10 Days

It's almost Christmas!

I've already made a batch of my family's traditional Christmas cookie and am handing them out to spread some holiday cheer.

A student with a passion for photography took some pictures of me for my Christmas card this afternoon, so thankful it wasn't raining. I'm trying to go funny this year, hopefully people will think they are. If you're not sure you're on my Christmas card list please let me know because I'd love to send you one.

My goal has been to work on the New Testament Survey class that I am taking this week . . .I am soooo behind. So much so that I was supposed to take the final by Dec 1st but I've only listened to 2 of the 20 lectures - oops! There is good reason for this, but now that I have time I need to get cracking. Thankfully I love the textbook! :)

So, now I'm off to do some reading for that class and then I'm off to a movie, The Blindside, with a friend from church - I was given 2 free tickets so it's a special treat!

Hope you're having a good week!

Heavy heart. . .

Hum - great day, rough evening. Being reminded that things aren't the way they were supposed to be. I'm sure everyone can agree that not all is well in the world - both on the large scale, around me locally, and in my own heart.

I'm so thankful for Jesus, the steadfastness of His eternally perfect character, and the depth of His sacrificial love.

So after a good cry (nothing new :)), what'd I do - sent a little email to thank some of the guy friends in my life for pursuing holiness (I took these guys friends and their consistency of character for granted in college), put on some Shawn McDonald and started talking to God while baking. There's something about using simple ingredients to make something beautiful and delicious as a blessing for others that soothes my soul and mind so that I can converse with my Maker.

Oh, and just so you don't worry, my cyber friends, nothing bad happened to me, I was just hit afresh with depravity. And then hit afresh with God's gracious restoration taking place through Christ in my heart, locally, and on the large scale. Looking forward to the day of completion. . .

A Recipe!

Though no one asked for it I just feel like I'm withholding if I don't pass on this amazingly easy and rich recipe for Molten (think volcano) Chocolate Cakes. . .

http://thepioneerwoman.com/tasty-kitchen/recipes/desserts/molten-chocolate-cake/

Ok, off to fill out 4 summer project reference forms for 4 lovely ladies - they're due today!

And then cookie decorating and eating, of course, at the Pi Phi sorority house. Joy joy joy!

I Believe.

I'm enjoying Pandora a lot right now, check it out - it's an online (free!) radio that lets you create your own stations and find new songs that are similar to the ones you already like. So great!

My Christmas station just introduced me to a song I've never heard before. It's called "I Believe" by Natalie Grant (she's like the Celine Dion of Christian music, incredible voice) and the lyrics are powerful.

May we not be desensitized this Christmas season, or ever, with the wonder, awe, and mysterious beauty of the birth, life, death, and resurrection of God the Son, Emmanuel. I am forever grateful!

In a land far away
Time stood still
Long ago
There were shepherds in fields
Or at least this is how
The story goes
The story goes
Woman withchild
And a man with no room
Born in a manger
For telling it too
This is how
The story goes
But it is more than a fable
And it’s more than a fairytale
And more than my mind can conceive

I believe
The Wiseman saw
The baby born the angels called the son of God Heaven’s child
The great I am
Born to take away my sins through nailed pierced hands
Emmanuel has come

I believe
Two thousand years
Still the story lives on
God’s gift to us Sent to earth Wrapped in flesh
His only son
His only son
And the heartbeat of heaven
Confounded our wisdom
But it’s still the simple truth
That sets me free

I believe
The Wiseman saw
The baby born that the angels called the son of God Heaven’s child
The great I am Born to take away my sins through nailed pierced hands
Emmanuel has come

And I believe
Precious child How can it be that God’s great plan
For his story Would send you to
The lonely tree
That you would come
For one like me

I believe In a cross
I believe he came For one, he came for all Heavens child became a plan
Gave his life for me In spite of all
I am
I believe
I believe
Oh I believe
Christmas lives in me
I believe

If you'd like to watch/listen check it out here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eugGnJRKg38 Oh technology!

Cold!

Brr! Granted, it's not snowing here - I do find it to be cold. . .too cold for this sunshine girl!

Speaking of cold, I've been on the brink of a cold for about a week now - I almost wish it would just come and then leave quickly. I've been eating lots of tangerines, I got a mesh bag full of them for $2 something at Trader Joe's and they're so tasty!

What a week - jam packed because it was the last official week with students. . .crazy. In some ways this semester has been so long, in other ways it's gone by so quickly. God is good. Pray for the students as they head into finals, would they be set apart in how they handle the stress - would their friends notice and see Christ in them.

Lots of baking ahead - it's the season. . .here's what's on the radar for the coming days, let me know if you want me to post a recipe for any of these delicacies:
- oatmeal carmalitas for Sunday morning at church
- cornbread for Sunday evening church Christmas party
- pasta carbonara and molton chocolate cakes for a friend's birthday dinner
- graham cracker gingerbread house decorating for student leaders
- rainbow cookies (really, red, white, and green - a holiday fav)
- sugar cookies in holiday shapes for a cookie decorating/eating party for the next Greek gathering on Thurs

Well, I'm off to the Pleasanton Farmer's Market - to visit with my brother and pick up a Dutch costume and treats that he's brought with him for a Dutch culture lesson I'm going to be doing for 2nd graders in a friend's classroom on Friday. Oh, and speaking of which - Happy Sinterklaas!!! Here are some pictures of my Christmas decor in honor of this fun holiday:

Whiter Than Snow

That's the name of a book (by Paul David Tripp) that I'm going through slowly, each chapter is a short meditation on sin and mercy and is somehow connected to Psalm 51. Really good stuff - hitting home with perfect timing. . .God gets the credit for that. In all honesty this past week was crummy - and not because anything bad happened. I just wasn't feeling it if that makes any sense. I'm not going to write it all out here, but what I will write out is the 11th chapter of this book. The Lord used it to pull me out of crummyness - I hope these words minister to you too:

I am a mass of contradictions. I don't want to be but I am.
I preach a gospel of peace, but my life isn't always driven by peace.
I talk about a Jesus who alone can fully satisfy the soul, but I am often not satisfied.
I celebrate a theology of amazing grace, but I often react in ungrace.
And if I rest in God's control, why do I seek it for myself?
Even in moments when I think I am prepared, I end up doing what I didn't want to do.
Irritation
Impatience
Envy
Discontent
Wrong talk
Anger
Self-focus
Are not the fruits of the new life, are not the way of grace.
So there is this law operating inside of me.
When I step out with a desire to do good, evil follows me wherever I go.
There is this war that rages inside of me, between a desire for good and sin that is anything but good.
There are times when I feel like a prisoner held against my will.
I didn't plan to be mad in the grocery store, but that guy made me mad.
I didn't plan to be discontent, but it just enveloped me in the quietness of the car.
That discussion wasn't supposed to degenerate into an argument but it did.
I am thankful for God's grace, but there's daily evidence that I'm still in need of help.
That battle inside me cannot be solved by
Theologies
Strategies
Principles
Techniques
Plans
Preparation
Helpful hints
Outlines.
I have been humbled by the war I cannot win.
I have been grieved by the desires I cannot conquer.
I have been confronted by the actions I cannot excuse.
And I have come to confess that what I really need is rescue.
So, have mercy on me, O God,
According to your unfailing love
According to your great compassion
Blot out my transgressions.
Wash away all my iniquity
And cleanse me from my sin.
For I know my transgressions
And my sin is always before me.
I embrace the rescue that could only be found in You.
Thanks be to God - through Jesus Christ our Lord!

Amen. Here's to a new week with new mercies from a gracious Savior!

The Double Tree

This is where I spent the majority of last week because of conferences. Such a great hotel! The best part is definitely the cookie they give you when you check in. It comes out of a warming drawer and is placed in a little brown baggie. It's the perfect combo of slightly crispy on the outside but definitely soft and chewy on the inside. Lots of chocolate chips, walnuts, and other all natural ingredients make it oh-so tasty. And oh-so dangerous upon discovering that the front desk staff will give you another 9 out of the 10 times you ask. . .regardless of how many times you ask. Once I approached the desk and the man asked ME if I wanted a cookie, now that's great service when you don't even have to ask! So when I got home I decided I would try to find the recipe. . .well, not sure if I found the real one but I found one posted by someone who's mom worked at the Double Tree so supposedly it's legit.(?). Having just baked them and completed a thorough taste test I will say that they are delicious and very similar, if not identical, to the real deal. Exciting!

So here you go my friends. . .

Double Tree's Chocolate Chip Cookies:

INGREDIENTS

½ c rolled oats
2¼ c all purpose flour
1½ t baking soda
1 t salt
¼ t cinnamon
1 c butter, softened
¾ c brown sugar, packed
¾ c granulated sugar
1½ t vanilla
½ t lemon juice
2 eggs
3 c semi-sweet, chocolate chips
1½ c chopped walnuts

INSTRUCTIONS

Grind oats in a food processor or blender until fine. Combine the ground oats with the flour, baking soda, salt and cinnamon in a medium bowl.

Cream together the butter, sugars, vanilla, and lemon juice in another medium bowl with an electric mixer. Add the eggs and mix until smooth. Stir the dry mixture into the wet mixture and blend well. Add the chocolate chips and nuts to the dough and mix by hand until ingredients are well blended.

For the best results, chill the dough overnight in the refrigerator before baking the cookies.

Spoon rounded 1/4 cup portions onto an ungreased cookie sheet. Place the scoops about 2 inches apart. Bake in a 350°F oven for 16-18 minutes or until cookies are light brown and soft in the middle. Store in a sealed container when cool to keep soft.

my notes:
- the lemon and cinnamon are unexpected, subtle but definitely fun additions
- my mom didn't have butter so I used margarine, it works but real butter is always best
- I used 2 cups chocolate chips and about 1 cup chopped bakers chocolate, I recommend doing so - the more chocolate in different forms in every bite the better

Happy Baking!

Books

You may or may not know this but I like books and reading, but more the thought of books and reading really. I have found this to be true especially on staff with Campus Crusade because I'm often being recommended amazing books and am often enticed (mostly by me) to buy these amazing books at conferences and via Amazon's super cheap used books option. Let's just say I could use I little more self control in this area. I haven't counted but I'd say I have at least (probably more) 10 books that I've started - and have the greatest intentions of finishing - but just haven't. . .yet. The key word here, I hope, is YET! I lack the discipline and patience it takes to actually finish a book before jumping to the next one. . .so we're working on that right now. I started a book called "God as He Longs for You to See Him" by Chip (such a funny name, is it short for something - Chipopher, Chiphew, Chipothan?) Ingram a while back and it's great! Here's a quote in the chapter about the sovereignty of God , a series of questions really, that got me thinking:

"Is there anything in your life that you have not submitted to the sovereign Lord? Does he hold the same place in your heart that he holds in heaven and in the universe - and that he'll hold forever? Is there any barrier between you and the King? Have you surrendered your time? Your future? Your relationships? Your money? Your will? What God wants from you is a living sacrifice."

I know these questions really challenged me - and the last part really aligned with what I had just been talking to a friend about. It dawned on me in a fresh way that we are called to be LIVING sacrifices (Romans 12), I just love that in contrast to the animal sacrifices that were commanded under the old covenant. Obviously to sacrifice an animal would mean to kill it - but when God asks us to be a sacrifice to Him we are alive in the fullest sense, both physically and most importantly spiritually. A living sacrifice is much more glorifying to God then a dead animal sacrifice - and is more pleasant for me too!

I am so thankful that I serve a God who is sovereign over all - He's all powerful, all knowing, and completely and perfecting in control - has been, is, and will always be. I am thankful that, in remembering this, offering my life as a living sacrifice even when the unknowns constantly surround me can be a joy and an honor. I am thankful for books written by godly people that help paint a clearer picture of who God is and how I am to respond in light of Him. Submission, surrender, sacrifice are possible, through the power of Christ in me, only because I live to serve a Sovereign Savior!

Stay tuned for another quote. . .and Happy Thanksgiving!

The new do:

Here it is! What do you think? If you look closely you can see the back of the cut in the mirror behind me, it's super short! The cool story behind this is that I tried to get my haircut by Anita a few weeks ago but she didn't show up. She felt bad about this and ended up cutting AND highlighting (!!) my hair for free this past week. As silly as it sounds I really do think this was a special treat from the Lord, getting my hair dyed at a salon (as opposed to the $7 box from Longs) is not something that fits well into my budget. Thanks Lord! If you live in the SLO area and want to get a great cut (and dye!) let me know and I'll pass on her info.

At the Crossroads conference this weekend I led a discussion group of juniors and seniors from Cal Poly SLO, UC Santa Barbara, and Sac State. Each of these girls are called by the Lord to STINT (Short Term International) with Campus Crusade in the next year or 2 - such an honor to be a part of their process. I just love seeing lost students turn into Christ-centered laborers for a lifetime! Off to write this month's newsletter, if you'd like to get it please let me know!

Cherish: to hold dear

Here's a thought I've been mulling over the past couple of days:

"What if evangelism was simply cherishing Jesus in natural ways before others".

Let me explain. I just got back from our Regional Staff Conference, what a wonderful time of refreshment, encouragement, community, and growth. Doug Polluck was one of our speakers and he really challenged our thinking in terms of why and how to tell others about Jesus.

Doug used the analogy of a newly married couple. The husband goes off to a bar to hang out with some old friends, the wedding ring goes off too. The wife is worried about her husband and goes to the bar to find him without his wedding ring on. How would you feel if you were the wife?

After a bit the word that came to mind was "hurt". Others might say angry but I say hurt. I would be so hurt to know that my husband didn't cherish me enough to display his love for me at all times and in all situations. It would hurt me so deeply to realize that he didn't hold me as dear as I held him.

This is how it is with me and the Lord. When I began a relationship with God I became the "bride of Christ". I would forever be His and He would forever be mine. Though this is true, I am so quick to take the wedding ring off, choosing not to cherish Jesus in natural ways before others. Instead I often choose to ignore or deny His presence, love, and grace toward me around others (think Peter's denial of Christ in John 18). Doing so mars the name of my Savior. And even more then I could ever know this "hurts" the love of my life. The hurt I would feel because of my husband's actions pales in comparison to the hurt Jesus feels when I don't openly and authentically hold Him dear in all ways always.

To those of you, whether you are a Christian or not, who have been around me when I've taken the wedding ring off, when I've not cherished Jesus in natural ways around you, I sincerely ask for your forgiveness. How I want to become a more loving bride, a more accurate representation and ambassador of my Redeemer.

When wedding rings are kept on, when Christians begin to choose to truly cherish Christ as He ought to be cherished through our thoughts, actions, and words I am convinced that many more will desire to know more about such a relationship with a living Savior, the one and only perfect Groom. Would I cherish Him as He cherishes me!

Another Pumpkin Recipe!

I just can't resist posting another great pumpkin recipe (scroll down to older posts for things like pumpkin gnocchi and pumpkin muffins) - these were a hit at a Greek gathering I put together last week. . .I'm pretty sure you'll think they're great (and easy!) too, thanks Tessa for passing this recipe on to me:

Pumpkin Cookies with Maple Frosting

1 C butter
1/2 C brown sugar
1/2 C white sugar
1 C canned pumpkin
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla
2 C flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp salt

Cream sugar and butter. Add pumpkin, egg and vanilla. Add remaining ingredients. Drop spoonfuls onto non-greased cookie sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes.

Frosting:

Boil 3 Tbsp butter and 1/2 C brown sugar until mostly smooth (Approx. 2 to 3 minutes) Cool and add 1/4 C milk and 2 C powdered sugar or until desired consistency and whip with hand mixer until smooth. Spread onto cookies.

(I only made half the frosting recipe and it was still enough for all of the cookies - but making the whole recipe would allow you to be more generous)

In other news:
- I ran my first 5K with a bunch of our Cru students this morning. My goal was to run (err. . .jog) the whole thing and I did! The scenery was gorgeous, picture a beautiful sunny morning along the San Francisco coast, super close to the Golden Gate Bridge. Ah, I love California - always have, always will.
- Go Bears! The beat UofA yesterday - on to Stanford (who beat USC!), the "big game", next weekend - it's on Stanford's turf this year. . .we'll see how it goes. I have hope!
- tomorrow night I am going to a clothing exchange party - all the girls bring clothes and jewelry they don't want anymore and then we trade with each other. Whatever isn't claimed is taken to the Goodwill. . .should be fun! After my amazing boots-find at a consignment shop a few weeks ago (I got gently used brown suede boots originally from Anthropology for 30 bucks!!) I'm getting more into this kind of thing.
- Not sure if I'll be posting again this week, I'm off to a couple of work conferences Tues-Sun in Anaheim, looking forward to it!

Okay, I think that's it. . .have a grace-filled and joyful week!

Trying not to go deep

And now for something a little less, ok - a lot less, deep. . .it's time for a haircut!

I'm not one to find a picture I say "make me look like that" BUT I found these pictures while purusing an amazing site (www.thepioneerwoman,com) and I wouldn't mind my hair looking like this:




Did the back catch you by surprise? It did me, but it was a pleasant surprise if you want my opinion. What's yours? I'm a short hair girl, there's no escaping it. I've been trying to grow my hair out since the Spring but my hair just isn't going for it. It's better to just embrace what it is then wish that it was different - ok, whoa, I said I wasn't going to go deep and here I go making a post about an upcoming haircut go deep. Well, you have til Tuesday at 4 to convince me to go big or go home!

Tomorrow's the first Greek gathering for Cal students - I can't believe the time has come. Would love your prayers!
I'm bringing desserts - torn on what to make, so many great options.
But first a bunch of students and I are exploring Cal State East Bay, seeing what God's up to and if we can be used by Him for a few hours there.
It's cold at night, I'm not a fan - but I am a fan of my new long chunky cardigan from Old Navy.

Why you keep reading this thing I don't know but thanks for your time! :)

Hum. . .

Who am I, what am I doing, and where am I headed - ah, big questions tonight.

I have a love/hate (well, that's a strong word) relationship with how there are both answers and unknowns, requiring a life of faith, to these questions. . .

Thanks to my relationship with God (by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone) I know who I am (a child of God - wow, it's even just incredible to type those words), what I'm doing (living to glorify God), and where I'm headed (an eternity with God, my home is not on earth but in Heaven).

And yet the unknowns of who I'm becoming as well as the circumstances of my present and future leave me needing to depend on Jesus more and more. I so don't have life figured out and often feel torn in so many directions. Take Saturday - I went from driving out in country fields to bring a burrito lunch to my farmer little brother (it's wheat planting time before the rain comes!) to taking the train into the city to go to the San Francisco Symphony with my mom. What a day of diverse realities.

That's just a small example of the daily reality of not seeing the full picture - am I country girl or a city girl? Will I be in Berkeley for a long time or a short time? Will I be a part of launching a Greek movement or will I move to Holland? Will I get married, and if so when and to whom? What will life look like next year, and the year after that? And the questions go on and on. Perhaps the full picture includes a little of all of the above, or not, but likely so much more.

It's just hard to wait - it's not in our nature to wait. It's in my nature to forge ahead, thinking that I'm the one in control - forgetting that God is really the only one who sees the full picture. . .ah, when I remember this it just makes sense to actively wait on Him, seeking His direction for this life He has entrusted me with.

I just need to be reminded that the most important pieces are already in place, I'm His child, living for His glory, with an eternally secure outcome - and I did absolutely nothing to bring this all about. This brings hope, peace, and a renewed desire to trust in Him regardless of how long these questions go unanswered.

November?

Wow, it sure feels like summer and I'm 100% OK with that!

This weekend was a full one to say the least. Went to a great Bay Area Campus Crusade staff dinner - it was so good to see some of my friends who intern with Crusade in the city (this is what we call San Francisco). The host's 9 year old son has a blog explaining tricks you can do on a computer game and he's had 5,000 hits, on one day 300 people (kids, likely) visited his blog. Wow - things sure have change, I was busy playing "chutes and ladders" when I was his age!

Saturday morning some students and I served breakfast to homeless and low-income people in West Oakland, via an awesome organization called "World Impact". I've been wrestling with what it looks like to combine compassionate service with passionate proclamation of the Gospel, well - no need to reinvent the wheel, what a blessing it was to see this in action. Plus, the director is this super cool Dutch man with a huge beard and wooden shoes, gotta love that. I'm excited to go back!

I got to "skype" with a friend and former student that I mentored in SLO who is now serving the Lord full-time in El Salvador. Oh, technology - so incredible to catch up and get to pray for each other in this way. FInally finished reading "Let the Nations be Glad" (not going to lie, started it in college - have read other books in between, feels so good to have finally made it to the last page!) by John Piper. Talking with Carolyn and wrapping up this book is such a sweet reminder that God is doing incredible things worldwide to draw people to Himself.

Halloween party with Cru, a great safe and fun option for students! The theme was "You are What you Eat" - everyone was so creative! The costumes had to be something food related, I dressed up as Julia Child. She often wore pearls when she cooked, so I put on my grandma's pearls - definitely a sentimental moment because at this very time last year I was in Holland for her funeral. Here I am with one of my students, the Morton Salt girl:

And here are the costume contest winners. . .best all around: the "tapatio hot sauce man", most creative: Trader Joe, healthiest: jolly green giant, sweetest: Dots, most mysterious: refried beans. So fun!


Sunday was full too. A highlight was getting to go home with a student to meet her family and go to a young adults evening church service. She became a Christian a couple of weeks before Spring Semester ended and it was such an answer to prayer that she got connected with Menlo Park Pres, it was so fun to be able to go there with her yesterday - definitely a special evening. She's a Greek student here and it's such a blessing to be a part of her life!

Ok, that's it - off to do a little baking (http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2009/07/individual-raspberry-cobblers/) and then bedtime! How are you my reader? What is something you're looking forward to this week?

1,000

Yep, that's how many miles I drove this weekend. . .good thing I got an oil change, though over-due, before I left! Here are a couple of random/fun experiences I had:
- getting my feet videotaped as I ran on a treadmill to see if I prorate/prominade/uh. . .I can't remember the right word. . .but it's basically checking to see whether your feet roll in, out, or stay upright when you run and then you have to get a certain shoe based on that. Really, I did all this just to hang out with a friend who was working at a running shoe store. . .but the info comes in handy as I prepare to run my first 5K with a bunch of our students in a few weeks!
- going to a highschool homecoming football game. . .ah, sometimes I feel like I'm just out of highschool but I was definitely reminded that this is not the case. Speaking of football, Go Bears! Ah - I'm loving college football more and more, especially when Cal does well!
- so enjoyed seeing dorm friends at Jenelle and Dan's wedding, such a great time. They served Mexican food, a great change of pace from the usual "wedding food". I love reconnecting with people. . .and watching old people's dance moves - ha!

- stayed the night with a college friend. . .and she gave me this GREAT set of dishes she didn't want, I still can't believe she doesn't want them - they're so cute, thanks Cari!

- I had a couple friends from church over for lunch and a prayer time this afternoon, we had falafel in pita bread, with humus and veggies. . .a very easy and fun meal - you can get the falafel at Costco, the pita bread at Trader Joe's.

- I zoomed in on the silverware with this last picture because I wanted to show you something I really treasure - I recently inherited my grandparents silver silverware and I love using it. Sadly the knife part of the set is missing. . .do I have any Dutch relatives reading this who might know where that is? :) My Oma passed away a year ago, so it's been a year since I've been to Holland, I am really itching to go again soon - I really love that country!

- but, if I was in Holland right now I wouldn't be enjoying this great weather. . .wish it could go on forever! Had dinner tonight at my old pastor's place in Alameda, it was such a sweet time with that family - we sat around the fire and roasted marshmellows, felt like we were camping in the middle of the city, loved it!
- ok, that's it for now, hope you enjoyed the randomness. . .the weekend consisted of so much more but that's all you get for now!

A great big slice of. . .

humble pie.

Whatever that really is I don't know - but that's definitely what the Lord has me eating right now. I am being humbled in so many ways, due both to my sin and the circumstances around me. This morning I am refreshed to remember that God gives grace to the humble (Proverbs 3:34, and then quoted in James 4 and 1 Peter 5). Especially in terms of my sin, but even in terms of my circumstance, I do not deserve this grace that God lavishes on me - it certainly is an undeserved gift but I am sooooo thankful for it. Also, when I remember the incredible humility of my Savior then I am willing to endure as much humbling as is necessary for me to become more like Him.

In other news, God in answering prayers in unique ways. Met with a friend Monday morning to pray and told her I was wasting too much time on the internet (namely, facebook), trying to create a virtual community rather then pursuing real face-to-face communion with the Lord and others. Anyways, so she prayed for me and when I got home later in the day I found out that my internet is broken and it might take some time to get it repaired - so for now this is a nonissue and a sweet answer to prayer. Does make life a little more complicated (I am sitting at a coffee shop doing work) but also helps to me to be more efficient the times when I do have internet access. . .as well as more efficient the times that I don't have internet access. Like last night, I enjoyed being crafty as I hand-stamped some thank you cards and I did my dishes too.

It's a busy week and then off to a wedding in southern California this weekend, looking forward to seeing lots of friends there and on route as well. Thanks for reading my ramblings - hope you're enjoying the Lord and what He's up to in you and around you!

What a week

Ah, it's Friday and that feels good!

A little verbal processing with my mom helped me figure out why this week felt particularly crazy. . .last week included no preparation time for this week because I was gearing up for Fall Retreat. Then, Fall Retreat happened and I took the day off on Monday since I worked through the weekend. But, since I did this (which I don't regret!) Tues, Wed, and Thurs were a tad overwhelming because I needed to prep for everything last minute and I didn't feel like I was wearing any of the 15 hats I wear well. On top of that I spoke at our weekly meeting last night - which also takes a good deal of prep time that I didn't have/make time for til the day of. Ah - it was that kind of week.

BUT, here I sit - at a great (huge) bakery/deli called Specialties an hour from Berkeley. It's like Panera for those of you who are familiar. I just had a delicious chocolate chip cookie, still warm and I'm sipping on some iced tea. Doing some work here for a few hours (it's newsletter time - if you don't get it and want it let me know!) and then hanging out with a college friend for the evening, she's a teacher and I'm sure in need of some sweet relaxation as well - it'll be fun to do so together!

I've been wanting to share this verse with you for a while - I just LOVE how much Jesus packs into one very short parable:
"The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field" (Matthew 13:44).
In studying this I've found that the treasure can be interpreted 2 ways, both biblically sound. Some interpret the treasure in the field to be Christ, who is so valuable and worth surrendering all for. The "unsearchable riches" (Ephesians 3:8) of who He is as our treasure are unending. It has also been interpreted by some to mean that the field is the world, and when I stop and ask myself who gave up everything to buy a treasure the answer is Christ. He laid down His life because He sees me, and you, as His treasure. Oh how I treasure these truths - that God is my treasure and I am His. . .how I want to grow in my heart-level understanding and outworking of this daily!

Oh, and it feels like summer today - thank you Jesus. . .I guess I put those flannel sheets on my bed a tad too early!

Lastly, a very special treat - a picture! These are the upperclassmen girls, myself, Deb, Kate, and the newest addition to their family. . .Andrew! Have a great weekend!

Thankful?

Hum. It's easier for me to be thankful when the sun is shinning, figuratively and literally. So, I'm here to say that I'm thankful for rainboots, for not getting what I deserve (eternal punishment. . .and a parking ticket), and for God's provision - whether it makes me happy or not (rain fits in the not category)!

Ok - so I really do have a serious obsession with pumpkin right now. I'm afraid I am loosing the very few males readers I have by posting all these recipes. . .although if you tasted some of this stuff you may even brave the kitchen and try to make one of these goodies. . .maybe.

So, I've got some great pumpkin cookies cooling on my counter right now. This recipe comes from a college friend and has been passed on and made many times over the years:

Pumpkin Cookies (Bria)

Ingredients:

2 ½ c. all-purpose flour

1 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. ground cinnamon

½ tsp. ground nutmeg

½ tsp. salt

1 ½ c. granulated sugar

½ c. butter, softened

1 c. pumpkin

1 large egg

1 tsp. vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 350. Grease baking sheets. Combine flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt in medium bowl. Beat sugar and butter in large bowl until well blended. Beat in pumpkin, egg and vanilla extract until well blended. Gradually beat in flour mixture. Drop by rounded teaspoon onto prepared baking sheets. Bake for 15-18 min. or until edges are firm. Cool on baking sheets for 2 min. Remove to wire racks to cool completely. Drizzle with glaze.

Glaze:

Combine 2 c. sifted powdered sugar, 3 tbs. milk, 1 tbs. melted butter, 1 tbs. vanilla extract in a small bowl until smooth.

And. . .that's not all (obsessed I tell you!) - I also have pumpkin pudding in the oven. It's my first attempt but I know it's good because when I worked at the Children's Center (day care) at Cal Poly the kids would get this as a somewhat healthy dessert after a meal and I definitely did my fair share of "cup-bearing" to make sure it wasn't going to harm the kids. You gotta do what you gotta do to keep those kiddos alive. :) Here's the recipe they used:

1/2 cup milk (I used soy)

1 16 oz (how much is that anyways?) can pumpkin

1 egg

1/3 cup sugar

1 tsp. cinnamon

1/4 tsp. salt

1/4 tsp. ginger (didn't have)

Preheat oven to 350. In a mixing bowl combine all ingredients and mix on low for a minute or 2. Pour into a lightly greased 8x8 pan and bake for 25-35 minutes. . .until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean.

Time to pull it out of the oven and frost those cookies. . .so thankful I have a bunch of upperclassmen ladies coming over for small group tonight, I love baking for them!

Thankful

Ah, it's that time of year again. . .where we start talking about what we're thankful for. . .well, let me start off by saying that I am thankful that at any moment of any day I have so much to be thankful for. Here are some things that come to mind this morning:

- God's unrelenting pursuit of me displayed in His incredible forgiveness and grace daily

- Fall Retreat was used by Jesus to grow my students and me so much (yay for studying Jonah!)

- Marianne's Ice Cream in Santa Cruz - "Heaven" (vanilla with peanut butter and brownie) was indeed heavenly

- camp fires and guitars and singing our hearts out for hours

- a healthy baby boy, Andrew Daniel, given to the Goodsons on Friday afternoon. . .getting to hold him as he slept yesterday

- sage green flannel sheets

- precious time of tea and prayer with a friend (who's an answered prayer!) this morning

- God's incredible protection over my family

- the thought of a dear friend coming to visit this weekend

- homemade pumpkin gnocchi (see recipe below!)

- sweet mail from a sweet friend. . .and from a child I sponsor in Peru (she's getting so big!)

- learning more and more, with eyes of faith, how completely and perfectly in control God is over all things

Ok - that's what comes to mind right now! Now, as for this amazingly healthy and oh-so easy and tasty recipe. . .basically I baked those pumpkin chocolate chip muffins again (the students loved them this weekend!) but had pumpkin puree left over so when I got home yesterday I decided to try out this recipe and I highly recommend it:

Pumpkin Gnocchi

1 1/4 cup pumpkin puree

1 3/4 cup whole wheat flour

1/4 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice (a just used a dash of cinnamon and nutmeg instead)

Boil a pot of water that has been salted somewhat generously (it'll add to the flavor). Mix together with your hands until a dough forms. Cut the dough into 5ths and roll out each 5th until it's long and thin (this could be so fun for kids to make!), cut it into bite size pieces and dump small batches into the boiling water. Boil for 3 minutes. Drain and serve with some butter and parmesan cheese (or it would be tasty with some pesto).

Ok - so I fully expected this to taste bad (low expectations huh? :)) but I thought it was still worth a try since I had to do something with that extra pumpkin. . .well, it actually tastes so awesome. The pumpkin is subtle and the whole wheat flour (I've been using Trader's "white whole wheat") gives it a great nutty flavor. Who knew that making gnocchi is so easy?

Off to do some cleaning (oh dear, this place is a disaster right now) and then lunch with my neighbor friend. Thankful for you and for how God's wants to work in and through you this week!

Fall Retreat

Haha, now I know what it takes to get you friends to comment on my blog. . .food! :) Funny, because I'm thinking about giving my blog a new title along those lines - still thinking, you'll know if it's going to happen. . .if it happens. :)

Just a quick prayer request before bed time. Our Fall Retreat for Cru at Cal is this weekend! The theme is "In Hot Pursuit" and our speaker (a pastor at a church in San Leandro) will be walking us through the book of Jonah. We'll be at the a conference center in the Santa Cruz mountains and 19 students are going.

Please pray:

- that the students will really experience Jesus this weekend, many (well, we all) are really in need of hearing from Him in encouraging and challenging ways.

- that, though the group is small, we will leave with a passion to live out our vision back at Cal, that we'd become more and more "a community who follows Jesus and takes the Gospel to the world".

- that this weekend would be fun. . and safe!

- wisdom, strength, and joy for me. . .I'm the only Cru staff that will be there (my teammates are hoping that their baby boy comes this weekend, he's about a week overdue at this point!) and I have many responsibilities, and not much time to pull it all together, trusting the the joy of the Lord will be my strength and that the Spirit will lead me!

Thanks so much. . .ah, this is such an interesting season of ministry - actually, also pray against discouragement, negative comparison to things I've experienced in the past, and lies that Satan wants me to believe about God, the weekend, our students, and myself. Ok - thanks!

Lastly, tip of the week - buy vanilla extract at Costco. . .you can get a big bottle of the real stuff for just under 6 bucks. . .whereas you might have to pay about the same price for a teeny tiny bottle at a regular grocery store! :)

Peanut Butter

Ok, I'm more into random and silly posts right now. . .though I am enjoying sweet depth with the Lord currently I'm just not sharing that here for some reason. Anyways, random and silly fact about me for the night is that I REALLY love a lot of things/people/God deeply, I am definitely a "feeler" for all you myers briggs fans. So one of the things that I really love is definitely peanut butter. I remember that we always had a big jar of Skippy Peanut Butter growing up and one of my favorite afterschool snacks was toasting white bread (which was a rare find in our house) and spreading peanut butter on it right afterward so that it melted a tad. Yum!

My love for this delicious spreadable substance has not waned over the years. My favorite candy is a reeses peanut butter cup. . .well, who am I kidding - let's make that plural, reeses peanut butter cupS, because I can never just have one, that's why sticking to the mini size is a good plan for me! :) One of my sweetest memories of college, literally and figuratively, was frequently checking the ice cream selection at the coffee shop in the student union building with a dear friend - and us getting giddy when they had our favorite Dryers Peanut Butter Cup flavor (peanut butter ice cream, with peanut butter swirled throughout and lots of super mini peanut butter cups), oh the simple pleasures!

Also, ideally I love having 3 types of peanut butter at my disposal at all times. One being a cheapo generic (nothing wrong with that!) brand for baking purposes. The other being an all-natural stir and store in the fridge kind for sandwiches and apple slices. And last, but not least, Calve brand peanut butter that can, sadly, only be purchased in Holland (at least I've never seen it in a specialty store here) - it is just perfect in flavor, not too sweet, and texture, somewhat grainy. . .in a good way. I have a jar of this utter goodness on hand right now, thanks to my mom's trip to Holland for my cousin's wedding this summer - I am savoring it oh so slowly. . .wondering when it is that I'll go to Holland again so that I can get another jar. . .

So there you have it - my love for peanut butter. . .do you have a food item you feel similarly about? I have many more if you can't come up with one: bananas, avocados, balsamic vinegar, steak, dark chocolate. . .this is the list that never ends, yes it goes on and on my friends, some people started eating it not knowing what it was and they'll continue eating it forever just because this is the list that never ends. . .ok, you get the picture, good night!

Loot

Ok, since I said I would. . .here's what I purchased at the Alameda Antique and Vintage Fair today:

- a small, but tall (3-4 feet?), painted white wooden table. . .in my entrance way - aka the wall space to the left of the door. :) Great and decorative place to toss my keys. She wanted $28 I paid $23 and feel good about it, saw lots of other tables I liked but they were way out of my price range.

- a wooden basket to place shoes in next to my coat rack, originally used for apple picking and storing purposes. At some point I might try to stain the wood a darker brown. She wanted $9, I paid $7.

- a cute little while birdie. . .definitely don't need it but couldn't pass it up. It's perched in a black tray, along with a green candle, and my keys . . . on top of my table. She wanted $4, I paid $3.

Bartering is fun! :) Too bad they don't let me barter at Costco - made a trip out there today (I act like it's far away, nothing is far when you live in the city, maybe 10 min) and finally bought a camera to replace the one I broke in the Spring. Meaning there may finally be pictures on this blog again. Maybe.

Oh - and incase you are not sure if you trust the muffin recipe I put up yesterday, I'm telling you. . .the church folk devoured them, I will be making them again very soon - you should make them too!

Fall

The summer season will forever be my favorite. . .but I do enjoy aspects of the fall, probably because it just feels like an extension of summer in Cali. This is particularly true in Berkeley thanks to the "Indian Summer", whatever that really means. . .but what I do know is that because of this phenomena it is mostly warm in September and October and I'm a fan!

While watching a painful loss to USC (30-3) I baked a delicious batch of Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins. . .I'm going to type out the recipe because they are so moist and somewhat (other then the ridiculous amount of sugar) healthy as well as super easy (1 bowl, no mixer!) - I hope the gang at church tomorrow likes them as much as I do:

4 eggs

2 cups of sugar (see?)

1 1/2 cup applesauce (I used the unsweetened gravenstein kind from Trader Joes)

16 oz. pumpkin puree

*mix together and then add:

3 cups of flour (I used the white whole wheat flour, again from Trader Joes)

2 teaspoons baking soda

2 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1 teaspoon salt

*once mixed, add:

2 cups chocolate chips

*spoon (I used my handy-dandy cookie dough scooper, love that thing!) into greased muffin tins and bake at 400 til they appear to be done (differs depending on size of tin - I prefer mini!).

I hope you make them soon! Ok, in other news - let's see, it was a pretty intense week of ministry. Lots of challenging conversations - thankful that as I walk with Jesus I can trust that He speaks through me, even when I don't know what to say or how to say it well. I do love students and it's a huge priviledge to get to show and speak grace and truth into their lives during these key years.

Went home for the night yesterday - dad's birthday! Several highlights - but the one I'm thinking about right now is going for a ride with my little big brother on the mule (in this case not an animal but a small tractor like golfcart thingy, haha - picture us on the animal though :)) to check out his irrigation set up. The sun was setting, the air was cool, and the scenery was incredibly refreshingly beautiful. Oh to live on a farm, will it ever be a part of my future?

Fall Retreat with the students is this coming weekend. Pray that more students sign up in the coming days. Also, I feel a little cold coming on - just drank some "emergenC", don't want to get sick especially with busy days ahead. Baby Goodson is due tomorrow - exciting!

Well, that's it for now. I'm going to work on a fun crochet project I just started and then going to bed early because a couple friends and I are checking out the Alameda Antique and Vintage Fair before church tomorrow - I'll let you know what I find. Hope you're having a lovely weekend!

Thoughts on a Sunday Night:

I am such a random rambler - in my thoughts and in my verbal processing. . .here is some of what's on the mind tonight for you all to enjoy:

- doesn't feel like fall and I'm still okay with that, did have my first pumpkin cookie this weekend though!

- saw a great pair of suede boots at a consignment store on Solano Ave. this afternoon. . .hoping they're still there when the price drops on Oct 19th

- excited to make a banana-blueberry smoothie tomorrow. . .as of today I finally own a blender

- sadness that Cal lost yesterday, but we'll go for a big win against USC on Saturday!!!(?)!!!!

- a hometown/college friend came to visit for the weekend, such a lovely time showing her the campus, introducing her to the wonders of Indian food, and enjoying the beauty of my bay area surroundings - so refreshing to see things from her perspective

- this friend shared some of her email organization skills with me, so I spent part of the afternoon deleting about 8,000 emails. . .definitely took me down memory lane - there are aspects of things I got to experience in the past that I miss but am still thankful for where the Lord has me right now

- It seems as if God is allowing me to be on the brink of something very exciting - I think a ministry to Greek (Fraternities and Sororities) students will about to take off and I have a front row seat, please be praying - I'll keep you posted!

- Going home for my dad's birthday on Friday afternoon, he's doing well considering what his body has been through the past 2 weeks or so, pray for a full recovery!

- Working on taking a trip to a far away place to visit a dear friend around Christmas time. . .wondering if, and how, it's all going to come together. . .

- ok, that's all you get for now! I hope you have a most wonderful week!

Thanks!

Wanted to let you know that I so appreciate your prayers. . .always!

My dad's surgery seems to have gone well. He is still in the hospital recovering, but will hopefully go home tomorrow. Pray for patience and perseverance as he begins the 2-3 month recovery process. God is good!

Today's weather was gorgeous - I was afraid that fall, if not winter, had decided to come early with the weekend rain. . .but no! Didn't make it to my painfully early class at the gym, but had a good workout on my own none the less. Then headed out to meet with a friend/student before she heads off to DC for an internship. We walked around Lake Merritt, surprisingly beautiful considering it's in the middle of a city. Beautiful scenery, beautiful conversation.

I met with 2 student leaders today, we talked about God's missionary call on our lives. . .and that if we opt out of this call (described in the Great Commission, Matthew 28:18-20) we are living in disobedience. It was sweet to sit on campus; dreaming, praying, and acting in faith together to see God's work be accomplished here and around the world.

When I remember the bigger picture I am so encouraged! Talked with a friend who recently got back from doing ministry in Ethiopia, she told me about Muslims who are coming to know the Lord and then preaching the Gospel in their mosques. Powerful! God really has not forgotten His people or His plan of redemption as we await His return!

And now I'm working on my talk (about the Holy Spirit) for the weekly meeting tomorrow - hum, you can be praying for it to come together. . .don't have much yet. But I know that God knows exactly what He wants to say! Hoping to also catch a bit of "So You Think You Can Dance" and do some cleaning - a friend is coming to stay for a few days tomorrow. Yay!

Sunday

Not being very creative with the titles of these posts right now. . .

Church was so encouraging today. A missionary couple was visiting from Northern Africa where they reach out to Muslims. Dave spoke about following Jesus, quite impactful, eye-opening, and refreshing. How great is our God!

I slipped out a little early to go surprise my dad at the Civic Center Farmers Market that he was working at in San Rafael. . .it worked, although he said he had a feeling I might come. Fun! I can remember going to this market as a little girl, my family has been doing it for over 20 years. Other vendors at the market remember me, definitely makes me feel loved - especially when I'm given beautiful free flowers (that just scream God's beautiful creativity) simply because I'm Walter's daughter. He won't be doing that market again (he's found a sub though, the business must go on :)) for a few months because he's having surgery on Tuesday. Please keep him in your prayers (my mom too. . .and my brothers too while you're at it) and if you want to know more just let me know.

The Cal game was a blow-out indeed yesterday. . .they won big time in terms of points (59-7) but not in terms of quality of play. They made Eastern Washington look decent, hopefully they'll clean things up a bit because this was their only super easy game of the season. I'm speaking at the weekly meeting on Thursday night - on the Holy Spirit, but I want to start with a video clip of the highlights of the game. . .some school *spirit* can be a fun transition to talking at the Holy *Spirit*!

Please be praying that some freshmen guys start coming around to our meetings. We're becoming girl heavy (9 guys and 23 girls at the last weekly meeting) and that's going to be really unhealthy down the road. Thanks!

Ok - off to our apartment complex BBQ soon - sad the weather isn't better but the fellowship will be lovely!

Saturday

Hi friends!

I suppose I've been MIA, missing in action. There has been a lot going on with the start of the new year, I'm sure you can say the same - it's rare to find a time where we're not busy.

Ministry has had it's ups and downs, so sweet to continue to rely on Jesus as my unchanging source of love, hope, and joy. I am so thankful to do what I've been called to do though! Pray for me, and Dan and Deb - they're expecting their second addition to the family on October 4th, an exciting time with lots of unknowns.

I am taking a "New Testament Survey" class, something that all new staff are required to do. Such a blessing! One of my goals this fall is going a better job of setting aside the personal development time needed to really learn and grow - I'm supposed to set aside 5 hours a week for this class and I also have "New Staff Training" curriculum that I'm hoping to keep plugging away at a few hours a week (began this as an intern, made slow progress though - it's good stuff in regards to God, self, ministry).

Another goal this fall is to intentionally set aside time to workout consistently. It's so easy to let that go as well but I really don't want to burn out of ministry, and therefore need to have healthy boundaries that allow me to do things that refresh me. Can't say I always feel refreshed while working out, but I know that it's of some value (For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come. 1 Tim 4:8) and I'm looking forward to becoming a healthier me in this way. I was a good week in this area!

Today I went for a run to "Indian Rock", this huge rock in the middle of homes in North Berkeley. It was a challenge! Not so much because of the distance (just under 4 miles) but because of the steep hills. . .definitely had to do some walking on the way there. I think I'm going to make it my Saturday workout, it'll be fun (hopefully!) to be able to run more and more of it as time goes on.

Also, went to the grocery store this morning - one of my favorite things to do. Still so excited for the Trader Joe's to open a block from my apartment - they're making slow and steady progress but it may still take a while. I'm hard-boiling some eggs right now because I have too many and don't want them to go bad. Watching the movie "Julie and Julia" was inspiring indeed, but it's really hard to be motivated to cook (and clean up the mess!) for one person - still working on that.

I'm planning a babyshower for Deb, my first one - exciting! Let me know if you have any game/food ideas or tips, I'm a little clueless but looking forward to bless Deb and baby boy Goodson in this way! Ah, such a different season of life then I'm in - but such a sweet one to be a part of.

Well, off to another Cal football game! Went to the season opener last Saturday against Maryland - it was so awesome! Today's supposed to be another blow-out against Eastern Washington, Cal is #10 in the nation right now - Go Bears! My neighbors have tickets that they offer me from time to time, so great because I probably wouldn't go if I had to pay, I guess the big-time gets pricey!

Hope you're having a lovely Saturday!

A New Year

For most people the new year starts January 1st, and according to the calendar that's certainly accurate. But, in my case the new year has just begun. All the students are back in town and classes start (for them :)) tomorrow. There's a freshness and an energy that only this time can bring to the college campus. And we've definitely experienced this to be true the past couple of days. Don't have specific numbers yet but I know that we surveyed over 1,300 students - all of whom got lots of free stuff (800 got Bibles) and an opportunity to know God personally. So exciting! The next couple of days/weeks will involve having conversations with lots of these new students as well as hosting lots of social events, Bible studies, and Weekly Meetings - giving them lots of chances to get to know the Lord, us, and what we're all about. Praying that this new year brings new life in Christ for many!

I not only enjoy the new year for the sake of others. . .but for my own sake as well. It's such a good time to evaluate where I'm at and where I'd like to be in many areas of my life. I'm excited to see what God has in store for this new year of life in Berkeley, ministry, and whatever else He has in mind.

A prayer

A dear, dear woman of the faith (Ruth Smith :)) passed this one to me today, let us all make this our prayer - especially in light of how powerful prayer is, I have been reminded that God really does hear our prayers, praises, and petitions!

"Give me a heart, O God, that is open to your work and a vision that is as expansive as your grace. May my prayers ask for things that bring you glory, expand the borders of your kingdom, and reach beyond the limited things that so often distract me. In Jesus' name. Amen."

A Sunday Psalm

Psalm 145 (New International Version)

Psalm 145

A psalm of praise. Of David.

¹ I will exalt you, my God the King;
I will praise your name for ever and ever.

² Every day I will praise you
and extol your name for ever and ever.

³ Great is the LORD and most worthy of praise;
his greatness no one can fathom.

⁴ One generation will commend your works to another;
they will tell of your mighty acts.

⁵ They will speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty,
and I will meditate on your wonderful works. ^{b]" style="font-size: 0.75em; line-height: 0.5em; ">[b]}

⁶ They will tell of the power of your awesome works,
and I will proclaim your great deeds.

⁷ They will celebrate your abundant goodness
and joyfully sing of your righteousness.

⁸ The LORD is gracious and compassionate,
slow to anger and rich in love.

⁹ The LORD is good to all;
he has compassion on all he has made.

¹⁰ All you have made will praise you, O LORD;
your saints will extol you.

¹¹ They will tell of the glory of your kingdom
and speak of your might,

¹² so that all men may know of your mighty acts
and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.

¹³ Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,
and your dominion endures through all generations.
The LORD is faithful to all his promises
and loving toward all he has made.

¹⁴ The LORD upholds all those who fall
and lifts up all who are bowed down.

¹⁵ The eyes of all look to you,
and you give them their food at the proper time.

¹⁶ You open your hand
and satisfy the desires of every living thing.

¹⁷ The LORD is righteous in all his ways
and loving toward all he has made.

¹⁸ The LORD is near to all who call on him,
to all who call on him in truth.

¹⁹ He fulfills the desires of those who fear him;
he hears their cry and saves them.

²⁰ The LORD watches over all who love him,
but all the wicked he will destroy.

²¹ My mouth will speak in praise of the LORD.
Let every creature praise his holy name
for ever and ever.

CSU '09

Today was the first full day of "CSU '09". . .this is what we call the Campus Crusade for Christ nation-wide staff conference that happens every other summer at Colorado State University (hence the name, not super original but it works!).  Somewhere around 8,000 of us staff (not including the crazy amount of kids!) have invaded Moby Gym and the surrounding areas.  What a family I have in Christ, and specifically within Campus Crusade.  I'm just loving it!  Here are some, well many since I know I won't be able to keep it short, highlights of the day:

- walking into Moby Gym for our first meeting, my first experience with so many people so in love with Jesus in one place, breathtaking!

- the worship, led by Key Note, the music ministry of Campus Crusade - rockin'!!

- watching all of my fellow staff members, with tears in my eyes, give Vonette Bright, the co-founder of Campus Crusade, a standing ovation. . .and then having her open our conference in prayer - just like she's done at every staff conference since it all began, such a legacy!  And such a classy lady, love her!

- The privilege of experiencing Tim Keller speak twice today, he brings the Gospel in such a humbling and powerful way, wow!  Excited about growing in my heart-level understanding of free justification and compassion toward the poor, the two topics he spoke on today (and he's speaking again tomorrow!)

- perusing the ministry fair. . .I just LOVE learning more about how God is using and blessing Campus Crusade in so many unique ways.  I am particularly excited about the things I got info and resources on to pass on to my former college roommates throughout the day (shout out to you! :))

- Barbara Francis, leading us in a time of prayer. . .I call her the Beth Moore of Campus Crusade, she's a feisty lady with a huge heart for Jesus - so thankful for her!

- free stuff!! :)  Seriously, books (I won one in a drawing and my name was on the big screen, wonder how many people tried to pronounce it for fun!), CDs and even a pedometer - thanks to our Health Benefits department's initiative to get us staff healthy, love it!

- Our conference MCs, especially Bob Horner.  He and his wife have been on staff almost since the beginning and he is one of the most hilarious men!

- A meeting about what God's doing in Western Europe and getting to talk with a national leader about what it looks like for me to pray and actively wait for the ways in which God might want to use me, and fellow staff/students, in Holland in particular - SO encouraging!

- Our leadership, I so appreciate the humility, honesty, and faith of the men that the Lord has currently placed over this ministry. . .I can hear and see Jesus working in them, a good sign.  Men like Mark Gauthier (who I got to have a neat conversation with about the role of women within Campus Crusade ministry a few weeks ago) , Steve Sellers, and Steve Douglass to list a few.  Also, Judy Douglass, our president's wife - during worship I saw her kneeling before the Lord, not in a showy way, but I just happened to notice.  Wow - these, and many more, are men and women who point me to Jesus, I am so thankful to follow their leadership as the Lord leads us.

Well, as you can probably tell I could go on and on but I'll leave it at that, especially since it's time for bed, tomorrow is another full day.  Hoping these highlights leave you feeling encouraged that God is moving in huge ways. . .and as you are praying, giving, and going according to God's call on your life you are a part of His story!

- 

Fairest Lord Jesus

I just love this hymn and was reminded of this a couple of weeks ago as we sung it at a church service here in Colorado.  God continues to do so much to show me His perfect character and power here, especially through nature.  It is such a joy to praise the Creator of it all:

1. Fairest Lord Jesus, ruler of all nature,   

O thou of God and man the Son,   

Thee will I cherish, Thee will I honor,   

thou, my soul's glory, joy, and crown.  

2. Fair are the meadows, fairer still the woodlands,   

robed in the blooming garb of spring:    

Jesus is fairer, Jesus is purer   

who makes the woeful heart to sing.  

3. Fair is the sunshine, fairer still the moonlight,   

and all the twinkling starry host:    

Jesus shines brighter, Jesus shines purer   

than all the angels heaven can boast.  

4. Beautiful Savior!  Lord of all the nations!    

Son of God and Son of Man!    

Glory and honor, praise, adoration,   

now and forevermore be thine.

The answer

Well, I didn't get too many guesses from you on that riddle. . .but I think it's time to give you the answer.  Stop reading right now and scroll down a couple of posts if you still want to give it a shot.  Ok, so the answer is "nothing".

:)

My guide

My guide's name was Paul.  He knew the water better then anyone of us in the boat.  He made sure we had a thrilling adventure, while keeping us safe.  I was given the tools I needed to succeed - a helmet, life jacket, and an oar. . .but I would have never known how to properly use these things without my guide's instruction. He did a lot of the work - siting in the back, steering us left and right.  He called out commands at the perfect time, and we all joyfully obeyed because we knew He had our best interest in mind.  He didn't overwork us, he didn't underwork us.  He did what it took to get us to our final destination - and the journey to get there was exactly as it should have been, not easy but tailor-made to our strengths and weaknesses.  He never left the boat, though at times I felt like I was going to fall out and leave him.  If that would have happened I know he would have been right there, ready to pull me back into the boat.  My guide was human, at one point he even mentioned he was cold - although, us rookies were complaining way before he uttered a word.  Though human, I knew that he was ready and willing to sacrifice for our well-being.  The sheer power of the water could have overtaken us, and probably would have had Paul not been the one to see us through.

Ok - obviously this is an analogy. . .and like any good, and obviously bad, analogy (classify this one as you wish :)), aspects of it will break down.  The real thing is always better anyway! :)  So, while white water rafting on the Poudre (pronounced poo-der) River the Lord gave me such a sweet picture of His character.  He is my perfect guide through this life.  Not to say I won't make mistakes, because I have and will, but He will always be faithful to be in my boat, guiding and directing me as I live a surrendered life to Him.  Knowing more of who He is makes me want to joyfully obey Him all the more.  Especially in light of the fact that, though fully human,  He was not only ready and willing to make a sacrifice on my behalf- He actually did.  And the type of sacrifice He made is the most horrifically undeserved and desperately needed of them all - He endured all of our sins, thus reconciling us to Himself - so that, when I acknowledge my inability to charter the waters of this life on my own, I am placing myself in His hands, thus reconciling myself to Him - thanks to the grace of God this is the beginning of an adventure more amazingly thrilling then the one I had yesterday.  

My rafting experience was phenomenal!  I so savored the beauty that surrounded me, in awe of God's creation at every bend of the river.  We even experienced a good deal of thunder and lightning during our time, reminding me even more of God's power and majesty.  There were times that were quite scary and nerve-wrecking, and other times that were gentle and peaceful - as this picture of Jesus as my guide came to me I was so humbled to remember that He is right beside me, desiring to lead and guide me through every aspect of life, both the scary and the peaceful, the uncertain and the calm.  Would I, by the power of the Holy Spirit, daily walk (or ride :)) in step with my Savior, asking Him to lovingly guide me through this temporal earthly life - for His glory!

"And the Lord will guide you continually and satisfy your desire in scorched places and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail" (Isaiah 58:11).  

Humility

A passage that has been churning around in my heart the past coule of weeks is this:

The Parable of the Wedding Feast

 ⁷Now he told a parable to those who were invited, when he noticed how they chose the places of honor, saying to them,⁸"When you are invited by someone to a wedding feast, do not sit down in a place of honor, lest someone more distinguished than you be invited by him, ⁹and he who invited you both will come and say to you, 'Give your place to this person,' and then you will begin with shame to take the lowest place. ¹⁰But when you are invited, go and sit in the lowest place, so that when your host comes he may say to you, 'Friend, move up higher.' Then you will be honored in the presence of all who sit at table with you. ¹¹For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."

How I want to be the one who takes the lowest place and goes along for the ride.  As the ESV Study Bible (all of us at NST got one, so awesome!) notes say, it is better to be humble then humiliated, in this life and especially at the final judgement.

Now I'm asking God what it looks like to be humble while still asking Him to do great things for His glory in and through me - I would just love to be used in anyway, big or small, to see His name lifted high.  Sometimes I wish I could fast forward my life now in order to see what He's going to do. . .but God knows that I probably wouldn't, by the Holy Spirit's power, strive for an attitude of humility or faith, definitely not to the degree that would honor Him.  Yep, once again I am reminded that it is always better to wait on Him to lead and direct every aspect of my life.  So thankful that I serve a God who's completely sovereign and in control!