A Blessed Week

These past seven days I have been blessed to spend them with my best friend Tanner. I flew up to his house in Washington on Monday morning, and we drove down yesterday (and today). I have longed to visit Washington for sometime, and Tanner invited me up during finals. The week will go down as one of my fondest memories. I am so thankful that God gave me the opportunity to go and visit my friend. I have so many great memories, I will try and share some:

December 31 - Went to Starbucks, Borders, walked the beach at Mukilteo, played an intense 4+ hour game-a-thon including shuffle board, Sorry, and foozeball, blew off poppers at midnight, and stayed up late watching a movie.

January 1 - Had one of the best conversations I've ever had (the Lord has really given me great conversations at Starbucks...) on a variety of topics. I couldn't help but praise the Lord for his amazing grace in our lives. I am so blessed to call Tanner my good friend. Played Risk, and then Tanner's mom's family came and I played games with the counsins for at least 5 hours. Watched 'Rush Hour' and 'Frequency.'

January 2 - Tanner and I missed the ferry from Edmonds to Kingston by several seconds. Visited Stephen in Kingston and went kayaking in his 'backyard.' Incredibly beautiful area. Went to Outback Steakhouse, watched the 'Fugitive' and played the old Mario Brothers for many hours. Tanner and I made it to the 4th world before we were too tired to continue.

January 3 - Went to McDonalds, went and saw 'I am Legend' at a movie theatre. Went into Seattle and went up the Space Needle. Took some awesome pictures, and then had Starbucks in Seattle. Watched 'Dirty Dozen.'

January 4 - Had pizza at Alfy's, had a nice conversation on Placerita, went to Starbucks again.

January 5 - Left Tanner's house at 5:15am and arrived at mine 18 hours later. Tanner and I braved rain, snow, darkness, sleepiness and other crazy things. I got to be outside in falling snow for the first time. Had several nice conversations along the way. Got lost for an hour near my house.

January 6 - Left my home, ate at Tomitina in Walnut Creek, followed each other down to Masters, where we arrived 5 hours later. Unpacked at ate at Panda Express. Had an amazing conversation with Tanner and Siona until 2am in the morning.

To rap it all up... I feel so blessed on this trip to have gotten to know my friend even better, to rejoice in God's grace, to reflect on the Lord's workings in our lives and in His Word, to strengthen our friendship, AND to have a complete blast. I have so many sweet memories (crossing sign, music...) from this trip.

At the Space Needle!

New Years at midnight-ish.

On the ferry.

In the snow.


At Stephen's House.

A Thought on Texting

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.

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.

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.

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.

Pictures of this weekend

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!!!

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.