Surfs up!!!!!
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Saturday, June 21, 2008
Video Blog 1
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Playing tag with God, seeing the moon rise, and having sunburn feet
How do you have sunburn feet?
i have no idea but thats what happened today when i had my quiet time outside in the sun.. i've never had sunburn before... i think its hilarious that it was on my feet... its been an amazing couple of days... a couple afternoons ago, i went to the beach with my brother and his family.. and i did something that i dont remember ever doing (but i probably did sometime in my life)... i played tag with the ocean water and was seriously feeling like i was playing tag with God... and it was kinda funny when my brother asked what i was doing, and i told him i was playing tag with God, then a big wave soaked my shorts... to which i said... "i guess i'm it"... Last night i saw the moon rise from the mountain horizon... it was a really beautiful site...
What i'm learning most here during this sabbatical is enjoying my days with God... learning to be His child, and longing for Him just like His child.. He's been teaching me things like trust, and enjoying His presence... its been amazing having my quiet times and feeling God's arms around me and knowing what calling Him "Father" really feels like... To really feel like His child and knowing (at least somewhat) the depth of what that means... its amazing.. and to realize that we are all children of God, and heirs to Christ Jesus... this thought should blow our minds!.. why doesn't it?
CBC kids i'll be speaking there when i get back at june 29th...
May we all see the blessings of God and give those blessings back to Him
Much Love,
joe mikey mapa
i have no idea but thats what happened today when i had my quiet time outside in the sun.. i've never had sunburn before... i think its hilarious that it was on my feet... its been an amazing couple of days... a couple afternoons ago, i went to the beach with my brother and his family.. and i did something that i dont remember ever doing (but i probably did sometime in my life)... i played tag with the ocean water and was seriously feeling like i was playing tag with God... and it was kinda funny when my brother asked what i was doing, and i told him i was playing tag with God, then a big wave soaked my shorts... to which i said... "i guess i'm it"... Last night i saw the moon rise from the mountain horizon... it was a really beautiful site...
What i'm learning most here during this sabbatical is enjoying my days with God... learning to be His child, and longing for Him just like His child.. He's been teaching me things like trust, and enjoying His presence... its been amazing having my quiet times and feeling God's arms around me and knowing what calling Him "Father" really feels like... To really feel like His child and knowing (at least somewhat) the depth of what that means... its amazing.. and to realize that we are all children of God, and heirs to Christ Jesus... this thought should blow our minds!.. why doesn't it?
CBC kids i'll be speaking there when i get back at june 29th...
May we all see the blessings of God and give those blessings back to Him
Much Love,
joe mikey mapa
Monday, June 16, 2008
Reflections of an out of shape dude
So i went for a swim today... the interesting thing is that i biked there, and there at A LOT of hills in So. Cal... and the pool was only about a mile or a half a mile away (not too long)... buti had a real hard time going there.. not only that.. i used to be able to do 20 laps in the pool.. today i was stuggling after my first one but pushed through to get.. 5...
Whats the point?... i've been having a lot of time for quiet with God lately.. and its been really fulfilling and i'm learning a lot about my own faults and insecurities... As good as this time with God i've been having, its also been very humbling as He shows me what He wants to change in me... I've learned many things, but the main thing that i've been learning is my own mortality.. In the words of Francis Chan.. "Its not morbid, its reality".. i've been learning that God can strike me dead at any moment.. Even maybe as i write this i can drop dead.. Again, not morbid, but reality...
But The God of the Universe, the God who created all, who made all, and who saved all keeps me alive at this moment... And i've been asked the question.. "Are you ready?"... and my brothers and sisters.. i cannot tell you that i've been ready allt he time.. sadly, i cannot tell you that i have never wasted my day.. but i hope that this reminder will stick with me to never waste a day... and i hope it will stick with you...
May we all see the blessings of God and give those blessings back to Him.
Much Love,
joe mikey mapa
Whats the point?... i've been having a lot of time for quiet with God lately.. and its been really fulfilling and i'm learning a lot about my own faults and insecurities... As good as this time with God i've been having, its also been very humbling as He shows me what He wants to change in me... I've learned many things, but the main thing that i've been learning is my own mortality.. In the words of Francis Chan.. "Its not morbid, its reality".. i've been learning that God can strike me dead at any moment.. Even maybe as i write this i can drop dead.. Again, not morbid, but reality...
But The God of the Universe, the God who created all, who made all, and who saved all keeps me alive at this moment... And i've been asked the question.. "Are you ready?"... and my brothers and sisters.. i cannot tell you that i've been ready allt he time.. sadly, i cannot tell you that i have never wasted my day.. but i hope that this reminder will stick with me to never waste a day... and i hope it will stick with you...
May we all see the blessings of God and give those blessings back to Him.
Much Love,
joe mikey mapa
Sunday, June 15, 2008
Willow Creek Arts conference 2008
Prayers answered... thoughts affirmed... restful and powerful worship...
.... and that was only the first day :c)
though i have to admit.. driving up to the church the first day and walking in and seeing this... was overwhelming
yes... an escalator.. so the first couple of moments was really overwhelming.. but it made it a little easier when 15 minutes later.. after asking God to meet a worship leader from Arlington, Va... i met this guy..
this is how our conversation went..
me: you came here alone too?
richard: yeah, where you from?
me: DC, Arlington, VA area. you?
richard: reeeeaaallly?? me too
me:.... weird...
so we hung out for most of the time in the conference and hope to connect when i get back to Arlington, Va...
But it was a great time of reflection, and affirmation from God that this is where i'm supposed to be... which was great...
The closing time Francis Chan...
reminded us that no matter how much we can excel.. there is still more to what us as humans can do... We have the power of the Holy Spirit that can be given to us, and if thats not there.. .then theres no point.. That really (along with a lot of other points, including meeting brian mclaren..) stuck out to me... i pray we all dont forget where our true powers come from... Francis talked about butterflies who crawl around in the dirt.. you ever seen those?. yeah.. me neither.. but Francis pointed out that sometimes, the Church and Christians are like that.. not knowing that they are different, and that we can fly... so i invite you guys.. to fly... unabashedly, and fearlessly fly...
so now i'm here in cali.. my brother reading kailey a bed time story.. me missing the girl a bit... but still having a great and relaxing time.. i spent the most part of today napping, and sitting on a ledge outside with an amazing view while reading Chans book "crazy love" (which i highly reccomend)... this time will be good here...
May we all see the blessings of God and give those blessings back to Him
Much Love,
joe mikey mapa
.... and that was only the first day :c)
though i have to admit.. driving up to the church the first day and walking in and seeing this... was overwhelming
yes... an escalator.. so the first couple of moments was really overwhelming.. but it made it a little easier when 15 minutes later.. after asking God to meet a worship leader from Arlington, Va... i met this guy..
this is how our conversation went..
me: you came here alone too?
richard: yeah, where you from?
me: DC, Arlington, VA area. you?
richard: reeeeaaallly?? me too
me:.... weird...
so we hung out for most of the time in the conference and hope to connect when i get back to Arlington, Va...
But it was a great time of reflection, and affirmation from God that this is where i'm supposed to be... which was great...
The closing time Francis Chan...
reminded us that no matter how much we can excel.. there is still more to what us as humans can do... We have the power of the Holy Spirit that can be given to us, and if thats not there.. .then theres no point.. That really (along with a lot of other points, including meeting brian mclaren..) stuck out to me... i pray we all dont forget where our true powers come from... Francis talked about butterflies who crawl around in the dirt.. you ever seen those?. yeah.. me neither.. but Francis pointed out that sometimes, the Church and Christians are like that.. not knowing that they are different, and that we can fly... so i invite you guys.. to fly... unabashedly, and fearlessly fly...
so now i'm here in cali.. my brother reading kailey a bed time story.. me missing the girl a bit... but still having a great and relaxing time.. i spent the most part of today napping, and sitting on a ledge outside with an amazing view while reading Chans book "crazy love" (which i highly reccomend)... this time will be good here...
May we all see the blessings of God and give those blessings back to Him
Much Love,
joe mikey mapa
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