Tuesday, February 28, 2012

"In your presence there is fullness of joy."
Psalm 16:11

Monday, February 27, 2012

Sabbath

This season of lent, my roommate and I decided to give up doing homework on Sundays in order to gain a Sabbath.  Yesterday was the first day that we got to enjoy the fruits of our labor and it was wonderful.  When God gave the Ten Commandments in the Old Testament, the fourth command was to keep the Sabbath.

 "Remember to Sabbath day, to keep it holy.  Six days you shall labor, and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God.  On it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your male servant, or your female servant, or your livestock, or the sojourner who is within your gates.  For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day.  Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy."  Exodus 20: 8-11


The Lord took the most time to explain this one of all the commandments.  He specified that the Sabbath was for everyone.  The Lord really laid it on my heart that there is wisdom in keeping a Sabbath--a day of rest, especially for college students.

This last week, I spent my free time making sure my homework was done and I was ready for this week.  I spent Saturday working instead of playing all day.  When Sunday rolled around, I had nothing to do except rest.  I got to go to church and not rush home to get homework done.  I go to go to the park with friends and play kickball.  I got to go to a dear friend's house for dinner and not even think about homework the whole time.  I went to bed without being exhausted and woke up this morning feeling more rested and ready to face the week than I have in a long time.  

I think this whole Sabbath thing might just have to stick around for longer than Lent season.  I'm thinking this might become a life practice.  It's amazing how the Bible is just filled to the brim with wisdom that I so often overlook, but boy is it sweet when the Lord grabs my attention and draws me in closer.  Thank you, Jesus.

Sunday, February 26, 2012

On my heart.

I'm going to Brazil.

Yep, I'm about as shocked as your probably are/were.

I'm not really sure how it all happened so fast, but the Lord is clearly leading me there.  So, I'm going.  I will be leaving just 4 days after my last final of this semester and returning just two days before my brothers graduation in May.

Crazy, huh?  I think so too.


This is Sao Paulo.  See all those homes?  Maybe the people living in them will hear the good news of Jesus Christ while I'm there.  Only God knows.

But boy am I excited to go.  Here am I, He's sending me.

Thursday, February 16, 2012

The Fruit of the Spirit

I CHOOSE LOVE...
No occasion justifies hatred; no injustice warrants bitterness.  I choose love.
Today I will love God and what God loves.

I CHOOSE JOY...
I will invite my God to be the God of circumstance.
I will refuse the temptation to be cynical...
the tool of the lazy thinker.  
I will refuse to see people as anything less than human beings, created by God.  
I will refuse to see any problem as anything less than an opportunity to see God.

I CHOOSE PEACE...
I will live forgiven.  I will forgive so that I may live.

I CHOOSE PATIENCE...
I will overlook the inconveniences of the world.  
Instead of cursing the one who takes my place,I'll invite him to do so.  
Rather than complain that the wait is to long, 
I will thank God for a moment to pray.  
Instead of clenching my fist at new assignments, 
I will face them with joy and courage.

I CHOOSE KINDNESS...
I will be kind to the poor, for they are alone.  
Kind to the rich, for they are afraid.  
And kind to theunkind, for such is how God has treated me.

I CHOOSE GOODNESS...
I will go without a dollar before I take a dishonest one.  
I will be overlooked before I will boast.  I will confess before I will accuse.  
I choose goodness.

I CHOOSE FAITHFULNESS...
Today I will keep my promises.  My debtors will not regret their trust.  
My associates will not question my word.  
My wife will not question my love and my children will never fear that their
father will not come home.

I CHOOSE GENTLENESS...
Nothing is won by force.  I choose to be gentle.  
If I raise my voice, may it only be in praise.  
If I clench my fist, may it only be in prayer.  
If I make a demand, may it be only of myself.

I CHOOSE SELF-CONTROL...
I am a spiritual being... After this body is dead, my spirit will soar.  
I refuse to let what will rot, rule the eternal.  I choose self-control.  
I will be drunk only by joy.  Iw ill be impassioned only by my faith.  
I will be influenced only by God.  I will be taught only be Christ.  
I choose self-control.

Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.  To these I commit my day.  If I succeed, I will give thanks.  If I fail, I will seek his grace.  And then, when this day is done, I will place my head on my pillow and rest.

MAX LUCADO
When God Whispers Your Name