How to make the season bright

Fall Times

Weekly Blessings

Dear Family that God has blessed me to be a part,
Thank you for making time in your busy lives for coffee talk, praying, sleep overs, walks and healthy meals. Your conversation and love are more wonderful and encouraging than you know. Because of your encouragement I am able to face the day and be the person that God has made me to grow to be.
My identity is part of a clan that is proud to be family and blessed by food and time shared together.

Dear Friends that God has given me,
Thank you for the adventures, the challenge to be social, testing me, speaking truth, and late night talks. You have made me stronger than I ever could have been alone. Thank you for being a part of healing of my heart.
Thank you for helping me realize I love people.

Dear God,
You are more love, more wonderful and more than comprehensible. You are amazing for loving me. Thank you for your never ending, grudge withholding love.
My identity is completely changed by your love.

I bought a car.

Can I be a real adult now?

Independence has an expensive price tag that continues to build I have found.

car price + state plates & tags + gas + engine fluids + oil change + insurance = Ouch!

I am still trying to process that all this hassel is worth the headache and "pride of ownership."

Time to Read

The Pursuit of God- AW Tozer
It was amazing!

Don't be messing around with my goodness

Notes from Pastor Ben: Enjoying the Good Life
http://www.fbceugenefamily.com/podcasts/
Get rid of your pride; it is external and God does not want it.
self righteousness is righteousness that is their own
Matt 5:20 For i tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.
The harshest words God ever said were to religious people.
The kind of righteousness discribed in Matthew 5 by Jesus is imposiblefor even the most religious people. Jesus does not call us to religion; He calls us to relationship with himself.
It is not about keeping the rules of external religion; it is about something that happens deep inside you.
The blessed or happy life in Matthew 5 is gaining God's approval after we've already received His acceptance by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. (Rom3:24) We must be creadited with God's righteousness as a gift through faith, before we can actually begin to become more righteous like God in our hearts and demonstrate that through good works. (What church people call sanctification- becoming more like Christ.) Jesus' sermon was intended, primarily, for those who are already His disciples. (Those who already believe His gospel.)
Therefore, it is possible to be enabled by His Spirit to live, love and lead like Jesus.

Thanks for knowing me

Meeting new people is always exciting, but there is something so great about not having to explain your background, your likes and dislikes, and the changes you have made. Today after dinner with some old friends and a phone conversation with my parents, I was reminded of this fact. It was so refreshing not having to put all that extra energy forward. To only have to give a background story of just three days was great!
To all that know me and how long it takes me to trust. Thanks for sticking around and continuign to share your story. I love you!

Beautiful Lord- Leeland

"When the storm is raging all around me, you are the peace that calms my troubled sea."

These lyrics played through my mind as I biked home today. Somehow, today was exhausting. It wasn't the work or the length of time, but more the steady amount of pressure I placed on myself and my performance at work. I am a people pleaser and perfectionist- a hard standard, I know.

I desire too much some might say, but I think it is good to have goals. So, in addition to learning everything at my new job, I am teaching myself Spanish and attempting to learn more about Jesus by reading the bible. Also, some new additions to my life might soon be a car, bike and computer. Though there is still much reading and research before I get to the point of purchase.

Sadly, these goals/tasks that I have set before myself, I am letting get the best of me, and I am burdened instead of excited. Individually each item is thrilling, and I need to remember this fact. Funny, this seems similar to how many miss-interpret the freedom in relationship with Christ, instead of freedom, obligation is the overwhelming feeling.

"I am loved by a King and it makes my heart want to sing. How can I keep from singing your praise? How can I ever say enough, how amazing is your love."

Thank you Lord for being my peace, source of stregth and wisdom. Keep my anxious thoughts for the future replaced by the exhileration of the new present.

Keeping me moving forward.

Lena and I in Portland last weekend.

Into Routine

This month, I fell into a routine- holy cats! Trying to avoid this, I have been adding new friends, cooking, gardening, and reading new books. The steadies are sail boat racing on Thursday (sadly finishing up this week when Fern Ridge is drained for the winter.), bible study on Monday, work throughout the week, weddings on Saturday (Thankfully all the weddings of Summer are now done.), and Family dinner on Sunday evening.
The book list has been inspired mainly by my desire to know God more and to possibly be a missionary in South America. I am so thankful that I now have time to read for fun! I just finished reading Under the Tuscan Sun- it was wonderful, and totally inspired me to travel through Italy and cook amazing simple foods. (Like I really need more of a reason to visit Italy.) Work at PCO is also going really well. The staff and my boss are all really great and I am learning a lot! Life at the new house continues to also be a blast. I made applesauce last night and am currently having dinner with the girls :D
The sun is shinning and I am SO blessed!

Weddings, and More Weddings

Summer is coming to a rapid close and with it the copious amount of weddings. Hooray next weekend will be my final one! Below are pictures from the most recent. Also a girl date with Megan to the book store and herb restarant and my sail boat crew.

Doing Life- Thank you Corrie for your wisdom

Above all, Trust in the slow work of God. We are quite naturally impatient in everything to reach the end without delay. We would like to skip the intermediate stages. We are impatient of being on the way to something unknown, something new. And yet it is the law of all progress that is made by passing through some stages of instability and that it may take a very long time. And so I think it is with you; your ideas mature gradually- let them grow, let them shape themselves without undue haste. Don't try to force them on, as though you could be today what time, (that is to say, grace and circumstances acting on your own goodwill) will make of you tomorrow. Only God could say what this new spirit gradually forming in you will be. Give our Lord the benefit of believing that his hand is leading you, and accept the anxiety of feeling yourself in suspense and incomplete.
- Piere Teilhard de Chardin

Aug 29

Every time you venture out in your life of faith, you will find something in your circumstances that, from a common sense standpoint, will flatly contradict your faith. But common sense is not faith, and faith is not common sense. In fact, they are as different as the natural life and the spiritual. Can you trust Jesus Christ where your common sense cannot trust Him? Can you venture out with courage on the words of Jesus Christ, while the realities of your commonsense life continue to shout, "It's all a lie"? when ou are on the mountaintop, it's easy to say, "Oh yes, I believe God can do it," but you have to come down from the mountain to the demon-possessed valley and face the realities that scoff at your Mount-of-Transfiguration belief (see Luke 9:28- 42). Every time my theology becomes clear to my own mind, I encounter something that contradicts it. As soon as I say, "I believe 'God shall supply all [my] need,'" my strength runs dry and my vision is blinded, will I endure this trial of my faith victoriously or will I turn back in defeat?
Faith must be tested, because it can only become your intimate possession through conflict. What is challenging your faith right now? The test will either prove your faith right, or it will kill it. Jesus said, "Blessed is he who is not offended because of Me" (Matthew 11:6). The ultimate thing is confidence in Jesus. "We have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end..." (Hebrews 3:14). Believe steadfastly on Him and everything that challenges you will strengthen your faith. There is continual testing in the life of faith up to the point of our physical death, which is the last great test. Faith is absolute trust in God- trust that could never imagine that He would forsake us (see Hebrews 13:5-6).

still good songs

I'll Stand
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MMEBmeesPfQ
None but Jesus
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f1k8yIwS5nI

The Difference is Consistency

Bible study tonight was over ten verses in Galatians (5: 16-26).
During the study, I was reminded of how easily my natural tendency is toward spiritual vices in opposition to the spiritual virtues. The focus of the group came to verse 24 "Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions an desires." It was decided that this change of vices to virtue is not something that as Christians we always choose, but that it is something that after we choose to be a follower of Christ, is changed for us through the power of the Holy Spirit. Our passions and desires are crucified- it is painful, not comfortable or easy, but in the end it is worth much more than the temporary satisfaction of any vice.
In Colossians 3:3-4, it says that "For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory." The virtuous go to heaven! (Unlike those who neglect God and others Gal 5:21)
All would agree that Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (fruit of the spirit) are all good things that any person can manifest at any point. The difference is that those persons full of the Spirit, will consistently display them to everyone. This is not something that just happens because we desire the good traits, it is because of the Spirit. And no, bragging rights are not reserved for the made holy, because it was not they that made themselves that way. (verse 26)
Yes, Christians will not always display the virtues/ fruits of the spirit, but to say that it is because of the "sinful self," "being human," "not completed" is a cop-out. Yes, Christians are "a work in progress;" However, the goal is Christ, and if the focus is on Him, than there will be a difference and it will be consistent.

Menu at the Lodge

My roomates and I have a blog documenting all the edible creations that take place in our home!
http://everythinglodge.blogspot.com/

Birthday Bash

This weekend I turned twenty four!
The shinangins began with a cup of coffee...
A day of fishing Alton Baker and Leaburg dam.
Camping at Cougar Resivour.
Biking the Row River Recreation Trail from Cottage Grove to Dorena Lake.
Shakespeare in the Park: Macbeth.
And finally floating the Willamette River through town in a tahetee.

Thanks to all persons involved in the adventures; I had a wonderful birthday!

Blueberries

Complete reliance on God has become the month of August. He gets all the credit for this because I never at any one point decided that I would trust, it just happend. The great thing about being dependent on someone is that if they keep proving trustworthy, a calm overwhelms you. Praise the God of the universe that knows my daily needs and meets them! Praise Him because He extends grace every day and continues to love me.
Learning list for the summer: read the bible in context of history with surrounding details, learn Spanish, read more about God, and trust Him.
My reading list is huge this summer, but I am really excited to see what God teaches me through this whole process. I still feel called to Bolivia. At this moment, I feel that the confirmation is in the fact that this particular ministry with BLESS is not at all what I view as "missions." If nothing else, God is teaching me that "God places His saints where they will bring the most glory to Him, and we are totally incapable of judging where that may be." - Oswald Chambers

Time in Life

Apparently every person goes through this season in life: Weddings. This summer, I was invited to seven! So, in addition to soaking up sun this summer, I have been traveling to witness and celebrate the union of many dear friends.
I love weddings, but at this point I am tried of the all consuming talk about the details. Still, I am encouraged that weddings still hold a lot of weight to the people. The personalized vows showed that each couple was indeed making a commitment for life! Hooray! In these moments, I believe in love for life.

Day one discipleshipe training

John 12:24-26

We must be so committed to living for Christ that we "hate" our lives by comparsion. This does not mean that we long to die or that we are careless or destructive with the life God has given, but that we are willing to die if doing so will glorify Christ. We must deny the tyrannical rule of our own self-centeredess. By laying aside our striving for advantage, security, and pleasure, we can serve God lovingly and freely. Releasing control of our lives and transferring control to Christ bring eternal life and genuine joy.
What I do in life is what God has placed in my heart to do as service to bring others to an understanding of Him. Nothing that I do makes me better than any one person. I live in joy supplied by Christ. I am called to love purely.

Micah 6:8

Funny Whole World Isn't It... Listen to new music

This last weekend, God gave me a chance to see what it looks like to live with no plan. Relaxed wisdom was spoken. The focus was on Christ, while the world spun crazily around. By day three, my heart was ready to hear anything that God wanted to say. Instead, God stood silent and I bowed. This is a time of learning and waiting. I have much to learn about God, hearing His voice and spiritual discernment.
To the best of my ability, I want to focus on God's grace and love. Then I won't get in the way of His interactions with my people. Because it was my self righteousness and refusing to be disillusioned with the world that took my life.
There is something to be gained from realizing how far we are from glory to understanding the depth of love and grace extended by Christ. I have no shore, no success, nor goal in sight, but simply have the absolute certainty that everything is all right because I see Him walking on the sea. Choosing to be present in the minute to minute, the moments become precious. Confidence is easy in this position of complete reliance. ... Well, when I submit and trust Him ;)

White Water

Call to me (God) and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearable things you do not know.

As the David crowder band plays Glorious in the background, I read past highlighten verses in my Bible.
I am encouraged by the faith people possessed in the new testament. They asked the Lord boldly for things in faith that He was able to heal, save, and comfort them. Matt 5:6, 6:26, 7:11, 8:2, 19:26
I am challenged to be bold for what I believe. Matt5:16, 5:44, 13:22, 28:18-20
I am advised that my focus is to be on Christ. Matt 6:24, 6:33, 16:24, 19:21, 22:37
And reminded of the love of God. Matt 9:35-38: Jesus went through all the towns and vilages, teahing in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field."
I pray for the day that there will be no longer violence, the day that people would hear His words and rest. Then we will glorify the one who is Great!

Tea Wisdom

There is no remedy for love but to love more. - Henry David Thoreau

A Rich Mullin's Journal Entry

Right now it is dusk and far in the east the sky is already being inked with the shadow that our earth makes of itself and some nearer stars are waking there. I am in a park in Indianapolis, and right now these great trees are casting no shadows; the greens of their leaves are holding the last rays of sun already set and the sky in the west is bright and turquoise and it shines like a semi-precious stone-- as if any stone could be "semi-precious."
And over all that I can see, over my motorcycle and the trunks and limbs of these hardwood giants, over this close-cut lawn and the now abandoned tennis courts and baseball diamonds, over the sky (still fading, still and newly exquisite) and over me, a great peace washes. It comes up from the ground and down from the heavens-- a deep peace breathed out by a universe that surrounds itself again to the embrace of its Creator-- its God, who is to be sought by His saints in the hours of early mornings but condescends to seek out even sinners at dusk and washes them at evening in the peace of His presence and throws round their shoulders the cloak of His acceptance and puts on their fingers the ring of His pleasure-- the pleasure He takes in them when He meets them here on the road even before they could get home, when He echoes is the evening the hymn He sang for them at dawn.

Encouragement for Graduating and Life

All I have seen touches me to trust the Creator for all I have not seen. - Ralph Waldo Emerson

God can do anything, you know- far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! Epesians 3:20 Dream big with God.

Have courage to be who you wan tot be, do what you want o to and live your life true to you.
Embrace the richness of life. Let your dreams touch the sky. love the rue and wonderful you. Experence the world with amazement. See the wisdom in others. Respect where you are and never forget where you've come from. There is nothing but success ahead.

Dwell in possibility... - emily dickinson

And in the end, it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years. - Abraham Lincoln

Continued Prayer Requests

My grandfather is scheduled to have surgery Wednesday.

Prayer Requests

Please Pray...
For my family as my grandpa prepares for surgery to place a feeding tube in his stomach.
For my grandmother as she makes decisions for my grandfather's health.
For good communication between everyone on my mother's side of the family as they discuss health care options for my grandparents.
For my mother as she provides home care for my grandfather- that God would protect her from injury and exhaustion both mentally and physically.
For my father as he continues to look for work.
For my brothers as they prepare for college- that they would both earn lots of money for school and that they would enjoy their summer break.
For my cousin that she would find a place to move to in town before she leaves for the Netherlands.
For myself- smooth transition and move into a new house come August, wisdom with continued education in Spanish- to take classes this summer or wait for fall, work- remember all that I need to know and that I would get enough hours to sustain me financially or that I would find a balance with other employment, missionary work- possible long term mission opportunity- that it would be God's timing and not just my desire to leave Eugene, iceaxemen- for continued relationship with the kids, schedule stress with dates weddings/ work/ school?
For my friends that they would continue to know and pursue knowledge of God

Playing in the Water

The weather here in Eugene has been amazing lately. To escape the heat, I began to explore all the surrounding water holes. My conclusion: Fern Ridge- Best for saling, Dorena Lake- Best for hanging out, Triangle Lake Sliding Rocks- Best local escape (Unfortunately also super crouded and the Lake has poor public access), Mckenzie River- always good times and super clean.

July 8th Oswald Chambers

A person's will is embodied in the actions of the whole person. I cannot give up my will- I must exercise it, putting it into action. I must will to obey, and I must will to receive God's Spirit. When God gives me a vision of the truth, there is never a question of what He will do, but only of what I will do. The Lord has been placing in front of each of us some big proposals and plans. The best thing to do is to remember what you did before when you were touched by God. Recall the moment when you were saved, or first recognized Jesus, or realized some truth. It was easy then to yield your allegiance to God. Immediately recall those moments each time the Spirit of God brings some new proposal before you.
"Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve.." Your choice must be a deliberate determination- it is not something into which you will automatically drift. And everything else in your life will be held in temporary suspension until you make a decision. The proposal is between you and God- do not "confer with flesh and blood" about it (Gal 1:16). With every new proposal, the people around us seem to become more and more isolated and that is where the tension develops. God allows the opinion of His other saints to matter to you, and yet you become less and less certain that others really understand the step you are taking. You have no business trying to find out where God is leading- the only thing God will explain to you is Himself.
Openly declare to Him, "I will be faithful." But remember that as soon as you choose to be faithful to Jesus Christ. "You witnesses against yourselves..." (Joshua 24:22). Don't consult with other Christians, but simply and freely declare before Him, "I will serve you." Will to be faithful- and give other people credit for being faithful too.

Sell'n out to the world, yet you never let go

You want things, but you do not have them. So you are ready to kill and are jealous of other people, but you still cannot get what you want. So you argue and fight. You do not get what you want, because you do not ask God. Or when you ask, you do not receive because the reason you ask is wrong. You want things so you can use them for your own pleasures. So, you are not loyal to God! You should know that loving the world is the same as hating God. Anyone who wants to be a friend of the world becomes God's enemy. James 4:2-4
I am sad and tired. Make me strong again as you have promised. Psalm 119:28
I love you, Lord. You are my strength. The Lord is my rock, my protection, my savior. My God is my rock. I can run to him for safety. He is my shield and my saving strength, my defender. I will call to the Lord, who is worthy of praise, and I will be saved from my enemies. Psalm 18:1-3

Sometimes I wish I didn't have such a guilty conscious. Then I could have cheated, pierced and tattooed my body, travelled more, kissed and not cared. So, God I question myself maybe for self-pitty, but more I think because I question what I missed. I want to live life with not regret, yet I sit here wallowing in memory. I tell myself that it is in the past, so forget and move on. I know I can't change the past, yet I wonder how much it would mess up my future if I... was a little more passionate/ crazy/ radical and didn't follow the game plan.
I really want to live in Mexico and learn Spanish.

Some pics from AK

Just keep blundering along

It is when I am exhausted mentally and spiritually that I find I lose my desire to live. I am sure those moments of stupidity didn't help in my resolution either though. When I focus on the good, I had an amazing weekend. So, I am trying not to be frustrated with the fact that I forgot the gift for my friend in another person's car, not be disappointed for being kicked out of a beach party, being a burden to my friends for forgetting my wallet in Corvallis after traveling to Eugene, and for not knowing that an ARRT certification is different than a State license. Humbled again I end up right on my face wondering if karma is real and that tomorrow will be better. But I really don't believe in karma, only that God will continue to watch out for this fool.

God thank you for your grace. Bless the people that helped me. Give me clarity of thought next time.

My weekend really was wonderful. I got to do lots of traveling and get out of Eugene. I was in Milwaukie visiting my friend Bryne and helping her with wedding stuff. Listened to some blues at the festival in Portland. Had a glorious pillow fight in Corvallis then went to the beach to swim, play in the sand, drink a beer at Rouge, and watch fireworks. Slackline in Corvallis, pick strawberries, learn to sail at Fern Ridge and west coast swing dance in Eugene all to complete the weekend with a long drive with a great friend. -Thanks Nathan you are wonderful!

I'm Back!

Thank you for all the prayers, words of encouragement and good times!
My vacation started a bit shaky as I forgot my cap and gown in Eugene. Luckly, I was able to get in touch with my land lady and she was able to pass the ceremonial costume on to Nick's mother so that I could use it in Klamath. And equally wonderful, I think that was the only potentially serious oops I had all vacation.
I had a wonderful time celebrating with family and friends in Klamath and Bend. Then I traveled to Alaska with my friend Nathan and we met up with our mutual friend Bekah. She was a wonderful tour guide and I feel like we experienced a lot of Alaska. We went salmon fishing, flying, ran, biked, hiked, kayaked, went to a concert and baseball game and of course ate amazing food. It was a wonderful time. (I will be attach pictures later.)
When I got back to Oregon, I visited my family in Waldport for our semi-annual family reunion. It was also a good time had eating and visiting and hiking.
Now, back in Eugene I am completing the LIST: job hunting, bills, cleaning, drug test/ HR paper work.
Enjoy the sunshine!

Fast and Faster

This year has flown by, and here I am preparing to take my ARRT registry exam. I have been applying to jobs in Oregon, Washington, Washington DC and Alaska. Graduation is this coming weekend. Then there is my trip to Alaska with friends and a perspective job interview. So, if you think of me at any point this week. Pray. Please pray that I keep my wits about me, I speak eloquently, and that I enjoy the moment. Thank you.

I can not stand still

My body has been the last thing that I have been able to control in these last couple months. And now it is broken. (Monday I ran 12 miles. Tuesday I had a MRI of my knee. The tech said I had a micro tear in my PCL and a stress fracture in my femur. The doc said I didn't tear my PCL. Friday I went swimming. Pain is something that I am use to but this has been different. This is me not trying to need surgery. Trying desperately not to be competitive.) My body has always been a weak point in my relationship with God. I always just wanted god to heal my injured body so that I could be strong and competitive. So, once again, right before my race, I am injured and God is saying "Why won't you give me complete control of your life? You have learned to trust me with your future - even though you desperately try to know and control it. Let me be in control of your body. I know the allergies, illness, and injury are all things you try to manage, but you do not have to be a martyr over your health." For it is God that wounds and God that heals (Deuteronomy 32:39).
God you have my attention. Still my mind cries out what have I done Lord to deserve these things? I am thankful that I was able to run and train to the extent that I did. But I want to still compete in the half marathon without injury. What do you want of me?
I give up my control of work, school, education, relationships, travel, and body. Is there anything else that you demand of me? May I not appear arrogant or insincere. I am just upset and desperate. I know I should run to you with all my concerns instead of doing it all on my own, till I fail. I know that time with you is better than anything that I can find here. I know that you, Lord, are seated high above the heavens, see all, know all and yet hear my prayer. I know that you comfort those in need, that you rescue and set free the captured. You set the path before my feet that I may not stumble.
Give me wisdom, keep my mind pure. I do not want to be bitter or have regret. I so not want to waste my time on the planet. I want to live passionately and ridiculously. So God here I am asking for you to speak.
"I want you to rely on me for everything."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SLeDySWGfOw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FY9m0uAPun0

Yesterday

I have been training now for a half marathon for three months. I feel prepared to race. all except for a nagging pain in my left knee and occasional numbness in my left lower leg. A preliminary MRI showed that I might have a stress fracture forming in my femur and a minor PCL tear. Today a doctor said that I didn't have a tear. Now, I am not sure what to believe. I know that it hurts more than normal, and I know I don't want to quit on my dream to race a half marathon. For now, I will take lots of acetaminophen and run shorter distances in hope that the pain will lessen. Pray that I truly am not injured and that God would protect my body.

May 22 -Oswald Chamers

"If you are going through a time of isolation, seemingly all alone, read John 17. It will explain exactly why you are where you are- because Jesus has prayed that you "may be one" with the Father as He is. Are you helping God to answer that prayer, or do you have some other goal for your life? Since you became a disciple, you cannot be as independent as you used to be.
"God reveals in John 17 that His purpose is not just to answer our prayers, but that through prayer we might come to discern His mind. Yet there is one prayer which God must answer, and that is the prayer of Jesuse- "... that they may be one just as We are one..." Are we as close to Jesus Christ as that?
"God is not concerned about our plans; He doesn't ask, "Do you want to go through this loss of a loved one, this difficulty, or this deaft?" No, He allows these things for His own purpose. The things we are going through are either making us sweeter, beter, and nobler men and women, or they are making us more critical and fault-finding, and more insistent on our own way. The things that happen either make us evil, or they make us more saintly, depending entirely on our relationship with God and its level of intimacy. If we will pray, regarding our own lives, "Your will be done" (Matthew 26:42), then we will be encouraged and comforted by John 17, knowing that our Father us working according to His own wisdom, accomplishing what is best. When we understand God's purpose, we will not become small-minded and cynical. Jesus prayed nothing less for us than absolute oneness with Himself, just as He was one with the Father. Some of us are far from this oneness; yet God will not leave us alone until we are one with Him- because Jesus prayed, "... that they all may be one...""

I am glad that God desires/loves me so much that He is willing to make me like Himself.
*Things that stood out to me while I read this morning.

God you are crazy

I found out last night that I need a suit for an upcoming interview. The next day my cousin happens to be going suit shopping with some friends. Amazingly, I am able to find a nice pant suit and blouse at Anne Taylor's for under $100 in two hours! Thank you God!

Recent Joys

I ran 4 miles in 30 minutes

Made my first tye dye t-shirt

Screen printed a pillow case

Recieved a graduation quilt

Ate an entire pint of Ben & Jerry's Fro Yo Cherry Garcia

Prepped a church for painting all before noon- Yep, I feel accomplished.

Refreshment

In times of chaos... Go to the campus fair, buy a beanie, listen to a'cappella, play a new game, attend the art walk, watch a dance performance, tye dye, rock climb and bike.... Oh, and then study like mad!

Post Graduation

Not many things are certain in life. For me the things that are, seem to already have dates attached. June 5th: my final day of extern. June 12th: I graduate college with my Bachelor of Science in Radiologic Sciences. June 15th: travel to Alaska to be with friends and explore/adventure.
Beyond these dates is when the uncertainty of the future resumes. In one frame of mind, I feel free to try new things and pursue education in Spanish, art, travel and perhaps a part time job. Then the responsible mind reminds me that money runs the world; and to pursue any of these options, I might as well use my degree to make some and afford next months rent.
Oh, The ball and chain that nails dreams to the ground. I wonder what will be the deciding factor that will pull me from this time spent languishing in a quandary of non-commitment.

Excerpt by Robert E. Coleman

We dare not obscure the altar of sacrifice, where consecration to God is complete. If we try to circumvent the cross, we assure our own ultimate defeat, for we cut the nerve of obedience and kill the lifestyle of the Great Commission. (Go, and make disciples of the nations. Jesus) No one will take seriously the command to make disciples who has not taken up the cross.
Strangely, today we hear little about self-denial and suffering in all the talk about church growth. Is this because most of what has been said to date has come out of the Western world, where affluence abounds and church affiliation is a mark of social acceptance, if not good politics? Unwittingly, I am afraid, Christian discipleship has often been squeezed into this world's mold, radical obedience. But it will not stand the test of time. When the standards of church membership are set by popular demand, eventually the church becomes so much like the world that there is no reason for the world to change. The very effort of the church to appease fleshly expectations makes her unattractive.
... To see significant growth, more likely than not we will need to go beyond the easygoing, self-indulgent religious life of the West. It is the church living under oppression and poverty, usually in underdeveloped countries of the world, where the most thrilling growth is happening today. I am not suggesting that all of these non-Western lands have vibrant churches, any more than that all congregations in the West lack vitality, but a general pattern can be observed. It is interesting, too, that for the most part, the people in these growing segments of the Third World Christian community have had little, if any, opportunity to receive extensive formal training or even attend a church-growth seminar. Obviously, sophisticated theological education, with all its assumed expertise in churchmanship, does not produce the lifestyle of Jesus.
Have the opulence and freedoms of the Western world, though wrought with great potential for good, lulled a complacent church into mediocrity? If that is the case, any circumstance that removes these artificial supports from us should be seen as an act of mercy. Our Lord is more interested in developing our character than in preserving our comfort. Whatever it takes, we must get back to basic Christianity, align our will with the way God has set for us, and move out to disciple the nations. In many instances, church membership standards must be raised, reflecting higher expectations of commitment and disciplined living. The congregation may be slow to understand, but those in positions of authority can lead the way for others to follow and show by their example what it means to be true witnesses of Christ.
Yet obedience alone can become brittle and weary in well-doing. There must be an inner dynamic motivating and empowering life with love, an actual partaking of the divine nature. To bring this truth into focus, one final principle must be stressed, apart from which everything else written thus far would be sounding brass and tinkling cymbal. (Without love I am only a resounding gong. Corinthians)

A lesson from the early apostolic church in christian history. Excerpt from The master plan of discipleship. I am sorry if this doesn't make much sense to some of you reading, but it is mainly a challenge to those that claim Christ as Lord of their lives.

Iceaxemen magazine

This month's articles are from thr Red Rocks trip. I am in two of the pictures at the end!http://iceaxemen.com/docs/IceaxemenMagazine.pdf

Oswald Chambers Devotion for the 20th

"Jesus' parable of the talents recorded in Matthew 25:14-30 was a warning that it is possible for us to misjudge our capacities. This parable has nothing to do with natural gifts and abilities, but relates to the gift of the Holy Spirit as He was first given at Pentecost. We must never measure our spiritual capacity on the basis of our education or our intellect; our capacity in spiritual things is measured on the basis of the promises of God. If we get less than God wants us to have, we will falsely accuse Him as the servant falsely accused his master when he said, "You expect more of me than you gave me the power to do. You demand too much of me, and I cannot stand true to you here where you have placed me."When it is a question of God's Almighty Spirit, never say, "I can't." Never allow the limitation of your own natural ability to enter into the matter. If we have received the Holy Spirit, God expects the work of the Holy Spirit to be exhibited in us.
"The servant justified himself, while condemning his lord on every point, as if to say, "Your demand on me is way out of proportion to what you gave to me." Have we been falsely accusing God by daring to worry after He has said, "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you"? (Matt 6:33). Worrying means exactly what this servant implied- "I know your intent is to leave me unprotected and vulnerable." A person who is lazy in the natural realm is always critical, saying, "I haven't had a decent chance," and someone who is lazy in the spiritual realm is critical of God. Lazy people always strike out at others in an independent way.
"Never forget that our capacity and capability in spiritual matters is measured by, and based on, the promises of God. Is God able to fulfill His promises? Our answer depends on Whether or not we have received the Holy Spirit."

What am I doing with my Spiritual giftings?

Will Not The Judge Of All Do Right? Gen 18:16-33

Abraham has no problem with God judging peoples sin. His concern in these verses is that God judge the righteous and unrighteous the same.
In revelation we are told that God with judge. He will judge the unbelievers by their every deed, careless word, secret thing without partiality. He will also judge the believers, but for their life stewardship. -Basically what one did with his/her spiritual gifts.
Gods wrath is certain and his judgement is absolutely final. 2 Peter 3:8-13
Thankfully God does not want anyone to go to hell. Thankfully he is fair and has amazing grace.
John 3:16

Hope Has a Reason- Becky Pippert
"Think how we feel when we see someone we love ravagged by unwise actions or relationships. Do we respond with beingn tolerance as we might toward a stranger? Far from it... Anger isn't the opposite of love, hate is, and the final form of hate is indifference.If I, a flawed narcissistic sinful woman, can feel this much pain and anger over someone's condition, how much more a morally perfect God who made them? God's wrath is not a cranky explosion, but his settled opposition to the cancer of sin which is eating out the insides of the human race he loves with his whole being."

Adventures of Recent History