Blessed to be a blessing

My heart has been totally overwhelmed by God, and I feel so deeply that I need to give. Give of my time and my resources, after all, I am blessed to be a blessing. I am not sure where this is leading me yet, but I am feeling a pull on my heart in so many ways knowing that I need to be the hands and feet of Jesus where I am. I always had this thought that I was meant to live my life in another country and fully serve Jesus there, but overlooking the fact that I am where I am for a purpose and to live out that purpose. In Psalm 16:6 it talks about where I am presently is my land and the boundary lines have fallen in pleasant places for me. My life is not waiting for me to make a huge impact in another country, but is waiting for me when I wake up each morning. I don't know where God is going to take this new yearning in my heart, but I am excited.

I want to share a story about a friend who survived the earthquake in Chile a couple weeks ago. I just returned from seeing her for the first time since she got home. The articles explain the situation better than I can, but I very truly thought I was going to be attending her funeral, and prayed for so long about the situation. I didn't pray that she was alive or that she would be found, but that God was taking care of her, wherever she was. He was totally taking care of her, and listening to her talk about it was so crazy, and the things God taught her and continues to teach her and how perfectly His plan is laid out for our lives. Here are the links to the articles featured in the Detroit Free Press...it was a two-day special on the front page of the paper about her and her friends. Part 1 is here and part 2 is here. God is good!

This House

The soft glow of the fire burning in the fireplace while frost forms on the windows...
The smell of soup simmering on the stove and apple crisp in the oven filling the house...
The sounds of laughing and jazz softly floating in the air...
The warmth of the comforting blanket warming my body...

...Also my soul.


This place is starting to feel like home.

life's hard

sigh...

These are a few of my favorite things!

This is my morning, although you can't see it very well: A cup of coffee (essential), my Bible, my inspirational journal, and my small journal. I love mornings that I can spend with the Lord. After I got home from tennis, I had a lot of time to spend in the word. This week has been packed and busy so far...isn't the first week of class supposed to be a breeze? I thought so, but I have seen otherwise. It was nice to have a couple hours during the day to catch up, and so far I like Thursdays for that reason. Although I still have class to go to, and a work dinner meeting after that, I am glad I have had time to breathe today.

Something else that I like?

Matthew! Isn't he cute? I sure think so!

Hope you have a great day!

life right now

well, thanksgiving is done and over...onto christmas!

i got to see an old friend from elementary school who comes to my parents' house on thanksgiving every year for the past 7 years or so. no matter the time that passes between when we see each other, we always have so much to talk about.

in other news, it is the end of the semester, woohoo! three more finals next week, and i get a break! i actually liked most of my classes this semester, so in many ways i'm sad they are ending. i can't believe my last semester of my undergraduate education is slowly approaching...only 5 months or so until graduation. i can't believe how fast time slips away!

tonight is matthew's christmas cantata. he has a beautiful voice, and i can't wait to hear him. i just want to take the opportunity to say that he is so wonderful. what a man of God! i am so blessed each day to have the opportunity to have him in my life, and know that he loves me, and he loves the Lord even more.

i have been reading through first and second samuel. what powerful stuff! i have a hard time getting into the old testament, but it is such a great read!

snow

it is starting to look like a winter wonderland outside. first snowfall of the year!
my verse of the day is Job 37:5-6:
“God's voice thunders in marvelous ways; he does great things beyond our understanding. He says to the snow, 'Fall on the earth,' and to the rain shower, 'Be a mighty downpour.”

i love it! God is so much bigger than we are. who are we to know how the snow falls or the rain falls? only the creator knows such things.

also, 25k race training starts in about 3 weeks. yikes, i can't believe it's that time again! i think i will run a 10k on thanksgiving morning just for kicks and giggles. last year it was a great start to the day!

happy monday!

Jesus paid it all.

I hear the Savior say
Thy strength indeed is small
Child of weakness....watch and pray
Find in me....thine all in all

Jesus paid it all
All to Him I owe
Sin hath left a crimson stain
He washed it white as snow

Lord, now indeed I find
Thy power and Thine alone
Can change the leper's spots
And melt the heart of stone

For nothing good have I
Whereby Thy grace to claim
I'll wash my garments white
In the blood of Calvary's Lamb

And when before thy throne
I stand in Him complete
Jesus died my soul to save
My lips shall still repeat


O Praise the One who paid my debt and raised this life up from the dead!

Jesus paid my debt, and I can live through Him.

Last night at the E, we sang that song, and the lesson and discussion in small group was about letting go of regrets and disappointments that weight us down. Letting go of these things and extending forgiveness and grace. This rang true to me this week as I had to tell someone very close to me that I was going to extend grace to them the way my Father has freely given it to me, and the only reason why I would hold onto what they did to me were for motivations that were completely selfish. I had been praying about how to address the situation, and extending grace meant so much more to God, the other person, and myself because I knew it was how God wanted me to handle it.

Honestly, it was beautiful to listen to the high school girls talk about their regrets and grudges and forgiveness and hear about how they are working on their relationships and how God is really working in their lives. I leave each Wednesday night feeling renewed and having learned so much, even though I am somehow supposed to be teaching them, they teach me more than they will ever know. I am thankful for each of them, and being able to watch them grow in their young walks with the Lord. Also seeing them invite friends, which is something that would never have happened a year ago. They are maturing, and I am excited to watch this transformation take place, and that I can be a part of it.

I'm off to weekly Thursday bible study with my best friend!

May God bless you and keep you today.