Is learning to listen to both sides of the argument becoming a lost skill? How many times have I held an belief because it fitted with my narrative? While it is entirely within God’s power to create the earth in six literal 24 hour periods, my narrative became tempered by looking at both scripture and science. I’m still adhering to God’s words on creation but now am leaving room for a different timeline other than six 24 hour periods.

Be still and know that I am God is becoming more alive to me and my holding to a certain narrative about how long it took God to set up the universe and earth as we know it is not crucial to my well being. Holding onto any narrative of how the world works is not the basis for my faith. I believe God’s integrity in all things and climate change/flooding is not going to destroy the whole earth because He promised to never bring a flood onto the earth again.

He created an earth with resources for us to thrive no matter how many babies are born. He also reveals that unrepentant humans will experience consequences of their choices. So I’m left with the knowledge there is truly nothing new under the sun just like Solomon said. A drone once brought a cool bird’s eye perspective, but now is is used to destroy people. Science brings life in hands of righteous people, or destruction in the hands of greedy or power-lusting people.

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My photos from 2013 race

Today is the second 2022 Ironman World Championship event in Kona.  For the first time Kona split the athletes into two groups, one race held two days ago featuring the women and some age groups.  Roughly 5,000 athletes are here.  The volunteer numbers to support this race is amazing as well.  

This event brings people together either as a athlete or the race support crew.  Overcoming barriers thrills our heart. The race symbolizes our own barriers and how we feel as challenges are overcome. Even though support and problem solving from volunteers isn’t cheered like endurance and perseverance from athletes, it is critical to the race success. Consistent effort from many makes big things possible. 

This divided world needs worthy unified goals to survive. What are yours?

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Photo by Khamkéo Vilaysing on Unsplash

What is inside our minds and emotions is not hidden from God.  I often ask questions but have lessened my demand for the answers.  In some Psalms you see the cry why are the righteous suffering? Why does the evil one get away with so much? It is important to then focus on Who offers unfailing love. At the same time Jesus promised perfection when we meet him face to face.  Evil people or nations are not getting away with injustice, it all waits for the final fulfillment of God our Father’s commands.

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Noticing beauty in the midst of struggle helps us remember unrivaled beauty and order is promised in the heavenly realm.  Just across from the Kona campus is a massive royal poinciana. Though it didn’t sport its fiery red blossoms at that moment, I noticed inside the tree’s deep shade, the tendrils from pink-white bougainvillea climbing the branches.

Being overshadowed didn’t daunt the bougainvillea, it is made to climb.  Its pink hue shouted “here I am” to the world, though it needs sun to thrive.  Where another plant would starve and die, it shouted beauty and creativity.  Thriving in the midst of shadows is God’s design, and he also reminds us that all sorrows will cease one day.

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Two weeks have disappeared since I was visiting my home state Oregon. Soon I’ll be helping students in Truth and Transformation.  They arrive on Sept 29.  I love this school, it helped rewrite some erroneous thinking and revealed God’s greatness from compassion to creativity. You’ll see my coursework in this blog written during my time as a student.

Coming from a shy background, unable to communicate in groups I see Jesus’ touch in healing wounds and opening up understanding about my identity.  It is a process in which I see Him taking on burdens and being my protector.  I almost never raised my hand before I got my cochlear implants. So both physical and emotional healing freed me from burdens and hangups. Is it a finished work? Yes by faith, and yet to be completed when I meet Jesus face to face.

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“Trust him with all my heart”.  Struggles come in many forms. I heard Shannon’s testimony regarding her stillborn child, her family prayed before and after the baby was born for it to come back from the dead.  She declared her trust during pregnancy and after the baby was buried. Shannon did trust and believe with all her heart to the fullest measure.  Do I?  I’m making progress.

In 2014, I purchased a pure Dorper ewe and ram and intended to have multiple purebred sheep. Between sickness and accidents including a dog attack, very few purebreds remain. The last fatal accident occurred this week, with a four month old ewe lamb stuck on her back in a ground depression. The fatalities come despite prayers, changing medications, or any supreme effort.  In the midst of asking questions, he said it was about the Who.  His love never decreases, nor does his power.  So trusting with all my heart must leave room for unanswered questions.  Because the real question is settled, He never abandons us.

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Using God-given passions and talents pleases the Lord and draws people into his kingdom.  The Holy Spirit came upon Bezalel when he hammered gold into lamp stands, created gold threads and embroidered them into priestly garments or the tent itself. Shaping the ark cover from one piece of gold he sculpted the cheribum outreached toward each other. Woodworking, metal sculpting, sewing, embroidery became beautiful as Bezalel worked. The skills in our jobs can be infused with the Holy Spirit, creating a kingdom atmosphere, a portal between earth and heaven.

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Imagine God in a different way.  Seeing and meditating on His creation can cause bad perceptions to change. Why would the creator of the stars care so deeply, yet he does.  How do you explain this earth’s existence since our sun has to be the right size, right gravitational pull, the right temperature, the atmosphere shields us and on and on. Our sun is tiny, other stars dwarf her. Our sun dwarfs the earth, and Israel is just a speck, yet God directed Moses to make a tabernacle, use gold embroidery, keep things holy and beautiful. From the largest star to the tiny protons His character is declared in some fashion. Look and listen, God will reveal himself.

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Letting go of control, especially perfectionism for me is not a one time and done deal. It comes to the forefront when I realize how much I fear mistakes.  Certain areas do demand full attention and effort such as driving.  

My perfectionism came from desiring life to be safe and comfortable. That thinking keeps me wary of anything new, or delaying multiple decisions to the last minute. The Lord’s words “trust me” or “I’m with you” have taken much time to be integrated into my new being. Believing His love at all times in all ways is a big challenge. Especially if you are a self critic and are still learning your value isn’t about filling in a checklist of good deeds. I think that is why I’m so attracted to the book of Job.  God declares at the end that Job was correct on his view of his righteousness.  That still amazes me to this day and corrects my mindset to know that by believing in Jesus we have the gift of righteousness.

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What is the attraction toward Queen Elizabeth?  Or people on a pedestal as a singer, leader and so on that draws thousands of fans. Is it what they represent? Being acknowledged, having no financial lack, having power to change things? Any quest in our lives to grasp power, purpose, superiority yielded to our true king leads to beauty and flourishing.  Anything else leaves destruction and ruin in the short or long run. Jesus demonstrated healing, compassion, mercy, leadership, greatest wisdom and more.  Each of these traits are powerful, have purpose, and show superiority.  Friends and foes alike exclaimed their amazement at Jesus words and miracles. In this earthly kingdom Jesus beckons us to yield ourselves to a trusting and obedient faith relationship. Then our eternal reward gives us no-fault minds and bodies, no-fear relationships.

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