Friday, August 26, 2011

Mutterings of a new RA...

Well, I have officially finished my first week as a sophomore! It felt like the week would never end! It was good though, VERY interesting haha. I am now 19 years old, what a strange age. It's funny, I don't feel any different.
It was a birthday to remember though! I gave my first RA devo. But before hand I was almost late for curfew, because coming back from my house we hit 30 minutes of traffic! Talk about stressful. After dinner my mom and grandmother got sick. Oh and did I mention there was an EARTHQUAKE! What a ridiculous birthday! The last minute, no joking it was 11:59!, I slammed my finger in between my desk drawer. I swear it was like a spiritual battle or something!
Anyways, to switch topics, my Mom is getting testing done for Lupus. Not gonna lie, this scares the life out of me. But I am daily giving it over to God.
I read this amazing quote yesterday that totally applies to my life:
"Anything small enough to be a worry is big enough to be a prayer." 
I just think it fits me so well. :)
Well, let me just say I am sooooo excited for this and all that God will teach me. I have already dealt with disappointment and rejection (in this week alone!). So I am praying for strength and I know my God will give it to me moment by moment. 

Saturday, August 6, 2011

But God is STILL Good

Well, my Mom called me today to tell me that my grandfather is in the hospital once more. The cancer is back and he is not doing well. We don't know how much longer he has. My heart breaks but yet I have peace. Know why? Because I know God is control of this situation.

Isaiah 26:3,4
3 You keep him in perfect peace
   whose mind is stayed on you,
   because he trusts in you.
4Trust in the LORD forever,
   for the LORD GOD is an everlasting rock.(ESV)



2 Corinthians 4:16-18
16 That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day.
17 For our present troubles are small and won't last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever!
18 So we don't look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever. (NLT)



Please be in prayer for my family. I hope to go home tonight to see my grandfather tomorrow. It's going to be hard because I cannot go home for a month after this due to RA training and school starting.  We don't know how much longer he has but God does and all I can do right now is pray. 
Cherish the time you have to spend with family. You never know how much time you have. 

Tuesday, August 2, 2011

Conversations


As an RA, one of my requirements is to read two books this summer. I want to talk a little bit about one in particular. The title is "Making Disciples:One Conversation at a Time" by D. Michael Henderson. It's been excellent and full of wisdom. Though to be perfectly honest, it is a hard book to read. It's taken me almost a month to read 100 pages! Still have 90 more to go even now. One part in particular has really convicted me. Here's what it says:
"Here's an experience I know you've had: you've just come through a painful experience and you want to tell somebody about it.You begin to share with your friend but before you get the whole story on the table, your friend says, "I know exactly how you feel. I've had the same problem..." He or she grabs the conversation and runs with it. Your eyes begin to glaze over and mentally you begin to check out. You didn't initiate this conversation to hear his or her story-you wanted to tell yours. So you say, "How nice!" and walk away with the pain throbbing in your heart" (82). 

Well, I was floored when I read this. I have never thought I was a "dominator" when it came to conversation. Usually I am the one listening, while the ones bolder than I are talking. Which I don't mind, I love to listen. Yet, I know I have done this before! To think that I ignored someone else's pain, when they came to me for help, breaks my heart. This book has really opened my eyes to not just "talk" but to communicate and disciple others with my conversations. An excellent book, you must read! 

The Camel, Book Review


So just before finishing classes this past semester, I ordered a book online. I ordered it from Mission Frontiers, a Christian magazine for free. The only catch was to write and post a book review on the book. Well, a couple weeks went by and I forgot I ordered the book until 2 weeks ago when I finally checked my school mailbox and noticed the book.
The book is called "The Camel: How Muslims are Coming to Faith in Christ!" by Kevin Greeson. It was an amazing book, I finished it quickly. It uses real occurrences as examples of how this method of reaching Muslims has worked. I was astounded by the number of Muslims that have been reached already. Being an American, Islamic people are seen as the enemy, terrorists, and people who will never accept the gospel. Yet, through taking the Muslims through the Quran and using the Bible with the Quran, they are being saved. I think American Christians have forgotten that those who believe in Islam can be saved. God can work in a Muslim's heart just as He can work in an American's heart. But only if they are willing.
Through the book, I discovered the great suffering that is going on in the Middle East to Christians. Yet, through the suffering and trials, more are coming to Christ. It was encouraging, yet heart breaking.
I strongly suggest you read this book if you want to understand the Muslim culture better and how you can reach Islamic people for Christ. 

Monday, August 1, 2011

Bucket List

Well, I don't plan on dying anytime soon (though who does?) Though of course, it's up to the Lord. :) But I felt like making a list of things that I would love to do on this earth. So here goes:
1. Go to Paris and see the Eiffel Tower
2. Ride the Ferris Wheel in Paris
3. Visit London
4. Ride a moped in Rome
5. Get a book published
6. Get 5,000 views on this blog :)
7. Own a dog
8. Adopt a child
9. Adopt a baby from Africa
10. Start an orphanage
11. Live in Africa, or another country
12. Paint on canvas and post the painting in my room
13. Sell a piece of my artwork
14. Perform on Broadway
15. See Wicked on Broadway
16. Get Married to the one I love
17. Know my Savior more and more
18. Memorize a whole book of the Bible
19. Act in a movie
20. Work as a cashier
21. Travel on a train
22. See Swan Lake performed
23. Watch my brothers and sister grow up
24. Be an aunt
25. Go to Egypt to see the pyramids
26. Get a tulip from Holland
27. Meet a famous person
28. Sing a solo on Broadway
29. Sing a solo in front of over 1,000 people
30. Perform the part of Elphaba from Wicked
31. Have my own place
32. Go on a cruise
33. Get a credit card
34. Turn 21
35. Vote in a presidential election
36. Own a car
37. Have my own room
38. Work at a day care
39. Raise children and see them grow up
40. Become a grandmother
41. Grow old with my friends, rocking on the porch
42. Become a crazy old lady
43. Change the world
44. Impact others for life
45. Make the world a better place
FYI: If you have any questions, or want to know why I put something down...Feel free to ask!