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. :-)

Post 100 - Failed

So funny story....

I was all excited about my 100th blog post (mostly because it seems like a big deal in the world of blogging). Part of me also thinks about how it represents the time I've spent writing when I probably could have/should have been doing something else..... But that's beside the point! :-)

Anyway, I was eagerly anticipating the time when I could plan out my official 100th blog post. I was trying to think of something really special and creative and slightly different that I could do. The "teacher" side of me wanted to post an assortment of things that kids have brought in for their "100th day of school" celebration.

The "inspired" side of me wanted to blog about 100 verses of the Bible that have made a difference to me and why.

The "fun and funky side" of me wanted to post "100 random things about me."

But that persistent ol' practical side of me just kept winning out and saying, you better work on that homework. Blogging can wait, and it just would not be the most profitable use of your time to blog about 100 of anything!

And then I was just passing through blogspot today and I happened to glance at my number of posts. Guess what it already said?.....

Yup! It said "100 blog posts." No way! I don't remember doing the 100th one yet. But somewhere along the line I must have lost track and written an extra post.

Oh well though. It is almost a freeing thing, because now I don't have to worry about post #100. It's already been used up ;-)

I should mention little blog that you won't see me until maybe the second week of May. I must needs take a break from blogging in order to accomplish all these major school assignments. So I shall keep pressing on and I will pick up the posts when I have some free time again.

Bringing my Doubts

I used to wonder, “Why did Gideon lay out his fleece so many times in order to be assured of the will of God?” Did he not trust the first answer as sufficient?

I see myself reflected in this story. I’m learning to look more critically at myself instead of the Bible characters themselves. I can totally identify with Gideon! When I'm trying to make a semi-big decision, it's easy to set an ultimatum (i.e. "God, if this happens, then I will do this...." or "God, this certain thing didn't work out, so it must not be your will for me to ______.") But then when it happens, suddenly it does not seem like sufficient enough evidence to base it all on a circumstance, so I pray on another test that will be "the deciding factor" for God's will in my life. I must admit, it gets downright tricky!

The desire of my heart of hearts is to do what the perfect will of God is for my life. But sometimes, it truly IS hard to be sure that it's truly God's voice. I worry about whether my motives are pure enough, or whether I am putting the words I want to hear into God's mouth. God's will is not a blank check. I cannot just insert whatever I would most prefer and then thank Him for the slight input. That would be limiting His awesome power and sovereign plan (and last time I checked, my God is limitless!) He is completely capable of providing for my every need. And as His child, He wants me to learn to depend more fully on Him, even when all other securities are stripped away.

But how do I know to what lengths He wants me to go to prove and to stretch that dependence? The men of old like George Mueller and Hudson Taylor lived a life like that. Father, I pray that you would enlarge my heart in faith. As in a commentary I was reading this afternoon,

You want me to bring my faith to you....

Yet if I have no faith, you want me to bring even my doubts to you....

So that you may strengthen my heart to trust you more.

Whatever happened to the faith of a child?? It should not be this complicated, right? The sheep know the voice of their Master, and they follow after Him. They know when they are hearing another voice that is not the Good Shepherd. Dear Lord, give me discernment to pick out your loving voice above all other voices, so that I may know YOUR desire for my direction. I realize that at times you speak through earthquakes, and fire, and whirlwinds. But at other times, your voice is just a still, small whisper. Give me grace that I may not miss it.

* Wow, I wasn't planning to write this much! All these thoughts are churning in my mind. And as a side note, I hope you understand that I write this in a broad, generic way for a reason, leaving out the details. If anyone out there is feeling the same way I am, or wrestling with similar questions, I hope you will be encouraged in the Lord tonight, able to apply these thoughts to your own situation.

"Wait on the Lord; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen thy heart. Wait I say, on the Lord." Psalm 27:14

Goofy Note

Hi my little blog.

I have not forgotten about you.... As I'm sure you can understand, I have been real busy with school these last couple weeks. But be assured, I have not forgotten about you.

(In fact, I still find myself keeping an eye out for random little things during my day to share with you, blog. The trick is to find time that's not harried with school-work in order to actually write these things down!)

But I have good news, blog! This coming week at school is missions conference, which I am excited for for more reasons than one. Yet one is that I will have opportunity to write more AND to keep you updated on what goes on in the conference.

We anticipate God will stir our hearts to have a sharper focus similar to His own view of the world. (that was an oddly constructed sentence. But I'm gonna leave it that way, because I like the idea it so unsmoothly conveys! :-)

And now, I'm off to get ready for bed. I just back from soccer and there are one or two things standing in the way before I can crawl into bed for sweet sleep.

Oh, and thank you Lord for parents who drove for 3 hours to come visit me and see my dorm room and hang out for almost a whole day! That was so fun....

-Janell Knudson, signing off

Good night little blog!

In love with the Blueberry

She is a lover of mustaches, owls, great danes, carmel and converse shoes.

Oh, and photography.

(I'm with her there! I love a good photograph, though I have to admit, I'm not as faithful at putting them up on my own blog.)

Some people are crazy cute, amazingly in-tune with their own adorable style, and completely 102% original!

Do you know someone who is overflowing with so much creativity, it just comes pouring out of them even when they're NOT trying!?

Who is that person that is always saying something you have to ask, "Where in the world did THAT come from!?" But really as you can do is laugh and shake your head and think, "I have never heard anything like that before. But it's funny." :-)

For me, it's THIS girl....

I met her at camp last year and somehow or another we got each other's blog addresses. She never ceases to amaze me and crack me up. Blogs like this remind me that Life is FuN. (And if I'm not careful, I'll get too focused on to-do lists and the stuff of life I HAVE to do. I'll forget it's okay to let loose and be goofy sometimes.)
I just have to pass on this address to anyone who might need a smile today. Check it out, you will totally love her as much as I do!

http://therewebe.blogspot.com

You are my "blogging-hero" Bri! Keep it comin'. Love ya

Rich

2 in the drawer of my nightstand.

1 very special one on top of my nightstand.

1 pocket size one in my purse right now on the floor.

1 program on the internet where I can look up one in any translation I so desire.

1 in dad's lap as he reads it to my little brother.

4 on the family bookshelf in the living room.

2 on my teenage brother's shelf when he asked me to grab one for Sunday School this morning.

Pieces of it all throughout my Bible college notes organized downstairs.

Chapters and verses tucked away in my mind and heart to recall at any moment....

There are people in the world right now that would give anything for just one.

For just a portion of one.

In their own language.

In their possession.

And here I am with all these beautiful versions and translations and copies and resources of

B I B L E S

right at my fingertips!

I am rich.

Who am I to deserve such rich Words of God? All I can do is thank Him. And study His Words. And cherish them.

"The law of thy mouth is better unto me than thousands of gold and silver.

Therefore I love thy commandments above gold; yea, above fine gold."

Psalm 119:72, 127