TimE 2 TrUST

3rd july '05 _ malveira da serra _ going down 2 the beach _ cxp

As I had the chance of being away for a time of prayer @ Uhlers in the beguinning of july, something came alive 2 me. There was going to be a 48h prayer room & @ same time it was time to be around with each other, just take our time... read a book or walk through the mountains 'till the sea near by... what ever it would come around; so I went there for a slot @ prayer room on friday, just when it started, afterwards stayed for a time of worship, praying together & came back home. But as I wasn't satisfied! As I shared that, Lisa suggested me I'd come the next day so I could spend more time & that they'd like 2 pray over me. Even though I was feeling tired, I rested all day long on saturday & then I just had 2 go, what ever what I'd do next; I spent there the night in a tent on the garden...it remembered me good times;)... while I couldn't sleep ['cause I had slept too much during the day] I started 2 read a book, that I've curious for some time now - "The Vision / The Vow" from Pete Greig ,1 of the founders of 24-7 prayer. My flash light went off quickly, so I had to turn to [my feet] side where I could have some light, from of the outside street lamp. After some other funny things I got finally 2 sleep...

On the other day I had the chance 2 go 'till the beach with Carey [ + Chica on her back], Joey , Marty, Lisa & Heather; as we came back there was something that caught my eyes: Heather was getting tired & getting behind; she just shouted out loud to her dad :" - You just wait there, untill I get there!" [she demanded]. Then with her dad, sometimes she was walking with him,another time on his sholders " -Well I like it much more up here, I can see it all!" [Heather was getting happy & confident now!]; then Byron putted Heather down & told her to go in front, told her something 'bout marching @ a rhythm... all the rest of the way she asked if we were allmost there, but she was quite enthusiastic. Why? Quite simple, her dad did not stop all the way saying "- You are doing great!" & answeing all her questions with a smile.
During the day I chat with Lisa, kept on 2 read a bit more of that book I had started, & as I fliped over 2 see what were the next chapters, somethig else caught my attention "not clarity, but trust" - someone had written on the top of a page... so I read that small chapter. I found out two more interesting situations.
One, where someone asked Madre Teresa de Calcutá, how did she got 'till that day & if she could pray for direction for this person life; she answered that she wouldn't pray for clarity, 'cause she had never had that, the thing she had learned was trust - this was what she could pray for!
Then the other where the author tell us 'bout his son, that when he wants to go to the park, he jsut runs into his arms & says "- Dad I want 2 go the park!"; he doesn't really wants directions how 2 get there, he just knows his dad knows how to get there.

Well by now, you've probably understood where did I got!?
These things I saw or read, showed me how usually it happens between God & us.

How He stands always as a father supporting, encouraging us along the way & how we have definitively to TRUST. We are always waiting on God's direction & wanting to know it all [or please just a bit! ...just a clue!!] what should I do next or where should I go; we want clear instructions inside ourselves... but well I found recently [or once again] that only thing to do is to remain on Him.

& as a friend shared recently, He says :
"You will be delivered by returning and resting;
your strength will lie in quiet confidence."
Isaiah 30:15

WorDs_II

"Don't ask yourself
What the world needs;
Ask yourself
What makes you come alive.
and then do that.
Because the world needs people who have
come alive."

Harold Whitman

" The greatest christian revolutions
come not by the discovery of something
that was not known before.
They happen when somebody
takes radically something that was always there"

Philip Yancey

in " LAST WORD - THINGS THAT MAKE YOU GO HMM..."
[Last page of REVELANT MAGAZINE]

DriNk IT

isto é o q acontece qdo s bebe leite logo pela manhã...:] e não só!
E tb qdo ficamos fixados no pacote d'leite antes de o deitar fora...

TimE 2 DrEAm

While you share, you discover yourself, learn new things with others... better: while you share, you turn your dreams alive!

I've been dreaming a lot for Pt these last times, not just 2 start something I'd like 2 do & feel realizated with, but seeing things differently & believing in it!
If there is power in our own words... just imagine if we all start "dreaming out loud" over what ever in our life [we are going through]... as well, over our own nation!

I get really :) as I find out people who dare to do it!
This encourages me not stop dreaming...

This weekend I got the chance of being away with my family in a house that was fruit of dream... a peacefull place near by the mountains, Alvados, Porto de Mós; I felt really great there, we all did, it was just we were really being at home; since I got there I could not forget what David said & as I had the chance of sleeping out side in a "modern Hamaca"...as I saw the morning wakening [this to cut a long story short] I surely understood much better his words : " -I look up to the mountains – does my help come from there? My help comes from the LORD..." [1]
At the end we find out how they really do it as a family and to families! Thank you Rita, Rui,António e all the family @ Casa dos Matos [2] for receiving us as one of the family!
Back home I read about lots of details on the story of this place & as I started looking for a way of organizing/publishing my photos I ended up discovering new stories.

I found out something different.
This is Andrea, she is a painter, jewelry designer & photographer.
Check out the 2 last posts on her journal, 1 on Cindy who is courageously taking her time 2 start over & the last 1 on those casual daily life events that make you :) & that make you think over so many other things! [this has link to a bike shop ..check out all the concept of the shop & their social mission !]

These kind of stories get me thinking & really get enthusiastic about what we all can do with little! My heart just starts to go faster... I want to do something!! I dream about it !!
And well this is just sharing something I found out, someone who has turned ideas into reality... still fighting with it...like this we realize that there is so much that can be done!
I count/trust on your creativity & dreams 2 pop out at the same time that we continuously support each other - learn 2 live as a comunity.
Come on it's time TO STAND UP! BRING dreams into reality!
DARE 2 do it! And by the way, keep sharing your stories ... we learn so much as we do it!


[1] Psalms 121:1
[2] another site- Casa dos Matos - Wonderfulland

PeOpLE_II

For all my life 1 thing I have treasured the most or fighted for since I can remember - friends / relationships - we all have realized how important is to have friends, people in who we can trust.
I have also found out how much we can just learn from each other, how much is into just being ourselves, simple things we say, share - how this can fulfill others needs without we even noticing it. It can happen when we smile to someone in the street or in a silent time you spend with your best friend. As you give, not thinking in something in return, you'll receive, still continue to give and still want to find out so much more... because there is so much than we can achieve and conquer together. I sometimes find myself smiling as I think about all this, just as a friend wrote in her last post
“This is just way too much fun!” . [0]

On the other hand, I know that sometimes as we expect too much, get really disapointed and then it hurts, I've been there sometimes and what do we do? We easily create walls around us, so that next time it would not happen. Sometimes it's quite normal we need our space or being by ourselves, but also there is a time for everything; the true is that we were not all-equipped for walking alone! We just can not see that we were created, just like that, "we're born for love; made to relate". [1] These longings come from God's own nature since we're made on His own image, as the Father, the Son and the Holy spirit continuously are relating to each other and were already before everything else was created!

One thing I can see is that this is an issue to be re-thinked constantly in our lives; we can do wonderful things through it [to reach/help others & as well ourselves, 'cause we discover things we wouldn't find out alone], it's our nature, it's God's nature on us.
So I see it as something natural in our daily lives, not as a technic or a strategie, but as something that flows from God's heart to the heart's of each one of us, and then to the hearts of others.
... there's a lot yet to be done!

[0] Borden, Lisa - Retreat Reflections, LisboaMatrix, 10th July post
[1] Hugget, Joyce - Just Good Friends? Growing in relationships, book

[I am trying 2 put in few words several ideas that God has been teaching me along so much time, through different situations since I was a child and even now that life is in a different phase and responsabilities.He has been showing me again.. It's difficult, 'cause I've met so many people along the way and each one has brought me something completly different, special and unique. Also through subjects I wrote/shearched about, verses, books I read; I think I'll write more into it... I hope so!]

bRAnchs RoOTs & cª

Se tu fores como uma árvore
e deixares que os teus ramos
cheguem até outros

Que os teus braços se
estendam, e entendam
tudo o que podes vir a ser
ou mesmo tudo o que és

Dir-te-ei...

Enquanto cresces
a chuva cai, a terra muda
as tuas raízes
permanecem
jamais as irás esquecer.

16 Abril '99 _ cxp

PeAce

by the sea_heysham_lancashire_u.k. _cxp

...sometimes there are no words 2 say... & the silence speaks for it self;
this times are :) & calm, but quite strange, 'cause we are used 2 have allways
something happening; altough we can't see, things are happening & when you
less expect they are given right into your hands... so wait patiently, search & do not give up!

JOy

arrabida sky _ jul'04 _ cxp

3 Tu escutas as nossas orações e todos os que se dirigem a ti,(...)
6 Tu nos respondes, ó Deus, nosso salvador, com admiráveis actos de justiça;
[ 'brigada porque nos dás sempre para além do q possamos imaginar..!! ]
tu pões em segurança toda a terra e a imensidão dos mares.
[ ..e nos seguras, assim como toda a terra, mares... td o que criaste!]
7 Tu manténs firmes as montanhas com o teu poder e a tua força.
8 Tu acalmas os bramidos dos mares, o estrondo das ondas e o tumulto dos povos.
9 Até os que habitam em terras distantes tremem perante tuas maravilhas; os teus feitos trazem gritos de alegria dum extremo ao outro da terra.
[ em todo o lado Tu estás a mexer e há grande alegria e entusiasmo no ar!!! ]
10 Tu cuidas da terra, enviando-lhe o orvalho e torna-la rica e fértil.
Enches a transbordar os rios caudalosos e fazes com que a terra produza o trigo, pois foi para isso que a criaste. 11 Irrigas os sulcos, regulando a sua altura; amoleces a terra com chuvas abundantes e abençoas as suas sementeiras.
[ continua a despertar, a restaurar e a amolecer os corações... mta chuva:) e as sementes vão/estão a crescer! ]
12 A tua bondade favorece as colheitas!
Por onde quer que vás há abundância.
[...quero disto, quero-te cmg ...Deus!! :).. vou ctg onde fores..!! ]
13 As pastagens do deserto tornam-se verdejantes e as colinas revestem-se de riqueza. 14 Os campos campos combrem-se de trigais;
todos cantam e gritam de alegria!

Salmo 65
português corrente

1 Silence is praise to you, Zion-dwelling God, And also obedience.
2 You hear the prayer in it all. We all arrive at your doorstep sooner or later, loaded with guilt,3 Our sins too much for us - but you get rid of them once and for all.
4 Blessed are the chosen! Blessed the guest at home in your place! We expect our fill of good things in your house, your heavenly manse.
5 All your salvation wonders are on display in your trophy room. Earth-Tamer, Ocean-Pourer, 6 Mountain-Maker, Hill-Dresser, 7 Muzzler of sea storm and wave crash, of mobs in noisy riot - 8 Far and wide they'll come to a stop, they'll stare in awe, in wonder. Dawn and dusk take turns calling, "Come and worship." 9 Oh, visit the earth, ask her to join the dance! Deck her out in spring showers, fill the God-River with living water. Paint the wheat fields golden. Creation was made for this! 10 Drench the plowed fields, soak the dirt clods With rainfall as harrow and rake bring her to blossom and fruit. 11 Snow-crown the peaks with splendor, scatter rose petals down your paths, 12 All through the wild meadows, rose petals.
Set the hills to dancing, 13 Dress the canyon walls with live sheep, a drape of flax across the valleys. Let them shout, and shout, and shout! Oh, oh, let them sing!

Psalm 65
The Message

nOtice

...since february, through quiet times, speaking with friends here & there...
There are 3 things which need 2 be found, 2 be re-discovered, that are lacking in our daily lifes, families, streets, schools, jobs, churches and in our own country or even in our world.
So think about it... get into it...

1 Intimacy

• + of God / - of ourselves [ 2 search Him, Know Him & be with Him ]
• your heart [it all starts at the heart: decisions, the brokenness, the being available, atitude, changing of mentalities ]
• others [ speak, comunicate, share with each other what is going on in your head & mostly in your heart!]

2 Identity

• culture / society [ know your routs; grab your city/country own way of being ]
• spiritual [ tackle boldly your position in Christ , do not let any one take it! ]
• you / people [ know yourself; your background; have an individual consciousness 2 know 'till where you can go; as well beware of your gifts, skills and also of those :( stuff about your character ]

3 Simplicity

• God's Things = simple things [... it is man who usually complicates , messes up everything ]
• start small ... we don't need to have it all [ God blesses small beguinnings !]
• in speaking, in being with each other... just be yourself!
  [ do not be afraid of showing your true colors ... ]

tRAcK

What if...
… suddenly everything you know
or call reality was gone?
… you would feel lost, on an unknown land
not belonging to any one?

I would tell you…

You’ll have to go far away
to get close & find your self.
You’ll have to get lost
to get there in a second.

You’ll feel that you’re the only one;
One of a kind
from” another race”.

[who knows… a winner one]

Far away from everything
you call your,from your “casual day “…

…you’ll know
Who you are;
Your roots are there, you can not deny,
the knowledge also.

All you have to do:... get back on “Your Horse”,

[ Get your self together ]

look [straight] ahead, go on , on “The Track”.

( … )

8th/9 th October ‘04
Clara X. Porfírio