Extraordinary

We have been fearfully and wonderfully made in the image of God. We are not copies, but originals; and we are not forgotten, but named. We are extraordinary.

Now you see? If you’re extraordinary why are you living like your mediocre or like your life isn’t on purpose? 

Extraordinary people finish well, and they finish strong. They know that how they end one season is how they will start the next.

Extraordinary people seize the day. They do not wait for the day to happen to them, but they understand that to succeed in life you have to live each day on purpose and with intent.

Extraordinary people have an unselfish care for the welfare of others.  

Extraordinary people are good listeners, retaining what they hear, because they understand that wise counsel is safe and fools fight against it.

Extraordinary people study and read and meditate.

Extraordinary people steward their bodies well because they understand we are triune and holistic people that need to be cared for physically, spiritually, emotionally and mentally.

Extraordinary people talk differently. Their words are full of grace, wisdom and joy; encouraging and teaching others.

Extraordinary people stand, dress, and walk differently because they respect themselves and they respect others.

YOU ARE MEANT TO BE EXTRAORDINARY.

It’s a new day. What will you do with it? Squander it or make the most of it? Each day our desire should be to pursue Christ and His mission for us. My prayer today is that we would be less self-absorbed by its finish.

Vacation for a Year

A few months back a casual dinner conversation sparked a question that would prove to be monumental, though at the time it seemed rather inconsequential. The question simply was,

“If you could go on vacation for a year, with money being no object, what would you do with that year?”

For me, the answer came quite easily, perhaps because I have already been a mindset of defining vision; but I think for most of the us the answer would come just as readily.  Perhaps it will surprise you, to find out what you would be doing with your life if you had a year. Because if you had a year to do whatever you wanted, why not make it two, then three? Why not make that your life?

You see, it’s different to think of vacation in measurements of two weeks or one month versus one year. I say vacation because we associate that with words like: pleasure, enjoyment,  refreshing, rejuvenating. And I pose the time frame of a year because that helps us to think holistically and figure out what would actually be the most satisfying.

So, did you answer the question?

If I could go on vacation for a year, without worrying about money I would do the following: Travel to inner-city or third world schools/orphanages and help to develop their arts program(art:drawing, building/dance/music). I would come in as a teacher/inspirer/dreamer and instill the heart to dream back in the students and in the teachers. I would help them raise funds/ receive grants etc. for said program or extra-curricular activities, working with local organizations, businesses and government programs to strengthen and rebuild the moral of the individual lives and thus the community.

Like I said, the answer slipped right off my tongue, and seemed rather inconsequential, until I got to thinking; if that was what I would do for a year, would I do it for two? And if I would do it for two, I probably was meant to do it for longer.

It’s simple, there are questions and events in our lives that define us, shape us, and keep us on the track we’re meant to live. This was one of those questions. I wasn’t veering off a cliff in terms of my life, but it was a guard rail for me.

What’s your answer going to be?

A Short Poem

There is a castle on the height,
Whose windows light at twilight.
Lamps burning in the night watch. 

Now creepy dark things lurk about,
To taunt and scare and bring doubt.
My place is in the night watch.

And when a weary soul should see,
Lights flickering in the vicinity.
May the light be a guiding servant.

To guide them in the night watch.

Bring them rest in the night watch.

Who Will Stand?

Places where there have been factions. Splits. Schisms in the body. Places that have looked irreparable and where there has been a unbridgeable gulf; out of those very places new life will grow.

Where there has been a split caused by striving: There would grow rest and grace.
Where there has been a split caused by confusion: There would grow clarity and discernment.
Where there has been a split caused by offense: There would grow humility and forgiveness.
Where there has been a split caused by quitting: There would grow forbearance and endurance.
Where there has been a split caused by death: There would grow eternal life.

And I saw these splits effecting several spheres. Not only our relationship with the Lord, but also gulfs in our relationships with each other. Disagreements, separations, divorces (even in couples still married but w/ little to no life/ intimacy in them).

This growth, this knitting and this repair will not come of ourselves in positive will-power. But, it will and it must come from God and His power.

“For the law made nothing perfect; on the other hand, there is the bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God.” Hebrews 7:19. “And the commandment, which was to bring life, I found to bring death. For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me and by it killed me.” Romans 7:10,11.

The ultimate new life and hope will be in drawing near to God and it will not be done by any work of the flesh or any power of the will. In fact, our very inability to do as God has said may cause despair…but it shouldn’t. If God has spoken then He will provide the way as we learn to abide, and trust in Him. But it won’t be accomplished because we tried hard enough. He’s already spoken that He is Life and that He has come to give us that. It will come by faith and simple obedience to believe and walk.  “And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.” John 17:3

“And do this, knowing the time, that now is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed.” Romans 13:11-14 (but also all of ch 13.) We do not have time to remain asleep or feeding on milk. We MUST draw near in the power of Christ and walk as mature believers. God has blessed us with EVERY spiritual blessing. We have ALL things pertaining to live and godliness. That is a miracle of the re-birth.

“But, beloved, we are confident of better things concerning you, things that accompany salvation. We desire that each of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end, that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.” Hebrews 6:9-12

God certainly is doing a work and has called us to rise up from our slumber. To see with clarity and move forward. He is desiring our heart and dependence be on Him and in the power of His Spirit. These are going to be full days. These are intended to be days of great advance of the Kingdom of our Father and we are the ones called upon in this hour to rise up. Who will stand for our generation?

Teach Me To Love.

May it be said of us that we loved God and that we loved people.

Teach me to love with everlasting love.
Teach me to love with patient endurance.
Teach me to love with eyes of faith; not blind, but not limited to the current.
Teach me to love as You have loved me.
Teach me to love with words of life; not accommodating and not afraid.
Teach me to love with embracing purity.
Teach me to love through my need.
I need to be loved. I need to let people love me. I need to let You love me.
Teach me to love in my offering; with sacrifice, thankfulness and simple joy.
In hospitality. In charity. In temperance, with extravagance.
Teach me to love God. Teach me to love people.
Teach me to love.
Teach me to live.

Love, part a

True love sets people up to soar.

It asks the question, how can I create a context for people to realize their dreams? It ultimately asks the question, how can I serve this person? It is selfless.

True love does not forget self, but it is not worried about its own self promotion. What do I mean?

I have a unique identity. My name is Autumn, and no one else has the same body, soul and spirit as me. Within my heart are dreams, desires, and talents that when combined form a person who has never been and who will never be again. That’s pretty amazing, and I am just one person of an estimated 6 billion on the planet!

Yet my greatest achievement in life will not be to do all that I want to do and dream big dreams, climbing the social ladder, the career ladder or any other ladder we might devise within culture! My greatest achievement will come in loving other people. But what about people loving me you might argue?!

True love is not concerned with unrequited love, nor intimidated by hostility. True love is not flippant or prejiduce. So, when I say my greatest achievement is to love people I am not worried of being alone, or forgotten or overlooked; because the true nature of love is found in sharing in the joy of other peoples lives being knit with their own. True love will never be alone BECAUSE it loves. And the peace that that brings is a bond most secure, ensuring both my influence and joy.

What’s all this talk about serving and loving? This is so contrary to our tendencies that it seems preposterous to even think it possible. Who really lives like that? Who REALLY cares more about other people than themselves? Isn’t it a dog eat dog world out there and you have to push your way to the top? You have to make sure to get your piece of the pie first or in the end there won’t be anything left for yourself?  You have to do only your little bit and everyone else needs to fend for themselves! And the examples of those who live like what I’m suggesting; appear to be walked on and taken advantage of and are basically push-overs with no backbone.That doesn’t sound like a very promising picture to me either!

But that is not the way the story truly ends. True love doesn’t get walked on in the end. True love actually requires a tremendous amount of strength. There isn’t a force on the planet, in all of our lives that is stronger than Love; not even death. And so if a person commits their life to learning how to love as love is to truly be expressed a most amazing thing will happen. They will seemingly lose their life only to find it as it was always intended to be, with purpose and satisfaction beyond what was imagined.

The influence and power of serving in love

“Be a student of God’s love. If you will love people you will never have to doubt your influence.”
Rachel Empey

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“You’ll never get free without truth. But, you’ll never get healed without mercy.”
Sue Detweiler

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Oh, prepare mercy and truth, which may preserve me.
Hebrew Proverb

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“You need to come to an understanding of the power of compassion.”
Sue Detweiler

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“Power without love is dangerous, but love without power isn’t enough.”
Jim Moore

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“If my life should but lead you closer to Christ then it has been well lived.”
Autumn Bradley

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“For even the Son of Man [Christ] did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”
Jesus the Christ

Fidelity and Focus

Behold, you are fair, my love! Behold, you are fair!
Until the day breaks and the shadows flee away, I will go my way to the mountain of myrrh and to the hill of frankincense.

My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast; I will sing and give praise. Awake, my glory! Awake, lute and harp! I will awaken the dawn.

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There is a beauty and continuity in scripture that I love. The Lord is drawing song out of us, wooing the beauty out of us. He speaks affirmation and beauty, ‘behold you are fair’ and then He withdraws to see how we shall respond.

Hopefully our response is with a steadfast heart and with diligence. Through the night seasons, in the face of our enemies we must be steadfast. Our hearts must sing and give praise. This affirmation and our response is essential in our spiritual life. But we know the spiritual so often by what we see exampled in the natural.

And the heart of people, especially women, is to be strong and steadfast. A woman especially is to take the words of her beloved and remain diligent. The heart of woman is such that with a few simple affirmations from her beloved, from knowing her place in his heart she can remain constant and diligent. We see this relationship between male and female in the world before us. A lover proclaims the delight he sees in her and she must receive that. If she will soak in his words, allowing them to spill over her and into her heart it will unleash greater depths of beauty and grace. It will cause her to walk through the darkest night, and not loose her footing in the storm tossed waves.

THEN, because of her diligence and steadfastness she is found awakening the dawn. She is found calling praises forth as the sun rises. And in that freshly kissed horizon she is radiant. She is stunning, she is more beautiful than when the day previous finished because she has endured and she has remained true to her love. It’s this diligence and this heart that draws her beloved to be undone. It’s also this diligence in our heart to the Lord that causes Him to say ‘turn your eyes from me for I am undone.’

What a powerful statement of beauty, it is tremendous. In fact, what all does that say of beuaty and it’s role on this earth and in this life? What does that say of the importance God places on beauty and it’s steadfastness?

In learning to know God more deeply; He has spoken words of life over us. How will we respond? Because HE is our beloved. He has been saying the truth: we are made in His image, we were created for a purpose. We are in desperate need of His help and saving. Now, what He sees and says of who we are unleashes faith in us.

And then, He withdraws because it is right that we respond. It is right that we learn to be steadfast, to have our hearts refined. (He has not left, He will never leave or forsake…but He does withdraw). SO, we retell of who we are in His eyes. But more importantly we recall who HE is. We remind ourselves and others; and we keep going. All through the night and into the morning.

And now- oh now, look at our countenance! Does it look different? Do our eyes burn with hotter flame and clearer focus? Do our words carry greater weight and peace than they used to?

Mountains

Finish well. Lead well. In that order. If we finish well then we will lead well. Not just in our lives but into generations to come. It is about sculpting a new family heritage to impact nations and generations to come; to be re-writers of history, proclaimers of a heavenly Kingdom, to prophecy to nations. It’s not meant to end with us, not even our children or grand-children or great grand-children.

What must one do to see this promise? Be faithful with what has been given you now. Serve and love those around you.

We are in great need of character, resolve, interdependence, and humility. And we can not get to where the Lord is taking us as we are. It’s not possible. But, He has devised a plan. Maybe we thought we might try to get there crossing over the mountain. The scenery is nicer. People see us, they applaud how well we scale the cliffs. Perhaps they take notice of our shoes and backpack.
 
What tool then do we need to proceed? A shovel. And there before us is the entrance at the mountains base. We are not laying new foundation persay, but we are excavating through it to examine the precious gems and minerals at the mountains core. We will dig into this mountain to uncover riches of His Word and who He is; and to make a pathway through it it. We will do this together with the Lord for as long as is required. And when the fullness of that times comes, then He will split the mountain in two and what was covered will become uncovered. The hidden treasure will become a resource for the weary traveller. They will become gems for the poor, gifts for the needy and disillusioned. 
 
The question is, are we ready to start digging? Can we handle the dirt, the dampness? The reward is well worth the diligence. And the promise is that we will be more than amazed at the beauty and adventure that lays before us. There are underwater caverns, cisterns and wellsprings that remain untapped in our hearts that only an expert miner can get to. The question is are we willing to get dirty?