I was thinking
over thinking
cause there's just too many scenarios
to analyze
"Over Thinking" -Relient K
Out of mind, out of state.
Trying to keep my head on straight.
"Pressing On" -Relient K
Cause it seems I get so hung up on
The history of what's gone wrong
And the hope of a new day
Is sometimes hard to see
And though I'm finally catching onto it
And now the past is just a conduit
And the light there at the end is
Where I'll be
"Up and Up" -Relient K
Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?
Matthew 6:27
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.
Matthew 6:33-34
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
Philippians 4:8
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Happy Birthday!
Bobby and Haley turned 1 year old last week! So hard to believe--they're growing so fast! I miss them and wish I was there. Anyone want to go to NJ today? haha. :)
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Down in my heart to stay
Despite all of the hustle and bustle of moving, this week has truly been joy-filled. The fellowship has been wonderful. Between lunches, planning meetings, emails, and Bible study, each day has left me smiling, laughing, and delighting in the blessings God has given me in friends. Seriously...right now, smile on my face. Can't make it stop. :)
Joyful, joyful, we adore Thee
God of glory, Lord of love
Hearts unfold like flowers before Thee
Opening to the sun above
Monday, July 21, 2008
My Father's house
The packing and moving is finally over! I'm so thankful to be living in one place as opposed to two right now. Also, the living room and kitchen are quite a bit bigger than what I remember, so I'm looking forward to inviting friends over soon. :) Despite the fact that this is my new home, it doesn't feel like it yet. I was completely expecting to wake up in the middle of the night and wonder where I was, but I was so tired that I slept straight through. Moving and reorienting the word "home" to fit this place has made me think about my true home--where I really belong: heaven.
These are amazing promises and I am so glad that I get to participate in them. Everyday I'm a little closer to it. As I go through day to day life and seek Christ more consistently, it becomes blatantly obvious that I don't belong here--that this earth is not my true home. I've noticed this not only in my own experience, but also by looking at what is going on in this world. My heart hurts a little every time I read a headline about war, genocide, abuse, the list goes on and on. This isn't how it's supposed to be, and one day God will fix all that.
Although, to be honest, sometimes it scares me. Maybe 'scare' is the wrong word... it makes me anxious. I think it's just the fear of the unknown that gives me a little pause and the uncertainty about what heaven is really going to be like. I know that God is true to His word and that he will do what he says he will do, so I have to keep handing that anxiousness back over and trusting Him. Much easier said than done.
But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness. 2 Peter 3:13
In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. John 14:2-3
I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." Revelation 21:2-4
These are amazing promises and I am so glad that I get to participate in them. Everyday I'm a little closer to it. As I go through day to day life and seek Christ more consistently, it becomes blatantly obvious that I don't belong here--that this earth is not my true home. I've noticed this not only in my own experience, but also by looking at what is going on in this world. My heart hurts a little every time I read a headline about war, genocide, abuse, the list goes on and on. This isn't how it's supposed to be, and one day God will fix all that.
Although, to be honest, sometimes it scares me. Maybe 'scare' is the wrong word... it makes me anxious. I think it's just the fear of the unknown that gives me a little pause and the uncertainty about what heaven is really going to be like. I know that God is true to His word and that he will do what he says he will do, so I have to keep handing that anxiousness back over and trusting Him. Much easier said than done.
But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body. Philippians 3:20-21
Thursday, July 10, 2008
The highs and lows of 202
We're moving in one week. Just across town to a new apartment, but still a move. I was thinking this week about things I will and won't miss about this house... here are a few.
I won't miss:
-ancient appliances that shake in the spin cycle and bake unevenly.
-the air conditioning vent located directly beneath my desk (pull on the parka to check your email!)
-the ridiculously old carpet and linoleum
-the sketchy locks on the front and back door... not likely to keep you out if you really want in
I will miss:
-living with Sara :(
-the front and back porches, especially in the summer
-our striped wall:
-my aquamint-colored room
-our rooms all being connected so that we can talk between them
-Sara's big comfy chair in the living room
-the huge (by college student standards) kitchen
-all the storage space
-having our own washer and dryer
-not having neighbors in the same building
-a big space giving us the ability to invite lots of people over
I've really enjoyed this house and living with both Sara and Kendal and we had a lot of great memories in this house, but time to move on. :) Kendal and I will head to the south side to an apartment in just one week.
I won't miss:
-ancient appliances that shake in the spin cycle and bake unevenly.
-the air conditioning vent located directly beneath my desk (pull on the parka to check your email!)
-the ridiculously old carpet and linoleum
-the sketchy locks on the front and back door... not likely to keep you out if you really want in
I will miss:
-living with Sara :(
-the front and back porches, especially in the summer
-our striped wall:
-my aquamint-colored room
-our rooms all being connected so that we can talk between them
-Sara's big comfy chair in the living room
-the huge (by college student standards) kitchen
-all the storage space
-having our own washer and dryer
-not having neighbors in the same building
-a big space giving us the ability to invite lots of people over
I've really enjoyed this house and living with both Sara and Kendal and we had a lot of great memories in this house, but time to move on. :) Kendal and I will head to the south side to an apartment in just one week.
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
A lesson from Daniel
This post is late in coming as usual. These were verses that spoke to me in a situation a couple months ago, but truth is truth, right? It still applies.
Background: I was always one of the "smart" kids in HS, so coming to IU was a pretty humbling experience for me. There are a lot of really intelligent people here and a lot of them are a lot smarter than me. I thought I had finally become accustomed to my own level of intelligence and talent last semester, but there were still discouraging moments. One in particular comes to mind. Science is all about questions--continuous questions. So in my upper-level classes, I was pretty happy if I was able to 1. understand the material, and 2. process through it enough to come up with questions about it. However, there was this one girl in one of my classes who asked these insane questions. The kind that make you gawk at her in awe and say 'man, where did that come from?! i wish i had thought of that.' She was always a mile ahead of the rest of us. While we were still processing through the material, she was onto thinking about the next issue or implication. Instead of being encouraged by her questions, I was completely discouraged. I fell into the whole self-deprecating, she's-so-much-smarter-than-me act. Pity party.
One of the next few nights, I picked up my Bible and randomly started to read Daniel. (I love it when I choose a passage to read without intention and God speaks to me through it!!) In my friend Christina's words: Daniel was a studmuffin. That's right. He had it going on. He was handsome, smart, well informed, quick to learn, and able to take on the responsibility given to him (1:4-5). God gave him knowledge and understanding (1:17). Now the big difference (among many others!) between Daniel and I: he took his knowledge and understanding, realized where it came from, and instead of comparing himself to others, he praised God for it. He was humble and pointed out the fact that without God he could not have interpreted the king's dream--the knowledge and understanding were not his own to claim and they would serve God's purpose. I just keep going back to the verses below.
Background: I was always one of the "smart" kids in HS, so coming to IU was a pretty humbling experience for me. There are a lot of really intelligent people here and a lot of them are a lot smarter than me. I thought I had finally become accustomed to my own level of intelligence and talent last semester, but there were still discouraging moments. One in particular comes to mind. Science is all about questions--continuous questions. So in my upper-level classes, I was pretty happy if I was able to 1. understand the material, and 2. process through it enough to come up with questions about it. However, there was this one girl in one of my classes who asked these insane questions. The kind that make you gawk at her in awe and say 'man, where did that come from?! i wish i had thought of that.' She was always a mile ahead of the rest of us. While we were still processing through the material, she was onto thinking about the next issue or implication. Instead of being encouraged by her questions, I was completely discouraged. I fell into the whole self-deprecating, she's-so-much-smarter-than-me act. Pity party.
One of the next few nights, I picked up my Bible and randomly started to read Daniel. (I love it when I choose a passage to read without intention and God speaks to me through it!!) In my friend Christina's words: Daniel was a studmuffin. That's right. He had it going on. He was handsome, smart, well informed, quick to learn, and able to take on the responsibility given to him (1:4-5). God gave him knowledge and understanding (1:17). Now the big difference (among many others!) between Daniel and I: he took his knowledge and understanding, realized where it came from, and instead of comparing himself to others, he praised God for it. He was humble and pointed out the fact that without God he could not have interpreted the king's dream--the knowledge and understanding were not his own to claim and they would serve God's purpose. I just keep going back to the verses below.
Daniel replied, "No wise man, enchanter, magician, or diviner can explain to the king the mystery he has asked about, but there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries. (2:27-28)
As for me, this mystery has been revealed to me, not because I have greater wisdom than other living men, but so that you, O king, may know the interpretation and that you may understand what went through your mind. (2: 30)
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