Whose Death Does God Cheer?
http://www.redletterchristians.org/whose-death-does-god-cheer/
Monday, May 2, 2011
Saturday, April 30, 2011
And all the nations will glorify Him
On Friday three Hungarians, two Poles, and an American came together and studied God's word in the only common language they had, German.
How crazy cool is that? Just think how God is the God of the whole WORLD. He is here in Germany, he is Virginia, he is Africa, he in China, and he unites. He unites cultures and languages and people. He is beautiful and so very good at loving me.
I think sometimes I get so wrapped up in missing the community I left behind that I forget about the community he put me in. When we first started talking about having a Bible study, I wasn't quite sure what to expect. Agape and Discount were two of the hardest things for me to leave behind and I don't think I realized how much I missed having a small group until Friday when I had my first one.
I just love how Christ overcomes all other barriers. There are very few reasons and ways outside of love for Him that should connect such a different group of women, but we did connect. It was an open space where we talked and prayed and cried. It was instant bonding. It was a reminder that I have family here. It was a reminder that I have Him here. I am so excited to see what Heaven looks like.
How crazy cool is that? Just think how God is the God of the whole WORLD. He is here in Germany, he is Virginia, he is Africa, he in China, and he unites. He unites cultures and languages and people. He is beautiful and so very good at loving me.
I think sometimes I get so wrapped up in missing the community I left behind that I forget about the community he put me in. When we first started talking about having a Bible study, I wasn't quite sure what to expect. Agape and Discount were two of the hardest things for me to leave behind and I don't think I realized how much I missed having a small group until Friday when I had my first one.
I just love how Christ overcomes all other barriers. There are very few reasons and ways outside of love for Him that should connect such a different group of women, but we did connect. It was an open space where we talked and prayed and cried. It was instant bonding. It was a reminder that I have family here. It was a reminder that I have Him here. I am so excited to see what Heaven looks like.
His kingdom come.
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Scotland stole my breath away
What do you do when you are disappointed in your program and your entire family is meeting in Colorado for Easter? You plan a trip to see Addie Domske in Scotland of course.
I can bore you with the touristy little details which I will do in a minute, but let me tell you what was really great about the trip. Addie and I have really only spent maybe 12 full weeks with each other and talk once every couple of months, but for some reason that doesn't matter. Maybe because we met each other at camp which gives you best, life long friends in a matter of weeks? or maybe it is because we are kindred spirits? or maybe it is because we are both bonded in our love for Christ? I don't know what it is, but Addie and I never once went to bed before 4 am and we didn't even begin to cover everything that needed talked about.
I cannot begin to explain how rejuvenating it was to talk with someone who gets me so well (and in English) about this experience and how it is transforming our lives. Ah, Jesus, you are so good at loving me!
Okay, now for the touristy things.
If you ever get the chance to go to Scotland, DO IT. It is a beautiful country. We went and saw Loch Ness, Urquhart Castle (built in 500 something AD, destroyed and taken over more than 4 times), rode the train around the countryside, attended church for Easter, saw the Wallace Monument, and the bridge that Wallace held from the English and where Braveheart was filmed.
On the train back from Loch Ness, as the sun came out and consumed the pastures filled with highland cattle, sheep, the new born lambs, and beauty unlike what I have seen before, I felt peaceful. It is amazing what creation does to one's heart.
This is by far the best experience of my life, but not because of I am having so much fun or this is a blast, but more so because I am learning so much, growing a ton, being challenged like nothing before, and will come out of it more the person who God has intended for me to be... and I am okay with that and feel utterly in love with what God governs.
I can bore you with the touristy little details which I will do in a minute, but let me tell you what was really great about the trip. Addie and I have really only spent maybe 12 full weeks with each other and talk once every couple of months, but for some reason that doesn't matter. Maybe because we met each other at camp which gives you best, life long friends in a matter of weeks? or maybe it is because we are kindred spirits? or maybe it is because we are both bonded in our love for Christ? I don't know what it is, but Addie and I never once went to bed before 4 am and we didn't even begin to cover everything that needed talked about.
I cannot begin to explain how rejuvenating it was to talk with someone who gets me so well (and in English) about this experience and how it is transforming our lives. Ah, Jesus, you are so good at loving me!
Okay, now for the touristy things.
If you ever get the chance to go to Scotland, DO IT. It is a beautiful country. We went and saw Loch Ness, Urquhart Castle (built in 500 something AD, destroyed and taken over more than 4 times), rode the train around the countryside, attended church for Easter, saw the Wallace Monument, and the bridge that Wallace held from the English and where Braveheart was filmed.
On the train back from Loch Ness, as the sun came out and consumed the pastures filled with highland cattle, sheep, the new born lambs, and beauty unlike what I have seen before, I felt peaceful. It is amazing what creation does to one's heart.
This is by far the best experience of my life, but not because of I am having so much fun or this is a blast, but more so because I am learning so much, growing a ton, being challenged like nothing before, and will come out of it more the person who God has intended for me to be... and I am okay with that and feel utterly in love with what God governs.
Sunday, April 24, 2011
The Gospel has been preached
Happy Easter. This is the story the Scottish minister ended her sermon with today.
"There was a young new student in seminary whose task for the week was to write a sermon and present it to his class. The entire week he fretted and worried about it.
Class came and he got up and said, "Do you know what I am going to say to you?"
The class responded no and he said, "neither do I! That is all I have this morning, go in peace."
The professor was upset and told him he better be ready for next week. The week went on and the poor student continued to worry and stress about what to say.
When it was time for him to speak, he stood in front of the class and said, "Do you know what I am going to say to you?"
They responded yes and the lad (because the minister was Scottish and that is how she spoke) said "Good, then I don't need to repeat it. That is all I have, go in peace."
The professor was irate and said that he better come prepared next week or he would not be welcome anymore.
Next week came and the lad stood in front of the class and once more said, "Do you know what I am going to say to you?"
Half of the class responded yes, while the other half said no. The lad looked at them and said, "Good, now those that know, go and tell those who do not. That is all I have, go in peace."
The professor looked at the lad and started clapping. He rose and said "Today, the Gospel has been preached."
"There was a young new student in seminary whose task for the week was to write a sermon and present it to his class. The entire week he fretted and worried about it.
Class came and he got up and said, "Do you know what I am going to say to you?"
The class responded no and he said, "neither do I! That is all I have this morning, go in peace."
The professor was upset and told him he better be ready for next week. The week went on and the poor student continued to worry and stress about what to say.
When it was time for him to speak, he stood in front of the class and said, "Do you know what I am going to say to you?"
They responded yes and the lad (because the minister was Scottish and that is how she spoke) said "Good, then I don't need to repeat it. That is all I have, go in peace."
The professor was irate and said that he better come prepared next week or he would not be welcome anymore.
Next week came and the lad stood in front of the class and once more said, "Do you know what I am going to say to you?"
Half of the class responded yes, while the other half said no. The lad looked at them and said, "Good, now those that know, go and tell those who do not. That is all I have, go in peace."
The professor looked at the lad and started clapping. He rose and said "Today, the Gospel has been preached."
"He is risen from the dead! Look, this is where they laid his body. Now go and tell the others..." Mark 16
The one drenched in Proverbs 31...
A beautiful friend sent this to me a couple of weeks ago and I still love listening to it...
When you speak, I will be reminded of Solomon's wisdom
Your ability to lead will remind me of Moses
Your faith will remind me of Abraham
Your confidence in God's word will remind me of Daniel
Your inspiration will remind me of Paul
Your heart for God will remind me of David
Your attention for detail will remind me of Noah
Your integrity will remind me of Joseph
and your ability to abandon your own will will remind me of the disciples
but your ability to love selflessly and unconditionally will remind me of Christ
You know me and find me where the boldness of Esther meets the warm closeness of Ruth, where the hospitality of Lydia is aligned with the submission of Mary which is engulfed in the tears of a praying Hannah, I will be the one drenched in Proverbs 31, waiting for you.
http://theresurgence.com/2011/04/06/a-poem-for-all-single-people-pass-it-on
When you speak, I will be reminded of Solomon's wisdom
Your ability to lead will remind me of Moses
Your faith will remind me of Abraham
Your confidence in God's word will remind me of Daniel
Your inspiration will remind me of Paul
Your heart for God will remind me of David
Your attention for detail will remind me of Noah
Your integrity will remind me of Joseph
and your ability to abandon your own will will remind me of the disciples
but your ability to love selflessly and unconditionally will remind me of Christ
You know me and find me where the boldness of Esther meets the warm closeness of Ruth, where the hospitality of Lydia is aligned with the submission of Mary which is engulfed in the tears of a praying Hannah, I will be the one drenched in Proverbs 31, waiting for you.
http://theresurgence.com/2011/04/06/a-poem-for-all-single-people-pass-it-on
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Outside my window
Outside my student dormitory window stands a tree. When I first got here the tree had barely any green to it. It was just beginning to bud, but it was beginning to bud in that sense that unless you took the time to look at it, you missed it.
I find it odd that in only 14 days my tree is covered in green. I almost wonder when that happened, but at the same noticed the difference every day.
This tree is one of those things that I have a really hard time explaining. It is a beautiful reminder that Spring is here and with Spring comes renewal, revival, and life. Simultaneously it is a mirror. I look at it and I see me. Just as the Lord has loved and renewed this earth and my tree, so He is loving and renewing my soul. Just like my tree I have been awakened from a slumber. I have never been so alive. I feel every disappointment, hurt, joy, success, rejection so intensely. My soul is lying naked, unprotected in front of this world for the first time. Everything cuts through me and steals my breath away. I am an open book. I am a glass sheet. I am as transparent as a ghost.
Till this moment, I never knew myself.
I find it odd that in only 14 days my tree is covered in green. I almost wonder when that happened, but at the same noticed the difference every day.
This tree is one of those things that I have a really hard time explaining. It is a beautiful reminder that Spring is here and with Spring comes renewal, revival, and life. Simultaneously it is a mirror. I look at it and I see me. Just as the Lord has loved and renewed this earth and my tree, so He is loving and renewing my soul. Just like my tree I have been awakened from a slumber. I have never been so alive. I feel every disappointment, hurt, joy, success, rejection so intensely. My soul is lying naked, unprotected in front of this world for the first time. Everything cuts through me and steals my breath away. I am an open book. I am a glass sheet. I am as transparent as a ghost.
Till this moment, I never knew myself.
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Friedrich Schillers Universitaet.
My blog posts from last week were all a bit... depressing? Is that the right word? I got to Jena and, to be quite honest, just did not like it. I still am experiencing frustrations (my housing situation has not been resolved and I really don't like the program I am in) but not all is bad. So here is that blog post dedicated to the good, because I have already gotten one gchat with someone checking in on for fear of my mental and emotional state. Plus no one wants to read a blog that only complains all the time, right?
Dori. My wonderful, incredibily sweet Hungarian roommate.
Dance classes. HA... For those of you studying abroad ever - do something random! My dance class is entirely random. I meet with about 20 other girls (oh and 1 boy) on Monday evenings in the city for modern dance/jazz lessons. Really, just do something for no reason. It will be great.
I have been going to church with some girls in my building and we all made dinner on Sunday after the service. We decided to make it a weekly tradition.
Ireland. A guy and a girl in my dorm that I have been getting to know really well live there. We are looking to buy plane tickets to go home (well their home, not mine) for Daniel's 21st in June. UM YES.
I am going to Scotland to see a wonderful friend (Miss Addie Domske) in 10 days for Easter and spending the night before that with another wonderful friend (Miss Megan Frook) in Berlin.
Those back home who have heard about my frustrations have abundantly poured love on me.
Despite not liking my classes (like really at all) my University was founded before America and their main building is a renovated castle. That's kind of cool?
Spring.
"In all things give thanks." 1 Thessalonians 5:18.
Dori. My wonderful, incredibily sweet Hungarian roommate.
Dance classes. HA... For those of you studying abroad ever - do something random! My dance class is entirely random. I meet with about 20 other girls (oh and 1 boy) on Monday evenings in the city for modern dance/jazz lessons. Really, just do something for no reason. It will be great.
I have been going to church with some girls in my building and we all made dinner on Sunday after the service. We decided to make it a weekly tradition.
Ireland. A guy and a girl in my dorm that I have been getting to know really well live there. We are looking to buy plane tickets to go home (well their home, not mine) for Daniel's 21st in June. UM YES.
I am going to Scotland to see a wonderful friend (Miss Addie Domske) in 10 days for Easter and spending the night before that with another wonderful friend (Miss Megan Frook) in Berlin.
Those back home who have heard about my frustrations have abundantly poured love on me.
Despite not liking my classes (like really at all) my University was founded before America and their main building is a renovated castle. That's kind of cool?
Spring.
"In all things give thanks." 1 Thessalonians 5:18.
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