Tonight I had an interesting thought on texting and God. For some reason I felt a little down today, and two people contacted me that really encouraged me. One, my friend Mary called and thanked me for sharing last night in our college group. I had prayed that I could share with my brothers and sisters something that would encourage them and point them to the Lord, and she said that what I had said was encouraging. I was blessed to have the opportunity to speak to 50 or so of my brothers and sisters about what the Lord's been doing in life, and to tell them just how awesome our Lord is in his character. Two, my friend Joe K. texted me that he was thinking about me. His text at about 10pm really encouraged me. Joe is a man I've learned to greatly respect and love. God blessed me with the opportunity to get to know him when I first arrived at Masters in January, and God has challenged and encouraged me through him. He's in the top four people that have challenged me the most. Getting a random text from him just reminded me of the past year that we've known each other, and of the love that he's shown me.
I was doing my devotional and praising the Lord for the encouragement of my brother and sister today, and I stopped and though... 'You know, the Lord is always sending a text of encouragement in his Word.' I'm not sure why, but it really comforted me. I opened up 1 John and read through it. As much as the Lord has blessed me with brothers and sisters here that have encouraged me (Joe, Greg, Tanner, Kent, Dave W., Jody, Amanda, Josh, Siona, and the list could go on forever!), my greatest comfort and encouragement is from the Lord. While the Lord encouraged me today through contact from his children, I never need to wait for a text or phone call from one of my brothers and sisters to be encouraged. I have a Father who gave me one big 'text': His Word.
Encouragements from the Lord from my reading today:
1 John 1.9 'If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.' - what an amazing promise that is! All we must do is confess our sin, our Lord Jesus has already done all the work to save us from damnation. Do I have to wait until my life is perfect to come to the Lord in prayer? No! I humbly come before the Lord and confess my sin to him, and he is faithful to forgive me of my sin.
1 John 4.10 'In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent the Son to be the propitiation for our sins.' - Whose love encourages me? My family's, my friends'. Does that facebook comment from a friend cheer me because of their love? Does that random phonecall bring a sweetness because I know of their love? But, what an amazing Person has loved me! Love hates hypocracy, and His love is perfect. Friends and family's love, while a blessing, is never perfect - but His love is! My Father loved me so much that he sent his Son to die for me. For ME. What an outstanding demonstration of love. Talk about a great text. I needn't wait to have that pop up on my cell phone, that's a truth that can always encourage me. Encourage me to love my Savior ever more, for how can I ever understand that love?
1 John 4.19 'We love because God first loved us.' - This verse never ceases to make me stop and think. I cannot love on my own, I love only because God loved me first. I only love Christ, because God first loved me and sent his Son to die for me. I can only love my brothers and sisters because God has given me the love to do so. Then, I thought, I am only loved by my brothers and sisters because of God's love to them first. Praise to God from whom all blessings flow! God has so greatly blessed me with a family, both biologically and spiritually. I am very much a 'people person' and am very encouraged by those that the Lord has brought into my life. It's astounding for me to remember not only that the Lord brought those relationships into my life - but the very fact that those I call dear can love me is only because of God's love to them.
I think of James 1.17, 'Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow of change.'
1 - I praise the Lord for his abundant blessings to me. For those I am so blessed to be loved by.
2 - I praise the Lord for his unfathonable love towards me and my brothers and sisters in his Son.
3 - I praise the Lord for his Word.
Saturday, December 29
Thursday, December 6
Mocktails
Last night was Jody, Amanda and I's mocktail party! It was an absolute blast... we had shirley temple's, roy rodgers, apple cider, and played christmas movie charades, christmas trivia, and christmas song charades. We had a great time hanging with our borthers and sisters from Hotchkiss and a couple other dorms. The three of us made amazing cookies from cake mixes, especially a peanut butter cookie. The disco ball and christmas lights made it fun. We had an awesome time.
Thursday, November 29
The End is Near
So today I have been a little meloncholy about school coming to a close soon. I have had quite a rough week due to schoolwork, but I am still quite sad to leave here. Hotchkiss is my home, and I will miss it dearly during the break. As much as I long to be home with my family and grandparents and friends, I am going to miss this place so very much. A semester is always unique... my class schedule has permitted me to have lunch with certain people every day, it has given me the opporunity to be in class with some of my good friends. I know I will still have the same friends, but I know also that the new semester will bring changes as well. Not necessarily bad ones, but it will be different.
This week was my 'heck week' if I can use an illustration from the theatre world. I had a total of about 40 pages of writing due the last three days. Sunday I stayed up until 5:30am to finish my papers for Monday, Monday I stayed up until 7am to finish my homework for Tuesday, and Tuesday I stayed up until 3:30 to finish my homework for Wednesday. It was a long vicious cycle that I brought upon myself for procrastinating.
But I learned a lot. Not merely that I should have done some more homework earlier in the semester, but something more important. This week has been incredibly humbling to me. One of my papers, the one I stayed up until 7am -slept for 2 hours - and wrote until 12:35 that morning, showed me a lot. I have never written so close to a deadline that I couldn't proof read it. There were so many times during the night that my body would start to shut down, and I would have nothing to do but cry out to the Lord for help and grace. I saw again, like I have during ministry many times, that only the Lord gives me the strength to get through the day. I really don't ever have the strength or the ability to do what I do - only by God's grace am I capable of doing anything. But, I got to see that in such a tangible way this week. While writing my large paper, I had to stop and read Isaiah 40 several times and stop to pray. That chapter is amazing... it begins by showing the power and majesty of our Lord. It finishes by reminding us to wait upon the Lord for His strength. My friend Amanda told me the next day that she had been studying this, and that wait means to 'hope' or 'longing for' or 'expect.'
That's amazing. We wait because we know of God's power. We don't throw our faith into an idea, but a personal God who can measure the waters in the palm of his hand! This week has broken me to step back and remember the power and majesty of God.
This week was my 'heck week' if I can use an illustration from the theatre world. I had a total of about 40 pages of writing due the last three days. Sunday I stayed up until 5:30am to finish my papers for Monday, Monday I stayed up until 7am to finish my homework for Tuesday, and Tuesday I stayed up until 3:30 to finish my homework for Wednesday. It was a long vicious cycle that I brought upon myself for procrastinating.
But I learned a lot. Not merely that I should have done some more homework earlier in the semester, but something more important. This week has been incredibly humbling to me. One of my papers, the one I stayed up until 7am -slept for 2 hours - and wrote until 12:35 that morning, showed me a lot. I have never written so close to a deadline that I couldn't proof read it. There were so many times during the night that my body would start to shut down, and I would have nothing to do but cry out to the Lord for help and grace. I saw again, like I have during ministry many times, that only the Lord gives me the strength to get through the day. I really don't ever have the strength or the ability to do what I do - only by God's grace am I capable of doing anything. But, I got to see that in such a tangible way this week. While writing my large paper, I had to stop and read Isaiah 40 several times and stop to pray. That chapter is amazing... it begins by showing the power and majesty of our Lord. It finishes by reminding us to wait upon the Lord for His strength. My friend Amanda told me the next day that she had been studying this, and that wait means to 'hope' or 'longing for' or 'expect.'
That's amazing. We wait because we know of God's power. We don't throw our faith into an idea, but a personal God who can measure the waters in the palm of his hand! This week has broken me to step back and remember the power and majesty of God.
Wednesday, November 14
Thanksgiving and Blind Dates
So... I am sitting in the Hotchkiss lounge. I tried to think of something to blog about, and one friend said I should write about Thanksgiving, and the other said I should write about Blind Dates.
First... the easy topic: Blind Date.
Tonight I was invited to go on a blind date this Friday. I'm still trying to decide whether or not I want to go. Supposedly I will know some of the guys going, and I know three of the girls. There's a group of 14. I have never gone on a blind date, but the problem is it might not quite be blind... supposedly I might know the girl. It could be more awkward if I actually know her I think. I might go for it if my best friend goes, too. It's a miniture golf/In N Out night. Let me know what you all think about it. I don't really have anything for it, but then I don't really have a good reason not to go either.
Now, onto Thanksgiving.
2 Thessalonians 5.18 - "in everything give thanks, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."
So I've come to realize how hard it is to complain when you are praising God for everything that He's given. Every good and perfect gift is from above, says James, so everything good we receive is from God. Therefore, why don't I praise God more often for all the good that is going on? Even when my life seems awful, there is always good that I can rejoice in and praise God for.
Who my Family is:
My Mom - for her love, hospitality, great ability to make me feel loved and cared for.
My Dad - for his love, steadfastness, love to listen and care.
My twin Sarah - her kind heart, meekness, creativity, and heart for others
My sis Elizabeth - her joy and smile, her perserverence to do anything, her laugh
My grandmother - her generosity, hospitality, love to talk
My grandfather - his laugh, his thoughts, his hugs
Friends:
Greg - his patience with me, his love to listen, his example as a Christian man, his loyalty in friendship to me. His love for Karen and to see God glorified at all times. His prayers and involvement in my life to push me towards Christ.
Tanner - his patience with me, his love for me to tell me the truth, talking and listening to me for hours, for being a brother, for being a friend, challenging me and being humble while talking to me. For the fun we've had at Starbucks, or Disneyland, in class, or on a walk. For showing me how to be a friend by example. For his desire to see God be the joy and desire of my life.
Josh - his wisdom, his heart for seeing men walk with the Lord, his stories, for talking at anytime of day or night, making me think hard, teaching me to climb. Talking at Outreach week for hours at night, and his heart to know me.
Stephen - his heart for me and others, becoming my brat, living with me despite my faults. Putting up Christmas lights and wrestling at 2 in the morning.
Joe - talking through anything, pushing me towards Christ, sharing the truth. Encouraging me in the Lord and his Word when I have been very low.
Kent - showing me love in the truth, encouraging me in Christ, teaching me about Christ. Pushing me to know Christ all the more, and the serve him.
Amanda - listening to me and convicting me to listen to others, to have a deep love for knowing others and Christ. For talking about hard things and rejoicing in grace and heaven. For Fall Thing or baking cookies, or taking pictures or singin' Wicked.
Abby - talking about Christ's work in our lives and the world at Starbucks. For the best inside jokes.
John Laffs - showing me great love, listening and talking through hard times, showing me a great example of how to use energy for God. For jumping above the city, playing at a zoo, or driving to BestBuy and having a great conversation.
AJ - being a great friend, teaching me about the great outdoors, showing love to me when I needed it. For teaching me how to love the Lord and people more than school. For watching countless movies or creating jokes, or hiking in canyons.
Jody - for her constant joy, her push to make me think biblically, to find joy in the Lord, to love God's grace, to make friends with guys. For acting like crazy people on the lawn, or having a serious talk in the cafe.
God:
Where do I start thanksgiving? There are so many things to praise God for.. his blessings to me, his protection of me in many circumstances, him giving me energy to sustain me, and so on. The list is large. But, what about just who God is and what he's done for his creation? What about Christ? What about grace? What about God's love? What about God's faithfulness? His patience? The Lord's wrath? The Lord's mercy? God's holiness? God's providence? What about God's sovereignty? What about God's incredible power? God pulled me out of my path to hell, and he granted me life in his Son Jesus Christ! Could I ever cease to be thankful for that alone? I do forget to thank God for his work of salvation, and his continued work of sanctification, and I must not. Can I ever forget God's amazing faithfulness to me even when I am unfaithful?
"Grace, grace, God's grace, grace that will pardon and cleanse within.
Grace, grace, God's grace, grace that is greater than all our sins."
"Jesus paid it all, all to him I owe, my sin had left a crinsom stain, He washed it white as snow."
Those songs, and verse after verse in the Bible, point us to the goodness of God. If you know God, why don't you thank him more? If you don't know God, why do you not turn to him? He promises love to those who call upon him and trust in him for salvation, why won't you turn to him? Thank God for his blessings, for his character, for his work.
Thanksgiving isn't about turkey really. And thanksgiving shouldn't occur only once a year.
First... the easy topic: Blind Date.
Tonight I was invited to go on a blind date this Friday. I'm still trying to decide whether or not I want to go. Supposedly I will know some of the guys going, and I know three of the girls. There's a group of 14. I have never gone on a blind date, but the problem is it might not quite be blind... supposedly I might know the girl. It could be more awkward if I actually know her I think. I might go for it if my best friend goes, too. It's a miniture golf/In N Out night. Let me know what you all think about it. I don't really have anything for it, but then I don't really have a good reason not to go either.
Now, onto Thanksgiving.
2 Thessalonians 5.18 - "in everything give thanks, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."
So I've come to realize how hard it is to complain when you are praising God for everything that He's given. Every good and perfect gift is from above, says James, so everything good we receive is from God. Therefore, why don't I praise God more often for all the good that is going on? Even when my life seems awful, there is always good that I can rejoice in and praise God for.
Who my Family is:
My Mom - for her love, hospitality, great ability to make me feel loved and cared for.
My Dad - for his love, steadfastness, love to listen and care.
My twin Sarah - her kind heart, meekness, creativity, and heart for others
My sis Elizabeth - her joy and smile, her perserverence to do anything, her laugh
My grandmother - her generosity, hospitality, love to talk
My grandfather - his laugh, his thoughts, his hugs
Friends:
Greg - his patience with me, his love to listen, his example as a Christian man, his loyalty in friendship to me. His love for Karen and to see God glorified at all times. His prayers and involvement in my life to push me towards Christ.
Tanner - his patience with me, his love for me to tell me the truth, talking and listening to me for hours, for being a brother, for being a friend, challenging me and being humble while talking to me. For the fun we've had at Starbucks, or Disneyland, in class, or on a walk. For showing me how to be a friend by example. For his desire to see God be the joy and desire of my life.
Josh - his wisdom, his heart for seeing men walk with the Lord, his stories, for talking at anytime of day or night, making me think hard, teaching me to climb. Talking at Outreach week for hours at night, and his heart to know me.
Stephen - his heart for me and others, becoming my brat, living with me despite my faults. Putting up Christmas lights and wrestling at 2 in the morning.
Joe - talking through anything, pushing me towards Christ, sharing the truth. Encouraging me in the Lord and his Word when I have been very low.
Kent - showing me love in the truth, encouraging me in Christ, teaching me about Christ. Pushing me to know Christ all the more, and the serve him.
Amanda - listening to me and convicting me to listen to others, to have a deep love for knowing others and Christ. For talking about hard things and rejoicing in grace and heaven. For Fall Thing or baking cookies, or taking pictures or singin' Wicked.
Abby - talking about Christ's work in our lives and the world at Starbucks. For the best inside jokes.
John Laffs - showing me great love, listening and talking through hard times, showing me a great example of how to use energy for God. For jumping above the city, playing at a zoo, or driving to BestBuy and having a great conversation.
AJ - being a great friend, teaching me about the great outdoors, showing love to me when I needed it. For teaching me how to love the Lord and people more than school. For watching countless movies or creating jokes, or hiking in canyons.
Jody - for her constant joy, her push to make me think biblically, to find joy in the Lord, to love God's grace, to make friends with guys. For acting like crazy people on the lawn, or having a serious talk in the cafe.
God:
Where do I start thanksgiving? There are so many things to praise God for.. his blessings to me, his protection of me in many circumstances, him giving me energy to sustain me, and so on. The list is large. But, what about just who God is and what he's done for his creation? What about Christ? What about grace? What about God's love? What about God's faithfulness? His patience? The Lord's wrath? The Lord's mercy? God's holiness? God's providence? What about God's sovereignty? What about God's incredible power? God pulled me out of my path to hell, and he granted me life in his Son Jesus Christ! Could I ever cease to be thankful for that alone? I do forget to thank God for his work of salvation, and his continued work of sanctification, and I must not. Can I ever forget God's amazing faithfulness to me even when I am unfaithful?
"Grace, grace, God's grace, grace that will pardon and cleanse within.
Grace, grace, God's grace, grace that is greater than all our sins."
"Jesus paid it all, all to him I owe, my sin had left a crinsom stain, He washed it white as snow."
Those songs, and verse after verse in the Bible, point us to the goodness of God. If you know God, why don't you thank him more? If you don't know God, why do you not turn to him? He promises love to those who call upon him and trust in him for salvation, why won't you turn to him? Thank God for his blessings, for his character, for his work.
Thanksgiving isn't about turkey really. And thanksgiving shouldn't occur only once a year.
Tuesday, November 13
Friday, November 9
This week
Monday: Woke up and studied with my friend Jody at 6am for a test. Went with my RD Siona to Becca's house and had Pinkberry, a hip yogurt thing in SoCal. Took a walk with Tanner.
Tuesday: Went to Starbucks with Amanda. Then went back with Amanda, Abs, and Kaycie. Had some nice talks. Then, there was a surprise birthday party for the girls' RD Jackie. There was tap dancing, 10 cakes, and karaoeke. Lots of fun.
Wednesday: Went to Trader Joe's and Target for about 3 hours with Tanner, Amanda, and Abs. Lots of fun browsing through the stores and occasionally buying things.
Thursday: Took model pictures on the hill above Hotchkiss. Made Plof for my RD and Tanner, Josh, Hannah and Valinda. The food turned out nicely, and we had a really nice dinner conversation.
Friday-Sunday: Will have men's retreat today and tomorrow, and then homework to do whenever that is finished. And, my mom and dad will come down on Monday!!!
Thursday, November 1
Halloween
So Halloween in college is definitely different, but still fun! Yesterday I hung with my friends and made cookies and watched Edward Scissorhands. A fun night hanging out with my good friends. This morning went rock climbing at 6am, climbed until we had to come back at 9:30am for class. Fun stuff.
Saturday, October 27
Costume Party
So yesterday the weekend started! So excited to be done with the week... it was a brutal week in different ways. Headed down to Huntington Beach for a costume party! SO much fun! Had a really good time hanging out with my best friends. Played the most intense game of bobbing-for-apples. Insane. Completely insane. Was soaked completely. Took a lot of fun pictures, I'll post a few here.
Today I went to "Make a Difference Day" with some of my good friends. We helped clean out a hillside to protect from fires. A lot of work, but good to serve the community and also get to talk to friends. Then, went rock climbing for a couple hours. All of us were exhausted, so we didn't last as long as usual. Now, I'm off to do several hours of homework...
Today I went to "Make a Difference Day" with some of my good friends. We helped clean out a hillside to protect from fires. A lot of work, but good to serve the community and also get to talk to friends. Then, went rock climbing for a couple hours. All of us were exhausted, so we didn't last as long as usual. Now, I'm off to do several hours of homework...
Monday, October 22
The Fire
Well, I thought I'd post some new photos of the fire. Pray for those effected by it. We have a day of prayer tomorrow, and we will go out into the community and help those who are returning back to their homes.
Disneyland and Fires
Well, the past few days have been filled with many things...
Disneyland was on Saturday... we left at 7am, got back about 1am. Were at the park from 8am-11:45pm. SO MUCH FUN! It is definitely one of my favorite days ever, and for sure the highlight of my semester. I got to have an absolute blast with my friends Tanner, Josh B., Matt, Jimmy, Sarah, Amanda, and Abby. Tanner and I rode Space Mountain 3x and yelled 'HOTCHKISS,' drove Indy 2x and had a blast screaming and ducking through the ride, touched stars on Peter Pan with Amanda and Josh, screamed on Haunted Mansion with Amanda and Abby, and talked in British accents with Tanner, Josh, Betsy and Abby for almost an hour. Rode the tea cups with Tanner and Abby and beat the other Masters' students, took jump pictures at the castle, and pretty much just had an amazing day with my best friends!
Yesterday there was a huge fire nearby... only a couple miles away there was a 25,000 acre completely uncontrolled fire. The sky turned red, and the clouds black. Very strange. We had rumors of evacuations for hours, but they never happened. Today the sky is clear above us, but it's smoky far off. Pray for the people around here... we've had several people lose their homes in the church and at school.
Friday, October 19
It's Friday
With my friend Caroline.
With Charissa, my friend from Northcreek!
With my friend Tanner and my fellow history bud Jared.So it's been a week since I've posted. I'm not doing very well at keeping this updated this year. It's been a busy week, and it will continue on this weekend and next week. Thankfully, I'm going to Disneyland for a welcome break tomorrow! I'm super excited for that.
This week's been pretty good. School was pretty brutal this week. I was still blessed to have a few good talks and fun times this week. I think the hard week made me appreciate some things more - conversations with my friends, a comment on my facebook from a friend back home, a call from my mom. Things that normally come and go quickly. Well, it's been a long two days... 7am-2:45am yesterday, and 5:45am-?? today.
Thursday, October 11
OutReach Week
These past few weeks that I have not posted have been busy.
Last week was a good week. Had some really good talks at the beginning of the week. Visited Sarah for about 1/2 hour. Then, went to San Juan and San Clementine for an Outreach Week. My RA was co-leading the group, and it was really nice to have a week of ministry getting to hang with him, and to get the opportunity to get to know some others better. We helped serve Crossroads church in a couple ways. We helped host an Octoberfest, with pie and chili cookoffs, and a talent show, to reach out to the community. And we helped pass out flyers (about 1,000) for the night, and helped with a bible study for youths. Several of us on the team sang in church on Sunday. It was an encouragement to see the church's hospitality, and I pray we were an encouragement to the church. We had a lot of fun, and it wasn't as grueling as I had expected at all. I shared a room with my RA, and we talked for at least an hour every night. It was really encouraging to get to know him better.
This week has been a little stressful, but not overwhelming. I read a whole book in one sitting yesterday. I have about 20 pages of research papers due, and about another 15 pages of writing due in the next two weeks. About 3 full books to read and 3 midterms. But, I don't feel too crazy yet.
Last week was a good week. Had some really good talks at the beginning of the week. Visited Sarah for about 1/2 hour. Then, went to San Juan and San Clementine for an Outreach Week. My RA was co-leading the group, and it was really nice to have a week of ministry getting to hang with him, and to get the opportunity to get to know some others better. We helped serve Crossroads church in a couple ways. We helped host an Octoberfest, with pie and chili cookoffs, and a talent show, to reach out to the community. And we helped pass out flyers (about 1,000) for the night, and helped with a bible study for youths. Several of us on the team sang in church on Sunday. It was an encouragement to see the church's hospitality, and I pray we were an encouragement to the church. We had a lot of fun, and it wasn't as grueling as I had expected at all. I shared a room with my RA, and we talked for at least an hour every night. It was really encouraging to get to know him better.
This week has been a little stressful, but not overwhelming. I read a whole book in one sitting yesterday. I have about 20 pages of research papers due, and about another 15 pages of writing due in the next two weeks. About 3 full books to read and 3 midterms. But, I don't feel too crazy yet.
Sunday, September 30
Fall Things #2
Friday night was Fall Thing - A Masquerade! SOOOO much fun. Went with my friend Amanda, and Stephen and Amy. It was incredibly fun walking around and taking pictures. We had a blast. Went to Mimi's Cafe afterwards. A great, crazy, 'punk' night!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)