So, I try not to be extremely vague when I blog. Normally, if I feel I have to be terribly vague about something when I'm writing, I just don't mention it. I also try not to blog when I'm feeling very emotional and/or tired.
Well, tonight is apparently very out-of-character for me.
I have mentioned my job search before, but there's really a lot more going on in my life than just trying to find work. A lot of things are changing with my life situation which I feel helpless to control. I seem to be headed in a different direction every day.
Some of these things are very hard to deal with. Some of them are more happy possibilities. I had hoped, however, to find some level of stability after graduating from SAU...and it's looking like any hope of stability in the near future is in vain.
God has been teaching me a lot through this time, though. I've been learning how to trust Him in hard times, how to worry less about the future, how to love others when I feel more like yelling at them, and how to glorify Him in new ways.
Yes, you didn't really hear anything terribly specific. Thanks for reading, though.
Peace.
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Friday, January 20, 2012
Oh, my life...
So, I've had a lot of "changes of plans" since my trip out West this summer. Today was another one. I'm currently taking an online algebra class, and was scheduled to start a chemistry class next week. My goal was to get a degree in environmental biology/zoology at MSU within the next few years, and work part-time jobs on the side.
Notice the abundance of the word "was" throughout that statement.
I've been doing some thinking about all this the past few days, and I've realised several of my long-term goals aren't very compatible with each other. For example, if I want to move out West, getting a degree and doing part-time jobs here might actually hinder me. I'll still be in a pretty weak place financially and I won't have much job experience if I'm just doing part-time jobs. In other words, by the time I finish the degree and want to move out West, I won't actually be able to. My current job search is going really poorly right now because I've been saying "no" to a lot of good full-time work.
One of my current goals career-wise is becoming a conservation officer with the DNR within the year. However, this would be a full-time job, and if I'm taking classes all year round, why should I even continue the process of trying to get into that sort of work?
A good conversation with my mom helped me focus these thoughts into a more exact plan: dropping the upcoming chemistry class, start hardcore looking for work with an even broader scope, and finish my online class. I'm confident I'll be able to have SOME kind of work in with the DNR by the summer, even if it's just seasonal...the issue is getting a job between now and then.
Prayers for all of this would be greatly appreciated.
Peace.
Notice the abundance of the word "was" throughout that statement.
I've been doing some thinking about all this the past few days, and I've realised several of my long-term goals aren't very compatible with each other. For example, if I want to move out West, getting a degree and doing part-time jobs here might actually hinder me. I'll still be in a pretty weak place financially and I won't have much job experience if I'm just doing part-time jobs. In other words, by the time I finish the degree and want to move out West, I won't actually be able to. My current job search is going really poorly right now because I've been saying "no" to a lot of good full-time work.
One of my current goals career-wise is becoming a conservation officer with the DNR within the year. However, this would be a full-time job, and if I'm taking classes all year round, why should I even continue the process of trying to get into that sort of work?
A good conversation with my mom helped me focus these thoughts into a more exact plan: dropping the upcoming chemistry class, start hardcore looking for work with an even broader scope, and finish my online class. I'm confident I'll be able to have SOME kind of work in with the DNR by the summer, even if it's just seasonal...the issue is getting a job between now and then.
Prayers for all of this would be greatly appreciated.
Peace.
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
A good defense?
So, this started as a short thought I had while driving, but I think it's worth its own post. We often make fun of the question, "What would Jesus do," right? I know I have before. I'm not here to defend that question in particular; I'd rather ask another one. When you're about to make a decision about how you act toward other people or authority while you're driving, or really in any situation, I dare you to ask this question:
"If God were to go through every action in my life, and we get to this moment, could Jesus stand beside me and defend my actions?"
"Oh, that one was okay. The speed limits don't really matter. That one was fine too; she was just joking, even though it sounded like a really mean insult."
The question becomes not, "What would Jesus do," but rather, "Would Jesus stand beside my decision here?" I think it's a very interesting one.
As a Christian, however, I know even though Jesus won't defend all my decisions, He will defend me when I stand on the day of judgment. My sins are washed away by His blood, and His sacrifice atoned for every action I've made against Him.
Thank God.
Peace.
"If God were to go through every action in my life, and we get to this moment, could Jesus stand beside me and defend my actions?"
"Oh, that one was okay. The speed limits don't really matter. That one was fine too; she was just joking, even though it sounded like a really mean insult."
The question becomes not, "What would Jesus do," but rather, "Would Jesus stand beside my decision here?" I think it's a very interesting one.
As a Christian, however, I know even though Jesus won't defend all my decisions, He will defend me when I stand on the day of judgment. My sins are washed away by His blood, and His sacrifice atoned for every action I've made against Him.
Thank God.
Peace.
Sunday, January 8, 2012
Another Vision
So, this is something that's been on my heart for a while, but it's been brought to the forefront of my thoughts today. I see divisions in the Body of Christ everywhere, and it sickens me. We proclaim unity in Christ, and yet we're all constantly fighting about one thing or another. God has been convicting me to heal the relationships in my own life for a while now, and working toward this has become a big passion of mine over the past few months.
In Lansing, there are a lot of churches, but few of them have anything to do with each other. Some churches have broken relationships with each other to the point of practically refusing to have anything to do with each other. This pains me. I want to see different church congregations and denominations start worshiping and working together. We may support the same para-church ministries, but that doesn't mean we will go out of our way to support those other churches themselves.
My least favorite part of it all, actually, is not the fact that few congregations have strong relationships with other congregations. The part that bugs me the most is that so few Christian leaders see it as something worth pursuing! It smacks of arrogance, really, to think that we don't need to support other members of the Body, even though their ministry focuses and theology are different. If one church could be supported by another church that had different (and maybe even disagreeing!) theology than them, what an example that would be, and how might that affect those people being supported by the other group!
I know Lansing isn't the only place that struggles with this issue. Any reader probably already has some examples in mind. Can we as a whole work toward reconciliation? God went out of His way, even sacrificing Himself on a cross, to reconcile our relationship with Him. Maybe as Christians we should start putting a higher priority on this.
Please, if you have relationships which need mending, work on them. We justify why we let this kind of thing happen, and thus allow Satan to widen the gap and tear the Body apart. Don't let these divisions continue. Seek God, seek forgiveness, and love others even through hard, awkward, unpleasant, and inconvenient circumstances.
Peace.
In Lansing, there are a lot of churches, but few of them have anything to do with each other. Some churches have broken relationships with each other to the point of practically refusing to have anything to do with each other. This pains me. I want to see different church congregations and denominations start worshiping and working together. We may support the same para-church ministries, but that doesn't mean we will go out of our way to support those other churches themselves.
My least favorite part of it all, actually, is not the fact that few congregations have strong relationships with other congregations. The part that bugs me the most is that so few Christian leaders see it as something worth pursuing! It smacks of arrogance, really, to think that we don't need to support other members of the Body, even though their ministry focuses and theology are different. If one church could be supported by another church that had different (and maybe even disagreeing!) theology than them, what an example that would be, and how might that affect those people being supported by the other group!
I know Lansing isn't the only place that struggles with this issue. Any reader probably already has some examples in mind. Can we as a whole work toward reconciliation? God went out of His way, even sacrificing Himself on a cross, to reconcile our relationship with Him. Maybe as Christians we should start putting a higher priority on this.
Please, if you have relationships which need mending, work on them. We justify why we let this kind of thing happen, and thus allow Satan to widen the gap and tear the Body apart. Don't let these divisions continue. Seek God, seek forgiveness, and love others even through hard, awkward, unpleasant, and inconvenient circumstances.
Peace.
Saturday, January 7, 2012
Stephen
So, I've been reading through the book of Acts lately. I've been asking God to show me how His less well-known disciples lived in those days, not just the Apostles, as their actions and lives are more widely known. I've never felt like much of a leader myself, so sometimes it's more difficult to identify with charismatic figures such as Paul or Peter. Through this study, I've noticed some interesting points in the stories.
First, and probably most obvious, is Acts 2:42-47. "And they devoted themselves to the apostles teaching...." This says the whole following passage is referring to those believers who weren't apostles. It's a beautiful picture of unity among the Body of Christ.
One of the more interesting story moments occurs during Saul's conversion in chapter nine. While Paul is having a vision of the Lord Jesus Christ on the road to Damascus, the men traveling with him were also having a spiritual experience. Verses seven and eight say, "The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one. Saul rose from the ground, and although his eyes were opened, he saw nothing. So they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus." The men traveling with Saul, on his way to persecute Christians, also heard the voice of Christ, and were very likely with him when Ananias laid hands on Saul, when his sight was restored, and he was filled with the Holy Spirit. Doubtless, these men were going to accompany Saul in his persecution of the Christians, or at least support him in some way, so what happened to them after all these events? Did they also come to know Christ as the Son of God? They're never mentioned again.
My favorite discovery in this study, however, has to be Stephen. He was the first Christian martyr, and many people look to his example of preaching the Word and loving his enemies as an inspiration. However, he was not an apostle, nor did he even hold an important leadership role in the early church. He was originally one of seven men chosen to make sure the widows were fed daily; in the apostles' own words, to "serve tables" (v.2, ESV). Yet in this lowly task, which the apostles didn't even have time for, Stephen outshone everyone else through his deep love for God and others. Verse 8-10 show the first actions Stephen makes immediately after he was chosen: "And Stephen, full of grace and power, was doing great wonders and signs among the people. Then some...rose up and disputed with Stephen. But they could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking." All that from some guy who was serving in what might have been the very lowest position in the early Christian church. Reading this was an inspiration to me, and I hope you can also be encouraged with it.
Peace.
First, and probably most obvious, is Acts 2:42-47. "And they devoted themselves to the apostles teaching...." This says the whole following passage is referring to those believers who weren't apostles. It's a beautiful picture of unity among the Body of Christ.
One of the more interesting story moments occurs during Saul's conversion in chapter nine. While Paul is having a vision of the Lord Jesus Christ on the road to Damascus, the men traveling with him were also having a spiritual experience. Verses seven and eight say, "The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one. Saul rose from the ground, and although his eyes were opened, he saw nothing. So they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus." The men traveling with Saul, on his way to persecute Christians, also heard the voice of Christ, and were very likely with him when Ananias laid hands on Saul, when his sight was restored, and he was filled with the Holy Spirit. Doubtless, these men were going to accompany Saul in his persecution of the Christians, or at least support him in some way, so what happened to them after all these events? Did they also come to know Christ as the Son of God? They're never mentioned again.
My favorite discovery in this study, however, has to be Stephen. He was the first Christian martyr, and many people look to his example of preaching the Word and loving his enemies as an inspiration. However, he was not an apostle, nor did he even hold an important leadership role in the early church. He was originally one of seven men chosen to make sure the widows were fed daily; in the apostles' own words, to "serve tables" (v.2, ESV). Yet in this lowly task, which the apostles didn't even have time for, Stephen outshone everyone else through his deep love for God and others. Verse 8-10 show the first actions Stephen makes immediately after he was chosen: "And Stephen, full of grace and power, was doing great wonders and signs among the people. Then some...rose up and disputed with Stephen. But they could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking." All that from some guy who was serving in what might have been the very lowest position in the early Christian church. Reading this was an inspiration to me, and I hope you can also be encouraged with it.
Peace.
Friday, January 6, 2012
Jackets and Jeans
So, I decided today that I was going to start fixing up my favorite plaid jacket. I've had it for years, and I've worn it through every season, even across the ocean and back. Let's just say it's very...full of character. I bought some needles and thread at Meijer the other day, and I've spent a good portion of the morning so far sewing it up and patching it with denim from old blue jeans. I've been wanting to start doing that sort of thing myself for a while; I'm pretty happy I found the motivation to actually get started on it. That jacket will have even more character when I'm done with it, haha!
One of my friends from SAU came up to me a couple weeks before the end of last semester and told me he had a dream where I gave him this jacket, and he felt honoured and really excited. My plan is to fix it up, maybe put another fun patch on it, wash it, and give it to him next time I visit the Arb. He doesn't really read blogs, so I think I'm safe saying it here.
During the aforementioned trip to Meijer, I had a couple of interesting thoughts. First, after I just had a cashier break a $20 bill for me, I thought, "I really am blessed to have money, a place where I can withdraw it from an ATM, and have bills broken so easily and close to home." Second, as I passed between a few racks of Blu-Ray movies and a large furniture section, I realised how ridiculous it is that these kinds of stores actually exist at all.
We take for granted every blessing God gives us.
Also, last night I finished setting up a wireless adapter and webcam/mic for my PC, so I can Skype people! If you want to chat sometime, this is my username: king.of.the.wild.frontier
Peace.
One of my friends from SAU came up to me a couple weeks before the end of last semester and told me he had a dream where I gave him this jacket, and he felt honoured and really excited. My plan is to fix it up, maybe put another fun patch on it, wash it, and give it to him next time I visit the Arb. He doesn't really read blogs, so I think I'm safe saying it here.
During the aforementioned trip to Meijer, I had a couple of interesting thoughts. First, after I just had a cashier break a $20 bill for me, I thought, "I really am blessed to have money, a place where I can withdraw it from an ATM, and have bills broken so easily and close to home." Second, as I passed between a few racks of Blu-Ray movies and a large furniture section, I realised how ridiculous it is that these kinds of stores actually exist at all.
We take for granted every blessing God gives us.
Also, last night I finished setting up a wireless adapter and webcam/mic for my PC, so I can Skype people! If you want to chat sometime, this is my username: king.of.the.wild.frontier
Peace.
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