family

So many stories left yet untold
So many hearts broken by secrets that mold
Generation after generation the curse trudges on
Til' someone with boldness turns their brilliant light on
It feels like a fight -
for a great battle shall ensure -
souls are at stake - and darkness presses hard.

"Fear not my child, I'm with you always,
I know every thought, and every tear I see.
Fear not my child, I'm with you always,
I know how to care for what belongs to me..."

Left to our own, we shall certainly fail,
Yet in the hands of our Father is peace like no other.
His yoke is easy, and His burden is light -
We can always trust - for us He shall fight.
For when vict'ry is won in the heart of a man,
all Heaven rejoices, and dances, and sings!

Families these days are far from perfect -
Broken, lost and weary - destructive - we forfeit.
Though battered and bruised,
worn and crazy we come -
there is hope in the Father - Who rises above!

Our identity is not in these generational things -
but in the One who created us to simply BE!

(a poem by: C.Zbylut 11/23/2009)

from indy to connecticut in a day...

Driving is always an adventure...especially when you are very tired, and have to drive ALL day longs.

On our way home from Thanksgiving time in Indiana with my grandparents - we crossed many types of terrain...boring farmland - all brown and prepped for winter's covering...mountains and hills, and valleys...streams...lakes...foggy mountains...rivers...etc.

Here are some special things Weiz (my littlest sister and car buddy) saw:
- 4 deer running in a field
- a rainbow
- a city's lights at the base of a brilliant mountain we were descending
- West Point campus in New York
- 7 more deer grazing in a field
- an Omish clothes line
- a man with sweet sideburns consuming the entirety of his face
(though he was likely in his late 40s, he looked like Zac Effron)
- a sunrise
- a sunset

Sometimes we miss things where we're in the hustle and bustle of our days --- but what unique discoveries can be made when we simply watch and wait!

a birthday date

It was a dark morning - 2:30 am came quickly as I merged onto I-16 heading east toward Hilton Head Island. My goal and destination were one in the same - get to the beach in time to catch a beautiful birthday sunrise over the ocean. My mission was a success and the artistry stunning. God even had 3-4 big dolphins playing not far out from the shore. I squealed with delight at this special treat. I was amazed that a birthday date day could be quite so special.

perfect love casts out all fear

(A simple description of a recent experience in my heart:)

Freedom at last!
Fully free!
Beauty
unfailing Love
overflowing Love
overwhelming Love
worship
restlessness
blockage
stirring
confronting
anointing
deliverance
emptying
filling with LOVE
peace
joy
REST
empowered
perfected in Love!

"There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear: because fear has torment. He that fears is not made perfect in love."
- 1 John 4:18

torn

The other night I was hurting,
but I did not find you there.
The other night I was hurting,
on the brink of great despair.

Sometimes I wish and wonder -
and I find my heart wants more.
Sometimes I'm lost and wondering
amongst the raging storm.

A simple plastic smile is all it takes
to turn the questions away -
but no one seemed to wonder -
just how I cared today.

Behold the beauty of wonders untold.
This life has nothing and I feel quite alone.
I realize I am not my own...
and that is where I die.

Yet sure enough I find my breath,
and in Christ I am ALIVE!!!!!!

awakening

Do you ever feel distracted?
Perhaps you'd rather classify is as being 'pre-occupied' or maybe even 'busy'.

I realized the other night how easy it is to get caught in the 'flow' of a schedule, responsibility, or lifestyle and to forget we're not always supposed to float down the river - part of our training in this life includes seasons where we have to prepare and be strengthened - seasons where we must swim against the flow to reach our destination.

There are things to be learned from everything.
All we must do is stop for a moment - reflect, consider, observe.
I find it most interesting how God often uses these "swimming upstream moments", these struggles, these difficult, stretching, painful moments to teach us most. Why? Sometimes we get so caught up in floating we forget to think. It's easy - it's natural - it's comfortable...

but we're not called to be comfortable.
The journey may be exhausting - it may leave you breathless at times - it may be a fight - it may be a struggle - it may be risky - but remember the hope we work toward - a hope that is greater than any struggle - and so very worth the work in getting there.

As an athlete I can relate to this analogy or picture of exhausting myself physically - as a student exhausting myself mentally - as a Christian exhausting myself spiritually - as a young woman and human being, exhausting myself emotionally - but God doesn't call us to be EXHAUSTED. Yes, the fight in itself may be exhausting - but consider the rest when you reach that bank upstream - consider the refreshing, rejuvenating sunshine that awaits you as you breath deeply on the rocks - glancing downstream from where you've just come. Consider the sense of reward, and the growth involved in the exhausting, risky, breathtaking swim you just completed.

Don't forget there will be more of these to come - but for now...just rest in Him - and rejoice in the strength He has offered to get you this far!