how beautiful

I had forgotten about this passage:

2 Corinthians 6:3-13
"We put no stumbling block in anyone's path, so that our ministry will not be discredited.
Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way:

in great endurance;
in troubles, hardships and distresses;
in beatings, imprisonments and riots;
in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger;
in purity, understanding, patience and kindness;
in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love;
in truthful speech and in the power of God;
with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left;
through glory and dishonor, bad report and good report;
genuine, yet regarded as impostors;
known, yet regarded as unknown;
dying, and yet we live on;
beaten, and yet not killed;
sorrowful, yet always rejoicing;
poor, yet making many rich;
having nothing, and yet possessing EVERYTHING.

We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians, and opened wide our hearts to you. We are not withholding our affection from you, but you are withholding yours from us. As a fair exchange—I speak as to my children—open wide your hearts also."

If only everyone chose to just glimpse at eternity like that and be filled with the Holy Spirit.

My whole being will exclaim, who is like you, O Lord?! (Psalm 35:10)

God is King, and a Lion...a Lion King

Did you know that anxiety is a sin?

In the midst of talking about the lack of world peace with my friend last night, I mentioned that my motto is "hakuna matata." If you've ever seen Lion King, you know that means "no worries." So, as I sit at work and read all about the world going to hell in a handbasket, I tell myself, "hakuna matata" and try to remember that God is in control. So far, its worked ok, but all the news still leaves my mind unsettled, which makes for some crazy dreams. As I'm telling my friend that, I am flipping through a magazine and the headline "No anxiety" flashes before my eyes just seconds after I said hakuna matata. God has perfect timing like that ; )

Naturally, in a typical Hannah gets happy manner, I mumble some jumbo about anxiety, Lion King, and something else unintelligible and start reading.

Anxiety is fear, worry, or apprehension. The writer says it is a sin for two reasons: you are distrusting God and it shows a lack of acceptance for God's sovereignty or providence in our lives.

Why shouldn't we worry? Because "God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind." (2 Timothy 1:7) He tells us NOT to worry about tomorrow, because each day has enough trouble of its own (Matthew 6:34). Furthermore, He says to cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. (1 Peter 5:7, Psalm 55:22)

It is such a simple message, but it seems to be the last thing I think about when I start stressing about something. Why should we worry about tomorrow when God owns everything! He is in control, He knows what's going on, and there is nothing we can do to change His plans. Worrying won't add a single day to my life, or yours.

Of course, avoiding worry doesn't mean we can check out of life when trouble strikes. We need to face the storms and trials in our lives. As we are being pressed and molded (which is pretty painful 99% of the time), we must remember that God is working that situation for our good, and we must be faithful to obey. We can't forget our warrior sides : )

Even more exciting to me was the connection I made with anxiety and the definition of sin. Sin is transgression, which can be defined as "stepping over the boundaries." We've all heard about how we need boundaries and that removing boundaries not only makes for a terrible society, but also a troubled heart. Two nights ago, I was reading Psalm 16 over and over again, and verse 6 really caught me: "The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance." When we are following God's plan for our life, why would we need to worry at all? Maybe anxiety can also act as a warning that you've stepped over the line into sin territory. Kind of like those shock collars for dogs...it really hurts.

God's lines in the sand are good, and it would be less stressful to find that out by staying behind the line instead of crossing it to see for ourselves if the grass is greener on the other side.

I'm not perfect, and neither are you, so we might be apprehensive and fearful 5 months, 5 days, or even 5 minutes from now. But God still loves us, and He still has the whole world in His hands. Its ironic how becoming a control freak only leaves you more fearful instead of more in charge of control.

That was longest post ever. The end.

...the sun is shining on my smiling face

here's something that may or may not be news to you: GOD IS ON THE MOVE. The past six months have really confirmed that reality to me. So much has happened this year already, but I believe the best is yet to come. I try not to imagine what the best could possibly be, because my imagination is so limited. God is so unlimited.

case in point -- I constantly misjudge people. ok, so I'm trying to move away from the whole judging people in the first place, but when I meet someone who is so pro-choice, or so "something opposite of what I believe," I mentally put up this wall. Yes, I will be their friend and try not to get into arguments with them, but sometimes I limit God's work in their lives. I may automatically think that God can change their heart, but do I really believe that? Even if you run away, kill someone, or hide in the bottom of a boat, God never forgets about you and His plan for your life. So, God can change the heart of an abortionist. He can redeem a murderer. He can rescue the captives. Who am I to say otherwise? It is certainly not my responsibility to decide who God can and cannot save. All I have to do is learn to love, even when someone seems unlovable. I also need to realize that I am not always right (1% of the time...just kidding!).

so, I'm learning to be transformed, and so are thousands of people all over the world. God is moving in Lakeland, and He's moving in Hampton Roads, and He's moving all across the world. There is nowhere He cannot go. Even as China's in the midst of all the earthquake, Olympic, and political turmoil, God is moving in the hearts of the Chinese people. He is in control, no matter how many tornadoes, hurricanes, fires, earthquakes, or plagues strike the earth.


Not only does being transformed save me from my own sin and problems, but it saves people around me. I constantly go back to Isaiah 58, which talks about true fasting. God calls us to be humble, to free the captives, to share your food with the hungry, and clothe the naked. When I am walking in the right path, people I touch will be blessed. Don't you want to be a blessing?

what a great thing to think about all day (or all your life for that matter)! It puts a smile on your face and a joy in your heart.

: ) : )

another day in the life

here I am, in Richmond, at the Family Foundation. This is my second day at FF, and I can confidently say that I know much more about the General Assembly and the transportation tax then when I first came here : ). I've been working on letters to the editors of different newspapers, and my dry humor and shock ability are wearing out...its hard to impress so many editors at once and hope your 2 cents get published.

I've also learned that dowtown Richmond is very confusing....I've haven't gotten to the interstate the same way twice yet. Yesterday, as I was trying to navigate my way to Short Pump mall, I navigated 30 minutes out of the way and through three tolls before I was able to get on the right road again....arg. Such a waste of gas, but the good news is that I now know which way NOT to go : ).

During my lunch break today, I went to the Bell Tower at Capitol Square and browsed the visitor center. Richmond has SO much to see, so I'm excited to start my tours as soon as possible. There are so many historical sites, museums, libraries, old houses, cool restaurants, etc. It will be hard to fit in all that I want to see by August.

ok, update finished.

FYI: the new tax increase proposed by Governor Kaine...BAAAAAAAADDDD. More taxes are not the only way to fix the problem. Besides, when was the last time the government throwing your money at something fixed a mismanagement problem?