tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-210638292024-03-07T17:32:56.257-05:00A Woman at the Well"Jesus answered, "Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life." John 4:13-14 (NIV)Elisabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11380427524254799205noreply@blogger.comBlogger98125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21063829.post-46585076166801631422013-02-11T22:03:00.001-05:002013-02-11T22:03:23.289-05:00Migration<i>I have migrated over to <a href="http://elisabethdell.wordpress.com/">http://elisabethdell.wordpress.com/</a></i><br />
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<i>Come check it out!!</i>Elisabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11380427524254799205noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21063829.post-55183158503166380542013-02-01T18:47:00.000-05:002013-03-08T22:15:51.645-05:00Friday in the Cube<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 22px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Also, I really do enjoy the people I work with - these are just funny.</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Quotables:</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><i>In response to the brand of toothpaste I use and my toothpaste policies (p.s. I don't share toothpaste): </i>You are living life absolutely wrong. Just...wrong. I can't believe you use Crest. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><i>A note on an unmarked sandwich in fridge:</i> I accidentally took a bite out of your sandwich before realizing it wasn’t mine…come see me and I’ll buy you lunch! <i>(I loved this note! I almost wished that was my sandwich)</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><i>After someone explained to me the origin of the words “Baller” and “Ballin’” (a totally unsolicited explanation), another guy piped up:</i> “Yeah, back in high school I tried to use the word ‘Spherein’’ and make it a thing, but sadly it never really caught on…you know, Sphereing, because a ball is a sphere.” </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><i>Dropping a frozen dinner on a table (made a huge thud):</i> “Doesn’t it sound delicious?!”</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">M: “I’m going to have to dock one of your reviews if I hear her talking about an ‘unfinished product.’</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Us: “What?”</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">M: “I heard the words unfinished something coming from over here…”</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Us: “Oh. Well that was probably in regards to the paper snowflake. I’m trying to get him to make a paper snowflake, but he won’t. He punched it with a pen and then threw his unfinished product in the trash.”</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">M (to snowflake offender): “Oh, well, that’s still going on your review. For an unfinished snowflake. I "fired" you yesterday – didn’t you learn anything?!?” <i>(His computer had stopped working the day before - she claims it's because she "secretly fired" him :) )</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><i>Someone over the cube wall to a passerby:</i> Did you see me looking for you? I was like a little groundhog, popping up.</span></span></div>
Elisabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11380427524254799205noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21063829.post-82940075244060176302013-01-30T22:53:00.000-05:002013-01-30T22:53:12.472-05:00Pet Peeve...Passive-aggressive statements said out loud to no one in particular are, in my opinion, the worst. It is a way for you to vent your feelings without confronting one person in particular, but being fairly certain that the one offender heard you and knew beyond a doubt that you were talking about them. <br />
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I think that the reason passive-aggressive behavior is so appealing is because it comes with no commitment. What I mean is that, no matter what you say, you can pass off your statements as something you "didn't really mean," or you were "just talking to yourself," or "oh no, I meant someone totally different." It's an easy pass but you still get to speak your mind.</div>
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Now to be honest, when "confronted" with passive-aggressiveness, my immediate tendency is to be passive-aggressive right back. For instance, if someone says "I hate it when people don't wash their dishes," I'm like, "Yeah...me too..." Now the nice thing is that if this comment was directed towards me, I can pretend like it wasn't, and then go hurriedly wash my dishes in secret and never make that mistake again. No one will ever know, and every body wins, right?</div>
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Wrong! I don't think there are winners in passive-aggressiveness. I think it breeds bitterness, fosters grudges, and develops unnecessary divides in relationships. I think it allows us to get away with murder, while only paying for frustration. </div>
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The other day, I was printing off some papers at work. I was printing to a different printer since my normal one was broken. As I walked up to get my papers, a clearly frustrated individual said loudly "Aarrggg SOMEONE isn't printing to a job box!" Now first, some clarification. We usually print to job boxes so that our work doesn't get mixed up with others. I did not have a job box set up to that printer since that was not my usual printer. Hence, I was the offender, and I heard the statement. And I knew that it was most likely directed at me, whether the individual knew it or not. </div>
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At this point, I had two options: 1. I could have just not said anything, pretended like I did have a job box, and discreetly gather my scattered papers at a later time, or 2. I could say something and end it there. I chose, at this moment, to say ironically, "That someone is probably me." And then I calmly gathered my papers that the disgruntled person was tossing around, affirming the fact that it absolutely was me, and walked away. </div>
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Thwarted! A passive-aggressive confrontation that did not end passive aggressively. It basically ended with the individual being exposed, putting a face to their frustrated comment. And then effectively shutting them up, since they were embarrassed that the offender "found out" and acknowledged it. </div>
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However, if I could do it again, I would choose a 3rd option. I should have said "I'm sorry I haven't set up a job box on this printer yet - I know those are helpful for paper control. I think that's my stuff that was mixed up in yours. Thanks for dealing with it!" Instead of being retributive and extracting justice, I should have been kind and understanding. And that is, I believe, the only way to effectively deal with passive-aggressive behavior.</div>
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Ultimately, I think people are afraid of other people's reactions (and rightfully so...see my option 2 above...). So, naturally, the passive-aggressive approach is the best way to be heard and yet to not ruffle too many feathers (unless, of course, the accused person chooses to respond - again, option 2). But this does not foster a real relationship. It makes for relationships built on little to no direct, honest communication. This is a problem!</div>
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The only way we can fix it is by starting with ourselves. I think that if we're willing to become humble and open, we are able to invite others into our lives honestly and openly. This allows for people to explain hurts, offenses, anger, and pain in a safe environment, knowing that we will listen and not strike out in return. Basically, we want to be approachable people, not stand-offish. Once we work on this in our own hearts, we can also begin to communicate openly with other people, eliminating the need for passive-aggressive comments forever! </div>
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This kind of relating is dangerous and involved - but it is also real. And I would much rather have real relationships than safe ones. </div>
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I know no one really reads this, but if you happen to by some accident stumble across this, what are your thoughts on passive-aggressive statements and their solutions?</div>
Elisabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11380427524254799205noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21063829.post-62321359520033717232013-01-25T18:48:00.000-05:002013-03-08T22:16:53.414-05:00Friday in the Cube<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Received via email:</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px;"> Would you please provoke the detail <i>(note: having never provoked detail before, I'm was a little scared about what would happen)</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 13px;"><i> </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">While riding the screeching elevator to our floor:</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> It’s like there are a lot of little monkeys in there making it go. Seriously, I’m going to miss this building so much.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Someone standing next to the printer:</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> I might be done, but I’m still hangin’ out!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Someone, to me, after reading an email from a coworker:</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> You just got thrown under the bus! I thought you two were tight.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Discussing an email:</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">E - She can’t mean the last full week of every month – the April week is the week of the 29<sup>th</sup>; there’s only two days in April that week.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">M - Maybe we’re reading into too much.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">E - It <i>explicitly</i> says the last full week.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">M - I’m just saying – maybe we’re reading it too closely.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">E - Right…</span></span></div>
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Elisabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11380427524254799205noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21063829.post-22720407748974468332013-01-24T23:11:00.000-05:002013-01-24T23:11:35.185-05:00DisciplineA couple of weeks ago, I decided to take a day off Facebook. Not for any reason in particular...I just wanted to see how it would go. This was, arguably, one of the hardest decisions I've had to make in my 25 years of life. I am a hardcore 21st century protege and a day without Facebook to me would be like a day without [...well, I don't really know...] for my parents. I know that sounds stupid, but I feel so disconnected from everyone when I don't have 24-hour access to social sites. And my smart phone doesn't help. I no longer need a computer with internet connection - I can just hop on my 3G network and have unlimited access. <br />
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About two months ago, I decided to try a week without coffee. This decision wasn't as hard - I had headaches and thought maybe they were caffeine-induced. Cutting coffee seemed like a logical step. I missed it so much I couldn't stop talking about it. I think everyone got tired of that one and they were all happy when I went back on caffeine. If I mess up or am in a bad mood, my coworker now asks me if I've had my coffee - he chalks a lot of stuff up to coffee-less mornings. Um, on second thought, I might have a bigger issue than lack of caffeine... But seriously, I still try to not drink it every day, but that one's tough.<br />
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Last year, I decided to participate in a fitness challenge, intending to carry on after the end of the challenge. I definitely exercise more now, but nothing like what I did for those few months. And full disclosure, when winter came around, I pretty much said forget this. I told myself that I needed to prepare for hibernation - and that being sedentary was totally acceptable. Don't worry, I'm over that and back at the gym, but still.<br />
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Anyway, the point to all of this is that all of these things required discipline. They weren't easy choices to make because they meant changing or modifying a habit (or lack thereof) in my day-to-day life. It was work. <br />
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There are two kinds of discipline. The first I prefer to call self-discipline, or even self-control (a fruit of the Spirit). This kind is internal and motivated by the inner person. The second is initiated by an external person and usually involves punishment or rebuke. The former is an action, and to Christians, the latter is a gift (Heb. 12:7-11, Ps. 94:12).<br />
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I've been musing on self-discipline lately. It seems like I'm constantly faced with choices to make about how to spend my time, my money, my affections, and my actions (basically I'm a grown-up). I can choose to be wise about my decisions, or I can choose to be foolish. Or maybe somewhere in between. However, I think that as a Christian, I'm called to be disciplined. <br />
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We're also called to exercise wisdom and discernment (Proverbs 17:24), but not by being "wise in our own eyes" (Proverbs 3:7). We are to ask God to give us wisdom (especially if we lack it, James 1:5), and to believe and act accordingly. I think this kind of wisdom leads to self-discipline, and ultimately self-control. <br />
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If you are a Christian, you have been given power over sin. You have the choice to not sin because Christ defeated it at the cross. That's incredible! This means that you also have the power to practice something like the Fruit of the Spirit, including discipline/self-control. You have the power to be humble and ask for wisdom, seeking to live a godly life. <br />
<br />
When I think about discipline that way, it becomes more than a decision to get off Facebook for a day. It becomes a mode of living, a pattern of choices that I'm choosing to follow. It involves me asking not "what's the 'best' thing?" but rather "<a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Best-Question-Ever-ebook/dp/B0027MJTW4/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1359086431&sr=8-2&keywords=the+best+question+ever">what's the wise thing</a>?" <br />
<br />
I'm sure this seems like an incredibly boring life to some people, but there is just something so compelling about wise Christians. I want to become one someday. Living a wise, disciplined life is definitely more thoughtful and careful, but it also develops a strength/steadiness of character that can endure and persevere. My prayer, as I continue to grow in faith and grace, is that I would also grow in wisdom and discipline to be a better servant for the kingdom of God - that I would use my time, money, affections, actions, and everything else for His glory. Elisabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11380427524254799205noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21063829.post-56474117936424729272013-01-18T21:30:00.000-05:002013-01-18T21:35:07.850-05:00Friday in the Cube<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #bbbbbb; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Cube life is remarkably boring. It's really the little things that carry us through - the random conversations, the odd overheard remarks, the random misspellings and grammatical errors. So...yeah.</i></span></span><br />
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #bbbbbb; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #bbbbbb; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Also, I really do enjoy the people I work with - these are just funny.</i></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 22px;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 22px;">Quotables:</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Someone on the phone, presumably talking about kids and such: "</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px;">Oh, I don’t have a little one. Heeelllll no! [silence] Well, first I have to trick a girl into wanting me.”</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px;">Someone else on the phone: “I apologize that you are yelling at me. You are calling me the rudest person you’ve ever known, but you are yelling at me.”</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px;">Grammar Policing:</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px;">I learned this week that someone was "</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px;">Improperly chargered." Also, someone wanted to process several "dispursements."</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><br /></span></span></div>
Elisabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11380427524254799205noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21063829.post-11170240495601205222013-01-11T19:55:00.000-05:002013-03-08T22:18:11.846-05:00Friday in the Cube<div class="MsoNormal" style="border-collapse: collapse; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Cube life is remarkably boring. It's really the little things that carry us through - the random conversations, the odd overheard remarks, the random misspellings and grammatical errors. So...yeah.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border-collapse: collapse; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border-collapse: collapse; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Also, I really enjoy the people I work with - these are just funny.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border-collapse: collapse; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border-collapse: collapse; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Quotables:</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> </span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border-collapse: collapse; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border-collapse: collapse; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">"I love it when I get credit for your work!” - a nice email I received. <u></u></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border-collapse: collapse; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border-collapse: collapse; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">“You look wet.” - I had woken up late and my hair wasn't dry...<u></u></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border-collapse: collapse; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border-collapse: collapse; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Someone to the printer: “It says it has removable memory. Well, they removed my memory years ago!!”<u></u><u></u></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border-collapse: collapse; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border-collapse: collapse; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Someone on the phone "providing" an email address: “Fin. As in a shark fin. [silence] Also, there are other things that have fins, like fish, and other sharks. Do you know what a fin is? Spell it like that.”<u></u><u></u></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border-collapse: collapse; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border-collapse: collapse; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">“Ewww, it smells like a cigar in here”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border-collapse: collapse; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border-collapse: collapse; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border-collapse: collapse; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>Grammar Policing:</b> </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border-collapse: collapse; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Attached please find 2 document:<u></u><u></u></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border-collapse: collapse; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border-collapse: collapse; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I will look, I do not have anything, for this.<u></u><u></u></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border-collapse: collapse; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border-collapse: collapse; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Incomming faxes<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border-collapse: collapse; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">It is in the frig on 5<sup>th</sup> Floor</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border-collapse: collapse; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border-collapse: collapse; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I will review wit [person] the different issues<u></u><u></u></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border-collapse: collapse; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border-collapse: collapse; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Yes, [person] says it no more than 5 a week. <u></u><u></u></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border-collapse: collapse; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border-collapse: collapse; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Were taking they're printer.<u></u></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border-collapse: collapse; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border-collapse: collapse; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Please distribute and while [person] is training let's see if their accurate<u></u><u></u></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border-collapse: collapse; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border-collapse: collapse; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Are you steel taking the 28th?<u></u><u></u></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border-collapse: collapse; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border-collapse: collapse; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I have will now also be directly receiving an email if these solutions do not run.<u></u><u></u></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border-collapse: collapse; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border-collapse: collapse; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Please ask him if he is braking down the daily totals.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border-collapse: collapse; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border-collapse: collapse; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Additionally she would like to understand perk volumes times throughout the year.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border-collapse: collapse; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> (And the correction for above: Understanding peek volumes)</span></div>
Elisabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11380427524254799205noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21063829.post-16078235719475066702013-01-01T22:52:00.001-05:002013-01-01T22:52:13.215-05:00Where's My Packing List?
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><i>Talk for Great Awakenings given in November, 2012. This year's theme: Life's a Journey. </i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.0pt;">As you’ve heard, today’s topic is
“Where’s my packing list?!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t know
a ton about life, but packing is one thing that I actually have some experience
in!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve done a fair amount of travel
over the past few years, including several trips back and forth to my college
in Mississippi, a few international excursions, several road trips, and
countless little day trips here and there. Packing happens to be the one thing that all my trips have in
common.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, packing is <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">never</b> the memorable part of the
trip.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes, it is a necessity, but no,
it’s not what I look forward to.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
think of packing like I think of doing chores.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It’s convenient and helpful in life, but not super fun.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I also don’t realize its importance until I
forget to do it. Then I realize the full impact it has on my trip.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Really, the way you or I pack could make our
trip super awesome or super stressful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.0pt;">I have two goals when I
pack.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The first one is speed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hate packing, so I usually save it until
the last minute.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You might say, "hmmm...is speedy packing really your goal, or is it just
something you force yourself into because you save it for the last minute?" My answer is<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes - Yes to both – it’s my goal and I inadvertently
make it forced.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But speediness is predominately
my goal because, as we’ve established, packing is not memorable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s just something that must be done.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So if that’s the case, it should be as quick
and concise as possible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This usually
results in me going around the room in circles – grabbing a handful of socks
here, a t-shirt or two here, then circling back around to my sock drawer to
grab some sunglasses, which for some reason I decided to keep there, then
across to the bathroom for some travel sized containers, then back to the sock
drawer, then back to the bathroom to fill the containers, etc.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s quick, but kind of stressful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.0pt;">My second goal is to
always be prepared.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For women, there’s nothing
worse than pulling in to your final destination, often feeling harried and
exhausted from your travels, only to find out that you left all your underwear
at home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I mean seriously!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Underwear, for women, does not have a simple
“pick up a five-pack at Walmart” fix.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>There are so many different styles, sizes, and colors that it
immediately becomes an hour-long hunt just to find something that will work for
the duration of the trip. <i>(Side note: I've been told this isn't true for all women...so maybe it's just me. And a lot of people I know...)</i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I travel,
I like to make sure I have enough clothes and enough toiletries to get me
through anything I might encounter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When
I fly, I inevitably pack double of everything – once in my carry-on and once in
my checked luggage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You never know when
the airline is going accidentally send your luggage to Portland…Oregon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I traveled to France in February to visit my
friend, Bonnie.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On the way back, the
airline managed to get my luggage to Pennsylvania, which is where I
went through customs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I actually had my
bag at this point!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then, for some
inexplicable reason, they shipped it off to Portland while I continued on my
merry way to Manchester, NH.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This marked
the final hurrah to an extended and frustrating trip home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fortunately, though, I had all I needed (and
more!) in my carryon, so my lost luggage did not set me back too much.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And yes, they were able to deliver it to my
doorstep the next day. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.0pt;">As you can imagine, all
of this prepared-ness easily translates into “over-packing” (which is usually
accompanied with an eye-roll from others…).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I’ve had several airport experiences where I’ve packed all but the
kitchen sink in my carry-ons.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is
fine when I’m travelling with people, but usually I’m traveling alone and don’t
have the benefit of a travel buddy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This
means that every time I have to go to the bathroom in between flights, I have
to carry everything into the stall with me – I can’t leave it all unattended at
the gate (because I pay careful attention to all security threat advisements
that come over the PA system).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By the
time make it to the nearest bathroom and finally get the stall door closed
around my gigantic backpack, three other people behind me have already peed and
left.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I haven’t even started.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My next step (once I
get the door closed) is to figure out what to put on the disgusting floor,
since all the coat hooks are missing (naturally).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Then once I figure out my base (usually the part of the backpack that I
don’t have to touch), I pile everything else precariously on top, trying to
make sure nothing falls.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then, once
that’s complete, I have to somehow maneuver around the pile in order to get to
the toilet seat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By this time, I’m
exhausted and I end up just sitting on the toilet for forever.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Whoops.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And then it starts all over again when I’m done and need to exit the
stall.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At this point, I swear off flying
and decide to just travel by car.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
reality is, I should have thought through how to pack what I actually need –
not what I might potentially need.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
point to all of this?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s good to be prepared,
but packing the kitchen sink is not necessary.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.0pt;">So speed and “always be
prepared” are my two packing goals.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If I
were to add a third goal to my packing (and honestly, a third goal might be
wise), it would be efficiency.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I
say efficiency, I mean streamlining the packing process: making lists, planning
ahead, and not wasting time or space. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Usually,
I sacrifice <u>efficiency</u> for <u>speed</u> – not because the two are
mutually exclusive, but because I’m too lazy to put in the extra effort.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Although it seems pretty obvious that if I
were to put the effort in here, I would have a higher success rate of speed and
preparedness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For me, the extra effort
would be to create a list, which would take into account length of travel,
weather of my destination (should I pack summer or winter clothes?), and mode
of travel (am I restricted by airline rules?).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Taking this extra step would still enable packing to happen last minute,
but it would streamline the process and would enable a better prepared-ness for
the entire trip.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here’s my packing tip
of the day: I would highly recommend making lists.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s an easy and quick way to organize.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you make a list, save it, either on a
piece of paper or on the computer, for later trips.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Likewise, if you’re on a trip and find
yourself saying “Oh darn it…I wish I had brought [fill in the blank],” write it
down and then add it to the list when you return home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When you do return home and start unpacking,
look for items that you didn’t touch on the trip.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Remove those from your packing list if it’s
not a necessary item.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That way, the next
time you travel, you’ll have a greater likelihood of packing all the right
things!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Every year our church
takes the youth group on a huge camping trip in July.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We call it the Youth Retreat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve been going on the Youth Retreat every
year now since I was going into 7<sup>th</sup> grade.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s pretty easy camping.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have access to a bathhouse, we bring
several campers and good tents, and we do what we can to make it enjoyable and
semi-comfortable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, every year I
mentally add more to the “I wish I had brought…” list, hoping that the next
year I would have finally packed everything I need.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This list has included things like extra
sweatshirts, water shoes, plastic bags for wet clothes, plastic bags for dry
clothes (so they don’t get wet), extra towels for when everything I own is
soaked, a car so that I can keep things dry, etc. (we tend to get wets on these
trips…).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So far, the only thing I’ve
taken off this list is a deck of cards, because those are also soaked and
unusable by the end of the week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Well…talking about
packing is great and all, but now we come to the big question: what in the
world does this have to do with life? How
does any of this translate into my personal, every-day life?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Last month, Kim
explained to us that we’re on one big journey called life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This journey that we’re on is planned and led
by God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He is directing our steps.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We learned that everything comes from Him,
even the hard things.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s a little
surprising, then, to find out that we actually need to “pack,” or prepare, for
this journey.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But it’s true, we can’t
just expect to do nothing and get through.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.0pt;">The first thing we need
for our life-journey is faith.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s like
a passport or a driver’s license.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you
try to go somewhere without proper identification, there are immediate
consequences that hinder your travels.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>There’s a fine just for driving without your license. Faith is
the same way in life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s super
important.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Without it, we’re not really
following a purpose or a path.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Some of you might be
wondering, what does “faith” even mean?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And does faith in anything I feel like count?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><u>This</u> is where the Bible is
helpful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hebrews 11:1-3 says, “Now faith
is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For by it the people of old received their
commendation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By faith we understand
that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not
made out of things that are visible.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What
are the things hoped for and convictions unseen?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are the hope of salvation and eternal
life in the Lord Jesus Christ!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Faith is
believing the promises of God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Faith is
believing that the Lord Jesus Christ came to earth, lived as a man, was
crucified on the cross, and rose again on the third day, all so that I could be
saved from my sins.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And the cool thing
is, faith is a gift from God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We just
have to ask!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once we grasp this, once we
believe this, all the rest [other packing items] follows.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Faith, for me, came a
fairly young age.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was about 12 when I
first believed that Jesus died on the cross to save me from my sin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Faith totally changed my outlook on life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Before it, I was hoping in myself and was
relying on my own self-sufficiency to get through life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I believed that I was invincible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This belief of mine was disproved every
single day...from paper cuts to grades, from lost arguments to poor life choices.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I still thought that
I could take care of myself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Fortunately, I can stand here and say that it’s amazing to not have to
rely on me any more!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s not always been
easy trusting in God the past several years, but it’s always been worthwhile.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I always know that God is with me through
everything, and that He has promised eternal life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And now I can have hope in something bigger
than me!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Living with the hope of eternity
puts every day life into perspective.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Knowing that I’m living for something important makes the time I have on
earth extra special.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.0pt;">So after we pack faith,
which is a gift from God, there are some other things that we should look to
add.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Bible has two very helpful
passages that help us understand what the rest of our life packing list should
look like.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The first passage comes from
Galatians 5:22-23.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is commonly
referred to as the “Fruit of the Spirit.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It says, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience,
kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things
there is no law.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those sounds
great!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But how are we supposed to pack
them?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They seem like elusive
characteristics that can be hard to pin down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And they certainly are not constant in our day-to-day lives – well, at
least not in mine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If I was practicing patience
every moment of everyday, I’m pretty sure my morning road trips into work would
not contain so much anger and frustration towards other drivers on the road.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> My immediate co</span>nclusion for almost every other driver is “obviously that person has no idea how to drive.” Obviously I should practice patience more often.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.0pt;">How should I use patience when I drive?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How can we access
the Fruit of the Spirit?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sometimes, time
Bible uses the term “put on” when referring to the Fruit of the Spirit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Colossians 3:12 says, “Put on then, as God's
chosen ones, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and
patience.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And then in verse 14, it
continues, “And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in
perfect harmony.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now we’re getting
closer to understanding.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Put on” is an
action that we can follow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.0pt;">There comes a point
where most analogies break down – I think comparing packing for a trip to
packing for real life breaks down here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>You see, after all this talk about packing, in life we can’t really pack
for ourselves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We can’t put on the love,
just like that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We can’t chose to “put
on” compassionate hearts and humility, like Colossians 3 is commanding.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are only able to access these things
through Christ and His saving grace that comes to us through faith, which, as
we found out earlier, is a gift from God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I wasn’t kidding when I said faith is the most important.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Christ is really the only one who can give us
the power to do all of these beautiful things.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Some of you might be
saying, well, I have faith, but the rest seems to be missing!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I would say, you’re off to a good start!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But if you have true faith, it means that you
have the power to practice things like kindness and humility.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s not unattainable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It doesn’t mean that this is always our
default mode (hence the “putting on”).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If
we go back to our trip analogy, we don’t use everything we pack all at once.
But it is all available to us – it’s all accessible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In life with faith, this means that you can
access, or put-on, the “Fruit of the Spirit” at any time and you can actually
choose to pull out a little love or unroll a little gentleness in any situation
– you’re not stuck without it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is a
great kind of power.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Use it!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Others of you might be
saying, uh-oh…I don’t even have faith!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Well, I’m so glad we’re talking about it this morning!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you’re interested, find someone here to
connect with and maybe meet a few times over coffee.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s totally worth pursuing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Find people at your table who have true faith
– I know they like to talk about it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Some of you might be
like, I totally have this all down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Next?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well if that's really true, to you I say, teach
me – teach us!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I want to become more of
all these things, and I know others wish the same.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just let me know when I can get coffee with
you!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Finally, some of you (like
myself) might be somewhere in between.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>If I can take us back to packing for a moment…I’m not always a careful
or thoughtful or prepared packer…when I was in 9<sup>th</sup> grade on a
missions trip to Cambodia, I was going through security at an airport.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had forgotten to pack my nail scissors in
my checked luggage, so I was trying to carry them on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As my bag went through the scanning belt, the
alert went off signifying that something was wrong.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was pretty young back then, and I didn’t
like being in the spotlight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I was
pulled aside as my bag was searched, and I think they even did a pat down in
front of everyone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They finally found
the scissors and confiscated them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For
some reason, they didn’t have a problem with all the other sharp pointy objects
in the nail kit – it was just the scissors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They gave my bag back to me and sent me on my way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had barely held it together until
then.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was terrified and
humiliated.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As soon as I started walking
down the jet way, I burst into tears.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Fortunately, I was traveling with other people and they consoled
me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But needless to say, I learned my
lesson and I’ve since been incredibly careful about how I pack my carry-ons. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve definitely grown in all my packing
abilities over the years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And I think
the same thing happens in life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As you
go through experiences, you learn from them. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You learn how to better use the Fruit of the
Spirit at all times.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You’re constantly
growing and moving in life – it’s not a stagnant experience.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So be encouraged if you’re in between.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There’s always room to grow, but it might be
fun to look back once in awhile and see how far you’ve come.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Whether you haven’t
started this life journey yet or if you’re several years down the road, know
that Christ is always there, ready and willing to give us faith and the power
to access and put on the Fruit of the Spirit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Just remember – the way you pack will make your trip either super
awesome or super not awesome.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Thank you!</span></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Elisabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11380427524254799205noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21063829.post-42562834463973545392011-06-09T22:29:00.000-04:002011-06-09T22:29:47.073-04:00Everyone is better than me at something, I guaranteeMediocrity is paralyzing. That combined with the fact that there really is nothing new under the sun (even Solomon was saying that all the way back in Ecclesiastes) really makes me pause and question the point of trying to learn something - or the point of doing anything, really. I'm guessing I'm not the first person who's thought about this. <br />
<br />
First, mediocrity. I am a jack-of-all-trades. However, I have not mastered even a one. And really, I'm not even a jack-of-all-trades. I'm more of an amateur of many select "trades" that I wish I had real talent in. For instance, I've toyed with the idea of writing a book. Then I remember, I have friends who are actually writing books and who are phenomenal writers to begin with. I would love to sing professionally. But oh wait, I have friends who do that, too. And they have actually devoted time to learning how. I've thought about acting, studying medicine, journalism, sports, cooking, event planning, dancing, designing, etc. But I have friends who do all of those things professionally and with class. I don't measure up. It's not really that my friends can do these things well - I am actually super excited for them and can't wait to see how God will use and already has used them in their fields. No, it's the fact that they were all motivated to pick one thing and stick to it for years and years and years. I was not wise enough to do that. I dabbled in things here and there, just picking up what I felt like. I'm not one of those geniuses, though, who can pick something up in a day, become a pro, and then move onto the next thing. Nope. I am a true dabbler who becomes mediocre in many areas. The list of things that I can do sounds impressive when I say it...but it's the skill level that is lacking. Sure I can sing, but you wouldn't want to hire me for a wedding. I can definitely play soccer, but I only developed the defensive skills to play on the right side of the field. I can design a simple web site, but you would get bored after clicking on the one hyperlink that is slightly off-center in the middle of the page. The result of this is that I have no idea what to pursue next. Do I pick something that I've already done and work on that skill? Or do I start something new, and become an amateur of yet another thing? <br />
<br />
Second, there is literally nothing new under the sun. The "new atheism"? Nope, Paul dealt with that in Acts. Postmodernism? Not really - it was also seen in the early Roman Empire. New book ideas? New songs? New moves? No, no, no. Now these might be cleverly packaged, or spun fresh, but it's not new. The book might have different characters in a different setting, but the plot and storyline are eerily familiar. The song might be mixed differently, but really it's this guitar riff plus that vocalization plus the other cello line. This definitely isn't bad, it's just a fact. In a way, I'm glad that this is the case, especially with things like philosophies. It means that I don't have to come up with a new way to respond to it - I can simply look through history and choose accordingly. On the other hand, though, when I think I'm being creative and then realize that what I'm doing is exactly what Joe Smith did fifty years ago in another random country, I get a little bummed out.<br />
<br />
So what's the point? (An excellent question.) Well, these musings are all pointing to an overarching question that really drives my thought process - Just what is my purpose in life? If my purpose was grounded in something that I've accomplished or something that I've come up with, obviously (based on my mediocrity) it would be split about 50 ways and randomly stuck in different piles of stuff that I call my life. And the pieces wouldn't be grounded, they would be swimming about aimlessly. That's a mess. And not worth living for.<br />
<br />
Fortunately, though, I'm not left to rely on myself for my sense of purpose. Because Christ came to earth, died on the cross, and rose again for me, He has given me the only reason to live...which is to glorify Him and preach His name. So in a sense, it doesn't matter what I'm good at or what I do, so long as it is done in a way that glorifies God and proclaims the gospel. And included in God's ultimate purpose for me (which is for Him) is a carefully chosen plan that He has designed. So not only do I know my purpose, but I also know that God is here, with me and showing me every step of the way. And the reason I chose to follow God's purpose for me is because it is the only way that leads to eternal life. (A lot more went into that decision, like the fact that I am a vile sinner, and the fact that only Jesus can wash away my sin, and the fact that...well, you get the picture. But that is for a different story.) The point is, I'm living for eternity, even in spite of my paltriness exhibited here on earth. <br />
<br />
That doesn't totally assuage the lack skill I feel in my life, or the aimlessness that sometimes bears upon me. However, it does give me a hope for the time I am given. I don't have anything better than anyone else. In fact, I'm convinced that everybody has at least one thing, skill or otherwise, that is better that something that I have. But I have Christ and an eternity with Him to look forward to, which is the driving force behind my life. Elisabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11380427524254799205noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21063829.post-27859196833355069792011-03-13T17:34:00.003-04:002011-03-13T18:08:29.086-04:00I'm so 3000 and 8, you so 2000 and lateApparently something dramatic happened in 2008, because that is when most of my friends in the blogging world stopped updating their blogs. And although I didn't know it at the time, I was simply following the trend. Today as I went through my links to friends' pages, I discovered that some of the links are not even working anymore (don't worry I got rid of those). Except for the faithful few, my tiny blogging world had become virtually obsolete. But with the addition of my sister to the blogosphere (<a href="http://rebeccadell.blogspot.com/">check out Confluence</a>), I decided that blogging should become a "thing" again. Therefore, I write to you, oh internet, and once again put my thoughts out for all to read. But, since I don't have any thoughts of my own at the moment, I thought I would share with you someone else's thoughts. <div><br /></div><div>Lately I've been struck by the Puritans and their intense devotion to studying the Word of God. The book "The Valley of Vision" is a collection of their prayers that were the fruit of hours of studying and meditating on the Scripture. In a prayer titled <i>Continual Repentance</i>, the last stanza is a plea:</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Grant me never to lose sight of</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>the exceeding sinfulness of sin,</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>the exceeding righteousness of salvation,</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>the exceeding glory of Christ,</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>the exceeding beauty of holiness,</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>the exceeding wonder of grace.</div><div><br /></div><div>Yesterday, we had a women's conference at our church. One of the seminars I attended was about being a servant. This prayer is perfect because if it is answered (and it is by God's grace), then we have the ability to serve humbly and to the glory of God. One of the points of the seminar is that a servant knows who they are. This includes knowing the depth of sin/our standing before God, the glory of Christ, and really everything in between. Another point is that being a servant demands continual repentance. Finally, being a servant means following our ultimate example, Jesus Christ himself. Though I'm positive the Puritans were not perfect, they definitely had a much better grasp on this concept than I do. </div><div><br /></div><div>Anyway, here is my comeback attempt. We'll see how long it lasts ;-) <br /><div><br /></div><div> </div></div>Elisabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11380427524254799205noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21063829.post-14941033908456804822008-02-06T10:32:00.000-05:002008-02-06T11:48:03.180-05:00My Utmost for His HighestThis remarkable book by Oswald Chambers is one that I highly recommend everyone to read. It is a day-by-day devotional that has everything to do with Christ, the Bible, and the Christian life.<br /><br />The devo for January 31st is called "Do you see your calling?" Oswald writes, "And as long as our eyes are focused on our own personal holiness, we will never even get close to the full reality of redemption." The idea is that our calling is to proclaim the gospel of God. "The one all-important thing is that the gospel of God should be recognized as the abiding reality. Reality is not human goodness, or holiness, or heaven, or hell - it is redemption. [...] Christian workers fail because they place their desire for their own holiness above their desire to know God. [...] God cannot deliver me while my interest is merely in my own character."<br /><br />Chambers uses Paul as an example of one who was unconcerned with his own life. "He was recklessly abandoned, totally surrendered, and separated by God for one purpose - to proclaim the gospel of God." We cannot be effective proclaimers if we are navel gazing and trying to make ourselves better. It is when we have given ourselves up to Christ that we can be gospel-proclaimers.<br /><br />This doesn't mean we go to the other extreme and forget that we are sinners in need of a Savior. It simply means that we don't get bogged down in ourselves. By focusing outward on our Savior, we are better witnesses, both internally and externally. I was convicted by that. I compare myself a lot to other Christians who are more saintly than I am. I wish to achieve that holiness through myself rather than let Christ do His good work in me.Elisabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11380427524254799205noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21063829.post-40334979684988415802007-11-22T17:26:00.000-05:002007-11-22T17:39:00.717-05:00God StuffIn chapel this week, the speaker challenged us to read through the first thirty Psalms and write down everything that they say about God. After the Psalms, he told us to go through John and then Ephesians. The idea is to get a better understanding of how great and awesome our God is. The speaker's point was that a lot of times we fret about a lot of stuff. However, we are told not to fret in Psalm 37. Fretting really stands in the way of delighting in God. By going through the Psalms, John, and Ephesians, we can really see that God is so so so much bigger than we can ever imagine. And because He is so much bigger, He is also so much 'wonderfuller' and better than anything. He has us in His hands. Thank God.<br /><br />Here are just a few of the attributes of God that I found in Psalms:<br /><br />Sustainer<br />Deliverer<br />Joy-giver<br />Righteous<br />Trustworthy<br />Does not take pleasure in evil<br />Merciful<br />Unfailing Love<br />Ruler<br />Shield<br />Praiseworthy<br />Majestic<br />Refuge<br />Salvation<br />Helper<br />Just<br />Protector<br />Flawless<br />Good<br />Satisfier<br />Rock<br />Fortress<br />Powerful<br />Faithful<br />Light<br />Perfect<br />Living<br />Exalted<br />Unfailing kindness<br />More precious than gold<br />Redeemer<br />Holy<br />King<br />Life-giver<br />Enthroned<br />Answers prayer<br />Shepherd<br />Guide<br /><br />...<br /><br />To name a few...<br /><br />what an amazing God we serve!Elisabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11380427524254799205noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21063829.post-88860584907288861792007-11-21T16:55:00.000-05:002007-11-22T16:59:56.966-05:00ThanksgivingHere are some things I'm thankful for. (And I really mean them)<br /><br />My Almighty, Indescribable God<br />My amazing, loving Family<br />My incredible friends<br />The Bible<br />Green grass<br />Fall<br />Hot coffee<br />Rainy days<br />Soap<br />Sweet Pea<br />Cheese cake<br />Fast internet<br />Christmas<br />My birthday :-)<br />Poetry<br />My journal<br />the Ability to read<br />Purple pens<br />Cats<br />Flowers<br />MUSIC<br />The color blue<br />C. S. Lewis<br />Joy :-)<br /><br /><br />And a thousand other things....<br /><br />Happy Thanksgiving everyone!Elisabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11380427524254799205noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21063829.post-83349909637769084232007-11-14T00:58:00.000-05:002007-11-14T01:08:08.562-05:00EpiphanySo I had an epiphany the other day. I was reading this book called "A Severe Mercy" by Sheldon Vanauken. In it, he talks about how he was standing by his old house, looking back over his life and contemplating all the people that have died: his wife, his parents, his pets, maybe some of his friends. He is looking back at them, though, with a bittersweet reflection. He is not looking back with anger and bitterness and regret. <br /> I realized then that if I'm not joyful now, I won't ever be. Right now, if I was standing in that guy's place, I would have been angry. I would have been upset and seen my life as multiple blessings that were denied from me, instead of beautiful blessings that have been fulfilled. I would see the people that have passed as greater than God's perfect plan. I would have expected to be blessed on my terms, not on God's. I would have demanded a life without pain. However, a life without pain is also a life without joy. <br /> I then realized that if my joy is not complete in Christ now, my joy will never be complete. If I'm always looking ahead to what I want, I will never be fulfilled. Then, when things dear to me in life are taken, I will inevitably be upset and angry, instead of thankful for something that I never deserved in the first place. My prayer is that I would learn Christ's joy now, so that it will permeate every aspect of my life. That way, I will be thankful and happy for what He blesses me with, and I will still be thankful and joyful for what He has decided to take away in His time. I will not be tossed by life, but I can rest in Christ's perfect love.Elisabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11380427524254799205noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21063829.post-74798536128215344332007-09-28T15:46:00.000-04:002007-09-28T15:51:12.178-04:00Christian LifeOne more thing...I am reading this book called "Holy Sweat" by Tim Hansel. I did not really want to read it, but I have to for my class. I am pleasantly surprised...this book is amazing! No joke. I would definitely recommend it. It could change your life.<br /><br />Here is an excerpt that Tim actually quoted from Madeleine L'Engle:<br /><br />"In a very real sense not one of us is qualified, but it seems that God continually chooses the most unqualified to do His work, to bear His glory. If we are qualified, we tend to think that we have done the job ourselves. If we are forced to accept our evident lack of qualification, then there's no danger that we will confuse God's work with our own or God's glory with our own."<br /><br />Just think about that for awhile.Elisabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11380427524254799205noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21063829.post-7074292269004548072007-09-28T14:47:00.001-04:002007-09-28T15:07:30.676-04:00This Is Primarily For My Family...:-)We did another photo shoot....<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU_jK8JP2xD6vIdBd-ZTAayhhslxyBk2Ugw14Ye1Eh7lSeqm5TU1pA-OUn5pQeDyjTWZ-gTFB8IOGLfOJEMloA_Ccsf3ARXWlECbFgHCAK3WQjwny9zgj4ppqembhz7MMWAu_L/s1600-h/Fall+07+165.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU_jK8JP2xD6vIdBd-ZTAayhhslxyBk2Ugw14Ye1Eh7lSeqm5TU1pA-OUn5pQeDyjTWZ-gTFB8IOGLfOJEMloA_Ccsf3ARXWlECbFgHCAK3WQjwny9zgj4ppqembhz7MMWAu_L/s400/Fall+07+165.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5115333558968315282" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjphNQs2lnwVLD8zhyyl-7o2sIogAR2GrAV_bc7m2boSgovckxVyIuN2MKYLYsS6UP2mQsXOJPIdBLUYbMMrXXZWSdB2z-7GT4fvG0lwhOdhyphenhyphenWTdDw1AnLGrHMDf8wau0DNArSd/s1600-h/Fall+07+215.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjphNQs2lnwVLD8zhyyl-7o2sIogAR2GrAV_bc7m2boSgovckxVyIuN2MKYLYsS6UP2mQsXOJPIdBLUYbMMrXXZWSdB2z-7GT4fvG0lwhOdhyphenhyphenWTdDw1AnLGrHMDf8wau0DNArSd/s400/Fall+07+215.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5115333571853217186" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7KwrOQfFvNHuHuZVqO0sxMueWiwnUC-yzWGMWYd68f46w7ni6D3_qabSuFXGpQ26bSNfb6PPw20aJehVB7M1e2WNIrW4qCPC9gud4W-L_Hor31ZfTkm4uU034gBo1uNFgGmlY/s1600-h/Fall+07+075.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7KwrOQfFvNHuHuZVqO0sxMueWiwnUC-yzWGMWYd68f46w7ni6D3_qabSuFXGpQ26bSNfb6PPw20aJehVB7M1e2WNIrW4qCPC9gud4W-L_Hor31ZfTkm4uU034gBo1uNFgGmlY/s400/Fall+07+075.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5115331755082050882" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlvjDkMS7zvn0SfEjWkQyhn___nYGptiTZaF1GmxwzJ4vRFYNux57XXwKR1rwjVdwKpQ09UAmhQ85CYWbtAGrvJNqpcQq2Fi7BH_9ssrERJ1YKeZyflMjnQKLqZDX88oiHH7NA/s1600-h/Fall+07+101.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlvjDkMS7zvn0SfEjWkQyhn___nYGptiTZaF1GmxwzJ4vRFYNux57XXwKR1rwjVdwKpQ09UAmhQ85CYWbtAGrvJNqpcQq2Fi7BH_9ssrERJ1YKeZyflMjnQKLqZDX88oiHH7NA/s400/Fall+07+101.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5115331759377018194" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs57RB7lnpbW_t9yqsL1MY4lxIZnStrIy70uwmH8tV_Yjg0DpkNlFSVU5nu5m9whOKGWQYWHNAQwgX5p-GfFxv2lNM4Zf6eN6INt4maz_lozxoby00_LABtcpExnGPkmbb9SJ9/s1600-h/Fall+07+107.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs57RB7lnpbW_t9yqsL1MY4lxIZnStrIy70uwmH8tV_Yjg0DpkNlFSVU5nu5m9whOKGWQYWHNAQwgX5p-GfFxv2lNM4Zf6eN6INt4maz_lozxoby00_LABtcpExnGPkmbb9SJ9/s400/Fall+07+107.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5115331767966952802" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdkvWsnuCscoonkxUUOcsyKnlyCbhc3hkjNMMlYzhzNeOwp_neF9lUyTl-3kM3IWDlrgA7oOoF-HimGXYKSUxLezHj9_71jb3sA47sH91lFP3TZUO-H2SEy928UydVvNePOYBS/s1600-h/Fall+07+146.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdkvWsnuCscoonkxUUOcsyKnlyCbhc3hkjNMMlYzhzNeOwp_neF9lUyTl-3kM3IWDlrgA7oOoF-HimGXYKSUxLezHj9_71jb3sA47sH91lFP3TZUO-H2SEy928UydVvNePOYBS/s400/Fall+07+146.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5115331776556887410" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgCKAJpwEebDNkLGk4eiDi58IvjkesgRcaCJBeeThgZ3NtpYq9mIZPSPAMQUmb4yzWCuoo-TLbQfUqd5MUwTSKKKbi-2m3tUg-9RJ1A7Qg-vupauocb2CUSjKOjpNj4e9pii23/s1600-h/Fall+07+160.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgCKAJpwEebDNkLGk4eiDi58IvjkesgRcaCJBeeThgZ3NtpYq9mIZPSPAMQUmb4yzWCuoo-TLbQfUqd5MUwTSKKKbi-2m3tUg-9RJ1A7Qg-vupauocb2CUSjKOjpNj4e9pii23/s400/Fall+07+160.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5115331785146822018" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwVaaPp4zt_pqjeuZHAzOxn_tvCuhGlKpE6_BflJZXDYRbxPTzkYaTbr_xCgNWN9_WBLUPPFzDTv_qw_2o-gKW0iEAGr2GjE8hhTqQedno9H6eYon5ul7_k3vtM7finWaUSSEm/s1600-h/Fall+07+073.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwVaaPp4zt_pqjeuZHAzOxn_tvCuhGlKpE6_BflJZXDYRbxPTzkYaTbr_xCgNWN9_WBLUPPFzDTv_qw_2o-gKW0iEAGr2GjE8hhTqQedno9H6eYon5ul7_k3vtM7finWaUSSEm/s400/Fall+07+073.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5115329190986575154" border="0" /></a>Elisabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11380427524254799205noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21063829.post-79184165431156803762007-09-28T14:24:00.000-04:002007-09-28T14:47:05.310-04:00"Woman at the Well"So at RUF (Reformed University Fellowship) on Tuesday night, our campus minister preached on John 4 - the woman at the well. Coincidence? I think not. (Haha, just had to add that in there...) He added a new spin on this chapter that is definitely worth noting. Apparently in Biblical times, the well was the place to get "hooked up." That was where Jacob and Rachel met and, perhaps more poignantly, where Issac and Rebekah met. (Now, just as a quick clarification, I am not using this connotation in the meaning of my blog title.)<br /> When Jesus met the woman at the well, there were three things against her that made her undesirable by anyone: One, she was a Samaritan; two, she was a woman; and three, she was a prostitute. The disciples couldn't understand why Jesus would single her out. However, it is in this very instance that we can get a picture of how Jesus is seeking out His church. He is not calling the rich and healthy and popular people to Him. He is calling the poor and wretched sinners. The woman was hated by many and despised by more, but Jesus singled her out and offered her life. So too does He single us out to become His beloved. I know that I am wretched and am not worthy of that life, but Jesus was pleased to offer it on our behalf. Now, when God looks at me, He doesn't see me, but His perfect Son. How cool is that!! <br /> This is kind of a tangent, but knowing that all good in me is actually Christ and not myself has been a great way to mortify pride. :-) It's not so much look at all the great things I have done, but look at all the ways Christ has chosen to use me to glorify our Father. <br /><br />This is a great song by Silers Bald called "Grace:"<br /><br /><pre style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size:85%;">My heart is so proud.<br />My eyes are so unfocused.<br />I see the things You've done through me<br />As great things I have done.<br />And now You gently break me.<br />I cry just like a baby.<br />You hold me as my Father,<br />And mold me as my Maker.</span></pre><pre style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size:85%;">And I ask You<br />How many times will You pick me up.<br />When I keep on letting You down?<br />And each time I will fall short of Your glory,<br />How far will forgiveness abound?<br />And You answer, "My child, I love you,<br />And as long as you're seeking My face,<br />You'll walk in the power of My daily sufficient, grace."</span></pre><pre style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><o:p> </o:p>At times I may grow weak.<br />And feel a bit discouraged.<br />Knowing that someone somewhere<br />Can do a better job.<br />For who am I to serve You?<br />I know, I don't deserve You.<br />But that's the part, that burns in my heart,<br />And keeps me hanging on.</span></pre><pre style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size:85%;">And You are so patient with me, Lord.</span></pre><pre style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><o:p> </o:p>As I walk with You, I'm learning<br />About what Your grace really means.<br />How all of my transgressions<br />Were paid at <st1:place st="on">Calvary</st1:place>.<br />So instead of trying to repay You,<br />I'm learning to simply obey You.<br />By giving up my life to You<br />For all that You've given to me.</span></pre><pre style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><o:p> </o:p>"My daily sufficient grace."</span></pre> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>Elisabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11380427524254799205noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21063829.post-40972256795255171232007-07-04T15:06:00.000-04:002007-07-04T15:10:19.661-04:00Happy 4thSo usually, it is sweltering and sunny outside on the fourth. Currently, we are all inside with sweatshirts on and the AC off, watching the rain and wind come down. There probably won't even be fireworks tonight. As my grandmother so aptly put it, "This is ridiculous." And I have to agree (in the most optimistic sense). It is the middle of July, and even Vermont gets temperatures of 90+ degrees. So far we have had maybe two days that even touch 90 degrees. This will be an Independence Day (and perhaps a summer) to remember.Elisabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11380427524254799205noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21063829.post-89294947616815653562007-06-29T23:53:00.000-04:002007-06-30T00:16:58.179-04:00The Heavens Declare the Glory of the LordThe sky was absolutely beautiful tonight. The moon was bright and full and the stars were visible. The air was crisp and pure and the temperature was just right for star gazing (but a little on the chilly side). I was reveling in the beauty and majesty of such a vast expanse of sky and couldn't help but to reflect on how it mirrors, in part, God's glory. I don't believe that there is a single person who could look at that sky and not even wonder Who is behind all of it. God reveals Himself through nature, and His sky is one of the more majestic sights we are blessed with.<br /><br /><br />On a totally different note, I've been reading Elizabeth Gaskell's book "North and South," and one of the quotes she uses at the beginning of a chapter is this:<br /><br />"Learn to win a lady's faith<br />Nobly as the thing is high;<br />Bravely, as for life and death -<br />With a loyal gravity.<br /><br />Lead her from the festive boards,<br />Point her to the starry skies,<br />Guard her, by your truthful words,<br />Pure from courtship's flatteries."<br /><br />These lines are taken from a poem by Elizabeth Barrett Browning. I kind of have to laugh at the poem to an extent, but in reality, I know that I want to be treated nobly and truthfully, and in short I would want a man to guard and protect me because he knows that I'm worth it. I thought this was interesting because it was written awhile ago. Today's roles for men and women are kind of screwed up, but I know that there are many young ladies who would like to have men take the lead in both a relationship and in the purity and veracity of that relationship. Fortunately, I believe that there are also those men who are willing to take that role.<br /><br /><br />Finally, here is a song that really reminds me that this life is passing. For all the mistakes and embarrassments and every thing else that happens in life, I know that they will all be gone in a little while. <br /><br />"We are a moment, You are forever,<br />Lord of the ages, God before time;<br />We are a vapor, You are eternal,<br />Love everlasting, reigning on high.<br /><br />Holy, holy Lord God Almighty, worthy is the Lamb Who was slain;<br />Highest praises honor and glory be unto Your name.<br /><br />We are the broken, You are the healer,<br />Jesus, Redeemer, mighty to save;<br />You are the love song we'll sing forever,<br />bowing before You, blessing Your name."<br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><br />Lynn DeShazo and Gary Sadler<br />"Be Unto Your name"</span>Elisabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11380427524254799205noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21063829.post-60261895169338204522007-06-21T22:18:00.001-04:002007-06-21T22:19:58.321-04:00HahaI just read over some of my post entitled "Greetings from the Underworld." You can totally tell that I had just been reading some Jane Austen. Some of the language and style that I employ are hilarious. (I thought it was funny...)Elisabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11380427524254799205noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21063829.post-46403488450929468492007-06-18T23:41:00.000-04:002007-06-18T23:44:06.918-04:00Ahhh...Well, I started my job today (finally). And I just have to say that I am exhausted. I am working with kids, and they are all either super hyperactive or super stubborn, or both. I really think that I enjoy it, but I just have some trouble with kids who don't listen. Oh well. I am so sore. My feet and ankles have never hurt this much before (except when they were sprained...). Bed calls softly.Elisabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11380427524254799205noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21063829.post-37522968098051209912007-06-17T20:54:00.000-04:002007-06-17T22:57:37.201-04:00Growth, or Lack ThereofThere have been a lot of things that I've grown out of with age. For instance, I have grown out of diapers, shoes and the first grade. Um, I've also grown out of some of the petty childishness that most children are afflicted with: acute (unconscious) selfishness, needless arguments (or what I deem needless...), and an unwillingness to do what is asked/required of me, for example. It has come to my attention, though, that two things in particular I have not had the grace to grow out of, and I am not hopeful in that I don't think these things will ever be satisfactorily resolved, not in this life at least (Oh the glorious beauty of heaven, made sure by the glorious misery of the cross!). These two things are a foolishness and a deep-rooted pride.<br /><br />One might notice the pride right away, but the foolishness is much more cleverly hidden (at least so I think...:-P). I do have this one consolation, though, in light of these sins or shortcomings: I can be absolutely assured of having my pride mortified everyday through some foolishness or another. And though others might not be able to see it so well, I am most acutely aware of my folly, and therefore am most convicted by it. (Although it is probably my pride which strives most to hide my foolishness.)<br /><br />Some may wonder what, exactly, I mean by foolish. In my case, I believe my foolishness stems from a more conscious selfishness, a wrong desire to be noticed (and how that works I do not know), and perhaps a false sense of humility. My cover is a quiet nature which does not offer much in way of words, for fear of being found out. I need prayer that I would delve deeper and deeper into God's word and that I would be continually repentant. I would also pray for results that include a more cheerful and helpful disposition, and a much more pliable attitude. I have always been stubborn; I am certainly stubborn to change in my heart as well. It is so hard for me to give up a sin, but once I do, I am so much happier and so much closer to God. I spend much time mortifying a sin, only to allow it to crop up in another area of my life. My mind is willing, but my spirit is weak...or my mind is not very willing at all, so my spirit is virtually non-existent. This is a bit of an exaggeration, because I dearly love my Savior Jesus Christ and long to conform closely to His image. It is just something that I cannot do as naturally as some. I do not pretend, either, to assume that complete submission to Jesus is natural for anyone; I merely observe, in my everyday life, that some people have a happy spirit that relinquishes their sin very readily. <br /><br />Well, I have managed to ramble on a lot again. These are just the beginnings of a thought process that I have been going through, and I am confident that the Lord will use all of this to help me grow more and more in His grace and to become more and more like Him.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">"'Cheerfully and gratefully I lay myself and all I am or own at the feet of Him who redeemed me with His precious blood, engaging to follow Him, bearing the cross He lays upon me.' This is the least I can do, and I do it while my heart lies broken and bleeding at His feet."</span><br /><br />This is an excerpt from <span style="font-style: italic;">Stepping Heavenward</span> by Elizabeth Prentiss. Though my situations are not like the main character's, I still feel, to an extent, what she was feeling at this point, and my desires are the same: to cheerfully and gratefully lay myself down at the foot of the cross, giving up everything that I hold to my self, and letting Christ take my whole entire life for eternity.<br /><br />And to close, here are the words of a beautiful Psalm, that actually remind me that obeying/submitting to the Lord hardly feels like obedience because His words and commands actually illuminate our life and give us joy and all good things unimaginable.<br /><br />Psalm 19:7-11<br />"The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul.<br />The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple. <br />The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart.<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes.</span><br />The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever.<br />The ordinances of the Lord are sure, and altogether righteous.<br />They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold;<br />they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb.<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">By them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward</span>."<br /><br />(italics added)Elisabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11380427524254799205noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21063829.post-70383525999879546422007-05-28T22:13:00.000-04:002007-06-10T14:23:30.391-04:00Greetings from the UnderworldWell, I think it's high time for an update...I've been stuck in an underworld know to most as "college." Oh don't get me wrong. It's great. There's just something about living in one place with the same people 24/7 for nine months of the year that is kinda odd. I mean, I can see living with a spouse or a family or house mates for a long time, but living with about 1000 people for that long is just a weird concept. Hmmm.....maybe I should back up a bit. It wasn't always this way...(haha, just kidding...)<br /><br />I have cherished the friendships that God has blessed me with at my school, and I am so thankful that I have kind and loving friends who care and who I care for. Also, God has put exactly what I need into my life (both blessing and trials); nothing more, nothing less. My "hardships" are few and small comparatively, but when I am going through them, they are somewhat daunting. I know this doesn't all make sense (I'm kinda jumping around), but here are some of my thoughts about this past semester at school (hopefully they will explain what I am trying to articulate).<br /><br />Spring semester is definitely the harder of the two...fall is just a blast with everyone getting to know each other, a lot of easy core classes, and new and entertaining activities and spirits. Spring semester, real personalities start coming out, classes get harder, activities get old, and people get tired. I feel liked I've aged immensely since Christmas, although I know that's not true; there's still so much lacking, especially in wisdom, grace, and sanctification.<br /><br />This semester was hard for me socially because so many people came out of their "shell,"<br />whether consciously or unconsciously. It is believed that a person can hide his or herself for about six months before their facade starts to wear down. This is not necessarily a bad thing; as people get more comfortable with their surroundings, they usually become more comfortable with who they are. People start un-building their fortress that they've been hiding behind. I know for me, I almost never act like myself in a new place...it takes time and a certain familiarity for me to be able to open up and reveal who I am. My fortress a quiet demeanor, very calm with little to share. When I allow myself to get out of my fortress, I still air on the quiet side, but I am much more willing to speak, to laugh, to get excited, and to just be myself. Unfortunately, as the fortress starts wearing down, certain undesirable traits start to show through, too. I have to be careful here because I am not trying to be judgmental in the least. These are just some observations and reasons why my semester was hard. As people became more real, everyone became more open to hurt and reality than before. Not only do our fortresses hide us, but they also protect us. I don't get hurt unless my facade is gone and there is something there worth hurting.<br /><br />*****<br /><br />Well, it has been several days since I last wrote. I guess not practicing has actually affected my writing; it has not come as easily as before. Oh well. I shall prevail.<br /><br />*****<br /><br />As much disjointed as it may seem, I think the previous topic has been thought of and dwelt on enough. As you may suppose, I have been subject to such tearing-downs and releases of fortresses, and though it is an experience I could well forgo, I am positive that it offers no end of good outcomes. One of these goodnesses, lest we can doubt them, is a propensity and a need to more completely rely on my Savior. I have been ever thrust upon Jesus and have, sometimes unwilling, been drawn to Him time and again. He has proven to be my ultimate and now only fortress. He has also proven to be completely trustworthy, reliable, loving, comforting, and all things good...things that I have known of but only experienced in part.<br /><br />Overall my year has been a success, if only because it caused me to come to a deeper and more beautiful relationship with Christ. I have understood grace in ways that I could not even dream of understanding, I have learned things about myself and others that I could not have known otherwise, and I am coming to the slow and painful realization that I really am nothing, but Christ is my all.<br /><br />Kind of following this theme, I have also learned that I am a very unwilling sheep. I tug and tug wanting to go back to the dross when there is gold in sight. I simply refuse that my dross is inferior, and have to literally be shoved away from it. I learn, but slowly.<br /><br />These have been some observations and some of what has been happening recently. Other than that I have a few things random things to share.<br /><br />The other day, my brother (who is seven) and I were "oot and aboot" waiting for my sister to be done with her piano lesson. We stopped at Dunkin' Donuts and my brother kindly opened both doors for me as we went in. I thought nothing of it, since he sometimes gets notions in his head to do stuff like that. However, as we went back out to the car, he stood by the driver's door. I expected him to want to get in that way, since he likes to do that sometimes, too. But he didn't, he just stood there, and when I unlocked it he opened it and stood there waiting for me to get in. He asked if I was all set and then he closed the door. He ran around to the other side and got in. I was touched by this early display of chivalry, an old art that has lost its sweetness and attractiveness. Chivalry surfaces now and again, especially in the churches and in Christian homes, but it is also often scorned. (As a side note, I personally am of the opinion that chivalry is too often confused with chauvinism, even as good parenting may be confused with honoring a child's every wish, and so on). I am so thankful that my parents have striven to raise a boy in the way he should grow. He has been taught manners and is being taught how to treat ladies. I am also thankful for all the parents who value chivalry and modesty (for women). Although we may not see a vast revival of these "old time" traditions, I am absolutely convinced that there are a great many men and women who take it upon themselves to teach and be taught these values, and to pass them on as much as possible to the next generation. To see such things being taught in one's home is truly special in this world, and no doubt many of you can concur with your own experiences.<br /><br />Well, I didn't mean for that to be a social commentary, and maybe I am reading way too much into things, but these are some of the ways my thoughts wandered from that incident.<br /><br />I am sorry for such a long post. To those who read this, thank you. I really appreciate your interest in my rambles of a poor college student who can't even write a blog post in a decent amount of time for lack of "practice." :-)<br /><br />Have a blessed week!!Elisabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11380427524254799205noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21063829.post-1166142755585975552006-12-14T19:28:00.000-05:002006-12-14T20:10:30.076-05:00GoodbyeAs I said goodbye, the tears in my heart were streaming forth, melting my soul, almost overflowing into reality. I put on my mask of happiness—perhaps a little stiff, most certainly well-worn and maybe a little transparent in spots. I never asked for this time to come. I was reluctant to say a word because that would signal the end…both of what was left of my mask and what was left of us. I don’t know why I did, but I stretched my hand out to meet yours and I clasped it tight, knowing that I might never have that privilege again. I looked into your eyes as my heart overflowed out of mine and over my cheeks and onto the tiled floor. Those beautiful eyes, which spoke of love and joy and contentment, yet which contained a sorrow that was too deep to know. Parting was good; it was right, yet so wrong. As your hand slowly slipped from mine, I turned to hide my face as my mask completely fell apart. One last look over my shoulder and you were gone forever. I felt crushed and alone. I was alone. There was no one to turn to. I ran to my Rock for comfort and love, and it was then that I realized that we will always be together at the cross…always. Even though we have parted ways, I will always meet you when we are falling face down at the feet of Christ, asking for the same forgiveness and blessings. Though we might never meet again in this form, we will meet again. The tears haven’t stopped flowing…my memory is racing with all the times we spent together…but I am resting; resting in truth, resting in love, resting in Christ. I love you; that won’t ever change. And, I am looking forward to when we shall meet again, be it here or be it in the heavenly realms. I miss you and I am praying for you. <br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">*****<br /></div><br />Yeah, that's a little cheesy, but it has been on my mind as I am having to say more goodbyes as I grow older. The more I know and the more places I've been, the more friends I've had to let go...the more family members I've had to leave behind...the more homes and comforts and niceties (sp?...wc?) I've had to forsake. Maybe that's a little dramatic, but I think it will only get worse and worse as I grow older. Leaving all of my amazing brothers and sisters in Christ from college was hard, just as leaving my loving and caring family here was hard. I wrote the above in response to a good friend who is leaving college and not coming back. I don't know if I'll ever get to see her again. <br /><br />Anyway, I'm glad to be home on break and I am looking forward to seeing everyone again. And, just as an aside, I have been informed that "alright" is not a kosher form of the phrase "all right."<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">*****<br /><br /></div><span style="font-style: italic;"> O God Beyond All Praising<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">O God beyond all praising, we worship you today<br />And sing the love amazing that songs cannot repay;<br />For we can only wonder at every gift you send,<br />at blessings without number and mercies without end:<br />We lift our hearts before you and wait upon your word,<br />We honor and adore you, our great and mighty Lord.<br /><br />Then hear, O gracious Savior, accept the love we bring,<br />That we who know your favor may serve you as our King;<br />And whether our tomorrows be filled with good or ill,<br />We'll trumph through our sorrows and rise to bless you still:<br />To marvel at your beauty and glory in your ways,<br />And make a joyful duty our sacrifice of praise.<br /><br /></span></span><span style="font-size:85%;">Michael Perry, 1982</span><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span><br /></span>Elisabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11380427524254799205noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21063829.post-1165450938869924822006-12-06T19:20:00.000-05:002006-12-06T19:22:18.883-05:00Alright...Hey! So I'm coming home on the 12th, so after that hopefully I will have an update for "ya'll"...I'm really excited to go back home!!!!!!Elisabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11380427524254799205noreply@blogger.com2