my friend posted this on her fb. i had seen it before and i'm sure you have too, but today i literally got sick while watching it.
no, Jesus is not proclaimed, but stuff that He taught is. and not just the orphan and the widow line.
i pray that i would be moved to change. i pray that God would compel me to stop loving this world, to forsake it, and to follow Him with my WHOLE heart!!!!
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
new site
no, not me. some of you may have read on desiringgod.org that the gospel coalition has a new website. dude, it rocks. you MUST check it out! sermons, books, videos, articles-it's like christmas for the Christ-centered! wait, uh....um.......
Saturday, September 12, 2009
language
in a class last semester, we were taught the importance of language in understanding cultural norms, behaviors, and, well, the culture period. in a class this semester, i will again, be studying culture, but in the context of nursing/healthcare. since language has yet to be introduced as a major and key importance in understanding another culture, (ok, we've only had one class), i've started to reflect on language. other circumstances in life also make me begin to wonder how vital language is.
welp. instead of conquoring the guitar as my next project, i will be trying to refresh on languages never truly mastered. spanish and asl will be my tasks. this semester, a friend has graciosuly offered to give me informal asl lessons. next semester, i will either take a class (gulp) or simply review with a roomie a language not listend to seriously for almost eight years (double gulp).
i was talking with a prof about going overseas yesterday and challenged both myself and her with the words "for the sake of the cross." i didn't really understnad these words when i got back from india, but now, more and more by the grace of God, these words make more sense. to communicate the Truth with people, i can't be lazy. so, for the sake of the cross, for the namesake and glory of my Lord, this new task i undertake. oh Lord, grant me grace!
welp. instead of conquoring the guitar as my next project, i will be trying to refresh on languages never truly mastered. spanish and asl will be my tasks. this semester, a friend has graciosuly offered to give me informal asl lessons. next semester, i will either take a class (gulp) or simply review with a roomie a language not listend to seriously for almost eight years (double gulp).
i was talking with a prof about going overseas yesterday and challenged both myself and her with the words "for the sake of the cross." i didn't really understnad these words when i got back from india, but now, more and more by the grace of God, these words make more sense. to communicate the Truth with people, i can't be lazy. so, for the sake of the cross, for the namesake and glory of my Lord, this new task i undertake. oh Lord, grant me grace!
Monday, September 7, 2009
looking back
as i reflect back on the past few months, maybe year, i remember questioning grace and asking in earnest to understand what grace means. i told my friend that i "had a hard time with grace" i.e. felt like i had to do stuff to earn favor with God. she challenged me with simple words.
i didn't understand the how these words would resonant with me until now, until a summer filled with teachings about grace and Jesus Christ, until the Holy Spirit moved in my heart and mind. i don't fully understand grace. i don't get how the Creator of all things, including me, could send His Son to die a painful death, a Son who went willingly and bore the wrath of this God and my shame and sin, and then rose again in order to glorify Himself and to restore mankind, including sinful, awful me, to Himself. it makes no sense because i know myself.
however, it makes beautiful sense because God's ways are different than mine and this way resonants in my soul like nothing ever has. glorifying God and enjoying Him forever makes so much sense!
i've been so worried about this year for so many silly reasons, mostly due to the lack of close friends who share such convictions. however, God is abounding is grace and love, for i discovered that a dear friend in my nursing class is also reformed! ok, i know it's just a title, but truly, we hold to some very similar convictions and i feel overwhelmed with God's goodness!!!!
it seems like there's more to write; i'm sure there is. however, i have no words.
"cindy, you can't do anything to make God love you more or less."
i didn't understand the how these words would resonant with me until now, until a summer filled with teachings about grace and Jesus Christ, until the Holy Spirit moved in my heart and mind. i don't fully understand grace. i don't get how the Creator of all things, including me, could send His Son to die a painful death, a Son who went willingly and bore the wrath of this God and my shame and sin, and then rose again in order to glorify Himself and to restore mankind, including sinful, awful me, to Himself. it makes no sense because i know myself.
however, it makes beautiful sense because God's ways are different than mine and this way resonants in my soul like nothing ever has. glorifying God and enjoying Him forever makes so much sense!
i've been so worried about this year for so many silly reasons, mostly due to the lack of close friends who share such convictions. however, God is abounding is grace and love, for i discovered that a dear friend in my nursing class is also reformed! ok, i know it's just a title, but truly, we hold to some very similar convictions and i feel overwhelmed with God's goodness!!!!
it seems like there's more to write; i'm sure there is. however, i have no words.
Friday, September 4, 2009
the first of many similar blogs
actually, it's not the first. i've blogged a lot about this summer because it has truly been filled with laughter, amazing fellowship, wonderful discussions about an infinitely indescribable God, and grace. i can't get over or communicate how i felt this summer or what i have learn, but since packing is finished and i have said most of my fairwells, all i want to do is cry.
my heart aches to have mid-june and early august back again! i wish i had savoured the moments with such precious friends in such glorious times of prayer and discussion. what i wouldn't give to go back to those "lazy" afternoons in the house talking about the overly-abounding grace of our God, the perfect work and display of Christ, and how badly the giants lost the night before.
i think i can say this with absolute certainty that this has been the best summer of my life. the grace and glory of God has never been more clearly displayed then in these few months and for that i will always be grateful to the Lord. i am excited for my friends as the grow together in grace in the coming months, but i am so sad, (and jealous, i'll admit), to not be a part of it. sure, i have amazing friends at school and they will challenge me and point me to the Lord, but i cherish my friends in a different way because we have grown up together, we have struggled together, we have celebrated together. God is to be praised for His goodness! i am SO undeserving of such a life, of such friends-nay, family.
ok, enough for now. you will have to read something like this again once culture shock sets in back in riverside. october 16th, COME SOON!
my heart aches to have mid-june and early august back again! i wish i had savoured the moments with such precious friends in such glorious times of prayer and discussion. what i wouldn't give to go back to those "lazy" afternoons in the house talking about the overly-abounding grace of our God, the perfect work and display of Christ, and how badly the giants lost the night before.
i think i can say this with absolute certainty that this has been the best summer of my life. the grace and glory of God has never been more clearly displayed then in these few months and for that i will always be grateful to the Lord. i am excited for my friends as the grow together in grace in the coming months, but i am so sad, (and jealous, i'll admit), to not be a part of it. sure, i have amazing friends at school and they will challenge me and point me to the Lord, but i cherish my friends in a different way because we have grown up together, we have struggled together, we have celebrated together. God is to be praised for His goodness! i am SO undeserving of such a life, of such friends-nay, family.
ok, enough for now. you will have to read something like this again once culture shock sets in back in riverside. october 16th, COME SOON!
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Sunday, August 23, 2009
two weeks
i have about two weeks until i migrate south for the last time, God willing. again, i leave the comfort of family, life-long friends, and seventy-degree weather for the world of academia and dry heat without air conditioning. my feelings are more mixed this year than every before, even though i have done this four times previously.
this summer has been incredible! i went to rwanda, africa to kick it off. i learned tons about what grace doesn't look like and what it means to serve God in rough times and areas. then, i went to palm springs for resolved, heard john piper preach and the Holy Spirit speak volumes into my life. next came alaska and washington on a cruise. lesson learned here was that i get sicker than i ever thought on boats, with no regard to size. then came a job working with an elderly jewish woman. i've learned about grace through this position and i hope i am, at long last, no longer afraid to give a bed bath. a trip up to the deteriorating grandma's, my first best-friend's wedding and off campus came next. the ideas of grace and a well-lived life for the cross were emphasized like never before. oregon came last in terms of adventure.
what a theme of a summer! through leaking cars, plane and car rides, carpel tunnel/tendinitis, four states, dad troubles, a broken computer, and just plain ole' days, grace triumphed all. i'm almost scared to leave this fellowship because i don't want the centrality of Christ and the grace found only through Him to leave the for-front of my mind.
at school, i will hopefully, enter my last year (PTL!!). even getting to this point is a grace of God, but with the hardest year yet to complete, some strange and painful ailment, and a good chunk of my friends graduated and moved on, what does this year hold? what beginnings and endings does the Lord have in store? what trials will i endure for His namesake? what blessings will i have the privilege of having so that i may glorify Him? shoot, i have no clue!!! but with some anxoiusness, i'll admit, i pray and pack, remembering and praising God for this summer and longing to do so in the future!
this summer has been incredible! i went to rwanda, africa to kick it off. i learned tons about what grace doesn't look like and what it means to serve God in rough times and areas. then, i went to palm springs for resolved, heard john piper preach and the Holy Spirit speak volumes into my life. next came alaska and washington on a cruise. lesson learned here was that i get sicker than i ever thought on boats, with no regard to size. then came a job working with an elderly jewish woman. i've learned about grace through this position and i hope i am, at long last, no longer afraid to give a bed bath. a trip up to the deteriorating grandma's, my first best-friend's wedding and off campus came next. the ideas of grace and a well-lived life for the cross were emphasized like never before. oregon came last in terms of adventure.
grace, grace, grace
what a theme of a summer! through leaking cars, plane and car rides, carpel tunnel/tendinitis, four states, dad troubles, a broken computer, and just plain ole' days, grace triumphed all. i'm almost scared to leave this fellowship because i don't want the centrality of Christ and the grace found only through Him to leave the for-front of my mind.
at school, i will hopefully, enter my last year (PTL!!). even getting to this point is a grace of God, but with the hardest year yet to complete, some strange and painful ailment, and a good chunk of my friends graduated and moved on, what does this year hold? what beginnings and endings does the Lord have in store? what trials will i endure for His namesake? what blessings will i have the privilege of having so that i may glorify Him? shoot, i have no clue!!! but with some anxoiusness, i'll admit, i pray and pack, remembering and praising God for this summer and longing to do so in the future!
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