Wednesday, January 19, 2011

From the Inside Out

It was a long day, but a good day. :) It started at 6:30 in the gym and continued with drawing class at 8. After an interesting morning in the art building (including learning about printmaking, how cool is that?),  the whole school headed to chapel. We were reminded of the simple powerful story of Jesus's life and work on the cross by a dramatic speaker. We also found out that Belhaven RUF is bringing Tim Keller to town! Looking forward to that! Next was tennis practice and I learned 3 things before heading back to the art building for an afternoon in sculpture class. 1) I can still hit (always afraid i'll forget) 2) My game needs a ton of work 3) I will always love tennis. and my team :) When I left the art building after spending a long time in my studio literally swimming in charcoal, I jumped in the car with friends to go to a little frozen yogurt shop that was having a sale. That was fun :D Then I donned my fedora and raincoat and set out again, this time to attend a friends junior voice recital. It was beautiful and all her hardwork definitely pays off. By the time we got back, it was time for the highlight of my week: RUF!!! yeah. It was that heaven meets earth kind of fellowship, worship, and teaching. We sang a song that had I had listened to on my internet radio a couple of times earlier during the week. It talks about that living in grace where when we fail or the world seems dark, there is one light that still pierces through. And I want that Person to change my heart and change my attitude to want to love Him. To want to love others. To want to live in grace and humility. The Lord must be in complete control of our lives. When I reflect on my day, it positives and all its failures I remember that each day is a part of God's work on me. Its the personal side of a big God who is in control of everything. And by His miracle He is changing our sinful hearts into hearts that seek him and understand that its not about us.

My heart and my soul, I give You control
Consume me from the inside out Lord
Let justice and praise, become my embrace
To love You from the inside out

Sunday, January 16, 2011

I Wanna Be With You

One day at a time. That's what I keep reminding myself everytime I add something else to my planner. It seems as though every hour of my semester is already zoned out-even double booked at times. Can I really do all of these things? How do I not feel panicky everytime I think about the calendar? Well, it won't be easy. But I shall rest-rest in the knowledge that the Lord is in control and that all I HAVE to DO is ABIDE in Him. If that is the only requirement, then its not my job to worry. It is not a superficial denial, but an acceptance of my weakness and His strength. The Lord is walking with us through the story that He is writing.

I was laughing pretty hard with few good friends tonight. One friend was teaching us how to say some things in her language. It was a special moment, in fact, the whole evening was sweet to me because of the people that I was with, even as we stressed (or tried not to stress;) ) over our schedules. It is at moments like those, that I sense that it is the relationships and lived out life that matters more than accomplishments. As we press forward and work hard, praying that the Lord use us, He will. He will use our lives in ways we never could have imagined, yet it is none of our own doing. He is teaching me that since I am His, I can serve, I can work, I can even fail. He wants us to rely on Him fully, to lean on Him, because He wants to be in a relationship with us.

What would it take to be the person I see?
What can I do to glorify Thee?

My power is sufficiency.
Your weakness glorifies me greatly.

“My power is perfected in weakness,
My grace is sufficient for you.” ~ 2 Corinthians 12:9