December 31, 2010

Resolutions

So, it's the time of year in which people come up with "New Year's Resolutions"

I've come up with a few.

1. Pray more
"To be a Christian without prayer is no more possible than to be alive without breathing." -Martin Luther King, Jr. 
2. Drink more water
Because everyone knows its "good" for you, but we all know we don't do it.
3. Talk more, text less
Upon realizing that I spend so much time texting and having my phone on me, I realized I want to be able to leave my phone and not always be connected. I want to spend more time with people I care about instead of communicating though texting.

I'd like some more ideas. Ways to make our lives better, richer, and and honoring to God in 2011. 

"Maybe it's not my weekend, but it's ganna be my year. I'm so sick of watching the minutes pass as I go nowhere." -Weightless by All Time Lows

December 24, 2010

Can anyone tell me what Christmas is all about?

Isaiah 9:6
"For to us a child is born,
   to us a son is given,
   and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
   Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
   Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." 
This evening, Christmas Eve, I went to church with my family. Early this morning, my brother and his wife arrived at our parent's house. It is so good to have family all around! We went to church at 4pm. There was a lovely service. The message delivered by Steve Clifford was strong and thought-provoking. He asked, "is this story true?" He was challenging those to commit to their belief of Jesus. Is this story and the reason we celebrate true or is it all a hoax? I know I believe. He also challenged us to think about why God chose for Jesus to come this way. God did it for a purpose. I think the way God chose to bring His Son into the world is beautiful. And cause for big celebration.
Jesus is the reason we celebrate.
I think every year, as I get older, I realize more and more what Christmas is all about.  


After church, we came home and had a yummy dinner of potato, bacon, cheese, and corn soup. Yum! We then watched The Nativity Story. Typically, I don't care for "Jesus" movies. They tend to bore me. But, The Nativity Story captivated me and I saw the birth of Jesus, my Savior, and the Savior of the World in a new way.
 
If you are looking for a great movie, this one is definitely a good pick. I love seeing movies or reading books that challenge me to think or see things in a new way. 

Luke 2:1-20
In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to their own town to register. So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.

 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
  “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
   and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.



Merry Christmas! And Happy Birthday Jesus!

December 19, 2010

Wear Sunscreen

The lyrics to Everybody's free to Wear Sunscreen by Baz Luhrmann


Ladies and Gentlemen of the class of ’99
If I could offer you only one tip for the future, sunscreen would be it. 
The long term benefits of sunscreen have been proved by
scientists whereas the rest of my advice has no basis more reliable
than my own meandering
experience…I will dispense this advice now. 
Enjoy the power and beauty of your youth; oh nevermind; you will not
understand the power and beauty of your youth until they have faded.
But trust me, in 20 years you’ll look back at photos of yourself and
recall in a way you can’t grasp now how much possibility lay before
you and how fabulous you really looked….
You’re not as fat as you imagine. 
Don’t worry about the future; or worry, but know that worrying is as
effective as trying to solve an algebra equation by chewing
bubblegum. The real troubles in your life are apt to be things that
never crossed your worried mind; the kind that blindside you at 4pm
on some idle Tuesday. 
Do one thing everyday that scares you. 
Sing. Don’t be reckless with other people’s hearts, don’t put up with
people who are reckless with yours. 
Floss. Don’t waste your time on jealousy; sometimes you’re ahead, sometimes
you’re behind…the race is long, and in the end, it’s only with yourself. 
Remember the compliments you receive, forget the insults; if you
succeed in doing this, tell me how. 
Keep your old love letters, throw away your old bank statements. Stretch. 
Don’t feel guilty if you don’t know what you want to do with your
life…the most interesting people I know didn’t know at 22 what they
wanted to do with their lives, some of the most interesting 40 year
olds I know still don’t. Get plenty of calcium. Be kind to your knees, you’ll miss them when they’re gone. Maybe you’ll marry, maybe you won’t, maybe you’ll have children,maybe
you won’t, maybe you’ll divorce at 40, maybe you’ll dance the funky
chicken on your 75th wedding anniversary…what ever you do, don’t
congratulate yourself too much or berate yourself either – your
choices are half chance, so are everybody else’s. Enjoy your body,
use it every way you can…don’t be afraid of it, or what other people
think of it, it’s the greatest instrument you’ll ever own.
Dance…even if you have nowhere to do it but in your own living room. 
Read the directions, even if you don’t follow them. Do NOT read beauty magazines, they will only make you feel ugly. Get to know your parents, you never know when they’ll be gone for
good. Be nice to your siblings; they are the best link to your past and the
people most likely to stick with you in the future. 
Understand that friends come and go, but for the precious few you
should hold on. Work hard to bridge the gaps in geography and
lifestyle because the older you get, the more you need the people you
knew when you were young.
Live in New York City once, but leave before it makes you hard; live
in Northern California once, but leave before it makes you soft. 
Travel. Accept certain inalienable truths, prices will rise, politicians will
philander, you too will get old, and when you do you’ll fantasize
that when you were young prices were reasonable, politicians were
noble and children respected their elders.
Respect your elders. Don’t expect anyone else to support you. Maybe you have a trust fund,
maybe you have a wealthy spouse; but you never know when either one
might run out. Don’t mess too much with your hair, or by the time you're 40, it will
look 85. Be careful whose advice you buy, but, be patient with those who
supply it. Advice is a form of nostalgia, dispensing it is a way of
fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the
ugly parts and recycling it for more than
it’s worth. But trust me on the sunscreen…

December 17, 2010

Open Doors all Around Me

Can I just say how crazy these last couple of days have been?

I've been working on:
  • a class schudele
  • a place to live
  • getting my car checked out
  • transportation/travel plans
  • work schedules
  • holiday shopping
  • remaining sane
To say the least, things have certainly been crazy around here, but God answered so many prayers and opened so many doors. When I first came home, I was kinda lost at what would be next for me. But God opened a door, one by one, and showed me what was next for me. And now, everything is in place and I can finally relax a little bit before my life gets crazy again with moving back to Oregon.

I am so excited! I spent some time yesterday talking to my new adviser at OSU. She was so helpful and I found out while talking to her that she is a Christian, too! That was so comforting. And while at OSU, I can take different dance classes, and experience so many different things. Wow. Why I spent so much time at Corban, I don't know. But God clearly is leading me to OSU.

Life's a journey. What can I say?
The Lord is the everlasting God
The creator of all the Earth
He never grows weak or weary
No one can measure the depths of His understanding
He gives power to the weak, and strength to the powerless
...Even youth will become weak and tired
And young men will fall in exhaustion
But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength
They will soar high on wings like eagles
They will run and not grow weary
They will walk and not faint.

December 8, 2010

Pop Goes the Bubble

Maybe I've been living in a "christian" bubble for the majority of my life. It would be safe to say that, as I've been in Christian schools and circles since I was in 7th grade. However, why is it so shocking to the world that a 20 year old would have no interest in drugs, alcohol, or partying? Or let alone, a 21 year old.

I am continually disgusted with this world and what is has become.  Thank God for the hope of Heaven. If this was all there was, I don't think I could stand it.

Recently at work, I've experienced interactions with people very different from the people I would choose to interact with. I wouldn't go as far to say they are worldly, because I don't know their stories, I don't know their hearts. However, the things they say constantly leave me appalled. I am shocked people live this way.

If you know me, or are a reader, it is not a secret that I believe in God and I believe Jesus is the ONLY way. I am not turned off to people who believe something different, I just disagree with their belief. But that is in no way a personal attack against them.

I celebrate diversity. I celebrate differences. That is how God created this world and sometimes I find it so sad how Christian circles try to "cookie-cut" everyone to be exactly the same. I look around at the world, and I also see beauty. From the different cultures, to different styles of dressing, to the way the leaves change colors in the fall. Just because the leaves change colors, does that make them any less of a leaf? No.

Anyway, it is safe to say my bubble has been popped. I'm finding it more important than ever to spend daily time with Jesus to survive in this world. In this war. The war against Satan and the world.

The good news? God always wins. :) He is victorious. He overcame DEATH.

November 29, 2010

How He Loves Us

"If His grace is an ocean, we're all sinking"


According to Answers.com, 71% of the world is made up of ocean. That is a lot of water. The concept of God's grace and the imagery of an ocean is so beautiful.

When I was a little girl, my dad told me to always be careful when swimming too far out in the ocean, because tidal waves (or that is what I called them) could sweep you too far out and you wouldn't be able to swim back. The ocean is very very powerful. It can rage with anger, or be calm with peace.

If the world is made of 71% ocean, that means the ocean overtakes most of the earth. Compare that to God's grace. God's grace covers every thing we do, just like the ocean covers the earth.

There is nothing we can do to separate us from God's love and God's grace.

Romans 8:38-39, "For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels not demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."


That is beautiful. 

November 19, 2010

Take what's left of me

In Summer 2010, I experienced what could only be described as a dream come true. To be back in that place as it was then in Summer 2010 would be impossible. Why is it that in a moment you are just wanting to get through it, and after the moment is over you just want to relive it? That is how I feel about Summer 2010.

I spent Summer 2010 working at Canby Grove Conference Center in Canby, Oregon. I was living my dream as a camp counselor. I never believed in my heart of hearts that I would ever be a counselor. I never thought I was good enough. But for this summer, God hand picked me to be a counselor and to live my dream. And now that my dream has been lived and summer has gone, I feel somewhat lost. Partly due to the fact that Canby Grove has closed its doors. There were rumors of re-opening or possible buyers, but nothing has come through, and Canby Grove remains closed.

I remember when I first arrived at Canby Grove. I was a mix of nervousness, anxiety, and excitement. I had no idea how much my life was going to change and how much God was going to show up. I picked my bunk bed-this was my home for the next 2 and half months. If you know me, picking my bed was an all too difficult task. I kept changing my mind. I finally settled on the shortest bed in the bunkhouse (Gal Carral)-which I guess fits because I was also the shortest girl, or gal.

I was at camp early for Advanced Crew. And boy, did God teach me lessons that week. Oregon doesn't really turn into summer into mid June or July. This year was an especially wet year. Needless to say, camp was moist, muddy, and anything but what I had expected. Canby Grove is an outdoor camp. I am not the most outdoor girl out there, to say the least.

These girls living around me would grow to become my friends, my family even. Who knew? I miss camp. I miss this summer. I miss the community, the growth, the campers, the songs. Everything. The list of what I miss could go on and on. What I miss most? Me. God revealed me to myself this summer at camp in a way I have never experienced before. The walls I had built up began to crumble down, the hurts deep within my heart began to heal, and most of all, I began to really love myself for who God created me to be. I grew to be a leader. I had always dreamed of being a leader-but my fears and insecurities kept me from embracing that.

My heart longs to be back in this place. To feel what I felt, so smell what I smelt, and to view the views I viewed. I long to be surrounded by the Summer 2010 Stuff. These people will never know what a crucial part of my journey they have become.



One of my favorite movies ever is Titanic. In the end of the movie, Rose is talking about Jack and she says, "A woman's heart is an ocean full of secrets. But now you know there was a man named Jack Dawson, and that he saved me, in every way a person can be saved. I don't even have a picture of him...He exists now only in my memory."
This is how I feel about Canby Grove. God found me and saved me in every possible way I could be saved that summer. And sadly, it exists only in my memory.

Canby Grove Summer 2010-you changed my life. 


The Glorious Unseen-Take What's Left of Me
When my hope is gone, how can I carry on?
If my faith is strong, will you be the truth I’m hanging on?
Will you be my eyes when I cannot see?
Will you be my voice when I cannot speak?
Will you be my hands where I cannot reach?
Father, take what’s left of me.
If I fall away, will you come rescue me?
In my broken state, will you be a light to guide my way?
Will you take me back to that place again?
Where I know my savior as my friend - where you show me grace that has no end - where I come alive within your plan.
Will you take me there?
Will you be my eyes when I cannot see?
Will you be my voice when I cannot speak?
Will you be my hands where I cannot reach?
Father, take what’s left of me.