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/