the answer?
my summer vacation!!!!
I am so incredibly excited about the few months off of school. after finishing..i will be returning to michigan may 14, i will be home for about one week..looking forward to family time, friends time, reading, watching movies, taking walks in the woods...all that good stuff.
the next week i am going to visit one of the most amazing people i know-a good friend from North Dakota (Heidi B.) and spend an entire week with her! we were able to find an incredible deal on plane tickets, and the timing worked out wonderfully.
following that, i will again be home for a few weeks, teaching some riding lessons, once again hanging out with the fam, friends, and if anyone needs a babysitter...let me know.
then, from june 23-aug 5 I am doing a 6 week internship here in the city again. the first week of the internship will be in memphis tennessee where our team will get to know each other, and where we will help out with a local ministry. we will come back to chicago, helping out with a soccer camp, a basketball camp (which i have been told will have nba b-ball players helping out at), and just learning more about this city, what ministry is like here-learning how to get past stereotypes, eating dinner at various ministry's leaders homes...it is also a paid internship-which will be needed to help out with next semester.
following that internship i will be coming home for a few weeks until aug. 22, when i come back to school for the fall semester.
I am so excited about this summer, and i know that i will be stretched in new ways. God is so good-just in how opportunities have been falling into my lap..he is our Provider!
Monday, April 25, 2005
Sunday, April 03, 2005
he must become greater...i must become less
"it is often thus, that when we begin with good intentions in the eyes of God, a secret tagalong yen for the praise of our fellow men comes along, taking hold of our intentions from the side of the road. we take food, for example, out of necessity, but while we are eating, a gluttonous spirit creeps in and we begin to take delight in the eating for its own sake; so often it happens that what began as nourishment to protect our health ends by becoming a pretext for our pleasures. we must admit therefore that our intention, which seek to please God alone, is sometimes treacherously accompanied by a less-righteous intention that seeks to please other men by exploiting the gifts of God."
-Pope Gregory I
"Jesus knew that the Father had given him authority over everything and that he had come from God and would return to God. So he got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, poured water into a basin. then he began to wash the disciples feet, drying them with the towel"
John 13:3-5
"You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges, he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal's death on a cross. Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tounge confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."
-Pope Gregory I
"Jesus knew that the Father had given him authority over everything and that he had come from God and would return to God. So he got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, poured water into a basin. then he began to wash the disciples feet, drying them with the towel"
John 13:3-5
"You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges, he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal's death on a cross. Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tounge confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."
Thursday, March 31, 2005
a walk in the rain
the rain falls in chicago...acid rain maybe...but there is still that romantic sense of walking in the city, in the rain, in search of adventure...and also the very high likelyhood of encountering gigantic mud puddles or being splashed by cars driving through them...
but that didn't stop 3 brave girls from challenging the weather head on-equipped with flip-flops, no umbrellas, and definately no umbrella hats. for my friend's b-day we went to a little coffee shop only a few stops away on the brown line, while lightning lit up the sky, rain poured down, and clouds of dark blue and silver raced across the skyline...
rain falling,
an espresso machine
damp clothing, damp hair, water spots on eye-glasses
chai tea
hot-chocolate
a small round table by an open window
quaint
warm
comforting
a break from the routine
laughter
conversation
the fellowship of friends
(just for BNicoleJ...)
but that didn't stop 3 brave girls from challenging the weather head on-equipped with flip-flops, no umbrellas, and definately no umbrella hats. for my friend's b-day we went to a little coffee shop only a few stops away on the brown line, while lightning lit up the sky, rain poured down, and clouds of dark blue and silver raced across the skyline...
rain falling,
an espresso machine
damp clothing, damp hair, water spots on eye-glasses
chai tea
hot-chocolate
a small round table by an open window
quaint
warm
comforting
a break from the routine
laughter
conversation
the fellowship of friends
(just for BNicoleJ...)
Tuesday, March 22, 2005
Back in Chicago!
well...i had written a very detailed blog upon my return from turkey...but somehow it erased before i was able to publish this post...and the second time around is never the same, but i will do my best to redo what i undid...anyway...
it is hard to believe that only a few days ago i was eight hours on the other side of the world, and now back in chicago, life is going on as usual-except for the profound impact that place had on me...that continues to be in my mind and heart.
waking up to the call to prayer at five thirty in the morning, the sound of a soothing-unfamilliar language, turkish breakfast-fresh bread, olives, glasses of tea (once 15 glasses in one day!) chocolate cake, fetta cheese, turkish coffee (which if you are not familliar with-just try it...actual grounds, sugar, and water mixed and heated together, then poured into tiny espresso cups), minarets pointed heavenward, the clicking of prayer beads, rugs of red and brown covered with intricate designs-trod upon by bare feet, the flowing of scarves over dark hair, facing toward mecca, the eye of allah, the beautiful snow covered mountains of kayseri, the history of the hagia sophia, sunlight through stained glass of the blue mosque, the sound of children laughing, the smell of cigarette smoke mixed with tea, cobblestone streets...
...the absence of Truth
we flew into ankara on monday night, stayed with a wonderful "m" family, who put us on a bus the next morning for the city of bolu. in bolu we stayed with two turkish muslim girls, both nursing students at the nearby university-it was such a great experience with 'emel' and 'felize'. emel spoke enough english that we were able to communicate-we talked about politics, culture, religion, and family (i have to say...many turkish families put our families to shame..) the language barrier only allowed our conversations to go so deep, but it was so good to talk to them, learn from them, and talk to them a little about what we believe...
from there we went to an "m" conference in ankara-just talking with the workers, sitting in on meetings, and asking tons of questions...those amazing people just poured into us, taught us, encouraged us, and asked us challenging-thought provoking questions that even now i am still mulling over.
from ankara we took a bus to the center of turkey to kayseri-one of the most beautiful places i have ever been...we stayed with a family that my friend had stayed with before-they have three adorable children..twins-4 years old, and a 2 year old. we spent much of our time in a rug store with metin, thier uncle-hanging out, playing cards, speaking as much as we could (almost no english spoken this time) walking around...
praying...
from kayseri we took a 12 hour bus to istanbul, where, on our own-we navigated that ancient city with the greatest of ease...kind of...it is a long story, but basically-no one spoke english when we got off our bus, no map in hand-just two american girls with hiking backpacks, a duffle bag, a backpack, a plastic bag with random items, and a rug---we didn't stick out at all...
we finally figured out that the ferry we were supposed to take was not working, so we climbed into a tiny blue sardine can bus that seemed to be going to the right place...an hour later we arrived in the downtown part of istanbul-we could see the hagia sophia (once a christian church built by constantine-then a mosque-now a museum)...we walked along strange side streets, uphill..untill arriving at a decent looking hotel where we got ripped off...but it was an adventure for sure..
it was so strange to walk into the hagia sophia, to see crosses that had been scratched out, where images of the resurrection had been plastered over, painted over, covered up...and yet to still see images of jesus remaining on the walls amidst the names of allah and muhammed...to see turkish children on field trips-learning from thier teachers...the song that came into my head...
"can a nation be changed?..can a nation be saved?...can a nation be turned back to you?...we're on our knees, we're on our knees again..."
i love acts 17
"he is the God who made the world and everything in it. since he is the lord of heaven and earth, he doesn't live in man-made temples, and human hands can't serve his needs-for he has no needs. he himself gives life and breath to everything, and he satisfies every need. from one man he created all the nations throughout the whole earth.
he decided beforehand when they should rise and fall, and he determined thier boundaries. his purpose was for the nations to seek after God and perhaps find him-though he is not far from any one of us. for in him we live and move and exist..."
God is moving in turkey...though it may not be obvious to the visitor, this country, having between 4 and 5 thousand believers..including workers is gradually being exposed to Truth once again...the region of galatia, cappadocia, the town of antioch-where believers were first called christians, ephesus...all located in this place. pray for turkey...pray for the workers there..pray that the gospel of Jesus Christ will be heard, and that Truth will be proclaimed once again.
as for me...who knows...maybe i will be back there again someday...
it is hard to believe that only a few days ago i was eight hours on the other side of the world, and now back in chicago, life is going on as usual-except for the profound impact that place had on me...that continues to be in my mind and heart.
waking up to the call to prayer at five thirty in the morning, the sound of a soothing-unfamilliar language, turkish breakfast-fresh bread, olives, glasses of tea (once 15 glasses in one day!) chocolate cake, fetta cheese, turkish coffee (which if you are not familliar with-just try it...actual grounds, sugar, and water mixed and heated together, then poured into tiny espresso cups), minarets pointed heavenward, the clicking of prayer beads, rugs of red and brown covered with intricate designs-trod upon by bare feet, the flowing of scarves over dark hair, facing toward mecca, the eye of allah, the beautiful snow covered mountains of kayseri, the history of the hagia sophia, sunlight through stained glass of the blue mosque, the sound of children laughing, the smell of cigarette smoke mixed with tea, cobblestone streets...
...the absence of Truth
we flew into ankara on monday night, stayed with a wonderful "m" family, who put us on a bus the next morning for the city of bolu. in bolu we stayed with two turkish muslim girls, both nursing students at the nearby university-it was such a great experience with 'emel' and 'felize'. emel spoke enough english that we were able to communicate-we talked about politics, culture, religion, and family (i have to say...many turkish families put our families to shame..) the language barrier only allowed our conversations to go so deep, but it was so good to talk to them, learn from them, and talk to them a little about what we believe...
from there we went to an "m" conference in ankara-just talking with the workers, sitting in on meetings, and asking tons of questions...those amazing people just poured into us, taught us, encouraged us, and asked us challenging-thought provoking questions that even now i am still mulling over.
from ankara we took a bus to the center of turkey to kayseri-one of the most beautiful places i have ever been...we stayed with a family that my friend had stayed with before-they have three adorable children..twins-4 years old, and a 2 year old. we spent much of our time in a rug store with metin, thier uncle-hanging out, playing cards, speaking as much as we could (almost no english spoken this time) walking around...
praying...
from kayseri we took a 12 hour bus to istanbul, where, on our own-we navigated that ancient city with the greatest of ease...kind of...it is a long story, but basically-no one spoke english when we got off our bus, no map in hand-just two american girls with hiking backpacks, a duffle bag, a backpack, a plastic bag with random items, and a rug---we didn't stick out at all...
we finally figured out that the ferry we were supposed to take was not working, so we climbed into a tiny blue sardine can bus that seemed to be going to the right place...an hour later we arrived in the downtown part of istanbul-we could see the hagia sophia (once a christian church built by constantine-then a mosque-now a museum)...we walked along strange side streets, uphill..untill arriving at a decent looking hotel where we got ripped off...but it was an adventure for sure..
it was so strange to walk into the hagia sophia, to see crosses that had been scratched out, where images of the resurrection had been plastered over, painted over, covered up...and yet to still see images of jesus remaining on the walls amidst the names of allah and muhammed...to see turkish children on field trips-learning from thier teachers...the song that came into my head...
"can a nation be changed?..can a nation be saved?...can a nation be turned back to you?...we're on our knees, we're on our knees again..."
i love acts 17
"he is the God who made the world and everything in it. since he is the lord of heaven and earth, he doesn't live in man-made temples, and human hands can't serve his needs-for he has no needs. he himself gives life and breath to everything, and he satisfies every need. from one man he created all the nations throughout the whole earth.
he decided beforehand when they should rise and fall, and he determined thier boundaries. his purpose was for the nations to seek after God and perhaps find him-though he is not far from any one of us. for in him we live and move and exist..."
God is moving in turkey...though it may not be obvious to the visitor, this country, having between 4 and 5 thousand believers..including workers is gradually being exposed to Truth once again...the region of galatia, cappadocia, the town of antioch-where believers were first called christians, ephesus...all located in this place. pray for turkey...pray for the workers there..pray that the gospel of Jesus Christ will be heard, and that Truth will be proclaimed once again.
as for me...who knows...maybe i will be back there again someday...
Thursday, February 24, 2005
Destination: Turkey
Sometimes God gives us opportunities that we would never excpect...i am going to Turkey in a little over a week! So crazy! It all started when last Tuesday I sat down to eat lunch in the SDR (Student Dining Room) next to a friend. Jokingly, she asked me if I wanted to go to Turkey with her for spring break...the girl that she was going to go go with had backed out last minute. Well...i actually put thought into it, prayed about it for a few days, and really feel like this is where the Lord wants me for spring break. I am so incredibly excited!
We will be staying with missionaries for a few days, and living with some girls our age while we are there. Just some quick facts about Turkey:
it is the largest unreached country in the world.
there are only about 3,000 believers in the entire country
it is 99.9% Muslim
Please pray for us, as we go, for divine appointments, conversations, and that we will both just draw so much closer to our Lord. Pray that we will both learn a lot, and that we can be an encouragement to the believers there.
In HIS strength-may i continue to decrease until people only see Him when they look at me.
We will be staying with missionaries for a few days, and living with some girls our age while we are there. Just some quick facts about Turkey:
it is the largest unreached country in the world.
there are only about 3,000 believers in the entire country
it is 99.9% Muslim
Please pray for us, as we go, for divine appointments, conversations, and that we will both just draw so much closer to our Lord. Pray that we will both learn a lot, and that we can be an encouragement to the believers there.
In HIS strength-may i continue to decrease until people only see Him when they look at me.
Wednesday, February 16, 2005
Invisible Children
Imagine you are eight years old. Every night you walk from your home on the outskirts of the city into town. There you try to find a safe place to sleep. You are not safe in your own bed at home. If you remain there, soldiers might come, kidnap you, and force you, if you are a boy, to fight in a war that is going on. You will learn how to shoot a gun, you may even be forced to kill your own family members, or other children. If you are abducted and try to escape, you will be killed without question, if you cry, you may be killed because that would mean you are thinking about home...and thinking about escaping. You may even be younger than eight years old-perhaps five. On a day, you may be told that you must kill 30 people, 40 people...
If you are a girl and are abducted, you will be sold in the sex trade, used as a sex toy by rebel soldiers... you may be as young as five. you may be as old as 18. and your home is not safe.
And you are not the only one...in fact there are thousands of you who are walking into town.
Unfortunately, this is not a fabricated scenario...it is very real, and it is getting worse...
In northern Uganda, thousands of children crowd into the cities at night for fear of being abducted. Many have lost brothers or sisters to the rebel soldiers...they all live in fear...
and most likely, you have never heard of them.
This past Tuesday i had the chance to see a documentary on this here at Moody. It is called Invisible Children.
The makers of the movie (one whom i was able to meet) originally went to Sudan to document the war going on there...however, they stumbled upon these children, with their camera from ebay, having never made a documentary before, and said "we found our story, we are staying here." They made a rough cut of it, brought it back, and have been touring the U.S. for the past six months, not only raising awareness, but informing people on how to be actively involved. One of the guys appeared on Oprah. They are returning in a month's time to finish the film, this time with 20 other videographers, and endorsements from Target, Starbucks, and Urban Outfitters.
If you would like more info, visit their website:
www.invisiblechildren.com
If you are a girl and are abducted, you will be sold in the sex trade, used as a sex toy by rebel soldiers... you may be as young as five. you may be as old as 18. and your home is not safe.
And you are not the only one...in fact there are thousands of you who are walking into town.
Unfortunately, this is not a fabricated scenario...it is very real, and it is getting worse...
In northern Uganda, thousands of children crowd into the cities at night for fear of being abducted. Many have lost brothers or sisters to the rebel soldiers...they all live in fear...
and most likely, you have never heard of them.
This past Tuesday i had the chance to see a documentary on this here at Moody. It is called Invisible Children.
The makers of the movie (one whom i was able to meet) originally went to Sudan to document the war going on there...however, they stumbled upon these children, with their camera from ebay, having never made a documentary before, and said "we found our story, we are staying here." They made a rough cut of it, brought it back, and have been touring the U.S. for the past six months, not only raising awareness, but informing people on how to be actively involved. One of the guys appeared on Oprah. They are returning in a month's time to finish the film, this time with 20 other videographers, and endorsements from Target, Starbucks, and Urban Outfitters.
If you would like more info, visit their website:
www.invisiblechildren.com
Thursday, February 10, 2005
Indescribable
From the highest of heights to the depths of the sea
Creation's revealing Your majesty
From the colors of fall to the fragrance of spring
Every creature unique in the song that it sings
All exclaiming
Indescribable, uncontainable,
You placed the stars in the sky and You know them by name.
You are amazing God
All powerful, untameable,
Awestruck we fall to our knees as we humbly proclaim
You are amazing God
Who has told every lightning bolt where it should go
Or seen heavenly storehouses laden with snow
Who imagined the sun and gives source to its light
Yet conceals it to bring us the coolness of night
None can fathom
Indescribable, uncontainable,
You placed the stars in the sky and You know them by name
You are amazing God
All powerful, untameable,
Awestruck we fall to our knees as we humbly proclaim
You are amazing God
You are amazing God
Indescribable, uncontainable,
You placed the stars in the sky and You know them by name.
You are amazing God
All powerful, untameable,
Awestruck we fall to our knees as we humbly proclaim
You are amazing God
Indescribable, uncontainable,
You placed the stars in the sky and You know them by name.
You are amazing God
Incomparable, unchangeable
You see the depths of my heart and You love me the same
You are amazing God
You are amazing God
Creation's revealing Your majesty
From the colors of fall to the fragrance of spring
Every creature unique in the song that it sings
All exclaiming
Indescribable, uncontainable,
You placed the stars in the sky and You know them by name.
You are amazing God
All powerful, untameable,
Awestruck we fall to our knees as we humbly proclaim
You are amazing God
Who has told every lightning bolt where it should go
Or seen heavenly storehouses laden with snow
Who imagined the sun and gives source to its light
Yet conceals it to bring us the coolness of night
None can fathom
Indescribable, uncontainable,
You placed the stars in the sky and You know them by name
You are amazing God
All powerful, untameable,
Awestruck we fall to our knees as we humbly proclaim
You are amazing God
You are amazing God
Indescribable, uncontainable,
You placed the stars in the sky and You know them by name.
You are amazing God
All powerful, untameable,
Awestruck we fall to our knees as we humbly proclaim
You are amazing God
Indescribable, uncontainable,
You placed the stars in the sky and You know them by name.
You are amazing God
Incomparable, unchangeable
You see the depths of my heart and You love me the same
You are amazing God
You are amazing God
Tuesday, February 01, 2005
God's Goodness as told by my random notes
This past week-end i had the chance to go home, surprise my familiy (even though i only saw them for a few hours/minutes, and help out at camp winter retreat. It was so incredible to see everyone, hang out with the youth group, and play in the snow a little.
This week is Founder's week at Moody, so all classes are canceled and instead we go and listen to amazing speakers (3 a day!) it is a little tiring, but is a nice break from studying...which i should still be doing even though i don't have class...
This morning, Chip Ingram spoke about God's goodness, and i thought I would share my notes with you guys...they are a little random..the blanks aren't completley filled in, but the just of it is there.(the theme of Founder's week this year is Who is God?)
We need to desire to know God, not for who we want him to be, or who everyone has told us he is-but for who he truely is-all preconcieved ideas aside.
God is good: and he is good to us because he loves us-simply because he wants us to delight in him and he does want us to be happy- God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in him (a little john piper add-in there..).
So many times we have a low view of God-and how we think about God affects our response to him, and how we think God thinks about us will affect our relationship with him.
(it is like meeting someone for the first time, and stereotyping them by what we see on the surface....we may be intimidated by that person, and as a result, will not desire to get to know them (or whatever)...but when we do get to know that person and realize that they are amazing, not intimidating, and great to be around, we will respond differently to them.)
God is generous...and it has nothing to do with me...God is not good because I am good-he is good because he is good...nothing I can do can earn God's favor or blessing...he gives it out becasue he is generous..not because I deserve anything.
However, if we are to get that blessing, sometimes risk is involved. Where there is no risk there is no faith..if we will allow God to move us to that place that HE wants us/where he is wanting to give us something amazing-it will most likely be out of our comfort zone...it requires us to be moved beyond ourselves.
Jesus is the supreme expression of God's Goodness. the cross. While we were still sinners, Christ died for us that we may have access to the Father.
This week is Founder's week at Moody, so all classes are canceled and instead we go and listen to amazing speakers (3 a day!) it is a little tiring, but is a nice break from studying...which i should still be doing even though i don't have class...
This morning, Chip Ingram spoke about God's goodness, and i thought I would share my notes with you guys...they are a little random..the blanks aren't completley filled in, but the just of it is there.(the theme of Founder's week this year is Who is God?)
We need to desire to know God, not for who we want him to be, or who everyone has told us he is-but for who he truely is-all preconcieved ideas aside.
God is good: and he is good to us because he loves us-simply because he wants us to delight in him and he does want us to be happy- God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in him (a little john piper add-in there..).
So many times we have a low view of God-and how we think about God affects our response to him, and how we think God thinks about us will affect our relationship with him.
(it is like meeting someone for the first time, and stereotyping them by what we see on the surface....we may be intimidated by that person, and as a result, will not desire to get to know them (or whatever)...but when we do get to know that person and realize that they are amazing, not intimidating, and great to be around, we will respond differently to them.)
God is generous...and it has nothing to do with me...God is not good because I am good-he is good because he is good...nothing I can do can earn God's favor or blessing...he gives it out becasue he is generous..not because I deserve anything.
However, if we are to get that blessing, sometimes risk is involved. Where there is no risk there is no faith..if we will allow God to move us to that place that HE wants us/where he is wanting to give us something amazing-it will most likely be out of our comfort zone...it requires us to be moved beyond ourselves.
Jesus is the supreme expression of God's Goodness. the cross. While we were still sinners, Christ died for us that we may have access to the Father.
Monday, January 24, 2005
"And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water in my name..."
Hello! Well, I am discovering why this place is called the windy city! It is frigid cold, and walking around in the blowing snow is not at the top of my list of things to do on an afternoon. the other day, one of my roommates (debbie) and I went to Jewel(a grocery store nearby) to pick up some stuff we needed. It was so cold, and we bought more food than we could carry...so we asked if we could borrow a cart to bring the food back (Jewel is like 4 or 5 blocks away) They said yes! So we started pushing our cart of groceries back, but the sidewalks were to slushy and snow covered, so we ended up having to carry all of the bags back...needless to say, it wasn't much fun.
Yet, I should not be complaining...i have a warm room to come back to, blankets, food...and there are many who do not even have a place to sleep-unless you count the bridge where there are roads stacked upon roads- a giant cement structure that is only meant for traveling through...some men call that thier home. Last night we (some of our bro-sis) went down to the bridge and passed out hot-dogs, water, socks, and hot-chocolate to some of the homeless men who stay down there in the winter. We were only there for a few hours, and my hands and feet were so incredibly cold...they have been there for several months. We walked along the sidewalks and stopped at mounds of blankets, giving water in Jesus' name and in this case, hot-chocolate as well...It is crazy that people live like this--one man, Arnold, we were talking to-he had a Bible passage taped to the wall- Part of Luke 12.
"And he(Jesus) told this parable: The ground of a certain rich man produced a good crop. He thought to himself, what shall I do? I have no place to store my crops. Then he said, 'this is whatI'll do-I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods.....But God said to him, "You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?" this is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God."
Then Jesus said to his disciples:
"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or what you will wear. Life is more than food and the body more than clothes. consider the ravens: they do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?"
In Galatians, Paul is writing to the church there...basically getting up in their face and confronting them about things-accepting false teaching-putting too much emphasis on the law. Along with that, Chapter 2:10- he adds this. "They agreed that I should go to the Gentiles, and they to the Jews. All they asked was that we should continueto remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do."
Have we gotten so comfortable in our Christianity that we have pushed aside the most obvious and important command? Love God and love your neighbor. And a heart that is truely loving God will produce fruit-that will be seen as an overflow of thier life. When we have gotten to the point of stagnancy-and seeking our own personal comfort and convienience- we have gotton to the point were we are decieving ourselves.
I can spend all week drawing from the well-taking these amazing classes from amazing profs, reading my Bible every day-praying, journaling...but faith without deeds is dead. If you take a cup and fill it with water and just allow it to sit there-it is going to get gross-water that is not moving is never safe to drink-it is often poisonous...we need to be constantly pouring out-because unless we are, our lives will be but stale, dim and fruitless.
I so often get caught up in my "ministry..." or "Christian stuff" that I forget the greatest commands of Christ. How will people known us as followers of Him? By our love.
It was so incredibly convicting to walk around amongst those men who have nothing. So I give this challenge to myself and everyone else- Share the well.
Yet, I should not be complaining...i have a warm room to come back to, blankets, food...and there are many who do not even have a place to sleep-unless you count the bridge where there are roads stacked upon roads- a giant cement structure that is only meant for traveling through...some men call that thier home. Last night we (some of our bro-sis) went down to the bridge and passed out hot-dogs, water, socks, and hot-chocolate to some of the homeless men who stay down there in the winter. We were only there for a few hours, and my hands and feet were so incredibly cold...they have been there for several months. We walked along the sidewalks and stopped at mounds of blankets, giving water in Jesus' name and in this case, hot-chocolate as well...It is crazy that people live like this--one man, Arnold, we were talking to-he had a Bible passage taped to the wall- Part of Luke 12.
"And he(Jesus) told this parable: The ground of a certain rich man produced a good crop. He thought to himself, what shall I do? I have no place to store my crops. Then he said, 'this is whatI'll do-I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods.....But God said to him, "You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?" this is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God."
Then Jesus said to his disciples:
"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or what you will wear. Life is more than food and the body more than clothes. consider the ravens: they do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?"
In Galatians, Paul is writing to the church there...basically getting up in their face and confronting them about things-accepting false teaching-putting too much emphasis on the law. Along with that, Chapter 2:10- he adds this. "They agreed that I should go to the Gentiles, and they to the Jews. All they asked was that we should continueto remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do."
Have we gotten so comfortable in our Christianity that we have pushed aside the most obvious and important command? Love God and love your neighbor. And a heart that is truely loving God will produce fruit-that will be seen as an overflow of thier life. When we have gotten to the point of stagnancy-and seeking our own personal comfort and convienience- we have gotton to the point were we are decieving ourselves.
I can spend all week drawing from the well-taking these amazing classes from amazing profs, reading my Bible every day-praying, journaling...but faith without deeds is dead. If you take a cup and fill it with water and just allow it to sit there-it is going to get gross-water that is not moving is never safe to drink-it is often poisonous...we need to be constantly pouring out-because unless we are, our lives will be but stale, dim and fruitless.
I so often get caught up in my "ministry..." or "Christian stuff" that I forget the greatest commands of Christ. How will people known us as followers of Him? By our love.
It was so incredibly convicting to walk around amongst those men who have nothing. So I give this challenge to myself and everyone else- Share the well.
Thursday, January 20, 2005
Comfort Zone...can't even see it anymore
So, I have just returned from my PCM again tonight...and I should be reading for classes tomorrow, but thought I would take a little time to write something. Tonight went pretty well-it is so crazy that I am doing this-i met the only other Moody student who is helping out at the after-school program, and because our usual ride was not able to come, he had to drive us out there(it was only his second time driving in Chicago...) we made it though, and I am extremely thankful that I did not have to drive. There were about 40 kids there tonight, and though chaos was a part of the night, so was a chance for them to hear the gospel.
We help the kids with their homework for a while, and tonight, i encountered a crisis....are 5th graders supposed to be subtracting mixed fractions with uncommon denomonaters??????? (see...i don't even know how to spell denominater) I was no help to a couple of my girls because of this...and after being extremely angry with myself upon returning back to the dorm(angry because I always excused my math skills with the phrase "i will never use this...i want to go into ministry...") Well..never say never...especially when it comes to ministry...anyway...i made my friend meghan show me how to do that...and I am bound and determined to help those girls somehow next week. I told one of them, "I will show you how to subtract mixed fractions next week." and she looked at me with this raised eyebrow as if to say "no you won't.." That just makes me more determined...so if my studies slack off this next week-it is because I am learning math.
I am totally out of my comfort zone on this one...May God's glory be more clearly seen in my life through my weakness and insufficiencies....it is cool, though, as I look back over the past few years, I can see how different ministries that I have been involved with may contribute to helping me prepare for this one.
Last night I went with a friend to study at a coffee shop a little bit farther away from Moody...called uncommon ground. There was live music, we ordered hummus and coffee, and studied. As I was sitting there reading my "Encountering John" book (for Gospel of John class), it just hit me how amazing it is that I am here now...It is only because of God. And also, how cool that I was sitting in a coffee house, in a city, reading a book, while listening to live music, such a cool atmosphere-I love it here.
We help the kids with their homework for a while, and tonight, i encountered a crisis....are 5th graders supposed to be subtracting mixed fractions with uncommon denomonaters??????? (see...i don't even know how to spell denominater) I was no help to a couple of my girls because of this...and after being extremely angry with myself upon returning back to the dorm(angry because I always excused my math skills with the phrase "i will never use this...i want to go into ministry...") Well..never say never...especially when it comes to ministry...anyway...i made my friend meghan show me how to do that...and I am bound and determined to help those girls somehow next week. I told one of them, "I will show you how to subtract mixed fractions next week." and she looked at me with this raised eyebrow as if to say "no you won't.." That just makes me more determined...so if my studies slack off this next week-it is because I am learning math.
I am totally out of my comfort zone on this one...May God's glory be more clearly seen in my life through my weakness and insufficiencies....it is cool, though, as I look back over the past few years, I can see how different ministries that I have been involved with may contribute to helping me prepare for this one.
Last night I went with a friend to study at a coffee shop a little bit farther away from Moody...called uncommon ground. There was live music, we ordered hummus and coffee, and studied. As I was sitting there reading my "Encountering John" book (for Gospel of John class), it just hit me how amazing it is that I am here now...It is only because of God. And also, how cool that I was sitting in a coffee house, in a city, reading a book, while listening to live music, such a cool atmosphere-I love it here.
Friday, January 14, 2005
My first week, a sprained ankle, and tons of reading
Well, i have successfully survived my first week in Chicago...the sense of direction is already starting to improve. I am loving my classes, and am so excited that I get to study the Bible...so amazing...i am still amazed that i am here... God is so incredibly good.
Moody is going to be a lot more work than I anticipated...i estimate that I will probably read btwn 100 and 200 pages a day on top additional assignments, tests, and quizzes...i am taking 16 hours, but they are all classes that I am thus far excited about going to. Please pray that as I am reading the Bible for my classes and reading other books, that I would never view the Bible as a textbook, and that I would keep Jesus my first love-that my studies would not get in the way with my relationship with God.
I went to my PCM for the first time on Thursday (practical christian ministry). It is down on the south side of Chicago and is a branch off of Sunshine Gospel ministries. I had no idea whatsoever of what to expect, but it went very well. I am working with inner city kids, 7-13 year olds, helping out in an afterschool program. We play games with the kids (aka run off thier energy) and then we tutor them, help them with thier school work(some of them are smarter than me...10 year olds aren't supposed to be on exponents are they???) and then there is a brief Bible teaching time (not too long-short attention spans), and then we eat food, and they go home. It is so cool, and it will probably be the most challenging thing I have ever done, but through my inadequecies, though I am unqualified, God's glory can be more clearly revealed, and then maybe I can get out of the way so he can work...God doesn't call the qualified, he qualifies the called.
There are only 2 or 3 other moody students helping out with this ministry, and they are in need of some more volunteers-so that is a prayer request with that, and just for me, that i will have wisdom, discernment, and an amazing heart for these kids.
So, i sprained my ankle at my pcm...i was playing frisbee with some kids and stepped in a hole in the floor as i leaped to catch the frisbee-anyways...it didn't hurt until a few hours later, and now I am wearing a brace and icing it....so dumb...
anyways...i hope all is well with all of you. have a wonderful weekend.
Moody is going to be a lot more work than I anticipated...i estimate that I will probably read btwn 100 and 200 pages a day on top additional assignments, tests, and quizzes...i am taking 16 hours, but they are all classes that I am thus far excited about going to. Please pray that as I am reading the Bible for my classes and reading other books, that I would never view the Bible as a textbook, and that I would keep Jesus my first love-that my studies would not get in the way with my relationship with God.
I went to my PCM for the first time on Thursday (practical christian ministry). It is down on the south side of Chicago and is a branch off of Sunshine Gospel ministries. I had no idea whatsoever of what to expect, but it went very well. I am working with inner city kids, 7-13 year olds, helping out in an afterschool program. We play games with the kids (aka run off thier energy) and then we tutor them, help them with thier school work(some of them are smarter than me...10 year olds aren't supposed to be on exponents are they???) and then there is a brief Bible teaching time (not too long-short attention spans), and then we eat food, and they go home. It is so cool, and it will probably be the most challenging thing I have ever done, but through my inadequecies, though I am unqualified, God's glory can be more clearly revealed, and then maybe I can get out of the way so he can work...God doesn't call the qualified, he qualifies the called.
There are only 2 or 3 other moody students helping out with this ministry, and they are in need of some more volunteers-so that is a prayer request with that, and just for me, that i will have wisdom, discernment, and an amazing heart for these kids.
So, i sprained my ankle at my pcm...i was playing frisbee with some kids and stepped in a hole in the floor as i leaped to catch the frisbee-anyways...it didn't hurt until a few hours later, and now I am wearing a brace and icing it....so dumb...
anyways...i hope all is well with all of you. have a wonderful weekend.
Monday, January 10, 2005
Hello from Chicago!
Well...i am sitting in a room at Moody Bible Institute writing this. How crazy and amazing to think of how I have ended up here. Orientation went very well-i was able to meet tons of other people, have been getting to know my roommies, and have caught up with several people that I know. (by the way...our room is AMAZING!!! We are in an old apartment complete with kitchen, large fridge, oven, cupboard, we each have our own closet, a linen closet, and our own bathroom-we also have two large rooms...one for sleeping,one for studying..and the best part is our amazing view of the city.) We have been having a blast, for example: last night we went with our brother floor (each dorm has a brother or sister floor who hang out together and do fun things..) to Giordonnos(Sp?) pizza and hung out, got to know some more people...It has been incredible thus far. Today I had two classes, and am now done for the day-they both went really well: one is evangelism and disciplemaking, and the other is Christianity and Western Culture.
You know that feeling when you know you are totally where you are supposed to be? Yeah...pretty much feeling that. Don't get me wrong..i know this won't be the easiest thing I have ever done...i know there will be struggles-but looking back over the past year and a half, i can say with confidence that God has brought me here right now, for a reason. May he be glorified in my life, and I hope that I will be used, stretched, and broken in ways I have never been before.
Have an amazing week-
You know that feeling when you know you are totally where you are supposed to be? Yeah...pretty much feeling that. Don't get me wrong..i know this won't be the easiest thing I have ever done...i know there will be struggles-but looking back over the past year and a half, i can say with confidence that God has brought me here right now, for a reason. May he be glorified in my life, and I hope that I will be used, stretched, and broken in ways I have never been before.
Have an amazing week-
Sunday, January 02, 2005
Happy New Year!!
It is so hard to believe that it is 2005. I am starting to feel old(now, I can't say I graduated last year-i have to say I graduated 2 years ago...) I have decided to make a list of New Year's Resolutions.
1. I will eat more fruit
2. I will actually finish a movie that I start to make on my computer
3. I will memorize more scripture-all of 1 John by the end of the year
4. I will drink more water throughout the day
5. I will actually study for my classes
6. I will not watch as many movies (ok...this one is kind of cheating because at Moody we aren't allowed to watch movies on campus i don't think)
7. And finally, the continually renewing resolution for me (I think I decide to do this every year...) I will be more organized!
Thursday I leave for Moody! Only a few days away. I am so excited...my next update will be from on campus. Have a beautiful week!
1. I will eat more fruit
2. I will actually finish a movie that I start to make on my computer
3. I will memorize more scripture-all of 1 John by the end of the year
4. I will drink more water throughout the day
5. I will actually study for my classes
6. I will not watch as many movies (ok...this one is kind of cheating because at Moody we aren't allowed to watch movies on campus i don't think)
7. And finally, the continually renewing resolution for me (I think I decide to do this every year...) I will be more organized!
Thursday I leave for Moody! Only a few days away. I am so excited...my next update will be from on campus. Have a beautiful week!
Wednesday, December 22, 2004
Going to Moody January 6!!!
Well, today I got my information packet...I'm going to Chicago in less than one month. Seems so crazy, but i am so incredibly excited. I will have three days of orientation, and then will be jumping right back into college life. I must admit, though i am super excited-i am also overwhelmed. This is totally something God-sized. I think that is how he works though, because through my weaknesses and insufficiencies, his glory can be more clearly revealed. A girl from a town of about 3,000, having no traffic light in it, going to Chicago. A girl who hates studying having to study more than ever (no slacking off this time)... If I had known a few years ago that this is where I would be someday, i would have never believed it. It is like the story of a father who asked his son to go out alone at night to get a tool from the barn. The boy was scared, so his father gave him a lantern to give him light. "Just keep walking to the edge of the light." The father told him. I think so often God only reveals to the "edge of the light" because if we saw the whole picture 1) we would stop trusting him, and 2) for myself at least, I would probably say "No way!"
How amazing to have a heavenly Father who not only knows our deepest desires and fears, but who works with us, patiently listening to us doubt him, and continually reminding us to trust him. His plan is so much bigger than I could ever plan or even imagine-and as i continue to fall more in love with Jesus, may all fade away to be but a backdrop in comparison to the riches of knowing God, and of living my life-not year by year or even week by week-but moment by moment, until my footsteps lead me to the place where i will see him face-to-face.
How amazing to have a heavenly Father who not only knows our deepest desires and fears, but who works with us, patiently listening to us doubt him, and continually reminding us to trust him. His plan is so much bigger than I could ever plan or even imagine-and as i continue to fall more in love with Jesus, may all fade away to be but a backdrop in comparison to the riches of knowing God, and of living my life-not year by year or even week by week-but moment by moment, until my footsteps lead me to the place where i will see him face-to-face.
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