2 more days left of freedom and relaxation! I can't say i'm too upset about break ending, but I'm not ready yet for classes to start either... ahh.
So, I'm going to Ukraine for spring break on a mission trip. I did a lot of reading over break and I asked some kids from back home about Ukraine (my home church has an adoption program with Ukraine, so there's about 15 or so Ukranians at my church). It broke my heart to hear how few Ukranians know Jesus, only about 1%. They know about God, and some even call themselves Christians .. but when asked where they are going after they die, they'll reply that only God knows that. What?! I wish they knew the confidence and trust we have in God for our salvation. I had no idea the compassion and hurt I could feel for people I have never met. My heart broke with each story I heard about the lack of hope Ukranians have. I felt like each break of my heart was screaming 'send me, use me!' I know You will Father .. help me to follow through! Help me remember this hurt and heartbreak for Your glory.
Monday, January 5, 2009
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
our time is running out.
So, it's dead day, and instead of doing what I should -- studying for exams -- I'm sitting here, writing a blog. I cant believe Christmas break is almost here! I'm not sure how to feel about all this .. my freshman year is half over. How did time go so fast?! It's so weird to think about the concept of time. Maybe time is one of Satan's holds on us - something he uses to try and break down our relationship with God. Think about all the stress, all the worry that comes from time -- and not having enough of it. It's amazing how God overcomes this hold by offering us eternity, where time and Satan have no power over us.
Ok, I really should get back to studying. I'll end with a poem I really like, with the concept of time & God in it. Hope yall like it too. :)
Fly, envious Time, till thou run out thy race,
Call on the lazy leaden-stepping hours,
Whose speed is but the heavy Plummets' pace;
And glut thyself with what thy womb devours,
Which is no more than what is false and vain,
And merely mortal dross;
So little is our loss, So little is thy gain.
For when as each thing bad thou hast entomb'd,
And last of all, thy greedy self consum'd,
Then long Eternity shall greet our bliss
With an individual kiss;
And Joy shall overtake us as a flood,
When every thing that is sincerely good
And perfectly divine,
With Truth, and Peace, and Love shall ever shine
About the supreme Throne Of Him,
t'whose happy-making sight alone,
When once our heav'nly-guided soul shall climb,
Then all this earthly grossness quit,
Attir'd with Stars, we shall for ever sit,
Triumphing over Death, and Chance, and thee O Time.
-John Milton, 'On Time'
Ok, I really should get back to studying. I'll end with a poem I really like, with the concept of time & God in it. Hope yall like it too. :)
Fly, envious Time, till thou run out thy race,
Call on the lazy leaden-stepping hours,
Whose speed is but the heavy Plummets' pace;
And glut thyself with what thy womb devours,
Which is no more than what is false and vain,
And merely mortal dross;
So little is our loss, So little is thy gain.
For when as each thing bad thou hast entomb'd,
And last of all, thy greedy self consum'd,
Then long Eternity shall greet our bliss
With an individual kiss;
And Joy shall overtake us as a flood,
When every thing that is sincerely good
And perfectly divine,
With Truth, and Peace, and Love shall ever shine
About the supreme Throne Of Him,
t'whose happy-making sight alone,
When once our heav'nly-guided soul shall climb,
Then all this earthly grossness quit,
Attir'd with Stars, we shall for ever sit,
Triumphing over Death, and Chance, and thee O Time.
-John Milton, 'On Time'
Monday, November 24, 2008
Are you ready?
Thankgiving break is finally here! I've needed this more than I realized. It's good to be away from all that is going on in Auburn .. classes, stress, drama, even friends. I'm happy to be home and back to where my roots are, back to where I'm completely comfortable, back to the people who know everything about me and still love me.
I think there's something about college that makes everyone think about marriage. So many people talk about finding "the one" in college, or getting their "MRS" degree .. it stresses me out a bit. And the fact that my best friend is getting married this summer and I'm the maid of honor is not helping. Can I just hold up a minute? If only I could see God's will for me clearly! To know exactly who He has for me, and to know the time... but then again, I'm just the creation, not the Creator. How wonderful it is, though, to have a Father who's will is far more perfect than anything I could ever dream of!
Okay, venting done. I'll end with this:
"I charge you, O Daughters of Jerusalem, do not stir up nor awaken love until it desires." - Song of Solomon 8:4
I think there's something about college that makes everyone think about marriage. So many people talk about finding "the one" in college, or getting their "MRS" degree .. it stresses me out a bit. And the fact that my best friend is getting married this summer and I'm the maid of honor is not helping. Can I just hold up a minute? If only I could see God's will for me clearly! To know exactly who He has for me, and to know the time... but then again, I'm just the creation, not the Creator. How wonderful it is, though, to have a Father who's will is far more perfect than anything I could ever dream of!
Okay, venting done. I'll end with this:
"I charge you, O Daughters of Jerusalem, do not stir up nor awaken love until it desires." - Song of Solomon 8:4
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Breaking the mold.
Well, I haven't written in a while ... I've been busy with school, church, BCM, intramurals ... and just life in general. I'm ready for Thanksgiving break to be here! I need to relieve some stress and just be around my family again.
Lately, I've been reading the book of Malachi, and thinking a lot about sacrifices. The first part of the book is all about the Israelites offering unworthy sacrifices to God. God even calls them out on this, pointing out their sin, and they still offer their very least to Him. And to make matters worse, they turn around and offer their governor the fruits of their labor! Why do we do this? Why do we offer those we hold in high respect, those we want to impress, the very best of what we have, and then offer the Most High whatever is left? It would be better for us to offer nothing! Malachi 1:8-9 says "Oh, that one of you would shut the temple doors, so that you would not light useless fires on my altar! I am not pleased with you, and will accept no offering from your hands." Useless sacrifices are nothing but a disobedience to God.
Our God is an all or nothing kind of God -- and it's not just on our part! He wholly offered His son to us, wholly offered His love, mercy and grace, and most importantly, He has wholly offered salvation to us. Our life is nothing in comparison to what He offers us and yet we falter. If only we could wholly offer ourselves to Him! If only our generation would break the mold that history has created and offer a living sacrifice to the perfect Lamb! Only then would our Father truly feel a portion of the glory He deserves.
Lately, I've been reading the book of Malachi, and thinking a lot about sacrifices. The first part of the book is all about the Israelites offering unworthy sacrifices to God. God even calls them out on this, pointing out their sin, and they still offer their very least to Him. And to make matters worse, they turn around and offer their governor the fruits of their labor! Why do we do this? Why do we offer those we hold in high respect, those we want to impress, the very best of what we have, and then offer the Most High whatever is left? It would be better for us to offer nothing! Malachi 1:8-9 says "Oh, that one of you would shut the temple doors, so that you would not light useless fires on my altar! I am not pleased with you, and will accept no offering from your hands." Useless sacrifices are nothing but a disobedience to God.
Our God is an all or nothing kind of God -- and it's not just on our part! He wholly offered His son to us, wholly offered His love, mercy and grace, and most importantly, He has wholly offered salvation to us. Our life is nothing in comparison to what He offers us and yet we falter. If only we could wholly offer ourselves to Him! If only our generation would break the mold that history has created and offer a living sacrifice to the perfect Lamb! Only then would our Father truly feel a portion of the glory He deserves.
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
entering grace.
My first blog .. where to start? Life seems to be moving so fast lately, with so much going on .. I've been finding it hard to just "be still". Meeting so many new people in class and with the BCM has been such an awesome experience, but at the same time, it's distracted me from my walk with God. I love making new friends, but sometimes I get so caught up in getting to know them and spending time with them that I dont take time to spend with my God.
Monday night, Mrs. Renee decided that we were gonna study evangelism in our prayer group. The message that we talked about helped me hear what God had been trying to tell me -- "stop caring so much about this person, and start caring about all these people. stop trying to find someone for you, and start finding others for Me."
If only I could describe the humility I felt! It made me realize that its really NOT about me, but Christ in me. So this year, I'm hoping to grow stronger in evangelism. And I'm praying that whatever God's will may be for me in the time to come, I'll be able to tell others more about the God who strengthens the weak and humbles the proud, as I also work on coming to the throne of grace with confidence.
Monday night, Mrs. Renee decided that we were gonna study evangelism in our prayer group. The message that we talked about helped me hear what God had been trying to tell me -- "stop caring so much about this person, and start caring about all these people. stop trying to find someone for you, and start finding others for Me."
If only I could describe the humility I felt! It made me realize that its really NOT about me, but Christ in me. So this year, I'm hoping to grow stronger in evangelism. And I'm praying that whatever God's will may be for me in the time to come, I'll be able to tell others more about the God who strengthens the weak and humbles the proud, as I also work on coming to the throne of grace with confidence.
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