The semester ended on thursday and I am so happy to be on break!! The end of the semester is always a stressful time and I am so glad it is over. My grades are looking good too! I now have a few weeks off to relax and enjoy spending time with family and friends.
I am making 2 special trips this break, one to the twin cities and one to florida. I am atteding TCX (twin cities experience), it is a conference through campus crusade for christ and I am very excited to see what God will do through this! I am also going to Florida in January to visit my step-sister with my sister, this should be a fun time of enjoying the sun and my 2 beautful step-nieces!
I am also using the extra time to work on my relationship with the Lord. It seems as life gets busy I make less time for God when it should be the opposite, when I am most stressed out is when I need Him the most! I have been working so hard on trying to reach out to others that I have let my own relationship slip a little. I am so thankful for this time that I can re-focus on what is really important!
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Saturday, November 7, 2009
Lost
This past weekend I went on a retreat with Campus Crusade. The retreat was in Rhinelander and was in a very wooded area. Sunday we left the retreat to go home. Katie was the navigator, I was the driver, and, needless to say, the first turn we took was wrong and we became severely lost in the woods. We were driving around and around and everything looked the same: trees, trees and more trees! We eventually made a circle and ended up where we started. We had a GPS, but it was not working because of Katie’s inability to program. While we were lost I immediately panicked because we were alone in the woods with nobody to help us; there were no cars around and there was no cell phone reception. Katie and I become easily frustrated with each other and felt angry about the situation. I was mad at the GPS (aka Katie), it was suppose to tell us where to go but was failing horribly. Eventually we figured out how to make the GPS work and it gave us the guidance and direction we needed to get home.
Being lost in the woods made me think about those who are lost spiritually, those who are without Christ. Christ is the center of my life and it is He who guides me and gives me direction in life. Without Christ you are driving lost through the woods of life; you don’t know where to go and you are left feeling frustrated and angry. The Bible is the GPS for our lives: it gives us directions on how to live for Christ. If we have a Bible but are not reading it or not trying to dig deeper it is not helpful in directing us. The problem is not the Bible, but the user.
As Christians we need to help the lost find Christ so that they are no longer lost. In Luke 19:10 Jesus says, “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.” As Christians we need to be examples to believers and nonbelievers, those who are found and those who are lost. We can be examples to others everyday in our actions, words and thoughts. If we are truly following Jesus then our hearts should be like His and we should be seeking the lost. We need to tell others about Jesus and what He has done for us.
One last thought to leave you with: lets pretend that you know a lot of people who have cancer—these people could be your friends, relatives or complete strangers. You have found the cure for cancer! Awesome!! You have just found a way to save a lot of people from a lifetime of pain, chemotherapy and ultimately dying with cancer. Wouldn’t you go out and tell the world about what you discovered? Why is it not the same with the Gospel? We have been given a cure—Jesus! Jesus saved me from Hell, it is because of Jesus that I can live! Jesus lived the perfect life that I could not, at the cross He paid the price for not only me but everyone! All you need to do is to except Him as your personal Lord and Savior. I know a lot of people who don’t know Jesus and need Him; I’m sure we all have someone in our lives who doesn’t know God. Let’s get out there and tell people about Jesus and His saving grace! Let’s help the lost be found.
Being lost in the woods made me think about those who are lost spiritually, those who are without Christ. Christ is the center of my life and it is He who guides me and gives me direction in life. Without Christ you are driving lost through the woods of life; you don’t know where to go and you are left feeling frustrated and angry. The Bible is the GPS for our lives: it gives us directions on how to live for Christ. If we have a Bible but are not reading it or not trying to dig deeper it is not helpful in directing us. The problem is not the Bible, but the user.
As Christians we need to help the lost find Christ so that they are no longer lost. In Luke 19:10 Jesus says, “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.” As Christians we need to be examples to believers and nonbelievers, those who are found and those who are lost. We can be examples to others everyday in our actions, words and thoughts. If we are truly following Jesus then our hearts should be like His and we should be seeking the lost. We need to tell others about Jesus and what He has done for us.
One last thought to leave you with: lets pretend that you know a lot of people who have cancer—these people could be your friends, relatives or complete strangers. You have found the cure for cancer! Awesome!! You have just found a way to save a lot of people from a lifetime of pain, chemotherapy and ultimately dying with cancer. Wouldn’t you go out and tell the world about what you discovered? Why is it not the same with the Gospel? We have been given a cure—Jesus! Jesus saved me from Hell, it is because of Jesus that I can live! Jesus lived the perfect life that I could not, at the cross He paid the price for not only me but everyone! All you need to do is to except Him as your personal Lord and Savior. I know a lot of people who don’t know Jesus and need Him; I’m sure we all have someone in our lives who doesn’t know God. Let’s get out there and tell people about Jesus and His saving grace! Let’s help the lost be found.
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
How He loves us.
"He is jealous for me,Loves like a hurricane, I am a tree,Bending beneath the weight of his wind and mercy.When all of a sudden,I am unaware of these afflictions eclipsed by glory,And I realize just how beautiful You are,And how great Your affections are for me.
And oh, how He loves us so,Oh how He loves us,How He loves us all
Yeah, He loves us,Whoa! how He loves us,Whoa! how He loves us,Whoa! how He loves.Yeah, He loves us,Whoa! how He loves us,Whoa! how He loves us,Whoa! how He loves.
We are His portion and He is our prize,Drawn to redemption by the grace in His eyes,If grace is an ocean, we’re all sinking.So Heaven meets earth like a sloppy wet kiss,And my heart turns violently inside of my chest,I don’t have time to maintain these regrets, When I think about, the way…"
The above is a song that we have sang at church every week since I've been back in fond du lac. It is a really amazing song talking about how God loves us! I have been really blessed reading the lyrics of this song and remembering how much God loves me! God's love is so amazing and I hope you are experiencing God's love! God's love is always there, He is always there waiting for you to run into His open arms, so take the step and run into His loving arms, you will never regret it! Trust me!
PS. School is going well, my classes are not too hard, this week I will take my first 2 tests of the semester! I am hoping to write more often!
And oh, how He loves us so,Oh how He loves us,How He loves us all
Yeah, He loves us,Whoa! how He loves us,Whoa! how He loves us,Whoa! how He loves.Yeah, He loves us,Whoa! how He loves us,Whoa! how He loves us,Whoa! how He loves.
We are His portion and He is our prize,Drawn to redemption by the grace in His eyes,If grace is an ocean, we’re all sinking.So Heaven meets earth like a sloppy wet kiss,And my heart turns violently inside of my chest,I don’t have time to maintain these regrets, When I think about, the way…"
The above is a song that we have sang at church every week since I've been back in fond du lac. It is a really amazing song talking about how God loves us! I have been really blessed reading the lyrics of this song and remembering how much God loves me! God's love is so amazing and I hope you are experiencing God's love! God's love is always there, He is always there waiting for you to run into His open arms, so take the step and run into His loving arms, you will never regret it! Trust me!
PS. School is going well, my classes are not too hard, this week I will take my first 2 tests of the semester! I am hoping to write more often!
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Psalm 86:1-17
This was a devotion in my Bible that went along with this psalm
"When you approach God in prayer, what are the 'givens' you believe about Him? That He hears you, forgives you and loves you with a steadfast love? That's how the psalmist describes God. But do you sometimes secretly picture Him as an unmerciful judge, wondering if He really will forgive this sin -- the one you find yourself repeatedly battling? Or does God seem like an absentee parent who is unresponsive to your needs rather than a loving Father who understands your pain? When you've blown it again, do you sense that God has a scowl of diappointment on His face rather than open, welcoming arms?
Sometimes without realizing it, we project upon God images of our own making -- a demanding taskmaster for whom we never can do enough, an exacting parent we can never quite please, a short-tempered boss we easily anger. Yet, this is not the God of the Bible, the God of David, and this is not the real God.
Listen to David's description of the God he knew so intimately: 'You are...abounding in love to all who call to you' (vs 5.) God is not an unmerciful, cruel master but a 'forgiving and good' heavenly Father. He is not skimpy with His love, and He does not play favorites. He is not a God who gives love conditionally. No, this God -- our God -- is overflowing with love. Even when he was poor, weak, needy and in trouble, David proclaimed, 'Great is Your love toward me.' (vs. 13)
Who is this God we serve? This is no impotent God: 'You are great and do marvelous deeds' (vs 10.) This is no uncaring, unaware, neglectful God who tells us, 'Get over it.' Rather, He is a 'compassionate and gracious God' (vs 15) who comforts us in our tears. He is nota temperamental, grumpy, quick-to-anger God, but one who is 'slow to anger' (vs. 15) There is no God like Him!
When you find yourself hesitant to come before God or to wholly trust Him, consider what image of God you're holding onto. Is it the real God of Scripture or an impostor? Worship the real God, in spirit and in truth."
"When you approach God in prayer, what are the 'givens' you believe about Him? That He hears you, forgives you and loves you with a steadfast love? That's how the psalmist describes God. But do you sometimes secretly picture Him as an unmerciful judge, wondering if He really will forgive this sin -- the one you find yourself repeatedly battling? Or does God seem like an absentee parent who is unresponsive to your needs rather than a loving Father who understands your pain? When you've blown it again, do you sense that God has a scowl of diappointment on His face rather than open, welcoming arms?
Sometimes without realizing it, we project upon God images of our own making -- a demanding taskmaster for whom we never can do enough, an exacting parent we can never quite please, a short-tempered boss we easily anger. Yet, this is not the God of the Bible, the God of David, and this is not the real God.
Listen to David's description of the God he knew so intimately: 'You are...abounding in love to all who call to you' (vs 5.) God is not an unmerciful, cruel master but a 'forgiving and good' heavenly Father. He is not skimpy with His love, and He does not play favorites. He is not a God who gives love conditionally. No, this God -- our God -- is overflowing with love. Even when he was poor, weak, needy and in trouble, David proclaimed, 'Great is Your love toward me.' (vs. 13)
Who is this God we serve? This is no impotent God: 'You are great and do marvelous deeds' (vs 10.) This is no uncaring, unaware, neglectful God who tells us, 'Get over it.' Rather, He is a 'compassionate and gracious God' (vs 15) who comforts us in our tears. He is nota temperamental, grumpy, quick-to-anger God, but one who is 'slow to anger' (vs. 15) There is no God like Him!
When you find yourself hesitant to come before God or to wholly trust Him, consider what image of God you're holding onto. Is it the real God of Scripture or an impostor? Worship the real God, in spirit and in truth."
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