A Different Point of View

onthingsabove — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 01:53:42 +0000

Living life is a struggle.
If not with me then for another.
This world is broken, falling apart
Where is justice? I can’t always see His heart.

But I am never left to walk alone.
Standing before my Savior’s throne
To Him, my Lord, I cry out
And stand in faith for what He’ll bring about.

He is my anchor—my strong tower.
I cling to Him, relying on his power.
So though darkness hurls itself at me,
From that darkness I have been set free.

As I strive, struggle, fail and fall,
My God is with my through it all.
O God, my salvation, make me to look like you.
For Your glory, this I ask you to do.

Arise

onthingsabove — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 01:53:22 +0000

Blindly groping at the door
Desiring—craving something more

Are the lost so easily ignored
Unfortunately sometimes even abhorred.

Darkness and chaos is their order
Hopelessly searching in utter disorder.

Church, we have the one answer in our heart
Yet we sit back, not doing our part.

We simply watch the world as it cries
Or turn our heads as it dies.

Wake up sleeping Church and sing
Tell the world of their King.

We are created to give Him glory,
Blessed in order to tell His story.

Answer their hopeless and desperate plea
By the name of Jesus, they can be set free.

Hold nothing back, not today or ever.
To His name be the glory forever and ever.

Holy Hush

onthingsabove — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 01:51:29 +0000

Some people burst into song.
Some people dance along.

Some people stand and raise their hands.
Some people run off to tell their friends.

But today, I sit in a holy hush.
Left speechless by Your love so lush.

Words seem insufficient to proclaim
The greatness and worth of Your name.

So I just sit amazed by Your glory
Awestruck, speechless by Your story.

Consider this my praise offering.
My God, to you I yield everything.

8:32 am

onthingsabove — Mon, 08 Nov 2010 04:30:56 +0000

At 8:32 am almost two years ago, having read God’s Word together with a group, God released me from my family in the states to live a life in a different place—to embark on a journey only God himself could orchestrate. In that next month, the Spirit impressed upon my heart that my good Father would give me family in this strange new land. He did. He did so more than I could have ever asked or imagined. He provided me with some thing that I did not know I needed.

I have lived life deeply with my family. My heart has loved. My heart has been loved.

Today, I just returned from a weekend stay. I hugged my mom and sisters here so tightly, just like I hugged my family in the states so tightly when I left. No, I am not leaving yet, but soon. And there is no way to shield my heart because already, my heart knows the goodbyes I am about to say.

I have family in Central Asia—a mom and dad and sisters and brothers and nieces and nephews and cousins that I did not know about until this God appointed time in my life. Some people think we do not favor one another. I disagree. If you would see us talk, hear us laugh, watch us play, witness our love and even be there as we cry together, you yourself would say, “Yup, that is one crazy family.” I fit in nicely.

O how thankful I am this morning and every day for my family—my “here family” and my “there family”. O how blessed I am by my Father. How blessed I am to see His faithfulness and His goodness and His words to me come to pass after 8:32 am on a cool fall day.

God help me in these days.

onthingsabove — Wed, 06 Oct 2010 10:04:18 +0000

My Mom totally impresses me with her packing skills. In what some fit into a box, my Mom fits into an envelope. Inside of a Priority Mail Flat Rate envelope for $13.00, my mom managed to fit the following….

9 seasoning packets

2 packets of hot cocoa mix

2 containers of nacho cheese dip

1 small can of jalapenos

4 small cans of bean dip

2 containers of pickles

An assortment of postcards

A bag of dirt for my friend who wants to see American soil

Wow Mom, I am impressed. Lots of love to you and Dad for the package!

This is her life

onthingsabove — Sun, 26 Sep 2010 06:47:03 +0000

As her name was called, a burqa clad woman moved slowly, quietly, submissively towards the makeshift doctor’s office–a few chairs and a dirty coffee table ruined and stained by flood-waters. She sat. Slowly she half raised her veil. A myriad of words overflowed from our aching hearts. Young. Pale. Frail. Lifeless. Hopeless. She was 20 years old. Breastfeeding. 8 months pregnant. Forced to fast for the Holy month. Beaten. Conversation started. Surprisingly she quietly confessed the plight she faced because of her mother-in-law,the plight she faced because of her husband. It was obvious, she was searching and looking for help, looking for Hope.

This face is etched in my heart forever. This woman’s life, perhaps more severe than others or perhaps not, faces a desperately difficult life without hope. This is her life. This will be her life. And the depths of despair ends not here, but ends in death in hell, eternity that makes her life on earth look easy. This will not change apart from J.

For a short time, we gazed into her eyes as she gazed into ours. We gave her all the Truth and all of the Hope the few minutes together allowed. She smiled tenderly and with affection. She left. She hustled back to her village, back to her life, but having at the very least gazed into eyes with light and heard brief words of hope.

Ask for this woman. Ask that somehow she would know. Ask for all the other women that she represents. Those whom are hidden behind a veil, behind a curtain. Ask that His love permeates to the most difficult and protected people group, the women behind the veil.

Finally

onthingsabove — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 08:51:28 +0000

So after 28 years, in a land far far away, I finally attended a Christmas Eve Candlelight Service with my house fellowship! This was a special gift. I have desired to go for years, but because of other traditions and feelings, I have always sacrificed going. Not this year!

A Box of Switches

onthingsabove — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 08:51:01 +0000

An ever-so-curious ten year old boy watched his mom carry in packages for Christmas. With great excitement this boy began to ponder those four black boxes. Of course his dreams and wishes clearly tarnished the reality that they were not even for him! However, I told him that they were boxes of switches…one for you and the other three are for your siblings. He looked at me. He glanced around the room and then said, “If all of our switches were broken then I think my dad would fix them.” Clearly I must have been the only child with an occasional naughty streak. I knew what switches were!

I’d Rather Have _________

onthingsabove — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 08:49:25 +0000

This week we sang “I’d Rather of Jsus” at a house fellowship. My eyes brimmed with tears because an aspect of my life offered a different testimony. Having broth recognized this and then repented, I could again sing the beautiful words of a life surrendered.

I’d rather have Jsus than silver or gold;
I’d rather be His than have riches untold;
I’d rather have Jsus than houses or lands,
I’d rather be led by His nail pierced hand.

Than to be a king of a vast domain
Or be held in sin’s dread sway,
I’d rather have Jesus than anything
This world affords today.

I’d rather have Jsus than men’s applause;
I’d rather be faithful to His dear cause;
I’d rather have Jsus than world-wide fame,
I’d rather be true to His holy name.

He’s fairer than lilies of rarest bloom;
He’s sweeter than honey from out of the comb;
He’s all that my hungering spirit needs,
I’d rather have Jsus and let Him lead.

If you or I rewrote this song, what would the words be? What is it that we cherish and desire the most? Do these things still fade in comparison to our desire for just One?

One Night with Family…in a far away land

onthingsabove — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 17:42:39 +0000

Not too long ago I spent the night at a dear friend’s house. At this house, I am a sister, Anti, daughter, friend, teacher and student. I have sisters, brothers, nephews, friends, neighbors and even parents’ that have called me daughter. So this time was a true gift. My family has once again extended. We are family from two very different places, but or hearts speak the same language.

Our time went something like this…

We laughed.
We talked.
We listened.
We danced.
We watched wedding videos.
We sang.
We cooked.
We ate.
We cleaned.
We teased.
We celebrated a birthday.
We told jokes.
We served each other.
We said funny things.
We read.
We played UNO.
We watched dramas.
We giggled.
We watched the sunset.
We took pictures.
We dreamed.
We told stories.
We shared.
We told each other’s quirks.
We blessed.
We laughed until we cried.
We hosted her family.
We just played.
We looked at pictures.
We made videos.
We “ratted” each other out.
We watched the news.
We were moved by compassion.
We slept little.
We acted silly.
We cried when necessary.
We gupshopped.
We sharpened.
We said goodbye.

Moments like this are too costly to purchase with the things of this earth.