Justice

Something God's showing me lately - justice is essential if we want to bring healing into the world. We are called to care for people - orphans, widows, sex slaves, child soldiers, prostitutes, disabled. We are called to love them. But do we? Sometimes we don't know how.

God is bombarding me with things I can do. The most recent - Invisible Children. Capturing Ugandan leader, Joseph Kony, and ending rebel warfare that is enslaving children to kill. Young children are captured and have guns forced into their hands. They are forced to kill their family, people they know, strangers. These children are scared.

WE have the power to end this. There are 100 officers deployed in Africa right now helping African troops figure out how to capture this maniac. But if our government feels like we're done caring about this situation then they will pull our troops out of Africa, and Kony will win.

We have access to technology that can get this word out. We can let our government we care about this, about these people. We can demand that this unjust war ends. Forever. We have the power to stop this. How can you say no?

Here is the link to the site that has everything you need. Watch the video. Order the kit. Save these children.
http://s3.amazonaws.com/kony2012/kony_new.html

Stuff I hate

I really hate the saying, "God works in mysterious ways." It seems cheap and fake. But it seems to sit in the back of my throat when I don't have answers for things. So recently, when I didn't have answers, instead of jumping to the mysteriousness of God, I'm deciding to spend time with Him. Brushing my questions off with a cliche didn't seem to work this time. So instead, I want to be in His presence, hoping that someday the answers will show up. Whether it's a few days or months or decades. 

So for now, I'm having to settle for saying, "I don't know." It's kind of a relief. I'm leaving the big questions up to the Maker of the universe. I think His resume is slightly bigger than mine (sarcasm). So in the meantime I'm actively searching Him out, figuring out what He wants for me. And right now I honestly don't know. I'm just jumping in and trusting. Let's hope it doesn't turn out like Rose and Jack on the Titanic... man, the ending of that movie really bugs me. I swear they could have both fit on that door. 

Frappes vs. the love of God

A song has been stuck in my head all day. I sang it as I walked around campus, wrote it in my notes, hummed it while I was watching a video about Buddhism in my religions class. The line that's sticking with me -

"I'm running to your arms,
The riches of Your love, will always be enough."

It makes me think of how I live. Do I live as if God's love is all I need? No. I honestly don't. I live in a way that says that caramel frappe, new yellow shoes, Reese's hearts, a card from my boyfriend, a fun night with my best friends and a good book will always be enough. Maybe throw in the love of God and I'll be golden. Haven't really figured this thought out yet but it seems to be a mind-blowing epiphany. Time to reevaluate my life. Stay posted.

P.S. - the song is 'Forever Reign' by Hillsong United. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JRBQtIEEkrU < listen! Is it illegal to copy this link into my post? Not sure... so take advantage of this before I get kicked off Blogger or thrown in jail for copyright infringement.

Apology

Well, it's been about 2 months since I've posted. Now I'm walking shamefully back to you. I am back at school and have started getting my routine to (slightly) normal. So I have decided to schedule blog time back into my life.

To atone for my sins of leaving the blog world I thought I would tell you something funny that happened. I attended a Zumba exercise class. If you've never attended a Zumba class it's best characterized by an instructor who is WAY too peppy, upbeat, Hispanic sounding music that is definitely damaging your ear drums, and women between the ages of 18 and 58 shaking their "thangs." I attempted moves I would be ashamed to show even my future husband. In front and behind me were middle-aged women. This made me feel better about myself. Then the music started and the lady behind me turned out to be Mexican and apparently had designed Zumba with the way she shook those 46 year-old hips. I was dying.

Emily went with me and every few minutes looked over and laughed. Maybe because I was always 2 steps behind everyone, sweating like I was attempting to run a long distance, or that I looked like a man in my exercise clothes. It was one of these.

But this morning I'm definitely feeling the effects - not just in my ego, in my "muscles." Then we realized life is too short to care about what you look like while doing Zumba. So meet you there next Monday! ZUMBA!

Comfort Zones

I haven't been in blog world lately, my apologies. This week has been very out of the ordinary. Last Wednesday at Dig, Brad talked about getting out of our comfort zones, getting into the wilderness and experiencing God in new ways. We were challenged to encounter God in ways we never had before.

This thought brought us into Vision Week. The basement of the Christian Campus House was transformed into a space where we were encouraged to encounter God. There were different stations set up with different activities - packaging food to be shipped to poverty-stricken Africa, washing of our feet, writing poetry, listening to music, reading Scripture, journaling different thoughts, writing down specific prayers. Worship at midnight where there was complete freedom. There was more but it's hard to explain everything.

Basically, I was able to meet God here. My roommates and I kept referring to this week as a "Jesus week." We were surrounded by God. We were able to pour our hearts out to Him. We found rest in Him.

So I guess I'm challenging you to do this yourself. So often we're stuck in the same routine. Over. And over. And over. So break that up for a few days, or a week, however long you need. Encounter God in different ways. Maybe that's going to a prayer room at IHOP (house of prayer, not pancakes ((yum))), or its attending a different church's worship service, or going to a Christian concert, or listening to sermon podcasts on the way to work, or painting a picture, or writing poetry. Anything! God gives us such freedom to praise Him however we feel. So get out of your comfort zone and encounter God. I don't think you'll leave feeling empty.

P.s. - who is excited for Breaking Dawn Part 1 Premiere tonight at midnight?? THIS GIRL. Sorry, off topic - Go hang out with God.

Burned in the Name of Love

Last night was typical family dinner Thursday. This time, there were a turn of events - which, now that I think about it, happens more often than not. Emily was attempting to make french toast but we forgot we didn't have much bread. We proceeded anyway.

She had already burned one piece of toast, so she was trying really hard this time. I was standing at the sink, directly behind her, filling a 1/2 cup of water to make muffins. She went to flip the toast and, of course, it was burning. She freaked out, not an unusual occurrence, and turned around quickly. And there was my arm.

I felt a searing sensation on the back of my arm and I literally don't think I have ever jumped that high. In the process of jumping into Paige's arms, I punched myself in the mouth with the measuring cups. Now I have a burn on my arm and a bruised lip. Well, the bruised lip is a slight exaggeration, but at the time it felt that dramatic. Don't worry - I think I'll be fine. And now I think our friendship has passed every test - even bodily harm.

No one thinks of Thanksgiving's feelings

On Monday, my roommates and I decorated for Christmas. Our living room has officially undergone the ritual of Christmasifying. I think I made that word up, but it sounds fancy. We now have 3 trees in our living room and a paper chain counting down the days until Christmas (45!). Christmas is officially here. In our house anyway.

It was such a great time decorating with the roomies. It took us 2 times through Elf to get all of our decorating done and we're not completely finished. I'm posting a few pictures for those of you far away. Enjoy!

Photos courtesy of Paige.
Title courtesy of Andrew.