I haven't had a busy summer.
At all.
It's been really nice, I'm not going to lie.
But I can't wait to have a busy schedule again once I'm in school.
Classes.
Church.
Service projects.
Finding a semester ministry.
Hanging out.
It's all going to be there.
And I'm excited for it all.
However, what I'm most excited for is learning how to live a God-filled life. How to put Him into practice, you could say. You don't have to go to school to learn how. In fact, most people don't. But to have that extra background and such? A great opportunity, in my opinion. This summer hasn't been very God-filled on my part, and I've no one to blame but myself. I haven't been pursuing Him at all. I haven't been preparing for the upcoming year. I haven't tried to grow closer to Him. And I have definitely not felt quite right since I've come home. So I'm excited to be simply surrounded by believers again and really striving to know God better.
I kept saying to myself, "I need to set aside time for God." In reality, I had all the time in the world - and I knew I did! Terrible. I know that I may have to set personal time aside in the near future, but it's nice to know that things are sort of planned out for me in advance for general time with God.
This is going to be a great year.
' "I am the Lord; that is my name! I will not give my glory to another or my praise to idols. See, the former things have taken place, and new things I declare; before they spring into being I announce them to you." '
[Isaiah 42:8-9]
......
Ch. 162, Part Two:
This week's memory verse:
'Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you?'
[1 Corinthians 3:16]
Showing posts with label 1 Corinthians. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 1 Corinthians. Show all posts
August 14, 2008
August 8, 2008
Ch. 156 - Parade of Nations
So tonight I watched the opening ceremony for the 2008 Olympics, right? And I was completely awestruck at the amazing different aspects of it all. I couldn't seem to wrap my mind around all the imagination and thought and technology and work and power and detail that it encompassed. It was a breathtaking spectacle and, by far, the best opening ceremony that's ever been arranged. But my favorite part was not the performance aspect of the ceremony. Rather, it was the parade of nations - the part where the athletes for the respective competing countries walk in. The parade of nations has always been my favorite part, and I know it will be for years to come.
To see the unity and the peace and the joy of the athletes is simply something else. From the United States with its 647 athletes to Naura and its single competitor... many countries are represented in the world, given perhaps only one chance to bring home honor, respect and glory. The athletes are the best of the best and they deserve to be there. Why anybody would want to spoil what the Olympics is all about and boycott the games or bomb stadiums is beyond me. Being able to put aside differences and coming together in harmony - the theme for Beijing 2008 - is just as important as competing and winning a gold medal in my opinion. There was a lot of speculation about the politics of it all, being in a Communist country and whatnot I mean, but it seems to be off pretty well; so far, so good. Now if it could just stay that way for a couple more weeks... that'd be peachy.
'... God has called us to live in peace.'
[1 Corinthians 7:15]
......
Ch. 156, Part Two:
I think my absolute favorite part of the parade of nations was when China walked in last, and next to the flag bearer (Yao Ming) walked a young boy. He is nine years old, but looked incredibly small next to seven and a half foot tall Yao Ming. The boy's name is Lin Hao. He is a survivor of the earthquake in Sichuan. Twenty of his thirty classmates died. Lin Hao had freed himself from the rubble and soon after went back into the rubble to find his classmates and help pull them out. He said he was a class leader and a hall monitor and thus felt it was his responsibility to try and help them. Lin Hao encouraged his classmates to sing songs to help keep up their spirits while rescuers worked to free them. Amazing, amazing, amazing boy.
To see the unity and the peace and the joy of the athletes is simply something else. From the United States with its 647 athletes to Naura and its single competitor... many countries are represented in the world, given perhaps only one chance to bring home honor, respect and glory. The athletes are the best of the best and they deserve to be there. Why anybody would want to spoil what the Olympics is all about and boycott the games or bomb stadiums is beyond me. Being able to put aside differences and coming together in harmony - the theme for Beijing 2008 - is just as important as competing and winning a gold medal in my opinion. There was a lot of speculation about the politics of it all, being in a Communist country and whatnot I mean, but it seems to be off pretty well; so far, so good. Now if it could just stay that way for a couple more weeks... that'd be peachy.
'... God has called us to live in peace.'
[1 Corinthians 7:15]
......
Ch. 156, Part Two:
I think my absolute favorite part of the parade of nations was when China walked in last, and next to the flag bearer (Yao Ming) walked a young boy. He is nine years old, but looked incredibly small next to seven and a half foot tall Yao Ming. The boy's name is Lin Hao. He is a survivor of the earthquake in Sichuan. Twenty of his thirty classmates died. Lin Hao had freed himself from the rubble and soon after went back into the rubble to find his classmates and help pull them out. He said he was a class leader and a hall monitor and thus felt it was his responsibility to try and help them. Lin Hao encouraged his classmates to sing songs to help keep up their spirits while rescuers worked to free them. Amazing, amazing, amazing boy.
January 26, 2008
Ch. 10 - Forever Changed
As I was praying this afternoon, I took time to thank God for my family here in Utah. When I say family, I mean my friends, because they truly are my family here. For example, when I can't reach my mom to ask her a question that came up as I was reading my Bible, I'll call Matt. When I can't reach my dad to simply have a nice, serious conversation, I'll take a trip down the hall to see Shawn. When something is bothering me and I can't reach my sister, I'll talk to Darcy. I really don't talk to my sister often enough, though... Anyway, I'm reminded of my brother when I'm around Kastin - nobody can make me laugh like they can, they are such goofballs.
When I came to Utah, I didn't exactly care about leaving my friends. Honestly, the only people I was sad about saying good-bye to were Tyler, Abbie, Tim, and Amy. I was just so ready to leave everyone behind and start a new chapter in my life. I get to Utah and find myself transitioning to 'college life' pretty well - but I don't make many friends. I was so blessed to have Darcy and Ariel as my suitemates. They were basically my only friends. Anyway, fall break comes and goes, and that is when God reeled me back in. The very first week after break, Darcy and I went to Cru. After that, it was as if we had always been friends with 'the group' - they accepted us completely and I suddenly had the best friends anybody could ever ask for.
I've learned so much from all of them. Each and every person has something amazing to offer and it's one of those things... as cheesy as it may sound... I can't imagine my life without any of them. That's why I'm having such a hard time with Ross being upset with me. I messed up and am reaping the consequences, I know. It just breaks my heart when I extend my love as a sister in Christ and he won't accept it.
Never before have I had such a God-loving group of friends. As Shawn likes to say, they are all Hot-God-Men and Women. I would do anything for them... anytime, anywhere. I don't think I've ever felt like that before, other than with my 'real' family.
This is what makes the decision of transferring difficult. Friends. My family. I have no doubt that I'll be able to keep in touch with them over the years. They've all had such an influence on my life the past few months. It is partly because of them that I have grown so close to God lately and as I have, God has taught me so much and wrapped His arms around me so tightly.
But you know, I was thinking the other day... I would love to spend summers here. I definitely would like to come back to Salt Lake to work and live, raise a family - if it's God's will, that is. Granted, all my friends may not still be here, but that's ok. I really think I belong here. It's simply unfortunate that there aren't any programs for ministry and such at any schools in the area. Shawn and I decided there's such a ministry in working with kids, especially because of the dominant LDS presence. I was looking at the website of a Methodist church here in Salt Lake just yesterday, and they have no youth program whatsoever. I would love nothing more than to start one for them and help kids advance in their walks with Christ and develop deep, meaningful relationships with God. It makes my heart pound just thinking about it.
God brought me here and put these people in my life for a reason. I have no trouble believing that He'll bring me back. After all, there's an unsolved mystery here that I want to get to the bottom of. I've come to accept that maybe it's not God's plan for me to solve it before I leave, as much as I would like to. It could be years before it's solved. That's alright. It keeps things exciting.
God is so good.
'Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed -'
[1 Corinthians 15:51]
When I came to Utah, I didn't exactly care about leaving my friends. Honestly, the only people I was sad about saying good-bye to were Tyler, Abbie, Tim, and Amy. I was just so ready to leave everyone behind and start a new chapter in my life. I get to Utah and find myself transitioning to 'college life' pretty well - but I don't make many friends. I was so blessed to have Darcy and Ariel as my suitemates. They were basically my only friends. Anyway, fall break comes and goes, and that is when God reeled me back in. The very first week after break, Darcy and I went to Cru. After that, it was as if we had always been friends with 'the group' - they accepted us completely and I suddenly had the best friends anybody could ever ask for.
I've learned so much from all of them. Each and every person has something amazing to offer and it's one of those things... as cheesy as it may sound... I can't imagine my life without any of them. That's why I'm having such a hard time with Ross being upset with me. I messed up and am reaping the consequences, I know. It just breaks my heart when I extend my love as a sister in Christ and he won't accept it.
Never before have I had such a God-loving group of friends. As Shawn likes to say, they are all Hot-God-Men and Women. I would do anything for them... anytime, anywhere. I don't think I've ever felt like that before, other than with my 'real' family.
This is what makes the decision of transferring difficult. Friends. My family. I have no doubt that I'll be able to keep in touch with them over the years. They've all had such an influence on my life the past few months. It is partly because of them that I have grown so close to God lately and as I have, God has taught me so much and wrapped His arms around me so tightly.
But you know, I was thinking the other day... I would love to spend summers here. I definitely would like to come back to Salt Lake to work and live, raise a family - if it's God's will, that is. Granted, all my friends may not still be here, but that's ok. I really think I belong here. It's simply unfortunate that there aren't any programs for ministry and such at any schools in the area. Shawn and I decided there's such a ministry in working with kids, especially because of the dominant LDS presence. I was looking at the website of a Methodist church here in Salt Lake just yesterday, and they have no youth program whatsoever. I would love nothing more than to start one for them and help kids advance in their walks with Christ and develop deep, meaningful relationships with God. It makes my heart pound just thinking about it.
God brought me here and put these people in my life for a reason. I have no trouble believing that He'll bring me back. After all, there's an unsolved mystery here that I want to get to the bottom of. I've come to accept that maybe it's not God's plan for me to solve it before I leave, as much as I would like to. It could be years before it's solved. That's alright. It keeps things exciting.
God is so good.
'Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed -'
[1 Corinthians 15:51]
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