So...this post might be a tad bit more heavy than I anticipated for my second entry...but I find myself pondering this topic frequently...So I figured what better topic to write about...I know that the topic is probably a bit uncomfortable for some...it's uncomfortable for me in some ways... but I think it is something that everyone has pondered at some point or another.. the supernatural.
If anyone is reading this.. unless you stumbled upon this randomly...you probably know me.. thus knowing my religious background. But just in case you are randomly reading this... here are the basics so you won't feel out of the loop. Pentecost is my religious heritage and preference. In the world of Pentecost...the supernatural is a daily occurrence... speaking of angels, and supernatural happenings are as common as eating 3 meals a day. You wouldn't find it at all odd or think twice about calling up your best friend to tell her about the anointed message your heard at church the night before..or the blessing you got during Sis.so and so's special that she sang, or the powerful move of the holy ghost at alter call. It is normal. The realm of the supernatural is normal. Miracles, people being healed, lives being changed, speaking in other tongues, feeling the power of God surge through your being..its expected. If someone takes off running, dancing or shouting in the middle of the service because they just got too excited or overwhelmed by God's presence you don't even notice. After all what else can you do when the spirit of the Lord moves upon you?
Growing up Pentecostal....you don't even think twice about these things...but I guess in the eyes of someone who was raised differently...our normal, natural service might seem a little odd. Which is what leads me to my topic I've been pondering....
I have been so exposed to certain elements of the supernatural realm...it is a comfortable area for me in a lot of ways. However....there are a lot of areas that I just don't know about. One of the shows I watch sometimes is A Haunting...I find it intriguing to hear about other people's encounters with the supernatural...I have to admit..I don't believe in ghosts... I believe in God and that angels, the devil, and demons are real. I don't believe that people get to haunt other people...I think that when you die you go to heaven or hell....no lollygagging in between. The main reason I believe this is because of the Bible story about the rich man in Hell asking for Lazarus to bring him a drop of water. Obviously...he was in eternity and not out and about haunting folks or stirring up any other trouble. However....how do you explain people seeing their loved ones or having experiences with "ghosts" that look or act like their loved ones that are passed... I think these instances or just demons manifesting themselves as someone you are familiar. After all...why in heaven's name would someone you love and that supposedly loved you come back and scare the living daylights out of you? Just doesn't make sense. The devil...on the other hand... he is just full of no good. So... say that there is no such thing as ghosts... and the devil is behind all of these ghost stories....I don't think I have ever heard a ghost story that wasn't related to darkness, or fear... sounds like the devil right? So...if the devil is out to torment us and destroy us...shouldn't we try to protect ourselves? It seems like when you have an enemy or someone who is trying to kill and destroy you...you try to find out about their tactics and their weapons.... I am quite comfortable talking about the weapons of God and the power to defeat the devil...but our adversary is often taboo to talk about. That is what I am wondering... I'm not saying we need to be devil fans or anything of that nature... but should we be more educated about his vices and tricks? I know that Hollywood makes things theatrical so that we will watch them... but the devil is real enough to not need theatrics. Sometimes I think we forget that... Sometimes I think we imagine the devil as a cartoon character and forget to realize that he is a bad, icky, fella that doesn't have any light or good in him. You know that person that you think is just terrible? Well...the devil is even worse... let that sink in.. and he probably smells foul...worse than a 2 week old diaper genie... just sayin. So... I am wondering..how do you learn more about your enemy without giving him unneeded credit or opening any doors for him to work. I have been taught that you shouldn't really even think of him...that that is almost like entertaining him. I wouldn't want that...but I do want to know my enemy so that I can fight him and recognize his snares and ploys. It seems like a tricky situation to navigate. So...Is the darker side of the supernatural...natural to wonder about..or is just the curiosity of such matters a trick of the devil within itself?
Saturday, January 5, 2013
Friday, January 4, 2013
Sew begins a New Year...
Sew happy to be me...I decided to create this blog to share....to share whatever may be inspiring me, bugging me, intriguing me, encouraging me...sometimes I expect that it will be happy, sometimes sad, sometimes humorous, sometimes joyful, sometimes deep, sometimes insightful, sometimes crafty, sometimes tasty...Whatever it ends up being...One thing is certain...It will be me.
I was lucky enough to grow up with parents that encouraged me to be me. Now that I am a parent... I want my children to grow up with that same priceless gift. It seems all too common of a thing to see folks trying to be something they are not. I believe with all my soul that one should be genuine, real and true to themselves. I have never been much of a ban wagon gal. I am more of a VW gal...or maybe even a unicycle gal...although my balancing skills can sometimes be challenged. Anyway. I think that people who are truly happy are the ones that are happy with themselves... and that have been taught that it is only OK to be yourself. I have had friends who when thinking of what to do with their lives...automatically choose careers based on what their parents wanted them to be... Those same friends, though successful in their careers...aren't very happy. It's sad...It's sad that it is so simple. In order to be happy...just be yourself! There is no one better for you to be!
I chose music as my career. Music was the fabric that my heart and soul was cut from. For the longest time... I would listen and dream and get lost in the whirlwinds of glistening notes. Van Cliburn was my inspiration....I recognized something familiar in him... His heart and soul seemed to be cut from the same fabric mine had been. Now, after years of playing and listening... I discovered that I absolutely loathe performing... and now I teach, and compose. I balance. In my younger days... I didn't balance so well... I pretty much practiced, practiced, practiced and then practiced some more. Music was all consuming...it stalked my spirit. I dreamed of it. Spoke of it... Waited for it. It was my true love.
Then I met James..I discovered he was my REAL true love...He is a percussionist...not just a drummer... He is handsome...He is funny...He is thoughtful and sweet...
And we had 2 babies...
Rowynn (2.5 years old) S
She is delightful... Independent....Beautiful...Smart...Artistic... thoughtful...compassionate... sweet...helpful...just precious...
And Cullen -also called Babycakes (9.5 months old)... He is busy... handsome...a mama's boy...sweet as sugar...sometimes bites and nibbles...he's an avid recycler and coupon collector...as well as thorough toy inspector and sneaky hair puller.
.............then I met balance.
Music became a form of my expression...it became a piece of me...instead of the whole me. I had to make room for more wonderful things in my life...I had to make room FOR life. James and I have been married for almost 4 years. It has been wonderful. He has encouraged me, and accepted me, and given me the most precious gift... our children. I still have room for music in my life...I teach piano, theory and composition 3 afternoons a week. I even am getting to share my love of music with my children.. Rowynn can now officially play "Hot Cross Buns" on the set of 3 black keys...not to shabby for a 2 year old..Babycakes seems to have his daddy's knack for rhythm. I am also completing my certification to be a kindermusik instructor.
I am so happy that I made room for something besides just music in my life... over the last couple years I have discovered and rediscovered all kinds of things about myself... for instance....
- I absolutely LOVE sewing and designing.
- I love watching tv
- I love making up new recipes
- I love creating
- I love reading
- I love photography
- I love embroidery
- I love cooking
- I love stamping metal
- I love doing little crafts with Rowynn
- I love rocking Babycakes
- I love blowing bubbles.
I am blessed. I truly pray that the only thing that Rowynn and Cullen grow up to be...are themselves. I know that whatever that ends up being... It will be wonderful.
Sew as this new year is just beginning.. my resolution is to sew in love, sew in some stitches, and sew positive things in my life and my family's lives.
I was lucky enough to grow up with parents that encouraged me to be me. Now that I am a parent... I want my children to grow up with that same priceless gift. It seems all too common of a thing to see folks trying to be something they are not. I believe with all my soul that one should be genuine, real and true to themselves. I have never been much of a ban wagon gal. I am more of a VW gal...or maybe even a unicycle gal...although my balancing skills can sometimes be challenged. Anyway. I think that people who are truly happy are the ones that are happy with themselves... and that have been taught that it is only OK to be yourself. I have had friends who when thinking of what to do with their lives...automatically choose careers based on what their parents wanted them to be... Those same friends, though successful in their careers...aren't very happy. It's sad...It's sad that it is so simple. In order to be happy...just be yourself! There is no one better for you to be!
I chose music as my career. Music was the fabric that my heart and soul was cut from. For the longest time... I would listen and dream and get lost in the whirlwinds of glistening notes. Van Cliburn was my inspiration....I recognized something familiar in him... His heart and soul seemed to be cut from the same fabric mine had been. Now, after years of playing and listening... I discovered that I absolutely loathe performing... and now I teach, and compose. I balance. In my younger days... I didn't balance so well... I pretty much practiced, practiced, practiced and then practiced some more. Music was all consuming...it stalked my spirit. I dreamed of it. Spoke of it... Waited for it. It was my true love.
And we had 2 babies...
Rowynn (2.5 years old) S
She is delightful... Independent....Beautiful...Smart...Artistic... thoughtful...compassionate... sweet...helpful...just precious...
And Cullen -also called Babycakes (9.5 months old)... He is busy... handsome...a mama's boy...sweet as sugar...sometimes bites and nibbles...he's an avid recycler and coupon collector...as well as thorough toy inspector and sneaky hair puller. .............then I met balance.
Music became a form of my expression...it became a piece of me...instead of the whole me. I had to make room for more wonderful things in my life...I had to make room FOR life. James and I have been married for almost 4 years. It has been wonderful. He has encouraged me, and accepted me, and given me the most precious gift... our children. I still have room for music in my life...I teach piano, theory and composition 3 afternoons a week. I even am getting to share my love of music with my children.. Rowynn can now officially play "Hot Cross Buns" on the set of 3 black keys...not to shabby for a 2 year old..Babycakes seems to have his daddy's knack for rhythm. I am also completing my certification to be a kindermusik instructor.
I am so happy that I made room for something besides just music in my life... over the last couple years I have discovered and rediscovered all kinds of things about myself... for instance....
- I absolutely LOVE sewing and designing.
- I love watching tv
- I love making up new recipes
- I love creating
- I love reading
- I love photography
- I love embroidery
- I love cooking
- I love stamping metal
- I love doing little crafts with Rowynn
- I love rocking Babycakes
- I love blowing bubbles.
I am blessed. I truly pray that the only thing that Rowynn and Cullen grow up to be...are themselves. I know that whatever that ends up being... It will be wonderful.
Sew as this new year is just beginning.. my resolution is to sew in love, sew in some stitches, and sew positive things in my life and my family's lives.
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