Beauty. It is in the eye of the beholder. Right?
How is it that everywhere we turn there is another definition of beauty. How to become beautiful, how to create it, define it, embody it, admire it, what qualifies and what does not, and who determines who or what is beautiful.
In our Western culture, sometimes I think all those media messages, advertisements, magazine photos, television commercials, and movies grate on our souls, lying to us. And when we are continually bombarded by these lies, how can we not let them infiltrate our lives? Our thoughts? Our actions? and even our hearts.
I think that Christ would define beauty as within. A creation of His who is seeking His face, being transformed daily into the likeness of our Savior. Letting Him come in and slowly start to peel away the layers that we have so adamantly placed over our hearts. And as he uncovers one layer, and another, and yet even another...underneath all of that - is the truth. The truth of who we are, of WHO defines us, where our identity lies, how lovely we truly are and finally, the beauty of our soul shines.
We are alive. Breathing. At rest in our souls. Home. Loving all we meet. Graceful. Speaking truth and kindess to others. Healing. We are who we were always meant to be. Beautiful, Worshipful, Adoring Creations of the King. Glorifying Him, Serving Him, and Loving Him as we walk out our journey on this earth.
Let us never forget who we are. The incredible and difficult calling on our lives. The deep, intimate communion with our Father. Carrying, walking alongside, loving our brothers and sisters - and praying for them continually! We are embarking on this journey together, as a team, a strong, capable, passionate, loving body. Let's look like it. Each and every day. No matter the struggle, the pain, the resistance, the weariness, let us press on towards the high calling and LIVE this life admirably, serving our King.
My heart desires each one of yours to awaken. To be ignited by the refining fire of the Lord. To hear His Voice for yourself. To bask in His beauty and glory. To accept all the LOVE that Jesus wants to bestown upon and in and through you. Let the King romance you. And be amazed.
Blessings for a lovely weekend!
Friday, January 21, 2011
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Know you are LOVED.
Hello dear friends.
A new day. Bright and sunny, fresh and clean. What will it hold? Only God knows.
I do know that each, and every day I am surprised by something. It may be small, it may be big, but nonetheless it happens.
Yesterday, I was talking with a friend, and they said to me, "Just know that you are loved."
Huh. KNOW that you are LOVED. That speaks volumes, doesn't it? I thought so. Even in a friendship sort of way, it was comforting, kind, and lovely.
So, my dear friends, I will say to you what that friend said to me - KNOW that you ARE LoVeD!
Not just by me, but by the King of Kings. He desires to romance each and every one of us...all day, everyday. All we have to do is LET Him.
I was reading "Captivating" on the bus this morning, and in it she said that there is a space in God's heart that only an individual (YOU!) can fill. Did you realize that? Just as much as we need to experience and know to our depths the intimate love of Jesus, He also, needs to know that we desire and want Him.
There's the thought for your day...to strike a chord in your spirit in the middle of the week. Wednesday. enJoy the simple things. Stop. Breathe. Be. Rest in the Lord. Experience Beauty!
Every day that I am alive, I learn more, grow more, and experience more of life. It is a beautiful thing. I am so grateful to be here now. Here in this City, living with two wonderful roommates, in a growing, thriving, life-giving church, and in a job. I mean, I don't love my job by any means, but I am thankful that I have one and that it pays the bills. That is provision for now. And so, I will learn to be content and take one day at a time...moment by moment.
Until we see each other again...
A new day. Bright and sunny, fresh and clean. What will it hold? Only God knows.
I do know that each, and every day I am surprised by something. It may be small, it may be big, but nonetheless it happens.
Yesterday, I was talking with a friend, and they said to me, "Just know that you are loved."
Huh. KNOW that you are LOVED. That speaks volumes, doesn't it? I thought so. Even in a friendship sort of way, it was comforting, kind, and lovely.
So, my dear friends, I will say to you what that friend said to me - KNOW that you ARE LoVeD!
Not just by me, but by the King of Kings. He desires to romance each and every one of us...all day, everyday. All we have to do is LET Him.
I was reading "Captivating" on the bus this morning, and in it she said that there is a space in God's heart that only an individual (YOU!) can fill. Did you realize that? Just as much as we need to experience and know to our depths the intimate love of Jesus, He also, needs to know that we desire and want Him.
There's the thought for your day...to strike a chord in your spirit in the middle of the week. Wednesday. enJoy the simple things. Stop. Breathe. Be. Rest in the Lord. Experience Beauty!
Every day that I am alive, I learn more, grow more, and experience more of life. It is a beautiful thing. I am so grateful to be here now. Here in this City, living with two wonderful roommates, in a growing, thriving, life-giving church, and in a job. I mean, I don't love my job by any means, but I am thankful that I have one and that it pays the bills. That is provision for now. And so, I will learn to be content and take one day at a time...moment by moment.
Until we see each other again...
Monday, January 17, 2011
Middle of January
A new day. A holiday - Martin Luther King Jr. day. Or if you live in Virginia, they celebrate Lee Jackson day. Interesting.
Can you believe we're already into the middle of January? 2011 is in full swing. A brand spanking new year. How is yours going so far? Mine has been full.
Last weekend I celebrated my 24th birthday with friends from here. On Saturday afternoon I went bowling with some friends from church - we had a blast! My top score was 111. Not bad.
In the evening, I went out to eat with my roommates and a friend from Bible Study, we went to Olive Garden and it was delightful. Truly lovely. I am so thankful for friends.
To be honest, I don't quite remember where I was at in my story of life here, so I'm just going to jump into the present. If you have questions or wonder what happened after the previous post, feel free to ask...and I'll fill you in on the scoop.
Well, I'm still working as an admin assistant, and thankfully have stuff to do at work for a nice change. A lot of stuff will be changing here soon; after it occurs, then I'll be able to talk about it. Until then, just know lots of "changes" are in order, which always means that I have to be flexible and breathe. It really doesn't pay to let things get to me, so I try and just let them slide off me like a slimy worm. Some days I succeed, and others I just end up getting frustrated. Ah, well, we all try to be better, right? Each day, brings a new opportunity to be more patient, understanding, and laid back about my workplace and really...life in general.
Last Friday I went ice-skating at the Sculpture Garden in D.C. It was truly lovely. I'd never been ice-skating in the "open air". Quite nice, really. We had a beautiful view of the Archives in front of us and it was surrounded with lights. Ah, how invigorating to skate in the cold, night air under the stars above. Some day I'll purchase a camera charger for my digital one and post some photos...until then, I'm pretty much camera-less.
That's all the inspiration I have to share today. But I will leave you with this thought.
How much differently would you live if you were consciously aware that Jesus is right NEXT to you? Because if you know the Lord, the Holy Spirit lives inside of YOU, which means He's there in every moment, every thought, every action.
Just a thought. And there's something else too - every action you make in this world affects the spiritual realm. Wow. Pretty powerful stuff.
Have a lovely week, all! Until next time...
Can you believe we're already into the middle of January? 2011 is in full swing. A brand spanking new year. How is yours going so far? Mine has been full.
Last weekend I celebrated my 24th birthday with friends from here. On Saturday afternoon I went bowling with some friends from church - we had a blast! My top score was 111. Not bad.
In the evening, I went out to eat with my roommates and a friend from Bible Study, we went to Olive Garden and it was delightful. Truly lovely. I am so thankful for friends.
To be honest, I don't quite remember where I was at in my story of life here, so I'm just going to jump into the present. If you have questions or wonder what happened after the previous post, feel free to ask...and I'll fill you in on the scoop.
Well, I'm still working as an admin assistant, and thankfully have stuff to do at work for a nice change. A lot of stuff will be changing here soon; after it occurs, then I'll be able to talk about it. Until then, just know lots of "changes" are in order, which always means that I have to be flexible and breathe. It really doesn't pay to let things get to me, so I try and just let them slide off me like a slimy worm. Some days I succeed, and others I just end up getting frustrated. Ah, well, we all try to be better, right? Each day, brings a new opportunity to be more patient, understanding, and laid back about my workplace and really...life in general.
Last Friday I went ice-skating at the Sculpture Garden in D.C. It was truly lovely. I'd never been ice-skating in the "open air". Quite nice, really. We had a beautiful view of the Archives in front of us and it was surrounded with lights. Ah, how invigorating to skate in the cold, night air under the stars above. Some day I'll purchase a camera charger for my digital one and post some photos...until then, I'm pretty much camera-less.
That's all the inspiration I have to share today. But I will leave you with this thought.
How much differently would you live if you were consciously aware that Jesus is right NEXT to you? Because if you know the Lord, the Holy Spirit lives inside of YOU, which means He's there in every moment, every thought, every action.
Just a thought. And there's something else too - every action you make in this world affects the spiritual realm. Wow. Pretty powerful stuff.
Have a lovely week, all! Until next time...
Sunday, January 9, 2011
Hello again...
Hi there!
I have neglected writing on my blog for about hm...5-6 months, now? Oh, life has a way of weaving in and out in such a way that I chose not to publish or broadcast on the net. Thus, I completely avoided this blog - and partly on purpose.
Whenever life becomes a bit crazy in my life - you know things happen that I do not expect or do not see the end in site or the purpose of whatever small crisis I might be going through...or living in, I tend to put my arm up with my hand spread wide communicating - please, I need space. Distance. Time to think and be.
And so, in those times and seasons in my life, I hide. Strange, right? Outgoing, friendly, talkative Tina NOT talking? Well, it's true. For about a month and a half after I came back to DC, life was hard. And I didn't call my close girlfriends or write emails or texts or facebook messages. I just dealt with it, prayed, cried, talked to my parents and the people directly in my space...and eventually came out on the other side.
After I found a place to live, a job, and life fell into a rhythm, I failed to update all of you lovely people who read this during my internship...and for that I am a little bit sorry. ;) Hope you can take this post today as my "hope" to be better at keeping and staying in touch. One of my New Year's Resolutions is to publicly post on my blog here at least once a month, if not twice a month (preferrably once every 2 week).
So - time will tell. :) Okay - now that I've cleared up this little abscence, let me update you on life in the City for me. First of all, I LOVE it here! This IS definitly the place that I will be for...hopefully forever. I want to meet the man whom I will partner with for life, have kids with him, raise a godly family, work and live in the DC Metro area. I want to build a life here and set down roots deeply. :) This is the place and space that God has called me to, and I am ever so much at peace living and working here.
Is it everything I dreamed of in the 4 years that I wanted to move here? No...but life never turns out the way that I plan it or dream it up to be! Because life is not perfect. It's good and messy and lovely and painful all at the same time. I don't think I'd have it any other way. However, I have grown a lot since moving here, definitly feel older, and know the heart of my Lord Jesus much deeper and better than I have ever known Him before. Life is overachingly and generally good.
It ends up the job I thought I "had" when I flew back to Kansas for one of my close college girlfriend's wedding, I did not get. It was a position as an Admin Assistant at an international financial banking firm with a branch office located in NW DC. Thus, when I came back to DC and stayed with about, oh 4 different couples/single people from my church I furiously hunted for a job and a place to live. After the 3rd week, I discovered an Admin Assistant (AA) posting on a Christian church's job forum. I applied to it (among tons of other job postings) and received a call from them. That Thursday that the previous AA called, they asked me to come in for an interview the same day. I met with two of the engineers from the civil engineering firm located in Fairfax, VA. The interview went well, and the pay they discussed was lower than I had wanted for a job while living in the District, but it was a job.
About 4 days after my interview and a turbulent weekend, I received a phone call from them offering me the job, and hoping that I could start that week on Friday. I accepted after negotiating some paid commuting benefits, and received my one day of training on that Friday from the previous Admin Assistant. The week between finding out I had a job (Praise God! Yay!), I started calling and setting up appointments with various places in the NOVA (Northern Virginia) area. One of the ladies in my community graciously offered to take me around to the different townhouses and houses to search out these "potential homes" where I would rent and live with other roommates. There was one that stuck out to the both of us located in Annandale, VA. It's a town away from my job - and there are two lovely ladies (both older than I) who both know the Lord that I share the townhouse space.
Whew! There you have it. I'm working as an Admin Assistant in Fairfax at a small civil engineering firm comprised of 5 men. We share an office space with another company - a survey company. I answer the phones for both companies and do a little filing for ASI (Alexandria Surveys International - back office co.) and then do random other projects and copying for the company I am employed by. In total we have 11 people (including me) in the office...both companies combined. Even though, I would rather be working back on Capitol Hill or gaining some insight/experience in a law firm my job is good. For now, I see it as a stepping stone to the desired position, a place to grow, and truly a kind working environment. God knew what I needed. A fairly stress-free workplace where I have a lot of flexibility with time. I do not have to worry about coming into work and having people scream because they are upset at whatever is not going right with business or even with work that I am doing. That is a good thing! There are many more stressful places I could be, but I am not. And for that, I am grateful. Thankful for a supervisor who cares about me, my well-being, and who thinks I am doing a good job at my position. Most of the guys are cordial and professional, so it is good. Coming and going to work has been a process!
When I first started, I discovered that with public transportation (which I use frequently b/c of the absence of a car) it would take me 1.5 hrs going to work and 2 hr coming home. Not to mention switching buses 3 times on the way there and home! I did not realize that when I moved to this place...but see it's only a 20 minute drive, so I figured it wouldn't be too much longer taking buses. Boy, was I ever wrong! That's okay, though. The time commuting is used listening to my ipod, applying makeup (if I woke up a little late), reading books, journaling, talking to God, gazing out the window and watching the sunrise, and occassionally trying to talk to people around me. Trying? Yes. I would say that 85% of the people who ride the buses around this area are either Hispanic, Indian, and Korean. That would mean that only 15% or less speak English. Really? Yes - I thought that most Hispanic people would speak both English & Spanish. Eh, after hearing "No english, only espanole'" ...oh, 5 - 12 times, I kinda gave up trying! I took about 2 years of Spanish back in high school and only remember a few phrases. So, whenever a black or white person boards the bus, I secretly get excited, thinking, "I can TALK to that person!". :) Sometimes I choose not to, but the possibility is there - and that is ever so refreshing!
This post is probably increasingly long by now...so I'll save the rest til next time. Happy 2011, dear friends and thank you for caring enough to pray, call, email, send cards, and just be you! Thank you to all who sent Christmas and birthday cards and/or who took time to have breakfast, lunch, dinner, coffee, drinks, or just hang out with over the short time I had in Kansas. Now - to all of you who I did not see while visiting over the time I was there from Christmas to New Years - my apologies. It was not intentional...there just was not enough time in the day for me to see more people...truly! Even if we had talked (via the phone) about getting together while I was there...I did not have any free time. For real. So - if you want to "catch up" next time I have a bit of time in Kansas, please let me know in some form (text, call, email, facebook message, etc.) and I will make sure that YOU are one that I DO spend time with (however long or short as time allows) while visiting. Okay? :)
Well - may this be a wonderful year with a bright, fresh, clean start! Dream big. Lives will change. God will show up in our lives in ways we never expected, imagined, anticipated, or dreamed possible. And of course, we'll continue to carry one another in our hearts as we journey through this land.
Until next time...
Tina Lou
I have neglected writing on my blog for about hm...5-6 months, now? Oh, life has a way of weaving in and out in such a way that I chose not to publish or broadcast on the net. Thus, I completely avoided this blog - and partly on purpose.
Whenever life becomes a bit crazy in my life - you know things happen that I do not expect or do not see the end in site or the purpose of whatever small crisis I might be going through...or living in, I tend to put my arm up with my hand spread wide communicating - please, I need space. Distance. Time to think and be.
And so, in those times and seasons in my life, I hide. Strange, right? Outgoing, friendly, talkative Tina NOT talking? Well, it's true. For about a month and a half after I came back to DC, life was hard. And I didn't call my close girlfriends or write emails or texts or facebook messages. I just dealt with it, prayed, cried, talked to my parents and the people directly in my space...and eventually came out on the other side.
After I found a place to live, a job, and life fell into a rhythm, I failed to update all of you lovely people who read this during my internship...and for that I am a little bit sorry. ;) Hope you can take this post today as my "hope" to be better at keeping and staying in touch. One of my New Year's Resolutions is to publicly post on my blog here at least once a month, if not twice a month (preferrably once every 2 week).
So - time will tell. :) Okay - now that I've cleared up this little abscence, let me update you on life in the City for me. First of all, I LOVE it here! This IS definitly the place that I will be for...hopefully forever. I want to meet the man whom I will partner with for life, have kids with him, raise a godly family, work and live in the DC Metro area. I want to build a life here and set down roots deeply. :) This is the place and space that God has called me to, and I am ever so much at peace living and working here.
Is it everything I dreamed of in the 4 years that I wanted to move here? No...but life never turns out the way that I plan it or dream it up to be! Because life is not perfect. It's good and messy and lovely and painful all at the same time. I don't think I'd have it any other way. However, I have grown a lot since moving here, definitly feel older, and know the heart of my Lord Jesus much deeper and better than I have ever known Him before. Life is overachingly and generally good.
It ends up the job I thought I "had" when I flew back to Kansas for one of my close college girlfriend's wedding, I did not get. It was a position as an Admin Assistant at an international financial banking firm with a branch office located in NW DC. Thus, when I came back to DC and stayed with about, oh 4 different couples/single people from my church I furiously hunted for a job and a place to live. After the 3rd week, I discovered an Admin Assistant (AA) posting on a Christian church's job forum. I applied to it (among tons of other job postings) and received a call from them. That Thursday that the previous AA called, they asked me to come in for an interview the same day. I met with two of the engineers from the civil engineering firm located in Fairfax, VA. The interview went well, and the pay they discussed was lower than I had wanted for a job while living in the District, but it was a job.
About 4 days after my interview and a turbulent weekend, I received a phone call from them offering me the job, and hoping that I could start that week on Friday. I accepted after negotiating some paid commuting benefits, and received my one day of training on that Friday from the previous Admin Assistant. The week between finding out I had a job (Praise God! Yay!), I started calling and setting up appointments with various places in the NOVA (Northern Virginia) area. One of the ladies in my community graciously offered to take me around to the different townhouses and houses to search out these "potential homes" where I would rent and live with other roommates. There was one that stuck out to the both of us located in Annandale, VA. It's a town away from my job - and there are two lovely ladies (both older than I) who both know the Lord that I share the townhouse space.
Whew! There you have it. I'm working as an Admin Assistant in Fairfax at a small civil engineering firm comprised of 5 men. We share an office space with another company - a survey company. I answer the phones for both companies and do a little filing for ASI (Alexandria Surveys International - back office co.) and then do random other projects and copying for the company I am employed by. In total we have 11 people (including me) in the office...both companies combined. Even though, I would rather be working back on Capitol Hill or gaining some insight/experience in a law firm my job is good. For now, I see it as a stepping stone to the desired position, a place to grow, and truly a kind working environment. God knew what I needed. A fairly stress-free workplace where I have a lot of flexibility with time. I do not have to worry about coming into work and having people scream because they are upset at whatever is not going right with business or even with work that I am doing. That is a good thing! There are many more stressful places I could be, but I am not. And for that, I am grateful. Thankful for a supervisor who cares about me, my well-being, and who thinks I am doing a good job at my position. Most of the guys are cordial and professional, so it is good. Coming and going to work has been a process!
When I first started, I discovered that with public transportation (which I use frequently b/c of the absence of a car) it would take me 1.5 hrs going to work and 2 hr coming home. Not to mention switching buses 3 times on the way there and home! I did not realize that when I moved to this place...but see it's only a 20 minute drive, so I figured it wouldn't be too much longer taking buses. Boy, was I ever wrong! That's okay, though. The time commuting is used listening to my ipod, applying makeup (if I woke up a little late), reading books, journaling, talking to God, gazing out the window and watching the sunrise, and occassionally trying to talk to people around me. Trying? Yes. I would say that 85% of the people who ride the buses around this area are either Hispanic, Indian, and Korean. That would mean that only 15% or less speak English. Really? Yes - I thought that most Hispanic people would speak both English & Spanish. Eh, after hearing "No english, only espanole'" ...oh, 5 - 12 times, I kinda gave up trying! I took about 2 years of Spanish back in high school and only remember a few phrases. So, whenever a black or white person boards the bus, I secretly get excited, thinking, "I can TALK to that person!". :) Sometimes I choose not to, but the possibility is there - and that is ever so refreshing!
This post is probably increasingly long by now...so I'll save the rest til next time. Happy 2011, dear friends and thank you for caring enough to pray, call, email, send cards, and just be you! Thank you to all who sent Christmas and birthday cards and/or who took time to have breakfast, lunch, dinner, coffee, drinks, or just hang out with over the short time I had in Kansas. Now - to all of you who I did not see while visiting over the time I was there from Christmas to New Years - my apologies. It was not intentional...there just was not enough time in the day for me to see more people...truly! Even if we had talked (via the phone) about getting together while I was there...I did not have any free time. For real. So - if you want to "catch up" next time I have a bit of time in Kansas, please let me know in some form (text, call, email, facebook message, etc.) and I will make sure that YOU are one that I DO spend time with (however long or short as time allows) while visiting. Okay? :)
Well - may this be a wonderful year with a bright, fresh, clean start! Dream big. Lives will change. God will show up in our lives in ways we never expected, imagined, anticipated, or dreamed possible. And of course, we'll continue to carry one another in our hearts as we journey through this land.
Until next time...
Tina Lou
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