Christmas in pictures

Christmas Eve...

We celebrated Christmas Eve by having our good family friends, Allison and Phillip over.  We started babysitting Phillip from the time he was about six weeks old.  So, he's pretty much like a brother to us!  He's only a few weeks older than my brothers.  We basically grew up with a set of triplets in our house :)

We discovered that traditional Jenga can evolve into many different games!  Here's some pictures to illustrate:

(Traditional Jenga)

("Domino" Jenga)

("Tower" Jenga)

Here's all of us! (L to R: Morgann, Daniel, Phillip, Kendall)

Our neighbor makes AMAZING gingersnap cookies!  

Daniel LOVES them!!

Can't have Christmas without some yummy goodies!

 Christmas Morning...

My stocking: cute knee high socks, hair accessories, lots of earings, gum, lotion, and my FAVORITE--GLUTEN FREE recipe magazine!!!!!!!!

The morning we celebrate Jesus' birth.

 Christmas Day...

Mom and I always do puzzles when I'm home.  

Our favorites are Charles Wysocki and "Hometown Collection."

My favorite present!!  My new Bible  :)

Luke 2: The story of Jesus' birth.

Christmas dinner table!

This year, it was "just us" for Christmas day.  For the first time EVER, we didn't have any extended family over and we didn't have to go anywhere!  We literally stayed in our pajamas all day and spent time as a family.  Dinner was quiet and relaxing.  It was a joyous Christmas day.

"And there were shepherd living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.  And angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.  But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid.  I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.  Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.  This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 

'Glory to God in the highest heaven,

and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.'"

Luke 2: 8-14

Videos to keep you busy...as if you're not already busy enough.

The story of Christmas with a "social media" spin:

~AMAZING~

For a great reminder of what Christmas is really about:

~CONVICTING~

For a laugh or two:

~CUTE~

Wishing you and yours a very Merry Christmas!!  :)

The Miracle of the Big Fish

We all know the story of Jonah, right?

• God tells Jonah to go to Ninevah
• Jonah says "No!"
• Jonah hops on a ship headed to Tarshish
• God sends a big storm
• Jonah gets thrown overboard to stop the storm
• Jonah gets swallowed by a great big fish 
• Jonah repents
• God makes the fish spit Jonah out
• Jonah ends up going to Ninevah after all to tell the people about God.

Sounds pretty familiar, right?  Right.  

I was reading Jonah this morning, and I noticed something that I had never noticed before!  I've always thought of Jonah's punishment as being swallowed by the big fish.  That's how we are taught in Sunday School, and because of that, that's how I've always thought of it in my head.  After Jonah is thrown overboard, let me show you what the text really says:

"But the LORD provided a great fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was inside the fish for three days and three nights." 

~Jonah 1:17 (emphasis added)

The big fish was part of the LORD's provision in Jonah's life.  Without that fish, Jonah would have died in the great depths of the ocean.  Without that fish, Jonah would not have had the privilege to repent and acknowledge the importance of God's plan.  Without that fish, Jonah would not have been able to tell the Ninevites about the Sovereign LORD.  

I think sometimes we see our own lives in the same way we tend to read Jonah.  Those things that are painful, messy, annoying, or a nuisance in our lives are seen as "from the Devil."  I think in reality, sometimes, they are provisions from God to teach us, mold us, and use us in ways that would not have been possible otherwise.  Sometimes the "big fish" in our lives are not bad things, but are really God's saving grace at work in our lives.

Practical application?  Next time you think you have been "swallowed by a big fish," so to speak, thank God for his provision in your life.  Be thankful that you are still breathing.  Be thankful that you may be swallowed up, but you are NOT consumed, because God is with you through it all.  

Caught in the Middle

We all remember being a kid and anticipating Christmas morning like it was the best day of the year (because often times, it was).  And those days leading up to Christmas…they were just the best.  It was like you wanted to so bad for Christmas to come and just be here already, but at the same time there was so much joy in the waiting. 

That’s how I’m feeling right about now.  I have one more full day in California before I am HOME for three whole weeks  J  I have one final to tackle right in the middle of the day tomorrow and the I will be busy baking for my little first grade class all afternoon.  My lovely day will close out with the privilege of getting to watch my lovely little first grade class perform their Christmas production, “The Gingerbread Kids.” 

There is certainly this urgency in me to go home, but there is also this part of me that just wants to stay and savor the moment.  Listen to the voices around me laughing in anticipation, the shouts of joy as people finish up finals, and the beautiful smiles of children as they sing about gingerbread. 

I’m caught so caught in the middle, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

3...2...1....

BLASTOFF!!!!!!!!

3 more finals to go...

2 days til I'm home...

1 BIG God who will see me through.

Philosophy, honesty and back massages

..what do they all have in common?  Monday.

As some of you may know, yesterday I spent seven [yes s-e-v-e-n] hours sewing a beautiful sunset tapestry for a history project.  Though the tapestry turned out pretty darn good, my lovely back paid the price.  I spent last night laying on our living room floor trying really hard to breathe and fight the tears.  Three Advil did not suffice when it came to controlling the pain, so I had to resort to some stronger drugs.  Thankfully, it knocked me out for the night and my sciatic nerve didn't stand a chance against Percocet.  I was so thankful to be able to sleep from midnight all the way til 8:30 this morning.

I woke up to an empty house [one roomie in Santa Barbara, two studying at Starbucks].  It turned out to be a blessing in disguise because I got to spend the entirety of my morning studying and I felt so good to get so much done in such a small amount of time.  I spent the rest of my day studying philosophy and writing a philosophy paper.

By the end of the day, I was exhausted and my back was/is throbbing!  I am so thankful to have such amazing friends because one of them was willing to come over to my place and give me an AMAZING back massage.  So now, I just got done having a heart-to-heart with my roomie Amie and now watching an incredible sermon from Louie Giglio  :)

I gotta run so I can focus [at 10:38pm] on the amazing message being preached!

Love you all.
Blessings,

The "M-Word"

So...

I'm sitting here, on my [very comfortable] couch wondering why I'm not up being productive.  I have philosophy to be reading [Hume, Descartes, Plato, Tolstoy...the list goes on], a quilt to be sewing [that's right, I said quilt], a paper to write [due tomorrow at 4:30] and many other things too.

There's this thing called motivation.  And whatever it is, I DON'T have it.  It's been a while since I've been buddy-buddy with the "m-word."  Somehow I find myself filling my time with other things: redesigning my blog, going on adventures with friends at 11pm to look at Christmas lights, watching hilarious youtube videos with the roomies, going to In N Out with one of my friends and talking for a couple hours, cleaning, doing five loads of laundy...are you getting the picture???

You know what?  The funny thing is, I don't regret any of it.  I've had more fun than I've ever had in the midst of finals.  I've laughed more than I have all semester.  And somehow, I feel more at home here than I ever have.  Laughter is a gift from God--and sometimes we only get to experience it by throwing caution to the wind and living like there's no tomorrow.

So today, take some time to feel the wind in your hair, the rain on your skin, the sand in-between your toes.  Take time to feel the cold air send a chill down your spine.  Take time to watch the clouds drift by and form an infinite amount of shapes.  Take time to smile at a stranger or at your spouse.  Take time to watch your kids play.  Take time to listen to the deafening sound of quietness. Take time to let your ears ring from the noise.  Take time to see God in the small things.  Take time for life.

"Wherever you are, be all there."

~Jim Elliot

Held

I have no words to describe how weary I am right now.  I have no words to describe this deep yearning in the depths of my soul to feel God near.  Right now, I simply want to be cradled like a child by my God.  I want to rest in the palm of His hands...beneath the shadow of His wings.  I want to allow Him to carry my burdens--to carry me.  It is the most amazing blessing to serve a God who is strong in my weakness, who sees the tears I cry, who cradles my broken heart and slowly and carefully mends it back together.  It is a blessing to serve this God:

"Do you not know?  Have you not heard?

Ha it not been told you from the beginning?

Have you not understood since the earth was founded?

he sits enthroned above the circle of the earth, 

and its people are like grasshoppers.

He stretches out the heaves like a canopy, 

and spreads them out like a tent to live in.

He brings princes to naught 

and reduces the rulers of this world to nothing.

No sooner are they planted, no sooner are they sown, 

no sooner do they take root in the ground, 

than he blows on them and they wither,

and a whirlwind sweeps them away like chaff.

'To whom will you compare me?  Or who is my equal?' says the Holy One.

Lift your eyes and look to the heaves: Who created all these?

He who brings out the starry host one by one,

and calls them each by name.

Because of his great power and mighty strength,

not one of them is missing.

Why do you say, O Jacob, and complain, O Israel,

'My way is hidden from the LORD;

my cause is disregarded by my God'?

Do you not know?

Have you not heard?

The LORD is the everlasting God, 

the Creator of the ends of the earth.

he will not grow tired or weary,

and his understanding no one can fathom.

He gives strength to the weary

and increases the power of the weak.

Even youths grow tired and weary; 

and young men stumble and fall;

but those who hope in the LORD

will renew their strength.

They will soar on wings like eagles;

they will run and not grow weary,

they will walk and not be faint."

God is faithful to answer our prayers.

Truth

If only you knew how much I needed to hear this song.  If only I knew how true this song was.  Maybe home wouldn't seem so far away.

Suffering

"Suffering is like a pile of rocks.  You can choose to carry the load, throw them at someone, just let it lay there, or you can build an altar."
~Chad Arnold.

For an amazing story of about what it means to suffer well, read this incredible story.

Peace

We've all been there. Those times in life filled with trouble/sadness/loneliness/hardship/whatever else you might be going through. Those times when Satan seems so close and God seems so far. Those times when friends seem hard to find and enemies seem abundant. The times when you feel like your prayers only reach the ceiling and then bounce back. Maybe it's true. Maybe our prayers do only hit the ceiling. But you know what the good news is? God is near so He knows our prayers before we even utter the words. And he not only hears our prayers, but He listens to our prayers. God is all-encompassing, ever present. Our prayers do not need to travel vast distances before God knows them. We serve a good, good God. Amen?

How sweet the words of Scripture are in times of _______ (you fill in the blank).

"I have been deprived of peace;
I have forgotten what prosperity is.
So I say, "My splendor is gone
and all that I had hoped from the LORD."
I remember my affliction and my wandering,
the bitterness and the gall.
I well remember them,
and my soul is downcast within me.
Yet this I call to mind
and therefore I have hope:

Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed,
for his compassions never fail.
They are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.
I say to myself, "The LORD is my portion;
therefore I will wait for him."

The LORD is good to those whose hope is in him,
to the one who seeks him;
it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD.
It is good for a man to bear the yoke while his is young."

Lamentations 3:17-27

May the peace of the LORD be with you today and always. Praise be to the God of comfort and peace!

Blessings,

Faithful God

Right now, I'm reading through the Bible.  Honestly, it's one of the best things I've ever done.  The Lord is so faithful to fill me to the brim with His joy.  It's amazing how in the darkest times, when the world seems to be crashing down all around me, the Joy of the Lord is my strength.  Joy is something that is deeply rooted in who we are a Christians--it's something that remains through all circumstances.  Why?  Because we serve a Risen Lord who does not grow tired and weary.  We serve a God who sympathizes with us and whom suffering is not foreign to.  It just brings a smile to my face--I hope it does to yours.

So today, I was reading through 2 Timothy, and I came across a verse that I've never noticed before:

"Here is a trustworthy saying:

If we died with him, we will also live with him;

if we endure, we will also reign with him.

If we disown him, he will also disown us;

if we are faithless he will remain faithful,

for he cannot disown himself."

~2 Timothy 2:11-13

Does that just strike you as incredible???  The first three things are things that have a directly proportional relationship.  If we do one thing, God replicates it.  If we exhibit certain behaviors, our reward/consequence is in direct relation to our actions...until it comes to faith.  This verse says that if we are faithless, God remains faithful.  Have you ever been at a place in your life where faith was hard to come by?  Some people have the gift of faith--believing and trusting come easily for them.  For me, faith is something that does not come naturally.  I tend to worry about the smallest details, and stress about what is to come.  I tend to doubt God's ability to come through, and sometimes even expect that He won't.  It's really an expression of my pride--believing that I have a better solution than the Creator of the universe...crazy huh?

And then I read this verse, and I am reminded that even in those moments, God remains.  He remains my Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.  My Deliverer, my Rock, my Redeemer.  God is faithful to who He is.  He cannot change, He endures forever.  And in those moments when my faith is small, He still sees me as His child, and claims me as His own.  Isn't that amazing?

I want to remind you today, that when your faith is small, God remains.  He is not dependent on our beliefs to exist in all His splendor.  So today, as you go about your normal routine, I pray that you don't lose sight of our Faithful God.  In fact, I pray that this God that we worship would be at the forefront of every decision, every word, every action that we make.  And as we strive to have faith in our God, I pray that He is glorified above all.  

Blessings,

Prayer

So...I've been busy.  Yup.  That pretty much sums up my life for the past three weeks and the next three weeks!  I have not had any time to post, which makes me sad...I haven't posted in so long 1. I forgot my password and it wouldn't let me log in, and 2. I forgot which email address is connected to my account (home or school).  That tells you a lot because, quite frankly, I have a fantastic memory.  Ugh.

Anyways, I don't really have anything profound to say.  I'm kinda at a loss for words.  The only thing I can think to do is to ask you to be praying for lots of people in my life.  You know when you care for someone so much that your heart is just so heavy because theirs is heavy?  Yeah, that's how I'm feeling.  I have countless people in my life that just need prayer--for comfort, for the Lord's presence to be made known, for peace that surpasses all understanding, for trust in the Lord's faithfulness.  And to be honest, you could pray those things for me too, because I find myself wondering "Why God?" in many circumstances.  But I'm trusting that His plan is sovereign.

I can't really give names, but I'll make a general list of prayer requests:
-For one of my best friends who is wondering if life is really worth living
-For provision for an amazing family of seven whose house burnt down 2 weeks ago
-For my best friend, who is looking at the next two weeks wondering how everything is going to get done
-For my dad who is traveling to Saudi Arabia for 2 weeks [minimum] for business
-For my uncle who is recovering from back surgery and still continues to fight bone cancer
-For [multiple] friends who are struggling to break the chains of various addictions
-For [multiple] friends who are working on trusting the Lord for financial provision
-For patience for all of them and me, as we wait on the LORD and trust in His faithfulness

That's the list for now.  God is faithful.  He answers prayers in His timing.  He is close to the brokenhearted and fights for the poor in spirit.  And above all, He is good.

"You're blessed when you're at the end of your rope.  With less of you, there's more of God and His rule."
~Matthew 5:3 The Message

The Supremacy of Christ

"He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.  

For by Him all things were created: things in heaven and things on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers, or rulers or authorities; all things were created by Him and for Him.  

He is before all things and in Him all things hold together.  

And He is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy.  

For God was pleased to have all His fullness dwell in Him, and through Him to reconcile to Himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through His blood, shed on the cross."  Colossians 1: 15-20

Holy cow!  Our God is amazing!  This week has been so busy for me (hence, not blogging).  Also, this week has been draining.  There have been times filled with most amazing blessings--like our first d-group meeting (YAY!), Disneyland with amazing people, and really good roomie talks.  And there have been times where the world seemed to crumble...just a little bit.  And then there's this passage.  It reminds me of how great God is in times of joy and in times of sorrow.  In times of pain and in times of pleasure.  It reminds me that through all this "stuff" we call life, God goes before it and before us.  He makes the way "right."  And sometimes "making the way right" doesn't mean making it easy--it just means making it in perfect alignment with God's holy and flawless will.  

Anyways, just my thoughts for this lovely Saturday. Wherever you are, wherever you're going, no matter how painful it is/may be...God has already gone before you and will continue to uphold you.  Be encouraged.  Be joyful.  And don't forget to bask in the presence of God.

"The will of God will never take you where the grace of God will not protect you."  

~Author Unknown

Blessings,

Plato

So...I'm sitting her (supposed to be) reading Plato's Republic...bleck.  I seriously reading hundreds of pages from "the great philosopher" Plato.  I mean, yeah, it's great to study primary sources and all that edyoo-muhkashonul stuff, but I'm kinda over it.  Plato is literally spending hundreds of pages defining "justice."  And answering the questions "What is a just person?" and "What is a just city?"  Really now.  Come on.

Then, as I was feeling as though this task of reading was beyond my capabilities, I had a thought.  (Don't be too shocked...yes, Plato can stimulate thinking though what I was thinking about was totally unrelated to justice.)  K...so my thought...

People spend their whole lives studying Plato and Aristotle and Socrates trying to come up with some cohesive meaning behind it all.  Meanwhile, the text is about as hard to read as it gets.  Words that I've never seen before.  Phrases that don't make sense.  Paragraphs comprised of one stinkin sentence.

Then I got to thinking, how incredibly BLESSED we are to have a God who understands us in our weakness--that He would not only send us His son in our place, but that He gave us a whole book for us to study in order that we might live to glorify Him!  His Word is easy enough to understand that Kindergarteners can understand John 3:16 and yet so complex that you can study it for a whole lifetime and be learning more and more until your dying breath.  The Word of God is SO rich and so good, it's water to my weary soul.  I'm so thankful that we have a God who sympathizes with us in our weakness, He gave us His love letter in words we, mere humans, can understand.

That said, I need to get back to Plato (ugh), but I thought I'd take a minute and remind you of the sweet, sweet words of Paul:

"Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.  And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."  Colossians 3:16-17

With this command, how can we not find time to spend in the Word each and every day?  Our God is worthy of our intellect, our study, our early morning hours.  Our God is worthy of our devotion, our focus and our desire.  Our God is worthy of our time, talents and treasure.  Our God is worthy of our praise.

My prayer for you today :)

This is my prayer for you today:

"For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name.  I pray that out of his glorious riches, he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.  And I pray that you , being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge--that you many be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is the work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever!  Amen."

~Ephesians 3:14-21

Blessings,

Isaiah believed.

What a whirlwind of a week already!  I'm exhausted, but I'm trusting that the Lord will continue to sustain me--He always does  :)

Today I was reading in Isaiah and something hit me like a ton of bricks.  Yesterday I was reading through the famous calling of Isaiah, where God asks, "Whom shall i send?  And who will go for us?" And then Isaiah pipes up in his shaky voice and says, "Here am I.  Send me!" (Isaiah 6:8).  First of all, I think we often times envision Isaiah to be this bold, saintly warrior who just starts talking to God like He's his bestie.  False.  Isaiah was honestly probably shaking in his boots like nobody's business.  No one just starts talking to God like it happens everyday, I mean let's get real here.  Isaiah was a man, just like you and just like me.  He had emotions--scared, happy, sad--whatever the case may be.  God chose Isaiah because Isaiah was willing.  Other than that, Isaiah was just an average guy.  God will use anybody and anytime to do anything when we are willing to die to ourselves and live for Him.  K.  Point one.  Moving on.

So following this verse, God tells Isaiah what to say and all that jazz.  Great...moving on.

Have you ever realized how hard God's message to Isaiah must have been for Isaiah to receive?  God basically says, "Look Isaiah.  Your people are going to turn away from me.  And in the midst of all that, I want you to proclaim me as Yahweh.  I want you to be the light in the darkness.  You're my guy."  I'ms sure Isaiah was like, "Uh...God.  Me?  Really?  I think you picked the wrong guy."  Can you imagine being told that you were going to be the ONLY one who would still believe God?!  The awesome part about this passage is the very end of chapter eight.

Isaiah 8:17 says, "I will wait for the LORD who is hiding his face from the house of Jacob.  I will put my trust in him."

Against all odds, Isaiah believes God.  It wasn't like God chose Isaiah and then was all "buddy-buddy" with him.  God chose Isaiah and then allowed him to feel just as alone as the ENTIRE house of Jacob felt.  Regardless of what he FELT, he still trusted in faith that God would deliver and that he would come through on his promises.  Isaiah believed His God was bigger than any army or people group.  Isaiah believe His God was Mighty and Powerful.

The funny thing is, God calls us to be just like Isaiah.  Believing against all odds.  Seeing the unseen.  Trusting in a Most High God.  Are we up for the challenge?

Zealous?

Wow!  This week has been filled with blessings upon blessings upon even more blessings!!!  I think that's how every week is, but this week the LORD made Himself so evident in my life.  I am truly thankful and praising Him for what He's done!  Here are a few highlights:

1. Last weekend, I got to spend time with the Ortiz family in Irvine!  It was such a blessing to be able to see good friends, and meet lil' Miss Violet, Renee and Jon's little girl.  And it was such a gift to be able to talk with Anna, since we haven't seen each other in what feels like ages!

2. I got to be in the classroom (elementary) for the first time on Wednesday!!!  I'm in Mrs. Walker's first grade class, and I absolutely adore her as well as her 25 little ones.  They are so sweet, and have lots and lots of energy!  Mrs. Walker was so gracious and let me introduce myself and tell a little tiny bit about who I am.  AND...she even let me go around and help all the little kiddos one-on-one during their work time!  I was so excited.  My first day went so well, that I've set up two more times to go in each week, so I'm in the classroom three times each week instead of only one!!!  Can you tell I'm STOKED?!?!?!

2. Also on Wednesday, Cat (my roomie this year, AND last year) asked us (me and our two other roomies) to be in her wedding in May!  So, there's lots of excitement going on in our little apartment.

Those are just a few happenings in my life, but none of these even compare to the Cross of Christ.  The LORD is continually teaching me and molding me into His likeness.  Though it's painful at times, it is so worth it.  It is an absolute honor to be called His and to be an image-bearer of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

This morning I read Galatians 4, and this verse stuck out to me:

"It is fine to be zealous, provided the purpose is good, and to be so always and not just when I am with you." Galatians 4:18

Paul is writing to the church of Galatia and he basically encourages them, "Look, it's great to get excited about life happenings, but please, make sure they're worthy of your excitement!"  I love this!  You know, as excited as I am about getting to teach, and being in one of my best friend's wedding, my excitement for those things should be NOTHING compared to my excitement for Jesus Christ.  And Paul also cautions that our excitement for those "good" things shouldn't just show when we're around Pastors, or Missionaries, or Professors or Parents.  This excitement should come from the heart and should be authentic no matter who we're with or where we are.

So with that, I want to encourage you to really examine your life--what are those things that get you excited?  Sports?  School?  Family?  Church?  Video games?  None of those in and of themselves are bad....but I want to challenge you to find a way to be intentional about glorifying God through those things.  If the Cross of Christ is not at the center of our every move, our every thought, our every activity, then Christ does not have first place in our lives.  After all, shouldn't that be the goal of every Christian?  Think on these things.

Blessings,

PRAY FOR DAISY

Please read this blog!  This is a powerful story of a precious little girl's fight against cancer.  The more prayers, the better!

prayfordaisy.com

This is my life right now.  What an encouragement!  You too, be encouraged.

Ministry

I'm just forewarning you...this is probably going to be one of the most hypocritical posts you are ever going to see me write.  But I know that this is what God wants me to say; He has laid it heavily on my heart, so I will gladly share.

I have been thinking a lot about ministry.  Not just ministry in foreign countries--like Mexico, or South Africa or the Dominican Republic.  Those are all fine and dandy, and could even be classified as "cool."  I've been thinking about ministry close to home and close to my heart.  In our world, it becomes easy to deliver PB&J sandwiches to homeless people that line the streets of L.A.  It is so easy to hand the street musician a few quarters to put in his guitar case.  It's easy to love the "unlovables" when there is no risk to us.  We will probably and walk away from that nameless face and think about them not more than a few times from then on out...if any at all.  We live in a world scarred by failure and chances not taken.  We live in a world paralyzed by the fear of risking ourself for the sake of another.  

I came accross this verse: 

"He who despises his neighbor sins, but blessed is he who is kind to the needy."

This verse implies that there is some connection between neighbor and needy.  It implies that the neighbor is the one who is needy.  This ISN'T the person who I randomly see with a cardboard sign.  This is the person who I walk past each and every day.  The person who screams silently and no one hears...or more than likely, no one takes time to listen.  This is the person who is close to my heart, the person who requires me to risk myself in order to dig deep into their mess.  This is the person who Jesus loves.  This is me.  This is you.

You see, this is exactly what Jesus did for us.  He risked His very will, His reputation, His LIFE to reach down into the mucky, messy, miry clay that He found us in.  And He simply asks us to do the same with those around us.  

How many people do we have within our immediate circle of friends who really need someone right now?  I can think of countless names.

How many people do we see each and every day who we know are crying for help and yet we ignore them?

How many people do we know NEED the truth and light and life of Jesus, and yet we are more concerned with how WE might look if we share?

One thing I know is this: Jesus called us to be the salt of the earth as He lights up the world--that He might be seen and they might be saved to the Glorious praise of God.  

Blessings,

Refining fire

Well, praise the Lord! The first (two) days of school were great! I love my profs and I'm really looking forward to studying the subjects of each of my classes. I have everything from philosophy, to history, to learning how to teach. I'm so thankful to be getting an education that is Christ-centered. In every single one of my classes we began by praying and dedicating this academic semester to the Sovereign Lord Jesus Christ. What an amazing way to begin this school year!!!

That said, God has really been working in my heart on a lot of other issues. It's amazing how being refined really hurts sometimes. So often we, as Chirst-followers, say that we want to be refined, but are not willing to suffer the cost. Goodness gracious! If I were God, I would be shaking my head wondering, "Do the really want it? Are they really ready for this?" Someone showed me this video a while back, and it is so encouraging to me. It's hard to watch, because I'm guilty of much of this attitude, but such an amazing reminder of God's character, and His love for His children. (It's a little longer, but it's SO worth watching)



I've found myself rejoicing in God's goodness this week and praising Him for His faithfulness. I've found myself on my knees begging for comfort. I've found myself facedown before my Creator humbled by His grace. Sometimes I think I have it so bad. Sometimes I think "Why me???" But I am reminded always of this song--an amazing testament of a true follower of Christ.



I hope that you have been encouraged and challenged. I hope you do not allow the hurt of this world to trump the grace, peace and Lordship of Jesus Christ in your life. We serve an awesome, powerful, most Holy God. And His name is worthy of all our praise.

Blessings,

Finally!

Wow! The last time I posted, it was one day before school got out! That was four months ago...I'd say I have a lot of blogging to do! It is now ONE DAY before school starts! That's right! TOMORROW, I begin my second year at Azusa Pacific University. It's amazing how incredibly fast the LORD has brought me through this summer, and has launched me into this school year.

SO...what does this school year hold for me?
I get to start all of my Teacher Education classes this year! Tomorrow, I get to actually be in the classroom with teachers and students as a part of my service learning here at APU. What a blessing it will be to enjoy the learning and laughter of little ones this semester. Children are truly a blessing from the LORD.

I will also be a D-group leader here on campus! This means I get to lead a group of Freshman girls in a Bible study and accountability group once a week. I know that God has already chosen who He will have in my group, and I am so excited to meet these girls who I have been praying for all summer long!

This is also my first time EVER living in an APARTMENT!!! I am so excited to have my own space, and a living room that is separate from my bedroom space! Hahaha. On that topic, I have the most amazing roommates this year! All four of us lived on the same hall last year in Adams. They are a most amazing blessing and encouragement to me. My prayer is that I would be the same to them. Oh..and my absolute favorite part about the apartment is definitely the KITCHENNNNN!!!! I have pretty much lived in the kitchen since we moved in. Tonight's dinner: Spaghetti pie, garlic bread, salad and chocolate chip cookies for dinner!!! We are having people over to share a meal with us! Can't wait :)

Well, that's all I can think of right now. I miss my family already! I am so blessed to be here at APU for this season in life. I can't wait to see what the LORD will do this year. It reminds me of Moses--how he felt so inadequate for the job that Yahweh had set before him. And God made Moses into one of the most amazing examples in Scripture. Right now, I feel so unworthy to be here at an incredible university who uplifts His name above all. I know God has great plans ahead. Most of all, I'm eager to see His name lifted high in my life and in the lives of others around me.

The Lord is most praiseworthy:
"Priase the LORD.
Praise God in his sanctuary,
praise him in his mighty heavens.
Praise him for his acts of power;
praise him for his surpassing greatness.
Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet,
Praise him with the harp and lyres,
Praise him with tambourine and dancing,
Praise him with the strings and flute,
Praise him with the clash of cymblas,
Prase him with resounding cymbals.
Let everything that has breath praise the LORD.
Praise the LORD."
~Psalm 150

1 MORE DAY OF SCHOOOOOOLLLLLLL!

Birthday Blessings

Oh goodness! Today has been the most wonderful, blessed birthday in the history of Morgann Elizabeth Green.

Last night (April 23rd), we had out last "All Adams" event--meaning that a bunch of girls all hung out as a way of closing out this school year in community. We played games, looked at bridal magazines and watched movies! It was so much fun! Around 11:00pm, we all headed to Denny's down the road to have midnight pancakes! At exactly 12:00 midnight, all 40 girls began singing me "Happy Birthday" and made me stand up on a chair in the middle of the restaurant while they presented me with a yummy ice cream sundae! This was by FAR the best way to kick off my 19th year of life--surrounded by my wonderful friends that God has showered my life with.
Cat and I headed to be around 2am and woke up around 8:30 in the morning to get a head start on homework for the weekend! I decided to kick off the day with a little bit of exercise and time with my Lord. So, I went on a prayer walk! My time with the Lord was so sweet. I got to really give this year to Him, and dialogue with God about His plans, and my desires. What a precious time that was.

Then, I got to go to the baseball game (The Master's College vs. Azusa) at noon. Abbie's older sisters both have boyfriends that play for TMC, so here whole family was up today to watch the double-header. They are the most hilarious people ever--it was so much fun being around them! Her sweet parents took us all out to lunch and we celebrated my birthday with Baskin Robbins to follow! The weather was perfect for watching baseball--mid 70s and a slight breeze! What a blessing!

I headed back to my room for a short while just so that I could grab my things in enough time to head to Target to pick up some things--primarily storage containers for all my stuff I will be taking home for summer! Wow! I can't believe it's already time to start packing up!

On my way back to APU, I passed a homeless couple who looked to be about my age. I really felt the Lord tugging on my heart to stop. I was on my way to the store, but I promised myself that if they were still there when I drove back by, I would offer to take them to dinner. After my stop, I drove by and sure enough, they were there! I parked my car, got out and introduced myself--their names were Shane and Melissa, and they had a little dog named Heidi. They were so humble and polite, and accepted my offer for dinner. So, we walked back to my car and headed to Subway. I asked my incredible roomie, Cat, to meet us there, just in case something went wrong. So, we all got dinner and then proceeded to share a meal with these wonderful people. After learning their heart-wrenching story, and taking them back to the place where they sleep, Cat and I got to pray with them--a sweet, sweet moment. The best part of it all, is that we are picking them both up in the morning to go to church at CCV!!! How amazing! God works in awesome, mysterious ways. PLEASE be praying for them!
God is so good to us. It is incredible to me that the best birthday present I have ever received was given to me today. It wasn't from my parents, or my wonderful friends. It was from God Himself. Shane and Melissa are a gift and a blessing beyond measure already. This birthday was awesome, because I'm pretty sure that I got two new brothers and sisters in Christ out of it. How can I ask for anything more? Thank you God.

Fulfilling THE purpose

I haven't blogged in a while...it's good to be back!

Yesterday I started reading through Matthew, and I have been blown away. I've read Matthew many times before, but this time in particular has really got my mind and heart turning. I've been learning a lot about God's character through this study. I am a firm believer that when we read the Bible, it will always reflect God's character.

In the first ten chapters of Matthew, God's faithfulness is so evident. For many (including myself) this theme is very subtle in Matthew. So often we focus on the Sermon on the Mount, the Beatitudes or the many, many miracles that take place over the coarse of the book. Sometimes the richest stuff is in the details.

Did you know that just in the first ten chapters of Matthew, the word "fulfill" is used 9 times! That's almost once a chapter. The incredible thing about Matthew is that everything that is recorded of Jesus' life is done for a purpose, "to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet" (Matthew 1:22) or to "fulfill all righteousness" (Matthew 3:15). Jesus came to fulfill all that had been said through the prophets, and to fulfill His Father's will. Isn't that amazing.
Never did Jesus have an aimless day. He never wandered around for the heck of it. He never hung out with his friends just to "hang out." He did every single thing with His Father's will in mind. I wonder what it would be like if we did the same thing? What if I lived my life in a way as to fulfill the holy calling that God has placed upon my life?

Matthew 5:48 says, "Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect." Matthew 7:12 says, "So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets." What if we lived a life that was purposeful, so that when God looks at us, His children, He might...just maybe...see a beautiful reflection of Himself.

Paul is the best writer ever to have lived. I have been reading through Romans, and I swear, every word is incredible! I have to read and re-read and re-read some more to even begin to understand all the amazing things the Spirit says through him.

"All who sin apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who sin under the law will be judged by the law. For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God's sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous."
~Romans 2:12-13

I think it's safe to say that the goal of the Christian life can be summed up in this verse. At the end of the day, our desire should be that God will declare us "righteous," in accordance with His Word. I pray that my life is a reflection of Christ Himself. The funny thing about it all is that often we think of being declared righteous as a selfish thing. WE want to be called "righteous" and be affirmed for our actions. WE want to be called a "good and faithful servant." WE want honor and glory for ourselves. This is where we go wrong in our thinking.

The whole point of the Christian life is to be declared righteous so that God is glorified and exalted high in our lives here on earth. Our attitudes should not be ones of selfish ambition or vain conceit--we are called to be image-bearers of Jesus Christ Himself.

Maybe it's time that we re-examine our motives for being a Christian--is it so that we can attain something at the end? Or so that through us Christ's Name is lifted up? It's something worth thinking about--Christ does not put up with attitudes of selfishness. He is a jealous God, and He demands out utmost worship.

Let's worship God out of humility and reverence. Let's be real.
I have no doubt that when we do this, He'll meet us where we are.

Bio project to big praise

Today, we had a [ridiculous] biology project to complete. Long story short, we had to transcribe and translate a LONG DNA sequence that we were given. With the translated DNA, we looked at a key to find what traits the DNA coded for. Once we found all the different traits, we were required to construct a doll out of it. The traits were absolutely RIDICULOUS. Seriously. Here are the final products:






You know, as I was sitting on my bed putting all of this together, I was thinking about how God formed us. Psalm 139:13 says, "For you created my inmost being, you knit me together in my mother's womb." As silly as this project was, it was a great reminder of how much care and attention and thought went into planning each and every one of us.

So as much as I was not a fan of this project, I am thankful for the amazing reminder that God is so intimately involved with each and every one of us before our lives even begin. Praise Him!

Artistry

Paul to the church in Rome:

"They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshipped and served the created things rather than the Creator--who is forever praised. Amen."

~Romans 1:25

You know, I catch myself falling into this sin all. the. time. So often, my tendency is to look at the creation--the birds, the mountains, the trees, even the human body--I marvel at them, but God calls us to marvel at Him. How often do we mistake the glory belonging to the creation instead of God Himself?

The Bible makes it so clear that this is a sin. To fail to acknowledge God's incredible handiwork is a form of idolatry--because instead of giving praise and honor to Him, we direct it toward His creation.

My challenge to you is to examine who/what are you worshiping? Are you looking at the incredible beauty and majesty around you and praising it or are you marveling at the Amazing Artist behind it all?

Next time you see a beautiful sunset, or a majestic mountain peak, or a newborn child, realize that without God in those things, there is no glory at all. God gives ordinary things extraordinary value. And because of that, He is worthy of our eternal praise.

All around the world...really?

Paul to the church in Rome:

"First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is being reported all over the world."

~Romans 1:8

At first, I read over this thinking nothing of it. But, then I read it again. And again. I could hardly believe what I was reading. I thought back to Bible times--when there was no television, no radio, no twitter or facebook, no cell phones or texting. There was simply word of mouth, and messengers that travelled miles and miles to deliver news.

Paul says that the faith of this single church in Rome was known around the world! That is incredible! It wasn't something that could easily be recorded on video, and people could just flip on a news channel to get the "in." No...their faith was so great, that people everywhere found it worth talking about in their everyday conversation.

I wish my faith was like that. I wish that when people spent time around me, they would find my faith worth sharing with others. We are called to be die-hard followers of our Lord and Savior. He should be our first thought in the morning, and our last thought before bed. He should be our everything.

According to the Bible, the day that Jesus' name is heard all around the world is the day He is coming back for His disciples. Isn't this something worth talking about? Something worth updating your facebook status for? Something worth tweeting about?

Lord, may Your name be known all around the world.

And Lord, would it start with me.

Spring Break Re-cap

WOW! I haven't posted anything in soooo long! Spring break has been so good.

I have nothing to say, but that God is so incredibly Sovereign. He has been showing that to me this week especially. God has blessed me so much with friends and family that care beyond all imagination!

A quick re-cap of blessings:

-I was picked up from the airport by a wonderful Man of God, Matthew. We had a nice breakfast together, and were challenged by an incredible God!

-I was greeted at home by my crazy brothers and a hilarious Daddy.

-As I proceeded to my room, I found that my mom had completely blessed me by re-doing my room (re-painting, a new bedspread, new pillows and sheets, STUNNING.) I love my Mommmy.

-I spent the majority of my week meeting friends from all over. One of my highlights was that I got to see Shelby, one of my friends who just had brain surgery. She had made it home by the time I visited, and she was such an encouragement! Shelby, you're a trooper!

-My mom took Monday off to be with me to go to a doctor's appointment, shop (yay!) and just have girl time.

-On Wednesday, I got a call from my doctor that my blood work showed that on top of my gall bladder issues, liver issues, pancreas issues and Hepatitis A, I have been fighting Mono this whole time, and currently have Epstien Barr (sp?). Holy moley! Thank you Jesus for sustaining me.

-Friday we had dinner at Viva Mexico as a family, and then we went to our church's good Friday service (amazing!). It was an amazing reminder that Jesus died so that we might find life in Him. Our God is an awesome God!

-Saturday was my last full day of no plans, I got the joy of hanging with my Mommy and running some last minute errands before Easter.

-and Sunday...EASTER!!! What a joyous celebration of Christ's resurrection! It was great to see my family, especially my cousin's baby, Logan (so sweet).

Anyways, I thought I would just give a super fast overview. I hope your weeks were filled with joy and God's blessings.

Thankful

Not my will, but yours be done.

This is the prayer of my life right now. It's amazing how God will completely flip our lives upside-down as soon as we surrender our everything to Him. This week has been a week of unpredictability, uncertainty, and un-bridled praise.

I am thankful...

when the world sees me as defeated, because God is my prize.

when there is no the light in sight, because I know the Son is still shining.

when the way is narrow, because there is no one to turn to but God alone.

when God takes away, because He gives me more of Himself.

when life is just hard, because it means God is refining me, His vessel.

when I can't think straight, because God will take control of my thoughts.

when my heart hurts, because God is my Comforter.

when I am broken, because God is my Healer.

when the tears fall, because the angels will surround me.

when I'm exhausted, because God rejuvenates.

when life is uncertain, because there are more opportunities for God to break through...

I am thankful for a God who reigns over all.

Life

I am so ecstatic to be home soon!

It's amazing how a few events can change my perspective on life! Over the last month especially, God has really shown me how much my family and friends matter to me. There have been times that I have literally thought that I could possibly die sooner rather than later. It's an amazing thing to honestly look death square in the eye.

Somehow, through it all, the only thing I could see clearly was God's hand. I saw God's hand on me, in my situation, working in the lives of others around me, using me to bring Him glory, and ultimately, His hand of healing. I am so humbled to look back and see that God really does work in the details of our everyday lives.

And so, as I look forward--12 hours from now, I will be in the air, on my way to see the ones I love most--my amazing family, my incredible boyfriend, my home church, and friends I have missed. I am so thankful God has given me a second chance at life in my own mind. It brings tears to my eyes...and as they roll off my face, I cannot help but know that God is catching each and every one of them.

This picture below is amazing. This is how I would describe my life in the last few months. I cannot ignore the fact that God has been cradling me this whole time. At first, I felt like a seed--surrounded by dirt. That's all I could see. I felt that I was suffocating in icky, bad, filthy stuff. And there was no one there with me. And then, the water came, and I felt like I was drowning and suffocating all at the same time. I couldn't breath, and the dirt just kept getting more dense all around me. And then, in the middle of it all, I began to see growth in myself. Like somehow, God was using all the dirt for good--in fact, I wasn't suffocating, I was being nourished by the Living Water. Now, I look back. I see the dirt below me, I feel the water living in me and bringing life to my soul. And most importantly, I see that God has been holding me this whole time, and He will continue to do that until the day I die. His hands are dirty with my dirt, His fingertips are wet from wiping my tears...He hasn't just ordained all of this, He has hand-crafted it, and lived it with me. Abba Father, thank you.

Life is a precious gift. Live each moment for the glory of God alone.

"God is most glorified in us, when we are most satisfied in Him."

~John Piper

A heavy heart

My heart is heavy, and I ask you to join me in prayer for some dear friends of mine.

First, please pray for my friend Shelby, who had brain surgery yesterday around noon. She is doing well, but has a long road of recovery ahead of her. The surgery went as planned, and the doctor is hopeful about her being able to return to a normal life after she heals. She is a senior in high school this year, so pray that she will be able to finish this school year strong. I praise God for his timing, because I get to go home Friday and I will be able to visit her in the hospital while I'm home for break. What a blessing! I will post more as I get updates.

Also, please pray for the Wright family. I found out this morning that these family friends unexpectedly lost a close relative due to an unexpected heart attack. I can't imagine the grief and pain that they are going through as they figure out how to deal with this loss. Please pray for peace in their family, and that God would be ever-present in their situation.

Thank you for joining with me, as we lift up the hurting people within the Body of Christ. We are one body and when one part hurts, we all should too--and we should do our best to make life a little easier for them, even if only by trusting that our prayers will be answered.

Wind and the waves

I was reading Mark 3-5 today, and I was reminded of a simple story:

"That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, 'Let us go over to the other side.' Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, 'Teacher, don't you care if we drown?' He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, 'Quiet! Be still!' Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. He said to this disciples, 'Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?' They were terrified and asked each other, 'Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!'"

~Mark 3:35-41

It brought me back to an old song written by David Phelps, that says "Even the wind and the waves obey, why can't I....why can't I? Where is my faith, is it lost at sea? Lord, help me be like the wind and the waves." At a moment's notice, a raging storm immediately obeyed Jesus. We should respond to him in the same way.

As I learn to trust God more and more each and every day, I pray that my unbelief and lack of trust would slowly be replaced by complete faith in God's ability to do what He promises.

Lord, help me be like the wind and the waves.

Praying for healing

God is faithful to teach and reveal himself to those who seek him! Today has been a day of struggle for me. As I wait for my body to fight off a systemic infection of Hepatitis A, one of the major side effects is that I am chronically tired. No matter how early I go to bed, how I sleep at night, at about 2 in the afternoon, I get hit with a brick wall, barely able to keep my eyes open. I got so incredibly frustrated today! This last weekend, I purposely made sure to be in bed early and eat healthy foods, yet Monday rolled over me like a Mack truck!

As I lied down to take a nap this afternoon, I kept asking God, "Please heal me, so I can go back to normal living. I just want to be able to get through the day without being exhausted half-way through!"

Right now, I'm reading through the book of Mark in preparation for Easter. It's good to be reminded of the miraculous things that Jesus did in his time here on earth.

"As soon as they left the synagogue, they went with James and John to the home of Simon and Andrew. Simon's mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they told Jesus about her. So he went to her took her hand and helped her up. The fever left her and she began to wait on them."

~Mark 1:29-31

I was so convicted! I should not be praying for my healing so that I can get back to my routine! I should be praying for healing so that I may serve others. I want to be the kind of woman that Simon's mother-in-law was. Her first action after being taken off her death bed, was to serve others! Wow! What an amazing example of what it means to be a servant--holy and humble.

You know, I honestly don't fully understand what God is doing with my life right now. I really don't. But, I'm learning to be okay with that. He is teaching me so much! And he's faithful to continue shaping me into the woman of God that he has called me to be.

Proverbs 31 speaks of a woman of the Lord in this manner, "She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come. She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue."

This is my "modified prayer." No longer do I want to get better for my own good, but I pray that God might heal me so that I may continue to serve others to the fullest. I praise God for being faithful and full of grace and mercy to His children. It's amazing to learn from the best teacher of all, and know that He rejoices when we finally learn what's He's been trying to teach us all along!