Summer

Is almost here... which is hard to believe (per usual.)  My plans are still up in the air and I am ok with that. I just so happen to know someone who has everything mapped out, and it will all happen as scheduled.  My roommate Lauren and I are sitting in the CIG, which I geniusly nicknamed the CHIG.  She is doing homework, and I am attempting to start a final portfolio project.  Since that is being delayed I'll write about last Sunday.


Easter was awe-some this year.  My plans to go to the Catholic mass were changed when my grandma decided she wanted to come to my church (NEO Church) with me.  The service was great and she got to meet some of my church family.  Afterward, my sister found out she didn't have to work, so she joined the family for brunch.  Later in the evening I saw the second half of The Passion of the Christ.  Jesus' physical suffering was horrendous, but his spiritual suffering was even greater.  We'll never know what it was like for Jesus to be completely disconnected from his Father.  Seeing the disrespect, lashes, thorns, nails and asphyxiation helped me to remember the cost of my sin.  I'll never experience that punishment...  It seems too good to be true, but it's the foundation of Christianity.   


Tonight is another event in this year's Killing the Giants series.  It's called "Balance" and will explain how to manage faith and schoolwork as well as keeping the fire lit through summer.  Thursday is an internship interview, and Friday is a VOP concert, which I am so excited for!  Next week is finals...  I should be finding out soon after that what my plans are for summer.  God's timing doesn't always seem convenient for us, but He's never late!

If you asked me for directions to Canada and I gave you 5 sets that all take different roads, would they all take you to Canada? NO!

Relativism.

There aren't many things I hate, but relativism makes no sense.  How can we say that all beliefs are right when they contradict each other?  Logically, there can only be one right answer.  And we all think we have the right answer.

Look, this is a matter of life and death.  One day I'm going to die.  You're going to die, too.  Death is mysterious, scary and unnatural for humans.  We all have different beliefs about death; mainly to suit OUR desires.  Where do you get your beliefs about death?  Scientific evidence?  Religion?  Atheism?  Humanism?  What view about death makes you feel the best: that there is no afterlife, that everyone goes to heaven, or that heaven and hell exist and our default destination is hell?  Certainly not the third one.  And why would anyone believe something so scary?  

After all, doesn't society promote self-esteem and doing what makes you happy?

About the birthday dinner

When I got to work yesterday, my friend Patty told me she was working for me!  It was a total surprise, and I got to be with my sister at her birthday dinner.  So there I was all distressed, and things worked out!  God is good.  :)

Blessed are those...

...who put their trust in Him.  -Psalm 2:12

My sister is 20 years old today, but it's looking like I won't be able to attend her birthday dinner.  It's been impossible to find someone to work for me; probably because we're hosting a double-benefit.  I'm sad about this, and am wondering what I can do to make it up to her.

Meanwhile, summer plans are still unsettled, and I'm having trouble keeping schoolwork on my priority list.  Life has felt like a drag recently, but that's ok!  My hope is not in my strength, intelligence, happiness, etc.  It's in the Lord.  He makes all things work for the good of those who love Him and are called to His purposes.  (Romans 8:28.)

"Let not the things of this world ever sway me."

Brooke Fraser is a beautiful and talented singer with a particular song that I loved called "Lord of Lords."  I posted the video.  If you like it and want to hear more of her music you can click her name, which will take you to her website.  

The Greatest Story Ever

Visions of Jesus

Yesterday I had lunch with a friend, and she told me about countries in the Middle East, Africa, and many other places where people are accepting Jesus- in large part because of visions! Jesus is presenting himself to people through dreams and visions; in places where believing in Christ means persecution as horrible as death.  Most of these people are Muslim and before these experiences want nothing to do with the Christian faith.  Below is an article about these happenings, and how God is doing a huge change in peoples hearts all around the world!




http://www.cbn.com/spirituallife/onlinediscipleship/understandingislam/Visions.aspx

He is...

So faithful!  I have two interviews for a summer and a fall internship.  Pray me luck :)

Coincidental Events

I chose the above title for this post because "coincidental" circumstances are always appearing in my life.  For example, last Thursday I had a great opportunity to read Scripture with my roommate Danielle for Alan Kolp's message in the Chapel.  The passage I read was Luke 4:1-13, and Danielle read Ephesians 2:4-10.  Yesterday morning I was praying about something all women struggle with: body image.  And my devotional for the day was Ephesians 2:10 "We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works."  Here's Charles Stanley's commentary on this verse:

"We have a multibillion-dollar clothing industry in the USA, and it is built upon the premise that looking good is important....  We get anxious about our appearance and performance in life.  In other words, many of us worry about how we stack up....  Jesus tells us that our heavenly Father's opinion about who we are is all that truly matters.  If He approves of us, that's all the approval we need.  He gives us our identity and an inner beauty that far surpasses anything related to what we might wear, own, drive, or live in."

It was really coincidental that this verse and devo message were the same morning of my prayers about body image.  I believe God hears our prayers and sometimes answers them right away.  He does this a lot through my devo and through His Word- just a couple of the many ways I see Him work in everyday life.

Funny!