I do not recall if I have ever blogged about this. That means if I have it's been long enough that I can blog about it again.
Soon to be 14 years ago my father was diagnosed with Leukemia. He lived 7 months after his diagnosis. In that time I saw a huge change in my father. He was always a funny guy, full of good humor and jokes. He was serious about his faith in God always as well. These two things became something that he never lost but they evolved. My dad was always a very wise man, teaching me amazing lessons throughout my life.
I remember when I was a teenager, before he was diagnosed he learned that I had never memorized scripture. He sat me down turned the tv off, put a Bible in front of me, opened to Phil. 4:13, his life scripture and he made me memorize it. Simple scripture but "I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength" is EXACTLY what I needed to carry me through the grief of losing my father a couple of years later...
Then there is the lesson we talked about in yesterdays blog. There were so many more before and after that. Lessons that I hold on to, they were wise, but more than that, they came from him. His lessons are something I can hold on to for life that he gave to me. I hear his voice telling them to me and that makes them even more special.
Before my father died he told my mother and I something that I will forever hold on to, something that my mom and I will never forget.
"If just one person comes to Christ through knowing my story than it will have all been worth it."
Every pain, every tear, every laugh to keep from crying, the thoughts that on this earth he would never get to love mom again, or see his youngest child turn 16, graduate high school, surpass all expectation and go to college AND graduate from college, that he would never get to walk her down the aisle (if she ever goes down the aisle lol) and that he would never hold the grand-babies she may one day bless him and his wife with. All of that would be worth it if just ONE person came to Christ by hearing his story, knowing his pain and suffering, his strength, his love... How powerful is that? What a legacy and testimony that man left.
So, I don't have a big platform but I talk about him a lot. I share his story with others because I want that to happen for him. I want his story to continue to change lives. I want his testimony to live on. My father gave me that. He gave all of that.
Beyond this being about my daddy it's also about our Heavenly Daddy. His love for us is just that powerful. Jesus wants us to know God the Fathers story but he also wants us to know HIS story. That is why we have the Bible, why we have Church services. More than that though, God wants us to share His story with everyone! And JESUS... He DIED on the CROSS for ours SINS. "If just one person comes to the Father through knowing MY STORY... it was all worth it..." Can't you hear Jesus saying that?
Join with me, share our Lord's story... If we all tell that story and we all have "one person" come to Christ through hearing it... isn't that worth it?
Live a Legacy,
-Lynnea
Sunday, January 18, 2015
Saturday, January 17, 2015
Goals and Mistakes
As I've stated before, quite recently, over the last few years I haven't done much with my life. I serve God the best way I know how, I've had health problem after health problem, and I'm learning how to be healthier as I am on a weight loss journey and as I learn how to live gluten free because I'm Celiac. 4 years ago this past October I started making and selling jewelry. I love it, though it doesn't pay the bills. I began to craft and because of that I've gotten into re-purposing different things, whether it be materials or tea cups or other things like that. I started making my own toiletry items, and making jelly. I cook more than I used to, and have taken up mentoring teens.
This year though I wanted to start doing something different. I've been working on a book idea for about 2 years now, and this year I want to actually finish it. in 2013 and 2014 I was introduced to some amazing authors of YA books. Then last year one of my good friends that I've known since high school wrote and published her own book. I've got some other people in my life that have done that as well so that is my 2015 goal for myself.
I would also like to finally get a job and move. What I want for my life is a major change, a GOOD one, one that has nothing to do with my health and everything to do with my life no longer being at a standstill. I've always been proactive in trying to get a job (as much as one with ACC can be) or even with finishing my writings but something has always stopped both of those things. This is the year that I will overcome these obstacles. I'm hoping and praying that learning that I'm Celiac and following the gluten free life style will help the overcoming happen.
That being said I want this blog to be an inspiration to others. I never want to be the person to hold back.
My father used to tell me all the time to keep my eyes open and learn from my own experiences but also to learn from others experiences. He would tell me "Life is too short to make all the mistakes out there by yourself. Learn from the mistakes others make, then make your own and share them with others so they can learn from yours." That is how I live my life, it's a valuable piece of advice he gave me and I want to pass it along to you.
Unmistakably yours,
-Lynnea
This year though I wanted to start doing something different. I've been working on a book idea for about 2 years now, and this year I want to actually finish it. in 2013 and 2014 I was introduced to some amazing authors of YA books. Then last year one of my good friends that I've known since high school wrote and published her own book. I've got some other people in my life that have done that as well so that is my 2015 goal for myself.
I would also like to finally get a job and move. What I want for my life is a major change, a GOOD one, one that has nothing to do with my health and everything to do with my life no longer being at a standstill. I've always been proactive in trying to get a job (as much as one with ACC can be) or even with finishing my writings but something has always stopped both of those things. This is the year that I will overcome these obstacles. I'm hoping and praying that learning that I'm Celiac and following the gluten free life style will help the overcoming happen.
That being said I want this blog to be an inspiration to others. I never want to be the person to hold back.
My father used to tell me all the time to keep my eyes open and learn from my own experiences but also to learn from others experiences. He would tell me "Life is too short to make all the mistakes out there by yourself. Learn from the mistakes others make, then make your own and share them with others so they can learn from yours." That is how I live my life, it's a valuable piece of advice he gave me and I want to pass it along to you.
Unmistakably yours,
-Lynnea
Thursday, January 15, 2015
A Disruption
Last something something happened in church that I haven't been able to get off of my mind since.
To tell you this story I must first tell you about a young man in my Sunday School class. This young man is my age, I've known him since we were little, we went to the same church then and then as time went on both left it. By the time we were in High School our paths crossed again as we spent the High School years in band together. We weren't close but we were friends there was a mutual respect there. Then a few years ago, I had just finished my degree and moved back home, He was in a terrible car accident and came out of that with a brain injury. Now while brain disorders and brain injuries are two very different things, we still found that we could communicate through this minor common thing. We can now understand each other and have a connection of friendship few understand.
In Sunday School his dad taught and one of the points he wanted to make had a story of my friend in it. You could visibly tell this was one of those embarrassing childhood memories that only a parent can bring up to make you blush in a way that no one else could. Out of respect for my friend I'll not tell you the story. I will say that it wasn't bad at all and it was sweet and amusing. The very embodiment of everything this person has always been.
Being who I am, as soon as I saw him roll his wheel chair to the door my heart went out to him and I called out. Then I did something. I told an equally embarrassing story of myself. I told about my very first Sunday in church, how my mom had just fed me and right in the middle of the service I burped so loud that EVERYONE in the church heard. The preacher stopped the sermon and he joined everyone else laughing. I should also mention this happened Christmas Sunday of 1985, as my first Sunday at church I was about 2 weeks old and that's about how far my birthday is from Christmas. Point being... it happened and it's a little embarrassing, but also funny, so I told it. When I did, my friend turned his wheel chair around and calmed down.
I know people misunderstood why I did that. Some said it was because I wanted to one up him but really I just wanted to let him know the one thing I've always said to him since his wreck "we're in this together, you aren't alone."
After the sharing of his stories the lesson took an interesting turn. My friends dad started talking about how moments like mine and his sons were just moments that proved what we would be later in life... and I was confused...and a little worried. Burping in the church, what would that make me?
His son is a sweet person but he's also hilarious and that's what his story embodies about him. He's endearingly a smart alec too. Not the annoying kind the fun kind. And that's an amazing thing to bring to life and to a church family but... I do NOT want to be the bodily function lady. The burp in a church...
Then a friend of mine pointed out that what that could mean is that I was a disruption to the church. My eyes got huge! A DISRUPTION TO THE CHURCH?! That's HORRIBLE. Seeing my face she quickly amended "it doesn't really mean that is a bad thing"
THAT is where my thinking has got me... I have been a disruption to the church my entire life. One church I was at, when they wouldn't let me get saved at 8 I gave them a smart mouthed response "you deny me a place in the family of God. Would God deny me a place in heaven" and I was saved and baptized that night. At a southern baptist church with the help of others I brought in contemporary Christian Music to sing specials, on my own I brought in Christian rock.
Then I went to college and after fighting God about it for a month or two I went against everything I was taught and followed what God was teaching me...and I got a degree in youth ministry, a female, one that is still unmarried. I have disrupted many churches by doing that made many Christians (who by God's word ARE the church) very upset. But it's not a bad thing because in all of this God disrupted me, He made me who I am, the little girl that burped at a church service, doing what he made babies to do.
-Lynnea
Distruption is: adisturbance or problem that interrupt an event, activity, or process
It's a very big possibility that God has created me to be a disruption, but as long as I stay with what He wants
me to do, in the state that the church is in as a whole, don't you think that IS a good thing?!
This is the kind of disruption that could be
good: a radical change in an industry, business strategy, etc.,especially involving the introduction of a new product or service that creates a new market
As long as we stay away from this: forcible separation or division into parts.
Which in a lot of ways is what has plagued the church as a whole for most of it's existence. But that's a story for another time. Until then lets be the kind of disruption that makes God's Kingdom grow, and lets do it together!
Excuse me ;)
To tell you this story I must first tell you about a young man in my Sunday School class. This young man is my age, I've known him since we were little, we went to the same church then and then as time went on both left it. By the time we were in High School our paths crossed again as we spent the High School years in band together. We weren't close but we were friends there was a mutual respect there. Then a few years ago, I had just finished my degree and moved back home, He was in a terrible car accident and came out of that with a brain injury. Now while brain disorders and brain injuries are two very different things, we still found that we could communicate through this minor common thing. We can now understand each other and have a connection of friendship few understand.
In Sunday School his dad taught and one of the points he wanted to make had a story of my friend in it. You could visibly tell this was one of those embarrassing childhood memories that only a parent can bring up to make you blush in a way that no one else could. Out of respect for my friend I'll not tell you the story. I will say that it wasn't bad at all and it was sweet and amusing. The very embodiment of everything this person has always been.
Being who I am, as soon as I saw him roll his wheel chair to the door my heart went out to him and I called out. Then I did something. I told an equally embarrassing story of myself. I told about my very first Sunday in church, how my mom had just fed me and right in the middle of the service I burped so loud that EVERYONE in the church heard. The preacher stopped the sermon and he joined everyone else laughing. I should also mention this happened Christmas Sunday of 1985, as my first Sunday at church I was about 2 weeks old and that's about how far my birthday is from Christmas. Point being... it happened and it's a little embarrassing, but also funny, so I told it. When I did, my friend turned his wheel chair around and calmed down.
I know people misunderstood why I did that. Some said it was because I wanted to one up him but really I just wanted to let him know the one thing I've always said to him since his wreck "we're in this together, you aren't alone."
After the sharing of his stories the lesson took an interesting turn. My friends dad started talking about how moments like mine and his sons were just moments that proved what we would be later in life... and I was confused...and a little worried. Burping in the church, what would that make me?
His son is a sweet person but he's also hilarious and that's what his story embodies about him. He's endearingly a smart alec too. Not the annoying kind the fun kind. And that's an amazing thing to bring to life and to a church family but... I do NOT want to be the bodily function lady. The burp in a church...
Then a friend of mine pointed out that what that could mean is that I was a disruption to the church. My eyes got huge! A DISRUPTION TO THE CHURCH?! That's HORRIBLE. Seeing my face she quickly amended "it doesn't really mean that is a bad thing"
THAT is where my thinking has got me... I have been a disruption to the church my entire life. One church I was at, when they wouldn't let me get saved at 8 I gave them a smart mouthed response "you deny me a place in the family of God. Would God deny me a place in heaven" and I was saved and baptized that night. At a southern baptist church with the help of others I brought in contemporary Christian Music to sing specials, on my own I brought in Christian rock.
Then I went to college and after fighting God about it for a month or two I went against everything I was taught and followed what God was teaching me...and I got a degree in youth ministry, a female, one that is still unmarried. I have disrupted many churches by doing that made many Christians (who by God's word ARE the church) very upset. But it's not a bad thing because in all of this God disrupted me, He made me who I am, the little girl that burped at a church service, doing what he made babies to do.
-Lynnea
Distruption is: adisturbance or problem that interrupt an event, activity, or process
It's a very big possibility that God has created me to be a disruption, but as long as I stay with what He wants
me to do, in the state that the church is in as a whole, don't you think that IS a good thing?!
This is the kind of disruption that could be
good: a radical change in an industry, business strategy, etc.,especially involving the introduction of a new product or service that creates a new market
As long as we stay away from this: forcible separation or division into parts.
Which in a lot of ways is what has plagued the church as a whole for most of it's existence. But that's a story for another time. Until then lets be the kind of disruption that makes God's Kingdom grow, and lets do it together!
Excuse me ;)
Wednesday, January 14, 2015
When Life Goes On
And on...and on.
Life is a crazy little thing. Each person is tied together in one way or another, we have friends who have friends, who have friends who might know us as well. It's a never ending circle.
Once we graduate from High School and/or college we might get married, friends might get married, families get started, careers get started, marriages/families split up... but once we're out of High School and college the people we were once on the same pages as... well, we all get on different pages don't we?
When you are the person who gets to watch everyone you know have a life that changes, the get jobs, meet someone, get married, have children it gets hard. Lets not focus on the divorce part that is one I think we all wish wasn't such a cultural norm these days,
Back to my original point, when life goes on for those around you and it seems to be at a constant stand still for you it can be frustrating, hurtful, stressful, depressing.
I've been at one of those stand stills for about 4 years now. All those I've been closest to that I still am around have coupled off, and those that have gotten coupled off have been having babies... Last year alone I knew 50 people that either had babies in 2014 or got pregnant in 2014... That is a LOT of people. Everyone I know has a career and I can't find a job. It's been very difficult to be positive in the midst of all that but I find ways... I find something to focus on, I make a sell jewelry and spend most of my days helping my mom with the house. I have recently tried blogging more (this year lol) What is your thing, your something that can keep your life going when you feel like someone hit the pause button on you while they hit fast forward on everyone else? Find it, keep it and just keep on playing this game of life!
Love and prayers,
-Lynnea
Life is a crazy little thing. Each person is tied together in one way or another, we have friends who have friends, who have friends who might know us as well. It's a never ending circle.
Once we graduate from High School and/or college we might get married, friends might get married, families get started, careers get started, marriages/families split up... but once we're out of High School and college the people we were once on the same pages as... well, we all get on different pages don't we?
When you are the person who gets to watch everyone you know have a life that changes, the get jobs, meet someone, get married, have children it gets hard. Lets not focus on the divorce part that is one I think we all wish wasn't such a cultural norm these days,
Back to my original point, when life goes on for those around you and it seems to be at a constant stand still for you it can be frustrating, hurtful, stressful, depressing.
I've been at one of those stand stills for about 4 years now. All those I've been closest to that I still am around have coupled off, and those that have gotten coupled off have been having babies... Last year alone I knew 50 people that either had babies in 2014 or got pregnant in 2014... That is a LOT of people. Everyone I know has a career and I can't find a job. It's been very difficult to be positive in the midst of all that but I find ways... I find something to focus on, I make a sell jewelry and spend most of my days helping my mom with the house. I have recently tried blogging more (this year lol) What is your thing, your something that can keep your life going when you feel like someone hit the pause button on you while they hit fast forward on everyone else? Find it, keep it and just keep on playing this game of life!
Love and prayers,
-Lynnea
Tuesday, January 13, 2015
"You don't look like..."
The beginning of that phrase could be taken as either a compliment or an insult. It can be used in many different ways, and end in many different ways.
I've heard this phrase most of my life and let me tell you, it is quite annoying.... why?
Here we go!
"You don't look like..."
"...the type of person that could be popular"
...look at those clothes, those glasses, those shoes
...too fat
"...you are ready to become a Christian"
...too young
...too rebellious
...too many tattoos
"...the type to be in ministry"
...too female
...too single
...too imperfect
"...you have a brain disorder"
...too smart
...you don't have the physical features of someone with the disorder
There are so many others but these are the ones that I've dealt with the most or most recently.
First of all these things are very judgmental. How can someones weight or the fact that they have glasses or can't afford name brand clothes effect their popularity.
When it comes to being a Christian Jesus said "Let the little children come to me." He doesn't judge the rebellious he spent time with the wounded not the high and mighty. As for tattoos, Jesus doesn't hate ink. -_-
With ministry, being female and single isn't a problem for God he doesn't call the "qualified he qualifies the called. That also goes with our imperfections.
And when it comes to diseases or disorders, in my case my ACC just because I'm a high functioning ACCer that doesn't mean I like pointed out to me that I don't fit in with the "usual" ACCer. My physical features are mind and they don't belong to a brain disorder. When you say things like this you may think you are being nice and helpful but you are just reminding me that I don't really fit in.
Why is it we focus on what someone else looks like, what we look like. Why can't we focus on what's in the heart, popularity is my weakest example because in the real world popularity shouldn't matter but if the focus was more on the heart then on the outside looks a lot more people would be popular, wouldn't they? In fact focusing on the right thing, whats in the heart would become the "popular" thing to do.
Just some tea for thought from the mind of me! God bless my dears.
I've heard this phrase most of my life and let me tell you, it is quite annoying.... why?
Here we go!
"You don't look like..."
"...the type of person that could be popular"
...look at those clothes, those glasses, those shoes
...too fat
"...you are ready to become a Christian"
...too young
...too rebellious
...too many tattoos
"...the type to be in ministry"
...too female
...too single
...too imperfect
"...you have a brain disorder"
...too smart
...you don't have the physical features of someone with the disorder
There are so many others but these are the ones that I've dealt with the most or most recently.
First of all these things are very judgmental. How can someones weight or the fact that they have glasses or can't afford name brand clothes effect their popularity.
When it comes to being a Christian Jesus said "Let the little children come to me." He doesn't judge the rebellious he spent time with the wounded not the high and mighty. As for tattoos, Jesus doesn't hate ink. -_-
With ministry, being female and single isn't a problem for God he doesn't call the "qualified he qualifies the called. That also goes with our imperfections.
And when it comes to diseases or disorders, in my case my ACC just because I'm a high functioning ACCer that doesn't mean I like pointed out to me that I don't fit in with the "usual" ACCer. My physical features are mind and they don't belong to a brain disorder. When you say things like this you may think you are being nice and helpful but you are just reminding me that I don't really fit in.
Why is it we focus on what someone else looks like, what we look like. Why can't we focus on what's in the heart, popularity is my weakest example because in the real world popularity shouldn't matter but if the focus was more on the heart then on the outside looks a lot more people would be popular, wouldn't they? In fact focusing on the right thing, whats in the heart would become the "popular" thing to do.
Just some tea for thought from the mind of me! God bless my dears.
Monday, January 12, 2015
Journey of Health
Trying to keep my blog up this year.
If You Have A Craving I have a Cure by Sheri Rose Shepherd
Better In 7 by Andrew Ordon, M.D., F.A.C.S Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon
The Makers Diet by Jordan S. Rubin
Organizing From The Inside Out by Julie Morgenstern
That will have to do now. Pictures are from Amazon and Pinterest. You can find recipes by searching on Pinterest and google if you want to make your own products like I do. You can also find zumba and yoga things on those sites and youtube. There are always options. There are even more books than the ones I've named here. I hope your journey to better health is a great one and you find what makes you happy this year. God bless!
I believe I have stated before that I am newly diagnosed as Celiac. That being said, I'm on a new health journey. I've had to completely cut gluten out of my diet. I've also known that I'm lactose intolerant for a long time as while.
For about 2 years I've been making my own soap, shampoo, deodorant, toothpaste, hand scrub, body wash, lotion, and different things like that. I use coconut oil, coconut milk, and lots of vitamin E. My skin and hair have never been more healthy.
When it comes to exercise I do Zumba and Yoga, and I make sure to have monthly or bi-monthly spa nights.
I'm all about reading different books on health and beauty, to get some great ideas. I also swear by different types of tea for health reasons.
I'm all about reading different books on health and beauty, to get some great ideas. I also swear by different types of tea for health reasons.
Beyond that, here are some great books I suggest that I've either found helpful or am looking forward to reading in the near future.
If You Have A Craving I have a Cure by Sheri Rose Shepherd
Better In 7 by Andrew Ordon, M.D., F.A.C.S Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon
The Makers Diet by Jordan S. Rubin
Organizing From The Inside Out by Julie Morgenstern
That will have to do now. Pictures are from Amazon and Pinterest. You can find recipes by searching on Pinterest and google if you want to make your own products like I do. You can also find zumba and yoga things on those sites and youtube. There are always options. There are even more books than the ones I've named here. I hope your journey to better health is a great one and you find what makes you happy this year. God bless!
Saturday, January 10, 2015
For Such A Tea Time As This
Hello my dear lovelies!
First let me say HAPPY NEW YEAR! Can you believe it, 2015! We're in my last year of the 20's for at the end of this year I enter the 30s. I have mixed emotions about the coming birthday, but a whole year to make this a special year. :)
I wanted to make my first blog post of 2015 something special was well.
I noticed that in 2013 my life was in a more positive state, I was doing my theme months and life just seemed to be changing though I wasn't doing that much besides my spiritual journey...then last year was one of heartbreak after heartbreak, and I lost a little bit of that positivism. Negativity was my new friend and complaining was my new favorite thing, even though I'm not generally a complainer.
I decided at the end of the year that I wasn't happy with my life and that I wanted to change. I wanted to get back that positive attitude, stop complaining and start living and focusing on the good stuff again.
I took up origami as something to help me relax, and it's done wonders. Beyond that is the reason for the title of this post.
"for such a time as this" is a quote from a story in the Bible. The story of Esther. Esther has been an inspiration for me in the last few years. I've read the book in the Bible about her, I've read two fictional novels about her, and I have 5 different versions of movies about Esther. "For such a time as this" embodies what I want my life to be about. Perhaps we're brought through different trials, blessings, paths, hopes, dreams, passions, heartaches... "For such a time as this"
For such a time as what? A time of waiting, a time of helping, a time of strength, of weakness where God's strengths shine! It's about God not about us, and Esther knew that, she gave up so much, and found love and salvation for her people.
But as this is my blog, I of course had to say something about tea time. Have you ever noticed that sometimes when we're just sitting, waiting, relaxing, having a bit of tea or coffee, that's when our best inspirations or ideas come about? That is sometimes when we learn the most about ourselves or our passions? So join me on this journey of 2015. Come along with me as I figure things out, and maybe you'll figure some of your own things out... for such a tea time as this!
Blessings and Prayers
-Lynnea
First let me say HAPPY NEW YEAR! Can you believe it, 2015! We're in my last year of the 20's for at the end of this year I enter the 30s. I have mixed emotions about the coming birthday, but a whole year to make this a special year. :)
I wanted to make my first blog post of 2015 something special was well.
I noticed that in 2013 my life was in a more positive state, I was doing my theme months and life just seemed to be changing though I wasn't doing that much besides my spiritual journey...then last year was one of heartbreak after heartbreak, and I lost a little bit of that positivism. Negativity was my new friend and complaining was my new favorite thing, even though I'm not generally a complainer.
I decided at the end of the year that I wasn't happy with my life and that I wanted to change. I wanted to get back that positive attitude, stop complaining and start living and focusing on the good stuff again.
I took up origami as something to help me relax, and it's done wonders. Beyond that is the reason for the title of this post.
"for such a time as this" is a quote from a story in the Bible. The story of Esther. Esther has been an inspiration for me in the last few years. I've read the book in the Bible about her, I've read two fictional novels about her, and I have 5 different versions of movies about Esther. "For such a time as this" embodies what I want my life to be about. Perhaps we're brought through different trials, blessings, paths, hopes, dreams, passions, heartaches... "For such a time as this"
For such a time as what? A time of waiting, a time of helping, a time of strength, of weakness where God's strengths shine! It's about God not about us, and Esther knew that, she gave up so much, and found love and salvation for her people.
But as this is my blog, I of course had to say something about tea time. Have you ever noticed that sometimes when we're just sitting, waiting, relaxing, having a bit of tea or coffee, that's when our best inspirations or ideas come about? That is sometimes when we learn the most about ourselves or our passions? So join me on this journey of 2015. Come along with me as I figure things out, and maybe you'll figure some of your own things out... for such a tea time as this!
Blessings and Prayers
-Lynnea
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