I was listening to the radio on the way back from the gym with my dad today and the program was finishing off with questions to ask we reflect on the last year and begin the next year-the Christian version. Although I didn't hear all of the questions, I found them thought provoking and so here is my adapted version:
1. What lessons did God teach you this year?
2. How did you serve Him and His people this year?
3. In what ways were you broken for His promises?
4. Where did you fall short, feel broken, but were restored this year?
5. What person, friend or foe, did you learn to love as he asks us to love this year?
6. What circumstance did He give you power you overcome this year?
7. Who stood by you, prayed for you, pushed you, challenged you, served you, discipled you this year?
8. What did He say to you in prayer this year?
9. How did your quiet times grow this year?
10. How are you more like the person He wants you to be right now versus January 2010?
I'm sure there are many other questions to ask and other things to contemplate...but I was extremely challenged today as I listened to this and I hope that as you reflect this new years it can be more than just about resolutions but looking back and looking forward to become the people He wants us to be.
Friday, December 31, 2010
Monday, December 20, 2010
a post in progress
5 points:
1) today i shared with someone the testimony of my college career. some of you reading this might not know the details, but it still brings me to tears thinking how my God loves me so much to hold on to my heart the way he did. i haven't shared my testimony in a while and hearing myself brought me to tears in front of this younger sister. what was even crazier was that it made me realize that my story is not only precious to me, but it's precious to my Lord. that my story could be used in some convoluted way in people's lives who are going through sort of similar circumstances.
2)i've thought for a long time that i want to do ministry in the future, but today it hit me that the ministry that i'm doing now is the future. and oh what JOY it is.
3) when R came this past week, i loved talking to her. C said that when I interacted with R i reverted back to my freshman self. it's been humbling thinking through this and realizing that the ways i confided in her and wanted advice or just someone to listen or someone to take care of me or something like that could be what i am doing now. it challenges me to love more, to care more, to be more available, to serve more...but this also leads to point 4
4) this weekend i had a great time of rest. i woke up late i read the Bible. i bummed on my bed thinking. i invested little. it's crazy how you can process joy and blessings when you're not exhausted. lesson: in ministry you need times of rest.
5) i'm not married, but Say Your Name by Bethany Dillon has been on repeat. at times these days are spinning by and i am just trying to find a moment with Him.
1) today i shared with someone the testimony of my college career. some of you reading this might not know the details, but it still brings me to tears thinking how my God loves me so much to hold on to my heart the way he did. i haven't shared my testimony in a while and hearing myself brought me to tears in front of this younger sister. what was even crazier was that it made me realize that my story is not only precious to me, but it's precious to my Lord. that my story could be used in some convoluted way in people's lives who are going through sort of similar circumstances.
2)i've thought for a long time that i want to do ministry in the future, but today it hit me that the ministry that i'm doing now is the future. and oh what JOY it is.
3) when R came this past week, i loved talking to her. C said that when I interacted with R i reverted back to my freshman self. it's been humbling thinking through this and realizing that the ways i confided in her and wanted advice or just someone to listen or someone to take care of me or something like that could be what i am doing now. it challenges me to love more, to care more, to be more available, to serve more...but this also leads to point 4
4) this weekend i had a great time of rest. i woke up late i read the Bible. i bummed on my bed thinking. i invested little. it's crazy how you can process joy and blessings when you're not exhausted. lesson: in ministry you need times of rest.
5) i'm not married, but Say Your Name by Bethany Dillon has been on repeat. at times these days are spinning by and i am just trying to find a moment with Him.
Saturday, December 18, 2010
God provides
Just a quick note:
One of the hard parts about being a young adult is that you have a bit of money to play with. I made a budget early on which consisted basically on living expenses, savings, tithe, loan pay off, serving money, food, extra essentials, and any extra save for missions money. This month though a few unexpected expenses came up such as my car breaking down, Christmas parties, an electric bill double the normal amount etc. Because of this, during this entire week I've been struggling and thinking about how to balance this; should I save less, should I pay off less of my student loan, etc. Ultimately the question was which big chunk of money that goes out on a monthly basis could cushion a smaller amount this month. These extra expenditures cut into my budget in very odd ways and I couldn't help feeling like pressured to not ask my parents for cushion and to just readjust my budget to make it work. In my attempts to rework my budget I kept falling a certain amount short. (I have never felt the pressure of being short). Within my prayers continued to be the words, "Lord I'm trying, but I just can't seem to do it this month. I'm not going to be short, I just don't want to skimp on things I should be doing such as paying off the amount I feel like you've called me because of these other expenditures." But sure enough upon returning home today, I had a letter (for graduation- several months late) with money. Just enough to cover exactly my extra expenses for the month.
I won't say I was fervently praying for provision or that I am so in tune with God as this may seem, but I can say I felt like he was saying "well done my good and faithful servant".
One of the hard parts about being a young adult is that you have a bit of money to play with. I made a budget early on which consisted basically on living expenses, savings, tithe, loan pay off, serving money, food, extra essentials, and any extra save for missions money. This month though a few unexpected expenses came up such as my car breaking down, Christmas parties, an electric bill double the normal amount etc. Because of this, during this entire week I've been struggling and thinking about how to balance this; should I save less, should I pay off less of my student loan, etc. Ultimately the question was which big chunk of money that goes out on a monthly basis could cushion a smaller amount this month. These extra expenditures cut into my budget in very odd ways and I couldn't help feeling like pressured to not ask my parents for cushion and to just readjust my budget to make it work. In my attempts to rework my budget I kept falling a certain amount short. (I have never felt the pressure of being short). Within my prayers continued to be the words, "Lord I'm trying, but I just can't seem to do it this month. I'm not going to be short, I just don't want to skimp on things I should be doing such as paying off the amount I feel like you've called me because of these other expenditures." But sure enough upon returning home today, I had a letter (for graduation- several months late) with money. Just enough to cover exactly my extra expenses for the month.
I won't say I was fervently praying for provision or that I am so in tune with God as this may seem, but I can say I felt like he was saying "well done my good and faithful servant".
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