I recently read a simple book on the life of Dietrich Bonhoeffer:  He asked a lot of hard questions of himself, his colleagues and his country:  "We often ask ourselves whether we still need the church, whether we still need God.  But this is the wrong question to be asking.  We are the ones who are being questioned.  The church exists, and God exists, and we are asked whether we are willing to be a part of the church and of service, for God needs us."

Am I asking the wrong questions?  How do I need to rethink and rephrase my questions to get to the heart?

I also appreciated this quote from the book:
"There is no way to peace along the way of safety...Peace is the opposite of security...Peace means giving oneself completely to God's commandment, wanting no security, but in faith and obedience laying the destiny of the nations in the hand of Almighty God.  Battles are won not with weapons but with God."
In the Midst of Wickedness (Then & Now) Janet Benge and Geoff Benge

A technique to questions asking

I finished reading a novel last night - I liked it - it brought back all the good memories from when I worked in heart surgery and made me miss it.  Early in the book the main character is carrying a lot of secrets and slowly he reveals who he is to those around him…Early in the book he also thinks about questions.  How to ask question and really get to the information you are really looking for…how?  

"One thing I learned in school, somewhere in those long nights, was that if you ask enough of the right questions, the kind of questions that nibble at the issue but don't directly confront it, people will usually offer what you're looking for.  Knowing what to ask, when to ask it, and most important, how are the beginnings of a pretty good beside conversation."  When Crickets Cry by Charles Martin.

Yesterday (February 4th) was my Mom's birthday.  As I was thinking about all the nice things I could say about my Mom, because it was her birthday, it all seemed kind of forced.  But then I was on facebook (my daily addiction) and ran across this link.  It thought it was worthy of sharing and for the question of the day:
What legacy am I building?  What kind of legacy am I leaving behind?  Am I intentionally tending to "my field"? (Proverbs 24:30-34).

And yes the link, pearlsandgrace and here is a cut and paste from the post...

The following words are beautiful truths that I have seen shifting in the hearts of women who want to be known for following Jesus.

She will truly have His heart and His eyes to see sons and daughters when she looks at His people.

She will be a doer of the word and not a hearer only.

She will refuse to judge and condemn and do her best to love people back to wholeness.

She will be a fountain of mercy and grace and one who will breathe life back into dry bones.

She will know that it is the love of God that breaks every yoke.

She will be a living epistle of love and humility and will demonstrate the scriptures with kindness and gentleness and compassion.  

She will give credit where credit is due.

She will point others to Him. She will give Him all the glory. All of the honor. All of the credit.

She will understand fully- the truth that is this. If it were not for the grace of God- there go I.

She will reach to the back row and encourage and minister to the hearts of the women who can't get past the grief and sorrow of their own life. 

She will look past circumstances and situations and appearances that look different than her own to see daughters of the living God who have yet to discover their worth.

The new church lady is looking for opportunities to be a blessing- instead of looking for her own opportunities.

The new church lady knows that the only way up is down. She knows that "humility isn't thinking less of yourself but it is thinking of yourself less."

Graciousness is her hallmark. 

Gratitude is her beauty treatment.

She is a woman of her word.

She is a worshipper. In spirit and in truth.

She is a prayer warrior and holds trust from others as sacred. 

She is supportive of others and is not an opportunist.

She understands that to become the Proverbs 31 woman- you can't skip chapters 1-30.

She is fully aware of her own shortcomings and seeks Him daily for His love and guidance.

She recognizes hopelessness and worthlessness in others and speaks life.

She is an excellent listener. She listens with her head and her heart. She hears what is not being said.

She is a lifter. An encourager. A hope giver. 

She forgives- fully. 

She knows that the same grace that was made available to her- is also available to everyone else.

She does not gossip. She does not constantly brag or boast. She speaks blessing.

She sees the best. Believes the best. Hopes the best.

She places a high value on God's people.

She invests in the greatest investment in the world.

His people.

She is known for what she stands for.

But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy, good fruit, impartial and sincere.  ~ James 3:17

Me again - So thankful that I have been blessed with a Mom who is building a legacy of faith for the next generation...

How do you describe your personality?  Do you fit neatly in a personality type or category? What factors play into your personality?  Family, friends, culture, career choice.  Is personality inherited or learned?  Can a person change a personality flaw or are they stuck with what they were born with?  How much does education influence personality?

Why do I often feel so bad about being an introvert?  Why on the days I really need some time alone and in the Word do my neighbors constantly ring the doorbell and make be feel guilty and selfish for really needing some quiet? Is is learned or was I born with the need to be on time?  Why do I love learning about how science works and how things fit together but have no interest in technology.

Once I get started the questions just keep coming...

In general we all ask a lot of questions.  Either trying to start a conversation or just trying to be nice.  Too often we ask and never listen to the answers, or we ask and a truthful answer is not given.  I get asked a lot of questions because I am very different from all my neighbors.  Some of the most frequent questions I am asked are:
What is your name? What does your name mean?
Why are you here? 
Why do you live alone?  
How old are you?  
How much did you pay for that?  
Why aren't you married? Do you want to get married?
How do you pray?

For a couple years I made birthday lists, and then for a couple years I have not.  This year I am thinking I will make a list of 30something questions...
I have just decided that I am going on a quest to become a better question asker and information gatherer.   Neither of these come naturally to me, but practice makes a difference.  So for my first question in my list of questions.

1. How do I tell my neighbor that I do NOT like her fish rice? or How do you tell your neighbor that you do not like her fish rice?  Especially after she proudly tells you how she prepared the fish an authentic traditional way and made a plate just for you?

Answers are welcome...

A Week Away!

So thankful that exam week is over and I got to celebrate with a week visiting friends and at the beach! This was not the time away from class that I would have planned, but it has been good.

I love everything about the beach.  The week was wonderful and full of gifts, too many to list.  Here are a few of the many things I enjoyed this week - those that I remembered to take a picture of - some of the good things in life:

Dinner at Nando's with a friend, walking on the beach, Henna with another friend, and coming home to a note under my door and neighbors excited to see me.