Thursday, December 29, 2011
New Year's Resolution and North Korea
Please watch ^^
It's hard to know where to start after that. It's hard for me to comprehend the extent of what goes on in North Korea.
With ALL of the problems in this world, let it be hunger, violence, abuse of all kinds, addictions, family problems, the list goes on- how can I ever complain? How can I honestly sit here and be so upset that a key broke off of my keyboard? (true story)
Why are mediocre things so important to us that we allow them to take over and consume our lives?
Sometimes I go through rough times, but honestly, someone has it worse. Many someone's have it worse, and those people are closer to me than I often realize.
The question now is, what do I do with this? What am I going to do differently in my life because of what I just saw?
I'm not big on New Year's Resolutions. In fact, for what I remember, I've only half-seriously attempted them once (and failed within the first week if I remember correctly). I've never taken them seriously because I've never had anything I'd honestly wanted (enough to actually try) to break. But I have one this year. I want to stop complaining-about the big things and the little things. Even if it's just complaining about being tired, I want it to stop. There are so many worse things that I could be experiencing, and instead I want to praise in the goodness of what I do have. Instead of complaining, I want to lift up someone else in prayer. Someone else who might have it worse than me.
What are your thoughts or feelings from the video? I would love to hear!
To end on a lighter note, the following is a statement that only a few will understand, but is relative to the topic.
"We're goin in a bathtub!"
Monday, December 5, 2011
New Season
A new season is coming up in my life, and I could use some prayer!
We met together for the first time last night! -our team heading to El Salvador in May, that is. I know that God has put us all together right here right now for a reason, and I'm stoked to see all that He has in store. Part of the motto of World Serve (the overarching title of the missions groups from Simpson) is "to be discipled in order to MAKE DISCIPLES." I am going to fall under both of those categories! I will be attending leader training and prep sessions as well as co-leading team training and prep sessions (as well as the trip itself). Over the last year, God has really laid discipleship on my heart as something that I want to focus my life around. When I was discipled during DTS, it had such a strong impact on my life that I see the necessity for it everywhere.
I first off want to ask for prayer from you. If you wound't mind lifting me up in prayer as you read this, and adding me to your prayer list, I would greatly appreciate it. I realize that being put in a place of leadership is not something that is always going to be easy. In fact, I have already been experiencing some spiritual warfare. Specifically in the ways regarding the four words I will share in the next paragraph. I feel like these areas are really important for me to work on. I feel like in order to reach these goals, my time with God needs to increase. I also know that being in a place where I am called to disciple, I myself must be having that connection with God. In order for God to flow through me to others, I need to be connected to Him. I ask that you would pray with me that I would be able to stay connected to Him, that I would rely on Him as my lifeline. I don't want to try and do this on my own. That would be fruitless and pointless. I want to rely on Him.
Over the last few months, I feel like God has given me some words to focus on, some areas in which I need to improve in my life. These areas/words are Daily Surrender, Intentional, Relationships, and Service. I capitalized them because they hold that much importance to me right now. Here is a little bit of explaining on those four points.
Daily Surrender- I realized that in order to be successful in serving Him and living a life worthy of Him, I need to surrender daily to Him. Not occasionally, but every single day. I need to start my day by giving it and my choices to Him.
Intentional- He has been showing me that I need to be intentional in all that I do. In my studying, in my relationships,and in my TIME MANAGEMENT particularly.
Relationships- This is been on my heart strongly for the last year, and even though I have been aware of it, I still haven't even come close to attaining the goal in which I have. In this area, I really want to be intentional in my relationships (repetitive, I know). I want to go deep in my relationships. I want to disciple and be discipled in my relationships. I want them to be meaningful, rooted in God. I want all that I do and say in my relationships to lead back to Him- not myself or my own personal gain. I want everything I do and say to direct my friends, those I love, to Him.
Service- God has shown me that in order to accomplish all of these, I must also being willing to serve. Serve in any way necessary. I must be willing to sacrifice my own time in order to relate with others, to help others- and to be intentional in that. (The intentional one really could be a cap on them all, because it does apply in every area.)
As I write these things down, I am reminded again at how not easy this is going to be. I don't mean this in a bad way, but I mean it in a way that these things are not necessarily instinct to me-but I want them to be. It's going to be a positive challenge. :) and so once again I ask for your prayers! These are things I want to wholeheartedly work on, but I can't do it on my own! I also ask for prayers against spiritual warfare.
Thank you for your support!
I want to finish this off with a video I just watched that I feel like I/we can relate to.
We met together for the first time last night! -our team heading to El Salvador in May, that is. I know that God has put us all together right here right now for a reason, and I'm stoked to see all that He has in store. Part of the motto of World Serve (the overarching title of the missions groups from Simpson) is "to be discipled in order to MAKE DISCIPLES." I am going to fall under both of those categories! I will be attending leader training and prep sessions as well as co-leading team training and prep sessions (as well as the trip itself). Over the last year, God has really laid discipleship on my heart as something that I want to focus my life around. When I was discipled during DTS, it had such a strong impact on my life that I see the necessity for it everywhere.
I first off want to ask for prayer from you. If you wound't mind lifting me up in prayer as you read this, and adding me to your prayer list, I would greatly appreciate it. I realize that being put in a place of leadership is not something that is always going to be easy. In fact, I have already been experiencing some spiritual warfare. Specifically in the ways regarding the four words I will share in the next paragraph. I feel like these areas are really important for me to work on. I feel like in order to reach these goals, my time with God needs to increase. I also know that being in a place where I am called to disciple, I myself must be having that connection with God. In order for God to flow through me to others, I need to be connected to Him. I ask that you would pray with me that I would be able to stay connected to Him, that I would rely on Him as my lifeline. I don't want to try and do this on my own. That would be fruitless and pointless. I want to rely on Him.
Over the last few months, I feel like God has given me some words to focus on, some areas in which I need to improve in my life. These areas/words are Daily Surrender, Intentional, Relationships, and Service. I capitalized them because they hold that much importance to me right now. Here is a little bit of explaining on those four points.
Daily Surrender- I realized that in order to be successful in serving Him and living a life worthy of Him, I need to surrender daily to Him. Not occasionally, but every single day. I need to start my day by giving it and my choices to Him.
Intentional- He has been showing me that I need to be intentional in all that I do. In my studying, in my relationships,and in my TIME MANAGEMENT particularly.
Relationships- This is been on my heart strongly for the last year, and even though I have been aware of it, I still haven't even come close to attaining the goal in which I have. In this area, I really want to be intentional in my relationships (repetitive, I know). I want to go deep in my relationships. I want to disciple and be discipled in my relationships. I want them to be meaningful, rooted in God. I want all that I do and say in my relationships to lead back to Him- not myself or my own personal gain. I want everything I do and say to direct my friends, those I love, to Him.
Service- God has shown me that in order to accomplish all of these, I must also being willing to serve. Serve in any way necessary. I must be willing to sacrifice my own time in order to relate with others, to help others- and to be intentional in that. (The intentional one really could be a cap on them all, because it does apply in every area.)
As I write these things down, I am reminded again at how not easy this is going to be. I don't mean this in a bad way, but I mean it in a way that these things are not necessarily instinct to me-but I want them to be. It's going to be a positive challenge. :) and so once again I ask for your prayers! These are things I want to wholeheartedly work on, but I can't do it on my own! I also ask for prayers against spiritual warfare.
Thank you for your support!
I want to finish this off with a video I just watched that I feel like I/we can relate to.
Sunday, November 20, 2011
the book of the beginning
This is a must watch.
Two students from my school (one of them being my co-leader to El Salvador! holla!) made this, and the narrator is my Old Testament professor this semester! The narration is in Hebrew.
It's about ten minutes long, but you won't regret it. I can promise you that.
(And yes, the footage is actually THEIR footage! Amazing.)
Ok, I can't figure out how to embed it on here, so click on THIS to go watch it. :)
Two students from my school (one of them being my co-leader to El Salvador! holla!) made this, and the narrator is my Old Testament professor this semester! The narration is in Hebrew.
It's about ten minutes long, but you won't regret it. I can promise you that.
(And yes, the footage is actually THEIR footage! Amazing.)
Ok, I can't figure out how to embed it on here, so click on THIS to go watch it. :)
Monday, October 24, 2011
Catch-up, Ketchup, Catsup?
This is my blog. Wow. Have I really let TWO WHOLE MONTHS pass from my last post, entry, whatchyamacallit?! I have so much to say! So forgive me if the following is a bit jumbled. I should be working on Psychology homework anyways.
Before I get into anything too deep, I once again am brought to the question, "Why are there people singing??" Mind you, at least right now it's only around 11 pm, but I know on many occasions (including last night), it has been almost one in the morning, and people are walking around campus, laughing and singing as if they haven't got a class to attend in the morning. And I ask myself, did I utterly screw up on my schedule or what?! baha..
Time management has been way more difficult than I imagined it would be. Just yesterday I was thinking about what life was like in high school... School for 8 hours, sports practice for a few more hours, come home, attempt to not fall asleep, try and do some homework, get distracted on the computer, maybe start my homework around 11 pm, possibly fall asleep while doing said homework, maybe getting 5 hours of sleep a night, and repeat (or something similar). It's weird being out of that school routine for two years now; I'm reminded how important time management is! And I've promised myself that I won't be as nincompoopish as I was in high school. Since I'm paying an excruciatingly large amount of money to be here, I'm going to actually try and learn about the stuff I'm supposed to be learning about, instead of just cramming for the tests, and doing the homework in the class period before it was due (no, of course I never did that!) The fact that this homework is a little bit more intensive for that said method is beside the point.
The whole reason I brought up the topic of time management has to do with relationships. Meaningful relationships. One thing God has put on my heart for this year is to have meaningful relationships with people. Relationships that grow. Relationships that are based in Him. The whole relationship thing has been more interesting (not quite the word I was looking for, but I'm not sure what is..) than I would have expected. This is really the first time where I've been put in a situation where there have been previous relationships formed, and I am left to fend for myself (of sorts). I'm still not really sure if that is saying quite what I want it to, but you get the point?
Keeping old relationships strong, while forming new ones, while managing school and other responsibilities is something that I am slowly (but surely!) gaining a better understanding on how to accomplish.
Once again I apologize for the sporadicness (if that's not a word I just made it one) of this, but I want to catch up on all that has been going through my mind/happening in my life briefly, because I know that if I put it off it will never be written, ;)
BREAKING NEWS! Drum roll please.
*insert drum roll here*
I am going to be co-leading a team to El Salvador next summer!!! This is awesome on so many levels. Most importantly the school is rolling out a new missions program this year. Their key phrase is something along the lines of, "It's not about the trip; it's about discipleship!" This is what I'm so totally pumped for coming out of DTS. Discipleship is so incredibly important, and I am loving the fact that I get to once again be discipled (in leader training) and then help disciple others! As well as having the opportunity to take a team on a missions trip, which I have wanted to do for a few years now. We will meet once a week as a team (I believe) starting in January for the discipleship aspect of the trip. But, MORE TO COME on that!
Lastly, I want to wrap up a tad bit just to encourage some friends. I feel like some friends have been going through some rough patches in life, whether it be struggling with sin, struggling with not feeling like they have any direction in life, or feeling stuck in where they're at (physically or spiritually). I just want to encourage you to seek God. I know, it's basic, and I'm pretty sure you've heard it before. But seriously. Seek God when you don't feel like it. Seek God when you know you should but don't want to. Seek God when you think you have all the answers, and seek God when you know you don't. How do we seek God? Pray. Come before Him and admit your problems, admit your weakness (you've got nothin' to hide from Him!); ask for His strength, His wisdom, His help. Worship Him. Sing to Him (when you're by yourself too!). Read His word. Ask others to pray for you also.
I know these are basic things we all understand, but they are also so easy to forget, and a helpful reminder for myself as well. If you honestly seek after Him and desire to have a relationship with Him, He won't leave you hangin'!
Before I get into anything too deep, I once again am brought to the question, "Why are there people singing??" Mind you, at least right now it's only around 11 pm, but I know on many occasions (including last night), it has been almost one in the morning, and people are walking around campus, laughing and singing as if they haven't got a class to attend in the morning. And I ask myself, did I utterly screw up on my schedule or what?! baha..
Time management has been way more difficult than I imagined it would be. Just yesterday I was thinking about what life was like in high school... School for 8 hours, sports practice for a few more hours, come home, attempt to not fall asleep, try and do some homework, get distracted on the computer, maybe start my homework around 11 pm, possibly fall asleep while doing said homework, maybe getting 5 hours of sleep a night, and repeat (or something similar). It's weird being out of that school routine for two years now; I'm reminded how important time management is! And I've promised myself that I won't be as nincompoopish as I was in high school. Since I'm paying an excruciatingly large amount of money to be here, I'm going to actually try and learn about the stuff I'm supposed to be learning about, instead of just cramming for the tests, and doing the homework in the class period before it was due (no, of course I never did that!) The fact that this homework is a little bit more intensive for that said method is beside the point.
The whole reason I brought up the topic of time management has to do with relationships. Meaningful relationships. One thing God has put on my heart for this year is to have meaningful relationships with people. Relationships that grow. Relationships that are based in Him. The whole relationship thing has been more interesting (not quite the word I was looking for, but I'm not sure what is..) than I would have expected. This is really the first time where I've been put in a situation where there have been previous relationships formed, and I am left to fend for myself (of sorts). I'm still not really sure if that is saying quite what I want it to, but you get the point?
Keeping old relationships strong, while forming new ones, while managing school and other responsibilities is something that I am slowly (but surely!) gaining a better understanding on how to accomplish.
Once again I apologize for the sporadicness (if that's not a word I just made it one) of this, but I want to catch up on all that has been going through my mind/happening in my life briefly, because I know that if I put it off it will never be written, ;)
BREAKING NEWS! Drum roll please.
*insert drum roll here*
I am going to be co-leading a team to El Salvador next summer!!! This is awesome on so many levels. Most importantly the school is rolling out a new missions program this year. Their key phrase is something along the lines of, "It's not about the trip; it's about discipleship!" This is what I'm so totally pumped for coming out of DTS. Discipleship is so incredibly important, and I am loving the fact that I get to once again be discipled (in leader training) and then help disciple others! As well as having the opportunity to take a team on a missions trip, which I have wanted to do for a few years now. We will meet once a week as a team (I believe) starting in January for the discipleship aspect of the trip. But, MORE TO COME on that!
Lastly, I want to wrap up a tad bit just to encourage some friends. I feel like some friends have been going through some rough patches in life, whether it be struggling with sin, struggling with not feeling like they have any direction in life, or feeling stuck in where they're at (physically or spiritually). I just want to encourage you to seek God. I know, it's basic, and I'm pretty sure you've heard it before. But seriously. Seek God when you don't feel like it. Seek God when you know you should but don't want to. Seek God when you think you have all the answers, and seek God when you know you don't. How do we seek God? Pray. Come before Him and admit your problems, admit your weakness (you've got nothin' to hide from Him!); ask for His strength, His wisdom, His help. Worship Him. Sing to Him (when you're by yourself too!). Read His word. Ask others to pray for you also.
I know these are basic things we all understand, but they are also so easy to forget, and a helpful reminder for myself as well. If you honestly seek after Him and desire to have a relationship with Him, He won't leave you hangin'!
Sunday, August 21, 2011
What if
What if
we stopped judging?
What if we stopped stereotyping people altogether?
Imagine we were only able to see the inside qualities of a person, and none of the outside. Or maybe, you could actually see both. I think we would be surprised (and sickened) at how often we judge someone by their appearance and write them off; when in actuality, they could be far different from what we thought of them to be.
Since when does what we wear have to automatically put us in some sort of category?
Since when does how 'put together' we are, determine our social status?
Since when is a shy person no longer important enough for our time?
We all have heard the old saying of, "Don't judge a book by it's cover." Meaning, don't judge a person before you get to know them. But in reality, how many of us actually follow that advice?
And I'm not necessarily just talking about people you've been introduced to. I'm also referring to people you have not, and will not, meet.
Here's a prime example (for everyone in Grants Pass, at least).
FAIR.
HONESTLY, how many of us judged someone? (For everyone else outside of GP, just think of a place you've been with a lot of people.)
Places like fair serve as a wonderful example. It would be very easy to stereotype people at events like this. Not gonna lie, I even catch myself doing it. It's almost second nature to us, is it not?
But what if, instead of seeing someone for who they appeared on the outside, we searched for who they might be on the inside? I realize this is not practical in all situations, but how about when it's not, we just stop stereotyping!
Instead of seeing the "preppy teenage girl," we saw someone with the same insecurities and needs as ourselves.
Instead of seeing an "unkempt, overweight parent," we saw someone with hopes and dreams just like ourselves.
Instead of seeing the "kid looking for trouble," we saw the way God loves them, just like He loves us.
God used to walk with Adam and Eve in the garden and they did not see each others' nakedness. It was when sin entered the world, that they felt the need to cover up-- AKA we began to judge each other. We began to look on the outward appearances of others instead of looking on the inside.
When I was thinking about all of this, a song came to mind. This song is kind of unconventional, but bear with me. It's called "One of us" by Joan Osborn. A few lines from the song say,
"What if God was one of us,
Just a slob like one of us,
Just a stranger on the bus trying to make his way home?"
we stopped judging?
What if we stopped stereotyping people altogether?
Imagine we were only able to see the inside qualities of a person, and none of the outside. Or maybe, you could actually see both. I think we would be surprised (and sickened) at how often we judge someone by their appearance and write them off; when in actuality, they could be far different from what we thought of them to be.
Since when does what we wear have to automatically put us in some sort of category?
Since when does how 'put together' we are, determine our social status?
Since when is a shy person no longer important enough for our time?
We all have heard the old saying of, "Don't judge a book by it's cover." Meaning, don't judge a person before you get to know them. But in reality, how many of us actually follow that advice?
And I'm not necessarily just talking about people you've been introduced to. I'm also referring to people you have not, and will not, meet.
Here's a prime example (for everyone in Grants Pass, at least).
FAIR.
HONESTLY, how many of us judged someone? (For everyone else outside of GP, just think of a place you've been with a lot of people.)
Places like fair serve as a wonderful example. It would be very easy to stereotype people at events like this. Not gonna lie, I even catch myself doing it. It's almost second nature to us, is it not?
But what if, instead of seeing someone for who they appeared on the outside, we searched for who they might be on the inside? I realize this is not practical in all situations, but how about when it's not, we just stop stereotyping!
Instead of seeing the "preppy teenage girl," we saw someone with the same insecurities and needs as ourselves.
Instead of seeing an "unkempt, overweight parent," we saw someone with hopes and dreams just like ourselves.
Instead of seeing the "kid looking for trouble," we saw the way God loves them, just like He loves us.
God used to walk with Adam and Eve in the garden and they did not see each others' nakedness. It was when sin entered the world, that they felt the need to cover up-- AKA we began to judge each other. We began to look on the outward appearances of others instead of looking on the inside.
When I was thinking about all of this, a song came to mind. This song is kind of unconventional, but bear with me. It's called "One of us" by Joan Osborn. A few lines from the song say,
"What if God was one of us,
Just a slob like one of us,
Just a stranger on the bus trying to make his way home?"
I'll try and connect the dots for you.
The lyrics are saying, what if God was just like us? He lived like us, thought like us, talked like us?
And from there (maybe this will be a stretch for some of you), I imagine the opposite.
What if we were like God? (Don't loose me here!) What if we stopped looking on outward appearances, but were actually able to look at a man's heart? What would be radically different in this world?
For the LORD sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart." Samuel 16:7
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
"Strip Me"
I had a revelation this week that I wanted to share.
Some of you may or may not know that I've been going through some rough times emotionally. When things go wrong with relationships you care about, plus other added stressors in life including how to pay for college, starting a new job, etc-life can feel a little flipped upside down. I'll ashamadely admit, that I have let my emotions and thoughts overcome me a lot lately, which in turn has led to less productivity in basically every area of my life.
One of those bigger areas is my relationships with others.
Something I care about deeply in life is mentoring others, whether it be indirectly or directly. But when my emotional state is below average, that is the last thing on my mind.
The other day God told me something about all of this. He let me know that yes, I could stay in the state that I was in-- but what good would that be for others? In what way would I be helping anyone out, lifting up the family of Christ, or blessing others? Ephesians 4:29 says, "Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it maybe benefit those who listen."
He reminded me that there are some specific people that have been on my heart, and if I don't take the time to reach out to them, the opportunity is going to pass by. And I would be kicking myself in the head if I let that happen. I know (and HE knows), that if I don't take the opportunities while I have them, I might not forgive myself.
It was just a friendly reminder that I can't let anything get me down and get in the way of living a life for God and serving Him.
I accidentally left my Bible in the car last night, but didn't realize it until I was getting into bed. So instead of opening up the Word, I decided to read a little bit in a book that I put down a few months back.
The page that was bookmarked for me to start up again on couldn't have fit better.
Here's an excerpt from the book titled "The Power of a Whisper" by Billy Hybels:
"Although the dark nights of the soul I've encountered have been perhaps the most difficult points of my life, they have taught me three truths about God for which I am thinkful. Regardless of what dark nights you face, see if these truths resonate with you."
It goes on to list the three truths as well as a page or two about them. I will share each truth as well as the one thing that stood out to me so strongly from each one.
Truth #1: God is near.
Without retelling the whole story, there was an illustration of a little boy who wanted to go into the living room to get his blanket that he had forgotten; but because it was dark, he was afraid! As he was halfway down the hallway, he called and asked his dad to come walk with him. The story says, "Well who could say no to that? I'd join Todd right where he had gotten stuck, and together we'd walk the rest of the dark hallway, hand in hand."
I was reminded of one of my favorite verses, which says, "For I am the LORD, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you." (Isaiah 41:13)
I'm not sure why, but the idea of God taking a hold of my hand like that is one of the most intimate things.
Truth #2: God seeks.
In this section, the author told a personal story of when he was exhausted, terribly sick, and lonely.
"...I still had twenty-nine days to go before I could sleep in my won bed, and I distinctly remember walking through an airport in Singapore thinking, "Nobody knows I'm here, and nobody cares."
When I checked in for my flight, I learned that my gate was located near the very end of the terminal, about a thrird of a mile down a dimly lit, crowded hallway. 'Great,' I muttered to myself."
As he began to trudge down the hallways, God reminded him of a verse (Isaiah 62:12).
"The verse refers to God as the "sought-after" one, but in a fleeting moment in that crowded hallway, in a busy airport, serving five million people, on an island in the middle of Southeast Asia, the King of the universe picked me out of a teeming crush of humanity and whispered, "Tonight, it is you who are sought after. I am seeking after you."
"God is near, But His presence is not passive. He seeks us out so that he can encourage us to keep going, to move ahead, to live. This divine reminder revived my spirit."
As his spirit was revived, so was his moral; he noticed an elderly woman struggling with her luggage and offered to help. He helped her to to the gate, and when it was time to board, picked up her luggage, escorted her onto the plane, and stowed her bags for her.
"We both know it was not a world-changing event for this woman that I helped her with her bag. But the small acts of service definitely squared better with my calling to minister in Jesus' name, and they had taken my focus off of myself. The pity party I'd been engaged in ten minutes before had lost its appeal."
"God has good plans for us to accomplish."
That last sentence spot-on affirmed what I was already thinking in my own life!
Truth #3: God speaks.
"...throughout the course of her unparalleled ministry, Mother Teresa suffered spiritual dry spells, times when she didn't detect the love or companionship of God. Despite the fact that she knew God was there, she didn't feel Him in a visceral sense. Month after month, and in some stretches year after year, Mother Teresa became increasingly despondent because of God's silence; she desperately needed to hear a whisper from Him, but she would continue to wait in vain." (Now pay close attention to this next part.) "In spite of His silence, Mother Teresa remained devoted. "Even thought I don't feel His presence, she wrote, "I will seek to love Him as He has never been loved."
Wow. Well isn't that a challenging thought?!
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I realize I haven't really mentioned anything in relation to the title of this post yet. The title is actually borrowed from song by Natasha Bedingfield. It is one of my favorite songs, and it also titled "Strip Me"; here are some of the lyrics so you can get a feel for why I used it.
Everyday I fight for
All my future somethings
A thousand little wars
I have to choose between
I could spend a lifetime
Earning things that I don't need
But that's like chasing rainbows
And coming home empty
And if you strip me,
Strip it all away
If you strip me,
What would you find
If you strip me,
Strip it all away
Ill be alright
Take what you want
Steal my pride
Build me up
Or cut me down to size
Shut me out
But I'll just scream
Im only one voice in a million
but you aint taking that from me
Some of you may or may not know that I've been going through some rough times emotionally. When things go wrong with relationships you care about, plus other added stressors in life including how to pay for college, starting a new job, etc-life can feel a little flipped upside down. I'll ashamadely admit, that I have let my emotions and thoughts overcome me a lot lately, which in turn has led to less productivity in basically every area of my life.
One of those bigger areas is my relationships with others.
Something I care about deeply in life is mentoring others, whether it be indirectly or directly. But when my emotional state is below average, that is the last thing on my mind.
The other day God told me something about all of this. He let me know that yes, I could stay in the state that I was in-- but what good would that be for others? In what way would I be helping anyone out, lifting up the family of Christ, or blessing others? Ephesians 4:29 says, "Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it maybe benefit those who listen."
He reminded me that there are some specific people that have been on my heart, and if I don't take the time to reach out to them, the opportunity is going to pass by. And I would be kicking myself in the head if I let that happen. I know (and HE knows), that if I don't take the opportunities while I have them, I might not forgive myself.
It was just a friendly reminder that I can't let anything get me down and get in the way of living a life for God and serving Him.
I accidentally left my Bible in the car last night, but didn't realize it until I was getting into bed. So instead of opening up the Word, I decided to read a little bit in a book that I put down a few months back.
The page that was bookmarked for me to start up again on couldn't have fit better.
Here's an excerpt from the book titled "The Power of a Whisper" by Billy Hybels:
"Although the dark nights of the soul I've encountered have been perhaps the most difficult points of my life, they have taught me three truths about God for which I am thinkful. Regardless of what dark nights you face, see if these truths resonate with you."
It goes on to list the three truths as well as a page or two about them. I will share each truth as well as the one thing that stood out to me so strongly from each one.
Truth #1: God is near.
Without retelling the whole story, there was an illustration of a little boy who wanted to go into the living room to get his blanket that he had forgotten; but because it was dark, he was afraid! As he was halfway down the hallway, he called and asked his dad to come walk with him. The story says, "Well who could say no to that? I'd join Todd right where he had gotten stuck, and together we'd walk the rest of the dark hallway, hand in hand."
I was reminded of one of my favorite verses, which says, "For I am the LORD, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you." (Isaiah 41:13)
I'm not sure why, but the idea of God taking a hold of my hand like that is one of the most intimate things.
Truth #2: God seeks.
In this section, the author told a personal story of when he was exhausted, terribly sick, and lonely.
"...I still had twenty-nine days to go before I could sleep in my won bed, and I distinctly remember walking through an airport in Singapore thinking, "Nobody knows I'm here, and nobody cares."
When I checked in for my flight, I learned that my gate was located near the very end of the terminal, about a thrird of a mile down a dimly lit, crowded hallway. 'Great,' I muttered to myself."
As he began to trudge down the hallways, God reminded him of a verse (Isaiah 62:12).
"The verse refers to God as the "sought-after" one, but in a fleeting moment in that crowded hallway, in a busy airport, serving five million people, on an island in the middle of Southeast Asia, the King of the universe picked me out of a teeming crush of humanity and whispered, "Tonight, it is you who are sought after. I am seeking after you."
"God is near, But His presence is not passive. He seeks us out so that he can encourage us to keep going, to move ahead, to live. This divine reminder revived my spirit."
As his spirit was revived, so was his moral; he noticed an elderly woman struggling with her luggage and offered to help. He helped her to to the gate, and when it was time to board, picked up her luggage, escorted her onto the plane, and stowed her bags for her.
"We both know it was not a world-changing event for this woman that I helped her with her bag. But the small acts of service definitely squared better with my calling to minister in Jesus' name, and they had taken my focus off of myself. The pity party I'd been engaged in ten minutes before had lost its appeal."
"God has good plans for us to accomplish."
That last sentence spot-on affirmed what I was already thinking in my own life!
Truth #3: God speaks.
"...throughout the course of her unparalleled ministry, Mother Teresa suffered spiritual dry spells, times when she didn't detect the love or companionship of God. Despite the fact that she knew God was there, she didn't feel Him in a visceral sense. Month after month, and in some stretches year after year, Mother Teresa became increasingly despondent because of God's silence; she desperately needed to hear a whisper from Him, but she would continue to wait in vain." (Now pay close attention to this next part.) "In spite of His silence, Mother Teresa remained devoted. "Even thought I don't feel His presence, she wrote, "I will seek to love Him as He has never been loved."
Wow. Well isn't that a challenging thought?!
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I realize I haven't really mentioned anything in relation to the title of this post yet. The title is actually borrowed from song by Natasha Bedingfield. It is one of my favorite songs, and it also titled "Strip Me"; here are some of the lyrics so you can get a feel for why I used it.
Everyday I fight for
All my future somethings
A thousand little wars
I have to choose between
I could spend a lifetime
Earning things that I don't need
But that's like chasing rainbows
And coming home empty
And if you strip me,
Strip it all away
If you strip me,
What would you find
If you strip me,
Strip it all away
Ill be alright
Take what you want
Steal my pride
Build me up
Or cut me down to size
Shut me out
But I'll just scream
Im only one voice in a million
but you aint taking that from me
I feel the same way in what I've shared. God reminded me that even if it seems like the world is caving in, what matters most? What will be left of you when you're stripped of everything you've known? How will you live your life when nothing seems to be going right?
And I decided the answer to that was that I was going to live it to the fullest. I'm not going to let "A thousand little wars..." let me ".. com[e] home empty."
Because my Satan might try to get me down, but he can't take my voice away.
Saturday, July 16, 2011
Promises; $ and college.
It is so hard not to get caught up in the life of this world, especially when trying to plan for your future. They tell you you gotta be rich, make lots of money, have a good paying job, don't go into debt, blah blah blah.
Well you know what, I have a God who's bigger than this world.
And sometimes, I have to constantly remind myself of that.
Let me take you into the world of Jessica, as of late.
One year at college: Approx. $30,000.
$30,000-for just ONE year!
I have been given one scholarship for $10,000 (which is a complete blessing, and was a shock and honor!), and another for $1,500. I'll let you do the math on how much I have left to come up with.
The last blog entry I had titled "Promises".. in reality, this post is what has been on my heart lately in terms of promises.
It's really hard for me to tell people that I'm going away to a private college and going to need to take out a lot in loans- when they ask me what I will be studying. For those of you who don't know, Cross-Cultural Studies is my major, and most likely with the focus on Transformational Community Development. It's a really fancy way of saying missions. (OK, it's more than just fancy, because the major actually is slightly different, as there is also just a World Missions major offered, but you get the idea.) So here's where the hard part lies; my potential carreers aren't exactly mind blowingly high profit. They're actually on the complete opposite scale of things. So when I think about having to take out about $19,000 just for one year, you could say it worries me a lot. But here's where the promises part comes in.
A passage in Matthew 6 (25-34) says this;
" 25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life[a]?
I also have been lucky enough to have had such an amazing experience to help me along the lines of faith and finances. (If you haven't heard all of the amazingness of how He provided for me on DTS, ASK ME I WILL TELL YOU!)
So basically, all I know is this. It may seem crazy to be going to school for a ministry degree that won't provide me with enough money to logically be able to pay off my ridiculous amounts of loans, and I don't know quite why God wants me there, but He does-So He's going to take care of it! And even though at times it's oh so very hard to keep faith that He will provide, I can remember that
Well you know what, I have a God who's bigger than this world.
And sometimes, I have to constantly remind myself of that.
Let me take you into the world of Jessica, as of late.
One year at college: Approx. $30,000.
$30,000-for just ONE year!
I have been given one scholarship for $10,000 (which is a complete blessing, and was a shock and honor!), and another for $1,500. I'll let you do the math on how much I have left to come up with.
The last blog entry I had titled "Promises".. in reality, this post is what has been on my heart lately in terms of promises.
It's really hard for me to tell people that I'm going away to a private college and going to need to take out a lot in loans- when they ask me what I will be studying. For those of you who don't know, Cross-Cultural Studies is my major, and most likely with the focus on Transformational Community Development. It's a really fancy way of saying missions. (OK, it's more than just fancy, because the major actually is slightly different, as there is also just a World Missions major offered, but you get the idea.) So here's where the hard part lies; my potential carreers aren't exactly mind blowingly high profit. They're actually on the complete opposite scale of things. So when I think about having to take out about $19,000 just for one year, you could say it worries me a lot. But here's where the promises part comes in.
A passage in Matthew 6 (25-34) says this;
" 25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life[a]?
28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."
The reason I'm even going to Simpson to study this is because it's where I feel God has led me to. Almost exactly a year ago, I didn't know what I was supposed to do. 50% of me wanted to do a BLS with YWAM Brisbane and the other 50% wanted to go to college. I prayed and prayed and tried to figure out where I was supposed to go, and after something happened on outreach, I felt so strongly that college was where I was supposed to be. And through a series of events, I applied to Simpson, was accepted, and discovered the amazing major that I will be studying! When I discovered the Cross-Cultural Studies major, it was the same kind of feelings that happened when I was trying to figure out where I was supposed to go for DTS, and visited YWAM Brisbane's website for the first time and read about it-I just KNEW that was where I was supposed to be! There was something in my spirit that resonated "YES!" And because of my such strong feelings of this is where God wants me (Simpson University), I just have to trust that He will take care of the finances-even though right now it seems fairly hopeless.
So basically, all I know is this. It may seem crazy to be going to school for a ministry degree that won't provide me with enough money to logically be able to pay off my ridiculous amounts of loans, and I don't know quite why God wants me there, but He does-So He's going to take care of it! And even though at times it's oh so very hard to keep faith that He will provide, I can remember that
28And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who[i] have been called according to his purpose. 29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. 30 And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified. 31 What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
(Romans 8)
And this is one of the biggies that has been on my heart lately!
Thank you for reading :)
Saturday, July 9, 2011
Promises.
James 1:2-4
Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
Well shoot. Where do I even start? When I was driving home just a little bit ago, I had a whole slew of things to say; yet now that I have sat myself down in front of the computer, I can't figure out how to say it.
Well, I didn't think the waterworks would start THIS soon in the post! I really don't like admitting weakness, and being vulnerable, because, well it's being vulnerable!
"How are you?! How have you been?!" I love catching up with people, and I really do want to know how they've been, but it's been killing me when others ask me this over the past month. Because you know what, I've been horrible. But that doesn't exactly make great small talk now does it? And I don't really feel like pouring my heart out to an acquaintance, just to get an "oh, I'm sorry" and awkwardness. I know as friends, they might actually care, but I'm not strong enough to be that real with them. I feel like this last month, especially these last 2 weeks, have been THE MOST difficult in my life. In some ways, I feel like Job (in the Bible). I really don't understand squat of why any of the stuff that has happened has, but all I can make of it is spiritual warfare.
I'm not even sure if I can write any more right now. There's just too much mumbo jumbo going on in my head, too much confusion, and waaayyy too much pain.
Until I can even finish this post, hopefully sometime soon, just know this.
I'm not writing to get an "oh I'm sorry" or an "oh, you'll make it through!" kind of reaction.
Part of what I'm feeling has to do with a lot of in-explainable loss of important friendships in my life, so you simply just saying hey I love you, or talking to me about you or other things, means alot to me right now.
Oh yeah, and some of my dear wonderful friends who I've talked about skyping over the last month, I do do do want to skype with you, but am not really in the right mindset to set up a time. So do it for me and tell me? sounds good.
Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
Well shoot. Where do I even start? When I was driving home just a little bit ago, I had a whole slew of things to say; yet now that I have sat myself down in front of the computer, I can't figure out how to say it.
Well, I didn't think the waterworks would start THIS soon in the post! I really don't like admitting weakness, and being vulnerable, because, well it's being vulnerable!
"How are you?! How have you been?!" I love catching up with people, and I really do want to know how they've been, but it's been killing me when others ask me this over the past month. Because you know what, I've been horrible. But that doesn't exactly make great small talk now does it? And I don't really feel like pouring my heart out to an acquaintance, just to get an "oh, I'm sorry" and awkwardness. I know as friends, they might actually care, but I'm not strong enough to be that real with them. I feel like this last month, especially these last 2 weeks, have been THE MOST difficult in my life. In some ways, I feel like Job (in the Bible). I really don't understand squat of why any of the stuff that has happened has, but all I can make of it is spiritual warfare.
I'm not even sure if I can write any more right now. There's just too much mumbo jumbo going on in my head, too much confusion, and waaayyy too much pain.
Until I can even finish this post, hopefully sometime soon, just know this.
I'm not writing to get an "oh I'm sorry" or an "oh, you'll make it through!" kind of reaction.
Part of what I'm feeling has to do with a lot of in-explainable loss of important friendships in my life, so you simply just saying hey I love you, or talking to me about you or other things, means alot to me right now.
Oh yeah, and some of my dear wonderful friends who I've talked about skyping over the last month, I do do do want to skype with you, but am not really in the right mindset to set up a time. So do it for me and tell me? sounds good.
Sunday, June 5, 2011
Breaking Stereotypes
Several months ago, I set off to write this post. I asked friends on facebook to help me by asking them questions of their experiences with poor people internationally. Busyness happened, and I read something that made me question how I was actually going to write this, so I put it off. But last night I was reminded again of what my original intentions in writing this were, and I re-gained inspiration!
I want you to think.. Think of when you drive up to a light and their is a beggar with a sign on the corner. Think of how you feel, or what kind of thoughts go through your mind. Think of a situation when you're walking downtown, and an obviously homeless woman in dirty rags is sitting outside the post office with a sign that says "anything helps." Again, I want you to try and think of what you're natural reaction is.
I think as Americans (although I'm not limiting these feelings to just us), our natural reaction includes something along the lines of negativity. We may think things such as, "that person needs to get a job like the rest of the world", or "they're just gonna use the money for drugs."
How about this situation? Do you ever find yourself sitting somewhere with your purse out, and when someone questionable comes along, you bring your stuff closer to them, as if you know they are going to try and steal your stuff?
Last night I was with salsa dancing with some friends at Mexican restaurant called Kalypso. It was around midnight or later, and as we were dancing, we noticed out the front window a homeless man with a backpack dancing to the music that was playing. He was rocking out, having a good time. After a few minutes, he came inside, and continued to have a blast. The dance floor cleared. There were few looks of disgust, and I won't ignore the fact that he didn't smell too pretty. He danced for a few minutes, and we clapped for him to keep it up, but eventually one of the owners escorted him out of the building. They handled it very well in my opinion, by telling him that he did have to go, because it was a private party. But, I was imagining how he might have felt at that point. Embarrassed, ashamed, not wanted?
I don't care if he was drunk. I don't care if he 'wasn't all there,' he still could have experienced those feelings. I'm not saying it was wrong to ask him to leave, because yeah, it did makes us feel a little uncomfortable, because we weren't sure what he was capable of. But what I think a lot of people who might ever be in a situation like this fail to recognize, is that no matter their physical or emotional state, they still are human beings and they still have feelings.
Sometimes I feel like we treat the homeless like the plague.
When we see that woman sitting outside of the courthouse, or that man on the corner with the sign, we instinctively judge them.
When I asked for help from my friends several months ago, I asked them what their first response or natural reaction would be when they have been in a third world country, and seen a beggar on the street, or a homeless kid. Think of what your first response would be. Is it grief? Is it wanting to help? Often times, after someone visits a location like this for the first time, they want to "move down there and start an orphanage!" They want to "tell the whole world of the injustice!" I don't think those natural reactions are wrong, because that's how I feel sometimes too. But what I think the point that we are missing is that we have our own people just like that. We don't even have to go to another country to experience it. But often times, we barely even consider "those people" as, well, people. Our first instinct is that they're gonna steal from us, or use the money to buy drugs. Which you know what, might be true! But does that mean that we can't care for them? I just want to break your stereotype. I want you to change what your 'first response' or 'first thoughts' are about the homeless people we see EVERY SINGLE DAY. I want you to see them as a person, a person who deserves everything we deserve.
Some of you think, well they had their chance! We live in America, everyone can make something of themselves!
Don't think that please. Ever.
We never know what has gone on in a person's life that has gotten them in such a low place. We don't know what happened to them as a child, we don't know what their parents taught them, or probably didn't teach them, we don't know what kind of substances have altered their minds. (I want to state, that yes it could have been their choice in the first place to take a drug, but that's the problem with drugs, their addictive, and it can become an addiction they can't control.)
I just want you to really examine and possibly change the way you see someone on the streets. Don't treat them like the plague. DON'T ignore that they're there.
"I think it's fair to say that American attitudes toward the poor-- and perhaps not just in America-- are mostly disdain and fear. They're dangerous and different. Sometimes there's a suspicion that their condition is their own fault, that they're simply lazy or inferior. Other Americans are more kind-hearted, but prefer not to look at the poor too closely; it's depressing, and they're surely not fun people to be with.
These attitudes are a world away from God's attitudes, as described in these verses. Neediness arouses compassion in God-- and action.
We may think: "Of course God loves the poor; he loves everybody." But it's not so simple as that; God's character is presented as a model for our own. If God values the poor, we have to think about what that means for us." (found at http://www.zompist.com/meetthepoor.html)
Of course the Bible has something to say about all of this, so I want to share just a few verses to emphasize my point.
Deut. 15:7. If there is a poor man among you, one of your brothers, in any of the towns of the land which the LORD your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart, nor close your hand to your poor brother; but you shall freely open your hand to him, and generously lend him sufficient for his need in whatever he lacks.
Prov. 19:17. He who is gracious to a poor man lends to the LORD, and He will repay him for his good deed.
1 John 3:18 Little children, let us stop just saying we love people; let us really love them, and show it by our actions.
Prov. 14:31 Anyone who oppresses the poor is insulting God who made them. To help the poor is to honor God.
I think you get the point...
In finishing, I want to quote part of an article from the February 2011 issue of the Gospel Rescue Mission Newsletter. The title of the article is "Handling Panhandlers" and it was written by Ken & Valorie Emilio.
"And here's a shocker: Panhandlers often take in $50-$60 per day or more! What do they do with your money? Most spend it on booze. They do not need to spend your money on food because good nutrition is not their primary concern.
Our community is very gracious. There are at least two "free kitchens" in Grants Pass including the Gospel Rescue Mission and Saint Vincent De Paul. Anyone can walk in and get free meals every day-no questions asked. Also, a number of churches offer food every week. The ROC, FISH and the Food Bank also supply food to the hungry and homeless. So when a panhandler's sign says he or she is hungry, it is not food they crave. Beware!
Our advice is: Do not give money to panhandlers. Instead, support organizations like the Mission and other community food outlets. That way you know your money will be used responsibly to help feed the truly needy. Now that is good stewardship!
"Feed the hungry, and help those in trouble. Then your light will shine out from the darkness, and the darkness around you will be as bright as noon" (Isaiah 58:10)
Be wise in how you help the poor, but in all means, help them!
I want you to think.. Think of when you drive up to a light and their is a beggar with a sign on the corner. Think of how you feel, or what kind of thoughts go through your mind. Think of a situation when you're walking downtown, and an obviously homeless woman in dirty rags is sitting outside the post office with a sign that says "anything helps." Again, I want you to try and think of what you're natural reaction is.
I think as Americans (although I'm not limiting these feelings to just us), our natural reaction includes something along the lines of negativity. We may think things such as, "that person needs to get a job like the rest of the world", or "they're just gonna use the money for drugs."
How about this situation? Do you ever find yourself sitting somewhere with your purse out, and when someone questionable comes along, you bring your stuff closer to them, as if you know they are going to try and steal your stuff?
Last night I was with salsa dancing with some friends at Mexican restaurant called Kalypso. It was around midnight or later, and as we were dancing, we noticed out the front window a homeless man with a backpack dancing to the music that was playing. He was rocking out, having a good time. After a few minutes, he came inside, and continued to have a blast. The dance floor cleared. There were few looks of disgust, and I won't ignore the fact that he didn't smell too pretty. He danced for a few minutes, and we clapped for him to keep it up, but eventually one of the owners escorted him out of the building. They handled it very well in my opinion, by telling him that he did have to go, because it was a private party. But, I was imagining how he might have felt at that point. Embarrassed, ashamed, not wanted?
I don't care if he was drunk. I don't care if he 'wasn't all there,' he still could have experienced those feelings. I'm not saying it was wrong to ask him to leave, because yeah, it did makes us feel a little uncomfortable, because we weren't sure what he was capable of. But what I think a lot of people who might ever be in a situation like this fail to recognize, is that no matter their physical or emotional state, they still are human beings and they still have feelings.
Sometimes I feel like we treat the homeless like the plague.
When we see that woman sitting outside of the courthouse, or that man on the corner with the sign, we instinctively judge them.
When I asked for help from my friends several months ago, I asked them what their first response or natural reaction would be when they have been in a third world country, and seen a beggar on the street, or a homeless kid. Think of what your first response would be. Is it grief? Is it wanting to help? Often times, after someone visits a location like this for the first time, they want to "move down there and start an orphanage!" They want to "tell the whole world of the injustice!" I don't think those natural reactions are wrong, because that's how I feel sometimes too. But what I think the point that we are missing is that we have our own people just like that. We don't even have to go to another country to experience it. But often times, we barely even consider "those people" as, well, people. Our first instinct is that they're gonna steal from us, or use the money to buy drugs. Which you know what, might be true! But does that mean that we can't care for them? I just want to break your stereotype. I want you to change what your 'first response' or 'first thoughts' are about the homeless people we see EVERY SINGLE DAY. I want you to see them as a person, a person who deserves everything we deserve.
Some of you think, well they had their chance! We live in America, everyone can make something of themselves!
Don't think that please. Ever.
We never know what has gone on in a person's life that has gotten them in such a low place. We don't know what happened to them as a child, we don't know what their parents taught them, or probably didn't teach them, we don't know what kind of substances have altered their minds. (I want to state, that yes it could have been their choice in the first place to take a drug, but that's the problem with drugs, their addictive, and it can become an addiction they can't control.)
I just want you to really examine and possibly change the way you see someone on the streets. Don't treat them like the plague. DON'T ignore that they're there.
"I think it's fair to say that American attitudes toward the poor-- and perhaps not just in America-- are mostly disdain and fear. They're dangerous and different. Sometimes there's a suspicion that their condition is their own fault, that they're simply lazy or inferior. Other Americans are more kind-hearted, but prefer not to look at the poor too closely; it's depressing, and they're surely not fun people to be with.
These attitudes are a world away from God's attitudes, as described in these verses. Neediness arouses compassion in God-- and action.
We may think: "Of course God loves the poor; he loves everybody." But it's not so simple as that; God's character is presented as a model for our own. If God values the poor, we have to think about what that means for us." (found at http://www.zompist.com/meetthepoor.html)
Of course the Bible has something to say about all of this, so I want to share just a few verses to emphasize my point.
Deut. 15:7. If there is a poor man among you, one of your brothers, in any of the towns of the land which the LORD your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart, nor close your hand to your poor brother; but you shall freely open your hand to him, and generously lend him sufficient for his need in whatever he lacks.
Prov. 19:17. He who is gracious to a poor man lends to the LORD, and He will repay him for his good deed.
1 John 3:18 Little children, let us stop just saying we love people; let us really love them, and show it by our actions.
Prov. 14:31 Anyone who oppresses the poor is insulting God who made them. To help the poor is to honor God.
I think you get the point...
In finishing, I want to quote part of an article from the February 2011 issue of the Gospel Rescue Mission Newsletter. The title of the article is "Handling Panhandlers" and it was written by Ken & Valorie Emilio.
"And here's a shocker: Panhandlers often take in $50-$60 per day or more! What do they do with your money? Most spend it on booze. They do not need to spend your money on food because good nutrition is not their primary concern.
Our community is very gracious. There are at least two "free kitchens" in Grants Pass including the Gospel Rescue Mission and Saint Vincent De Paul. Anyone can walk in and get free meals every day-no questions asked. Also, a number of churches offer food every week. The ROC, FISH and the Food Bank also supply food to the hungry and homeless. So when a panhandler's sign says he or she is hungry, it is not food they crave. Beware!
Our advice is: Do not give money to panhandlers. Instead, support organizations like the Mission and other community food outlets. That way you know your money will be used responsibly to help feed the truly needy. Now that is good stewardship!
"Feed the hungry, and help those in trouble. Then your light will shine out from the darkness, and the darkness around you will be as bright as noon" (Isaiah 58:10)
Be wise in how you help the poor, but in all means, help them!
Monday, May 23, 2011
"Just keep your head above swim"
Save me, O God,
for the waters have come up to my neck.
I sink in the miry depths,
where there is no foothold.
I have come into the deep waters;
the floods engulf me.
I am worn out calling for help;
my throat is parched.
My eyes fail,
looking for my God.
Those who hate me without reason outnumber the hairs on my head;
many are my enemies without cause,
those who seek to destroy me.
I am forced to restore what I did not steal.
You know my folly, O God;
my guilt is not hidden from you.
May those who hope in you not be disgraced because of me,
O Lord, the Lord Almighty;
may those who seek you not be put to shame because of me,
O God of Israel.
For I endure scorn for your sake, and shame covers my face.
I am a stranger to my brothers,
an alien to my own mother's sons;
for zeal for your house consumes me,
and the insults of those who insult you fall on me.
When I weep and fast,
I must endure scorn;
when I put on sackcloth,
people make sport of me.
Those who sit at the gate mock me,
and I am the song of the drunkards.
But I pray to you , O Lord,
in the time of your favor;
in your great love, O God,
answer me with your sure salvation.
Rescue me from the mire,
do not let me sink;
deliver me from those who hate me,
from the deep waters.
Do not let the floodwaters engulf me
or the depths swallow me up
or the pit close its mouth over me.
Answer me, O Lord, out of the goodness of your love;
in your great mercy turn to me.
Do not hide your face from your servant;
answer me quickly, for I am in trouble.
Come near and rescue me;
redeem me because of my foes.
You know how I am scorned, disgraced
and shamed;
all my enemies are before you.
Scorn has broken my heart
and has left me helpless;
I looked for sympathy, but there was none,
for comforters, but I found none.
Psalm 69:1-20
God has a way with words, and with showing me something that I was already feeling.
I've been listening to the song Swim by Jack's Mannequin on repeat.
It's not that I feel hate from people. But hate equals feelings of pain, emptiness, and loneliness to me, and I can recognize with that.
Which leads to the next section I italicized.
"I am a stranger to my brothers"
In this case, brothers meaning friends, companions, those I love.
I feel like I have no one here that is on the same page as me!
My friends, and best friends, I love them to death, but their decisions and actions are not falling in line with mine. I'm tired of having to feel the need to babysit them or take care of them all the time.
One of the most painful and frustrating things in life is to watch someone you love make bad choices; each time that happens, I think you actually grow apart a little. I feel my friendships are like someone non-flexible who is trying to do the splits.
I feel like there is no one that can recognize what I'm going through or where I'm headed! (apart from some wonderful people who just don't live here)
I have friends who say they want to make a change in their life, or they don't feel like they have any direction, or they know that what they've been doing is wrong and want to change. Yet they do nothing to change! It's driving me crazy! It's like nothing I do or say means anything. It's like nothing God says means anything. And therefore I feel like I am a stranger to my own brothers and sisters in Christ. Because there is no equal fellowship.
Lately I have been meeting a lot of new people. But unfortunately I can see the grasp that Satan has on their lives as well, in one area or another. I need someone new and uplifting, someone fresh. Someone who doesn't want to get wasted every weekend. Someone who isn't desperate to be in a relationship. Someone who is respectful.
Without sounding pathetic, yes, I AM lonely. Very Lonely. Lonely for someone to relate to, on a personal, emotional, and spiritual level. And I have been for many months now.
And this passage falls exactly in line to how I'm feeling, very specifically, how I'm feeling today.
I love people. I love everyone I know. And I think that's why it's the most painful, because I cannot find someone out of them who can completely recognize with me.
I'm not usually the kind of person to put myself out there like with some of the things I just said. But I guess it's just come to the point where I feel like I have nothing to lose, maybe because I feel like everyone around me is just that far gone from me..
for the waters have come up to my neck.
I sink in the miry depths,
where there is no foothold.
I have come into the deep waters;
the floods engulf me.
I am worn out calling for help;
my throat is parched.
My eyes fail,
looking for my God.
Those who hate me without reason outnumber the hairs on my head;
many are my enemies without cause,
those who seek to destroy me.
I am forced to restore what I did not steal.
You know my folly, O God;
my guilt is not hidden from you.
May those who hope in you not be disgraced because of me,
O Lord, the Lord Almighty;
may those who seek you not be put to shame because of me,
O God of Israel.
For I endure scorn for your sake, and shame covers my face.
I am a stranger to my brothers,
an alien to my own mother's sons;
for zeal for your house consumes me,
and the insults of those who insult you fall on me.
When I weep and fast,
I must endure scorn;
when I put on sackcloth,
people make sport of me.
Those who sit at the gate mock me,
and I am the song of the drunkards.
But I pray to you , O Lord,
in the time of your favor;
in your great love, O God,
answer me with your sure salvation.
Rescue me from the mire,
do not let me sink;
deliver me from those who hate me,
from the deep waters.
Do not let the floodwaters engulf me
or the depths swallow me up
or the pit close its mouth over me.
Answer me, O Lord, out of the goodness of your love;
in your great mercy turn to me.
Do not hide your face from your servant;
answer me quickly, for I am in trouble.
Come near and rescue me;
redeem me because of my foes.
You know how I am scorned, disgraced
and shamed;
all my enemies are before you.
Scorn has broken my heart
and has left me helpless;
I looked for sympathy, but there was none,
for comforters, but I found none.
Psalm 69:1-20
God has a way with words, and with showing me something that I was already feeling.
I've been listening to the song Swim by Jack's Mannequin on repeat.
It's not that I feel hate from people. But hate equals feelings of pain, emptiness, and loneliness to me, and I can recognize with that.
Which leads to the next section I italicized.
"I am a stranger to my brothers"
In this case, brothers meaning friends, companions, those I love.
I feel like I have no one here that is on the same page as me!
My friends, and best friends, I love them to death, but their decisions and actions are not falling in line with mine. I'm tired of having to feel the need to babysit them or take care of them all the time.
One of the most painful and frustrating things in life is to watch someone you love make bad choices; each time that happens, I think you actually grow apart a little. I feel my friendships are like someone non-flexible who is trying to do the splits.
I feel like there is no one that can recognize what I'm going through or where I'm headed! (apart from some wonderful people who just don't live here)
I have friends who say they want to make a change in their life, or they don't feel like they have any direction, or they know that what they've been doing is wrong and want to change. Yet they do nothing to change! It's driving me crazy! It's like nothing I do or say means anything. It's like nothing God says means anything. And therefore I feel like I am a stranger to my own brothers and sisters in Christ. Because there is no equal fellowship.
Lately I have been meeting a lot of new people. But unfortunately I can see the grasp that Satan has on their lives as well, in one area or another. I need someone new and uplifting, someone fresh. Someone who doesn't want to get wasted every weekend. Someone who isn't desperate to be in a relationship. Someone who is respectful.
Without sounding pathetic, yes, I AM lonely. Very Lonely. Lonely for someone to relate to, on a personal, emotional, and spiritual level. And I have been for many months now.
And this passage falls exactly in line to how I'm feeling, very specifically, how I'm feeling today.
I love people. I love everyone I know. And I think that's why it's the most painful, because I cannot find someone out of them who can completely recognize with me.
I'm not usually the kind of person to put myself out there like with some of the things I just said. But I guess it's just come to the point where I feel like I have nothing to lose, maybe because I feel like everyone around me is just that far gone from me..
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
"The present of presence"
Ok, so for those of you who have been following the links (and for those of you who haven't) to my friend Jacob's blogs, READ THIS ONE!!!(If you don't know, my friend is studying abroad in Uganda, and sends updates/stories every few weeks.) The part about "The present of presence" is quite possibly my favorite post from his blogs!! I encourage you to read it.. it really puts a great perspective on things!
Click Me!
Click Me!
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Friends in Africa
So, I know I have been lacking in posts lately... and I hope that that will soon change. But until then, I have been meaning to post links to my friends' blogs about their experiences in Africa, so I will do that now!
Since I have 2 different friends' blogs I want to post, I will try and post one every day, or every other day, so that I can get to the other friend's blog soon.
If you haven't read Jacob's first blog post, you can find the link from my first blog about him here.
And here is the link to his second update.>> Click Me!
The second one is alot shorter than the first, but I encourage you to read "The extra tidbit" parts, because they are so great!
Since I have 2 different friends' blogs I want to post, I will try and post one every day, or every other day, so that I can get to the other friend's blog soon.
If you haven't read Jacob's first blog post, you can find the link from my first blog about him here.
And here is the link to his second update.>> Click Me!
The second one is alot shorter than the first, but I encourage you to read "The extra tidbit" parts, because they are so great!
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Satan, the little snake.
So as I was writing the previous post, God reminded me of something, and I wanted to share it.
Sometimes I get so overwhelmed by the sin in this world, that I think to myself, 'Well, we all know the end is near, and we all know that sin seems to overcome nearly everyone near the end, so why even try to beat it?'
Now obviously I don't honestly take that to heart and believe it completely. But I do get discouraged often!
But this is what I was reminded of.
Remember in Sunday school when they told Bible stories with all of the pictures? And do you remember when there was the story in the Garden of Eden, when Satan was talking to Eve about eating from the Tree of Life?
Well I was just reminded of how Satan was depicted: a little, weak, cartoon snake.
Now I know that Satan does have a grip on many lives, and he is not as petty as the little cartoon snake from the picture(I'm not ignoring the fact that he is real), but he is not all powerful!
I was also reminded of the song 'Our God' by Chris Tomlin. (Sorry Mrs. Ward, I have no idea if I punctuated that song right. That was one thing I could never learn in English class.)
"And if Our God is for us, then who could ever stop us
And if our God is with us, then what can stand against? "
The fact that God is all-powerful is not a new revelation. But the image that in all reality, Satan might as well be that little, weak, cartoon snake compared to God was!
Just food for thought; that we (I) should NEVER feel discouraged because of Satan's presence/grasp in our world. Because He is so much more powerful, can and is doing so much more in this world, and does prevail in the end! No matter how much sin I feel like there is in the world!
Sometimes I get so overwhelmed by the sin in this world, that I think to myself, 'Well, we all know the end is near, and we all know that sin seems to overcome nearly everyone near the end, so why even try to beat it?'
Now obviously I don't honestly take that to heart and believe it completely. But I do get discouraged often!
But this is what I was reminded of.
Remember in Sunday school when they told Bible stories with all of the pictures? And do you remember when there was the story in the Garden of Eden, when Satan was talking to Eve about eating from the Tree of Life?
Well I was just reminded of how Satan was depicted: a little, weak, cartoon snake.
Now I know that Satan does have a grip on many lives, and he is not as petty as the little cartoon snake from the picture(I'm not ignoring the fact that he is real), but he is not all powerful!
I was also reminded of the song 'Our God' by Chris Tomlin. (Sorry Mrs. Ward, I have no idea if I punctuated that song right. That was one thing I could never learn in English class.)
"And if Our God is for us, then who could ever stop us
And if our God is with us, then what can stand against? "
The fact that God is all-powerful is not a new revelation. But the image that in all reality, Satan might as well be that little, weak, cartoon snake compared to God was!
Just food for thought; that we (I) should NEVER feel discouraged because of Satan's presence/grasp in our world. Because He is so much more powerful, can and is doing so much more in this world, and does prevail in the end! No matter how much sin I feel like there is in the world!
The fight is not over yet!
In reference to some recent news going on in Nevada, I felt the need to post about this again.
If you haven't read my previous blog post about human trafficking and prostitution, check it out here for more information>> Click here.
So, if you did not know, prostitution and brothels ARE legal in the state of Nevada. The fact that that statement is true just blows my mind. I cannot believe we have let this go on in our own country for so long! It must be that people just turn their eyes as to not have to see what is happening? I can't really come up with a logical explanation.
FINALLY, someone big is speaking up! Harry Reid is calling them out. But this is not going to be an easy fight. The brothel owners and prostitutes are speaking up, saying that they don't want to loose their income for livelihood! Which is an honest concern; if this is the way of life they have ever known, making it illegal seems crazy to them!
check out these pages for more info on what is going on
( Click here and
Here. )
WE all know, that selling your bodies is not a healthy way of life. But many people do not understand that. Even fans of a Facebook page called "Hookers for Jesus" (a ministry organization developed to help women who have been affected by this industry, and who are against prostitution, etc.) are commenting on this news, saying things such as " I personally see nothing wrong with having legalized brothels in every state." "Yeah, should be legal in all 50 states, what business does the Gov have with consenting adults behind closed doors!"
Obviously they are not 'fans' of what the organization is really for. My point being, people do not understand. They have believed lies from Satan and see nothing wrong with selling sex.
What do we do?
Pray!
*Pray for the right outcome in all of this
*Pray for the prostitutes and brothel owners, that other, healthy jobs will be provided for them so they don't have to worry
*Pray for mentoring and healing
*Pray for eyes to be opened
*Pray for the state of Nevada
*Pray in faith!
Matthew 7:7-11
7 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened."
9 “Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11 If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!"
And check out this website if you are really interested in this topic. This organization is so great!
Hookers for Jesus.
If you haven't read my previous blog post about human trafficking and prostitution, check it out here for more information>> Click here.
So, if you did not know, prostitution and brothels ARE legal in the state of Nevada. The fact that that statement is true just blows my mind. I cannot believe we have let this go on in our own country for so long! It must be that people just turn their eyes as to not have to see what is happening? I can't really come up with a logical explanation.
FINALLY, someone big is speaking up! Harry Reid is calling them out. But this is not going to be an easy fight. The brothel owners and prostitutes are speaking up, saying that they don't want to loose their income for livelihood! Which is an honest concern; if this is the way of life they have ever known, making it illegal seems crazy to them!
check out these pages for more info on what is going on
( Click here and
Here. )
WE all know, that selling your bodies is not a healthy way of life. But many people do not understand that. Even fans of a Facebook page called "Hookers for Jesus" (a ministry organization developed to help women who have been affected by this industry, and who are against prostitution, etc.) are commenting on this news, saying things such as " I personally see nothing wrong with having legalized brothels in every state." "Yeah, should be legal in all 50 states, what business does the Gov have with consenting adults behind closed doors!"
Obviously they are not 'fans' of what the organization is really for. My point being, people do not understand. They have believed lies from Satan and see nothing wrong with selling sex.
What do we do?
Pray!
*Pray for the right outcome in all of this
*Pray for the prostitutes and brothel owners, that other, healthy jobs will be provided for them so they don't have to worry
*Pray for mentoring and healing
*Pray for eyes to be opened
*Pray for the state of Nevada
*Pray in faith!
Matthew 7:7-11
7 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened."
9 “Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11 If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!"
And check out this website if you are really interested in this topic. This organization is so great!
Hookers for Jesus.
Live in the moment
I'm sorry this is not another one of my blogs again. I realized that less people are likely to click on a link and read someone else's post, but I encourage you to do it anyways.
This post was written by one of the members of the band Owl City.
It really got me thinking that I need to stop living in/for the future or past, and just live in the moment.
http://owlcityblog.com/2010/09/20/waiting-in-the-wings/#more-1372
Check it out. :)
This post was written by one of the members of the band Owl City.
It really got me thinking that I need to stop living in/for the future or past, and just live in the moment.
http://owlcityblog.com/2010/09/20/waiting-in-the-wings/#more-1372
Check it out. :)
Monday, February 21, 2011
Africa
I have a few friends that are spending time in Africa for the time being, and their update emails absolutely intrigue me. Maybe it's because ever since I was a child I have dreampt of living in Africa, or maybe it's just because their stories and experiences, and the things God is teaching them are incredible.
So I have asked if I could share with you one of my friend's updates. These are written by Jacob Bowdoin, who is studying abroad in Uganda.
I would paste the email directly on here, however, he is all techy and the format wouldn't show how it does in the email, plus there are pictures. :P
HOWEVER, you can go to the following link to read it. :)
Link.
He has sent out 4 updates so far; I don't want to post them all at once because I figure people won't read them all at once. And I really think you should read them!
:)
So I have asked if I could share with you one of my friend's updates. These are written by Jacob Bowdoin, who is studying abroad in Uganda.
I would paste the email directly on here, however, he is all techy and the format wouldn't show how it does in the email, plus there are pictures. :P
HOWEVER, you can go to the following link to read it. :)
Link.
He has sent out 4 updates so far; I don't want to post them all at once because I figure people won't read them all at once. And I really think you should read them!
:)
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Be a friend, to have a friend
I just read a crinkled up piece of paper that has been floating around in my purse for quite some time now. On it are short but to the point notes from a sermon on friendship.
Read on.
-Friendship is a relationship where we practice real Biblical love.
-A great friend is one who will have Jesus as their best friend.
-A great friend will initiate.
-A great friend will endure.
*Proverbs 27:10 Never abandon a friend--either yours or your father's. When disaster strikes, you won't have to ask your brother for assistance. It's better to go to a neighbor than to a brother who lives far away
*Proverbs 17:17 A friend always loves, and a brother is born to share trouble.
*Proverbs 17:9 Whoever forgives an offense seeks love, but whoever keeps bringing up the issue separates the closest of friends.
*Colossians 3:12-13 12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
-A great friend will build up and bring out the best.
*Proverbs 27:17 As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend.
*Proverbs 27:5-6 (one of my favorites) 5Better is open rebuke
than hidden love. 6Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses.
*Proverbs 28:23 He who rebukes a man will in the end gain more favor than he who has a flattering tongue
*1 John 3:16-18 16This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. 17If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? 18Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.
Read on.
-Friendship is a relationship where we practice real Biblical love.
-A great friend is one who will have Jesus as their best friend.
-A great friend will initiate.
-A great friend will endure.
*Proverbs 27:10 Never abandon a friend--either yours or your father's. When disaster strikes, you won't have to ask your brother for assistance. It's better to go to a neighbor than to a brother who lives far away
*Proverbs 17:17 A friend always loves, and a brother is born to share trouble.
*Proverbs 17:9 Whoever forgives an offense seeks love, but whoever keeps bringing up the issue separates the closest of friends.
*Colossians 3:12-13 12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
-A great friend will build up and bring out the best.
*Proverbs 27:17 As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend.
*Proverbs 27:5-6 (one of my favorites) 5Better is open rebuke
than hidden love. 6Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses.
*Proverbs 28:23 He who rebukes a man will in the end gain more favor than he who has a flattering tongue
*1 John 3:16-18 16This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. 17If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? 18Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.
Simple Truths.
Do not worry about anything, but pray and ask God for everything you need, always giving thanks. And God's peace, which is so great we cannot understand it, will keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. --Philippians 4:6-7
For I am the LORD, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you. Isaiah 41:13
Mark 4:19 And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.
For I am the LORD, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you. Isaiah 41:13
Mark 4:19 And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.
Ramish.
Isn't it funny how certain verses stand out to us more sometimes than other times?
Last night and the night before as I was reading, I came across a few verse that I wanted to share. Now that I'm finally sitting down to do it, I can't remember which ones they were, even when I read the passage over again!
One of them I do remember for sure though. And only people from YWAM Bris will get this.
I was reading in Proverbs 19, and verse 6 says, "Many curry favor with a ruler..."
That is all that really matters. The verse itself has nothing to do with what got to me. CURRY! The Bible says CURRY!!! Now, obviously I know it does not mean the same curry as the spice. But I still thought it was hysterical that the Bible says curry! As soon as I read it it, all I could think about was Ramish. Oh Ramish.
I was overcome with the feeling to pray for him. I have no idea how he is doing. But I think God for sure had me read the word curry, and remember Ramish, so that I could pray for him.
Thinking about this once again reminds me of a funny story of Ramish that I would like to share.
Ramish never gave me a nickname. Most people he talked to got one, but not me. Is it silly to want a nickname from Ramish? Yes. However, I thought they were kind of endearing. But after I thought about it, I decided that it was cool that he called me by my name, that I did not need a nickname, but he could come straight to me. (I'm sure you're probably snickering at me by now.)
Now to the story part. For quite a long time, Ramish kept saying that he wanted to take me (and a few others) out to lunch. We never did have the time to go with him before outreach, and I'll be honest, I wasn't quite sure how I felt about being forced to go to lunch; and I wasn't sure what kind of trouble we might could be getting ourselves into in going out with Ramish.
If you know Ramish, you know what I mean.
When we came back from outreach, we never had the time either. But he said he wanted to make it up to me. Whenever he came to the base, he kept telling me that he had some sort of fish charm that he wanted to give to me, but he wanted to get me a chain to wear it on first. Time after time he would tell me, "Oh no, I forgot the charm!" or "I still haven't gotten the chain yet!" I could tell that it was really important for him to give this to me, so I told him he didn't need to get me a chain, I could get one, and if he just brought the charm that would be fine.
He never could seem to remember it. And, I'm not gonna lie, I like it when people think of me and want to give me something, especially when its from a friend like Ramish, because I think things like this are truly from the heart.
During one of the last nights during my last week on base, I went with someone to walk Ramish home. I think it was with Daniel?
When we got inside I remembered, and said to Ramish, "Hey! Do you have that charm!?"
This is my favorite part.
He said "Oh yeah! Look under the couch cushion over there," as he motioned for me to go find it.
Under the couch cushion, yes you read that right. My insides were bubbling with laughter, while I tried to keep a normal face and do what he said.
Yes. That's right. I looked under Ramish's couch cusion to find a charm that he wanted to give to me. I don't remember everything I saw, but I can assure you the charm was not the only thing under there.
Do I still have the fish charm that he gave me? Heck yes. I wouldn't trade it for anything.
I'm not even sure what it's meant to be, if it really was made to be a fish charm, or just an interesting paper clip. Was it clean? No. It definitely had some questionable looking stains on it.
You might think I'm crazy. Maybe gross.
But really I cherish this little fish charm from Ramish.
This charm makes me feel like my friendship to him meant something- which I hope he felt that way.
I don't know how Ramish is doing physically, mentally, or spiritually these days. But I do know that he is in the trusting hands of our Father, and under the care of wonderful people at YWAM Bris.
One of the things Ramish wanted me to do before I left was to write a short story about him, for him; but I never got the chance. So in my own way, this was my story for Ramish.
Last night and the night before as I was reading, I came across a few verse that I wanted to share. Now that I'm finally sitting down to do it, I can't remember which ones they were, even when I read the passage over again!
One of them I do remember for sure though. And only people from YWAM Bris will get this.
I was reading in Proverbs 19, and verse 6 says, "Many curry favor with a ruler..."
That is all that really matters. The verse itself has nothing to do with what got to me. CURRY! The Bible says CURRY!!! Now, obviously I know it does not mean the same curry as the spice. But I still thought it was hysterical that the Bible says curry! As soon as I read it it, all I could think about was Ramish. Oh Ramish.
I was overcome with the feeling to pray for him. I have no idea how he is doing. But I think God for sure had me read the word curry, and remember Ramish, so that I could pray for him.
Thinking about this once again reminds me of a funny story of Ramish that I would like to share.
Ramish never gave me a nickname. Most people he talked to got one, but not me. Is it silly to want a nickname from Ramish? Yes. However, I thought they were kind of endearing. But after I thought about it, I decided that it was cool that he called me by my name, that I did not need a nickname, but he could come straight to me. (I'm sure you're probably snickering at me by now.)
Now to the story part. For quite a long time, Ramish kept saying that he wanted to take me (and a few others) out to lunch. We never did have the time to go with him before outreach, and I'll be honest, I wasn't quite sure how I felt about being forced to go to lunch; and I wasn't sure what kind of trouble we might could be getting ourselves into in going out with Ramish.
If you know Ramish, you know what I mean.
When we came back from outreach, we never had the time either. But he said he wanted to make it up to me. Whenever he came to the base, he kept telling me that he had some sort of fish charm that he wanted to give to me, but he wanted to get me a chain to wear it on first. Time after time he would tell me, "Oh no, I forgot the charm!" or "I still haven't gotten the chain yet!" I could tell that it was really important for him to give this to me, so I told him he didn't need to get me a chain, I could get one, and if he just brought the charm that would be fine.
He never could seem to remember it. And, I'm not gonna lie, I like it when people think of me and want to give me something, especially when its from a friend like Ramish, because I think things like this are truly from the heart.
During one of the last nights during my last week on base, I went with someone to walk Ramish home. I think it was with Daniel?
When we got inside I remembered, and said to Ramish, "Hey! Do you have that charm!?"
This is my favorite part.
He said "Oh yeah! Look under the couch cushion over there," as he motioned for me to go find it.
Under the couch cushion, yes you read that right. My insides were bubbling with laughter, while I tried to keep a normal face and do what he said.
Yes. That's right. I looked under Ramish's couch cusion to find a charm that he wanted to give to me. I don't remember everything I saw, but I can assure you the charm was not the only thing under there.
Do I still have the fish charm that he gave me? Heck yes. I wouldn't trade it for anything.
I'm not even sure what it's meant to be, if it really was made to be a fish charm, or just an interesting paper clip. Was it clean? No. It definitely had some questionable looking stains on it.
You might think I'm crazy. Maybe gross.
But really I cherish this little fish charm from Ramish.
This charm makes me feel like my friendship to him meant something- which I hope he felt that way.
I don't know how Ramish is doing physically, mentally, or spiritually these days. But I do know that he is in the trusting hands of our Father, and under the care of wonderful people at YWAM Bris.
One of the things Ramish wanted me to do before I left was to write a short story about him, for him; but I never got the chance. So in my own way, this was my story for Ramish.
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Some commentary from Proverbs
Just this week I decided to read through Proverbs. Man I love this book.
I just wanted to share a few verses that stuck out to me above the rest from the last few days.
14:6
The mocker seeks wisdom and finds none, but knowledge comes easily to the discerning.
14:10
Each heart knows its own bitterness, and no one else can share its joy.
-it's so true!
14:13 Even in laughter the heart may ache, and joy may end in grief.
-not trying to be a downer with this one and the last, but sometimes its just a comforting reminder to know that we are understood. I'm pretty sure all of us have felt this way at some time, where we are pretending to be happy, or trying to be happy, but inside we are not.
14:16
A wise man fears the Lord and shuns evil, but a fool is hotheaded and reckless.
-A definition of 'shun': avoid and stay away from deliberately; stay clear of.
So, we are to deliberately avoid anything evil! At least, if you want to be wise... :)
And the rest of that verse fits as well. A wise person knows the consequences so he will deliberately stay away from sin, but a fool is too proud and therefore hotheaded and reckless!
14:23
All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty.
-I love that one and I think we all can understand it. It's so true. ( I mean, duh, it is the Bible... haha)
14:27
The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, turning a man from the snares of death.
-That's like, the whole "Good News" wrapped into one verse, eh?
14:29
A patient man has great understanding, but a quick-tempered man displays folly.
-Which one are you? Something to think about.
14:30
A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones.
-Ok, I find this one way interesting. I totally want to know what the original text of these words mean, if it literally means 'gives life' and 'rots the bones'; something I never thought of/realized before. If those are the direct translations, wow isn't that something to think about?!
A heart at peace would ACTUALLY give life to our body, and envy would ACTUALLY do harm to our body! I mean, I guess I know that someone at peace is going to not have stress, therefore won't have the physical effects of it on their body, etc. And someone with envy will always be unhappy, and therefore have the negative effects those feelings would bring. But it's just an interesting thought how it actually does that directly to us.
14:32
When calamity comes, the wicked are brought down, but even in death the righteous have a refuge.
-Even in death, the righteous have a refuge. I think we can ALL find comfort in that! Especially living in the world we do.
15:13
A happy heart makes the face cheerful, but heartache crushes the spirit.
-The first part really made me think of Sarah Lundsberg. ;)
15:30
A cheerful look brings joy to the heart, and good news gives health to the bones.
-Once again, health to the bones! I think we should all go around and share good news and cheerful looks with each other...
16:6
Through love and faithfulness sin is atoned for; through the fear of the Lord a man avoids evil.
-It's like the ultimate verse by which we should live as Christians!
16:7
When a man's ways are pleasing to the Lord, he makes even his enemies live at peace with him.
-That's like, way cool. Too bad our whole country isn't living like this...
Ok, well that's all for now!
I just wanted to share a few verses that stuck out to me above the rest from the last few days.
14:6
The mocker seeks wisdom and finds none, but knowledge comes easily to the discerning.
14:10
Each heart knows its own bitterness, and no one else can share its joy.
-it's so true!
14:13 Even in laughter the heart may ache, and joy may end in grief.
-not trying to be a downer with this one and the last, but sometimes its just a comforting reminder to know that we are understood. I'm pretty sure all of us have felt this way at some time, where we are pretending to be happy, or trying to be happy, but inside we are not.
14:16
A wise man fears the Lord and shuns evil, but a fool is hotheaded and reckless.
-A definition of 'shun': avoid and stay away from deliberately; stay clear of.
So, we are to deliberately avoid anything evil! At least, if you want to be wise... :)
And the rest of that verse fits as well. A wise person knows the consequences so he will deliberately stay away from sin, but a fool is too proud and therefore hotheaded and reckless!
14:23
All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty.
-I love that one and I think we all can understand it. It's so true. ( I mean, duh, it is the Bible... haha)
14:27
The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, turning a man from the snares of death.
-That's like, the whole "Good News" wrapped into one verse, eh?
14:29
A patient man has great understanding, but a quick-tempered man displays folly.
-Which one are you? Something to think about.
14:30
A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones.
-Ok, I find this one way interesting. I totally want to know what the original text of these words mean, if it literally means 'gives life' and 'rots the bones'; something I never thought of/realized before. If those are the direct translations, wow isn't that something to think about?!
A heart at peace would ACTUALLY give life to our body, and envy would ACTUALLY do harm to our body! I mean, I guess I know that someone at peace is going to not have stress, therefore won't have the physical effects of it on their body, etc. And someone with envy will always be unhappy, and therefore have the negative effects those feelings would bring. But it's just an interesting thought how it actually does that directly to us.
14:32
When calamity comes, the wicked are brought down, but even in death the righteous have a refuge.
-Even in death, the righteous have a refuge. I think we can ALL find comfort in that! Especially living in the world we do.
15:13
A happy heart makes the face cheerful, but heartache crushes the spirit.
-The first part really made me think of Sarah Lundsberg. ;)
15:30
A cheerful look brings joy to the heart, and good news gives health to the bones.
-Once again, health to the bones! I think we should all go around and share good news and cheerful looks with each other...
16:6
Through love and faithfulness sin is atoned for; through the fear of the Lord a man avoids evil.
-It's like the ultimate verse by which we should live as Christians!
16:7
When a man's ways are pleasing to the Lord, he makes even his enemies live at peace with him.
-That's like, way cool. Too bad our whole country isn't living like this...
Ok, well that's all for now!
Thursday, January 20, 2011
WARNING:LIFE IS GRAPHIC
Sorry for the lack of posts lately... And if no one else cares, than that apology goes to me, because I'm disappointed in myself! ha!
Anyways, I have a multitude of things I want to write about, but this just touched me today, so it takes precedence over the rest.
I was viewing pictures from a stumbleupon website; the title of the page is "Best Pictures of the Decade." Although I would have to disagree that they are not necessarily THE BEST(because of their horrific content), they are definitely incredible pictures with incredible stories.
Many of the pictures make me turn my face away, make me tear up, or make me hold back vomit. I don't want to completely discourage you from viewing them, I just want to give you adequate warning.
THEY ARE NOT FOR THE FAINT OF HEART, AND MANY ARE GRAPHIC.
You're probably wondering what the heck does this have to do with anything, except for some incredible shots of history?
As you look through the pictures,
you will see pain beyond belief;
misery that we hope to never endure;
faces without any hope,
and souls that are lost.
Among these pictures are tossed in a view shots of victory, or glory even.
But still, they are of people going through life-
No more special or less important than you and me.
You might feel twinges of hopelessness after seeing these pictures.
But that is where Jesus comes in.
While I was going through these pictures, and was absolutely horrified, a song came on Pandora that made me stop and listen to the words.
The song is "Right Now" by This Beautiful Republic.
You want a change, it's written on your face
You feel alone, a little out of place
You hide away the scars and the mistakes
You've been tired, uninspired, something's going to give
Right now
He knows who you are
The light and the dark
He picks up your broken heart
Right now
He's telling the truth
That you will make it through
His love can rescue you
Right now
Right now
We've all been there, we're walking down the same road
So don't be scared, you're not out there on your own
Just take a breath and shut out the madness
Letting go is beautiful
There's so much more
Just waiting there for you
This is your life
The giving and the taking
A journey in the making
This is your life
The fighting and the kneeling
The hurting and the healing
Don't throw it all away...
I encourage you to listen to this song while you brave the images. And give God your ears and listen to what He is telling you.
(The Pictures>>>) http://www.stumbleupon.com/su/1tkQSP/totallycoolpix.com/2010/12/best-pictures-of-the-decade-the-noughties/
Anyways, I have a multitude of things I want to write about, but this just touched me today, so it takes precedence over the rest.
I was viewing pictures from a stumbleupon website; the title of the page is "Best Pictures of the Decade." Although I would have to disagree that they are not necessarily THE BEST(because of their horrific content), they are definitely incredible pictures with incredible stories.
Many of the pictures make me turn my face away, make me tear up, or make me hold back vomit. I don't want to completely discourage you from viewing them, I just want to give you adequate warning.
THEY ARE NOT FOR THE FAINT OF HEART, AND MANY ARE GRAPHIC.
You're probably wondering what the heck does this have to do with anything, except for some incredible shots of history?
As you look through the pictures,
you will see pain beyond belief;
misery that we hope to never endure;
faces without any hope,
and souls that are lost.
Among these pictures are tossed in a view shots of victory, or glory even.
But still, they are of people going through life-
No more special or less important than you and me.
You might feel twinges of hopelessness after seeing these pictures.
But that is where Jesus comes in.
While I was going through these pictures, and was absolutely horrified, a song came on Pandora that made me stop and listen to the words.
The song is "Right Now" by This Beautiful Republic.
You want a change, it's written on your face
You feel alone, a little out of place
You hide away the scars and the mistakes
You've been tired, uninspired, something's going to give
Right now
He knows who you are
The light and the dark
He picks up your broken heart
Right now
He's telling the truth
That you will make it through
His love can rescue you
Right now
Right now
We've all been there, we're walking down the same road
So don't be scared, you're not out there on your own
Just take a breath and shut out the madness
Letting go is beautiful
There's so much more
Just waiting there for you
This is your life
The giving and the taking
A journey in the making
This is your life
The fighting and the kneeling
The hurting and the healing
Don't throw it all away...
I encourage you to listen to this song while you brave the images. And give God your ears and listen to what He is telling you.
(The Pictures>>>) http://www.stumbleupon.com/su/1tkQSP/totallycoolpix.com/2010/12/best-pictures-of-the-decade-the-noughties/
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