why is it that i sometimes fear obedience? it isn't that i don't desire to be obedient-i think i am sometimes afraid of where that obedience will lead...i guess i pray that God would show me where he would like me to begin moving, and then when doors start opening, i pretend that it is all in my head, and i don't face reality.
what does it mean to be selfless? i realize more and more everyday that i am so far from understanding what sacrifice means...
what does it mean to give up the rights to myself? to surrender fully?
to be so in love with my savior that all else fades to a stale backdrop in light of who HE is?
only by HIS grace
only because HE first loved me
only because of HIS sacrifice

and i can hold firmly to the promise that
"HE who began a good work in me will carry it onto completion..."

for HIS glory

a trip to India-only minutes away

We took Lakeshore Drive north until the end and after only a few wrong turns, pulled onto Devon Street. We parked in a side street, and began walking down the main street. We passed stores carrying ornate dresses, restaurants advertising Kebap, grocery stores filled with spices such as curry, shelves with payneer, and walls with pictures of Mecca. As we walked, we passed women with head scarves made of beautiful fabric. I am sure that my two friends and I stuck out, especially when we went into the dress stores. We passed bright fabric with beautiful beads sown on in different patterns. We entered a few stores to browse, and some of the employees knew very little English.
Before we left, we stopped at a restaurant to buy some food. I ordered naan along with my meal of Chiken Biryani. While I was waiting for my food, I walked through the restaurant. I passed a prayer room with rugs facing toward Mecca. I listened to people speaking in different languages, and it seemed for a moment as if I were no longer in Chicago. It is almost unreal, how one can drive a mere thirty minutes and feel like they were transported to a completely different culture and country.
However, it wasn’t long before I remembered that I was in Chicago-a very diverse city. I heard someone speak in Spanish, while another couple of people were speaking a language I had never heard. This clash of cultures is so unique.
It was my first time visiting that area of the city, and I know that I definitely would like to go back again.

ehaeahhhhhhhhhh-welcome to moody bridal institute

yup, that is pretty much the sound that could be heard coming from my room late on sunday night...
i was sitting in the room across the hall, studying diligently, when my roommate debbie walked in, having just arrived from being home that week-end..
"hi" she says, walking over to me to give me a hug
"how was your week-end home?" i asked...
"It was a really good week-end..."
i look at her...she smiles....i look at her again, then grab her left hand and yup, sure enough...'
EAHAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!
much jumping and screaming
her boyfriend (now fiance) had popped the question after she had to follow 12 clues (which in the process caused her a speeding ticket) to him waiting in a flower garden.
they plan on getting married in may '07-so excited for them!

relaxing week-end

friday night myself and several girls from the floor went to our friend hannah's house for the night...(hannah lives across the hall from me). it was a much needed time of rest, watching movies, and playing outside, just being away from the city.
we watched mean girls, then elf...which though i was enjoying it, my eylids were too heavy to stay open and i went upstairs to hannah's super comfy bed and had an amazing nights sleep...
the next morning we woke up to breakfast, homemade bluberry muffins, and i even at a few scrambled eggs....(for those of you who don't know, scrambled eggs and i usually do not mix, as i have bad memories of having to eat them with soy sauce as a child...)
we then went to the park and played on one of the sweetest playgrounds i have ever seen..rock climbing, ropes course, it was pretty much amazing
also, hannah's 8 year old sister abby and i were adventurous and crossed the stream, jumping from rock to rock...very cold water...
i was able to get a little bit of studying done before we headed out to harvest bible chapel to hear joe stowel speak...
he was talking about purpose...God's purpose for our lives

We are chosen on purpose with a purpose in mind (ephesians 1.."even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world that we should be holy and blameless before him..."

He is willing to use short term trouble to achieve his glorious outcomes in our lives...

we must turn our hearts toward what we KNOW rather than what we FEEL..."Knowing this that he who began a good work in you will carry it on unto completion..."

we must recognize that we are a risk to the process of what God is wanting to accomplish...our tendency to bail under the burden...james 1"consider it pure joy my brothers whenever you face trials of many kinds because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverence..."
bitterness blocks the grace of God...

Despair is never an option...
do we believe: (that He is)
Presence of God
His protection
love
capable
worthy
enablement

Stop looking at trouble and start looking to God...

though these notes are somewhat sporadic, they are truths that i constantly need to be reminded of ...do i really trust Him...do i really believe that he is all of these things? why do i despair?
do i love and follow Him for the blessings that he gives....or for He Himself?
can i really say
"blessed be your name!"

quiet on the set!

this past week my electronic media class has been doing more hands-on stuff, including work in the t.v. studio...today my jobs included (we are at very, very basic things) sitting and being the person video-taped, demonstrating proper focus on the camera, being the floor director..."Quiet on the Set!", recording the tape, demonstrating proper head room...just learning the basics-and even though it is so basic..so much fun...

monday i will be graded as the director...

my schedule for next semester is very full:

Hebrews
Systematic Theology I
Fundamentals of Video
Introduction to Mass Communications
Hermeneutics
and also finishing up a philosophy course that i am taking independent study

I am really looking forward to these classes, b/c i have amazing profs as well

to see some great photos from this year, click this link:
http://moody.facebook.com/photos.php?id=163800283&l=57bfc

the dramatic events of smith 7 and culby 10

follow this link to find out tonight's drama
http://www.xanga.com/kerfufflous_mermidon

today i look like a leaf

i didn't know what i was going to wear this morning (after i slept through my 8:00-despite my rooomate trying to wake me up/shaking me/speaking loudly- i just turned over, moaned something like, "i let you sleep in last week..." and going back to sleep...)
i was glad though, because the extra two hours were wonderful, i woke up feeling refreshed, and had a rather enjoyable day...
i think it was partially because i dressed kind of like a leaf
it was a little chilly out so i pulled out my orange, long sleeved fall looking shirt, put a brown tee-shirt underneath for a super-stylish layering effect, and felt very festively fall...
someone even told me i looked like a leaf...
yes...
look accomplished...

today i was reading in Matthew 5
so often i do not realize the power of Christ's words. i have them in this category of sunday school cartoons or softly spoken suggestions...
they are so unlike those things

"unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and the Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven..."

"You have heard that it was said to those of old, 'you shall not murder," BUT I SAY to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgement..."

over and over, Matthew writes, "It was said....BUT I SAY...."you have heard that it was said...BUT I SAY..."

it is a standard that can only be achieved through Christ...through his righteousness.


These words are so radical
challenging
impossible
only accomplished because of Christ's righteousness.

Jesus also says..
love your enemies.
pray for those who persecute you
which is exactly what he did for us
Romans 5:10
"For if while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life."
may i be one who loves
selflessly
-apart from my convenience and comfort.

random personality test

Your Hidden Talent

Your natural talent is interpersonal relations and dealing with people.You communicate well and are able to bring disparate groups together.Your calming presence helps everything go more smoothly.People crave your praise and complements.

What's" Your Hidden Talent?