Time...

Time is probably the most valuable yet most under-appreciated possession we have. We completely overlook the fact that our lives are simply ticking away, completely wasting our time on meaningless vain things.

What would our lives be like if we decided to be intentional in making the greatest impact with the time we have--if we decided to make a difference, if we decide to get outside of ourselves and touch others with the time we have.

Have you noticed that lately life seems to keep on getting busier and busier and that even though we strive to equip ourselves with time saving devices, and to remain connected to what is going on, we seem to be unable to keep up with the world...?

The author of Ecclesiastes declares that there is a time for everything in life. Perhaps the problem is that our priorities are a bit (by a bit a mean a lot) jacked, and we are investing most of our time in some of the things that we should worry about the least.

Maybe that is the reason why extremely "successful" individuals turn around and their families are falling apart. Maybe that's why friends that have always been there and truly loved and cared for us "overnight" are nowhere to be found. Maybe that's the reason why sometimes, even though we know he is near, God feels to be a thousand miles out.

Think about it. Think about the way you are using your time. Perhaps you need to make some phone calls. Perhaps you need to grab your loved one and take him/her out. Maybe you need to hug your children and play outside. Or maybe you need to go in your bedroom and pray a while.

where the sun goes to hide [midnight reflections]

well, lets do this whole blogging about what is going on in our lives thing... lucky, cogan, I’ll give it a shoot.

Lately I have been experiencing a deep longing for the land where a come from. Being aware that I am approaching a completely new stage on my life, knowing that I am stepping out of undergrad and its implications, also being confident sure that I finally did find the love of my life, and that in a few months my life is going to change in a dramatic way...

Carrying this perhaps overwhelming baggage of thoughts and feelings, I’m desiring and if you allow me to express it this way needing to stop for a few moments and find myself in the place where it all begun. Walk the streets where I gave my first steps, walk the park where to run, to play, to hide where the only job description... I need to see that people whose influence made me who I am, I must rescue the story that otherwise will never be heard again, speak one more time for a few days the language that instructed me on how to love, how to live, how to feel.

Like my heart demanding me to finish writing the story of the ones who brought me here before I can start writing a story of my own.

I know that this might not make any sense at all to anyone else.

The reality is that even after the lines I just wrote, I know better than ever that I am not going “home”... it has become true in my life that home is where the hearth is. Oklahoma has slowly turned into the place that has welcomed me like one of her own... but still I can not help but to think about the place where the sun goes to hide, and where before facing what is coming ahead of me... I think for a couple of days I need to go and hide as well.

by max

Daydream...

Tonight I attended a quite different but extremely refreshing worship service... I was hosted by a church in North OKC (Divine Light) and the premise of the night was add to the beauty.

Through art, music, poetry, media, prayer, or simple but deep communion we were all invited to worship our King in our own way adding to the MOSAIC (name of the service) that that night represented.

The Theme of the night was centered in the Cross, and it was "the Beautiful Scandalous Night" knowing and understanding that what Christ did on the cross it was scandalous... the King of Glory coming down from heaven to die laying down His life for you and for me, broken and wretched sinners... yes Scandalous!!! but isn't also a beautiful demonstration of His love for us?

the night started with worship... and I never heard many of those songs before. I was standing in awe of the beauty of our king, and then one of the lines of the song that was being played suddenly got of hold of the strings of my soul:

"You are loved beyond your wildest dreams"

and those words drove me into the "writings sections" and a new poem was being born...



Daydream

In the midst of this fast pace life
we run... we fight... we try to believe
as we know we are meant for much more
we long... we crave... we try to believe

desperately we search and pursuit to know
who You are... who I am... who we are
careless leap of faith attempting to discover
who to trust... who to follow... who to love

but You

coming towards me dancing in the valley
bringing healing, restoration, and joy
and while You are singing over me, You love me
with Your beautiful, wild, endless, and scandalous love.


mb






yes like the song said... I am loved beyond my wildest dreams.
I am being loved by LOVE himself... scandalous and beautiful at the same time.

when a melody escaped from your soul [midnight reflections]

Warning: This note is very different to what I usually write, so consider yourself warned.




I have so many things running through my mind that I am unsure on where to begin, so I guess lets start from the beginning.

yesterday I was sitting in the office filing correspondence of some kids from the Philippines... and while doing that I usually try to read the names of every child that is entered into the program, we all know that names have different meanings.

while doing something like that, you will come across all sorts of names, from the most unusual ones to the ones that we hear everyday... specially if you are reading names from children from exotic places such as Burkina Faso or Myanmar... but in some point during that process one stroked me like a lightning bolt, and for a couple of seconds I checked out mentally from my "administrative duties" and I was embraced in his arms.

one little Philippine girl by the name of Grace simply smiled at me from her picture, but her name caressed my face like only our Father can do.

from there all afternoon long I've been thinking about His grace, and how incredible is to know that we live everyday simply embraced by His endless love for our lives...

This last week many things have been changing in my life, I've made some decisions that are going to determine in a significant way my days to come, at the same time some new people has entered into my life and the truth is that I am quite speechless when it comes to describe it, so I'll just smile and go on... something also happened in Buenos Aires this week that has honestly brightened my eyes, and with tears rolling down all I could say was thank You.

with that mix of thoughts and emotions in my life I walked into my place, and I you know when the Lover of your soul whispers your name, I was dazzled by Him... I grabbed my guitar and while the melody was born the words flowed freely.


I wanted to tell you
how good I am...
and how many diplomas
are hanging from my walls

that I'm always uplifting
and of course always laugh
that I'm always succeeding
and that I'm your champ


but...

I'm far away from perfect
but I found grace
embraced in is love
where I know can dance

I know that I'm not worthy
and can't measure up
but His grace is sufficient
will always last


yes I am a dreamer
some say visionary, perhaps
I am in love with people
and I hear their cry

I know I have mission
I do hear His call
wide open hands
that are reaching out


but...

I'm far away from perfect
but I found grace
embraced in is love
where I know can dance

I know that I'm not worthy
and can't measure up
but His grace is sufficient
will always last

but his grace is sufficient
will always last


for almost an hour after I got off work yesterday I sung this song, and yes His hands were caressing me once again with His grace... after a couple of minutes I was drowning in His arms.

I know that this note is unlike why I usually write...
But you know what, is alright... as always, I know He is smiling...
His grace is enough.