I was reading I John through this evening, and I gained a totally new glimpse of God's incredible, awesome love for us.
I was just sitting there in a little room in the North River church thinking to myself, "wow!" God could use beautiful, perfect, shining angels to reach the lost of this earth (which would be SO more effective). But, wait! He doesnt! He uses us...silly, stupid, obnoxious, sinners. We under-estimate God, we grumble and complain when God has PROMISED to give us everything we need, we dont obey His amazing commission to tell the world about Him... we cheat, we lie, we hurt God day in and day out with our silly sinfulness and selfishness. But God uses us! He has chosen us to be the messengers of His amazing love and forgiveness. He looks past our short comings, and sinfulness and all our mistakes and hang ups. He loves us so much He says "You, Carol, are the person I have chosen! You are to bring MY people to me. I dont want an angel to do this job. The reason is this job is the most important job in the world to me. I love you so much that I am honored and privileged to give this job to you. Accept my love, and go share it." Wow.... really amazing. Really, really amazing.
During the sermon this last sabbath Malcom shared Acts 6:15. He also shared the story of this non-english speaking family that came to SEYC two weeks ago. Someone asked them afterwards if they understood any of the words being spoken. The man said, "Oh no... we couldnt understand the words. But we came because the faces of those involved in the program shone like angels faces." Wow, my face shone like an angel?! This is what God does to us! He makes us shine like angels.
It is so exciting to be involved in reaching out to people! This series of meetings at Chattanooga, and also the series I will be holding in Arizona is going to be simply amazing because God is using us and shining through our faces so that when others see us, they see the faces of angels.
Sunday, March 25, 2007
Wednesday, February 28, 2007
Done with midterms! YES!
I am all done with midterms--what a relief! This was one of the most intense weeks I have ever had. I wasnt sure I would survive last night. I think I was close to the most panicked I have ever been preparing for tests before. But God is so good to me. I had been studying alone all day but a friend came walking by in the library around 10:30pm and I was talking with the person and they were expressing similar feelings. We just knelt down on the floor in the library, and gave all the stress and worry to God and just left everything in His hands. God is so faithful to His word, for He gave us both the peace that passes all understanding and He also gave me a clear mind to keep studying most of the night. It was an awesome experience.
I am so glad that God is faithful to His promises and is always with us. That thought has been such an encouragment to me this week. One of the reasons this week has been exceptionally hard is that a number of major negative factors/circumstances/happenings have occurred, and the devil has really jumped on the chance to get me discouraged. A few nights ago, I went walking down by the duck pond and just sat down there for the longest time thinking about everything that has been going on. Since it was late at night, I could just sit down there and talk to God out loud (a rare occurance these days!) and I was much encouraged that God is still with me and in control of my life.
I feel so unprepared to preach my own evangelistic series this summer. A lot of people I know are going have their whole church praying for them and family's and their friends supporting them. I have yet to have one person say they will pray for me, or give me words of encouragment. But I feel that this is where God has called me, and I am going to answer God's call. God promised Jeremiah to put His words in [Jeremiah's] mouth, and I have asked God to do the same for me. I trust God to keep His promises.
I am going home for Spring break. I am hoping to go snowboarding. Mt. Ashland has 10 1/2 feet of snow at the top of the mountain right now. They got 68 inches of snow last week! I am hoping it will stop snowing long enough for I-5 to get cleared off so I can drive down there.
One of the main reasons I am going home is to see baby Shalyn. Sharon told me she is planning on going to Mt. Hood area for both weekends I am home and so I am not sure if i will get to see baby that much after all. It will be good to be home though, and eat good food, and SLEEP! hehe
I am going to bed.
I am so glad that God is faithful to His promises and is always with us. That thought has been such an encouragment to me this week. One of the reasons this week has been exceptionally hard is that a number of major negative factors/circumstances/happenings have occurred, and the devil has really jumped on the chance to get me discouraged. A few nights ago, I went walking down by the duck pond and just sat down there for the longest time thinking about everything that has been going on. Since it was late at night, I could just sit down there and talk to God out loud (a rare occurance these days!) and I was much encouraged that God is still with me and in control of my life.
I feel so unprepared to preach my own evangelistic series this summer. A lot of people I know are going have their whole church praying for them and family's and their friends supporting them. I have yet to have one person say they will pray for me, or give me words of encouragment. But I feel that this is where God has called me, and I am going to answer God's call. God promised Jeremiah to put His words in [Jeremiah's] mouth, and I have asked God to do the same for me. I trust God to keep His promises.
I am going home for Spring break. I am hoping to go snowboarding. Mt. Ashland has 10 1/2 feet of snow at the top of the mountain right now. They got 68 inches of snow last week! I am hoping it will stop snowing long enough for I-5 to get cleared off so I can drive down there.
One of the main reasons I am going home is to see baby Shalyn. Sharon told me she is planning on going to Mt. Hood area for both weekends I am home and so I am not sure if i will get to see baby that much after all. It will be good to be home though, and eat good food, and SLEEP! hehe
I am going to bed.
Wednesday, February 07, 2007
OCI Retreat
I went to the OCI Reliance Retreat Center again this last weekend. What an awesome place that is! Once you get away from all the distractions of society, and out in the quiet of nature, you can hear God so much better!
I decided to get up early each morning, before any of the 45 people were awake and spend some time with God. I had such an awesome time walking by the frozen pond, seeing the birds wake up and seeing the sun come up over the cabin early in the morning. There were so many awesome things that I saw. I saw frost on the grass that was frozen in place around the edges of the pond that was so intricate that it was absolutely a total work of art. I saw patterns in the ice on the pond that was amazing. I saw the moon over the cabin that was so clear that it looked like I could just hop in a little plane and go fly and land on it! I believe that God put those things there for me to enjoy, knowing that I needed the extra lift, and the extra assurance that He was with me.
In the business of the weekend, I dont know of anyone else who took that special time to get up early and enjoy these small, but amazing things. I wished that there was someone there who i could have enjoyed it with, but maybe God put those things there just for me to enjoy. (Well, I know He did, since no one else saw them.)
It was a great weekend.
I decided to get up early each morning, before any of the 45 people were awake and spend some time with God. I had such an awesome time walking by the frozen pond, seeing the birds wake up and seeing the sun come up over the cabin early in the morning. There were so many awesome things that I saw. I saw frost on the grass that was frozen in place around the edges of the pond that was so intricate that it was absolutely a total work of art. I saw patterns in the ice on the pond that was amazing. I saw the moon over the cabin that was so clear that it looked like I could just hop in a little plane and go fly and land on it! I believe that God put those things there for me to enjoy, knowing that I needed the extra lift, and the extra assurance that He was with me.
In the business of the weekend, I dont know of anyone else who took that special time to get up early and enjoy these small, but amazing things. I wished that there was someone there who i could have enjoyed it with, but maybe God put those things there just for me to enjoy. (Well, I know He did, since no one else saw them.)
It was a great weekend.
Tuesday, January 30, 2007
Yay!
I FINALLY figured out what the matter with my computer is, so I can finally log in here again and post stuff on my laptop. Guess I had blocked cookies with McAfee and so I had to go in and review literally thousands of blocked cookies on my computer to find this website and allow cookies again.
School is keeping me super busy. But I think the extra stuff I am doing is keeping me more busy. I have a major problem with saying "yes" to things and not being able to say no! lol There is so much stuff I like to do, and there are so many opportunities here that I just jump at any chance to be involved.
I got a job teaching a fitness class at FocusHealth, which is a live-in drug and alcohol rehab facility. I am really enjoying it, though it is still stressful! I am sure I will get used to it very fast once I develop a routine.
I am off to write 3 papers now and finish reading for a class before I spend most of the afternoon on the phone calling newspapers to advertise a health expo in Chattanooga.
School is keeping me super busy. But I think the extra stuff I am doing is keeping me more busy. I have a major problem with saying "yes" to things and not being able to say no! lol There is so much stuff I like to do, and there are so many opportunities here that I just jump at any chance to be involved.
I got a job teaching a fitness class at FocusHealth, which is a live-in drug and alcohol rehab facility. I am really enjoying it, though it is still stressful! I am sure I will get used to it very fast once I develop a routine.
I am off to write 3 papers now and finish reading for a class before I spend most of the afternoon on the phone calling newspapers to advertise a health expo in Chattanooga.
Wednesday, December 20, 2006
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