One of Those Days

I have come to believe that God has a sense of humor and I do enjoy his humor quite a bit.

Today was one of those days when God brought me laughter in the midst of my troubles.
I missed the bus this morning; so I had to walk to the shopping center. I was kind of bummed about it but I didn't mind as much as one might think. After all it was a nice day, the walk would be good exercise, and I had the time to spare. After doing my shopping I was confused as to which bus stop I should go to and I ended up not getting to the bus stop where I wanted to be to get home. So, I began walking. At that moment I wasn't sure if I was walking all the way home or just far enough to a bus stop that I knew would get me to where I wanted to be. This time I was really annoyed that I had to walk yet again. The nice day turned into a not so nice day, as the sunny blue sky became consumed by gray clouds, it began to rain. I thought, "Oh great!" I was getting tired from all the walking, I no longer had much time to spare, and I wanted to get some reading done for school which clearly wasn't getting done.
I've been focusing on trying to ask "what can I learn from this" in stead of "why." But yet here I was walking in the rain and asking God "why, why me?"
Before I could even begin, along came my friend Ray. He saw me walking and offered to give me a ride home. Wow, how awesome was that, God sent me an unexpected angel.
Then once I was home (and dry), I check my facebook to see that my friend Emily's status update which read, "guess you gotta have rain before you can see a rainbow! what a beautiful reminder of God's promises - just when I need it, too!" This is where I laughed and began to see God's humor, in addition to hid mighty great goodness. It was like as I read my friends status update, God was whispering in my ear, "that's why."

Today was a longer day than I intended it to be, but it I guess the Lord thought it was necessary. I learned a couple lessons today and I was also reminded of a few lessons as well. And now, go figure, the sky is blue, the sun is shinning, and the birds are chirping. And I'm guessing somewhere out there in the beautiful sky there is a rainbow.

Have a blessed day and remember God's promises to you :)

Things I could be doing right now if I wasn't taking a summer class:

Reading (good books, for fun)

Running (it's a nice evening for a run)

Writing letters to some family and friends (i'm a great pen pal)

Doing something fun with friends (what i should be doing during the summer, not doing school work)

Learning some new card games (spite and malice is my fave, but it's good to broaden the horizons)

Playing scrabble (i'm determined to defeat the computer at least once)

Playing farkle (probably w/ sammie, our wins are currently tied)

Cleaning my room (it's really dusty and i have a ton of water bottles in my closet that i really must throw out, or recylce)

Washing some laundry (i'd hate to run out of underwear, i've come pretty close a few times these past couple of months) (and my sheets could use a run through the wash as well, it's been a while since they've seen some soap and water)

Playing tennis or frisbee (my dad and i need the practice...and exercise)

Finishing my peace corp application (i really would like to submit it by july 1)

As you can see see there are plenty of things I could be and would rather be doing instead of school. And yet, here I sit with an 83 question study guide that I must complete if I wanted to do well on my exam tomorrow. Words can't really describe my annoyance right now, and how much I cannot wait to be done with this class.

Please pray for me, if you will, that I can stay focused and do well, for strength in the midst of perserverence.

Looking forward, after looking backwards

The school year has come to and end, I'm about 2 weeks away from wrapping up my summer class, and I'm looking onward toward all the possibilities and opportunities that may be in store for me this summer and throughout this next school year. Oh and I can't forget to mention it's my senior year of college!

But before I begin to look at what is ahead of me in the next few to several months, I took a few moments to look back on this past year and sort of reflect on all that has happened and review some of the many lessons I learned this year.

As I look back and remember the good times and the not so good times, I have no regrets. It was a very tough journey at times, and also a very fun and enjoyable journey at other times. God has taught me a lot and He has shown me his world from some unique perspectives.

I am blind to what God has in store for me in this next year, and I'm even a little bit apprehensive of not knowing what is to come of these next several months. But I look towards to these next several months with peace and rest in the Lord; with confidence in God's plan for me and my future. No matter what comes my way, God is with me preparing and molding me into the women he wants me to be.

I pray you may also have peace and rest in the Lord, and confidence in God's plan(s) for your future.

Praise the Lord God for his Love, Mercy and Grace!

The First and Last Time

I did it.

For the very first and last time in my life, I experienced what it was like to be drunk.
I did not enjoy it at all! Lucky for me, I do not have a hangover although I don't feel my best either.
Let me tell you, NEVER AGAIN! Never again will I ever get drunk!
I do not understand why anybody would want to feel like the way I felt last night. It was miserable.
All drinking does is kill off brain cells, damage the liver, and in often cases leave you with a hangover feeling horrible the next day and it other cases it leads to death.

I've said it before and I'm saying it now, mark my words, "DRINKING TO GET DRUNK IS STUPID!" I have always liked being sober and I'm going to keep it that way.

Be very careful, then, how you live- not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is. DO NOT GET DRUNK ON WINE, WHICH LEADS TO DEBAUCHERY. Instead be filled with the Spirit. [...] Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ." Ephesians 5:15-20

What if Starbucks Marketed Like a Church? A Parable.

sad yet true.

OL: Worship

Professor:
I think you guys have all nailed it with regard to the second great awakenings. It was at this time that evangelicals began to think of worship services as highly charged emotional events. They were a success if they whipped everyone into a frenzy. Prior to that, worship assumed considerable knowledge from the worshiper. For instance, if we have a deep knowledge of scripture and theology, then even a seemingly dry service can be very rich and profound, because our understanding goes very deep. And if a service can help us to understand and love God more deeply - then worship has really succeeded - or perhaps I should say - we've begun to learn truly what worship is.




This isn't to say that traditional worship can't be done very badly and can't be very stale and rigid - it obviously can and often is. However, it is probably a mistake to judge a worship service based upon its emotional appeal. Our worship services often seem very similar to 2nd great awakening services when so much focus is placed on eliciting an emotional response and so little emphasis is placed on depth of meaning. Ideally, I suppose, worship should be both beautiful and deep. But worship should never be manipulative.



Also, worship should always help us to understand God more clearly and to interpret scripture more faithfully. At the end of last week's discussion several of you mentioned your preference for lively worship, which I completely understand. But there is much more at stake in the issue besides excitement levels.

Anselm's words

words by Anselm

Come now, little man,
turn aside for a while from your daily employment,
escape for a moment from the tumult of your thoughts.
Put aside your weighty cares,
let your burdensome distractions wait,
free yourself awhile for God
and rest awhile in him.
[Your servant] longs to see you,
but your countenance is too far away....
How retched is the fate of man
when he lost that for which he was created....
Adam [before the fall] was so full he belched, we are so hungry
we sigh;
he had abundance, and we go begging....

Alas, I am indeed wretched,
one of those wretched sons of Eve,
separated from God!...
Lord, I am so bent I can only look downwards,
raise me, that I may look upwards.
My iniquities have gone over my head,
they cover me and weigh me down like a heavy burden...

Ah, from what a generous love and loving generosity
compassion follows out to us!

Ah, what feelings of love should we sinners have
towards the unbounded goodness of God!...
I was seeking God,
and I have found that he is above all things,
and that than which nothing greater can be thought.