An Invitation

I have to admit, when I got to school and found out I was going to have a dorm room to myself, I was a little bit bummed about it.

I was hoping to help welcome a freshman roommate to Faith, or to get to know someone better whom I had just vaguely known beforehand. But alas, no roomie at all. Just me, myself, and I, and who knows what insanity could break out when THOSE 3 get together! haha (my lame attempt at some midnight humor).

Anyway, tonight after supper, I came back to the room to add some decorations to the walls so the room would feel a little more "lived in." For at least a whole 10 minutes I didn't know what to do with myself. It was just too quiet and just not much happening.

And then suddenly, a knock on the door.... And another one.... A group of friends - some I knew well, and others I'm still getting to know - decided to knock on the door for one reason or another, and then just ended up staying.

I enjoyed every minute of it.

This evening, just hanging around, chatting with my girls while I slowly but surely got some pictures arranged and posters hung, was total contentment. Who knew that having a room by myself would be such a blast!? It turns out it's all the more of an invitation for people to stop by :-)

And my door's always open to them. I may be hard at work in the middle of a paper ;-) but still, they are welcome company anytime!

Just a thought...

Some people have been regarded as awkward for talking about their faith.

Some people have been mocked and avoided for talking about about their faith.

Some people have died for their faith.

What will it take to silence ME?

I'm amazed sometimes at how easily I give up for fear of a little discomfort.

Inspired by: Sunday School class

(It's good to be back :-)

The Eve of Change

There's a hope in my soul,

Health in my bones,

There's a light in my eyes,

And love in my home....

I have been blessed.

Far beyond words.

The farther I go, the more I appreciate home.

The more independent I become, the more I appreciate talking to mom and dad.

I love my life!

Right here, right now.

I even love that I'm not perfect - that I have room to grow, things to improve, something to anticipate.

It's hot in my room. I loaded up my stuff into my car tonight, and I am astounded at how little stuff I packed for college this time around! In fact, I keep racking my brain for something big that I MUST be forgetting! Is this seriously all I need for a full semester? Maybe I just need to accept the fact that I'm finally growing good at this whole packing thing....

There are many things about going to college that I don't know what to expect this year. I don't know how hard the workload will be in my classes (I'm expecting the hardest yet!), and I don't know who my roommate will be (or even what dorm I'll be living in!), and I don't know what the kids will be like at the new after-school program placement I have. It's crazy! I'm a senior in college, but in some ways I feel like this year is starting off fresh and full of potential :-)

And me? I am full of hope. Full of joy at the prospect of old much-loved experiences, and brand new opportunities and open doors. I say that with specific things in my mind, but not enough stamina to type them all out for you tonight. So sorry.

The thunder is rumbling outside, and the lightning is a spectacular reoccurring display. I don't feel super articulate right now (obviously by the fact I used nondescriptive, old-fashioned word like "super")

But I feel blessed.

Grateful to be emerging from a summer drenched in answered prayer and renewed awe.

This summer I truly got to know God better (a God who eagerly awaits to give good gifts to His children!).

But I can't just love God for what He can give me. That would be ever so shallow. I love Him for

Who He Is.

I'm so grateful for God's reassuring touch. I know beyond a shadow of a doubt, tonight it was His Spirit speaking to me, as a Comforter and Friend (as I've been memorizing in John 14-15). God has granted me His peace.

"Not as the world gives...." But a peace that comes with knowing that I am HIS. He has plans for me. I will find out the next step of those plans in just a few short hours.

Up to this point I was trying to talk myself into being excited for school. I felt like I should be excited, but I just wasn't. There was too much to fear and not enough to look forward to.

But I am loved by the Prince of Peace. The everlasting God.

That alone is enough to give me hope.

For the future.

Forever.

*Remade*

This is such a beautiful picture of what God does with my sin! I've often had the chalkboard image in my mind for many years now, but I've never seen it done before my eyes. I just love it. God forgives, restores, transforms, and most of all, brings

HOPE.

"Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions." Psalm 51:1

"For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more." Jeremiah 31:34b

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature; old things are passed away, behold all things are become new." 2 Corinthians 5:17

Sometimes I just want to shout it from the mountaintops to a world lost in hopelessness and despair, "Look at what my God can do!" Forgiveness is possible. If you'll only ask.

"New" Brother

Looking at Wesley tonight, I realized something. He was just sitting across from me on the couch, showing me his latest favorite video game. His face was lighting up with 6 year old innocence as he chattered on about how to work the controls. (which I already knew :-)

Suddenly, it struck me. This is not just my little brother that I really should be nice to and show love to. He is my "new" brother in Christ!

He became a Christian at the beginning of the summer. Since that point, our relationship is rooted in our common bond in Christ - his being so sweet and fresh. Yet both of us are not so very different. Both of us are very much still growing and maturing in our faith of what God can do, and even more important, who He is.

I am so thankful to be on this journey WITH you now, little brother. So thankful that God saved your soul and made us not only part of the same family in this fleeting life, but part of God's family

for eternity.

All in All, a Good Night

It's official. Junior year has come to a close. And all the seniors have graduated (as of 2 weeks ago). And I'm thinking, "what does that make me!?"

A senior! Officially.

Now that I'm back home for a couple weeks, I have started up my old job of waitressing. My little bro calls it "the pancake place" because that's all he ever orders there (and no, it's not Ihop....) I will say, that is so great to always have a place to come home to where they will throw me right onto the schedule within a minute's notice.

When you put all the mix of people together - hosts, cooks, servers, managers, and dishwashers - you have the "Bob Evans Family," which is definitely a colorful cast of characters. When you start fresh into a day of work, you never know what it might possibly bring forth. Tonight especially was one that caught me off guard in alot of ways...

It started out with an older couple that I couldn't seem to satisfy no matter how hard I tried. Then I made a mistake that the boss was not too appreciative of, and she didn't hesitate to loudly inform me so. Then the other waiter who was on my half of the restaurant got fed up with the way things were going and decided to walk out the door for the night. He was originally going to be one of the closers so that left myself and another of the servers to help with all the closing work that we didn't expect we'd have to do.

But lest you start to think this sounds like only a long chain of complaints, there is a point to all these miniature tragedies of my life tonight.....

The one waitress whom I have never been able to talk with, understand, or read very well, was the very one who kept a positive attitude toward all that went on. And at the end of the night she sincerely thanked me for helping her with all the work it takes to close the store.

Sometimes the nights when it seems like the most chaos happens and the most problematic things occur, are the nights when I leave feeling the most grateful for my coworkers and the most bonded together with them. See? Good really does come out of the hard times. ;-)

A Friend So Faithful

1. I know I said I would stay away from blogging due to school stuff, but I've got so much on my mind from this weekend. I wanted to share these words I have been thinking on.... It's such a beautiful text! There is no person who can possibly be expected to bear my burdens; that's why it is my delight that I have a Saviour whom I cannot see, but whom I love and can trust.
2. 
   
3. What a friend we have in Jesus,
   All our sins and griefs to bear!
   What a privilege to carry
   Everything to God in prayer!
   Oh, what peace we often forfeit,
   Oh, what needless pain we bear,
   All because we do not carry
   Everything to God in prayer!
4. Have we trials and temptations?
   Is there trouble anywhere?
   We should never be discouraged—
   Take it to the Lord in prayer.
   Can we find a friend so faithful,
   Who will all our sorrows share?
   Jesus knows our every weakness;
   Take it to the Lord in prayer.
5. Are we weak and heavy-laden,
   Cumbered with a load of care?
   Precious Savior, still our refuge—
   Take it to the Lord in prayer.
   Do thy friends despise, forsake thee?
   Take it to the Lord in prayer!
   In His arms He’ll take and shield thee,
   Thou wilt find a solace there.
6. Blessed Savior, Thou hast promised
   Thou wilt all our burdens bear;
   May we ever, Lord, be bringing
   All to Thee in earnest prayer.
   Soon in glory bright, unclouded,
   There will be no need for prayer—
   Rapture, praise, and endless worship
   Will be our sweet portion there.

I hope these words are a blessing to your heart tonight. :-)