Authenticity

Oh Authenticity how I love thee. It is a great thing you know! To just be yourself! When I was doing my quiet time this morning I really had this on my heart. This word just kept popping up in my head and heart. Being back in the states with a different perspective has brought some things to light for me. Like this fast paced world we live in... Have you ever stopped to think or smell the roses? I know that since being back it's been a little bit of a challenge and has taken some discipline, to be mindful of my time with the Lord and in general. It's had me reflecting back on when I was here working and doing life. It wasn't bad but I found myself just going along and doing what the world was doing or what the world was saying to do next. When now that I'm a few years out from living in the states, I can see things in a different light. Like how to be Authentic in this digital world we are living in. We are all searching for our authentic selves. 

Do we really know how to find it though? Do we know who our TRUE selves are?       

Authenticity is just being yourself day by day. Who is the person you spend the most time with? The answer is YOURSELF. That means YOU are the person you will know the best out of the whole world! John 15:5 says - "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing."

Although I'm more of a Luke girl John hits it on the head. We have a spirit inside us that awakens each day. A spirit that guides us, teaches us and helps us understand the unknown. That spirit is the Holy Spirit. He helps us remember everything the Lord has told us. 

You know when you look at a green pepper, the inside of it has all the seeds and veins. I stop every time to observe the veins. I love looking at the intricate authentic work of our maker. It astonishes me every vein on there was formed. Or the petal of a flower, each line, leaf, color, everything! Oh it blows me away each time. 

It is a hard battle to fight, I agree with E.E. Cummings. The great thing is that we don't have to fight it. We have the help of a mighty and great God. Every person is unique in their own way, every cup of coffee is different, every recipe no matter how many times you make it is a little different. We are all made up of different ingredients, some have more sugar and some have more spice. Embrace who you are because there really is only one you! The world is putting up a good battle we need to be ready each day with Ephesians 6:11-18. Put on that armor! I want to go down with blood on it, not all shinny. It's meant to get dirty and bloody. Our battle is not with each other it is with the evil one. 

So be you, an authentic human BEING. It's truly a pleasure to be yourself for not only you but for everyone around. We have all the tools in our tool boxes of life, we just need to let the Holy Spirit show us how to use them. He is the best teacher. Some of us may have the same tools but we all use them differently and for different things. 

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Become a principled human being. Become an authentic human being. When you say that you will do something do it. Don't say you will do something and then not do it. That is not what a principled human being is like. Thought, word and deed must come together. These are actually the holy trinity within the human being. 

Thought, Word and Deed.

 When Thought, Word and Deed are in alignment at a very high level, then you are living a principled life. You are living an Authentic life. This takes you to a Divine life. 

- Swami Sitaramananda

BWCA

The BWCA = Boundary Waters Canoe Area. aka the greatest place on earth! We meaning all four of us got to have a weekend in the great outdoors. Getting back to our roots is really what it was. It was so good to be able to stand by this lake again and remember all the good times we've had. I love how God orchestrates the things around us. Instead of an alarm clock in the mornings I had the loons waking me up. Before the north winds would blow on the lake the loons would make their call. Oh what a great alarm clock!  

My little brother and I, we hadn't seen each other in almost two years.... 

This was pretty much the best things since sliced bread. I tell you what. Some things never change between siblings which in some strange way is a good thing. 

A good catch up indeed

We paddled out to the palisades for a day which are on our lake so it wasn't that far. On our way out loons kept popping up. If you don't know what a loon is then you need to google it... It was awesome, we would just drift along and they would get closer and closer to the boat. Such amazing birds. 

Of course thanks to tradition we had to eat breakfast at Trail Center.... They know me from when I was shorter....

It's sweet going back to places you grew up with. I so enjoyed this trip, it was refreshing and amazing all at the same time. Makes me miss New Zealand with all my heart. Thankfully I'll be back there soon. 

I leave you with this, a peaceful sunset from our door...

Ja Know?

Oh how I think Dr. Seuss was way ahead of his time. This quote brings me comfort. Just no matter what, be yourself that's all that matters. The bible is our guide book, a recipe book if you will. The Holy Spirit is our teacher, he teaches us how to interpret the bible or how to cook the recipes if you will. I LOVE food. My favorite part is making it for other people! I love sharing the food I make. It's more enjoyable for me that way. The bible should be like that too. You should want to share the "recipes" with other people! That's why some women get together to swap recipes. They want to share their stories with others!

I know I'm the first to admit that I don't follow recipes to a T, but I do like to see the ingredients.

 I remember the Lord gave me a picture once of how we are all made up. There were different little bowls with all different kinds of ingredients in them, some were being thrown into a bowl and some remained on the counter. In that bowl he was "stirring" me up. He was adding different ingredients at the right time. He knows just as a chef knows when to put something in and when to leave something out. How long to bake it for or if it's a no bake thing then to let it chill in the fridge.

That picture amazed me and gave me so much revelation because we are all "made up" of different things. I was so excited when I found that out and a little bit relieved! Knowing that some people are meant to be sweeter, some are meant to be spicy, some are bitter and some are just right. I guess it all depends on how you take your cup of coffee in a sense.

But knowing that I have just the right amount of ingredients added at just the right time astounded me! We are all unique, we are all ourselves nothing can change that! We all have the circumstances and situations in our lives that make us up. Oh how he keeps amazing me! I love it! There is only one you, so be the best you. I always thought that was a cliche to say! But nonetheless it's the true.

Authenticity is something we are all searching for, when really we can find it in ourselves if we search deep enough and are willing to go through the storms to get there.....

A few of my favorite things....

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My amazing grandparents, I had the privilege of visiting with them for about a week! 

Scott is one of my very good friends that I met in New Zealand but he lives in Michigan so he came to visit for a night at my grandparents house. 

My grandparents again, full of laughter and joy....

My grandfather has a unique fetish which is fun. 

Oh how I've missed my favorite drink! 

My mother's pride and joy likes to produce a lot! 

This Zucchini IS as long as my arm. 

At my Grandmother's 70th birthday party. 

My grandma and her friend Sherri

My two lovely cousins. 

My ah-mazing uncle and I

a three generation picture

These two little girls just wouldn't leave me alone. That's a good thing though! 

Ya know when you're away for so long you kinda forget how good all these things/people are. It is nice that you can just pick up where you left off with some things at least. I've so enjoyed seeing everyone and getting back to my old stomping grounds. There is much more to come as this weekend I'm going to the place where I feel  most at home..... Minnesota. Oh how I've missed this marvelous place. We all have those places that make us feel like we're home. So stay tuned....

She'll be right

She'll Be Right = Don't worry, it'll be fine. 

This is ingrained into farmers everywhere! I don't care if you're from America, Canada or New Zealand, this saying is what they live by. In America it's Oh you'll be fine! In NZ it's She'll be right. I've found myself saying this a lot lately. After living in a place for so long you pick up certain aspects of their culture and character. Mostly though I've found this saying reassuring when it comes to me not trusting God. 

The past few weeks have been a bit of a struggle. Because I've come back home only for a short time yes, but it's still hard. The culture is different, the people have somewhat stayed the same (thank goodness), the way people dress over here is different, how we use our resources is different. Or really it's all the same and I've changed. I think that's more or less the truth. 

Still this saying is one important one if you ask me. It's basically saying: don't worry, relax, it will all work out fine! Ah, I love that feeling when I don't need to worry because the Lord is going to take care of it all for me. it's reassuring in the fact that we stress over little things, we look at our "problems" and try to fix it ourselves. I know I'm guilty of this. When really - She'll be right! 

I'm sure most adults can relate with this but when you come home after not being home in forever and you have to go through all that stuff (I call it crap) that you left packed up in the garage because one day you might need it but really you don't. Yep that's what my project has been since being home. I feel a new season coming on. One of letting go and being excited for new things. It feels good to get rid of crap. Yes some stuff I'm keeping but most of it is on it's way out. It's like cleansing the soul. 

What I've been thinking about is that I will really be a nomad after I leave home this time. One bag full of stuff and that's it. I won't have much stuff here then. Which is kind of a relief, I've been wanting to go through my stuff for a while now. Eh, she'll be right. 

Farmers, you have a good saying, now I think the rest of the world needs to catch it.....

Do Sum Bombs Cuz

Back to my Eden

We call it Aotearoa around here Bro

I've had many questions on why would you want to go back? As people look at me perplexed and awkward like. I take a deep deep breath, smile and say that it's home for me. God can place anywhere on your heart, he can put countries and people groups on your heart to pray for or do missions work for. For me it's no different, He has put Aotearoa known as New Zealand the land of the Long White Cloud on my heart. When I watched this video, first I was relieved to hear the accent again, oh how I've missed it. Second, it really is Eden. It's such a beautiful place wherever you go! I feel the most at home there. 

"By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country" Hebrews 11:9

This verse among many have stood out to me as I've returned to the states all the while knowing I will return home to New Zealand shortly. I've had the chance to reflect on where I was three years ago to where I am today. Three years ago I took this opportunity and went on a grand adventure! Little did I know it would be an adventure that lasted this long. I am so grateful for everything that has happened and the way things have happened. God is so good.

Psalm 57 is my favorite Psalm. David is talking about when he is "in the midst of lions I lie among ravenous beasts - men whose teeth are spears and arrows, whose tongues are sharp swords." How he still praises the Lord no matter what, how the Lord's name alone is worthy enough to be praised! This passage has brought me so much comfort since being home. It's hard to explain everything in such a short amount of time to everyone for what I've been doing.

I feel as if I'm ruined for the ordinary.God is so faithful in his promises. I know that all the things I said I never wanted to do I have done. I know, never say never. I guess that even the little things in my head he knows, he knows me better than anyone on the planet. His heart is for me, it is always fighting my battles. Looking back at who I was 3 years ago to where I am today is like chalk and cheese. Two completely different things! It's amazing where God can take you if you let him! I was scared three years ago, I almost called a week before I left to say I'm not coming. I didn't though, the only reason I was scared was because I had no control over it or what would happen. I wasn't a control freak but I liked to have my ducks in a sorta row.

Now it'll happen when it happens and it is what it is.

Until then, DO SUM BOMBS CUZ!


*Sorry if you can't understand the Maori boy in the video but that is how true native kiwi's talk.