simple revelations...

after three years of seminary -- and not just any kind of seminary (the Institute for Spiritual Formation is quite unique!) -- some things are starting to make sense...


let me explain: before starting seminary, my approach to intimacy with God was typical. the pursuit of a regular routine of time in prayer, journaling and reading scripture was the main framework within which i hoped to experience God.


at different points in seminary, my ideas of how to love God and how to pursue intimacy with such an "other" being have been challenged to the point where i wondered what really was important. is it the physical discipline towards consistency? (after all, the closest thing on earth to relating to God's loving relationship is the choosing-love of marriage. so, then even when i don't feel like pursuing God, i still should, right?) or is it the issue of the "heart"? (does it mean the same thing if i come to God with being motivated by pure love and adoration? for that matter, is it even possible to possess a pure heart in this life?)


i'm so grateful to have been exposed to, been encouraged and given space to experience, and learn about so many different avenues through which people since the beginning of time have connected with God. truly, the sky is the limit! if God is omnipresent (which i fully believe is true), then i can connect with him in any way. i can knit or crochet "with" the Lord. i can walk or jog with him. i can enjoy my husband with him. i can play with my nieces and nephews while being aware of him. i can sing and make music with and for him... 


so, this morning, as i sat down in the quiet with a heart longing to pursue quality time with my Jesus, i realized this: what has happened in the last three years of learning, experiencing, wrestling, processing, discovering, and receiving grace in various ways, the "look" of how i connect with God largely is unchanged. i still love pulling out my keyboard, singing, playing, journaling and reading scripture. what's the difference then? i know now that each time i intentionally pursue time with my Lord, it's an opportunity, not an obligation. it's a free choice to act out of love despite feelings. it's not magic. there's no formula to it. it's not an: a + b = c sort of thing. not at all. it's just me being me, where i am, looking in the face of my God and allowing my heart to connect with him through whatever means might be appropriate in that moment. 


maybe this doesn't strike you as powerful and profound, but for me it really is.


and i'm just thankful this morning. for the quiet, the beauty, the learning, the experience and the grace to be me and to be His.


peace ;)

72 days for freedom // Track Your Footprint

Two websites that I can't help but share:

IJM's 72 days for freedom campaign
:: IJM is calling people to sign a petition to ask President Obama to fight slavery, to pray, to give, to host video screenings of a film calling for freedom...

and

My Footprint

[from here and here]

:: SlaveryFootprint.org is a website that will show you how your lifestyle might be inclusive of slave labor. I'm saddened at my own result and it challenges me to make some adjustments. Won't you take a look and see where you can make some positive changes also?

sara groves :: fair trade... music?

one of my favorite artists, sara groves, was introduced to me by my dear sister, stef, several years ago.

i've been hooked ever since. songs like, "He's always been faithful," "maybe there's a loving God," "when it was over," "when the saints" and my absolute fave "loving a person" have been echoes of my own heart so many times over the years.

 [from here]

[from here]

she's the kind of woman who is beautiful inside and out. how do I know? listen to her music. she's more raw and true to herself in her albums than i have ever experienced before... ever.

oh yeah, AND she chose to go with a Fair Trade Music Label on her latest album, "invisible empires."

basically, she's my musical role model because she sings about real issues, she's not hypocritical, and she challenges her listeners because of her thoughtful lyrics and unique musical expression. she purposes to write songs specifically about the causes that IJM (international justice mission) work for to partner with them in work to end injustice around the world. how much better can a musician use their gifts to contribute to seeing the kingdom come, "on earth as it is in heaven"... and that's not even through the physical, tangible work she does when she literally goes with relief teams to various parts of the US and the world to get up close and personal with the sad realities of brokenness.

check her out! you won't be disappointed. :)

"local" (in the L.A. area) stores that sell fair trade

Athena Naturals 2045 South Oxford Avenue Los Angeles CA 90018

Cultural Interiors & Gifts 5573 West Pico Blvd. Los Angeles CA 90019

Stefan Chasnov 2017 Kelton Ave. Los Angeles CA 90025

Barlow Guildhouse 2000 Stadium Way Los Angeles CA 90026

New High (M)art 1720 N. Vermont Ave. Los Angeles CA 90027

Kathmandu-LA 5035 Huntington Dr. North Los Angeles CA 90032

ShinyHappyShop.com 4610 Paulhan Avenue Los Angeles CA 90041

SLS Hotel at Beverly Hills 465 S. La Cienega Blvd. Los Angeles CA 90048

Duet Interior Collections 11732 West Pico Blvd Los Angeles CA 90064

SRF India Gift Shop 3233 N San Fernando Road, Unit 6 Los Angeles CA 90065

Nancy Bothne Designs 3247 Rosewood Ave. Los Angeles CA 90066

Library Foundation, The 630 W 5th Street Los Angeles CA 90071

Fowler Museum at UCLA 308 Charles E Young Drive N Los Angeles CA 90095

Curious 128 Pier Ave. Hermosa Beach CA 90254

Magpie 1141 Highland Avenue Manhattan Beach CA 90266

Corners of the World 1 Malaga Cove Plaza Palos Verdes Estates CA 90274

M’Pressions 1700 South Catalina Avenue Redondo Beach CA 90277

Topanga Home Grown 120 South Topanga Canyon Blvd Topanga CA 90290

Ananda 1354 Abbot Kinney Blvd Venice CA 90291

Bridgid Coulter Designs 1419 5th Street Santa Monica CA 90401

Palmetto 1034 Montana Avenue Santa Monica CA 90403

Parkside Pharmacy 2428 Santa Monica Blvd. Santa Monica CA 90404

Arts & Letters 2665 C Main Street Santa Monica CA 90405

something YOU, LLC 5532 Woodruff Avenue Lakewood CA 90713

Hot Stuff Long Beach 2121 E. Broadway Long Beach CA 90803

Fern’s Garden 5308-B E 2nd Street long Beach CA 90803

Sharmonly 3553 Atlantic Ave #1245 Long Beach CA 90807

Family Fair 810 Meridian Avenue S. Pasadena CA 91030

Vroman’s Bookstore 695 E. Colorado Blvd. Pasadena CA 91101

Ten Thousand Villages 567 South Lake Avenue Pasadena CA 91101

Yoga House 11 West State Street Pasadena CA 91105

Norton Simon Museum 411 West Colorado Blvd Pasadena CA 91105

Vida Verde 3425 Fairesta St. La Crescenta CA 91214

Ananda Ashram 5301 Pennsylvania Ave La Crescenta CA 91214

Follow Your Heart 21825 S Sherman Way Canoga Park CA 91303

Artists’ Enclave 7334 De Soto Ave. Canoga Park CA 91303

Ignition Clothing 24208 Valencia Blvd. Valencia CA 91355

Sharondipity 22563 Ventura Blvd Woodland Hills CA 91364

Kingfisher Road 4922 Topanga Canyon Blvd. Woodland Hills CA 91364

Kaiser Hospital 13652 Cantara Street Panorama City CA 91402

Dana Drug Store 317 North Pass Avenue Burbank CA 91505

Buddhamouse 134 Yale Ave Claremont CA 91711

Premiere 217 W Las Tumas Dr San Gabriel CA 91776

Perfect 10 Communications 3080 W. Valley Blvd. Alhambra CA 91803

Holy Family Bookstore 1527 Fremont Avenue South Pasadena CA 91030

CSU Northridge 18111 Nordhoff St. Northridge CA 91330

from here

Where to buy Fair Trade products...

It's been a little while, but even in the midst of finals time (I'll be done with the semester the end of next week -- yahoo!!), I have not forgotten my commitment to research fair trade products and *especially* where to find them. (What's the point of knowing what is fair trade but not knowing where to actually purchase said fair trade items?!?)

This morning, I found some fantastic websites that will help:

For shopping in the LA area, I've found the Fair Trade Los Angeles extremely informative.
*Particularly, the side bar on the right narrows it down to links for specific categories (i.e. chocolate, clothing, coffee, etc. --> click on the item you're looking for to find out where to buy it fairly traded).

Additionally, the Fair Trade Federation will show you what stores to buy from if you'd rather shop that way (sometimes it's easier to find a quality place to buy, rather than run around all of LA to buy one fair product in a store, but then have to go to another for something else on your list).

Lastly, I found this fantastic blog that compiled womenswear items, store names, websites, etc. There are a TON of places where you can buy your fashionable staples while supporting fair wages and healthy work environments. Just click on the link to this blog and then on the shopping guide link in the Fair Trade Shopping Guide post. Enjoy!

the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters...

some time ago, a friend of mine shared with me that genesis 1:2 provided a striking image that she had been mulling over.


genesis 1:2 says this, "Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters."

[image from here]

this image continues to surface in my own prayer life and spiritual reflections lately, especially in a spiritual reading through St. Augustine's famous Confessions.


for example, over the weekend, I spent time reflecting on this statement made by Augustine: "... but because your Spirit moved over the waters, your mercy did not abandon us in our misery..."


though much of my exposure to this familiar verse has been tied to the creation story, this statement evoked a new response in me -- what about a picture of God hovering over the waters with thoughtful intention pre-creation... not over the chaotic, formless earth, but over the similarly chaotic (at least to me!) and seemingly formless state of my soul. that Augustine would tie this image of the Spirit of God from the time of creation to an assurance of the Spirit's with-ness in our misery made me stop and consider that the same God who hovered over the formlessness of the beginning of time is hovering over me when I'm not sure what is being formed and shaped within me.

additionally, Augustine continues with the image in a subsequent passage this way: 

... but my soul is still sad because it falls back again and becomes an abyss, or rather, it realizes that it is still a deep abyss... My faith... speaks to my soul and asks: Are you still downcast? Will you never be at peace? Wait for God's help... Early in the morning I shall present myself before him and watch... I shall see my champion and my God who will give life to our perishable bodies too, for the sake of the Spirit who dwells in us, because in his mercy he moved over the dark waters of our souls.

somehow, Augustine sees a clear link between the mercy of God and his active hovering over our souls. what a beautiful (and helpful!) encouragement to remember God's merciful nature in this picture of his hovering over.