I took over this project for someone in my office. It was working on coordination plans for a rather large office building. Coordination plans are when you stick all the HVAC duct, equiptment, and registers on one drawing along with the lights and sprinkler pipes and whatever else might be in the ceiling (like smoke detectors, fire alarms, projectors...etc.). Then you look around the drawing to see what sort of mistakes you can find (like a sprinkler on a light or a register over a light or a sprinkler pipe running through a duct...). So you mark all of those down and circle them on the drawing (this might give you a picture of how messy these drawings are with everything on them, you can't see the circles normally because they blend in with everything else, you can get a little cross eyed sometimes staring at the drawing). Then after you have circled everything you see, you get to pull out the ceiling plan and roof plan and figure out how much space is actually in the ceiling and if you have too much stuff jammmed up them (example: a 12 inch duct running over a 6 inch light in only 12 inches of clearance... there is a problem there and it is my job to find it). It gets a little bit tricky when the roof is sloped and you have to figure out the pitches of the roof, but I really enjoyed it. I worked on this project for over 48 hours, two weeks ago. I found 107 errors in the drawing (or as we call them, possible conflicts).
So the guy I was doing them for, because he is so busy with other work, went down to take these drawings to the owner and builder in Tennessee. They were looking over the drawings and commented about how nice they looked and how impressed they were with all the different conflicts we found (because it is better to know that there are problems now before the building is built).
The guy I was doing them for says, "Well, I couldn't have done them without Faith."
Of course he knew he meant me and so did one of the other guys who works with me, but everyone else in the room got really quiet and just looked at him very oddly, like what do we say to that?
Then the other guy who went down there says, "That is our summer mechanical intern."
heh. My name is quite a amusing.
Monday, August 13, 2007
Mom,
I am making seven layer (or about that many layers) mexican dip for work my last day. So we need to get together and plan that some time when your businessness dies down a bit. haha. Anyhow, this is more a reminder to myself.
Also, I am getting off at three, going home, gathering up my stuff, meeting Sarah there, and we will head down to the Taylors to meet you all. Looking forward to good food and fellowship. :D I can't wait.
Faith
I am making seven layer (or about that many layers) mexican dip for work my last day. So we need to get together and plan that some time when your businessness dies down a bit. haha. Anyhow, this is more a reminder to myself.
Also, I am getting off at three, going home, gathering up my stuff, meeting Sarah there, and we will head down to the Taylors to meet you all. Looking forward to good food and fellowship. :D I can't wait.
Faith
Saturday, August 11, 2007
"Stop the press,
hold the news,
the secret's safe between me and you..."
Heh. I don't know why that song popped into my head. In today's new: My cat is in quarantine at the humane society. They are rethinking the case and will let us know by the end of next week. Really the easiest thing for me to do right now is pretend she is dead. That way if she does get released then I have a nice surprise, but if not then I am not devastated again. So basically my cat's life is in limbo right now. She is stuck in a room full of kittens. I bet she is hating it.
Oh, and Luke's cat is still alive as well. They are both waiting to see the vet this coming week. So both of our cats are waiting around in cages to either live or die. What a crazy week. We'll see what happens...
hold the news,
the secret's safe between me and you..."
Heh. I don't know why that song popped into my head. In today's new: My cat is in quarantine at the humane society. They are rethinking the case and will let us know by the end of next week. Really the easiest thing for me to do right now is pretend she is dead. That way if she does get released then I have a nice surprise, but if not then I am not devastated again. So basically my cat's life is in limbo right now. She is stuck in a room full of kittens. I bet she is hating it.
Oh, and Luke's cat is still alive as well. They are both waiting to see the vet this coming week. So both of our cats are waiting around in cages to either live or die. What a crazy week. We'll see what happens...
Friday, August 10, 2007
I thought my cat and I would get old together and I would come back home someday and she would be dead. But as of Monday I have to have my cat killed because my brothers cat killed a bat and when my Mom took it to get tested the tests were inconclusive. So my wonderful cat, which I have had since I was 8 (September of 1994), my beautiful calico, one of a kind, comes when you are crying and tries to cheer you up, has to die. How tragic is that? She has done nothing wrong. I think I will go cry again now. I really can't believe this.
Goodbye my best furry friend.
Pets sure are a blessing from God. They cheer you up when you are sad. Marble had this funny way of whenever people would be crying, she would go stick her face in their face and just start purring. And she would stay there until you stopped. She'd let you hug her or pet her or do anything when she knew you were sad. It was sort of strange because most people know her as a very stuck-up cat and she normally is. But there is something about crying people that she always went to comfort. At least I can still look back and remember how great she was. I feel really silly getting this upset over my cat. I mean, it is just an animal. But she's been such a part of my life for so long now. I don't know it is weird. I think it is the shock of it all that bothers me.
Goodbye my best furry friend.
Pets sure are a blessing from God. They cheer you up when you are sad. Marble had this funny way of whenever people would be crying, she would go stick her face in their face and just start purring. And she would stay there until you stopped. She'd let you hug her or pet her or do anything when she knew you were sad. It was sort of strange because most people know her as a very stuck-up cat and she normally is. But there is something about crying people that she always went to comfort. At least I can still look back and remember how great she was. I feel really silly getting this upset over my cat. I mean, it is just an animal. But she's been such a part of my life for so long now. I don't know it is weird. I think it is the shock of it all that bothers me.
Thursday, August 09, 2007
This passage is so rich!
First, it starts by telling us to rejoice and then reminds us again to rejoice. I wonder why that is? Maybe because it is so hard for us to rejoice. And if you notice it doesn't say, rejoice when you feel good or rejoice when things are going your way. Ouch. So we are supposed to rejoice in the Lord always! That means that our joy isn't to be found in anything else. I have really been missing this point lately. If my joy was only found in Christ, then I could rejoice even when things didn't seem to be going my way. I just wanted to remind you all to take time to rejoice today. What a great thing that we can rejoice in our Savior. He has purchased us with his blood and presents our souls spotless before God.
Second, do not be anxious about anything... not just the things you don't think you can handle, nothing!! Ha. I love this passage. This is one of those passages that we should be writing on our doorpost. :D It goes along with the rejoicing part. I mean, if our focus is right on God and his will, then we won't be anxious about anything.
Third, I love verse 8! It is beautiful. And I have to get back to work. Otherwise, I would talk about this passage more. I love the book of Phillipians.
Phillipians 4:4-8
4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice.
5 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand;
6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
8 Finally, brothers,
whatever is true,
whatever is honorable,
whatever is just,
whatever is pure,
whatever is lovely,
whatever is commendable,
if there is any excellence,
if there is anything worthy of praise,
think about these things.
First, it starts by telling us to rejoice and then reminds us again to rejoice. I wonder why that is? Maybe because it is so hard for us to rejoice. And if you notice it doesn't say, rejoice when you feel good or rejoice when things are going your way. Ouch. So we are supposed to rejoice in the Lord always! That means that our joy isn't to be found in anything else. I have really been missing this point lately. If my joy was only found in Christ, then I could rejoice even when things didn't seem to be going my way. I just wanted to remind you all to take time to rejoice today. What a great thing that we can rejoice in our Savior. He has purchased us with his blood and presents our souls spotless before God.
Second, do not be anxious about anything... not just the things you don't think you can handle, nothing!! Ha. I love this passage. This is one of those passages that we should be writing on our doorpost. :D It goes along with the rejoicing part. I mean, if our focus is right on God and his will, then we won't be anxious about anything.
Third, I love verse 8! It is beautiful. And I have to get back to work. Otherwise, I would talk about this passage more. I love the book of Phillipians.
Phillipians 4:4-8
4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice.
5 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand;
6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
8 Finally, brothers,
whatever is true,
whatever is honorable,
whatever is just,
whatever is pure,
whatever is lovely,
whatever is commendable,
if there is any excellence,
if there is anything worthy of praise,
think about these things.
Wednesday, August 08, 2007
In case you all were forgetting what I wanted as a graduation present, here is a quick reminder. :D
BMW - More remembered than seen.
These are pictures of the 2008 new 1 series and the 2007 Z4 M coupe. I think they are absolutely beautiful! The top one is my desktop at work and the bottom one will be my desktop on my laptop at home, since it is widescreen.
It is a very odd sensation to have the tips of your fingers feeling buised and sore. I didn't realize how sore they were until I started typing up a field report today at work. I never realized that playing the guitar would take so much bodily pain. haha. Other than that, I love my new hobby. It is just strange to me how odd it is to have the tips of your fingers be sore. My songs are actually starting to sound like songs and not just strummed chords(to me at least). I love playing the songs that I have heard for so long. It is fun to sing along with an instument. :D
Will I keep it up?
You can make your bets now.
Note to self: I still need to buy a real case so I can tote it around. Time is running out before I leave for school. I should work on that.
P.S. It is really cold at work today. I should have brought a jacket.
Will I keep it up?
You can make your bets now.
Note to self: I still need to buy a real case so I can tote it around. Time is running out before I leave for school. I should work on that.
P.S. It is really cold at work today. I should have brought a jacket.
Tuesday, August 07, 2007
Psalm 73:22-26
22 I was senseless and ignorant;
I was a brute beast before you.
23 Yet I am always with you;
you hold me by my right hand.
24 You guide me with your counsel,
and afterward you will take me into glory.
25 Whom have I in heaven but you?
And earth has nothing I desire besides you.
26 My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strength of my heart
and my portion forever.
22 I was senseless and ignorant;
I was a brute beast before you.
23 Yet I am always with you;
you hold me by my right hand.
24 You guide me with your counsel,
and afterward you will take me into glory.
25 Whom have I in heaven but you?
And earth has nothing I desire besides you.
26 My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strength of my heart
and my portion forever.
How easily we forget the law of God. It is no wonder that God said to talk about them all the time and impress them on your mind and write them on your doorframe. I figured I might as well write it on my blog as well. heh.
Deuteronomy 6:4-9
Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one.
Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.
These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts.
Impress them on your children.
Talk about them when you sit at home
and when you walk along the road,
when you lie down
and when you get up.
Tie them as symbols on your hands
and bind them on your foreheads.
Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.
Deuteronomy 6:4-9
Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one.
Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.
These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts.
Impress them on your children.
Talk about them when you sit at home
and when you walk along the road,
when you lie down
and when you get up.
Tie them as symbols on your hands
and bind them on your foreheads.
Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.
Monday, August 06, 2007
Thursday, July 26, 2007
*This is a journal entry that I typed up the other day. I was going to trim it up and add to it, but I have run out of time before I leave. So read if you want. It is just some rough thoughts about life and God and being still. I would say that I will add to it later or expand upon certain parts, but I doubt I will find the time. So her is a raw journal entry.*
Some observations from sitting and being still. Tuesday, I went to the eye doctor. First of all I have to say that I love my eye doctor! She is the sweetest woman in the world. She remembers all of my family and pulls out all sorts of questions about them and what they are doing. It is amazing. She only works part time now because she has two children. Plus she is absolutely adorable! Anyhow, that aside. I was about to talk about something else.
So they take you back to the exam room and the nurse/aid person tests your eyes and puts in the numbing drops and then the ones that make your pupils really big. Then they leave you so that your eyes will open up. So here you are sitting in a dark room and they have taken your contacts and glasses; so you are completely blind and can't really read anything because your eyes feel all weird and numb. What else is there to do but start thinking. And since I am not in school, I don't have schoolwork to think about. And since I was doing electrical drawings at work and I don't know very much about electrical, I couldn't think about that too long.
Sometimes you have to be forced to stop living your busy little life for a while and sit and think about God and His great goodness in your life and how everything you see is so skewed by way you want and your desires. When you start to think about it, you are so small and God is so big. When you are quiet you give God a chance to speak instead of you speaking all the time. I mean even when we pray, WE pray. When we read the Bible, WE read the Bible and think about it. Sometimes we need to just be quiet and still before the Lord.
He has to take us out of the busiest of life and put us in a place where we can only focus on Him. It is an amazing place to be. It is awesome to experience the way that he strips away everything that clutters up our lives and brings our focus back to what it needs to be on. I'm not saying that it doesn't hurt to have all that we love and have held on to taken away from us (normally torn away because we won't let go). But taking the time to look back on it all, God does what is best. He gives us second and third and fourth chances. It is like we were too busy for him before because we were trying to do everything on our own. And he keeps reminding us what we are supposed to be doing, but we say, "later, we are busy now." So he keeps reminding us and when we don't listen he starts taking away our distractions until we have to focus on him.
He also puts us in places that we have to depend on him. I have never had to say that before. I have always been able to handle my life. I have always been in control and have been able to make everything look great and be great. Not to say that I didn't rely on God for things, but it wasn't anything that I couldn't do myself. So my ego kept getting bigger and bigger. I kept thinking more and more about myself and how great my life was the way I was running it and less and less about what God really wanted. I asked him, but then I did what I thought was right and asked for his blessing on my plans. Funny how he takes away everything that you depend on and leaves you in a place where you have to be on your face before him. You don't look so big anymore when your plans and life are lying shattered in pieces on the ground.
I wonder what it is about life that we don't grow as much when times are good. You think we could learn. But no, we learn through the trials, we learn through failures, and we learn by never being good enough. I just have to remind myself of that all the time. I will never be good enough! It is when we see that we have no strength of our own that we have to go to God to survive. It is then that we see how wicked and small we are. It is then that God has a chance to work with us. To refine us to be what he wants us to be.
It is a wonder that he loves us enough to keep coming after us. You think he'd give us after a while. How many times can a person stray away? But after these trials are finished and life is good again, won't we all go back to our ways of trusting in our own strength? It may not be as fast as last time or maybe not as much. But we will. Even while we keep our focus on God. There is just something glorious about having everything taken away from you. It is a wonderful thing to have a God that cares that much about his people.
I can see God's hand in my life. I can see that he is guiding me to be what he wants me to be. I can see that he is making me more like him. He is strengthening my trust in him. He is teaching me that I am nothing on my own; that I am not as good as I thought. That I am nothing. That he is everything. And that that will never change. So I praise him for the trials. I praise him for the hard times. I praise him for giving me chance after chance to be more like him.
If he had to take away everything that I loved too much, then so be it. It is for my good and his glory. If I am not willing to give up things for him, then that thing is an idol. Praise God for taking away the idols in my life. May I continue to learn to trust in and rely on him for everything that I have and will ever have. I am not good enough to do anything myself.
So while I was sitting in that dark quiet room, it was almost like God said, do you see now why this has happened? Do you see why I took so many things out of your life? You will never be perfect. You can't be perfect on your own. You can't run your life on your own. You can't even run a bit of it. You need me for everything that you have. It was a great reminder of how not wonderful I am and how great God is. It was an amazing trip to the eye doctor. She apologized for making me wait so long. I laughed and thanked her for the time to think.
This all said, my eyes haven't changed a bit in three years... Guess what that means? I am a perfect candidate for lasik surgery, not that I wasn't before, but now I am even more perfect! ha. Yes, I am thinking about treating myself to either a Christmas present or a graduation present next year. :) If I did my eyes at Christmas, then I could still buy that bmw for my graduation present. haha. Anyhow, we shall see about the eyes. I really want to have them fixed. How cool would it be to not be blind in the morning. I would save so much money on contacts and glasses, not to mention the time that it takes to clean them and put them in and out. Man, it would be awesome!
Some observations from sitting and being still. Tuesday, I went to the eye doctor. First of all I have to say that I love my eye doctor! She is the sweetest woman in the world. She remembers all of my family and pulls out all sorts of questions about them and what they are doing. It is amazing. She only works part time now because she has two children. Plus she is absolutely adorable! Anyhow, that aside. I was about to talk about something else.
So they take you back to the exam room and the nurse/aid person tests your eyes and puts in the numbing drops and then the ones that make your pupils really big. Then they leave you so that your eyes will open up. So here you are sitting in a dark room and they have taken your contacts and glasses; so you are completely blind and can't really read anything because your eyes feel all weird and numb. What else is there to do but start thinking. And since I am not in school, I don't have schoolwork to think about. And since I was doing electrical drawings at work and I don't know very much about electrical, I couldn't think about that too long.
Sometimes you have to be forced to stop living your busy little life for a while and sit and think about God and His great goodness in your life and how everything you see is so skewed by way you want and your desires. When you start to think about it, you are so small and God is so big. When you are quiet you give God a chance to speak instead of you speaking all the time. I mean even when we pray, WE pray. When we read the Bible, WE read the Bible and think about it. Sometimes we need to just be quiet and still before the Lord.
He has to take us out of the busiest of life and put us in a place where we can only focus on Him. It is an amazing place to be. It is awesome to experience the way that he strips away everything that clutters up our lives and brings our focus back to what it needs to be on. I'm not saying that it doesn't hurt to have all that we love and have held on to taken away from us (normally torn away because we won't let go). But taking the time to look back on it all, God does what is best. He gives us second and third and fourth chances. It is like we were too busy for him before because we were trying to do everything on our own. And he keeps reminding us what we are supposed to be doing, but we say, "later, we are busy now." So he keeps reminding us and when we don't listen he starts taking away our distractions until we have to focus on him.
He also puts us in places that we have to depend on him. I have never had to say that before. I have always been able to handle my life. I have always been in control and have been able to make everything look great and be great. Not to say that I didn't rely on God for things, but it wasn't anything that I couldn't do myself. So my ego kept getting bigger and bigger. I kept thinking more and more about myself and how great my life was the way I was running it and less and less about what God really wanted. I asked him, but then I did what I thought was right and asked for his blessing on my plans. Funny how he takes away everything that you depend on and leaves you in a place where you have to be on your face before him. You don't look so big anymore when your plans and life are lying shattered in pieces on the ground.
I wonder what it is about life that we don't grow as much when times are good. You think we could learn. But no, we learn through the trials, we learn through failures, and we learn by never being good enough. I just have to remind myself of that all the time. I will never be good enough! It is when we see that we have no strength of our own that we have to go to God to survive. It is then that we see how wicked and small we are. It is then that God has a chance to work with us. To refine us to be what he wants us to be.
It is a wonder that he loves us enough to keep coming after us. You think he'd give us after a while. How many times can a person stray away? But after these trials are finished and life is good again, won't we all go back to our ways of trusting in our own strength? It may not be as fast as last time or maybe not as much. But we will. Even while we keep our focus on God. There is just something glorious about having everything taken away from you. It is a wonderful thing to have a God that cares that much about his people.
I can see God's hand in my life. I can see that he is guiding me to be what he wants me to be. I can see that he is making me more like him. He is strengthening my trust in him. He is teaching me that I am nothing on my own; that I am not as good as I thought. That I am nothing. That he is everything. And that that will never change. So I praise him for the trials. I praise him for the hard times. I praise him for giving me chance after chance to be more like him.
If he had to take away everything that I loved too much, then so be it. It is for my good and his glory. If I am not willing to give up things for him, then that thing is an idol. Praise God for taking away the idols in my life. May I continue to learn to trust in and rely on him for everything that I have and will ever have. I am not good enough to do anything myself.
So while I was sitting in that dark quiet room, it was almost like God said, do you see now why this has happened? Do you see why I took so many things out of your life? You will never be perfect. You can't be perfect on your own. You can't run your life on your own. You can't even run a bit of it. You need me for everything that you have. It was a great reminder of how not wonderful I am and how great God is. It was an amazing trip to the eye doctor. She apologized for making me wait so long. I laughed and thanked her for the time to think.
This all said, my eyes haven't changed a bit in three years... Guess what that means? I am a perfect candidate for lasik surgery, not that I wasn't before, but now I am even more perfect! ha. Yes, I am thinking about treating myself to either a Christmas present or a graduation present next year. :) If I did my eyes at Christmas, then I could still buy that bmw for my graduation present. haha. Anyhow, we shall see about the eyes. I really want to have them fixed. How cool would it be to not be blind in the morning. I would save so much money on contacts and glasses, not to mention the time that it takes to clean them and put them in and out. Man, it would be awesome!
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
I heard this song on the radio today and I thought I would post it until I get around to finishing writing the post I have been meaning to write for a while. There just isn't enough time to do everything I want. I hadn't heard this song before, but I think it is incredible and it rather goes along with my coming post nicely. I hope this can be my prayer for my entire life.
I can count a million times
People asking me how I
Can praise You with all that I've gone through
The question just amazes me
Can circumstances possibly
Change who I forever am in You
Maybe since my life was changed
Long before these rainy days
It's never really ever crossed my mind
To turn my back on you, oh Lord
My only shelter from the storm
But instead I draw closer through these times
So I pray
Bring me joy, bring me peace
Bring the chance to be free
Bring me anything that brings You glory
And I know there'll be days
When this life brings me pain
But if that's what it takes to praise You
Jesus, bring the rain
I am Yours regardless of
The dark clouds that may loom above
Because You are much greater than my pain
You who made a way for me
By suffering Your destiny
So tell me what's a little rain
So I pray
Bring me joy, bring me peace
Bring the chance to be free
Bring me anything that brings You glory
And I know there'll be days
When this life brings me pain
But if that's what it takes to praise You
Jesus, bring the rain
Holy, holy, holy
Holy, holy, holy
Is the Lord God Almighty
Is the Lord God Almighty
-Mercy Me
People asking me how I
Can praise You with all that I've gone through
The question just amazes me
Can circumstances possibly
Change who I forever am in You
Maybe since my life was changed
Long before these rainy days
It's never really ever crossed my mind
To turn my back on you, oh Lord
My only shelter from the storm
But instead I draw closer through these times
So I pray
Bring me joy, bring me peace
Bring the chance to be free
Bring me anything that brings You glory
And I know there'll be days
When this life brings me pain
But if that's what it takes to praise You
Jesus, bring the rain
I am Yours regardless of
The dark clouds that may loom above
Because You are much greater than my pain
You who made a way for me
By suffering Your destiny
So tell me what's a little rain
So I pray
Bring me joy, bring me peace
Bring the chance to be free
Bring me anything that brings You glory
And I know there'll be days
When this life brings me pain
But if that's what it takes to praise You
Jesus, bring the rain
Holy, holy, holy
Holy, holy, holy
Is the Lord God Almighty
Is the Lord God Almighty
-Mercy Me
Monday, July 23, 2007
Waiting Room
Shane and Shane
I will run when I cannot walk
I will sing when there is no song
I will pray when there is no prayer
I will listen when I cannot hear
sitting in the waiting room of silence
waiting for that still soft voice I know
offering my words up to the rooftop to Your heart
trusting that this closet's where You are
Lord I know if I change my mind
You will change my heart in time
Sovereign Lord this time's from You
so I sit in the waiting room of silence
cause its all about You
I will fight when I cannot feel
I will trust when You don't seem real
I will tell when I cannot speak
I will step when I cannot see
Shane and Shane
I will run when I cannot walk
I will sing when there is no song
I will pray when there is no prayer
I will listen when I cannot hear
sitting in the waiting room of silence
waiting for that still soft voice I know
offering my words up to the rooftop to Your heart
trusting that this closet's where You are
Lord I know if I change my mind
You will change my heart in time
Sovereign Lord this time's from You
so I sit in the waiting room of silence
cause its all about You
I will fight when I cannot feel
I will trust when You don't seem real
I will tell when I cannot speak
I will step when I cannot see
Deuteronomy 4:32-40
32 Ask now about the former days, long before your time, from the day God created man on the earth; ask from one end of the heavens to the other. Has anything so great as this ever happened, or has anything like it ever been heard of? 33 Has any other people heard the voice of God speaking out of fire, as you have, and lived? 34 Has any god ever tried to take for himself one nation out of another nation, by testings, by miraculous signs and wonders, by war, by a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, or by great and awesome deeds, like all the things the LORD your God did for you in Egypt before your very eyes?
35 You were shown these things so that you might know that the LORD is God; besides him there is no other. 36 From heaven he made you hear his voice to discipline you. On earth he showed you his great fire, and you heard his words from out of the fire. 37 Because he loved your forefathers and chose their descendants after them, he brought you out of Egypt by his Presence and his great strength, 38 to drive out before you nations greater and stronger than you and to bring you into their land to give it to you for your inheritance, as it is today.
39 Acknowledge and take to heart this day that the LORD is God in heaven above and on the earth below. There is no other. 40 Keep his decrees and commands, which I am giving you today, so that it may go well with you and your children after you and that you may live long in the land the LORD your God gives you for all time.
32 Ask now about the former days, long before your time, from the day God created man on the earth; ask from one end of the heavens to the other. Has anything so great as this ever happened, or has anything like it ever been heard of? 33 Has any other people heard the voice of God speaking out of fire, as you have, and lived? 34 Has any god ever tried to take for himself one nation out of another nation, by testings, by miraculous signs and wonders, by war, by a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, or by great and awesome deeds, like all the things the LORD your God did for you in Egypt before your very eyes?
35 You were shown these things so that you might know that the LORD is God; besides him there is no other. 36 From heaven he made you hear his voice to discipline you. On earth he showed you his great fire, and you heard his words from out of the fire. 37 Because he loved your forefathers and chose their descendants after them, he brought you out of Egypt by his Presence and his great strength, 38 to drive out before you nations greater and stronger than you and to bring you into their land to give it to you for your inheritance, as it is today.
39 Acknowledge and take to heart this day that the LORD is God in heaven above and on the earth below. There is no other. 40 Keep his decrees and commands, which I am giving you today, so that it may go well with you and your children after you and that you may live long in the land the LORD your God gives you for all time.
Saturday, July 21, 2007
I discovered today that Sherlock Holmes is mentioned in the Chronicles of Narnia. It made me love the books even more. How wonderful! My favorite detective mentioned in my favorite children's series. I love Sherlock Holmes (I own the entire collection of his stories, thanks to Hayley, and various books of his by themselves). Anyhow, I started the Magician's Nephew today and in the first sentance in the second paragraph it says, "In those days Sherlock Holmes was still living in Baker Street..." I was so excited that I had to post about it on my blog. Sherlock Holmes meets Narnia! How perfect.
Oh and the second thing I wanted to mention about Narnia or C.S. Lewis is the great use of the word Beastly. I think that is a perfectly wonderful word. You can say, "I feel perfectly beastly today." or "That was a perfectly beastly thing to do." Isn't it great?!?
Let me give you a good example of that word in real life... It was perfectly beastly luck that I sat on Anna's computer and cracked the screen. Now I will have to pay for it. I should have just stuck to reading books in my room and not sitting on laptops without thinking.
Reading is a true blessing!
Oh and the second thing I wanted to mention about Narnia or C.S. Lewis is the great use of the word Beastly. I think that is a perfectly wonderful word. You can say, "I feel perfectly beastly today." or "That was a perfectly beastly thing to do." Isn't it great?!?
Let me give you a good example of that word in real life... It was perfectly beastly luck that I sat on Anna's computer and cracked the screen. Now I will have to pay for it. I should have just stuck to reading books in my room and not sitting on laptops without thinking.
Reading is a true blessing!
Thursday, July 19, 2007
Becoming Undragoned
I like the Chronicles of Narnia. I was found the story of Eustace Scrubb, becoming a dragon and then having his scales removed, interesting. I read an article about his story today. I have included a quote from it. The whole article is worth reading; I like the way it describes what the story is saying. So, here is just a bit to get you started thinking about his story. I think I may have to go reread these wonderful books again! There is so much goodness in them.
I like the Chronicles of Narnia. I was found the story of Eustace Scrubb, becoming a dragon and then having his scales removed, interesting. I read an article about his story today. I have included a quote from it. The whole article is worth reading; I like the way it describes what the story is saying. So, here is just a bit to get you started thinking about his story. I think I may have to go reread these wonderful books again! There is so much goodness in them.
Part of conversion is recognizing our own powerlessness to change ourselves. We must surrender. The change begins in a moment but we choose it again and again for the rest of our lives. Our ongoing surrender to grace is a slow walk — more turtle than hare. We are nudged along this difficult and discouraging path by hope, just like Eustace, who was always just "beginning to change."
"It would be nice and fairly nearly true to say that "from that time forth Eustace was a different boy." To be strictly accurate, he began to be a different boy. He had relapses. There were still many days when he could be very tiresome. But most of those I shall not notice. The cure had begun."- C.S. Lewis
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
I found the sheet music to my favorite igrace hymn. I just need to find a keyboard or piano and I can sing it to my hearts content. Or maybe I will pick up guitar just so I can sing along with my favorite hymns.
O Love that Wilt Not Let Me Go
Sheet Music
O Love that wilt not let me go,
I rest my weary soul in thee;
I give thee back the life I owe,
That in thine ocean depths its flow
May richer, fuller be.
O light that followest all my way,
I yield my flickering torch to thee;
My heart restores its borrowed ray,
That in thy sunshine’s blaze its day
May brighter, fairer be.
O Joy that seekest me through pain,
I cannot close my heart to thee;
I trace the rainbow through the rain,
And feel the promise is not vain,
That morn shall tearless be.
O Cross that liftest up my head,
I dare not ask to fly from thee;
I lay in dust life’s glory dead,
And from the ground there blossoms red
Life that shall endless be.
O Love that Wilt Not Let Me Go
Sheet Music
O Love that wilt not let me go,
I rest my weary soul in thee;
I give thee back the life I owe,
That in thine ocean depths its flow
May richer, fuller be.
O light that followest all my way,
I yield my flickering torch to thee;
My heart restores its borrowed ray,
That in thy sunshine’s blaze its day
May brighter, fairer be.
O Joy that seekest me through pain,
I cannot close my heart to thee;
I trace the rainbow through the rain,
And feel the promise is not vain,
That morn shall tearless be.
O Cross that liftest up my head,
I dare not ask to fly from thee;
I lay in dust life’s glory dead,
And from the ground there blossoms red
Life that shall endless be.
**Meadows got me hooked on Derek Webb. She gave me a couple songs for my birthday and I ended up going out and buying all of his cds. The only problem with him is that all his music starts to sound the same after a while. So you can only listen to him for so long. But I don't listen to him for the music, I listen for the words. His words are incredible and very thought provoking. I like that. Another problem is that you can't really use him as background noise at work (well, I don't know if that is a problem). But you have to listen hard to hear and understand the words of his songs. So enjoy a little Derek Webb. Be convicted! Be changed.
I Repent
Derek Webb
I repent of my pursuit of America's dream
I repent of living like I deserve anything
my house, my fence, my kids, and my wife
In our suburb where we're safe and white
I am wrong and of these things I repent
I repent of parading my liberty
I repent of paying for what I get for free
the way I believe that I am living right
by trading sins for others that are easier to hide
I am wrong and of these things I repent
I repent judging by a law that even I can't keep
wearing righteousness like a disguise to see through
the planks in my own eyes
I repent of trading truth for false unity
I repent of confusing peace and idolatry
of caring more of what they think than what I know of what they need
and domesticating You until You look just like me
I am wrong and of these things I repent
I Repent
Derek Webb
I repent of my pursuit of America's dream
I repent of living like I deserve anything
my house, my fence, my kids, and my wife
In our suburb where we're safe and white
I am wrong and of these things I repent
I repent of parading my liberty
I repent of paying for what I get for free
the way I believe that I am living right
by trading sins for others that are easier to hide
I am wrong and of these things I repent
I repent judging by a law that even I can't keep
wearing righteousness like a disguise to see through
the planks in my own eyes
I repent of trading truth for false unity
I repent of confusing peace and idolatry
of caring more of what they think than what I know of what they need
and domesticating You until You look just like me
I am wrong and of these things I repent
Monday, July 16, 2007
More Shane and Shane goodness...
when i think about the Lord
how He saved, how He raised me
how He filled me with the Holy Ghost
how He healed me to the uttermost
when i think about the Lord
how He picked me up
turned me around
how He set my feet
on solid ground
it makes me want to shout
hallelujah! thank you, Jesus!
Lord, you're worthy
of all the glory, and all the honor
and all the praise!
Hallelujah! thank you, Jesus!
Lord, you're worthy
of all the glory, and all the honor
and all the praise!
(ephesians 2:4-7, 2 corinthians 5:17)
when i think about the Lord
how He saved, how He raised me
how He filled me with the Holy Ghost
how He healed me to the uttermost
when i think about the Lord
how He picked me up
turned me around
how He set my feet
on solid ground
it makes me want to shout
hallelujah! thank you, Jesus!
Lord, you're worthy
of all the glory, and all the honor
and all the praise!
Hallelujah! thank you, Jesus!
Lord, you're worthy
of all the glory, and all the honor
and all the praise!
(ephesians 2:4-7, 2 corinthians 5:17)
Galations 3:10-14
10For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, "Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them." 11Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for "The righteous shall live by faith." 12But the law is not of faith, rather "The one who does them shall live by them."
13Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us--for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree"-- 14so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith.
Galations 4:1-7
1I mean that the heir, as long as he is a child, is no different from a slave, though he is the owner of everything, 2but he is under guardians and managers until the date set by his father. 3In the same way we also, when we were children, were enslaved to the elementary principles of the world.
4But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, 5to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. 6And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, "Abba! Father!"
7 So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.
Just a few verses to start your day. Shane and Shane got me thinking about this. We were under a curse and some days it is just depressing if that is all we think about. But what glorious hope when we grab hold of the promises that we are saved from that curse. We are adopted as children of God. We are no longer slaves, we are heirs with Christ. Let us rejoice in this truth and praise God for it. We are given what we deserve. We are given so much more!
So why don't we live like children?
Why do we so often still live as slaves?
10For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, "Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them." 11Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for "The righteous shall live by faith." 12But the law is not of faith, rather "The one who does them shall live by them."
13Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us--for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree"-- 14so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith.
Galations 4:1-7
1I mean that the heir, as long as he is a child, is no different from a slave, though he is the owner of everything, 2but he is under guardians and managers until the date set by his father. 3In the same way we also, when we were children, were enslaved to the elementary principles of the world.
4But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, 5to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. 6And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, "Abba! Father!"
7 So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.
Just a few verses to start your day. Shane and Shane got me thinking about this. We were under a curse and some days it is just depressing if that is all we think about. But what glorious hope when we grab hold of the promises that we are saved from that curse. We are adopted as children of God. We are no longer slaves, we are heirs with Christ. Let us rejoice in this truth and praise God for it. We are given what we deserve. We are given so much more!
So why don't we live like children?
Why do we so often still live as slaves?
Saturday, July 14, 2007
Bella/John-it is you (I have loved)
This has to be the best You Tube video of all time. It is so lovely! I know I have posted it before, but I thought I would remind you all how beautiful it is. Watch and enjoy John and Bella.
Thursday, July 12, 2007
Living with the Stantons
Sofia, Bulgaria
Next Summer?
The first of many options, I'll find out more on Friday.
Please, pray for wisdom as I sort through my options for next summer.
I want to do what God wants and not what I think would be the most fun.
I'd be cool if those were the same.
heh.
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
This comes from an article at Focus on the Family's Boundless blog. I would like to take the time to explain, that I really don't blog for another else's sake. I blog for my own. I am a very selfish blogger. I see an article I like and I have thoughts about it that I don't want to forget, so I blog. I am near a computer more often then I am near my journal, so I blog. My siblings have said, "it is so boring when you post a hymn or a song or an article". But I am not blogging for them. I am blogging for me. So if I want to remember that hymn when I get home, I blog it. Most of the things I post here are just so that I can remember them later on. Sometimes I write entries for other people, but the majority of my blogging is for me. So with that explained, on to the article.
Thanks for reading.
"Some of the most painful moments of my life have come when the devastating sin of someone I admired—a pastor, a professor, a friend—has been revealed. You reel for a moment, trying to reconcile all the spiritual insight you have gained from this person with their present state of failure. It hurts. Of course there is a sense of betrayal, but probably it hurts the most because it makes you more keenly aware of your own sin and propensity to fail. You think, If that person failed, what is the hope for me?
The hope is Jesus Christ and the victory He promises. Living under Christ's control and not becoming entangled in sin is possible. Still, in this world, we all experience moments of failure—some more devastating than others. I found Morgenthaler's observations comforting. Speaking of the same class, she writes:
Hope. In the midst of disillusionment, there is always hope. It comes in the form of the truth God tells us about our sinful tendencies and the grace He offers through the all-sufficient sacrifice of His Son. Let us take the antidote ourselves and offer it to those around us."
Thanks for reading.
"Some of the most painful moments of my life have come when the devastating sin of someone I admired—a pastor, a professor, a friend—has been revealed. You reel for a moment, trying to reconcile all the spiritual insight you have gained from this person with their present state of failure. It hurts. Of course there is a sense of betrayal, but probably it hurts the most because it makes you more keenly aware of your own sin and propensity to fail. You think, If that person failed, what is the hope for me?
The hope is Jesus Christ and the victory He promises. Living under Christ's control and not becoming entangled in sin is possible. Still, in this world, we all experience moments of failure—some more devastating than others. I found Morgenthaler's observations comforting. Speaking of the same class, she writes:
We had been affirming to each other how important truth telling is, more important than saving a “career” or saving a congregation’s squeaky-clean image. But, then I said truth must always come in the context of grace extended in tangible ways (read, an intentional healing process that usually requires much time and sacrifice). I explained that truth and mercy were the two inseparable antidotes to darkness. Then, the light of hope dawned on her face.
Hope. In the midst of disillusionment, there is always hope. It comes in the form of the truth God tells us about our sinful tendencies and the grace He offers through the all-sufficient sacrifice of His Son. Let us take the antidote ourselves and offer it to those around us."
Monday, July 09, 2007
Today's Morning reading from C. H. Spurgeon
"Forget not all His benefits."—Psalm 103:2.
It is a delightful and profitable occupation to mark the hand of God in the lives of ancient saints, and to observe His goodness in delivering them, His mercy in pardoning them, and His faithfulness in keeping His covenant with them. But would it not be even more interesting and profitable for us to remark the hand of God in our own lives? Ought we not to look upon our own history as being at least as full of God, as full of His goodness and of His truth, as much a proof of His faithfulness and veracity, as the lives of any of the saints who have gone before? We do our Lord an injustice when we suppose that He wrought all His mighty acts, and showed Himself strong for those in the early time, but doth not perform wonders or lay bare His arm for the saints who are now upon the earth. Let us review our own lives. Surely in these we may discover some happy incidents, refreshing to ourselves and glorifying to our God. Have you had no deliverances? Have you passed through no rivers, supported by the divine presence? Have you walked through no fires unharmed? Have you had no manifestations? Have you had no choice favours? The God who gave Solomon the desire of his heart, hath He never listened to you and answered your requests? That God of lavish bounty of whom David sang, "Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things," hath He never satiated you with fatness? Have you never been made to lie down in green pastures? Have you never been led by the still waters? Surely the goodness of God has been the same to us as to the saints of old. Let us, then, weave His mercies into a song. Let us take the pure gold of thankfulness, and the jewels of praise and make them into another crown for the head of Jesus. Let our souls give forth music as sweet and as exhilarating as came from David's harp, while we praise the Lord whose mercy endureth for ever.
"Forget not all His benefits."—Psalm 103:2.
It is a delightful and profitable occupation to mark the hand of God in the lives of ancient saints, and to observe His goodness in delivering them, His mercy in pardoning them, and His faithfulness in keeping His covenant with them. But would it not be even more interesting and profitable for us to remark the hand of God in our own lives? Ought we not to look upon our own history as being at least as full of God, as full of His goodness and of His truth, as much a proof of His faithfulness and veracity, as the lives of any of the saints who have gone before? We do our Lord an injustice when we suppose that He wrought all His mighty acts, and showed Himself strong for those in the early time, but doth not perform wonders or lay bare His arm for the saints who are now upon the earth. Let us review our own lives. Surely in these we may discover some happy incidents, refreshing to ourselves and glorifying to our God. Have you had no deliverances? Have you passed through no rivers, supported by the divine presence? Have you walked through no fires unharmed? Have you had no manifestations? Have you had no choice favours? The God who gave Solomon the desire of his heart, hath He never listened to you and answered your requests? That God of lavish bounty of whom David sang, "Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things," hath He never satiated you with fatness? Have you never been made to lie down in green pastures? Have you never been led by the still waters? Surely the goodness of God has been the same to us as to the saints of old. Let us, then, weave His mercies into a song. Let us take the pure gold of thankfulness, and the jewels of praise and make them into another crown for the head of Jesus. Let our souls give forth music as sweet and as exhilarating as came from David's harp, while we praise the Lord whose mercy endureth for ever.
Friday, July 06, 2007
Anna, Barnes and Nobles, Starbucks, Carmel Fraps, Cheese Cake, Johnny Cash, Walk the Line, Watermelon = Thursday night fun.
Anna, Cambridge, Annie and Emma, Jed, Mrs. Huntington's shop, cute downtown cafe - Cambride Grille, drinking the entire bottle of ketchup (hentz of course), lavender soap, puzzles, ice cream, old typewriters, alley ways, libraries, banks, new purse making material, smoothies, photos, abandonded buildings, old apartments and dance floors, pizza, walking around small towns, Princess Bride on the big screen, glow braclets, Mary Jane crocs = All day Friday fun!!
See more on Anna and Annie's flickrs.
My two favorite photographers!
Anna, thanks for cheering me up and taking me on your adventures! I love you dearly. You make me smile. I really appreciate you inviting me along today. I love a good adventure!
Anna, Cambridge, Annie and Emma, Jed, Mrs. Huntington's shop, cute downtown cafe - Cambride Grille, drinking the entire bottle of ketchup (hentz of course), lavender soap, puzzles, ice cream, old typewriters, alley ways, libraries, banks, new purse making material, smoothies, photos, abandonded buildings, old apartments and dance floors, pizza, walking around small towns, Princess Bride on the big screen, glow braclets, Mary Jane crocs = All day Friday fun!!
See more on Anna and Annie's flickrs.My two favorite photographers!
Anna, thanks for cheering me up and taking me on your adventures! I love you dearly. You make me smile. I really appreciate you inviting me along today. I love a good adventure!
Thursday, July 05, 2007
Tuesday, July 03, 2007
...the Christian must never for one moment imagine himself to be indispensable to God, or allow himself to behave as if he were. The God who sent him, and is pleased to work with him, can do without him.
- J.I. Packer
I was reading around online and I found a passage by J.I. Packer. I really liked this quote, so I am putting it up on my blog. I really like the last line. It is scary to think about. I like it. It hits hard. You are just reading along the quote and BANG. It is like all of the sudden you become really really really small. And you see how you are worth nothing and don't deserve anything. But isn't that where we are always supposed to be. We are small. We are weak. We are nothing, but God loves us anyhow. That is the amazing thing. The part that should stand out in this quote is that God is pleased to send us and to work through us. Just thought I would let you all into my head for a while. Think about it. It is truly awesome!
- J.I. Packer
I was reading around online and I found a passage by J.I. Packer. I really liked this quote, so I am putting it up on my blog. I really like the last line. It is scary to think about. I like it. It hits hard. You are just reading along the quote and BANG. It is like all of the sudden you become really really really small. And you see how you are worth nothing and don't deserve anything. But isn't that where we are always supposed to be. We are small. We are weak. We are nothing, but God loves us anyhow. That is the amazing thing. The part that should stand out in this quote is that God is pleased to send us and to work through us. Just thought I would let you all into my head for a while. Think about it. It is truly awesome!
Monday, July 02, 2007
Thursday, June 28, 2007
And the wonder of it all is that we don't deserve it. This is one of my favorite sets of verses. It just doesn't make sense to me. Why would you love someone who didn't deserve it? Praise God for his salvation! He gives us the strength to carry on.
Romans 5:1-8
"Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand.
And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.
And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.
You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. "
2 Corinthians 12:9
"But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me."
Romans 5:1-8
"Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand.
And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.
And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.
You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. "
2 Corinthians 12:9
"But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me."
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
I am reclaiming the outdoors!
After going sailing on Thursday and remembering how great the outdoors was, I chose to continue the trend on Saturday by playing soccer at Anna's graduation party.
And Sunday I went swimming in Assateague. The waves were non-existent so I wasn't afraid of messing up my shoulder. I also played ultimate frisbee and vollyball. I really enjoy diving (or tripping) after the frisbee. Assateague has great soft sand for diving. I forgot how much fun ultimate is!!
Isn't the world God created grand? It is so wonderful. He loved us enough to give us so many beautiful things to enjoy. Praise God for everything! I'm planning a camping trip for my RUF friends the three days before school starts. It is going to be a blast. I am taking them to Old Rag and Big Meadows. How much greater can you get? It is only my favorite hike on the East Coast. I would say favorite hike ever, but that would have to be the Grand Canyon (it is a little cheaper to go to Old Rag). :) heh.
Thanks to my editor, Mr. Howard. heh.
After going sailing on Thursday and remembering how great the outdoors was, I chose to continue the trend on Saturday by playing soccer at Anna's graduation party.
And Sunday I went swimming in Assateague. The waves were non-existent so I wasn't afraid of messing up my shoulder. I also played ultimate frisbee and vollyball. I really enjoy diving (or tripping) after the frisbee. Assateague has great soft sand for diving. I forgot how much fun ultimate is!!
Woohoo for summertime and sports!
Isn't the world God created grand? It is so wonderful. He loved us enough to give us so many beautiful things to enjoy. Praise God for everything! I'm planning a camping trip for my RUF friends the three days before school starts. It is going to be a blast. I am taking them to Old Rag and Big Meadows. How much greater can you get? It is only my favorite hike on the East Coast. I would say favorite hike ever, but that would have to be the Grand Canyon (it is a little cheaper to go to Old Rag). :) heh.
Thanks to my editor, Mr. Howard. heh.
Monday, June 25, 2007
I was reading this sermon at lunch. I thought I would put the last half of it on my blog. I really enjoy John Piper. I rejoice in glorious hope! And even on the hard days, I can still look forward to heaven and the joys that await me there.
Happy 25th.
"Jesus’ sorrow was not owing to his own sin, but to the sins of others. This is the way it is with the Holy Spirit as well. Paul calls us to put sin out of our lives so that we do not grieve the Spirit: “Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption” (Ephesians 4:29-30).
In the same way believers embrace godly grief not only for our own sins but for the sins of others and for the pain that loss brings us. For example, Peter speaks of our grieving over trials: “In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, as was necessary, you have been grieved by various trials” (1 Peter 1:6). Paul speaks of our grieving over lost loved ones: “We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope” (1 Thessalonians 4:13). And Paul refers to his own grief over the lostness of his kinsmen: “My conscience bears me witness in the Holy Spirit—that I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart (Romans 9:1).
Nevertheless Paul makes the astonishing statement in 2 Corinthians 6:10 that what marks his life and should mark ours is “sorrowful, yet always rejoicing.” This is what makes our sorrow godly. I do not claim that this experience is simple or that we can even put it into adequate words—what it means to be joyful in sorrow. Heaving sobs at the loss of a loved one does not look like joy. Indeed is not joy in its fullness, as we will know it when “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning nor crying nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away” (Revelation 21:4).
Rather the joy that endures through sorrow is the foretaste of that future joy in God which we hope for in the future. When Jesus was “very sorrowful, even to death” in Gethsemane he was sustained by “the joy that was set before him” (Hebrews 12:2). This does not mean that he felt in the garden or on the cross all that he would feel in the resurrection. But it does mean that he hoped in it and that this hope was an experienced foretaste of that joy.
Therefore, we groan here, waiting for the redemption of our bodies and for the removal of all our sins (Romans 8:23). This groaning and grieving is godly if it is molded by our delight in hope of glory (Romans 5:2-3). The delight is muffled by the pain. But it is there in seed form. It will one day grow into a great vine that yields wine of undiluted delight.
So let us embrace whatever sorrow God appoints for us.
Let us not be ashamed of tears.
Let the promise that joy comes with the morning (Psalm 30:5) sustain and shape our grief with power and goodness of God. "
- John Piper
Happy 25th.
"Jesus’ sorrow was not owing to his own sin, but to the sins of others. This is the way it is with the Holy Spirit as well. Paul calls us to put sin out of our lives so that we do not grieve the Spirit: “Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption” (Ephesians 4:29-30).
In the same way believers embrace godly grief not only for our own sins but for the sins of others and for the pain that loss brings us. For example, Peter speaks of our grieving over trials: “In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, as was necessary, you have been grieved by various trials” (1 Peter 1:6). Paul speaks of our grieving over lost loved ones: “We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope” (1 Thessalonians 4:13). And Paul refers to his own grief over the lostness of his kinsmen: “My conscience bears me witness in the Holy Spirit—that I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart (Romans 9:1).
Nevertheless Paul makes the astonishing statement in 2 Corinthians 6:10 that what marks his life and should mark ours is “sorrowful, yet always rejoicing.” This is what makes our sorrow godly. I do not claim that this experience is simple or that we can even put it into adequate words—what it means to be joyful in sorrow. Heaving sobs at the loss of a loved one does not look like joy. Indeed is not joy in its fullness, as we will know it when “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning nor crying nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away” (Revelation 21:4).
Rather the joy that endures through sorrow is the foretaste of that future joy in God which we hope for in the future. When Jesus was “very sorrowful, even to death” in Gethsemane he was sustained by “the joy that was set before him” (Hebrews 12:2). This does not mean that he felt in the garden or on the cross all that he would feel in the resurrection. But it does mean that he hoped in it and that this hope was an experienced foretaste of that joy.
Therefore, we groan here, waiting for the redemption of our bodies and for the removal of all our sins (Romans 8:23). This groaning and grieving is godly if it is molded by our delight in hope of glory (Romans 5:2-3). The delight is muffled by the pain. But it is there in seed form. It will one day grow into a great vine that yields wine of undiluted delight.
So let us embrace whatever sorrow God appoints for us.
Let us not be ashamed of tears.
Let the promise that joy comes with the morning (Psalm 30:5) sustain and shape our grief with power and goodness of God. "
- John Piper
Saturday, June 23, 2007
I had one of the coolest birthday's ever! I was kind of afraid that my golden birthday was just going to be a boring day and work and then just going home and falling asleep. I hadn't made plans and I really didn't feel like making plans. I had been dreaming about it for so long because I love numbers and I thought it would be cool to turn 21 on the 21st. It turned into one of the most amazing birthday's ever!!
Thursday morning I went to work at six thirty. The day was really boring because they couldn't find enough work for me all day and I had to go really slowly on the jobs that I was doing so that I wouldn't end up with nothing to do. Mom and Sarah brought me a cake and balloons. We had a cook-out at lunch and then we went to a meeting a Del-Tech (which was really fun because I got to stop in and see Dad and his new office). But on the way back the car was so hot and I think I was dehydrated. So I had this huge headache when I got back to the office and I just wanted to go home and end the day and sleep for the entire evening and ignore that it was my birthday. That was pretty hard because I had these balloons in my office and people kept coming by and wishing me happy birthday. Well, around four I was given a new job. I had to sort through submittals. I have to explain to you how boring they are at four in the afternoon when you want to go home. You basically have told the companies exactly what pipes, vents, registers, toilets, lights,... etc you want in the buildings. You spell out what companies to buy them from and what model numbers. Well, the contractor might decide he wants to order it from somewhere else. So he sends you in a list of everything he is buying for the building. My job was to go through that list and make sure that either it matched to the numbers that we gave them or was compatible with those model numbers. I also had to look at his order counts and correct those. So he was would list that he was going to buy ten of something and I would go to the blueprint and count those things. It wouldn't be that bad if the contractor didn't send nine different copies that you had to mark up. So this is what I was doing from four to six. I was reading through and marking changes to pages and pages and pages of lists and then stamping them and signing them. The last hour always goes the slowest, especially the last hour before the weekend. The guys and I were counting down every three minutes or so during the last hour.
Around 5:57 pm around the corner comes a beautiful gaggle of girls yelling surprise and telling me that they were going to kidnap me. At first I was like, get out of my office, you are embarrassing me. But soon my face was pure joy! I couldn't believe that my friends and parents had teamed up to make my twenty-first birthday such a surprise.
Thursday morning I went to work at six thirty. The day was really boring because they couldn't find enough work for me all day and I had to go really slowly on the jobs that I was doing so that I wouldn't end up with nothing to do. Mom and Sarah brought me a cake and balloons. We had a cook-out at lunch and then we went to a meeting a Del-Tech (which was really fun because I got to stop in and see Dad and his new office). But on the way back the car was so hot and I think I was dehydrated. So I had this huge headache when I got back to the office and I just wanted to go home and end the day and sleep for the entire evening and ignore that it was my birthday. That was pretty hard because I had these balloons in my office and people kept coming by and wishing me happy birthday. Well, around four I was given a new job. I had to sort through submittals. I have to explain to you how boring they are at four in the afternoon when you want to go home. You basically have told the companies exactly what pipes, vents, registers, toilets, lights,... etc you want in the buildings. You spell out what companies to buy them from and what model numbers. Well, the contractor might decide he wants to order it from somewhere else. So he sends you in a list of everything he is buying for the building. My job was to go through that list and make sure that either it matched to the numbers that we gave them or was compatible with those model numbers. I also had to look at his order counts and correct those. So he was would list that he was going to buy ten of something and I would go to the blueprint and count those things. It wouldn't be that bad if the contractor didn't send nine different copies that you had to mark up. So this is what I was doing from four to six. I was reading through and marking changes to pages and pages and pages of lists and then stamping them and signing them. The last hour always goes the slowest, especially the last hour before the weekend. The guys and I were counting down every three minutes or so during the last hour.
Around 5:57 pm around the corner comes a beautiful gaggle of girls yelling surprise and telling me that they were going to kidnap me. At first I was like, get out of my office, you are embarrassing me. But soon my face was pure joy! I couldn't believe that my friends and parents had teamed up to make my twenty-first birthday such a surprise.
So after I changed, we piled into Sarah Meadows car and started driving west on 50. I didn't have a clue where we were going. It was so much fun. I love being surprised. I love having to try and guess what in the world is going on. I love being surrounded by people that love me! It was such a wonderful treat. We kept driving and driving until we got to Cambridge and I was completely confused. I still didn't know where we were going. Then we pulled in here and I remembered Sarah talking about sailing. I was so excited. I had forgotten how much I enjoy doing things outside! I love the outdoors. I don't know what has been wrong with me during tha past few years. I love summer. I love being outdoors. Thank you all so much for taking me on this wonderful adventure!
This was the sky when we arrived. It was a little dark and then it started to rain. But we just went below deck and ate dinner and waited for the rain to pass over. 
We had wonderful wraps and fruit salad and cherries and chips by the wonderful Sarah Meadows. And then our captain came down and told us it was probably going to rain some more, but we could still go out if we wanted to. We voted to still go! 
First he taught us how to sail the boat because we all wanted to run it ourselves. So he taught us the ropes. It was a blast. 
And I got to drive us out!!!
Sarah Meadows has a great smile!
So does Anna.
And Rachel too!! 
Hayley took over so I could wander around the boat.
The sunset was amazing!
Dear, dear friends!!! 
Thank you all for spending my birthday with me!
And thank you for my parents giving me such a cool present!
I love knowing that people truly care for me!
After we came back we went to the Hyatt for dessert! The Hyatt and night is absolutely amazingly beautiful! I love how lighting is used. We had delicious coffee in cute mugs!
And we finished the night by playing chess and walking around the grounds. 
I loved loved loved my birthday! Thank you all for making me feel so special and loved!! It was so great and I will always remember my 21st birthday! I mean it, it was so amazing. It was better than I ever dreamed. :D
I praise God for each and every one of you.
Thursday, June 21, 2007
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
Monday, June 18, 2007
I have a lot of say, just not the time to say it (or to think out what I want to say). I would work on a nice blog entry tonight, but I am tutoring. Sarah comes back tomorrow!!! Wednesday is Bible study. Thursday is my birthday!! I'll try to work on it maybe this weekend.
Isaiah 12:2
Isaiah 12:2
Surely God is my salvation;
I will trust and not be afraid.
The LORD, the LORD, is my strength and my song;
he has become my salvation."
I will trust and not be afraid.
The LORD, the LORD, is my strength and my song;
he has become my salvation."
Saturday, June 16, 2007
I've been cleaning my room today and trying to unpack all my things from college. I've been reminded of a lot of good memories while I cleaned out my drawers and I thought I would comment on some of them.
The first thing that I remembered today happened a year ago today. I found a M6 and M5 pamphlet from Tait BMW dealership in Annapolis. I went there for my birthday last year to see my favorite car. It was really neat because the dealership man showed me inside the hood of the car and explained how a bunch of the features actually worked. It was really really neat. I loved it. I'll save the pictures of the cars for a few more years; even though it is junking up my room, it is a great memory.
Next I found my six flags tickets from those homeschool days I used to go to. I remember when Jack and I rode two-face two times in a row because the line was so short and ended up getting so sick afterwards that all we could do was lay on benches for like fifteen minutes. heh. Everyone else was fine and wanted to go ride more rides and I just wanted to die my head hurt so badly. Then we went to red, hot, and blue afterwards and I was introduced to the awesomeness that is sweet potato fries! Good times.
I found my bowling stubs from when we went as with young adults and I forgot my money and Jared had to pay for me. I remember being beaten by Matt by one point and being so mad. heh. Then I remember that I stressed my shoulder so much that I dislocated it the next day. But that was still a fun night. I remember it started off by going with Ben and Jack to Walmart to buy Velcro shoes. haha. I wonder if anyone remembers that the guys used to wear those ugly shoes.
I found photos from summer missions trips with Stef where we are covered in dirt or paint from head to toe and loving life. There are pictures from my soccer team and soccer jerseys.
I found quite a few awesome birthday presents. I found my phantom of the opera tickets from Hayley and Sarah. I found my box with all the cool Hayley words on it. I found my Curious George note cards and my Curious George book. There is my copy of Wind in the Willows and Great Expectations. I found magnets, coins, the Complete Works of Sherlock Holmes, my UNC sweatshirt, my coach wallet, mango hand cream, stuffed purple sheep, black dogs, and many other gifts from dear friends.
When I think about it, I have had such a great life! I want to thank God for all the friends he has given me and my family and all the fun that I have had with them. God is good. I remember that as I clean my room and I smile thinking about the memories I will make in the future. These past memories are only bittersweet because I know that they will never happen again, but they are so good because I remember God's faithfulness to me. God is gracious and loving. He is slow to wrath. He does not treat us like our sins deserve.
And I've got to get back to cleaning. And I might go help Rachel Townsend paint her closet.
The first thing that I remembered today happened a year ago today. I found a M6 and M5 pamphlet from Tait BMW dealership in Annapolis. I went there for my birthday last year to see my favorite car. It was really neat because the dealership man showed me inside the hood of the car and explained how a bunch of the features actually worked. It was really really neat. I loved it. I'll save the pictures of the cars for a few more years; even though it is junking up my room, it is a great memory.
Next I found my six flags tickets from those homeschool days I used to go to. I remember when Jack and I rode two-face two times in a row because the line was so short and ended up getting so sick afterwards that all we could do was lay on benches for like fifteen minutes. heh. Everyone else was fine and wanted to go ride more rides and I just wanted to die my head hurt so badly. Then we went to red, hot, and blue afterwards and I was introduced to the awesomeness that is sweet potato fries! Good times.
I found my bowling stubs from when we went as with young adults and I forgot my money and Jared had to pay for me. I remember being beaten by Matt by one point and being so mad. heh. Then I remember that I stressed my shoulder so much that I dislocated it the next day. But that was still a fun night. I remember it started off by going with Ben and Jack to Walmart to buy Velcro shoes. haha. I wonder if anyone remembers that the guys used to wear those ugly shoes.
I found photos from summer missions trips with Stef where we are covered in dirt or paint from head to toe and loving life. There are pictures from my soccer team and soccer jerseys.
I found quite a few awesome birthday presents. I found my phantom of the opera tickets from Hayley and Sarah. I found my box with all the cool Hayley words on it. I found my Curious George note cards and my Curious George book. There is my copy of Wind in the Willows and Great Expectations. I found magnets, coins, the Complete Works of Sherlock Holmes, my UNC sweatshirt, my coach wallet, mango hand cream, stuffed purple sheep, black dogs, and many other gifts from dear friends.
When I think about it, I have had such a great life! I want to thank God for all the friends he has given me and my family and all the fun that I have had with them. God is good. I remember that as I clean my room and I smile thinking about the memories I will make in the future. These past memories are only bittersweet because I know that they will never happen again, but they are so good because I remember God's faithfulness to me. God is gracious and loving. He is slow to wrath. He does not treat us like our sins deserve.
And I've got to get back to cleaning. And I might go help Rachel Townsend paint her closet.
Thursday, June 14, 2007
Love Is A Miracle
Delirious
Love, pulled me up off my knees,
Took all my disease,
You’ve always been there for me.
Love put shoes on my feet,
Took a song made it sweet,
You always had ears for me.
You’ve given me everything,
Love of my life
Forever I’ll sing that
Love is a Miracle oh, oh,
Love is a Miracle,
Your mercy catches me when I fall,
Love is such a miracle.
Love is where you abide,
It sees every side,
It crosses the great divide.
Love took hold of my hand
And taught me to walk
It’s time now to make a stand.
Written by Delirious? ©2005 Curious? Music UK
Delirious
Love, pulled me up off my knees,
Took all my disease,
You’ve always been there for me.
Love put shoes on my feet,
Took a song made it sweet,
You always had ears for me.
You’ve given me everything,
Love of my life
Forever I’ll sing that
Love is a Miracle oh, oh,
Love is a Miracle,
Your mercy catches me when I fall,
Love is such a miracle.
Love is where you abide,
It sees every side,
It crosses the great divide.
Love took hold of my hand
And taught me to walk
It’s time now to make a stand.
Written by Delirious? ©2005 Curious? Music UK
Monday, June 11, 2007
Brian Regan
is going to be on Comedy Central
on Tuesday at 10pm.
Come watch it at my house.
Arrive anytime after eight.
Bring your own snacks.
Luke watched it last night and he said he was hilarious. He says that it might not be quite as funny as the last one. But I am looking forward to watching it tomorrow night.
The Hardest Part
Coldplay
And the hardest part
Was letting go, not taking part
Was the hardest part
And the strangest thing
Was waiting for that bell to ring
It was the strangest start
I could feel it go down
Bittersweet, I could taste in my mouth
Silver lining the cloud
Oh and I
I wish that I could work it out
And the hardest part
Was letting go, not taking part
You really broke my heart
And I tried to sing
But I couldn’t think of anything
And that was the hardest part
I could feel it go down
You left the sweetest taste in my mouth
You're a silver lining the clouds
Oh and I
Oh and I
I wonder what it’s all about
I wonder what it’s all about
Everything I know is wrong
Everything I do, it's just comes undone
And everything is torn apart
Oh and it’s the part
That’s the hardest part
Yeah that’s the hardest part
That’s the hardest part
Coldplay
And the hardest part
Was letting go, not taking part
Was the hardest part
And the strangest thing
Was waiting for that bell to ring
It was the strangest start
I could feel it go down
Bittersweet, I could taste in my mouth
Silver lining the cloud
Oh and I
I wish that I could work it out
And the hardest part
Was letting go, not taking part
You really broke my heart
And I tried to sing
But I couldn’t think of anything
And that was the hardest part
I could feel it go down
You left the sweetest taste in my mouth
You're a silver lining the clouds
Oh and I
Oh and I
I wonder what it’s all about
I wonder what it’s all about
Everything I know is wrong
Everything I do, it's just comes undone
And everything is torn apart
Oh and it’s the part
That’s the hardest part
Yeah that’s the hardest part
That’s the hardest part
Saturday, June 09, 2007
I spent my day today helping Mrs. Taylor clean out the library and making stuffed shells (heh, what a great memory**). Thank you Mrs. Taylor for being my friend and second mother. :) You are a joy. I thank God for you.
** Stuffed shells story:
Mrs. Taylor calls me on my way down to Tyaskin and asks me to pick up JUMBO shells because she only has the large ones. Well, I pick up a box of jumbo shells and both Mrs. Taylor and I have agreed now that the jumbo shells are a little lacking in the jumbo department. They are like an inch and a half across, maybe two inches. They are not really the type that you stuff, but they were the biggest that the store had. So anyhow, I get down to the Taylors and we clean for a while and then we decided to cook the sauce. Mrs. Taylor looks in the pantry (don't you love that, pantry... what a fun word) and sees that she doesn't have tomato sauce (which she always has, except for today). So we ask Dr. Taylor to go buy us some, but he returns and the store in the area don't have any large cans. We seemed to have a problem with big things this day. ha. So Mrs. Taylor calls the neighbors and we collect a can of home canned tomato juice, a can of tomato puree, a can of tomato paste, and a jar of spaghetti sauce. When we get back to the house, we throw everything in the pan with a little big of seasonings and taste it. It is okay, but still not great. It is too sweet and is missing something. Anyhow, we play around with it a while and still don't get it. Mrs. Taylor says to just let it sit while we stuff our jumbo mini shells.
So we go to get out the ricotta cheese and can't find it. We look in both refrigerators and ask everyone in the house if they had bought any, but there is not ricotta cheese to be found. By this time the meal is just plain funny. First there are mini shells, with sauce that is thrown together from random places, and then no cheese. After thinking for a while, the sauce becomes spaghetti sauce and we add meatballs (that end of making the sauce taste funny, but everyone else liked it but us so I guess all was good). Mrs. Taylor pulled out that really awesomely good french bread that the Shwan man brings and it was a good meal, other than the spaghetti noodles being a little sticky. Haha. But that is the story of Mrs. Taylor trying to surprise me and make me stuffed shells because she knows that I adore them. In the end I think I will certainly remember this story a lot longer and I will have to chuckle whenever I see a stuffed shell. Plus, this gives me an excuse to come down to her house again.
All in all it was a very enjoyable day with great friends!!
** Stuffed shells story:
Mrs. Taylor calls me on my way down to Tyaskin and asks me to pick up JUMBO shells because she only has the large ones. Well, I pick up a box of jumbo shells and both Mrs. Taylor and I have agreed now that the jumbo shells are a little lacking in the jumbo department. They are like an inch and a half across, maybe two inches. They are not really the type that you stuff, but they were the biggest that the store had. So anyhow, I get down to the Taylors and we clean for a while and then we decided to cook the sauce. Mrs. Taylor looks in the pantry (don't you love that, pantry... what a fun word) and sees that she doesn't have tomato sauce (which she always has, except for today). So we ask Dr. Taylor to go buy us some, but he returns and the store in the area don't have any large cans. We seemed to have a problem with big things this day. ha. So Mrs. Taylor calls the neighbors and we collect a can of home canned tomato juice, a can of tomato puree, a can of tomato paste, and a jar of spaghetti sauce. When we get back to the house, we throw everything in the pan with a little big of seasonings and taste it. It is okay, but still not great. It is too sweet and is missing something. Anyhow, we play around with it a while and still don't get it. Mrs. Taylor says to just let it sit while we stuff our jumbo mini shells.
So we go to get out the ricotta cheese and can't find it. We look in both refrigerators and ask everyone in the house if they had bought any, but there is not ricotta cheese to be found. By this time the meal is just plain funny. First there are mini shells, with sauce that is thrown together from random places, and then no cheese. After thinking for a while, the sauce becomes spaghetti sauce and we add meatballs (that end of making the sauce taste funny, but everyone else liked it but us so I guess all was good). Mrs. Taylor pulled out that really awesomely good french bread that the Shwan man brings and it was a good meal, other than the spaghetti noodles being a little sticky. Haha. But that is the story of Mrs. Taylor trying to surprise me and make me stuffed shells because she knows that I adore them. In the end I think I will certainly remember this story a lot longer and I will have to chuckle whenever I see a stuffed shell. Plus, this gives me an excuse to come down to her house again.
All in all it was a very enjoyable day with great friends!!
Thursday, June 07, 2007
I love this song (the one at the end of this post - you can hear it on his my space. By he I mean Chris Tomlin, the latest addition to my cd collection as of today. Nice). I turn it up really loud and sing along; I go around the house shouting it. It is so true. My life is so good. I have so much. God only does what is best for me. I have a whole summer ahead of me and I have the freedom to go where ever and be whatever I want. Plus I have Fridays off. SWEETNESS! I just want to take the time to thank people for praying for me over the past few weeks. It has been a little rough. But I am starting to see God's hand in the entire situation. I actually praise him for it. I found this GREAT quote in The Godly Man's Picture by Thomas Watson.
Too long I have been happy with simple flowers when God wants to give me diamonds. It hurts to have things taken away. But God never said it would be easy, just that he has our best in mind. Anyhow, I thought this quote was amusing just because of my name. So you can read it too. You should really read the entire book. It is rich.
Aren't those great sections from the book? Yeah, I love them. I agree with Thomas Watson. God is carving and polishing us to make us more like him. That is a glorious thing. We should praise him for making us more like him. Yeah, it is hard, but I am excited about what he is doing in my life!! I can't wait to see what the rest of my life holds. How can I keep from singing his praise?
How Can I Keep From Singing?
Chris Tomlin
There is an endless song
Echoes in my soul
I hear the music ring
And though the storms may come
I am holding on
To the rock I cling
Chorus:
How can I keep from singing Your praise
How can I ever say enough
How amazing is Your love
How can I keep from shouting Your name
I know I am loved by the King
And it makes my heart want to sing
I will lift my eyes
In the darkest night
For I know my Savior lives
And I will walk with You
Knowing You'll see me through
And sing the songs You give
Chorus:
I can sing in the troubled times
Sing when I win
I can sing when I lose my step
And fall down again
I can sing 'cause You pick me up
Sing 'cause You're there
I can sing 'cause You hear me, Lord
When I call to You in prayer
I can sing with my last breath
Sing for I know
That I'll sing with the angels
And the saints around the throne
Chorus:
The Lord never takes away any comfort from his people without giving them something better. The disciples parted with Christ's corporal presence and he sent them the Holy Ghost. God eclipses one joy and augments another. He simply makes an exchange; he takes away a flower and gives a diamond.
Too long I have been happy with simple flowers when God wants to give me diamonds. It hurts to have things taken away. But God never said it would be easy, just that he has our best in mind. Anyhow, I thought this quote was amusing just because of my name. So you can read it too. You should really read the entire book. It is rich.
Question: How does faith work patience?
Answer: Faith argues the soul into patience. Faith is like the town clerk in Ephesus who allayed the contention of the multitude and argued them soberly into peace (acts 19:35,36). So when impatience begins to clamour and make a hubbub in the soul, faith appeases the tumult and argues the soul into holy patience. Faith says, 'Why art thou disquieted, O my soul?' (Psalms42:5). 'Are you afflicted? Is it not your father who has done it? He is carving and polishing you and making you fit for glory. He smites that he may save.
Aren't those great sections from the book? Yeah, I love them. I agree with Thomas Watson. God is carving and polishing us to make us more like him. That is a glorious thing. We should praise him for making us more like him. Yeah, it is hard, but I am excited about what he is doing in my life!! I can't wait to see what the rest of my life holds. How can I keep from singing his praise?
How Can I Keep From Singing?
Chris Tomlin
There is an endless song
Echoes in my soul
I hear the music ring
And though the storms may come
I am holding on
To the rock I cling
Chorus:
How can I keep from singing Your praise
How can I ever say enough
How amazing is Your love
How can I keep from shouting Your name
I know I am loved by the King
And it makes my heart want to sing
I will lift my eyes
In the darkest night
For I know my Savior lives
And I will walk with You
Knowing You'll see me through
And sing the songs You give
Chorus:
I can sing in the troubled times
Sing when I win
I can sing when I lose my step
And fall down again
I can sing 'cause You pick me up
Sing 'cause You're there
I can sing 'cause You hear me, Lord
When I call to You in prayer
I can sing with my last breath
Sing for I know
That I'll sing with the angels
And the saints around the throne
Chorus:
Seek him with importunity and either he will remove the affliction or, which is better, he will remove your impatience. - Thomas Watson
Wednesday, June 06, 2007
I love my job!
edit on Thursday: And I love the people that I work with! They are so much fun. I just got back from a company lunch. I might have stories to tell after a few weeks of working here. But everyone is so nice and they have a sense of humor. They all make me laugh and it is so much fun to work here. So not only do I love my work, but I love the people that I work with. And Matt Smith told me to today that if I get bored, I can tell him and they will find a challenge for me. Sweet. :D
Oh, and after next week I get fridays off. Yep, that is right, I get to work a four day week! Ten hours a day Monday through Thursday and Fridays are free! Sweetness! I know, I know you all wish you could be in engineering too. Haha. I am LOVING life right now! If any of you have Fridays free and want to do something with me... I'm free (after this Friday).
Tuesday, June 05, 2007
Monday, June 04, 2007
While at lunch I was reading some John Piper Sermons and I decided to highlight the great points. First I will start our with Thomas Watson's definition of forgiveness because I think it is a good reminder. I often don't think about all the things that forgiveness includes. It takes a lot to be able to admit this or seek after forgiving someone. It takes work and strength, strength that we often don't have on our own. But God is gracious and is a good provider.
Now, what excuse do we have to not forgive others. That we have to let go of our hurt? That we can't make them feel bad? That we can't have pity parties for ourselves anymore? That we can't be in a grumpy mood that we think we deserve? That we think that the other person doesn't deserve to be forgiven? Those seem like sorry excuses to me for refusing to forgive someone especially when we have been forgiven so much. John Piper says that there are six specific things that God has done for us, three before we existed and three during our lifetime. He goes into more detail in his sermon which you can find here. But I will just list the points.
So I don't see how I could not forgive anyone. I would really have to be full of it to refuse to forgive someone, no matter how badly they had hurt me. I still have been forgiven so much more than I could ever forgive. God had loved me and given himself for me. He adopted me and has made me more then a conquer. He has forgiven me. Praise God.
Thomas Watson's definition of forgiveness includes:
1. resisting revenge,
2. not returning evil for evil,
3. wishing them well,
4. grieving at their calamities,
5. praying for their welfare,
6. seeking reconciliation so far as it depends on you,
7. and coming to their aid in distress
Now, what excuse do we have to not forgive others. That we have to let go of our hurt? That we can't make them feel bad? That we can't have pity parties for ourselves anymore? That we can't be in a grumpy mood that we think we deserve? That we think that the other person doesn't deserve to be forgiven? Those seem like sorry excuses to me for refusing to forgive someone especially when we have been forgiven so much. John Piper says that there are six specific things that God has done for us, three before we existed and three during our lifetime. He goes into more detail in his sermon which you can find here. But I will just list the points.
What God Did for Us Before We Existed
1. God Loved Us with a Special Saving Love
2. Christ Gave Himself for Us as a Sacrifice
3. God Was Satisfied with Christ's Sacrifice
What God Did for Us During Our Lifetime
1. God Put Us in a Saving Relationship with Christ
2. God Adopted Us and Made Us Rightful Children
3. God Forgave Us for Our Sins
So I don't see how I could not forgive anyone. I would really have to be full of it to refuse to forgive someone, no matter how badly they had hurt me. I still have been forgiven so much more than I could ever forgive. God had loved me and given himself for me. He adopted me and has made me more then a conquer. He has forgiven me. Praise God.
Charles Spurgeon says, "To be forgiven is such sweetness that honey is tasteless in comparison with it. But yet there is one thing sweeter still, and that is to forgive. As it is more blessed to give than to receive, so to forgive rises a stage higher in experience than to be forgiven."
I guess I should be praising God that I get to experience something greater than getting forgiven. I know that being forgiven feels wonderful. But the problem I have with forgiving, is that it is a day by day thing. You have to force yourself to think of forgiveness every single minute/hour of every day. I think it is easier to be forgiven. I think it is much harder to do the forgiving. But that is what God is for, right? He gives us the strength to do things that we couldn't in our own power.
And I close with a song that John Piper quotes from that is on this Glad cd that we have around our house and have listened to for years.
Be ye glad, O be ye glad!
Every debt that you ever had,
Has been paid up in full by the blood of the Lamb,
Be ye glad, be ye glad, be ye glad.
And I close with a song that John Piper quotes from that is on this Glad cd that we have around our house and have listened to for years.
Be ye glad, O be ye glad!
Every debt that you ever had,
Has been paid up in full by the blood of the Lamb,
Be ye glad, be ye glad, be ye glad.
Oh and this is a verse that I read this moring that has been stuck in my head. I'll just throw it on the end here.
Romans 3:28 - the Message"What we've learned is this: God does not respond to what we do; we respond to what God does. We've finally figured it out. Our lives get in step with God and all others by letting him set the pace, not by proudly or anxiously trying to run the parade."
Saturday, June 02, 2007
Okay, I have one vote for picking Stef's bridesmaid dresses and I thought I would let you all give your input. So... here are the choices. Mrs. Shelton, if you get online I have asked you a question about the last dress. You might be able to help me with it.
Okay, dress number one.
This is my least favorite because of the scoop neck. And I don't like the color.
Dress number two.
I only like this dress because it is the cheapest of the dresses. The model is ugly. I would never wear it again. I don't really like this one either.
And dress number three.
This is my favorite, of course it is the most expensive. However, I don't like how low the front of the dress dips. I was wondering, Mrs. Shelton, if I could pull up the dress in the front. The fabric is loose enough that it looks like you could sew it a little higher and solve this problem. Let me know what you think. I will probably talk to you about it Wednesday evening at Bible study. I think it could be done, but I don't sew that often. Maybe it is wishful thinking. Oh and I would wear this dress again. It is adorable. But then again, maybe it will look terrible on me, then I would never wear it again and I would regret spending the money.
Here is a second photo of the top for you to see how much loose material there is. I would like it about an inch higher than it is cut.
Thoughts, comments???
What do you think?
Friday, June 01, 2007
Recently this has become my favorite set of verses...
I actually might make them my life's verses.
I want to be able to say that I live them.
God help my unbelief at times.
I want to be able to say that I live them.
God help my unbelief at times.
Habakkuk 3:17-19
Though the fig tree should not blossom,
nor fruit be on the vines,
the produce of the olive fail
and the fields yield no food,
the flock be cut off from the fold
and there be no herd in the stalls,
yet I will rejoice in the LORD;
I will take joy in the God of my salvation.
GOD, the Lord, is my strength;
he makes my feet like the deer's;
he makes me tread on my high places.
he makes my feet like the deer's;
he makes me tread on my high places.
In the past few weeks I have come to realize how that being miserable is a choice. Hard times are always going to come our way. It is what we do with them that matters. I see now that having a pity party and feeling all sorry for myself because I have been wronged, only hurts me. It does nothing to resolve anything and it certainly doesn't give God any glory. But when we grasp firmly onto his mighty and blessed promises and we admit that we can do nothing in our own strength, those are the times that God can work in us and around us. He can give us peace and comfort. I am not saying that you won't feel hurt because I do still hurt. But I understand that wallowing in that hurt doesn't do me any good. I don't deserve to have people feel sorry for me; I don't deserve to feel sorry for myself. God has a perfect plan. I trust that. I take joy in the God of my salvation!!!
I like flying at night!
Actually, I like flying a whole lot more than I thought I would. There are so many neat things to see out the windows. Anna is loading pictures. I need some sleep.
I didn't want to come back to the real world.
Favorite part of the trip: hiking down to the bottom of the Grand Canyon and back. We started at 8:45 in the morning and came back at 4:30. It took us 4 hours and 15 minutes to get down and 3 and a half hours to get back up. It is supposed to take double the time to come back up. I don't know what we were doing. haha.
Favorite memory: hmmmm, there are too many to choose from. I loved spending time with all of my siblings. I feel like I haven't seen them in so long. But more on the trip later.
Actually, I like flying a whole lot more than I thought I would. There are so many neat things to see out the windows. Anna is loading pictures. I need some sleep.
I didn't want to come back to the real world.
Favorite part of the trip: hiking down to the bottom of the Grand Canyon and back. We started at 8:45 in the morning and came back at 4:30. It took us 4 hours and 15 minutes to get down and 3 and a half hours to get back up. It is supposed to take double the time to come back up. I don't know what we were doing. haha.
Favorite memory: hmmmm, there are too many to choose from. I loved spending time with all of my siblings. I feel like I haven't seen them in so long. But more on the trip later.
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