Comments on: Change begins with recognition http://CafeInspirado.com/103 thoughts on living la vida inspirada ... the inspired life Wed, 16 May 2012 12:02:34 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Anonymous http://CafeInspirado.com/103/comment-page-1#comment-33 Anonymous Thu, 02 Oct 2008 18:14:18 +0000 http://cafeinspirado.com/?p=103#comment-33 Your "Change Begins With Recognition" ironically parallels, albeit more eloquently, what I have been thinkng and feeling. At least in the sense that I've found myself taking more truthful stock of my situations--and in that "truth" has been a mix of not just the usual negative spins I put on things, but some real positive discoveries, joys and truth about who I am, where I am and where I may wind up going/becoming. Part of that has been making friends with some of the "if onlys" and "I wish thats" in the sense that I don't have to know all of God's picture to believe and accept His handiwork is still in progress. And all the times I've come to realize over my life that I've been where I've needed to be...so, can I finally accept that He won't stop loving me in that manner? Placing me and keeping me in the places He wants me to be until the next leg of the journey is at hand? Anyway...wonderfully written piece, Steve. And I totally agree that change not only starts but makes sense once we accept and embrace the truth. Those realities, good and bad (and those we might be unsure about). And it also parallels a conversation I had with a musician friend about who we are versus who we started out to be in life and what got in the way. I found myself talking about those talents and dreams that God created in the first place, and how, at 53, I'm "getting my life back" in many ways, most dramatically, via my music. Wow...and I should say this is not the first time something you've written has impacted me and made me think or just made me feel a bit more grounded, but I did want you to know how much this has touched me today and how much you have helped make this day seem to fit into the "bigger picture" a bit more clearly. Best always [via Facebook] Your “Change Begins With Recognition” ironically parallels, albeit more eloquently, what I have been thinkng and feeling. At least in the sense that I’ve found myself taking more truthful stock of my situations–and in that “truth” has been a mix of not just the usual negative spins I put on things, but some real positive discoveries, joys and truth about who I am, where I am and where I may wind up going/becoming. Part of that has been making friends with some of the “if onlys” and “I wish thats” in the sense that I don’t have to know all of God’s picture to believe and accept His handiwork is still in progress. And all the times I’ve come to realize over my life that I’ve been where I’ve needed to be…so, can I finally accept that He won’t stop loving me in that manner? Placing me and keeping me in the places He wants me to be until the next leg of the journey is at hand?

Anyway…wonderfully written piece, Steve. And I totally agree that change not only starts but makes sense once we accept and embrace the truth. Those realities, good and bad (and those we might be unsure about).

And it also parallels a conversation I had with a musician friend about who we are versus who we started out to be in life and what got in the way. I found myself talking about those talents and dreams that God created in the first place, and how, at 53, I’m “getting my life back” in many ways, most dramatically, via my music.

Wow…and I should say this is not the first time something you’ve written has impacted me and made me think or just made me feel a bit more grounded, but I did want you to know how much this has touched me today and how much you have helped make this day seem to fit into the “bigger picture” a bit more clearly.

Best always

[via Facebook]

]]> By: Patrick http://CafeInspirado.com/103/comment-page-1#comment-26 Patrick Thu, 02 Oct 2008 15:48:04 +0000 http://cafeinspirado.com/?p=103#comment-26 I read your note, and I senses something inside me relating to it, faint but there... p.s. you mis-spelled optimistic ( you spelled it optomistic)... [via Facebook] I read your note, and I senses something inside me relating to it, faint but there…

p.s. you mis-spelled optimistic ( you spelled it optomistic)…

[via Facebook]

]]> By: Pat http://CafeInspirado.com/103/comment-page-1#comment-25 Pat Thu, 02 Oct 2008 12:36:45 +0000 http://cafeinspirado.com/?p=103#comment-25 Hey Steve, it sounds like you've been reading "The Dream Giver" by Bruce Wilkinson! The book says basically, the same thing you're saying. It certainly is being used to wake alot of us up to the fact that we were created with a "Dream". It was embedded within us while still in our Mom's womb. And sooner or later, because it was God given, it starts to perk. You know, like coffee in a perculator keeps coming to the top. The "Dream" just doesn't let go.....We do have the ability to kill it, to give up and say, "It's no use. I'll never become THAT!" But if we recognize that the "Dream" is actually God's plan for our lives, we'll work with God to bring that plan into being. As old as I am, and that's pretty old, I'm still opening myself up to the "Dream" I've had since I was very young. And every little while a new aspect or should I say, a new inspiration comes to me as to how to further that "Dream." God is so good. He is so awesome. I have every confidence that my "Dream" will continue to grow until its fulfillment and I am at last home with my Savior having heard the words, "Well done, thou good and FAITHFUL servant. Enter into the joy of the Lord." You see, being faithful to the "Dream" is what will earn that response from the Lord. That's what I aim to be! Hey Steve, it sounds like you’ve been reading “The Dream Giver” by Bruce Wilkinson! The book says basically, the same thing you’re saying. It certainly is being used to wake alot of us up to the fact that we were created with a “Dream”. It was embedded within us while still in our Mom’s womb. And sooner or later, because it was God given, it starts to perk. You know, like coffee in a perculator keeps coming to the top. The “Dream” just doesn’t let go…..We do have the ability to kill it, to give up and say, “It’s no use. I’ll never become THAT!” But if we recognize that the “Dream” is actually God’s plan for our lives, we’ll work with God to bring that plan into being.
As old as I am, and that’s pretty old, I’m still opening myself up to the “Dream” I’ve had since I was very young. And every little while a new aspect or should I say, a new inspiration comes to me as to how to further that “Dream.” God is so good. He is so awesome. I have every confidence that my “Dream” will continue to grow until its fulfillment and I am at last home with my Savior having heard the words, “Well done, thou good and FAITHFUL servant. Enter into the joy of the Lord.”
You see, being faithful to the “Dream” is what will earn that response from the Lord. That’s what I aim to be!

]]> By: Steve Schmidt http://CafeInspirado.com/103/comment-page-1#comment-24 Steve Schmidt Thu, 02 Oct 2008 03:40:13 +0000 http://cafeinspirado.com/?p=103#comment-24 Amazing how we all weave our own specialities into our revelations. I tend to use my dogs alot. You, music speaks to you, and you use it to speak the message that's moving you. Hey, between the two of us, we're hitting the dog- and the music-lovers. :) Amazing how we all weave our own specialities into our revelations. I tend to use my dogs alot. You, music speaks to you, and you use it to speak the message that’s moving you. Hey, between the two of us, we’re hitting the dog- and the music-lovers. :)

]]> By: PizzaRita http://CafeInspirado.com/103/comment-page-1#comment-23 PizzaRita Wed, 01 Oct 2008 23:29:44 +0000 http://cafeinspirado.com/?p=103#comment-23 I have needed at times to remind myself of the calling and about a year and a half ago to draw a line in the sand and flip the ball of priorities & energy spent (I imagine a weighted ball) and the call the ministry was now at the top and going to make OTHER things accommodate IT instead of it always being the thing I got to with my left over time, money and energy. Life got in the way of pursuing the calling. It took someone asking "so why aren't you in ministry" for me to realize (there's the recognition) that somehow everything else had crowded out my calling and I was working a job to pay the bills. I'm still praying for the opportunity to be in a place where I can fit and flourish, bcse right now I still feel like a square peg in a round hole. And that's frustrating. Last year this time, I played for my congregations the song from "The Man of LaMancha" "To dream the impossible dream". Go listen to it again. Till you cry. Till you remember that it was GOD who put the dream in you, and He is the author and finisher of our faith. And our dreams. "He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus" — Philippians 1:6. "It's not by might nor power, but by my Spirit," saith the Lord. Zech. 4:6 LISTEN: (cast recording) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YGzqbEeVWhs (Tony awards performance) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gUbFZ-pXn0w To dream ... the impossible dream ... To fight ... the unbeatable foe ... To bear ... with unbearable sorrow ... To run ... where the brave dare not go ... To right ... the unrightable wrong ... To love ... pure and chaste from afar ... To try ... when your arms are too weary ... To reach ... the unreachable star ... This is my quest! To follow that star! No matter how hopeless, no matter how far! To fight for the right, without question or pause! To be willing to march into Hell, for a Heavenly cause! And I know if I'll only be true, to this glorious quest, That my heart will lie will lie peaceful and calm, when I'm laid to my rest. And the world will be better for this: That one man, scorned and covered with scars, Still strove, with his last ounce of courage, To reach ... the unreachable star! I have needed at times to remind myself of the calling and about a year and a half ago to draw a line in the sand and flip the ball of priorities & energy spent (I imagine a weighted ball) and the call the ministry was now at the top and going to make OTHER things accommodate IT instead of it always being the thing I got to with my left over time, money and energy. Life got in the way of pursuing the calling. It took someone asking “so why aren’t you in ministry” for me to realize (there’s the recognition) that somehow everything else had crowded out my calling and I was working a job to pay the bills.

I’m still praying for the opportunity to be in a place where I can fit and flourish, bcse right now I still feel like a square peg in a round hole. And that’s frustrating. Last year this time, I played for my congregations the song from “The Man of LaMancha” “To dream the impossible dream”. Go listen to it again. Till you cry. Till you remember that it was GOD who put the dream in you, and He is the author and finisher of our faith. And our dreams.

“He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus” — Philippians 1:6.

“It’s not by might nor power, but by my Spirit,” saith the Lord. Zech. 4:6

LISTEN: (cast recording) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YGzqbEeVWhs
(Tony awards performance) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gUbFZ-pXn0w

To dream … the impossible dream …
To fight … the unbeatable foe …
To bear … with unbearable sorrow …
To run … where the brave dare not go …
To right … the unrightable wrong …
To love … pure and chaste from afar …
To try … when your arms are too weary …
To reach … the unreachable star …

This is my quest! To follow that star!
No matter how hopeless, no matter how far!
To fight for the right, without question or pause!
To be willing to march into Hell, for a Heavenly cause!

And I know if I’ll only be true, to this glorious quest,
That my heart will lie will lie peaceful and calm,
when I’m laid to my rest.

And the world will be better for this:
That one man, scorned and covered with scars,
Still strove, with his last ounce of courage,
To reach … the unreachable star!

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