So I've been doing this project on Helen Keller for one of my classes...it's nothing new, because I've always been fascinated by her. But I seem to learn something interesting every time, so here's what I got this time.
Even though Helen was blind and deaf - living in a world of complete darkness and silence - she still had passion for certain things in life. She was a radical socialist, pacifist, and birth control supporter. She chose things that I may not support myself, but the things she did choose to follow and support were things that she certainly voiced her opinion about. It amazes me how she could have such a passion for life and the things of the world when she had such a "blind" sense of the world she lived in.
Then I thought...maybe it was her blindness that caused her to be so brave. She couldn't visually see the shocked faces of those who heard her speak on certain issues. She couldn't exactly hear the words they were saying as she walked by. Did this give her bravery? Really, if she wanted to, she could totally tune out the world. Interesting.
How would I change my life and the way I live for my Savior if I chose to tune out the faces and voices of those who oppose Him? Would I be more passionate? Would I be less concerned of others' opinions? Just an interesting thought...
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Pieces
Sometimes my heart aches for no apparent reason. I blame it on discontentment most of the time. Other times, I just don't know.
Tonight is one of those nights. My life has changed dramatically over the last two years, and I feel like the world still hasn't stopped spinning madly around me. I'll probably turn around only to find another new object to try and find my way around. Right now I have senioritis big time - I just want to be done with homework, deadlines, late nights of studying, and feeling so mentally inadequate. But at the same time, I'm terrified of another transition. I'm not happy where I am, but I don't know exactly where "happy" would be.
Clueless, of course. I'm so glad God knows what He's doing, and that He's the ultimate DJ at my disco.
Tonight is one of those nights. My life has changed dramatically over the last two years, and I feel like the world still hasn't stopped spinning madly around me. I'll probably turn around only to find another new object to try and find my way around. Right now I have senioritis big time - I just want to be done with homework, deadlines, late nights of studying, and feeling so mentally inadequate. But at the same time, I'm terrified of another transition. I'm not happy where I am, but I don't know exactly where "happy" would be.
Clueless, of course. I'm so glad God knows what He's doing, and that He's the ultimate DJ at my disco.
Monday, October 12, 2009
Waiting on God - Thoughts from Habakkuk.
I was asked to do a devotional for class, then ended up doing the same thing for floor devos a couple weeks ago. Here's what I came up with...
So here's some background. Habakkuk was probably written somewhere between 640 and 615 BC before Assyria fell and Babylon rose to power. The scene is set: God had used Assyria to punish Israel, and now He'll use Babylon to do the same. The prophet Habakkuk shoots some questions out at God concerning these punishments as he wonders when Israel will finally be delivered from this persecution. The whole book is a dialogue between Habakkuk and God - questions and answers. For the most part, the answers God gave Habakkuk were not clear. The main message in His answers was that Habakkuk needed to simply trust His judgment, and to patiently wait for the promises previously given to Israel to be fulfilled.
Habakkuk 2:3 summed it up nicely: "For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end - it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay." God knows what He is doing! A lot of times our idea of "waiting" is the image of one continuously glancing at his watch, tapping his foot, and expectantly lifting his gaze to the heavens. "Okay, God, I'm ready. When are You gonna make this happen? I'M WAITING!!!!" Well...that's probably not how it's supposed to be.
The following is a quote from Matthew Henry's commentary on Habakkuk.
"When tossed and perplexed with doubts about the methods of Providence, we must watch against temptations to be impatient. When we have poured out complaints and requests before God, we must observe the answers God gives by His word, His spirit, and providences. God will not disappoint the believing expectations of those who wait to hear what He will say unto them. Though the promised favor be deferred long, it will come at last, and abundantly recompense us for waiting. The humble, broken-hearted, repenting sinner alone seeks to obtain an interest in this salvation. He will rest his soul on the promise and on Christ, in and through whom it is given. Thus he walks and works, as well as lives by faith, perseveres to the end, and is exalted to glory. Only those made just by faith shall live and be happy here and forever."
What caught my attention was the statement, "Thus he walks and works, as well as lives by faith, perseveres to the end, and is exalted to glory." We are not supposed to stand there tapping our feet and glancing at our watch for "that time" to come. We are to take what God has given us THIS MOMENT, and live with it. Walk with Him. Continue to glorify Him in the here and now. We can completely trust in the fact that God will "work together for good...for those who are called according to His purpose" (Romans 8:28, ESV). Even though what's good for us may not be our idea of pleasant or profitable, we know that God WILL always do what is best for us - especially those who are His children.
Here is an illustration of what I do in my own life to pound this concept into my thick skull. I have a little glass box I call my "God box". Whenever there is an issue that is dominating my heart and mind and I find myself impatiently waiting for God to bring about resolution, I put it in the box. Here's an example. One of the pieces of paper I put in my God box is labeled "Financial problems" and is dated 12-1-08. The first half of the paper is when I vent, explain the problem, and lay out my concern. Things like..."I don't know how I'll make my January payment. I don't know if I'll be able to buy Christmas presents for my family, and textbooks for next semester." Then, in the middle of the page, I write "BUT". Underneath that, I try to look at the problem in light of what I know through Scripture and consider ways God has already begun to resolve this issue. I wrote down things like, "God is faithful and will take care of me" and "He has already blessed me by giving me money through my family". After writing it all down and praying about it...I write "Lord, I give this to you" at the very bottom, put the paper in the box face down, and close the box. The issue should not be at the forefront of my mind anymore - I have given it to God.
The cool thing is, as I was working on this, I went through the papers that I had previously put in the box. As I read them...I realized that God had resolved those issues perfectly in His time. I went ahead and added on the blank side of each paper the resolution to each issue. How encouraging! Now every time I open the box, I don't see the problem side of the papers...but I see the answers that God has given me written on the back of those problems. Even though in the future I may have papers that are never resolved, I have a place that I can go to and "lay down my cares" at the feet of Jesus. It doesn't mean much, really, but to me it's a sort of ceremony to help put my heart in the right place.
The end of Habakkuk is a beautiful resolution to the heartfelt battle of this prophet. Habakkuk 3:17-19 says, "Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vine, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation. God, the Lord, is my strength; he makes my feet like the deer's, he makes me tread on my high places." Wow. How amazing would it be to have that kind of reaction when it seems that God's plan for our lives is SO distant and vague! Habakkuk embraced the concept that our knowledge is limited, yet God's sovereignty will always be superior and the ultimate authority.
What are you waiting for? And...how exactly are you waiting? I pray that you are not the person who is standing at heaven's door, tapping your foot and knocking profusely. No...I pray that you are the person who keeps faithfully hoping (and knowing) that He will fulfill His promises, yet continuing to live for Him every day as a faithful steward of what He has already given you.
So here's some background. Habakkuk was probably written somewhere between 640 and 615 BC before Assyria fell and Babylon rose to power. The scene is set: God had used Assyria to punish Israel, and now He'll use Babylon to do the same. The prophet Habakkuk shoots some questions out at God concerning these punishments as he wonders when Israel will finally be delivered from this persecution. The whole book is a dialogue between Habakkuk and God - questions and answers. For the most part, the answers God gave Habakkuk were not clear. The main message in His answers was that Habakkuk needed to simply trust His judgment, and to patiently wait for the promises previously given to Israel to be fulfilled.
Habakkuk 2:3 summed it up nicely: "For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end - it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay." God knows what He is doing! A lot of times our idea of "waiting" is the image of one continuously glancing at his watch, tapping his foot, and expectantly lifting his gaze to the heavens. "Okay, God, I'm ready. When are You gonna make this happen? I'M WAITING!!!!" Well...that's probably not how it's supposed to be.
The following is a quote from Matthew Henry's commentary on Habakkuk.
"When tossed and perplexed with doubts about the methods of Providence, we must watch against temptations to be impatient. When we have poured out complaints and requests before God, we must observe the answers God gives by His word, His spirit, and providences. God will not disappoint the believing expectations of those who wait to hear what He will say unto them. Though the promised favor be deferred long, it will come at last, and abundantly recompense us for waiting. The humble, broken-hearted, repenting sinner alone seeks to obtain an interest in this salvation. He will rest his soul on the promise and on Christ, in and through whom it is given. Thus he walks and works, as well as lives by faith, perseveres to the end, and is exalted to glory. Only those made just by faith shall live and be happy here and forever."
What caught my attention was the statement, "Thus he walks and works, as well as lives by faith, perseveres to the end, and is exalted to glory." We are not supposed to stand there tapping our feet and glancing at our watch for "that time" to come. We are to take what God has given us THIS MOMENT, and live with it. Walk with Him. Continue to glorify Him in the here and now. We can completely trust in the fact that God will "work together for good...for those who are called according to His purpose" (Romans 8:28, ESV). Even though what's good for us may not be our idea of pleasant or profitable, we know that God WILL always do what is best for us - especially those who are His children.
Here is an illustration of what I do in my own life to pound this concept into my thick skull. I have a little glass box I call my "God box". Whenever there is an issue that is dominating my heart and mind and I find myself impatiently waiting for God to bring about resolution, I put it in the box. Here's an example. One of the pieces of paper I put in my God box is labeled "Financial problems" and is dated 12-1-08. The first half of the paper is when I vent, explain the problem, and lay out my concern. Things like..."I don't know how I'll make my January payment. I don't know if I'll be able to buy Christmas presents for my family, and textbooks for next semester." Then, in the middle of the page, I write "BUT". Underneath that, I try to look at the problem in light of what I know through Scripture and consider ways God has already begun to resolve this issue. I wrote down things like, "God is faithful and will take care of me" and "He has already blessed me by giving me money through my family". After writing it all down and praying about it...I write "Lord, I give this to you" at the very bottom, put the paper in the box face down, and close the box. The issue should not be at the forefront of my mind anymore - I have given it to God.
The cool thing is, as I was working on this, I went through the papers that I had previously put in the box. As I read them...I realized that God had resolved those issues perfectly in His time. I went ahead and added on the blank side of each paper the resolution to each issue. How encouraging! Now every time I open the box, I don't see the problem side of the papers...but I see the answers that God has given me written on the back of those problems. Even though in the future I may have papers that are never resolved, I have a place that I can go to and "lay down my cares" at the feet of Jesus. It doesn't mean much, really, but to me it's a sort of ceremony to help put my heart in the right place.
The end of Habakkuk is a beautiful resolution to the heartfelt battle of this prophet. Habakkuk 3:17-19 says, "Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vine, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation. God, the Lord, is my strength; he makes my feet like the deer's, he makes me tread on my high places." Wow. How amazing would it be to have that kind of reaction when it seems that God's plan for our lives is SO distant and vague! Habakkuk embraced the concept that our knowledge is limited, yet God's sovereignty will always be superior and the ultimate authority.
What are you waiting for? And...how exactly are you waiting? I pray that you are not the person who is standing at heaven's door, tapping your foot and knocking profusely. No...I pray that you are the person who keeps faithfully hoping (and knowing) that He will fulfill His promises, yet continuing to live for Him every day as a faithful steward of what He has already given you.
Monday, October 5, 2009
October fun!
So here begins October....quite the exciting month. I'm really looking forward to everything that's going on. Last Friday was the Skillet/Hawk Nelson/Decyfer Down concert in NYC, which was AMAZING. Definitely an unforgettable time with some of my church family. Speaking of family, my parents and youngest brother are coming to visit this weekend! This week is Bible Conference and Parent's Day, so I asked for the weekend off. It will be a nice little break. We're actually going to see the Statue of Liberty on Friday, which will be awesome. I'm really excited to show my family firsthand the things that I'm involved in out here as far as school and ministry goes.
My family will also get to meet my boyfriend :) Steve and I started dating September 25. He called and asked my dad for permission to date me, then asked me out officially while we were at the corn maze with some friends that Friday night. It's going really well so far, and I'm really excited about growing with him and getting to know him better in the time to come. So yeah...he's meeting my family this weekend, then I'll meet his parents next week when we go down to his house for his birthday. Should be exciting :)
We're almost to the midpoint in the semester, believe it or not. It's gone by SO fast. I'm definitely going to need God's strength to make it through, because I know on my own there's no way I can get through everything the next two months holds. I can't wait til December 18 when it's allllll over!
Well...math homework calls my name. Later.
My family will also get to meet my boyfriend :) Steve and I started dating September 25. He called and asked my dad for permission to date me, then asked me out officially while we were at the corn maze with some friends that Friday night. It's going really well so far, and I'm really excited about growing with him and getting to know him better in the time to come. So yeah...he's meeting my family this weekend, then I'll meet his parents next week when we go down to his house for his birthday. Should be exciting :)
We're almost to the midpoint in the semester, believe it or not. It's gone by SO fast. I'm definitely going to need God's strength to make it through, because I know on my own there's no way I can get through everything the next two months holds. I can't wait til December 18 when it's allllll over!
Well...math homework calls my name. Later.
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