So that was my step-dad's joke the day of the shower :) Smile and nod.
My dear sister and matron of honor, Amy, threw me an incredible bridal shower. With chocolate cream cheese cupcakes, delicious fruit, chicken crescents, and other lovely delicacies, we did not want for goodies! A get-to-know you game, prizes, and presents! She really should be an event-planner, I'm convinced. Not to mention the wonderful company of dear friends :)
I'm glad life keeps moving along. It's not always what I think I want, but it always ends up being good. A lot changes with perspective and a good attitude. I'm hopeful for the semester. It's the beginning of the end for school. I'm excited for the end. But the process will be challenging and stretching.
I hate leaving my family and my church in Texas. I think I'm addicted to them. Despite our flaws, drama, and even mundane-ness at times, I love living life with these people. I will miss them all. I'm convinced that "real life" outside of college should revolve around our families. God put us in them for a reason...immediate ministry from the day we're born.
Pray for me as I return to Moody tonight. I'm looking at a heavy course load and a lot of hours, but the preparation and study of God's word is so valuable. These are my classes...
Classic and Contemporary Ethics
World Religious Systems
Strategic Planning and Research
Systematic Theology I
Early Childrens' Music Ministry
Tropical Diseases
Directed Study--Muslim studies
My PCM (Practical Christian Ministry) is at the SouthAsian Friendship Center. Not sure what I'll be doing yet, but I get to interact weekly with Muslim and Hindu people. I'm hopeful for some "hands on" ministry training for when I'm doing my internship in the Philippines this summer. (more to come on that)
That's all for now, folks. Time to be with the parents in the last couple hours I've got at home.
Blessings!
When it's too hard to come up with a title for your blog, maybe you shouldn't, but I am anyway :)
IT'S THURSDAY!!!
The day when I work my last early shift for the year 2008!
The day I check my school mailbox for the last time in the fall 2008 semester!
The day I am still not fully packed and leaving for TEXAS!!! WOOOOOO!!!!!
It's a good day :)
Every Christmas (for the past 2-3 years, ha) my roommate and two of our best friends (basically roommates) celebrate Christmas together. We hang stockings, which are gradually filled, set up our 2.5 foot Charlie Brown Tree, make hot chocolate and brownies and enjoy each others' company.
...the sky was a brilliant teal color. This cell-phone picture does not do it justice, by any means, but use your imagination :) It was beautiful.This post is a mix 'n match of stories from this week...
Post office faith...
Yesterday was my last opportunity to get Christmas packages mailed out to my siblings! Oh what a day... After my 8am final, I grabbed my 4 big packages and my wallet from my room and scuttled to the campus post office. When I got to CPO, I opened my wallet as they weighed the packages, only to find $27 in cash and some change. Now, the cost of mailing A package at Christmas time is about $15 from Chicago. You do the math...4 packages...$27...not enough (mind you, it's a cash only post office). I stood at the counter, wishing/hoping/praying that somehow I wouldn't have to take some of the packages home, trudge out in the snow, find an ATM, withdraw money, and go back to CPO before work at 11am. God likes to laugh with me sometimes. They rang up the bill...$27.21. :D Dingdingding! Packages sent!
Conversations...
A few nights ago, Jesse and I were meeting two of our homeless friends to celebrate Christmas with them. They weren't able to show up, so Jesse and I had dinner together. As we were getting ready to leave, a woman sitting at the table in front of us gets our attention and smiles so calmly :) She asked if we had a few minutes to sit and talk with her, so we did. It was providential that our friends did not show up--we spent the next hour or so talking with this lady, Ava was her name. Her Bible had been open to Genesis. It was one of those texts that had be scribbled over with years of wear, highlighting, special dates, prayers, and sermon notes in the margins. Back and forth, we shared Scriptures of God's faithfulness to the people in the Bible as well as His goodness to us. She is walking through a "dark valley" as the Christianese would term it, but her hope is so strong. Ava is homeless by way of identity theft. It's a very hard situation for her ethically--she's not sure if she should sue those that did this or if God would have her forgive and make due. Please pray for her wisdom and that she would not seek her own revenge.
Real life, real world...
I work for Moody's Customer Service Center and answer phones. These are some true story examples.
Speaking slowly...."Hello...I had called once before to ask for prayer...I need it again. My name's Bernice...I just became a Christian...I have no Christian friends. The man I'm living with is not a good person...a very controlling man. Please pray for me...I have no where else to go." This was from one of my calls yesterday at work. Please pray for her. She was in tears over the phone by the end of our conversation.
A Pakistani gentleman named Habeeb called today. He told me he is a Muslim but he listens to WMBI all the time when he can. "I wish we (Muslims) had people like Moody Bible people in our religion...we need them!" There was a program on the radio a few days ago that was talking about the organization Jihad Watch and some books about Islam from a Christian perspective. He was so excited and wanting to learn what the Bible would have to say about faith. Truth is so appealing, yet so hard for the lost to find. Pray that God would reveal the truth to Habeeb and bring him to salvation.
Thoughts from a silly college student...
I just put Christmas lights up in my cubicle...they twinkle :) I'm happy.
BE BLESSED.
Em
I love the city. There are times when it is difficult to remember that. It's easy to complain about the smell...sirens...people...crime...cold...business...etc. But I forget all too often its beauty:
The people,
Fall trees,
Church steeples,
Christmas lights,
Cathedral bells,
Crazy sights,
The cool breeze,
Tall buildings,
Snow flurries,
Starbucks,
Kind friends,
Thrift stores,
Rivers,
Parks,
Beaches,
Musicals and plays,
Bookstores galore,
Art galleries,
Ethnic foods,
and so much more.
I don't ever regret moving to the city for college. What a good choice that was. I admire those that plant roots in this constantly-growing and moving place. What a hard place to minister to people. There's a scary oppression that covers this city, but it does not quench God's work throughout. How precious are the prayers of His children to Him.
This morning in my Missionary Relationships class, the topic was about priorities. How many people get so frustrated with themselves or others because they think their priorities are out of whack?! I raise my hand high to this and say that I am certainly one. I get frustrated, mostly with others, if I think their prioritizing things above other more pertinent or important areas of life. Here's how most people (at least in the ministry world) think life SHOULD be prioritized:
1) God
2) Wife/Husband
3) Children/Family
4) Ministry
5) Community/Church
"This is a setup for frustration and guilt." -Dr. Liz Lightbody
Things cannot ALWAYS be the way we like them. We cannot ALWAYS have a devotional time from 8-9am. We cannot ALWAYS have family night on Thursdays. We cannot ALWAYS go to church on Sunday mornings. The only ALWAYS is that CHRIST LOVES ALWAYS.
FLEXIBILITY has to happen in ANY relationship. There will be times that we will need to be flexible and need to ALLOW for our spouse/partner/friend/etc to FLEX where they need to, even if it takes away from us. HOWEVER, DO NOT ABUSE THAT FLEXIBILITY WITH ONE ANOTHER. It will turn to bitterness, hurt, and frustration.
Instead of looking at priorities as a list, try viewing it this way:
Spouse------Children/Family
CHRIST
Ministry-------Community/Church
EVERYTHING STEMS FROM CHRIST.
Moody is famous for it's intermural sports. It's pretty much the only fun outlet most of the Moody men have :) Well it's football season here at MBI and today was the opening day. My boyfriend plays on his floor's A-team (Dryer 2!)
Today was great. First game was at noon...at which time D2 whipped the opposition 30-0. The second game was at 3, also a win at 12-6, but a few more twists...
Jesse was going for the ball just as our friend, James, was also. Pictures speak for themselves. Jesse got knocked out for about 10 seconds and couldn't remember the 10 minutes following. We had a fun 4 hour ER visit tonight :D He was discharged with head trauma and tylenol. Gotta love hospitals :)
What an adventure. We followed that visit with a visit to Portillos for some shakes and french fries :D good stuff.
It's been a huge privilege to be a student under his leadership. I had heard such great things from my aunt and uncle, past members of his previous church, that I had high expectations for how he would lead. My expectations were surpassed, but not by his great oratory or diplomatic manner, though he has both...I was more impressed with the quiet way he spoke. I admire Dr. Easley because he never communicates any scripture to the students that has not first made an impact on his own life.
This morning was the final president's chapel that Dr. Easley would be preaching as Moody's president. His charge to the audience was this:
Perhaps we'll discuss a different type of hero.
Who are 5 people you would consider to be your heroes in this life? (People you have known in your lifetime.) I can name several of my own...
What happens when you realize your hero is also human...has flaws...defects...sins of their own? Do you brace yourself under that pedestal to keep it from toppling over?
I've been processing this concept for the past few months and come to a few conclusions. There have been several people in my acquaintance that I've truly looked up to...worshiped, in a loose use of the term. These people have a great deal of wisdom; they approach life with a solid mind and open heart. But as with anything in the human life, we must be wary of putting to much admiration and emphasis into another person. We're all humans...depraved humans at that.
The cliche, but none-the-less true, fact is that Christ is the true hero. Our hearts long to be in awe and astonishment of someone. Humans will disappoint and fail. Christ endures forever...Christ never fails. "The soul was made to stand in awe of a Person--the only person worthy of awe. All heroes are shadows of Christ. We love to admire their excellence. How much more will we be satisfied by the one Person who conceived all excellence and embodies all skill, all talent, all strength and brilliance and savvy and goodness" (John Piper--Don't Waste Your Life).
I believe it's okay to look up to people...to appreciate the Christ-like qualities in them...but not to the extent that we cannot recognize their humanity and depravity as well.
As it has unfortunately become...
Last summer, within a period of two weeks, I rear-ended two people. Today was my lucky day! Poor Elmer (my parent's white toyota camery) felt like it was time to renew that lovely experience and was rear-ended today :) CJ, this time it WASN'T my fault ;)
His car...
My car...
I think maybe I should buy a tank now.
I've grown up in three worlds.
CALIFORNIA was my home for many years. My family began there. I met Christ there. I made life-long friendships and created fond memories there. Then I moved and left much of that world behind.
TEXAS became a new home...new family...first time in a school...new life-long friends...new experiences...roots for where my parents would plant their family for several years. Then I graduated.
ILLINOIS was the place for college. How blessed I am to be able to attend the college of my choice. I have connected with incredible people and learned so much of God and His life for me in that place.
But what happens when worlds collide?
My dear sister, Tiffany (high school friend and now roommate) and I invited our dearest friends home with us for part of spring break. I was apprehensive of such a visit. To invite people into your home is to give a bit more understanding of who you were before college (or whatever the current situation may be). It allows them insight into your training---why you are they way you are now.
I am so appreciative of these people. Tiffany, Sarah, Becky (though she could not come this trip), Bruce, Jesse, Scott (and many other unlisted friends). These people have become family for me in many ways and have proved to be faithful and loyal companions--the kind that remain before, during, and after the hard spells. How rare...
These last weeks have been hell to walk through in the area of friendships. They have been hard for all. At times, it is easy to lose understanding and grace for others. It is easier to break frustrations on others and cause them to carry the burden of your own inadequacies. But those that are able to be honest and rebuke you...those are the ones to keep around.
I have learned ...
To not steer from a harsh rebuke, but learn to listen for its truth,
That you can't give up on friendships,
That God will keep surprises from you until He sees fit to reveal them,
That hurts will be healed,
and that reconciliation is not just a responsibility, but also a gift.
I pray your recent weeks have been as challenging and encouraging.
May blessings exceed in your life,
em
