Saturday, December 15, 2012

Hope. [when tragedy strikes]

It's amazing to see the compassion in everyone's hearts after the events of yesterday, but is there more we can do aside from posting a status about our shock and sentiments?
Sometimes it's difficult to know how to respond to such abhorrent tragedies, but Rene Schlaepfer said something really profound last night that has stuck in my head.

In answer to the question of how to react to the events of yesterday he said
"Don't respond to hate with hate; respond with Love. 
Don't respond to despair with despair; respond with Hope."
I think it's often tempting to give into fear and despair because we think that this is how we are supposed to respond. We think that if we aren't feeling the hopelessness the people there are feeling then we aren't compassionate enough. 
But how wrong is that? 
We should ache in empathy for those who are hurting,  but true compassion is accompanied with action. True compassion lasts. I urge us all to realize that the immediate support response has been overwhelming, but the real need will come in the days, months, and years ahead. There will be a time when everyone else forgets, but the parents are still living without their children. The children will still live with the horrific memories. The community will still live in shock and bewilderment at the evil that entered their town.

As CNN states, it seems, "The overwhelming sentiment: Hug your kids closely."
Really? That's it? All we can do is appreciate those we love because we never know when they will be snatched from us?
Is there not more hope than that? Did not Jesus come for the very purpose of healing and freedom? 
Healing from broken hearts. Healing memories. Setting people free from the past. Setting people free from horrors that bind them to regret, fear, and despair. 

As Christians we have something to offer those in Connecticut.
"The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective." (James 5:16b) 

Let's not forget that we can intercede on behalf of the victims of this evil.
Let's not forget that there is Hope!
Let's not forget that Jesus redeems the unredeemable.
Let's not forget that Jesus heals the unhealable.
Let's not forget that we have a part to play in that healing.
Our prayers and thoughts of empathy need to not end when we are able to brush past our thoughts of this horror.
It is our responsibility as those who know the Hope to help provide the Hope.

So in this tragedy and all others like it, I challenge all of you who serve our King:
Don't forget; don't despair. 
Instead remember; instead bring Hope
Take action: PRAY! 
Pray that the hope and restoration that you have found will become real to the people of Connecticut. 
Pray that the love and healing that you know to be real will be poured over the people of Connecticut. 
Pray and don't stop. 
My prayer is that I will not forget. 
My prayer is that God will continue to bring these people to our hearts and minds in the days to come when the horror and pain sink in for those directly touched by the evil while everyone else moves on.






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Sunday, December 9, 2012

Time. [scattered thoughts in the midst of finals]

As a 5th year college senior, sometimes I wonder about the purpose of time.
They say, "Time is money."
But what if that changed?
What if in this world time did not matter?
Think of the people we would be--no longer sleep deprived because an alarm to awaken us unnaturally would not be needed.
Think of the backs that would lose all the tension and the brains that ache no longer mentioned because the stress would be alleviated.
No more deadlines. No more time crunch.
No more pressure to quicken the pace.
Late would be a foreign concept.
Early wouldn't exist either.
What if time wasn't money?
What if?
Let's bring time back to being just a way to mark our place but nothing more.
What if our world operated in a way that valued time spent as it was happening instead of only valuing the time that is to come or the time that has passed?
Time is a gift.
We can enjoy anticipation or we can run right by it.
We can stop and smell the metaphorical roses or we can live our lives like bare-feet on hot coals, racing through just trying not to fall.
We hurt ourselves.
They say we forfeit years of life for minutes of worry.
We end up losing the very time we try so hard to gain.
And to what end?
Did we enjoy our time?
What if time were just a word and not money?
What if...



Thursday, October 25, 2012

Thanksgiving. [where does joy come from?]

"Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise;
give thanks to Him and praise His name.
For the Lord is good and His love endures forever;
His faithfulness continues through all generations." ~Psalm 100:4-5
Thanksgiving and praise.
That's how we're supposed to enter the presence of our Lord.
"You have made known to me the path of life;
You will fill me with joy in Your presence,
with eternal pleasures at your right hand." Psalm 16:11
In His presence comes fullness of joy which gives us Life.

"...the joy of the Lord is your strength." ~Nehemiah 8:10b

But sometimes it doesn't seem that easy.
Life gets hard.
Sometimes our hearts are heavy.
Sometimes our hearts are broken for an injustice we recognize either against us or someone else.
Sometimes we get angry and frustrated about these terrible things that really should not continue.
Sometimes it's easier to list everything going wrong.
Sometimes it's easier to be mad.
Sometimes when all these emotions are building up, we just need to cry.
Sometimes sorrow is present and we can't deny it.
That's okay.

We must give that sorrow and pain to Jesus, laying it at His feet.

"Weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning." ~Psalm 30:5 
"Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy." ~Psalm 126:5
This is a promise.
Joy is our reward.
Thanksgiving is our anthem.

We always will have a reason to sing.




Saturday, October 20, 2012

Suffering. [seeing the reason for pain]

What is the purpose of physical pain?
It's a warning signal, right? It means something is wrong with our body. Sometimes it's because we have eaten something bad. Sometimes it's because we did something not very smart that resulted in injury. Other times it's not our fault. We can pick up viruses from other people. We can be physically attacked by others. Some pain is caused intentionally; some is by accident.

I feel like it's a similar thing with pain on a larger scale: suffering in general. Except this time the cause is sin. This sin can be our own. Or it can be from someone else--intentional or not. "The wages of sin is death..." (Romans 6:23) What does "death" mean exactly? Could it be an absence of Life? This doesn't only mean physical death. It can mean any sort of absence of life: depression, illness, emotional, physical, or spiritual torment, etc.
Shouldn't we then recognize that if we see the latter present, there's a reason for it? Again, sometimes it is because of our own sin; many times it's because of someone else's sin. But it's a warning signal. Like physical pain, it shows that something's wrong.

I've been thinking a lot about why so much crap happens. People often seem to blame God for the suffering in our world saying, "If God is really good..why does life suck?"
I've certainly had my moments of asking the same question myself. But then I stop and think about the reason the pain is there.
It's a symptom.
Our world has denied its only true Life support system--our Creator--so no wonder its dying.

We cannot expect to have a perfect world from the perfect God unless that world is in complete submission to that perfect God. The beauty of the gospel is that He pierces through our dark rebellion to give us a glimpse of His light even though we as a world continue to deny Him.
His love is so strong that it cannot be stopped by an entire world that has chosen evil.
He still heals.
He still comforts.
He still restores.
He still redeems.
He still  makes beauty from ashes.
He still works everything for those who obey Him.

I am continually blown away by the way He turns everything into something good.
There is nothing that He does not use. Everything is an opportunity for Him to reveal His love more and more.

In the same way the bad is a symptom of sin, the good is a symptom of God's love--His overabundant bubbling brook of Goodness.
If we are going to blame Him for the evil that is a result of our sin, should we not even  more give Him credit for the blessings?
"Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of heavenly lights who does not change like shifting shadows." (James 1:17)
Why don't we spend  more time marveling in the gifts we have been given rather than wishing we were given the same gifts as other people?

What kind of a slap in the face to God is it to spend our lives complaining about the struggles instead of giving thanks for the growth that comes from them?





Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Trusting.

Sometimes I feel like certain songs were written specifically for me.
This is one of them.



"Sometimes all we have to hold on to
Is what we know is true of who You are
So when the heartache hits like a hurricane
That could never change who You are
And we trust in who You are

Even if the healing doesn’t come
And life falls apart
And dreams are still undone
You are God You are good
Forever faithful One
Even if the healing
Even if the healing doesn’t come

Lord we know Your ways are not our ways
So we set our faith in who You are
Even though You reign high above us
You tenderly love us
We know Your heart
And we rest in who You are

You’re still the Great and Mighty One
We trust You always
You’re working all things for our good
We’ll sing your praise

You are God and we will bless You
As the Good and Faithful One
You are God and we will bless You
Even if the healing doesn’t come
Even if the healing doesn’t come"




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Monday, August 27, 2012

"Time to Say Goodbye". [bittersweet endings]

One week from today is the day I board a plane and say goodbye to one of the best summers of my life!
I will be returning to Michigan to finish my LAST year of college. (Crazy!)
Seasons change so fast.
Sometimes I don't feel quite ready.
Saying goodbye to loved ones and loved places is never easy.
This is one of the times when the "bitter-sweet" ending feels more bitter than usual.
Maybe this is because I have learned so much about Life this summer. (yes, Life, not life.)
Maybe it's because I don't know if I will ever get to spend another summer like this in Santa Cruz.
I really have no idea what is ahead of me.
So much in my life seems really uncertain right now, but since when is anything in this world certain? That's what makes life an adventure, right?

I know that God is so good.
His timing is always perfect.
ALWAYS.
And HE knows the plans for my future even if I don't.

So I'm excited for this year.
I'm excited for what Jesus has for me.
I've learned so much recently about following Him into the valleys and up steep mountains because He knows what lies ahead. It is all worth it. Even if I can't see it all now, I will some day. I can't wait.



"The Lord is my Light and my Salvation. Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the Stronghold of my life. Of whom shall I be afraid?" ~Psalm 27:1


I will follow.



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Sunday, August 12, 2012

Pressing on. [joy in the waiting]

Trusting in the unseen isn't always easy.
At times there are moments of impatience, frustration, and disappointment.
Doubts arise, and fear takes hold.
The enemy laughs in our faces as we look for answers.
But if we continually place our hope in the Love of Christ, we will not be disappointed in the end because "Love never fails" (1 Corinthians 13:8).
That's a promise.

Don't give up.
Press on.
Joy will come.

"For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." ~2 Corinthians 4:17-18 
"Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us." ~Romans 5:3-5
"Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called  me heavenward in Christ Jesus." ~Philippians 3:12-14 
"The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him, and He helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise Him." ~Psalm 28:7




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Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Life. [why I follow Jesus : : show me something better?]

We all have some sort of void in our lives that we try to fill.
A friend of mine recently pointed out that there didn't seem to be much difference between filling that space with a hobby, work, another religion, or any other passion and filling that space with Jesus. To a certain extent I think he's right. However, there's one detail in the Christian faith that sets it apart from the rest.

We all have passions and activities that we love to do, but the thing about any of those is that they always come to an end. There's always a point when you can no longer dance, no longer shoot hoops, no longer hit home runs, no longer surf, no longer run, no longer work, etc. Maybe you'll get injured. Or just grow too old. Or maybe you'll find yourself in a situation where you don't have the opportunity to do the thing you love. Find something else right? But what if that falls through too? What if everyone you love is no longer around? What if everything you've lived for up to this point falls apart and slips from your grasp? What then?

Some might question the necessity of Christianity and seek out other religions. But there's a major difference between following Jesus and any other religion. Correct me if I'm wrong, but it seems to me that every religion is based on your own effort. Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, etc. They all depend on YOU. If you give up, that's it. There are no guarantees. 

Christianity--TRUE Christianity, on the other hand, is quite different.
 "We love because He first loved us" (1 John 4:19).
It's not about what we do. It's about what He did for us.
It's not about who we are. It's about who He is. 
He is everlasting Life. Yes, not life, but Life. With a capital L. 
He is the Redeemer. He redeems our mistakes and the messes we make. 
He is the Strength-Giver. He gives us strength to go on when we have none.
He is the Healer. He heals our bodies, our hearts, and our minds.
He is Peace when everything is shaking.
He is Love. The kind of Love that casts out fear and has power to heal. The kind of love that is unconditional. Most people (myself included) struggle to comprehend this kind of love because it's not something we see very often in our world today. But it's real, and once you've experienced it, there's no going back. 
Following Jesus isn't easy, but it's worth it. 
His promises endure forever.
He's the Rock that will never crumble. 
Everything else will fade away, but He won't. 
Can I prove that? No. 
But I can tell you about the Love and Life I have found, what I've seen and heard, and this is why I follow Jesus and live to make Him known. 
He gives me a glimpse of His love for those around me, and I can't help but want every single person to know the extent to which they are loved. 

Now show me a hobby or career or person or religion besides this that gives me a deep personal connection with my Creator. 
Show me something that will fill my heart with inexpressible joy despite the heartaches of life. 
Show me something that will give me hope when everything falls apart. 
Show me a person that will stay by my side through everything no matter what, will carry me through the darkest valleys, and dance with me on the mountains. 
Then "maybe" I would consider filling my life with something else. 
But I can assure you, nothing you say will ever convince me that there is something better because there's no one like Jesus, and that's the Truth.

"For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom His whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of His glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.
And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge--that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen." ~ Ephesians 3:14-21






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Wednesday, July 18, 2012

Cancer. [when positive means negative]

"You have cancer."
These are three words no one wants to hear.
These are also the three words I recently heard from my mother as she relayed the doctor's message.
I had suspected it was true, but hearing the words spoken made my intuition an actual reality.

So here I am.
I have been told I have thyroid cancer that has possibly metastasized to my lymph nodes. (and who knows where else)

Now what?
Waiting.
Waiting for appointments.
Waiting for phone calls from doctors.
Waiting for news.
Waiting on my God to show me what He is doing.

Many people have told me, "It will be okay. You will be fine."
Well of course it will. It IS okay. and I AM fine.

I serve my Creator who is the Great Physician.
He knows exactly what is going on in my body.
He knows exactly what I need.

My hope and trust is in Him.
I stand on His promises.
I give thanks for the blessings that will come from Jesus through what Satan intended for evil.

For those of you who believe in Jesus' powerful love, please pray for me. Pray not just that I will be healed as a display of God's miraculous love, but that I will remain firm as a testimony of the Grace of God to bring peace to His loved ones. Please also pray for my family. It's not easy for them either.

"The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of all the earth.
He never grows weak or weary.
No one can measure the depths of His understanding.
He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless.
Even youths will grow weak and tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion. 
But those who hope in the Lord will find new strength.
They will soar high on wings like eagles.
They will run and not grow weary.
They will walk and not faint." ~Isaiah 40:28-31

This is my hope. God is my rock. Here in His love I stand.



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Monday, July 2, 2012

"If the earth were a golf ball..." [why I love science]

A conversation with a good friend reminded me about a video I watched a couple years ago that blows my mind. 
Even though I have seen it before, it's still just as powerful. 
There's so much I could say, but I think the video speaks for itself. 
I know it's kinda long, but even if you can't watch the whole thing, watching just part of it will be worth your time. :)









Thursday, June 28, 2012

Endurance.


"His love endures forever."
This phrase is stated countless times throughout the bible.
It is repeated 26 times (once in each verse) in just Psalm 136 alone. 

I've heard and read this sentence over and over again throughout my life and even memorized Psalm 136 at one time, but it wasn't until the other day that I really started thinking about what this means to 'endure':

"to suffer (something difficult or painful) patiently."
"to carry on through/despite hardship" 
"to bear with tolerance" 
"to continue in the same state" 
"to remain firm under suffering or misfortune without yielding"

These are just a few definitions of the word, but this means: 

"His love [suffers patiently]."
"His love [carries on through/despite hardship]."
"His love [bears with tolerance]."
"His love [continues in the same state]."
"His love [remains firm under suffering without yielding]."

Wow.

It doesn't matter where we are in life.
It doesn't matter what we have or haven't done.
It doesn't matter what others have or haven't done.
It doesn't matter how much we resist His love because no matter what, His love

ENDURES.


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Friday, June 8, 2012

The Art of a Mosaic.

Over the course of my relatively short life thus far, and especially over the last year or so, I see a pattern in my relationship to my Creator.
I feel like my life is a microscopic tile in a giant mosaic masterpiece that is the picture of the whole world from the beginning of time to the end.  It feels as though I am sitting watching the Great Artist paint this picture. I sit here playing my own little version of "Pictionary," as I endlessly guess what the completed work is intended to be. 
Quite often, I start metaphorically (and possibly literally) jumping up and down saying, "Oh I get it! THAT'S what it's supposed to look like!" I then reach for the paint brush and begin filling in the picture according to my idea of what it is depicting. 
However, my artistic abilities are clearly lacking and so soon enough, I relinquish control back to the Artist. 
But as I continue to watch Him paint, I become ever indignant with the seemingly random and out-of-place brush strokes that do not fit whatever it is that I think He is painting or should be painting. 
I thus start complaining, telling Him, "Why did you draw that line?! That messes it up! It's not supposed to be there! Where did that smudge come from?!" 
But gently, over and over again, the Artist just keeps assuring me, "Trust me! Just wait and you will see what it will be if you will only be patient and stop interrupting me. I promise it will be beautiful! Just wait!
Yet, at times that is hard to believe because it feels like all I can see is the drop-cloth...or at least that's all it seems to be. But then I am reminded that not only can I not see my entire picture, I most certainly cannot see the much bigger picture of history of which I am only a small part. 
Yes, my little tile in the mosaic masterpiece is important, but its importance seems to be a minute detail in comparison with the rest of the whole. After all, if it gets a little messed up by my ignorant attempts to contribute, the Artist is surely good enough to tie in those "mis-strokes" and make them enrich the beauty of the whole. Not only that, but when I think about a mosaic, there is a lot of variety that can take place in each tile to still produce the final complete work. So why am I so afraid I might somehow mess it up by making a wrong decision? God is bigger than that!
But the very thing that makes a mosaic so amazing is the parts of which it is made up.

We each have something to offer.


That is the beauty of this life. 

But Jesus wants to be the One painting our picture.


He is the only One who knows what color our tile is supposed to be.


It's when we give the paintbrush to Him and stop trying to interfere that our life is as it should be: 


beautiful.





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Thursday, May 31, 2012

Summer.

Sunny days with nothing to do but enjoy this life God has given me.
Mmmmmm could it get much better?
Sometimes I can hardly believe how blessed I am to have grown up in this beautiful place.
Since leaving and returning, I've realized how much I took it for granted, and I am so thankful that I get to spend the summer here at home!
These last few weeks have been amazing, and I can't wait to see what God has planned for the rest of this season!

In the words of Tom Sawyer, "Ain't life good!" <3



"Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light." ~Matthew 11:28-30


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Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Perspective.

As I was flying into the San Jose airport last night, I had a perspective reminder as often I do when I fly.
I was looking down at the lights of the city and the specks of light--cars--on the freeway.
Those specks of light moving along the road each have in them at least one speck of a person on their way somewhere.
Each speck of light shining from each house represents a person and most often a family too.
Then I thought about the times I'm sitting in my house or driving somewhere and how I'm just one of those specks. 
The world consists of billions of us. 
There is no way anyone mind could keep track of anyone much less care about each and every one. 
Yet, that is exactly what God, our heavenly Father does! 
He created each of us, and is not only able to keep track of each individual person every second of every day, but He also keeps track of every other living thing as well!  Not only that, but He also loves each one of us more deeply than we can imagine! 
"Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows." ~Matthew 10:29-31
"For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth,  nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." ~Romans 8:38-39

Umm...can we say WOW?!



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Sunday, May 13, 2012

Madre.

Patricia Sue Wallace Pickens: a selfless servant of Christ, her family, and countless others.
This is who she is.
I couldn't ask for a better mother.
She has taught me what it means to serve.
She has taught me what it means to listen.
She has taught me what it means to persevere.
She has taught me what it means to follow Christ.

There are far too many memories to list. She has done so much. She continues to do so much. But since I can't be at home today to spend the day with her, I wanted to write something for the mother I owe so much to yet can never repay.

Dear Madre,

Thank you for:

Washing the dishes for me when I was too tired or just plain lazy.
Cleaning my room (or "pig-sty") even though I should have cleaned it myself.
Doing my hair when I was too lazy to learn how to do it myself.
Changing the sheets when I wet the bed. (no, this was not recent)
Vacuuming/cleaning up my vomit off the floor when I woke up sick. (remember that one time I threw-up every other night for 2 weeks?)
Waking up with me in the night when I couldn't sleep.
Bringing me breakfast or lunch or dinner in bed when I was sick even if I could have gotten up and made it myself.
Giving me back rubs and "tucking me in."
Braiding my hair when I was sick and hadn't showered in a week.
Spanking me when I deserved it.
Showing mercy when I should have been spanked.
Making my bed more perfectly than is humanly possible.
Staying up late helping me pack the night before I move back to school because I procrastinated until the last moment even though you told me for weeks that I couldn't wait until the last minute.
Listening to my whining and complaining and counselling me through life.
Giving me "medicine" aka tickling me to make me laugh instead of cry which always somehow worked even though I would always deny it because I hate being tickled.
Sending me that surprise care-package that included home-made banana muffins.
Spending hours and hours sewing or knitting Christmas gifts.
Cooking dinner for the entire family day after day.
"Forcing" me to clean the bathroom because she wanted me to learn how even though I never cleaned it as well as she would have liked.
Giving birth to me and my six amazing siblings.
Faithfully taking care of each of the five of your seven children as we went through the wisdom-teeth extraction process. (My face loved those ice-pack contraptions you made.)
Teaching six of your seven children to drive even though you never let us forget that you "didn't sign up for this part of parenting!"
Homeschooling all seven of your children.
Baking homemade bread for years on end. (I used to think store-bought was a special treat...oh for those days...)
Supporting my crazy decision to move across the country for school.
Listening to me cry.
Listening to me cry.
And....Listening to me cry.

This list could go on for a long, long, LONG time, but I think my point is clear:
I could never ask for a different mother because I have the best one!
I am so blessed to have such a woman in my life.
I love you Mom.
Happy Mother's Day!







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Monday, May 7, 2012

Forgiven.

There are many lies that the devil loves to plant in our minds.
These lies sink deep in our hearts if we do not recognize that they are not truth.
We take a strong hold of them and as a result they eat away at us. 
These lies affect a lot more than most of us realize. 
I feel as though we often mistake our problems as being caused by external factors.
But the truth is that the biggest struggles we face come from within.
"For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." (Ephesians 6:12)
One of the biggest lies that Satan uses is that of self-condemnation.
We make a mistake. We do things we know are wrong. We act out of bitterness or anger. We are selfish. We are impatient. The list goes on...
The devil usually does one of two things when we sin:
    He tries to help us justify our actions by twisting or stretching the truth.
OR
     If he knows we know something we did was wrong, he pours shame and condemnation over us telling us         that we messed up too bad this time. We are slaves to sin and there can be no forgiveness or freedom from that.

But either one is a trap. Satan lies. It's what he does best.

Now I'm writing most of this to myself, because I have seen the devil try to spin these tales time and time again, but I'm realizing that I DON'T HAVE TO LISTEN because the truth is this:
"If we confess our sins, [God] is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:9)
 The Bible tells us over and over again that God is full of grace and compassion. He is slow to anger and abounding in love. His mercies never end. They begin new every single day! We are forgiven from our past mistakes. There is no reason to dwell on what is no longer there. The present is all we have.

"Forget the former things. Do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland." (Isaiah 43:18-19)

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Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Promise of Peace from the Prince of Peace.

Many wise people have said,

"Never let your circumstances define you. You must define your circumstances."

We can't control what happens. We can only control our reactions.

So,

"Rejoice in the Lord always! I will say it again: REJOICE! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." ~Philippians 4:4-7

I've always loved these verses, but it kind of just hit me today: the last part is a promise
The peace of God WILL guard our hearts and minds in Jesus if we hold up our end of the deal and rejoice, not being anxious, and presenting our concerns to God through prayer with thanksgiving. 

That's a guarantee. 


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Monday, April 23, 2012

Gossip.

It's so easy to see everyone else's faults. 
It's so easy to point out what he did wrong. 
It's so easy to recognize where she fell short of perfection. 
But look around you and remember that every person you see and every person about which you think, "How could they possibly be like that?" or "How dare they?" or "I've tried to find something nice to say about her/him, but there just isn't anything good there," is considered by Jesus as


someone worth dying for. 


"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." ~John 3:16


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Sunday, April 22, 2012

Where I belong.

People often ask me, "So are you going to move back to California to teach when you graduate..or stay in Michigan?" My response is usually, "I don't know...maybe neither." Which is true! I really DO NOT KNOW what God has for me down the road. And even though I can make plans and feel led a certain way, I don't even really know where I will be next year, or even next month! For all I know, God could bring something into my life to change everything because He has done that many times, even very recently.


Living in California, moving for school to Michigan, spending a month in Thailand, etc. makes it difficult to know exactly where (as in location) I belong. Right now I belong in Michigan, (except for the summer), but what is after that? I cannot tell you. The future is wide open, which is exciting, but also scary. I don't know where I'm headed, but I know the One leading me. I am tired of trying to figure out where I am "supposed" to be and what I'm "supposed" to do. I already know that where I belong is in the presence of God.  From there He is very good at making it clear where I am to go and what I am to do when He decides I need to know.
So I think the song "Where I belong" by Cory Asbury pretty much says it all:


"Your presence is all I’m longing for here in the secret place
Your nearness is all I’m waiting for here in the quiet place, here in the secret place

My soul waits for you alone
Like the watchmen wait for dawn.

Here I’ve finally found the place
Where we’ll meet, Lord, face to face.

I’ve finally found where I belong, I’ve finally found where I belong, In Your presence
I’ve finally found where I belong, to be with You, to be with You

I am my Beloved’s and He is mine, so come into Your garden and take delight in me
Take delight in me 

Delight in me, Delight in me
Delight in me, Delight in me

Here in Your presence, God, I find my rest
Here in Your presence, God."




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Monday, April 16, 2012

Love.

So often our modern culture bases the definition of love on what we get from it. Everyone is seeking to be loved to fill an empty spot deep in the soul. But 1 Corinthians 13:5 says that love "is not self-seeking." So seeking to be loved is not what love is about.

If we go around demanding what we want because we love something or someone, is that really love? Isn't the  real essence of love a sacrifice? We should not love others for the love we feel in return. We should love because Christ loves us and we are thus compelled to that same kind of deep, sacrificial love for others. We should love in a way that sets aside our selfish wants and truly desire the best for others. God will give us everything we need. We should do everything within our power to give others what they truly need according to Christ's will for their lives--NOT what our selfish little selves want for their lives. Sometimes this means being hurt. Sometimes this means letting go. But that's okay because in the end, sacrifice is what real love is all about, right?

"Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends." ~John 15:13

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Tuesday, April 3, 2012

God's will.

"Fear is never a part of God's will." (Anna Wilkinson) 


When I heard Anna say this last week in chapel, I realized something about God's will and what we believe it to be. I think we all worry too much about what we're supposed to do, where we're supposed to go, whom we're supposed to be with, etc. But in reality, although those things are important, the bigger question is "how" or "in what way?"
In what way are we supposed to do whatever it is we do?
In what way are we supposed to go wherever we go?
In what way are we supposed to love people?


"And what does the Lord require of you?
To act justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God." (Micah 6:8)

"My command is this: Love others as I have loved you." (John 15:12)

"So whatever you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God." (1 Corinthians 10:31)



That's it. 
It doesn't matter where we go or what we do next. It only matters the way in which we do whatever we do.


We must go about our lives loving as Jesus loves, walking humbly with God, and glorifying Him with everything we do.



THAT is His will for us.
Everything else that is specific to our lives will be revealed in His timing.
We don't have to worry about those things now.
We only have to make sure we are walking with God every step of the way.






Monday, April 2, 2012

Fear.

God never said "Don't worry...because nothing will go wrong..."
He said, 

"Do not fear, for I am with you;
Do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you.
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." ~Isaiah 41:10


Letting go of our fears doesn't mean they won't come true. 


It means believing the fact that even if our fears come true, 


God will walk with us through everything.


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Sunday, February 26, 2012

Hakuna Matata.

"It means no worries for the rest of your days.
It's our problem-free philosophy." *

Now, growing up in hippie Santa Cruz, I always in a way brushed this song off as being one of those "let's make a caricature of crazy hippie" things. 


...That is...until yesterday. It's amazing how God speaks to us even through silly Disney cartoon songs. 
Let me explain:
When you actually think about it, the Hakuna Matata philosophy should be our philosophy. 
In fact, it IS our philosophy if we actually believe what we claim to believe.


After all, Jesus says in Matthew 6, 
"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life....Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?...So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?'...But seek first His kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." 

Then in 1 Peter 5:7, we are told to, 

"Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you." 

Similarly in Philippians 4:6, Paul says,
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." 

That is not even mentioning the numerous times in the bible that we are told to not fear. 
According to tradition, "there are 365 times in the bible where it says 'do not fear'--one for every day of the year." (I do not know if this is actually true..but regardless of the exact number, the point is, God does not want us to be afraid/anxious and He has repeated Himself many many times in order to emphasize the importance of it!)

It makes me wonder...do you think maybe God is trying to make a point? ;)

"'Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus..."


...Hakuna Matata, Hakuna Matata, Hakuna Matata, Hakuna Matata....






(*For the very few who may not recognize this: watch The Lion King!)


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Thursday, January 26, 2012

Choosing Joy.

"Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: REJOICE!" ~Philippians 4:4

Rejoice...ALWAYS.
Not just when I feel like it.
Not just when it's easy.

What am I rejoicing in?
The way I feel?
The way my life is at the moment?
NO!

I rejoice in the Lord!
He is good.
He is faithful.
He is LOVE.

It's a command.
It's a choice.
Therefore I will REJOICE.



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