New Life in Spring

Life is sweet. Even on days like today, the middle of the week in Spring just waiting for Summer and change, there are moments of goodness.  Like right now I'm listening to the kind of music that's mellow in all the right ways, sitting in my living room with my roommates while the sun pours in through the sliding door.  Just finished a Diet Dr. Pepper that Colin brought me just because he's like that.  Realizing that God won't stop loving me because I'm moody and inconsistent. Knowing that life is full and that God is big and nothing can mess it up-- not death or tears or the unknown.  Knowing that everyone is a person with a heart and a story.  Sweet delicious lingering moments like this remind me not to worry and just to enjoy.  Happy Easter-- He is risen and alive!

Helpful or Heartless?

"It is Christ. . . who also makes intercession for us. . . the Spirit. . . makes intercession for the saints. . .  (Romans 8:34, 27)

'. . .Beware of getting ahead of God by your very desire to do His will. We run ahead of Him in a thousand and one activities, becoming so burdened with people and problems that we don't worship God, and we fail to intercede.  If a burden and its resulting pressure come upon us while we are not in an attitude of worship, it will only produce a hardness toward God and despair in our own souls. God continually introduces us to people in whom we have no interest, and unless we are worshiping God the natural tendency is to be heartless toward them.  We give them a quick verse of Scripture, like jabbing them with a spear, or leave them with a hurried, uncaring word of counsel before we go.  A heartless Christian must be a terrible grief to our Lord.

'Are our lives in the proper place so that we may participate in the intercession of our Lord and the Holy Spirit?"

-Chambers, Oswald. "Helpful or Heartless Toward Others?" April 1.  My Utmost for His Highest.

This slapped me in the face this morning.

A Poem

After 4 years of doing the same thing one would think that my fascination with school would have declined. However, the excitement mid-Spring semester brings is almost indescribable. The only way to adequately express how I feel about class is to share with you a poem that Colin and I came up with today.

A Poem
C- Cool
L- Learning
A- Academics
S- Scholarly
S- School

Just typing that brings a tear to mine eye. Some are able to write about their recent graduation, new job opportunities, or moves to new and promising cities-- luckily for me, I have the pleasure of repeatedly attending class day after day after day after day.... Sadly, I only have 9 months left!

My Beautiful Friend, Ira

Before I you read this, PLEASE go to Morgan's blog and read about her injury Tuesday night! It is hilarious.

About two and a half years ago I went on a trip to Ukraine. Emily, Ruth, and I went to help the Vanderwerfs with their ministry and taught English three hours a day for two weeks. Well, we were all set up with a teaching assistant and I really feel like I got the best one-- Ira.

Everyday while I hesitantly taught English to a group of students I had never met before I would see Ira (the face of Jesus) smiling and reassuring me that I was doing okay. Her sweet heart made me want to know her and her story and our faith for the Lord made us instant friends. ANYWAY, I was lucky enough to reconnect with Ira last weekend in Houston! She is in the states visiting and a friend, that had also visited Ukraine, flew her down to stay with her in Sugarland.

It is so cool to see old friends and remember the wonderful relationships that God has established in my life. Thanks Jesus for sweet friends that speak to my heart and teach me what it means to be a woman of God. I know that Ira's light shines in the dark places of Ukraine and brings glory to the Lord.

Today Was Good

Today was just a great day.
FIRST, I woke up with a smile on my face from a dream I had-- here's how it went:
I was at my parents' house with my mom (my dad and brother were out of town) when we decided to go somewhere. I suggest Hawaii and my mom says "What the heck, why not?!" So we packed up and headed off to the airport. It was so fun and reminded me how much I love going on trips with my mom-- we're really close and we laugh at the most ridiculous things that don't seem quite as funny when we tell other people about them.
THEN, I went to school. Usually this would be painful but my two classes weren't bad and despite being disgusting, Entomology (study of insects) is actually pretty interesting.
THEN, I went to coffee with my sweet friend, Carrie. We've been meeting this whole school year and finally were able to reconnect after Christmas break-- yeah, I realize it's mid-February.
THEN, I went to lunch with my bible study girls! This is an answered prayer. I asked for girls that I could have community with and here they are! Morgan is also included in this group and our friendship is in such a fun season. I love it! Jesus is so faithful to provide friends!
THEN, I went on a mystery date which included Taco Bell (kind of an inside joke, plus it's good), walking on a path through a park, and ice skating.

Tomorrow is going to be fun as well but this post is already too lengthy.

So to summarize: Hawaii would be fun, entomology is disgusting, Carrie is nice, Jesus is faithful, and Taco Bell is good (and you know that you like it, even if you pretend not to-- is that correct?).

Happy Valentine's Day!!!

*A special thanks to my boyfriend, Colin Bates, for letting me shave a heart into his back-hair. Thanks, Colin, you've really made this holiday special for me ;)

February!

The semester is finally looking up. This weekend was SO good!

Friday Colin and I went to The Woodlands and had a date at the Cheesecake Factory, delicious!
My only complaint about the restaurant is that I always feel like I'm sitting a little too close to the people at the next table.

Sunday I went to church at Faithbridge in Spring. I really like going to church there. It's a big church but seems really healthy and thriving-- the pastor I've seen speak the past two times has had some really great things to say and I'm always excited to listen. I can't wait to go back again!

After church we went to Megan's birthday lunch with some of her friends and family. Megan is such an amazing woman and I'm so fortunate she is in my life! We became pen-pals last week and I'm hoping to keep up this fun correspondence! I actually JUST decided to dedicate this post to Megan since she's encouraged me to keep blogging.

I wish I had a picture of Megan and me on my computer but this one will have to do-- it's from our park play-date this summer.

I'm still new at the blogging thing and I'm going to try and improve my posting, bear with me.