Updates

What a blessing it is to be involved in a LIFEgroup!

Yesterday, I got to hang out with some incredible high school girls after church! It's so great to be able to come together before the start of another week, and really take time to study God's word. Our topic this week was "The Work of the Holy Spirit." We talked about how the Holy Spirit works through the Body of Christ.

This week our challenge was 1. to identify a situation in which we normally struggle to do the right thing (a person, relationship, thought, etc.), and choose to respond to it in a godly way. For example, if there is a person in our life that absolutely drives us bonkers, instead of just ignore them, we would choose to do something nice for them. The second thing we were challenged to do was to memorize a verse that is convicting in the area that we are struggling with. Often, when we only memorize encouraging scripture, but we never memorize scripture that will come to mind when we are sinning.

SO, we'll see how it goes! I'm hoping a praying that this week God will work in our hearts!

Please be praying for:

-Me to be able to get caught up on school work before Spring break

-My LIFEgroup girls to really take this week's challenge to heart

-My professors to have mercy on me as I get my assignments turned in (I'm still catching up from surgery!)

-Time to study for my biology exam on Wednesday!

-Safe travels home from Saudi Arabia for my daddy :)

-Energy for me (I'm really struggling to stay physically strong)

Praises:

-Only 4 more days til I get home!!!!!!

-I made it through my last hard week of school (last week)

-God is continuing to heal me from surgery

-Matthew is picking me up from the airport on Friday!!! Yayyy!!

Alrighty, I think that's it for now. I thank you for your prayers!

New mercies

Today was such a long day! It was one of those days where I battled my sinful nature from sun up til sun down. It seems that today was an epic failure as far as holy living goes. I was quick to anger, and be resentful toward other people, and slow to listen, and quick to judge. It's times like these, where I am reminded of God's promise to forgive...always. Casting Crowns says it best:

I think I'll cling to this today. Thank God for new mercies every morning!

Praying for YOU!

And this is my prayer for you:

"I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ maw 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 may 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 at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen."

Have you ever felt tired??? Around this time of year, I see more and more Facebook status updates like, "Can I please just get a little sleep, that's all I'm asking..." Or, "Hello 4am, I haven't seen you in a while." Or, "I feel like I've been run over by a Mack truck." I can relate! With midterms just now wrapping up, Spring break around the corner (meaning, I get to see my wonderful family and boyfriend, who I have missed terribly....), every bone in my body is screaming, "I NEED A BREAK!!!!!"

All I want to say to you today, is be encouraged! I am praying for you all. God is teaching me to pray continually, and when someone crosses my mind, I pray for them--for whatever is going on in their life at that moment--even if I don't know, I know God does.

As you tire in this season of school finishing up for you, or for your kids, be filled to the brim with the love and power of Christ Himself. In those moments of utter exhaustion, take heart, He is able to do immeasurably more than we can ask or imagine!

"This is the day the LORD has made, rejoice and be glad in it!"

~Psalm 118:24

Awesome God

I am so humbled and amazed by how God has revealed Himself in my life! I could not be more ecstatic about how ever-present God is--even in the middle of sucky circumstances.

I have a wonderful doctor at home (in Seattle) who has been tirelessly searching for answers on my behalf. He has been speaking to lab technicians in California, my doctors in California, other specialists he knows, and anyone else that might be able to help. He, like me, was shocked to find my blood results showing that I had tested positive for Hepatitis A and B.

Today, we got word that as a matter of fact, I DO have Hepatitis A. But I DON'T have Hepatitis B!!!!!!!!!!!! WOOOOHOOOOOO! My doctor in California completely mis-read the results and gave me completely FALSE information!!! I could hardly believe it when my mom called to tell me. I am so elated to know that everything really is fine. My doctor confirmed the presence of Hep A, but that is very, VERY manageable and will be easily taken care of in a matter of a few weeks.

I was reminded of so many Bible verses when I found out the good news. God hears the prayers of the saints. I praise God with my whole being for YOU. For the prayers of the many that have stood beside me through this. I have had so many people rally around me, with the complete faith that everything will work out. In 1 Chronicles, there is an account of a war that takes place. Though the odds are stacked against God's people, God allows them victory in the end:

"They were helped in fighting them, and God handed the Hagrites and all their allies over to them, because they cried out to him during the battle. He answered their praters, because they trusted in him."

~1 Chronicles 5:20

I give God all the praise and glory and honor for continually bringing me through, on no one's strength, but His. This whole ordeal has not been one bit about me, or what I can push through...it is ALL about Him and how he can intervene even in the most bleak of situations. Please, as I rejoice in His great work, will you join with me in giving Him all the praise that is due to His name alone.

Specifically, I praise God for my parents, who have been such an incredible encouragement to me through this all. God has blessed me beyond all imagination through these two amazing people. My mom is like God's tangible arms around me, even from two states away. And my dad is my protector and provider, always making sure I have more than enough. I couldn't be more blessed.

We truly serve an awesome God.

Bringing praise

Isn't it amazing how when we seek the Lord and are open to His plan in our lives, He pours out encouragement and scripture to sustain us???

This is a portion of our scripture in Health today:

"Then I thought, 'to this I will appeal:

the years of the right hand of the Most High.'

I will remember the deeds of the LORD;

yes I will remember your miracle of long ago.

I will meditate on all your works,

and consider all your mighty deeds.

Your ways, O God, are holy.

What god is so great as our God?

You are the God who performs miracles;

you display your power among the peoples.

With your mighty arm you redeemed your people,

the descendants of Jacob and Joseph.

The waters saw you, O God,

the waters saw you and writhed;

the very depths were convulsed.

The clouds poured down water,

the skies resounded with thunder;

your arrows flashed back and forth.

Your thunder was heard in the whirlwind,

your lightning lit up the world;

the earth trembled and quaked.

Your path led through the sea,

your way through the mighty waters,

though your footprints were not seen.

You led your people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron."

~Psalm 77:10-20

It may not seem like anything significant at first glance, but there is so much wisdom poured into this one small passage of Scripture. It must be understood that before this passage, the author (Asaph--David's right hand man, and in charge of worship for the whole nation of Israel) is struggling with thoughts of "Where is God in all of this?" He feels as though God is not present in his circumstances. But just as it seems that there is no hope, he directs his thoughts to praise.

So often, we, as humans overlook the need to come to a place of worship in the midst of hardship. Our natural tendency is to throw ourselves a pity party and wallow in our sorrow. Though my body--in so many ways--wants to do just that, I absolutely refuse to fall victim to it.

Worship is the force by which the problems of life slowly lose momentum.

Asaph comes to a place where he remembers the deeds that God has done. He holds on to God's innumerable acts of faithfulness in the past. He even goes so far to worship God for nature--thunder, rain, lightning--all the things that we overlook each and every day. If we really stopped to worship God for His majesty, how much greater would God be in our own minds and how much smaller would we be? It's incredible to ponder.

The funny thing about the whole passage is how at the end of the passage, after worshipping God for his mighty strength and awesome power, Asaph throws in "...though your footprints were not even seen." Isn't that absolutely incredible??? God has the power, might and majesty to make HUGE things happen, like earthquakes, and thunderstorms, and lightning bolts, and floods, and tsunamis....and He can do it all without even leaving a trace of Himself.

This is the choice we have--to worship-even when we don't see the footprints.

So, here I stand, before a most holy and awesome God, with nothing but worship to give. He has bought me with a price, He has redeemed me from the onslaught of sin, He has set me apart for Himself, He has prepared a place for me, He has blessed me with a family of believers, He has allowed me the capacity to serve others. He has called me to a holy calling, He has saved me to the body of Christ, He has put me here at APU.

And for that...if nothing else, God deserves my wholehearted worship.

I will bring praise.

Deliverance

"Yes, and I will continue to rejoice, for I know that through your prayers and the help given by the Spirit of Jesus Christ, what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance. I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain."

~Philippians 1:18b-21

Oh man, God is really giving me a run for my money with this one--no doubt about it. Honestly, this weekend has been so trying and just when I thought my faith couldn't be stretched anymore, God proved me wrong again. I find myself in a place where nothing is comfortable, nothing is certain and I can hardly focus on what the next hour will bring. I'm at a place of utter surrender--a good place to be, I guess.

I don't know if I can really say the same thing that Paul did. As he sat in a cold, dark, small jail cell, all He could think to write about was Christ. As I find myself in a cold, dark, isolated place in life, the more I want to write about this cold, dark, isolated place. Sin sucks. I wonder if it was a struggle for Paul to rejoice in all circumstances.

As I harvest every bit of strength in me to keep my eyes fixed on Him, I ask you to rally around me in prayer. My heart wants to do one thing, and the rest of my body stands rigid in protest. I desire so badly for God to use me for His glory--even in this. Whatever it takes for His Name to be far above and highly exalted, I'm all in. God hears the prayers of His saints.

Honestly, I don't have it mastered, and I never will. Right now, I am wrestling with selfish thoughts of "Why me?" and then I'm quickly reminded of God's still, small voice that says, "Because I'm with you. And with me, all things are possible."

And so, I press on, with this as my prayer:

Lord, forgive me for my lack of faith. Test me and try me, make me wholly acceptable in Your sight. Please rid me of all my impurities and begin to rebuild who I am at my very core. And above all, would You give me the privilege of honoring You?

With me

"The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.

He makes me lie down in green pastures,

he leads be beside quiet waters, he restores my soul.

He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

I will fear no evil, for you are with me;

your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.

You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life,

and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever."

~Psalm 23

What a promise...

In my weakest moments, he quiets my soul and cares for me with tenderness and compassion. Like a shepherd does for His sheep, like a Father for His child, like a Savior for a sinner.

I will fear no evil, for HE is with me.