Seasons

Fall is my favorite time of year.

I LOVE the crispness in the air, hiking, apple picking, drinking hot cider, picking/carving pumpkins, watching the leaves change... just enjoying the beauty and saturating my senses.

Two days ago, I was driving through Charlottesville on my way home to see my parents and it was cloudy and pouring rain. However... I was thinking, I have got to still capitalize on my drive thru Charlottesville. I can't waste this opportunity- Im right here!

After much deliberation, I decided against hiking in the rain, but I did decide to stop by Carter Mtn apple orchard to pick a few apples and get some hot cider. When I got there- it was so gross! So muddy, dreary, wet, cold... ;) HA.

All I could think was that- there is no perfect season. How great is summer to enjoy the lake and be off school- AND BE HOT AND HUMID. Or the beautiful snow on the ground in winter... the skiing, lights, Christmas- AND be freezing, snowed in...

So this analogy goes with life, huh? There are so many different seasons in life! Being single, being a student, graduating being a newly wed, buying a home, being a new parent, kicking the kids out of the home after being married 25 years (no particular order neccessary here!) EVERY season has its true blessings and joys, and every season has its trials.

I am so thankful to live in Virginia where we get to realy experience all the different seasons. And I am thankful, and pray that Lord willing, I will be able to experience all the different seasons of life.

"Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever; wisdom and power are his. He changes times and seasons; he sets up kings and deposes them. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning. He reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what lies in darkness, and light dwells with him." -Daniel 2: 20-22

End in Mind

So about a week ago I watched the CHEESIEST movie (shout out J's) I think I have seen to date. ;)
However... one of the points in the movie was that if you don't neccessarily think there is a Biblical right/wrong in an area- to just fast forward your life and look toward the future to see if it is something that you would regret looking back on.

I think if we could master this "living looking toward the future" bit... things would be a lot easier.

This morning as I ran out of the YMCA at 6:30 am, I had so much joy, energy, exhilaration, praise... I was SO thankful to have completed my daily exercise and have the whole day ahead of me. However- when my alarm went off at 5 AM- joy, gratitude, and exhilaration were the last things on my mind.

Another example is like indulging on a fat piece of chocolate cake. If you could fastforward to about 5 minutes post consumption... you would realize that instead of feeling joy- you feel groaning and the ooooo why did I eat that blues. ;)

I have a feeling that in heaven we will think, why on earth did we so often trade the long term for the temporary? As a believer, I am not called to live for the moment, but live in light of eternity! And hopefully tomorrow when the alarm goes off at 5, I can CALL TO MIND this truth.

"For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." -2 Corinthians 4:17-18

Extended Camping Trip

Paul, the tentmaker, knew a LOT about tents.
I on the other hand- know almost NOTHING about them.

I listened to a neat sermon this eve that made me think about this...
Don't you find it odd that he only uses them in analogy ONE time in all the books that he wrote?
I do.
The only time you find the word tent in the Pauline epistles is in the beginning of 2 Corinthians 5.
Usually the analogies come from the things we see day in and day out... at least mine do.

2 Cor 5
Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. Now it is God who has made us for this very purpose and has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.

One of the attributes about tents that I am so thankful for is that they are temporary! So glad I don't have to live in one day in and day out! Whenever I get home from backpacking I cant wait to sleep in my nice air conditioned house and comfy bed.
Can't wait to trade in my tent for a mansion one day!

Ananias and Saphira moment

I am ashamed to write this, but not at the same time. It just reveals the sickness and sin nature within my heart- our default setting.

So tonight me and my roommate went for a walk in our neighborhood and went in to one of our Catholic neighbors house for a bit to chat with them. The husband has been very ill and had mentioned wanting to go out to the movies but wasn't sure if he could go because he has been wheelchair bound. While they were talking I was thinking- perfect. I have a free movie ticket from my sister and I can give them one in a little card and an invitation to come over for lunch.

So we got home and I was writing the card and I went a movie ticket and put it in the card. Yvonne looked at me and said- you just have one movie ticket? And I said- "YES! (wow) I get them from my sister." LIE! I actually had THREE movie tickets but I wanted to hold on to two of them to go with a friend. Not a bad thing in itself- I didn't have to give them ANY of the movie tickets, but just revealed the evilness deep in my heart. Same exact situation as in Acts 5... God didn't require the giving of Ananias' and Saphiras profits- but he does want a cheerful giver, a pure heart and motives, and honesty before him and fellow believers! Humility of heart rather than seeking praise from men. In about 45 seconds conviction flooded and I was like Yvonne I take it back!!! Thank God the lightening didn't strike.
Forgive me Lord for my foolishness!

John 17:17 proves true over and over in my life

Romans 12:1-2... be transformed by the renewing of your mind.

My life verse- John 17:17 "Sanctify them by your Word- your Word is truth."

Both were evidenced today as I was looking at something I had written in my journal (not normally a journaler) a mere TWO weeks ago when reading through Luke! I had written:
"I wonder if anyone is called to being poor or missions or if we are ALL called to it... I mean wouldn't everyone rather have a comfortable air conditioned home? Are those who sacrifice it just aware of the brevity of this life and that this is not our true home? One day we will live in palaces! Why on earth would we want an imitation one now? Luke 7:25"

Honestly I read that today and thought- WOW- did I really write that?? It sounds so super-spiritual. I kind of do want a palace now...

Just goes to show you how the Holy Spirit really does transform you during the reading of His Word. Transform me Lord!

Overused Analogies

So I ran the rock n roll half marathon this past weekend and there were SO many analogies running around. However, most of them are nothing profound so if it wasn't about time for another blog, I probably wouldn't post them.... ;)

I started running with my sister and 2 of her friends and one girl fell behind instantly. About mile 4 I was jamming to my ipod, getting my grove on and a song came on the playlist entitled "Miserable." It was NOT the song to be listening to while running. I started thinking- DUDE I AM miserable. Why on earth did I sign up for this? It seemed like a good idea at the time... ;) Just made me think how important the attitude and MIND is. If I sit in class thinking how miserable I am... or how much Im learning- BIG difference.

The climax/disaster in the race happened at mile 5. My headphones for my ipod severed and died! Talk about discouraging. I INSTANTLY stopped running to try and fix it to no avail. This is when the mental game really picked up. Just quit now. Forget it. I was walking at the water station when the girl who was a part of our team that had fallen behind initially caught up to me. It was such a relief to see her and to have a buddy to help get through the rest of the race together! I honestly am not sure if I would have started running again if it wasn't for her. I need people and friends to push me/keep me accountable! She also produced some magic energy beans at mile 10 that enabled us to get to the finish line.

My sister had made us wear these crazy outfits (ie hot pink knee socks) and post verses and motivational quotes on our back. Mine was- the best way to cheer yourself up is to cheer everybody else up. SO TRUE. (maybe a little WEAK- I mean the best way to encourage yourself is with the Word but hey) The more I cheered for the people around me- the more I could push it and the happier I got. Also the socks really helped us stand out- and all the crowd was yelling- I like your socks! or Go socks! ;) wow.

Basically, the moral of my tale: encouragement is key against discouragement and lies.


"Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen." -Eph 4:29