Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Bay shores and Ocean Floors

Bay Shores: Thought I'd take a homework break and write a post. So this past weekend was great. I went on a road trip with my roommate Tiffany to Michigan (I had never been to MI before). We traveled over 500 miles and made it to Traverse City and back. We were able to stay at Tiffany's house, go to Lake Ann camp, visit Traverse City, and visit John Vermilya in Buckley. It was wonderful, but sadly the trip had to come to an end and we had to come back and be responsible students, haha.


Ocean floors: Today during my discipleship time with Debbie we talked about forgiveness vs. bitterness. As I sat there I prayed that God would bring things to mind that I needed to forgive. But goodness, I never realized how reluctant I am to forgive certain things. I was shocked by my own resistance. Inwardly parts of me were saying, "Why forgive? They hurt me and what they did was wrong. Why should they got off for free?"

My thinking was so wrong and I was reminded that justice belongs to God and that I needed to point the finger at myself. I've messed up more times than I'd ever like to count and God has granted me forgiveness. Do I deserve that forgiveness? No. But that's not the kind of Savior we have. It hurts Him when we sin and He allows us to humbley approach Him in all our filth and shame and seek His pardon. Wow. God is patient, slow to anger, filled with joy and love. He is compassionate, gentle, full of grace and mercy, and is forgiving.

I need to forgive as my Father has forgiven me. Forgiveness is a choice. Yeah, it may hurt and it will be hard, but once I deside to forgive that's when God can begin to heal the wounds and battle scars.

"My misdeeds
All my greed
All the things that haunt me now
They’re not a pretty sight to see
But they're wiped away
By a mighty, mighty wave
A mighty, mighty wave


Your sins are erased
And they are no more
They’re out on the ocean floor"
-Audio Adrenaline

Sunday, October 12, 2008

Wait....this isn't finger painting class? Oh man....

Art class has been a learning experience. Pretty much I've come to realize I have no skill.....it's a good thing Jesus loves me and my mom thinks I'm special.

A typical day in art class:

Me-



My classmates:



Sad story. The end. haha


Wednesday, October 8, 2008

Woah, how much?

So I'm sitting here listening to Ooh Ahh by Grits, which happens to be one of my favorite songs, and I decided it's time for a post.

Something that's been on my heart lately is God's love. God IS love. His love for us is unfathomable and as His children we can't be separated from it, but I'll be real honest, I have trouble accepting that. I feel like there's something inside of me that every time I hear about God's love I inwardly ask, "Really, you love me that much? But God, it doesn't make sense, I'm the biggest screw up I know." And I am gently reminded, "Yes, that much. More than you can ever know." Man, God is so awesome.

In John 17:23 when Jesus was praying He said, "I in them and you in me, all being perfected into one. Then the world will know that you...love them as much as you love me." That's so crazy to me! God loves me as much as He loves Jesus. Maybe this all seems elementary, but it's hard for me to take in because I know I don't deserve His love and never will. Yet He chooses to love me despite every flaw and mistake.

In my quiet time yesterday morning this is part of what I read, "His love is more than words. When you became a child of the King, adopted into the divine family, things happened. All Jesus did on the cross was applied to your life. You went from blemished to blameless. From death sentence to eternal life. From orphan to royalty."

Wow. If you're reading this I want you to be reminded of how amazingly much YOU are LOVED. You couldn't have been bought with a higher price. God never regrets the decision He made to sacrifice His son for you. He has loved you with an everlasting love.

You are priceless.