so. not sure who likes running, but its definitely taking a while to grow on me. but if running a half marathon in on your bucket list, ya gotta start somewhere. so today as i was running on the treadmill, i thought of a really cool way to pass the time. what if we prayed for all of the other women in the gym that we see working out? as i am looking around, there are music videos and magazines everywhere showing girls what they "should" look like. and how many girls think that is what they actually need to look like? especially those who don't know Christ. Christ definitely has the power to free us from any self image insecurities, or show us that just because the culture tells us to look one way, doesn't mean we need to. so lets pray for freedom for everyone who is at the gym with us! and i'm not saying everyone at the gym is struggling with self image, because i know exercise is important, but i'm sure everyone there could always use a prayer :) what if we are the only people in their days that would pray for them!
also- just saw voyage of the dawn treader... its awesome. my man cs lewis really knew what he was doing! for sure has lots of messages about walking with Christ here on earth!
Friday, January 7, 2011
Thursday, January 6, 2011
epiphany
so lets back up a little to the beginning of Christmas break. God really allowed me to see him in so many new ways last semester, and I wanted to really understand why Christmas was so significant this year. So I asked the Lord to reveal new truths and connections both within scripture and learning about the Christmas Story. He answered in more ways than I could even type... he answered one in a really cool way today! I had prayed that I would really understand the significance of the three kings (magi) and how they would affect my walk and what role they played in the nativity story.
so panera is my fav spot. i go there all the time to have coffee and a quiet time. so today, after waking up a little late... i get there for breakfast when everyone else is eating lunch. and panera was packed. so after i get my bagel and coffee, i'm about to walk out when i see an open table out of the corner of my eye. perfect, another guy with a computer... i'll fit right in. so i go sit next to him, take out my Bible and computer, and the guy next to me smiles and says, "time for a Bible study?" we talk for a little about it, and my life (God seems to be really funny and i meet new friends almost every time I go to panera). before he leaves he says, oh just to let you know today the church celebrates the day of epiphany, you should read that along with what you were reading.
okay cool, if i'm honest i have no idea what that means. so i look up what the day of epiphany means and why it is celebrated. it is the last day in the 12 days of christmas. it represents the day that the magi came to bring Jesus his gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. when the magi did this, they were the first people to reveal Christ as King. and not only did they reveal he was the Christ, but they were the first gentiles to do it. which means from then on, the world knew Christ came for all peoples and all nations, not just a select few. since then, the church has used this day to look at its mission of what it means to call Christ Savior in the world, and what it looks like for them to do it.
so really, the magi had much more of a role in how the christmas story applies to me than i thought. their epiphany, or revelation allowed everyone to know Christ came for them. and now the church, and individuals, can reflect and see what it would mean for them to call Christ their Savior in the world. are we carrying the name of Jesus with us everywhere we go?
and how cool that God decided to answer my prayer in this way, so long after i even thought about it, and through a perfect stranger. He's a funny one.
so panera is my fav spot. i go there all the time to have coffee and a quiet time. so today, after waking up a little late... i get there for breakfast when everyone else is eating lunch. and panera was packed. so after i get my bagel and coffee, i'm about to walk out when i see an open table out of the corner of my eye. perfect, another guy with a computer... i'll fit right in. so i go sit next to him, take out my Bible and computer, and the guy next to me smiles and says, "time for a Bible study?" we talk for a little about it, and my life (God seems to be really funny and i meet new friends almost every time I go to panera). before he leaves he says, oh just to let you know today the church celebrates the day of epiphany, you should read that along with what you were reading.
okay cool, if i'm honest i have no idea what that means. so i look up what the day of epiphany means and why it is celebrated. it is the last day in the 12 days of christmas. it represents the day that the magi came to bring Jesus his gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. when the magi did this, they were the first people to reveal Christ as King. and not only did they reveal he was the Christ, but they were the first gentiles to do it. which means from then on, the world knew Christ came for all peoples and all nations, not just a select few. since then, the church has used this day to look at its mission of what it means to call Christ Savior in the world, and what it looks like for them to do it.
so really, the magi had much more of a role in how the christmas story applies to me than i thought. their epiphany, or revelation allowed everyone to know Christ came for them. and now the church, and individuals, can reflect and see what it would mean for them to call Christ their Savior in the world. are we carrying the name of Jesus with us everywhere we go?
and how cool that God decided to answer my prayer in this way, so long after i even thought about it, and through a perfect stranger. He's a funny one.
Thursday, December 23, 2010
tis the season
christmas has brought so many new and exicting things this year. an end to a WONDERFUL semester, a new family member, lots of friends, and new places to visit. i have been so blessed by the many wonderful people i can be around. it is the best season for getting together, christmas parties, and time to embrace the birth of Jesus.
this is my family in china! macie is our new cousin! aunt anne and uncle mike went with my cousins to bring home a new donohue. she is so sweet. it is such a blessing and such a ministry. God was a father to the orphans, and calls us to be one too. that is their heart behind this adoption. beautiful.
i stole a lot of pictures from julia. she threw a christmas party with my friend jane this week.
so great to see friends from school. reminded me of phil 1:3 "i thank my God every time i remember you..."
love SP.
a christmas story
hmm. what a day to start a blog. i'm hoping that one day all of these little moments will turn into a book. we'll see. anyways, yesterday as i was driving home from richmond, which is one of my new favorite places, i listened to a sermon on daniel 2. it was about king nebuchadnezzar's dream, which actually prophesied Jesus' birth. it says "in the time of those kings (meaning Herod), the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed, nor will it be left to another people. it will crush all those kingdoms and bring them to an end, but it will itself endure forever. this is the meaning of the vision of the rock cut out of a mountain, but not by human hands.."verses 44-45. this rock being cut out of the mountain meant Jesus, and when Jesus was born, he started a kingdom that will never end, heaven. how cool that nebuchadnezzar, someone who hated God, would have a dream that signified Jesus' birth, and a kingdom that could not be set up by human hands, because God created it. who would have thought daniel 2 was a christmas story... not me!
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