including yourself, who is perfectly rational, chooses greater value over lesser value in terms of the "whole" and actually is living their life under the general question of "how can I make things better for others"? I am not this way and I have yet to meet someone who is perfectly this way. We, as humans, do not act within our own self interest, really, because we have no idea what that really is! 

And this is not depressing, but so incredibly liberating! Because if we recognize this fact, we begin to look outside ourselves and find that in Christ, through the power of the Holy Spirit, is found what is best. And we are given instructions on how to walk in that in Scripture. Simply put, God glorified is what is in our best interest. Walking straight is in our best interest. The woman glorified God. She knew her healing had come not from herself-she could not make herself walk straight, but it came from Christ, the Savior and Redeemer. 

Continuing in this healing is a simple, but multi-level process. First, know your God. The more we discover about His character, the more it brings us to our knees in worship. The less we understand about Him, the more prone we are to once again becoming our own "savior". Pursue Him through the reading scripture, prayer, worship, and discipleship. Second, surround yourself with individuals who know of your healing and can testify to His work in your life. That family of fellowship allows for encouragement when it seems more comfortable/makes more "sense" to go back to what you know. And third, rejoice. Actually take the time to praise Him for who He is. 

Choosing this healing demands life change, but much like the joy that accompanied Pilgrim in John Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress when the load was loosed from His back, that change brings with it a life that is "Life indeed". 

Come Adore

“Thus says the Lord God: On the day that I cleanse you from all your iniquities, I will cause the cities to be inhabited, and the waste places shall be rebuilt. And the land that was desolate shall be tilled, instead of being the desolation that it was in the sight of all who passed by. And they will say, ‘This land that was desolate has become like the garden of Eden, and the waste and desolate and ruined cities are now fortified and inhabited.’ Then the nations that are left all around you shall know that I am the Lord; I have rebuilt the ruined places and replanted that which was desolate. I am the Lord; I have spoken, and I will do it."~Ezekiel 36:33-36

Merry Christmas! Allow me to provide you some options on how to celebrate it well.

1. Angel Tree-give Christmas to a child
2. Advent Conspiracy- give water to a village
3. Compassion International- give education/provision to a child
4. Opportunity International- give resources to an entrepreneuer in a developing country
5. Rescue Missions- go serve

These are just 5...but I think you get the idea.

Three Things

First:

There is a holiness to the name of God. I can actually see how frequently in my life I've forgotten this. His will is holy. Something else I forget. You see, often I'm that person that says "God has shown me..." or "The Lord has directed me..." and it has become a means by which I keep people out of my business. It's this safeguard, if you will. It has become quite convenient in my decision-making process. I simply stamp that statement on my explanation as if to convince myself and those to whom I'm speaking that I have this all figured out...and it's from God...so it's right. But I'm learning something. This has become a dangerous habit. Not only does it not require me to convey my true feelings about something, but it doesn't allow people to really see me, or guide me. It's rebellion.

I used it recently to end a relationship I was in. "God wants me to let you go." When the reality of the circumstance was that time, distance, and other barriers were not permitting us to grow together. We can't force something to work that isn't. Right? So yes, God gave me the brain to observe, think and see that something needed to change. But I took it from there and made it this emotionally charged "spiritual sacrifice". I was seeking to fix this unrest in my spirit. And I did not want to be wrong. So put the "God-stamp" on it. And it resulted in what I sought after, but with much less ease and grace. Action brings peace right?! Of course not. God brings peace-in His time-in His will. And peace is not emotional.

My pastor, in his book "Never Silent" tells the story of walking on the beach with his wife. They had just moved to a different state and "realized" they had disobeyed God. How did they realize this? They had no peace with the direction. Sometimes that merits trying doors, but other times, I believe God stirs our spirits in order to keep us alert. As it turned out, they were there in the very place where a mighty work began to establish truth in the church. It just did not look the way they expected it to.

If you look through the Psalms, David is VERY honest with God about his emotions. He bares all. And in that, He is able to see God's character-beyond his pain. He can see that God is faithful-and has been faithful. He doesn't use a sugar-coated phrase of "God just has me in a humbling place right now". No, he mourns, cries out. As did Jesus. So today I'm confused, overwhelmed, sad, and seeking. I'm functioning.

Second:

Buffering my convictions based on the response of other people is NOT the way to live. It only drowns out your ability to know what you truly believe and feel about a circumstance. Only then can we really bring this stuff to God. I've not had a huge problem with confrontation in my life. Most people who know me know that I'm bold-when it comes to others. It's a very plank-speck concept. But it has begun to take root in the way I express myself-or rather, the way I do not. It stems from a fear of rejection- a sick a habitual mindset that keeps me from actually stating what my heart feels. My agendas and emotions are coated in practical logic, action oriented thought and people-pleasing words. The approval of others, without even knowing it, has become something I thrive on. Again this past break-up serves as a wonderful example.

I came back from Mexico immediately met with the responses of people in my life. Some were extremely supportive of my decision, others sad, others still had their own responses. This is to be expected. But the problem was that in the whole sweep of returning, I forgot to actually take the time to think about how I felt about it. How can I pray about something if I don't know where I stand on the issue? Even if it is a place of confusion? In this, it is SO important to really take the time to own where you are on a matter of the heart. Because from that comes honest prayer. I haven't been able to "figure anything out" or come to some great epiphany, but I have been able to have a conversation with the Lord about it. And it has been me and Him.

Third:

My life is richly blessed...and I forget it every day. This evening, I was frustrated because I forgot to buy a toothbrush earlier. I begrudgingly put on my coat and made my way toward the store, but something came over me as I walked through the glass doors. I collected the items I needed and made my way to the cash register where a woman was checking out. I had a few heavier things I was unloading and saw that she had her purchases divided up into multiple purchases. And then I saw the food stamp checks. She had a few bottles of baby juice, 9 cans of formula, milk, a carton of eggs, some baby snacks, 2 packages of cheap meat and not much else. I watched her grace. She wasn't the typical image associated with food stamps. Problems kept happening with the machine, but she just smiled and gracefully apologized for the wait. I kept assuring her I didn't mind. During one of the delays, I asked her where she was from. She smiled and said "Afghanistan".

I checked out, swiped my card, went to my car, and drove home to a heated apartment- overwhelmed that I had $35 to spend on "stuff to pack for lunch". It's not a guilt thing. We have blessings and should receive and be grateful to the Lord for them. But it is so important to remember what He has provided.

Know that you are blessed.