Nobody changes the world maintaining the
Nobody changes the world maintaining the status-quo. -Ed Kang
Black and White
I had a great wedding season this summer… find snippets on my facebook www.facebook.com/rayadesol! Here is one of my favourite black and whites! With the old homesteader original house on the land still, I thought nothing would be more appropriate than a good homesteader shot. This one’s for the kids!
For 48 Hours Only: Holy Ghost
I had to share this with you all!
Saturday night was beautiful! I love this guys vision and I creid when I watched it, the beautiful things God is doing all across the globe. He loves people! Movie starts after around 50 min, however if you want to see Brian ‘Head’ Welch from the band KORN on the stage helping to lead worship… watch the set =) #holyghostmovie
You are Stronger
My dear friend Kate Hurley wrote this: It was beautiful and so inspirational, I wanted to share it! … Also she has written a book… feel free to check her site!
You Are Stronger Than You Think You Are
Yesterday,in Mexico where I am teaching at a YWAM base, I went to a home for labor trafficked girls from 6-8 years old and sex trafficked girls from about 10-20 years old for about 8 hours. My team and I were giving a well deserved break to the ladies that worked there.Putting these beautiful faces to an issue I have long cared about was both heartbreaking and hopeful, in that these girls still laugh and play and love despite the atrocities they have lived through.
After playing tag and cards and eating with them, they asked me if they could wash and cut my hair.
As I stuck my head under a sink with freezing cold water and had four little hands gently massaging my scalp and pouring shampoo over my head, I almost started weeping. One of these girls had burns on her arm where cigarette butts had been put out.
These hands had every right to bring violence to anyone they touched. It would be completely justified, as touch has been such a horrible part of their history.
And yet, here they were….Bringing healing with their touch. Touching each others hands as they sat and talked, their arms around each others’ shoulders. Touching my heart by welcoming me with such open arms. And then gently touching the head of a stranger as if I was their good friend.
The words from the prologue of my book came to me as I was with these girls, with new clarity:
You are stronger than you think you are.
You, your hands dirtied with the soil where you till up the rocks of generations gone by. Your tears watering the ground, making the roots grow deep and wide while you are unaware. You labor, you dig, you claw this tiny piece of land where others buried their dreams and gave up trying.
But not you. You keep going.You never give up. You see the tree in the seed, and you will fight until that tree is standing before you, it’s long willowing arms grasping your hope in its branches.
You are stronger than you think you are.
You, covered in all your scars. Where your face was grazed with false imaginings that you were not beautiful enough. Where your hands were caught in fields of cotton when you didn’t believe you were free. Where you were marked across your chest the day you thought that they left because you weren’t worth it. Look closely, love. Look closely because those scars are gilded with gold. Those scars have become your crown.
You are stronger than you think you are.
You, dancing there with your face against the wind. Not a pretty dance, but a wild dance. A hold on for dear life to the hope dance. An I will never stop believing in your goodness dance. A shake the sadness off your skin dance. You, with your feet pounding against the ground to the rhythm of your unsurrenduring spirit. With your knees soiled and bleeding from the prayers and the longings and the times you almost gave up. With your arms thrown up in surrender and beckoning and awe. “You are my love!” you yell, “And I will never stop believing!” There is burning against your back as you lift up your face, because your wings are returning, love. Your wings are returning.
Look at me and believe now. You are stronger than you think you are. Stronger than you think you are.
As they washed my hair, these girls were draining the dirt off of my often apathetic heart. A heart that often only looks at pain when it is my own pain. That I often pay attention to only when it is my own small tragedy that I am praying about.
The hope of these girls, who still love those around them despite the incredible pain they have endured, is the fabric that heaven is made of. That hope softened my heart and helped me to see the power that God has to restore, to wash clean.
God soften my heart. Allow me to touch people in beautiful ways like this. Allow me to pray for pain even when it is not my own.
http://thesexycelibate.com/author/iamkatehurley/
http://www.gettingnakedlater.com/
(Yes she is both a writer and a musician)… buy her book/music and send her love and compliments!
Backyard Ski
Blizzards are just recipies for fun! People all cooped up in a house.. something great is about to happen! … So we decided to strap on our skis and see how far down the river we could get. Something active, creative, and a bit adventurous.. made my heart feel full and warm! Not to mention getting a few night time photos!
We love bowness! … skating party soon!
Karma for Bono
I had a visit to my chiropracter today.. I always feel so good after! As I walked in I apoligized for being late (.. classic) and mentioned I was cooking soup for my grandma for dinner. As I was on my way out the door the administrater mentioned she hoped her kids would do the same for her when she’s older. I said raise them to be generous, give, and be compassionate and they will. She mentioned she was a solid believer in karma… I had some thoughts on that but said nothing… In my mind I thought, yea I call it “sowing and reaping” … but I would say it’s a generally true concept…
Nonetheless, in an excerpt from Bono’s book, I thought Bono did a lovely summary of thoughts I wish I had had at the time:
“‘Bono: Yes, I think that’s normal. It’s a mind-blowing concept that the God who created the universe might be looking for company, a real relationship with people, but the thing that keeps me on my knees is the difference between Grace and Karma.
Michka: I haven’t heard you talk about that.
Bono: I really believe we’ve moved out of the realm of Karma into one of Grace.
Michka: Well, that doesn’t make it clearer for me.
Bono: You see, at the center of all religions is the idea of Karma. You know, what you put out comes back to you: an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, or in physics; in physical laws every action is met by an equal or an opposite one. It’s clear to me that Karma is at the very heart of the universe. I’m absolutely sure of it. And yet, along comes this idea called Grace to upend all that “as you reap, so you will sow” stuff. Grace defies reason and logic. Love interrupts, if you like, the consequences of your actions, which in my case is very good news indeed, because I’ve done a lot of stupid stuff.'”
Thoughts?
Find the full articel here:
http://www.patheos.com/blogs/frankviola/bono-on-jesus/
Dead Raiser
DEAD RAISER (Official Trailer) HD from Mountain Light Cinema on Vimeo.
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This one is going to be controversial but I just had to post it. I would rather hear about what is possible or happening than closed off. I always want to be open to new experiences/ways of thinking/exploring something I may not know about as opposed to afraid or reactionary.
“That they may have life, and life to the full.”
Kids with Kompassion
As I do on this site… thought I would share something that inspired me today.
Wow… An incredible story of sacrifice and overwhelming love and commitment. Really the video says it all. Be inspired and have a tissue box near!
XO Jenny
The Sea Inbetween
It’s been a while! I have mostly been working… well actually working another job. Then took off to Europe for a month to decompress. Yes it was wonderful! Before that I was on a “wedding tour” of California. I had the privilege to go down and visit friends and celebrate their new life convenants. While there I happened to see Josh Garrells three times.. Yes three! Hah, my trip happened to follow his tour and friends were always down to go. Nonetheless, it was work every moment… He is absolutely doing something so inspirational with his music and life. I thought I would share the trailer as I await my full copy in the mail.
Hope you are enjoying your day or evening. Much love!
And yes.. once I receive it, you will all have to come over and partake in the glory with me!
Favorite of Late
You know me! I’m always about inspiration! I thought I would share a bit and post a favorite of late.
It has been a long time since I have been on here. Many good things have happened! I enjoyed summer to the full. Searched for jobs like a crazy person. Started working full time in Dec. Last month I went to Puerto Escondido Mexico .. maybe i’ll post a few photos later! I shoot my first solo wedding on Friday! Yea Eline and Luc! I ‘ve been working on a website for Raya De Sol! (My new photography company!) … i’m also on FB. and this Saturday I got to California for the annual Lighthouse global summit! And I’ll stay down there for a week and be between Redding and LA spending some QT with so many people that I dearly love down there! What a beautiful whirlwind!
Spring is here! Summer is around the corner! … beach volleyball is calling my name… there are mountains to be climbed and rivers to swim in…
Argentinians
Lately I have been thinking about how Argentinians pray for people. They don’t use fancy words, they just know the presence. The most common words are “take it, take it, take it, take it, receive, receive, receive, receive!” and it is way more powerful than our prayers. People’s lives get transformed.. They spend their time looking up and talking less…
Here’s to making things simplier! (isn’t is always simpler when you are looking up?)
Love
Gold on Strombo
Pulling out the gold! Thought I would post some more inspirational thoughts from George today: Here is actor Shawn Ashmore on growing up in his career in Canada before heading down to Hollywood:
“the great thing about canada is you are aloud to grow, you are aloud to have that journey, you don’t have to show up and be a big movie star, there’s a nice process you’re safe here”
Enjoy your day! Love!
G Strombo
I love watching George Stroumboulopoulus. I always find him intriguing and does the best interviews on TV. I think he captures golden beautiful parts of the kingdom every show. My pastor keeps reminding me of words given by prophets all over about Canada moving to the forefront of the world. Canada being for the healing of the nations. With that… Here’s little excerpt from the show on Friday with Margaret Atwood an incredibly interesting, well-spoken Canadian author.
“if you are going to do the political map of the world right now the Canadians would be the hobbits — jolly, like having parties, fireworks, and they think the big people are looking at them.
it also means we are the ones who have to go save everything
yes we have the ring of power, but we don’t really want it”
How will we steward what we have been given?
In the words of…
In the words of Current Swell.. “I’m coming home”.
Maybe it’s strange to call Calgary “home” maybe it’s not. I’m not really sure what I think at the moment. I think home is made by the people in the place and not the building itself.
So I plan to get on the road today from Redding to drive North. I’m feeling a bit wrecked by the transition at the moment. Leaving this place in the mountains in NorCal. Honestly, the only thing I have left for this to make any sense is faith. Just knowing who He is, that He is constantly working all things together for good, that He withholds no good thing, that He is constantly setting me up for success. That’s all I have.
So I will get on the road, my car loaded with the remnants of my life down here, transporting it up to Calgary. For how long? I don’t know. For why? I’m not sure. But it will be good. I will be inspired and I will thrive.
Prayers appreciated! I’m looking forward to seeing all my Canadian homies (minus B Stauffer) soon.. and brett only b/c you are in Cali and I just saw you…
Bring on the good tunes.. I’m comin home!
P.S. God will you take me surfing soon?
P.P.S. Calgary will you get some good waves for my soul?
Jen Has Sunshine 
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