Allyson and I were joking around when suddenly she stopped smiling and gripped the top of her head. The night before she'd gone to the ER for a head injury and came home five hours later with the hiccups. She explained that being hit on the head with a color guard flag made smiling a painful experience. Allyson smiles a lot, and to be able to not do it is... well... painful.
I can relate. I'm not really sure what I did but for two days freshman year it hurt to laugh. For two days I had a huge smile but I refused to laugh. You don't realize how often you laugh until you can't.
The world is not a fun place when smiles and laughter cause pain. It's miserable. Smiles and laughter are things God created for good and instead they were being used for evil.
How often does that happen? All too often.
Money, food, entertainment, and a million other things have been created for God's glory only to be tragically transformed by human wickedness. Instead of looking to others with love and self-sacrifice, we hoard for personal gain. Instead of honoring Him in what we watch, how we spend our money, and the words we use, we are frivolous and careless.
God created sex. (gasp!) It was a gift to man and woman to enjoy within the confines of marriage. Too often it's used in other scenarios making it less special. Less sacred. Less about God Himself.
God created me for a special purpose. Too often I disregard His plan and pursue my own. My words are full of hatred and grumpiness rather than compassion and grace. (gasp, again!)
No wonder the world is miserable. We're misusing His creation. The things He created for good we are using for evil. Of course it's causing pain. Our pain and His.
Brothers and sisters in Christ, let's reclaim the smile. The laughter. The finances. The sex. The entertainment. The word choice. Let's reclaim what it means to be a Christian by showing His love.
<>< Katie
Showing posts with label words. Show all posts
Showing posts with label words. Show all posts
Monday, October 25, 2010
Sunday, October 10, 2010
Debated Words
My suitemates and I have taken a stab at songwriting. Most of us are either musically inclined or wordsmiths. It's a great combination.
A few days ago, Jennifer had a beautiful concept for a song and ideas on what she wanted to proclaim in the verses, so we tried to write it.
We talked it out. We free wrote. We prayed. We played with chords. We were having a hard time. Every word was deliberate and discussed.
Two hours later, we had a grand total of twenty-two words.
We were pleased yet simultaneously, I was little frustrated that it was taking so long. Let's be honest: I'm a bit verbose. Yes? If I spent two-solid hours writing I would hope to have at least 700 words. But they would not be as planned as these twenty-two words were. They would be much less deliberate. I would not debate them like we did those song lyrics. They are not repeated as frequently as a song, even one only six of us know.
It got me thinking about the words that come out of my mouth. Am I flippant in what I say or are they well-chosen? Does each sentence run through a filter before it runs off my tongue? Am I careful is what I say and how I say it?
The truthful answer is no. But I should be.
"May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer." Psalm 19:14
<>< Katie
A few days ago, Jennifer had a beautiful concept for a song and ideas on what she wanted to proclaim in the verses, so we tried to write it.
We talked it out. We free wrote. We prayed. We played with chords. We were having a hard time. Every word was deliberate and discussed.
Two hours later, we had a grand total of twenty-two words.
We were pleased yet simultaneously, I was little frustrated that it was taking so long. Let's be honest: I'm a bit verbose. Yes? If I spent two-solid hours writing I would hope to have at least 700 words. But they would not be as planned as these twenty-two words were. They would be much less deliberate. I would not debate them like we did those song lyrics. They are not repeated as frequently as a song, even one only six of us know.
It got me thinking about the words that come out of my mouth. Am I flippant in what I say or are they well-chosen? Does each sentence run through a filter before it runs off my tongue? Am I careful is what I say and how I say it?
The truthful answer is no. But I should be.
"May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer." Psalm 19:14
<>< Katie
Monday, August 30, 2010
My Friends Hate Me
Today words are not my friends. They've been really mean to me lately. They're tripping over each other as they fall from my mouth. They clog like an ink blot as they're scratched from my pen. They hate me. And I hate it.
When technology and I don't get along, when my suitemates pick on me, when the world seems to be against me, I still have my word-friends to back me up. Except now.
Who am I if I cannot cooperate with the English language?
I am still a daughter of God, a friend, a roommate. I'm still a role model, a team leader, and a big sister. But I am not me. I am a writer. This is what I do. What do you do when you can't do what you do?
You blog about it. But then you remember what Sherman Alexie said, "Every word on your blog is a word not in your book." I guess I'm nostalgic for my book. I reread and tweek scenes, but it isn't the same. Sure, I still have some of the excitement about someday finishing it but that someday apparently isn't today.
I. Am. Frustrated.
<>< Katie
When technology and I don't get along, when my suitemates pick on me, when the world seems to be against me, I still have my word-friends to back me up. Except now.
Who am I if I cannot cooperate with the English language?
I am still a daughter of God, a friend, a roommate. I'm still a role model, a team leader, and a big sister. But I am not me. I am a writer. This is what I do. What do you do when you can't do what you do?
You blog about it. But then you remember what Sherman Alexie said, "Every word on your blog is a word not in your book." I guess I'm nostalgic for my book. I reread and tweek scenes, but it isn't the same. Sure, I still have some of the excitement about someday finishing it but that someday apparently isn't today.
I. Am. Frustrated.
<>< Katie
Friday, March 19, 2010
Words are my Friends
We interrupt this program to bring you some important information...
First off, I got sick of the dots. What do you think of the new page? I'm still not completely happy with it.
Secondly, I can't find spell check on this new blogger. Five points if you can tell me where it is.
Thirdly, I had already written this blog when I heard this quote. It needs to be shared.
And now back to your feature presentation...
I don't think I'm alone in this, but to me words have connections. Typically it's the first time I heard/understood them but it's also when a word is very well used that it forms an association in my brain. Some of them were teacher-enforced (Prussia: big army), but most of them aren't.
Here are some examples:
Some words have connections, and some people have favorite words. We all know Melissa loves "plethora" and "fruition," but what about everyone else? Personally, I'm always looking for a great excuse to use the word "brouhaha." Mark (the mortician) loves the word "ointment." Most of my school friends like to hear me say words like "Chicago" and "pansy" because they emphasize my accent. Five points to anyone (who isn't Natalie) that can correctly use the word "perspicacity" without looking it up. Do you have a favorite word?
The psalmist did. In Psalm 75 he(?) admits God's name is his favorite word.
"We thank You, God, we thank You. Your name is our favorite word, Your mighty works are all we talk about." (Ps. 75:1 MSG)
Does this verse ring true in your life? Is God's Name your favorite word? Is it even a part of your active vocabulary? What is your favorite name for Him?
In my Bible (yes, the Message today, sorry) it doesn't say which name for God is used here. My guess would be "Elohim." Personally, that's not my favorite name for God. I'm a bit partial to "Abba" or the Aramaic for "Daddy."
Just like in different situations we need different words because of their associations and connotations, at different points in our life we need names for God. What name do you need today?
<>< Katie
First off, I got sick of the dots. What do you think of the new page? I'm still not completely happy with it.
Secondly, I can't find spell check on this new blogger. Five points if you can tell me where it is.
Thirdly, I had already written this blog when I heard this quote. It needs to be shared.
"It doesn't matter what you've heard, impossible is not a word. It's just a reason for someone not to try." - Kutless in their song "What Faith Can Do"
And now back to your feature presentation...
I don't think I'm alone in this, but to me words have connections. Typically it's the first time I heard/understood them but it's also when a word is very well used that it forms an association in my brain. Some of them were teacher-enforced (Prussia: big army), but most of them aren't.
Here are some examples:
- "Gregarious" will forever be associated with my dad's friend Greg who kept talking, preventing Dad from helping me study for my 9th grade vocabulary test.
- "Gumption" will always remind me of a homeless man requesting a fish sandwich.
- "Vulnerable" always takes me back to 8th grade history when we were forced to memorize "Vulnerable: exposed or unprotected."
- "Verbose" is my former headmaster.
- "Vex" is what my flying monkey does to Bob.
Some words have connections, and some people have favorite words. We all know Melissa loves "plethora" and "fruition," but what about everyone else? Personally, I'm always looking for a great excuse to use the word "brouhaha." Mark (the mortician) loves the word "ointment." Most of my school friends like to hear me say words like "Chicago" and "pansy" because they emphasize my accent. Five points to anyone (who isn't Natalie) that can correctly use the word "perspicacity" without looking it up. Do you have a favorite word?
The psalmist did. In Psalm 75 he(?) admits God's name is his favorite word.
"We thank You, God, we thank You. Your name is our favorite word, Your mighty works are all we talk about." (Ps. 75:1 MSG)
Does this verse ring true in your life? Is God's Name your favorite word? Is it even a part of your active vocabulary? What is your favorite name for Him?
In my Bible (yes, the Message today, sorry) it doesn't say which name for God is used here. My guess would be "Elohim." Personally, that's not my favorite name for God. I'm a bit partial to "Abba" or the Aramaic for "Daddy."
Just like in different situations we need different words because of their associations and connotations, at different points in our life we need names for God. What name do you need today?
<>< Katie
Monday, July 13, 2009
God is not Mundane
My plethora of readers (all two of them) have forgotten about this blog. That really makes me feel loved... :-D Oh, well, at least they admit it.
This past weekend was God-filled, and it's going to take some time to formulate all of my thoughts into words. As a trilingual writer, I cannot fathom words adequate enough to describe God.
One time, I heard Vikki Beeching talk about how when she first came to the United States, everything we have was new and exciting to her. She told everyone that they had to try Starbucks drive-thru because they were amazing. Now that she's been here while, the novelty wore off and everything that was once baffling has now become mundane. She asked if the same thing has happened with the Gospel. As baby Christians, it was new and exciting. We told everyone about our Savior and His love. We've now grown accustomed to Him, and have stopped telling everyone how great He is. That doesn't make Him less great. In fact, He's still as excited about us as He was on that first day! We should be like Jesus and try to do the same.
<>< Katie
This past weekend was God-filled, and it's going to take some time to formulate all of my thoughts into words. As a trilingual writer, I cannot fathom words adequate enough to describe God.
One time, I heard Vikki Beeching talk about how when she first came to the United States, everything we have was new and exciting to her. She told everyone that they had to try Starbucks drive-thru because they were amazing. Now that she's been here while, the novelty wore off and everything that was once baffling has now become mundane. She asked if the same thing has happened with the Gospel. As baby Christians, it was new and exciting. We told everyone about our Savior and His love. We've now grown accustomed to Him, and have stopped telling everyone how great He is. That doesn't make Him less great. In fact, He's still as excited about us as He was on that first day! We should be like Jesus and try to do the same.
<>< Katie
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Musical Hallucination
God likes to speak to me through music. I've awful at learning music, but I love to learn from music. I am almost always having a musical hallucination. It's only fitting since my twin brother, Nathaniel, is a worship leader. Well, tonight, Nathaniel was leading worship and for some reason the PowerPoints did not match what he was singing (this is actually a frequent occurrence, for those who've worshiped with Nathaniel). This time the PowerPoints were wrong, not him. So he told us to just listen (actually, I heard him say, "Sing with me now" when there were no words... I later learned he'd said, "I'll sing now."
There we are, singing a popular worship song, and the audience participation is flopping because the PowerPoint is messed up. How often do we sing that song? Every week? Every two weeks? Either way, if we sing along every word on a regular basis when the PowerPoint is up, yet we can't sing it at all when the PowerPoint is missing, how much attention are we really playing? Are we so focused on our singing to God that we're missing what we're actually saying to Him? One thing I'm trying to do lately, is actually read the words you're singing. There are a lot of lines that are suddenly clarified. There are a lot of lines that are really hard to sing, lyrically. Give it a try this week.
In Christ,
<>< Katie
There we are, singing a popular worship song, and the audience participation is flopping because the PowerPoint is messed up. How often do we sing that song? Every week? Every two weeks? Either way, if we sing along every word on a regular basis when the PowerPoint is up, yet we can't sing it at all when the PowerPoint is missing, how much attention are we really playing? Are we so focused on our singing to God that we're missing what we're actually saying to Him? One thing I'm trying to do lately, is actually read the words you're singing. There are a lot of lines that are suddenly clarified. There are a lot of lines that are really hard to sing, lyrically. Give it a try this week.
In Christ,
<>< Katie
Monday, March 16, 2009
Hola
Long time no chat!
Comments make my day, so when there are no comments this isn't much incentive to blog more. If you take the time to read it, take the time to lemme know you read it. :-)
I just got back from a mission trip, and so I'm formulating my experiences into words. Hopefully there will be some fun stories/ lessons mixed in with the amazing memories.
Learning to listen,
<>< Katie
Comments make my day, so when there are no comments this isn't much incentive to blog more. If you take the time to read it, take the time to lemme know you read it. :-)
I just got back from a mission trip, and so I'm formulating my experiences into words. Hopefully there will be some fun stories/ lessons mixed in with the amazing memories.
Learning to listen,
<>< Katie
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