Monday, October 22, 2007

midterms


dear friends, I am praying for you.

Wednesday, October 17, 2007

cheer up


"cheer up, you are worse off than you figure
but you are loved anyway and I always see who you could be...

"All the stars are waiting for you to shine
and your heart is beating to find its home in mine.

"stand up, you are stronger than you figure
you just need to be surrounded by those who believe in you.

"All the stars are waiting for you to shine
and your heart is beating to find its home in mine.

"you've got to know I won't throw stones your way
All Creation waits...
oh, for you to take your place, take your place.

"wake up, it's time to dream bigger.
wake up, it's time."

I stumbled across this old 10 Shekel Shirt album, "Risk," and this song particularly stood out to me. I think because a bunch of us are in the same boat--not really knowing what the future holds, but knowing that the Lord holds it in the palm of His hand. I also remember visiting WTS last spring for the first time and a certain pair of roommates encouraging me by saying "cheer up, you're worse than you think!" counterintuitive, but very encouraging on second thought. really, if the Lord still accepts us even though He knows the depths of our sin--which we are not aware of--what is there to doubt? what is there to fear?
I am also struck by the finiteness of my imagination. He promises more than we could ask or even imagine--what does this look like? I don't even know! If He has plans for us that are better and bigger than what we imagine for ourselves, we have cause for some real excitement.

Monday, October 8, 2007

why I love fall



when else can you do fun things like this?

the sun came through the clouds

this morning while I was driving home from work... I was waiting at a stoplight in front of Enfield Elementary as the kiddies ran across the crosswalk...and then the sun came out and I had to put on my sunglasses. I was listening to Sufjan's "Chicago (Adult Contemporary Easy Listening Version)." it was a lovely moment.
below, a photo I took during a rock climbing trip in college.

moments like these make me contemplative, and often remind me of things I've heard or studied before. what comes to mind is the hymn "Beams of Heaven," particularly the Indelible Grace version.

"Oftentimes my sky is clear,
joy abounds without a tear;
though a day so bright begun,
clouds may hide tomorrow's sun.

There'll be a day that's always bright,
a day that never yields to night,
and in its light the streets of glory
I shall behold someday.
I shall behold someday."

I confess impatience when the Lord asks me to wait. Those streets of glory sound so good...oftentimes I would much rather be there than here. And then He surprises me with little things like sunlight, or a cool night's walk, or a word of encouragement from a friend. I was just talking with someone about how we get frustrated with the seeming chaos of the world we live in. But the world is not as chaotic as we may think it to be...it is in fact quite ordered, ordered by a God who has the grand plan in mind. Besides, in a world that is completely unpredictable, how are we then surprised by things? No. the fact that the Lord planned things makes surprises possible...and welcome.