just back to classes for the fall semester. getting back into the mode of doing homework and studying in my spare time. it's a challenge. i'm already feeling a bit overwhelmed. but i know i need to keep it all in perspective. and keep my priorities straight. after all, what really matters is not a good grade. but whether i've loved with all that is within me.
one of my friends and i decided this year that we want to be diligent in our studies and use time more wisely. so we can still have time to spend with family. our friends. helping others. or spending precious time with Him. we do not want to be consumed by school. or let it define us. we want Christ to be our all. and everything else to flow out of our love for Him.
i'm a student at a community college, so not all the students are from the typical 18-22 year old age group. there are many 20 somethings and middle-aged adults. i like having older people around. so, in my advanced first aid class this week we all introduced eachother, and there are some really neat people. one lady has 9 kids and another man has 15. i also met a man who's son was murdered at age 2. and one of my a&p lab partners who is only a few years older then me is married and has 3 kids. looking at each of these individuals i don't think i would ever have guessed all that on my own. i love hearing people's stories. about their life. i am so quick to label people sometimes or just think they're a certain way. based on what? just the way they look or act or dress.
[everyone has a story. everyone matters.]
the bible says: "judge not, that you be not judged. for with the judgement you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you." matthew 7:1
i desire to start loving people, even strangers. more and more. like Jesus does. unconditionally. and with great compassion. Jesus said ["I have compassion on the crowd..."] He loves the people we try to stay away from. He loves the neighbor we never talk to. He loves the people we avoid looking at. or those we don't even see. He is the example of love. He is LOVE.
so, where do i start? there's a huge world out there... start with your own neighbor. the person who sits next to you in math class. your lab partner. love on your little sister or brother. start with those around you. wherever you find yourself.
do you ever think about the babies being born right now? like, right now there's a little boy being born in africa who has dark eyes. or a little girl in china. do you think about how much money you spend on yourself? or how people are dying of starvation right now? i am burdened by how frivolous we americans live. i am saddened when i think of all the suffering, dying people. and how i sit in my house and eat more food then i need, and not even think twice about it. i turn on the faucet and don't even realize what a privilege it is to have clean, running water. or use a real toilet, when thousands of people go in the street each day.
i am attached to many things i own. whether it's clothing, money, books, the computer, cds, my camera, or cozy bed. have these things become little idols? God commands us in the second commandment to have no idols. i probably break that commandment every day. does that make me sad? or do i just keep on living the exact same way? Lord, strip me of all the little idols i have made for myself. And make me fully Yours! [if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 john 1:9] Thank you Jesus!
all of these thoughts of mine don't really flow together i guess, but they just kinda jumbled out. the Lord is working in my heart and molding me to be more like Himself each day. there are so many uncertainties in my life. i mean i guess that's true for each one of us whether we admit it or not. only God knows when we'll die. in all of life's trials, troubles, joy, & pain. HE is there. are you trusting Him today?
Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices! Refrain from anger, forsake wrath! Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil. For the evildoers shall be cut off, but those who wait for the LORD shall inherit the land." Psalm 37:7-9
one of my friends and i decided this year that we want to be diligent in our studies and use time more wisely. so we can still have time to spend with family. our friends. helping others. or spending precious time with Him. we do not want to be consumed by school. or let it define us. we want Christ to be our all. and everything else to flow out of our love for Him.
i'm a student at a community college, so not all the students are from the typical 18-22 year old age group. there are many 20 somethings and middle-aged adults. i like having older people around. so, in my advanced first aid class this week we all introduced eachother, and there are some really neat people. one lady has 9 kids and another man has 15. i also met a man who's son was murdered at age 2. and one of my a&p lab partners who is only a few years older then me is married and has 3 kids. looking at each of these individuals i don't think i would ever have guessed all that on my own. i love hearing people's stories. about their life. i am so quick to label people sometimes or just think they're a certain way. based on what? just the way they look or act or dress.
[everyone has a story. everyone matters.]
the bible says: "judge not, that you be not judged. for with the judgement you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you." matthew 7:1
i desire to start loving people, even strangers. more and more. like Jesus does. unconditionally. and with great compassion. Jesus said ["I have compassion on the crowd..."] He loves the people we try to stay away from. He loves the neighbor we never talk to. He loves the people we avoid looking at. or those we don't even see. He is the example of love. He is LOVE.
so, where do i start? there's a huge world out there... start with your own neighbor. the person who sits next to you in math class. your lab partner. love on your little sister or brother. start with those around you. wherever you find yourself.
do you ever think about the babies being born right now? like, right now there's a little boy being born in africa who has dark eyes. or a little girl in china. do you think about how much money you spend on yourself? or how people are dying of starvation right now? i am burdened by how frivolous we americans live. i am saddened when i think of all the suffering, dying people. and how i sit in my house and eat more food then i need, and not even think twice about it. i turn on the faucet and don't even realize what a privilege it is to have clean, running water. or use a real toilet, when thousands of people go in the street each day.
i am attached to many things i own. whether it's clothing, money, books, the computer, cds, my camera, or cozy bed. have these things become little idols? God commands us in the second commandment to have no idols. i probably break that commandment every day. does that make me sad? or do i just keep on living the exact same way? Lord, strip me of all the little idols i have made for myself. And make me fully Yours! [if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 john 1:9] Thank you Jesus!
all of these thoughts of mine don't really flow together i guess, but they just kinda jumbled out. the Lord is working in my heart and molding me to be more like Himself each day. there are so many uncertainties in my life. i mean i guess that's true for each one of us whether we admit it or not. only God knows when we'll die. in all of life's trials, troubles, joy, & pain. HE is there. are you trusting Him today?
Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices! Refrain from anger, forsake wrath! Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil. For the evildoers shall be cut off, but those who wait for the LORD shall inherit the land." Psalm 37:7-9
