A couple of "blog" jems for you

Image from In a barrel jewelry.

I think that everyone like to hear the words, "You are a Jem of a person!".
So after spending a little time treasure hunting this week, I came across two blog jems that shone. So I'm taking a moment to share them with you and give these blogs the,"Blog Jem Award!"



The first is called "The Girl's Guide to Homelessness". This blog chronicles the experience of the homelessness 23-year-old Brianna Karp. Her life experience and her blog are in the works of being published in her own biography and may be made into a film soon. Talk about taking hard times and making a future out of them!



The second blog I stumbled across is the blog of Margot Starbuck (no, she is not in the coffee business.) On first glance on her blog, she quotes Micah 6:8 " Do justice, love mercy, walk humbly.", which happens to be a verse I consider to be a life rule...and continue and strive to live by. Margot is a writer, a speaker, an artist, a mom, has a great amount of experience in youth and church ministry and has a heart for missions through the efforts of Compassion International.

It's my pleasure to award these two ladies the "Blog Jem Award", not only for their blogs, but for their courage and creativity in living life to the full!
Cheers to you both and keep on shining.

Pointing at others, points back to me

Image from justynsmith.com

My blogging friend Mary Lue wrote a very thought provoking post on our shared "Sleeping with Bread" meme this week. Here is an excerpt from this week's theme post...

The bit that I want to bring to our Sleeping with Bread group here is the idea that sometimes we point fingers when we need to be lending a hand--or, in the very likely legitimate circumstance that we can't lend a hand, we at least stop pointing fingers.

Ahh finger pointing. A grade school teacher once said to me,"It's not polite to point - anyhow there are more fingers pointing back at you when you point at someone else!"

This idea came across in another conversation earlier this week too. A group of friends were talking about the things in other people that make them crazy. I listened and began to ponder if the things that we most notice in others that make us crazy are the things that most bother us about ourselves? Maybe those flaws are easier to criticize when our face is not attached to them, but in all reality it ourselves we're really pointing at.

This idea of reflection that is encouraged in the Sleeping with Bread meme is not always an easy process. It requires that I stop, reflect on my days, and sort out the action or inaction points in my life. Thankfully, this process is always wrapped in an atmosphere of grace - but soul searching it still is.

This weeks question of finger pointing makes me want to pause the next time I want to point out a flaw I take notice of in someone else...the question is... will I pause and act in grace instead of judgment. Only time will tell. Until then, I'll keep my pointing fingers safely tucked away in my pockets and be thankful for the unconditional love that I'm on the receiving end of all the time.

May that unconditional love work through me like yeast and raise my life to be filled with more justice, mercy and humility.

Micah 6:8 (New International Version)

8 He has showed you, O man, what is good.
And what does the LORD require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
and to walk humbly with your God.

Image from blog 'Thoughts on the road'

Click

Click into place
like my favorite set of Lego's.
Line up in a way
so things make sense.
But please don't let me in on too much at once.

I couldn't bear
not being surprised -
when the
"CLICK"
happens
and
things
suddenly,
unexpectedly
fall
into
place.

Then I will rejoice with the "CLICKS".

T.L.Eastman May 2010