Soul care.

This week has just been on of those weeks.  One of those weeks where everything seems to be packedtogetherthistight and there's not room for anything beyond the necessities.  I feel like I'm just trying to keep my head above water--just trying to endure the waves and wait for calm seas again.

This week has included many events that have given me a run for my money:

-Sending out support letters to fundraise for Brazil

-Trying to get sleep even though my body has decided to stop sleeping through the night

-Turning in my "Intent to Graduate" forms

-Finding housing for next year (eek.)

-Having to fight feeling inadequate, overwhelmed, happy, sad, frustrated, humbled, angry, isolated and even depressed

-Choosing to trust the Lord even when I feel this way

-Being a student (papers, student teaching/service learning, projects, tests)

It's times like this when I just want to run far, far away.  To get away from life.  I yearn to be home with my family.  I miss my mom's hugs, my Dad's talks with me and my brothers' laughter.  I just keep waiting for my spirit to find rest.

"Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."  Matthew 11: 28-30


So for now, I will seek the Lord with all my heart.
He promises that when I do, I will find rest.
But more importantly, I will find Him.
And He is more than enough.

"In your presence there is fullness of joy."

Psalm 16:11

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.

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.

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

A little reminder of Walkabout

I suppose it's about time for another post  :)  This weekend was filled with time with my girls.  On Saturday a bunch of us went into LA on the metro/train system.  It was a blast navigating everything on our own and finding our way around.  We went to Pershing Square, the Bradbury building, the market downtown and then stopped for some down time in Pasadena before heading back to Azusa.

Yesterday was a day off from school and a few of us girls wanted to go do something active instead of sitting around all day doing nothing.  We decided to hike to The Bridge to Nowhere!  I had heard about it from a couple people and it sounded neat.  It was incredible because it's only about thirty minutes North of Azusa but it feels like you are out in the backcountry!  It's a ten-mile hike roundtrip and well worth it!  It wasn't an incredibly hard hike, just long.  The whole hike runs along a river in the middle of a canyon.  It's simply stunning.  I kept saying, "I feel like I'm in the middle of a video game" because we got to jump on rocks to cross the river, rock climb and scale down the sides of cliffs in order to reach our final destination. SO. MUCH. FUN!  Here are some pictures of our hike  :)

Victoria, Jessica and me before we started the hike.

All of us girls at a pretty little waterfall along the way.

Amazing beauty!

Looking down from The Bridge to Nowhere

We reached our final destination!  It was a little chilly at the top.  

We ate lunch here and then headed back down

All done!  After ten miles of hiking and 5 hours total, 

our feet were very ready for a break :)

These ladies bring me so much joy.  It was a blast getting to spend the day with them in the middle of nowhere with no cell phone reception.  We laughed a lot, had good conversation and enjoyed each other's company.  It's days like this when the Lord reminds me over and over that His mercies are great and He knows our every need.  He knew that I needed yesterday.  Love you girls lots.

it's been a while...

Well, I'm back.

I took a short [read: long] hiatus from blogging toward the end of last semester because it was just too much to juggle.  Between school, my girls and the anticipation of break, I simply didn't have time.  Praise the Lord, the semester ended well and my Christmas break at home was wonderful.  It was such an incredible blessing to be with my family an see my friends from home.  They bring joy to my life and they calm my spirit.

Needless to say, I am now back at school and writing this from my dorm sweet dorm  :)  The A/C unit in the hallway is humming, the smell of burnt toast is wafting down the hall and into my room and the sunlight is beaming through my window announcing the start of a new day, new year, new semester.

The Lord has given me great anticipation of what is to come in these next few months.  I am so excited to see Him show up.  To see Him reach down and intervene supernaturally in the natural course of life.  I'm so excited to tell of His mighty deeds and sing of His works--to give Him the praise that He alone is due.  God is faithfully teaching me so much.  As I look forward to this semester, I am reminded to not overlook the power of the present.  The Lord is HERE.  Now.

So, for now, I am going to be faithful with little.  As I go about my day to day tasks, my moment to moment thoughts, I am going to seek to glorify my Creator.  Lord, help me to bring You glory.

"If you want to stay close to Me and do things My way, ask Me to show you the path forward moment by moment.  Instead of dashing headlong toward your goal, let Me set the pace.  Slow down, and enjoy the journey in my Presence."  ~Jesus Calling