Holiness Within? Really?

While reading chapter 11 in the book we are studying in our Small Group, “The Utter Relief of Holiness” a thought struck me that has been rolling around in my head since yesterday.  The Holy Spirit is given to us when we realize our sinfulness and accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior from sin.  (1 Corinthians 6:19–20   Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God?  You are not your own, for you were bought with a price.  So glorify God in your body.)   So if we have the Holy Spirit within we have all we need to be “holy.”  We don’t have to try or struggle to be holy.  It is already there we just have to understand how to use that holiness to its fullest potential.  As I thought about this the Lord showed me an easy to understand application of this concept.  I have a wonderful Nikon DSLR camera that I bought a few years ago with money that came to me from my grandmother’s estate.  It has all kinds of bells and whistles that I had no idea how to use but I thought I wanted to learn.  I started right away taking pictures in Auto Mode - my pictures are nice but I just felt like they could be so much more if I knew what “aperture” and “shutter priority” meant and If I understood about lighting and shadows and ISO (OH MY!) And what are all those other settings and symbols that came up on the screen? I had every intention of finding an online study or night class to learn how to use this wonderful camera.  I even bought a book for “Dummies” on how to use the DSLR camera.  Well skip ahead a couple years and I still have not learned how to use this camera. I am still stuck in Auto Mode.  My excuses? - time, money . . . name an excuse and I have probably used it.  Here I have this wonderful camera that has all the potential to help me take fantastic pictures – well at least much better than I have taken in the past – and I am not using it to its fullest potential because I have not learned how to use it.  I have seen photos taken by people who have taken the time to learn and study their camera and use it to its full potential and a lot of times these photos are so beautiful they take my breath away, or cause me to weep, or just draw me in and make me think deeply about them.  So I began to realize that my life can be a portrait of holiness if I learn to step out beyond “Auto Mode” and use the holiness given to me to its fullest potential.  But I can only do that by sitting at the feet of Jesus and learning and studying and understanding what holiness looks like and becoming more like Him, for He is Holy.  I need to put aside the excuses and make learning how to use the holiness within me a priority.   My heart-felt desire is to become so much like Him that when people look at me they don’t see me but they see Him and their breath is taken away, or they weep, or just think deeply about Him.

Am I Worth Dying for?

 Am I worth dying for? Several months ago when I was at the worst of my sciatica pain I was encouraged by a very dear friend who is knowledgeable in the understanding of pain and how it relates to our life experiences,  to say to myself, "I love and approve of myself."  Thinking positive and telling my self positive things would be good for my healing process.  For some strange reason I could not say those words out loud let alone to myself.  I was very uncomfortable in even thinking them.  This prompted me to begin to evaluate WHY I could not say those words.  It wasn't until recently that I was able to really process it and think it through.  I came to the conclusion that it sounded arrogant to me and I have always detested arrogance. I know me better than anyone else and I don't "love" or "approve" of a lot of the things I do or say or even think.   I tried to apply those words to what I know as a Christian and who I am in Christ.  I prayed about why saying those words was so distasteful to me.  This past Sunday in church we sang the song "Potters Hand" and on the screen was a picture of a potters hand shaping a vessel.  The words to the song are:

 Beautiful Lord, Wonderful savior I know for sure all of my days are held in your hands 
Crafted into your perfect plans

You gently called me into your presence Guiding me by Your Holy Spirit
Teach me dear Lord to live all of my life Through your eyes

I'm captured by your holy calling Set me apart. I know you're drawing me to yourself
lead me, Lord. I pray

Oh Take me, mold me, use me, fill me I give my life to the potter's hand
Oh Call me, guide me, lead me, walk beside me I give my life to the potter's hand

You gently call me into your presence Guiding me by your holy spirit
Teach me dear lord to live all of my life through your eyes

I'm captured by your holy calling Set me apart. I know you're drawing me to yourself
lead me, Lord. I pray

Oh Take me, mold me, use me, fill me I give my life to the potter's hand
Oh Call me, guide me, lead me, walk beside me I give my life to the potter's hand

This started the thought process all over again.  What I am - is being shaped and molded by the Potter.  All my experiences and trials are His doing to make me what He desires.  He loved me and died for me even though He knew what kind of a person I would be!  I still can't say those exact words, but I CAN say that because of Christ in me "I love what He is shaping me into" because now I feel that I am giving Him the credit - the ONLY thing that's good in me is Jesus.

Another step in this thought process was a prayer that I recently came across by Eleanor Roosevelt as she was thinking about our men and women in uniform that goes like this:

"Dear Lord, lest I continue in my complacent ways, help me to remember that someone died for me today. And if there be war, help to remember to ask and to answer, am I worth dying for." This got me thinking about all the service men and women that have died to protect my freedoms - I want to be worth dying for!  As I thought about this phrase "Am I worth dying for"  I was immediately reminded that the Lord DID lay down his life for me - HE thought I was worth dying for - soldiers die for my freedom, but the Lord died for my soul.

Thank you Lord for saving my soul, thank you Lord for making me whole, thank you Lord for giving to me Your great salvation so rich and free!

This is the day that the Lord has made

So I started my day out like every other day and got up and got in the shower.  Just as I was applying the shampoo to my hair the water slowed to a drizzle and then quit completely.  I got out, dried off and went to investigate the cause for this lack of water - and found out very quickly by looking out the window.  There in front of my driveway where a whole bunch of town trucks, backhoe, and lots of workers digging a really big hole!  Not sure what was going on but no water meant no shower and added into that equation was no getting my car out of the driveway - which meant an unexpected day off :)  So I called the Pastors and let them know that this Admin Assistant wouldn't be in today!  I decided to spend the day doing the things I enjoy and don't get a lot of time to do - like taking some pictures of the beautiful snowfall with my new camera, and uploading some pictures to Facebook, and coming up with some easy, kid friendly Christmas ornament ideas to make with my grandkids.  Oh yeah - and as you can see I am finally updating my blog.  I have added more pictures of my cards to file - you can see them by clicking on the link at the top of my blog page.  Soooo all that to say that the Lord had other plans for me today rather than going to work - so I am going to rejoice and give thanks because THIS is the day that the Lord has made - I will rejoice and be glad in it.  Even though now I  have no power and no water and my husband just let me know that he will be layed off at the end of this week - It is all good because "I have set the Lord always before me, because He is at my right hand I will not be shaken"  Psalm 16:8

Colossal Stamp Camp at TOBC

If anyone is interested in going to this Stamp Camp let me know! I went to the last one and it was SO much fun! You go home with lots of great new cards and ideas - and just about everyone takes home a door prize! Call me and I will get you registered - 761-9224 or 754-2144

Day Fourteen - June 10, 2011

The dreaded day has arrived.  I had set my alarm for 6:30 but was wide awake at 5:30 – I showered and snacked on the rest of the pineapple for breakfast.  Greg got up when he heard the garbage truck go by because he remembered he hadn’t put the garbage out last night!  We stuffed the last of our things in the suitcases – loaded up the convertible and headed out to the airport.  We returned the car and took the shuttle over to the airport.  Funny thing about security in Honolulu International airport – it is very relaxed!  They are more concerned that you don’t take anything agricultural back to the states than anything else!  The first thing you have to do is have your luggage screened for things you can’t take back to the states.  Once through there you head to the ticket counter – where a very relaxed and pleasant person helped to check our bags – one was overweight by 3 pounds and she said it was okay and let it through!!!  She printed our tickets and then explained in great detail how to use them all the way through to DC (like we had never flown before!)  That is the Hawaiian way – everything is so layed back and unhurried here.  Well the time has come to board our flight to LA.  We leave Hawaii at 12:30 p.m. and arrive in LA at 9:30 p.m. but only fly for 5 hours! 

Needless to say I cried silent tears as the flight took off – watching from my window as the beautiful mountains and the palm trees and the blues and greens of the ocean disappear from view was so hard.  I don’t remember the last time I felt as relaxed and at peace as I was while we were in Hawaii – I didn’t want that feeling to end.  The flight was uneventful and LONG!  We got into LA and had just enough time to grab a quick bite to eat and then find our next gate. Another 5 hour flight would get us into DC at 6:30 a.m.  This take off was a little more interesting than any we had experienced on this trip!  The flight was completely full and after all the standby people were on they closed the doors and left the terminal – we started to notice some “activity” amongst the flight attendants and they were quickly walking up and down the aisle with papers in hand and having quiet discussions – it seemed like something was not quite right.  Eventually we learned what all the fuss was about – someone had overbooked and given a seat to one too many standby passengers and there was no seat for them – yet we had already left the gate and were headed to the run-way.  We had to go back to the gate and open the doors and let off the one extra passenger!  After doing that we were now blocked in by a larger plane that according to our rather comical pilot had more engines than we did and took longer to start up.  We had to wait for that plane to take off and then were on our way -1 ½ hours late.  Greg and I were a little nervous because we had less than one hour in DC to catch our connecting flight to Binghamton.  Well they have ways of making up time in the air because we got to DC only 20 minutes late.  We found our gate and got a snack and boarded the flight for home.  Just outside of Binghamton the pilot gave the weather report for Binghamton which was “cloudy and overcast” . . . yep we were home – made me miss Hawaii soooo much more.  Mom and Dad met us at the airport with our car and we all stopped at Our Country Hearts for breakfast then headed home and back to reality!   Our trip was now a beautiful memory!

Day Twelve and Thirteen - June 8 & 9

Sharks Cove

 Our day snorkeling at Sharks Cove

Sharks Cove looking out to sea

one of the smaller pools at Sharks Cove

I got a little behind in my posts so I am including two days in this one.  

Day 12 - June 8, 2011

Today we decided to make a little more relaxed and close to home day.  We slept in a little later and then got up and headed over to Sharks cove to do some snorkeling. I enjoy these type of days because no primping is required!  You just run a brush through your hair, brush your teeth, put on your suit, grab your gear and towel and go!  I could get used to this!  We found that Sharks cove was mostly lava rock and little beach so we found a place to put down our things and slathered on the sun-screen and headed out to snorkel.  Sharks cove was quite different from Hanauma Bay in that there isn’t a lot of calm water to snorkel in.  I am not an experienced swimmer so I didn’t head out very far.  Sharks cove is made up of numerous piles of lava rock in between small pools of water.  When the tide goes out there are fish and other marine life that get caught in these pools.  Most are not deep so you can see all kinds of things in these pools.  I saw what looked like a rock in one pool – that is until it moved!  It was a crab that had taken up residence in what looked like a clam shell with all kinds of barnacles.  I watched it for quite a while.  Eventually I found a cove that was deep enough to swim in, yet calm with no waves.  That is more my style.  Greg and I snorkeled there for a long time – he got what we hope are some great underwater pictures.  I even swam for a while with a humuhumunukunukuapua’a!!!  Greg got some pictures of him- I hope they come out!  At one point we realized we were completely surrounded by a school of fish – they were about 4-5 inches long and silver.  I said to Greg if this was a movie – I would be freaked out right now!  But they were just curious and watching us – I think hoping maybe we would feed them.  They stayed with us for a long time.  We saw fish that were yellow, and blue, some that were striped, a black and orange one . . .so many fish!  I actually saw more fish here in Sharks cove than I did at Hanauma Bay!  We spent a couple hours just floating and watching what came our way.  I love snorkeling – it is so peaceful underwater.  When we were done – we walked up to the car and cleaned off and went up the hill to a place to get lunch.  It was what we used to call “a roach coach”  But these little food coaches have sprung up everywhere and you can get anything from shrimp, to chicken, to kalua, to smoothies at these coaches.  They are just old repurposed buses or food delivery trucks and they have been turned into roadside eaterys.  They are very popular here.  I had a kabob plate with teriyaki chicken, mushrooms, green pepper and onion along with rice and black beans.  Greg had a cheeseburger.  We sat and relaxed and fed the chickens our left overs.  That is another thing that fascinates me about the island – there are chickens, baby chicks, and roosters wandering everywhere!  Talk about your free range chicken!  After lunch we headed back to the cottage to succumb to the sleepiness that sunshine and swimming tend to bring on!  We took a nap and then I caught up on my reading while Greg wrote a report for the business meeting at church.  Greg grilled steaks for dinner and I made sweet corn, grilled mushrooms and a salad. 

Sunset on our beach

Day 13 – June 8, 2011

This morning while I was showering Greg headed back to the place we had eaten lunch at yesterday and picked up breakfast - a bowl of oatmeal with nuts and raisins for me and he got a breakfast sandwich and we each had a fruit smoothie to drink. Today was our last chance to pick up things at the swap meet so we headed out with our list in hand of soveniers to buy.  We also wanted to get some more Hawaiian sweet bread.  Took us about 2 hours but we found everything we were looking for.  After the swap meet we decided to head over to Kaneohe and see if we could get on to the Marine Corps base and drive around to see what had changed.  We stopped at the visitor center and explained to the sweet girl behind the counter what we wanted to do – unfortunately times have changed and unless we knew someone on base who could sponsor us they could allow us to go on base.  We were disappointed and the girl felt terrible but there was nothing she could do. So we headed back to the car to see if we could think of something.  Greg posted on Facebook to see if anyone knew someone on base, and while we were still sitting there in the parking lot the girl came out with a phone number to call on base and explain what we wanted to do and said they may be able to make an exception in our case.  We headed back to the cottage but stopped at another roadside eatery in Kaneohe for lunch.  We ordered a combo plate and split it – 8 grilled butterfly shrimp and kalua pork with salad, rice, and pineapple.  We got back to the cottage and spent the rest of the day reading and relaxing. Greg called and left a message at the number we were given to see if we could get on the Marine Corp base.  At 7 pm we headed down to the beach to catch some pictures of the sunset.  It wasn’t the best circumstance for sunset pictures because it had been cloudy most of the day and the sun dropped behind the clouds pretty fast.  I will try again for sunset pictures tomorrow.

Day Eleven - June 6, 2011 - Our 30th Anniversary

Our lei's from the luau

Celebrating our 30th Anniversary at the Polynesian Cultural Center in Hawaii

June 6, 2011 – 30 years ago today I made the BEST decision I ever made in my life – to walk side by side through this life with my high-school sweetheart.  What a life it has been.  Nothing prepares you for life – there are so many up’s and down’s, high’s and low’s but what makes is all easier is having someone you love with all your heart to walk through it with you for better or for worse.  To be there to pick you up when you fall and to be there to rejoice with you when life brings you the joys.  I am so glad that the Lord brought Greg and I together and I thank Him frequently for allowing me to have that love for a lifetime.

Today is the Polynesian Cultural Center.  We have been anxiously awaiting this day!  We had been to the PCC when we lived here and knew it is an amazing experience so we decided that that was what we would do to celebrate our 30^th anniversary. What a day it was!  We were not disappointed.  The PCC opens at 12:00 so we got there around 11:45 and went to the counter for those that had already paid and just needed tickets.  While we were waiting in line apparently Greg’s wheels were turning and when we got up to the counter he asked the woman how much it would cost to upgrade to the Ambassador package. It was an additional $30 each.  Me being the tight wad in our relationship kinda made a sound like un-uh we don’t need to do that -  but he chose not to listen to that sound – either that or he has learned to tune it out (LOL) But I have to admit I am sooooo glad that he decided to upgrade.  It included a guided tour with about 12 other people, a lei greeting, premium seating at the luau and the shows, premium seating at the final show, and a yummy sherbet type dessert during intermission of the show.  The guided tour was well worth it – our guide, Niu was from Austrailia.  He was very funny and made the whole tour enjoyable.  He took us to each of the villages and got us to all the shows on time and taught us a lot more than we would have learned had we wandered around on our own.  During our tour we got to do things like – a spear throwing competition, we wove a fish - basket weave style, we learned how to use a large bamboo pole to keep time and rhythm to a song in Figi, we learned all the greetings for each of the Polynesian cultures, (the only one I can remember is “Bolavanacka” which I believe was the Figi greeting – because we were told if we remembered it when we got to the village we would be welcomed if not we would be eaten!)  We also had a boat ride on the canal so we could see all the villages from the water side.  At about the middle of the tour we were treated to a water parade of each of the different villages and their customary dress, dance, and song. It was amazing to say the least to see all the beautiful costumes and dances.  After that we toured a few more villages – one being the Samoan village.  During that show Greg and another gentleman were chosen to come up on stage and learn how to  make fire.  In Samoa the men do all the work and the women watch the children and do the weaving.  Greg and the other guy disappeared behind the stage and the show continued.  In a little while Greg and the other guy were brought back on stage and had a competition to see who could start their fire first – Greg won!!  What they didn’t know is that they were also going to be participants in a Samoan dance – they were to follow the lead of their Samoan host.  If you have not seen the video of Greg dancing on my Facebook page – go there immediately – it is a must see.  I was trying so hard not to laugh because I was video taping and I didn’t want to shake the camera.  But Greg and I had a good laugh when I played it back for him.  After this show it was time for the luau.  Niu walked us over to the luau and said his goodbyes to our group.  At the luau we were greeted with real flower lei’s by two beautiful Polynesian young people and escorted into the luau.  We were seated at a table with 6 other people and our table was in the very front!  We were brought pina coladas in a pineapple and then treated to all the pre-luau customs.  There was a parade of the Royal Hawaiian court, and a group of Hawaiian singers greeted all the guests in song.  There was also a traditional Hawaiian dance done that was also a customary welcome prior to the start of the luau.  The MC of the luau then had us sing Happy Birthday to some in the audience that were celebrating their birthdays.  Then he asked if there were any there to celebrate anniversary’s or any newlyweds on their honeymoon.  He invited all of those that raised their hands up on stage.  Greg and I were the first couple to arrive on stage and the MC had us introduce ourselves and tell how many years we had been married, he did the same for all the others.  There were about 15 couple total on stage, some newlyweds and some celebrating anniversaries in the Islands.  Next he announced that he was going to sing the Hawaiian wedding song and we were to slow dance on stage during the song.   AAAHHH panic started to set in a little – First of all I hate being in front of people, AND secondly I have never danced publicly before in my life!  Oh well – I sucked it in and just focused on Greg and got through it and I neither of us stepped on toes so all was good – I survived!  Later as we left the luau we were stopped and congratulated on 30 years – now a days that is quite a milestone!  Next was the ceremonial digging up of the luau pig.  The luau pig is cooked in a pit in the ground with hot lava rocks, and covered with leaves.  Two Hawaiian men pulled the luau pig out and put it on something that looks like a stretcher and carried it out.  So now the luau!!  We were the first table to go to the luau buffet and were greeted with the traditional luau choices – kalua pork, poi, lomi lomi salmon, taro rolls, pineapple, and more “American choices” for those that preferred it – like chicken, salad, and white rolls etc.  There were plenty of options.  We filled our plates and went back to our table and enjoyed!!!  After the luau we had some time to wander around the gifts shops and then head over to the final show.  It was called Ha’: Breath of Life.  Words can’t even describe the show – it was a beautiful depiction of the circle of life Polynesian style.  Full of beautiful dance, costumes, fire dancers, - they don’t allow any photography or video of the show so I wasn’t able to capture any of it to post here, but we did buy the complete show on CD if anyone would like to see it.  The two hour show ended at 9:30 and we headed home exhausted, but filled with great memories!