Thankful for the Word “Yet”.

For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Yet God, with undeserved kindness, declares that we are righteous. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins.

-Romans 3:23-24.

When you believed.

In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.

-Ephesians 1:11-14

The Future

(Surprise! I haven’t forgotten about this blog.)

This is just sometime I’ve been contemplating for a number of years now.

I know that many people certainly do get married, but why do we all assume that we will one day have a spouse? That there is a definite Future, and that Future includes A Wife or A Husband?

I find this especially true in the church. People just assume that one day they’ll stand before the congregation to declare their undying, unconditional love or they get very “holy” in saying how they’ve conquered temptation and are saving themselves for The One who will undoubtedly join them at the altar.

I think I’ve met only one or two people who have ever seriously considered that they might be called to be “single” for the rest of their lives….and of the two, only one was almost okay with it  (that’s some major trust and faith right there!, haha). One thing I know for sure is that there are facets of love and of God that are only found through marriage…and others that are only found through remaining single (what’s up Peter). And I think there is indeed a difference in assuming that you’ll be married vs. hoping you’re called to marriage.

Just something to think about. (*knocks on wood and prays that I’m NOT called to be single*)

I cannot.

WAIT to write again.

Blessing in Disguise?…

I definitely, definitely should not be writing here with deadlines looming in the very near future, but I can’t help it.

I’ll be graduating in less than a month and my future is unclear. With a tentative long term plan in place, my short term — what am I doing this summer? — is still extremely hazy. But even despite this, something in my belly is growing…and it’s not anxiousness. It’s excitement. I can’t wait to have at least some time while job hunting to unwind, read some great books, write again and maybe even pick up a paintbrush for the first time in years. It’s about time I fill up all those journals and notebooks I have laying around with memories while I still have them. And hopefully I’ll write more in here, although something about pen and paper calms me more than a blog ever can…

Hopefully God will put a job in my near future though.

Is a Warrior.

The Lord is my strength and my song;
he has given me victory.
This is my God, and I will praise him—
my father’s God, and I will exalt him!
The Lord is a warrior;
Yahweh is his name!

-Exodus 15:2-3

These verses come from a brief offering sermon today by one of my pastors at Morning Star New York. They really spoke to me.

A Pseudo New Year’s Day Post and Apologies

I had temporarily abandoned the blogging world due to things called Life and Finals. Alas, I am finally taking a breather and posting for once in nearly 2.5 months!

I sort of hate new year’s resolution posts, but I remembered I had posted one last year and am looking back on it. These were my new year’s resolutions of 2009:
-Be unapologetically honest (aka stop being so damn passive-aggressive!).
-Learn to take criticism better.
-Gain wisdom.
-Be joyful, but not naive.
-Be more vulnerable (aka be more trusting).
-Stop overanalyzing and learn to jump blindly.
-Talk less, do more.

So how’d I do? I’d say I at least touched on all of them a bit. Little did I know what I was going to face during the year of 2009. It has been a long year, indeed. I’ve definitely grown in the past year… and I already feel old.

Yet 2010 has many things in store, some of which are already known… like graduating from college (YIKES!) and applying to dental school. These already scare the crap out of me, but hopefully 2010 will be another enjoyable learning experience.

So will I have resolutions for 2010? As of yet, I’m still working on fully unwinding / processing from Urbana 2009 (www.urbana09.org) so those may come later (no promises). But for now, happy 2010 and I hope everyone has a great new year!

Disconnected.

I need You.

I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.
-Ezekiel 36:26

Unfading Beauty

Don’t be concerned about the outward beauty of fancy hairstyles, expensive jewelry, or beautiful clothes. You should clothe yourselves instead with the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God.

-1 Peter 3:3-4

(I know I haven’t posted in forever, but I haven’t abandoned wordpress!)

Chosen and Not Rejected.

“I took you from the ends of the earth,
from its farthest corners I called you.
I said, ‘You are my servant’;
I have chosen you and have not rejected you.

So do not fear, for I am with you;
do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

For I am the LORD, your God,
who takes hold of your right hand
and says to you, Do not fear;
I will help you.”

-Isaiah 41:9-10, 13