Inspire

To inspire another is a powerful responsibility one that can be thoughtfully calculated or carelessly misdirected. We are not alone in this world. What we say and do affects those around us. Whether positive or negative our lives influence.

Places and things can inspire as well; a sunset may inspire an artist to photograph or paint it, a mountain may inspire a climber to the summit or a rainy day may be the inspiration to curl up with a good book.

What inspires you?

Let's focus on the positive side of the term. What calls out the best in you, causes you to reach farther than you thought you could or keeps you coming back for more? Is it a person, an ideal or something inside of you?

On, Thursday night (6:30-8:30) May 19th at the Sioux City Art Center we launch WINGS. The format has a layered feel that's fast moving and covers a lot of ground.  Inspire is the theme word that will be weaved through the night. We will take time to make new friends, learn about the Siouxland job outlook, have a lite bite to eat, do book/movie/music reviews, have photo opts. and be creative! Sound fun? RSVP @ WINGS on Facebook.

Dazzling, Inspiring, Radiant; that's what God sees when He looks at you! Before you were a glimmer in your mama's eye God dreamed about you, He planned out what you'd be like and gave you everything you would need to fulfill and complete that destiny. Your energy, abilities and dreams have purpose! You are young, beautiful and strong! You make a difference in this world! You are the young women of Siouxland!

Love

I have watched you suffer all of your life
And now that you’ll listen, I’ll tell you that I...”

I will love you for you
Not for what you have done or what you will become
I will love you for you
I will give you the love
The love that you never knew
from What Love Really Means by JJ Heller (song)

I love JJ Heller's song "What Love Really Means." The lyrics so beautifully capture people's anguish to feel love from something or someone and how God yearns to show us His love. His real love.

I especially love, "and now that you'll listen, I'll tell you..." Have you ever wondered where God is? Why did this happen? Were you listening? God loves you and He wants more than anything to show you His love.

Did you ever let this verse sink in to the depths of your heart and soul? Read, let it sink in for a minute.

John 3:16 (NIV) For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Reflect on God's love for you this Easter. Think of the above verse. Think of the cross. The cross is the ultimate symbol of God's love for us. Happy Easter and God Bless!

By Wings Team Member Lisa Talbert

Hope

It is a beautiful early spring day. Tomorrow however, the temperature will drop 20 degrees. If this were November I'd be sighing and wish I lived farther south, but in the spring it doesn't affect me the same way. The knowledge that this time of year we will begin to have more warm days than cold ones gives me hope that winter must give way to spring.
We learn to have hope from past experience and trust. Past experience being the constant, as long as that remains the same we dare hope for the same result. Sometimes our hope rests on a person, our history in relationship with them may encourage hope for a certain out come because we've learned we can trust them.

Hope is tricky business, we live in a fallen world with a broken system and things we set our hope on can potentially let us down. Something new gets added to the mix and we end up with a different end. People disappoint us and to be fair, we have let others down who hoped in us too. Misplaced hope can be a painful experience.

When we are crushed by broken hope or see the brokenness our actions have caused in others we have a place of encouragement. Thank goodness God is not bound to the falseness of our broken system! It is impossible for God to lie, we who have accepted the hope offered to us may be greatly encouraged. We have this hope as an anchor for our heart, a place of security. (Hebrews 6:18,19)

An anchor is a vivid picture of security. It holds the ship in a safe place though a fierce storm may threaten to throw it against the rocks. Hope, which is compared to an anchor, is offered through life in Jesus Christ. The God of hope offers to fill us as we trust in Him. (Romans 15:13) This not a limited offer, but can be accessed as many times as needed!

When life is disappointing, uncertain and downright dangerous, it is comforting to know that there is a safe place for our heart. That hope is available through faith. (Hebrews 11)