Thursday, November 26, 2009
Monday, November 9, 2009
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
A friend of mine wrote this in their facebook status: "Today, I start with the LORD."
I really like that comment because so many times I get up and start with myself--I start thinking about the long list of everything I have to do today. Its hard for me to start my day by spending time in the Word because Im already so focused on wordly things. As a student I keep falling into this trap where reading my Bible becomes one more homework assignment and because I already have enough homework, the last thing I want is one more thing to do. However, when I think about starting with the Lord...it just completely changes my perspective and I eagerly look forward to spending some time with Jesus. I cant wait to see what he has for the rest of today :)
I really like that comment because so many times I get up and start with myself--I start thinking about the long list of everything I have to do today. Its hard for me to start my day by spending time in the Word because Im already so focused on wordly things. As a student I keep falling into this trap where reading my Bible becomes one more homework assignment and because I already have enough homework, the last thing I want is one more thing to do. However, when I think about starting with the Lord...it just completely changes my perspective and I eagerly look forward to spending some time with Jesus. I cant wait to see what he has for the rest of today :)
Friday, October 23, 2009
Arms High and Heart Abandoned
I wish it were easier to stand with arms high and heart abandoned in awe of the one who gave it all. I really wish it was, but its not and I just can't. I struggle to let go of all the things that I think Im in control of, because I need to feel like I'm in control. I thrive off of being in control. Yet, every time I just get frustrated and upset when things dont go the way I had planned them...
Luke 14:27 and 35
Anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. 35. In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot by my disciple.
I've been thinking about this a lot in the last 10 months or so, because that idea of giving up everything is so frightening to me. Let alone that Jesus says that if you don't, you cant be my disciple.....
So, what does it look like to completely surrender? What does it look like to die to ourselves so that the gospel may go forward? What does it look like to worship God through being a student? What does it look like to be ok with not being in control and being completely content in Jesus?
I'm not 100% sure.....when I find out I'll let you know ;)
Luke 14:27 and 35
Anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. 35. In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot by my disciple.
I've been thinking about this a lot in the last 10 months or so, because that idea of giving up everything is so frightening to me. Let alone that Jesus says that if you don't, you cant be my disciple.....
So, what does it look like to completely surrender? What does it look like to die to ourselves so that the gospel may go forward? What does it look like to worship God through being a student? What does it look like to be ok with not being in control and being completely content in Jesus?
I'm not 100% sure.....when I find out I'll let you know ;)
Sunday, August 9, 2009
Fall 2009
After taking a break from blog world, I suddenly feel a little bit more motivated to blog. So hopefully, I will be able to get a little bit more about El Salvador and other random things happening.
School is starting in two weeks and I'm filled with so many bitter-sweet feelings. I am not ready to study for the never ending string of tests, work, do homework and repeat over and over and over again. Life gets mundane and stressful as there is always one more thing on the long laundry list of things to do.
However, I'm filled with excitement for this next semester....After lots of prayer, I am going to spend this next year seriously serving and concentrating on loving the city of Akron. As Chris Tomlin says it best, "Greater things have yet to come and greater things are still to be done in this city."
Sarah and I were talking about what it looks likes for me to serve Akron...I love 707 and not being there tears my heart and to know that it is not where I will be serving hurts even more. In some ways I almost feel guilty about 'leaving,' even though I know I am not. Sarah put it into words that make much more sense for me....This year in sorts, I am out on loan. I am being commissioned to spread the gospel in Akron and disciple younger women so that in a later season of life I can come back to 707, and they can recieve the interest that I earned while on mission.
So this semester I look forward to being able to serve the freshmen as they wonder through campus without an idea as to why they are here or what they want to do with their lives. I look forward to being able to serve inner city children through Reach Akron. I am also looking forward to being able to walking through life with other women by discipling them and also by being discipled.
I think most importantly what I have been learning is that it is not so much where I serve that is important (also not saying that we can do what ever we want), but how you serve. God needs people to serve and be the light of Christ in Medina, Akron, Cleveland, Ohio, El Salvador. Not one of these places in necessarily better than another. I am not going to win more brownie points with God for serving one places than another....The bigger idea is that I serve where I am with everything that I am...
If I am at home in Medina--How am I serving my family, my neighborhood, my co-workers?
If I'm in Akron--How am I loving the other women in my life, my housemates, the homeless, college students?
If I'm in El Salvador--How am I loving the tias, the children, the neighbors, the community of Plantaneo?
So this semester I will be thinking about how, to the best of my ability, serve the community in which I live. My prayer is that this semester I may stand with arms wide and heart abandoned as I am open to what God has for me.
May we go and serve....bless others, endure, and answer kindly....
Grace and Peace
kristen
School is starting in two weeks and I'm filled with so many bitter-sweet feelings. I am not ready to study for the never ending string of tests, work, do homework and repeat over and over and over again. Life gets mundane and stressful as there is always one more thing on the long laundry list of things to do.
However, I'm filled with excitement for this next semester....After lots of prayer, I am going to spend this next year seriously serving and concentrating on loving the city of Akron. As Chris Tomlin says it best, "Greater things have yet to come and greater things are still to be done in this city."
Sarah and I were talking about what it looks likes for me to serve Akron...I love 707 and not being there tears my heart and to know that it is not where I will be serving hurts even more. In some ways I almost feel guilty about 'leaving,' even though I know I am not. Sarah put it into words that make much more sense for me....This year in sorts, I am out on loan. I am being commissioned to spread the gospel in Akron and disciple younger women so that in a later season of life I can come back to 707, and they can recieve the interest that I earned while on mission.
So this semester I look forward to being able to serve the freshmen as they wonder through campus without an idea as to why they are here or what they want to do with their lives. I look forward to being able to serve inner city children through Reach Akron. I am also looking forward to being able to walking through life with other women by discipling them and also by being discipled.
I think most importantly what I have been learning is that it is not so much where I serve that is important (also not saying that we can do what ever we want), but how you serve. God needs people to serve and be the light of Christ in Medina, Akron, Cleveland, Ohio, El Salvador. Not one of these places in necessarily better than another. I am not going to win more brownie points with God for serving one places than another....The bigger idea is that I serve where I am with everything that I am...
If I am at home in Medina--How am I serving my family, my neighborhood, my co-workers?
If I'm in Akron--How am I loving the other women in my life, my housemates, the homeless, college students?
If I'm in El Salvador--How am I loving the tias, the children, the neighbors, the community of Plantaneo?
So this semester I will be thinking about how, to the best of my ability, serve the community in which I live. My prayer is that this semester I may stand with arms wide and heart abandoned as I am open to what God has for me.
May we go and serve....bless others, endure, and answer kindly....
Grace and Peace
kristen
Just a little from my favorite place on Earth....
'El Salvador. Beautiful. Hot. Love. Kindness. Grace. Hope.
Hope for the future. Kevincito is a 6 year old with some gastrointestinal problems, and because of it he only weighs 15 pounds. There is hope that in the next year Kevincito will be coming to Cleveland with his adoptive parents to get the medical help he needs.
Only by God's grace is Love and Hope able to have this beautiful baby at the home. Eliseo is about 1.5 (I think) and he is gorgeous. There are no words to describe him....As Alyssa says she describes him as somewhere between divine and perfection. I agree.
Absolute beauty....from the mountain behind the orphanage (looking at the San Salvador volcano) to every person I met.
Kindness and understanding towards each other. The kindness of Americans who spent an extra $15 on a couple shoe boxes for children all over the world. Kindness towards the 'gringos' who spoke slowly and couldn't keep their pronouns and conjugations the same.
Loving the least of these and the ophans who would normally be raised on the side of the street with nothing to eat. However because of Love are able to attend a Christian school and receive a top education.
Friday, July 24, 2009
months later.....
I've been been home for over 1.5 months and Im just now getting around to blogging...Sorry. I am here to say ITS COMING SOON!
kristen
kristen
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