Sometimes it is hard to stand firm in what you think you believe...
For a variety of reasons, we are pushed to and fro by different breezes.
People.
Desires.
Changes.
At times we even find ourselves standing in a single spot, but swaying back and forth because of instability. A strong wind rushes over us, causing imbalance. So what can we do to stand tall and strong? What can we do to help us remember the importance of a strong foundation, of strong roots?
January 29, 2011
January 23, 2011
JOY upon JOY upon JOY!
Today I found out that my father will be receiving a CCSVI treatment on February 14 in Brooklyn, New York. That's only approximately three weeks from now! This is such a wonderful answer to prayer. And it doesn't hurt that we thought it wouldn't happen for quite some time [estimates ranged between April and December of this year, I believe]. This doesn't mean that we should cease praying for the situation at hand, but it does mean that praise and thanksgiving are due unto God! I am so excited for my father. While he is a reserved and quiet man and may not show it readily on the outside, I am sure that he is also filled with feelings of joy and excitement. Wow, what a blessing this is... I cannot wait to see how the treatment benefits him. Definitely going home the weekend after he and mom come back from New York, that's all I've gotta say! JFALSKEURQONVZM - such great news!
January 22, 2011
Dance party, anyone?
While hanging out with someone last night, something was said about Michael Jackson. Thus [naturally], I've been listening to MJ all day. So... not too bad a day. :)
January 19, 2011
Burden
Oh, my heart.
How it aches.
23. January 2011 Edit:
This is not my burden.
The situation lies in the hands of our most gracious, merciful, and loving Lord God. Nothing is expected of me. Nothing is needed of me. The only thing desired of me is prayer. And that, I can handle with ease and consistency.
How it aches.
23. January 2011 Edit:
This is not my burden.
The situation lies in the hands of our most gracious, merciful, and loving Lord God. Nothing is expected of me. Nothing is needed of me. The only thing desired of me is prayer. And that, I can handle with ease and consistency.
January 18, 2011
Spring 2011!
Ahhh, a new semester.
Another fresh start.
I am glad to be back at school.
While I am not terribly excited for this semester, I'm sure it'll be good.
I have a totally sweet class schedule, which makes for a very happy Natalie.
No 8:00 AM class, for one thing... praise the Lord.
No Tuesday night class.
And I have both a Focused class and online class - breaks things up a bit.
I am enrolled in the following classes:
Pastoral Epistles [1 & 2 Timothy and Titus]
Romans
Apologetics
History of Missions
Issues in Philosophy
Cross-Cultural Methods & Strategies
And everybody's favorite - SALT:301 [Senior Bible Seminar/Assessment]
Faaantastic.
Another fresh start.
I am glad to be back at school.
While I am not terribly excited for this semester, I'm sure it'll be good.
I have a totally sweet class schedule, which makes for a very happy Natalie.
No 8:00 AM class, for one thing... praise the Lord.
No Tuesday night class.
And I have both a Focused class and online class - breaks things up a bit.
I am enrolled in the following classes:
Pastoral Epistles [1 & 2 Timothy and Titus]
Romans
Apologetics
History of Missions
Issues in Philosophy
Cross-Cultural Methods & Strategies
And everybody's favorite - SALT:301 [Senior Bible Seminar/Assessment]
Faaantastic.
January 17, 2011
Knots
It intrigues me to think that something can change so drastically in a matter of minutes. Seconds, even, in some cases.
January 15, 2011
Gears
Oh, to know how others tick and tock and click and buzz and whirl on the inside. It is a most fascinating world that we live in. Everyone is different. Different and wonderful, different and terrible. But different is good, no matter how you look at it.
January 12, 2011
Lone wolf. Awww yeah.
It is currently midnight:36.
Wednesday, January 12, 2011.
I am sitting in the family room of my parents' house.
It is creepy.
I am wearing a zebra-print Snuggie over my pajamas.
It is warm.
I am drinking a homemade orange-banana-pineapple smoothie.
It is delicious.
I am listening to a new album I bought on iTunes.
It is excellent.
[Josh White's Achor... and no, that is not misspelled.]
POP QUIZ!
For the past six hours or so, what have I been doing?
A) Watching the IHOP-KC prayer room online!
B) Singing!
C) Praying!
D) Writing!
E) Reading!
F) Thinking!
G) None of the above!
H) All of the above!
If you guessed "All of the above!" then you are correct!
Now, I haven't been doing all of those at once... I mean, I'm a multi-tasker, but I'm not a multi-tasking machine or anything. It's all sort of flowed together. Let me tell you: the whole evening's been a blur! A very slow-moving blur... but a blur nonetheless.
In all honesty, I couldn't think of a better way to spend a cold night all by myself in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Well. I do suppose a crackling fire would be a nice addition...
Wednesday, January 12, 2011.
I am sitting in the family room of my parents' house.
It is creepy.
I am wearing a zebra-print Snuggie over my pajamas.
It is warm.
I am drinking a homemade orange-banana-pineapple smoothie.
It is delicious.
I am listening to a new album I bought on iTunes.
It is excellent.
[Josh White's Achor... and no, that is not misspelled.]
POP QUIZ!
For the past six hours or so, what have I been doing?
A) Watching the IHOP-KC prayer room online!
B) Singing!
C) Praying!
D) Writing!
E) Reading!
F) Thinking!
G) None of the above!
H) All of the above!
If you guessed "All of the above!" then you are correct!
Now, I haven't been doing all of those at once... I mean, I'm a multi-tasker, but I'm not a multi-tasking machine or anything. It's all sort of flowed together. Let me tell you: the whole evening's been a blur! A very slow-moving blur... but a blur nonetheless.
In all honesty, I couldn't think of a better way to spend a cold night all by myself in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Well. I do suppose a crackling fire would be a nice addition...
January 7, 2011
Investigation
Saint Augustine's Confessions
Book I
5
'Who will grant me to rest content in you? To whom shall I turn for the gift of your coming into my heart and filling it to the brim, so that I may forget all the wrong I have done and embrace you alone, my only source of good?
Why do you mean so much to me? Help me to find words to explain. Why do I mean so much to you, that you should command me to love you? And if I fail to love you, you are angry and threaten me with great sorrow, as if not to love you were not sorrow enough in itself. Have pity on me and help me, O Lord my God. Tell me why you mean so much to me. Whisper in my ear, I am here to save you.[1] Speak so that I may hear your words. My heart has ears ready to listen to you, Lord. Open them wide and whisper in my heart, I am here to save you. I shall hear your voice and make haste to clasp you to myself. Do not hide your face away from me, for I would gladly meet my death to see it, since not to see it would be death indeed.
My soul is like a house, small for you to enter, but I pray you to enlarge it. It is in ruins, but I ask you to remake it. It contains much that you will not be pleased to see: this I know and do not hide. But who is to rid it of these things? There is no one but you to whom I can say: if I have sinned unwillingly do you absolve me. Keep me ever your own servant, far from pride.[2] I trust, and trusting I find words to utter.[3] Lord, you know that this is true. For have I not made my transgression known to you? Did you not remit the guilt of my sin?[4] I do not wrangle with you for judgment[5], for you are Truth itself, and I have no wish to delude myself, for fear that my malice should be self-betrayed.[6] No, I do not wrangle with you, for, if you, Lord, will keep record of our iniquities, Master, who has strength to bear it?[7]'
[1] Psalm 35:3
[2] Psalm 19:12,13
[3] Psalm 116:10
[4] Psalm 32:5
[5] See Jeremiah 2:29
[6] See Psalm 27:12
[7] Psalm 130:3
Book I
5
'Who will grant me to rest content in you? To whom shall I turn for the gift of your coming into my heart and filling it to the brim, so that I may forget all the wrong I have done and embrace you alone, my only source of good?
Why do you mean so much to me? Help me to find words to explain. Why do I mean so much to you, that you should command me to love you? And if I fail to love you, you are angry and threaten me with great sorrow, as if not to love you were not sorrow enough in itself. Have pity on me and help me, O Lord my God. Tell me why you mean so much to me. Whisper in my ear, I am here to save you.[1] Speak so that I may hear your words. My heart has ears ready to listen to you, Lord. Open them wide and whisper in my heart, I am here to save you. I shall hear your voice and make haste to clasp you to myself. Do not hide your face away from me, for I would gladly meet my death to see it, since not to see it would be death indeed.
My soul is like a house, small for you to enter, but I pray you to enlarge it. It is in ruins, but I ask you to remake it. It contains much that you will not be pleased to see: this I know and do not hide. But who is to rid it of these things? There is no one but you to whom I can say: if I have sinned unwillingly do you absolve me. Keep me ever your own servant, far from pride.[2] I trust, and trusting I find words to utter.[3] Lord, you know that this is true. For have I not made my transgression known to you? Did you not remit the guilt of my sin?[4] I do not wrangle with you for judgment[5], for you are Truth itself, and I have no wish to delude myself, for fear that my malice should be self-betrayed.[6] No, I do not wrangle with you, for, if you, Lord, will keep record of our iniquities, Master, who has strength to bear it?[7]'
[1] Psalm 35:3
[2] Psalm 19:12,13
[3] Psalm 116:10
[4] Psalm 32:5
[5] See Jeremiah 2:29
[6] See Psalm 27:12
[7] Psalm 130:3
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)