Annual Conference in May? :)

Annual Conference is here again!

In May, yet it is nice having it at the beginning of summer. It feels weirder each time since Nathaniel and I are the oldest Mks now. Nathaniel said to me, “It’s the end of an era..” And indeed it is. Raquel is leaving and Matt will be the only one left of the ‘original crew.’

It’s up to the new kiddos to carry on the legends of crazy-headed mks from Mexico. I love them and am sure they will do just fine.

This business of growing up is kinda annoying though. Just saying.

 

“I’m feeling PeterPan-ish,

Whisk me away,

To a Land where impatience disappears with the day

And the fields are filled with memories,

Good ones to last me a lifetime,

And tire swings and yummy things,

Like lemonade and Mazapans that never crumble…

And you can eat them whole!

In a town where the town clock never tells time-

All is forever and friends will never let you down.

I wish I could fly there forever to watch the sun set and rise

In a breath all would happen and time would never exist

Where the loved that I miss would never be far

And the one’s that I love would be close to my heart

One day. Someday. Not farther than a lifetime, I will sit at the feet of the Painter and Storyteller

Who created my dreams and holds my hand,

And I will be at home in that Land.”

 

Time Flies!

I’m packing to leave for a missionary conference, and I picked up my journal. Read from the last year and a half’s entries…wow, so much has changed! God has worked in great ways all around me and within me even more! I’m humbled by His grace, love, and mercy.

A lot has happened these last two weeks, including a wonderful visit from a very loved person,  an exhausting VBS,  and a runaway ‘cousin.’ So many emotions, thought, conversations and words. Too much to summarize. Yet, I’ve seen God work mightily, and have no doubt He will continue to do so, even in the harder areas (finance and leaving home again). He is ….I have no words to fill the blank, many rush to my mind, yet none adequate to name His truly mind-blowing BEING.

He IS!!

What It’s All About

Today, I had to answer the question in class, “What is Christian Ethics?” It ended up being an enlightening time of typing for me!

~How are we to live our lives? How are we to know what to do or not do? What is Christian ethics?…..

It revolves around who we are in Christ.  “In Christ.”  Not next to Him, behind Him or before Him. IN HIM. Our whole life should be a development of that relation. When we believe that Christ can meet God’s requirements for us and we can be IN him before God, we are seen as Him. God no longer looks at a failed human being who failed to meet His “do’s” and “don’ts.” He sees Christ alone. If we are in Him, there is no better place to be!

When we place our faith in Him to bridge the gap between us a God, we begin a relationship. Rather, in many ways, we repair one. Ever since Adam sinned (breaking the glorious relationship he had with God), God has been offering a way to repair that. He offered the law, an impossible means of reparation. (As mentioned in the videos, Christian ethics is impossible!) Yet, this was followed by the sacrifice of Christ, a possible means to reparation of that relationship. The basis of our daily lives no longer has to be based on attempts to follow laws, or a set of ethical expectations, but it is based on that relationship. Many times, we liken the life of a Christian to a plant which needs to be nurtured and feed to grow. It is through the growth of this relationship with Christ that we know how to live. His living Spirit is what guides us!

Over the years, my mom mentions how she and my dad become more like each other each day. They adopt each others habits, or mannerisms, actions, or perspectives. Everyday they are becoming more into ONE person. I think I finally understand why Jesus calls the church of believers His Bride. Like a wife becomes more like her husband, He wants us to become more like Him. To be really IN Him. So much, that one day, we will not be able to find where Christ begins in our lives or where He ends. A seamless garment before God.

When you are in something, you are surrounded. Our lives need to be surrounded by Christ. Every moment, every breath should be IN Him. We are not our own, nor should we live that way.
In striving for this daily non-separation from Christ is where we find our identity in Him. When we give up our lives to Him, the process begins. There is no more Elise Reyes. I gave myself up to be absorbed by Christ. In Him, I should “live, breath, and have my being” as the Bible says.  It’s such an exciting and beautiful thing, it makes me want to shout for joy and cry at the same time.

Demands of the Self

How many times do we want our way and want it now? Countless times. Like my dog. I was eating cheddar cheese, and she comes up and give me that “I want some, NOW” look. Yeah, not attractive.

I’ll bet we look like that to God when we demand answers and provision of Him. Eeesh, if I look like my German Shepherd does when she is demanding I give her something…then I’m embarrassed.

And the picture to the right is too cute. But you get the idea.

~Lord, help me to not ever demand of You. Keep me always thankful and in awe of You! ~

Connection Break

Today, as I tried and failed to revive a dying Facebook chat session, I was reminded of another kind of break in connections. A friendship connection.

I have made so many friends over the years. Illinois, Pennsylvania, California, and Mexico for the most part are sprinkled with friends, family, and acquaintances.  I want to be on a close friend basis with every single one of them…to be there for them and to know what they are going through.

But I can’t. I rely on broken and repaired connections to get me along the social calendar of life.

I hope heaven is like being best friends with everyone. Knowing everything that is going on in their lives and living alongside like that… No, I don’t think so.

I’ll bet it’s better!!

Cleaning Up

Today, I took apart the family PC keyboard. It was filthy; I can’t remember the last time we cleaned it out.

Dirty, dusty, and just plain old nasty.

Makes me think of lives. My life, your life, and ours. How much hidden dirt and grime do we have hidden in our hearts? We try to function and move on with it, but it only hinders. Like the sticky keys which keep the words from being typed out clean and easy, the secret sins of our lives keep us from living clean and joyful lives. What will it take for you to allow your Maker to enter the recesses of your heart and mind to clear out the darkness which hinders your walk?

Are there people you have not forgiven? Habits you cling to which are stunting to your growth? Sins are sometimes as blatant as the sun in the sky, but other times only the Son of God can uncover them to the Light.

Question?

Is not your soul more important than your body? If it is wrong to hurt the body how much more the soul? If it is socially accepted that cutting, anorexia, bulimia, and other self abuse practices are wrong…then why is it OK to break hearts, dash hopes, throw around the emotions of others and worse?

Why do people believe it is OK to go from relationship to relationship heading straight for the rocks of emotional abuse?

Why do we encourage our children to find “the one” via a path of pain and destruction? I really want to know…

A Poem for the Weary

Wrote this poem during my freshman year in college. First semester was hard…really hard. But God is good and merciful and brought me through the valley. And I am ever thankful.

The coldness wrapped around my heart soul; the winter set me in.

The darkness whispered themes of wonder; the whirlwind rubbed me thin

I glanced out of the paper window, to see a leaf float by

To see my life, my past, my purpose vanish leaving it bare

The emptiness surrounds my wooden candlesticks; the howling turns a silence into grimmer doom

White flashes of a memory, of family, hope, and love

Flying swiftly, gently, as it raptures all I own.

Gone and gone forever. Never to return.

What once was is no longer; Coldness still can burn…

Is it worth trying to attempt?  The vacancy of feeling

It’s leaving to the unknown.

Why would I choose this? Why sign my life to pain?

Why give up what I can never, ever recuperate?

It’s pointless as it seems.

To love when hated.

To sing when mute

To paint the sunset with eyes that lose their sight?

Empty hearted, empty handed.

I am left with nothing…

The wind whispers anew. Anew. Again.

Who gave me all I lost, the love worth loving?

Abba! Where’ve you been?

…Where have I been? For You were always there.