Wednesday, March 3, 2010

Do you mind if I come in?

There is a place in Remedy I've deemed the "upper room". This is a coveted room that any "regular" at the coffee shop wants to get. It's two comfy chairs and a small table with 2 chairs. While there's room for 4, rarely is there more than one person. The room is at the top of the stairs all by itself with a door. It's assumed if you're up there you want complete silence for whatever you're doing (especially when the door is shut).

It's been awhile but tonight... I got it! I was up there, typing away, being super productive. Now in the hour I had the room to myself I had several people walk up the stairs, open the door, see I was in there, know the "unwritten" rule of the room, and leave. Then a lady came up, did the first 3 steps then asked, "Do you mind if I come in?" Of course I said yes. She promised to be quiet saying she had lots to do.

God had other plans and over 2 hours later we were hugging and making plans to hang out.

I can't begin to describe what we covered. I believe it started with the piano player downstairs and bounced around between art, relationships, family, slam poetry, churches, starting our own coffeeshop, painting, and our jobs. Mixed into all of that was Christ. We sat there, mutually encouraging one another, and recognizing this was a divine appointment. The last thing we wanted to do was open our computers back up.

I am fully convinced that room is annointed as a place where people feel at ease, a place where the presence of God resides. I have never been in that room and not talked about Christ with the stranger turned friend that joins me. I'm thankful God orchestrates these encounters. There was plenty of mundane "to-do" items on my list but nothing took the life filling moment of our conversation. Thanks Lord.

Oh btw - her name was Tina :)


This is one of the photos we talked about. I took it this summer. She wants to put on an art show and asked if I could display my photos. What?! So cool.

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

This Is Love....

Seriously Lindsey?!
Did you really think you'd have time EVERYDAY to post a blog. I was WAY to ambitious.
So reality check. We're gonna go with something REALISTIC Lindsey. Same concept but once a
week. Hopefully on Tuesday mornings (my morning off). So here's to Tuesdays and hoping I can
stick with this!

Being on staff has it's perks. One of the biggest being that once a week we are REQUIRED to spend a day with the Lord. WHAT?!?! Yeah I am blessed. Thought I'd share a little of my day and what God was sweet to show me. Really just the biggest thing. It usually happens at Remedy coffee (see previous post of my love for this place). So I journaled 10 pages today. I won't bore you with everything in it. But in short here's what I learned....

What I learned (or relearned) was simple.... it was the Gospel.
I was overwhelmed by my sinfulness and even moreso overwhelmed by God's love for me.... in spite of me.
It was hard at moments as the Spirit revealed the grossness of my heart, but refreshing to see with new eyes the Lord's fierce pursuit and desire for me, His Child.

Below is a song that "just happened" (I totally don't believe that) to play on my ipod in the midst of journaling. It's by Tifah called "This is Love". It's hauntingly beautiful.... and it's love.

Morning comes and I have spent

Every decent thing I am
Pockets empty
Now it’s You and me

I’ve been foolish, rash, unruly
Taking pride in all I have
Taken from you
Now it’s You and me


This is Love
When I give my heart to everyone but You


This is Love
When I have turned my back away from You


This is Love
When I have left you for the selfish things I do


This is Love
That you would still love me, in spite of me


Seconds pass and I think back
To every time that I have said
I am sorry
Now it’s You and me


So can I say these words again
Even with the things I’ve done
I broke your heart
Now it’s You and me


Morning comes and I think back
To every time that I’ve said
I am sorry

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Photo a Day, Story a Day

Well hello 2010!
You snuck up on me! It's crazy to think I haven't updated this in 2 1/2 months! I think it has a direct connection between being off campus raising support (ie having more free time) and being back on campus (ie no free time). But I see good in this blog. I love keeping people updated on my life and moreover what God's up to and how I see Him working... He's sweet to do let me in on it, and occasional chooses to use me in small ways for His Glory.

So with that I am setting out with a goal in mind. To blog EVERYDAY for a year.
I know you my readers (reader?) saw the title and can put 2 and 2 together.
I'm going to put a photo I've taken up everyday with a story behind it.

Let's see how long this lasts!


I think with the nasty, gray, windy, rainy day outside it was only natural that I pick this.
I took this photo out in California this summer. I was out there helping staff a summer project with Crusade (in Santa Cruz). We had a day off and headed down the 17-mile drive. It was the most beautiful coastline I've seen in the US. We took tons of pics, it was the perfect day with friends. We ended up in Carmel, CA in a cute fairy tale town. We had delicious italian for dinner and headed down to the beach for one of the
 most beautiful sunsets I've ever seen.
God is so sweet to love on us through moments like these.

Juicy and Delicious; These are some bite-sized morsels of my life in Sweden.