Moving Forward in Truth

I don't think a goodbye or the time leading up to it could be any sweeter than that I have recently seen and been a part of.

My Lebanese, jelly bean sharing, adventurous & infectiously joyful friend- if you're reading this, know that the times I've throughout the spent with you in the past few weeks, I clearly saw God in our conversations. I had such fun! I'll treasure the memories always. Looking forward to lots of stories (praying for testimonies of salvation!) and the next time I get to give you a hug.

I didn't intend to post on the above, but I couldn't not say something about it.

...every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. John 15: 2-5

Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:1-2

1. O soul, are you weary and troubled?
   No light in the darkness you see?
   There’s light for a look at the Savior,
   And life more abundant and free!
   • Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
     Look full in His wonderful face,
     And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
     In the light of His glory and grace.
2. Through death into life everlasting
   He passed, and we follow Him there;
   O’er us sin no more hath dominion—
   For more than conquerors we are!
3. His Word shall not fail you—He promised;
   Believe Him, and all will be well:
   Then go to a world that is dying,
   His perfect salvation to tell!
4. Even when we don't feel as close to God as we desire to feel, He is near. I heard someone very wise say that when you feel as if you couldn't possibly hold on any longer, look and see that He is holding on to you. God is working in me as I work to finish this school year. During conversation yesterday I was able to recognize His grace. I haven't been consumed by schoolwork as is my nature, but have been able to enjoy the weather and go through days of work more freely. Separate from and more prevalent than schoolwork: God is working on my heart spiritually and I recognize it. At times the recognition happens awkwardly; I am sure, always incompletely, but it's there.
5. 
   

Just Thinking

Holidays are when people come together.

In our immediate family, yes. Outside of that however, our six lives are like opposing railroad tracks to some of our relations... as far away from each other as the east is from the west. Not particularly to each others faces, but fundamentally. We live different lifestyles, we set different standards, we have different ideals. There is however a greater source of separation, the only true difference, Christ. It is each of our responses to the cross of Christ that dictate our lives at the core and in the long run.

But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere. For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things? For we are not, like so many, peddlers of God’s word, but as men of sincerity, as commissioned by God, in the sight of God we speak in Christ.
2 Corinthians 2

I want to be a person of sincerity towards others even when they are not toward me. I want to be a person who speaks Christ, that He would be found, both directly and invisibly, in the simplest of words I utter.

I realize more and more it is not anything I have done that turns them away from me, causes them to react strangely to a comment I've made or to my showing them the love I hold for them. I do however, have a responsibility to have an attitude that reflects the aroma of my heart, and I want both of those things to be what Christ wants them to be. My prayer right now, founded in the hope of Christ, is that the aroma I put forth through my attitude and actions would not be a stench of death, but the fragrance of life.

I dont want the differences between our lives to not be pronounced/visible or the 'great divide' have a little dinky swaying bridge placed over it to make it look pretty and function to whatever degree. I dont necessarily want everything to be comfycosy and acceptable between everyone while my soul is at peace, but theirs still are under wrath. Death and life are opposite and there is only one way to step out from under the first into the second- Christ and acceptance of the cross.

Several folks in our family have accepted Christ as their Savior by believing and accepting Him, there is just not much fruit to speak of, if any. It is for these that I pray that I would possess the fragrance of life, that the seeds in their heart would not close-up and shrivel into nothing; but that they might smell and drink of the Lord and grow stronger.

If your family is composed of Christians, be thankful for that! If not, be encouraged to not close off but keep reaching out, even in the smallest of ways Or reach out in one of the biggest ways- prayer.

Traveling Together

Handbook of Grammar and Composition Fourth Edition
Sect. 15.1 p. 91

Unity means oneness-- oneness of thought and of purpose. In order for a sentence to have unity (1) its statements must be closely related, (2) the relationships of its statements must be clear, and (3) the statements must compose only one thought.

Closely relating is living life as a part of a body of believers.
Relationships of its statements is communicating.
The one thought is Christ.

Composed of Numerous Diverse Elements or Facets

Life lately has consisted of a myriad of moments. Myriad can actually mean ten thousand. I never knew that until today. There hasnt really been much of a theme to speak of... I was just in the mood to throw some current happenings out there.

I fell in love with having these yummies with one of my favorite Celestial Seasons teas- tangerine orange zinger. The best thing about Celestial Seasons is the quotes on the bottom of the boxes. I want to go to Ikea just because I think they sell the cookies there & plus Ikea is so much cooler than Giant Eagles any day. I dont like grocery shopping at generic stores very much...

This past weekend held-

• Frisbee [from which I was unusually incredibly sore Sunday night]
  
• YG meeting
• Helping with 3-5 year old children's ministry; I'm gonna stick to nursery
  
• Good conversations after church
  
• Blueberry bagel for lunch
  
• A Sunday afternoon that wasnt what I thought it was going to be, but was a good time with friends. I suppose it was what you'd call spontaneous.
  

Frisbee had to be one of the most conversational games ever. I got such a kick out of blocking Mike. As I typed that I laughed. Caleb rocks.

The me-monster. you you you you you ME!
It's torturous to ask questions and not receive an answer. After thinking about it though, I'm so glad we are given the opportunity to do it.
Whoever made the cupcakes at YG- they were awesome.

So on Sunday fifteen of us go into the bagel place. After somehow surviving ordering the bagels, we sat down at the big table. Two people walking out commented about how we "sure were waking everyone up with liveliness!" We asked if we were being too loud- "no, no."I wasnt aware that people went to a bagel shop to sleep... We all absorbed the comment and continued with laughs and conversation. I think we attempted to be more quiet, but I didnt honestly realize that we were loud to begin with and didnt notice that much difference afterwards. Then this older woman came from behind and put her hand on my shoulder. She told us how much she loved children; she was eighty-eight years old and had been a teacher for forty-some because of that love. She told us how much she was enjoying listening to and being around our happiness and conversation. She said never to loose what we were then enjoying. "God bless." She replied with thank you and said returned the blessing. She hoped that we were all born again...actually, we are! We just came from church. She became so happy and I know I had a huge smile on my face. She parted by saying that she'd see us again someday. Talking with the women in the bagel shop pretty much made my day.

The whole bunch of us went to the thrift store, one of the most random and on the expensive side thrift stores. I'm so very cheap. It's a thrift store and I'm saying it was expensive...I was comparing it to others.

Over the weekend I bought the book that goes along with this as well as two records, two wooden bowls and two turquoise handmade glazed metal platters. When K-dawg goes on a picnic, all he needs is the suit he bought; it doubles as the blanket.

There's been some serious encouragement going around that I've been on all sides of. God has been working still with my heart on the house- I'm now excited- yay! We've all gotten quite sick of arranging the house for listing shots. They're finally done with. Since Sunday night I've been feeling mono-ish. Charles Spurgeon's Morning to Evening has been so good and God's used it several times strongly in the past several weeks.

We have a 7th birthday to celebrate in our house tomorrow =]

Ah, so very many little other things I could share. But my history textbook calls. At this point it's actually screaming.

I watched this video Thursday; It's powerful. [compliments of]

How to Spend Summer Days

Or at least here's how I've done it recently.

Highlights from the last picnic of the summer this past Sunday-

• Sit in the third row at church. in the middle. just because.
• Throw the frisbee around abit. Unsuccessfully attempt to throw it into JB's car on a whim.
  
• Be undecided while going along the tables full of yummy food
• Eat. talk. listen.
• Snap pictures as everyone wanders around and examines the surprise firetruck
• Snap a few pictures and then start singing in the rain
• Two words- Mud. Slides.
• I have multiple bruises, all well worth it.
• "They'll remember this their whole lives." -Overheard Mrs. D.G. It's truth.
• "That's something a boy would do" shall forevermore RIP
• It was fun to let the mud dry and then savor the entire experience a few more times on the second slide.
• My clothes washed out completely. No damage done. A vivid memory gained.

a quote that floated around our house a few days:

"I'm sorry. I underestimated your ability to deduce the situation."
[or something like that] -Dan

Yesterday Today Forever

Yesterday I made lemonade from lemons and giggled my head off with some of my best friends in this world. It was a great day. Cherry vanilla ice cream and pickles are yummy- not together or anything, although that would be interesting. Laptops are wonderful things. Being around people that allow you to be completely [well, mostly anyway] yourself is priceless.

What today holds for me, I'm not completely sure. I do know that so far I have been successful in repairing our computer back to a runnable condition. I've checked my email. and flickr. I've made a DVD of our family videos. And I know that as soon as I remove myself from this keyboard and screen, 5-6 batches of brownies are going to be calling my name.

Google verse of the day - Ephesians 6:17-20

"...and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak."

I want to read more.

The Shortest YC Post in History

It's kind of fun to do the impossible.
-Walt Disney

I can imagine God saying the above in the context of youth camp...and ultimately, life walked with Him.