Thursday, January 31, 2013

Something Big!


A Missy Story...

“Button up your shirt Ralphy... get your shoes on Sherry... come back here Candy... ”  Missy’s mom hurried around trying to get 4 kids out the door.  They were going to a concert where Missy’s grandmother was going to play the violin.  

After everyone was packed into the car they drove on the freeway, off an exit and up a hill until they reached a beautiful symphony hall.  On the way Missy remembered listening to her grandmother practicing her violin in her front room.  She enjoyed the story the music seemed to tell.  The strings would bring her imagination through a simple story told from a violin’s perspective.  

As Missy and her family walked in to find their seats the sounds of hundreds of instruments tuning up filled the room.  She noticed moments of particular instruments sounding fine, but all together it sounded like many instruments just making noise.  Missy’s eyes scanned the hundreds of orchestra members to find the violins.  Spotting her grandmother Missy strained her ears to see if she could hear her grandmother’s violin over the noise.  It didn’t appear to be possible.  All of that hard work just to be lost in the mix.  Were they each fighting to be heard?  It seemed like a shame.

As the conductor stepped up and the evening got started all of that noise completely vanished and was replaced by hundreds of unique musical perspectives becoming one glorious story... told all at once.  All at once it was like they were agreeing with each other, adding on, picking up where others left off.  Not one more important than the next.  Somehow the noise changed and the instruments blended perfectly.  Missy’s heart raced at the impact the music made.  No, she could not hear her grandmother’s violin above the rest, but it didn’t seem like a shame anymore.  The simple story she had heard her grandmother’s violin tell suddenly became a grand overwhelming journey traveling through every cell in Missy’s body.  Gaps filled in with new and amazing sounds where she remembered her grandmother pausing.  What seemed simple transformed into a breathtaking voyage.  

To think, that every one of those orchestra members had practiced on their own as her grandmother did.  Missy’s grandmother had said, “I have to practice every day or else I will not be able to play with the orchestra.”  At the time Missy didn’t realize what that meant.  Now, she understood.  Every single instrument sounded flawless.  Missy noticed the members seemed to keep one eye on their music and the other on the conductor.

That conductor was a sight too.  His arms waved around, pointing to groups of instruments as their parts emerged.  His body and heart seemed to be in a musical zone that almost determined how the songs would turn out.  Missy sat still for more than 2 hours.  She did not even want to get up during the intermission.  She was at awe that her grandmother was a part of something so big and fantastic.

For weeks after the performance Missy would try to hum some of the sounds she experienced and could only fill in the gaps in her head.  She came to have a deep respect for what it meant to come together with others, under one conductor, to create a masterpiece.  Her grandmother’s words ran through her head.  “I have to practice every day or else I cannot play with the orchestra.”

Missy wondered,  “What do I have to practice everyday so that I can be part of something big?”  

It took many years for that question to be answered in full, but the beginnings of it came when she was cast in her first play.  

Philippians 2:2
…fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.

Sunday, January 27, 2013

4 Traditions 4 Valentines

4 Traditions...
Issue: Happy Valentine's!
In This Issue
Love Muffins
How We Met
Hidden Hearts
Valentine Quilt
Pray for LOVE
2012 headshot
Michelle Fozounmayeh
A joy filled wife and mom that enjoys writing, praying, speaking at women events and being an Area Coordinator with the ministry Moms In Prayer International.
 
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iPray eVotionals...
iFinish Strong

iThank God for That

iFollow

iWork Out

iReminisce

iPray 4 Protection

iPray 4 Purity

iSmell a Stain

iEmbrace

iPraise

iLove Deep and Wide

iPray 4 Newness

iTeeter-Totter







hats
We live in a world where we wear many "hats".  Even though we all have many parts of ourselves trying to survive...
Many Parts of Me
(click link for "hats" script)

Traditions do not have to make our world even more hectic!  It's not about doing more... it's about doing less!  It's about doing what matters!

Make sure the traditions you do are one's that promote values and have a purpose.  Maybe it's time to say good buy to the ones that keep you so busy that you don't have time to connect with your loved ones.
traditions
Greetings!

Throughout the years I have come to have a deep respect for the role family rituals and traditions have on the healthy state of our family.

For many years I worked as a Family Consultant with Once Upon A Family and picked up a few ideas.  Although traditions in our home have had seasons of success and seasons of rest or have had to be modified and/or changed to fit our families needs, they still exist!  

Each issue of 4 Traditions features ideas I have gathered that you can use or modify to fit your family's needs.  The BOLDED Traditions are close variations to traditions my family has experienced.
Valentine's Love Muffins
For the bakers...
It is as simple as baking muffins from a boxed muffin mix to show your loved ones how much you care.  On Valentine's day, write little love notes on pieces of red and pink construction paper, fold them in half, and attach a ribbon to the top of each message.  Bake your muffins, then insert your special heart-felt notes into the tops, leaving the ribbon exposed.  When the muffins have cooled, wrap them up in a cute little basket or festive heart fabric, and deliver them to your "love muffins".  They will cherish your special notes as well as the tasty treat.  Valentine's Day will not be complete with out these traditional muffins, and your loved ones will ask for them year after year.
How We Met
For the Sweethearts...
As a couple, put together a special book detailing the history and story of how you met and fell in love.  Include photographs from when you were dating, along with any memorabilia from the past.  You may even want to include pictures from your wedding, or letters that you have written to one another.  As you reflect on your past, this book will bring you closer as a couple and will include your family in this very important part of your life.  Children love to hear stories about their parents, and by sharing this book with them, you are teaching them how valuable and sacred a loving relationship is.  This story will become a family favorite and your children will ask to hear it over and over again.
Hidden Hearts
Loving Kindness...
Valentine's Day is the perfect opportunity to show someone you care.  The night before the big day, compile a list of all the reasons you cherish your special someone.  Don't forget the small things, and honor their uniqueness ("I love how your nose wrinkles when you're frustrated" or "I appreciate it when you make your bed without me asking")  Next, cut two identical hearts out of a variety of fabrics, and sew the two sides together.  Before you have sewn your last stitch, add a bit of stuffing to make them puffy.  Make sure the backside of the heart has a slit to slip your note in (a big button hole would work.) Make as many hearts as you have notes. (The notes alone are even enough to show your Valentine how much you care.)  Then chose random spots to hide these handmade hearts.  Your sweetheart will surely be touched when they come across these cherished notes isn unlikely places (a coffee mug, a briefcase, a cereal box, or the car).
The Valentine Quilt
Creating an heirloom...
Every year work together to create a heart that represents your family.  This heart will symbolize things your family has done or accomplished through out the year.  Ask family members to choose fabrics and trims that are meaningful to them.  Use these materials to make an embellished, patchwork heart.  If brother's soccer team won the championship game, use a piece of his jersey.  If sister started a new job, use a button from her uniform, or if a new baby arrived, use a piece of her blanket.  Once you have assembled your family heart, attach it to a blanket or piece of quilted fabric.  Each year when you add another heart you will be creating a priceless record of your family's history.
 
A Prayer 4 U
Blessing you with God's LOVE...

Celebrate Valentine's Day this year with a love that points your family and friends towards God.  Set this day aside to honor God and love on others.  

Click the link below to see how God's LOVE is deeper and wider than a once-a-year Valentine's love...

 
All 4 HIM,
 

MICHELLE FOZOUNMAYEH
My Blog 

Wednesday, January 2, 2013

iNeed a Reminder


January/2013
iPray eVotionals
Greetings!

iPray eVotionals exhorts those who pray.  It's the glass of water held out around each month's turn for the runners who can use a quick and easy quench in order to finish strong.  

iNeed a Reminder

2 Corinthians 11:30
"If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness."  Forgetfulness tends to be one of mine...
(Approximate reading time: 5 Minutes)  
iForget names

No matter how much I try it seems that I have to meet a person 3 or more times before I remember that person's name.  I know this about me so I try to let them know right away by throwing out a disclaimer.  "Please do not be offended when I need to ask you your name.  It's not because I don't care to remember, I'm just a forgetful person when it comes to names."

I try all kinds of tricks as I meet someone for the first time.  Let's say I meet a Melissa I'll think, "My sister's name is Melissa."  Sometimes I just grasp to anything I can think of, "Nikki is a cute name and she is a cute lady...  Matthew, well the first gospel is Matthew, Pam, P-A-M, Pretty Amazing Mom... George is curious like Curious George... Mrs. "Stern" is not very "stern"... Vicky starts with Vicks..."  I hate to admit it, even with all of this inner dialog going on I still forget!  Now I'm not only trying to remember a name but also trying to remember the trick I thought of to remind me of the name.

Forgetting names shows my weakness, if I could just remember names! 
iForget faces and places

There are times when l look at a person's face and it seems that I may know them.  It's usually the look in their eye that tells me I should be greeting them because we might be old pals... but from where, when and why... who knows?  Because I don't!

Last week I was with my sister at church and she saw a woman who takes the Pilates class that she teaches.  We were introduced and as far as I'm concerned that was the last time I had ever seen her...that is until my sister informed me that this woman told her we ran into each other later that day.  I was shocked!  We did?  I don't remember running into her, maybe she said 'hi' to me and I just casually said 'hi' back without knowing who she was.  

Forgetting faces and places shows my weakness, if I could just remember faces and places! 

iForget my manners

For as long as I can remember I have had a recurring theme pop up with those I care about.  Unknowingly I lose my cordial manners when my mind is busy in thought.  It might be a performer/writer's curse; trained to focus and ignore the camera as well as all the people that are watching.  Those who are brave enough will recognize the stark difference between my more common cheerful demeanor and will let me know that I ignored them and/or made them feel unimportant at some point.  Each time it's like a dagger in my heart!  Never do I intentionally disregard others.  My husband probably understands me the most in this area and never takes it personally.  If he needs to he grabs my focus so that I can give him the proper response.  Others might take my zone-outs personally.

Forgetting my manners shows my weakness, if I could just remember my manners!
iForget appointments

It seems that I need to be a million different places in a week's span.  If my iPhone calendar does not have a reminder set up for a particular appointment then I will most likely forget it!  My dog had an appointment to get a much needed hair cut last week.  My iPhone somehow separated from my side and I didn't hear the reminder.  Did I remember on my own? Of course not, I completely forgot about the appointment until 3 hours later when my husband casually said, "Why is Yoshi still here, didn't he have an appointment to get his hair cut?"  Grrrrr!  I called the groomer and apologized.

Forgetting appointments shows my weakness, if I could just remember appointments!
iForget in my dreams

Well at lease I can get a break from being reminded of my weakness when I lie down to rest.  Or do I?  My forgetful nature seems to haunt me even in my sleep.  To this day I dream about forgetting to do a class assignment, showing up to a class without my homework or there is a test that I forgot to study for.  What?  I'm not even in school anymore!  Sometimes my dream has me days before graduation and there is one class that I forgot to show up to all semester and I can't get my degree.  Although these things have never happened in real life the fact that I dream about forgetting says it all.  I can't escape!

Forgetting in my dreams shows my weakness, if I could just remember in my dreams!
iForget to keep resolutions

That's why I don't make new years resolutions.  I always forget to set up a routine that will help me keep them.  I forget why the resolution seemed so important to make in the first place.

Two years ago I thought it would be fun to read the Bible in chronilogical order rather than book order.  I started a reading plan on YouVersion that would bring me through the Bible chronological in one year.  I'm about half way through the plan.

Forgetting to keep resolutions shows my weakness, if I could just remember how to keep resolutions!
iForget to pray

It's true, I do forget to pray.  We, the human race, are a forgetful people and love to blame others for it.

What parent hasn't heard these words, "He started it!"

Adam started it when he bit into the forbidden fruit.  He talked to Eve and not to God.  The Israelites were told to REMEMBER more times than any of us can count.  Praying to idols seemed more appealing to them time and again.  Peter forgot how passionately he claimed he would never deny Jesus until that rooster crowed.  I'm not alone in living out such absent mindedness.  Maybe Adam started it, but I'm guilty of continuing it.

My weakness shouts out when I make excuses and forget to pray.  I lead a prayer group for goodness sakes!  I've continually served on church prayer ministries throughout the years, this is the last area in my life that should show my weakness.  I'm an Area Coordinator for Moms in Prayer International not to mention I write this iPray eVotional on PRAYER every month.  Oh, but like Peter when I seem to have it all under control with cocky righteousness, passionately claiming my own ability to stand strong, is when it all falls apart!

All it takes is a little bit of annoyance with a certain person and God whispers in my ear, "Pray first!"   Ouch!  What about a problem that arises and my first reaction is to go to the idol named Google for the solution?  Yikes!  I can't count how many times I've talked about a concern to a friend for over an hour without even thinking about inviting God into the conversation.  Hello Adam?

Forgetting to pray shows my weakness, if I could just remember to pray!
iNeed a reminder

Word recognitions and iPhone reminders may aid in my remembering names and appointments, and I can set up all kinds of routines to help me remember to exercise and even to pray.  All of that is good, but as a Christian the gift of the Holy Spirit is my personal, reliable and most accurate reminder.  Listening and responding to the Spirit's prompting sharpens my spiritual awareness.  On my own I can't remember a person's name, but with God's Spirit I can name God's truth.  Faces and places may not come easy but when God prompts me to pray for someone I can't get them out of my head. My day-to-day zone-outs are replaced by keen awareness when I'm on my knees.  I may forget appointments that I make but God-appointments are never missed when I'm in prayerful-tune.  Dreaming about forgetting important work is one thing, but when I pray without ceasing I wouldn't dream of forgetting who I am working for!  My new resolutions are forgotten.  God's living Words become sanctifying.  God's spirit in this here forgetful girl is the reminder iNeed!
iPray

Dear Lord, Its so easy for us to get down on ourselves because of our weaknesses.

iPray... for Your supernatural touch on our lives that transforms our iniquities.

iPray... that we will seek first Your Kingdom and Righteousness.

iPray... that we will lean not on our own understanding, but in all our ways acknowledge You.

iPray... that our prayer lives with you will not just be a lot of talk and wishful thinking.

iPray... that by your strength and because of Your Spirit in us we will remember to pray without ceasing and in everything give thanks for this is Your will for us in Christ Jesus!

iPray... for Your forgiveness for our forgetfulness; open our ears, eyes and heart to deep meaningful communication with You!

This year may our prayer lives become more intimate, real and consistent with an awareness that is not our own.  May we not boast about our own wisdom, might or riches but rather in the things that show our weaknesses.  Why?  Because it's in our weakness that Your perfect strength rests upon us!  We have Your Holy Spirit as our reminder; may we do all things through Christ who gives us strength.

In Jesus Name, amen!
All for HIM,
Michelle Fozounmayeh
In This Issue
It's Hard!
Bird's Eye View!
Jesus, Take the Wheel!
Finishing Strong!
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Michelle Fozounmayeh



Michelle Fozounmayeh
A joy filled wife and mom that enjoys writing, praying, speaking at women events and being an Area Coordinator with the ministry Moms In Prayer International.


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