The parks here in Paris are awesome! One of them I discovered as I was walking, wandering along the streets from my hotel...being led by God into this beautiful park :)
That is what happens when you walk by faith - you end up in places that you would have never imagined existed!
As I walked through it I saw people, young and old, strolling along...I looked over to my right and there was this dude walking down the stairs...UPSIDE DOWN! He was one of those urban ninjas practicing jumps and all that crazy stuff - sawlid! Then I look over to my left and there was a group of young people playing some beats and freestyling some moves, taking turns - pretty awesome! Some just sitting around watching them do their thing...
I keep going further and see the scaters doing their thing, some on boards, some on roller blades - doing tricks and stuff...some kids playing basketball on the basketball court next to them...
I walk over to the grassy area which is full of people just sitting down. The sun is soon to set and everyone is hanging out: some in groups of family or friends, some in pairs, some (like me) alone...eating, drinking, playing, reading...some on blankets, some just on the grass...the grass is so soft and clean....no bugs, no Mosquitos - Il est incroyable!
I find a spot in the sun...I hear music in the distance - a guitar and a harmonica...two guys are sitting on the grass not too far away playing for fun :) A couple arrives and sits 5 feet away from me, and they have a cat that they brought with them...aww! They are here to chill and have a glass of wine together...how romantic!
What I found so amazing is that no one is checking for one another, they do not care who is watching - they are here with the people they care about and are enjoying one another's company...no one compares or judges anyone...they are here to be themselves.
This is officially my favorite thing about Paris. Not the Eiffel Tower, not the Louvre, not even the Notre Dam...the parks! This is so me!
It is 9pm and the sun is just about to set...time to go back to the hotel...
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
Transformers (not what you think...)
So, I get back to my hotel room after a day by the pool, which is right next to my hotel (the pools is huge!) and discover that the transformer actually works! All my devices died all at the same time two days ago and I tried using the transformer, which I purchased at the Miami airport in hopes of documenting my trip...but that was unsuccessful :( no matter how much I tried there was no sign of power getting to my iPad nor iPod...for those of you wondering why I need a transformer: in Erope and Russia the voltage is different (220v, whereas in the US and the Bahamas it is 110v and the transformer converts the voltage)...So, all my gadgets were dead and I thought that this was the end of my picture-taking, music-playing and blog-writing joys, at least while in Paris...I was praying that God would lead me and allow me to find a way to charge at least the camera so that I would be able to make videos of my grandmother. I was totally ok with not being able to take pictures for the rest of my time here in Paris as long as I could make memories of my dear grandma!
I guess one thing I should mention is that on Sunday I was hanging out at "Champs de Élysées" watching 'Le tour de France' (which is the biggest cycling event - as big as the World Cup! People flew in just for that, like my flight companion, Scott, who told me all about it on the plane as we flew in - Thank You Scott!). Here is where I should probably give a shout out to my ne wfriend from Morocco - Yassine - it was great hanging out these past two days. Great to have someone who speaks the same language :)...by the way, 'Champs de Élysées' is a famous street here in Paris - Google it!
So, as we walked through the famous street with thousands of people and super expensive designer stores, we saw a store that had transformers for sale...one of them was €59.00 (which is like $71.00!!!). There is no way I was going to dish out this kind of money for a transformer...I mean, I could go to Disney Paris which would get me on all the rides for that amount! Besides, I already spent $20.00 for a transformer in Miami that was not working making me think that it was not a transformer at all but a simple adapter (because they had some at the store that looked exactly like the one I had and they were not transformers).
So, back to my story...I was not expecting to have my gadgets back, not until I got to Moscow or Kabarovs where I was going to make my next attempt to find something that worked at a lesser cost...I kept praying about it, thinking that this is not so bad, I get to read and write, spend time with the Lord without distractions...it was going really great! I was even able to squeeze some juice out of my iPod for my Hillsong, David Crowder and Jesus Culture fix! Things were great :)
I have to incert this one thing - another fact about Paris that I find crazy! There is hardly any Internet in public places and cafes...you would have to go to McDonalds or Starbucks and I only saw one of each in all my walking abouts...and in order to make a call you HAVE to have a phone card or a cell phone...no other way of just picking up a phone somewhere and calling locally...there - I said it!
Now I am in my room and something tells me to check the transformer to which my iPad was plugged into all night without any sign of being charged...I check it and sure enough it says 110v->220v...I take out the fuse and fiddle with it, put it back...take my iPod and plug it into the wall through the USB port on the transformer and...VOILA!!! It works! I guess I do get the remaining trip captured on film...better yet - the memories of my grandmother and my time with her are safe!!! Praise the Lord!
- added bonus: writing my blog once again becomes possible (along with Skype!)
- personal effort and stress that was spent on making it work: 1 %
- knowing that God is good and more than able: PRICELESS!
I guess one thing I should mention is that on Sunday I was hanging out at "Champs de Élysées" watching 'Le tour de France' (which is the biggest cycling event - as big as the World Cup! People flew in just for that, like my flight companion, Scott, who told me all about it on the plane as we flew in - Thank You Scott!). Here is where I should probably give a shout out to my ne wfriend from Morocco - Yassine - it was great hanging out these past two days. Great to have someone who speaks the same language :)...by the way, 'Champs de Élysées' is a famous street here in Paris - Google it!
So, as we walked through the famous street with thousands of people and super expensive designer stores, we saw a store that had transformers for sale...one of them was €59.00 (which is like $71.00!!!). There is no way I was going to dish out this kind of money for a transformer...I mean, I could go to Disney Paris which would get me on all the rides for that amount! Besides, I already spent $20.00 for a transformer in Miami that was not working making me think that it was not a transformer at all but a simple adapter (because they had some at the store that looked exactly like the one I had and they were not transformers).
So, back to my story...I was not expecting to have my gadgets back, not until I got to Moscow or Kabarovs where I was going to make my next attempt to find something that worked at a lesser cost...I kept praying about it, thinking that this is not so bad, I get to read and write, spend time with the Lord without distractions...it was going really great! I was even able to squeeze some juice out of my iPod for my Hillsong, David Crowder and Jesus Culture fix! Things were great :)
I have to incert this one thing - another fact about Paris that I find crazy! There is hardly any Internet in public places and cafes...you would have to go to McDonalds or Starbucks and I only saw one of each in all my walking abouts...and in order to make a call you HAVE to have a phone card or a cell phone...no other way of just picking up a phone somewhere and calling locally...there - I said it!
Now I am in my room and something tells me to check the transformer to which my iPad was plugged into all night without any sign of being charged...I check it and sure enough it says 110v->220v...I take out the fuse and fiddle with it, put it back...take my iPod and plug it into the wall through the USB port on the transformer and...VOILA!!! It works! I guess I do get the remaining trip captured on film...better yet - the memories of my grandmother and my time with her are safe!!! Praise the Lord!
- added bonus: writing my blog once again becomes possible (along with Skype!)
- personal effort and stress that was spent on making it work: 1 %
- knowing that God is good and more than able: PRICELESS!
Monday, July 23, 2012
The gift or The Giver?
Did you know that oftentimes the idol in our lives is something that God has given us? God gives us gifts and we call that blessings, but what we do not know, or should I say - don't realize, is that the same gift can become more important than the One who gave it to us. If we are not careful, our gift (sometimes something that we have been praying And asking for) becomes an idol. As Mark Batterson in his book 'Soulprint' points out that "the blessing becomes a curse. Why? Because we find our identity and security in the gift instead of the Gift Giver" (p. 100)
Here is the thing, last night I had two dreams (dreaming in Paris!) and they were about the two things that represent the gifts or things that God has been blessing me with...this morning as I journaled about them I asked Him to help me discern what they meant and He revealed to me that they were warnings. Later, as I read the chapter that I quoted above, it was confirmed.
The first dream revealed the old ways of thinking I used to have in a particular area and the way it affected my decisions and the final outcome...I woke up and I was troubled because I did not know what it meant and in my dream the outcome was disappointing, leaving me in tears. I even started to pray when I woke up, asking for clarity in that area of my life and whether I should continue on that path...I got a glimpse of something good being destroyed by worldly standards...in my dream the decisions made were based on the desires of the flesh and even in my dream I was aware of the implications, which is why I wanted to cry...it was not worth it...the gift was tainted because it was outside of the will of God. This revelation through my dream was a warning reminding me of what my flesh is capable of and what it could cost me. In a way that only He can, He revealed to me that there is nothing that He would not do for me - His daughter :) that He longs to give me good things...and also because He loves me He warns me so that the enemy would not snatch those gifts away.
See, when we operate within God's jurisdiction it is illegal for Satan to snatch our blessings away. However, when we step outside of His boundaries we leave ourselves open for destruction and it is all our choice...this is why knowing what the Lord wants for us is so important, that way we can make informative choices and not step out in the dark...
So, this was divine warning...and a reminder that He is always the one to be worshipped and praised. We should never forget that our life and everything in it is a gift from God.
In my second dream, similarly, my nature was revealed to me and how that may affect another important area of my life...the ministry that He has called me to...I was being reminded that it is His ministry and not mine...and that it too can become an idol if I make it about my control over it. I realized that no matter what I want I care more about what He wants and that meant following David's example when He danced before the Lord in his undergarments in front of all the people at a huge celebration as He brought the Ark of the Lord to Jerusalem...strange behavior, right? Well, disrobing symbolized his naked humility before God instead of seeking security in the royal robes...I too am challenged to seek Him as I drop the familiar to me acts of always having the answer and being a servant as He teaches me how to lead; to step back and let others lead as He continues to rise up leaders!
I just love walking with You on the streets of Paris! The ultimate romance...
Here is the thing, last night I had two dreams (dreaming in Paris!) and they were about the two things that represent the gifts or things that God has been blessing me with...this morning as I journaled about them I asked Him to help me discern what they meant and He revealed to me that they were warnings. Later, as I read the chapter that I quoted above, it was confirmed.
The first dream revealed the old ways of thinking I used to have in a particular area and the way it affected my decisions and the final outcome...I woke up and I was troubled because I did not know what it meant and in my dream the outcome was disappointing, leaving me in tears. I even started to pray when I woke up, asking for clarity in that area of my life and whether I should continue on that path...I got a glimpse of something good being destroyed by worldly standards...in my dream the decisions made were based on the desires of the flesh and even in my dream I was aware of the implications, which is why I wanted to cry...it was not worth it...the gift was tainted because it was outside of the will of God. This revelation through my dream was a warning reminding me of what my flesh is capable of and what it could cost me. In a way that only He can, He revealed to me that there is nothing that He would not do for me - His daughter :) that He longs to give me good things...and also because He loves me He warns me so that the enemy would not snatch those gifts away.
See, when we operate within God's jurisdiction it is illegal for Satan to snatch our blessings away. However, when we step outside of His boundaries we leave ourselves open for destruction and it is all our choice...this is why knowing what the Lord wants for us is so important, that way we can make informative choices and not step out in the dark...
So, this was divine warning...and a reminder that He is always the one to be worshipped and praised. We should never forget that our life and everything in it is a gift from God.
In my second dream, similarly, my nature was revealed to me and how that may affect another important area of my life...the ministry that He has called me to...I was being reminded that it is His ministry and not mine...and that it too can become an idol if I make it about my control over it. I realized that no matter what I want I care more about what He wants and that meant following David's example when He danced before the Lord in his undergarments in front of all the people at a huge celebration as He brought the Ark of the Lord to Jerusalem...strange behavior, right? Well, disrobing symbolized his naked humility before God instead of seeking security in the royal robes...I too am challenged to seek Him as I drop the familiar to me acts of always having the answer and being a servant as He teaches me how to lead; to step back and let others lead as He continues to rise up leaders!
I just love walking with You on the streets of Paris! The ultimate romance...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)