God Stuff

In 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.

Here are just a few of the attributes of God that I found in Psalms:

Sustainer
Deliverer
Joy-giver
Righteous
Trustworthy
Does not take pleasure in evil
Merciful
Unfailing Love
Ruler
Shield
Praiseworthy
Majestic
Refuge
Salvation
Helper
Just
Protector
Flawless
Good
Satisfier
Rock
Fortress
Powerful
Faithful
Light
Perfect
Living
Exalted
Unfailing kindness
More precious than gold
Redeemer
Holy
King
Life-giver
Enthroned
Answers prayer
Shepherd
Guide

...

To name a few...

what an amazing God we serve!

Thanksgiving

Here are some things I'm thankful for. (And I really mean them)

My Almighty, Indescribable God
My amazing, loving Family
My incredible friends
The Bible
Green grass
Fall
Hot coffee
Rainy days
Soap
Sweet Pea
Cheese cake
Fast internet
Christmas
My birthday :-)
Poetry
My journal
the Ability to read
Purple pens
Cats
Flowers
MUSIC
The color blue
C. S. Lewis
Joy :-)


And a thousand other things....

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Epiphany

So 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.
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.
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.

Christian Life

One 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.

Here is an excerpt that Tim actually quoted from Madeleine L'Engle:

"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."

Just think about that for awhile.

This Is Primarily For My Family...:-)

We did another photo shoot....

"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.)
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!!
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.

This is a great song by Silers Bald called "Grace:"

My heart is so proud.
My eyes are so unfocused.
I see the things You've done through me
As great things I have done.
And now You gently break me.
I cry just like a baby.
You hold me as my Father,
And mold me as my Maker.

And I ask You
How many times will You pick me up.
When I keep on letting You down?
And each time I will fall short of Your glory,
How far will forgiveness abound?
And You answer, "My child, I love you,
And as long as you're seeking My face,
You'll walk in the power of My daily sufficient, grace."

 At times I may grow weak.
And feel a bit discouraged.
Knowing that someone somewhere
Can do a better job.
For who am I to serve You?
I know, I don't deserve You.
But that's the part, that burns in my heart,
And keeps me hanging on.

And You are so patient with me, Lord.

 As I walk with You, I'm learning
About what Your grace really means.
How all of my transgressions
Were paid at Calvary.
So instead of trying to repay You,
I'm learning to simply obey You.
By giving up my life to You
For all that You've given to me.

 "My daily sufficient grace."

Happy 4th

So 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.

The Heavens Declare the Glory of the Lord

The 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.


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:

"Learn to win a lady's faith
Nobly as the thing is high;
Bravely, as for life and death -
With a loyal gravity.

Lead her from the festive boards,
Point her to the starry skies,
Guard her, by your truthful words,
Pure from courtship's flatteries."

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.


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.

"We are a moment, You are forever,
Lord of the ages, God before time;
We are a vapor, You are eternal,
Love everlasting, reigning on high.

Holy, holy Lord God Almighty, worthy is the Lamb Who was slain;
Highest praises honor and glory be unto Your name.

We are the broken, You are the healer,
Jesus, Redeemer, mighty to save;
You are the love song we'll sing forever,
bowing before You, blessing Your name."

Lynn DeShazo and Gary Sadler
"Be Unto Your name"

Haha

I 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...)

Ahhh...

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.