God's Post-It Note: "I'm in control. Love Always, God"

Sunday and yesterday I was reminded, yet again, that God's timing is perfect timing. I'm going to share the stories of these two little "post-it note reminders" God placed in my life to let me know He is in control. Sunday I was running late for choir and I couldn't get the top part of the dress I was wearing zipped. In a hurry, I rushed out of the door and decided I'd just let someone at church finish zipping it and wear my jacket over it until then. Well, an old lady and old man were sitting outside chatting with there dogs and she stopped me to let me know that my dress needed to be zipped up the rest of the way. Needless to say, I ended up with an opportunity to invite them to our church. The old man was very interested, but also concerned that he didn't have any nice clothes to wear. I promised him that it was alright to come as you are, just as long as you come. In this case, me being late, was right on time!

Then yesterday, I stopped by a vet's office to pick up an application for a job. I have been looking for another job for over a month now and can't seem to get a call back from any of the applications I've placed. I filled one out and left it and was going to go to one more vet's office before I headed back home. The entire way to the second office, I prayed that I would get an interview or at least a call back because I was sick of not hearing anything. I stopped by and filled out an application, the lady and I started talking and I ended up getting an interview and hired on the spot. It was kinda crazy considering the fact that I was wearing Nike shorts, a t-shirt, flip-flops, and a baseball cap! So, my last day at this job is August 8th and my first day at that one is the 18th...

Through these two very different instances, I was shown that God is ultimately in control. And for that I am grateful. Oh, so grateful!

In Memory...

I just got word that a friend of mine, Monica Chao, from UAB was killed in a car wreck on Friday night. I did not know her that well, but we shared stories between us when we ran into each other on campus. We shared time on a couple of outings and stuff with Campus Crusade, but still my heart feels heavy with the thought of her death. She was driving to visit a friend for her birthday. How short is life? I sit her in my den with a prayer for her family and the thought of the brevity of life. Please pray for her family also. She was only 20 years old with the hope of a full life ahead of her...

Walking Down the Sidewalk

Ok, so I just got really angry for the first time in a while. It was with a co-worker and the reason is irrelevant now... As I was leaving the building, I called Kayla and was ranting about my frustration. I believe my exact words were, "It's times like these that I'd really like to cuss people out, but for some reason... I just don't have it in me". This was followed by a sigh of exasperation. "I don't know what holds me back from being a real jerk in response sometimes," I said, "but I just can't yell and scream back, I don't have it in me--why not?" Kayla's responded, half-jokingly. "Maybe it's cause you have the Holy Spirit in you".

Now, that really got me to thinking. [I had a roughly 14 block round trip, walking in the heat, so I had time to think]... So, maybe she was right. I thought back to a time in my life that I would have responded in today's situation completely different. I probably would have yelled, gotten an attitude, and said some things I would have regretted, but I didn't. That was the old me. I'm sure some of you know who I'm talking about. It wasn't until today somewhere between 18th and 19th street on University Boulevard, that I realized that I am a completely different person than I used to be. See, that is one thing I have struggled with in my faith is the fact that I don't remember the exact time and date when I was saved and it wasn't a miraculous, instantaneous turn around. No, that wasn't what my life needed and God knew it. God took His time changing me and now, looking back, I am SO grateful for that. I've learned SO much and come SO far! And yet, I have SO far to go.

Looking at my life, I see God's hand in every bit of it. In the times that I was obedient, and then as a saving grace and rebuilder of hope when I was disobedient. What a wonderful thought and message. If it takes testing like today, to make me realize how much better I'm doing, then I guess I won't complain. I was reminded of the verses in the Bible that talks about being a new creation:

"17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!"
2 Corinthians 5:17

Before today, when I read that, I thought of it as an instant thing. I guess, it's on God's timing not ours. Hmm... novel idea huh?

Thoughts from the Day...

*Sometimes you just have to go with your gut feeling on right and wrong.
*Even when you do, sometimes things just don't turn out how you thought they might.
*Life is short, lunch time is shorter.
*It's always important to learn peoples' last names.
*A pinched nerve hurts. Really bad.
*Being overwhelmed is good for you every now and then. It makes you realize how much you can take.
*Music makes the world go 'round.
*Love is a lot of things, but it is not rational.
*Embarrassment is a little reminder that we are human, imperfect, and need to lighten up.
*I need to take more time to use my creativity. I need an outlet.
*It doesn't always take a long distance to make you miss someone.
*The textbook business is the place to be, they are ripping students off left and right!
*Summer semesters are not for the faint of heart.
*If you can't laugh at yourself, you are giving others a great advantage over you.

Another Lesson Learned Driving

The other day, I was driving to work and flipping through the radio stations and WDJC was having their Bible reading of the morning and it was out of the first chapter of Phillipians. This is what it says, starting with verse 3:

"3I thank my God every time I remember you. 4In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy 5because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, 6being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

7It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart; for whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God's grace with me. 8God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.

9And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, 10so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, 11filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God."

Since then, I've been brought back to those verses and there are a few things that really made me stop and think. I love that line "He who has began a good work in you, will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus". I mean think about it, if the God of the Universe has started something good in us, why wouldn't He finish it? It is amazing to me that God has made time for us. Time that we can enjoy His blessings and live the life that He created for us to live. I can only hope that the life I am living and the choices I am making reflect that plan that God has so lovingly crafted.

Later, Paul goes on to pray for the church that their "love may abound more in knowledge and the dept of insight". It is my prayer for myself, my family, and my friends, that I will be able to put aside enough of myself to tap into that knowledge and depth of the love of Jesus Christ. There is a song "Empty Me", by Chris Sligh. The lyrics say "Empty me so that I can be filled with you."---what a desire... http://goodweb.org/empty-me-by-chris-sligh.html

next 2 weeks=no life

The picture above is my Microbiology book. I will be spending the next 14 days trying to learn all I possibly can from the last 6 chapters. See, I learned an important lesson last Thursday. I got my lowest test-grade in college. And I earned that grade because I didn't study at all for the test, because it was the Tuesday after the 4th of July. I've learned my lesson, and now I've got some serious catching up to do between now and then.

This might seem like one of the most pointless blogs ever, but I needed to make a public announcement that I am forgoing my normal life for the next 2 weeks to learn. :(

The Gospel: Tales from the Heart

When I say the word, "gospel"... what is the first thing you think of? "Good news", is what I've been taught my entire life. The first four books of the New Testament are the "Gospels". Both of these things are correct interpretations of the word, "gospel". But, Sunday night I was given a completely different perspective on what good news really is.

I arrived late at church (because I hit a monsoon on the way home from Georgia) and I slipped into the back row. Shanna Smith was telling a story about mission trip and was about halfway through. For the next hour or so I sat and listened to story after story of how God moved while the church was in Michigan. Now, I didn't go on this trip, but still my heart was stirred as I heard those stories. I began to realize that stories such as these are a prime example of "good news". Sure, God wants us to tell the story of Jesus and how He died, but I truly believe that He wants us to follow the story of Jesus's death with how Jesus is living and working through us. Is that not the "good news" that each and every one of us with a relationship with Christ holds? My good news story is different than yours and everyone elses, but it is still meant to be voiced, to be heard, and to be celebrated.

As I began to think about this, I felt a bit ashamed. God has done a marvelous work in my life. He still is. But, I have neglected to share the stories of what He has done like I should. The wonderful and even mysterious thing is that our story is constantly changing, God is constantly working, and that is what keeps our unique stories in Christ new...

Not Alone

Today was a good day. I had one of those moments today... One of those moments that makes you smile to think back on it. Sometimes I refer to times such as these as a "God" moment. Regardless of what you call it, it happened. I was driving to Georgia to visit my Aunt and cousin and I have been listening to the book, "Blue Like Jazz", by Donald Miller on CD. It was nearing the end of the book, in the final chapters, and he gives the scenario of sitting down and talking to Jesus face to face.

Now, I have recently read "The Shack", so this whole talking to God as if He was right beside me thing isn't a brand new concept in my mind, but I really began to process it today. As the book was finishing up, I began to think about all the things that Jesus might say to me if He was in the car with me on the way to Atlanta. Then I began to think of all the things that Jesus said to people that's recorded in the New Testament. Would he tell me of how He is the bread of life? Would He fortell of a betrayal? Would He challenge me to step out of the boat onto the water as a leap of faith? Would He turn to me and tell me to walk away and "be healed"? I could go on and on with examples of what Jesus told different people in the Bible in their differnt encounters. There is a common theme with all of them though.... love. Love and understanding. Jesus spoke to each person with their current life circumstances in mind. From Mary and Martha to Zaccheus (sp?), He knew what was going on each person's life and His conversations were seeping with love and grace.

My mind started reeling as I turned off the radio and drove in silence. "I love you", that is what He would probably start off with, I thought. "You are my precious daughter and you are not alone." "I'm proud of you" "Everything happens in my perfect timing" "Give me your heart and I will take it, mend it, fill it, and protect it"

As I began to think of all these phrases, I began to cry in the car and pray to Him. For the first time in a while my prayers felt like a conversation again. You might ask why I am sharing such a moment with the few people who might read this... Think, what would Jesus say to you right now? Where in your life do you need Him most that He is wanting to make right? Here's the wonderful thing, He is sitting right here beside each and everyone of us waiting to tell us of His great love for us. It is up to us to be still and listen, for He is God!