Friday, December 19, 2008
it feels like july!
so my family and I are venturing to Texas for Christmas. whoever decided that an 18 hour drive with 6 people in one cramped minivan, should not get anything for Christmas. but in an attempt to take up 18 hours of time, I need some book suggestions. Ready, go!
Sunday, December 7, 2008
GIV
Whew! I'm so thankful that God continues to convict me of my sins and make me realize I'm not perfect in the least. I'm also thankful for Midtown. The pastors there have been doing a series on giving and what it really means to give, what God thinks about giving, and providing us opportunities to give.
This week Dustin gave some facts that blew me away. Like how at an $40,000 income we are richer than 97% of the world. NINETY SEVEN PERCENT!!! And how Americans spend 450 BILLION dollars on Christmas every YEAR! when it would take 10 billion to supply clean water to the WHOLE WORLD! Are you kidding me!
Last week the whole church gave so that about 200 kids could have a Christmas. Then the pastor says, this week we don't want your money this week, instead we want your shoes! They partnered with Cooperative Ministries to help them collect shoes to give away. And immediately I thought of how after the sermon I had to go see my little brother in a musical, then we were going out to eat as a family and I couldn't go in a restaurant barefoot! And how I had just bought those shoes a week ago [on sale], and how my mom was not going to like that so I stayed in my seat and didn't give up my shoes. I thought about how I could bring in the shoes in my closet that I don't ever wear, and still keep the ones I had on. Then the band started to play and I could feel God laying it on my heart. Not laying...God put six elephants on my heart is what it really felt like! It was the coolest thing of my life. I knew I should be giving my shoes and I wanted to, but I kept making excuses. Finally somewhere in one of the songs I took them off and threw 'em on the massive pile.
God really convicted me because I feel like that is how I handle giving in life. Sure, I'd donate to Winter Days, or put some change in the salvation army bucket because its just change, and I tithe yes, but none of that is really sacrificial giving. Giving up my brand new shoes was a sacrifice for me. I'm really thankful I wore those shoes to church though, if it had been either of my other pairs it would not have been as big of a deal and probably would not of felt like a sacrifice.
Last week the whole church gave so that about 200 kids could have a Christmas. Then the pastor says, this week we don't want your money this week, instead we want your shoes! They partnered with Cooperative Ministries to help them collect shoes to give away. And immediately I thought of how after the sermon I had to go see my little brother in a musical, then we were going out to eat as a family and I couldn't go in a restaurant barefoot! And how I had just bought those shoes a week ago [on sale], and how my mom was not going to like that so I stayed in my seat and didn't give up my shoes. I thought about how I could bring in the shoes in my closet that I don't ever wear, and still keep the ones I had on. Then the band started to play and I could feel God laying it on my heart. Not laying...God put six elephants on my heart is what it really felt like! It was the coolest thing of my life. I knew I should be giving my shoes and I wanted to, but I kept making excuses. Finally somewhere in one of the songs I took them off and threw 'em on the massive pile.
God really convicted me because I feel like that is how I handle giving in life. Sure, I'd donate to Winter Days, or put some change in the salvation army bucket because its just change, and I tithe yes, but none of that is really sacrificial giving. Giving up my brand new shoes was a sacrifice for me. I'm really thankful I wore those shoes to church though, if it had been either of my other pairs it would not have been as big of a deal and probably would not of felt like a sacrifice.
"What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ" Phil. 4:8
Friday, December 5, 2008
MIA? huh uh!
ahh its so nice to have a few minutes to blog it up! I'm pretty sure I've been going non stop with something to do every other second of my day for a few weeks. Between college applications, writing essays for scholarships, quitting one job and starting another one, going to school, managing to get in yet another car wreck, three doctors appointments, and keep up with my social life of course..its been hectic. So I'm not ashamed whatsoever to say its 9:15 on a Friday night, I just got home from the fall sports banquet, and I'm staying home, watching the episode of The Office that I missed last night and going to bed!
Here are some things I've been contemplating in the meantime.
Really, why can't hot dog bun and hot dog producers get together to produce an equal ammount of both per package! There are 8 hot dogs, and 6 hot dog buns in most packages. Why not come to a happy meduim of 7?
On a more serious note, I've been thinking about the differences between the words peace and tranquility. Tranquility sounds much more appealing and meaningful. I think we've reduced "peace" to cute slogans and its something known, but not often experienced. Often I think peace is thought to be a product that God offers, but in reality, it's a result of having full, complete, trust in God. This peace, or tranquility, surpasses all the stress we manage to create for ourselves. It surpasses all understanding for that matter.
And on that note, I leave you, for The Office.
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