Crackling Trees

I woke up to crackling trees.

I didn't know what it was at first, but once I peered out my window and saw the clear blue sky and ice falling from the trees, it became pretty evident.

I've never been a winter-loving girl. Warm beaches and even hard work under a hot sun seem more appealing.  

So as I watch the sun melt the trees as they let the ice fall, I am reminded of the newness of life which this world and, most of all, our Heavenly Father brings.  

Life is always going to have its storms- even in Georgia! But the storm, the cold, the winter is never the end of the story. Spring always comes. With Spring comes new life. The plants begin to sprout flowers and leaves. The earth bursts in color. I just love Spring.  

This also proves true in our lives. Storms of many kinds come. Some stay only for a moment, others feel as if they will never end. But let me assure you, friend, Spring will come again. You will look outside and realize it's all melting away.  

You will hear the crackling of trees.  

"All around them, though out of sight, there were streams chattering, bubbling, splashing and even (in the distance) roaring. And his heart gave a great leap (though he hardly knew why) when he realised that the frost was over."
- C.S. Lewis, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe

Days 5 & 6

I am going to do a general synopsis of the past two days.

We have been to the Capitolino Museum and many beautiful museums, galleries, and churches. I will be honest & say I don't remember many of the names of the places, but they were all so beautiful.

In particular, today we went to one Church that took my breath away. The ceiling demonstrated Christ as a bright light with angels and people glowing in His light. Here is the amazing part: the artist went beyond just the main ceiling and spread it to the sides of the very top of the wall. Additionally, he painted on a very believable shadow from the light Jesus was casting. My description is awful but I hope you get the picture. It was wonderful.

Later, we went back to the Pantheon & got to see the beautiful sky in the big open dome. I continue to find it fascinating where the Catholic & old Roman god cultures have collided. So many temples like the Pantheon that were once dedicated to a roman god (or gods) are now churches for Jesus Christ.

As I was walking around these beautiful churches I realized something. These churches are beautiful & overwhelming. However, they will be like nothing compared to the glory we will find in heaven. What a wonderful thing to know.

Rome Trip: Days 3&4

Day 3

Today we went to the Colloseum, the Roman Forum, and the Borghese Gallery.

You can almost feel the rich history in each of those places. Stepping into the Colloseum was like stepping into a history book except Much more interesting and I could touch the walls and columns myself.

There were many inscriptionsand carving in the walls including 3 very simple crosses. I find it amazing that the place that used to be used to torture & kill Christians has been made almost a Memorial for those people & a place to honor the faith. Such is true for much of Rome. What was once a pagan city full of idolatry & Persecution of Christians is now the place that has almost become the Christian (or at least Catholic) home.

Next, we went to the Roman Forum. It was quite beautiful as well. I find it fascinating how the culture behind the Roman gods integrated still into the faith here in Italy. Everything seemed to have some connection to Jupiter even in Christian faith settings. I guess it would be hard (and maybe even foolish) to erase & move on from that part of their history & culture. It is not like they are worshiped as gods anymore, but rather are symbols of power, stories, or simply heritage.

For example, we went to the Borghese Museum today. In it was a magnificent sculpture by Bernini depicting the story of Apollo & Daphne. The super short version is Apollo saw Daphne & fell in "love"(I use that word loosely here), but she did not love him too so tried to run away. In order to save her from being raped, her father transformed her into a beautiful Laurel Tree. The sculpture depicts her as she is being transformed right as Apollo has reached for her. She is beautiful and he looks amazingly stunned!

The point? Don't be fooled into following lustful desires. You may be surprised what you find when you do! So the gods? Of course not real.The moral lesson to be learned? Alive & well.

Day 4

The Vatican.

I need say no more! But I will anyway. However, I don't know what to say!

The are certain things so magnificent that there is no good way to describe them. Take the Sistine chapel for example.

Overwhelming. Amazing. Beautiful. I feel I should say more on the subject but all my words fall short.

However, I will continue my previous thought on how the merge of the Roman god culture & the Christian faith. There were many statues of Roman gods in the Vatican itself. Maybe it shouldn't have, but that surprised me!

How fascinating is it that the states commemorating the Roman gods sit In the same Museum for the faith & Jesus Christ. How interesting. Again, it is a huge part of the history & culture.

Another thing: I knew the Catholics have a huge amount of respect for Mary, but our tour guide made it sound like they believe she is sinless. Very interesting & strange to me. Does anyone know what is thu official Catholic belief on that? I would love to know.

Finally, we ended our day at the Pantheon after the sun had set. It was so grand and larger than life. It was so magnificent that it almost seemed unreal. Amazing.

I finally ended my evening with one of my best friends, a croissant, and a heavenly cappuccino. What a day.

Rome Trip: Days 1&2

Days l and 2 felt like the same day so I am going to lump them together.

Day 1 we were on an airplane and day 2 we landed.Once we got on the bus we went on a driving tour through Rome with our tour guide. we got off a few times to look at churches. One in particular was incredible. It was the Santa Maria. It had beautiful Bernini sculptures and was more beautiful than I could possibly describe.  

We had the afternoon free so a group of us went walking around Rome. We ate delicious food and had some great gelato!  

The next few days we will be visiting the historic sites of Rome Including the Vatican. It's crazy to think that Peter & many other people in the Bible walked the same streets I will be walking the next few days. It's so humbling and brings a sense of connection to the fathers of our faith. When I go to the Vatican I will see the spot believed to be where Peter was crucified. Wow. Amazing that what was once a place of persecution for Christians is how a tiny country for the father of the Catholic church, God does work in mysterious ways! On a funny and similar note: our tour guide kept differentiating between "Christians" and "Protestants".  You know you're in a primary Catholic area when... :)

I'm so excited for what these next few days will bring.

Calling & Purpose

Simple Thing: Calling & Purpose

This may not seem so simple. In fact it may seem quite the opposite. How can we ever know our purpose here on earth?

Good news: Jesus told us our purpose. Mark 5 describes a man who had been possessed by a legion of demons. Jesus cast the demons into the pigs which freed the man of his former possessed life. The man was more than grateful. He wanted to follow Jesus but Jesus' command to him was simple: Go and tell what mercy the Lord has shown you.

That is still our calling today.

Too often in the church the words "calling" and "purpose" are used only for those going into vocational ministry. However, being called to do something is not nearly that limited.

Recently I went to see an old family friend at his place of work: a barber shop. His haircuts are always excellent, and the conversations are always a joy.

In discussing school and careers he told me he felt being a barber was a calling for him. He has had the opportunity to not just cut hair, but also to be an ear for people who just need to talk. To him, cutting hair is a ministry to people.

See, you don't have to be Billy Graham or Pope Francis to make a difference or impact for God. Simply spread the Gospel right where you are.

"Rejoice always!
Pray constantly.
Give thanks in everything,
for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."
l Thessalonians 5:16-18 (HCSB)

Blog on blogging from a blogger

Why hello, blog! It's been awhile.

Blogs are funny things. They are open to anyone with access to the internet. People's beautifully written poetry, thoughts, and ideas can be recorded in their blog. Similarly, people's unorganized, grammatically flawed, and unedited thoughts and whatever else may end up on a blog. 

There are so many blogs.

I don't have a figure, but if you pick a phrase and then add ".blogspot.com" to it, you are likely to come up with a blog. I just did twice and got a blog both times.

Some blogs are private. Some are just for fun. And some blogs get really big! Take the Pioneer Woman for example. It went from a food blog to a food network show.   

I'll be honest, I don't have a great takeaway from this post, but I have been scrolling through my News Feed on Facebook and seen blog after blog after blog being posted from a variety of blogs that somehow got big (like Pioneer Woman). Next time you're on Facebook, look at how many blogs you see. Are there trends in the topic?

I wonder if blogs are changing the way we learn news, what is hip and popular, and the things important to our generation and culture. What do you think?

World Communion Sunday

"World Communion Sunday offers congregations a distinctive opportunity to experience Holy Communion in the context of the global community of faith. The first Sunday of October has become a time when Christians in every culture break bread and pour the cup to remember and affirm Christ as the Head of the Church. On that day, they remember that they are part of the whole body of believers." ¹

Many times it feels like the different denominations are so divided. For instance, when you go to list your religion many places have Methodist, Presbyterian, Baptist, etc as all different religions.  However, there are moments of unity.

On World Communion Sunday, as said above, we remember that we are one body of Christ.  Today at my church I paid more attention to the communion liturgy than normal. One section struck me as beautiful for the first time.

"Pour out your Holy Spirit on us gathered here,
and on these gifts of bread and wine.
Make them be for us the body and blood of Christ,
that we may be for the world the body of Christ,
redeemed by his blood."
- United Methodist Hymnal, page 14

Redeemed by his blood
We have been saved, bought, redeemed by His death and the blood that He shed. What response can we have to that? What can we do? Thankfulness is natural, but how can we demonstrate our appreciation?

That we may be for the world the body of Christ
Live like He did. Do this in order to show others how amazing He is that others might know Christ personally as well.

Make them be for us the body and blood of Christ
And so, we all commune together to share in remembering this glorious event.

So, brothers and sisters, remember that we are all one body. Go out into the world and be the body of Christ because you have been redeemed!

Happy World Communion Sunday!