The Lord has truly blessed me with wonderful friendships. However, I have decided that in order for someone to be a close friend of mine a prerequisit is that they not live in the same city as me(with the exception of Layne who has lived in the same room with me for 3 years!). Of my closest friends, three of them live far away and three live relatively close. However, my other half lives on the other side of the country. Katie and I met six years ago in Texas while we were preparing to go to Nepal for 4 weeks. One of the first things I remember about Katie was that she asked me point blank "what has the Lord been teaching you" and we had only known each other for several days. Katie and I ended up sitting next to each other on every flight from the US to Nepal. By the time we arrived in Nepal we were inseparable and everyone knew who the crazy duo was. Katie truly brings out a different side of me. We are so much alike and yet different. We complement one another very well. As far as friendships go...she really is my other half. Over the last six years our friendship has grown in ways I never thought possible living on opposite sides of the country. We always seemed to be walking through the same situations in life or one of us was going through something the other had just gone through. I can't put our friendship into words and what a blessing it is to hear her voice on the end of the phone.
In one short week I will be picking Katie(Fulmaya is her nepali name) up at the airport! I cannot wait to see her! I haven't seen her in over a year! I'm so excited to have her come and stand next to me as I get married. I'm also excited for her to come simply because a part of my heart is in Nepal and in Seattle and Katie shares in that with me. I feel that she is bringing Seattle to me in some wierd way. Bryan's brother and sister-in-law will arrive next week as well from Seattle and I feel the same way about them. That they are bringing me a piece of my heart that remains there. I know this is really cheesy...but its so true. They are bringing places my heart longs for to me. The anticipation of next week is killing me! I don't even know what to expect but I know it will be more than I could imagine!
Tuesday, February 28, 2006
Thursday, February 23, 2006
"My God shall supply all your need..."
The last couple of months have been a rich season in my life. Upon graduation in December I was "on my own". I have not been a person who had to worry about money, if I wanted something, I usually bought it. My future hubby has come to notice over the years that my impulsive spending sprees are also a part of my flesh. I myself have also recognized that and wanted to tame the impulse. The Lord graciously did that for me. Over these last few months the Lord has provided exactly what I needed when I needed it. There is such a contentment that comes in having just what you need and nothing more. There have been several desires of my heart that the Lord graciously blessed me with through my generous parents during this time. However, I am thouroughly enjoying this growing time in my life where I am content with what I have, and could even possibly get rid of some of the stuff. (I am little concerned as to where all of Bryan's stuff is going to go when he moves in). Its a wonderful place to be, because then when the Lord blesses you with those desires of your heart, that aren't "needs" they are cherished even more. The Lord has also taught me the importance of being a wise steward of his money and really getting a good price on everything.
I was talking recently to a friend who is like a sister to me. The place the Lord is leading she and her husband really challenged me. They feel that they are holding too tightly to some material things the Lord blessed them with at one time. Those blessings were needed and wonderful at one time, but now they feel the blessings are tying them down. They are downsizing in a hgue way and are going to live a much simpler life. It encouraged me to hold the material blessings that I have from the Lord very loosely and to continue to give them back to Him, for He is the blessed giver of all good gifts. In our society, materialism is one of our main idols. I have been caught up in that trap for a couple of years now. I have found in the last few months that there is so much more peace and life, when you have what you need and nothing more. The rest are blessings from our Heavenly Father.
The Lord blessed Bryan and I greatly and met the desires of our hearts above and beyond with our house! I am so thankful to have such a beautiful and wonderful home to open up and have people over, however, I know that HE must always remain my focus rather than my home and what it looks like. I am enjoying this place that I am in...and I'm getting hitched in 14 days!!!!!!!
I was talking recently to a friend who is like a sister to me. The place the Lord is leading she and her husband really challenged me. They feel that they are holding too tightly to some material things the Lord blessed them with at one time. Those blessings were needed and wonderful at one time, but now they feel the blessings are tying them down. They are downsizing in a hgue way and are going to live a much simpler life. It encouraged me to hold the material blessings that I have from the Lord very loosely and to continue to give them back to Him, for He is the blessed giver of all good gifts. In our society, materialism is one of our main idols. I have been caught up in that trap for a couple of years now. I have found in the last few months that there is so much more peace and life, when you have what you need and nothing more. The rest are blessings from our Heavenly Father.
The Lord blessed Bryan and I greatly and met the desires of our hearts above and beyond with our house! I am so thankful to have such a beautiful and wonderful home to open up and have people over, however, I know that HE must always remain my focus rather than my home and what it looks like. I am enjoying this place that I am in...and I'm getting hitched in 14 days!!!!!!!
Tuesday, February 14, 2006
Faith
"Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." Heb. 11:1
"For we walk by faith, not by sight" 2 Corinthians 5:7
"Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him." 2 John 5:14-15
"Faith is grasping the unrealities of hope and bringing them into the realm of reality"
"Jesus said to him, "If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believe" Mark 9:23
"With men it is impossible, but not with God; for with God all things are possible" Mark 10:27
The Lord has been teaching me in a very real and tangible way about faith and trusting Him. Paul says in 2 Cor. 5:7 we are called to walk by faith and not by sight. I have pondered lately, what does that really mean. Well when you look at Heb. 11:1 we see that faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. In calling us to walk by faith and not by sight the Lord is calling us not to look at the reality of our situation, but the ability that God has to work on our behalf. When we look at the reality of our circumstances they seem impossible, but Jesus says, in Mark 9:23 that all things are possible to him who believe. In Mark 10:27, he says that what is impossible for man, is possible for God, because with God all things are possible. What wonderful promises to rest on, that all things are possible for God to him who believes. Jesus calls us to have faith in Him even when the answer is not in front of our face yet. In 1 John 5:14-15 He says that when we pray ACCORDING to His will, we know that He hears us and that we have what we ask of Him *(when we are praying in accordance with His will, not when we are praying for a million dollars just because we want it, its imperative that we be praying in accordance with His will which is His word)* Walking by faith means seeing that the answer to your prayers are already there, even if you don't see them yet. Because faith is the evidence of things unseen. Abraham believed the Lord's promise that he would have son, even though his wife was barren and was ninety years old-that is walking by faith. Believing the Lord over the reality of your situation, and trusting that what looks impossible with man is always possible with God.
"For we walk by faith, not by sight" 2 Corinthians 5:7
"Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him." 2 John 5:14-15
"Faith is grasping the unrealities of hope and bringing them into the realm of reality"
"Jesus said to him, "If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believe" Mark 9:23
"With men it is impossible, but not with God; for with God all things are possible" Mark 10:27
The Lord has been teaching me in a very real and tangible way about faith and trusting Him. Paul says in 2 Cor. 5:7 we are called to walk by faith and not by sight. I have pondered lately, what does that really mean. Well when you look at Heb. 11:1 we see that faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. In calling us to walk by faith and not by sight the Lord is calling us not to look at the reality of our situation, but the ability that God has to work on our behalf. When we look at the reality of our circumstances they seem impossible, but Jesus says, in Mark 9:23 that all things are possible to him who believe. In Mark 10:27, he says that what is impossible for man, is possible for God, because with God all things are possible. What wonderful promises to rest on, that all things are possible for God to him who believes. Jesus calls us to have faith in Him even when the answer is not in front of our face yet. In 1 John 5:14-15 He says that when we pray ACCORDING to His will, we know that He hears us and that we have what we ask of Him *(when we are praying in accordance with His will, not when we are praying for a million dollars just because we want it, its imperative that we be praying in accordance with His will which is His word)* Walking by faith means seeing that the answer to your prayers are already there, even if you don't see them yet. Because faith is the evidence of things unseen. Abraham believed the Lord's promise that he would have son, even though his wife was barren and was ninety years old-that is walking by faith. Believing the Lord over the reality of your situation, and trusting that what looks impossible with man is always possible with God.
Tuesday, February 07, 2006
Intimacy
So, i'm still processing this thought a little, but its stirring in my heart and my mind. Often I struggle with the feeling of not belonging, and that i'm missing out on this "community". I look around me and see that everyone else seems to have this whole intimacy thing down and their experiencing deep friendships...and I wonder what is my problem? So I was thinking about Christ and wondered about His life on the earth, and how everyone wanted to be around Him and hear Him teach. I'm sure that everyone wanted to be His best friend and to know Him intimately. However, He selected the twelve to be His disciples and to share His most intimate life with Him, but even beyond that John was the beloved disciple. John shared the most intimate of moments with Jesus, that the other disciples didn't share in. I realized, its not that Jesus picked favorites, but He desired that intimacy, just as we do since we were created in His image. I thought about to how the Lord chooses to reveal secrets to those of us who seek Him and know Him intimately, the Lord guards His heart and with whom He shares His secrets; so why shouldn't I guard my heart? Why shouldn't I pick favorites and have only my few close friends. I love to know that there are deep secrets and desires in my heart that only a select few and Jesus know. I love to know that there is a life hidden inside me and that its only shared with those who are given the key to enter the garden of my heart. I am so thankful that someone told me to save my heart for my husband, and I did just that. I'm thankful that Bryan is one of the only people who knows some of my deepest dreams and thoughts. And knows me better than I know myself sometimes.
However, I think in some ways my view of intimacy is skewed. I can share life with people, share parts of my heart, laugh, and enjoy their company-and that can be intimacy. I don't have to have a heart to heart with someone everytime I see them-although I love to talk deeply. But just because I don't have a heart to heart with someone doesn't mean I can't be intimate with them in a different way. I think in my quest for finding intimacy and having that sense of belonging, i've missed out on just enjoying people. This is hard for me since I connect with people through talking, but my desire is to increase connecting with people through just enjoying them. I love connecting on a deeper level, but I also just miss the days of hanging out and enjoying someones company through fun. I think I miss out on a lot of fun in life b/c I think to much and can be to serious. Oh to be an obliv(inside joke). Lord Jesus, give me the free heart of a child that wants to play and enjoy you and your children! Thank you for laughter and for fun!
However, I think in some ways my view of intimacy is skewed. I can share life with people, share parts of my heart, laugh, and enjoy their company-and that can be intimacy. I don't have to have a heart to heart with someone everytime I see them-although I love to talk deeply. But just because I don't have a heart to heart with someone doesn't mean I can't be intimate with them in a different way. I think in my quest for finding intimacy and having that sense of belonging, i've missed out on just enjoying people. This is hard for me since I connect with people through talking, but my desire is to increase connecting with people through just enjoying them. I love connecting on a deeper level, but I also just miss the days of hanging out and enjoying someones company through fun. I think I miss out on a lot of fun in life b/c I think to much and can be to serious. Oh to be an obliv(inside joke). Lord Jesus, give me the free heart of a child that wants to play and enjoy you and your children! Thank you for laughter and for fun!
Monday, February 06, 2006
Blessed
Wow, it is such a joy to have people in my home to experience Christ together. Tonight was our first small group and once everyone left, I was overflowing with joy. It was a delight to clean up after everyone(and I don't like to clean). I am just blessed to be able to open up my home for believers to come and experience life together. Its so sweet to know people met with the Lord in your home! I'm so thankful to the Lord for providing us with a wonderful home to have people over so they can meet with Him and fellowship with other believers! It is truly such a blessing!
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