Fun times...

This weekend was a wonderful reminder of how great God is in calling me to live and work in NYC. My friend Laura came to visit for the weekend and I got to show her around the city. We rode the Staten Island Ferry, walked the Brooklyn Bridge, enjoyed the American Museum of Natural History, and strolled through Central Park. It was so beautiful! I know some may wonder, "How can you call NYC beautiful?" But indeed, I do! Not all parts do I consider beautiful but nothing beats the skyline of NYC or the trails of Central Park.

After these adventures, Laura and I went back to my apartment and I made dinner for her and a couple of friends, Chelsea and Nichole, who just live down the street. Its so great to live so close to friends and it is wonderful to be able to enjoy the hustle and bustle of Manhattan and then go home to Brooklyn and relax. You need it.

Today, I met up with Chelsea for the 3:30 church service at Brooklyn Tabernacle. Ravi Zacharias, a world-renowned Apologist, spoke about the problem of pleasure. It was so good. One thing that stood out that Zacharias said is that meaningless in life does not come from growing weary from pain but rather it comes from growing weary in pleasure. When you have experienced and exhausted all pleasure, when you live for yourself rather than for God, your life is meaningless. God created pleasure and joy, but they are only experienced truly and fully by living according to His word.

May we, who strive to follow God, allow Him to define and shape our lives, thoughts, words, hopes and dreams and bring Him honor and glory!

God's mercies each day

Last night I stayed up really late watching a depressing bball game. I woke up really early, unable to turn my mind off. On Tuesdays, I usually have what I call the "Tuesday blues." Every week, I have to fight feeling tired, impatient, and grumpy on Tuesdays, particularly with my students. On Tuesdays, I pray extra hard for God's love, mercies, and joy in my heart. Despite my team losing horribly last night, little sleep, and a full day, I had joy in my heart, and energy in my step (though the last hour of work was a little tough). I was reminded of how blessed I am to work at BCCHS. My students knew about the game and that I was a Spartan. Some of them watched the game mostly for me and they were frustrated for me. It was really cute.

One more day to go until some much needed R & R. What are you thankful for today? Share it!

Reminiscing

Today I took some time on my walk from church to reflect on how God has changed me over the last year, particularly the last nine months. I've been doing that a lot more lately and marveling at how much God has done in me. I'm humbled by His love in doing this for me. His hand in the minute details of my life is amazing.

School year is moving fast. I love my job and my kids. I struggle each day to represent Christ in all I do. I've had to say some hard things to my kids lately and I always wonder, "Am I saying these things in the best possible way? In a way that is honoring to Christ?" How I wish I had a pure, kind mouth but unfortunately, it is often filled with complaints, criticism, impatience, etc.

Random side note: I wish NYers appreciated March Madness more. I had to explain what it was to my advisory kids. It was funny to explain this tournament and why it was such a big deal to me to them. They could care less. NYers care about the Yankees and Mets not college sports. Lets be honest, what college team would they seriously rally around? Precisely, there is none. Therefore, true NYers don't give a rip. However, I have had a blast sporting my MSU gear around the last week. I am so proud to be a Spartan--always have, even when we don't play well. Go Green!

Young, Restless, and Reformed

Today was such a nice day after work. Not that work was bad but you know what I mean. There was no afterschool meeting so I was able to leave work right away and got home a little after 4. I've been reading this book called, "Young, Restless, and Reformed" by Collin Hansen. I got a chance to hear him at a conference last weekend celebrating the 500th birthday of John Calvin. His book is so good and looks at the rise of Calvinistic theology in America, which has caused a stirring among these people for a hunger and thirst for God and His Word. It has filled many young people in particular with a passion for God's glory and have their theology determine how they live their lives. I'm one of those young people Hansen talks about. His book filled me with an even greater desire to get to know God more and bring Him glory, for that is what my life is about. That is my sole purpose. I tell you what, it has freed me up to be less fearful about my future because I'm placing my life in a Sovereign, good God. It has excited me for ministry and service. No one's life, including my own, is meant to be spent sitting in front of the TV all day (not saying no TV but you get my point). We weren't created to waste our life.

May you rejoice together with me in serving a gracious good God who called us out of darkness into His wonderful light!

My life and my times are in your hands

So I'm pretty bad at blogs seeing as I haven't written anything in over three months! I've decided to write about my daily life, which will of course include some deeper reflections but not always. Hopefully you'll get the chance to see more of what life is like in the Big Apple.

One of the verses I quote to myself almost every morning is "My life and my times are in your hands." Usually this verse comes to mind as I wait for the subway to pick me up in the morning on my way to work. Its normally on time and very predictable but nonetheless, sometimes you wait a little longer than you'd like. Life is full of situations testing your patience and living in NYC presents many of these challenges. This verse encourages me because I know my life is in the hands of an Almighty, Sovereign God. This calms me because it reminds me that all details of my life, including the timing of the subway, is out of my control. But these details aren't just left up to fate or chance; they are left to a good, gracious and wise God who knows what is best and sees it all.

In a stressful, busy city that can easily swallow you up, Jesus is my calm and stress reliever BECAUSE He is truth, wisdom, and life.

the Magic word

I find I'm always looking for that magical word from God: "Ruth, do this." "Ruth, do that" "Ruth, marry this person" "Ruth, move there." I've come to realize not only am I not good at trusting God, I don't want to trust Him. That involves often a lengthy process with pain and setbacks along the way. See, if God just gave me the magical words, I wouldn't have to go through all of that. I would just know. But that is often not how God works. In fact, when He does give those magical words, it oftens comes when we aren't seeking after it or it comes through a process of seeking. God wants to know, "Do you trust me? Do you believe in a great God?" Its as scripture says, "We walk by faith not by sight." Am I okay with that? I'm often fighting with God about that..."Just tell me already!" but God says, "Wait and see. Keep walking with me and I will guide you." My pastor has said many times, "Its not about great faith but faith in a great God!" If I truly believe that I serve a great God, then what am I worrying about? Oh Lord, transform my heart and mind to behold the TRUE God, a GREAT God!

Wisdom

The last couple of months, I have been specifically praying for wisdom as well as reading through the book of Proverbs, one for each day. When I started praying for wisdom, I didn't have a particular circumstance in mind, just wisdom in general. I have found something very interesting, which I shouldn't be surprised by, but I didn't see it coming. My heart for God and desire to know Him and follow His will, His desires for my life, have grown from just lip-service to the true desire of my heart. Proverbs says that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. I didn't realize that when I was praying for wisdom, I was praying to know God more intimately. I seemed to think that wisdom was just praying for special knowledge in a certain circumstance, but true wisdom is knowing God and His heart. As you know Him more, His will becomes more evident; His word becomes more alive.

May we grow in wisdom and knowledge of our Lord and Savior each day.