Seasons

It was getting close to the week where I'd have to part with a close friend and I was told that life is full of many seasons and that this was one. I recognize that life is indeed full of season even nature reminds me of this as I walk outside, of course they are a bit more obvious when I live in Michigan. Throughout my life I have had several friends and throughout the years I have a couple close friends. In elementary school into middle school and junior high there were a couple but we grew out of picking our noses and playing with blocks...we started to become who we are. There were friends that were lost due to crushes and us thinking that whoever that "week's" was was more important. There were some lost because sports became more important or school. Then in high school friendship seemed to be deeper and I hoped that the day would never come to prove everyone true, "you don't stay friends with your friends from high school." Then there is the cliche of "distance makes the heart grow fonder" ...Now there have been many friendships that went through a lot throughout the years and have stuck through the drama, the relationships, and the distance. But I was just reminded of these seasons again this past week as I became friends with one of the groupos who came with her church then once again at the end of the week to say goodbye. When I came back for my second "semester" here I found myself not wanting to open up at all because I wondered if I could do it all over again...become so close or even close with people only to say goodbye. I wondered, when this season of goodbyes, as cliche as that may sound, would end? But then i realized that I can't live that way. Enclosed. Never to be real with people. While seasons are always changing and I don't think this season will ever end but to be transparent with people show them who you truly are...always in hopes that they would see you...you being a sinner saved by grace. And in hopes that they if they aren't already your brother or sister that through that friendship and transparency that they might and then we no longer have to say goodbye but hasta luego, see you later. Now this still as, so true as it is...does not make this season easy, easier yes but facil no. posible un dia...

God is moving!

brief sentences of excitement:

a friend of mine who is not a believer, is noticing a difference, I hope they realize it is Christ.

I've been praying and praying for a friend and I'm seeing fruit. In His time, in HIS time.

I thought I had a plan, as I always do and He thwarted it like He (always) does. Praise God for shaking my plans.

a person whose personality does not match mine and was a struggle for me, we are now friends.

worries of future, in His hands.

Praise the Lord for your all-knowingness,
For the grace and love I cannot fathom.
Praise the Lord for everyday

Praise the Lord for everyday and all He is doing

Vapor - Really?

Last weekend one of my friends said something that has stuck with me, "Should salvation not effect our everyday lives? How would it look?" (And I have continued to ponder that then I started reading Crazy Love by Francis Chan. I read a little bit of this book then I'm overwhelmed and I have to stop and think and evaluate my life.

"It's crazy that we think today is just a normal day to do whatever we want with. To those of us who say, " today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money," James writes, "Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. Wht is your life? You are a mist that appears for little while and then vanishes" (4:13-14).

oh and then

"Frederick Buechner wrote, 'Intellectually we all know that we will die, but do not really know it in the sense that the knowledge becomes a part of us. We do not really know it in the sense of living as thought it were true. on the contrary, we tend to live as thought our lives would go on forever.'"
pg40


I'm that person Francis and Buechner describe. I think future for when I'm on the missions field, when I'm at the University, when... and yes I KNOW that someday I'll day but what if it were today would I be happy with my actions, thoughts, words? Would other people see me living eternally? For Christ?

Todos Dias

Everyday.
You give me another chance everyday.
The day before or even the morning of
My thoughts may extend to you through struggle and confusion
Even at times anger but
Everyday your mercies are new
And you reveal to me a little more of your grace and who you are.
Praise the Lord for your all-knowingness,
For the grace and love I cannot fathom.
Praise the Lord for everyday.

Thoughts from Sunday Evening Message

What if we were the disciples and he asked us on the day of his crucifixion, "Follow me. Experience this with me." what if? would we? Would we want to go? Talk about fellowship as the first nail goes into His hands and He screams. then the first nail goes into yours and you scream all the while looking into each others eyes. Intimate Fellowship.




that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.
v.10-11

message from Phil. 3:1-11

Another Class Journal

We attended the Islamic Center of San Diego on Tuesday evening with our EWI class. Here is my journal/form post from our visit.


I thoroughly enjoyed going to the mosque. Seeing first hand how the prayer works and hearing our "guide" Atah(?) overview the different things we've been learning be as well as expand on different ideas.

One thing that he said really stuck out to me. (not word for word but the gist...)

"The five prayers a day keep us from sinning, at least the big sins because we know that we are going to be going before Allah in a couple of hours."

This made me think. They have schedule prayers each day while we do not have schedules prayers we are called to "pray continuously" (1 Thes. 5:17) and to approach the throne with confidence (Heb 4:16)...but do we? We scoff at their five schedule prayers a day yet do we even in our liberty go to the Father about everything every part of every day? Do we even go to Him everyday? And I don't mean just before meals. Do we?

Then what of this idea of keeping from sinning? They realize they will be going before Allah and so they try not to sin yet we who are to come before Christ all the time and are no longer slaves to sin (Rom. 6:5-7) because of Christ, I think are all too flippant with knowing of God's grace.

Now I'm not saying this is true of all but I know this is true of myself at times. These are things that we need to be evaluating. Not judging the differences of Islam and Christ Followers, yes see the differences, but do not forget that these people are just as important to Christ as we so to simply judge, what love are we showing?

The difference is that they do not truly know Jesus Christ, the Savior. That's got to rattle us.

Modesty

We are taking an "Encountering the World of Islam" class and part of our homework is to reply to our readings and this is mine from this week.

It is because of modesty. I never understood the significance of the veils that the Muslim women wear but it is because of modesty. Something I'd admire about Muslims (generalization) is their commitment. The Quran speaks of modesty being an important virtue and therefore the women obey. I was once told by a man who worked with Muslims that the reason for the head coverings was to cover up their hair, their beauty and pride. Some even go to the extent of only having their eyes showing. Even men abiding by modesty. In "The Desert Rat: The Remarkable Story of Aileen Coleman" by Annette Adams, Adams speaks of a time when she is visting Aileen in Jordan and a middle eastern man came close to touching her but backed away quickly with his hands raised as if someone were shooting at him, saying that he didn't touch her. For in the Quran is says that a man may not touch a woman unless it is his mother, sister, or wife. Modesty is so highly valued.

When I think of modesty today in our culture, two thoughts run through my mind; 1800s and shame. By the 1800s I mean the era of "Pride and Prejudice" when there was etiquette in regards to many things but specifically when it came to interacting with the opposite sex and in presentation of oneself. but sadly over the years, for whatever reason we now think there is no need for etiquette and then to think modesty is key? ha. It is a sad realization and maybe I am looking at our culture with a pessimistic view but I think of the media. Movies: it is terribly hard to be able to go to a movie nowadays and not have some perverse humor, sex scenes, or women who are barely dressed. Music: songs without perverse messages are a rarity now. Internet: everything and anything. Even checking out in a grocery store there are magazines filled with pornographic images for all the world to see. Then there are girls, even Christ Followers, who don't see clothing their problem. It's the guys' fault if that's what they're thinking. But it's not just girls, guys have their own modesty issues.

When did lack of modesty become okay? Have we become desensitized to such things? I think we need to take a lesson in modesty from our Muslim neighbors.