Question
Posted by Rebecca Mon, 10 Aug 2009 16:03:00 GMT
If perfectly reasonable expectations are left unmet, and this results in disappointment over and over again, should one strive to expect nothing?
You're Not Shaken
Posted by Rebecca Mon, 10 Aug 2009 13:53:00 GMT
I am sinking in a river that is raging.
I am drowning.
Will I ever rise to breathe again?
I wanna know why,
I just wanna understand.
Will I ever know why?
How could this be from Your hand?
/Chorus/
When every little thing that I have dreamed would be
just slips away like water through my hands,
And when it seems the walls of my belief come crashing down
like they’re all made of sand,
I won’t let go of You now
because I know, oh,
You’re not shaken.
I am trembling in the darkness of my own fear.
All the questions with no answers
So grip me while I’m here.
And I may never know why,
Oh I may not understand.
But I will lift up my eyes,
and trust this is Your plan.
/Chorus/
When every little thing that I have dreamed would be
just slips away like water through my hands,
And when it seems the walls of my belief come crashing down
like they’re all made of sand,
I won’t let go of You now
because I know, oh,
You’re not shaken.
I know You’re in the valley of the shadow of death.
You’re not shaken. You’re not shaken.
–Phil Stacey
A New...Challenge?
Posted by Rebecca Fri, 07 Aug 2009 16:13:00 GMT
I work in an office where my primary objective is to help graduate students get through all the red tape surrounding getting a degree.
Every fall, new graduate students come in and most are in culture shock - some of them are new to the country and are not used to American culture and the American English accent (Queen’s English is largely what is taught abroad).
Some of them are in shock because they are from North Dakota and have never seen the mercury hit above 100 degrees.
All of them bring questions that I’ve known the answers to for years, and occasionally some of them bring new questions to me, like “Where can I find authentic Japanese noodles?”
Generally I consult the almighty Google, give them a map and send them on their way to explore and figure out life in Austin.
Today I had a new question. “Is there a Hindu shrine in Austin, and if so, will you help me find it.”
I immediately searched on Google to help this guy out. He has been in America for all of two days - he’s probably just getting over jetlag, is adapting to new foods (which means he probably doesn’t feel too good) and is trying to get a jump start on the red tape because he knows he’s in for a lot of adjustments.
I located a couple of shrines and gave him the website information. I also pointed him to the UT cricket club, which I know is full of Indian students, and I suggested he get involved there and ask some of those students to help him find a place of worship.
I did my job. He was very grateful.
After he left, I couldn’t help but feel a little guilty. See, I’m a Christian, and I believe that Hinduism is a form of idolatry. It is my personal belief. I don’t require anyone else to believe that. This is not about religious judgment. It’s about me being true to my G-d and my faith. In a way, I feel like I wasn’t, but in doing my job to the utmost of my ability, I feel like I was.
But I can’t shake the feeling that I was encouraging idolatry. Maybe I’m making more of this than I should, and if anyone still reads this blog, feel free to share your thoughts on the matter.
For Jehovah
Posted by Rebecca Wed, 05 Aug 2009 19:50:00 GMT
“The mind of man plans his way,
but the L-rd directs his steps.”
Proverbs 16:9 NASB
L-rd, I know this is true. I’ve seen you do it. I’ve seen you take my feet and place them in specific places on the path you’ve planned before me. I’ve seen it and it’s exciting. At times, when I am tired, it becomes frightening, but I try so hard to remember that you’ve never let me down. I’ve fallen, I’ve hurt, but You have redeemed all of it, turning ashes into beauty, sorrow into joy and defeat into victory.
When I think about where I am now, I am amazed at the wonders you’ve worked in my life. I don’t even know how I got here. How did I come to know You? How did I come to love You? And now, how am I coming to trust You?
You who began a good work in me will not leave it unfinished. I see you working in my life daily and it makes me want to praise you. I fail. I screw up. I disobey. But you know my heart and you cover me with your grace and we move forward together. I am not alone ever, and never will I be.
Sometimes, in those delicious moments of clarity that you sometimes bless me with, I think about how this goes on forever. I think about how this segment of life that takes place on earth is just the first step into time everlasting. It boggles my mind but my spirit soars. I look forward to being face to face with You. I look forward to walking with you in the same space, the same realm, the same dimension if You will.
But now I need to focus on now. And I’ll admit that sometimes that’s really difficult for me, because I do make plans. No matter how many times my plans fail, I continue to make them. But Your plans are better. Your plans are perfect. Help my heart take your plans and accept them as my plans. Help me live moment by moment in Your presence. Help me trust you, not just with my health, my finances, my education, and my friends - but also with my heart, my emotions, my deepest desires. Take them. I want you to have them. I want to let go of everything. Pry it all out of my clenched fists. Please. You have better plans for those things than I ever could have. I’ll know the next step when it’s time to take it. For now, just let me see Your character in action. Let me trust you. Let me just…be…with You.
Short term goals
Posted by Rebecca Mon, 03 Aug 2009 22:04:00 GMT
1) Finish this class.
2) Complete my condo purchase.
3) Finish the next class and graduate.
4) Refresh my cooking skills, which used to be good but I’m out of practice.
5) Go to Israel.
6) Write on my silly blog more. :)
I don't mean to whine...
Posted by Rebecca Thu, 30 Jul 2009 15:52:00 GMT
…and I don’t mean to complain.
I’m very blessed and generally happy.
But right now, man. I’m stressed, and my waistline is showing it.
What’s on my plate, besides ice cream and enchiladas?
1) Full time job. Gearing up for orientation. Busy.
2) Summer school. Sure, it’s only one 3-hour class. But it’s Spanish. 3rd semester Spanish. I had 2nd semester Spanish in 2001. I have 3-4 assignments and/or exams per week, which means all my free time (laugh) is dedicated to studying.
3) I’m co-running a bible study.
4) I have leadership responsibilities for my church Sunday school class.
5) I’m buying a condo. I’m on the phone nearly 30 minutes a day with someone involved in this purchase. And there’s still a lot left to do.
6) I’ve been house sitting, which comes with its own set of responsibilities. The owners are coming back this weekend, which means I have to relocate all the furniture I have stored in their garage. I’m trying to sell a desk. I’ve been flaked on twice regarding that already. Oh, and did I mention that I have a big assignment due Monday, a quiz on Tuesday, bible study on Wednesday, an exam on Thursday, and a presentation on Friday?
Anybody up for a drink this weekend?
Set a guard, O L-rd, over my lips.
Posted by Rebecca Thu, 16 Jul 2009 03:50:00 GMT
Seriously, L-rd. I need you to do this. It’s getting ridiculous.
My mouth is a freaking loose cannon.
This awareness, which had been brought to my attention by the spirit, was brought up again on Sunday and reduced me to tears.
Even tonight, when I should have been listening to a friend, I instead dumped nothing but discouragement in their lap.
When will I learn?
“Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth; Keep watch over the door of my lips.” - Psalm 141:3
Untitled
Posted by Rebecca Tue, 07 Jul 2009 20:24:00 GMT
He created chaos.
Out of chaos He called forth order.
He sees the order that lies within chaos and reveals the order in its season.
Why then should I fear chaos?
Alice in Wonderland - 2010
Posted by Rebecca Mon, 22 Jun 2009 16:13:00 GMT
Johnny Depp as the Mad Hatter.
Helena Bonham Carter as the Queen of Hearts.
Oh man, Christopher Lee is cast as the Jabberwock! I can totally see him whiffling and burbling!
This movie is going to be so awesome! I can hardly wait!
Magnify the L-rd with Me!
Posted by Rebecca Mon, 15 Jun 2009 16:35:00 GMT
“O magnify the L-rd with me, and let us exalt His name together.” Psalm 34:3
I will magnify the L-rd with you by sharing the following:
And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from G-d, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband.
And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of G-d is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and G-d Himself will be among them,
and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.”
And He who sits on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” And He said, “Write, for these words are faithful and true.”
Then He said to me, “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give to the one who thirsts from the spring of the water of life without cost.”
“He who overcomes will inherit these things, and I will be his G-d and he will be My son.”
Revelation 21:2-7 NASB
What scripture allows you to magnify the L-rd right now? Put it in the comments, and let us magnify the L-rd together.