Fall Travels Pt 1-Virginia

It's been such a blessing to travel as much as I have over the last couple of years. I'm really beginning to enjoy these get-a-ways! Most recently, I had the opportunity to visit with family and friends before starting my new job in late Oct/early Nov.
First, I visited my parents in their new house in Virginia! I'm so happy for them as they really seem to be settled where they've desired to be for years! They're minutes from my grandparents and love the area. I stayed about a week and a half so I was grateful to be soaking up so much family time! My aunt and cousin visited while I was there. We all enjoyed accompanying my grandparents to the annual Coast Guard Fish Fry. My grandfather retired as a Captain in the CG. Our family has been attending picnics since I was young.

My youngest cousin, Tyler, and I with our grandparents


Even the ten or so days I was there flew by as they were filled with visiting "old haunts" from the first time we lived there, unpacking and beginning to add all the touches that make it home. I didn't get pictures of the house this trip but I'll be returning for Thanksgiving; one of the first holidays "all together" we'll have had in years! My parents' and grandparents' houses combined will offer more space to bring everyone together mostly from across the state. And of course, me, the "ex-patriot".

Encouragement

It seems the only constant in my life over the last year or so has been change. I suppose that's pretty consistent with life in general. Though, its times like this that I'm reminded of my desperate need to cling to Christ; for strength, for hope, for guidance, for a reminder that there is one mightier than anything I'll ever face who holds the master plan and for the desire not to give up.
I came across these gems of encouragement while reading through some of the blogs I subscribe to today. The first is from the GirlTalk Blog on Carolyn McCulley's broadcasts on focus on the family and some of her reflections on her blog.



"As Dr. Grudem said on Sunday morning at my church, he doesn't know anyone over 50 who has not had a significant trial or affliction. If you live long enough, you will encounter difficulty because it's what happens in a fallen world. But this is not the end of the story. Not only will we experience God's redemptive activity in this life, we have the promise of sin-free, pain-free life everlasting with Him in eternity. So if I am called by God to glorify Him as a single woman, even though I desire marriage, I know He is not wasting that desire or my small sacrifice in the years I have lived in that tension. He is weaving that into His plan to rescue, redeem, and reclaim His children".



Another encouraging post was written by one of the members of Mars Hill church who recently lost her husband in Afghanistan. She also commented on adversity.


"During the minutes where I can’t seem to grasp what has happened or where to go from here, I am constantly hearing the phrases, “You are crushed, but not destroyed”….”You are NOT defeated”. It’s at these moments that I really think about living as if I’m defeated versus living as if I’m NOT defeated....

I think about whom I would be defeated by if I gave up or let myself turn to worldly temptations or negative ways to handle the hurt of a killed spouse. Satan…the devil himself is waiting on the other side of those decisions. He wants to destroy me. He wants to defeat me. He wants to win this battle. This battle isn’t between just him and I though; it’s between good and evil. He is attacking all of us. Sometimes he uses special ops techniques and sometimes he decides to use a bomb…like killing an amazing father and husband that fears the Lord…who would spit in Satan’s face if he had the chance!....

I find comfort in all of this when I too call on God. Many times reading the book God has prepared for us, the Bible, is where I find solid advice and encouragement. My creator has provided me with so many stories to turn to and letters to live by, and proverbs to unfold. Here are a few that have come up recently that pertain to not being defeated:

“for the righteous falls seven times and rises again, but the wicked stumble in times of calamity.” –Proverbs 24:16

“Rejoice not over me, O my enemy; when I fall, I shall rise; when I sit in darkness, the Lord will be light to me.” –Micah 7:8

I also find comfort in 2 Corinthians 4, where the reference of being ‘struck down, but not destroyed’ comes from. This is also the part of the Bible where Paul says:

“Therefore do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light and momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen, but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal. “ -2 Corinthians 4:16-18

Paul, on behalf of God, is begging for the Corinthians (and us) to not lose heart.... We shall overcome Satan, as Jesus did, by turning to what is eternal. All that I know to be eternal is Jesus, who lived after he died..."


I hope these thoughts are an encouragement to you as well! Keep persevering!

Young Adult + Single =F.A.T. ???

After some deliberation and prayer (though not as much deliberation as I thought would be necessary) I've decided to take the Hermeneutics class! I attended the first class a couple of weeks ago :) I'm very much looking forward to learning more about the discipline of interpreting the Bible.

My only disappointment will be missing teaching on Paul's writings in another class. I would, no question, list Paul among my favorite Biblical writers if not my favorite! I respect his no sugar-coating yet encouraging style of addressing the new church. I also greatly enjoy studying his letters as a record of the early corporate Church.

Given my major and minor in the social sciences, I also love to learn about how groups and individuals interact. Paul's letters are such a window into the hearts and minds of some of the first members of the collective church body!

So why the blog title: "Young Adult + Single =F.A.T. ???" For those who haven't heard the acronym, F.A.T. stands for Faithful Available Teachable. Perhaps one of the things that intrigues me most is the likelihood that many of the early church members were around my age! Paul chose to pour into the younger generation to build and provide lasting leadership to the young congregations. I wonder what life must have been like for them as they realized that what they were choosing to be a part of would change their world as they knew it...

The heavens declare the GLORY of God; the skies proclaim the work of HIS hands

You alone are the LORD. You made the heavens, even the highest heavens, and all their starry host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them. You give life to everything, and the multitudes of heaven worship you.
Nehemiah 9:6 (NIV)

When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him?
Psalms 8:3-4

The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
Psalms 19:1 (NIV)

I love nature! It's God's fingerprints; His daily reminders that He stays in complete control of His creation. It's a great comfort to know the Creator of the Universe, MY GOD is ever present in my DAILY life!!!

Earlier this week, God provided a sweet blessing on the way home from work: a rainbow over the bridge! It was still lightly raining and the sky was still a slate blue so the colors of the rainbow were a bright and beautiful contrast. I've heard friends speaking of getting to see it from various parts of town. As I was driving, I didn't get a picture of it but thankfully, one has appeared from a local news station!

THIS is another amazing example of God's handiwork! It's an older picture of the "X Structure" at the CORE of the Whirlpool Galaxy sent back from the Hubble Telescope. It really puts things into perspective ...


I've had the blessing to take in parts of God's creation that have taken my breath away. God has truly left evidences of Himself all over His creation! I'm definitely an avid fan of nature! I know I have a tendency to post a lot of song lyrics but this one speaks of the beauty of nature and it's purpose of shouting God's glory. It's one of my favorite songs from Clemson FCA's :)


Filled With Your Glory- Starfield

In my heart, in my heart, there's a fire burning
A passion deep within my soul
Not slowing down, not growing cold
An unquenchable flame that keeps burning brighter
A love that's blazing like the sun
For who You are and what You've done
And as the fire is raging on
So Your praise becomes my song

The whole earth Is filled with Your glory, Lord
Angels and men adore
Creation longs for what's in store
(Mountains bow and oceans roar)

May You be
Honored and glorified
Exalted and lifted high
Here at Your feet I lay my life

From the ends of the earth
To the heights of Heaven
Your glory, Lord, is far and wide
Through history
You reign on high
From the depths of the sea
To the mountain's summit
Your power, Lord, it knows no bounds
A higher love cannot be found
So let the universe proclaim
Your great power and Your great name

The Start of Class!

Ok...so I'm not officially a student anymore...but it is my desire and goal to maintain an attitude of teachability with a love for learning throughout the rest of my life. In college, I spent much of my time as a social sciences major (and minor!) learning about how groups and individuals interact. This still intrigues me. The why's and hows of history seem to unfold when you understand the people involved. I've found this to be true in so many avenues of life....These academic interests have only grown my passion for studying Biblical History and Theology. The Bible itself is a historically flawless record of God's interactions with people spanning centuries and countless generations.
All this to say ....I'm so excited to be going back to class! Well....sort of.... This Sunday, the church I am attending will begin fall Sunday School classes. I'm very much looking forward to what I'm sure will be a wonderful semester of corporate study and growing in the Lord. Now....if I could only decide what class to take! A few I am considering are: Interpreting the Bible (Hermeneutics), World Religions, and a Peer Group Study (young, single adults) on the writings of Paul. I think I have an idea what I'm leaning towards but the number of great options require that the actual choice be made with some careful consideration. Yes...I do embrace my inner nerd :) In the words of Mark Driscoll, I "geek out on Theology"....and I'm ok with that :) )Wish me luck choosing but even more, please pray that I truly would have a teachable heart. The Lord is providing such sweet gifts in the opportunities to "go deep" with a committed body of believers. I can't wait to get started and find out how He'll use this time.

Update

Considering there are actually some exciting things to tell, I suppose its time for a real update!
The long-discussed (but delayed...) move has finally occurred! For those who have heard me talk about it for a good couple of years now: yes! really!! haha
My parents moved back to our home state a week ago and I've officially moved in with a couple of great girls and a third furry roommate; a very sweet dog, Mia, who waits to greet me outside my room each morning. It's definitely been an adjustment. New roommates, new church, new city. Even though I still work in the same office and really just moved about 40 min away, it's not an area I frequented other than small group meetings so I have had to change all of my routines. It's actually been surprisingly fun to learn my way around.
One of the greatest blessings was taking a day trip the weekend my family moved away. I still strongly believe it was exactly what I needed emotionally and spiritually that day. I was able to visit with two wonderful sisters and dear friends from college, Maddie and Meredith. Both are in grad school and by God's providence! had some downtime that weekend. On both visits, we mainly sat and talked for hours. I SO love and look forward to sweet times of fellowship (and just being girlie! It quite often involves food and laughter! :) ) God has used these young women SO often to speak truth into my life and to be sources of encouragement!
A fun example of one of these "girlie fellowship moments" occurred on my visit to Meredith's: she brought me back a traditional Indian outfit from her trip earlier in the summer. She put on one of hers so I could try on mine and we enjoyed a cup of chai tea :)



As we were enjoying the fellowship so much, I don't have other pictures from the trip but I anticipate more trips this semester so I'll try to have a few more to put up :)
Overall, the adjustment to this new season of my life has been easier than I expected. I attribute this entirely to God's grace. He has been so faithful to provide in a multitude of ways including a sustaining peace He began washing over me weeks ago about remaining here while my family moved away. Looking back even a year or two ago, I can see how much God's grown me as I know I would not have been as at peace. His timing and providence are so good. Although, I have seen confirmations, I don't think I can yet fully explain what His purpose is for me here. I'm looking forward to Him revealing more of this to me. One of my sisters shared a sweet truth with me last weekend: God's plan is playing out in my life now. It does also exist in the future but it is not solely there to be awaited. He has a purpose for me in this season, in this place, at this time.... To God be the glory in how I steward the gifts and responsibilities He has entrusted!

Truth- Lecrae

[Spoken:]
Bring it drums (Yah)
This song right here
Is for everybody out there looking for truth
Who says, you know
We all in the same boat
Yeah, Christians and Muslims, everybody like that, huh
Yow, you lookin' for truth
Oh, I've got some answers man
So good to be
Ah, let's get into it

Let's go
Night and Day I ain’t scared to say that we different
They play the prostitute but they like to say they just intimate
And Idols in their heart, they can’t seem to lose their grip on it
See them walkin’ in the direction that canned and crippled them
Our World is different like Whitley and Wayne man
They say we look the same but we ain’t chasin’ the same thing
It all boils down to they think everythings relative
Jesus might as well be a South American president
Very evident, they say that Jesus was heaven sent
They lifestyle reflects they worship themselves instead of Him
They don’t acknowledge the Christ if they did they wouldn’t worship themselves by the way that they live
All these rappers say they got guns that spray off 16
I’ve got a Luke 9 that can take all 16
That’s the Bible the one they poke
But they don’t care about the author they think he’s a joke.

[Spoken:]
"Man, It's just some folks say, "All truth is relative, it just depends on what you believe." You know, "hey man, ain't no way to know for sure who God is or what's really true." But that means you believe your own statement; that there's no way to know what's really true. You're saying that that statement is true. You're killing yourself. If what's true for you is true for you and what's true for me is true for me, what if my truth says your's is a lie? Is it still true? Come on man!"

I promise everybody is asking the same questions
“Who am I? What is my purpose and my direction?”
Y’probably believe that you exist for no other reason
Than Self-satisfaction, hedonism and pleasing things
Life’s about you getting’ yours and bein’ happy
Even if it means a divorce and switchin’ families?
Your job, your house, your car, your spouse
It’s all for the glory of you, Elsh-u-ou
You go to school get y’ degrees and get a job
So you can make a whole lotta’ g’s cause’ lifes hard
You never thought of livin to please a real God
And that’s the reason he made you
See, he gave you breath to breathe the chest to breathe it.
So you can taste and see He’s the best, believe it
He made us for His glory and not for your own homey
Our God is Holy. You should repent and die slowly

[Spoken:]
"See, there's this thing called "Secular Humanism", it says man is the source of all meaning and all purposing. You know what i'm saying? We're just the result of a big cosmic explosion. We don't really have a purpose or meaning, so we just come up with our own purpose. We're the source of our meaning and our purpose. How can a man, which is the product of chance, a finite being be the source of purpose and meaning? You can't! You're created with purpose man! Get with The Creator yo!"

Man, everybody got a problem with God
And when you mention the Christ
Then they really get to turning the nod
But some say they roll with Christ
But some rappers made it seem like He was cool
With all the sin in their life
NO!
But then some say “How can God exist when
All this evil stuff in the world keep persistin’?
Wrong question. Ask again.
“How come God aint’ let you feel the wrath from sin?”
What you thought last night deserved a first class flight
To Hell where God doesn’t dwell. You got that right
But He bought back life, on a cross that night
Christ died, you ain’t know that he cost that price?
All of God’s anger put on His son
Then together, through all of eternity. Now He was shunned.
Praise God for the life that was won for us
Ain’t got a beef with God because the son was crushed

[Spoken]
You look man, "Some people say that God ain't real 'cause they don't see how a good God can exist with all this evil in the world. If God is real then He should stop all this evil, 'cause He's all-powerful right? What is evil though man? It's anything that's against God. It's anything morally bad or wrong. It's murder, rape, stealing, lying, cheating. But if we want God to stop evil, do we want Him to stop it all or just a little bit of it? If He stops us from doing evil things, what about lying, or what about our evil thoughts? I mean, where do you stop, the murder level, the lying level, or the thinking level? If we want Him to stop evil, we gotta be consistent, we can't just pick and choose. That means you and I would be eliminated right? Because we think evil stuff. If that's true, we should be eliminated! But thanks be to God that Jesus stepped in to save us from our sin! Christ died for all evilness! Repent, turn to Jesus man!"