Words

Spoiled Society : Liquid

Posted on by lainamunoz

Welcome to part II of the Spoiled Society Series! Few things REALLY get under my skin but entitlement always found it’s way to make my blood boil. Amongst other really unhealthy qualities to hold in your heart is a blinded spirit to how much we have and what our requirements are with those things. We are blessed to be a blessing… If you aren’t giving to something bigger than yourself then I challenge you to realize your part, realize that you only play a fraction of the bigger picture This is more a prayer to G-d from me, to protect my heart, and it still stands. I need You G-d.

I will likely spend more money on QuickTrip this year than some people make as an income in a year – and don’t get me adding up how much Starbucks I buy. I am apart of the spoiled society that has the privilege of choosing. I have a hard time choosing what to drink from the abundance of options. However, lately my heart is broken at the thought that while I’m wasting time trying to figure out if I want a hot or cold Starbucks drink today, others are using their last moments sucking down unclean water that they had to search for that will in the end kill them. I’m a regular at Starbucks; they know my name, my drink order, my boyfriend, and that I’m taking summer classes. Before I had a chance to order my drink they offered me a free Mocha because someone was training. I said no, because it was a hot drink.

I keep thinking about people who have never heard of clean water.

G-d has been using this concept to break my heart. My G-d – His Word is the living water and as bad as people need clean water to drink – it’s nothing close to the severity of how desperately they need our Savior.

Jesus – to the Samaritan women said, “whoever drinks this water” (referring to the water at the well) “will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” John 4.1-26

My G-d has the words that give eternal life.

Later in John, Jesus is telling the Jews, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall never be hungry, whoever believes in me shall never thirst.”

My savior is a satisfying G-d. But how will the others know that He is enough for them? When will we reach out past our Starbucks cups to start to give? To pour into others and search for those with the greatest need and meet it?

However, we trace our lives back to the fact that we are a spoiled society, it’s easier to send money to some organization while we pray we’re not getting ripped off. Conviction is a hard thing to swallow… Passion Tea Lemonade doesn’t make it go down smoother. But what if we change? G-d, continue to break my heart because there IS HOPE. SHOW me what I can do  and give me the heart to do it. Help America, our spoiled society to see the need and realize there is more in this life than just ourselves. There is offered an eternal peace that I couldn’t possibly live being too selfish to keep.

G-d I don’t know how – but if You need me, I’ll go. My comforts aren’t enough to keep me.

“Therefore they are before the throne of G-d, and serve him day and night in his temple; and he who sits on the throne will shelter them in his presence. They shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any scorching heat. For the LAMB in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to the springs of living water, and G-d will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”

Revelation 7.15-17

Adventure Through They Journey

Posted on by lainamunoz

A little bit shorter of a post today, just processing through some thoughts I journaled out this last week… Honestly, I’m still trying to figure out what all of it means but so far I think it’s a good idea.

Enjoy!

I feel like you asked me if I’d journey with You. At first my thoughts were, ‘naturally, I’m saved – I’m doing this with You’. It’s funny how a word can bring back a full semester of thoughts on this subject. I sent the phrase, “Adventure with many, journey with few” to some close friends to gather thoughts on how they read that sentence. One of them nailed my thoughts on the head by saying ‘adventure SHOULD be done with anyone and everyone – random groups and impromptu trips, you can learn something from everyone, but JOURNEY – do the long haul and ups and downs with a few who you know how to support the “hard”. I thought for a second that you were inviting Yourself on my journey, which was surprising and honoring enough. But then I felt like you meant to be inviting me onto YOURS. To bear the grit and trials You’ve walked through. What an honor to serve with You

Lord, I’d love to journey with You

//oh, seasons//

“Adventure with many, journey with few”

There are loads of things I’ve felt impressed to think and write about lately and it’s been hard to sort out what to say when but this has weighed the heaviest on my heart.

I’ve had to learn over several seasons in my life how to journey with people. I have a few very close friends who I’d pick to do life with over a load of others and it isn’t because they’re even the most fun to be around. It’s because they push me, don’t let me whine and whinge, they don’t let me give up. (( they don’t let me go a Friday without posting ))

But standing in chapel this week (shameless “Go to chapel” plug) I felt like G-d brought this back up with me. He asked me to Journey with Him, which I don’t think I understand the weight of just yet. Honestly I don’t know if I ever will understand. We read scriptures telling us to follow him is to deny ourselves, take up our cross and follow but what does that mean?

Journeying for me is becoming a non-optional. Not because its the easiest life ever but because I don’t actually know where else I’d go. I don’t know what else I’d do if it wasn’t what I’m doing now – loving Jesus, learning Jesus and telling others about how awesome He is. Sometimes the road sort of sucks and hurts and has a few spots where it feels like do or die. But at no point have I died yet so I suppose I’ll keep going.

 

Spoiled Society : Literature

Posted on by lainamunoz

Coming from a book-nerd who is currently sitting in the resource center (bookstore) at church all I can think about as I read this again is how unbelievably blessed we are with the freedom of information we are surrounded with. We have been given much more knowledge and freedom of expression than we realize and it’s a shame that we don’t take more advantage of the literature we have access to. Please enjoy this #ThinkBackThursday

John 14.15 “If you love me, you will obey what I command.”

And what does He command? Devotion –

            “He has shown you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your G-d.” Micah 6.8

G-d requires daily time spent with Him, in His word, seeking Him with all we are.

I have an NIV bible, I have an app on my iPhone with loads of versions of the Bible, it even plays audio. I can instantly read, listen to, and spend time in the Word of my heavenly father. And, guess what? When I do, no one is there telling me I can’t, no one is telling me I’ll lose my life if I study it. My family doesn’t threaten to abandon me; the government officials aren’t holding a gun to my head. The Bible is currently banned in North Korea and throughout time it has been banned in hundreds of areas and people groups. Americans, the people with arguably the most access to G-d’s Word, probably (collectively) know the least about the Bible. Correct me if I’m wrong – please – but list your 10 closest, most “G-dly” friends and think of how often they spend time studying and weeping over the Scriptures. I’ve been reading a book talking about the underground church in Asia and how pastors and people alike will join, cramming in one room and study for hours at a time. For them, this risks all they have.

But for them G-d’s Word is ENOUGH.

Sometimes I only put enough value in the Word of G-d to read one chapter – and even then I settle without understanding it. My G-d has commanded me to walk humbly with Him. Humility reminds me of lying down yourself and chasing after something that has NOTHING to do with you; with how busy you are, or how tired you are. I show my Savior that I love Him by following His commands, how do I know those unless I spend time reading them?

G-d, forgive me for embracing this spoiled societies view on “getting around to it” when millions of people go hungry for Your Word. Change my heart and grow my desire for Your Word. Give my mind new understanding and my soul steadfastness. G-d break off my “Christian cookie” and show me what it is to follow You.

I pledge allegiance to the Bible

G-d’s HOLY WORD

I will make it a lamp unto my feet

and a light unto my path

I will hide its words in my heart

that I might not sin against G-d

There Was an Old Guy Painting in the Park

Posted on by lainamunoz

I always intend to not write these on Fridays, I have a new goal to post them by noon on Fridays (which clearly didn’t happen today, at least not for Australia) because I want to get out of the habit of writing anything on Friday and just editing the final things. In all honesty I have two other posts that I wanted to do today and HAVE been working on those this last week. The thoughts are very near and dear to my heart and very much what I’m learning this week. But then Jesus always throws me something that I can’t shake on a Thursday or Friday.

((maybe I’ll get better at this soon))

Today, it was an old man painting in the park. 

My housemate and I had just worked out at the gym and had our beautiful walk home in front of us; It’s gorgeous here in the Hills today. As we were walking we were recounting all the things that we had the opportunity to hear Erwin McManus speak about last night at Team Night – and we were dreaming about creating. G-d dropped a LOT of things on my heart last night about my ‘art’ and my creativity. Sometimes I have issues with finding exactly what my creativity looks like. I suppose actually, He didn’t drop a lot of things but really just one thing. Words are my art. I feel like He gave me words. I feel like it’s something He’s given me as a gift and whatever capacity I open myself up to be used in – around that area – is what I will get to see happen. I want to song write, and book write, and teach, and speak, and read and learn languages. We have such a limited understanding on how to express what we are really trying to say. So, I guess I want to get good at what seems impossible. I want to be a storyteller and a brilliant communicator because I’ve been healed and feel like I have something beautiful to communicate with the world. Not because I’m good at it per-say but because I’m willing to open my mouth and tell about what G-d has done.

But, I learned something about creating, even the perception of creating can inspire. Even the thought that beauty might be being born somewhere around makes me want to dive deeper into my art. I saw this old man in the park with his easel and paints and wanted to talk to him about his life. I wanted to know what HE found beautiful and how he communicated that to the world. Or, if it was just for himself and maybe a significant someone in his life.  Do you realize that even your efforts to better yourself or communicate to the world around you through what you’re good at and enjoy inspire people?

You make me want to write. And learn.

I’m not the best at what I do (yet). But I’m trying. I’m trying to learn that consistency brings quality. Faithfulness is rewarded and even when I feel like I’m not getting better… just my effort is doing something.

Having said all of that the other thing I’ve been thinking about is the above and beyond G-d… How I’ve heard over and over from people about how they thought their life was going one direction and ended up so much more than they could have imagined. I’m not saying I’ve out imagined the creator… its just makes my heart feel so full it could burst to hold onto knowing that as much as I love all of this, it could be bigger. I’m also sort of looking forward to the day I turn 45 and can look back at what I thought was going to happen, and see by then how much MORE He’s done.

What’s that G-d? I can’t even dream up enough of what it means to journey with You? Cool. Bring it on.

Ugh, the more I learn about G-d the more I realize I need Him. This is a pretty cool place to be.

Scrabit : Need

Posted on by lainamunoz

G-d has taken me on a beautiful journey of being healed of anxiety, sometimes I have my hiccups but then I remember what He did on the cross was enough for me then, now and for the rest of my life. Coming to Aussie from America was one of the smoothest transitions I’ve had in my life which surprised me. I’m a little upset to admit how shocked I was that I was actually ok. But I am. G-d has been with me every step and thats a really remarkable thing.

Please enjoy this #ThinkBackThursday from November 2014 just before I came.

Love you all

“Those days will come when you cannot articulate what the matter might be, but there IS a matter. I feel it resting on my heart and making me wonder. It’s irritating me, not as dramatic as a thorn in my flesh, but it’s still pretty obnoxious. So I’m left completely at a loss as to how to explain my heart condition to even You. And, all the more irritating is that You know what the matter is. You already know and You wont tell me. Why? I cannot say I appreciate it, but here I am. You know my heart better so I guess for lack of me knowing what to do – You can deal with me accordingly. Here I am. If You will, use me in the process.“

Well, I tried to go to sleep over an hour ago but this has been literally sitting on my heart for almost a week and my anxiety kicked in tonight so sleeping isn’t happening. This is just about all I can think about, so I’m not sure if that makes this a prayer request or just a download, but here it is.
Recently I was able to catch up with a friend about life. One of her questions for me was about Australia and if I was ready and had everything I needed. Now, I leave in two months… (actually less but it’s easier to say two months) – I have a lot of things to sell or put in storage or give away, I have a lot of people to say “Hasta Luego!” to, and I don’t have all the finances I need while I’m gone. But her question comforted me rather than sending me down panic lane. I simply responded with,

“No, I don’t have everything I need while I’m done but I have everything I need for now”

I am taken care of. I don’t have what I need for tomorrow because, guess what? It’s still today.

But I woke up and was in no need for today. I had enough food, I had enough sleep, I had no bills I couldn’t pay, I had laundry to do that I had clean water for. Now, while those resources are temporary and once I used them they were no longer good for the same purpose… I HAD what I needed. I have this great big habit of being a worrier and stressing out over the plans. I had ALWAYS been pretty bad about trusting that things will simply work out. I want to know when we are leaving, how long the trip will take, I want to leave earlier than I have to because if I don’t I know I’ll hit traffic – and then I will be late. I want to know what will happen when I arrive and where I need to be and even when I have all of that information I’m stressed thinking about what’s coming. This has gotten better in my late(r) age; I’m comforted knowing that I don’t have to have all the details. A long time ago G-d reminded me that my walk with Him needs to be a daily waking up and realizing that I need Him. Now, I’m positive that I’m not the only one who He has reminded about this but it stuck out like a sore thumb to me and if I don’t try to remember so often then some of you lucky ones are left with a mid-panic Laina rambling on about things that don’t need to be stressed about.

I am held in His hands and because of that my fear of failure, my anxiety of the journey, my weight of worry that sits on my chest all gets a lot smaller. I was overwhelmed with assurance when I realized, “No, my plan ISN’T going how I saw it play out” ((EVER)) But, when I woke today and got through the day (quite well I might add) because I’m still His and He loves me.

“I don’t have everything I need while I’m gone, but I have everything I need for now.”

I’ve been overwhelmed with the support I’ve seen so far in sharing my story, honestly I started a gofundme account and wasn’t sure I’d really get that far with it. But, every time someone simply reads my story I’m thankful to G-d because of what He has done with me. I’m so very much not even close to “The End” of my story but I’m in awe of what He has done in and with my heart. Thank you isn’t enough to each of you who have said a prayer over me in the last 2 years but it’s what I know how to say. Please know though, my prayer for you, whoever may be reading this, no matter when you decide or are bored enough to do so, is that I would be a small part of your story. I want to learn from you and grow with you. I want to see a group of people so free from hurt and fear that they begin to boldly live out love in the way they’ve been given love. Even I’ll admit I sound a bit cheesy but I mean it with my whole being.

I crave freedom because I’ve seen so many glimpses of what boldness feels like. I  wouldn’t consider myself as someone who walks in boldness but G-d, how I want to be that person.

I remember being bold.

          “I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.” Way to go Paul and Timothy, you’re better than us. “I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do al this through him who gives me strength.” Mmm, context is such a beautiful thing. (Phil 4.11-13) It’s not just that I can throw that last verse around and do anything I need to because I have this supernatural strength to call on. But, I’m going to learn how to live in every situation and I’m going to accomplish this by a strength that is now my own. Boom, I don’t have to be enough.

May I learn how to LIVE in every situation, G-d, may I learn how to REST when anxiety creeps up over ridiculous things. I’ve had all I could ever need at every point in my life and I’m YOUR kid so I expect nothing less than to have exactly what I need. Nothing more.

I have a great thought process on packing for trips… Once I leave, I’m done. IF I don’t have it in my bag it clearly didn’t make a big enough impact for me to remember so obviously I can live without it. Lord, I’m not condoning my forgetfulness, but, if I find myself awake, and I don’t have something help me to realize it might NOT be a need. If I needed it, I’d likely have it. You’ve been so good to me and you know whats up more than I do anyway.

So, chill my heart out, its’ doing that thing again.

Only Tools Don’t Exercise

Posted on by lainamunoz

Fitness has been pretty important to me since about 17 years old, at first it was the realization that I was (slowly) becoming an adult and with that I gained the ability to choose my diet and learn what different foods did and the benefit of them. As I learned more and more about food and exercising the health aspect caught my full attention. I want to do way too many things in my lifetime not to remain healthy and able to do so. I want to live long and have children later in life and be able to love them and live well with them. All of that aside when I was around 21 I got sad, probably depressed (knowing me that’s really hard to admit and see) a little sometimes as well and needed something to help.

Again, I found myself at the feet of fitness knowing that there was a chemical release of endorphins that were absolutely GREAT for the sad seasons.

Exercising is a funny word, it doesn’t just apply to fitness and working out but also academics. We do math exercises and reading exercises to develop a specific ability that we have (and you DO have it, it might be small right now but change is possible). We also do exercises to expand what we know. In our songwriting class this week we were given an exercise to write a song in a week. Not a huge deal but we are only allowed to work on it 10 minutes a day. Gasps, grumbles and questions rolled around the classroom as many students tried to find all the loopholes when finally one of my classmates said,

“I can’t write a song like that, it’s just not how I write”

Hmm, well… Good thing this is an exercise, good thing that it’s literally made to develop a skill you didn’t have before. I’ve seen a change in the structure of my muscles since I started working out, I’ve added more and more weight to what I do because as I exercise those muscles that just ‘don’t write songs that way’ I find this crazy truth that I LEARN how to write songs that way. I learn how to pick up more weight.

I never want to be anywhere if I’m not teachable. I never want to roll up anywhere thinking my way is the only way. I actually think I still have a LOT to learn.

Something begins to happen when you work out though; you push yourself past the stresses of the day, past the overthinking and the limits that you allowed yourself to believe in. G-d has been constantly bringing up ‘Mental Blocks’ this semester. What I mean by this is, I’m reminded frequently of the power that the mind holds and when we allow a negative thought to solidify. Sometimes the thought isn’t even negative –sometimes it’s just limiting which is just as bad if you ask me. It’s baffling to me how much MORE I can accomplish with a simple “Laina, you’re almost there” that I either tell myself on my last 5 reps of a squat or that Krysia will remind me of as we are doing the last 30 sit ups. It’s releasing to believe that you can accomplish more.

When someone tells me I CAN write a song in 10 minutes a day for 7 days then all the sudden I push past the thoughts that I can’t. I firmly believe the mind is something to be trained just as much as the body. I, as a woman have the privilege of stereotypically being an over thinker – oh, and I fit it to a T. I’m currently on a 21 day fast of my thoughts, I’m fasting my overthinking and rewiring my mind to trust in peace and clarity and promises that I’ve already been given. I believe in mental healing as much as anything else. I think that pushing yourself develops that brain muscle that we all should probably take a little more time for. Even if it is something as simple as telling yourself that ‘G-d hasn’t given you the spirit or mindset of fear but of peace and love and a SOUND mind’ or remembering to ‘trust G-d with ALL of our hearts, lean not on our own understanding but in all our ways acknowledging Christ and HE will guide you’. Let your mind be at peace but always increasing.

This isn’t a fitness motivation post, although I do believe in treating your body well. This IS an exercise post though… work out… do the things that will develop your mind and the areas of your life that (suck) are underdeveloped. If you need a friend, find one. If you can’t find a friend, be a better friend (that one is for free). Invest enough in yourself to start breaking mental blocks that tell you, ‘you can’t’.

It’s a load of crap and all it takes to get over is a good work out session.

The One Beautifully Broken

Posted on by lainamunoz

This scripture has been very much on my heart and mind this week. I have been in Acts and sharing with my housemate what I remembered writing around this (so naturally I found my writing from 2010 to post this week). G-d reminds me daily to be interruptible in my routine, even when I’m doing what I’m ‘supposed to’.

So I suppose you could say this is also what I’m currently (re)learning. Enjoy this #ThinkBackThursday

One day Peter and John were going to the temple to pray.

One day Jesus was traveling to be about His father’s business.

One day I was weak and in need of healing.

The cripple was placed in the same spot by the same gate to beg. That’s all he could do was ask of others to cater to his needs. He was to the point of not being able to help himself – the man couldn’t walk. His ankles were weak. He asked for money. Peter and John looked at him “Look at us!” Peter said –

G-d, you have my attention – I’m weak and I’m put in the same place everyday to wait on others to give to me. Because I am weak, because I have nothing more I can do.  –  I believe the LORD of all creation asks us to look His way when we’re looking for help – G-d let my attention be on you.

The man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them. I don’t believe he did this rudely or unwillingly… What are you expecting from G-d when He demands YOUR attention? ARE you expecting something from G-d when He calls you to attention?

Peter said… I have no money (even if he did I’m not sure he’d offer it to the cripple) “In the name of Jesus Christ” –

In the power of the Lamb
In the authority of the King
In the ability of the almighty

WALK

((G-d where are You trying to speak life into me?

Peter took him by the hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong. – He began to walk.
Lord, what is it in me that you want to strengthen? In an INSTANT the man’s life was changed. In a second he was restored. Right away he was helped up and made STRONG to walk.

G-d you offer strength to your kids and many of us are crippled. Waiting by the gate paying no mind even to people willing to help. G-d if you’re trying to get our attention let us focus onYOU.

YOU tell us to rise
YOU cause us to walk
YOU give us full strength

G-d let us listen.

Acts 3:1-10

1″One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer—at three in the afternoon. 2 Now a man who was lame from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts. 3 When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. 4 Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, “Look at us!” 5 So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them.

6 Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” 7 Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong. 8 He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God. 9 When all the people saw him walking and praising God, 10 they recognized him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called Beautiful, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

What I Didn’t Mean To Learn

Posted on by lainamunoz

Random comforting verse of the week: John 21:25 (NIV)

“Jesus did (many) other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.”

I was reading Acts this last week and when I had first started and was getting into the meat of the first two chapters I found myself looking back through the verses a few times. One of the last times I came back to the beginning of Acts I had a great revelation, it’s just that the revelation wasn’t on what I was actually reading. The verse previous caught my attention from earlier in my life when I felt the need to mark underneath these words with black ink.

We find this verse at the very end of John, after he had written about all that Jesus had done in His lifetime here on earth. After the birth and journey to protect the newborn King, after the unaccounted years of being a preteen and a teenager. ((I wonder if Jesus found any girls attractive growing up? Honestly, I bet He found everyone attractive growing up, He didn’t see people when He looked at people. I have to assume He saw the image of G-d.)) We find this verse after Jesus’ adventures in carpentry and all of His time in the temple learning the Holy Scriptures. We find it after He calls the disciples and travels with them. After He feeds the crowds, heals the sick, brings the dead back to life, casts demons out, turns water into wine, sees the blind receive their sight (pun intended), the leper’s healed and restored, people comforted, women given their dignity back and many others impacted by love. We read this verse after the betrayal by one of Jesus’ companions, after He was beaten and at no point cursed those who spit on Him. We read this after He was handed over to be crucified and after He had passed away.

After He rose again, after He sent us out.

AFTER all of these things and many more it tells us that Jesus accomplished so much that if every one of them were written down we wouldn’t have room for the books of His goodness and faithfulness on this earth.

It really got me thinking, if I spent my life just writing about what He has done for ME I wouldn’t have room on the Earth to brag enough. My blog posts would be so long my mom might not even read them. The internet would break.

But, that’s slowly becoming all that I want to do. Man, if I could just sit with people and tell of His faithfulness… if I limited my story to JUST HIS FAITHFULNESS we’d still be here all day. If I spoke of nothing but His grace I would run out of breath before I got to the depth. If I only told you about His love for me you’d be as heartbroken as I am over what I’ve been given.

I suppose that’s where they come up with songs like, “I could sing of Your love forever”. Or maybe that’s how the angels and elders in heaven never could ever get sick of singing “Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord G-d Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come” (Revelation 4:8 KJV) I lately have been dreaming of the day that I get to sit before the throne and sing with them. I wonder what melody they’re singing. I wonder if everyone sings the same thing or if its a compilation of everyones individual songs. I still think whatever it is, that it’s beautiful.

This verse – along with peaking my wonder – gives me such a comfort in knowing that I can do my best for my entire life and it still won’t be enough, nor will it be too much. I can’t exhaust the name or holiness of Christ. I can’t speak or write or sing enough and even when I have filled my lifetime doing, so I can still do more. This scripture was just talking about Jesus’ life on earth, and now we have 2000+ years more of the impact that He left and what it has done for each of us. I don’t have to be weary in wondering what I will continue to write about. There is no limit to His goodness and for that I literally am eternally going to thank Him. 

((These thirty-three words have just done me in this week. Christ is eternally good. Remember that.

Shall We Dance?

Posted on by lainamunoz

Let’s begin todays post with the solid proven fact that: dancing is wonderful.

It is good for your heart and face. Try dancing without smiling, or at the very least laughing at how ridiculous you look. I’ve always been told I’m a natural at dancing (humble brag) – which I absolutely credit to the partners I’ve danced with. For New Years Eve 2014/2015 (seriously, which year do you write if its New Years Eve?) a group of us went swing dancing.

We learned the basics and were then let loose into this dance culture of being asked by anyone and everyone if we cared to dance (except Jason, who was mackin’ on ALL the older ladies). What amazed me is how well I could follow the seasoned dancers. And, not just because of my lightly latin’d blood but because it’s easy to follow good leaders.

It’s also easy to follow when you let go.

Dancing has a beautiful and unexplainable balance between structure and letting your body flow. Specifically swing dancing, the girls would have to hold their arms firm against the arm and shoulder of the men they were dancing with. Even in their resistance to keep form they were still leaning into the hold the men would have on their back to guide the direction and steps in which they would take.

Even in the resistance they were leaning in.

G-d has been speaking to me for a while about this thought of dancing – of joy. Before I left the US of A one of my friends spoke over me to a fear that I had of returning to the arms of G-d. He told me I was acting like the prodigal son, in that, I was walking back not only to G-d, but to His heart with a fear that the encounter would be confrontational… my friend reminded me that the encounter would be a dance – as if the moment when my heart was finally aligned with Christ it wouldn’t be this overwhelming, smothering hug but he saw me begin to dance perfectly in step with the Father and find the flow of structure and forward movements along with the beauty of being with a faithful, seasoned partner who I could just let go and follow.

I find swing dancing to be one of the most beautiful dances that the dancers can dance – but, I’m a sucker for dances that require two. It’s been a while that G-d has been inviting me by different means to dance with Him; to allow myself to learn His steps and trust that where HE guides me will be beautiful. I didn’t grow up dancing or really have any formal training but it IS something that I enjoy and I think G-d knows that. I think He knows what speaks to my heart because He formed my heart. He knows that a large part of me dancing with Him was full of my healing. It was full of me coming home.

I was recently introduced to a song and more importantly I was introduced to a story of healing. I watched this woman’s story as I was walking on a treadmill at the gym and began to cry. G-d reminded me of all the times He asked me to dance with Him while I was healing, little did I know that He was offering me the strength to receive joy, hope and peace. Her name was Amanda, she suffered with an illness that left her in a wheelchair and only in the house of G-d and in worship was she able to find herself strong enough to just praise. In her moments in church and in the presence of G-d she found healing and hope, she found her step and began to dance with the Father and what a beautiful thing her story is!

One of the things that this wonderful woman said that, “Dancing was everything that being bed bound wasn’t” – Dancing represented to her nothing that her sickness knew. Freedom, joy, love, a smile, strength, laughter and peace. Dancing with Christ is everything that hopelessness wasn’t. Dancing with the Father is everything that depression can never take away. Dancing and learning the steps of G-d is something that confusion can never take ahold of. Dancing with the Saviour is something that death can never challenge. Healing is found when we dance with G-d. In many more ways than one.

“Now hope is a much easier thing because I’ve seen G-d come through… because I know how faithful G-d is.”

It’s unreal how many times I’ve seen Jesus come through for me. It’s unfair how many times He has invited me to dance with Him and I’ve turned Him down. But, His forgiveness is sweet and His love is big.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1FPUFx3EPw0 – The Story

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RSi3jEXU3Zg – The Song

When I Consider Your Heavens…

Posted on by lainamunoz

G-d has taught me a lot since my 18th year here on earth. But what He does for me still blows my mind and makes it hard to do anything but praise.

May I always sing Your praise

Enjoy this #ThinkBackThursday

23 July 2009

As much as I want to tell you how excited I am about You… I must admit that I feel inadequate to sing most of the time. I start praying and I feel like I’m stopped abruptly with thoughts of “you’re not worthy to praise Him. Nothing you could offer would repay”
While that is completely true, it seems as though you still accept everything I have to say to you. Why you take time to listen? Shoot, I’ll never know.

Psalms 8.3-5
“When I consider your heavens,
the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars,
which you have set in place,
what is man that you are mindful of him,
the son of man that you care for him?
You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings
and crowned him with glory and honor.”

Shoot guys, did you catch that? G-d made us right under heavenly beings… like… you got G-d and Jesus and the trinity…. Heavenly beings… Then us?
Seriously? Why?

All I know is G-d is good…. and if that’s how He says it’s going down, you better take it and run with it.

I guess my mind is just blown right now so I’m not sure if you needed to read this… but I needed to write it.

((Hey, maybe someday when you really need it… it’ll be sitting here.