A New Way of Thinking About an Old Truth

Growing up in church, I have often heard Psalm 37:4 quoted, applied, and (unfortunately) misused.  The verse says Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.  Some people take this verse with a sort of bargaining kind of attitude;  they come to God, pulling their wagon of "desires" behind them, saying "ok...I'll delight myself in the LORD until I get the "desires of my heart" (which are all conveniently located in the wagon).  People that use this verse in this context really annoy me because I don't think that's at all what this verse means!

My mom and I have talked about this verse off and on for a long time.  We've agreed that one way of looking at this verse is this: when you delight yourself in the LORD, HE becomes the desire of your heart!  Paul Katsion, my current Sunday School teacher, gave me a new way of thinking about this truth. The emphasis on the second half of the verse should be on give rather than on desires.  I loved that!  When we delight ourselves in the LORD, its not our way of bargaining with him to get what we want;  by delighting in the LORD, He will GIVE us new desires in our heart.  It's often hard for us to "know the will of God" and if our desires "line up with the will of God."  If we truly delight ourselves in the LORD, we can be sure the desires of our heart will line up because they are no longer our desires, but His.

I hope you find encouragement in this little nougat of truth with a new spin.  Thanks, Paul (and mom) for helping me to see what this verse truly means and how it should be impacting my life! 

2010 in Retrospect

Happy 2011!  I can't believe we're already four days in to the new year.  Time flies, huh?  I'm a little late in my review of 2010, but I have a good excuse as you will see at the end of this report.


Last New Year's Eve, my car at the time died at random three hours from home.  I was staying with my aunt in Minburn for the week so I could work in Ankeny over the holiday.  As frustrating as this situation was, God really showed Himself faithful!  My good friend, Sara, was able to fill in for me at work. Since I was staying with my aunt, Ralph and Eric (her neighbor and son) were there to help me out with the car.  My parents didn't even have to make the six hour round trip journey to pick me up because my "brother" David's girlfriend (now his wife!) was in Ames visiting for the weekend, so she was able to pick me up on her way home!


In March, the FBBC Chorale went to Colorado (and a few other places) for spring tour.  I'm so thankful for those ten days; talk about spiritual encouragement!  God really worked in my life through that trip in SO MANY ways.  I was able to see my mom's side of the family a number of times because most of them live in the Denver area. It was while we were there that I learned of more family discord- my uncle and aunt were splitting up.  That was hard news to take, but my chorale family was so encouraging and patient with me.  I have so many great memories from that trip.  A few that stick out to me include staying with my best friend, Keri Lightfoot, in Colorado Springs; hiking in the Garden of the Gods with Bethany Spink, Joanna Augsburger, Lindsay Yankee, Jared Segerstrom, and Jake Mangold; and the concert we gave in Luke Snell's home church- what a blessing!  While we were on this trip, God really laid it on my heart to be praying more specifically for the team that was headed to Holland and Germany on the European Chorale Tour.


Shortly after we returned from Colorado, I was informed that one team member of the European Chorale was thinking about pulling out, and I was asked to take her place.  What an amazing opportunity!  Obviously, I told Doc (the Chorale director) about how God had pressed it upon me to be praying more faithfully for the ECT, and we agreed that this was the right thing to do. I would have just six weeks to raise the $3,000 needed for the trip, but I knew God would provide if it was His will for me to go.  After a week of waiting for the other team member's final decision,  I was told that she had decided to go, and I would not be needed. While it was a little disappointing, I knew I wasn't really out anything because I hadn't planned to go in the first place.  I knew God had a plan, and I know that He was definitely teaching me to trust Him through this!


Fast forward a few weeks, and you'd have found me sitting in Mrs. McFarling's class on a Friday morning listening to her share with us that a church in Mount Pleasant, Iowa, was looking for a full time office manager, and if anyone was interested in the position, to call the church.  Well, my first thought was That's Home!!.  My second thought was But that doesn't effect me because I'm moving to Colorado Springs to live with Keri. Again, God had a plan.  He gave me a LOT of travel time that weekend to think about the situation that had been "dumped in my lap." I traveled home for my "brother" David's wedding (which was a blessing as well!), then Saturday evening the FBBC Chorale gave a concert at... you guessed it... Mount Pleasant.  I was so confused.  I knew what I had planned, and I thought God and I were on the same page, but if that were true, then why did this job suddenly show up?  Thank God for great godly family and friends (Laura Bunjer & Elisabeth Perrott)- the end result, most of you can probably figure out.  I called Pastor Van (who just happens to be Doc's brother) and applied for the job.


The very next week,  Doc approached me once again.  A different team member had to drop out of the ECT due to health reasons.  The short story is that I now had just four weeks to raise my $3,000 and get my passport (which is almost as big of a feat as getting the money!).  Again, the short story goes something like this:  by the time we left, I think I was like $3 and some odd cents over what I needed and I had my passport in hand!  God is SO GOOD!  How amazing!  I'm still blown away by the whole series of events: Will you go?   Nevermind, you can't go.  Oh, actually, we NEED you to go!  How Great is Our God!


In May, I spent my final days as a student at Faith Baptist Bible College, and graduated from the Administrative Assistant Program with my AA. This was a rather joyous occasion since I am the first in my generation on both sides of my family to graduate from college with any kind of degree!  Go me!


One week after graduation, I hopped on a plain and went on the adventure of my life! I spent the last few weeks of May and the first week of June touring Holland and Germany!  I was also able to see the Alps in Austria and a monastery in Belgium!  I could write an entire blog about each day of that tour, but since I'm trying to keep this condensed (ya, right!) I wont... because I'm not done yet... or maybe I should say God isn't done yet.


A few days after I landed on American soil again, I began my new job as Office Manager/Administrative Assistant at Calvary Baptist Church in Mount Pleasant.  It has been a great job!  I have learned SO much!  My co workers are constantly pushing me to grow... and they usually don't even know it! I have seen God's faithfulness in bringing me home.  I have been able to live in my childhood home with my parents and sisters, which has helped me save money (which is a good thing since I have a school loan to pay!).  It's been so wonderful to integrate myself  back into the family routine- home cooked meals, my laundry done for me, and a piano right in the house;  my family is such a blessing!


June 19, I was able to be in my other "brother"'s wedding.  It was so fun to celebrate with my childhood brother-like friend as he married the love of his life!


Fast-forward to October.  God isn't done yet.  In early October, my 85-year-old grandfather (Dad's dad) was in a very serious accident involving a chainsaw and a very large tree (for more details, please see my post from October It Doesn't Rain, but It Pours).  October was spent making trip after trip after trip to Iowa City to be with him. God is always good, and today, my grandfather is in a nursing home making a recovery that is beyond anyone's expectations.  It is hoped that in the next six months or so, he will be able to return to his apartment and resume life as normal.  Praise the Lord!!


After this, things started settling down.  We had a wonderful November ending with a very nice family Thanksgiving and Black Friday Shopping spree!  December kicked off with the family trip to Des Moines to see Daniel in the FBBC Festival of Carols.  While we were there, we took in Mary Poppins at the Civic Center (which was part of our family Christmas present).  We celebrated three family birthdays (me, Leah, and Lindsey's Mike's) and two almost-family birthdays (Chandler Lang and the birth of Ellie Christine Lang!).


You'd think that's enough for one year, but apparently that is just not the case.  The Tuesday before Christmas, I woke up with a kind of uncomfortable pain in my upper right side.  I joked with mom on my way out the door for work that If they take me to the hospital, I'll make sure to tell them to call and let you know.  I wish it had been that funny.  By the time I got home from work, the pain had significantly increased.  After a nice dinner of chicken enchiladas (which were NOT a good idea, just FYI), the pain had gotten so bad I was in tears.  The pain had spread up into my right shoulder, and I was miserable. Finally, my dad drove me to the ER where they said the word gall bladder an awful lot, drew some blood (which was awful!), gave me two shots (which were also awful!), and told me to see my family doctor tomorrow if things hadn't improved.  Well, as most of you know, things did NOT improve, and the short story is that on the Tuesday AFTER Christmas, I had laparascopic gall bladder removal surgery.  It has been a very slow recovery, and I am not "bouncing back" nearly as quickly as they said I should, but God is good. I'm still working on that recovery part, but as they say, that too will just take a little time.


If you've made it all the way through this post, you deserve some kind of medal, I think.  It's a long one, but I couldn't let the opportunity pass to share with all of you just how much God has done in my life over this past year.  I have learned so much about His faithfulness, His trustworthiness, and His divine plan.  God is SO good, and I can't wait to see what He has for me in 2011.

Merry Christmas!

Christmas doesn't always come in a multitude of tangible gifts; sometimes, there are few packages, but many memories!  This year, a large part of our family Christmas was a trip to Des Moines to see Mary Poppins at the Civic Center. We had a marvelous time! The choreography and singing were amazing; the set, incredible!  What wonderful memories we all have!  There were still a few gifts to open this morning, which, for the first time ever, we opened before we "got ready to face the day."  We opened gifts in the comfort of our pajamas!  i'm so thankful for my family and the blessing they are in my life- not just at Christmas when they give me presents, but all year long! 

Christmas

 Luke 2:1-20

And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed.  (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.  And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.

                And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.  And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

                And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.

What more is there to say?  The Creator of the universe coming to earth to die for my sins.  I am so undeserving, so unworthy.  But, thankfully, my relationship with God is not based on my worthiness or how much I "deserve" it; rather, it is based on His incredible love for me.  This Christmas, even with all the other things that come and go with the season,  I am so thankful for the real Reason behind CHRISTmas!

On the Road Again

Hi everyone!
Wow!  I can't believe it's been almost six weeks since I last posted anything!  The truth is, as I'm sure you can see for yourselves, I have been spending time working on the look and feel of my blog.  Starting the first of the year, I want to start doing some more frequent blogging.  I have a few ideas rolling around in my head that I'm really excited about!  But first, I have to get things set up so that you'll feel interested in even visiting periodically! Stay tuned for upcoming excitement!